MAMAMANDA

BATH AND BODY WORKS - MYSTERY COUPONS

2010-08-18T07:37:00.000-06:00

Here are all three coupons...

Mystery Coupon

Mystery Coupon

Mystery Coupon

Now, if someone could just tell me which one is the 30%, so I can do some shoppin'!!!

NEW (fur) BABY!!!

2010-06-01T19:19:00.000-06:00

My family adopted the most precious 10-year old Dalmatian yesterday! Her name is Roux. She is amazing, we all love her so much!

We have known Roux since she was a baby. She belonged to my brother and his wife. She was my "niece" before my niece (then nephew, nephew, niece) was born. Over the past year she has lost a "fur sister" and her family is now splitting up. She has been very loved, but very stressed and has lost a TON of weight. But, she hasn't lost her spirit!

When my brother told me she was looking for a new home, I knew she belonged here. Mr. Mama didn't immediately agree. He suggested she come over for a playdate with our dogs, and within 3 minutes he told me we needed to buy a bigger bed. She instantly became besties with our Labrador, and the Pomeranian only tried to eat her face off twice, so it was a done deal!

She is the best girl! Ridiculously sweet and laid back! She's the first one to "sit" for a treat, barely barks, hasn't piddled anywhere and she just FITS! We are well on our way to spoiling her rotten!

(The above photo is of Roux passed out at the end of the couch. I took it with no lights on with my Blackberry. Sorry.)

CHEERS!!! The first harvest of the season!

2010-05-27T20:04:00.001-06:00

I know it's early, and my tomatoes are NO WHERE NEAR being ready to make salsa, but I harvested my first batch of cilantro yesterday! I also know cilantro is extremely difficult to preserve - drying makes it taste like parsley, freezing makes it mushy, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

But, it's worth a try, right? I have nothing to lose but my beautiful cilantro.

I often speak of organic gardening, but I in no way consider myself "green", "earthy", a "tree hugger". I'm really not worthy! I do, however, frequent organic gardening blogs for guidance with my own garden. I run across some of the most AMAZING blogs when searching for new ideas, and I must say, this one took my breath away!

My way of life is no where near theirs, yet, we have so much in common! We are thrifty, we are family-centered, we are animal lovers They remind me of a very sweet aunt and her family. They are SO happy!!! That makes ME happy!!!

So, I tried "Mr. H's" method of preserving cilantro. I will be using that cilantro in my salsa in about six weeks and will let you know how it turns out. Until then, I will be dreaming about his beautiful greenhouse, his beautiful dog, his beautiful family, and his beautiful way of life!!!

Here's to the first harvest!!!

Thank you Subsistence Pattern, for letting me share your amazing blog!

HELP!!! Organic Weed Prevention

2010-05-27T19:37:00.000-06:00

I've had an organic garden for the past two years. I don't by any means eat all-organic, but, I just can't bring myself to spray MY beautiful garden with chemicals. Never really had a problem with bugs or weeds. Hubby and I would trek to the garden about 4 weeks after our first planting, pull a few weeds, and be done with it once the intentional plantings got larger than the "grass". This year is different! Our garden now measures about 20x28 feet and has gotten a ridiculous amount of rain over the past few weeks. The "grass" is quickly catching up with my tomatoes. It is beginning to overtake the beans and carrots!

So, I tried the newspaper method. It took an ENTIRE Kansas City Star just to surround three tomato plants and 2 dill plants. I carefully soaked them down as directed and before Mr. Manda got home with the grass clippings he worked his butt off for all day (lawn care business), they had dried in the sun and blown up against my ~~hog wire~~ charming fence. What's a girl to do?

Well, ~~luckily~~ unfortunately, my baby got in trouble at school today. He only had ONE day left!!! So, we have decided that he will be assisting Mr. Mama with the weed pulling tomorrow while Mama is toileting and dispensing pills to her 12 "guests" at the hospital. Now, I can't count on my 13-year old son to get in trouble any more. He really IS an angel. So, I need a solution!!!

Anyone???

Crystal Light Pure Fitness Sample from Vocalpoint

2010-05-27T07:24:00.000-06:00

Vocalpoint is offering a FREE sample of Crystal Light Pure Fitness.

If you're not already a member, sign up! I get all kinds of great full-size samples from Vocalpoint!

Giveaway Winner: e.l.f. Manicure Set

2010-05-24T09:17:00.000-06:00

Random.org picked #5 for the e.l.f. giveaway. Congratulations The Lucky Ladybug!!!

