Thumb Happy Moms

Winter Storm/Emergency Preparedeness

2011-11-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

I know it's a lot more fun to be talking about Thanksgiving recipes and Black Friday bargains, but the topic of winter storm and emergency preparedness should also be brought up this time of year. The time to start preparing is before the white stuff starts flying and before all your extra money is spent on Christmas gifts that will most likely to end up as next year's garage sale fodder. Just sayin'.

Here's a list of some ways you can prepare from http://www.ready.gov/winter:

Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
- Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products.
- Sand to improve traction.
- Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
- Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
- Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.
Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS). Be alert to changing weather conditions.
Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.

The following link, http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/_fl/pub/ep-gd-prprtn-eng.pdf, has a number of great ideas for putting together an emergency plan and even a few recipes using emergency food supply.

Carbon Monoxide safety is also a HUGE thing to consider as the winter season commences. Carbon Monoxide fatalities can often be avoid if families would only be more prepared. (Info below from http://www.ready.gov/winter)

Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal¬ burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Locate unit away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
The primary hazards to avoid when using alternate sources for electricity, heating or cooking are carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock and fire.
Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.
If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.
Call for help from the fresh air location and remain there until emergency personnel arrive to assist you.

So while you're out and about looking for Black Friday deals, try and be on the look out for non-gift items that you can be stocking up on for winter storm and emergency preparedness. Or consider giving the gift of a winter storm/emergency preparedness kit to a loved one this year.

Some helpful links for winter and emergency preparedness:

30 Tips for Emergency Preparedness

The Scoop on Croup

2011-11-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Almost once a week now I'm seeing posts about children having croup. This isn't much of a surprise since croup is HIGHLY contagious, especially this time of year. Croup is caused by the same virus that is responsible for the common cold and usually appears after the onset of the cold. And as we all now, antibiotics are futile in combating and relieving the sufferings and symptoms of croup. So what's a mom to do?

Here are a few tips from WebMD:

Try to stay calm during an attack, and soothe your child. Crying can make the swelling in the windpipe worse and make it even harder to breathe.
Breathing in moist air seems to help during a croup attack. Fill your bathroom with steam from the hot water faucets, and sit in the room with your child for 10 minutes. Or hold your child directly over a humidifier and let the vapor blow directly in his or her face.
Breathing cool night air also seems to help sometimes. Dress your child in warm clothes, and go outside for 10 minutes.
If symptoms improve with these methods, put your child back in bed with the humidifier blowing nearby. Do not smoke, especially in the house. If the symptoms happen during the middle of the night, it is a good idea to sleep in or near your child's room until morning.
Be sure to keep your child well hydrated. Offer water, flavored ice treats (such as fruit juice popsicles), or crushed ice drinks several times each hour.

At my house, we use onion and honey for coughs/croup. The moment I see a cold working its way into croup we break out the onions and make onion syrup (recipe below) and place cut onions by the children's bedsides (Some interesting things about onion and croup from Dr. Christopher). I know it probably sounds crazy but every time we have done this it almost always stops the croupy cough within 24 to 48 hours.

Onion Cough Syrup:

Dice up a handful of fresh onion and place in small pot (You can also add a tsp. of dried/powdered herb like ginger, slippery elm, comfrey)

Pour enough honey on the onions to cover them

Gently simmer for at least 20 min. to an hour

Strain syrup and keep in the fridge

Children under ten can get one teaspoon of this every three or four hours during the onset of a cold/cough. 11 yrs. old and up, a tablespoon. You can slip it in juice/milk if necessary too.

When to take your child to the hospital (via http://www.mychildhealth.net/what-is-child-croup.html):

If the child stops breathing
If the lips and fingernail beds begin to turn blue
If the cold mist does not relieve from discomfort and child makes strange sounds while inhaling
The skin around the ribs pulling in while inhaling
Flared up nostrils
Child gasping for breath and unable to walk or talk
Child not comfortable even after twenty minutes of steam or cold mist
Child goes hysterical and looks worse than earlier
No change in intensity of cough even after three days

Some interesting facts about onions:

Onions are one of those vegetables chock-full of anti-cancer chemicals. However, shallots, Western Yellow, pungent yellow and Northern Red onions are particularly high in these compounds as well as more effective in inhibiting liver and colon cancer cell growth than other common varieties, according to a new study by Cornell food scientists. (http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/04/10.7.04/onions_cancer.html)

Several servings of onion each week are sufficient to statistically lower your risk of some types of cancer. For colorectal, laryngeal, and ovarian cancer, between 1-7 servings of onion has been shown to provide risk reduction. But for decreased risk of oral and esophageal cancer, you'll need to consume one onion serving per day (approximately 1/2 cup). (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=45)

