Minty Iced Tea

My mom taught me how to make a delicious iced tea with fresh mint.  I find this tea to be very refreshing in the summer, and it can really give me a little burst of energy on a hot afternoon! 

The tea is simple to make with regular black tea, sugar, and fresh mint.

First I make a simply syrup on the stove by mixing equal parts granulated sugar and water and stirring until the sugar dissolves.  I heat this slowly until it simmers, adding a few springs of mint once the sugar is pretty much dissolved.

Then I simply take the pot off the heat, cover it, and the syrup steep for a while, at least 10 minutes or so.

Meanwhile I've brewed a big pitcher of hot tea.  Once the syrup is steeped and cooled a little, I mix it into the tea.  Then I usually let the pitcher cool down for a couple of hours before refrigerating it.

For a gallon of tea, I use 4 or 5 tea bags, 2/3-3/4 c. water and sugar, and a few springs of mint.  That makes the tea lightly sweetened, which I prefer.  Of course, you can use any proportions that suit your tastes.  Enjoy!

Check out Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom and Mrs. Moneysaver.

Best Bloom Deals: 7/28-8/3

Thanks to Sarah from A Bookworm's Bargains for sharing the best Bloom deals with us each week.  You can see her complete list here.

Meats

Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage - $2.00
Use $0.55/1, found in 7/11 RP
Final Price: $1.45

Produce
Strawberries (2 lb tub) - $2.99
Yellow Peaches or White Nectarines - $0.99/lb

Natural & Organic
So Delicious Coconut Milk (64 oz) - $2.79
Use $1.00/1, found at Wegmans and Whole Foods
Final Price: $1.79

Honest Tea (16 oz) - $1.19
Use $0.50/1, found here
Final Price: $0.69

Grocery
General Mills Cereals - 4/$6
Use (2) $1.00/2, found in 7/11 SS or 7/18 SS
Final Price: 4/$4

Dairy & Frozen
Bloom Shredded or Cubed Cheese (2 lbs) - B1G1
Final Price: $3.64/ea

Drinks
Coca-Cola Products (2 liter) - $0.99

Household
Purex Laundry Detergent (50 oz) - B1G1
Final Price: $2.89

Oral-B Indicator, Stages, or Advantage Toothbrushes - $2.00
Use $2.00/2, found in 7/4 PG
Final Price: $1.00/1

Using the Garden's Bounty

I have found that one of the suprisingly biggest challenges of maintaining our garden is harvesting and using all the produce in a timely fashion.  Since our girls are still so young, it's basically just two adults that are consuming everything.  While I love to share our harvest, I also am trying to get a good return on our investment, so we try to eat everything that we can.

In the two years that we've been seriously gardening, I've come up with a few different ways to use the vegetables we've planted.  Here are some of my favorite ides:

Bell Peppers:
 - raw with dip
 - in salads
 - sauteed with onions
 - diced and frozen for future use

Tomatoes:
- sliced with some Italiain dressing or balsamic vinegar and olive oil
- in homemade salsa (here's a favorite of mine)
- in salads
- to make sauce (I haven't done this much - would love your favorite recipes!)

Cucumbers:
- raw with dip
- in salads
- homemade refrigerator pickles

Radishes:
- raw with dip
- in salads
- sauteed with their greens (different, but not bad at all)

Basil:
- pesto! (which can be frozen in ice cube trays)
- dried
- soup, pizza, pasta, etc. - anything Italian

Mint:
- iced tea
- hot tea
- minted roasted potatoes
- dried

What are some of your favorite ways to use your garden's bounty?

Product Review and Giveaway: Total Pillow

I recently had the opportunity to review a product called the Total Pillow.  I decided to do this review because I figured that no one is more qualified to review a versatile pillow than a  mom who's eight months pregnant!

Here's some general information about the Total Pillow.

VERSATILE TRANSFORMING PILLOW Cradles you with Comfort While Asleep and Awake



Most people spend approximately one-third of their lives asleep on their pillow, however the new Total Pillow has uses for the two-thirds of time spent awake.


There are pillows for all types of issues but no one pillow that bridges all conditions, until now. The Total Pillow™ is for use overnight, on the couch, sitting at your desk, driving, while on a plane or train, in college dorms, or just while watching television. This donut-shaped pillow transforms in just seconds to more than five supportive shapes for customized relief. The patent pending locking technology enables the Total Pillow to support the neck, lower back, ankles and knees.


"Consumers own many different pillows for different applications, identifying the need for a multipurpose pillow solution." said Steve Heroux, CEO of Hampton Direct. "The Total Pillow transforms into five different shapes to answer a wide range of conditions."


The Total Pillow's ergonomic design allows your body to be cradled in support whether you're a side sleeper and like support between your knees and/or ankles or are a frequent traveler. It's also great for the businessperson, who needs lumbar support for the long periods of time spent seated.


