Walgreens Free Photo Offer – Get A FREE 8 x 10 Photo Collage

Walgreen’s has another fabulous free photo offer out, and these make the perfect gift. I’m going to make a photo collage for my parents of their five beautiful grandchildren.  You can get a free 8x10 photo collage with the coupon code: MULTIPICFREE

Get your free photo collage shipped to your local store for free, and chose pay in store to get the 8 x 10 photo collage completely free!  Zero money out of pocket.

Easter Sunday: Giveaway Winner Announcement - Puppet Monsters

Today was a beautiful day!  I spent the day with my wonderful husband and our two children.  We went for a walk through the park and around the boardwalk by Lake Coeur D' Alene, out to lunch, and then spent a couple hours outside in the yard enjoying the sun and riding ATVs.

Are you today's lucky giveaway winner of an adorable Puppet Monster?

Get Fit Guide: Giveaway Winner Announcement - Celsius Negative Calorie Drink Prize Pack

What better way to kick of the Easter weekend than by announcing another lucky giveaway winner!  With Easter dinner, chocolate bunnies, and other goodies - one lucky winner is going to enjoy a Celsius Negative Calorie Drink prize pack!

Are you today's lucky Get Fit Guide winner?

Dry Idea Advanced Dry Roll-On Deodorant: Never Let Them See You Sweat! (Review & Giveaway)

As a Purex Insider, I'm given numerous opportunities to test and sample a variety of great products. Most recently, I was selected to review the NEW Dry Idea Advanced Dry roll-on deodorant.

I have been a solid deodorant user for as long as I can remember, always leary of roll-on deodorants.  I was afraid that they would leave my under arms and my clothing wet and sticky.  So, I will admit that I was a little nervous to try the Dry Idea roll-on deodorant - but did accept the challenge.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with my experience.  It actually left my under arms silky smooth and dry!  It seems strange that something wet could leave you dry... but it did.  Dry Idea AdvancedDry is formulated with vitamin E leaving your skin extra silky and smooth.

I received the fresh scent and it had a clean, subtle scent that was very nice - not too strong of overpowering, it was perfect.
  
It also dried quickly which was one of my main concerns about using a roll-on deodorant.  No worries now!

Giveaway Winner Announcement: Return to Nim's Island

I'm a little behind in announcing giveaway winners here at Being Frugal and Making it Work, but that doesn't mean that I have forgotten about them!  Spring Break is upon us and my goal is to get caught up and enjoy some quality time with my two wonderful children.

Are you today's lucky winner?

Printable Coupons for Great Deals on Groceries, Dining Out & More!

As a stay-at-home-mom, it's become my addiction to save money and make my family resources stretch farther. Whether I'm shopping in-store or online, I always make sure to check for printable coupons, manufacturer coupons, sales and/or promotional codes before making any purchases.

I love the coupon value packs that come in the mail once a week.  Valpak is one of my favorites because the envelope is always full of great local coupons for restaurants and other local businesses.

Regardless of what I'm shopping for, I am always looking for a great deal, clearance section or coupon.  I take pride in the fact that I rarely pay full retail price for anything. Most times I save much more money than I spend. It's a wonderful feeling and one that I love sharing.

Entering Blog Giveaways – Look What I Won

I have said it before and I will say it again... you can't win if you don't enter!  In the last week I won a $50 Visa gift card, a $20 Amazon gift card, a Pediacare gift basket and a Wreck It Ralph dvd combo pack!

 While I have your attention, be sure to enter the fabulous giveaways right here at Being Frugal and Making it Work:

P&G/CVS $50 Gift Card & Prize Pack (3/27)

 

 

Puppet Monsters - Winners Choice (3/28)

 

 

100 Calorie Snacks: Vitalicious Sampler (3/29)

 

 

Honey Bunches of Oats - 3 Winners (3/30)

 

 

Nuvia Trim Weight Loss Coffee - 3 Winners (4/3)

 

Aurorae Yoga Mat & Fitted Tank Top (Review & Giveaway)

Yoga is the perfect way to relax, relieve stress, and lose weight.  Having a comfortable yoga mat is just as important as having comfortable workout wear.

 Aurorae Yoga mat-towels are soft, absorbent, slip free, extra long (72”), and come in a variety of soothing and relaxing colors.  I love how the Synergy mat is the perfect combination of terry cloth and cushion - making it the ultimate yoga mat.  Light weight, no odor, durable, machine washable and easy to care for.

