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Walmart Hacks: Secret Brands That Will Save You Money

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🛒💙 DUPE ALERT: WALMART EDITION – THE SECRET BRANDS💰😉

Have you ever wondered if the low food prices on Walmarts Great Value items were somehow inferior? I’ll be the first to admit, I would shy away from them thinking the prices were too good to be true. But I recently ran across an article by @bonappetitmag testing popular yellow cake mix brands…long story short: they liked the Great Value brand the best! That started me thinking (and researching) what other Walmart food items are masquerading behind fancier name brands? Here’s what I found!

 

Let’s start with their Great Value cake mix. These guys are made by my favorite box mix, Duncan Hines! Their Great Value ice cream is made from the same plant as Blue Bunny ice cream, and it’s a fantastic dupe for Bryers.

Their butter is a pretty easy guess as to what dupe it is… the packaging is almost identical to Land O’Lakes! Their peanut butter has a connection to a very familiar face- Peter Pan Peanut Butter. And when it comes to their ketchup, it’s Heinz!

Walmart’s incredibly affordable spices are McCormick, and wait til you see you makes their salsa… it’s Rosarita!

You can trace their baggies back to Ziploc, and their paper towels back to Bounty!

Walmart has GREAT deals for all of your food essentials. Get this, their Great Value Bread is made by Nature’s own. Their mayo has a strong connection to Kraft, and their yogurt is almost identical to Dannon. And when it comes to cereal, they are all made by the name brand!

 

DUPE ALERT: If you love A&W root beer, the Great Value root beer is a great dupe AND a great deal!

 

Do you have a favorite Walmart food item? Comment and LMK! Mine is hands down the cake mix 💛🧁

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Grocery Store Hacks: How to Save Big at Any Store


If you’re trying to save on groceries and want to know some of my secrets, then this post is for you! Today I’m sharing my best grocery hacks that might sounds crazy but can save you money!

 

LORAfied Grocery Hacks

 

Tip #1: 

When you first get to the store, do a loop all the way around. Items on the edges are usually cheaper than the ones down the middle aisles.

 

 

Tip #2:

Look up or down to save 20 to 40%! That’s because the most expensive products are going to be in your line of sight.

 

 

Tip #3:

Instead of fresh seafood, there’s about a 40% difference if you just buy the frozen.

 

Tip #4:

Most stores offer their best deals on Wednesday and they’re usually still honoring coupons from the week before.

 

Tip #5:

Buy fruit and veggies whole. For example, a cup of pineapple is $7 more!

 

Tip #6:

Did you know stories actually fluctuate their pricing throughout the day? If possible, you want to go mid afternoon before everyone gets off work.

 

Tip #7:

Studies show using self checkout can also help because you’re more likely to stick to your list and buy less!

Check out more of LORAfied life hacks HERE!

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Fancy Yet Frugal Halloween Party Hacks

LORAfied halloween party hacks🎃🥳 LORAfied HALLOWEEN PARTY HACKS: MONEY SAVING TRICKS + TREATS 🧁👻

How many of those plastic Halloween buckets are in your attic or garage? I found 7 in mine 😂 Here’s what to do with those little guys and 4 more EASY HACKS to make your pumpkin party a real treat 🥰

 

Candy Bucket Flower Vase

This is one of my favorite Halloween hacks! These plastic candy buckets can easily be transformed into a festive flower vase. Easy to do and cute as decor!

 

Pumpkin Drink Dispenser

This creative DIY drink dispenser will WOW your guests! Just trace around a bowl for the perfect opening. Grab your mixer, and only using one beater to clean out the inside. This part is strangely therapeutic! Then, grab a cookie cutter and make an opening for your boxed wine (just pull the tab out of the opening.) To rim the glasses, add a little simple syrup and some colored sugar.

 

Spider Ice Cubes

These spider ice cubes are so fun! Grab a pack of 50 HERE from Amazon for under $10!

 

Vampire Teeth Napkin Holders

How cute are these vampire teeth napkin holders?! Grab this set of 12 from Amazon!