Onions are native to Asia and the Middle East and have been cultivated for over five thousand years. Onions were highly regarded by the Egyptians. Not only did they use them as currency to pay the workers who built the pyramids, but they also placed them in the tombs of kings, such as Tutankhamen, so that they could carry these gifts bestowed with spiritual significance with them to the afterlife. (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=45)

Fighting Cold & Flu Season Naturally

2011-09-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

Fall is here! But as the temperature drops, down let your immune system go down with it. Our family chooses natural remedies and prevention for just about everything because it is much safer and much more effective. (This includes NO flu shots or vaccinations: these articles by an outside source explain how our family believes: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/12/flu-shot-merits.html, http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/08/why-the-hpv-vaccine-is-just-a-bad-idea.html,http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2011/03/the-thoughtful-parents-guide-to-thinking-through-vaccinations-pro-vaccine-and-cautionary-resources.html ) Many over the counter (OTC) cold and flu remedies only treat symptoms. What good is that? And lets not forget the number of safety recalls they've had in the past few years on OTC cold and flu products, especially the ones for small children. Yikes! So here's some tips for keep your immune system in tip top shape, as well as some links to a variety of natural cold and flu remedies to help you ward off and combat whatever ales you.

Ways to Boost Your Immune System Naturally

Exercise at least 15 minutes each day
Get at least 6 to 8 hours of good sleep each night
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water each day, especially you caffeine drinkers!
Wash your hands well before eating and after using the bathroom or being out in public
Eat a well balanced, healthy diet. Avoid excess sugars, if possible because they break down the effectiveness of your body to ward off infection. Also, digestive problems can harm your immune system.
Don't get too stressed. Easier said than done, I'm sure. But wise advice nonetheless!

*************

Links to Healthy Herbal Home Remedies & Info for Cold and Flu

Herbal flu tea remedy: http://www.learningherbs.com/flu_home_remedy_tea.html

Immune soup recipe: http://www.learningherbs.com/herbal_immune_system.html

Homemade cough and cold syrup: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/11/homemade-cough-and-cold-syrup.html?utm_source=BlogGlue_network&utm_medium=BlogGlue_Plugin

Top Ten Foods to Boost Your Immune System: http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/10-foods-to-boost-your-immune-system/

Garlic: Medical uses by Dr. Christopher: http://articles.herballegacy.com/garlic-a-moms-medicinal-must-have/

Digestive Enzyme supplements to help boost immune system: http://www.transformationhealthsystems.com/PR/flu.html

Cold Kicker Remedy: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/10/cold-kicker-remedy-a-tried-and-true-recipe.html

A variety of links on natural health and healing: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/10/resources-and-links-for-natural-home-remedies-and-illness-prevention.html

Surviving Your First Year of Homeschooling

2011-08-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's back to school time! Or, in our case, back to homeschool time. Although we do activities all year round our "formal" activities calender beings when during the traditional September to June school calender shared by the majority of public schools. That's just what works for us. Every homeschool family operates how they need to in order to meet their family's needs. That's the beauty of home educating! :)

Homeschooling, or home educating, hasn't always been the easiest or most fun part of my life but it certainly is one of the most rewarding. This year marks my fourth year of homeschooling my children. My oldest child is starting third grade this year and my four year old will be starting kindergarten. How time flies! It's amazing how much has changed since our first year of homeschooling, when so many days felt like failures and I constantly second guessed my calling to be a homeschool mom. Now I look forward to each new school year.

Home educating is on the rise, even in the Thumb area. I personally know of at least 5 new homeschooling families this year. Any homeschool parent will tell you that first year or two of home educating are some of the hardest, so today I'm posting some links with helpful advice and wisdom for helping all of you newbies survive your first year of homeschooling. God bless you on your journey into home educating. If you're a new homeschool family I'd love to hear from you and be praying for you as you begin your first year. Just leave a comment on the blog or Facebook and I'll add you to my prayer list. I promise, that by the power and grace of God, you will do wonderfully!

Our first year of homeschooling. Having art time.

Slime science!

Native American studies

Baby care...so sweet!

Baking bread/homesteading...yes, it's a motorcycle in the flour

Links for surviving your first year of homeschooling:

Smoothing the Way: A website specifically for first year homeschooling mothers

Top 10 Gems: Linda Dobson, What I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me During My First Year of Homeschooling

Surviving the First Year of Homeschooling After Leaving Public Schooling

First Year is Exploratory

I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling) poem/song

Happy Homesteading: Chickens

2011-08-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

Something that has caught my attention in recent years is the homesteading movement. People all over the United States are realizing our economy stinks. Bad. And it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Prices for everything are constantly going up and income and job availability are going down. As a result, people are jumping on the homesteading bandwagon and finding all kinds of ways to become less dependent on "The Man" and more self sufficient. I think it's a good thing. It saves loads of money and makes you appreciate everything a whole lot more too.

