Donut Holes

I've never made donut holes from scratch before. When I asked if anyone was interested, it was all hands on deck to make these babies. Here's what I used. I used the babycakes cake pop machine.

I love it. There are many places you can buy it, but the cheapest place would probably be Bed Bath and Beyond. Use one of the coupons they always send you in the mail, and you could probably pick one up for less than $20. Of course, the day I wanted it, it was sold out so I didn't get as great of a deal, but ce la vie.

I made the Sour Cream Donuts
(found on their website)

Ingredients:

• 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. In separate bowl whisk together remaining ingredients, except glaze or topping. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Using a mixer on medium speed, blend until smooth.
3. Fill each cooking reservoir with about 2 tablespoons of batter.
4. Bake about 4 to 5 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into donut comes out clean.
5. Glaze or coat with powdered sugar or cinnamon-sugar, as desired.

Makes about 2 dozen donuts

The first dozen, I coated with some powdered sugar.

Then I cooled on a rack.



They were so good.

I glazed the second dozen using the vanilla glaze recipe.

• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar-sifted if necessary
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons hot water.

Double Yumo

The best part is that they aren't fried, but taste just as good.

Faux-tastic!

Do you remember last weeks post on Faux Canvases? Well, I made one last week, made another one over the weekend, and will probably make some more this week because they turned out pretty fantastic. I decided to enlarge some black and white photos of the kids.

The hardest part was deciding upon which photos. Since I had already enlarged some individual pics of the kids, I concentrated on sibling shots. I decided to try the faux canvas on the picture with E. and R (pic on the left). Can you believe that they posed like that on their own? Isn't that just cuteness?

When I picked up the print later that day (technically, it was only an hour before I received a text telling me it was ready for pick up), I fell in love. That night, I ordered another print of E. and I kissing. I simply love how it turned out. I got so many compliments on it at the store when they "unveiled" it to me.

I'm so happy, I've already ordered some more. I thought I would put them in my dining room, but now, I think I am going to place them in my bedroom. Those pictures make me smile every time I look at them so it will be nice to wake up and smile every morning.

The best thing is whenever I order a canvas, I get an email with another $10 coupon! You'll have to choose the option to pay in the store to be able to redeem it. For less than $10, the faux canvas was totally worth it in my book.

Canvas Print Coupon

Back in the day, I blew up my engagement photo on a canvas for our wedding. I was never into taking portraits of myself so having a full sized portrait of me all by my lonesome self in my bridal gown at the reception wasn't something I was into. If I was going to go through the excruciating pain of people looking at my pic, my husband was going to as well.

I've been wanting to put the kids photos on canvas for some time. I've even dedicated a wall to it, but just never got around to doing it. I've finally taken some great photos of the kids so now is the time.

Especially when I found this coupon for $10.00 off a faux canvas print.

A faux canvas print is just your photo printed on dimply paper like a canvas and wrapped in a cardboard box. I love the fact you can pick it up the same day and for only $9.96, I'm willing to try it. I'll let you know how it turns out. If all goes well, I'll have new photos for my dining room.

Craigslisting again

I hadn't been selling or buying anything off of craigslist for a while. My hubby has been sending me articles about scams, killings, etc. to scare the wits end out of me so that I would think of "saving" my life before saving a few bucks. That made my goal for not spending any out of pocket money on Christmas presents nearly impossible.

Even after watching for deals, going shopping on Black Friday, and clipping coupons, buying all the boys a new game system and games added up. Fortunately, I did keep my yearly goal of not spending any money.

Once again, I found some toys I could sell and started posting. I sold everything I sought out to sell, made a hefty profit and had a wonderful FREE Christmas. Therefore, I am definitely back to craigslisting again, however, I have made some rules for myself when it comes to buying and selling.

1. I always meet in a public place. I used to have people come to my house, but not anymore. I had one incident where the buyer became furious that I wouldn't accept his check (my posting clearly stated cash only). Nothing, but some ranting went on, but it did scare me a bit so now I only meet at a public place during store hours.

