Slices of Samantha

Ciate Velvet Manicure Giveaway

2013-11-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

I am thrilled to announce Slices of Samantha's very first giveaway!! One lucky winner will receive one Ciate Velvet Manicure Kit in the color Mink Cashmere. I'll just tell you already that I am jealous. I have been dying to try anything Ciate and have never gotten a chance to. Instead, I bought this product to give away to one lucky winner. Who ever wins will surely be rocking perfect holiday nails!

This giveaway is now open, so earn all the entries you can! All entries must be received by December 4th at 12 A.M. CST, and soon after, one random winner will be announced.

Cranberry Sorbet

2013-11-24T21:34:00.001-06:00

So for months and months now, my mind has been set on doing an ombre nail tutorial for my next blog post. I was so excited to get this post up on the site, but every time I did my nails and took photographs specifically for my blog, my nails and polish did not cooperate with my vision. And when I did my nails just because and not for the blog, they came out perfectly. Ugh, I really don't get it! So after several attempts of creating this ombre nail tutorial post, I have admitted to myself that maybe nail blogging is not my thing. And along my path to finally moving past my stubbornness in having to do this nail tutorial, I have gained a new-found respect for nail art bloggers. It really takes a lot to construct a great post about nails! But because I am stubborn and was set on doing a nail post, I couldn't totally go with out something nail related... check back on Tuesday at 10 A.M. CST to enter Slices of Samantha's first GIVEAWAY!!! One lucky reader will be receiving a Ciate Velvet Manicure Kit!

So instead of a nail post today, I bring to you a recipe for cranberry sorbet. For some unknown reason, I thought that cooking and baking with fresh cranberries was extremely difficult. After using them in a few recipes now, I couldn't have been more wrong. Give your upcoming holiday dinners a lift with this sweet & tart sorbet. Enjoy this cranberry sorbet on its own, or create a champagne float by pouring your favorite champagne over a spoonful of sorbet.

Cranberry Sorbet
makes about 2 quarts

Ingredients
12 ounces of fresh cranberries
1 & 3/4 cups of granulated sugar
2 cups of cranberry juice (white cranberry juice works too)
1 cup of water
1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of light corn syrup
2 teaspoons of lime zest

Directions

1. Combine the cranberries, sugar, juice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Heat over high heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer the mixture until the cranberries have burst open.

2. Take the saucepan off the heat, and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes. Then, in batches, puree the mixture in a blender until smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine, mesh strainer and discard of any pulp or seeds that are left over. Stir in the light corn syrup and the lime zest.

3. Cover and refrigerate this mixture overnight.

4. Follow your ice cream maker's instructions for churning the sorbet. Then freeze until firm, eat, and enjoy!

20 Free Greeting Cards from Walgreens

2013-11-19T11:42:00.000-06:00

Holiday season is fast approaching! Get a jump start on your holiday greeting cards this year with Walgreens' current offer. Like Walgreens' Facebook page here to get your code that can be redeemed for 20 FREE 5x7 Flat Cards. Use this code, before December 7th, during your online checkout and get them completely free when you select in-store pick-up. It turns out to be a savings of $16.99!

Free Schick Razor at Walmart

2013-09-19T14:47:00.002-05:00

Despite the fact that this razor is two-bladed and not the best Schick razor out there, you certainly can't pass up a deal that makes the Schick Silk Effects Plus razor free-- actually better than free! SmartSource currently has a coupon for $4.00 off any one Schick women's razor or refill, and Walmart sells this Schick razor for $3.98. Since Walmart pays overages, that means that each Schick Silk Effects Plus razor purchase is a $0.02 moneymaker.

Razors are expensive nowadays and this great of a deal (or steal) is rare to come by, so get to couponing quick! Remember that coupons can be printed twice per computer. Happy couponing!

Deal: Schick Silk Effects Plus Razor $3.98 at Walmart
Use $4.00/1 Schick women's razor or refill
$0.02 moneymaker after coupon (not including tax)

Pineapple Rum Cupcakes

2013-07-15T16:43:00.001-05:00

I never thought that I would get this behind with my blog posts, and with my deepest regrets, I am sorry. Taking summer courses and having a puppy just adds up, and my blog got pushed to the side for a bit. But now my summer is starting to settle, and I'm back in the blogosphere!

