Thrifty new jeans

SO I was at target the other day and found these dark wash jeans on clearance. They were these weird high water trendy things. They were cuffed as shown on the left leg. When I tried them on in the dressing room I found that I was way to short to pull the look off BUT I was short enough that if I un sewed them then they would be PERFECT jeans. They look like they have been tailored to fit. 

Seam ripper + weird "trendy" jeans= PERFECT JEANS

The best part... clearence price $13.98 - $5 (target mobile coupon) -5% (target red DEBIT card) = $8.50 :) great find

Craigslist latests

If anyone knows me well they know I have a bit of an obsession with craigslist. I am good at selling and even better at buying. I have a app on my phone that makes it sooooo easy to find good deals. I have found so many good deals it is not worth going back soooo instead I will just show you the latest.

 Two kids... Ya I will need this eventually... right?

My husband has wanted one of these bikes for a long time. They are sooo expensive and we have never had the space.

Grand total for BOTH

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FREE

YA I said FREE. The bike works great but the display needs glued or taped back on. The wagon well its huge and someone just wanted to get rid of it. They post it and you get there fast and its yours. 

frugal finds

SO I have just started checking out the “dint and dings” section at my local grocery store and have scored some MAJOR finds. Check it out. 

 TWO boxes of Huggies wipes normally $9.79 (I checked and they just marked up the price to $10.99 today) marked down to $4.69. I used x2 .75 cent off coupons (they double up to $1) making them $3.69 each. That saves $14.60 on this find. Oh even better I NEEDED them :) 

 Also in the same section (different day) -ALWAYS HAVE YOUR COUPONS

TWO BIG boxes size three (Josie will be someday) Huggies diapers Normally $19.99 each. They needed to make room so they marked them down to $9.99 I used 2x $1.50 coupons making them $8.49 and box. Saving $23

My two year old has had febrile seizures so we can NEVER have enough Tylenol on hand. Same section (different day) Normally $2.27 each marked down to .50 each. They dont expire until end of 2013. I nabbed 4 boxes saving $7.80 and spending $2.

Frozen Peanut Butter Swirl Pie

This has been a HUGE winner in my house. I have made this pie twice in the last week. What I like best about this pie is that after it is made I can repackage it into smaller 4oz Glad freezer containers and eat whenever I want :) In the evening instead of ice cream I will pull one of my mini pies out and share it with my husband. He LOVES this pie. Okay off my soap box and on to the good stuff. Original recipe foundHERE.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 8 ounce container frozen light whipped cream, thawed
• 1 deep-dish graham cracker crumb crust {I couldn't find this at my grocery store, but there was a larger crust size which worked well}
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, divided

Instructions

1. In a small microwave-safe bowl, add 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then stir. Microwave on 50% power for 15 seconds, stirring, until the chocolate chips have melted. Pour over the bottom of the graham cracker crust and smooth out with a spoon or spatula. Put the crust in the fridge to harden the chocolate.
2. In a mixing bowl on medium speed beat the peanut butter, cream cheese and vanilla until smooth. Slowly, so the milk doesn't splash out, add the powdered sugar and milk, beating until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream. Set aside 1 cup of the peanut butter mixture in a separate bowl. Spread the remaining mixture in the prepared pie crust.
3. Place the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then stir. Microwave on 50% power for 15 seconds, stirring, until the chocolate chips have melted. Stir the melted chocolate into the reserved peanut butter mixture. Drop by tablespoons on top of the pie. Use a knife and gently swirl for a marbled effect.
4. Cover, and freeze for 4 to 5 hours, or until firm.

{when pouring into the pie tin all of the mix didn't fit so I immediately put two "mini pies" together}

{When you cut the pie get all the way through the hard chocolate on the bottom (its the best part)}

{Packaged and ready to eat WHEN EVER I WANT}

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

I though this sounded too good to be true... It wasn't!!! This recipe was originally found HERE. This cookie is soft and yummy. It tastes like a sugar cookie, snicker doodle and cheesecake all mix into one. My husband affectionately referred to this as a oreodoodle :) creative I know.


SO here we go:

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

Recipe from Brown Eyed Baker, adapted from Tasty Kitchen, originally from Multiply Delicious

Yield: About 1 dozen cookies (mine made about 1 1/2 dozen, as I used around 1 inch balls of dough)

½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup mini chocolate chips (I didn't have minis so I left these out)
1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (this is important!) and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and well-combined.

3. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix until the ingredients are well-combined. Add the flour and mix on low until the flour is incorporated. Stir in the mini chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

4. Place the Oreo cookie crumbs in a small bowl. Scoop the cookies into about 1½ to 2″ balls (the dough will be soft, don' t worry if it doesn't scoop into a well-formed ball, the crumbs will help hold it together)and then roll in the cookie crumbs. Place the cookie balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the tops are slightly puffed. {mine took about 15min}

5. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

They look good dont they!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the black and white effect. It may be the old wedding photographer kicking in but I can totally see they at a black and white wedding... Ideas???

Frugality and fun!!!

My name is Amber Anderson and I am a stay at home mom to two wonderful kiddos. My husband just graduated with his masters and he is looking for a job. Our current circumstances have forced me to be extra creative with our finances, food, and entertainment. I love trying new recipes and like to pretend that I am creative. I thought I needed a blog to share my frugal finds, creative ideas and fun food.