Available for $19.99, The Total Pillow can be ordered online at www.buytotalpillow.com.


Hampton Direct, Inc. is a leading international importer and distributor of consumer products. The Vermont-based company's offerings include common household problem solving products that includes the As Seen On TV Wonder Hanger®, Twin Draft Guard® and Total Pillow®.

I've been using the Total Pillow for the past week or two, both in bed for my head and between my knees when sleeping on my side.  I also experimented to see how it would work as a neck pillow when sitting up.

One of the things I liked about the Total Pillow include the fact that it can mutate to many different shapes.  It was suprisingly comfortable to use it as a regular sleeping pillow with my neck cradled in the "arc" of the pillow bent in half. 

On the negative side, I thought the pillow was a little bit too firm for my comfort.  I would have appreciated a little more "give."  It was also a little small for using between my knees, at least as a large pregnant woman.  Not pregnant it might be the perfect size.

The Total Pillow costs $19.95 + packaging and handling.  I think it would be a really good purchse for someone who travels or commutes a lot.  I could see it coming in really handy for the bus or airplane and then to supplement hotel pillows.   I also have a similar lumbar cushion for driving, and the Total Pillow would work for that as well.

One Frugally Blonde reader has the chance to win a Total PIllow!

To enter, please just leave a comment on this post saying what you like best about the Total Pillow.  (You must do this to enter.)  Please include your email in your comment if it is not available in your profile. For extra entries, you may do any or all of the following, for a maximum of 5 entries in total (please leave a separate comment for each):

1) Follow Frugally Blonde by rss feed.

2) Follow Frugally Blonde by email

3) Follow Frugally Blonde on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. (Leave a link to your tweet.) This may only be done once; no daily tweets.

4) Blog about this giveaway. (Leave a link to your post.)

The contest ends on Tuesday, August 10, at midnight. The contest is open to residents of the US only, and the winner must provide a valid mailing address (no PO boxes).  I will choose the winner randomly and notify him or her by email, and he or she will have 72 hours to respond.  Good luck!

This is a Mama Buzz Review.  The product and giveaway prize were provided by Hampton Direct for this review.  I received no other compensation for this reveiw, and the opinions are my own.

Wegmans Deals: 7/25-7/31

New Deals:

Sweet Corn - $.25

Zucchini and Yellow Squash - $.99/lb.

Campbell's Pork and Beans (11 oz.) - $.33

Wegmans Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Club Pack (5 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.

Kellogg's Eggo Waffles (10.75-12.3 oz. Homestyle, Buttermilk, or Blueberry) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupons from 6/20 or 7/25 RP inserts
Final Price: $1.49 each

Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 fl. oz.) - $.77

Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz.) - $1.88
Use $.50/1 coupon from 7/25 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.88
Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Small Whole Seedless Watermelons - $3.99
Fresh Green Beans - $.99/lb.
Wegmans Grape Tomatoes (1 pint) - $1.50
Plums or Nectarines (2 lb. bag) - $1.98
Jumbo Cantaloupes (size 9) - $2.00
Wegmans US #1 Russet Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99

Grocery -
Honey Bunches of Oats - $2.00 (through 09/11)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each
General Mills Cereal (11.5-15 oz.) - $2.00
Use various printable coupons here and here
Final Price: varies
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts - $1.66
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.16 each
Nabisco Crackers (7-10 oz. Wheat Thins or 8-9.5 oz. Triscuits) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 5/16 SS insert
Final Price: $1.49 each
Wegmans BBQ Sauce (19-20 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce from summer Wegmans Menu Magazine
Final Price: $.99
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Goya Dried Beans (16 oz.) - $.99 (through 09/11)
Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Pasta Salad - $1.49
Use $.50/1 from 6/6 RP insert or buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon here or here or from 5/23 SS insert
Final Price: $.49-$.99 each
Wegmans W Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)
Wegmans Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls (8 ct./14 oz.) - $.99
Doritos Nacho Chips (11.5-13.875 oz.) - $1.99
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 7/11 RP insert
Final Price: $1.49 each

Refrigerated -
Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Cookies (14-16.5 oz.) - or Sweet Moments Brownies (5.6-6.10 oz.) - $2.49
Use $1.00/1 Sweet Moments printable coupon here or here
Final Price: $1.49
Fiber One Yogurt - $1.99 (through 09/04)
Use $.50/1 printable coupon here, here, or here (doubled)
Final Price: $.99
Oscar Mayer Meat Franks - $1.69 (through 09/04)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 06/20 SS insert
Final Price: $1.19 each
Ball Park Meat Franks (16 oz. regular or 14 oz. lite) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $.75/2 coupon from 06/27 RP insert
Final Price: $1.18 each

