Florida Coupon Girl

Eco Store Product Winner

2009-07-28T20:15:00.001-04:00

Thanks for all the comments. And the winner is my high school friend, Jenn! Congrats Jenn and I will be sending you an email!! Hope you enjoy the products:)

Cheap Milk at CVS

2009-07-20T21:55:00.005-04:00

I know I've posted about this before, BUT I always like to pass along a good deal!!!

CVS has their T.G. Lee deal again where you get milk for ONLY $.79!!!

Buy a 1 gallon T.G. Milk at $2.79 and get $1 ECB. But if you use this $1 coupon, you'll only be paying $.79!!!

Sure wish I didn't just buy milk a couple of days ago!!! And remember, the site allows you to print two coupons per a two month period!

Eco Friendly Products & Giveaway!!

2009-07-20T16:15:00.007-04:00

Several weeks ago I was contacted by Ecostore USA to try some of their products. Of course I was completely thrilled with the opportunity and very excited to try some new products that were also eco friendly.

Curious about the company I browsed the website and was impressed to learn that the EcoStore was founded 15 years ago by a couple in New Zealand. Since then they have created a business that offers green products with "no nasty chemicals." "The team at ecostore USA loves making a difference in people’s lives. ecostore USA does not compromise on performance, so customers can be assured of the efficacy of the products - they truly work. We offer more than 100 products, each one meeting the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards. The guiding principle of every formulation is and will always be that the end product must not only be good for the user, but good for the planet."

I first tried the Pure Oxygen Whitener. No sooner did the products arrive and we had our first soiled shirt. Lilly accidently spilled red juice on Gage's onies (a Janie & Jack one, go figure!!) and I thought for sure it wasn't coming out. So I made a little paste and rubbed it on the spots and then let it soak. It started to take the color out immediately and after a couple hours, it was gone completely. I was totally amazed and happy!!

I also tried the Citrus Spray Cleaner. I was curious to see how well it cleaned and how it smelled (I don't know about you, but I hate the toxic smells of most household cleaners). After spraying the cleaner, I was pleasantly surprised by the very light smell and how well it cleaned my sink. I liked it so much that I cleaned the whole kitchen and even the kids bathroom!!

Here's the exciting news!!! The Ecostore wanted me to offer my readers an opportunity to try their products as well. So, they are allowing one winner the chance to try two products for FREE! The contest will start today (Monday, July 20th) and go until next Monday. To enter, simply visit their site The EcoStore USA and then leave me a comment stating which two items you would choose (please be sure to include your email). If you'd like a second opportunity to win, you can also post about this giveaway on your blog, facebook, twitter, etc. and post the link under another comment. The winner will be chosen randomly on Tuesday, July 28th and will be notified by email.

Also, you can sign up for the Ecostore's No Nasty Chemicals Newsletter by visiting their blog. And of course you can follow them on Twitter at Ecostoreusa or on facebook!!

Get Your Chicken At Sweetbay!

2009-07-15T22:49:00.001-04:00

Sweetbay is running a sale for Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts for $1.89 a pound. While this is not the rock bottom price that I usually like to buy at (which is $1.79), I will still take advantage of this lower price and stock up!!!

I promise to leave some for the rest of you!!

Helping Others

2009-07-13T09:57:00.003-04:00

My friend, Peggy, recently told me of a need for toothbrushes in Jamaica. This spring her husband will make is third trip to Jamaica on a missions trip and will be taking supplies with him. Since we are all bargain hunters, I thought this would be a great way to give back!!!

The good news is that we can start now...as in this week!!! Walgreens has FREE Reach Toothbrushes this week and thanks to SouthernSavers there is even a great scenerio so that you can get three toothbrushes and you make money!!!!

Here's the deal:

Reach Toothbrush or Floss, 30 yardsB1G1 Reach Toothbrush, any up to $3.99, RP 4/26-$3/3 Reach Floss and Reach Toothbrush and Listerine Antiseptic, SS 3/15-$1.50/2
Reach Floss and/or Reach Toothbrush and/or Listerine Antiseptic, SS 3/15-.50/1
Reach Floss or Toothbrush or Listerine, SS 3/15-.50/1
Reach Floss, any, SS 3/15-$1 off Reach Toothbrush, SS 6/14-$2 off
Reach Toothbrush, SS 6/14-$1 off
Reach Dental Floss, SS 6/14-$1.50/2
Any Reach products, printable (IE) or printable (FF)

Buy: (3) Reach Toothbrushes
Use: (1) B1G1 coupon
(2) -$2 off coupons
Total Due: $2
Get Back: $3 RR, you make $1 profit!

Once you buy them, you can give them to me and I'll get them to Peggy!!

Also, if you ever hear of anyone else in need, please pass it along and I will blog about it!!

Mission Tortillas Coupon

2009-07-09T16:47:00.003-04:00

Just received an email from Mission Tortillas with a coupon for $1.00 any (1) package of Mission Tortillas Plus! Better -for-you Tortillas. The coupon expires July 31, but hopefully Publix will have a sale before then!! Go HERE to sign up!

By the way, I have frozen my tortillas in the past and they tasted great after thawing them!!

June Totals

2009-07-03T11:29:00.002-04:00

Hard to believe that another month is over!! But it's time again to share your monthly totals.

I am none too pleased with my spending, however my savings makes up for it (wondering if all the diapers I bought had something to do with it!!). Looking forward to hearing what everyone else saved this month!!

Spent: $473.46
Weekly: $118.36
Saved: $664.80

Kraft Mac & Cheese

2009-07-03T11:11:00.002-04:00

You may have noticed that Publix has Kraft Mac & Cheese BOGO this week. Well, our store has them for $1.07. So if you use the Buy 3 Get 1 Free from SS 6/28 you'll be paying $.27 a box!! Now, I think that's a deal. ALSO, there is a printable option but unfortunately my computer is not allowing me to copy and paste. So go to Southern Savers and click on the printable link!!

P.S. If anyone can tell me why my computer will sometimes let me copy and paste and then other times it won't, I would truly appreciate it. I'm in extreme frustration mode right now!!

Christmas Is Coming...

2009-06-30T13:42:00.003-04:00

I had a realization yesterday that we are only 6 months away from Christmas. And with that thought in mind I started to get anxious about how I could start buying now to save money!! So over the next couple of months I will try and share some great gift ideas that I find...for cheap!!

The first one is a Veggie Tales DVD for ONLY $2.99. BigIdea.com is running a special wherein you sign up for the newsletter and you get your choice of one DVD for only $2.99 (you're paying for shipping). Even if you're kids are no longer watching Veggie Tales, I am sure there is someone on your "list" that would enjoy it!!!

~ If you find any good deals, please share it with the rest of us. Let's see how much we can save this year just by being thrifty!!! ~

As a side note, please remind me to NOT talk about gifts whenever Lilly is in earshot!! I got off the phone with Emmy (after telling her about this deal) and Lilly comes up to me saying, "I know what I am getting for Christmas! A Veggie Tales DVD." I asked her how she knew that and she said, "I heard you on the phone." Yikes!!!

Free or Cheap Apple & Eve Juice Boxes at Publix

2009-06-25T21:14:00.005-04:00

Just saw a post on The Thrifty Mama about a great deal on Apple & Eve juice boxes at Publix. You can go here to learn more about it.

Update: Katie went to the store today and our Publix has them for $2.99. The two coupons I found would only total $1.50. So in my opinion, it's not that great of a deal. Sorry!

Update: Don't get too excited, girls. Seems we don't have the coupon in our SS 4/5 insert. Checked on both coupon database sites and there are no other coupons other than the Greenwise and Smart Summertime Savings. Sorry.

Cheap Strawberries at Publix

2009-06-25T21:06:00.003-04:00

Katie found a great deal at Publix by using a Target coupon! Here's the deal.

Driscoll Strawberries are 2/$4
Use: 1/$1 Target coupon
= 2/$2

I have also found the HotCouponWorld has a great Coupon Database. Shows everything from Sunday coupon inserts to internet coupons and others. I have found it to be very helpful and easier to get to than couponmom.com (which requires signing in and takes you to several different pages).

Does anyone know if strawberries freeze well if you cut them up and then freeze them??

Extreme Couponing: Organization

2009-06-25T15:46:00.003-04:00

This post comes from Jenny at Southern Savers which happens to by my favorite Money Saving Blog!! Here she shares some great tips and ideas on organizing your coupons. Don't be alarmed if one method doesn't work for you. Be flexible and try different ways until you find the right fit for your lifestyle and time frame!

On a side note, I personally practice method #1 one, however, I keep mine in individual folders with dates and keep them in my filing cabinet. Since I get several inserts, I only keep 2 copies in the folder and then store the others in my office (in various locations...all over the place!!!). I also keep a ziploc baggy in my purse with coupons that I know I'll use no matter what.

Extreme Couponing: Organization

There are 4 levels of organization I would recommend. They go up in order of time involved to organize but they also each make the time spent finding the coupon faster. So you decide the system best for you and the time trade off.

The pictures below go in order of system type.

#1
“Not Cutting” Keeping your Inserts Whole

When you get your weekly inserts write the date bigger on the front page of the insert. Then get a large 13 pocket accordion file system and put all the inserts from this week together in one pocket. Next week put those inserts in the next pocket of the folder. As the weeks go on you have all the inserts from each week together organized back by the date that they came out. If you buy more than one paper, just put all the inserts no matter how many into the same pocket. Now when you come to Southern Savers you will use the SS dates that are next to coupons on the weekly deal posts to find each coupon and cut it out before going to the store.