 

Candy Corn Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 box white cake mix (16.5-oz)
3 eggs
1 cup water
1/4 c. Avocado oil (or oil of choice)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Yellow color: 1 Tbsp. yellow food coloring
Orange color: 1/2 Tbsp. yellow food coloring + 1/2 Tbsp. red food coloring
1 can white frosting (I used Miss Jones Baking, it’s a nice pure white color)

Directions:

Preheat oven 350F
Mix up the batter, then divide between 2 bowls
Add yellow food coloring to one bowl, and the orange to the other, stir until completely combined
Scoop yellow batter into cupcake liners, followed by and even amount of the orange
Bake 18 minutes, cool and frost with white frosting
Makes 12-16 cupcakes

 

Are you a candy corn fan? Comment and LMK! My family is divided, Kid 3 and I aren’t fans, but admit, they sure are cute 💛🧡🤍

 

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Leftover Halloween Candy Hack: 2 Ingredient Fudge

LORAfied leftover halloween candy hack

What are you plans for any leftover Halloween candy? How about turning into Fudge?! I’ve done some fun things with it in the past, but this is by far my favorite! This is the fudge for folks who thought they never could make fudge! No boiling, no candy thermometer, heck, we’re not even turning the stove on 🤯 See below for my 2-Ingredient Fudge recipe!

 

🍫❤️ LORAfied Leftover Halloween Candy Hack

 

Ingredients:

1 can chocolate frosting (not the whipped kind)
1 1/2 cups of chopped chocolate bars, I used a combo of Hershey’s, with and without nuts and Nestle crunch bar (can also use 1 bag of chocolate chips)
1/2-1 cup of candy bar add-ins for the topping

 

Directions:

Microwave the chopped chocolate, stirring every 30 seconds until melted, this will take about two minutes.
Stir in chocolate frosting until everything is melted and combined. Pour in a parchment lined pan, top with your favorite candy and put in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
You can also freeze leftovers 🤗

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Ghost Ravioli Halloween Recipe

halloween

Have you ever made pasta from scratch? I have and I can tell you I’m not rushing to do it again 😂 I love it, but the time commitment is a doozy! That’s why I LOVE THIS EASY RAVIOLI RECIPE! Just wait until you see how quick and simple this one is. Plus, these little ghosts are perfect for Halloween. This is by far my favorite Halloween hack I’ve ever done.

 

LORAfied Spooky Ghost Pasta Halloween Recipe
1 cup of ricotta
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Magic Seasoning (link here)
Splash of lemon juice
1 packet of egg roll wrappers
1 beaten egg
1 jar favorite pasta sauce (I used Alfredo)

 

Halloween         The first step is the easy filling with just 4 ingredients. Combine your ricotta, parmesan, magic seasoning, and lemon juice in a bowl.

Now, for the “pasta,” we are using egg roll wrappers! Place your wrappers onto a tray and brush each one with egg wash (one beaten egg). Scoop one tablespoon of filling onto the center of each wrapper. To make the ghost, gently pinch around the ball of ricotta and seal the wrapper.

After freezing the wrappers for at least 30 minutes, bring your pasta water to a boil (I add salt and oil to mine). In a separate pan, heat your sauce of choice. I highly recommend using Alfredo sauce for these guys. Drop the ghosts into the boiling water to cook. When they float, they’re done! Mine took approximately 2-3 minutes.

To finish these guys off, add them to the sauce in a serving plate. I used chopped olives for the eyes of the ghosts. No one is ever going to believe these are made out of egg roll wrappers!

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Affordable Car Hacks

car

How much time do you spend in your car? Here in LA our cars are an extension of our homes so making it a haven is a priority. These 3 things make my time on the road a little easier. Whether I’m picking up smelly kids from sports or getting some work done while waiting for the aforementioned smelly kids, these items are fantastic! Especially the tray, which is on sale for less than $6 bucks right now!

