SPEND WISELY TEXAS

Rooms To Go Outlet - Hunt for Bargains

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:30:00 +0000

Rooms To Go Outlet

I finally visited the Rooms To Go Outlet on Hwy 249 and FM 1960. It's a bit difficult to get to if you take the FM 1960 exit going South as you'll have to fight traffic to get over into the far lane so make sure to take the exit before.

The show room is smaller than the one you'll find at the Star Furniture Outlet and much smaller than the Dump's show room. However, although the selection is not as varied, the prices are much less. If you arrive with plenty of time to pick through all the items on the floor, there's a good chance you'll find something you like at a price you'll love. It did not seem to me that much of it was at the same level of quality that you would find at the other outlets but if you don't want to spend a lot of money Rooms To Go Outlet is worth a visit. I did not see many rugs at the time of my visit so The Dump and Star Furniture are better bets if a rug's what you need.

There were quite a few children at this furniture store. I attributed their presence to the store's open layout. You can see most of the store from any spot. There aren't any walls or large pieces to provide hiding.

For more budget shopping, read my posts on The Dump and Star Furniture Outlets. For a fun and unique bargain furniture shopping experience, read about the Antique Gallery in Spring, TX.

Best Dry Shaver for Men - Phillips Norelco SensoTouch

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:22:00 +0000

My husband searched for years for the perfect shaver. He's tried just about every disposable shaver out there but none of them gave him the close shave he wanted without some nicks and cuts by the end. In addition, he doesn't like to shave even though he needs to do it at least once a day. He hates all the lather and mess that comes with shaving. After months of research he decided to buy a Philips Norelco 7310XL Men's Shaving System. When he bought it in 2010, it was $82. It's now $40 on Amazon. The shaver doesn't need water or lather to deliver a close shave. My husband just keeps it charged and is able to shave quickly whenevr he likes with little fuss. Initially, I was not happy about the price of this shaver but a year later I've finally come around. He hasn't bought any razors or lather all year and hasn't had any cuts either. I figure we have come out ahead savings wise already as some of the Gilette razors he used to buy were pretty pricey in my opinion.

Take a look at the Philips Norelco 7310XL Men's Shaving System on Amazon and its reviews. It gets four stars. It looks like Phillips Norelco kept developing this product as it also now has the 1150x/40 SensoTouch 2d Electric Shaver and 1160XCC SensoTouch 2d Electric Shaver with Jet Clean System. Both currently are rated 4 stars or more by Amazon reviewers.

Heirloom Seeds for Drought Tolerant Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Click above to review and buy drought resistant heritage seeds

I've been frustrated all summer with the lack of rain and intense heat. Most of the vegetables that I planted died and the ones that didn't wither up, produced little to no vegetables. I nearly gave up but decided to give it one more shot. The websites below give some good advice on which varieties of vegetables to grow if you live in an area with little rain (which describes most of Texas right now). There's a wide variety, from black-eyed peas to mustard greens to spinach to watermelon.

http://www.veggiegardener.com/try-using-these-drought-tolerant-vegetables/

http://www.harvestwizard.com/2009/07/drought_tolerant_vegetables.html

I also decided to switch over to using heirloom seeds to see if I could master growing vegetables and then reserve any seeds produced to grow in following years. Amazon has a good selection of drought tolerant, heirloom seeds. All the ones I selected have low shipping rates (except for the snap beans). My favorite seller is Hirt's Gardens. I have included New Zealand spinach even though it's not a heritage seed just because the research I completed on this plant said it was a hardy, leafy green, vegetable that grows well in the summer. Those are hard to find in Texas. I'm hoping these plants thrive through the Fall, Winter and Spring despite the lack of rain.

The tomato seeds below are not heritage but do grow well in dry areas:

Early Girl Tomato Seeds

If you're looking for extremely cheap pots to grow your seedlings, check out this link - GROW BAGS

Best Deer Repellent - Even Protects Roses

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I've really struggled with growing anything in my garden because the deer are such voracious eaters. Any plants that don't have an extremely strong and usually unpleasant smell, the deer will eat completely even if they are labelled deer resistant. I used lots of different deer repellents over the years and never had much luck. Eventually, I planted a lot of pretty but smelly plants (Society garlic, Rosemary) but gave up on my plants like the rosebush I planted a few years ago in the yard as the deer wouldn't let more than a few leaves sprout before chowing down. Earlier this year, after seeing so many gorgeous rose bushes in Houston I decided to try and protect my rose bush from the deer again. Deer Out got great reviews on Amazon. After buying it, I put a portion in a spray bottle with water (it comes concentrated) and sprayed my rose bush. The deer have ignored it ever since. Take a look at how it looks now. I'm hoping next year. it looks even better. I'm also thinking about growing a few more rose bushes around the yard.

