WIP Wednesday 5/11/11

I always do have works in progress, as with most of you who read my blog.  I put all of those aside this past week to work on things for my daughter and the new baby.

Today's major WIP is cleaning the house and setting up for the baby shower....including still needing to bake the cupcakes.

Here are some baby booties I am attempting to make.  I am so very lost on the pattern.  It will be a miracle if they get made at all, let alone made before the baby is born.  Heather was in hopes they would work to go with Zelda's going home outfit.
I did a post on gather asking for help, which includes a link to the pattern.  If any of you are expert crocheters, please take a look at the pattern and tell me how to proceed!  Thanks!
Please Help Me With This Crochet Pattern!

I did complete the Minnie Mouse baby hat.  It turned out pretty cute, but sure won't fit much past newborn I don't expect.

And, after many hours, and major help from one of the lady's at church, this baby set if made.  I'm not happy with the booties, they were very hard to make and the instructions had to be read and re-read many times at a few points to figure out what to do.  I fully intend to NEVER make these again!  The bibs however, that's another story.  They are very simple and look good.   I had enough material left over to add a second matching bib to the set.  I also had enough material left over from the baby quilt I gave Heather for Christmas to throw in another bib.

That's it for my report this week....time to get back to cleaning.  Please click on each button below to join in any or all of the WIP Wednesday blog hops....and check out what others are working on as well.

New!!! Giveaways Linky is now Ongoing

I've decided to make the giveaways link it's own page, and make it ongoing instead of weekly.

You can access the page from the Index to the left.

I will be removing giveaways as they end.  You can list your giveaway any time....or come check in to see what there is to enter!

If you are a blog owner who has a list of blogs that host giveaway linky's, please include mine in your ongoing list.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

Redeem Your Swagbucks to Help in the Tornado Relief!

Thanks for all of your help with our efforts raising funds for Disaster relief in Japan - thanks in part to your efforts, Swagbucks donated over $20,000 to All Hands Volunteers. Now we've turned our attentions home, where the Southeastern U.S. was hit with over 250 tornadoes in the span of 24 hours. We're currently collecting Swag Buck donations through the month of May that will translate into a donation for United Way of Western Alabama. Let's get as many Swag Bucks as possible donated to aid in our efforts. Here's the link to the donation page:

http://swagbucks.com/p/prize/25155/Tornado-Relief-Fund-Donation

Mailbox Monday 5/9/2011

I feel like I had another outstanding week.
Magazines:
Ok!  (I paid $2 for this subscription)
Seventeen magazine (not pictured as Jasmine snagged it right away since I got it for her.)
Sports Illustrated
Car & Driver
Lego Club
3 issues of Time
People

Other mail:
3 pieces of hausernet mail (this will slow down considerably, including no more magazines as I get my account changed over to our new house)
Uncle Ben's rice .75 coupon....Wait!  I just cut it out and realized there is a coupon for a free bag on the opposite side!  Here I thought maybe I didn't get in on time and just got the .75 coupon.
Free coupon for Suave Professionals
Free coupon for Kraft shredded cheese with a touch of Philadelphia along with $1 coupon.
Just Like Sugar samples
Variety of labels with my grandson's name on them from Oliver's Labels for review
Book--Buddy's Tail to read and review
CD Amanda Lamb Highwire to review and give away on my blog
CD Amy Hefferman Friggin Little Know It All to review and give away on my blog.

In my email:
$50 paypal from sidetick

In my church mail box:  $40 check for April cleaning.

Shop Hop Saturday 5/7/11

Good morning!

I woke up this morning and decided this was the day to get more products added to my zazzle store.
I feel like I'm getting a little better at the basic putting a photo on to a product anyway.

I'm having a problem. I am not seeing the products show up in my store. I just got in emails verifying the listings in to my store. I thought maybe I'm just not patient enough for them to show up....maybe still not patient enough.

I do have links to each one:

Purple Iris Sticker

Yellow Daisy Sticker

Christmas Kitty Mug

February Sunset Postcard

I also put the sunset on a postage stamp but it has to be approved first. I plan on doing a lot of the postage stamps with all of the flower photos I've taken and saved for zazzle.

