Frugality

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  Cluttercast - Connecting through Clutter

• A Comrade in Clutter

  Darryle Pollack

  13 Oct 2009 | 8:26 am

  While I’ve been slacking off,  someone else is picking up the ball and taking Cluttercast to a whole new level. I first  “met” Kim on Twitter, then  for real at BlogHer…and now this makes her the all-time Guest Cluttercaster. You MUST see what she’s doing on her blog,: where she calls her version of cluttercast:  “The Great Free Crap Giveaway.” Don’t miss it!!

• Just Checking…..

  Darryle Pollack

  3 Oct 2009 | 11:06 am

  ….in.   And just checking that you’re still awaiting the return of Cluttercast—which will happen soon. The problem is clutter….not the clutter in my house, but the clutter in my brain—which is filled with too many other projects, all going on simultaneously. Lots of people have the same problem;  they handle the overload by being organized.  Then again, if I were organized, I wouldn’t have all this clutter in the first place. In the meantime, thanks for your patience!

• Catching Up….

  Darryle Pollack

  20 Sep 2009 | 5:37 pm

  While I’ve been procrastinating, my clutter is still circulating….so here’s some catching up—with posts in general and Cluttercatchers in particular: IQ test: The kids are back in school and that includes Lilli, whose mom thought she would enjoy the Mensa game.   Lilli and her mom Denys first played at home over the summer—and now Lilli has taken the game back with her— to Harvard. Speaking of Harvard, which was the setting for “Love Story”, here’s the Cluttercast version: Girl meets boy while she is studying abroad in the US one…

• The latest Catchers

  Darryle Pollack

  13 Sep 2009 | 1:13 am

  Woodstock bag:  Terri  This purse is so cute! I’d love it for me and my daughter to share!  She was given some “peace” tie dye t-shirts and a knit cap. This would complete her outfit from that era perfectly even though we’re too young to remember the era, it seems the clothing and style are enjoying a resurgence and as always, what was once old is new again! Peace, man! Sees Birthday Brittle: Marty Pregnant and live in a Sees-less area of the country. Need I say more? The baby neeeeeeeds some chocolate. Thanks to everyone who commented—and thanks to everyone for your…

• The problem with procrastination

  Darryle Pollack

  10 Sep 2009 | 10:33 am

  In my case, the problem  is pretty obvious—It’s like working out.    Not that I would compare something fun(cluttercasting) with something NOT fun (exercise) ….I’ll be regular and faithful about working out for months or even years.   But once I start to slip—even just a little bit—-it’s amazing how fast exercise can slide right out of my life. So I haven’t  abandoned Cluttercast ; I’ve just procrastinated.   And I’ve just gotten into a really great exercise routine –so hopefully it’s contagious.

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  Festival of Frugality

• The Festival of Frugality Gets Homey

  paidtwice

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:35 pm

  As Frugal Homemaker Plus hosts the Big Long List Edition, and I’ve picked a few out that caught my eye: Cheap Healthy Good puts on a mythbuster hat to bust modern food myths! Family Balance Sheet reminds us that the clearance rack is not just seasonal wrapping paper! Sarah at The One! gives 99 excellent tips on saving money at your wedding. Visit the Festival to see even more great entries, and pick some favorites of your own!  Thanks for hosting the BIG list!  Now make sure to submit today to be included in next week’s edition, hosted at Domestic Cents!

• Frugal Tip: Don’t Delay, Use Your FSA Today!

  paidtwice

  29 Oct 2009 | 7:37 pm

  Flexible Spending Accounts, also known as FSAs, are a very useful thing to have.  Through a plan at your workplace, you can put money away each pay period, tax free, towards medical (and dependent care) expenses.  Then when you have an expense, you can pay it out of that fund or get reimbursed for it. If you have an FSA, make sure you know what’s going on with it.  What dates is it valid for?  Most are Jan 1st to Dec 31st, but plans vary.  How much is left in it?  Do you have a plan for using it up?  These are use it or lose it plans, so if you let the money sit, you’ll…

• Festival #201 Gathers… Little By Little

  paidtwice

  27 Oct 2009 | 6:18 pm

  At Gather Little By Little, of course!  The cream of the crop for this banner festival is judged to be: Craig Ford presents How to Avoid the Restaurant to Save Money posted at Money Help For Christians. Mr Credit Card presents Why I Collect Milesposted at Ask Mr Credit Card. Peter presents How To Get The Best Deal When Signing Up For Cable Or Satellite TVposted at Bible Money Matters. J.D. Roth presents Pay Yourself First posted at Get Rich Slowly. MoneyNing presents Help Your Children Visualize Money Mangement with the Four Jars Approach posted at Money Ning. But there is plenty…

• Frugal Tip: Dance A Little

  paidtwice

  22 Oct 2009 | 6:07 pm

  Or spin, or run, or play, or… The point is – most of us need to exercise.  So instead of signing up for the nearest gym then guilting yourself into going, find a form of exercise you enjoy.  Spending your money wisely is one of the tenets of frugality.  Maybe you’re interested in the martial arts.  Maybe running is your thing.  Maybe you enjoy kicking the ball around.  Whatever it is, look for opportunities that capture that, instead of signing up for something you hate. Exercise comes in many forms, after all.  There’s something for everyone!

• Festival #200! Ahoy!

  paidtwice

  20 Oct 2009 | 8:25 pm

  The Festival of Frugality has reached a historic milestone, the 200th edition!  Witness the fun, excitement and celebrations at Miss Thrifty, with fireworks included! The festive edition includes these witty entries: Tyler presents Quit Worrying About 80% of Your Life posted at Frugally Green. Paul Williams presents Neuroeconomics: Helping Explain Why We Make Stupid Money Mistakes posted at Provident Planning. Wojciech Kulicki presents Navigating The 4 Stages of New Car Ownership posted at Fiscal Fizzle. Thanks for hosting!  Next week the Festival travels to Gather Little By Little so…

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  Frugal Babe

• Entertaining Our Toddler

  FrugalBabe

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:16 pm

  I got an email from a reader today, asking what sort of things our toddler does with his time, particularly since we don’t have a TV.  I thought I’d share some of what we do, in case other readers are looking for ways to occupy a small child without TV or expensive toys. I’m very lucky in that my husband and both work from home.  When our son was born, I cut back to only about three or four hours of work for our business each day – the rest of my time is devoted to our son and our household.  My husband has his office set up in our basement, and we keep the stairs…

• Frugal, Simple, Clean. Three Of My Favorite Words.

  FrugalBabe

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:57 pm

  I’ve mentioned before that we use one credit card for pretty much all of our spending.  We get 1% cash back on the card, and it’s an easy way to keep track of our spending, since it’s all listed in one place on the statement.  Our billing cycle starts and ends around the 10th of each month.  This morning, I noticed that we’ve spent a total of $835 so far in this cycle, and we’re already 2/3 of the way through it.  And that includes plane tickets to go visit my husband’s parents in the spring ($280 for two tickets – our son will still be under two,…

• What Would We Do Without Second Hand Stuff?

  FrugalBabe

  27 Oct 2009 | 6:28 pm

  I noticed a couple weeks ago that our son was starting to ourgrow most of his hand-me-down shoes.  His toes have gotten to the end of his size 5s, so I knew it was time for a trip to the thrift store.  I decided to get him two pairs of size 6 shoes, as I figured that would last him until he needs a bigger size.  It only took me a few minutes to find exactly what I needed.  I found a pair of Stride Rite shoes (super cool, with little surf boards all over them – my husband said he’d like a pair in his size) and a pair of Lands End shoes, both size 6, and both…

• Ditching Some More Disposables

  FrugalBabe

  23 Oct 2009 | 3:28 pm

  This is a bathroom-themed post, so if that’s tmi, here’s your fair warning to mosey along now.  For some time, we’ve been on a mission to reduce the amount of disposable stuff we use.  It’s cheaper and far more environmentally sound to go with reusable products, and we’ve found that it’s a lot easier than it seems.  Our son has been in homemade cloth diapers since he was born, and I barely even notice the extra loads of laundry.  Amy at Crunchy Domestic Goddess has a challenge on her site about ditching disposables – check it out…

• Keeping Clutter Out

  FrugalBabe

  19 Oct 2009 | 10:29 am

  At our old house, there were two thrift stores within a 15 minute walk; now the closest thrift store is ten miles away.  I’ve mentioned that we very rarely go thrifting anymore, which has been helpful in my mission to purge the house of clutter.  These days, I only go to the thrift stores if there is something we really need.  I went a couple days ago, on a mission to find a small set of shelves to put by our back door.  We take our shoes off when we come in the house, and they end up in a big heap by the door.  I was looking for shelves that would fit into the small corner by the…

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  The Frugal Living Blog - Get Value For Money

• Nov 3, Ronzoni Healhty Harvest pasta coupon

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:14 am

  Hi, I wanted to let you know about a coupon offer you might be interested in sharing with your readers. Ronzoni Healthy Harvest created an online instant win game, Pasta Pairs. All who play have a chance to win a round trip for two to Canyon Ranch in Tucson, AZ, and a four-night hotel stay and a whole lot more. Even better, everyone who plays receives a coupon to save on Ronzoni Healthy Harvest pasta. Its really simple to play and receive your coupon. You can check out the game (and receive your coupon) here: Healthy Harvest Game Thanks so much, Mary New York, New York, USA

• Nov 1, A Bachelor Perspective on Cutting Costs without Cutting Quality or Comfort

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:07 pm

  I use cleaning supplies from Dollar stores now to assure my residence is kept maintained. Since I used a formulation of 1 cup bleach to two gallons

• Nov 1, Wanted Home Made Yogurt recipe

  1 Nov 2009 | 3:28 am

  Does anyone have a good recipe for homemade

• Oct 30, Frugal Beauty For the Frugal Shopper

  30 Oct 2009 | 6:57 am

  Find frugal beauty products for the frugal shopper. From skin car to make up and all from the comfort of your chair.

• Oct 30, Frugal Camping Equipment For Camping Holidays

  30 Oct 2009 | 6:57 am

  Find frugal camping equipment on our Ebay mall. Lots of great frugal camping items for your vacation.

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  Almost Frugal- a frugal blog

• This Is What Frugal Looks Like: Remodeling This Life

  Kelly

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  This is What Frugal Looks Like is a series that highlights different ways that people can be frugal in their lives- after all, frugality doesn’t have to be drastic or just about clipping coupons. Frugality can be fun and easy. Each respondent answers the same four questions. Today’s interview is with Emily, from Remodeling This Life. What does frugality mean to you? Since becoming more frugal in my life, frugality has taken on different meanings. First, it was out of necessity and it felt hard to even spend less without feeling like we didn’t have enough to be comfortable. It…

• Making Room for Others

  Kelly

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

  One of the things that I’m enjoying most about my new apartment is the extra space that it gives me for entertaining. Our living room can now hold more than 1 extra person at a time… it’s very exciting! Last Sunday, we had friends over for dinner. Including small children, of whom there were many, there were 12 people in my house at the same time. It’s still amazing to me that I can host a gathering of that size. We didn’t have a fancy dinner, just pizza which the adults ate sitting on the couches and the kids ate at the kitchen table. But it was so nice to be…

• Showing Your Face to the World

  Kelly

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:11 pm

  How do you think of yourself? How do you want others to think of you? How do you think others really think of you? And what kind of behavior would it take on your part to make the three coherent? For example, there is still a flaky 17 year old somewhere inside of me. I have a hard time feeling (almost) thirty-five sometimes because to me, being thirty-five denotes responsibility and grown-upness. But others think of me as grown-up and responsible, a ‘Get Things Done’ kind of person, because in fact, I am in part a boring, ‘Get Things Done’ kind of person. Another…

• How Disposable is Your Money?

  Kelly

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:23 am

  I was scrapping the food left on the dinner plates into the trash the other night when I started to think about all the money I was throwing away. Not that there was a lot of food left (I use measuring cups to measure out the food, so I know approximately how much to give my kids so that they eat it all), but there was enough left that we weren’t able to stick the plates into the dishwasher as is. And of course there’s always water or milk left unfinished in the cups, or maybe only half a serving left in the pot. Then I started to think about all the other ways that I throw money…

• Weekly Round-Up: On Loose Teeth & Cat Litter

  Kelly

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:41 am

  My oldest son lost his second tooth yesterday evening- I didn’t even know it was loose! Then, carrying it around the house in his tooth fairy bag, he lost it. Again. I’d never before realized how much baby teeth look like pieces of cat litter! Maybe I need to vacuum again… Here are some of my favorite reads for the week. Confession: I ate really old food- Smart Spending @ MSN Money What Would We Do Without Second Hand Stuff? @ Frugal Babe Cheap and Simple Home Decorating @ Being Frugal I live without cash – and I manage just fine | Mark Boyle | Environment | guardian.co.uk…

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  aric with an a

• take me out.

  admin

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:25 pm

  I haven’t gotten out much here in Hawaii. but it’s because I’m working. and I’m just fine with that. because my work involves pushing a button. and in-between, having fun. and when your work involves pushing buttons, and in-between, having fun, in Hawaii well, there’s not much room for moaning. so I won’t.

• teletype. tellitagain.

  admin

  31 Oct 2009 | 11:17 am

  “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”

• mahalo nui loa [or something else to make me sound traveled]

  admin

  31 Oct 2009 | 10:39 am

  I’m in Hawaii. again. ‘twice last year’ as the man said in the film. my hotel room looks to the concrete and not the pacific which makes me more comfortable than the trip here last time. some work to do, a lot, if I’m honest. but all with good people, and most of them with expense accounts. there might be a pilot show done if we can find an angel. [which on Halloween might be hard] I haven’t gone to the beach once, I’m not a beach person. and after my walks downtown, I have to wonder - if I go to Japan, will I meet Hawaiians? [but try the dungeness ramen -…

• the friday cinco 2 - tyson meade [of the chainsaw kittens]

  admin

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:14 am

  If you grew up in the 90’s, then you’ve lived through the grunge/alternative era, and I’m sure you can name me the big bands (Nirvana, Pearl Jam blah blah blah). However, few people know about the bands credited with starting it all - the true pioneers or so to speak: one of them is the Pixies, the other one is Sonic Youth, and the last one is the Chainsaw Kittens. Mixing basic punk structure with elements in theatrics and glam-rock, the Kittens made energetic, highly dramatic and original music. As the front man for the Kittens, Tyson Meade earned a reputation as one of the true…

• jump.

  admin

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:47 am

  dear circa-1963 corcoran boots, you know I’m not a materialistic person. I have one pair of jeans, and my sunglasses were spray-painted black. but now that you’re mine, and thanks to Lori and her insane grasp of eBay, you belong to me. [and for $24 plus shipping at that!] ‘I’m wearing the most outrageous pair of boots today!’ I can tell my friends. in fact, I think I’ll do that now. it’s nice to meet you circa-1963 corcoran boots, we’ll be seeing a lot of eachother. outrageous.

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  Uncommon Cents

• No Post Today

  admin

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:35 am

  Taking the day off; back with more Uncommon Cents goodness tomorrow.

• What Increases Income?

  admin

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:38 pm

  In my parenting class, we discuss finances once a session, and I typically write a really simple equation on the board while we’re discussing it: Income – Expenses = ? The point of the equation is that you end up with some number after subtracting all your expenses from your income, and if the number is negative, you’re running a deficit; if deficits continue, they will inevitably become debt. On a smaller scale, this also points out to the participants that there really are only two things they can do to improve their financial situation–increase their income or…

• Is Innovation Really a Sure Way to Success?

  admin

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:09 pm

  No, it’s definitely not. While innovation tends to be rewarded over the long term by the marketplace, coming out with something new is not always innovation. Take the odd case of the Blackberry Storm, for instance. Where RIM’s long entrenched smartphones with physical keyboards have carved out a large presence in the market, to compete with the iPhone, RIM and Verizon came out with this intriguing phone with a touch screen that also gave tactile feedback to someone typing on it. The end result: a phone which was not met with warm receptions by either the press or consumers. Yes,…

• Not the Money Budget

  admin

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pm

  Randy Pausch’s lesser known but very valuable video on time management mentions that if he’s asking someone about their budget, the person being asked typically thinks about their monetary budget, but he is more likely to mean their time budget. His underlying belief is that you can always make more money, but you can never recover squandered time. He’s correct. Time is the most important commodity we have. We can never make up for lost time–once it’s gone, it’s gone forever, and in the case of someone like Pausch, he could appreciate his incredibly short…

• We’re Number One!

  admin

  2 Nov 2009 | 1:51 pm

  Not in the best way. This is a bit about myself, but it’s also about people who I’m very close to, doing work most people want no part of. I’m talking about social workers, of which I have been for many years. My first job in social services was over 20 years ago, and I’ve had jobs only in this sector since that time. It’s been a given that it’s not a high paying field, and the jobs in it are usually difficult, stressful, and often not very stable or secure. But CNNMoney.com verified it all for me this week when they published a list of stressful jobs that…

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  The Frugal Life News

• Free Natural Health Webinars

  Donna Watkins

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:51 pm

  The next ABC+D Approach to Natural Healing Webinar is offering the first two sessions of this class absolutely FREE. In these sessions Steven Horne talks about the difference between treating disease and building health, by explaining the ABCs of natural healing (Activate, Build and Cleanse).This is valuable information is enough to get anyone started on the road to helping themselves be happier and healthier. And, it's all free!The preview sessions will be held December 8th and December 15th. There is an early session at 7:00 Eastern, 6:00 Central, 5:00 Mountain and 4:00 Pacific and a late…

• Improving Your Water Logged Soil

  Randal Watkins

  1 Nov 2009 | 1:47 pm

  I want to ask if any of you know what to do with soil that is holding water. I planted a dogwood tree 3 months back and saw it was doing poorly and when I removed it I had to 'ring the roots out.' Everytime I watered it and fed it the liquids were choking the roots. I want to put a dogwood in the same place but I really don't know what to do with that much standing water except to build it up with a berm. Do any of you have any ideas on the subject? A. I'm in Australia (southern) and I would suggest planting tea-trees (melaleucas species), willows, gum trees, iris, anything that thrives on…

• Growing Plants from Mango Seeds

  Randal Watkins

  1 Nov 2009 | 1:38 pm

  Q. Can anyone tell me how to grow a plant from a mango seed. I love mangoes and buy a lot of them and it would be nice to get the seeds to grow. After cutting all of the fruit from the seed I take a stiff brush and scrub the rest off and put the clean seed in a small cup of water---yogurt cup will do---and fill with water The water does not have to cover the seed but at least 3/4 of it . I set it in the window over the sink and rinse it a couple times a week. Even though it is scrubbed good it will need the water changed regularly or it will get smelly and will attract fruit flies. When the…

• Credit Cards To Charge Good Behavior Fees

  Randal Watkins

  19 Oct 2009 | 3:14 pm

  In what could ultimately be a game-changer in the credit card industry, it appears credit card companies are considering charging customers a new sort of annual fee – for paying off your balance each month. The information is coming slow, but I did find a good article by USA Today, Latest Bank Fee is for Paying Off Credit Card On Time Every Month, that runs down a few of the cards and their new tactics.Credit card companies, and their defenders, will of course point to the new Credit CARD Act, which will limit ... Read the entire article. Visit The Frugal Life News website. Sponsored by The…

• 10 Non-Secrets About Grocery Shopping

  Randal Watkins

  18 Oct 2009 | 3:19 pm

  Last Sunday I went grocery shopping, one of the best tips I got from my mother was to take a calculator with me. There are two reasons, one, to keep myself on budget and two, for figuring out cost per… whatever. As I walk around the store and pick up items I enter them into my calculator and round up to the nearest dollar when I do (I’d rather be over than under). Secret #2 is to make sure that I jot down on a piece a paper (back of a junk mail envelope) a list of food that I need to buy. I also include junk food as well and exactly what I am going to buy so that I don't get carried away.

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  Frugal Blog

• Hosting Santa's Workshop

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am

  Each year, it seems that we wind up spending too much money on the holidays. One of the ways to cut this expense down while reinforcing the validity of Christmas is to concentrate on gifts that come from the heart, gifts that are made by hand.

• Store Returns: What You Need to Know 5

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:44 am

  Do you think that if you purchase something either for yourself or as a gift that it will be easy to return? These days, stores are getting more and more picky about accepting returns. This includes gift cards. You can't usually turn them in for cash.

• Store Returns: What You Need to Know 4

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am

  Did you know that when it comes to electronics, different return rules often apply. This is something to be aware of when you are shopping for that holiday HDTV, digital camera, iPod, phone or video gaming device.

• Frugal Trips for Holiday Travel

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:33 pm

  If you are planning to travel over Thanksgiving or the winter holidays, there are some things that you should know. The Today show recently did a story called What the Travel Agents Do Not Want You to Know.

• Store Returns: What You Need to Know 3

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:09 am

  Now we start the busiest shopping season. We will do our careful research to get the best deals possible.

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  Frugal Dad

• Relocating To End Unemployment: Ten Things To Consider

  Frugal Dad

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  The following guest post was submitted by Tim Johnson. Tim is the managing editor at Relocation.com, the leading Internet resource for people who are considering a move or planning a move. He blogs about relocation issues at the Relocation.com blog. In the 1800s, job-seekers were exhorted to ‘Go West, Young Man.’ In these recessionary times, it’s become ‘Go Anywhere, Young Man.’ As the unemployment rate climbs and it takes longer to find a job, more people are being forced to consider relocation to a new town for better job opportunities. In fact, if you’ve…

• Our Journey To Debt Freedom: Cresting The Hill

  Frugal Dad

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  The climb to debt freedom is just about complete in the Frugal household, and soon we’ll be enjoying the thrill of living free of the burdens of debt. While I recognize that roller coasters are an overused metaphor for life’s ups and downs, I can’t think of any other feeling to compare to almost being debt free. If you’ve ever ridden a tall coaster you already know what I’m referring to. Photo courtesy of Hey Paul It is that feeling you get just before your car has crested the top of the roller coaster’s tallest hill. When everything opens up in front of…

• Great News! I Just “Fired” Myself! (Who’s Next?)