Anyways, here is a recipe I recently tried. With hints of pineapple and rum, this cupcake embodies the essence of summer! And never had I made or even heard of pineapple flowers, but they are truly easy to make. Plus, they are a simple decoration that add elegance to any baked good. I couldn't pass this treat up!

Pineapple Rum Cupcakes
makes a dozen cupcakes

Ingredients

cake batter
1 & 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
6 tablespoons of softened, unsalted butter
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 tablespoon of dark rum
1/2 cup of pineapple juice
1/2 of a pineapple (peeled, cored, and chopped)

pineapple buttercream frosting
3 cups of powdered sugar
12 tablespoons of softened, unsalted butter
1/2 cup of pineapple juice
juice of half a lemon

pineapple flowers
thin pineapple slices

Directions

cake
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake pan.

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together, and set aside.

3. Beat the butter and sugar until it becomes fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and beat the mixture well after each egg. Then once the eggs are incorporated, beat the vanilla and rum into the mixture.

4. Mix half of the flour mixture into the butter mixture, and beat it until it is well blended. Beat in the rest of the flour mixture and pineapple juice. Then fold in the chopped pineapple into the batter.

5. Pour the batter into cupcake pan. Bake them for about 20 minutes, or bake them until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

frosting
1. Beat the powdered sugar, butter, pineapple juice, and lemon juice on high speed, until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. Add more sugar if the consistency is not stiff enough.

pineapple flowers
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

2. Place each thin pineapple slice into the cupcake pan. This will make the pineapple flowers bowl shaped. Bake until the pineapple begins to turn golden brown/ burnt on the edges. It takes about an hour, or a bit more, until the pineapple is done, so just keep an eye on them.

Finally, top your cupcakes with frosting and the flowers, and enjoy!

Influenster Review: Sugar n' Spice Voxbox

2013-05-15T11:26:00.004-05:00

What is Influenster?

Influenster is, what I would call, a word-of-mouth marketing website. Members unlock expert badges, and to strengthen your badge scores members can write reviews of products, submit blog posts, submit youtube videos, complete surveys, etc. In return for an active members' participation, Influenster will occasionally send members a voxbox filled with free products for review. Visit their website for more information and to request and invite.

Sugar n' Spice VoxBox

Within a week of signing up for Influenster I was lucky enough to be invited to try out the Sugar n' Spice VoxBox, and, everyday since then, I had been eagerly waiting for the package to arrive. And finally, after what seemed like forever, the package reached my doorstep. Of course I then tried the products out, and now I am here writing my thoughts on these FULL-SIZE, FREE products!

Splenda Nectresse
I have always steered clear of using Splenda because of it being artificial and because of the bad things I had heard about it, but, with the craze of natural sweeteners hitting the market recently, I was excited to try Splenda Nectresse. Overall I would consider buying any sweetener that is made from a fruit over the competing artificial sweetener, but the taste just doesn't compare to regular sugar. For that reason, I am just not a fan of any sweetener other than plain, old sugar.

BelVita Breakfast Biscuit
Plain and simple: these cookies were delicious!
C
Colgate Optic White Regimen
The toothbrush, I loved; It was probably the best toothbrush I have ever had. But the toothpaste and mouthwash were absolutely horrible. The toothpaste did not whiten my teeth whatsoever, and the mouthwash was unbearable due to the lemon juice/ hydrogen peroxide taste. I have tried better whitening regimens than Colgate Optic White.

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer
This product was my least favorite product in this VoxBox. I primarily didn't care for this product because it contains paraben. Other than that, I just didn't get point of aerosol lotion, and the lotion, itself, was way too thin and watery to be an effective moisturizer.

Dickinson's Witch Hazel Towelettes

The fresh-face feeling these towelettes gave me was wonderful, but the smell of the towelettes was so overbearing that I still haven't finished the box.

