Leaving for Hurricane Gustav!

I just wanted to let know everyone know that we are leaving for higher ground. We heading to Jackson, MS which will still feel some weather but not what I would feel here on the coast. I hope everyone stays safe. If you haven't left and live near the coast in Louisiana, then please do so tomorrow. At the very least get the house boarded up and hunker down. I hate to have a vacation this way, but sometimes you have to do what is necessary. Take care everyone. I am posting this all on four of my blogs.

Disney Outlet Huge Clearance Sale!

Disney Outlet is having a huge end of summer clearance sale! Save up to 75% off beach towels, swimsuits, sandals, and much more. This is one of those great sales that I mentioned in my earlier post. Pay a flat $5 shipping with code SHIPFOR5 if you spend $50 or more. I plan to buy some of the shirts for us to wear when we go on our Walt Disney World trip next year.

Disney Outlet

TMR Frugal Living Tip #31

Today's thrifty tip is shop clearance sales to save big! Labor Day weekend is a great weekend to shop for end of summer clothing and toys. You can also save big on patio furniture, lawn and garden, and even items for the pool. The stores are putting out Halloween and other fall items so check out your stores for the clearance items. I have even found winter clothes from last year on clearance racks with the summer. I was able to finish my son's winter wardrobe for this year and summer for next year. I spent $80 for all of it. He will be able to wear some of the winter clothes again next year (mostly tops and jacket). I also have shoes stock piled in both sandals and tennis shoes.

Walgreens $10/40 Coupon Friday & Saturday!

I just got this great $10 off $40 coupon at Walgreens. The coupon is good for Friday, August 29th and Saturday, August 30th only. This is coupon is only good in the store. So use it to stock up on some great deals.

Walgreens Coupon

TMR Frugal Living Tip #30

Today's thrifty tip is visit your local library. I live in a pretty small town, but my library can get me most books I want, even if it's at another branch. I can rent VHS and DVD movies for free. I'm impressed with how many newer titles are available. Over the summer, they had a reading program for the kids. My son won a few prizes, and he met his 25 book reading goal. You can also use the computers and internet as long with your card. Check it out today.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #29

Today's thrifty tip is eat less meat. I love meat, but it's getting very expensive these days. As Americans, we do eat more than we need in a serving. I have been cutting chicken breasts in half, and I get more meals from it. Beans are an excellent source of protein and fiber, and it's much cheaper. The other great thing is they are versatile. I can use them in soups, serve over brown rice, use them in a stir fry, wrap them up in a tortilla, and more! Eggs are also full of protein, but the whites are better than the yolk. I have made some great meals with eggs. When you do buy meat, try to get the leaner cuts. They have less fat plus taste better.

Skin Problems

I haven't noticed too many blackheads since I've been gotten older. I still combat acne, but my skin has been looking much better. If you are looking for a blackhead removal cleaner, then check out Get Acne Treatments website. They have reviewed many cleaners, and show you the best rated systems. I find that moisturizing has really helped to clear my skin and it's much softer. Just make sure it's non-oily.

Kitchen Lighting

I'm planning on doing a big kitchen remodel next year. I want to replace the floors, new paint job, and install new lighting fixtures. I want to put a nice pendant fixture right above the kitchen table. I really like the look of them. I also want to install recessed lights. I was considering track lights, but I really think the recessed will look nicer. I will post pictures once it's complete.

Check Out These Great Blogs!

I'm posting these great blogs of my buddies. I really enjoy visting these sites and will be adding this to my blog roll. I hope you enjoy the links. Don't forget to visit.

World of Mom
Drizzly Blog
WICBlog
Green 'n' Pink
Reading Writing and Reloading
Feelings Just Are
Not Just In Your Head
Kateedyd What?!
Mommie’s Marbles
Confetti by: Kateedyd
Pure Jade Home
Luxury Lifestylez
The Fuzzbutt Files
Kimmi's Krazy World
My Weekly Beef
My First Steps With Jesus
Good News
I Love my 3 Boys
Secola‘s Space
Left Hand in Right Mind
Thrifty Momma Ramblings
Tupperware
My So Called Blog
Remotely Mommy
Vibrant Healthy U
Photos For The Fun of It
Nursing Home or Home?
The Art Of Criticism
World of Homemaking
Mix World
Have Your Health
Money Relations
A Christian Marriage
That‘s What I am Talking About
Spiritually Grounded Mind
A Break From Parenting
Florida Travel Spots
All in a blog
Blog About it
Different World
I feel like a woman
Easing Chronic Pain
Momas Life
Bahama Berry
Wah and Loving it
My Big Fat Battle
Liz’s So Called Blog
Secret Thoughts and More
Kathleens Brand Buzz
The 40 Life
The Geeks Girl
NES Nintendo
The Mighty Scribbler
Domesticated Diva
A little bit About Nothin
The Cajun Blogger
Wahm Adventures
House of Bargains
Coodas Corner
My-Junk-Drawer
Fat Girl Goes Fit
Mommy Mias World
Vanilla Country Store
Thrifty Thoughts
Godly Woman
My Special Place
Work from Home Options
The work from home blog
Women Of Faith
Cypress TX Mom
Momas Life
Success Factors
Savvy Business Moms
Here On Columbia Avenue
Da Boss And Bryguy
4 Cats Make Me Crazy!

