Quick Recipes: Bubble Bread

I found this recipe on Pinterest (duh) but it's actually a Pillsbury recipe! If you like pizza, you'll like this one. If you don't like pizza, kindly excuse yourself and reevaluate your life.

I assume it's called "Bubble Bread" because it rises into little bubbles of bread when it's baking...whatever the reason for the name, it's good stuff.

Ingredients: 
1 can of Pillsbury biscuits
1 jar of pizza sauce
1 cup of mozzarella cheese
Desired toppings (pepperoni, sausage, etc)
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Dried basil

The gist: 
Cut the biscuit dough into quarters and toss the pieces in 1 cup of pizza sauce.

Place the dough pieces/sauce mixture in the bottom of a baking dish. Spread em as evenly as you can.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Add desired amount of cheese, toppings, garlic powder, onion powder, and basil. Cook for another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Civilized people would probably put this on a plate. I ate it out of the pan...because, well, the plate just slowed down my process. It was delicious!

If you need a quick "throw it together" kind of dinner, this is it!

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend!

Beauty on a Budget: The 3 Ingredient Makeup Brush Cleaner

You may be surprised at how dirty your makeup brushes really are. It's important to clean them on occasion for hygiene purposes, but also because your make up won't always look how you intend it to if you're using brushes with a bunch of other product on them. 

You can do one of two things. You can buy a a makeup brush cleaner product from the store or you can make your own cleaner at home with ingredients you already own. Your choice!

I tried the following method and was very happy with the results! It cleaned my brushes really well and left soft and fluffy. 

The gist: 

Mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish soap and one 1 tablespoon of vinegar. 

Soak your brushes for 20 minutes. 

Rinse well and lay the brush out to dry. 

That's it! Cheap, simple, and fast. 

Beauty on a Budget: Nyx Eyebrow Gel & How About A Lift Pencil

Your eyes are the windows to your soul. So your eyebrows are the curtains to your soul? No? Well anyway, eyebrows are pretty important.

I have thick brows, so I never really thought I needed to fill them in. I pretty much just tweeze and trim them as needed. But there has been a lot of hype lately about giving your brows their due attention, so I thought I'd try some eyebrow products and see if they made a difference.

And the answer is: Yes, they do.

I'm not about to spend a fortune on expensive products like the Anastasia Brow Kit, which can run about $36. But never fear! I found a budget friendly option!

I picked up the Nyx "Eyebrow Gel" in "Brunette" at Ulta and a small angled brush to apply it. The gel is $5.99 and comes in a few different shades. I forget how much the brush was, but I looked for the cheapest option possible. I'd guess maybe $5.00.

My first attempt was a little scary. I used way too much product and I ended up looking like a transvestite. I immediately thought of the time on Friends when Ross did Rachel's makeup after she broke her rib and was getting ready for a work party. Any Friends fans in the house!?

Good thing I was planning on jumping in the shower...lesson learned.

So I've realized that a little tiny bit of this product goes a really long way for me. Once I've applied my foundation I use a little eyebrow brush and comb down the unruly hairs and then use the gel to fill in and hold everyone in place.

I think it really makes my eyebrows look more polished. I don't really NEED them to be any darker, but I like the final result regardless!

The other product I picked up is the Nyx "How About A Lift Eyebrow Pencil". Its double ended and has a dark pencil for filling in your brows on one side and a highlighter for your brow bone on the other. I found it at CVS for $9.99 but it can also be purchased at Ulta. It's marketed as a being a "push-up bra for your eyebrows".

Honestly, now that I have the gel I hardly use the pencil, but I LOVE the highlighter side! I really think it makes my eyes look brighter and more awake. Always a good thing when you're trying to not scare people first thing in the morning at work.

So ladies (and gentlemen, if there are any) if you're looking for a brow product, I like both of these. The only negative I would share about the gel is that it doesn't come in a lot of of shades. So my redheads are most likely not going to find one that will work for them (I'm sorry!!).

One final thought on eyebrows. If you're not wanting to spend additional money on a brow product (totally understandable, fyi) you can always use eye shadow to fill them in. I've used a flat blending brush and a brown eye shadow to fill mine in a time or two and it works pretty well. Just a suggestion!

Freezer Meals: The Most Delicious/Creamy/Un-Healthy Macaroni & Cheese

If you are on a diet, run away now! This Mac & Cheese will clog every artery you have and will probably make fat instantly appear on your butt.

That being said, it's so freaking good I don't even care about any of that!

I found this recipe on Pinterest via Just A Spoonful Of. Click the link for the full ingredient list and directions.

With the original ingredient quantities I was able to make a small pan to eat now and 4 freezer containers for later! The ingredients cost about $15, making it about $3 per meal.

I got these little round tins (think small to-go sized container) in a 4 pack for $1 at Dollar Tree. They have a much better selection of these types of disposable pans than even Walmart or Target, so I'll be shopping for them there from now on!

Check out the details on Just A Spoonful Of!

