1. Heathered Wool Down Vest from Eddie Bauer

2. Pendelton Pillow Cover from Eddie Bauer

3. Lands' End Flannel Shirt

4. Cabela's Faux-Suede Throw

5. Handcrafted Willow End Table from Caleba's

6. Antiqued Tea Light Holder from Lands' End

1.  ASOS Vintage Cap Clip On Earrings 

2.  L'Occitane Hand Cream Confections

3.  Timex Originals Easy Reader

4.  CB2 Metallic Vase

5.  Nine West Dressy Sequin Bag

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love cooking and baking so I look forward to the big feast for months. Planning the big meal isn't very hard. Only a few of the dishes I make change. It is a given that there will be turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pumpkin pie. I've been baking Pumpkin Pie for a long time!

Some of the side dishes may change.  There may be a new dessert or two but those three dishes are guaranteed to be served for Thanksgiving dinner at my house.

Matter of fact even if I was the only one in my family who ate it, pumpkin pie would be there. To me it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie for dessert.

My pumpkin pie recipe is pretty much a standard pumpkin pie recipe except for one ingredient. This ingredient has been my little secret for a long time. I've never seen it used in any other recipe.  I'm not sure how I came to add it to the recipe. It may have been an accident. Or I could have made a mistake when I went grocery shopping and picked it up on accident. It's been so long since I started adding it to my pumpkin pie I honestly can't remember how it came to be. But it adds a depth of flavor to the recipe that turns ordinary pumpkin pie into an amazing pumpkin pie. Don't believe me? Try it yourself and don't tell anyone and see how many compliments you get!

This recipe makes two nine inch deep dish pies. Eat one at Thanksgiving and tightly wrap the other one in plastic wrap and freeze it to get a head start on your Christmas baking. If you don't need two pies you can half the recipe.

2 unbaked pie shells

1- 29 ounce can of pumpkin or

4 cups of fresh pumpkin

1 ½ cups of sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground ginger

½ tsp ground cloves

4 large eggs, slightly beaten

1 can evaporated milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Bake for 15 minutes on 450 degrees. After 15 minutes lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 45 to 55 minutes until the center is solid. A tooth pick inserted into the center should come out clean.

Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 2 hours. Serve after cooling or cover and refrigerate.

The biggest shopping day of the year is almost here, and Ebates is outdoing itself again. This Friday November 25th you'll enjoy Double Cash Back at hundreds of stores, plus Ebates will be hosting a special 3 Hour Live Chat with $1000 in prizes.

The fun starts at 11am EST and runs until 2pm. Ebates will be dishing out coupons, giving away countless prizes, and talking about events of the day.

Don't miss your chance to earn big and win bigger!

This giveaway will be open through Wednesday November 23rd. Entrants must be over 18 years old and reside in the United States.

Now is the perfect time to order and plan for your holiday event.  Holiday promo's are in full swing, so you can shop and save now at www.beau-coup.com

Back by popular demand, it's Ebates Friends and Family Sale! For 3 hours only enjoy Double Cash Back at some of our most popular stores.

Hurry! This event is for a limited time only. Once it gone - so is extra cash back!

1. City Triangles Sequin Dress from Kohls

2. Deux Lux Sequin Backpack from Urban Outfitters

3. Sequence of Glory Sweater from ModCloth

4. Enzo Angiolini Slingback Pump from Nordstrom

5. Sequin Swirl Pillow from Urban Outfitters

As the weather worsens I find myself reaching for my trusty DVD collection more often. I rely on classics to get me through the colder months and the Cash Back from Ebates to help me save. Lights, camera, action!

1. Ken Burns: The National Parks: America's Best Idea DVD from ShopPBS.com

2. Harry Potter the Complete Years: 1-7 from DVD Planet

3. The Lion King Diamond Edition from FYE

4. The West Wing Complete Series from Walmart

5. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory from Buy.com

A seasonal favorite, Popcorn Factory, is offering Free Ground Shipping on Christmas and Hanukkah Holiday Towers. Plus get 8.0% Cash Back!

The Gap is having their Friends and Family sale which means 30% off! Use code GAPFRIENDS. Plus get 2.0% Cash Back!

The Children's Place is offering up to 60% off clearance. Plus get 2.5% Cash Back.

Use code DRS10 at Dr. Scholl's Shoes for $10 off $50+ order! Plus get 5.0% Cash Back.

Macys is having a Veterans Day sale! For 15% off use code VET15. Plus get 3.0% Cash Back!

Get 20% off any order at Carlos Santana Shoes! Use code SANTANA. Plus get 5.0% Cash Back!

Eddie Bauer is having a surprise Friends and Family sale - 3 Days Only get 25% Off Everything Plus Free Shipping on All Orders $49+! Use code SHARE25. Plus get 6.0% Cash Back!

Harry and David is offering 15% off Royal Riviera Pears. Use code PEARSHD. Plus get 5.0% Cash Back!

