Frugal Friday with Marsha--Linky Party

I hope this week has found you saving money, being frugal, accomplishing whatever your goals are!

Here are my shopping trips since last Friday:

Only 55% saved on this trip, but fish for a month and a few more cans of chili in our stockpile.  Spent $13.87, saved $6.40 with coupons and I rec'd a $5 catalina towards my next trip for buying the fish!

 Using the $5 catalina and an addition $2.50 in coupons, I saved 94% on these 5 items, spending just .80!

 The total for this order was $8.98, but I spent nothing out of pocket because I used part of a $10 gift card that was sent to me by bzzagent.com and Kroger to try the Kroger Yogurts.
I used $12.05 in coupons for a savings of 65%

We were stocked up enough that this was the only shopping for the entire week.


Other news this weeks is me cleaning out and reorganizing my craft room.  I am just in amazement (more like appalled) at how many items I have allowed to get into my craft room that don't belong in there.  I won't post the before photos here, but if you would like to see them, you can click over to my gather post: (will open in a new window) Craft Room Before Pictures
I've been wanting my fabric and such organized into cubbies since seeing a photo of a room on pinterest using them.  I've bought myself a couple of small cubby organizers, but hubby bought me a 12 hole unit with part of our state income tax refund.  Not exactly frugal, but will be good for my peace of mind and simple living once my supplies are organized.  If you check out the pictures in my post above, you will know why I haven't had much motivation to get into my craft room and get any real work done.

Your turn to share!
 

Soft Scrub Total--Review/Sweepstakes/Giveaway!

I was given the opportunity to try the new household cleaners from Soft Scrub: Soft Scrub Total All Purpose cleaner with bleach and Soft Scrub Total Bath and Bowl cleaner.

Let's start with the All Purpose cleaner.  Below are before and after pictures of my stove.  Let's just say, as you can tell by the photo, that we have messy cooks in this house.  Let me also add that we have been away from home so much that cleaning the stove has been neglected.

I was in hopes that the Total All Purpose cleaner would cut right through the gunk and take it right off.  That didn't happen.  I sprayed it again and let it soak.  I did have to use some elbow grease.  

With that, I want to say that I have used it since and it does take new stuff right off.  The other stuff had been baked on and cooked on.   All in all, I really like using it.

Before:

  After: (Yes, I had started supper cooking)

 
Now let's talk about the Soft Scrub Total Bath and Bowl cleaner.  I loved loved loved it!

I probably don't have to mention that the bathtub had also been on the neglected side with us gone so much.  I sprayed around the tub and it wiped right off!  I didn't have to put in any elbow grease at all on the tub.  I also used it to clean the toilet.
(This is a good time to mention that you can choose to spray it or foam it.  Also, it sprays with the bottle upside down!)

Bathtub before:   

   
Bathtub after:

   
I will be purchasing these products in the future.

Soft Scrub is hosting a Tough & Gentle Sweepstakes right now.  One lucky winner will receive $1000.  50 lucky winners will each receive $40 in gift cards!  You can click the sweepstakes icon at the top of this post to enter.  Good luck!

Would you like a chance to try one of these great new household cleaners free?   I am giving away a free coupon to 3 of my lucky readers who enter using the rafflecopter form below.


Disclaimer:  Soft Scrub provided me with bottle of their Total All-Purpose and Bath and Bowl cleaners for the purpose of this review.  They also provided the coupons that I am giving away to my readers.  I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions of the products are my own.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

SIS--Shares in Squidoo--Cleaning House

This week my mind has really been on cleaning my house.   I just can't seem to find the motivation needed to get our house back into the clean, organized and de-cluttered state that if should be in.

Strange that I did a search on cleaning house on squidoo and came up with all kinds of matches that had nothing at all to do with house cleaning.  I've realized now that I was searching with Happy Snowman, so no wonder everything was coming up having to do with Christmas.  Still strange to me, but I guess I was on a Happy Snowman post when I started my search.   Starting over from my dashboard I did find results, most of which I had found on my own anyway!

