The Costco Steak Hack That’ll Save You Serious Money

Starbucks Low Carb Fall Drinks

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Are you more of a Pumpkin Spice or Pecan fan? Personally, I’m here for all the fall feels and things which means driving through Starbucks and little more than I should 🤭 So I had to figure out how to turn my “treat day” drink into an “any day” drink 😉 Here’s how you can grab your go-to Fall fav GUILT FREE! 📸 ALL 4 of my orders are in the reel 😍 including their new Pecan drinks!

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🤩🧋DIET HACK: LOW CARB STARBUCKS 🍁 FALL DRINKS 🎃

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Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Original Numbers

250 Calories

31 Carbs

3 protein

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Pecan Crunch Cold Brew Original Numbers

410 Calories

54 Carbs

4 Protein

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Pecan Shaken Espresso Original Numbers

410 Calories

54 Carbs

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Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Original Numbers

390 Cal

52 Carbs

14 Protein

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NOTES: Here’s the quickest way to cut down on calories and carbs at STBX:

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✅ Ask for Almond milk instead of Oatmilk, it’s actually their lowest carb milk overall, lower than any of their dairy and nondairy options. For creamer, their Heavy Cream or Half & Half are the lowest carb, but high in fat and calories in larger amounts, so don’t overdo those two.

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✅ Want your drink sweeter? Add a 1/2 – 1 packet of stevia…a little goes a long way!

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✅ For creamer drinks ask for an additional “splash” of cream, which is usually half and half at most Starbucks.

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Comment and LMK which one you’d try first! The Pecan Shaken Espresso is my fav 🍂🤎

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Trader Joe’s Beauty Dupe

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Have you seen Trader Joe’s self-care section lately? They aren’t messing around! I couldn’t believe it when I saw this one and had to figure out how in the world they could be making this dupe without getting in trouble 🤔I have the answer and the unbelievable price! Run and grab this one, it’s the best clone they’re ever done 🏃‍♀️💨

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🤩🚨DUPE ALERT: TRADER JOE’S SKINCARE 👯‍♀️ COPYCAT 🤯

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Trader Joe’s new Vitamin C Serum is a major SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic dupe! The SkinCeuticals patent expired last year, opening the door for similar formulas to hit the market. And the active ingredients line up: 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E + 0.5% ferulic acid in both. I know, I was skeptical too 😂 but for a $175 savings, this one is absolutely worth a try! 🍊✨

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Have you tried any of their skincare products yet? Comment and LMK 🥰

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Costco Pizza Hack

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🍕🤩 COSTCO PIZZA HACK 🤯

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Have you ever had pizza from Costco’s food court? I’ll bet you’ve never had it this way 😉 Time for another “Bougie On A Budget” and yes, this will count as cooking in my book 👩‍🍳

Here’s how we are going to jazz up a $10 Costco pizza! After picking up a large pepperoni pizza (ask them not to cut it), the first step is to crisp the pizza up. If you don’t have a pizza steel, line your bottom oven rack with tin foil and place the pizza directly on the rack above it. In a 500F oven, bake for at least two minutes or until you reach your desired crispiness on your crust.

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Now, it’s time for the fun part! Turning the $10 Costco pizza into a pepperoni ricotta basil hot honey pizza! Start by drizzling EVOO around the edge of your crust. To add dollops of ricotta, simply fill a plastic baggy, snip off the end, and use it as a piping bag! Follow with some grated parmesan, basil, and hot honey!

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Pizza “Recipe”: Ricotta 🌿 Basil 🔥 Hot 🍯 Honey 🍕Pepperoni

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1 Costco Pepperoni Pizza (ask them not to cut it)
Crisp in a 500F oven for at least 2 mins or until crust is your desired crispiness
Remove and top with:
A drizzle of EVOO on the edge of the crust
Drops of ricotta
Fresh basil
Grated parmesan
Hot honey
Slice and serve

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Remember, these toppings are just suggestions! This Costco pizza hack is totally customizable… you can even add the toppings before putting in the oven. What would you put on yours? Comment and LMK, I think topping their cheese pizza with ham and pineapple would be amazing 🌺

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2 Ingredient Ice Cream Pancake Hack

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Are you a pancake fan? I LOVE them, but don’t love mixing all the parts 😂 Introducing the world’s EASIEST PANCAKES EVER! Fancy, Frugal and Fast 🏃‍♀️💨 I can’t wait for you to try ‘em 💕

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🍦🥞 ICE CREAM PANCAKE HACK 🤩 ONLY 2 INGREDIENTS 🤯

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EASY Recipe:

Everything you need for fluffy pancakes is already hiding in the ice cream! Just mix 1 cup melted ice cream + ¾ cup self-rising flour + ½ cup water. That’s it!

