WSBT-TV: Tips for a Fun & Frugal Valentine’s Day

February 5th, 2008

Featured today on WSBT was a segment that I did on celebrating Valentine’s Day on a budget. This goes along with our Valentine’s Day article full of tips for saving cash.

I mentioned that Restaurant.com is a great place to get gift certificates for your evening out. We do have an affiliation with the company, but I recommend it because it really can save families money. I checked their current promotions and they are offering gift certificates for 60% off with an additional 25% discount from deLaFlowers. This offer is good through February 6th using coupon code SUPER when checking out. Use this provided link to access this deal! If you want to understand more about how this program works, you can read my personal review of this program.

Just to be sure you don’t miss it, listen for a tiny voice in the background on the segment. Emily was particularly wild that day, but Cari said it would just help people believe me more that I really am a mom and really do have children. Emily won’t hold still for any camera shots, but she was having a great time in the playroom while we shot our segments.

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Posted in Celebrations, Family | 7 Comments »

Giving Away the Mother Load: Black Heritage Trivia Game

February 5th, 2008
I would like to offer you another great giveaway sponsored through the Pressman Toy Company. In this giveaway we will be offering a copy of “The Black Heritage Trivia Game.”

Here is a blurb about the game from the company:

In honor of Black History Month, and throughout the year, encourage your readers to share the heroic stories of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Oprah Winfrey and other African Americans with their children by playing GEEBEE’s Black Heritage Series games and puzzles together.

GEEBEE Marketing, Inc., the only U.S. toy manufacturer dedicated to creating African American themed games and puzzles, has developed the Black History Series that strives to make learning about Black history in America fun for children of many ages. They have proven to be popular with teachers as well as parents and make great additions to the classroom and the toy box.

This year, GEEBEE is excited to include its games and puzzles in Wal-Mart’s February Black History Month promotions at stores nationwide. They can also be found online at Pressman Toys website and at other online sites, book stores and retailers.

The Black Heritage Trivia Game is intended for children that are ten years to adult and is retailed at $19.99. This game will test your knowledge of the history, cultural experiences, scientific accomplishments and major contributions made by African Americans from 1619 until today! Get the answers right and make your way into the inner circle. But be careful, your opponent is trying to send you back to the start! Be ready for hours of enlightening entertainment.

Who wouldn’t love another great game to add to their collection?

Rules for Entry: Leave a comment and let us know what your favorite family board game is! I will draw the winner at random. You can enter until 8 PM Friday (02/08). The winner will be announced on Saturday. Good luck to everyone!

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Posted in Giveaways | 28 Comments »

Open Your Own Bed & Breakfast

February 5th, 2008

Pre-children, my husband & I got the opportunity to take some really fun trips and to visit some really amazing places. While we have never gotten the opportunity to travel out of the country, we have gone lots of great places in our own country.

One of our trips lead us to a beautiful bed and breakfast in Cape Cod. Our room was tucked away in the attic of the home and it was filled with beautiful antiques and slanted ceilings. They served us an amazing breakfast and we lounged on their antique couches and enjoyed our beautiful breakfast while reading the paper. We spent the entire day window-shopping and curled into our bed, covered in quilts and feathered pillows. It has been one of our favorite little getaways and was one of the last trips we got to take before our son entered the world.

Since we have had children, our travels are more limited, but I have been trying to capture the feeling of a good bed and breakfast over the weekends in our home. While I don’t have someone here to keep the home tidy, I try to revel in the details that can help make our home feel more like a vacation house, instead of just the place we live in.

Here are some of my ideas for helping create a bed and breakfast in your own home:

1. Putting fresh sheets on the bed makes climbing into bed so much nicer. I love to turn the bed back to make it look more welcoming. I wouldn’t suggest doing this until the evening (or you will probably end up in it!), but doing this before bed makes the bed seem more inviting. If you don’t have time to clean the sheets, fresh pillowcases or just neatly making the bed can help to freshen it up.

2. If you have the space, pull a comfy chair up into your room. Our glider was rarely used in Emily’s room anymore, so I brought it into our room to make a cozy little reading corner. A basket of library books are right next to my bed so I always have a little reading material.

3. I love my trays and I keep one in our bedroom too. It is a great place for me to put my current reading material, the newspaper, and a Suduko puzzle book. I like to rest my coffee in the tray while I do my reading so I don’t have to balance a cup on our bed. You could also bring your breakfast into your bedroom and take a little mommy time-out on the weekends. My husband sometimes lets me disappear for a little bit and I can enjoy a few moments in peace. It is great!

4. One of the fun things about staying at a hotel is getting to try all sorts of new bath and body products. I keep a basket of freebies in our room and love to dig into these on the weekend. It is so fun to try tons of spa products without paying a dime for them. What could be better than that?