  Frugal Dad

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  The following guest post is from Neal Frankle of Wealth Pilgrim. Wealth Pilgrim is on my short list of daily reads. After reading the post, head over to Neal’s site and sign up to receive his posts. “Firing” myself was the very best thing I ever did – and it might be the best thing that you could do for yourself too. Before you conclude that I’m completely out of my mind, let me ask you a question: Do you continue to disappoint yourself in some aspect of your (financial) life?  Spending, budgeting, saving, investing, earning? If so, you may want to “fire” yourself like I did…

• Is A Compelling Testimony Required To Inspire Others?

  Frugal Dad

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  The blogger behind Budgets are Sexy once asked if a you had to “have a story” to be a respected personal finance blogger. It was an interesting question on many different levels. I reflected on the number of times I’ve told pieces of my own story here at Frugal Dad, and in my personal life with friends and family, particularly my kids. While I don’t think a story is required to share inspiring thoughts with others, I do think it helps others relate to you. Without a compelling story you might sound a little like the friend that likes to give marriage advice, but…

• Spooky Money Stories

  Frugal Dad

  30 Oct 2009 | 6:00 am

  The following guest post was submitted by Kevin, web content writer for Resqdebt.com. For more helpful tips on how to save money and stay out of debt, visit Resqdebt’s website at www.resqdebt.com The best ghost stories are typically made by a compelling history. A ghost isn’t that exciting unless there is a macabre reason that they feel the obsessive need to remain. While often these stories are tales of love gone wrong or other natural disasters, sometimes money, debt, and bankruptcy are known to play a role. With Halloween approaching, it can be interesting and fun to look at how money…

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  About.com Frugal Living

• Buying Stolen Goods

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:18 am

  I love a good deal as much as anyone, but I won't buy shampoo, razor blades or any other health and beauty product from a flea market – even if they are practically giving the stuff away. Why? Because I spent enough years working retail to know that a good number of those items are stolen goods; and since there's no way to tell the stolen goods from the non-stolen goods, I simply choose not to buy any of it. I apply the same rules when shopping on online auction sites. Sure, it would be nice to buy replacement heads for my toothbrush at a deep discount (those suckers are expensive); but…

• Gifts in a Jar

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:48 am

  Gifts in a jar are fun to make and cheap to give. Grab a case of canning jars, and knock out your entire Christmas list with one of these gift ideas: 68 Gifts in a Jar Related Reading: Affordable Gifts for the Whole Family Gifts that Save Money Photo &copy Erin Huffstetler Gifts in a Jar originally appeared on About.com Frugal Living on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 16:48:17.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Featured Reader: Denise, MD

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Name: Denise from Maryland Your Favorite Source for Bargains: Goodwill Super Centers are a definite source for bargains for just about anything, but I use it mostly for my clothes. I have found top designer clothing there for a fraction of the price of buying it new. Most clothing is about $4.75 per item, and they offer half-price discounts on Midnight Madness days. I also love the print circulars that come in the mail - I save them; and use them along with glass cleaner to clean all the glass in my home. They work great - and they're free. ALDI'S is my go-to source for bargain groceries. I…

• What's in Your Shopping Cart?

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:53 am

  If it's not baking supplies, then you're missing out on some real bargains. November and December are the cheapest months of the year to stock up on flour, butter, spices and many other baking essentials. A good rule of thumb: if you need it to prepare Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, it's on sale now. I've already stocked up on my favorite butter ($.99 a tub, instead of the regular $2.99) and snagged two free cans of evaporated milk. Now, I'm in pursuit of a buy-one-get-one deal on my favorite flour. How are you doing with your seasonal stock up? The Best Time to Buy Everything Photo…

• Stockpile Envy

  1 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

  Does your grocery stockpile put all other stockpiles to shame? Now's your chance to brag about those towers of toilet paper and that lifetime supply of soap. Give us all a case of stockpile envy. Share Your Stockpile Story Related Reading: Build a Grocery Stockpile Printable Stockpile ListStockpile Envy originally appeared on About.com Frugal Living on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 18:20:35.Permalink | Comment | Email this

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  Frugal Simplicity

• Worried About Swine Flu?

  BlondieWrites

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:17 am

  Are you worried about Swine Flu? Save on ways to protect yourself and stay healthy. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frugalsimplicity.com%2F2009%2F11%2F05%2Fworried-about-swine-flu%2F'; addthis_title = 'Worried+About+Swine+Flu%3F'; addthis_pub = ''; Share and Enjoy:

• 500 Premium Business Cards for only $5.00

  BlondieWrites

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm

  500 Premium Business Cards for only $5.00 What can you get for $5.00? How about 500 PREMIUM BUSINESS CARDS! Hurry, this offer won’t last long! Choose from hundreds of designs and get 500 cards for only $5.00! That’s just $0.01 per card! Order professional quality business cards with this special promotional offer from VistaPrint, the world’s leading online printer. 500 [...]

• Free Printable Coupons

  BlondieWrites

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am

  Print coupons for your favorite brands and save at Coupons.com Click Here addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frugalsimplicity.com%2F2009%2F11%2F04%2Ffree-printable-coupons%2F'; addthis_title = 'Free+Printable+Coupons'; addthis_pub = ''; Share and Enjoy:

• Tempurpedic - FREE Night-Time Renewal Kit

  BlondieWrites

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  Tempurpedic - FREE Night-Time Renewal Kit Request your FREE Night-Time Renewal Kit to experience our TEMPUR material: 3-Month In-Home Tryout Certificate, TEMPUR Material sample, Price list of our Tempur-Pedic products and DVD. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frugalsimplicity.com%2F2009%2F11%2F03%2Ftempurpedic-free-night-time-renewal-kit-2%2F'; addthis_title = 'Tempurpedic+-+FREE+Night-Time+Renewal+Kit'; addthis_pub = ''; Share and Enjoy:

• Free Sample of Biore Face Wash and Cleansing Strips

  BlondieWrites

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:21 am

  Free Sample of Biore Face Wash and Cleansing Strips addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frugalsimplicity.com%2F2009%2F11%2F03%2Ffree-sample-of-biore-face-wash-and-cleansing-strips%2F'; addthis_title = 'Free+Sample+of+Biore+Face+Wash+and+Cleansing+Strips'; addthis_pub = ''; Share and Enjoy:

• 
  Frugal Village

• Recycle shredded paper

  Sara Noel

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:15 am

  Paper is often wasted. Maybe you use both sides of a sheet of paper, use the backs of your mail envelopes for grocery lists or reuse newspaper to wrap gifts.

• Enjoy cold-weather comfort foods

  Sara Noel

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:25 pm

  Once the colder weather hits, the comfort-food cravings start. Soup and pasta dishes fit the bill.

• Make homemade breadcrumbs with leftover bread

  Sara Noel

  2 Nov 2009 | 6:29 am

  photo by robotskirts DEAR SARA: Do you make your own breadcrumbs? When I was little, my mom always made them. She had this little satchel in which we used to put leftover bread. She kept it in the cupboard, and when it was full, we got out the hand-crank grinder and made our breadcrumbs. Things are made with so many preservatives now. I have been afraid of making my own because ...

• Four ways to reuse an old shower curtain

  Sara Noel

  31 Oct 2009 | 7:33 pm

  photo by mike burns It’s easy to keep or toss some items. You might have an idea for ways to reuse something and, if you don’t, out it goes. But it can be tough to decide what to do with some items, such as vinyl shower curtains or liners. They’re cheap to replace, so many people opt to throw them away and replace with a new liner (consider replacing with cloth). ...

• How to buy secondhand housewares

  Sara Noel

  31 Oct 2009 | 7:20 pm

  photo by backgarage Buying housewares at the thrift store can give your home a unique style. Some home-interior items that are passed over by others can be your ticket to an eco-chic design. It only takes a little extra time and energy, but it’s well worth it to take these items from scare to flair. Here are a few ideas. HOME ITEMS AND TRENDS: Popular units include bedding and kitchen items, such ...

• 
  Glassy Eyes

• People Looking for Coastal Contacts Discount Links

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:17 am

  I've had a few requests for these in the past few weeks and rather than email them out or point people to them in old posts, I thought I'd re-post them.They'll appear alongside the others in the new site design coming out on Tuesday -- if I can find enough hours in the day to get everything in place.Here they are:First Time Buyers 14%-off Link CODE: 'coastalnew'GlassyEyes Standard Returning Customer 12%-off Link CODE: 'coastalglasses'Related Posts and Links:Online Eyeglasses in Two Days? Yes. Two Days!Coastal Contacts

• One Week Away from GlassyEyes 3.0

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:20 pm

  There is a major upgrade to the site happening next week on November 10. That, not coincidentally, is the third anniversary of the site. I'm enjoying working on it. I hope you'll enjoy the fresh look and hopefully friendlier navigation.More details as the time approaches!

• FREE Glasses for Five Years?

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pm

  This is TODAY ONLY (Monday, November 2, 2009).EyeBuyDirect is starting their Buy One Get One sale today, and have added something EXCLUSIVE for GlassyEyes customers. Make an order today using this link and you'll be entered into a drawing for a free pair of eyeglasses each year for the next five years.Your odds of winning are excellent in this -- 1 in as many orders there are through that link. To give you a bit of insight, there have been fewer than a dozen orders as of 2PM Pacific time today. That number is sure to rise, but even if it doubles, those are odds you'll not find elsewhere. If…

• EyeBuyDirect has another Buy One Get One This Week!

  2 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  EyeBuyDirect is having another Buy One Get One sale starting on Monday, November 2nd and lasting until midnight on the 8th.From the website:Simply add as many pairs of glasses as you like to your shopping cart. During checkout, the frames will automatically be paired and you will pay only for one of the two pairs.They don't all need to be the same prescription, so load up for your entire family (or neighborhood)!As usual this is for single-vision lenses and the minimum order is $14.95.Read the rest of the "dealtails" by clicking here.I'll remind you again later in the week if you'd like to…

• Three Years Since the big *SNAP*

  24 Oct 2009 | 12:48 pm

  There are few important moments in life that can be pinpointed to the minute. Births and deaths are the big two. Perhaps that's changed a bit with technology and time-stamping of digital photographs. A time-stamp allowed me to find the exact moment that my life changed -- 10/24/2006 @ 2:48PM. I was sitting at my desk at my old job (probably grimacing from some annoying web development task) and *snap* my $400 glasses from LensCrafters broke -- on my face.As luck would have it, I had just received a package from Amazon with a new camera lens. What do you do when you get a new camera or lens?

• 
  Bargain Briana

• Facebook Freebie: FREE Bloomin’ Onion from Outback with Entree Purchase

  Briana Carter

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Outback Steakhouse is offering a coupon for a FREE Bloomin’ Onion with Entree purchase. Sign up with your email address on the Outback Steakhouse Fan Page and your coupon will be emailed to you. Complete terms and conditions. Thanks, For the Mommas! While you are over at Facebook, I would love you to join the Bargain Briana fan page! ©2009 BargainBriana.com. Thanks for reading. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are viewing this article on any other site, it is possible this is copyright infringement. Please contact me at bargainbriana@gmail.com.

• Southwest Air: Save 15% Through Paypal

  Briana Carter

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

  Southwest Airlines is offering 15% discount for Paypal customers! Here’s How: Visit the Promotion Page Sign up using your name and email address. Use the unique promotion code you receive in your email to receive 15% off. Please note that some restrictions do apply. The 15% discount is valid for one time use at southwest.com off the total before taxes and fees. Purchase much be made between 11/109 – 12/1/09 for travel from 11/3 to 1/31/2010. Blackout dates apply. ©2009 BargainBriana.com. Thanks for reading. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are…

• Holiday Gift Idea – Amazon Magazine Deals: $10 National Geographic, $5 Good Housekeeping, $5 Family Fun + More

  Briana Carter

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm

  Amazon has some great magazine deals going on again this month. These make a good holiday gifts that give all year long! For example, National Geographic magazine is listed at $15, at check out you will receive $5 off, making your final price just $10 for a year subscription. I remember my grandma use to buy my dad a subscription and I loved flipping through it each month! Other Magazine Deals: Sports Illustrated, 1 year subscription, $29.95 after discount All You Magazine, 2 Years for just $20 Family Fun, 1 year subscription, $4.95 after discount Good Housekeeping, 1 Year Subscription, $4.97…

• Printable Coupons

  Briana Carter

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Coupons.com has released a few new coupons including a $1/4 Contadina products 15 oz. or smaller. Work this with a sale to snag a great deal! Here’s few others among many you can print from Coupons.com: $1/2 Gorton’s Bagged Items $1.50/1 Clorox Stain Fighter and Booster $2/1 Huggies diapers, any $1/1 Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Bites $1/2 Kellogg’s Townhouse Flip Side crackers Be sure to check out the rest of the printable coupons! You can read about how to save on ink while printing these fabulous coupons in my previous post “Tips for Printing Internet Coupons.”…

• Gap: 25% off Printable Coupon Expires 11/8

  Briana Carter

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Gap is offering a 25% off printable coupon for use in U.S. Gap Stores.Which reminds me, I still haven’t redeemed my FREE jeans coupon I received at BlogHer. Expires 11/8. Thanks, Coupon Dad! ©2009 BargainBriana.com. Thanks for reading. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are viewing this article on any other site, it is possible this is copyright infringement. Please contact me at bargainbriana@gmail.com. Gap: 25% off Printable Coupon Expires 11/8 Related posts:Aéropostale: 25% Outwear Coupon (Expires 11/15/09)Denny’s: Buy One Better Burger, Get…

• 
  The Mother Load

• Freebie Friday: November 6, 2009

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:59 am

  Happy Freebie Friday, everyone! A huge thank you to Freebies 4 Mom for supplying this comprehensive list of freebies for the week. Heather has a great list this week of tons of sweepstakes you can enter so be sure to check that out!This week on MomAdvice, you can learn how to make a fast and easy spinach dip, check out some amazingly great reads for the month, enter to win a fantastic $150 game

• Amy's Notebook 11.04.09

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  I love these tips on how to keep your sippy cups clean (@ plumpudding)My children would love these glittery water bottle crafts (@ bookhourcraftprojects)My daughter would love this Tinkerbell themed birthday party (@ zakka life)I want to try this recipe for an old-fashioned caramel cake (@ Scribbit)I love making these yummy homemade egg noodles (@ giver's log)I like these ideas for cooking in a

• Hello, Autumn!

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:55 am

  "Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."- Elizabeth Lawrence

• In the Book Basket: October '09 Reading

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  I can't say that my challenge to eat breakfast each morning has been going very good, but I have definitely made reading time a priority this month. I hope that you also are squeezing in some great time to read especially with the holiday festivities quickly approaching. Your me time is more important than ever!At the beginning of each month, I will share with you some of the great reads that I

• Apron Full of Giveaways: 11.03.09

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:55 am

  Photo Credit: The Nancy Mom Collection , $40Thanks so much for swinging by for our Apron Full of Giveaways! Did you notice how brilliantly designed today's apron is? Why has no one thought to sew in a dishtowel so you can keep your apron looking pretty. Genius, I tell you! I love featuring smart Etsy sellers here!It is going to be a great couple of months ahead with fantastic giveaways for our

• 
  The Frugal Duchess

• Frugal Duchess Moves to WiseBread.com & Starts a Video Channel

  20 Oct 2009 | 7:15 pm

  I'm going to the beach because reality has hit like an overdue bill: I need to get more rest and to work smarter. I need to be more frugal with my time.And for that reason I am relocating to Wise Bread as a steady blogger. I have also helped to launch a frugal video network with Myscha Theriault. Here's why I am changing my online strategy."As the founder of the Frugal Duchess blog, I was a one-woman shop, responsible for writing, editing, formatting, designing, ad sales, marketing and networking. That’s a lot of hats for one person to wear, especially given the other roles in my life:…

• How to Trim Fat From the Family Budget

  25 Sep 2009 | 3:39 pm

  Small changes have reduced electrical charges in my home. On a year-over-year basis, we have used 20 percent less electricity due to two minor adjustments. We have switched most of the light bulbs to compact florescent bulbs (CFLs), an energy-saving option. Additionally, during the day and vacations, we turn off the water heater, a move that generates cool savings.(photo by Yael Rosenberg)Those are just a few of the ways of finding additional space in a tight budget, according to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Palm Beach County, Fla., and the Treasure Coast. How do you cut…

• Currency Exchange & Other Tricks to Save More Money

  21 Sep 2009 | 2:22 pm

  Currency exchange is a thrifty tool in my home. To save money, my 11-year-old daughter has swapped five single dollars for a five-dollar-bill and has traded up for even larger denominations. She uses the larger bills to preserve capital.“When I see smaller bills, I think I have more money to spend,” my daughter said, adding that it’s tempting to buy treats with single dollars. “I’m not going to buy a chocolate bar with a $20 bill.”It’s a numbers game that we all play with our budgets and wallets. In fact, banks, financial planners and marketing gurus have launched a variety of…

• Rosh HaShannah: New Year Greetings From an Ironing Board

  18 Sep 2009 | 3:10 pm

  We can iron out past wrinkles in money, relationships and clothing. That's what I learned as I ironed clothing for Rosh HaShannah, the New Year on the Hebrew calendar.Even if you don't celebrate the holiday, September is still a time of beginnings and renewal, including a new school year, a post-Labor Day cycle on Wall Street and changes in leaf colors.Long before I converted to Judaism, I always felt a shift in September. Here's what I learned while ironing garments this September.1. Restoration: Wrinkles can be removed from shirts, relationships and money. The process requires time, tools…

• Kiplinger.com: 7 Lessons From the Financial Meltdown

  16 Sep 2009 | 5:58 pm

  In this guest post, Kiplinger.com offers 7 Lessons from the Meltdown, including: "1) Where's the money? You'd better know—literally. The reported $50-billion swindle orchestrated by Bernard Madoff and other fleece jobs should put to rest the notion that you can get rich from unpublicized investment opportunities unavailable to mere mortals. If you give any adviser discretion to buy and sell investments without your prior go-ahead, you must demand to know where your money sleeps.2) Cash is never trash. True, you'll never get rich earning 1% a year in a money-market fund. But that's no reason…

• 
  Mighty Bargain Hunter

• Friday Fiscals: Wii Fit Plus edition

  mbhunter

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:58 pm

  My wife got Wii Fit Plus earlier this week and it makes you think on some of the games.  Nice build-on to Wii Fit.  Besides, what other game can I flap my arms and fly around in a giant bird suit? Here are some links of interest from my feed reader: Bible Money Matters comes through with a huge list of budgeting tools, finance software, and iPhone money applications. Tough Money Love wonders if Las Vegas deserves a recovery. Frugal For Life discusses the secondhand shopping be-attitudes. Being Frugal shares her inexpensive photo Christmas card trick. All Financial Matters shows how to use…

• Convenience credit card users are not perfect customers

  mbhunter

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:58 pm

  This article on MSN Money misses a bit in the title: Banks punish perfect customers The article is another one on how credit card companies are hitting otherwise conscientious users with annual fees.  The users that are being targeted now are those who pay their bills on time and don’t carry a balance. These are not perfect customers as far as the bank is concerned.  They are close to the worst, actually: just one step above those customers that declare bankruptcy and discharge their debts.  Convenience users are not very profitable for the credit card companies, and could well cost…

• Carnival of Debt Reduction time!

  mbhunter

  1 Nov 2009 | 10:46 pm

  Welcome to this week’s Carnival of Debt Reduction! I’m very pleased that more of the submissions are on-topic. This is a very good thing, and I know it will benefit everyone concerned, from readers to submitters to hosts, to have a more on-target carnival each week. Here are this week’s debt reduction posts, with the personal debt reduction stories up top: The Good Life on a Budget has paid off a car loan eight months early! Congrats! Man vs. Debt has a post from a reader on how they paid off their $15,000 debt by selling their stuff on eBay. Digerati Life has a post from a…

• Friday Fiscals: Oof-tah!

  mbhunter

  30 Oct 2009 | 8:27 pm

  Here are some posts of interest from my feed reader: Generation X Finance shows how to get your cheap books and movies. Free Money Finance tells us what not to aspire to:  being at the bottom of the financial barrel. Wise Bread hones the fine art of haggling for a great deal on a used car. The Simple Dollar discusses stress and overspending. Get Rich Slowly alerts us to the pitfalls of buying in bulk. And a special thank you to”Dr. Dean” The Millionaire Nurse for participating over at Cash Commons! Hot hot hot money questions at Cash Commons Related Posts:Friday Fiscals: Tearing…

• Review of Phil Villarreal’s Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel

  mbhunter

  29 Oct 2009 | 10:49 pm

  I requested a review copy of Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel, and the first time the book was sent out, somehow it got lost in the mail.  The publicist contacted me to ask if I was going to review it, and I said that I never remembered seeing it. They sent me another copy, and looking back, I really wish that I hadn’t responded to that e-mail. Many of the tips in this book will quickly and efficiently alienate you from your family, your friends, your colleagues, and the businesses you patronize.  Try these tips once, or at most twice, and they will tell you about it, or they may just…

• 
  so you wannabee a Domestik Goddess?