5 YEARS OF FREE GROCERIES AT COOLSAVINGS.COM

2010-05-20T19:03:00.000-06:00

I just signed up for a great sweepstakes running on coolsavings.com! 5 years of free groceries. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it's really a $50,000 sweepstakes. They figure we couponers spend $10,000 a year on groceries??? That's $833 per month, $208 per week. Ha!!! Got them fooled! Even for a family of 5, 3 of whom are teenagers, we spend NO WHERE NEAR $200 a week! I also include pet food (for 2 dogs and 3 cats) and paper and cleaning products in my grocery budget. How about you?

Someone has to win, right? Might as well be me, or you!

Coolsavings.com is a reputable Web site. They are one of the first ones I signed up with when I began couponing. Just be sure to click "NO" on all of the offers immediately following signup and skip to the end if you're not interested. So, sign up at coolsavings.com to Win Free Groceries For Five Years!

BIC Soleil 100 Days of Sunshine AfterParty™

2010-05-20T18:25:00.000-06:00

BIC Soleil 100 Days of Sunshine AfterParty™

Just ran across this on houseparty.com!!! It is NOT COMPETITIVE, so you don't have to "pass" the test to participate. I just signed up and can't wait to see what kind of fun stuff we receive!!!

Home Depot: Seriously!!!

2010-05-10T22:17:00.004-06:00

If you haven't already, I strongly urge you to sign up for Home Depot's Garden Club and Home Improver Club newsletters! This weekend, I received THE BEST coupon EVER in my Garden Club newsletter! B1G1 FREE roses!!! Y'all, you NEED roses! Everyone needs roses!!!

You can use this coupon on knock-out, tea, climbing, crawling, ANY roses. I love knock-outs, but traditional teas just "do it" for me! I added these two lovelies to one of my flower beds as a thrifty addition to my Mother's Day present. Got both of them for $12.98!!!

Tropicana

Mr. Lincoln

Mama's garden

2010-05-10T21:37:00.000-06:00

This is the third year I've had my very own garden, and I feel like it is going to be AMAZING! The house my family lives in once belonged to my grandparents. My late grandfather was a farmer before my mom was born. As a teen, back in the 30's, he sold his crops at The Kansas City River Market. And if his crops didn't produce enough for the demand, he would buy other farmers' crops at discount and sell THEM at the market. He didn't need the Internet to tell him when to plant. He didn't even need a Farmer's Almanac. Until the day he died, he could predict a tornado 12 hours in advance. He knew all the tricks.

Grandpa didn't continue farming. He move on to a great job with a great company (I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you). But, he did continue growing for his family. He was also a great fisherman, and his success in fishing yielded numerous fish carcasses! After cleaning, the bones would end up in his garden as fuel for the crops. His fertile soil is now MY fertile soil!

Every year, my husband tills a portion of Grandpa's old garden. Every year, it gets a little bigger. Every year, I add a few new items. Every year, I harvest the beautiful and abundant tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. This year, I have finally taken advantage of the complete square-footage that Grandpa nurtured for 20 years. This year it will be AMAZING!!!

GIVEAWAY: E.L.F. FRENCH MANICURE GIFT SET

2010-05-10T20:34:00.000-06:00

Great things come in small packages! I LOVE e.l.f.! Their products are SO affordable and SUPER quality! This fabulous set includes three polishes in Clear, White, and Light Pink, plus stencil stickers for perfect tips!

These products are toluene free, formaldehyde free, and DBP free. And of course, e.l.f. performs no animal testing.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about your nail care routine. Are you a salon mani/pedi girl? A DIYer? Are you au naturale except for special occasions? I am a nurse with ridiculously beautiful, healthy nails that I have to CUT weekly and wear no polish. It's a SIN, I know.

To earn additional entries, add a link to this giveaway on your blog, tweet about the giveaway, and/or Subscribe in a reader. Just be sure to leave a separate comment with proof for each eligible entry. U.S. entries only, please!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST Saturday, May 22. One winner will be chosen by random.org and posted here Sunday morning.

3 NEW SAMPLES FROM WALMART.COM!!!

2010-05-10T19:47:00.001-06:00

Walmart.com is offering 3 new samples today!

Old Spice Odor Blocker Bodywash

Dove Ultimate Deodorant

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant

I just signed up for all three!

Thanks MoneySavingMadness!!!

