Two Neat Things I've Found

Okay, there are two really cool things that I've found that I want to share. The first is an answer to the age old question: "What's For Breakfast?" My family is always rushing around in the mornings and I'm not sure that a piece of toast or a yogurt is enough to get them through until lunch. I found this recipe for Egg Muffins on a blog that I like to visit and thought I'd give them a try. They are BIG hit at my house. They are like little "cupcake quiches." I made mine with ham, cheese, and onion powder. Each muffin has the equivalent of one egg. So, two muffins will provide a lot of protein and fill them up. They store in the fridge; and the fam just heats them in the microwave and off they go. FANTASTIC! Try them out and see what you think.

The second thing is a solution for water storage. You can NEVER have enough water stored. I was so excited by this find that I updated the

Family Preparedness blog that I used to keep when I was in charge of that at church. It's called Surewater Tanks and I think it is an ingenious idea. I think we are going to buy one VERY soon.

The Great Piggy Bank Race

There is a new website and online game sponsored by T. Rowe Price and Disney to help kids learn about saving and investing money. It's called The Great Piggy Bank Adventure. According to the website, "The Great Piggy Bank Adventure online is a virtual board game that educates kids and adults on the importance of wise financial planning. Kids will learn about important financial concepts and use these lessons to complete the game and achieve their dream goals. While The Great Piggy Bank Adventure is designed for kids from ages 8 to 14, fun-loving adults are encouraged to play with their kids and get involved in their financial education."

My 11 year old and my 15 year old played this game down in EPCOT this summer and had a blast. I've played the online version a couple of times myself. It is a lot of fun and is educational at the same time. Play the game and see what your kids learn.

I just stumbled on to a blog that I absolutely love. I'm not your typical girl when it comes to home improvement...I am itching for projects to do if only budget wasn't such an issue. This lady does a great job on trim work and decorating and has given me some good ideas. Just wanted to suggest it http://chriskauffman.blogspot.com/

Get 90% off at Restaurant.com through Sunday

You can get 90% off your total order at Restaurant.com through Sunday by entering the code NINETY at checkout . I did it and got $100.00 worth of gift certificates for just $4.00! Now I get to try out a few local restaurants for a good deal. Make sure you read the fine print on each restaurant you choose!

Free Chic-Fil-a

In case you didn't know about this yet . . . free Chic-Fil-a sandwich today if you're wearing your favorite sports team logo. Go Cougars! (And Aggies and Deacons, since we're clothing our family of 6 in sports apparel for the free food!).

YUM!

I had a coupon for this and picked it up at Publix the other day. They have several flavors; I got the chocolate raspberry and it was so good. I had to keep myself from eating them all at once. This is lowfat and tastes like pudding. I loved it!

BOGO Crocs+free shipping+25%off

I just ordered a couple of pair. I wear my crocs all the time.

Here is the ad:

Crocs is having a BOGO sale on discontinued “summer” styles (there’s also a fair number of clogs and mary janes that could carry you through fall). Whether you’re stocking up for next year or looking for shoes for the fall, you’ll definitely want to hurry because they’re going fast.

Use code slx8797 and save another 25 percent off, and with automatic free shipping, this is a great deal for everyone in the family!

click here for the sale web site

Triple coupons

Hey Gals,

If any of you are into couponing, Food Lion in Newnan is tripling all coupons .99 or less, starting today til next Tuesday with your MVP card. I love SouthernSavers.com, which lists grocery sales with coupons, including links to several printable coupons, including Food Lion store coupons, which you can stack with manufacture coupons.

To give you an example of how much you can save with coupons that triple and store coupons, I bought 1 pack of Huggies size 5 diapers, 1 64 ct. Huggies wipes, 1 lb. ground beef, 1 40 ct. FL wipes, 1 gallon milk, Edys ice cream, MW cornmeal mix, and 4 boxes of Toaster Strudels all for $11.80 (I saved $31.02 in coupons and sales). Publix honors FL coupons, but Publix isn't tripling coupons, only doubling. Click here for this week's Food Lion ad on Southern Savers.

