Frugal Friday With Marsha 12/13/13 Linky Party

I am late getting this post up today. First my daughter was sick so I had to take the grandkids to school. While I was out I knew I better get my merchandising job done at Walmart and a little shopping....plus scanning with my checkpoints and shopkick apps.
I then went to the bank. I had money in my account from selling books at half.com that I didn't realize.
My bank is next door to Target so I stopped on in to scan with the apps there too. I should have cashed in my points to pay for most of the cat litter that I bought, but decided to wait and just pay the cash.
I then headed to Walgreen's.

Walgreens is where my morning went awry. I wanted to go ahead and get some stocking stuffers and such and use the $5 Jingle Cash we had gotten before.
Sigh---it's not like last year when it was just $5 off period, it's $5 off $30. I was ok with that as I had my $10 gift card that I redeemed from mypoints to also help me pay.
What I didn't know is that the $30 is before coupons.
I didn't read the fine print ahead of time to know that, but I have now read it. It states: Walgreen's Jingle Cash can only be redeemed on a total qualifying purchase of $30 or more. Only one Jingle Cash coupon redeemed per transaction. Jingle Cash can not be redeemed for cash. Jingle Cash is earned after all applicable discounts and before any manufacturer's coupons or taxes are imposed.
In other words, it doesn't tell you what a total purchase of $30 or more is!! It should state $30 after all discounts and manufacturer's coupons.
Oh well, lesson learned.
To be honest, if I had known it was going to be $5 off $30 anyway, I wouldn't have worked to get up to that first $30 last week anyway! Again, I am guilty of not reading the whole thing....just assumed it would be the same as last year.

I am still happy with my purchases as I got candy for my Christmas sacks, coloring books for the children's sacks, a couple of nail polishes for my teenagers sack, toys for my youngest grandchildren, and a gift for my teenager too.

I really should keep all receipts for anything that I buy for gifts so that at the end of the year I know just how much I have really spent. I know it would be WAY above what I think I am spending, even though I am a frugal type person.

God willing, this evening I will be at the quilt shop for 4 hours of sit n' sew. I will buy my son and hid girlfriend pillows and I am making them pillowcases. I spent $14 on the fabric. I bought it from the clearance fabrics. I only spent $4 and some change as I had a $10 gift card that I won. Also, I bought about a yard more fabric than I needed.
Now my oldest daughter said that her and her bf could use the same gifts.
I also ran across an unfinished wall hanging that I had bought at the member's booth of our quilt show for 50 cents. I am finishing it up to give to my mom.

I bought what I think is the last skein of yarn for the scarves that I am knitting for gifts.

I still have what feels like many gifts to think about and get! How are you coming along? I can't believe that Christmas is only 12 days away!

Squidoo Hopping 12/12/13

Less than 2 weeks until Christmas!  How are your Christmas sales?
I'm confused on sales.  I am showing 11 games bought from one of my lenses and showing $2.97 commission on the dashboard, but they aren't shown in my activity under sales.
Does anyone know why this is?

Otherwise a week ago I show 3 sales in another lens.  This is also confusing it as it was 5 sales, then it showed 4, today it shows 3.

Maybe one of these years at this time of year I can get the kinds of sales that some of the rest of you do!

I can't wait to see what is linked up this week  :)

 

WIP Wednesday 12/11/13

Here we are with Christmas day only 2 weeks away!  I have so many projects that I yet need to get sewn up for gifts!

On the Penny Patch quilt for the QAL, I do have it sandwiched and pinned.  Now I need to see if I can figure out how to do the dogwood quilting.  I sure like that that looks.

This is not a current picture but I am still working on knitting scarves for Christmas gifts.  Since taking this picture a couple of days ago I have finished the one with the skein on yarn laying there and started on the other one with the teal yarn.