• Torn Edges for Paper Crafts

  Domestik Goddess

  27 Oct 2009 | 5:29 pm

  Torn Edges for Paper Crafts ©2009 domestikgoddess.com It’s easy to create a professional-looking torn-edge effect to use when you’re scrapbooking or making greeting cards, gift tags, or other torn paper crafts — even some amazing art: Start with a fairly good quality paper — off-white is great for gift tags when layered over a patterned or dark-coloured piece of paper. Set it in lukewarm water. You want it to be completely moist but not soaked. Pat off any extra water and gently tear out the shape you need. It’s just that easy to get a great effect with torn paper…

• Fixing Old Plaster Walls

  guest

  20 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm

  Fixing Old Plaster Walls ©2009 domestikgoddess.com Once again, He Who Hogs The Power Tools has graciously agreed to do a Guest Post for us. The topic of fixing a cracked plaster wall is one that comes up around here a lot… Just this morning, in fact, there was a lively coffee-shop discussion on the subject. Everyone around the table agreed — there’s no DIY method that compares to “buttoning it down” with plaster washers… ~ Jen After a couple of years of trying to ignore the cracked walls and loose plaster in the living room of our 100-year old…

• How to Make a Greyhound Cocktail

  Domestik Goddess

  5 Aug 2009 | 3:03 pm

  How to Make a Greyhound Cocktail ©2009 domestikgoddess.com As the owner of a retired racing greyhound, and not being opposed to the occasional adult beverage, I was semi-thrilled to discover there’s such a thing as a Greyhound cocktail. Here’s the mixology on it, if you’re feeling like a fruity-refreshing summer drink for patio sipping: How to Make a Greyhound Cocktail I’m only semi-thrilled to learn about the Greyhound Cocktail, though, because I also discovered that there are quite serious (as in, potentially life-and-liver-threatening) possible interactions…

• Canada Day in the Wild East & I’m Not Dead Yet

  Domestik Goddess

  1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm

  Canada Day in the Wild East & I’m Not Dead Yet ©2009 domestikgoddess.com Happy Canada Day! Photo: Phillie Casablanca We’ll get to the low-key-Canadian-patriotic celebrating stuff in a minute. First, I want to say thanks to all you lovely Internet People who sent emails, noticing that the Domestik Goddess was uncharacteristically quiet and wondering if I’d died… got me all misty-eyed, some of you! “Rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated,” to crib from Mark Twain. The truth is that I’ve been working super-long hours on a big new project,…

• Braised Asian Lemon Seitan

  guest

  30 Mar 2009 | 3:54 am

  Braised Asian Lemon Seitan ©2009 domestikgoddess.com Mmmm… Chris Perrin is back this month with his recipe for Braised Asian Lemon Seitan to make you tastebuds do a Happy Dance, while you feel all healthy and full of nutritional virtue! When our favourite certified cook isnt busy serving up veg*n goodies at DomestikGoddess.com, Chris writes for BIAO Magazine, food-blogs at Blog Well Done, and is working on his own vegan cookbook. Enjoy!   ~ Jen Braised Asian Lemon Seitan Braising is one of my favorite cooking techniques. It’s a wonderful way to get a bunch of flavor into a…

• 
  Frugal Village

• Recycle shredded paper

  Sara Noel

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:15 am

  Paper is often wasted. Maybe you use both sides of a sheet of paper, use the backs of your mail envelopes for grocery lists or reuse newspaper to wrap gifts.

• Enjoy cold-weather comfort foods

  Sara Noel

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:25 pm

  Once the colder weather hits, the comfort-food cravings start. Soup and pasta dishes fit the bill.

• Make homemade breadcrumbs with leftover bread

  Sara Noel

  2 Nov 2009 | 6:29 am

  photo by robotskirts DEAR SARA: Do you make your own breadcrumbs? When I was little, my mom always made them. She had this little satchel in which we used to put leftover bread. She kept it in the cupboard, and when it was full, we got out the hand-crank grinder and made our breadcrumbs. Things are made with so many preservatives now. I have been afraid of making my own because ...

• Four ways to reuse an old shower curtain

  Sara Noel

  31 Oct 2009 | 7:33 pm

  photo by mike burns It’s easy to keep or toss some items. You might have an idea for ways to reuse something and, if you don’t, out it goes. But it can be tough to decide what to do with some items, such as vinyl shower curtains or liners. They’re cheap to replace, so many people opt to throw them away and replace with a new liner (consider replacing with cloth). ...

• How to buy secondhand housewares

  Sara Noel

  31 Oct 2009 | 7:20 pm

  photo by backgarage Buying housewares at the thrift store can give your home a unique style. Some home-interior items that are passed over by others can be your ticket to an eco-chic design. It only takes a little extra time and energy, but it’s well worth it to take these items from scare to flair. Here are a few ideas. HOME ITEMS AND TRENDS: Popular units include bedding and kitchen items, such ...

• 
  Thrifty Mommy

• Stop stress and save money this Christmas

  Jennifer Chait

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:52 pm

  Christmas is not only overly expensive but can be totally stressful too. In fact the issues usually go hand in hand. Really it’s time to end this stressful holiday nonsense and get back to holiday celebrations that actually matter and that are actually fun, don’t you think? Here are some ideas to cut your budget and your stress level this Christmas… Stay put: Holiday travel is more expensive than traveling at other times of the year and bonus, it’s hyper stressful with long lines, crowds, and layovers due to nasty winter weather. Stay put. Call your family on the…

• Inexpensive Baby Shower Favors

  Karen Weideman

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:39 am

  Sunday I attended a baby shower and they had some really cute pacifier favors and pink confetti decorating the table.  I thought the pacifier favors were so cute (and inexpensive) that I had to share them with you.  These are made using white peppermint lifesavers, mini jelly beans, melted white chocolate, and ribbon.  Directions: Unwrap your peppermint lifesavers and set aside. Precut your ribbon and set aside. (You can use your craft store coupons to save money on ribbon.)  The ribbon should be about four inches long.  Melt the chocolate.  Put a little dab of melted chocolate in the…

• Avoid Food-Related Illness On Thanksgiving

  Jennifer Chait

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:56 pm

  There are more than 200 known diseases that are transmitted through food. The CDC reports that in the U.S. alone that “Foodborne diseases have been estimated to cause 6 million to 81 million illnesses and up to 9,000 deaths each year.” Many illnesses caused by food are the result of poor food handling which is likely to happen around the holidays when people are cooking new dishes they’re unfamiliar with and especially because they’re cooking large turkeys. Not only are foodborne illnesses serious from a medical standpoint, but they take time away from your family, and…

• Stop flushing money down the drain

  Jennifer Chait

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:59 pm

  Your toilet is useful for sure, but if it has issue, and you’re not a renter with a handy paid for maintenance crew, your toilet can cost you big time. Don’t let the toilet get your down. Try the following… Check for leaks: Although you hear horror stories about leaks, unless they’re insane leaks, they don’t cost you that much in cash. However, wasting water is never cool, not from a green-minded or budget minded standpoint so checking for leaks is smart. A major reason to look for leaks is because one little leak may be part of a larger, more costly issue. To…

• Harris Teeter Triple Coupon Deals

  Karen Weideman

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pm

  Triple coupons started today at Harris Teeter.  This is an exciting time for couponers.  It’s a time to stock up on free or almost free groceries.  It’s a great way to feed our families, reduce our budgets, or use the money saved for another purchase.  My coupon binder is so unorganized right now.  I haven’t clipped coupons in about a month.  This morning I spent about 30 minutes looking through coupons and clipping coupons.  Not a bad investment of time for the money saved. Here’s a look at what I got today.  I spent about $21 but saved around $53. …

• 
  Pat Veretto's Frugal Living Blog

• Heating tricks (Caution: extremely frugal tips ahead)

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:16 pm

  Winter time is coming on! If you haven't had a spell of cold weather yet, you probably will soon. Here are some extremely frugal tips to help you through. Wait until you're ready to relax to put something in to bake. Heat from the oven will help heat your house and you, while you're not moving around. While you're baking, put several stones in the oven to heat up, too. When they're hot, remove

• Holiday articles

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:35 am

  I'm going to send you away from the blog today, to a few articles I've written that are appropriate for this time of year. First, are you wondering what to do with all that Halloween candy? Read this: The Many Uses for Excess Holiday CandyThen, if you're thinking about decorating for Thanksgiving, do it frugally: Natural and Free Thanksgiving Decorations And finally, cooking a Thanksgiving dinner

• Organic and frugal skin care

  29 Oct 2009 | 9:41 pm

  I do what I can to use organic products, but I don't feel as if I can afford all of it. I haven't come across any organic skin care products that I could afford regularly and none locally, but I haven't given up looking. One thing I have looked into is using naturally occurring products. I use yogurt for a facial now and then and plain organic yogurt is good for minor fungal infections as it has

• Gardening into the winter

  26 Oct 2009 | 7:51 am

  It seems to me that it's getting cold early this year. I've been hobbling about with an infected toe and haven't been able to finish digging dandelion roots and I haven't even touched the Jerusalem artichokes or the horseradish root. Who can dig when you can't even wear a shoe? I was glad, in a strange way, to see the first frost of the year; maybe because it was such a strange summer that the

• Speaking of tea bags...

  23 Oct 2009 | 8:01 am

  Whatever you do, don't throw them away once they're used. If they're the kind with strings, pull the strings off and use them to tie things together, hang decorations in a window (with a thumbtack) or put a couple dozen together, tie in the middle, trim and you have a cotton pompom. Tea bag strings can be dyed easily with generic kool aide, tea or coffee. Don't make up a packet of kool aide for

• 
  Frugal Upstate

• 12 Ways to Use Up Leftover Halloween Candy!

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:07 am

  Photo by NCReedplayer Halloween might be over, but it is not forgotten at the Frugal Upstate household. Despite the fact that we get over 200 trick or treaters a year, we still somehow wound up with leftover candy and the perennial question: “What do we do with leftover Halloween Candy?!” I asked my friends on Twitter and we came up with 12 great ideas for using up leftover Halloween candy: 1. Save it for your holiday gingerbread houses (via VisitFingerLake) 2. Freeze it for later. 3. Add a cup at a time to rice crispy squares (via Jeremy Wright). If it’s chocolate or easily…

• Guest Post: Keeping After School Activities Frugal

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:19 am

  A couple of weeks back I had a reader’s question on how to save money on after school activities.  Long time reader and fellow blogger Jennifer contacted me saying “I started to write a comment but realized it was too long-would you be interested in having a guest post about the topic?” Never one to turn down great knowledge I readily agreed! I hope you agree that she brings us some fabulous ideas. Enjoy! We have 4 children and kid’s activities can really add up.  My oldest son is 11 and he loves to play sports.  Not being one to get locked into one thing, he wants to…

• Reader’s Question: Freezing & Thawing Crustless Quiche

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:37 am

  Photo by mrjoro Dear Frugal Upstate, I am hosting a brunch for 60+ at my church and I saw your recipe for crustless quiche that can be frozen.  If I make these in disposable pie tins, freeze for about 10 days, then how long do I heat to serve?  Thaw first?  Your help is greatly appreciated! Theresa Theresa, Quiche for brunch should be lovely!  I should think that you could make the quiche in 9X13 disposable pans instead of pie plates and then cut into squares or rectangles to serve. You would just have to keep an eye on them while cooking and adjust the time to make sure that the center…

• Eileen Goudge Book Winner

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:18 am

  Congratulations to Zoie who won the Eileen Goudge Books-Once in a Blue Moon and Lady in Red. Sorry for the rest of you, you’ll have to buy your own copy or head on out to the library Stay tuned for another giveaway soon. Related Posts:Review & Giveaway: Eileen Goudge's "Once in a Blue Moon"Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Winner!E.L.F Large Studio Makeup Kit Winner!Hannah Montana Toy Review and Giveaway WinnerComplete the Cycle Laundry Giveaway Winners Share this article!

• Menu Plan 11/2

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:05 am

  Welcome to November!  I can’t believe how far into the fall we are already. My oh my-the holiday chaos is ready to start soon. I’m feel quite in a recipe rut.  Honestly.  I feel as though I cook many of the same dishes over, and over, and over. . . so I am going to add another goal into my weekly menu goals.  As it is I try to work in a vegetarian recipe and a seafood recipe each week. On top of that I want to add in at least one NEW recipe each week. NOTE:  Do you have a tried & true recipe you think my family would like? Feel free to send it to me!  You can use my…

• 
  Boston Gal's Open Wallet

• Amazon.com Friday Sale

  Jane

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:02 am

  Another Friday, another sale! My pick this week? The Strollometer Wheel-based Stroller Speedometer/Odometer. Looks like a great baby shower gift!Find your own bargain at the Friday Sale. - Enjoy! [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

• Voluntary Simplicity

  Jane

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:42 am

  I spent some time poking around Oprah.com last night looking for something interesting (to me) to read. I came across Women Around the World which aired October 21. The portion which showed the... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

• Using downtime to grow food for the food pantry

  Jane

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:38 am

  The USAToday article: S.D. man uses unemployment to raise food for charities is starting my Monday on a hopeful note thanks to Brian Parsons who has been using his time since unemployed to grow food... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

• Another reason to never marry

  Jane

  30 Oct 2009 | 7:22 pm

  The Wall Street Journal article: The New Art of Alimony tells the tale of several Massachusetts couples who learned the hard way that a failed marriage can cost you for the rest of your life...Paul... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

• Update: Man, Woman, Baby And The Book Deal

  Jane

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:18 am

  Starting back in March NPR aired a series of stories by Caitlin Shetterly about her family's financial failure, cross-country trek, move to her Mother's spare room, and ultimate move to an affordable... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

• 
  The Frugal Family's Kitchen

• Christmas, Kindles, Citrus Honey Butter and Such!

  26 Oct 2009 | 5:26 am

  Very exciting! After I wrote about the possibility of libraries someday lending Kindles, I discovered that one here in Maine - in Camden - already does this! Hopefully, this will be yet another instance of "As Maine goes, so goes the nation!"I got a MOST unusual book order the other day, a person in Sofia, Bulgaria ordering The Frugal Family's Kitchen Book. I sent him an email asking how on earth he'd become aware of the book, and if I hear back I'll certainly share what he says with you. Speaking of The Frugal Family's Kitchen Book, it's time to order for Christmas gift-gifing. You can use…

• Harvesting Our First Soybean Crop

  8 Oct 2009 | 1:08 pm

  Plus, a recipe for shrimp-stuffed portobella capsThis fall I harvested our first soybean crop; I can't imagine WHY it's taken me so long to grow them! Although I could have cooked them in the pods in salted water to just eat out-of-hand, I shelled them instead.Then I simmered the beans - aka edamame - for about 20 minutes, dried them very lightly coated with some olive oil and roasted them at 350 for about 30 minutes. Sprinkled with sea salt and then tried to keep from eating them all at once! I will definitely grow much more next year as, like most bean, they grew easily and produced…

• Books fall open, you fall in...

  1 Oct 2009 | 6:46 am

  Books fall open, you fall in...David McCord Like so many of you, I am a voracious reader, and also like so many of you, I passionately support my local library. The past few years have seen some interesting changes, shifts in what - and how - America reads. Right now, with money still tight (no matter who proclaims this recession over), libraries are enjoying a resurgence of patonage. But, what will happen when the economy truly picks up? Will sales of "real" books rebound? Will the price of Kindles fall, and that kind of "book" capture more and more readers? No matter how libraries, books…

• Vegans, Vegetarians, Flexitarians, and Freeatarians. Oh, my!

  23 Sep 2009 | 3:46 am

  Although I like to think of myself as a vegetarian, I do still eat some seafood which I guess makes me a flexitarian. Flexitarians generally eat no flesh, but once in a while do eat seafood, poultry or red meat. There are a stunning number of labels these days for describing our eating habits and styles. Where for centuries of our country's history, we strove for "three squares," now we graze, nosh, aim for six minis a day, and eat many, many meals "on the go."When I first became interested in vegetarianism a very long time ago, the World Vegetarian Congress defined thirteen levels of…

• Freezing a Summer Fruit Salad

  10 Sep 2009 | 5:26 am

  One of my favorite cookbooks, one I've often mentioned here, is Make-A-Mix Cookery, an invaluable guide to making your own money- and time-saving mixes. Basic Bisquick-type mix, cookie, cake, bread mixes. Meat seasoning mixes, and so, so much more. One recipe in that book has always interested me, but I'd never tried it until last weekend.It's called Marie's Fruit Cocktail Mix, a combination of green grapes, peaches, melons and blueberries in a lemon- and orange-flavored simple syrup. I hadn't tried it because I couldn't imagine how this mix would freeze and not be all mushy when thawed.Of…

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  The Frugal Oenophile's Wine of the Week

• Wine of the Week for November 2, 2009

  2 Nov 2009 | 8:48 am

  Cavallina Grillo-Pinot Grigio IGT 2008 - $9.95Style: W3Sicilia There are subtle aromas of talc, green gage and just a touch of peach here. Very smooth on the palate, with a firm, slightly tart acidity supporting green apple and plum flavours, and good body and length. A great little wine for the price, although some may find the tartness a bit trying. Try with roast chicken, gnocchi, or smoked salmon. (LCBO 123166) I recently posted Chapter 7 of my little wine novel. In this "episode", a winemaker comes to visit and to answer all questions.Read it at The Oenophile Next Door

• Wine of the Week for October 19, 2009

  19 Oct 2009 | 6:32 am

  Grey Fox Cabernet Sauvignon 2007Style R3California, USA Simple enjoyment here. There’s been a bit of a feeding frenzy on the magnum, but you should find lots of the 750s available. The nose presents aromas of plum, blackberry, black currant and traces of spice. A bit light, mildly flavoured and very even, with a firm acidity and soft tannins. Enjoy with simple dishes: burgers, pizza or chili. Magnum - $14.95 (LCBO 107201)750 ml - $7.95 (LCBO 527515)

• Wine of the Week for October 16, 2009

  16 Oct 2009 | 7:41 am

  Pillitteri Equifera Chardonnay 2007 - $14.95Style: W1Canada: Niagara Look for subtle aromas of oak, citrus, baked apple, and butter. Quite tasty, with the oak leading off, giving way to mainly apple flavour. Good body and length with a pleasantly tart finish. Try with chicken Kiev, carbonnara sauce or creamy cheese. (LCBO 134155) Malivoire "Red" 2008 - $14.95Style: R3Canada: Niagara The colour here is an inky black cherry. Lovely vegetal nose, plus oak, dark berries, vanilla and spice. Appears to be dominated by merlot, with plum and dark berry flavours, gentle tannins and a somewhat bitter…

• Wine of the Week for October 15, 2009

  15 Oct 2009 | 7:21 am

  Creekside Pinot Gris 2008 - $13.95Style: W3Canada: Niagara Bright medium straw colour. The nose shows tangy pear, lemon and grapefruit aromas. Quite tangy on the palate with loads of citrus/grapefruit, and hints of mineral and smoke on the close. Very good body and length, this is a scrumptious and elegant package that would please any palate. Serve with mushroom risotto, roast chicken or stir-fry. (LCBO 83196) Colio Girls' Night Out Merlot VQA 2006 - $12.95Style: R3Canada: Lake Erie N. Shore ON (LENS) This competent member of Colio's "packet of three" shows classic blackberry and dark plum…

• Wine of the Week for October 14, 2009

  14 Oct 2009 | 7:18 am

  Big oops on Regional Wine Week. It's this week, not last week. So here we're picking up from where we left off: Sandbank's "Dunes" Vidal Reserve VQA 2008 - $12.95Style: W2Canada: Prince Edward County ON The nose here is excellent , offering green apple, stone fruits, mineral and a bit of musk. Quite mouth filling, tart, with a crisp acidity, green apple, lemon and peach flavours with a whiff of smoke on the close. Very good body and length. Splendid: ripe and juicy with a huge palate. Good food choices would include soft cheeses, roast chicken or gnocchi. (LCBO 110031) Chateau des Charmes…

• 
  Squawkfox

• How to Buy a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot

  Fox

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:48 pm

  It’s that time of year when the days are shorter, the night falls sooner, and we drive home from work in the dark. Bummer. But there’s no need to be in the dark about dinner when you get home. There is a bright light (and a warm meal) waiting for you if you know how to flip the slow cooker switch. So don’t dial for dinner and order expensive take out on your way home, get crocking by cracking out your Crock Pot for frugal and healthy family meals. If you don’t already own a Crock Pot or a slow cooker, here are 6 Reasons to use a Crock Pot . When you’re convinced…

• 5 Things That Make Your Cover Letter Rock

  Fox

  29 Oct 2009 | 7:05 pm

  This article is part of a series called How to Write a Cover Letter. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. Have you noticed that most rock bands have some kind of “rock on” anthem or power ballad? Now, I’m not squawking about the wannabe tunes voiced by those boy bands and pop princesses. No, no, no, I’m rocking on about the timeless ballads from the real rockin’ bands, you know — The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, AC/DC, and Led Zeppelin. These guys are memorable. They hook you into buying their album. They make you want…

• Halloween Costumes, Recipes, and Frugal Fun Oh My!

  Fox

  26 Oct 2009 | 5:54 pm

  Boo! It’s that time of year when werewolves howl and vampires bite. It’s also the season for dishing out lots of dough on candy, costumes, and spooky decorations. The money spent on Halloween is enough to scare anyone off anything that goes bump in the night. A recent survey suggests that we consumers will spend an average of $56.31 each on Halloween this year. That’s a lot of cash for getting the creeps. Since I love a good scare — and I know you do too — I think it’s possible to have a howl of a Halloween without doing the Monster Mash (yes, it’s a…

• How to Save Heirloom Tomato Seeds

  Fox

  20 Oct 2009 | 5:25 pm

  I’ve been thinking a lot about biodiversity lately. You know, the diversity of plant and animal life on Earth. This sounds like one of those deep hippie dippy areas, but really the benefits of maintaining a biologically varied ecosystem are no different than investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. Simply, a diverse portfolio reduces the risk of a single investment being wiped out by market fluctuations while a diverse ecosystem can survive in the face of unexpected disease epidemics and extreme weather fluctuations. You don’t want your retirement funds to become…

• 6 Things That Make Your Cover Letter Suck

  Fox

  12 Oct 2009 | 10:32 am

  This article is part of a series called How to Write a Cover Letter. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. Does your cover letter suck? Chances are if you’re applying to lots of jobs without a single call, then your cover letter is probably a stinker and most likely sucks. I make no apologies for saying it like it is and dropping the “suck”-bomb. ‘Cause seriously, when you need a job and want an interview — and you’re no where close to an offer — it’s not like you say, “Ahhh shucks. That’s too bad. Now…

• 
  Northern Cheapskate

• October Budget Review: Budget Fail

  Christina

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  October was a lousy month for us.  We overspent in every single category of our budget.  While we still are living within our means, I must admit I was more than a little disappointed in our spending. In the end, I think we just got lazy.  Our committments outside the home have really picked up, and it's been a lot easier to grab a meal on the go than to make one at home.  I haven't used coupons as much as I usually do, or even watched the sales all that closely.  I haven't managed my stockpiles as well as I usually do.  I just haven't been as on top of things as…

• Homemade Christmas Gifts: What Are you Crafting?

