SAHM I AM

2009-06-25T05:11:00.001-04:00

Homeschool Journal Update, here.

Music Monday

2009-06-15T11:33:00.002-04:00

When I hear this song I think of Brooke....

Enjoy.

Baking Day!

2009-06-14T18:02:00.011-04:00

I usually make bread by hand but I was a little busy today so I figured I'd try out the bread machine. I just made a simple white bread and it came out really great! One good thing about using the bread machine vs. my oven is the house didn't get heated up and on a day like today here in Florida that is a wonderful thing!

My little kitchen helper!

Here is the super simple and basic white bread recipe I used.

2lb loaf

Milk - 1 and 1/4 Cups

Water - 1/4 cups (I added a smidge more during kneading because it looked like it needed it.)

Margarine or butter cut up 2 tablespoons

Bread flour - 4 cups

Sugar - 2 tablespoons

Salt - 1 Teaspoon

Active Dry Yeast - 1 and 1/4 teaspoons

Place liquids in pan first then the flour followed by sugar and salt then put an indent in top and place yeast in the indent. I place the butter around the 4 corners as seen in photos. I used the medium crust setting and the regular white bread setting on my Breadman Ultimate machine.

3 hours later - enjoy!

I also made a loaf of banana nut bread for my hubby today, it's his favorite! It came out amazing too! I just love it when my baking goes as planned!!!

The smell in the house right now is so nice :)

SwagBucks!

2009-06-11T10:50:00.004-04:00

I recently signed up for Swagbucks and I have to say, I am really excited about it!!!

Swagbucks has a search engine powered by google and ask.com. When you perform your searches, you can win Swagbucks - which are redeemable for gift cards or merchandise. Each time you win 45 Swagbucks, you can redeem it for a $5 Amazon.com gift card (Totally awesome!) There are many other options for redemption too. Check out the Prizes section of their site.

Another way to earn Swagbucks is by referring your friends. When your friends sign up under your referral code, you'll earn a buck every time they do, for the first 100 Swagbucks!

You can see how this adds up once you have 10 or 20 friends under you!

TODAY - Swagbucks 2.5 is launched with easier navigation and quick links! Today you'll also find a Swagbucks widget for your blog or social network page. Folks can search and win through your page and when they win, you win!Maximize your Swagbucks winnings by downloading the toolbar and using it each time you search (available on the homepage).

If you would like to sign up, please use my link by clicking here. (You'll get free swagbucks just for signing up!)

Yard Sale Find!

2009-06-08T09:39:00.007-04:00

This past weekend I came across this absolutely amazing deal at a local estate sale and couldn't resist. I just love a good deal, don't you?

It's a Simplicity S24 Canister Vac and the retail cost on one of these amazing machines is a whopping $899.95!

My yard sale price: $40 (I talked her down from $55!) Whoooohooo!

This thing is unbelievable! It has amazing suction, it's quiet and very powerful. I have vacuumed the entire house, the furniture and the car and now there is nothing left to vacuum :(

So, did you happen upon an fabulous find this past weekend? Tell about it on your blog then leave a comment so I can check it out!

Her new "do"

2009-06-05T16:24:00.004-04:00

After years of protest when I would ask her to cut her hair, she finally asked for a hair cut :)

Before:

We went to a place called Doodle-Doos to get it done and the place was amazing! When we arrived she was asked to pick a movie to watch (each salon chair had it's own dvd player and tv) then she got her hair cut and styled, her nails painted and a little pixie dust for her hair (glitter) all for $15! Can you believe that?

She loved it so much she asked if we could visit there monthly :)

After:

Doesn't it look great???

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-06-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday - What has been seen cannot be unseen :)

2009-05-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

President Kennedy's Chef, 1966

2009-05-25T00:00:00.002-04:00

This is a re-post. I am still trying to find out who could have signed this...

Anyone know who I can contact to find out the worth if any of a signed item?

We have a cookbook titled: The Blender Way To Better Cooking

and it has an inscription that reads: To Mrs. McGfee? with Best Wishes and Happy Cooking - (Signed by someone) Atlanta 6/8/66 President Kennedy's Chef

Now I don't know if this is worth anything but I would love to know for sure! Do you know where I can find out? If so, please leave a comment! Thanks in advance!

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The best years of my life began 10 years ago today...

2009-05-22T07:01:00.005-04:00

Happy Anniversary Honey, I love you now more than ever...
(turn you speakers up and enjoy)

The beginning of something beautiful... on Vimeo.

Mike & Kim, May 22, 1999 Music = Yellow by Coldplay

An example of what NOT to say to a customer....

2009-05-21T18:52:00.004-04:00

After waiting 25 minutes to speak with Comcast customer service this is how it all went down:

Me: When I ordered my service from you I requested my number be unpublished however since I've had the service (a whole 4 days) I've been receiving calls from magazine publishers and telemarketers and they actually know my name so they aren't just dialing numbers here.