This is where I live. There are not any more hours in my day and this is a compromise with my husband. I do not recommend this system to anyone that hates to miss a clearance or closeout deal in the store. You can take your large file with you but you will spend way to long finding the coupon you need (if you even can find it). The upside to this system is that the only time spent on it, is the time you spend getting ready for your trip. Usually takes me about 15 minutes to cut any coupons needed for a trip.

You will also need to have #2 to keep any coupons that you cut and don’t use or any printable coupons in.

#2
Canceled Check File:

This is one small step towards organization. Get a small accordion file with 13 pockets these are $1 at Target normally. Leave the front pocket empty and as you plan your trip you put the coupons there that you will use that trip, then in the remaining pockets label the tabs on them according to the areas that you use the most. I use: Baby, Canned/Boxed Goods, Cereals, Desserts/Baking, Snacks/Drinks, Other food, Toiletries, Drugs, Paper goods, Cleaning products, Refrigerated, and lastly Frozen foods.

I DO NOT recommend organizing by alphabetical or expiration date. If you choose alphabetical then you are the only person in the world that knows where that coupon is. B for Betty C for Crocker or P for Potatoes. If you try expiration date then you are helpless if you need to find the coupon. (It is okay to let a coupon expire by the way, you will probably get another very soon and it really means that they item never came on a great sale).

This system is fast on the time it takes to organize them, you cut put them in twelve stacks and shove them in. It is slow on the time it takes you in the store. Your stacks will be large. If you need to find a coupon for canned chicken you might have 30-40 coupons to look through. Another problem with this system arises if you get more than one copy of the paper. Your stacks of coupons are now really large and time in the store slows even further.

#3
Make Your Own Box

Yet another step closer to mastering organization. For this system find any box you like. I recommend something that can fit easily in the top part of the grocery cart. Then buy or make your own dividers. You can go to town with dividers and make categories for anything you like. You will increase the amount of time it takes to organize your cut coupons, but in the store you will have smaller stacks to sort through to find a particular coupon. I made my own box and used a 3×5 index card file box, they sell dividers for it and it had a lid! For my categories when I finally moved out of the box I had over 40 dividers with everything from Baby to Personal Care Supplies I don’t use (just in case it was free).

The only downside with this system is that no matter what size box you pick, a box is a box and it will not expand. If you get a lot of inserts you will not be able to get every coupon inside at some point.

#4
Three Ring Binder

This system is for the truly serious and devoted. You need a 1.5 inch or larger 3 ring binder, baseball card organizing pages, and section divider tabs. Label the dividers again by location in the store and then start to put coupons into the baseball card pockets. Place your coupons individually (put multiples behind it) in the slots so that you are able to see every coupon. I put a coupon facing the front and a different coupon facing the back to maximize space. For the dividers, you are not limited by 12 sections so you can go crazy with tabs if you like. You can even get a little zipper bag (sold to hold pencils) to put in the front to hold your coupons for that trip and a pair of scissors.

This system takes the most time to get everything organized. It is coupon origami getting some of the large coupons in the slots. However, in the store if you were racing against anyone in a lower system you would win hands down. If you need to know if you have a particular coupon it will take you about 5 seconds! You will also be ready to make a run to the store for a quick deal rather then feeling like you have to sit down and prepare.

A Few tips for this system:

If you have more than one coupon for the same item, put the ones that expire first towards the front in the pocket

Buy a folder that zips up!! If you hold a binder upside down the coupons will fall out the top.

Look for a binder that has a 6 pocket accordion system too. Now if you cut and don’t have time to file the coupons you can still have them with you.

My Favorite Binder I found at Office Depot, they don’t have one of their site so here is a similar one if you are interested in cost and features.

An idea of groupings that gets more organized than the above 12:

Baby, Drugs, Breads, Cereals, Snacks, Meat, Canned/Boxed goods, Condiments/Seasoning, Desserts/Baking goods, Other Food, Frozen, Refrigerated, Cooking Helpers (Ziploc bags, aluminum foil etc.), Paper Goods, Cleaning Goods, Other Household (bug spray etc.), Store Specific (Store coupons, CVS ECB’s etc.), Body Care (soap, razors, deodorant etc.), Tooth care, Hair Care, Facial/Makeup

5 Mistakes I Made as a Newbie Couponer

2009-06-21T15:39:00.004-04:00

I read this today on Common Sense With Money and thought it was so helpful and true! I was also hoping that it would help some of the newbies from the Couponing 101 Class!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Five Mistakes I Made as a Newbie Couponer
When I first realized I could be saving a lot of money by matching coupons up with store sales and promotions, I got excited. I mean REALLY excited. I sent countless emails to friends with my finds. I “scouted out” the local Kmart a couple weeks before the rumored double coupon event to strategize. I’d fall asleep piecing together Walgreens scenarios in my head. I began seeing barcodes everywhere I looked.

In all the excitement of finding the good deals, I’ve learned a few lessons along the way. If you’re new to couponing (or even if you aren’t), please learn from my mistakes…and don’t repeat them! After doing some soul-searching, I’ve come up with a list of five mistakes I could have avoided. So here goes:

1. Trying to do EVERY deal. When my eyes were open to the world of couponing, I couldn’t believe ALL the deals I was finding…diapers, oatmeal, ground beef, canned vegetables, razors, soap, shampoo…and for some reason I felt the need to get every last one. It could be that I’m a bit of a perfectionist, or my mom would likely argue that it’s because I’m a firstborn, but whatever the reason, this shopping approach is completely unnecessary. Don’t kill yourself trying to make 18 shopping trips in a week. Deals come, deals go, other deals come. If you miss a deal, there will be others. Focus on a few that make sense for your family that week. Let the others go.

2. Feeling the need to use high value coupons – even if there is no sale. Remember, the key is to manage your out-of-pocket expenses on items your family needs and uses. When I first started clipping coupons, my heart would skip a beat when I’d find a $4 off coupon for some new-fangled room air freshener product. I MUST have that! Then I’d begin the desperate search of trying to find a sale to match it with. Sometimes I’d be successful. Other times, not so much. Bottom line: a $4 off coupon is still not a good deal if the item is $17.99 and you have no intention of using it. I’ve since learned to relax and let coupons expire if I can’t find a sale. Even good $4 off coupons.

3. Not paying attention to deadlines. So in April – the final month of the Walgreens’ Easy Saver Rebate Program, I decided to wait until the last minute to enter a rebate receipt. Guess what? I missed the deadline! And I had $10 worth of rebates. What’s more, because I didn’t submit it, the system automatically processed my rebates and sent me a check – instead of letting me select the Gift Card option which would have yielded me an additional 10%. Watch out for deadlines, keep your receipts and coupons organized. You don’t want to lose out. I still shudder to think how far $10 at Walgreens could’ve gotten me this month….!

4. Not paying attention to expiration dates. Guess what? Non-perishables are actually perishable! So when you purchase enough cans of tomato soup to last you two years, you better make sure those cans of soup will actually be good two years from now. I now check the expiration dates on everything from milk to cough drops to cans of soda. Especially pay attention if there is a REALLY good sale going on a certain item. I can think of a recent instance where a store (which shall remain nameless) was offering extremely high value coupons for a certain type of candy. When I visited the store, almost every last package had expired by more than a month! Yikes.

5. Buying stuff your family won’t use. Sure, it’s great to pick up some stuff for donations to the church pantry or homeless shelter, but remember the main purpose of couponing (at least for most of us) is to save money on your family’s grocery bill each month. So make an effort at coming home with items your family will actually eat, use, and enjoy. I can recall some of my first shopping trips where I’d come home with say, 5 boxes of allergy medicine, 2 bottles of children’s cough syrup, and 3 packages of Tucks Medicated Pads. This is great expect for the fact our family uses none of these items. Again, picking these things up is nice if they are free after coupons and you have a place in mind to donate them to, but it’s even better to focus your energy on things your family needs right now.

Learning how to shop and save wisely will take some trial and error. What I’ve noticed is that I tend to make more mistakes when I fail to see the bigger picture. Don’t get hung up over a coupon or a deal – focus instead on your monthly saving and spending goals or rounding out your pantry. And if you do make a mistake, don’t let it go to waste. Learn from it!
Angela Russell is the author of The Coupon Project, a blog chronicling her real life couponing adventures. Her goal is to encourage and educate other newbie couponers how to enjoy amazing money-saving success through easy-to-follow posts.

Suave Promotions

2009-06-20T07:31:00.003-04:00

Be the first to try out Suave's new Wild Cherry Blossom Body Wash. Follow this link
to complete some information and Suave will send you a $.50 cent coupon (only a 25% savings, but they promise more savings in the future!).

Sounds like a nice smelling body wash and I bet there will be some sales for it, so save that coupon!!

CVS Advisor Panel

2009-06-18T15:51:00.003-04:00

My friend Katie just alerted me to this great opporunity. CVS has just created an Advisor Panel and are asking CVS customers to sign up. They will contact you periodically throughout the year to complete surveys and in return will credit your CVS card with Extra Care Bucks ($5, $10, or even $15). I just signed up and there were a series of questions but it went quickly. I'll let you all know when I get my first survey (and my first Extra Care Bucks payment!!!).

To learn more, go HERE.

CVS Deal & Cheap Chicken

2009-06-17T21:20:00.003-04:00

I can't tell you how exciting and motivating it is to hear about everyone's deals!!! I walked into Church tonight to learn of a deal that I hadn't seen yet (although I was on the computer ALL afternoon). It's a great money maker at CVS. Learn more HERE. The great news is that it's Missy and Marcy did it tonight so it's working in good 'ol Lake Placid!!! Remember that you can use multiple cards and get the deal over and over again, but if you do, please leave some for me!!!

