Sunday, October 31, 2010

Dads and Mummy's, Kids Eat Free at Chili's on Halloween

Kids eat free at Chili's on Halloween!!


Do you know what you're doing for dinner tonight?  Why not take the entire family to Chili's before or after you take your cute little goblins trick-or-treating?!

Today at Chili's, Sunday Oct 31st, from 3pm till close... Kids eat FREE! For every purchase of an adult entree, you'll get a free Kids' Meal when you present this coupon.

Invite all the Mummy's and Frankenstein's you know, the more the merrier!   Only at participating locations, Kids 12 and unde

Follow Us Monday Morning 11/1



Welcome to Follow Us Monday Morning - the Monday blog hop and Google friend follow here at Being Frugal and Making it Work and Frugality Is Free. This is the place where we casually meet and greet, have a little conversation and expand our blogging networks.


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I am honored to have been chosen to represent the 'Us' in Follow Us Monday Morning





I'm looking forward to being the co-host with JR from Frugality Is Free.  I'm also looking forward to meeting new friends.  I know that we have so much to share and so much to learn from one another.

Each week we will feature a blog as Hot Blog of the Week, and we will post a question to get the conversation started. The Hot Blog of the Week will get the first place in the linky, and the featured blogger will win a free ad space here at Frugality Is Free for a week.


The Hot Blog of The Week is:


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Hot Blog of The Week

Coupon Cents Sisters





The two sisters, Julie and Adele, have teamed up on sharing the latest freebies and great deals with you. Julie lives in Conneticut and Adele lives in Georgia, but despite the distance they are doing a fantastic job at Coupon Cents Sisters. Besides finding the best deals, freebies and coupon tips, Coupon Cents Sisters also have some great family posts.


If you have not done so already, I hope you will stop by Coupon Cents Sisters, you might just find some great free samples, good deals and awesome coupons.


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Follow Us Morning Feature BONUS!!! As a new bonus, the Follow Us Morning Featured blogger will win a FREE ad space for a week at Frugality Is Free.
 
Tip: The best way to gain more followers during a blog hop is by following others first, and leaving a link back so that they can easily find you. So don't forget to let someone know, if you are following their blog. One way to do this is by commenting and leaving your clickable blog signature (see below).
 



To participate:


Answer the Follow Us Monday Morning question (in the comment area or in a post) and post the button in your post. This is not mandatory, but it sure is appreciated, as it will help spread the word.


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Question of the Week
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Question of the Week: Did you give out candy for Halloween? If so, what candy did you give out? Is it the same ever year?



My answer:    Unfortunately, we live too far out of town to get trick-or-treaters on Halloween.  If we did live in an area where we got trick-or-treaters, I would buy something that we liked.  That way, if we didn't hand it all out - we would want to eat it! :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
 
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Do you want to be Hot Blog of The Week?

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•Blog about Follow Us Monday Morning (leave direct link)

•Post the Follow Us Monday Morning button in your sidebar (leave link)

•Tweet about the Follow Us Monday Morning Blog Hop (leave link)

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Protect Your Active Kids from MRSA

With fall sports in full swing, equipment cleanliness and item-sharing on and off the field may get overlooked between carpools, homework and bedtime.  But, skin infections like MRSA, a potentially life threatening antibiotic resistant Staph infection, are the cause of 56 percent of all infectious disease outbreaks in competitive sports in the U.S.

 


As a parent, it’s important to do our part to help prevent the spread of MRSA.  You can begin by getting involved in the Equip them Well program through three simple steps – collect, disinfect, donate.

Watch this video to learn more about how to get involved in the Equip Them Well program to help prevent the spread of MRSA.


***Participating bloggers who post the video and report by Wednesday, November 3 will be entered to win one of ten $25 gift cards thanks to the One2One Network!

FREE Betty Crocker 2011 Calendar!

Get a FREE Betty Crocker 2011 Calendar!  Your free calendar will arrive in the mail in 6-8 weeks, just in time for the New Year!

 

Friday, October 29, 2010

Fido Dog Treats Review & $25 Box of Treats Giveaway

I have 3 large dogs (2 mastiffs) and they love treats.  Trust me when I say, we go through a lot of dog treats at this house!  When I was given the chance to try Smooches cookie treats for dogs, I was thrilled.   I was amazed at how quickly they arrived. 

When my package of dog treats first arrived, I had to smell them!  They smell like graham crackers, almost good enough to eat myself.  When I showed my dogs their new treats, all three of them immediately sat down and looked at me with their big eyes.  One by one, I handed them each a treat.  They quickly ate them and started at me - begging for more.


Smooches are heart-shaped chicken and cranberry treats for dogs.  They are hand-made at a bakery in San Diego.  Smooches are made with 100% human grade barley flour, USDA chicken, molasses, filtered water, eggs, organic virgin coconut oil, cranberries, aged parmesan cheese. They contain no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors whatsoever.