Roses - Best Deer Repellent

Best Deer Repellent - Deer Out

Best solar cell phone charger

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:41:00 +0000

I didn't have a generator for the last few power outages I've gone through. Although I had plenty of flashlights and batteries, I didn't have an efficient way to charge my phone. Because there's usually plenty of sun in Texas, a solar cell charger seemed the best way to go. I read reviews on all sorts of solar chargers. Those that charged rechargeable batteries, cell phones specifically or even more. The best reviews were for the Suntactics Compact Solar Charger. This charger is comprised solely of high grade solar cells. Other chargers use a battery to store the energy which then charges your cell phone. However, this battery eventually burns out from the sun's heat. Also many of the cheaper chargers didn't have the same grade of solar cells found in Suntactics version. The Suntactics version is capable of charging cell phones, iPods, Kindles and even iPads. I've used it to charge all of those things except for the Kindle and am happy with the outcome. Suntactics is pricey at $139.95 but if there's an outage I won't worry about charging most of my electronic devices. Check on the amazing reviews by clicking on the Amazon icon above.

Best Solar Charger

Grow a Lettuce Bowl for Fresh Salads

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:21:00 +0000

I came across a lettuce bowl at a local garden store the other day. It was a plastic bowl full of young heat tolerant lettuce (I haven't had any luck growing lettuce in Texas during the summer). The instuctions stated that I just needed to keep the bowl watered and to cut the leaves back to 2 inches of growth each time I harvested them. I paid about 10 dollars for the bowl but then realized after I did a bit of research at home that I could have created a few bowls at home for much less. All that's needed is a lage plastic bowl, potting soil and the seeds to a heat tolerant variety of lettuce. Like the ones in the Amazon link. A photo of the bowl I bought is below but I'll definitely be creating my own in the future.

Make/Grow a lettuce bowl

Cheap Pots for Plants - Grow Bags

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:07:00 +0000

I was having trouble keeping the deer, rabbits and racoons out of my vegetable garden. I surrounded it with lots of deer netting but became frustrated with the amount of time it took me to remove the netting and then put it back each time I ventured into my garden. Finally, I decided to grow my garden in pots on the patio. However, the pots at all the shops, including discount stores were too expensive far the amount of plants I wanted to grow.

Eventually, I came across Grow Bags on Amazon. 10 five gallon bags (one is big enough to grow a huge tomato plant) cost $3.77. They are incredibly sturdy and all my plants are thriving. The reviews for these bags state that they can be reused and I'm hoping that's true. I am growing a grape vine, raspberries, watermelon, zucchini, squash and cucumber. I'll post some pictures once they start bearing fruit and vegetables. The downside about the bags is that the cost of shipping brings the total amount paid to about $10 for 10 bags. Still, the price is still far cheaper than buying 10 pots. Grow Bags come in all sizes, from one gallon to 10 gallon bags.

Growing Vegetables & Fruits in Grow Bags

Container Garden with Grow Bags

Cheap Pots - Grow Bags

Jewelry Financial Services has moved to River Oaks

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 06:19:00 +0000

Jewelry Financial Services can now be found at River Oaks Tower, 3730 Kirby Drive, Ste 1200, Houston, TX 77098. The company's new phone number is 832-377-0537.

Guest Post on OneTravel.com - Texas Gulf Coast

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:57:00 +0000

I was fortunate to write an article for OneTravel.com, a site that promotes great travel deals and has a blog featuring travel writers from all over the world. Take a look at my article on the Texas Gulf Coast. Sadly, I hear oil has started to wash up on our beaches as well.

Retreat Hill Winery - Navasota, TX

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:15:00 +0000

Recently, after having a terrific lunch at Cafe Eccell, in College Station my family and I came across Retreat Hill Winery off of Highway 105 in Navasota. Retreat Hill is a new winery and its vines are not yet mature. However, the people who work there are doing some terrific things with the grapes they buy from elsewhere in the US.

