Kojo-designs.com shows you how to make homemade hot chocolate on a stick.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
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Swagbucks Paid for Our Wedding Reception!
Today’s Swagbucks success story is from Simon
My wife had tried for years before we were married (and even before we were dating) to get me to use Swagbucks. However, I didn’t start using this fabulous rewards program until we were already engaged this past October — and the realization of paying for a wedding began to sink in!
I began using Swagbucks in earnest: surveys, videos, games, Internet searches, referrals, and by the time our reception rolled around in July, I had amassed nearly $250 in Walmart gift cards! The key to maximizing my earnings was to reach the My Daily Goal meter everyday and collect the monthly bonuses.
We decided to have an outdoor picnic for our reception to further cut down on the cost; and with our gift cards, we were able to purchase the hamburgers, hot dogs, cake, drinks, plates, cups, and cutlery to accommodate 120 guests.
We had so much left over that we were able to give the remaining food and accessories to our friends whose similar picnic-style reception was the following weekend. Thank you, Swagbucks, for helping pay for two receptions!
We’ve been so impressed with the buying power of Swagbucks that we’ve set our sights on a new goal — an anniversary cruise!
Simon: Can you email me so I can send you your $50 Amazon gift card as a thank you for submitting your story?
Apple Settlement Deal: Unauthorized In-App Purchase Refunds
If you were one of the many parents who were shocked to find unauthorized in-app purchases charged to your account, you’ll want to check out this settlement with Apple. When you thought you were authorizing a one-time in-app purchase for your children, in reality you were opening a 15-minute window for additional charges.
Apple has until March 31 to make changes to their billing procedures and offer refunds to customers. If you have questions about these refunds, contact iTunes Store support.
To read more about this settlement, and find instructions on how to turn off in-app purchases altogether, take a look at this post from Smart Apps for Kids.
You can’t change your financial situation unless…
How I Make the Most of My Swagbucks
Testimonial from Angie
I’ve been a Swagbucks member for a few years, but my intensity didn’t pick up until last year. I was determined to pay for most of our Christmas by purchasing gift cards and using them toward gifts.
While this worked out well, I also learned some valuable lessons in the process.
1. Get the right gift cards.
It really doesn’t save any money to have gift cards for stores I don’t shop at, so whenever possible, I only used my Swagbucks to get gift cards for stores I frequently shopped in. For me, this includes Walmart, Target, CVS, and Amazon.
2. Remember that it takes a while to get the gift cards.
Because it can take a little while for the gift card to be credited to your account, I try to redeem my Swagbucks regularly so I always have a supply. This came in handy this month when I realized that both mine and my husband’s Sonicare toothbrush heads had gone past the gross stage. In fact, upon further inspection, the clear head covers were no longer clear. EWWW!
Since I had a $50 Walmart gift card sitting in my Swagbucks account, I did a little on-line research. I found a box of 3 replacement heads at Walmart for $34.95.
I just happened to remember that I could also use my Walmart card at Sam’s Club too, and proceeded to look on-line there. Was I stoked to find a box of 4 replacement heads at $36.88 AND an instant $10 off at checkout. BONUS!
3. You can earn even more by shopping through Shop and Earn.
What I did next makes me giggle a little. It occurred to me that I could not only get these for free but I could use the Shop and Earn on Swagbucks and get points for “purchasing” these!
While I had decided that the Sam’s price was a better deal, I was disappointed to learn I only got 2x the points for my purchase (the actual price, no tax nor shipping, if applicable, included) where Walmart was 4x the amount. Oh well, I was still getting a freebie and points and still felt that Sam’s was a great deal so I went for it!
The only bummer was my local store was out of the product I wanted. I had planned to order it, pick it up at the store and use the remainder of my gift card there. I had to pay a little extra in shipping – still covered by my gift card. leaving me $15.48 to use in the store. I went to Sam’s over the weekend and used the balance on my gift card to purchase frozen fruit for our daily smoothie.
Today, my Sonicare heads arrived as well as my Shop & Earn email telling me that I have 74 Swagbucks pending which will probably show up on my account mid February. That’s a great chunk toward my daily goal, which I try to meet every day!
