ON VACATION

I will be on vacation in Oak Island, NC for the next 7 days. I hope you have a great 9 days full of thrifty ways and ideas. I have my coupon binder with me and CVS is right down the street so hopefully I won't miss many great deals.

I will be back on Monday, July 13.

SUMMER FUN - USING WHAT YOU HAVE - PART 9

BOATING



As you see, we are lucky enough to have 2 boats. As I mentioned yesterday, my husband is an avid fisherman and has owned a boat since I have known him. I haven't been to the lake in a couple of years but we do plan on going a few days this summer. It will be Payton's first trip to the lake.



I am wrapping up my Summer Fun Series - Using What You Have. I hope you have enjoyed this series and maybe realized some things you have at home that you too can use to have fun this summer with your family.

Thought of the Day

Happy 4th of July!!!

FINALLY FRIDAY

Friday has finally arrived. I do not have to work for the next 9 days !! Yeahhhhh!


Have a great weekend and week. I will see you next Monday!

SUMMER FUN - USING WHAT YOU HAVE - Part 8

Fishing

My husband is avid fisherman. He loves to fish no matter what kind of fishing it is. Before we even starting building our house, our pond was completed. We have spent several afternoons already this summer fishing. I find it so relaxing and Payton will actually fish too if the fish are biting.

This is another way we are using what we have this summer.

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found This Week

1) Summer Decorating on a Budget - Great ideas for adding some summer style to your home on a budget.

2) Getting Craft Out and About - Wonderful ideas of fun crafts to do with your kids.

3) Decorating Tools You Must Have - Great list for those do-it-yourself projects. I have all but 1.

4) Honey Citrus Dressing - Dressing that can be used for fruits.

5) Peanut Butter Cake - Sounds like a simple but delicious cake.

6) Dining Room Chair Makeover - It is amazing what some new fabric can do.

7) Summer Tie Dye Shirts - I use to love to do these when I was in school.

8) 5 Ways to Show your Patriotism Frugually - Great ways to celebrate.

REMINDER - FREE CHOCOLATE FRIDAY

What is Real Chocolate Relief? Mars only uses Real Chocolate - that means it is made with 100%

pure cocoa butter. Come back to www.realchocolate.com every Friday through September to get FREE* Real Chocolate Coupon for your favorite Mars brand. If it is Mars, then you know it is Real Chocolate. Giveaway starts at 9am EST every Friday.

Thought of the Day

"Everyone is your best friend when you are successful. Surround yourself with people that you are not afraid of failing with."

Paula Abdul

Ruby Tuesday - B1G1 FREE Entree on July 4th ONLY

Click here to print your Coupon.

FREE Subscription to BusinessWeek and Golf Digest

Click here for your FREE Subscription to BusinessWeek and Golf Digest

SUMMER FUN - USING WHAT YOU HAVE - PART 7

Pool Table

My husband bought a pool table soon after we built our house. When we had no children, we used our pool table almost every weekend with friends and family. In the last couple of years, we have maybe played 3 games. Recently, we have started playing more often. I am trying to use what we have instead of letting it go to waste.

Thoughtful Thursday

Remember what this weekends holiday is about and honor the veterans.

THRIFTY TIP - INEXPENSIVE FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS

Use flowers from your garden. This arrangement didn't cost me anything.

What Did You Get for FREE This Week?

Lots of goodies this week:



HomeMade Simple Coupon Book - Including a FREE item coupon
FREE Sample of Huggies Overnight Shorts
FREE Samples of Jack Daniels Barbecue Sauce and Thick Classic Worcestershire Sauce and $1
Coupons for each
FREE Stickers
Sonic Coupons
FREE US Weekly Magazine (Not sure why I'm getting these but they are fun to read)
Alexia Crunchy Snack Coupons and Buy One Get One Free Offer

A Set of last weekends coupons from my local newspaper as a sales promotion to order the daily news



Did you receive any goodies in the mail?

WALGREENS TRIP - 6/30/09

Purchased:

2 - Fruit Snacks - $1.00 each
3 - Walgreens Shopping Bags 3/$1
1 - Neosporin $3.99, Used $1 coupon
1 - Childrens Zyrtec $11.99, Used $2 coupon
1 - J & J 1st Aid Kit - $1.49
1 - Walgreens Peroxide - $ .34
1 - Walgreens Alcohol - $1.69
1 - Barbie Bandages - $3.79
1 - Baby Powder - $2.99
1 - Stayfree pads - $3.99

Total Amount - $ 35.60
Coupons Used - $3.00
FSA Debit Card - ($21.00) - Had to use before July 1st
OOP Total - $ 11.60

Thought of the Day

"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use."

Ruth Gordon

FREE SAMPLE OF ZUNSPOT

Click here for your FREE Sample of Zun Spot Sun Spot Cream.

