The Pinch-a-Penny Nook

Wacky Wednesday - Calories

2012-02-15T07:00:00.001-06:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tips - Stockpile Price List for 2012

2012-02-14T07:00:00.001-06:00

Do you ever look at an item and wonder if it's a good price or better yet is it at a price that I should "stockpile" that item? Well For the Momma's posted a stockpile price list for dairy items here and toiletry items here as well as pantry items here. . . I found all three posts to be very informative! She lists her buy price and her stockup price.

Monda Munchies - Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls

2012-02-13T07:00:00.002-06:00

I pinned this recipe on Pinterest a while back, and then a few weeks ago (when our local Logli/Schnucks was tripling coupons) got some Pillsbury Grands Flaky Biscuits. Since we had overnight guests, I figured I would give these a try for breakfast.

Source: all-things-delicious.blogspot.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Here are a few notes I made for myself on this:

- A spring-form bundt pan is not the same as a regular bundt pan. Liquids will leak out of it.
- Sugar, butter and syrup leaking out of a pan into an oven can make a mess. It smells good, if you like the smell of burnt sugar.
- I had to use one and a half cans of the Grands rolls because 8 rolls were too few and 16 were too many.
- Next time I will use just one can of the rolls but cut them in half and spread them around. That way I will have less breading for the same amount of the yummy topping. Plus I won't have a half a can of biscuits left.

All in all this was a hit. I think if I implement the above changes, it will be even better. I like more sweet stickiness per capita of biscuit! Here are my pictures of my attempt at this recipe! Enjoy!

This weeks coupon match-ups and deals

2012-02-12T17:19:00.003-06:00

Here are this weeks coupon match-ups and deals!

CVS - courtesy of Common Sense with Money!

Walgreens - courtesy of Deal Seeking Mom!

Target - courtesy of Totally Target!
Target it having some great clearance deals going on right now. Check out the Bodega, Toys, Health & Beauty . . . lots of great deals to be found!

Freelance Friday - DIY Household Favorites

2012-02-10T07:00:00.001-06:00

Here are a few of my favorite DIY products I have made recently and will continue to make:

Homemade Febreeze:
Spray bottle - 32 oz. (or re-use a Glade of Febreeze bottle)
1/8 c. fabric softener
2 T. baking soda
Hot tap water
**Mix ingredients in spray bottle and spray away! Remember to use coupons when you purchase your fabric softener. ;) I purchased Snuggle and the scent lasts longer than the Glade or Febreeze I used.

Doll hair detangle spray:
Wig brush (you can find this at Sally's Beauty Supply for around $4)
Small spray bottle
2 T. fabric softener
**Put fabric softener in spray bottle and fill with water. Spray on doll's hair and comb away. It works really well!

This next one I had been putting off because I am not a fan of foaming soap. It seems that we go through foaming soap faster than liquid; however, I am now a fan. It works great and it will still make your liquid soap go much further even if the foaming soap goes quicker. What I LOVE about this idea though is using it to make your kids bath soap go further. My kids love to scrub themselves but the bottles the soap comes in is not conducive to kids. They dump the whole bottle for one bath. I usually put their soap in a pump anyway but putting it in a foaming soap bottle has REALLY made a big difference!

Foaming Soap:
Empty foaming hand soap bottle
2 T. liquid soap
**Put soap in bottle and add water. Swirl it around to mix it up.
FYI - this does not dilute the soap to much. 99% of germs are killed just by using water!

Toddler Thursday - Balloon Tennis

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Balloon Tennis is a great indoor winter or rainy day activity! Check out Toddler Approved for the fun details. My kids have been having fun with this one!

Wacky Wednesday - Who? Me?

2012-02-08T07:00:00.002-06:00

Source: piccsy.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tip - Repurposing an old cabinet door

2012-02-07T07:00:00.001-06:00

I love this idea! I don't think I would have time to hand-paint it, but if I could find a nice decal this would be an extra easy project! What do you think?

This week's coupon match-ups and deals

2012-02-06T22:52:00.000-06:00

Here they are! Sorry, in a little bit of a rush no nothing fancy - just links!

CVS

Walgreens

Target

Monday Munchies - Chili's Copycat Salsa

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

Since this time of year it is hard to whip up some garden fresh salsa this is a great delicious recipe to try. . . with a hat tip to Chili's it tastes really similar.

2 - 14oz cans of whole tomatoes, drained
1 - 4oz can diced or whole jalapenos not pickled (less if you don't like spicey)
1/4 cup - onion
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 to 1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp line juice

Place all ingredients together in a food processor or blender until smooth and enjoy!

$5 off $5 purchase at Michael's - today 2/3 and tomorrow 2/4

2012-02-03T14:03:00.002-06:00

Go here to print a $5 off a purchase of at least $5. The coupon is good today, Friday the 3rd and tomorrow, Saturday the 4th. If there is a project you have been wanting to attempt from Pinterest, now would be a good time to try it on the cheap!

Freelance Friday - Organizing on a dime

2012-02-03T07:00:00.002-06:00

Here are some of my favorite organizational tips using stuff you probably have around the house!

Source: clutterdiet.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Source: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Source: adayinthelifeofmisskranz.blogspot.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Do you Ebates?

2012-02-02T11:34:00.001-06:00

If you're like me, you are doing more and more of your shopping online where great deals are to be had. Last Thanksgiving I avoided the lines and craziness at the stores and chose instead to shop online - and what great deals there were to be had! One of the best deals I saw was a KitchenAid on sale for $180 (retails $270, often on sale for around $200). By the time you made sure to purchase through a cash-back site, added a 20% off coupon, and sent in for the $20 rebate, the price ended up being more like $115 plus tax and shipping . . . plus on top of that you got $45 Kohls Cash to spend (which could go toward buying some other Christmas gifts). That's the equivalent of getting $245 worth of merchandise for $115 (plus tax & s&h)!

Wondering what a cash-back site is? It's a site that offers an incentive to click through their links to the store you pick. Basically, they get a referral commission from the store and pass some of it on to you.