UPDATE: Unfortunately CVS has now pulled this promotion. Seems there was a gliche in the system. Congrats to those who were able to get it!! Unfortunately that was not me:(

The other good news is the Sweetbay has their boneless, skinless chicken marked down to $1.79. This is my rock bottom price and of course I will be stocking up...although my freezer is still quite full from the last sale!!! Now, I have always found Sweetbay to have enough in stock, BUT if you don't have enough room in your freezer, you might want to wait until Tuesday and go and see if they are out. If they are, get a raincheck (and ask for LARGE amount, you can always break it up over a couple of months) and then buy when you have the room!! Again, they are usually well stocked, but it's always worth a try!!!

Walgreens Woes

2009-06-14T15:30:00.002-04:00

Went to Walgreens today to buy several items one of which was the St. Ive's body wash. Since it was a $1.50 money maker I planned on buying 4. However, the store only had 3. So I march up to the counter with my items. I tell the cashier (Billie) that I will be doing several transactions and she says "Fine, a lady was just here and did 15." I was surprised to hear that and was making small talk when I plopped down my three bottles, handed over my coupons and waited for the big $9 Register Rewards to print. Well, to my surprise only $3.00 printed and that's when Billie said, "Oooooh no. You have to do individual transactions to get all of the RR." I was thinking to myself, "thanks for explaining that...."

So after returning ALL the items and starting over, I did get my $9.00, but wanted to pass along this new policy information!!!

I also learned (while reading the comment on Southern Savers...learned that there is always valuable information there!!) a new trick for cheap fillers!! If you use a Walgreen's coupon on an item then that item can be used as a filler. So, today I bought 3 boxes of Kraft Mac and Cheese and used the Walgreen's coupon and was still able to use 3 RR because the Mac and Cheese acted as my 3 fillers.

The moral of this story is that I much prefer CVS. Their policy seems to be much easier than Walgreens and I don't feel as stupid there as I do at Walgreens!!!

Kraft First Taste

2009-06-12T16:05:00.002-04:00

Months ago I signed up for regular Kraft First Taste updates. This particular site updates you on new products and often lets you test them for FREE!! Today I received an offer for two FREE Velveeta Shells & Cheese Cups. If you're a member you can simply sign up online for the coupon and they'll send it to you! And if not, why not join and get the coupons?!?!

Go HERE to sign up!!

You never know what coupons a company will offer, so be sure to sign up for eNewsletters from your favorite brands!!

Lots Of Extra Care Bucks

2009-06-09T21:01:00.000-04:00

Well I am the proud owner of $55 in Extra Care Bucks (used $5 on another purchase) thanks to the great Pampers deal at CVS. Since it will be hard to spend ALL that money, I remembered a great tip that Jerri shared with me. Use the ECB to buy Gift Cards that won't expire!!!

I haven't personally tried this...yet!!! I plan to go back in one day soon and buy some. It will put my mind to ease about using all those ECB before they expire!!

Hope you all were able to get the great deal too:)

Stocking Up!

2009-06-03T20:54:00.003-04:00

I read this post and thought it was so good that I had to share! Since starting this coupon game in October, I have learned the value of stockpiling. When there is a good deal at a good price, I but as many items as I have coupons for. Sure, I have to create space in my cabinets, but it's so rewarding when you want to make a meal and all the ingredients are in your pantry!!! It's one thing to get a good deal, but it's another to stock up enough so that you can wait till the next good deal on that item to buy more!! That's my plan at least!!

One of my favorite blogs is Money Saving Mom. It was the first one I learned about when I first started learning about coupons. She has been so helpful and I love her advice!! Be sure to subscribe to her blog!!

The Buy Ahead Principle: One of my biggest grocery saving secrets
Posted: 03 Jun 2009 01:43 PM PDT
Allison left the following comment on my picture of this week's $30 shopping trip:
I've enjoyed reading this blog the past month or so since I've discovered it, and you've really helped me snag some good deals. And I think it's neat when you come home from the store with a pile of groceries for only a few dollars. But every time I see the picture of your groceries, I wonder something like, "What is she going to cook for dinner with easy mac, salad dressing, and jello?" Is this all the grocery shopping you do? Do you have a garden? Or raise your own beef? How do you round out your bargain purchases to get a meal on the table?

One of my biggest secrets for grocery saving success is that I practice the Buy Ahead Principle. What's that, you ask? Well, basically, other than dairy products and produce, I aim to never pay full price for anything. Instead, I stock up when an item is on sale to tide me over until the next sale.

For instance, in this shopping trip picture, you'll see that I mainly stocked up on cereal. In fact, I bought 16 boxes of cereal--enough to last us for at least 6 weeks, likely longer. Did we only eat cereal that week? No way! We ate a few boxes of cereal that week and the rest of what we ate mostly came from items I'd stocked up on during previous sales.

You see, because I stock up on items when they are on sale at my target price (providing I can afford it in our budget), my grocery shopping trips will usually look quite strange and will certainly not be the basis for a balanced menu. But you can check out some of our menus here to see that we do eat a fairly balanced diet. Well, at least we're certainly not subsisting on Easy Mac and Jell-O every meal!

How is it that we can eat a fairly balanced diet when I buy such an odd assortment of groceries each week? It's because the bulk of our meals are based upon what we already have in our refrigerator, pantry, and freezer.

To give you an idea of how this works, here's a rundown of our menu this week:
Breakfasts: Cereal or Kashi waffles and fruit (The cereal was from our big stock-up mentioned above, the waffles were purchased two weeks ago at Target for $0.29/box, and the fruit is from what we purchased this week and leftovers from last week.)
Lunches: Sandwiches or leftovers and carrots or fruit (I had lots of bread in the freezer I'd gotten for $0.50/loaf from Aldi last month and the peanut butter was from our pantry. My mom also gave us some extra lunch meat she had leftover from a lunch they served so we've used that, too. The carrots and fruit were purchased this week or leftover from last week's purchases.)
Dinners: We're eating meals from our After-The-Baby Freezer Stash paired with homemade bread from the freezer and frozen veggies from the freezer. All of the items in our After-The-Baby Freezer Stash were purchased within our usual grocery budget over the course of a few weeks' time as I had a little extra wiggle room in the budget or items were on sale.
Snacks: Fruit, cheese, crackers, granola bars, yogurt (The fruit, cheese, crackers, and yogurt were all purchased this week. The granola bars were from the pantry.)
When I plan the menu for the week, I first check out what we already have on hand. This gives me the inspiration for the majority of the menu. I then consult the sales fliers and my coupon box to decide what items are on sale and in-budget that I want (or need) to stock up on. I also add in any specific ingredients I need to round out a recipe or meal I've planned from the freezer and pantry ingredients.

For many people who are used to buying only what groceries you'll use in the next week, the concept of buying ahead can be mind-boggling. However, I highly recommend you at least give it a try as it can save you a great deal of money. In fact, I would estimate that we routinely save at least $30-$50 each week by doing so. If this is a new concept for you, don't go out and spend $500 tomorrow trying to build up a stockpile. Instead, just designate a small percentage of your grocery budget each week to buying extra of those heavily-discounted items which you know you will use sometime in the next few months. Slowly start to build up a stockpile of items you regularly use as you find them discounted by 50% or more with a sale and coupon. Over time, your stockpile will grow until you come to a point where you can begin to pretty much only buy items which are at rock-bottom prices, in addition to produce and perishable items.

Just by adopting the Buy Ahead Principle, you will see a significant savings in your grocery bill. And you'll likely be shopping less and eating better than ever before!

Monthly Totals

2009-06-03T17:00:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. I wanted to share my monthly totals and ask you all to do the same. It's so encouraging to see everyone's great savings! So either post about it on your blog and leave a link or just post a comment!!

May 2009
Spent: $481.06
Weekly: $120.26
Saved: $387.88
80% savings:)

My total is a little high because of Gage's birthday party. I'm really going to get my weekly average down this month!!

Okay, on to my brag moment. I know I've told most of you about my amazing shopping trip this week, but I just had to show pictures!! Never fully understood why the other blogs took the time to do this, but now I do!! You can't fully appreciate all I got until you see it!!!

6 bags of dog food, but gave two to Jackie!

12 bags of dog treats

4 bottles of mustard

1 24 oz. ketchup (FREE from mailer coupon)

1 8 0z. Casade dishwasher rinse (FREE from mailer coupon)

2 bottles of Fantastic

This is my stash I've been gathering for the past couple of weeks!

Also included in the purchase: 9 cases of Capri Suns!!!

(I had to remove these from the Hotwater heater...Carl said they'd catch fire!)

Cheap Milk at CVS

2009-05-31T15:54:00.002-04:00

Just noticed that CVS has it's great T.G. Lee/McArthur Milk Deal!! Here's the details.

Get $1 ECB wyb One Gallon Milk 1%, 2%, whole or skim at $2.79

Here's the great deal, though. T.G. Lee has a $1.00 off coupon here!!! Just hit the back button a couple of times and it will print two times.

The site does say there is a two coupon print per two month period...per computer!

Also, I have found at my store that typically the Whole Milk is the only T.G. Lee product on sale. But I will check when I go in this week and report back! Either way, it's still a great deal on milk!!!

Great Deals

2009-05-30T22:16:00.000-04:00

This week Walgreens is having a great deal on a Bayer Breeze 2 Meter (for diabetics). You get $10 RR when you buy one for $10.00. The great news is that you can make $10.00 when you use the $30 coupon found in several of the past papers. Even if you don't need the meter, you can always donate it!!!

So, if you're in need of some of these coupons, I have tons and would love to share!!!

Also, I have been getting some requests for a Coupon Sharing Group. I think it would be a great idea and will be working on the details! If you're interested, please let me know. And also tell me when it would be a good time for you to meet (morning, afternoon, evening and what day of the week!!). Thanks!!

