Friday, April 30, 2010

MAIL CALL POST 4/30

Today's mail call was awesome! I won a pair of Earth Footwear during their Earth Day promotion. I was one of 40 people who won shoes on Earth Day. I had my choice of shoes from their Spring line. I am going to wear them around for a couple of days and then write a review post.

I also got a few coupons and a sample pad from Party In My Pants. They make cloth feminine care products. On Earth Day, they gave a free pad for those who were interested in their products.

Fangirls are going to love this! Her Universe article

StarWars.com recently did an interview with Ashley Eckstein about the origins of HerUniverse. She says in the article that the line will start out with t-shirts and sweatshirts then necklaces and rhinestone hats. Eventually, they would like to go into cosmetics!!! OMG can you imagine lightsader lip gloss or an R2D2 compact. My inner fangirl is squealing uncontrollably right now.

I also like the fact that she is really interested in what the fans have to say and is very passionate about the line. Please read more of the article at http://www.starwars.com/vault/collecting/heruniverse2/index.html

I have been so excited about Her Universe since I learned about earlier this week! I am a huge Star Wars fan. As you can see by some of my pictures, my family takes Star Wars seriously.
We have our custom R2 unit, named R2-AL. My husband and I in costume for a Toys for Tots .

Thursday, April 29, 2010

For Locals- Busy Weekend, lots of events

This is a really busy weekend with lots of events planned throughout the community.

First off, In Spartanburg, it is Spring Fling!! April 30- May 2 http://www.spartanburgspringfling.com/
There are a lot of great concerts lined, lots of family friendly activities.

Reedy River Duck Derby- May 1 from 11-4 10,000 rubber ducks will be released into the Reedy all racing to the finish line where prizes will be awarded to the winning duck's "adopters". We combine the race with a Community Children's Day with booths focused on hands-on children's activities and entertainment. You can adopt a duck for $5, find details on the website.
http://www.reedyriverduckderby.com/

Check out CommandCentral Paintball! Their paintball field is open Saturday and Sunday. They are located at 2829 White Horse Road Or call 864-630-7913 for more details and hours. Check out their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/commandcentralpaintball?ref=ts

PatchUp Accessories

Check out PatchUp Accessories- They create sustainable/eco fashion. PatchUp Accessories distributes handbags & apparel that are from 100% recycled candy wrappers.

I stumbled across them today on Facebook! I am in love with their handbags. I already have a tote bag made from juice pouches, but these are even better!!
I learned from their Facebook page that it can take up to four thousand candy wrappers and four days to create one individual bag. That certainly makes these one of kind!

Each is handcrafted using ancient weaving techniques and the export of these bags ensures that the artisans can make a fair living and support their families and communities.

Free Ice Cream at Carvels TODAY! 4/29

If you missed out on 31 cent night at Baskin Robins, then go by your local Carvels today! They are offering a FREE 3.5 oz cup of the new and delicious Low Fat Ice Cream ALL DAY April 29th!

They are also celebrating the launch of our just-released Carvel Flavor Shotz.
Choose one of 12 flavors (Acai Berry, Banana, Black ...Raspberry,
Blueberry, Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, Mango, Mint, Orange, Peach,
Pistachio or Pomegranate) to top your soft serve AT NO CHARGE!

Earth Fare has Web Coupons

Earth Fare now has web coupons! Right now, they have over $85 worth of organic and green coupons on their website. http://www.earthfare.com/HealthySavings/coupons.aspx

Earth Fare Coupon- Free Cookies!

Earth Fare's Coupon this week is for free cookies!! http://www.earthfare.com/HealthySavings/EmailCoupon_4.aspx

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

31 cent scoop night at Baskin Robins

I hope everyone had a great time at the Baskin Robins 31 cent scoop night. My family and I had a great time. The line was long!

It took us about 45 minutes to make it inside the building
But, I am willing to wait it out for the magnificence known as Peanut Butter Chocolate!
If you went tonight, I hope you and your family had a good time too.

MAIL CALL POST 4/28


Today's mail call is great! First, we got some really good Target Electronic coupons. There are 8 coupons for different electronic items, movies, and games.

We also got our First Aid kit from the http://apps.facebook.com/ideachallenges/dashboard.php?challengeID=3

I participated in the El Monterey Money Savings Challenge and found there were other opportunities. So, I took part in the Health Care Idea Challenge. I earned points and cashed them in for the first aid kit. It is really nice, has 200 pieces. It arrived today via UPS from Target.com I am going to be on the look for more of these challenges because we have gotten some really nice items. See http://thesqueakygrocerycart.blogspot.com/2010/04/mail-call-4212010.html to check out the family board games from the El Monterey Challenge.

Zhu Zhu Pets Crew


Yesterday, I got an email from MomSelect. They are going to be hosting future Zhu Zhu Pet events, including:
  • Blog Reviews
  • In-Home Party Hosting
  • Local Events
  • Video Contests
  • Twitter Parties
  • Facebook Promotions
  • Sneak Peeks of New Releases
  • Many More Zhu-riffic Programs!
I am so excited about this!! We have 4 Zhu Zhu pets in our home. My daughter loves them! I think Jilly (pink & white) is her favorite. I camped out at Christmas time to pick these up as stocking stuffers. Crazy, yes possibly. But, I think it was worth it, because they really have been a lot of fun. One of our favorite Zhu Zhu activities has been to have Zhu Zhu races across the kitchen floor.

My daughter informed me that we needed the Zhu Zhu babies and a car. I am really hoping that I will be able to take part in some of these activities.

Raising the Smelly Kid




I have a 5 year old son, who recently informed me that he smelled gamey after playing outside. He liked his "man smell" and didn't want to lose his stink. To which I replied, OK.

