Awesome Shopper

I'm reusing envelopes for coupons!

2012-01-31T17:27:00.001-06:00

Yes, really. Grandma would be so proud. The envelopes that come in the mail, I make sure to open them in a way which I can reuse them.... I like to organize my coupons by store , which I do with a lot of raggedy old recycled envelopes :)

I've tried those plastic binder sheets but most coupons just do not fit. I don't like that method. I like to get a large half file accordion file and file my envelopes in it. There is also room for loose coupons. I got the perfectly siZed bag for carrying it all , brand new from a thrift store for less than a dollar. I'm going to post a picture of my envelopes and stack of coupons (this is my exciting night) so you can see what happened when I removed the otterbox for a day .... Dropped the phone on concrete :::: look at this mess :)

Stock up on dish soap!

2012-01-23T12:02:00.002-06:00

I only buy dish detergent at certain times. I'm sure you will notice that dish soap can get pretty expensive even if you use coupons. But i recently have stocked up on dawn dish soap. Cvs puts the small bottles of dawn on sale for 99 cents usually once a month. From my p&g brand saver coupon book (available in Sunday papers ... The next one is scheduled to come out Jan 29th) I got a coupon for fifty cents off a bottle . Ta da .... 50 cent soap! I also went on to obtain 15 of these coupons, so I now have fourteen bottles of dawn dish soap with olay ( which smells great and keeps your hands soft) which will last for atleast six months. Hooray!

Target trip!

2012-01-13T20:15:00.001-06:00

I got some great deals at target this week using target web coupons, which I printed from their website, and coupons from the newspaper. Check out the photos to see :)

Also found my new favorite site :: totallytarget.com

Bath and body works deals

2012-01-13T20:12:00.001-06:00

It's the semi annual sale at bath and body works. I bought both online (because i need juniper breeze, the delicious old school semi discontinued flavor) and in store . See the photos below

Did some awesome shopping today!

2012-01-01T16:38:00.001-06:00

My new years resolution is to organize my coupon stash and keep them organized. Another goal is to save ten percent of my income... That, however is another story.

There haven't been any coupons in the paper lately. They came back with a bang today! First and foremost is my favorite coupon ever, $1.00 off any cheese. This coupon is only for the state of Florida which is awesome for me, living in Florida... And cheese is only,the best thing ever! So I always buy cheese , today I chose kraft five cheese Italian , which was 2/$5 at target . Mins the dollar coupon, awesome cheese for 1.50.
Also at target was the $1 off target brand dryer sheets which only cost 1.36, so final price .36 . Sweet! I have been stocking up on these. You can find that coupon on targets website.

In some magazine, I think real simple, was a buy one get one free coupon for target for healthy choice steamer dinners. Then stacked with the .75 off two, I got two steamer dinners for 1.75. Score! Plus target had lunchables for a dollar,which I just ADORE :)

I got some other deals at the grocery store too such as an almost expired head of romaine lettuce for .49

Hope everyone has had a happy holiday season and is looking forward to what the new year brings! Cheers!

Below is a photo of some beautiful almay eyeshadow and eyeliner which was in clearance at target for $5.24 plus a $2 off any almay product coupon in today's paper. Final cost for both full size pieces, $3.24. W00t!

High End Beauty Samples

2011-12-02T08:32:00.001-06:00

Do you love beauty brands like Nars, Smashbox and Philosophy? Then check out Birchbox, which is a monthly mail service that sends you awesome beauty samples every month.

This is part of a HUGE new online trend of companies setting up to send you a box of goodies each month. Blissmo Box offers organic foods and other products. For a small monthly fee, one of these beauties will be dropped at your door full of goodies for you! I only signed up recently so I haven't received a box yet. I can't wait to receive it and post pictures for all of you to see!!

On another not, Victoria's Secret is offering all kinds of deals, like Free Slippers, Free Fragrance Sets, and Free Scarf with purchase. Just head over to their website to check it out. Did anyone else get a "Secret Rewards Card"?? I did and mine was for $10! Congrats to anyone who got the $100 or $500 Cards!!