In fact, we recently joined the movement after moving into a place that conveniently had most everything our family would need to get started with homesteading. Our journey began with our huge garden, then foraging through the back few acres of the property for wild greens/herbs/fruits, and now we are the proud owners of 41 laying hens and 2 roosters (Angry Bird and Big Boy).

Here's a few snapshots of our new chickens (or "cluck clucks," as our sweet little girl Olivia calls them) :

Big Boy, the rooster, showing his stuff

She's an Isa Brown and lays brown eggs

Don't know what kind she is but I love her gold flecked neck

Big Boy loves the camera!

This is a pretty Barred Rock hen, she also lays brown eggs and loves when the kids pet her

A group of girls chillin' in the hen house.


A group of girls but in the back you can see Angry Bird, our other rooster

I'm happy to announce we haven't had to buy eggs since the we began keeping chickens on the 11th of August. We have a blend of white, brown, green, and blue eggs from our four or five different breeds. Each hen who is able to lay eggs will lay one every 24 to 26 hours. We knew 13 hens wouldn't be enough for long so we added 28 pullets (hens less than one year old, most of ours just coming into lay) and 2 roosters to the mix on Monday the 15th, which threw the other girls laying off a bit because we only had 2 eggs in the hen house on that day. In a few days they should get back on a laying once a day schedule. Mmmmm.

So why keep chickens?

They are relatively low maintence
Better poultry welfare standards
Fresh eggs are way tastier than store eggs
They are often nutritionally better for you
You can avoid nasty antibiotics/hormones/etc.
They're kind of amusing to watch
It teaches your children responsibility and life skills
Some money savings: mostly if you have dual purpose birds that can lay for a few years, then be eaten. Otherwise you pretty much break even by the time you buy feed, birds,etc.

I'll be chronicling my chicken keeping and other homesteading on the Happy Moms blog because I believe more families need to take proactive steps toward buying local, self-sufficiency, homesteading and doing more to be financially responsible. What better place to do this than in the rural Thumb area, where most of this homesteading world is easily available at our fingertips!

For more on keeping chickens:

http://www.mypetchicken.com/

http://smallfarm.about.com/od/farmanimals/a/htkeepchickens.htm

http://www.chickenkeeping.com/

http://howtokeepchickens.org/

Save $$$ - Make Your Own Convenience Foods

2011-08-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Convenience has a cost, especially when you're talking about convenience foods. Luckily, there are all kinds of recipes, tips, and tricks available online to enjoy the convenience of the convenience foods without spending typical convenience foods prices. Below is a list of places you can search online to find your favorites for just a fraction of the cost.

Photo Credit: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

Hillbilly House: Homemade Convenience Foods :: her list includes a large variety of mixes and more, she also has a great ebook cookbook with convenience foods too!

MomAdvice: Make Your Own Mixes & Convenience Foods

University of Maine: Saving Money with Homemade Convenience Mixes

Money Saving Mom: Homemade Baby Food

Do It Yourself Convenience Foods

About.com: Homemade Convenience Food Mixes

GLUTEN FREE Homemade Convenience Foods

Support for Postpartum Depression

2011-08-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged much in the last few months but will be trying to make a better effort to post things more often. As I've mentioned before, my life as a mom of four (soon to be five!), wife, and full time homemaker keeps me one busy mother. ;) Our family encountered an "interesting" season of life shortly after I began the Thumb Happy Moms group and it prevented me from being as involved as wanted to be with the project. It looks like things are calming down just a little. For now.

I wanted to take a moment and share some information on I found on Facebook about a support group for new mothers called the Huron County Postpartum Support group. This is such an important topic to share with other women, regardless of where you are at in your years. Even if you are past your baby making years it is important for you to understand postpartum depression in case you can help a friend or family member.

I have four children and experienced some "baby blues" or postpartum depression (PPD) after each of them. Thankfully, with each child the case seemed milder. I believe this is because I became better educated about PPD. I'd like to share some things that have helped me. Maybe they could help you too.

