Save 30% on a custom photo book at Mixbook

I just ordered my 2011 custom photo book today.  I can't wait to get it and have all of last years memories organized in one book.  I think I am done with individual prints in a photo album because they disappear over time.  My son and daughter love to look at pictures and when they do pictures mysteriously start to disappear.  Then they reappear in the most unusual places.  I will find them in toy boxes, sock drawers, a toy kitchen...  Hopefully ordering this photobook is the first step to more orgnaization over the next year.  If you would like to join me in this quest for photo organization now is the time to start because  Mixbook.com is offering 30% off all PhotoBooks.  Just use promo code BOOK30 at checkout.  Just head over to Mixbook.com and start designing your new book today. 

$5 for $20 to spend on Brunch at Gogi's Restaurant in Jacksonville!

LimeLight Deals is offering a great discount for Brunch at Gogi's Restaurant in Jacksonville.  For only $5 you can get a $20 gift certificate to this wonderful Jacksonville restaurant.  I have purchased a few local deals from LimeLight Deals in the past and have been very happy with them.  They are one of the few social deal sights for Southern Oregon.  Just follow this link to LimeLight Deals and look for the Southern Oregon region to find this great offer.  If this offer doesn't interest you make sure to sign up and they will email you their new deals. 

Great Deal to Stock Up on Meat at Safeway!

I just visited the newly remodelled Safeway on 7th Street today.  It was so new and clean, and I had a very pleasant shopping trip.  I decided to go there today because of their great deal this week in their meat department.  They have a lot of buy one get one free deals on beef, pork, and chicken.  The deal gets even better when you stack a 20% off fresh meat and seafood coupon.  Then to keep the savings coming they also have a $10 off a a purchase of $75 or more.   The 20% off meat coupon was in the Daily Courier Ads from Tuesday.  And it was also in the Country Weekly Ad insert on Wednesday.  I called the store to see if they had the 20% off coupons in store and unfortunately they don't.  So if you can scrounge up one of the 20% off coupons that would be great.  You can go check out the current Safeway Ad here.

2 Nights Lodging In Beautiful Pacific City for only $199

Enjoy a two-night stay in Pacific City on the Beautiful Oregon Coast.  Living Social Escapes is offering a wonderful vacation package this week.   For $199 you can get a two-night weekday stay ($249 weekend) at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda.  Plus breakfast for two at Pelican Pub & Brewery, a bottle of Pelican Belgian Style Ale upon arrival, and a Pelican Beer Taster Tray.  This is a beautiful spot on the Oregon Coast.  My family and I spent an afternoon here a few months ago.  We played in the surf and then enjoyed a delicious lunch at the pub.  My husband still talks about his artisan pizza topped with sea scallops.  If you want to take advantage of this wonderful escape package just head over to Living Social and select the Living Social Escapes on the left side of the page.     

Creative meals when the cupboards are bare.

It is amazing how creative one can get when the cupboards are bare. It is time for me to go grocery shopping, but it was so cold and wet outside I didn't want to go to town. Let alone face the grocery store with three kids. So into the kitchen I went to see what kind or healthy and tasty meal I could come up with. The options were pretty slim but what I came up with must have been a hit because the plates are empty and little tummy's are full. I ended up making swiss card and venison pizza. I had some left over spaghetti sauce with venison. I sauted some swiss card in butter with garlic and a splash of wine. I made my own pizza dough (recipe follows) and topped it with the spaghetti sauce, added fresh garlic, added the swiss chard, and topped it off with an Italian cheese blend. Then added some more garlic, because roasted garlic makes everything better. I baked it at 375* for 20-25 minutes. I have a great pizza dough recipe I use. It is a soft chew dough. 2 cups warm water 2 1/4 tsp yeast 1 tsp sugar 1 1/2 tsp salt 3 TBS olive oil 4-6 cups flour Mix warm water sugar and yeast. Add oil, salt, and 4 cups of flour. Mix well and add about another cup of flour. Turn out on a floured surface and kneading for 5-7 minutes adding a little flour if needed. Form the dough into a ball and put into an oiled bowl. Then cover and let rest for ten minutes. Divide the dough and roll out to 13" pizza crust and place on pizza pans. Bake at 375* for about ten minutes. Then remove from the oven and use your favorite toppings. (Or in my case whatever you have on hand.) Then bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.

Get a Great Educational Resource, the iKnow Series Collection! Only $20!!

Inspire your children to learn! $20 Gets Your Animal-Loving Kids The Fun & Educational iKnow Series Collection – Worth $50  Saveology is offering this great collection that consists of 3 DVDs, 1 audio CD and a pack of Animal Alphabet Cards.  Pick up this great deal today from Saveology Daily Deals - 

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

I love the fall because I have an excuse to use pumpkin in as many recipes as I can.  I love pumpkin muffins, scones, lattes, and of course, cookies.  I just experimented with a sugar cookie recipe and adapted it make these delicious pumpkin spice sugar cookies.   I hope you get a chance to try this recipe out. 

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

¾ cup of butter

½ cup of pumpkin

2 cups of sugar

3 TBS milk

2 tsp vanilla

3 eggs beaten

5 ½ cups of flour

½ tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

3 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Cream butter and add sugar and cream well.  Add pumpkin and continue to cream.  Then add milk and vanilla to eggs and mix well.  Sift the dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture alternating with the liquid ingredients.    Chill.*  Roll dough out onto a surface floured with powder sugar and cut out.   Heat oven to 375* and bake for 8-10 minutes.  Makes 10 dozen cookies.   These would be great with a cream cheese and pumpkin spice glaze drizzled over the top. 

*I divide the dough into five sections and put them in the freezer.  Then during the holidays I will pull a section of the cookie dough out and let it unthaw overnight in the fridge.