Rock Out For Cheap

You have any teens or preteens?  It is a great price for an iTunes Gift Card

Enter To Win Dooney & Bourke Disney Handbag Giveaway

   Dreaming of DISNEY ?

  Enter this giveaway for your chance to win a limited edition handbag. The legendary quality and style of Dooney & Bourke meets the merriment of Minnie Mouse with this beautiful Bag featuring Minnie's all time favorite designs.

Product Details

Created especially for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort

• Adjustable 48'' leather strap with 2 buckles
• Leather trim
• Multicolored top zipper with leather zipper pull
• Exterior pocket with magnetic snap
• Interior zippered pocket
• Interior pocket
• Interior leather strap with metal key clasp
• ''Dooney & Bourke since 1975'' embossed in front
• Cotton with leather trim and metal hardware
• 7 1/4'' H x 7 1/2'' W x 2'' D
• Imported

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Great Gift For Mom Or Grandma

This is great gift for any special woman in your life.  Mother's Day is over but birthdays are still around and Christmas is just six months away.

Guess What I Found Today Garage Saleing

I went to a huge community garage sale today.  It is has been going on for about 10+ years and is always a good hit for finding things for my family.  Not always great for finding resell-able items.  The Texas Track Annual Garage Sales usually have about 100 or more homes having garage sales in their front yards.  Today it seemed less, more like about 50, but I still had fun and got some good deals.

Today I spent $37 total.  I bought five items and three plants.

1- Polarized sunglasses.  Brand new.  $3.
2- Shrek Chess Set.  Brand new.  $5.
3- Liquor dispenser that looks like 1920's gravity gas pumps.  Brand new. $5.
4- Doggie door.  Brand new.  $5.
5- Discovery Wonderwall entertainment projector.  Brand new.  $15. (retail at Kohl's for $159).

1- Raspberry plant.
2-. Blackberry plant.
3- Weird leafless plant.

All three plants for $5.  A friend's neighbor grows them, and a ton more, in his backyard 'jungle' and pots them and sells them every year at the garage sale.

The sunglasses and plants are for myself.  All the other items I plan to photograph and sell on eBay.  I'm hoping to make about $100 or more on them.

Curious if anyone can name the plant on the left.

Free Candy Bars

Great coupon.  Can make the candy bars free in some stores.  Who doesn't want free chocolate?  










$1.00 off when you buy any TWO MILKY WAYŽ Brand Singles Bars (1.76 oz - 2.05 oz.)

Win A New Baby Jumperoo

Contest ends soon.  Enter to win a Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo.

Beat Summer Boredom While Staying Sane

Sometimes you need some down time and while we don't want our children glued to the tv all day and night during summer vacation, sometimes we need a sanity break.  This is a great deal from Disney



And, for those with kids on the PC or Laptop, don't forget to protect your children.

Vote For A Vegas Trip For Nelson

Hey everyone can you use your face book powers to help Nelson win this trip to Vegas.  Voting ends tonight and he needs 50 more votes!

It will only take 1 minute of your time.  Vote here!

Help Nelson get to Vegas.

I Like Weird Food

Okay, I know I'm a dork but I love this little snack. I actually hate mustard except for on two items. This, in picture, what we made as kids when hungry and lazy. We called them Mustard Sandwiches. The second is putting mustard on gigantic soft pretzels.

This one is super easy (and lazy).  Grab two pieces of sliced cheese.  Zigzag some mustard on one piece.  Put the two pieces together.  Fold in half, like a taco, and eat.  YUM!

Anyone else have quirky food choices?

Great Coupon For A Yummy Meal

I just bought this last week and the kids loved it.  Tender and juicy for them with great flavor.  Easy to make for me.  A total win-win situation.

Right now you can click on the Tyson Chicken link for a printable coupon.  It is in the freezer section in the grocery stores.

Free Slurpee Today Only

Who doesn't want a free Slurpee?  Today only, on July 11th (7/11/12) 7-11 mini-markets will be offering customers a free Slurpee from 7am to 11pm or while supplies last.

One per person, size small.  This happens once a year, on the date of 7/11.  Only at 7-11 stores.

