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Inexpensive Vacations for the Whole Family

So, we are nearing Memorial Day weekend and that means that summer is quickly upon us. Since you, like me are frugal shoppers, I know you are planning your summer vacation now, hoping to get last minute or early bird deals so that you can make the most of your travel budget.

I love amazing deals and I refuse to pay top dollar for anything, but I don’t want to get lost somewhere and end up in a dump. Too many 1980’s family vacation comedies have horrifically scarred my sense of adventure in that department. So, here are some less scary, more fun ways to vacation on a dime.

MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA

Visit Myrtle Beach has a list of family affordable ocean front accommodations that will make any family holiday, luxurious and relaxing. Even if you have to hoof it to South Carolina from the ends of the country, you can still rest on sandy beaches, with ocean front views, for fractions of the amount you would pay in other beach front resorts. Most of the lodgings are family friendly and the weather is often really good for lazing on the beach during the summer months.

YOSEMITE, CALIFORNIA

California is not usually known as a discount destination, however, the grandeur and beauty of Yosemite National Park, should not be missed in one’s lifetime. The glacier made granite peeks towering above the valley floor are simply priceless. And with a variety of accommodations from the luxurious Awahnee to more modest living in Curry Village tent cabins, there is enough in Yosemite to fit anyone’s budget. The only issue is making sure that you book now, as accommodations and lodging fill up fast.

Make sure to contact the Yosemite National Park Lodging website to book your vacation.

THE GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA
The Grand Canyon is truly spectacular and is another must see for one’s lifetime. While there are no really easy access points to the park without a car, you can either drive across country and make the trip a vacation journey or fly into Flagstaff and rent a car to the canyon. While your trip will include a bit of an effort to get to the park, it is well worth it when you and your family see one of the worlds greatest natural wonders. There is inexpensive lodging throughout the park and most of the day trips and hiking are free.

Go to Grandcanyonlodges.com  to book your stay.

FAMILY VACATIONS

If you are not sure yet what you want to do or where you want to go there are a few family vacation websites that will help you narrow your search.

Favorite Family Vacations has everything from camping and Dude Ranches to houseboats and cruises. Use this site to get an idea of some of the fun things you can do with your family in your area.

cabin rental

Benzinga has some helpful hints for keeping your family on a budget while on vacation. These are good ideas to go over because a lot of the expense of being on vacation comes from bad planning. Making sure that you are organized, prepared and ready for your trip will help cut down on last minute expenses.

Budget Travel has a list of the top budget travel locations in the world.

Finally Gapadventures is your one stop shop for family friendly budget international travel.  One of my favorites is the Thai budget vacation that includes an elephant ride, beaches, temples, full accommodation and most meals for around $1,100 per person plus airfare, this may seem like a lot of money, however, it is a 12 day all inclusive vacation in Thailand.

http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/thailand-family-adventure/ATFA/2011/

If you are feeling adventurous, I would suggest booking and arranging your own vacation. Cutting out the middle man can sometimes save you dollars. Consider going to Latin American or Asian countries where the dollar is strong and you can really stretch your money. Stay in places that have good traveler ratings but are also affordable.

One of my favorite vacations was to Costa Rica, we stayed on the Caribbean side, in a little town called Puerto Viejo

We found a little lodge called La Costa De Papito for about $69/night it was across the street from the beach and breakfast was included. While it was an adventure to get to this tiny secluded spot, the place was remarkable, romantic and fun for the kids. We saw tree sloths, a leather back turtle lay eggs and snorkeled in exotic waters just steps from our door.

Eddie Ryan Family

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By Stacy – May 24, 2011

This Week’s Deals, Some are Real and Some are Laughable

Okay, I wanna have a bit of fun this week, so some of the deals will be real deals and some are for giggles.

BACON FLAVORED TOOTH PICKS

Yep, found this not to be missed item on Woot! What I can say about these is, they are simply gross!

Bacon Flavored Toothpicks Accoutrements 80 Gift TIN Novelty GAG Gift

MAN GROOMER DO IT YOURSELF ELECTRIC BACK HAIR GROOMER

Well, when it comes to hair removal, Man Groomer is where its at. And at $22.62 plus free shipping, buy three.

MANGROOMER Do-It-Yourself Electric Back Hair Shaver

Unless you are a yogi, I would be weary of shoulder dislocation.

TRAMPOLINE

For $279.88  at Sam’s Club this is a great deal. Since summer is coming up, getting the kids outside to bounce is a great way to release energy and have a load of fun.