  Christina

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:05 am

  Many people are looking to simplify the holidays this year, and that often means giving homemade gifts. Homemade gifts are a great way to express yourself, save some money, and delight the recipients.   But it can be tough coming up with ideas. Here are just a few ideas for homemade gifts: Photo gifts.  Frame a special photo or make a photo collage.  Put together a small scrapbook or a calendar.  There are many photo gifts you can create with your home computer, some digital photos and some free time.  Keep your eyes out for photo discounts and deals - they're…

• Winners of Silk Heart Health Soy Milk

  Christina

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Time to draw the winners of my Silk Heart Health Soy Milk giveaway!Each winner will get a coupon for a free 1/2 gallon of Silk Heart Health Soy Milk and a Silk pocket thermometer.I've used the random integer generator at random.org to pick five winners:Here are your random numbers:14 40 51 55 80Timestamp: 2009-11-05 13:18:29 UTCAnd the winners are:Heather W.Donna H.Becky B.Sue M.Stephanie M.How do you know if you've won? Check your e-mail! I've sent each of the winners an e-mail telling them how to claim their prize.Thanks to all who entered!Be sure to enter my giveaway for two Movie Moments…

• Save $3 on LED Holiday Lights at Home Depot

  Christina

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:38 am

  Recycle your used or broken Christmas lights at Home Depot and you will get a coupon for $3 off your purchase of LED Christmas lights.    You can trade in a total of five strings to get five coupons!  LED Christmas lights can help you save money on your holiday decorating.  They use 80 percent less energy than incadescent lights and can last 10 times as long. This offer is good from Nov. 4 - Nov. 15.   Be sure to check with your local utility company for additional savings.  My local utility will give you a $3 rebate for each string of LED lights you…

• Great Dairy Coupons Available (Select States)

  Christina

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am

  Coupons.com has some fabulous dairy coupons available right now.Be sure to print these coupons twice!Save $1.50 on any two pounds of cheese. (Any brand!)Purchase 2 gallons of milk, and get $1 off any half-gallon of chocolate milk. (Any brand!)Unfortunately, these coupons are only valid in MN, ND, SD, IA, IL, KS, AR, OK, and MO.But there are some other dairy product coupons available for everyone:Save $1 on any Yoplait Yo-Plus or Yo-Plus Light yogurt 4 pk.Save 75 cents on Weight Watchers cheese or cream cheese.Save $1 on Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt multi-packs.Save $.80 on any two Yoplait Kids…

• 
  Remodeling This Life

• With Butterfly Wings

  Emily

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:06 pm

  She was a butterfly for Halloween. A beautiful monarch butterfly. The rush from the holiday has worn off, but she still asked if she could put her wings on for bed tonight. “So I can fly with butterfly wings in my dreams.” She curled her long body into my arms and asked me to tell her a story about her and a butterfly. I started sentences, she ended them.  I am a terrible story teller so it was boring and choppy but I made it fun by starting sentences and letting her finish them. The butterfly landed on her nose. Afternoons and evenings at home can be quite the challenge, trying…

• Monday Link Love

  Emily

  1 Nov 2009 | 7:01 pm

  I hope you enjoyed the weekend. Here are some links I’d like to share to start the week. First, I’d like to direct you to Blog 4 Cause. From the page, “This is no ordinary e-book. This is the collective effort of over 150 writers from throughout the world. Writers uniting together in a race for the cure. Every one of these writers has contributed a favorite article to this e-book, creating a wonderful collection of stories. Stories of inspiration, personal growth, fitness, food, humor, and more.” All this with the mission of ending breast cancer. I am happy to say that…

• A Special Day

  Emily

  1 Nov 2009 | 9:13 am

  Surrounded by the people I love helping me celebrate being firmly entrenched in my thirties, Friday was fabulous. Thank you for the birthday wishes! The kids were off school. We went to a costume party. We ate a lot of cake with friends. My mom took me to lunch and out shopping for new sheets. I guess I am getting old and practical when that’s all I can think of when she asks what I want for my birthday. The kids helped me make and frost a lot of cake Flowers from a friend A cookbook (who am I kidding – THE cookbook!) and a photo book (my sister-in-law dug through 4 years of…

• Happy Halloween

  Emily

  31 Oct 2009 | 6:09 am

  Please visit Remodeling This Life to read more great content or to leave a comment! Happy Halloween Similar Posts:Halloween Candle Jar What To Do With Pumpkins After Halloween Click Happy Happy Holidays Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness

• Thirty One

  Emily

  30 Oct 2009 | 4:07 am

  Today, I am 31. 31 things I am grateful for. Hot coffee, sleeping kids, silence. Running shoes, jogging stroller,  cooler morning air. Cake, lots of cake.  Family, friends, phone calls.  Comfort, inspiration, nature, laughter. Curly hair, my favorite jeans, flip flops. Criticism so I know how to do better. Compliments for encouragement.  Fruit in my yard. A beach to walk on. A clean kitchen and a messy living room reflecting that we *live* here. Time to read a good deep book or a light magazine. My amazing hubby. Quiet. Calm. Chaos. Noise.  Color.  You. I hope you feel special today and…

• 
  Deal Seeking Mom

• Target: Two Barbie DVDs for $9.98

  Tara Kuczykowski

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:48 pm

  Kellie from Crazy Clippers just found this awesome deal on Barbie and the Three Musketeers and Barbie A Christmas Carol at Target! Be sure to look for the Barbie Musketeers DVDs that have the Christmas Carol peelie on them, and you’ll need a Toys R Us ad for price matching purposes. Barbie and the Three Musketeers, $9.99 (price match w/ TRU) Barbie A Christmas Carol, $9.99 (price match w/ TRU) Use (1) $5/1 Barbie A Christmas Carol peelie Use (1) $5/1 Barbie Three Musketeers Target printables Both just $9.98 after price match & coupons! These would be a fantastic stocking stuffer.

• FREE Bloom Liquid Lipstick Sample from ShopText

  Tara Kuczykowski

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:16 pm

  Text BLOOM to 467467 to receive a free sample of Bloom Liquid Lipstick! Thanks, Indimoney! Note that I have a current ShopText account and had to send two messages to get the confirmation — one with the initial text and a second reply with my email address. If you’re new to ShopText, I recommend reading my previous texting for freebies at ShopText post to find out how to set up your account requesting this. Share this post: Related posts:Text Message Your Way to Freebies with ShopTextJCPenney Sephora Stores: FREE Lorac TANtalizer or Liquid Lipstick SampleNescafe Taster’s…

• Target: FREE Scotties Facial Tissue + $0.99 Sparkling Welch’s

  Tara Kuczykowski

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:43 pm

  While you’re at Target checking out all of the toy deals, you may want to check for Scotties Facial Tissues which are reportedly on temporary price cut right now. Use the $1/1 Scotties Facial Tissue printable on them to score FREE facial tissue! Scotties Facial Tissue, $1 (TPC) $1/1 Scotties Facial Tissue printable FREE after coupon! (Thanks, The Coupon High!) You can also pick up Welch’s Sparkling Juice for just $0.99 with the coupon that was in the printable coupon roundup I posted earlier: Welch’s Sparkling Juice, $2.99 (TPC) $2/1 Welch’s Sparkling Juice printable (IE)…

• Old Navy Weekly: Coupon Hints 11/6

  Tara Kuczykowski

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:57 pm

  At first glance the Old Navy Weekly page doesn’t look a whole lot different this week, but it did update last night. Currently there are still $15 off $75 and 20%, 15%, and 10% off purchase coupons left, but I’ll list all the hiding places so you can practice. Plus you never know when they’ll start adding a few coupons mid-week again. Where are the coupons? $65 off $100 Purchase — (GONE) Click on the box that says “Eva” and wait about five seconds. The coupon box will pop up. $45 off $100 Purchase — (GONE) Click the yellow fleece in the bottom frame.

• Freebies Roundup: Christmas Music, Kirkland Diapers + More!

  Tara Kuczykowski

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:37 am

  This week’s freebie roundup is courtesy of The Freebie Blogger. Get the chance to try new products when you join the Allure Experts Panel. Costco is offering a free sample of Kirkland Diapers. Get a printable coupon for free Greenies Chews at Petsmart. Walmart is offering free samples of Prilosec OTC. Request a free A-1 Steakhouse Favorites Recipe Booklet. Download a free Classical Christmas Music Sampler from Amazon. FreeBizMag.com is offering a free one year subscription to Cruise Travel Magazine. Request a free 2010 Pocket Calendar from APC Tools. Sears is offering a printable coupon for…

• 
  Frugalize

• Links: Good info sources for annuities.

  18 Oct 2009 | 7:18 pm

  Posted By PaulAs I did my research on annuities I found some links that I wanted to pass on:AnnuityTruth.org - specializes in info for annuities for seniorsUltimate Guide to Retirement: Annuities - A great page from CNNMoney with all kinds of info about the different types of annuities. A must read for anyone thinking of purchasing an annuity.Useful info to find out more about annuities.

• What the heck is an annuity part 4: Variable with Life

  14 Oct 2009 | 11:54 pm

  Posted By PaulThis is going to be my next to last posting in the annuity series (my final posting will be a collection of useful info sources I found on annuities). I'm going to talk about the most controversial member of the annuity family, the variable annuity with life.This is a very strange investment vehicle in that it is a mix of life insurance and fund investment. Essentially you put money every month into the variable annuity, part of that payment goes into the insurance component of your account (essentially like a life insurance premium) and the other part goes into "sub accounts"…

• What the heck is an annuity part 3: Variable

  11 Oct 2009 | 10:33 am

  Posted By PaulAs I go through the various types of annuities I seem to be gradually moving towards the more controversial types of annuities, and that brings us to one of the more controversial members of the annuity family, the variable annuity.So what's a variable annuity? Here are the basic characteristics of a variable annuity:1) Tax deferred - gains are only taxed when you withdraw them.2) Fund based - your money is going into some sort of mutual or bond fund that you select (generally an annuity offers 6-12 funds that you choose from).The variable part just means that your money is…

• What the heck is an annuity part 2: fixed deferred

  26 Sep 2009 | 5:31 pm

  Posted By PaulI came across another major annuity type called the "fixed deferred" or "fixed interest deferred" annuity that I wanted to talk about.A fixed interest deferred annuity is kind of like a savings account, so I'm going to assume we all know what a savings account is and describe the annuity in contrast to that.1) Like a savings account a fixed annuity gives you a known return on your money. In fact with fixed annuities you generally "lock in" an interest rate for some amount of time (like 5 years) and then after that interval has expired you "lock in" a rate again. One example is…

• The 100 Rule For Investment Allocation

  22 Sep 2009 | 9:09 pm

  Posted By PaulHave you ever heard of the '100 Rule' for asset allocation? The idea is that you subtract your age from 100 and the result is the percentage of your investments that should be in stocks (as opposed to less aggressive bond funds or the like).Well I'd heard of it and recently decided to see if I was adhering well to that rule. Well imagine my surprise when I saw that my Vanguard fund (designed to automatically transition to more conservative funds as time goes by) wasn't even close.A little research took me this article:Money Savvy Rules of ThumbWhich specifically mentions the…

• 
  Mommy Snacks.net

• Then Sings My Soul Saturday | Hosanna

  mommysnacks

  7 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  I heard this song when I got the new Selah CD. I fell in love with it. It’s one of those songs that you just keep hitting repeat on over and over because the words melt into your heart and make you look ahead to the day when we will see God Almighty. I also got to hear Christy Nockels sing this at the Mops Convention. I fell in love with her version, which is different than Selah’s version (although Angie mentioned that Selah was inspired by Christy’s version).  Both version of the song are on my ipod. I know that may sound crazy, but I hear something different when I…

• Printable Grocery Coupons | Keebler, Ghirardelli, Aunt Millie’s and more!

  mommysnacks

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  There is a new printable at Coupons.com you might like.  You can get $1 on 2 Keebler Flip Crackers.  One side is a cracker and the other is a pretzel.  Yum! Some others worth the mention: $1 on 2 Ghirardelli Baking Products $.55 Mother’s Cookies. Thanks, CFO Mom! $1.25 Simply Peanut Butter Cookies (and a $.55 Printable at Coupons.com) B1G1 FREE Steaz Printable at Coupons.com and here.  These are around $1.09 at Target and Whole Foods. $2 Welch’s Sparkling Juice $5 off $25 Rite-Aid Purchase.  Check out Moms Need to Know for what’s good this week at Rite-Aid! Printable…

• Kodak Photo Gallery | FREE Gift!

  mommysnacks

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Right now, you can get a great FREEbie at Kodak Photo Gallery!  The third phase is active now so go try to get your $15 FREE Credit!! Kodak Photo Gallery is giving away 1 Million different gifts and an entry to for a trip to see The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Simply visit the Kodak Site and submit your information.  I entered and won a $15 Gift Card to use on anything at the site!! There will be a total of 300,000 $15 Gift Cards given away total. But, this is being done a little different since there will be phases and only 100,000 Gift Cards will go in each phase.  Once those gift cards are…

• CVS Snack: Sale Week of November 8

  mommysnacks

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. Here are a few highlights this week. Be sure to scan your ad for complete sale/ad information in case there is something else you may need!  Please let me know if you see any other deals, advertised or unadvertised.  I will update readers as other deals are shared in the comments.  Sharing deals is a great way to help others! If you are new to CVS Shopping, please read my Top 5 Tips to Play CVS!  Most of this information may seem a little confusing until you know how the play the CVS game!!  Be…

• Walgreens Snack: Sale Week of November 8

  mommysnacks

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. Here are a few highlights this week. Be sure to scan your ad for complete sale/ad information in case there is something else you may need! Please let me know if you see any other deals, advertised or unadvertised. I will update readers as other deals are shared in the comments. If you are new to Walgreens Shopping, please read my Top 5 Tips to Play Walgreens! Most of this information may seem a little confusing until you know how the play the Walgreens game!! It looks like there will be a coupon in…

• 
  Moms Need To Know

• Walgreens: November Register Rewards

  Mindi Cherry

  7 Nov 2009 | 4:41 am

  The monthly Register Rewards deals started last week at Walgreens.  They aren’t as good as in previous months, but they aren’t bad! Almay Pure Blends Foundation: Get $10 RRs wyb 1 at $9.99 Final Cost: FREE after RRs! Robitussin DM To Go (2-pk.): Get $2.49 RRs wyb 1 at $2.49 Final Cost: FREE after RRs! Dulcolax Balance (7 Day, 4.1-oz.): Get $4 RRs wyb 1 at $7 use the $3 Dulcolax printable or the $3 peelie found on the package AND use the $5 mail-in rebate Final Cost:  FREE + $5 moneymaker after coupon, rebate and RRs Theraflu:  Get $3 RRs wyb 2 at $5 each use 2 of the $3…

• Redbook Magazine: 2 years for only $5

  Mindi Cherry

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:37 pm

  Amazon.com is having another one of their great magazine sales and in the month of November, you can pick up some great subscriptions on the cheap!  Select magazines will qualify for an additional $3 off, $5 off or $10 off the listed price! Some of my favorites: Redbook (2-year) $5 after instant savings Marie Claire (2-year) $5 after instant savings Good Housekeeping (2-year) $10 after instant savings Southern Living (2-year) $14.97 after instant savings Sports Illustrated (1-year) $28.95 after instant savings Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponTweet This!Share this on…

• Gap: 25% off Your Entire Purchase

  Mindi Cherry

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:14 pm

  Take this coupon with you to the Gap and get 25% off your entire purchase, including sale and clearance items! Coupon expires 11/8/09.  Not valid at Gap Outlet or online Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponTweet This!Share this on FacebookEmail this to a friend?Share this on del.icio.usShare this on TechnoratiAdd this to Google BookmarksSubscribe to the comments for this post?Buzz up!

• Panda Express: Free Entree Item and 2010 Calendar!

  Mindi Cherry

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:21 pm

  Take this coupon with you to Panda Express and get a FREE entree item when you buy a 2-3 entree item dinner Additionally, their 2010 calendar has been released and is available for in-store purchase at $4.99.  According to Southern Savers, it includes the following coupons: January Free single serving Wok Smart entree with any purchase 50% off 2-entree plate with any 2 or 3-entree plate purchase February Free spring rolls (2) with any 2 or 3-entree plate purchase $3 off Panda Feast March Free single serving Beijing Beef with any purchase Free fountain drink with any 2 or 3-entree plate…

• Home Depot: $3 for your old Christmas lights

  Mindi Cherry

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:58 pm

  Now through November 15th you can get $3 off a new string of LED Christmas lights at Home Depot when you bring in a strand of your old non-energy efficient lights.  Click here for more information. With the $3 credit, you should be able to get your new strand of lights for about $3 Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponTweet This!Share this on FacebookEmail this to a friend?Share this on del.icio.usShare this on TechnoratiAdd this to Google BookmarksSubscribe to the comments for this post?Buzz up!

• 
  Girls Just Wanna Have Funds

• The Ten Financial Commandments For Women

  Ginger

  20 Oct 2009 | 9:05 pm

  I’m in the process of putting together The Commandments Of Finance for every woman and Ive come up with the following so far, please free to add your own in the comments. We’ll discuss these in detail in the coming weeks/days. 1. Thou Shalt Not Make A Man A Financial Plan 2. Thou Shalt Make a Date With Fico Before A Date For Sex 3. Thou Shalt Ask For What You Are Worth In Every Arena Of Life: Got a shiny new MBA and boss won’t budge on a raise? WALK! (but not before you find a new job!) 4. Thou Shalt Not Get Credit With A Man Who Has No Financial Obligation To You i.e…

• I am back!

  Ginger

  20 Oct 2009 | 6:18 pm

  Yes I know that I haven’t updated the blog in a few weeks, but I have good reason!  I’ve been studying for my licensing exam and the GRE at the same time along with balancing my J-O-B.  So last Saturday I took the licensing exam  which meant taking some time off from writing the blog to buckle down and get-er-done!  I plan to take the GRE on the 8th of November but I can ease up a bit since Im not doing double duty anymore.  Next year I hope to secure entrance into a doctoral program thus my need for a new GRE score since my old scores aged out *sigh* it’s been 5 years…

• Find Your Passion: Love Your Work: Tips Galore!

  Ginger

  21 Sep 2009 | 6:45 am

  So I know you’re saying, find my passion? Ginger, I can hardly find a job I like much less talk about my passion! Those of you that do have jobs, I know these days may find it hard to tolerate let alone fathom adding the word passionate as a descriptor to your day job. Been there, done that, let me show you how! Five years ago I had a job that I absolutely hated.  I dreaded going in every day and I had panic attacks just thinking about the amount of paper work attached to each client I serviced.  I enjoyed my coworkers immensely as we all had a great bond with frequent happy hours and…

• Discussion: “If you smoke or are overweight, then you cost me money and I cannot hire you.”-Fair Or Not?

  Ginger

  31 Aug 2009 | 6:57 am

  With Obama’s recent visit to the Cleveland clinic, who will cease hiring smokers as of September 1, the Today Show is speculating that this may become a corporate health care trend Here’s the message from Dr Delos Cosgrove, CEO and President at the Cleveland Clinic: While we are on the topic of smoking, I understand that there are differences of opinion about our recently announced policy to stop hiring smokers as of September 1st. Many people have told me that they totally agree with the idea. I have also seen and heard comments that what we are doing is…

• Inspiration + Motivation = Financial Freedom

  Ginger

  30 Aug 2009 | 9:01 pm

  What motivates you in life? Personally, financial freedom and the ability to pursue my dreams motivate me each and every day.  This is why I started Girls Just Wanna Have Funds because I believe that women should be be inspired and motivated towards breaking any glass ceilings present in their lives.  For me it’s money and ding something that gives me purpose, for you it could be around starting a business, leading a healthier life through better diet and exercise, finding a life coach, going back to school-whatever your goal, it should leave you feeling free once achieved. How am I…

• 
  Homemaker Barbi

• Urgent- You Must Update Your Free Subscription Now!

  Homemaker Barbi - Danelle Ice

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:12 pm

  As you know, we changed our name and moved our site to Home Ever After 2 and a half months ago.  Please update your free subscription right away by clicking one of the links below.  Your current subscription is no longer working and you aren’t receiving any of our new articles! RSS Subscribers click here. Email Subscribers click here. After you set up your new subscription to Home Ever After, please cancel your old one to Homemaker Barbi.  (Email subscribers can click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any of our emails.  RSS subscribers can unsubscribe through their feed…

• Our Name Has Changed to Home Ever After

  Homemaker Barbi - Danelle Ice

  24 Aug 2009 | 3:18 pm

  We’ve changed our name to Home Ever After!  Please visit us there at the following URL: http://www.HomeEverAfter.com If you are a current subscriber, you’ll need to make a few clicks to get our new RSS feed or email subscription.  Please make sure you do this now, since your old subscription will no longer work! RSS subscribers Click Here Email subscribers Click Here

• Mommy Style – Accessories and Jewelry

  Erin

  21 Aug 2009 | 10:39 am

  Erin Phillips is a stay at home mom (SAHM), student and former makeup artist.  You can find the daily exploits as a wife, mother and student on her blog, My Vocations, as well as instant updates on her Facebook page Accessories and Jewelry They can make a simple black dress breathtakingly sophisticated. Think about Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) in that beginning scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s… what would that black dress be without those lovely pearls, the tiara barrette in her perfectly coiffed hair, or those fabulous opera gloves? Just a sheath dress in black. They can…

• What is Montessori School?

  Staff Writer

  20 Aug 2009 | 8:00 pm

  What is Montessori School? A Montessori school provides an alternative to traditional education. Based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori and her visionary methods, Maria Montessori was an Italian physician who achieved fame because of her inventive teaching methods and her incredible insight into the mechanics behind the learning process of children. The hands on approach of Montessori schools allow the student to be an active participant in his or her education. Encompassing all grade levels, most Montessori schools offer programs beginning at age 3. The early childhood years are…

• Adding Baby Cereal to Newborns’ Bottles

  Tiffany B.

  20 Aug 2009 | 2:57 am

  Tiffany is a sleep-deprived mom to a teen, a toddler, and a newborn. You can catch her blogging over a cup of coffee at Lattes And Life.  You can also find her Twitter feed @give_me_a_latte Adding Baby Cereal to Bottles By the time your baby is a few weeks old, chances are someone has suggested adding cereal to her bottle to make her sleep longer at night. In fact, many parents swear by this method and encourage everyone they know to follow suit. Yet, there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. The medical and parenting communities actually say this practice can be harmful!

