I don't think I have ever told you before, but I have dangerously dry skin. Okay, maybe not "dangerously", but it is VERY dry and every winter I battle cracked skin and painful feet when I walk. I have always been this way to the point where my mom would toss me in an oatmeal bath to soften my skin and then douse me in baby oil. I thought this was the only relief I would ever find for my horrid skin. I had tried just smothering myself in just about every kind of lotion but it was always a temporary fix, never lasting long at all. Within a few hours I would be itching all over from how dry I am. Yes, I am bad and do not drink enough water, but I really do try. It does not seem to make a difference.

I have also tried salt scrubs. I have just one word to share: OUCH! With my already cracking skin, salt does not a healed wound make feel good. Also, avoid right after shaving - YOUCH!

So, a few years ago I was in Bath and Body Works and happened across a new smell I likes "Eucalyptus Spearmint". I mean I really liked it, LOVED it. It was so awakening and just smelled so good. Really good when you are sick too--opens those sinuses right up! Okay, off topic. :) I also saw a sugar scrub in this scent and thought, why not. Surely it can't feel worse than the salt, right? Oh, let me tell you, it was heaven on my skin! I used it after a shower and it has oil and the sugar scrub in it so not only does it scrub that nasty flaky skin away but it also covers me with oil to lock moisture in. When I use this it lasts me all day and when I put lotion on after wards, it lasts even longer. The smell is so exhilarating and relaxing at the same time. I absolutely adore it and if they ever stop selling it I will be so lost!

There are a few cons to be aware of when using it though.
1. It WILL make your tub slippery if you are not careful- it is OIL after all and we all know oil and water do not mix. Be sure to rinse well and step carefully!
2. Beware of ants! Ants had a field day in my tub one summer because I did not properly rinse it all off-that was fun!

If you are like me at all and don't mind having the oil on your skin, I would HIGHLY recommend it. This scrub works wonders for me and I look forward to using it every time! It is a bit pricey(and they also recently made the jar smaller), but it is worth it and I always spread it out to last me a long time.

They also have lots of other scents to check out.

Go for it and give it a try!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday so far!


I have to say Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year! All of our homes become even more warm and inviting than they are the rest of the year with our home cooking, lit Christmas trees and the joy everyone is feeling inside as we all become kids again. Our children lighting up at the mention of Santa Claus and asking how many more days till Christmas. Singing Christmas carols in the car and at home and my 2 yr old learning some of the words for the first time. You should hear her sing the Chipmunks Christmas Song-it's adorable! All the hustle and bustle at stores just make me smile and for some reason even long lines to checkout don't seem to bother me like they normally do.

When I am home I actively search for any shows on television that mention and celebrate Christmas. This year I have seen Jingle All The Way 3 times and it never gets old, even with it's cheesy parts and when it comes to our favorite movies to watch at Christmas? Why I would have to say Home Alone 1 & 2 are MUSTS every year!

We search out anything that will teach our children the meaning of Christmas, which for us means we read about Christ's birth and explain it as best possible to our little ones. Telling them how we are celebrating Jesus' Birthday and how he also was brought gifts on this day. It just means so much to me to share all of those things with my children.

As much as I look forward to Christmas I also get drawn into the thought of AFTER Christmas, when everything goes back to the mundane and Christmas is a year away. The cold dreary weather seems so much more bearable with the Christmas lights glinting in the snow and knowing our celebration is right around the corner. In January I almost get depressed knowing it will be cold and dreary for another 3 months AT LEAST! But, I make it through every year, just like the year before. Enjoying time inside with my kids, warm cups of cocoa and board games will still put a smile on my face. :)

I have to say, as much as I can't WAIT for Christmas to get here, I almost wish it would hold off for just a little longer-so I can enjoy the season just a few extra days!

How do all of you celebrate the season?

I was so excited to be contacted by One2One Network for another great CD review! I was sent the Harry Connick JR CD a while back and it was a lot of fun and best of all FREE! :)

So, this time I was given the opportunity to review KT Tunstall's new album "Tiger Suit". For anyone who has not heard of her before, you may recognize her from "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree", "Suddenly I See", "Other Side of the World" or "Hold On". I love all of those songs so that made me even more excited to receive her new album!

Overview(from One2One):

Tiger Suit heralds the beginning of a new musical adventure for KT. Organic instrumentation is blended with dance-friendly textures, the results of which she has dubbed “Nature Techno” to encapsulate the album’s collision of raw, upfront rootsiness and sleek electronic textures.

The album's rollicking first single, “Fade Like A Shadow" is available at digital retailers now and is already at Top 20 hit at radio. Check out the video here.