Though I had varied opinions on the contents of the Sugar n' Spice VoxBox and didn't fall head-over-heels for any of the products, I do love FREE, FULL-SIZE products. If you are interested in becoming an Influenster and reviewing free products, check out www.influenster.com.

Buzzagent Review : Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil

2013-04-06T14:49:00.001-05:00

What is BzzAgent?

BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth marketing website that facilitates a community of consumers who try products and give their honest opinions about them. When you register for a free account, you then become a BzzAgent. As a BzzAgent you take several, very short surveys that tell the website what interests you, and after some time you will be invited to join a BzzCampaign. Once you join a BzzCampaign, you will be sent a BzzKit filled with free products, and in return all you have to do is share your opinions of the products on the website.

Only after about a month of being a BzzAgent, I have already been invited to two BzzCampaigns! It's a really cool website and isn't time consuming at all. Get more information here, and sign up to get free products!

In addition to offering my opinions directly on bzzagent.com, I will be doing reviews of the products I receive, on Slices of Samantha, because they are often new products or products that haven't hit the shelves yet. And after participating in the Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil campaign, today I have, for you, my first product review!

About Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil

This new, multi-use product provides everyday use for hair, body, and skin. Use it to nourish your hair, as a body fragrance, or to combat skin dryness. Garnier Fructis says that the combination of olive oil, avocado oil, and shea oil work to transform dryness, all while this dry oil absorbs instantaneously and leaves no oily residue.

What I Experienced

My hair goes from sleek to tangled on a daily basis, so when I first received the product, I thought this might just be the product that gives me sleek hair for the entire day. Unfortunately, I had mostly bad experiences with this product.

I first tried to use this product on my day-old hair...trying to revamp it. When I sprayed my hair with the miracle dry oil and then straightened my hair, my hair absorbed way too much oil and turned my hair very greasy and stringy. Maybe it's because I have thin hair or maybe I sprayed too much, but, when used on dry hair, all of my attempts ended in overly oily hair. On the other hand, the product worked decently on damp hair. When I used the product on damp hair and then blow dried it, it actually did keep my hair soft and sleek all day long.

As for using the miracle dry oil as a body mist and for skin nourishment, I didn't care for the product at all. The smell of the product was not strong enough or good smelling enough to use it as a fragrance. And when I used the oil on my dry skin, I found that it didn't provide the long-lasting moisture I need.

Overall, I would probably not buy this product on my own. But, thank you BzzAgent and Garnier Fructis for the free product. Even though I didn't like the product, I loved being able to try out (especially since it was free)! If you would like to try Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil or if you like other Garnier Fructis Products, use the link below to access a manufacturer's coupon for $1.25 off any one, full-size Garnier Fructis product.

http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=wdctbtd30405506&bt=vg&o=109670&c=MB&p=3Schu7kv

Free FreshSaver Vacuum Sealer

2013-03-09T20:09:00.002-06:00

This week, most Target stores have the FoodSaver FreshSaver Handheld Rechargeable Vacuum System on sale for $16.99 (originally $19.59). And whether your Target store has this item on sale or regular price, the combination of these two coupons will get you this vacuum sealer for free (taxes may apply)! Use this manufacturers' coupon in conjunction with the current Target mobile coupon (if you are already signed up text OFFERS to 827438 to get your coupons texted to you again, or sign up for mobile coupons here) to get a total of $20.00 off your FoodSaver purchase. Enjoy!

Candied Orange Peels (*A Guest Post From Lottie)

2013-03-09T11:28:00.000-06:00

This wonderful treat is a reminder of my childhood and hopefully it will bring memories to many others. I remember that we made it around the holidays, but why not make it anytime? It is so very easy to make and it tastes delicious. Makes a nice gift as well! So next time you peel an orange, save the scored peel in a plastic bag or container, refrigerate, and when you accumulate enough, you are ready to make this treat.

Candied Orange Peels

Ingredients

5-10 navel oranges

3 & 1/2 cups sugar

1 & 1/2 cups water

Directions

1. Score peel of the navel oranges about 1/4 inch wide, pull peel from the orange.

2. In a pot, combine the peel and enough water to cover, heat to boiling over high heat, boil approximately 5 minutes, drain. Repeat this step approximately 2 more times. This allows you to remove the bitterness from the peel of the orange and to soften the peel.

