Tasty Tuesday - Pumpkin Cream Cupcakes

This recipe comes from Kraft - I'll be making these for Thanksgiving! Yum!

1 pkg. (2 layer size) spice cake mix

1 pkg. vanilla flavor instant pudding

1 C. pumpkin (fresh or canned)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 C. sugar

1 egg

• PREPARE cake batter as directed on package. Add dry pudding mix and pumpkin; mix well. Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups
• BEAT cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Blend in sugar and egg; spoon over batter. Swirl gently with small spoon.
• BAKE on 350 degrees 18 to 21 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool 5 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

3 Free songs from Amazon!

Amazon is offering 3 free songs of your choice! Click here & enter code MP34FREE by November 30th to get yours!

Free 2010 Calendar

For a free 2010 Betty Crocker calendar, click here.

You do need to be a member of Betty Crocker to receive this & subscribe to one of their newsletters. I actually love their newsletters, they have tons of great recipes.

This has been my favorite free calendar. It is a nice size with fairly big "squares" to write our entire family's schedules!

Free Dryer Sheet Sample

Click here for your free sample of Seventh Generation Dryer Sheets.

Walgreens Deals 11/22-11/27

Coffee-mate, 16oz
BOGO Free - 2/$2.49
Use two $1 off printable coupon
.49 for two after coupons

Campbells Tomato Soup - .59 each after in-ad coupon
Use .50/2 printable coupon
.68 for two after coupons

Triaminic Cold and Allergy Relief - 2/$10
Earn - $5 RR when you buy 2
Use - $1.50 off coupon from 10/18 Smart Source or
$1.50 off printable coupon
Use $2/1 Walgreens coupon from Healthy Savings Coupon Booklet (will deduct $4)
Pay $3 out of pocket and get $5 RR back

Monthly Deals -

Buy 3 Lubriderm Body Lotion Fragrance Free, 6oz at $3.79 each
Earn - $8 RRs
Use 3 - $2 off coupons from 10/11 Red Plum
Use $1 off Walgreens coupon from Diabetes and You Winter Issue (will deduct $3 at once)
Pay $2.37 plus tax out of pocket and earn $8 RRs!

CVS Deals 11/22-11/27

Complete Contact Solution - $8.99
You Earn - $8.99 ECBs
Use - $1 off coupon from the 10/25 Red Plum insert
FREE plus $1 overage after coupons and ECBs

6x8 Photo Books - BOGO Free

Kleenex Facial Tissue - .99
Use - .50/3 from the 11/1 Smart Source insert
Use $1 off coupon from the $100 CVS Flu Booklet
FREE after coupon

A few free samples

Click here for a free sample of Always Infinity.

For a free sample of Tampax Pearl, click here.

Free Coffee Sample

I love getting coffee samples! First off, I can't tell you how many times we found ourselves to be out of coffee & a sample has saved our morning! Plus, they are GREAT gifts to give to a coffee loving friend!

Click here to get your free sample of Millstone coffee.

Free Shower Gel from Philosophy!

To get your free Gingerbread Man Shower Gel from Philosophy, become a fan of Philosophy on Facebook, then click on "Go To Application". That will bring up the form to fill out to receive your free shower gel!

Coupon for Trio Building Set

Click here to get $5 off a $10 purchase of a Fisher Price Trio building set.

Free Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic

Kids can build this Garage at Lowe's this Saturday, November 14th from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. for FREE!

Taste of Home $5 Sale!

Taste of Home has 28 of it's cookbooks on sale for only $5 each! These make great gifts! Use any of these codes to save even more -

LST02 - Free Shipping on orders of $20 or more

LST11 - Save $10 on your purchase of $45 or more - expires 1/26/10

Today's Shopping Trip

Here is what I was able to get today from Target & Walgreens.