Black Friday is coming up in just a few short weeks on Friday November 25th followed by Cyber Monday, November 28th.  While Black Friday has been traditionally known as the day that people head into the stores for the best deals, that has definitely been changing in the last year or two. More & more retailers are matching the prices of their in-store Black Friday deals online & some stores are even offering better deals online than you will find in the stores.

If you'd rather avoid the crowds & stay in your comfy pajamas to do your Christmas shopping on Black Friday, then make sure you're prepared with these simple tips for shopping online.

1.  Make a plan  - Write out a list of all the people you need to buy gifts for this Christmas season & then write down possible gift ideas.  Then set a budget for how much you want to spend per person. I keep all of this on a Microsoft Word document so I can easily update it & find it quickly when I'm shopping online. I also keep a copy of my list in my purse, so I have those ideas at all times when I'm out shopping in the stores.

2.  Do your research & scout out the prices - Once you have some ideas of what you're looking for, head to the stores or start comparing prices online to get an idea of the range of prices for that particular item. This really comes in handy for online shopping because deals can go very quickly & you don't want to buy items on impulse & then overspend because it sounded like a great deal at the time. 

3.  Get in the Know - Sign up for your favorite retailers' email newsletters, "like" their Facebook Fan pages & follow them on Twitter. This is one of the best ways to find out about early shopping passes, special discount codes, free shipping offers & more.

4. Use Gift Cards to Make Purchases Online - Many retailers offer special gift card promotions during the holidays (eg: Spend $20 on gift cards, earn an extra $5).  When you spot a deal like this, you'll get that extra savings that the store is offering plus it's a safer way to shop online & it helps you to stay on track with your spending. 

5. Earn cash-back on your online purchases - My last but favorite tip is to do all your online shopping thru Ebates, where you will automatically be earning cash-back on your purchases.  Head over to Ebates now & make a list of all your favorite retailers & the percentage of cash-back you will earn. Keep that in mind when you are considering the differences in price for gifts, especially on those larger-ticket items, because that cash-back can definitely make a difference in the retailer where you choose to shop. Ebates also offers a number of coupon codes & free shipping offers, so not only you will be getting cash-back when you start your shopping at Ebates, you will also find the best deals available. 

Hopefully these tips will help you to get prepared for the busy rush of online shopping on Black Friday & Cyber Monday.

1. Milla Bag by BCBGeneration from Piperlime

2. Emory North South Flap by Fossil from Piperlime

3. Martine Satchel Black from Vince Camuto

4. Sydney Crossbody Bag from Vince Camuto

5. Ecote Studded Professor Satchel from Urban Outfitters

2. I am not so secretly hoping that someone gifts me this book on Boo, the cutest dog in the world.

3. This in-depth chronicle of the Manson murders is not for the faint of heart, however it is very well written and rather engrossing.

4. This is one of the most beautiful books I own. It is a must buy for any fans of Alexander McQueen's work.

5. Ina Garten has never let me down. Her recipes are simple and delicious.

6. This one is on my To Read list. Summit Entertainment has already purchased the movie writes to this magical story!

Join Melissa from Stockpiling Moms and Ebates as we prep for the holidays. We're giving away $850 in prizes including daily giveaways or "Stocking Stuffers" as we call them, and a grand prize of $500. 

Stay tuned to Ebates on Facebook for daily giveaways, and be sure to check Stockpiling Moms for your chance to win!

Book as soon as possible - When traveling around the holidays, the further out you can book, the better. The closer it gets to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve the higher the prices for everything will creep, even if you aren't flying until February.

1. Cherry Moon Farms' Caramel Corn Sampler

2. Chocolate.com's Autumn Leaf Bark

3. Stonewall Kitchen's Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookie Mix

4. Stonewall Kitchen's Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix

5. Taj Masala Chai Black Tea from Teavana

On November 2, 2011 something very special happens. No, it isn't the beginning of Fall, or Daylight Savings Time. It is Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale.

Why is this special?

Because as a budget fashionista it is the perfect time to snag late Summer and early Fall fashion for less. To celebrate this, I've teamed up with Ebates to host a $250 giveaway. Consider it $250 to spend as you please, but if you're like me, it will be at Nordstrom.

I love shopping at Nordstrom. I love the quality, customer service, and selection. Shopping their Half-Yearly Sale is my chance to get quality designer pieces for at least 50% off retail value. Did I mention that Nordstrom has FREE shipping and FREE returns? So if the killer red sweater I purchased looks better on the model, it can be returned guilt free.

If you're a regular to Nordstrom, I suggest signing up for the Nordstrom Credit Card. You'll earn double reward points which add up to a $20 Nordstrom Cash Reward. Of course when I shop through Ebates I will get an additional 3.0% Cash Back.

For more info on this can't-miss giveaway, join me over at Kansas City Mamas.