Angie is an Air Force wife raising 4 kids (ages 8, 6, 2, and 9 months). She loves good deals and learning how to stretch their money.
How to Turn a Regular Recipe into a Freezer Recipe
Guest post from Kelly of New Leaf Wellness
I started making freezer meals after my first child was born. Freezing a casserole for a holiday or birthday party meant I could enjoy the day with my daughter and husband instead of spending it in the kitchen.
Four years and two more children later, I still use freezer meals to simplify our busy lives. To save time, I freeze most of my meals raw. They’re very easy to prep, and since they’ll cook for the very first time out of the freezer they won’t taste like leftovers at all.
Curious how you can turn your favorite oven or slow cooker recipe into a no-cook (or little cook) freezer recipe? Read on!
How to Turn a Regular Recipe into a Freezer Recipe
1. Start with a recipe that will freeze well.
Here are some of the BEST and WORST foods to freeze. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s a good place to start.
BEST:
- Chilis, stews, and soups (non-milk based)
- Beef roasts and pork roasts
- Casseroles
- Baked pastas with tomato sauce
WORST:
- Casseroles with potatoes or rice
- Some dairy (like sour cream, mayonnaise, and sour cream)
- Fried foods
- Crumb toppings
- Fruits and vegetables with a high water content (like melons and lettuce)
2. Follow the recipe instructions until the point that you would put the meal into your oven or slow cooker.
If the ingredients go into your oven or slow cooker totally raw, then you can freeze them raw, too. For example, I freeze loaves of raw carrot bread, raw meatloaves, raw beef roasts in sauce for my slow cooker, and raw veggies in broth for slow cooker soups.
If the recipe calls for some cooking before putting the food into your oven or slow cooker, do that cooking before freezing. For example, if a recipe calls for browning ground beef before adding it to your slow cooker, brown the ground beef before freezing. Then, cool the beef to room temperature, add the rest of ingredients, and freeze.
3. Assemble your freezer meal so it won’t get freezer burn or take up a lot of space in your freezer.
For slow cooker recipes:
- Store your meal in a gallon-sized, plastic freezer bag. I use quality, name-brand bags with a zipper on top and mine never leak.
- Fill your plastic freezer bag like this: beans and vegetables at the bottom, sauces and spices in the middle, and meat at the top. Your sauces and spices won’t stick to your freezer bag, and your meat will be the first thing poured into your slow cooker.
- Remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag. (You can watch me demonstrate here.)
- Lay the bags flat in your freezer and stack to save space.
For oven recipes:
- Store your meal in a glass casserole dish or aluminum pan (you can use disposable.) Place layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil on the top of the dish.
- If you are stacking multiple casseroles in your freezer, place layers of cardboard in-between so they don’t collapse into one another.
4. Label your freezer meal.
Use a pen or Sharpie marker to label your freezer meal with the following:
- To thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking (if necessary)
- Ingredients, if any, that need to be added the day of cooking
- Cooking instructions
- Use-by date (most freezer meals will last in a standard freezer up to three months)
5. Cook your freezer meal.
Most freezer meals need to be thawed in the refrigerator overnight. Thawing helps your meal cook more evenly and quickly. It will also help your slow cooker meal fit in your slow cooker. (Because it’s hard to fit a frozen square block in an oval-shaped slow cooker!)
Follow your recipe’s instructions for cooking your meal in your slow cooker or oven. Frozen slow cooker recipes may require an extra 1-2 hours of cooking. Frozen oven recipes may need an additional hour of cooking. When you’re first getting started with freezer meals, check your meal at the end of your recipe’s recommended cooking time and add more time as needed.
Dr. Kelly McNelis is a 31 year old mother of three little girls. She’s also a psychologist, wellness coach, and author of two cookbooks: 15-Minute Freezer Recipes and Easy & Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes. Kelly shares her favorite time-saving tips, DIYs, and recipes on her blog, New Leaf Wellness.
Focus on what you have accomplished…
12 Months to a Healthier You Check-in: Week 4
Are you joining us for the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge? If so, it’s Friday and guess what that means? It’s time for our weekly check-in to post our progress.