Kidzeyes Surveys

I thought I'd share this little money making tip that my kids have been doing for almost 7 years now. It's called Kidzeyes Surveys (for kids ages 6-12) and Teenseyes Surveys (for teens ages 13-18). This company is hired by major corporations to survey kids (and sometimes parents) and test products to get an idea of what the market is looking for. It is VERY safe and VERY kid friendly. Your kids take the surveys sent to them based on their age, etc... and Kidzeyes/Teenseyes gives the kids points. If a survey is sent for a parent to take, all of your kids each get the points. These points can be redeemed for cash after you have 1000 points accumulated. Every 100 points is a dollar. It isn't hard to accumulate this many points, either.

The kids have done some really fun surveys over the years, too. Harrison was in the test group for the "That's So Raven" show on the Disney Channel. And he was also in the test group for Quaker Oats Oatmeal Breakfast Squares. Hannah did a survey on oatmeal; and we had free oatmeal in the house for over a month. The kids feel like they are contributing to society and they get paid for doing it. Like I said, my kids have been doing it for about 7 years and they've each made well over $200 in that time period. We take that money and stick it in a high interest savings account, and voila, your kid has long-term savings.

Have fun testing and saving

Jen ºOº

Free Dining Plan Has Been Extended at Walt Disney World

We haven't really had a new post lately. So, I thought since I was the resident Disney Diva that I would let everyone know about this particular extension that can save your family 100's of dollars and make it much more affordable to go on a Disney vacation.

*********************************************

FREE DINING is back! Book a Walt Disney World vacation Magic Your Way package and get a select dining bonus - FREE! This offer requires a minimum stay with park admission and is valid for travel most nights 9/27/09 - 12/17/09. Some blackout dates apply. Book by 9/26/09.

-- Book a stay at a value resort and get the Quick Service Dining Plan FREE!
-- Book a moderate or deluxe resort or villa and get the regular Dining Plan FREE!

This offer is based on resort category booked and availability. It is available most nights 9/27/09 - 12/17/09; some blackout dates also apply. Minimum stay is required. For more details, visit Disney's website.

Don't miss these great package savings. Rooms fill up fast! Call (407) 939-7527 or your Travel Agent today and ask for booking code EVK for Disney Value Resorts and booking code NAR for all others. Book by September 26, 2009.

Have a Magical Day

Jen ºoº

Shower for Laura!!!

Please join us! :)

Holy Coupons galore!

Okay, I think Laura first mentioned this site www.dealseekingmom.com. Well I found another site called www.beingfrugalisfabulous.com. These sites let you know what stores to use your coupons at and you can print a ton of great coupons from there sites. Kraft foods has so many for $1.00 off one item. I went to Wal-mart and had $13 in $1 dollar coupons. I got some things free and the others super cheap. So check these sites out.

Free KFC meal

I just read about this on another blog and want to share the joy. I guess KFC is promoting their new grilled chicken on Oprah, so you can go to Oprah's site here to download a coupon for a free KFC meal, which includes 2 pieces grilled chicken, 2 individual sides, and a biscuit. You can print up to four coupons, so feed the family for free!

Here's the fine print: Limited Time Download
Coupon download available from 9 a.m. CDT on May 5, 2009, to 9:59 p.m. CDT on May 6, 2009. Coupon is redeemable at participating KFC® locations in the United States from May 5, 2009 to May 19, 2009—excluding Mother's Day, May 10, 2009.

Sites

I mention this site in more detail on my blog, but my new love is emealz.com. It plans your weekly meals based around the weekly deals of the store that you shop at. We have been doing it for a week or so and I LOVE it.

Another site that I have just become a little fascinated with is dealseekingmom.com. Lots of deals and tips.

Great Cooking Tip

I saw this about how to peel a potato and I knew I immediately had to share it here. Who knew? This is going to make potato salad so much easier to make.

Dawn Wells Potato Peeling Video @ Yahoo! Video

Best Deal Ever!

I was reading about this deal on another blog. CLICK HERE to check it out. It ends today, so don't miss out.

