Money Saving Apps and Websites!

So if you love to clip coupons and/ or save money,  here are a  few websites I have gathered that are my personal by far favorite websites that I use weekly!






1. Receipt Hog- Everywhere you go, you get receipts and they usually end up in the trash/ burn pile. Well why not snap a picture and earn some gift cards? All you do is every time you get a receipt from the gas station, grocery store, restaurants, etc, just snap a picture of the receipt and that's it. Referral link: http://app.receipthog.com/share/puskmh87

2. Ibotta- Each week Ibotta will upload new items to receive rebates on. You can earn gift cards or do a paypal cash out. You also have a wide selection of stores to pick from.  Referral link: http://ibotta.com/r/vjfpfa

3. Shopmium- Earn paypal cash just from buying items that you would normally buy in the store. Each week they upload new items as well. Receive a coupon for a free lindt chocolate bar when you sign up and enter  my referral code.  Referral code: HEHAUARJ

4. Checkout 51 is another app that you can download and its super quick and easy to just snap a picture of the receipt and that's it! No referral link needed for this one.

5. Snap by Groupon- The best thing about this app is that you don't have to go to a certain store to buy some thing and get money back! As long as you have the receipt, you will get a rebate! 

Referral code: https://snap.groupon.com/app?ref=b892a472f619207f

Online purchases websites to earn money back!!! Make sure to check between the two websites to see if one or the other offers cash back for the websites you plan on making your purchases.

1. Swagbucks-  Earn swagbucks from the swagbucks blog, taking daily polls, shopping online and earning cash back, etc.  Enter through this referral link: swagbucks.com/refer/USAFwife09

2. Ebates- If swagbucks doesn't offer cash back for the website I plan to make a purchase through, I go to ebates. Usually one if not both will offer cash back. They also have a mobile app! Website Referral link: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=A%2F2ND7%2B%2Ba2AwYBaauNrvHg%3D%3D%26eeid=

S'mores d'oeuvre

My favorite part of having a bonfire is the S'mores. I'm sure it's everyone's favorite! Well here is a simple way to eat your favorite summer snack! My mother in law made these when we went home on vacation and they did not last very long at all! Did I mention their so easy to make?!

*Sorry for the blurry picture!*

Ingredients

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips (We just used 2 cups of whatever chocolate chips we had on hand.) 
• 1 tbs shortening
• marshmallows
• graham cracker crumbs (We used graham crackers and put them in a zip lock bag and just used a rolling pin to smash up the graham crackers.)

Instructions

1. First off you want to take both chocolate chips and shortening and melt the chocolate mix in a bowl. I did it in the microwave and every 25 seconds I took it out and stirred it. You can do on the stove totally up to you!
2. In another bowl put in your graham cracker crumbs.
3. Once chocolate is melted, you will take one marshmallow and dip it into the chocolate, then sprinkle some graham crackers on top of the chocolate mixture until it is coated. I used a spoon to pour the graham cracker mix over the marshmallow.
4. Repeat steps until you run out of marshmallows or chocolate!
5. Then lay the dipped marshmallow onto wax paper. Allow to fully dry and store in an air tight container.

 

Cake Mix Cookie Bars!

So here is another huge hit that everyone loved! These cookie bars you will have people fighting over the last one. Kind of reminds me of that crescent Pillsbury commercial where the two guys were fighting over what half they get. It will be exactly like that but they wont want to share! Definitely going to make these again!

Cake mix cookie bars

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

1 Box yellow cake mix (I used Betty Crocker)
1 Small box instant vanilla pudding
1/4 Cup water
3/4 Cup vegetable oil
2 Eggs
1 Cup chocolate chips. I used 1/2 cup holiday mini M&M's and 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips.

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Combine cake mix, pudding, water, vegetable oil, eggs and chips or M&M's in large bowl.
Pour the batter (it's going to be thick) into a greased 10x13 baking dish. I sprayed my dish with nonstick cooking spray which worked well.
Bake your bars for 20-30 minutes (I took mine out at 25.)
It may look sort of raw in the middle but if the edges are just golden and starting to get crispy, it's probably perfect.