Asked for help during the last month of pregnancy and during the first month after the baby arrives. You will need it! If anyone offers to clean, cook, babysit, to visit and talk, or whatever else, I try my best to take them up on it.
Rest whenever you get a chance.
Freeze meals and snacks for the very end of pregnancy and after the baby first arrives.
Have realistic expectations after the baby arrives: housework will get behind, hormones are out of whack, sleep will be minimal, don't expect to hop back into normal sized clothing right away, showers will be scarce, but things won't stay that way forever. :)
Purchase some disposable plates and silverware so dishes aren't a big issue.
Tell someone you love and trust if you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious.
Good nutrition in pregnancy and postpartum: plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, avoid caffeine and alcohol, prenatal vitamins, and I also took a few herbal supplements as well as fish oil, which I think made a HUGE difference. Don't skip meals either!
Try and get sunlight if you can.
Prayer! Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

The Huron County Postpartum Support group has a wonderful page that offers information on What is Postpartum Depression (PPD), links to with more information on PPD, and even an open forum to share your story and find support. They also have a Facebook page. Having a baby is a huge life changing experience. It's natural to need time to adjust after a baby arrives. Chances are there pretty darn good that other women have had similar struggles, doubts, and fears that you have had (or are having) so don't be afraid to reach out to a group like the Huron County Postpartum Support group to help you through.

FREE Healthy Meal Plans for Kids!

2011-08-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

Making up meal plans has been a real time and money saving for our family of 6 (soon to be 7!). Today I'm sharing a website with you from Amy at Super Healthy Kids, offering weekly meal plans for your children. Some of them include gluten free, for those of you looking for special dietary meal ideas. The menus go back to sometime in 2009 so there are plenty of recipes to peruse and choose from. I found the website to be helpful and full of things my children will actually it.

Super Healthy Kids Website

Super Healthy Kids Facebook Page

Freebie Friday: $10 Walmart Gift Card

2011-01-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

Today's Freebie Friday giveaway is a $10 Walmart gift card. But there is a twist ....

Times are tough for many of us, especially this time of year. My own husband just now started getting busy again after being without work for almost two months. We have four kids, two of them in diapers. It was an ugly few months. U-G-L-Y!

But it seemed right when it was needed (with sometimes mere moments to spare) God brought people in our life who bless us with diapers, baby food, money, and more to take care of us. Some of the people were complete strangers or anonymous. Their kindness and thoughtfulness meant so much!

So for today's Freebie Friday I want you to nominate someone else to win the Walmart gift card; someone that could use that little extra blessing in their life. It isn't much but for someone in need it may be a special way to give them a just little bit of hope and help in what may be a difficult time.

How to enter:

Maybe you know a single mom that works 3 jobs to provide for her children? Or maybe you know an elderly person struggling on a limited income? Without using the person's actual name (to protect their identity/privacy), please leave a brief explanation of why you want to nominate this particular person for the gift card.

Leave a comment on this blog or on the link to this post on our Facebook page to enter.

*Entries will be accepted until 7 AM Monday, Jan. 31st and the winner will be announced later that day.

*The gift card will be sent anonymously to the nominated person's address as a special surprise blessing, unless otherwise specified by the winner.

Tip Tuesday: Create A Listia Auction in 10 Easy Steps

2011-01-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

Have you signed up for Listia but don't know what to "sell" as your first listing? Your first listing doesn't have to be anything extraordinary but you need to start listing items if you want to start building your credit balance.

Things like Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards, Box Tops for Education, and similar rewards type points are good auction items because they are in demand, easy to collect, and inexpensive to ship. So today's Tip Tuesday is.......

HOW TO LIST A REWARD POINTS AUCTION IN 10 EASY STEPS:

1) Log into your Listia account.

2) Choose 'List Item' from the tabs on the right hand side of the page.

3) Enter the Title of your item. For example, "One Dozen Box Tops for Education!"

4) Choose "Other Stuff" from the category drop down box.

5) Choose "Reward Points" from the sub-category drop down box.

6) Upload a picture. Don't skip this step! Even if you have to use a generic stock photo from the web you should include an image for your auction. It looks nice and attracts views of your auction.

7) Write a description of what you are you offering. For example, "You are bidding on one dozen (12) Box Tops for Education. Help your school and make a difference today! Thanks for bidding!"

8) Enter your location. You can select a zip code, city, or remain anonymous if you want. It's totally up to you.

9) Select "Show Advanced Options." This is where you can select a shipping method, shipping cost, amount of days for the auction (most people choose 7 days) and set the starting bid amount.

You should select free shipping since rewards points will only cost you a single postage stamp. PLUS free shipping will get your listing more attention and increase the odds of someone bidding.

10) Review your ad and click "List." If you find errors you are able to edit your ad later.

Congrats! You've listed your first Listia auction! Well, you read about how to do it anyway. So what are you waiting for? Go for it!! If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section.

