SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for A REAL SIMPLE LIFE!

Karina's Simple Solutions for a REAL SIMPLE LIFE Tip:

NEW USES FOR OLD THINGS

OLD THING: A MUFFIN TIN

NEW USE: Cooling Rack

When I cool any kind of baked goods, such as: casseroles, cookie sheet, pies, cakes and Brownies, I use my muffin tin. Simply turn the muffin tip upside down and rest your piping-hot treats top of it!

I have found that the space between the muffin molds lets the cool air flow freely and your 'treats' will cool quicker!

REWARD is: No more soggy bottoms!

Enjoy and Happy Cooking,

Karina

COOKING WITH HERBS TIP!

Do you really know how to cook with herbs? I didn't! I want to share a wonderful tip with you that I have learned.

Fresh herbs are always better, but Dried Herbs are just as good! Usually dried herbs are almost always what I have in my pantry!

Here's the Tip:

For instance, you are making Spaghetti sauce, when you are browning your meat you will want to take your herbs (i.e., Italian Seasoning, Basil, etc.) and add 1/2 of them. If using fresh herbs just chop finely and add. All the aroma and seasoning will seep out as you are chopping. ***If using dried herbs instead of just dumping the seasoning in from the bottle (like I used to do), you will want to pour the seasoning (remember 1/2 of the total amount you will use) into the palm of your hand and gently rub your palms together before adding to your sauce. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP...because it releases the oils and aromas from the dried herbs. **** Now when your meat is browned and you are adding your sauce go ahead and add the remaining seasonings as stated above.

I was amazed, but this really works.

Enjoy and ~

Happy Cooking!

Karina

VISTA PRINT OFFER! WON'T LAST LONG

ORDER YOUR SUPPLIES NOW!

GREAT DEALS FOR SCHOOL

SNEAK PEEK - CULVERS FLAVORS FOR AUGUST

CULVER'S FLAVORS OF THE MONTH - AUGUST

There's a new kind of deliciousness happening at Culver's every day. Come on in and let us dish up some of our irresistible Flavor of the Day just for you. Every flavor, including our always popular chocolate and vanilla, is made fresh throughout the day. It's happiness by the scoopful.

August Flavors

1 Chocolate Oreo Volcano

2 Caramel Cashew

3 Cheri Amour Amaretto

4 Cookie Dough Craving

5 Oreo Cheesecake

6 Caramel Buttercup

7 Andies Candies

8 Chocolate Covered Strawberry

9 Really Reese's

10 Cappuccino Almond Fudge

11 Bananas Foster

12 Red Raspberry

13 Cherry Pecan

14 Awesome Chocolate Almond

15 M & M Swirl

16 Turtle

17 Double Strawberry

18 Mint Explosion

19 Butter Pecan

20 Boston Cream

21 Snicker Swirl

22 German Chocolate Fudge

23 Toffee Pecan

24 Manager's Choice

25 Orange Creamsicle

26 Manager's Choice

27 Georgia Peach

28 Heath Chocolate Almond

29 Kit Kat Swirl

30 Chocolate Caramel Twist

31 Pumpkin Pecan

Don't forget to sign up at http://www.culvers.com/ for your FREE coupons. You can enjoy a FREE sundae on your birthday!

Sign up your children too! Yummy!

SEVEN (7) STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL GARAGE SALE

By: Karina Struven

Now that summer is here you might have some free time to use up. You an start by turning your "hidden treasures," into some money-making time -- by hosting a garage/yard sale. I know from experience, that a garage sale is a Fantastic way to purge your home from all of those "hidden treasures" -- as well as, make some extra needed cash. So come on, get up and start purging that house, clear out the closets and cash in on some of your "hidden treasures."

