51% cash back from Magazines.com

Today on Ebates.com  you can get back 51% off any magazine you order from Magazines.com.    All You is one of the best magazines after cash back, it would only be $9.79 after cash back today.  Other  favorites like Food Network would only be $8.82,  Better Homes and Garden and Ladies Home Journal only  $2.94, Good Housekeeping only $3.91 and many more..   To get the cash back go to Ebates.com  and use the Magazines.com link.    If you are new to Ebates.com you will also get a $5  sign up bonus.   

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Loaded Mexican Pizza

In keeping with this week's Mexican theme, how about a loaded Mexican pizza.   I found this recipe on TasteofHome.com.   I think it looks delicious!

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Spring Blossom Cupcakes

This spring blossom cupcakes are almost too pretty to eat.  If you have any leftover jellybeans from Easter that you dont know what to do with (other than eat!)  maybe give these cupcakes a try.  You can find the recipe at on MyRecipes.com

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Homemade Maracas

If you are having a Cinco de Mayo get together with children,  these homemade maracas would be a great activity.   Classified Mom     shares a tutorial that is perfect for children to do.  Make sure to check out her site  Classifiedmom.com  here.

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April Coupon Totals

Since it is the start of a new month,  it is time for me to go over my coupon savings from last month.   This month, I noticed a few things.  I spent more on my groceries in April.   I am not too surprised by this, because I recently read that the cost of food went up 4% in the past two months alone.   Now with the recent tornados, floods and gas prices, food will continue to go up more.  A big portion of the countries chicken came from Alabama, so expect the price of chicken to be a bit high for awhile.    I also read that other products, in addition to chicken, will also go up because their production was disrupted.  Now more than ever, people are going to need to turn to coupons to keep their food costs under control. 

Overall I am happy with my month, even with the higher food costs. 

I saved $188.98 in grocery coupons,  $216.73 in sales for a total savings of $405.71
I spent $377.83 on what would have been $783.54 of groceries full price.

I also saved $153.98 in "other" coupons at Target, the craft stores, Kohls, Fridays.

My total coupon savings for the month $342.96  (grocery and other)
I also "earned"  $14 "on your next order" catalinas

My "totally free" totals were  a little down this month... I only had 24 items.   Hey, 24 items is still great, but compared to 40 in Feb and 28 in March,  it's not a trend  I want to see continue. 

We will see what May brings!

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Mother's Day Cake

Can't decide between flowers and a cake for mom for Mother's Day?  How about  both by making a flower cake.   Family Fun   has the recipe to this really cute gumdrop flower cake that woud be the perfect treat for Mother's Day.   You can see how to make it here on FamilyFun.com

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New Month=New Coupons

Its the start of a new month which means NEW COUPONS on  Coupons.com,  Coupon Network ,Red Plum

Some new coupons  that you can print here  on Coupons.com

$1 Velvetta Spicy Buffalo loaf
$1 off 2 General Mills
$1 off  Purina Tidy Cat
.75 off Cookie Crisp
.50 off Parkay Margerine
.55 off Trix
.50 off Chex snack mix
.40 off Frigo Cheese Sticks
.75 off two Taco Bell products
many $3 movie coupons
and many more.. 


On Coupon Network  you can find

$3 on 4 lunchables with fruit
$1.10 off 2 Stouffers Farmhouse
.75 off 2 Yoplait
$5 in future savings on Freshetta pizza
$2 in future saving on Yoplait
$1.25 off 2 Maries dressing
$1 off 2 Shake and Bake
$1 off Frosted Flakes with less fiber
$1.50 off pedialyte
and many more

On Red Plum ,  you can find
$1 off 2 Heinz gravy
$1 off Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls
.75 off Starkist Seasations entrees
and many more. 

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Free Chips and Queso at Chilis

Print a coupon for Free Chips and Queso at Chilis and while you are there check out their daily appetizer  specials this week for Cinco de Mayo.  Sign up on thier website here.

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Nachos, 50 ways

I LOVE nachos.  Cinco de Mayo can be so much fun because of all the wonderful Mexican food.    On the Food Network  web page they have the how-tos   to make make 50 different kinds of nachos.    I can only think of how to make nachos in handful of ways, let alone 50!  I am sure if you are looking for nacho recipe for Cinco de Mayo, you will find something you like on Food Network site .

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Chili Pepper Cake Pops for Cinco de Mayo

Do you have anything planned for Cinco de Mayo this week?  How about making  some chili pepper cake pops. Terri's Party Treasures   gives a fun tutorial on how to make chili pepper cake pops in a guest post on Nikki, In Stitches  Terri does some really amazing things with a little bit of cake.  Be sure to check out her work.

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How to Make a Flower Topiary

You can get the look of an expensive flower topiary by making it yourself using items from the dollar and craft store. The craft store sells styrofoam balls in various sizes.  You can also buy pre-cut dowel rods for very little money.  Push a dowel into the styrofoam ball a few inches deep. 

I found circle floral forms at the dollar store.  While I was happy that it was only a dollar, it was a bit soft and the dowel rod did move around a little.   As long as the topiary is not moved around too much, the cheaper form should be fine. I also found a spring flower pot at the dollar store. 

Push the dowel in the center of the form. 