FREE FULL SIZE Herbal Essences Shampoo or Conditioner

2011-01-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

Today and tomorrow there will be a free give-away of 6,000 (each day, I believe) FULL SIZED bottles of Herbal Essences shampoo or conditioner. It will happen at NOON Eastern Standard Time and they will go FAST. But it's worth a shot! Go to this link both today and tomorrow at noon to win:

https://www.thepromotionaloffer.com/herbalessences/

A Different Kind of Freebie Friday

2011-01-21T05:39:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs, Raising Olives, is giving away two copies of the book, 'Large Family Logistics' by Kim Brenneman. So because my life is ultra crazy today and has been all week (I'm wondering if last weeks full moon is to blame???), I'm making this sweet little giveaway the Freebie Friday giveaway.

Here is a quote from the book:

Motherhood is a life of sacrifice; it is a life poured out for our children. So what are we to do to get some space from it all? When we are honest with ourselves, we know that it is not “Me Time” we need or a “Girls’ Night Out”. Children are not a burden to escape or endure; they are a blessing that drives us to Christ because we are incapable of parenting well without Him. God is who we need. While there are helpful strategies we can employ in order to have a more peaceful day with our children, the number one thing we must do is to deny Self and cling to the cross. ~Kim Brenneman, Large Family Logistics

Read the details of how to win on the Raising Olives blog here.

Be Blessed, Be Happy,

Shar

Have a wonderful weekend Happy Moms!!!!

Tip Tuesday: SWAGBUCKS

2011-01-18T05:24:00.000-08:00

Swagbucks is my favorite online rewards program because it's easy and it works. When you use the Swagbucks toolbar to search the web you randomly are rewarded with Swagbucks. Usually it is between 5 and 50 Swagbucks that is rewarded.

Your Swagbucks can then be redeemed for various items in the SwagStore. You can get magazines, books, video games, gift cards, music downloads, art and office supplies, sweepstakes entries, beauty products, clothes, and more.

Just a Few Things I've earned with my Swagbucks:

$25 gift certificate to Forbidden City in Saginaw (Restaurant.com)
$25 gift certficate to J.J. Jamokes in Caro (Restaurant.com)
75 count pack of google eyes (for kids crafts)

$10 gift certificate to Starbucks
Free Frecklebox personalized puzzle for kids
Click eraser
4 - $5 gift certificates to Amazon.com

Ready to get your Swag on yet?

Five Simple Ways to Earn Swagbucks Daily

I've just included some of the easiest ways to earn Swagbucks below. These are also free ways to earn. Some ways to earn will cost you money but you don't have to do those to still earn big.

1) Install the Swagbucks Toolbar.

It gives you easy access to the Swagbucks search engine.The more you use it, the better you chances of earning. You will be rewarded 1 Swagbuck every day just for logging on to the web when you have the Swagbucks Toolbar downloaded.

I use the search engine for home school every day and usually earn between 10 and 50 swagbucks per day.

2) SwagCodes

SwagCodes are codes offered by Swagbucks worth varying amounts of Swagbucks. You will find SwagCodes in your Swagbucks inbox (visit using the envelope button on your Swagbucks toolbar). You can also find Swagbucks on the Swagbucks Blog.

3) Daily Polls

Visiting and voting on the daily poll gets you one Swagbuck a day.

4) NOSO

NOSO , or No Obligation Swagbucks Offers, are special offers that you can choose to register for to earn additional Swagbucks. You can earn 1 point per day by just visiting the NOSO section and clicking through them. You do not have to select any offers to get this 1 Swagbuck.

5) Trusted Surveys

By vising the Trusted Surveys page you can earn 1 Swagbuck per day. You do not have to take any surveys if you do not want to but you will of course earn 25 to 150 Swagbucks for any qualifying survey you take.

So.......

If you paid attention, you already have a simple start-up point for easily earning a minimum of 4 Swagbucks per day. That's 120 Swagbucks per month for just a couple of minutes per day!

Now just imagine if you start using the search engine a little here and there and earn another 10 to 50 each day. Now you're making roughly 450 or more Swagbucks each month. That's about $5 Amazon.com gift card each month!

If you have any other questions, hints, or comments about Swagbucks just post them to the comments section. I'd be happy to help you out.

Go and Get Your Swag On,

Shar

Save 30% OFF Diapers & Wipes With Amazon Mom

2011-01-17T17:16:00.000-08:00

How does 30% off diapers, baby wipes, and other baby and toddler items PLUS free two day shipping sound? Pretty great, huh? Hold on to your checkbooks and say hello to Amazon Mom.

The Savings You Get:

15% off for being an Amazon Mom member

15% off for using the Subscribe and Save program (see details here)

FREE TWO DAY SHIPPING no matter if you spend $1 or $100

Exclusive e-mails with special deals and savings

Please Note: The free two day shipping perk is only good for the first three months of your Amazon Mom account. But they just announced that for any single order purchase of $25 or more they will extend your free two day shipping benefit for an additional month. Please read the Amazon Mom FAQ page for full details.