Any flavor works, but full-fat ice cream gives the best results. And don’t overmix! A few little lumps are the secret to extra-fluffy pancakes. 🤫✨ Easy, delicious, and basically dessert for breakfast. 🍨🥞

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NOTE: If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can DIY your own: Just mix 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/4 tsp. of salt together.

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What flavor ice cream would you use? Comment and LMK 🥰

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Costco Sample Secrets

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Do you love the Costco samples? Have you ever bought one after trying it? I sure have 😂 Sample driven sales make up around 17% of Costco’s yearly bottom line! Before you grab another one of their “free” samples here are some things you need to know 🤓

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🛒🤯 COSTCO: SAMPLE SECRETS 🤫

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Once you try a product, you’re up to 70% more likely to buy it and the longer those samples keep you wandering through the store, the more likely you are to spend. Those carts are big business too, helping generate billions in sales each year!

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Here’s another secret: the people handing out samples aren’t Costco employees. They’re paid by the brands, which pay for the opportunity to showcase their products inside the store. And don’t feel guilty if you taste something without buying it, they don’t work on commission and can hand out as many as 1,000 samples from a single station in one day!

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Want the best selection? Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays typically have more sample stations than any other days. And keep an eye out for the hot food carts…the smell alone is designed to stop you in your tracks and make that product extra tempting!

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Are you more likely to grab a hot or cold sample? A healthy or a more decadent one? Comment and LMK 🤩

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Cookbook Club: I Want to Come to Yours!

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👩‍🍳📖 COOKBOOK CLUB: I Want To Come To Yours 🥰

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Since I wasn’t able to visit every city during The LORAfied Cookbook tour, I thought this would be the next best thing: I’d love to FaceTime or Zoom into your next cookbook club gathering! 🤩

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Whether you have a big group or just a few friends, Miss Tippy and I would be so happy to virtually swing by, say hello and get to know your crew. We can chat about the cookbook, Scooter, the kids…or anything at all! It doesn’t even have to be about cooking. I’d simply love the chance to meet you, sis 💕

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It’s completely free, and I’m happy to travel anywhere via the internet! Contact me and Miss Tippy to invite us to your next gathering 💌

Planning your next cookbook club menu? This Praline-Topped Baked Brie “Flower” from The LORAfied Cookbook would be my pick! It’s an easy, four-ingredient showstopper that’s perfect for sharing with your crew 🥰

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Want to invite me and Miss Tippy to your next Cookbook Club gathering? Big or small, it doesn’t matter, we’d be honored to get the invite 💌

CONTACT US HERE

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Are you in a book club of any kind? Comment and LMK 📚💕

The Stale Bread Hack You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

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How many times have you just tossed a loaf of stale bread or turned it into bread pudding because you thought it was a goner? This crazy hack will save it from the trash and put it on your table in freshly baked condition 🤩 It’s Fast 💨 Free 💰and most of all EASY 🥳

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🥖💦 WASH YOUR BREAD 🤯

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It’s one of my favorite food hacks because it’s fast, completely free, and saves you money by bringing bread back to life instead of throwing it away. Here’s how: lightly run the loaf under water, place it directly on the oven rack, and bake at 450°F for about 10 minutes. That’s it! Fresh, crusty bread without wasting a single slice. It sounds crazy, but it works every time. 🥖✨

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Do you buy salted or unsalted butter? Or both? Comment and LMK! I only buy salted 🧂🧈💛

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Diet Coke Ice Hack!

❤️🥤 DIET COKE HACK❄️🤯

Doesn’t it drive you crazy when the ice starts melting in your drink and it gets watered down? Here’s a hack that makes sure every single sip is as good as that first sip of a crispy drink 🥰 Best of. all it’s FREE + EASY! This Diet Coke ice hack is next level summer fun!

This hack is SUPER easy! All you need is a soda of your choice and a large Ziploc baggie. I chose Diet Coke because it’s my favorite drink, but any soda works for this! Simply pour your can of soda into the baggie, make sure it’s sealed tightly, and place it face down in the freezer.

Once the bag is completely frozen and you’re ready to make your drink, break up the frozen soda inside the baggie into little soda ice cubes. I used a rolling pink to help with this process!

Add your “soda ice” to a glass and pour fresh soda over the top for an extra cold drink that won’t get watered down!

