Giveaway Blogdom

Guest Recipe: Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

Giveaway Blogdom — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:21:00 +0000

The warm days of April mean ice cream in our house! Make ice cream extra special with homemade hot fudge sauce.

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce is frugalicious and fast! Give this hot fudge recipe a try, and you’ll never buy the stuff in a jar again…I promise!

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce is frugal because it costs less than $1 to make!

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce is delicious!

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce is fast…in less than 10 minutes you’ll be ready to enjoy a delicious hot fudge sundae!

Recipe – Hot Fudge
2oz. unsweetened chocolate squares
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt

Directions
1. Melt chocolate & butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat (stir constantly).
2. Add sugar, stir constantly until blended.
3. Add milk, stir constantly 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved (do not boil).
4. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla & salt.

This recipe makes 2 generous servings!

For and extra does of decadence top my fudge pie with ice cream and homemade hot fudge sauce.

Best Affordable Family Travel Ideas for Summer

Giveaway Blogdom — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Your family doesn’t necessarily have to scrap the idea of taking a summer vacation just because you’re on a budget. There are ways that you can still get away this summer without racking of tons of debt in order to do it. Below are several great ideas that will have your family enjoying a little R&R this summer without breaking the bank.

Take a Local Vacation
Instead of setting your sights on far-off destinations, why not consider taking a vacation a little closer to home. Many people are never aware of the wonders that are present in their very own backyard. Go ahead and schedule the vacation time and then spend it visiting local attractions. Obtain a guidebook for your home state and spend some time exploring the wealth of attractions and local sights that are within a short driving distance. The best part of taking a local vacation is the amount of money you’re able to save on lodging and food.

Camping
As more people are becoming budget conscious, camping has once again returned as a favored activity. Don’t wait around, go ahead and book your campsite right away. Many states offer excellent campgrounds, replete with all sorts of amenities, services and activities. Don’t have camping gear? Ask family and friends if they have some you might be able to borrow. Of course, if you think that your family might want to make camping a regular activity, it can be a good investment to go ahead and purchase what you need so you can re-use it in the future. Camping not only offers a chance to get away and bond as a family, but also helps in developing an appreciation for nature. The lodging at many campsites is often very inexpensive and many parks and campgrounds offer a wealth of activities for all ages.

Take an Out of Season Vacation
Taking a vacation during the off-season is a great way to enjoy a wonderful vacation at only a fraction of the cost you would pay during peak season. Many ski resorts offer exceptional deals during the summer. What kinds of activities can you enjoy at a ski resort during the summer months? Try biking, hiking, swimming and rafting for starters. Also, many resorts make an effort to host special activities for the kids as well as concerts and festivals.

Swap Houses
One affordable vacation idea that seems to be catching steam is the concept of swapping houses with another family. This method allows you to travel to another location and stay in the home of another family while they theoretically stay in your home. While this method won’t save you much on the cost of travel, it can definitely help you to save on the cost of accommodations. There are even websites specifically dedicated to this idea that can match you up with other families interested in swapping homes.

Take a City Vacation
Do you live within a short driving distance of a large city? If so, why not pack up the family and head into the city for a vacation this summer? Many cities, anticipating slower tourism due to the economy, are offering great deals on accommodation. The close proximity means you can save on travel costs. Many museums also offer events that are free or at least reduced during the summer. Also, be sure to do your homework ahead of time and find out whether certain attractions are offering special deals.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging for three years; she loves to stay up to date on fashion including summer styles, trendy hats and designer eyewear. Her frugal ways have also led her to find great coupons at Savings.com.

How To Pick…Watermelons

Brandy — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:55:29 +0000

Courtesy of Urban Next

Watermelons are a wonderful and versatile fruit. They are great as a refreshing snack on a hot summer’s day, great for adding into your yogurt and also you can bake with them. All that and much more are possible from this wonder fruit. How you tell if a watermelon is ripe or not? This guide will help eliminate the guess work when picking out the perfect watermelon.

Facts about Watermelons:

* Watermelons are related to cantaloupes, squash and pumpkins and other plants that grow on vines and on the ground.

* Watermelons can be round or oblong or spherical.