When I started to glue  on the flowers, I did find it was easier to remove the dowel rod.   So you could glue on the flowers BEFORE pushing the dowel into the form.   Using hot glue, I glued on the flowers one at a time in a circular motion. 

This what the topiary looked like before the final touches were added.  Since I was transporting these topiaries to another location,  I waited until they were at the party site to finish them. 

The night before the party,  I added dollar store moss and a purple ribbon around the base of the flower ball.   When one of the party guests asked me if was a real hydrangea, I knew I had acheived the look that I had been hoping for.     The flowers and pot can be easily changed to acheive the color and look.  

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Garden Party

The party we had been planning for Operation Birthday had finally arrived.   We went with a Garden Party/Spring Chick theme.   The idea behind the chicks was that  this was a milestone birthday, and my friend is STILL  a spring chick. It was much more uplifting than an Over the Hill type of theme.   

We decorated the night before the party.  The green table cover needed some extra color so I used paper streamers to make an accent.  You can see how I made it here.    I placed my two topiaries on each end of the table.   You can how to make them  here   I had planned on painting flowers on a vase I got at the thrift store, but ran out of time.  It was a pretty pink color which matched the colors, so I still used it in the center of the table.

We added the flower pot favors , filled with spring colored jellybeans.  

I used the idea  I saw by A Glimpse Inside to make flower garland.  

We hung paper lanterns  and some more flowers over the bar where the food was located.  


The menu was light

Homemade Chicken Salad

Pasta Salad

Tortillas with fruit salsa

and Spring Chick cupcakes

To remember who attended this special birthday we made a singing frame.  

We included her invitation (the girls), and embellished the with flowers and colorful "chick" letters.

During the party, all of the guests signed the matting and now R has a memento that she can hang up. 

Somehow I missed taking a picture of the Spa station.   We had two rocking chairs and a rolling cart.  On the rolling cart we had a parafin bath where guests could dip their hands in was.  We also had a foot massager where guests could enjoy relaxing their feet.  The spa station was a HUGE hit with the guests. 

This was the perfect party for a great friend..  Happy Birthday R!!

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Table Cover Accents

To add something extra  to a plain table cover,  you will be using streamers in the colors of your theme.  You can use as many or as few colors as you would like,  depending on the look you prefer.  I decided to go with only 2 colors.     

The table we were using was very long so I adapted an idea I saw on The Nate Show  to only do part of the table.  If your table is smalller you could add a lot more rows.  If are covering a smaller table you can see in this picture link  how to cover a smaller table. 

In this picture I lined up 3 lines on each side of the table. 

Weaving yellow streamer thru the pink streamer, I got a pretty weave pattern on the four corners of the table.  

I then placed our flower centerpieces inside the weaved area for the finished look.

I will be linking this idea up.  Make sure to check my linky party page for all the great websites including the I heart Naptime  Craft O Maniac and Today's Creative

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Mini Cupcakes and Displays

The orginal plan was to make flower cake pops, but due to an unforseen difficulty and shortage of time, we went to plan B.  I decided to make mini cupcakes using my mini muffin tin.     I used a box cake mix but instead of baking it for the full time listed on the box,  I  baked them for about 8 minutes because of their small size.  
     
I  wanted them to minic the look of flowers but in a quick and simple way.   I  used 4 colors of candy melts since flowers are different colors.  I also used my spring colored sprinkles.  

I used the 30 second melting method  to melt the candy.   I wasnt sure if I should remove the wrapper but decided to leave them on since they are were colorful.  Using a spoon, I covered the top of the cupcake then covered in sprinklets.  When I finished a color, I placed them in the fridge for the candy to harden quickly.  

To display the mini cupcakes I made two flower pot displays.   I wrapped a dollar store flower foam with foil. 

When the foam was covere, I placed it in spring themed flower pots I also bought at the dollar store. 

I decided to add some color to the circle display I made awhile back for my marshmellow pops .  I wanted to add thicker ribbon, but realized I left it all at my friends house the night before.  I used colorful yarn to give that boost of color. 

Instead of placing the mini cupcakes in the displays and then driving to the party,  I decided to transport them in a rubbermaid container so I could put them together on site. 

A simple way to add the  stick is to use a toothpick to make a small hole through the wrapper.   Place the stick in the hole.  

Using a different toothpick,  I made small holes in the flower foam so I could easily push in the  mini cupcake. 

Both of the display were colorful and fun  as well as inexpensive to make.  

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How to make a cupcake stand

This post contains affiliate links. 

To make a cupcake stand you will just need 3 platters or plates, 2 candlesticks and some gorilla glue .    I bought the silver platters and candlesticks at the dollar store.  If you do not have a dollar store nearby, I Iinked similar items from Amazon. 

Outline the bottom of one candlestick with the gorilla glue.  

Center in the middle of one of the platters, and let it sit for a few minutes.  

Outline the top of the candlestick with more gorilla glue and then center a 2nd platter on top.  Let it sit awhile again so the glue with start to set. 

Repeat the steps above to add the top layer. 

Here is the finished stand full of cupcakes.  It was able to hold 18 full size cupcakes.    What is nice about making your own stand, is you can customize it to fit the theme and style of your party depending on what plates and candlesticks you decide to use.

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