Making Homestyle Muffins The Easy Way

Craving homemade muffins but you don't have the time to make them?  I can help you with that.  This easy little trick will have everyone thinking you've been sweltering away in the kitchen.

Buy any muffin mix and follow the directions on the package. I'm know what you're thinking - Duh!! '

For this one I used Betty Crocker's Banana Nut Muffin Mix. The directions are so easy.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add 1/2 cup of water to mix and stir until moistened.  Spoon into muffin cups.

Here's the homemade part.  Using the recipe below make your crumb topping and top each muffin. Bake for 16-21 minutes.

Here's the recipe.

After plating the muffins walk tiredly to the room where your love one's are and share your hard work with them.  Oh' and for a little drama, I suggest sprinkling a little water on your forehead.  hee-hee.

Wanting more treats?  Click HERE to see my Watermelon Rice Krispie Treats.

Good Eatin' Y'all...

Kashi Hummus Crisps - Satisfy Your Craving

Every day I crave something a little salty.  Okay if I'm really honest something a little sweet too.  Oh' and lets don't forget chocolately and something.... oh you can see where this is going. Let's get back to Kashi.

I was sent a bag of the Kashi Hummus Crisps to try in the Sea Salt and Olive Oil flavor.  My first thought was, what is Hummus Crisps.  I already knew about the well known Kashi company and there all natural beliefs. So I expected these to be a better way to snack.

Well first Kashi starts out with air popped chickpea crisps.  I should have known they were made from chickpeas, since that's what Hummus is, but that just goes to show you how NOT healthy I eat.  (That's something I've been wanting to change.) Then Kashi adds extra virgin olive oil and real sea salt.  That really kicks up the flavor!  

Here's the other two flavors of Kashi Hummus Crisps that I want to try:

So how do you know if something is 

made with simple, natural ingredients?

Look at the label and you can see there's not one crazy name you can't pronounce for me that says a lot.

See the ingredients for yourself: 

Chickpeas, Trapioca Starch, Kashi, Cracked Seven Whole Grain Blend (Whole: Rolled Oats, Hard Red Wheat, Rye, Brown Rice, Triticale, Barley, Buckwheat), Long Grain Brown Rice Flour, expeller Pressed Canola Oil With Tocopherols For Freshness, Cornstarch, Oat Fiber, Organic Brown Rice Flour, Sea Salt, Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Dried Onion, Organic Rice Concentrate, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Dried Parsley, Evaporated Salt, Natural Flavors, Organic Spice, Soy Flour, Organic Nonfat Dry Milk.

Air-popped chickpea crisps are made without partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial anything.  And with at least 5g of whole grain, 3g of fiber and 3g of protein from each serving, you'll serve up a little nutrition with every snack session.

If you're like me and have to snack all the time, at least make it more nutritious. With #Kashi Hummus Crisps nutritious can be delicious!

I'll be honest, without this awesome flavor they would taste like cardboard but they do have a crispy crunch to them. Plus really love the Sea Salt and Olive Oil flavor!  This is the first so called healthy snack that I would buy with my on money.

Ask me how you can become a #BzzAgent and try awesome products for FREE.  #GotItFree

Disclosure:  I was provided with a free product from #BzzAgent to aid me in my review.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% mind.

Hugs Y'all...

Vote For Eggland's Best Chief Egg Officer

This past May, Eggland's Best launched a contest to find their first-ever "CEO" (Chief Egg Officer) and today they are revealing their top 12 Semi-Finalists!

You and your readers can learn more about the 12 Semi-Finalists and vote for your favorite candidate on the Eggland's Best website until September 30th.

Your vote is important, as these 12 egg-ceptional talents are vying for the honorary title of "Chief Egg Officer," a $5,000 Grand Prize and a year's supply of Eggland's Best eggs, which are nutritionally superior to ordinary eggs.

