The College Fund for the Girls

Getting Ready for the Holidays

2011-11-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

As time marches by it again is that time of the year to start thinking about the holidays. Make sure to start watching the ads for free or very cheap turkey and all the trimmings.

My turkey cooking tip for you is to make sure to put plenty of water in the bottom of the pan as you cook the turkey and make sure to replenish it regularly. This will help to ensure a moist turkey and will keep your drippings ready to go for the gravy.

Great Deals on Great Meals available at Publix

2011-08-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just because summer is winding down, doesn´t mean that your fun family meals have to come to an end too. With a little help from the Great Deals on Great Meals event, available exclusively at Publix^®, savings and recipe ideas for a home-cooked meal that your whole family will love are just a click away!

From August 18th through August 23rd, look for the Great Deals on Great Meals event, available exclusively at Publix® to take advantage of great savings on some of your favorite brands, including great prices on everything you need for a delicious chicken casserole.

During the event, look in-store or visit GreatDealsOnGreatMeals.com to download $12.00 in coupons* for great breakfast, lunch and dinner products.

*Coupons are valid from August 15th through September 4th, 2011.

Check out these Publix Great Deals on Great Meals Website ttp://bit.ly/PublixGDGMSummer

If you would like to win a $25 Publix gift card, please place a comment on the blog about why you like shopping at Publix. Please make sure to comment by September 4th, 2011 and be sure to include your email.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Publix for sponsoring this contest and for an additional gift card for our family.

The Water is Fun!

2011-07-02T21:50:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Dr. Kay Heaton, for the great water experience. This is a great opportunity for the girls to learn about the water in such a positive environment.

http://clubk-aquaticintegration.com/

4th of July Cheesecake, Yummy!

2011-06-29T20:49:00.001-07:00

With July fourth coming soon, Monday, why not make a great desert of cheesecake fourth of July style. Alternate, sliced strawberries, blueberries and fresh whipped cream in concentric circles. You could start with a store bought cheesecake or make your own, yummy!

Great Travel Advice for Families

2011-06-27T14:41:00.001-07:00

With summer in full swing it is time to explore the great places around your community and beyond. In planning your trip a great family friendly site to visit is http://www.trekaroo.com/ if you do visit the site be sure to check out some of my reviews under the pen name of arial.

Check out the RadNet Site for Information on Radiation Levels Near You

2011-03-21T19:13:00.001-07:00

This site by the EPA RadNet, is a web site that you can check out the radiation levels in your area. Read lots more information on what the monitoring information means. This is a great site to check out because you can get the information fast and easy without another source in between you and the data.

Scroll down on this linked page, you will then click once on the site of interest.

https://cdxnode64.epa.gov/radnet-public/showMap.do

Holiday Sales & Cyclicle Shopping

2011-02-18T11:27:00.001-08:00

If you are in need of basic items, right now and over the holiday weekend are often a great time to find some great deals! Remember that most items go through a cycle of being at 'normal' price, then they are on sale. If you want to make purchases, I suggest keeping a price diary and look once every three days or once a week at the price of the item. Even flights operate in this way. Some industries like the travel even have days of the week where you may notice cheaper prices.

After keeping track of the prices, you will start to notice cycles with the various classes of products and brands. If you are grocery shopping remember to double dip and use a coupon and the sale price when possible. If you use these basic principles, you can save thousands of dollars a year very easily.

If you have any other great tips, please share them here!

Great Deals at Amazon- Free and Discounted Media

2010-11-27T13:13:00.000-08:00

For a free $3 MP3 Download credit go here and follow the directions.
Free $3 MP3 Credit at Amazon

To save 75% on a Video on Demand Rental, use this code on this page: Video On Demand Sale, Great Deals and use the 75% off coupon Pick out the video you want to rent and click on the button that says, " Redeem a gift card or promotional code", then enter this in the box RENTDEAL on this page: this expires 11/30/10 so get your video now, plus they have some Thanksgiving rental specials going on this weekend so you can rent for as low as twenty-five cents. What a great deal! How to Train a Dragon, only .99 or .25 with coupon, same for Eat Pray, Love through Sunday.

Annual Learning Disability Conference November 19th, Cuesta College

2010-10-25T12:21:00.001-07:00

This years conference should be another great one. A great price too, $45 regular rate, $15 student rate and both include a continental breakfast, coffee throughout the day and lunch. Help support the local Learning Disability Conference and learn at the same time. Three great speakers are featured this year:

Dr. Steve Kane is an Associate Professor in the Higher Education Counseling graduate program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. A UCLA-trained and licensed psychologist, Dr. Kane is a specialist in the d iagnosis and treatment of learning disabilities and ADHD in college students. As a former Assistant Director and Learning Disabilities Specialist with the Cal Poly Disability Resource Center, Dr. Kane has served students with disabilities for over 20 years. Dr. Kane's remarks will address the process of preparing for a successful transition from one level of education to another and/or from school into the workplace.

Ms. Aspen is an Educational Specialist with the Diagnostic Center, Central California. The title of her workshop is, "Help Me Chill Out Before I Melt Down."

Ms. Johnson is the Assistant Director of the Diagnostic Center, Central California. She will present "What's the Word on Words? Vocabulary Support for Struggling Students."

For more information contact Cuesta College at 546-3148.

Back to School Text Books

2010-08-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

If you are a student and are in need of textbooks, a great place to check out is the used book section on Amazon. Here is a link for the Intro to the Internet Book:
AcSk 22 Book

Rancho De Los Animales What a Great Place!

2010-08-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went and visited our friend Beth at her great ranch for people with disabilities, Rancho De Los Animales in Arroyo Grande, CA. It is a great ranch that is totally accessible for people with disabilities. When you visit, Beth always has a group of great volunteers to help out those who need assistance. She also has a couple of thrift stores that you can donate to that help to support the ranch and this great cause.

Here is a picture of Zoe checking out the pony at the ranch

Here is Alixia having the time of her life riding a pony for the first time!

Here is a rare picture of Beth & Zoe, Beth is in the brown outfit

Here are a few news stories that have been done on the ranch:

http://www.timespressrecorder.com/articles/2004/08/25/news/news02.txt
http://coastalpeaksroasters.com/catpage/Rancho.html
http://mt.lincolnshirepostpolio.org.uk/archives/pandpp-news/000320.html

On Tuesday, August the 17th, they will be hosting another great community event for the visually impaired at the ranch. This is a great opportunity for those with visual impairments to feel like royalty and to learn how to ride a horse or just enjoy the other animals on the ranch. Lots of helpers will be available to make sure that everyone gets to enjoy the ranch.

Later in August on the 28th Access for All will be featuring Comedian Josh Blue as the entertainment for the annual Paul Wolff Accessibility Advocacy Awards Program. Here is a link for more great information on this cause:

http://sloaccessforall.org/

If you take some great pictures at these events and you want a free photobook, check out this great offer:

Robeez Extra Discount on Clearance Good Til August 5th, So hurry for the best deals!

2010-07-31T20:59:00.000-07:00

Two great deals from Robeez, these are great shoes for your little ones. Such fun & functionality!

Or

Today Only- Snapfish

2010-07-31T20:13:00.001-07:00

50 FREE 4x6 Prints & a FREE Collage Mug for New Customers! 2 days only! Exp 7/31 FREEMUG at checkout

Some Great Photo/Video Deals You Won't Want to Miss!

2010-07-26T22:04:00.000-07:00

Photo Deals:
Kodak:

Vista Print:

Snapfish:

Skiinit:

Canvas People:

Blockbuster:

Free 5 by 7 Photo Book from Kodak!

2010-07-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here is another great free! offer from Kodak. Make sure to tell your friends to come to the web site and click on our link for this great freebie and help support the girls college fund for free!

Alice - Free Shipping & $10 off plus extra discount to celebrate their anniversary!

2010-07-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

If you have not yet joined Alice, now is the time. They are having their anniversary sale right now and if you look up on the left upper side you can spin for an extra discount up to 75% off of your order. I got 10% off mine. It is only available for a limited time, so go quickly and sign up for this great home delivery service for your basic groceries. I have saved a ton using their instant coupons and free shipping. They also have gerber products at a decent price and they have hard to find products as well.

Free Avatar Rental from Amazon

2010-06-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a link and use these promotional codes, HDNATION and FILMRIOT to see it free! Who doesn't like free?