-:-:-:-:-:-:-: update!!

I received my first birchbox and am in love! It included a sample of "ageless" by Harvey prince, which I have never heard of but adore the fragrance, a baby tube of pore primer from benefit, a hair oil treatment from loreal salon, a cute tube of pink lip gloss, all in a cute little gift box, which I will be collecting from now on. Y'all go sign up, I promise you will love it!

Bath & Body Works Freebie

2011-12-02T08:26:00.000-06:00

Bath and Body Works is offering a FREE product of your choice with any $10 purchase. This offer was emailed to everyone on their subscription list.

A link to the printable coupon is Here.

Merry Christmas from me and BBW :)

Anthropologie Leather Freebie! Check this out.

2011-10-25T12:09:00.001-05:00

Good day faithful followers!
I have a really, really good idea to share with you today! and I am super excited about it.

Everyone loves Anthropologie and their unique clothing and home items. If you go to their website, go to the "home" section, and click the "for the decorator" section, there is a place for you to request fabric and wallpaper swatches. I did this once and received a ton of samples, some of which were genuine leather!

The swatch is about 6x4". See photo below ::

I sat there for months trying to figure out what I could do with them.... ...
Then one day I was playing around and I started to cut it into strips. Then I braided them. Then I embellished it. Ta-Da ... leather bracelet! I had just bought a fairly expensive leather cuff bracelet from the mall, and I realized this leather from Anthropologie can be used for the same thing! omg so excited. creative juices flowing, I ordered some more swatches. I will post new creations as I make them.

PS I know this bracelet is a little "jacked" but its just a prototype! If you decide to do the same thing, I'd LOVE to see your creations too!

Chew on THIS !

2011-09-02T14:40:00.002-05:00

I have pretty much been on a diet my whole life. Watching my mother constantly be on one diet or another, always making attempts at exercising or eating super healthy, that last only a week. Not to mention the extraordinary large gut which runs on my maternal side of the family, constantly illiciting "are you pregnant" comments and stares ....

Even though I have only technically "dieted" a few times, and exercise is a foreign language .... *walking 14 blocks to and from work everyday for 2 years was the most exercise Ive ever received...* I am always aware of the COST of my food and drink. The calorie COST, the fat COST, the sugar and salt COST, not to mention, that since I have been pretty much broke my whole life, the monetary COST. So my approach to food is this. There is not enough money to waste on stuffing your face with crap. There is no room to nudge on trying to eat a healthy and filling meal when its your only meal of the day...

No, Im not saying these things to try to get sympaty. On the contrary, I am sharing my knowledge, that admittedly was obtained through a series of freak situations in my life. Get ready to alter your mind. Alter your thinking of food, for just a minute. A few of the things I tell you will stick in your head forever, like glue, while some will fade away.

Either way, I am using one of my favorite books, EAT THIS NOT THAT as my reference in this article.

Here we go:

I never miss an opportunity to learn something new. Especially about my favorite subject, FOOD! Watching cooking shows, reading cookbooks and food books (I read diet books sometimes just to quench my cravings! So it looks like I want to be healthy, but really I am indulging in serious eye candy!)

Its a way to have your love affair with food .... without gaining weight and without breaking the bank, and especially when you only have a cabinet full of Ramen, and Ramen is all that is in sight for your dining future.

P.S. Check out some other things to do with Ramen Noodles :: The College Survival Guide, 50 Ramen Recipes.

My copy of EAT THIS, NOT THAT, is of course, checked out FREE from my local library. I also am signed up for their e-mail blast via EATTHIS.COM

#1 Shred your own CHEESE. Pre-shredded mixtures, even the great Sargento cheese, adds sodium and other chemicals to prevent clumping. Buy the block and shred your own.

#2 OUTBACK's appetizer, Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch & Bacon ~ Hands down the single WORST food in America. and it's only an appetizer!! With approx 2,500 calories, I will take a steak dinner any day of the week!

