Mommies Making - Saving Money

Great Cosmetics at a Great Price

2009-07-26T20:31:00.001-07:00

I have purchased a couple of ELF.com projects and they are great for the price! Pretty much everything they offer is only $1.

And as if that was not a good enough deal, when you order you'll automatically get a free subscription to Shape magazine with any $20 order (a $10 value).

Then to top off an already GREAT DEAL, you can add one of these offers:

~2SHIP - $2 shipping on orders of $25
~EGBRONZA - free bronzer wristlet, studio line bronzer, blushing, bronzing and blending brush with $10+ order
~EGBANGLE - 3 free bangles with any $20+ purchase
~SHADES - free aviator sunglasses with any $25+ purchase

My New Photos

2009-07-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have been playing with some photo editing software to see what I can do, and while I am no where near as good as my friend Sarah @ Mostly Bass Ackwards, I am learning a little at a time!

Here are a couple of pictures that I was playing with tonight. Let me know what you think!

Great Photo Editing by A Great Friend

2009-07-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks Sarah!

FREE - Bushnell Weather Forecasater

2009-07-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

Walmart has the 5-Day Bushnell Weather Forecaster on clearance for $50, which is a great deal in itself. But the better part is that there is a $50 mail-in rebate making it completely FREE. And not only is it FREE, the rebate is not limit to just 1, it allows you to purchase 3 and get them all for free!

So pick up 1 for yourself and 2 more for Christmas presents! This is a great opportunity to get a jumpstart on Christmas shopping and for FREE!!!

2009-07-07T12:53:00.001-07:00

Dropping Inches by the Day

2009-07-04T18:48:00.001-07:00

Ok, as some of you know my daughter and I have been seeing a weight loss specialist for 10 days now and while it has been a big change getting use to the new eating habits and daily exercise,

IT IS WORKING!

I have already lost 15 pounds and my daughter has lost 17 pounds!!!

If you are truly interested in losing weight, check out Dr. Girouard's website and make and appointment. If you are not in the area, check out his program on line and find a doctor in your area that follows the same or a similar program.

I promise you will not be disappointed!

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

HAPPY

Blogger Slump

2009-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I have been extremely busy the past month!

I have decided to go back to college and boy I did not realize all the hoops I would have to jump through in order to get registered!

Between getting my admissions application submitted, my pell grant in place, deciding on a major, meeting with my advisor, taking all my placement tests and registering. WOW! I do not remember going through all this last time I went to college.

NowI am down to 1 last test, which I will be taking on Monday, and then I am home free until August 17th FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

So with my new decision to go to school, I have had to also implement child care arrangements. And that has been worse than getting myself into college! My mother-in-law has agreed to watch my little man and just by luck, I got Alexis into a great program at a local Bible School. She will be in actual classes for the first few hours of the day learning from the Beka Curriculum.

Then, last but not least, my oldest and I finally started seeing a weigh loss doctor. We are on a strick eating and exercise plan, but it is working! We both lost over 10 pounds the first week!

Once again, I am sorry for the slump, but lots of things are going on around here and to be honest, it has just been tooo dang nice outside to stay in on the computer!

Hope everyone is having a great summer and I will still keep posting deals as I come accross them so check back every couple of days to see what I have found!

Fourth of July Deals at Old Navy

2009-07-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

Old Navy Fourth of July Sales are here!

July 2–4 - All Capris for women and girls are just $9 each

July 3 ONLY - Flag tees are just $1 each

Now for the best part, if you go into Old Navy on the 2nd, with your Old Navy card, you can save an additional 25% on your purchase. SO, if you purchase 4 pairs of capris, you actually get the 4th pair FREE!

Just click here and look for the red text at the top of the web page. Click on it and print that page and take it with you to Old Navy. Or just use Promo Code: THANKYOU25

Meal Plan Monday

2009-06-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

OK, here we go, our families meal plans for the week:

Monday: Spagetti w/ Meatballs

Tuesday: Kielbasa w/ Corn on the Cob

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salads

Thursday: Blackened Salmon (thanks Sarah for the wonderful seasonings ) w/ Steamed Veggies

Friday & Saturday: EATING OUT - HEADING TO THE BEACH FOR 2 DAYS

Sunday: BBQ Chicken w/ BP's

Blogger Slump

2009-06-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not been blogging alot lately, been spending more time outside with the babies rather than inside with the computer!

Hope to get back into the swing of things this week and take the computer outside with me a little bit!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and I will be back soon!

Lands' End Weatherfield Plaid Tote only $9.95

2009-06-05T17:48:00.001-07:00

Super great deal ftom Lands' End! You don't want to miss it!

Go to Lands' End to order this awesome tote for only $9.95.

When you get to the Check-Out, enter

Promo Code: Summer;

PIN: 00007896

and get FREE SHIPPING as well!

I'm an Aunt Again!

2009-06-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome Aiden Ryan!

Born May 24th at 8:06 a.m.

7 Pounds 5 Ounces

20 Inches long!

CONGRATS SIS! You did a great job, he is absolutely beautiful!

Tripple Coupons Are Here Again

2009-05-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Harris Teeter is tripling coupons from Wednesday, May 27th - Tuesday, June 2nd. Remember to pick your coupons to be tripled carefully as you can only triple 20 coupons per visit.

Free Doughnut From Krispy Kreme

2009-05-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

Next Friday, June 5th is National Doughnut Day. To celebrate, Krispy Kreme is giving every customer 1 doughnut!

To find a participating location near you, check the store locator.

Happy Memorial Day

2009-05-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

While we have all been spending time with our families today either cooking out, watching the race or just being lazy ... let us not forget what this day means for our country and why it is a holiday to be remembered!

