Planning a party??  Show off your cupcakes with a super-cute {and thrifty} DIY Cupcake Stand!  Karen at Homemade Glamour shows you how to make this DIY Cupcake Stand ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

See Also:
More Fun Party Ideas!

Kaylee at Couponing, Cooking, & Other Fun Stuff on a Budget shows you how to make this Butterfinger Cake Recipe ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

It’s STRAWBERRY SEASON in Florida, and today I made a healthy strawberry pie for myself and hubby!  He didn’t even realize it was low-fat and sugar-free!

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups Fresh Strawberries
• 1 Small Package {approx. 2 ounces} Sugar-Free Cook & Serve Vanilla Pudding Mix
• 1 Large Package {approx. 6 ounces} Sugar-Free Flavored Gelatin
• 2 Cups Water
• Light or Low-Fat Whipped Topping {optional}

Directions:

• Rinse and hull strawberries.
• Distribute evenly in a 10-inch pan.
• In a medium sauce pan, combine Pudding Mix, Gelatin Mix, and add Water.
• Stir well and bring to a full boil.
• Pour mixture over strawberries.
• Refrigerate immediately for 4 – 6 hours.

Top with light or low-fat frozen whipped topping, and top with a few fresh strawberries if desired!

Patti is a “young retiree”, having enjoyed a career in advertising and marketing at a major Central-Florida newspaper. She and her hubby are very active, and in her “spare time”, Patti volunteers at a wildlife park, a visitors bureau and helps out her potter friends with their pottery shop. An avid photographer, Patti also shoots nature and scenery. Her work is featured in shops & galleries in NC and FL!

Got a Guest Post you’d like featured on TheFrugalGirls.com?? Go here to Submit a Guest Post!

Following is a guest post by Carly at CreateliveBlog.com ~ enjoy!

Cookie dough is delicious… and yet, I’m not a huge cookie person. Does that make sense? Cookies are generally so high fat and high calories that I sometimes feel like I just can’t justify it (especially when I can eat Cake Balls or Cupcakes for only 100 calories instead). And yet, at the end of the day, there is always a way to make a dish healthier… for example, check out my food page for healthy twists on foods like turning Chunky Monkey Ice Cream into Skinny Monkey Pudding or finding a way to make Carrot Cake Pops only 100 Calories.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Carly is a young blogger living in Chicago who loves mason jars, healthy cupcakes, oxymorons, and workout music! Check her out on Facebook, Pinterest, or visit her website!

See Also:
More Gotta-Try Recipes!

Got a Guest Post you’d like featured on TheFrugalGirls.com?? Go here to Submit a Guest Post!

Following are a few of the Most-Viewed Chic & Crafty Links from last week…

DIY Valentine’s Day Tutu
{Angela’s Adventures}

Thrifty Bedroom Makeover: Drab to Fab!
{Creatively Living… Outside the Box}

Lemony Lemon Bread Recipe
{MorningNooNight}

Homemade Swiffer Sweeper and Duster Covers
{Saving 4 Six}

It was great to have Carly from Createlive as a Frugal Girls Guest Poster this week, too!  Be sure to check out the Oven Baked Sweet Banana Oatmeal Recipe she shared!

{Would you like to be a Frugal Girls Guest Poster? Submit a guest post here.}

>> As a way of saying THANKS to all of you who link up your fabulous project tutorials and recipes… one of you lucky girls who links up this week will win a $25 Hobby Lobby Gift Card! {use it in-store or online!} Winner will be randomly selected & announced at next week’s Chic & Crafty Party! {yippee!}

A BIG congratulations goes out to Pam at Pam’s Party Planning ~ winner of the $25 Hobby Lobby Gift Card from last week’s Chic & Crafty Giveaway!