WESTERN DIGITAL TV LIVE HD MEDIA PLAYER

Woot! has this cool multi platform digital player that can literally take almost every file type and display it in HD on your television. This sounded like a lot of fun and if you want to save money a great way to cut out the cable by just using your computer to screen movies and television shows and then have the projected through this player to your television. It has wifi and is able to access the internet, or you can connect your laptop, zip drive or hard drive to show home movies, pictures or things that you have downloaded. This sounds like a ton of fun at a really good price.

Western Digital WD TV Live Plus HD Media Player

FREE NETI POT

The Frugal Girls website directs us to getting a free Neil Med Neti Pot by simply liking their Facebook page and following the red lettered link that asks if you want a free Neti pot with two packets of solution. I have to say I LOVE THIS!!! I use a Neti pot all of the time and find it really helpful in stopping and treating sinus infections. I started getting sinus infections after having the kids and they often plague me during allergy and cold season, so using this Neti pot has virtually saved my life as it clears out the nasal pasages and helps drain the sinus cavity, which then alleviates the pressure and pain of the sinus infection. Bravo in my book.

HOME CLEANER RECIPES

The Frugal Girls also have home cleaner recipes for those of us who trying to save money on general household items. Here is the list of all the items, http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/homemade-cleaners but I thought this one looked fun.

Here is one of the recipes.

FOAMING HAND SOAP

To make foaming hand soap you buy a regular bottle of foaming soap (if you don’t already have one) and fill 1/3 of the bottle with dish soap (pick a fun scent) and the other 2/3’s with water and voila you have foaming hand soap for a fraction of the cost.

Dial 06042 Tabletop Pump Hand Soap Hypoaller 8/7.5oz

ROSEWILL WIRELESS ROUTER

Newegg has this wireless router for sale for $9.99 ON SALE FOR TODAY 5/19/2011 ONLY until midnight EST. This is a ten dollar savings from the original price. This router can be used with the USB port in any computer or laptop to allow it to get the internet through a wireless connection. This is great if you have an older machine and want to be able to work wirelessly.

Rosewill RNX-G1 A-Type USB 2.0 Wireless Black Dongle w/ External 2dBi SMA Antenna

JUST FOR FREE

Jiffy free recipe book, since Jiffy is such a low cost, yummy brand, here are way you can make your box of Jiffy work harder for you.

http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/2011/05/free-jiffy-recipe-book.html

You can request your free box here: http://www.jiffymix.com/bookorder.php

Have fun.

Posted in discounts, Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Last Minute Deals, Online Freebies, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals.

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By Stacy – May 19, 2011

Now What Do I do with You? Braving Summer With Your Kids

It is fast approaching, you can feel it in the air, the spring grass is getting a little dryer, unless it happens to be raining in your area, like it is mine…but in theory, summer approacheth. We are just over a week away from Memorial Day and the official beginning of summer is almost here. And the question looming on every parent’s mind is….

WHAT DO I DO WITH YOU?

Meaning, of course, your adorable offspring. Yes, summer is a time of liberation from learning, curriculum, boxed lunches and early bedtimes. It is a time of sun, vacation, pools, sunscreen and sunburn. Summer is a child’s ultimate license for freedom and yet when the those first six and a half days of summer end most often a parent is met with this mind spinning declaration! “I AM BORED!”  And thus you beg the question, what do I do with you?

MAP OUT YOUR SCHEDULE

Before that last bell even rings, you should have a general idea of the major events that will be occurring over the summer holiday. Post a summer calendar in a visible place and block out in bright colors the really exciting things you have planned. Now, exciting doesn’t have to be trip to Europe…but if the trip fits, I’m just sayin’ book me a ticket. However, in today’s economy your big ticket summer excitement will probably be more in the “visit grandma” vein. However, whatever it is, camping trips to visiting friends and short little weekend breaks, mark them on the calendar. This helps kids get a visual idea of what they have in store. The great thing about school is, there are calendars and schedules to follow to keep kids mentally engaged in their activities. With a large sprawling space of time, like summer, a kid’s mind may start to float and stagnate, so keeping the kids motivated is important.

This e-how article gives more specific instructions about scheduling your kids summer break.

Make sure that on weeks where nothing major is planned to put in a few day trips or special activities so that kids don’t feel like there is nothing for them to do or look forward to that week.

