CVS Find

Be on the lookout!!

I found Monogrammed Napkins yesterday for .75 for a pack of 16. They are white with the monogram in khaki. A great item to have on hand for a holiday or a family dinner. This would also be a great item to include in a gift basket.

(They were hanging on the end of an isle.)

LADYBUGS!!!!!!!

When I was younger, I use to play with ladybugs. I thought they were so cute. I guess it had something to do with them being polka dotted. Needless to say, my opinion has changed.

I despise ladybugs!!!!!!

They are all over my house. It started about 2 years ago, right about the time Payton was born. They would start appearing in the fall and by winter they would be gone. I think every ladybug in the county decided to take up residence at my house. You could walk outside and you would be covered. You could walk in my house and you would see them on the ceiling, flying around lights, and laying in the floor dead. My MIL feared that Payton was gonna swallow one. I have found them in my dryer, my sink, my floor, in Christmas bags that I had fixed for gifts, and in Payton's bed. I have spent numerous hours vacuuming up ladybugs. They are so common that Payton will now point them out to us. Every night when she goes to bed she scans her ceiling and if she finds one I have to remove it from her room or she will not go to sleep.

They usually go away when the weather turns cooler and I have looked forward to that day for the past 2 years. This year, our weather has been very strange. It can be 35 one day and 60 the next. When it gets warmer, the ladybugs appear again!!

Do you have this problem? Do you have a solution?? HELP, I'm being invaded!!!

Thought of the Day

When you feel anxious, breathe deeply.

Thought of the Day

Spend a weekend at a spa being pampered.

Thought of the Day

Try a sport or game you've never played.

Finally Friday

Another week has quickly passed by. I have managed to get lots of things done at home since Christmas. I always seem to get in a organizing / clean out mood after the holidays. I have taken down and packed away all of my Christmas decorations. I have cleaned out and organized 2 closets and all drawers in 3 rooms. I have started working on a scrapbook for Payton. I think scrapbooks are great but I have always said that I didn't have the patience to do one. I have 6 pages complete so far and I am enjoying it. I try to work on it at least 30 minutes a day. I hope I continue.

This weekend I plan on visiting with some friends. I would love to go to the movies (something I never do) and see Marley and Me. I may continue to organize if I feel the need again and I plan on working on Payton's scrapbook.

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

What are your plans this weekend?

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found This Week

1) Inexpensive Invitations - Meredith at Like Merchant Ships shared a great if you ever need inexpensive invitations.

2) Cleaning in the New Year - I am not the only one that did some organizing after the holidays. Check out what KaseyQ did in l hour.

3) The Secret to a Good Self Photo - Photo tips that may come in handy for you.

4) Empty Wrapping Paper Rolls - Toys to create from what would be trash. These are great ideas.

5) Little Dipper Pizza Fondue Recipe - Great idea for a quick dinner or for a Super Bowl Party.

FREE Sample of Gold Bond Ultimate Soothing Lotion

Click here to request your sample.

Thought of the Day

Join a club made up of other women who share at least one of your interests.

Thought of the Day

Happy New Year!!

FREE Bottle of Suave - January 14 Only!!

Click here for the details.

I will remind you again on the 14th.

New Year's Resolutions

I don't usually make resolutions but this year I have decided to make a list of things I plan to do/change/or improve on. Wish me luck!


1) Plan a menu each week. I think this will save money but also it will end pity disagreements between my husband and I. We waste so much time trying to decide what to fix for dinner.


2) Pay off bills. I am starting the Debt Snowball by Dave Ramsey. I am on Step 2 of the Baby Steps. This will be hardest I'm sure.

3) I received some cash for Christmas and I have started me a "New Stove Fund". Anyone who would like to contribute, please let me know. LOL I am in desperate need of a new stove and I am going save enough cash to buy one. My husband doesn't know I am doing this. It's going to be my surprise.

4) Exercise more and lose a few pounds.

5) Get to work by 8:00 if not 5 minutes early every morning instead of 3-4 minutes after. :)

Have you made any New Year's resolutions? If so, let me know what they are.

FREE Organic Cascadian Farm Chocolate Chewy Granola Bar

Click here to order.

Arby's Coupon

Free Medium Dr. Pepper with any Purchase. Click here to print.

Interesting/Useful/Fun Website

Pipl.com Wink.com Zabasearch.com - Looking for an old friends from school. Try these neat websites.

Thought of the Day

Think of anything you would like to change about yourself or your life in the new year. Figure out ways that will help you make those changes.

Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale

Bath & Body Works

Now through December 31 - Signature Collection Lotion $3 Each

Now through January 11 - Signature Collection $6 Each or 3 for $15

January 1 - 11 - Wallflowers Diffuser Starter SEts and Refills $5

January 5 - 11 - Select Aromatherapy & True Blue Spa Cleansers and Moisturizers -$5

January 8 - 18 - Anti=Bacterial Collection 5 for $15 or 7 for $20

You may also find gift baskets marked 75% off. They usually go fast.

What To Do With An Unwanted Gift Card?

Click here to read.

I personally don't think I would ever have this problem but incase you do this could may give you some ideas.

Maria's Italian Chicken Pasta

This is a quick dish that I make often.

Ingredients:
1 Bottle Italian Dressing
2 Chicken Breasts
1 Bag Pasta (Elbow, Corkscrew, etc.)

Directions:
Cook pasta until tender and drain.
Cut up chicken into bite size pieces and cook.
Combine pasta, chicken, and dressing and serve.

I like to serve this with garlic bread and a salad.

FREE Sample of Bausch & Lomb Lens Cleaning Tissue

Click here for your FREE Sample.

FREE Sample of Total Cereal

Click here to order your FREE sample.

Thought of the Day

Do something you enjoy - Read a book by your favorite author.

FREE Samples of Kerasol Foot Lotion

Click here to take the Kerasal Challenge.

- Fill out the form below to receive your free samples
- Use the samples we send you daily, and as directed, for 3 - 5 days on ONE foot only.
- At the end of the challenge, compare your “Kerasal foot” to your other foot.

A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words

Multi-Use Item - Plastic Cup

Punch holes in the bottom of a plastic cup to make a sifter to use. This will come in handy if you are wanting to sprinkle powdered sugar on top of a cake.

Thought of the Day

Go bicycle riding with a friend.

Thought of the Day

If you do it, do it well.

Thought of the Day

Choose positive motivators.

Thought of the Day

Happy Birthday to my sweet husband Matt!!!

He was almost a Christmas baby.

Thought of the Day

Merry Christmas to You!! I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with fun, family and lots of good food.

I will see you back online Monday!

Thrifty Tips to Prepare for Christmas

Katie at Three Blondes and a Redhead has a great post on some pre-Christmas organization tips. Click here to read. I am definitely going to find a few minutes in my busy Christmas Eve to prepare for all of Payton's gifts.

Interesting/Useful/Fun Website

Uexchange.com - Trade Anything, Pay Nothing. U-Exchange is the Largest Free Swap Site on the net that specializes in every type of trade. There are no membership fees, barter currencies or commissions taken on trades. It's Free to contact, post and trade with other members.



This site reminds me of the movie The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. The 2 girls exchange homes for a vacation and there lives completely change.

FREE Crock Pot Recipe Booklet

Click here for your FREE Crock Pot Recipe Booklet.

Thought of the Day

Don't forget to leave cookies and milk tonight for Santa.

TASTY TUESDAY - REINDEER COOKIES

I "made" these last night for Payton's play school Christmas party. They are so cute and so easy.

Ingredients:

Nutter Butter Cookies

Pretzels

Icing

Mini M&M's

Tube of White Icing

Use the icing to assemble the cookies as shown in the picture.

I found this in Family Fun magazine.

FREE Sample of Don Francisco's Gourmet Coffee

Click here for a FREE sample.

JCPenny's Trip - Christmas Present to Myself

I received another $10 gift certificate last week. I average about 6 a year and always look forward to what I can find for nothing. I think I did great on this trip.

Regular Price - $23.00

Mark Down Price - $ 11.49

JCP Gift Cert. - ($10.00)

Total OOP (including tax) $ 1.59

FREE Subscription to Prevention Magazine

Click here to order a FREE subscription to Prevention magazine.

Thought of the Day

Don't compare yourself with others.

THRIFTY CHRISTMAS FUN

Saturday was a fun-filled day that costed us a total of $10. First, we took Payton to see Santa at a specialty store downtown Mount Airy. She was so happy to see him. She went right up to him, crawled in his lap, told him her name and smiled for the camera. I took the picture so it made it free plus I got (4) FREE 8 x 10's from Walgreens using my account and my husbands. There was a craft area for kids so she colored her a picture. Free snacks was also available so she got a cookies and punch before she had to tell Santa bye. Then, we took a wagon ride through the downtown area. She loved that too. Her face just lite up when we took off. Afterwards, Payton got to pet the horses and she was extremely thrilled with that. We had so much and hopefully we have started a new family tradition.

Multi-Use Item - Christmas Garland

Every year I hang garland on my mantle. This year I came up with a new thrifty tip. I needed some napkin rings. I didn't want to buy anything so I started going through some decorations that I did not use this year. I came across some extra garland. This is what I came up with.

I got out my wire cutters and cut a piece of garland off to wrap around the napkin.

AND THE WINNER IS......

The winner of the $10 Papa John's Gift Card is:

#77 - Linda and Greg

Congratulations!! You have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Stay tuned for another giveaway next week.

Hallmark Coupon

Click here to print.

Thought of the Day

Give up trying to control others.

Thought of the Day

Do your share to save the planet.