Comcast Guy: ((In a very smirky and condescending tone)) Well we haven't published a phone book in the last four days so I'm pretty sure we haven't published your number....

Me: Was that an attempt at *clever* comment or were you just trying to show me your lack of customer service skills?

Comcast Guy: No, that's how unpublished numbers work.

Me: Wow, they really let you work there at the PHONE company in the CUSTOMER SERVICE department of all places?

Comcast Guy: Was that your idea of a *clever* comment?

Me: Actually that wasn't a comment it was a question.

Me: Look, as much as a delight it is speaking with you I have better things to do. For example I have a tooth that needs a root canal so I just want my number unpublished. So, if you could handle that I would appreciate it. Oh and by the way since the only other way anyone could get my brand new number associated with my name would be if you guys sold it to them, I don't approve and do not want any of my information given out.

Comcast Guy: Well I don't actually handle any of that so I will transfer you.

Me: Well then, I'd appreciate that. Actually I would have appreciated that a long time ago...

Comcast Guy: One moment.

Then I waited another 22 minutes to get someone else on the phone who informed me it would take 7 days to get my number unpublished. I pro-tested and now it will be done within 24 hours. Why? Why can't they just do it in the 24 hours to begin with? I don't get it.

----Seriously people this whole "Switching to Comcast" experience has been dreadful. I had no internet or phone service starting last night through mid afternoon today and they have the worst customer service of any company I have ever dealt with and are completely unreliable. I do not under any circumstances recommend them.---

Quinoa Quinoa Quinoa - I just like saying it thats all :)

2009-05-21T11:49:00.005-04:00

After reading so many wonderful things about these little seeds I decided pick some up and make some milk and breakfast to see what I thought!

What is it you wonder???

It's called Quinoa (pronouced keen-wah) and it's an amino acid-rich (complete protein) seed that has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. It is wheat and gluten free is low on the glycemic index and packs loads of fiber and vitamins and minerals... think of it as a nutrient powerhouse! Quinoa is available in your local health food stores throughout the year and I even found it at my local Publix. Most commonly considered a grain, quinoa is actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard. It is a recently rediscovered ancient "grain" once considered "the gold of the Incas."

It's super easy to cook as you basically cook Quinoa up just like rice. Always rinse the quinoa first! The rule is 2 parts water to 1 part quinoa. Add water and quinoa to your pot, bring to a boil, add a lid and reduce heat to simmer. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes. You'll know it's done when all the water is absorded and it is translucent with white around the rim.

You can read more about Quinoa and the numerous health benefits it has here.

Here is the milk recipe I used:

Quinoa Milk
Yields: ~1 quart/liter
It will last in the fridge for about a week.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup quinoa
4 cups water
pinch sea salt
to taste sweetener of choice (unrefined sugar, agave, honey)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

What to do:

1. Place quinoa in a glass bowl and cover with water. Refrigerate and soak overnight.
2. Strain quinoa well and rinse under running water.
3. Place quinoa in a sauce pot with 2 cups of water and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Place entire contents into a blender and blend on high speed for at least 1 minute.
5. Add enough water for your desired consistency and sweetener to taste. Add vanilla if desired.

*Tip* you can cook the quinoa with cinnamon to give it a new dimension.

And here is the breakfast recipe I used:

Quinoa and Yougurt Cereal

Ingredients

1/2 cup of cooked Quinoa
1/4 cup of Greek-style yogurt
1 orange, cut into chunks
1 tbsp walnuts
2 tsp of honey

Directions:

Place quinoa in a bowl and top with yogurt, oranges, and walnuts. Drizzle with honey and enjoy!

Serves 1.

My thoughts:

Milk: It took a little getting used to since we are used to cow's milk which I don't really like but I really liked the quinoa milk once I added some honey and experimented with the vanilla!

Cereal: Loved it, you must try it!!!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Just take a chill pill!

2009-05-20T00:00:00.005-04:00

To see more Wordless Wednesday posts, click here.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

2009-05-19T12:09:00.005-04:00

Banana Muffin Recipe

What you need:

3 large ripe banana's
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

What to do:

Mash banana's. Add sugar, slightly beaten egg and melted butter. Add all the dry ingredients mix until moist.

*You can add nuts if you want!

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Click the link below to visit more Tempt My Tummy posts!

Hmmm...

2009-05-18T15:48:00.009-04:00

We switched to Comcast today.... so far I wouldn't say I'm impressed.

Technician cussed and carried on with my 9 year old in the next room (of MY house)
Technician didn't check to make sure all the t.v.s were working nor did he actually set them up for me so they would actually work.
Channels were missing that were supposed to be included in my package - Technician told me to call customer service. I did. Customer service told me the tech should ensure everything was working before he left and asked to speak to him. Tech told customer service it wasn't his job.
First internet modem didn't work - at all.
Second Modem's backup battery is not working - customer service informed me I would need to bring it in for an exchange. They simply will not bring another one to me even though they left my home less than 2 hours ago.
It's storming - meaning if the power goes out so do all my phones!

