Congratulations to Karen! She was selected as the winner of the $35 CSN Gift Card Giveaway hosted by A Busy Mom of Two.
An e-mail was sent to the winner.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other giveaways going on now at A Busy Mom of Two.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
47
Timestamp: 2010-08-31 09:42:23 UTC
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
CVS Scenarios - week of 8/29
I'm a few days late on posting this, but better late than never. There weren't any strike me type deals this week, but after some coupons, there are some that are pretty good.
Next week, I hope to be back to posting regular deals. This week, I'm not sure of actual prices, so this is a rather "loose" scenario.
Tums - buy one get one 50% off this week
- the prices start just under $5 at my store.
Buy 2
-$5 $5/2 Tums CRT
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
Should make them about $.50 for two bottles.
Oral B Toothbrushes - on deal, spend $10 get $5 ECBs
- the prices start at $2.99
Buy 4
-BOGO Oral B Toothbrush mfg coupon
-BOGO Oral B Toothbrush mfg coupon
Should make them about $1 for the 4 toothbrushes after ECBs. Others have mentioned using a $.50 coupon for each of the ones you buy - I generally haven't had luck with that and am not really sure that it is right, but if it worked, that would mean the 4 toothbrushes would be free.
Phillips I-Pod Earphones - free after ECB (only through Tuesday)
So, if I purchase all of this in one transaction, my total would be $13.49 OOP and I would earn $11.99 in ECBs, for a total of $1.50 after ECBs.
For more deals and scenarios, check out Money Saving Mom and Deal Seeking Mom.
CVS $5 Challenge
Transaction #1
2 - Tums
2 - M&M Pretzel singles
-$5 $5/2 Tums CRT
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
=$.50 $.50/2 M&M Pretzel CRT
Total OOP $1.00.
For more $5 Challenge Scenarios, check out The CVS $5 Challenge.
Next week, I hope to be back to posting regular deals. This week, I'm not sure of actual prices, so this is a rather "loose" scenario.
Tums - buy one get one 50% off this week
- the prices start just under $5 at my store.
Buy 2
-$5 $5/2 Tums CRT
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
Should make them about $.50 for two bottles.
Oral B Toothbrushes - on deal, spend $10 get $5 ECBs
- the prices start at $2.99
Buy 4
-BOGO Oral B Toothbrush mfg coupon
-BOGO Oral B Toothbrush mfg coupon
Should make them about $1 for the 4 toothbrushes after ECBs. Others have mentioned using a $.50 coupon for each of the ones you buy - I generally haven't had luck with that and am not really sure that it is right, but if it worked, that would mean the 4 toothbrushes would be free.
Phillips I-Pod Earphones - free after ECB (only through Tuesday)
So, if I purchase all of this in one transaction, my total would be $13.49 OOP and I would earn $11.99 in ECBs, for a total of $1.50 after ECBs.
For more deals and scenarios, check out Money Saving Mom and Deal Seeking Mom.
CVS $5 Challenge
Transaction #1
2 - Tums
2 - M&M Pretzel singles
-$5 $5/2 Tums CRT
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
-$1 Tums IP (on RedPlum.com)
=$.50 $.50/2 M&M Pretzel CRT
Total OOP $1.00.
For more $5 Challenge Scenarios, check out The CVS $5 Challenge.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Mamavation Monday
Life has been so busy lately. My exercise routine has stayed intact (which is a good thing), but my eating has not been so good. With out of town company and large social gatherings two weekends in a row, there was a lot of extra food in the house. This extra food - much of it snacks and sweets, certainly have made sticking to a routine a little more difficult. But, those weekends are behind me now. I need to look back on the experience and realize that I can enjoy myself and throw caution to the wind in my dining, as long as I return to a more restrained dining habit. I can't let those weekends of indulging become the new normal. It was about this time last year that I really started on my weight loss journey. There is something about the end of summer and the return to school, that puts a normalcy and predictability back into my life. This, in turn, helps me maintain better control over my eating.
This week I start anew on my journey with renewed determination to get rid of those last 15# (as well as the couple that snuck up on me over the past two weeks). I have three weeks remaining in P90X and plan to make the most of it.
This post shared at Mamavation Monday.
This week I start anew on my journey with renewed determination to get rid of those last 15# (as well as the couple that snuck up on me over the past two weeks). I have three weeks remaining in P90X and plan to make the most of it.
This post shared at Mamavation Monday.
Menu Plan Monday
The past few weeks have simply been crazy at my house. For the second weekend in a row, we had guests at our house from Thursday through Sunday and hosted a crowd on Saturday. I thoroughly enjoy entertaining and love to see family and friends, but I'm officially worn out. I'm looking forward to our under scheduled Labor Day weekend next weekend.
I didn't hit the store this weekend, but will likely need to go today or tomorrow, at least for staples like Milk, Bread and fresh Fruit and Vegetables. I'm also struggling from menu plan burnout. Between sports and my husband's classes, it is so hard to sit down and have a family meal. On top of that, I feel like I need to make things that only take 15 minutes to prep. It's making it really difficult and I keep wanting to just list peanut butter and jelly for every night - but I don't want to do that and recognize the importance of eating together as a family.
Our menu is without turkey this week. With my turkey store being 20 miles away, my schedule and the other stuff I have to use in my freezer, getting to the store to buy more turkey hasn't been a pressing concern. I still have some in my freezer, but none that worked for this week's menu.
Sunday
muffins and homemade donuts
lunch out with friends
Leftover Pizza
Monday
Lemon Chicken and pasta
Tuesday
Roasted Tomatoes and Shrimp
Wednesday
Chicken Gravy over biscuits
Thursday
leftovers
Friday
Homemade Pizza
Saturday
cereal
sandwiches
Crab Cakes
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
I didn't hit the store this weekend, but will likely need to go today or tomorrow, at least for staples like Milk, Bread and fresh Fruit and Vegetables. I'm also struggling from menu plan burnout. Between sports and my husband's classes, it is so hard to sit down and have a family meal. On top of that, I feel like I need to make things that only take 15 minutes to prep. It's making it really difficult and I keep wanting to just list peanut butter and jelly for every night - but I don't want to do that and recognize the importance of eating together as a family.
Our menu is without turkey this week. With my turkey store being 20 miles away, my schedule and the other stuff I have to use in my freezer, getting to the store to buy more turkey hasn't been a pressing concern. I still have some in my freezer, but none that worked for this week's menu.
Sunday
muffins and homemade donuts
lunch out with friends
Leftover Pizza
Monday
Lemon Chicken and pasta
Tuesday
Roasted Tomatoes and Shrimp
Wednesday
Chicken Gravy over biscuits
Thursday
leftovers
Friday
Homemade Pizza
Saturday
cereal
sandwiches
Crab Cakes
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
CVS Deals - 8/27
I actually had made it to CVS last week, but just never got a chance to share my deals. This week, it took me until Friday to finally make it to CVS to pick up the deals.
1 - Blink Tears Gel
2 - Glide Floss
4 - Sobe Life Water (BOGO rain check)
2 - 24ct Caliber #2 Pencils (2/$1 rain check)
-$1.50 Blink Tears IP
-$.75 Glide Floss Mfg coupon
-$.75 Glide Floss Mfg coupon
-FREE Sobe BOGO IP (Heads or Tails Game)
-FREE Sobe BOGO IP (Heads or Tails Game)
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Paid with $12 in ECBs, adjusted down to $11.97 and $.83 OOP (tax). Earned $7.99, $5 and $1 (Green Bag Tag) ECBs. The trip netted me a profit of $1.99 in ECBs, balanced against teh $.83 OOP, made it a $1.16 money-maker trip.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
1 - Blink Tears Gel
2 - Glide Floss
4 - Sobe Life Water (BOGO rain check)
2 - 24ct Caliber #2 Pencils (2/$1 rain check)
-$1.50 Blink Tears IP
-$.75 Glide Floss Mfg coupon
-$.75 Glide Floss Mfg coupon
-FREE Sobe BOGO IP (Heads or Tails Game)
-FREE Sobe BOGO IP (Heads or Tails Game)
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Paid with $12 in ECBs, adjusted down to $11.97 and $.83 OOP (tax). Earned $7.99, $5 and $1 (Green Bag Tag) ECBs. The trip netted me a profit of $1.99 in ECBs, balanced against teh $.83 OOP, made it a $1.16 money-maker trip.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
Cansolidator Winner
Congratulations to Theresa! She was selected as the winner of the Cansolidator giveaway.
An e-mail has been sent to the winner.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other giveaways going on now.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
21
Timestamp: 2010-08-28 11:48:21 UTC
An e-mail has been sent to the winner.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other giveaways going on now.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
21
Timestamp: 2010-08-28 11:48:21 UTC
Friday, August 27, 2010
Dryel Giveaway
Dryel is a product that has been on the market for a while. I have always wondered about it and how well it worked, but until recently, I had never tried it. I will admit that I always assumed it was meant as a way to more economically clean your dry clean only clothes and was pleasantly surprised, upon receiving the product to review, to discover that it can be used to freshen up and clean any lightly soiled clothing.
How does Dryel work?
The Starter Kit includes a reusable Dryel Fabric Protection Bag, two Dreyel cleaning cloths and a Stain Removal Pen. I found that the directions are pretty simple. If you are cleaning or freshening special care clothes, put a few garments in the Dryel Bag (should not be more than 1/2 full) along with the Dryel cleaning cloth and steam it in your dryer on medium heat for 30 minutes. For lightly soiled clothes (not special care garments) you place the clothes and the Dryel cloth directly in the dryer on medium heat for 15 minutes. After steaming, hang up and let wrinkles fall out.
I found that the Dryel cleaning cloths have a pleasant smell. After steaming, the garments come out of the dryer slightly damp and smelling clean and fresh. I must say that since it is hard to see "lightly soiled", I don't have a strong feel as to whether the garment was cleaned in the process. I will say that I found it convenient to quickly toss some items in the dryer and pull out the "refreshed" clothes. Hanging them, while still damp, minimized the wrinkles. I definitely like the idea that I can freshen up my dry clean only clothes and extend the period between when I need to take them to the cleaners.
The stain removal stick seems to work like many other instant stain remover products. You remove excess residue from the stain and while squeezing the pen, rub it on the stain. As with most, it seems to do an effective job on small stains and even for those that are larger, by treating the stain closer to occurrence, it makes it easier to get the stain out during washing later.
The Dryel 3-in-1 Touch Up Spray is great for smoothing out wrinkles, freshening your garment and preventing static in your garment. I like the anti-static feature myself. That is something that I have a few skirts and a sweater that really have static issues. It's not cold enough here to wear a sweater, so I haven't tested it on that, but for the skirt I wore, it seemed to effectively cut down the amount of static. I also like the idea of using the Dryel 3-in-1 Touch Up Spray while ironing. I haven't tried it yet, but it is supposed to help your iron glide more smoothly and the spray will help freshen the garment as well.
You can follow Dryel on Twitter or like them on Facebook. Right now, there is a try Dryel free rebate available. You can find the details here. I know that I plan to take advantage of the chance to get a free Refill. Hurry though, it says that the purchase must be made by August 31st.
Giveaway!
Courtesy of Dryel and MamaBzz, I have the opportunity to also giveaway to one A Busy Mom of Two reader, a Dryel Starter Kit.
To enter: Leave a comment indicating if you have tried Dryel before (and what you think) or indicating that you would like to try Dryel.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Follow A Busy Mom of Two on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. This can be once daily, please be sure to leave a link to the tweet in your comment.
Follow Dryel on Twitter . Leave a comment letting me know you follow and your Twitter id.
Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your post.
Sign up to receive daily updates. Leave a comment letting me know you subscribe (or that you already do).
Like Dryel on Facebookand then share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you did.
Giveaway will remain open until September 14th at 6pm and is open to residents of US only. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
No compensation was received for this post. I received, for the purposes of reviewing, a Dryel starter kit, a Dryel stain pen and a Dryel 3-in-1 fabric freshener spray courtesy of Dryel through MamaBzz. In addition, a Dryel Starter Kit was provided for a giveaway.
How does Dryel work?
- The Dryel fabric care system allows you to clean and freshen all your clothes in the dryer in less than 30 minutes. For your dry clean only clothes and hand washable items you can clean them in the convenience of your own home for a fraction of the cost of dry cleaning. For all your other clothes, Dryel offers light cleaning without having to go through a full washer and dryer cycle.
Heat from the dryer activates the moist Dryel cloth to create a gentle steam cleaning environment. For dry clean, delicate and hand-washable clothes, the specially designed fabric bag protects the clothes from shrinking, fading or stretching. Dryel also helps remove wrinkles. Most garments are ready to wear with little or no ironing needed.
The Starter Kit includes a reusable Dryel Fabric Protection Bag, two Dreyel cleaning cloths and a Stain Removal Pen. I found that the directions are pretty simple. If you are cleaning or freshening special care clothes, put a few garments in the Dryel Bag (should not be more than 1/2 full) along with the Dryel cleaning cloth and steam it in your dryer on medium heat for 30 minutes. For lightly soiled clothes (not special care garments) you place the clothes and the Dryel cloth directly in the dryer on medium heat for 15 minutes. After steaming, hang up and let wrinkles fall out.
