Darling Domestic

Wife on a Budget

2010-05-02T21:10:00.000-04:00

For those that still follow this blog, I wanted to let you know I'm going to delete it at the end of the week. Now that I'm married, I started a new blog titled Wife on a Budget. Please follow if you're interested.

Hiatus

2009-09-28T11:52:00.001-04:00

I'm putting the blog on an indeterminate hiatus. I do not know when or if I will re-start this blog. I'm just not as focused on it as I used to be because I love my bridal blog. If you'd like, feel free to check that one out.

Fall Book Club Challenges

2009-09-08T22:37:00.003-04:00

One of my friend's turned me on to an online book club, so I think I'm going to try it out. I probably won't get much read this fall, but I might as well start now.

Here are the fall challenges.

5 Point Tasks
1. IHO Breast Cancer Awareness month read a book with a pink cover or tile or about a victim's story.

2. IHO Friday the 13th(Nov. 13th) read the 13th book on your TBR shelf. If you do not have a goodreads shelf then either read the 13th book on your physical shelf or if that isn't possible pull a title out of 13 pieces of paper.

3.IHO Black Friday/Cyber Monday, read a book that you bought on clearance (that day or before) or sale or Read a book about shopping/retail.
Finished: Shopaholic Takes Manhatten

4. IHO Christmas gift giving read a book that you were given as a gift or bought with a gift card. (If you don't get books as a gift buy yourself a book as a gift to yourself for being great!)
Finished: Confession of a Shopaholic

5. IHO the darker nights curl up with a mystery.

6. IHO the cold nights read a book under a blanket or in front of a fire.

7. IHO Fall colors read a book with a brown, orange, red, yellow, or black cover.

8. IHO Sweetest Day read a book with a flower or type of Candy in the title.

9. IHO Sadie Hawkins day read a book where the main character is a male.

10. IHO Statue of Liberty dedication read a book set in New York.
Currently reading Shopaholic Ties the Knot

10 Point Tasks
1.Read a book by an author that you have been meaning to read, but haven't gotten around to.

2. IHO National Teen Read Week read a Young Adult book.

3. IHO Daylight Savings Time fall back, read a Historical Fiction book

4. IHO fall read a book about Fall'ing in love, off the wagon, etc.

5. Read a book that comes out in October, November, December

6. Read an NBC monthly book that you wanted to read but didn't get the chance too. If you have read them all then read and discuss Oct., Nov., or Dec. book.

7. IHO the holidays Read a book about a religion other than your own

8. IHO Halloween read a horror/suspense book

9. IHO Thanksgiving read a book about Families

10. IHO Halloween read a book about ghosts, witches, vampires, goblins, etc.

15 Point Task
1. Go to random word generator (http://watchout4snakes.com/CreativityTools/RandomWord/RandomWord.aspx) and read a book with that word in the title or a book about that word or related to the word.

2. Choose an unfinished task from one of the last 3 challenges and finish it. If you finished all the challenges redo your hardest task. If you haven't done any other challenges then go back to the tasks in the book challenge blog and pick your favorite to do.

3. Read a book and pick a playlist of at least 5 songs that you feel would fit the book. Post the list on NBC

4. IHO T.V. starting read a book that a T.V. Show or Made for T.V. Movie/big screen movie was based off of. If possible watch the show or movie and Post a comparison

5. Read a book from the 1001 books to read list

6. IHO Pearl Harbor and Rememberance Day read a book about WWII or a book about/set in Hawaii

7. IHO National Family Literacy month read a book a family member recommended to you.

8. IHO Columbus Day read a book where the main character travels or a travel memoir

9. IHO Edgar Allen Poe's death and National Poetry month read a book of short stories or poetry

10. Go to thisonenext.com and put in your last book read. Read one of the suggestions given to you on what to read next.

Welcome Sign

2009-08-11T19:49:00.003-04:00

I found this cute sign at the Dollar Tree and decided to paint it and hang it on my front door. I think it is a great accent for the fall.

Sorry

2009-07-27T17:47:00.001-04:00

Sorry I don't post much anymore. It's hard to post on 2 blogs and I enjoy posting on my wedding blog so much more. I'll try to still post on here as much as possible, but I can't promise anything. Hopefully I'll start using it more after the wedding.

J's Birthday Cake

2009-07-13T23:00:00.002-04:00

For J's 26th birthday, I decided to make him a tasty french vanilla strawberry cake. It was so easy too because I used mostly pre-made ingredients and just put them together.

I took a box for French Vanilla cake mix and cooked 2 8-inch round cakes from it. Then I let them cool completely.

After they were cool, I put the cake on a plate with the flat side up (flip your cake upside down). Then, I put strawberry preserves on it. After I was done with the strawberry preserves, I put thinly sliced strawberries on top and then added some more preserves. Then I topped it with the other cake, flat side down.

Then I iced it all with whipped cream frosting and then garnished with more sliced strawberries. The icing was a little too sweet for me, so next time I'll use cream cheese icing.

This is a great cake if you're serving a bunch of people, but I don't recommend it for only two. It took us about 4 days to eat it, and by about the 2 day, the bottom of the cake was all soggy from the strawberry juice.

Winner of Hair Clip Giveaway

2009-06-26T12:46:00.002-04:00

The winner of the hair clip giveaway was Shelley, who said:

I love the sweet magnolia hair clip & the land of the free wreath.
(Had a hard time choosing one. :))
Thanks!

Thanks for participating everyone!

Feature Friday & a Giveaway

2009-06-19T13:15:00.003-04:00

Sorry that we haven't had a feature Friday in a couple of weeks. I've been terribly busy with finals and work. I'm not working for the next 10 weeks, so now I have plenty of time to blog. Our feature this week is Lindsay at Southern Girl Florals. She makes handmade wreaths, floral arrangements, and hair accessories.

I interviewed Lindsay and here's what she had to say:

How did you decide on your shop name?
It just came to me one day. I'm from Texas so I'm a southern girl, and I wanted people to kind of know what I sold by looking at the shop name - Southern Girl Florals.

How did you know you wanted to work with florals?
I used to help my Mom and Grandma make Christmas wreaths when I was younger. I got to be so good at it that they would just sit back and let me take over. My family kept telling me "You could really sell these". I discovered that it wasn't just Christmas wreaths that I could make, and so here I am!

What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from many sources. I can find my inspiration from picking up a single silk flower or a roll of ribbon. I have also found inspiration browsing through a fashion magazine and looking at different color combinations that they use.

Do you have a day job?
Yes, I do have a "real" job - I'm a nurse! Making wreaths, arrangements and accessories is my creative outlet.

What's your favorite item in your shop?
Wow, that is a tough question. I guess you know you are doing something right when you love all of the designs and don't want to give any away!!! If I had to choose one, I would have to say the After the Rainfall wreath because I love the color combination of blue and yellow together. I also love the little artichokes that are on the wreath - they are so cute!

Lindsay is also offering one of her gorgeous hair accessories as a giveaway today.

To enter, head on over to Southern Girl Florals and come back and tell me what you favorite item is.

You can also get an extra entry for each of the following you do (leave a separate comment for each additional entry):
- Become a follower
- Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Make sure to @brideonbudget in your tweet.
- Write a blog entry about the giveaway. Make sure blog entry links back to both my blog and also Southern Girl Florals. Post the link as a comment.

The giveaway is open to US residents only. The giveaway will close at 11:59pm EST on Thursday, June 25th.

All You Subscription Giveaway

2009-06-16T14:40:00.001-04:00

Money Saving Mom is hosting a 24 hour All You Subscription Giveaway. She's giving away 10 subscriptions!

Guest Post: Nuts About Needlepoint

2009-06-15T11:10:00.003-04:00

Janet from Nuts About Needlepoint is joining us today with a wonderful guest post on a craft that will help you relax. Enjoy!

No matter where you are in your life, you are probably too busy. And, for many of us too much of our time is spent rushing someplace only to wait.

You might be a student and find yourself stressing out about exams. You might work and find yourself commuting on noisy and sometimes crowded public transportation. You might be a mom and find yourself waiting in the car for your kids.

And for dozens of other reasons we find ourselves pressured, stressed out, and in need of a break.

What if I told you there was a craft which would calm your life, that can be carried in your bag or tote, was easy to do, could be done for a little as a minute and transport you off to a calmer place.
You'd jump at it, right?

And if I added that you can use just about any thread, could easily make original designs, and could use leftovers from yourself and your friends, you be even more excited.

That craft is needlepoint. And before you discard the idea of it being too hopelessly out of date or stuffy consider that the form of needlepoint I'll teach you, Bargello, only needs one stitch and I'll teach you how to do it and how to make your first project right here in this post.

In the time you have to stitch, you relax, your mind stops, almost meditating, and you have had a little vacation no matter where you are.

Bargello has been around since before the Renaissance and its combination of lovely colors and flowing lines belies how easy it is to make. A single vertical stitch, usually over four threads of a needlepoint canvas is all you need.

