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4th of July Online Savings

I love the Fourth of July, not only because of the BBQs, feelings of patriotism or the summer heat that starts baking us for the next few months, but more because it has always been a time for family and my memories of picnics at the park and sparklers after dark are some of my most vivid childhood memories. So remember that summer is a time of rest, relaxation and fun and even if you, (like me) have to continue to work through the summer months, take the fourth to really cherish time with your family and enjoy the fruits of summer, even if it is only for one day.

However, these shopping deals are good all weekend long so definitely sneak away and try to grab some of these hot summer bargains.

Some of the big retailers are having great big fat deals this weekend, so head out to your favorite department store and inevitably you will find some unexpected finds that will really put you in a festive mood. I am going to focus on online deals in this post so that you can just jump on the computer, buy what you need and then get back to the family.

KMART.COM

Kmart is having its annual Red, White and Blue sale with some incredible savings. You can take an extra 5% off pools, outdoor play equipment, grills, magazines and more. They are offering an extra 10% off patio furniture, bikes, skateboards, baby gear, small appliances, etc and 15% off fragrances, then finally  20% off sports equipment. Check it out, I plan on buying the KODAK Easy Share Camera fcor only $69.99. There is a two day sale for today and Monday as well as up to 45.% off all tents. If you haven’t had your outdoor adventure yet, this is a good place to grab a tent.

http://www.kmart.com/?i_cntr=1309719687283

Colby 40″ HD LCD TV only $399.99 (down from $499.99) during Kmart’s 2-day sale. All shipping is free after you spend $59.00, which isn’t hard to do with these prices.

BESTBUY.COM

Best Buy is having a fun 2-day sale today and Monday, where you can find great savings online. Find great savings on televisions, home theater systems, cameras, video games and more. Check them out to see if some of your favorites on are on sale.

Fourth of July 2-Day Sale, Sunday-Monday

SEARS.COM

Sears is having a huge independence day sale with discounts in every department.

big independence day sale

You also will get free delivery on patio furniture and grills as well as free shipping on selected items. Sears is also offering up to 40% discounts on tents and camping gear, just in time to get outside and have your camp out adventure. You will also save 25% on large appliances so if your fridge is on the fritz or you are do for a new washer/dryer, now is the time to buy it.

Okay, so you have finished your online shopping and have gotten some fun deals. (I seriously just bought a camera :) It is time to get outside and enjoy the rest of the weekend. And what better way to do that than to strike up the grill, here are some fun Fourth of July foods that you may want to try.

PATRIOTIC BERRIES

Family.com has some great ideas for fun holiday food. Here are patriotic berries that look cool and delicious.

Revolutionary Berries

Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate chips in a microwave, then make sure that the berries are dry and dip them in the hot white chocolate, then dip them in the blue edible glitter and rest on a large piece of wax paper, repeat until you have dipped all of the berries.

You will need, strawberries, 12 oz white chocolate chips and blue edible sugar glitter or sprinkles.

Posted in Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Holiday Meals, Online Freebies, Online shopping, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, discounts.

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By Stacy – July 3, 2011

Its Almost Summer, Where’s My Bikini…or not!!!!

Okay, so its summer time, which usually means spending time outdoors, grilling on the BBQ, finding cool things to do with the kids and squeezing your….um, ample behind (if you are like me) into a bathing suit. This maybe something that some of you look forward to, I am not one of those people. Since having kids, I have gained a pound or two, now that is not to say that I’m not super hot (what??? moms can be super hot), I am, but there is just more super hotness than before. So here are some great summer meals that help you trim your figure (or keep it slim) and some great bathing suits that will make any shape look amazing.

HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT BATHING SUIT

Sweetie Reviews gives this great, point by point, list of advice for those of us who are looking for a comfortable and flattering swimsuit style for our figure.

how to find the perfect swimsuit

Also Good House Keeping has a great article on finding the right style to flatter your figure and gives you photo examples of bathing suits that may be right for you.

SWIMWEAR PLACE

The Swimwear Place has inexpensive swim suits for any shape, they have a huge selection, so after use have used the guides above, click through their many choices and find your ultimate summer look.

So now that you have found the best suit for you, its time to shed just a few pounds (if you need to, which I certainly do). Even if you aren’t looking to slim down, summer time is a great time to eat healthy and be active. Many succulent fruits and vegetables are available during the summer months, which makes eating healthy, much easier. Here are a few great recipes for summer fun by the pool or at the beach.