3. Drain the cooked orange peel and set aside.

4. In a skillet, combine 2 & 1/2 cups of sugar and 1 & 1/2 cups water. Cook over high heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils. Continue boiling and stirring, approximately 15 minutes or so. The mixture will start to become syrupy.

5. Add your drained orange peel to the syrup in the skillet and stir to ensure even coating. Reduce heat and simmer partially covered approximately 1 hour or until the orange peel has absorbed the majority of the syrup, continue stirring occasionally. Remove the cover and continue to simmer and stir gently until all or most of the syrup has been absorbed.

6. On a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper, place the remaining 1 cup of sugar. With tongs or an available utensil, lightly roll each peel in the sugar to coat. Place each piece on a wire rack or on a plate to allow it to dry. The outcome should be that the outside is dry but the inside remains moist. The mixture is VERY hot so be careful not to touch with hand - always use a utensil for handling it and keep out of reach of children until ready to eat.

NOTE: You may use the peel of a grapefruit as well, however, from my experience, it is more difficult to remove the bitterness from a grapefruit than from an orange. I have also tried the peel of a lemon but the skin of a lemon is too thin, in my opinion, and I would not recommend it. I have also experimented by adding a little zest to the orange peel by incorporating a shot of cognac or brandy, thus making the citrus peel even a bit more flavorful. The alcohol is removed while cooking but the citrus peel definitely has that added cognac/brandy flavor.

Butternut Squash Soup

2012-11-20T15:36:00.000-06:00

Surely this soup can warm you up on a cold winter's night, but butternut squash just seems to embody all of what fall is. That's why I had to get this recipe posted before fall passes us by and winter arrives. I make sure to cook this soup annually when fall rolls around, and this sweet, yet spicy, soup is most definitely a treat! And with Thanksgiving just a few days away, this butternut squash soup would certainly make an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving menu! Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients
1 medium butternut squash (peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped)
1 small onion (coarsely chopped)
5 potatoes (coarsely chopped)
6 cups of chicken broth
1 cup of half & half
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. In a large pot, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until softened.

2. Add in the butternut squash, potatoes, broth, and bay leaves. Cover and bring it to a boil.

3. Once the soup is at a boil, remove it from the heat and dispose of the bay leaves. Then, either using a blender or an immersion blender, blend the mixture until smooth. If doing this with a regular blender, you will have to blend the mixture in several batches. When I do this, I first pour the entire mixture, from the pot, into a large stainless steel bowl. Then I pour the mixture from the bowl into the blender, blend, pour the smooth mixture back into the original pot, and continue this in batches.

4. Once all of the mixture is smooth, place the pot back on medium heat. Then stir in the half & half, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Season to taste, and add either more broth to make the soup's consistency thin or more half & half to make the soup creamier. Remove from heat, serve, and enjoy!

10 Free Holiday Cards from Cardstore.com

2012-11-08T08:12:00.000-06:00

The holidays will be here before we even know it, so its never too early to get started on your holiday greeting cards (especially when they are FREE)! Cardstore is now offering 10 free holiday cards, per household, when you use the code CCN2433 at checkout. This is valid on all Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years cards, but be sure to take advantage of this deal quickly because it ends tonight!

I ordered two different types of holiday photo cards (each of quantity 5) today, and my total came out to $22.90. Yup... I got them for free, plus free shipping! You definitely can't beat that, so get over to cardstore.com and order yours today. Enjoy!

10 FREE Holiday Cards + FREE Shipping at Cardstore! Use code: CCN2433, Valid today 11/8/12 Only. Shop Now!

Caramel Apples

2012-10-17T00:09:00.000-05:00

Well, peak apple season is well over, and next up for fall recipes include the use of pumpkins and butternut squashes! YUM! But until those recipes roll around, try this caramel apple recipe to make yourself a treat that is both fun to make and fun to eat! Enjoy!