The stitch looks like this
Bring your needle out of the canvas at the bottom of the stitch, count up four threads and bring the needle back into the canvas.

That's IT!

The patterns are formed by making one or more stitches on a step. Steps are formed by making the next stitch two threads up or down from the previous stitch, like this:

A Bargello pattern is made by making these lines and steps in a set sequence. Have single stitches on a line and you get zig-zags, have more than one stitch on a line and you get scallops.
When you make a Bargello pattern, follow the chart (or another piece of Bargello) to stitch the first line. After that, most of the time, the other lines follow it exactly. The only thing that changes is the color.

Once that first line is stitched, all you need is your canvas, the thread, and a needle. You can make one or two stitches and put it down, you can't lose your place because the pattern is there for you always.

Here's your project which you can make in an afternoon and use right away.

You will need:
Wallet with pockets for IDs on inside and outside
Permanent marker made for fabric (I like Pigma microns)
Four shades of #5 pearl cotton in the same color (buy at craft or needlework stores)
4" x 6" piece of 18 count interlock needlepoint canvas (buy at needlepoint stores or on eBay)
Tapestry embroidery needle, #22. These have big eyes and blunt points.
credit card or ID

Here's how to make your wallet:
1. Place the credit card on the center of the canvas and trace around it with the permanent marker.
2. Set out your threads in order from light to dark and cut. Carefully cut each skein in the middle of the end which has only one loop, keeping the tags on the skein.
3. Thread your needle with the lightest or darkest shade of thread.
4. Beginning at one end of the drawn outline and going lengthwise across it, stitch the pattern below, using the darkest shade of thread. You may begin at any point along the line and just repeat it as you go along until the line goes all the way across the outline.

5. Using the other shades of thread, make additional lines until the outline is filled. As you get near the edge some stitches will drop out and some will be shortened; this is correct.
6. When the outline is stitched, cut out the needlepoint carefully, leaving one canvas thread showing all around.
7. Put it into the outside pocket. You may need to fold it a bit to make it fit.

You're done and you've made a unique accessory.

If you want to learn more about needlepoint take my free email beginners course by signing up here http://www.aboutneedlepoint.com/beginnerneedlepointecourse.html

Pinecone Research is Accepting New Applications

2009-06-05T21:11:00.003-04:00

Pinecone Research is accepting new applications. You get $3 for every survey you complete. I have been doing surveys with them for about a year now and have always gotten timely payment.

Poster Print Winner!

2009-06-04T23:00:00.002-04:00

The winner of the poster print giveaway was Karen. This what she said she was going to use it for:

This Christmas I had all my kids and grandbabies home. We have a snapshot I would love to get into a bigger print so I could hang it in my house.

Thanks Uprinting for a wonderful poster print giveaway!

My First Blog Award!

2009-06-04T13:24:00.002-04:00

I won my first blog award today for this blog. I'm so excited. Thanks Etsy Treasure Chest for nominating me!

Rules of Blog Award Acceptance:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2. Pass award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Most of these aren't newly discovered blogs of mine, but I do love them!

1. Blog Giveaways
2. Coupon Cravings
3. I'm an Organizing Junky
4. iDiY
5. Imperfectly Beautiful
6. Jane4Girls
7. Joyful Abode
8. Money Saving Mom
9. One Pretty Thing
10. Picky Palate
11. Project: Domestic Bliss
12. Saving Money for a Wedding
13. Sunday Scrappin'
14. Thrifty Decor Chick
15. Race to the Aisle

Wisconsin Trip: Day 3 (Navy Pier)

2009-06-03T10:54:00.001-04:00

This is my last Wisconsin post! I hope you've enjoyed the narrative and pictures from my trip. We had a great time and I can't wait to go back!

The last thing we did in Chicago was go down to Navy Pier and walk around. We walked through this awesome stained glass gallery. They had some of the most amazing windows I had ever seen. We also stopped to get some ice cream from Haggen Daz. Delicious!

On our way out of Navy Pier, we saw Forrest Gump! Some guy actually dressed up like Forrest Gump and sat down next to people on benches and talked to them. It was hilarious
.

New Home Made Simple Booklet

2009-06-02T15:47:00.002-04:00

A new Home Made Simple booklet is available. Even if you've requested one before, you should be able to get another one. This booklet includes $30 worth of coupons and normally a free coupon of some sort. In the past it's been a free coupon for Cascade Rinse Agent.

Free Root Beer Float at Sonic on June 3rd

2009-06-02T15:44:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3rd, Sonic is giving away a free 10 oz. Root Beer Float from 8pm to Midnight.

Wisconsin Trip: Day 3 (Out and About in Chicago)

2009-06-02T15:27:00.001-04:00

Again, my blog isn't want me to post Chicago pictures, so head on over to my other blog and check them out if you're interested.

brideonbudget.blogspot.com

Wisconsin Trip: Day 3 (Sears Tower)

2009-06-01T12:20:00.001-04:00

For some reason I'm having trouble posting Day 3 on this blog, so if you're interested in seeing the part of our trip where we went to the Sears Tower, check out the post on my other blog. Sorry!

brideonbud get.blogspot.com

Another Poster Print Giveaway!

2009-05-28T11:37:00.002-04:00

UPrinting.com has generously offered to give away another poster print of your choice for Father's Day! This time it is an 18x24 one! UPrinting is a company that has been specializing in online printing for over 25 years. They don't just do regular poster prints, but they also do canvas prints!

You could print a picture of you and your siblings to give to your father or even make a poster of one of his favorite places to hang in his office. The sky's the limit!

There are two opportunities to enter:
1. Leave a comment describing the picture you would use for 18x24" poster print. (Required!)
2. Write a blog post linking back to the giveaway and the sponsor at Online Poster Printing.

The giveaway will be closed at 5:00pm EST on Wednesday, June 3rd. I will choose the winner at random from all entries. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you do.

Sorry, but the giveaway is only open to US and Canadian residents.

Wisconsin Trip: Day 2 (Nestle Chocolate Festival)

2009-05-28T10:54:00.001-04:00

After the family picnic, my dad, Lori, and my half-brother and sister all drove out to Burlington to go to the Nestle Chocolate Festival. The entire way there we were on the look-out for the dairy cows and guess what we saw...no dairy cows. We saw maybe 3 cows and they were all meat cows. Tons of farm land though.

My brother and sister wanted me to ride a ride with them, so of course that was the first thing we had to do. Since I was the adult, I was on the outside, so I got squished by two kids! I still have bruises from that stupid ride.

We then ate dinner, which involved us trying a bunch of Wisconsin favorites. We got to try cheese curds (which were delicious by the way), mini donuts, and pizza bread. I coulddefinitely go for some more cheese curds and mini donuts.

After dinner we finally made it to the chocolate tent. They had a chocolate eating contest which the kids loved watching. Then we paid $2 and got to try chocolate at 5 different booths. It was all so yummy. You think they would give you all the free chocolate you would want with the entrance fee though. I never understood fairs. You have to pay for the entrance fee, the rides, and the food. They also had tons of chocolate sculptures to look at.

When the chocolate tent closed, Lori took the kids to ride some more rides, and my dad took J and I to listen to his favorite cover band, "The Toys". They were really good. They switched from country to rock in a heart beat. There was too much smoking for me to stand in the tent too long though.

Coming soon...Day 3 in Chicago. Starting with the Sears Tower.

Wisconsin Trip: Day 2 (Family Picnic)

2009-05-27T12:15:00.002-04:00

My step-mom organized a family picnic for Saturday in honor of my grandmother's 80th birthday. She was also surprising the entire family with me being there. It was an absolute blast. I got to see family that I hadn't seen in 21 years and some that I hadn't even met. I also got to spend some time with my cousin's new baby, who is the most precious thing I've ever seen.

Lori made a ton of food and it was delicious. She also hand decorated some gorgeous cookies that she used as centerpieces on the table.

After lunch a lot of the men went fishing and the rest of us helped the kids with a scavenger hunt. We were running around the park trying to find things like frogs, y-shaped twigs, birds chirping, etc. They had so much fun!

After we were done with the games, we decided to play some volleyball. It started raining a bit while we were playing, but that didn't stop us. We split up into boys and girls and the girls never once won. Lame.

Coming soon...Continuation of Day 2 at the Nestle Chocolate Festival

Wisconsin Trip: Day 1

2009-05-26T11:56:00.002-04:00

I'm going to be posting about my Wisconsin trip in increments so that I don't overload you with pictures. I'll post a new section every day until I'm done.

We flew from Tally to Milwaukee with a layover in Atlanta. They were both really quick flights. We were so tired when we got there though because our flight from Tallahassee left at 7:30am. Ugh!

When we got to our hotel, my step-mom had left us a basket and a fridge full of Wisconsin goodies. She left a couple magazines for us, Jelly Bellys, Ghiradelli chocolates, cheese and sausage plate, local rootbeer, some berry beer, local wine, and some other yummy stuff. We felt so pampered. It was nice having our own little "mini-bar" without having to pay to eat stuff out of it. If you ever have a guest in town, I'm sure they would really appreciate a nice basket with some food. I know we did.