You can also try these fun tips. This article gives you 101 things to do with your summer.

SUMMER CAMP

Not only is your child’s routine broken up by the fun and not so fun summer months, but yours is too. And whether you want to admit it or not those few hours where your children are away at school can be very rejuvenating for moms (and dads). A parent’s work is never done, there isn’t such a thing as a coffee or bathroom break when little junior’s truck has strayed under the couch or a sibling brawl has decimated the living room. Having kids out of the house can be a very cathartic time for parents to do chores, check up on personal pursuits such as say, online shopping and getting a little quite time in your mind, body and soul. That’s why there’s summer camp.

Summer Camps.com is a great research tool to help you find the right summer camp for your child. Not only does it comb through thousands of listings but you can tailor your search to fit your needs. They even have services that find camps in foreign countries if you and the family wanted to take a wild adventure.

Summer Camps

Kids health also has this great article on the ways teens and children can approach summer holidays, by viewing them as a mix of relaxation and exploration.

SUMMER FESTIVALS

Lastly, try to go to a few summer festivals in your area. Check out and see where music, arts and crafts, food and entertainment festivals are coming to your area in the summer and plan a day of excitement in the sun. If there is a festival in a neighboring state or place that is a farther distance from your house try making it a great overnight trip.

Festival.com is a searchable database of absolutely everything you will ever  want to know about summer festivals.

Festivals.com logo

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By Stacy – May 18, 2011

Extreme Coupon Clipping Madness….

There are a bunch of you out there and you know who you are who are Extreme Couponers…you have added a whole new  level of crazed to the coupon clipping craze. I must say, at first I thought your efforts to be rather overwhelming, clipping, saving, calculating, making sure you had this and that item, until I discovered that you…oh coupon saavy moms, where getting entire grocery runs for pennies and then I realized that I too, could join you in your insanity. So today I bring you, Coupon Clipping Madness…

So, for my foray into extreme coupon clipping, I discovered, this amazing coupon shopper.

THE KRAZY COUPON LADY

This incredible website points you too all the most up to date coupon deals and helps you navigate virtually hundreds of daily coupon ads, deals and discounts. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, she provides this informative article for beginners that will help you by giving you introductory steps into your coupon cutting craziness. She provides instruction about changing the way you shop and where. This instructional guide comes complete with a step by step “how to” section and a fair dose of cheer leading for the coupon shy.

Additionally the site gives you up to date daily deals and super finds.

The Krazy Coupon Lady

EXTREME COUPONING ON TLC

Meet Extreme Couponer, Antoinette

The Learning Channel also has a show about Extreme Couponing which follows everyday people on their incredible shopping excursions where they save hundreds of dollars. In addition to the weekly show, they also have a blog where you can meet other extreme couponers and hear their tricks to saving money.

What is exciting about this series is the fact that they take the myths out of coupon shopping and make it easier for the everyday mom and shopper to start on this exciting, money saving  journey.

Extreme-couponing-antoinette

I AM THAT LADY

I am that Lady is a blog about extreme couponing and in it, the blogger provides some very practical and helpful hints for people who are afraid to start or are only able to coupon in the less extreme form. She understands people’s limits and the time it takes to get hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for merely dollars. She links to a few beginners tools that makes the art of coupon cutting much easier. Couponing 101 is a YouTube.com series that gives you tutorials on exactly how and where to coupon shop for the best savings.

I am THAT lady

BARGAIN BRIANA

Bargain Briana cautions against the evils of extreme couponing that becomes excessive, hoarding, clipping or couponing to the exclusion of all else in your life. She too, offers a practical guide to clipping without too much crazy, suggesting links to sites where you can download coupons and learn the art of couponing and gives you a more practical guide to the art of saving money.

Bargain Briana - Because bargains don't find themselves.

JAMIE KIRLEW

Jaime Kirlew is another couponing blogger who gives practical tips, websites and other useful resources for your couponing adventure.

J'aime Kirlew Couponing™ – As Featured on TLC Extreme Couponing

5 COUPONING TIPS FOR NORMAL PEOPLE

Finally here is a simple article on couponing for the masses and the moderately sane. TLC offers a great article that walks though 5 couponing tips for normal people and gives palatable advice that can save the average shopper some bucks.

coupons

While, I am not quite ready to rush out and fill a bunker with enough supplies to last my children until they enter college, I am curious about this whole couponing craze and may just check out how I too can save a few bucks on stuff I buy everyday. I am like most, a bit nervous about getting started, but after reading my own blog here, I’m actually excited to see what I can find. Wish me luck and the same to you Mommies out there…let’s get those coupons!