Wether you agree with our military and the things that they may do, each and everyone of us should say "Thank You" to the men and women who have dedicated and/or given their lives for our freedoms.

Meal Plan Monday

2009-05-25T17:46:00.001-07:00

Monday - Subs w/ Chips

Tuesday - Hamburger Steaks w/ Mushrooms & Gravy & Veggies

Wednesday - Chicken & Rice Stouffer’s Meal

Thursday - Ham & Augratin Potatoes w/ Veggies

Friday - Spaghetti w/ Garlic Bread

Saturday - Stouffer’s Lasagna

Sunday - Chicken Pot Pie w/ Rice

50% OFF Plus 15% OFF Plus $5 Flat Rate Shipping

2009-05-20T05:49:00.000-07:00

OK, if you are like me and shopping in a store is an adventure, shopping on-line can be a huge help. BUT, sometimes the shipping charges are so outrageous, you decide to weather the storm and head to the store to save a little $$$$.

Well, Children's Place is offering 50% off on a lot of their items plus an additional 15% off with this coupon code: s2a59.

They also offer $5 flat rate shipping, no matter how large your order is! $5 is about what it costs me to drive to the mall and back!

FREE Sample of Arm & Hammer Toothpaste

2009-05-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Go to Arm & Hammer's website, fill in your shipping information and receive your free sample of Arm & Hammer Toothpaste.

Dollar Deals - May 23rd Only

2009-05-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

OK, I know several people have posts with both these deals, but several people who view my Blog do not subscribe to others and I do not want them to miss out on these deals!

Saturday, May 23rd ONLY, you can get the following deals for $1 or less:

Old Navy Flip Flops (solid colors only) for $1 (limit of 5 per person)

Krispy Kreme 1 dozen doughnuts for $.99 (limit of 1 per person)

SO grab some flip flops and walk off those extra calories from your dozen doughnuts!

$1.99 Personalized Compact Mirror w/ Free Shipping

2009-05-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

Atrscow.com is offering a Personalized Compact Mirror for $1.99 with FREE SHIPPING!

Use code: MIRROR199

The best part is there is not limit on the quanity you can order. I ordered 5 and my check-out total was $9.95.

A Few New Receipes

2009-05-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

I think I will be adding these to the meal plan for next week!

Grilled Chicken Roller (serves 4)

Ingredients:
4 Small Boneless Chicken Breasts
4 Peices of Cheese
4 Slices of Bacon
4 tbsp. Balsamic Vinegarette Dressing

Directions:
Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness. Place cheese on top and roll up tightly. Wrap bacon around long ways to cover exposed cheese. Secure with toothpicks. Place on grill and cook for 15 - 20 minutes or until chicken is done turning frequently. Brush with vinegarette dressing the last 5 minutes.

Creamy Potato Salad (Serves 4)

Ingredients:
1 lb. Red Potatoes (cut into chunks)
1/4 cup Kraft Light Zesty Italian Dressing
1/3 Cup Miracle Whip Light Dressing
1 1/2 tsp. Dijon Mustard
1 Hard cooked egg (chopped)
4 Green Onions (sliced)

Directions:
Boil potatoes until tender, drain and rinse with cold water until cooled. Mix dressing and mustard in lard bowl. Add potatoes, eggs and onions. Mix lightly. Refrigerate for 30 mins.

Don't they both just sound Mmmmmmm Good!

Meal Plan Monday

2009-05-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

For this week, here are our dinner plans:

Monday - Meatloaf w/ Mash Potatoes & Corn

Tuesday - Kielbosa w/ Kraut

Wednesday - Pork Chops w/ Veggies

Thursday - Hamburgers w/ Fried Sweet Potatoe Sticks

Friday - Grilled Chicken w/ Veggies

Saturday - Chicken Tenders w/ Mac & Cheese & Veggies

Sunday - Cookin On The Grill

Random and Crazy Day

2009-05-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

Today was a weird day. Everything we had planned for the day did not happen, yet all kinds of things that I would never have expected to happen today did!

To start off, typically I have coffee and breakfast with my mother and the kids after I take my oldest to school. Then we get ready and start our day. This morning both my little ones had wet through their diapers so I went ahead and got both of them dressed before we headed to the school.

After I got back I had to run to my in-laws (still in my pj's) and ran into my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. I thought I was running next door and would be in and out in a matter of seconds. Well, I ended up waiting in my car until they left so that I would not have to have the entire family see my in my pj's.

We then decided to start our day and run some errands. During the process of running these errands, my oldest called me all upset. SO we turned around, went back to her school and I checked her out for lunch because the person she was upset (my neice) with is in her lunch and I did not want them to have words.

We ended up back at the school and spent 2 1/2 hours in a conference room with my neice, my sister-in-law, my brother-in-law and the principal.

So much for a typical and boring day! Today has been anything but typical and boring!

Monday Meal Planning

2009-05-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

I have been working on Meal Plans for a while now and stuck by them for a while then slacked off. So I have decided to give it a try once again as it does help to control our monthly grocery budget. My goal is to develop 2 months worth of meal plans and alternate them. While I plan on keeping a 2 month meal plan, I will post them 1 week at a time.

For this week, here are our dinner plans:

Monday - Spaghetti w/ Italian Sausage

Tuesday - Beef & Veggie Stir Fry w/ Rice

Wednesday - Chicken Quesadilla’s

Thursday - Impossible Cheeseburger Pie w/ Veggies

Friday - Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Saturday - Slow Cooker Lasagna

Sunday - Bar-B-Q Chicken w/ Veggies

As for breakfast and lunch, we will be sticking to our family favorites: cereal & oatmeal, PB&J's, chicken salad and pimento cheese sandwiches with the occassional leftover feast lunch.

