My Million Dollar Wreath

Good Evening all,  I finally finished my wreath just in time for Christmas.  I really wanted to make my own this year as a way for the boys and I to really get into the holidays. This just makes the holidays more special especially being a single parent.  Sometimes you just want it to be memorable.  Do you ever wonder why we have wreaths at the holidays.  The circle of the wreath means never ending.  The evergreen aspect represents everlasting life.  The holly berries from a religious aspect represent Jesus blood.  That's the meaning of the wreath.  I love all the blogs that make their own.  So I got inspired to make mine.  If you haven't made one yet check out the NY daily news article about a Finnish florist who made a  million dollar wreath using rubies and diamonds.  Here's the link so you can check it out  http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/world-expensive-wreath-unveiled-article-1.1539725.

If that doesn't inspire you check out mine that only cost a couple of dollars using items from wal-mart, dollar tree and the local thrift store.

To make this wreath you need the wreath found at wal-mart.  You can find packages of the green pipe cleaner and the tinsel pipe cleaner at wal-mart and dollar tree.  I found the bows and the candy cane buttons at the local thrift store.  Just wrap the pipe cleaner around the wreath until filled in  and tie the ribbons on or I had glitter glue on standby to fill in any exposed areas or securing parts to the wreath.  It may not cost a lot but it makes my family feel like a million bucks.

For my other easy pipe cleaner craft check out my tree at  http://lorrainesresources.blogspot.com/2013/11/recipe-for-perfect-x-mas-plus-crafts.html

Chunky Monkey Turned into Funky Monkey

Good Evening all, Went a little crazy with the cookie recipe.  It was a basic peanut butter cookie recipe that I played with a little to much.  Here's what I used to create this interesting cookie.  

1 yellow moist cake mix

3 eggs

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 cups water

2 tablespoons banana extract

1 cup chocolate chips 

Add the first six ingredients.  I used a mixer because that peanut butter is really thick.  Then folded in the chocolate chips.  Used a tablespoon and put mounds on greased cookie sheet.  Cooked at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until edges are brown.

They looked fine just an after taste could be from the chocolate or too much banana extract not sure.  If you choose to make this I would lessen the extract and the water.

CVS Trip Saved 93% on Toiletries

Good Afternoon all,  Finally made it back to CVS this week and did two transactions and did really well.  I took advantage of the Kellogg's sale  and here's what I got today.

2 Fruit Loops Cereal

1 Rice Krispies Treats

2 Pop tart packs

2 circus peanut bags

2 Hershey bag candies

Used two $1 coupons on candy and had a mess up their was supposed to be two rice krispies in this transaction but it went into the other one but the machine still took the coupon.

Total before sales/coupons/ECB's    $29.71      O.O.P.  $15.71

Here's the 2nd Transaction was able to take advantage of the Purex deal very happy.

3 Purex Laundry Soap--Did the B1G2F and was able to use the $1.50/2  and .50/1 coupons

1-18 count Scott Toilet Paper  used $.75/1 found on package

2-Mitchum Deodorant used 2 $1/1

2-VO5 Shampoo

1-JTB Liquid Dish Soap

1-Romance Body wash  used $1/1 from coupon machine

1-Rice Krispies Treats

1-Tums

I used $19 in ECB's for this transaction.  I got a $10 ECB from the CVS survey panel.  So if you have not signed up for the survey panel.  I recommend you do it because for answering a 5 minute survey I got $10 ECB.  Other ECB's came from register transactions.  So here's the total.

Before sales/ecb's/coupons  $53.42                       O.O.P   $5.19   also got $3 in ECB's

Please fellow couponers and CVS fans like my fb page would love for you to visit and I will return the favor.

Frankies Corner-Just Call Me Linus

Frankie says Walmart has cool pet stockings for under $5.  So be sure to take care of the fur kids in your life with their holiday treat.

Breakfast Banana Split

Good Morning all.  Here's another one I wanted to share with you.  I found this one years ago in an old Taste of Home magazine.  It's called a Breakfast Banana Split.  Instead of ice cream and chocolate syrup you substitute breakfast items i.e yogurt, cereal and fruit.  You can vary many ways depending on your personal preference.  You start with a banana cut down the middle.  You put your yogurt scoops instead of the ice cream, any flavor you like.  Then top it with your favourite cereal or granola and add fruit, very easy to do and very tasty. Here's some pics of mine.

Frugal Christmas Displays

Good Morning all,  I wanted to show you what I did with some of the thrift store hauls and crafts the boys and I made.  So here are a couple of displays that we did around the house.  The first one is the dining room table only problem Frankie keeps getting up there and trying to chew the little glass tree (weird cat).

The second grouping was on a little table in my living room.  Everything was either gotten for free at the end of  yard sales or very inexpensively at thrift stores hope this inspires you to be creative.  Have a great day.

Songs of the Season

Good Morning all,  Running a little late today had to run and do my meat shopping at Save mart will post that later.  When I think of Christmas, I look forward, no listen forward to the music associated with the holidays.

Who doesn't love Bing Crosby's White Christmas makes everyone wish for snow on Christmas day.  I can remember when I lived in Kentucky and it snowed on Christmas Day.  It just made the day more special and the boys made a Snowman outside.  I feel we have more memorable moments because of snow.   Another song I love is "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer".  This is funny and cute and if your feeling a little blue this at least gets you to laugh.  "Love Actually" has a another popular song "All I want for Christmas is you" gets you thinking about the ones you love in your life and spending time with them.  This makes me want to party and spend time with family.  Last but certainly not least is "The Christmas Shoes"  a very sad and poignant song about a boy and his mother dying at Christmas.  I always cry when I hear this song makes you think about the people you lost at holiday time.  What are some of the songs you listen too at Christmas?  Do you take your kids out caroling?  So this year, I want you to get the music out and share some of your favourite songs with your family and friends.  Enjoy the holidays everyone.