So I am left to ask myself...what have I done????

**Update, Monday** Called in and complained to customer service. They will bring another (3rd) modem out to me in the morning. (Today would have been nice) and they credited my account $25.00. I'm still not satisfied.

**Update, Tuesday** Guess what? They didn't show up this morning. Imagine that. Credited my account $20 and now I get to sit around for another two hours to see if they show up tonight. Still not satisfied.

Text Link Ads - A Blog Advertising Review.

2009-05-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

If you have visited my blog in the past you may have come across a Text Links Ads banner and may have wondered what it was. Text Link Ads (TLA) allow advertiser's to directly purchase ad space on publisher's websites and blogs. Every publisher's site is listed in TLA's directory allowing advertisers to purchase links on sites that fit their specific needs. To see what Text Link Ads look like, look for "Featured Sites" in the top right of my sidebar. They are simple text ads that link to an advertiser's site.

Text Link Ads are wonderful for advertisers and publishers alike. Advertiser's receive better search engine status as well as more traffic. Publisher's receive links that aren't over bearing and once a link appears you can be sure it's money in the bank! Text Link Ads are also the owners of ReviewMe and InLinks!

Support
To begin this review I have chosen to speak first about TLA's support because I think they provide an awesome service! I have been using Text Link Ads for a few months now and the support they offer is amazing. They are quick to get back to all inquiries with detailed information and are very pleasant to work with. I have never had any type of problem with TLA but I know if I ever do they will be on it quickly. You just don't see that kind of service anymore.

Publisher Ad Approval System
One feature that is priceless is TLA's ad approval system. There are two options, Option A offers to allow TLA to editorial approve advertisers to your website. (TLA will not publish any adult, pharmacy, gambling or any site they feel as inappropriate.) Option B gives publisher's control over what ads are placed on their site. Publisher's can accept or reject any ad sold on their site before it is placed.

Pricing
TLA utilizes flat rate pricing, advertiser's buy links on a site for a flat monthly price. Prices are assigned automatically by TLA and are based on a site’s Alexa and Technorati ranking as well as Google PageRank and estimated number of RSS subscribers. The better the numbers, the higher the link price. Publisher's receive a 50% share of advertising revenue which I think is a fair amount.

For smaller blogs, flat rate pricing has it's advantages as ads that utilize cost per click probably don't get a click all that often. For larger blogs, flat rate pricing has it's disadvantages because no matter how much traffic they receive they still only receive that flat monthly price. But hey, money is money right!?!

Publisher Payments
One thing I particularly like is that Text Link Ads send payments much faster than other ad networks. Payments are made via check or paypal and are sent out on the first day of the month for all services from the previous month. No minimum is required for paypal payments however check payments require a minimum of $25.00 in earnings.

Acceptance/Affiliate Program
For newer blogs or blogs that have low rankings it may be a problem getting accepted into Text Link Ads. If your site is rejected TLA will keep your site on file for monthly review and you can still participate in TLA's affiliate program. The program pays $25.00 for any referred visitor that results in a new publisher or a sale. If you decide to sign up as an affiliate, advertiser or publisher, please help support this blog by utilizing my link.

In closing I encourage you to give Text Link Ads a try. You have nothing to lose as ads only get placed on your site if they are already paid for.

Buy a link on SAHM I AM.

This is not a paid ad.

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Kids Stuff: Smarties Airplanes

2009-05-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a cute way to present your littles with some yummy candies. They are also make great party favors or little gifts for an end of school year party! We used to make these when I was little and sometimes we would attach a banner to the back of the plane to make a message also. They are really cute!

It's not hard to do but it is a little hard to explain so bear with me :)

All you need is Smarties, Gum, Any color Life Savers and rubber bands. Now simply run a rubber band through the two Lifesavers leaving space to stick the Smarties through also. Then put the stick of gum through the top.

You can also use some pretty paper or decorate some paper yourself to cover the sticks of gum. You could use stickers, markers stamps etc. to make them really cute!

Have Fun!!

Tip: You can also buy the individually wrapped lifesavers and poke a hole through the packaging to thread the rubber band through, just a thought!

Fun & Frugal Friday - Useless Credit Cards Abound.

2009-05-15T01:02:00.002-04:00

Hmmm. Wondering what to do with those useless credit cards??? Here are some creative ways make use of all of them that won’t cost you a thing - they may even save you money.

