Frugal Coupon Living

Stretching Your Pennies, Saving Your Dollars

Caramel Apple Fluff Recipe – Great Fall Treat with Snickers

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by Filed Under: Pinterest, Recipe

published date: October 27, 2013
modified datt: October 03,2013

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Caramel Apple Fluff Recipe
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Can you ever eat enough caramel and apples during the fall season? Probably not, which is why this simple recipe for Caramel Apple Fluff is sure to come in handy! Whether you need a potluck dish or just want a fun after dinner dessert, this Caramel Apple Fluff is a quick and inexpensive solution. You only need a few ingredients, and even the kids will love helping. Take a peek at how you can whip your own batch up.

Caramel Apple Fluff

Ingredients:

  • 6 large apples, your choice of color
  • 6 Snickers candy bars
  • 1 tub of Cool Whip
  • 1 small package of vanilla pudding
  • ½ cup of milk
  • 1 ½ cups of mini marshmallows
  • Caramel topping

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, pour in your packet of vanilla pudding, milk, and Cool Whip. Stir well until the mixture is well blended and fluffy.
2. Dice your six large apples and stir them into the mixture.
3. Dice the Snickers bars (this is easiest if they are a tad bit warm. Just set them in a window for a few minutes to soften them up) and stir them in.
4. Add the 1 ½ cups of marshmallows. For a fluffier mixture, you can bump the amount up to 2 cups.
5. Continue to stir well until all of the ingredients are coated in the Cool Whip and Pudding mixture.
6. Scoop a spoonful of fluff into a dessert glass or bowl. Top it with a drizzle of caramel dessert topping as shown.

See how easy it is to be enjoying this tasty and sweet treat in just minutes? It tastes even better if you allow it to set in the refrigerator for an hour before eating, but you may not be able to wait that long!

Gather up your ingredients and give this fun fall dish a try. It is sure to be a favorite in your home.

Like the Caramel Apple Fluff Recipe? Be sure to Pin to Pinterest and to find more Pinterest Ideas and Recipe Ideas on Frugal Coupon Living.

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.

Children’s Party Aprons Deal – 12 for $8.62

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by Filed Under: Amazon, Online Shopping, Pinterest

published date: August 28, 2013
modified datt: October 01,2013

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Children’s Party Aprons Deal

Grab the 12 Pack Children’s Artists Aprons in Assorted Colors for $8.62. This would be GREAT for a cooking party or class, a great party favor!

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The 12 pack includes an assortment of 6 different colors. I searched Pinterest and liked how Sweet P Parties had her fun cooking party. Find more party ideas on Pinterest (FCLAsh).

Head to Amazon for a look. Find more Amazon Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

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.

Back to School | The Importance of Routine with Children

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by Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Free, Pinterest

published date: September 21, 2013
modified datt: September 20,2013

BackToSchool

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 Back to School – The Importance of Routine with Children
Lessons from a Former Teacher and Current Mother

If you have kids, chances are you already know what happens when they don’t get enough rest, then there is a shift in schedule or when something doesn’t go just as planned. Kids can get cranky, irritable, inattentive and loud at the flip of a switch. If we have a child that wakes up with those symptoms, while we can be excited to drop them off and get a break in behavior for ourselves, it doesn’t present a very fair day to our child’s teachers or classmates. Routines are vital for young kids in many ways beyond the sleep factor. In fact, routines can be the backbone of a kid’s future habits.

Sleep is the most obvious example but it is not the only one by a long shot. Another important routine for kids is to have homework time. When a kid first starts school, he develops (or doesn’t) the habits that will follow him through his entire school career.While the fight of making your child complete their homework, is never fun, some children need this guidance. Setting aside a time each afternoon for homework to be accomplished allows your child to learn respect of structure, as well as develop proper study habits.

Routine is also important as far as nutrition. Kids that sit at school hyped up on sugar and caffeine all day are not learning at the optimum levels and the chances are pretty good that they are also hindering other kids from learning their best. Giving your child a food routine that consists of healthy proteins, veggies and fruits will boost their learning power and keep their attention more focused. Keeping them off the soft drinks and other caffeine laden items will help them as well. Nobody needs a sugar rush during the school day except perhaps the teachers and staff.

Routines show up in your child’s social skill set as well. Finding ways to ensure your child is social is often overlooked, but necessary. Scheduling “social hour” gives it power and makes it a priority for both you and the child. For example, in my home we schedule time to go do something as a family every single Saturday, and the kids know they are welcome to invite a friend. This gives them a social pattern that they can count on and it keeps them seeking friends. This is very important to a young child who is learning about the importance of family, life and relationships.

Consistency is key. Healthy consistency will produce good habits. Good habits will produce great character! Structure allows your child to not be caught off guard or surprised about a “rule” or “expectation” in the home or the classroom.

What other ways do you create routines for your children? Share successful stories in the comments down below!

Find more on Frugal Coupon Living in the Back to School Series.


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.