Easter Eggstravaganza

I got the following email from The Rock Ranch, about an hour south of us:

It is springtime again and The Rock Ranch is becoming green and beautiful. We'd like to invite your family and friends out to the ranch to enjoy the spring weather on the Cathy family's 1250-acre ranch dedicated to wholesome family fun. The Rock Ranch "Easter Eggstravaganza" will be held Saturday April 4 from 11am to 2pm. Admission is free!

For this special event, you may bring a picnic lunch, or you may choose to purchase lunch at The Chuck Wagon Cafe' (concessions area). We'll be serving hot dog meals and Chick-fil-A Ice Dream. Over 16,000 Easter Eggs will be hidden and there will be egg hunts for 5 age divisions: Under 2, Age 2 and 3, age 4 to 6, age 7 to 12 and age 13 and up (adults are welcome to hunt eggs).

Be sure to bring your camera to take family photos with The Easter Bunny. Children's Book author and story teller Harvey Wilson will be providing entertainment as he shares "bunny tales" (Easter themed stories). The Rock Country Store (gift shop) will be open and, in addition to toys and gifts, it now features a year 'round Christmas store. We hope your family will be able to visit The Rock Ranch and Celebrate this most important holiday.

Note: I asked if their regular activities would be open, which they answered: "We don’t have the train rides and all the other fun activities open for this event. We keep this one simple – an old fashioned egg hunt and picnic."

Volunteer Opportunity

I am a board member for Southern Conservation Trust and we have a volunteer day at the new Sams Lake Preserve this Saturday. If you haven't been there yet this is a great opportunity to see it and help one of the few natural preserves open to the public in our area. Even if you can't make the volunteer day, still go check it out (bring your binoculars).

Here's a fun way to spend a spring Saturday outdoors and help your community. Would you like to help "construct" an overlook in a nature preserve, and plant native trees and bushes for wildlife?

Join us for a
Volunteer Work Day
Saturday, March 28th, 9 am
Sams Lake Preserve
south of Fayetteville on Old Senoia Rd

Southern Conservation Trust manages 3 public nature preserves in Fayette County. You may have visited Flat Creek Nature Area near the Peachtree City amphitheater, or Line Creek Nature Area on Hwy 54 near Home Depot west of Peachtree City.

The Trust's newest preserve, Sams Lake Bird Sanctuary, opened in September. Sams Lake is not a lake, but a large beautiful wetland, with 3 observation decks and a short scenic trail. It's a great place to see wildlife - just outside Fayetteville on Old Senoia Rd.


The Peachtree City Rotary Club is working with the Trust and local Scouts to provide a shaded overlook near the wetlands, and also plant trees and shrubs to screen the trail from the road that will feed wildlife.

We need your help with 2 projects at Sams Lake:
1. Cut brush in the overlook area, install benches
2. Plant approx. 30 trees and shrubs

All you need to bring is work gloves, loppers and a shovel.

We'll provide drinks, muffins and fruit.
Please wear long pants and sturdy work shoes.

If you'd like to help, you must sign up by notifying Stephanie Wansley at 770-486-7774 or 404-822-8069 or email s.wansley@sctlandtrust.org

Give Away

Well, I don't know if this has been mentioned or already been found by all of you, but this website gives away something everyday. Check it out! Here are their rules:

Give Away Today Rules
1. We will give away a new item each weekday, Monday through Friday. The winner will be chosen using http://www.random.org/.
2. Check back daily to see if you have won the previous day's giveaway (the winner of Friday's product will be announced on Monday morning.)
3. The winner must email giveawaytoday@hotmail.com within 24 hours of being announced the winner or a new winner will be chosen.
4. You must be at least 18 years old to enter to win.

http://giveawaytoday.blogspot.com

Give and Get at Old Navy, Gap, & Banana Republic

My husband, Harry--ever the bargain shopper, found this link.

http://www.gapgiveandget.com/np/lls.html

It gives you 30% off at Old Navy, Gap, Gap Outlet, and Banana Republic from March 12-15, 2009. You can use this coupon as often as you would like throughout those 4 days at all of the different stores. That's the get. The give is they will give 5% of the total to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.