If you have time, could you go to my store link and tell me if the new products are showing up in my store for you? Thanks!! Marsha's Spot on Zazzle

A shout out and thank you to Ruthi of abitosunshine for hosting Shop Hop Saturday. Please click the button and join us!

New!! Frugal Friday's With Marsha Blog Hop

I've decided to start something new for Friday here on my blog. I hope many will hop along and inspire us all to be as frugal as we can be.

Each week I will share some of the things I've done to be frugal.

Let me start with my grocery shopping this past week. The first trip wasn't as frugal as it should have been, or could have been. I had gone through the Dillon's sales ad and pulled out matching coupons. Steve gave me $40 to spend. I ended up going over that, spending $50.49. I used a total of $27.69 in coupons and my receipt tells me that I saved 55% with sales and coupons. Anything over 50% is pretty good, but I want to strive for more than that.
I won't bore you with the whole list, but here are some of the really good deals:
Keep in mind that my store does double coupons.
*Half gallons of milk were on sale for $1 each, I bought 2.
*Butterfinger Crisp candy bars on close out for .53 each, I bought 2 and used a .50/2 coupon so just .03 each.
*Tostito Chips on sale for $2.99, used $1 coupon so $1.99
*Tostitos Spinach Dip on sale for $2.99, used $1 coupon, so $1.99
*Pepsi Max 2 ltr was free using a coupon buy 2 Tostitos products get it free. The cashier took off $1.25 although it was on sale for .74 so that meant extra off the total bill.
*1 Gatorade, 1 Gatorade G2, and 1 Gatorade Prime--Gatorade on sale for .79, other 2 on sale $1 each. I used a coupon to buy the latter 2, get the Gatorade free. he cashier took off $1.69 instead of the .79 for the free Gatorade, making each one just .30.
*2 Ortego Taco Seasoning on sale for $1 each, used $1/2 coupon making them .50 each.
*3 Crest Toothpaste on sale for $1 each, used 2-$1 coupons and 1-.50 coupon making them all free.
*2 Schick disposable razors, on sale buy 1 get one free making them $3.19 each. I used 2-$2 coupons making them just $1.19 each.
*2 California Kitchen Pizza's on sale for $5 each, used 2-$1.25 coupons bringing them down to $3.75 and I got back a $1 catalina.

The following day I went back to the store for just a few items:
*2 Splenda 80 ct packet boxes on sale for $4.29. I used 2-$3 coupons making them $1.29 each plus I got back a $3 Catalina.
*3 Hershey's chocolate bars on sale buy 2 get 1 free (.89 each) In combination with the sale, I used a buy 1 get 1 free coupon, so I paid .89 for all three.
I also used my $1 catalina from the previous day.
I paid $3.34 with tax, saving 77% with coupons and sales--much more like it.

The following day I made one more trip on this sale.
*4 Tony's smaller pizzas, on sale for $1 each. I used 1-$1/2 coupon and 1-.50/2 coupon bringing them down to .50 each.
*2 Delmonte Fruit cups on sale for $1 each, used $1/2 coupon making them .50 each.
* 1 Yoplait Whips, used free coupon
*2 Butterfinger Crisp candy bars on close out for .53 each, used .50/2 coupon making them .03 each.
*2 half gallons of milk on sale for $1 each.
I also used the $3 catalina coupon from the day before.
I paid $2.76, saving 87% with sales and coupons (this is how I would love it to be each and every shopping trip.)

In other shopping I made 2 transactions at Walgreen's. No super super savings here either, but I still would like to share.
Transaction #1--
*Bic Soleil razors, $5.99, used $3 coupon and got back $3 in RR.
*Noxema razors, $3.99, used $1 coupon and got back $2 RR.
I paid $6.78 and took my $5 in RR's to my--

Transaction #2--
*Wine Out stain remover, on clearance for .75
*Mints, .79 (these 2 my fillers to use the previous RR's)
*Tylenol Precise Heat, $7.99, used $5 coupon in combination with $3 Walgreen's coupon for a 1 cent money maker.
*2 Covergirl Nature Luxe foundation, $12.99, on sale buy 1 get 1 half price, I used 2-$2 coupons, bring the total with sale to $7.74 each.
I then used my $5 in RR's from the first transaction.
I paid $14.35. This was after a total of $17 in coupons. This still means that I saved over 50% No, I'm not really proud of this, but this make-up is the bomb and after using it as a bzzagent I wanted more, and one for my daughter too!