What drink would you turn into ice? Comment and LMK! 🧊

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LORAfied Cookbook Tour

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–Have you ever been to a book signing? Maybe you even made it to one of mine during the past couple of months! If so, you just might see yourself in today’s post, sister. 🤩 From hugs and happy tears to signing books, taking selfies, and hearing your stories, every stop on this tour has been so incredibly special. Whether you waited in line for hours, traveled to be there, or cheered me on from home, I’m so grateful for every single one of you. Today I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes look at some of my favorite moments from the tour. 🥹✨

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👩‍🍳📖 LORAfied COOKBOOK TOUR: 13 Cities + 11 Flights ✈️ + Thousands of Hugs 🩷

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This tour is about more than food, it’s about the connection we all make through it! I’ve title this journey with you “The Wave Of Happiness Tour” 🌊😃 If you’ve been following along in stories, you know this cookbook is about more than just recipes! It’s the vehicle for bringing us all together, for lifting each other up, for making all our lives easier and more affordable, for letting you know you are seen and loved ❤️ If you haven’t picked up a copy, I’d really appreciate the support 💞

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THIS doesn’t happen without YOU! This happens because of YOU! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart 💘

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A very special thank you to the amazing teams at each store that pulled these signings off: Williams Sonoma, Barnes & Noble, Rainy Day Books in Kansas City and The Book Cellar in Chicago 💝

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BTS: LORAfied Cookbook Tour

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Have you ever written a book? When I set out to write my first cookbook two years ago, I thought I’d just stick some recipes together and send it to the printer with some pix 😂 I had no idea what was to come 🤯 Today I’m sharing the behind the scenes of the tour, later this week I’m going to be focusing on all the amazing stops and people we’ve met along the way 🤩
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My book finally hit the shelf in May and you and I have been on what I call “The Wave Of Happiness Tour” ever since 🌊😃 If you’ve been following along in stories, you know this cookbook is about more than just recipes! It’s the vehicle for bringing us all together, for lifting each other up, for making all our lives easier and more affordable, for letting you know you are seen and loved ❤️
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THIS doesn’t happen without YOU! This happens because of YOU! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart 💘

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👩‍🍳📸 BTS: LORAfied COOKBOOK TOUR 📖🩷

One of the biggest pinch-me moments of the tour was getting to share the LORAfied Cookbook on national television! From the TODAY Show to Sherri, every stop was an opportunity to spread the message that delicious, budget-friendly meals can bring people together. Meeting the incredible hosts, connecting with new audiences, and seeing this dream come to life made every early morning and long travel day so worth it! 💗

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One of my favorite memories from the tour was spending Mother’s Day weekend with Kid 1 and Tyler. ❤️ Having my family by my side while celebrating such a special milestone made the experience even more meaningful. There were lots of hugs, laughs, and memories I’ll treasure forever.

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Another one of the greatest gifts this cookbook has given me is the chance to celebrate with the people who’ve been cheering me on long before page one. ❤️ Seeing my sisters, nieces, cousins, and family show up with so much love and support filled my heart in the best way.

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The best part of every book signing wasn’t just signing cookbooks, it was getting to spend time with the people I love most. ❤️ Having Kid 2 and Chynna there to celebrate this journey made the day even more special, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their love and support.

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I’ll never forget meeting so many amazing people along the way! ❤️ A huge thank you to Kid 3 and the entire Alpaca crew for coming out to support the cookbook. Seeing familiar faces and meeting new friends has truly been the best part of this entire tour.

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Thank you to every single person who came to a signing, watched along, shared kindness, or picked up a cookbook. You made this tour unforgettable. ❤️

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3 Ingredient Ice Cream Hack: Baggie Blizzard

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Did you grow up eating homemade ice cream? My mom made THE BEST! She had one of those wooden barrel ones with the motor on top that would automatically turn the ice cream. It was AMAZING! The DQ blizzard consistency, texture and pure vanilla flavor was something chased for years! Now I can just whip it up in a baggie anytime I want! The best part: You already have everything you need for this one and there’s zero clean up! You don’t even need a bowl 🥳

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🍦🤩 ICE CREAM HACK: BAGGIE BLIZZARD ❄️🤯

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🍨 RECIPE

1 cup Heavy Cream or Half and Half
2 Tablespoons sugar
Splash of vanilla extract
2-3 Tablespoons of add-ins (optional)
6 Cups crushed ice (may add more if it melts fast)
2/3 cup to 3/4 cup salt, any kind, I used table salt. Use rock salt if you have it.
Sandwich baggie
Quart baggie
Gallon baggie

Place the first 3 ingredients (plus any add-ins, if using) into the sandwich baggie and seal it tightly. Place that sealed bag inside the quart baggie and seal again for extra protection. Add the ice and salt to the gallon baggie and mix combine. Place the bag with the ice cream mixture into the ice filled bag, seal, then massage and squeeze for 10–15 minutes, or until the mixture thickens into ice cream. Your hands will get cold, so wear oven mitts!

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What would you add, if anything? Comment and LMK! I added dark chocolate chips 🥰

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