The troll under my bed

So I think I've finally come to the conclusion that I'm one of "those" dog ladies, baby talking to her dogs, I can't help it, the chihuahua is too dang cute and well, let's face facts, parenthood of 2 legged critters is not in the cards (that's a bitter pill too swallow), but there it is, warts and all.  I always wondered what turned people into chattering at their animals, and now I'm one of them.  Anyway, back to the dogs.  I have a red heeler (Ruby) that thinks all dirty laundry and tennis shoes belong to her, she doesn't chew on them, she COVETS them and has a collection of them underneath my bed.  It's not unusual to walk into our bedroom and see jeans slowly being sucked underneath the bed like there's an unseen vortex under there.  Not ONLY does Ruby take all of her prized (albeit stinky laundry, err, possessions, and for note, it must be DIRTY laundry, clean doesn't cut it) possessions underneath the bed, she must protect them with all her canine might against the rest of the canines in the house.  And so, if another canine approaches the bedroom, you can usually here a growling from underneath the bed and occassionally she will dart out at the offender with the slyness of an eel. Yes, I have my own little troll underneath the bed, she has all the other canines believing her too,  I have to carry or escort the rest of them to our bedroom at night, they are too afraid of our local troll.

Zebra themed cake turned horse sale

So, occassionally one of my hobbies pays for itself... and I'm not talking that I made stellar amounts of money on the cake itself... this cake ended up making us a horse sale.. it all started with my cakes I post on facebook, mom saw (at the time an old acquaintane) one of my cakes and wanted something similar for her daughter's upcoming birthday...and well let's add some sugar cookies too... so that got them watching my facebook page.  I put on a short video of a horse we had for sale, and well the rest is history...I'll post photos of the new owners and their "new" horse.  It's a funny funny world sometimes!  Anyway, below is her cake (made for 60 people)... hot pink, zebra themed and her old horse on top... the frosting is cream cheese....yummy...I'm gaining a lb. just thinking about that frosting...it's my fav!

Western Themed Cookie Pop Bouquet

Here's a cookie pop bouquet I did for a silent auction, western themed.  I wrapped a $1 glass vase with a handkerchief and tied some twine in a bow.

 Close up of the Wrangler Jeans

 Close up of the snaffle bit (one of my favorites because I put it on a heart shaped cookie)

 This IS my favorite, a trophy buckle!

 A Happy Horse

 Barn and cowboy hat

I'm feeling a bit "OWLISH"....

I've been a bit busy lately, cookies, cake and getting party stuff ready for Kevin's cousin's baby shower.... owl themed.... Below are the cookies...

Below is the cake, lemon with cream cheese filling...

Below is the pillow, most of it handstitched....

My CVS Finds

Well, here's my CVS finds for the week... Out Of Pocket $12.77, here's the run down:

• Wisk Laundry Detergent, buy one get one free... priced at $8.39
• Coupon for $1 off each (I used 2, one for each bottle)
• Total price for each $3.20
• M & M Pretzels on sale 2 for $6.00
• Add $1 off each bag
• Total Price $2.00
• Snickers Eggs .75 Each
• Coupon $1.50 off 2 Holiday Mars Items
• CVS coupon .25 off each egg (I only had 2 coupons)
• Total Price Money Maker $.25 X 2
• Reach Toothbrushes on Clearance for $1.57 (normally $5.99)


• Doggy Stairs Full Price $9.99


• I had a $10 off $50 spent CVS Coupon
• I also had a $10 Gift Card from previous week

I think I did pretty good... I had been wanting the doggie stairs and that put me over my $50 so I could use the $10 off... according to my receipt I saved $53.30

Why didn't I freaking think of this earlier?

Why didn't I think of this earlier?  Thank you TLC for the tv show Extreme Coupons.  Since Kevin and I have been working on our small business, things are um...financially tight...LOL.  It seems we are feast or famine and when we feast we are trying to catch up from our famine...and so the circle goes.  Winter is our slow time, add Christmas and less business and let's say YIKES!  So I happened to see a promo on the tv show Extreme Coupons, dvr'd it and let's just say the rest is his.tory!