Triple Peanut Butter Monster Cookie Bars

 

So New Year's Eve I had to work a long shift from 5-2 a.m but didn't get out till almost 4 am!! Luckily, we had a Junk food day at work where we brought in dips, cookies, sweets, etc! And this is one of the recipes that was a hit. I ended up having to double the recipe due to not having a 8x8 pan. Looks like I know what I will add to my Christmas list next year! lol But here is the recipe.

 

Yield: one 8x8 pan, 9 to 12 generous squares

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
1 large egg
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
heaping 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (use Jif, Skippy, etc.; don't use homemade or natural - too runny)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Peanut Butter M&Ms (or Peanut, Plain, or favorite variety)
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks, or a combination
1/2 cup Reese's Peanut Butter Chips
1/3 cup Heath Bar Toffee Bits (I used some other kind of candy instead of Heath bar bits.)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
3. Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don't scramble it. Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
4. Add the peanut butter and whisk or stir until smooth and incorporated.
5. Add the flour and stir until just combined, don't overmix.
6. Add all remaining add-ins and fold to incorporate.
7. Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula. I like to strategically place a few M&Ms on the top of the batter for a nice visual effect.
8. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until top is set. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Allow bars to cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

 

 

Found this recipe via pinterest!

 

They were so delicious!!

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cake Balls!

(Try saying the name of these delicious desserts 5x fast.) lol

 

This was another recipe I made that I took with me to the potluck at work for a goodbye party. These were another hit but the Oreo Truffles were still the #1. This is also another Pinterest recipe but I did edit it a little by using frosting instead of making my own.

 

Ingredients:

For the cake:

-1 box of spice cake mix

-3 eggs

-1–15 ounce can pumpkin puree (or about 2 cups)

 

Frosting:

I used a jar of the Cream Cheese frosting. Didn't use all of it. Just about half the jar. Enough to make it not to creamy but stick together.

 

Coating:

I used Almond Bark and it was really thick. I think next time I am going to use the White Chocolate chips and go that route.

 

Decoration:

Sprinkles, milk chocolate, or any decoration you choose.

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and lightly-flour two cake pans, set aside. (I didn't flour the pans, instead I just sprayed with cooking spray and it came out the same.)

 

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix, eggs, and pumpkin puree on medium-low speed until just combined. Then turn the speed up to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.'

 

3. To make cake balls, break up the cake into a large bowl, add in the frosting, and using clean hands, smoosh it together until well-mixed. Using damp hands, form the mixture into 1″ balls and place them onto a baking sheet. Once you’ve finished with all the mixture, place the baking sheet in the freezer.

 

4. While the cake balls are chilling, melt the candy coating in a saucepan over low heat, until smooth. (I carefully melted the chocolate in the Microwave on 15 seconds, stir, and repeat until it was melted.)

 

5. Remove the cake balls from the freezer, and working one at a time, gently drop a cake ball into the candy coating, and spoon more over top to coat. Fish out the ball with a spoon, and place it on wax paper to harden. Repeat with remaining cake balls, you should have just enough candy coating to do all the balls.

 

6. For decoration: melt the semisweet chocolate in the microwave, using a spoon, drizzle it on the cake balls and then top with sprinkles. Or you can just use sprinkles like I did. :)

 

7. Refrigerate and Enjoy!

 

 

This was a Pinterest Recipe that I did tweak a little bit to my standards and they still turned out great! If you would like the pinterest recipe, please visit: http://backtoherroots.com/2013/09/26/pumpkin-spice-cake-balls/

No Bake Oreo Truffles!

So we were having a pot luck at work as a goodbye going away party and I needed something easy to whip up since I already had 3 other items on my list to make that day. And needless to say, these were awesome and such a big hit! And really easy to make!

 

Ingredients:

1 package Double Stuffed Oreos

4 oz Cream Cheese (you may add up to 8 oz, I just like the consistency best with 4 oz.)