 Yesterday was the monthly sewing day at church.  This is the progress on the quilt that I am currently working on.  I am actually going to finish this one all by myself because I am doing it in quilt as you go.  I hope to have it finished by the end of next month's sewing day.

 I was able to get some work done on making my yo-yo's while my youngest daughter was at the doctor and while we visited my middle daughter this past week.  Unfortunately I left my yo-yo box at my middle daughter's house.  I don't think I would have taken another picture though as I am still just making them with the fabric in my box and then will start putting the table runner together.

I didn't get any applique bunnies done this past few weeks at home, but I do have stitch group this afternoon.  I had hoped to have them done and to get to spend this afternoon squaring up the blocks.  Such is life though!  I will applique on them today and then next Wednesday and hopefully then next month to start squaring them up.

This past week I did a review lens on on Squidoo for a book called Crafty Creatures.  You can click to check it out if you would like.  It will open in a new window:  Fill Your Home With These Crafty Creatures.  I will be making the cat's bed, along with the cat, that I show at the bottom of my lens for my 2 yr old granddaughter.  She's going to love it!  I hope to make lots of of the projects in the book as well.

I am linking up with the following blogs:
 

Color-Glide Pro Brushless Painting Review and Giveaway!

With the Color-Glide Brushless painting system you will have space and have long term storage.
These are pretty darn cool!
Each tube comes with a pump.  In this picture I am pumping paint from the can and into the tube.  Very easy.

Each tube has space to fill out the color, brand of the paint, which room you used it in, what project etc.

The top is a soft felt applicator.  Here I am starting to work on painting the stairwell to our basement.  The paint goes on easily with the applicator.   What I really like is that there is no mess on the edges.  I didn't have a need to tape and tape to avoid going over the edge.

Each tube comes with it's own pump.  I did wash my pump out so that I could re-fill the tube, but I am not sure it's intended to do so.
I need to fill my other tubes to empty the paint can----and finish my painting, of course.

My next project that I want to use the brushless painting with is to paint the shelves in my craft room and my daughter's bedroom.


You will find more instructions below and you can also visit http://www.ColorGlidePro.com as well.

 One lucky Marsha's Spot winner will receive a 4 pack of the brushless painting tubes as shown below!  Enter using the rafflecopter form below.

 
Disclosure:  I was sent product to use and give my opinion on as well as information to share.  I was not compensated in any other way, and all opinions are my own.   Sponsor also provided the prize for me to giveaway.





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Blu-ray #MovieMagic GIVEAWAY

About Blu-ray #MovieMagic:

You Haven’t Seen Your Favorite Movie Until You’ve Seen the Special Features!

This Holiday rediscover the #MovieMagic behind your favorite films. Blu-ray offers exclusive special features that put you in the filmmaker’s chair, with a behind-the-scenes access to all of the magic: Special effects, talent interviews, alternative endings, unreleased scenes, bloopers, and more!

With a Blu-ray combo pack, you can enjoy your favorite films in high-definition whenever and wherever you want. You can keep the Blu-ray disc in the living room, DVD in the car, and the digital copy on your phone for when you’re on the move!

Grab your favorite movie lover a Blu-ray this holiday!

Highlights:
• With the combo pack you can take your favorite films wherever you go. You can keep the Blu-ray disc in the living room, DVD for the car, and the digital copy on your mobile phone while on the move!
• Blu-ray lets you to watch your favorite movies with unmatched sound and video that is SIX TIMES the quality of DVDs!
• Blu-ray offers the most premium possible in home entertainment experience
• You don’t have to worry about the buffering that happens with streaming videos




One lucky Marsha's Spot winner will receive a copy of one of the following titles (chosen at random from the list below).

• The Little Mermaid - Diamond Edition
• The Lone Ranger
• Monsters University
• Angels Sing
• Rise of The Guardians
• Despicable Me 2
• Turbo
• Grown Ups 2
• Wizard of Oz 3D
• The Wolverine
• Star Trek: Into Darkness
• White House Down
• Fast 6
• Pacific Rim
• After Earth
• Man of Steel
• Red 2
• World War Z
• 2 Guns
• Weeds: The Complete Collection
• Predator 3D

(Each household is only eligible to win ONE #MovieMagic Title via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.)



