.:Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.....YUMMY!

Makes 3 dozen cookies!

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk-chocolate chip
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips


Directions
1. Heat oven to 350F. Cream the butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed. Lower to medium speed and add the egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. On low speed, add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.

2. Form the dough into approximately 1 1/2-inch balls. Place on parchment or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.

3. Bake until the centers are just set, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

TADA! Then you have wonderfully delicious Double Chocolate Chip cookies :) Thanks, Real Simple!

7 Signs That Your Child Loves You

1) Your newborn stares into your eyes. He's actually working hard to memorize your face. He doesn't understand anything else about the world, but he knows you're important.

2) Your baby thinks about you even when you're not around. Between 8 and 12 months old, he'll start to scrunch his face and look around when you leave the room; and he'll smile when your return.

3) Your toddler throws wicked tantrums. Nope, those screaming fits don't mean he's stopped loving you. He wouldn't be so hurt and angry if he didn't trust you so deeply.

4) Your toddler runs to you for comfort when he falls down or feels sad. Kids this age may not truly understand the meaning of "I love you," but their actions speak louder than their words.

5) Your preschooler gives you a flower picked from the garden, a finger-painted heart, a sparkly rock, or another gift.

6) Your preschooler wants your approval. He'll start to be more cooperative around the house, and he'll look for chances to impress. "Look at me!" will become a catch phrase.

7) Your grade-schooler trusts you with secrets, like his first crush or his embarrassing moment. You're his confidante, even if he shies away from your hugs in public.

.:How I Saved Almost $50 in Groceries

A few weeks ago, I saw this show on TLC called "Extreme Couponing". In this particular episode, two women went grocery shopping, their bill was more or less in the $500's and after using coupons, the bill went all the way down to some where around $6 or so! Crazy huh? I didn't think it could be possible, so I decided to try it out myself, and see how much I could save!

I did some extensive research on the internet, found sales, clipped and ordered coupons, made a spreadsheet to stay organized, and got myself out to the stores. Unfortunately, none of the grocery stores in the area double or triple coupons (which would have enabled me to save more), but I still saved a crazy amount of money for the things that I bought.

Target
French’s Spicy Mustard $.25 each
Bird’s Eye Frozen Veggies $.66 each
Vaseline Lotion $.99 each
Up&Up Pantiliners $.39
Wheat Thins $1.00 each
Kellog’s Crunchy Nut Cereal $.25 each
Kraft Shredded Cheese $.87 each

Total BEFORE coupons: $26.87
Total AFTER coupons: $9.62!!!
Total savings of $17.25

Wal-Mart
Snuggle Dryer Sheets $.87 each
Dove Deodorant $.47 each
Carefree Pantiliners $.44
Williams Taco Seasoning $.31 each
Jello Pudding Mixes $.49 each
Huggies Wipes $.47
Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste $1.77
Clearasil Face Wash $1.67
Kraft Sandwich Shop Mayo $.75
Kikkoman’s Soy Sauce $.42 each
Louisiana Hot Sauce $.44 each

Total BEFORE coupons $50.79
Total AFTER coupons $20.62!!!
Total savings of $30.17

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how much I had saved at each store! You can do it too with just some time, organization, and dedication!

The two main websites I used to find deals with coupons were: Money Saving Mom and Common Sense with Money. I started getting the Sunday paper to use the coupon inserts that come with them. I also used Coupons and Things by Dede to order multiple coupons, and coupons that I didn't have on hand from past inserts.

If you're interested in knowing more, or need some direction on how to start, email me!

.:FREE Pyrex Potholder

Click here to sign up for a FREE Pyrex Potholder. Pyrex is one of my favorite kitchen brands :) Grab one while supplies last! Don't wait until the last minute. Here's an idea....send one to your mom, sister, grandmother, aunt, who ever! I did!

Thanks, Common Sense with Money!

.:Easy DIY Valentine's Day Ideas

Valentine's Day is coming soon!  In my opinion, some of the most meaningful gifts are those that are made. Low on cash? These are some GREAT V-Day ideas to make for gift giving or just to decorate your home or office.



To see instructions for the above ideas and the other DIY Valentine's Day ideas, click here.

Thanks Real Simple!

.:10 Unexpected Natural Cleaners

Who would've thought that these foods would have other uses than to just eat them!