My thoughts:
I have to admit when I first received the CD in the mail I was a bit surprised by the look of it. It is essentially a cardboard case. At first I did not like it because I thought it would be easily demolished in my messy, throw things around home, but I have to admit I think it's a great idea now. It is made of 60% PCW recycled paper and is super skinny so it will fit in nicely with my full row of other CD's, it takes up very little space. Inside there is a booklet with all of KT's songs listed along with the lyrics, a plus in my mind. I love having the lyrics right there at my fingertips!

I popped the CD into my computer and as it loaded I saw on the back that it has 11 songs, all of which are a good length. I love when a CD has more than 10 songs, I feel like I get my money's worth and the CD isn't over too fast after I put it in my player.

As the CD started the first song I knew it would be my kind of CD. The song was upbeat and "must dance" music. Exactly what I need to get through a long day. Nothing moves cleaning the house along faster than dancing while I dust the blinds or bopping around the kitchen as I mop. Each song has a new beat and I am truly in love with the CD. It will be one that will remain in my computer for a long time!

Want more KT Tunstall? Check these out!
Twitter
Facebook
Tiger Suit Album Preview
KT's Website

Get It:
Buy KT's new CD "Tiger Suit" anywhere Albums are sold or buy it on Amazon.com

Discloser: I was sent this CD to review through One2One Network but I always share my own honest opinions.

I was recently contacted and asked if I would like to review a new Sesame Street Video USB and I jumped at the chance! Both of my little ones enjoy Sesame Street, especially Elmo! I had never heard of the Video USB's so I was instantly intrigued!


I was sent "The Best Of Elmo Video USB" to review for my kiddos. I have to say, when it first arrived I thought it was the cutest little thing and so easy for an on-the-go mom! It is made of a soft rubber material and it comes apart right where his mouth is to reveal the USB . It fits very snuggly so no worries about it popping off when you don't want it to. It is also waterproof, dustproof and drop proof. Thank goodness! As we all know, those are necessities with little ones!

My son saw it when I opened up they package and wanted to know what it was right away. We walked over to the computer and I plugged it into a USB. It started playing IMMEDIATELY! My son loved watching the Full Episode that it included. It was great that I didn't have to install anything on my computer. It was all right there inside this cool Elmo package! After it was over my son wanted to play with the USB, taking Elmo's head apart. I had no worries about that since it is so toddler friendly.

Another great fact about this USB is that it can also store up to 400 photos, 400 songs or just about any amount of written documents! My kids BOTH love looking at pictures, so I know this would be great to store photos on for them if we are away from home and need something else to occupy time.


Here is the overview from the Sesame Street Website:

The unforgettable DVD starring everyone's favorite furry red monster, Best Of Elmo, now on Video USB!
Product Info:
Video USB drive offers a full-length home video as well as discretionary storage space that can hold up to 400 photos, 400 songs or a virtually unlimited amount of written content!

A child cannot accidentally erase or remove the movie, ensuring viewing pleasure for a long time to come. The flexibility and portability of the drive make it the perfect item for travel and use at home!
Character drivers are waterproof, dustproof and drop proof.
A special "wearable" connector strap ensures that both parts of the character stay together. Collect them all!
How it works:
Step 1: Open drive cap and our special connector strap ensures that both parts of the character will stay together.
Step 2: Easy Plug 'n Play feature offers an exciting new way to watch video and store personal information as well as directly link to the Sesame Street website.
Step 3: One easy click to the movie, Sesame Street website (if used in a PC and connected to the internet) and Personal storage.



The Sesame Street Video USB's are available in 6 characters or the Sesame Street 25th Anniversary Musical Celebration USB.

You can buy these at www.store.sesamestreet.org, www.sesamestreetusb.com, www.amazon.com, www.qvc.com, and www.walmart.com for about $24.99 a piece!

I have made a small list of pros and cons to share with you:

Pros:

Very travel worthy! You could fit it virtually anywhere(in you pocket!) and it would be safe and be with you.

Plug and Play..NO install! That is my favorite part! I have so many things installed and it takes so much time to install sometimes. Plug and Play is GREAT!!

Plays RIGHT away! No waiting on commercials, or going through a long menu.

Cons:

The rubber part of the USB(Elmo's head) is a bit too bulky for a small space. You may have to unplug any USB close to the spot where you need to plug this one in.




My Final Thought:

I would DEFINITELY recommend this to a friend. I think the benefits are great and your kid will love picking out their favorite Sesame character to carry around with them, plus you can't beat that extra storage space on the USB! Awesome!!


Disclaimer: These thoughts are all my own, I was not paid to write my review. I was provided the Sesame Street Video USB and I am so happy I was!