LORAfied Car Hacks

car

Link to the diffuser

Link to my favorite essential oil 

This first item is a car diffuser and humidifier. The best part? It fits perfectly in your cup holder. Just add your favorite essential oil or use it as a humidifier.

 

Link to wireless adapter

Tired of being tied down to car play? There’s now a wireless option! This car accessory is super easy to use. All you do is plug in your adapter, turn on your Bluetooth, and you are ready to roll.

 

Link to steering wheel tray

When I’m eating on the go, this steering wheel tray is my saving grace. It attaches to your steering wheel, giving you the perfect tray to set down your food and eat on the go. Who ever thought eating in the car could be this civilized? And get this… there’s even a desk mode for when you need a surface to get some work done.

 

These car hacks are affordable and game-changers for the car. Stick around for more affordable travel finds!

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Low Carb Starbucks Drink Dupes

Starbucks Have you ever looked up the carbs in your favorite Starbucks drink? We all know they’re loaded with sugar, but who knew it was this bad?! Here’s how to order a coffee on the run that tastes great but isn’t liquid sugar 😉 Get ready to write these down, I’ve got some goodies in this one ☕️🤎

 

Starbucks

If you like their top seller, this low-carb caramel macchiato dupe is incredible. The regular version comes in at 42 carbs, but with this recipe, we brought it down to just 6 carbs!

 

Starbucks

Introducing the zero carb vanilla frappucino. Can you believe it?! The regular comes in at a whopping 56 grams of carbs. This dupe is the way to go, sister!

 

Starbucks

Low-carb iced matcha latte. The original guy comes in at 45 carbs, but if you order it this way, it comes down to just 8 carbs.

 

Starbucks

Finally, we have the classic iced vanilla latte. If you make it this way, you bring this drink from 22 carbs to zero carbs! A big tip here: order 3 parts water to 1 part heavy cream. That’s going to make it feel like you’re drinking milk.

 

NOTE: Because sugar comes in most of their drinks, make sure to request sugar free.

Now, it’s time to make your own low carb drink! I made a little cheat sheet to make the ordering process quick and easy.

 

Make Your Own: Iced or Hot

*Request no sugar*

Coffee

Americano

Espresso

Heavy Cream
Half & Half
Almond Milk

SF Vanilla Syrup
Light Drizzle of Mocha or Caramel

When you are thinking about all the carbs you aren’t drinking, these drinks taste a lot better!

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My Pumpkin Bundt Cake Recipe

Lorafied pumpkin bundt cake

Introducing my pumpkin surprise Bundt cake! This is my version of The Great Pumpkin. There are so many things you can do with this cake…plain vanilla frosting for a white pumpkin would be pretty here, so many options! The best part? The cake only has four ingredients.

Btw, if pumpkin spice isn’t your thing, you can still make this cake with any Bundt cake flavor…chocolate would be delicious and spooky!

LORAfied Pumpkin Bundt Cake

 

 

Pumpkin Cake
NOTE: this makes 1 cake, you will need to make 2 to make the pumpkin shape 😉

Ingredients

1 Spice cake mix (I used Duncan Hines, but any brand will work)
1 can pumpkin purée 15 oz can
1 cup milk (I used 2%)
4 eggs

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F.
Mix eggs, milk and pumpkin together, then blend in cake mix.
Pour into prepared pan (I grease and flour mine).
Bake for 30 – 40 minutes, every oven is different, so start checking at 30 minutes.
Let the cakes cool completely before removing from the pan.

 

Now, time for the fun part. To assemble you pumpkin, flip the bottom Bundt upside down. Sliver off the top layer to make an even base. After frosting the Bundt, place the second cake right on top. I filled the middle hole with candy and placed a cookie on top. For the pumpkin stem, I covered an ice cream cone in chocolate. Frost the outside to finish, and you have yourself a pumpkin cake!