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By Stacy – May 16, 2011

Deals for the Week

Here are some fun deals for the week of May 12, 2011

POWER INVERTER

Buy.com has a great little gadget for a cool price. This Belkin AC Anywhere 300w Power Inverter turns your regular car cigarette lighter power feed into a 110v (normal household voltage) converter that can power your laptop, telephone and AC appliance anywhere you go. This is a great item to have around, especially if you are going to a picnic, the beach, camping or to a tailgating event. I certainly would love a few of these as when the portable DVD players loose power, we are in TROUBLE, especially when I am brave enough to take the family on long trips.

main image

Usually $79.99, this little gadget costs only $19.99 plus FREE shipping. That is almost a steal, grab one before they are gone.

MINI PORTABLE KEYBOARD FOR CELL PHONE

Buy.com also has the  – E-BTKB-B002 for only, $33.42, shipping included.

large image view

What’s great about this little device is that it makes any phone with wifi into a portable computer as well as makes texting and dialing much easier. Originally over $50, this is a really good deal. It also works with tablet PCs and other hand held devices.

WISEBREAD.COM

My new favorite website is wisebread.com with daily deals and frugal living tips, this mommy shopper is just salivating over here.  There are fun articles like “How to See A Movie in the Movie Theater for Free” with links to websites that list free movie screenings to current movies.  Also free books to download like “Graveyard Games.” Ah come on, what mom does’nt love a book with graveyards in it. 🙂

Graveyard Games

GUCCI GUILTY

Want a free sample of a new Gucci cologne, just fill out this form and you will have a trial size bottle sent to you. That sounds like fun, I just ordered mine, make sure you go and grab yours.

BIKEE Balance Bike

Zulily is having a great deal on balance bikes by Bikee in pink and blue, these bikes are great for those who are learning to ride on two wheels and want a sturdy bike that lasts.

Usually $80.00, these bikes are a great deal at $39.00 plus shipping. Grab one while they last.

CANVAS PEOPLE

The Canvas People have done it again and are offering a free 8×10 photo canvas, this is a great gift for Dads and Grads as it is an elegant way to frame a photo memory. The canvas is totally free (or you get $50 off any other size) and all you pay is shipping and handling….and shhhh, if you didn’t get yourself anything for Mother’s Day yet, you better get on over there and order one.

FREE 8x10 canvas or $50 towards any size canvas

50% OFF ANY ONE ITEM AT OLD NAVY

Rush over to Old Navy and download their coupon to get 50% off any regular priced item in the store. Unfortunately you can’t use this promotion online, so you will have to visit one of their stores, which are nationwide and bring the printed, one time use, coupon to the cashier. But this is fun stuff as I have been wanted to get the girls me and outfit. Hey, Mother’s day lasts the whole month of May right??? I’m just sayin’ momma needs some capris.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Old-Navy-Coupon

Posted in Baby clothes, coupon codes, discounts, Family Fun, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, Uncategorized.

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By Stacy – May 13, 2011

A House Divided…

Well, Spring has sprung and if you cleaned your clutter and made things neat and tidy after the New Years, bravo you are amazing. Better than me, who only got the clutter closet and the kid’s bathroom done. But time has come to revamp the house again and I have an interesting dilemma. I still have plans for my closet and dreams of bagging up half of our unused things and sending them to a thrift store to make room for the new cool stuff I envision buying. But, here’s the problem. I have kids that want their own space, they are starting to stretch their creative (and decorative) wings and like most siblings their tastes are clashing, which means they are too.

So, we don’t have space in the house to give them each a room and in this economy, they will have to work things out and co-exist until they are at least…well, in college. Which got me thinking of ways to help solve their problems. Now, we also don’t have the money to knock down or add walls, which means a lot of creativity on our part as parents. Here are some of the awesome ideas I found…

CURTAINS

The least expensive and easiest way to divide a room is with curtains. You can either use a tension rod like the ones used in the bathroom for shower curtains or a clothes line, or hang the curtain from the ceiling by individual hangers.

Think hospital ward, but cuter. Here Martha Stewart shows you how to make the perfect curtain divider for any room.

The next idea is…

SCREEN DIVIDERS

You can also buy an upright room divider, this option can also be inexpensive, and it can look really nice, but if you have young kids, this may not be the right choice as the room dividers can fall over. But if you position them well in the room, they let light filter in and give a sense of separate space.