Frozen -
Turkey Hill Ice Cream (48 oz., all varieties)- $2.49
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 05/02 RP insert
Final Price: $1.99 each
North Star Pops (21 fl. oz. melon, patriot, or tropical) - $.99
Healthy Choice Pasta Entrees (8-10 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Wegmans 8 pk. Paper Towels or 12 pk. Bath Tissue – $4.99
Purex 2X Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Natural Elements printable coupon (if included)
Final Price: $.99
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel - $1.88
Use $.75/1 Edge or Skintimate from 06/27 SS insert
Final Price: $1.13

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Menu Planning Monday

We had a crazy busy social weekend these past few days and heading for another one next weekend!  My menu is simple this week, using only what I have.  I'll go shopping probably on Thursday this week, right before my mom and grandma come into town for dinner Friday night.

Breakfasts:
yogurt, chocolate chip banana bread, cereal

Lunches:
cold cuts, leftovers, eggs, peanut butter

Dinners:
Mon - Get-together at a friend's house (bringing drinks and chips)
Tues - Mom's Portable Beef on homemade rolls, fruit salad.
Wed - Leftover beef sandwiches
Thurs - Bean burritos, corn, salad
Fri - My mom and grandma in town - still planning menu!
Sat - Going out for my sister's birthday
Sun - tba

Check out Menu Planning Monday over at Org Junkie.

Top CVS Deals: 7/25-7/31

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for the best CVS deals each week.  Read her complete list here.

Sign up for CVS emails and get $4 ECBs – More details on page 6

1.) Go to www.cvs.com/email
2.) Enter your email address & ExtraCare Card Number and Email Address
3.) Get $4 ECBs instantly (likely sent to your email address)

Dove Bar Soap – 2 pk $3 (get $2 ECBs) Limit 1
= $1 after ECBs (like $.50 per bar)

U by Kotex Liners – 50 to 60 ct, Pads – 14 to 18 ct, Tampons – 18 ct $4.99 (get $4.99 ECBs) Limit 1
$1 printable
$1.50 CVS Coupon Reinventing Beauty Magazine
= $2.50 MONEYMAKER after ECBs (Combine SC and MFR)

Accu-Check Aviva Diabetes Monitor $14.99 (get $5 ECBs)
$9.99 MIR
= FREE after MIR and ECBs
Note: The MIR appears like it will be in the box, please check before purchasing.

Photo Book – ten 6×8 pages $7.99 (get $7.99 after ECBs) Limit 1
= FREE after ECBs

There's also good delas on Pampers boxes and Huggies Little Swimmers (see full list of deals).  I have plenty of Little Swimmers for this year that I stocked up on last year, but I'm considering stocking up for next summer.  Another summer, another baby!

Preparing for Christmas - in July!

Christmas . . . it seems like a long time away, especially when we're melting in 98 degree heat!  However, now is actually the time that I start thinking about the holiday season every so often and making some simple preparations. 

While as a family we certainly try to emphasize the non-material aspects of Christmas, the holiday still remains a comparatively large expense.  Between gifts, travel, special food, decorations, and other incidentals, the costs add up quickly.  I do like to make the holidays a special and extraordinary time, and so it is worth it to me to plan ahead.  As with so many things, a little planning ahead can save a lot of money in the long run.

Here are some of the areas I'm thinking about now:

Saving up - There is a stereotype that is probably all too true of families spending on the holidays first and then dealing with the credit card bills later.  That is not the way we live, so I plan for the whole year how we will pay for holiday expenses.  Right now, the way I do it is to save up little bits of extra money we receive throughout the year in a separate account.  Whether it's an unexpected refund, earnings from a consignment sale, or a check from Ebates, I keep it separate from our regular budget so that I won't spend it.

Collecting Swagbucks and gift cards - All throughout the year I use the search engine Swagbucks for internet searches and save up points to cash in for Amazon gift cards.  I started this last fall, after reading about other bloggers doing the same, and I was very pleased with the results.  From just a few months of searches and a couple of referrals, I earned about $25 in gift cards last year.  This year I have been doing it the whole year, so I hope to earn quite a bit more.  I also save up other gift cards that I earn from prescription coupons or other store promotions.

Collecting stocking stuffers/other gifts - As I shop clearance sales and yard and consignment sales the whole year, I try to keep future gifts in mind.  Stocking stuffers, especially, are easy to pick up for pennies at clearance sales throughout the year.  School supply sales going on right now are a perfect place to pick up art supplies for pennies.  I also don't mind giving nice used toys as gifts to my own children, so I look for items they might like at yard and consignment sales.

Making lists and ideas, watching sales - While I'm not like some super-organized people who have their Christmas shopping finished by Thanksgiving, I do try to jot down gift and decoration ideas early on.  That way, if I see the perfect item or come across a great sale, I know what I might need.

