Family Holiday Activity: Fighting Hunger Together Today!

November 20th, 2010

In the busy chaos of trying to prepare for the holidays, it is often overlooked that so many people will not get the beauty of sitting around  a table and indulging in a Thanksgiving feast. In fact, 1 out of 6 people will not even know where their next meal will come from. It truly breaks my heart when I hear that so many are in need and I often feel helpless in how I can possibly help.  As someone who desires to live a frugal and simple life, I am always looking for those “scraps of life” ways that I can give back to others.  This is just another way that I want to share with you that you can give back to others, both simply and within your own budget.

You may not have noticed the food barrels at your local Walmart store as you are hurrying off to do your holiday shopping. Well, I am excited to share that Walmart is running a Fighting Hunger Together Campaign and providing barrels where you can make a food donation to help support food pantries that are desperately in need right now. These barrels are conveniently located near the entrance of the store (mine was located right outside of the grocery side of our local store) where you can drop off your donations as you are entering or leaving to do your shopping.

If you’re thinking about giving to a food drive, here are a few of the items currently needed:

  • Canned Meats (tuna, chicken, stews)
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly
  • Spaghetti Sauce & Noodles
  • Canned Beans (baked, garbanzo, kidney)
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Canned Fruits (in light syrup)
  • Juice Boxes (100% juice)
  • Cereals (boxed, oatmeal)

The food pantries can also use basic household items and toiletries, like toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant and diapers (sizes larger than newborn). If you’re thinking about donating to a food drive, Walmart is conducting an in-store food drive through Monday (11/22), so please head out there this weekend and lend your support.

I encourage you to take a moment to visit the Fighting Hunger Together site and learn more about these efforts to feed the hungry. When you visit, be sure to “Like” your own community. Votes will be tallied to see where the donations will be going.

Below is a video of our family taking our own trip to do a donation. With just fifty dollars, we were able to donate 49 items for the cause. We gathered up many of the items for just a mere fifty cents or so each! The kids were thrilled to help and we were proud that we were able to contribute to such a worthwhile cause.

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

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Posted in Celebrations, Family | 6 Comments »

Freebie Friday: November 19, 2010

November 19th, 2010

Happy Freebie Friday, everyone! We have been so lucky to have Freebies 4 Mom share their list of the best freebies of the week with our readers each and every Friday. Please visit her site for fabulous freebies and sweepstakes information every single day! This week Heather is giving away a $50 Walmart gift card from Hefty.

Sadly, Heather will no longer be able to provide the Freebie Friday list for our readers and this will be her last week with us. I am forever in her debt for her assistance each week and it has been a true pleasure to work with her. I hope you will please leave her a comment and thank her for help!  We will miss you, Heather!

We will be taking Freebie Friday off for next week since it is the holiday weekend. We will be back in December though and Stephanie from Couponing 101 has graciously offered to take over our list each week. Her site is a fantastic and organized resource for anyone looking to save money and she is going to be sharing with our readers the latest freebies on our Freebie Friday. Hurray!

This week on MomAdvice we are sharing 7 easy appetizers to make-ahead for Thanksgiving Day, so many ideas for dressing up pre-packaged convenience foods for a delicious weeknight meal as our calendars fill up with holiday activities, our weekly notebook of craft & food ideas to inspire you as you prepare for the holidays, and 150 giveaways that you can enter to win for some fabulous prizes.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!


Health & Beauty
Burt’s Bees Lotion

Food
Einstein Bros. Free Bagel or Drink (every entry wins)

Entertainment
Two 5×7 HP Photo Cards in-store
Thanksgiving Road Trip printable activities

This Week’s Freebie Events:

NOVEMBER 19 – 30

Burger King: FREE Coffee Every Friday this month

20 – Lowes Build and Grow Clinic: build a Snowman 10-11am.

30 – Whataburger: 12 days of Freebies!