Ice scraper.
Make some unique jewelry like a name ring. Simply cut a strip from the card where your name is then wrap it around something round to shape it. Punch a whole in each end and tie with string. Voila! a personalized ring made just for you!
Clean sticky spills and messes from kitchen counters with them.
Paint scraper.
Use it as a way to get in a room you've locked yourself out of.
Give them to the kids for pretend play.
Aquarium glass scraper.
Caulk edger
Shims.
Guitar pick.
Hard Cheese grater–use the embossing side and wash the card first!
Paint guide for tight places.
Cut it to make a perfect dough scraper.
Bookmark
Place them under furniture feet to save your carpet or rug.
Finger splint. Use it to immobilize an adjacent finger or two.
Knife?
Straight edge.
Cut them up to use as mosaic tiles. Then decorate something - perhaps a mirror or picture frame...

Have an idea? Leave a comment!

Frugal Me - Frugal You!

2009-05-14T08:09:00.007-04:00

** Warning - This came out really long.. who knew I had so much too give but I'm not going to make it expandable because that's the way I roll...**

Saving money and being frugal is a good idea in any kind of economy - good or bad. But with so many people looking for frugal ideas in this awful economy of ours I decided to compile a list of money saving tips and frugal ideas to help out...

Learn to enjoy the simple and most times FREE things. Checking out books from the library and reading them in the park is free and oh so satisfying. Going to free museums and concerts are a great way to get out and save money. Many papers will have a community section that details the time and places for these events. If that’s not your thing try picking up your old hobbies and dusting them off: your guitar, coin collection, journal, kite, painting, drawing or other hobby will love the attention.

Make your own... Learn how to make your own Laundry Detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, toilet bowl cleaner, disinfectant spray, dish washing liquid and dishwasher detergent to save a bundle!!!!

Learn the power of vinegar! Click here to see the hundreds of things you can do with vinegar!!!

Switch to cloth napkins. Decrease waste and save money all at the same time! Cloth napkins are easy to make as you can use almost any spare or scrap fabric. For some amazing instruction on DIY napkins, go here.

Plan. By planning everything you do and sticking with it can save you a lot in the long run. Before you go to the grocery store write down only what you need and stick with it. Not planning will certainly lead to impulsive spending.

Eat before you shop! This may not sound very helpful; but it works! Shopping while hungry always makes you buy more junk food and spur-of-the-moment items.

Diversify your income. Look for ways to increase your income outside of your full time job. Do you have a hobby that you could make a small business? Could you find something in this list to help bring in some extra cash... give it a try.

Just say Yes and No... When someone asks you to join them for dinner politely decline and ask if they would like to meet after dinner for some coffee perhaps... It’s never fun to turn down a chance to go out with friends but there are ways to say yes without spending a fortune.

Cut back the cable. Do you really need all those channels? If your answer is yes then I challenge you to cut it back for one month, you can always change it back if you prove me wrong. Go ahead give it a try I think you'll surprise yourself :)

Don’t pay a dime for banking privileges. There are too many free checking options out there to pay one penny in fees for the right to write a check or use a debit card. Many banks and credit unions simply require direct deposit or a minimum number of debit card uses per month to qualify for fee-free accounts.

Take a second look! Before you throw anything out, give it a second look to see if it could be used again for a different purpose perhaps. An empty jar of mayo can be used for many things, milk jugs make great pitchers for tea or kool-aid - they also make great funnels if you cut the top off and printed on paper can be cut into scrap paper for you to jot stuff on quickly.

Skip the theater. When you take your family to the movies you pay several times over all to watch the same movie. Just skip the theater and sign up for an online DVD rental service where you'll have no late fees, no gas used up traveling back and forth to the rental store and a great time with your family!

Phone service. How many phones does a person need?? If you have a home land line phone - ditch the monthly cell bill and get a prepaid Virgin Mobile phone for emergencies. They are cheap, easy to use and do not require contracts!

Hold a "get my piggy back" month. For one month do not under any circumstances spend any money except on necessities. Sound hard? I won't lie, it is but at the end of that month you'll be amazed at the money you save and oh so proud of yourself too.

Carpool. Take turns carpooling with a coworker, especially if they live close to you. Pick them up and take them home this week, and next week allow them to return the favor. You’ll both cut your fuel costs in half.

Raise insurance deductibles. Assuming you have a proper emergency fund in place, raise deductibles on insurance policies. The difference in a $500 deductible and a $1,000 deductible on your car insurance policy can help reduce your monthly or semi-annual premiums quite significantly.

Check your vehicle’s tire pressure each time you fill up. Things like under-inflated tires and dirty air filters can reduce your gas mileage. Pick up an inexpensive tire gauge and check the pressure while filling up.

Change your driving habits to save on gas expenses. Drive a little easier, brake a little easier and go a little slower. You'll save gas I promise.

Consolidate errands into one trip. If you have to get out try to consolidate all of your errands into one trip instead of driving back and forth several times from store to home.

Ride a bike for short commutes. If you happen to live close to stores, consider riding a bike for small errands. Take along a backpack to carry items.

D.I.Y. You would be surprised how much you can do on your own and avoid expensive repair charges with just a little research. The library is full of how to books and the Internet is overflowing with do it yourself sites.