P.S. Here’s the Bundt pan I used for this pumpkin cake🎃🎂

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Toilet Paper Money Saving Hack

toilet paper

Do you have a favorite toilet paper? Here’s where to grab your favorite 🧻 brand AT A DEAL…and don’t forget to download coupons in the store apps, they matter when it comes to TP, except at one store 😉

Our first stop: Walgreens. Grab your cottonelle coupons! This is the best place to buy this brand. Next up is Target! Here, your best bet is Scott and Charmin. Boy, do they have a lot stocked! For additional savings, check out the Target app. CVS is also a great spot for Charmin.

Coupons are great for saving, but if they aren’t your thing, check out Costco. The Kirkland brand at Costco is your best bet. For Quilted Northern, hop on to Amazon (here) and click that save & subscribe button.

 

Follow along for more money saving tips!

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The Best Fall Yard Hack

Do you struggle with random brown patches of grass? Most of mine are “gifts” from my fur babies Tippy and Tiger! I was a little embarrassed to have a folks over with all the spots, but not anymore! This stuff is amazing! I have zero connection with this company, this is just something I feel in love with and had to share 🍁☘️

LORAfied Fall Yard Hack

This grass and shrub renew spray is seriously a miracle worker! Simply spray over dry and brown patches.

It dries in just 15 minutes, and it’s 100% weather proof! It makes your plants look brand new and even acts as a fertilizer.

My favorite part? This spray covers up the dog grass patches while being pet safe.

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Money Saving Drugstore Makeup Dupes

makeup

Have you noticed how crazy makeup prices are these days? With a teen in the house, I can’t help but notice lip gloss can cost more than a shirt these days, but it doesn’t have to! Here are some incredible dupes that will save you a ton! I will admit, these aren’t all carbon copies, but they are so close, to me, they’re worth the savings 🥳

Drugstore Makeup Dupes

makeup

Nars Blush Dupe

Nars Price: $34

Milani Price: $11

 

makeup

Laura Mercier Powder Dupe

Laura Mercier Price: $47

E.L.F Price: $6

 

makeup

Mac Lip Liner Dupe

Mac Price: $21

Maybelline Price: $7

 

makeup

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Dupe

Urban Decay Price: $59

Covergirl Price: $13

 

makeup

Nars Concealer Dupe

Nars Price: $32

NYX Price: $5

 

makeup

Fenty Gloss Dupe

Fenty Price: $21

Revlon: $8

 

makeup

Nars Foundation Dupe

Nars Price: $52

L’Oreal Price: $13

 

makeup

Benefit Mascara Dupe

Benefit Price: $29

E.L.F Price: $6

 

You can shop all of these drugstore makeup dupes here!

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The Best 3 Layer Cake Hack

cake hack

Have you ever tried to bake 3 even layers? Without that hump that forms, which you try to trim off? Or maybe one of the layers is either too thick or too thin? This SUPER SIMPLE baking hack is the answer! It’s truly one of my favorites and I hope you love it, too 🥰

 

LORAfied 3 Layer Cake Hack

Ingredients

4 eggs
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup avocado oil
1/2 cup milk (I used 2% milk)
1 tsp vanilla
1 box devil’s food cake mix
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 small box Jello instant chocolate pudding mix
1 bag chocolate chips

Directions

Beat eggs, then add: yogurt, oil, milk and vanilla, mix until combined.
Mix in cake mix, cinnamon and pudding mix.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Spread on to prepared pan, the batter will be thick.
Bake 350F 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let it cool completely before frosting.

 

Layer Hack

Once it’s completely cooled, grab your cake ring (I use an 8″ ring) and start making circles. Make two circles, diagonally across the cake, then use the rest of the space to make two half circles. The two half circles will be our middle layer, since we can hide the crease with the frosting!

 

 

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

2 Cups butter, softened

6 Cups powdered sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

6 Tbsp heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

Using a mixer, beat butter for about minutes.
Add sugar and beat another 3 minutes.
Continue mixing, adding in cocoa, vanilla and salt.
Add in cream at the end and blend until smooth.

With your butter cream, simply spread the frosting between layers. Use the rest on the outside and decorate as desired!

How easy is that!? This cake hack is one of my favorites and makes the perfect 3 layer cake in no time!

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