Luv Saving Money – Page 982

Halloween Money Savers from Sophia of Trading Cradles

I received this article from Sophia of Trading Cradles and have permission to publish this post. It has some nice little tips to keep the cost down on Halloween.

5 Ways for Parents to Cut Halloween Costs and Double the Fun!

Halloween can get expensive! In fact, experts claim that in 2009, on average Americans spent over $55 per person on Halloween. If you have a family of four, you know that things can ad up fast! Knowing that everyone is watching their budget these days, TradingCradles.com wanted to give 5 suggestions on how to make your Halloween half as expensive and twice as much fun!

1. Sell Your Old Costumes

What better way to pay for this year’s Halloween then by selling last year’s costume? Did you know that Saturday October 9th is National Costume Swap Day? Visit our hip online marketplace for parents at www.tradingcradles.com to sell old costumes and buy gently used ones. Posting a costume won’t take more than 30 seconds and the site is completely free!

2. Make Your Own Costume

Do you have a little more time on your hands? Do you like to get crafty? What we loved about this Parents.com article is that it had 20 great DIY Halloween costume ideas with pictures of each costume to go along with the instructions. Take a look! http://awe.tc/cKpGn1

3. Give Creative Treats

There will be plenty of candy in circulation, so let’s give the dentists a break in November. Think different. Here’s a truly green way to celebrate Halloween: Give the gift of seeds that can grow into beautiful flowers. Just buy a few packs at your local nursery, separate the seeds, wrap them and give them out like little presents. It’s educational and affordable! You can surprise the trick or treaters by giving them spare change that’s been lying around the house. To make it even more fun hide a dollar bill or something special in a couple baggies and tell the kids before they pick one.

4. Make Your Own Candy Bags

As kids, we used pillowcases and the same orange pumpkin every year. The folks at ehow have some good ideas on how to create an awesome trick-or-treat bag for all your Halloween goodies. http://awe.tc/9hpmOR

5. Spooky Decorations

Get your kids to help with this one. Sometimes the preparation can be as much fun as Halloween night. And, if you make your house feel fun and spooky kids will enjoy themselves that much more. Here are some cool ideas from Country Living. One of our favorite ideas here is how they put costumes on the family pictures! http://awe.tc/9sCeLN

Remember to take photos and enter them into the Trading Cradles Halloween Costume Contest! It’s easy and you could win a $50 gift certificate that will help you save for the next holiday! To learn more about the contest visit http://awe.tc/9jfpKq

Create good memories with your kids, and when they grow up they can carry on the traditions that you have taught to them with their own families! Don’t forget to brush your teeth…

—

Sophia
Trading Cradles, LLC

http://TradingCradles.com
http://twitter.com/TradingCradles
http://facebook.com/TradingCradles

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Die Cut Business Cards Giveaway–CLOSED

I love business cards. Seriously, I do. I use them a lot. I use them for my blog, my fledgling candle business, and mommy cards. I started my husband using them for his ebay store too. They’re convenient things to leave with a tip on the table at the restaurant, mail with a letter, or hand to someone when you get on the subject of…say…your blog.

Uprinting.com offers some cool looking die cut business cards. The die cut business cards stand out from ordinary business cards since there are different cuts and styles to choose from.

http://www.uprinting.com/business-cards.html

Check out the die cut business cards shapes here: http://www.uprinting.com/business-cards.html

I think the round ones would be really unique and cute. That would be awesome for a person with a cookie business or catering business.

One of my readers will get a chance to try out these business cards for themselves. Here are the specifics for the prize:

250 Die Cut Business Cards for One (1) Winner

2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)

Die cutting options available: Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle

Paper Type: 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, or High Gloss; 13pt Cardstock Uncoated

Color: 4Color Front, Blank Back; 4Color Front, Black Back; 4Color Both Sides

Limited to US residents only 18 years old and above

GIVEAWAY

Uprinting.com is offering 1 of my readers their own set of die cut business cards.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Uprinting.com and let me know what shape die cut card you might choose if you win.
(Must be completed for entry. Please leave an email to contact you if you win)

Bonus Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry completed. If (+1) after the entry leave one comment (+2) leave two comments for that entry, etc.

1. Follow FFCM with Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, RSS feed and/or Email (+1 for each one. Email must be confirmed to count) You can find all these in the Right hand column.

