Pinterest Challenge - Day 30 - Delish Pumpkin Muffins

Day 30 Pinspiration - Click here for a link to my pin

Gotta give credit where credit is due - this pin came from Food.com.

My Version - Delish Pumpkin Muffins

Tomorrow is October 1st which means it is Pumpkin Season!!!  I could eat pumpkin anything...soup, pie, muffins, bread, dip, cake...whatever!  So I had to bust out this recipe for my last Pinterest Day Challenge (I'm totally doing the happy dance right now).  Muffins tend to be pretty high calorie so when I found this recipe I was so excited to try it.  These are 97 calories each :)  And for comparison - Starbucks pumpkin bread 390 calories, Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Muffin 600 calories, Panera Bread Pumpkin Muffins 590 calories.

Here is what you need:

• 1 box Spice Cake Mix 
• 1 can Pumpkin Puree (not pie filling)
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice (bonus recipe below)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix everything in a bowl...yep it's that easy.

Spray your pan with cooking spray or use cupcake liners.  Fill your muffin tin about 3/4 of the way full and bake for 15 minutes (mini's) or 25 minutes (normal).  I do both because Addi likes the mini's.

Here is the final product...these are super yummy and last Addi and I all week for breakfast.  She loves them too and thinks they are "cupcakes."  I love them with a good cup of coffee :)

To make your own Pumpkin Pie Spice, combine:

• 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice

I am super frugal and had all this in my pantry...to buy it at the store is $4.15 for a small container of it.

The Target Gift Card will be drawn on Monday, October 1st at 8:00 pm so make sure you comment before then!  Good luck!

  

One lucky reader will win a $30 gift card to Target.  All you have to do is follow my blog (click on the “Join my site” button under My Followers) and comment on one of my 30 day Pinterest Challenge posts.  Each comment will get you one entry for the gift card…so comment one time or every day.

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Pinterest Challenge - Day 29 - Spooky Tutu

Day 29 Pinspiration - Click here for a link to my pin & here

Gotta give credit where credit is due - this pin came from Costume Super Saver & Vermillion Rules.

My Version - Spooky Tutu

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays...and it's only a month away!!!  It means family time, fall weather, carving pumpkins and chili!  Addi has been obsessed with any shows that have witches in them and wants to be a "nice witch" for Halloween.  So to pinterest I went to find some pinspiration (hehe) for her costume this year.  I love the cute costume from Costume Super Saver but I wanted to fancy it up a little bit with a super cute tutu!

Here is what you need:

• 1/2 inch elastic (see measurement instructions below)
• 16" ribbon
• Tulle on a roll
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine

To begin, measure your kiddo's waist (Addi was 19" around).  Subtract 3 inches from that and cut your elastic (Ours was 16" (19-3)).

I decided to go the ribbon route so that she can wear it for a little longer.  Now cut your ribbon in half and burn the edges to keep it from fraying.

Next you sew your ribbon onto your elastic.  I used a zig zag stitch and sewed both sides.

Now bring in the Tulle....I used 5 different colors - Green, Purple, Purple Glitter, Black & Black Glitter.  I measured Addison from waist to knee which was about 12 inches.  I wanted the tutu a little shorter and varied lengths so I cut pieces in 21", 18", 16" pieces (these will be halfed when you put the tulle on).  Cut lots of pieces - I used 70 pieces of tulle.

And here's my hubby being a dork with the Tulle...he's gonna kill me for putting this picture up :)

The next part takes a while...so plant yourself in front of your favorite show (I actually watched Grey's and Private Practice premieres)  and get to wrapping.  Sorry in advance for the instructions on wrapping...it's difficult to explain but hopefully the pictures help.  Fold the tulle in half and place it under your elastic.  Then fold the ends through the tulle and pull it tightly.

Then just keep going until you get to the end.  When I did mine I switched sides each time and did a varied pattern with the colors.  If you want one color to be more prominent then use that one more.

And here's the final product...I LOVE IT and so does Addi...she has worn it all morning!

And to complete her costume I'm going to get cute purple and black striped tights, black mary jane shoes, black leotard and witch hat!  Can't wait for Halloween!

The Target Gift Card will be drawn on Monday, October 1st at 8:00 pm so make sure you comment before then!  Good luck!
  

One lucky reader will win a $30 gift card to Target.  All you have to do is follow my blog (click on the “Join my site” button under My Followers) and comment on one of my 30 day Pinterest Challenge posts.  Each comment will get you one entry for the gift card…so comment one time or every day.

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Pinterest Challenge - Day 28 - Yummy Baked Taquitos

Day 28 Pinspiration - Click here for a link to my pin

Gotta give credit where credit is due - this pin came from Chef in Training.

My Version - Yummy Baked Taquitos

If I haven't mentioned it before...I LOVE TEX MEX!  Fried taquitos from a mexican food place are one of my favorite appetizers along side the chips and queso, nachos, well just about anything.  And on occasion I will buy those frozen taquitos that you get at the store but they are expensive and not very healthy.  This was a pin that I've been meaning to make for a long time but finally got around to it.

What you'll need (I modified her recipe a little bit):

• 10 - 6 inch tortilla
• 1 cooked, shredded chicken breast
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 3 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup pepperjack cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl...literally that easy!

Put 1-2 Tablespoons of filling inside your tortilla and roll.

Place on a greased cookie sheet with the seam side down.

Spray the top with cooking spray and bake for 15-20 minutes.

I overstuffed some of mine but the hubby ate the filling that escaped on chips with salsa so it didn't go to waste :)  Serve with your favorite sides, I love queso, salsa and sour cream.  

Yummy Friday meal with Margaritas :)

Last week to be entered to win the $30 gift card!  