First of all, it was hard not to laugh, because he was very serious. I am pretty sure he got the vocabulary gamey and man smell from his dad. (Thanks a lot honey!!) So now, I find myself raising a wannabe smelly kid. Is this a boy thing?

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Free Panties from Lane Bryant

Head on over to the Lane Bryant website and ccmplete the short form. Print out the coupon, bring into the store and smile! You just got free panties! (Thanks Mojo Savings)

http://mojosavings.com/2010/04/27/free-cacique-panty-at-lane-bryant/


Coupon fine print as follows: Present this coupon at any Lane Bryant or Lane Bryant Outlet store to receive your free Cacique solid cotton panty (up to $12.50 value.) Limit one free panty offer per customer per day while items last.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Her Universe- Merchandise for Fangirls!!!


I am a huge Star Wars fan! I have loved Star Wars since I was 3 years old. I always wanted to be Princess Leia. My daughter is named after Princess Leia. But one thing about Star Wars, is that it has always catered to the Fanboys. Nevermind the young girls who grew up with it, loved it, and passed that love on to their own children. Yeah George, we are a little ticked!!

But, thanks to Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ashoka Tano ) she is entering into a multi-year deal with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-focused Star Wars products, to be made available at conventions throughout the country and via the Her Universe website. Right now, there are only a few designs but I love what I am seeing so far!! Check out Her Universe on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/HerUniverse?ref=mf

MAIL CALL POST 4/26/2010


Today, was a great mail call! I got my first issue of my free Good Housekeeping, sample of popcorn, free yogurt coupon, $5 El Monterey Taquitos (from the El Monterey Facebook Challenge) and book of Target coupons!!

Anybody else get anything good today?

Enjoying National Pretzel Day















I hope everyone got to go to their local Pretzelmakers today. My kids and I had a fun snack time. We sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to get our pretzels.

The lady working there was surprised we knew about pretzel day. She said it had been very slow at our location.

Tulle Time Fairy

Please visit Tulle Time Fairy

My friend Pam makes beautiful custom fairy costumes and birthday tutu sets. Right now, she is trying to reach 250 facebook fans. After she reaches her goal, she will be having a giveaway for a fairy set.

If you are looking for a costume, birthday set, or want to create a unique photo check out her work.

Hue Mother's Day Giveaway

HUE Fans! Their Mother's Day Sweepstakes is live! Upload your favorite Mom
& Kids shot for a chance to win a pair of PJs. They are giving away 200 pairs.

Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 PM EDT on Thursday, April 29th. Become a Hue fan on Facebook.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

National Pretzel Day TOMORROW- Freebies





Tomorrow is National Pretzel Day. There are some freebies available tomorrow.

First, become a fan of Snyders of Hanover on Facebook. Their status says The first 500 people to email soh@snyders-han.com, stating their favorite style or flavor of Snyder’s pretzel will get a FREE Snyder product coupon! Valid from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m on April 26, 2010 ONLY!’
Be sure to include your name, address, and favorite pretzel.

Pretzelmakers - Will be giving away free pretzels (at participating locations)
* To mark this festive day, customers are encouraged to visit their local Pretzelmaker on National Pretzel Day, sing a snippet from a song of their choice and receive a FREE pretzel(with or without salt). Patrons who prefer not to sing won't go hungry - they can simply mention "National Pretzel Day" and receive their free snack*.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Free Nabisco at CVS

Starting tomorrow, Nabisco products will be on sale at CVS. Use the following coupons to get them for FREE!!!

Become a fan of Wheat Thins on Facebook, get a $1 off coupon. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=688218125&v=wall&story_fbid=115741565116091#!/wheatthins?ref=mf

Become a fan of Fig Newtons on Facebook, get a $1 off coupon http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=688218125&v=wall&story_fbid=115741565116091#!/nabiscocookies?ref=mf

MAIL CALL POST 4/24/2010






Today, we got the new pretzel M&M sample. Not much of an M&M fan, but these are really good!

Is there such a thing as too Green?

With Earth Week drawing to a conclusion,I found myself asking the question, Is there such a thing as too green? or Are we just too comfortable?

I was reading on a forum the other day about families who have chosen to go paper free. It goes beyond just paper towels, paper napkins, and opting to using cloth diapers. They no longer use toilet paper and disposable feminine care products. The person posting did not go into personal details, but their post left me with a lot of questions. So I did some research...

http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/going_green_with_the_family_cloth This is an article about the concept of Family Cloth. It talks about taking old t-shirts, scraps of cloth, and using it for personal wipes. Doesn't sound too difficult, but I know in my home, my husband would not go for this. What happens when you have visitors over? They may have never been exposed to some of the more extreme environmental choices. How would you give them the heads up about your bathroom or would you just keep a roll for guest? Would you want them using your family cloth?

I have never really thought of toilet paper as a luxury, but it really is. It has always been our bathroom. I have never had to use a corn cob, leaf, or Sears catalog. My dad did! My grandparents didn't have indoor plumbing until my dad was around 12 years old. They used the Sears catalog. People in third world countries aren't worried about squeezing the Charmin. So now I am left wondering, could I give up toilet paper? I am pretty sure the answer is no. We use a toilet paper that is made of recycled materials, and I think we will be sticking with that.

My second bit of research lead me to feminine care products, since I had a lot of questions in that department too. I found several sites that were interesting, because some of the options I had never heard of. http://www.greenoptions.com/products/category/feminine-care

The natural disposable products are made without chemicals, such as chlorine, and organic cotton. The traditional products have surprising ingredients that we would never consider ingesting, but we freely use them when the time comes. But, they are still disposable. Feminine product disposal causes a lot of problems. They are major culprits in causing clogged toilets. "Research has shown that the No. 1 bacteria hot spot in a women's restroom is the “sanitary” napkin disposal unit, and the risk of contact with potentially harmful blood borne pathogens is often overlooked." http://www.greenlodgingnews.com/content.aspx?id=4081

The cloth pads were no surprise. I have heard my grandmother talk about those. She hated them! and was so happy when disposables came along. I found this site, http://partypantspads.com/ I have to say that I am kind of swayed by their fabric choices. I actually ordered one. The reviews I read were good and I am curious. I will spare everyone the details, but I am willing to give it a try next month. However, Mother Nature did not bless me with an easy cycle so I have my doubts. I am concerned about the logistics of changing them in public and carrying a used one around until I get home. The idea of that just doesn't appeal to me.

The last 2 items I found were the sea sponge tampons and the Diva Cup. I will let you read about those on your own. I think those are a leap too far for me to take. But, I would love to talk to someone who has used those.

I am still left with a lot of questions. Am I willing to change for the sake of our planet's health? In some areas, the answer is already yes. I have made those changes. In other areas, I don't know. My husband teases me because he says I already walk that fine line between normal and tree hugging hippie. But normal at one time, was using the Sears catalog. I guess it is what you get used to and how willing you are to change. I think in the end, there are some areas in which, I just am not willing to change.

FREE CVS 4x6 photo magnet

CVS is offering a free 4×6 photo magnet! Just log into your account, create the 4×6 magnet, select in store pick up and use the code FREE4MOM at checkout to get it completely free!

Free Bumpit!! HURRY !!

Sign up to get a free Bumpit on their facebook page! This is just in time for wedding and prom season!

http://www.facebook.com/Bumpits?v=app_119338848082357&ref=ts

Earth Week Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Earth Week Giveaway was Vittoria!!!! Thanks to everyone who entered! Be on the look out for another giveaway!!!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Blogging Discouragment

I am new to blogging, its kind of obvious. I have only been doing it a few months, but I am getting really discouraged with it. I feel like I need to be getting more readers, I just don't know how. I know it takes time, I am just impatient. I want to have an exciting blog with giveaways and parties stuff like blogs with larger fan bases.
I lost 2 fans off of Facebook today. I guess I am just having a bad day, but I took it kind of personally. Anybody else feel this way some times? I really could use some advice

Recipe Share- Spicy Peach Glazed Chicken Wings

Spicy Peach Glazed Chicken Wings

Chicken Wings (2-3 lbs.)
any kind of seasoning you prefer

Peach Glaze:
16 oz jar Peach preserves
1/4 cup mustard (yellow or other)
1/2 tsp of garlic powder
1 Tbs of Brown sugar
1 Tbs of Lemon Juice
1 tsp Louisiana Hot Sauce (I don't really measure the Louisiana Hot, I go by personal taste.
...)

Season and bake chicken wings until done. For the sauce, put peach preserves in pot over medium heat until it melts. Add remaining ingredients and mix well, bring to a slow boil then remove from heat. You can toss the wings in the sauce or serve on the side for dipping.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Earth Fare Coupon: BOGO Chicken Cordon Bleu Griller

Today Earth Fare is offering a BOGO coupon for Chicken Cordon Blue grillers.
http://www.earthfare.com/HealthySavings/EmailCoupon_2.aspx

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

MAIL CALL 4/21/2010


I am a few days behind in doing a mail call post.
We got 3 board games from the El Monterey Savings Challenge, $5 El Monterey coupon, free sample of Men's Dove body wash, Stride Mega Mystery gum sample, free Family Circle magazine, some other assorted free coupons not pictured (Sun Chips, Yo Plus yogurt, Morning Star, and Natural Instincts hair dye)

Shopping Trip- CVS/Bilo


Today's shopping trip to CVS

1 box of hair dye, 1 hair brush, 1 bag of gummy worms, 1 bottle of Arizona Tea, 2 CVS bag tags, 1 shopping bag.

Total OOP: $3.26



Bilo: 1 box Morning Star Chik'n patties and 1 bag of ripe organic bananas
Total OOP: $1.50

Earth Fare Coupon: 20% off Bulk and free shopping bag


Earth Fare's coupon is for 20% off bulk food and a free shopping bag with any bulk food purchase.
This includes spices and bulk body care, but does not include coffee or pre-packaged bulk items. Offer valid 4/21-4/27/2010

http://www.earthfare.com/HealthySavings/EmailCoupon_3.aspx

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Lemon and Water




I have been trying to cut out a lot of sugar and other unhealthy things from my diet. So I have been sticking to just drinking water. Well, lets face it water gets boring. I recently discovered True Lemon and it is amazing! I just add it to a glass of water and mix it. It has a really great lemon taste. I can't wait to try the True Lime and Orange. If this helps me stick with my diet , then I am all for it.

I was reading on the True Lemon website all of the other uses. I am going to have to try using it in cooking. Check out their website for a free sample: http://www.truelemon.com/sample.cfm

National Pet ID Week

This week is National Pet ID Week. Visit http://www.foundanimals.org/

Sign up for the Found Animals Newsletter and in honor of National Pet ID Week you can fill out the form to receive a Free Pet ID Tag.

Green Genius- Biodegradable Bags Free Sample

I recently stumbled across these! A fully biodegradable plastic trash bag that’s the same strength and price as leading bags. It almost seems to good to be true, when usually anything promoted as green costs twice as much.

I have never used Green Genius so I requested a sample.

Green Genius Bags…

•Are just as puncture-resistant as leading bags
•Are priced the same as regular bags
•Meet ASTM D5511, which certifies our bags biodegrade under landfill conditions.

Check them out for yourself!

http://thegreengenius.com/sample/

Monday, April 19, 2010

Earth Fare Coupon: Free Soap







Get up to 4 oz of Summer's Bulk Soap free with a $5 purchase. Click link for coupon!

http://www.earthfare.com/HealthySavings/EmailCoupon_1.aspx

Earth Week Giveaway

UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway was Vittoria! Thank you everyone for entering. Be on the look out for more giveaways

Since it is Earth Week, I thought I would host a give away. My family and I have been trying to go more green. I would love to hear what you are doing to go green.



Here are some recycling factoids:




1. Each day a single person creates 4.7 pounds of waste.

2. 54% of solid waste makes it to the landfills and only 33.4% is recycled or composted

3. 1 plastic bottle sits in a landfill for 100-1000 years.

4. Glass takes up to 4000 years to decompose


Facts from Recyclingfacts.org and Environment-green.com

To help you out going green, I am going to giveaway a reusable shopping bag, CVS bag tag, and few other green surprises.

A few rules:

1.) Leave a comment on the blog telling me how you are going green. (mandatory)

2.) Become a blog follower. If you are already a follower, please leave a comment saying so.

3.) Become a fan on Facebook.

4. Become a Twitter follower.

So there are 4 ways you can enter this giveaway! You must leave a separate comment for each thing you do. If you only leave one comment but do all 4, it will only count as one entry. Please make sure that you post your email with your comment.

I will choose a winner on Earth day, April 22.

15 Items We forget to Recycle

I found this interesting article about items that are totally recyclable, but most people like me, forget to recycle! http://www.greenwala.com/community/blogs/all/5710-15-Totally-Recyclable-Materials-That-Most-Of-Us-Keep-Forgetting-About

Rudi's Organic Bakery Contest

Become a fan of Rudi's Organic Bread on Facebook . They are having a contest to help them create a vanity plate for the Loafswagon. Help them by posting a suggestion!

"It's contest time again! We need a little help with vanity plate ideas for The Loafswagon!! We'll give the person with the best suggestions 6 FREE coupons and the two runners-up 3 FREE coupons for Rudi's bread! Just comment on this post with your idea and make sure to keep it within 7 characters or it won't fit on the plate!"

http://www.facebook.com/rudisorganicbakery?v=info#!/rudisorganicbakery?v=wall

Recycling- 1 bag of Trash A Week!

My goal this year has been to see how far we could reduce our household waste. Is it possible to reduce it to zero? Well, I am not there just yet, but we have succeeded in having only one bag of trash this week. That is a huge improvement!! In the past, we would have sometimes 2 or 3. When our kids were in diapers, 4 bags. No, we weren't very environmentally friendly in the diaper department.

By starting small, we are sticking to our goals now. Here are some of my tips:

1. Start small. Each small step turns into a big one.

2. Use reusable shopping bags. I have an impressive collection bags, but at first I was terrible about forgetting them. I solved the problem by keeping them in the cars. I also found one that folds up, so I always have one in my purse.

3. No recycling bins? No problem! Just use what you have. I started out with a large cardboard box. Its not the greatest and every time I take my recycling I lose my bin, but its ok. I just start over with another box.

4. I signed my family up to get collect juice pouches for TerraCycle. My kids drink Capri Suns. So to cut down on the juice pouch waste that was an easy step for us.

5. More reusable items. We have cut out paper products like napkins and paper plates. I bought some inexpensive cloth napkins and I just wash dishes. Its not too bad, the kids like to help out.

I am still looking for more ways to reduce our household waste. Any ideas or suggestions?

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Free Hood Sour Cream (limited area)

Become a fan of HP Hood on Facebook . They will send you a coupon for a free sour cream. The coupon is only good in a limited area, because of availability. So if you live in the north, sign up for this great freebie

LEGAL: DUE TO PRODUCT AVAILABILITY, COUPON IS ONLY VALID FOR CONSUMERS RESIDING IN CONNECTICUT, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND AND VERMONT.




http://www.facebook.com/HPHood?v=app_100986888577

Friday, April 16, 2010

Random Picture Post




Kool Aid Points Discontinued





I was so sad to find out that Kraft is getting rid of the Kool Aid points. You only have until June to send in your Kool Aid points.

I remember being a kid, walking past the Kool Aid displays in the grocery store. You know you could always save up the points and send off to get some sort of Kool Aid themed item. I always wanted to do that but we never really drank that much Kool Aid. Once in a while, it was kind of a special treat for us. My husband remembers his mom saving them, because they actually got some sort of Kool Aid video game.

So now I am on a mission to find Kool Aid points! I am interested in the Kool Aid smile t-shirt. Yes, I know it sounds silly, but things like this will be missed. I am probably just old, but I miss sitting with my grandmother licking Green Stamps. My grandmother used to collect those all time. It would sometimes take hours to get all of those stamps in the books.

I am the only one who misses Green Stamps and will miss Kool Aid points? http://brands.kraftfoods.com/koolaid/KoolPointsForm.pdf

Toys R Us 2 Day Deals

Toys R Us is a having a 2 Day Sale. Some of the in-store specials are:

Spend $40 on Barbie dolls, playsets, dressup, and accessories Get a free Barbie Tote Bag ($19 value)

33% off Star Wars Lego Mon Calamari Cruiser

All video games $19.99 or less Buy 1, Get 1 50% off

Buy 2, Get 3rd free All Playschool Infant & Preschool toys

Buy 1, Get 1 50% off All Nerf

Saturday April, 17 from 11 to 1 is a Thomas the Train Playdate. There will be specials on Thomas The Train railway sets, accessories, and games.

Check you local ad for more specials

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Terra Cycle Kites


I have been looking in every Walmart in my area for the TerraCycle products. I finally found the M&M kite today! Which I am thrilled about!

The school that my children attend collect items to send back to TerraCycle. TerraCycle pays 2 cents for each piece they collect and send back to TerraCycle. It is a great program to help put money back into the school. TerraCycle makes hundreds of items that are eco-friendly and affordable because they are made from waste. After you see how cool these items are, you really start to think twice about waste. Plus, it teaches kids a valuable lesson about recycling.

I purchased the kite for $4. My youngest asked if those were some of her M&M wrappers. I said of course those are some of our wrappers. We tried to have some kite flying time, but the wind today just wasn't strong enough. Maybe tomorrow...

TerraCycle and Walmart have paired up to feature their products for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. The promotion is for a limited time April 5-29 , 2010. Be on the look out in your local Walmarts (US ONLY) for new tote bags made from upcycled Frito Lays bags, kites made out of M&M and Skittles wrappers. Assort bags and lunch bags made from drink pouches. They also have a full line of journals, notebooks, and folders. You will love them! Please consider how you can start a TerraCycle program in your own child's school or day care.

2 new coupon booklets at Publix

Yesterday, I was in my local Publix and found 2 new coupon booklets. The first , Find deals that make your Earth Day. It has the following coupons that are good from April 14-30, 2010:

$2 off the purchase of three or more Cascadian Farm Organic Chewy Granola Bars or Cereal
$2 off the purchase of three or more Cascadian Farm Organic Frozen Fruits or Vegetables
$1 off the purchase of three or more Scotties Facial Tissues
.55 off the purchase of any McCormick spice or herb
.50 off the purchase of one Snyder's of Hanover Organic Pretzels
$1 off the purchase of one Newman's Own dry dog or cat food
$1 off the purchase of one Brita Pitcher replacement filter
.55 off the purchase of one Silk Soymilk or Almondmilk
.75 off the purchase of two Amy's Organic Burritos
One free Publix reusable bag, with the purchase of three Odwalla Juices or Smoothies
.55 off the purchase of one Bob's Red Mill product
.55 off the purchase of one Sun Chip's Multigrain snacks


The second coupon booklet, There's Value in the Family, contains $34 in coupon savings for SC Johnson products. All of the coupons are good until May 19, 2010

$3 off Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner Starter Kit
$1 off any Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel
$1 off any Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush 2 in 1 starter kit or refill pack
$1 off Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer
$2 off any two Scrubbing Bubble s Bathroom Cleaner
$1 off any two Windex glass cleaning products
$3 on Windex Outdoor All in One Glass Cleaning Tool starter kit
$1 on any Pledge multi-surface products
$1 on any Pledge furniture care product
$1 on Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair
$1 on any Scrubbing Bubbles fantastik All Purpose Cleaner
$1 on any Drano clog remover
$3 on any Glade Plugins Scented Oil lasting impression holder
$1 on any Glade Plugins Scented Oil twin refill or Two single refills
$1 on any Glade Relaxing Moments 9.7 oz Spray
$3 on any Glade Sense & Spray starter kit
$1 on any Glade Fabric & Air Odor Eliminator
$1 on any Shout product
$2 on any Raid Max Bug Barrier
$1 on any Ziploc Brand Containers
$1 on any Two Ziploc Brand Zip n Steam bags
$2 on any one Ziploc vaccum Starter kit
$1 on any two Ziploc Brand bags

Getting Kids to do Chores!!??

I have tried a lot of different ways to get my children motivated to clean their rooms. It is often frustrating for everyone. But, I have found something new that we are trying. We are now using an online chore chart (http://www.myjobchart.com/l/mom-select/) .

MyJobChart is a free online tool. It combines fundamental principals from leading childhood psychologist and cutting edge technology. MyJobChart is a great way for children to learn to work and save. Three easy steps will get you and your child started.

1. Assign jobs for your child. It can be anything from homework to cutting the grass, or anything else that you can imagine. It is totally customizable. You can make MyJobChart fit the needs of your family. The jobs show up immediately, ready to be checked off.

2. Your kids can log on and view their list of what jobs need to be done. They can also see completed task and plan for rewards. Parents can leave little notes to help motivate them along. MyJobChart is a great way for kids to learn to manage their jobs and earn.

3. Parents set the rewards. You will get an email or text message when your child completes a job or gets a reward. When kids save up enough points, they can redeem them for rewards. Kids learn to budget and manage their rewards, along with having a sense of a job well done.

My children and I sat down together and created each of their job lists. It is very fast and easy to set up, even for multiple children. They both were very excited and I have already seen some results. If doing chores is a battle in your house, I would encourage you to give it a try.
http://www.myjobchart.com/l/mom-select/

Lowe's Special - Free Lighter Fluid w/purchase

Lowe's has a special- Purchase Kingsford Regular or Hickory Charcoal get a free Kingsford Lighter Fluid. Limit 2 free lighter fluids per person. Offer valid 4/14 -4/19/2010 See store for details.

Earth Fare Coupon: Free Nature's Hardwood Charcoal



This week's Earth Fare coupon is for a 9lb bag of hardwood charcoal briquettes.


http://www.earthfare.com/HealthySavings/EmailCoupon_2.aspx?d=p

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

MAIL CALL 4/14/2010


My mail call post for today. I won a t-shirt on Facebook from Palmetto Cheese! Being from SC, I am pretty familiar with their products. If you have never heard of it or tried it, this is my personal thoughts: IT IS THE BEST PIMENTO CHEESE EVER!!! and the JALAPENO CHEESE IS AMAZING!!!

I know that Costco & Publix sells their pimento cheese. Check at your local store to find it.