TMR Frugal Living Tip #28

Today's thrifty tip is make your own baby wipes. Some people even use soft terry material, and sew them into small wash cloths. I think French Terry is a great material to use. This is softer when wiping baby's bottom, and just throw them in the same bucket you use for your cloth diapers.

I actually made my own using a homemade liquid mixture and paper towels.
Start with your paper towels and cut the roll in half, and then remove the inside cardboard. I used a baby wipe container that was washed out. Any plastic container with a good seal is fine. You will want to wash it out once it's empty.

Liquid Mixture: (Many variations)
2 Cups Boiled Water (cooled)
2 TBS Baby Shampoo
1 TBS Oil

Then mix in the container and put the paper towels in container (cut side down). Make sure you seal it well, and turn container upside down for about 10 minutes. This ensures it saturates the paper towels.

There are so many variations. Some people use almond oil, olive oil, or baby oil. This is what is great is that you can use what makes you comfortable. I recommend Viva since they are the softest and very strong. I could get a roll on sale with coupon for 25-50 cents. This is much cheaper than store bought wipes, and I also liked there were no harsh chemicals.

$50 Gas Card Drawing Ends on Labor Day!

The drawing ends on Monday Labor Day at midnight CST. All US residents can play. The top prize is a $50 Gas Card. Don't get left out of this great drawing. You can read the post by clicking on it below.

Click Here

How Does Your Web Host Company Compare?

If you are in the market for a new website hosting company, then you must check Web Hosting Rating directory. They have the top 10 companies listed, and they are rated by independent users. The companies are rated by affordability, reliability, uptime, and technical support. These reviews are unbiased by actual users so you can trust the review is accurate.

I have been looking for an affordable web host for my blogs. I came across this great article about cheap hosting. It was very helpful in which features you should look for in a web host company. This is a great site that everyone should check first before making costly mistake.

Have You Ever Noticed?

I think people who use coupons regularly will understand this post, but have you ever noticed that certain people will give you a strange look when you discuss a great deal you got. I noticed this recently with a relative. I thought I must have had 2 heads or something. I totally respect that using coupons, or combining the sales with coupons and rebates is not for everyone. It really doesn't take me that much time to go thru the sales papers and clip coupons each Sunday. But please don't look at me as if I'm an alien. I swear I'm not the only who uses them.

I Want a Cartier Watch

I have had my eye on a Cartier since I was younger. My Grandmother had one that I always thought was gorgeous. She has had it for almost 40 years. It still keeps perfect time, and still looks beautiful after all these years. I always knew that one day I would have one for myself. I found the watch that I would love to buy. I am a fanatic for silver so this is a perfect choice.



TheWatchery.com has a really great selection of Cartier watches plus they offer free Fedex shipping to all US orders. They even insure the package. That particular watch I picked out also has a special promotion. I get to pick out any watch I want up to $195 for FREE! Or I could take 80% off the MSRP. That is a great deal. So I get two watches which would make a great gift for my husband. He needs a nice watch to wear when we go out. They are having an end of summer sale. So the watch I picked out was 20% off. You also will get a 30 day money back guarantee on your watch. You can't go wrong when buying at this great website. Check them out today.

More Great CVS Savings

I decided to stop at CVS yesterday since I got some good cash register receipt coupons. I also found a rain check from two years ago. That's the great thing about their rain checks is that they never expire. You gotta love it. Mine were for Schick Quattro Razors for men and I had a quantity of four. I didn't have any coupons, but it did have a $5 ECB when you buy one. Well the check was for $1.99 each! I was able to get all four, and I got the $5 ECB. I got four razors for $3.xx! I also had coupons for a Tylenol 10ct vial and a Fusion Shaving cream. I did have $1 coupons for both. I also got a couple more boxes of Puffs tissues.

Fusion: $3.49- $3.00 coupons= $0.49
2 Puffs: $1.76- $.50 cents coupons= $1.26
4 Quattro Razors- $7.96- $7 ECB (I had this amount)= $0.96
Tylenol: $2.49- $2.50 coupons= penny overage
Grand Total with tax: $3.12!!!

I got $5 ECB from the razors. I saved a total of $45 with sales and coupons. I just can't say it enough. I LOVE CVS!

Accept Online Payments

When I had my own website, I really wanted to start taking online credit cards and debit cards. I know there are certain sites, but I really wanted to have more choices. Authorize.net has free set up and very low transaction fees. This is great for auctions, websites, mail or phone orders, and much more. Don't hesitate to check them out.

Where to Stay?

We are planning our first trip to Disney World for next year. We are debating if we should stay on grounds or in a condo hotel off grounds. It would be very convenient to stay at Disney with no worries about driving to the parks daily and parking. We could just catch a shuttle or bus. I would also prefer to save some money staying offsite, plus have a bigger place. We need to just write down all the pros and cons to make our choice.

I Love Clearance Sales!