This is also a super great way to use your Swagbucks Amazon gift cards. For example, today I was sent a savings e-mail from Amazon Mom that a 350 count box of bleach-free Seventh Generation baby wipes were on sale on Amazon Mom for $11.85. After my 30% discount, free shipping and using one of my $5 Amazon gift cards from Swagbucks I only paid $2.13 for my box of wipes!!!! And better yet my wipes will be here Wednesday.

If you haven't yet signed up for Swagbucks you don't know what you're missing! I'll be posting a feature about Swagbucks for Tip-Tuesday to share more details, tricks, and tips. Or you can click on the above or below banner to learn more, sign up, and start earning points and perks right away.

Freebie Friday: Coupons

2011-01-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

If you don't pick up the Sunday paper each week to clip the coupons you're missing out. Last week's paper paid for itself many times over for me this week. Buying more than one paper is also a good idea to maximize your savings even more. Many times you can use up to three of the same coupon to save HUGE!

So today's Freebie Friday is COUPONS! I've got a variety of already clipped coupons including:

~One FREE fruit and maple oatmeal at McDonald's

~$1 OFF Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

~$1 OFF any one Lysol Disinfecting Wipes (Great product for this time of year!)

~$1 OFF any Neutrogena Lip or Eye Makeup

~$1 OFF any one Lysol Neutra Air Fabric Mist

~$2 OFF any size Hartz Crunch 'n Clean Dog Biscuits

~$2 OFF any 12 oz. or larger Clear Care Cleaning and Disinfecting Solution for contact lenses

~$2 OFF any PEPCID product

~$4 OFF any ZYRTEC 25 ct. or larger

~$4 OFF any one 11.5 bag of Purina Chef Michael's canine creations dry dinner

~$2 OFF any Keri lotion

~$1 OFF any one 4 or 8 pack DanActive yougurt

~$3 OFF any Sinus Buster or Allergy Buster Nasal Spray

~$1.50 OFF any Aveeno hair care product

~$1 OFF one Tampax Pearl product

~$1 OFF one Tampax Compak Pearl

~$1 OFF any one size pack of Pediegree Jumbone treats for dogs

~$1 OFF any one size Pedigree Marrobone treats for dogd

~$1 OFF any two Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate Bars or Bags

~BUY ONE GET ONE FREE Met-Rx Bars

~BUY ONE GET ON E FREE Pure Protein Bars

.....and possibly a few more!

To enter: Go to the Thumb Happy Moms Facebook wall page and "Like" this link. One winner will be selected at random. You be contacted via Facebook wall post if you are the winner. The winner will be announced and contacted on Monday, January 17th, 2011.

Frecklebox : Valentine's Coupon Code

2011-01-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

Frecklebox has got the most adorable personalized items for kids, including place mats, school supplies, wall art, and more. The image to the left an example of a place mat they have available. Too cute!

I used my Swagbucks to get my 4 year old a personalized puzzle for his birthday. I only had to pay a couple of bucks for shipping, which was shipped nice and quick too. It had a sea monster on it and was a huge hit! Of course now I need to get one for the other three kids.

If you're looking for a cute, inexpensive personalized gift for birthday, Valentine's Day or just because, you can save 15% OFF your Frecklebox order placed before January 21, 2011 using the Valentine's Day Coupon Code: NUTS4YOU

Tip-Tuesday: Less Meat, More Money

2011-01-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

I recently read a statistic somewhere that stated a person is able to save up to $600 per year on their groceries by cutting back or on their meat intake. Of course, the more you cut out, the more you will save. This can be difficult news to swallow for many of my fellow carnivores. But if you saving money is important for your family it might be time to eat meat less.

Our family has been slowly making the change to eating less meat. It hasn't been as difficult as you might think. And we are a meat and potatoes family too. So far, bacon is the only thing I'm having a real hard time saying good-bye to. So I haven't yet. I might not ever. We've enjoyed almost all of the meatless meals we've tried in the house. It's saved us money on the grocery bill and we also have noticed some health benefits as well. (For more reading on the health benefits of eating less meat you can read this Mayo Clinic article: (http://mayoclinic.com/health/meatless-meals/MY00752)

The change should be made gradually. Maybe one meatless meal every two weeks would be a good starting point. If you're worried about getting adequate protein or iron in your diet, you shouldn't be. Beans, cheese, nuts, seeds, pasta, eggs, and fruits and veggies like artichokes, bananas, mushrooms, zucchini, apples, and yams for example, are all sources of protein and/or iron.

