LOVING me some Purex Insiders and GIVEAWAY!

I became a purex insider quite some time ago!  They are the BEST!  I get free stuff from them all of the time!  I want to share the wealth!  I have 2 coupons for FREE laundry detergent!  With the economy in the shape it is, FREE is just my price!!  These coupons are for Purex's new detergent which I can honestly say works great!  I usually make my own laundry detergent, but when they sent me a coupon to try it for free, who could resist?  If you would like my recipe for detergent, I did a guest post here for Shopping Detox.  She's pretty funny!  Anyway....here's what you have to do to enter....

1) REQUIRED entry: Become a followers of my blog.  After you do so, leave a comment saying that you did!  If you already follow, just leave a comment telling me that!  Once you are following me, when I announce the winner, you will receive the post via email and be able to let me know that you acknowledge your win!  Then I can email you for your addy to snailmail the coupons!

2) For another entry, leave a comment telling me the top 3 things that you look for when purchasing detergent.

3) For a third entry, there is a contest going on through Purex Insiders. There is a $1,000 grand prize and fifty 2nd place winners will each receive $40 in gift cards.  As I mentioned I love this company and they are very honorable so I have no hesitation give you the link to click on to enter!  http://insiders.purex.com/soft-scrub?id=14227t Follow the link and enter to win for your third entry!  Leave a comment below telling me you have done so!

In all, you have THREE chances to win!  Since my blog is still in its infant stages, you have a VERY good chance!  lol You should be sure to leave a separate comment for each of the three entries.  I will randomly choose the winner using random.com at 10pm EST on Sunday, August 26, 2012.  Oh, and I just decided...if I have at least 50 entries, I will throw in a second prize of another coupon for free detergent!  Once I see some progress made with my readership, I will do LOTS more giveaways!  Tell you friends to enter!  I mean REALLY...what do you or them have to lose?!  :)  

Friendship Jar DIY Cheap but Chic Gift

I made a friendship jar for each of my friends who had surgery last year.  I had maybe $1.50 in the entire gift, but it was a hit with each of my friends as well as their families.  I was told by one of the family members that I was the most thoughtful person she had ever met.  That made me feel good. 

I enjoy giving gifts.  I always have.  Now that money is tight, I have to think outside of the box.  This can def be a good thing because instead of picking up something from the store to give to someone, 9 times out of 10 I'm gonna make it.  I can honestly say that every handmade gift I have ever given has been well-received.  I think the reason is the recipient knows more thought was put into other than shelling out a few bucks.

Anyway, here you will see original instructions and where I got the idea from.  I am going to post the directions to their original concept, but I'm going to tell you have I modified to fit my situation.

Both of my friends had gastric bypass surgery.  Having had the surgery myself in 2005, I know how much their lives are going to change.  With that being said, on each slip of paper I included in their jars I wrote a positive mantra that they could look forward to.  .
Here are some examples:

• Eating to Live, Not Living to Eat
• Finding your size at thrift stores.
• NOT paying more for your clothing just b/c you can afford that extra cheeseburger!
• Fitting comfortably in a booth.
• Not checking the weight limit on everything you buy, stand on, sit on, etc.

There were many more that only obese or formerly obese people will get!  Anyway, each of my friends took the jar to the hospital to read the days after surgery when they were in pain.  They both told me that it helped them to get through the worst of it.  :)

Here's their original.

Materials:

• Decorative Jar with wide mouth I got mine @ Dollar Tree
• Ribbon or other embellishment
• Handwritten or computer generated positive words on slips of paper  I used small pieces of cardstock and decorated them with stickers
• Paper  See above
• Pen or Computer with printer  For above
• Scissors or Fiskars Personal Trimmer  I used the scissors that cut in the cutesy patterns-$1 each!

Instructions:

1. You can find fun jars at thrift shops and garage sales, you just want a wide mouth jar so it’s easy to put your slips of paper in and out of the jar. You can tie ribbon or embellish the jar with your favorites.
    
2. Handwritten messages: Cut slips of paper with scissors or personal trimmer. You can use one color of paper or use several, personalize this to the event or person getting the Friendship Jar. Write out positive words or statements. For example if this is for a special aunt you could write out all the things you love about her from her pretty smile to her fabulous chocolate chip cookies. Fold up the slips of paper and place in jar. I always recommend handwritten notes because the message and words just seem more unique written by you!
    