Locked Out Of Knott's Berry Farm

Someone recently posted on Facebook, asking if anyone around here had childhood memories of school field trips. This brought back memories of me being locked out of Knott's Berry Farm when I was about ten years old.

 In 5th grade my teacher organized a field trip for our class.  It was about 15-20 children and 3-4 adults, including her. The parents volunteers drove their own cars and we all squeezed in.  When we got there there was two (or three) carloads that arrived but we were still waiting on the last group of people.  We were allowed to explore the outside-the-park gift shops while we waited and kept checking back in with our teacher.  About 30-45 minutes passed and they still hadn't arrived.

Next time I try to check with teacher I realized everyone is gone. Completely.  I spend HOURS wandering from the gift shops to the front gate, to the parking lot (to check and see if the cars are still there) and back to the front again.  I had the park call for my teacher over and over on the intercom and she never replied.  They told her later that the inside-the-park intercom system is separate from the outside-the-park intercom system so they never heard the calls.

I'm not sure why I didn't call my parents.  We were not close to home.  Knott's Berry Farm is about 1 1/2 hours away but I was locked out side for about 10 hours. None of the park employees did anything to help not called a manager, police, my parents.  I just kept wandering around and making sure the cars were still there.  I don't even think I had any food this whole time.

This was about 30 years ago, so pre-pagers and cell phones.  I could have called home on a payphone but never did.

About 10pm my teacher and all of the other children came walking out of the entrance.  I was trying not to cry and started choking on my gum.  My teacher yelled at me for crying, saying it was uncalled for, and said she'd assumed I was with another parent, in the split-up groups, the whole time and she never knew I was missing.  Now, as an adult, I can't imagine what was going on in her head.  Maybe she yelled at me for crying to cover up her mess-up and all that could have gone wrong.  Not one adult knew I was missing the entire time.

We all got into the cars and went home.  It was never mentioned at school.  I'm not sure my parents ever knew.  She never gave me a refund for my ticket.

The next time I remember going to Knott's Berry Farm was in 2011, with my children.  And, yes, I kept a very close eye on them the entire time.


  

From Garage Sale to eBay

Okay, I haven't been garage sale-ing in ages!  It has been way overdue but with the kids in baseball and track out weekends have been crazy.  So, I mapped out about 20 on Friday night in about 5 cities to go to on Saturday.  This included one city about 25 minutes away that had a '40 military family neighborhood garage sale.'  But, come Saturday I woke-up late and was not motivated to get my tush in gear.  So, by the time I was showered, dressed and had the kids dressed it was 10:30 and too late to go far.  I noticed something new (or new to me) in all of the garage sale ads.  The sales started about 7-8 am but most ended 11, 12 or 1pm.  I thought garage sales usually ran until 2-3pm.  Not sure if this is a new trend or it has just been too long since I've mapped out garage sales.  So, I ended up picking three in my city and mapped them on www.mapquest.com.  Mapquest lets me 'up arrow' or 'down arrow' the garage sales changing point A and point D, etc. so that I can get all the sales in a way that I am saving time and spending less gas.  I can also put in about 7 places to go from point-to-point-to point and it will total the mileage for all of it (great for tax write-offs).

So, the first garage sale was awesome.  It was 3 blocks away from me and the woman had a TON of stuff.  For $22 I bought:

A medium size suitcase in like-new condition.
A small designer purse (for my daughter).  Also like-new.
A Kokopelli doll-themed bathroom set including a large towel, medium towel, wash cloth, mat, soap dish, two night lights, shower curtain, a large cloth pad to hang on a wall and two figurines.  (this whole group was $12).  It was all used in the woman's guest bathroom for decorations.  My mom loves Kachina dolls and so I bought this set for her but kept the two figurines to try to sell on eBay.  Both have a soapstone base and look very unique.
A old push-lawnmower.  I bought this for $5 to resell on eBay.  Last time I sold one on eBay it sold for about $50 (plus the buyer paying shipping). Downside is it is HARD to build or find a box the right size to ship it.
An Undercover Sunshade.  It goes on top of most beach chairs to add overhead shade (brand new).

So, at the first one I spent $22 and my mom gave me $12 for the Kokopelli items I bought for her, so I was out $10 of my own money.

