Organizing Makeover Giveaway!

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Frap-a-cup-a-cake

I  had been looking for an excuse to make these adorable cupcakes since I saw them on Pinterest a few months ago.  Finally, a Starbucks loving co-worker had a birthday and gave me a good reason to get baking. I also happened to have the house to myself the whole weekend, which turned out to be a blessing since these little beauties took all of 5 hours to create. 

The original recipe specified every component to be made from scratch- which I normally completely advocate- but if I were to make these again, I would take some serious short cuts.  There is the cake itself, the creme filling, the frosting, and the caramel drizzle.  

I would use a vanilla box cake mix and add 1 and 1/2 packets of Starbucks Via instant coffee packets.  The creme filling turned out weirdly runny so, again, I would take a short cut on that by using cool-whip flavored with 1/2 packet of Starbucks Via and some vanilla.  The icing- a sort of Swiss butter cream- was an epic failure, as my cooked icings always are (its my cross to bear in life).  So, using what ingredients I had left, I made a traditional powdered sugar and butter frosting that I flavored with- you guessed it- a little bit of coffee.  

The caramel drizzle was the only component I would go to the trouble of making again.  I wasn't particularly impressed with this version, though.  I had a hard time keeping it a consistency that could be drizzled.

Despite a lot of coffee going into these cupcakes, they were not overwhelmingly flavored and were delicious!  After the little office party, the leftovers were even hoarded!  I only ate one though....I was still a little miffed at the amount of work they took and I punished the cupcakes by only eating one.  

Are you wondering how I got those adorable little cups?  Well, a heck of a lot of cutting and pasting was involved.  First, I searched for a Starbucks logo that was about the size I wanted.  I printed and cut out a bunch.  I found plain white paper cups at the dollar store and cut the tops off, then glued the logos on.  I baked the cupcakes in traditional liners and then dropped them into the paper cup bottoms.  After piping the icing on to look like a whipped cream swirl, I cut Starbucks straws into fourths and stuck them in (a special thanks to Julie who spotted me while I grabbed a big handful at the local 'sbucks.  They got finished with a caramel drizzle and voila, amazingly adorable little faux Frappuccino's!

Here is the original recipe I found on Pinterest: Starbucks Frappuccino Cupcakes

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Fail

I'm on the couch with a migraine today, but I figured I could still attempt to make some decorations for my little niecelette's 3rd birthday this weekend. The above picture was my goal. I found it on pinterest. Sorry, but I couldn't find the source. Here's how mine turned out:

I suppose it's not bad for a first attempt, and it's a medicated first attempt at that! I did, however, find an amazeballs tutorial online to follow. Here's the link to the super cool blog I found today (with the pom pom tutorial), NothingButBonfires.

Cut It Out

Right before Christmas, I ordered myself this new coupon organization system from Open Sky. First of all, I LOVE Open Sky. It’s a newish website with dozens of “tastemakers” that you pick and choose from to “follow” from the Beekman Boys, Julie Morgenstern, Martha Stewart, Org Junkie, and many more. You then get online deals that are more tailored to your interests and lifestyle that are currently being chosen by those “tastemakers”. I’m hooked! Here’s a link to get an invite to join! (It’s free!)

Join Open Sky!

Here is my new Qubie Pro Coupon Organizing system that I bought off of Open Sky. I find that when I’m having more fun doing my coupons, I stick to it. You can also purchase it from the Qubie website. I started couponing a year or so ago (you know, before the TLC show “Extreme Couponers” made it the cool thing to do, ha ha) and I did find that I could save up to 50% with a little work. Oh, and by “a little work”, I actually mean hours a week clipping coupons and searching the internet. *yawn* It DOES, literally, pay off though. I find that clipping and planning during a movie or a favorite tv show really helps. Also enlisting older kids is a great way to get them clipped! Although often my 10-yr old will clip coupons for products I have never even heard of, …she means well, right?

I tried organizing them different ways, like keeping the flyers in tact, dating them, and then only clipping the ones I needed (a method they often use on the TLC show), and it was just too cluttered and too overwhelming for me. I like the binder method much better! I have to admit. I made one myself a year or so ago, but I like this one a lot better. 1. because it has 3 different binders -1 for grocery coupons, 1 more restaurant coupons and gift cards, and one of store cards (like CVS, Costco, etc), and a cute tote bag, and 2. bc it’s very matchy-matchy. I respond well to match- matchy!

As for the coupons themselves, I get them mainly from the Sunday paper. I have a few lovely people that give me their coupons they don’t use out of theirs, and then I also grab store coupons from the store flyers when I walk in to shop. My favorite website to use that helps me know which coupon to use when is Souther Savers. It’s matches current weekly sales to the coupons that are out right now…in the Southern regions. Coupon sites are everywhere right now, so even if you’re not in this area, I know you can find one that will work for you if you’re interested!