2. I don't sell electronics or things that people can complain don't work. Craigslist is about buying "as is." I have had a person buy something from me and then call me up 4 months later saying that it didn't work. I went the lengths as to calling the manufacturer and even offering help. From that point on, those items just went to the donate pile since it really wasn't worth it to me.

3. I always let people know exactly when and where I was going to make the exchange and oftentimes, I will have my husband on the phone with me when I am making the sale. He can hear what is going on and call for help if I am under distress, which I must say has never happened, but better safe than sorry.

I do think that a lot of what I sell (baby stuff and toys) attract women so it's been pretty safe and I am going to keep it that way by following my rules. It doesn't have to be scary if you are safe about it. This is my fourth year of a free Christmas and I plan on keeping it a yearly tradition. Anyone have a bad selling or buying experience?

and because every post is better with a pic

here's E. showing me his reindeer cupcake.

What Kids Can Say

Kids, in general really do say the darnedest things. A lot of the things that my kids say directly come from my actions which make it more funny. Everyone of my kids know that I clip coupons. If I seek out to buy a particular item ahead of time, I generally am able to find some sort of coupon or deal for it.

In the summer, I found a great deal for free chocolate. Each time we went to Target, which was pretty often, we would pick up a free bar of chocolate. E. asked how much it cost and I said it was free. He asked me how that was possible. I told him that I had a coupon and each time I bought another bar of chocolate, another coupon would print out so we were constantly getting free chocolate. I told him that coupons are great because it could save a lot of money and sometimes even get you things for free. His response was, "Mom, can you look up and see if we can get some video game coupons so they can be free?"

Speaking of free, I asked all the kids what they wanted for Christmas and R. told me that he really wanted a 3ds. E. overheard this and replied, "No, don't ask Mom and Dad for that. If you ask Santa to bring it, it will be FREE. Mom will be happy about that." Can't you tell E. is truly my son?

During Christmas, Santa was pretty generous this year (seeing how everything was free). After all the gifts were opened, R. later says, "Mom, Santa brought me a lot of gifts. What did you bring me?" Next year, Santa will be bringing less and Mom and Dad will be getting more credit.

On the flip side to that story, E. responds to R. saying, "Christmas isn't really about getting gifts, it's really about giving." It's nice to know that they do listen to some of the things I say (well, some of them).

We took the kids to McDonald's one day and I tell Mr. N, "ooh, I can use my coupon." Yes, it's another coupon related story. E. asks, "What coupon do you have today?" and takes a look at it and says, "A coupon for free fries! I love fries, but I love them even MORE when they are free!"

Lately, R.'s been asking a lot of "how much is this" type questions. He asked Dad, "How much does this house cost?" Mr. N. responds, "how much do you think it costs?" "Hmmm...I think it costs a hundred dollars," he says. "Homes cost thousands of dollars, R." His response, "Mom's going to have to give me more for my allowance if I want to save for my own house."

A. always says he loves his mommy more. Its just a silly game he plays because he knows it irks his dad. A. asks me to get him a cup of milk one day and I tell him to go and ask his father. Mr. N. says, "who do you love more, Mom or Dad?" (knowing he always says Mom). "I love Mommy more, " A. says. Mr. N. responds, "Well then, I guess you can get your Mom to make your milk." "..but Mom told me to ask you," A. says. I enter the room and hear Mr. N. say, "If you want me to make you milk, you have to love me more." I'm now interested to see what A. does so he looks at me, then looks at his father and says, "I love you both." Mr. N. says, "Nope, not good enough." "Umm...I love you more Dad," he says as he looks at his father, but he quickly looks at me, covers the side of his mouth and whispers, "Mom, I really do love you more." He turns to his Dad who wasn't supposed to hear that and says, "Can I have my milk now?"

Those are my kids. Gotta love them. :)