3. Computer generated messages: This is easy and quick, and if you are a neat freak using a computer will make you happier. Have fun and play with fonts and font size! Write out positive messages and words like described in Step 2. Print. Using your scissors or personal trimmer cut into slips of paper, fold, and place in jar!

Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com/Gifts-in-a-Jar/Friendship-Jar/ml/1#46aCRl3v0PRSDGjL.99

Friendship Jar - Used from Favecrafts.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post at SHopping Detox: How to Make Your OWN Laundry Detergent AND GIVEAWAY INFO

Hey, y'all!  First of all, I have been told that "just because we don't follow doesn't mean we don't read."  I understand that, but I have been collecting lots of FREE STUFF to do a giveaway.  ALL I need is 30 people following!  When I do, I will randomly choose one of those following...maybe even 2 because I think I have plenty of "stuff"! 

Anyway, I did a guest post for Annabella over at Shopping Detox while she is on vacation.  It is a step-by-step guide on how to make your own laundry detergent!  EASY!  CHEAP!  a couple of pennies a load!  So, if you're here from her blog, WELCOME!!  If you come here first, visit her blog and check out my article...and the other posts as well!  She is a trip and writes like you are sitting there talking to her.

So...make you some laundry detergent to save some money AND get rid of funky chemicals THEN follow my blog....OR go ahead and follow first, then make your detergent!  Let me know how it goes!!

STARBUCKS FREEBIE Friday, July 13th

July 13, Noon to 3 p.m. 

 

Enjoy a free Tall (12 fl. oz.) handcrafted Starbucks Refreshers™ beverage at participating stores. No purchase necessary. Limit 1 per person. 

 

Love me some FREEBIES!

FREE ZonePerfect Bar

This is totally FREE!!  Limit ONE per person, THREE per household!  Go HERE and simply fill in your mailing info and choose 1 of the 3 flavors.  FREE is always good!!

FREE Stuff for What you would do anyway???

So, I am a SKEPTIC!  When I first heard about SWAGBUCKS, I was in COMPLETE denial that folks would give me something for not doing anymore work.  I am SO glad to say that I was WRONG!  Here is a list of things I have "purchased" through Amazon.com using ONLY gift certificates used that I earned FREE from SwagBucks:

Tascam DP-004 Pocketstudio Digital Recorder (Rich's Christmas Present)

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $119.95 Shipping & Handling: $6.58   ----- Total Before Tax: $126.53

Sanyo HPS-SG3 200-Square-Inch Electric Indoor Barbeque Grill, Black (My Birthday Present)

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $39.99 Shipping & Handling: $10.30 Super Saver Discount: -$10.30   ----- Total Before Tax: $39.99

Honeywell 16216 HEPA-Type Replacement Filter for 16200 Desktop Air Purifier

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $9.00 Shipping & Handling: $4.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $13.99

Sinus Rinse Refill Packets 100 Ea

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $11.09 Shipping & Handling: $4.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $16.08

On a Dollar a Day: One Couple's Unlikely Adventures in Eating in America, Christopher Greenslate, Kerri Leonard

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.85 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.84

The Scent of Rain and Lightning: A Novel, Nancy Pickard

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $2.46 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $6.45

The Tightwad Gazette III: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle, Amy Dacyczyn

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $3.48 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $7.47

Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table (Random House Reader's Circle), Ruth Reichl

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $3.65 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $7.64

For You Mom, Finally, Ruth Reichl

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.06 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.05

Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.01 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.00

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, Dave Ramsey

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $7.65 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $11.64

Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It, Participant Media, Karl Weber

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $1.21 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $5.20

Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder, Jerry Bledsoe

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.01 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.00
HOLY CRAP!  I didn't realize until I just did all of that copying and pasting from my Amazon account that I had earned that much stuff!!  That's right at...what...$300 of stuff that costs me NOTHING!! 