This one was in the updated lenses list today in the squidoo facebook community group:
Tips on Cleaning Your House 

Here's another one that is great:
The Ultimate Clean House Schedule

This is the best one I found--the one that I think will help me the most.  IN fact, I've clicked out to read more about the method.
Cleaning My House the Easy Way

Here is my own lens about a book that has served me well in the past.  Great method, it's just me getting back to it after sitting on my couch for over a month and being away from my box!
Sidetracked Home Executives

52 Weeks of Organizing--Week 27(Week 4 for Me)

This weeks post on I'm as Organizing Junkie is getting your kids to help.
I have a lot of grandchildren and this past week 5 of them have moved in.  I have one side of my hall storage basically just for them.  I will have to include a photo next week if I think about it, but the bottom drawer is for their drawing, coloring, and art supplies.  The next drawer up is for the girls' toys, the next drawer up is for my grandsons stuff, the top drawer is full of different card and peg games.
In the doors above one shelf has the doll house, odds and ends for the doll house, puzzles, bath toys, and I am working at getting more board games in there.  On shelf has board games that we got from one of the grade schools, so the boards are out with games supplies in ziploc bags.  The top shelf houses the Lego and Duplo blocks.
The kids know what goes where in the cabinets.
With them moving in, they brought more toys with them.  Fortunately, they are divided into containers for each type of toy.  My daughter is keeping them in their bedroom in the basement and lets them just bring one thing at a time up here to play with.

Now, with all that said, this past week my project was the other side table.

Here is the before photo.  Come on...why was there a drill in the house instead of in the garage?  All the magazines are now sorted and in our garage for a sale.  Other misc. items are either thrown away or put where they belong!

And here is after--all cleaned off and so far staying that way minus the jar of instant tea that mysteriously came in here from the kitchen  LOL

 Click the button below and see what others are working on in their organizing and de-cluttering and/or add your own!

 

52 Weeks of Organizing--Week 26 (Week 3 for Me)

I did manage this week to get one more little area re-organized. Of course the trick isn't getting it done, the trick is keeping it that way.
The coffee table from last week has stayed fairly uncluttered, but I've had to work daily to make sure things that don't belong on it get put away.

This past week I worked on the side table that sits between my desk and the recliner.
Check out the before and after photos. The wild sunflowers I cut from my front garden where they were taking over the other flowers in the bed. I then pulled the ones out from the middle. So, I guess you can say that I decluttered that flower garden as well LOL
I do have a plan for my clean table top....I've been wanting to work jigsaw puzzles in my spare time(yeah right). I'm hoping this table top is just the right size to work puzzles on. I find them relaxing, and besides, I want to put them together before boxing them back up and putting them in a garage sale.

Before: Jasmine's books we are using for school were scattered---sewing I was working on----crocheting I was working on----empty Dr. Pepper can----books I need to read for review---and more!

After: The school books are stacked---my coupon box is on the bottom--my stack of books to read and review on the bottom in the back. On the top is just a few things for pretties and 2 coasters.

I am linking this post with:

52 Weeks of Organizing--Week 24 (Week 1 for Me)

Last week while browsing through blogs I ran across I'm an Organizing Junkie
Wishing I had known about this at the beginning of the year, I decided to jump in. We only closed on this house March 2nd of this year. I promised myself with all the extra storage and so many more rooms, that I would not allow myself to get disorganized, and not allow clutter to build up.

I did well the first 3 weeks. As I unpacked, I put things where they belonged...or where I designated them to belong. I kept all counters and tables cleared. I was doing well! It took me a bit longer to organize my craft/all purpose room, but I did get it done!

Just a few months later I am looking around and seeing junk, and more junk....piles of things in places where they don't belong. The side tables and coffee table, my desk, and my hubby's desk are just piled with stuff. My craft/all purpose room has turned in to a major mess.

With good intentions to start the 52 Weeks of Organizing challenge, I went around and took photos of the different places I want to concentrate on. My goal was to start with my desk. I did get started right away, but came to a halt. I've had 4 grandkids over all week. I've spent each evening at Bible school. I can't keep up with the extra along with my normal activities during the week!!

I still wanted to get started with my posting each week here, even without making any real progress. The kids go home after Bible school this evening. Not only that, my teen will be at Bible camp all of next week. I will still work pretty much strictly on my desk, and I promise before and after photos in next weeks post.