Now, let’s see what YOU have been working on! I’ll be featuring several of your projects in the coming days… so YOUR project just may be featured next on TheFrugalGirls.com! {if you’d like, you can also submit a guest post!}

• Please link directly to your Craft How-To, DIY Project, Creative Tip, Party You Hosted, or Recipe post {just click on the little blue ‘Add your link’ button}

• Grab the Chic & Crafty Party button below {or a text link}, then link up {Share on Facebook, Tweet it, etc} so others can come join in the Chic & Crafty FUN!

• Brighten someone’s day… take a few minutes to stop by a few posts & leave some comment luv!

<center><a href="http://thefrugalgirls.com/category/chic-and-crafty"><img border="0" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/frugalgirls/ChicandCraftyFrugalGirls.jpg"/></a></center>

MorningNooNight shows you how to make this Lemony Lemon Bread Recipe ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

On the hunt for some Quick, Healthy Dinner Recipes?  

Go get your FREE e-Cookbook: 26 Quick and Healthy Dinner Recipes!  {this will be a pdf file}

See Also:
More Tasty Recipes You’ll Love!

Craving a sweet treat?  Aimee at Shugary Sweets shows you how to make these Thumbprint Cookies with Cherry Buttercream Frosting ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

There’s something about bananas that are, at the same time, both delicious and fresh but also filling. I’ve used them in Skinny Monkey Pudding (Chunky Monkey Ice Cream’s skinnier cousin), Banana Nut Muffins with Peanut Butter Whip Frosting (peanut butter and bananas should really start making children), and Low-Fat Frozen Banana Ice Cream, just to name a few.

But those are all desserts. What about breakfast? After experimenting with Healthy Breakfast Coffee Cake, I realized how amazing it is to create a breakfast dish that doesn’t require hours of morning prep time (after all, that’s when you’re still hooked up to the caffeine IV, right?!).  Inspired by this delicious banana oatmeal breakfast, I came up with a much tastier, much heartier, and much longer lasting recipe. By making a casserole-dish full of oven-baked oatmeal, you can serve it immediately or heat it up the next morning… In my house, we stretched it out for 3 or 4 days. And we ate every last bite! This recipe for oven-baked sweet banana oatmeal will impress everyone from your health-conscious sister to your sugar-craving kid.

• 2 ½ cups oats
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 2-3 bananas, sliced

…for topping:

• 2 tablespoons oats
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons softened butter 

…serving additions:

• Skim milk (to taste)
• Whipped cream (to taste) 
• Honey (to taste) 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine first 5 ingredients (listed as “Ingredients for oatmeal”) in a large casserole dish (food will be cooked and served from this dish).
   
3. Slice bananas and add to oatmeal.
   
4. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients other than butter (first three ingredients listed under “Ingredients for topping”) and mix well.
6. Using your fingers, add softened butter. Mix until you have created a crumbly mixture.
7. Remove oatmeal from the oven and add this mixture across the top. Then, return to oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until topping begins to brown.
   
8. If serving immediately: Put a square of oatmeal in serving dish and pour skim milk over top, then add whipped cream to taste.
   If serving following morning: Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 325 and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until it has reached a desirable temperature. Put a square of oatmeal in serving dish and pour skim milk over top, then add whipped cream to taste and lightly drizzle honey on top.
   

Additional photos:

Carly is a young blogger living in Chicago who loves mason jars, healthy cupcakes, oxymorons, and workout music! Check her out on Facebook, Pinterest, or visit her website!

See Also:
More Gotta-Try Recipes!

Got a Guest Post you’d like featured on TheFrugalGirls.com?? Go here to Submit a Guest Post!

What’s for dinner??  My sweet friend Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolates shows you how to make Chicken Caesar Lasagna ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}  Oh YUM!

Now that the holidays have passed… could your footsies use a little pampering?

Go check out these simple DIY Foot Scrub and Soak Recipes, and give your feet the ultimate treat!

See Also:
More Fun DIY Projects and Tips!

• Got a Kindle or eReader App? Get it for FREE on Amazon!