Here's how it works:  You use the SwagBucks search engine like you would "google" or whatever one you use, and you are awarded sporadic bucks for searching whatever you normally would.  This could be 7 bucks or 30 bucks a pop!  They have a store online where you redeem your bucks for TONS of stuff (kinda like earning tickets at the arcade) for various "prices".  The only thing I EVER buy are $5 Amazon gift cards.  They costs me 450 bucks and I buy them, wait for them to appear in my SwagBucks account, then I copy and paste the card number into my Amazon account.  I save up for various things I want.  Right now, I think I have around $30 in my Amazon account that will NEVER expire!  If I can STOP buying books, my goal is to earn enough for a new Keurig coffee maker!  NO STRINGS ATTACHED!!  I even added the SwagBucks toolbar to my internet window so I always have the search box available.  I never type in web addresses...I use that search box so I can earn bucks!  There are tons of ways to earn more as well.  I usually have Rich logged in on our home computer because he signed under me and when his account earns bucks for searching, I earn them too!

SPECIAL RIGHT NOW:  sign-up code “SummerSocial” for a 70 Swag Buck bonus upon registration.  This will allow you to start out with 100 Swag Bucks already in your account – 70 for the sign-up code and the 30 everyone starts with.  This code is only good for NON-MEMBERS and expires Thursday, June 28th at 5pm PDT.  The link below will allow me to earn bucks when you earn them for searching which helps me reach my goal.  I have been a member for probably a year and a half and I wish I would have known about it sooner!  If you have questions or question the validity, please asks me!!

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/PirateGirl342

What's in his Bento Today?

I'm still learning when it comes to the whole Bento Box thing.  I try to have themes and such, but I usually just end up putting in things that I know he will like and that we have on hand.  I'm all about some ease!  He had leftover salad that I got at Backyard Bistro for his actual lunch, so I made a breakfast/snack Bento that he could just munch on when he got hungry.  Let's see what Rich had in his Bento!

Starting at the top, right, is some homemade chicken salad with almonds and grapes.  Below that are the crackers to go with it as well as about 10 M&M's as a treat!  In the large section he has orange slices, kiwi and apple hearts, cucumber stripes, and a little container of my yummy fruit dip is underneath the little love note...which he NEVER mentioned!  Sometimes you gotta ask yourself, "Why do I bother?"  He is usually very appreciative so I guess I can let him slide this one time!  lol

I just had to include a pic of the salad I got for lunch that Rich took the leftovers from.  This is a Cobb Salad from Backyard Bistro in Raleigh and let me tell you...it was HUGE!  It is one of my fave things there...with their homemade avocado-ranch dressing.  My niece and I went there because I had a $20 groupon!  Her salad is below....

My niece, Taylor, had a lettuce bowl salad with all kinds of veggies and some kind of seasoned, grilled chicken.  The presentation was so pretty!

LOTS & LOTS of FREEBIES!!

Do you love freebies as much I do?  I hope so!  I am including a few of my faves that I have come across lately!  Please share any that you have!  Free = GOOD!

FREE Personalized Father's Day Card  They mail it to your dad for free as well!  I have gotten free ones for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day as well!  They do great work!  You won't be disappointed!! Code is LUVDAD2

FREE Bodycology Wild Poppy Cream  Takes you to their Facebook page.  Just fill out the form!

FREE Arm & Hammer Toothpaste  Again, just fill out your info!

Parma Vegan Cheese Sample - Free!  Try it, you might like it!  Afterall, it's FREE!

StayFree Sample - Free  Just fill out your info!  I keep these stashed in my desk at work and my car for emergencies!  

Well, there ya' have it!  Enjoy!  And don't forget to SHARE your deals as well!

Father's Day...on the Cheap!

Father's Day is coming up on June 17th..any idea what you're gonna get your dad...or your baby's daddy??  If your dad is like mine was, he has everything!  Unfortunately, I will miss my daddy like crazy like I do everyday, but my Furrybabies always get their dad something.  Here are some FRUGAL Father's Day ideas:

Make a Daddy Caddy: use a recycled coffee can to make a decorative tool caddy for Dad to store things like nuts and bolts for DIY projects.

 Photos for His Desk: give Dad something that he can show off on his desk at his office at work. This cute photo cube is one idea, but use your creativity!

Other Homemade Ideas: a personalized blanket, a cool scrapbook or a duct tape wallet may be the way to go this Father's Day.

A Freshly-Detailed Car

Here are a few sites for Craft Ideas for the Kids!

Family Crafts

Family Fun

Martha Stewart

Father's Day Freebies

TCBY: head to your local TCBY location to pick up a free frozen yogurt on Father's Day! 

Free Personalized Cards: send dad a free Father's Day photo card from Cardstore.com. Just enter in coupon code LUVDAD2 at checkout after you've selected you card. Offer is good through June 8th and shipping is also free. 

