Happy New Year! and Let the savings begin

Happy New Year !                                                                 Week 1 (Save $1)

Just follow the weekly/biweekly blogs to successfully save $1378 at the end of the 52 weeks.  We will start by saving $1 for the first week.  $2 for week two, then $3 for the third week and so on. Just keep increasing and continue the amount by a dollar over the next 52 weeks. The most you will ever put into your favourite piggy bank is $52 and at the end of the annual challenge you will hopefully realize how easy it is to save with just a little discipline. 

This is a great challenge for the whole family, especially when it comes to teaching children the value of money and how to spend responsibly.

I hope you will participate in this challenge.  Good Luck!

Another New Year, another new start with best wishes, prosperity, good health and Resolutions.  Some of us make resolutions while others refuse.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to make personal changes for the better of oneself.  And for those who do not make resolutions anymore due to disappointment.   I believe the problem is that we do not set realistic resolutions, we either give up too soon or maybe it’s just a lack of willpower.   

We fail before we begin as a result of making too many resolutions while we should just make that one resolution that is the most important and focus on that. Here are a few simple idea's to increase your chances of succeeding.   

Writing down your resolution and also sharing your resolution with your love ones and close friends will also increase your chances of success because you hold yourself accountable and want to make changes.   

Do not expect instant results, for results we must change our habits and making that simple change , there is almost no way you can fail. Here are a few common resolutions:

Resolution: Quit smoking vs. Habit: Do not smoke that 1st cigarette you have every morning after you have your coffee.
 
Resolution: Eat Healthy vs Habit: start by substituting that daily pastry for a piece of fruit. 

Resolution: Lose weight vs Habit: Every evening after work go for a 5 to 10 minute walk around the block.
 
Resolution: Manage stress vs Habit: mediate 2-3 minutes every morning after you wake up.

The key is to take tiny positive baby steps daily and having the will power of not giving up!

"This year, lets make a promise to follow the resolutions you make more strictly and achieve what you truly desire in your life!"

Do you have any New Year’s Resolution? How are you planning to successfully execute to increase your chances of success?  Feel free to leave me your thoughts and comments.

 

We made it through to 52 weeks!

                                                                   Week 49 ( Save $49)    Week 50 ( Save $50)
                                                                   Week 51 ( Save $51)    Week 52 ( Save $52)



Congratulations!  If you have been following this blog for 52 weeks, you would have save an extra $1378. How much were you able to save?  I will be starting the blog again in 2015 and I hope to keep up with the posts.  We will start the savings again in the first week of January.   

November /December was a challenging time and I was unable to keep up with the weeks.  Thank you to my readers, family and friends close and afar for viewing my blog.  I look forward to your comments and suggestions.  Feel free to post your comments below by clicking on the pencil and post your comments in the drop box.

I like to wish everyone the Merriest Christmas and a Wonderful New Years! 

Cheers,
Jaycee

             

 

 

 

No bake cookies

                                                                                                        Week 47 (Save $47)
                                                                                                        Week 48 (Save $48)

With just weeks before Christmas, there is so much to do.  Bear with me for the next few weeks as we are close to hitting that 52 week mark.

Here is a super easy no bake sweet and salty recipe that takes 10 minutes to prepare.  It's so delicious!

Yields 32-34 pieces

1/2 cup butter
1 cup of white sugar
few spoons of milk (try soya or chocolate milk)
1/4 unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (try soya or almond butter)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2.5 cups old fashion oats
1 cup chopped pretzels
1/3 cup of shredded coconut
1/4 tsp. sea salt + extra for sprinkling on cookies

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter  Add the milk, sugar cocoa and stir to a boil.

Remove from heat and add peanut butter ,vanilla and 1/4 tsp of salt.

Stir in the oats, coconut, and pretzels and coat through.  Mixture should be dry but if you find it too dry to scoop, add another dash of milk.

Using a mini cookie scooper or spoon, scoop packed spoonful's onto a waxed paper. Sprinkle with extra sea salt is optional.

Cool completely.  Cookies will harden when cool.  Store in airtight container and will keep up to 4 days

Feel free to add dried fruits, nuts, marshmallows or even broken graham crackers to the mix.

 

 

ENJOY!

 

 

Go and Make tons of cookies

                                                                                             Week 45 (Save $45)
                                                                                             Week 46 (Save $46)

 

 

 

 

Happy Holidays! 

 

DIY Santa Sleighs

                                                                                                       Week 43 (Save $43)
                                                                                                       Week 44 (Save $44)

Where did the year go ? In just a little over 43 days, Christmas will be here for those who celebrate. I hope you took advantage in one section of the summer/fall blog posting about early planning and start picking up wonderful Christmas deals at art shows, craft fairs, and yard sale.  It's still not too late to start.  There are tons of Christmas bazaar's and craft shows, still happening in and around town.  Just check your local newspaper and keep your eyes open and before you know it, you will be done with your Santa list.

Here is fun no mess super fun DIY project that you make with kids. You can find the Kit Kat chocolates at your local grocery store, dollar store or Walmart.  Make them by the dozen!

Each sleigh requires: 1 Kit Kat bar, 6 small Kit Kat bars, 2 candy canes, 1 Santa chocolate, thin red ribbon and a hot glue gun.

Glue the  2 candy canes on the bottom of the regular Kit Kat bar.  Now lightly glue 3 of the small Kit Kat bars on the back part of the sleigh.  Glue the other 2 bars, then the final 1 on top.  Glue the Santa to the front/against the small chocolates.  Now tie and curl a piece of ribbon across the small Kit Kat bars to finish off the sleighs. 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Have fun making them!

Halloween Skelton Cookies

                                                                                                      Week 42 (Save $42)

With Halloween just a few days away, why not recreate using your favorite dark chocolate sugar cookie or gingerbread cookie recipe and make a batch of Scary Halloween Cookie for your friends and families.  Bring a batch of these Skelton inspired cookies to a party this weekend and I am sure they will be a big hit!



Variety of cookie cutters

 

What makes these cookies look amazing is the detailed white skeleton bones on the dark cookie. 

 

Piping Tips:

 

Using a piping bag with royal icing  (see recipe below).  Cut a  small hole, outline the skull with ghoulish big uneven eyes, nose and jagged upper teeth.  Pipe bones for all arms and feet.  Outline the spine.

 

Add your personal touches, whether it be dots, dashes or doodles ( Did you see the fishbone on the leg of the cat? ). 

 

Allow the icing to dry.  If there is something you piped and do not like, you can easily scrape the icing off with a sharp knife.

 

Note: None of the icing outlines or designs are perfect.  The piping was done free hand and super quick. Free-styling is the best technique!

Royal Icing   Yield 1 cup

1/2 cup meringue powder (lump free)

1 3/4 cups of icing sugar sifted (lump free)

70 ml of hot tap water

Blend the meringue powder and the icing sugar with the water for 4 minutes.  Add more water to desired consistency.  Keep icing covered with damp cloth while using.  Store in airtight container, no need to refrigerate.  Re blend before use.   For stiffer icing, use less water.

 

 

Have FUN creating these Skelton Cookies

 

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!!









Toronto: It's voting day in Ontario!

                                                                                                  Week $41 (Save $41)
                                                                                                

Monday October 27th, 2014

 

The polling stations will be opened from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bring your Notice of Registration Card with one piece of valid identification to your assigned polling station and make your vote count! 

And may the best man or woman win!