The other item is an El Monterey save $5 coupon on any product. My family doesn't really eat frozen meals, but I won the coupon from a contest El Monterey ( I am hopelessly addicted to online contest). They have a contest where you post your favorite ways to save money and people vote on their favorite tips. You can win coupons, t-shirts, board games, a Wii, and a BluRay player. Check out my El Monterey post here:http://thesqueakygrocerycart.blogspot.com/2010/04/el-montereys-facebook-page.html

Old Navy Stuff A Bag Sale!!!

On April 16th, Old Navy is offering the first 50 Stuff & Save customers at EACH Old Navy store 50% off, plus an exclusive tote when they use their Old Navy Card.

If your not one of the first 50 customers, you still will be able to get 20% off everything you stuff inside your tote April 16-29th (excluding gift cards)


What is Earth Fare?


I post Earth Fare's weekly coupons and Boot coupons regularly. But, I have had people ask me, what is Earth Fare? They had never heard of it before.

Earth Fare is based in Ashville, NC. They are a healthy supermarket, specialize in selling organic and all natural products. Their stores are located in NC, SC, GA, and TN. But they are expanding.

I love their food philosphy! NO hydrogenated or partial hydrogenated oils, HFCS, artificial colors, sweeteners, or preservatives. NO antibiotics, growth hormones, or animal by products. NO inhumane treatment of animals providing us with meat, dairy, or eggs. NO bleached or bromated flour. NO irradiated single source spice, produce, or meat

When you sign up for their email newsletter, each week they offer some really great coupons. One week it was a free bag of organic apples, another week it was a homemade pizza kit. It is a great suprise to open their email each week.

They also have a program called the Boot Challenge. Earth Fare post 2 sets of ingredients. After comparing, you decide which ingredients to give the boot. You can get a coupon to trade in your processed food items and get a free healthy alternative. Also look for their weekly deals and fare deals. Fare Deals last all month long and make it easy to stock up on your favorite items.

I think one of the great things about the coupons and the challenge is that Earth Fare makes buying organic a little easier. With their coupons, fare deals and weekly deals, I finally convinced my husband that we could make changes to our eating, purchase organic food items and still save money!!!

I love the Earth Fare atmosphere! It is cozy, warm, and inviting! It really makes shopping there a pleasure. You aren't bombarded by over used signage. There is soft music playing, you can smell a mix of spice,fresh produce, and coffee. It is fun just wander around. Their cheese department is awesome. My kids always giggle over smelling the stinky cheese. I think because it reminds them of the story, The Stinky Cheeseman. But, I always find something new or different that I would like to try.

Their staff is always very helpful and knowledgeable! I love the fact that when I give them my reusable shopping bags, I am not looked at like I have 3 heads or the cashier seems put out that she has to put my items in my bag, unlike some other places. In fact, starting April 22 Earth Fare will no longer have plastic bags in their stores.

I always love to check out their calendar of events. They offer activities like free healthy cooking classes, local farmers markets, and holiday events. If you have an Earth Fare in your area and have never been, I strongly encourage you to give it a try.

http://www.earthfare.com/

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Homemade Pie Tonight!


The kiddos and I decided that we would bake a pie tonight. We had some blackberries and raspberries that needed to be used, along with some delicious blueberries. We tossed the berries with a sprinkling of flour, sugar, and cinnamon.

I used a store bought rolled crust. I really love Publix's store brand crust. I use those for everything. I wish I was a better baker, and made my own crust. Oh well, we all can't be Food Network celeb chefs.


I love cooking with my children. I have found that they are more open to trying new foods.
Plus, it gives them a connection to the foods they eat. It really gives them a boost in self esteem, when they proudly say, I made that!

We let it cool, sprinkled with a little powdered sugar, and dug in!! I think it was the best we ever made! I am thinking about posting a cooking with kids article each week to chronicle our cooking experiments.

Six Flags discount admission

Six Flags is offering Get an Adult Six Flags Ticket for a childs price! Follow the link for the coupon. You will have to present the coupon and show a pack of Stride gum to get the special rate.

http://www.stridegum.com/images/facebook/StrideSixFlagsCoupon.pdf

April 15th- Discounts & Freebies

Some restaurants are having specials on April 15th. Here are a few I have found so far, I will update as more are announced.

Starbucks : Bring in a reusable mug and get a free coffee.

PF Chang's- If you have a PF Chang's Warrior card, you will receive 15% off your meal, instead of the usual 10%.

Chic-fil-A -select locations maybe offering free 3 count Chicken Minis. Check with your local store to see if they are participating.

Whole Food's NO SALES TAX shopping in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama


Maggie Moo's You can get a free sample of Maggie Moo's Icecream Pizza from 3 to 7 pm

Monday, April 12, 2010

Opaleen Jewelry

I had never heard of Opaleen Jewelry until last week. I was reading another blog that was hosting an Opaleen giveaway. So, I entered the contest. To get an extra entry, I became an Opaleen fan on Facebook. Later in the evening, I got an email saying that I had been Opaleen's daily winner. Of course, I couldn't believe my luck! lol I am never that lucky.

My prize was the beautiful set of bangles you see pictured. I have to say that I am very impressed! First of all, the bangles came beautifully packaged in the purple draw string pouch and tied together with a ribbon. Which I thought was a nice attention to details.
The bracelets are a very nice quality. There are rhinestones set into each bracelet. These are going to wonderful accessories for the summer. I can just picture them paired with a simple sundress.