Organizing on a Budget: The Great Bathroom Makeover

I don't know about you, but when my world isn't organized, I can't really function. My desk at work is always neat and tidy because I can't work with it any other way. But sometimes certain areas of my home get...ummm...neglected.

So this is super embarrassing for me to share...but my bathroom kind of exploded. And it's been a nightmare trying to find anything in this disaster area.

The Before:

Since it's been raining here in Texas for the past 1,345 days (that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's seriously been raining here for weeks) I figured I should take the opportunity to get this insanity under control since I can't do much of anything outside.

I took a trip to the Dollar Tree and picked up some baskets on the cheap, and then followed up at the Target Dollar Spot for some cute little tags and some little nick nack organizers that I used for my hair bands and bobby pins. This project was a great opportunity to break out my label maker too! In total I spent about $10 on supplies. I had a few little baskets already, so I repurposed those as well.

The After:

 Here are the categories I used:

• Hair Care-Shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, and other random products
• Hair Tools-Blow dryer, curling iron, and flat iron 
• Body Care-Lotions and tanning products
• Nails-Polish, remover, fake nail kit, and extra files and cuticle pushers
• Health-Medicines and first aid products
• Travel-My little bottles of products for taking on trips and makeup bags
• Misc. Hair and Body-Randoms that didn't really need to be in my easy to access baskets
• Cleaning-The usual suspects

I keep my makeup organized in a three shelf unit on my counter and my makeup brushes are in a little jar next to it. So I was sort of organized-ish before....right?

I highly recommend the Dollar Tree for your basket needs! You will find similar items at Walmart and Target for $9+ more. It's a no-brainer!

Some "not so favorite" products

I don't mind trying new products when they are decently priced. And usually, unless they are truly terrible, I will use them up and just not buy them again. Here are a few "not so favorite" products that I've tried recently. Sorry if you love them, these are just my personal thoughts :)

Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara
I ran out of my usual L'Oreal Voluminous Volume Building Mascara and decided to give this a try. Plus, CVS had a buy one get 1/2 off deal and I had already convinced myself that I needed another Revlon product. I reaaaaally tried to like this product. But it just doesn't do it for me. It's very dry and I feel like it sticks to the wand more than to my lashes. I also feel like I have to use a lot of it to make a noticeable difference in my lashes, which is time consuming and can get goopy. I'm going to use it until it's gone, but I won't be repurchasing. Honestly, this is the first Revlon product in several years that I have been disappointed by, so I won't hold it against them...much.

Jergens Natural Glow + Firming Daily Moisturizer
By now you may know that my favorite self tanner is L'Oreal Sunless Tanner (for a self tanning tutorial read this post). But I wanted to give Jergens another try since it had been several years since I used it and they had a few new products out. Still not a fan. The smell is much improved but the overall product doesn't work for me. I look very streaky and far more orange than when I use the L'Oreal product. I tried building the color for several days and it just didn't seem to improve. So I think I am officially giving up on Jergens.


L'Oreal EverPure Volume Shampoo and Conditioner 
Since I've just tooted L'Oreal's horn twice it's time to knock them down a peg. I tried the EverPure
shampoo and conditioner because I had read on another blog that they were pretty good for volume. However, I found them to be very drying for my hair and sticky when it dried. Maybe that's part of the "volume" building at the roots, but I didn't like it. I did enjoy the smell, which is rosemary and juniper--not a smell you find often in a shampoo. But otherwise, not a fan. Sorry L'Oreal!


So this was kind of a downer of a post, but hopefully educational!

Beauty on a Budget: Hair Care Favorites

I'm pretty low key when it comes to my hair. I don't color it and I get it cut maaaaaaybe twice a year. I'm pretty sure my stylist hates me because she always has such an overgrown mess to deal with. I also happen to have a lot of hair....and it's wavy. Which means that I can be easily mistaken for Hagrid when I don't tame it. I used to say Cousin It, but that's an insult to him. His hair is always smooth and well groomed.

My first favorite is the Aussie "3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner". I consider this to be "serious" conditioner that you wouldn't really use everyday. Maybe one every week or two. After you shampoo apply the conditioner from roots to ends and let it sit for 3 minutes while you go about your shower business. It's a thicker product so you want to make sure you rinse well. I promise that your hair will feel amazingly soft and smooth when you're done! And it's a whole $2.99...that's my kind of price!

My other favorite is the Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo. I LOVE this stuff. Because of my insane hair I wash, blow dry, and flat iron it every two days. On my "no wash" days I use this stuff to refresh my hair so it doesn't look slept on. Plus, it works really well as a texturizer. Most texturizing sprays or powders are pretty pricey, so the fact that this works for that too is awesome! Just spray the product at your roots and work it through your hair. Then style as usual. If you want to use for volume, spray at your roots and using a teasing comb after. You can find this at drugs stores, Ulta, Target, etc and it's only $5.99!

So there you are! Two low cost favorites of mine to make your hair look fabulous!