Unload the trunk and remove unused cargo racks. Added weight in the trunk reduces gas mileage, as does the added wind drag from an unused cargo rack.

Get your prescriptions via mail order. Many employers now offer as part of the health insurance plan a 3-month mail order prescription plan. In most cases, you can get a 90 day supply for the cost of a one month supply from your pharmacy.

Wash your own car. It's summertime and what better weather to wash your own car!

Eat like a kid again. Eat off the same small character plates your kids eat off. It will force you to eat smaller portions. Your wallet and your waistline will thank you.

Drink tap water. I don’t really want to run a cost comparison between an ounce of Coca Cola and an ounce of tap water but I’m fairly confident tap water is infinitely cheaper.

Eat less meat. You don't need meat everyday. I personally believe eating meat every single day is awful for your body and your mind. Try substituting with things like pinto beans or eggs which are a great and inexpensive way to get non-meat protein.

Look for manager meat specials. When you do buy meat, check the manager’s specials area for meat that is about to pass the “sell by” date. The meat is still perfectly good, but freeze it immediately if you don’t plan on cooking within the next day or two.

Get a used freezer. Many times people relocating can’t take the extra chest freezer with them and advertise it on Craigslist, Freeycle or the local newspaper. If you can find a good used one preferably for free, stock it full of manager meat specials and frozen veggies to reduce your food budget. -- Don't let your freezer sit empty though! If you have space in there fill up some milk jugs with water and freeze them to consume some of the space, this will save you some money on your energy costs. You can also do this in your in home freezer.

Don’t be afraid to buy generic. Forget brand loyalty when trying to save money. When we buy ketchup, we look for the lowest unit price, regardless of brand. Same with other foods and household supplies. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part generic items are just as good as name brands.

When in the store, look high and low for deals. Marketers know that eye-level is the place most people tend to shop so they put the items with the highest margins right in front of you. Better deals are usually found on lower or higher shelves.

Be careful with coupon deals. Combine coupons with store sales to maximize savings but don’t use a coupon to buy something you don’t need.

Give yourself an allowance. Whether your on a tight budget or your just trying to save money, everyone needs an allowance. It's like dieting, total deprivation will lead to overindulging!

Supplement pet food with meat scraps. Quality dog food is really expensive. To make ours last a little longer we occasionally skip the dog food and give our dog meat scraps or mix meat scraps in with a little dog food. You should avoid meats with sauces or spices as it can upset their stomach and be sure to remove any bones. Plain beef, chicken and turkey make for a great treat for the dog.

Water down juices. When we open a new apple juice for our kids we pour up half in the old container and add about 1/4 - 1/2 container of water to each bottle. This makes each new bottle last a little longer, and dilutes the grams of sugar and calories per serving. And believe me they'll never know the difference unless they see you do it.

Shop at a farmers market for in-season produce. Few things taste as good as fresh fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, most of the produce you’ll find in a grocery store is grown over seas, particularly if it is out of season locally. Figure out what’s in season and support local growers by visiting a farmers market.

Avoid using the oven during the summer. Ovens heat up a house faster than any other appliance, adding to the strain on air conditioner systems. Plan meals that don’t require baking, or bake in the late evening and microwave the next night. Better yet put that grill to use!

Avoid pre-packaged foods. The little 100-calorie packs are convenient, but you can accomplish the same thing by buying a larger package of chips or cookies and then dividing into smaller portions using Ziploc bags. The unit cost savings are significant.

Grow your own vegetables. Unless you plan to dig up the entire yard to plant rows of food, you probably aren’t going to be able to grow enough to live off. However, a square foot garden can produce enough for some great summer salads without adding to your grocery bill. Not to mention a potted tomato plant on your back porch could save you tons!

Just say no to fast food. Unless you hit the dollar menu exclusively, fast food can add up. Consider the cost of a combo meal for four people versus sandwiches, chips and drinks from home.

Properly insulate your home. Especially important in the summer and winter months, when the extreme temperatures outside can affect your temperature inside and cause utility bills to skyrocket.

Turn off the lights! It's just common sense, your parents used to tell you this all the time and they had a good reason for it! Lighting is responsible for about 11 percent of a home's energy bills so if you aren't using the light - turn it off.

Open the windows. If it's nice out turn the air off and open the windows. You'll save on your energy costs and air out the house all at the same time!

Use a drying rack or line dry heavy clothing. Pick up a drying rack or install a clothesline to dry heavy garments and towels. When nearly dry, place items in dryer with a dryer sheet for just a few minutes to complete the drying cycle, remove wrinkles, and soften clothes.

Plant a tree next to your outside air conditioning unit. By shading your outside unit you may improve the operating efficiency of the overall system by 20%. Take care not to plant to close to the unit to maintain proper airflow.