RISÖR Room divider black, white Width: 85 " Height: 72 7/8 " Width: 216 cm Height: 185 cm

Ikea has some great room divider ideas for around $99, which is an amazing price for peace between siblings.

Oriental Furniture also has some incredible room dividers with really cool designs at reasonable prices. The great thing about these dividers is the fact that they can be moved, if the kids want to switch up their space as they get older and can be removed if they need use of the entire room.

These cool canvas covered room dividers are amazing and you can either have your kids pain their side or pin artwork , fabric or other decorative additions to it.

This six panel set up is $190 and sold at The Room Divider store, this online shopping site has just about every type of room divider you may ever hope to find, which is a fun place to go to get redecorating ideas.

Overstock.com also has fantastic deals on dividers.

SHELVES AS DIVIDERS

Another common way to divide a room is to use a tall shelf or set of wardrobe closets. Again Ikea has a great product that would make an excellent room divider, buy two and cover one with fabric on one side and let one child use the shelfs on the other side and then do the same for the other child with the second shelf. At $129.00 a piece, it really wouldn’t be too expensive to do.

EXPEDIT Bookcase black-brown Width: 58 5/8 " Depth: 15 3/8 " Height: 58 5/8 " Max load/shelf: 29 lb Width: 149 cm Depth: 39 cm Height: 149 cm Max load/shelf: 13 kg

Also these shelves let in light and provide extra storage space for your children. You might also want to consider using two wardrobe closets to add extra space.

PAX Wardrobe with 2 doors white Width: 39 1/4 " Depth: 14 5/8 " Height: 93 1/8 " Width: 99.8 cm Depth: 37.2 cm Height: 236.4 cm

These Ikea Pax wardrobes with two doors have a bare particle board back that can either be covered in cloth, painted a color or painted in chalk board paint to make a fun way to divide rooms and provide private clothes storage space.

If space is really limited, you may want to use loft beds to give each child their own personal space, you can either enclose it with beaded or shear curtains or leave it open with the idea that each child has privacy in their own space.

your zone loft collection metal loft bed

Walmart has a great selection of loft beds at reasonable prices. College loft beds has some fun ideas and good pricing. Like this cute little set up below.

Finally if you have the money and want something more permanent, try a room divider.

SLIDING DOOR ROOM DIVIDER

A more expensive solution for bigger spaces actually creates the illusion of having two rooms and since these sliding door dividers are often made of sturdy transparent material they can diffuse light and also provide a private wall and a door. The Sliding Door Co has amazing room dividing options that may be very pricey, but much less expensive than buying a new house, knocking out a wall or adding a room.

Room Divider

and again Oriental Furniture has these beautiful Shoji sliding room dividers for about $500 each.

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By Stacy – May 12, 2011

Looking GOOD! Feeling GOOD!

With the new Spring weather having  just arrived (or soon to be arriving in some places) its time to come out of our shells and smell the breeze and nothing says “I’m over my turtle neck” better than a beautiful Spring dress. Maybe you made good on your New Year’s resolution and shed a few pounds, maybe you just got a new hair cut or maybe you are just ready to feel the sun on your skin.

Here are some great deals on new Spring fashions that will turn heads, but not your bank account.

DECODE 1.8 DRESSES

Haute Look, has a great deal on Decode 1.8 dresses some as more than 50% off their original price. But,  you have to hurry cause this sale ends tomorrow 5/5, however, take a look at these beautiful deals.

Chiffon Colorblock Gown

This beautiful color block dress was originally $209 and now is only $79, what a great deal and this is the kind of dress that will make any body shape look beautiful.

And if you were able to take off those pesky pounds, take a look at this stunning dress, which is only $72.oo down from $200.

Corkskrew Chiffon Dress

MRE JEWELRY

Haute look also has MRE jewelry on sale, cause you know, you gotta accessorize that great dress. There are some really terrific deals on gorgeous jewelry, like this amazing emerald necklace which usually sells for $110.00 and is now only $37.00

Chrysoprase Drop Necklace

You better grab this necklace fast, before I do. Check out the site for more incredible savings of fashionable jewelry.

COBIAN

Zulily.com has some nice Cobian, simple summer sandals on sale (say that 10xs fast) that would be an elegant addition to your new Spring look. These are my favorites…

These Chocolate Natalia Paisley sandals were $60.00, but now are only $28.00 which is such a steal in my book.