• 
  regifting stories

• The Gift of Life

  2 Nov 2009 | 1:40 pm

  Our only child, Philip, died on October 25, 2009. We "regifted" his eyes, skin, bones, and more so that others would have the gift of sight. Over 70 people will be helped by the gift we gave to others from the precious gift God gave to us 18 years ago.

• The "short" Nightie

  2 Nov 2009 | 6:06 am

  My mother in law was very short around 5ft but I am very tall 5'8' and she was notorious for giving regifted items but he best one was a nightgown that I received for Christmas one year I had to assume that she had bought it for herself and then found out it didn't fit right because when I opened the wrapped box I pulled out a nightgown with a 6 inch hem already pinned up at the bottom with the pins still in it.

• Mom? regifter?

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  My Mom was given two adorable stuffed bears for her birthday in November by a co-worker. She thought they were cute, but she felt "silly being a 60 year old woman with stuffed animals" So they were put away and not seen again, until a year later when I opened my Xmas present.A beautiful gift basket and the basket were the bears. I almost died laughing, my reaction was "Mom?!?!? Your a regifter????" to which she simply said, "why not, I would never have them out and I know you liked them and would display them somewhere"She was right of course, but I was still…

• 
  Sustainablog

• Plan B 4.0 Book Byte: Three Models of Social Change

  Earth Policy Institute

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:55 am

  Lester R. Brown Can we change fast enough? When thinking about the enormous need for social change as we attempt to move the world economy onto a sustainable path, I find it useful to look at various models of change. Three stand out. One is the catastrophic event model, which I call the Pearl Harbor model, where a dramatic event fundamentally changes how we think and behave. The second model is one where a society reaches a tipping point on a particular issue often after an extended period of gradual change in thinking and attitudes. This I call the Berlin Wall model. The third is the…

• Rehabilitating Bio-Fuels Part 2: Interesting Second Generation Options

  Steve Savage

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:54 pm

  My previous post retraced the precipitous decline in the reputation of biofuels that occurred between 2006 and today.  In this post I’m going to talk about just a few of the activities going on for “second generation” biofuels (beyond corn, soy and palm oil, wheat…).  One of the key features of these initiatives is that they reduce the competition with food crops - something which will only become a more significant issue in the future.  I’ll be talking about several Universities and companies who have hung in there through the ups and downs of oil prices…

• Simran’s Eco-Friendly Home Makeover Comes to Oprah.com

  Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:26 am

  Buying your first home is both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. Imagine the heightening of both of those emotions if you choose to 1) buy an older house full of character, and 2) jump right into green updates and renovations upon purchase. You’ll then have a good sense of what journalist, professor, and good friend of sustainablog Simran Sethi is going through right now… she recently purchased an 84-year-old home in her adopted home town of Lawrence, KS. Unlike the rest of us, though, Simran’s inviting the world in to watch the process of greening her new house: on Monday,…

• Rehabilitating The Concept of Bio-Fuels: Part One

  Steve Savage

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:49 am

  In 2006 I attended a BIO meeting in Toronto focused on the new bio-based economy.  Oil had just risen to $70/barrel and it was a time when environmental NGOs, biotech companies and even oil companies seemed to be on the “same page” in terms of their enthusiasm for moving to plant-based feedstocks as the perfect alternative to oil dependency.  With the very obvious international security costs of the oil economy, and what were then thought to be unimaginable energy costs, it was a remarkable sort of celebration event for all the alternative energy and materials folks who has…

• Climate Change Conference Calls on US for Reduction Targets

  SolveClimate

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:35 am

  This post was written by Stacy Feldman (reporting from Barcelona, Spain), and originally published at SolveClimate. The United States must deliver concrete mid-term greenhouse gas reduction targets by next month or it will destroy efforts to achieve a framework for a global climate change deal in Copenhagen, United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer said Monday as a week of international talks on global warming began in Barcelona. “I do not think the international community will accept an agreement that lacks clarity from the U.S. on targets,” de Boer said. The Barcelona talks are…

• 
  Green and Natural Parenting

• The Kind Diet Cookbook Review

  Tiffany

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am

  All finished devouring The Kind Diet and it is WONDERFUL! This is a book I just heard about last week and hit “buy now” in 2.5 seconds. Why? Well, no doubt it has to be my admiration for the author, actress Alicia Silverstone in combination with my love for the topic… healthier food. I grew up watching and admiring Alicia and was super stoked to see that instead of becoming a Hollywood party girl she decided to use her stardom to do good things and support important causes. She became an animal rights activist and a vegan. She is also incredibly beautiful and if a picture…

• Reusing and Recycling Election Signs

  Tiffany

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:42 am

  Election Day was November 3rd but you or your friends may have some leftover election signs now. If so do not just toss them! Put Old Campaign Signs to Good Use The results are in which means election season is officially over. It’s time to take those campaign signs off the front lawn but instead of throwing them away, why not put them to good use! Disney FamilyFun magazine recommends turning those old campaign signs into special birthday signs for your children. Just prime and paint them “Happy Birthday Ryan!” and reposition them in the front yard for a very special birthday surprise.

• We Still Homeschool… Wordless Wednesday

  Tiffany

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:42 pm

  See & Spell Puzzles Hi there! What are you doing reading this in your feed reader?? Stop being anti-social and come visit me and leave a comment or two! Copyright 2009 – All Rights Reserved – 470591a8f9 Copyright 2008 NatureMoms.com. All rights reserved. 470591a8f938f99719d53ceee12b1906 (74.125.44.136) )

• Vegan Chili with Raw Crackers

  Tiffany

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:39 pm

  First time I have ever made chili without the meat and its been awhile since we had chili. But this was good… perfect for a cold Fall night and my hubby’s second meatless meals experience. I didn’t follow a recipe because none I found online sounded good to me. So I winged it. In the slow cooker I threw together some black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, some other beans that were in an unmarked jar, a chopped onion, some chopped garlic, a big can of stewed tomatoes, a jalapeno, and some vegetable stock. Oh and some cumin, chili powder, and other assorted spices.

• Love Me Some BabyLegs

  Tiffany

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:17 am

  Here is a time tested and much loved product for ya. We started buying up these lucious leg warmers when my two youngest were pretty darn young: Now… nearly 4 years later we STILL love our babylegs. Yesterday my daughter wore organic wool babylegs under a skirt to school. Today is an off-school day for her but she still came out sporting the babylegs… this time to keep her arms worm with a short sleeve tee. The color is called Mossy and they are organic too. I love that any of my kids could wear these… boy or girl, and they do. My daughter wants you to excuse her messy…

• 
  $5 Dinners

• Smuckers Trip

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:10 pm

  I had the privilege of spending time with these lovely ladies, and the doughboy of course, at the Smuckers headquarters in Orrville, OH., on Wednesday and Thursday. From left: Me , Shannon, Tanya, Jenny, Nicole, Nikki, Jennifer, Mandy and Stacy, and I think you all know the Doughboy! The invitation to join the Smuckers family was extended to us and I’d like to extend that further to you!  We started our fun filled Thursday at the Smuckers Store. Breakfast with 4th Generation Smucker Family CEO, Richard Smucker Hearing from 5th Generation Smucker Family Member, and President Mark…

• Sunday Night Meetings

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:34 pm

  It’s time to introduce you to Steve. Hi, Steve! {Everyone wave} Hey everyone!!! {Steve waving back} Steve is “The Hubs.”  Back when I started this adventure, it was common practice to not name family members for security purposes.  But that has changed for us now.  Since his name is forever etched onto the first page of the cookbook, I figured it was high time for an e-introduction. Steve appears here and there.  I try to share his “reactions” to the meals.  Whenever they are good!  Of course. Like “oh my goodness, this soup tastes like that stuff we…

• Please Pardon the Dust!

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:29 pm

  Hey all! Same great site here.  Just with a new and updated look!  I ask that you please pardon the dust as I iron things out and get things where they need to be. And get acquainted with the new theme…and how it “works.” If you’re reading in a reader or receiving the email, please click through the post title and take a look at the new and updated site! My favorite new feature: the drop down menus, that will help you better navigate the site.  A HUGE thanks to Lisa B, Amy and Heather for their help in redesigining and making this transition happen!

• #Baking Day – Part 2 and 3

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:23 pm

  I shared with you #bakingday Part 1.  And here is part 2 and 3. Saturday I spent several hours on Satruday whipping up all sorts of stuff in the kitchen! See? Here’s the complete list…sorta: 1. 4 Holiday Recipes – which I PROMISE to share in plenty of time for the holidays! Yes, including the pies pictured. 2. 18 Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Burritos for the Hubs (All-natural sausage plus scrambled eggs with cheese…wrapped in whole wheat tortillas!) 3. Breakfast muffins…recipe coming Monday 4. Roasted 3 pie pumpkins And then there was this.  I didn’t have…

• Thanksgiving – Your Plan Ahead Guide

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:55 am

  Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the whole year.  I love every part of it… the colors of the trees outside the piles of leaves in the street that await the leaf sucker-upper the rock bottom prices in the grocery stores the insane number of coupons that are released during November the fantastic Thanksgiving deals that can be found matching up coupons with sale prices  the many fragrances that fill the house as the oven roasts the turkey and bakes the pies Ahhh. It will be a bit different for us this year.  With a very small newborn, I couldn’t imagine preparing the whole…

• 
  The Centsible Sawyer

• JELL-O Mousse Temptations Give Away!

  Denise Sawyer

  2 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  I just has the most delicious snack and I have to tell you about it!It is called Mousse Temptations and it is by JELL-O.Okay, you're never going to believe this, but my delicious snack was also less than 100 calories (actually only 60) with 3 grams of fat or less! AND, it is sugar free!I know what you're thinking (if you think like me), "sugar free, that stuff can't be good!" I know, I know...

• Freebies!

  Denise Sawyer

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  FREE KASHI TLCGood taste comes naturally. Find out for yourself with a free sample of Kashi TLC chewy bars HEREFREE ASTROGLIDE SAMPLETo receive your free Astroglide lubricant sample fill out & submit the form HERESEAR'S WISH BOOKGet a free copy of Sears Wish Book. Delivery of the catalogs will take 2 -3 weeks. Get yours HEREFREE SAMPLE OF DOVE SHAMPOO/CONDITIONERTo receive a free sample of Heat

• Winner!

  Denise Sawyer

  1 Nov 2009 | 4:36 pm

  Congratulations to JusticeCW for winning the Tailgating kit!

• CVS Deals + Scenarios 11/1 - 11/7

  Denise Sawyer

  1 Nov 2009 | 3:54 pm

  New to CVS & the Extra Care Buck Program? Click HERE to learn all about it and HERE for frequently asked questions! All deals thanks to Slick Deals - This is just high lights - to see their whole post visit HERE**********:: ECB Deals$9.99 ECB wyb Nova max Blood Glucose Meter $9.99 Limit 1$2 ECB wyb 2 Pantene Pro-V Shampoo, Conditioner 12.6-13.5 oz., or Styler 6.5-11.5 oz 2/$7 Limit 1Pantene

• Target Deals 11/1 - 11/7

  Denise Sawyer

  1 Nov 2009 | 3:50 pm

  Here are a few of my favorite deals from Stretching a Buck at Target.Be sure to visit her link at the bottom of this post to see the full scoop!Kellogg's Cereal (Raisin Bran Crunch, Special K Red Berries, Frosted Flakes, selected others) - $2.66/eaGet 1 box FREE when you buy 3Use various $0.75/1, $1/1, $1.50/2, $1/3 herePLUSUse $1/1 Target Coupon here (use 4 if your store will let you)Final

• 
  STL Mommy

• Quote Of The Week: Concerned Edition

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pm

  After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations went to the president. The situation called for not only his trademark eloquence, but also grace and perspective.But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly…

• There's A Pattern Here

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:54 am

  It's starting to form into the shape of a nut from an oak tree.

• If This Isn't A Form Of Obama Worship, Then What Is?

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:29 am

  These were only the tip of the iceberg. Big Hollywood has eleven, count them, eleven, more videos of school kids singing songs and doing raps for President PrissyPants. At this point, do I really need to ask if this would happen if John McCain would have won?

• McDonnell, Bolling and Cuccinelli Sweep Virginia

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:10 pm

  Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli win Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General, respectively.

• Important Day Today For Virginia Residents

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  Important for residents of New Jersey and in Congressional District 23 of New York too. And everywhere else across the US. Weezer's new CD is released. Oh yeah, don't forget to vote in your local elections.

• 
  Stretching a Buck

• Save a Lot: $5/$20 Coupon

  Marcy

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:56 am

  Receive a coupon good for $5 off your next $20 purchase at Save a Lot when you sign up for their Smart Shopper Club here. This offer is valid through Thanksgiving. (Thanks, MoJo Savings!)Save a Lot also has over $10 worth of printable coupons on their website. Print yours here. (Thanks, Savings Makes Cents------------------------------------------------------------------If you find this information useful, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or email newsletter.

• Freebie: DenTek Triple Clean Floss Picks

  Marcy

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:50 am

  Sign up to receive a free sample of DenTek Triple Clean Floss Picks here.You can also print a $1 off coupon here.------------------------------------------------------------------If you find this information useful, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or email newsletter.

• Freebie: Free Holiday Recipe Guide

  Marcy

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:45 am

  Sign up or download a free holiday recipe guide from Nestle/Carnation here.You can also print a coupon for Carnation Evaporated Milk when you sign up or log in here.------------------------------------------------------------------If you find this information useful, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or email newsletter.

• Pet Deals: Pedigree & Purina

  Marcy

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:41 am

  Here are a couple of pet food deals that I wanted to make sure you are aware of.Sign up for the Pedigree Puppy Program and receive a newsletter, puppy care guide, and $10 in coupons! (Thanks, FreeStuff4FreeYou can also print a $3/1 coupon for Purina Pro Plan Selects Cat or Dog Food here. (Thanks, KC Penny Pinchin MamaHave you spied any other pet deals recently? ------------------------------------------------------------------If you find this information useful, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or email newsletter.

• Target: 6 Wii Games for $30

  Marcy

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:31 am

  Wii Games are on sale at Target this week (through Saturday). Along with the new toy coupons that were released, you can get 6 games for $30! Read more here.Find a complete list of Target deals for this week here.------------------------------------------------------------------If you find this information useful, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or email newsletter.

• 
  "Deal"icious Mom

• Today’s Fast Freebies

  dealiciousmom

  7 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  11/7/09 * Get a free Bloomin’ Onion with entree purchase at Outback Steakhouse. Just sign up with your email address on the Outback Steakhouse Fan Page here and just wait for your coupon will be emailed to you. * If you are a Norah Jones fan you can listen to her entire new album here for free. (Thanks goes to My Frugal Adventures for this one) Think you missed any freebies? Check out my previous freebies posts here.

• Priceless Post: Top 10 Things You Should Never Pay For Again

  dealiciousmom

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Here is a great post written by Lissa over at Saving Your Cents. She writes about the top ten things you should never pay for again . She learned this (and so have I) after becoming a dedicated, experienced couponer and realizing how many things you can get for free by watching sales and using the right coupons. This is a great post for people who are new to coupons or just starting out. All the items in Lissa post are truly items you can get for free with coupons and sales. I don’t remember the last time I had to pay for toothpaste, razors or shampoo. I think back to the days before I…

• Today’s Fast Freebies

  dealiciousmom

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  11/6/09 * Get a free sample of Dentek Floss Picks from Wal-Mart here. * Go here to sign up for a free recipe book from Carnation. * Get a free Sun-Rype FruitSource bar from GNC with this coupon Think you missed any freebies? Check out my previous freebies posts here.

• Reminder: YouData’s Payday is Tomorrow – Start Clicking Those Ads!

  dealiciousmom

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  This a reminder for both you and me that tomorrow (Friday) is YouData’s payday so if you haven’t gone over to YouData yet this week to click on your websites to earn your money then you should go today to ensure you get some money tomorrow in your PayPal account. If you are a member of YouData you can sign in here. If you want to join you can join here. Here is my original post on YouData for those of you who are interested in learning more. Keep in mind that you probably will only be making a few cents or dollars a week but every cent counts right. I usually have a couple ads to…

• Get Double Points Today Only at Disney Movie Rewards

  dealiciousmom

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:30 am

  Today, November 5th,  is Double Points Day at Disney Movie Rewards. This means that for every code entered today, you’ll get Double Points! (see terms and restrictions below). So if you have any new Disney movies laying around or you have been procrastinating about entering points, today is the day! I also recently found out that you can get 50 Disney Movie Rewards points for each movie ticket as well so I thought I would pass that piece of info on to you all. Now I wish I had saved those those Toy Story 3D stubs from earlier this month! You can start entering codes here. *Double…

• 
  Couponing 101

• Coupon Preview 11/8

  Stephanie

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:19 pm

  There will be TWO inserts in this weekend’s paper – 1 Smartsource (SS) and 1 Redplum (RP). Head over to Sunday Coupon Preview to see a complete list of the coupons coming out! You can order a few extras of your favorite coupons from The Coupon Clippers for just a small handling fee! I’m looking forward to these Qs: $1/1 Colgate Max White, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate Total, Colgate Sensitive or Colgate Kids Toothpaste $1/1 Diamond Nuts Product 55¢/2 Dole Mandarin Oranges or Tropical Fruit 40¢/1 Fleischmann’s Yeast $1/2 Hershey’s Kisses, Reese’s, Hershey’s,…

• Freebie Friday 11/6

  Stephanie

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:09 pm

  Wow, there are a lot of freebies this week!  Enjoy! Free $15 Credit from Kodak Gallery Free Sample of Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Body Wash (Thanks, KC Penny Pinchin Mama!) Free Sample of Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Free Sample of Pampers Extra Protection Diapers Free Sample of GoodNites Underpants Free Sample of Kirkland’s Signature Supreme Diapers 2 Free Issues of Family Circle Magazine (Thanks, Bargain Briana!) Free Sample of Betty Crocker Potatoes when you sign up for the Dinner Made Easy email newsletter. (Thanks, Bree!) Free Sample of PowerBar Gel Blasts Get a Free…

• Operation Christmas Child | Save Money Packing Shoe Boxes

  Stephanie

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:18 pm

  I love, love, love Operation Christmas Child.  I would pack hundreds of shoe boxes if I could.  One thing I am able to do though, is pack more shoe boxes than I could if I didn’t use coupons.  Being able to give generously is just one of the many benefits of couponing. I’m going to show you how to pack your shoe boxes to the brim with goodies, without breaking the bank! Some of the shoe box gift ideas are hygiene items.  I’m sure you’ve found by now, that there is no shortage of toothpaste or toothbrushes in a couponers house!  I actually found some really cute…

• Gymboree: 30% off Everything Coupon

  Stephanie

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:29 pm

  Through November 8th you can use this Printable Coupon to save 30% on your entire purchase at Gymboree.  You can also shop online and use code GYMCLUB to get the 30% discount.  Free shipping on orders over $100! Gymboree prices are majorly a tad on the high side, but if you know how to shop there, you can get high quality clothes and even beat Walmart’s prices! I suggest shopping the clearance racks looking for pieces that are at least 50% off the original price.  Then use the coupon to save an additional 30%. Plus, it’s Gymbuck earning time!  Gymbucks are coupons that can be…

• Albertson’s Deals 11/4 – 11/10

  Stephanie

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:01 pm

  These are the Albertson’s Deals for the North East Texas area. Prices may vary by region. My Albertson’s policy is to triple coupons up to 35¢ and double coupons up 50¢. My Albertson’s will double/triple up to 4 like coupons per transaction. If you need help with abbreviations, please reference this post: Couponing Terms & Abbreviations. Here are the best deals I see this week: Blue Bell Ice Cream $3.99 - $1/1 Printable Coupon = $2.99 Dole Pineapple $1 - 50¢/1 Printable Coupon (when you play the game) = Free Minute Rice Ready to Serve Rice Cups $1.79 - 50¢/1 Printable Coupon =…

• 
  Surviving The Stores

• Simply Noise: FREE Online White Noise Generator

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:58 pm

  I first found Simply Noise when we went on a mini-family vacation and forgot our “white noise” sound machine that I need our little one needs to sleep well at night. It is a very simple website that will continuously play white noise for as long as you need it to! You can adjust the volume right there on the Simply Noise site, adjust the type of noise that’s played (you can select white, pink, or brown noise), and adjust whether the sound oscillates so that it sounds like waves in the background. I always use this site now when I stay at a hotel with unlimited internet…

• Old Navy: $1 Scarves on Saturday ONLY

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:31 pm

  This Saturday (November 7th) Old Navy is selling their fleece scarves for only $1! These are the scarves that are regularly priced around $5. (Limit 5 per customer) All of the Saturday Old Navy sales like this sell out super quickly, so I would highly recommend getting there early! (Thanks, Coupon Cravings!)

• Kodak Gallery: FREE $15 credit to the first 100,000

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:47 pm

  Kodak is giving away 100,000 $15 credits (they will send you an email with the code) between today (November 6th) and November 13th, when you sign up for the Kodak Gallery HERE (it’s free to sign up!) If you are not one of the first 100,000 to sign up, you will still get a 40% off code (which is great too!) AND their prints are only 9¢ each! You can have one account per email address, so if you tried to get the $15 credit last time around & didn’t sign up in time, then you can use a different email address to sign up this time.  Also, the limit is one $15 credit per person,…

• Bath & Body Works: Signature Products for $3.33 each

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:17 pm

  Here’s a great deal that’s going on at Bath & Body Works right now: Buy 3 Signature Collection Products, Get 3 for FREE Buy 6 @ $10 each – $30 (3 you pay for, 3 are free) Use $10/$30 printable coupon Pay $20 total ($3.33 each) for 6 signature collection products These would make great Christmas gifts! (Thanks, NWA Deals!)

• Fun Friday Freebies!

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  For more freebies and samples, make sure to check out FreeFly’s, Coolsavings, and Mysavings! For the sites where you have to register to view the freebies, once you register, it will take you to several pages of offers. All you need to do is retype in the original site address and you will automatically be logged in to get your freebies! For all freebies offers, I always recommend using a “deals-only” email address and a FREE voicemail-only phone number from Voicemail4Free Borders – Print a Buy 1 Get 1 50% off coupon HERE. (exp 11/9) Powerbar Energy Gel Blasts –…

• 
  This Side of Eternity

• I Almost Love to Clean

  Kristie.

