Family and Fun

It really is a wonderful time of the year....I love it!  Wednesday I got to spend the day with Richie and Ali.  It was great!  I baked some cupcakes and had some of Ali's friends over.  Thursday, we spent the day with my in-laws.  We had a great dinner and spent some quality time with my hubby's family!  Friday...I didn't go shopping! This is the first time (in as many years as I can remember) that I didn't participate in 'Black Friday'.  It isn't because I didn't want to, but because money is very tight..and we had plans for this weekend!  Friday, Richie and I took off for St. Louis!  He always goes to watch the state championship games, so I decided to join him this year.  We got to St. Louis about 11 Friday morning and watched 2 1/2 football games.  I was done after that...so we went to our hotel, got checked in, and ate dinner.  Saturday....believe it or not...the hubby decided he didn't want to go watch football!! :/  This was so unlike him!!  We instead to advantage of the freebies that St. Louis offers and went to the zoo and then to Anheuser-Busch brewery for a free tour (and a free beer!).  Then we had a magnificent Italian dinner and went on a horse/buggy ride!!  It was raining and cold, but it was still so much fun!!!  Sunday...we stopped off in Columbia, MO to watch a Mizzou basketball game!  It was so much fun (other than the walk to Mizzou Arena).  Now...we are home, and reality is here!  I am VERY glad to be home with my lil love bug though!!  I missed her so much this weekend!

Cake Creations

So, since I have my blog up and going for Cakes By Jen, I decided it was time to do away with my Cake Creations page.  It was getting kind of difficult to update my facebook page, my Cakes By Jen page, and this one.  
You can still keep up with my cakes and cupcakes by clicking the link on the right side of this page.  
Thanks for everyone's support!!  I would not be able to do this without you!  :)  

Shutterfly House Party

I had an awesome weekend!!  My sweet lil’ girl performed at halftime of the SBU football game!  She did awesome!!  I am so proud of how hard she works, and that she doesn’t get scared to get up in front of thousands of people!!  The thought scares the hell out of me!  :/ 

Saturday night, after her performance, I had a houseful of great friends!!  I had invited them all over for a Shutterfly House Party!  Everyone came over and started making a photo book.  I had applied online through houseparty.com, and was selected to host this party!  It was my first time ever applying, and I got selected.  I felt pretty special…especially since I am addicted to making Shutterfly photo books!!!  This party was especially fun!  Each person got to make an 8” x 8” photo book and 10 photo cards FREE!!  You know that I love free stuff!  I also got the same freebies as everyone at my party!    

What made the party even more fun was the yummy food and drinks!  When I first found out that I was hosting, I began thinking about what I could fix to eat that everyone would enjoy…  I decided that I would make my favorite dips (Tastefully Simple Fiesta Party dip and Spinach Herb dip)!! YUMMY!  Then I thought a veggie tray would accommodate all those who may be on a health kick…lol!  And last but not least, I decided to use all my partygoers as guinea pigs to try my cupcakes.  I bet that really disappointed them…don’t you think??  We also had a meat/cheese tray and of course the variety of beverages! 

I have to share the variety of cupcakes… I knew I needed some simple ones, just in case someone really doesn’t like to experiment, so I made a white with buttercream and chocolate with chocolate buttercream.  Then I wanted to try some things that I had not tried before.  First up, peppermint!  I used a white cupcake, put in a couple drops of red food coloring (which didn’t work quite as well as I had hoped), then covered with peppermint flavored buttercream and adorned with a small candy cane and sugar sprinkles.  Next, I wanted to try my friend Misty’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcake…It was a HIT!  It was a chocolate cupcake with a piece of cookie dough inside.  Then it was covered with buttercream and topped with a small chocolate chip cookie!  Then, Cookies n’ Cream Cupcakes…A chocolate cupcake with an oreo at the bottom, covered with buttercream with oreos blended in, and topped with an oreo of course!  The next cupcake was a Reese’s cupcake.  I used a chocolate cupcake, topped with peanut butter buttercream, and decorated with a mini Reese’s.  Lastly…I knew we needed something with cream cheese icing.  So, I decided on a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese icing!  Delicious!  All in all…I made 6 DOZEN cupcakes!  After everyone finished snacking and I sent some home with others…I am down to less than ½ dozen!  I had a lot of great compliments, and boy does that make a girl’s day!!!!  Thanks to all my great friends!!   

Now I can FINISH decorating for Christmas!!  Yes…. I have already started!  

Swag Bucks

I absolutely LOVE Swag Bucks!!  Since I’m not working right now, I spend most of my day at home on the computer anyway, sooo….what better way to do it than earning FREE money!  J   I simply signed up for an account.  First: sign up here:  swagbucks.com/refer/JenFrazier .  You will earn bonus bucks for signing up, and so will I!  I thank you so kindly!  Then you need to install their toolbar (This should also give you 10 bonus swag bucks).  Secondly: I search using their search engine 2 to 3 times a day.  This is all you will get points for doing.  Sometimes, I have to search multiple times to get Bucks, other times…it’s really quick!  It will pop up a little window to tell you when you receive the swag bucks for searching!  Third:  Every day they have a Daily Poll which will award you 1 swag buck for answering; and you can click the NOSO tab to earn (usually) 2 more swag bucks.  You do NOT have to sign up for any offers under the NOSO tab, just hit SKIP or SEE NEXT OFFER!  You will then have to enter a code (that it tells you) to get these swag bucks.  Then:  In your swag mail (it's at the top, show an envelope), you will get emails daily to watch swag tv to earn swag bucks.  If you watch what it tells you to, then click the ad...then you just have to answer 1 quick question (about whether their link took you to the correct ad).  Sometimes there is no ad.  Just let the video play through (with the volume off if you aren't interested).  Lastly:  I take their surveys as often as I can.  I don’t always qualify, but sometimes you get 100+ swag bucks just for finishing a survey!  A good time to do this is when you are sitting in front of the TV!   I have also been known to sign up for a month free of an offer to get swag bucks (emusic) and then cancel before you get billed.  I have also signed up to get insurance quotes emailed to me.  No risk there! 

I know this sounds like a lot of work…but it’s really not at all!  I personally have earned $25 in Amazon.com gift cards each of the last 2 months!  That’s free money!!

Another thing, you can only get 2 of the same prize in one day, and you can only get 5 like prizes in a month!  This month (3 days in) I already have redeemed my 5 like prizes….5 - $5 Amazon.com gift cards!!  I am now saving for a $25 or $50 Amazon.com gift card.  Different amount=different prize! 
Prizes typically take about 10 to be sent to your account after you redeem and verify.  Right now they are offering a special, you can spend an extra 50 swag bucks to get your Amazon.com cards the next day.  I personally just wait for mine.  

Good luck to you, and I thank you so much for using me as a referral!!