6 packs of Marshmallows

1 package Huggies Diapers

1 Johnson's Buddies soap

2 packs Trident Layers Gum

4 Reach dental floss

4 boxes of Tylenol Sinus, Cold, & Allergy

1 box Children's Benadryl

3 packages Up & Up wipes

5 packages Up & Up Toddler Wipes

2 Glade Scented Oil Candle Tins

3 Glade Scented Oil Candle refills

1 Almay Pure Blends foundation

My total after coupons - $24.34!

FP Little People Nativity Set

Family Christian has the Little People Nativity Set on sale for $29.97, with .99 shipping. Use any of the following codes to get an even better deal!

1265036 for an extra 30% off, expires 11/15

1256898 - Take an Additional 20% Off Your Entire Purchase, including sale items - Expires 11/20/09

1268529 - Take an Additional 20% Off Your Entire Purchase, including sale items - Expires 11/29/09

1256899 - Buy One Item, Get One Item 50% Off (second item of equal or lesser value) - Expires 12/03/09

Pre Owned Video Games

I just discovered that Walmart has pre owned video games starting at just $1.39! Get free shipping to the store for some great prices on video games! Just do a search for pre owned in video games.

$10 off $10 at JcPenney

Use promotion code GR8VALUE between 11/16 & 11/23 to get $10 of your purchase of $10 or more at JcPenney.

Get a $50 Gift Card for only $40!

Now through December 6th take $40 in change to a CoinStar machine, choose to get your cash back in a Gift Card & they will give you $10 more! Click here for details & click here to find a Coinstar machine near you. You will need to find a machine near you that offers Gift Cards back as an option.

Target Deals

This week Target is offering a $5 GC when you purchase 5 Glade candle tins, refills, or jar candles.

Buy 2 Glade candle tins at $2.50 each
Buy 3 Glade candle refills at $2.50 each
Use 2 free refill when you buy a tin printable coupon &
Use $1/1 refill printable coupon
You will pay $6.50, plus tax out of pocket & receive 1 $5 Target Gift Card
Then submit $5 SC Johnson rebate
Making these FREE!

Bumble Bee Tuna (3 oz.) - $1 each
Use $1off printable here
Free after coupon

Arm & Hammer Toothpaste (travel size) - $1.07
Buy 2 and use $3/2 coupon from the 8/16 Smart Source insert
Get both free after coupon

Johnson’s Buddies Soaps - .99
Use $1 off coupon from the 9/13 Red Plum
Free after coupon

Mr. Potato Head Spud Buds - $5.99
Use $5 off Spud Buds coupon here
.99 after coupon

Musselman's Totally Fruit - $1.54
Use $1 off coupon here
.54 after coupon

Select Reach dental floss - $1.02
Use $1 off coupon from 6/21 Smart Source or
10/18 Red Plum insert or
$3/3 coupon from the 3/15 Smart Source insert
.02 each after coupon

Archer Farms Artisan Bread mini loaves, Brownie Bites, Macaroons, Rice Krispie Treats, Muffins, Chocolate Chip cookies - .99 each
Use $1/1 Archer Farms Bakery Purchase coupon here
Free after coupon

All Laundry Detergent (travel size) - $1
Use $1 off coupon when you sign up here
Free after coupon

Rolaids (3-pack) - $1.57
Buy 2 and use $4/2 in 10/4 Red Plum insert
Free after coupons

Dove Deodorant (travel size) - .97
Use $1 off coupon from 10/4 Red Plum
Free after coupon

You can find a copy of Target's coupon policy here.

Thanks to Money Saving Mom for complining these!

Making Holiday Gifts

This was one of the 1st gifts that my kids were able to make all on their own. My son was 2 (almost 3), & my daughter had just turned 2 when they made these. I bought canvas tote bags, I believe they were around $5 for 3 of them. We used fabric paint & I just taped off a rectangular area & let them paint! You can see, my daughter only "scribble painted", but they turned out really cute. We also made a few aprons for the grandma's using the same method. These were made in 2002 & I still use my tote bag! It is the perfect size to carry my bible, notebook, & pen.

Free Song Download from Amazon

Amazon is giving away 1 free song download by any CMA Nominated Artist, priced at $1.29 or less. Just use code CMAAWARD to get your free download! Click here to get yours.