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:18 pm

  We spent most of the day preparing for my daughter's 16th birthday party tomorrow. I love whenever we have a birthday around here because that usually means we'll be having a birthday party.  And that means we will need to really clean the house.  Birthday parties are the best excuse to get your house really clean. Especially because whoever is having the party is generally very happy to help with the cleaning. So, today my daughter was a cleaning fanatic.  I was happy to help and try out the Ultimate Cloth that I had sent to me to review recently. I wasn't so sure about it at…

• Zoo Boo & Child Predators

  Kristie.

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:44 am

  We decided to check out the Zoo Boo this year for Halloween. It was neat, but since we'd never done this before we didn't know that it was mostly geared towards very young kids.  Still, we made the most out of it and had a nice time. One thing I was very disturbed over was the single 40ish man walking around by himself. Sure he has every right to visit the Zoo Boo.  But there was just something about him that set off an alarm in this moms heart.  I was standing with my son and husband looking at one enclosure with a snake in it.  Our daughter had moved to the next…

• Little Debbie Share-A-Thon is Coming to Detroit!

  Kristie.

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:50 pm

  Guess what? The Little Debbie Share-A-Thon is coming to Detroit! That's right, they'll be here on Sunday and Monday with lots and lots of cupcakes.  And I'll be with them!  I am so excited to have the opportunity to meet the Little Debbie crew and pass out cupcakes too! And if you check out the graphic at the top of this post, you'll see that you could have the chance to win one of the Little Debbie cupcake cars for yourself. Check out this video to get a better idea of what's coming to Detroit exactly. And you can print a coupon for $.75 off Little Debbie cupcakes.

• The Human Body Detectives Review

  Kristie.

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:45 am

  If you are looking for a fun and new way to present the subject of health and nutrition to your kids, then The Human Body Detectives may be just what you are looking for. Dr.Heather Manley, N.D. saw that there was a need for a fun approach to teaching kids simple health and nutrition topics such as how the digestive system works. The one I recently got to use with my son called The Lucky Escape which is the first case of Merrin and Pearl, the main characters in the stories. This is an imaginative adventure through the digestive system using an audio CD to tell the story of how Merrin and…

• My Miracle!

  Kristie.

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:18 pm

  Sixteen years ago today, I was one frightened sixteen year old. I had to be rushed to the hospital at 5 o'clock in the morning because the baby I was carrying decided it was time to meet the world - 2 months early! Here I was a very unprepared child myself getting ready to bring a new life into the world!  I had no idea what was to come in the next several days, and neither did anyone else.  All I knew was my life was about to change forever. It turns out that I had a very severe case of Toxemia and I was in labor!  I was also in shock.  She wasn't due to be born until…

• 
  Craving the Savings

• Target Wii Game Deal Update

  Susan

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:45 am

  I mentioned yesterday that you would need two computers to print the Wii coupons, but then found the coupon is in the Hot Coupon World Target coupon generator, so you can print unlimited numbers of the coupon. I printed three more coupons and headed out to see what other Targets in my area had in stock. I found another six games at the Target in Addison (TX), but the cashier would only let me use two of the three coupons. That Target normally won’t let me use more than one like coupon in the same transaction so I hesitated to shop there, but they were the only store in my area that had…

• My Target Trip (non-Wii game purchases) - 11/5

  Susan

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

  While making my Wii game purchases, I also checked out the Halloween clearance at Target. Halloween candy is marked down by 50%, but everything else is 75% off. I purchased the following: Pumpkin short-sleeved t-shirt (kid’s) - $1.24 Halloween long-sleeved t-shirt (adult) - $2.00 Polka dot leggings (kid’s) - $1.49 (these can be worn any time - does not have Halloween theme on them) Glow in the Dark ghost pillow case - $1.24 Pumpkin Carving Kit - $0.99 Fright Light Pumpkin Decorating Kit - $0.99 Halloween-themed dish towels (2) - $1.25 each (these were 50% off so I’m going to…

• Target Wii Game Deal

  Susan

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:59 pm

  I will post a photo later, but I stopped by Target on the way to work this morning to take advantage of a Target deal I saw Alyssa mention yesterday on Twitter. She posted details here. Also check out The Frugal Find who originally posted this information. You will need access to two computers to print three Target coupons for $10/2 Wii Games. Use the three coupons with the “Buy two Wii games, get one free promotion” at Target this week. Buy a total of six games, but make sure they are all approximately the same price because they’ll deduct the two cheapest games. There are…

• Swagbucks alert!

  Susan

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:52 pm

  I don’t normally post Swagcode opportunities because they come along pretty regularly and are usually for 1 or 2 Swagbucks, but this one is worth FOUR Swagbucks and is valid until 4:30 PM Central time. If you participate in Swagbucks, head over to the blog to get the code! If you’re not a member of Swagbucks, sign up here and start earning SBs to redeem for gift cards and other prizes!

• Penzeys Spice Catalog - free jar of spices

  Susan

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:27 am

  If you have a Penzeys Spices retail location near you, request a catalog and possibly receive a coupon for a free jar of spices! I spotted this on Slickdeals.net and it sounds like most, if not every catalog they send out comes with a coupon for a free jar of spices. One person mentioned Penzeys Spices will specify which jar you can get for free. There is one location in Dallas near LBJ and Preston Road.

• 
  THINGS I FOUND (at the thrift store)

• Things I’ve Found Lately (and why).

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:25 pm

  This week I go solo and show you some personal items I’ve recently nabbed. I cover what I look for in a thrift store, and what you should be keeping and eye out for when you’re out thrifting. Click the image above for the video. I also posted a few shots from some other goods I picked up recently. Mostly books – as usual. All of the books were under a buck. The camera bag (shown in the video) was $2.99. BE A TRUE FAN: Add us on FaceBook Fan Page. We appreciate it! * HEAD ON OVER: Arc’s Value Village Thrift Stores & Donation Centers Opens in Saint Paul. Arc’s Value…

• How To Start A Thrift Store With Culley Donovan

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  24 Oct 2009 | 8:16 pm

  We check out Minneapolis’ newest thrift store Lost & Found. Co-owner Culley Donovan gives us the inside scoop on what it takes to start and get a thrift store off the ground and gives us an interesting in-store tour. Culley turned his passion for thrifting into one of the best thrift stores Minneapolis has to offer orthat frankly, I’ve ever been in. It has a little bit of everything, all hand-picked gems by the man himself – check it out! See the video here. (18 mins.) http://www.foundthrift.com

• Don’t Dwell On It – Act On Your Passion!

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  20 Oct 2009 | 11:26 pm

  EXTRA LIGHT THRIFTING week on my end. Lots of stuff going on this Fall. Fall is when most businesses slough off the last of their peeling suntans and kick it back into high gear. I managed to score a small stack of Dwell magazines for $2 each. It’s one of my top 3 favorite publications of all time. A little design, a little architecture, a little product design thrown in for good measure, just all around good, idea sparking reading. Check it out here and get a subscription whydont’cha. SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC: I’d like to mention/PLUG something for all you readers. About 2 years…

• Noah Visits A Thrift Store (for the very first time)

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  14 Oct 2009 | 6:35 pm

  MORE FRESH VIDEO GOODNESS to warm you up. My pal Noah and I visit a thrift store, so what – right? The thing is Noah has NEVER EVEN BEEN IN A THRIFT STORE. I know right?! This hit me as really odd. But he’s a good guy, so I took him to one, and here’s his before and after reaction. Enjoy.

• Why Upcycling Is Better Than Recycling

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  12 Oct 2009 | 10:15 am

  Came across this post about upcycling instead of recycling on one of my favorite sites Planet Green. Seemed like a fitting post as its started to snow here in lovely Minneapolis. BRING FORTH the indoorsy wintertime activities!

• 
  Engineer a debt free life

• Another free swagcode at Swagbucks

  Money Savin' Momma

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pm

  New swagcode (new swag code) at Swagbucks / Swag Bucks... get the new Swag bucks code / new Swagbucks code on 11/6/09 (November 6)!A new swag code / swagcode = FREE MONEY FOR YOU!You need to join Swagbucks if you haven't yet! Get 3 bucks free just for signing up!New to Swag Bucks? It's a site that pays you for searching online, like getting paid for the Google searches you already do!Read more about Swagbucks ---> here!Learn what a swag code is and how to use it ---> here!Where do you enter a swag code? Click ---> hereWe also get paid to rate websites with iRazoo---New Swag Code Location…

• $30 an hour for a paid survey!

  Money Savin' Momma

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am

  $30 an hour for a paid survey! We are alerting our readers to new high paying survey opportunities as part of ourChristmas Cashseries, so I wanted to let you know that I just received a $10 paid survey invitation from Greenfield Online for a 20 minute survey. This works out to $30 an hour! If you haven't signed up for Greenfield Online yet, sign up ASAP and then check your account for this survey. If you are already a member of Greenfield Online, look for survey 1080115-US on Personal Care Products. I have been a member of Greenfield Online survey panel since 2003 and have been personally…

• $15 FREE credit at Kodak Gallery - final chance

  Money Savin' Momma

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  $15 FREE credit at Kodak Gallery- final chance! Phase 3 of this promotion just began, so if you missed the free $15 credit we posted about on October 20 & 29, get it ASAP! This offer is one per person, so if there are other people in your household who have not done this offer, they can get a $15 credit too! Kodak Gallery is giving away 100,000 FREE $15 credits to use on anything in their online store. They have great photo gifts like mugs, coasters, photo books, puzzles, you name it... (with several under $15!), so this means you could get some potentially Free Christmas Presents! They…

• 1-800-Flowers deal: $40 FREE!

  Money Savin' Momma

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  1-800-Flowers deal: $40 FREE: You can get a FREE $40 Fresh Rewards Pass from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM! I just signed up for this deal, and the person who told us about it said it took 2 days to receive their rewards pass, and that they did indeed receive their free $40. In reading the fine print, it looks like it could take up to several weeks to receive the free $40, so be patient. Also, as with any offer, companies can pull the offer anytime, especially when these offers spread virally through the internet... Here's hoping they don't pull this offer before we all receive our free $40!Here's how it…

• HOTTEST Freebies, deals, giveaways this week

  Money Savin' Momma

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:45 am

  Here are some of the hottest freebies / deals/ giveaways for November 6:GIVEAWAY on our website: $200 Amazon gift card giveawayGIVEAWAY on our website: $200 CASH giveawayGIVEAWAY on our website: Zhu Zhu Pets giveawayFREEBIES & DEALS:Get FREEBIES just for grocery shopping that you already do!$5 cash free via PaypalFREE prescription eyeglasses75% off groceries$15 FREE from Kodak Gallery - available a 3rd time!FREE movie rentals for ONE MONTH!Get paid to try free products$30 an hour for a paid survey!Blu Ray Player for $127 shippedIt's Friday, so here's a new Freebies, Deals, & Giveaways…

• 
  Freebies and Much More...

• 3 Complimentary Issues of Wood Magazine

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

  The #1 magazine for home woodworkers. WOOD Magazine, which was launched in 1984, features shop-tested tips and techniques for accuracy, tool reviews and interviews with other woodworkers.

• Free Sample of KIRKLAND Signature Supreme Diaper (Costco)

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:30 pm

• Free Samples of Breathe Right Nasal Strips

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:04 pm

• Free Kashi TLC Granola Bar Sample

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:01 pm

• Free Sample of Garnier Nutritioniste (Walmart)

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:53 pm

  Click "Go Here Now..." to get your FREE Sample of Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage Daily Eye Cream SPF 15

• 
  Frugal In Virginia

• Publix: 11/4-11/10

  Dana

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:12 pm

  Thanks to Tiffany from Living as Mom for sharing the top Publix deals here each week. The list below gives the highlights.  Click here for the full list of deals. Land O Lakes Spread $.95 -$.40/1 from 10-18-09 SS Final price $.15, after coupon! Nestle Toll House Morsels $1.25 -$.50/1 from 11-01-09 RP -$.50/2 printable Final price $.25-$.75 each, after coupon! Campbell’s Select Harvest Soup $1.20 -$.50/2 from 10-04-09 SS Final price $.70, after coupon! Nestle Coffee-mate Non-Dairy Creamer $1.10 -$1.50/2 printable -$1/2 from 11-01-09 RP -$1/2 Nestle School Days Made Simple -$1/1…

• Save Up ‘09!

  Dana

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:48 pm

  I’m at the Save Up ‘09 event in San Francisco until Friday morning, so I’ll be a bit behind on getting the deals out to you until I get home.  If I get a chance, you may hear a bit from me later today, but no promises!  But definitely look for a slew of bargains here tomorrow. ~Dana Save Up ‘09! is a post from: Frugal in Virginia Related posts:San Francisco Bound! (Photo credit:  John “K”) Ah, I’ll be enjoying this...$15 P&G Coupon Booklet From Save-A-Lot Click here to request your free coupon Proctor &...Frugal Friday: Week of 10/30…

• $5 Dinner: Potato and Chickpea Burgers

  Dana

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:11 pm

  Hang with me on this recipe!  I know it may not sound the most appetizing.  You should’ve seen the very unsure look on my husband’s face this week when I told him we were trying this recipe!  But we were all pleasantly surprised when these turned out to be delicious.  Definitely a recipe we will be building into our typical meal rotation. The prices listed below are an average of what I typically pay per the amount needed for the recipe.  Depending on your location, your prices may vary. Serves 4  (Based somewhat on a recipe from a recent issue of Cooking Light magazine.)…

• Making Your Christmas Baking List

  Dana

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:04 pm

  (Photo credit:  Delayed Neutron) There are 50 days until Christmas.  And now is the time to get organized for this year’s holiday baking. If you plan to do holiday baking this year, I suggest making your list of planned cookies, cakes, candies, and bars- as well as your list of needed ingredients- as soon as this week.  You see, even now we’re beginning to see stores dropping prices on baking supplies.  (For example, Harris Teeter has 5 lb bags of flour and sugar for 99 cents each this week.)  If you figure out what you’ll need now, you’ll have the next…

• Win It Wednesday- Week of 11/4

  Dana

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:31 am

  Have a blog giveaway happening this week?  Then share the link below so we can easily find it! Please list your site name and the prize you are giving away.  Example- Frugal in Virginia ($20 Walmart Gift Card).  If the end date of the contest is soon, include that information too.  The direct link to your giveaway must be listed, and all giveaways listed must be family-friendly and completely free. Win It Wednesday- Week of 11/4 is a post from: Frugal in Virginia Related posts:Win It Wednesday- Week of 10/7 I’m going to try out a new weekly feature- Win...Win It Wednesday: Week of…

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  CouponDivas.com

• Arden B Printable Coupon November 2009

  Kitty

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  The Arden B Friends and Family Sale is running 11/06 - 11/07 - use this printable coupon and save 15% off your purchase. One offer per customer. Please see coupon for details, valid at participating location. Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:Lane Bryant Printable Coupon Lane Bryant Printable Coupon for November 2009 - you choose...Lord and Taylor Printable Coupon Friends and Family Sale October 2009 Use this Lord and Taylor printable coupon and save 15%...FREE Printable Coupon List – 10/09/09 Here is the FREE Printable…

• Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries – Bare Skin Giveaway

  Kitty

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:08 pm

  Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries has just released a limited-edition fragrance, Bare Skin, which is sold exclusively at Sephora! Leslie Blodgett, as many of you know, put mineral makeup on the map with Bare Escentuals (which I am sure everyone has at least heard of). Now she is back at it with Perfume Diaries, a personal line [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:My Princess Party To Go Coupon Code and Giveaway Birthday Cake? Check, Balloons? Check, Party Favors? Check, Entertainment? Check,...Tyson Foods Review and FREE…

• FREE Kodak $15 Gift Code to the first 100,000 – Final Round

  Kitty

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:34 pm

  This is the final phase of the Kodak Million Thanks Giveaway. If you haven't received a FREE $15 Gift Code yet, visit the Kodak site and claim 1 of 100,000 Free Photo Gift from Kodak Gallery. Once supplies are exhausted, a 40% off Coupon will be distributed. Final Phase starts 11/06: Phase 3 (Nov. 6 [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:Kodak Gallery: FREE $15 Gift Card or 40% Off Code Phase 2 I just used my $15 Kodak Gallery gift code. If...Kodak Gallery Million Thanks – FREE Photo Gifts on Ellen Degeneres Show Do you…

• Free Printable Restaurant Coupons – 11/06/09

  Kitty

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:09 pm

  Enjoy dining out this weekend with these printable restaurant coupons. There are plenty to choose from - enjoy! Did I miss any? Don't Forget! You can get 60% off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Certificate orders. Use code HARVEST and Pay $4 thru 11/5/09! Boston Market: Various Printable Coupons (Expires 12/05/09) Buca di Beppo: $10 Off a $20 Purchase (Expires 12/31/10) Caribou [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:List of Free Printable Restaurant Coupons – 10/30/09 We are always in a hurry and these printable coupons...List…

• Buca di Beppo Printable Coupon

  Kitty

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:01 pm

  Enjoy dining at Buca di Beppo with this printable coupon good for $10 off a $20 or more purchase. Coupon valid at participating locations, one coupon per visit per table. See coupon for details. Expires 12/31/10. Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:Buca di Beppo Printable Coupon Brand new printable coupon for Buca di Beppo saves you...Free Spaghetti from Buca di Beppo on 10/26 Looking for a deal on your next meal? Dine at...Souper Salad Printable Coupon for October 2009 Use this printable coupon at Souper Salad and enjoy the...

• 
  Cha Ching Queen

• GIVEAWAY - Febreze $20 Walmart Gift Card

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:16 pm

  Have you heard about the new Febreze Home Collection? Febreze combined a great design with fresh, unique scents for a refreshing atmosphere. The wonderful people at MyBlogSpark sent me these to try out: room spray soy candlereed diffuserflameless luminaryAs soon as I opened the box I could smell the wonderful green tea citrus scent. It was not over-powerful. It smelled fresh and clean. I have not been able to try all of these. Because of my breast cancer, I haven't been home very much the last couple of months. But, I'm really looking forward to trying all of these + more. The scents come in…

• Free Sample - DenTek Triple Clean Floss Picks

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:49 pm

  Free Sample of DenTek Triple Clean Floss Picks Just go here to sign up, and here to print a $1 off coupon. thanks Stretching a Buck Related Posts on Cha Ching Queen Free Stuff for BabyMagic Jack Free Local and Long Distance Calls + Fr...Free FontsCoupons for Baby and Win $3, 500 Nursery MakeoverMake Your Trip Better with Cheap Last Minute Event Tickets...Event Tickets Discounted 10%+ off their Original Prices...List of Free Magazine Subscriptions

• Free Soccer Ball from SCOTT

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:19 pm

  Get a free soccer ball when you submit 3 UPC codes from and SCOTT products. The offer expires 11/15/09 and must be postmarked by 11/16/09. For more details go here.thanks A Thrifty Mom Related Posts on Cha Ching Queen Free ContactsAmazon - 90% off Deals under $25Sherman's Travel (discount travel) free Magazine S...Free Kotex SampleExpo TV - Get Free Products to Try & Review & Make...Ebates - Get Cash Back on Purchases + $30 for referrals...

• Target Printable Toy Coupons

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:31 am

  Target has some new toy coupons! You can stack these with manufacturer's coupons too.Here are a few coupons you will find:$5 off select Thomas & Friends toys $20 off D-Rex Interactive Dinosaur $5 off select Hasbro games $10 off Circo Train Table (we have this and it's been great!) $5 off Easy Bake Oven $5 off select Lego Toys $8 off Baby Alive Whoopsie DollMore toy coupons can be found here. The coupons expire on 11/25. There are also some other great Target printable coupons here. These include Halloween items. Combine these with the Halloween clearance and you may even get items for…

• Famous Footwear Deal: 15% Coupon, BOGO 1/2, and FREE shipping!

  Rachel

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:14 am

  Famous Footwear Coupon for 15% off + Buy one get one 1/2 off + Free Shipping Go here to check out some of Famous Footwear's latest offers, deals, and clearance items. 15% off coupon: use promo code FFNOV15 at checkout Exclusions apply. This code can be used in conjunction with the Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off offer! Valid through 11/8/09 Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off is Back! Buy one pair of shoes and save 50% on the second pair of equal or lesser value! Valid through 1/2/10 Free Shipping on 3 or More Pairs of Shoes! Purchase three or more pairs of shoes from FamousFootwear.com and get free standard…

• 
  Attention Target Shoppers

• The Swagbucks Saga - Important News

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:33 pm

  Last night I was redeeming for some Amazon Gift Certificates. I get a message on my page saying I had reached the limit for Amazon. You can only get 5 of any one prize monthly! WHAT? I cash out often and always for Amazon. It is the cheapest redemption and gives me the best use for my earnings. Graphic: Lori - MomsByHeart I fired off a note to Swagbucks to ask for more details since... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Sunday Coupon Insert Preview - 11/08/2009

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:05 pm

  This preview should be used as a tool to prepare for your next shopping trip. By receiving it early, you can decide how many newspapers you would like to buy so that you have multiples of coupons for your stockpiling needs.  Click this banner to order a newspaper subscription! Please scroll to the bottom of this post to see a list of other couponing resources. These resources... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Verizon - The Saga - I need to VENT!!!!!

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:21 pm

  Apoligies, I am hacked off! We've had our contract with Verizon about a year. Not a single problem with anything in a year. I've had maybe 2 dropped calls  in all of that time. While I like my phone and can't complain all that much, I decided I wanted to upgrade. I spent about 3 hours on their site last night and read about the new Droid that came out today. The Droid is impressive. :) I... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• What I Learned at Target Tonight!

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:15 pm

  Your Target Teacher I was in Target tonight for a very long time. I did several of the toy deals, 3 sets of the Wii games deal, 4 of the Kellogg's cereal deals, etc. With all of the Christmas goods on the floor, there was almost no clearance anywhere in the store. Well, that was until I got to the meat counter. Okay so you know that Target often has their Sutton & Dodge Black Angus... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Freebie Friday Comes Early!