Are you preparing for the holiday season this early?

This post is linked to Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom and Mrs. Moneysaver.

Photo by avanzaro.

Best Bloom Deals: 7/21-7/27

Thanks to Sarah at A Bookworm's Bargains for the best Bloom deals each week.  Check out her full list here.


Meat
Top Round London Broil - B1G1
Final Price: $2.50/lb
Ball Park Angus Beef Franks - 2/$4
Use $0.75/1, found in 6/27 RP
Final Price: $1.25

Produce
California Red Grapes - $0.99/lb
Eastern Cantaloupes - $1.50/ea

Drinks
Coca-Cola Products (2 liter) - $0.99
7-Up (2 liter) - $0.99

Grocery
Bumble Bee Chunk Tuna - 5/$4
Classico Pasta Sauce - 2/$4
Use $0.50/1, found by writing the company.
Final Price: $1.50

Dairy & Frozen
Bloom Premium Ice Cream - 4/$10
Buy Tropicana Orange Juice, Get a Dozen Eggs Free - $4.79
Buy Kraft Parmesan Cheese, Get Bloom Spaghetti Noodles Free - $3.99
Dannon Activia - 2/$4
Use $100/1, found in 7/18 SS
Final Price: $1.00
Pillsbury Grands or Cinnamon Rolls - 5/$5
Use $0.40/2, found in 7/11 SS
Final Price: $0.80/1

Everyday Essentials
Glad Trash Bags - $5.99
Use $0.50/1, found in 6/6 RP
Final Price: $5.49
Tide Laundry Detergent (50 oz) - $5.99
Use $0.35/1, found in 6/6 PG
Final Price: $5.64

Wegmans Deals: 7/18-7/24

These have been updated with a bunch of new deals and the removal of a bunch of outdated deals.  Let me know if you find any inaccuracies!

New Deals:

Washington Sweet Red Cherries - $1.99/lb.

Florida Whole Seedless Watermelons - $3.69

Fresh Green Beans - $.99/lb.

Wegmans Grape Tomatoes (1 pint) - $1.50

Plums or Nectarines (2 lb. bag) - $1.98

Honey Bunches of Oats - $2.00 (through 09/11)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each

Folgers Classic Roast Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 7/11 RP insert
Final Price: $1.49 each

Cabot Chunk Cheese (8 oz.) - $2.00

Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Cookies (14-16.5 oz.) - or Sweet Moments Brownies (5.6-6.10 oz.) - $2.49
Use $1.00/1 Sweet Moments printable coupon here or here
Final Price: $1.49

Fiber One Yogurt - $1.99 (through 09/04)
Use $.50/1 printable coupon here, here, or here (doubled)
Final Price: $.99

Oscar Mayer Meat Franks - $1.69 (through 09/04)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 06/20 SS insert
Final Price: $1.19 each

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Jumbo Cantaloupes (size 9) - $2.00
Wegmans US #1 Russet Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99

Grocery -
General Mills Cereal (11.5-15 oz.) - $2.00
Use various printable coupons here and here
Final Price: varies
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts - $1.66
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.16 each
Nabisco Crackers (7-10 oz. Wheat Thins or 8-9.5 oz. Triscuits) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 5/16 SS insert
Final Price: $1.49 each
Wegmans BBQ Sauce (19-20 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce from summer Wegmans Menu Magazine
Final Price: $.99
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Goya Dried Beans (16 oz.) - $.99 (through 09/11)
Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Pasta Salad - $1.49
Use $.50/1 from 6/6 RP insert or buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon here or here or from 5/23 SS insert
Final Price: $.49-$.99 each
Wegmans W Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)
Wegmans Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls (8 ct./14 oz.) - $.99
Doritos Nacho Chips (11.5-13.875 oz.) - $1.99

Refrigerated -
Ball Park Meat Franks (16 oz. regular or 14 oz. lite) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $.75/2 coupon from 06/27 RP insert
Final Price: $1.18 each

Meat -
Wegmans 80% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (Club Pack - 6 lbs. or more) - $1.89/lb.

Frozen -
Turkey Hill Ice Cream (48 oz., all varieties)- $2.49
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 05/02 RP insert
Final Price: $1.99 each
North Star Pops (21 fl. oz. melon, patriot, or tropical) - $.99
Healthy Choice Pasta Entrees (8-10 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Wegmans 8 pk. Paper Towels or 12 pk. Bath Tissue – $4.99
Purex 2X Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Natural Elements printable coupon (if included)
Final Price: $.99
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel - $1.88
Use $.75/1 Edge or Skintimate from 06/27 SS insert
Final Price: $1.13

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Another Call for Guest Posts

I feel like I just sent out a call for guest posts, but here I go again!  I can't believe it, but it's time for me to collect guest posts for when Baby #3 is born, at the beginning of September. 


