Help me win!

So, I've taken a break from giveaways for the past few months, though I did manage to still win a lip smoothing salon pack from the one I did splurge my time on. I stumbled across this one and have decided that I HAVE to win!

I want these:

So I'm blogging about the great giveaway of a $100 giftcard to eye buy direct, courtesy of "Livin' in a Little White House"

I'd tell you all to go enter, but I really NEED new glasses! Having a toddler has been a little rough on the eye wear around here--my frames are scratched to nearly opaque and Eric's have been redesigned for a more angled face...

...or a cyclops.

Here's hoping I win!

You're Invited!

Thanks to everyone who's expressed interest :o) Want in? Call me to schedule a specific time. I'll see you there! I might even bring treats...

Portrait Party: continued

Our portrait party is in the works! We need to pick which day works best, so vote in the poll in the right side bar! Pick every day that will work for you.

The tentative plan is to meet at the waterfall area by the bell tower on BYU campus. Times will be available from approximately 4-7pm on the date of our choice, and you can either pick a specific slot or we can make it a come and go format. I'll bring treats, so come hang out!

Have any friends you think would be interested? Let me know!

Portrait Party: update

Ok, I think I'm really going to do this :o) BUT, I need a few more people, so let me know if you're interested! Sorry that the previous link didn't work--please check out her work and see for yourself.

Shanda's new site! You can catch a glimpse of my cute boy (and even a shot of me) in her gallery.

Want great pictures for super cheap? post a comment. let me know.

Portrait Party

So, I found a great photographer through Craig'slist this past week! She's trying to expand her portfolio and get business going, so she offered me a free half hour session and 5 images on CD. I figured I had nothing to lose, but I had no idea I would get such great pictures FOR FREE! I do have an adorable son, but still, these are super professional--and Scotty just threw rocks into Utah Lake for the entire session.

I think her work is so great, and I know many of you are looking to get affordable pictures of your cute kids, so I'm thinking of hosting a portrait party. Here's how it works. I pick a location and invite my friends (and their kids). Every guest gets a free 20 minute shoot, including individuals or groups as needed, without paying any session fees! You can bring any people or props you wish, and photos will be edited and posted to a secure site within a week.

There is no pressure to buy any
of the portraits taken!

CD

Guests can purchase a CD with their images
5 images - $15
10 images - $25
15 images - $35
20 images - $45
all images - $55

Prints

8 wallets - $10
4x6 - $10
5x7 - $10
8x10 - $15
11x14 - $20

I might even make it more of a party and provide food and treats to keep us entertained. Anyone interested? Let me know! I have to have at least four people to schedule...

check out her website as well!

P.S. if you want to see Scotty's pics, let me know and I'll email you a link.

Freesale Saturday

I've been meaning to post this all week but the time has gotten away from me. Don't forget about the freesale this Saturday!

Saturday, May 30th
10am-12pm
on the lawn at 500 N 100 E

Women's clothes, men's clothes, baby clothes, sweaters, coats, movies, home decor, yard care supplies, etc. Bring anything you have to give away! Anything left will be taken to Deseret Industries. Please invite your friends and I'll see you there!

Freecycle Swap

Provo Freecycle (like Craigslist but all free) is hosting a yard sale swap tomorrow!

Saturday, May 2
10am-12pm
547 E. 600 N. Provo, UT
(if it rains it will be under the covered parking garage)

Everything is free--please bring someone of your own to exchange. Have stuff you were going to take to the DI? Bring it here first! They'll take whatever is left over to the DI for you, assuming it's easily transportable.

Right now there are a few bags of stuff we'll be putting on the front lawn...
stuffed animals
random plates, bowls, kitchen utensils
men's clothes (average size is M)
women's clothes (average size is S/M)
a few baskets, kids toys
coolers
cd/radio
large desk
blinds
double stroller (one of the brakes isn't working I was told)
computer (this will go by free raffle to someone who could really use it-- its a
mac all-in-one that has the capability of hooking up to the internet and works
great to type on for reports, etc.)

plus everything everyone else brings!

Provo's Hidden Gems: Part II

Part 2: Great little restaurants

I love the treat of eating out but we're on a tight budget. Here are some of my favorites around town.

El Salvador (332 W Center St)--great authentic Salvadorian food. Try the papusas, they're great and cheap!