Way to Recycles - I Want To Make One

2009-05-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

While we were out and about,

I came across the coolest water fall idea!
Recycling your old garden tools

and make a water fountain at the same time.

Mother's Day Pictures of the Babies

2009-05-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to take the little ones to the park and get some pictures of them. With tomorrow being mothers day I figured I could add some new pictures in with the Mother's Day presents for the Mom's, Grandmom's and the Great Grandmom's.

They turned out so cute! Not that I don't think all my children's pictures are great, but there was something about these pictures, maybe it was just the fact that my little man is finally walking and taking pictures of him was soooo much fun!

Well, here are a couple of the pictures.

AND.......HAPPY EARLY MOTHER'S DAY to all my fellow bloggers!

Nicholas's Surgery Went Great

2009-05-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

When we first got to the Surgery Center and check-in, Nicholas got his hot & trendy gown!

Nicholas just after they gave him his sleepy juice.

Nicholas in the car when we first got home.

We checked in at the Surgery Center this morning at 5:45 am and were back home by 8:15 am. How great is that! I was worried for nothing! My little man came thru this little procedure like a champ.

I think I did worse with all this than he did. After a couple of naps today he was right back to his normal self, laughing and playing with his sister and being the loveable man he always is.

The nurses at the Surgery Center were wonderful, they made everything so easy for me and talked me through the entire procedure. I guess they are use to overly emotional moms and have had lots of practice calming them down because they really help me!

FREE 8x10 Photo at Walgreen's

2009-05-04T05:32:00.000-07:00

Get your Free 8x10 photo from Walgreen's on Wednesday, May 6th.

FREE 1 Year Subscription to Working Mother Magazine

2009-05-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

Click Here to get your 1 year subscription to Working Mother magazine.

BOGO Sale At Bi-Lo

2009-04-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

If you have not already done so, check out your Bi-Lo sales for this week. They are offering a TON of BOGO items. And if you will spend just a little bit of time looking thru your old coupon packs, you have coupons for a lot of the BOGO's.

Big savings here I come!

Free Reuseable Shopping Bag From Food Lion

2009-04-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

Food Lion is offering a a free reuseable shopping bag with the purchase of 1 Clorox Green Works Product or Scott Naturals Product.

These bags are great, they have 2 straps inside that will hold items upright in the bag to keep things organized.

Free NotePad and & Pen

2009-04-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

CompetitiveSociety.com is offering a free NotePad & Pen in support of people writing more!

Click Here to get yours.

Happy 1st Birthday Mr. Nicholas

2009-04-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

Today is my sons 1st Birthday and I am sooo excited! I cannot believe it has already been 1 year since I first saw his face. I know he is my 3rd child, but he is my first boy and was the final piece to completing the puzzle which I call my life.

I do not remember life with my son or any of my children for that matter. I have been a mom since 2 months before my 18th birthday (almost half my life) and while some people my say that is awful young, yes it was but I would not trade the life lessons and growing experiences that have made me the person I am today.

I would just like to take a minute to Thank God for blessing me with each of my angels!

Smell Something Yummy

2009-04-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am a HUGE fan of things that keep my house smelling great and boy have I found something YUMMY to create the "at home" atmosphere I crave.

If you are like me and love your house smelling like the Yanke Candle Company, check out this new website Tarts By Jayme. She has many different flavors at AMAZING prices! And you will not believe how long these little tarts will last.

Not only does she offer Tarts but she will custom make candles in the scent of your choice as well.

And to make things even more appealling she will prepare baskets full of her goodies and more for any occassion or just as a little something special for that someone special.

So check her out and see what you think, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Free Water Bottle from Disney

2009-04-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is turning into a day full of freebies!

Disney is giving away a free Reusable Water Bottle

when you bring in 3 empty plastic bottlesfor recycling!

Free Aveeno Tote Bag & Samples

2009-04-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Another great Earth Day giveaway!

The first 1,000 people to sign up on April 22, 2009 (EARTH DAY) at www.aveeno.com/jubilance will receive a free limited edition

Aveeno Envirosax reusable organic cotton bag and a sample of the new Aveeno Nourish shampoo and conditioner!

Tripple Coupons at Harris Teeter

2009-04-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Beginning April 29th and continuing thru May 5th!

Check out this site to see their rules on Trippling Coupons.

Free Walgreen's Tote Bag

2009-04-21T17:41:00.001-07:00

Walgreen's is giving away a free tote bag with any purchase in celebration of Earth Day. Print your coupon here. This coupon is also good for 10-15% discount on select items--including Walgreens brand items.

Blog Slump

2009-04-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

I am sorry, but I have not had the energy lately to get on-line and blog! To busy planning my sons 1st birthday party and having 2 sick children at the same time!

Hopefully my energy levels are going to kick back into full force and I will be back each night.

Tax Day

2009-04-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

Don't forget,

today is the last day to get those taxes filed!!

Sick Baby Again

2009-04-14T18:14:00.001-07:00

Well after 7 1/2 months of my little man having ear infection on top of ear infection, the doctors have finally decided to send him to a ENT to have tubes in his ears.

While I am going to be glad that the ear infections will stop, I cannot help but be sad that my baby is going to have to go thru this. I questioned the doctor today as to what I could have done different to prevent this or what I could start doing to make it better. He told me that there was nothing I could have or could possible do. Some children are just do not develop soemthing in their ears until later on that helps keep the fluid drained in their ears.

And to make things even worse, we are celebrating his first birthday this month and he will be having his surgery within a week of his birthday. What a crappy birthday present!