Provencal Summer Squash and Potato Gratin

From Food Network Kitchen

Picture of Provencal Summer Squash and Potato Gratin Recipe
Total Time:
1 hr 45 min
Prep
20 min
Inactive
10 min
Cook
1 hr 15 min
Yield:
6 side dish servings
Level:
Intermediate
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly mist a shallow 2-quart baking or gratin dish with cooking spray.

Thinly slice the squash, zucchini, potato, and onion 1/4-inch thick with a mandolin or by hand. Shingle the vegetables in the prepared baking dish in one layer. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the rosemary leaves and drizzle with olive oil. Cover with foil and bake until the potatoes are tender, 30 to 35 minutes.

Remove the foil; sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the cheese is browned and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 45 minutes more. Let stand at least 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional analysis per serving

Calories 87; Total Fat 5.2g (Sat Fat 2.2g, Mono Fat 1.7g, Poly Fat 0.3g) ; Protein 3g; Carb 8g; Fiber 1.5g; Cholesterol 5mg;

Tomato & Basil Finger Sandwiches

From EatingWell:  August/September 2006

A smear of reduced-fat mayonnaise and a little fresh basil allow perfectly ripe tomatoes to shine.

Tomato & Basil Finger Sandwiches Recipe

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 slices whole-wheat bread
  • 8 teaspoons reduced-fat mayonnaise, divided
  • 4 thick slices tomato
  • 4 teaspoons sliced fresh basil
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

REPARATION

  1. Cut bread into rounds slightly larger than your tomato"a biscuit cutter works well. Spread each slice with 2 teaspoons mayonnaise. Top with tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 75 calories; 2 g fat ( 1 g sat , 0 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrates; 1 g added sugars; 2 g protein; 2 g fiber; 345 mg sodium; 118 mg potassium.

Summer Vegetable Crêpes

From EatingWell:  July/August 2008

Summer Vegetable Crêpes Recipe

Crêpes aren’t just for dessert—they make a quick and savory weeknight dinner. Here they’re filled with ricotta cheese, green beans, zucchini and corn and topped with a chive-cream sauce. Don’t skip the step of placing a piece of parchment or wax paper under each crêpe as you fill it—without it, the crêpes are tricky to roll. Serve with: A tossed salad.

READER’S COMMENT:
“I couldn’t find crepes, so I used puff pastry. It made it dry all together as a whole dish. But the filling by itself was wonderful. I’m a sucker for ricotta. ;) My husband liked the filling as well, but not the sauce. It was too lemony..

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 slices whole-wheat bread
  • 8 teaspoons reduced-fat mayonnaise, divided
  • 4 thick slices tomato
  • 4 teaspoons sliced fresh basil
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

PREPARATION

  1. Cut bread into rounds slightly larger than your tomato"a biscuit cutter works well. Spread each slice with 2 teaspoons mayonnaise. Top with tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 75 calories; 2 g fat ( 1 g sat , 0 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrates; 1 g added sugars; 2 g protein; 2 g fiber; 345 mg sodium; 118 mg potassium.

Posted in Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Last Minute Deals, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, Uncategorized, discounts.

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By Stacy – June 19, 2011

Deals for The Week of 6/12

Here are deals for the upcoming week ahead…

The Frugal Girls always has great deals and fun ways to save, but this week, they found some really incredible deals that you shouldn’t miss.

BLOCKBUSTER BUY ONE GET ONE FREE MOVIES UNTIL JULY 4

Blockbuster is offering unlimited free movie rentals until the 4th of July. When you rent just one new release for $2.99 you can then rent an unlimited number of movies priced $1.99 or less, one day rental, one rental at a time until July 4th.  http://www.blockbuster.com/external/dish/BB-Free-Rental-Coupon-eNews.pdf Use this link to print your coupon and bring it with you to a Blockbuster store. (not available online or at Blockbuster Epress kiosks).

If you want to enjoy some family fun this 4th of July season, I suggest doing a family film festival where everyday or every other day until the 4th of July you screen some family favorites. You can even make it theme oriented, choosing patriotic movies, nature films, historic documentaries if you are feeling taking this opportunity to teach your children about America. Or just have fun and celebrate American family values by screening your favorite, old movies, comedies or nostalgic movies you want to share with your family.