2. Like FFCM on facebook (+1)

3. Follow FFCM on twitter: @angiewith3 (+1)

4. Tweet this message or use RT button in upper Left corner of this post (+1) can be done 2 x per day at least 2 hours apart:

” Enter to win 250 Die Cut Business Cards on FFCM from @angiewith3 and Uprinting.com http://bit.ly/uprntdcb 10/20 US “

5. Vote for FFCM on Top Mommy Blogs (+1) can be done once per day.

Giveaway ends 10/20 at 10 PM EST. Open to US residents only. 1 winner will be chosen using random.org on 10/20. Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If no response in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen

***I am receiving free business cards for hosting this giveaway***

RANDOM.ORG DREW NUMBER 26. WINNER HAS BEEN SENT A NOTIFICATION EMAIL AND HAS 48 HOURS TO RESPOND. THANKS FOR ENTERING!

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Some Holiday Money (and stress) Saving Tips

I’m a big fan of starting my holiday shopping early. I consider early like the end of September or beginning of October. And…yes, I have already started. What are the benefits of starting early? Money and stress savings.

1. No long lines.

2. Most of the items are in stock

3. You can watch through sales throughout the year.

4. Earn rewards from your shopper cards (like the toys r us rewards r us card for example) then use your rewards to shop for those last minute items closer to the holidays when money might be a bit tighter.

5. I’m a fan of mypoints. Earn mypoints throughout the year. I’ll be cashing in my mypoints here soon. With the points I earned I plan on cashing them in for a $100 Gamestop gc to buy my 2 older boys the hot video games this year. I’ll buy them now and they won’t be sold out closer to christmas.

6. I have my kids write their christmas list the beginning of October. I start getting in mind what they want their main gift to be. (As well as listening to all those “mommy i want that’s” throughout the year) Don’t go overboard though. If you do it once or twice then can’t do it another year there’s disappointment. Also, if you start shopping early it’s easy sometimes to say, well, i have the money so maybe I’ll go ahead and get this too. No, stick your plan.

7. If at all possible, don’t use a credit card unless your planning on paying it off right away. The big credit card bills I’ve heard people talk about that come after the holidays is a major stresser. Budget throughout the year. Set money aside. Start a holiday club account. Whatever you need to do. Plus you end up paying interest on your purchases.

8. I am NOT a fan of Black Friday. Sure there’s some good deals out there but most of the time the deals are limited to so many per store. Items are out of stock. People are pushy. Anxiety sets in when you realize they just sold out of juniors top item on his wishlist then you’re searching everywhere for it until 5 days before christmas. To me, not worth it.

I know, I know, some of you daredevils say it’s the thrill of the sales. I’ve heard friends and coworkers say “it’s a tradition”. Whatever your reason it’s your choice. Me, I like to relax on Black Friday thinking only about the last few stocking stuffers I need to get and when I’m going to start wrapping.

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BrytonPick Review

The idea of the BrytonPick is great. BrytonPick is made in the USA from completely recylcable materials. BrtytonPick is reusable because it uses germ resistant stainless steel cleaning strips. Each BrytonPick is reusable up to 30 days.

It’s compact and comes with a reusable pouch that’s about the same size as a credit card for storage in your purse or wallet.

I thought the product was a great idea. They recommend using it in front of a mirror the first time and avoid contact with the lips.

I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed with the product. The stainless steel cleaning strip edges were a little sharp. I have sensitive teeth and the metal on my teeth was an odd feeling. My molars are pretty close together so I had a hard time wiggling the stainless steel cleaning strips between my teeth. In my opinion, this product wouldn’t be used in place of flossing it simply be an on-the-go helper.

My positive comments would be that it does work well as a pick for the front teeth for those annoying broccoli or steak pieces between your teeth.
We all had that annoying pieces of food like popcorn between out teeth at sometime where we just weren’t able to brush or floss. This would be a great tool to keep for a date to keep your smile clean in the front teeth. No smiling at your date with corn on the cob between your two front teeth. They advertise that it can be used with braces as well.

It would be safer than using, say a paperclip for this situation.

The pack comes with 3 BrytonPicks so the pack would last 90 days (if each one lasts 30 days). At a price of $8.95.

Review Summary: I’m giving this one a lukewarm review. While it has it’s benefits like the eco-friendliness and is a great back up tool the fact that it’s hard to use between teeth that are closer together, the stainless steel edges are a bit sharp, and does not seem to be the best feeling for sensitive teeth.