Becoming Debt Free

2009-04-14T17:56:00.000-07:00

After having a car payment since I was 16 and a credit card payment since I was 18, we have finally reached a point where we are as close as possible to being debt free.

As of the end of this month, we will no longer have any monthly bills outside of the mortgage payment and utilities. How awesome is that! We have been paying $1870 a month in car payments and credit cards for the past 4 years now. That was such a huge chunk of our budget.

I have to say, with the way the economy has been, I am so relieved. Even if my husband were to get laid-off, we would still be ok. And that makes sleeping at night so much easier for me.

A year and a half ago I was so stressed about bills and how we would make things work. We had a toddler and I was pregnant again! We could not afford daycare for 2 children and we were living check to check with 2 children in the home. How were we going to make it with 3 children in the home minus my income???? I asked myself this question a million times and could not even imagine that we would be were we are now. God has truly blessed our family with the ability to provide the things we needed and a lot of the things we want. Believe it or not, we actually live a very comfortable life.

So, if you are in a similar position and wondering how you will make it, pray first, then check out your budget, you will be surprised how many things you can cut back and how much unnecessary spending you do each month. Not to mention the things that most people do not think about (i.e. cost of daycare, extra dr. appts. from having children in daycare, extra oil changes and tires for your car, etc.).

Restaurant.com is Back At It Again

2009-04-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

Restaurant.com is offering 70% off their already reduced prices. Use code: FEAST and get a $25 gift certificate for $3!

All their gift certificates are good for 1 year and you can print them out immediately. No waiting for them to come in the mail. Just jump on-line anytime, find a restaurant you want to try and print out your gift certificate at a crazy low price!

Eat out on a budget, it almost sounds as good as saving so much money at the grocery store!

Saving Money - A Way Of Life For Me

2009-04-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

I have become so hard core with saving money that it is like a game to me. I challenge myself everytime I go to a store and shop to save as much as possible. And so far, I amaze myself with every trip! I am averaging $300-400 a month in savings by using coupons, store discount cards and combining the two to get the maximum savings (for example, I bought a couple of boxes of Ziploc Storage Bags that were regularly $4 a box, using my store discount card they were $2.47, but I had a coupon for $2 off, so I paid $0.47 per box). I have also learned how to use coupons to the max by taking a coupon that states it is for one thing, but can be used for multiple items made by the same company (for example, you can use a Pampers or Dreft coupon for Luvs diapers).

Today I went to Food Lion and I took my coupon book with me since I went without the children and had a few minutes to spend looking around. I found some really great deals! Which shocked me because I usually do not like to go grocery shopping until I have had a chance to go thru the sales ad and match up my coupons to the sales (with 2 sick babies, going thru sales ads and coupons were not a priority this weekend). Luckily, I never leave the house without my coupon book (I keep a 3-ring binder with baseball card sleeves in it to sort my coupons by location in the stores (i.e. frozen foods, dry goods, canned goods, etc.).

I bought $189.78 worth of groceries and only spent $19.70. WHAT A SAVINGS! I also picked-up 2 prescriptions and got them for free. So I got over $200 worth of stuff for less than $20.

Here are a couple of pictures or all my goodies.

Another Great Food Lion Deal

2009-04-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

I went into Food Lion to buy some sugar because it is on sale for $1.49. I just happened to go down the Kool-Aid isle first and was sooooo glad I did.

There are peel off coupons with the Kool-Aid for a $1.00 off Food Lion brand Sugar with the purchase of 5 packs of Kool-Aid (unsweetened). And as if that deal was not good enought, the Kool-Aid packs are on sale, 10 for $1.00.

I bought 4 - 5 lb bags of sugar and 20 packs of Kool-Aid and with tax, my total was $4.12. What a steal! A bag of sugar is normally close to $3 by itself.

With summer coming on fast, childhood memories of a nice cold glass of Kool-Aid rush back! And don't forget the Kool-Aid pops (or Kool-Aid ice cubes for those of us who were not spoiled enough to have Tupperware pop makers - Ha Ha Ha).

2 Toddlers, 1 Baby, and 4 Dozen Eggs = Some Wacky Easter Eggs

2009-04-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

We have done Easter eggs at my mother-in-laws for the past couple of years because it is something that she enjoys doing with my neice and my daughter (who are only 10 months apart).

She set up a big table in the middle of her kitchen and 20 coffee cups, each full of a different color. We had 4 dozen eggs and lots of ideas. So were pretty good while others were no so successful.

Either way, the grand babies had a blast! They played, colored eggs, made a mess and life was good.

Here is a picture of the 2 dozen that came home with me and my children!

Food Lion Deals

2009-04-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

I went into Food Lion today to pick up a couple of items for a dinner at the in-laws and ended up coming out with 5 bags full of stuff!

Up at the front they had a displace of Cran-Grape Juice by OceanSpray. They are on sale 2 for $4. BUT if you pay attention to the bottles, they have a tag around the neck that has a $1 off coupon. It says that it is for the drink mixes, but can be used for the drinks themselves.

So, if you buy 2 of them you get 2 coupons and they only cost $2!

FREE Princess Saves the Ball DVD

2009-04-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Click on the link to get your Free Princess Saves the Ball DVD from Fisher Price.

If you have a little girl in your life who loves to be a princess, they will definately love this DVD.

And the best part, it is FREE, and shipping is FREE! So do not miss out on this wonderful offer.

Wacky Wednesday ~ Hanging with the Family

2009-04-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

We had originally planned to go to the Zoo today, but with it being so cold we decided to hold that off for another day.

We ended up at Discovery Place instead and we had a BLAST!