KOHLS

Kohls.com is having an excellent Mother’s Day Sale, where you will find handbags, clothes, shoes, items for the home and more. In fact they offer a great sorting tool where you can pick what kind of mom you are shopping for, like “Mom-to-be”, “On-the-go-Mom”,”Fashion-Forward-Mom”, “#1 Grandma” etc, which makes shopping for moms much easier.

Here are some fun things I found on sale. In light of the Royal Wedding (whatever, you know you watched it) you can get this stunning little hat for half price, down from $26.00 to $13.00.

color 753554 Fuchsia then throw in this lovely little bracelet for $11.70 SONOMA life + style Beaded Shell-Composite Stretch Bracelet Set

…and you got yourself quite a look.

Mind you I wouldn’t wear all of these particular items together, but you get my point, play, have fun, look and feel good. It’s time to come out in the sunshine and bask in you!

Then…head off to a tropical vacation at the Koro Sun, Fiji

KORO SUN ALL INCLUSIVE RESORT AND RAIN FOREST SPA, FIJI

Haute Look is running an amazing vacation deal at the moment, that is really so enticing, it would be hard to pass up. For $281/night (down from $390/night) you get an ocean view bura, which is a Fijian, hut-like housing, but much more upscale than your run of the mill, grass shack, American breakfast, 3 course lunch, afternoon tea, three course dinner and transportation to and from the airport. This seriously is amazing, you can take nature walks, swim in the ocean or their outdoor pools and the resort is KID FRIENDLY with a choice of one or two bedroom buras and a kid only pool. This deals sounds just amazing and the perfect place to debut your new look.

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By Stacy – May 4, 2011

Okay, so Let’s Get Real About Mother’s Day

Not that I’m bitter, I am certainly not, I love the hubby and kids, but lets just say that a mother’s job is really ONLY for the qualified. Even someone stepping in for one day, no matter how good their intentions, will probably leave Miss.Head.Of.The.House, just a little miffed at some point or another. So, take a deep breath ladies (and gentlemen, for those “mothers” out there) and just let it go. Don’t expect that they will be bringing in the carriage (or Lady Gaga styled “egg”) to escort you to your $29.99 all you can drink (I mean eat…) champagne brunch. Chances are you will still not have time to brush your hair (again after whirling around getting all the kiddos ready) and inevitably something crusty will be drying on your nice dress…so just breathe. Everything is fine, cause really the gift is in being a mom and we all know that. BUT, it doesn’t mean you can’t do a little shoppin’ and treat yourself to something special, which makes being a mom all the better.

So if you could go hog wild and buy anything at all…what would you buy? Here are some mom indulgent gifts that may not be that indulgent, after all.

SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU GIFT DUO

Bold Loft, has some really cute stuff, but this one “got me” it is a coffee cup and pillow case set and for whatever reason, I just fell in love with it.

Its hard to see the picture but it says “Thanks for showing me how!” Yep, I melted and for $34.00 for a pillow case and coffee cup…I was pretty much sold. 🙂

Okay, my next “Swoon for” item is actually a real indulgence, cause, um…hello movie stars and rock stars use it. I like Z.E.N Foods, but it is a regional meal delivery service, so I found a great nation wide meal delivery service that will deliver to everyone. Dinewise.com has affordable meal plans to fit any budget, lifestyle, diet or food restriction. They deliver healthy foods to your home and can even send full family meals. You do not know how much I dream about having a service that will cook healthy foods for my family and deliver it to my door. Seriously this is A DREAM! Just think of the time you can save not cooking, cleaning or preparing meals, think of the books you could read, movies you could see or um…just get a shower. If I were to spend money on me, this would be it, at least one week a month, I would have home delivered meals…yum!

In that same vain, you can also sign me up for the Wine of the Month Club, what? I said we were gettin’ real right! So, sign me up, there is nothing wrong with a nice glass of wine to top off a crazy day! A glass of wine also goes well with my foot massage and bubble bath (honey, that’s if you are reading this). While I would LOVE the four month gift package for $128.49 which gives me two elegant wines shipped every month and of course, I wouldn’t mind a year membership for $364.99, (I mean, if we’re slurgin’!) But I could settle for this great gift basket for $35.99 (knowing that we are on a budget) and I would be just fine!!!! And maybe if you are good, I’ll share.

