BREAKFAST GUEST

Payton was excited to have a guest join us for breakfast Saturday morning. The bird feeder is located outside my breakfast nook window. Sorry about the glare but I had to take a picture through the window.

Thought of the Day

In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.

Albert Schweitzer

Thought of the Day

Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress.

Epictetus

Thought of the Day

There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you.

FINALLY FRIDAY

Rain, Rain, Go Away Come Again Another Day.......I just want a nice dry weekend. That's all I'm asking for.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you Monday!

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found This Week

1) What is in Your Neighbors Garbage? - Awesome find.

2) Banana Cake - This looks great and sounds so simple to make.

3) Lemon Pound Cake - This sounds great. I love any kind of pound cake.

4) Outdoor Tablecloth Hack - What a great idea. I just wish I could sew.

5) The Price of Children - You have to read this.

6) Salad & Fruit Dressing Series - These sound great and simple to make. I love to try something new. Vinaigrette Dressing , Catalina Dressing

7) How to Remove Hard Water - Great tip and I am definitely gonna try this.

8) Grilled Strawberry Bread - I can't wait to try this. It sounds great.

BATH & BODY WORKS SEMI-ANNUAL SALE

Semi-Annual Sale starts in stores June 1 and starts online today.

June 1-3 - Foam Burst Moisturizing Body Wash - $4

June 1-7 - Signature colleciton & Aromatherapy Cleansers and Moisturizers - Buy 2 Get 2 FREE

Limited Time Only! - B&BW Classic Frgrances - $5

New Markdowns Every Week

Get time to stock up for gifts and Christmas presents.

FREE Chocolate Every Friday

What is Real Chocolate Relief?
Mars only uses Real Chocolate—that means it’s made with 100%, pure cocoa butter. Come back to www.RealChocolate.com every Friday through September to get a Free* Real Chocolate coupon for your favorite Mars brand. If it’s Mars, you know it’s Real Chocolate.

Giveaway starts at 9am EST every Friday.

Thought of the Day

People with many interests live, not only longest, but happinest.

George Matthew Allen

Thoughtful Thursday

Take a 90-second online quiz about bath fixtures and water usage at www.savewateramerica.com. Kohler will donate $1 in water-saving products to Habitat for Humanity.

What Did You Get for Free This Week?

I am starting to get very excited when I go to the mailbox each day wondering what I have waiting for me. My mailbox was full again this week:


Babiesrus Coupons
20% Coupon for Hallmark Store
Rebate Check from Caregivers Marketplace for $8.25
Belk Coupons
FREE Issue of Better Homes and Gardens
FREE Working Mother Magazine
FREE Parenting Magazine
FREE TV Guide Magazine
FREE Baby Magazine


What goodies did you get this week?

Carter's Coupon

20% off any $40 purchase plus get a $10 gift check for every $25 you spend between now and June 14.

Click here to print.

Thought of the Day

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

Thrifty Graduation Gifts

I have to buy a graduation gift this year. It is the first one I have bought in several years and I am trying to come up with a great gift. My gift will be for a girl who will be going away to college this fall. I am trying to think of things that will come in handy while she is away at school living in a dorm. Here are my ideas so far. PLEASE let me know if you have any other great tips. I need to come up with something this weekend.

1) Movie Night Gift Basket - Includes Popcorn, Popcorn Bowl, Candy, Movie Gift Card

2) Gift Card to a Local Restaurant for Takeout Night. Include paper plates, holders, coasters, napkins, silverware etc.

3) Shower Caddy/Basket - Include hygiene products -shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, razor, shaving cream, a bath mat etc. This will come in very handy since she will be living in a dorm.

4) Laundry Bag - Filled with quarters, laundry detergent, fabric softner, dryer sheets, hangers etc.

5) Dorm Room Design Items - Memo Board, Decorative Pillows, etc.

6) Money

FREE Sample of Gillette Clinical Strength Deodorant

Click here for a FREE Sample.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Bring a Kraft Singles Package wrapper to the ballpark box office for a steal of a deal. Buy one ticket and get one FREE from Kraft Singles. Click here for details.

Thought of the Day

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Decorating on a Budget

After building a house, our funds were running very short and of course I wanted to decorate every room right then. I wasn't able to do that but I did start checking The Goodwill Store, The Salvation Army, Thrift Stores and Dollar Stores for items to decorate my extra bedroom.