There are so many variables that come with each birth of a baby, that it's hard to say exactly what my blogging will be like those first few weeks.  If all goes well, I'll probably take a week or so almost entirely off, and then move into a modified schedule using lots of guest posts for a few more weeks.  Of course, I have to be prepared for the unexpected as well - it's all in God's hands.

So please, send me your ideas for posts!

As I said last time, you don't have to be a frugal blogger or even a blogger at all to write a guest post. It also doesn't have to be specifically about saving money; I'm open to anything that fits in with my tagline, "living the good life on less." Cooking techniques, recipes, gardening, preserving produce, saving money on anything, frugal fun, frugal crafts, frugal lifestyle choices, pertinant product reviews: these are just a few of the topics that come to mind! Just email me with your idea or finished post, and I'll let you know if I think it would be a good fit.

If you're a blogger, I'd love it if you could spread the word, too! The more posts I collect, the easier it will be for me and the more interesting for my readers those first postpartum weeks.  Thanks!

I'm Back!!!

Well, as of Saturday evening the girls and I are back from our two-week vacation.  We had a great time playing at the beach and spending time with my family, but we all missed "Daddy" a lot.  Even with all the great help and support from my family, there are still some things that only Daddy can do!

However, Daddy and some of his kind family did a lot of awesome work around the house while we were gone, from fixing things to cleaning.  In fact, it looks so good right now I almost wish I could have the baby this week, before we mess things up!  Not really though - I'm just about 33 weeks.  Baby defintely needs a few more weeks to grow!

I'm definitely back to a regular blogging schedule this week, but it might take me a few days to fully get back into the swing of things.  Please forgive me if regular posts are slightly late for one more week, or if I'm not quite caught up on email.

Hope you all are having a great summer too!

CVS Deals: 7/18-7/24

Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living didn't get to do the CVS deals this week, but you can go here to see a list.

After taking two weeks off, I need to get back to CVSing.  I have a $10 ECB I need to use, so I'm looking at going for the Huggies, Gillette Proglide, and M&M pretzel candies.  I need to come up with a scenario to go this evening, and hope that they're not cleaned out of the diapers!

No-Sew Felt Cupcakes: A Tutorial

Hi! I'm Lacy from Catholic Icing and I'm guest posting for Liz today, who's probably sitting on the beach under an umbrella right now ;-)

I'm so in love with all the felt food you see everywhere, but man is it ever expensive! You'll pay like $8/cupcake on etsy- which I'm sure is a fair price given that they're made by hand- but that's a little steep for the tea parties I have with my daughter. I mean, we're drinking air for goodness sakes! So I developed these easy-to-make no sew felt cupcakes that can be made for pennies each!

You'll need the following supplies:
1 Flower Shaped Pool Noodle (I used yellow, and you can get these at the Dollar Tree)
Cool Glue Gun
Assorted Felt
Red Pom Pom Balls
Scissors
Knife

First, use a bread knife (or other serrated knife) to cut your pool noodle into chunks like this:

Use your knife to shave the top of the pool noodle to make it kind of rounded at the top. Don't stress out about it being perfect because it won't matter.

Then, cut yourself a scalloped felt circle for your "icing". It needs to be bigger around than the pool noodle.

Take your cool glue gun and attach the felt icing to the top of the pool noodle cupcake. I say to use your cool glue gun because a really hot one will melt the pool noodle.

For a different type of "icing", cut your felt into strips and attach in a haphazard circular manner with your glue gun, like so:

Finish the tops of all the cupcakes by gluing on a red "cherry" pom pom. Or if your daughter wants blue cherries on her cupcakes, I think that's pretty normal. We have a few of those floating around. :-)

The pool noodles wedge very nicely into a standard size cupcake tin. This was a fun surprise for us!

My daughter loves them, and has been singing "Happy Birthday" to me about 20 times a day since I made them. It's almost like she doesn't know they didn't cost $8 each... Lol!

Happy baking, everyone! :-)

I'm a Catholic stay-at-home Mommy of 3 beautiful children- ages 4, 2, and brand new! :-) I was an art major in college, and I LOVE anything creative. Thrifting is one of my favorite past times, along with decorating, painting, ceramics, videography- I have waaaay too many hobbies to list them all!

Bloom Deals: 7/14-7/20

Thanks to Sarah at A Bookworm's Bargains for the best Bloom deals each week.  Check out her full list here.