Great Central Coast Deals

2010-06-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

If you live on the Central Coast of California their are some great deals available. Through the local radio stations you can buy local gift certificates for half off or even more. This is a great way to try out the local places at a great discount. It is also a great way to entertain those summer visitors!

They sometimes go really fast and you should always look every Wednesday AM as that is when they will update it. Today they even had the local Marie Calendar's restaurant on their. Imagine, 1/2 price pie, yummy. Need I say more?

http://kstt.com/Sizzling-Summer-Savings/7330304

Another free resource for local discounts is http://www.ksby.com/pages/hot-deals/ it is mostly for the Marigold shopping center, but it is free!

Finally, here is another San Luis Obispo, or Central Calfirornia Coast resource. These again are a discounted certificate. http://centralcoastdeals.com/index.php/categories/restaurants

Remember too, when you are traveling do a search on the local radio and television stations, as this seems to be a nationwide trend. Promoting local businesses. Wouldn't it be far nicer to have a real vacation at a discount instead of a 'stayvacation'?

If you have some similar local resources, please share!

PS Don't forget the coupon link above, they often too have great deals and everyone can use these!

Great Deals at Snapfish

2010-06-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

With Father's Day around the corner now is the perfect time to take advantage of all these great deals like a free photo mug for new users and 50% off of desktop callendars. I love these great deals!

Cheap Lightbulbs at Target!

2010-05-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

GE Reveal light bulbs are on sale this week for $2 a four pack and on their web site is a $1.50 coupon off on them. So for fifty cents you can get four great light bulbs. At Target remember too that you can usually double up on coupons, so that means you can use one Target coupon and one regular manufactures coupon. If you have any manufactures coupon for the GE Reveal light bulbs, you could easily get these free this week!

Also while their check out their other great specials and their is a Target coupon on the above coupons link for $1 off Eggo Pancakes or Waffles. Again, you can double up if you use this coupon with a manufactures coupon.

Finally, they have the new Alice in Wonderland Pack on sale and their is a $10 off coupon available on the Disney Movie club web site when you log in, just do a search on Yahoo for Alice in Wonderland coupon. I found it super easy and this is great practice for you. If you have a problem finding it post here and I will put a specific link to it.

Have a great safe holiday!

Walmart Rollbacks

2010-05-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

If you are a Walmart bargain shopper, then this is the time to get over their! They currently have tons of Rollbacks on popular items like Ketchup, 40 oz Heinz $1, Tide, and even Toilet Paper on rollbacks. They have some others as well, look on the web site and then check out your local store. This is the time to stock up on some of the roll back items. Don't forget to use your coupons as well.

Yesterday, we got the Tide laundry detergent for less then $2 each because we had a $3 off coupon. We also got a great deal on the baby wipes, they had a $2 off /2 coupon on the coupon link above that you can print out, and the wipes are about $2 each so we got our favorite wipes for about $1. So make sure you click on the coupon link above and then head over their and stock up before the unroll the roll backs.

Avilla Valley Barn - Free Central Coast Fun For the Whole Family

2010-05-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

Want a fun exscursion for your family that is free? Then this is for you. The Avila Valley Barn is a great place for the whole family. They offer a great assortment of animals for the children to feed along with other fun family activities. If you do want to spend a little money, you can get some decadent homemade ice cream and lots of other goodies to take home, including fresh pies and jams. There is also an abundance of produce and other specialty items available to purchase. Visit their web site for additional informaiton.
http://www.avilavalleybarn.com/

Back from DC- A Little off Topic, but Oh So Important...

2010-05-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

What an interesting and fulfilling trip. This was my first time to DC and it was well worth it. I got to meet people from across the US who help to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and industry representatives as well. Here is a picture of Congresswoman Lois Capps and myself and a picture of part of the group who was in DC.

The trip was sponsored by the industry to bring in consumer advocates to help educate those on the hill about the specialized needs of complex rehab medical equipment, like electric wheelchairs. I also emphasized my personal agenda, getting the old outdated concept that Social Security uses when looking at people with disabilities, the inside the four walls concept. It is used to suppress people with disabilities and to still keep them in their homes, it is only in getting rid of this, then all people with disabilities will be able to be productive members of society to the greatest extent possible. Otherwise, Social Security and Medicare, which carries over to many private insurers as well, only look at what a person with a disability needs in getting around inside the four walls of their home. An old and very outdated concept that perpetuates stereotypes and prejudices.

All of the people that I personally visited seem to be on board with the proposals and were very supportive of people with disabilities in general. So hopefully this will be changed so that people with complex rehab equipment needs, will be able to get what they need for inside and outside of their homes.

Free 5X7 Flip Book from Snapfish for the first 10,000

2010-04-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

Snapfish is giving away 10,000 FREE 5×7 photo Flip Books!
Use discount code: ALLYOUMOM at checkout. I just ordered mine and what a deal! It would have cost $30.91 but with this code I only paid $2.15-shipping and tax! Great mothers day or fathers day present!

Another great deal, just click on the deals below to get to the Snapfish web site, remember these other deals end on the 30th.

Great Mother's Day Deals at Snapfish

2010-04-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

Here are a few fantastic deals I found if you need any of these, make sure to select the one you would like, remember you can always come back and do each one in the list:

50% Off Mother's Day Collage Posters, T-Shirts & Flipbooks, coupon code MOMSAVINGS Exp 4/30

30% Off on all Jewelry for Mother's Day, Exp 4/30 use MOMJEWEL at checkout

150 photos for only $15. Coupon code PRINT150.

April Promotion: Free Shipping on $30+ plus 50 Free Prints for New Customers, coupon code 30SHIP10 Exp 4/30

20% Off at the Snapfish Mother's Day Store! Coupon code MOMMY20, Exp 4/30

If you are new to Snapfish here is a great freebie for you:

Great Deal at Rite Aid and new Savings Program

2010-04-18T21:10:00.001-07:00

Check out the Rite Aid web site. They are promoting their new membership program. When you sign up for it they give you an immediate $5 off $25 purchase coupon to use. Depending on how much you spend at Rite Aid this program could save you tons, up to twenty percent for the year!

They also have a great deal on Huggies, $8.99 and a $3 off coupon from the coupon link above. That makes it 5.99 a pack, but wait, if you add the 5/25 or the 5/20 coupon from watching the videos, then it brings the price down to 4.33 a pack plus tax when you buy 3. A pretty good deal.

Remember to also look at any of their 'easy' rebates as they have one going on for Gerber products and diaper rash ointment.

So if you have a baby or no someone who does, you may want to make a trip to Rite Aid this week.

Eli's Cheesecake Save $10.40

2010-04-14T20:10:00.001-07:00

For tax day, they are offering $10.40 off any of their cheesecakes, that is according to the email they sent me. Yum!
EZTAX1 is the code and is good through April 19th according to the email.

http://elicheesecake.com

Free Ice Cream April 29th at Carvel

2010-04-13T20:21:00.001-07:00

If you have a Carvel Ice Cream by you, then on April 29th, here is a great promotion for you! Free Ice Cream!
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The Doctors TV Show Taping + Goodies!

2010-04-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

I went to see the live taping of a Dr. Phil show in Hollywood and ever since they send me notices from the audience department of upcoming show opportunities. Here is a promotion from the Doctors show that is down there as well, looks like a great deal if you can get down to Hollywood for the taping.

"

The Doctors TV Show Season Two's Final Shows!

Tickets are now available for April 15, 16, 22, and 23! Plus Special END of the Season Suprise Celebrities, Giveaways, and if you mention this email you will get VIP seats and a free gift when you come to our show! This is our way of saying thanks for making it such a great season!

Greetings!

Season 2 is ending off with a blast and we have opened a few VIP seats for April 15, 16, 22, and 23! We've already had special guests and giveaways, and our producing team keep hitting us with even more surprises! Come and check out the end of the season with tons of excitement!

Please respond quickly as seats our in high demand! Anna Pittman is our Audience Coordinator and you can reach her at 323 956 8523 or anna.pittman@cbsparamount.com

Promotion Name

All you have to do for your free VIP tickets is call 323 956 8523 or email Anna at anna.pittman@cbsparamount.com

Free Shipping from Snapfish!

2010-04-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

How convenient is that! If you are a new customer, they also will offer you some other great incentives. Make sure to spin the wheel to win as well, I won a poster! Now I can get it sent to me free with the free shipping promotion for today and tomorrow.