I found that the Dryel cleaning cloths have a pleasant smell. After steaming, the garments come out of the dryer slightly damp and smelling clean and fresh. I must say that since it is hard to see "lightly soiled", I don't have a strong feel as to whether the garment was cleaned in the process. I will say that I found it convenient to quickly toss some items in the dryer and pull out the "refreshed" clothes. Hanging them, while still damp, minimized the wrinkles. I definitely like the idea that I can freshen up my dry clean only clothes and extend the period between when I need to take them to the cleaners.
The stain removal stick seems to work like many other instant stain remover products. You remove excess residue from the stain and while squeezing the pen, rub it on the stain. As with most, it seems to do an effective job on small stains and even for those that are larger, by treating the stain closer to occurrence, it makes it easier to get the stain out during washing later.
The Dryel 3-in-1 Touch Up Spray is great for smoothing out wrinkles, freshening your garment and preventing static in your garment. I like the anti-static feature myself. That is something that I have a few skirts and a sweater that really have static issues. It's not cold enough here to wear a sweater, so I haven't tested it on that, but for the skirt I wore, it seemed to effectively cut down the amount of static. I also like the idea of using the Dryel 3-in-1 Touch Up Spray while ironing. I haven't tried it yet, but it is supposed to help your iron glide more smoothly and the spray will help freshen the garment as well.
You can follow Dryel on Twitter or like them on Facebook. Right now, there is a try Dryel free rebate available. You can find the details here. I know that I plan to take advantage of the chance to get a free Refill. Hurry though, it says that the purchase must be made by August 31st.
Giveaway!
Courtesy of Dryel and MamaBzz, I have the opportunity to also giveaway to one A Busy Mom of Two reader, a Dryel Starter Kit.
To enter: Leave a comment indicating if you have tried Dryel before (and what you think) or indicating that you would like to try Dryel.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Giveaway will remain open until September 14th at 6pm and is open to residents of US only. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
No compensation was received for this post. I received, for the purposes of reviewing, a Dryel starter kit, a Dryel stain pen and a Dryel 3-in-1 fabric freshener spray courtesy of Dryel through MamaBzz. In addition, a Dryel Starter Kit was provided for a giveaway.
Samples and Freebies
Requested:
U by Kotex
Emergen-C sample
Cheetos Mighty Zingers
Nourish+ SHINE sample - you actually can select a coupon or a sample and have the choice of two different samples SHINE or MOISTURIZE
All Bran Promise Pack
Oxy Clinical sample - Promo code WOMANSDAY
Received:
Cheetos mighty zingers (Ragin' Cajun & Tangy Ranch) and coupon
coupon for free trial size PSSSSST!.
U by Kotex
Emergen-C sample
Cheetos Mighty Zingers
Nourish+ SHINE sample - you actually can select a coupon or a sample and have the choice of two different samples SHINE or MOISTURIZE
All Bran Promise Pack
Oxy Clinical sample - Promo code WOMANSDAY
Received:
Cheetos mighty zingers (Ragin' Cajun & Tangy Ranch) and coupon
coupon for free trial size PSSSSST!.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Target - Dr. Pepper Deal!
Since I had the chance to grab the Target Dr. Pepper coupons from the banner ad, I decided to stop at Target tonight and pick up some Dr. Pepper. Noting that they did not have it on sale, I scoured my other local ads to figure out who best to price match.
4 - Dr. Pepper 12 packs
4 - Dr. Pepper 2L
-$4 4x$1 Dr. Pepper 12 pack, Target coupon
-$1.50 2x$.75/2 Dr. Pepper 2L, Target coupon
Total $7.92 (plus tax = $8.43). After matching CVS ad of 4/$10 on the 12 pack, each 12pk cost me $1.50 after coupon and after matching a local grocery ad of $.88 for the 2L, each 2L cost me about $.50 after coupon.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
4 - Dr. Pepper 12 packs
4 - Dr. Pepper 2L
-$4 4x$1 Dr. Pepper 12 pack, Target coupon
-$1.50 2x$.75/2 Dr. Pepper 2L, Target coupon
Total $7.92 (plus tax = $8.43). After matching CVS ad of 4/$10 on the 12 pack, each 12pk cost me $1.50 after coupon and after matching a local grocery ad of $.88 for the 2L, each 2L cost me about $.50 after coupon.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
Toys 'R Us Grand Openings - 8/27
As I mentioned in this post, I have partnered with Toys 'R Us to share about the upcoming Grand Opening/Re-Opening events across the country.
This weekend, August 27 - 29, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
E. Witchita, KS
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
This weekend, August 27 - 29, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
E. Witchita, KS
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
Seventh Generation Giveaway
This week was back to school week for my son. Each year, we gather the typical school supplies - pencils, crayons, rulers, glue and folders and send him off to school. In addition to the standard tools for school, Seventh Generation would like to help prepare your child with tips and information to protect your child's health as they head back to school. Here is some information from Seventh Generation:
I recently was sent a “Back-to-School” kit that included the following eco-friendly products courtesy of Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark:
Seventh Generation backpack
two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one I can donate to my child’s classroom)
Seventh Generation disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner
Seventh Generation facial tissue
Seventh Generation paper towels
First, it came as no surprise to me, but as soon as it arrived, my daughter quickly claimed the backpack as her own. She cracks me up with all of her bags. I have had the chance to try the Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes and the disinfecting spray. They both work just fine for me. I use the wipes for a quick clean-up of a spill or a small section of my counter and spray when I am cleaning more of the counter or a bigger mess. The wipes are fairly comparable to other disinfecting wipes; if anything, they might be a bit more "sudsy" than others, but that's not anything that concerns me or is an issue. The facial tissues, which are made from 100% recycled paper, are a little less soft than I like. They work fine for run of the mill nose blowing and wiping, but I think they could be a little irritating if you were in the throes of a cold and were repeatedly wiping and blowing your nose.
Giveaway:
One A Busy Mom of Two readers will win a “Back-to-School” kit that includes a Seventh Generation backpack, two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one to donate to your child’s classroom), disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner, facial tissue and paper towels.
To enter: Leave a comment sharing your tip for keeping your kids healthy and germ-free.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Follow A Busy Mom of Two on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. This can be once daily, please be sure to leave a link to the tweet in your comment.
Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter . Leave a comment letting me know you follow and your Twitter id.
Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your post.
Sign up to receive daily updates. Leave a comment letting me know you subscribe (or that you already do).
Like Seventh Generation on Facebook and then share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you did.
Giveaway will remain open until September 7th at 6pm and is open to residents of US only. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
About Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home. For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.
You can also check out Seventh Generation on Facebook and Twitter today! Like Seventh Generation on Facebook or follow Seventh Generation on Twitter to keep up with the latest news from Seventh Generation.
P.S. You can get great coupons for Seventh Generations products by clicking here and joining the Seventh Generation Nation.
No compensation was received for this post. The opinions expressed are all my own. I received the Back to School Gift Pack for my personal usage, so that I might share my experience with you. An additional gift pack was also provided for the give away. Product and information are courtesy of Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.
- Is your child picking up more than the ABC’s in school? While you’re packing your child’s backpack with the pencils, notebooks and tools they’ll need for a great school year, don’t forget the supplies they’ll need to stay healthy and germ-free, too.
With nearly 22 million school days lost each year due to the common cold and flu (CDC) and as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International), it’s no wonder that 82 percent of parents with kids in grades K-5 fret about the germs in their children’s classrooms (according to a survey conducted by Seventh Generation).
This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child’s health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:
Optimize the immune system
Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn't last as long.
Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.
Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.
Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs
Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, naptime, play stations) and before meals or snacks.
Sixty percent of teachers surveyed said that they request that parents donate disinfecting wipes to the classroom. Seventh Generation’s disinfecting wipes kill 99.99% of germs* naturally using the active ingredient thyme, a component of thyme oil which is derived from the herb thyme.
Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Demonstrate to your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.
*Refer to disinfecting product labels for full details.
History of Germs (video courtesy of Seventh Generation)
I recently was sent a “Back-to-School” kit that included the following eco-friendly products courtesy of Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark:
First, it came as no surprise to me, but as soon as it arrived, my daughter quickly claimed the backpack as her own. She cracks me up with all of her bags. I have had the chance to try the Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes and the disinfecting spray. They both work just fine for me. I use the wipes for a quick clean-up of a spill or a small section of my counter and spray when I am cleaning more of the counter or a bigger mess. The wipes are fairly comparable to other disinfecting wipes; if anything, they might be a bit more "sudsy" than others, but that's not anything that concerns me or is an issue. The facial tissues, which are made from 100% recycled paper, are a little less soft than I like. They work fine for run of the mill nose blowing and wiping, but I think they could be a little irritating if you were in the throes of a cold and were repeatedly wiping and blowing your nose.
Giveaway:
One A Busy Mom of Two readers will win a “Back-to-School” kit that includes a Seventh Generation backpack, two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one to donate to your child’s classroom), disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner, facial tissue and paper towels.To enter: Leave a comment sharing your tip for keeping your kids healthy and germ-free.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Giveaway will remain open until September 7th at 6pm and is open to residents of US only. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
About Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home. For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.
You can also check out Seventh Generation on Facebook and Twitter today! Like Seventh Generation on Facebook or follow Seventh Generation on Twitter to keep up with the latest news from Seventh Generation.
P.S. You can get great coupons for Seventh Generations products by clicking here and joining the Seventh Generation Nation.
No compensation was received for this post. The opinions expressed are all my own. I received the Back to School Gift Pack for my personal usage, so that I might share my experience with you. An additional gift pack was also provided for the give away. Product and information are courtesy of Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Giveaway Winners!
I never heard back from the winner for the Milly The Pinkest Kitten giveaway, so I have drawn for a new winner. Congratulations to 2Kidsand8Cats! An e-mail is being sent to the winner.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
33
Timestamp: 2010-08-26 01:45:00 UTC
In addition, I still needed to select a winner of the $25 Gift Card to Sam's Club. Congratulations to Kristi! An e-mail is being sent to the winner.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
40
Timestamp: 2010-08-26 01:46:26 UTC
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
33
Timestamp: 2010-08-26 01:45:00 UTC
In addition, I still needed to select a winner of the $25 Gift Card to Sam's Club. Congratulations to Kristi! An e-mail is being sent to the winner.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
40
Timestamp: 2010-08-26 01:46:26 UTC
Target - Dr. Pepper Coupon
There is a coupon banner that is appearing on Coupons.com right now (might need to reload a few times to find it) that is a link to a Target coupon for Dr. Pepper. The two that I was able to find are $.75 off the purchase of two 2-L of Dr. Pepper and $1 off one 12-pk Dr. Pepper.
The coupon expires on Saturday, 8/28. Not sure what the current price is, but it should be reasonable with coupon. The picture on the 12pk coupon is for the Anniversary edition (like Throwback, it is made with sugar).
Good luck searching. Thanks Deal Seeking Mom for sharing about this coupon banner.
The coupon expires on Saturday, 8/28. Not sure what the current price is, but it should be reasonable with coupon. The picture on the 12pk coupon is for the Anniversary edition (like Throwback, it is made with sugar).
Good luck searching. Thanks Deal Seeking Mom for sharing about this coupon banner.
Managing Shopping Lists
I've always been good about making shopping lists. I even have a magnetic notepad on my refrigerator for adding things to my list as we run out or I notice that we are low. Unfortunately, I'm not always good at taking my list with me. Plus, when I would ask my husband to make a stop because I knew we needed milk or bread, he would ask what else and if I wasn't at home to reference my list, I would inevitably miss one or more items.
A while back, my husband found the perfect solution for us. It is an application called Our Groceries. You can download it to many mobile devices.
You set up all of your mobile devices on one account by using a common e-mail when you set up each mobile device. Once it is loaded, you simply add your items to the list. You can even have multiple lists - Grocery, Target, Lowes, Sam's Club. As you add an item, within a brief window, the item will appear on everyone's list. Making it easy for my husband to see what else to pick up when he stops for milk or allowing him to add something to the list while I am shopping.
They also have an option to load recipes, which I have not yet tried. With recipes, you can with one touch, add all ingredients to your shopping list or only add those that you need.
There is a "library" of items, so frequently, you can start typing an item and then select it from the list, saving you some key strokes. It also keeps those items that you add, so that you can quickly add those common items you buy to your list.
As you shop, click on an item and it is crossed off. It is moved to the bottom of the list and you can select to delete all crossed off items. One drawback is the list is alphabetically sorted. When I make a paper list, I sort it by department. It makes it a little harder to scan your list as you make the way through the store, but as you cross items off, it becomes evident if you missed something and can quickly grab it before you check out. This is an improvement for me. I generally forget a pen and then I'm constantly re-reading my paper list to make sure I got it all. The crossed off item and the deletion will also occur on everyone's list within a brief window of when you mark it on your mobile device.