We had 8 in our group, 3 of which under 10, 3 teenagers and 2 adults. Need I say much more! No, they were all pretty good and really seemed to enjoy being there.

This week there special showing is "Under the Big Top" (a Circus theme). They had a tight rope and trapeize swing that they allowed the children to try out for themselves. They also had a section where you could try on different outfits worn by circus performers.

But the best part was the aquarium portion. My 2 year old had a fit over it! She got to hold a starfish and she thought that was the coolest thing ever.

I look forward to going again when my soon to be 1 year old is old enought to really enjoy everything as well!

GREAT Sales at The Childrens Place

2009-04-08T18:20:00.001-07:00

I stopped by The Children's Place today because we were at the mall and my son had an ccident and of course, I did not have a change of clothes with him.

Anyway, I was soooo glad I did! They had pajamas (summer and winter) on sale for $.99, so I bought 2 summer and 2 winter (one for each of my babies). I was so excited about the pajamas that I decided to see what other deals they had. I found sweaters for $1.99. So I bought 4 of those (2 for each of my babies).

I could not believe that I bought 4 pair of pjs and 4 sweaters for less than $15 (tax included)!

A word of advise, DO NOT BUY ON-LINE! These same items on line are $5 & $6 each! Plus you have to pay for shipping. That is just to big of a price difference!

The best part about all these savings is the fact that I can resell all these items after my children wear them and make back at least 75% if not all my money! In some cases I have even made more than I actually paid for their clothes! This is how I dress my children on a budget. You would never believe that I spend so little and get so much. I just sell at consignment stores and on ebay and then turn around and use that money to by the next seasons clothes.

60% Off Gift Certificates at Restaurant.com

2009-04-07T18:38:00.001-07:00

Once again, Restaurant.com is offering 60% off on their gift certificates. You can get a $25 gift certificate for $4! You cannot beat that!

Just enter coupon code: SEASON

This offer is good thru April 13th and the gift certificates do not expire for an entire year.

Hunt's Ketchup for FREE

2009-04-07T18:35:00.001-07:00

To get your free 24 oz bottle of Hunts Ketchup, just request your Simple & Delicious coupon booklet and you will get several coupons, including the free ketchup coupon!

FREE 8x8 Photo Book from Shutterfly

2009-04-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

I have made photo books for the past couple of years for Christmas presents for the grandparents and they love them!

So I have decided to start making them for our family. I am going to do one for each family vacation and holiday. So this offer from Shutterfly makes it really easy for me to justify doing a Spring Break/Easter book!

Just enter Coupon Code: HARDCOVERBOOK

This offer is good thru April 14th!

Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator for 75% OFF

2009-04-06T03:54:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com is offering a Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator for $149.99, that is 75% off! What a steal!

This GPS is regularly $599.99.

Blogger Slump

2009-04-06T03:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not been posting the past few days, I have been concentrating a little more on spending time with my little ones.

We do not get a lot of weekends when Daddy is the computers were out of sight out of mind for a little while!

But I'm back!

My Moment to Vent

2009-03-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

OK, for those of you who do not know me, I have not always been married to my wonderful husband, Doug. I was married for a short time to the biggest loser in the world.

We have been apart for 15 years now and I thought I was really threw with him. Boy was I wrong! He always has a way of popping back up.

I called our local cable company today to find out about upgrading our tv service. Just as we were about to finalize everything a red flag came up on my social security number. I expressed that there was no way this was me as I have had this account for over 5 years. When he started doing some digging he found that it was under my prior married name at an address that I had never heard off (found out later from a friend where the road is and it is in the area my X lived in). The account was opened in April of 2007 and there was an outstanding balance.

Unfortunately I had to pay this bill in order to keep my account in good standing.

I WAS FURIOUS!!

Luckily the amount of the bill was small but it is the principal behind it. Who in the HELL does he think he is to still be doing things like this to me??? In case I forgot to mention it, this is not the first account he has put my name on!

And what made me even infuriated, was the fact that he could do it. With all the identity fraud out there, and all the protection policies that have been put into place, how can people still get away with these things? I do not understand it.

Over the past 2 years my husband and I have had our debit cards and checking account compromised, a credit card stolen and now this. Is there ever going to be an end to people trying to get something for nothing? And if not, when will there be a reliable way of keeping people from stealing your identity?

Well, that is enough venting for the night. I just want to put a word of advise out there, keep a close eye on your credit report, monitor your credit/debit cards on a regular basis and NEVER NEVER NEVER leave any personal information where others can get it (this includes check books, drivers license, SS card, etc.). Because you cannot trust anyone, not even family!

Saving Even More Money

2009-03-31T05:32:00.000-07:00

I decided to shop car insurance yesterday and could no believe what I found!

My husband has been with the same insurance company, Nationwide, ever since he was 16 and had never thought about changing because he is a creature of habit. Anyway, our credit union sent us an invite to their insurance company. So I called for a quote and their quote was $100 less a month than what we are currently paying! Same coverage, same deductibles but MUCH CHEAPER!

You had better believe we will be making the switch! $100 a month, that is $1200 a year. What a savings!

I was sooo shocked. I thouht there might be a small savings, but I never imagined it would be this good.

I would recommend that everyone who has been with the same company for years check out some other companies and see how well you are being rewarded (or not) for your faithfulness!

FREE Tote Bag - Earthbound Farms

2009-03-31T05:26:00.001-07:00

If you are one of the 1st 10,000 people to take a pledge (there are multiple pledges you can make to help our planet) in April you will receive a free reusable shopping bag.

The pledges are simple, eat healthy, eat organic fruits and vegetables, use your own grocery bags, eat more vegetables and less meat, etc. These are really simple pledges to make and to stick by!

