Shop Hop Saturday--Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

Just a heads up from the start.  I really doubt that I will be doing more than a Merry Christmas post next weekend  :)  We will be super busy Saturday all day with 2 families and then church.

As a reminder, here are my current goals:  (may re-think them for the new year, not sure yet)

1.  Build a new squidoo lens or update a previous lens each day.
2.  Post at least 3 things a week to redgage.
3.  Post 2 things a week into my etsy store and continue to move other things to my zibbet store.
4.  Keep up with the reviews and regular postings to my blog.
5.  Sew at least a little bit each day. (this goes with accomplishing goal 3)

I have been doing pretty well with #1--will head in there after I am done with this post for today's updating.

I just went to redgage and posted 3 photos.  I was a little disappointed that the 3 videos I had posted to youtube this past week weren't auto added to redgage?  They used to be.  I know my wedding video was as I rec'd comments on it, but I can't even find it in my account now.  This is one that needs to change for the new year.  It didn't take me long at all to add the 3 photos, so why can't I take the time to make it to redgage daily?  I accepted more friend requests and left lots of comments while I was in there too.

I posted 3 items for sale this week in my etsy store.  I must add to this goal to move at least one item per day from etsy over to zibbet!

Save the Earth Fabric Bag 

 

Hotpads--Set of 2 

 

Cotton Crocheted Washcloths Set of 3 in Billowing Blues 

 

I am thinking for best results and sales I really must have a minimum of 50 items in my stores to choose from.  Getting to that on zibbet won't be a problem if I just get busy transferring them over.  With the free account on zibbet, 50 listings is your limit.  I am perfectly fine with that number.

 

Yes, #4--still keeping up with regular postings on my blog, but still need to work on those reviews.  In fact, I really need to review an album yet today and get that up along with a giveaway.

 

#5---I have indeed made it in to my craft room for some sewing each day this past week.  A couple of the days weren't more than 10 or 15 minutes, but I am happy with that too!

 

That looks like that's it for this week's report.  I will be working more this week to finish up Christmas gifts and wrapping.

Thanks again to Ruth of abitosunshine for hosting this shop hop each week.  Please click the button at the top to learn more about it, post your own link, and/or support others who are working from home. 

Frugal Friday Link Up--5 Uses for Lemon Juice

With Christmas right around the corner now, it's been more important than ever, or maybe I should say, more necessary than ever, to be on the frugal side.
I still have a few gifts to take care of, which is not like me at all.  I'm the one who keeps a large tote all year long, filling it as I find good deals throughout the year.  Oh, my tote was over flowing and had more piled on top, but the contents were not the same.
Each year my children have come to depend on that "health and beauty" package that I put together for them.  You know, body wash, deoderant, razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc etc.  I have some of that this year, but not "complete sets" for all like I usually have.
It's been a strange year for me with money and coupons.  I've sure not done the kind of shopping I normally would have done!

Anyway....I do hope everyone who is reading this is on their way to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too!

This week I am sharing 5 uses for lemon juice from the 99 Cent Solutions book.

This is referring to using the bottled lemon juice that you buy, but I wouldn't see why, if you wanted to fresh squeeze the juice, these wouldn't also work.

1.  Cook fluffy rice.  Add a tablespoon of juice to the water when making rice.  When it's cooked, fluff with a fork.  The rice will not be sticky.

2.  Crisp up lettuce.  If you've let your bag of salad stay in the fridge a few days too long, just put a couple tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl of cold water and let the lettuce soak for 20 minutes.  It will be crispy and fresh again.

3.  Remove stains from marble.  If you have a really stubborn stain on marble, try scrubbing with a paste of lemon and salt.  This should remove the stain, but don't scrub too hard.  Rinse very well so that no acid remains that will damage the stone.

4.  Clean a crusty microwave.  Mix 2 cups of water with 1/4 cup of lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high for 8 minutes.  The steam will loosen food particles on the walls and the glass, making it easy to wipe clean with a few swipes. (I've heard of water---need to try this with the lemon juice added!)

5.  Replace salt.  If you have high blood pressure, sprinkle your food with lemon juice instead of salt.  Chefs say this really works. (I am assuming this is while cooking, not while on your plate)

 That's it for this week.  I'm enjoying going through this book--99 Cent Solutions with my blog readers, and I'm learning new things along the way.  I still plan on changing this Friday post up a bit, but probably not until after the new year.   I do hope you will link up any frugal type posts you have.  The linky stays open all week.
 