January’s Challenge:
We’re focusing on developing the habit of exercising more in January. I encourage you to set a simple and doable goal for exercise and to stick with it.
If you haven’t set your January Exercise Goal yet, be sure to do so and then leave a comment on this post telling us what your goal is. New to this challenge? Read more details on the plan for this year here.
My Exercise Goal for January
My goal for January is to consistently exercise at least 5 times per week. I plan to follow the P90X workout schedule except for the days when I’m traveling/out of town. On those days, I plan to stick with cardio/running.
This Week’s Progress:
So I didn’t entirely bomb this week like I did last week, but between my book launch and a cold, I only managed to exercise a few times.
Truthfully, I was feeling frustrated over not hitting my goals again this week, but my friend Joy reminded last night the last two weeks have been very different than usual and I just need to practice what I preach and give myself grace. So I’m trying to do just that. 🙂
How Are YOU Doing?
Leave a comment telling us how you did on your exercise goals this past week. If you’re blogging about this challenge, leave the direct link to your blog post about the challenge below.
Are you on social media? You can also share your progress on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter by using hashtag #12MonthstoaHealthierYou.
Gretchen’s $51 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Dillons
1 Kroger Tortillas – $1.59
1 Cardboard box – $0.47 (I needed this for a package I’m sending to someone.)
1 Kroger Butter – $2.59
1 gallon Dillons Milk – $2.98
1 Back to Nature Crackers – $2.50 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $1.50 each after coupons
1 Kroger Unbleached Flour – $1.99
1 Green Pepper – $0.75
0.81 lbs Broccoli @ $1.49/lb – $1.21
1 POM Juice – $1, used $0.50/1 printable – $0.50 after coupon
1 Cucumber – $0.75
1 Kroger Chicken Drumsticks – $4.21 ($0.99/lb)
Items a part of the Mega Sale (Buy 6, Get $3 off instantly):
1 Bird’s Eye Recipe Ready Frozen Vegetables – $1.49, used $1.50/1 coupon from the 1/12 SmartSource insert – Free after coupon
3 Red Baron Frozen Pizza – $2.49 each, used $3/3 printable – $1.49 each after coupon
1 Kraft Cheese – $1.99
2 Turkey Hill Ice Cream – $3.99 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $2.99 each after coupons
4 Quaker Popped Rice Snacks – $0.79 each, used 2 $0.75/2 coupon from the 1/12 RedPlum insert – $0.42 each after coupons
2 Multigrain Cheerios – $1.99 each, used 2 $0.75/1 coupon from the 1/12 SmartSource insert – $1.24 each after coupons
1 Success Rice – $1.29, used $0.50/1 coupon from the January All You magazine – $0.79 after coupon
1 Minute Brown Rice – $1.29, used $0.50/1 coupon from the January All You magazine – $0.79 after coupon
1 Snuggle Fabric Softener – $1.99, used $1.50/1 e-coupon – $0.49 after coupon
2 Pull-Ups Big Kid Wipes – $1.19 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $0.19 each after coupons
3 Kraft Barbecue Sauce – $0.49 each
5 All Laundry Detergent – $1.99 each, used 2 $3/2 coupon from the 1/5 RedPlum insert and $1.50/1 e-coupon – $0.49 each after coupons (I also will received a $1 SavingStar rebate!)
1 Casa Fiesta Enchilada Sauce – $0.69
1 Casa Fiesta Green Chilies – $0.69
2 Casa Fiesta Refried Beans – $0.69 each
Total before sales and coupons: $120.70
Total with tax ($4.77) after sales and coupons: $50.76
Menu Plan for this Week
Breakfasts
Cereal and/or Homemade Granola
Lunches
Leftovers, Cheese/Crackers/Veggies, Cheese Quesadillas, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Veggie Stirfry
Dinners
Chicken Drumsticks, Tossed Salad, Baked Potatoes, Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Green Chicken Enchiladas, Fruit Salad
Rice and Beans, Sliced Avocados
Homemade Cheese Pizza, Tossed Salad
Hashbrown Casserole, Steamed Broccoli
Dinner with friends
Dinner with family
Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: Review by Andy Andrews
I was so honored that Andy Andrews wrote a review and recommendation of my book on his blog yesterday. Here’s a snippet:
If you’re spending most of your day tired, stressed, and overwhelmed, there is only one thing that can fix those problems—a plan. And that’s exactly what Crystal’s book provides, a simple 9-strategy plan that you can apply to make your life easier.