At the second garage sale everyone was packed up and gone.  Only the signs leading to the house were out.  The same with the third house.  This was very disappointing since it was about 11:30-11:45 and one said their sale ended at 12 and the other at 1pm.

I stopped by two in the same area but did a slow-drive-by and didn't see enough to warrant a stop.

I decided it was noon and to call it quits and head home since it seemed most were ended.  On the turn-in street right before mine I saw signs and on a whim decided to follow them.  The signs lead me down about three streets until I found the sale and I was glad I hadn't given up.

I have been looking for a patio table and found a great one.  The height is on the low-side but I still love it.

 I had the man having the garage sale help me load it into my car and it sat there for about 6 hours until my dad stopped by and was able to help me unload it (yes, it is that heavy).

 Picture in my backyard (dark because my cell doesn't have a flash.

Someone painted the sides orange so I hope it doesn't flake or peel.  The legs are a solid metal and look like cast iron.

Also, not pictured, my daughter found a wallet.  The man wanted $15 for the table.  I asked if he'd take $10 and he countered $12.  I asked if he'd throw in the wallet for $12 and he said 'deal.'  :-)

I've been trying to get my backyard more 'company friendly' for summer barbecues.  This table was a great add.  I got eight chairs (three shown) from someone on Freecyle.  I need to buy new cushions since these ones are faded but they are okay for now.

Finally, I bought this from someone in a 'Good Exchange' closed group on Facebook.  It has about 700 people in it that are local and people can list items for sell or that they are in search of (ISO) and post photos.  It is similar to Craig's List but since it is a closed group by invite only (these must be growing because I currently know of five of them locally) there is zero spam.

It is a like-new Roomba in original box and barely used.  I bought it for $45 and am hoping it sells on eBay for $90 (based on current completed auctions).  You can see my auction here:  Roomba.

I lost the charge for my digital camera and stuck using my cell for pictures right now so I have to wait to list the Kokopelli figurines.  I'm hoping to save up money and buy an iPhone 4.  I'd love to have one with a flash on it and my current cell phone keeps freezing when I take pictures.

For now I can either take pics with my cell and have them grainy or wait until the charger comes in the mail (should be next week). I think for the detailed items I need to wait.

All in all it was a good day for garage sale-ing.  I didn't find much to sell on eBay but the sale of the Roomba, figurines and push mower should pay for the table and all the other shopping I did and maybe I'll come out ahead.  That is the plan anyways.

Sign Up To Be On The National Consumer Panel

 For a limited time National Consumer Panel is accepting new household registration entries.  once you apply it takes a few weeks for them to accept you.  Click on the link to join:  National Consumer Panel.


I started doing this about three months ago.  It is easy to do and I get points by shopping and scanning my items or doing occasional surveys.  Points add up.  You can trade in for items in their points catalog.  They have occasional sweepstakes too.


A friend doing this told me the points start slow but increase greatly over time.  It took her about a year but she saved points and bought a tv.  I'm not sure what I'm saving for yet.  Nothing definite, just want to earn points and then figure it out.


Don't have time?  Get kid-power.  My kids help me and fight over who gets to do it.  When we go grocery shopping we scan the items as we unload and get it done all at the same time.  It is quick and easy.

Margaritaville Prize Package Father's Day Giveaway

My dad’s Kind of Luau Giveaway

HEY DAD IT”S 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE!!

DO YOU HAVE THAT GREAT DAD THAT DESERVES HIS FUN TOO?

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY BROUGHT TO YOU BY

COUPON HAULS AND DEBBIE DOES COUPONS

ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHER GREAT BLOGS LISTED BELOW

ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL WIN A

Margaritaville Frozen Blender

Jimmy Buffet Greatest hits CD

Margaritaville Mixers

Margaritaville LOGO shirt for Dad

To all the Dads that were our 1st love: THANK YOU!!

The First Man That I Loved is so special to me

You are the first man who cared that I was here

held me so gently and wiped away my tears

a shoulder to lean on, and chase away my fears…

All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below!!!