Fido Dog Treats is a family owned company that specializes in the sale of healthy and nutritious dog treats.  They are a company comprised of pet lovers that are committed to both ethical pet ownership and honest business practices.  They offer dog treats, dog toys, health treats, low calorie treats and so much more.

Fido Dog Treats make it their priority to provide excellent customer service and quality products that you are proud to give your pets.  They even go as far as independently testing all of their products to ensure they meet our high quality and nutrition standards.

 

WIN IT:

One lucky reader is going to win a $25 box of Fido treats for their special dog(s)!  You can give Smooches to your pooch(es)!  :)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Fido Dog Treats, and tell me which treats you think your dog(s) would enjoy the most.  This must be completed before other entries will count.


This giveaway will end at 11:59 EST on  Monday November 22nd


This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, with the winner will be notified by e-mail. Please make sure I have a way to contact you. You can leave your email, or link to your blog site. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, if there is no response another winner will be chosen.

 



**I received a box of Smooches dog treats for my dogs for hosting this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Get $10 Worth of FREE Items at HauteLook - Look What I Got!

$10 off ANY Purchase at HauteLook - What a Deal!


Head on over to HauteLook and SAVE $10 off ANY purchase.  I just ordered the following 3 items and didn't have to pay anything out of my own pocket!  I'm thinking stocking stuffers!


 


Don't wait... Hurry on over and order TODAY!

10 Great Uses for Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly has been a staple in homes for years, for as long as I can remember.  We have always kept Vaseline Petroleum Jelly in our medicine cabinet.  My parents used it when I was a kid, and they still do.  There are literally hundreds of uses for Vaseline Petroleum Jelly,

  1. My husband applies Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to his hands before he mixes and lays concrete.  It prevents the concrete from sticking to his hands and it also prevents lime disease.
  2. Do you wants the smoothest knees and elbows around?  Use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly instead of lotion, especially in the winter when dry skin is most common.
  3. Have stray hairs that love to fly away?  Use a little bit of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, it works better than mouse or hair gel.  It doesn't leave your hair greasy either, that's a bonus in itself!
  4. Moisturize your legs after you shave.  Vaseline Petroleum Jelly leaves your legs smooth and silky.  It also prevents razor burn.
  5. Apply Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to your inner thighs and underarms before running a race of going on a long hike.  It acts as the perfect barrier between your clothing and sking and prevents chaffing.
  6. Gentle enough for a baby's bottom!  As a mom, I discovered that Vaseline Petroleum Jelly was perfect for treating and preventing diaper rash. 
  7. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is the perfect lip balm.  Soft and smooth, it helps heal chapped lips and protects against wind burn as well.  I love how smooth my lips feel after I put this on.
  8. Gain a little weight and have that wedding ring stuck on your finger?  Rub a little Vaseline Petroleum Jelly on your finger and around the ring, and watch it slide right off.
  9. No need to buy the expensive massage oils and lotions.  Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is great for those back massages and leg rubs that all of us moms so desperately need (and deserve).
  10. Apply Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to those little ouchies the kids get on a regular basis.  Scratches, bug bites and even rug burn.  It helps soothe and protect.
BONUS USE:  Perfect for those Halloween pumpkins.  After carving your pumpkin, rub some Vaseline Petroleum Jelly on the exposed pumpkin to help prevent it from rotting.  It will make your jack-o-lantern last so much longer!  ~*~ HaPpY HaLlOwEeN ~*~
 
 
What uses do you have for Vaseline Petroleum Jelly?
 
About Vaseline:


Vaseline products are manufactured by Unilever [NYSE: UL, UN], one of the world’s largest consumer products companies. With a 140-year heritage as America’s most trusted healthy skin expert and more than 30 years as a leading hand and body lotion, the Vaseline brand delivers products that meet the specific needs of consumers, no matter their life stage or lifestyle. The Vaseline Aloe Fresh line includes Vaseline Aloe Fresh Hydrating Lotion, Vaseline Aloe Fresh Protecting Lotion with SPF, and Vaseline Aloe Fresh Moisturizing Gel. All products in the line are designed to be light and leave skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. In addition to the Vaseline Lotions, the Vaseline family of products also features a complete line of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly and lip balm products. All Vaseline products can be purchased at drug stores nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.vaseline.com/.

* This Vaseline information is from Twittermoms.com.




***I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Vaseline blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card.

Fantastic Frugal Fridays - Promote Your Frugal Posts 10/29


I would like to welcome you to the Fantastic Frugal Fridays blog party.