#3 Lo Mein noodles are covered in OIL (extra FAT) to prevent them from sticking. And also, obviously to make them taste delicious. Have regular unoiled noodles and rice, or better yet opt for some steamed broccoli.

#4 Marinara Sauce (not meat sauce and definitely NOT fatty, cheesy, white sauce) is always best for pasta and pizza.

<---------- STAY AWAY !!!!

#5 Peaches are the sugariest of all fruits.

#6 Research shows that food puffed with air (Cheeto's, Marshmallows, Cheez Balls, etc) are more filling and a better snack value.

#7 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, and Peppermint patty are the best candy bars. Airy nougat takes the place of thick chocolate or caramel.

#8 An English Muffin has less calories than 2 slices of bread (and in my opinion they taste better) so make your breakfast sandwich on an english muffin.

#9 Speaking of MUFFINS, McDonalds Egg McMuffin is the best breakfast sandwich, in terms of fat and calories. And a regular MUFFIN, like blueberry or raspberry, or worse, chocolate .... is like CAKE. Just as fatty and sugary. You are eating pure CAKE for breakfast! Put it down!

#10 Bacon always beats sausage as the breakfast meat of choice. Simply because there is less meat in a slice of bacon.

#11 Chocolate milk is better to drink pre and post workout than a chocolate protein shake. Milk contains more natural ingredients, and potassium & electrolytes slowly and effectively get your body going smoothly again. Plus the small amount of sugar in the choco milk is enough to boost your energy for the period of the workout.

#12 Always eat your breakfast within 90 minutes of waking. After then, your body begins to think it will not get a morning meal and starts eating your muscles (eew!)

#13 MY FAVORITE **** Replace ALL (or one a day) sodas with water. Just replacing 20 ounces of soda a day with water saves you 200 calories, or 12 pounds a year. Without even trying! The sodium in diet cokes is what keeps you bloated. Everyone will notice the weight you have lost....go ahead, try this for 2 weeks.

#14 .25 ounce of Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Gouda, or Mozzarella cheese will boost pH levels in your mouth to protect from cavities!

#15 Baked potato with the SKIN!!! can decrease blood pressure, because of all the POTASSIUM. Potatoes, even potato chips, are high in potassium which helps ensure proper blood and oxygen flow to your muscles. Bananas are loaded with this too, thats why when you get a cramp, Grandma tells you to eat a banana.

#16 Mixing liquor with DIET SODA can intensify the alcoholic effect (your blood alcohol level) by 50% !!! This is the best tip ever for a broke girl trying to get her buzz on. Bonus points if the drinks are two-for-one during happy hour!

#17 Sunflower seeds are LOADED with Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. So are Swiss Chard, Total Cereal, and Propel Fitness water. #1 antioxidant in the American Diet? COFFEE ! Just dont load it with sugar and fatty milks.

******* ADDITION ******* 9/20/2011*****
I was thinking today about something that is of most importance when deciding which foods to spend your hard earned money on.
Always make sure that you read the label! Just because something is "Light" or "Lite" with "65% less fat" think that 65% of 3 grams of fat is only, like, 2 grams. so are you willing to give up flavor just to save 2 grams of fat? Always make sure that you read the nutrition label and the ingredients label. It is usually best to choose the least processed , least chemical ingredient-laden things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So is it just me, or do you feel a little Schooled? I hope that you read these tips, bookmark them, print them out, whatever. Just absorb the knowledge, and move forward. Without all that UNNECESSARY fat, calories and cash.

That Tricky Restaurant Business!