Even though this book is geared mostly toward moms, I—as a husband and dad—found there to be a ton of useful information for me as well! Here’s why:
- The book is full of practical strategies that can positively affect not just moms, but the entire family. Sure, they are strategies for moms to implement, but Crystal’s ideas on goal-setting, time management, and rediscovering passion are things that will have a HUGE impact on our two sons and me as well.
- Crystal embraces principles. And you know I’m a big fan of those!
- She focuses on the “why.” Everyone wants to have less stress and more time, but we rarely ask ourselves why we want those things. Crystal keeps you focused on the big overall result that matters most—a happy, joyful family that is built to impact the lives of others.
Read the full post.
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If you don’t know where you are going…
Inverted Pizza
This is a fun variation on pizza that even my pickiest eaters gobble up. If you are looking for something a little different to serve for dinner that only uses basic ingredients and can be made at the last minute (or made ahead of time and frozen) – you must try upside down pizza!
Guest post from Brigette Shevy
Your family will love this Upside Down Pizza Casserole
The first time I ever made this recipe was with my great-grandma. Every Saturday, for many years, Crystal and I would spend several hours at our great-grandparent’s house. After the cleaning was finished, I loved helping my Grandmother in the kitchen. Even well into her 80’s and 90’s, she loved trying new recipes!
This was one we tried together – and I liked it so much that I copied it out and brought it home with me. It quickly became a staple in our family’s recipe box!
What is Upside Down Pizza?
Upside-Down Pizza is an easy, kid-friendly, all-in-one dish with the sauce and meat on the bottom and the “crust” on the top (hence “upside down” pizza!)
Add a bag of frozen veggies, and dinner is ready!
Ingredients For Inverted Pizza
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 can or jar (15 ½ oz.) pizza sauce (or 2 cups homemade sauce)
- ½ tsp. garlic salt
- ¼ tsp. oregano
- 8 oz. grated Mozzarella cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp. oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Upside Down Pan Pizza Variations
I rarely follow the recipe exactly as I love mixing it up with different pizza toppings and spices… so feel free to improvise!
Add in whatever pizza-like toppings and ingredients you have in the house (or whatever your family loves)
(Note: If you end up adding a bunch of salty toppings such as olives or pepperoni, you will probably need to add less salt than the recipe calls for.)
How to Make Pizza Upside Down
1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Brown ground beef and onion. Drain off fat.
3. Mix in pizza sauce, garlic salt, and oregano.
4. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch pan and sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, oil, and flour.
6. Pour over meat mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake 30-40 minutes (You can turn on the broiler for the last minute or two if you want a browner, crispier top).
Storing Inverted Pizza
Any leftovers can be portioned out for lunches and refrigerated in food storage containers for up to a week (or frozen for longer).
Recipe
Pizza Upside Down Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 16 oz pasta sauce (or 2 cups of homemade sauce)
- ½ tsp. garlic salt
- ¼ tsp. oregano
- 8 oz. Mozzarella cheese grated
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp. oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Brown ground beef and onion. Drain off fat.
- Mix in pizza sauce, garlic salt, and oregano.
- Pour into a greased 9×13-inch pan and sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, oil, and flour.
- Pour over meat mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake 30-40 minutes (You can turn on the broiler for the last minute or two if you want a browner, crispier top).
Nutrition
Serving: 1piece | Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 681mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 478IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 230mg | Iron: 2mg
Love this recipe?
Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!
Brigette is a full-time wife and mother who is blessed with three amazing bundles of energy and another on the way. She enjoys music, experimenting in the kitchen, homeschooling her children, finding great deals, long-distance running, and anything chocolate.