My dad had no clue that we were coming, so Lori (my step-mom) picked us up and took us to a restaurant where he was waiting for her. He was so surprised! After lunch we went back to the hotel and relaxed in the hot tub for a little while and then passed out for a couple hours.

After we had caught up on sleep, they picked us up and we went to Lake Michigan. The water was so blue! I also got to see my half-brother and sister. It's been about 4 years since I've seen them and they look almost exactly the same.

After we spent some time at Lake Michigan, we went to dinner at the country club where Lori works. My grandparents and also Lori's two sons met us there. It was great catching up with everyone! Lori's sons were really sweet. After dinner, we went riding around on the golf course in golf carts. That was a lot of fun, but I think I ate a bug.

After Lori and my dad dropped off the kids, we went to the bar at the hotel for a couple drinks and to spend some more time together. Great way to relax after a long day.

Coming tomorrow...Family Picnic!

Buy 1, Get 1 Free Entree at Ruby Tuesdays

2009-05-21T14:24:00.003-04:00

Ruby Tuesday's is sending out coupons to their So Connected members. Print this coupon out and redeem it between May 21 and June 2 to get a free entree when you buy one.

Ruby Tuesday's BOGO Entree

Early Feature Friday

2009-05-21T11:18:00.002-04:00

I'm going out of town tomorrow morning. I can't tell you where I'm going because it's a secret, but I'll let you know when I get there! So, on to our feature!

This week, the feature Etsy shop is Pink Berry Boutique. She sells cute hair accessories. Here's what the owner had to say:

I lamented for a while about the name, tossing different ones at my husband and kids. Then Pinkberryboutique popped in my head and for the first time there was a unanimous "YES".

I think I have always been crafty. I've made things with my hands ever since I can remember. In school I always excelled in Art, and I used to love painting the stage background, making props, etc. Now that I'm grown and have my own kids I enjoy making up clever goodie bags for the different holiday parties.

My inspiration would definitely have to be the colors around me. Nature, if you look closely has all the colors of the rainbow.

I'm lucky enought that my day job is from 7:00am to 3:00pm. This allows me to have alot more time to create, and still have decent amount of sleep.

So, take some time to go check out Pink Berry Boutique and try some of her adorable hair accessories on for size.

Poster Print Giveaway Winner

2009-05-18T15:26:00.003-04:00

I'm posting the winner a little late. Sorry! The winner is Danielle at Juan's Happy Wife. Congrats Danielle. I'm sending you an email now!

If you didn't win, you can still get a poster print from Uprinting.com. Just go to their website and buy one for yourself. I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

$5 Taste of Home Cookbooks

2009-05-18T12:49:00.002-04:00

Taste of Homes is offering a few of their cookbooks for only $5 each through tomorrow. These would make great Christmas presents, so make sure to stock up! Go to Shop Taste of Home, pick the cookbooks you want to order, and enter code T2568 during checkout. Hurry up, this offer expires tomorrow!

June All You Coupon Book

2009-05-18T12:44:00.002-04:00

There was an extra coupon book in the June newsstand issue of All You magazine. Now if you're a subscriber, don't worry. Follow these steps to get your coupon book.

If you are a subscriber and you would like to receive this booklet you can email subsvcs@allyou.customersvc.com.

Please include in your e-mail:

1) Your account number, found on the mailing label just above your name and address. It is nine digits and is usually located between two asterisks, for example *123456789*

2) Your name and address as it appears on the mailing label

3) Your e-mail address

4) A specific mention that you are looking for the “Coupon book from the June issue of All You.”

Poster Print Giveaway!

2009-05-13T16:03:00.007-04:00

UPrinting.com has generously offered to give away a 16x20" poster print of your choice. UPrinting is a company that has been specializing in online printing for over 25 years.

There are two opportunities to enter:
1. Leave a comment telling me how you would use your 16x20" poster print. (Required!)
2. Write a blog post linking back to the giveaway and the sponsor at Online Poster Printing.

The giveaway will be closed at 5:00pm EST on Friday, May 15th, 2009. I will choose the winner at random from all entries. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you do.

Sorry, but shipping is free to US and Canadian residents only. Residents of other countries can still receive the free print, but will have to pay for shipping.

Mail-in Rebates

2009-05-12T11:00:00.003-04:00

Here are some good mail-in rebates that are out right now. You can print out the sheet from the link provided.

Aloutte Baby Brie Cheese Wedge: Mail-in receipt and UPC code with printed form. Expires 01/2010

Maytag Month at Home Depot: Get a gift card WYB certain Maytag appliances. Purchases have to be made at home depot in the month of May.

Ensure: This MIR has a minimum purchase of $6.97 and a max rebate of $10, so your purchase price needs to be between $7 and $10. Mail-in receipt, UPC, and printed form. Expires 12/31/2009.

Yoplait Yo-Plus: Mail-in receipt, UPC, and printed form. Maximum value $3. Expires 5/29/2009!

Cheer: They guarantee they'll give you brighter whites in your first wash or your money back. Send in receipt and cap off the bottle. Expires 06/30/2009.

Precious Cat Litter: Mail-in receipt, UPC, and printed form. It doesn't look like it has an expiration date.

Stamps Are Now 44 Cents!

2009-05-11T14:58:00.001-04:00

Stamps went up today, so make sure not to use your old ones without extra postage. Don't forget that you can still use your forever stamps though. I hope you stocked up!

Feature Friday

2009-05-08T21:35:00.002-04:00

How did you decide on your shop name? One of my goals in life is to be a joyful person. I wanted my shop and my items to reflect that nature. Each of my products is a treasure to cherish, a labor of love. Thus, the name Joyous Treasures.

When did you start crocheting? I was about 14 when I started. I was shown some stitches by a wonderful elder lady, and after that I taught myself to read patterns and learn some of the harder stitches.

What inspires you? Nature is one of my greatest inspirations! I love designing my things after butterflies, flowers, and many other aspects of nature. Springtime and fall are my favorite times to hike and look for something new to inspire me.

Do you have a day job? I don't have a job, in fact, my business is selling my crochet. I love being able to be with my family (I still live at home with my parents) and I can work on my own time table.

What's your favorite item in your shop? Hmm, that's a hard one! I think it's a tie between the Sulphur Butterfly Bookmark, and the Pink Hyacinth Cone Bookmark. I love butterflies, and I designed the hyacinth after one that that I grew in my flower bed.

Free Chocolate Fridays

2009-05-07T11:34:00.002-04:00

Mars will be giving away free chocolate every Friday until September for the first 250,000 people who sign up. They will send you a free coupon good for one of their candy bars.

You can get one free candy bar per email address on every Friday and a maximum of four throughout the offer period. So make sure to sign up every family member's email address so you can each have a chocolate bar.

Postage Goes Up On Monday

2009-05-07T11:30:00.003-04:00

Don't forget that postage goes up on Monday, May 11th! I'm going to the post office today to stock up on Forever stamps. First class stamps will increase from $0.42 to $0.44 and post cards will increase from $0.27 to $0.28. So, go stock up on your forever stamps.

Free 8x10 Picture at Walgreens

2009-05-05T14:50:00.002-04:00

You can get a free 8x10 picture from Walgreens tomorrow and tomorrow only. They have a coupon in their ad that you can use in store or you can use the code "Mother" (without the quote marks) on their site.

I'm going to use it to blow up a copy of our engagement picture for my mom and then a copy of a picture of all my MIL's sons for her.

Cook Yourself Thin

2009-05-04T17:27:00.002-04:00

I'm in love with the new Lifetime show, Cook Yourself Thin. They had some great recipes including zucchini cupcakes and cauliflower mashed potatoes. I can't wait to try some of them out. Hopefully the recipes from this show will help make me thin!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-05-03T23:11:00.004-04:00

J is out of town this week for military, so I'm just doing a simple menu for myself.

Sunday: Publix Popcorn Chicken
Monday: Skirt steak with french fries
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Baked potato
Thursday: Chicken parmesan
Friday: Pasta
Saturday: Not sure yet

Cruise Scrapbook

2009-05-03T21:00:00.002-04:00

I actually took some time to scrapbook today and I am so proud of myself. I'm trying to finish the 4 books I'm currently working on. After I'm done with those, I'll start my senior year one and our Gatlinburg trip one. Then, I'll have to get into high gear for wedding scrapbooks and honeymoon scrapbooks. So many pictures, so little time.

I did 3 pages in my high school scrapbook, but none of them were too spectacular so I didn't take pictures of them. I just kind of threw them together just to get done with the book. Only one page to go and the only reason it's not done is because I need a glue stick.

Here are a couple pages I did in our cruise scrapbook. Only about 10 pages left to do in that one and I'm done!

Great Wags Trip!