Today I hit a great clearance at my local Wal-Mart. They moved all the summer and older toys to clearance. I was able to buy all the kids Christmas presents. I spent $50 today, but I'm now done with the kids on my list. I even bought a couple of extra toys to donate to Toys for Tots. I am going to go back tomorrow to buy a few more toys to donate. Most of the toys I bought were $4-5 each. I even got my son some Christmas presents. He loves Legos and they had several small Star Wars sets on clearance for $5. They had Speed Racer, Hannah Montana, Barbie, baby dolls, Lego sets, and so much more. I even got DVD cartoon movies for $4 each. I got Bob the Builder, Care Bears, and Blues Clues. I'm not buying as many toys since I really think most kids have too many. I am trying to buy other fun things to give like bath toys. They had those on clearance as well. Now is a great time to start your Christmas shopping. I even bought a couple of extra for my gift closet. You never know when you will get a last minute birthday invite from your child's classmate.

Are You Really Normal?

Are You Normal or Nuts? This is a question we all ponder from time to time. Like am I crazy to stock up on a great sale of items we will use? I think most people would say no, and it's smart to pay less for something you will use. Other people may think it's a little crazy to buy 26 bottles of dish liquid. I think my husband would agree. It's funny how I never hear him complaining about all the rolls of toilet paper in the closet. He might think twice about making a comment if they suddenly disappeared in a moment of need. "insert an evil laugh"

This is a great article in the Reader's Digest I came across recently. My favorite one is the lady that took 7 years to use 14 bottles of nail polish. First wouldn't the polish be a little funky? I don't really use nail polish too often. Do you think that this would be one for the Are You Normal or Nuts? category? I would say yes. I just recently bought a bottle for free after rebate. Some people might think that it's acceptable, and have done it themselves. The article is pretty funny, and insightful. Check out the Reader's Digest Laughs section. Just remember what you might think is crazy to you is perfectly normal to someone else.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #27

Today's thrifty tip is don't buy expensive baby food in jars. Instead just puree your own cooked foods like carrots, green beans, and such. Bananas are also easy to mash. Just make sure to keep the foods bland. You can use a food processor to mush it. Certain foods cooked are easy to mash with just a fork. This will save you lots of money, and it's healthier for your baby.

Win a Free Laptop

I have my cable, internet, and phone service all bundled with Charter. I have just one bill a month, and they provide me with wonderful service. I find their internet service to be very fast and reliable. I was paying almost $80 a month just for telephone service with BellSouth. Now I get all the same extras and unlimited long distance for only $30. I also have my bill drafted each month which is even more convenient.



Right now is a great time to order any new service from Charter. They are offering a great promotion called Charter Laptop-a-Day Giveaway. This is only for online orders and all the offers are listed on the page. You will receive a Shell gas card valued up to $100, and automatically entered to win a HP Compaq Presario C770US Laptop! They are giving away 30 laptops in 30 days. This would be a great laptop to either keep for yourself or give to one of your kids for back to school. This is a really great deal, and go to the page to read more about the offers and rules. All the specifications of the laptop is also listed on the page. If you need a new service, then why not get paid with free gas!

Sale on Kids Sized Crocs!

I know some people think they are ugly. For those that love these shoes, then REI has the Cayman Crocs in kid sizes on sale. It's only 3 colors: Red, Sea Blue, and Coral. They are priced $8.83 and have various sizes in stock. I bought a pair of red ones for my son. Shipping was $5.99 for a total of $14.82 which is a great deal. You can get Free Shipping to any REI store. If you are signed up with BigCrumbs then go thru them to earn cash back. Hurry since I'm sure these will go quickly. Click on the link below for the sale.

Croc Sale

Small Changes Add Up to a Big Change

I wasn't always very frugal, and I was a spendthrift a few years ago. I know it's horrible, but I wanted to be at home with my son, so I had to change. It was easier for my husband since he grew up frugal. I learned a lot of my skills from his family. The first thing we did was to consolidate debt to make one payment per month. That was only one small part of the change.

There are thousands of little ways to save money. Turning off lights when you aren't in that room. I clip coupons and combine them with sales and rebates. I switched to store brands on most of the things we eat or use like toilet paper. I also do many other small things to save money. These little small changes will add up to much bigger savings in time. You have to start slowly if you want to it to be a permanent change.

If you are living paycheck to paycheck then debt consolidation is a great way to free up extra money for debt relief. BillsIQ is a great online site that has many tools and articles. Everyone that needs debt help should check out this great site.

When Did I Become My Mom?!!

I really love my Mom and she's my best friend. There are days that I say the same things to my son that she said when I was a kid. I didn't understand some of these pearls of wisdom until I had my own children. I always have to laugh to myself afterwards. Again, I have to admit you were right Mom. Thanks.

Great Gift Idea

I am constantly on the prowl for great deals and bargains, but I also like to give unique gifts when I can. Some people are much easier to shop for than others in my family. I came across a great product called Cabin Cuddler which would be perfect for my husband's grandmother. She is constantly complaining about how cold her house is during the winter. She has been having problems with her legs so this will be great for her. The blanket has a great foot pocket so it will stay put to keep her toasty warm. She can also bring this with her when she travels.

My brother would really love this since he does a lot of flying for business trips. He refuses to use the airline provided pillow or blanket. He feels that these are germ infested which aren't properly cleaned. This also comes with an inflatable pillow. It inflates easily, and is perfect for traveling. I love that it comes in a handy tote bag which would fit perfectly over the handle on his rolling suitcase. I'm considering purchasing one for us to use on our Walt Disney World trip next year. It's never too early to start your Christmas shopping.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #26

Today's thrifty tip is to use soy flour to substitute for an egg in baking. Just a heaping tablespoon of soy flour and a tablespoon of water is equal to a large egg. With the high price of eggs, this can save a good bit if you do a lot of cooking and baking. You can find soy flour in most health food and ethnic stores.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #25

Today's thrifty tip is to call companies of products you either love or had an issue. I have a few favorite items, and I do call the company every few months to rave about the product or pass on some suggestions. I always ask to be placed on a mailing list or about coupons. Most will just give you some coupons just for calling. Some won't give anything but that is a small percentage. If you do have a complaint, then just be courteous but let them know your disappoint. Some companies will ask to have it mailed back if it's a defect. So don't throw it out just yet. I always get either a refund check or a free item coupon when this occurs. This is another great way to get great coupons for the things you use anyway.

Halloween Is Almost Here!

Halloween is my favorite time of the year. I love the cooler weather, decorations, and the Halloween costumes. Right now is a great time to start shopping to get the best selection. Halloween Adventures has a really wide selection of costumes for both adults and kids. They even offer plus size costumes.

I came across a great costume that I would love to wear this year. It's the Queen of Hearts playing card, and I am a queen in my house, so it's a perfect fit. I really love to wear humorous costumes. It's a time of year when I can be more of a card. I even found a few couples costumes that I would love to wear with my husband.

This is a one stop shopping for Halloween. They even offer wigs, masks, makeup, and so much more. Haunted House decorations to make your house stand out from the crowd. You can find costumes for any theme and even time period costumes. Your little ones can wear their favorite Disney or Superhero character. Save even more money by taking 5% off your total with Coupon Code: PPP05BLOG2008 and it expires October 10th, 2008. Visit http://blog.halloweenadventure.com to read more news about costumes on their blog.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #24

Today's thrifty tip is bring your samples on vacation. Why carry all those full size containers of toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shaving cream, shampoo, and such? It would be much easier to bring the smaller travel size samples. Unless you have a coupon to make it either free or under 50 cents, then don't buy the travel size items in the store. Just spend a little time daily requesting free samples. You also get great coupons that you can buy again for later. Some coupons do have the wordking not good on travel or certain size items so do read the fine print. If you bring the smaller items, then you will have more room for your souvenirs.

My Freebies for the Week

I went yesterday to do my weekly big 3 shopping. Yep each week I hit Rite-Aid, Walgreens, and CVS to get the weekly deals.

First Stop- Rite-Aid:
1 Crest Whitening w/ Scope [$3.19] -75 cent coupon

Total- $2.65 w/ tax
I'm getting $3.19 back with rebate so free and made a 54 cent profit!

Second Stop- Walgreens:
Cheerios [$1.99] -$1 coupon (printable)
Pert Plus [$3.79] -$2 coupon

Total- $3.00 w/ tax
I'm getting $3.79 back from Walgreens FAR so I made a $2.00 profit. If you have that TMF rebate you can get even more. I already did one.

Final Stop- CVS:
2 Glade Air Fresheners [$1.76] -88 cents BOGO coupon
2 Puff Tissues [$1.76] -50 cent coupons (2x 25cent)
4 Crest Whitening Toothpaste [$7.96] -$4 ECB & -$2 coupons (2x $1)
Dove SkinVitalizer [$9.99] -$3 ECB & -$3.50 coupon
6 L'Oreal Vive Shampoo [$20] -$9.99 x3 BOGO coupons -$6 coupons (6x $1)
Colossal Express Mascara [$4.99] -$2 ECB -$1 coupon
Infusium Family Size Shampoo [$5.99] -$3 coupon
2 Intuition Razors [$7.98 ($3.99 raincheck)] -$6 coupons ($3x 2)

Total- $14.65 w/ tax
I also had a $5/30 CVS receipt coupon I used. None of the items were free but they were very cheap after coupons and ECB's. I used all my ECB's this trip since I wanted the lowest out of pocket cost.

Visit SonicShack.com to Win $10,000

SonicShack.com is a great website that offers custom t shirts, bags, hats, and much more. They offer many different sizes and styles of shirts to satisfy your tastes. These would be great for a sports team, business, wedding or any occasion. There is no minimum purchase. They are also giving away $10,000 in cash! Don't miss out on your chance to win.

Only 2 Weeks Left!

Don't forget there are only 2 weeks left to enter the Tupperware Drawing. I have several entries already so don't miss out on these great prizes!

Top Prize- $50 Gas Card to Texaco, Shell, Exxon, or Chevron
2nd Prize- $25 Tupperware E-Gift Certificate to my site
3rd Prize- $10-15 Retail value of bowls

Again the ways to enter are as follows:

1 Entry- For every $25 you spend. Spend $100+ and I'll give you an extra entry. Instead of 4 then you would get 5 for $100+ order.

1 Entry- Open an Online Gift Registry. If someone buys you an item from your registry, then I'll give you 1 more entry. We have Wedding, Baby, and more.

1 Entry- Open an Online Party. You can invite anyone in the 48 US States by email. For every order you receive, then I'll give you 1 more entry.

2 Entries- For each person that opens an online party of their own from yours. They must mention your name, and you must have an active online party to get the entries.

5 Entries- For signing up as a Tupperware Consultant. Email me at the top if interested that says under Contact Me. We have a new consultant bonus when joining.

