Frugal Coupon Living

Stretching Your Pennies, Saving Your Dollars

I Believe in Plan A!

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by Filed Under: Frugal Living, Instagram

published date: February 08, 2015
modified datt: February 08,2015

wedding-1

I Believe in Plan A.

You might have heard (through Instagram or Facebook) the wedding bells ringing a few weeks ago, and I’m writing to tell you that, Yes, I got married to that amazing man I shared with you previously!

If you’ve stayed with me over the last 7 years, you may think that my marriage to Wes doesn’t look like someone’s typical Plan A. In Who is Ashley, I shared with you about my history – my background as a divorced, single mom raising two little girls. Well, I feel like it’s time to give everyone the latest update and connect some of the dots that may have been lost along the way. Initially, when MY first marriage (MY Plan A) didn’t work out, it wasn’t something I wanted to make public. It was a tough time, and I thought it best to keep to myself and move on to Plan B. Eventually though, my heart began to change, and as time passed, I felt that sharing my story was important for a lot of reasons.

Through that change of heart, I began to reconsider my perspective of moving on to MY Plan B, and as I took direction from God’s Word, I grew to believe and understand something completely different. The more I thought and prayed about it, the more I began to understand that God doesn’t have a Plan B, his Plan is always Plan A, and it always focuses on us growing more mature in our relationship with Him. Sometimes that growth requires a heavy pruning, and I believe that I felt that over the past 4+ years, and as hard as it has been at times, I look back and am so grateful to the place God has brought me. I don’t always feel that I deserve this amazing gift God has given – an amazing husband and leader – but I believe my girls do. In the amazing recognition of how God has protected and watched over the girls, I realize our Father does the same for myself. I am grateful for the man He chose for us, one that far exceeds the highest of expectations I had.

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As this orginal plan rolls on, I am looking forward to 2015. I see glimpses of God’s Plan A before me, and I believe it’s going to be amazing.

Truth is, there’s always a Plan A. It just may not be the road we’ve envisioned…. Grab the reigns, and enjoy the ride.

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Crock-Pot French Toast Recipe|Prepare and Go Breakfast Entree

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by Filed Under: Frugal Living, Pinterest, Recipe, Restaurant

published date: March 22, 2014
modified datt: February 04,2015

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Crock-Pot French Toast Recipe
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I love finding this easy breakfast slow-cooker meal. It’s often hard to find a meal in Crock-Pot that isn’t a dinner entree, but with this 4 hour recipe, you can set the timer and enjoy a warm breakfast meal – imaging waking up to the smell of warm cinnamon in your home!

Toast Ingredients:

  • 1 loaf French Bread
  • 8 Eggs
  • 2 cup Milk
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Sugar

Topping Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 cup softened Butter
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup Pecans

crock-pot-french-toast-collage-horizontal-frugal-coupon-living

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Directions:

  1. Cut bread into roughly 3/4″ thick slices.
  2. Mix together all topping ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
  3. Spray the inside of your 6 qt. crock with non-stick spray.
  4. In another bowl beat together eggs, milk, cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
  5. Place a layer of bread into your slow cooker. Then top with a layer of topping. Repeat for remaining layers.
  6. Pour egg mixture over the bread.
  7. Cook for 4 hours on low.

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Follow all Recipes on Frugal Coupon Living as well as FCLAsh on Pinterest.

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Copycat Girl Scouts Thin Mints Cookies Recipe

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by Filed Under: Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: January 27, 2015
modified datt: January 27,2015

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Copycat Girl Scouts Thin Mints Cookies Recipe

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Did you love our Copycat Girl Scouts Samoa Recipe and Girl Scouts Tagalongs? Do you stock-up on Girl Scount Cookies like my home each Spring? Thin Mints are a FAVORITE in our home. Check out this easy and yummy copycat recipe. Best of all, you can make them year around.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cup Flour
  • 1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 cup softened Butter
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 3/4 tsp Peppermint Extract
  • 8 oz Dipping Chocolate

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Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt.
  4. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.
  5. Add in egg and peppermint and mix until blended.
  6. Slowly add flour mixture into creamed mixture.
  7. Shape dough into a 1 1/2″ – 2″ round cylynder and wrap in wax or parchment paper.
  8. Place in freezer for 1 hour to firm up.
  9. You can cut down the length of an empty paper towel roll and wrap it around cylinder to help it stay more round.
  10. Slice into 1/4″ thick cookies.
  11. Place on prepared sheet.
  12. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.
  13. Allow to cool.
  14. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  15. Melt chocolate by microwaving 45 seconds then stirring and repeating until chocolate is smooth and melted.
  16. Dip cookies in the chocolate and lift out with a fork shaking off excess.
  17. Place the cookies on prepared sheet and allow to set.

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Love Girl Scout Cookies, especially easy and homemade?! Try this Copycat Girl Scouts Tagalongs. Pin to Pinterest.

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Enjoy as well, the Copycat Girl Scouts Samoa Recipe. Pin to Pinterest.

Check out these Copycat Recipes!