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  I have a busy week to be prepared for our big BIG Chat Bash. The evening is going to be really busy and we have lots and LOTS of prizes to be awarded. I'm really excited this year that we have so many guests who are coming to speak. I hope you will come and join us, jump in on the chat and win some prizes. Becky and I have been working on this for almost 2 months. It is a BIG deal to us and we... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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  Being More Through Having Less

• Furry Love

  RML- Being More Through Having Less

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:41 am

  Astute readers may remember that I wanted to buy "something furry" with my birthday money from my husband.  Today I bought a wonderfully bold RED detachable fur collar that I can put with whichever jacket I am wearing. I love it, love it. It´s very european and I feel very much like a woman with an interesting past (and future) with it on! Next is a furry hat to wear once we are in the depths of winter - yes, it gets that cold here and we spend a lot of time hanging around ice rinks and ski fields. However, it won´t be red, I think just black as I wouldn´t want to take attention away…

• Anniversary

  RML- Being More Through Having Less

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:30 pm

  Wearing red is on my agenda for the future... I have nearly been blogging a whole year! I´ve had fits and starts and a long break over the summer, however I do think that the groove is worn now and I won´t fall off the wagon. It´s amazing the subjects that pop into my head sometime to write about and it´s a clear sign of blogging addiction that I am looking for an angle in my everyday life now. Anyone else feel that way? Anyone else not want to read back over their blog in case there is something totally cringe-worthy there? So, here is just a head´s up that I will be doing some…

• Shooting For The Stars

  RML- Being More Through Having Less

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:11 am

  I am really over the moon this morning! Even with a huge birthday weekend full of wine, cocktails, chocolate, tapas, cake and some very moreish cheesy hot mexican dip at a Halloween party at 11pm on Saturday (someone handed me a plate with it on plus tortilla chips....), I still managed to drop another kilo. I am really happy or did I say that already? I am definitely on the downward slope now- I have lost 13 kilos since coming home from the hospital (and its taken me six slow months) and am feeling better and better everyday (well except for all the reasons I am visiting the doctor today-…

• November Goals

  RML- Being More Through Having Less

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:54 am

  Looking through a mishmash of unfiled and categorised trip photos like the above inspired me for point number one. 1. Organise my digital library both on my computer and online 2. Declutter sewing box (done today, haha, but that´s not cheating surely) 3. Declutter medicine chest - lovely friend has bought me back fresh supplies from Boots (pine needle and thyme syrup is prescribed for everything here and I have had enough) so will get rid of anything old and put all bandaids etc into zip lock bags 4. I am soooo fed up with 7 year old daughter´s room. Have vowed to get rid of half of it.

• Vertigo

  RML- Being More Through Having Less

  2 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm

  After seeing that a few of my blogging buddies are also having Vertigo problems, I will be interested to see what I find out at the doctor on Wednesday about my specific situation. We can compare notes. My vertigo occurred when lying flat on my back before I even thought about trying to get up - firstly at 2am, so in complete darkness! I remember when it was light that morning trying to keep my eyes focused on a fixed point to stop everything moving, however just having the sensation that my eyes wouldn´t stay still and kept drifting upwards... I am not sure what the truth of it was - was…

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  Everyone's Blog Posts - SWAP MAMAS

• Swap History

  Korie Kelly

  1. Ann Ede ~ Enfamil check for boys polo shirt 2. Nicole Bautista ~ 2 DVDs for flower headband and beanie 3. Sarah Hyde ~ Similac checks (and extra surprise hair bow!) for book 4. Crystal Hill ~ Sweater for PJs 5. Michelle Maggia ~ Onesie for headband 6. Jennie Biles ~ NB Baby girl clothes for candy cane knit hat 7. Rachelle Biber ~ Vest and beer decoration for pair of Roobeez 8. Tina Diaz ~ Scrabble tiles for knit booties 9. Nicole Bautista ~ DVD for flower headband

• Swaps made

  Maretta Fritsch

  1. Michele Thompson (10/09/09): pj, hoodie, and top for sweater and tank. recieved 2. Candace Degeldere (10/09/09): 3 pj sets and 3 tops for NWT seven jeans. Recieved 3. Brooke Remillard (10/09/09): Silver jeans, 5 tops and paper bags for 3 sleepers, 2 outfits, 1 pant, 1 top, and 1 onesie. Received 4. Ciera Hart (10/10/09): on jeans, sweater, and top for cookie jar and maternity top. recieved 5. Jessica Davis (10/10/09): 4 prs jeans, 2 tops for 3 prs of jeans, 2 pants, 1 top. Not yet Recieved 6. Sara Tankersley (10/10/09): 3 shirts for prenatal yoga dvd. recieved 7. Sara Mesa (10/11/09): 4…

• World of Child Modeling

  Lily

  So I've been approached by a few mamas wanting to know more about the "biz". I figure I would dedicate a blog for this for anyone interested in knowing what it's like and perhaps how to get their children involved in something like this. I'm happy to share and happy to answer any questions anyone might have, so feel free to contact me anytime! Please know by all means, I am no expert. There are plenty of parents who have been in this industry longer than me who can answer better I'm sure and you can join the forum to ask (which I will provide the info for). How about a little background...

• Swaps, Current & Pending

  KeaShay Davis

  Miley - Ruby Booker books... sweat bands and wrist bands for baby boy - COMPLETE Mindy P - 2 sets of bibs... waiting for gems & bows - SHIPPED, Waiting Rachelle - Boy shoes & bibs... waiting for webkinz, stationary, & temp tattoos - COMPLETE Brooke - Boy converse & fabri tac glu... waiting for handmade jewelry - SHIPPED, Waiting Sarah H- Ribbon, Barrettes... Bow instructions - COMPLETE Tina D - Scrabble necklaces... Hair bows & clippies - COMPLETE Somer - Girl converse & black shoes & ponytail holders... Dominoe necklaces - SHIPPED, Waiting Maretta - Boys shoes,…

• HUGE BLOG GIVEAWAY

  txscrapaddict

  I have a HUGE giveaway of scrapbooking supplies at my blog: http://texasscrapaddict.blogspot.com. Please come check it out!

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  Lighter Footstep

• Twelve Practical Ways to Green-Up Your Autumn

  Chris Baskind

  11 Oct 2009 | 10:05 pm

  The arrival of autumn means cooler temperatures, darker evenings — and a last chance to get your home ready for winter. Here are twelve ways to get started! If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you’ve probably already noticed the first hints of autumn: a blush of color in the leaves; earlier sunsets; and cooler evenings. The winter constellations are slowly creeping higher in the night sky, and it won’t be long before we’re all involved in the downhill rush toward the holidays. Spring and autumn are the “fix-up” seasons, as we…

• 10 Places to Find Back-to-School Clothes on the Cheap

  Chris Baskind

  19 Aug 2009 | 3:47 pm

  How would you like to cut this year’s back-to-school budget in half? Backpacks, pens and pencils, notebooks — it all adds up. But in terms of both cost and environmental impact, the biggest line item is clothing. So that’s the most productive place to make getting your kids back to class a leaner and greener experience. Want to save? Buy used Yes: used. With new clothes, no matter how organic the fabric or local the production (and most school clothing is neither), nothing beats the eco-efficiency of secondhand. Every time you repurpose a piece…

• A Glorious Gallery of Rot: Compost as Art

  Chris Baskind

  7 Aug 2009 | 12:09 pm

  The purpose of compost is to rot — to decompose and become part of the soil from which it came. Feel free to start humming the Lion King’s Circle of Life. That’s what it’s all about. A compost pile undergoes a pretty amazing series of transformations on its way to become next season’s topsoil. What happens to the steaming heap of old coffee grounds, discarded vegetable peels, soggy cardboard, and yard clippings is either beautiful or disgusting, depending on your perspective. As always, art is in the eye of the beholder. Even when…

• Great News: Kimberly-Clark to Stop Turning Boreal Forests into Kleenex

  Chris Baskind

  5 Aug 2009 | 1:59 pm

  In a reversal of its current policies, papermaking giant Kimberly-Clark has announced sweeping initiatives that will eventually end its reliance on non-sustainable timber, including trees sourced in Canada’s boreal forests. Kimberly-Clark is the manufacturer of many top paper product brands, including Kleenex, Scott, and Cottonelle. The company has been under pressure from Greenpeace and other environmental groups for sourcing timber from sensitive, biodiverse forests. In 2004, Greenpeace launched an advocacy campaign called Kleercut in an effort to get Kimberly-Clark to embrace…

• 12 Cool Urban Bicycles Ready to Replace Your Car

  Chris Baskind

  2 Aug 2009 | 10:05 pm

  Fuel-efficient vehicles are great. Driving less is even better. We’re big bicycle fans here at Lighter Footstep. Bikes are tough to beat in terms of urban transportation: they’re reliable, emissions-free, take up very little parking space, and cost almost nothing to operate. Depending on your commute or the length of your errand, it’s possible that a bicycle will get you where you’re going faster than an automobile. And they’re great for your health. For many people, a bicycle could replace a car (or a second vehicle). Even if putting your auto out to…

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  Kim's Shopping Blog

• Libby’s Virtual Canned Food Drive

  kim

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:36 pm

  One in 8 Americans is struggling with hunger, including millions of children. Please join me in the Libby’s Virtual Canned Food Drive to help keep food from going to waste by getting it to those who need it most. The Virtual Canned Food Drive raises money for Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Every $5 you give provides 35 meals for hungry families. And every dollar you donate* will be matched by Libby’s, up to $30,000! Spending $5 is like buying an extra McDonald’s Happy Meal for my family, so it is a no-brainer for me to want to…

• Six Pink Ribbon Deals that support Breast Cancer Awareness

  kim

  29 Oct 2009 | 6:58 am

  Breast Cancer Awareness Month is almost over, but the following Pink Ribbon deals will let us show our support all year round! 1. 4 Boxes of Hope for the Cure Checks (One-Part) only $16.50! Duplicates only $19.50 (Reg. $52) from Checks Unlimited with Coupon Code: MLW9 Words of hope grace these inspirational designs. 5% of the proceeds from the sale of these checks will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Coupon Code works on Designer Checks as well. 2. Celebrity Designed Breast Cancer Awareness Tees only $18 w/Free Shipping! Regularly $60 from Shop Bop. Choice of Nicky…

• Have your Halloween Costume yet?

  kim

  28 Oct 2009 | 6:07 am

  No worries if not, as there is still time to order online and get your costume in time for Halloween! Amazon – Order by Wednesday, October 28, 11:59 pm Pacific time. BuyCostumes – Order by Wednesday, October 28, 4:59pm CDT. Plus save 10% off $65 w/Coupon Code: haunt65 Costume City - Order by Thursday, October 29 with Express Shipping for Guaranteed Halloween Delivery – PayPal accepted. Costume Craze - Enter your Zip Code for Shipping Calculator- may be able to to order as late as Thursday evening! Costume Discounters – Guaranteed Lowest Costume Price and Delivery…

• Accor Hotels 3-Day Super Sale

  kim

  27 Oct 2009 | 12:14 pm

  I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately, and I always watch for the best travel deals. Two weeks ago, I attended BlogWorld New Media Expo in Las Vegas where I spoke on Affiliate Marketing Blogging Secrets. I booked my flight through Allegiant Air thinking I was getting a great deal at only $75 each way, but the segment and convenience fees really added up. Then I ended up having to pay $140 to check-in two luggage bags that were too big to carry-on!  And I refused to pay extra to pick my seat or to pay $2 for a glass of water to drink. But the flight did not deter Squeak and I from…

• Couple Costumes Ideas for Halloween

  kim

  27 Oct 2009 | 9:03 am

  Last year, I wrote up a bunch of Group Costume Ideas. This year as I’m debating on what my date and I should dress up as, I thought I might as well compile a list of the couple costume ideas I’ve ran across so far. Aladdin and Jasmine Angel & Devil Barack & Michelle Obama Barbie & Ken Belle (or Beauty) and the Beast Bride & Groom (zombie or corpse) Cop and Prisoner Cowboy & Cowgirl (or Indian) Doctor & Nurse Dracula and his Bride Ernie & Bert from Sesame Street Football Player & Cheerleader Frankenstein and his Bride Fred Flintstone & Wilma…

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  Bargain Babe

• Comment of the week: coupons for charity

  bargainbabe

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:01 am

  Melissa pointed out an important part of coupon clipping that often gets recycled with the Sunday inserts. Buying items for free or cheap, even if you don’t need them, is a good idea because you can donate them to charity. I am a 2nd generation extreme couponer teaching my kids to do the same. Let’s remember that stretching our dollars can be used to maximize our giving to those in need. I try to spend an average of $2 per week on food or toiletries. With coupons & sales, I can sometimes fill up a bag. Even if all you can afford is one extra item per shopping trip, it still helps.

• Pink shoe pic and a shocking trend

  bargainbabe

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:36 am

  I’m not the only one buying shoes. Despite the recession, sales of heels, boots, and sneakers are doing well as Americans justify sole purchases as necessities. Cough. My new pink shoes, above, are a necessity? That’s what the NY Times says! Here is their reasoning. “Most of the shoes being bought today are moderately priced, according to retailers and market researchers,” the story says. “Executives at Macy’s said women’s shoes typically cost half as much as a handbag of similar quality. “Also, the cost-per-wear of a pair of shoes is far lower than…

• Dealblabs.com and my fave coupon sites

  bargainbabe

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:37 am

  If I had a nickel for every coupon site that existed, I would be able to retire. If I had a nickel for every GOOD coupon site, I would come up short at Starbucks. And I drink the cheap stuff. Here are the coupon sites on my short list. DealBlabs.com – a new site that has a few added perks, like stats on how likely a particular store is to offer any given promotion. For instance, when I clicked on a Toys R Us coupon, it told me that there was a 71 percent chance the store would offer a coupon code and a 29 percent chance it would offer another type of discount. I scrolled down past the…

• Coupons: CVS, EMS, Uggs, eBay and Snapfish

  bargainbabe

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:23 am

  Get $5 off a purchase of $30 or more at CVS with this coupon, good through Nov. 8, 2009. You must be  member of CVS’ free loyalty program, called ExtraCare. Excludes alcohol, gift cards, lottery, money orders, prescriptions, postage stamps, pre-paid cards and tobacco products. Get up to 40 percent off regular price of everything in the store at Eastern Mountain Sports today through Nov. 8, 2009. Cannot be combined with other offers or coupons. Some caveats. Discount does not apply to Merrell, UGG, Patagonia, Thule, and The North Face products; snowboards, boots and bindings; and skis,…

• Unemployment reaching all corners?

  bargainbabe

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:52 am

  The unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent, up from 9.8 percent and the highest rate since 1983. Technically the country is no longer in a recession but 15.7 million Americans are out of work, including 190,000 people who lost their job last month, KPCC reports. “Counting those who have settled for part-time jobs or stopped looking for work, the unemployment rate would be 17.5 percent, the highest on records dating from 1994,” the story says. Several friends of mine have lost their jobs in the past year and I’m wondering at this point does anybody NOT know someone who has…

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  Miss Thrifty

• BOOK GIVEAWAY: On The Plot With ‘Dirty Nails’

  missthrifty

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:25 pm

  If, like me, you like growing your own vegetables but you are no Bunny Guinness, this little book is something of a godsend. Why? Well, it is jam-packed with handy hints, which is good. But what makes this book great is that it spells out all the bits and bobs that you should be doing in the garden, on a week-by-week basis. It’s a bossy book! For this reason I am grateful to the publisher who sent it to me, and hopeful that On The Plot With ‘Dirty Nails’ could be the missing link between my vegetable garden that exists in my head, and my vegetable garden that exists in real…

• Festival of Frugality #200: The Fireworks Night Edition

  missthrifty

  20 Oct 2009 | 5:02 am

  Welcome to the (gasp) 200th edition of the Festival of Frugality! It is a milestone that calls for celebrations; hence all these fireworks. Actually, it’s the perfect time of year for a fireworks display. Diwali took place at the weekend; here in the UK, the  biggest fireworks event of the year is also looming. Fireworks Night – also known as Bonfire Night and Guy Fawkes Night – takes place on 5 November. So for overseas blog visitors, here are some insights into this much loved British institution. I have noticed that everyone in the UK (and New Zealand) thinks that Guy…

• SIMPLE PLEASURES: Large leaf tea in a Cath Kidston mug.

  missthrifty

  17 Oct 2009 | 3:46 am

  Life has been so busy recently. It’s good busy rather than bad busy – bustling, rather than overloaded – but I am finding that right now, what I really treasure is “me time”. On a Saturday morning I like to sink into my cosy leather armchair, red and orange leaves floating past the window, bathed in the soft autumn sun. And I like a nice mug of tea. When it comes to tea, I’m an out-and-out snob. I don’t cut corners. Economy teabags cost next to nothing, but they taste horrible. In fact, when I am at home I don’t tend to use teabags. I…

• BeTheMiddleman.com – save money on estate agents’ fees

  missthrifty

  13 Oct 2009 | 2:30 pm

  Here in Yorkshire there are plenty of entrepreneurs, plenty of people with big ideas and plenty of enthusiasm for saving cash. That’s a winning combination, in my book. It gives rise to super-thrifty initiatives such as BeTheMiddleman.com, a new property “portal” that is already attracting a good deal of attention. The online service, which aims to cut down on estate agents’ and letting agents’ eye-watering fees, is aimed at buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and lodgers. I asked Zoe Piper, Yorkshire entrepreneur and one of the founders of BeTheMiddleman.com, to…

• Ripening green tomatoes, the 1940s way.

  admin

  6 Oct 2009 | 12:01 pm

  It’s getting nippy, isn’t it? The tomato plants in our back garden were still laden with unripened fruit, and I didn’t want to waste it. So this evening I went outside and picked it all in (left). This year we have giant Moneymakers, cherry tomatoes, cherry plum tomatoes, Gardener’s Delight and yellow tomatoes. The cherry and cherry plum tomatoes came from the plant bargain bin at the local garden centre; the others were grown from seed by Frugal Grandma and given to us when they were a few centimetres high. The plant pots were scavenged and the compost came from the…

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  MomsWhoSave.com Blog

• Get Your $15 Free Gift From Kodak While They Last!

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:45 am

  Just a quick post to remind everyone to get your free $15 gift from Kodak here. They're giving away one million $15 gifts, so get yours before they run out!You just need to enter your email address here, and Kodak will send your gift, and enter you to win a trip for two to see the Ellen DeGeneres Show!For more deals, check out the MomsWhoSave homepage. To get freebies, samples, and printable coupons, click here. Find MomsWhoSave's Facebook and twitter links on the far right of this page, and get even more bargains! MomsWhoSave.com Blog

• New Printable Target Coupons (or Use Them Online) and 14 Hasbro Coupons Still Available

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:49 pm

  Here are 58 printable toy coupons you can use at Target now through November 25th. These are valuable coupons, with most being in the $5 to $10 range, and even up to $20! These are "Target" coupons, so they can even be stacked with your manufacturer's coupons, saving you more money! Click to print these now, or you can use many of them online. Just check the "fine print" of the coupon, and on many of them you'll see a coupon code listed for the item. Click here to shop at Target online. You'll notice shipping's free in most departments when you spend $50. I've mentioned the printable Hasbro…

• 50% Off at Payless and a Free Taco!

  29 Oct 2009 | 9:57 am

  Payless ShoeSource and Oprah are teaming up to offer an in-store coupon for 50% off your ENTIRE purchase at Payless. This coupon is good through Friday only (October 30th). Click here to print your coupon or receive it by text.This coupon is good on anything, including accessories. Click here if you'd like to check out some of what's available.On Halloween night, from 6 p.m. to midnight, get a free Black Jack taco at Taco Bell. Click for details.For more deals, check out the MomsWhoSave homepage, and for printable coupons, freebies, and samples, click here. MomsWhoSave.com Blog

• This Giveaway Has Ended--HALO SleepSack Giveaway

  24 Oct 2009 | 8:48 am

  October is SIDS Awareness Month, and today, MomsWhoSave has some important information and a new giveaway from a company that is devoted to preventing SIDS.HALO Innovations, Inc. is sponsoring our giveaway, and was founded by William Schmid after he lost his daughter to SIDS. HALO makes products like the SleepSack Wearable Blanket to help keep babies safe. With the SleepSack, your baby stays warm at night without blankets, since loose blankets in the crib increase the risk of SIDS. Other tips to help prevent SIDS include:*placing your baby to sleep on their back at naptime and bedtime…

• This Giveaway has Ended -- Harry Connick, Jr. "Your Songs" CD Giveaway

  16 Oct 2009 | 7:57 pm

  Today I’m excited to announce a new giveaway! MomsWhoSave has partnered with the One2One network to offer one lucky reader Harry Connick Jr.’s latest CD “Your Songs.”I got a CD to review, and being a Harry Connick, Jr. fan, I was happy to give it a listen. To be honest though, I know Harry Connick mostly from his acting roles in movies and television (like Graces’s husband in Will and Grace). I’ve also seen him interviewed several times, and know he’s a devoted dad and has been very involved in helping out in the effort to rebuild New Orleans. Already being a fan, I assumed…

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  Frugal & Fabulous

• 25% Off Everything at the Gap! (Printable Coupon!)

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm

  Get an early start on your holiday shopping this weekend with 25% off at the Gap!Click here to print this Gap coupon! Thanks Briana

• The Winner of the Shade Terry Peacoat is....

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am

  #98, Amy Moriah! Congratulations Amy! Please check your email - you have 48 hours to claim your prize.Thanks to all who entered! I have some really great giveaways coming up this week so stay tuned! And if you haven't already, please check out my current giveaways:Kuru Shoes Giveaway! Ends -11/9 Crazy Dog T-Shirt! Ends - 11/12

• Giveaway & Review: Crazy Dog T-Shirts!