Oatmeal: Scrub very dirty hands. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water; rinse well.
Rice: Clean the inside of a vase or a thin-necked bottle. Fill three quarters of the vessel with warm water and add a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Cup your hand over the opening, shake vigor-ously, and rinse.
Club Soda: Shine up a scuffed stainless-steel sink. Buff with a cloth dampened with club soda, then wipe dry with another clean cloth.

To see all of the other uses, click here.

Thanks Real Simple!

.:15-Minute Jump-Rope Workout

Hop to it! This old-school recess favorite has great fitness benefits for grown-ups. Jumping rope is an effective cardio exercise that works your arms, legs, and core, helps strengthen your bones, and improves balance. Try this routine, designed by Virginia-based jump-rope expert Buddy Lee (buddyleejumpropes.com).

To see the full workout, click here.

Thanks Real Simple!

Szechuan Green Beans with Ground Pork

Most mornings before going to work, I take out meat from the freezer so that by the time I get home, it's already defrosted. I do this because I DESPISE using the microwave to defrost meat. I have nothing against using the microwave, it's just a personal preference of mine. So today I took out ground pork. I had NO CLUE what I was going to make with it, but I knew I was going to use it.

While at work, I came across this Szechuan recipe that looked easy to make, and I already had most of the ingredients on hand anyways. Plus, Chinese food is my FAVORITE!!

Below is the picture from the recipe, and I also took a picture of what I made:

My dish

Recipe

Instead of using green beans, I used broccoli.I also doubled the recipe because it didn't seem like there would have been enough for the family. It was SOOOO good! I will definitely be making this again :) Here's the recipe if you're interested in making it.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound lean ground pork

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

1 teaspoon peanut oil

2 1/2 cups (1-inch) green beans

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 cups hot cooked white rice

Preparation:

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture, beans, and garlic; cook 3 minutes or until pork loses its pink color, stirring to crumble.

Combine hoisin and next 3 ingredients (through soy sauce) in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add hoisin mixture to pan. Cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Serve over rice.

I changed up the recipe a little bit: 

I  substituted white pepper with black pepper.

I substituted peanut oil with vegetable oil.

And of course I used broccoli instead of the green beans, but you can add anything else you want to it. If you're going to use the green beans, I don't suggest trying to cook them with the meat, they may not fully cook. What I did was cook the broccoli on its own first, and then I added it at the end. If you have any tips or tweaks to this recipe, please share! ENJOY :)

New Uses for Dryer Sheets

William Abranowicz

You know how sometimes you have an abundance of something, you don't want to throw it away, but then again you really want to get rid of it? Well Real Simple has a section on their website that shares new uses for things. If you browse through the list, it's amazing what new uses people come up with for ordinary products. Today, I'll be sharing with you new uses for Dryer Sheets!

Iron Cleaner. Dirty iron? Remove gunk from the soleplate of an iron. With the setting on low, rub the iron over the dryer sheet until the residue disappears, and you're left with a pristine press.

Shoe Freshener. Stinky feet? Roll up one sheet per slipper, sneaker, or loafer, insert, and forget about stinky shoes. (Bonus uses: Toss them in hampers, on closet shelves, in diaper bags.)

Static Stopper. Feeling some friction? Stop static on clothes--or tame flyaway hair--by rubbing a sheet over the problem area.

Sawdust Clearer. Working with wood? An easy way to keep the work area clean. Saw dust at a work station sweeps up so fast with one pass of a used fabric softener sheet.

Thread Detangler. Sewing? To prevent tangles, run a threaded needle through a sheet before you begin stitching.

Scum Buster. Got glass shower doors? Remove obstinate soap buildup from glass shower doors by sprinkling a few drops of water onto a used fabric-softener sheet and start scrubbing.

Drawer Sachet. Want fresh smelling clothes? If fabric-softener sheets make your clothes smell nice in the dryer, just think about what they could do in your dresser. Slip a few fresh ones between folded clothes.

Book Deodorizer. Got old stinky books? Prevent your beloved volumes from acquiring a musty smell by inserting a fabric-softener sheet between pages.

.:Bath & Body Works: Free Scented Candle

Pick up a free scented candle at Bath & Body Works with this printable coupon, no other purchase required! This is a $3.50 value. This coupon is good for use 1/28-1/30/2011. This is a great offer.....Bath & Body Works is one of my favorite places! I'm definitely going to pick this one up this weekend!

Thanks, Common Sense with Money!