Freezer Meals: Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas

Do yourself a favor and jot this recipe down! These enchiladas are my favorite and reheat very well. I made a small batch for dinner tonight and another medium sized batch to freeze. I don't have a  lot of mouths to feed, so you may need to up your recipe to meet your needs!

Ingredients: 
1 large boneless/skinless chicken breast cut into small pieces
1 cup of diced onion
2 teaspoons of minced garlic
1 tablespoon butter
1 can of green chills (however hot or mild you want)
1 can of green enchilada sauce (I use Hatch medium spicy)
8-10 corn tortillas
1 1/2 cups of fiesta blend shredded cheese
1/2 (ish) cup of heavy cream
Cumin
Oregano
Salt
Pepper

Directions: 
I'm not much of an "exact measurer" when it comes to cooking. Baking--yes, but not cooking. So forgive my vague directions!

Heat butter in a medium skillet and sauté the onions and garlic until soft. Add the can of chills and heat through.

Add the chicken and season with a generous amount of cumin and oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Add about 1/4 cup of green enchilada sauce to the skillet.

Once chicken is cooked through, turn off heat and add 3/4 cup of cheese (put the rest aside to top the dish). Mix until you have a cheesy/chickeny blend of deliciousness!

Steam the tortillas in the microwave (wrap them in a damp paper towel and then in plastic wrap) for 1 minute.

Fill the tortillas with the mixture until you've created a single layer in the pan. Top with the remainder of the green sauce, the heavy cream, and cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Seriously. Delicious.

If you choose to freeze the dish, I recommend using a disposable pan like I did in the other freezer meal post. I would also refrain from topping with the cream until you plan to bake it. Bake from frozen at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until heated through.

I didn't have the willpower to take a picture of the dish after I took it out of the oven (I was too busy stuffing my face). Sorry!

Beauty On A Budget: Ponds Cold Cream Cleanser

This is a product that I started using a few months ago. I had been using the Pond's "Wet Cleaning Towelettes" for a while to get the remainder of my makeup off after washing my face. I was seriously APPALLED by how much makeup was still on my skin after I had used a face wash product.

I loved the towelettes and intended on purchasing them again until I saw the "Cold Cream" on the shelf. For some reason it just sounded refreshing and I wanted to give it a try. And with it only being $4.99 for a 6.1oz jar, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

Let me tell you, I really like this product! It's smooth, refreshing, and smells so clean. It's also amazing as a makeup remover (again, so much left over makeup). I apply a small amount of it as soon as I get out of the shower or wash my face. I only leave it on for a minute or so and then I use a washcloth with warm water and gently wipe it off. Its great for my sensitive skin, especially around my eyes when I remove eye makeup.

You can rinse the rest of it off your face, or leave the remainder to act as your moisturizer. I do the latter because it's very hydrating without feeling super greasy.

I don't see any reason to use an expensive face product when I get such great results with a $5 drug store product. Since using this to get the excess makeup off, I've also noticed fewer breakouts. So if you're looking for a cheap option, give this one a try!

Date Night Ideas For Frugal Folks

Happy Friday, everyone!!

I think we can all agree that date night is an important part of relationships. It allows you to reconnect after a long week and for those of you with little ones, it allows for some much needed grownup time!

It is possible to have date night without breaking the budget. Here are few ideas to help you and your honey get your date on!

Dinner And A Movie: 

Revolutionary, right!? Picture it--dinner at Olive Garden with a coupon (google "Olive Garden Coupons" and you are bound to come up with something), or with taking advantage of one of their promotions! Add in the all you can eat breadsticks and salad and I'm a happy camper! Some of their best promotions are the "Buy One Take One" where you get a meal there and a whole other meal to take home for about 15 bucks, or the "Never Ending Pasta Bowl", which is basically all you can eat pasta. Yes please! 

For the movie, buy the tickets but skip the snack line. Before you hit the theater stop at Walgreens for candy and bottled drinks on the cheap. I bring my embarrassingly large purse and stock it full of goodies. You can go one further by popping popcorn at home and putting it in a big ziplock. 

The At Home Date: 

Go get a Redbox movie you meant to see in the theater and didn't get to. It's usually $2 for a movie. If you sign up on Redbox.com you will get a coupon for a free movie just for signing up and they will send you deals periodically. 

Light some candles, get an $8 bottle of Mascato from Walmart, and snuggle up. 

Game Night Double Date:

I can almost guarantee you that you have some board games stashed away somewhere that you haven't played in a while. Invite another couple over and dust off one of those games. Do a potluck dinner or just throw something together on the cheap and have a couple of drinks and laughs! 

For my not-so-easily-offended readers, borrow Cards Against Humanity and have yourself a really inappropriate laugh! You can actually download the card for a small fee and print them yourself if you don't want to pay full price for the game. This is not a game sold in stores, so hit up Amazon.com if you want to own it!

Those are my top three date nights on the cheap! What are your favorite go-to dates? Share in the comment section!