We tried a few different wines but settled on an unique tasting blush wine and a delicious Riesling. Because we bought wines we were not charged for the tasting but believe it's about $5 per person. Both wines are perfect for the extreme Texas heat and they both disappeared within two days. The hostess at the winery was friendly and knowledgeable about the wines poured. There were an abundance of snacks to eat while tasting (always an important factor for me) and the air conditioning was cranked up. We were in a rush to get home to put my son down for a nap and so my husband could catch a game (I couldn't tell you which sport) but once inside the cool building, I really didn't want to leave. I've been thinking about wines ever since and think we'll make a return trip soon.

For more information, visit http://www.retreathill .com. For more information on Texas wines check out the book below.

Swede Farm - Waller, TX

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:16:00 +0000

I've been thinking about buying a goat lately. All the uncertainty in the world and the doomsayers out there have created within me an urge to be more self sufficient. I'm growing a garden, and am thinking about what I would do if food, water and electricity weren't readily available. There are enough cows, goats, and sheep to be found in the fields outside of Houston that I didn't feel like buying one for fresh milk to be such a crazy plan. However, since I drink soy milk and haven't had cow or goat milk in over a decade, I thought I should taste some goat milk before purchasing an entire goat.

I headed over to Swede Farm in Field Store Community off of FM 1448. Swede Farm sells raw and pasteurized goat milk, yogurt, keffir, and goat cheese. I bought yogurt from Swede Farm when shopping at the Rice University Farmer's Market and was pleased with my purchase. It was fun to visit the farm. There are plenty of goats. There are also a few turkeys and chickens running about, along with some friendly dogs. I picked up a half gallon of goats milk and returned home excited to taste it.

I wasn't disappointed. It was extremely fresh and extremely delicious. However, buying goats milk is not a frugal purchase. We paid $12 for a gallon of milk. Although, with dairy and meat, I believe you get what you pay for these days. Swede Farm provides wholesome, high quality milk produced by healthy goats that feed on grass and roam freely. Most milk found in the grocery store is not produced by goats who are treated so kindly.

For more information about Swede Farm visit http://www.swedefarm http://www.swedefarm.com/index.html. Oh, and I am definitely buying a goat.

For more information on how to survive in a crisis check out the book below.

The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook (Worst Case Scenario)

Splash in the Fountains at Discovery Green

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:39:00 +0000

Fountain at Discovery Green

Summer has arrived and it is hot around here. We haven't reached the point where it feels as if you're actually being baked within your own skin but I'm sure those days will be here soon. One way you and your children can cheaply fight off the heat is to spend a few hours at the Discovery Green fountains.

Children playing in Discovery Green fountains

A field of fountains of various heights and speeds and a tall circular fountain that rains down a cool spray can be found in Discovery Green right next to the George Bush Convention Center. The fountains are supposed to be attractions for children but on hot days the adults with them can't resist running in to cool down as well. There are various restaurants at the Green but none of them are budget friendly, although the food is good. However, there is a large amount of green space to picnic upon. There is also a playground with lots of structures to climb on and scramble around.

Admission to the Green is free. You will most likely pay for parking on the street or at one of the lots in the area. Count on paying at least $3 to $5 for parking during your visit.

See http://www.discoverygreen.com/ for more information. Click here for an earlier post about Discovery Green.

Houston Hurricane Season is Approaching (Along with More Financial Mess) - Be Prepared

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Hurricane season is coming up fast, possibly along with other disasters, acts of God and man. Take a look here at my articles on emergency planning for your family. They discuss emergency evacuations, generators, food planning and emergency cash. When disasters strike make sure you and your family are prepared. Traditional sources of support and aid such as the police, grocery stores, and banks may not be available to you. I now believe some of my earlier posts don't go far enough. Make sure you're prepared to depend on yourself and your community for a very long stretch of time. This includes planting and tending to a garden and raising animals such as chicken, quail, goats or rabbits so that you know how to and can feed your family if you must.

Berry Picking in King's Orchard, Plantersville

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:37:00 +0000

Once late spring, early summer rolls around, one of my favorite things to do with my son is to go berry picking at King's Orchard which is located in Plantersville, Texas. In addition to strawberries, blackberries and blueberries, this massive orchard sells a variety of vegetables, flowers and fruits such as peaches and plums. there is no admission to enter but you will most likely have to buy a box to pick the fruit (the orchard's scales are callibrated for the weight of the box). Fruit prices are about the same as those in the stores this year but taste much, much better. Wagons are available for you to load your produce or your little ones (I put both in mine).

