Busy Mom by Charity Adams

22Feb
0

No Cal Substitute for Mocha Latte Lovers plus coupon

I love Mocha Lattes.  If I run into town that is my on the way home treat of choice.  I get the skim milk and sugar free if available, but they are still extra calories that I honestly don’t need.  I did find an alternative that is 0 calories, 0 fat plus 2 grams of fiber.

At the local grocery store I came across the Millstone coffee display.  I love the coffee aisle it smells so good.  I found this tiny packet of Chocolate Velvet.  I snatched it up, took it home and poured it into my new Hamilton Beach Brew Station that the hubby gave me for Christmas.  The chocolate smell wafted through the house.   I was hoping that the smell would match the taste.  Too my surprise and elation it did.  It truly had a chocolate taste.  I added a couple of packets of Splenda with fiber and found what I considered to be the closest calorie free thing to a mocha latte.

Here is a link for Splenda Coupons.  If you can not find Millstone coffee in you area it can also be ordered online.

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Posted by admin in Recipes and tagged with
18Feb
0

Save On Your Electric Bill with These Lighting Tips

Office Depot Green Brand Compact=% of your electric bill comes from the lighting in your home.

1.  Obvious tip to reduce your 11% is to shut off the lights when you leave the room.  If you have a house full of kids that flick switches on with no concern of turning them off you can get motion sensors.  They are becoming more affordable everyday and will pay for themselves in the long run.

2.  Go florescent.  Florescent bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.  They use 25% less electricity than there incandescent counter part.

3.  If you want to take your lightening savings to the next level go one better than fluorescent.  Go LED.  LED lights cost more right now but the technology is evolving and soon will make them more affordable in the market place.  A traditional light bulb lasts about 1000 hours where a LED light will last 50,000 to 100,000 hours.  A traditional light bulb 90% of their energy as heat while the LED runs cool.

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Posted by admin in Eco Friendly and tagged with ,
17Feb
0

Mommy Needs a New Fax Service

is now Myfax.  Myfax sucked in my humble opinion.  I was not able to receive faxes from my own landline and the client I swap faxes with the most was not about to fax to my Myfax number either.  I contacted costumer service.  Basically they sent a fax from their office to my MyFax number.  It worked so the tech basically said well it works and you’re screwed.

I tested out another service or two and finally landed on a free service that is working like a charm. K7.net.  I only care about receiving faxes not sending them.  I receive faxes with no problem.  They are emailed to me.  My clients are faxing me with no issues.  One of the best parts of K7.net is they are free.  Make sure you receive a couple of faxes per month and your service is 100% free.

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Posted by admin in Work From Home and tagged with
16Feb
0

The New Credit Card Rules I Learned from Mellody

The world went upside down in the last two years.  We have been fornate in our little corner of the world not to have been absolutely killed unlike other parts of the country.  The one thing that does creep into our little financial world is credit cards.

Mellody Hobson on Good Morning America went over the new rules.  It caught my attention because I can see these new rules helping people who have issues with their credit cards.

1.  Your credit card statement now tells you how long it will take pay off your balance and how much interest you will pay if you only pay the minimum payment every month.  This will be an eye opener for a lot of credit card users.

2.  Instead of 15 days you will now how 21 days from the time you get your statement to pay your bill.  That will give you a little more time to get that bill paid.  Hopefully fewer people will get nailed with late payment charges with the extra time.

3.  One area where credit card companies really stick you is the late fees and interest penalties.  It happens you miss a payment or pay late and whamo you rate goes up significantly.  Now the card company has you paying high rates for eternity.  With the new law pay your card on time for the next 6 months and you will get your rate back.  I think this is great because you are not punished forever for an error.

4.  If your credit card company does decide to change their rate or policy they now must give you a 45 day notice.  That extra time will give you a chance to make adjustments to your financial plan.

I have noticed the payment terms on my credit card statement.  Truly an eye opener.  One downer I have noticed is that the credit card I don’t use is now going to charge an annual fee to maintain my account because of the high cost of doing business.  If that is the only negative I can live with that.

For more information on the new credit card rules visit this New Credit Card Rules: What You Need to Know.

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Posted by admin in Financial and tagged with ,
12Feb
1

Cookies & Creme or Chocolate Covered Cherry Bon Bon Recipe for Your Sweetheart

Yesterday I made 9 dozen bon bons for my sweethearts.  I have a lot of people to be grateful for.  These bon bons are perfect little treats for my sweethearts.  They are definitely sweet so one or two per package go a very long way.  I used fat free sweetened condensed milk in mine and it didn’t change the recipe.  I am laughing at myself thinking that a little fat free will make up for 3 lbs of confectioner sugar.  I made the gift sacks as well and added a few stickers.  I have the instructions for the gift bags as well.

Any way here is the recipe.

1 c. butter melted

1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

3 lbs. confectioners’s sugar

For cookies a creme

1/2 cup cream-filled chocolae sandwich cookie crums

1 lb. white candy coating, chopped

For the chocolate covered cherries

54 marachino cherries, patted dry

1 lb. milk chocolate candy coating, chopped

In a large bowl, combine butter and milk.  Gradually beat in confectioner’s sugar until a smooth dough is formed.  Divide in half; cover with plastic wrap.

For bonbons, stir cookie crums into ne portion.  Shapte into 1-in. balls.  In a microwave-safe bowl or heavy saucepan, melt white candy coating; stir until smooth.  Dip balls in candy coating, allowing excess to drip off; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.  Chill until firm.

For chocolate-covered cherries, shape one portion into 1-in. balls; flatten to 2-in. circles.  Wrap each circle around a cherry and gently shape into a ball.  Place on waxed paper.  Melt chocolate candy coating; stir until smooth.  Dip balls in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off;  place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.  Chill until firm.