2009-05-03T15:56:00.003-04:00

I went to Walgreens yesterday and scored 3 shampoos and 8 pk of paper towels for only $3.78. Here's how:

8 pk. paper towels: $5
Suave shampoo: 3/$5 - $1.75/3 CPN = $3.25

Since a new store opened in town, I received a coupon for $3 off a $10 purchase. Then I got $2 RR for buying 3 shampoos.

My fiance is now stocked up on shampoo for a while and we have a pretty nice stock of paper towels.

Free Mother's Day Card from Hallmark

2009-05-02T11:30:00.001-04:00

Go to Hallmark.com and design a Mother's Day card for your mom. Then enter the code CARD4MOM at checkout and it's free. You can even have it shipped to your mom absolutely free. You're required to have a Hallmark account though and it's one card per person.

Feature Friday

2009-05-01T17:27:00.004-04:00

Sorry I slacked off last week and didn't do a feature. I've been really busy with the wedding planning. This week I'm featuring caffeinatedfrenzy. She hand knits all the products herself and the average price is only $30!

I had a chance to interview the owner and this is what she had to say:

How did you decide on your shop name?
My shop name came kind of naturally. I wanted something fun and unique, and kind of quirky. It's pretty much a description of myself. :)

How long have you been knitting?
I started learning how to knit when I was ten. It was an on and off learning experience, my mother used to knit, and she taught me how to cast on and the knit stitch. I taught myself the rest. I spent years learning and really, I didn't consider myself a knitter until the middle of high school.

What inspires you?
Usually, it's the yarn itself. The colors and the textures usually decide what they want to become. Because one of my goals is to have a wide variety of items, sometimes I'll just think of something, an animal, a shoe, a good night's sleep, and that will be my starting point. My thoughts don't really go from a to b, they go more from a to 45. One thing will make me think of something completely different and unrelated, and I end up with all sorts of crazy ideas, adjectives, and thoughts to inspire me.

Do you have a day job?
I have two. I work in fast food and retail. I'm lucky to be able to keep CaffeinatedFrenzy profits put away to go towards my traveling goals. This year I was able to get to Chicago, and hopefully, in the summer, I'll make it out to Los Angeles.

What's your favorite item in your shop?
Right now it's between my "Chocolate" bunny and the Ever Watchful Sleep Mask One's cute and one's too quirky not to make you smile.

She also has a focus on custom orders. If there's something you want, get in contact with her and she'll try to make it happen.

Also, check out the caffeinatedfrenzy blog!

Free E-book at Scribbit

2009-04-27T15:54:00.002-04:00

Michelle over at Scribbit just posted an amazing e-book about blogging. I just read through the entire thing and can't wait to put some of her tips and tricks to use. It is free to download, so go on over to Scribbit and check it out.

FREE KFC Grilled Chicken

2009-04-25T22:41:00.003-04:00

On Monday, April 27th, KFC is offering a free piece of their new grilled chicken. Make sure to call your local restaurant in advance to make sure they're participating. Go to KFC.com for more information.

PurBliss Candles

2009-04-21T11:14:00.007-04:00

PurBliss Candle Co. is a family-run business with a deep candle conviction. We care about the health of our families and the environment. The conception of Purbliss candles occurred over long sleepless nights and at least 100 cups of coffee! We wanted to offer a clean-burning, earth conscious product that rocked the senses. Our candle line was officially ‘born’ in 2008 in a small kitchen in Corona, CA. We make our candles ‘fresh’ daily with a lot of love and ‘mom and pop’ attention to detail!

Thier candles are soy-based and they have some wonderful scents to choose from. My favorite collection is the foodie collection which has 16 different scents. They also have a euphoric collection which is more relaxing. They have multiple sizes so you can pick the one that would fit your burning style. They're priced very reasonably too, starting at just $7!

I had an interview with one of the owners of PurBliss and this is what she had to say:

How did you decide on your shop name?

I was searching for a cool name for a website to promote another part of my current business. I'm a wedding photographer (my full-time occupation) and wanted to open up a store for photo products. I found www.purbliss.com available and I was stoked! One day, this really cool guy came to my door to sell soy candles and I was hooked. I loved it so much I offered to help the guy with his packaging ( I offered to design his candle labels for free just to be helpful) but he didn't want to change. He complained of his product not selling and I knew it was his packaging. Once he declined my free services my husband and I thought we could start our own line! The name just fell into place since purbliss sounds more like a candle line anyway :)

When did you start making candles?

We started to make candles last year (March 2008). I thought it would be a fairly easy process. You melt and pour, right? WRONG! It took about 10 months to fully test before we got the wax to melt down correctly with our containers. There is a lot of testing involved and it truly is a craft!

What inspires you?

My love for food (hence the Foodie Collection) really inspired me to start the line. I knew that there were some spa type fragrances that I would enjoy during bath time (yes, I am a bubble bath kind of girl). Both men and women enjoy the foodie line equally whereas the women tend to gravitate to the Euphoric Collection.

Do you have a day job?

I'm a wedding photographer. I love my job and truly try to integrate it. We started a fun wedding favor line of candles with fun labels that you won't find in traditional favor shops. I like favors with a sense of humor and flair.

What's your favorite item in your shop?

I especially LOVE the watermelon candle because it smells just like a watermelon jolly rancher candy! The fruit punch is a close second because it reminds me of Hawaiian punch. I especially love candy scents!

I had the wonderful opportunity to try out candles made my PurBliss. I've been burning their candles all week and I love them. I was able to try Banana Bread and Pina Colada. They smell delicious, but not overwhelming. The Pina Colada has a nice smell that reminds you of the beach. The Banana Bread makes your home smell like you've been baking all day. I have them in their travel tins and they are the perfect size. After a week of burning them, they're only half way down the tin. Yummy!

I have a couple more scents that I wasn't able to burn yet, but have been sniffing them continously. Lime Drop smells just like fresh squeezed lime juice, Fruit Punch does actually smell like Hawaiian Punch, Clean Cotton reminds me of freshly washed clothes (I think I'm going to burn it tonight while washing clothes), and White Gardenia is the perfect spring time candle and would be wonderful to take a bath with.

You should definitely take the time to check out PurBliss Candle Co. I'm not addicted to them and can't wait to buy some for friends and family. These would be the perfect gift for Mother's Day!

Feature Friday

2009-04-18T00:38:00.003-04:00

Parallax Photo is a great Etsy shop that sells pictures of every day items, photographed in great ways. I love the print above! All her prints are reasonably priced and she has so many options that you'll definitely find something to fit into your decor.

How did you decide on your shop name?

I can’t remember when or how I first thought of it but I like it as a metaphor for my approach to photography. “Parallax” is a term in science and photography for how everything you see seems to shift when you change your perspective slightly. That’s often what I’m trying to do when I’m out with my camera, look at things slightly differently, to see something entirely new.

How long have you been interested in photography?

As long as I can remember. My dad was into photography when I was a kid, so I started tagging along and playing with a simple camera when I was really young. I got more serious and developed my eye in college, when I was looking for a creative outlet to keep me grounded amid the stress of schoolwork.

What inspires you?

Everything. What I love about photography is that it reminds me to notice the little, overlooked beauties of the world. So I’ll be going about my daily life -- sitting at a traffic light, or waiting in line at the post office or whatever -- and notice the pattern of the telephone wires against the sky, or some detail of the building or a reflection in a puddle that I’ve never paid attention to before. I’m always getting to discover something new.

Do you have a day job?

Yes, I work at a university with community service-learning, which is when students work with community organizations as part of their course work. I’m also a graduate student there.

Winner!

2009-04-17T15:07:00.002-04:00

The winner of the bath fizzie giveaway is Carolyn G. Her favorite product is the cupcake fizzies. Carolyn, you have 24 hours to get back to me.

Check back later this evening for another Feature Friday!

5 Things I Need To Do Today

2009-04-15T11:05:00.002-04:00

My to-do list is getting kind of long. 5 things I need to do today are:

- Finish my 10 page paper
- Pick up my ring from the jewelry store (one of the stones fell out!)
- Read at least one of the magazines in my stack on the dining room table
- Fill out the DJ contract and send it in
- Send out cell phone bill

Tax Day Deals

2009-04-13T21:12:00.004-04:00

Here are a few deals I've found for tax day. I'll update them as more become available. Make sure to contact your stores to make sure they're participating in these deals.

McDonalds: Buy one Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with cheese and get one for a penny.

Cinnabon: Free Classic Bites from 5-8pm

Hydro Massage: Free Massage. Have to call ahead to make an appointment and bring a coupon.

2009-04-12T10:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter everyone!

FSU's Flying High Circus

2009-04-11T17:48:00.003-04:00

My fiance and I just got back from the circus. They have it for two weekends every year in the spring. It's so much fun and amazing how much hard work those students do. So much fun!

Sorry for the mediocre pictures. They were taken on my blackberry.

Learned a Lesson

2009-04-10T22:13:00.001-04:00

Red potatoes do not make good shredded hash browns. Just thought you'd like to know.

Feature Friday & a Giveaway!