National Parks Week April 17-25 Free Admission for All Plus Other Free Annual Pass Options

2010-04-10T15:20:00.001-07:00

Next week is a great opportunity to viit the National Parks for free! According to the National Parks web site, "To make it easier to experience America's Great Outdoors, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees, so visitors can enjoy all 392 national parks for free April 17-25. In addition, many national park concessioners are offering special promotions that are certain to add to your fun."

Also I wanted to mention that if you have a physical disability and have a placard, many of the national parks let you in free with the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Access Pass, just ask for one on your next visit to the park.

If you are a senior citizen over the age of 62, you can get an annual pass for only ten dollars. See the previous link for more details on all the annual pass options including the opportunity for anyone to get a free pass for volunteering.

San Luis Obispo, CA Childrens Day in the Plaza Saturday 4-10-10

2010-04-09T23:20:00.001-07:00

San Luis Obispo, Mission Plaza Starting at 10 am.

Children's Day in the Plaza

If you have children, then this day is for you! Great free activities for the kids along with performances and fun food. This is a great event that the kids will love.

Beverly's Fabrics down the way is also having a make it and take it activity in their store at 1 pm.

Great Way to Make a Little Extra Cash for the College Fund!

2010-04-08T10:15:00.001-07:00

Do you want to make a little extra money for your college fund? If so, this is a great legitamate survey site that I have belonged to for quite a while now, and I get surveys sent to me regularly from them. Just click on the link below and sign up. Make sure to complete your profile once you sign up, that way they can send you lots of survey opportunities!

As a member, you can make a difference by participating in online surveys, focus groups, as well as other interactive studies.

To sign up, click on the following link: https://www.surveysavvy.com?id=556288&action=join

If that doesn't work, copy and paste the link into your browser.

They also do not have a minumum payout level like some other survey companies do, so you can cash out at any time or just start saving up!

Free Cheese Coupon by Mail

2010-04-06T11:09:00.001-07:00

If you love cheese like I love cheese then you will surely want to sign up for this free cheese coupon. Free 'Chavrie' cheese is what this web site promises alnog with other perks throughout the year.

http://www.chavrie.com/chavrieclub.html

Hurry, get your cookie deal before there gone

2010-04-05T11:04:00.001-07:00

Get a free package of Nabisco cookies

http://facebook.com/nabiscocookies

Become a fan of Nabisco cookies on Facebook and visit the page the first Monday of each month for details on how you can get a coupon for a Free package of Nabisco cookies when you buy 1 package of Nabisco Cookies and a gallon of milk."

Great CVS Deals - Diapers + others End Today

2010-04-03T13:53:00.001-07:00

Just got back from going to CVS. What deals did we get today! One transaction was for $2.61 after coupons and bonus buck from previous offers. We got two packages of Huggies Diapers, three packages of Reach Dental floss for that big price. Remember to print the Huggies coupons from up above. The huggies are on sale for $8.99 and when you buy two you get $5 back in bonus reward bucks for your next transaction, limit one per card. They also have a $5 off $25 coupon with your rewards card. That is why we bought the dental floss. The dental floss had a $3 off three CVS coupon and 3-$1 off coupons from the site. So all in all we did great with that transaction.

We also did a second transaction and got two thermacare back heat wraps, 12 cans of lindsey black olives, 4 lip smackers and one m&M w/almonds all for an out of pocket cost of fourty four cents. Plus we got a print out for another five dollar bonus bucks for our next transaction. Again we used the coupons and came out ahead. Make sure to do these deals today as they expire tonight.

Not bad for using our previous extra bucks and coupons printed from the Internet, we ended up saving a total of 84.62 on the two transactions according to our two receipts. Not a bad trip!

PS They are also so nice at our local CVS and so very helpful, what great customer service!
Cashier #850632 - Thanks!

Free Home Depot Workshops for Kids 5-12

2010-04-02T14:54:00.001-07:00

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?catalogId&langId=-1&pn=Kids_Workshops&storeId=10051

It states on their web site that these workshops are scheduled for the first Saturday each month from 9-noon. Please make sure to check with your local Home Depot to see if they are participating.

This month they are scheduled to make a butterfly house. In May they are scheduled to make a Picket Fence Planter.

These activities can be crowded, so get there early or they may run out of projects.

Great Toys R Us Deals this week

2010-03-29T11:29:00.001-07:00

There are some really great deals going on at Toys R Us this week. If you have kids make sure to check them out. Some great buy one get one free offers await you!

Dreaming of Easter

2010-03-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Alixia when she was a baby and she is dreaming of Easter. Make sure to check out the post holiday sales after Easter! Remember you can often double dip and use a coupon with the clearance sale.

Great Prize Pack! Fantastic Odds! Enter by 3/31/10 to win

2010-03-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

Win this fabulous Betty Crocker/Safeway Prize Pack see previous post for more information. You get a great Betty Crocker classic red spoon, red oven mit, Great bowl and Wilton Easy-flex silicone bakeware pan. Previous information and entry information!

Logitech Sensational Sale- Save tons!!!

2010-03-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some great clearance deals from Logitech. Why pay retail, when you can get these great deals!
Save on Dented Box and Refurbished items at Logitech.com

Joanne link for free shipping on scrapbooking supplies no minumum required, Monday, 3/29 & Tuesday 3/30

2010-03-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a great opportunity to get ready for your Easter or Spring Scrapbooking needs. Joanne is having a no minumum free shipping offer on Monday, 3/29 & Tuesday 3/30. I often find all kinds of great deals through this company, check out the clearance deals as well!

The Free Shipping, No Min Coupon code is ACD89.
Entire Stock of Scrapbooking On Sale + Free Shipping, No Minimum Two Days Only at Joann.com

Great Deals to be had at Kohl's & 30% Coupon for Kohl's Charge Users

2010-03-24T16:57:00.001-07:00

I love the Kohl's sales. They have great deals that are made even better by the thirty percent off code if you use your Kohl's charge. My strategy here is to find the really good sale and then add the thirty percent off and free shipping. Make sure to check out the clearance section too.

Finally, my advice is to check out the Kohl's cares for children products. Usually they have a great book and stuffed animal to match the book for $5 each. This in itself is a great deal, but the proceeds go to a great cause, check it out!

SAVE30KC - good through 3/28
Also free shipping when you spend $75

April is Month of the Child

2010-03-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

April is coming up soon. Make sure you check out the community events happening in your area for the Month of the Child. In the San Luis Obispo area there are quite a few fun events happening including,

Children's Day in the Plaza Saturday April, 10th 10-3, Free

Children's art at the Cuesta College Children's Center & Library the month of April, Free

Party for the Planet, April 24th Charles Paddock Zoo Call for more info, 470-3172

There are lots of activities planned throughout the community, call 782-7285 for more information.

A Few Deals

2010-03-22T19:21:00.001-07:00

Toys R Us offering free shipping, the catch is you have to spend $100, see site for more details. Buy 1 get 1 free on Little Tykes toys as well and several other great deals. Worth a look in you have a little critter around. $100 adds up fast. They also have some great deals in the clearance section.

TGI Fridays also sent an email coupon for a free entree when you buy one with two beverages. This is through their stripes program. If you have a TGIF close by or are traveling near one this is an easy one to join with tons of benefits. I get stuff from them all the time and I haven't even been to one in years.

Ben & Jerrys is having their free cone day 3-23-2010. According to the email, "It's free cone day on March 23rd at participating scoop shops from noon to 8pm." So if you have one near by, you might as well indulge, free is free. Just be aware there may be a line. ; )

CVS has some great deals and a couple of freebies after their register rewards. I got free colgate Total toothpaste, Pampers Diapers for $4.97 after the register rewards and $1.00 oiff coupon and Black olives for $1 a can. Just a few of their many bargains this week. Check out their web site and you will find the add where you can create your own online shopping list for discounted and free items.

Do you have a great deal that you found? Share it with us by commenting on the comments section.

Saving Money on your Monthly Bills

2010-03-21T21:53:00.001-07:00

With the costs of most items rising, one way to save some money is to cut down on your normal monthly expenses. One big expense for us was the television subscription, it was up to $69.99 a month and the picture quality was not cutting the mustard. I am sure they would have come out to fix it, probably at an additional cost. I called and did the official cancel. Even after cancelling it, the already recorded items on the TIVO still work fine, so the girls are very happy with the Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse recordings.