WALMART BISTRO SET $48.00 plus $14.97 Shipping

Bradsdeals.com found this great deal on the Mainstay Bistro Set being sold at Walmart, which is $48.00 down from $99.00 and can be shipped for $14.97 or for free with Walmart’s site to store option.

This is a nice outdoor set, perfect for small patios, balconies or tucked away in a romantic corner of the yard, creating a great spot for morning coffee, afternoon tea or evening cocktails and with this amazing price, it would be silly not to buy one.

BRYAN KEITH SHEETS $990.00 MACY’S

Okay, seriously this is a steal, you get a 9 piece reversible chocolate brown and burgundy bed set which was originally $350.00 for only $99.00 plus shipping. Buyers gave the product a 5 out of 5 stars and says that the look of the set and the colors are simply stunning. I’m sure this comforter set will add grace and sophistication to any room. Check out this amazing set for yourself at Macy’s.

SILO 42″ LCD HDTV FOR $399.00

Its hard for me to pass up deals on huge cheap flat screen TV’s, I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for the big fat flat screen, but at this price, maybe I can be. The picture quality, sound and menu are all good, which makes the is a great TV for a family on the budget. Nothing is more fun than family movie night and this big TV could be your home theater in a heart beat. Check out Woot for this incredible deal.

Silo 42” 1080p LCD HDTV

ME CABO RESORT AND HOTEL, BAJA CALIFORNIA

Ahhh man I wanna go to this place! If you are planning a fun get away that doesn’t involve driving over 8 hours with screaming siblings or sleeping on Aunt Ruth’s couch which was new in 1970, you may just want to dream about this vacation. http://www.hautelook.com/getaways/home/show/ME_Cabo_329

It is only $217.00 per night, down from $315.00 the only downside to this stunning place is that it is “seductive” and “adult oriented” which means you probably can’t take the kids, but I bet Aunt Ruth can. If parents are in need of a little rest and relaxation together, this may just be the spot.

However, if you are like me and can’t really part with the spawns, there is another “glamorous” “child friendly” option.

HYATT ESCALA LODGE AT PARK CITY, UTAH

Get fresh mountain air and bask in the beauty of nature in this idyllic lodge, where kids stay free as long as they are accompanied by a parent. Since the rooms are just $110 a night, this is quite a bargain for a couple of days of peace and quiet in a small mountain town famous for a big huge film festival (Sundance Film Festival) and local shopping, celebrity lore and alfresco dining. Sounds like fun, sign me up.

Posted in Family Fun, Last Minute Deals, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, Uncategorized, coupon codes, discounts.

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By Stacy – June 13, 2011

Ahhhh Dad! Celebrating Father’s Day

Well, we moms try to keep it a secret, but really we couldn’t have done it without Dad, no really….we couldn’t :) Whether Dad is a biological dad, step dad, dad and another dad or a father figure, we all know that dads are important and this is our opportunity to tell them so.

This year, instead of the traditional stuff try thinking outside of the box and finding ways to really celebrate how much you love this guy who helps mom’s run the ship, steer the boat and can make life a whole lot of fun.

SEND DAD PACKING

No! Not that kind of packing, backpacking. Dads love (or lets say that most Dads love) the great outdoors, what better gift to encourage your camping, traveling and general adventuring Dad/husband/Significant Other than to get him this awesome backpack from REI. You can go on a road trip/hiking excursion and make him carry all the stuff or hey, these back packs are at such good price here, everyone could get one and take your little family on the road. Backpacking, be it tent camping or continent hopping is a great way to save money and the headache of lugging around heavy bulky bags.

REI Mars 85 Men's Backpackat $103.00 plus free shipping this is an incredible deal as this particular backpack is marked down from $199 and usually backpacks such as these cost around two hundred dollars or more.

SEND DAD TO DO STUFF

Now this one I mean seriously. What better way to get Dad pick up the kids from softball, school or a slumber party than to get him one of these. KINDLE I am sure that Dad will be much more willing to do stuff like sit at the park, dance class or soccer practice if he can stash a Kindle in his pocket to keep up with his magazines, newspapers or the latest best selling novel. I know many a father who cherishes time with their children and their Kindle. Amazon.com is having a Father’s Day sale on their Kindle Wifi for $114 and if you order one day shipping, Dad’s new Kindle will arrive in time for his special day even if you wait till the last minute.