Replace or clean your home air conditioner filter every month when in use. Manufacturers suggest changing your filter every 90 days, but systems tend to work better when changed once a month especially in peak times like summer. We purchased a washable filter for a few bucks extra from our local big box store so no more buying filters - just wash out dry and replace.

Switch to CFL lighting inside and solar lighting outside. CFL bulbs use much less energy than incandescent bulbs and give off less heat. Solar lights used to line pathways around your home run off a rechargeable battery that is charged up during the day by the sun, and lasts for several hours after dark. You can find these types of lightening fixtures at discount stores like Family Dollar, Dollar General, Big Lots and even yard sales nowadays so take advantage. What I did was pick up one package here and there until I had all my bulbs replaced.

Cut down on the number of days your lawn is being watered. An established lawn doesn’t really need to be watered every day. In fact, daily watering can cause a shallow root system because grass roots don’t have to work hard to find water. Water once or twice a week, for a slightly longer duration and let Mother Nature help fill in the schedule with the occasional rain. You can also fertilize with a water smart fertilizer like Scott's - these products help reduce the amount of water your lawn requires.

Use bathroom exhaust fan during showers and for 10 minutes after. Exhaust fans help carry moisture out of the bathroom from a hot shower. Don’t believe it? Run the exhaust fan during your next shower and notice how the mirrors don’t fog up.

Take a “Navy” shower. Get in, soap up, rinse off and get out. And put a low-flow shower head on there while your at it.

Reuse bath towels. Sounds gross at first, but think about it - you are clean when you get out of the shower. Hang up towels after each use to thoroughly dry, and only add them to the dirty clothes pile after every three or four uses.

Don’t run water when shaving or brushing teeth. While shaving pull up the sink stopper and pool a little water in the sink for rinsing your razor.

Skip the bath. Even though they are relaxing, baths require a lot of H20 and drive up your water bill. They also drain your home’s supply of hot water, forcing your hot water heater to replenish the supply, further adding to your utility costs.

Bathe your own pets. Skip the pet grooming salon, pickup some dog shampoo and wash them yourself. You can also pickup a nail cutter fairly cheap which will save you quite a bit on trimming their nails - just don't cut them too short!

Avoid stores. Stay out of stores unless you have a list (mental or otherwise) of specific things you need to buy. Shopping out of boredom leads to impulse buying and can quickly blow a budget.

If you must get a paper, Sunday paper only. Consider scaling back subscriptions such as newspapers to the bare minimum. If you are only going to get a paper once a week, opt for the Sunday paper which usually includes coupons and weekly sales fliers from local grocery stores. Toss the other sales circulars - you may see something you want to buy!

Transfer existing debt using balance transfer offers. If you have debt, make becoming debt free a top priority. Moving existing balances to 0% interest plans helps more of your payment go towards repaying the balance, and less towards interest. Beware of high upfront fees and go-to rates when considering your options.

Get rid of the gym membership. Being healthy can save you money but exorbitant fees and inflexible contracts make gyms a dangerous proposition. Take the money you would have spent at the gym and try to build one at home with used equipment. Better yet invest in "The Firm" dvds and you won't need much equiptment at all.

Make your own Play-Doh. Kids can find many hours of enjoyment from a homemade play-doh recipe, and it’s a cheaper than buying it from the store.

Homemade Play Dough

1 c. flour
1 c. water
1/2 c. salt
2 tbsp. cream of tartar
1 tbsp. oil

Cook until dough forms a mass in a pan. Turn it out on an plate and cover it with a damp cloth. Food coloring may be added to make different colors. Store playdough in the refrigerator.

Try other make it yourself low cost or no cost fun crafts with the kids. Click Here.

Try a home haircut. This will work for some and not for others.... If you aren't comfortable with that try one of the less expensive hair cuttery type places.

Rediscover a local library. To replace the time previously spent watching television develop a reading habit, and support your local library while you are at it. Can’t find the book you are looking for? Don’t rush out and buy it. Many times libraries are networked and can request a copy of a book from another library. You can also check out movies at your local library for free!

Ask creditors to lower your interest rate. Can't hurt to ask and you'd be surprised what just asking can do for you.

Divide credit card minimum payments in half and pay that amount twice a month. Interest is calculated based on the average daily balance of your account for the entire month. By making a payment every couple weeks you are reducing that average balance and therefore reducing the finance charges assessed, as opposed to waiting until the end of the month to make a single payment.

Brown bag it. Brown bag lunches don't have to be boring but they can save yourself a bundle. Click here to see some extraordinary lunches that will inspire you!

Adjust your W-4 at work. The fastest way to give yourself a raise is to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from your paycheck. If you received a huge refund this year, increase the number of exemptions on your W-4 to reduce withholdings. Check the IRS website to calculate the number of exemptions required to break even.

Sign up for budget billing with utility company. This won’t necessarily save you money, but it certainly helps the budgeting process by smoothing out highs and lows in your utility bills. Most companies offer this “levelized billing” service after you have 12 months of history to compute an average.