Swagbucks To Have THREE Big Promotions on Monday!

Swagbucks is going crazy on Monday, with more ways for you to earn reward points towards free stuff. First, they're having a Swag Code Extravaganza, which means a fun day where you can earn up to 70 Swag Bucks from 8 different codes throughout the day! 

Second, there's a new set of Holiday Collector's Bills which you can only earn through search - get all five and you'll receive an instant 12 Swag Bucks bonus! The set starts at noon on Monday 

Finally, for any referral you bring in today through the 19th, you'll not only get up to 1000 matching Swag Bucks from Search, but 1000 Matching Swag Bucks from everything they earn (not including codes) all day Monday - they're calling it Mega Match Monday!

Three big reasons to visit Swagbucks this Monday!

Not a member of Swagbucks yet??  Click the banner below to join and start out with a cool 100 bonus points in your account with the code HOLIDAYSWAG
This code is good through December 31 for new sign ups only.....and only if applied during registration!

Squidoo Hopping--Payday

Yep, yesterday was squidoo payday.  I didn't make enough last month to get paid.  I did get paid yesterday, but ended up making less than I had the month before.  Must have been a couple of months when I really didn't do much with squidoo.  I'm trying to work squidoo more to ensure I at least reach payout each month, but I really need to be a lot more!  I know others are highly successful at squidoo.  I'm using 2 groups in facebook and learning some things from there.

I finally did a search on how to find your facebook identifier number and was able to plug it in to the facebook fanpage module.  Woo Hoo!  It's working now.  I only have it in my Homeschool Books Used 2011/2012 lens so far.  There are only a few of my lenses where I feel it's appropriate it in, but that is on my to-do list.

I got to work on my Charity Donations lens.  I still have a long ways before all the charities are listed.  I found that when adding modules from the sidebar I can't add more than 10 at a time of any one module.  So, that is where I am starting with, 10 at a time.  After each 10 I am putting in "A word from our sponsor" and using the affiliate  modules----is that tacky?  So far I'm putting in products that have to do with volunteers.

Another book added to Learning About Greece.  We still have 4 books to read  before it's complete, so it will be ongoing for awhile.

I updated my Guns n' Roses lens after reading in our paper that they made the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Checked the videos while I was there, they all still work.  Sometimes in my music lenses when I check a video that I had in is no longer available on youtube so I have to replace it.

That's it for me this week.  Remember, if you don't blog about squidoo, I am now allowing you to link up one or two of your lenses instead in the linky.  I really want to see this grow.  Keep me busy with squidoo!

Join the National Consumer Panel!

I want to say that I've been a member of the National Consumer Panel--Home Scan for quite a few years now.  I've been very pleased.

You earn points by scanning your purchases weekly as well as taking short surveys about your purchases.

Over the years I've redeemed my points for a 3-man tent, a large griddle, a stick vac, 6 way plug adapter, and book light.   Just deciding now what I want to exchange my points for next.

Also, while scanning your are put in for their sweepstakes as well!

If you are not already a member, I do encourage you to join and earn as well.
 

WIP's This Week

I've still been staying very busy on my crafts.
I am working on the last of the crocheted washcloths that are part of my gifts.

I spent one day--10 hours to be exact, ironing, cutting etc, at the kitchen table (with my laptop beside me of course)  As you can see below, at one point I was taking most of the table with my cut outs for the folded hot pads:

 I now have 42 of these blocks ironed and cut for my next quilt.  Just 14 more to get made.  I will probably go ahead and start sewing these together this week.

 Here are my 2 charity blocks completed.  The top one is going to Val for the Heroes Helping Heroes Quilt.   The star block is going to quilt guild for a patriotic quilt that is being put together for donation.  I didn't have a clue how to make a star block.  I'm so sorry that I don't remember who directed me to this tutorial, but this is what I used: Summer Sampler Series: Star of Virginia

 I even finally got some more work done on this quilt top for sewing club at church:

I still have other projects on the back burner like 2 table runners, and 3 fabric bags that I have the material cut for.


I am linking up with these 3 blogs (Freshly Pieced is on Christmas break until after the first of the year)

Purex's Laundry Detergent is New and Improved!

As a Purex Insider I have the privilege of giving the New and Improved Purex laundry detergent a try.  
We are a Purex family, and have been for so many years.  It's what my mom always used and I've continued to use it myself.

I'm recently married, and my husband insisted there was only one kind of laundry soap that could be used on his clothes without breaking him out.  Of course, this was one of the "leading brands" and more than I wanted to pay. (That's just one of the great thing about Purex--the affordable price.)

I started buying the Purex Free & Clear and he's had no problems with break-outs at all.

Imagine my surprise, and my delight, when I received a full size bottle of the Free & Clear in the mail for the purpose of this review.  Surprised because when I looked in the laundry room at my recent purchase, it was also the same New & Improved that I had just bought.  Delighted, because I already know that it works great, and that my husband is pleased with me using it on his clothing, and our bedding.

 Information from Purex about the New & Improved Triple Action laundry detergent:
Over the past year the R&D scientists at Purex have been working hard to create an even better Purex formula.  They are committed to bringing you a great product at a great value.....about half the price of the leading brands.

They took the best parts of the previous formula and added new additions to deliver great cleaning plus improved brightening power.

Purex is made to work in both regular and High Efficiency washers.  The New & Improved Triple Action formula is found in the Free & Clear, Mountain Breeze (and 2 other scents),  and Natural Elements (both scents).

Watch my blog for an upcoming giveaway--your chance to win Purex and give the New and Improved Triple Action formula for yourself.
Also watch my blog for an announcement in early 2012 to send for your own free sample!

Disclaimer:  Purex provided a free bottle of their Triple Action laundry detergent for the purpose of this review.  I was not compensated in any other way.  All opinions are my own.

Homeschool Journal--Finally a Good Week

Finally we had a good full school week this past week.  My tracking book and times look great.  We made it through every subject 4 days last week!

We are taking a little bit of a math break.  Jasmine is doing problems daily on the dry erase board, but otherwise we have been watching videos and reading out loud in a book put out by Barnes and Noble called Basics--Saving Money.  In the Introduction to Business text book there is always a section at the end of each chapter that also is a bunch of math too.  After the holidays we will hit it hard again.

We are still reading books about Greece.  We have 4 books yet to finish.  Some are smaller, but the photos in them are great.  We are getting repeat lessons from different books, but that's ok...drilling it in to our heads more.  I'm wondering what country she will want to learn more about next.  It was going to be England because her youth group was planning a trip there in March.  They weren't able to raise all of the money needed for the trip so they are not going to be able to go.  They will go somewhere in the states now.

I don't have any photos to share yet again this week of Jasmine.  I told her that I need to work on that.

This week is going to be another good week for schoolwork, then we are pretty much taking off the next 2 weeks.  There are some things we will still do daily such as our devotions and some reading here and there.  Next week will be candy making and baking week.  I will get lots of pictures then!

I'm going to stop babbling for now.  We are about to head out the door to church for our weekly Tuesday morning Bible study.  Then it's off for our weekly trip to the public library.

I am linking up with:

Mailbox Monday 12/12/11

It as a hoppin' week for my mailman.  I almost couldn't fit it all into the picture  :)



*Magazines:  People, Time, Sports Illustrated, Martha Stewart Living, Ok!, Entertainment Weekly,
*Several other pieces of hausernet mail (now if only they would pay, I would have it made)
*Purex Laundry soap--to try and review from Purex Insiders
*10 Dole Fruit Crisps free coupons--Won from psmomreviews blog back in Oct.  The win was 5 coupons but since it took so long for them to get them to me, they sent double.
*2 Christmas cards--I know these don't count as freebies, but I love getting them!
*Lanacane anti-chafing sample with coupon
*AmLactic lotion samples with coupon
*Smart Ones Satisfying Selections Dinners mailer, including 1 free coupon, along with several .50/2 coupons.
*Natural House cleaners--for review and giveaway on my blog
*Stopain Cold pain relieving spray--for review and giveaway is current on my blog.
*(not pictured) Couponing the Extreme video course including ebook--for review

In my email:  $10 from paypal and $5 amazon from sidetick.
Also I transferred $6.30 to my jingit debit card.