Gift Jar Recipes – Three Easy Recipes for Your Holiday Season

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by Filed Under: Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: October 05, 2013
modified datt: September 17,2013

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The Holiday season is often the most stressful time of year for many due to the costs involved and the financial strain.  For many years I have helped ease the burden in our home by assembling a handful of these 3 Easy “In A Jar” Gift Recipes to be used as Christmas gifts that are both budget friendly and appealing to those who receive them.  These are especially great to create for your kids teachers at school, coaches in extra-curricular activities and all of those miscellaneous helpers, babysitters and Sunday School teachers that impact their daily life.

BEAN SOUP IN A JAR

  • ¾ Cup Dry Kidney or Red Beans
  • ¾ Cup Dry Black Beans
  • ¾ Cup Dry Great Northern Beans
  • ¾ Cup Dry Pinto Beans
  • ¾ Cup Slit Green Peas
  • ¾ Cup Dry Red Lentils
  • 2 Tablespoons Dry Onion Flakes
  • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley Flakes
  • 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning Blend
  • 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • ½ Teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

In quart size Mason jar, layer beans in order listed.  In snack sized Ziploc bag place dry seasonings.  Place bag in top of Mason jar on top of layered beans.  Cover with lid.  Attach direction below printed on pretty paper with ribbon.

Directions: Set aside seasoning packet.  Rinse bean mix in large colander and place in large stockpot.  Cover with 8 cups of water and bring to a boil.  Add one 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes and seasoning packet.  Continue to boil on low heat for 2 hours stirring occasionally.  Additional water may be needed to prevent burning.  Add salt as desired.  May include 1 cup cubed ham or 4 slices bacon for additional flavor while cooking.

SPICED TEA

  • 1 Cup Instant Lemon Tea Mix
  • 2 Cups Tang Mix
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
  • ½ Teaspoon Ginger
  • ½ Teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1 Packet Lemon Kool Aid Mix

Mix all ingredients together in small bowl.  Pour into pint sized mason jars or clear jar with lid closure.  Cover with lid, attach recipe with desired ribbon.

Directions: Use 2 Tablespoons Mixture to 1 Cup Hot Water.

SNICKERDOODLE IN A JAR

  • 2 ¾ Cups Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • ¼ Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 ¾ Cups Sugar
  • ¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon

In a medium bowl mix ingredients together until well blended.  Pour into quart sized Mason jar.  Attach directions below with ribbon.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small bowl, mix together ½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon.  Set aside.  In a large bowl mix together 1 cup butter, 2 eggs and vanilla extract until smooth.  Pour in Snickerdoodle mix gradually until dough forms.  Roll dough into 1 ½ inch balls.  Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mix and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden brown.  Allow cookies to cool and serve with milk.

Like Gift Jar Recipes? Find more Recipes on Frugal Coupon Living.

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.

Monthly Onesie Stickers – Bellies Baby Monthly Milestone Stickers!

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by Filed Under: Amazon, Baby, Birthday, Kids, Online Shopping, Pinterest

published date: September 14, 2013
modified datt: September 14,2013

Monthly Onesie Stickers1

Monthly Onesie Stickers makes for the perfect way to celebrate each milestone.  I adore Sticky Bellies monthly milestone marker! I so wish I was this creative when my babies were younger!  This is the perfect way to remember each month- and not just recall it but really the memories that made that milestone so special!

Grab the complete set now at Amazon for just $9.99, plus that will ship FREE with prime!

Sticky Bellies Baby Onesie Monthl

Sticky Bellies details:

  • Easy to use, simply Peel ~ Stick ~ Snap!
  • Set includes 12 stickers
  • Opaque, heavy-duty stickers can be removed and reapplied for several photo shoots
  • Stickers measure 4″ in diameter
  • Makes a great Baby Shower gift!

 

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So how do they work?

  1. Remove sticker from backing
  2. Apply sticker to shirt
  3. Take pictures…lots of them!
  4. Remove sticker
  5. Share, display and enjoy adorable milestone photos!
  6. Repeat each month
  7. Thank Sticky Bellies for making your life easier and your pictures cuter!

Adorable!  Head to Amazon today and get your monthly onesie stickers from Sticky Bellies!

Find more Amazon Deals on Frugal Coupon Living!

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.

Recipes for the Week with Weekend Prep – Easy and Budget Friendly

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by Filed Under: Frugal Living, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: September 06, 2013
modified datt: September 12,2013

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Five Recipes for the Week with Weekend Prep
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The school year can be hectic and when life isn’t settled, it is very easy to to let your budget and money-management go by the wayside.

This week we are going make 5 delicious and simple dinners. We’ll start with a shopping list for all ingredients, and then move on to prep. From the time I spread all my groceries out on the kitchen table until I wiped down my prep table, and swept the floor, cleaning a bit as I went, for all 5 dinners! After the initial prep each meal will only require a few minutes of time on busy work nights.

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Here is our menu for the week:

Shopping List:

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 1 lb. chicken breasts/tenders
  • 1 pack bacon -you will only need about 6 pieces)
  • 1 small pack pepperoni (again will only need a small amount, freezes great!)
  • 1 8 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1 8 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • Chicken broth
  • Milk- whole, skim, almond, whatever you prefer
  • Bottle of buffalo flavored hot sauce
  • Pack of tortillas
  • Small tub Greek yogurt
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2- 8 oz. bags of shredded mozzarella
  • 4-6 green bell peppers
  • 1 oz. bag frozen broccoli
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 bunch of romaine or bag salad
  • 1 large tomato
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 garlic bulb
  • 3 zucchini

Pantry Ingredients*:

  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Oregano
  • Garlic salt
  • Dried parsley
  • Garlic paste
  • Vinegar
  • Dill

* If you don’t have these add them to your shopping list!

These meals are based on 4 people with a little leftovers – perfect for a lunch the next day-double duty meals! They are easy to adjust to take out or add in ingredients based on your family size and needs.

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

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.

Dollar Tree Fall Decor – Decorate with Autumn Candles on a Frugal Budget

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by Filed Under: Crafts, Halloween, Pinterest, Thanksgiving

published date: September 12, 2013
modified datt: September 10,2013

dollar-tree-fall-decor-frugal-coupon-living

Dollar Tree Fall Decor

I love when it is finally far enough into the fall season that I can begin to bring out the pumpkins, and leaf décor without looking like a crazy person.  I really love everything about fall; pumpkin flavored everything, autumn decorations, the crispness that comes to the air, and cozy pretty sweaters.  Alas, I live in Florida so I only get a touch of those last two, poor me.  But I can bring the beautiful look of fall right indoors, or even onto my front porch.  Also, I  am cheap frugal so I love  doing it on a budget, I took a drive down to my local Dollar Tree for a little inspiration and was able to come up with a few pretty, inexpensive and quick fall crafts. They have a lot of plain candle holders that make a perfect blank canvas to build upon.

So in my buggy I tossed a bag of raffia, 4 candle holders, 4 candles , a small bag of coffee beans, a roll of fall ribbon, 2 bags of large silk fall leaves,  bag of popcorn, and a few bags of beans ( I had most of them already in my pantry)  I spent  $15 on my 4 candle holder projects, with the exception of the candles, and candle holders all items can be used on multiple projects, so if I use my remaining supplies they each really only cost a couple dollars each.   And if you have any of the items on hand you can lower your total even more. Look at you being thrifty!

Grab your glue gun and let’s get this crafty party started!

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Fall Leaf Candle Holder

Take 4 of the large leaves, cut off the stem right at the leaf edge. Turn your candle holder upside down, apply a thin bead of hot glue to the bottom rim about ¼” from the edge.  Press each of your leaves into the glue, overlapping them.  Turn your candle holder over run a thin line of hot glue up each leaf where it branches, press into glass, you will need to overlap leaves a bit again.  Wrap candle holder in 2 lengths of raffia 2 or 3 times, tuck ends under and place a dab of hot glue to hold them down- use a pencil or something to press  down while it dries( not your fingers, trust me)

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Coffee Bean Candle Holder

Fill jar about 1/3 of the way full with coffee beans. Place your candle on top of the beans, tap down gently, centering candle. Fill between candle and jar with more beans, up to the rim of glass.  Wrap candle jar with 2-3 pieces of rafia, tuck and in and secure with a dab of hot glue. Alternatively you can tie your rafia ends into a bow, I just liked the clean, simplicity of the raffia this way- I put a row of 3 of these down the center of my table as my centerpiece.

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Harvest Corn Candle Holder

Measure your wide wired ribbon by wrapping it around the jar and overlapping  about 1”, cut. Draw a thin line of glue down one end of the ribbon, press onto the back center of glass jar. Wrap ribbon around fold the end under about ½” and run a line of glue down the end, press into other side of ribbon to overlap. Like the coffee beans, fill jar 1/3 of the way full with unpopped corn kernels Place your candle, centered  on top of the corn, fill the sides between candle and jar up to the rim with corn kernels.  Place a sticker or I used a chipboard letter for our family initial, they don’t stick well to fabric so use a couple tiny dots of hot glue on the back to affix firmly. You could do Halloween  themes and place Halloween stickers like witch heads and bats on top.

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Autumn Layered Bean Candle Holder

This is such a simple craft but it makes a big impact in pretty fall colors, lending your table or shelf some beautiful textures. I used a taller candle holder I purchased at Dollar Tree to create a little more drama. Simply layer dry beans in 2” layers, using at least 4-5 various colors and textures for variety.  I used; black beans, kidney beans, green split peas, yellow spit pits, northern beans, and pinto’s.  Even 2 colors alternating would be a pretty decoration. Choose colors from your home décor, use year round.

Pin Dollar Tree Fall Decor to Pinterest for future use! Be sure to follow Frugal Coupon Living (FCLAsh) on Pinterest.

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.

Free Engraved Keychain for Brides from Things Remembered

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by Filed Under: Facebook, Free

published date: September 09, 2013
modified datt: September 09,2013

 things remembered

If you’re a Bride-to-Be, you can get a FREE engraved keychain from Things Remembered on 9/14 – 9/15!

Just head to the Things Remembered Facebook page for complete details and to sign up for your freebie. Please RSVP to the Nationwide Event.

Find more Freebies on Frugal Coupon Living.

Thanks, Addicted to Savings

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.