• Go here to get your free Amazon reader App! (Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac)
• Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Then… check out these school lunch ideas and tips, too:

• 10 Fun Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids {tips from your frugal friends}
• How to Make DIY Reusable Snack Bags

See Also:
Spry Chewing Gum with Xylitol: $3.94 + FREE Shipping! {100 ct.}
Get more Free e-Books!

Following are a few of the Most-Viewed Chic & Crafty Links from last week…

Favorite 2011 Craft Projects
{The Silly Pearl}

Oreo Truffle Brownies Recipe
{Crazy for Crust}

Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls Appetizer Recipe
{A Turtle’s Life For Me}

Free Printable To Do Lists + Menu Planners
{Artsy Fartsy Mama}

>> As a way of saying THANKS to all of you who link up your fabulous project tutorials and recipes… one of you lucky girls who links up this week will win a $25 Hobby Lobby Gift Card! {use it in-store or online!} Winner will be randomly selected & announced at next week’s Chic & Crafty Party! {yippee!}

Taryn at Design, Dining + Diapers was a recent winner, and here she is finding some deals at Hobby Lobby with her sweet little cutie-pie in the cart! 

It was great to have Taryn as a Frugal Girls Guest Poster this week, too!  Be sure to check out the fabulous Gluten-Free Red Velvet Mini Cupcake Recipe she shared!

A BIG congratulations goes out to Rachel at Quiver Full of Blessings ~ winner of the $25 Michaels Gift Card from last week’s Chic & Crafty Giveaway!

Now, let’s see what YOU have been working on! I’ll be featuring several of your projects in the coming days… so YOUR project just may be featured next on TheFrugalGirls.com! {if you’d like, you can also submit a guest post!}

• Please link directly to your Craft How-To, DIY Project, Creative Tip, Party You Hosted, or Recipe post {just click on the little blue ‘Add your link’ button}

• Grab the Chic & Crafty Party button below {or a text link}, then link up {Share on Facebook, Tweet it, etc} so others can come join in the Chic & Crafty FUN!

• Brighten someone’s day… take a few minutes to stop by a few posts & leave some comment luv!

<center><a href="http://thefrugalgirls.com/category/chic-and-crafty"><img border="0" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/frugalgirls/ChicandCraftyFrugalGirls.jpg"/></a></center>

• Got a Kindle or eReader App? Get it for FREE on Amazon!

• Go here to get your free Amazon reader App! (Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac)
• Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

See Also:
Chic & Crafty Recipes!
Get more Free e-Books!

Um… YUM!!  Dorothy at Crazy for Crust shows you how to make Oreo Truffle Brownies ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

Following is a guest post by
Taryn at Design, Dining + Diapers ~ enjoy!

Hi Everyone! I’m Taryn from Design, Dining + Diapers, a place where I blog about crafts, DIY projects, home decor and gluten-free recipes!

I am thrilled to be visiting The Frugal Girls today. Heidi is such a sweetheart and all of YOU are amazing.

About 2.5 years ago, I found out I was gluten-intolerant, egg-intolerant AND soy-intolerant.

Boy, what a lifestyle change! Even though I was so thankful to finally feel healthy, I was devastated at the thought of never having freshly baked cookies or piece of chocolate cake again. Once I adjusted to my new eating habits, I made it my goal to learn how to bake for myself again and not only make something edible, but make something that tasted DELICIOUS.

Trust me, I’ve eaten a lot of not-so-good gluten-free products so I was determined!  I’ve learned a lot over the years and I’m so excited to share with you today my Gluten-Free Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes! Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Whether you eat gluten-free or bake for someone who is, you won’t want to miss this one.