In addition to great yoga accessories, they also have a new line of comfortable workout apparel.  Long yoga pants, cropped yoga pants and fitted tank tops.  

Their tank tops are eco-friendly, breathable, and soft to the touch with flat lock seams.  Composed of 93% Lenzing Modal and 7% Spandex, making them both comfortable and supportive. Available in black and smoked pearl: XS-XL and made in the USA. 

I also had the pleasure of trying their lavender meditative mist which smells heavenly.  I've sprayed it in every room of the house, on the furniture, on my bedspread, and in my vehicle.  Refresh your mind, body and spirit, no matter where you are!

Aurorae Yoga offers yoga mats in illuminating colors, a focal point icon and extra long in length. Aurorae also offers the best reviewed yoga mats, accessories & props online. You can browse their yoga mats, yoga bags, yoga accessories and yoga props.

CoverSports Gym Mats: Protection for our Active Athletes!

Both of my children are active in sports, wrestling and gymnastics are their favorites.  One thing that both of these sports have in common is the need for a soft place to land.  We recently transformed our basement into a mat room so that the children would have a safe place to practice.

 

CoverSports' EnviroSafe gym mats are safe for your athletes and the environment!  Their mats are made with polyester fiber that is 100% recyclable, toxin-free, fire-retardant and mold and mildew proof.

We recently received a bright yellow 4'x6' gym mat, and my kids have used it every single day since it's arrival.  It has been used for cartwheels, flips, sit-ups, a landing pad and even a tropical island! 

The foam choices range from very soft to extra firm to provide the right amount of cushioning and absorption.  The gym mats are also available in 14 colors in solid, alternating or rainbow colors.  With velcro on the sides, they are easy to connect together for more coverage.   Plus, they fold up quickly and easily, so storing and moving them is easy.  They easily slide into the closet or under the bed.

Buying or Selling a Home in the Inland Northwest? $50 Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway!

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the Inland Northwest?  Chad Cysewski is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, and is currently serving the inland northwest; including North Idaho and Spokane, Washington.

If you are a Seller...
 

• Your home will be marketed, not just listed! 
• Your home will be marketed as part of my innovative "Every Day Until It’s Sold" program.

If you are a Buyer...
 

• You can be assured that you will be exposed to all the homes in the area that are in your price range and meet your needs. 
• You will have representation from the first time you see your new home, through negotiations, the escrow process, close and after.

Fitness Test Friday: Moving Forward!

It's Fitness Test Friday!  Three weeks ago, I decided to complete the fitness test program on my treadmill every Friday with the goal to improve just a little each week. I wasn't expecting to see tremendous changes each week, but a little bit of improvement would mean success to me.  One workout at a time... slow and steady wins the race!

Last night as I was putting the kids to bed I glanced towards my treadmill and saw something that made me laugh out loud.  My daughter had been playing behind the couch and decided to give one of her WWE wrestling superstars a workout.  She laid out a foam runway on my treadmill that lead down to the wrestling cage!

I decided to start off a little faster than last weeks fitness test and started off with a speed of 5.5 and slowly increase my speed every two minutes.  I kept my eye on the goal that I had set for myself... 

Fitness Test Week 1:
I managed to go 0.93 miles in the allotted 12 minutes

Fitness Test Week 2:
 I jogged 1.04 miles in the allotted 12 minutes

Last Minute Spring Break Vacation Deals - Save up to 50% Off this Spring or 2 Free Nights this Summer

Are you ready for Spring Break?  Still looking for some spectacular last minute spring skiing? Look no further with over 225” of snowfall this season and more on its way we can help you with lodging in the Colorado Rocky Mountains! Save 50% on your Spring Break stay of 4 nights or more through April 30, 2013 (35% off 2 and 3 night stays) when you book with Colorado Rocky Mountain Resorts with Breckenridge, Frisco, Copper Mountain, and Keystone vacation rentals!  Call them at 800-635-3434 to plan your Spring Break and mention Promo Code DCO!

 

Planning your summer vacation? Colorado is the place to go with moderate temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and recreational activities for all! Receive 2 FREE Nights when you pay for 5 nights with nightly prices starting as low as $79* per night and weekly as low as $595*.   Call Colorado Rocky Mountain Resorts now at 800-635-3434 today for more information and mention Promo Code DCO! (*excludes taxes)

Ways to Manage Your Money for a Better Quality of Life

Although they say that money doesn't buy happiness, you may wonder if "they" had a family of five to support. Money is the means in how we survive from day-to-day whether it is paying bills, gas in the car to get to work, or food in our children's stomach. You don't have to be in the upper-class bracket in order to live a finer life, though. If you watch your spending and make good financial decisions, you can provide a good life for yourself and your family.