Another thing that I am doing in our new house to save money is hanging the laundry on the line to dry whenever the weather has been permissable. I'm thankful that I should be able to the rest of the season and summer now. I fell in love with this house first for having a clothesline in the back yard!

Please add my button to your blog roll if you can, or to your post if you plan on doing this with us regularly on Friday's. Thanks!!

Cascade Complete 24 Hour Challenge and $15 Wal-Mart Gift Card Giveaway (plus bonus winners!)

It’s time to answer the hard-hitting question – whose turn is it to clean the dishes after dinner?

With new Cascade Complete – you won’t mind taking turns at the sink. And if the thought of dirty dishes in the sink has ever made you think twice about making a favorite meal, Cascade Complete is here to help.

The excess scrubbing of cookware and dirty tableware is not only tiring, but time consuming. Allowing the remains of a delicious dinner to set in its baking dish could mean water logged fingers and hours in the kitchen.

Put your pre-soaking days behind you, and lighten your load with Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs. They break down, dissolve, and rinse away tough food particles, leaving your hands free and your dishes sparkling. Sound too good to be true? We dare you to take the 24 Hour Challenge. 

I took the challenge!! 


Challenge Instructions:

• Bake a Blueberry Cobbler.* Enjoy!
• Set the empty baking dish out for 24 hours
• Without rinsing, put it in the dishwasher with Cascade Complete

*Don’t have time to bake a cobbler? Try the 24 Hour Challenge with any dirty baking dish!


I wasn't able to make the blueberry cobbler, instead I made an apricot cobbler.  Heck, I even re-warmed it in the oven, so one side of the dish had cobbler baked on, not just dried on.

I'm sold!!!!!!


Check out how sparkling clean the dish came out using the Cascade Complete All-In-1 ActionPacs!  (This was in a full dishwasher, which also included Malt-O-Meal bowls and pan from breakfast that had sat in the sink all day.  They also came out just as clean and sparkling.)

 


Giveaway time!


One lucky reader of my blog will win a $15 Wal Mart gift card so that they can go purchase their own Cascade Complete All-In-1 ActionPacs.

Rules:
Giveaway is open to U.S. residents or military addresses.
Giveaway starts Thursday May 5 and ends Thursday April 19 at 9 pm CST.
You must make sure I have a way to contact either by email in your profile or leaving email in one of your comments.
Winner will be chosen using random.org.
Winner will have 48 hours to contact me with their information or another winner will be chosen.


Bonus!!  5 additional winners will be chosen to each win a sample pack of Cascade Complete All-In-1 ActionPacs.  (same rules apply as for the gift card) 

Mandatory entry:   Comment and share which meal you are most anxious to use the Cascade Complete All-In-1 ActionPacs to clean up after.


Extra entries:  (one comment for each entry please)


1.  Follow my blog with google friend connect


2.  Subscribe to my blog by email. (upper left column)


3.  Friend me on facebook here.


4.  "like" Marsha's Spot on facebook. (left column)


5.  Vote for me on the fence.  (right column)


6.  Participate in any of my blog linky posts (giveaways Tuesday, squidoo blog hopping, or Frugal Friday's with Marsha)  Comment and let me know what one, or all 3.  


7.  Share this giveaways on twitter, facebook, your own blog, gather, or any other website where it's allowed.  (you can do this up to 3 times during the giveaway for up to 3 entries.)


Good Luck to all!!

Disclaimer:   P&G provided me with the Cascade Complete All-In-1 ActionPacs kit, 6 trial packs, information and the $15 Wal Mart card to give away through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions of the product through my own 24 hour challenge are my own.

Squidoo Hopping 5/5/11

Welcome to this week's squidoo blog hop! I hope you will hop along with us if you have blog posts pertaining to squidoo. If not, I hope you will hop along and support those of us who do squidoo. Thanks!

This past week I managed to build 2 new lenses. I am inching my way towards the 100 lenses. I do still have one lens that I need to delete as it's for a company I'm not dealing with anymore, nor do I want to deal with.

This Day in History April 28--This one was built a couple of days later than I wanted, but April 28 is my son's birthday. I need to build a couple of these each week if I ever intend to come close to my goal with these. I've been working on the basis of doing days that mean something to me first, but the next day for that is May 25.