I have been very happy with all the free TV shows so far that we have found online. They all play on our regular TV through a HDMI cable that I got dirt cheap off of Amazon. Hit the link down below and do a search and you will find all kinds of great deals on HDMI cables if your TV will accept it and you have an HDMI out on your computer. I simply then just route the TV shows to the TV through the computer.

HULU, CBS, NBC, ABC, and their are a ton of others that offer free full legnth TV shows and even some free movies. Just remember that you will be a day or two behind the people watching the shows on the regular TV. Not a bad trade off to save $70 a month or $840 a year. Just think if we get truly board we can always get some of those free red box rentals, I see those all the time too on the web.

I haven't even connected the free digital converter that we got with the coupon they had back a while ago from the government. With that we should be able to get at least one or two networks through the airwaves. Another suggetstion would be to have a DVD swap with your friends and co-workers. If you have ten people who work in the office and each person brings in five DVD's to swap temporarily, then you would have over fifty movies to watch.

You could also ask a friend to record something for you if you get totally desperate, but I doubt you will with the enormous selection online and through DVD's.

How much do you pay for your TV subscription? Just think all that you could save.

A great shopping day..Saved over a hundred dollars easily

2010-03-19T21:23:00.001-07:00

Make sure that you take advantage of the deals at Target, as they end tommorrow. We went their today and got some fantastic deals. We got sunflower seeds for 19 cents after our $1.50 off coupon from the Planters Facebook site, Frosted Mini Wheats cereal at a net cost of 25 cents a box and Huggies diapers for $4.00 a package. There were also several other great deals that we got and the cashier, Anna, was very helpful. What a great trip!

We also stopped at K-mart where we were able to get the Tonka Chuck the truck for a great deal at $20 off the normal price. We had a manufacturers coupon for $10 off and the Kmart coupon for $10 off and that was a great deal. We also did two other transactions while there, one for plax and Cascade, again with the $10 off $20 purchase and the third transaction was for hair care products like pony tail holders for my older daughter and other related items. Again, we had a great cashier and had no major problems, everyone was great.

I didn't make it to Albertson's or Rite Aid but they also have some fantastic deals going on if you check out their adds and combine them with the coupons that you can print from the above coupon link.

Remember too that a lot of the deals reset on Sunday, so get in on them tommorrow. Also, make sure to check out the other entries and enter our latest contest. See below for more informaiton.

Borders- Teachers save 30% on Most Items In store only

2010-03-17T21:16:00.001-07:00

March 19-27th educators can save 30% according to the email they sent me. On Saturday March 20th they will also have a special reception for teachers from 2-6 pm.

I like to do these sales in addition to their clearance sales to stock up on books.

Great $1.50 Planters Coupon and Sweepstakes

2010-03-17T19:10:00.001-07:00

If you become a fan of Planters Peanuts on Facebook you can print out an instant $1.50 off coupon for most Planters products. Just click on the NCAA Sweeps tab and become a fan, then you can print out the coupon instantly.

Remember, they make sunflower seeds to, so these might be free with this coupon if they are on sale.

http://www.facebook.com/mrpeanut

Sweet Spring Treats & A Great Giveaway

2010-03-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love baking and making Spring Treats with my daughter. My daughter and I were so excited when we got this information from MyBlogSpark. They always have such great information and deals.

"Using Betty Crocker® SuperMoist Cake and Traditional Brownie Mixes, and with a little help from the Safeway family of stores, you can put your budding baking skills to the test to serve up special treats that will have you and your little sprouts ready for springtime!

For great spring recipe ideas, visit BakeSweetMemories.com today. Bake Sweet Memories has delicious recipes for fun desserts using your Betty Crocker favorites, including Easter Bunny Cakes and even morning brunches, like the Impossibly Easy Breakfast Bake, which are sure to brighten any morning!

In addition, from March 24th through April 6th, visit the Safeway family of Stores to purchase Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake and Traditional Brownie Mixes at the special price of $0.69! Be sure to let your readers know that they can visit their local Safeway family of stores to take advantage of this great savings and more!

Even if you miss the sale, check BakeSweetMemories.com for great coupon offers that download right to your Safeway Club card. This Spring, Betty Crocker makes life a little sweeter."

If you would like to win a prize pack from Betty Crocker, which will include, a silicon baking pan, stainless steel mixing bowl, oven mitt, Betty Crocker mixing spoon then make sure you are a blog follower and email me with your email address at alixiasplace@gmail.com so that I can give you an entry into the contest. For a bonus entry please comment on your favorite recipe listed on the BakeSweetMemories.com web site. Please enter by March 31, 2010. Email will be used to to contact the winner. Good Luck!

Safeway and Betty Crocker provided me with the VIP coupon, information, and prize packs through MyBlogSpark.

Free Burrito when You Wear Green tomorrow to Baja Fresh

2010-03-16T18:32:00.001-07:00

According to the Baja Fresh Facebook site,

"Wear green and join us for St. Patrick's Day! Free Burrito with purchase of large beverage." Make sure to go to their facebook page and print out the coupon on their for this deal.

Free Stride Gum

2010-03-15T21:16:00.001-07:00

Click , become a fan, then sign up.

http://www.facebook.com/stride-gum?v=app_7146470109

CVS 20% off and Free Shipping on $49 and More for St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-15T18:10:00.001-07:00

Great offer if you need to stock up but don't have time to go into the store. This is their St. Patrick's Day Sale. According to their web site:

"For a limited time SAVE 20% OFF EVERYTHING ONLINE!
To get your discount, enter coupon code: SHAMROCK20 at checkout.

Plus, get FREE Shipping on nonprescription orders of $49 or more.

National Pie Day

2010-03-14T17:42:00.001-07:00

Since today is national pie day I thought I would share my recent concoction that I made. A homemade cheesecake, yum! Don't forget too that many places are offering free pie today, see other posts.

This was fairly easy to make and yet all so delicious. It is also a great way to get the kids involved in cooking.

I just took a basic recipe and modified it a bit to fit my taste preferences and what a great outcome!

Here is my basic recipe:

2 packages of cream cheese
1 8 ounce container of sour cream
1 fresh lemon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
1/2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Flour

Crust:
1 1/2 C. Crushed Graham Crackers
1/2 C. Crushed Almonds
1/2 C. Melted Butter

Topping:
1 8 ounce container of sour cream
1/4 C. Sugar

First make the crust. Take the three ingredients and mix until the melted butter is thoroughly incorporated into the mixture. Then press in a spring form pan, I used an 8" pan and almost did not have enough room. So make sure you have a good large one.

Next, place this in the refrigerator.

Then take the cheesecake ingredients and whip them together. Make sure to do this when the cream cheese is at room temperature. I took mine out about thirty minutes earlier. Then just start adding the ingredients and whip them all together.

While doing this, preheat the oven to 425 F. Pour the batter in the crust and place it in the oven for forty minutes then take the sour cream mixture and spread it over the cheesecake and cook for fifteen more minutes. Then open the oven when it is done and let it sit for another forty-five minutes. Now take it out and place it in the refrigerator. Let it chill for at least 8 hours. Enjoy!

Great Free Stuff from Eltorito's Restaurant & Kids Eat Free on Wednesday

2010-03-14T17:28:00.001-07:00

According to the web site, you get all this free for signing up!

"Join El Torito's "Bull Ring" email club and receive a coupon for a FREE Guacamole plus emails on:
• New dishes developed by Executive Chef Pepe Lopez
• Upcoming Featured Chef Specials
• A FREE entree on your birthday
• Exciting Cantina Promotions"

http://news.eltorito.com/clients/eltorito/survey.htm?source=button

Make sure to use your coupon, as I am sure it will have an expiration date.

Also, Kids eat free on Wednesday's according to their web site. One free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal.

Finally, remember that most of these types of places have a 'happy hour' free or super cheap horderves when you buy drinks in the bar.

Great $5 Diaper Deal & Fifty Cent Frosted Mini Wheats Cereal at Target

2010-03-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

This week Target has the diapers on sale 2 for $17 according to their add. Then combine this with their printable coupon for $1.50 off each pack of Huggies as shown then combine this with the $2 coupon that you can print from the link above for coupons. Just click on the link for coupons and find the Huggies coupons and print them out. Then the end price is $5 for a pack of Huggies diapers. That is basically like half price of normal.

The other great deal is the Kellogs Frosted Mini Wheats cereal that is 4 for ten dollars. Buy four and you get a five dollar Target card for your next shopping trip. Or that would get the diapers. Wait though, add the 1.50 coupon for the cereal when you buy two and if you have two of these coupons, then the cereal is fifty cents a box.

Both of these deals can be seen on the back page of their weekly store flyer.

First click on this link to print out the Cereal coupon and the coupon for the diapers, then go to the next link

Print Free Coupons

http://coupons.target.com

Barbie Online Sale

2010-03-14T14:58:00.001-07:00

If you are a Barbie lover, then this sale is for you, I got this in an email from BarbieCollector.com :

"Last chance

Buy More, Save More ends tomorrow at 11:59 PM CT.* There's no time to wait - order by phone or shop online now! (Details below.)

* Save $5 on orders $50-$74.99; save $10 on orders $75-$99.99; save $15 on orders of $100 or more (purchase amounts exclude any applicable sales tax and shipping & processing). Offer expires 3/15/10 at 11:59 PM CT. Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid on previous purchases. Offer excludes gift certificates, Club membership and products, and gift-wrapping.

http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/

Free From Vistaprint

2010-03-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

Hurry and get in on this great freebie. 250 cards, great for moms to put your email address on to give to other moms.

Bath & Body Works - Free Lip Gloss w/Any Purchase for Students

2010-03-12T21:36:00.001-08:00

Definitely sign up for their emails if you have not already! They are always sending free offers with purchase coupons. This is good either online or in store if you have a copy of the coupon. I would go to their site and print it out, or do a search on it, I am sure someone has posted a copy of it by now. Or if you are not a 'student' then use the online version.

The ONLINE USE CODE STUDENT AT CHECKOUT. This is according to the email I received. The reported value is up to $7.50. They always have some great deals and lots of sales.

I have to give this store two thumbs up to for customer service. The other day I was in the store and forgot the coupon at home, I mentioned it to the cashier and she was so gracious that she let me redeem my coupon even though I did not have it in hand! So I was able to get five full size products for about $10. What a fantastic deal for such great products!

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com

On this page they even have another offer if you sign up for their great emails.

"Get A Special Welcome Offer - Sign Up Today!"

PS What is your favorite scent?

Free Piece of Pie Day at Marie Callender's Restaurant-Sunday, March 14th‏ & Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays and Sat. at some MC

2010-03-12T21:14:00.001-08:00

You do have to buy an entree to qualify for the free piece of pie according to the email that I received. If you sign up for their email promotions you may also have some great coupons to use, not sure if you can double dip with these for this promotion.

http://www.mcpies.com/

Kids also eat free every Tuesday and Saturday with the purchase of an adult entree at participating restaurants. "Kid's Menu-For our guests 12 years old and younger. Served with your choice of Sundae FUNday topped with chunks of OREO® cookies; or a slice of Apple or Chocolate Cream pie!" according to their web site.

They also have some coloring sheets to print out on their web site.

http://www.mcpies.com/kiddos/

I enjoy going to our local Marie Callender's restaurant in Pismo Beach, as it is kid friendly and it also has a great ocean view. They often too have great deals on whole pies, so keep your eye out. My favorite pie is the classic cream cheese pie and the apple pie with the crumble topping. I believe they also offer great promotions on your birthday, so if you have a special occasion, let the server know and who knows what other great promotions you might get, or even another piece of pie or a great sundae.

Barbie Mermaid Party March 13, 2010 at Toys R Us

2010-03-12T20:55:00.001-08:00

What little girl/boy doesn't love a doll? Check out your local Toys R Us to see if they are having a Barbie Mermaid Party! From Noon to two PM most Toys R Us's will offer free Barbie Mermaid goodies for kids three and over. If you have nothing to do tomorrow, then this might be the ticket.

http://www.toysrus.com

Toys R Us is also offering a Barbie for $3. I have heard through the grapevine, that many other stores are also featuring a Barbie for $3 as well, so check it out as I think this is a very limited time promotion, that may even end tomorrow.

Mommy tips for the event:

Make sure to feed your little one some healthy treats before the event!
Arrive early and make sure to stay attached to your little one
Also a good nights rest the night before or a quick refresher nap can make children happier for everyone's sake
Another tip is to bring a pocket portable camera, a lot of times they have special characters available at these types of events and how memorable is that, a picture says a thousand words
Make a scrapbook page that night to add to the scrapbook, nothing like getting it done fast while you still remember the particular memories
Lastly, make sure your kids know your the one in charge and what you say goes, so if they do get a little unruly don't be afraid to go home and take care of their needs

Great Coupons for Free General Mills Products

2010-03-12T20:37:00.001-08:00

If you enjoy getting coupons in the mail for free products, make sure you sign up for General Mills pssst program. It is very easy and totally free. Every so often they will send you emails and they may request you to fill out occasional questionaires. They will also send you links to sign up for specific products that you want. I have received about a dozen emails since I signed up with them in October as well as a handful of coupons for free products

http://pssst.generalmills.com

More Central California Coastal Deals

2010-03-12T20:21:00.001-08:00

These two companies allow you to buy gift certificates at a discount, anywhere from fifty to seventy five percent off. You then get sent in the mail the gift certificates. So if you enjoy going out to eat these are a great deal! If you are going to visit an area it is also a great way to save on your travels.

http://kvec.centralcoastfinest.com/

http://centralcoastdeals.com

Do you know of any other discounts on the Central Coast, or where you live? If so please share them in the comments section for the other readers.

PS The picture on this story is one of a burger that I made at home, nothing like home cooking!

The Central California Coast Coupons

2010-03-12T20:07:00.001-08:00

If you live on the Central Coast of California, like in San Luis Obispo, Los Osos, Morro Bay, etc. then this is a great link to look at. It offers free printable coupons for the local businesses.

http://slo.suddenvalues.com/

Buzzed Driving St. Patrick's Day Campaign

2010-03-12T19:58:00.001-08:00

St. Patrick?s Day is right around the corner, and it?s not the luck of the Irish that will keep the roads safe ? it?s planning now for a safe and sober way home.

Are you headed out with friends after work this Wednesday to celebrate the holiday? No? Well when you and your family are on the road headed to choir practice, a t-ball game, or coming home from school, you may be sharing the road with those returning from a fun St. Patrick?s Day event. It?s time to spread the word about the dangers of buzzed driving and to remind people that Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving, and the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead.

Let?s remind everyone about the importance of remembering to:

· Designate a sober driver before you leave for your event.

· Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi. Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.

Even if you will not be celebrating this St. Patrick?s Day, keep in mind that in 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. And for those who don?t plan on over-indulging?a buzzed driving crash looks the same as a drunk driving crash.

Global Influence is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council as they continue their efforts with the ?Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving? PSA campaign. Buzzed drivers drink and drive, but do not consider themselves a hazard on the roadway because they have had ?only a few? drinks. The campaign hopes to educate people that consuming even a few drinks can impair driving and that ?Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.?

We need your help in keeping the roads safe for everyone this St. Patrick?s Day by spreading the word that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please watch this important video about the financial and personal repercussions of getting a DUI: http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/sign.php#video

Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.

For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving on Facebook and Twitter (@Buzzeddriving).

Winner in the $50 Safeway Gift Card Give Away

2010-03-03T20:07:00.001-08:00

A winner has been selected and they have three days to respond, once they do we will post the final winner! Congratulations!

Free Steak Dinner for kids w/adult meal, McClintock's

2010-03-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

This is a great one for those of you who are local, this is for McClintock's in Shell Beach, pair this up with the early supper specials and you too can indulge! See my review too here: Review on Viewpoints
"Kids Eat Steak Free

Choice of
A "Kids Steak"
Or
A Charbroiled "Beef" Burger

Served with all the FMc Fixn's at the Dining House in Shell Beach.

Offer valid with purchase of one adult meal during dinner at the dining house.

Limit one meal per one adult meal.
Please no substitutions.
Ages 12 & under."

Click here for web site

Free Lemoheads Candy super easy form! ♥

2010-02-16T20:05:00.000-08:00

http://lemonheadsrock.com/

Reminder ♥ Valentine's Day Safway $50 Contest ends soon

2010-02-13T21:05:00.000-08:00

To enter the contest for the $50 Safeway gift card please add yourself as a follower to the Blog. This will allow me to contact you if you are the winner. To get a bonus entry put a comment on this blog post. Contest Ends Feb 14, 2010. Good luck!

Get a free phone! If you have a Disability and live in California you can get one too!

2010-02-13T10:01:00.001-08:00

This is a great program that has been around forever. It gives people with disabilities specialized telecommunications products that allow them to use a phone. Whether you are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, and all other groups of disabilities are covered by their products.

All you have to do is print out the application, fill it out and have a doctor sign off on it. Then send it in to them and they will contact you and provide you with an appropriate totally free phone. They have hands free phones, phones with pictures for Alzheimers, and a wide variety of others.

I have used this program myself, so I can tell you it is legitamate and super easy to do.

http://ddtp.org/

If you do not live in California I would suggest calling their 800# and ask about other states.

Buy one dozen eggs & get one dozen free coupon

2010-02-04T20:10:00.000-08:00

Got this in my email:

"Thanks to your pledge on GoodEggProject.org, egg farmers donated more than 12.4 million eggs to the hungry last year. That’s a lot to celebrate, so we’re cooking up some great rewards for all you "good eggs" throughout 2010.

Friday (2/5), we’re offering fans of the Incredible Edible Egg Facebook page a buy-one get-one free coupon for a dozen eggs. Get cracking and become a fan today to lock in your chance for free eggs. This exclusive Facebook fan offer will only be available to the first 30,000 egg lovers who visit our page on Friday and click on the “Free Eggs” tab to download their coupon."

More free eggs!

Free Diabetes Testing Meters and Other Great Stuff for Diabetics!

2010-02-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Not everyone realizes that the way most companies make money from diabetics is charging their insurance company for the test strips that they use. You can usually get the meters for free and other related freebies. The companies all want your repeated business because they figure that once you get a meter that works well for you, they will have a customer for life.

Here are several free meters that you can sign up for. You can also often get a free meter from your doctor's office if you just ask! They also will often offer other freebies that are given to them by the drug reps.

Another resource for free meters is the drug store. So many times they offer free meters with a rebate. If you opt to do the free with rebate, make sure you send in your rebate form. A lot of people have good intentions to complete the rebate option and often forget or do it too late. Don't be one of those consumers.

Here are a few places to get free meters, remember to also use your insurance at the pharmacy if you have it. Also make sure to have your doctor do a proper prescription for an appropriate number of strips, a good doctor will have their office advocate on your behalf to get the necessary medical supplies covered by your insurance whether it is private or government based.

Fianally, remember that a lot of companies offer freebies to people without insurance whether it be for a prescription drug or related item like diabetic supplies. Usually the company will list an 800 phone number and if you call that number you can apply right over the phone. This service is subsidized by their other sales. So if you are in need take them up on the free offers.

Here are a few links to look at to find out if you qualify for a free meter, what the heck it is always nice to also have a backup meter if you already have one. Too, remember that they are always improving these devices so try a few and see which one works best for you!

Freestyle Freebie

One Touch Freebie

CDC Web Site with Information on Diabetes

Win a $50 Gift Card! Great New Fiber One Yogurt Coupon and Contest

2010-02-03T18:33:00.001-08:00

My BlogSpark is doing it again! They are providing us with another great new product and a chance for you to win a $50 Gift Card for Safeway. If you do not have a local Safeway it is also good at Dominick´s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi´s. They also provided me with a coupon to try out the new Fiver One Yougurt and an additional gift card, thanks!

In addition a great opportunity to try this yogurt would be from January 13th through February 9th, the Safeway family of stores has a special deal where you can purchase two 4-packs of Fiber One yogurt for only $4!

I also found a printable coupon on the Fiber One Yogurt web site for my readers, here is the link, http://www.fiberone.com/Product/Yogurts.aspx. This one printed out three coupons for me all Fiber One products!

According to what I have read, "Best-selling author and food expert Lisa Lillien, AKA Hungry Girl, has given her "seal of approval" to the new Fiber One yogurt, the only leading nonfat yogurt with 50 calories and 5 grams of fiber (20 percent of the Recommended Daily Value). It is also a good source of calcium and vitamins A and D, making this a guilt-free and all-around great choice for dieters and those watching their weights. Each cup includes the creamy, delicious taste you expect from Yoplait, and you don´t have to feel guilty about enjoying it. Fiber One is available in a variety of flavors including, Strawberry, Peach, Vanilla and Key Lime Pie (see what Hungry Girl thinks about the new yogurt here:
http://hungry-girl.com/news/newsdetails.php?isid=1772 "

I am looking forward to the sale at the Safeway family of stores to purchase the Peach variety of Fiber One Yogurt. That is my daughters favorite flavor. With the Fiber One Yogurt being on sale 2 for $4 that would make each package $1.25 after the coupon. What a fantastic value for such a great product that my daughter will love. Not only will I feel good feeding this to my daughter, but it will also be nutritious for her.

To enter the contest for the $50 Safeway gift card please add yourself as a follower to the Blog. This will allow me to contact you if you are the winner. To get a bonus entry put a comment on this blog post. Contest Ends Feb 14, 2010. Good luck!

“VIP coupon, gift card, information, and giveaway have all been provided by Safeway and Fiber One through MyBlogSpark.”

Free Eye Exams for Infants Under 1 Year Old of Age

2010-02-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

This is a great opportunity to get free information and to have your infant examined by a real eye doctor. I took in my oldest and it was a great experience, now I am about to take in my next daughter, I was told that about nine months was optimun by the eye doctor.

The eye doctors all volunteer for this program from what I was told. It is a great experience and gives a base level exam on your infant for later comparisons, the exam can also alleviate your fears and concerns if you think that your infant has any vision problems.

The InfantSEE program is located at http://infantsee.org/ .

According to their web site, "InfantSEE®, a public health program, managed by Optometry's CharityTM - The AOA Foundation, is designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child's quality of life. Under this program, AOA optometrists provide a comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants within the first year of life regardless of a family's income or access to insurance coverage."

All you need to know is a parent is to look up eye doctors call their office and ask if they participate in the program. We had no problem finding lots of doctors who participate in our area even though we live in a more rural area. They do not ask for any money or anything like that. I have no vision insurance on us and the eye doctor does not care about that, instead they are screening for missed items that may impact the childs life. Without these types of exams I have heard horror stories of children having some problem that was missed and if it had been treated earlier it is possible that they would not have been impacted as dramatically as they were because the problem was missed by the pediatrician.

Remember that you only get one set of eyes and that it is important to take care of your eyes. So check into this great free opportunity to have your infants eye sight checked by a real eye doctor for free!

Free Kids activity Saturday at Home Depot

2010-02-01T20:30:00.001-08:00

These weekend on Saturday from 9:00 am- noon the participating Home Depots are having a great free event for families. You can bring your little tykes and they usually get a free apron and project to make on the spot. It is reported on their web site that it is a #20 car display, on the site they have a picture of a preview of what it should look like.
Home Depot Link with More information

We have gone to several of these events, each one being different. Some better then others. Once they ran out of the kits and sometimes there are too many kids, so depending on where you live you may want to find a quieter Home Depot. We have three to choose from, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and the Paso Robles/Atascadero area.

If you call the local store they may be able to give you more information and tell you wheter it is an oversell or if it is a calm event.

One time we went and they had popcorn, snow cones, a character in costume, face painting and other activities going on with the event. This was great fun for my older daughter. I think this was at the Santa Maria store.

Also, I have seen Home Depot often at the local housing fairs where they show off items for your home. They will usually have some project for the kids at these events too which is a nice addition.

Remember too that these are usually the first Saturday of the month. So next month, March they are supposed to be making a rain guage, bird house looking item, see the site to check it out!

Let us know too how your Home Depot is for these activities, are the employees friendly? Is it well stocked? Are they too busy? Do they offer any special items for the kids or parents?

PSA-IMPORTANT HEARING REMINDER

2010-01-31T21:28:00.000-08:00

"Did you know that when MP3 players are purchased as gifts, the majority of purchasers are moms? That finding emerged at the Mommy Tech summit at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show.

But do you know about the potential risks? Kids often don't know how to use audio technology safely and they can harm their hearing as a result. In fact, hearing loss among young people is reported to be on the rise and there are strong concerns that a generation of young people could end up with prevalent hearing loss.

