We might finally get some rain!

This won't be good for Miss April, since she loves to hang at the pool but we really need it.

Well, I got my sunroom finally 90% decluttered! Woo Hoo. Thanks to Kristina helping me. I went through four huge boxes of spices! I have Vanilla Extract coming out of my ears. I have a huge bag to take to a friend. She gave me a lot of her clothes she couldn't wear anymore. I wanted to say thank you with one of those Edible arrangements but they are WAY out of my budget. Have you priced them? So I filled her Ikea bag with spices, extracts and Zataran's boxes.

I did get to Staples and got all the free after rebate stuff. Woo Hoo! Now I need to submit my rebates this morning.

We also stopped into AC Moore and Kristina wanted a 96 count of crayons. I can remember wanting them as a kid and my mom would only get me the 64. I made a deal with her. If she cleaned out her huge box of crayons and would donate her whole ones to the art teacher - I would get these for her. Well she did it. She even saved her broken ones and I know there is a craft where you can melt them down and make rainbow crayons. I haven't told her that is what we are going to do with them yet. Here is the recipe:

Homemade Rainbow Crayons

Melt different colored crayons in the microwave or a double boiler and spoon into small molds or an ice cube tray. Cool, remove from the mold and use like regular crayons. Because the colors are mixed, the crayon with change colors as it is used.

I am also very proud of both the girls. While we were at AC Moore they found the Springfield Doll collection which is just like American Girl dolls but cheaper. My deal shopping and thriftiness is rubbing off. These are actually better than the ones that Target offers. We found that the clothes and dolls sold at Target are skinner then the AG dolls, so the clothes don't fit as well. April had been saving for AG pj's well she got a pair for 1/2 the price with no waiting for it to arrive. I can see Santa will be shopping at AC Moore with 50% off coupons! LOL Kristina was looking for coupons to use, also.

I made refrigerator pickles yesterday, they are chillin' once I know they are good, I will post the link for the recipe.

I also made a blackberry cake, it is good. I need to pick more and will probably make freezer jam this evening.

Not much freebies, coupon wise this AM. I have to run to Aldi's then home to work. I will post if I find any goodies.

Check out this Sweepstakes to Enter

Pause And Laugh With TBS And Twix Sweepstakes

Prizes:

(150): One TWIX Break Pack (includes one tote bag, one comedy movie DVD, one fleece blanket, one massager, one hyperflex disc, one stress ball, and one coupon for a free bag of TWIX Brand FUN SIZE bars. ARV: $50

(1,000): One coupon for a free bag of TWIX Brand FUN SIZE bars. ARV: $3.49

Daily Entry. Expires November 15, 2009. U.S. Only.

Totally Useless Fact for Today

On his way home to visit his parents, a Harvard student fell between two railroad cars at the station in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was rescued by an actor on his way to visit a sister in Philadelphia. The student was Robert Lincoln, heading for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The actor was Edwin Booth, the brother of the man who a few weeks later would murder the student's father.

Or so the story goes....

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Congratulations to our Webkinz Winner

deanna said... is the winner!

I picked the winner using custom random number and her number came up. I have emailed Deanna.




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Sponge Ball Toy

Look at this cool toy that Heather at Make it From Scratch just blogged about! Click on her blog to get the simple directions. We are going to make these while we are camping!



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Sorting Spices Day - what fun!

My brother-in-law works for McCormick, now part time, but we have benefited from it for the past 5 years. Well I have tons of spices taking over my sunroom, and since I didn't get it cleaned out last week, worked on shed. This is my job for today.

I do want to run to Staples and AC Moore, also. AC Moore has Crayola at 40% off.

New Website Recommendation from Kim:
I didn't know Yahoo had a green site. Here is a page that has grouped a lot of listings on how you can get things for free.

Check out this Sweepstakes to Enter

The Red Robin Deal-Liciousness Three of a Kind Instant Win Game

Prize (2,500): A $10.00 Red Robin Gift Card.

Daily Entry. Expires September 13, 2009. U.S. Only.

Totally Useless Fact for Today:
Animation artists love inside jokes. In the Disney film Beauty and the Beast (1991), the road signs that Belle's father encounters in the forest show the names of two California cities: one points to Anaheim, while the other points down a dark, sinister-looking path to Valencia. In truth, Anaheim is the site of Disneyland, while the rival Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement theme park is in the city of Valencia.

