Five Minute Chocolate Cake

3 tablespoons flour (used white, but I think whole wheat would be fine)
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg white (original recipe called for whole egg)
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
1/4 teaspoon vanilla (original recipe called for "splash")
1/4 teaspoon salt (original recipe called for none)
1/4 teaspoon instant coffee (original recipe called for none)
3 tablespoons chopped chocolate

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug,

This recipe was sent to me by my mother-in-law. I did my own twist on it, through a few trial and errors. No matter what I did, I could not get rid of the "spongy" feeling of the cake. I think that was a combo of a whole egg and the microwave. So reducing the egg to just the white made a small difference, but still remains spongy. Bonus of less cholesterol.

The recipe can be doubled, just use a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup, and cook for 3.5 minutes.

Nature's Source Scrubbing Bubbles

I love this stuff. I just bought it last week at Kmart, I got a pretty good deal on it, so I thought I would give it a try. Normally, I'm a bleach/lysol kind of girl. I like my harsh chemicals. So, I was skeptical, but this stuff works! I sprayed down the counter tops and sink, then scrubbed with a wash rag, and was thrilled. Two big thumbs up.

Kmart Purchase

2 Dove Deodorants, trial size, 99 cents, $1 off coupon, 1 cent profit
Jane Eyeliner, $3.99, $2 off coupon, doubled, free
Huggies Wipes (we needed another plastic wipe dispenser, one for Reggie, one for Connor) $2.99, 50 cent coupon, doubled, $1.99

With taxes, final price of $2.39. The Doves are for the food shelf, rest of the stuff for the Bradbergs.

Butterscotch Blondies

Pretty tasty, but not as good as the Brown Butter Blondies, for sure. I used twice the Heath pieces as required, but still didn't really make it tasteable. I baked it for 8 minutes less than the baking time, and turned out perfectly. I would use more butterscotch pieces and cashews as well, I like fun things in my blondies. Check out the recipe here.

Kmart

Total Price $2.14
Breakdown:
Turtles $1.79, $1.50 coupon, doubled, free
Cashews: $2.99 no coupon (needed for a recipe, see above later...)
Snack Packs $3.09, on sale $2.50, 75 cent coupon, $1 final

Used this weird coupon I got early in the week that printed out at the register, similar to Wag's register rewards. It was for $2, and it rang through, then tried to double, but the most expensive thing I had was $2.99, so instead of doubling, it rang through for $2 and 99 cents. With taxes, my final price was $2.14 on everything.

I know everything is opened in the picture. I was tackled by my sister and John! The turtles are sugar free, so they are pretty tasteless. My father-in-law is diabetic, so I'll try to get those to him.

K-mart Double Coupons Days

It is double coupon days again at Kmart!
Highlights:
Pedialyte: $5.49, $2 coupon, $1.49 (bought 2)
Bic Soleil Razers: $5.49, $2 coupon, $1.49 (bought 2)
Halls: $1.49, $1 coupon, free
Nature's Source Cleaner: Original $2.99, sale $2.50, $1 coupon, 50 cents (bought 2)
Deigo Band-aid: $2.19, $1 coupon, 19 cents (bought 2)
NYC lipgloss: $1.99, $1 coupon (All About You magazine), free
Pringles: clearence priced at 99 cents, $1 off the purchase of 2 coupon, free (bought 4)
Listerine: $4.29, $2 coupon, 29 cents (bought 3)
Vaseline Mens: $3.49, $1.50 coupon, 49 cents (bought 2)
Glade Candles: $3.39, sale $2.50, $1 coupon, 50 cents (bought 2)
409 Cleaner: $2.79, $1 coupon, 79 cents

Buttered Rum Meltaways

These were real different! I liked them It called for 1/4 cup dark rum, I used Baracardi Gold 151. I am unsure if that counts as dark rum, but it certainly wasn't clear, or spiced. Spiced rum could have worked with the clove, but it may have had some confusing flavor. Gold worked well. The dough tastes gross, so don't even bother sampling that. Just wait for the powdered sugar coating...yum! The recipe is here

Target Deals

I bought 4 bags of Starburst Jellybeans (shhh....don't tell John!). Originally $1.99, on sale for $1.66, .50 paper coupon, $1.16 a bag.
2 Dannon Activia Yogurt 4 packs. Originally $2.29, on sale for $2, $1 paper coupon, $1 a 4 pack.
Degree deoderant, orginally $3.99, clearence for $1.98, 75 cent paper coupon, $1.23.
Trident White 3 pack gum, orginally $2.29, on sale for $1.69, $1 coupon, 69 cents.

Johnson's and Garnier!

Everything was free, expect the sales tax! 71 cents was my total. I used: 3 $2 coupons from the Easy Saver catalog + $1 coupon from the paper making the Garnier products free. $1 off Johnson's body products, making the lotion free as well.
Thanks Walgreens!

Buttery Twists

These are pretty yummy. I had a hard time making the perfect twist shape, but I think it makes them cuter to all be different! Check out the recipe here.

More Garnier!

I went back for more! I bought 4 styling products. Profit of 4 cents.

I also bought Red Barron pizzas. Originally $5 (!!!!!), on sale for $2.50, .50 coupon, final price of $2 a piece. Not bad, not bad.

Garnier Deal

How much are these? FREE. Normal price of $2.99, $2 Easy Saver coupon (at Walgreens, up front) and $1 coupons from the paper. So, actually, they gave me 4 cents. Thanks Walgreens. Loves you!

Fun with Bleach

I had this black hooded sweat shirt that I had got some bleach spots on a long time ago. I just wear it when I go to the gym or whatever. So I spiced it up! I cut out a star on the cardboard from an old cereal box, and used a cookie cutter to create stars on it. I sprayed down the stars with bleach. I used a travel sized spray bottle that used to have hair spray in it. (I made sure to label it "bleach" now). After spraying down the stars, I waited about 2 minutes or so, till it began to change. They I took a wash rag and blotted the bleach spots down with vinegar to stop the bleach process. Tossed it in the wash, and there you have it! Supa cute!

Frosting

This is courtesy of Jenna, who claims it's from Wilton. Whoever it is, it's good!

• 1/2 cup margarine (not butter, but I suppose you could use it, make it even better)
• 1/2 cup Crisco
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla (I really like Watkin's)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups powder sugar (1 pound)
• 3 teaspoons milk
• food coloring of your choice

I bet you could make this chocolate, but adding 1/4 cup cocoa.

Cream margarine and Crisco. Mix in vanilla and salt. Add three cups of sugar, and 2 teaspoons milk. Mix. Add 1 cup of sugar. Mix. Add food coloring and final teaspoon of milk if the frosting needs it.

Winona Post

Today I had a letter published in the Winona Post. Check it out here.

Wags

I went to Walgreen's tonight. Nothing overly exciting. I picked up 3 bottles of Gatorade for $3. Stuff is nice to have on hand for all sorts of stomach illness emergencies. I bought a thing of Axe conditioner, free after rebate. I also picked up a tube of toothpaste (I know, I know), and made a profit of $1 on it. I just have to remember to use my register rewards now!