I've included a number of links to browse some different meatless recipes on your venture below:

Happy cow:
http://www.happycow.net/vegetarian-recipes.html

Tasty and Meatless:
http://www.tastyandmeatless.com/recipes.htm

Vegetairan Times:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/

Betty Crocker Vegetairan Recipes

Morningstar Farms: recipes and if you sign up for their newsletter you can get coupons for their meatless products.

101 Cookbooks:
http://www.101cookbooks.com/vegetarian_recipes/

Mayo Clinic Bean Cooking Guide:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/legumes/NU00260

Cooperative Elevator Bean Recipes:
http://www.coopbeans.com/english%20site/recipes.html

It's FREEBIE FRIDAY!!!!!

2011-01-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

Update: Due to some issues with posting comments I am opening the chance to win until Sunday morning at 7AM. The two winners will be announced on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011. Sorry for the issues.

Happy Friday all you Happy Moms! Today is the first ever Freebie Friday. Every Friday at Thumb Happy Moms is Freebie Friday. It is a chance for you to win FREE stuff. The items will vary from week to week, and you never know what it will be. Area businesses are also welcome to sponsor Freebie Friday by giving away a product or service. It's a great way to advertise too! (If you are interested in sponsoring Freebie Friday, send a message to thumbhappymoms@yahoo.com with "Freebie Friday" in the subject line along with the prize you are interested in offering.)

Today's Freebie Friday theme is: COFFEE!!!

I don't know about you but my morning cup of coffee is nearly as important as taking my first breath of air in the morning. Other than blood, I'm quite sure it's life giving liquid gold flows through my veins. My husband and kids know to not even speak or make eye contact with mommy until she is at least half way through her first cup of the day. Okay, so maybe all of this is just a tiny exaggeration. But c'mon, every mom who drinks coffee to give them the pick-me-up they need to cook, care, clean, and carry out her day-to-day duties knows exactly what I'm talking about. And two of you lucky readers will score a chance to get yourself some for FREE!!!

UP FOR GRABS:

On the left is a 4 oz. bag of Beanstro Hazelnut flavored coffee from a specialty roaster in Waterford, Michigan.

On the right is a Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee sampler pack with a $1.00 coupon attached. Flavors included are: Gourmet Roast, Vanilla, 100% Colombian, Original Gourmet, Hazelnut, and Decaf.

How do you get a chance to win?

1) Get one entry for posting a comment to this blog post and tell me, "What about being a mom makes you the most happy?"

2) Get another entry by sharing the Thumb Happy Moms blog link on your Facebook page: http://thumbhappymoms.blogspot.com. (Let me know you did this by making note of it when you post your blog comment for entry #1)

WAIT, THERE'S MORE:

Even if you aren't one of today's winners everyone has a chance to head over to the Eight O'Clock Coffee website and print yourself up a $2.00 off/2 bags of coffee coupon.

Have a Blessed Weekend and Be Happy!

Shar

*Contest details: Entries must be received before 7 A.M. Saturday (Jan. 8th, 2011) morning. The two winners are chosen totally at random. Winners will be posted on the Thumb Happy Moms blog before midnight tomorrow (Sat. Jan. 8th, 2011). Winners will be asked to provide a mailing address so their prize can be shipped on Monday (Jan. 10, 2011). First person to reply back with their information will have first pick on the prize.

ACE Rebates and Rewards, Plus Carbon Monoxide Saftey

2011-01-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

Grocery stores and drug stores aren't the only place to find bargains. You might want to consider adding a visit to the hardware store as a part of your bargain shopping strategy. The hardware store spotlight today is ACE Hardware, where you can save big with their seasonal sales, monthly rebates, and the ACE Rewards Program.

If you aren't already signed up for the ACE Hardware Rewards Program, you'll want to in order to make the most of your savings because of the exclusive member benefits which include:

1,000 free bonus points on your first purchase
10 points for every dollar you spend
$5.00 reward for every 2,500 points you earn
Every day DOUBLE POINTS on "hot" items
Members-only coupons
Convenient E-Rebate, easily submit your rebates online

**Also, I earned 1,000 points for simply signing up for the ACE Rewards Program! It doesn't state anywhere on their website that you get this for signing up but you might be able to get it too.**

All of this brings me to the next topic, Carbon Monoxide safety and how to use your new ACE Hardware savings to invest in the protection of your family.

Here's some info you should know about Carbon Monoxide:

"The Silent Killer – carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – attacks more U.S. homes during the winter months than other times of the year. The leading cause of accidental poisoning in the United States, CO, is a colorless, odorless gas one cannot detect and is responsible for an average of 450 deaths and more than 20,000 emergency room visits annually. The average number of deaths is highest in January, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 41 percent of home CO exposure occurs from December to February.

