Book Review: Start! The Bible for New Believers (NKJV)

I recently received a copy of Start! The Bible for New Believers (New King James Version) through BookSneeze. If you’ve been following my blog, you probably already know that BookSneeze is a program that provides free books to bloggers in exchange for honest reviews.

The Start! Bible, edited by Greg Laurie, is specifically designed for new Christians and it has some great features, including introductions for every chapter and small sections titled Live, Learn, Know, and Grow throughout. As described on the back cover: Live messages focus on various aspects of salvation, Learn notes provide mini-commentaries on key passages for spiritual growth, Know articles expose the core beliefs of Christians, and Grow entries reveal the key disciplines of the Christian life. I found that these sections really enhanced the Bible reading experience and helped me to have a better understanding of the scriptures. Additionally, Start! begins with a short section about the plan of salvation, followed by Greg Laurie’s “Secrets to Spiritual Success”, both of which would be quite useful to a beginner and great refreshers for those of us who are not new to the faith. Rounding out the special features is, of course, an extensive topical index.

The language of the New King James Version is easier to understand than that of the old English found in KJV, although personally I still prefer the New International Version. However, aside from my own personal translation preferences, I think this really is a great Bible. As I hinted at earlier, despite being aimed at new believers Start! could also be quite useful to the seasoned Christian looking for a fresh perspective. The structure is similar to that of the NIV Study Bible, but it provides new insight in its chapter introductions and offers a lot of great hints on how to apply Biblical principles to your life in the Live, Learn, Know, and Grow messages. Whether you’re just starting out on your walk with Jesus or you’ve been getting to know Him for years, this Bible is definitely worth checking out.

Free download: Veggie Tales The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree

If you've got little ones, you'll want to head over to Amazon.com for this great freebie! It popped up in my gold box yesterday, and it's definitely legit. The entire Veggie Tales mp3 album, The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree, is completely free. I don't know how long the price will stay at $0.00, so get it while you can!

Stocking Your Kids' "Dress Up" Box

Right now is a great time to pick up some "dress up" clothes for your kids! Today is the last day Target will be selling Halloween products, and all costumes left are 90% off. Pickings are slim, but if you're willing to sift through you may find a gem. Also, as of last night Walmart (in Latham) still had plenty of costumes left, all at 75% off. I was quite surprised at the selection available! Even if your kids are too young to enjoy playing make believe, it's never too early to start stocking up for the future at a great price. Happy saving! :)

Book Review: Cast of Characters from the writings of Max Lucado

I recently had the privilege of reading Cast of Characters, from the writings of Max Lucado. I received the book through a program called BookSneeze that provides bloggers with free books in exchange for honest reviews. The description on the cover reads “Common people in the hands of an uncommon God.” Basically, this book is a compilation of stories from several books by Max Lucado. Each chapter is about a different biblical character and illustrates not only how God used these common people for his purposes, but also tells of what these people would look like in modern day.

While the majority of the chapters tell of people most of us are familiar with (Job, Paul, and Lazarus to name a few), one of my favorites was about the lesser known Jairus, from Luke 8:41-56. Oh, everyone knows about his daughter, whom Jesus raised from the dead, but this story is about Jairus. A leader of the synagogue who begged Jesus to heal his little girl, Lucado compares him to a modern day church leader. “The kind of man you would find leading a prayer at the football game or serving as president of the Lion’s Club…He was a good man. His marriage wasn’t all it could be, but it was better than most. His church was full. His name was respected.” I felt a connection to this man that I never had just skimming through his story in Luke. He is brought to life in a whole new way by his story in this book, as are all the others who are part of this Cast of Characters.

$10 off $20 at Sears

This is a great coupon! Get $10 off any $20+ apparel purchase at Sears. This coupon is valid on regular, sale, AND clearance priced merchandise! My husband and I were there yesterday and were able to get our daughter the Christmas dress pictured for only $11. Originally priced at $36, the dress was on sale for 60% off, which made it $21, and then we were able to use this coupon to get another $10 off the sale price. There are some great sales in every department right now, but hurry because this coupon is only valid through tomorrow (10/23)!

Boca Java Fall Flavors - 2 bags of coffee for $3!

I love getting great deals on coffee! Boca Java is offering free shipping today only (Wed. 9/29) in honor of National Coffee Day. In addition, you can use coupon code cheggoff to get $10 off your order. The Fall Flavor Duo is currently on sale for $12.95, making it only $2.95 for 2 bags of coffee after discount! (Please note that you may be charged sales tax depending on where you live. My order total came to $3.72 thanks to sky high NY taxes.) Hurry - I don't think supplies will last long!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

50% off a 1/2 hour massage at Metro Spa & Salon

The current Albany offer at Seize the Deal is a half hour massage for $25 at Metro Spa & Salon. These are normally $50, so that's half price! One per person, for more details check out the info at Seize the Deal.

$5 off coupon

Here's another great Price Chopper deal: if you didn't already "like" Price Chopper on Facebook the last time this deal came around, do so now! Fans can click on the "coupon" tab to print a coupon good for $5 off any 10 store brand items. If you buy yogurt, cans of soup, or some other items priced around 50 cents you'll be able to get 10 things for free or almost free! Coupon expires Saturday, 8/21/10.

(Thanks, Wicked Cool Deals!)

Free cupcake at Price Chopper

Today only (Wednesday, 8/18/10), you can get a free cupcake at Price Chopper! Click here to print this coupon and then bring it in to get your choice of a yellow, red velvet, or chocolate cupcake from the bakery. Yummy!

(Thanks, Savings and Stewardship!)

$10 off $10 at Famous Footwear

Famous Footwear is offering an exclusive coupon for Facebook "likers". Head on over and "like" their Facebook page; under the "ExclusiveOffer" tab you'll be able to print a coupon for $10 off any purchase of $10 or more. This offer is redeemable in stores and should make for pretty cheap shoes if you shop the clearance racks and/or flip flop section. This offer expires Monday (July 12), so get yourself to the mall ASAP!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

$1.50 slice of cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory

This deal is just too yummy not to post! Head over to Facebook and "like" the Cheesecake Factory. Click "Get Your Invitation" to print your invite to enjoy a heavenly slice of cheesecake for only $1.50! Your printed invitation will be valid on Thursday, July 29 when dining in. While the entrees can be a bit pricey, they are very large portions and plenty big for sharing. Considering the fact that the price for cheesecake is generally $6 or $7 per slice (and the food is amazing), this is a really great deal!