Have fun clipping, and check out other organizing tips at We Are THAT Family’s Blog!

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings

It’s one of my favorite times of the year! It’s time to get everything put away and get the house back in order. Seriously, as much as I love putting up the Christmas tree and hanging the stocking by the chimney with care…I think I love putting my house back together even more!!

As I was wrapping our seemingly endless piles of gifts we were giving, I made a huge mess out of my stash of wrapping papers, tissue paper, gift bags, ribbons, etc. It got me thinking, once again, about ways to organize gift wrap. Ideally, I would love to one of these Elfa Gift Wrapping Carts from the Container Store. They’re actually on sale right now!! Wooohooo, well…if you have over a hundred dollars to spend on gift wrap organization, which I do NOT. Another day!

Here are some other options at the Container Store:

I REALLY like this one!

This is the one I actually have. I don't love it, but it works!

Ok, but check this one out. I saw it on Pinterest….if you’re not on pinterest, you MUST check it out. I’ll send you an invite if you need one! Anyways, it’s at Ikea, and it’s $1.99, and you can order it online! It’s actually a storage doohicky for plastic bags, but it’s great for storing gift wrap! The only downside is that it’s not portable. You have to screw it into your wall. Perhaps in your gift wrapping room?

There’s always some more homespun storage ideas, like converting a hamper or a (cute-ish) trash can.

I also liked this idea from Real Simple (LOVE them) about using skirt hangers for tissue paper, etc. I might have to use that one!

Are you ready for the grand finale? Martha Stewart is designing craft room furniture now, which includes a gift wrap cabinet and hutch! LOVE!!!!! If I had the space, I would SO want this!!!

Check out lots of other fun and frugal ideas for Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest!

Makin' a List, and Checkin' It Twice

It's that time of year again! Yes, I KNOW it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but hear me out. I'm not talking about decorating (although, I am really chomping at the bit to get started on that!). I'm talking about getting your Christmas cards ready. I like to mail mine in early December before the USPS gets bogged down. This year, I think I'll be a little behind my normal schedule, but the goal is to just be delivered before Christmas, right?

You may be thinking you have a month? True...that does give you a little wiggle room, but really if you're like me and you still need to choose which family pictures you use, pick the actual cards, order them, wait for shipping, and then address and stamp dozens and dozens of cards.....you get my point?

So come join me in getting your cards ready as they need to make it over the river and through the woods!

This card cracks me up....reminds me of my brother.

All images from MarthaStewart.com.

My Worlds Collide...Pumpkin Style

Has anyone out there ever crossed their fantasy life created on Pinterest into their real life (their way less glamorous/ambitious real life)?  I took the leap to merge my dual existences yesterday and mad the 'Two Ingredient Pumpkin Cake' (which really needs a much more exciting name).  Some call it 'Pumpkin Dump Cake' but, after some investigation, it is not the same thing....although that kind of sums up this recipe.

I love all things pumpkin- except pie...which is really weird now that I think about it.  The recipe only calls for a can of plain pumpkin, which they are very specific about, and a box of cake mix.  After some unsolicited advice from a lady in Wal-Mart who really loves pumpkin (I always always attract...um....unusual people while shopping) I decided to go with the spice cake mix. 

I read some reviews that suggested modifying this 2 ingredient cake into a 3 ingredient cake by adding eggs.  From what I know about baking, I assumed that was a good idea and added 3 eggs.  This seemed to help loosen the thickness of the batter, which was a complaint by most of the bakers, as well as add fluffiness.

I chose to make mini cupcakes because I wanted to give them away to some friends and co-workers (and because I had super cute pumpkin candies to put on top).  I thought the result was fine for what it was- and the cake contains no added fat or oil, which is a plus if you care about things like that.  I wish I had used the pre-seasoned pie ready pumpkin though.  Plain canned pumpkin is quite bland on its own.  Even the boxed spice cake mix didn't provide that punch of pumpkin pie flavor I was looking for.  Next time I will use the seasoned pumpkin and maybe a chocolate cake mix (Devil's food was suggested by a reviewer).

For the icing, I used a standard cream cheese which was: 8oz cream cheese, 8oz butter, a teaspoon of vanilla and about 4 cups of powdered sugar whipped together.  I seasoned mine with a little cinnamon after tasting the cupcakes themselves and deciding it could use the extra flavor.  

I often give away baked goods (so I don't eat them all myself) and I love love love these Dollar Tree containers for most things.  I can slide a gallon size bag over them or use the silver cardboard top they come with. They come round or rectangular, 2 in a package for $1.  Have you ever been behind someone at a dollar store who just can't come to terms with the fact that everything costs a dollar and so they have to ask how much everything is?  Those people always make me laugh.  I could never work at a dollar store because of them!