Amazon.com is full of free music downloads, over 100 at the moment (and some are whole albums!) I thought I'd share 10 at a time (today is 13 because I added to many and can't easilt delete them!) with you. Here are the first ten, enjoy!
Apr 30, 2011
Neti Pot: a pitch for snorting salt water
(Two months ago I brought you this pitch for using Neti Pots. I rarely use mine unless I am sick, but after doing yard work all day I will! Mowing the lawn is a great way to stir up allergies. Perhaps rinsing your sinuses could help you avoid seasonal allergy symptoms too.)
Neti Pots have gained popularity in the US in recent years (Dr.Oz played a big part in that, having brought the concept to Oprah's show) but tnasal irrigation is a very old practice.
I had allergy/cold symptoms creeping up the other day so out comes my neti pot! I used this recipe:
Saline Solution
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 C warm water (I test it on my arm like a baby bottle for a comfy warm temp)
Stir ingredients until totally dissolved. Pour solution into neti pot and irrigate first nostril (read links below for how to). Repeat with second nostril.
Why suck salt water up your nose?
Because it can help prevent and treat allergy and cold symptoms. It can reduce (or perhaps eliminate at times) the need to take medications for allergies and subsequent infections.
If saving money is a motivator consider two things:
One, once you buy a neti pot ($15 or less) your daily costs go down greatly. A pinch of kosher salt and baking soda is cheap, especially compared to the cost of medication.
Two, if you are sick less often you save money and time with less doctors visits. Being less sick also saves you lost energy (you know how much a sinus infection can zap your strength!) and lost productively at work and home.
More knowledgeable folks than I have written about this topic. Check it out:
Being sick isn't fun. Why suffer if you don't have to and why medicate symptoms if you can reduce or prevent them?
Carbohydrate's Addict: Day 6
Day 6
Weight: 242.6
Coffee: 20oz
Sweetener: 3, 2 glasses of Diet Dr.Pepper (first in a week!)
Breakfast: Omelet with sauteed garlic, bacon bits and cheese, tea
Lunch: Low Carb Pulled Chicken, Big Salad
Dinner: LC Pulled Chicken, Big Salad
Snacks: LC Chicken
Busy day today. We are building flower beds and doing landscaping at my house, with the help of my awesome parents/landlords. Dad even put up the blinds in my new bedroom. It looks like a classy little retreat in there. I am spoiled I tell you!
I was so parched after mowing the lawn and digging holes and such that I was craving a soda. Fortunately I've been able to get my soda habit under control and this was a treat today. I used to drink more soda than the coffee I drank so much of! Back to water I go!
I think I may have to take up gardening as an exercise routine. It will keep the house and yard looking nice, create inviting and useable outdoor space, and it will be a peaceful time for reflection... and listening to The Eagle's Greatest Hits on my mp3 player!
Free PC Game Download from Amazon: Granny in Paradise
Amazon Day 4 of free PC Game downloads.
Get your free Granny in Paradise today only!
Apr 29, 2011
Like Taster's Choice on Facebook, get 6 free Nescafe samples!
Did you know that you can get the same great coffeehouse taste for a quarter of the price? Taste for yourself with a free single-serve sample of the 6 great varieties of NESCAFÉ® TASTER'S CHOICE®.
Like Taster's Choice HERE at Facebook to get your samples now!
Create A Free Bumper Sticker! Facebook Exclusive Offer
Get your free bumper sticker HERE! You have to pick a template to begin but you can edit your sticker down to nothing and build it to suit you with photos, text, whatever you like!
Here's the one I created, of course! Have fun
Here's the one I created, of course! Have fun
Free Yogi Tea for a Friend!
Send your friends tea HERE.
Today only: Free PC Game from Amazon.com! Burger Shop (6.99 value!)
Amazon.com is offering 10 days of free game downloads. Today, when I became aware of this offer, is day three. Get your free copy of Burger Shop, a 6.99, for free HERE.
Carb Addicts Day 5: The Weight's Flying Off!
Day 5
Weight: 242.6 -Down 2.4plbs from yesterday!
Coffee: 16oz
Sweetener: 3 Splenda
Breakfast: Chicken Thighs and Green Beans w/ Bacon Bits and Parmesan Cheese, Tea
Lunch: Broccoli w/ Cheese Sauce and Chicken, Tea and water
Dinner: Big Salad, Coleslaw, Pulled Chicken (in a low carb sauce) and ice cream☺
Snacks:
Apr 28, 2011
Walgreens Ad 5/1-5/7: Free Razors and Bodywash!