Hey everyone, sorry I have been absent for a while! It has a been a busy summer so far and it's not about to stop so I will be in and out for another month. Believe me when I say, if I come across anything I just HAVE to share or any exceptional deals I will be sharing with you! :)

I went ahead and added a few new Freebies to the sidebar, but HURRY a couple of them are for a limited time!

Winning comment:

#26 Renee L. said...

I follow you on Twitter! @fiannesqueaks

I am so happy to say we have a winner! I absolutely love these shoes and I am sure you will too Renee L. ! Thank you so much to everyone who entered and don't forget to visit www.shoebuy.com/uneaks for a great discount on U*Neaks shoes!

Want a place to share your Blog Giveaways?

Need a great list of Giveaways to enter all from one page?

Look no further, you have come to the right place!!

First things first of course :)
I have a great Giveaway of my own this week--a pair of U*Neaks Shoes and Socks! You don't want to miss out on this one so just click this LINK and enter to win!

Need more fun entering Giveaways or just want to leave you own link behind? Great! Just enter or link up below and have fun!

Feel free to leave a comment if you like! :)

I am in LOVE! I recently discovered the U*Neaks shoes on another blog that I read and I just had to try them out for myself, well my son did anyway. I had even mentioned them to a couple of my mommy friends because they were so doggone cute! So, I contacted the people at U*Neaks to see if they would like me to review their shoes and host a giveaway for my readers and they said yes! I was so EXCITED and I can't even wear them!

Before I start my review, here is a little bit about the company and what they offer, from their website, www.uneaks.com:

"U*neaks patented customizable footwear are sneaker style shoes with side clear panel windows and specially designed socks that allow kids to continuously customize their shoes by simply changing their socks. Pair the shoes with any of U*neaks’ double-sided decorated socks for footwear that’s fun and chock full of personality.

U*neaks brand of customizable footwear was created by Ingenuity Express Corp. in Somerset, NJ. The footwear concept was invented and developed by company founders Steve Braynock and Jeff Gabriele, Ingenuity Express’ CEO. Both Rutgers University alum, Steve Braynock, came up with the product concept in 1990 and shared it with Jeff in 2003. Together they developed U*neaks, which included a collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan, N.Y. On September 9th, 2008 Steve and Jeff were awarded patent number 7,421,806 for their customizable footwear system."

So what do I think about these shoes? I think they are one of the coolest new things available to kids and it enables them to really "choose" their clothes and what they want to wear each day! When I first showed them to my 3 1/2 yr old son he thought the socks that they offered were cool, but he didn't really get the concept of how the shoes work with their clear side windows so you can see the socks on the outside. The socks alone were pretty cool to him. I let him pick out the pairs of socks he liked and I told him they were going to come to him in the mail(nothing quite lights up his face like hearing he is going to get mail, lol), so of course he asked about them each time he thought the mail was here. Luckily for both of us they were here within a couple days! We opened the box together and he was so excited about the different socks and when I pointed out that they are two-sided he was just delighted!

He had Madagascar, Dinosaurs, Safari animals, cats and dogs, construction vehicles...anything a boy could want! Then it happened...I showed him the shoes...now that was a cool reaction! He couldn't believe that his socks would show through those little windows in his shoes and had to put them all on to see for himself; heck the kid was still in his PJ's! He tried them on and was twisting his foot around so he could see the cool designs through each little window. There are windows on both the inside and outside so he could see both designs. He wore them around the house for quite a while after that and I know he was just ecstatic and couldn't wait to show them off.

On the Mom side of this review, I really liked the fit of the U*Neaks shoes. I was a bit worried because it can be hard to fit his feet, either the shoes can be too narrow or too wide, but these seemed to be a perfect fit for him. They are a little wider than a normal shoe I think, but definitely not bulky like the wide-styles are. They seem to be very well made and look like they can stand up to the destruction my son is capable of putting them through. I fully expect these to last him until he needs a new size and I know he is going to wear them a lot. Even the socks themselves seem to be very well made. My son doesn't usually wear socks indoors, but now he wants to wear these a lot and they seem pretty durable.I believe the shoes are worth the money since they will stand up to destruction, plus they are not as expensive as a lot of pairs I have seen sold in certain stores before, these are very well priced in my opinion.

I am overall VERY pleased with the shoes and the socks and I am considering buying them for my 2 yr old daughter as well. I know she would love the cute pink styles they offer--she has a shoe fetish already! ;)




The only thing that they could do to make these shoes better would be to make them in my size-- you better believe I would TOTALLY wear them!! :D


If you would like to buy these shoes and try them out for yourself you can buy them online at:
http://uneaks.com/shop/
or you can check to see if there is a store near you by clicking this link:
http://uneaks.com/whereToBuy.php

If you do order online, U*Neaks has a special arrangement with Shoebuy.com where my readers can receive free shipping, free returns and a 10% discount on U*Neaks simply by clicking on this link: www.shoebuy.com/uneaks or entering the coupon code: UNEAKS at checkout.

So, would you like a shot at winning these awesome shoes? You have come to the right blog! I am so excited to be able to host this giveaway as I know some lucky little girl or boy is just going to LOVE these shoes and socks! So, on to the giveaway!!

The Giveaway

WHAT you can win:

Your choice of 1 pair of U*Neaks shoes and 2 pairs socks.

HOW you can enter: Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you in case you win!!

Mandatory entry to be Eligible to win, must do BOTH steps:

1. MUST be a public follower of my blog
2. MUST visit www.uneaks.com and leave 1 comment here telling me you are a follower and which pair of shoes and 2 pairs of socks you would choose if you win.

Want EXTRA entries?Just follow these simple tasks and leave a comment for each one you do!

2. Follow U*Neaks on Twitter (1 comment)

3. Follow my blog on Twitter (1 comment)

4. Tweet about this giveaway & leave me a link (1 tweet/comment per day)
"Win a pair of @UNeaks Shoes & Socks from @SAHMFrugalBlog ~SAHM Frugal Finds and Reviews~ http://bit.ly/92WCT3 ends 5/26 #SAHMFrugalBlog"

5. "Like" me on Facebook (1 comment)

6. "LIKE" U*Neaks on Facebook (1 comment)

7. Grab my button for your blog(on the right side-bar)-be sure to leave me a link (2 comments)

8. Blog about this giveaway(mention my blog, a link to this giveaway and a link to the U*Neaks website)-be sure to leave me a link (3 comments)


This giveaway is open to the US only

Good luck everyone!


Contest ends Wednesday May 26, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will use random.org to choose the winner. Winner will be contacted on May 27th and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Product was provided in exchange for review, but all of the opinions and experiences are all my own. I only do honest reviews on my blog.

.....Shooting Stars Mag said...follow you on twitter: @shootingstarmag

Congratulations and I hope you enjoy it!! :)

Thank you to everyone who participated and I hope to have more great giveaways coming up! Until then, stay "Frugal"!! :)

...Comment #17

Jodi-I'm following you on twitter - @crazeypoet

Congrats Jodi!

I will be contacting you soon and I hope you enjoy this set!


And don't forget to check out the $50 Prize Pack giveaway from ArtSkills here!

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to make a poster and you had no idea where to start? You want to make something special that will leave a lasting impression, but all you can think of are the basic stencils and glued on paper? Or maybe you just want to create something simple that will last. I was recently contacted by a representative of ArtSkills and they asked if I would be interested in doing a review for them. Of course I hopped on the idea! I love reviewing items to see if they are truly worth the money and time so this fits in perfectly with me. :) Now, mind you, I am not very "crafty"(which you will see later, lol), but it sounded fun all the same!

Their story-

ArtSkills was founded in 1987 in Easton, PA. We are a family owned company with a commitment to bringing quality and innovative poster making and art materials to our customers. Originally ArtSkills designed and developed Draw Today and Paint Today, drawing and painting programs, which allowed anyone to learn to draw and paint with no prior skill at all! They also are the only art programs in the world that have a money back guarantee, if you are not absolutely thrilled with your artwork.


Today at ArtSkills we make a wide range of art materials. We specialize in posterboard accessories, including poster markers, poster lettering, and decorative items to make your poster board projects better, faster, and easier!

It is our goal to be your source for everything you need to make a poster! We value the trust our customers put in us and continue to strive to bring new and innovative poster products and ideas to you. We know this image may be all too familiar to you... we are here to help!

A few great links on their site:
Poster Basics-Learn the basics on making a great poster
Poster Wizard- Free guide to help you create a poster in 10 minutes
Poster Contests- Sign up to win with the poster of the month-3 different age groups!
Gallery- Great poster ideas can be found here


My Review-
When I received the box from ArtSkills, I couldn't believe all that was included! To start, the book they have included is AMAZING! I am definitely saving this and it will really come in handy when my kids enter the school age! It has 100+ project ideas, 50 poster design layouts, and tons of tips and tricks for making your best posters ever. It even has an Emergency Poster Guide for when you only have an hour to make one!

What I received for this review:

The Easier, Faster, Better Posters Package:

• Neon Quick Letters
• Holographic Quick Letters
• Jumbo Quick Letters
• Alpha Stickers
• Poster Flash
  
• Eye Catcher Shapes
• Fun Borders
• Poster Making Idea Book

Those Poster Flashes actually FLASH, so talk about a couple toddlers in heaven! I bet those would really get some attention on yard sale signs or in a classroom project!

Before the box arrived, I had decided on what I was going to do. I have two toddlers, 2 and 3 yrs, plus I babysit my niece on occasion, who is also 2 yrs. I wanted to create something that they all could enjoy and learn from. I was going to make an ABC learning board and a number learning board. Little did I know that once the kit arrived, all I would need was a poster board and a little time!

So, here is what the kiddos and I created(the kits included glue sticks and the little ones had a BALL with that!):

1st we started with a BRIGHT yellow poster board(I knew the kids would like that!) and I placed the Holographic Quick Letters on the board. It was the best way to make them even and they have a little sticky on the back, like a post-it, so they won't move on me until I have found their permanent spot. I then went back through and used the glue stick to stick them for good.



As you can see it was already a hit with my son, lol. I thought it still needed a little pizazz so I checked out some of my other options and came up with some cool borders. I let my little man choose and he said he loved the red "spikey" border(haha). So, red spikey border(Fun Borders) it was! After I glued that on I let him and my Ladybug choose an eye-catcher shape of their choice to stick on, to add their own little touches.

I thought it all came together very nice and simple and they were pretty proud of their BIG project!




Next, I wanted to do something to help them learn to count. I used the Holographic Letters again and took the numbers out that were included in it. I spaced them out with the post-it backs and then I used the Eye Catcher Shapes to put something on the board for counting, after all they need something to count to help them learn! I also used the Fun Borders to cut up for some more fun shapes. I went back through and glued all of these on and came up with this:




I know we had a lot of fun creating these two "masterpieces" and we have so many supplies left to make more! So whether your kids have a school project coming up, you have toddlers eager to learn like me or just a yard sale in the future- ArtSkills will help you get it done and have just what you need to make the best poster!



The Giveaway!

What is up for grabs:
The Easier, Faster, Better Posters Prize Package (est. value $50)

How to enter:

Mandatory Entry-

• You MUST be a follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect to win
• Please leave a comment telling me about a poster horror story you have or what you would make if you win this prize.

Extra Entries-AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry:

Leave a comment for each entry you do

1. Follow ArtSkills on Twitter & leave a username-1 entry
2. "Like" ArtSkills on Facebook-1 entry
3. Follow me on Twitter & leave a username-1 entry
4. Tweet about this giveaway & leave me a link- 2 entries

"Win a $50 @ArtSkills Prize Pack on SAHM Frugal Finds and Reviews! http://bit.ly/ckNdCr ends 5/1 #SAHMFrugalBlog"

5. "Like" this blog on Facebook- 1 entry
6. Grab my button & leave me a link-3 entries
7. Blog about this giveaway & leave a link-4 entries

That is a max of 14 entries!! Don't forget to leave me with a way to get in touch with you by email.

This giveaway is open to the US only

Good luck everyone!


Contest ends Saturday, May 1st, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will use random.org to choose the winner. Winner will be contacted on May 2nd and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Product was provided in exchange for review, but all of the opinions and experiences are all my own. I only do honest reviews on my blog.

This giveaway is now closed-stay tuned for the winner announcement and please check out the $50 ArtSkills giveaway here!



It's time for another great giveaway and I know you are all going to want this one! Thanks to the great people at csnstores.com I am giving away a set of Rachael Ray "Bubble & Brown" 2-piece Stoneware Baker Set in Orange. These are things of beauty and even I am jealous of whoever wins these babies!!
Before I get into the giveaway, let me share a little info about CSN Stores from their website:

Based in Boston, CSN Stores LLC began in 2002 and has grown rapidly into a Top 3 online U.S. retailer of home and office goods with 400+ employees.
Beyond providing unparalleled customer service, selection, and savings to our U.S. customers, CSN Stores has opened its doors to online shoppers from Canada, the U.K., and Germany. Recently named to the Hot 100 List of online retailers for 2009, CSN Stores continues to grow.
CSN Stores began with just two employees, Niraj and Steve, and one online shop.

In year two, CSN added three more Web-based stores. In year three, CSN added nine more stores. From that point onward, CSN Stores went into hyper drive to become what is now one of the Top 3 home and office goods e-tailers in the country, according to Internet Retailer.
At this moment, CSN Stores, a $200 million company, is comprised of more than 200 different shopping sites under the overall csnstores.com umbrella. Most sites are named for their primary product offerings or the styles they provide. These include: Luggage.com, AllModern.com, WritingDesksAndMore.com, Cookware.com, and BedroomFurniture.com.
Now that CSN has 200+ sites, it also has 400+ employees with several of them working in the service center counseling customers and helping them to find exactly the right item.

