What do to with all that leftover Halloween candy...

1. Why not use it to bake tasty treats of course!

• Butterfinger Cake
• Snickers Brownies

2. Make your own flavored Vodka by infusing hard candies like skittles and mints.

• Skittles Vodka Tutorial (I am really dying to try this!)

3. Take it to work or donate it.

4. Freeze it for later use: Not able to use up all the chocolate right now? Not to worry - chocolate freezes great for later use in baking or just enjoying!

5. Save candies like dum-dums for decorating your holiday ginger bread house.

6.  Make a pinata for the next upcoming birthday party - if that's too far off, considering putting together party favor bags for Thanksgiving and Christmas parties (of course be sure not to use those candies with Halloween themed wrappers)

What are your ideas for using up left over Halloween candy? Share your thoughts below.

Tuesday Tutorial:

Embracing Embellishment...picture frame redecorating!

I recently found this frame on the Urban Outfitters website HERE and felt inspired to try and recreate it in my own way.

On Saturday I picked up this picture frame from a "FREE" box at a yard sale, but you could use any frame you have lying around or even grab one at the dollar store.

I found some embellishments in my stash of scrapbooking accessories and salvaged pieces. Simple embellishments can be found at any craft store and at many dollar stores as well, but to keep the cost down consider using anything you have lying around like bows, brooches, buttons, flowers!

Next I painted the whole piece black (to match many of my other frames) but you could use any color that suits your decor!

I used a sample jar of black paint that I had lying around, but I would suggest using spray paint to expedite the process and avoid having to worry about brush strokes!

Next I used a hot glue gun to attach the embellishments I decided to use.

Add photo and TA-DA easy peasy fancy photo frame re-do!

FREE Sample: Folgers Coffee (facebook offer)

Who doesn't love a FREE cup of joe?!



Head HERE and "like" Folgers on facebook and sign up for a FREE sample of Folgers coffee.

Gone to the Orchard...

For me Halloween was less about sweet sugary candy and more about sweet juicy delicious apples!

We went apple picking!

Nothing says autumn like a brisk walk through the orchard!

 

After a wagon ride out into the orchard, brown bag in one hand and the bf in the other, we got to pickin'! The weather was perfect - just cold enough to thoroughly enjoy some hot apple cider - but warm enough that we didn't need gloves. The sun was shining and the apples were beautiful! We ended up picking just over 17lbs of pink lady apples and at only $1 per pound it was well worth it to be able to choose which ones we thought were the best of the best! A perfect way to spend our Halloween!

I'm planning to try my hand at some homemade apple sauce, muffins and pies over the coming weeks. If you have any other apple recipe suggestions I'm all ears - please comment below!

Saturday Finds:

On the Saturdays I don't have to work the bf and I like to go yard sale hunting! Sometimes we find things, sometimes we don't, but the excitement of the chase for killer deals and the quality time we get to spend together is priceless. Today we hit up at least 6 yard sales. The bf had seen a sign for one earlier this week on his way to work so we started there. I also looked up a few on Craig's list in the same area and the rest we just found by spotting signs in on the street!

I love to see what people have to offer and chatting it up to learn a bit about the items history. This week we came home with a few good finds. The bf picked up a great "gardener's problem solver" book that we are looking forward to putting to use next season and a roll out flower garden mat for only a dollar each! Hopefully the squirrels won't be as prone to tearing apart the mat as they were digging up the seeds we planted this year! I scored a set of chrome shower curtain hooks for only $0.50, they even have those fancy roller balls - I can't wait to hang them up and get rid of our gross plastic ones (despite how much I clean them they always look grimy). I was also pretty excited when I cam across a "free box" at on the sales and scored a few books for my mom to take to school for her students to use and a picture frame which needs a paint job, but that's an easy fix and the glass was intact so for FREE it had to come home with me!

Confessions of a Fast Food Diet

Despite the fact that I have packed myself a delicious lunch everyday this week I have been unable to ignore my cravings for Wendy's spicy chicken nuggets and fries. Twice this week I have given into temptation and made a trip through the drive thru to grab some fast food, but I think today is my last stop.

I am convinced it is subconscious behavioral conditioning. You see I am not a big fan of visiting the doctor and on Wednesday I had to go to the doctor for a physical and PPD test. Today I had to go back to have the PPD read (good news I'm healthy!). After each trip I felt the need to make a stop at Wendy's to grab some nuggets and fries as a treat. I figure, subconsciously my body is craving fast food (comfort food) as a way to make my mind associate going to the doctor with a more positive experience so that the next time I have to go I won't dread it so much.

Or maybe I'm just coming up with excuses to not feel bad for giving into salty greasy food when I had a perfectly yummy and healthy lunch packed! :P

Steals and Deals: Bath & Body Works

Print a coupon for a free lip item (up to $8 value) with any purchase at Bath & Body Works.  This coupon is good through October 31, 2010.