**This giveaway is open the U.S. only. The prizes are going to be shipped directly to the winners from the page owners of Coupon Hauls. The other sponsors in this giveaway are not responsible for the shipping of these prizes. This giveaway is also in no way sponsored or endorsed by Facebook or Twitter.. This giveaway is sponsored by all of the participating blogs.** Void where prohibited.

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We Made Homemade Strawberry Jam

 I made homemade strawberry jam today with the kids.  Kaela was busy cleaning her room so she started to help but disappeared.  I got Daeton to push up his sleeves and help me.  I try to make jam once or twice a year but this year I read up more and bought some more tools.

When I made strawberry jam last year I had entered some in the Ventura Country Fair and got a 'do not pass go' ribbon due to mold on the seal.  MAJOR bummer.  I've never had that happen, ever.  So, this year I started following a fan page on Facebook called SB Canning.  Then I bought Ball Blue Book: guide to Preserving.  And I've been studying.  One thing I never did was totally process in boiling water for 10 minutes after the jam was jarred.  I purchased (at the same time as the Ball book) a large pot with a metal shelf-thing to easily drop down or pick up all the jars in the hot water.  I also purchased a lid and ring magnet wand.  WHAT a great invention!!! I'll post the links of these below.

So, to catch up with the photos.  I have clean rings and lids in the boiling water.  Clean jars in hot water in the sink and strawberries that were 99 cents-a-pound at the grocery store (half the price of the roadside stands but still local strawberries).

 
I bought three pounds of strawberries.  :-) YUM! 

Daeton helped chop them into a squishy mess.
I put them in the pot and started the mixture.  Pectin, lemon juice and sugar are the other remaining ingredients. 











The WHOLE house smelly like sweet strawberries.






Cheese from me too!

So, when it was all mixed and at a rolling boil for a solid minute I had to do speedy things so wasn't able to get pictures. 

I removed the pot from heat.  Skimmed the foam.  Ladled into clean jars.

Wiped the top and put on the lids and rings then I put them into the pot of hot water to water process them.  THIS was my first time, but it seemed to work well.  I got the water boiling and left the jars there for 10 minutes, removed from heat, let cool down for five minutes then removed, dried off and put all the jars on a dry towel.
 I filled one large jar, two medium, three small and had some left over do to 1/2 of another large jar (and I put that one in the fridge right away).

I love how beautiful they look in the sunlight.

Can't wait to taste it with breakfast in the morning.  Definitely rewarding work.


Tomorrow I'm going to see if I have time to buy some vinegar, onion and garlic to make homemade ketchup with tomatoes from our garden.

Also itching to try the recipe for homemade vanilla extract.  Would be great to make now and put in pretty jars to give away at Christmas.

My Blog Is In A Contest Enter To Win $500

One of my favorite coupons sites COUPON HAULS has reached over 15,000 followers or as they like to call them COUPON HAULERS… So we wanted to PARTY!! I have joined forces with a great group of Coupon Bloggers and Awesome Page Owners to help celebrate by bringing you this awesome Giveaway!!

There is a GRAND PRIZE of a whopping $500.00 up for grabs!!

This GIVEAWAY runs from MAY 19th, 2012 through MAY 29TH, 2012 So get your entry in quick!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Artist Altered Dolls: Zarbies

My friend, Travis, is an incredible artist.  I mostly know him for his comic book drawings but he has started his own business on Esty selling Zarbies.  They are altered dolls, mainly Barbies, hence the name, into Day of the Dead, Zombie or other hand painted dolls.  Here are just a few of the many dolls he has for sell.

I am blown away by his creativity and detail.  He is currently selling them on Esty and has a Fan page on Facebook.

You can even ask him to do custom work on your own Barbie, My Little Pony or other doll.

Tax Refund: Where Is My Refund Website

Okay, if you can't guess, I'm still waiting for my refund.  My sister told me about this website today so I had to share it.  Where Is My Refund is what it is informally called.  It is really a part of the IRS's main website.  If you enter your Social Security Number, filing status and exact amount you are suppose to get back (so that is a triple proof for them that it is really you) then the website will tell you an update on where your refund is.  It says mine was suppose to have been mailed today.  I'm crossing my fingers.

I hope to pay off some bills and take the kids to visit my grandma.  I also have my eye on a pressure cooker for canning... if I have any money to spare.