Checking In

Checking in here. I'm enjoying keeping up with what I am accomplishing with gather's Resolutions Journal challenge.
What I see is that I have too many projects all going at one time. I'm working a little each day on each one, so yes, they will eventually be completed. Hoewever, I'm thinking I need to just stick to one until it's done and then move on to another. At least with the larger projects like quilts and the crocheted plarn bags. There are always smaller craft projects I can complete in a day easily like cross magnets, crocheted washcloths, little girl's bracelets and dish scrubbies.

I am wanting to post at least 2 new items in my blujay store each week, which is easily attainable with the smaller crafts.

I'm keeping up pretty well with gather, still there any time I am on the computer. Just short of cashing out again, and got in my latest paypal redemption today.

I've been keeping up well with cutting and sorting my coupons. I didn't include that in my resolutions list, but it needs to be done for maximum savings!

We have the Ash Wednesday service at church tonight. After that, Jasmine will stay for choir practice. I will start my first week of my cleaning job...cleaning while the choir practices. I'm excited to be able to do the cleaning and make a little bit of money.

I've put a savings plan in order...and in order to keep up with it, I need to always have money coming in so that I won't be tempted to dig in to the savings.

I think that's it for now....now let me see if I can possibly get back in the swing of posting my blogs.

Have a great day!
Marsha

Thursday July 16

Good Morning.
It's almost afternoon. My day started off early because it's my mom's commodity food day. Then she needed to go to the grocery store and dollar store too.

I will have to take my mom to the dr. later today, otherwise I've not heard from my son on their work schedules. They should let me know them ahead though instead of calling me 30 minutes before their work time to pick them up.

I got a little busy yesterday on here. I posted Allen's 8th Birthday Photos on gather.
I updated My First Quilt Lens with text update and photos. I also added a photo to Our Unschooling Journey 3 lens.

I am to be cleaning out the storage cabinets down here in the basement today so that we can take them out for the waterproofing. I guess I better stop my online stuff for a moment and get that done.

Have a good Thursday!
Marsha

Thursday June 25

Good Morning!
Once again I didn't get a blog post done yesterday. I got busy again in the morning and didn't realize until late that I didn't get it done.
We went to Alltel yesterday and Steve added me to his family plan so YAY!! I have a cell phone now. I feel so much better having one so I have communication when I am out and about.
One of the first things I did was sign up with youdata.com!! They pay out weekly no matter how much you make which is awesome, and every penny counts. I earned .61 just yesterday. I hope you will join me there.

Bible school is going well. Not the best week for me to be gone every evening, but I guess that's how it goes. I really need to get the basement cleaned and organized and things packed to move. I'm not having much luck getting anything done. For one things its muggy hot in the basement. Another thing is just time. No one allows me a day to just stay home and get anything done. When I am home, on the computer is the only place I want to be, trying to earn money.

I am going to attempt to find someone to loan me the $130 I need to keep the cable on and then downgrade my services. I just can't see leaving my mom next week and her not being able to even watch her soap operas.

I've been twittering here and there some of the things I have for sale. I'm hoping to pull in some orders to help out.
I'm still gathering all I can! And, of course, doing the paid to clicks as I can in hopes of reaching payout. I have banners on the bottom of my blog here on the paid to clicks I do on a regular basis.

My son just called to get his girlfriend to work. I better get going..and hopefully no where else to go until it's time to take my mom to the dr this afternoon and then Bible school tonight.

Have yourself one awesome day!
Marsha

Friday June 19

Good Afternoon!
Oops, just realized I never got to my blog post this morning.
I started out the day doing a bit online before taking Heather back to the doctor. They put her on anti-biotics for a UT infection, but also said her blood tests showed signs of strep....they were dumbfounded when she told them she's not had a sore throat recently at all.

I am sitting at Wendy's right now on the laptop while I wait for my son to get off work. Places that offer the open wireless internet are awesome!!

Nothing much else going on. I am in hopes of staying up later tonight to work on the almost 13,000 emails in my gmail. I don't have any place to be early tomorrow morning so I can sleep in.

I'm still working here and there on getting the basement cleaned and reorganized. It's so humid hot down there you can't do much at one time. The grandkids are only allowed down there for now if they are going to be helping put all the toys back in their appropiate places.

I'm still trying to click away and earn what I can by Monday to pay on the cable bill. I know they won't work with me too much with as much as I owe.

Speaking of that I better get back to things on here while I can.

Have a good day!
Marsha

Monday June 15

Good Morning! I have my laptop set up here in the basement hoping to get some things done down here. I already washed some dishes upstairs and have a load of laundry started down here. (Just wait until my mom comes to bring her daily load down to start and finds out I already have mine going.) It's so humid hot in the basement though and that doubles when the dryer is going. In the winter I freeze down here and burn up in the summer, go figure.

I don't have any plans today, but I'm sure my son will be calling saying "come take me to work" I should get my little last paycheck from work in the mail, and I should go cash it and spend half of it transferring the tag over.

I've got to do my 8 week video on using the Revitalift today. Just in time too as the campaign ends tomorrow!

Ok...I need to make some money...I now owe the cable company $275! I didn't sell not one craft, nor one book for 6 weeks now. I need to figure out how to get back to business and get my stuff promoted! If I don't pay at least the $127 that is from last month in the next few days I won't be making anything because there will be no more internet. Any grand ideas??

I've not worked on crafts other than the prayer shawls for church in weeks. My thought is to find a way to get back to making the crafts that I sell, then after I complete each one, post it to twitter....and post a photo to gather.

Tomorrow morning (well 10-3) is sewing club at church. Depending on what time I get up and around in the morning will depend on if I get a blog post done. I've put my sewing machine, supplies and quilt squares in the trunk of the car already. They are going to teach me how to sew the squares together tomorrow. I look forward to it, even though there is no wireless connection available in the area of my church so I won't get any clicking done.

I better get the clothes into the dryer. They won't be starting now on mom's bathroom until possibly later this week. I wish they would get here and get it done, it's needed badly.

Have a good Monday!
Marsha

Thursday June 11

Good Morning. I still can't get the monitor right on my old computer. Why would it be fine on one system and whack on another? No matter what I put it on the screen is too light and the words are blurry. I've messed with every monitor setting and the setting on the screen settings.

I'm installing my printer to it right now, but thinking I also wish I knew how to network the printer to work from here on the laptop.

I cashed out at linkgrand yesterday again. The money was in my paypal yesterday too! I love the reliable paying sites like this.


I got a couple more of the Kansas highway videos put in to gather yesterday evening, but didn't get any updating done in squidoo.

I'm in hopes that taking my mom to the dr. this afternoon is the only place I need to go. Well, I would like to go to Walgreens as I have a $1 register rewards taht expires today. I need to grocery shop but my coupons are just in a mess! Hopefully I can get a list of the good deals at the store today and go through coupons this evening to shop tomorrow. I also really want to get busy on getting the basement reorganized too. Wish me luck on all this!

Off I go...have a great Thursday.
Marsha

Tuesday June 9

Good Morning!
I am back on my original computer. My son got it reformatted and came to pick his up. There is nothing but the basics on here so I have a lot to get it back. I am having a problem with the screen though. The words are blurry and I can't seem to figure out how to adjust my monitor to change that. Weird how it can be fine...hook something else up and it's not. So, if I mistype, excuse me....

In other news, I've decided this is the day to get back into my regular routine! I've neglected my card file box for well over a week while we got ready for a yard sale, and had a new baby. It's time to get my act back together.

I have my coupons out in the car and got a lot of them cut out yesterday. I will work more on that this afternoon when I take my mom to the dr. I am spending the evening at Steve's....not sure what any plans are there. Jasmine is at camp again this week so it will just be us (and his sister) at the house unless Liz decides to come with her kids for awhile to visit too.

Nothing much else going on right now...not like me trying to get back in to routine isn't enough! LOL

I will try to get my blog back in to order too...which means getting busy doing the things I need to do online to earn.

Thanks to all of you that read my postings :) Have one awesome day!
Marsha

Monday June 8

Good Morning. It seems anymore I only get my blog written every other day. I really need to get my routine back in order.....I just don't know how to go about doing so.

They were supposed to start on my mom's bathroom today with orders for us to be out of the house from 9-3 today and tomorrow. The plan was to spend that time at my boyfriend and his sister's house. The company called last night and now won't be able to start the job until next Monday.