Kindle Video

SEND DAD TO DO MORE STUFF

Most Dads (and I venture to say almost all) love  an ADVENTURE like make your own yukele No! who does that? But how about send him to Dadsadventure.com or better yet, do some of these fun activities mentioned in Reader’s Digest that suggests Dad’s Day activities for the family or try these Father’s Day Adentures. Dad will love spending time with his loved ones and exploring life at the same time.

INSPIRE HIM

While Randy Pausch, a lecturer and teacher at Carnagie Mellon University, died of pancreatic cancer in 2008, his legacy lives on. One of the greatest gifts he left humanity was his dedication to being a father. His book The Last Lecture, touches on the dreams, aspirations and hopes that a father leaves as a legacy for his children. Not only is the book inspirational, but it proves that the wisdom, love and guidance of father’s is universal, timeless and extraordinarily, even when they are no longer present in their child’s life. Since some fathers spend many hours at work, the book helps reconnect them to their lives, childhood dreams and children.  

The Last Lecture

LET HIM WINE

While this may not be the cheapest gift around, it certainly seems like a whole lot of fun. The Artful Wine Maker has a great Dad’s Day deal on wine making kits that will be fun for, Dad and Mom. This is the kind of gift that just gets better with age. You also receive 25% off your kit and free shipping by using the coupon code DADDY61911 at check out. The all inclusive package for 12 bottles of home brewed wine is $149.oo plus free shipping.

All-inclusive Package

Posted in Family Fun, Online Freebies, Online shopping, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, coupon codes, discounts.

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By Stacy – June 8, 2011

Graduation Gifts that are Meaningful and Inexpensive

I know that most graduating seniors are hoping, praying, begging, dealing, negotiating, pleading and in any other way expressing their abject desire for a car this graduation, however, a new, used or barely running car isn’t in everybody’s budget. So what can a mom and dad give to their graduating senior that is meaningful, reflects their pride, but won’t bankrupt them.

When shopping for a graduating high school student, most kids want to focus on college or their future pursuits so giving gift certificates is a good way to help them make choices about what they want for their new adventures. Items for college dorms, new apartments and higher education are great gifts as are travel experiences with organized groups.

ALLPOSTERS.COM

Allposters.com offers gift certificates for everything from inexpensive reproductions of famous artists to very unique framed pieces of original art. Everything to make your child’s room or living space, creative, innovative and cool.

Of course you can also do a gift certificate to Target or Walmart for inexpensive apartment set up or better yet, get an Ikea gift card.

HOME MADE GIFTS

Sometimes milestones such as these call for homemade or created gifts, like photo books, photo collages or frameable art with sayings or childhood drawings that tell your child how much you have loved parenting them and how proud you are of their past, present and future accomplishments. Consider looking at craft sites and photo sites to get great gift giving ideas. Here are a few that I found…

Shutterfly is having a save 50% off EVERYTHING on their site, this is a great place to make photo collages and books. Check out the different graduation related gifts you can create, but make sure you do it before June 3rd when the sale ends.

Try using Photofetti which creates a fun photo display with design and color which can be added to cards, posters, banners and much much more.

PhotoFetti

Gifts.com has great ideas for grads, with just about every idea in the book. Check out their website for find fun deals and great gifts, like this personalized photo poem.

TEEN TRAVEL CAMP

Lastly give the gift of experience by book your teen on a travel camp excursion. While some of the programs listed on teen summer camps.com are rather expensive, they would create the memories of a lifetime, especially if your grad has never left the country before. Here are some that looked interesting….

THE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM where students can spend one to four weeks in a developing country, volunteering and helping the local people of that country while being educated about global leadership.

Prices for this trip range from $1,700 to $4,500.

You can also sign students up to take The Road Less Traveled, which takes students to exciting locals and adventures all over the world.

The Road Less Traveled

The Road Less Traveled offers many adventure and service excursions that both test a student’s sense of fun and bravery coupled with meaningful volunteer opportunities to help support local communities.