HOME DEPOT: NEWSLETTERS THAT PAY YOU TO SHOP!!!

2010-04-29T21:18:00.000-06:00

I have been a subscriber to the Home Depot Garden Club and Home Depot Home Improver Club newsletters for years now. They send valuable tips and coupons via email.

The most recent Garden Club email included and coupon for a "Buy One Tree, Get One Free" coupon. I have received other great BOGO coupons for houseplants, weed killer, CFL light bulbs, and cleaning products.

You can sign up to receive the Garden Club and Home Improver Club newsletters, too!

OLD NAVY: 30% OFF EVERYTHING THIS WEEKEND!!!!!

2010-04-28T21:16:00.001-06:00

30% off your entire in-store purchase at Old Navy.

Not valid with any other offers.

Promotion runs Friday, April 30, 2010 through Sunday, May 2nd.

YORK PHOTO: 40 FREE PRINTS!!!

2010-04-28T18:23:00.000-06:00

Click the link above to receive your 40 FREE prints from York Photo. After you sign up, your credit will appear automatically. If you choose to order more than 40, enter code YMW4CP at checkout. I just uploaded some of my daughter's prom photos. Their site is EXTREMELY user-friendly and uploads are quick! Can't wait to get my prints.

Know and Tell - Free Stuff

2010-04-27T07:10:00.000-06:00

Before I was a Nurse, I spent about 10 years in the field of Advertising. To help our clients with campaigns for new products, we often hosted "focus groups". These focus groups consisted of actual human bodies driving to our office to watch a presentation and tell us what they thought.

Wow! Things have changed!!! Sites like Vocalpoint and Pinecone are essentially Web-based focus groups. They allow companies to gain valuable feedback from thousands of consumers very quickly and relatively cheaply. They also allow us consumers the opportunity to try new products for free!!!

I just discovered Know and Tell. This program was created by Fleishman-Hillard, a very reputable ad agency with 80 offices all over the world, including one here in KC! No, I never worked for them, but know people who do. One of Money Saving Mom's readers reports receiving greeting cards from Hallmark for participating in a survey.

I just signed up, hope you do too!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

BANANAS

2010-04-17T00:34:00.001-06:00

Our darling neighbor, Mike, gifted us two banana trees this week. He has been trying to talk us into taking them for THREE YEARS now. He has offered them to my boys as they rode their bikes through the neighborhood, offered them to me as we stood in line together at Hy-Vee. But, when he told my Alabama born-and-raised husband that they were originally from Alabama it was all over! So, now, I have two "Alabama" banana trees planted in my back yard. What's a girl to do?

Luckily, this winter, I found the MOST AMAZING recipe for BANANA NUT BREAD on southernliving.com and will never make anything else with my leftovers! You can seriously use what you have in the pantry right now to make these! I made them into muffins and they were FANTASTIC!!! I made 1/2 with nuts and 1/2 without. Filled up my giant cookie jar! The hubby and kids were FIGHTING over them!

The great thing about these is that you can use low-fat EVERYTHING and no one will ever know!!! Bananas are so sweet, they hide all the healthy stuff!

I am told that my banana trees will grow to be 8-12 feet tall by end of summer and produce 2-3 new plants each. I'll have to dig them up and bring them in for Winter, but, that's OK.. I will have organic bananas and I am so excited. I'll keep you all updated!!!

MOM, master of multitasking Shirt from Zazzle.com

2010-04-16T21:25:00.000-06:00

MOM, master of multitasking Shirt from Zazzle.com

SIMPLIFYING

2010-04-16T21:10:00.004-06:00

For several months now, I have been making a very poor attempt to maintain three blogs, each one dedicated to all the things I love - saving money, creating a beautiful nest, and looking fabulous. And, for several weeks, I have been thinking... why not devote all of my time to one spectacular blog encompassing all of these things? Trying to separate them just seems unnatural, and makes me feel like my posts are impersonal at times.

After all, the word "BLOG" is a contraction of the term "web log", according to wikipedia.com, and is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. So, I'll be adding some actual commentary, lots of descriptions, DEFINITELY graphics, and maybe a video for special occasions.

Thousands of you amazing women do it every day, and IT WORKS!!! Really, I read YOUR blogs, why wouldn't you read MINE???

So, from now on, think of mamamanda.blogspot.com as THE PLACE to go for all the newest info on creative home decor, frugal beauty and fashion, and thrifty grocery shopping!