The Fantastic Frugal Fridays blog party is hosted by JR from Frugality Is Free and me (Bridget) here at Being Frugal and Making it Work, and we are both very excited to invite all of you to share your frugal adventures with us.

It is always great to know a little about the hostesses at any party, so here is a bit about us.

JR and I are two frugal stay-at-home moms, and we both manage our household budgets with a very frugal hand. Being frugal moms does not mean that our families live without though, as we spoil our kids and sometimes our husbands rotten on Christmas and birthdays.

We both earn our own spending money by writing about our frugal lifestyles, and through various online earning sites. Every year we also treat our families to a frugal vacation on us....and our frugal budgets. JR's favorite place to take her three wonderful sons and husband is the Florida Keys, while I take my two kids and husband to the Oregon coast.

JR lives in urban South Florida, and I live in rural North Idaho, but frugality has brought us together, and I hope that the Fantastic Frugal Fridays will be a place, where you too will meet and connect with other frugal-minded friends.

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Each week we will feature a Frugal Expert, unfortunately no one qualified for this week features. So, I'm going to go ahead and feature JR from Frugality is Free this week!  Be sure to stop by and check out her great frugal tips, reviews and giveaways!

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The Frugal Expert will:

  • Receive" a feature on both Frugality Is Free and Being Frugal & Making It Happen.
  • Win a free week ad space at Frugality Is Free
  • Get the third spot in the linky
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To keep the party neat and clean, there will be a few rules.


The Rules:


1. Link up a frugal post
it can be anything frugal:. DIY projects, frugal deals, thrift store buys, frugal gardening, recipes etc...you name it...anything frugal except for grocery store deals


The Frugal Expert of the Week:

For a chance to be featured at the next Frugal Expert at the Fantastic Frugal Fridays & win a free ad space:

*1 entry per method - let me know below what you do and leave links)*



1) Make a blog post about Fantastic Frugal Fridays.
2) Add the Fantastic Frugal Fridays button to a blog post..
3) Add the Fantastic Frugal Fridays to your main page sidebar.
4) Tweet about the Fantastic Frugal Fridays (Leave tweet link in comment)



*(If you don't comment below with your entry method, it will not be counted)


Don'ts:


Don't link up to your main page, link up to your favorite blog post of the week.
Don't link up your blog hop!
Don't link up your giveaway! (You can link up your giveaway here)
Don't link up your business

All of the above will be deleted.



Please link up below: Blog Name, Frugal Post Title
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Alight Plus Size Top Review & Giveaway

Alight Plus Size Top Review & Giveaway

 

I won a shirt from Alight.com through a giveaway at Frugality is Free. It arrived about a week after I was notified that it shipped, and it's beautiful! I first noticed the pretty peachy color upon opening the package. noticed how soft and silky it was. It's not the typical t-shirt and sweatshirt material that I'm so comfortable with. I took the shirt out of the package, and I'll admit that my first comment was... "OH MY GOODNESS!"


I'm a baggy t-shirt kind of girl but have recently made a commitment to myself to lose weight! I've lost 9 pounds since September 8th, and in another couple of months - I'm going to look HOT in my new "fancy" shirt! Family and friends aren't going to know what to think when they see me wearing something other than a t-shirt!

This silky, peachy shirt will look great with a pair of leggins or skinny jeans. Or maybe even a cute skirt! That means I'm going to have to go shopping for the rest of my "date night" outfit!


 

Alight is an online clothing store that carries plus size clothing, from 12 to 34. The thing I first noticed about Alight was their wide variety of clothing. They have something for every occasion, from jeans to workout clothing to formal wear!
 


Alight.com is very user friendly. You can search in a very specific manner, from category (jeans, shirts, dresses, etc.), brand/designer, event (wedding, formal, etc.) and even size. It doesn't get much easier than that. Alight even carries jewelry and accessories, so you can create the perfect outfit for any occasion.


 


Alight carries over 1000 unique and trendy plus size clothing items from over 75 brands for both women and teens. I will guarantee that you'll find something that you love and can't live without. I'd even go as far as saying that you will have a hard time choosing which item(s) to buy first!

 Be sure to check out their Holiday Contest! Win a FREE item to flaunt this holiday season. Check out the "Holiday Contest Tab" on their Facebook page.


 


WIN IT:

For the next 3 months, I'm going to be posting an Alight giveaway for my readers. Each month, Alight.com will send one winner a beautiful top (of Alight's choosing) in the winner's size! 

Mandatory Entry:

Sign up for Alight's mailing list, then  leave me a comment telling me that you did and which email address you used to sign up.  This must be completed before other entries will count.

In addition, if you do not sign up for the newsletter and are selected as the winner, your entry will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen. Email subscriber list will be checked for verification.