The app is free to download and use, but you get some occasional ads to support the development - so far, they are very unobtrusive text link style ads at the top of your list. I can live with that for an app that has made my life easier and saved a few extra trips to the store. You can learn more here.
This post shared at Works For Me Wednesday.
A while back, my husband found the perfect solution for us. It is an application called Our Groceries. You can download it to many mobile devices.
You set up all of your mobile devices on one account by using a common e-mail when you set up each mobile device. Once it is loaded, you simply add your items to the list. You can even have multiple lists - Grocery, Target, Lowes, Sam's Club. As you add an item, within a brief window, the item will appear on everyone's list. Making it easy for my husband to see what else to pick up when he stops for milk or allowing him to add something to the list while I am shopping.
They also have an option to load recipes, which I have not yet tried. With recipes, you can with one touch, add all ingredients to your shopping list or only add those that you need.
There is a "library" of items, so frequently, you can start typing an item and then select it from the list, saving you some key strokes. It also keeps those items that you add, so that you can quickly add those common items you buy to your list.
As you shop, click on an item and it is crossed off. It is moved to the bottom of the list and you can select to delete all crossed off items. One drawback is the list is alphabetically sorted. When I make a paper list, I sort it by department. It makes it a little harder to scan your list as you make the way through the store, but as you cross items off, it becomes evident if you missed something and can quickly grab it before you check out. This is an improvement for me. I generally forget a pen and then I'm constantly re-reading my paper list to make sure I got it all. The crossed off item and the deletion will also occur on everyone's list within a brief window of when you mark it on your mobile device.
The app is free to download and use, but you get some occasional ads to support the development - so far, they are very unobtrusive text link style ads at the top of your list. I can live with that for an app that has made my life easier and saved a few extra trips to the store. You can learn more here.
This post shared at Works For Me Wednesday.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Menu Plan Monday
I'm a little late in posting this, but when I got home from work last night, I had no motivation to do any posting. I knew I needed to plan the remainder of the week, to keep life simple, so I took a peek in the refrigerator and freezer and came up with a plan. After my Giant Eagle trip last week, I was glad to plan a menu without a store visit required.
This week is back to school week for my son. So, now I am once again faced with the challenge of packing an occasional lunch. Because I didn't plan for this when I did shop last week, he is eating Peanut Butter and Jelly this week for the lunches he packs.
Turkey is on our menu a few times again this week - part of the Spaghetti and Meatballs, the taco meat and the Sloppy Joes.
Sunday
bagels and donuts
brunch out with the family
Leftover Hamburgers/Hot Dogs/Picnic Fixings
Monday
Leftover Lasagna (featuring my Spaghetti and Meatballs sauce)
Tuesday
Egg Plant Parmesan (from freezer)
Wednesday
Tacos
Thursday
Sloppy Joes and Tater Tots
Friday
Hamburgers on the Grill
Saturday
cereal
Pizza
Dinner out for Mom and Dad
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
This week is back to school week for my son. So, now I am once again faced with the challenge of packing an occasional lunch. Because I didn't plan for this when I did shop last week, he is eating Peanut Butter and Jelly this week for the lunches he packs.
Turkey is on our menu a few times again this week - part of the Spaghetti and Meatballs, the taco meat and the Sloppy Joes.
Sunday
bagels and donuts
brunch out with the family
Leftover Hamburgers/Hot Dogs/Picnic Fixings
Monday
Leftover Lasagna (featuring my Spaghetti and Meatballs sauce)
Tuesday
Egg Plant Parmesan (from freezer)
Wednesday
Tacos
Thursday
Sloppy Joes and Tater Tots
Friday
Hamburgers on the Grill
Saturday
cereal
Pizza
Dinner out for Mom and Dad
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Giant Eagle Deals
Mid-week last week, I took a 1/2 day vacation with the intention of grocery shopping and working on getting my house in order in preparation for the weekend. Turns out, I only got my shopping done, but at least I got that much accomplished.
My trip to Giant Eagle was a big trip, by design. Giant Eagle has a program called foodperks!, where you earn a discount on your groceries by purchasing fuel. Giant Eagle is not our regular station to fill up, because its not on my way to work and we have a gas station around the corner too. We do use them occasionally, especially when we get close to E and we have fuelperks to redeem. I had gotten my total foodperks! to 19% (after a fill-up on the way into the store) and wanted to maximize my savings. You can apply the discount to up to $300 in groceries (after coupons).
I started to strategize last weekend on what I would get to get to $300. In my planning, I got to just about $120. I figured that there would be other things I would by and had a list of some things to stock up on. I grabbed a cart and headed into the store. I purchased produce for the weekend and this week. I purchased some pepperoni and specialty cheese from the deli. I purchased 9 12-pk of Pepsi products and 3 bags of chips (1 free with each 3 12-pk purchased). I bought yogurt, milk and ice cream. I picked up aluminum foil and Ziploc bags and containers. I bought cat food. I tried to buy detergent, but they were out of the Purex 3-in-1. I just kept shopping. I kept a running total as I went, I had an over-full cart (I was carrying the gallon of milk in my hand and balancing some pizzas with my other arm) and yet, I was just over $200 after coupons. I never would have thought it would be this hard to spend $300. Now, I will give you that I wasn't going to buy anything at a premium, just to save money. Everything I was buying was on sale or if it wasn't, it was something that I needed for the weekend. When I went to check out, I had some items that weren't ringing correctly, so while the cashier was working through those issues, I ran back and grabbed 10 boxes of Green Giant vegetables, which I realized that I had forgotten to grab (not that I could have put them anywhere) when I was shopping.
Here is what I got:
I didn't have a chance to get pictures of the groceries out of the bags, because we had to rush off to our first flag football game, but you can at least see how much I got.
In the end, I wound up spending $169.62 for $305.40 in groceries. My savings were split about equally between weekly specials, coupons and the foodperks! savings. I purchased 133 items at a savings of 45%. Considering I bought everything I needed for the weekend (had overnight guests on Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night), I think this was a pretty good deal. Of course, as luck would have it, I had to make another grocery trip because I had forgotten things. Oh well, such is life.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
My trip to Giant Eagle was a big trip, by design. Giant Eagle has a program called foodperks!, where you earn a discount on your groceries by purchasing fuel. Giant Eagle is not our regular station to fill up, because its not on my way to work and we have a gas station around the corner too. We do use them occasionally, especially when we get close to E and we have fuelperks to redeem. I had gotten my total foodperks! to 19% (after a fill-up on the way into the store) and wanted to maximize my savings. You can apply the discount to up to $300 in groceries (after coupons).
I started to strategize last weekend on what I would get to get to $300. In my planning, I got to just about $120. I figured that there would be other things I would by and had a list of some things to stock up on. I grabbed a cart and headed into the store. I purchased produce for the weekend and this week. I purchased some pepperoni and specialty cheese from the deli. I purchased 9 12-pk of Pepsi products and 3 bags of chips (1 free with each 3 12-pk purchased). I bought yogurt, milk and ice cream. I picked up aluminum foil and Ziploc bags and containers. I bought cat food. I tried to buy detergent, but they were out of the Purex 3-in-1. I just kept shopping. I kept a running total as I went, I had an over-full cart (I was carrying the gallon of milk in my hand and balancing some pizzas with my other arm) and yet, I was just over $200 after coupons. I never would have thought it would be this hard to spend $300. Now, I will give you that I wasn't going to buy anything at a premium, just to save money. Everything I was buying was on sale or if it wasn't, it was something that I needed for the weekend. When I went to check out, I had some items that weren't ringing correctly, so while the cashier was working through those issues, I ran back and grabbed 10 boxes of Green Giant vegetables, which I realized that I had forgotten to grab (not that I could have put them anywhere) when I was shopping.
Here is what I got:
I didn't have a chance to get pictures of the groceries out of the bags, because we had to rush off to our first flag football game, but you can at least see how much I got.In the end, I wound up spending $169.62 for $305.40 in groceries. My savings were split about equally between weekly specials, coupons and the foodperks! savings. I purchased 133 items at a savings of 45%. Considering I bought everything I needed for the weekend (had overnight guests on Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night), I think this was a pretty good deal. Of course, as luck would have it, I had to make another grocery trip because I had forgotten things. Oh well, such is life.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
What a Weekend...
You may have noticed that I disappeared for a few days. We had a very busy end of week and weekend. My son celebrated his 7th birthday this weekend (pics of the cake to come), which was a lot of fun. When we host a birthday party, many of our guests come from out of town and we open our house to them. On Saturday night we had 7 adults and 4 children (all age 3 and under) as overnight guests, this was in addition to the others that attended the party. Needless to say, hosting that many people required some preparation in terms of getting the house fully in order and getting groceries for the event. There of course was also food to be prepped, cakes to be baked and the rest of life to live.
I have a few posts that I had hoped to get up last week, that will make their way up over the next few days. In addition, I hope to catch up on my regular posts, like CVS and my menu plan. There are also a few new giveaways to post and a winner still to be selected for the Sam's Club Gift Card.
I have a few posts that I had hoped to get up last week, that will make their way up over the next few days. In addition, I hope to catch up on my regular posts, like CVS and my menu plan. There are also a few new giveaways to post and a winner still to be selected for the Sam's Club Gift Card.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Fresh Produce
Today's topic for the Ultimate Recipe Swap over at Life As Mom is about what you are doing with fresh produce.
I think that my two favorite things to do with fresh produce are to make a tomato sandwich and to make a cucumber salad.
When it comes to tomato sandwiches, I don't need the bacon or the lettuce. Just give me warm toast, creamy mayonnaise and a fresh from the garden, sliced red tomato. There is just something about that sandwich that is so tasty!
For cucumber salad, I don't mind when it is prepped with sour cream, but most of the time, I want the good old, vinegar and onions and cucumber combination. There is something about that salad that just speaks of summer.
Since neither of those are recipes, I thought I might share some links to recipes I have shared before.
Lately I have been able to find lots of cabbage available at the local farmer's markets. One of my favorite ways to enjoy cabbage, besides cabbage rolls, is in cole slaw. It is easy to make and tasty. I recommend making it at least a little bit ahead of time so the flavors can all hang out together.
I have also been seeing fresh bell peppers in every color. I like to make a jambalaya recipe with those peppers, but for a fresher use, I really enjoy Tortellini with Sun-dried Tomatoes Tri-colored Peppers. It is super tasty and of course, you can make it with less colors, it just that each flavor provides a unique flavor to the overall dish.
Blueberries have been very popular lately. I found this recipe for Blueberry Bread Pudding (I compare it to a Blueberry French Toast bake) in the grocery ad a few years back. The kids love it. We eat it as a meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner, but it is also a nice treat to enjoy in the evenings as a snack.
For a great snack or appetizer we like to have fresh green beans with a horseradish dip. You don't think of Green Beans as something to eat cold, but this fits great on a relish tray.
For more ways to enjoy your fresh produce, check out the Ultimate Recipe Swap: Fresh Produce edition.
This post shared at Tasty Traditions.
I think that my two favorite things to do with fresh produce are to make a tomato sandwich and to make a cucumber salad.
When it comes to tomato sandwiches, I don't need the bacon or the lettuce. Just give me warm toast, creamy mayonnaise and a fresh from the garden, sliced red tomato. There is just something about that sandwich that is so tasty!
For cucumber salad, I don't mind when it is prepped with sour cream, but most of the time, I want the good old, vinegar and onions and cucumber combination. There is something about that salad that just speaks of summer.
Since neither of those are recipes, I thought I might share some links to recipes I have shared before.
Lately I have been able to find lots of cabbage available at the local farmer's markets. One of my favorite ways to enjoy cabbage, besides cabbage rolls, is in cole slaw. It is easy to make and tasty. I recommend making it at least a little bit ahead of time so the flavors can all hang out together.
I have also been seeing fresh bell peppers in every color. I like to make a jambalaya recipe with those peppers, but for a fresher use, I really enjoy Tortellini with Sun-dried Tomatoes Tri-colored Peppers. It is super tasty and of course, you can make it with less colors, it just that each flavor provides a unique flavor to the overall dish.
Blueberries have been very popular lately. I found this recipe for Blueberry Bread Pudding (I compare it to a Blueberry French Toast bake) in the grocery ad a few years back. The kids love it. We eat it as a meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner, but it is also a nice treat to enjoy in the evenings as a snack.
For a great snack or appetizer we like to have fresh green beans with a horseradish dip. You don't think of Green Beans as something to eat cold, but this fits great on a relish tray.
For more ways to enjoy your fresh produce, check out the Ultimate Recipe Swap: Fresh Produce edition.
This post shared at Tasty Traditions.
The Latest Bzzz
After what has felt like a significant drought, I am busy Bzzz-ing for Bzz Agent again. I actually have 3 campaigns right now. I love the chance to try out new things through Bzz Agent. The Bzz Kit comes with either free product or coupons for free product and information about the product. The goal is for you, once you try the product, to talk to friends and family about the product, share reviews on-line, etc. I love to try new things and when I find something that really works, I love to share, so Bzz Agent is a great program for me.