Target Free Arts & Cultural Events

Pottery Barn Free Decorating Classes

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Posted in Freebies | 7 Comments »

Amy’s Notebook 11.17.10

November 17th, 2010

I love this simple guide to homemade chicken stock (@ Small Notebook)

These crocheted cupcake potholders are adorable (@ What’s Baking, Cupcake?)

I love this round-up of 59 cheap Thanksgiving recipes (@ Cheap Healthy Good)

I will have to make this easy no-cook holiday appetizer (@ Clover Lane)

I am in love with this spool advent calendar (@ Just Something I Made)

This sophisticated green bean casserole looks like a fun dish to add to your Thanksgiving spread (@ The Pioneer Woman)

This turkey with stuffing recipe looks yummy & easy for the Thanksgiving feast (@ Serious Eats)

This Thanksgiving stuffing recipe also looks like a winner (@ Savory Sweet Life)

These candy apple cupcakes look like a fun fall treat (@ Honest Fare)

These broccoli cheddar bacon burgers look like a delicious weeknight meal (@ The Ungourmet)

This yarn ball wreath would be the perfect addition to my holiday decorating (@ life through the lens)

This hand print holiday pillow would make a wonderful grandparent gift (@ Sugar Bee)

Is there anything cuter than these snowman hair clips? (@ How Does She?)

I have all sorts of ideas for creating these easy homemade stockings (@ Remodelaholic)

I want to try this recipe for homemade apple cider (@ gimmie some oven)

These pumpkin cinnamon rolls look delicious (@ the idea room)

This vintage baseball baby shower is so cute (@ Little Miss Momma)

I love these cute Thanksgiving turkey toppers to decorate simple mason jars (@ Craftzine)

This school supplies cake would be a fun & inexpensive gift to give to your teachers (@ infarrantly creative)

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Posted in Amy's Notebook | 11 Comments »

Taking a Little Store-Bought Help in the Kitchen for the Holidays

November 16th, 2010

If you have been reading the site long enough, I am sure you know that I am one of those people that prefers to make everything from scratch to cut down on our grocery budget. We have big eaters in our family though and often convenience foods leaving us feeling unsatisfied and ready for snacking within an hour. Since those foods don’t seem to fill us up, the nights that I don’t feel like cooking we usually end up opting for dining out which costs a lot, even for our little family of four!

I doubt I am alone in saying that my calendar is overflowing with an unbelievable amount of obligations right now. We have holiday concerts, appointments, work commitments, volunteer opportunities…  and it is only going to get worse as the holiday season gets closer.

See that little “No,” sign in the corner of my calendar?

This is supposed to be offering a memory trigger to myself that there is no need to say yes to everything.

Now view my calendar.

I think I must be having a disconnect these days.

Fortunately, Walmart reached out to me to see if we would like to sample some of their Marketside brand items that are sold over by their deli area in the store. These items are of gourmet quality, but offered at a lower price.  The line includes bagged salads, gourmet soups, fun dips for entertaining, take-and-bake pizzas, veggie steamers, artisan breads, and fresh gourmet pastas.

After sampling all of the items, you can be assured that they are delicious and every bit as fancy as dining out.  The soups and bread rivaled our Panera Bread and the veggies were crisp and delicious.  The fresh dips (which included vanilla bean fruit dips, fresh guacamole, and a variety of ranch dressings) would be perfect to keep on hand for all of those holiday potlucks and gatherings!

Of course, adding my own homemade spin to these great convenience items allowed us to pull together a delicious dinner every night last week on a week where our calendar was jam-packed with activities (see the calendar above). With the busy holiday season upon us, I wanted to share a few ways to take those store-bought ingredients to a new level as the calendar fills up.

Veggie steamers are an easy way to incorporate great veggies into your diet in a quick way.  Look for these stir fry medleys over in your local Walmart’s cooler and take these home for a quick & healthy dinner. I love dressing up veggie steamers with a little of my favorite sauce from our favorite Chicken Lo Mein recipe.

