Homemade soup boasts nutrients your body needs and a next-to-nothing price tag your wallet loves. Grab a bowl for lunch at the office or heat up a pot for dinner—it’s hard to go wrong with soup. Start saving pennies and check out this recipe for Cream of Broccoli Soup (cost per serving: $1.14!)

Prep: 15 min.
Cook: 30 min.
Serves: 4
Cost per serving: $1.14

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 large leeks, about 1 1/2 lb., white and light green parts only, sliced into thin half-moons
2 large russet potatoes, about 1 1/2 lb., peeled and diced
4 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth
1 bay leaf
8 cups bite-size broccoli florets (cut from a 2-lb. head)
1 cup heavy cream, warmed
Salt and pepper
1 tsp. nutmeg, optional

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Need some entertainment during your coffee break today? Play the animal-related trivia games at freekibble.com and freekibblekat.com—you’ll have fun, learn something new and help shelter animals at the same time! Regardless of whether you get the answer right or wrong, the site will donate 10 pieces of dry food to a shelter each day you answer a question.

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Posted by Emily Hendricks, Relationships Editor

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If you’re on the prowl for an extremely affordable (and sturdy!) dining set, look no further than Ikea’s Laver table. For $100 you get a glass top table and four chairs! The tabletop is tempered glass and the chairs are stackable, making it perfect for a starter home, child’s room or when you just don’t feel like shelling out big dollars for something as simple as a table.

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Tackle clothes clutter
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The weather outside is surely frightful. But you can still warm up from head to toe with some extra cozy clothes. I’m such a sucker for anything soft. If it’s cozy, I’m in. Since I can’t wear my PJs to work, here are some picks for the next best things to wear.

Polar fleece hat, scarf and gloves for $1 each! (Walmart)

Heavenly fleece jacket (Lands’ End, $39.50)

Puffer vest with faux-fur trim (Aeropostale, $29)

Jersey blouse (Macys, $17)

Women’s plus size hooded Cashmere sweater (Oldnavy.com, $39.50)

Bouclé turtleneck sweater (Victoriassecret.com, $29)

Bootcut corduroy pants (JCPenney, $19.99)

Wool flannel flats (Martin + Osa, $60)

Cable knit clogs (American Eagle, $34.50)
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QUICK & EASY holiday beauty

Posted by Althea Guss, Fashion Editor

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Wear fake lashes. Nothing else says “dressed up” or “look at me” more than falsies. If you’re a newbie, line upper lids with black liner before applying.

Think glimmer. For that extra holiday sparkle, dab a bit of a shimmery gold eye shadow on the inner corners of your eyes. Add instant glam to your ‘do with headbands, jeweled barrettes and fancy combs.

Skip shampoo. When it comes to party hair, dirty is good. It’ll be easier to style—plus it’ll look shinier. But if you’re feeling really oily and dying to suds up, sneak in an extra day with dry shampoo (or baby powder) instead.

Let your fingers do the talking. Wearing the same shade on both your nails and toes is too predictable. My favorite combo: golden fingers and inky red toes.

Don’t forget your signature scent. Last but not least, perfume! I like to spray directly onto my hairbrush, wait a few seconds (so the alcohol disappears) then brush through my hair.

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Posted by Tomoko Takeda, Senior Beauty Editor

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Whether you love to cook or consider it a chore, most likely some of your time is spent in the kitchen. Do it in style with fabulous cotton aprons from Carolyn’s Kitchen. Go frilly or kitchy (we love the cupcake-covered aprons!), bib-style or skirt-only—there’s something for everyone in this cute collection.

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Posted by Beth Lipton, Food Editor

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Prep: 15 min.
Bake: 12 min.
Serves: 10
Cost per serving: $1.00

DIP:

2 cups low-fat Greek yogurt
3 Tbsp. chopped dill
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

PITA CHIPS:

1 12-oz. package pita bread
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

1. Make dip: Stir together all ingredients; chill.

2. Make chips: Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut each pita in half, then cut each half into three wedges. Transfer to a bowl, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Divide pita between two baking sheets. Bake, rotating pans midway through cooking, until light brown and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool.

PER SERVING: 175 Cal., 8g Fat (1g Sat.), 0mg Chol., 2g Fiber, 7g Pro., 21g Carb., 542mg Sod.

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Prep: 5 min.
Cook: 10 min.
Yield: 20 cups
Cost per serving: 30¢

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup unpopped popcorn
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Salt

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring, then remove saucepan from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

2. Warm vegetable oil in a large, deep pot with a tight-fitting lid over high heat. When oil is hot, add unpopped popcorn, cover pot, and cook 1 minute. Vigorously slide pot back and forth over burner until popcorn begins to pop. Continue cooking and shaking pot until popping subsides, about 5 minutes. Remove pot from heat and transfer popcorn to large serving bowl.

3. Pour butter-garlic mixture over popcorn, sprinkle with Parmesan and cayenne and toss to coat. Season with salt and serve.

PER SERVING (1 cup): 73 Cal., 4g Fat (2g Sat.), 7mg Chol., 1g Fiber, 2g Pro., 7g Carb., 97mg Sod.

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A quick football vocabulary lesson

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Got hot New Year’s plans? Hopefully they involve a LBD (Little Black Dress). Since so many dresses are sleeveless, regardless of the season, you’ll need a great wrap to keep you warm. Walmart.com has them in a rainbow of colors on clearance for $3 or less! What a great way to update a dress you already have.

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Posted by Althea Guss, Fashion Editor

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5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 – HAPPY NEW YEAR! OK, we’re a little premature here, but New Year’s will be here before you know it. Check back at Dailysavings.allyou.com each week and snag great tips to ring in 2009 with a bang and on budget!

THIS WEEK: Shop, create, set up … and PARTY!

December 28 – Shop for supplies.
Hit the grocery store for perishables, then stop by a dollar store for noisemakers, hats, champagne flutes and tea lights or votives.

December 30 – Make a centerpiece.
Fill five to seven short glasses, such as stemless wine glasses, juice glasses or tumblers, with water about half-full. Add a few drops of blue food coloring to each glass to tint the water. Then, place small floating candles inside the glasses. Arrange as desired in the middle of your table.

December 31 – Set up for the party.
Place candles in the living room, kitchen, dining room and wherever else guests are likely to congregate. Put champagne on ice and lay out the food. A half hour before partygoers arrive, walk in through your front door to see your home as your guests will experience it.

DON’T FORGET TO:
Decide on a designated driver
Select the menu
Announce your party
Get a babysitter

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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