The first of my campaigns is for COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara. LashBlast Fusion combines a volumizing brush with a new buildable fiber-stretch lengthening formula that work together to thicken and extend the look of individual lashes. I have been using it for the past few weeks and I like the look. Now, let me preface by saying, I am not a regular wearer of mascara and never have been. I love the look of this mascara on my lashes. In the summertime, my eyes have a tendency to fade away behind my more tan face. Using this mascara has helped my eyes to have "pop" again. I like this. I like that it goes on "thin". What I mean by that is when I apply this mascara it didn't feel thick and goopy on my lashes. Out of fairness, since I don't use mascara often, when I do have it, it sits around and maybe this causes it to thicken, so that when I use it, it does feel thick and goopy. I also worry about eye makeup irritating me because I wear contacts. I have not had issues with the LashBlast Fusion irritating my eyes. I also worry about smudge and smear. I can't remember a show to reference here, but we've all seen them where the woman rubs her eyes or cries and she is left with black mascara around her eyes or running down her cheek. I try not to make a habit of rubbing my eyes or crying, but so far, I haven't had an issue. Overall, if you would like a mascara that will help your lashes look fuller and longer, LashBlast Fusion from COVERGIRL is one you should try.
My second campaign is L'oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse Eye. This is one of the more interesting beauty aids that I have seen. Inspired by professional medical techniques, the L'oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse Eye combines a cream that is formulate with Erasyl and Collagen to help diminish dark circles and smooth away wrinkles with a "ground breaking micro-pulse massager to minimize eye puffiness". I must admit it seemed a little strange to me. There is tube of cream and the lid to that contains, for lack of a better term, a little battery operated vibrator. You apply the cream under your eyes and by any wrinkles or crow's feet that you might have. Then, you recap the tube and turn on the vibrator. You apply this beneath your eyes in 5 locations working from the center out and the center out. Then, using a sweeping motion, you again work from the center out and the center out. It is supposed to immediately deliver crow's feet and eye bags that appear reduced. Over 4 weeks time, it is supposed to deliver crow's feet that appear reduced, dark circles appear minimized and eye bags appear visibly diminished. I will say this, I have constant dark circles, it is more so hereditary than sleep driven, it has reduced them slightly, but they are still there - I guess though, that at some level, I didn't really expect that big of a change from a cream. I feel like my eyes appear less puffy and a little "brighter". The first few times that I used, I think I put too much pressure on the bone beneath the eye socket in using the vibrator and it resulted in a slight headache, I learned from my mistake and use a gentler hand and now do not get headaches. I have only been using the product for a few weeks, so I will have to check back in with an update after four weeks to let you know if I feel like it is delivering on the expected results.
My third current Bzz Campaign is for Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk. Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk comes in four, kid-friendly flavors - 2% Plain, Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry. Just like juice boxes, these single serve milks are shelf stable (although from my perspective, they certainly taste best cold because that is how I know milk, nice and cold). I think it is a great alternative to packing juice boxes for lunches at school or picnics and for taking along as a snack on the road. You can purchase these single serve boxes, 8 oz serving each, in 3 count, 12 count or 18 count packages - but I have seen them at some stores sold refrigerated, as individual cartons to provide a quick grab and go beverage (better than soda for the kids any day!). What can I say, I'm a fan. I like the flavor and consistency of the ultra pasteurized organic milks. My favorite of the group is chocolate (I love chocolate, any opportunity to fit it into my day is a good opportunity from my perspective), but the strawberry is one the kids enjoy (we have been making strawberry milk at home a lot lately, too). Each serving is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Calcium and provides 8g of protein. If you are looking for a healthy and delicious alternative to the everyday lunch box drink for your kids, I would recommend giving the Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk boxes a try.
No compensation was received for this post. The opinions expressed are solely my own. I did receive, as a member of Bzz Agent and an active participant on these three Bzz Campaigns free product (or free product coupons) to try the product and share my experiences.
The first of my campaigns is for COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara. LashBlast Fusion combines a volumizing brush with a new buildable fiber-stretch lengthening formula that work together to thicken and extend the look of individual lashes. I have been using it for the past few weeks and I like the look. Now, let me preface by saying, I am not a regular wearer of mascara and never have been. I love the look of this mascara on my lashes. In the summertime, my eyes have a tendency to fade away behind my more tan face. Using this mascara has helped my eyes to have "pop" again. I like this. I like that it goes on "thin". What I mean by that is when I apply this mascara it didn't feel thick and goopy on my lashes. Out of fairness, since I don't use mascara often, when I do have it, it sits around and maybe this causes it to thicken, so that when I use it, it does feel thick and goopy. I also worry about eye makeup irritating me because I wear contacts. I have not had issues with the LashBlast Fusion irritating my eyes. I also worry about smudge and smear. I can't remember a show to reference here, but we've all seen them where the woman rubs her eyes or cries and she is left with black mascara around her eyes or running down her cheek. I try not to make a habit of rubbing my eyes or crying, but so far, I haven't had an issue. Overall, if you would like a mascara that will help your lashes look fuller and longer, LashBlast Fusion from COVERGIRL is one you should try.
My second campaign is L'oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse Eye. This is one of the more interesting beauty aids that I have seen. Inspired by professional medical techniques, the L'oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse Eye combines a cream that is formulate with Erasyl and Collagen to help diminish dark circles and smooth away wrinkles with a "ground breaking micro-pulse massager to minimize eye puffiness". I must admit it seemed a little strange to me. There is tube of cream and the lid to that contains, for lack of a better term, a little battery operated vibrator. You apply the cream under your eyes and by any wrinkles or crow's feet that you might have. Then, you recap the tube and turn on the vibrator. You apply this beneath your eyes in 5 locations working from the center out and the center out. Then, using a sweeping motion, you again work from the center out and the center out. It is supposed to immediately deliver crow's feet and eye bags that appear reduced. Over 4 weeks time, it is supposed to deliver crow's feet that appear reduced, dark circles appear minimized and eye bags appear visibly diminished. I will say this, I have constant dark circles, it is more so hereditary than sleep driven, it has reduced them slightly, but they are still there - I guess though, that at some level, I didn't really expect that big of a change from a cream. I feel like my eyes appear less puffy and a little "brighter". The first few times that I used, I think I put too much pressure on the bone beneath the eye socket in using the vibrator and it resulted in a slight headache, I learned from my mistake and use a gentler hand and now do not get headaches. I have only been using the product for a few weeks, so I will have to check back in with an update after four weeks to let you know if I feel like it is delivering on the expected results.
My third current Bzz Campaign is for Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk. Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk comes in four, kid-friendly flavors - 2% Plain, Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry. Just like juice boxes, these single serve milks are shelf stable (although from my perspective, they certainly taste best cold because that is how I know milk, nice and cold). I think it is a great alternative to packing juice boxes for lunches at school or picnics and for taking along as a snack on the road. You can purchase these single serve boxes, 8 oz serving each, in 3 count, 12 count or 18 count packages - but I have seen them at some stores sold refrigerated, as individual cartons to provide a quick grab and go beverage (better than soda for the kids any day!). What can I say, I'm a fan. I like the flavor and consistency of the ultra pasteurized organic milks. My favorite of the group is chocolate (I love chocolate, any opportunity to fit it into my day is a good opportunity from my perspective), but the strawberry is one the kids enjoy (we have been making strawberry milk at home a lot lately, too). Each serving is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Calcium and provides 8g of protein. If you are looking for a healthy and delicious alternative to the everyday lunch box drink for your kids, I would recommend giving the Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk boxes a try.
No compensation was received for this post. The opinions expressed are solely my own. I did receive, as a member of Bzz Agent and an active participant on these three Bzz Campaigns free product (or free product coupons) to try the product and share my experiences.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Toys 'R Us Grand Openings - 8/20
As I mentioned in this post, I have partnered with Toys 'R Us to share about the upcoming Grand Opening/Re-Opening events across the country.
This weekend, August 20 - 22, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
Woburn, MA
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
This weekend, August 20 - 22, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
Woburn, MA
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
Children's Birthday Parties
Up until now, all of our birthday parties have been family focused. For our son's first birthday, we invited a number of our friends to the party, but since then, it has generally been family and close friends of the family that have been included. We go all out with our theme - starting with themed invites, themed party ware, themed food (sometimes) and of course, the cake. I have so much fun figuring out the party after the kids have selected their theme. Stop by next week to see my Phineas and Ferb birthday party post.
This year, after having been invited to other friends' parties, my son asked about having a "kid" party with his friends. We thought that 7 was a good age to have a friend party (but were clear that this isn't necessarily an every year event), so we agreed. We looked into local party centers - Bounce facilities, mini-golf facilities, and such. We knew that these would all be options/activities that our son and his buddies would enjoy, but didn't see anything that was exciting to us and some of the costs were downright scary. So we decided to go a different route and do a sports themed party.
This past weekend, we hosted a birthday party for my son and his buddies (and one of their parents too, I'm not crazy enough to take eight 7 & 8 year olds to the ballpark on my own) at the local Minor League ballpark. It was a great way to celebrate his birthday. He loves baseball and so, what better way to celebrate than at a game. As part of the package, he got to throw out (one of) the first pitch and keep his first pitch ball. All of the children received as part of the package - a round of speed pitch, a spin on the prize wheel, a souvenir baseball, a lunch (hot dog, chips and soda) and Dippin' Dots ice cream (when will the future arrive?, they've been the ice cream of the future for years!). The team mascot also came over and paid a visit to the group and take pictures.
The guests all had a great time watching the game. The nice thing about a Minor League game is that all of the seats in the house are great seats. The boys were all hoping that we would catch a foul ball, but with our seats behind home plate, we only saw one or two foul balls get over the net hanging behind the plate.
Managing gifts was a little awkward. We wound up sitting on a bench above the bleachers to let him open the gifts, which worked out well. Then, we combined everything into a couple of gift bags (thank goodness for parents that wrapped in a gift bag) for carrying around.
A few of our guests even won a ticket to a future game, when they spun the prize wheel (one on their free spin, one on a spin their mom bought). In addition, we received vouchers for two tickets to a game at the start of next season, as a thank you for holding our event at the ballpark.
As an added bonus, since we selected a Sunday game and the team has Kids Run the Bases following the Sunday games, all of the kids got to go out on the field and run around the bases. There is something that the kids just love about running the bases.
One thing that worked well for us was bringing along a photographer. We have a friend that is excellent with a camera and he agreed to come along with us to take pictures, so that we could just enjoy the party. We offered to pay his admission and pick up some food and beverage for him at the game in exchange for his services as official party photographer. The pictures turned out awesome (definitely better than I would have done) and everyone was in the pictures, because it wasn't one of us behind the camera for all the pictures, like it sometimes works out.
Overall, it was a great package and even with buying the admission tickets for one parent for each guest, it was a reasonable price - especially in comparison to the other places that offer birthday packages. Hosting a party that was enjoyed by my son and all of the guests, works for me. During the game, my daughter told me that she wants to have her next birthday at the ballpark - not really an option, since they don't play in November - but further support that it was a successful event.
This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.
This year, after having been invited to other friends' parties, my son asked about having a "kid" party with his friends. We thought that 7 was a good age to have a friend party (but were clear that this isn't necessarily an every year event), so we agreed. We looked into local party centers - Bounce facilities, mini-golf facilities, and such. We knew that these would all be options/activities that our son and his buddies would enjoy, but didn't see anything that was exciting to us and some of the costs were downright scary. So we decided to go a different route and do a sports themed party.
This past weekend, we hosted a birthday party for my son and his buddies (and one of their parents too, I'm not crazy enough to take eight 7 & 8 year olds to the ballpark on my own) at the local Minor League ballpark. It was a great way to celebrate his birthday. He loves baseball and so, what better way to celebrate than at a game. As part of the package, he got to throw out (one of) the first pitch and keep his first pitch ball. All of the children received as part of the package - a round of speed pitch, a spin on the prize wheel, a souvenir baseball, a lunch (hot dog, chips and soda) and Dippin' Dots ice cream (when will the future arrive?, they've been the ice cream of the future for years!). The team mascot also came over and paid a visit to the group and take pictures.
The guests all had a great time watching the game. The nice thing about a Minor League game is that all of the seats in the house are great seats. The boys were all hoping that we would catch a foul ball, but with our seats behind home plate, we only saw one or two foul balls get over the net hanging behind the plate.
Managing gifts was a little awkward. We wound up sitting on a bench above the bleachers to let him open the gifts, which worked out well. Then, we combined everything into a couple of gift bags (thank goodness for parents that wrapped in a gift bag) for carrying around.
A few of our guests even won a ticket to a future game, when they spun the prize wheel (one on their free spin, one on a spin their mom bought). In addition, we received vouchers for two tickets to a game at the start of next season, as a thank you for holding our event at the ballpark.
As an added bonus, since we selected a Sunday game and the team has Kids Run the Bases following the Sunday games, all of the kids got to go out on the field and run around the bases. There is something that the kids just love about running the bases.
One thing that worked well for us was bringing along a photographer. We have a friend that is excellent with a camera and he agreed to come along with us to take pictures, so that we could just enjoy the party. We offered to pay his admission and pick up some food and beverage for him at the game in exchange for his services as official party photographer. The pictures turned out awesome (definitely better than I would have done) and everyone was in the pictures, because it wasn't one of us behind the camera for all the pictures, like it sometimes works out.
Overall, it was a great package and even with buying the admission tickets for one parent for each guest, it was a reasonable price - especially in comparison to the other places that offer birthday packages. Hosting a party that was enjoyed by my son and all of the guests, works for me. During the game, my daughter told me that she wants to have her next birthday at the ballpark - not really an option, since they don't play in November - but further support that it was a successful event.
This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.
Milly The Pinkest Kitten Winner
Congratulations to Sarah! She is the winner of the Milly the Pinkest Kitten Giveaway hosted by A Busy Mom of Two.
An e-mail has been sent to the winner.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other giveaways. You can find the links in the upper right hand corner of the blog.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random integers, generated with replacement:
28
Timestamp: 2010-08-18 09:21:11 UTC
An e-mail has been sent to the winner.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other giveaways. You can find the links in the upper right hand corner of the blog.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random integers, generated with replacement:
28
Timestamp: 2010-08-18 09:21:11 UTC
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
CSN Stores - Gift Card Giveaway
Started in 2002, by two guys with one online store, CSN has grown to become the #3 online retailer for home and office goods. Offering excellent customer service and one of the largest product selections on the web, they have now grown to over 200 stores offering a wide variety of products. Their product categories cover everything from cookware, ultra modern furniture, bunk bed-office combinations and fitness equipment to gaming chairs, grills, greenhouses and much more. If it's a piece of furniture or an appliance that you need for your home or office, you should check for it at CSN (www.csnstores.com) first, as there's a good chance they carry it and at a competitive price.
When I was contacted by CSN about doing a review and giveaway, I was overwhelmed with the selection. I wasn't sure what I would want to review and giveaway. Whether you're looking for a dining table , dinnerware, decorations, lighting, cribs, rugs, whatever, CSN has got you covered. A few other categories include kids + baby, pets, outdoor, health + fitness, furniture, home decor, and more. And, to make it even better, many of their items come with free shipping, which is clearly noted on the search pages and the item listing (even big things like a dining table has free shipping). Those that do not, have a simple shipping rate, based on the total amount of your purchase.
The last thing that I found at CSN stores was a Razor 3-wheel scooter for my daughter, so my first thought was to find something for the kids to play with outside (she loves it by the way). I saw riding toys and backyard games like croquette and mini-golf. Then, I thought, what about some new rugs for the foyer. I clicked into the store that offers bar stools, there were over 1900 choices for counter height bar stools. They have so many choices and so many types of items, I just couldn't decide.
Then, as I continued to explore, I came across their Health and Fitness store. As you may recall, I recently started doing Yoga as part of P90X. I don't have any gear for Yoga, and when I do some of the poses, like Downward Dog, I find myself sliding and slipping - which means I don't have good form and am constantly readjusting. I did some looking through the store and I found a Yoga Mat, a Yoga Mat bag (to carry/store my Yoga Mat) and a Yoga Block (to help me with some of those poses like Twisting Right Angle Pose). I decided that I should get something for me, so this is what I chose. I can't wait for it to arrive.
I decided in the end that for the giveaway, a gift card would be the best route - that way the winner could use it towards something that they want. This could be the Yoga Gear that I selected or something else that you want.
What would you do with a $35 CSN Store Gift Card? Would you put it towards a chair for your family room? A dining table for your kitchen? A rug for your foyer? An umbrella for your deck?
Giveaway!
What would you do with a $35 CSN Gift Card?
To Enter:
Visit CSN Stores and tell me what you would use your gift card towards.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Giveaway will remain open until August 30th at 6pm and is open to residents of US and Canada only. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
No compensation was received for this post. I am receiving the Yoga gear that I selected and the opportunity to giveaway a $35 gift card to CSN stores, courtesy of CSN Stores as a CSN Preferred Blogger.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Total Pillow Winner
Congratulations, Debbie Lynne! Debbie is the winner of the Total Pillow giveaway hosted by A Busy Mom of Two.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out and enter the current giveaways - you can find links on the upper right hand corner of the page.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random integers, generated with replacement:
1
Timestamp: 2010-08-17 00:49:56 UTC
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out and enter the current giveaways - you can find links on the upper right hand corner of the page.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random integers, generated with replacement:
1
Timestamp: 2010-08-17 00:49:56 UTC
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Menu Plan Monday
We had another busy weekend. We didn't make a trip to the grocery store, but we did stop by Sam's Club to pick up a few items that we need for next weekend for my son's birthday picnic, as well as some other items that we were in need of. This year I will be tackling Phineas and Ferb for my cake theme. I have a plan in place and we will see how it turns out. I will share the results next week.
I am planning a trip to Giant Eagle later this week. I am finally at a point where I am close to maximizing my amount of foodperks! rewards and some expire at the end of the month. So, I plan to redeem. Since this discount is good on up to $300 in groceries, I am planning out my trip to maximize my savings.
Turkey is on our menu a few times again this week - part of the leftovers we had on Sunday, Turkey Sausage on Tuesday, the meatballs on Wednesday and the hamburgers on Saturday.
Sunday
cereal
sandwiches/Hot Dogs at the ballpark
Leftovers
Monday
French Toast & Turkey Sausage
Tuesday
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Wednesday
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Thursday
favorite local Mexican restaurant
Friday
TBD
Saturday
cereal
sandwiches
Hamburgers/Hot Dogs with Spinach Salad
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
I am planning a trip to Giant Eagle later this week. I am finally at a point where I am close to maximizing my amount of foodperks! rewards and some expire at the end of the month. So, I plan to redeem. Since this discount is good on up to $300 in groceries, I am planning out my trip to maximize my savings.
Turkey is on our menu a few times again this week - part of the leftovers we had on Sunday, Turkey Sausage on Tuesday, the meatballs on Wednesday and the hamburgers on Saturday.
Sunday
cereal
sandwiches/Hot Dogs at the ballpark
Leftovers
Monday
French Toast & Turkey Sausage
Tuesday
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Wednesday
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Thursday
favorite local Mexican restaurant
Friday
TBD
Saturday
cereal
sandwiches
Hamburgers/Hot Dogs with Spinach Salad
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
CVS Scenarios - week of 8/15
There are a number of free or near free deals this week at CVS. I hope to get there early this week, before they run out of the deal items. Again, I find myself hoping that I get a $/$$ coupon by e-mail or from the coupon machine - I could easily combine this and make things even closer to free.
Transaction #1
1 - Blink Tears
2 - Sobe Life Water
-$1.50 Blink Tears IP
-BOGO Sobe Life Water (Heads or Tails Game)
Total $6.49 OOP, earn $7.99 ECBs.
Transaction #2
1 - Crest Complete Rinse
1 - Glide Floss
1 - Purex Complete 3-in-1 sheets
2 - Right Guard Deodorant
2 - Sobe Life Water
2 - Caliber Notebooks
-$2 Crest Mouthwash mfg coupon
-$.75 Glide Floss mfg coupon
-$3 Purex Mfg coupon
-BOGO Right Guard mfg coupon
-BOGO Sobe Life Water (Heads or Tails game)
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Total $8.24, pay with $7.99 ECBs and $.25 OOP. Earn $5 and $2 ECBs.
Transaction #3
2 - children's Band Aids
1 - J&J 1st Aid Kit (in travel section)
-$3 $3/3 J&J/Band Aid mfg coupon
Total $1.98, pay with $2 ECB adjusted down.
Total OOP of $6.74 with $5 ECBs to roll.
For more deals and scenarios, check out Deal Seeking Mom and Money Saving Mom.
CVS $5 Challenge
Transaction #1
1 - Crest Complete Rinse
2 - Caliber Notebooks
-$2 Crest Mouthwash mfg coupon
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Total $1.49 OOP, earn $2.50 ECBs.
Transaction #2
1 - Blink Tears
-$1.50 Blink IP
Total $6.49, pay with $2.50 ECB and $4 OOP. Earn $7.99 ECBs.
Transaction #3
1 - Crest Glide
1 - Purex Complete 3-in-1
2 - Right Guard Deodorant
2 - children's Band Aids
1 - J&J 1st Aid Kit (travel section)
2 - Caliber Glue
2 - Sobe Life Water
1 - Caramel
-$.75 Crest Glide mfg coupon
-$3 Purex Complete 3-in-1 mfg coupon
-BOGO Right Guard Deodorant
-$3 $3/3 Band Aid/J&J mfg coupon
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-BOGO Sobe Life Water (Heads or Tails game)
Total $8.04, pay with $7.99 ECBs and $.05 OOP. Earn $2.50 and $2 ECBs.
Total OOP of $5.54 with $4.50 in ECBs remaining for $36.43 in product. Considering net cost of $1.04 (OOP - ECBs remaining), a savings of 97%.
For more $5 Scenarios, check out the CVS $5 Challenge.
Transaction #1
1 - Blink Tears
2 - Sobe Life Water
-$1.50 Blink Tears IP
-BOGO Sobe Life Water (Heads or Tails Game)
Total $6.49 OOP, earn $7.99 ECBs.
Transaction #2
1 - Crest Complete Rinse
1 - Glide Floss
1 - Purex Complete 3-in-1 sheets
2 - Right Guard Deodorant
2 - Sobe Life Water
2 - Caliber Notebooks
-$2 Crest Mouthwash mfg coupon
-$.75 Glide Floss mfg coupon
-$3 Purex Mfg coupon
-BOGO Right Guard mfg coupon
-BOGO Sobe Life Water (Heads or Tails game)
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Total $8.24, pay with $7.99 ECBs and $.25 OOP. Earn $5 and $2 ECBs.
Transaction #3
2 - children's Band Aids
1 - J&J 1st Aid Kit (in travel section)
-$3 $3/3 J&J/Band Aid mfg coupon
Total $1.98, pay with $2 ECB adjusted down.
Total OOP of $6.74 with $5 ECBs to roll.
For more deals and scenarios, check out Deal Seeking Mom and Money Saving Mom.
CVS $5 Challenge
Transaction #1
1 - Crest Complete Rinse
2 - Caliber Notebooks
-$2 Crest Mouthwash mfg coupon
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Total $1.49 OOP, earn $2.50 ECBs.
Transaction #2
1 - Blink Tears
-$1.50 Blink IP
Total $6.49, pay with $2.50 ECB and $4 OOP. Earn $7.99 ECBs.
Transaction #3
1 - Crest Glide
1 - Purex Complete 3-in-1
2 - Right Guard Deodorant
2 - children's Band Aids
1 - J&J 1st Aid Kit (travel section)
2 - Caliber Glue
2 - Sobe Life Water
1 - Caramel
-$.75 Crest Glide mfg coupon
-$3 Purex Complete 3-in-1 mfg coupon
-BOGO Right Guard Deodorant
-$3 $3/3 Band Aid/J&J mfg coupon
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-BOGO Sobe Life Water (Heads or Tails game)
Total $8.04, pay with $7.99 ECBs and $.05 OOP. Earn $2.50 and $2 ECBs.
Total OOP of $5.54 with $4.50 in ECBs remaining for $36.43 in product. Considering net cost of $1.04 (OOP - ECBs remaining), a savings of 97%.
For more $5 Scenarios, check out the CVS $5 Challenge.
Pantry Organization & Giveaway!
You know something that is really disappointing? Finding groceries on a great deal, only to have them expire in the back of your pantry. Likely, you continue to buy that item or a substitute, blissfully unaware that one is in the back of your pantry expiring.
I have a small pantry and the organization of my pantry is a challenge for me. I can clean it out regularly and still, it manages to get messed up and things become hidden. Part of it is everyone looking through the pantry for a snack or dinner or ingredient for dinner and part of it is that desire to sometimes just get the groceries off the counter - not necessarily "put away" just out of the way. Together, these two things lead to my organized pantry quickly becoming a jumbled mess and making it harder to use thing up in a timely manner.
One way to help make sure that I use my groceries up in the order that they were bought (or at least the order that they expire) is to regularly clean out my pantry - but as good as it feels to accomplish, it is just something that I struggle to make the time to complete.
I partially resolved my issues a few years back when I finally located my first canned goods organizer for my pantry. The biggest challenge that I had then was that I only had 6 compartments that could hold cans, so somethings had to be grouped together which meant moving more cans than I like to get to that one thing I wanted. It certainly was leaps beyond what I had before, but still I could use some help.