What you need:

For the cupcakes:

• 2 1/2 cups Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour ( I prefer Bob’s Red Mill )
• 1 1/2 cups oil
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 4 1/2 tsp of Ener-G Egg Replacer + 1/4 cup water ( or 3 eggs)
• 2 Tbs. cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• 1 tsp. Xanthan gum
• 2 tsp. GF Vanilla
• 2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 oz. Red food coloring
• 1/8 cup water

For the frosting:

• 6 oz Cream cheese
• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
• 2 Tbs. Buttermilk
• 1 tsp. GF Vanilla
• 2 cups Powdered Sugar

How to make these little bites of heaven:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix oil, sugar, eggs, vinegar, vanilla, food coloring and water together.

3. In a separate bowl sift dry ingredients together, then slowly add it to the wet mixture.

4. Nest, place the cupcake liners into the tray and fill 3/4 the way full.

5. Bake for 15 minutes or until you can pull a toothpick out and it stays clean.

6. While cupcakes are cooling make the cream cheese frosting.

7. Using a hand mixer, blend the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and buttermilk together until smooth.

8. Slowly add the powdered sugar into the mixture.

9. Put the frosting into a plastic bag that seals and then cut one of the corners off to create a decorating tip (or use a piping bag if you have one).

10. Apply the frosting to the cupcake in a circular motion (if you choose to do the decorative frosting, I would double the recipe. If you are just going to apply one layer then you will have plenty)

And because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, here is an easy way to dress them up for the special occasion.

I went to the dollar store and found these cute cupcake liners, I got 100 for $1. I also found these adorable heart stickers and thought they would make cute cupcake toppers. To make them, I simply put two heart stickers back to back and placed the toothpick in the middle.

So easy, inexpensive and just added a whole new look to the cupcakes.

These red velvet mini cupcakes would make a great addition to a Valentine’s Day party or gathering. They are the perfect bite size dessert.

If you are gluten-free or know someone who is, you can view all of my recipes here.

A big thank you to Heidi for having me over today! I would love for you to stop by and say ‘hi’ sometime. You can find me here, or on Facebook, Twitter, and what would we do without Pinterest! 

Cheers,

Taryn

Got a Guest Post you’d like featured on TheFrugalGirls.com?? Go here to Submit a Guest Post!

Margo at Joyful Homemaking shows you how to make this tasty Hashbrown Crust Quiche Recipe ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

• Got a Kindle or eReader App? Get it for FREE on Amazon!

• Go here to get your free Amazon reader App! (Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac)
• Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

See Also:
Chic & Crafty Recipes!
Get more Free e-Books!

On the hunt for a tasty appetizer recipe?  Natalie at A Turtle’s Life For Me shows you how to make Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

Then… be sure to check out more of Natalie’s Freezer-Friendly Appetizer Recipes!

Head on over to get the FREE ‘Lighten Up’ e-Cookbook with 20 healthy and tasty recipes from Mr. Food!  {this will be a pdf file}

See Also:
More Tasty Recipes You’ll Love!

Following are a few of the Most-Viewed Chic & Crafty Links from last week…

Framed Valentine’s Day Decoration
{Sweet Little Bluebird}

How to Turn a Shutter into a Mail Holder
{Here’s to Handy Andy}

Hot Artichoke Dip Recipe
{Welcome to the Mouse House}

Garlic Parmesan Bread
{Saving 4 Six}

>> As a way of saying THANKS to all of you who link up your fabulous project tutorials and recipes… one of you lucky girls who links up this week will win a $25 Michaels Gift Card! {use it in-store or online!} Winner will be randomly selected & announced at next week’s Chic & Crafty Party! {yippee!}

A BIG congratulations goes out to Jessica @ Shabby to Chic Designs ~ winner of the $25 Hobby Lobby Gift Card from last week’s Chic & Crafty Giveaway!

Now, let’s see what YOU have been working on! I’ll be featuring several of your projects in the coming days… so YOUR project just may be featured next on TheFrugalGirls.com! {if you’d like, you can also submit a guest post!}

• Please link directly to your Craft How-To, DIY Project, Creative Tip, Party You Hosted, or Recipe post {just click on the little blue ‘Add your link’ button}

• Grab the Chic & Crafty Party button below {or a text link}, then link up {Share on Facebook, Tweet it, etc} so others can come join in the Chic & Crafty FUN!