Dipping Chocolate (I used white chocolate chips and just melted and it turned out wonderful. The almond bark was a little think but the white chocolate chips were amazing.)

 

Directions:

1. Chop Oreos up finely in a food processor. (I didn't have a food processer so I just used a blender and it did great chopping it up) Save some of the finely crushed Oreos for garnish later and set it aside. You don't need too much.

 

2. With hands (or a spoon, I just think hands are faster), mash softened cream cheese and crushed Oreos until well combined.

 

3. Roll into 1" balls and place on a wax covered cookie sheet. Put in freezer for 15 minutes.

 

4. While balls are in freezer, melt chocolate according to directions.

5. Pull the Oreo Truffles out of freezer, and dip into chocolate. Garnish with reserved Oreo crumbs before the chocolate sets up.

 

6. Let chocolate set, refrigerate and enjoy!

 

This was a Pinterest recipe via: http://www.chef-in-training.com/2011/11/no-bake-oreo-truffles/

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

So I was told about this program through a friend because my youngest just loves books. He would sit for hours and read (more like look at) books if he could. So I looked up the Dolly Parton's imagination Library and registered my two boys. It did take a while to receive the first book but after that, you get a book monthly....I believe. The first time you get your book (if you have more then one child) the book will be the same but after your first book, they will go based off of the age of your child. So yes, we did get two books the same but now I won't have to hear the boys fighting over the book! (See there is a bright side!)

The first books my boys received were "The Little Engine That Could" and their not the cheap paper books either. They got a hard outside cover. :) 

Here is the second book one of the boys received. I forgot to take a picture of one of them. 

If you would like to register your child(ren) follow this link: 

http://usa.mobile.imaginationlibrary.com/

Or if your not mobile:

http://imaginationlibrary.com/?full=1

Remember it takes a while to receive the first book but definitely worth the wait! 

Enjoy! 

Buckeye Brownies!

So the other day I made some Buckeye brownies. Here is the recipe if anyone is interested in it.

For Brownie:

19 1/2 ounce package of brownie mix...
egg
vegetable oil
water
or whatever the package calls for

Prepare and bake brownie mix in a greased 13"x9" baking pan according to package directions. Let cool.


For Middle Layer:

2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) jars creamy peanut butter

Mix powdered sugar, 1/2 cup butter and peanut butter.
Mix well and spread over cooled brownies.
Chill for one hour. (I would recommend not leaving it in for an hour because the brownies will get hard.)

For Top Layer:

1 (6 ounce) packages semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons butter, softened

Melt together chocolate chips and remaining butter in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until melted.
Spread over brownies.
Let cool; cut into squares.

I got this recipe from the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Handy-Dandy-Recipes/343846885735798
Check that page out because they have LOTS of recipes to try! 

It's a Naked Egg!

 So I got this idea from my mother in law.

So how do you get an egg like this??

Things you will need:
An Egg
Vinegar
a cup
food coloring (optional)

Just put an egg in a cup and fill it with apple cider vinegar till egg is covered. Then let it sit. I believe it needs to sit for 24 hours or longer? Once the hard shell is completely off the egg, you rinse off the egg. It's a rubber egg! Be careful though! It is bouncy but it could possibly break. Here is a picture of a broken rubber egg. :)

Hint from Online: If you place the "naked egg" in corn syrup, it will shrink/shrivel up. The vinegar inside the egg moves through the semi-permeable membrane. You can then place it in water with food coloring and "color" the inside of the egg and it will fill up again due to osmosis.

Have fun with this neat little project and enjoy!

Halloween Bark Candy

So my friends and I were having a movie night and everyone had to bring a dessert. Well here is what I brought. I even put them in snack size baggies and it was a blast and very yummy treat!! Got a sweet tooth? This will hit the spot!