Our employees hail from some of the finest colleges in the country, including Bowdoin, Cornell University, Brown University, Boston College, Connecticut College, Bates College, Northwestern University, Hamilton College, Boston University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Emerson College and other fine schools.
They're also expertly trained on a variety of product categories, so that they know our products inside and out. Customers can rest assured that they will be very well-briefed about products that fit their needs, learning enough to make the right purchasing decision for themselves. CSN doesn't advocate the "hard sell," rather we prefer to help guide customers to find what they really want.

Sounds great, huh? I was given this great opportunity from a representative at CSN and I was told I could choose anything from their stores up to a certain dollar amount. You want to talk about a tough decision!! They have just about anything I could ever need or want at great prices!

So, without further delay-on to the giveaway!!

What you can win:
Rachael Ray "Bubble & Brown" 2-piece Stoneware Baker Set in Orange-Retail is $69.95!!

How to enter:


MANDATORY ENTRY! Must do 1 & 2 or your comments will not be approved.

1.You MUST become a public follower on Google Connect(on the right sidebar) to win, if you are not you will be disqualified.
2.For the mandatory entry, please check out Racks And Stands or CSNStores.com and tell me in a comment another item on their website you would love to own!




Extra Entries: Remember to leave a comment for each additional entry

1.Follow me on Twitter, be sure to leave your username

2.Tweet about the giveaway-leave a link to your tweet-max of 1 entry

"Win Rachael Ray "Bubble & Brown" 2-piece Stoneware Bake Set on SAHM Frugal Finds and Reviews! http://bit.ly/bVEo0j ends 4/24 #SAHMFrugalBlog"

3.Become a fan on Facebook-please leave your first name and last initial

4.Grab my button and place it on your blog-please be sure to leave me a link to your page

5.Blog about this giveaway-2 entries(leave two comments and a link to the post)

6.Comment on any other posts and let me know which ones-max 3 entries

7.Leave a recipe of something you would like to make in your new dishes, should you win. :)


That's a total of 8 entries if you want them! Don't forget to leave me with a way to get in touch with you by email.

This giveaway is open to the US only

Good luck everyone! Be sure to check out my ArtSkills $50 Prize Pack Giveaway!!


Contest ends Saturday, April 24th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will use random.org to choose the winner. Winner will be contacted on April 25th and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway was provided by CSNStores.com

So, our bedroom is pretty small. By small I mean, we have way too much stuff in it and just enough room left to walk around the bed and climb in, if you are lucky enough not to trip on toys my 3 yr old left on the floor. :) We have a HUGE entertainment center with too much stuff piled on it, which takes up WAAAAY too much space. There are two desks with computers, a treadmill, dresser, nightstands and two bookshelves. Something HAS to give!!! It is just so cramped plus I have my scrapbooking and coupons in a pile on the floor. I am starting to feel so disorganized, something that I try to pride myself in NOT being, lol. I won't say I am the most organized person, but clutter REALLY gets to me and when I get to a certain point, I BLOW!

Well, here I am. Something has to give, but what? Yeah, I need to go through some of my stuff and probably donate to Goodwill and give some to friends(like they want my junk, lol), but after that we just have too much in this tiny space. So, I think about the treadmill. We use that on a pretty regular basis and don't have room in any other place in our home. The garage is not an option because it just gets TOO hot out there. It has to stay put. So, how about the book shelves or dresser? Again no room in any of the other rooms. I think my only option is to downsize and my eyes have zoned in on what HAS to go...the entertainment center. It is absolutely huge and old and just takes up way too much space. Bad thing is that it is also storing all of our media items, so I will have to replace it somehow. I have already searched around online and found a couple options, but so far I think a corner tv stand would work best. If I can get it in the corner it will take up less space and not be so bulky, which would be great! We will have a place to put all of our movies, satellite, and game systems, which would be perfect. Plus, since we have our TV mounted on the wall, I can use the top of the center for storage as well!

Bad thing is I would still have to move things around and get rid of some "stuff", but I think changing that out will really help. I DREAD moving all those DVD and VHS's not to mention all the cords that go with my husband's gaming systems, ugh. I am sure everything is going to need a good scrub-down as well....it's going to be a "project". :)

Do any of you have any great tips on getting organized in your home, in small spaces, for cheap? I hate the idea of a bunch of boxes sitting around filled with "stuff". I am actually thinking about whether or not I can mount stuff on the wall! LOL

After I hit my bedroom, I am going to need to move on to the kitchen, it's getting scary in there!

Ok, so you know that thing in the back of your cabinet, maybe high up on a shelf? It has a cord, and some settings that say Low, High and if you lucky Med and Warm. Some even come with a timer-fancy, huh? Well, it's called a Slow Cooker(or Crock Pot as I call mine) and let me tell you..IT IS YOUR FRIEND!! I have made many a cheap meal in mine and they are so great for busy days when you know you won't have time to mess with dinner. You can really create some great things in there or just a simple dip, virtually anything can be cooked in one-I have even seen a recipe for cake! So, I am going to share a few of my favorite go-to frugal recipes for that fabulous small appliance, so dust it off and give them a try!!




Grandpa's Beans-Total cost estimate $2.50 including pantry items, cornbread and a whole bag of beans-you will only need half :)

Serves 4

1 1/2 C. Great Northern Beans
1tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. white vinegar x 2= 1/2 tsp total

Place beans in a large pot and cover with water, add in the baking soda and 1/4 tsp vinegar
Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. Drain and place beans in the crock pot. Put the other 1/4 tsp vinegar in and then cover beans with water, up to an inch above the beans so they can swell. Cook on high 4 hours and serve with warm cornbread and a little salt if desired. The ULTIMATE frugal meal and very high in protein!

Buy a very cheap box of Jiffy Cornmeal or check out a cornmeal recipe here

BBQ Pulled Pork--YUM!!! Total cost estimate- $6-$7 depending on if your meat is on sale along w/ your sauce. Only buy it on sale and freeze extra!

serves 4-6

3 lbs cheap pork roast, boneless or ribs-doesn't matter! Buy whatever is on sale that week and freeze extra if you like.
1 bottle of you favorite BBQ sauce--mine is Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown sugar

1.Place your meat in your crock and pour just a little water in to cover the bottom, there is no need to be perfect because it won't matter-it will be SO moist in the end!
2. Cover and cook on low 6 hrs or so, it will keep until you are ready for it.
3. When it is cooked through or when you are ready, take your meat out a little at a time-I usually use two plates.
Grab two forks and start "pulling" your pork apart into pieces. If you have bone-in, just get rid of those bones.
Put your shredded or "pulled" pork on one plate and grab more out of your crock until you have a full plate of pulled pork and an empty crock.
Empty ALL the juice and grease out and rinse your crock in the sink-no need to wash, just get rid of the grease.
4.Put it back in the cooker and throw your meat back in. Pour as much of your BBQ sauce in as you like-I use the whole bottle for that much pork. Heat it up till it's good and warm again, if it's not already.

Serve on buns or with mashed potatoes, green beans and Texas toast-YUM!! Reheats very well, so make sure you have leftovers!



Cheesy Chicken and Rice- Total cost estimate: $6-half a bag of frozen chicken, can of soup and half a box of rice + pantry items-all on sale of course! :)

serves 4

1-2 lb frozen, boneless skinless chicken breasts-about 4 pieces
1 small can cream of chicken
1/4-1/2 cup of water
1 cube chicken bouillon
2 cups of instant(or regular) rice--cooked at the end

1.Boil water and dissolve the bouillon cube in it.
2.Place chicken breasts, frozen, on the bottom of the crock and pour water mixture over the top.
3.Open the can of cream of chicken and pour out on top.
4.Cover and cook on low about 5-6 hours, till chicken reaches 180 deg and no longer pink. Mix in the cooked rice and keep warm until ready to serve. When serving sprinkle with cheese on top.

Cream Cheese Chicken-YUM!!! Total cost estimate- $8 1/2 bag of frozen chicken, can of soup, 1 packet Italian mix, cream cheese, 1/2 a bag of noodles + pantry items

serves 4

1-2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen-about 4 pieces
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
1/2 cup water
1 cube chicken bouillon
1 small can cream of chicken, celery or mushroom
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 lb egg noodles-whatever style you like

1.Boil water and dissolve bouillon cube.
2.Pour water in the bottom of the crock and then place the frozen chicken on top.
3.Drizzle the melted butter over the chicken and sprinkle the Italian dressing dry mix over the top.
4.Cook on low 4-5 hrs(depending on your crock) and about a half hour before the chicken is cooked through, mix the cream of chicken and cream cheese in a bowl with a whisk-you can use the microwave to soften the cream cheese a bit if needed to make it easier to blend. Heat on low and just a little at a time till it is smoother.
5.Add to the crock and cook while you follow the directions and cook your noodles. Always check to be sure your chicken is at least 180 deg. and not pink.

Serve with the noodles on the bottom and ladle the wonderful sauce and chicken over the top. You will LOVE the smell of it while it cooks!

...Kitty from post #57! "tweeted 3/6---http://twitter.com/maynekitty/status/10118278767"

Congratulations !!

I hope to hear back from you on what you receive from HairCoverings.com. They have some wonderful products to offer and I would love to hear what you think of them!

Thanks for entering everyone and I hope to have more giveaways in the near future!