A few tips. Avoid mid-day. There is no shade in the fields and it is hot, hot, hot this time of year. Bring lots of water and a few snacks if you're planning to stay more than an hour. There are shaded picnic tables so you can bring something more substantial to eat after picking. The orchard also sells drinks and snacks such as potato chips but it'll be cheaper to bring your own. If you want to buy local goods, the orchard also sells Texas honey, jams, pickled foods, and other canned goods. There's plenty of parking at the orchard so don't worry about whether you need to hunt for a space.

For an earlier review of the orchard click here. To visit the orchard's website click here.

Photographs of Mustang Island State Park, TX

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Mustang Island State Park, located on the shores of Mustang Island, is an excellent place to go if you love the beach. At the Park, you can camp, swim, hike, watch a huge variety of birds and just relax. Admission is just $4 per person, per day, children under 12 are free. Camp fees range from $8 to $16 per night. During our visit, my family swam, collected shells, watched birds (the pelicans and huge herons were beautiful), and tried to identify some of the interesting marine life that had washed ashore. A jellyfish the size of my husband's head was definitely the most unique animal we saw. For more information go to the Park's website at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/mustang_island/.

Mustang Island State Park - Things to do in Corpus Christi

Mustang Island State Park

Mustang Island State Park - Things to do in TX

Mustang Island State Park - Things to do in Port Aransas

Mustang Island State Park - Birding

Mustang Island State Park - Texas Beaches

Cypress Station Grill in Cypress, TX

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:52:00 +0000

My son is a fan of IHOP pancakes, especially the huge chocolate kids pancake. My husband and I take him every few months for a special treat. Recently, the waiting list to get in was just far too long so we decided to go to the Cypress Station Grill instead. We had driven by the restaurant a few times and were curious about the food and service.

Initially we were disapointed as the restaurant doesn't serve breakfast. However, we were quickly won over by the friendly staff and the generous menu. My husband and I are both staying away from fried foods so even though the fried catfish and the different po-boys were calling me, I ordered the Apple Pecan Salad. My husband requested the Shrimp Primavera and the Grilled Cheese sandwich from the Kids menu for my son. He was so sad about not getting his chocolate pancake that we ordered him fries as well.

Everything was excellent. My salad was filled with crisp apples, delicious roasted pecans and fresh blue cheese. The pasta had huge chunks of fresh vegetables and large shrimp in a tomato sauce that tasted homemade. My son's grilled cheese and fries may not have been especially healthy but it was certainly delicious. My husband and I ate part of his sandwich and a generous amount of his fries as the portion given to him was enormous. We paid a total of $20 for all three meals (not including tip).

A few things about the restaurant stood out. It's extremely large, airy, and clean. Also many of the sides, including the french fries, are homemade. Lastly, they feature many Texas wines on their menu which I appreciated as I've been supporting Texas wines since we moved to the state.

For more information, visit the Cypress Grill website.

Cinnamon Shore, Mustang Island, TX

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:06:00 +0000

Cinnamon Shore, Port Aransas, Mustang Island - Place to Stay, Rentals

Recently, I visited Mustang Island and was fortunate to stay in Port Aransas as a guest of Cinnamon Shore. The traditional seaside village will be filled with custom homes, parks, lakes, pools, restaurants and shops, all within walking distance of each other and the community's private beach. In fact, many homes have views of the nearby Gulf. Although still a work in progress, many of the village's amenities are in place. During our visit, we could see the extensive work being performed on the community's town centre which should be completed by end of year.

Cinnamon Shores, Port Aransas, Mustang Island - Bridge to Private Beach

There is much to do at Cinnamon Shore. A beautiful wooden bridge allows you easy access to the village's private beach. Chairs and umbrellas are conveniently located in a hut at the base of the bridge, in addition to being moved to the beach by the friendly and helpful community staff. There is a large eternity style pool. Children's inflatable toys are freely found in the pool area. You'll find a very clean and very new fitness room in the pool area as well. At Cinnamon Shore, you can rent bikes for every member of your family. Fishing poles are also available so that you can take advantage of the fully stocked lakes. During the summer nights, movies are shown on a large projector screen in one of the village parks.