If you haven't check it out yet give iheartwags.com a look sometime. Like iheartriteaid.com, I♥WAGS is a blog with early previews and deal matchups for Walgreens. Here's the ad scan for this coming week, along with some matchups from I♥WAGS: Walgreens Ad 5/1-5/7
I'm excited that some of these deals are with coupons that come out Sunday. Specifically the items I am interested in getting this week:
Noxeme Razors Disposible 4pk $1.01MM after $2 coupon and $3 register reward. Originally 3.99
Gillette Pro Fusion Proglide .89 after $4 coupon (this Sunday's paper)and $5 register reward! Limit one per transaction. Originally 9.89.
G.U.M. Flossers FREE after $2 register reward. Originally $2.
Right Guard Body Wash FREE after BOGO coupon (this Sunday's paper) and BOGO sale!
So those are my favorites. Remember you will still have to pay tax!
I'm excited that some of these deals are with coupons that come out Sunday. Specifically the items I am interested in getting this week:
Noxeme Razors Disposible 4pk $1.01MM after $2 coupon and $3 register reward. Originally 3.99
Gillette Pro Fusion Proglide .89 after $4 coupon (this Sunday's paper)and $5 register reward! Limit one per transaction. Originally 9.89.
G.U.M. Flossers FREE after $2 register reward. Originally $2.
Right Guard Body Wash FREE after BOGO coupon (this Sunday's paper) and BOGO sale!
So those are my favorites. Remember you will still have to pay tax!
Shoprite Coupon Mailer: 3 Freebies and 3 $7.50 off $75 Order Coupons!
In today's mail I received this mailer of coupons for being a "valuable customer" to Shoprite! How nice of them! Now to find $75 of things I want to buy, quite a task indeed!
Free Dunkin Donut Coffee & Free Donut on National Donut Day with Coupon
Keep your eye out for this flyer in your weekly mailed circulars! There is a free 16oz Mocha Iced Coffee coupon and a free donut coupon for National Donut day on June 3rd!
Acme Ad 4/29-5/5
Here it is folks, the Acme ad for next week. Note the Buy $20 get $5 OYNO (and 5 free redbox rentals) from P&G on the back page. There will be a P&G insert this Sunday. If you have any P&G coupons on hand you should get to Acme before Sunday, the current coupons die 4/30.
If you want a closer look just click "View All" and you can see very large pictures of the ad!
If you want a closer look just click "View All" and you can see very large pictures of the ad!
Rite Aid 5/1-5/7
Iheartriteaid.com is a blog that offers super early Rite Aid ad previews along with deal matchups. It's a great asset! Here is their ad copy for 5/1-5/7, thanks!Deals I like:
Buy $50 iTunes Card for $40 with in ad coupon
Gillette Fusion Pro Glide or Manual Razor .99- after MQ and Up rewards (limit 2 per household)
Dove Men's Deodorant .99- 3.99, get $3 up rewards (limit 1 per household)
Dawn Hand Renewel .49- .99 on sale, use the .50/1 coupon coming out Sunday. No limit.
That's all I see for now that really excites me but I'll update when and if I learn or see other great deals.
Keep an eye on your receipts, at the bottom I have been getting survey coupons for $3/15. With that coupon you could get the above for free (plus tax):
1 Gillette Pro Glide- (9.99)
1 Dove Men's Deo- (3.99)
2 Dawn Hand Renewel- (.99)
Total toward $15 purchase= 15.95 Actual cost after coupons= 2.96 After $3/15 coupon= .04MM plus tax!
Carb Addicts: Day 4
Day 4 Weight: 245lb- down 1.6lbs from yesterday!
Coffee: 10ish ounces
Sweetener: 2 Splenda
Breakfast: eggs, bacon bits, cheese, tea
Lunch: eggs, sauteed onion and celery and cheese, tea. Yumm! water
Dinner: BBQ Chicken, Asian Cole Slaw, a piece of fudge and two sugar free fudgesicles, water
Snacks: chicken wings and a dip
If you missed it before, and would like to try it, here's the Asian Coleslaw recipe.
Apr 27, 2011
Walmart Clearance Items are Worth a Look!
Today I was browsing the red clearance tags as I bought my necessities. Earlier today I organized my new storage area I showed you last week. I was thinking to myself "I should get some small cardboard boxes for my smaller items".