1 Entry- Write a 50 word post on your blog about my Tupperware Drawing. You can copy/paste the prizes and please link to the this url= http://www.thriftymommaramblings.com/2008/08/enter-great-tupperware-drawing.html
Just leave a comment or email me with a link to the post on your blog.

This drawing ends ends at 12AM CST on Labor Day, September 1st 2008. The drawing will be held the following day, and all winners will be posted here. Click on the catalog either at the top or the text link below to enter. Good luck!

Direct Link to My Tupperware Site

TurboCharge Your Ride

I have a 2002 Dodge Stratus with a V6 turbocharged engine. I love having the power that it gives to my engine. I can pass people with ease, but I am careful not to speed. If you have been wanting to add one to your car, then you need to check out TurboChargerPros.com to see their great selection. You can have an audi turbocharger or any make or model of car you drive. They even offer a full warranty on the turbo. If you live in the 48 US states, then you will receive Free Shipping. Most orders are shipped the same day. Don't hestiate to upgrade your ride today.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #23

Today's thrifty tip is cut old towels into new rags. I like to use them for cleaning the house and cars. This way I don't have to spend money on new wash cloths. Old t-shirts also make great rags. I even use old socks as dust cloths.

Having Difficulty Losing Weight?

Do you have trouble losing weight? The older you get the slower your metabolism becomes which it makes it harder to lose weight on your own. Some people find taking a diet pill, like Phentermine, helps them to take off those stubborn pounds. It will also help to suppress your appetite. As with any medication, always ask your doctor before using.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #22

Today's thrifty tip is buy an aloe vera plant. This is a wonderful plant that you can use for many first-aid remedies. Aloe vera is great to use on scrapes, insect bites, stings, cuts, burns, and especially a sunburn. You can also use it for acne and patches of eczema. All you have to do is cut off a small piece and squeeze out the gel to apply on the affected area. If you know someone that already has a plant, then ask for a couple of shoots. I have mine in a pot on a sunny windowsill inside my house. They are very easy to grow, and require little water since it's part of the cactus family.

Decorating A Nursery

Having a baby is an exciting time for every family. It's really fun decorating the nursery. Picking out a theme or maybe just basic colors. You also need to get a crib and crib bedding. You might also want accessories for the room like lamps, curtains, and even wall hangings. Whatever you decide for your baby's room, just take time to enjoy the new bundle, once they arrive.

Shopping for Golf Equipment?

Golf is a relaxing sport that many men really enjoy playing. Even more women have started playing. There is a great website called, TheWorldofGolf.com or TWOG.com, for all your golf equipment needs. They have great name brands. Spend $50 or more to receive Free Ground Shipping. If you aren't sure what to buy, then just give them a gift card to the site. It's never to early to start planning your Christmas shopping.

Today's Shopping Trip

I went shopping today to grab all the deals for this week. I first went to Rite-Aid and bought the Garnier Shine and had a $1 off coupon. So total was $3.25 and I am getting back $3.99 with rebate.

Then I went to Walgreens and bought the Airwick Flameless Candle and Glade Scent Candle. I paid $6.46 with tax and I'm getting back $4 in rebates so total is $2.46 for both items. That was 99 cents each. I also bought 3 Glade refill candles for $2.45 after rebate and coupon. They had 2 of them on clearance for $1 and I got one free with that coupon. I like to give the Trio candles as presents to the lady that delivers my mail and such.

I went to CVS and got the following:
2 Trident gum
2 Colgate Total toothpaste
4 Herbal Essence Shampoos (they have one that I can't get anywhere else)
2 Bic Soleil Razors
1 Schick Intuition Razor (have rain check from last sale)

I used $15.74 in coupons and 9.79 in ECB's so grand total was $6.42! I spent $16.13 total on everything and I'm getting $7.99 back in rebates for a grand grand total of $8.14 for all of it! The razors are going to be part of those Christmas gift bags. I also had to do some Wal-Mart shopping and bought 5 Skintimate Shaving creams that were $1.47 each and after $1 coupons I got them for $2.54 with tax. Those will also go in the gift bags. I missed that sale when they were $1.74 each and I think that was Walgreens. I don't know how I missed it, but this is still good. My nieces love the smaller ones to use when they sleep at a friend's house.

ClickSmart is a Great Directory

I hate moving. It can be so overwhelming with packing all your belongings, finding a new place to live, finding a new school for the kids, and maybe even a new job. I haven't moved in over 12 years, but I do remember the hassle. ClickSmart.com is a great online business directory. If you need to find a Chicago moving company, then no problem. All these companies are ClickSmart Certified experts. This means they have to meet all local and state requirements which will give you peace of mind.

The directory can be used anywhere in the country. If I were moving to Chicago, then I would definitely use this directory to find all sorts of businesses. Don't hesitate to use them to find a great local company.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #21

Today's thrifty tip is use white sugar to exfoliate your hands. Yep plain white sugar. There are several techniques but here is an easy one. I put a small amount of hand lotion (anything but Vaseline Intensive Care works great), and a small amount of white sugar. Just rub your hands together like you are washing (don't get them wet). I do this for about 2-3 minutes. Then rinse off in warm water and dry. You will be amazed at how soft your hands will feel. I wouldn't recommend this on your face.