2009-04-10T16:53:00.007-04:00

My new feature is going to be Etsy shops. I thought everyone would enjoy finding new shops and learning about new things.

Our first featured shop is BathBuddies. The shop sells moisturizing bath fizzies. You just drop them in your tub and they fizz away! These would make great gifts for the women in your life. Maybe pick some up for Mother's Day.

I spoke with Crystal, the owner of Bath Buddies and she was so excited to be featured. The shop is only a few weeks old, so this is her first feature. I'm sure it will be the first of many though because her products sounds amazing.

How did you decide on your shop name?
I knew I wanted something that would give an idea of what my shop sells and also sound catchy. Bath Buddies immediately came to mind since I make fun items for the bath. Luckily for me, the name was available!

How long have you been making your own bath products?
I've been making bath products for myself for quite some time now, but in terms of selling them, I'm still a newbie to the business. My Etsy shop has been open since the beginning of April.

What inspires you?
I find inspiration in thinking about the multitude of creations that are possible! I love mixing and matching and experimenting with new ideas. I also find a lot of inspiration in seeing what other artists have to offer. I truly believe that creativity begets creativity!

Do you have a day job?
I do! I am a substitute teacher for grades K-5.

What's your favorite scent in your shop?
That's a tough one! My favorite scent changes often, but my current favorite is the classic Warm Vanilla Sugar scent.

What's your favorite item in your shop?
I love all of my fun shaped bath fizzies for kids! They are different from the norm and are so much fun for me to make.

Here are a couple of the many products available in her shop:

XL Flower Fizzie -- $5.50

Birthday Cake fizzies -- $5.50 for a pack of 4

Crystal offered up one of her amazing products to one of you! The winner of the contest will receive a sweet almond scented heart bath fizzie, pictured below.

You have until April 17th 1pm EST to enter. To gain one entry, go check out BathBuddies and come back and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item. This is required to get an entry.

To Gain Additional Entries (Have to do the original entry first):
1. Become a follower or subscriber
2. Blog about this giveaway
3. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway (have to do both parts of this step)
4. Make a purchase from BathBuddies

Please leave a different comment for every step you do. And make sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Only open to US residents.

New Friday Feature

2009-04-10T10:52:00.001-04:00

Tune in this evening because I'm going to be starting a new feature. And some weeks on this feature, there will be giveaways! I can't wait, so be sure to come out and be excited with me!

I Have...

2009-04-10T10:10:00.002-04:00

Caught my oven on fire

Visited 10 states

Been to England and the Bahamas

Gotten engaged in a cabin in the mountains in Tennessee

Been with my fiance two years

Lived with a roommate for 3 years

Kissed a girl

Been in a Broadway play (off of Broadway)

Seen one Broadway play (again off of Broadway)

Been to Cirque de Soliel and sat in the front row

Been on the field of the Georgia Dome

Performed on the field of the Georgia Dome

What have you done?

Crockpot Lasagna Fail!

2009-04-09T20:23:00.003-04:00

I tried to make crockpot lasagna today. Key word: tried. I started it at noon and it was supposed to cook on low for 6-8 hours. I got home at 5 o'clock and it was burnt to a crisp. My FI didn't even smell it burning. I walked into the house and couldn't miss the smell. Now I'm stuck burning a candle trying to get rid of it.

It worked out good though. We ran to the grocery store and picked up a box of red beand rice and my FI cooked up the rice with sausage and corn bread. I love when my honey cooks for me.

So, anyone have a good crockpot lasagna recipe I could try?

NY&C Rewards Club

2009-04-09T14:38:00.002-04:00

If you haven't yet registered for the New York and Company rewards club, then you should do it. They give you a coupon for $25 of a $50 purchase every 5 purchases you make. And these don't have to be big purchases, they can be any amount. I just got an email saying that I have made 5 purchases and it included my coupon. I can't wait to use it. $50 worth of clothes for only $25! Who can beat that? Plus, if you can combine it with sales, you can walk out with a lot of clothes.

They also send you a coupon that's good for the whole week of your birthday. My birthday isn't until the end of the year, so I'm not sure what that is yet. If you have received your coupon for your birthday, please let us know what they give you.

New York and Company Rewards Club

So if you haven't signed up, go do it. It's free!

Pulled Pork

2009-04-04T13:39:00.002-04:00

I promised I would get this up, and here it is. Sorry it took me so long. I tried out a bunch of different pulled pork recipes, and this is by far my favorite.

1 c. ketchup
1. c. BBQ sauce (I used a little more than this)
1 c. water (It might also be good if you used beef broth)
2 Tbsp. vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
2 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Throw all of these ingredients in your crock pot and then plop in a Boston Butt Roast. Cook on high for 6 to 7 hours and then shred and serve. Delicious.

Bad Weather

2009-04-03T10:35:00.001-04:00

Our weather got really bad last night so I was distracting and forgot to post the pulled pork recipe. I promise I will do it sometime today. I can't hold for too long.

Coming Soon...

2009-04-02T15:05:00.000-04:00

I'm on the search for the perfect pulled pork recipe. I've narrowed it down to two and I'm making the last one tonight. I'll post the winning recipe tonight with a picture of our fabulous dinner.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-30T11:05:00.003-04:00

Monday
L: Chef Boyardee (A&J)
D: Garlic chicken and cheddar/bacon potatoes

Tuesday
L: Chicken wrap (J)
D: Honey chicken and pasta

Wednesday
L: Sams (A&J)
D: Pulled pork, mashed potatoes, and corn

Thursday
L: Leftovers (J), Chef Boyardee (A)
D: Country Fried Steak and french fries

Friday
L: Chicken wrap (J)
D: Chilis (A), Banditos (J)

Saturday
L: Sams (A&J)
D: Tacos

Whole Watermelon

2009-03-25T22:01:00.002-04:00

I just chopped up my first whole watermelon and it was the biggest pain in the butt ever! It was a mini one too, so I couldn't even imagine chopping up a regular sized one. I think I need better knives!

How to Earn Money Off of Old Books

2009-03-21T14:15:00.003-04:00

I'm a student, so I'm a master in selling back used books. After every semester, I sell back my books on half.com which is a daughter site of eBay. Lately, I've started posting old cook books and other books that I no longer have use for. I've earned a good bit of money this way.

Here's how to get the best return for your old books:

1. Accurately post the condition of the book. Make sure the seller knows exactly what they're buying. I'm more likely to buy books that have a description of what the condition is, rather than someone just categorizing it as good.

2. Look at the prices that are currently posted in that category and price yours at the low end of the average. Someone is more likely to go for the cheapest price in a category than the most expensive.

3. If it's a very heavy or big book, add a couple dollars to your price to make-up for the extra shipping. Half.com reimburses for a bit of the shipping (it depends on what you're selling by how much they give you). If you think your package is going to be over that amount, make sure to adjust your price to reflect that.

4. Make sure to include a packing slip with your package to remind your customer to leave feedback. The higher your feedback rating, the more likely someone is to buy from you.

I hope these tips helped! You can also sell movies and games on half.com. So, go spring cleaning and make some money off of the stuff you're no longer using.

FREE Rachael Ray Cookbook

2009-03-19T11:30:00.002-04:00

I found this offer on Coupon Cravings and then went and searched in my Rachael Ray magazine for it. It's on page 128 of the April issue.

All you have to do is send in your UPC and receipt from one of the following products:

- Crocs
- Snyders of Hanover
- Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets
- Funjet Vacations

Send these to the following address:

Every Day with Rachael Ray
Attn: Spring Ahead
16 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016

Plus, Snyders of Hanover are on sale this week at Publix, so you're getting a cookbook plus pretzels for only $2.50

Food and Family Fail!

2009-03-17T22:17:00.002-04:00

I got my Food and Family in the mail today WITH A BILL! I couldn't believe they started charging for it. They said this was my last issue if I didn't send them money. I won't be receiving it anymore. They're charging like $12 for a years issue. I really don't think it's worth it. They have great recipes, but all the entire magazine is is an advertisement for Kraft foods. I guess I'll just have to be happy with the emails from them.

Free Music Alert at Hot Coupon World

2009-03-14T11:32:00.002-04:00

I found a link on Hot Coupon World where you can 25 free music downloads from Emusic.

25 Free Songs

This is a trial service and it DOES require a credit card. After the trial, the base price is $11.99 a month for 30 songs or 40 cents per song. You can cancel after the trial though. This is a great price compared to iTunes!

Girlie Freebies

2009-03-10T16:25:00.002-04:00

Here's some great girlie freebies for you to sign up for:

Free Mini Bottle of Essie Nail Polish -- First 5000 people

Free Sample of Maybelle Dream Liquid Mousse

VS Pink Group -- Sign up and then print out the coupon. I did it today and got a free bag (perfect to use as a beach bag) and a coupon for $10 off of $35 purchase.

There's also a coupon for a free bottle of Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in this month's All You issue. I can't wait to get mine in the mail.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-09T18:32:00.002-04:00

It's spring break, so we're going out of town for part of the week. We're heading to Panama City to spend some time with fiance's family. So, our menu is very puny this week.