A few months ago, I learned about Cansolidator from Shelf Reliance. I recently received one to review and let me just say - I love it. As much as I love the other canned goods organizer I have, this one is so much better. One feature that I really like is that the tracks are set up on a bracket that allows you to customize the spacing between tracks. What this allows is the option to allow it to accommodate tuna cans or tomato paste cans or family size cans. This was something my current organizer did not allow. In addition, with the size of the tracks, it is much easier to accommodate larger diameter cans as well. With my first organizer, when I would use it for cans like Progresso soup, they would sometimes hang up in back, but with the Cansolidator, the larger tracks allow this size and larger cans to easily be stored. The height on this organizer is shorter than my old one. This allows me to put the rack directly on my pantry shelf. There is even room above it, where I have placed some boxed goods for easy access. However, if you have the room, the Cansolidator is designed to be stacked one on top of the other or expanded end to end. I love this flexibility. The pantry unit lists a capacity of 40 cans, but really, this will depend a lot on the size of can that you are storing. I'm guessing larger cans won't fit as many. In addition, if you are storing some cans that are smaller, you have the option to purchase an additional track as an accessory to gain an additional row of storage and increasing your capacity.
The Cansolidator was very easy to assemble. Start with the end track and then, using your cans and the numbers on the bracket as a guide, determine where to place the next track. It is all plastic construction and seems very sturdy.
You can see how I am using mine:
I am using it for a lot of my smaller cans - tomato sauce, tomato paste, tuna and then one row of larger soup cans. Since I have another organizer that is working for my small soup cans, as well as for vegetables, beans and canned pasta items, it made sense for me to use this more flexible unit to organize the different sizes. You can see also, that I have room to the right side of mine and could accommodate another row of cans if I purchase an additional track. Right now, I am using this space in my pantry to store peanut butter, since the bracket forces there to be a gap between the right row of cans and the wall - it works for me now, but at some point in the future, I probably will pick up an additional track.
Would you like to have a Cansolidator? You can purchase them from Shelf Reliance - the prices range from $35 - $63 for the Cansolidator Cupboard to Cansolidator Pantry Plus. Right now they are available at a discount of 25% (not sure if this is limited time offer or not, it doesn't say).
Giveaway:
You can also enter to win a Cansolidator Pantry. Shelf Reliance has provided one Cansolidator Pantry for giveaway to one A Busy Mom of Two reader.
To enter - Leave a comment letting me know you would like to win.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Follow A Busy Mom of Two on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. This can be once daily, please be sure to leave a link to the tweet in your comment.
Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your post.
Sign up to receive daily updates. Leave a comment letting me know you subscribe (or that you already do).
Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you did.
Giveaway will remain open until August 26th at 6pm. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
No compensation was received for this post and the opinions are all mine. Shelf Reliance provided one Cansolidator Pantry for my review and another for the giveaway.
I have a small pantry and the organization of my pantry is a challenge for me. I can clean it out regularly and still, it manages to get messed up and things become hidden. Part of it is everyone looking through the pantry for a snack or dinner or ingredient for dinner and part of it is that desire to sometimes just get the groceries off the counter - not necessarily "put away" just out of the way. Together, these two things lead to my organized pantry quickly becoming a jumbled mess and making it harder to use thing up in a timely manner.
One way to help make sure that I use my groceries up in the order that they were bought (or at least the order that they expire) is to regularly clean out my pantry - but as good as it feels to accomplish, it is just something that I struggle to make the time to complete.
I partially resolved my issues a few years back when I finally located my first canned goods organizer for my pantry. The biggest challenge that I had then was that I only had 6 compartments that could hold cans, so somethings had to be grouped together which meant moving more cans than I like to get to that one thing I wanted. It certainly was leaps beyond what I had before, but still I could use some help.
A few months ago, I learned about Cansolidator from Shelf Reliance. I recently received one to review and let me just say - I love it. As much as I love the other canned goods organizer I have, this one is so much better. One feature that I really like is that the tracks are set up on a bracket that allows you to customize the spacing between tracks. What this allows is the option to allow it to accommodate tuna cans or tomato paste cans or family size cans. This was something my current organizer did not allow. In addition, with the size of the tracks, it is much easier to accommodate larger diameter cans as well. With my first organizer, when I would use it for cans like Progresso soup, they would sometimes hang up in back, but with the Cansolidator, the larger tracks allow this size and larger cans to easily be stored. The height on this organizer is shorter than my old one. This allows me to put the rack directly on my pantry shelf. There is even room above it, where I have placed some boxed goods for easy access. However, if you have the room, the Cansolidator is designed to be stacked one on top of the other or expanded end to end. I love this flexibility. The pantry unit lists a capacity of 40 cans, but really, this will depend a lot on the size of can that you are storing. I'm guessing larger cans won't fit as many. In addition, if you are storing some cans that are smaller, you have the option to purchase an additional track as an accessory to gain an additional row of storage and increasing your capacity.
The Cansolidator was very easy to assemble. Start with the end track and then, using your cans and the numbers on the bracket as a guide, determine where to place the next track. It is all plastic construction and seems very sturdy.
You can see how I am using mine:
I am using it for a lot of my smaller cans - tomato sauce, tomato paste, tuna and then one row of larger soup cans. Since I have another organizer that is working for my small soup cans, as well as for vegetables, beans and canned pasta items, it made sense for me to use this more flexible unit to organize the different sizes. You can see also, that I have room to the right side of mine and could accommodate another row of cans if I purchase an additional track. Right now, I am using this space in my pantry to store peanut butter, since the bracket forces there to be a gap between the right row of cans and the wall - it works for me now, but at some point in the future, I probably will pick up an additional track.
Would you like to have a Cansolidator? You can purchase them from Shelf Reliance - the prices range from $35 - $63 for the Cansolidator Cupboard to Cansolidator Pantry Plus. Right now they are available at a discount of 25% (not sure if this is limited time offer or not, it doesn't say).
Giveaway:
You can also enter to win a Cansolidator Pantry. Shelf Reliance has provided one Cansolidator Pantry for giveaway to one A Busy Mom of Two reader.
To enter - Leave a comment letting me know you would like to win.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Giveaway will remain open until August 26th at 6pm. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
No compensation was received for this post and the opinions are all mine. Shelf Reliance provided one Cansolidator Pantry for my review and another for the giveaway.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
CVS Deals - 8/13
I stopped by CVS in the hopes that they had restocked the pencils. Unfortunately, they did not restock. While there, I saw that they had some Sobe on the shelf (vs. refrigerated), so I decided to pick up a few with my rain check from the BOGO sale a few weeks ago.
3 - Dove Candy Bars
4 - Sobe Life Water
1 - J&J Baby Lotion, travel size
2 - Caramels (filler)
-$.79 Dove Candy CRT
-$.79 Dove Candy CRT
-$.79 Dove Candy CRT
-$1.59 Sobe BOGO coupon
-$1.59 Sobe BOGO coupon
-$1 Baby Lotion CRT
Total $.29 OOP. Before adding the two caramels, my total was less than zero. I probably could have found a better filler, but I didn't want to take any more time and it was right there at the register.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
CVS Deals - 8/9
I headed out to CVS early this week, in hopes that I could pick up everything that I wanted. They were out of a few things and only had two packs of pencils. It was also a wise decision because my lunch hours and after work hours turned out to be very busy.
2 - Caliber Pencils 24ct
3 - John Frieda Shampoo/Conditioner/Styler
1 - Dulcolax
1 - Lysol Hands Free Starter
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$3 John Frieda Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Mfg coupon
-$5 Dulcolax Mfg coupon
-$3 Lysol Hands Free mfg coupon
Paid with $10 and $7.99 (adjusted down to $7.98) ECBs and $2.19 OOP (the tax). Earned $5, $9.99, and $5 ECBs, plus the $1 Green Bag Tag ECB.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
2 - Caliber Pencils 24ct
3 - John Frieda Shampoo/Conditioner/Styler
1 - Dulcolax
1 - Lysol Hands Free Starter
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$3 John Frieda Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Mfg coupon
-$5 Dulcolax Mfg coupon
-$3 Lysol Hands Free mfg coupon
Paid with $10 and $7.99 (adjusted down to $7.98) ECBs and $2.19 OOP (the tax). Earned $5, $9.99, and $5 ECBs, plus the $1 Green Bag Tag ECB.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Toys 'R Us Grand Openings - 8/13
As I mentioned in this post, I have partnered with Toys 'R Us to share about the upcoming Grand Opening/Re-Opening events across the country.
This weekend, August 13 - 15, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
Fayetteville, GA
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
This weekend, August 13 - 15, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
Fayetteville, GA
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
Shopping at Club Stores
One of the ways that my family saves money is shopping at club stores. There are a handful of club stores that I am familiar with - Sam's Club, BJs and Costco - which are all local. (well, depends on how you define local - I am at least 45 minutes to an hour away from the nearest Costco).
We have belonged to one warehouse club or another, since we have been married. Our first membership was courtesy of a gift from my company for a successful year. Once we started shopping at the club store, we determined it was a good idea for us and have renewed each year. The club that we join has varied over the years, as our needs and our locations have changed.
As a frugal shopper, and someone who used to keep a price list (too hard to maintain with two kids, now I rely on my knowledge of typical sale prices), I can tell you that not all items at a club store are a good value every day. Some items, like cereal, unless there is a coupon in the monthly mailer or the fliers at the store, typically is a better deal when it is on sale at the grocery or drug store. It definitely pays to check pricing and to make sure that you are getting a value and not to just assume that because it is a big package that it has to be a good deal. We have been known, on non-food items, to look them up on Amazon to check pricing before making a purchase decision (got to love internet capable phones).
There are a few items that are staples of nearly every trip to the club store - tissues, paper towels, trash bags, Parmesan cheese (you should see the size of the container!) and Skittles (for my husband to enjoy while watching movies in his media room). These are things that we use regularly and we have found that with the club store prices and the coupons provided monthly by the club, that these are good values. Other things that we buy there on a regular basis include fruit cups, premade hamburger patties, Bagel Bites, and air dusters.
When the kids were younger, we bought diapers and wipes almost exclusively at the club store. We found that their deals were typically the best (of course, this was before I was familiar with the Drug Store game, so maybe my perspective would be different?). At the time, we belonged to a club that took manufacturer coupons for the items in addition to their store coupons, with stacking the coupons it helped make the deals even better. We even found that we liked the store brand diapers and if there weren't any deals on the branded diapers, we would pick those up.
There are many other items, besides food and personal care items, that you can get a good deal on at the club stores. We have picked up coats, sweats, shirts, shoes, socks, pajamas, books, toys, and more while shopping. We even found an end of season clearance section on our last visit, allowing us to save even more. Their greeting cards are offered at a discount every day. Their DVDs and music, as well as electronics, usually seem to be offered at a good price, especially when matched with a coupon from their flier. In addition, my daughter loves to dress her dolly in matching outfits and we have had pretty good luck finding "dolly and me" clothes at the club store.
Our club store offers discounted gasoline as well. Unfortunately, it used to be a much better deal - now, sometimes it is the same price as local stations and sometimes it is just a few cents cheaper. If it is cheaper, we fill up - even a few pennies a gallon can make a difference.
My kids don't mind shopping at the club store either. They like to look at all the different stuff, and of course, they love to try the samples.
We don't shop there weekly by any means (although if the store were closer, I might stop in more frequently). Typically, we go every 4 to 6 weeks. We tend to only head out when we are almost out of something or as we prepare for an event. Right now, we are planning a trip in preparation for my son's birthday party and an upcoming fantasy football draft. We need some hamburgers, some snacks, and probably some plastic flatware (although I have a friend that keeps a tin full of traditional flatware that she pulls out for family events and parties - I think that might be my next step in being more green and frugal).
This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday.
(do you shop at Sam's? Enter to win a $25 gift card here)
We have belonged to one warehouse club or another, since we have been married. Our first membership was courtesy of a gift from my company for a successful year. Once we started shopping at the club store, we determined it was a good idea for us and have renewed each year. The club that we join has varied over the years, as our needs and our locations have changed.
As a frugal shopper, and someone who used to keep a price list (too hard to maintain with two kids, now I rely on my knowledge of typical sale prices), I can tell you that not all items at a club store are a good value every day. Some items, like cereal, unless there is a coupon in the monthly mailer or the fliers at the store, typically is a better deal when it is on sale at the grocery or drug store. It definitely pays to check pricing and to make sure that you are getting a value and not to just assume that because it is a big package that it has to be a good deal. We have been known, on non-food items, to look them up on Amazon to check pricing before making a purchase decision (got to love internet capable phones).
There are a few items that are staples of nearly every trip to the club store - tissues, paper towels, trash bags, Parmesan cheese (you should see the size of the container!) and Skittles (for my husband to enjoy while watching movies in his media room). These are things that we use regularly and we have found that with the club store prices and the coupons provided monthly by the club, that these are good values. Other things that we buy there on a regular basis include fruit cups, premade hamburger patties, Bagel Bites, and air dusters.
When the kids were younger, we bought diapers and wipes almost exclusively at the club store. We found that their deals were typically the best (of course, this was before I was familiar with the Drug Store game, so maybe my perspective would be different?). At the time, we belonged to a club that took manufacturer coupons for the items in addition to their store coupons, with stacking the coupons it helped make the deals even better. We even found that we liked the store brand diapers and if there weren't any deals on the branded diapers, we would pick those up.