Quick Weeknight Stir Fry

1 bag of stir fry medley veggies
1 chicken breast diced (Optional. I use this roasting method once a week to keep chicken on hand)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon ketchup

Cook veggies as directed. In a separate mixing bow, add soy sauce, vinegar, and ketchup. Stir to combine. Add cooked veggies and serve immediately over baked brown rice.

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Fresh pasta is one of life’s little luxuries that I love to keep on hand for a quick weeknight dinner. Marketside offers so many fun varieties for the meat-eaters in the family as well as the vegetarians. These delicious pastas can transform your usual spaghetti night into a dinner that rivals your favorite Italian bistro. They also offer fresh pesto and sauces to decorate your pasta without any effort.  Here are a few ways to use their pasta on a busy weeknight!

Pesto Tortellini Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans petite diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
8 cups chicken broth
1 pound  tortellini of your choice (I love a chicken or sausage stuffed, but cheese is always a crowd pleaser!)
9 ounces spinach, chopped roughly
1/4 cup basil pesto

In a large pot, saute the garlic in the olive oil. After a minute or so, add the diced tomatoes and chicken broth to the pot. Bring the broth to a rolling boil and then add in your tortellini. Cook tortellini as directed on package. In the last minute of cooking time, mix in your roughly chopped spinach and stir in the 1/4 cup of basil pesto. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top. Side Note: When reheating, feel free to add some additional chicken broth to thin the soup, as the tortellini will absorb the liquid!

Serve with a bag of salad and a loaf of crusty bread for an easy weeknight meal!

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Ravioli With Pesto Cream Sauce

1 pound ravioli or tortellini (I love a mushroom-stuffed variety)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk (we used skim milk)
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
1 1/2 cups grated Romano cheese
1 cup prepared pesto

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook as directed and drain. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and butter, and saute until garlic is soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Dissolve flour in milk, then stir in. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add cheese, and stir until melted. Stir in pesto. Dish ravioli on plates and then drizzle the pesto cream sauce over it. Garnish with a little fresh basil or chopped parsley.

Serve with a bag of salad and a loaf of crusty bread for an easy weeknight meal!

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Ravioli With Homemade Red Sauce

1# package of ravioli
3/4 cup chopped onion (we omitted because we don’t like onions)
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes (do not drain)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook as directed and drain. Saute onion and garlic in 1/4 cup olive oil until onion is translucent in another pot. Stir in tomatoes, salt, and sugar. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer one hour and thirty minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and meatballs and simmer thirty more minutes. Gently break apart the tomatoes with the back of your wooden spoon.  Serve over a big plate of your favorite ravioli.

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Although this wasn’t included in my Marketside feast, I recently discovered the beauty and flavors of their rotisserie chickens for my weeknight chicken noodle soup. This soup is being made again this week for a fast & delicious soup that will leave people wondering how the heck you could pull it off on a busy school night.

Quick Weeknight Chicken Noodle Soup

2-3 cups egg noodles (I like the Ream’s brand in the frozen foods section)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
12 cups low-sodium chicken broth
salt & pepper to taste
2 stalks chopped celery
3 chopped carrots
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 rotisserie chicken

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook until tender. Drain, and rinse under cool running water. Meanwhile, in  a large saucepan or Dutch oven, saute the carrots and celery in two tablespoons of olive oil for five minutes to start your soup base or you can skip this step and proceed as directed, if you desire a crunchier vegetable.  Heat up broth and bring it to a simmer. Stir in celery and carrot. Gently add your rotisserie chicken and all of the drippings from the pan and put a lid on your pot.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15 minutes. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water together until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Pull out your chicken and set aside to dice.  Gradually add the cornstarch to soup, stirring constantly. Stir in noodles and diced rotisserie  chicken, and heat through. Toss in a handful of fresh chopped parsley and ladle into bowls.
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Of course when all else fails, there ain’t no shame in taking home a take-and-bake pizza and calling it a night! My favorite variety is the Primo Pizza with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, & black olives. Every mom deserves a night off from the kitchen once in awhile!
I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program.  Marketside provided me with meals last week in exchange for my honest feedback.  Participation in this program is voluntary. All opinions are my own. check out the other Walmart Moms had to say about Marketside. (prices may vary from store to store)
What store-bought items do you like to keep on hand for quick weeknight meals or for a night off in the kitchen? Please share!

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Posted in Frugal, Money & Finance | 16 Comments »

An Apron Full of Giveaways: Bissell Steam & Sweep Ending!

November 16th, 2010

Madeit4u, $25

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week,  here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

No giveaways this week, but I hope to offer more after the holidays! This week ends our Bissell Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner (valued at $157) giveaway for  one of our lucky readers! This Bissell Steam & Sweep clears hard floors of dry debris and steam cleans all in one pass.  It simply uses the natural power of steam for a total one-step, time saving complete clean. It would make a wonderful holiday gift for any mom, and we can’t wait to share this with one lucky reader of our site. Follow the link below to enter the contest. PLEASE NO ENTRIES HERE!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren’t giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Children’s Movies).”

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

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Posted in Giveaways | 6 Comments »

7 Easy Make-Ahead Appetizers for Thanksgiving Day Lingering

November 15th, 2010

Many times the Thanksgiving Day lunch gets turned into hosting a lunch, dinner, and after-dinner company.  That is why it can be fun to have a few appetizers to keep on hand for pre-Thanksgiving dinner munching and post-Thanksgiving dinner munching. Just like the delicious make-ahead dishes for Thanksgiving that I featured last week, it is nice to have a few extras in your fridge to keep on hand when people aren’t ready to dig into round two of the Thanksgiving food or to pair with an evening of board game playing and visiting.

Today I am showcasing a few of my favorite appetizers and how you can prep them ahead of time for just this sort of occasion! These are a few of my own tried and trues that have been brought to many a family feast and have been enjoyed by all!

This fast little appetizer is perfect to keep on hand in your fridge for a fun savory snack that is sure to satisfy!  These are created using a store-bought stuffing mix and a few ingredients that  you might already have on hand in your kitchen. Even if you are not a spinach lover, the stuffing mix takes away from the spinach flavor making this more of a meatier dish than you might expect!  These are the perfect popper to serve while enjoying a few board games around the old kitchen table!

Spinach Balls

2- 10 oz packages frozen spinach
1 package chicken-flavored stuffing mix
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup butter, melted
Salt & pepper to taste

Cook spinach according to instructions, drain in a sieve, use back of a wooden spoon to press the spinach against the sieve to get as much moisture as possible out In a bowl combine the spinach, stuffing mix,cheese, eggs, butter, salt& pepper Mix thoroughly& roll into small balls 3/4 to 1″ size. Place on a cookie sheet and freeze.

Thanksgiving Day: To serve place frozen balls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350F 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned If you are doing them fresh or thawed only bake for 7-10 minutes. Serve hot.

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This spread is unbelievably addictive and so festive on your holiday table. Just try and eat one cracker and don’t be surprised if you are scraping the bottom of the bowl by the end of the day. This was a hit with everyone in our family and a nice change from the traditional cheese ball.

Cranberry Spread

16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 c. orange juice

Mix all of the ingredients together and mold into a ball or leave loose as a spread. Wrap in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil, and store in a freezer bag. Make sure to label your bag so that you can find it again.

Thanksgiving Day: Let the spread thaw in the refrigerator 1-2 days before Thanksgiving. Place dip in a bowl (or on a platter if it has been molded into a ball) and serve with gingersnaps or crackers.

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You can never go wrong with a good spinach dip and this one is my absolute favorite because of the unexpected flavor that the salsa adds to the dish. You can make it as mild or as spicy as you like! I opt for a mild salsa and serve it with pita chips, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies for a little lighter fare!

Spunky Spinach Dip

2 cups salsa (approximately one standard size jar)
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
8 oz low-fat or fat-free cream cheese, softened and cubed
10 oz frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)

Mix ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Place in an oven-safe bowl and tuck in the fridge for Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving Day: Cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes (double your cooking time for a double batch) in an oven-safe bowl (covered). Serve with your favorite dipper! I served this with fresh celery sticks and fresh carrots to balance out the heaviness of your Thanksgiving dinner.

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These cheese ball is so embarrassingly easy, but is always a showstopper when I bring it to holiday get togethers. Put the ingredients for this recipe on your grocery list and relish the joy in ease of the preparation and the compliments that come from it!

Bacon & Ranch Cheese Ball

2 (8 ounce) packages of low-fat cream cheese, softened
1 package of Ranch dressing mix
1 cup cheddar cheese
5-7 strips of bacon cooked and crumbled (or buy prepackaged crumbled bacon)

Mix all of the ingredients together with a mixer until they are incorporated. Mold into a ball  and wrap in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil, and store in a freezer bag. Make sure to label your bag so that you can find it again.

Thanksgiving Day: Let the cheese ball thaw in the refrigerator 1-2 days before Thanksgiving. Roll in a plate of shredded cheese. Serve with assorted crackers.

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This dip was nicknamed “Crack Dip” after the bowl was scraped clean when I brought it for Thanksgiving one year. I love to bring a sweet dessert dip that can be an unexpected surprise among the pies and holiday cookies. If you can’t find mini chocolate chips at your store, I have employed my hand held chopper to chop up regular size chocolate chips for this recipe before with great results!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
More chocolate chips (optional) or chopped nuts, to roll the ball in

Make Ahead: In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars and beat until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Mix all of the ingredients together and mold into a ball or leave loose as a spread. Wrap in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil, and store in a freezer bag. Make sure to label your bag so that you can find it again.

Thanksgiving Day: Let the spread thaw in the refrigerator 1-2 days before Thanksgiving. Place dip in a bowl (or on a platter if it has been molded into a ball) and serve with gingersnaps or crackers. Optional- just before serving, roll in additional chocolate chips or nuts of your choice. Serve with graham crackers.

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Hit the thrift stores for vintage tins and fill them up with holiday goodies for a unique display of yummy treats! This Chex Mix was cooked up in the slow cooker. If your slow cooker runs hot, I would just keep it on LOW instead of the HIGH that the recipe calls for. Mine about burnt up without keeping a careful eye on it. Putting it in the slow cooker while cooking up the rest of the food is a great way to make the house smell yummy and free up your stove in the process! This recipe can easily be doubled in your slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Chex Mix

1 cup Cheerios toasted oat cereal
1 1/2 cups Rice Chex
1 cup Wheat Chex
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 cup pretzel stick
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion salt

Combine first 5 ingredients in your slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over cereal mixture; toss to coat. Cook on HIGH, uncovered, for 2 hours (I would recommend cooking on low if your slow cooker runs really hot like mine!) Stir mixture well every 30 minutes. Turn slow cooker to LOW and cook for 2-4 hours. Store in air tight container. Makes 5 cups.

Thanksgiving Day: Open container. Eat.

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Homemade Italian Meatballs

1 pound lean ground turkey
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg beaten

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, garlic powder and beaten egg. Shape into small meatballs and place on a cookie sheet. Bake in a 400 degree oven for fifteen to twenty minutes. Allow them to completely cool and then place meatballs in a labeled freezer bag.

Thanksgiving Day: Allow meatballs to thaw overnight. In the morning, throw meatballs in your slow cooker and dump a jar of spaghetti sauce on top. Cook on low for two to four hours, or until the meatballs are warmed through.

Bonus: Make a double batch and add to my homemade spaghetti sauce and you won’t have to worry about dinner one night as a reward for all of your hard work this holiday season!

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What is your favorite appetizer or snack to prepare for Thanksgiving Day? Do you have any techniques for getting the feast on the table easier? Please feel free to share those recipes & links!

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Posted in Desserts | 24 Comments »

Freebie Friday: November 12, 2010

November 12th, 2010

Happy Freebie Friday, everyone! We are so lucky to have Freebies 4 Mom share their list of the best freebies of the week with our readers each and every Friday. Please visit her site for fabulous freebies and sweepstakes information every single day! This week Heather is giving away $100 cash from Ebates. How awesome is that? Thank you to Heather for her assistance each week with our freebie list!

I have been busy preparing for the holidays and have a few great posts to help you get ready too! This week I am sharing easy make-ahead dishes for Thanksgiving that you can start preparing this weekend for your feast, a round-up of easy & trendy gifts to knit this holiday season, and our list of DIY crafts & food just perfect for the holidays. To get your home in order for the holidays we are giving away a Bissell Steam & Sweep to add a little sparkle to those hard floors! We also have over a hundred giveaways from other bloggers that you should definitely check out!

I am off to get those Thanksgiving dishes prepared this weekend and hope you have fun browsing the site and our freebie list!

Health & Beauty
Redken Time Reset (Facebook)
Hugo Boss Orange
Aveda Birthday Program

Food
Go Red for Women Light & Easy Recipes

Home
NASA Send your name to Mars
Sesame Street Math is Everywhere Kit
Barnes & Noble Online Storytime “The Mitten” by Jan Brett
Barnes & Noble Kids’ Club
Athenos Feel Good House Party

This Week’s Freebie Events:

NOVEMBER 12 – 18

12 – McCormick & Schmick’s: Free Entree for Veterans Appreciation make a reservation at participating restaurants.

13 – Lowes Build and Grow Clinic make a periscope 10-11am.

13 – Borders Kids: Build-A-Bear Workshop Party! Story time, games, crafts, and a special offer from Build-A-Bear at 11am

15 – Golden Corral Military Appreciation Day receive a FREE “Thank you” dinner.

16 – Jack in the Box 2 free tacos after 2 pm (no purchase necessary)

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Posted in Freebies | 4 Comments »

Amy’s Notebook 11.10.10

November 10th, 2010

This chalkboard sign for your front door would be a fun way to express your thankfulness (@ infarrantly creative)

This round-up of crocheted and embroidered gifts to give for the holidays is wonderful! (@ the purl bee)

I love this free printable Thanksgiving subway art (@ Craftily Ever After)

I would never think to use a rice cooker to make our chili (@ Cooking With My Kid)

I am loving this Thanksgiving party inspiration (@ kara’s party ideas)

This slow cooked pumpkin chili is on my must-be-tried list (@ Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures)

This pumpkin soup would be a great way to kick off your Thanksgiving feast (@ goodLife{eats})

These Sloppy Joes look like a great meal for a busy weeknight (@ Dinner: A Love Story)

This cinnamon cheesecake spread would be perfect for my pumpkin bread (@ food for my family)

I want to try this 5 minute sun-dried tomato soup (@ Cheeky Kitchen)

These crocheted Christmas ornaments are so cute and retro (@ Meet Me At Mike’s)

I like this idea for creating a thankful bucket (@ The Idea Room)

I want to try this garlic lime tilapia for a fun weeknight meal (@ Eat at Home)

I love this fall flower embellishment to dress up a cardigan (@ V and Co)

These chocolate chip cookies look so yummy (@ My First Kitchen)

I like this thankful wall as another alternative to express thankfulness (@ This & That)

This paper bag turkey is an adorable centerpiece for the kid’s table (@ One Charming Party)

These apple nachos look like a fun fall treat (@ gimmie some oven)

This bread cornucopia would make a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece (@ Chica & Jo)

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Posted in Amy's Notebook | 6 Comments »

Knitting Trendy Gifts of Warmth for the Holidays

November 9th, 2010

It is that time of year again where I am kicking my knitting needles into high gear to create beautifully knitted gifts to give for the holiday season. In my opinion, nothing could say I love you more than something that you have weaved together with your knitting needles. I have a lot of top-secret projects in the works, but I wanted to show a few ideas and patterns for some lovely knitted gifts that would be perfect for this holiday season’s time of giving!