When I was first contacted by Hair Coverings, I had never heard of them and I was curious to see what they had to offer. I went to their website to check them out and I must say they have a lot of great items! They have a great variety of different things that I have never seen sold online before. I would say that they have a very unique site and one that a lot of people would find very useful!

At first glace I didn't see any products I would personally use for myself. They have a lot of unique items though, so I continued to check them out...and found something that fit me perfectly! Ponytail holders and hair clips! Now, you are probably thinking "Why is she getting excited over a ponytail holder?", well let me tell you that these are some of the prettiest ones I have ever seen! Debbie from Hair Coverings asked me if there was a product I would like to review and I had to choose this one:



(Both of these images are from www.HairCoverings.com)

It shipped very fast and when I received it in the mail I was impressed by how pretty it is. I love the pastel colors of the stones-it reminds me of spring! It seems to be well made and looks as though it will last a long time(which is a plus for us frugalistas!). The silver piece that the stones are in is made of metal and it has two covered bands to help it stay in your hair. I found it to be a little heavy on my hair, but as long as I get it in tight enough it won't budge. Overall I am happy with this product and I think it is a nice change from my boring, plain ponytail holders!

While checking out their site I found that they offer a large variety of products. Including a "Sale" section which is always a must-visit.

Here are just a few examples and links to what they have to offer:

Bandanas:
Lycra Pre Tied Bandanna
Cotton Lycra Pre-Tied Bandanna
Velvet Pre-Tied Bandanna

Headbands:
Feather Headbands
Hard Headbands
Un-Tied Headbands
Wide Headbands
Headbands w/Tails
Applique Head bands
Narrow Head band
Pre-Tied Bandanas
Square Bandannas
Triangle Bandanas

Scarves:
Head Scarves
Scarves-shawls

Hats-Berets:
Berets
Pull on Hats
Turbans
Snoods
Hat

Accessories:
Hair Clips
Pony Holders
Hair Sticks
Banana Clips

Heard enough and you wanna try them out for yourself? Head over to www.HairCoverings.com or enter below to win a $25 box of Hair Accessories!

Enter to win!

Mandatory entry! Visit www.haircoverings.com , check out all of the products they offer and leave a comment telling me which items you would like to have. Please leave your first name and e-mail address you wish to be contacted at in each entry. ( Write it out like this: Bob AT bobsville DOT com to avoid spammers)

Optional extra entries-leave a separate comment for each one:

1. Become a follower of my blog(on the right sidebar here)

2. Follow me on Twitter

3. Tweet about the giveaway- only one tweet will go towards the giveaway:
"Win a $25 box of hair accessories from www.haircoverings.com on SAHM Frugal Finds and Reviews! http://bit.ly/cfiiMv ends 3/8 #SAHMFrugalBlog"

4. Become an e-mail subscriber of my blog-be sure to tell me the e-mail you use to subscribe with.

5. Leave a comment on any of my blog posts-be sure to mention which one you commented on-max. of 3 entries

6. Join Hair Coverings Google Connect-Go to http://www.haircoverings.com/blog Click "Join this site" in the Google Friend Connect box.

7. Follow Hair Coverings on Networked Blogs- Go to http://www.haircoverings.com/blog and click "Follow this blog" on the networked blog box.

8. Follow Hair Coverings on Twitter- Go to http://twitter.com/haircoverings and click "follow"

9. Subscribe to their blog feed- Click http://feeds.feedburner.com/haircoverings

10. Add "http://www.HairCoverings.com" to your blogroll

That's a total of 13 entries if you want them!

Good luck everyone!


Contest ends Monday, March 8th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will use random.org to choose the winner. Winner will be contacted on March 9th and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Product was provided in exchange for review, but all of the opinions and experiences are all my own. I only do honest reviews on my blog.

Remember Rainbow Brite from when you were a kid? Boy do I!! I would say that is one of my fondest memories of a favorite childhood cartoon character that I just HAD to have! In fact, I am not ashamed to admit I still have an original VHS from when I was a kid that I used to watch and a Patty-O-Green doll -just ready to share with my little girl. Now Rainbow Brite is back and she has a few new friends along with her!

They have changed Rainbow Brite's look a bit, and I am still getting used to it. It's hard to grow up with something, a toy or game, and then see how much they have changed the way it looks years later. She has a more modern look now to appeal to today's generation. Meet Rainbow Brite and her friends, Moonglow and Tickled Pink:




She sure has grown up a lot from what I remember her to be, but I am sure my daughter is going to love her as much as I did (and still do). Rainbow Brite is already available in stores such as Target and Toys R Us. You can also check out www.RainbowBrite.com to see some videos, play games and just get to know the new Rainbow Brite!

And just for memories sake I have to include a picture of what she and her friends looked like before:



Ah, such good memories! :)