There are many other items, besides food and personal care items, that you can get a good deal on at the club stores. We have picked up coats, sweats, shirts, shoes, socks, pajamas, books, toys, and more while shopping. We even found an end of season clearance section on our last visit, allowing us to save even more. Their greeting cards are offered at a discount every day. Their DVDs and music, as well as electronics, usually seem to be offered at a good price, especially when matched with a coupon from their flier. In addition, my daughter loves to dress her dolly in matching outfits and we have had pretty good luck finding "dolly and me" clothes at the club store.
Our club store offers discounted gasoline as well. Unfortunately, it used to be a much better deal - now, sometimes it is the same price as local stations and sometimes it is just a few cents cheaper. If it is cheaper, we fill up - even a few pennies a gallon can make a difference.
My kids don't mind shopping at the club store either. They like to look at all the different stuff, and of course, they love to try the samples.
We don't shop there weekly by any means (although if the store were closer, I might stop in more frequently). Typically, we go every 4 to 6 weeks. We tend to only head out when we are almost out of something or as we prepare for an event. Right now, we are planning a trip in preparation for my son's birthday party and an upcoming fantasy football draft. We need some hamburgers, some snacks, and probably some plastic flatware (although I have a friend that keeps a tin full of traditional flatware that she pulls out for family events and parties - I think that might be my next step in being more green and frugal).
This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday.
(do you shop at Sam's? Enter to win a $25 gift card here)
Box Tops for Education
Founded in 1996, Box Tops for Education allows you to help support your school by helping them earn money that they can use for books, computers, playground equipment and more. For each Box Tops for Education that you clip (and submit) your school earns 10₵. I started clipping Box Tops for Education years ago, my daycare collects them and my son's elementary school collects them too.
As we start to get ready for the new year, one of my son's tasks is to take the collection of Box Tops for Education that we tore off of packages all summer long and clip them neatly to take into school on the first day. This past Sunday, our paper bag included a collection bag with a zipper closure for Box Tops for Education.
You may feel that earning 10₵ per product is a slow way to build towards the $20,000 a year that your school can earn, but every little bit helps and there are ways to earn more. Right now, through August 13th, upgrade your Sam's Club Membership to a "Plus Membership" and upon payment you will receive a certificate for 150 Bonus Box Tops (while supplies last, see the Member Services Desk for more information). In addition, when you shop at Sam's Club Back-to-School event, you can get a head start on your collection and find 6 Box Tops on participating General Mills products.
My family purchases a number of brands that participate in Box Tops - Cheerios (and many other General Mills Cereals), Kleenex, Cottonelle, Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks and more. For these and many other items, we find that buying in bulk at a club store, like Sam's Club, provides us with a good value compared to other stores. In addition, with the Plus Membership, you can also participate in their eValues program (offers for additional savings on products and services in Club), where savings are loaded to your card and redeemed at check out.
Giveaway
One lucky A Busy Mom of Two winner has the opportunity to win a $25 Gift Card to Sam's Club, courtesy of General Mills, Sam's Club and MyBlogSpark.
To enter - Leave a comment sharing which General Mills Box Tops items you plan to purchase during the Sam’s Club Back-To-School Event.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)
Giveaway will remain open until August 19th at 6pm. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.
No compensation was received for this post. Sam’s Club and General Mills provided me with the upgrade to a Sam’s Club Plus Membership, a gift card for my use, information, and a giftcard for the giveaway through MyBlogSpark.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Mamavation Monday
Well, last week I shared how reading a post on Money Saving Mom helped me identify something that had changed in my attitude and approach to eating and "splurging". I tried hard this past week to put things back into the right gear. I had a pool party, family wedding, family picnic and more than a couple of meals out over the past week, but I am glad to say that I reported a weight loss at my Weight Watcher's meeting this week. It wasn't a big loss, but it was a loss. Not only was it a loss, last week I weighed in before dinner and this week after, so it makes it even a little bit better.
I tried Jillian Michael's Shred DVD out last week. A friend had lent me her copy to try, so I squeezed it into my regular workout routine. I think I could enjoy it as a short workout option, for those days where I don't have a full hour or more. I might try her 30 day program after I finish P90X this time. See if it makes a difference - besides, isn't that part of the P90X philosophy - muscle confusion.
I had planned to return to P90X, recovery week of Phase 2 this week, but yesterday at some point, I must have sat or moved or stepped or done something that has my right quad (lower portion only) in pain. I can't decide what it is. It hurts to bend it. I have been trying to stretch it all day. When I have been doing a lot of walking, it feels better, but once I am sitting for a little while, it gets really tight and painful. I'm not really sure how to handle it. I am thinking I might try the X Stretch workout tomorrow, just to see if I can through a series of different stretches, make a difference. If that doesn't work, I'm not sure what to do. thoughts?
I am ready to face another week and hope to be successful again in obtaining my goal of moving in the right direction.
This post shared at Mamavation Monday, which is sponsored by Lori @gutimom. She is giving away lots of different Avon products and I am entering for a chance to win by linking up this post.
I tried Jillian Michael's Shred DVD out last week. A friend had lent me her copy to try, so I squeezed it into my regular workout routine. I think I could enjoy it as a short workout option, for those days where I don't have a full hour or more. I might try her 30 day program after I finish P90X this time. See if it makes a difference - besides, isn't that part of the P90X philosophy - muscle confusion.
I had planned to return to P90X, recovery week of Phase 2 this week, but yesterday at some point, I must have sat or moved or stepped or done something that has my right quad (lower portion only) in pain. I can't decide what it is. It hurts to bend it. I have been trying to stretch it all day. When I have been doing a lot of walking, it feels better, but once I am sitting for a little while, it gets really tight and painful. I'm not really sure how to handle it. I am thinking I might try the X Stretch workout tomorrow, just to see if I can through a series of different stretches, make a difference. If that doesn't work, I'm not sure what to do. thoughts?
I am ready to face another week and hope to be successful again in obtaining my goal of moving in the right direction.
This post shared at Mamavation Monday, which is sponsored by Lori @gutimom. She is giving away lots of different Avon products and I am entering for a chance to win by linking up this post.
Kroger Deals - 8/7
This weekend, Kroger was having a huge 50% off sale on General Mills and Quaker products (there was a select list included, but many items). When I saw the ad, I knew I should go. I still had some Kroger gift cards that I had planned to use many time, but hadn't had a chance to get there. Of course, since I didn't know about the sale ahead of time, I didn't really have a chance to see if there were any good IPs to use on the sale - I am sure that there were. I had some coupons, but didn't use a coupon for every item like I probably could have with IPs.
I failed to take a picture, so visualize if you will:
2 - Quaker Capn' Crunch
1 - Quaker Cinnamon Life
4 - Lucky Charms
1 - Cinnamon Toast Crunch
2 - Cheerios
2 - Nut Clusters, Almond
4 - Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks (Gushers/Roll-ups/Fruit by the Foot)
-$.75 $.75/2 Nut Clusters Mfg coupon
-$.25 double
-$.50 Cheerios mfg coupon
-$.50 double
-$.50 Cheerios mfg coupon
-$.50 double
-$1 $1/2 GM Cereals mfg coupon
Total $22.63 OOP (of course, it was all gift cards, so that pretty much equals FREE!). Not too bad for 10 boxes of cereal, 28 servings of fruit snacks, and 2 bags of nuts.
Now, the Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch were big boxes, the Lucky Charms were smaller. While we were selecting our cereals, a guy walked by and advised that the smaller boxes of Lucky Charms were part of a Catalina deal where you get $4 OYNO when you buy four. This made them a better deal than the larger box I started with and I actually did two separate transactions to use the $4 coupon for part of what I bought. I just wish I had had more coupons for any General Mills Cereal.
Of course, if I had had more coupons, I might have been tempted to buy more and I'm not sure where I would have stored it. My overflow pantry in my basement is already full, so these 10 boxes of cereal are sitting in the box I grabbed from the sale display on top of a tote of clothes in the basement. My husband thinks we need a new storage system to hold everything better - the repurposed entertainment center just isn't doing it.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
I failed to take a picture, so visualize if you will:
2 - Quaker Capn' Crunch
1 - Quaker Cinnamon Life
4 - Lucky Charms
1 - Cinnamon Toast Crunch
2 - Cheerios
2 - Nut Clusters, Almond
4 - Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks (Gushers/Roll-ups/Fruit by the Foot)
-$.75 $.75/2 Nut Clusters Mfg coupon
-$.25 double
-$.50 Cheerios mfg coupon
-$.50 double
-$.50 Cheerios mfg coupon
-$.50 double
-$1 $1/2 GM Cereals mfg coupon
Total $22.63 OOP (of course, it was all gift cards, so that pretty much equals FREE!). Not too bad for 10 boxes of cereal, 28 servings of fruit snacks, and 2 bags of nuts.
Now, the Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch were big boxes, the Lucky Charms were smaller. While we were selecting our cereals, a guy walked by and advised that the smaller boxes of Lucky Charms were part of a Catalina deal where you get $4 OYNO when you buy four. This made them a better deal than the larger box I started with and I actually did two separate transactions to use the $4 coupon for part of what I bought. I just wish I had had more coupons for any General Mills Cereal.
Of course, if I had had more coupons, I might have been tempted to buy more and I'm not sure where I would have stored it. My overflow pantry in my basement is already full, so these 10 boxes of cereal are sitting in the box I grabbed from the sale display on top of a tote of clothes in the basement. My husband thinks we need a new storage system to hold everything better - the repurposed entertainment center just isn't doing it.
This post shared at Super Savings Saturday.
CVS Scenarios - week of 8/8
I can't say that there are many deals that make me want to rush out to CVS this week. I likely will pick up a few things, because I have found a set of deals that works out to be a little better than free. I have some high value ECBs, so I plan to group them into one transaction to use those ECBs.
I wound up not getting back last week, which is probably just as well, I am pretty well stocked on BandAids, I just felt the price was right if I could have found the first aid kits to use in the deal.
4 - Caliber #2 Pencils (24ct)
1 - Lysol Healthy Touch
3 - John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo/Conditioner/Styler
1 - Dulcolax
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$3 Lysol Healthy Touch Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$5 Dulcolax mfg coupon (from All You, May 10; alternatively there was a $3 coupon in Sunday's paper)
Total $17.98 (I have a $10 and a $7.99 ECB) OOP, earn $5, $5, and $9.99 ECBs. A "profit" of $2.01 in ECBs.
Now, I might also add in the Pilot G2 Pens, they are on sale BOGO and I have two $1/1 IP from a few weeks back. The other thing that I will check out is the Colgate BOGO, which includes the children's toothpaste. My kids are not fans of mint toothpaste, so when I can get a good deal on the children's flavors, I try to get those. I have an assortment of $.50 and $1 mfg coupons for the Colgate toothpaste, need to find out which ones will work for the children's toothpaste.
For more deals and scenarios, check out Deal Seeking Mom and Money Saving Mom.
CVS $5 Challenge
Transaction $1
1 - Dulcolax
-$5 Dulcolax mfg coupon
Total $4.99, earn $9.99 ECBs.
Transaction #2
1 - Lysol Healthy Touch
1 - John Frieda Root Awakening
4 - Caliber #2 Pencils
1 - Ice Breakers Ice Cubes Gum (filler)
-$3 Lysol Healthy Touch Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Total $9.98, pay with $9.99 ECB adjusted down. Earn $5 ECB.
Transaction #3
2 - John Frieda Root Awakening
1 - Ice Breakers Ice Cubes Gum
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
Total $4.99, pay with $5 ECB adjusted down. Earn $5 ECBs.
Total OOP for the three transactions is $4.99, with $5 ECBs to roll.
Here is what I love, above are two ways to buy the same things (add the gum to the first scenario and it becomes break even as well) depending on where you start with ECBs. You get $36.98 ($38.96 if you add in the gum) in product for a "profit" of $2.01 in ECBs (or "free" if you add in the gum).
For more $5 Scenarios, check out the CVS $5 Challenge.
I wound up not getting back last week, which is probably just as well, I am pretty well stocked on BandAids, I just felt the price was right if I could have found the first aid kits to use in the deal.
4 - Caliber #2 Pencils (24ct)
1 - Lysol Healthy Touch
3 - John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo/Conditioner/Styler
1 - Dulcolax
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$3 Lysol Healthy Touch Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$5 Dulcolax mfg coupon (from All You, May 10; alternatively there was a $3 coupon in Sunday's paper)
Total $17.98 (I have a $10 and a $7.99 ECB) OOP, earn $5, $5, and $9.99 ECBs. A "profit" of $2.01 in ECBs.