Monday: Pasta with italian sausage
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Country fried steak
Sunday: Garlic chicken and pasta

Don't Forget!

2009-03-07T20:43:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to change your clocks tonight. Spring forward an hour!

Olive Juice Bags Bag-of-the-Month Contest

2009-03-03T22:35:00.002-05:00

Olive Juice Bags is a manufacturer of funky affordable fabric bags, Made in the USA. Olive Juice Bags is holding a Bag-of-the-Month giveaway and you can help spread the word. Olive Juice Bags are eco-friendly because the company has found a way to utilize overrun fabric and keep it out from being thrown away. Repurposing the fabric into a functional and fashionable product means less waste in the landfills. Because of this, many of the bags are unique: five-of-a kind, two-of-a kind or even one-of-a kind.

If you see an Olive Juice Bag you like, snag it quickly because you may not see the same bag ever again. Olive Juice Bags is also a socially conscious company that supports real-wage jobs. Local families benefit from jobs provided by companies that manufacture in the US-- and Olive Juice Bags is one of them.

If you're interested in buying one of their bags, check out their website at www.olivejuicebags.com. You can sign up for their newsletter where they'll send you discounts and special promotions specifically for subscribers.

They are currently offering a contest through August 31, 2009. All you have to do is blog about their contest and send them the link. The email address to send the link to is olivejuicebags@comcast.net. You can enter once per day, but it has to be a different blog post for every entry. Please visit Olive Juice Bags website for any questions about the contest.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Nail Polish

2009-03-01T21:26:00.002-05:00

This is my new favorite nail polish. I received a bottle to try from All You Reality Checkers. I tried it out today and I love it. It has a thicker brush than normal nail polish so you can paint your entire nail in one stroke. The only nails that I had to paint a little extra on was my thumbs. It actually dries really fast too. They say is dries in about 60 seconds. I think it takes a little longer than that, but it did dry in a couple of minutes, compared to about 10 minutes that normal nail polishes do. It's great to paint your nails on the run. Definitely buy yourself a bottle and try it out. You will fall in love too.

Living Green on a Budget

2009-02-08T14:15:00.003-05:00

I learned of a new forum today, called Organic Grocery Deals, that helps you eat organic foods and use green cleaning products on a budget. It's set up a lot like HCW, but it focuses on all organic stuff. It has a forum for each individual store that you shop at so you can see specific deals and also has a coupon database where you can look for coupons for the foods you often buy. It also has forums for gardening, eating in season, organic and natural product information, coupon trading, green living tips, book recommendations, organic news, deals, and tons more. This is a very relaxing environment to learn about going green. I never knew you could buy organic food while on a budget, but Organic Grocery Deals has taught me different. Definitely check it out if you're interested in learning how to add more green to your life!

Super Saver Saturday

2009-02-07T13:50:00.003-05:00

Walgreens didn't have everything I wanted, so it was a really small trip today. I also wanted to get the Venus Spa Breeze and the 4 pack of razor blades, but they didn't even have a spot for it on the shelf. I might go out to a different Walgreens later to check.

Thermacare $2.49 - $1 CPN = $1.49 + $2.49 MIR = $1 overage
Garnier Fructis $3.99 - $1 CPN = $2.00 + $3.99 MIR = $1 overage
I also used $2 RR on this transaction so I only spent $2.78 OOP.

I barely needed any groceries at all. I still have a few more things to pick up at Winn-Dixie, but there's nothing that I couldn't live without.

Idaho potatoes $1.99
Carrots $1.69
Reese's Puffs Cereal BOGO at $3.99 - $1 CPN - $0.35 CPN = $2.64 for 2
Fuze $5.99 - $1 CPN = $4.99 (I like to take a drink to work and these are healthier than soda or sweet tea)

Total OOP: $11.76

Since Walgreens didn't have the razors or razor blades, I had to pick them up at CVS. They were actually more expensive there than Walmart, but since I had EB, I decided to just go ahead and get them since they were about to expire.

Bounty Basic $5.99 - $.25 CPN = $5.74
4 ct. Venus Breeze razor blades $13.49

Used $14 worth of EB so my OOP was $5.65.

HotCouponWorld is Having a Valentine's Day Contest!

2009-02-03T23:38:00.003-05:00

HotCouponWorld is having a Valentine's Day wishlist contest. 5 members are able to win an item valued up to $50 (not including shipping) that they want. All you have to do is go to www.hotcouponworld.com and sign up to become a member. Then, go here to read the instructions for the contest. You have to use their shop tab to find something you want for yourself, and then post a link to it in a response. They will then announce the winners on February 13th and send them their item that they wished for.

I wished for a pearl necklace:

So, head on over to HotCouponWorld and sign up to become a member (if you're not already) and enter their Valentine's Day contest. You just might be one of the lucky winners.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-02-01T20:36:00.004-05:00

Monday
L: Sandwich (A), Tacos and a salad (J)
D: Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Tuesday
L: Grilled cheese and tomato soup (A)
D: Honey chicken and pasta

Wednesday
L: Eat out
D: Pulled pork

Thursday
L: Sandwich (A)
D: Steak and potatoes

Friday
D: Pasta (Jason is leaving early for military)

Saturday
D: Pizza (I don't want to cook for myself)

Sunday
D: Country Fried Steak

Brickfish Campaign

2009-01-22T19:08:00.001-05:00

Brickfish and David's Bridal are doing a campaign where you can win a $25,000 shopping spree. We could spend that on my dress, tuxedos, bridesmaids dresses, and tons of other elements for our wedding. It would be a great help. So take a look at our entry and vote for me!

David’s Bridal “Dress Your Wedding” Contest

Sponsored by Visit David's Bridal

Broiled Fish and Corn

2009-01-22T17:03:00.002-05:00

Another easy recipe. I adapted it from a recipe Rachael Ray had in her magazine this month. I made this just for myself, but you could easily make it for more than one.

You'll need:
- Tilapia
- Mayonnaise
- Tony Chacheros Cajun Seasoning (Rachael Ray used chili powder)
- Corn

Preheat the broiler. Mix the mayonnaise and seasoning together. Brush the mayo mixture on the bottom of your pan to oil it. Lay down the tilapia and spread more mayo mixture on top of it. Put the corn around the fish on the pan. Broil until fish is cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Menu Plan Monday and Chicken Fried Rice

2009-01-19T18:56:00.004-05:00

Jason is out of town this week, so I'm only cooking for myself. Here's what I have planned:

Monday
Lunch: Sam's Club
Dinner: Chicken Fried Rice (Recipe at the bottom of this post)

Tuesday
Lunch: Leftover Chicken Fried Rice
Dinner: Tilapia with Roasted Corn (from this months Rachael Ray mag) and cheddar potatoes

Wednesday
Lunch: Chick fil' A
Dinner: Pasta with meatballs

Thursday
Lunch: Turkey sandwich
Dinner: Fried catfish and french fries

Friday
Lunch:
Dinner: Baked potato with broccoli, cheese, and bacon

Saturday
Lunch:
Dinner: Pasta

Sunday
Lunch:
Dinner: Country Fried Steak and smashed potatoes

Chicken Fried Rice
This isn't a set recipe so you can make it however you like. Add as much as you want of each ingredient to suit your tastes.

- Rice
- Chicken breast
- Diced Carrots
- Corn
- Eggs
- Broccoli
- Soy sauce
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder

Cook the rice up the day before and store it in the refrigerator. The day of the meal, slice the chicken breast into small chunks and cook it up in a little bit of vegetable oil. Throw in the carrots and cook for a few minutes. Push the chicken and carrots to one side of the pan and crack the eggs on the other side and scramble them up. Throw in the cold rice, corn, and broccoli. Cook until all the veggies are done. Pour in the soy sauce and some salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. Cook for a couple more minutes and then serve.

Update: Contacting Companies

2009-01-18T10:40:00.002-05:00

I haven't worked on this in a few days, but I wanted to update you on what kind of coupons I've gotten so far. Remember, I have only finished the Bs. I still have a lot more companies to go.

After The Fall sent me 2 $1 off coupons. I've never seen that around here, but they're a coupon that I can trade on HCW.

Bubba Burgers sent me 4 $1 off coupons. These don't expire until the end of the year too so I have plenty of time to use them.

Barber Foods sent me 2 coupons. One for $1 off one of their products and another for $1 off two of their products. These will be another one that I will trade. They also don't expire until the end of the year.

Aidells sent me 4 $1 off coupons. Again, never seen these around here, so I'll trade them.

I will keep updating this list as I receive coupons from people. I'm trying to get you the best list possible so that you can see what companies actually send out coupons, because most of the ones I contacted sent an email saying they don't have coupons available to send to consumers.

I also sent Jolly Pop and Always emails complaining about one of their products (don't do this unless you actually have a legitimate complaint) and Always sent me one free coupon and Jolly Pop sent me too. So if you do have a problem with a product, let the company know. They want to make everything right and give themselves a chance to redeem themselves.