1. Track Your Spending - If you can't afford a budget program for your computer, you can set up a method to track your spending with Microsoft Excel, the free to use Open Office, or by purchasing a columned ledger for a few dollars. Monitor the different categories of your spending and see where you can reduce the outflow. It helps to be able to visualize how much money is spent on unnecessary things like fast food and treats.

2. Do You Need It - There are many things that you may want to buy. Ask yourself if you need the item or not. You must answer yourself truthfully and not try to talk yourself into spending money on something that isn't required for living. Do you really need that 22-inch widescreen LCD monitor for your computer when that 15-inch screen works?

3. Home Decor - Many of us would like to decorate our homes with tasteful pictures, shelving, tables, and more. Did you know that you can buy tasteful living fixtures for the home at budget stores such as Family Dollar? While the quality may not be that of an item ten times its price tag, the fixture itself can bring a sense of style to the home.

Nectresse Zero Calorie Sweetener Giveaway

Nectresse is a natural no calorie sweetener from the makers of Splenda.  Made from the extract of monk fruit, Nectresse brings the rich sweetness of sugar, without all the calories and is an all-natural way to consume less sugar while still enjoying the foods and drinks you love.

Did you know that  just one packet of Nectresse provides all the sweetness of two teaspoons of sugar?  I love the sweetness and taste.  It makes all of my favorite naturally sweet without the additional calories.  For me it's a win-win situation! 

There is no bitter after-taste, and my husband has no idea that I've been using Nectresse zero calorie sweetener in his iced tea instead of sugar!

Crystal Light Liquid - Delicious Zero Calorie Drink Mixes

When I began my weight loss journey last July, I made the choice to stop drinking my calories.  So many of my favorite drinks contained insane amounts of empty calories.  I knew that by making better food and drink choices, the healthier I would be.

New Crystal Light Liquid drink mixes free you from making the difficult choice between taste or calories!  With a delicious medley of delectable flavors, Crystal Light drink mixes shake up the idea of “diet drinks” and introduce you to a lighter way to live.

 I recently had the pleasure of trying the Mango Passionfruit and Strawberry Lemonade varieties of the new Crystal Light liquid.  

Both flavors were equally delicious, and I honestly can't choose a favorite.  I'd love to try all of the other varieties as well, I think I'll pick up Blueberry Raspberry on my next shopping trip.

There are a few reasons why I love Crystal Light liquid drink mixes:

1.  Zero Calories
2. Sugar Free
3.  Delicious Flavors  
4.  Convenience 
5.  Affordable

It's easy to create the perfect drink with just the right amount of flavor.  Whether at home or on the go, you're going to love it.  Just flip open the top and give it a squeeze!

Mellow: Squeeze a little

Balanced: Squeeze a full drop

Bold: Squeeze a little more

 

Crystal Light liquid is available in 6 delicious varieties:

Soft Scrub All Purpose Cleaner (Review and Giveaway)

I don't think any of us actually enjoy cleaning our kitchens and bathrooms, but I know that cleaning is a necessity.  No one likes a dirty house, so finding a great all purpose cleaner is one way to make cleaning simple and easy!

 From sinks and showers to bathtubs and faucets, Soft Scrub Total all purpose cleanser will blow you away with its versatility and fresh, lemon scent.

 Soft Scrub is tough, gentle and versatile enough to be used everyday in many ways. You can use Soft Scrub cleansers for a deep clean that is gentle enough to use on even the most delicate surfaces. Soft Scrub Total is powerful enough to clean your entire home and can even be used upside down for those hard to reach places!

I was very impressed at how easy it was to clean even the toughest grime from our kitchen stove top and bathtubs.  It took very little elbow grease and it left everything clean, shiny and smelling great!

Cooper Tire’s "My Every Day Road Trip" Contest!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooper Tire for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Road trips were something that we did most weekends, every Spring Break and during the summer when I was a kid.  They were a way for us to have fun, explore the country, and spend quality time together as a family.  

The Cooper Tire's My Every Day Road Trip Contest is your chance to share one of your not-so- everyday road trip stories by submitting video, written stories or photos.  You can submit your stories through March 29th, originality and creativity are encouraged!  Make readers "feel" that they are riding along beside you.

The top written story will win a $100 gift card to use toward gas while the highest rated photo entry will receive a $500 gift card to use toward gas.  And with gas prices as high as they are right now, this will come in handy!