Great Back to School Clothing Deals

Does the high gas prices have you on a smaller budget? Are you looking for quality clothing at a great price? Then look no further than Heavenly Couture for your back to school clothes shopping. They have a great selection of cheap Junior clothing, and nothing is over $17.95! This site will save you so much time instead of driving from store to store. You will save up to 85% off the retail price. If you spend $75 or more, then you will receive free shipping. I would check them out today to snag some great deals on cheap clothing. Here are a few of my favorite items that you can buy. Heavenly Couture will save you time, money, and gas.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #20

Today's thrifty tip is turn your bottles upside down to squeeze out the last remains. I do this with all my bottles of shampoo, conditioner, dish liquid, and such. I also will add a little water and shake well to use it all. You would be surprised at how much more you can get from a bottle. I usually get at least 2-3 more uses this way.

Have Fun with Your Pictures

I just finished making a free slide show at Roxio online . I uploaded several pictures of my cute son, and had a blast making it. You can add a title page, like I did, or not. You can also add music, stickers to jazz up those pictures even more, and captions to tell a story. I just chose random pictures that were already on the computer, but it's amazing how much he has grown in the past year. If you want more options, then you have to upgrade. I could see this as a great way to share baby pictures, wedding pictures, and much more. You can email, or on your blog, and you can even have it burned to a DVD. Register online today for free to start making your slide show.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #19

Today's thrifty tip is to use hair conditioner instead of shaving cream. Personally I don't like doing this, but I will if I'm in a pinch. I really prefer to use shaving cream. I never pay more than $1 a can. I usually get them free or for 50 cents after sale and coupon. I also don't use hair conditioner. I mainly buy the shampoo that already has it or is a very thick one like the L'Oreal Vive.

Check Out This Automobile Website

The gas prices definitely have me looking for more fuel efficient used cars. We are thinking of buying a nice secondhand Toyota Yaris. This could save us a lot of money in gas with his commute to work. I have been doing some research on Auto123.com where I can search for new and used cars, plus read reviews from owners. The site is very informative, and very easy to navigate.

Don't forget to enter the Drive, Rate, and Fly contest. All you have to do is evaluate a car for a chance to win a great vacation. You can choose either a trip to Mexico or see the Daytona 500 race in Florida. Note: Only residents of Canada are eligible to win. This is a great site so check it out today!

I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged yesterday by Carole's Thoughtful Spot the 6 Unspectacular Quirks Meme. This is my first one.

The rules are:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my six quirks (don't say I didn't warn you):

1. I can't wear socks at all during the summer. I have to be barefoot or wear sandals at all times. It's opposite during the winter. I have to wear socks all winter.

2. I have to have the TV on even if I'm not watching it. I like the background noise or it has to be a radio. I hate complete silence.

3. I'm a night person so waking up early in the morning is killing me. I prefer to up most of the night and sleep during the morning hours.

4. This is a really good one. I am right handed but I write as if I'm left handed. Don't ask me why, but I've done this my whole life. I just can't hold a pen or pencil the "normal" way.

5. I have a love hate relationship with organization. I prefer to be organized, but I can find things better when it's messy. My desk is a great example.

6. I love heavy metal and alternative. You would find this strange if you knew me. It shocks a lot of people.

Here are my tags below (sorry if I tag you and someone else already did):

Electic WAHM
Rachel's Place
A Problogger Mom
Work at Home Mom Revolution
Life of a Nguyener
Coupon Mom Mom

Thanks again Carole for the great tagged meme. I had a lot of fun, and I hope the ones I tagged also have fun with it. It was hard for the first two or three, then it was much easier.

Create a Masterpiece with Glass Tiles

Are you planning to use glass mosaics, stone mosaics or glass and marble tile on your next remodel? Many people are using them for bathrooms, floors, kitchen backsplashes, and even swimming pools. You need to check out the Glass Tile Store for the best selection and prices available. They offer these tiles below wholesale, and they can ship to all states. You can also buy a sample to see how it will look in your home. They ship the sample for free. If you are looking for a bigger discount, then check out their closeout area. You can't go wrong when shopping here.

Rite-Aid Rebates

I must say that I love doing the Rite-Aid rebates. My only real disappointment is that my store rarely has the advertised items in stock so I can't always get the free items. I did get my check for July today and I requested it the last week of July. It was shipped on the 4th of this month so that is very fast processing. I wished Walgreens would implement an online rebate redemption system like RA. My check was for $29.32! I spent $32.xx this past week on the great FAR items. I have $27.95 pending already for the month. I saved an extra $12 in coupons. I got a free can of Old Spice shaving cream since the razors had a peelie. That was a nice freebie I wasn't expecting.

Thanks to 1stopmom for letting me know that I can now enter my receipts online to Walgreens. I knew there were testing this, in select areas, but no clue it was open for everyone. I was able to put in one yesterday and saved it. I will report back when I'm ready to fully submit it. Thanks again my readers. You guys rock!

Back to School Means Supplies

My son went back to school last week. I had to buy the usual school supplies and school uniforms. That also meant I had to had to label them. I really wished I had a DYMO Labelmaker. I had so much trouble writing his name in small letters using a marker. The scissors were the hardest one to label. The writing could smear if not careful. Having a label maker could have saved me so much time and frustration. These labels look so much nicer plus no smearing.