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By Stacy – June 1, 2011

Android and Iphone Apps for Busy Moms

Since summer is upon us, it means that for a lot of moms and dad’s you will be doing more with your children as they will not be engaged in school or after school activities and this means being able to juggle time, money and energy. Since technology has gotten so advanced, there are devices such as Iphones, Ipads and other smart phones and devices that will allow you to download applications that can make your day much easier. For most there are two platforms that deliver these applications for your electronics, Macintosh (Mac) for i-”whatever” things you have and Android for the rest.

Here are some Android powered apps that might make life a little simpler. Makeuseof.com has a list of applications that busy moms will love. The first one on the list, I could totally use, cause I am always getting to the store, with kids in tow and often my mind draws a blank. Now I can write a shopping list and I often do, but it usually becomes a snack for the toddler or lost amongst the bustle of shopping and child wrangling.

OUR GROCERIES

So, here is a free OurGroceries app. This application will build a grocery list for you from a recipe, check off items that you have bought, give a live update to other family member’s phones when either you are your spouse are shopping apart from one another and other very useful applications.

SHOP SAVVY

Shop Savvy lets you take a picture of the barcode on the item you are shopping for and it searches similar bar codes to find the best price on that item, so when you are shopping and trying to do price comparisons you don’t have to do all the leg work, which saves time and money.

ShopSavvy Barcode Scanner

MOM 2 BE

This is so incredible, you know when  you are expecting, whether you are pregnant or adopting, the wait, anticipation and preparation before your new child comes is some of the most exciting, scary and anxious times in parenthood, even if you have done it a few times before, each life is new, and thrilling. The Mom2be app helps you track your baby’s growth and progress and lets others know what her prenatal milestones are.

If you have an iphone, ipad or any other Mac supported device you will be using Mac.com to download dozens of fun applications on itunes, here are a few free ones that may make mom (and dad’s) day a  little easier.

TIME OUT-FREE

Parents are always worried that when their young children act out in public, how they are going to enforce their discipline methods in public. Since Time-Outs are a great way for a child to calm down and redirect their behavior, they are usually a favorite mode of discipline . This application, found on Itunes (which needs to be set up for each individual account) is a friendly timer that will help your child known when his time out is complete.

ALL RECIPES.COM DINNER SPINNER

Allrecipes.com has thousands of recipes on their site and this app helps take the planning out of your day. Its great to plan meals foryour family, but sometimes, it can be a relentless chore. This app, randomly spins through recipes to find the right dinner choice for you and your family. The application gives you a chance to put in the kind of meal you want, nationality, side dish, main course, and the ingredients you have on hand and it will pick exciting meal choices.

iPhone Screenshot 1

SIT OR SQUAT BATHROOM FINDER

If you have young kids, this is app is a life saver, it will help find the nearest bathroom in the area and takes the guess work out of finding a bathroom for a panicked person who has just recently potty trained. http://itunes.apple.com/app/sitorsquat-bathroom-finder/id293191470?mt=8

iPhone Screenshot 1

Since there are literally thousands of apps for both Android and iphone, I can’t list them all here, but I would encourage you to browse the Android Market and Itunes to find the perfect app to helps you parent more easily.

Posted in Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, health and nutrition.

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By Stacy – May 28, 2011

Memorial Day Sales

So, as I said before Memorial Day is just around the corner and it is time to dust off the grill, finally finish putting up the pool and get ready for a fun summer ahead. Since, Memorial Day is also a great time to get great deals you may wanna check out some of these bargains as well.

MEMORIAL DAY DISCOUNTS

Dealsplus.com has an extensive list of Memorial Day savings, but here are some of my favorites.

Gymboree is having an incredible sale with EVERYTHING in the store and online selling for only @12.99. Now is the time to stock up on great summer looks for the kids. If you look at their website, everything right now is just @12.99 and under and shipping is only $5.00 so rush over to your local Gymboree or computer right now and stalk up.

Gymboree

Saks Fifth Avenue has this incredible printable coupon that gives you 50% off merchandise, 40% off suits, 30% off fine jewelry, shoes, handbags and more.

Print this coupon and bring it with you to a local store to get the savings as this promotion is good in the Saks Fifth Avenue stores only.

http://dealspl.us/saksfifthavenue-coupons/266778p

Saks Fifth Avenue Printable Coupon: Memorial Day Savings 50% Off Extraordinary Value...