One of my favorite cash-back sites is Ebates. Whenever I decide to make a purchase online, I go to Ebates.com and make sure to check if they offer cash-back at that particular online store. If they do, I click through their link which takes me to the store site, and I make my purchase! It's really that easy. They often offer double cash-back, like they are currently doing at many online stores for Valentine's Day. Just for an example, if you had purchased the above KitchenAid deal, you would have gotten about $6 cash-back from Ebates - may not seem like much, but it all adds up!

Some of the stores I've gotten cash-back from in the past 4 months have been Target, Walmart, JC Penney, Kohls, Coastal.com, and others. I've gotten anywhere from 1%-6% cash-back, (some store are even 10%, or there is a $7 bonus for signing up for 3 months of Weight Watchers)! Sometimes that percentage doesn't seem like much, but it all adds up! You get "paid" quarterly by your choice of check or Paypal as long as your total is above $10 - if it's not, it just rolls into the next quarter!

If you haven't signed up at Ebates yet, you can do so by clicking here: they are offering a bonus gift card when you sign up (which you will get after your first $25 purchase!)

So what are some of your favorite cash-back sites?

(Note: Some of the links in this post are referral links. Read our disclosure policy here)

Toddler Thursday - Sensory Balloons

2012-02-02T07:00:00.001-06:00

Here is a fun activity for your child . . . Sensory balloons! Check out Tot Treasures Post here. Balloons and household items you have around your house, that's all you will need!

Wacky Wednesday - Baby playing peek-a-boo

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

I'm almost sure this is how my daughter will react when she figures this out!

Source: pinterest.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tips - Meals?!

2012-01-31T07:00:00.002-06:00

Here is a Tuesday tip that you can help us out with! What is your favorite meal to take to a friend in need? This is such a great way to be a blessing in so many ways. I think a lot of people just think this is reserved for when someone has a baby, but there are so many occasions you can be a blessing in this way.... whether it is a friend whose household is fighting sickness, a family moving, a loved one in the hospital or having surgery, or just a friend who is going through a particularly busy season in life and would enjoy a night off!

Since I am not Rachel Ray my list of meals that I would deliver on these occasions are short. If you have an easy go-to meal for these occasions, please email it to us! Just click our email link on the right sidebar or you can leave a comment on this post! Then we can share them in a post later!

One of my favorite's is the Baked Ziti I posted here! I always make sure to stock up on foil pans at the Dollar Tree when I am there so the recipient never has to return a dish!

Monday Munchies - Easy-Peasy Biscotti

2012-01-30T07:00:00.002-06:00

So for whatever reason, I've been craving biscotti for a while. Last week, I finally made some! It was easier than I thought (especially when you have a KitchenAid) and it is WAY cheaper than buying it at the store. Now that I've "broken the ice" of making biscotti, I think I'm going to experiment with different flavors.

Here's the link to the recipe I used . . . but please note that it doesn't take 40 minutes to make! I think they forgot to include the time you have to put the slices back in the oven. I actually ended up putting them in for 6 minutes on each side and then I turned the oven off and left them in overnight because I didn't think they were dry/crunchy enough.

Here are the base ingredients, and the changes I made to the recipe (in red)

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour)
3 eggs
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon anise extract, or 3 drops anise oil (I used vanilla, or cinnamon)
(I also ended up throwing in white chocolate chips, almonds, and dried cranberries)

Next time I'm going to use almond extract and put a bunch more almonds and cranberries. Or I might tweak it and use 2 eggs and some applesauce . . . or make it with cocoa and make them chocolatey. Mmmm, so yummy and so fun!

This week's coupon match-ups and deals

2012-01-28T22:28:00.000-06:00

Here are links to this week's coupon match-ups and deals!

CVS (MoneySavingMom)
CVS (TheFrugalGirls)

Walgreens (MoneySavingMom)
Walgreens (The FrugalGirls)

Target (TotallyTarget)

Freelance Friday - Cauliflower Popcorn

2012-01-27T07:00:00.001-06:00

Here is a fun and healthy Friday night snack for the kids! Cauliflower Popcorn - here is the recipe and a printable to go with it, from Super Healthy Kids.

Toddler Thursday - Make your own stamps

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

One thing my kids love is stamping. Usually I collect stamps when they are in the clearance section or yard sales etc. We keep them in a box with kid friendly stamp pads and break them out on a rainy day or when we want to create a card for someone . . you get the idea.

Well Vanessa's Values has a genius idea on how to create some of your own stamps! Love it!

Wacky Wednesday - Pinterest

2012-01-25T07:00:00.002-06:00

Yup!

Source: Uploaded by user via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tip - Repurposing an old dresser

2012-01-24T07:00:00.002-06:00

Some people are SO creative! I often will find an idea or project and say to myself: "Now why didn't I think of that?"

Here's a project I found not too long ago that I thought was pretty ingenious: turning a dresser into a storage bench!

This week's coupon match-ups and deals

2012-01-23T09:13:00.000-06:00

Here are some links to this week's coupon match-ups and deals to 3 major stores:

CVS (MoneySavingMom)
CVS (The Frugal Girls)

Walgreens (MoneySavingMom)
Walgreens (The Frugal Girls)

Target (Totally Target)

Monday Munchies - Baked Kale Chips

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Ok. . . seriously. . . you MUST try these baked kale chips. So extremely easy, inexpensive and healthy! Now my kids did not enjoy these but my husband and I did. It is a good snack alternative if you want something salty. Fresh out of the oven they are so warm and crispy!

Freebie - The Very Hungry Caterpillar Preschool Pack

2012-01-20T10:29:00.000-06:00

My almost 10 month old already love Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar board books - she loves to poke her fingers through the holes!

Here is a great educational freebie: a printable preschool pack based on the book! I downloaded it and saved it to my "educational" folder for when my daughter is older. What fun!

Thanks MoneySavingMom!

Freelance Friday: Pre-schooler + shoes + genius idea!

2012-01-20T07:00:00.001-06:00

If you have a child that is struggling to put the right shoes on the right foot ("no, your other right"), then you'll find this idea genius!

Go check it out here!

Toddler Thursday - Easy experiment

2012-01-19T07:00:00.001-06:00

Check out this easy science experiment that requires 3 items you already have at home!