Cinnamon Shore Private Beach, Port Aransas, Mustang Island - Rental

Cinnamon Shore is also conveniently located only five minutes from wildly beautiful Mustang Island State Park and downtown Port Aransas. There are lots of restaurants to visit and a grocery store isn't too far if you prefer to make your own meals. Port Aransas also has a thriving artist community and the works of local artists can be found in many of the town's restaurants and coffee shops. Mustang Island is known for the many varieties of birds in the area. While on the island's beaches, we repeatedly saw pelicans flying in formation overhead along with many other species of birds.

Cinnamon Shore Stocked Lake, Port Aransas, Mustang Island - Rental

The homes and atmosphere of Cinnamon Shores are beautiful and relaxing but by far the best amenity on the island was the incredibly friendly staff. After we told staff our son's age, a tricycle and fishing poles were brought to our home and the staff made it clear that they were there to make our stay as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Cinnamon Shore Eternity Pool, Port Aransas, Mustang Island - Rental

Rentals start at around $450 per night. However, for that price you will receive at least a three bedroom, three bath house (our third bedroom had a very comfortable pull out couch). The home we stayed in also had two porches and two large terraces, one with a view of the Gulf. We ate dinner on the backyard terrace but did not take advantage of the BBQ the staff had provided for us. Factoring in the large combined living and dining area and the two televisions, the home could have comfortably accommodated at least six people, even six people who like a little privacy. Homes are also for sale in the village. For more information visit the Cinnamon Shores website.

Cinnamon Shore, Port Aransas - Gulf view

Cinnamon Shore - Beach

Cinnamon Shore, Bridge to Beach

Cinnamon Shore - Places to stay on Mustang Island

Cinnamon Shore, Seaside Village - Pool Entrance

Cinnamon Shore - Pool House

Disclosure: I stayed at Cinnamon Shore as a guest of the the seaside village.

Don Julio's Mexican Restaurant in Cypress Village Station

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:49:00 +0000

On Friday, after a busy day, my husband and I decided to wind down over a few margaritas and some Mexican food. We ran through our usual haunts, Guadalajara, Chuy's, and Rancho Grande to name a few, but they were either too far away or just didn't appeal to us for one reason or another. Finally, we remembered that a new Mexican restaurant had opened in Cypress Village Station and decided to try it.

Upon entering, we were seated quickly. Our server was polite and attentive. Within minutes our orders were taken and we were sipping two freshly made frozen margaritas. We had arrived in time for Happy Hour and were able to take advantage of the $3.50 house margaritas which were sneakily strong (strangely they're advertised as being $2.50 on the sandwich board in front of the restaurant).

My husband and I were pleasantly surprised by how good the food tasted, the generous portions and the low prices. I had a dish that I have tried in many Mexican restaurants around Houston: snapper smothered in crab, shrimp and scallops. I've never paid less than $19 for this dish but at Don Julio's it was just under $15 and was delicious. It tasted better than any of the similar dishes I've eaten. The prices for the other entrees were also reasonable. Lastly, I believe the Guadalahara restaurants serve the thinnest and tastiest tortilla chips in the Houston area but the chips and salsa at Don Julio's were fairly good as well.

The only disappointing aspect of this restaurant for us was the atmosphere. We tend to like Mexican restaurants that play Mexican music and are decorated with a Mexican theme. Don Julio's is very open and airy but lacked the feel of other Mexican restaurants around Houston.

Don Julio's has restaurants in Seabrook and Dickinson as well as Cypress. For more information visit
http://www.donjulios.com/.

DiIorio Farms & Roadside Market - Hempstead, TX

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:10:00 +0000

DiIorio Farms and Roadside Market - Hempstead, TX

This month, I missed the farmer's markets I usually visit and so went in search of a market that was open on the last Sunday of the month. Fortunately, I came across a few articles recommending DiIorio Farms & Roadside Market. The market is not technically a farmers market. Many of the foods sold are from DiIorio Farms but they also sell food that has been grown outside of Texas.

On the day I visited, there were certainly foods from the DiIorio farms, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, but there was also a lot of food that had been grown in California, Florida and Mexico. Even though I was disappointed at the lack of local produce, I appreciated that there was a strong emphasis on Texas produced goods in the store. There was a huge variety of preserves, jams, chutneys, salad dressings and pickled foods. All either had a DiIorio Farms label or had been made by another Texas business. There was also a lot of local honey for sale and an impressive display of flowers and plants as well. I questioned the lady at the checkout counter about the source of most of the food in the store. She assured me that, most of the food in the market would be from DiIorio Farms starting in May and would remain that way through the summer.