Caramel Apples

Ingredients
Wooden caramel apple sticks
6 medium Golden Delicious apples
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup of corn syrup
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
1/7 tablespoon of salt
14 oz. of sweetened condensed milk

Optional Confections:

chocolate
pretzels
sea salt
nuts
candy, etc.

Directions

1. Insert a wooden stick into the core of each apple, and then place the apples on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

2. To cook the caramel with out burning it, we must cook it in a double boiler. If you do not have one, don't fret because its simple to make with items you already have in your kitchen. All you need is a saucepan, half filled with water and brought to a simmer, with a stainless steel bowl placed to fit snugly atop of the pan. Once you have created your double boiler and the water is brought to a boil, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt and condensed milk in the stainless steel bowl. Stir the mixture constantly for about a 30 to 45 minutes. Or, if you want to get technical and have a candy thermometer on hand, stir the caramel until it has reached about 230 degrees Fahrenheit. Then take the pot off the burner and move the bowl of caramel to your dipping work space.

3. Taking each apple by its stick, dip them into the caramel to coat evenly and then try to swirl off any excess caramel. Either just leave it at that, or create yourself a gourmet caramel apple by dipping the caramel apples in other confections. Once done coating and dipping the apples, place them on the lined baking sheet and let them harden in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving them.

Free Card at Cardstore.com

2012-10-11T23:11:00.002-05:00

Cardstore.com is now offering one free card per cardstore.com account by using the code CCM2336 at check out! Cardstore's site got a facelift recently and is celebrating their newly updated user-interface by offering this completely free promotion! This promotion runs until October 14th so get to their website, pick a card, personalize, and order your free card soon! Even shipping is free whether you have it sent directly to you or to your recipient. Enjoy!

FREE Cards + FREE Shipping at Cardstore! Use code: CCM2336, Valid 10/11 thru 10/14. Shop Now!

Free L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE Hand Cream

2012-10-08T15:31:00.002-05:00

L'Occitane en Provence is offering a free 10 ML Shea Hand Cream (a $5 value) for everyone who likes their Facebook page and registers via their page! If they reach 500,000 fans by October 15th, L'Occitane en Provence will upgrade this free offer to a 30 ML hand cream (a $10 value) with the choice of three scents. And by the looks of it, receiving a 30 ML hand cream is very probable because they already have reached 475,000 fans.

So like their page, register, and await for your coupon. Just be sure to redeem this offer in-store (find your closest boutique here) for it to be completely free. Enjoy!

Apple Pie

2012-09-26T23:08:00.000-05:00

Fall is here, and it's apple picking season! So, my family and I visited County Line Orchard and Radke's Orchard, in northwest Indiana, a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, though, it is slim pickings in the orchards this season. There was a warm spring and then a late frost, which destroyed many orchards' crops. So I need to make the most of the apples that we managed to pick. First on my list, to put these apples to good use, is to make apple pie!
Apple Pie
makes a 9-inch pie

Ingredients

pie dough
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 & 1/2 sticks of butter, diced
1/4 teaspoon of salt
about 1/4 cup of ice water

pie filling
about 9 medium sized apples
1/2 cup of craisins
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Directions

1. Combine, in a large bowl, the flour, butter, and salt either by using your hands or a pastry cutter. Once the mixture becomes crumbly, incorporate the water. Combine the flour mixture and water, by hand, until the dough holds together. If the dough is still crumbly, add a bit more water accordingly. Then divide the dough in half, form them into disks, wrap them in plastic wrap, and let them chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. To make the pie filling, first peel, core, and slice the apples. In a large bowl, combine the apples, craisins, sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and lemon juice. Toss together until the apples are well coated. Set this aside.

4. Take out both disks of dough. Lightly flour your rolling surface, and roll out one disk into a circle that will fit your pie pan. Place the dough in the pie pan, and let whatever excess dough hang over the edges of the pan.

5. Pour the pie filling into the pie pan.

6. Roll out the other disk of dough large enough to cover the top of your pie. Then cover the pie with the dough. Trim excess dough from the edges, crimp or pinch the edges, and cut a few slits into the top of the pie dough. (For my pie, I opted to create a lattice design for the top and used a fork to crimp the edges.)