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

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Guest Post from Cindy Orley of Akron Ohio Moms

I think I “met” Cindy online entering blog giveaways. I had entered a few on her blog www.AkronOhioMoms.com but found more information that I enjoyed reading while I was there. I voted for Cindy in her efforts to become America’s Crescent Cook in the Pillsbury Crescent Roll contests.

http://www.mycrescentwow.com/vote/?WT.mc_id=partner_akronohiomom

Please welcome my fellow “mommy blogger” friend, Cindy Orley from AkronOhioMoms.com (http://www.AkronOhioMoms.com) as she guest posts for me:

To you, the kitchen is a place to make dinner and when you are feeling extra domestic, it is a place where masterpieces are made! To kids, the kitchen is a mysterious playground with the magic of foods being chopped, mixed, sizzled on the stove, and HOT, Don’t Touch – in the oven. Think for a moment what you look like racing around the kitchen trying to prepare dinner with a hungry family waiting and next to no time to prepare anything reasonably healthy or tasty. Ok, nevermind, just think of how you must look to a kid! You look pretty magical as you glide from one counter to the next, to the fridge, to the stove, etc.

Let your kids in on the fun sometimes. Yes, fun. Spending time in the kitchen with your kids can be a lot of fun when you let it. Not only are the kids engaging in the science and art of cooking but when you spend quality time with your kids, you are sharing bonding moments that could easily turn into their favorite memories.

If this sounds too good to be true, maybe it is because you haven’t tried it. Start out with an easy recipe, something your kids already love like pizza. Really, there is something to do for any age child. Once you see what they can do, add more tasks as they get older and you get use to another chef in your kitchen. Have kids get out the ingredients, read off the recipe, stir, add toppings, and even chop the veggies.

Don’t be stressed or hurried or it won’t be fun for anyone. Ask your child to help with just one part of the meal or dessert – my kids’ favorite! As a fair warning, I should tell you that oftentimes your kitchen is a bit messier when kids help but here’s another secret, kids love cleaning up too. Again, depending on the age, kids can rinse the dishes, load the washer, scrub down the counters. If you make it fun, it won’t feel like a chore to them either.

Easy Recipe for Cooking with Kids

My very own recipe Perfect Potato Pockets is super easy to make. My 3 year old literally prepared the 90% of the recipe last week! Although it is easy, it is a family pleaser every time, no matter what the age. Perfect Potato Pockets taste like a fully Loaded Baked Potato wrapped up in a Pillsbury Crescent Roll. YUM! Your kids will love stirring in the ingredients, loading up the crescents, wrapping the crescents, and brushing on the mutter mixture. It’s just plain fun! AND delicious!

Cindy Orley’s Perfect Potato Pockets Recipe

Prep Time: 10-15 Min

Total Time: 25 Min

Makes: 4 servings (2 pockets each)

INGREDIENTS

1 pouch (3.3 oz) Betty Crocker® Cheddar and Sour Cream instant mashed potatoes
*

1 3/4 cups hot water
*

1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
*

3/4 cup finely chopped fully cooked ham
*

2 medium green onions, chopped
*

1/4 cup Bac~Os® bacon flavor bits or chips
*

1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (1 oz)
*

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
*

1 tablespoon butter, melted
*

1 teaspoon red pepper sauce

DIRECTIONS

1. In large bowl, mix the mashed potatoes and hot water. Add cream cheese; beat until blended. Stir in the ham, onions, bacon and Cheddar cheese.[Soft Break]2. Separate crescent dough into 8 triangles. Slightly stretch corners of short side of each triangle to make longer. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Spoon 1/3 cup potato mixture on center of each triangle. Bring corners to center over filling, overlapping ends; press gently to seal.[Soft Break]3. Mix butter and pepper sauce; brush over tops. Bake at 375°F 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

This recipe is in a cook-off!

This recipe has made me a Pillsbury Top 4 Finalist in the Pillsbury Crescent Cook Contest. I’m asking for you to vote for me so that I may become America’s Favorite Crescent Cook.

I would appreciate your vote for Cindy Orley at www.MyCrescentWow.com. (http://www.mycrescentwow.com/vote/?WT.mc_id=partner_akronohiomoms) Every time you vote for CINDY ORLEY, you are entered to win $5,000 too! You can vote daily until December 31, 2010. Please click on Cindy Orley (I’m the red-head) and it will have a check mark on it, then fill out your information below, create a password and hit ENTER. Once you hit enter, the page will say “Thank you for entering the My Crescent Wow Sweepstakes!” If you do not hit ENTER, your vote for me doesn’t count and you are not entered into the $5,000 sweepstakes.

I hope that you will try my Perfect Potato Pockets at your next Family Dinner!

Cindy Orley is a stay-at-home mom of 2 kids and blogs at www.AkronOhioMoms.com about everything family related, including product reviews and amazing nationwide giveaways. She has recently earned the title of Pillsbury Crescent Cook and is competing to become America’s Crescent Cook. http://www.mycrescentwow.com/vote/?WT.mc_id=partner_akronohiomoms Her recipes have appeared in Everyday with Rachel Ray and Taste of Home magazines.

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