* Most have thick rinds that are often spotted or striped.

* There are over 1200 varieties of watermelon and their weight can range from a few pounds to over two hundred pounds.

* They are an excellent source of Vitamin A- which helps maintain eye health and is an antioxidant)-, Vitamin C -good for the immune system, healing wounds, promote healthy teeth and gums and Vitamin B6 –which helps brain function and for converting protein into energy and other important nutrients for the body.

Picking out the Perfect Watermelon:

1. It should have a firm texture and have a symmetrical shape with no major bruises or any scarring.

You’ll need to carefully examine the entire watermelon for any signs that it’s a bad melon. Watermelons do have a thick rind or skin that protects the fruits

flesh and keeps sealed their tasty flavor. When watermelons are ripe the rind will have a nice dark green color.

2. Turn the watermelon over and check out the bottom. There should be a yellow spot which is also known as the ground spot as they sat on the group soaking up the sun and nutrients.

If the spot is another color, i.e. white or greenish, the watermelon was probably picked too soon and wouldn’t be as rip as it should be. At the bottom of the melon if you see saps coming out of the melon don’t be too grossed out. This is an indication that a bee found the watermelon and extracted some of its sweet nutrients for its hive. This is a sign that the melon is ripe, juicy and sweet.

3. When you’re picking out a watermelon they should be relativity heavy compared to their size.

Watermelons are 92% water so if they are surprisingly heavy that’s a good sign!

Optional:

4. After picking up the watermelon thump the side with your knuckles.

This ‘thump test’ is a point of contention when picking out watermelon the Some people claim that if the watermelon makes a hollow sound then it’s ripe. If you’re confident in your hearing then for the thump test do the following:

A. Hold the melon away from your body and give it a few good raps with your knuckles.

B. Listen for a hollow sound. If it has a deeper sound than that, then it’s not ripe and just full of water. This can be caused because the center has been separated into chunks caused either by pollution, farmers picking it too quickly or too much fertilizer. This condition is known as ‘hollow’ heart or if you come across this a broken heart – a non-quality watermelon.

The next time you’re at the grocery store or the local farmers market and watermelons are available you will have the skills and the knowledge to pick out the perfect melon so you and your entire family will enjoy this superb fruit.

About the Author: Jeremy enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He writes on behalf of EasyApplianceParts, an online retailer of appliance replacement parts.

Wondering how to pick out other fruits and vegetables check our weekly series or suggest a fruit/vegetable. Ask your local produce manager what to look for when picking fruits and vegetables. Most of them are more than knowledgeable about what to look for AND most will give you a sample if you ask. The stores would rather you give you a sample and make sure you are happy with your purchase than lose a customer or have to replace produce that was less than perfect.

Spring is here

Baby Nari Baby Hip Hugger Review

April — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:53:50 +0000

How many mammas have carried your little one around till your arms and/or backs are sore? How many moms have weight lifter worthy arms from holding their little pumpkins? Ya we all have. I have an over 30 pound 2-year-old that loves to be held, however after a few minutes I have to put him down. Baby Nari has created a wonderful solution the Baby Hip Hugger! The Baby Hip Hugger is a product that has 2 different sizes that can be used when baby starts to sit on their own and one clear until baby is 40 lbs! Perfect timing! Unlike many carriers baby can be picked up and put down quickly no straps or hook. And baby can sit in several different positions. Carrying your bundle of joy can cause stress and strain on your back and arms, Baby Hip Hugger solves this.

I received a Baby Hip Hugger to review for an infant (10 months/22lbs). This durable item arrived and was rather fascinating. It only had one strap (around your waist), a covered foam seat area (with an anti skid heart-ahh) and many storage places perfect for diapers, pinkies, keys… you name it. This is an amazing product (although I had to borrow a kid—- a girl! It was tough). Baby can easily sat get in several positions, making it easier to do those takes you need extra hands for such as vacuuming with a 6 month that wants to be held. I am also obsessed with pockets, I loved all the storage places on it. I am not fond of carrying baby and diaper bag in to the store “just in case” I would rather toss in a diaper and wipes in this and call it good. The single problem I discovered with this product is it is recommended for individuals up to a size 40″ waist, which makes this tough for some of us mommies.

