Dad's Backyard Oasis Father's Day Giveaway!

It's finally here.... the Dad's Backyard Oasis Father's Day giveaway event!

Hosted by Bella Savvy and Mom to Bed by 8

Co-hosted by Giveaway Bandit, To Sew With Love, Living Unrefined, Mumblebee Inc., Some Call It Natural and What Mommy Wants

WOW, YOUR DAD ON FATHER'S DAY!

This year, Black & Decker is making Father's Day extra special for one lucky dad by offering an amazing prize pack full of everything dad will need to create an oasis in his own backyard for summer-long grilling, entertaining and just plain, good ole relaxing. AHH!

PRIZES:

• 20V MAX Lithium Drill/Driver -- MSRP: $122
• 2-speed Quick Clean Sprayer -- MSRP: $100
• 36V Lithium High Performance String Trimmer with Power Command -- MSRP: $170
• Garden IQ Hand Tools Series— including pruners, hedge shears, steel trowel, culti-hoe, heavy duty hose nozzle, water hand hose attachment, and miscellaneous safety items -- MSRP: $108 (includes work gloves)
• Work gloves

TOTAL VALUE: $500+

EVENT DATES:

This event will run from May 20th at 12:01 am. EST to June 3rd at 11:59 pm. EST

A huge THANK YOU to our sponsor... BLACK & DECKER for offering these amazing prizes!

* SPECIAL OFFER: *

Cant wait to win these fabulous prizes? Black & Decker is offering all entrants a special 10% discount + FREE shipping on the purchase of items included in the Black & Decker's Father's Day Gift Guide. So get your orders in for dad, and be ahead of the game when Father's Day rolls around. Use code: FATHER10 at checkout.

Now head on down there and get your entries in because you can't win if you don't enter...

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Frugal Friday Link Up--4 Uses for Vegetable Oil

My daughter and I are reading a great book that we checked out from the library called The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth. What an awesome book! Not only is it about saving the earth, but being frugal as well. We are learning so much and it's full of resources online to check out for more information in each section. It's so great that I want to share the link to it on Amazon too.



We are really working to make sure that lights aren't on that aren't needed. I am hanging the laundry on the line outside to dry. We are not running the dishwasher unless it's full. Washing clothes in cold water is something I started doing about a year ago. Our air conditioner is set at 82---and only comes down to no lower than 80 when needed. We've started a compost pile. We are working hard to not throw anything out that is recyclable, including plastic bags that can be taken to the grocery store for recycling. This is just a short list of some of the things that we do.


Now, on to sharing from the 99 Cent Solutions book. This week it's 4 ways to use vegetable oil:

1. Keep the birdbath operational. In the summer many people have to dump their birdbath after each rain because of mosquitoes. Float a few tablespoons of vegetable oil on the surface of the water. Mosquitoes hate it but the birds don't care.

2. Give yourself a hot oil treatment. Heat half a cup of vegetable oil in the microwave for 20 seconds until it's just warm. Massage on to dry scalp and wrap your head in a towel for 10 minutes. Wash your hair as usual.

3. Remove water rings from wood furniture. Spread a thin layer of vegetable oil over the affected area, and then sprinkle it lightly with cigarette ashes. Use a soft thin cloth to polish the oil and ash mixture gently into the ring and you will see it steadily disappear.

4. Break apart tumblers without breakage. All you need to get those drinking glasses unstuck is a thin drizzle of oil poured all around the top edge of the outside glass. Give it a few minutes to work in and they will separate with ease.


What blog posts have you shared this last week to inspire us all to be frugal and live a simple life? Please share them in the linky.

Squidoo Hopping--Another Lesson Learned

Another lesson learned for me. As most of you know, I had a heads up warning on my Learning About Japan lens. I had no idea why and I sure was fretting about it. I went to the largest squidoo group on facebook and asked others to look at it and tell me what was duplicate---after all, the pop up box told me that it was duplicate content that was the problem. Lots of lensmasters checked it out and none could see what would be duplicate content.

Here is where the lesson comes in. It wasn't even a matter of duplicate content, but instead a matter that I had nothing in the lens except things for sale! As soon as I put in a text list module, which lists the things we are learning along the way that interest us....the heads up went away.