FREE Diapers

2009-05-30T16:40:00.002-04:00

I've talked about this before, but wanted to let you know about it again!

I just got my second set of diapers (for FREE!) from Arquest. They are a Mother Panel Research Group and specifically work with diaper companies. The process is simple. You sign up, they call when the size diapers you want are available. You agree to do the study and they send you the diapers (either 1,2 or 3 packs of diapers...20 in each pack!). You finish the diapers, fill out a quick survey and then they call (which is scheduled beforehand) for your answers. Once completed, they mail you a $10 Thank You Check!!!

The first time I did it I received Pampers diapers. After the experience I called to see how I could do it again and within a couple weeks, they called me again!!! This time around I got the Wal-Mart brand, but still it's 20 FREE diapers!!!

Here's the contact information. They may not have the size you need immediately, but leave a message anyway and they will call (when I called the first time Gage was in a 3, but I told them either a 3 or 4...that might help you get diapers a little faster!!!).

Girls:
1-888-DIAPER2 Ext.646 (Georgia)

Boys:
Ext. 634 (Cheyla)

BOGO Frosty At Wendy's

2009-05-20T16:05:00.003-04:00

The deals just keep coming! Visit here to receive a Buy One Get One Free Coupon for a Wendy's Frosty. Haven't tried the new flavors, but they sure do look tempting!! Also, be sure to sign up for their email list. They send out monthly coupons such as $1.00 off a Value Meal!!!

Today ONLY! FREE Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs!

2009-05-20T14:20:00.002-04:00

Just read a post from Common Sense With Money about a great giveaway from Oscar Mayer. To learn more and go here!

Seems the site is tracking your cookies, so only one per household (unless you have multiple computers!!).

Also, this deal is only good for Thursday, May 20th!!

Cheap, Cheap Goes the Chicken!!

2009-05-19T16:52:00.004-04:00

Just got the Sweetbay ad in the mail and starting tomorrow (Wednesday, May 20th) they are offering Boneless, Skinless Chicken for $1.79 a lb. Now, this really gets me excited because the cheapest I've ever found it was $1.99. So clear out your freezers and STOCK UP!!

Also, they still have:
Philly Cream Cheese $.99
Kraft Singles 2/$4
(Please note that starting tomorrow Publix has these BOGO at $2.59 and you can use two coupons...one manufactor and one Target making it $.29 each...a way better deal!! Check out Southern Savers for more details!).
Cool Whip $1.19 (use the IPQ from Coupons.com and they're $.69 each!!).
Capri Suns (Sunrise brand included) 2/$4 ($1 each after coupons!!).

Okay, so here's my question for you ladies. Would it be helpful if I started listing the weekly ads together with the coupons? It would require some time and effort on my part so if you really don't think you'd use it, let me know:) Either post your comment here or email me!!!

Sweetbay Deals

2009-05-14T15:40:00.002-04:00

Found two good deals where you can use the recently posted Kraft coupons.

Kraft Singles 2/$4
$1.00 IPO coupon = 2/$2

Kraft Cream Cheese $.99
$1/2 IPO coupon = $.50 each!!

All of the posts I've been reading are stating that Coupons.com has re-loaded their Kraft coupons, so be sure to print another set!!

Newspaper Vacation

2009-05-14T15:11:00.002-04:00

Just saw a post stating that there will be NO coupon inserts on May 24th. So, put your paper on vacation mode and enjoy a week off...but if you're like me, you'll still be going to get great deals!!!

Mother's Day Treats

2009-05-09T13:19:00.003-04:00

I saw a post saying that Beef O' Brady's was offering a free lunch to Mom's on Mother's Day. So, I called our restaurant in Lake Placid, and unfortunately they are not offering this. BUT...Golden Corral is offering a $5 coupon to Mom's on their next visit.

Anyone else heard of any local deals for Mom's?

Coupon Links

2009-05-09T13:10:00.003-04:00

Here are a few coupon links!

The site is offering a $1.00 any Wet Ones. You can print it twice per email address.

LAND O Lakes is offering the following. Simply sign up for their monthly eNewsletter.

Save $1.00 On any 1 package or 1/2 pound of Alpine Lace® Deli Cheese

Save 55¢ on ONE package of LAND O LAKES® Butter with Canola Oil Products
Save $1.00 On Any 1 Package or 1/2 Pound of LAND O LAKES® Deli Cheese.
Save 55¢ on LAND O LAKES® Fresh Buttery Taste® Spread

Get $.75 on your next purchase of a Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple

I Did It!!!

2008-08-13T07:25:00.003-04:00

This morning I started "running" again! I started running over a two years ago, but had to stop when I became pregnant with Gage. Needless to say, I was a little nervous about going this morning. We meet at 5am and I had to get up around 4:20 am in order to pump before going.

We did circuit which made it easier on me. Of course I was very winded and sore while running, but I was soooo proud when we finished! Although I hate running, it really does help me lose weight so I am hopeful that the weight will start falling off (if that's possible!!).

The only bad thing is that the kids didn't cooperate this am. Gage usually sleeps until at least 6:30-7:00 and Lilly gets up after 6:30. However, this morning Gage woke up at 5:30 and Lilly followed shortly thereafter. When I came home Carl was sitting in the recliner with Lilly on his lap and Gage taking a bottle in his arms. I felt so bad. Hopefully they will be better tomorrow!!

Aniversary and Vacation

2008-08-13T07:19:00.002-04:00

This past week we traveled to Kud Jo Key for a weeks vacation with the kids. We enjoyed our time relaxing, fishing and even diving (saw two sharks!!). I actually got in a lot of reading and ate like a pig!!! While there Carl and I celebrated our 8th anniversary. Hard to believe it's been that long. We ate dinner in Key West and had our nephew (Anthony) as our sidekick. We all had fun together!!

I also had to include pics of the kids!

Where I've Been

2008-07-25T20:22:00.002-04:00

So I have been absent from posting for a while, but I have a good excuse...a new baby!! Gage is already 12 weeks old and it's hard to believe. I was looking at pics when he was first born and he has really grown. Thankfully he's a really good baby with a great disposition. He loves to smile and is sleeping through the night (thanks to following Babywise)!!!!

And thankfully Lilly is adjusting well to being a big sister. There hasn't been any jealousy and she's really sweet to him and helpful to me!

We are enjoying our summer with pre-school looming in the not so distant future. I know Lily will enjoy it, but it still makes me sad...I am sure I will cry!

So, I look forward to blogging again, but can't promise how often!!!

Easter Pics

2008-03-25T14:44:00.003-04:00

I know I haven't posted pics in a while, so here are some.

Lilly all dressed up for Easter Sunday.

My ever growing belly and Lilly.

Napping Dilemma

2008-03-20T14:59:00.003-04:00

When I was first pregnant, Lilly was just about to change over to a "big girl" bed. But for naps I still wanted her caged in. The only problem, though, was that she would climb out. Since I was completely exhausted, all I wanted to do at nap time was sleep and I just couldn't bare to wait a half hour for her to fall asleep. So, I decided to take her to bed with me.

Now seven months later, we are still napping together. And while I absolutely love this time together, I am also worried how it will all work when the baby arrives. My concern is that I won't be able to take a nap each day with her and that she won't sleep by herself.

So my questions are: do I allow her to still sleep in my bed or make her sleep in her bed? I feel like I should at least make her sleep in her bed at least once a week, but then I just forget to do it! And let's be honest, I love sleeping with her (currently she likes to cuddle up against my back and fall asleep...so sweet!).

So, what should I do?!?

Baby Check-Up

2008-03-18T15:17:00.002-04:00

Today I had another check-up. I just love my 5 minute check-ups where nothing has changed, I have no questions and it just seems pointless!!! I learned, though, today that my Iron is fine...very normal. I had it checked because I have been feeling really tired, but I can't blame my low energy on my Iron level. So I guess it's just the pregnancy!!

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-03-11T14:43:00.003-04:00

Today I am thankful for my independent daughter, Lilly! Most of the time she is very good about entertaining herself and while it usually means she's creating a mess, at least she's good about not being under my feet. Lately she has been into playing in the water. Whether she tries to wash the dishes or just washes her entire body in the sink, she's obsessed! Most times I will let her play a while until the water starts flowing over the counter, then it's time to STOP!!

I am praying she will keep her independence up especially since #2 is coming in May!!

Feeling Really Tired

2008-03-07T15:52:00.003-05:00

So I am not sure if I am just feeling sleep deprived or if I am entering a new baby phase, but either way, I am really TIRED! It seems I can't make it through the day without a little nap and then unfortunately that sleep keeps me up way too late!

Today my dd had a friend over. I thought (silly me!) that a friend would help keep her occupied and out of my hair...WRONG! While they were really good together, it just simply meant that I had two kids to attend to. They both needed this or that and every time I was turning around I was doing something different. So needless to say, I got nothing accomplished and felt miserably tired the entire morning!

Thank goodness for my afternoon naps, although I am still feeling rather tired! But I guess that's just life!! Just think, in a couple of months I won't be getting any sleep at al:) Better enjoy these last couple of months!

Tigger-Pooh Bear

2008-03-05T21:15:00.002-05:00

So my daughter has found a new friend...a large Pooh Bear. She calls it her Tigger-Pooh Bear. She also told him today that he's her "Best friend in the whole world." The funny thing about this Pooh Bear is that it was a gift from a boyfriend WAY back in High School. It has been shoved in a drawer for a couple of years and I just came across it and thought Lilly might like it!

It's just funny how something that meant so much to me at one time, now means so much to my daughter!!

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-03-04T14:37:00.003-05:00

Today I am thankful for modern technologies! I just started using a Sprint Aircard which allows me to use my computer wherever I am! I love this concept because it's a little cheaper than the service I am currently using and it also allows me to utilize my time!