Download Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving cookbook - FREE!

Click here to download Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Hotline Recipes for free.

Free Taste of Home Thanksgiving Issue - October/November 2009

Get the free digital issue of Taste of Home's Thanksgiving issue, along with several others! Click here to get them. I love this link, I have used it several times already, it is very user friendly. You can click on whichever issue you'd like, then pull down the contents menu to find the recipe index. Once in the recipe index you can easily seach through tons of recipes, click on the page number of the recipe you'd like to see & it takes you straight to the recipe.

Tasty Tuesday - Easy Pumpkin Pie

This recipe was taken from the Taste of Home October/November 2009 Digital issue. Be sure to click here for several more Taste of Home digital issues.

3 eggs
1 C. canned pumpkin
1 C. evaporated milk
1/2 C. sugar
1/4 C. maple syrup
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. maple flavoring
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 unbaked pie shell (9 inch)

• In a large bowl, beat the 1st 10 ingredients until smooth, pour into pie shell.
• Cover edges loosely with foil.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees, bake 40-45 minutes longer, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Remove foil & place on rack to cool.

Save 30% at Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic

Click here to print a coupon for 30% off in store at Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic this Thursday through Sunday - November 12th-15th. Plus, they will give 5% of your total purchase to charity.

Get 4 Preschool Games from Toys R Us for almost FREE!

This is a great deal to get some free or almost free gifts. If you don't buy for little ones you could donate these to a classroom or use them as Angel Tree & other charity gifts!

Here is how the deal works -

• Buy 4 boxes of Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Ants in the Pants, Don't Break the Ice, or Memory - each on sale for $3.99 this week.
• Buy 1 box of Connect 4 or Scrabble, each on sale for $9.99 this week.
• Your total will come up to $25.95 for 5 games.
• If you get the Connect 4, you can use this printable coupon for $5 off.
• You will receive a $10 Toys R Us Gift Card for purchasing $25 worth of Hasbro games.
• Then submit this rebate form. (Each of the $3.99 games are eligible for a $2 rebate each & each of the $9.99 games are eligible for a $3 rebate!)

You will get 5 games for free or almost free after the coupon, gift card, & rebate!

50 Photo Cards for Free, with Free Shipping!

Click here to get an exclusive coupon code from Freebies 4 Mom. You can get 50 free 4x6 or 5x7 photo cards & it includes envelopes. The code doesn't expire until Nov. 30th, which gives you plenty of time to hunt down or take the perfect pictures for your Christmas cards!

Get $40 in Free Flowers from 1-800-FLOWERS

To get $40 in flowers from 1-800-FLOWERS -

• Click here & sign up for their free Fresh Rewards Program.
• Once you are signed up for the Fresh Rewards Program, sign up for 10 gift reminders. You will receive 40 points for each gift reminder, up to 400 points. Once you have 400 points, you can redeem those points for a $40 Fresh Rewards pass!
• You must sign up for Fresh Rewards & put in your 10 gift reminders before Nov. 30th to be eligible for this promotion.

CVS Deals - 11/8-11/14

EARinse - $7.99
You Earn - $7.99 ECBs
Free after ECBs

NovaMax Blood Glucose monitor - $9.99
You earn - $9.99 ECBs
Free after ECBs

All 2x, 64 loads - $9.99
You earn - $3 ECBs
Use - $1 off printable coupon
$5.99 after ECBs & coupon

Clairol Natural Instincts - $6.99
You earn - $3 ECBs
Use -$2 off from 11/1 P&G or
$2 off from 10/11 P&G
$1.99 after ECBs & coupon

Arm & Hammer detergent - BOGO free
Use - $1 off 2 printable coupon

Crest Pro Health, With Scope, Vivid White or Sensitivity - 2/$6.98
You earn - $4 ECB when you buy 2
Use - (2) .75 off coupon from 10/11 P&G or
(2) .50 off coupon from 11/1 P&G
.74 each or .99 each after ECBs & coupons, depending on coupons used

Buy $20 worth of Children's allergy or cold medicines, get $10 ECBs
Use any of the combination of these coupons -
$1 off Benadryl
$2 off Claritin
$2 off Robitussin
$3 off Zyrtec
$2 off Zyrtec
$2 off Dimetapp

Free Sample of floss picks

Click here for a free sample of DenTek Floss Picks from Walmart.