"For some time, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has warned that hearing loss in the United States could rise significantly due to the misuse of personal audio technology," ASHA President Tommie L. Robinson, Jr. explains. "Unfortunately, a report released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation cites some alarming trends about excessive entertainment media consumption among our nation's children, indirectly supporting ASHA's concerns. This should be a warning to parents that they must regulate children's exposure and fully understand the potential health threats associated with misuse and over exposure to such technologies."

"ASHA will continue to bring these issues to the forefront and appreciates the Kaiser Family Foundation's contributions to the national dialogue," Robinson adds.

According to a 2004 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children were reported as being exposed to 6 hours and 21 minutes of media (TV, music, internet, etc) per day. By 2009, this statistic had increased dramatically to 7 hours and 38 minutes per day. When media multitasking is taken into account, this leaps to 10 hours and 45 minutes per day. This massive consumption of media has led to decreased grades in school and ASHA contends it puts kids at an increased risk of hearing loss.

One thing that is clear from the study is that parents can be very positive influencers on how their children use entertainment media.

How You Can Help - Spread the Following Message

Whether your child received an MP3 player, gaming device, cell phone, laptop, or any other device with headphones, don't overlook the important health threat of hearing loss. Now is the time to reach out to other parents about the importance of hearing loss prevention, the damaging effects of excessive media consumption, and the resources available to them through ASHA.
Here are two simple ways to protect your children's - and your own - hearing.

· Keep the volume down. A good guide is half volume.
· Limit listening time. Give your hearing 'quiet breaks'.

Find more information and statistics at ASHA's website. You can also follow their Twitter feed or fan them on Facebook to get real time updates on their work."
-Amy Lupold Bair

Valentine's Day Lollipop Flowers

2010-01-31T18:17:00.000-08:00

Here is an easy item to make and lots of fun to give and to receive.

First start by making a pattern on plain paper, I like to fold paper over and cut to make symmetrical hearts.

Here is a test flower with the lollipop inserted.

Looks good!

Here is one made on printed scrapbooking paper.

Here are the girls enjoying the final lollipop flowers. Bet they don't last long!

These lollipop flowers are not only fun to make they are fun to give, receive and eat. Very fast project that does not take long to make. Just fold paper in 1/4's then cut out hearts. Next either use uhu glue or some other tape to hold the flowers together. Then punch hole with hole punch in center of the flower. Finally insert the lollipop and tape flower to hold the lollipop in place.

Enjoy!

If you try this send us your results and we will post them or you can comment on your success.

Valentine's Day Pretzel Hearts

2010-01-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

First these candies,

Fish and more candies it is all about choice!

Then add Pretzels, icing and food coloring.

Then go to work and come up with these great valentine's day hearts!

Don't eat too many while you are making these.

Yummy, what a great lunch this will be!

This is a great easy project that is a lot of fun and very easy. First get all kinds of red candies together.

Next, take some frosting and put a few drops of red food coloring in. Then mix it well. The toddlers love to stir, so get them to help out!

Then the adult should frost the pretzel, put it on a plate and then put the frosting on to fill the pretzel heart shape.

Finally, have the little ones decorate the hearts with the red candies. Just make sure they don't eat too many of the decorations while they are making these fun items.

If you try this, let us know how it works for you!

Gerber #2 foods 3/$1 at Dollar store

2010-01-29T20:38:00.001-08:00

Found a great deal on #2 baby foods at the local Dollar store. The one I went to was in Atascadero, CA. There was a huge variety available as well, from applesauce & peas to bannanas and oatmeal. They also had great monkey balloons that say I Love You for $1 as well. What a great resource these dollar stores are. Plus remeber they have basic items like pregnancy tests for only $1 as well, a lot cheaper then those at other stores from what I found.

Free book w/proof of puchase from Scholastic

2010-01-29T20:15:00.000-08:00

Free book link, "Get a FREE Scholastic book when you try
Pampers Easy Ups Trainers™ or Kandoo® products
To receive your FREE Scholastic book, mail one UPC from any Pampers Easy Ups Trainers™ or Kandoo® product along with your name, daytime phone number, email address and complete mailing address to:
Pampers Book Offer,
557 Broadway,
P.O. Box 711,
New York, NY 10012"
Send in fast limited quantities available

Stock Up on Diaper Time

2010-01-24T19:24:00.000-08:00

It seems that this week and next week is stock up on diaper time. Target is having some great deals, as our several other stores. Look around in your area if you have a little one and figure out which one is best for you. Also go to this link and their are several great coupons for Huggies diapers and wipes. Their was even a $2.50/1 coupon for me today.

Remember too that some stores will let you double up on the coupons, like Target. Use one of their coupons and the one you print out here. Depending on the deal you do you should be able to get a package of diapers for between $3-$5. A significant savings. I like to stock up on these sales, if you do not use diapers this would make a great tax write off opportunity. You could purchase the diapers at the sale price and then donate them to a hospital or local non-profit who helps new moms. Make sure of course to consult your tax consultant as I am not a tax expert.

Another use for diapers to is in plants. If you cut the material out that soaks up the urine, then mix it into the potting soil it will hold lots of water. This is great for people who travel or forget to water their plants.

PS Remeber to sign up for ECoupons through Upromise and triple dip! Possibly free diapers all together!

$2 Coupon on one Post Natural Cereal

2010-01-24T19:15:00.000-08:00

You do have to sign up and wait for the email. Then you will get a $2/1 Post Natural Cereal coupon to print through SmartSource. Make sure to have your printer ready as the SmartSource sometimes is picky about printing preferences.

http://www.postnatural.com/

$1 off Kettle Chips - Plus a Chance to Win Prizes

2010-01-24T19:09:00.000-08:00

You must become a Fan and take their 'Real Resolution' Challenge. When you do this you are entered into the contest and you will have the opportunity to print out a coupon for $1/1 pack. Great deal! Exp 3-1-10

Here is the link
http://www.kettlefoods.com/realresolutions/enter-sweepstakes/

Great $1 off Coupon for Kraft Cheese Available Now, Hurry!

2010-01-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

Click on the coupon link. Next, click on the food option for the coupons and look for the great Kraft coupon. Great opportunity when combined with the great deals that we have been seeing lately on cheese.

FREE* Oreo Cookies Limited time

2010-01-24T18:50:00.000-08:00

My suggestion is go ahead and sign up as a Facebook fan, that way when the give away begins you will be eligible. I got this information from the Oreo Facebook site,

"Mannings win the Battle for the DSRL so FREE* cookies for Oreo Facebook fans! *Up to 150,000 packages. Begins 3 PM EST on 1/25 while supplies last or ends at 11:59 PM EST on 1/25. FREE* Oreo Cookies
http://facebook.com/oreo"

My Blog Spark Great Products! General Mills Review $1 coupon link too! Hurry

2010-01-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

My Blog Spark is a company that helps other companies promote their products, from time to time they send me some great freebies to try and coupons. They are also offering a free offer for one of my readers as well. More about that to come later.

Right now I want to let you know about the General Mills cereals. My Spark and General Mills sent me some coupons to try their cereals for free. Thanks!

I went to the store and got some of my favorite General Mills cereals. I was excited because I received an email from My Spark with this information,
"This week General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain."

As a mom of two young girls, well one baby and a toddler, I was happy to hear that they were making their products even healthier then before. When looking for snacks and food for my girls I am always reading the product labels to make sure the food is good for them. I also enjoy eating cereal as a snack for myself as they are fortified with vitamins and other good 'stuff'.

Here is some more information from their corporation and a coupon for $1 off of some great General Mills cereals.

"Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:
Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.
Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals. "

General Mills web site

Next time I will review Safeway and Fiber One 50 Calorie Yogurt‏ and have a great giveaway available for my readers. So stay tuned for more informaiton!

Great Textbook Deals at Amazon

2010-01-20T19:29:00.001-08:00

Since it is that time of the year, I decided to put up a great way to get a great deal on your textbooks for college. Remeber to that Alixia and Zoe get money for their college fund when you shop through our Amazon links. I have priced out the books for the classes that I teach and the money that you can save is tremendous. Online through the Amazon links you can get used books starting at fifty cents plus shipping, at the bookstore, no offense College bookstores the cost is over $70 for the same book.

If you are in the AC SK 19 class here is a link to the Amazon web site and the book for the class. Remeber to research individual sellers if you go that way on Amazon.