This dresser was purchased at the Goodwill Store for $15. It just needed cleaning and little paint. I found the stool (brand new) at a yard sale for $8. The candles, vase and flowers I bought at the dollar store for under $10 total. Total Spent - $33

The bed was my bed growing up. It was a brass bed but I painted it white also. I may have spent $5 for spray paint. The pictures on the wall came from Family Dollar. They were 50% off. I paid $5 each. The 2 tables came from ABC Distributing. I paid $15 each for them. I have 2 lamps that also came from ABC Distributing, $30 total for them. The bedding and pillows came from Wal-Mart. I have a total of $40 in that. That does include sheets.

Total Spent - $ 115

In this picture, the pictures were purchased at a Thrift Store for $10 and the bench was given to me as a Christmas gift. I had the bunny. Total cost - $10

The chest was given to me FREE. My mom purchased new

furniture and no longer wanted this chest. The items on top were

things I already had. I purchased the Home Interior pictures at a yard sale for $1 each. Total - $2

Decorating on a budget can be done. You have to be PATIENT. Always take advantage of yard sales, clearance sections and thrift stores. Also, don't forget to check the Salvation Army store and the Goodwill. You never know what you will find.

Thought of the Day

"If you can laugh at it, you can live with it."

Erma Bombeck

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Thought of the Day

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

Winston Churchill

Thought of the Day

"Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them."

John Updike

FINALLY FRIDAY

It's Finally Friday and its a 3 day weekend. I am so excited and I have been looking forward to it all week. We are planning to have a cookout Monday afternoon to celebrate Memorial Day. I also have my flowers and veggies to plant this weekend. We usually plant a small garden each year. Payton is excited about the garden. She loves tomatoes and she can already tell which plants is her tomato plants. It is so nice to be able to go outside and pick some fresh veggies for dinner. I plan on sharing my garden with you by doing a weekly update.



Have a great weekend and honor the veterans and soldiers that have fought and are currently fighting for our country.

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend.

See you Tuesday!!

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found this Week

1) 7 Tips for Leading a Balanced Blogger Life - Great tips to help you stay organized whether you are a blogger or not.

2) Easy Corn on the Cob - I am definitely going to try this.

3) Classic Craft Bird Feeder - This will be something neat Payton and I can do this week. She loves to watch the birds.

4) Miniature Mango Snack Cakes - This will be something different to make.

5) Won't You Be My Neighbor - What an awesome welcoming gift to a new neighbor.

6) Attention Scrapbookers - Katie shows a great way to make an awesome "School Years" scrapbook for your child.

7) Creative Wrapping Ideas - New ways of reusing items to wrap gifts. I love the calendar paper.

8) Re-Use It Tip for Milk Jugs - A great list to check out.

LOWES FOODS - 5/22

Well, if I could ever remember to charge my camera batteries I would share pictures with you of my great deals. I tried to get my FREE ice cream from Blue Bunny but they didn't have it.


Purchased:
5 Lowes Foods Potato Chips - $2 each, Buy 2 Get 3 FREE = $4
5 Kraft Barbecue Sauces - $1.65 each, Buy 2 Get 3 FREE, (2) $1 coupons = $1.30
1 Hot Dogs .89
4 Mahatma Rice - .60 each, Used (2) .75/2 Doubled = .60 overage
2 Ricework Chips - 3.09 each, Used (2) FREE Item Coupons
1 Hunts Ketchup - 1.67, Used FREE Item Coupon
2 Helluva Good Dips - 2/$3, Used (2) .50 coupon doubled = $1
1 Lowes Foods French Fries - $2
5 Pepsi 12 Packs 4/$12, Buy 4 Get 1 FREE, Used (3) $2 Coupons =$6

Total - $ 49.39
Sales - 13.95
Coupons - 20.85
Total OOP Incl. Tax - $ 15.61

RUBY TUESDAY - B1G1F COUPON

Click here to print your coupon for a FREE Entree when you purchase 1 Entree. Valid May 21 through June 2. Click here to print.

Thought of the Day

"When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. I have several stands.."

James Brady

HOW TO SAVE MONEY IN THE KITCHEN

I saw these two great segments on my local morning news this morning. I found them full of useful tips to save you money. I hope you find these helpful.


Save Money With Dishwashers

Clean Fridge Saves You Money


Do you have any other tips to share?

What Did You Get for FREE This Week?

Another week of my mailbox being full:



FREE Woman's Day Magazine
FREE Elle Decor Magazine
FREE Traditional Home Magazine
FREE Soap Opera Digest
FREE Amsterdam Pen Sample
Coupon for FREE Digiorno Flatbread Melt - Blog Giveaway
$50.00 Refund Check from a loan paid off 10 years ago ? NICE SURPRISE
FREE Huggie Coupons
Kraft Family and Food Magazine
Coupon Booklet from Congra Foods with FREE Hunts Ketchup Coupon
CVS Sample of Aveeno Shampoo and Conditioner
John Frieda Awakenings Sample





Did you have any great freebies in your mailbox this week?