Diego's Taco Shop (45 W 300 N) they moved a year ago to this new location but are still close enough to walk to. They make the best horchata I have ever tasted! It's pure heaven. I also love the chicken nachos.

Thai Ruby (744 E 820 N) I don't consider this a cheap eat, but we often stop in just for dessert--mango with sticky rice. If you like Thai food or mango, this is to die for! The perfect addition to make a basic home cooked meal seem like a classy night out.

7-11 (496 N University Ave) still the cheapest place for a quick summer fix: the Slurpee. If you're really cheap, buy a bigger, reusable cup and save it. The price is cheaper for refills. Best slurpee flavor: crystal light.

Provo Bakery (190 E 100 N--closed Mondays) is a great little shop hidden in south Provo. Stop in a try a homemade doughnut or muffin.

J Dawgs (880 N 700 E) worth it at least once--eating a J Dawg is like hiking the Y. Tradition.

Doc's Pizza Buffet (2250 N University Pkwy # 22--by Cafe Rio in the Movies 8 complex). If you haven't been here in awhile, it's worth another look. Under new management it's a little more expensive and there's no longer hilarious karaoke, but the pizza is better. Price includes pasta, salad, pizza (request your favorite!), breadsticks, dessert pizza, drinks, and an ice cream cone.

Want to get a great deal on eating out? Check out City Deals for half price gift cards. Order in the morning, pick up in the afternoon!

Missing your favorite? Let me know! I'm always up for something new :o)

Provo's Hidden Gems: Part I

Ok, it's April, but still gray and cold outside. I personally spend hours wandering around outside every week to keep my son entertained, and in so doing, have stumbled upon some less well-known places. For those of you who live in or around Provo, enjoy!

Part 1: Food and Clothing for Less

Smith's Food and Drug (350 N Freedom) has a student fresh values card that takes 5% off every shopping order. Essentially, all of your food is tax free! Smith's also has 2 Redbox rental stations. Their weekly ad comes out every Wednesday and they participate in the Shortcuts electronic coupon program.

Walmart (1355 Sandhill Rd, Orem). Never fails. Not the best shopping experience but the deals don't get any better. Bring store ads for all the local grocery and retail stores and Walmart will price match (if it's the exact brand and size). If you have the time and energy to spare, it's worth the haggle.

Honk's Dollar Store (650 N Freedom) offers good deals on basic cleansers, office supplies, stationary, gift bags, etc. Every Tuesday every dollar deal is reduced to 88 cents! My favorite buys: scented diaper disposal bags (a life saver for that between breastfeeding and pottytraining stage!) and knock-off teddy grahams.

Habitat for Humanity Re-Store (626 N Freedom--right next to Honk's). This place is amazing for several reasons.
1) You can drop off almost any extra building materials you don't want to store or dispose of.
2) You can buy supplies for a quick fix at insanely low prices--a gallon of oil based paint is only $1. Great for paintbrushes, wood stain, nails and screws, or odds and ends.
3) They offer monthly home maintenance classes for free.
4) They offer a tool-rental system just like a public library that lends tools for personal use free of cost.
5) This place keeps any kid entertained for at least 20 minutes because it is full of gadgets, gizmos, and interesting people!

Kid to Kid (2250 N University Pky, #26--next to Cafe Rio in the Movies 8 complex). Kids grow way too fast to pay full price for clothes, shoes, socks, toys, strollers, etc. The provo store has a great selection of kids clothes in all sizes, as well as two racks of shoes, a variety of toys, and a surprisingly good selection of maternity clothes. All products are gently used, look brand new, and most are name brand. My favorites:
1) 3 pairs of socks for $0.99--and I get to try them on his wriggling feet to know how long they will last!
2) Every Tuesday at the Provo location is grandparent's day. Simply show off a picture of your adorable grandchild and get 10% off your entire purchase. (I love to shop Tuesdays when my mom is in town visiting!)
3) A walled in kids zone full of toys to keep my monkey occupied while I browse.
4) If you really need to stock up, pick up a frequent shopper card to earn a free purchase. These cards are now accepted at any location.

Deseret Industries (1415 N State St) In addition to accepting donations and helping you recycle your used stuff, the DI has some great bargains. My favorites: cheap games (I've bought Racko for $1 and Scene It for $1.50) and kids shoes ($2-$3!)