7. Place the pie in the oven, and bake for about 50 minutes, or until the pie dough has turned golden brown. Remove the pie from the oven, and let it cool. Then serve, eat, and enjoy!

P.S. Keep a look out for my next project to make use of these apples. Caramel apples are on their way!

Free Card at Cardstore.com

2012-09-17T14:48:00.001-05:00

Did you know that September has the most birthdays than any other month? Well, whether you did or not, take advantage of cardstore.com's current promotion. In honor of all of the birthday's in September, cardstore.com is offering one free card per account! Use the coupon code CCL2673 , now through September 23rd, at checkout. Cardstore.com will print the card, seal the envelope, stamp it, and send it for you for free. Enjoy!

Spiral Tie Dye Tutorial

2012-09-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

The past few weeks have been getting a bit busier, with getting back into the rhythm of school, so my posts have fallen a bit behind. But this week, I have a tutorial on one of my favorite crafts: tie dying. I've learned to do some of, what I consider, the more intricate designs, but my go-to folding technique is the simple and classic spiral. So, here goes it: another tie dyed t-shirt to add to my never-ending tie dye collection! Enjoy!

What You'll Need

A white or gray t-shirt made from 100% natural fibers
A bucket that can hold at least 2 gallons of water
2 gallons of warm water
A long wooden or plastic spoon
A few garbage bags
A spray bottle filled with water
A tie dye kit ( or you can buy the following individually) that includes:

Fuchsia, turquoise, and yellow dye in bottles
Soda ash
Rubber gloves
Rubber bands

Making Your Spiral Tie Dye T-shirt

1. Prepare your work place by laying out your unopened garbage bags. Mix the dyes according to the kit's directions. Then prepare the soda ash wash by mixing, with a long wooden or plastic spoon, 2 gallons of warm water with a packet of soda ash.

2. Dampen your t-shirt using a spray bottle filled with water. This will make the fabric pliable for the folding technique.

3. To create a spiral tie dye, begin by pinching the t-shirt in the area you would like the center of the spiral to be. I typically choose the center of the shirt, but off-center spirals are great as well. Then with the pinched center of the spiral, begin twisting, until the shirt begins to form into a circle. Use your hands to guide the fabric and to make as neat of a circle as possible.

4. Once you create the spiral, use the rubber bands to secure the t-shirt. The rubber bands should create a cross section in the middle of the t-shirt, which will create pie shaped sections. For this t-shirt I used 4 rubber bands to create 8 sections.

5. Place the rubber banded t-shirt in the soda ash wash for twenty minutes. After twenty minutes, ring the water out of the t-shirt. Now we are ready to dye the fabric!

6. First, put on those rubber gloves! Now dye each section whatever color you wish. Make sure, that when you dye one section, you flip the t-shirt over and dye the same section the same color. Also use the dye bottle's tip to dig into the folds and crevices of the t-shirt to ensure the dye reaches all of the material. Continue to dye all of the pie sections. P.S. Below is a cheat sheet that shows you how to combine the three primary colored dyes to create more colors.

7. Once the dying process is complete, place the t-shirt in a plastic shopping bag or in a garbage bag. Let it sit in the bag for about 24 hours so that the dye can set. If you take the t-shirt out earlier, that is fine, but the colors may not be as vibrant.

8. Now it's time for that magic moment: seeing what you have created after waiting so long! Take the t-shirt out of the bag, and place it into a sink. Remove the rubber bands, and run the t-shirt under cold water. Rinse the dye out until the water runs clear. Then wash the t-shirt in a washing machine, with warm water and detergent. Dry it and then wear it!

Flower Pens

2012-08-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's back-to-school time, and who doesn't want unique, fun school supplies? Here's a craft to make your boring, old pens fun, stylish, and unique! These are so easy to make, and after all it is back-to-school time, so take advantage of this time to make these pens!

P.S. Flower pens are one of my mom's specialty crafts that she has been making for years. So, thank you Mom for sharing your craft!