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Three free books for Summer Reading

Freebies, Etc.

Random House is promoting their newest books by giving away free copies. Go here to request yours. Right now the available books are Something Missing by Matthew Dicks, Where the River Ends by Charles Martin and the Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha. The offer is while supplies last, so don’t delay. Happy reading!




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Hey all - don't forget my giveaway ends tomorrow

We got up early and went school supply shopping, so I am going to try and get entry done later today.

Here's the link for the giveaway.

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Don't forget to check the calendar out to go to the Lean Cuisine website to enter their free lunch sweepstakes

Yesterday we went to the public library for the MD Science Center show. It was a lot of fun!

Here is the finale from the Science Center Show.

Today, is a somewhat busy day. April is volunteering at the library, then working this evening. I will be working at home until about 3:30 then taxi service for April. After that Kristina and I are working a bake sale for gymnastics for three hours at a local Walmart. Hopefully, the rain will hold off.

Check out this Sweepstakes to Enter
Jelly Belly Beanboozled Spin Game

Grand Prize (1): 52" Samsung LCD HDTV. ARV: $1,999.99.
First Prize (1): The Flip Ultra Series Camcorder. ARV: $149.
Second Prize (1): iPod Nano. ARV: $149.

Third Prize (10): Mini Bean Machine and a 1.6oz. box of BeanBoozled.
ARV: $19.95.

Fourth Prize (20): $10 iTunes gift card.
Fifth Prize (25): BeanBoozled Spinner gift box. ARV: $5.99.
Sixth Prize (955): A 1.6oz. box of BeanBoozled. ARV: $2.25.

Daily Entry. Expires November 01, 2009. U.S. Only.

Totally Useless Fact for Today:

Close to Niagara Falls and Buffalo in Orchard Park, New York, is the Pedaling
History Bicycle Museum, which features one of the world's largest collections
of antique American bicycles, including thousands of items of cycling-related
memorabilia. The museum's machines are completely restored to their original
condition. Recent acquisitions on display at the museum include several 1890s
military bicycles and a very rare large two-wheeled bicycle manufactured in
1888 on which the rider sits between two large wheels, one on either side. The
Pedaling History Bicycle Museum is the only one of its kind in America, and one
of only a few remaining in the world. It is the biggest and most complete bicycle
museum in the United States.

Freebies, Etc.
Printable Target coupon for Boots #7 Beauty Serum shown on Extra TV on July 16th. Click here to read about it.

Free Sample of Vaseline with Aloe from Costco.

Free 1 oz sample of St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Enter UPC Code: 7704310360-first 13,000

Free pastry at Starbucks on July 21st, until 10:30 a.m. You do need to buy a drink to go along with it. I have added this to the calendar.

Great Survey Opportunity

I just completed it, not too painful.

Calling All Families! $20 Amazon gift card
Calling All Families!

Your help is needed for a research study on families with adolescents!

This important research project is being conducted by a research team from Claremont Graduate University. Participants receive a $20 gift card for completing a 20-minute, confidential, online survey about themselves and their families. The results of this research will be used to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of family relationships. There are only three criteria for participation:

1. There must be at least two adults and one adolescent child (age 12-17) in each family.

2. Adults must be in a monogamous relationship, living together for at least the past 3 years.

3. Adolescents must live with participating adults at least half-time (i.e., an average of 4 days per week). The adolescent does not have to be biologically related to either adult.

If you are interested in participating or know someone who may be interested, you can visit www.cgu.edu/diversefamilies, email diverse.families@cgu.edu, or call (909) 607-9002.


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Dogs Day are finally HERE!

We had been blessed with a nice summer so far, well the humidity and heat are here! Yuck!

Had a major headache yesterday so the only thing I did was go to the grocery store and then to the pool, later in the day. A good friend called and Kristina's friend had to go home so she said let's go.

So I need to work today after we visit the MD Science Center at the library. I have tuition for August for gymnastics, I am now trying to hoard some money for vacation.

Check out this Sweepstakes to Enter
Mastercard Break In Your Jeans Sweepstakes

Weekly Prize (9): A pair of jeans awarded as $200 MasterCard Gift Card & a
5-day/4-night trip for winner & (3) guests to single destination of winner's
selection to break them in on with total trip expenses not to exceed $50,000.