Disclosure: This giveaway if sponsored by partnershub. All information and the prizes is provided by partnershub.

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Frugal Friday With Marsha Linky Party 12/6/13

The Christmas tree is put up......I've looked through my stash tote.....I've divided things up.
I have a list of the personal care items that I need so that all adult males and females each have the same items from me.

Oh, that's not as bad as I thought. I did end up having more than enough nicer women's razors for each woman.  I only have one man's razor though.
I have enough men's body wash, but no women's bodywash.
None will be getting deoderant this year.
I have loads and loads of men's shave gel, but need one more women's.

Hubby and I hit Walgreen's and used the $4 coupon off $9.99 toy and got the boys each a gift.
I got in the Zeenie doll for review for one granddaughter.  For 2 other girls I used the $5 off $25 toys coupon at Target along with $15 in Target gift cards I earned from shopkick and didn't pay too much for 2 My Little Pony Dolls.

I also hit the $1 section at Target and picked up $1 goodies for my Christmas sacks.  I still need to make another stop in that section to make sure everyone has goodies in their bag.
I am thinking of picking up the package of mini flashlights at Walmart. 10 in a package for $10.
I have a little stock up on AA batteries in the draw already from a recent sale and using coupons.  I think those will be good for the guy's Christmas sacks, including the boys.

Men and boys are the hardest to shop for----all the "toys" they want cost too much.

I only have $2 in register rewards to use at Walgreen's.  My plan is to use it to help buying the candy for my Christmas sacks.

I am knitting on the 3rd scarf.  I still don't know how many I am making.   I know of 5 for sure.  I will pick up another skein of yarn at Walmart this morning.

There is my update----how is your Christmas shopping shaping up?

Link up!

Squidoo Hopping 12/5/13

I finally did it!  I finally built 3 lenses using the new formats.  I chose to do one from each format too.   I filled out the form to re-apply for giant squid.
I got an email back from Bonnie the same day.  

I like the review format except I wanted to put in more pictures for the review.  There I am feeling lost.  
I could put the book as the amazon link in the intro.
I could only have one other picture.   I guess I could have had 2 if I hadn't put in the video.
Most book reviews I wouldn't have a video for.  However, a lot of the books that I review are craft related and PR likes me to show a few of the pages for example, or photos of crafts that I make out of the books.

Is there no way to "Sneak" more pictures in there.  Even the photo gallery module would work.
Maybe on the craft type books I better just stick to building not using the format.

Can we "squidoo it" from the favorites bar and not have to use the review format?

Yes, I am full of questions today!

I like the how to format, especially that we can add up to 10 items from amazon that are needed for the project.  That one is cool.

I like the recipe format.....and here in my question there.   I am seeing others who are updating recipe type lenses and I am seeing that their recipes are in the format that we see in the recipe format.    Is that now a module that we can add to those lenses?  Forgive me for not looking myself, just not going to be building or updating today.

Link away this week!  Keep me busy!  Please remember to also link up any blog posts you have written pertaining to squidoo as well.

 

WIP Wednesday 12/4/13

Christmas is getting closer.  Here is my progress on the knitted scarves.  I am not sure how many I am making.....6 or 7 I think.

Some time ago I started working on making yo-yo's.  I keep this box in the car and work on them here and there.  I have been taking them in to my quilt guild meeting and working on them there for the past 3 months.   I am wanting to make a table runner for our coffee table.  I did start on it but decided I wanted to make the yo-yo's that I could out of the fabric I had put in the box first.  You can see that I have a lot in the bag ready.
I see that some sell the yo-yo's by themselves on etsy.  I'm thinking I might try that too at some point.