Produce

White Peaches or Yellow Nectarines - $0.99/lb
Cluster Tomatoes - $1.99/lb
Organic Cabbage - $0.99/ea

Drinks

Gatorade - 10/$10
Pepsi Products (12 pk, 12 oz) - 3/$9
Minute Maid Lemonade & Punches - $0.99

Grocery

Classico Pasta Sauce - 2/$4
Doritos - $1.98
Hunt's Ketchup (24 oz) - $1

Wishbone Salad Dressing - 3/$5Use $0.75/1, found in 6/27 RP.
Final Price: $0.91

General Mills Cereals - B1G1Use (2) $0.55/1, found here.
Final Price: Varies

Household Items

Charmin Bath Tissue - $4.99Use $0.25/1, found in 6/6 PG and 7/4 PG.
Final Price: $4.74

Bounty Basic Paper Towels - $3.99Use $0.25/1, found in 6/6 PG and 7/4 PG.
Final Price: $3.74
Frozen
Bird's Eye Steamfresh - B1G1
Final Price: 2/$2.69

Ore-Ida Potatoes (20-32 oz) - B2G1Use (3) $0.75/1 (you receive these if you email the company)
Final Price: Varies

Baby

Pampers Box of Diapers - $19.99Use $2.00/1, found in 7/4 PG, 6/20 RP.
Final Price: $17.99

Earth's Best Diapers - $9.99Use $1.50/1, found here.
Final Price: $8.49

Make Your Own Curtains -- From Sheets!

The picture above shows off the top part of our "new" family room curtains (I apologize that my camera was not cooperating on getting a full picture of the curtains). Would you believe it that these were once sheets that sat unused and lonely in my linen closet for a few years?


One of my favorite ways to save my family money is to re-purpose things I already have around the house. When we moved from our small apartment to our house, I was faced with a window decorating challenge. We went from having 2 windows to decorate to over 15! Needless to say, curtains can be extremely expensive, especially if you have to cover several windows. So after some creative brain-storming I decided I would make some of our curtains using fabric I had around the house. I rummaged through my linen closet and found sheets I had not used for years, but I liked the pattern so I hated the thought of giving them away.

Making curtains from sheets are quick, easy and economical. The lightweight cotton fabric is a great addition to a kid's room or family room for a more casual feel. And the best part about making curtains from sheets? Little to no sewing is required!

First, measure your window to determine the width and length of your curtains. The "proper" width of the curtains is 2-3 times the size of the window, but depending on the look you are going for, you can do more or less. Keep in mind that the length also depends on how high you position the curtain rod, as well as the type of curtain (tab-top, rod pocket, etc.)

To make rod pocket curtains, simple fold the top of the sheets over to make a sufficient sized "pocket" to slide the curtain rod through and sew. Depending on how many panels you want, and if you are using one sheet as one panel, making the pocket may be the only step you need to make your curtains!

Making tab top curtains is fairly easy. I found a good instuctional on ehow here http://www.ehow.com/how_8651_make-tab-top.html To make with sheets you can eliminate hemming the sides since this has already been done for you. Depending on how long you need the bottoms of the curtains, you may be able to eliminate hemming the bottom as well.

If you don't know how to sew, or don't own a sewing machine, consider making no-sew curtains by using Heat'nBond fusible web iron-on tape. This is found in many craft stores in the "notions" section, usually near the velcro. Since you will most likely need to iron your fabric anyway to get accurate measurements, using this no-sew technique is quick and easy.

What other ideas have you found useful for decorating the windows in your home?

Niki is a SAHM of 2 young girls in the Dallas, TX area. When she is not changing diapers or chasing after her toddler, Niki enjoys baking for her family and sewing to set up her Etsy shop.

Site Reivew: My Coupons.com

I recently had a chance to look over a coupons site called MyCoupons.com.

At first glance, I liked the way this site appears.  Naturally I have visited other coupon code sites when doing online shopping, and most were more cluttered and harder to read than this one.  There is a bright white background, which makes everything easy to read, and it is uncluttered by a ton of extra ads.  

The coupon codes on this site are organized by categories and subcategories, as well as alphabetically.  In addition to the online codes, there are some printable grocery coupons, discounted gift cards (through a partnership with giftcards.com), and even a forum section (which appears to be active).  Consumers can also submit a coupon code to the site.

The site is particularly promoting their Back to School section right now.  Looking it over, I saw coupon codes like $5 off $50 or more at Sears and Kmart, 10% off all orders at Drugstore.com, and 20% off a single item at Borders.com.

I also check out the Babies and Kids section, since that is always relevant to me!  They had a ton of codes in the section, including for popular companies like Land of Nod and One Step Ahead for lesser-known online companies like Baby Supermarket and Cribs.com.

I have gotten into the often-recommended habit of always looking for a coupon code before placing an online order.  It is so worth the extra couple of minutes; I have often gotten free shipping or at least 10 or 15% off my order.  I will definitely be adding MyCoupons.com to the sites I check.

This is a MamaBuzz review.  I was given a $5 Visa gift card to compensate for my time spent in writing this review.  However, the opinions are honest and my own.