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Posted by admin in Recipes and tagged with ,
09Feb
2

Bunco with Red Velvet Chocolate Cake

Red Velvet Chocolate Cake

One night a month.  I leave the house with $3 in my pocket to join a group of ladies who have been playing bunco for years.  Bunco is a leave your brain at the door kind of game.  We play with a group of 12 ladies.  I asked one of them how long our group was in business.  In true Bunco Girl fashion I received this response.  ”I was invited when I just found out I was pregnant with Sunny – (right after getting into a size 7 at Diet Center) – and Sunny turned 27 last Sunday. They had been meeting a long time before that – I think Moe wasn’t married yet, and she is a charter member – also Ardith is a charter member.”  Needless to say our bunco group has been playing for a very long time.

Myself I can remember starting about 2 kids ago.  The group of people are I play with are unique.  We don’t see each other everyday so it is always an interesting conversation.  We catch up on the lives of our members every month.  Better yet we catch up on the lives of the people in each others neighborhoods once a month.  If you want to find out what is happening in your little corner of the world put together a bunco group.

We contribute a grand total of $3 per person to play.  Each member hosts once per year and takes our bunco money for prizes when they host.  The host is responsible for Getting a $13 gift for 1st, $10 for 2nd, $8 for 3rd, $5 for bunco and they foot the bill for the boobie prize.

There are tons of different ways to play.  I can’t explain how we do it.  You just have to sit down and jump in to play.  Usually a vet is there to bring the newbies along.  And the newbies are there to keep the vets in check.  While we don’t play for blood I would have to say we can get a little competitive.  Our ladies are pretty creative with the prizes so it is always fun to win and take home the bunco prize.  If you want the down low on how to really play the game visit Bunco Rules.

One of the best parts of our bunco night it the desert at the end.  I rarely pass on whatever our gals cook up.  We don’t have a bad baker in the bunch.  My night to host included a Red Velvet Chocolate Cake.  I had never made one before but I can tell you I will make several in the future.  The batter was incredible.  I admit to licking the bowl and the spatula myself. It included a mixture of vinegar and baking powder at the end that did something that made this cake recipe a keeper in my book.

Here is the recipe.  I hope you enjoy it and possible use it for you next bunco session.

INGREDIENTS

Makes one 8-inch cake.

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted, plus more for pans
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 one-ounce bottles liquid red food coloring
  • 3 tablespoons lukewarm water
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • Cream Cheese Frosting for Red Velvet Cake

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, and butter again. Dust with flour, and tap out the excess; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together cake flour, cocoa, and baking powder; set aside.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar, and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 15 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, salt, food coloring, and water; beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until well combined. Add reserved dry ingredients in additions, alternating with the buttermilk; beat on low speed until well combined.
  3. In a small bowl, stir together baking soda and vinegar; add to batter. Beat on medium speed for 10 seconds. Be sure not to over beat. Divide batter between prepared pans, and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove pans from oven, and transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; let stand until completely cool.
  4. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes so surfaces are level. Place a layer on a cake stand or cardboard round, and spread about 1/3 of the frosting over top. Place the second layer on top, and spread with the remaining frosting over the tops and sides of assembled cake. Transfer to refrigerator, and chill until ready to serve.

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Posted by admin in At Play, Recipes and tagged with ,
04Feb
0

5-4-3-2-1 to Healthier Kids and Families

5-4-3-2-1 Gohad the pleasure of Judging at an FCCLA District event.  One of the awesome high school presenters taught us about the 5-4-3-2-1 program.  She shared growing problem with children’s obesity in our country.  I know first hand that a little extra cushion around the sides can’t be good for you.  The 5 -4 – 3 – 2 -1 programs helps you improve your families health gradually.  Here are the steps:

5.  Eat 5 fruits or vegetables every day

4.  Drink 4 glasses of water per day

3. 3 servings of low fat dairy

2.  Watch 2 hours or less TV everyday

1.  Excercise 1 hour per day.

To find out more about the 5-4-3-2-1 program visit Peaceful Playgrounds.

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Posted by admin in Health and tagged with ,
27Jan
0

The Assualt of Stomach Flu Has Made Clorox My New Friend

Last night Duff came down with a case of the stomach flu. Duff was attacked and the collateral damage appeared all over my bathroom. At his age I would have expected more accuracy in his delivery, but I guess when the moment strikes there are not points for neatness.

I could hear my husband from the bedroom weakly asking, “Did somebody get sick?” Of course he knew someone was sick. Playing dumb didn’t fool me. I know he didn’t want to get in on any of the clean up action.

OH MY GOD!!! I didn’t realize that I was going to need a HazMat suit to clean up the aftermath. Reluctantly I gloved up and entered the room. I reached for the Clorox Wipes and started in. I think I went through half the container taking breaks to control my own stomach and adding to the mess.

Moms deserve some kind of combat pay or at least roses once in awhile from husbands who pretend to sleep when the nasty stuff comes out.

Signing off to go to the nearest WAllY World to stock up on more Clorox wipes for the barrage messes that will occur when the rest of the family gets to share in the joy of the Stomach Flu.

I put together a few resources to help you out in case your family gets attacked by the stomach flu.

Health Square has a great guide to help your kids get through the stomach flu.

BRAT Diet. If you find that it is coming out your southern region instead of your north end. You might try the BRAT diet.

The myth:It’s okay to drink soda when you have a stomach flu. The truth is that you shouldn’t drink soda for the stomach flu unless it is already flat. Here are few more myths about treating the stomach flu

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Posted by admin in Health and tagged with ,
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