So I'm what I would call a small time extreme couponer, I don't leave the store with $1,000's of free product, but I do get enough to last us awhile until our next sale comes around and I find some fab deals, I remember how stressed I would be to walk into the store and just barely afford the essentials.  I can now walk in, get the essentials and then some.  On average I save 40 to 50 percent on our budget.  I spend about 4 hours a week, clipping, printing, and organizing.  I am self taught. Here's some tips I have found along the way:

Facebook keeps me up to date on the latest printable coupons and freebies and deal ideas.  I love "liking" the sites My Frugal Adventures, Extreme Coupon Professors, Coupon Divas and Coupon Mom.

Don't delay in printing a coupon, it might be gone by the time you get back around to it, espeically the high value coupons

Most coupons you can print a max of 2X

When shopping, keep your eyes peeled for promotions.  For example, Malt O Meal had smaller bags of cold cereal on special for $1...I bought 3 and then went home and discovered on their website they had coupons $1 off of 3... I printed all the coupons I could and went back and bought cereal for .77 a bag... what a deal!

When checking out, watch the cashier and your coupons like a hawk, sometimes the coupons don't come off and it's up to you to call it out...

Men cashiers are less apt to scrutinize your coupons and more go with the flow about the whole thing.

I buy 10 newspapers per week, I get 5 papers from 2 different cities (no I don't travel to them, I just pick them up at Walmart), I get my cost back plus some on my first transaction of the week for my newspapers.

When clipping coupons from the same flyer, I dismantle the flyers, stack them together, then I staple them and THEN I cut the coupons out...I then have little coupon books of the same coupon, so I'm not cutting out the same coupon 10X...just once...and it's easy to file in my binder!

Ok enough tips...let's check out my stuff I got for under $1 this week!

Colgate Toothpaste, Walmart is having a stock up promo for .94/tube.  I had a coupon for .50 off 4 oz or larger...making these .54 each!

Colgate Toothbrushes, same promo, coupon was for .40 off, making these .64 each

Kikkoman soy sauce, Walmart regular price $1.74, $1.00 off coupon = .74 each

Blade mens body spray, on clearance at CVS for $1.65 each, I had a 1.85 coupon off of 2, making them .73/each!

Right Guard Deodarnt, on clearance at CVS for $1.14, they were having a promo of buy 2 deodorants and get 2 Extra Care Bucks (coupons good for anything in the CVS store on your next purchase), so they cost me .14 EACH!

Now for the FREEBIES...actually the stores PAID ME TO BUY THESE!



Vaseline Lotion, Walmart price .96 each, coupon of $1 off each... overage of .04!
Speedstick, (my find of the week)!  CVS was having a sale $1.99 each and if you bought $12 in speedstick products they would give you $6 in Extra Care Bucks back... I had coupons for buy one get one free (now I initially thought I was gettng these for $1 each BUT when I checked out my coupon rang up to $3.99, making these not only free, but a $6 MONEY MAKER!)
Not pictured but also free, Snickers Valentines Candy, 2/$1 at Walgreens, Coupon $1 off 2, making them FREE
Scotchbrite sponges... .96 at Walmart, Coupon for $1 off...making them free plus overage of .04!

So these are the deals I found THIS week...  So just in freebies alone I got $53 in product! WOW, that covered the cost of my papers and some... and the left over deodorant I'm going to gift to some college kids we know...

Horse Cake

Ok, so far, this is by far, my favorite cake I've done... Horse related, pink, cute...yeah...so me...this was for my 10 year old lesson client... it's a replica of her horse... she was thrilled with it!

Murphy's Law - I got a good dose!

So I was lamenting over stupid comment someone said that made me feel bad, I decided to just go about my day...no reason to get bogged down by stupidity, right?
So while Kevin is warming up a horse for a client to ride, I sat making small talk with her and her mother, then all of a sudden the SKY FELL ON MY HEAD! I heard a scream (not my own) and was covered in bird poop, eggs (ouch! one broke) and hay....a bird's nest had fallen from the ceiling of our indoor arena... gag! So a quick change and wash up later, we're good to go.
I get a text "will you make a cake for Claire for this weekend's horse show?" Panic sets in...I'm already obligated to 2 other cakes, 6 dozen cookies and we have a barn full of horses to prep (i.e. LONG hours), but they DID just BUY a horse through us, and she's 9 and CUUUUTE...how CAN I say no? I mean really? and her mom is so nice...so sigh...I agree... and of course they choose flavors I don't have the ingredients for... so it's 9:30ish p.m. and we decide to make a Wal-Mart run. I shower, throw on my new shorts and I'm good to go...run all over Wal-Mart and get back into our truck just to realize that the size sticker was stuck to my butt and ran half way down my leg! Sigh...at least I most likely blended right in...LOL

and psst...I've got a blog just for Cookies and Cakes.... Cookie Couture (take a look)

Seriously, how cute is this?

Occassionally my mother in law finds something I didn't know I just absolutely had to have until she gives it to me. Now I have to admit that my chihuahua Bella is her favorite out of all of our dogs...and what can I say... Bella has won a photo contest for most adorable (thanks to her other grandma...she's a popular girl!). Anyway, every girl needs a great and stylish suitcase...especially if the most thing you need is your own stylish doggie dishes! LOL...ha .. LOVE IT!

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It's Cookie Mania Month...

So I've been a little busy in the kitchen...and I still have a cake to finish! :)

These cookies are for the cake...the cake is for a tomato farmer...

What they DON'T mention about Horse Show Judging

For the last 3 or so years, I have embarked on a new adventure...the adventure of Horse Show Judging. Now it's mostly just open shows and the county fairs (I am not what is considered a "carded" judge, so I can't judge breed shows), but here's what they don't tell you when you first start judging.
One of the perks of judging is that you're like the bride and her wedding, they can't start without you and you've got people running around seeing after you (do you need a water? what do you think about this? Should we do that?)...it's fabulous...really...makes one feel VERY important.
But also being the bride, err judge, is that you can't make everyone happy all the time, like 4-H parents. Boy they can come on with a vengence if they feel their child was "wronged", and usually the parents of the unjustly "wronged" child are ususally the most clueless ones of all and want to argue about the most trivial things, when in all reality, had they read the RULE BOOK they wouldn't be arguing with the judge in the first place. These are also the parents that wonder WHY you don't have eyes in the back of the head to see one of the winners that had a mistake behind your back!
They also don't tell you...the show NEVER EVER starts on time...doesn't matter if the judge arrives 1 hour or 10 minutes prior...the show is at least ALWAYS 10 minutes behind schedule!
The judge has the extreme power of making a show go quickly or dragging it on (for what seems like days to some).
The judge also is taking their life into their own hands...don't believe me? Try standing in the arena with 20 out of control 4-Hr's running their horses almost on top of you (and then TRY to place the class).
They also don't tell you that it's not as hot as you'd think...and time passes quickly...it's midnight already? really?
Most of the time you are up as early or earlier than the exhibitors to arrive (they usually hire "semi" local judges...like 1 to 2 hours away)
Yeah, judging has some pitfalls, trials and tribulations...I still like it...must be all that "power"...ha!

Barbie Cake and Cookies to match!

Got an order from a friend for a Barbie cake...pink and purple...now what little girl doesn't LOVE Barbie? I loved mine when I was a child, although I found them frustrating because they couldn't straddle my Breyer horses...Barbie was always askew! LOL The fondant roses are covering a major seam...although I think it added a nice touch... I also glittered the whole cake with edible glitter. The cake is chocolate with white buttercream.

And here are the cookies to go with the cake... I was told pink, purple and zebra striped. So I did purses, shoes, lipstick, nail polish bottles, sunglasses, birthday cakes, balloons and a few funky flowers... hope they love it!

Cookie Creations

The word has spread...and I'm getting more and more orders for sugar cookies...and cakes too... here are a few of my latest "batches"

Cookies for a bridal shower....
Cookies for a graduation (they wanted a "princess" theme)...loved writing her name...all those loopes! It was my understanding that the graduate guarded the cookies so she could have some later...LOL... apparently she didn't guard heavily enough...they were all gone!

I was talking with my mom on the phone the other day... and we were discussing "diet" issues... and she said to me, "I'm surprised you have to watch your weight as active as you are"... LOL.. well, I DO have to sample EACH BATCH of cookies that goes out of here...LOL... Too bad they don't make calorie free butter and sugar....mmmmmm.... makes me yearn for a cookie...LOL

Papertrey Ink Contest

Papertrey Ink is having a contest wanting you to pick your favorite PTI project from last year...here's one I haven't shared yet, that really is actually my favorite...I like the simplicity of it...

I gave this card and a star cookie to each of our horse training clients at our annual banquet...it was a lot of fun to make...and everyone kept asking me if I "made" these...LOL...anyway...this is one of my favorite project of 2010!

Sweet Beginnings

Dh's cousin and his wife recently had a preemie...so their road has been worriesome and exhausting! They do finally have their little precious, bundle of joy at home, however now the long nights of feedings comes into play...so to make at least a few nights a little sweeter I sent them over a platter of some of these:

So I've found yet another hobby....oh the sweet goodness

Now, what pray tell, could I have gotten myself it as of yet....yummy sugar cookies! I always HATED making sugar cookies, the flour, the rolling, the mess and then the icing and everything getting sticky...ICK! I've found a NEW recipe, where rolling the dough with flour is unnecessary (roll it between two sheets of wax paper and the refrigerate it), so much neater...and I've purchased rolling pin rings! So much easier to get even dough! Anyway, I've had a great time with another creative outlet!

Blog Candy Winner!

Thank you to all who participated...and now... our winner, picked with the Random Generator (sorry I don't know how to screen capture)

Lois aka Kate's Mom

Congratulations and thank you again for all who stopped by!

Made with Heart Blog Hop

Welcome to another stop on the Made with Heart Blog Hop...if this is your first place to stop, why not go back to the beginning with Kirstin? I'm sure you'll be impressed!
I've got several projects to show you today, so I hope you enjoy...
My first project is a Valentines Day card, using the same stamp set I'm giving away this weekend (hint hint), so be sure to check out my ENTIRE post to see how YOU can have a chance to win this lovely set by Martha Stewart. This card encompasses a vine of roses on a trellis...I just love how this looks, these roses were quilled and are super easy to make! The vine is actually ribbon I purchased from Papertrey Ink...I just love how this turned out!...keep scrolling down...

Now is you have someone sweet but either is on a diet or doesn't have a sweet tooth, why not purchase a pen, a silk flower and some florist's tape and make theym a pretty pen? I topped this off with a pretty bow too!

Now I've got a fun project that the kids can help you with...a conversation hearts IPOD... This was a super easy project and you can find the instructions for it here...

And last but not least....the blog CANDY...leave me a comment with a favorite Valentine's Day memory you have.... and now onto your next hop... go see JENNY! (link fixed)

Made with Heart Blog Hop

Are you looking for some great Valentine's Day ideas? Starting this Saturday January 21, our Valentine's Day blog hop begins with 16 stops along the way....with prizes of course! Be sure to drop on by for all the fun!

My Cake Obsession, Cake Pops

As some of you may know, I have a new obsession...all things cake! Which is rough on the ol' diet! However, I have a "share" today (not one of my own)...in case you've been hiding under a rock for the past few years, cake balls are one of the hottest growing "cake" trends going. You can make them into these adorable cake "pops" (or cake on a stick). I made these for the first time this year and my husband swears they are like ding dongs on steroids! LOL

The best directions I have found is on Bakerella's blog (view her photo below) PLUS she has a new book called Cake Pops...love love love it!

Below is the book...I ordered my book off of amazon (and the photo below should take you right to amazon), however I have seen "briefly" these books in Wal*Mart...I say briefly because they have flown off the shelves! The book is VERY detailed with the instructions.....and such cute projects!
Ok, really, I'm getting to my point. Now I've made several of these cake pops, but have always had trouble making the cupcake looking pop... it never turns out they way I want...sigh... but wait no more, there is a new MOLD that makes it a ...well...piece of cake! LOL (drumroll please). You can purchase these molds at MyLittleCupcakePop.com. That site also has a video tutorial and a NO Bake cake pop recipe as well as a blog with adorable ideas...

So for those looking for a fun valentine's project for the kids or maybe just for yourselves...check it out... these are such fun...and a big favorite around my house!