First Prize (62): A pair of jeans awarded as $200 MasterCard Gift Card & a
3-day/2-night weekend getaway for winner & (1) guest to break them in on
with total trip expenses not to exceed $3,800.

Daily Entry. Expires August 31, 2009. U.S. Only.

Totally Useless Fact for Today:

In 1900,1/3 of all automobiles in New York city were powered by electicity.

(This is very, VERY interesting!)

Freebies, Etc.
Couldn't find anything good, if I find anything you know I will post it.

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Back to normal of a day - I think

Meeting Jordin Sparks was an awesome experience.
It was about 25 people there to see a mini concert!

She performed "Battlefield" and one other song that I didn't know.
She was so bubbly and not shy at all.



We were able to get our picture taken with her but we could not get any individual autographs because she was on a tight schedule.

After we left she played Tennis on the Wii with one of the morning dj's, you can look at pics here.

I also got to meet Ed Norris, finally. If you are not from Baltimore or New York, you might not know who he is. He is the ex-commissioner of Baltimore City Police Department and was head of the Maryland State Police under former Governor Bob Ehrlich. Our current governor and former mayor of Baltimore City, Martin O'Malley was in cahoots with federal prosecutors and framed Ed Norris. The federal prosecutor who headed it was forced to resign but not after almost ruining this man's life. Click here for part one and part two of an article that he participated in after he was released from jail. Note that our governor would not talk to the reporter. Mr. Norris did do HARD jail time but bounced back and is now a wonderful radio talk show host. He loves honest police officers and have their back but when their is shady dealings in government and in the departments he calls them out. Mr. Norris, while he was a NY police office, had one of the 911 conspirators arrested before 911 but had to let them go, and I don't/can't remember why. He has very interesting stories . You can listen to him here every morning here at 105.7 the Fan.

Have to do battle with our medical insurance today. Long story short, Kristina went to the Ophthalmologist yesterday and they said there was nothing medically wrong with her vision, even though she will eventually need glasses. We already submitted our yearly office visit via vision last week. I'm sorry but when it is your eyes you don't mess around with it, especially when an optometrist is referring you to a medical doctor because she could not get a clear reading. The bill was $136 so I am hoping I can get it down some.

Did some back to school shopping also. April is so easy to shop for this year, skinny jeans and t's. I can handle that, especially when we have been catching skinny jeans at Hot Topic for less than $10!

New Website Recommendation from Kim

Earth Promise is an online community dedicated to bringing people together who want to take better care of the environment. We provide an easy way for people to make, track and keep promises about actions that will benefit the earth. Together, we will be a caring and positive voice for the environment.

(I just found this site, thanks to a survey site.)

Check out this Sweepstakes to Enter
Buckle Gift Card Giveaway
Prizes:
(1) One - Grand Prize: $1,000 Buckle Gift Card
(2) Two - First Prizes: $500 Buckle Gift Card
(4) Four - Second Prizes: $250 Buckle Gift Card
(10) Ten - Third Prizes: $100 Buckle Gift Card
(20) Twenty - Fourth Prizes: $50 Buckle Gift Card
(100) One Hundred - Fifth Prizes: $25 Buckle Gift Card
(250) Two Hundred Fifty - Sixth Prizes: $10 Buckle Gift Card

Daily Entry. Expires July 27, 2009. U.S. Only.

Totally Useless Fact for Today

The age recorded on a whiskey bottle refers to the number of years it is aged prior to being bottled. Once in the bottle, whiskey does not improve.

Freebies, Etc.

Ikea is offering free breakfast this weekend! Woo Hoo. I want to go there and now I really have an excuse!

Free Sample of the new Hazelnut flavor of Splenda! One of my favorite flavors!

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Crazy Day

I was suppose to watch a neighbor's little boy today but that fell through. I spent most of the morning visiting with her and uploading yesterday's pic to Twitter (frugalmdmom) and Facebook (kimbers867).

I have not had time to do an entry for today. Ack.

We have a dr's appointment this afternoon.

If I get a chance to get online later, I will do an entry.

Don't forget to look to the right of my page for your chance to win my Webkinz giveaway.

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