Milk
Dishsoap
Food coloring

This is the end result:

Wacky Wednesday - A Monday Funny

2012-01-18T07:00:00.005-06:00

(Grrr! Sorry about this Wednesday post being a day late. For whatever reason this post saved as a draft instead of getting scheduled for Wednesday - enjoy the laugh!)

OK, so you HAVE to go check out it's just Laine's post from this Monday. It made me laugh quite heartily! I can't give you the whole picture without ruining the "punch line" so I'll give you a teaser part of the picture.

Tuesday Tips - Mommy Manners

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Jill Savage from Keeping Hearts at Home had a great reminder post on Mommy Manners. Read it here.

P.S. Make sure that you read the comments on her post too . . . there are some more great reminders!

Monday Munchies - Gluten Free Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies

2012-01-16T07:00:00.002-06:00

Oh Yum! Check out Divine Baking's Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies. They look soooo good! I'm going to have to try them out to see if they are good enough to make to give out to my gluten-free friends. I mean, I wouldn't want to give them something I haven't tasted first to make sure it tastes good, right? :-)

This weeks coupon match-ups and deals

2012-01-15T08:40:00.002-06:00

Here are this week's coupon match-ups for three major stores:

CVS Deals (by Common Sense with Money)

Walgreens Deals (by Common Sense with Money)

Target Deals (by Totally Target)

Freelance Friday - School Days Memory Kit

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

With the new year . . . 2012 . . upon us . . one item on my to do list is organize the kids school papers and projects that I would like to keep. Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler is offering this perfect download to get me started.

Toddler Thursday - Make your own bouncing ball

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

I don't know a child that doesn't have a collection of bouncy balls. When the dr's offices', dentists, VBS, etc. etc. hand them out they seem to multiply. However, why not try to make your own bouncing balls and learn some science in the process!

Obviously, make sure you child is old enough to try this experiment and not insert the ball in their mouth!

Gluten-Free Deals and Coupons

2012-01-11T13:34:00.000-06:00

Go here to see Money Saving Mom's post this week on Gluten-Free Coupons and Deals.

Wednesday Wisdom - Perfect Conditions?

2012-01-11T07:00:00.002-06:00

Source: tumblr.com via B.J. on Pinterest

Tuesday Tip - Monthly Free Audio Book Download

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Have you signed up with christianaudio.com yet? There is no cost, and every month they offer a free download. I've downloaded lots of books for free with them - it's a nice way to "read" (listen to) a book while doing housework!

This month's free audio book is J.I. Packer's "Knowing God" - a great book! I've read it before, but would like to read it again. Since I've got a list of books I want to read this year and this one didn't make the list, I'm thinking the audio version will be great - I'll be "reading" it while I do housework or run errands!

Monday Munchies - Buffalo Chicken Rolls

2012-01-09T07:00:00.002-06:00

This is a delicious quick and healthy recipe that we really enjoyed! Buffalo Chicken Rolls. Thanks to Can you Stay for Dinner for the detailed instructions!

This week's coupon match-ups and deals

2012-01-08T16:09:00.000-06:00

Here are this week's coupon match-ups for three major stores:

CVS Deals (by TheFrugalGirls)

Walgreens Deals (by TheFrugalGirls)

Target Deals (by TotallyTarget)

Freelance Friday: Goals and Organization Tips & Printables

2012-01-06T07:00:00.004-06:00

Wow! There are so many resources on the web for help with goal setting and organization for the new year. Here are a few from two of my favorite websites:

Money Saving Mom

Whip Your House Into Shape In 2 Hours

Q&A Tuesday: How Do You Decide Your Yearly Goals?

Customizable Printable Reading List

Customizable Goal Planning Worksheets

6 Free Resources to Help You Get Organized in 2012

4 Free Resources to Help You Get Organized in 2012

4 More Free Resources to Help You Get Organized in 2012

Free Printable Half-Pages 2012 Calendar

Baby Cheapskate

28 Easy and Cheap Ways to Organize and Store Toys

Toddler Thursday - Shapes

2012-01-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

Since I am not a "teacher" by profession, I find blogs by teachers to be very helpful. This is a great article found on The School Sparks Blog about helping your child learn shapes and the importance of that skill.

The blog also has LOTS of worksheets to help you teach your child this important skill. Go here to download the worksheets.

Free Dave Ramsey Audio Lesson: Dumping Debt

2012-01-04T11:06:00.000-06:00

Go here to get a free Dave Ramsey Audio Lesson: Dumping Debt

Wacky Wednesday - Please excuse the mess

2012-01-04T07:00:00.002-06:00

Love this!

2012 Weekly Coupon Insert Preview

2012-01-03T09:01:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Stretching a Buck for posting this helpful 2012 Coupon Insert Preview. This is helpful to know when to purchase extra papers or when to put your paper on hold if you just get the paper for the coupons.

Tuesday Tips - Homemade Chalkboard Paint

2012-01-03T07:00:00.002-06:00

The idea room has a recipe for homemade chalkboard paint. I have seen chalkboard paint used in many ways! In nursery's at churches, schools, on kitchen cabinets and check out her idea for chalk rocks! How fun . . . how will you or have you used your chalkboard paint?

Monday Munchies - Breakfast Pizza

2012-01-02T10:58:00.000-06:00

Eek! It's the new year and I'm already behind on my post for this morning. Not a good way to start the year :0)

I saw this on Super Healthy Kids this morning and thought it was a great idea to take a plain idea (pancakes) and make something fun out of it (breakfast pizza)! Head on over to read her ideas!

Freelance Friday - DIY Kitchen

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

This is a great DIY project that any child will love. A DIY play kitchen! Here is the How-To for the kitchen pictured.

Toddler Thursday - Sandpaper Letters

2011-12-29T07:00:00.001-06:00

Sandpaper letters - using yarn, a crayon and sandpaper to create a fun learning activity. I would have never thought of this but it is a creative, frugal idea! Also, I think it is perfect for the car like she suggests.

Check out the great instructions here!

Wacky Wednesday - I can quit . . . yes I can!

2011-12-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Source: easymakesmehappy.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Tuesday Tip - Cute DIY Kitchen Awning

2011-12-27T09:49:00.000-06:00

OK, so I think this is adorable . . . our kitchen is slowly getting to the café look that I've been trying to transition to. Then I saw this awning look which would be perfect! And thankfully I don't need great sewing skills! Phew!

Monday Munchies - Pumpkin Scones

2011-12-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

Pumpkin is one of those things that I use year round! I try to stock up when it is on sale but it's like black beans I grab a can when I see it because I know it will get put to use!

I made these pumpkin scones on Thanksgiving morning and everyone LOVED them! Yes, it is the day after Christmas but maybe these would be a perfect start for New Year's Day.

Thanks to TheShoeBoxKitchen for the wonderful recipe!

Freelance Friday: 25 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier

2011-12-23T07:00:00.017-06:00

Thanks to The Daily Buzz for putting all these great ideas on one "page." Go check it out!

Toddler Thursday - Hot Cocoa Dippers

2011-12-22T07:00:00.002-06:00

Toddler Crafts are fun but edible crafts . . . even better! Good Housekeeping posted these DIY hot cocoa dippers. I think these are easy enough to involve your tots and kids of any age! Make them for a party or make them as gifts just make sure to make extra to treat yourselves too!

Wednesday Wisdom - Smallest things

2011-12-21T07:00:00.002-06:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tips - DIY Holiday Photo Card Ideas

2011-12-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

Check out Celebrations.com for some great do - it - yourself tips on creating your own holiday photo cards!

Monday Meals - Easy Creamy Mac & Cheese

2011-12-19T07:00:00.001-06:00

OK, so this recipe looks so yummy I think I have to try it! It looks easy (for the most part) and doesn't have all the "unknown" ingredients that Velveeta has! :0) I guess the "secret" is that you cook your noodles in milk rather than water.

Freelance Friday - Holiday Traditions!

2011-12-16T07:00:00.002-06:00

Since my daughter had to do a school project based on family holiday traditions, it made me wonder what traditions other families have at Christmas time? Please leave some comments and let us know what your favorite family tradition was/is! Here are a few we have:

A new ornament for each child based on events of the last year. For instance, my son LOVES the guitar so last year he received a guitar ornament. This year they will probably be Pennsylvania themed as we moved across country in October.

A new pair of pj's presented on Christmas Eve. The kids are allowed to open their pj's and their presents that are from their sibling.

On the first snow of the season we hop in the car all pj'ed up and go through a drive through Christmas light display.

We have a large wooden Advent box with doors that counts down from December 1st through the 25th. I put in a special treat and a scripture verse relating to Christ's birth.

Merry Christmas!

Toddler Thursday - Yarn Art

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

Since we always have yarn around the house, or a coupon for 50% off yarn or the fact that the Dollar Tree always has yarn . . . this yarn art will be a fun, easy and cheap craft.

In fact, my daughter had a school project to decorate this big Christmas tree and guess what we used . . . YARN!

Check out these great ideas from Make and Takes for creating some Christmas Yarn Art!

Free shipping this Friday

2011-12-14T18:51:00.000-06:00

This Friday is "Free Shipping" day for many retailers! Now's the chance to get some last minute shopping done and save on shipping charges.

Baby Cheapskate has the scoop on it all!

Wacky Wednesday - Ninja

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Source: piccsy.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tip - DIY colored sugar

2011-12-13T07:00:00.002-06:00

I love this tip on making your own colored sugar. Buying it at the store (especially if you need multiple colors) can get expensive. This method seems easy and uses 2 ingredients that most people have in their homes! Thanks MomOnTimeOut!

Monday Munchies - Candy Cane Bark

2011-12-12T10:00:00.000-06:00

Wow! This Candy Cane Bark looks great! I haven't tried the Hershey's candy cane kisses (one of the ingredients) but have heard from a friend that they are delicious. Now I'm going to have to try this recipe!

Note: I'm sure if you don't have the Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, you could substitute white chocolate chips with some peppermint extract!

Starbucks' deal of the day

2011-12-12T09:53:00.000-06:00

I guess Starbucks has had a 12 days of Christmas deal going on these past 12 days. Sounds like most of the deals weren't that great. But today's deal is a great buy if you love their brewed coffee and can get to a Starbucks every day in January. If you purchase a specific 16oz tumbler, you can get it filled with brewed coffee every day in January for free! That's a $50 value if you purchase a coffee every day.

Monday Munchies - Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2011-12-12T07:00:00.002-06:00

Money Saving Mom posted this delicious chocolate chocolate chip banana bread recipe and it is truly scrumptious! I always add chocolate chips to my banana bread but never thought of adding the cocoa. We may never go back to regular banana bread!

Freelance Friday - Rough draft of Disclosure Policy

2011-12-09T07:00:00.020-06:00

**I know this sounds boring and blah, but please do take the time to read when you have a minute. It helps explain our goal and our policy (and hopefully our heart!)**

I've been wanting to write a "disclosure policy" of sorts for our blog . . . but as I've been looking around on other sites, I'm finding them very wordy or complicated. So I'm going to come up with a simplified version for now. Here's the rough draft:

1. The goal of our PinchAPennyNook blog is to help you save money and be good stewards of your finances. As we share money-saving ideas, coupons, sales, as well as fun/helpful tips we find, we hope you will be inspired and encouraged by our posts.

2. We do not get paid to blog. Kristie and I just enjoy finding good deals and ideas, and are thankful for the opportunity the web provides us to share those with you. While we do not think it would be wrong for us to get paid (in fact, we would love that!), at this time this is not a money-making endeavor.

3. Having said that, there are a few ways we can get compensated.

Our coupons.com widget on the right side bar does generate some income for us when you click on it and use it. I think last year it may have earned us $10 or something like that (we still have to figure out how to get that $10!).
Most times when we post a deal we find, the link is just that - a link to the website. Links to Target.com, Childrensplace.com, etc are just a quick way for you to get to the website. Sometimes we may send you to another money-saving website where that person will have a link which is their "referral link" - after all, since they took the time to post the deal, we want them to get rewarded for it, and so we send you their way.
Sometimes, however, we are able to provide a "referral link" which rewards us for sharing the deal with you. For example, Groupon has referral links that will reward the "sharer" with a credit to Groupon if a first time buyer signs up for Groupon through that link. Since we've taken the time to find and post the deals, we do not believe that getting rewarded for referrals is wrong or deceitful - but we want to let our readers know that is what is going on: thus the need for this Disclosure Policy.
All that to say that we would love for you to click through our links if you're going to take advantage of a deal! It's your way of saying "thank you" to us :) All the links look the same on our blog. The only difference between a regular link and a referral link is the "behind the scenes" where one rewards us for referring a new customer.

4. All opinions expressed on this site are just that - our opinions. We have not been paid to "advertise" or endorse a product or site. We have been approached by a few advertisers that are interested in us endorsing/advertising their services, but have yet to be comfortable with any of them. We choose to not have ads until we can find ones we are comfortable with or ones we can at least somewhat control the content.

5. Some day we may have ads or have giveaways of products that have been provided to us by a company. Rest assured that when that day comes, we will only be sharing things we are comfortable with. For now we are just a small little website sharing tips and information and we hope that we are of some help to some of you!

Toddler Thursday - Thumbprint Christmas Lights

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

This is an adorable thumbprint Christmas light craft for kids of any age! For older kids they can make the entire project themselves or for the younger ones they can just make the thumbprints.
Turn them into decorations or punch a hole in the top and tie on some ribbon for some handmade name tags on all your Christmas presents!

Thanks to Tip Junkie for the idea!

Make your own snowglobes!

2011-12-07T08:59:00.003-06:00

I just had to post this today because we made a snow globes yesterday and they really are so much fun! You do not need to spend a lot of time or money on these. We saved a jelly jar and a spaghetti sauce jar . . . ran them through the dishwasher and used goo gone to get any sticky residue off of the outside.

The Dollar Tree is the perfect place to find something cheap to stick inside if you don't have something around the house. We used a ninja for one and a Christmas tree in the other. The Dollar Tree has great little village pieces with snowmen and carolers perfect for this project. They also have super glue and the glitter you will need!

Here is a link to Make a Homemade Snow Globe! Next year we may try using photos!

Wacky Wednesday - Baby pun

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tips - Scarf Orgnization

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

Remember when we posted this video of 25 ways to wear a scarf . . . well now go here and find a few creative ways to organize your scarves!

Here is my favorite way plus it's free to . . . I am sure we all have an extra hanger!

Children's Place 25% and free shipping

2011-12-05T12:49:00.000-06:00

Until today only, Children's Place has extended their sale so you get 25% off everything AND free shipping. Just use the code FRIEND at checkout. I believe you can also print a coupon for in-store if you prefer that.

Monday Munchies - Disaster? Discovery? Delight!

2011-12-05T09:36:00.000-06:00

So today I'd like to ask you our readers if you've ever had a kitchen disaster become a new discovery and that is now a favorite! Maybe you've started a recipe only to discover that you were missing an ingredient . . . so you replace it with another ingredient and presto! A new favorite recipe emerged!

I've had that happen only in my crafting before. I would start out with an idea for a greeting card in mind only to have it fail . . . and in trying to "fix" it, I discover a new technique or new favorite way to do something!

This weekend, it happened in the kitchen for me! I was attempting to make this recipe of Christmas Mint Cookies but only had enough chocolate to make a dozen of them. So I went back to the cupboard and discovered about 4 ounces of white chocolate chips. Hmm, that should work to make a few more, right?

I don't know what I did wrong, but that white chocolate would not melt smoothly! I had used it in other recipes (fudge I think) and it melted just fine! So now I had a chunky, half-soft lump of peppermint white chocolate. Hmm, add some milk maybe? Epic fail. Now I just had some cloudy milk with chunks of white chocolate. Well, if it wouldn't work for covering cookies, maybe I could make chocolate milk out of it - add more milk. Well, at least now it was smooth, but it was way too thick for chocolate milk.

Into the fridge it went . . . the next day I make myself a cup of coffee and use some of my new creation of white chocolate peppermint creamer. OH YUM! Better than Starbucks! New favorite creamer, and I know how to make it again (kinda)! I know I had about 4 ounces of chocolate, a few drops of peppermint extract, and enough milk to make about a cup of the creamer.

What about you? Do you have a disaster/discovery/delight story?

25 Days of Free Holiday Music from Amazon

2011-12-03T07:23:00.003-06:00

It's that time of year again when Amazon offers 25 days of Free Holiday music. Each day they will reveal a new download. There are 3 available so far. Check this page daily or check back towards the end of the month and download them all.

Enjoy!

Freelance Friday - Handmade Felt Envelopes

2011-12-02T07:00:00.003-06:00

When it comes to Christmas, are you a gift card giver? Well, if so create some of these Handmade Felt Envelopes to give your gift cards a personal touch!

Toddler Thursday - Busy Bingo Game

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

Make and Takes had a great printable busy bingo game to keep the children busy during those holiday parties! This would be a great activity to take with you to a family party to help entertain the kids. Check it out here.

Great ideas for Advent

2011-11-30T15:55:00.000-06:00

I'll send you over to MoneySavingMom for her great list of resources for Advent activities, Six Free Printables for Advent. It's a resource of 6 printable activities for advent plus a couple of other ideas.

I have to point out my favorite of the bunch though: The Prudent Pantry's Christmas Book Advent Calendar. I love this idea of wrapping 25 Christmas books to read to your children, then unwrapping one a day to read to them. At first I thought this was a little ambitious because I don't own 25 Christmas books (I think we may have 3) . . . but then she mentioned the library! Duh! She has a nice list to pick from. And I'm going to add my 2 cents and say that you can always "re-wrap" a book for later in the month (just have a fill in book for show so it looks nice, then swap it out after you open the repeated book the first time) - children love repetition, so I'm sure they wouldn't mind hearing the same story twice in a month!

My second favorite is the Gum Advent Calendar - genius! Especially for kids a little older than my daughter (who is 9 months). I'm tucking this one away in the archives for when she's older. Growing up my mother always got me one of those chocolate calendars from the store. I loved those! It was so fun to "open" a treat every day of December as we counted down to Christmas.

Enjoy!

Wacky Wednesday - Doing my nails

2011-11-30T07:00:00.005-06:00

Source: weheartit.com via Anouk on Pinterest

Tuesday Tip - How to make Christmas meaningful

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

I love this post by We Are THAT Family on how to make Christmas more meaningful.

Black Friday always reminds me of how much Christmas has been commercialized and focused on what we can get. Don't get me wrong: I think that sharing gifts with others is a great picture (though in an infinitely small way) of God giving us good gifts, the best being the gift of His Son. So that's probably why I love this list of 30 Ways to Make Christmas Meaningful so much: it has helpful ways to remind us of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place!

Pinecone napkin rings

2011-11-28T13:36:00.000-06:00

Super cute idea from one of my very favorite blogs, IHeartOrganizing! Love this! So pretty and easy! Go check it out! And while you're at it, be sure to check out her Cyber Monday sale on all her printable organizational tools!

RRStar's Daily Deals - 21 of them!

2011-11-28T09:19:00.000-06:00

Wow! Have you seen today's Daily Deals? There are 21 of them in honor of Cyber Monday and they are all at least 50% off or more. There are deals for restaurants (Bistro 108, Cimino's Pizza), spas (Allure Salon, Bedazzled Salon), boutiques (Perfectly Posh, Roxy Carmichael), edible gifts (Cookies by Design, Edible Arrangements), and so much more!

Some of these would make great Christmas gifts for that "hard-to-buy-for" person . . . and at 50% or more off the regular price, you can't beat it! I'm in desperate need of a cut and color, so I'm checking out all the salon deals - sounds like the Allure Salon and Spa has the best deal on that!

I've put a picture of all the deals below. Happy shopping!

Monday Munchies - Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Oatmeal is such a yummy hearty breakfast loved by all! Our family tried this pumpkin baked oatmeal and loved it. The house smelled like pumpkin pie. The leftovers are just as delicious. I left out the dried cranberries and apples because the texture for my kids might be too much. We did not top the oatmeal with more sugar as it was sweet enough but we did add a little milk.

The night before I tossed all the dry ingredients in a bowl so in the morning all I had to do was mix in the wet ingredients and bake.

Thanks to The Sweets Life for the great Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal recipe!

Cyber Monday 2011

2011-11-28T05:02:00.004-06:00

It's Cyber Monday 2011! As much as I love to shop once it hits Thanksgiving I avoid stores at all cost. My plan is to have all my shopping done by Thanksgiving but when I can't meet that time frame, I turn to the internet. My one rule of buying online is: pay no shipping fees!

Stretching a Buck has a page dedicated to Cyber Monday and coupon codes! Check it out and enjoy shopping from the comfort of your own home . . . no pushing or shoving involved.

ING Orange Account - Black Friday $107 bonus

2011-11-25T09:42:00.000-06:00

I love our ING Orange Account! I opened it for a few reasons: I wanted a checking account that I could earn interest on, and I wanted the bonus for signing up! I really like seeing interest getting added every month to my account (granted, it's not a huge amount, but it's getting DEPOSITED not withdrawn!) And the $50 bonus? Well, it was a bonus! After using the debit card just 5 times, I got the $50 deposited into my account. Gotta love that!

It's super easy to pay bills from the account, transfer funds between this account and my local bank . . . and if I wanted to, I could write checks (but I use my local bank account for that instead). All like a regular bank account, except for the brick and mortar part of it.

Right now, for the next 3 days, ING is offering a sweet deal: get a $107 bonus for signing up with them in the next 3 days (by Sunday). Yay! That's better than the bonus I got this summer.

I receive no compensation or bonus for telling you about this. This is just my personal opinion about this product: and it's just such a great deal/bonus that I wanted to share it with you!

Old Navy Groupon - pay $10 for $20 worth

2011-11-25T09:24:00.000-06:00

It's back again - Groupon has a $20 Old Navy gift certificate for only $20! Grab one before they sell out!

Just be sure to use it before December 24, after which it will only be worth the $10 you paid for it. That's the nice thing about Groupon . . . even if you forget to use it before the expiration date, you still get what you paid for it. Essentially, you just lose the "bonus" part of it.

Freelance Friday - Did you go out this Black Friday?

2011-11-25T00:01:00.000-06:00

So I'm curious! How many of our readers braved the cold (well at least up north here) and the crowds today? I've done it twice only - once in Louisiana when we were down helping with Katrina relief efforts (a pastor's wife down there wanted to go out but didn't want to go alone), and once just for fun with my husband 2 years ago. Now with the many great online sales, I find that Black Friday deals just aren't that appealing to me! And maybe the fact that I have an 8 month old contributes to the "not-wanting-to-wait-in-line-for-2-hours."

And here's a fun blog to go check out on this fall day - thanks to our reader Charmel for pointing it out to us!

Toddler Thursday - Fingerprint Turkey Napkin Rings

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! If you need a quick activity to keep the kids busy this morning while you prepare your turkey, have them create these adorable fingerprint turkey napkin rings! Thanks Make and Takes for the cute idea!

RRStar Daily Deal - 50% off Bagel Place

2011-11-23T09:31:00.002-06:00

Today's daily deal is 50% off $15 to use at Bagel Place on State Street in Rockford. This would be a nice breakfast for home (freeze the extra) or office (make everyone happy!)

RRStar Daily Deals are similar to Groupon, but you end up supporting local businesses. How cool is that? If you've never used this type of deal site, you just sign up with your email, and each day's daily deal will be emailed to you. Then, if you're interested in the deal, buy it; if not, do nothing! The deals are available for a limited time, so be sure to take advantage of the deal while it's available. Once you purchase a deal, you will receive an email with a link to print your voucher/certificate (may be a few hours before that comes to your inbox).