These ain’t your grandma’s knitted gifts though! These are trendy & cute knits that anyone would love to wear and own. I vow to never make my friends and family wear ugly or itchy knitted items. With all the effort that goes into knitting, you might as well make something beautiful!  These are just a few projects that I am working on right now and almost all of the patterns are free and easy for a newbie knitter!

Be sure to join Ravelry for fun & free patterns for your knitting & crochet projects! I love staying connected with my readers so you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, and, of course, Ravelry…just to name a few! Chances are, if you search for someone named momadvice, you will likely find me there!

Beautifully Ruffled Lace Scarves

Pattern: Ruffle Lace Scarf by Suzie Blackman

Needle Size: US 10 Needles (40″ circulars)

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Off-White (On sale at Michael’s for $2.50!)

Notes: If you want a scarf that is wildly impressive, can be created with a single ball of yarn, and looks like a million bucks than this would be the perfect gift to give this holiday season. It is a very mindless knit, but is an INSANE amount of stitches, especially in the last two rows (over one thousand stitches!). The beauty of this scarf though is that you only need to know how to knit, purl, and yarn over to create it.

The twisting is created by knitting the scarf length-wise, rather than width-wise and through the series of yarn overs. As pictures above, you can see that it is really hard to see your stitches, let alone if it is actually going to twist. The good news is, as you cast off, you will see that scarf naturally twists, making that beautiful ruffled twist.

This one is definitely a statement piece and is also a statement of your absolute love for whoever you might make it for!

I followed the pattern that is linked above, but added four more rows to give the scarf a fuller appearance. I repeated rows 11-14 two times before I started rows 15-16. I am really glad I did and love the lush fullness of this scarf.

Anthropologie-Inspired Scarflets

Pattern: Anthro-Inspired Scarflet (available as a free Ravelry download with your free Ravelry membership) by Kim Seio & Lydia Flowers (size small)

Needle Size: US 8 Needles (straight) for both the flowers and the scarflet

Yarn: Premier Yarns Chunky Weight in Pristine (scarf) & Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions in Black

Notes: These little scarflets are my teacher gift this year because they knit up so quickly and are perfect for anyone who doesn’t like to wrestle with a scarf.  You can see in the center picture that you create a little knitted pocket to tuck one side of the scarf into. My plan is to stick a $5 Starbucks gift card in the little pocket as a fun little surprise for gifts this year.

I followed the sizing and increases that ilikecookies(another Ravelry member)  had shared in her pattern. She said, “Increased until 30 stitches, worked 15 rows even until ribbed section and knit 15 rows of ribbing to make a slightly larger scarflet.”

I added a black Lydia Flower (size small) with a red button center to finish it.

Republic Hats

Pattern: Toddler Republic Hat or Adult Republic Hat (you can find the pattern in the side bar) with Lydia Flowers (Size Medium & Small)

Needle Size: US 5 Needles (circular) & US 8 (straight) for the hat embellishment

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (for hat) &  I Love This Cotton! in Ivory for the flowers

Notes: If you are looking for a perfect hat pattern for a novice beginner who is learning how to knit in the round, then these patterns are the perfect patterns for you. In the pictures above, I actually used the Toddler Republic Hat pattern for myself since I have a smaller head than most normal adults. I adjusted the length to 5 1/2 inches long. Linked above is also the adult-sized version that would be a perfect holiday gift for just about any girlfriend or sister to wrap underneath your tree this year!

The embellishment is the Lydia Flower in both the medium & small sizes, stacked using size eight straight needles. If you don’t feel ambitious enough to knit a flower, you can finish it with a simple button and skip that step altogether!

Gorgeous Gathered Scarves

Pattern: Gathered Scarf by Maryse Roudier

Needle Size: US 4 & US 7

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Lime

Notes: I didn’t get a chance to show you what I created for my sister & best friend last year for Christmas. Pictured above is my stunning sister wearing one of my gathered scarves!  Since they both read the site regularly, I had to keep these gifts under wraps and knit them when they weren’t around. I knitted these gathered scarves as holiday gifts to give with a set of fingerless gloves.