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Copycat Girl Scouts Samoa Cookies Recipe

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by Filed Under: Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: January 17, 2015
modified datt: January 27,2015

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Copycat Girl Scouts Samoa Cookies Recipe

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Do you stock-up on Girl Scouts Cookies like my home each Spring? Are the Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Samoas not the best? Check out this easy and yummy Samoa Cookie. It will melt in your mouth, and best of all you can make it year around – no more waiting for that girl scout to come to your door! Don’t forget to check out our other cookie recipe – Copycat Girl Scouts Tagalongs and Copycat Girl Scouts Thin Mints.

Be careful not to eat all the coconut mix before you place it on the cookie! I couldn’t resist!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup softened Butter
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 2 cup Flour
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 tbsp Milk
  • 3 cup Flaked Coconut
  • 11 oz Caramels
  • 3 tbsp Milk
  • 8 oz Semisweet Chocolate Chips

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Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Cream together butter, vanilla and sugar.
  4. Slowly add in flour, baking powder and salt.
  5. Add just enough milk until the dough comes together into a ball.
  6. Add in a bit of extra flour if your dough is very sticky.
  7. Roll out dough to 1/4″ thick.
  8. Cut out about 2″ cookies and place on a prepared sheet.
  9. Cut out about smaller hole in each cookie and return to dough.
  10. Reroll dough and continue cutting cookies.
  11. Bake cookies for 10 minutes or until bottoms are light brown.
  12. Allow to cool on sheet for 5 minutes before transfering to a cooling rack.
  13. Preheat oven to 300.
  14. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  15. Spread coconut on prepared baking sheet.
  16. Bake 20 minutes, mixing every 5 minutes, until golden.
  17. Cool on baking sheet.
  18. Hold back 8 caramels.
  19. Unwrap caramels and place in a large bowl with milk.
  20. Microwave 60 seconds then stir, repeating until melted and smooth.
  21. Fold in cooled coconut.
  22. Spread topping on cooled cookies.
  23. If topping gets to firm in bowl, microwave 30 seconds.
  24. If topping is not adhering to cookie, unwrap and melt remaining caramels with 2 teaspoons of milk.
  25. Drizzle top of each cookie with plain caramel prior to placing topping.
  26. Melt chocolate by microwaving 45 seconds then stirring, and repeating until melted and smooth.
  27. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  28. Dip the bottom of each cookie into chocolate and place on prepared sheet.
  29. Transfer remaining chocolate into the corner of a zippered bag.
  30. Clip off corner and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate.
  31. Refrigerate 15 minutes to set.

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Love Girl Scouts Cookies? You can also grab these Copycat Thin Mints Recipe. Pin to Pinterest. Love peanut butter, bake the Copycat Girl Scouts Tagalong Cookies. Pin to Pinterest.

copycat-almond-joy-recipe-frugal-coupon-living

Love candy, especially easy and homemade?! Try this Copycat Almond Joy Recipe. Pin to Pinterest.

Check out these Copycat Recipes!

Follow all Recipes on Frugal Coupon Living as well as FCLAsh on Pinterest. red-frugal-coupon-living-signature


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Copycat Girl Scouts Tagalong Cookies Recipe

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by Filed Under: Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: January 24, 2015
modified datt: January 27,2015

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Copycat Girl Scouts Tagalong Cookies Recipe

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Did you love our Copycat Girl Scouts Samoa Recipe and Copycat Girl Scouts Thin Mints? Do you stock-up on Girl Scount Cookies like my home each Spring? Are the Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Samoas not the best? Check out this easy and yummy Tagaloong Cookie Recipe – Peanut Butter Patties. Mo more waiting for a little girl scout to come to your door!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cup Flour
  • 1 cup softened Butter
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Milk
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
  • 3/4 cup Podered Sugar
  • 8 oz Dipping Chocolate

copycat-girl-scout-tagalongs-frugal-coupon-living-collage-website

Directions:

  1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Preheat oven to 350.
  3. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.
  4. Gradually add in the flour and salt.
  5. Add the vanilla and milk and mix until blended.
  6. Roll out dough to 1/4″ thick and cut about 2″ round cookies.
  7. Place on prepared sheet.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cookies are lightly browned.
  9. Leave on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.
  10. Mix together the peanut butter and powdered sugar.
  11. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  12. Spread the mixture on top of each cookie and place in freezer for 10 minutes.
  13. Melt chocolate by microwaveing 45 seconds, stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
  14. Dip cookies in the chocolate and lift out with a fork shaking off excess.
  15. Place the cookies on prepared sheet and allow to set.

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Love Girl Scout Cookies, especially easy and homemade?! Try this Copycat Girl Scouts Samoa Recipe. Pin to Pinterest.

copycat-girl-scouts-thin-mints-frugal-coupon-living-pinterest

Enjoy as well, these Copycat Girl Scouts Thin Mints Recipe. Pin to Pinterest.

Check out these Copycat Recipes!