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Shared Jan 24, 2014
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How to Combat a Ridiculous Work Schedule and Stop Feeling So Overwhelmed
How to Combat a Ridiculous Work Schedule and Stop Feeling So Overwhelmed
I was honored to be interviewed by my friend, Laura Vanderkam, for a piece on FastCompany.com on How to Combat a Ridiculous Work Schedule and Stop Feeling So Overwhelmed. Here’s a snippet:
When Crystal Paine launched MoneySavingMom.com in 2007, she thought it would be a small offshoot of the blog she had been keeping. Then the economy crashed, and millions of people wanted to know how she fed her family for $35 a week. She soon found herself running a company that was growing so fast her hosting service went down every afternoon. She couldn’t stay on top of advertising queries. “I pulled all nighters,” she says. “Your body forgets how to relax and sleep.”
At first, she thought she could soldier through–things would be better after the next big project–but “that’s never how it is with a startup,” she says. “It took me months to realize it’s never going to get better. I needed to step back and make better choices if I wanted this thing to run for the long haul.”
She wrote about her journey back to sanity in a new book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode. While the book is primarily aimed at the moms of young kids who comprise the majority of her 1.5 million monthly readers, Paine’s advice is also relevant to entrepreneurs working crazy hours at all kinds of startups. Here are her tips for clawing out from total chaos.
Read the full article.
Q&A: How do you set goals if your spouse isn’t a goal-setter?
How would you go about setting family goals if your spouse is not a big goal-setter? It’s not at all that he’s lazy or doesn’t care about improvement or seeing our family grow, he’s just not a planner by nature and doesn’t enjoy the process where you think through last year and think about the coming year. -an anonymous reader
What a great question — and I think it’s one that many people wonder about. Here are some thoughts I have:
1. Don’t Nag
If you want to ruin your relationship, start trying to nag and drag your spouse along with your latest and greatest ideas. It’s a recipe for disaster — and discord.
2. Don’t Compare
It’s so easy to see other marriages and wish ours could be like theirs. Or to hear someone else talk about how great their spouse is and to wish our spouse would be more like that.
But here’s the deal: no marriage is even remotely perfect. All marriages have struggles. All spouses have flaws. Spend your time looking for things to be thankful for about your marriage instead of wasting time wishing your spouse would change.
3. Do Communicate
I encourage you to sit down with your spouse and share your heart. Gently communicate your desires to be a little more intentional as a family.
However, when you sit down to discuss this, it’s vitally important that you come with an open mind. Don’t have everything all mapped out and badger your spouse into signing off on your plan.
Listen to your spouse’s thoughts and concerns. If your spouse sees that you genuinely want their input, they are going to be much more apt to considering joining you in the journey. But they will likely resist from the get-go if you don’t seem to care about their desires and or have any willingness to hear them.
4. Do Focus on YOU
Communicate your desires, but leave your expectations for your spouse at the door. It’s wonderful to be working toward things together as a couple, but if your spouse just isn’t interested in goal-setting right now, you can still set goals that don’t require the involvement or participation of your spouse. (For instance, if you look at my 12 Goals for 2014, you’ll see that most all of them don’t require any participation from anyone but me.)
You are the only person you can change in a relationship. So invest your efforts in improving YOU instead of spending time frustrated that your spouse isn’t changing.
Related Post: What Do You Do If You’re a Spender Who Is Married To a Saver?
What advice and suggestions do the rest of you have for this reader?
Shared Jan 23, 2014
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Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: Spent $1.21 for $37 worth of products!
Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: Spent $1.21 for $37 worth of products!
CVS Shopping Trip
2 Irish Spring Body Wash – $3 each
Used 2 $1/1 coupon from the 1/19 SmartSource insert4 Speed Stick Deodorant – $1.99 each
Used 2 Buy One Get One Free coupon from the 1/19 SmartSource insert1 Cover Girl Lip Gloss – Marked down to $0.69 (This is normally $6.99!)
Used $1/1 mailer coupon1 Hershey’s Nuggets – $2.22
Used $10 ECBs from previous shopping trip (adjusted down to $9.89)
Total before coupons and ECBs: $37.43
Total (tax only): $1.21, Received $6 ECBs for buying $12 in Irish Spring Body Wash and Speed Stick Deodorant