Free Aveeno Hair Care Products

2009-03-31T05:22:00.000-07:00

Get a sample of Aveeno Nourish and Hair Care Collection just for filling out a brief qestionnaire. The questionnaire will help them suggest a couple of products best suited for your hair needs.

If you have ever tried any of the Aveeno products you know they are hig quality! So don't miss out on this offer!

Free Sample of Arm & Hammer Toothpaste

2009-03-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Click Here to get your free sample of Arm & Hammer Toothpaste!

Free Jiffy Mix Recipe Book

2009-03-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Click on the link to receipe your Free Jiff Mix Recipe Book Chelsea Milling/Jiffy Mix.

Only one per household!

Free Bread Recipe Book

2009-03-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

The Bread Breakthrough’s fuss-free recipes include Neapolitan-style pizza, pull-apart rolls, streusel coffeecake, delicious breads and a bread-making gift kit. You’ll also receive tips for homemade baking success. To get yours, click here . This offer is good thru April 30, 2008 and there is no shipping costs!

What Will They Tax Next

2009-03-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

I am a hard-core couponer, I use them everytime I go to the store and I save thousands of dollars a year doing so. I have been very proud of myself over the past 2 years with how much I have been able to save. My husband gets a kick off how little I spend and how much I buy.

I went to Food Lion today and picked up a couple of items and I had 2 $1.50 off coupons for some BirdsEye Steam Fresh Vegetables so I decided to pick up 2 packs because they were on sale 2 for $4. I got to the register and was checking out when the cashier told me my coupon tax. I turned around and looked at her like she was crazy. "Coupon Tax" what is that!?!?!? She explained to me that North Carolina is now imposing a 2% tax on the face value of coupons.

I was furious! Our government is going to penalize me because I am frugal. I could not believe it. Just because I have found ways to justify being a stay-at-home mom and have worked our budget around my loss of income (which was a substantial loss), I have to pay a price. This is ridiculous!

I have every intention of writing a not so nice letter to my senator letting them know what I think about this! Even if it does not get me anywhere, it will make me feel better!

What will they decide to tax next, the aire we breathe!

Rain Rain Go Away

2009-03-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

It has rained the bulk of th week and I am sick of it! I have not been able to get my little ones out of the house and in the yard to play ad they are driving me crazy about it. We have had some play time in the garage play area, but it is just not the same!

I am ready for some pretty sunny days so that we can get outside, work in the yard and play!

Just before the rain started I spent several days outside getting 3 new flower beds framed out and covered in pine straw. Today I went and bought 17 plants to go in those beds. NOW I WANT TO GET EVERYTHING PLANTED!

So I am doing the rain, rain go away dance!

Windex All-In-One Starter Kit & Refill Set for $1.99

2009-03-28T02:27:00.000-07:00

Right now you can Print a coupon for a free Refill Pack when you buy one Windex Outdoor All-in-One Starter Kit.

And if you purchase it at Target, you can get the starter kit for $1.99. The kit is usually $4.99 but Target is offering a Printable $3 off coupon.

So you get the start kit and the refill pack for less than $2!

Easter on a Budget

2009-03-28T02:18:00.000-07:00

This SUNDAY & MONDAY ONLY, CVS has a couple of deals to help make your Easter frugal and fun!

$1.99 ECB wyb Paas Easter Egg Coloring Kit ($1.99) - FREE (there is a limit of 2)

Confectionery Lane Jelly Beans $2/1

M&M's 2/$3

FREE Cookies

2009-03-28T02:14:00.001-07:00

Right now Toll House Cookies have a "Try Me Free" offer on select Toll House Cookie Mix. So the next time you are at the store, look for the red peelie.

This offer expires 5/31/09 so make sure to get your refund request mailed out about a week prior to this date just to be sure it is received in time.

Mom's Need To Know

2009-03-28T01:48:00.000-07:00

I do not know how many of the mom's that read my blog vacation to Myrtle Beach, but I had to post this anyway!

I took my oldest daughter and a group of her girlfriends to the beach for her 16th birthday a couple of weeks ago and they all wanted to go to Club Karma. I thought, its a teen club so why not. They got all dressed up and away we went. After a 35 minute drive we got there. I had to pay $8 to park and the club was $10 per person. After I paid, I was informed that I was not allowed to go into the club with the girls. This really hit me the wrong way!

Knowing that at least 75% of their business is from tourist, I could not believe they would not allow a mother to stay with a group of 15 and 16 year olds. But, I did not want to ruin my daughters big night so I decided to go along with it. As I went to leave I expressed to the manager that I did not agree with their not allowing me to stay and he was a little short with me. This also did not set well with me. But, once again I was trying to think about my daughter have a good night.

Well, about 5 minutes later my phone rang and it was my daughter telling me to come and get them! I asked her what had happened and she told me that she would explain when I got there. Of course, being already upset about the situation, I made her tell me then. She explained to me that they came down right after I left and told the manager that they did not feel right being there without me and asked for their money back. Not only did the manager refuse to give them their money back, but he decided to run his mouth about me to the girls. That was the last straw, I was pissed and I so I went back to the club to talk to the manager! Once again, he was a **** and I completely lost my temper at that point.

I will never take my daughter back to this place as I cannot believe tha someone who runs an establishment for minors would act the way that he did and say the things that he said, especially to and in front of these minors. If he acts this way, you have to wonder what else goes on inside this club that parents are not allowed in to see!

FREE Full Sized Sample of Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion

2009-03-27T05:56:00.000-07:00

While supplied last, Pantene Pro-V is offering a full-sized sample of its advanced Nature Fusion shampoo.