The 12 Semi-Finalists include:

1. Melanie P. of New Jersey
2. Cheryl S. of Maryland
3. Jackie B. of North Carolina
4. Theresa A. of Indiana
5. Jean F. of North Carolina
6. Karen P. of Alabama
7. Carey Anne D. of Ohio
8. Melinda G. of Utah
9. Warren R. of Maryland
10. Debra H. of New Hampshire
11. Jessica R. of Florida
12. Monica S. of Illinois

Visit the Eggland's Best website on October 28th when Eggland's Best will reveal the top three Finalists for a final round of voting, which will come to a close on November 17th.

The Grand Prize winner will be announced on December 9th and although the two runners-up won't receive the honorary title of "Chief Egg Officer", each will receive a six-month supply of Eggland's Best eggs and a $500 cash prize.

Learn more about Eggland's Best and the Eggland's Best "Chief Egg Officer Search" Contest with the resources below:

Eggland's Best Website: www.egglandsbest.com 

Eggland's Best on Facebook: www.facebook.com/egglandsbesteggs 

Eggland's Best on Twitter: www.twitter.com/egglandsbest 

Eggland's Best Chief Egg Officer Contest: www.egglandsbest.com/chiefeggofficer 

Eggland's Best Chief Egg Officer Official Contest Rules:www.egglandsbest.com/chiefeggofficer/rules   

Have a great day y'all...

Celebrate Back To School with Yoplait Go-GURT

I received the following information from MyBlogSpark. No compensation was received.

Fall brings a busy schedule with it.  The first of which is "Back to School".  When this time of year rolls around it's important to keep on the go foods in the house.  Yoplait Go-Gurts are the perfect on the go snack.

As a parent one thing I really like is the fact that Go-GURT is a good source of calcium.  Plus, it's NOW made with natural colors and flavors, and contains no high-frutose corn syrup! Shh! Don't tell the kids how happy you are to give it to them.

The kids just think it's fun to eat and it comes in great tasting flavors they crave like Strawberry Splash and Blue Berry Blast.

It's perfect to pack in their school lunch because it's made to freeze and thaw by lunch time.  With all the after school activites you'll want to have plenty in the freezer to grab and go.  By the way, be sure and hide some in the back of the freezer for yourself.  They make a great afternoon snack for mom too!

Learn more at  yoplait.com/products/yoplait-go-gurt.

Enjoy Y'all...

$25 Publix Gift Card Giveaway - Publix Breakfast Savings

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  With the school year underway, General Mills and Publix have once again joined together to save you money during the week of September 5th thru 11th where select General Mills kid cereals are BOGO.

Having breakfast at home is a memory from my childhood that I am reliving again now that I work from home.  Gone are the days of rushing through a fast food drive thru to grab a breakfast sandwich.  If you do that long enough you'll know what I mean.  I'm happy to be able to sit in my p.j.'s and enjoy a nice leisurely bowl cereal.

How you can save:
Stop by Publix and pick up any of the cereals below and enjoy the savings:

• Trix 14.8oz
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch 16.2oz
• Cocoa Puffs 16.5oz
• Kix 12oz
• Honey Kix 12oz
• Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme 10.9oz

* Plus if you have coupons you can save anymore.  You can even use 2 coupons on BOGO's.

 

How can you win:

Well that's an easy question.  Just click on the entry form and follow the easy instructions.  You can enter once or more to improve your odds.  I'm trying out a different giveaway entry form that I've entered with on other blogs,  It's called Giveaway Tools.  It's easy to use and you're information stays private just like Rafflecopter. We'll see how it works.  Just try it out and let me know what you think.

Disclosure:  The information, products and General Mills gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix through MyBlogSpark.

Hugs Y'all...

P.S.  Be sure to enter our Back To School giveaway to win a $50 gift card HERE.

Fall Fashion Forward - Part I

Today I wanted to share with you PART I of what started out to be one fall fashion post and has now turned into three. Have you've been checked out 2013 hottest fall fashions yet?   Just head out and do a little window shopping and you'll see some repeating trends.

Metallic is lighting up the runways.  One of my favorites is the copper! It has got the IT factor!  When I but high ticket items I tend to spend money on classic.  Then I buy a few trendy knock off or inexpensive pieces to punch it up. Belts are a great way to add a little trend to an outfit. Less money, big punch without being overwhelming.  