Baby Hip Hugger also comes with “baby’s first gift”. In addition to being an amazing product, Baby Hip Huggers have won the National Parenting Center seal of approval, “Mr.Dad and Graded” award seal. 2011 top choice of the year away and parent tested patent approved seal. This is a great gift for any new or seasoned parent, we all know how being a parent requires extra hands, this is your extra hand.

Guest Post: Ideas For Decorating With Kid's Art

Giveaway Blogdom — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Hi, I’m Brooke, and I’m so excited to be guest posting today! I am addressing a problem that a lot of us as parents have: our kids create piles and piles of artwork, and we have no idea what to do with it all. It usually either gets displayed on the overly covered refrigerator, or gets stuck on a random wall with a pushpin. And so, so much of it ends up left to die in a mountain of artwork that’s been put in a corner on the counter, or shoved into an overflowing drawer.
Well no more!!
You can proudly display your kid’s creations, AND still maintain a put-together look in your home. (And take back that drawer and counter space!)
The first thing to do is to come to the harsh but true realization that about 95% of what our children make is worthy of the trash can. I’m not saying throw it out right away, but designate a spot that is out of sight from the rest of the house (like the child’s bedroom) and have a bulletin board or other means to display the mediocre stuff. When you’re handed a scribble on notebook paper, stick it up in that spot. A day or two later you can replace it with something else they’ve made that isn’t exactly display worthy, and they’ll never notice. This is probably the most important part of this whole post, because before you can start stylishly decorating with your children’s art, you have to be able to get rid of the stuff that isn’t their best work. You may feel bad trashing the things that they make, but by displaying everything, you also devalue everything, including what’s actually good. Now on to the fun part!
Every so often, in the midst of the mediocre, your kids will bring you a gem: a piece of art that is more than worthy of being displayed. But before you throw it up on the fridge, think about how you could give it a more permanent place in your home.

Try displaying their art:
· IN A FRAME-

Kids artwork looks amazing when it is framed, and works with any style of décor. You can create a gorgeous gallery wall of pictures that your kids have made. To keep the look cohesive, keep the frames all one color, and then use mats in different colors that match the picture that you’re framing.

If you want to display lots of pictures but don’t want to put a ton of holes in the wall, get a couple long shelves to display them on. This makes it easy to change out the pictures as your children make new things, and will take up less space on the wall.
Instead of a photograph of your family above the couch, try a large family portrait drawn by your child. Frame and mat it as nicely as you would with a photograph and it will become a piece of art.
If your kids have hooks by a door where they hang their backpacks, coats, etc, hang each child’s self-portrait above their individual hook(s). It’s a cute and personalized way to show whose stuff goes where.
· ON A CANVAS-

Make a collage on a large canvas by covering it with pictures your kids have made. Use Mod Podge to glue the art down, and also to go back over the top as a glosser/sealer.
· ON A COASTER-

Buy tiles in a shape and color that match your home’s décor. Cut out small pictures that your kids have made and use Mod Podge to attach them to the top of the tile. You could even make coasters for each person in the family by using a labeled drawing of each family member.
Buy cork tiles (you can find them at Wal-Mart and Target next to the bulletin boards) and cut out pieces of cork to fit the bottom of your tiles. Use glue or the adhesive strips that come with the cork to attach to the bottom, and you’ve got totally personalized and unique coasters.
· ON ITEMS AROUND YOUR HOME-

Don’t go crazy with this, because just like the rule with editing the art to be displayed, going over-board with the decopage will cease to look “cool” and instead start looking “over done”. But, if you keep it to only an item or two, you can give a new and interesting look to otherwise plain-jane décor.
Find an item around your house that could use a little extra somethin’ and Mod Podge a small piece of kid’s art to it.

