Frugal Friday With Marsha ---Link Up!

Another week has passed us by and we are now in to May.
Spring left us again the past couple of days. We had lows below freezing the past couple of nights and even seen some snow yesterday morning.
I had to go out Wednesday morning and cover the plants. I do hope they survive!

This week has just sped on by me. I've stayed busy as usual.
I did make one shopping trip this week. An online friend sent me some free coupons and I used those as well as bought a few other things.
One thing that I bought is a gallon of white vinegar. I am now using it for fabric softener. I'm really liking it! Plus, it's cheap and natural.
I did get a couple loads of laundry done on Monday and Tuesday that I was able to hang out on the line to dry.

I've been working a lot this week on cutting out my coupons and getting them into my binder. I have a long ways to go! I will be working more on that today. If I can just work a little each day I could maybe keep them caught up. I have a pile of expired coupons to turn in for the military families.

I need to run along, another busy day away from home for me, but I do look forward to the posts you will link up this week!

Squidoo Hopping--How Has Your Week Been?

I was mistaken when I thought that Spring was finally here in Kansas.  It's currently snowing again--blah!    My daughter and I planted a garden last week.  I even started a new lens for this season on our garden.  I am sharing that link in the linky this week.
I had to go out yesterday morning and cover the plants again.  I do hope they survive!  The high here today and tomorrow is only 40.

Other than getting the new lens built, I'm ashamed to say that I've not spent much time in squidoo at all.  One of my other regular sites went down for server change and I've found myself lost writing in bubblews.
Are any of you also on bubblews?  If so, I would love to connect.  Are you writing and including links to your lenses?  So far I've only put in one link to one of my lenses.  I'm a little leery not knowing for sure if it's ok to link drop?   I know one gal constantly puts in photos of craft items along with a link to find it in her etsy shop.  Another gal is putting in bits of her hubpages writing with the link to read the full story.
This is the link to my profile page if you would like to connect with me over there.
http://www.bubblews.com/account/13348-marsha32 

As far as any sort of theme for this week's blog hop, I don't have one.  Share any lens that you would like to.  Also link up any blog posts you have done regarding squidoo as well.

It seems that the updating and flagging thing has been worked out.  I need to get in to the facebook groups to see what all is going on.  I will do that today as I go in to share the link to my blog.

Swagbucks Double Stuffed!!

Before April ends Swagbucks is giving you another opportunity to earn big! This Tuesday, April 30th Swagbucks is holding another Double Stuffed Swagbucks. If you missed the first one, here's how it works:          Double Stuffed Swagbucks means you'll get DOUBLE the SB amount in many of the ways to earn: Shop & Earn (in countries where available!), the Daily Poll, NOSO, the Toolbar, Games (aka Play) & on SBTV (aka Watch)!                 In addition to Double the SB-earning fun, there will be 35 Swag Bucks worth of Swag Codes given throughout the day in each country of the Swag Nation.              If you haven't joined Swagbucks yet, now is the time. It's your chance to earn Swag Bucks twice as fast on Tuesday -- which means more free prizes like gift cards to Amazon, Target, Walmart & Paypal! Use the sign-up code 70DOUBLESTUFF for an extra 70 SB bonus when you sign up here.                  

Chick-Fil-A Leadercast Giveaway

Full. Our lives are full of things that we think will grow our businesses and increase our influence. We are busy - and that may, unknowingly, be holding us back. What if there was potential impact in simplifying our lives so our leadership could thrive? Leading in a complex world requires simplicity to cut through the clutter. Saying NO to what may seem good could help increase your capacity to live your life to the fullest. Join us at Chick-fil-A Leadercast as we learn to Simply Lead.

What is Chick-fil-A Leadercast?
Chick-fil-A Leadercast is a one-day leadership event broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, GA to hundreds of locations around the world on May 10, 2013. Strengthen your leadership by simplifying your life. SIMPLY LEAD.