Make Your Own Free Cards: print your own cards for free from one of these 20 great sites. 

Vistaprint Freebies: find free customizable gifts, like business cards, mugs, t-shirts and more over at Vistaprint.

Frugal Ways to Pay It Forward (PIF)!

How good does it feel to Pay It Forward (PIF)?  I have paid for the guy/gal behind me at the drive thru or printed out an extra coupon for Michael's and brought it with me to give someone.  Just because your broke doesn't mean you can't Pat It Forward!  Sometimes all it takes is time.  TipHero had a few ideas on how to frugally Pay It Forward and I wanted to share them with you!

• Roll Spare Change. Collect all of your spare change and roll it up. You can take half of what you gathered to a favorite charity or an animal shelter. You'll be surprised by how much you find and you won't even miss it when it's gone.
• Coupons. You might get coupon inserts in your Sunday paper or in the mail. Maybe you use them and maybe you don't. There might even be many that you don't have a need for such as ones for pet food or diapers. Many grocery stores have coupon exchange bins at the entrance where you can drop off your unwanted coupons or you can give them to families that you know of that use products that you don't.  I also leave coupons tucked beside the product they are for around the store.  
• Time. Giving your time doing a bit of yard work for an elderly neighbor, or watching a friend's small children while she runs errands are very valuable gestures. Volunteer groups are always looking for additional help.
• Food Pantry. Food pantries need contributions year-round. The next time you see grocery items at rock-bottom sale prices or a buy one get one free promotion, just toss a few extras in the cart. Every time you've collected a small amount, simply swing by a food bank and make you donation.  I do this all of the time, usually to friends/family/neighbors.  I clean out my pantry and freezer every time I know someone I know is having a hard time.  I appear on their front porch with several bags of groceries and a smile.  It makes me feel so good to see them smile!
• Clothing Drive. While donating your old clothes to clothing drives, women's shelters, and the Salvation Army is charitable in itself, why not take it a step further and throw some new items into the mix. Snagging heavily discounted toys after the holidays or hitting up end-of-season clearance sales will offset your out-of-pocket expense.  Recently, Wal-Mart had T-shirts and shorts marked down to a buck!!  I stocked up on various sizes and brought them to school.  SEVERAL kids truly needed a few new items.  

What are some other ideas do you have for PAYING IT FORWARD?  What are some things you have done??  After all, we are in this thing called LIFE together!

Restaurant Review: GrEAT Mongolian Grill

Hubby and I decided to have a date night a while back.  We went and tried a new restaurant that I ran across online through Groupon (although I didn't buy the deal...just remembered the place).  GrEAT Mongolian Grill is located in Cary @ Harrison Pointe Shopping Center.  I now understand why the reviews mentioned that it was never crowded....it's on the back of the center.  I would have never known it was there.  I am SO glad we found it!  Hubby has never liked Mongolian food, but he knows that I love it and we def don't go often.

It was awesome!  The food was fantastic, especially the Sesame Mushroom sauce.  Our service was amazing!  First the food...there was a large buffet right in the middle of the restaurant.  You took 2 bowls:  1 large for Veggies and 1 small for proteins.  They had everything from bean sprouts to zucchini to noodles...probably about 30 different veggie-type things.  For proteins it ranged from tofu to shrimp to steak to calamari...maybe 12ish of those.  My first creation had a little of LOTS of things:  noodles, scallions, onions, mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, Napa cabbage, broccoli, shrimp, beef, and chicken.  I'm sure I left something out!  At the end of the bar, there are about 7 containers with things such as sesame seeds, garlic, pepper, etc.  I added some of that as well.  They also use a "stick" system to choose your sauce.  Each sauce is written on a sign with a color beside it.  You place the corresponding stick in your food.  You also choose a chili pepper stick.  Green in mild, 2 greens - medium, 1 red hot, 2 reds very hot!  I chose the Sesame Mushroom sauce out of other sauces such as teriyaki, sweet Asian chile, and a few others.  I went with medium for my heat...and I'm glad I did!  Anyway, once you have done this, you give it to the chefs at the humungous grill.  They ask if you would like steamed or fried rice and give you a number.  Back at the table you stick your number card on the little stand on each table.  The waitress brings it to you when it's ready.  Hubby had a very similar creation.  He order white sauce to go on his...he says he could put it on gravel and it would be yummy!