I'm SOOOO excited about this and have all kinds of fun spring projects and deals to share with you in the coming weeks!

P.S. If you like the shirt in the pic, you can order it and others like it here!!!

Giveaway Winner: Nourish Your Inner Goddess

2010-03-30T07:51:00.000-06:00

Congratulations js22! You won the "Nourish Your Inner Goddess" from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark!

Giveaway: Nourish Your Inner Goddess With Yoplait Greek Yogurt

2010-03-13T20:11:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Yoplait and MyBlogSpark, I am able to share this great product and some fantastic tools to help you "Nourish Your Inner Goddess".

This week, I received a wonderful gift pack and 2 coupons to try the yogurt for free. I used my coupons to try the Blueberry and Plain yogurts. They were both incredibly creamy and delish! I added some super ripe strawberries and granola to the plain. Will definitely buy more!

MyBlogSpark and Yoplait are generously offering an additional gift pack for one of my readers. It includes:

Spa Robe
Slippers
Nail Brush
Loofah Sponge
Loofah Towel
Massager
2 VIP Coupons for FREE Yoplait Greek Yogurt!!!

This giveaway will end Saturday, March 28 at 11:59pm CDT. Winner will be selected by random.org and posted here on Sunday the 29th. I'll also email you for your mailing address. This gift pack will be sent to you directly from MyBlogSpark.

To enter, post a comment telling me how you "Nourish Your Inner Goddess". For additional entries, follow my blog with a reader, tweet, and/or blog about this giveaway and leave a link. Make sure you leave separate comments for each entry!

In the mean time, print this coupon for 30 cents off which will double to 60 cents at Hen House for all you KC ladies! Or, if you're one of the lucky ones with a Publix in your area, print this Publix coupon for one FREE cup.

Do you think my hubby will take time out of his busy basketball watchin' week with the guys back home in 'Bama to pick me up some free yogurt??? Ha! A girl can dream, right?

UPDATE: I AM LOVING YOUR COMMENTS! I TOO, NOURISH MY INNER GODDESS WITH A COMBO OF BUBBLE BATHS, CHOCOLATE, RED WINE, FUN TIME WITH HUBBY AND THE THREE TEENS, EXERCISE, BLOG SURFING, AND CREATING. I FLUFF MY NEST, AND REFRESH MY SPIRIT! I FIND THAT IF I MAKE MY TIME OFF FROM WORK "QUALITY TIME", I ENJOY THOSE 12 HOUR SHIFTS CARING FOR 10+ PATIENTS 100 TIMES MORE!!!

*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

HOT!!! RED GOLD .75/1 DICED TOMATOES COUPON

2010-03-09T18:09:00.001-06:00

Just got this one in my email! Log in or register to print a .75/1 Red Gold Diced Tomatoes With Green Chiles coupon! I love Red Gold! This is good only in MO, KS, OK, and TX.

SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE AND GET A GREAT COUPON AT WALGREENS!

2010-03-09T08:29:00.000-06:00

Walgreen's is offering a great coupon to their customers who donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Through the month of March, purchase a shamrock to support MDA for $1 and receive a coupon for $3 off your next $15 purchase at Walgreen's. I have not purchased mine yet, but a friend tells me there is not fine print on this coupon stating it must be used after all other coupons. So, it appears to be a true $3/$15 coupon!!! Remember, this is a donation to charity, so hang on to your receipts and claim on your 2010 taxes.

While searching for more info on this, I learned that Burger King is also offering coupons to people who donate to MDA by purchasing a shamrock at Burger King restaurants.

Been A While!

2010-03-05T20:40:00.001-06:00

It's been a month since I've posted. A job change for me, the end of my husband's 7-year relationship with his employer, two home DISASTERS (trust me on this one), a change back to my old job, and three sick teenagers have gotten in the way of this "land of blog" that I love so much.

But, I have been off work for two days, and will be off for two more. Enough time to watch my hubby repair the home disasters as I get caught up on this beloved blog, my ebay, and my two etsy stores - studio1404 and mandaspretties.

Can't wait to get back to life as usual!

$2 Camis at Old Navy Starting 2/5

2010-02-03T16:28:00.000-06:00

Just read on M80 Newsroom that Old Navy's Item of the Week will be these camis for $2 each. They normally retail for $12.50!!! You can bet that DD and I will be STOCKING UP!!!

Check out Old Navy Weekly Thursday evening for new % off coupons. If you score a good one you could get these for about $1.50 each!!!