I could even use this handy little label maker around my house. I hate having items in plastic containers, and I don't always remember what I have stored inside. I don't want to write on them so this label maker would be the perfect solution. I would also love to use this for organizing my pictures. The boxes are fabric so I can't write on the outside. I can also use this to keep my files more organized. I would really love to color code it all with medical documents, tax information, and old bills. I can really see this great machine being used for all sorts of organization around the house. This will allow me to have more time to spend with my family.

Join the I Follow Revolution!

I know you are wondering what I'm talking about. Ok so some of you probably already know, but I didn't until today. I saw a lot of those on people's blogs so I was always very curious. Basically it's a way to get spiders (not the eight legged kind) to pick up the links. This is good for me as well as my readers leaving comments on my blog. I wanted to post that I am now a U Comment I Follow blog, and I also changed my 3 other blogs so comment away readers!

If you are interested in doing this and then go to edit HTML in either wordpress or blogger. It's near the bottom and look for the < href="data:comment.authorUrl" rel="nofollow"> and remove the rel="nofollow' and click expand widget at the top box of code. You will also want to put a widget like the one above. To find more click on this great blog Randa Clay. She has some different colored ones. Just right click to save to your computer. While there, click on the site that shows you exactly how to modify it for blogger. It's very easy. I hope you join the revolution!

TMR Frugal Living Tip #18

Today's thrifty tip is sprinkle baking soda on your carpets, let sit for 15-20 minutes and then vacuum. It's cheaper than the stuff in the store and not toxic. It deordorizes the carpet.

Buy Quality Eyeglasses for Less!

I just can't say enough great things about the ZenniOptical.com website. I'm not the only that has taken notice of this site. Clark Howard has also given this site wonderful praises. I first posted about them when I bought my husband two pairs of Memory Titanium frames, with the Anti-Reflective Coating, for $68.xx with shipping. It took about two weeks to receive them. The eyeglasses come with a great microfiber cleaning cloth. I have been hooked since then.

They have so many styles of frames available, and you can even buy sunglasses. You can't beat the low prices starting at $8 a pair. You can select from many lens. They have single vision lens, bifocals, progressive lens and much more. The Memory frames we bought are great quality. These were a fraction of the retail price.

The reason Zenni can offer such low prices is that they sell their own manufactured lens which cuts out the middleman. This passes the savings onto their customers. I really appreciate the savings with the high cost of gas and food. I didn't have to sacrifice on quality. I know many people who could benefit from this great website just as we did. I would definitely check out this website before ordering your next pair of eyeglasses or even sunglasses.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #17

Today's thrifty tip is to clean a microwave using vinegar. I pour half water and vinegar in a bowl which I then put inside the microwave. Turn it on long enough to bring to a boil. I usually do 2-3 minutes. It depends on how high and your microwave. The steam loosens food particles and deordorizes. This will be hot so be careful and just wipe clean. I do use the same mixture in the bowl. Then I pour the rest down the drain with the baking soda method I posted before.

Identity Theft is a Serious Crime

Identity theft is a serious crime that affects millions of people. Just last year hackers were able to obtain over 45 million credit and debit card numbers. The Department of Justice finally nabbed most of the criminals involved, but you have to protect yourself from potential thieves. I don't even worry about being mugged in a dark alley, but having my information stolen from an online hacker is a very real threat.

The good news is there are ways you can protect yourself. I check my credit report at least once a year to make sure nothing suspicious is on it. When I shop online, I always check to make sure the page is secure. I also don't have my Social Security Number published on my Driver's License.

Another great way to protect yourself is to get life lock. This is a great service that will guarantee their service to keep your protected up to a million dollars. They have been featured on shows like the Today Show and are members of the Better Business Bureau. They also will reduce the amount of junk mail and credit offers you receive. If you lose your wallet then they will help you by sending you to a certified Recovery Specialist. Your children can also get protection from identity theft. You have insurance for cars and houses, but no one thinks about their identity. This is one insurance you can't afford not to have.

First Day of School!

My baby went to back for his first day yesterday. I can't believe how fast he is growing. I admit I do miss him not being here with me all day. He was very excited to go back and see all his friends. He's excited now but we'll see how he feels in May. Here is a picture of my little man.

Enter the Great Tupperware Drawing!

I'm sorry this is going up so late tonight. It's been a hectic day. As promised here is the post that has all the details regarding the drawing. Drumroll.......

This drawing lasts for the rest of the month of August. It ends at 12AM CST on Labor Day, September 1st 2008. The drawing will be held the following day on Tuesday. All winners will be notified through email so please give me one that won't go to your spam folder. I will also post the first names here on the blog!

Top Prize is a $50 Gas Card to the following gas stations: Texaco, Shell, Exxon, or Chevron
2nd Prize is a $25 Tupperware GC to my site
3rd Prize is a Bowl Set retailing for $10-15

Finally here are the ways to earn entries:

1 Entry- For every $25 you spend. Spend $100+ and I'll give you an extra entry. Instead of 4 then you would get 5 for $100+ order.

1 Entry- Open an Online Gift Registry. If someone buys you an item from your registry, then I'll give you 1 more entry. We have Wedding, Baby, and more.

1 Entry- Open an Online Party. You can invite anyone in the 48 US States by email. For every order you receive, then I'll give you 1 more entry.