What You'll Need

Silk flowers
Ballpoint stick pens
Floral tape in green or brown
Glue gun and glue sticks
Knife or utility knife

Making Your Flower Pen

1. Remove the silk flowers from their stems.

2. Remove the cap of the pen, and discard it. Then from the rear end of the pen, use a knife to remove the end cap or plug, in order to create a cavity in the pen.

3. Using your glue gun, squeeze a bit of glue into the cavity of the pen. Then press the underside of the flower into the glue until it has adhered.

4. Place the end of the floral tape on the rear end of the pen, just under the flower.

5. Begin to wrap the pen with the floral tape, working your way down to the tip of the pen.

Once at the tip of the pen, cut the floral tape and press down to secure.

6. There you have it! Your finished flower pen!

Free Card at Cardstore.com

2012-08-23T09:47:00.000-05:00

Grandparent's Day is just around the corner! September 9th to be exact! And in celebration, cardstore.com is running a promotion for a free card. Use the coupon code CCK2248, from August 23rd through August 26th, at checkout. Cardstore.com will print the card, seal the envelope, stamp it, and send it for you for free.

This coupon code is not exclusively for Grandparent's Day cards, so use it for any card you desire! Enjoy!

FREE Grandparents Day Cards + FREE Shipping at Cardstore.com! Use Code: CCK2248 at checkout, Valid 8/23 thru 8/26. Shop Now!

Grilled Corn Ice Cream

2012-08-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

The first and only time I ever had grilled corn ice cream was during my last trip to San Francisco, which was the summer of 2010. We were at the largest farmer's market I've ever been to: The Marin Civic Center Farmer's Market in San Rafael .

Since then I've been looking for a good farmer's market, similar to the Marin Civic Center Farmer's Market's enormity, in the Chicagoland area. Nothing compared to that market I visited years ago, but the best I've found around my area is the Green City Market in Lincoln Park. And it's a year-round market too, which is unusual for farmer's markets around here. Anyone in the area should definitely check it out!

But besides the experience of the farmer's market in San Rafael, there was one more thing that had stuck with me until this very day. It was the taste of grilled corn ice cream that I had sampled from one of the many vendors there. And, trust me, it had to be really good for me to remember it and want to recreate it, all based on one tiny ice cream taster spoon sample!

Since I received my ice cream maker, this is one of the recipes that I've wanted to try out... so here it is!

Grilled Corn Ice Cream
yields about 1 quart

Ingredients
2 ears of corn
1 cup of sugar
7 egg yolks
1 & 1/2 cups of half & half
1 cup of heavy cream
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat. Place both ears of corn, with the husks intact, on the grill. Grill them for 15 minutes, flipping them once halfway through the cooking time.

2. Let the ears of corn cool slightly. Then take the husks and silk off of the corn, and cut the kernels off the cob. Set aside both the kernels and the cobs.

3. Place the half & half, corn kernels, and the cobs in a medium sauce pan, and bring it to a simmer. Make sure to stir occasionally. While that is coming to a simmer, beat the sugar, salt, and egg yolks in a large bowl, and set it aside.

4. Once the half & half mixture has simmered, remove it from heat. Discard of the cobs. Then place the half & half and kernels in a food processor, and blend until smooth.

5. Then slowly beat the half & half mixture into the egg mixture that was set aside previously.

6. Once beaten, pour the mixture back into the medium sauce pan over low heat. Stir until the consistency thickens, and make sure to stir constantly so that the eggs do not scramble. Once this mixture thickens, remove from heat, and pour through a fine strainer into a clean bowl.

7. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Then add the heavy cream and vanilla to the mixture, and stir until combined.

8. Place the mixture in the refrigerator until cold, and then follow your ice cream maker's instructions for churning your ice cream.

9. Freeze, eat, and enjoy!

Free 8x10 Photo Collage From Walgreens

2012-08-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

Register on Walgreens Photo, upload your photos, and start creating an 8 x 10 photo collage, because Walgreens is offering a free one if you use the promotional code GETONEFREE at checkout! Just make sure to choose "pick up in-store" to ensure your order is completely free. Take advantage of this promotion quickly because it expires August 21, 2012.

