Free Kindle Books From Amazon

For those of you who got a Kindle for Christmas, here is a great way to start loading it up.  Right now, Amazon is offering the following best selling books for free:

A Woman of Choice (The Hansen Series)

In Love with Eleanor Rigby

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Wired to Care: How Companies Prosper When They Create Widespread Empathy

Slumber

Transforming Prayer

Ryan's Return  
Out of Time
Absolutely Organize Your Family
I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School
The Secret Holocaust Diaries
The Witness
Dots and Boxes

The One You Love (suspense mystery)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

Treasure Island

My Boyfriend's Back

Les Misérables

Wuthering Heights

The Cheapskate's Guide to Grocery Savings - How to Save a Bundle at Supermarkets

The Best Things To Buy In January

One of easiest way to stretch that hard earned dollar is to buy off season items and items that have traditional "sale months."  Here are a list of items you will find some of the best prices for in the month of January:

Linens
For over a hundred years retailers have had the tradition of putting linens on sale during the month of January and most major and small retailers still keep up with this tradition.

Luggage
Now that the busy travel season is over, retailers need to unload what luggage they didn't sell, often at some nicely discounted prices.

Diet Foods, Exercise Equipment, Weight Loss Supplements
With the number one resolution being weight loss, retailers are ready to draw you in with their sales on anything related to helping you with that resolution.  Most weight loss programs and gyms are offering incentives this month as well.

Furniture
Retailers will mark furniture way down this month to clear the way for the new styles coming in February.

Cars
Dealerships have got to unload what is left of the 2011 models and you are likely to get a great deal on one this month.

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Orange Ornaments

Supplies:
Oranges
Twine, String, or Ribbon

1. Cut oranges crosswise into 3/4-inch even slices to create a pinwheel effect.

2.Lay orange slices on a baking sheet, bake at 150 degrees or the lowest temperature your oven has.

3. Bake for about four hours checking every hour and turning with spatula.  Remove from oven when orange slices still have a little moisture but are almost dried out (oranges will continue to dry out after you take them out of oven).

4. Make a small hole in the top of each slice and string twine (or string or ribbon) through each hole to hang on your tree.

Unique Holiday Recipes

Here are a few ideas for some unique and yummy holiday dishes you can try, and you won't have to worry about someone else bringing the same thing to your Holiday dinner.  If you have a recipe you would like to submit to this blog please comment below or email me at dentoncountymom@gmail.com

Christmas Guacamole
Makes 12 Servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 white onion, minced
• 4 serrano chile peppers, minced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 pear - peeled, cored and diced
• 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions

1. Mix the onion, chile peppers, and salt in a bowl. Fold in the avocados and lime juice. Stir in pear, grapes, and pomegranate. Chill until serving.

Green Beans with Almond Brittle
Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/3 cup whole natural almonds, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place green beans in a baking pan and toss with olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place almonds on a baking sheet. Roast almonds and green beans for 10 minutes. Set almonds aside. Cover green beans with foil and roast for an additional 30 minutes.
3. While green beans are roasting, make the brittle. Spray a sheet of foil with cooking spray and set aside. Place sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small, very clean saucepan, ensuring sugar is completely covered with water. Turn heat to high and bring to a simmer. Let caramelize until deep, golden brown, watching constantly as this happens fairly quickly. Stir in chopped almonds, still warm from the oven. Spread this sticky brittle on prepared foil. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and let cool. Combine green beans and almond brittle then serve.

 

Popcorn And Almond Christmas Brittle

Ingredients

• 6 cups popped popcorn
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup red and green candied cherries, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a greased 13-in.x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan, combine popcorn, almonds and cherries. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Turn oven off and keep mixture warm in the oven. Meanwhile, in a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt; cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 305 degrees F-310 degrees F (hard-crack stage). Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Immediately pour over popcorn mixture; toss gently. Spread onto a greased baking sheet. When cool, break into small pieces.

Target Toy Deals On Top Brands

Here is a great way to save money on kids toys for Christmas, this week Target will be having a buy one get one half off sale on top toy brands.  The brands include:

Barbie

Little People

Disney Princess

Cars 2

NERF

Thomas & Friends

LEGO city

Offer details via Target:
Purchase 1 or more items from a select toy brand and receive 50% off an additional item from the same toy brand. Discount will be applied at Checkout. Discount not applicable to gift wrap, tax, or shipping and handling charges. May not be applied to previous orders. Offer expires 12/10/11 at 11:59 PM EST.

Do It Yourself - Christmas Cinnamon Star

This is an easy DIY project you can put together or do with the kids.

Christmas Cinnamon Star

Materials Needed:
6 Cinnamon Sticks
Glue
Twine

Step One
Take sticks and lay them on top of each other to form a 5 point star (basically create two triangles).

Step Two
Secure the ends by adding a dab of glue and binding it with decorative twine.  Do this to all the points of the star.

Step Three
Glue a loop of twine onto the top as a hanger.

Got a DIY idea you want to put on the blog?  Email me at dentoncountymom@gmail.com

Upcoming Holiday Events For Denton County

There will be a lot of tree lighting and holiday festivals this weekend, here are the ones in Denton County, there might be some bad weather is the forecast Saturday so be sure to double check before you head out.

December 2, 2011
Denton Holiday Festival
The festivities start at 5:45 p.m. on the Courthouse Square. Event include: Lighting of Christmas Tree on Historic Courthouse Lawn, Visits with Santa, a children's arts and crafts area, and live music featuring Brave Combo.
Location: Downtown Square, 110 W Hickory
Website: www.DentonHolidayLighting.com

December 3rd
Holiday In the Park - The Colony
Time: 6:00pm
Perryman Park
http://www.thecolonytx.gov/Depts/PARD/Documents/HolidayInThePark2011.pdf


December 3rd
Little Elm Tree Lighting
Time: 6:00pm
Beard Park
http://www.littleelm.org/CurrentEvents.aspx?EID=8221

December 3rd
Holiday at the Hall Festival
Old Town Lewisville
Kick off the holiday season at Lewisville's award winning Holiday at the Hall festival with an assortment of free family events and activities. Festival activities include visits with Santa Claus, Motorcycle Toy Run, and Breakfast with Santa. Nominal admission fee may apply for individual events held during the festival. For more information, call 972.219.3401.Click here for a public event parking locations and road detour map.

December 3rd
Lake Dallas Tree Lighting
Time: 5:00pm
Tree lighting, Santa, music, and crafts.
http://www.lakedallas.com/holidaylightingcelebration.html

December 5th

Argyle Tree Lighting

First Baptist Church of Argyle

http://www.argylechamber.org/Section/Visitor_Information/Community_Calendar/index.html?PHPSESSID=5cb9d70e0bf4051eced4a55eec0bf4e9

December 5th

Corinth Christmas Tree LightingTime: 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Corinth City Hall
Ages: Allhttp://cityofcorinth.com/index.aspx?NID=138