...Featuring Norah Jones Album Review--I am going through my blog and making my book and music reviews in to lenses. This is the first one I've gotten done. I hadn't been doing music reviews on squidoo, but hope it goes over well. I get to review a lot of new albums as they are coming out.

Now for my question this week. I'm really needing the etsy items that I've sold to not show up on my lens. Do they ever go away? Is there a way to make them disappear?? I've sold those items that show $0 and most of them I can't get the same material to make again even if someone seen it was sold and contacted me to make another! Thanks for any help anyone can give.

Until next week....Happy Squidooing!!

WIP Wednesday 5/4/11

Welcome to WIP Wednesday.  I'm hopping along with 3 different blogs.  Please click each button and check each one out!

I didn't get the strip quilt quite pinned yet.  It's frustrating because I put a stretchy material for the center.  I had thought it was just the right size, but I ended up having to stretch it to make it fit.  Wrong answer as any of you who do quilting know.  It's pulling in the sides.  One friend told me to sew across the edge squares to make it stay straight.  I did try that, but with just a small $80 machine, that task is very difficult.

I did work some on the toothbrush rug for the basement floor.  I didn't get in an many strips as I wanted to this past week, but did quite a bit.  Once I get the excess backing material cut from the quilt to make more strips for the rug, I will get out my last batch of strips for the rug.  I have no idea how large it will end up being at that point, but I have a feeling whatever the size, it's just going to have to do!  I already can't work it on my lap anymore.  I will have to put my laptop on the floor so I can still click on here while working on the rug.

 I did work some on the double thick crocheted hot pads, but not enough to make it worth a photo.  I also, today, started working on the baby hat and booties for my daughter.  Her baby shower is next Wednesday.  Hopefully I will get them done in time and next week have a photo of the finished products.    


 

Covergirl NatureLuxe Foundation and Gloss Balm

As a bzzagent I was thrilled to take part in the Covergirl campaign for new NatureLuxe foundation and gloss balm. I love Covergirl!

Just the facts (with my opinion in parentheses)
Silk foundation:
Provides a smooth, silky feel (yes it does! hours later you can feel your face and it still feels silky smooth)
Contains refreshing cucumber water to help balance the creaminess on application (it goes on very smoothly, blends in very well)
Made with hints of jojoba and rosehip extracts.
Available in 14 shades ranging from light to dark tones (I chose 310 Flax in my bzzagent kit. I love it. With summer coming up and more sun I chose to buy 315 Bamboo)
Oil-free, SPF 10 and dermatologically tested.
Suggested to retail for $11.99 (I haven't checked the price at other stores, but I found it at Walgreen's to be $12.99. Walgreen's has a sale right now for buy 1 Covergirl product, get the 2nd one for 1/2 price. I took advantage of the sale, as well as 2 of the $2 foundation coupons that came in my kit, and bought one tube for myself and one for my teenage daughter. My daughter also loved the foundation from the first time she tried it. She chose to stay with the 310 Flax color since she is a red head and fair skinned.)

Gloss Balm:
Combines the sheer color and shine of a gloss with the soft moisturization of a balm. (goes on smooth and easy...does not make my lips feel sticky)
Available in 16 versatile, beautiful shades (I received 225 Anemone. When I first seen it, I thought oh my gosh, that is a very bright color. I was very happy that it does not go on your lips even close to as bright as it shows. I want to buy more and want to try 270 Spice, 275 Cinnamon, and 280 Clove.)
Formulated with SPF 15 for added protection.
Suggested retail of $6.49 (I couldn't find a price sticker for this at Walgreen's, and haven't looked anywhere else yet.)

Below you will find photos of me--before any make-up, and after putting make-up on. (Don't laugh! I do not like photos of myself, and took these in the mirror) Using the Natureluxe foundation and the NatureLuxe gloss balm.
(Other Covergirl products I used were Classic Color blush, Lashblastlength mascara and Shadowblast eyeshadow)

Disclaimer: I received Covergirl NatureLuxe foundation and gloss balm through a campaign with bzzagent.com for the purpose of review. I was not compensated any other way, and all opinions of the products are my own.

(photo of kit rec'd)