Get In the Game

Greetings!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE game day. My family and I gather around the television after everyone has made their favorite appetizer or snack. We spend quality time together while rooting for our favorite team.

This week, I have done tons of research on the Internet to bring you the best ideas for throwing your own tailgate party right in your living room. Many of these dishes will include my favorite kitchen gadget. . .the slow cooker!

In fact, one of my favorite blog sites that I love to read is Boo Mama. Right now she has a Diptacular going on where you can link up and share your favorite game day dip. There are some really tasty ones on this Mr. Linky list!

While I am at it, did you know that you can go to a local school's football game for almost nothing? The local high school in my hometown offers discount tickets several times a year. With my family of four, it is very frugally priced and within our budget to splurge sometimes and go to see a live football game and root on our home team teenagers!

Whatever you decide to do this football season, I hope that you make plenty of memories with family while stretching those dollars!

Special Announcements

Congratulations to Amberly Boatwrght who was the winner of the beautiful contemporary Christian art. Be on the lookout for a new giveaway to be posted soon.

Don't forget about the new Pick-A-Pack that has been added to the store!

Now you can choose five of your favorite Molly's Money-Saving Digests for $20! That is like buying four and getting one for free.

On the Blog Last Week

Here is a recap of what was shared on the blog last week.

Don't you just love finding old cookbooks? Check out my Weekend Wonders find and the recipes I shared.
Last week, one of my readers sent in this delicious recipe for Baked Apple Pie Oatmeal.
What do you do with old dishwasher parts? You have to see what my daughter designed and how I put those dishwasher trays to use.
We had a winner for art giveaway, but my friend Lisa over at Homestead Originals is hosting a giveaway, so check out the link in this post.
Be sure and read all about this free couponing course from Jim Bob and Amy Howard.
Freebie Friday is definitely full of great freebies, so don't forget to check this post out.

Featured Website

This week's featured website is A Year of Slow Cooking. I love this site simply because all the recipes on her site have been prepared with the slow cooker in mind. For those of us who are time challenged, this is the perfect website to glean new recipes from.

In fact, since we are talking about game day recipes, Stephanie shares a recipe on her site for Buffalo Wings. All I can say about that is yummy to the tummy!

If you really like this site, Stephanie has a cookbook, Make It Fast Cook It Slow, coming out in October. All of her recipes which have been tested and tried all in one convenient cookbook.

Recipe of the Week

dehooks | istockphot.com

Feeling the cooler air arrive always brings out a more playful side of my family. We like to go to the park more often, have get-togethers with family and friends, and sometimes even attend football games and tailgate parties. This recipe is a tradition for us this time of year, especially when we are at tailgate parties. The chili is made in the slow-cooker, so you can take it along and keep it hot. I like to have a big basket full of the small corn chip bags near the slow-cooker for the convenience of my family and guests.

The corn chips may seem like an unnecessary expense, but with school starting back up I find that in my area they are on sale cheap this time of year. Keep an eye out for a good sale on these and take in your coupons to use in conjunction with the sale. Then you'll have corn chips for a much cheaper price!

Maybe this will become a tradition for your family too!

Chili and Corn Chip Pie in a Bag

Ingredients

1 (14-15 oz.) can diced tomatoes

3-4 cans chili-style beans

1 lb. browned ground beef

1 small can tomato puree, watered down half a can's worth

Chili Powder and Cayenne Pepper to taste (adjust or leave out to your family's liking)

Salt and pepper to taste

Cheddar cheese and sour cream for toppings

Small corn chip bags (however many you need to serve your crowd, on average 1 bag for each person)

Directions:

Mix all together in a large slow-cooker. Turn on high for the first hour, then on low for another 3 hours. Leave on warm until ready to enjoy.

With the small corn chip bags, open carefully to keep bag in tact. Ladle chili into bag (make sure to hold it with either a mitten, glove, or pot holder, or place into a cup to keep from burning your hands.

Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese (and a dollop of sour cream, if desired) on top. Stick a spoon in it and enjoy all the yummy goodness while you enjoy the cool weather and family and friends!

Weekly Tutorial

photo courtesy of Family Fun

Whenever I go to a football game, or any game for that matter, that has me sitting on the bleachers for a long period of time, I like to have some kind of cushion under my backside.

I found this adorable tutorial over at the Family Fun website, along with some other really great ideas that you will find in the Idea Center below. Be sure and thank them for sharing this tutorial with us.

Idea Center

There are many things that you can do when it comes to football. You can throw your own backyard tailgate party, go to a hometown game, or attend a tailgate party that a friend happens to be throwing. Here are some wonderful ideas that I found on the Internet that are sure to make your tailgate party a success!

If a football party is your theme, then why not make these adorable cupcakes to match your theme?
Get the kids together and have a fun-filled afternoon playing a game of Family Flag Football.
Here are some mini football sub sandwiches that would look so cute on your decked out football table!
There is just something about football and bobblehead characters! Why not make yourself into a bobblehead?
If you have never hosted a tailgate party, here are some great tips to help you throw the best party ever!
Decorate your table with a football field table runner and coasters. This is really cute!
The City Girl Cooks has three delicious slow cooker meals that would fit in with any tailgate party. Choose from Creamy Artichoke Dip, Ranch Oyster Crackers, and Pulled Pork.

Molly's Money-Saving Digest
September--Frugal Decorating

September 2009

Is your home a beautiful, cozy nest and shelter?

Start weaving your own attractive love--and dream-filled nesting place!

Make your home and décor a pleasing, personal, frugal reflection of you--with Molly's help.

Molly's Money-Saving Digest September 2009
Special feature: Frugal Decorating

"A lovingly decorated home is not about high price tags, debt, or keeping a set of design rules. It's about pulling together pieces that work for your family, at a price you can afford, in a way that makes you smile. . ."
--Molly Green

There's so much packed into this special issue--ideas to express creativity and enjoy beauty; inspiration for daily living; and gentle wisdom and encouragement shared by real, contemporary families. Check out the fabulously frugal topics you'll find in Molly's September Digest:

Begin with the Basics: Are you couponing yet? Maybe you're not convinced that it's worth the hassle. Listen up with a sensible, step-by-step introduction to why and how coupons really can help your family's budget. This is the first part in a series by Amy Howard that takes a good, close look at how a real family uses coupons for real savings. If you are tempted to shy away, you need to read this!
On Sale This Month: Every little bit adds up! What items are usually discounted? What should you stock up on? Find out now.
Keeping it All Together: Creating a Home Décor Binder-Learn from Kris how to create and maintain your own three-ring binder that will save you time and money, and keep all of your pertinent decorating information in one place! Get organized to ensure that you have what you want when you need it and go on to acquire the fabulous results you envision.
Feather Your Nest Frugally: How did Virginia help her son find and refurbish a solid wood dining room set for only $135? See this photo transformation!
Pull up a Chair: There are plenty of interesting reasons to celebrate in September! What should you put on the menu? Get the recipes for Black Bean and Sausage Soup, Paul's Cornbread, and easy-but-tasty 1-2-3 Cheesecake!
Parenting that Pays: Todd Wilson, the funnyman of Familyman Ministries, shares a cartoon, and Molly shares some brief, but sound, advice on keeping your family's decibel level lower. You can have a more peaceful home-within minutes! This advice alone is worth the price of this E-Book!
Something Old-Something New: What do you have in your home right now that's just screaming for a li'l update? One of Molly's favorite bloggers, Tracey Buxton from A Cottage Industry, takes an old calendar frame and gives it a charmingly new 2009 look. Sometimes it's all in the paint!
Monthly Feature: Frugal Decorating: With the word count down and the picture count high, you'll hear from three special guests then go on a "blog walking tour" visiting a dozen additional favorite décor bloggers. These are real women with real families living in real houses and creating lovely home environments on a realistic budget.