This giveaway will end at 11:59 EST on Friday November 26th


This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, with the winner will be notified by e-mail. Please make sure I have a way to contact you. You can leave your email, or link to your blog site. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, if there is no response another winner will be chosen.




**I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

I won 4 tickets to see Disney on Ice, Let's Celebrate!

Whoo hoo!

 

I won 4 tickets to see Disney on Ice, Let's Celebrate!


A local radio station, wanted to see how we celebrate, by submitting a photo of our little one's Birthday Party! The five best entries win tickets to see Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate at the Spokane Arena.

I REALLY wanted to take the kids, especially Stephy, to see this but I just couldn't justify spending the $50 a ticket. (Ticket prices are $16.00 to $23.00, $35.00 and $50.00) We could have gotten "nose bleed" seats for $16, but the experience and excitement just wouldn't be the same!

Since the tickets were for Disney on Ice, I thought it was only perfect to submit a photo from Stephy's 5th birthday party! She had a Princess party, and we all know that there are lots of Disney Princess's!

I honestly didn't think I had a chance at winning. I mean, I think the photo is adorable but I assumed there would be a mass amount of entries. But, I also know that if i didn't enter, I wouldn't have any chance of winning, so I gave it a shot! Besides, I had nothing to lose by entering. By taking a chance, it paid off and I'm SO excited!



The e-mail I received:


Hi Bridget!



This is "A" from 103.1 KCDA and I have some good news…



Congratulations your photo won you a four pack of tickets to see Disney on Ice presents Lets Celebrate at the Spokane Arena!



All you need to do is pick up your tickets at our office. We are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.



If you have any questions you can call the front desk. I hope you have a great time at the show! Thanks for entering!


 


Disney On Ice Let's Celebrate!

Make an ordinary day extraordinary when Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate! brings more than 50 Disney characters to your hometown for one colossal party on ice! This all-new, high-energy show features a magical montage of celebrations from around the world and is set to a blend of contemporary music and everyone's favorite Disney songs.

Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they celebrate a winter wonderland with everyone's favorite toys - Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear; a Very Merry Unbirthday Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter; Mardi Gras with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen; a Royal Valentine's Day Ball with the Disney Princesses; a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains; a Hawaiian luau with Lilo & Stitch; and more in the celebration of the century. Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate! will be a memorable and uplifting experience for the whole family!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Funkibanz Review

Funkibanz can be used in a variety of ways.  They are the perfect Crosc accessories, bracelet or anklet!  In addition to being the perfect fashion accessory, Funkibanz are also soft, durable and machine washable.  Proudly made in the United States, and created by moms!  Funkibanz are made of ISO certified material to resist odor-causing bacteria, double-lined for stretch & durability, and waterproof too! 

 

I don't think it gets much better (or safer) than that!  Those are all things that I can appreciate as a parent.  When I showed the kids what I had for them, they were very excited!  After I showed them the different things they could be used for; my sweet daughter asked if she could give one to her best friend.  So that they could have matching friendship bracelets!

 

Funkibanz come in a variety of styles for both boys and girls.  They also come in three different sizes:  Small (8-12), Medium (12-4) and Large (4-7). 

Funkibanz would make the perfect stocking stuffer or gift idea.  Right now, you can take advantage of their BOGO sale!  The coupon code  “funkibogo” will subtract $6.99 off a minimum order of $13.98 (two pairs). Of course, you can order more than two, but the coupon is for one free!

You can also take a chance at winning your very own pair of Funkibanz as well!  Entering the Funkibanz contest is quick and easy.  All you have to do is sign up for their mailing list and one winner will be chosen each week.

Coupon for a FREE Bag of Chips!

Head on over to "Food Should Taste Good" on Facebook to request a coupon that's good for a FREE bag of chips!
 

"Like" them on Facebook, then click on "Free Bag" to request your coupon!  HURRY, this offer won't be around for long!

$10 off ANY Order at The Popcorn Factory!

Right now, you can use the promotional code TRYME and save $10 at The Popcorn Factory.  The possibilities are endless, think of gift giving!   I love the fact that they have a wide variety of choices, flavors and prices to fit any budget.  Some of their flavors:  cheddar, butter, caramel, jalapeno, smores and MORE!



I just ordered some White Cheddar Popcorn, and all I had to pay was shipping costs!


Promotion Code: TRYME

Order Total: $9.99

Shipping:  $5.99

Coupon Discount:  -$9.99

Order Total: $5.99

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Follow Us Monday Morning 10/25



Welcome to Follow Us Monday Morning - the Monday blog hop and Google friend follow here at Being Frugal and Making it Work and Frugality Is Free. This is the place where we casually meet and greet, have a little conversation and expand our blogging networks.


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I am honored to have been chosen to represent the 'Us' in Follow Us Monday Morning





I'm looking forward to being the co-host with JR from Frugality Is Free.  I'm also looking forward to meeting new friends.  I know that we have so much to share and so much to learn from one another.