The top five video finalists will each win a new set of four Cooper tires and advance to the final phase of the competition. In the final phase, Cooper Tire Facebook fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite 'Every Day Road Trip' video, to help determine the final winner. The video with the combined highest score and most votes will be awarded a gift card for $5,000 toward gas for one year to fuel their daily drive.



Cooper Tire is also offering its fans a chance to win a Road Trip Kit just for voting during the sweepstakes. Beginning April 15, fans can vote for their top video to help determine the overall Cooper Tire Facebook video winner. For each vote (one per day), fans will automatically receive an entry to win a Road Trip Kit. The prize pack includes several items to keep them on-the-go, including a $100 Cooper Tire auto service voucher, a $50 gas card, $50 iTunes gift card and Cooper gear.

Sweet Andy's Cookies (Review & Giveaway)

Dessert isn't something we have at our house every night of the week.  So, when we do get to have a sweet dessert, you can guarantee that the kids want something that is really good.  Cookies, cake, brownies and ice cream are a few of their favorite sweet desserts.

Most people have a favorite cookie, but I just love cookies in general.  Sweet Andy's Cookies come in 12 different varieties and my family recently devoured 6 of them.  The cookies came stacked and wrapped in cute little bags.  Each clear plastic bag was labeled with their cute logo, cookie flavor and nutritional facts.

The first flavor we decided to try was triple chip.  It had semi sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and white chocolate chips.  The cookies were large, plump and chewy... simply delicious!

I decided to put a few bags in the freezer because I knew if I left them on the counter that we would have them all eaten in a matter of days.  With 4 of us enjoying them, we could easily eat an entire bag (or more if we didn't control ourselves) in just one sitting. 

Each cookie variety that we tried all receive two thumbs up.  We loved everything about them!  Each cookie was plump/thick, soft, full of flavor and contained the perfect amount of goodies.

Sweet Andy's Cookies are Perfect for...

Custom Fortune Cookies Review

Chinese food has always been one of my favorites when going out to eat.  I love the oriental noodles, sweet-n-sour chicken, and lets not forget the fortune cookies!

I recently had the pleasure of sampling a variety of flavored fortune cookies.  I will admit that when I opened the box I was going to hide them so I didn't have to share with my husband and children.  My own little secret stash, all of my own... I felt guilty and decided to share the experience.

Or course we decided to sample every flavor and see if we could guess what flavors they were.  We were all pleasantly surprised at how delicious each flavor was and that we guessed them all correctly.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Blu-Ray Combo PackGiveaway

I've been hearing all about the Hobbit because the 4th graders are reading it at school.  They seem to love the book and I'm sure they would enjoy watching the movie.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an amazing quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.

You will love The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blog App:

Are You 100% Hobbit Quiz! What has a tendency to be very brave, is around 4 ft. tall with sharp eyesight, little to no facial hair, and loves cake? If you thought we were talking about you, then you might be a Hobbit Indeed! Take the quiz to find out just how much of a Hobbit you are! 

• Creatures of Middle-earth! Hobbits, Elves and Dwarves are just a few of the magical creatures that call Middle-earth home. Check out vital stats and unique features about each one!

Leprechaun Trap - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day is a special day for the first graders at my children's school.  Each student is asked to create a leprechaun trap and return it to school the week before St. Patrick's Day, in hopes of catching a sneaky leprechaun or two! 

We were given a few hints before we started our project. Leprechauns are tricky little fellows - they like shiny things, things that glitter and sweets. They are also naughty at times and often disobey signs!

How our trap works: The Leprechaun will go around to gather up the chocolate chip cookie kisses, and when we goes to get the one on the rug at the top, he will fall through the hole that is hidden under the rug!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

PAAS Easter Egg Dyeing Kits & Easter Egg Decorator App - Support Make-A-Wish

As my children grow older, I realize just how quickly the "magic" of the holidays can vanish.  Easter is right around the corner.  The Easter Bunny, coloring Easter Eggs and marshmallow peeps are the staples of the season.  Even though I can't stand the taste of marshmallow peeps, I always buy one package - it's tradition!

 Heinz Vinegar and PAAS Easter Egg Dyeing Kits have partnered to bring you the Easter Egg Decorator app, available both online via desktop or laptop computer and through the iTunes App Store. Now through March 31, when you decorate and share a virtual Easter egg with family and friends using the free app, Heinz and PAAS will donate $1, up to $25,000, to Make-A-Wish.