Speakers for this year's event include:
• Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO of General Electric
• Andy Stanley, Best-selling leadership author and communicator
• Mike Krzyzewski, Head men's basketball coach, Duke University and Team USA
• John Maxwell, Best-selling author and leadership expert
• Dr. Henry Cloud, Best-selling author and leadership consultant
• LCDR Rorke Denver, Navy SEAL and star of the 2012 movie Act of Valor
• Sanya Richards-Ross, 2012 London Olympic gold medalist, track & field
• David Allen, Best-selling author of Getting Things Done and productivity expert
• Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State (2005-2009), via exclusive Simply Lead video interview

Check out the Chick-fil-A Leadercast App and find out:
• What’s Your Leadership Style Quiz! Everyone is born with the power to influence and although it may not always feel like it - we are ALL LEADERS in our own way! The question is... what type of leader are you?
• 7 Tips to Lead Simply! Simplicity enables leaders to cut through the clutter and make the best decisions possible. Read these 7 tips to simplify your life... and remember, it’s the decisions you make that define the leader you become!
• Find a Location! Chick-fil-A Leadercast will be broadcasted to hundreds of locations around the world! Enter your zip code to find a broadcast location near you - or join us at the LIVE site in Atlanta May 10, 2013!



One lucky blog reader will win a Chick-Fil-A Leadercast prize pack.
Enter below using the rafflecopter form!

Disclaimer: The assets included within this post were delivered to me in promotion of Chick-fil-A Leadercast 2013. Chick-fil-A supplied these materials and is providing the prize package to the winner.

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Frugal Friday With Marsha--The Garden!

Happy Friday!  It's rainy here, but not too cold.  I think that spring is finally here!
Yesterday I picked up my daughter Heather, and granddaughter Zelda and brought them in to town to work on the garden in our back yard.

Gardening is pretty hard work....it's fun and relaxing.  Hopefully we will harvest from our efforts.
My daughter found that the dirt around their house is just not fit for planting.  It's clay and we couldn't even dig in to it.  She had bought several packets of seeds and had some already started.
She's been saving scraps for the compost pile.  She had already sent me home 2 boxes to add to my pile.

This past Sunday my hubby and I worked 4 or 5 hours just preparing the area out back.  Hubby did buy pete moss and cow manure that he  roto-tilled in with what was in the compost pile.  I've not had much luck getting my pile to compost, but after the recent ice storms it was starting to turn.  I have no idea if we should have went and put the pile in, but I didn't figure it could hurt anything.

Heather and I spent 3 hours yesterday morning planting.
We have a little bit of a lot of foods:
lettuce
spinach
carrots
turnips
green beans
strawberries
cantaloupe
watermelon
corn
zucchini
tomatoes
bell peppers
snap peas
(In the house I have celery re-growing, basil and I have a planter of spinach.  Heather has herbs growing in her house too)

Here are the photos that I took yesterday:

 And this is my kitchen window sill:

I will be building a squidoo lens later today starting with these photos and then updating it monthly with new photos of the garden progress.

Wish us luck!  :)

Squidoo Hopping----Spring!

Please tell me that Spring might really be here this time!
They say there is to be no more overnight freezing temps---and no more snow, sleet, or other winter weather.  I really do hope they are right!
I am leaving soon to go out of town and bring my middle daughter back with me to help get our garden going.  (We do have covering planned for nights just in case).

This week I am asking that you share any lenses (1 or 2) that have to do with Spring--the season, gardening, flowers, events, etc.    Maybe the weather will get the hint!

Please share any blog posts you have written in regard to squidoo as well over the past week.

WIP Wednesday 4/24/13

Yesterday I realized I hadn't worked on any sewing since last Wednesday afternoon.  That's when I went to the stitch group at the quilt shop and finally worked on my bunnies again!

Laying all 20 of my bunny squares out and realizing that I only have 4 of them completed makes me really know just how much more work I have to do on them:

 I spent time last night working on the pillow cases for the kids.  You get a boring photo of the pile of pillowcases.  I do hope by next week that I have a few of them completed.   I'm still trying to figure out just how I am going to sew around the lettering.  I was going to hand sew around them like I am the bunnies, but now I am realizing how many knots I would have on the under side.  I don't think that I can stitch the way I would want around the names with me sewing machine.  I will have to ask around and get advice.

I have worked here and there on the plastic canvas coasters while here on the computer all week.  I am now up to 34 of them made and still quite a bit of the huge ball of yarn left.