Each week we will feature a blog as Hot Blog of the Week, and we will post a question to get the conversation started. The Hot Blog of the Week will get the first place in the linky, and the featured blogger will win a free ad space here at Frugality Is Free for a week.


The Hot Blog of The Week is:


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Hot Blog of The Week

Traci 66



Traci is a childcare provider from Illinois, she has been married to her husband for 28 years and she has four children and four grand children.



At Traci66 you can find reviews, giveaways blog hops and giveaway linkies.
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Follow Us Morning Feature BONUS!!! As a new bonus, the Follow Us Morning Featured blogger will win a FREE ad space for a week at Frugality Is Free.
 
Tip: The best way to gain more followers during a blog hop is by following others first, and leaving a link back so that they can easily find you. So don't forget to let someone know, if you are following their blog. One way to do this is by commenting and leaving your clickable blog signature (see below).
 



To participate:


Answer the Follow Us Monday Morning question (in the comment area or in a post) and post the button in your post. This is not mandatory, but it sure is appreciated, as it will help spread the word.

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Question of the Week
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Question of the Week: Will you be dressing up for Halloween this year? If not, when were the last time you dressed up, and what did you dress up as?

My answer:  The last time I dressed up on Halloween was 14 years ago.  I went to a Halloween Party as a Joker!  My costume was purple and black, my hat even had bells on the ends. LOL!  This was before I had children and while my hubby and I were just dating!  He was hunting, so I went with his sister to her company Halloween party, it was a BLAST! 
 
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Do you want to be Hot Blog of The Week?

***

•Blog about Follow Us Monday Morning (leave direct link)

•Post the Follow Us Monday Morning button in your sidebar (leave link)

•Tweet about the Follow Us Monday Morning Blog Hop (leave link)

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Spook-A-Look Halloween Photo Contest

Popeye & Olive Oyl

As sweet little Olive Oyl gazes adoringly up at Popeye, you can see the love for Popeye twinkle in her eyes.  Will Popeye realize the connection before it's too late?  Or will he put his love for muscles and spinach above everything else, including true love.

Popeye:  "I yam what I yam!   I'm Popeye, the sailor man!"

Olive Oyl:  "Oh, Popeye!"


 


****This is my entry for the “Spook-A-Look Halloween Photo Contest” where I have a chance to win two great prizes:

Top Prize: $100 Target Gift Card plus an 18x24 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print
Runner Up: $50 Target Gift Card plus a 16x20 Rolled Canvas Print

Thanks to Giveaway Blogs and UPrinting.com  for hosting and sponsoring this SpOoKy Halloween contest!

Change Your Clock Change Your Battery

On November 7, I pledge to adopt the life-saving Energizer Change Your Clock Change Your Battery habit to change and test the batteries in my smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and to remind my friends, family, neighbors and community members to do the same.


 

The Energizer Bunny is promoting the "CYCCYB" (Change Your Clocks Change Your Battery), to help donate up to 400,000 batteries to local fire departments all over the country!  If you make a pledge, one battery will be donated!  Together, can make a difference! 

I made a pledge, will you?

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Halloween Costume Contest: Popeye & Olive Oyl

I've entered my kids, AKA Popeye and Olive Oyl in the Halloween costume contest.  If you think they deserve your vote...


 


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Friday, October 22, 2010

We Have a Winner!

It's time to announce the winner of my UPrinting.com 250 Business Card Giveaway!

 


The winner is:


 

 

CONGRATULATIONS Rheanna!


I will be emailing you and you will have 48 hours to respond to the email, or another winner will be drawn.




I would like to thank the giveaway sponsor UPrinting.com for sponsoring this great giveaway.

MyBlogSpark Hershey's Moderation Nation Prize Pack Review and Giveaway!

I've struggled with my weight for years.  I've always been self-conscious about my weight and have wore baggy clothes to cover it up.  Of course, baggy clothes only make me look bigger.  I have two young children and it's always been important that I teach them about eating healthy.

September 8th 2010, a friend and I made a promise to each other.  We joined the gym together, work out 3 - 4 times each week and support one another the entire way.  I'm happy to say that I've currently lost 9 pounds, without giving anything up.  I still eat the same foods and enjoy my chocolate.  It's portion control and moderation that are the keys to success!

Hershey's Moderation Nation is a national campaign that promotes moderation, provides practical tools and tips that can be used everyday.  By visiting Hershey's Moderation Nation, you will have taken the first (and most important) step towards a well balanced life.  It will help keep you focused and on track as well as providing you with valuable resources and tools.  There's even an app for that!