2011-04-22T17:57:00.000-05:00

Tricks of the Restaurant Trade: 7 Ways Menus Make You Spend

Marlys Harris
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

repost via <a href="http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-112574-9381-3-7-ways-restaurant-menus-make-you-spend?ywaad=ad0035&nc" target="new">Yahoo!</a>

Restaurant dishes generally divide up four groups, says Ez. First come stars -- popular items for which diners are willing to pay much more than the dishes cost to make. Example: penne with vodka sauce. Plowhorses, are popular but less profitable items, like steak. Puzzlers are high-profit items that are tough to sell, say, sweetbreads. Finally, there are dogs that not many people like and aren't profitable. Why they are on anybody's menu, I'm not sure. Clever menu engineering exists to steer you to stars and puzzlers, to spend as much as possible and to enjoy doing it. After all, restaurateurs want repeat business.
There's nothing wrong with any of that. Nevertheless, before you order your next Lasagna Classico at Olive Garden, Crunchy Rabbit at Jean Georges in Manhattan or Egg McMuffin at You-Know-Where, you might want to be aware of these seven common menu ploys.

1. First in show. Many restaurants group their offerings under the obvious headings: pasta, beef, seafood, entrees, appetizers and so on. Testing has shown that if you decide on chicken, you are more likely to order the first item on the chicken list. That's where a savvy restaurant will place its most profitable chicken dish. A really sharp chef might put a puzzler like sweetbreads first in a grouping. "They only cost about $3, so the margin is huge," says Ez. Of course, you've got to hope that enough people like sweetbreads.

2. Menu Siberia. Unprofitable dishes, like a seafood combo plate that require expensive ingredients, and lots of work, are usually banished to a corner that's less noticeable or in a multi-page menu stashed on page five.

3. Visual aids. If you draw a line around it, people will order. That's why many menus box off something they want to promote. Chicken wings are a prime example. They're "garbage," says my son of one of my favorite noshes. "They cost pennies so they're huge profit items." Photos also sell dishes. An album of what look like ten-inch-high pies set on each table at Bakers Square make it hard to resist ordering a slice. Fancy-schmancy restaurants, however, like this one in Westport, Conn., consider photos déclassé; from them the most you'll get is a sketch or two.

4. Package deals. So you stop by McDonald's for a mid-afternoon burger. When you get to the counter, however, what's really in your face are photos of Extra Value Meals. You figure, says Ez, "Hey, I could eat two patties, I could use some fries, and now I'll get a soft drink too." The single burger you intended to buy is off in menu Siberia, on the board far to the right, but you've already spent more than you intended. A small percentage of the chain's 47 million customers dropping a few extra bucks each day translates to millions in additional revenue. Another example: Olive Garden's Bottomless Pasta Bowl ($8.95). "It's very unlikely you're going to eat more than two bowls," says Ez. And, as one whiny diner noted, you're like to scarf so many free breadsticks first that you won't have room for all those noodles.

5. Dollar-sign avoidance. Focus groups who've been asked to opine on menus display an acute discomfort with dollar signs and decimals. Keeping money as abstract as possible makes spending less threatening. Many high-tone foodie establishments that charge an arm and a leg for, say, a bowl of lentils and groats now omit such crass symbols from their menus -- like Spoonriver, a place I like in Minneapolis. I almost don't notice that I've paid $12.50 for a rather small chicken quesadilla. Once upon a time, menus used leader dots (... .) to connect the entree with the price. You won't find them much anymore either.

6. The small plate-large plate conundrum. A restaurant may offer two chicken Caesar salads, one for $9 and one for $12. You may think that you're getting a break ordering the small one, but, says Ez, that's really the size they want to sell. And if a diner decides, hmmm, I may as well get the larger one because I'll never get rich saving three bucks, the restaurant will throw on some extra lettuce, making the price differential almost pure profit.

