No nap for me Mommy!

Hi blogging world. So sorry for the long leave. Mommyhood has kept me very busy and the last thing I want to do at end of the day is be at the computer. (I know myself too well to know ten minutes easily turns into an hour.)
Right now I'm relaxed on the couch with an almost asleep baby in my arms. He's been up since 7 with only a few snoozes in my arms. Sometimes the transfer to the crib wakes him and then he stands up and either smiles like his ten minute snooze was a long two hour nap or he cries.
Not napping today is unusual for him. He naps in the morning. Naps in the afternoon and sometimes even a short one around 5. And I'm very lucky that he sleeps through the night.
And I think today I just might stay on the couch with my boy, cuddle him close and take a nap too. Everything else can wait.

Chocolate Pumkin White Chip Muffins and Corn and Black Bean Salad(Salsa)

Right after I had my son Levi my wonderful aunt provided a meal for my husband and I. She made us Black Bean Enchiladas, Corn and Black Bean Salad and Weight Watchers Pumpkin/Cinnamon Chip Muffins. It was truly a blessing having meals provided right after Levi was born. And now he's almost 7 months old!

I currently have some of her Corn and Black Bean Salad in my fridge- I made this batch myself. (I've made it quite a few times actually!) I cut back on the sugar just a little bit(don't get me wrong, I love the sugar in it! But am trying to eat healthy) and I had to use regular corn instead of Mexi-corn.

Corn and Black Bean Salad

1/2 c. vinegar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/2 c. sugar(I used 2 Tb)

1/4 c. cilantro

1 tsp salt & pepper

2 (15 oz) cans mexi-corn, drained

2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained (I use 3 c. prepared from dry)

1 c. chopped green pepper

Mix vinegar, oil, sugar, cilantro, salt and pepper. Add to corn, black beans, and chopped pepper. Chill. This is great for a summer barbeque, as a side for Mexican food, or simply with chips!

 

This week I also made a variation of her Pumpkin/Cinnamon Chip Muffins. These are weight watchers muffins but I don't know how many points they are. My variation included Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix and white chocolate chips. My husband even loved them- they're very moist and gooey.

WW Chocolate, Pumpkin and White Chip Muffins (More like Cupcakes!)

1 box Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix (or any variation you like)

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 egg

3/4 c. white chocolate chips

1/4 c. water 

Mix all ingredients together. Spray muffin pan (or use liners). Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Freeze 6 in a quart size freezer bag to enjoy later! Great for a snack and lunches too!

Yield: 18 muffins

    

Chocolate Cake!

One box of chocolate cake mix and one container of chocolate frosting. So easy and so yummy!

 During my pregnancy I was craving this so I bought the stuff to make it- I just never got around to it! I baked the cake according to the box. Cut off the rounded tops to make them flat and frosted the cake.

 I crumbled up the tops that I had cut off and stuck them to the side of the cake and a little bit of it in the center (along with some mini chocolate chips to top it off!)

That's it! Sometimes it's just nice to indulge!

Chocolate-Avocado Mousse: AKA A Little Piece of Heaven!

I love to watch cooking shows. Actually I love to watch shows about food in general. When I DVR a show it is more often than not a cooking show. Or Eat St. Food trucks seriously have some amazing looking food. I love food! I could seriously eat and eat and eat. But I don't! Because I do have self-control, and all that yummy food is not a good idea- for my body of course!

Anyways, one show I love is Giada at Home. She made a Chocolate-Avocado Mousse and it just sounded so good, and healthy too! And I love chocolate so that sealed the deal. I made that Chocolate-Avocado Mousse tonight. Delicious! So delicious that I almost (ALMOST!) ate my husband's portion (his is sitting in the fridge awaiting his arrival home). And it's so good that I think I'll buy another $1.69 avocado and make it again- soon! *I'm a coupon/sales shopper so it's a big thing to buy stuff not on sale! This is worth it. And it only took 5 minutes!  :D

Giada used 4 avocados and her's serves 4-6. I used one avocado and it served two. I just took her measurements and divided them by 4. Just fill up your 1/4 c. measuring cup half way. Although, next time I'm going to half the recipe so that I get dessert today, and dessert tomorrow!

Find the recipe at Food Network: Chocolate-Avocado Mousse

Starving Artist Art Sale

I have a huge portfolio of artwork that I would love to get to those that would appreciate it. I don't need them just sitting around. So- they are for sale at an AMAZING price. I am willing to ship but I would have to calculate the cost if needed. Some are small enough to fit in an envelope, some can be rolled into a tube, and some are on canvas. Sizes vary. For friends and family I'd love to meet up around my hometown and will take cash or check. I can also create a bill using Paypal for credit cards. Any questions just let me know! 

$20- Oil on Canvas

 $10- Acrylic on Art Board

 $10- Watercolor on watercolor paper

 $15- Acrylic on Art Board

 $15- Oil on Canvas

 $10- Charcoal on Art Paper

 $10- Charcoal on Art Paper

 $10- Chalk Pastels on Art Paper (UCM)

 $10- Acrylic on Art Board 

 $10- Pen and Ink on Art paper

 $10- Pencil on Brown Paper Roll

 $15- Charcoal on Art Paper

$10- Watercolor on Watercolor Paper

 

$15- Fabric in Wooden Frame (Includes Frame)

 $10- Oil Paint on Art Paper

$10- Acrylic Paint on Paper Mached Cardstock

Crescent Cinnamon Rolls

Made these easy and delicious cinnamon rolls yesterday.

I buy the crescent rolls on sale for $1(Usually at Aldi)

They're quick, and there's very little clean-up.

Ingredient:

1 tube crescent rolls

1/2 Tb butter

Cinnamon sugar

2 Tb tub butter

3 Tb brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tb milk

1/2 c powdered sugar

*I did not measure anything- these amounts are approximate!*

 Melt butter and wipe around bottom and edges of muffin pan.

 Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

 Divide crescent rolls into four rectangles.

Here's a tip- microwave rolls for 10 seconds to make them more pliable.

Pinch together seams.

Spread with butter.

Divide brown sugar, cinnamon, & vanilla mixture evenly over rolls.

 Rolls up starting with short end.

Cut into thirds.

 Bake 12-14 minutes.

Don't overbake them!

 Mix milk and powdered sugar.

Drizzle over rolls.

 Perfect breakfast for the first snow of the year!

Love Couponing! 37 Items for $37!

If I had to choose my favorite place to coupon it would have to be Hy-Vee.

I find this is the store I go to every single week for great deals.

And I love supporting them, rather than Wal-Mart!

And they take care of their employees, customers and our new store is so nice!

(And now I can save cents off gas for my purchases!)

Here is a haul I did just the other week.

Shopping sales and using coupons got me this haul of 37 items for $37.

It includes:

 Three things of Kemps Frozen Yogurt for $1 each!

On sale for $1.99 plus three $1/1 coupons.

 Six bags of Golden Puffs for $.09 each!

On sale for $.59 plus three $1/2 coupons.

Folgers Gourmet coffee for $3.99!

On sale for $4.99 plus $1/1 coupon.

But it's like I got it for $1 with the average of my trip.

Gerber baby food for FREE!

On sale for $1 each plus two $1/1 coupons.

I find a lot of my coupon match-ups at

PennyPinchinMom.com

She does a wonderful job posting deals for lots of stores including local ones like Hy-Vee and Price Chopper.

 And I store my coupon inserts right by the computer for easy access.

Like when the match-up says I need a coupon from the SS 11/11/12 (Smart Source)

Happy couponing and happy savings!