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:03 pm

  Looking for a fun holiday gift? Check out Crazy Dog T-shirts! This web site has hilarious tshirts that are very different than ones you'd typically find in stores. They have vintage tees, movie tees and more!Crazy Dog Tees sent my DH the Dunder Miflin T-shirt for him to review. He loves it and it's so him (We absolutely love The Office!) DH liked that it was comfortable and his favorite color blue. I liked that it was high quality and 100% preshrunk cotton - no worrying about it shrinking in the dryer! The tshirt also came really quickly, which is great!They have a lot of other Office tees,…

• Burning Some Extra Bucks! (CVS 11/4)

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am

  I'm not sure what I was thinking when I earned an $18 ECB... those things are hard to spend in one shot! Here's my attempt to roll as best I could!1 - GE Fancy Nuts= $.991 - GE Nuts Mixture (@ $1.50) used $2/2 = $.49 for both3 - Robitussin DM's (@ $5.50 ea) used three $1/1 peelies found on products = $13.50 ($16.50 towards spend $20, get $10)1 - CVS brand Nasal Spray = $3.50 (towards spend $20, get $10)1 - Plackers = $2.991 - Green Tag = $.991 - Viologie (@ $2.50) used $2/1 Reinventing Beaty coupon = $.501 - Fruitopia (@ $2.50) used $2/1 Reinventing Beaty coupon = $.501 - Softsoap Ensembles…

• Last Chance! Shade Clothing Giveaway!

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am

  If you haven't entered the giveaway for the Shade Terry Peacoat, please do!This giveaway closes tonight at 9pm.

• 
  Domestic Cents

• 50+ Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

  Nicki

  2 Nov 2009 | 3:30 am

  A homemade Christmas is a great idea but it can be tough to think of things to make. Armed with this info, I spent quite a bit of time on blogs I love as well as sites that were new to me to compile the list below. I tried to include projects for all different abilities and skill levels. There is a link for almost every project below. So this isn’t just a list of ideas – it’s armed with the how-to. Even if you don’t find exactly what you were looking for I’m hoping this list of ideas will get your creativity flowing. Packaging The packaging can be part of the…

• Good Reads: Candy Corn – Yea or Nay?

  Nicki

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:47 am

  When Autumn arrives I am certain of two things: 1. I will be purchasing candy corn and eating it. 2. I will be eating it alone while my husband holds back involuntary gags. It is a season-long controversy in our home. So, what’s your take? When you see those yummy candies appear on the shelves for 99 cents do you scoop them up and tear them open in the car or do you equate eating candy corn with eating a candle? While you ponder my deeply urgent question, be sure to check out some of these links. Happy weekend everyone! Check out these Surprising Uses For Your Dishwasher from Real…

• Reflecting On Self Discipline

  Nicki

  29 Oct 2009 | 3:51 am

  When you’re a kid you learn to despise, cringe and dread even hearing the word ‘discipline.’ Hearing a parent utter the word meant something bad was about to happen. I was always grounded from something. Now I know that my parents were pretty much right on with the consequences they chose for my inappropriate or dangerous behavior but it still doesn’t make me like the idea. Now that I’m a parent I feel an equal dread for it. I do not want to discipline my daughter. I beg her not to make me follow through with my threatened consequences. Contrary to what the…

• Homemade Caramel Popcorn

  Nicki

  27 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  I loooooove caramel. I’m certain that anything slathered in caramel tastes absolutely divine. If you’ve been reading for very long then you know I have a sweet tooth. When I’m craving something sweet I’m envisioning a thick, double chocolate brownie, warmed up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel dripping down the sides. (oh look, now I’m drooling). So here’s the great thing about caramel popcorn – it’s much better than the alternatives for me. You can vary this recipe quite a bit to customize it but I’ll give you the base for it…

• Paint Set Winner!

  Nicki

  26 Oct 2009 | 6:00 am

  Using Random.org, I’ve got a winner. Amy wins the paint set! Thanks so much to everyone that entered. It’s great to get comments from subscribers that I haven’t heard from before. Keep ‘em coming! Today is my official one year blogiversary (is that what it’s called?). For those of you that are new around here I’d like to highlight a few posts you may have missed and a couple of favorites. Enjoy Some older posts you may have missed~ Homemade Play-dough ~ I make this over and over and over. All three girls still love to play with it. There isn’t…

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  Franklin McMahon

• Are You Ready To Perform The “Is This Helping Me Grow My Business” Experiment?

  Franklin McMahon

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:05 am

  Are you ready to try an experiment? It can be fun and it can show how effectively you may be running your own business. The truth is too often we pour enormous amounts of energy into items with little to no payoff. Take a look at your to-do list and then examine your next week, next month and someday to-do list. Chances are you may have hundreds of items. You’ll sort and analyze them at some point, but how you do that can be the difference between stagnation and success. If you look at successsful people who run their own successful company, and then review their to-do list, you’ll see…

• Interview with New Media Producer Franklin McMahon on Meetings Podcast

  Franklin McMahon

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:12 pm

  This week I was on the Meetings Podcast and host Mike McAllens and I talked a lot about my career, video production, podcasting, photography, Media Artist Secrets, Rumor Girls, social media, Willard Beach TV, acting, Millimeter Magazine, Maine and lots more. We also went over some of my career development tips and how to be a rock star for your business. If you get a chance check out additional episodes of this podcast, very informative and Mike has great guests such as digital marketing guru Mitch Joel of Twist Image and Six Pixels of Separation. Lots of fun, enjoy! (click the play button…

• How Desperate Decisions Can Destroy Your Business

  Franklin McMahon

  26 Oct 2009 | 11:25 am

  One of the most powerful skills you can master is decision making, especially when it comes to your career. Many books have been written supporting the fact that impulse decisions, that is going over the facts and then deciding rapidly and affirmatively, is a good way to proceed. The argument is that even if you spend hours going over the pros and cons, ultimately the best path is the one you initially lean towards. We all know people who can decide quick and move on, who don’t second guess themselves. One of the things we hear more often is that to get better at decisions, just make more…

• Portland Pecha Kucha Video Presentations

  Franklin McMahon

  26 Oct 2009 | 7:15 am

  A few weeks back I hosted the Portland Pecha Kucha Night featuring 10 creative presenters. Each person had 20 slides, 20 seconds each to tell their story. It was a great night and lots of fun, now we have the presentations from the night up on YouTube so you can check them out. Visit the page below and then click on the videos down the right side. Lots of great perspectives from many different creative careers, hope you find them as inspiring as the audience did that night. Watch the videos here Ian Page/Portland Rockumentarian John Swan/Painter Marcia Feller/Retail Display Techniques…

• Willard Beach Episode 3.2

  Franklin McMahon

  22 Oct 2009 | 7:24 am

  I act in a series called Willard Beach, it is shown on broadcast TV around the US and you can check out all the episodes on the web here and also in iTunes. In this week’s episode you can see my character Sebastian having a run-in with the pool guy. As well as a run-in with the guy who stole my girl. You can also check out another episode with me in it, as well as an interview with the producers, right here. Here is a little behind the scenes clip from shooting that day with Karla Gilbert and Krystal Kenville Share on Facebook

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  Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons

• Style Me Pretty - The Ultimate Wedding Blog

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:32 pm

  Photo: Style Me Pretty-------When visiting my friend Charmaine's lovely blog...Beautiful Things To ShareI discovered this charming wedding blog called Style Me PrettyWe're not planning a wedding any time soon..even still...the photographs and ideas are too lovelynot to share with you!(Thank you Charmaine!)

• 2 Nov 2009 | 3:46 pm

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  2 Nov 2009 | 3:46 pm

  A very Warm...Thank You...to each of you kindred souls who entered the Giveaway!!It is a pleasure to mingle minds with you !In fact, it's been so much fun...Look for another Giveaway very soon!!Congratulations to Kath...you were randomly chosen as the winner of Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons !-------P.S. Click HERE to learn the winner for Frugal Luxuries!

• CrazyBusy Mama! (Dot Calm) » A Few Quick, Frugal, and Fun (and Very Last-Minute) Halloween Ideas

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  30 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pm

  Art: Beautiful Things To ShareNeed Last Minute Halloween Ideas?A Frugal Costume...Quick?====For money-saving, last minute tips(and a fun story!)...visitCrazy Busy Mama! (Dot Calm)To get there just click the link below!CrazyBusy Mama! (Dot Calm) » A Few Quick, Frugal, and Fun (and Very Last-Minute) Halloween Ideas

• An Upcycled Christmas - PSFK

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  27 Oct 2009 | 6:38 am

  Photo: PSFK.comNo one has to tell Frugalites like you and me thatChristmas gift-giving needn't be about spending lots of moneyand buying the latest hot trend!That being said,it seems that our philosophymay be...catching on!Folksy (a kind of UK based Etsy)and Sue Ryder Care (a health care charity) are running a competitioncalled Upcycle Christmas.The goal of the contest is totransform second hand goods into fresh new creations suitable for holiday gift-giving. -------While this competition is geared toward (but not limited to)those living in the UK, it's lovely to know that there is a…

• 'Tis the Season for Another Book Give-Away!!

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  23 Oct 2009 | 6:45 am

  Enter to win by subscribing to this blog and leaving a comment below (it needn't be long :)!If you care to share a favorite holiday idea or two, we LOVE LOVE LOVE to read them, as always. P.S. We're also giving away our first volume of Frugal Luxuries on our other blog--just click HERE to see how easy it is to enter that one too!NOTE!Please Feel free to... enter BOTH contests!!This was my intention when posting them at the same time (doubles your chances to win!)!!also...We will be choosing our winners NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST and announcing them on the 2nd!!Oh... Just...One more…

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  FRUGAL LUXURIES FOOD

• Christmas Cookie Swap: Free Party Planning Printables! | Organized Christmas

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  30 Oct 2009 | 5:27 pm

  Photo: Google ImagesMy good friend Charmaine (Beautiful Things to Share)has just created an inspiring new blog called..."The Cookie Swap Blog"!She only has a few posts...yet... she's already ignited my enthusiasm about the idea of the Cookie Swap !As bloggers are want to do,I began exploring other cookie blogs and foundthe link below:Christmas Cookie Swap: Free Party Planning Printables! | Organized ChristmasWhich offers great suggestions, and planning sheets, for how organize a cookie swap...as well as your entire holiday season!!

• Dreams of Mandalay & Homemade Chunky Apple-Cranberry Butter...

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  18 Sep 2009 | 9:26 am

  Transform these...Into this.......and have FUN while doing it!Here's our Secret Strategy."Last Night I Dreamed of Mandalay..."these words, spoken by Joan Fontaine, in Alfred Hitchcock's classic film "Rebecca" (based on Daphne de Maurier's book) sent chills up my arms as I peeled yet another apple to include in my current batch of chunky apple-cranberry butter.First, I gather all my supplies atop a large baking sheet (one with sides works nicely).In order to keep the peeled apples from browning I squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice on them.Once peeled and cored, I cut the apples into my…

• Joys of the Pantry

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  15 Sep 2009 | 5:35 am

  Stocking the Pantry"The very honey of all earthly joy."--Abraham CowleyOur kind friend Carol wrote a lovely post on how she manages to stock the pantry on a regular basis and thus keep a firm hold on her food budget. In it she writes:"At our home, we firmly believe in having a well stocked pantry. We learnt a few years back that we needed one to survive when hubby was out of work. We knew 2 years ahead of time that his job was going to be gone. Once we found out, I began filling the pantry...we lived off it for one full year.Now we stock our pantry because of the economy, where we live (we…

• Transform the Ordinary : Carmelized Onions

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  31 Aug 2009 | 1:59 pm

  How to Transform the Ordinary Onion.Caramelized Onions are a Secret Ingredient that will...transform an ordinary dish into a..delectable feast.(Don't be surprised when people say, "This is sooo good--what did you use?")I prepare these ahead and try to always have them availablefor a quick enhancement to anumber of diverse recipes!(Please see bottom of this post for some suggested uses)-----Here's how easy it is to make caramelized onions:Finely slice three, medium, yellow onions (peel first).I use a mandolin slicer (found at a yard sale, years ago, for fifty-cents)and a yellow onion (I slice…

• Lessons from History: Food is Essential

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries

  26 Aug 2009 | 7:09 am

  Photo: The Nourishing GourmetThe Nourishing Gourmet food blog has yet another insightful andthought provoking post today.In it, she writes:"Food is essential because it is of the utmost “importance” if we want to live. Food is one of those few real essentials in life, because we will quite literally die without it. Yet, for all of that, it’s rather neglected and looked down upon at times! I am blessed to live in a country where it’s been a long while since we have had real famine and starvation. In fact, since the origins of our country we have been characterized by having plenty.

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  The Negotiation Board

• 99 Ways to Become a Better Negotiator

  jennifer

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:09 am

  1. Practice, Practice, Practice! 2. Work Body Language to Your Advantage 3. Just Ask for What You Want 4. Don’t be Afraid to Take Risks 5. Thoroughly Prepare 6. Sharpen Your Conflict Management Skills 7. Leave Your Ego at the Door 8. Network with Powerful People 9. Listen Intently 10. Always Uphold a High Standard of Ethics 11. Close with Confirmation 12. Don’t Stereotype the Competition 13. Be Prepared for Surprises 14. Leverage Your BATNA (Best Alternative to No Agreement) 15. Avoid Argument 16. Show them You are Professional 17. Be Empathetic 18. Set Goals Before the Negotiation Begins…

• Discussing Politics

  Jonathan

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:17 am

  Some people love to talk politics. Others won’t touch the topic with a ten foot pole. Since today is the first Tuesday in November, yes Election Day, I thought it would be appropriate to layout guidelines for the discussion of politics. Guidelines for Discussing Politics: Don’t attack the other side or in any way act self-righteous. When you take the “I’m better than you” attitude, others are likely to disagree with your point just because they don’t like the way you presented the information. Instead, always be respectful and polite, regardless of whether or not you agree with…

• Uncover Personality Types and Become a Better Negotiator

  jennifer

  2 Nov 2009 | 3:17 am

  Negotiations are personal experiences. You may have heard that the best way to gain favor in the eyes of another is to emulate their behavior. It is human nature to like those who are like us. Since we cannot separate ourselves from the situation when negotiating, winning the approval from those we negotiate with is a crucial step to becoming a better negotiator. In this post we have uncovered for you the basic characteristics of the four personality types, a detailed explanation of each, and how to tailor your approach when negotiation with them. Characteristics of the Four Personality Types…

• How to Negotiate Your Realtor’s Commission

  jennifer

  1 Nov 2009 | 2:09 pm

  Did you know that your Realtor’s commission is negotiable? Even though the industry norm is that the seller pays 6% of the sale price in commission (3% to the seller’s agent and 3% to the buyer’s agent), there is no hard and fast rule that this is what you have to pay. Like anything else in the real estate business, you can negotiate your Realtor’s commission. After you discover how much is at stake, I think that you will agree that negotiating your Realtor’s commission is well worth your time. For example, if you sell your house for $300,000, a 1½% decrease in commission will save…

• Getting Out of an AT&T Wireless Contract

  Jonathan

  31 Oct 2009 | 8:30 am

  For this wireless/cell phone cancellation method we are going to take advantage of “adverse material changes” or a Checking the Facts negotiation strategy.  When you enter into an AT&T Wireless Contract you are agreeing to specific terms and conditions.  You agree to abide by the contract you sign.  However Cell phone companies change these terms and conditions several times a year. Here is an excerpt from the current AT&T wireless contract. Changes to the terms and conditions: These terms and conditions may be changed from time-to-time. AT&T will post the most current…

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  STRETCHING THE ONE INCOME DOLLAR

• Beat The Stay At Home Mom Blues

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:27 pm

  Screaming kids, never ending laundry, lack of sleep, a hot meal, what's that? Those along with many other perks that go along with being a stay at home mom, (yes that's sarcasm), can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed, moody; having the blues.An issue that often comes up is not feeling appreciated as a stay at home mom. We don't get yearly reviews hearing about what a wonderful job we are doing; a paycheck isn't handed to us for our hard work. What we do get are hugs and kisses, hearing the words I love you or thanks mom. We get to be a kid again, finger paint in the afternoon. All of…

• How To Clean Your Home The Natural Way

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:21 pm

  When it comes to cleaning and freshening your home, natural products can be just as effective as man made solutions. They're better for the environment, and they can help you avoid many of the nasty man-made toxins found in air fresheners, abrasive cleaners and sprays. Take a look what a simple lemon can do....Chopping boardsTo get rid of smells and kill off any stubborn germs, rub your board all over with the cut side of half a lemon.. Give it a really good scrub. Let the juice dry, then rinse off with water. Kitchen cabinetsTo keep your cabinets clean and grease-free, just mix 1/4 of a cup…

• Unemployed and Selling a Book

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:15 pm

  Well, it's official.....the little bit of unemployment insurance I was bringing in, is now done. I will still have some mystery/secret shop money coming in.I enjoy being home though.If something comes along that makes me happy, fine,and if not, fine.We manage.The book is what I am working on promoting right now.I had a bigger book store turn it down though since the name wasn't on the spine of the book.As well, they said because we showed photos of older bills, people may consider it not a new book-geesh!I am hoping to list it with Amazon.com as soon as I get word back from a US bank we…

• 5 Frugal Tips for Xmas Toy Shopping

  4 Nov 2009 | 8:39 pm

  This Christmas parents are looking for the hot toy that their kids will be clamoring for. The problem is that they also don’t want to spend too much money or waste it on something that won’t last before Christmas. This can be tricky; however here are some great suggestions to help parents as they hunt down the trendiest toy on a budget.Read the consumer news and the business section of the newspaper in print and online. This is a great source of information on industry trends for toys and other gifts. You should also look at the toy store publications to see the toys they are showcasing.

• Another Free EBook Offer for Bloggers or Site Owners

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:07 am

  We have the free  23 page ebook on 101 Scrapbooking Tips, to give away to bloggers or web site owners who place our grab button on their site.Please add the button to your site, and email me at oneincomedollar@yahoo.ca when completed. I will email you your free copy.Thank you!

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  Cheapism Blog

• CheapEatery.com: Balanced meals in NYC for $10 or less, wait, what?

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am

  If you live in the New York metropolitan area or plan on visiting soon -- and you like to eat but don't want to go broke -- you gotta check this out. The Huffington Post has a line on, and a video about, a new website featuring eateries in Manhattan and Brooklyn that offer great meals for $10 or less. "Sure, you can grab a hot dog or slice of pizza in New York for cheap, but a balanced meal for $10 or less? In Manhattan? That's the idea behind the new site CheapEatery.com...

• Slash Your Medical Bills: 7 Ways to Haggle

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:11 am

  While the politicians in Washington dither about health care reform, become your own activist. Try negotiating lower fees with your medical providers -- it's amazing what you can accomplish by speaking up. CBS News offers some tips that could save you a bundle. "Haggling with your hospital or dickering with your doctor to lower your medical bills might feel, well, unseemly. But with health care costs pinching the typical household by about $15,000 a year and employers trimming coverage and shifting expenses to employees, it might be time to try your own personal health care reform..."

• Oklahoma City News OKC Claims Cheapest Beer Title

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:19 am

  Planning to dine out soon? Save money by sticking to the appetizers. According to a report by KOCO, menu prices have crpet up this year in all categories but starters. Oh, and make a detour to Oklahoma City, where beer is cheap. "Oklahoma City has the cheapest beer in the nation. A survey conducted by a Boston consulting firm found a domestic beer in Oklahoma City costs $3.22 on average. That's nearly $1 less than the most expensive city for beer, New York. The survey also found that prices for restaurant entrees, side dishes and desserts grew this year..."

• Frugal Consumers Return to Home Base

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:44 am

  Tight budgets mean less dining out. That's almost a no-brainer. But instead of cooking more meals at home, Nielsen.com is finding that we're buying more prepared meals to eat at home. Grocery sales are up over last year but the take-out counter is booming. "Home. It's our refuge when the world gets to be too much. The upside of a recession is that we come together around the kitchen table to share our meal and our day, taking comfort in the safe harbor of home. While that's bad news for restaurants, from white table cloth to casual dining, it's good news for retailers. Through September 2009,…

• Amazon Coupon Codes for November 2009

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pm

  Get those savings wherever you can. Pro Bargain Hunter posts grocery coupon codes for November, courtesy of Amazon. "Amazon has just released a new set of grocery coupon codes for this month and as usual I post them in a list sorted by amount so it is more convenient to pick those with the best value. Almost all coupons below expire November 30, 2009..."

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  High Class Living on a Middle Class Budget

• Walmart Deals!

  SoFlossy

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:16 pm

  HEADS UP! Amazing deals at Walmart.com! ( while supplies last! )Similar Posts: Free Subscription to Allure Glamour Teen Vogue or Lucky Walmart Halloween Costumes starrting at $4.00!! 7-11 7up Coupons Daily Deals Halloween 2009 Deals

• Black Friday Ads 2009

  SoFlossy

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:33 pm

  Black Friday and Cyber Monday Information Leaked Black Friday ads More Black Friday ad scans Black Friday News Black Friday Deal Discussion at Slickdeals Sign up for Black Friday 2009 Target Preview request Similar Posts: Discount M&Ms at Target Top Tips for Holiday Credit Spending Freebie Friday Sales Roundup October Write for Webfloss

• Entenmann’s

  SoFlossy

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:18 am

  In the email I received: We know you love Entenmann’s and we’re guessing you love free stuff. That’s why we’re giving you the chance to win $4 coupons to use on any of Entenmann’s yummy-baked products. Keep watching your inbox or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for your chance to win. Funny they use the word guessing in their email…. If you want to get in on this potential freebie… - Join the Entenmann’s email club - Follow @Entenmanns - Join the Entenmanns Facebook Page Similar Posts: Xbox Live Reward Program? Build a Bear Coupons October…

• Carrabbas Italian Grill Coupon

  SoFlossy

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am

  Free Calamari Coupon for Carrabbas! – expires 12/09 You can join Carraba’s Amici Club. In return for your signing up, you’ll receive periodic coupons and special offers. Being a blogger can be fun. I received this email over the weekend. It’s funny, because the image is actually located at clhousingpictures.com. ;) And a Marketing Coordinator? Really? And Ms. Fonua didn’t even ask me to take it down… nice. Like, thanks for the FYI… To Whom It May Concern: My name is Jill Fonua and I am the Marketing Coordinator for Carrabba’s Italian Grill. I am…

• Cigna Learn and Earn Program

  SoFlossy

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:50 am

  CIGNA wants you to understand important health care information with our short online educational programs – they’re full of important information you need to know to help make the best decisions for you and your family. It’s easy and rewarding to learn! Every time you review a program and answer a few trivia questions at the Cigna Learn and Earn Program you’ll receive FREE coupons to entertainment, food, and retail destinations! Your efforts encourage our support of Water For People and help us to provide clean water to children in need. Not sure whether or not these are…