7. Ingredient embroidery. Foodie-centric restaurants practically list the recipe for each dish making each ingredient sound ultra-special. (An item is more likely to sell if it dwells on the fact that, say, the cheese came from cows at the Brunschwagergrunt Farm in western Wisconsin or that the organic mushrooms were raised by a former duchess with an advanced degree in microbiology.) Even at a humble eatery, however, a dish labeled Mom's Special Mac and Cheese or "The BeeBop Bar's Mac and Four Cheese casserole" sells better than just plain old mac and cheese. "It may not be any more special than what you get somewhere else, but you'll start to think you can only get it there," says Ez. And that will keep you coming back again and again.
You won't find these gambits at every eatery. Not all restaurant owners plan their menus as carefully as they should. If they did, contends my kid, maybe they would stop placing entrées in the middle of the right hand page, prime menu real estate, because "most people who go to a restaurant are going to order an entrée anyway." he says. "That's where I'd put desserts."

Saving on Dining Out

2011-04-06T18:34:00.001-05:00

We know dining out gets expensive, so here are a few tips to keep costs down:

*If you’re going out for a special meal at a fancy restaurant, consider having lunch instead of dinner. Oftentimes, the same dishes are much cheaper, and because restaurants are less busy, you might get better service to boot.

*The time just after work is called happy hour for a reason: good deals always make people happy. Eat early and take advantage of two-for-one deals on appetizers, cheap entrees, or lower-priced drinks.

*If you’re fond of a particular place, sign up for their email newsletter or check their Twitter account. Sometimes restaurants post special deals for their most loyal customers.

*Gigantic portion sizes aren’t healthy, so splitting meals makes sense for your waistline and your wallet. If restaurants charge a fee to split, one person can order an appetizer or salad and simply nibble off their partner’s plate.

Re-Locating!

2011-04-02T21:17:00.001-05:00

I AM COMBINING ALL MY BLOGS INTO ONE, READY TO READ HANDY DANDY BLOG. CLICK THE BUTTON TO GO TO SEASHORE CREATIONS TO CONTINUE READING WHERE THESE BLOGS LEAVE OFF.

<3, Amber

Link Yourself Up Here!

2011-04-02T14:40:00.005-05:00

I know you have had a great idea. Made a great craft, a great fashion outfit, a great recipe, anything. Please add your link to the blog post about your GREAT FRUGAL IDEA. This linky party will be accepting blogs for over a year. Get ready for THE ULTIMATE FRUGAL IDEA LIST !!!

Grab yourself a button to link-up.

Oh, and the Dollar Tree has SOLAR LIGHTS !!!!!

CLICK HERE
Im disturbingly excited :)

Read this craft tutorial about making solar light lantern cute thingamabobs ::
Click here to go read it

Free Samples

2011-03-31T15:10:00.001-05:00

Click here for Zantac 150 :: Heartburn Medicine. Free Sample.

Free Sample of PurexLaundry Detergent.

ebay Treasures !

2011-03-26T13:00:00.000-05:00

Today, in my mailbox, I received a package I recently won on ebay. It's a full size unopened bottle of Proactiv Toner, and a full size unopened bottle of a very fancy Olay Regenerist Cream.

I want to try all this new Olay stuff, but it is pretty pricey. Ebay is a real good place to buy beauty products at a cheap price, so that you can try them before you pay full retail. I already know that I love the Proactiv toner, and it's hard to find a bottle on ebay for even as much as the COMBO of these two items.
I feel like I hit the jackpot !!

And for practically free, I figured I'd give this Olay stuff a try.

Total cost INCLUDING shipping :: $13.00 :)

Olay DNA Superstructure UV Cream with SPF 25 - Retail - $19.99

Proactiv Toner - Retail - $19.95

It's a little cloudy here at the beach today. How is everyone else's Saturday going?

Some last minute Friday Deals

2011-03-25T16:16:00.001-05:00

Alloy Discounts :: for us hard to fit gals (sizes up to 20, inseams up to 37")

& philosophy. (my fave)

has 15 items under $15!!!

Click Here

Cool Off

2011-03-25T14:34:00.001-05:00

Since it's starting to get warm out, I wanted to share one of my favorite articles. Ways to Stay Cool For Less.

Last Summer, no kidding, I was putting a bucket of ice cubes in front of a fan to cool a room :)
not a bad idea huh?