Wacky Wednesday - Funny kids through the decades #2

2011-11-23T07:00:00.002-06:00

Here are 3 more, continued from last week:

1962 - Five-year-old Vic, who'd recently become the oldest of four children in his family, confided to his Sunday-school teacher, "Daddy doesn't want any more kids because our toothbrush holder is getting all filled up."

1971 - We were on our way to the doctor's office when my 3-year-old asked me if she and I could exchange doctors. Puzzled, I asked her why? "Because," she explained, "my doctor only gives me lollipops and bubble gum. Yours gives out babies!" (Anna Trotta, New York)

1976 - Six-year-old Susan felt quite sorry for her 14-year-old cousin who wore braces. "the Tooth Fairy will never come to your house now that your teeth are all fenced in," she sympathized. (Mrs. M. Shauers; Kansas)

Tuesday Tips - Grocery Store Deals

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

When it comes to couponing one of our first suggestions is take it SLOW! One way to accomplish that is to pick your favorite store and follow a blog that posts deals on for that store. Then you can just focus on those coupon matchups and those deals.

Common Sense with Money has compiled a list of 100 plus stores and their grocery deals and coupon match ups. Check it out!! Just look for the letters above the pink grocery stores graphic and you can choose Stores A-B, C-F, etc.

Black Friday tips and hints

2011-11-21T12:31:00.000-06:00

There are a lot of money saving blogs out there that are doing the legwork of comparing Black Friday deals for us! This is SO nice, especially if you are looking for something specific! Personally I don't need anything this year since my Christmas shopping is all done, but if I did, I'd definitely be checking out these websites! Here are two of my favorites:

The Frugal Find is doing an amazing amount of price comparisons! They have a lot of comparisons for electronics and other big ticket items. They also share how Amazon.com is beating a lot of Black Friday prices! (I'd highly suggest following The Frugal Find on Facebook. They have such good tips and sometimes do some really nice giveaways!)
The Frugal Find - Amazon already beats Black Friday prices
The Frugal Find - Black Friday deals

Baby Cheapskate has a lot of price comparisons on baby and kids' stuff. They also highlight and share how Amazon.com does their Black Friday deals.
Baby Cheapskate - How Amazon does Black Friday
Baby Cheapskate - Black Friday deals

And finally, here is an excellent article on making sure you don't overspend . . . not in the sense of spending too much on an item, but on making sure you don't spend too much overall just because "it's a good deal."

Monday Munchies - Peppermint Mocha Latte or "where my French heritage rules the day"

2011-11-21T11:34:00.000-06:00

Where you able to snag one of Starbucks' BOGO drinks this weekend? On Saturday while I was out, I stopped by (the line was long) and got myself a Peppermint Mocha and a Caramel Brulée (which, by the way, bugs me because Caramel in French is a masculine noun, not feminine, so it should be Caramel Brulé, not Brulée . . . but that's another story :). I drank the Peppermint Mocha and put the Caramel Brulée in the fridge for the next day. OH.YUM! I think I liked the drink better chilled! Anywho . . .

This morning I was in the mood for dipping some of my buttered toasted homemade bread in either hot chocolate or coffee. Before you think me unsophisticated, this is a very French thing to do. Every morning for breakfast, my French grandmother would get herself a bowl (yes bowl) of coffee, slice up some day-old french bread, butter it, and dip it in her coffee. As a young girl visiting her during the summer, I would do the same, except I'd do it with chocolate milk . . . and when I got older, with café au lait (half coffee, half milk). Ah, the memories.

Anyway, this morning I wanted to dunk my bread in something yummy . . . I saw something on top of my fridge and was inspired to make my version of Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha. Here's what I used:

1 mug of strong coffee
1 peppermint herbal tea bag (that's what I saw on the top of my fridge) or peppermint extract
1 package of hot cocoa
Milk to taste
Whipped cream (which we never buy, but happened to have from some previous thingy)

And this was the delicious result:

Now I understand that not everyone has peppermint tea bags or peppermint extract around their house. You can make a Mocha Latte instead! I happen to have both because Celestial Seasonings tea bags often go on sale and with the common $1 off coupons in the paper, it makes for cheap winter hot drinks. And I make candy cane fudge every year . . . thus the extract. Hmmm, that sounds good. Maybe I'll have to post that recipe later!

Aldi price list

2011-11-19T09:18:00.000-06:00

I have made a price list of products I purchase on a regular basis at Aldi. This helps me do price comparisons with other stores to see if the "sale price" is really a good deal. Please note that while most items on this list are at a fixed price, I have noticed that some of them do fluctuate: namely milk and eggs. Also, occasionally, Aldi will have a "price drop" (as we saw this week with the butter and crescent rolls), which is nice!

Anyway, hopefully this list can help you too - it's not exhaustive (only the stuff I buy, and I've already noticed I forgot some items), and it's bound to somewhat change, but at least it's something to start with! Have a great weekend!

Freelance Friday - Apple Candles

2011-11-18T07:00:00.002-06:00

What a fun and inexpensive way to dress up your table with apple candles! Apples are inexpensive right now so grab a few extra and make some apple candles.

Thanks to Moms Need to Know for the post!

Hilander/Logli vs. Aldi

2011-11-17T13:33:00.000-06:00

Here is, as promised, the price comparison chart between the Hilander/Logli and Aldi ads this week. I have bolded the better prices. As you can see, this week is pretty good at Hilander. Oh, and not on this chart is frozen turkey other than Butterball. With any additional $25 purchase, Schnucks brand is $0.37/lb and Honeysuckle is $0.57/lb.

Item	Hilander		Aldi
Butter	$2.28		$1.99	($0.80 price drop)
Crescent rolls	$1.88	(Pillsbury)	$0.99	($0.50 price drop)
Shredded cheese	$1.68	(16 oz)	$3.49	(32 oz)
Sour cream	$1.00		$1.29
Sweet Cond. Milk	$2.00	(Eagle)	$1.19
Gravy	$0.39	(Campbell 10oz)	$1.19	(12 oz)
Cranberry jelly	$1.00	(Ocean Spray)	$0.89
Canned pumpkin	$1.50	(Libby’s)	$0.99
Canned vegetables	$0.50		$0.59
Frozen veggies	$0.87	(Bird’s Eye)	$1.09
Hot cocoa	$1.00	(Nestle)	$1.09
Butterball Turkey	$0.99/lb	(w/ $25 purchase)	$1.09/lb
Sweet potatoes	$0.38/lb		$1.49	(for 3 lbs)

This is where you decide which store is best for you this week. It's interesting to me that of the 5 things that are more expensive at Hilander, 4 are brand name! So not a bad week at Hilander! I'm going to be heading to Hilander, because most of what I need this week is on the above list.