However, I am still confused and will have to pay more attention from now on. It seems to me, that especially lately, I am seeing more and more lenses that are all about things for sale. Nothing personal in the lenses. Does it have to do with the fact that text modules are being used to put in html for things for sale? I know that I put a photo in a text with big picture and that didn't change the heads up.

I am relieved that it's taken care of, and I want to say thank you to those who took the time to try to help me figure it out.

I'm still on my goal of putting at least little updates into all of my lenses, and getting them transferred from one notebook to the next. Mainly I am working in the intro, re-sizing the intro photo, attributing it if necessary, and adding a charity to donate 10% to if that's not been done yet. I still have 39 lenses to go before my transfer of notebooks is complete!

Some lenses I have worked more on, and several of my lenses pretty well get regular updates. It's a lot of work, but I do hope in the long run that the pay off will be well worth my efforts.

I'm going to close for this week, we need to run out to watch my granddaughter "graduate" from Headstart. I am sharing a couple of lenses in the linky this week that I spent the more time on updating. Link up with me!

Make Your Day Bunches Better with Honey Bunches of Oats--Review and Giveaway!

Post Honey Bunches of Oats now has more of those delicious granola bunches in each box!


When I received my box of Post Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted in the mail, the first thing out of my teenage daughters mouth was, "oh boy!  that's my favorite cereal!"  My thought:  It is?  Ok.....why didn't mom know this?    She couldn't wait to fix herself a bowl.


This was actually my first time trying Honey Bunches of Oats.  I have to say that I can see why they are my daughter's favorite.   I generally like the sweetened cereals the most, and those that aren't sweetened, I add sugar to my bowl.  I did not add any sugar when eating the Honey Bunches of Oats, it has just the right amount of sweet as you eat.  I look forward to trying the other flavors available.  Just some of the other flavors are: Strawberry, Cinnamon Bunches and Fruit Blends.


Here is one of my bowls ready for breakfast:

It's good for you too!  10 grams of Whole Grain per serving.  Just 6 grams of sugar per serving.  0 grams of trans fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, and 0 mg of cholesterol per serving.


You will want to make sure to like the Honey Bunches of Oats facebook page to find out all you want to know.


Four of my lucky readers will each win a free coupon for Honey Bunches of Oats so they can see for themselves just how good it is.


Enter using the rafflecopter form below.  Contest open to residents of the United States.  Winners will have 48 hours to contact me or replacement winners will be chosen.

Disclosure:  Post provided me with a box of Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted to try so I could review them.  I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.  My box as well as the free coupons were provided to me by Post.





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WIP Wednesday---I'm Getting There

Last Friday was the monthly sit n' sew at the quilt shop.  I'm loving this each month!  For one thing, I get to visit with other quilters, and for another, I actually get things done.  I sure get a lot more done when I take my sewing machine away from the house--and away from the computer and the TV.



I did complete the squares for the Emerald Aisle table runner.  Now to just get it finished!

I got in some more work on my string type quilt.  I'm starting to think this is the never ending project.  I got more squares ironed and cut down and have strips pinned for sewing.  I think I just have 9 more squares to get made.  I don't think I can make it any bigger with what fuzzy material that I have.

I have the top completed on the quilt for quilts for kids.  It's a cute pattern that I will try to make more of.  I need to complete this and get it back in the mail.

Time for my 2 week check in on my granny a day challenge.  Here we are to day 137.  I am no further this time around than what you see in the photo.

I've been working this past week to get things listed in my etsy shop and get that going again.  Also to get some things transferred over to my zibbett store.


I am linking up with the following blogs:

Adam Cohen--Like A Man Album Review and Giveaway

Singer/Songerwriter Adam Cohen's newest album is Like A Man.

Like A Man contains 10 tracks:
1.  Out of Bed
2.  Matchbox
3.  Like A Man
4.  Sweet Dominique
5.  What Other Guy
6.  Girls These Days
7.  Lie Alone
8.  Overrated
9.  Beautiful
10.  Stranger

After listening to the album a few times, I have to call this album Easy Listening.  Love songs.  Most of the lyrics are very sweet with appreciation to the one you love.