Thought of the Day

"If you know you are going to fail, then fail gloriously."

Cate Blanchett

FREE Fling Candy Bar

Click here to order and then click on "GET SPECIAL SAVINGS".

JOIN THE QUIZNOS Q CLUB

Join the Quiznos Q Club and get Quiznos updated and access to coupons. Click here to join. You will receive a coupon for a FREE sammie.

FREE ICE CREAM THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Click here to print your rebate form for FREE Blue Bunny ice cream if purchased during Memorial Day weekend.

FREE BISQUICK NEWSLETTER

Click here to signup for great recipes and tips from Bisquick.

WALGREENS COUPON - WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY ONLY!

Click here to print.

Thought of the Day

"Beauty is only skin deep. I think what's really important is finding a balance of mind, body and spirit."

Jennifer Lopez

CORN SALAD

A great recipe I wanted to post again. This is great for cookouts and picnics or maybe for your Memorial Day celebration.


Corn Salad Recipe

2 Cans Shoepeg Corn, Drained
½ Cup Green Pepper, Chopped
½ Cup Onion, Chopped
1 Large Jar Pimento, Drained
½ Cup Vegetable Oil
½ Cup Sugar
½ Cup White Vinegar

Mix Together and Enjoy!!

You can also add: ½ Cup Celery, Chopped A great dish to take on a picnic or to a family gathering. You don't have to worry about it staying warm.

Previously Published 4/29/08.

FREE Sample of Playtex Gentle Glide

Click here to order.

Thought of the Day

The fortitude to fight on through to the very end - this strength is not only the basis of happiness, it is also the force by which social wrongs can be righted.

LOWES FOODS - 4/17 - Hubby did the Grocery Shopping This Week!!

My hubby wanted to do the grocery shopping this week. Check out his great totals.

Trip #1 -
1 - Kashi Lemongrass Coconut Frozen Dinner (FREE)
6 - Kashi Frozen Waffles (1 FREE)
3 - Macaroni Grill Pasta Dinners (FREE)
1 - Boneless Chicken Breast
1 - Raisins
1 - Cascade Rinse (FREE)
2 - Shouts
1 - Planter Peanuts
1 - Hotdogs
1 - French's Fried Onions
2 - Kraft Barbecue Sauce (FREE)
1 - Ginger Dressing
1 - Lettuce
4 - Ears of Corn
1 - Loaf of Bread

Total - $85.87 incl. Tax
Sale (11.70)
Coupons (40.79)
Instasave (1.00)
OOP - $32.38

Trip #2
3 lbs. Ground Beef
2 - Paper Towels
2 - Frost Flakes .17 each
2 - Dryer Sheets
1 - Olive Oil
3 - Wheat Thins
4 - Mtn 2L (FREE)
2 - A1 Sauces (.27 each)
1 - Spaghetti
1 - Kraft Barbecue Sauce (FREE)
2 - French's Musards
4 - Kraft Dressings (FREE)
1 - Spaghetti Sauce
3 - Ricework Chips (FREE)
1 - Windex Wipes - (Will Send for Rebate - FREE)

Total - $73.77 incl. tax
Sale (26.03)
Coupons (32.65)
Instasave (1.00)
LF Coupon (5.00)
Gift Card (10.00)
Total OOP - 9.09 - 3.19(Windex Rebate) = $5.90

Note:
$159.64 worth of groceries for $38.28. Hubby even took pictures but he failed to see that the screen was showing SD FULL.

FREE Bag of Popcorn from Yahoo

Cuddle up with your old TV before transitioning to digital and get a FREE bag of popcorn, courtesy of Yahoo!(while supplies last). Click here to order.

WALGREENS - PHOTO COUPON

$5 OFF a photo purchase of $15 or more now through Saturday, May 23 with Coupon Code GIFT4POP

REMINDER - FREE DIGIORNO FLATBREAD PIZZA COUPON

REMINDER

Get a coupon for a free DiGiorno Flatbread Melt on May 18th starting at 12 AM - 11:59 PM EST. This offer is available to the first 100,000 people. US only.

Thought of the Day

Gold is gold, no matter how muddied it becomes.

Thought of the Day

The human spirit is the strongest force there is. As long as our spirit remains unbroken, there is no defeat.