2 Entries- For each person that opens an online party of their own from yours. They must mention your name, and you must have an active online party to get the entries.

5 Entries- For signing up as a Tupperware Consultant. Email me at the top if interested that says under Contact Me. We have a new consultant bonus when joining.

1 Entry- Write a 50 word post on your blog about my Tupperware Drawing. You can copy/paste the prizes and please link to the this url= http://www.thriftymommaramblings.com/2008/08/enter-great-tupperware-drawing.html
Just leave a comment or email me with a link to the post on your blog.

So now you are wondering how do I get to your Tupperware site? You can click on my Tupperware Banner to the right side. I also have a banner and link below. Good luck! My tupperware site url is: http://my.tupperware.com/BCLAUSE so if you see that name, then you are on my site when shopping.


Direct Link to My Tupperware Site

Buying for Charity

I know I've posted before about how I give away some of the great deals I find to charity. But I came across a great blog called Coupon Cravings. She had this great giveaway about how much could you buy at CVS for just $5 for charity. I wanted to post about it earlier, but I was kinda busy so it ended before I could.

I think this is an awesome idea so it inspired me today. I already had plans to get the Pert Plus shampoo and Sure deodorant that is B1G1F this week. I bought 18 bottles of Pert Plus and 6 Sure and my grand total was a -.63! I had to buy a candy to get my total over 0, and it was a whopping 20 cents! I have NEVER done that well before. I normally have a $1 or right around a dollar total or higher. I was psyched! I promise I didn't clear the shelves and left plenty for other shoppers so please no nasty comments. This was $85 worth of items before sale prices for FREE! I didn't post this to brag, but to show that a lot of good can be done getting these great deals. If I gave the shelter $20 then that money wouldn't go very far. Instead I can take that same $20 and buy $100 or more of items to give to them.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #16

Today's thrifty tip is if you get sugar ants then spray a mixture of vinegar and water. You mix half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle and shake. Then just clean the surface as you normally would and just spray the infested area. Don't wipe it but let it dry on it's own. It takes a day or two but it works for me.

Get Shoes.com Coupons

I love Shoes.com and they have some of the best deals online. They also provide Free Shipping and No Tax! It's hard to beat that plus they always have some sort of discount available. I have bought several pairs of shoes from this site, and I always get my order promptly. They are having a great Back to School sale right now. There are several Shoes.com coupons available right now for even greater savings. This Saturday they are having a 75% off sale on August 9th so don't miss out on all the great deals. Don't forget to use your coupon.

I have been doing a lot more shopping online with the gas prices being so expensive. I'm trying to save as much as I can on my purchases. The kids need so much for school like clothes, shoes, backpacks, supplies, among other things. So why waste all that gas going from store to store? It's much easier to shop anytime day or night, and you can even shop in your pajamas if you prefer. The online stores are offering so many great online coupons and even free shipping! With all the money you save, then you can use your money for other things, like filling your gas tank.

$50 Gas Card Drawing Starts Tomorrow!

I'm a little later than promised but the drawing will run the whole month of August and last day will be Labor Day. Then the drawing will be held the next day on Tuesday September 2nd.

I changed the top prize to a $50 Gas Card! The 2nd prize will be a $25 Tupperware GC to my store, and 3rd prize will be a bowl set retailing for $10-15. So 3 people will win, and all the details will be given tomorrow on how to earn entries into the drawing. I hope everyone is as excited as I am! I changed the top prize since the gas prices are so expensive. The winner will be able to choose from a Chevron, Exxon, Texaco, or Shell card.

Check Out My Freebie!

I get this in my mailbox on Monday and was a nice surprise. I love getting mail and I really love freebies. PayU2Blog sent out these T-Shirts to many of their bloggers. These guys ROCK! This is a picture of the shirt that my sexy husband is modeling. He is headless per his request.

I Hit 100 Posts!

I didn't even realize that I had so many posts already. I missed the big 100th post. This is post #102 so not too late. I want to thank all the readers, and I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #15

Today's thrifty tip is use a Brillo pad to clean tarnished brass. I have a front door handle that was from 1949 and was pretty tarnished. We lived here for 11 years and never once cleaned it so it was overdue. We didn't want to replace the door since it's a solid door and original to this 54 year old house. We tried polishing it first but then the carpenter suggested a brillo pad. Darned if it didn't work. I couldn't believe how it just melted off the brass. I was so impressed and of course it did need some elbow grease around the corners. Once it was all cleaned and dried, then we used brass polisher. I wished I had taken before pics but here is an after picture. I also read on the box that it would work on silver.

My Plans to Upgrade My TV

Sometimes I find it hard and expensive to try to keep up with technology. I find that the prices usually drop enough to where I can justify the cost of upgrading. We have our eye on upgrading our TV to a HDTV at the end of the year. I have my eye on a Sony Bravia TV. I have to admit that the picture is just gorgeous. I'm hoping for a great sale at the end of the year on this model.

Dress Your Yard with Decorations

Who says you can't have fun dressing up your yard? I have seen some really cute garden decor in my own neighborhood. Many people decorate their yards for Halloween and Christmas. But why not all year long? I have been adding my own personal touches in my yard with more than just plants. I have added some small statues in the flower bed, and plan to add more next year. It's a great way to show your unique style for everyone to enjoy.