My daughter, Elizabeth, wants to get all the excess out of the kitchen today and put a shelf in there instead. That way we can reorganize the food. The pantry is over flowing. I didn't think I was going to have to go anywhere today but then my son told me him and his girlfriend needs rides around since this is their payday. I think, instead of taking the laptop I will take my coupons to cut out while I am out and about with them. My coupons are in such a disarray its not even funny. The other day I even woke up to find that the kittens had knocked my abc file box off of my desk. Some got mixed up.

I did manage to get in an update on Our Unschooling Journey 3 squidoo lens over the weekend.
I've barely been getting anything done in gather....which means I am barely getting any points either. Two days in a row I didn't open my email at all...and now I have over 11,000 in there. See what I mean about needing to get it back together??

My daughter, Elizabeth, added more photos to her gather. She needs some help with views. If you have time, check out her photos for me. Liz's Photos Thanks! So far I am the only one who has even viewed the ones she just put in.

I guess I better run and get my coupons gathered and such before I have to leave.
Have a great Monday!

Saturday May 30

Good Morning!
Man I could really use a day of rest, but don't see one of those coming until after the neighborhood yard sale on June 6th.
My laptop came in yesterday about supper time so I spent the rest of the evening getting it set up, downloading things etc. I'm so happy to have it!

I got a terrible headache early afternoon. Indications are showing my headaches are being caused by the aspartame in the Crystal Light. Today is day 5 of 8 in the challenge with gather. I won't make it if that is what is causing the headaches. I did have one day without a headache though, so I'm not sure. I can not drink plain water though...yuck! There is a lot of stress right now with getting Jasmine ready for camp, trying to clean, attempting to make some money online and getting ready for this yard sale too.

I built a squidoo lens yesterday called My First Quilt I've been wanting to make a quilt for months...started then nothing. I thought going ahead and making the lens would inspire me to work on it..then I can take pictures along the way and keep updating the lens.

I better run, lots to accomplish yet today before we head to Steve's for the evening...but hey, I have my laptop now so as long as their wireless doesn't screw up (like it often does) I should be able to do some things online.

Have a good Saturday,
Marsha

Friday May 15

Good Morning! I didn't sleep in this morning and have been booking on some housework. It should be my payday unless they sent my check to the center instead of in the mail to me. It's only for 5 1/2 hours but will help. I'm in real hopes to hear something on the car today.
Heather and I got to pick up our new glasses already yesterday. I am having a really hard time adjusting to the bi-focals. I hope it doesn't take long. The blurry line in the middle is driving me crazy...then the blur when I look down. They are awesome for reading, I was having a tough time reading. Now I can even read those little expiration dates on the coupons, but so far that's the only good thing.

I am going to get a book review in today, speaking of reading. I will make it into a squidoo lens after I post the review to gather.
Speaking of squidoo, I updated a couple of lenses.... Betty Boop and Aerosmith

It's still overcast outside, but is warmer. I will be going over to Steve's tomorrow evening as usual so can check on the garden. The flower garden we planted here is starting to sprout up. I know the rain has been good for both of them.

I guess I better get back to my housework. I tried to do some of it ahead last night but I've really let the place go and it will drive me insane if I don't get it cleaned back up again!

Here's to a great start to your weekend!
Marsha

Monday May 11

Good Morning. I sure hope it doesn't rain today...I am very tired of this rain every day...sigh...I know the moisture is needed and I'm sure it's helping my garden.
I need to get a LOT done today. This house is past disaster area. I was doing great with my card file but slipped up when I got addicted to the mahjong at iwon.com. Now I'm also playing games on pogo..why?...because I got a free 10 day club pogo membership. Nothing would be wrong with playing the games if I could actually win something, but the chances at either site are so slim it's pathetic.
I really want to get these books listed on homeschoolbuy today. Heather and I both have eye doctor appointments this afternoon. I still have no car. He let me use one over the weekend..it looked pretty nice, even had a radio in it and all doors and windows work, but they can't figure out how to make it run on all 6 cylinders. I don't think the junk man will ever find me anything that will actually run and look decent too.

I did get in my Mail Call! Week of May 3 post on gather. It was exciting to get my $250 sweepstakes win check in! Now I can go make another payment to the cable office and give my mom some rent money too.