My Family's Frugal Extreme - Life Without Cable TV

Guest post by Laura from Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia

Our family doesn't have cable television. To most Americans, this probably sounds extreme.

Don't get me wrong, we still watch TV shows and movies and we truly don't feel deprived. We just made a decision to ditch cable when we first got married.

Now five years after saying "I do", we still choose to live without cable TV for a couple of reasons: 1. We honestly feel that there is more "junk" on TV and so many programs and movies that don't coincide with our values or are downright offensive to us (call us fuddy duddies if you like!). 2. We want to keep our bills low and cable is something we can live without. 3. With my husband's demanding work schedule and my duties in taking care of our home and child and some part-time work, we find we don't have time watch much TV.

When we do have time and want to watch a TV show or movie, we use one of the following resources, many of which you probably already use yourself:

1. Local Libraries
"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries." Anne Herbert

I love this quote from Anne Herbert. Your local library is a wealth of information and resources and it's free; you just have to familiarize yourself with what it has to offer. My local library offers great books and digital media. My husband and I used Blockbuster online to rent DVDs early in our marriage and then I found out that my local library had many of the same new release DVD titles available to check out for free. Popular titles I am able to request on my library's online portal, and then I wait in queue until it's ready for me to pick up at my local branch. Be sure to check your local library to find out if there are extra fees for putting items on hold or intra-library loan.

2. Network TV websites
If you have a computer and Internet connection, you can watch full episodes of select shows on the main network TV websites.   In addition to current shows you can also watch classic TV shows.  NBC.com has a selection of TV Classics such as "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "The A-Team", "Charles In Charge"  CBS.com has a selection of TV Classics such as "Family Ties", "MacGyver", "The Twilight Zone" and the original "Star Trek" series.  My husband and I also will occasionally check out TBS.com and HGTV.com to watch full episodes of shows.

3. Hulu.com
My husband and I watch some of our favorite TV shows on Hulu.com. Popular shows from the main networks are featured and they will usually keep up to 6 episodes from the current season. We're not tied to catching the show on the night it broadcasts on TV, we can watch it when it's convenient for us. Also, sometimes when we have trouble watching an episode on one of the main TV network websites (due to slow connectivity or problems with the site) we have found that we are able to watch the exact same episode on Hulu without any glitches.

4. Redbox Free Rental Codes
Redbox is a pretty popular movie rental service that has kiosks in many grocery stores and convenience stores. It is only $1 per night to rent a movie, and Redbox offers different free codes so sometimes you can rent movies for free.

5. Free Movies In Theaters
We get our summer fix of weekly children's films at our local cinema. Check your area to see if any theaters offer free movies (typically not new movies). In my area Regal Cinemas, Rave Motion Pictures and Phoenix Theaters offer free movies at 10:00am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for most of the summer.

6. Outdoor Film Festivals
You can also enjoy movies on the big screen under the stars at outdoor film festivals and summer events. In our area there are numerous free outdoor movie series offered, some at local parks, others in fields or in the parking lot of select shopping centers.

I hope that gives you some ideas of ways that my family has cut out our Cable and yet been able to enjoy TV shows and movies.

And now I have some questions for you readers...
For those of you frugal folks who get by without Cable: What are your favorite ways to watch TV shows or movies? Anything I missed that you'd recommend? Also, any tips for husbands who love sports but who have to live without ESPN (my husband would love to hear about it!)?


For those of you who can't bear to part with your Cable: Have you cut spending in other areas so that you can keep your Cable and favorite channels? Are there certain channels or programs that you can't bear to live without?

The beautiful part about aiming to live frugally, is that you are able to skimp and save in some areas and use your hard-earned money for things that matter to you and give you fulfillment.

Laura is a wife, mother and frugal blogger over at Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia where she shares deals and frugal tips for folks in the DC Metro area.

Wegmans Deals: 7/11-7/17

New Deals:

Fresh Green Beans - $.99/lb.


Wegmans Grape Tomatoes (1 pint) - $1.50

General Mills 12.25 oz. Honey Nut Cheerios, 12.8 oz. Cinnamon Toast Crunch, 11.8 oz. Cocoa Puffs, or 11.25 oz. Cookies Crisp Cereal - $2.00
Use various printable coupons here and here
Final Price: varies

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Blueberries (1 dry pint) - $1.50
Jumbo Cantaloupes - $2.00
Florida Whole Seedless Watermelons - $3.99
Wegmans US #1 Russet Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99
California Strawberries (2 lb. clamshell package) - $2.99
Sweet Corn - $.25