Visit Opaleen on Facebook and become a fan. You might be the next daily winner. You won't be sorry. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=829765&id=1617551662#!/opaleen?ref=ts

MAIL CALL POST 4/12/10

Today was a great mail call! First, I got a lot of great coupons from Cologate. I had written to them because the scent of deodorant I like was being discontinued. So they sent me free deodorant coupons along with other high value coupons on other Cologate products. I got a purse pack of Puffs with lotion from VocalPoint. With that came 5/.50 off and 1/1.00 Puffs. A Jiffy cookbook and a beautiful set of bangle bracelets, I won from Opaleen Jewelry. (see my review post)

I caught the Tooth Fairy Free Photo


This is a photo opt. that is just too cute! Visit http://www.icaughtthetoothfairy.com/?cj_id=3875436

You can show your child that the Toothfairy came to visit with a free photo! This normally costs $9.99, but right now, you can get get one for FREE. Use the code
fairy-proof at checkout. I made one the other day, love it!

Graveyard Mall- Sunglasses Deal

I was so happy to find this! Every summer, never fails, I lose or break my sunglasses. I have the worst luck with them. That is why I personally have a strict rule of never paying a lot for my sunglasses.

Graveyard Mall is offering 10 pairs of MUDD Sunglasses for $10. I have never ordered from them. Anyone have an experience ordering from them? I would love to hear


http://graveyardmall.com/wobrsu10paa2.html

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Crafty Post - Custom Kid Mirrors

I love to be crafty. But, I have to be in the right mood to create. I wish I could hold on to that inspiration all the time. When I was decorating my children's bedrooms I had the worst time finding things that I liked. I felt like everything available was stamped out of a cookie cutter. I wanted each room to reflect their personalities and budding style.


Project #1 Jedi Master A's I Spy Mirror-
My son really loves the I Spy series of books, so that is where I got the inspiration to make his mirror. I collected all sorts of small toys, trinkets, board game pieces, etc, along with bottle caps. Each are attached to the mirror frame with hot glue. Total cost: Mirror $3, bottle caps -Free, small toys/odds&ends estimate around $5. Total- $8




Project #2 Lulu Bean's floral mirror

For Lulu Bean, her room was inspired by a collector Barbie doll, Hula Honey. The doll is dressed as a Hawaiian dancer. I was inspired by her lei. I found bunches of silk orchids at Walmart on clearance for .50 each. I purchased 4 bunches of the flowers. I took all of the blooms and leaves off the plastic stems. Then using hot glue attached them to the mirror. Total- $10 for mirror, $2 for flowers = $12



I am really pleased with the finished product.

Lowe's Build and Grow Calendar of Events

Yesterday, my family and I had a great time at the Lowe's Build and Grow workshop. The kids got to build a table top baseball game.

If you missed out on yesterday's project, here is a list of dates and upcoming projects.

April 17- Planter
April 24- Bird Feeder

May 1 School House
May 8- Trellis
May22- Catapult
May 29- Race Car

If you have never heard about the Lowe's Build and Grow Workshops. They are wonderful! It is a great way to help children build their self esteem. All of the projects are wooden. Each child that participates gets a work apron and goggles. When they complete their project, kids receive a project patch and certificate. My family has been taking part in the Build and Grow workshops for about a year and half now.

TerraCycle Products Available at Walmart!!!!










I am so excited about this!! Starting April 5th -April 29th, nearly 60 TerraCycle products will be available in every Walmart. In honor of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Walmart will feature TerraCycle products for a limited time. This will include lots of brand new items.

If you aren't familiar with TerraCycle, here is some information about the company:

TerraCycle collects traditionally non-recyclable waste from people all across the country by paying a non-profit of the person collectings choice, 2 cents for each piece they collect and mail to the company, with the use of a pre-paid shipping label they can print right from the TerraCycle website (www.TerraCycle.net). A majority of TerraCycle’s active participants are schools, because the students usually bring in the items TerraCycle collects during lunch; such as juice pouches, chip bags, and cookie wrappers, plus the money can go right back to the school. TerraCycle uses the waste it receives from its Brigade members to make hundreds of products that are not only eco-friendly, but are also very affordable because its made from waste!


Here are some of the new TerraCycle products you can expect to find at Walmart starting April 5th:

[Kids Growing Kits]

Teach kids about gardening and the environment at the same time with the TerraCycle Kid’s Growing Kits for Vegetables, Flowers or Herbs. The Kits use upcycled Stonyfield Yogurt Cups as planting pots and TerraCycle’s famous Worm Poop mixed with compost for the growing medium. The Kits come with growing instructions and the cardboard tray holding it all together is even embedded with the seeds needed to start the plants. Almost no part of these kits becomes waste and they come with everything you need to start growing right away. Stonyfield and TerraCycle run a free collection program that pays organizations 3 cents for every used Yogurt Cup they collect.

Kids Growing Kit

[Eco-Kites]

The world’s first standard Delta Kite to be made from food wrappers! These brightly colored kites are made from waste packaging of popular brands like M&M’s and Skittles and look great flying at the beach or above your picnic. Candy wrappers are made strong and light to protect your snacks, which makes them an ideal material to make these affordable, fun kites. So make a statement when you go fly a kite: that you can snack and help the planet! TerraCycle pays schools and non-profits nationwide to collect use packaging, join the 60,000 other groups collecting at www.terracycle.net

red-skittles-kite

[Printed Totes and Wristlets]

For the first time, TerraCycle is proud to introduce a full line of bags made from upcycled food wrappers that are reserved to show the white or silver side, instead of the branded side with logos. Frito-Lay wrappers are turned inside out and have a variety of patterns ranging from flowers to skulls printed on each side. With handles and trim selected to match the patterns, no one will even know these bags are made from waste, until you tell them of course! The line includes a variety of tote bags, wristlets and clutches.

reverse-tote-butterfliesreverse-clutch-butterflies

[Notebooks, Folders, Pencil Cases and Journals]

TerraCycle makes a full line of Journals, Folders and Notebooks made from used Mars candy wrappers from favorite brands like Skittles and M&M’s. These unique, bright items are great for school or personal use. Made from waste wrappers, all of TerraCycle school products have a drastically smaller carbon footprint than traditional products and are still just as affordable and fashionable as any other item!