Free Sample :: Coffee Sticks

2011-03-23T17:07:00.002-05:00

This stuff is great! I have received this sample before and love it. They also include a coupon.

Click here to get your free sample.

Freebie Alert :: Dove for Men

2011-03-21T12:59:00.001-05:00

Click the image above to be taken on a magical trail to a FREE bottle of Dove in your mailbox. These usually come, and very quickly.

On a somewhat personal note, I am having a horrible Monday. It's really nothing, especially compared to some Facebook posts I've seen today of friends having surgery and sick babies and stuff, but I am just having a BLUE MONDAY. Everyone let's go listen to :: Blue Monday!
Hope everyone has an atleast OK rest of the day.

Day One :: Jobless

2011-03-09T17:36:00.000-06:00

So for multiple reasons, I quit my job yesterday. I am going to try to find something closer to my house. I think Starbucks sounds like a fun place to work right now. I have the credentials for many nice "career" jobs but am looking for something small to help pay the bills. Like, I just got my car fixed, so that will add gasoline and insurance to the list of bills..... anywhooo....
enough about my personal troubles. Let's get into a positive frame of mind!

I changed the layout on most of my blogs. Thanks to cutestblogontheblock.com for providing the beautiful artwork.

I have been crafting today , with a TON of new treasures from thrift stores. Went on a day long thrift store trip! It was awesome. One of the best days I've had in a LONG time.
Pictures coming soon. I also have a lot of new eBay inventory which I need to photograph and list. Whew, life in itself is a FULL TIME JOB. LOL.

Alright, Im off to cook (check this out .....) hamburger helper mix with italian link sausage.

crazy? probably. but awesome? YES!!! I'll let you know how it turns out !

P.s. ::: please leave me comments! i love comments =)

Rugs 4 Cheap

2011-02-27T15:30:00.001-06:00

Ballard Designs, which is apparently something similar to Pottery Barn, has Rugs on sale for $10. Be sure to check it out real quick before they run out or the sale ends.

O RLY!

2011-02-25T17:24:00.002-06:00

WWW.DOLLARSTORECRAFTS.CCOM

whaaa???

My new favorite !

Saving on Shaving

2011-02-24T20:15:00.000-06:00

There was a link to an article on my homepage today. I set Yahoo! as my homepage (the page that automatically opens when I open my browser) I usually try to atleast read the headlines in the news briefing. Today was a link I thought worth sharing :: http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/546/the-best-razors/.
Also, I had to (of course) throw my 2 cents in!

The best and cheapest shave I get is with the highest blade count in generic form. If iI have a coupon, I will opt for the pricier Venus or other NON disposable razor. The refills are ridiculously expensive. However, with coupons and sales, and if it is your preference, then go the refillable route. The best razor I've ever used is the Venus 4 and 5 blade. Mostly, I buy a 4-blade disposable multi pack - most recently, at the local Dollar Store (not Dollar Tree, where everything is $1). It was a 4 pack of 4-blade disposable womens razors. I think it was a knockoff of ... actually, Im not sure. And I didnt even look at the price. Shame on me. This artice is useless!

Anyway, always keep your razor DRY, as this will delay rusting, almost doubling your razor's lifespan. Oh, and buy the highest blade count in generic and usually disposable variety.

Creative Texting to Save

2011-02-23T20:00:00.002-06:00

Here is a lovely article about how to cut your cell-phone bill through "creative texting" http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/so-money/save-200-a-year-with-smarter-texting/1442/

Free Sample of Cheez It's

2011-02-21T10:06:00.000-06:00

Free sample: Get a free sample of Cheez-It crackers when you help them pick their newest flavor.

How to get it: "Like" Cheez-It on Facebook and then select the "Choose the Cheese Tab". Then, select the cheese you would like to see as a Cheez-It cracker (you'll have to allow their app). Once you vote, click on the "Get a Sample" button on the lower left-side of the screen and fill out a short form to request your sample.

http://www.facebook.com/cheezit?sk=app_137697646284792