Three Free Birth Announcements From Cardstore.com

2012-08-17T14:15:00.001-05:00

Are you expecting? Do you know someone who is? There are probably a million details floating around your head about everything that needs to be done before he or she arrives. Cardstore knows how stressful this time can be. They also know how important first impressions are, and want to help you announce your new little one to the world in the perfect way.

Cardstore is offering you the chance to sample up to 3 birth announcements for FREE (completely free because there is no cost for shipping within the U.S.)! Just use coupon code CAK2963 before midnight this Monday, 8/20/12. Take some time to peruse their huge selection of boy, girl, twin, or even adoption announcements, and pick a couple that you like best. Then you can customize them to say whatever you'd like (maybe even fill in your own stats from when you were born, for fun), and have the samples sent straight to you. We know you'll love them all!

Finally, your precious newborn arrives! If you have already uploaded friends and family's addresses to Cardstore's address book, all you need to do is add your baby's best glamor shot to your favorite announcement, his or her impressive stats, and Cardstore will stamp and send them all for you. It couldn't be easier! Congratulations to all the parents-to-be and happy sampling!

Click on the sample announcement below to be redirected to cardstore.com.

Sock Bun Tutorial

2012-08-16T09:34:00.000-05:00

Before I ever found out about the miraculous sock bun, I would, on occasion, be tempted to style my hair in a traditional ballerina bun. You know, the bun where you take your ponytail, twist it, wrap it in a circle, and pin it. Well, mine never came out well. There would be stray hairs sticking out of it, and I could never get my bobby pins to keep my hair in place. So, because of the misfortune of my persistent attempts, I never thought I could actually wear a bun like that out and about. But then I found the sock bun, and my troubles easily retreated!!! Now perfectly messy ballerina buns are easily achieved all with the help of a pair of socks!

Take a look at how to assemble your socks and wrap it in your hair. Give it a few tries and experiment with it! Have fun!

P.S. Keep your bun in overnight, and treat your hair well with a no-heat method to get light curls.

What You'll Need

A pair of socks (preferably socks that are similar to your hair color)
One hair elastic
Scissors

Making Your Sock Doughnut

1. Cut the toes off of both of your socks.

2. Take one sock and begin rolling it into itself to create a doughnut (you can stop at one sock, but I like to use two in order to create a thicker and sturdier bun).

3. Then take the rolled sock, place it in the end of the other sock, and begin rolling it into itself again until you have a thicker doughnut.

4. Voila! You've created your sock doughnut... now to do your hair!

Making Your Sock Bun
1. Put your hair up in a ponytail at the crown of your head. Use a brush to create a smooth bun, or put your hair up using your fingers to create a messy, textured bun.

2. Pull your ponytail through the sock doughnut.

3. Place the sock doughnut at the end of your ponytail so that you can at least tuck the ends under the doughnut.

4. Roll you sock doughnut, with the ends of your hair tucked under it,towards your scalp. With every roll, continue to keep tucking the hair under the doughnut until you reach your scalp. It may take a couple of tries to get the hang of it, so just keep trying because the results are gorgeous!

5. There you have it, your sock bun! Tuck any loose or stray hairs under the sock doughnut, and, if you see the sock peeping through, just tuck your hair accordingly.

* A special thanks to my sister for finally agreeing to being my hair model for Sock Bun Tutorial. Bugging her lots and a promised frozen custard paid off !!!

Free Apparel at Sears Outlet

2012-08-14T11:30:00.001-05:00

Get one piece of free apparel, today only, at Sears Outlet! Go to their Facebook page here, and print your coupon. You must be a Shop Your Way Rewards Member, so, if you are not, sign up today in-store or online.

Free Card at Cardstore.com

2012-08-02T10:00:00.001-05:00

Get your free card, for any occasion and any price, at cardstore.com by using the code FRIEND12 at checkout. Shipping is free, whether you have your card shipped to you or the recipient. Use this code fast though, because it is valid until August 5!