Grocery -
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts - $1.66
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.16 each
Nabisco Crackers (7-10 oz. Wheat Thins or 8-9.5 oz. Triscuits) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 5/16 SS insert
Final Price: $1.49 each
Wegmans Elbow Pasta (16 oz.) - $.69
Wegmans BBQ Sauce (19-20 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce from summer Menu Magazine
Final Price: $.99
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Old El Paso Refried Beans (16 oz.) and Other Selected Old El Paso - $.99
Buy 2 and use $.60/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $.69 each
Goya Dried Beans (16 oz.) - $.99 (through 09/11)
Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Pasta Salad - $1.49
Use $.50/1 from 6/6 RP insert or buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon here or here or from 5/23 SS insert
Final Price: $.49-$.99 each
Wegmans W Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)
Garden of Eatin' Organic Tortilla Chips (9 oz. Salted Blue or Red Hot Blues) - $1.99
Use $1.00 printable coupon here or here
Final Price: $.99
Wegmans Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls (8 ct./14 oz.) - $.99
Doritos Nacho Chips (11.5-13.875 oz.) - $1.99
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz.) - $1.99

Refrigerated -
Ball Park Meat Franks (16 oz. regular or 14 oz. lite) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $.75/2 coupon from 06/27 RP insert
Final Price: $1.18 each
Hebrew National Beef or Reduced Fat Red Hot Dogs (11-12 oz.) - $2.00
Kraft Cool Whip (8 oz.) - $.99
Buy 2 and use $.20/2 from 06/27 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.79 each
Hillshire Farm Deli Select Ultra Thin or Premium Hearty Slices (8-9 oz.) - $2.99
Use $.35/1 coupon from 6/6 RP insert or $.55/1 Hearty Slices coupon from 6/6 RP insert or printable
Final Price: $1.89-$2.19
Heluva Good Cheese (8 oz. chunk) - $2.00
Use $.50/1 printable coupon (doubled)
Final Price: $1.00
Tribe Hummus - $1.99
Use $.55/1 printable coupon or buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Turkey Hill Iced Tea or Lemonade (64 fl. oz.) - $1.49
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 from 4/11 RP insert
Final Price: $.99 each

Meat -
Wegmans 80% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (Club Pack - 6 lbs. or more) - $1.89/lb.

Frozen -
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Entrees (8.5-10.5 oz., all varieties) - $1.99
Buy 10 and use $4.00/10 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.59-$1.79 each
Turkey Hill Ice Cream (48 oz., all varieties)- $2.49
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 05/02 RP insert
Final Price: $1.99 each
North Star Pops (21 fl. oz. melon, patriot, or tropical) - $.99
Healthy Choice Pasta Entrees (8-10 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each
Hot or Lean Pockets (9-10.8 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 3 and use $1.00/3 coupon from 4/25 RP insert
Final Price: $1.36 each
Kellogg's Eggo Waffles - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 06/20 RP insert
Final Price: $1.49 each

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Wegmans 8 pk. Paper Towels or 12 pk. Bath Tissue – $4.99
V05 Shampoo or Conditioner - $.77
Vive Pro Shampoo or Conditioner - $2.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from 02/21 RP insert
Final Price: $1.99
Secret Solid Antipersperant (2.6-2.7 oz.) - $1.88
Use $.50/1 Secret product from 05/02 P&G insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.88
Bandaid Plastic 3/4" Bandages (60 ct.) - $1.50
Use $.50/1 from 03/18 4/25 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.50
Old Spice High Endurance Deoderant - $1.88
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 5/2 P&G insert
Final Price: $1.38
Purex 2X Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Natural Elements printable coupon (if included)
Final Price: $.99
Bandaid Plastic 3/4" Bandages - $1.50
Use $.50/1 coupon from 04/25 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.50
Gillette Foamy Shave Cream (11 oz.) - $.99
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel - $1.88
Use $.75/1 Edge or Skintimate from 06/27 SS insert
Final Price: $1.13

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Best CVS Deals: 7/11-7/17

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for the best CVS deals each week. Check out her full list here.

Sorry these are a bit late this week - vacation schedule!

3 Day Sale – Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Only

Paper Mate Pens – 10 ct $.99 (get $.99 ECBs) Limit 1
= FREE after ECBs

Caliber 5” Soft Handle Scissors $.99 (get $.99 ECBs) Limit 1
= FREE after ECBs

All Week

Neutrogena Clinical Day, Night or Eye $34.99$5 printable
FREE after MIR this week only HERE (not posted yet, information is in the CVS ad) 
= $5 MONEYMAKER!

John Frieda Collection Shampoo, Conditioner – 8 to 10 oz, or Styler – 3 to 12 oz. $10/2 (get $5 ECBs wyb 2) Limit 1
$3/2 printable
$2 SS 6/6
$2.50 printable
$3 SS 6/6
=$1 MONEYMAKER – $1 each

Complete Multi Purpose Contact – 12 oz $7.99 (get $7.99 ECBs) Limit 1

$2 RP 5/16
= $2 MONEYMAKER after ECBs