Busy Busy Busy

Hey readers!! Sorry everyone for not having posted lately. I've been super busy with work, taking Ashley to kickball, and trying to move out! As soon as I get settled in, I cross my heart that I'll get back into the groove!

-Jessica :)

.:720 Pampers Wipes Shipped for $11.51

Amazon has a new coupon code available to help you save 10% off wipes. Combine this with the 30% off discount you get if you have Amazon mom and choose the Subscribe and Save Option and you get a good deal on wipes. You can get 712 wipes for only $11.51 shipped to your home. That's like paying $1 for a tub of wipes.

1. Be sure you're enrolled in the FREE Amazon Mom program
2. Order a box of Pampers Soft Care Scented Wipes
3. Order a pack using the Subscribe & Save option
4. Head to checkout
5. Enyer Amazon.com promo code MOMWIPES in the promotional code box
6. Complete your order.

If after you receive your order you decide not to continue with the subscribe and save option, follow these steps to cancel it: Visit Your Account and click on "Manage Subscribe and Save Items" to cancel the subscription.

I just ordered my wipes right before posting this, and it worked out 100%! This is a great deal for a great price :)

Thanks, Common Sense with Money!

.:Free Weekend Activities 2/26 - 2/27

Stop by your local Target on Saturday, February 26th from 9:00am - 11:00am to enjoy some Dr. Seuss Story Time: enjoy  giveaways, coupons and hear Dr. Seuss favorites.

Here are some more free family activities for this weekend:

:.AC Moore - Saturday, 1-3pm, Wilton Cake Decorating Dasics Demonstration

:.Barnes & Noble - Saturday, Free Cup of Coffee when you have a bookseller give you a guided tour of the NOOK color.

:.Borders - Saturday, 2pm, Elmo's Birthday Party - free games, songs, giveaways and more.

:.Lakeshore Learning - Saturday 11am - 3pm, Free "My Very Own torybook": kids create an accordion style book to tell their own story.

:.Lowes Build and Grow - Saturday, 10am - Noon, Kids build a Free Race Car that includes a #48 sticker and a pull back motor.

:.Michaels - Saturday, 10am - Noon, The Knack Family Event: My First Science Kit Deno. Ages 3+

:.Pottery Barn Kids - Saturday, 10am - Noon and Sunday, Noon - 2pm, Live Peter Rabbit Appearance at select stores. Enjoy classic stories and take pictures with Peter Rabbit. Check here to see if your store will be participating.

Handy Cooking Tip!

After working with onions or garlic, an easy and fast way to get rid of onion and garlic smell on your hands is to wet your hands, then rub them on a stainless steel faucet. The smell goes away instantaneously!

Earn Free Stuff Just For Searching!

If you're like me, and you use a search engine like Google all the time......why not earn prizes while doing what you do already?!

Swagbucks is an online search engine that rewards you for searching online! I've heard lots of great things about this search engine. Swagbucks is SUPER easy to sign up for; it only takes about a minute to complete registration. There are NO fees, NO credit card required, and NO phone number or address requested.

When you sign up as a new member, you'll automatically be credited with 30 points to your account! Download the toolbar and every day as you're searching like crazy, you'll earn more points.

Do you know anyone else you think might be interested? Or maybe someone who uses a search engine often? OF COURSE YOU DO! Go and tell them about Swagbucks, send them your referral link, and not only will you earn points when they sign up, you'll earn points when they search as well!

The more points you earn, the more prizes you can get...I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me!

By the way.....Swagbucks is celebrating their third birthday by offering a 50 point bonus code (BirthdaySaving) when you sign up by Monday, February 28, 2011. So that means you'll get the 30 points for being a new memeber AND the 50 bonus birthday points. You'll start with 80 points with doing practically nothing at all!

Here's how to sign up and get 80 points:

1. Sign up for a new Swagbucks account through this link (only one account per household allowed).
2. When you sign up, there will be a Swag code box that looks like this:

This is where you will enter the bonus code BirthdaySaving, then click on the "Gimme" button.
3. You should now have 80 free Swagbucks in your account (30 for signing up and 50 for using the bonus code).

Now go an search like crazy!!!

Over 200 Borders Stores Closing!! Up to 75% discounts on merchandise

Borders is closing over 200 locations by April 2011. There can be GREAT clearance finds at these types of closing events. HOT HOT HOT!! So if there is one in your area that is closing, drop by! You never know what good finds you'll come upon.

Click here to see the full list of locations closing.....you can pass the word on to relatives who live in other states or areas.

.:JCPenney; $10 off $25 coupon codes

When you order online, use coupon code YOURVIEW to get $10 off a $25 purchase from JCPenney. If you choose to have your order shipped to your local JCPenney, shipping is FREE!!

You can also use code DM8SAVE to get $10 off a $25 purchase from Women's Clothing, or W411CASH to get $10 off a $25 purchase from Men's Clothing.

Happy shoppping :)

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Can behavior problems be a sign of giftedness?

Yes, all of our dear children are gifted in their own way, but are they having behavioral issues at home or at school? This is a question that I think arises from many parents who are having problems with their kids at school. Yet, another great article from BabyCenter:

"Can behavior problems be a sign of giftedness?"
Yes, absolutely. Children who are gifted are often mistakenly suspectd of having ADHD or other disabilities with behavioral elements.

That may be because along with other gifted characteristics, many gifted children exhibit so-called sensory sensitivities, which can make them seem difficult or uncooperative.

To read on, click here!

Lies and Truths About Your Child

When I became pregnant with my DD, Ashley, I signed up with Baby Center to track my pregnancy. Even now that she's 4, I get daily and weekly newsletters with articles, tips, deals, and coupons. There are groups that you can join (I'm in the December 2006 group) to chat with other parents who may be having the same issues you may be going through so that you can get some advice or so that you don't think you're going crazy!

Here are a list of questions that you may be having or may have had in the past.....truth or myth?

Do dairy products make a sick child produce more mucus?
Do colds and flu more contagious before symptoms appear?
Can a high fever cause brain damage?
Can rubbing alcohol help bring down a child's fever?
Are children better off getting the chicken pox than the vaccine?
Can a vaccine cause the disease it was meant to protect against?
Can sucking on a pacifier or thumb ruin a child's teeth or bite?
Can kids catch fleas from a family pet?
Is it true that children shouldn't swim right after eating?
Is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalking child?
Can bubble baths cause urinary tract infections in children?
Is it true that children shouldn't get vaccinations if they're sick?
Do kids in daycare get sick more often than kids who stay at home?
Can caffeine stunt a child's growth?
Can sugar make kids hyperactive?

Thanks, babycenter!

.:FREE $5 Target Giftcard

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to shop at Target! They've got great sales, great clearance, AND you're able to stack coupons (you can use a Target Only coupon with a Manufacturer coupon for the same item). Here's a deal for the week of 2/20-2/26:

You'll get a free $5 Target Gift Card when you buy 7 frozen items. The Target ad gives you a list of items included in this offer, but many have said that the deal is for ANY frozen item. Some have bought 7 bags of frozen items at $0.97 a bag, and then get the $5 giftcard. When you work it out, it's basically like getting the bags at about $0.25 each.

Be aware that this offer differs from region to region, so just check your local Target ad :)

Thanks, Common Sense with Money!

.:Free Kindle Book: Medical Error

If you're familiar with Kindle downloads, here is a free Kindle title: Medical Error from Richard Mabry. Sounds like it's a medical mystery/drama. I LOVE to read, so I always get excited when I can download free titles.

Take note: You DON'T need a Kindle to be able to read ANY Kindle books. Amazon has free downloadable applications to where you can read on your PC, iPhone (iTouch), iPad, Blackberry, and Android. I've got this on my desktop, laptop, and on my iTouch.

Thanks, Common Sense with Money!

.:20% or 25% off CVS Shopping Pass When You Follow on Twitter

If you've got a Twitter account or not (sign-up now!), go and follow CVS! They are offering a 20% or 25% off shopping pass when you follow them on twitter. If they get 20,000 followers, you'll get a 20% shopping pass. If they get 25,000 followers by the end of the day on 2/25/11, you'll get a 25% shopping pass. You'll receive your pass via email on 2/28/11. The amount of the pass is based on the totals at the end of the day on 2/25/11. So let's get following!!

.:Moe's Southwest Grill: Free Kid's Meal!

Just sign up here and then you'll be able to print a coupon for a free kid's meal at Moe's Southwest Grill when you purchase an adult meal for $5 or more. They started off at 20,000....when I last checked, there were only about 12,000 left! So hurry while you can!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

.:Snapfish: 100 Photo Printed for $5 shipped!

Through February 20th, you can get 100 prints from Snapfish for just $5 shipped. Just upload your prints to Snapfish, choose to order 100 copies and use coupon code CUPIDPICS at checkout. Your total should only be $5, including shipping!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

.:Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.....YUMMY!

Makes 3 dozen cookies!

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk-chocolate chip
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips


Directions
1. Heat oven to 350F. Cream the butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed. Lower to medium speed and add the egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. On low speed, add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.

2. Form the dough into approximately 1 1/2-inch balls. Place on parchment or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.

3. Bake until the centers are just set, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

TADA! Then you have wonderfully delicious Double Chocolate Chip cookies :) Thanks, Real Simple!

7 Signs That Your Child Loves You

1) Your newborn stares into your eyes. He's actually working hard to memorize your face. He doesn't understand anything else about the world, but he knows you're important.

2) Your baby thinks about you even when you're not around. Between 8 and 12 months old, he'll start to scrunch his face and look around when you leave the room; and he'll smile when your return.

3) Your toddler throws wicked tantrums. Nope, those screaming fits don't mean he's stopped loving you. He wouldn't be so hurt and angry if he didn't trust you so deeply.

4) Your toddler runs to you for comfort when he falls down or feels sad. Kids this age may not truly understand the meaning of "I love you," but their actions speak louder than their words.

5) Your preschooler gives you a flower picked from the garden, a finger-painted heart, a sparkly rock, or another gift.

6) Your preschooler wants your approval. He'll start to be more cooperative around the house, and he'll look for chances to impress. "Look at me!" will become a catch phrase.

7) Your grade-schooler trusts you with secrets, like his first crush or his embarrassing moment. You're his confidante, even if he shies away from your hugs in public.

.:How I Saved Almost $50 in Groceries

A few weeks ago, I saw this show on TLC called "Extreme Couponing". In this particular episode, two women went grocery shopping, their bill was more or less in the $500's and after using coupons, the bill went all the way down to some where around $6 or so! Crazy huh? I didn't think it could be possible, so I decided to try it out myself, and see how much I could save!

I did some extensive research on the internet, found sales, clipped and ordered coupons, made a spreadsheet to stay organized, and got myself out to the stores. Unfortunately, none of the grocery stores in the area double or triple coupons (which would have enabled me to save more), but I still saved a crazy amount of money for the things that I bought.

Target
French’s Spicy Mustard $.25 each
Bird’s Eye Frozen Veggies $.66 each
Vaseline Lotion $.99 each
Up&Up Pantiliners $.39
Wheat Thins $1.00 each
Kellog’s Crunchy Nut Cereal $.25 each
Kraft Shredded Cheese $.87 each

Total BEFORE coupons: $26.87
Total AFTER coupons: $9.62!!!
Total savings of $17.25

Wal-Mart
Snuggle Dryer Sheets $.87 each
Dove Deodorant $.47 each
Carefree Pantiliners $.44
Williams Taco Seasoning $.31 each
Jello Pudding Mixes $.49 each
Huggies Wipes $.47
Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste $1.77
Clearasil Face Wash $1.67
Kraft Sandwich Shop Mayo $.75
Kikkoman’s Soy Sauce $.42 each
Louisiana Hot Sauce $.44 each

Total BEFORE coupons $50.79
Total AFTER coupons $20.62!!!
Total savings of $30.17

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how much I had saved at each store! You can do it too with just some time, organization, and dedication!

The two main websites I used to find deals with coupons were: Money Saving Mom and Common Sense with Money. I started getting the Sunday paper to use the coupon inserts that come with them. I also used Coupons and Things by Dede to order multiple coupons, and coupons that I didn't have on hand from past inserts.

If you're interested in knowing more, or need some direction on how to start, email me!

.:FREE Pyrex Potholder

Click here to sign up for a FREE Pyrex Potholder. Pyrex is one of my favorite kitchen brands :) Grab one while supplies last! Don't wait until the last minute. Here's an idea....send one to your mom, sister, grandmother, aunt, who ever! I did!

Thanks, Common Sense with Money!

.:Easy DIY Valentine's Day Ideas

Valentine's Day is coming soon!  In my opinion, some of the most meaningful gifts are those that are made. Low on cash? These are some GREAT V-Day ideas to make for gift giving or just to decorate your home or office.



To see instructions for the above ideas and the other DIY Valentine's Day ideas, click here.

Thanks Real Simple!

.:10 Unexpected Natural Cleaners

Who would've thought that these foods would have other uses than to just eat them!

Oatmeal: Scrub very dirty hands. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water; rinse well.
Rice: Clean the inside of a vase or a thin-necked bottle. Fill three quarters of the vessel with warm water and add a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Cup your hand over the opening, shake vigor-ously, and rinse.
Club Soda: Shine up a scuffed stainless-steel sink. Buff with a cloth dampened with club soda, then wipe dry with another clean cloth.

To see all of the other uses, click here.

Thanks Real Simple!