By following these short steps you an obtain garage sale success:

1. Pick a date that works best for you and where you live. I've noticed that in my neighborhood, Thursday is the best day. While Friday is slower. See if your neighborhood is hosting a multi-sale and if you want to join your neighbors, you might attract more traffic to your sale.
2. Sort and organize all of your "treasures." Even though this might be more time consuming, it is definitely worth it! Make sure that everything has all their parts and that everything is in working order. Be sure to wash old clothes and toys -- display them easily for people to browse through your selection. After all, nobody wants to purchase dirty-dusty items.
3. Price all merchandise. I did this by creating a price list very easily on my computer. After printing off the list, I then cut it into either rectangles and/or circle shapes and labeled every item with tape. Not only is this a neat, clean and pretty presentation; it saved me time having to repeat the prices to customers. REMEMBER: be reasonable on your pricing. If grouping items, make sure your price is clear -- (set of 4 for $5.00, etc.)
4. Advertise your Sale. If you are fortunate enough to live off of a busy highway and/or main artery in your town, that can save you tons of advertising money. But if you do not, by all means, utilize the garage sale advertisers in your area. The most avid garage sale shoppers do check the weekly ads, both in the paper and online. When using signs to advertise your sale, make sure they are marked appropriately and clearly. There is nothing worse than a confusing sign to a passerby. Mark your sign with the following: Time, Date, Location, Directions (an arrow), Hours and Specials.
5. Be Prepared! This is so important for your own piece of mind because on the day of the sale most likely you are going to have "early birds." Have your money ready and safely hidden. You should start with at least $5 in small coin; $15 in singles; and $10 in fives. Also make sure that you provide used grocery store bags so that your eager shoppers can carry away their new found treasures. This is also a great way to recycle those unwanted bags.
6. At the end of the day! Hopefully you have had a successful day and now it is time to call it quits, but you probably have leftover items. Now what? Box them up right away! Do not bring them back into your house. Either keep them right in your garage for another quick sale and/or donate all of these "leftover treasures" to a local charity, shelter, and/or thrift store. REMEMBER: "One man's junk is another man's treasure."
7. CHA-CHING! Count your new made moolah and head to the bank!

Happy Selling,
Karina Struven

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karina_Struven

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HOMEMADE DOG TREATS

I definitely will be trying this one!

HOMEMADE DOG TREATS!

Tired of the expense of dog biscuits, but still want to treat your "babies"? I make a variety of drop biscuits using flour, meat broth of some kind, a little corn meal, an egg and enough milk to make it "droppable" onto a greased cookie sheet. Sometimes I use ketchup and powdered parmesan- those are favorites! I drop them by spoonful, not too big, and bake them at about 300 degrees until crunchy (turning them over helps, and then leave them in the oven after you turn it off for additional crunch.) They turn out differently every time, but my dogs go crazy when they hear the oven timer go off! ~ By Lee Ann from SC

Thanks Lee Ann for this great tip on saving money

GUILTLESS POTATO SALAD

Guiltless Potato Salad
1 1/2 lb small red potatoes, halved

3 carrots, thinly sliced

2 ribs celery, finely chopped

2 Granny Smith apples with skin, cored and finely chopped

1/2 sm onion, sliced

1/2 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt

1/4 cup fat-free lemon yogurt

1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill

1 Tbsp finely chopped parsley

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp salt

Place potatoes in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes. Add carrots and cook 8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Allow to cool.

In a large serving bowl, combine celery, apples, onion, mayonnaise, plain yogurt, lemon yogurt, dill, parsley, mustard, and salt. Add potato mixture and stir gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

Makes 8 servings

Per serving: 121 calories, 3 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate, 5 g fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 5 g fiber, 270 mg sodium

Yummy!

DINNER TOOL - MENU PLANNER

FAMOUS QUESTION ~ WHAT'S FOR DINNER???

SOMETIMES DON'T YOU JUST DREAD THAT QUESTION! I know I do after a long hard day of getting our youngest ready for Tonsil surgery!

Where here is my saving grace ~ for menu planning! I was just surfing and found this really awesome website that you have to check out.