My first taste

Oh, we started with Endamame.  It was good...just your average with s little sea salt.  It was cooked good, but honestly, I buy it by the large bag in the freezer section @ Trader Joe's for $1.69.  I like it just as well.  It was $3.99 here...I'm glad I got it but don't know if I would get it again because I'm cheap!!

My App

 Rebecca was our server.  She was AWESOME!  She was friendly from the beginning but after we had been there a few times, she warmed up even more.  We ended up exchanging email info before we left!  She hooked us up too!  The prices are:  1 trip - 9.99, unlimited is 11.99.  If you want to bring your unlimited leftovers home, it's 4.69 extra.  Normally this is a small take out box and she brought us a large.  I went up and fixed a bowl 4 different ways, skipping the rice.  I took probably 3-4 bites out of each.  The rest was brought home.  We have a GOOD 4 meals leftover!  Oh, and she laughed at me because I told her that their water was some of the best I had ever had.  She said they had a filtering system in place..well...it was GOOD water!  :)

Our bill was right at $35.  We left Rebecca a $15 tip.  It was a fantastic experience!!

Weekly Meal Plan via the SMARTSHOPPER!

I follow a couponing/deal blog on WRAL.com hosted by a friend of mine and local celebrity, Faye Prosser.  This lady rocks!  She teaches you how to coupon the RIGHT, ETHICAL way!  We call her the "SmartShopper" and her blog is called that too!  Anyway, I just posted my weekly menu plan there so I thought I'd post it here as well!  Hopefully, I will be able to incorporate a few bentos as well!  What do you think??


Monday - Homemade "Hambone Veggie Soup", blueberries/strawberries
Tuesday - Corned Beef Brisket, carrots, potatoes, cabbage (St. Patty's Day again - will be making corned beef hash for breakfast Saturday)
Wednesday - Leftover soup and our fave grilled ham n' cheese topped with a thin slice of tomato (produce box) and fresh basil leaves (YUMMM)
Thursday - Cheese enchiladas (with homemade sauce put up last year), corn on the cob, salad (weekly produce box)
 Friday - my version of Sesame Chicken, broccoli (weekly produce box), roasted new potatoes (produce box) Saturday - HUGE Sea Scallops (Trader Joe's has the BEST), garden peas (produce box), new potatoes (box) and strawberries/blueberries (also from box)
Sunday - Sounds like a great day to use a GROUPON at Backyard Bistro!!
Wow...didn't think I had it in me! Sounds like a yummy week...if I follow through!

Soup is always a win in our house!  Leftovers for lunches!  :)

Slacker!

Wow...its been a long time!  Life has been CRAZY busy!  I am hoping that next week while I am home while hubby is healing from surgery that I will be able to post a good, long blog!  I have been jotting down notes and stuff each time I think about it so I don't forget!

Good news is Old Navy has been having AWESOME sales online and in store.  Check them out!  I have gotten shirts for $3 each and stuff like that!  I cleaned out around 10 trashbags full of clothes from my closet  (several still w/ tags) and still have plenty of clothes right now!  I've dropped quite a few pounds so the old stuff was little rough!  Oh, Walmart has their clearance clothing marked down to $1 and $3!!  I stocked up on tanks and a couple of cute, knit tops.

I am in the process of canning about 40lbs of tomatoes!  Come this winter, I will be glad I did.  I have also frozen a BUTTLOAD of veggies and berries.  I have made lots of freezer jam and regular jam for my first time.  It's not bad!  I like the Blueberry on my homemade white bread.  I'll have to post a few pics!  I'm little Ms. Suzy Homemaker!!  LOL

Anyway, I'll be back soon!  In the meantime, please send good thoughts and/or prayers my hubby's way.  I know his surgery will go smoothly but some added insurance never hurts!

Keep on Keeping On!
Joy

Strawberry Jam - before going into jars

Blueberries picked from Smith's Nursery - before they were jam!

My very first loaf of homemade bread - YUMM!

TOTALLY worth the little effort!!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

Homemade Granola Bars

My Granola Bars that are QUITE tasty!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bread - ummm...Hello!!

GOOD Deal Alert!

BJ's has HUGE bottles of Aussie Moist Shampoo for $2.90 each!!!