Click Here to get yours. This promotion begins 3/24/2009, so do not wait too long as these samples will go fast!

$25 Restaurant Gift Certificates For $3

2009-03-25T05:05:00.000-07:00

From now until March 31st, Restaurant.com is offering 70% off on there Gift Certificates. All you need to do is enter the following coupone code: RESTAURANT at check-out.

Free Movie Wednesday

2009-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here is your RedBox code for today: MMM325

Free Mini Body Lotion From Victoria's Secret

2009-03-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

To get your free mini body lotion from Victoria's secret, Click Here and print this coupon, take it to your nearest store. They also have a deal for a free tote with any $25 purchase.

Free Sample - Roots of Nature Remedies

2009-03-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

Walmart is offering a free sample of Roots of Nature Remedies hair products. Click Here to get yours.

1 Year FREE Subscription to Gardening Magazine

2009-03-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

To get your 1 year free subscription all you have to do is get 2 proofs of purchase from any of the organic products they list, mail in along with a x index card that contains your name and address and you automatically get your subcription!

Harris Teeter Double Plays

2009-03-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

Harris Teeter is tripling coupons starting Mar 25th. Here is a list of double plays: Harris Teeter.

25% Off Crazy 8 Orders

2009-03-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

Once again, Crazy 8's is offering another awesome deal! 25% off of you entire order (clearance included). This deal is only good March 26-28th, so hurry up and don't miss out.

Like I said in one of my earlier posts, Crazy 8 is a sister company to Gymboree. So if you like Gymboree clothes but not Gymboree prices, you need to check them out!

Click HERE to check out their site and when you get to checkout, use the following code: C8ONLINE

AND as if that was not a great enough offer, Crazy 8's is also offering Crazy Cash for every $40 spent in a single transaction on Crazy8.com, you will receive Crazy Cash coupons in the amount of $20 to be used on future purchases of $40 or more. You can earn them anytime between 3/18-4/5 and thye are redeemable anytime between 4/9-4/19.

RoKu Rocks

2009-03-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have been getting movies from Netflix for over a year now and I thought it was the best thing in the world until my uncle clued me in on this great little box that Netflix sells for $100 that allows you to lower your monthly plan to $8.95 a month, receive 1 movie at a time (unlimited) a month and UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS! I get my movies instantly and I know it is the BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD!

It is the best electronic device I own!

If you do not have a Roku or have not heard of them, check them out here.

Free Movie Monday - RedBox Code

2009-03-23T12:32:00.001-07:00

Today's free movie code is: HG7W56.

Free Box of Glucerna Cereal

2009-03-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

Click Here to get your coupon for a free FULL-SIZED box of Glucerna Cereal!

Coupons, Sales and Matching Them Up

2009-03-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

I have been asked by tons of people, how do I save so much every week when I shop. So I decided to pos a brief explanation of how I shop.

First, I started by getting a 2" 3 ring binder and several packs of baseball card sleeves (the ones that clip into a 3 ring binder). I cut all my coupons, separate them by what they are (frozen foods, dry goods, can goods, cleaning supplies, health care needs, etc. and then place them in the card sleeves. Once I put them into the binder I placed tabs on the first page of each section so that I flip between the sections easily when in a store.

Second, I get the sales papers from each store that I shop.

Third, I go thru the sales ad and match up coupons with the items that are on sale.

This way I get the maximum savings possible.

One other way that I save a ton is by matching up coupons to items that might not be listed on the coupon. Just because a coupon says it is for Pillsbury Rolls does not mean that you cannot use it for another Pillsbury product. As long as the first 5 numbers of the coupon match the first 5 numbers of the UPC Code, you can use it. For instance, I went to Bi-Lo yesterday and they had Oil of Olay soap on sale for $1.99, I had a $3 off coupon for Oil of Olay Face Wash, so not only did I get to use the coupon and get my item for free, I actually got paid $1.01 for buying it. Another example is that you can use Dreft coupons and Pampers coupons to buy Luvs diapers (which, just in case you did not know it, Pampers makes Luvs diapers so don't spend the extra money on Pampers when you can get the same quality diapers from Luvs.

These are just a few of my money saving methods. These same me a small fortune every shopping trip.

Another example of my money savings, I went grocery shopping yesterday at Bi-Lo (who doubles coupons everyday). My total before sales and coupons was $161.83, I paid $24.82. I saved over $130! And the best part of it is that I only spend about 20 minutes a week working on my coupons and sale offers and in return I save my family on average $400 a month.

Free Sample - Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash

2009-03-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Get a free sample of Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash, click here.

FREE $25 Kmart Gift Card

2009-03-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

Shop at Kmart anytime between March 10th and April 30th and spend at least $50, save your receipt and mail it to Glamour: Glamour Platinum Rewards Attn: Promotion Department4 Times Square 16th FloorNy, NY 10036

For every $50 you spend, they will mail you a $25 KMart gift card!

NOW, with DOUBLE COUPON DAYS coming up next week, March 22-28, 2009, you can really rack up on some savings and free gift cards. It is like getting rewarded for saving money.

You can check out the ads for next week at http://www.kmart.com/. You so you can check by zipcode to see your local Kmart.

Personalized Pacifiers

2009-03-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

I ordered personalized pacifiers for my daughter last year from CoolPacifiers.com and loved them. They are the cutest pacifiers and a great way to keep track of your childs pacifier when your child is playing with other children.

I loved them so much that I decided to order some for my son as well. I ordered 3 with his name on them,3 that say "Glover Baby" and 1 "Prince Charming". I figured I had to add that last one in since I received a "Princess" pacifier with my last shipment for my daughter.