• Brighten someone’s day… take a few minutes to stop by a few posts & leave some comment luv!

<center><a href="http://thefrugalgirls.com/category/chic-and-crafty"><img border="0" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/frugalgirls/ChicandCraftyFrugalGirls.jpg"/></a></center>

I can't wait to see what you've been working on!!

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/chic-crafty-party-15.html/feed 18 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/homemade-oatmeal-packets-recipe.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/homemade-oatmeal-packets-recipe.html#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:05:11 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=63622 Continue reading →]]>

My boys love oatmeal, but the price of pre-packaged flavored oatmeal can really add up!  So… for the past few years, I’ve been making Homemade Oatmeal Packets!

They’re quick and easy to make, and can really help cut the cost of a quick breakfast!

Go here for tips and ideas on how  you can make some, too!

See Also:
More Must-Try Recipes!

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/homemade-oatmeal-packets-recipe.html/feed 0 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/easy-pork-chops-recipe.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/easy-pork-chops-recipe.html#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:00:37 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=66245 Continue reading →]]> Who couldn’t love a recipe with a name like this??  Charlene at A Pinch of Joy shares her Wicked Good {and easy} Pork Chops Recipe ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

See Also:
Many More Tasty Recipes!

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/easy-pork-chops-recipe.html/feed 4 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/balsamic-roasted-potatoes-recipe.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/balsamic-roasted-potatoes-recipe.html#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:00:39 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=66207

Laura at Laugh, Love & Craft shares her Balsamic Roasted Potatoes Recipe ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

See Also:
Many More Tasty Recipes!

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/balsamic-roasted-potatoes-recipe.html/feed 0 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/stir-fry-soup-recipe.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/stir-fry-soup-recipe.html#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:00:30 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=60849 Continue reading →]]>

Warm up on a chilly evening with this Stir Fry Soup Recipe!

This tasty recipe comes from Joceyln at Inside a BruCrew Life ~ shared at a Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

See Also:
More Tasty Must-Try Recipes

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/stir-fry-soup-recipe.html/feed 0 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/diy-microwave-popcorn.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/diy-microwave-popcorn.html#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:30 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=59903 Continue reading →]]>

One of my favorite ways to save on a movie-night-at-home is Homemade Microwave Popcorn! {yum!}

It’s so simple to make, and is a great $$-saver, too! Head on over here for instructions on how you can make some, too!

See Also:
Fun New Freebies
BIG List of Tasty Recipes!

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/diy-microwave-popcorn.html/feed 2 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/candy-cake.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/candy-cake.html#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:30:58 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=66203

Paula at The Real Housewives of Riverton shows you How to Make a Candy Cake ~ shared at the Frugal Girls Chic & Crafty Party! {go check it out!}

See Also:
More Fun Party Ideas!

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/candy-cake.html/feed 1 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/olive-garden-copycat-recipes.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/olive-garden-copycat-recipes.html#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:00:31 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=59879 Continue reading →]]>

Oh, I just love Olive Garden!  If you do too, you’ll really love this Olive Garden Style Zuppa Toscana Recipe!

Then, be sure to check out this Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe!

These tasty recipes come from Trish at Mom on Time Out and Melissa at Melissa’s Cuisine, shared at Chic & Crafty Parties. {go check them out!}

Then… check out 83 More Olive Garden Recipes!

]]> http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/olive-garden-copycat-recipes.html/feed 3 http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/diy-facial-treatments.html http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/01/diy-facial-treatments.html#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:30:04 +0000 Heidi http://thefrugalgirls.com/?p=55011 Continue reading →]]>

As we wind down from the holidays, it’s a great time to take a little time to relax and pamper ourselves, too!

Go check out these fun DIY Facial Treatments for some at-home spa style ideas!

See Also:
More Fun DIY Projects and Tips!

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