On Tuesdays my daughter takes two dance classes. Since she's only 2.5 years so I always sit and wait for her (we have to change shoes in between classes!) which means I sit for 1.5 hours. But now that I am using the Aircard, I can bring my computer along with me and get work done while I wait! I just love this concept because now my time at home can be used for other things...like cleaning!!!

Bragging!

2008-02-29T12:10:00.005-05:00

Before having kids I swore I would never be one of those moms that bragged about how smart their kids were. I just found it to be so annoying! But now that I have a little one, I just can't help myself. I really do try not to brag that much, but I thought I would share how amazed I am with my little one!

Lilly is almost 3 (so sad!) and we love to read together. One of our favorite author's is Sandra Boynton. I love her books because they are short, have cute rhyming stories, and the animals are so cute. I think Lilly likes them because they are easy to memorize!

Our new favorite book is What's Wrong Little Pookie? After reading the book only a couple of times, Lilly knows the title and even tries to read it to me! With most of the other Boynton books, she can finish each sentence (because we've read them that much!). It just makes me so proud of her!!

So, if you don't have any Boynton books, be sure to get them all! They are the best!!

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-02-26T18:47:00.002-05:00

I just posted on our 4FabMom blog that I am thankful to my friend for initiating our ebay contest.

Several months ago my friend, Kim, challenged us to sell as much as we could on ebay for one month. The results were amazing and I even won! The better news, though, was that I finally forced myself to learn how to list and sell on ebay and I haven't been able to stop!

I've been bitten by the ebay bug and I love it. I guess I just appreciate the fact that I can sell things from my house that I would otherwise give away and make a little money back on it. And while listing my items is a little time consuming, I also enjoy the process!!

If you're in need of some cute girls clothing, be sure to check out my items: 1plumbher is my name.

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-02-19T17:00:00.004-05:00

This past weekend I traveled to Charleston, SC to surprised my college roommate, Jessica. Her husband and mom set the whole thing up and she had no clue! I hadn't seen Jess in 5 years and it had been too long. So when I received the email invite, I knew I had to go!

Our other roommate, Lindsey, also came to surprise Jess as well as another close friend, Abby. We all hadn't been together in 6 years so you can only imagine all the fun we had.

The amazing part was that it seemed like we had always been together. We have all stayed close through the years (thanks to email and cell phones!) but it was super fun being together again. And since 3 of us are mommies, we had so many more things to talk about. Of course we did our share of reminiscing and laughing so hard our stomachs hurt, but it was also fun just sharing about being a mom! Our poor friend, Abby, who is neither married or has kids, learned a whole lot!!!

Birthday girl, Jess

Girls Night Out!! (Jess, Abby, Me, & Lindsey)

Spotted, Lucy Liu at the Charleston Airport!!

Amazing! We also saw Jennifer Aniston!

Jessica's adorble son, Austin!

Christmas Trees Don't Sink!

2008-02-13T11:56:00.002-05:00

Before I explain my whole learning experience, I have to first give you a little background!!

This morning, my hubby made me mad. And it just wasn't a "I'm mad and I'll get over it." Oh no, it was more like "I mad and I'm going to get even." I mean he really pissed a 6 month pregnant women off and I thought he ought to know it!!

Back to the tree!! After Christmas my dh removed our tree and wreath and promptly dropped in our flowerbed in front of our house (I should mention that there aren't any flowers in the bed since our dogs have destroyed it!). So for the past month I have been watching the tree turn various shades of dead! I've mentioned it to him several times, but it was still there this morning.

So, I thought I would take matters into my own hands and I dragged the tree and wreath over to our pond. One of my friends suggested that the tree would make a nice sanctuary for the fish, so I thought "Why not!" Well after prompting dumping it in the water, I quickly discovered that it wasn't sinking. At first I really didn't care. Hey, at least it was moved!! But then my mother-in-law came down and told that as the tree decomposed, it would create a fungus in our pond and that it had to be removed. So she removed the tree...since I am prego, she wouldn't let me get it out.

So the tree and wreath are again in my yard, but I've decided that I will burn it. Of course it's been raining today, so I will have to wait until it's dry. But at least I have a plan!!! Burn baby, burn!!!

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-02-12T21:55:00.002-05:00

In following the 4 FabMoms Thankful Tuesday's, here is my post!

Tonight our niece, Kassie, was in a Jr. Miss Pageant and was not only 2nd Runner Up, but also won Miss Photogenic! It was a great time and I was so thankful we could be there to support her. She had a really large cheering section and it was so cool to hear everyone cheering, especially all of her friends from school and youth group!!

Way to go, Kassie!!

Disney on Superbowl Sunday

2008-02-11T15:39:00.000-05:00

I know this post is rather dated, but with life being so hectic, oh well:)

About a year ago I heard on the radio that a great time to visit Disney World was on Superbowl Sunday. The caller said there were no lines and hardly any people. So since we have the yearly passes, I logged this into my memory and reminded my husband of it a couple of weeks ago.

Well, the caller must have been calling on April Fool's Day and I missed the punch line! We arrived an hour after opening and my first clue should have been the parking. But we had made the almost 2 hour drive, so we were going in! The lines just to get in were rather long and that wasn't a good sign. After fighting the crowds, we finally made it to Dumbo (since that line is ALWAYS long) only to find a 30 minute wait. So I stayed in line with my dh and dd had three buckets of popcorn (and I'm not kidding). 45 minutes later we finally got on our 2 minute Dumbo ride...at least my dd was happy.

Next we went over to It's A Small World...thinking that the lines are never long. WRONG! At this point my dh says "Forget it, we are leaving" and we start to head out. Then our dd says, "But I want to see the pirates." So off we go, fighting the crowds again only to discover the line outside and weaving for Pirates Of The Caribbean. Now, I have to tell you, I have been to Disney more times than I can count and I have NEVER seen a line like that. So after seeing that line, I agreed it was time to go and we left.

Our poor dd was heartbroken, though. But at least we have the passes and are going back this week...my fingers are crossed:)

Favorite Rituals with Your Kids

2008-02-07T13:03:00.000-05:00

I am participating in a contest for one of my favorite blogs, Preschool Activities Everyday.

My favorite ritual with my daughter is right before nap time and bed time. We always crawl into bed together and read some books. I love it because it's time that just the two of us spend time together and I also know how important it is for me to read to her. It's been fun, as well, to see her memorize some of the words as we read some books over and over again!

I certainly hope that this ritual will stick for many years to come!!

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-02-05T11:39:00.000-05:00

In following the Thankful Tuesday blog posts from the 4FabMoms, I too wanted to share what I am thankful for!

It's sad to admit, but every Tuesday I have to think long and hard about what I am thankful for. So weeks it' easier than others, but sometimes I really have to think! Plus, I try to think of simple things to to be thankful for and that's not always easy!

So today, I am thankful to my husband for weed whacking our yard last night. It has been needing it for about a month now and finally I said something. So he came home early last night (which means before 7pm!!!) and just did it. I was totally shocked and thrilled at the same time:) Now the yard looks so much better, but just has to be mowed (the only down side to living in FL...you have to mow year round!).

Thanks, honey:)

I.C.E. In Your Phone?

2008-02-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

So perhaps I am the LAST person on earth to hear of I.C.E., but I thought I would still blog about it! The other night my sis, Kate, told me about putting I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) numbers in your phone. At first I thought she was going to tell me about some new device they've come out with, but I was pleasantly surprised with what she told me! It is recommened that you have emergency contact numbers in your phone in case you're ever in accident and can't make a phone call. She said that it takes authorities an average of 5 hours to contact family. So, if you have reprogrammed an I.C.E. number, then they will know who to call immediately!

So, I guess this is one more thing I've learned this week and one more thing to add to my "to do" list. And if you haven't done it already, I encourage you to enter an ICE number into your cell and talk to your friends and family about it as well!

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-01-29T19:53:00.000-05:00

I am following along with the 4FabMoms Thankful Tuesday's. It's been a fun following along! Today I am thankful for our big yard! I know it sounds funny, but I am! We have 5 acres with the 5 adjacent acres that are owned by my in-laws. So pretty much we live on a compound!!! The nice thing about it, though, is that there is no traffic on our private road and therefore, I feel really safe about my daughter being outside. Although she's too young to be outside all the time by herself, I will occasionally let her play in the sandbox on her own while I look on from the house.

While I do miss living in a neighborhood, it is nice to have lots of land where it's always peaceful and quite! And there's lots or room to play and roam! So, there you have it, I am thankful for our big yard!!!

A New Blog

2008-01-24T19:43:00.000-05:00

The 4 Fab Moms are at it again! We have started another blog (Family-Fun-Time) centered around family fun activities. This blog will coincide with our Family-Fun-Time website and will give weekly ideas on fun activities, recipes, and other ideas to inspire family togetherness.

We are super excited about our new adventure and hope that you will join us!

A Cool Find

2008-01-23T12:13:00.000-05:00

My friend, Rebekah, has been telling me about this cool club online, but as always, I have put off looking into it! It's called The Brands Club and it's an online club that has over 250+ stores you can shop in and receive discounts. Stores like Gap, Old Navy, Babies R Us, Toys R Us and so many more!

I have several baby showers coming up and she sent me an email reminding me to buy online (since we don't have a Babies R Us close to us) through The Brands Club. Not only it is free to join, but I made 5% back on my purchase. It's not a ton, but at least it's more than I would have made if I hadn't joined!

Another great incentive is that once you join, you can refer your friends and if 5 join, you make $5. It's simple, free, and so easy! So check it out today. And if you sign up, please be sure to use my Membership Code so I will get credit: BC04275. Many Thanks!!

A Fun Magazine for Kids!

2008-01-19T11:46:00.001-05:00

If your kids are anything like mine, they absolutely love to get mail. Everyday my dd looks forward to getting the mail and seeing if there is anything for her (I usually just give her my junk mail and that seems to keep her content!).

Last year for her birthday, Lilly received a great gift, Wild Animal Baby. It's a monthly magazine full of great pictures, stories and more. She loves getting her magazine each month and we read it over and over again!

So, if you're looking for a unique and inexpensive gift, you should check Wild Animal Baby out!

Manners, Are They Important?

2008-01-17T15:48:00.000-05:00

So I was reading an article today in my Cookie Magazine that was talking about manners. The author had some very insightful points and thoughts. Like, are all manners really necessary or pertinent to our lifestyle. She used the example of breaking bread rather than chomping into it. Her thought was perhaps breaking the bread was done eras ago for some health reason (looking for mold or bugs!!) and perhaps it was never meant as a manner at all.

While I appreciated her thoughts, I still walked away with the feeling that she doesn't place as much emphasis on manners as I would and do require. I was raised with manners and have always prided myself on being well mannered. I think it's polite and shows that you have some sophistication if you use manners. And since I cringe whenever I don't hear a child use "please" or "thank-you" I have instilled these manners in my toddler. Of course I will teach her more as she grows up, but for the time being, it's just the simple manners that I require!

And since we live in the south, I do require my dd to use "sir" and "ma'am." My mother cringes when she hears this, but it's something that I have grown to realize is important in our little hill-billy town (okay, we're not that bad!!). There just seems to be a difference in the kids that are required to say it vs. those that aren't. And since it's polite, well, my dd is required to say it! Plus, right now it's really cute coming from a two and half year old!!

So, I was wondering, do you find manners to be important and if so, what do you require of you kids? And do you find a difference in kids that are well mannered vs. those who are not? Looking forward to your comments!!!

Thankful Tuesday's

2008-01-15T19:27:00.000-05:00

The 4 Fab Moms post a weekly segment on thankfulness. Since I think it's so important to be thankful for everything we have in life, I thought I would tag along and use it here on my blog as well!

Enjoy!! Thankful Tuesday's.

Where I've Been

2007-12-11T16:04:00.000-05:00

So as some readers may have noticed, I have been missing in action for several months. Although I have missed blogging, I really do have a good excuse...exhaustion! I am currently 18 weeks pregnant and during the first trimester I was rather sick. I had the ALL-day sickness that literally zapped all energy from me. And to top it off, my toddler just didn't understand! She wanted mommy to have as much energy as she had!!

Thankfully that time has passed and it's seems like a blur! I am feeling much better and am back to my usual self, although I rely daily on a nap!

So, I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of blogging and hope to find some great news ways to make money at home!

Thankful Tuesday's

2007-11-27T10:11:00.000-05:00

I have started a new series on our 4FabMoms blog. It's a series that has actually been a lot of fun to do. It's called Thankful Tuesday's and each week I share something that I am thankful for. I have to admit that some weeks are easier than others, but in the end, I can always find something to be thankful for!

Today I highlighted that I am thankful to be home with my daughter. I think one of the greatest gifts is to be home with your children and I am grateful that home-based businesses allow us moms to do just that!

As I have done on my other blog, I would like to open this post up for comments. It would be great to read what everyone else is grateful for! So share away:)

Work at Home Solutions

2007-09-28T12:41:00.000-04:00

The Smart Moms had a large learning curve trying to establish a home based business. We checked out many different web hosting companies, online opportunities, and read quiet a few books trying to decide the best option with the easiest way to get started. With that information we created a simple way to share the knowledge for those that want to work from home and don't know where to start. Work At Home Solutions is a free guide to starting a home based business. We do not promote any direct sales companies, but what you need to do after you choose to join a direct sales company. We also give information for those wanting to have a internet based business without a direct sales company, like we do.

Work at Home Solutions is a great resource for those needing something else in their home based business and for those looking to start a home based business. Download your free copy and pass it on to friends. Get started on improving or beginning your home based business.

One Word Meme

2007-09-27T14:14:00.000-04:00

Rebekah tagged me with a challenging one…A-Z MemeRules: List ONE word for each letter of the alphabet that describes you.

When you post yours please comment me so I can read them.
A - adoring
B - bright
C - cautious
D - daring
E - entrepreneur
F - faithful
G - girly
H - helfpul
I - inquisitive
J - joker
K - kind
L - laugh
M - Mama
N - nutty
O - optimistic
P - personable
Q - quizzical
R - runner
S - social bug
T - trouble
U - unbelievable
V - virtuous
W - witty
X - eXciting (who can really come up with an X one!)
Y - yoyo
Z - zany

This was fun, but not easy!

Win a PINK Dyson Vacuum!

2007-09-20T22:10:00.000-04:00

Who wouldn't love a Dyson vacuum? They are top of the line and make a unpleasant chore, actually enjoyable!

Since Dyson's are pretty pricey, wouldn't you like a chance to win one? For your chance to win, simply visit a great site, 5 Minutes For Mom.

Good luck!!

Are You Using Google Adsense?

2007-09-15T19:09:00.000-04:00

If you are not using Google Adsense on your blog or site, you are missing out on free money. Even if you only earn a few dollars or cents a day, who can pass up free money.

Google Adsense is free. You sign up for a free account at google (if you have blogger, you already have a free account) and you sign up. There is a tutorial to teach you how to do it and the benefits of having adsense on your site or blog. Then you place the code on your blog or site and let it go. You make money whenever anyone clicks on the ad.

Now don't think you can go it and click on it everyday and earn cash. That is not allowed. Just place the ads and let it happen naturally. As your traffic grows, so will your revenues.

This is great even if you have a mom blog and aren't really looking to earn tons of income. If you earn $100 over the course of a few months or even a year, you are $100 ahead of where you were already- and for doing nothing more than posting in your blog. And my daughter's blog is adding to her college fund, bit by bit!

Sign up for your free account and get started making multiple streams of income!

Contests, Got To Love Them!

2007-09-12T09:07:00.000-04:00

One of my pals from the Smart Moms Forum, Annette, is having a super contest! She is giving away over $150 worth of prizes and it's super easy to enter to win! To learn more, simply visit her blog, Birthday Parties & Themes. Plus you even win by simply entering. She is generously offering a $5 coupon towards an animal from funontheark.com just for posting! Wow, that is great!!

So, what are you waiting for? Get posting!!!

Did you forget to ask this question?

2007-09-11T16:58:00.000-04:00

Today I have the privilege of having Denise Willms as a guest blogger. I first met Denise through the Smart Moms Professional Series when she taught us how to "Write Articles for Traffic." Denise did a terrific job and I learned a ton. Since then I have joined her article submission site, WAHM-Articles.com and have seen a stream of new traffic because of it.

Because Denise had so much to share and has experienced success at working from home, I just knew she would have more valuable information to share with us!

Did you forget to ask this question?

Article marketers – those who write and submit articles as a means of driving traffic to their websites – usually find it works quite well.

If you've tried it yourself, you may have watched your stats go up... and your new visitors leave soon after. You might have realized there was one important question you forgot to ask.

How do I keep all this traffic coming back?

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. But there’s a way to keep those new visitors coming back for more.

First-time visitors don’t necessarily become buyers. They may not even become repeat visitors. They already have a whole list of bookmarked sites they frequent. Why add yours to the mix?

A slight twist on the technique you used to get them to your site in the first place can keep them returning. In other words, providing quality content that gives information they need.

Think about a particular site you visit regularly. Why do you keep going back? Odds are it’s because, in some form or other, it has content that you just can’t find anywhere else.

While the articles you submit to directories and groups might be published all over your corner of the ‘Net, you should keep some of your best articles for your own exclusive use. Make sure they’re extremely relevant to what your target market wants and make them easy to find on your site.

Once your visitors know you have good quality content they can’t get anywhere else, they’ll start coming back for more. With every visit comes another chance to turn them into buyers.

Denise Willms homeschools her two children while writing articles and press releases that drive traffic to her clients’ websites. Subscribe to her newsletter, WAHM-Articles Ezine http://www.wahm-articles.com/ezine.html, and receive 105 Power Tips to Get Your Online Business Noticed and Profiting.

Get Paid to Blog

2007-09-08T08:54:00.001-04:00

If you are a blogger, you can get paid to blog. (If you don't have a blog, here are some reasons to start a blog.) Pay Per Post is one of the companies that will pay you for reviewing websites and products on your blog. Your blog has to be more than three months old, with a certain amount of traffic, and you have to have more than 20 posts when you start. There are more details available if you sign up. Depending on your page rank when you begin, you can make anywhere from $5 a post to hundreds of dollars per post.

Someone once asked if a post was worth $5. YES! First of all, some days you don't have anything to write about and it gives you some material. Second, it is $5 I did not have to begin with doing something I do anyway- post on my blog! And those $5 posts add up, plus there are many opportunities to get higher paid posts, even at the beginning! The first post you do for Pay Per Post is a $25 post about being a "postie". You get paid after the post has been approved and on your site for 30 days. It is simple and some quick cash for having a blog- which is free or almost free!

If you are interested, click the banner and get started!

Join the "You Comment, I Reply" Movement

2007-09-04T21:21:00.000-04:00

I came across this new concept on a blog called, Moms In Business. It is simple really, and something all bloggers should be doing out of sheer courtesy and respect for their readers who take a few seconds to comment.

Here is how it works: If you are a blog author who believes that it is important to be active in your own blog community, and reply to as many comments as possible, then join the I Reply movement. Simply place the image from above on your blog, or include it in a post explaining the movement and why you support it. Easy, right?

So, why do I support this movement? Because I believe it's important to acknowledge someone's comments. If someone is kind enough to take time to read my blog let alone comment, then I think it's only right to respond!

Now join the I reply movement by copying the picture above and blog about it!

One Word Meme

2007-09-03T20:04:00.000-04:00

I found this on the Behind the Beads and thought it would be fun to do.

One Word MemeA fun idea. Simply cut and paste these questions onto your blog, answer them and then find other blogs to tag! It's fun and easy and something a little different!You can only answer each question with ONE word.

1. Where is your cell phone? Table
2. Relationship? Married
3. Your hair? Blonde
4. Work? Home
5. Your sister? Two
6. Your favorite thing? Computer!!
7. Your dream last night? Blank!
8. Your favorite drink? Pepsi
9. Your dream car? Benz
10. The room you’re in? Dining
11. Your shoes? None
12. Your fears? None
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Rich:)
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Carl
15. What are you not good at? PATIENCE
16. Muffin? Blueberry
17. One of your wish list items? Vehicle
18. Where you grew up? Florida
19. Last thing you did? Shower
20. What are you wearing? Pajammas
21. What aren’t you wearing? Make-up
22. Your pet? Six
23. Your computer? HP
24. Your life? Interesting
25. Your mood? Content
26. Missing? Sleep
27. What are you thinking about right now? Meeting
28. Your car? Expedition
29. Your kitchen? Clean
30. Your summer? Hot
31. Your favorite color? Purple
32. Last time you laughed? Today
33. Last time you cried? ???
34. School? Finished
35. Love? Lilly

The Tipping Point

2007-09-01T08:24:00.000-04:00

By guest blogger Rebekah
reprinted from Smart Moms - Smart Business
I have recently finished the national bestseller The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. Through years of research, he explains how one small event can change a business or concept to make it explode! He uses company examples such as Gore, Airwalk, and Hush Puppies to demonstrate how a small event can change the course of a business. He shows how overcoming small obstacles in crime can change an entire city, like NYC and Baltimore. Each of these events were dramatically changed by a small happening: some kids started wearing a particular pair of shoes, a small advertising company created a big concept, one city official decided to remove the graffiti from the subway system.

The whole basis of the book is that little things can make a big difference. I look at the work at home mom trend that is developing in the United States as a tipping point. For years through the womans lib movement, woman have wanted to be in the workplace. Now there is a strong movement towards women continuing to work, but working in non traditional forms- at home, telecommuting, for themselves in a small home based business.

I strongly recommend you picking up a copy of The Tipping Point. It is a relatively cheap paperback with tons of great information on what makes society change.

If you want to read another great idea from the book to explain why dad's cannot remember everything you have told them 100 times, read the post in our 4fabmmoms blog.

If you are interested in joining the Work At Home mom revolution, we can help. Join our newsletter and we will help you get some great information to make your decision.

Articles for Traffic

2007-08-30T21:27:00.000-04:00

In order to make money online, often you have to do other behind the scene activities to help your ranking and traffic. Even if you have a great blog with tons of Google Adwords or other advertising and you get no traffic, how profitable is it to you?!

A great way to create FREE traffic is by writing articles. Articles are typically 500-700 in length and can cover any subject. The key to articles is that you're allowed a Bio section in which you can list a link to wherever you choose (blog, website, etc.). When you post your articles on Article Submission sites people will then read them, click on your link and perhaps even post your article on their site. Bottom line, articles will generate more traffic to your desired site.

If you would like to learn more about writing articles and how to choose effective Keywords , check out this free Professional Series call: http://www.smartmoms-smartbusiness.com/WAHM-professional-series.html You will learn some valuable information about writing articles!

The Best Networking Tip

2007-08-28T12:05:00.000-04:00

I am participating in a Blog Carnival with Suzanne at The Moms In Business Blog. Our topic, The Best Networking Tip.

The best networking tip is to learn how to reach a cold market. This is something that is rarely taught in the network marketing industry, however, it is crucial for your business growth. Most times people will quickly go through their warm market and then their business stalls. However, if you learn how to market in a cold market, you can work both simultaneously and keep your sales consistent.

There are tons of ways to market to a cold market and thankfully it's easy to get started. One of the best ways is to market your business online. The internet has become a hot spot for people looking for ways to make money at home while at the same time purchasing high quality products from the convenience of their own home. A few ways to gain traffic and a presence online is through the following: a blog, writing articles, participating in forums and building a website.

Since starting my online marketing 6 months ago, I have learned so much and am amazed at what I have created. It's not hard, but does require so effort and time. If you would like help starting any of the following, here is a great Work at Home site and WAHM forum that will help you get started! Both are free and are super helpful!

To your success!

How Do Moms Get To The Real Money With Their Online Business?

2007-08-25T08:36:00.000-04:00

Carrie Lauth is our guest blogger for today! She has getting ready to publish the book, Full Time Money. You can register on her site for a free chapter when the book launches. Read more about her exciting information from real work at home moms.

How Do Moms Get To The Real Money With Their Online Business?
Recently I had the opportunity to pick the brains of a 15 women with successful online businesses. Each of them are earning a very good full time income, many of them on a part time basis, working from home.

So many women struggle when they launch an online business. It's not that difficult to earn a few dollars with a website, but getting to the full time money seems out of reach for so many. Why do so few meet their income goals? What's missing?

What I wanted to know was what made these women who are earning real money online different. Was it getting the right information? Working harder? Talent? Or something else? You might be interested to see what I found out.

In reading through their stories, I found that these moms mostly said very similar things, only in slightly different ways. Here were some of the major themes:

Coaching and Mentoring
Most of the women I interviewed said that finding a coach or mentor made a dramatic difference in their business. Having a coach or mentor can shorten the learning curve by months or even years. If you have been marketing online for some time, hiring a coach can help you see what you're doing right and what you may be doing wrong, where you may be wasting time and effort, and where you can be more productive.

Joint Ventures and Networking
There is a lot of networking going on online, to be sure. But is it really profitable? Or is it a case of the blind (or in this case, broke) leading the blind? Several of the women I interviewed said that forming joint venture partners really rocketed their business forward. The key was networking and forming joint venture partnerships with people who were where they wanted to be, who were 3 steps (or more) ahead.

Focus and Target Market
Another common lesson throughout the stories was: pick a target market and focus. Several of the moms said that they had made the mistake of trying to be all things to all people, or having their hands in too many pots. It's one thing to maximize your marketing efforts by going wide in
your business and serving your main target market with several websites and products. It's another thing entirely to try to be successful in several unrelated markets.

Investing in Continuing Education
Another component to success online that many of my interviewees mentioned is the importance they placed on their personal marketing and business education. These successful women continually invested in their learning. And what's more, they applied what they were learning to their business for continued growth and progress. Don't let ebooks and membership communities gather virtual dust on your desktop. Use the learning products you've purchased to propel you forward.

To learn how 15 women earn a full time living on the internet on a part time basis, visit http://www.carrielauth.com/full-time-money.html

How To Lose Money Working At Home

2007-08-23T21:40:00.000-04:00

I realize that the point of this blog is to make money, however, I just had to share this story and hopefully worn others out there!

Previously I mentioned that I have entered the world of eBay selling. Thus far it has gone fairly well and I have enjoyed it. I've been making money and more importantly, I have been cleaning out my house!

But today, I learned a HARD lesson. You see, I sold two large paintings that were about 32x30. Being a freshman eBayer, I did not do my research and only looked at what competitors had charged for shipping and based my shipping amount on that. Now, I know you're probably thinking, "that was dumb" and you're right! It was a completely foolish thing to do! And I paid the cost, too! After learning that I would pay almost $80 to have the picture packaged and shipped, I decided I should package it myself. So, after 3.5 hours of wrapping bubble rap and making boxes, I was finally finished! It was a process and I probably over wrapped, but I was warned that large packages aren't handled with care and I should take every measure to ensure the safe arrival of these pictures!

So, the moral of the story? Do your shipping home work before listing on eBay. You can easily check this by visiting www.USPS.com. It's a very user friendly site and you can check prices in a matter of minutes...so I've learned!

Hope my mistake will help others in the future!

Work at Home Opportunities

2007-08-21T14:27:00.000-04:00

Have you ever found a business that felt like a good fit, but you just weren't sure if it would work? Or perhaps you had a business idea but were too nervous to move forward with it? Wouldn't it be nice if you could bounce your ideas off of others who have already paved the way? Nice, friendly women who have already found success and are willing to help others along the way?

Sometimes making money online is not only about what you're selling, but the contacts you develop along the way! An excellent way to meet business women is through a networking group (a.k.a. forum). Most forums are free to join and often provide a wealth of knowledge to anyone looking!

If you'd like to check out a very friendly forum with super helpful women, why not join the Smart Moms Forum. You simply register your name, introduce yourself and go from there! It's quite easy, but I promise you, the information you will gain will be priceless!

Create a Quality Website with Great SEO

2007-08-18T19:36:00.000-04:00

When the 4fabmoms started on their internet quest, we tried to find inexpensive options for website hosting. We began with 1&1 and have built a quality site with the free software provided by the company. We did a few extras like create our own header, but other than that, it was a point and click operation, much like writing in a word processor. It is also affordable. Check out our work at home mom site we built with 1&1.

The downfall of 1&1 is that it does not teach you how to optimize your site. You can but together a great looking site that may not get any traffic. We then looked into SBI, Site Build It. Even though it was a higher up front cost, 4fabmoms Rebekah already has over 70 visitors per day to her preschool activities site that is only a few months old. That is quite impressive. SBI teaches you how to brainstorm a profitable topic, place your keywords, and monetize your site. You cannot go wrong when they offer a second site for $100/year. Do not be bothered by the cost per year from SBI... take it from the 4fabmoms and do it first. You site will have great optimization and get great traffic.