About Adam Cohen:
Singer-songwriter-guitarist Adam Cohen, the son of the legendary Leonard Cohen, released his new album Like A Man on April 3 via Decca.

Like A Man has gotten rapturous reviews in Europe and Canada. The Montreal Gazette raves “Like A Man is a real gem, an inspiring case of a late bloomer rising to what had to be a truly daunting challenge,” while the Daily Telegraph proclaims the album a “little beauty” that boasts “poetic, introspective, funny, philosophical and deeply romantic songs exploring what it means to be a man in love.”

Promotion Photo Courtesy of Shayne Averdiere


Enjoy this video of Like A Man:
 



Enter using the rafflecopter form for a chance to win a copy of the CD. Giveaway ends May 23, 2012 at 12:01 am EST. Open to residents of the United States only, sorry. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me with mailing details or another winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: Prize is being provided by Sneak Attack Media. Information is taken from their website as well as the artists website. I was not compensated for this review and any opinions are my own.

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I just won 25 SuperPoints by playing the SuperLucky Button!

A 25 point bonus sign up available to the first person that signs up.  I know most do Superpoints, but if you haven't tried it, you should.  Easy and fun to earn the points.  I cash in for amazon most of the time, but there are lots of other options available as well including Wal Mart and paypal.

I just won 25 SuperPoints by playing the SuperLucky Button!

SIS-Shares in Squidoo--Homesteading

First of all I want to say to all Mom's out there:


Glitter Graphics, Mother's Day Glitter Graphics


Now on to the Shares in Squidoo blog hop :) Hosted by Ruth, please click the button and hop along with us.



This week I want to share an interest of mine, which is homesteading. There are loads of lenses on squidoo sharing journeys and methods. I am sharing a few of those today.

Living the Off-the-Grid Good Life by lensmaster RenaissanceWoman2010

Off the Grid Myth-Busting by lensmaster RenaissanceWoman2010

Homesteading by lensmaster steveffeo

The Wild Homestead Blog by lensmaster ss834

Homesteading-Living Off Grid by lensmaster WhiteOak50


For my own lens share today, I will share my Uses for Newspapers lens. It's along the lines of homesteading in ways to re-use newspapers for other purposes.

Until next week,

Two Great Purex Promotions!

This is your chance at a once in a lifetime vacation to Hawaii for free! Purex has teamed up with Outrigger Hotels and Resorts and want to send 1 lucky winner and guest to Outrigger Reef – Hotel on the Beach for 4 days and 3 nights! Let’s not forget the winner will receive a 2 year supply of Tropical Splash Purex Crystals!

Plus, there will be 500 other winners that will receive a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Crystals!

Ends June 15, 2012

Click HERE to enter and also you will want to make sure you like Outrigger Reef  on facebook too.

 

25 bottles of Purex Crystals for 25 days sweepstakes!

Purex Crystals are 87% natural crystals that go in at the start of the wash, so they spend more time with your laundry infusing them with long-lasting freshness.

Sign up for your chance to win and see why everyone is talking about Purex Crystals! We’ll choose 25 winners every day and send them a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Crystals.

Ends May 29, 2012

Click HERE to enter!

 

Frugal Friday Link Up--Living Below the Line $1.50 a Day Challenge

I want to continue this week talking about the Living Below the Line challenge I am taking part in.
I am taking part in this as a bzz campaign with bzzagent.com.

 I've ran across a lot of "nay-sayers" this past week.  Not only in comments on my own postings about what I am eating, but the postings of others as well.

We are hearing things like--3rd world countries are eating beans and rice
Most don't have access to grocery stores, let alone sales and the use of coupons
The usual people commenting on losing weight, not getting near enough to eat, nutrition isn't good.
One person really got in to it commenting that this challenge isn't teaching anyone anything (and she is taking part in the challenge)  I can't go in to details on her comments without quoting her, which I do not have permission to do.

Others are very supportive telling us we are doing a great job.  

Here are my posts on gather if you would like to read about my journey and what I have eaten.  I will come back and link up the post I do tonight once I get it done.