Low and behold! I found this set of 3 crates marked down to $2.50 a set! I bought all 4 sets.
The big crate is about show box size and the other two can stack inside of it. You can lock and stack the big and small crates.
I thought it was a great deal. So remember to keep an eye on the red tags when you are at Wally World, you could get a sweet deal!
5/1/11 Coupon Inserts- Wow!
Sunday coupon preview
Shoprite Ad 5/1-5/7: freebies!
There are a lot of deals going on in the ad. There are three "Spend $20 get $20 on your next order (4 $5 OYNO coupons for the promotions manufacturer): Purina, Purex/Diel and Nestle. There is a Spend $25 get $10 oyno for P&G products. There are more deals, so check the ad out!
My favorite deals, in order of interest are:
Purex 50oz detergent .99 after coupon. If you didn't stock up on Purex when it was free (or a $2 money maker!) this is a decent price with coupon. It's on sale 1.99, use the $1/1 coupon coming out this Sunday for .99 final cost.
This item also is part or the Buy $20 get $20 OYNO order (4 weeks of $5 Qs) for Dial/Purex.You could try this scenario for the $20 get $20 Purex/Dial deal:
Buy 6 Purex Detergent with $1/1 coupons (if your store will accept 6 coupons) and 1 Dial or Tone Body Wash or Bars. I think this deal will work on retail price, not sale price.
The Dial/Tone is limit one with additional $15 purchase, which is the Purex (retail price).
Purex retail 2.99*6+ Dial 3.99 retail= 21.93 retail 6.99 after sale and coupons. 6 Purex, 1 Dial 6.99 get $20 OYNO for Purex/Dial!
Dole Salad Blends .14 or .64 after coupon! On sale for 1.64, including spring mix! With the .75/1 coupons (here's some from ebay) I will pay .64 each. If your store fully doubled you get them for .14 each, lucky you! I love the spring mix!
Cabot 8oz block cheese 1.64! It's a great cheese, and if you are watching your fat intake it is the best light cheese! This price is about as good as it gets too. If only there was a coupon to go with the sale☺
Francesco Rinaldi Pasta Sauce .09 with coupon! If you missed out on this weeks free sauce with the .45/1 coupon (if your store doubles the coupon, as coupon states DND. Your milage may vary. I'm a happy camper for what it's worth) here is your chance to get some super cheap sauce.
Here's a great priced auction on ebay. Here is a site I am excited about buying coupons from. I got the lead from an ebay seller who is promoting this new site. Ebay fees and rules are tough and sellers are taking to their own sites. Here's some coupon sets at good prices on that site.
Sunny D free with coupon! .99 on sale, use the .55/1 printable coupon!
Perdue Chicken Leg Quarters .69/lb
Butterball Turkey Bacon .50 or free! On sale for $1.50, use the .75/1 coupons for free or cheap turkey bacon!
Goya Beans .33 or .17 each with coupon! Goya Beans are on sale 3/$2. Here's a printable coupon. If your store doubles the coupon to $1 it will come out to .33 each, .17 if doubled to $1.50.
Fresh Strawberries 1.99/lb
Bailey's Coffee Creamer .24 with coupon! On sale for 1.24. If you have or can find the $1/1 blinkie coupons it will be just .24!
$10 OYNO coupon when you buy a $50 Sephora or Bath & Bodyworks gift card (limit 1 per transaction)
Hunt's Ketchup .30 with coupon! If you buy/bought the Banquet meals (which are on sale this week for .88 each), look for specially marked packages with $4 in coupons inside. There are .35/1 coupons for Hunt's ketchup. With the coupon they are just .30 each!
Here are additional deals from Celestialdigs (my coupon hero!) from Slick Deals. Many thanks!
Cheapies/Freebies
Reach Toothbrushes (reg price) $.99-$1.19 After coupon, Free -$.19!!
$2/2 IP Print [coupons.com]
Lady Speed Stick/Mennen 1.4-2 oz $.99 After coupon, FREE
$.50/1 IP Print [colgate.com] creditJH
$.50/1 5/1 SS#1
Bic Soleil Razor $3.99 After coupon, $.99!!
$3/1 5/01 inserts
Luigi's Italian Ice $1.99 After coupon, $.99!
$.50/1 5/01 RP
Kozy Shak Pudding $2.50 $1-$.90
$.55/1 3/06 SS
$.75/1 3/27 SS (Cowrageous, if included)
Best Life Margarine $1.99 After coupon, $.99
$1/1 4/03SS or 2/27 SS
De Wafelbakker's Pancakes 1/2 price $1.99 After coupon, $.99!