Use shredded credit card invitations and junk mail as mulch in the garden. What a great way to put junk mail to good use! Run the mail through a shredder and use the clippings to mulch around your garden.

Buy generic ink cartridges for your printer. Ever stopped to calculate the cost per gallon of printer ink? Me neither, but I hate when my printer runs out of ink because it seems impossible to spend less than $30 or $40 to replace the black and color cartridges. Check out a generic cartridge reseller. The quality of ink is comparable to manufacturer’s ink, and many offer a dollar or two off if you recycle the old cartridge. You can also get an ink refill for $10 at some drug store such as Walgreens.

Use a power strip to power down unused electronics. Electronics continue to use power even when they are turned off for LED displays, stop/start memory, etc. Reduce this “phantom power” drain by unplugging devices, or plugging them into a central power strip which can be powered down with the flip of a switch. You'll save more than you think.

Cross train at work to make yourself more valuable. Make yourself more layoff-proof by taking on a new challenge, and adding to your skill set.

Sign up for medical flexible spending account (FSA) at work. Estimate carefully as unused portions of FSAs are not refundable. At a minimum account for the amount of your family’s health care plan deductibles plus any over-the-counter medical supplies you must purchase during the year. As an added bonus FSA contributions are pre-tax which lowers your taxable income for the year.

Quit smoking. Smoking is expensive! Many pack-a-day smokers could easily trim $200 from their budget by kicking the habit. If you can’t find any other motivation to quit, use finances.

Shop at second hand stores. See my post here for more info.

Don't buy dry clean only clothing. Don’t buy anything that requires dry cleaning and do the ironiong yourself.

Go to yard sales. See my post here for more info.

Look for furniture on Craigslist or Freecycle. Many times people buy a new sofa or coffee table and don’t have a way to get rid of the old one. They will list it on Craigslist for a reduced price or on Freecycle for free in exchange for picking it up and hauling it off. If you need a piece of furniture but are short on cash, check out one of these sites before even thinking of going to a furniture store.

Get creative rather than give expensive gifts. There is nothing wrong with a homemade card or item as a substitute for expensive presents. For example, I recently made a pair of earrings and my husband mowed our elderly neighbors grass as a gift and she loved our gifts.

Last but certainly not least, do some more research! There are so many sites out there to help you save a dime! Try some of these:

This is an amazing site that contains interviews with women who survived The Great Depression. I highly recommend this read, it's amazing.

Living On A Dime - This site will challenge you to think about how your money is spent. It was founded by two women who each paid off an extraordinary amount of debt on income that is close to the poverty level, the site contains articles and a blog that will impact the way you think about spending any amount of money.

Frugal recipes from Miserly Moms - submitted by readers of Miserly Moms

Not Just Beans - Your online source for frugal living tips and free recipes. The home of the Dining On A Dime and Not Just Beans.

The Dollar Stretcher - one of the oldest and best frugal sites; be sure to check out their articles on how to save money on groceries and food.

Miserly Moms - "Through the use of the tips I share and the other resources recommended, I hope that many people will be able to afford to cut back on working hours or quit altogether in order to spend more time with their family." (Jonni McCoy)

Frugal Cents - Coupon codes and special deals

Fractured Frugal Friends - With both free and premium (but inexpensive) content, F3 is a tightknit community of members dedicated to frugal living with very active message boards. You will find articles about bulk cooking, frugal living, and a variety of other topics to help you save money. There is periodically an edition of their online magazine/newsletter in which all content is free; past content is only available to subscribers.

The Budget Decorator - Being on a budget doesn't mean your home can't be warm and inviting.

To Eat Out or Not to Eat Out... That is the question.

2009-05-13T19:29:00.007-04:00

In this economy one of the first things to go is the "dining out budget" and to be completely honest with you - preparing your meals at home will always save you the most money but if you follow some frugal rules you don't have to cut it out all together!

Here are some money saving tips to help you out!

Share a meal.

If you go to a restaurant with your significant other, pick something from the menu that comes with a good amount of food, order one and then share.

Make a second dinner on leftovers.

Start by eating the veggies and fries or bread, then eat the actual meat item last. You'll probably be surprised by how full the "extras" make you and you can take the meat home and use it for a second dinner the next night. Two dinners for the price of one!

Take advantage of lunch specials.

Lunch specials usually come with the same amount of food as dinner but are less expensive than dinners.

Daily Specials.

Always ask about the daily special, as it can often be a good deal.

Get a discount.

There are lots of ways to find discount coupons for restaurants online. Try Restaurant.com: enter your zip code and see what restaurants offer coupons or discounted gift certificates.

Kids Eat Free.

There are many websites that offer information concerning where children eat free. One of my favorites is KidsEatFree. They have a database for every state and city and it is easy to use.

Just order side items.

A salad and an appetizer can often make for a delicious but affordable meal.