To make money online, choose a quality web hosting company. Do not go with a free hosting service. Invest the money in your business that needs to be invested. You need traffic to convert to sales. SBI can teach you to create a quality site that gets traffic.

Selling on eBay: My Story

2007-08-16T21:08:00.001-04:00

Perhaps I am one of the remaining few who have never sold an item on eBay, however, I feel I am not alone! For months my husband has been encouraging me to sell some "junk" around the house and I have simply put it off. To be honest, eBay was a foreign language to me. Something that would require time and energy to learn and I wasn't ready for one more thing on my plate!

But then...my partners sent out a challenge for everyone to clear out their closets and sell things on eBay. The reward wasn't big ($15 gift card to Starbucks!) but it was enough of an incentive to get me going! I have been selling for a mere two weeks and already during that time I have learned a lot! Following are some of my thoughts and tips for anyone thinking about selling on eBay!

1. You may be surprised what will sell! My first items up for auction were some real estate trainings cassettes. Although it was great material, I simply didn't have use for it anymore and was planning to through them away until I checked eBay. My potential roadside heap turned into nearly $450 worth of sales! Not to shabby!

2. eBay takes time, but it's not hard. I have found the process to be fairly easy, but just a little time consuming. I am the type that wants to get everything right...the wording, the price, the picture, etc. So, I have to admit that I have spent some time researching sales and current listings. The only other time consuming task is putting in the information. Other than that, it's been a breeze.

3. If you have a PayPal account (and you should have an account...it's free!) you can actually purchase and print a label with stamp included right from your PayPal account! And you can order for the package to be picked up from your doorstep...online! Within in a matter of minutes I have been able to print labels and schedule a pick-up which is so convenient. And the other nice part is that the USPS even offers free Priority Mail and Flat Rate Mail eBay boxes. You can order these online as well and they are delivered to you, making the process even easier!

4. One of the major things I have learned is to weigh your packages and determine shipping prior to listing. Some of my auctions have been very close on the shipping price and personally, it's a little too close for comfort. I am selling to come out ahead and so I have learned to be extra careful on this aspect!

If you are looking for ways to make money at home, eBay is truly a wonderful option! The best part is that you can start by cleaning out your house, which has been a very rewarding process for me...in more ways than one!

RESOURCES:
In addition to checking closed auctions on eBay, trying www.terapeak.com This site was recommended to me because it gives more information about the sale trends of an item.

Also, if you're looking for support in selling and would like to network with other friendly and helpful women, visit http://ebaycoach.freeforums.org
This is an excellent forum where you can ask questions and get helpful and quick responses!

To your success!

Selling On eBay – Where do I start?

2007-08-14T08:50:00.000-04:00

Today I have a guest blogger, the eBay Selling Coach, Suzanne Wells. I have asked Suzanne to share some insights about selling and making money with eBay.

As an eBay Consultant, one question I get from a lot of people is, "How do I even start on eBay?"

First of all, start small. Set up an eBay account and buy a few things to learn the process and get a feel for how eBay works. eBay and working at home is not for everyone. And it is ok if it isn’t right for you. Sell some of your own things before you invest any money in other products to sell. Understand that eBay is more than taking pictures and working on the computer – you need to be familiar with how to edit photos, shipping, customer service, and Paypal. Take your time and learn about these things before you jump in and go for it full-time.

You can look for items to sell at thrift stores, garage sales, off-price stores like TJ Maxx and Ross, member’s clubs like Sam’s and Costco, salvage stores, flea markets, and consignment stores. To find out what an item sells for on eBay, do an advanced search for completed items matching the key words of your item. You will get a list of all the listings that have ended with those key words in the last 30 days. You can use that information to make educated decisions about pricing or if you even want to pursue selling a particular item.

Once you are comfortable with the whole process, don’t be afraid to take a risk every now and then. I am often asked, “But what if you buy an item and it doesn’t sell?” Well, that’s ok. You can always relist it. You can mark it down and sell it for what you paid for it and move on. You don’t want to buy a truckload of 1,000 items without having tested them out first, but you do want to experiment with different products – you may find something profitable to sell on a regular basis.

Make small investments and try new products to test them out and see what kind of results you’ll get. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new products and try new things. eBay is constantly evolving and no trend will last forever. Experience is the best teacher.

Read blogs, article sites, and eBooks on eBay selling. Be careful not to get duped into buying "Get Rich on eBay" kits. As a power seller with over 4 years experience, and 13,000 sales, I am here to tell you that you aren't going to get rich selling on eBay, very few actually do. I will tell you that eBay selling is fun, profitable, and a convenient way to make money from home. eBay is just like any other entrepreneurial adventure - it takes time, patience, dedication, and hard work.

Suzanne Wells is an eBay Power Seller, author of "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide to Successful eBay Selling," eBay Consultant, and mom of 2 in Atlanta, GA. You can visit her blog at http://www.ebaysellingcoach.blogspot.com/ for more eBay selling resources and tips, and join her free eBay discussion forum at http://ebaycoach.freeforums.org/

Get A Blog

2007-08-11T09:53:00.000-04:00

One of the easiest ways to start making money from home is to start a blog. Before March, I did not have any idea about blogs- I had not even read anybody's blog. Now I regularly write on many blogs, including the 4fabmoms, and read many others.

You do not have to have a business to have a blog. You do not have to have a business to make money from a blog. Using Google Adsense (a free service by google) and getting a free blog from Blogger (like this one, from Goggle) you can set up an online weblog about anything. You can also add in affiliate marketing ideas and make even more money. A blog can be one more stream of income. And best of all, it is free!

Here are some great ideas from some of the blogs I read often:
A Mom Blog
A Child's Blog
A Dog Blog
A Homeschooling Mom Blog
A Preschool Activity Blog

The easiest way to start your blog is to jump right in. It may feel weird, but it becomes addictive and fun. If you are considering other home based business ideas, you should still have a blog. The owner of the Preschool Activities Blog, Rebekah, started her blog as she was working on her website. Now she has readers of her blog that also go to her website. And traffic is the key!

For more helpful tips, listen to the Smart Moms Professional Series on blogging by Suzanne Wells. You will be inspired and willing to jump in to a blogger's world!

Affiliate Marketing

2007-08-10T13:49:00.000-04:00

Have you ever visited a blog or a personal website and noticed the owner recommending a particular product or gadget? If you have clicked on the link, more than likely it takes you to another site where you have an opportunity to purchase said product.

What you may not realize is that if you purchase, more than likely, the owner of the site has an affiliate account with that company. Meaning, every time someone buys the product, the site owner makes a small commission. And when I say small, it is typically a % based on the sale item.

Affiliate marketing has caught on like wildfire and tons of companies have taken notice and now offer affiliate programs. If you visit some of your favorite stores online, look for their affiliate link. And if you have a blog or website, spend some time investigating various affiliate programs. If you use a product and really like it, why not feature it on your site and make money if someone buys it?

Note sure what to feature, try out these affiliates!

Host Your Own Talk Show

2007-08-07T22:13:00.001-04:00

My friend and Smart Mom Rebekah and I have started hosting our own "talk show." We are using Talk Shoe to host a weekly call on Jack Canfield's The Success Principles.

First, we love The Success Principles. We began reading it in the fall and jumped right into doing the activities and exercises Canfield recommends. He gives real life examples and real life application to the principles that lead him to his success.

Second, we love to talk. And why not talk and get paid for it. It will not make us millions to begin with, but it is a small amount of money to do something that could only bring more traffic to your website.

Talk Shoe is a free hosting company for audio recordings. You only need a phone and a computer. We set up the free broadcast, call in on our scheduled time, and talk. People can call in, listen from their computer, or listen to the recorded call. Our recorded calls are right here on this site- every time someone listens, you make a little more money.

Talk Shoe is also an affiliate- anyone who signs up through our link also earns us a little money. It continues with each show you broadcast and each person you refer to Talk Shoe.

A simple way to make money from home, host your own talk show and any topic, have it available from your website or blog, and refer others to this great free service.

Blog Tipping

2007-08-01T15:43:00.000-04:00

I was blog tipped by the 4FabMoms and I am excited to join in on blog tipping!

Blog tipping Definition: Blog tipping is where you publish a blog post in which you link to three unsuspecting blogs and offer three compliments and/or one helpful tip to each blogger. (Or adapt those numbers to your own preferences; the principle of selflessness is what matters most here.) Blog tipping is a refreshing and useful surprise that can start a blogger’s month with a huge smile!

Here are my 3 pics for August! Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have!

The Amazing Shrinking Mom ~ I found this blog to be very inspirational, witty and helpful. Since I am also on a (two year) weight loss journey, I could identify with most of her posts, plus it's nice knowing I am not alone on my journey! Way to go Amazing Shrinking Mom!

Fast Times @ Homeschool High (http://fasttimes.clubmom.com/) ~ I was eager to read this blog since I am a former homeschool student and a fellow Floridian! In reading Denise's posts, it's evident of her dedication and love for her daughter! It's great to know that homeschooling is thriving!

Trish the Dish ~ I really enjoyed reading this blog. I could really relate to Trish's entries about being a stay at home mom. Some of her posts made me smile and others made me laugh! I also enjoyed viewing the beautiful pics of her girls!

Introduction

2007-07-31T14:22:00.000-04:00

Hello! My name is Betsy and I am a work at home mom with a toddler. I created this blog in order to share with others the creative different ways that I have found and continue to find to make money at home.

My goal is to share with you ideas on a weekly basis. These will practical ways that anyone can do!

I look forward to sharing my journey with you!