I'm taking turns doing something on the computer then setting the timer for 15 minutes of housecleaning. Better get back to that timer and more housework.

Here's to a great start to your week!
Marsha

Thursday April 23

Good Morning! I did it again, only this morning I didn't get out of bed until 9 am! Once again I couldn't sleep last night. I finished reading one book and started reading another one.
Tomorrow is my birthday, and also my heavier cleaning day of the basement. I'm thinking I should do all the cleaning today. Tomorrow I am going with a group from church to Wichita for the evening to the Crown Uptown Dinner Theater. I want to be able to spend what time I am home tomorrow on the computer not cleaning. Besides, who wants to clean on their birthday?

Today is shopping day. I printed out the sales list but haven't even looked at it to see if there are any things I can match coupons to. I just have some things that I want to buy and ingredients for a recipe I want to try.

I'm busy getting my blujay items back in to rotation at reallysmartdeals. I am still so very glad that blujay came back!

Hey! I just got another payment from matrixmails. It's one of the great paid to click type programs that I do.


Well, off to get a bunch of other things done for today. Have a great Thursday!
Marsha

Friday April 17

Good Morning!
I was going to do ALL of my cleaning before even getting on the computer but decided I wanted to go ahead and get this blog written. Mom is messing with me already...she's come down and turned off ALL the lights like I'm not even down here, then complaining about the light bill. Oh my gosh mother...I do pay you...and I've replaced all the bulbs down here with the energy saving bulbs anyway.
I am not one that can sit in the dark...it makes me tired and it makes me feel depressed.

I got my L'Oreal Revitalift bzz kit in the mail and wrote my initial post about it which includes a photo of the kit as well as a before video of myself. Rec'd My L'Oreal Revitalift Bzz Kit Yesterday

No plans outside of home today. I just plan on getting all the housecleaning done here in the basement. I also plan on getting through all of my websites that I do daily as well as to clear my gmail. I also need to do quite a bit of schoolwork with Jasmine. This week Heather has been a big help with Jasmine and her school work, pulling her in with her and working on things together. It's been great to see. That should keep me busy enough. It's Friday so I can stay up late and sleep in tomorrow!

Please click and nominate me for the Mom Logic contest if you would:


Here's to a great start to your weekend,
Marsha

Monday April 13

Good Morning! I hope everyone had a nice Easter.
Yesterday was a nice day...despite the weather. Church was great. We had to have the egg hunt for the kids inside the church due to the rain. It was raining when I woke up in the morning and still raining when I went to bed last night. They are calling for rain every day in the forecast through Saturday. I guess it's the April showers to bring those May flowers.
I really am wanting to get my garden area ready and get to planting.

Today is my moderate cleaning day upstairs. I've done some dishes and will head up to sweep and mop the kitchen, then vacuum all the carpets after I am done with my blog. I've already snapped at my mom this morning..she just had to start making comments on how I wash dishes, telling me it didn't look like I was rinsing them very well, then going on to ask me if I was ever taught how to do dishes. I screamed at her asking her if she wanted me to do dishes or not, and I told her that she needed to shut up. I hate myself when I act like that. For one thing is the quitting smoking thing, for another it's just my mother's attitude that if you don't do something the same way she does then you aren't doing it right...that is for everything not just the dishes. Ok...done with that rant! Yes, I do love my mother and I do appreciate her, and I am thankful for her.

I've been doing a lot of posting on gather in regards to our Easter holiday. I got stuck yesterday....I got one video in, which took an hour to load, the 2nd one I tried never did load. I got a lot of crocheting on this last craft order while I waited! I will restart the computer today before I try uploading any more videos today. If interested, you can click my gather button to the left and go check out the photos, posts and videos that I have put in.

No plans outside of the house today other than visiting my son this evening. This is our last week to visit, he gets out on Saturday. For those that don't know, he is spending 90 days in jail for driving on a suspended license. I sure hope he doesn't do this again! I have plenty for him to help with once he's out. I need his help with the van, my tv went out, and yesterday the dryer quit working.
Oh, I do also need to walk to the Dollar store and buy cat litter and trashbags, so hoping it won't be raining this afternoon so I can get that done.

Until tommorrow, he's wishing you a good Monday,
Marsha