A Great Deal on LED Christmas Lights at Home Depot

Through Nov. 15th - trade in your used or broken incandescent light strings & get $3 off a set of LED lights! Making them just $2.97. You can trade in up to 5 strands.

Inexpensive gifts for kids to make

If you are anything like me, you have had Christmas on your mind for a while now. Coming up with ideas for gifts for everyone, thinking of things the kids can make, coming up with a budget....

Each year my kids make gifts for their grandparents & a few close aunts. I'll be posting some of those things in the next couple of weeks, in hopes it can give you some great ideas! If you have anything your kids have made & would like to share it, please send me an email. If you have pictures, send them too!

Last year, we made our way to each of the Home Depot & Lowe's kids workshops. The kids had a great time at each of them. Nov. & Dec. can get crazy busy & this was just one of those things the kids new was going to be their time. And when we were all done, we had a slew of gifts to give away - FOR FREE! Both Lowe's & Home Depot allowed each of my kids to make a project, yes, even my 1 year old at the time! The kids often spent a day or 2 at home, painting & decorating their projects. I then let them decide who they were giving what to, put them in a room with some gift bags & wrapping paper & they had a blast wrapping presents. Even though I knew what they had made, I was still surprised by what they chose to give to me & how they had decorated it.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

Kids can make this Tile Trivet for free this Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. - noon.

Free Ebook - Thriving on Less

Click here to download a free Ebook, Thriving on Less, Simplifiying in a Tough Economy.

Black Friday,is it worth it?

Oh it is SO worth it! Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is one of my absolute favorite days of the year! There is just something about getting up before the sun to find a bargain! To be honest, in recent years I have found better deals on some things before or after Black Friday.

So, why do I love it so much then? First and foremost, it has become our tradition. My grandmother lives in Springfield & we spend Thanksgiving night at her house. My husband, my mom, my sister & I get up early to shop. "Gee-Gee" (Great Grandma) stays home with the kids while they sleep. Yes, my husband goes, and LOVES it! We go knowing that lines will be long & people will be rude, to me, knowing (I mean REALLY knowing) that is key to having a great time. We love to people watch, we love the camaraderie that forms with others while waiting in line in freezing cold temperatures. And, we do love the ridiculousness of some people! I love the thrill of grabbing the last one off the shelf, or finding something that we thought we were to late for stuck in another aisle. It is the thrill of the hunt! Some years I go with something specific to get, some years I just go because I love it!

How can you know you are getting the best price? Over the last several years the internet has played a huge role in knowing if you are getting a deal. Beginning about now, Black Friday ads begin to leak out. You can do a Google search to find them. I use the website, BFads.net, they send me email notices any time a new store is posted. Knowing what is going to be on sale ahead of time, helps you to know if something is a great deal now. And the other thing - ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS! If I find something at a better price after Black Friday, I buy it & return the Black Friday item.

Free Kashi TLC Bar

For a free sample of a Kashi TLC Bar, click here.

5 Free Samples of Taster's Choice Gourmet Coffee Singles

Click here to receive 5 free single serve packs of Taster's Choice Gourmet Coffee. These are great to tuck into a small gift bag!

Free Breathe Right Strips

Click here for 2 free Breathe Right Nasal Strips. If you've never tried these before, they are wonderful! I've used them when I was sick & nothing would help me breath out of my nose.

Free Audiobook

Each month Christianaudio.com offers a free download. This month's is Desiring God by John Piper. Click here to download. Simply add it to your cart and use coupon code NOV2009. You must use the coupon code to get it for free!

2 Free Issues of Family Circle

Click here to get the November & December issues of Family Circle for free.