GAP 20% off your entire order with the promotion code NEW

Payless shoes is offering 25% off of your entire order with the purchase code: 47010

Snapfish 50% off your entire order when you use the coupon code 50ALLCART at checkout.

Also here is another list of Memorial Day deals that may be of interest to you.

http://www.couponsdealspromos.com/blog/macmall/memorial-day-sales-2011-coupons-code-free-shipping

BUY A CAR

Actually Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times to buy a car as a lot of car dealerships are running special promotions, so if you are looking to upsize your vehicle for future family additions or downsize now that your High Schooler is off to college or whatever the reason, here are some really terrific deals for the upcoming holiday weekend.

My Car Lady, gives you some great tips for finding a good deal on Memorial Day car buying. While the deals she mentions are in Las Vegas she gives a lot of helpful suggests that you can use to navigate your car buying experience more easily.

This Consumer Reports article lists the best deals and incentives on American made cars for the Memorial Weekend. Also Getastart.com is having a Memorial Day Honda blowout sale where you simply put in your location, desired model and contact information and the site will put you in contact with a dealer who is offering a Memorial Day sales, savings or incentives.

Like Honda many local dealers and car manufacturers are having sales this weekend, so the best thing to do is a find the car dealer you trust or a make and model of car you want to buy and ask sales agents about their Memorial Day Sales events as it seems most car dealers are hosting them.

MEMORIAL DAY BARBECUE

We all know that dads and the adventurous mom or two like to get out and grill on Memorial Day, there is just something about the smell of BBQ smoke, the outdoors and Memorial Day that makes us wanna grill, probably because it marks the unofficial start of summer. You can almost taste the sweet corn, burgers and cool salads that often accompany the event. Well, here are some deals on all you will need to make your Memorial Day cookout memorable.

Broadneckpatch mom blogger gives us Frugal Family Finds for the holiday at Giant Food Supermarkets and Target

Also checkout BBQguys.com for absolutely everything you would ever want EVER for your BBQ.

While it is fun to get outdoors and be with the family on Memorial Day, it is a good idea to also help your children learn about and respect the reason why we celebrate. Many families across the country have lost loved ones who fought to defend the rights and privileges we enjoy today, so take a moment to talk to your kids about what our veterans have done to serve and protect our country and their futures.

Family.com and offers some fun Memorial Day activities to do with your kids like make this patriotic pinwheel

Mickey and Friend Pinwheel

and fun patriotic punch cups.

July 4th Craft: Patriotic Punch Cups

Posted in Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Holiday Meals, Last Minute Deals, Online shopping, Shopping deals, discounts.

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By Stacy – May 25, 2011

Inexpensive Vacations for the Whole Family

So, we are nearing Memorial Day weekend and that means that summer is quickly upon us. Since you, like me are frugal shoppers, I know you are planning your summer vacation now, hoping to get last minute or early bird deals so that you can make the most of your travel budget.

I love amazing deals and I refuse to pay top dollar for anything, but I don’t want to get lost somewhere and end up in a dump. Too many 1980′s family vacation comedies have horrifically scarred my sense of adventure in that department. So, here are some less scary, more fun ways to vacation on a dime.

MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA

Visit Myrtle Beach has a list of family affordable ocean front accommodations that will make any family holiday, luxurious and relaxing. Even if you have to hoof it to South Carolina from the ends of the country, you can still rest on sandy beaches, with ocean front views, for fractions of the amount you would pay in other beach front resorts. Most of the lodgings are family friendly and the weather is often really good for lazing on the beach during the summer months.

YOSEMITE, CALIFORNIA

California is not usually known as a discount destination, however, the grandeur and beauty of Yosemite National Park, should not be missed in one’s lifetime. The glacier made granite peeks towering above the valley floor are simply priceless. And with a variety of accommodations from the luxurious Awahnee to more modest living in Curry Village tent cabins, there is enough in Yosemite to fit anyone’s budget. The only issue is making sure that you book now, as accommodations and lodging fill up fast.

Make sure to contact the Yosemite National Park Lodging website to book your vacation.

THE GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA
The Grand Canyon is truly spectacular and is another must see for one’s lifetime. While there are no really easy access points to the park without a car, you can either drive across country and make the trip a vacation journey or fly into Flagstaff and rent a car to the canyon. While your trip will include a bit of an effort to get to the park, it is well worth it when you and your family see one of the worlds greatest natural wonders. There is inexpensive lodging throughout the park and most of the day trips and hiking are free.