skittles-lockkey-diarypurple-skittles-journal

[Accessories Bags]

This range of bags includes everything from camera and shoulder bags to backpacks and lunchboxes. Made from a variety of upcycled wrappers including Mars candy wrappers, Frito-Lay wrappers and Capri Sun drink pouches. The items are made from the same wrappers that will cover the very food they may hold on the way to school or work! All made with trim and handles which match the original logos product these bags are as fun and fashionable as they are eco-friendly!

red-skittles-mini-messenger-bag2redskittlespurse2

This is exciting because not only will you easily be able to buy cool new TerraCycle products at Walmarts everywhere, but it will also make the average consumer think twice about where that chip bag or juice pouch is going after they are done using it. This will also give millions of students across the country collecting in a TerraCycle Brigade the opportunity to see their collection efforts come to life!

###

I have several TerraCycle items and they are always conversation starters. I am also happy to say that the school my children attend collect items to send to TerraCycle. Please check out your local Walmart during the month of April for these great products and consider how you could help start a TerraCycle program in your own child's school or daycare.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Hallmark Dream Book

I just got my Hallmark dream book!!! When I was in high school, I worked for a little while at our local Hallmark. That is when I got started buying the Hallmark Christmas ornaments. Now, it is annual tradition. We get up early on a Saturday morning in July to visit the Hallmark Open House.

We, of course, get all of the Star Wars ornaments. Then the kids get to pick out 3 for each. Our Christmas tree is an homage to pop culture. Star Wars and Disney mainly, but we have Barbie, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones in the mix now. It is always exciting for me to watch the kids pick out their ornaments. They never seem to pick the ones I think they will. Somehow they always throw a curve ball my way. I am betting that my daughter will want the Twilight ornament. I am not sure what my husband will think of that, but oh well.

I can't wait for July to get here!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Shopping Trip-Target/Walgreens








I never have those huge shopping trips like other bloggers. I want to be that blogger that has like $200 worth of stuff and only pays .50.

Today's trip wasn't too bad. First off, was Walgreens. I love when they have deals on prints!
I got the 20 free prints, 80% off a collage (I got 8x10), 1 free 8x10, and a 1 free 8x10 from Snapfish and picked up at Walgreens. Total for photo processing this week: .85

I really didn't need anything from Target but I wanted to check out the Easter clearance. So I got 2 boxes of egg dye, 1 vitamin water, 1 bag of Sun Chips, and 1 package of Thinwiches for this weekend.
Total: 1.38

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

This is my first time participating in an UBP party.

Let me introduce myself, My name is LeAnn. I recently became a SAHM to 2 wonderful children. Having to adjust to one income has been a challenge, but I have learned a great deal about couponing. I started The Squeaky Grocery Cart, mainly out of boredom. I would share specials or freebies I found online or facebook with friends and it just kind of grew from there.

My family and I are trying to live green. I am not sure if we are succeeding, but we are trying. I figure by taking baby steps, it will make the changes easier for our family to adjust to. We recently went mostly vegetarian and I am proud to say that I never leave home without a reusable shopping bag. Right now, we are working on more recycling. My goal is to see how far we can reduce our household waste.

This is amazing opportunity for me to meet and connect with other bloggers.
The giveaways are AMAZING! The Ultimate Blog Party has over 100 giveaways. Some of my favorite giveaways are:

5 – Baking Magic for Kids mini-cupcake kit for two winners. This kit contains 12 gourmet mini-cupcakes, unfrosted, with an assortment of frostings and decorations.

20 – $50.00 in jewelry from Cookie Lee for 2 winners.
Provided by: Kelley Clayton
Follow here: myfamilyjewels

32 – $25 Target Gift Card!
Provided by: The Frugal Novice
Follow here: Frugal Novice or Visit Our Fan Page: Frugal Novice

Have fun everyone!!

Lowes Build and Grow Workshop

This week's Build and Grow Workshop is to build a mini baseball game! This one looks fun.

Visit your local Lowe's from 10-11 to participate in the Build and Grow Workshops. There are a lot of really cute project coming up.

4/10- Mini Baseball Game
4/17 - See and Grow Planter Box for Earth Day

I know from the last Build and Grow we participated in, there is one weekend in May that the kids can build a catapult!! My son can't wait for that one.

Babies R Us Fill a Bag Sale

Babies R Us is having a fill a bag sale. You get 25% off everything you can fit into your Free Tote (clothing and shoes only). The sale runs from April 9th – April 22nd. You will need to present this printable coupon receive your Free tote. Quantities limited, while supplies last. Baby clothes sizes newborn - 48 months included in the sale.

Don't you just love these types of sales? I become like some sort of origami artist trying to fold and stuff as much as I can into those bags.

http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/media/trus/040910_Facebook_FillABag_cpn.pdf

CVS shopping deal

Small shopping trip at CVS.
Not the greatest of pictures, but I got 2 Dawn dish soaps and 2 Lady's Speed Sticks
Total OOP$ 1.48

MAIL CALL POST 4/9/10


Today was a good mail day! I got a free sample of Vaska, which I have really been wanting to try. The free sample card I made on Fidipidi The Bruder truck catalog and dvd. My son is already drooling over everything in the catalog. A Kotex U sample. Saving the best for last, some really great coupons from Jenni-O Turkey and 1 free bag of Sun Chips.

Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Rice Sample

A lot of sites were posting this yesterday, but I didn't bother with it because I never could get it to work. But thanks to Mavin of Savins , she had a tip on how to get the link to work. Follow the instructions in her post and you should be able to pull up the link. There are 2 flavors to choose from.

Thursday, April 8, 2010