Plato's Closet (592 E University Pkwy, Orem--just across from University Mall) Kid to Kid for moms :o) If you don't mind gently used clothing or want to spice up your wardrobe with something trendy, this is a great place to pick up fashion ideas or that perfect pair of jeans or shoes on the cheap. Also, if your wardrobe is "classy and trendy" enough, you can sell your gently used clothing and accessories for some easy cash.

Ross Dress for Less (222 W 1300 S, Orem). No shopping list of mine would be complete without Ross--I owe almost my entire wardrobe to this store, including my amazing red heels and all my favorite pairs of jeans. The Ross in Orem isn't the best ever, though their petite section is expanding and offers some great options for walking the fine line between forever teenaged and frumpy mom. If you ever need help finding something great, call me--I never fail.

Free Haircuts in Provo

If you're in Provo, The Paul Mitchell Academy is sponsoring free haircuts on BYU's campus in Brigham Square (just outside the WSC) Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 pm. Think it's time for a change but want to save money? Give it a shot! There will probably be a line but it's worth it--plus, there are lots of grassy spots for kids to run around in while you wait.

Can't make it but are desperate for a cheap fix? Let me know, and if you trust me, I'd be happy to cut it for you. Or teach you some magic tricks with bobby pins!

Free Cottonelle Sample

Walmart is offering a free mini-roll of Cottonelle toilet paper. It's something we all have to buy anyway--why not get some for free?

Walmart is also offering free samples of Gain detergent, poise pads, Parent's Choice baby formula, and Crest whitestrips!

Freebies! Redbox and General Mills

Thanks, Linds, for passing this on!

First off, if you ever rent movies, you need to sign up for Redbox because as nice as it is to get a movie for $1, it's even better to get it free! You get a free rental code when you sign up that can be used anytime.

Also, check out Inside Red Box for a free rental code every Monday!

Looking for more free samples? Sign up for General Mill's new promotion: Pssst. Signing up involves a short survey about products you buy. The site will then pass along promotions, coupons, free samples, and product tests.

I also have an easy giveaway running on 5 Things Cooking right now, so submit your recipes!

Household Cleaning Tips

I have a great book called "Mary Ellen's Helpful Hints" that covers everything from stain removal to food preparation and everything in between. Check out 5 Things Cooking for her tips on keeping food fresher for longer!

Here are some great cleaning tips for removing tough stains or making your own cheaper and more environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Save time and money by using the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available, but add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dishwater. The vinegar will cut the grease and leave your dishes sparkling clean.

To quickly remove food that is stuck to a casserole dish, fill with boiling water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda or salt.

When a drain is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve immediately and open the drain.

A small nick in the rim of a glass can be smoothed out by using a soft nail file. Scratches on glassware will disappear if polished with toothpaste!

An inexpensive oven cleaner: set oven on warm for about 20 minutes, then turn off. Place a small dish of full strength ammonia on the top shelf. Put a large pan of boiling water on the bottom shelf and let it set overnight. In the morning, open oven and let it air a while before washing off with soap and water. Even the hard baked-on grease willw ash off easily.

To get rid of odors in plastic containers, place crumpled-up newspaper (black and white only) into the container. Cover tightly and leave overnight.

Water spots on stainless steel can easily be removed with rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, or club soda.

Club soda is also a great stain remover for carpet!

Need a cheap laundry spot remover? Mix 2 parts water with 1 part rubbing alcohol.

Update: Photo coupons and blog updates!

New Snapfish coupon for 20% off everything! Enter coupon code: SPRING09

Expires March 8, 2009.

Also, I found another great site for cute (and free!) backgrounds! Check out Aqua Poppy if you're looking for a new look.

Photo Deals

The main online photo companies are offering stimulus packages of their own. If you're looking to print your digital scrapbook, make a mini photo book, get a head start on next year's calendar or Christmas cards, now is the time!

Kodak EasyShare Gallery: Save 20% when you spend $20 or more. Good through 3/31/09.

Enter coupon code: SPRING2020

Mini flip photo books start at $5.59! Great for grandparents :o)

Snapfish: 20% off photobooks! Ends today, but i'm sure there will be a new coupon coming.

Enter coupon code: BOOKFUN

Shutterfly: 20% off photobooks! Ends 3/10/09. ALSO, get 2 free 8 x 10 prints with purchase of any photobook.

Enter coupon code: BOOKSANDPRINTS

Shortcuts Website

So I have some great links on my sidebar that I thought I should blurb a bit because they're too great to miss! Check out the "Recommended Sites!" section on the left hand side bar for a permanent link.