New restaurants.

Often a restaurant that has just opened for business will want to attract new customers with discounts and specials. These are often advertised in the newspaper or in advertising mailings. Keep an eye out and take advantage.

Drink water.

You go to a restaurant for the good food, not the soda or alcohol. You can get those for much cheaper at a grocery store. Drink water, perhaps adding a slice of lemon for taste.

Fast food.

The cheapest options, of course, are fast food restaurants, and you can find some fairly healthy options at some of them. Subway and Wendy's have salads or new healthier sandwiches and there are vegetarian options at many restaurants these days. Go to a burrito place and order a vegetarian burrito — cheap, fairly healthy, and delicious.

One of my favorites is Chick-Fil-A which I love to visit on Tuesday when it is Kids Eat Free night! Couple that with some coupons from the paper and you can end up only paying for one meal!

Skip dessert.

If you're eating at a sit-down restaurant, dessert is often a rip-off. Pick up a carton of ice cream on the way home, and save a bunch.

No tip necessary.

Dine somewhere that doesn’t require a tip. Places like Panera, Chipotle, and Jason’s Deli serve pretty good food at a decent price. Since they have counter service no tip is necessary. Or forget dining in and order take out. No drinks and no tip.

Entertainment Book:

Buy an entertainment book late in the year! Every year I buy a book late in the summer which saves me about half of the full cost and many of the coupons are good through next year. If you do decide to purchase an Entertainment book in season, see if a friend or two would be willing to spil the cost with you that way you could save while saving!

Birthday Clubs And Newsletters.

Many restaurants have birthday clubs and e-newsletters that you can sign up for at no cost to you and they usually come with coupons!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-13T14:07:00.003-04:00

Music Monday

2009-05-11T00:39:00.005-04:00

Happy Music Monday!

I can't embed so click here to see it!

Make A Little Money On The Internet...

2009-04-29T23:05:00.002-04:00

I love to make money from home and what better way to do that then enter a contest and win. It could be a writing contest or maybe even a advertising contest (like some housewives of the 50's made a living off of)

Today's Frugal Friday entry is a list compilled of places to go on the web to make a little extra money this month...

Got jokes? Reader's Digest really does pay people for them, I'm not lying... They do.
Insight Magazine has a faith-themed contest.
Current & The Alliance Ecospot Contest - Just make a :15, :30 or :60 second climate crisis ecospot that will inspire change... get picked as the first place winner and you could drive away in a brand new Toyota Highlander Hybrid!!! Second place winner will receive a 46" Bravia HD TV - 3rd place winner will receive a Sony Vaio Notebook and 4th place winner will receive a Sony Dream System.
Common Ties holds frequent non-fiction, themed writing contests. Pay is varied, but the best stories can win hundreds.
Contests for Moms has free contests with a wide variety of prizes. They even have contests for the kiddos :)
Helium write. get rated. earn money. Yes, it's that simple.
About.com has a list of fiction writing contests organized by Month/Due date.
Here's a good-sized list at the Open Directory Project.
Writers' Cafe - deadline-based contests.
Winning Writers will show you some free poetry contests (free registration required).
Write some song lyrics and send them in to the ISC. There is a fee on this one.
Amazon Shorts lets you compete to get published.
Freelancewriting.com has a nice list of contests.
Hazel Street would like you to use one of their posted photos as a theme for your poem or short story ($5 entry fee).
Poets and Writers online has jobs, contests and more on their calendar. An alphabetical list is to be had here.
Did you know that Google has a directory for writing contests?
Humorpress requires a small entry fee but you could win a cool $100.
Whim's Place - $5 entry fee but first prize is $250!
Firstwriter.com has a list of free and non-free writing contests from around the world.

Good Luck!

Virgin Mobile Promotion Code

2009-04-22T16:19:00.003-04:00

If you are looking for a promotion code for Virgin Mobile then please use this kickback code when activating and you will get 60 free bonus minutes and so will I!

The promo code is:

GTNeJOoP

Have a great day!!!

Only have a minute...

2009-03-30T13:13:00.003-04:00

We have a busy week ahead of us and I am going nuts with no organization so my top priority at the moment is scheduling:

I haven't had a concrete daily schedule for some time now and with me working from home I really need one. So, I will be working on daily and weekly schedules for both Brooke and I today and will share them tomorrow.

Company:

We have company coming this weekend and they will probably end up staying with us so time to freshen up the guest room and clean.

Work:

I have a busy work schedule this week. I work from home now and love what I am doing but man is it work....

Church Volunteer Work:

We signed up to help the church with reaching out to our community this week so that will have us very busy.

Easter Celebration:

This Saturday our community is having a huge Easter celebration that we simply cannot wait to go to!!!

Homeschool:

School is going great and Brooke is thriving. Time right now seems to be the only problem but once my schedules are made there won't be any excuse....

So I am off to get busy and I hope you have a wonderful day!!!