Follow all Recipes on Frugal Coupon Living as well as FCLAsh on Pinterest. red-frugal-coupon-living-signature


WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Copycat Almond Joy

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by Filed Under: Christmas, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: December 31, 2014
modified datt: January 26,2015

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Copycat Almond Joy
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Have a sweet tooth? Love candy? Have fun with this yummy copycat Almond Joy Recipe. This homemade candy features all the flavors of chocolate, coconut and almonds made and eaten in the comfort of your home.

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 2 cups Powdered Suga
  • 14 oz Sweetened Flaked Coconut
  • 2/3 cup Whole Almonds
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 12 oz Semisweet Chocolate

copycat-almond-joy-horizontal-Collage-frugal-coupon-living

Directions:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. If almonds are not toasted, place in 300 oven for 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool.
  3. Remove almonds from pan and set aside.
  4. Combine condensed milk and vanilla in a bowl and mix well.
  5. Add powdered sugar and stir until blended.
  6. Add coconut and stir until well mixed.
  7. Form into 1 1/4″ x 3″ bars and place on prepared sheet.
  8. Place 2 almonds on each bar and place in freezer for at least 1 hour.
  9. Melt chocolate by microwaving for 1 minute, stirring and repeating until melted.
  10. Dip the bars into the chocolate to completely cover using a fork.
  11. Tap gently on bowl to shake off excess and return to the prepared sheet.
  12. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set.

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Love candy, especially easy and homemade?! Try these Homemade Reese’s Cups (aka Chocolate Metaways). Pin to Pinterest.

Click below for more recipes!

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Buffalo Ranch Chicken Quesadillas Recipe

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by Filed Under: Frugal Living, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: September 09, 2013
modified datt: January 25,2015

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Quesadillas

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
(Pin Pinterest)

A delicious twist on two favorites: hot wings and quesadillas that will bring a smile to every face around the table. Adjust the temperature by adding a little less hot sauce and a bit more ranch if you need to. This recipe is a great freezer item, make a double batch and you will have two meals ready to go in no more time than it takes for one. Using chicken, whole wheat tortillas and ranch from scratch makes it a tasty but healthier alternative to the traditional versions of these popular appetizers.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • ½ cup buffalo flavored hot sauce
  • ¼ cup homemade ranch dressing
  • 1 8 oz. bag shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 Package of tortillas (I like to use whole wheat to up the healthy factor)

Prep:

  1. Brown ground chicken in nonstick pan with a little oil until cooked through. Turn off burner, add buffalo sauce, and ranch. Stir until well combined. Set aside to cool.
  2. Spread out tortillas. Spoon mixture evenly among all tortilla. This recipe will fill about 8 folded in half.
  3. Top with shredded mozzarella and fold over in half to close.
  4. If you are prepping to cook later in the week-place each prepared quesadilla in a freezer bag.

To cook:

In a nonstick pan over medium, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Place tortillas in pan and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until browned. If you want to make prepping easier and even healthier, lay filled, and folded quesadilla on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray and place in an oven preheated to 400° for 3-4 minutes, flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until brown and crisped.

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Use the same dressing, Homemade Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing from night one, BLT Avocado Chop Salad. These go great with these quesadillas.  If desired, drizzle tops with sauce and serve with celery sticks for dipping.

Follow all Recipes on Frugal Coupon Living as well as FCLAsh on Pinterest.

See the ENTIRE Menu Plan this week:


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Get in Shape for the New Year with 25 FREE Workout Apps

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by Filed Under: Amazon, Free, Frugal Living

published date: January 15, 2015
modified datt: January 15,2015

25 free workout apps

It’s the time of year when many people want to really start working out and shed some pounds. I’m always on the hunt for good workout apps that I can use to exercise in the comfort of my own home. If you’re like me, then you’ll love our list of highly rated 25 FREE workout apps!

1. Popsugar Active (Android)
2. Fitness Buddy (iPhone/iPad)
3. Chest Workouts (Android)
4. Daily Workouts (iPhone/iPad)
5. Moms Into Fitness (Android)
6. Simply Yoga (iPhone/iPad)
7. Circuit Training Assistant (Android)
8. Daily Cardio Workout (iPhone/iPad)
9. 7 Minutes Workout Assistant (Android)
10. Run with Map My Run
11. BodySpace (Android)
12. Nike Running (iPhone/iPad)
13. Easy Exercise Training (Android)
14. Jillian Michaels Slim-Down (iPhone/iPad)
15. Butt Workout (Android)
16. 7 Minute Workout with High Intensity Interval Training Challenge (iPhone/iPad)
17. Workout Routine (Android)
18. Workout Trainer (iPhone/iPad)
19. Thigh Exercises (Android)
20. C25K Trainer (iPhone/iPad)
21. Abs Workout (Android)
22. Map My Ride (iPhone/iPad)
23. Daily Leg Workout (Android)
24. Ab Workout X (iPhone/iPad)
25. Squats Workout (Android)

I love that there is such a variety of FREE workout apps available to us. There’s something for everyone! Which app are you most excited to try out?

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