Life is a Cabernet Wine & Gift Tin

Finally, I am really a techno geek, (shhhh, no one knows this) so I actually would love one of these to cuddle up with (after hubby and kiddos go to bed of course). I know that the iPad is all the rage, but really this is just a super cheap (comparatively) fun little tablet, that I think I would love. The Super Pad, Fly Touch 3. It has Wifi, HDMI, a 10 inch screen, Adroid 2.2 and more…I just think that this would be so much fun!!!! Its an e-reader, a movie theater, a television, a webcrawler…and it fits in my purse…color me crazy, but I think it would be a hoot.

SuperPAD 2

And at $224.00 plus free shipping, I can actually afford it. So, there it is, things THIS mom wants. 🙂

Posted in Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Online shopping, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, Uncategorized.

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By Stacy – May 3, 2011

This Week’s Mother’s Day Deals

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I am focusing on mom oriented deals for this weekend and the upcoming week.

Whether you are shopping for your mother, a sister/friend who is a mother or (shhh) for yourself, here are some fun things Mom’s may want to receive on Mother’s Day.

PHOTOS

I think that photos probably are one of the most treasured items a mother can own and put on display, because they not only reflect her family, but chronicle her children’s growth and progress through life. Photos are a testimony to a Mother’s hard work and devotion to her family.

This is a good deal… Canvas People is having a Mother’s Day special were they are offering 20% off any canvas with free shipping plus, you get 50% off any additional canvas creations. This a fun a unique kind of photo gift you or your mother will love.

25% OFF plus FREE shipping on any size canvas

Also Tiny Prints has Mother’s Day Cards for only $1.99 plus free shipping when you ship the card to yourself.

JEWELRY

Of course wearing jewelry is often a luxury with young children as Moms are most likely being tugged and pulled at by little people,  but this is a nice treat when you have a date night with the hubby or a fun night out with the girls.

Amazon is has this beautiful pearl necklace, bracelet and earing set on sale for $37.99 down from $115.00, which is a remarkable savings.

3-Piece Set: White Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace with Sterling Silver Clasp, Stretch Bracelet and Sterling Silver Stud Earrings (8-8.5mm)

Also Mon Bijous Boutique is having a fabulous sale for moms and are offering 20% off their entire collection of jewelry, plus free shipping and a free gift bag, you really can’t beat that!

Laurel MN054 - Click Image to Close

Here is their exclusive email offer…

.

Mother’s Day Sale

20% off all Jewelry

Free Shipping

Free Gift Bags
To receive the 20% discount, type “Mother” into the
Discount Coupon Redemption Code field at Checkout.

Can’t make it to Mom’s – we will ship your gift directly to her.
New Raquel Collection

The inspiration for the Raquel Collection is a woman who is very close to my heart. Her beauty, strength and grace inspired me to create the Raquel Flower.

Click here to view the Raquel Collection.
Mon Bijou is a line of Fashion Jewelry that is made entirely in the USA.
There is no lead or nickel, so there are no allergic reactions

100% guarantee. We repair. We exchange. We replace.
We provide excellent customer service.

5% of every sale is donated to “Pablo’s friends Foundation”

Every month we add new pieces to our website.
If you would like to receive this info,
please send us an Email and we will add you to our email list.info@monbijouboutique.com

You can also visit us at our Studio in Westlake to see our newest Collections. Please call before visiting: 818-706-2857

Website: http://www.MonBijouBoutique.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mon-Bijou-Boutique/151865448210272

Diamon’s International is also hosting a Mother’s Day special on their Tanzanite Ring which is a stunning ring set with sweeping pearl cut Tanzanite on a sterling silver band. Enter BRADRING for a special savings. The ring is originally $140 but with the promotion code will be brought down to $84 with shipping included.

And of course there are always FLOWERS. This is a great gift, especially if you are not able to be with your Mother on Mother’s Day. Flora Flora is having a great Mother’s Day sale where they are offering 15% ALL FLOWERS and free shipping with the promotional code MOM15 at check out.

This coupon code is good for ANY PURCHASE on their website, which is really fun cause they also have chocolates and decorated cookie bouquets in addition to flowers, which can add a smile to any mom’s face, including yours, so drop hints to the family about this fun deal.

Corsos Cookies Mother's Day Gardeners Paradise Cookie Bouquet

Pink Spray Roses

Posted in coupon codes, discounts, Family Fun, Last Minute Deals, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, Uncategorized.