Contacting Companies

2009-01-15T16:10:00.003-05:00

I'm working on going through my list of companies that I contact to try and get coupons from them. This is a great thing to do to try and get some extra coupons. They're normally really good ones too. Some of the ones I've received in the past are a FREE bottle of Aleve (up to $12.50), a FREE bag of Popcorn Indiana, a few $1 of Arizona tea, and plenty of others. Companies want to hear your comments on their products and to thank you for using their products they might send you something in return. Yesterday was the best thing I had ever received in the mail from a company. I contacted Red Vines telling them how much I loved their licorice and they sent me a box full of two 1 lb bags of licorice, plus 3 smaller bags (that still had tons in them). I couldn't believe it. Now I have tons of licorice to sit around and eat while watching TV. I love them!

I got my primary list of companies from Hot Coupon World. I also go through my pantry and coupon books and write down companies that I often buy food from. Those are then added to my list of companies that I got from HCW. It takes a while to contact all of them, but if you have an auto-fill toolbar (like Google toolbar) you can get it done a lot quicker.

Have any of you contacted companies to get coupons? If so, what's the best thing you've ever received?

Menu Plan Monday

2009-01-12T19:29:00.003-05:00

Monday
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Pasta

Tuesday
Lunch: Healthy Choice (Me), Sandwich (Jason)
Dinner: Baked chicken and fries

Wednesday
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Turkey with carrots and potatoes (crockpot meal)

Thursday
Lunch: Leftover Turkey (Me), Mac & Cheese (Jason)
Dinner: Pasta and meatballs

Friday
Lunch: Sandwich (Jason)
Dinner: Pizza

A New Year

2008-12-31T22:39:00.002-05:00

Well, it's a whole new year. 2008 was quite an exciting year. Let's recap.
1. Moved in with my boyfriend
2. Found a job I love.
3. Got engaged

Plenty of things to be happy about. Now, for my resolutions for 2009.
1. Lose 25 pounds by the end of April.
2. Save up at least $1800 by the end of the year for the wedding.
3. Stick to a $100 a month food budget.
4. Graduate college!

I think those are all pretty reasonable. The one that's going to be the hardest is the weight loss though. I'm going to start my diet on Sunday and I'm exciting. I'm hoping to lose enough weight by March so that I look really good because that's when we're doing our engagement photos.

What are you resolutions for 2009?

I'm Back...And Engaged!

2008-12-22T12:35:00.002-05:00

We're back from Tennessee and while we were there Jason proposed! The ring is absolutely gorgeous. We're planning a March 2010 wedding and right now we have a budget of $5000! We're going to sit down after the holidays and see if we can raise that any, but it's not likely. Hopefully so family members will be willing to chip in so that we can raise that budget some. I made another blog so that people can follow my wedding planning. So, if you're interested in seeing some great DIY projects and seeing how to plan a wedding on a very small budget, come over and check out Your Bride On A Budget.

Tennessee, here we come!

2008-12-15T08:45:00.002-05:00

Well, we're about to leave on our trip to Tennessee. 9 long hours! See you soon!

Aveda Institute

2008-12-10T22:48:00.003-05:00

I was a little weary about getting my hair cut by students at the Aveda Institute, but I really need a hair cut so I decided to give it a try. If you have one near you, you should definitely try them out. They're are really good and it's only $12 for a hair cut. They also offer a lot of other services for good prices. I'm going to go back sometime soon and get a massage and a manicure and pedicure.

They first took me in and Pam (the student) did a consultation with me while her instructor listened in, making sure the ideas for my hair would actually work for me. Then, she took me over and washed my hair. They detoxed it to get any product out and then they washed my hair with a specialty shampoo and conditioner specifically made for my hair color. They student actually mixed the shampoo and conditioner with this color stuff to make my red hair stand out. Then, she proceeded to wet cut my hair. After she was done with that, her instructor came over and signed off on it. Then she blow dried my hair straight and finished cutting it and thinning it out. After she was done thinning it out, it felt like my hair was 2 pounds lighter. I have so much hair! Then, her instructor came and signed off on it again and asked whether I liked it. After they're done with your services, they put on of their lip glosses on your lips to make you feel even prettier. Before they take you to the check-out, they make you up a basket of the products they used on you and give them to the cashier. You don't have to purchase any of these products, but it's very nice that they grab them for you, so that if you do want any of them, you don't have to go searching for them yourself.

My student was amazing and I'm definitely going to go back and get my hair cut by her again. Definitely check it out if you have an institute near you.

Menu Plan Monday

2008-12-08T17:13:00.003-05:00

My grandparents are coming into town tomorrow so this week we're going to be eating out a lot. Here's the days I do have planned though.

Sunday: Skirt steak with mashed potatoes and corn
Monday: Bertolli skillet meal
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Eating out
Saturday: Philly Cheese Steaks

Super Saver Saturday

2008-12-06T20:50:00.002-05:00

Publix
I spent a lot at Publix today, but that's because I bought two books of stamps. Here's the breakdown of what I bought:
Skirt Steak: $4.89
Smart Balance Butter: $1.79 - $1.00 CPN = $.79 + $1.79 MIR = $1.00 Overage
Kraft cheese: $2.00
Bertolli dinner: $4.99
Smart Balance Milk: $1.79 - $1.00 CPN : $.79
Potato: $.90
Zucchini: $1.99
Ragu (2): BOGO at $2.55 - $.50 = 2/$2.05
Ketchup: $1.99
Pillsbury Cake Mix: BOGO at $1.69
Dryer Sheets: $2.99
Dixie brown sugar: $1.79 - $.55 store coupon - $.30 CPN = $.94

Walgreens
Used a gift card for all of this, so I didn't spend anything OOP.
Glad Wisp Candle: $3.99 Sale - $3 CPN = $.99 + $2 ESR MIR = $1.01 Overage
Halls Breezers $1.39 Sale - $.50 CPN = $.89
Excedrin 3/$15 Sale - 3 $2 CPNs = 3/$9 - $8 EB = 3/$1
3M Hooks 2/$3.60 - $1 CPN = 2/$2.60

I also got $5 Holiday bucks for spending $25 before coupons. So I actually came out pretty even on this. $8 EB + $5 EB = $13 EB + $2 MIR = $15 - $15.12 = $.12 for all of that

Walmart
I did self-checkout because they were so busy and I had so many problems with the stupid machine. And I was only using 3 coupons. It was very frustrating.

Chex cereal (2): $1.66 each - $1/2 CPN = $2.32
Taco shells: $.98
Taco seasoning: $.54 each
Betty Crocker cookie mix: $1.50 - $1 CPN = $.50
7-up: $.88 each
Poptarts: $1.66 - $.50 CPN: $1.16

Christmas To Do List

2008-12-06T15:53:00.003-05:00

I have so many things left to do before Christmas. And my grandparents are going to be in town next week and then we're going to Tennessee the week after. So I don't have too much time left.

- Get an extension cord so I can actually light the lights I put outside
- Hang the stockings
- Bake cookies
- Wrap presents
- Write holiday letters
- Address cards
- Send cards out
- Send gifts out to my parents
- Finish Christmas shopping!!

Black Friday Deals

2008-12-01T18:39:00.005-05:00

Our Black Friday trip was awesome! We got up at 6am and got everything that we wanted.

Target
We didn't get to Target until 7:30am and they still had everything we wanted and then some. We were thinking about getting the Xbox 360 Pro as well and surprisingly they still had it in stock. We decided against it though. The thermometer cost us $10 (savings of $5), 27 Dresses was $5.98 (savings of $14), Indiana Jones was $5.98 (savings of $7), and we also bought a 20 pc. T-fal cookset for $49.99 (savings of $40). We used part of the cookset last night and absolutely love it.

Home Depot
They had poinsettias on sale for $0.99 so I bought one for the dining room table. I have to make sure to keep it in the center, so if any leaves fall off the dog won't eat them.

Michaels
I had a 50% off coupon, so I bought these to use for a layout for our trip to Tennessee. They're sparkly!
JcPenney
I love this coat. It was originally $200, but I got it for $50! It's a cashmere blend. So gorgeous! This picture just doesn't do it justice.

Sears
This was the worst shopping experience I have ever had. The cashier was absolutely horrible. It took us about 15 minutes to finish the transaction on these two items. Glad that isn't the Sears I normally go to. The shoes were on clearance for $14.99 and I just couldn't pass them up. I was buying these drill bits for Jason for Christmas. When we finally found them, he decided he was going to go back and get himself a set, so I had to tell him they were for him. So he knows one of his Christmas presents. They were only $9.99 though so I have tons of money leftover to buy presents that he doesn't know about.

CVS
I got all of these items for free after EBs.

Here's the breakdown of everything I bought:

Almond King Size Candy Bar (Stocking Stuffer for my mom): $1 + $1EB = FREE
(2) Colgate Total Advanced: $2.99 each + $2.99 EB each = FREE
Nail Polish: $3.79 + $3.79 EB = FREE
(3) Gatorade G2: $1.49 each + $1.49 EB each = FREE

I used a $3/$15 CVS coupon, so my OOP was $12.98.