 The top should be done for the Penny Patch QAL but I didn't work on it for a week once Thanksgiving hit.  I have my top half way to being completed.

I am linking up with the following blogs:
 
 

Enter To Win the Peaceful Happy Girl Giveaway from Marksville!

My friend Pamela of Marksville and Me is having a Peaceful Happy Girl Giveaway to celebrate 1000 likes on her MarksvilleandMe Facebook fan page.

One lucky winner will win everything pictured!

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New Zeenie™ Dollz Series Introduces a Fashion-Forward Environmentally Friendly Toy to Young Girls Nationwide

Saving the planet…that’s our style!™ is the catch phrase for the Zeenie™ Dollz.

Created for young girls and eco-conscious parents, the dolls are fashionistas, donning the latest in groundbreaking style, but Zeenie Dollz stand for much more. Each doll also brings to light an environmental cause that needs attention, bringing together education and green ideals for young girls. Zennia, the special edition doll in the series, leads the pack and embodies Mother Earth, the protector of our planet.  As the giver and sustainer of life on earth, Zennia is passionate about combating the evil anti-environment villains that threaten to destroy the world. To assist her in protecting our environment and spreading eco-awareness, Zennia is joined by a team of five eco-warrior fashionistas:
 

• Evee, Protector of the Skies and Defender against Pollution
  Kazumi, Protector of the Polar Regions and Defender against Global Warming
  Lina, Protector of the Rainforest and Defender against Deforestation
  Sini, Protector of Farmland and Defender of Mistreated and Abused Animals
  Yana, Protector of the Oceans and Defender of Marine Conservation

Zeenie Dollz started with a sketch by Hansini Wadhwani, the creator, designer and inventor of the series.  She showed her mother, Laxmi Wadhwani, the first sketch of a girl with flowing blue hair and explained that her persona was that of Mother Earth.  Her mother's support was overwhelming and she brought Zennia, the first doll in the series, to life.  The mother-daughter duo then worked together with their passion for the environment and the entire set of Zeenie dollz were created.

Zeenie Dollz are made of a combination of two completely recyclable, non-toxic materials. The packaging also follows suit with the sustainable message; the shipping cylinder is made of a biodegradable plastic. In addition to their sustainability, the Zeenie Dollz also come standard with 12 ball joints offering much more flexibility and movement during play time.

Zeenie Dollz retail for $39.99 and are available for purchase at www.zeeniedollz.com and will be available at select retailers nationwide.  They are a series of eco-friendly, eco-warrior fashionista dolls that combine style and education into one perfect package. The 12-inch dolls are made of recyclable materials and bring to light environmental causes that need our attention.

***A portion of each sale is donated to organizations working to preserve the environment and protect all animals and the places they call home. ***


We received Lina, pictured below:

My thoughts:
These dolls are just too cool!
You will notice that I only took her out of the outer plastic but not out of the package completely.  This is because one of my granddaughter will get her for Christmas this year.

I had my 6 yr old granddaughter check her out and she was excited right away.  She wanted to take her out to play....take her to church....and then take her home.  Sadly I told her no.

Lina is the protector of the rain forests.  She comes with her pet ocelot named Abby.
She also comes with an Eco-Warrior membership card, a hairbrush shaped like a leaf and a gel bracelet for her owner to wear.
She is indeed fashionably dressed.

The fist thing that I had checked was how her arms and legs move.  They are jointed to move very easily, almost real like.  Much better than other nationally known dolls.

I really like that each doll represent a different environmental cause.  I also like that they are made from recycable materials.  We are heavy into recycling in our household.


Find Zeenie in all of these places!
www.zeeniedollz.com
www.facebook.com/ZeenieDollzLlc
www.twitter.com/Zeeniedollz
www.pinterest.com/zeeniedollz
www.instagram.com/zeeniedollz
www.flickr.com/photos/98118508@N02 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.