P.S. - Oh, and for you other math geeks out there, I figured out that if you buy everything on the above list, all things equal (i.e. same amount of cheese and same amount of sweet potatoes, and an 11 lb turkey), you'll save $0.74 by going to Hilander (if you buy another $9 worth of stuff to get to the additional $25 purchase necessary to get the Butterball at the $0.99 price) . . . plus you'll get the Ocean Spray cranberry sauce which in my humble opinion is the best out there! Yes, I'm a numbers geek.

Aldi vs. Hilander? Are you interested?

2011-11-17T12:36:00.000-06:00

Something I'd like to start doing is posting some weekly price comparisons of Rockford Aldi vs. Hilander prices . . . but only if that's going to be helpful to you our readers. Would you take the time to comment and let us know if that's something you would like? I want to make sure that if I'm going to put the time into it, it's at least going to be beneficial to some people. Thanks!

As a general rule, Aldi's everyday prices are better than Hilander's . . . this has never been as true as since Schnucks bought Hilander and the prices went up. I have been encouraged this week, however, to see some good prices at Hilander/Logli, so I'll post the price comparison in a subsequent post.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Unless otherwise noted, the prices at Aldi are for their store brand.
2. Sometimes it is worth paying $0.25 more for an item at one store instead of running to different stores to get the best price.
3. Some of these prices that I'm noting at Aldi are from my "everyday price list" from a few weeks ago. Aldi does have some price drops and sales, and those are usually noted in their flier.
4. Please bear with me as I try to figure out the best way to set up the price comparison. I may experiment with different colors or formats before I choose what works best.
5. If you live outside of Rockford, these prices are probably different . . . and our Hilander prices are actually out of the Schnucks/Logli flier, not Kroger.

Please comment away! I will do a post this week, and depending on the response, this may become a weekly post!

Toddler Thursday - Candy Experiments

2011-11-17T07:00:00.003-06:00

Are you wondering what to do with all that Halloween candy, if you still have any? Check out this website of candy experiments. You can have fun experimenting and save on your dental bill all at the same time.

My kids love to experiment so we are definitely going to try some of these. Scroll down on the left hand side and see your different options!

Wacky Wednesday - Funny kids through the decades

2011-11-16T07:00:00.001-06:00

So I was able to find some cute funnies in my Parents magazine so I thought I'd share some of them here. Since this was from an anniversary issue, they gave some from different decades. Here are a few:

1927 - A mother was telling her kids about the Pilgrims. "Just think, dears, no houses, no schools or churches, and no stores. This is what the brave Pilgrims faced when they landed on Plymouth Rock." Little 5-year-old Priscilla said: "For goodness' sake, why didn't they go to the hotel?" (Mrs. G.L.C., Rhode Island)

1938 - Gayle Marie, not quite 4, was having some difficulty eating her salad. "Eat your salad so you'll grow to be a big girl," her daddy told her. She looked at her father, puzzled, and asked, "What are you eating it for, then, Daddy?" (Mrs. W.J.B., Missouri)

1953 - After Mary had a tonsillectomy, she was heard to remark, "Of the two times I've been in the hospital, I like being born best." (Mrs. H.B.S., Oklahoma)

. . . and my favorite:

1958 - At Sunday school, little Bobby was inspired by the story of Eve's creation from one of Adam's ribs. Later in the day, Bobby felt a pain in his side. "Oh, Mother," he cried. "I think I'm going to have a wife!" (Mrs. Bevan Shaw)

More to come next week!

Target.com BOGO 50%

2011-11-15T15:23:00.000-06:00

Today and tomorrow, Target.com is having a sale on most all apparel, shoes, and accessories - even the clearance stuff! Plus if you have a Target redcard debit or credit card, you'll get 5% off AND free shipping! I'm pretty excited - got my daughter some cute rainboots (for next fall) and winter boots (for now) for $11, tax included. OK, so now I have to post pictures of the boots :0)

Just a reminder, the 50% comes off the lowest priced item!

Thanks for the heads' up BabyCheapskate!

Money Saving Mom's new book!

2011-11-15T10:22:00.001-06:00

As a lot of you may have noticed, we often refer you to some deals or tips that MoneySavingMom posts on her blog. She always has wonderful tips and deal information! I personally follow her blog every day and would highly encourage you to do the same.

This innovative, creative, and frugal mom Crystal has just published a book! Well, it's not out yet (comes out in January) but it's available for pre-order. I'm sure it's going to be full of great ideas and tips on how to save money.

Also, Crystal is generously offering a free copy of her Freezer Cooking ebook to anyone who either pre-orders her new book, tweets about it, posts about it on Facebook, or blogs about it (yes, I'll be getting my free copy . . . now you know! :)

So pre-order or post about the above book, and get this ebook free:

Tuesday Tip - Decluttering before the holidays

2011-11-15T07:00:00.002-06:00

I thought this article on 3 Reasons to Declutter Before the Holidays was a simple, direct, and helpful article. I know I have a lot of decluttering to do, but unlike this picture, most of mine is tucked away in a closet. Maybe I should get some of it out and tackle it a little at a time . . . hmmmm . . .

Today's Daily Deal from RRStar

2011-11-14T08:54:00.000-06:00

If you like German food, you're going to want to jump on this deal! Today's RRStar Daily Deal is 50% off a $25 gift certificate to Rockford's very own Der Rathskeller! Enjoy!

Monday Munchies - Corn-on-the-cob on a popsicle stick!

2011-11-13T07:00:00.004-06:00

Thanks to One Charming Party for this great idea for the kids table at Thanksgiving! Kids will love this Corn-on-the-cob on a popsicle stick treat.