The current recommendation by the NFPA (www.nfpa.org) is to have at least one CO alarm on each level of a home and one in or near every bedroom or sleeping area."

Pictured above is the First Alert Carbon Monoxide Detector CO400. It is currently on sale for only $15.00 right now at ACE Hardware. There is also a $5.00 rebate (limit of two) if you purchase before January 31, 2011, making it only $10.00. These are normally about $35.00 retail price.

And as a new ACE Rewards member you can get 1,000 free bonus points for making this your first purchase, plus DOUBLE your rewards points since it is a "red hot buy" item. There is also a deal in stores that if you spend $25.00 between January 5-10 you can get $5.00 OFF your next purchase between the dates of January 11, 2011 and February 24, 2011.

Looking for the ACE Hardware nearest you? There are "thumb" locations in Bad Axe, Caro, Sebewaing, and Sandusky.

Stay Safe, Save Money, and Be Happy!

Shar

Tip Tuesday: Free Groceries and More at VG's Food

2011-01-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

Today is Tip Tuesday and I am featuring five tips for making the most out of shopping at VG's Grocery store.

#1) VG's DOUBLES MANUFACTURERS COUPONS UP TO 1.00

*Limit three identical coupons per item.

This is how to make the most of your SmartSource coupons from the Sunday newspaper or printable online coupons @ http://smartsource.com

#2) 5 CENT REUSABLE GROCERY BAG CREDIT

If you shop using any reusable grocery bags you can ask to receive 5 cents off per each reusable grocery bag you use. Every little bit of savings counts, you know. You may need to remind your cashier to give you the credit when you are checking out.

#3) YELLOW TAG DISCOUNTED MEAT

Everyone knows meat takes the biggest bite out of the grocery budget. If you go the meat section and do a little searching for packages with yellow tags you can get up to 50% off soon-to-expire meat. Just make sure to cook it right away or freeze it immediately for future use.

#4) PRINTABLE SPARTAN COUPONS

Spartan brand products are good quality and usually cheaper. With Spartan brand coupons you can save even further. Find them here.

#5) YES REWARDS PROGRAM

This is perhaps the biggest and best reason to start doing more shopping at VG's. Visit the nearest VG'S store (Caro, for most of us) and apply for the YES Rewards Program to get your YES card. You will earn points for the money you spend. For example $50 will earn you 50 YES points. Then these points can be exchanged for FREE groceries! You will also receive exclusive special deals by e-mail. Also, you can earn double points if you include your e-mail address when you register.

Listia: Give and Get FREE Stuff

2011-01-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

I've had a number of inquires on my personal Facebook page about my involvement in Listia. It is an online auction service that allows you to get and give FREE stuff! There is everything from diapers to dental floss. It works by bidding on other people's items using a point/credit system instead of money. The only thing you might have to pay for is shipping.

How it works:

A user lists an item they no longer want or need
Other uses bid on the item using their Listia credits
When the auction ends, the bidder with the most points wins
The winner gets the item and the seller gets the Lisita credits

I've only been signed up for a week or so and I've listed five items and won three auctions. I've gotten a health and beauty samples and some coupons so far. My goal with Listia is to list items to clear the clutter in my house and to not buy any health and beauty items like toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc. at all for this year. I'm off to a good start! I'm so excited thinking about all the money I'm going to save this year! You can do it too!

Why not sign up?

You will get 400 credit points just for signing up. Then you will also get points for going through the tutorials from Listia and sharing your auctions on Facebook and Twitter. Get a bonus 50 CREDITS if you sign up using my link at the top or bottom of this blog post.

Happy bidding to you and thanks for signing up if you do!

Be Happy,
Shar

Happy New Year! Introducing....Thumb Happy Moms!!!

2011-01-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I am so excited to announce the introduction of Thumb Happy Moms! Start off this new with Thumb Happy Moms and find helpful resources to help you get organized, save money, and keep moms from Huron, Tuscola, and Sanilac County happy. Because like the old saying goes, "When mom is happy, everyone is happy!"

What You'll Find Here:

The Blog: Articles, interview, advice, and lots of other fun things for "thumb" area moms.

Coupons, Rebates, and More. Oh My!: with, you guessed it, coupons, rebates and more. Oh My! :)

Dollar Dinner Menus: Prepared 5 day dinner menus for only $1.00 each!

MomsList: A place to find FREE items for moms in need and to list items for free, swap, or advertise your garage sale/estate sale.

Savings Card Program: (coming soon) An exclusive savings card available for the "thumb" area.

Childcare Guide: (coming soon) A place to find local babysitters and day care centers.

Dining Guide: (coming soon) A listing of local eating establishments to help plan the best dining experience for you and your family.