Blockbuster Express BOGO FREE Rental

   

Use code 2HLLWN at checkout and get a free movie rental when you rent one movie now through 10/31/10.

Steals and Deals: New York & Company

New York & Company is offering a coupon for $50 off a $100 purchase online or in-stores with promo code 6095, print coupon HERE for in-store use.

Plus all cardigans are currently on sale buy one get one 50% off!

Here are a couple of my favorite picks:

Flower Belt, Sequin Cardigan, and Flutterneck Sleeveless Top

BOGO FREE Gap Outlet Coupon

Do you have a GAP Outlet store near you?

If so, you can print this Buy One Get One FREE coupon valid in stores on Oct. 30th!



Give Your Expired Coupons a Second Life!

It can be very disappointing to find a great coupon only to then realize its expired. Usually the first reaction is to cut our losses and toss it in the trash (or hopefully recycling).

At the end of each month I sit down to begin the lengthy task of cleaning out my coupon organizers of all of the expired coupons and given the amount of coupons I collect weekly, there are usually A LOT of expired ones come the 30th or 31st of each month.

I used to simply gather them all up and place them in the recycling along with all the other papers, but then I found an even greater use for them HERE at ocpnet.org. The Overseas Coupon Program (OCP) collects and distributes manufacturer coupons to military families stationed overseas. Did you know that on military bases overseas the commissary and PX will accept manufacturer coupons up to 6 months past their expiration date? It's true!

How to get involved? 

• Visit http://www.ocpnet.org/ and adopt a base you wish to donate to.
• Separate you clipped coupons into two categories: Food and Non-food.
• This is because most bases have 2 stores,  the “Commissary” (grocery store) and the PX or BX (department store). By separating your coupons into “food” and “non-food” bundles the volunteers on the receiving end can more easily placed your donated coupons at the correct venue.
• The general rule of thumb is a "food" item is something humans can eat (this includes products like Ensure and Slimfast). A "non-food" item would include pet food, soaps, cleaning supplies etc.
• Clearly label your bundles - the easiest way to do this is to place them in zip lock baggies.
• Talley an approximate total value for each bundle.
• 
  
  This helps the program keep track of which bases are receiving the most support and which bases need more coupons.
• 
  
  Stick your bundles in an envelope and send them off to your adopted base!

FREE Sample of Dove go fresh Deodorant

Request your FREE sample of Dove go fresh Deodorant HERE from Costco.

Costco membership not required at this time.

Plaid Skirt

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I'm really mad about this plaid wrap skirt available at ModCloth.com!

This "One for All Skirt" available from ModCloth is priced at $142.99. WOW! But it's gorgeous! I keep finding myself sharing how drawn I am to ruffles lately....and again the ruffles on this skirt are what I LOVE! The gentle cascading layers are beautiful and I'm always a sucker for plaid.

What do you think? Would you wear this skirt?

Tuesday Tutorial:

Yearning for a new denim skirt...

I feel like a great denim skirt is a staple to any closet. With a classic cut and a casual fabric they can be dressed up or dressed down with little effort!

I already own a few: a mini from Zara (which I feel is really only appropriate for hanging out in with friends in the dead of summer because its just that mini!), a dark wash pencil skirt from GAP that I LOVE but is currently a size or two too big for me (but I refuse to get rid of it because it's so classic and I know it's only in my dreams that I will stay this size forever), and I lighter wash pencil skirt with a slit in the front that I'm not so thrilled with because I'm always feeling like I'm showing off a bit too much.

I have recently been eyeing up this denim number by CHLOE priced at $109 and available HERE.

Isn't it cute?! I have been on a bit of a feminine kick lately - I'm really into the ruffled bottom. What do you think?

So in order to fulfill my yearning for this beauty, yet save myself the $109 on the price tag, I decided to take an old pair of dark wash blue jeans that I LOVED (and wore all across Europe, but are now too short) and give them new life!

First things first - cut off the legs preserving the top and pockets:

Next I cut one of the legs into two long strips and attached this to the top:

Next I took the second leg and once I figured out that it was not wide enough to create the length I needed for the skirt, I turned a different route. Instead I cut the leg into multiple squares and sewed them together to make two longer strips.

Finally I attacted what was to be the flounce on the bottom of the skirt....unfortunately I didn't have quiet enough fabric to work with to give it the same ruffle look as the Chloe skirt, but I still think it turned out pretty well.

What do you think? Would you wear this? Leave your comments below!



FREE Blockbuster Express Rental, Today Only!

Stop by a Blockbuster Express today for a free rental when you use code BBXMDY at checkout. This code is valid today 10/25/10 only.

Go HERE to search for a kiosk near you!