Shortcuts.com is a great site for those of you who want to save money on groceries but don't have time for coupons or remembering which to take when and to which store. This site lets you add a frequent shopper card, such as the Smith's Freshvalues card, by that barcode number on the back. You can add multiple cards from multiple stores if you don't have a regular store. When you search through manufacturer coupons on the site and you stumble across one you like or a product you buy regularly, you simply click to add it to your card. This loads the coupon onto your member card, and when you scan your card at the grocery store it automatically scans your coupon!

Even better, the site sends you a reminder when coupons are about to expire and also lets you know when your coupons have been used. An added bonus, I've discovered that some coupons can be used in conjunction with each other. For example, I bought two Yoplait yogurt cups at the store before leaving on vacation this last week. On my card I had loaded a few coupons for Yoplait yogurt, and when I checked my email the next day, I realized that both the $0.25 cents off 1 yogurt and $0.75 cents off 2 yogurts coupons had been used! That means I paid $0.98 cents for 2 yogurts and got $1.00 off. Best of all, I didn't even remember I had yogurt coupons and the discount was taken automatically.

Again, these are manufacturer coupons, so they can be taken in conjunction with any in store promotion or sale.

Happy (easy) couponing!

The final tally

3 tanks for $3 each -- regularly $14.50 each.
Saved $34.50

1 swim top for $3 -- regularly $36.50.
1 swim bottom for $3 -- regularly $22.50
Saved $53.00

1 wrap top in black for $7 --regularly $28.50.
Saved $21.50

1 puff sleeve top for $7 -- regularly $28.50
Saved $21.50

1 Henley tee for $7 -- regularly $28.50
Saved $21.50

1 Tiffany maternity top for $5 -- regularly $30.00
Saved $25.00

Spent: $41.00
Saved: $177.00

Sad you missed the warehouse sale? Shade clothing is hosting a fundraiser sale at Provo High School on President's Day. Everything will be $5.

Shade LOOT.

For those of you who didn't hit up the Shade clothing sale, you missed out! Here's the damage:

3 square neck camisoles (white, brown, black)
1 purple modest tankini! (top and bottom)
1 black wrap shirt
1 tiffani maternity top in pink (for a friend--i'm not pregnant, i promise!)
1 puff sleeve top in a gorgeous blue
1 henley shirt in spruce (i LOVE LOVE this!)


Anyone want to guess how much it cost me?

Shade Clothing

Shade Clothing. I credit them as the saving grace of my wardrobe, for infusing modesty and class into all of my fun shirts that just don't cover everything! I have THREE (yes, THREE) white cap sleeve shirts and could use another one...I also have a pink capsleeve, three cami's (black, brown, light blue), two baby tees, and two shirts.

When it comes to undershirts and layering, these are hands down the best! They always cover everything I need to. They're always long enough but without getting baggy or bulgy. Best of all, the necklace stays flat against my skin when I lean forward--no worries! I even wore my undershirts throughout my entire pregnancy; they stretched to fit all nine months and then shrunk right back to still fit my post-baby bod.

Ready for the great news? Shade Clothing is having a WAREHOUSE sale this weekend! Everything $3, $5, or $7. Sale runs at all store locations (there is a store in the University Mall in Orem, UT--check their website for other locations) as well as their warehouse in Pleasant Grove.

They are also hosting a $5 fundraiser sale at Provo High School (across the street from Zion's Bank on University Avenue in Provo, UT) on President's Day.



P.S. I'm heading to the warehouse sale on Saturday morning with my sis-in-law...see you there!

Birthday Clubs and Freebies

Reading a friend's blog reminded me about all the freebies you can get on your birthday! Many places offer freebies with no advanced planning, but here are a few of my favorites that require a membership to their birthday club (i.e. an email list or website registration)

Birthday Club Freebies!
Cold Stone Creamery - free ice cream creation
Red Robin - buy one get one free burger (coupon good for 14 days)
Sweet Tomatoes - buy one get one free buffet (this is our favorite place!)
Tucano's - free meal (during the month of your birthday)


Kid's birthday freebies!
California Pizza Kitchen - free meal for kids under 10
Denny's - free meal for kids under 10 (can sign up in store)

also, Wendy's and Burger King both have kid's clubs for a free birthday meal (sign up in store)

Anyone else have favorite birthday freebies?