If you cannot make it to the restaurant on July 29 to get your $1.50 slice, please note that on National Cheesecake Day, Friday July 30, cheesecake slices will be half price! I may just stop back for a second piece - I love to save some to have with my morning coffee. :)

Free Redbox Rental Code Today Only

Today (6/21) only, "like" Redbox on Facebook and under the "Fan Freebie" tab you can receive a code good for a free one night rental, which expires tonight at midnight. Return the movie tomorrow and the credit or debit card you used to get the movie will not be charged a penny!

(Thanks, The Thrifty Mama!)

Free Taco Bell Limeade Sparkler and Margarita Frutista Freeze

If you got a newspaper today (Sunday, June 6), be sure to check out your RedPlum coupon insert. Many areas received RedPlum inserts containing a page of Taco Bell coupons for free Limeade Sparklers and Margarita Frutista Freezes.One coupon for each is no purchase necessary! Yum :)

Photo credit: Mojo Savings

Starbucks VIA Free Sample

Yes! The latest Walmart.com sample has to be one of the best (in my opinion) that I've seen yet. Sign up now to receive your free sample of Starbucks VIA instant coffee. Mmm how I love my coffee!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Cottonelle Samples

Walmart.com is currently offering samples of Cottonelle Ultra toilet paper and Cottonelle Fresh wipes.

(Thanks, Moms by Heart!)

$10 off $10 at JCPenney.com

Head over to JCPenney.com and use code DADROCKS to get $10 off any purchase of $10 of more. If you can find something for just about $10 then you'll just have to pay for shipping!

(Thanks, The Thrifty Mama!)

Family Time Challenge

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. My family headed to Vermont for a weekend of camping - so much fun! I would like to begin by apologizing for the lack of posts in the past week. I am making it my goal this summer to limit my internet usage to only times when my daughter is sleeping. I don't want to miss out on her infant and toddler years because I was too wrapped up in my laptop! Unfortunately, between housework and sorting through e-mails, this leaves little time for blogging.

While I have absolutely no intention of shutting this blog down, my readers will definitely notice fewer posts. If you haven't already, be sure to "like" Mommy Saving Info on Facebook if you would prefer to have my posts show up on your wall rather than checking back here every day.

As a personal challenge to my readers, I would like to invite you to join me in my quest to devote more time to my family. Would your children benefit from having your full attention more often? Perhaps it's not the internet getting in the way of your quality time - maybe it's TV, or even books. Whatever it is, I challenge you not to miss out on anything this summer and to enjoy your family to the fullest. Who's with me?

Book Review: Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge

I recently received a copy of the revised and expanded edition of Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge from BookSneeze, a program that provides bloggers with free books in exchange for honest reviews.

New York Times bestseller Captivating aims to unveil the mystery of a woman's soul and is to women what its predecessor, the bestselling Wild at Heart, was to men. The description on the back cover of the book begins like this: “Every woman was once a little girl. And every little girl holds in her heart her most precious dreams. She longs to be swept up into a romance, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, to be the beauty of the story. Those desires are far more than child’s play. They are the secret to the feminine heart.”

Never having read the original, I cannot comment on what has been revised and expanded. However, I can give my review of this particular edition, which I thought was wonderful. Throughout the book, John and Stasi Eldredge give examples of why and how women may have pushed their childhood dreams aside. With stunning insight, they map out the all-too-common road of a modern woman’s life and show that just because those dreams have been pushed aside, does not mean we can’t find our way again. The path, of course, is through Jesus Christ.

Although the book can be a little “cheesy” at times, it will certainly awaken the heart of any female reader to her own longings and desires to be the beauty, even if they are long forgotten. Men who read this book will gain a whole new perspective on the women in their lives, and I would certainly recommend it to any man struggling to win a woman’s heart. I definitely plan on giving this a second read, and I hope other readers find this book to be as inspiring as I have.

KidSongs 12 DVD Set $35 shipped on Kids.Woot

Over at Kids.Woot, one of the partner sites of the original one deal per day Woot.com, the full 12 DVD Collection of KidSongs videos is available for $29.99 + $5 shipping. These DVDs retail for $9.99 each on Amazon, so this is really an awesome deal. Many of us will remember KidSongs from our own childhoods as these were produced in the late 80s. Obviously, as is any product from that era, these videos are guaranteed to be cheesy and full of bad hair and ridiculous clothes. However, I'm our sure our kids wouldn't even realize this and would just have fun singing along.

The Thrifty Couple's Weekly Diaper Deals

Ah, the Great Disposable Diaper Debate. If your family uses disposable diapers, chances are good that you have a favorite brand. If that happens to be Pampers or Huggies, you could be paying a pretty penny to cover your baby's booty. While we use Luvs during the day (and buy them at BJ's Wholesale Club, when they send out $5 off coupons making them $25 for a 200+ box), we use Pampers at night because the Luvs simply don't hold 10-12 hours of pee.

I was not too keen on the price of Pampers, so I began to shop around for deals. While I was bargain hunting, I came across The Thrifty Couple's Weekly Diaper Deals. All I could think was, "Seriously? Someone else has already scouted out the best diaper deals and created a list complete with coupon match-ups? This is the best blog ever!" Needless to say, I was quite excited. I highly recommend checking it out and bookmarking it! (Please be aware that this link will take you to a list of all their diaper deal posts, and then you can click on the particular post you want to read.) Happy saving :)

$1 Old Navy Flips Flops

Rumor has it that Old Navy is having their annual $1 flip flop sale this Saturday, May 22! I've heard that there is a limit of 5 pairs per person and they tend to go quickly, so it's a good idea to get there early. Hopefully Old Navy will confirm this sale before Saturday so we'll know for sure this is more than just a rumor!

FYE in Latham Farms Store Closing Sale

The FYE located in Latham Farms is closing, so everything in the store is on sale! DVDs and CDs are 20% off (new and used) and video games are 15% off, so this is a great opportunity to buy gifts for any upcoming birthdays!

A Cautionary Tale: Due to the fact that the store is closing, all sales are final. I was aware of this fact when I went shopping for my husband's birthday present, but I knew he wanted The Simpsons season 9 and 10 DVDs so I was not concerned about the no return policy. I was super excited to find both seasons, used, for $19.99 each, which ended up being $16.99 each after the 20% discount. Unfortunately, I did not realize that since these came in the plastic cases that look like Lisa and Bart (which I thought were cute), it would mess up my hubby's "collection". Since they cannot be returned, we will forever be reminded of my blunder whenever we look at his Simpsons DVDs all lined up in our entertainment center.


Hopefully you will be able to score some great deals without having an "oops" moment like mine post-purchase. Also,be sure to come back and leave a comment if you find that they have slashed prices even further! Happy saving :)

Cumberland Farms Free Iced Coffee Fridays

Through June 4, Cumberland Farms is offering free iced coffee on Fridays! What a yummy freebie - enjoy :)

(Thanks, Albany Mommy!)

By the way - don't forget that today, May 16, is the last day to get half price Frappuccinos at Starbucks from 3-5pm!

Friendly's Deals!

In case you missed it last time (or if you enjoyed your salad and want to go back!), Friendly's has another Buy One Get One Free Entree Salad coupon available to print. Head over to Facebook and "like" Friendly's, then click on the "Claim Coupon" button under the "Coupons" tab.

Also, don't forget about Friendly's Free Ice Cream Day! On Saturday, June 5 stop by any Friendly's location from 12-5 pm to get a free scoop of any flavor ice cream. Yum!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

$5 off $25 at Payless

Aren't shoe coupons great? Right now you can print a coupon good for $5 off $25 at Payless. The offer is good until May 31, so you've got a few weeks to shop around!

(Thanks, The Thrifty Mama!)

Kohl's: 20% off Everything for Baby

If you're in need of any baby gear, you may want to check out Kohls.com. Enter promo code CUDDLE20 to get 20% off everything for baby, or print this coupon to use for the same discount in stores. Don't forget to go through Ebates if you choose online shopping - they are currently offering 11% cash back on all Kohl's purchases! Happy saving :)

(Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!)

BzzAgent

Are you interested in testing and spreading the word about new products? If you're willing to invest an hour or two of your time a month then you may enjoy BzzAgent, which is a word of mouth marketing company. I have been a member since October and am currently participating in my second "BzzCampaign" (a.k.a. product trial). Back in December I got to test L'Oreal Lash Boosting Serum and mascara, and now I am testing CoverGirl ShineBlast lip gloss and Smoky ShadowBlast eye makeup.

Each month, I add at least 3 opinions to the "Frogpond" and 10 new web pages to various "BzzScapes". (You can check out the BzzAgent website to learn more about what that entails.) I spend 1 to 2 hours a month on these, and that earns me higher status. Higher status = higher chance of being selected for BzzCampaigns.

It can all be a bit confusing at first, but if you just take a few minutes to look through the website and FAQs you should be able to figure it out. If not, feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

I realize that this program may not be for everyone because it does require a small time commitment. However, I really enjoy being a BzzAgent and am having fun with my free products (which you get to keep). Give it a try - it may be right up your alley!

Happy Mother's Day!

On this lovely Friday afternoon I just want to say that I hope all of my mommy readers have a wonderful Mother's Day this Sunday. It will be my first - last year at this time I was 37 weeks pregnant and praying my daughter would come early because I was so uncomfortable! (She ended up being 8 days late.)

I'll be taking the weekend off from blogging to spend time with my family, but coming next week you can expect info on generic vs name brand groceries, houseparty.com, and, of course, any deals that I come across. Have a great weekend everyone!

Free Cinnabon for Nurses

Several of my readers are nurses, so I wanted to let you know about the promotion Cinnabon is running to celebrate National Nurses Week. From May 6-12, stop in and get one Cinnabon Classic Roll for free when you show your healthcare ID badge! So yummy...

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

Half-Price Frappucinos at Starbucks

I am a huge fan of Starbucks, especially their Frappuccinos, but I almost never go there because of the ridiculously high prices. That why I was so excited to hear that from May 7 through May 16, Starbucks is offering half-price Frappuccinos during Happy Hour (3 to 5 pm)! You may want to give your local Starbucks a call before you go to make sure they're participating, but if they are this is an awesome deal. Enjoy your yummy frozen coffee!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

South Beach Living S'Mores Bar

South Beach Living is offering free samples of their S'Mores Fiber Fit Bars. Hurry, these are only available while supplies last.

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

Free Samples Every Day in May

Every day during the month of May, AllYou.com will be highlighting a different freebie! Today's is a Being Girl sample kit consisting of Always and Tampax products. (If you signed up for this kit when I blogged about it back in December, you will not be able to sign up again.) If you have not requested this sample before, I definitely recommend signing up for it - it's got several products and valuable coupons inside!

In addition to signing up for today's freebie, you can also click through any days you missed and sign up for the previous offers as well. Nice!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

Friendly's Buy One Get One Salad Coupon

Remember that buy one get one free entree salad coupon I mentioned in my Dinner at Friendly's post a few weeks ago? Well, that coupon has been made available to the public! Head over to the Friendly's website to print your copy, good through May 11. Enjoy!

Book Review: Plan B

I recently had the opportunity, through BookSneeze, to read the book Plan B by Pastor Pete Wilson.

The tagline for Plan B is this: "What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought he would?" Wilson aims to guide the reader through those difficult "Plan B" times in life where you find yourself wondering where God is and why he allowed things to happen the way they did. While Wilson does not claim to understand WHY God allows us to go through painful and frustrating experiences, he does provide some good insight into how scripture suggests we handle such times.

Overall, I found this book to be encouraging. My favorite part involved Wilson comparing our "Plan B" situations to the Saturday before Jesus was resurrected. Jesus' followers probably thought all was lost, because they had just watched their savior be beaten and crucified. How awful they must have felt on Saturday, not knowing about the miracle that was coming the very next day! In hindsight, we know the purpose of the crucifixion was greater than any of them could have imagined, but on that Saturday I can't imagine how devastating it all was for them.

I must add, however, that I found one chapter in particular (Chapter 8: Darkness) to be quite discouraging. I left the chapter with a feeling that anytime things are going right, I can expect that something horrible will happen soon so God can bring me closer to him. While I do believe God uses difficult situations to strengthen our relationship with him, I do not believe that there is always something terrible waiting just around the corner for us. With that in mind, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone going through a "Plan B", but not necessarily for those who want to be ready "just in case".

Children's/Infant's Tylenol/Motrin/Benadryl/Zyrtec Recall

Wow, this is not the kind of post I enjoy writing. There haven't been many deals to blog about this week so it's been a little slow, and I apologize that one of the only posts this week is now bearing bad news! McNeil, the maker of Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, and Zyrtec, has announced a huge children's medicine product recall. Be sure to check your kiddo's medicine bottles to make sure you're not using any products that are on the list.

Personally, I am very frustrated and upset by this recall because both the infant Tylenol and Motrin that we currently have are being recalled. I buy generic for all of our adult medications, so I think I will begin buying generic children's products as well. What are your thoughts on this? Will you continue to use recalled medicine because the company states "This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events", or will yours immediately go in the trash?

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, you can also check out the official FDA news release .

BookSneeze: Great Books are Contagious

If you are a fellow blogger, I highly recommend checking out BookSneeze. A program created by Christian publishing company Thomas Nelson, BookSneeze provides bloggers with free books in exchange for honest reviews. If this sounds familiar, it's probably because I have already posted reviews of two books I received through this program. Once you sign up for the program, you can browse the available books and select whichever sounds interesting to you. After you have read the book, simply post a 200 word review on your blog as well as on any retail site (such as Amazon.com). It's easy, and it's a great way to expand your personal library!

$10 off $10 at Aeropostale

Wow, Aeropostale has a printable coupon out right now for $10 off any purchase of $10 or more! The coupon is valid this weekend only (April 23-25). I was there this afternoon and they had quite a few items on sale. All tops were 50% off, and sundresses were priced at $14.99. I was able to get the sundress pictured to the left for only $5.19! (Yes, NY state charges sales tax on clothing, which is very unfortunate!)

While I was there, the sales clerk informed the woman who was in front of me in line that if she wanted to do the deal again, all she needed to do was print another copy and come back in. I think I may print another copy for myself and head back tomorrow to get a few camis, or maybe a pair of sunglasses, or maybe a new bag. Hmm decisions, decisions. Happy saving :)

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Earth Day Promotions - continued

Well, dear readers, I was all set to come home from work and spend my daughter's entire nap compiling a comprehensive list of all the Earth Day deals. However, I have just discovered that Crystal at The Thrifty Mama has already done just that! Check out her post on Earth Day Freebies & Deals 2010 to see all the great stuff available today. What's your favorite Earth Day promotion?

Earth Day Promotions

While I don't have time to run through all the Earth Day deals right now (I don't want to be late for work!), I did want to quickly mention the promotion that Origins is running. The Origins Facebook page has all the details on how you can trade in your current skin care product (full or empty) to receive a free full size Origins cleanser. This offer is only good today, April 22. A big thanks to Albany Mommy for posting this deal this morning!

I hope to post about a few more Earth Day promotions when I get home from work this afternoon, assuming they are still running. Have a wonderful Earth Day, everyone!

Free Photo Strip from Wink

Money Saving Mom has all the details on how to get a Photo Strip free from Wink, shipped free as well. If you already have an account with Shutterfly, you will be able to use that to log in. This could make for a really cute surprise for Grandma on Mother's Day!

20% off at Michael's

Michael's -The Arts & Crafts Store is having a "Madness Week" with a Make Your Own Sale coupon for 20% off your entire purchase, including sale items! I'll be using the coupon to buy some ribbon to make more cute little hair bows for my baby girl. I also may be picking up some beads to make myself a few new pieces of jewelry. I love crafting :)

Cook Once, Eat Twice

What's for dinner? It's the question that plagues us all around 5 pm every single evening. I try to be good about meal planning, but one of my favorite tricks is to cook something one night that can be turned into something else quickly and easily another night. For example, if we have spaghetti & meatballs on Wednesday, I make enough extra meatballs so we can have meatball subs on Thursday or Friday.

One of my favorite cook once, eat twice meals is BBQ pork. Take a 2-3 lb pork roast and place it in a crock pot with 1 1/2 cups water mixed with 1 packet of onion soup mix. Cook on low for 7-9 hours, and about an hour before you want to eat drain the water out. Pour in a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (we like Honey BBQ), and let it cook for one more hour. Serve with whatever sides you prefer, such as sweet potato wedges and broccoli, and then place the leftover pork back in the crock pot. Let the leftover pork cook on low in the remaining BBQ sauce for another 1 to 2 hours. It will then be tender enough to be pulled apart, and you can use it for pulled pork sandwiches another night!

Do you have a favorite cook once, eat twice meal? How about any tips on making meal time easier? Feel free to share in the comments section.

Free Box of Kraft Mac & Cheese

Head on over to Facebook and become a fan of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Under the "Free Cheesy" tab you will be able to sign up to receive a coupon good for a free box or cup of Cheesy Explosion Mac & Cheese! Yum :)

Dinner at Friendly's

In light of my recent Dining Out on a Budget series, I wanted to highlight the dinner out my family enjoyed at Friendly's last night.
I received an e-mail from the Best Friends of Friendly's club yesterday containing a buy one get one free entree salad coupon. Seeing as I wasn't particularly in the mood to cook last night anyway, we decided to use the coupon right away.

Now, let me tell you that I am not usually a "salad girl". I rarely, if ever, order a salad as my entree and generally prefer burgers and fries to the green leafy stuff. However, since we had the coupon I ordered myself the Asian Chicken Salad, my husband got the Kickin' Buffalo Chicken Salad, and we both had water to drink. (Being only 10 months old, our daughter does not eat restaurant food yet so we did not order anything for her. Although we did bring along Cheerios for her to munch on!)

When our salads arrived we could not believe how big they were! After tasting them, we also could not believe how yummy they were. I may even order a salad by choice the next time we go to Friendly's! The salads were so big and tasty, in fact, that we didn't even have room for ice cream. And I always leave room for ice cream.

Anyway, when the bill came the total was $9.49 after tax. While it may tempting to tip based on that amount, it's important to remember that the server does the same amount of work despite that fact that you are only paying for one entree. We tipped based on what the before tax total bill would have been, and got our dinner for under $13!

Have you been able to dine out on a budget recently? Feel free to share your story in the comments section. Happy saving :)

Free Sample of Carefree Pantiliners

The latest free sample available at Walmart.com is Carefree Pantiliners.These are Ultra Protection liners with the tagline "Feels like a liner, protects like a pad."

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

BumGenius Cloth Diaper Free with $10 Purchase

Green Diaper Store is currently offering a coupon code good for one free bumGenius all-in-one cloth diaper when you spend $10 or more on any bumGenius, Flip, or Econobum products. While I have not personally tried cloth diapers, I have heard nothing but good things about the bumGenius line. If you are interested in seeing if cloth diapering may be right for your family, this is really a great offer!