 

Between your busy schedule and responsibilities with work, friends and family - it may be challenging to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle, especially while on the go. However, what if you had easy-to-follow advice and resources right at your finger tips?

For on-the-go needs, the new Moderation Nation iPhone app, free and available on iTunes or via http://www.themoderationnation.com/, will reward you for the activity you´re already doing, while encouraging you to do even more in a way that suits your busy lifestyle. With an easy-to-read tracker and a comprehensive list of activities to choose from, you can earn badges for your progress and go from a Starting Gun to a Healthy Hero!


The Moderation Nation Web site (http://www.themoderationnation.com/) provides a host of new tools for you and your readers, including:

* Recipes and Expert Tips. Here you´ll find advice from Cheryl Forberg, registered dietitian (RD) for NBC's The Biggest Loser, award-winning chef and New York Times best-selling cookbook author

* Additional recipes and tips from Regina Ragone, Food Director at Family Circle magazine; Keri Glassman, author of the O2 diet; and Liz Ward, author of Expect the Best Pregnancy.

* Moderation Menus. Seven-day meal plans - with snack ideas - that will help you plan out your week. Each menu is based on an individual lifestyle, such as Single, Adults with Kids and Adults with No Kids.

* Balance the Meal. This cool balancer tool allows you to input your main dish and its preparation method; in return, you´ll receive ideas for complementary side dishes that round out the meal smartly.

* Useful Facts. Here you´ll find everything from a "portion distortion" guide - providing cues on what actual portion sizes should look like - to a grocery shopping fact sheet - to a guide on how to start and maintain a food journal.

The goal of MODERATION NATION is to help people learn about a balanced diet, appropriate portion sizes, and the benefits of regular physical activity.

Both dark and milk chocolate provide health benefits in moderation - milk chocolate is to dark as a latte is to an espresso* (Source: HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION)

Both dietitians and consumers agree that up to 100 calories of chocolate can be consumed daily (Source: HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION, 2010)

Over the past few years research has suggested that sitting for extended periods of time has a negative impact on your health. 

 
 
WIN IT:

One of Being Frugal and Making it Work's readers will win a Hershey's Moderation Nation Prize Pack that includes:  a Moderation Nation t-shirt, a bag of Hershey’s chocolate and a nutrition journal with pen for tracking  your daily food intake and daily activity.




How to Enter:
This giveaway will end at 11:59 EST on Friday November 12th

Disclosure: Thanks to Hershey's and MyBlogSpark for providing a Moderation Nation prize pack for review and giveaway.  The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

FREE 8×10 Photo Collage at Walgreen's

This offer won't be around for long, so you need to act quickly!  Through Saturday, you can get a FREE 8×10 Photo Collage at Walgreen's!


 

Simply go to Walgreen's website and order your collage.  Select in-store pick-up and use special offer code: code 8X10TREAT at checkout!

Fantastic Frugal Fridays - Promote Your Frugal Posts 10/22


I would like to welcome you to the Fantastic Frugal Fridays blog party.

The Fantastic Frugal Fridays blog party is hosted by JR from Frugality Is Free and me (Bridget) here at Being Frugal and Making it Work, and we are both very excited to invite all of you to share your frugal adventures with us.

It is always great to know a little about the hostesses at any party, so here is a bit about us.

JR and I are two frugal stay-at-home moms, and we both manage our household budgets with a very frugal hand. Being frugal moms does not mean that our families live without though, as we spoil our kids and sometimes our husbands rotten on Christmas and birthdays.

We both earn our own spending money by writing about our frugal lifestyles, and through various online earning sites. Every year we also treat our families to a frugal vacation on us....and our frugal budgets. JR's favorite place to take her three wonderful sons and husband is the Florida Keys, while I take my two kids and husband to the Oregon coast.

JR lives in urban South Florida, and I live in rural North Idaho, but frugality has brought us together, and I hope that the Fantastic Frugal Fridays will be a place, where you too will meet and connect with other frugal-minded friends.

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Each week we will feature a Frugal Expert, and I'm thrilled to announce this week's frugal expert.


 


The Jenny Pincher is written by Jenny, who is addicted to saving money. Jenny teaches a budgeting class at her local community college, and she finds great pleasure in finding the best deals. at The Jenny Pincher.

At The Jenny Pincher you can find some great financial advice, budget tips and after seeing Jenny's last harvest of the season, you might just want to start a garden.

Now as an extra bonus, the Frugal Expert of the week will also receive a free ad space on Frugality Is Free for a week.

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To keep the party neat and clean, there will be a few rules.