5. On Saturdays, we love to make pancakes or waffles. On Friday night, while our pizza is cooking, I try to make up the batter for our brunch the next day. I put this in a bowl and tuck it in the fridge for the morning. The next day, all I have to do is pour the batter out and we are ready to go. It helps eliminate a lot of the work for the meal the following day and makes my morning run much smoother.

6. When serving your brunch, break out the good dishes! Everything looks and tastes so much better when it is well-presented.

7. If the budget allows it, buy some fresh flowers for your bedroom and table. A beautiful bouquet at Aldi is only $2.99 and has enough flowers that it can be split into two rooms.

Here are a few recipes for creating your own bed & breakfast:

Oatmeal Waffles
Spiced Pumpkin Waffles With Honey Butter
Yeast Waffles
Banana Pancakes
Pete’s Scratch Pancakes
Pumpkin Pancakes With Oven Fried Bacon (scroll down)
Amy’s French Toast
Gingerbread Waffles
Cinnamon Muffins
Apple Pie Muffins
Sour Cream Muffins
Pumpkin Struesel Muffins
Almost Nutra Grain Bars
Amy’s Favorite Cocoa Mix
Homemade Pancake Syrup
Homemade Nonstick Spray (This will help keep your waffles and pancakes from sticking)

For inspirational reading on making your house feel more like a fabulous weekend retreat, I love to read INNside Innkeeping in Montana. There are excellent tips for home maintenance and tons of delicious recipes to try.

Sound Off: What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? How do you help keep your weekends running smoothly?

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Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

Redbox Code 02.04.08

February 4th, 2008

Today’s free code for a Redbox movie is HD36MJ. This code is good for one free movie and you can use it until midnight tonight. Enjoy a free family movie together! Check out Meredith, from Like Merchant Ships, post on creating a fun family night on Monday instead of the traditional Monday night. She makes some really great points about frugality and creating a fun night with your family.

Side Note: If you want to rent more than one movie for free, bring more than one credit/debit card. You can use the same promotional code, you just will need different accounts to charge to. The charge will be zero as long as you return your movie on time for the next day.

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Posted in Freebies | No Comments »

I Heart Oz (Or I Heart Carrie)

February 4th, 2008

I got an unexpected package in the mail last week. I didn’t remember ordering anything, but tucked between all of the junk mail was a squishy envelope.

I opened the envelope up and out fell an “I Love Oz” t-shirt. There was a sweet note explaining that my awesome blogging buddy Carrie had attended a swap night and happened upon this shirt. She remembered my entry about my surprise birthday tickets to the show and she also knew my size. Wouldn’t you know she snatched it up for me?

I really wanted a shirt when I attended the show, but you know me and my money. We are tight. I kept my money in my pocket and never imagined that I would have gotten such a nice surprise!

Thank you, Carrie! You truly made my week!

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Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Vanilla Scented Granola

February 4th, 2008

I am easing my family into eating granola and I found this recipe that I thought would fit the bill perfectly. The only item that they could consider “weird” are the slivered almonds. No dried fruits, no coconut, no weird foods…no reason to complain!

I will gradually be adding some other elements into this recipe, but if you have a picky family, this granola recipe might be a great place to start. I bought a large container of vanilla yogurt and made little yogurt cups for the kids with this homemade granola sprinkled on top. They gobbled it up and I found them both licking their bowls. I would say this one was a hit!

Vanilla Scented Granola Courtesy of Bon Appetit Magazine

Cooking spray
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Position rack to middle of oven and preheat to 300 degrees. Lightly spray large baking sheet with nonstick spray. Mix next 5 ingredients in large bowl. Combine oil, honey and sugar in small saucepan; bring to simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour hot liquid over oat mixture; stir well. Using hands, toss mixture until thoroughly mixed. Spread granola on prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionaly, about 30 minutes (but check after 20). Transfer sheet to rack; cool granola completely. (Can be made two weeks ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Makes approximately 8 cups.

Side Note: If you prefer granola clumps, do not stir during baking and allow the granola to cool. You can then break the granola apart into pieces.

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Posted in Breakfast | 13 Comments »

I’m On the Kenmore Page

February 3rd, 2008

I promised I would update you guys when I actually appeared on the Kenmore website and now I am finally up there. You can see me on the homepage under “Advice for Home & Housework (little tiny me in a blue sweater) or you can see me on their formal Meet the Experts page. My bio is located here!

I will get to write monthly for the Kenmore company and share tips on a variety of mommy subjects. This is so exciting for me and a true blessing for our family. I apologize for the bragging, but everyone wanted to know when it would be posted after my little announcement about joining their team.

I will be sure to share when we have new articles posted there as well as sharing about their future promotions!

Thank you all for your continued support! I couldn’t do it without you!

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Posted in My Work | 8 Comments »

Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway Results

February 3rd, 2008

Who would have thought that a $25 gift card for coffee would bring in 701 entries? Pure craziness! A big congratulations to Mimi on winning our $25 Starbucks Gift Card. I chose our winner randomly, but could not have picked a better person. Mimi is on my site daily and a huge contributer to our forum & MomAdvice community. I was so thrilled to pick her name out of the hat and she truly deserves this.

Thank you to everyone who participated and I plan to share many more giveaways in the future!!

PS- Everyone is a winner in this one. Take a peek at the comments and pick a new favorite drink- there are over seven hundred choices! I have a new list of things to try thanks to all of your great orders!

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Posted in Giveaways | 3 Comments »

Freebie Friday: February 1, 2008

February 1st, 2008
I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Heather, from Freebies 4 Mom, for helping us with this week’s list. Please visit her site for some really amazing freebies throughout the week and in-depth discussions on coupon dos & don’ts!

Much thanks to Beth & Amy for sending us the Chex Mix Turtle sample. If you haven’t had this, it is delicious! Yummy!

Don’t forget to enter our Starbuck’s Gift Card Giveaway that we are offering on our site! You could win a free $25 gift card to grab your favorite cup of coffee. I love reading everyone’s favorite drinks. Geesh, I thought I was high maintenance! You guys are picky about your coffee.

Here are your freebies…

Health & Beauty

Dentek samples
“A is for Asthma” DVD (teaching children about their asthma and other club benefits)

Food
Team Hansen’s Refreshment Book (offer for Soccer Teams only)
Barilla The Celebrity Italian Table cookbook (Barilla donates $1 per download to America’s Second Harvest)
Wines From Spain Wine Guide

Entertainment
2008 Space Camp Program Guide with magnet
Toys ‘R Us Birthday Club with Birthday Gifts
Redbox Code: GROUNDHOG (Expires 2/05). Good for one free rental.
SPIN Magazine
Metropolitan Home Magazine
Parents Magazine (2 Years- this was posted earlier, but want to make sure that everyone gets it)
Green Guide Magazine (Use Coupon Code: HSBC07470)

Home & Garden
2X Ultra Tide with Dawn

Mark your calendars!! Auntie Anne’s is turning 20! To kick-off its 20th birthday celebration, Auntie Anne’s is hosting a Free Pretzel Day on February 2nd at stores nationwide! Stop by your local Auntie Anne’s on February 2nd between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to try one complimentary Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel — no strings attached.

Mark your calendars!! IHOP’s National Pancake Day is coming on February 12th. From 7AM-10PM you can get your free short stack of pancakes. Donations are requested for the Children’s Miracle Network that day.

Mark your calendars!! Crate & Barrel Wedding Party Events – 1/27, 2/10, 17, 24 & 3/2, 9-11 a.m. Crate & Barrel introduces The Wedding Parties. If you’re about to be married, we’re throwing a party in your honor. Bring your partner or your friends. Our store is yours. Enjoy great food, drinks, music and our expert advice on registering. Our knowledgeable staff will be there to offer insight, support, plus home entertaining ideas for newlyweds and our newest registry guide. You’ll also receive a brilliant hand-blown glass bowl as our gift. To RSVP today, call a store near you.

Mark your calendars!! Free In-store bag of Sephora Samples. Stop by any Sephora, Jan 6th through Feb. 15th, for a free bag of skincare samples tailored to your needs based on a skincare consultation. No purchase required.

Here’s to the Heroes!!
Complimentary admission for active duty military representing all five service branches, active members of a reserve or National Guard unit, and/or up to three direct dependants. Valid for one complimentary single-day admission per person, per year, to one of the following Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks:
o SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio
o Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg
o Sesame Place
o Aquatica
o Adventure Island
o Water Country USA
Offer valid between 1/1/2008 and 12/31/2008. Operating days and hours vary by park. Please check with specific park for current operating schedule. Visit their site for more details!

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Posted in Freebies | 7 Comments »

Frugal Hacks: Take a Vacation? Why Not!

February 1st, 2008

Editor’s Note: This was written on Tuesday, but we have had some technical difficulties on Frugal Hacks. We are up and rolling now!

Today is my fun day because I get to do the news segment AND I get to guest write for Frugal Hacks. A magazine I got in my mail today gave me the idea for our topic. I am sharing frugal ways to vacation in your own state.

I am also looking for the best Miss America answer for what makes your state so great. I know, I know… but anyone who saw the Miss America pageant this year knows that this question is much better than asking our contestants questions about their feelings concerning Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, or Britney Spear’s sister. Seriously? Seriously? How about an African American running for office? How about a woman running for office? How about the war in Iraq? How about educating our children? How about…Well, you get the idea. I think there are far more important issues at hand. Modernize the pageant, sure, but our women can still be smart AND hip!

Head over to Frugal Hacks and share your thoughts on your state there. If you have thoughts about the Miss America pageant and the lame questions this year, leave ’em here!

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Posted in Saving | 3 Comments »

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