$1/1 3/06 SS (regional/Ebay) or $1/1 tearpad
Turkey Hill Ice Cream $2.50 After coupon, $1.50
$1/1 4/10 SS
On Cor Traditionals 28 oz $2.50 After coupon, $1.75
$.75/2 IP Print [on-cor.com]
Pictsweet Deluxe Veggies $1.49 After coupon, $.74
$.75/2 2/13 SS
Mission Flour Tortillas 1/2 price $1.49 After coupon, $.49!!
$1/1 Blinkie (found @ Acme/Ebay)
Carb Addicts: Day 3
Weight: 246.6
Coffee: 16oz (after I spilled the first mug I bought!)
Sweetener: 3 Splenda
Breakfast: Salad with ham, feta and Caesar dressing (yep, again!), water
Lunch: Salad with ham, feta and Caesar, water
Dinner: Big salad with ham, parm cheese and Caesar dressing, a cup of ice cream! water
Snacks: Breakfast Sausage Patties
I know my meals have been boring and repetitive. I like to use up what I have before moving on to the next items. I used up the last of the free ham and will be working with chicken thighs for a few days. Yumm!
Also, I've noticed (so far at least, it's still early on in the plan) that I get hungry at night- maybe 10pm. I hope, once my body gets over all the indulgences over vacation, that I will experience the low hunger level that is expected from CAD.
I have a strategy to cut down on my coffee consumption: don't keep creamer in the house! I want cream in my coffee, so if I don't have it I have to go buy my coffee at Wawa (a convenience store). The cost ($1.15ish) and the inconvenience of having to fetch the coffee will, I hope, cut down on the impulse drinking.
Apr 26, 2011
Hurry! Free Ore Ida Sweet Potato Fries!
If you'd like to try Ore Ida's Sweet Potato fries just like them on their FACEBOOK PAGE and watch the commercial. Then you will be able to fill out a form for a coupon by mail to get your free fries! Act fast as this is only for the first 100,000 submissions!
My Carb Addicts dinner looks and tastes so good it deserves it's own post!
I loved my Day 2 CAD meals, even though it was mostly salad.
I used that Pfeiffer Caesar dressing for my salads, amazing and affordable! Even my creamy dressing loving son enjoyed his salad (with fat free feta) with this Caesar. I prefer this oil based dressing because I think it takes less dressing to cover your salad than a thick dressing. Also, if you get an olive oil dressing, it's extra good for you!
So what you see here was dinner tonight. The steak was great, I used a bit of A-1. The Italian cut green beans? I don't care for them. The battered green beans are fabulous! The baked beans were my first attempt at adding a starchy carb, while making a nutritionally beneficial choice.
As I think through the foods I can have for my low carb meals I get more excited about the switch from The Zone to Carb Addicts!
Carb Addicts: Day 2
Day 2
Weight: 247.2 (down 4lbs since yesterday, that's what I call some serious water retention!)
Coffee: I got a small coffee in the AM and a medium at lunch from McDonald's. I was too chicken to gamble on withdrawal symptoms at work! Even if I could just get down to coffee once a day (or just 6oz twice a day) that would be better than 20oz 3 times a day, right?
Sweetener: 2 in the small and 3 in the medium. Better than 15 a day, but I'd like to do better!
Breakfast: Salad (yes, at breakfast) with ham, feta and Caesar dressing, water
Lunch: Salad with ham, feta and Caesar dressing, water
Dinner: Salad, Steak, Italian Cut Green Beans, Battered Green Beans, Baked Beans, water
Snack: Celery with dressing, ham and cheese
I had a sudden onset of heavy duty hunger at 4:30pm. Hopefully as I get adjusted from my carb craze to my semi carb-fast I will not get the hunger pangs.
Apr 25, 2011
Carbohydrate Addicts Day 1
I thought it'd be good to journal my experience as I begin following CAD. I have a couple current goals: lose weight by following CAD and cut back the coffee and sweeteners (blue, pink and yellow). I'll update my goals as they develop!
One way I thought I could cut back the coffee without awful withdrawal would be to substitute tea when I have a strong craving or withdrawal symptom. I can handle unsweetened tea, it's hot and it gives a little caffeine to hold me over.
Going from 900ish mg of caffeine a day to perhaps 150 (three cups of tea)? I think that's a good start! Not to mention cutting out 15 packets of sweetener and all that cream also.
So here's how my day's meals have gone so far:
4/25/11
Weight: 251.2lbs
Coffee: about 8oz
Sweeteners: 2 equals
Breakfast: two scrambled eggs with tea (unsweetened), water
Lunch: big salad with ham, fat free feta and Caesar dressing with tea (unsweetened), more water
Dinner: Salad, Whole Wheat Spaghetti with meat sauce, roasted asparagus, tea and more water
Snacks: ice water!
Dinner: Salad, Whole Wheat Spaghetti with meat sauce, roasted asparagus, tea and more water
Snacks: ice water!
Side note: My choices seem to rub off on my son, as tends to be the case. He's been drinking water and eating salad with me today!
Carbohydrate Addicts Diet: My Plan of Attack!
 |
| "Hello, my name is Lee and I'm a Carb Addict!" |
Time for a Change
After some contemplation I've decided to change over from "The Zone" diet to "The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet". I knew as I began to lose more weight I would have to cut back on calories. A smaller body needs fewer calories to maintain it's weight than a larger body.
Over the last year my ideas about how I should approach "The Zone" have changed. In the beginning I ate Healthy Choice frozen meals and other 'convenience' foods. But over time my preference and views of what an ideal meal would entail have changed.
I've come to feel like packaged, processed foods are not what I want to eat. I think my body agrees! I think the more wholesome and nutritious the foods I eat the more satisfied I am, the better I feel and the easier it is to stick to a calorie restricted eating plan.
I've got room to grow still. For instance, I use a lot of artificial sweeteners and have a heavy coffee habit (with cream). Ideally, I think those things should go too (or at least be very limited, balance!)
Moving Toward Whole Foods
Now I consider whole foods to be the ideal diet choices- things like meat, eggs, cheese, veggies and fruit. I'm leaning toward limiting the grains though. I tend to think I'd do better limiting my carbs and choosing the most beneficial ones when I do eat them.
I reread the highlights in "In Defense of Food: An Omnivores Dillema" by Michael Pollan last night. To sum it up, the author recommends you "Eat Food. Mostly plants. Not too much."
I could write all day about the ideas about diet in this book. It's interesting and sensible. But my point in mentioning it now is that what we call food has been changed over time.
Where bread used to be made of a few ingredients (whole wheat flour, yeast, oil, water and salt) many manufactured breads contain a ton of odd ingredients. Michael Pollan points out the ingredient list of Sarah Lee's Whole Grain White bread:
Enriched Bleached Flour [Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid], Water, Whole Grain [Whole Wheat Flour, Brown Rice Flour (Rice Flour, Rice Bran)], Wheat Gluten, Skim Milk, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Yeast, Butter (Cream, Salt), Contains 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Calcium Sulfate, Salt, Dough Conditioners (May Contain One or More of the Following: Mono- and Diglycerides, Ethoxylated Mono- and Diglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Calcium Peroxide, Datem, Ascorbic Acid, Azodicarbonamide, Enzymes), Guar Gum, Calcium Propionate (Preservative), Distilled Vinegar, Yeast Nutrients (Monocalcium Phosphate, Calcium Sulfate, Ammonium Sulfate and /or Calcium Carbonate), Corn Starch, Vitamin D3, Soy Lecithin, Soy Flour.
So when the author says "Eat FOOD." he means- whole foods, real food. Not a chemical food look alike! I would like to aim for more whole foods, while eating fewer carbs (sugar, starch and even limiting grains).
With all that said, this is why I've chosen to test drive "The Carb Addicts Diet" (CAD). It is a strict plan, but simple. It allows for fruits and grains each day but pushes for fiberous and leafy veggies every meal along with some protein.
CAD Basics
The goal of CAD is to control the amount of insulin you release. If you read the CAD book you can see what the authors concerns about over-production of insulin are. Sufficed to say, I think it's best for me to limit my carbs and control my insulin.
CAD basically calls for you to eat low carb (protein and leafy and fiberous veggies) at each meal but one during daily. Once a day you eat a 'reward meal' where you eat a balanced meal of a salad plus 1/3 protein, 1/3 carbs (starch, desserts, grains) and 1/3 low carb veggies.
There are no measuring portion, eat until you are satisfied. You can even have seconds at your reward meal if you wish, though you need to eat your 1/3 ratios. Eat your reward meal in one hour to avoid overproduction of insulin. For more on the plan get the book!
So this plan can be pretty simple, though restrictive. Though it's recommended to eat fibery veggies at each meal the author concedes that not everyone can stomach them at breakfast.
My idea right now is to eat eggs at breakfast, a salad with meat at lunch and a "Zone-ish" dinner. Easy!
Wish me luck!
Post Vacation Fat Disorder
This is a phrase my mother coined in 2007 during an insanely hot summer vacation in New York state.
I think PVFD is a rather self explanatory term but I'll explain. When you come back from vacation and you feel fatter you are suffering from PVFD.
When I say 'feel' fatter I mean that you don't need a scale to tell you you've gained a mess of weight, you can feel the new insulating layer! Horray!
Today, with much trepidation, I stepped on the scale post vacation. Having felt my new layer of padding, and observed that I am also 'retaining fluid' (if you know what I mean ladies) I guessed I gained over 10lbs.
Bingo! I weighed in today at 251.2lbs. Monday I had been 239lbs. This is an alarming number to see but it's also motivating. I have a plan and I expect to reclaim the lost ground in a timely manner.
I planned to go "off plan" during my vacation. I foresaw that I would gain about 10lbs, at least temporarily. I also had an exit plan (my new eating plan) and am motivated to keep going. So 12lbs gain is a lot to look at but it's not going to get me down.
I've got a long road ahead of me; it could take a year (or more) to achieve 154lbs, or half my starting weight. To keep that weight off I will have to incorporate changes into my lifestyle for the rest of my life.
Lifestyle change for a lifetime is the key to keeping off any weight loss. This is a hard line to toe and is likely why most people fall off their diets. Diets are a temporary solution to a lifelong struggle.
So how do we achieve lifetime weight loss? We find and maintain a sustainable way of eating. Forget the health implications (and I have serious concerns here), but can you see yourself following the Slim Fast diet for your whole life? If not, what do you do when you get to your goal weight? What lifelong habit have you learned?
Since weight loss (at least loss that has long term success) requires a long term mentality, we have to consider how to enjoy foods outside of our eating plan sometimes. "Cheats" Why? Balance!
I love Chinese food, we used to eat at a buffet 1-3 times a week! It was hard on the budget and on our bodies. Now we go a few times a year (on vacation or special occasion only). Balance!
After enjoying all the Chinese (and other decadent delights) that I've been longing for since Christmas (which was the last time we went to Chinese) over my staycation I am content until the next vacation this summer!
So whether you chose to eat a piece of cake once a week or to instead indulge on vacation, don't be afraid to enjoy special treats sometimes. Weight loss and maintenance is a long term goal. Pace yourself and, on occasion, treat yourself! To be successful just keep pressing forward!
Apr 24, 2011
Wildwood Boardwalk Easter Celebration
My staycation is winding down. I've gotten lots of rest and eaten lots of food! I'll be ready to get back on my healthier way of eating tomorrow, when I will begin following Carbohydrates Addicts. Wish me luck, more on that later!
Today my son and I went up to the Wildwood Boardwalk where Easter festivities were planned for the day. There was the strangest fog on the beach. It was noon and high tide had left wet sand nearly to the boardwalk. The fog was sitting on top of the water and floating about. Check it out!
At Mariner's Landing there was an Easter Egg picking booth. Some of the eggs had prizes, so sent my reluctant boy to go get an egg. He didn't win but he got a piece of candy, so (really) he was still a winner!
We didn't find much else we really wanted to do. We weren't getting ride passes or looking to spend a lot. So we walked for about 2-2.5 miles round trip on the boards.
The boy held my hand most of the way. I asked him why and he told me it's because he loves me and missed me (when he had a few sleep over nights away from home). Isn't that sweet?
It's a beautiful day to take a walk on the boards. The sky is blue, the sun is warm, and a cool breeze is coming off the ocean.There were lots of folks enjoying the rides and games. And let us not forget all the tasty foods!
I may be on staycation (and not following my eating plan) but I am still cheap! Instead of spending inflated prices for boardwalk food I chose to come home and make my son and I some "Foolproof Fudge" for about 90% less than the cost of the boardwalks.
I used this recipe I wrote about HERE, and I used up most of the remaining Santa Clauses. Just in time to stock up on Easter clearance chocolate in about a month!
So that's a day in my staycation! The days not over yet, but I think we did out part to enjoy this beautiful day!
Happy Easter!
Apr 21, 2011
Marshmallow Peep Research -very funny!
This LINK I am sharing with you is unrelated to deals or weight loss but Easter is coming soon and this is some funny stuff!
Here we have a picture of the study of smoking's effect on peeps, just one of the riveting areas of scientific research chronicaled at this link.
Years ago I first saw this site and laughed like few other times in my life. Absolutely hilarious. Well, enjoy it my peeps!
7 Free Online Games Worth Playing!
Yahoo is full of interesting reads today! HERE'S one more article that reviews 7 free online games that are worth playing!
Apr 20, 2011
Free $15 iTunes Gift Card Reminder
Just a friendly reminder to get in on the gift card drawing by becoming a follower (using Google Friend Connect) on the right sidebar.
One lucky follower (and you don't even have to be that lucky with 1 in 23 odds at the moment) will be randomly picked to win this lovely price.
The drawing will take place on May 10th. Good luck everyone and thanks for all the support!
One lucky follower (and you don't even have to be that lucky with 1 in 23 odds at the moment) will be randomly picked to win this lovely price.
The drawing will take place on May 10th. Good luck everyone and thanks for all the support!
When you stockpile you need storage!
Two nights ago I almost doubled my storage space for my grocery finds. I thought I'd show you how I did this (with the helpful and creative assistance of my mother and friends) while living in a small space (though over 100sq ft bigger this week!)
I like these shelves from Walmart that are about $48 a piece. Each shelf holds 250lbs and you can adjust the height as you like.
Four shelves are set up in such a manner to make a small 'room' in the back of a long room. Two shelves run along the walls and the other two make an "L" shapes- effectively making an doorway into the make shift store room!
Everything is still in bags from the move but soon I will be setting it up like a store with rows of like items. I look forward to getting it all organized just like the Extreme Couponers on tv (though I don't want to be one of them, which is a whole other story).
As you can see I have a lot of room to add groceries at the moment. I have something to look forward too after my staycation!
I am feeling organized and decluttered, as I actually am. It feels peaceful.
Cheers!
$38.50 (plus tax) Clearance Writing Desk!
Here is the focul point of my new bedroom, the exact piece of furniture I envisioned filling this corner of the room. I found a floor model (aka fully assembled!) desk at Walmart marked down from $127 to $97. From there is was half off the tag price or $48.50!
Though the men who loaded the desk in the van were friendly they were also careless with the desk. They slid it in facedown, leaving a large scrape through the paint on the desk!
While I was busy assembling my new stockpile shelving (yah!) my mom so graciously ran down and, in addition to making a return and exchange for some shelves that were junk, she asked for some kind of compensation for the careless damage.
The manager was kind enough to refund $10 for the mistake. Though I will have to sand and paint the desk top now, I am pleased with the show of apology for the mistake.
So all in the desk was $38.50 plus tax! I'm so happy with the run of bargains I've been able to furnish my home with. I'm not one to spend on new purchases often but I think (through all these new items) I've still saved about half off!
I'll have to show you all my new storage bench I bought once I get it put together!
Take care on this beautiful day!
Shoprite Early Preview 4/24 through 4/30: Free Rinaldi Pasta Sauce
Now the quick list of freebies:
Colgate .77- $1/1 coupon= free (hard to find coupon!)
Francesco Rinaldi .88 (4 day price break)- .45/1= free
Cheapies:
Powerade .88- $1/2 or .75/2= .38 or .13 each
Italian Sausage 1.99lb (1.49 w/ in ad coupon)
Marcal Napkins 1.77- $1/1= .77
Bananas .49lb
Red Grapes .99lb
Here's the Shoprite 4/24-4/30 ad scan in Adobo format thanks to Smurfytigger at A Full Cup.
That's it from me this week!
Celestialdigs at Slick Deals (and a blog reader!) once again came through with a thoroughly awesome coupon matchup! Thanks!
4/24-4/30 Preview
CHEAPIES/FREEBIES
Uncle Ben's Rice Mix (Whole Grain White/Wild) $1.99 After coupon, $.49 for Whole Grain White
$.75/1 IP Print [unclebens.com]
$1/1 3/20 RP
Mission Flour Tortillas 1/2 price $1.49 After coupon, $.49!!
$1/1 Blinkie (found @ Acme/Ebay)
Nature's Bounty Vitamins 1/2 price $1.64+ After coupon, $.64 for cheapest
$1/1 4/10 RP
$1/1 IP
Print [couponnetwork.com]
Nature's Bounty Fish Oil 1200 mg 1/2 price $3.29 After coupon, $1.29!!