The best part about these pacifiers is that they are available for just a little more than the everyday, boring pacifiers you can buy at the store. And if you order yours today, you can get 3 pacifiers for only $9.99.

They have several different styles and colors and well as expression pacifiers. Check them out for yourself!

Back In Action

2009-03-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well, after a long weekend at the beach with a group of 16-17 year old girls, I still have all my sanity and actually had a great time! These girls were so wonderful to spend the weekend with. I had my doubts at first, but they were all extremely well behaved and truly impressed me with their willingness to listen and be respectful!

Don't get me wrong, they were full of energy and were typical teenagers, but in a classy and "starting to grow up" kind of way. I was proud to say that they were with me at all times this weekend!

To each of you who went, I would like to say "Thank you for being so GREAT and I LOVE EACH OF YOU"! I cannot wait to take you guys back to the beach this summer.

Here is a picture of where we stayed and a backside picture of the girls (sorry but for my girls privacy, no face shots!).

I do have to say, that even though I know I needed the break, I was happy to get home to my little ones! This is the first time I have been away from the both of them for more than just an overnight stay at grandmas (in which I put them to bed an I am back when they wake up the next morning)! So when I walked in the door at my mothers to get them I was ecstatic!

Heading to the Beach

2009-03-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

Will not be posting for a couple of days, taking my daughter (who is turning 16 Saturday) and 5 of her girlfriends to the beach for the weekend.

Will have lots of fun and be back to posting on Sunday evening! Hope you all have a great weekend as well!

Free Billy Boy Candy

2009-03-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

Free Billy Boy Candy Pocket Tin Sample.

Click Here to get your free sample.

FREE Sample of Aveda Shampoo

2009-03-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Aveda is c=currently offering a free sample of one of the highest quality shampoos: Aveda Black Malva Pure Plant® shampoo. Click Here to get yours.

Triple Coupon Days Again!

2009-03-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

Harris Teeter is offering Triple Coupon Days again starting tomorrow, March 12, 2009!

20% Off & Free Shipping @ Crazy8.com

2009-03-10T05:06:00.001-07:00

OK, if you do not already know it, Crazy 8 is the daughter company to Gymboree. If you love Gymboree clothes but hate the big price tag, this is the place to shop! They are the same quality clothes at a fraction of the price. And right now you can save 20% on your Crazy8.com purchase AND you also get free shipping with code SAVE20. This offer is good through March 22. You can also print out the coupon if you live near a Crazy8 store.

Daylight Savings Time

2009-03-07T18:04:00.000-08:00

Here we come again!

Don't forget to turn your clocks forward 1 hour!

Dove Hair Care for FREE

2009-03-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

Dove is offering 2 free samples of their hair care products.

First they are offering a free sample of Dove - Heat Defense Therapy.

Second they are offering a free sample of Dove - Intense Damage Therapy .

Grow Your Own Salad For FREE

2009-03-07T05:36:00.001-08:00

Earth Bound Farms Organic foods if giving away a Free Sample of Organic Lettuce Seeds. Click Here to get yours!

Free Tote Bag From DeLallo

2009-03-07T05:31:00.000-08:00

Free Quiznos Sammie

2009-03-07T05:23:00.000-08:00

Join the Quiznos Club and get a Free Sammie! All you need to purchase is a drink and chips and your sandwich is FREE!

Huggies Coupons - Back Again

2009-03-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

The printable coupons for Huggies have been reset. Click Here to get yours!

A Day of Remembrance & Sadness

2009-03-07T04:34:00.000-08:00

One year ago today 2 of our community fireman, both friends of my husband and his family lost their lives on a fire call to a local building.

I will never forget that day. I was at work when I heard the news and I cannot explain the feeling when I spoke to my mother-in-law and she said that she could not get in touch with Johnny (my father-in-law and another community fireman). My heart sank into my stomach. All we knew was that 2 fireman had fallen and nothing more. We did not even know if he was on the call. For a couple of hours we all sat in fear until the names of the 2 fireman were released -
Victor Isler and Justin Monroe had died in the line of duty!

I remember feeling relieved and and sad all at the same time.

Today, we will all relive this day as they pay a tribute to our fallen firefighters. And once again we will hear the “Ringing of the Bell”. The fire bell will chime five times, in three distinct sets, signifying the “last return home”. This is a sound that anyone who has attended a service for a fellow fireman can never forget. After losing my step-father several years ago (also a firefighter) and hearing the "Ringing of the Bell" and the words that followed, "Robert Lee James Jr. your tour of duty is over, job well done. It is a sound that will forever touch my heart.

I would like to say, to their family and friends, that even though a year has passed, I know that their pain and sadness will remain for a lifetime and they are in my thoughts and prayers for that lifetime as well. May God bless you all!

Justin and Vic, you will both be remembered for rendering the ultimate sacrifice of giving your life for that of another and caring so much for people you didn't even know!

Magic Jack Phone Service - $19.95 a YEAR

2009-03-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

I got my Magic Jack about a year ago and I have to day, it is the best home phone in the world for my family! We all have cell phones so paying a monthly fee for a home phone as well as the cell phone just seems ridiculous!

I can call anywhere I want with no long distance charges. I have voicemail and call id and pay nothing extra, JUST $19.95 a year. You cannot beat that!

Click Here to check out the website and even try it for free for the first 30 days!

Free Popcorn at AMC Theaters

2009-03-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

Click Here to print your coupon for Free Popcorn at AMC Theaters. This coupon is good thru April 16, 2009.

TRIPPLE COUPON DAYS AGAIN

2009-03-05T13:51:00.001-08:00

Harris Teeter is going to be having Tripple Coupon Day on March 12-15th!

Don't miss out.