(Thanks, The Thrifty Mama!)

Snapfish: Free Shipping

Snapfish is my go-to place for ordering photo prints. At 9 cents a print, it's one of the least expensive ways to get my digital photos printed. However, shipping charges are always frustrating when it comes to any online photo printing service. That's why I was so excited to get the following promotion in my inbox this morning: FREE shipping on all photo products through tomorrow (Sunday, April 11) with promo code APR10BD. This is the grand finale to Snapfish's 10th birthday celebration, and I personally am looking forward to ordering a whole bunch of prints this weekend and not paying a dime to ship them!

***Please note: When you check out, remember to choose standard shipping. Under the shipping choices is a box to enter the promo code. You will then be asked for your billing info, and you will be able to see the adjusted shipping charges when you get to the review your order step. Double check your order to make sure the promo code went through properly.***

Babies R Us: Free Tote + 25% Off Clothing

In case you missed the Babies R Us post on Facebook this morning, I wanted to let you know about this great offer. Today through 4/22/10, bring in this printable Fill-a-Bag Clothing Sale coupon and redeem it at the guest service counter. You'll receive a free tote bag and an extra 25% off all the clothing and shoes you can fit in the bag, sized newborn through 48 months. I don't know how big the totes are, but hey, they're free! It doesn't say anything about not being able to use the 25% off on clearance items, so this could make for some really great deals. Happy saving :)

Book Review: Rick & Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of GRUB

I recently received a copy of Rick & Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of GRUB from BookSneeze, which is a program that provides bloggers with free books in exchange for honest reviews.

I was really excited about this book after reading the following description: "Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub is exactly what a diet/recipe book should be—full of hilarious stories, good eating, and not a single mention of calories! New York Times bestselling authors Rick and Bubba are not ashamed to admit they eat for one reason and one reason only: they like the way food tastes. With family recipes from their wives Sherri and Betty (who have been keeping these two in grub for years) as well as the winning recipes from Rick and Bubba's Big Honkin’ Recipe Contest, this book is a keeper. So pull up a chair, grab a fork, and enjoy!"

I was extremely disappointed to find that there is only a small section of recipes in the back of this book. The description is very misleading as this is not a cookbook at all. It is midly entertaining to read Rick and Bubba's ideas of what makes good food, but I had been looking forward to trying some new recipes!

Price Chopper $5 off coupon

While I am a Hannaford girl at heart, even I have to admit that this is a great coupon. Become a fan of Price Chopper on Facebook and you can print a coupon for $5 off any 10 store brand items. If you buy yogurt or some other inexpensive item, you can get some nearly free products with this coupon!

(Thanks, Wicked Cool Deals!)

Happy Easter!

As we celebrate Easter, it's easy to get caught up in the egg dying, egg hunts, and Easter Bunny mania. It's also easy to let Good Friday slip between the cracks unnoticed. Traditionally, it is believed that Jesus died on the cross at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. As you go about your business today, take a moment at 3 pm to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice and prepare your heart for the celebration of his resurrection on Sunday. While the eggs and bunnies can create wonderful family traditions, don't forget to teach your children about the true meaning of Easter.

I will be taking a break from blogging the next few days to enjoy time with my family. I hope everyone has a happy and blessed weekend. Happy Easter! :)

Free Butterfinger Bar

Oooh I love free candy! Head over to Facebook and become a fan of Butterfinger. Under the tab "Bar Insurance" you will be able to click and be redirected to a page where you can file a "claim" about someone laying a finger on your Butterfinger. The first 100,000 to file a stolen Butterfinger claim (real or imagined) will receive a free bar. Yum! (As a side note - I sure hope this is not an April Fools' joke because you just don't mess with a woman and her candy!)

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Amazon Deal of the Day: Ghirardelli Squares

Every day Amazon.com does some serious price slashing for their "Deal of the Day". Today, that deal just happens to be on super yummy Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares. This deal is perfect for anyone who has given up chocolate or sweets for Lent! A pack of 6 bags is normally $29.62, but it's on sale today only (3/31/10) for $14.50! That's a great price for this indulgent treat. My favorite is the Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter variety, pictured above. What's yours?

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Free Sample of Parent's Choice Formula

Walmart.com is currently offering free samples of Parent's Choice formula. Simply click "Get a Sample" and fill out the form that opens up.

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

BJ's Wholesale Club Free 60-day Trial

BJ's Wholesale Club currently has a printable offer available on their website for a free 60-day trial membership. If you have a BJs near you and are not currently a member, I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity! One of the great things about BJs is that they accept manufacturer's coupons. Most items found at BJs are cheaper per unit than at your grocery store, and if you have coupons from your Sunday newspaper inserts you can get some really fantastic deals. Check it out! (Expires 7/5/10, new members only.)

(Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!)

30% Off at Old Navy

I love when these 30% off printable coupons are released! This one is good at Old Navy through Easter Sunday, 4/4/10. Could be perfect for finding a cute last-minute outfit to wear for Easter! Happy saving :)

(Thanks, Moms by Heart!)

Franklin Goose

Franklin Goose, a company that sells organic baby products, is currently offering $5 store credit for every review you write! If you own any Franklin Goose products, this is a great opportunity to voice your opinion and be paid for doing so. This promotion goes through March 31, so register on their website now and hurry on those reviews. Rumor has it the store credit can even be used towards the flat $5 shipping rate, so if you are able to write several reviews you'll be able to get some great organic products absolutely free!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

SilverJewelryClub.com

Tonight I'd like to highlight a website that I personally enjoy. SilverJewelryClub.com offers free jewelry in an attempt to get their name out there. I have ordered several pieces from this website in the past and have been quite happy with them. The only catch is that technically it's not free because you do have to pay shipping, which is $6.99.

At any given time, 4 pieces of jewelry will be on display, with each piece being available for 15 minutes. When something sells out or its fifteen minutes are up, a new item appears in its place. There is also an option to see the next 15 items that will be available, which is really a great feature! If you are looking for some cute, inexpensive jewelry, check it out!

Quick Tip - Bathrobe

Have you ever been in the middle of a shower and had to hop out to attend to your child? As moms, I'm sure this has happened to all of us at one point or another. Today's quick tip is to keep a bathrobe around for those jump-out-of-the-shower-dripping-wet moments. If you've got a bathrobe handy, you won't be stuck trying to take care of the kids while desperately trying to keep your towel from falling off.

See all Quick Tips HERE.

Why I Love CVS

CVS has great deals on Pampers and Colgate this week, so I headed there this morning. I spent a total of $5.65 out of pocket and walked away with $3 Extra Bucks (EBs), so basically I spent $2.65 and got my Sunday newspaper, a jumbo pack of Pampers Cruisers, and Colgate Total. Here's how it happened:

Transaction #1:
Albany Times-Union: $2
Colgate Total: $3.99 minus $1 off coupon from 3/7 SmartSource insert = $2.99
NY Sales Tax: $0.32
Total: $5.31 minus $3 EBs from a previous week's purchase = $2.31 out of pocket
Received $3.99 in EBs for buying Colgate Total

Transaction #2:
Pampers Cruisers Jumbo Pack: $8.97 minus $2 off coupon from 2/21 P&G insert or 3/14 RedPlum insert = $6.97
NY Sales Tax: $0.36
Total: $7.33 minus $3.99 EBs from previous transaction = $3.34 out of pocket
Received $3 in EBS for buying Pampers, which I will use another day

So there you have it - newspaper, diapers, and toothpaste for under $3 after coupons and EBs! Have you jumped on the CVS bandwagon yet?

Dining Out on a Budget

Final Suggestion: Skip Dessert

As a total chocoholic, it pains me to write this post. Which is probably why I kept putting off writing it. However, unless you are ordering a meal special that includes dessert, I would definitely recommend skipping it. If you have a serious sweet tooth like me, bake a pan of brownies or some cookies before you leave so that you have dessert waiting for you when you come home. Restaurant desserts are definitely tasty, but they are so overpriced that most of the time they just aren't worth it. (Unless, of course, you are at the Cheesecake Factory. I mean come on, cheesecake is what you go there for in the first place!)

This belatedly concludes my dining out on a budget series. I hope my readers will benefit from the tips I have offered, and let me know if you have any great advice that I have missed!

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

Bethlehem Books Giveaway

Today only (Friday 3/19), from 11 am to 4 pm EST Bethlehem Books is giving away one free book of your choice! To get your free book, become a fan of Bethlehem Books on Facebook and send them an email at freebook@bethlehembooks.com with your name, address, and choice of book. I checked out their website, and most of the books appear to be for young adults and preteens. If you've got a 'tween to shop for, this giveaway is for you!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #6: Order a Kid's Meal

I know it may sound silly, but if you find that you can never finish your meal at a restaurant, order a kid's meal. Not all places will let you do this, but it's worth a shot. The portions are smaller and so is the price!

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget Series HERE.

Printable Coupons

I mentioned this site back in December, but I realize I have gained readers since then so I decided to mention it again. If you are headed out on a shopping trip, check out the list of printable coupons on Mommy Saves Big. There are lots of great money-saving coupons available!

Free VS Pink Tank Top

If you are a member of Victoria's Secret Pink Nation, log in today! In order to celebrate reaching 1 million members, they are giving away free tank tops with purchase. I'm not sure if this is available for new members or only current members, so if you sign up today let me know if you were able to print the coupon. Free tank coupon valid until March 23 (or while supplies last) with any PINK purchase.

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #5: Sign up for E-mails

There are many restaurants that send out exclusive coupons and offers to their e-mail subscribers. Do a Google (or Swagbucks) search and find out if your favorite restaurant has a website. If so, check it out and see whether or not they have some type of e-mail list or newsletter that you can subscribe to. Many places actually offer some type of incentive just for signing up. It could be a coupon for a free appetizer, dessert, or even entree. Also, you may find that you receive a coupon for something on your birthday. If you don't feel that the e-mails you receive are worth it, simply unsubscribe later. (Note: You may also want to check if your favorite eatery has a Facebook page and become a fan there!)

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

15% off at Payless

I love getting discounts on shoes! Available now - printable coupon for 15% off at Payless. Print the entire page and bring it in to Payless for your discount, or use the coupon codes provided to get 15% off or $10 off $50 at Payless.com. Oh, and while you're at the store, don't forget to check for fluffy slippers on sale!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Ghirardelli Coupon

Mmm chocolate. The Ghirardelli website currently has a printable coupon available for $1 off two 4.5 oz bags of Ghirardelli squares. In the bottom left corner of the page, click on "Save Today!" under "Savings to Make You Melt". (If you have not done so yet, you will need to install coupon printing software.) The coupon doesn't expire until 5/15/10, so I wonder if the stores will let us use it on the Easter varieties once they go on clearance? I'm certainly going to try!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #4: Look for Specials

A lot of restaurants have been having specials lately in order to drum up more business. Seek out these specials and you will save a lot of money on your nights out! For example, Friendly's is currently offering a drink, meal, and ice cream for $9.99. In February, they also offered free kids meals with two adult entrees on Mondays, so a family of 4 could have eaten for $20. In addition, Chili's and Applebees have been known lately for their 2 for $20 deals. Find those specials and enjoy your family night out for less!

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

Free Office Supplies at OfficeMax

OfficeMax is offering a number of products right now which will be free after MaxPerks. Head over to The Thrifty Mama to read more about how to score free-after-perks office products. If you buy online, don't forget to shop through Ebates and get 3% cash back!

Free Sample of Ritz Munchables

Head on over and become a fan of Ritz Crackers on Facebook, then click on the "free samples" box. You will be able sign up to receive a free sample of Ritz Munchables Pretzel Crisps. Yum!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #3: Do Breakfast

Who doesn't love breakfast food? Most people I know thoroughly enjoy pancakes, waffles, eggs, and/or bacon/sausage. If you've got time before work, or can get yourself out of bed by 10 am or so on the weekends, try going out for breakfast instead of lunch or dinner. At most restaurants, breakfast items are significantly less expensive than the rest of the menu. And hey, if you have a diner nearby, you can even order breakfast for dinner. You'll get the experience of dining out, but with different foods and a much lower bill. Syrup, anyone?

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

Quick Tip - Fluffy Slippers

Now that winter is winding down, most stores have winter apparel on clearance. While you're out and about, see if you can snag a pair of nice, thick, fluffy slippers at a great price. Then, when you're running around the house chasing your kids, or when you get home after a long day at work, your feet can feel oh-so-cozy. It's a little slice of comfort amidst all the craziness.

See all Quick Tips HERE.

$5 off $25 at Payless

Here's another great Facebook offer: become a fan of Payless and under the "Special Deals" tab you can print a coupon good for $5 off a $25 purchase. If you prefer online shopping, enter promo code 32861 to get the same offer. Coupon and promo code good through tomorrow, Monday, 3/15.

(Thanks, Squeezing a Dollar out of a Dime!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #2: Share a Meal

One of our favorite budget restaurants is, believe it or not, the Olive Garden. As you may know, they offer unlimited salad (or soup) and breadsticks with any entree purchase. We enjoy the salad and breadsticks so much that we found we were never able to finish our meals because we were already so full before they came! A few years back, while perusing the menu, we decided to split the Tour of Italy and have never looked back. I get the fettuccine alfredo, my husband gets the chicken parm & lasagna, and we both end up quite full. (Please note that every once in awhile you may get a server who will insist on charging you extra for sharing the salad, but it's still cheaper than two entrees.) While not every restaurant offers unlimited starters, and some may even charge a "plate fee" for sharing an entree, this is still a viable option at many restaurants. Give it a try!

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #1: Order Water

I realize that this may seem obvious to some of you and out of the question for others, but just hear me out. I'd say the average cost of ordering a soft drink with dinner is around $2.50 per person. At that rate, you and your spouse will save $5 per dinner just by ordering water instead, even if you still allow your children to order soft drinks. If you go out to eat twice a month, that's a savings of $120 in a year! That's enough for anywhere from 3 to 6 more family dinners out. So, which do you prefer? Paying for overpriced soda or having more money for dining out? I'll take the extra dinners, thank you very much.

Review: NUK Orthodontic Bottles

Now that my daughter is no longer interested in breastfeeding, we have had to find a bottle that works for us. Originally, we were using Avent bottles, but every time I shook them to mix her formula they leaked all over me! No matter how tight I screwed the nipple on, they always leaked from the neck. Well, I had received a 3-pack of Gerber's NUK orthodontic bottles as a baby shower gift. They were cute and pink and girly, and I figured my little monkey wouldn't mind them because were basically the same shape as her NUK binky (which is the only pacifier she will take). Can I just say that I LOVE these bottles?

What do I love about them? First, they've got a nifty little plastic cover that goes over the neck, under the nipple, so when you shake them they don't leak. Second, as I said before, they are shaped just like the NUK orthodontic pacifiers, so it's an easy transition for babies who use those. Third, this would be a great bottle for a breastfeeding mom to use because the nipple is nice and wide just like mom's. They are also very cute - they come in pink, green, and blue with patterns of flowers, bugs, and boats. These bottles are available in both 5 oz and 10 oz sizes, and the nipples are all interchangeable. Oh, and another important quality - they are BPA free. (Not sure what that means? My friend Heather over at StorkFit has a great post on the Perils of Plastic and BPA.)

If you are hunting for the right bottle for your baby, give this kind a try. While I'm sure they won't be perfect for everyone, we sure do love them in our house!

Dining Out on a Budget

It's no secret that my husband and I love going out to eat. It's also no secret that we don't have a lot of money, which makes this favorite pastime of ours a little difficult. We thought that having a baby would slow us down, but our daughter loves being out and about and (for now at least) is quite well behaved in restaurants. (Well, aside from the fact that she gets really excited about being there and screeches about it at the top of her lungs...ah to be 9 months old!)

Anyway, we have lots of tips and tricks up our sleeves on how to dine out once every other week without breaking our budget. It just occurred to me on our latest dinner excursion that this would be a great topic to blog about. I'm going to try and add a new tip each day for the next week or so, starting tomorrow, and I sincerely hope that my readers will benefit from this info!

Save Those Baby Food Labels

If you buy Beech Nut baby food, be sure to save the labels! Once you have 48 labels (which actually won't take long at all - less than a month if you use 2 jars a day), fill out this form and send it in along with your labels. Beech Nut will then send you four coupons for $1.00 off ten items.

Earth's Best also has offers available; send in the designated number of UPCs and/or register receipts and a small S&H fee to receive various products. The items currently available are: a cereal bowl, Earth's Best baby body care travel pack, Guess How Much I Love You, and a Birthday Keepsake Scroll.

Book Review: The Flowering Cross

I recently received the children's book The Flowering Cross, by Beth Ryan, through a program called BookSneeze, which provides bloggers with free books in exchange for honest reviews.

The Flowering Cross is about a little girl named Katie who helps lead her neighbor, Mean Old Jack, to Christ. Jack grows beautiful flowers in his garden, but mostly he’s known for being mean and scary. Every Easter, Katie picks some of Jack’s flowers for church, and one year Jack decides to go to service with Katie’s family. Once he understands the true meaning of Easter and the Cross, he is a changed man.

This was a very sweet book, and I look forward to reading it to my daughter as she gets older. I think it will be a nice little tradition to read this book each Easter. The book contains “Faith Imprints” paired with Bible verses to help teach children about the Word of God. I thought this was a nice little touch and it adds a little something extra to an already cute story.

While this book does not go seriously into depth about Jesus’ death and resurrection, it does a good job of showcasing the impact that a child can have on an adult.

Seasonal Splurges

While I was at the grocery store the other day with all my rockin' free product coupons, I walked straight over to the Easter candy aisle and picked up a seasonal favorite of mine - Cadbury Cream Eggs. Did I need them? No. Were they worth every penny (and calorie)? In my book, absolutely.

You see, I have several favorite things that are only available once a year. When they come out, I allow myself to splurge on them just once (well, okay, maybe twice). They are all things that I normally would not be willing to "waste" money on, but since they are seasonal treats I make an exception. My favorite seasonal splurges are:

December - Starbucks White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha & McDonalds Egg Nog Milkshake
March - McDonald's Shamrock Shake
Easter - Cadbury Cream Eggs & Cadbury Mini Eggs

Am I the only seasonal splurger, or do you have any once-a-year treats that you just have to have?

Physicians Formula BOGO coupon

Become a fan of Physicians Formula on Facebook and register to receive a buy one, get one free coupon by e-mail. I have been wanting to try their mineral powder foundation, so I am really excited about this coupon!

(Thanks, The Thrifty Mama!)

NOTE: Be patient - Physicians Formula has updated their status to the following: "We have had such a large response to the Instant Rewards promotion that the email server crashed. We are working on this right now. No worries,everyone will get their coupon! We’re working to resolve this as fast as possible! Thank you for all of the Physicians Formula love!"
 

Dunkin Donuts Turbo Sample

Dunkin' Donuts is currently offering free samples of their Dunkin' Turbo coffee. Yum! Not sure how long these will be available, so request your sample soon!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Maximizing Free Product Coupons

Pictured above are the coupons I brought on a quick trip to the grocery store today, 3 of which were "free product" coupons:

-1 free Heluva Good! product ($3.69)
-1 free Excedrin product ($4.99)
-1 free box of Kashi Heart to Heart cereal, from Vocalpoint ($2.99)
-75 cents of 4 packs Gerber 2nd foods

All totaled, the coupons ended up saving me $12.42. The key to using free product coupons is to read the fine print and be aware of the maximum value. For instance, the small Heluva Good! dip pictured on the coupon was $1.99 at Hannaford. However, the coupon stated that it was good for any product up to $4.99, so clearly this would not maximize my coupon savings. I wanted to go for the large block of Colby Jack cheese at $4.49, but since my husband really wanted dip I went for the larger size of French Onion, which rang in at $3.69. Not the best purchase I could have made with it, but it made my hubby happy. Bottom line, make sure you read the fine print so you can get the most out of your coupons!

Quick Tip - Hot Shower

While most of us won't be able to get to a spa anytime soon, we generally find time (most days) to take a shower. Before you step out and back into "Mommy World", turn the temperature up just a bit and let the hot water run over your back. Even if just for 30 seconds, this quick burst of heat will help relax your sore, achy back muscles.

See all Quick Tips HERE.

Extra 25% off at Vera Bradley

Love Vera Bradley but hate the high prices? Now through Sunday (3/7), visit VeraBradley.com and get an extra 25% off Puccini, Mediterranean Blue, and Raspberry Fizz designs. The final price will show once the items are in your shopping cart. Don't forget to shop through Ebates to get 3% cash back on your order! Happy saving :)

(Thanks, Albany Mommy!)

Free Bag of Sunchips

Be one of the first 100,000 to become a fan of Sunchips on Facebook and sign up to receive a coupon for a free 10.5 oz bag. Sunchips are popular in our household - they've got that satisfying crunch and great flavor you expect, but in a healthier multigrain chip!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget

Crystal over at Money Saving Mom is able to feed her family of five with a grocery budget of only $40/week! While I know I will never be that good, I do value any advice she is willing to dole out on how to cut down on grocery spending. For the month of March, she is writing one blog a day for a series she calls 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget. If you'd like some tips on lowering your grocery bills, I definitely recommend checking it out!

Friendly's Breakfast Coupon

Become a fan of Friendly's on Facebook and click on the "coupons" tab. You will be able to sign up for a printable coupon good for $2 off a $10 breakfast. Yum! Sing it with me: "I wanna go to Friendly's..." :)

Review: Downy Wrinkle Releaser

While I do not have any spectacular coupons for this product at the moment, I wanted to mention the wonder that is Downy Wrinkle Releaser. I promised to review products that would make life as a mom easier, and this definitely qualifies. After doing 7 loads of laundry at the laundromat yesterday, my husband and I made the very poor decision not to put that laundry away. "We'll do it tomorrow," we said.

This morning, I realized the sweater I had planned to wear to work was sitting in said laundry bags, and when I pulled it out it was wrinkled beyond being wearable. I didn't have time to iron, but I remembered that we had our little bottle of anti-wrinkle potion. I sprayed some on and pulled at the fabric, and like magic the wrinkles were gone. Instant wearability! There aren't many products that work as well as they claim to, but this is one of them. If you, like us, are a laundry procrastinater and regularly find yourself frustrated by wrinkled clothing in the morning, you should definitely check it out!

Free Baby Sign Language Resources

Interested in communicating with your baby via sign language but not sure where to start? Baby Good Buys has some great information about baby sign language, as well as links to several free resources to get you going. I've been wanting to try signing with my daughter, so I am really excited to find out more about this method of communication.

Have you tried baby sign language? If so, did you have any success with your child learning to sign? If you have any wisdom to share on this topic, feel free to leave a comment. :)

Survey Drought

Seriously, where are all the surveys lately? I am a member of around 10 different survey sites and am currently experiencing the worst survey drought I've seen since signing up 5 or 6 months ago. I never expected to make a lot of money, but I do enjoy the small amounts of extra cash that survey taking usually generates. While I have no intention of giving up, I do find myself a little frustrated. I'm not receiving many invitations, and have qualified for very few of those I have received in recent weeks.

I thought it might be helpful for any newbies to know that just because no opportunities are popping up right now, that doesn't mean they never will. I am hopeful that the drought will end soon and I'll once again be swimming in surveys!

Quick Tip - Eyebrows

Don't have time (or money) to get the salon but don't have the patience for plucking? Try an at-home waxing kit to tame those brows. My personal favorite is microwaveable Sally Hansen Eyebrow, Face, & Lip Wax. It does take some practice to get the hang of it, but if you have thick brows you'll find that once you're good at it, it's much faster than tweezing. If you prefer the idea of wax strips instead of hot wax, Sally Hansen also makes a Wax Strips Kit. Good luck!

See all Quick Tips HERE.

Ann Taylor - $20 off pants

Today only (Sat. 2/27), head over to Ann Taylor and get $20 off any pant purchase just for trying a pair on! Make sure you print that coupon and bring it with you. Happy saving :)

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Happy Birthday, Swagbucks!

Some of you may have heard me mention Swagbucks, a search engine that rewards you for searching. Swagbucks turns 2 today, and I thought I would take the opportunity to recommend trying it out if you haven't yet. It is powered by Google and Ask.com, so the results are pretty good. I installed the toolbar to remind myself to use it, and I check the "Swidget" (Swagbucks widget) at the bottom of this blog regularly to see if there are any bonus swag codes available. If there are, they can be entered on the homepage for bonus swagbucks.

You will receive 30 swagbucks just for signing up, and 10-20 swagbucks for random searches and codes found in the swidget. There are lots of things available in the Swag Store, but my personal favorite is $5 Amazon gift cards, which you can get for 450 swagbucks. I have earned enough to redeem my bucks for one gift card every month, for a total of $20 in 4 months. I realize $5/month isn't that much, but for just sitting at my computer and using a search engine, I'll take it! Give it a try - I hope you enjoy being a member of Swag Nation as much as I do!