L'Oreal lipgloss: $6.99 + $6.99 EB = FREE
CG foundation: $7.99 - $1 CPN + $7.99 = $1 overage

I used EBs from previous transaction to bring my OOP down to $2.75. And now I have plenty of EBs to use later on.

American Eagle
This shirt was on sale $9.95. They were offering 25% off your entire purchase so I got it for $7.98 after tax. Very cute!

So, what did you get during Black Friday?

I'm Back!

2008-12-01T10:08:00.001-05:00

I'm back and we had a great Thanksgiving holiday. It was great to get a few days off, but now we're back to real life and it's the end of the semester. I have tons of papers this week and we're starting finals. Ahh!

I bought a ton of stuff on Black Friday and I can't wait to show ya'll. I'll probably post them later tonight when I get a chance. Have a great Monday!

Happy Thanksgiving.

2008-11-26T11:11:00.002-05:00

I'm taking the next few days off to enjoy my holidays. I hope everyone has a great one and eat tons of good food! Happy Thanksgiving!

Tackle It Tuesday: Fudge

2008-11-25T19:48:00.002-05:00

I've been putting off what I was going to take to Thanksgiving dinner for about a week now and then it hit me last night. I make amazing peanut butter fudge! So, that's what I did, I made peanut butter fudge. Now the tough part is going to be not to eat it before we get to Panama City.

I will post a picture after it cools and I cut them later.

Peanut Butter Fudge (Adapted from my grandmother)

- 1 c. sugar
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 1/2 c. evaporated milk
- 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
- 1 c. mini marshmallows
- 3/4 c. peanut butter
- 1 tsp. vanilla

Spray a saucepan with PAM. Combine sugars, milk, and butter. Cook until soft ball will form in cold water. Just before removing from heat, add remaining ingredients and stir until marshmallows are almost melted. Remove from heat and beat it until it begins to thicken (about 1 minute). Pour into a buttered 8x5 pan. Let cool and harden and then cut into squares.

Starbucks

2008-11-25T18:40:00.002-05:00

I have a new favorite drink at Starbucks. At it's not seasonal like I thought it was, so I can have it anytime I want throughout the year. Let me tell you, this is the best apple cider I've ever had. It's their Caramel Apple Spice with whipped cream, caramel, and sea salt on top. Delicious. The sea salt brings out the delicious flavor in the caramel. So perfect. And it's $1 cheaper than the drink I normally order. Sweet! So go try yourself one.

First Successful Loaf of Bread

2008-11-24T22:30:00.002-05:00

I just made my first successful loaf of bread. I've made five loaves of the french bread recipe in my breadmaker's book and all of them collapsed. So I finally tried Joyful Abode's Honey Sandwich Bread and it worked out perfectly. I just tried a piece and it's so yummy. It was so fluffy though that it was extremely hard to cut. Plus when I cut the pieces to make sandwiches, it was kind of falling apart. Any advice to keep that from happening? I hate having trouble cutting the bread. I made sure to let it cool all the way too.

Honey Wheat Sandwich Bread

My directions are different than hers because of the bread machine. Here's how I did it:

Put 1 cup of water into the bread pan. Add 2 generous squirts of honey. Add 1/4 cup vegetable oil.

Add 3 cups of flour (I used all bread flour) and 1 tsp. salt.

Make a little hole in the flour and add 2 tsp. of bread machine yeast into it. Make sure it doesn't come into contact with the water.

I then set the breadmaker on sandwich bread setting and let it do its thing.

You can adjust this to your breadmaker by just putting things into the machine in the order the manual tells you.

Low-Fat Zucchini Bread

2008-11-24T17:05:00.002-05:00

I made this great zucchini bread the other day. I found it on a blog, but I can't for the life of me remember what blog it was on. If it was yours or you know who's, please let me know so I can give them the proper credit. It makes two loaves so we ate one and froze the other one. My boyfriend hates zucchini, but thought this bread was delicious.

Sorry for no picture. I forgot to take a picture of the first loaf before we ate it and the other one is frozen solid and probably doesn't look delicious.

Low-Fat Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2-3 cups zucchini, grated or finely diced
- 2 tbsp. oil
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoons vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together all ingredients.
2. Pour into 2 loaf pans.
3. Bake for 45-55 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).

Menu Plan Monday

2008-11-24T11:00:00.003-05:00

This week is kind of up in the air because it's a holiday, but let's see what I can come up with.

Monday: Zucchini Chicken Penne Gratin
Tuesday: Garlic chicken and pasta
Wednesday: We leave for Panama City.
Thursday: Thanksgiving dinner!
Friday: If we're in PC, eat there. If we're at home, we'll grab something quick.
Saturday: Jason's working, so a sandwich or something for myself.
Sunday: Philly cheese steaks.

Slowcooker Pulled Pork Recipe

2008-11-21T00:18:00.003-05:00

I made a great and easy pulled pork recipe tonight. I forgot to take pictures though. Sorry!

I made the sauce the night before in the crockpot, then stuck the meat in there this morning and turned it on before I left for school. When I came home, my house smelled delicious.

1 c. ketchup
1 c. BBQ sauce (I used original flavor, but I'm sure your favorite would taste even better)
1 c. water
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar (You could use regular vinegar)
2 tbsp. worchestershire sauce
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3 lb. Boston Butt Roast

Mix everything but the roast together in your slow cooker. When well mixed, add roast. Cover and cook on high for 7 hours. Remove roast and shred meat. Mix meat with some more BBQ sauce and serve.

Tackle It Tuesday: Christmas Decoration

2008-11-18T20:34:00.002-05:00

No pictures yet, but I'll be sure to put up some sometime soon. My tackle was to get out the Christmas decorations and start putting them up. My main reason for doing this so early is because I wanted to see what I have so I can buy some new stuff to decorate with. So far I have my both of my trees up, garland on it, and a few ornaments.

Here's what I have left to do (a lot of stuff!):
- Hang the rest of the ornaments
- Buy some lights and hang them on balcony
- Unpack rest of decorations
- Put snow on windows
- Buy garland and decorate bar
- Find some mistletoe (anyone know where I can get this?)

Won a Giveaway!

2008-11-18T15:37:00.002-05:00

I won a giveaway during the bloggy giveaway carnival. I won a Chex Mix Basket of Indulgence. It included:
- A box of Chex Mix bars (deliciously yummy)
- Caramel body lotion
- 3 chocolate tea light candles
- A bath poof
- A back massager
- A nail brush
- Hand towel

It's fantastic. I was so excited when I received in the mail. Thanks so much Chex Mix!

Menu Plan Monday

2008-11-16T21:41:00.003-05:00

I started using Google Calender to plan out my meals and it's working really well for me. I have different colors for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Monday: Garlic Chicken and Pasta
Tuesday: Pulled Pork (I'll post the recipe and pictures for this after I make it on Tuesday.)
Wednesday: Steak and cheese and bacon potatoes
Thursday: Pork chops and boiled potatoes
Friday: Bertolli Oven Baked Meal
Saturday: Philly Cheese Steak

Frugal Friday...A Day Late

2008-11-15T14:03:00.003-05:00

Well, I didn't do too much shopping this week. I only went to Publix and Walgreens. I spent a lot of money at Publix. The only good thing I did was that I bought 10 cans of Cesar dog food for $7, but I had BOGO coupons so I got 10 cans for $4.50. My dog will be pretty happy about that. We have a nice stockpile of canned dog food between these BOGO Cesar coupons and all the FREE Mighty Dog coupons I have had.

Walgreens didn't have half the things I was going to buy, so I didn't have too exciting of a shopping trip there. I bought 2 cans of evaporated milk, 2 cans of cornstarch, and 8 taper candles for only $3. That was a pretty good deal. I do think they forgot to scan a $.50 coupon, but I wasn't going to ruffle feathers for 50 cents. I get along really well with my Wags and I don't want to change that.

2008-11-14T15:30:00.002-05:00

Jason got me an awesome present for my birthday. He said it's also part of my Christmas present. He got us 4 nights in a gorgeous cabin in Gatlinburg, TN.

Have I Told You Lately

Totally gorgeous. It has everything we could possibly need in it. It's so romantic too.

I've already thought of a few ideas we can do while we're there. Jason really wants to go skiing, so we're doing that. He's never seen real snow before (he went skiing a couple years back and they had to use a snow machine) so hopefully it snows. I haven't seen snow in probably 10 years. They also have the Ripley's Aquarium there and that looks really awesome. I'm going to buy us tickets to that. There's also a bus tour around the town to see all the Christmas lights. That's only $5 per person. It leaves from the aquarium, so we'll probably do that the same day we go to the aquarium. I really want to go to the national park, but it seems like a lot of roads are closed in December, so we might not be able to do that.

So, has anyone been to Gatlinburg? If so, what do you suggest we do while we're there?