I am linking up with Freshly Pieced

 

Frugal Friday with Marsha--Uses for Epsom Salts

Happy Friday!
The sun is shining and it's already warmer out this morning than it was all day yesterday.  Maybe, just maybe spring will finally really be here??
I'm itching to get our garden going!

This past week I found myself at Walgreen's to buy a photo album for quilt guild.  I decided while I was there that it was time for me to get back into my register rewards shopping.  One of the items this week on the sale was a bag of Morton Epsom Salts for $4 and you got back the same $4 in a Register Reward to use towards your next shopping trip.
I've redeemed some of my points at mypoints.com for a $10 Walgreen's card to also help me get back in the swing of shopping there.

I've posted in the past from the 99 Cent Solutions book on the uses for Epsom Salts, but wanted to post again.  Mostly for my own benefit  :)    Did any of the rest of you go for the deal at Walgreen's as well this week?

Uses for Epsom Salt:
1.  Salt your bathwater--Add 2 cups pf Epsom salt to a tub full of warm water and soak for a few minutes.  Do this to get rid of rough patches of skin.  After soaking, finish the job by rubbing additional salt on the rough spots.

2.  Help stop stinky feet--Everyone knows that soaking your feet in Epsom salt can relieve sore feet.  Did you also know that doing so twice a day for 15 minutes each time will also make your feet sweat less and smell less?  Just add 2 cups to 2 gallons of water in a container such as a bucket or dishpan.

3.  Get rid of the itch--Soaking in a tub of Epsom salt will ease the itch of poison ivy.  Check the label for soaking instructions.

4.  Stop splinters--make a paste of Epsom salt and water and apply to the area where the splinter is.  In about 10 minutes the paste will pull the splinter to the surface.  This also works for insect stingers. Even a luxurious Epsom salt bath will help draw the splinter or stinger.

5.  Relish your roses--Sprinkle half a cup of Epsom salt around the base of your rose bush in early spring and in the fall.  After the leaves appear and again when the roses appear, spray them with a mixture of 1 tablespoon Epsom salt per gallon of water.  This will make for healthier roses----gardeners swear by it!

6.  Get rid of raccoons--Sprinkle a few tablespoons of Epsom salt around your trashcan to drive them away.  Remember to reapply after it rains. 

(Now I do wish that I had gone back and bought a second bag---and I just still may do so while I am out that way today)



 

Squidoo Hopping---Money Money Money

Yes, money has been on my mind lately---having more of it, saving it, etc.

This week, I ask that you share lenses that have to do with not so much earning money, but saving it---living a simpler life to spend less and the like.
Earth Day is April 22, and comes around before next week's post, so if you have any Earth Day lenses, please also do share those.

As always please share any blog posts you have done regarding squidoo over this past week.  Yes, older blog posts are also welcomed to be linked up as well.

 

WIP Wednesday--Moving Right Along!

No, I didn't make it in to my craft room every day this week, but I did make it in there a couple of days.  That along with sit n' sew at the quilt shop and sewing club at church, I feel like I've gotten a lot done this week.

Here are the pillowcases so far.  I still have fabric to buy for one more, but they are rolling along now.

I ran into a couple of snags working on the quilt top for church, one being that a few of my rows I sewed together backwards.  Then, I thought I didn't have enough of the half square triangles so I went to work to make more.  I had enough!  I had forgotten that I already had one of the big blocks done already when I was counting.  Sheesh!   Give me another 6 months of sewing on this only at sewing club each month and this top might be completed.

The only thing I did in those 2 days sewing in my craft room was to work on more of the blocks with the rectangles.  Both days I only intended to at least sew 2 together.  I ended up with 17 sewn, plus the 3 I had originally sewn and then sewn together.  I will keep making the blocks, as many as I can with the rectangles that I have, and then determine just what I will make with them.

I have also worked on more coasters.  I was able to get more plastic canvas so will continue now to make those until I use up the entire huge ball of yarn.
Here is a picture of what they all look like.  I do have some in my etsy store already in sets of 4, 6, or 8.

I am in hopes to make it to the quilt shop this afternoon for the monthly needlers.  I want to work on the applique bunnies.  They've been sorely neglected!  If I do make it down there I will share a photo of my progress with those next week.

I am linking up with: