Thought of the Day

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we willreap a harvest if we do not give up.

My Garden

This year, I have a smaller garden that last but I am sure it will be very bountiful in providing lots of great, fresh vegetables.


For a total of $15 I have:
4 tomato plants
3 cucumber plants
2 squash plants
2 zuchinni plants
1 basil plant
1 rosemary plant





















I will share be sharing the growth of my garden with you. I can't wait to enjoy my fresh vegetables. I am already enjoying my fresh herbs.

Thought of the Day

With summer finally here, take a moment to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

MY GARDEN NOW HAS A NAME - PAYTON'S GARDEN

Thought of the Day

Set aside a fraction of your time to carry out your dreams and ambitions.

Thought of the Day

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

FINALLY FRIDAY

It's my favorite day of the week again! TGIF


I hope everyone has had a great week. My week has been great but it has been so long. I didn't think Friday would ever get here.

I have 2 things on my to do list this weekend besides the "norm". I am sharing this with you hoping it will help me get it accomplished. I need to scrapbook and start on my "free table" (I'll share the free table with you its complete).

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

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found This Week

1) Brooke's Chocolate Triffle - For a chocolate lover like myself this sounds awesome.

2) My Favorite Zesty Chicken Marinade - I am definitely going to try this.

3) Recession Proof Baking Tips - Great tips to consider.

4) 10 Low Cost Ways to Keep the Kiddies Entertained This Summer - Awesome list and I am going to make a Boredom Jar for Payton.

5) Nine New Uses for Newspaper - Great list of things that I never thought of.

6) Light Weight Blocks for Toddlers - I would have never thought of this.

7) Creative Uses for Old Paint Cans - Reusing items to create something else is one of my favorites.

8) 8 Ways to Set the Mood for Outdoor Celebrations - I already do 2 of the 8 so I have 6 new things to try.

Bath & Body Works - Semi Annual Sale

Thought of the Day

The rays of happiness, like those of light, are colorless when unbroken.

Henry W. Longfellow

FREE Glade Scented Oil Candle Tin - First 10,000 to Respond

First 10,000 to respond will receive a FREE full size New Glade Scented Oil Candle Tin from SC Johnson - Right at Home. Click here to sign up and receive your free sample.

What Did You Get for FREE This Week?

Mailbox goodies this week:


Working Mothers Magazine
Dove Shampoo and Conditioner Samples with Coupon
FREE Issue of Soap Digest
2 Mars Coupons for FREE Candy
1 Oscar Mayer Coupon for FREE Item
Babiesrus Coupons

FRIDAY JUNE 5 - NATIONAL DONUT DAY!

Krispy Kreme is giving a away FREE Donuts to each customer, no purchase necessary. To find a participating store near you, click here.

Dunkin Donuts is also giving away free donuts to customers but you have to purchase a beverage to qualify. To find a participating store near you, click here.

TGI Friday - Coupon

Click here to print a coupon for Buy 1 Get 1 Free Entree. Expires 6/22/09

Thought of the Day

You're happiest while you're making the greatest contribution.

Robert F. Kennedy

Receive a FREE sample of Lea & Perrins Thick Classic Worcestershire Sauce and Jack Daniel's Barbecue Sauce. Click here to order.

Interesting/Useful/Fun Website

ImageChef.com

A website to use to create free animation pictures for your blog like the one here. Another example to create - photo frames.

WANT TO TRY SCRUBBING BUBBLES AUTOMATIC SHOWER CLEANER

The one thing I hate to clean more than anything else is a shower or tub. I have been thinking about trying the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner. Here is a $7 coupon - Expires 6/26/09. There is also a Money Back Guaranttee if you are not fully satisfied. The refund form is available here.

Have you tried this? If so, what is your opinion?

AMC THEATERS - $1 SUMMER MOVIE CAMP

Wednesday - June 17 - August 5 - $1 movies at AMC theaters.

Click here to find a theatre near and for more movie information.

Thought of the Day

There is more to life than increasing its speed.

Mahatma Ghandi

HEAVENLY COCONUT CAKE

Ingredients:

1 (18 -1/4 oz.) box white cake mix
1 (140z.) Can Eagle Brand Milk
1 (15oz.) Can Coco Lopez (Cream of Coconut)
1 (8oz.) Container of Cool Whip
2 Cups of flaked Coconut

Bake the cake following the box directions for a 13 x 9 pan. After cake has cooled punch the cake with a fork all over the top. In a small bowl, mix the Eagle brand milk and Cream of Coconut. Pour the milk mixture on top of the cake. After the mixture has been absorbed in the cake, spread cool whip on top and cover with the coconut. Refrigerate.


This recipe is heavenly. I think its better to refrigerate overnight before serving.

FREE Homemade Simple Coupon Booklet

This coupon booklet P&G is now available again. This is always filled with great coupons and a coupon for a FREE item. Click here to request.

Thought of the Day

Happiness is not a matter of events, it depends up on the tides of the mind.

Alice Meynell

WAYS I SAVED MONEY IN MAY

- Reduced my satellite bill - $15 a month
- 4 FREE Dinners from KFC
- No heat or A/C for 14 days
- Took Payton's Easter pictures myself. Order FREE 5 x 10 from Walgreens along with Family Pack and saved at least $50
- Used Coupons for every shopping trip.
- Used deodorant samples all month.
- Used 8 FREE Pull Up samples this month that I have been saving.
- Took 3 surveys to earn cash.
- Read all email from Mypoint to searn point towards gift cards.
- Read all emails from Inbox Dollars and took surveys to earn cash.
- Planted a FREE pack of perennial seeds last year and they all came back this year. I moved them to other flower gardens to prevent from having to buy new flowers.
- Planted a small garden to have fresh vegetables this summer.
- Used 3 B1G1F coupons when dining out this month.
- I am currently preparing for a yard sale in June. I have gathered all items together now I just need to schedule the day.

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