The AC SK 31 class book link is here. It is a bit more, but still discounted.

Remeber to that I will put the book on reserve in the library and that I leave my copy on my computer desk in the lab, just make sure to return it to the desk and please don't take my copy out of the lab if you use it.

PS If you need help finding your books for your other classes let me know and I will help you to find the best deal!

Crystal Tree Project - Continued

2010-01-16T17:31:00.000-08:00

Well those crystals grew super fast. Within an hour the paper started to take in the mixture and it started sprouting the white structure. It was not exactly what I was expecting. The crystals grew at a fast pace and by the next morning they were all over and even growing around the plate. By the end of that day it was overgrown and blue was no longer the color of interest, but instead the crystals were taking over.

The crystals were of a texture similar to powder sugar. It was light and airy and definitely not very stable, as my little one jumped up and down with excitement the white crystals fragmented from the plate and started blowing in the air stream of the room. I then decided that this was the end of this project. What a learning experience. If you do this for a school project make sure to do it in the classroom, as the structure would not endure a drive or move to make it to the classroom. Also my plate did alright, I am going to put it in the dish washer tonight, but I think it will recover from the bluing.

If you try this, please add your comments and thoughts.

Crystal Tree Project

2010-01-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

Here are the first pictures for our crystal 'trees'. Take 1 tablespoon of Mrs. Stewarts bluiing, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of water and 1/2 tablespoon of amonia and mix them all together. Be very careful as the bluing is super blue. Anything it touches will turn blue in my experience, you may even want to do this project outside. I spilled a little directly in my sink and their is still a little blue where I tried to wash it out.

My suggestion is to use a disposable babyfood jar or some other disposable container to mix the ingredients in. Also use a dish that you don't care about as I think I have ruined my saucer with this project.

Personally I like to reuse anything possible so I used a water bottle and the cardboard from the paper towel roll. That just left the plate, I made the mistake of using a good one, next time I will go to a garage sale and get a cheap disposable one for this type of project. Next I cut the papertowel roll into the shapes. I thought I would try to make a heart for valentines day, but it did not turn out very well, we will see after it grows how well it works. I also made a tree for the second item.

These crystal formations are supposed to grow over about a weeks time depending on the level of humidity in your house, unfortunately we have a storm coming in on Sunday, so this was not an ideal time to start this project. Hopefully it will still work. Make sure to place your finished project in a place where it will not be disturbed.

Check back for results---

UHU Valentines Box Project

2010-01-14T18:57:00.000-08:00

Well, this is another freebie that I got in the mail from a great company, UHU! They sent all the materials necessary and we made this great Valentines Day box. On one side it is one D style and on the other it is more three d'ish with a Paris flair on the one dimensional side, we love it.

The UHU glue roller worked great. I had tried other brands of roll gluers before, but this one was far easieer and more reliable then the others I have used on my scrapbooking projects. The micro-dot system was easy to see and use on the paper and other pieces that were used.

Thanks so much again UHU, we loved this project and your great product!

Hurry, another free Fresco Taco from Taco Bell!

2010-01-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

Free Taco From Taco Bell

Win free milk, and get a free milk coupon for first entrants

2010-01-10T22:29:00.001-08:00

http://promotions.whymilk.com/ggg/

Easiest Way to Make Money Save Money. Print Free Coupons Anytime.

2009-12-26T21:44:00.000-08:00

The easiest way to make money is to save money by printing out printable coupons from the internet. I love the fact that I can plan out my shopping trip and often get items for free or severely discounted with the coupons that I print out. If you combine sales with the printed coupons, you can save or make a ton of money. My two year old daughter refers to it as printing money because it saves us so much. Most will allow you print the coupon twice. Make sure to check back often as well because they are always adding coupons.Why Wait for the Sunday Paper? Print Free Coupons Anytime

I love the coupons too that allow you to do them as doubles or even triples, some stores still do that. This last year KMART had several double days and so I was often able to save $6 on a package of $10 diapers. Plus they even had a bonus rebate when you bought $50 worth of diapers, so I was able to double dip as I call it. Use a coupon and get a rebate.

At first this may all seem overwhelming. After a little practice you will get the hang of it and it will become addicting. Who doesn't like them taking 50% or more off of the grocery bill? My suggestions is to start easy. Click on the My Coupons link for some great coupons. Print out a couple of coupons, make sure they are for things you will use. Then take them to the store with you and use them the next time you buy those products.

Make sure that when you use coupons that you keep an eye on the epiration dates. Most stores do not take expired coupons. Most Base stores do take them from what I am told, so if you do have expired coupons you may want to send them to our military people for them to use.

Enough for now...go print some coupons and try them out. Save Money. Print Free Coupons Anytime.

Fun Super Easy Project to do with Toddlers - Forest of Trees

2009-12-24T16:15:00.000-08:00

This is a great fun easy project to do with your little ones. It is super easy and has a very quick set up time. Items needed are: Sugar cones, pre made frosting, green food coloring, any candy decorations that you want to add.

First, take the frosting can and open it, then add green food color until you achieve the green that you want for your scene. Next, take some of the frosting and frost the bottom of a plate generously. Then take one of the sugar cones and coat with the green frosting. Place the completed tree in the frosting on the plate. Repeat these steps to make as many trees as you want, or will fit on your plate. Next take the candies and decorate the trees.

The kids love this! Not only is it fun but if their are any messes a lick will usually clean it up. (Make sure to wash your hands properly of course if you are going to share your trees with others) Refrigerate till ready to serve.

Extra decorations can be used on your gingerbread projects or in holiday cookies.

Put some snow or powder sugar on top after you refrigerate your creation for an extra snowey effect.

Let me know how this worked for you. My little girl loved doing it.

Downlad 25 Free Christmas Songs- Hurry before their gone

2009-12-24T12:48:00.000-08:00

Just click here-

Free 25 Christmas Songs

Free Fresco Taco from Taco Bell for first 1 million

2009-12-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

Free Fresco Taco - Click here

Here is a great freebie! Remember to that a lot of Taco Bells also give senior citizens a free drink with purchase. My parents love this place!

Alice - Free Shipping & $10 off $50 for new customers

2009-12-22T13:58:00.000-08:00

What a great service. If you have not tried Alice yet, you need to. They offer free shipping on every order, $10 off your first accumulation of $50, and on top of that they have great coupons that are taken off instantly. My first order with them was for about $25 after all my discounts and deals, and I got tons of stuff.

This is a great company to because they have those basic items that everyone needs. I order baby food from them that is far cheaper from them then the local companies. My little girl loves the Gerber pasta and cheese pick-ups and they sell them for $1.10 regular price. At the local Vons, they are $1.69. So I not only save lots of money but it is convenient as well. With the free shipping I can order what I need when I need it. They also remind me when I might be running low on an item.

When you click on their link you will get the $10 off $50 or more sign up bonus. I used this on my first order, but I believe they will combine your orders if you do not order $50 on the first time.

My strategy to with them is see what is on sale with their coupons, you can save tons by doing this. If you need other tips post and I will try to give some more money saving strategies for Alice.

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$5 Refund from Oh' Nuts to post a link to their site

2009-12-22T13:35:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would put a small blurb about this. They will give you $5 back to post a link to their site from your blog. I love rebates and deals and goodies. This is like a bonus kickback.

PS Look for other coupons too, when I ordered from their site I had totally free shipping, so I got to double dip! Yummy!

Free $4 credit for Amazon Video on Demand

2009-12-22T11:03:00.000-08:00

Click here to put in code Go to this link and put in the code AVODGIFT
I Love this, free movies right on your computer or TV if you have it set up for that!

Zometools

2009-12-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

These are great toys, or learning tools for kids and adults three and up. Right now they have a great deal on lots of great products. This is from an email I just received from Paul, "Free Shipping on EVERYTHING! ...plus a special secret stocking stuffer with any order by December 18th. We're not telling what, but it's a beautiful, veeery limited edition item, not available on our web site (or anywhere else), that is guaranteed to please any Zometool enthusiast and, really, just about anyone! Anyway, to claim your free shipping on anything we make, use promotion code "tasteful"."

So if you think these are as great as I do make sure to order by the 18th to get the free shipping and free secret stocking stuffer. I am not sure that I am supposed to share this, so you better hurry before they run out of the stocking stuffers! Let them know I sent you, Paul is a friend of the family's. http://www.zometool.com/