Bags are much more ladylike this season.  A must have is a small structured bag with a short handle.  I think a metallic or Burgundy is a perfect choice.  I'm so glad to see the hobo bags going away.  Give me a Kelly bag any day!

You find polka dots in the stores now too but with a twist. You'll find sequined dots on cashmere or cashmere like sweaters.  Great look especially with a button down blouse or denim shirt peeking out at the color and shirt tail.  To keep from looking child like try wearing a pairing a silk tee or button down blouse with skinny jeans and flats.  With dot's you need to ere on the side of less is more.  Keep dot's in a small to medium size to keep from looking like part of a circus.  Definitely do not go for a tent style dress with dots.

You'll see embellished sweatshirts everywhere.  Sequins, Rhinestones,  Even faux necklace necklines. The trend is called Street Chic or Street Style.  An embellished sweatshirt lends elegance to an otherwise casual item.  It's all about taking the everyday to a more sophisticated level

A sophisticated biker chic is showing up.

Leopard prints are splashed around and this is a big 2013 must have!  Touches here and there are great.  Keep it to a minimum ladies.  No cougars gone wild! A little animal print goes a long way. A pair of flats or loafers are where I'm looking to get my leopard on.  Maybe a belt too but not worn together.

In fashion it only takes a few things to update your closet. There's no need to go out and replace everything.  The number 1 key to fashion is to have key basic items that are your staples in your closet. Just like sugar and flour are in your kitchen.  Then just add a few trendy pieces for a little spice and you're set for the season.  With good basic's, those smaller trendy pieces will make you look like a fashion maven.

If you have a favorite fashion tip or way to save on your wardrobe I'd love to hear it!

I have more of 2013's Fall Trends to share so stay tuned for Fall Fashion Forward - Part II

Don't forget to enter the Back To School Giveaway HERE
You could be the lucky winner of a $50 gift card from #GiftCardRescue!!!

Hugs Y'all...

Win a $50 Gift Card in the Back To School Giveaway

It's that uber busy time of year again.  The school doors once again opened, which means everyone wakes up in full run and panic mode.  To do list are falling off the fridges everywhere. New clothes are always at the top of those to do list this time of year.

One way you can earn a little spending money is to sell your unwanted giftcards to GiftCardRescue.  GiftCardRescue.com is a unique company that buys giftcards from those who don't want them and sells them to those who would use them.

Consumers can get up to 90% cash back for their unwanted gift cards and save from 4% up to 30% on discounted gift cards to over 350 national merchants. GiftCardRescue.com guarantees all transactions!  Just think of the money you can save by planning ahead and getting you gift cards with GiftCardRescue.com!  I think this is a brilliant idea.  I've had gift cards before that I wished I could cash in, it's a new way of recycling and getting the most out of your money.

I went right up to Old Navy with the gift card that I received from GiftCardRescue.com and didn't have any problems at all when I made my purchase.

So whether you're looking to buy clothes for yourself (like me) or the kids going to Gift Card Rescue is a good idea.

Look at this cute plaid shirt I purchased with my Gift Card Rescue.  I really wish you could see how vibrantly colored this shirt really is.  It's sort of a crandberry pink and has a nice tailored cut.  I just love it!  It's so soft I just can't wait for our temperatures to cool down so I can wear it.  It's such a soft cotton, almost like a super light weight cotton which is perfect for Florida's mild falls.  I know I'll be getting a lot of wear out of this.

Win a GiftCardRescue.com car
I've teamed up with two other great bloggers to host a giveaway where one lucky reader will win a $50 Back To School gift card from GiftCardRescue.com!  To find out more about the giveaway and two terrific bloggers you can visit them here:
Julie from Mamawj's Moment Away
Karen from The Mommy Times
This giveaway will end September 30th.

How to enter
Rafflecopter makes entering our giveaway easy.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck Y'all...

Disclosure:  GiftCardReuse provided me with a gift card in exchange for a product review.  However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.