The Rules:


1. Link up a frugal post
it can be anything frugal:. DIY projects, frugal deals, thrift store buys, frugal gardening, recipes etc...you name it...anything frugal except for grocery store deals

The Frugal Expert of the Week:

For a chance to be featured at the next Frugal Expert at the Fantastic Frugal Fridays & win a free ad space:

*1 entry per method - let me know below what you do and leave links)*



1) Make a blog post about Fantastic Frugal Fridays.
2) Add the Fantastic Frugal Fridays button to a blog post..
3) Add the Fantastic Frugal Fridays to your main page sidebar.
4) Tweet about the Fantastic Frugal Fridays (Leave tweet link in comment)

Example tweet:

Come join me at the Fantastic Frugal Fridays,  Link up your frugal post and connect with frugal friends

*(If you don't comment below with your entry method, it will not be counted)


Don'ts:


Don't link up to your main page, link up to your favorite blog post of the week.
Don't link up your blog hop!
Don't link up your giveaway! (You can link up your giveaway here)
Don't link up your business

All of the above will be deleted.



Please link up below: Blog Name, Frugal Post Title
*
*
*





Last Chance to Enter: 250 Business Card Giveaway from Uprinting.com (Ends 10/21)

250 Business Card Giveaway from Uprinting.com (Ends 10/21)

 

Want to have compelling business card prints?  Then look no further, now you have a chance to win a set and design them to your heart's content.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

I Paid $10 for a $60 Coat!

My daughter needed a new winter coat for school, and I wanted to get a great deal!  I went to a couple different stores last week, Target, Kohl's and then to Sears.  Kohl's and Target had some cute ones that I really liked.  The only thing I didn't like about them was their prices.  I have a difficult time trying to justify spending full price when I can shop around for sales and clearance.

Sears was my last stop, my fingers were crossed.  I had a $10 off $20 purchase coupon, that I had printed off a couple days earlier.  I was excited when I saw that the winter coats were 55% off.  The coat that I picked out was normally $60.  It is super cute, brown with pink accents.



The coat rang up at $20.00, which is a bigger savings than 55%, I'm sure of it!  I used my $10 coupon and paid just $10.60 for a $60 coat!  That's one heck of a deal!!  I also got my son a pair of camo long johns, normally $18.00 for just $6.20!

Have you gotten any great bargains lately?

$2.99 Personalized Playing Cards - FREE Shipping!

Get a personalized deck of cards for just $2.99 (includes free shipping) from ArtsCow!  Choose from either the single design or 54 designs playing cards for a personalized gift at an unbeatable price.  Cards come in standard, hearts and circles!  I chose a set of round cards with a photo from our summer vacation!

THINK CHRISTMAS!! This offer expires on: 10/25/2010. 
 


Items $7.99

Shipping/Handling $5.99

Order Total $13.98

Coupon Discount ($10.99)

Order Total $2.99

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

We Have a Winner!

It's official, I have 400 followers!  403 to be exact.  I want to say thank you to each one of my followers, I appreciate each of you.  I'm going to be sharing several review/giveaways in the next couple of weeks, and I'm really looking forward to sharing them with all of you!

Now, for the winner of my "400 Followers Giveaway: $5 Red Lobster Gift Certificate!"


The winner is #4! 

 


 


CONGRATS, Tory!!!  I'll be sending you an e-mail!

Monday, October 18, 2010

FREE First Aid Kit

Good Samaritan Hospital is giving away FREE first aid kits.  Use the code Kit to take advantage of this special offer!  HURRY!  Only available while supplies last.  Your first aid kit will arrive in the mail.


A special THANKS to Inspiring you to Save for sharing this great freebie with me!

400 Followers Giveaway: $5 Red Lobster Gift Certificate

That's right, I'm going to give one lucky follower a $5 Red Lobster Gift Certificate!  Once I reach 400 followers, one lucky person who comments on THIS post will win!  New followers and those who already follow are eligible!

 

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years or older. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, the winner will be notified by e-mail. Please make sure I have a way to contact you. You can leave your email, or link to your blog site. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, if there is no response another winner will be chosen.

$10 off ANY Purchase at HauteLook

Head on over to HauteLook and SAVE $10 off ANY purchase!  To make this deal even better, the item doesn't have to be $10, it will take this off the shipping costs as well!

I just ordered a pair of Knit Laced Fingerless Gloves for my daughter.  She's going to love them!


 

Original Price: $20.00
Sale Price:  $7.99
Shipping:  $7.95
Total:  $15.94
Discount Code: ENJOY10OFF -$10.00
Total Charge:  $5.94
Total Savings:  $22.01

Just use ENJOY10OFF at checkout!

Alight Plus Size Clothing Review

I won a shirt from Alight.com through a giveaway at Frugality is Free.  It arrived earlier this week (about a week after I was notified that it shipped) and it's beautiful!  I first noticed the pretty peachy color upon opening the package.   noticed how soft and silky it was.  It's not the typical t-shirt and sweatshirt material that I'm so comfortable with.  I took the shirt out of the package, and I'll admit that my first comment was... "OH MY GOODNESS!"