Although it was fun to shop in the market, prices were reasonable and they certainly had an amazing and appealing variety of fruits and vegetables, I probably won't return until the summer. I'm looking forward to tasting the locally grown food. For more information visit the DiIorio Farms website.

Houston Zoo - Still the Best Place to Take Your Kids

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:32:00 +0000

Hermann Park Miniature Train

I visited the Houston Zoo recently. I could actually say that just about any day as we visit the zoo at least twice every month. As we walked around, I realized how much money my family had saved by purchasing a membership. In addition, the ability to just drop into the zoo for an hour here and there is a wonderful resource. For us, the zoo is just an extension of Hermann Park. We can wander through whenever we're in the area. Now, if there was only a membership to the Park's miniature train. I will emphasize though, if you want your trips to the zoo to be truly frugal experiences, take your own food. The offerings in the zoo are a little pricey and most are definitely not nutritious. Lately, I've been packing peanut butter crackers, apples, cheese and water. My son just runs and eats on the go and it feels great leaving without spending a dime.

For more posts about the Houston Zoo go to Pictures of the Houston Zoo and Houston Zoo Membership - For the Thrifty Family.

Below are some pictures from Herman Park. The weather is finally getting better. Enjoy it before the burning hot days of summer arrive again.

Visit CouponChief.com to Save and Make Money

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:29:00 +0000

CouponChief.com recently invited me to take a look at their wide selection of coupons. I've been frustrated lately with online sites offering promo and coupon codes. Many sites have a very limited selection and the coupons and promos are either expired or refused by the online merchant. I was excited to find a site that had thousands of seemingly valid coupons for stores that I buy from frequently such as Target coupons and Lowe's coupons.

CouponChief.com is extremely user friendly. Stores are listed alphabetically. You can also search for coupons by popular items requested. The front page lists the most popular coupons requested and the newest coupon additions.

A feature of the site that really caught my attention is "Pays-2-Share". Any member of the Pays-2-Share program can upload coupons to the site. Anytime a coupon is used, CouponChief.com will pay you 2% of the sales proceeds. If like me, you're always on the look out for coupons and deals, this is a great way to earn money simply by sharing them with others. For more information about the program or just to get your hands on some useful, money saving coupons visit http://www.couponchief.com.

The language and opinions in this compensated review are completely mine.

Stay at the Staybridge Suites Dallas Addison Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:11:00 +0000

My family took a quick trip to Dallas recently to visit a friend. We didn't want to spend a lot of money but also didn't want to sacrifice comfort or space. Fortunately we found the Staybridge Suites in Addison. The weekend rate was $69 per night (even cheaper if you booked through Travelocity or Hotels.com). For that great rate we got a studio suite. It was a large room with a kitchenette (full size fridge, sink and stove top), sitting area and bedroom area. Since our son was born, we prefer to stay in suites. The separate sitting and bedroom areas allow us to put him down to sleep and still watch tv or talk without disturbing him.

The room was incredibly clean, the hotel staff was warm and helpful and it was nice to find amenities such as toothpaste (which we had forgotten), along with a variety of snacks, drinks and microwavable food in the mini convenience store near the front of the hotel. The hotel was only about 15 minutes from the Arts District and Downtown. There were also numerous restaurants within a few minutes of the hotel. I rarely write about hotels but this hotel was such a great value that I thought it was worth passing it on as a frugal tip. For more information, http://www.dallasaddisonsuites.com/.

Photographs of Beautiful Stewart Beach in Galveston

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:22:00 +0000

Stewart Beach, Galveston, TX - Things to do in Houston

The weather is slowly but surely getting better. There are less rainy days and more warmer days. My family took advantage of one of the warmer days to visit Galveston. We ate at Mario's Ristorante which served us delicious pizza, salads, bread, soups and gelato. The servers were efficient and friendly. The prices weren't bad either. If you're feeling frugal order a large pizza and the vegetarian salad. It's enough food for four people and will run about $32. After eating we walked the length of Stewart Beach. We weren't the only ones there. People were fishing, playing in the sand, and strolling hand in hand. Admittance and parking at the beach are free until summer season starts so this is a great time to go.