Go to Grandcanyonlodges.com  to book your stay.

FAMILY VACATIONS

If you are not sure yet what you want to do or where you want to go there are a few family vacation websites that will help you narrow your search.

Favorite Family Vacations has everything from camping and Dude Ranches to houseboats and cruises. Use this site to get an idea of some of the fun things you can do with your family in your area.

cabin rental

Benzinga has some helpful hints for keeping your family on a budget while on vacation. These are good ideas to go over because a lot of the expense of being on vacation comes from bad planning. Making sure that you are organized, prepared and ready for your trip will help cut down on last minute expenses.

Budget Travel has a list of the top budget travel locations in the world.

Finally Gapadventures is your one stop shop for family friendly budget international travel.  One of my favorites is the Thai budget vacation that includes an elephant ride, beaches, temples, full accommodation and most meals for around $1,100 per person plus airfare, this may seem like a lot of money, however, it is a 12 day all inclusive vacation in Thailand.

http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/thailand-family-adventure/ATFA/2011/

If you are feeling adventurous, I would suggest booking and arranging your own vacation. Cutting out the middle man can sometimes save you dollars. Consider going to Latin American or Asian countries where the dollar is strong and you can really stretch your money. Stay in places that have good traveler ratings but are also affordable.

One of my favorite vacations was to Costa Rica, we stayed on the Caribbean side, in a little town called Puerto Viejo

We found a little lodge called La Costa De Papito for about $69/night it was across the street from the beach and breakfast was included. While it was an adventure to get to this tiny secluded spot, the place was remarkable, romantic and fun for the kids. We saw tree sloths, a leather back turtle lay eggs and snorkeled in exotic waters just steps from our door.

Eddie Ryan Family

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By Stacy – May 24, 2011

This Week’s Deals, Some are Real and Some are Laughable

Okay, I wanna have a bit of fun this week, so some of the deals will be real deals and some are for giggles.

BACON FLAVORED TOOTH PICKS

Yep, found this not to be missed item on Woot! What I can say about these is, they are simply gross!

Bacon Flavored Toothpicks Accoutrements 80 Gift TIN Novelty GAG Gift

MAN GROOMER DO IT YOURSELF ELECTRIC BACK HAIR GROOMER

Well, when it comes to hair removal, Man Groomer is where its at. And at $22.62 plus free shipping, buy three.

MANGROOMER Do-It-Yourself Electric Back Hair Shaver

Unless you are a yogi, I would be weary of shoulder dislocation.

TRAMPOLINE

For $279.88  at Sam’s Club this is a great deal. Since summer is coming up, getting the kids outside to bounce is a great way to release energy and have a load of fun.

WESTERN DIGITAL TV LIVE HD MEDIA PLAYER

Woot! has this cool multi platform digital player that can literally take almost every file type and display it in HD on your television. This sounded like a lot of fun and if you want to save money a great way to cut out the cable by just using your computer to screen movies and television shows and then have the projected through this player to your television. It has wifi and is able to access the internet, or you can connect your laptop, zip drive or hard drive to show home movies, pictures or things that you have downloaded. This sounds like a ton of fun at a really good price.

Western Digital WD TV Live Plus HD Media Player

FREE NETI POT

The Frugal Girls website directs us to getting a free Neil Med Neti Pot by simply liking their Facebook page and following the red lettered link that asks if you want a free Neti pot with two packets of solution. I have to say I LOVE THIS!!! I use a Neti pot all of the time and find it really helpful in stopping and treating sinus infections. I started getting sinus infections after having the kids and they often plague me during allergy and cold season, so using this Neti pot has virtually saved my life as it clears out the nasal pasages and helps drain the sinus cavity, which then alleviates the pressure and pain of the sinus infection. Bravo in my book.

HOME CLEANER RECIPES

The Frugal Girls also have home cleaner recipes for those of us who trying to save money on general household items. Here is the list of all the items, http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/homemade-cleaners but I thought this one looked fun.

Here is one of the recipes.

FOAMING HAND SOAP

To make foaming hand soap you buy a regular bottle of foaming soap (if you don’t already have one) and fill 1/3 of the bottle with dish soap (pick a fun scent) and the other 2/3′s with water and voila you have foaming hand soap for a fraction of the cost.