I did this on a whim when my son brought home this speech-bubble with the word “Like” on it.
· HUNG CLOTHESLINE-STYLE ON A CABLE OR STRING

This is actually what I did in my son’s room to keep all the “mediocre” stuff at bay, but this style looks nice almost any where in your home, especially in transitional areas, like a wall between rooms, or in a hallway.
You can use different styles of cords and clips to match the style of the rest of your home. In my son’s room I used two long pieces of hemp cord, and hung the pictures using clothespins that he and I had painted.
I hope this has given you a few ideas! I think that the very best homes reflect the lives of the people who live there, and since our kids are our lives I think that our homes should show that. But, I also believe that we can do that in a way that is aesthetically pleasing, so that our homes ALSO represent the stylish Mamas who decorate them!

-Brooke @ Inside-Out Design

Daily Trivia – $20 Subway Gift Card

Brandy — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:00:55 +0000

Want to win a $20 Subway Gift Card? Of course you do! Welcome to our Daily Trivia Challenge where you can answer some simple questions to earn cash, gift cards, and lots of other great prizes! Come back every day, Monday through Friday, for your new question. Questions must be answered on the day they are posted to receive credit, so make sure you come back and check in with us every day! Each correct answer will win you one entry for the monthly trivia prize (this month it’s a $20 Subway Gift Card).

Remember if you enter ever challenge question of the month you will receive 20 extra entries into the drawing AND for every complete week that you enter all of the trivia questions (meaning if you answer every question Monday-Friday of a single week), you will automatically receive an extra 10 entries. These entries are in addition to the extra 20 entries you will receive for responding to all the questions, even if you don’t get every answer correct. Submit your own trivia question and, if we use it, you will automatically receive an extra 5 entries into the monthly challenge. Trivia questions will be posted at 9:00am MST daily and must be answered by 11:59 pm MST that same day. For the complete rules please click HERE. Your trivia question for March 30, 2012 is:

Question: What is tomorrow’s holiday called, April 1st?

To submit your answer simply fill out this short form below – happy entering!

How to Pick… Avocados

Brandy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:00:02 +0000

Photo courtesy of whatscookingamerica.net

Author: Maddie J.

High in fiber, a good source lutein, folic acid, potassium, and rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, avocados are as beneficial for the health as they are delicious. Whether mashed to make classic guacamole or sliced for sandwiches and salads, avocados taste best when picked at the height of ripeness.

Avocados are typically shipped to stores in an unripe state. Unripe avocados can be bought and stored on the countertop until they are ready to eat or can be placed in a paper bag with an apple to speed up the ripening process. It’s sometimes possible to find ripe avocados at the store as well. A good avocado feels heavy in the hand.
A ripe avocado will yield slightly to pressure. If the pressure leaves a deep indentation, it may be overripe. If the avocado has a stem attached, the stem will fall off easily and will be green underneath when it’s ripe.
Once the skin is peeled away, avocados quickly begin to turn brown. They can be sprinkled with lime or lemon juice or placed in a bowl of ice water for up to an hour to slow discoloration. Imperfect avocados can still lend their unique flavor to many recipes, but for the most attractive presentation, using an avocado when it’s at it full peak of ripeness is best.

While there are many varieties of avocados, they all fall into two general categories: smooth-skinned and rough-skinned. Rough-skinned Hass avocados account for around 90 percent of the market. Hass avocados have a buttery flavor and texture that most people prefer over the smooth-skinned varieties, which have a less distinctive, blander taste. Hass avocados turn from green to deep purple as they ripen. Smooth-skinned varieties keep their green color.

Author Bio: Maddie J. is a mom and coupon clipper who loves to make guacamole for her hungry teens. She loves to help people with everyday advice from tips for a safe and successful road trip to shopping for groceries.

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Daily Trivia – $20 Subway Gift Card

Brandy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:00:51 +0000

Question: What’s most likely to occur when your diaphragm goes into spasms?

To submit your answer simply fill out this short form below – happy entering!

Daily Trivia – $20 Subway Gift Card

Brandy — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:00:54 +0000

Question: What restaurant chain’s slogan is, Eat More Chikin?

To submit your answer simply fill out this short form below – happy entering!

Daily Trivia – $20 Subway Gift Card

Brandy — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:00:49 +0000

Question: What is the name for the type of Japanese verse (poem) form having three lines with 5, 7, and 5 syllables?

To submit your answer simply fill out this short form below – happy entering!