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By Stacy – April 30, 2011

Time to Get Away, Grab the Tent

I know some of you may be cringing at the thought of getting your and the family out in dirty, bug infested environs, sleeping in the cold and trying to call it fun. And, sometimes that is what it feels like, but there is a lot of beauty in nature and getting our kids out in it is vital to their development and your bonding as a family. Having the luxury of a home and comfortable surroundings is a blessing that most American’s share, but getting our kids out in nature, braving the elements and seeing the wild in its natural state is a very important part of our job as parents, even though, at times it may be less than luxurious.

With the warmer weather, there are a lot of advantages in taking a weekend away and visiting a local National Park or campground on a whim or a fun pre -summer vacation. Especially if you are in a part of the world that got a lot of snow this year. Visiting a campground now, is a perfect get away, because there are not as many summer crowds in the parks at this time.

WHAT YOU NEED

There are a lot of different kinds of camping from sleeping outdoors to RV parks, but I’m going to focus on tent camping as it is the best way for your family to be protected from the elements and enjoy being close to nature. So you will need a tent….

TENT

Depending on the size of your family you will need a tent big enough to accommodate your family, their stuff and beds. I do not recommend using the tent manufacturers guidelines for number of people a tent can hold, usually those are optimistic (read uncomfortable) at best.

Family Camping Gear has great tips for family campers and is a good place to start if you have never camped with the family before. The best method to finding the right sized tent is to divide the tent capacity the manufactures give by two. So a four person tent is really a 2 person tent and so on. We have an 10 man tent and it is just big enough for our family, so keep that in mind when shopping for a tent.

Northwest Territory 16ft x 12ft Olympic CottageThis tent from Sears looks huge, but really fun!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00610669000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=L1

Some of the best places to shop are Walmart which always has good prices on tents, but make sure you read the reviews and inspect the product as best as you can when buying it online, because you want to make sure that you are buying a tent that will last a while.

Sears also has a great selection of tents at great prices. Campmor.com has a great selection of tents and is a wonderful one stop shop for all of your camping needs. Target also has some great deals on tents.

My favorite tent is one that has a screen room, like this one Coleman Evanston Screened 8 Person Tent 2000007824

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=tent+shopping&hl=en&rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS384US384&biw=1024&bih=624&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=617012613867350636&sa=X&ei=_sK5TajdLOzSiAKSpIAV&ved=0CIcBEOUNMAE# is a good idea because you can store your gear and camp supplies in the screen room and leave the tent portion for sleeping, changing and resting. This keeps your stuff a little cleaner, keeping it out of the daily foot traffic and provides a screened in bug free space for getting out of the elements, but still enjoying the breeze.

SLEEPING

The next thing you will need is a bed. Again there are many choices, but I have found that avoiding pads and inflatables beds is your best bet for a good night sleep. You can buy an air mattress Coleman 2000002869 Air Mattress, Double High Pillow Top Queen Quickbed like this Coleman air mattress and pray it doesn’t deflate while you are miles from home (and it may not, but…) or a camp pad like this…Coleman pad Coleman Self-Inflating Camp Pad - Sport Chalet which is guaranteed not to deflate and guaranteed not be too comfy either, or you can indulge as I do and buy each member of your family one of these…Stansport Sleep Leg Cot with Mattress Sleeping Bags and Cots (G-23) like this Stansport camp cot with mattress, which has been the best money I have ever spent on camping gear. What is hard in the wild is not sleeping because of the cold, noises, general weirdness of being outdoors, but with these cots, you are comfortable all night and raised off the ground….really if you have the room in your car to transport them. DO IT!

SLEEPING BAGS

There are tons of sleeping bags from just okay, to amazing, search the REI website and especially the REIOUTLET for great deals on the best in camp gear. You don’t want to skimp on your sleeping bag, because it is what will keep you warm at night and in most places, nights will be cold, because you are essentially sleeping outside. Here is my trick….buy on of these

Acadia National Park Blanket

Pendleton Wool Blankets and you will never be cold ever again. Just throw one of these over your sleeping bag and you will stay warm and toasty forever. Yes, they are expensive, but will literally last you the rest of your life. You can find them cheaper here, on Amazon.com

FOOD

You will also need a cooler and camp stove, remember to keep things simple and organize before your trip and you will have a great time, just be prepared for the unexpected and go in with an attitude of fun!

Posted in discounts, Family Fun, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, Uncategorized.

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By Stacy – April 28, 2011