One lucky reader will win a $30 gift card to Target.  All you have to do is follow my blog (click on the “Join my site” button under My Followers) and comment on one of my 30 day Pinterest Challenge posts.  Each comment will get you one entry for the gift card…so comment one time or every day.

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Pinterest Challenge - Day 27 - Green Goddess Smoothie

Day 27 Pinspiration - Click here for a link to my pin

Gotta give credit where credit is due - this pin came from Old Soul Charm.

My Version - Green Goddess Smoothie

I know...I know...I didn't do a post yesterday so I owe you two today.  Sorry...life got the best of me yesterday and I was in bed at 9:00 pm (without working out, without blogging and without watching season premieres of my fav shows Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice).  It was just one of those days.

But today is a new day and it's FRIDAY!!!  I even got up and did the 30 Day Shred this morning because I'm going to a festival tonight to drink wine see Randy Rogers Band tonight with my sis :)

Onto my pin...so...I like vegetables...BUT only if they are covered in cheese or butter, combined with cream sauce, dipped in something, covered in dressing, put on a juicy hamburger or thrown in some pasta.  Needless to say just steaming them or eating them raw isn't my favorite thing.  So I try and add in extra veggies where I can and this smoothie hides them in something yummy, refreshing and healthy.

What you'll need:

• Baby Spinach
• 1/2 cup or so V8 Fusion Light
• Frozen Whole Strawberries (No Sugar Added)  
• Frozen Banana

Put a large handful of spinach and about 1/4 cup of juice in your blender or Magic Bullet (these are great for smoothies).  Blend this by itself until it's smooth.  Do not skip this step or the spinach won't blend up and you'll end up with pieces of spinach in your teeth all day.

Once blended, throw in your strawberries and frozen banana and blend until smooth.  I add a little more juice in if it gets stuck and won't blend.  And I pop my banana in the micro on defrost for about 30 seconds so I can peel it.

And here it is...trust me it tastes MUCH better than it looks and is packed full of stuff that is good for you.  I love them for breakfast and feel extra healthy when I actually have time to concoct one before running out the door. 

Last week to be entered to win the $30 gift card!  

One lucky reader will win a $30 gift card to Target.  All you have to do is follow my blog (click on the “Join my site” button under My Followers) and comment on one of my 30 day Pinterest Challenge posts.  Each comment will get you one entry for the gift card…so comment one time or every day.

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Pinterest Challenge - Day 26 - Magic Microwave Cleaner

Day 26 Pinspiration - Click here for a link to my pin

Gotta give credit where credit is due - this pin came from One Good Thing By Jilliee.

My Version - Magic Microwave Cleaner

Over this Pinterest Challenge I seem to be getting more brave each day.  I typically cover most things I put in the microwave but sometimes I get lazy forget so there are splatters everywhere.  And the one that I forget that splatters the most is melting butter - which is what you currently see all over the top.  Who knew I would ever throw my dirty, disgusting microwave out there for all to see.  But here it is...

 

This pin got tons of repins yesterday and I've seen it several times but never tried it.  It is 1 cup hot water, 1 cup white vinegar placed in the micro for 10 minutes.   

It bubbles and boils and steams as it goes.  After it's done, you are supposed to easily wipe all the grim and goo out.  

Unfortunately I think mine was REALLY stuck on there...it took a little extra elbow grease and a scratchy sponge but I got a large majority of it out.  So here's the afters:

And the comparison...pretty good results :)

Last week to be entered to win the $30 gift card!  

One lucky reader will win a $30 gift card to Target.  All you have to do is follow my blog (click on the “Join my site” button under My Followers) and comment on one of my 30 day Pinterest Challenge posts.  Each comment will get you one entry for the gift card…so comment one time or every day.

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Pinterest Challenge - Day 25 - Mini Facial

Day 25 Pinspiration - Click here for a link to my pin & here

Gotta give credit where credit is due - this pin came from Making This Home & Our Best Bite.

My Version - Mini Facial

I am 30 years old but sometimes I have the face of a teenager.  My complexion has never been perfect but lately it's been worse than normal.  Not sure if it's the sweat while working out, hormones or face washing regiment (or lack there of).  I should explain that...I do wash my face at morning and night but I don't normally wash my makeup off before a run and don't immediately come home and wash my face as soon as the workouts over.

Ewww!  Look at all those bumps and pimples...just gross!

So I am going to try and remember to wash my face before and after workouts and I'm going to start exfoliating at least once a week.  I found both these scrubs on Pinterest and couldn't decide between them so I decided to combine them instead.

Here is what you need:

3 teaspoons oats
1 teaspoon warm water
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons sugar (I used granulated but raw would probably work better)
1 teaspoon olive oil
drop of vanilla extract

You mix everything together until you get a nice pasty consistency.

I washed my face first to get all the grime off, then applied in a circular motion for 2 minutes.

The mixture got a little sticky and I look like I just took a bath in breakfast...BUT after I washed off the goo it made my face as smooth as a baby's bottom.  Beware - the oatmeal goes everywhere...my sink and counter was a mess afterward.

Awww!  Refreshing!  It didn't get rid of all the pimples but I'm hoping with the new regiment and doing it once a week that it will all clear up.  

Also, I had a little extra left over and used it on my arms, chest and neck and they are SUPER soft now too. Don't forget to moisturize afterward!  

Hope you ladies try it and give yourself a little pampering too!

Last week to be entered to win the $30 gift card!  

One lucky reader will win a $30 gift card to Target.  All you have to do is follow my blog (click on the “Join my site” button under My Followers) and comment on one of my 30 day Pinterest Challenge posts.  Each comment will get you one entry for the gift card…so comment one time or every day.

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