Thought of the Day

Write out your good qualities. Put the list where you can see it often.

Finally Friday

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

This week has flown by. I love it when I have to work only 4 days. It makes the week so much more pleasant. This has been a good week except for yesterday.

Yesterday was boo-boo day for Payton.

We started the morning out with her falling in the bedroom and she got a carpet burn on her leg. She didn't cry but she told me she had a boo-boo at least 50 times while we were driving to memas (a 20 minute ride). While she was at playschool yesterday morning, her teacher informed me that she had fell 3 times. She would be walking across the room and just fall. She thought that it may be her shoes but she has had those shoes for over 2 months so I don't understand. One fall left a bruise on her cheek. Yesterday afternoon at snack time, she decided she needed to be the one to fasten her buckle on her high chair and she pinched her leg. Miss Independent!! That left a bruise. Last night, she was walking through the kitchen doing her "strut" (walking and trying to dance at the same time and while she does this she looks at her feet) and ran straight into the back of the chair. My chairs are metal and it hit her right in the middle of the forehead. She immediately had an egg on her forehead with a bruise. Today, I have decided that it is a NO boo-boo day. I told her this as she was getting dressed this morning and of course she thought it was funny. I am keeping my fingers crossed. If someone had seen her yesterday morning and then saw her last night at bedtime, I swear you would think she had been beaten.

I may be spending the weekend with just Payton. My husband works for an electrical contractor. He is a lineman so he may be spending his weekend working the power outages due to Tropical Storm Hanna. Sunday is my mom's birthday. She will be 70!!!! She doesn't look 70 nor does she act 70!! Hopefully, she will have a great birthday.

Have a great weekend!!

Thrifty Christmas Gift Idea

Oprah does "My Favorite Things" giveaways and this year for Christmas I am going to do "Maria's Favorite Things" for Christmas gifts for my co-workers. Of course, there will not be 1000's of dollars involved but I thought it was a neat idea.


I have set an $8 limit for each person. I have 2 ladies to buy for. Below is what I have so far.

Soapsoft Spa Radiant Exfoliating body wash (I love love this stuff) - FREE
Shower Gel Scrubbie - .50
Fingernail File - 4 Sided with 6 Different Textures for your nails - $1.00
Kitchen Magnetic Note Pad - Can't live without these .50
BBW Lotion - FREE with purchase
Chap Stick - FREE

I have spent $2.00 so far on each lady. From now until Christmas I am going to use items that I love and that I can get for FREE or almost FREE from CVS, Walgreens, etc to fill up their basket.



Don't forget the way you present a gift is important. I plan on using a basket with a Christmas ribbon that I already have and maybe use a Christmas dish towel as a basket liner.

HUGGIES Happy Baby - Special Offers - WalMart Baby Days

HUGGIES Happy Baby - Special Offers - WalMart Baby Days

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found This Week

1) Popsicle Drip Catcher - I just love this idea.

2) Keeping a Diaper on a Toddler - Great tip! I may need to use this in the future.

3) Create a Fun, Easy and Thrifty Patio - My friend wants to try this. It sounds cute.

4) Back to School Free Menu Planner - Amy has lots of great ideas with recipes.

5) Questions About Online Surveys - Find the answers here.

FREE Country Bob Sauce

Click here to receive a coupon for a FREE Country Bob Sauce. I have signed up for this offer in the past and the sauce is great. It is being offered again. Enjoy!

Bath & Body Works Coupon

Click here to print.

Thought of the Day

Go for what you want. You regret most those times you don't try, not those times you try and fail.

Increasing Prices

Prices on everything seem to be increasing daily. While at CVS yesterday, I noticed that the Johnson Buddie Soap Bars has increased from .99 to 1.19. I got so upset. That means no more FREE soap for me at CVS. I ran by Walgreens to use my 2 coupons before they expired. Currently, Walgreens price is still .99.

When I got home, I told my husband about the price increase. He could tell that I was upset. Too upset over a .20 price increase so he asked me......"What's the big deal?" I responded... "The big deal IS I can no longer get FREE Johnson's soap at CVS!!!!" I know he wanted to laugh but he knew that it wasn't the thing to do.

I know I can get it FREE at Walmart or Walgreens but thats not the point. The point is No FREE Johnsons Soap at CVS. CVS is where I'm at every week, sometimes twice a week.

Have you noticed an increase or had a similar situation where you got upset???

FREE Quaker Simple Harvest Granola Bar Sample

Click here for a FREE Sample of Quaker Simple Harvest Granola Bars.

Thoughtful Thursday

Instead of throwing away expired coupons, give them to overseas military families. They can use expired coupons up to 6 months after the expiration date.


You can donate throught the overseas coupon program http://www.ocpnet.org/.


This is something that I am going to start doing every month.

What Did You Get For FREE This Week?

So far this week I have gotten:
3 Lip Glosses
2 Boxes of Popcorn
1 Roll of Toilet Tissue (sample in the mail)
2 Johnson Buddies Soaps
4 Bars of CVS Soap
2 Tubes of Toothpaste (like I need anymore)
2 Suddenly Salads
1 Loaf of Bread

What have you gotten for FREE this week??

Thought of the Day

Don't bother trying for everybody's approval. You'll never even come close.

FREE Sample of John Freida Shampoo and Conditioner

Click here for your FREE Sample.

Thrifty Tips for Having a Great Yard/Garage Sale

1) Gather items for sale. Great time to clean out closets, garage, clean up clutter etc.
2) Inventory each item and price.
3) Place price label on each item.

4) Set a date and place for your sale and ADVERTISE - ad in your local paper, set out signs the day before your sale in your yard, end of street, place a sign on local bulletin boards. Always remember to take down signs.
5) Keep things attractive. Arrange items by group, hang clothes up.
6) Display some of the larger items out front to entice people to stop.
7) Be an active seller. Greet your customers.
8) Be prepared to negotiate.
9) Start out with some petty cash - dollars and change.
10) Offer last minute deals.
11) Ask friends to participate. The larger the sale, more people will attend.


I still plan on having a yard sale soon. I'll let you know how I do.

Thought of the Day

Never criticize anyone in front of others.

FREE Easter Seals Calendar

Click here for a FREE 2009 calendar from Easter Seals.

Have You Ever Lost Your Wallet??

I had quite a scare last night. I thought I had lost my wallet but my dear, sweet daughter got into my purse and got my wallet. I found it laying in my walk-in closet floor. I had very little money in there but my biggest concern was notifying my credit card companies of my stolen cards. I have copies of old bills but nothing is not located in one place for easy access so I have decided to prepare if this ever happens. I have copied everything in my wallet (front and back). Stored everything in a folder and I have placed it in my filing cabinet marked "STOLEN WALLET". This way I will have a quick list along with phone numbers of who I need to call and what needs to be replaced.


Have you had this happen to you? What problems did you have? Have you prepared in case it happens again?


Let me know!!

FREE Sample of Redken Fresh Curls Refiner

Click here for your FREE Sample.

Thought of the Day

Give more than is expected.

Thought of the Day

Help a neighbor.

Thought of the Day

When beginning friendships, start small. Acquaintances are more likely to agree to a chat over coffee than they are to dinner.