Now, I might also add in the Pilot G2 Pens, they are on sale BOGO and I have two $1/1 IP from a few weeks back. The other thing that I will check out is the Colgate BOGO, which includes the children's toothpaste. My kids are not fans of mint toothpaste, so when I can get a good deal on the children's flavors, I try to get those. I have an assortment of $.50 and $1 mfg coupons for the Colgate toothpaste, need to find out which ones will work for the children's toothpaste.
For more deals and scenarios, check out Deal Seeking Mom and Money Saving Mom.
CVS $5 Challenge
Transaction $1
1 - Dulcolax
-$5 Dulcolax mfg coupon
Total $4.99, earn $9.99 ECBs.
Transaction #2
1 - Lysol Healthy Touch
1 - John Frieda Root Awakening
4 - Caliber #2 Pencils
1 - Ice Breakers Ice Cubes Gum (filler)
-$3 Lysol Healthy Touch Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
-$1 $1/2 Caliber CRT
Total $9.98, pay with $9.99 ECB adjusted down. Earn $5 ECB.
Transaction #3
2 - John Frieda Root Awakening
1 - Ice Breakers Ice Cubes Gum
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
-$3 John Frieda Root Awakening Mfg coupon
Total $4.99, pay with $5 ECB adjusted down. Earn $5 ECBs.
Total OOP for the three transactions is $4.99, with $5 ECBs to roll.
Here is what I love, above are two ways to buy the same things (add the gum to the first scenario and it becomes break even as well) depending on where you start with ECBs. You get $36.98 ($38.96 if you add in the gum) in product for a "profit" of $2.01 in ECBs (or "free" if you add in the gum).
For more $5 Scenarios, check out the CVS $5 Challenge.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Menu Plan Monday
What a busy few weeks we have had! Two weeks ago, we took some time to head out to Geauga Lake for the day. It was a blast, except I got burnt. It figures - I spend my day making sure everyone applies and reapplies their sunscreen and somehow, when I did my back with the spray, I must have missed some areas and I never bothered to reapply. I'm peeling now. This past weekend was filled with family fun. We took a long weekend, enjoyed lunch with my brother and his family, as well as my parents on Friday. Went to a pool party at my Aunt's house, thrown by my cousin who was in town from NYC. Then, on Saturday, we went to a family wedding (Dad's side) and had a great time. My daughter couldn't get enough of dancing. Then, on Sunday, we had a family picnic (Mom's side) at the community park. Again, the kids had a great time playing with cousins and extended family and enjoying a picnic at the park.
Weeknights have been filled with sports and meetings for the past two weeks. Dinner planning has fallen by the wayside and my lack of creativity when I don't plan is awful. This week, I have planned my menu and that should at least make the evenings go a little smoother.
Turkey is on our menu a few times again this week - Turkey Roast on Tuesday, Turkey Sausage on Wednesday and ground turkey in our taco meat on Friday.
Sunday
cereal
family picnic
dinner out at our favorite local Mexican restaurant
Monday
Homemade Pizza
Tuesday
Turkey Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday
Pierogie and Turkey Sausage
Thursday
Pizza
Friday
Tacos
Saturday
cereal
sandwiches
Penne Cardinale
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
Weeknights have been filled with sports and meetings for the past two weeks. Dinner planning has fallen by the wayside and my lack of creativity when I don't plan is awful. This week, I have planned my menu and that should at least make the evenings go a little smoother.
Turkey is on our menu a few times again this week - Turkey Roast on Tuesday, Turkey Sausage on Wednesday and ground turkey in our taco meat on Friday.
Sunday
cereal
family picnic
dinner out at our favorite local Mexican restaurant
Monday
Homemade Pizza
Tuesday
Turkey Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday
Pierogie and Turkey Sausage
Thursday
Pizza
Friday
Tacos
Saturday
cereal
sandwiches
Penne Cardinale
Weekdays breakfast is at daycare for my daughter, the rest of us eat cold cereal, frozen waffles, oatmeal, toast or whatever strikes our fancy. Lunch we pack, usually leftovers for me.
Check out other menu plans for the week at Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.
Friday, August 6, 2010
CVS Deals - 8/3
I've made a few failed attempts at shopping at CVS this week. I made a purchase on one trip and got a rain check for Sobe on another. I hope to get to one more store to see if they have some things in stock. I would like to do the BandAid/J&J deal, but I really want to use three of the first aid kits and two packs of BandAids to do it. Problem is, everyone has been out of the first aid kits. Everyone is also out of the Sobe. One store told me that someone came in and bought two cases before it was even put on shelf.
On the trip where I did buy, I was taking advantage of the $4.99 sale price on Boost and a buy 4 get 1 free CRT that I had. I just wish that I had printed more than one of the $3 off coupons for Boost from Coupons.com when they were available. Luckily, there are Peelies on the cartons I purchased.
5 - Boost High Protein
2 - Sobe Life Water
-$4.99 Buy 4 get 1 CRT
-$3 Boost IP (no longer available)
-$1.50 Boost Peelie
-$1.50 Boost Peelie
-$1.50 Boost Peelie
-$1.50 Boost Peelie
-$1.59 Sobe BOGO IP (Heads or Tails game)
Total $11.07 OOP. I didn't have ECBs with me, or I could have used those. I don't think this was too bad - the regular shelf price on the Boost is $8.99 and I got 5 for about $2.20 each. I use the Boost High Protein as my protein shake after my workout. I generally add some fiber powder to it and throw it in my freezer for about an hour. When I pull it out, it is a little slushy and super cold. It is tasty, convenient and helps give me the protein that I need while doing P90X.
Samples and Freebies
Requested:
Cheetos Zingers samples
Post-It Super Sticky Notes free sample
Received:
slow week at the mailbox...okay, not entirely true - my mailbox was busy, just not with samples and freebies.
Cheetos Zingers samples
Post-It Super Sticky Notes free sample
Received:
slow week at the mailbox...okay, not entirely true - my mailbox was busy, just not with samples and freebies.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Banquet Fruit Pies Winners!
Congratulations to Janelle, Sable, and Tracy - they were the winners of the Banquet Fruit Pie coupons.
An e-mail will be sent to the winners.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out my other giveaways.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
28
11
2
Timestamp: 2010-08-06 02:45:13 UTC
An e-mail will be sent to the winners.
Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out my other giveaways.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
28
11
2
Timestamp: 2010-08-06 02:45:13 UTC
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Toys 'R Us Grand Openings - 8/6
As I mentioned in this post, I have partnered with Toys 'R Us to share about the upcoming Grand Opening/Re-Opening events across the country.
This weekend, August 6 - 8, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
West Mifflin, PA
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
This weekend, August 6 - 8, there is one store that will be having their Grand Opening/Re-Opening events.
West Mifflin, PA
Remember the first 100 shoppers on Friday morning (@ 9:30 am) of the Grand Opening/Re-Opening weekend will receive a gift bag valued at $100. You can head to the Grand Opening/Re-Opening site to print off your 'secret coupon' which could be good for 15%, 20% or 50% off any single item - your discount can be revealed when you shop on Grand Opening/Re-Opening Weekend.
No compensation was received for this post.
Canned Goods Rack
This is in part an encore post about one of my favorite kitchen organization tools (originally posted in September of 2008):
When we moved into our house a few years back, the one thing that I was glad to gain was a pantry in the kitchen. At our last house, we had used a closet in our basement to store extra food items. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that the wire rack shelving that seems to be used so universally in the pantries and closets of newer construction is not at all suited for holding significant numbers of cans. At least not with the configuration that I have that only has side supports due to the relatively small size of the pantry. To combat this, I found myself organizing my shelves with cans lining the three wall sides and then filling the middle with other "lighter" stuff. Unfortunately, this way of organizing resulted in me double stacking cans and made locating items more challenging. I would lose product in my pantry and find it only after it expired. This just wasn't working for me, there had to be a better way to organize the cans in my pantry so that I could find them and use them on a first in first out basis.
I wanted something that would allow me to organize my cans where they would be easily accessible. As I thought about possible solutions, I decided that the racks that Campbell's Soup was displayed in on shelf was exactly what I needed to help me organize my pantry. I figured that something like that would be easy to find. I searched high and low for something that I could purchase. I tried a number of racks, including both wire and plastic soda can organizers, but nothing worked for canned vegetables. I even contacted Campbell's directly to see if I could either order through them or if they could put me in contact with a supplier. All to no avail.
Then, one day, I found it. I found it on QVC.com (it's no longer available, but I read on to learn about a similar item I have recently found). It has plastic rails with metal connection rods. It was a little more money than I had hoped to spend, but I decided to maximize my shipping dollar and to allow for more storage, I would get two racks. This turned out to be a great idea on my part, because when I received the racks, I discovered that when you bought two you could use the enclosed connection rods to connect the two racks, creating a "third" rack between the two I had purchased. The two racks I had purchased were perfectly sized for a standard vegetable can (and canned pasta, beans, tomatoes, etc) and the additional rack created with the connection rods is the perfect size for soup cans. Actually, if I had bought the third rack, I would then be able to have five "racks". The modularity is a very nice feature.
Each rack has two sections, one inside the other, so it allows for the storage of a lot of cans. I keep vegetables in one section, beans in one, tomatoes in one and canned pasta meals in one. I have two sections for soup, which I have split between eating soups and cooking soups. It is a great organization tool. Since you load the cans from the top and remove them from the bottom, it helps to make sure that we are using the oldest product first.
I keep the rack on the floor, it is much too heavy to put on a shelf. This required me to relocate things like soda that I had previously stored on the floor of the pantry, but freed up some additional space for me on the shelves. I still struggle to keep the balance of the pantry organized, but my cans are always in order.
As I mentioned earlier, I recently found another Canned Goods Organizer - the Cansolidator. I am really excited about this line of organizers. It has added flexibility that my current organizer does not have. It comes in multiple sizes - from cupboard to pantry plus. The Pantry size accommodates different types of cans - from tuna cans to 30 oz cans (my current one only works for soup cans and vegetable cans). I am excited to let you know that I will soon be doing a review and giveaway of the Cansolidator. (I had hoped to have it in time for this post, but since it is not here yet, you will have to watch for the giveaway over the next few days.)
Organizing my cans works for me!
This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.
When we moved into our house a few years back, the one thing that I was glad to gain was a pantry in the kitchen. At our last house, we had used a closet in our basement to store extra food items. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that the wire rack shelving that seems to be used so universally in the pantries and closets of newer construction is not at all suited for holding significant numbers of cans. At least not with the configuration that I have that only has side supports due to the relatively small size of the pantry. To combat this, I found myself organizing my shelves with cans lining the three wall sides and then filling the middle with other "lighter" stuff. Unfortunately, this way of organizing resulted in me double stacking cans and made locating items more challenging. I would lose product in my pantry and find it only after it expired. This just wasn't working for me, there had to be a better way to organize the cans in my pantry so that I could find them and use them on a first in first out basis.
I wanted something that would allow me to organize my cans where they would be easily accessible. As I thought about possible solutions, I decided that the racks that Campbell's Soup was displayed in on shelf was exactly what I needed to help me organize my pantry. I figured that something like that would be easy to find. I searched high and low for something that I could purchase. I tried a number of racks, including both wire and plastic soda can organizers, but nothing worked for canned vegetables. I even contacted Campbell's directly to see if I could either order through them or if they could put me in contact with a supplier. All to no avail.
Then, one day, I found it. I found it on QVC.com (it's no longer available, but I read on to learn about a similar item I have recently found). It has plastic rails with metal connection rods. It was a little more money than I had hoped to spend, but I decided to maximize my shipping dollar and to allow for more storage, I would get two racks. This turned out to be a great idea on my part, because when I received the racks, I discovered that when you bought two you could use the enclosed connection rods to connect the two racks, creating a "third" rack between the two I had purchased. The two racks I had purchased were perfectly sized for a standard vegetable can (and canned pasta, beans, tomatoes, etc) and the additional rack created with the connection rods is the perfect size for soup cans. Actually, if I had bought the third rack, I would then be able to have five "racks". The modularity is a very nice feature.
Each rack has two sections, one inside the other, so it allows for the storage of a lot of cans. I keep vegetables in one section, beans in one, tomatoes in one and canned pasta meals in one. I have two sections for soup, which I have split between eating soups and cooking soups. It is a great organization tool. Since you load the cans from the top and remove them from the bottom, it helps to make sure that we are using the oldest product first.
I keep the rack on the floor, it is much too heavy to put on a shelf. This required me to relocate things like soda that I had previously stored on the floor of the pantry, but freed up some additional space for me on the shelves. I still struggle to keep the balance of the pantry organized, but my cans are always in order.
As I mentioned earlier, I recently found another Canned Goods Organizer - the Cansolidator. I am really excited about this line of organizers. It has added flexibility that my current organizer does not have. It comes in multiple sizes - from cupboard to pantry plus. The Pantry size accommodates different types of cans - from tuna cans to 30 oz cans (my current one only works for soup cans and vegetable cans). I am excited to let you know that I will soon be doing a review and giveaway of the Cansolidator. (I had hoped to have it in time for this post, but since it is not here yet, you will have to watch for the giveaway over the next few days.)
Organizing my cans works for me!
This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.