Great price!$2/1 4/10 RP
$1/1 IP Print [smartsource.com]
Freschetta Pizza 12 inch $4.99 After coupon, $2.99 for Simply Inspired!! Great price!
$2/1 IP Print [facebook.com]
Lady Speed Stick/Mennen 1.4-2 oz $.99 After coupon, FREE!
$.50/1 3/27 SS (en espanol-cheap on Ebay-start w/5)
Eggo Buttermilk Waffles $2.50 After coupon, $1.75
$.75/2 3/13 RP
Mystic Pizza 15.7-18 oz $3.49 After coupon, $2.49
$1/1 2/27 SS
Ziploc Slider Bags 10-20 Ct $1.79 After coupon, $1.17-$1.29 each
$1.25/2 & $1/2 4/03 SS
Crystal Light on the Go $2.49 After coupon, $1.49
$1/1 tearpad
Buy 2, Get one Free 4/03 SS
Melitta Cafe Collection $4.99 After coupon, $3.99
$1/1 3/13 SS
Small Steps Napkins 250 ct $1.77 After coupon, $.77
$1/1 & $1/2 4/17 RP (the $1/1 are on Ebay)
Folger's Ground Coffee 10.3011.3 oz $2,99 After coupon, $1.99
$1/1 IP Print [coupons.com] zip 30033
SmartWater 3 for $4 (1.33 each) FREE after coupon!
$.75/1 tearpad
Propel Beverage $1 After coupon, $.50
$1/2 2/13 SS
Powerade 32 oz $.88 After coupon, $.44 for Powerade Zero
BOGO IP Print [facebook.com]
$1/3 Tearpad
Hot Pockets $1.66 After coupon, $.66!
$1/1 Tearpad
Lipton Pyamid Tea/Herbal Tea $2.49 After coupon, $1.29
$.60/1 3/27 RP (coupon expires 1st day of sale-4/24)
Turkey Hill Ice Cream $2.50 After coupon, $1.50
$1/1 4/10 SS
Blue Bunny Camp Cones $2.50 After coupon, $1.50
$1/1 novelty Carton Print [bluebunny.com]
Bertolli Pasta Sauce $2 (must buy 2) After coupon, $.50!!
$.75/1 4/17 RP (ebay-mine were $1.50/2)
Wise Chips 1/2 price $1.99 After coupon, $1.25
$.75/2 IP Print [coupons.com]
Fuze/Honest Tea $1 After coupon, FREE -$.50 each!
$1/2 4/10 SS
$1/1 Honest Tea IP Print [recyclebank.com] 30 points
Rayovac Batteries 18 pk 1/2 price $2.99 After coupon, $1.99
$1/1 IP Print [facebook.com]
International Delight Creamers 32 oz $1.99 After coupon, $.89
$.55/1 IP Print [internationaldelight.com]
Tostitos Tortilla Chips $3 After coupon, $2
$1/1 tearpad
Earthbound Farms Baby Salad Mix 5 oz $2.99 After coupon, $1.99
$1/1 IP Print [ebfarm.com]
Purina One Cat Food 3.5 lb $4.50 (mb2) After coupon, $2.50
$2/1 4/17 SS
Iams Dog Food $4 for 4 (mb4) After coupon, $.75 each
Buy 3, get One FREE 4/17 RP
Downy Fabric Softener 1/2 Gallon $3.39 After coupon, $2.39
$.50/1 P & G 4/03 (regional)
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (2 pk) $2.49 After coupon, $.99
$.75/1 home mailer(P&G Home Made Simple/P&G Organize In Style)
$1/1 03-06-11 RP
Sorrento String Cheese 10-12 oz $3.99 After coupon, $2.99
$1/1 blinkie (found mine @ SR)
Still on sale:
On Cor Traditionals 28 oz $2.50 After coupon, $1.75
$.75/2 IP Print [on-cor.com]
Polaner Preserves $1.99 after coupon, $.99!!
$1/1 IP All Fruit w/Fiber Print [smartsource.com]
Farmland Skim Plus $3.49 after coupon, $2.49
$1 3/27 SS
Pictsweet Deluxe Veggies $1.49 After coupon, $.74 (Better to buy current week for $.24 each)
$.75/2 2/13 SS
Dole Salad $1.50 After coupon, FREE!!
$.75/1 (ebay) credit Liannesnj
$1/2 peelies(on Dole spinach) credit lifeternal
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