Welcome To Dinner Tool
After this brief registration, you can
Store and retrieve favorite recipes, meals, meal plans and shopping lists
Comment on recipes and meals
Rate recipes and meals

http://www.dinnertool.com/account.php?v=register

ULTRA FOODS GROCERY STORE

We always here about Strack and VanTil savings; CVS; Walgreens and more! BUT, I have found ULTRA FOODS in Highland, Indiana a wonderful savings place. Did you know that Ultra Foods is the overstocked budget store of Strack and VanTill? I just found that one out.

Check it out for yourself.

Here is their website:

http://www.ultra-foods.com/

Happy Shopping~

CHICKEN and PINEAPPLE PINWHEEL

Ingredients:

2 large can chicken salad
Mayonnaise
1/4 c. Pineapple tidbits (or to your liking)
1 Cup of Shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese
Fresh Parsley
2 Cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

Combine:
In a mixing bowl the 2 Cans of Chicken with Mayo until moistened. Then add your pineapple, cheese and fresh parsley and stir! Set this mixture to the side while you open the crescent cans.

• Take a cookie sheet and spray with PAM.....Then take the crescent dough and form 2 crescents together into a large rectangle.
• Layer the chicken mixture (about 1-1/2 tbsp.) in the center of your rectangle.
• Then fold the 4 sides (each corner) to the center the of the mixture and seal. It will kind-of-look-like a pinwheel, hence the name.
• Bake @ 375 degrees for approximately 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown!
• Serving size: about 8 chicken pinwheels.

Delicious and Enjoy!

COME CHAT WITH US!

I have just found the coolest blog gaget, theblogfrog. While Facebook and Twitter have been known to be great avenues for generating connection, I find that sometimes there are some people I just didn't care for in high school, nor they did me and you are almost obligated to rekindle past gone friendships.

I find after all my reading, that nowadays Moms are online more than any other generation before. This is definitely the new age of 'technology' and connecting through blogs. Most of us are sooooo busy with our family life that our only outlet is blogging and keeping posted with people any time of day that way.

I know myself I am longing for deeper connections, with likeminded frugalistas! Therefore, I have decided to make a community and I can do that easily with theblogfrog.

So come and bring with you ideas, bargains, deals, news and more with you to share with all of us!

Look for my Community Link on the lefthand side of this blog and hop on the to the pond with me!

I am hoping that Karina's Garden of Grace forum will be a place where you may sit and come and share your hearts desires, deals and stories!

Hop On Over Now and Join the Community!

JUDGMENT VERSUS GRACE ~ Isaiah 26:9-10

TITLE: JUDGMENT VERSUS GRACE

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 26:9-10

The Lord continually offers us Grace, but at times we still need his Judgment. That may sound contradictory, but often times we take God's Grace for granted. Hardship and discipline catch our attention and cause us to change our sinful ways and grow in righteousness. Hebrews 12:11 explains: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Judgment requires discipline and discipline creates righteousness. Viewed this way, judgment can be seen as a type of Grace! A Grace that is Greater than all our Sin!

By His Grace,

Karina

This season's back-to-school trend: Frugality

This season's back-to-school trend: Frugality

Shared via AddThis

BACK TO SCHOOL ~ FOR TEACHERS

Click here to shop at Teacher Created Resources

HERE ARE SOME AWESOME WEBSITES I HAVE FOUND TONIGHT ~ OFFERING GREAT DEALS IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO START A WEBSITE, WEBSTORE, AND/OR PURCHASE A DOMAIN NAME FOR A REASONABLE PRICE.....

Click to be taken to the websites:

Ice Cream Cookiewiches: Recipes - NESTLÉ® Meals.com

"Ice Cream Cookiewiches"

You will love the convenience of making this delicious ice cream treat!

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Cooling Time: 1 hr freezing

Servings: 20 sandwiches
1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Dough or NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Mini Brownie Bites Bar Dough *
1 1/2 to 2 cups Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Mint or any other flavor DREYER’S® or EDY’S® SLOW CHURNED™ Light Ice Cream, slightly softened


PREPARE cookies according to package directions. Cool on baking sheets for 1 minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PLACE 1 tablespoon ice cream on flat side of 1 cookie; top with flat side of second cookie to make a sandwich. Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap or place in freezeable container. Repeat with remaining cookies and ice cream. Freeze for at least 1 hour before serving. Let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.

* VARIATION: Make a platter of these sandwiches by baking up a few packages of our refrigerated Mini Cookie Bar Doughs and use a variety of DREYER’S or EDY’S SLOW CHURNED Light Ice Cream products.

NUTRITION FACTS:
Calories: 120 Calories from Fat: 50 Total Fat: 6 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 15 mg Sodium: 95 mg
Carbohydrates: 16 g Dietary Fiber: 0 g Sugars: 10 g
Protein: 1 g"

MINI BROWNIE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

MINI BROWNIE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

Vanilla ice cream blended with fresh mint and sandwiched between two chocolate mini brownie bites...who can resist? This delicious treat!

Preparation Time: 15 mins

Cooking Time: Cooling Time: 1 hr freezing

Servings: 20

1 package (16 ounces) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Refrigerated Mini Brownie Bites Bar Dough, prepared according to package directions 1 1/4 cups Vanilla BREYER'S or EDY'S SLOW CHURNED Light Ice Cream, softened 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint.

STIR together ice cream and mint in large bowl; freeze for 1 hour or until almost firm.

TO ASSEMBLE: Sandwich 1 tablespoon prepared ice cream between 2 brownie bites; serve immediately. NOTE: If ice cream is frozen for longer than 1 hour, let soften slightly before assembling sandwiches. Prepared sandwiches can be wrapped tightly and stored frozen for up to one week.

Yummy! Enjoy!

SERIOUSLY FREE STUFF

It is FRIDAY and time to get your FREE Samples and more! Click the link above and claim your FREEBIES!

Happy Saving,

Karina's Garden of Grace

BACK TO SCHOOL LINKS

Here are a few links that I have found today while surfing! Great to use whether your homeschooling, public schooling, and/or private schooling!

LINKS ARE:

http://www.mediaangels.com/home/free-downloads

http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

http://www.schoolexpress.com/

http://www.choosyhomeschooler.com/

http://www.usedhomeschoolbooks.com/

http://www.homefires.com/free.asp

Happy Schooling!

Karina' s Garden of Grace

BLUEBERRY MUFFIN RECIPE

Since it is Still National Blueberry Month ~ Here is another great Blueberry Muffin Recipe:

BATTER INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour

3/4 c white sugar
1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/3 c vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 c milk

1 c fresh blueberries

TOPPING INGREDIENTS:

1/2 c sugar

1/3 c all-purpose flour

1/4 c butter, cubed, softened but not melted

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Delicious! Enjoy!

Happy Baking,

Karina's Garden of Grace

OVER 2,000 FREE PRODUCTS

While surfing the web today I found a wonderful site to share with you!

Just click the link below and find out for yourself!

Happy Saving,

Karina's Garden of Grace

Dark Blue Affiliate Network

Dark Blue Affiliate Network: "

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CVS Coupon Booklets Coming Soon

As of August 1, you should be able to snag a coupon booklet from your CVS Pharmacy full of some great coupons. Simply ask about the Autorefill program at the pharmacy counter and they should give it to you. It contains the following coupons:

• (two) $4 off $20 purchase (yay!)
• $4 off $20 Diet or Nutrition products
• $4 off $20 Facial Skin products
• $2 off $10 Vitamin purchase
• $2 off $10 Allergy products
• $2 off $10 Oral Care products
• $3 off $12 Eye Care products
  

The word is that some people have already found this booklet near the pharmacy area. I recommend grabbing several if you can–or at least one from each CVS you shop at!

Happy Shopping,

Karina's Garden of Grace

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Don't throw away those Glass Jars!

You know the glass jars like photoed above? Don't throw them out.....

When done using I just soak them ~ in order to get the label off ~ and use them for drinking glasses for our family! I have also used them in canning my own homemade tomato sauce, by keeping the lid that goes to each jar.

They work great and I haven't bought drinking glasses in over 2 years!

Hope you enjoyed this tip!

Happy Recycling,