Galveston is still feeling the effects of Hurricane Ike. Apparently over 40 percent of residents who left after the hurricane did not return so many of the local businesses are struggling. See the photos below and then schedule some time to spend in Galveston. You'll have a great time.

Stewart Beach, Galveston, TX - Things to do in TX

Stewart Beach, Galveston, TX - Things to do in Galveston

Stewart Beach, Galveston, TX - Things to do in Houston

Stewart Beach, Galveston, TX - Things to do

Here are some links to a few earlier posts I wrote about things to do in Galveston: a review of Stewart Beach with a video and a review of the Galveston ferry ride also with a video.

Don't Miss the Texas State Capitol in Austin

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:18:00 +0000

Texas State Capitol, Austin, TX - Things to do in Austin, TX

The Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas was named the number one state capitol by the American institute of Architects in 2008 and is also named as one of its top 100 buildings in the U.S. The honors are well deserved. The architecture is beautiful and the building itself is filled with history. From the gorgeous grounds surrounding the Capitol, the names and pictures of the first African Americans to serve as state legislators or Constitutional Convention delegates after slavery was abolished, to the rotunda in which the pictures of all Texas' former governors hang, you know from the moment you walk through the Capitol's doors that history is made within this building.

Despite the beauty of the soaring Capitol dome, the intricate mosaic depicting the seals of the six nations that have governed Texas on the gallery floor, and the clever use of the Texas star throughout the Capitol (you'll find it emblazoned on the lights, in the ceiling, even on the door hinges), the most impressive thing about the Capitol was the fact that we were able to enter and roam about without undergoing any security checks. Incredibly, we visited the Capitol on the day a small airplane targeted and crashed into Austin's IRS building.

Texas State Capitol, Austin, TX - Things to do in Austin, TX

When we walked through the door, we stopped and looked around for the metal detector. There was none, although a guard was walking about the place. She smiled, walked over, said hello to my son and asked if we had any questions. We stammered that we had none. After we walked away, we whispered to each other, wondering where in the world were the security. When we walked into the rotunda, we were astonished at the beauty of the gallery dome. I hesitantly took out my camera but was sure pictures weren't allowed. When I held up my camera to the officer on duty he smiled and waved at me to go ahead. My family spent an hour and a half roaming through the Capitol. We took pictures, sat in the Texas Senate Chamber and the Texas House of Representatives Chamber. We rode the elevators, walked through the library and spoke to staff. We actually felt like the State Capitol was our building, and that we had a right to roam about and see how things were run. I realized after we left that it is our building but that feeling of ownership when it comes to our government and to public spaces is becoming extremely rare. I highly recommend visiting the State Capitol for the architecture and also just to experience the feeling of walking unencumbered by fear and security through a government space. Oh, and admission is completely free.

Texas State Capitol, Austin, TX - Things to do in Austin, TX

Texas State Capitol, Austin, TX - Things to do in Austin

Texas State Capitol, Austin, TX

Texas State Capitol, Austin, TX - Things to do in Austin, TX

Brand New Baby Goats at Blue Heron Farm

noreply@blogger.com (K) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:11:00 +0000

Blue Heron Farm, TX - Baby Goats

In addition to making great goat cheese, the owners of Blue Heron Farm in Field Store Community, Texas, give generous tours of their farm (see http://www.spendwiselytexas.com/2009/11/heron-bay-farm-spoiled-goats-fresh.html). My son and I stopped by recently to buy some cheese and to visit the baby goats that were born that week.

Blue Heron Farm, TX - Baby Goats

I've never seen anything cuter than a baby goat. They alternated between running about and snuggling us in search for food. They couldn't stop jumping and twisting in the air. We also visited a few of the pregnant goats. One went into labor and gave birth a half hour after we left. I was sorry to have missed the birth. I'm not sure how my son would have handled watching the event but it might have been a great teaching experience.

Blue Heron Farm, TX - Baby Goats

As always, the owners, Christian and Lisa, were welcoming and generous with their time. They shared lots of information about their farm and were open about how the animals were being cared for. If you live in the Greater Houston area, take advantage of this farm and visit. Don't leave without buying some cheese. It's addictive.

Visit their website: http://www.blueherontexas.com/.

Blue Heron Farm, TX - Baby Goats