SUMMER FUN - USING WHAT YOU HAVE - Part 6

Patio & Grill

We use our deck every weekend and a couple of day s druing the week. We love to eat outisde whether we are grilling out or not. It is also a great place to relax, sit in the sun, or play. Payton likes to read books or color while sitting at the table. We also enjoy having an umbrella with our table to provide some shade since we do not have any shade trees next our house.

WAYS I SAVED MONEY IN JUNE

- Earned another $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swagbucks, $25 earned so far toward my Christmas budget
- When wanting to buy something for my home,, I have really started thinking about how I can repurpose something else for the item.


- Used coupons on every shopping trip.
- Kept all lights off as much as possible.
- Tried to control my A/C to save.
- Grilled out at least twice a week - Saved on Power.
- Friends & Family had 3 birthdays this month. I already had cards and gifts purchased. SAved money by buying gifts on sale and planning ahead.
- Continued to use samples for
shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, lotion and toothpaste
- Watched (5) FREE movies thanks to DIRECTV Free Movie Channel Weekends. Still have 14 left on DVR to watch.
- Read all emails from Inbox Dollars and took surveys to earn extra cash.
- Read all emails and completed 30 searches from MyPoints to earn gift cards.

Thought of the Day

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

Judy Garland

FREE Sample of Tide Total Care

Click here to order.

TASTY TUESDAY - PIZZA SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

We went to dinner at a friends house this weekend and this is what she served along with a salad and french bread. I absolutely loved it. Sorry there isn't a picture, I didn't have my camera with me.

Ingredients:
12 ounces Uncooked Spaghtetti
1/2 tsp Salt
1 (1lb.) Package Mild Ground Pork Sausage
2 Ounces Turkey Pepperoni Slices (about 30), cut in half
1 (26 oz.) Jar Tomato-Basil Pasta Sauce
1/4 Cup Grated parmesan Cheese
1 (8oz.) Package Shredded Italian Three-Cheese Blend
1/3 Cup Chopped Fresh Basil

Directions:
Cook spaghetti with 1/2 tsp salt. Drain well and place in a lightly greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Brown sausage, drain, and set aside. Cook pepperoni over medium heat until slightly crips. Top spaghetti in baking dish with sausage, pour past sauce over sausage, add 1/2 of pepperoni slices, sprinkle with cheese, add the other 1/2 of pepperoni slices. Cover with nonstick or lightly greased aluminum foil. Bake at 350 ° for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Add fresh chopped basil right before serving.

Note:
My friend also freezes the unbaked casserole, thaws in the refrigerator overnight and then bakes the following day.

SUMMER FUN - USING WHAT YOU HAVE - Part 5

Another great way to have a thrifty night of summer fun is by having a "special" dinner by using what you have. Give the paper plates a night off and break out the "good" china. Create a tablescape with a theme for the evening and have a nice dinner.

I used a beach theme to my tablescape. Everything you see I already had. The blue placements make me think of the ocean. The blue shell candle make me think of the waves bringing the shells in. The napkins represent the sand. The centerpiece contains shells that Payton and I picked up last year as we were walking along the beach. My napkin rings are fresh water pearl bracelets. I even found a pearl one year while having oysters for dinner one evening while at the beach. You always have to add a little bit of crystal for sparkle.

Note: I just noticed that the silverware is on the wrong sides. Please look over my mistake.

Thought of the Day

"If you're going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now."

Marie Osmond

FREE BATH & BODY WORKS FOAM HAND SANITIZIER

Free Product with any purchase.

Click here to print.

FREE FURNITURE POLISHING CLOTHS

Click here to order.

SUMMER FUN - USING WHAT YOU HAVE - Part 4

Swimming Pool

Great investment for my family. We can stay in the pool for hours. We did not spend the money to have in-ground pool (which I would loveeee to have) but it has been so convenient to have a pool in our backyard. Thankfully, Payton is a "water girl" too. She loves to play ball, splash, and cruise around in her float. This is where we spent most of our weekend.

One of my favorite ways to relax during Payton's nap time is just by floating in the pool.

MORE MULTI-USES FOR DRYER SHEETS

DRYER SHEETS

1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.

2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.

4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

6. Since dryer sheets is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet to keep dust from resettling.

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a dryer sheet.

8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling, run a threaded needle through a sheet before beginning to sew.

11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet inside empty luggage before storing.

12. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean.. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.

13. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets, Place a sheet at the bottom of the wastebasket.

14. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet will magnetically attract all the lose hairs.

15. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet to prevent dust from resettling.

16. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

17. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

18. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

19. Golfers put a sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

20. Put a sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

21. Wet a sheet, hose down your car, and wipe lovebugs off easily.

Thought of the Day

" Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick."

Gwyneth Paltrow

Thought of the Day

"Your regrets aren't what you did, but what you didn't do. So I take every opportunity."

Cameron Diaz