This pattern is so easy for a beginner and was a gift that was loved by both of them.  You actually use two different needle sizes to create the gathered effect on these scarves which added beautiful detail and a bit of ruffling to the scarves. I loved that the cotton is so stretchy and soft. I would definitely recommend this pattern especially to a beginner who is looking to add a little variation to the traditional scarf!

Waffle Stitch Fingerless Gloves

Pattern: Waffle Stitch Fingerless Gloves by Jill Toporkiewicz

Needle Size: US 7

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Lime

Notes:I made a set of these fingerless gloves to go with the gathered scarves that are pictured above. The girls that I gave them to have tiny hands and wrists like myself so I modified the pattern to accommodate a smaller hand (after realizing just how huge these were after making a sample glove). I reduced the CO to 28 stitches and then only repeated the waffle pattern four times to reduce the length a bit on these. They turned out absolutely perfect and were a fast and easy knit!

This fingerless glove pattern is ideal for someone who hasn’t mastered knitting in the round yet because you simply seam these to create the glove. These are a really fast knit and are perfect for my coffee-loving friends who like to have their fingers free for their coffee chugging in the morning!

Super Cozy & Fast Fingerless Gloves

Pattern: Cosy Knitted Hand/Wrist Warmers

Needle Size: US 5

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted

Notes: Fingerless gloves are great for layering underneath gloves or worn alone in chilly weather. I have been dying to make a pair for myself to keep my hands warm in the chilly morning air when taking my kids to school.  This was my first time starting on double-pointed needles so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do these, but this pattern was so simple that it made it a great pattern to get the hang of knitting in the round!

These look so tiny off your hands, but stretch perfectly to accommodate your hands. The pattern is so quick that you could easily knit these in an afternoon of knitting. I have a feeling I am going to be making a lot more of these as holiday gifts this year!

I did the pattern just as directed except using size 5 needles and they were the perfect size!

Prayer Shawl for Comfort

Pattern: Alice’s Lace Shawl in The Prayer Shawl Companion

Needle Size: US 13

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in Granite

Notes: Holidays can be so hard for those who have lost someone and prayer shawls are a wonderful gift to give to comfort them through the holidays. While perhaps not as trendy as some of the projects above, it is a gift that will be appreciated nonetheless!   I have made this lace shawl so many times and you can read more about the shawls that I made for my grandma & mom last year.

These are beautiful gifts that can be personalized and tailored for that special person who might need a little extra comfort during the holiday season. I highly recommend, “The Prayer Shawl Companion,” because it offers patterns, prayers, and even the importance of color choices and what they symbolize when creating your gift. I love to add pictures, charms, and symbolic colors into each of my shawls as gifts.

It is one of those gifts that will be long remembered and appreciated!

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Looking for more knitted gift ideas for the holidays? I recommend throwing a few of these projects on your needles for the holiday giving season and also visiting our Crafting section and Gifts section of the site for more gift-giving inspiration!

Cupcake Hat

Dulce Neck Cozy

Ruffled Shawl

Rainy Day or Snowy Day Scarf

Disclosure: The knitting book link is an affiliate link and is provided so you can locate the book quickly and easily. Feel free to order a book, but we encourage utilizing the library system and buying me some yarn instead.  Wouldn’t that just be so much more lovely?

What handmade gifts are you working on for the holiday season? Please share your ideas and links here!

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An Apron Full of Giveaways: Bissell Steam & Sweep

November 9th, 2010

Mauby’s, $37

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week,  here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

This week I am giving away a Bissell Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner (valued at $157) to one of our lucky readers! This Bissell Steam & Sweep clears hard floors of dry debris and steam cleans all in one pass. Now you can thoroughly clean your hard floors while saving time. It simply uses the natural power of steam for a total one-step, time saving complete clean. It would make a wonderful holiday gift for any mom, and we can’t wait to share this with one lucky reader of our site. Follow the link below to enter the contest. PLEASE NO ENTRIES HERE!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren’t giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Children’s Movies).”

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

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