Dial 06042 Tabletop Pump Hand Soap Hypoaller 8/7.5oz

ROSEWILL WIRELESS ROUTER

Newegg has this wireless router for sale for $9.99 ON SALE FOR TODAY 5/19/2011 ONLY until midnight EST. This is a ten dollar savings from the original price. This router can be used with the USB port in any computer or laptop to allow it to get the internet through a wireless connection. This is great if you have an older machine and want to be able to work wirelessly.

Rosewill RNX-G1 A-Type USB 2.0 Wireless Black Dongle w/ External 2dBi SMA Antenna

JUST FOR FREE

Jiffy free recipe book, since Jiffy is such a low cost, yummy brand, here are way you can make your box of Jiffy work harder for you.

http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/2011/05/free-jiffy-recipe-book.html

You can request your free box here: http://www.jiffymix.com/bookorder.php

Have fun.

Posted in Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Last Minute Deals, Online Freebies, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, discounts.

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By Stacy – May 19, 2011

Now What Do I do with You? Braving Summer With Your Kids

It is fast approaching, you can feel it in the air, the spring grass is getting a little dryer, unless it happens to be raining in your area, like it is mine…but in theory, summer approacheth. We are just over a week away from Memorial Day and the official beginning of summer is almost here. And the question looming on every parent’s mind is….

WHAT DO I DO WITH YOU?

Meaning, of course, your adorable offspring. Yes, summer is a time of liberation from learning, curriculum, boxed lunches and early bedtimes. It is a time of sun, vacation, pools, sunscreen and sunburn. Summer is a child’s ultimate license for freedom and yet when the those first six and a half days of summer end most often a parent is met with this mind spinning declaration! “I AM BORED!”  And thus you beg the question, what do I do with you?

MAP OUT YOUR SCHEDULE

Before that last bell even rings, you should have a general idea of the major events that will be occurring over the summer holiday. Post a summer calendar in a visible place and block out in bright colors the really exciting things you have planned. Now, exciting doesn’t have to be trip to Europe…but if the trip fits, I’m just sayin’ book me a ticket. However, in today’s economy your big ticket summer excitement will probably be more in the “visit grandma” vein. However, whatever it is, camping trips to visiting friends and short little weekend breaks, mark them on the calendar. This helps kids get a visual idea of what they have in store. The great thing about school is, there are calendars and schedules to follow to keep kids mentally engaged in their activities. With a large sprawling space of time, like summer, a kid’s mind may start to float and stagnate, so keeping the kids motivated is important.

This e-how article gives more specific instructions about scheduling your kids summer break.

Make sure that on weeks where nothing major is planned to put in a few day trips or special activities so that kids don’t feel like there is nothing for them to do or look forward to that week.

You can also try these fun tips. This article gives you 101 things to do with your summer.

SUMMER CAMP

Not only is your child’s routine broken up by the fun and not so fun summer months, but yours is too. And whether you want to admit it or not those few hours where your children are away at school can be very rejuvenating for moms (and dads). A parent’s work is never done, there isn’t such a thing as a coffee or bathroom break when little junior’s truck has strayed under the couch or a sibling brawl has decimated the living room. Having kids out of the house can be a very cathartic time for parents to do chores, check up on personal pursuits such as say, online shopping and getting a little quite time in your mind, body and soul. That’s why there’s summer camp.

Summer Camps.com is a great research tool to help you find the right summer camp for your child. Not only does it comb through thousands of listings but you can tailor your search to fit your needs. They even have services that find camps in foreign countries if you and the family wanted to take a wild adventure.

Summer Camps

Kids health also has this great article on the ways teens and children can approach summer holidays, by viewing them as a mix of relaxation and exploration.

SUMMER FESTIVALS

Lastly, try to go to a few summer festivals in your area. Check out and see where music, arts and crafts, food and entertainment festivals are coming to your area in the summer and plan a day of excitement in the sun. If there is a festival in a neighboring state or place that is a farther distance from your house try making it a great overnight trip.

Festival.com is a searchable database of absolutely everything you will ever  want to know about summer festivals.

Festivals.com logo

Posted in Family Fun, Online shopping, ShopforMom.

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By Stacy – May 18, 2011