For the brightest, most vivid colors, add one tablet and three tablespoons of Heinz Distilled White Vinegar to a PAAS Color Cup or a one-cup container. Once the tablet has dissolved, add ½ cup water and stir gently. Also, to help keep hard-cooked eggs from cracking, add two tablespoons of Heinz Distilled White Vinegar per quart of water before placing the eggs in the pot. The shells will also peel off faster and easier when they’re done.

What are my favorite things about Easter?  

The answer is one that I don't even have to think about... watching the joy and excitement of my children!  There isn't a better feeling than watching the excitement on your child's face during ANY holiday.  There is always something special and magical when you see things through the eyes of a child.  

Giveaway Ending Tonight: $50 Walmart Gift Card & Wholly Guacamole Prize Pack

What better way to end the busy week, and begin the weekend than by entering to WIN a great prize pack that includes a variety of Wholly Guacamole products, Daily's Cocktails and a $50 Walmart gift card!

Enter to WIN a  Wholly Guac Prize Pack + WalMart Gift Card

Have a fantastic weekend!

Nectresse - Zero Calorie Sweetener (Review + Free Sample & Coupon)

Seven months ago I decided to begin my weight loss journey and cut certain foods and drinks from my diet.  As part of my plan, I made the choice to enjoy zero or low calorie beverages and stop drinking my calories!   

Nectresse is a natural no calorie sweetener from the makers of Splenda.  Made from the extract of monk fruit, Nectresse brings the rich sweetness of sugar, without all the calories and is an all-natural way to consume less sugar while still enjoying the foods and drinks you love.

Perfect for use in all your favorites:

1. Tea - iced or hot

2.  Coffee - iced or hot

3.  Cereal - hot or cold

4. Baking Goodies

5. Hot Oatmeal

6. On Top of Fresh Fruit

7. Lemonade

Did you know that  just one packet of Nectresse provides all the sweetness of two teaspoons of sugar?  I love the sweetness and taste.  It makes all of my favorite naturally sweet without the additional calories.  For me it's a win-win situation!

Nuvia Trim - Weight Loss Coffee (Review & Giveaway)

In my quest to lose weight and lead a healthier life, I have been looking for healthy ways to help promote my weight loss.  Nuvia Trim claims that their coffee is a healthy weight loss in a cup!, so I had to give it a try and see for myself!

Nuvia Trim is a healthy weight loss coffee containing powerful green coffee bean extract (400mg), Green Tea Extract, Raspberry Ketone, Ganoderma, and African Mango.  It is 100% natural and they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so there is absolutely no risk.

As with any product I try that claims to provide specific results, I'll admit that I was skeptical but accepted the challenge with an open mind.  After all, I love coffee... I love raspberry... and I'm trying to lose these last 10 pounds that keep hanging on for dear life.

The box states that for best results you should drink NuviaTrim 30 minutes prior to eating, so that's what I did before breakfast for an entire month.  I didn't miss a single day.  I absolutely loved the subtle raspberry flavor!

*HOT* Coupon for FREE International Delight Coffee Creamer

Hurry on over to the International Delight Facebook page click on the "Free Flavor Sweeps" tab and complete the entry form to snag a coupon valid for FREE International Delight Coffee Creamer

  Only the 1st 75,000 people will grab a coupon for FREE International Delight Coffee Creamer!  As an added bonus,  you'll also be entered to win a year supply of International Delight Coffee Creamer.

What is your favorite coffee creamer flavor?

Practical Ways To Save Money

It is important for parents to teach their children about money management because instilling good practices early in their lives will prepare them for the years to come. There are a number of things moms can do to help their kids’ financial budgeting and overall spending. Not only can parents teach proper practices but lead by example as well. 

 

Early Practices

 

Moms should introduce their children to money earlier in their lives. Money should not be an intrusive factor but they should grasp the concept of conserving it and that concept should be exposed as early as possible. 

 

It is important for parents to communicate their feeling of finances to their children so they can adopt their perception of money and adopt the good money management practices as well. If parents are vocal of their way of saving money, nurturing their finances, and spending the money wisely, then it is likely to get across to the children.

 

Teach Practical Methods

 

Help kids know the difference between the types of things they should spend their money on. The difference between wants and needs will help them decide which products or services actually deserve their money. 

 

The ability to set goals is a great way to learn the value of money. Parents can perform this buy introducing their children to an allowance, then the kids will have to learn to set goals for the money they have. For the toy or game they want to buy, parents can set a goal of saving up a few weeks prior to the purchase.