Halloween Candy Corn Cookie Bark

Ingredients

• 14 whole Oreos, broken up (use Halloween Oreos if you can find them)
• 1 1/2 cups pretzels - any shape, broken into pieces
• 16 ounces almond bark or white chocolate melts
• 1 cup candy corn
• brown and orange colored sprinkles
• Marshmallows
• M&M's (holiday colors)

                                                                      

Instructions

1. Cover a large cookie sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Spread broken cookies, pretzels and about 3/4 cup of the candy corn onto the prepared cookie sheet in a 9x13 shape. Place almond bark in a container and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds until melted and smooth.
2. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookie mixture, spreading with spatula if needed to coat evenly. It may seem like it's not enough but just try to evenly spread it. The ratio of chocolate to toppings will be off if you add more almond bark/white chocolate. Sprinkle remaining candy corn and colored sprinkles over the almond bark/white chocolate while it is still wet. Do not let it harden. Place cookie tray into refrigerator until set and firm. Remove and gently break bark into small pieces - it's really rich. Makes around 20-24 pieces. Store in air tight container.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

I absolutely cannot wait to make the Pumpkin Cheesecake this year. I made it last year for Thanksgiving and everyone who tried it, loved it! It is very similar to pumpkin pie but so much better I think! When I find a picture, I will definitely post it. But in the mean time, here is the recipe.

Found the recipe at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-cheesecake-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
• 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:
In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For filling:
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place in oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Reese's Peanut Butter Truffle Recipe!

This recipe was a huge hit for my husband's squadron party! This recipe made one big batch (biggest bowl I had in the house) and there was plenty left over!

This is how much my husband brought home. He said people went back for seconds! Definitely will make this again for another party! 

 

Recipe:

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle 

1 fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)2 packages (13 ounces each) miniature peanut butter cups 
4 cups cold 2% milk 
2 packages (5.1 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cartons (8 ounces each) frozen whipped topping, thawed  

Prepare brownie batter according to package directions.  Bake in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake).  Cool on a wire rack; cut into 3/4-in. pieces.  Cut peanut butter cups in half; set aside 1/3 cup for garnish.  In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes (mixture will be thick).  Add peanut butter and vanilla; mix well.  Fold in 1-1/2 cartons whipped topping. Place a third of the brownies in a 5-qt. glass bowl; top with a third of the remaining peanut butter cups. Spoon a third of the pudding mixture over the top.  Repeat layers twice. Cover with remaining whipped topping; garnish with reserved peanut butter cups. Refrigerate until chilled.

Greatest fitness Apps out there!

So when I was in a Challenge group, I was told about the Lose It! app and thought I would give it a try. I was told if you had to keep a track of everything you ate and drink that it would make you think twice about your decisions and at that point, I was willing to try anything. My eating habits were through the roof and were crazy. So I got this app *which is free! btw* and downloaded it onto my phone. Best decision I have ever done! You can record so much and it calculates your calories for you. You can input what you eat even if you went out to a restaurant, it provides tons of restaurants and it has a lot of their food listed so its very easy to input your food. You can enter your date for your exercise. It is such a great app, I wouldn't of known what to do without it. You can  record your weight and it shows a chart and keeps everything you need to know in this awesome app. Also the app gives you badges for accomplishing certain goals! It’s a lot of fun and easy to keep a track of what you eat and what you do. You won't ever have to get a pen and paper to keep a track of your calories you got left to eat because this app does it for you.. The greatest thing about this app is you can scan the barcode on a product and it will enter it in your food log for you. I seriously recommend this app!

The other app I recommend for fitness is called Idrated. It's a water app that helps you log in how much water you are suppose to drink that day. All you do is log in, record how much water you drank, and you're done! It's so simple! I forgot all the time to drink water and it would send me little reminders of when I am suppose to drink water. If you are busy like I am and need reminders, get this app!

Pinterest Recipe! M&M Cookies!

So I made these cookies after finding them on Pinterest. I mean what the heck...their made with vanilla pudding mix! How bad could they be? Well boy were these delicious!! I give a 5 out of a 5 star rating. Definitely should make them. They didn't last very long in our house. Yummy!