I'm a baggy t-shirt kind of girl but have recently made a commitment to myself to lose weight! I've lost 9 pounds since September 8th, and in another couple of months - I'm going to look HOT in my new "fancy" shirt!  Family and friends aren't going to know what to think when they see me wearing something other than a t-shirt!

This silky, peachy shirt will look great with a pair of leggins or skinny jeans.  Or maybe even a cute skirt!  That means I'm going to have to go shopping for the rest of my "date night" outfit!


 

Alight is an online clothing store that carries sizes from 12 to 34.  The thing I first noticed about Alight was their wide variety of clothing.  They have something for every occasion, from jeans to workout clothing to formal wear!

Alight.com is very user friendly.  You can search in a very specific manner, from category (jeans, shirts, dresses, etc.), brand/designer, event (wedding, formal, etc.) and even size.  It doesn't get much easier than that.  Alight even carries jewelry and accessories, so you can create the perfect outfit for any occasion.

Alight carries over 1000 unique and trendy items from over 75 brands for both women and teens.  I will guarantee that you'll find something that you love and can't live without.  I'd even go as far as saying that you will have a hard time choosing which item(s) to buy first!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

2 FREE Cans of Spot's Stew Pet Food

Sign up to receive their newsletter and get a coupon for 2 FREE cans of Spot's Stew.  Halo holistic natural dog food and natural cat food are made from real foods you can recognize.  Available at PetCo, Super 1 Foods, Rosauers and other Specialty Pet Stores!  You can use their store locator to find a retailer near you.
 

Original Spot's Stew.

The "Gold Standard" in natural dog food for over 20 years.

Highest quality protein: Whole meats and grains, fresh vegetables

Superb taste and digestibility

No inferior by-products, rendered meats or meals

Formulated for optimum protein and complete nutrition

Helps keep body tone and rebuild body tissue

Ideal for all life stages




If you won't use this for your own pets, it would make a great donation to the local animal shelter!

Follow Us Monday Morning 10/18



Welcome to Follow Us Monday Morning - the Monday blog hop and Google friend follow here at Being Frugal and Making it Work and Frugality Is Free. This is the place where we casually meet and greet, have a little conversation and expand our blogging networks.


Photobucket
I am honored to have been chosen to represent the 'Us' in Follow Us Monday Morning





I'm looking forward to being the co-host with JR from Frugality Is Free.  I'm also looking forward to meeting new friends.  I know that we have so much to share and so much to learn from one another.

Each week we will feature a blog as Hot Blog of the Week, and we will post a question to get the conversation started. The Hot Blog of the Week will get the first place in the linky, and the featured blogger will win a free ad space here at Frugality Is Free for a week.


The Hot Blog of The Week is:


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Hot Blog of The Week

Our Home-Schooling Journey




Our Home-Schooling Journey is written by Neecy, and since she just stated this blog last month, she only has 25 followers. I hope that everyone that participates at Follow Us Monday Morning will go follow....

I would love to find out that Our Home-Schooling Journey has reached 100 followers by Tuesday morning.

What do you say blogger friends?


This is what Neecy says about herself:

"I have 4 wonderful kids: 2 boys -- 6 & 11 and 2 girls 12 & 10... An OTR truck driver for a husband...and 3 wonderful rescued dogs. Here will be a little about family, life, this & that -- and most importantly, our journey as a family brand new to home-schooling. You'll also hear about my very real and sometimes frustrating life with 2 ADHD children and 1 who is ADHD/ODD. --Buckle your seatsbelts, it's going to be a wild ride."

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Follow Us Morning Feature BONUS!!! As a new bonus, the Follow Us Morning Featured blogger will win a FREE ad space for a week at Frugality Is Free.
 
Tip: The best way to gain more followers during a blog hop is by following others first, and leaving a link back so that they can easily find you. So don't forget to let someone know, if you are following their blog. One way to do this is by commenting and leaving your clickable blog signature (see below).
 



To participate:


Answer the Follow Us Monday Morning question (in the comment area or in a post) and post the button in your post. This is not mandatory, but it sure is appreciated, as it will help spread the word.

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Question of the Week
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Question of the Week: When was the last time you went camping and what's your favorite camping destination?


My answer:  The last time we went camping was in July.  We live in the most beautiful area, the camping is perfect here in north Idaho.  We go camping right next to a bubbling creek with lots of trees and mountain scenery!
 
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Do you want to be Hot Blog of The Week?

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•Blog about Follow Us Monday Morning (leave direct link)

•Post the Follow Us Monday Morning button in your sidebar (leave link)

•Tweet about the Follow Us Monday Morning Blog Hop (leave link)