Live Below the Line Challenge--I'm In, Are You Up To It? (bzz campaign)


Living Below the Line $1.50 a Day Challenge Day 1

Living Below the Line $1.50 a Day Challenge Day 2 

Living Below the Line $1.50 a Day Challenge Day 3 

Living Below the Line $1.50 a Day Challenge Day 4 

Living Below the Line $1.50 a Day Challenge Day 5


I am supporting the Global Poverty Project and you can find my page here: https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/marsha32
So far I've not helped by raising any money  :(   I do hope that my postings have at least opened the eyes of some.

My husband and I have had a hard time keeping food in the house....or so we thought until this challenge.  In other words, we always have food, it's just not what we are hungry for, so we moan and groan about it.
Even though my husband and daughter didn't take part in the challenge with me, they have watched me and been supportive.

It takes a lot of time and effort to take what something costs, divide it out by ounces or servings and know a cost.  Take the Kool-Aid for example.  Now, I say Kool-Aid, but I am using the store brand.  I had to add the packet cost in with the cost of the sugar.  The sugar was on the package as servings by the teaspoon.  Boy wasn't that figuring fun  LOL
On that note, I would also like to add that I was asked if I was adding in the cost of the water for my tea and Kool-Aid.  The answer is no.  I would have no way of knowing what we pay the water company for each cup of water!

I posted about the challenge here in my Frugal Friday post last week.  I talked about how milk was on sale for $2 a gallon.  What a blessing that we stocked up somewhat so I could drink more of it.   Double blessings came Friday evening when my hubby called me from the store.  He was so excited to find half gallons of milk on a manager's special for just .50 each!!  He brought home 6 to make sure I had enough for the challenge.  This extra special price did afford me the luxury of a glass of milk with supper most nights too.

Also, eggs were on sale for $1 a dozen so he bought 2 dozen to make sure I had enough.  And, they had the 1 pound packages of potato salad and macaroni salad on sale for just $1.  He went a little overboard on those buying 5 packages of each!  We have some left for our Mother's Day dinner.

Could I have accomplished this challenge without using sale prices and coupons?  Probably so, but I would have been suffering through eating Ramen noodles every day.  I barely got myself to eat one package this week, half at a time.  I would have had very little else during the day.  

I want to mention that in our house we have a lot of food that didn't cost us anything.  I could have well used any of those foods and eaten 3 or 4 times more than what I did.  These are foods such as beans, rice, pasta, canned soup, etc that over time I have gotten from government commodities.   I also had made a trip to the local food bank recently and we still had some of that food left. (yeah, we had no meat whatsoever so I went to the food bank---of course the income tax refund came in the very next day.....and we did a shopping whopping stock up trip to Aldi)   I felt a little on the bad side using sale prices and coupons and didn't want to try to throw in things that I got free on top of those.   I shouldn't feel bad though!  If it weren't for sales and coupons we wouldn't eat near as much or as well as we do.

On that note, I would like to mention just yesterday, what a blessing of food we had!!  In the mail I rec'd 2 free coupons for any Gorton's seafood items.  I won those in a blog giveaway.  (I used one this morning for a 30 count bag of crunchy fish fillets that cost $10.97!) Later in the day the Fed Ex truck stopped with a package for me.  Inside I found a box of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal from PurexInsiders.  Along with that came 5 free coupons for more boxes.  I will be using one of those for us and giving the other 4 away here on my blog.
I was accepted at crowdtap for the McCormick Grill Mates party and will be receiving a box of marinades, bbq sauce etc.  I am signed up with bzzagent for the campaign on pork and will be receiving coupons to buy pork.  I just signed up for another bzzagent campaign for Private Selections.  With it we will get free coupons to get a bag of chips, a box of Angus Burgers, a pie, and ice cream.  (there's one whole meal totally taken care of!)    Am I counting my blessings?  YES!!

I think I have rambled enough here to call it a book, so will close for now.   I hope I have enlightened some on what it's like to try to eat on so little....as well as the blessings.   Please link up anything frugal you have to share in the linky this week.  I've not had much participation with the linky but would love to see it start to grow.  Inspire us all to live the simple and frugal life.

Disclosure:  I received a product sample, coupon, collateral or other special premium from BzzAgent.