Chicken Orzo Soup

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Although we still have some warm days ahead, the cold autumn weather is peeking around the corner. The other day, I simply couldn’t get my fingers to warm up, so I knew it was the perfect night for soup! So, to the pantry I headed for inspiration, where I found a box of orzo. Lo and behold, the box had a simple recipe for chicken orzo soup. Naturally, I had to take the recipe and tweak it to make it my own. ….and because it forgot to mention garlic in the ingredients. The best part of this chicken orzo soup? Not only did everyone eat it, but they all said they LIKED it! That’s an extremely rare occurrence these days, so I’m claiming this as a victory, which means I’m sharing it with all y’all!

Chicken Orzo Soup
[Read more…]Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

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Staying Hydrated in Georgia Heat

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SweetLeaf water dropsY’all, it’s hot as blazes out there in Atlanta right now.  And when it’s not hot, it’s ridonkulously humid, which just adds a whole new layer of hot to Atlanta heat – am I right??  I’ve given y’all many ways to keep cool this summer, but we all know we also need to keep ourselves properly hydrated when it’s so stinkin’ hot, right?  Have I mentioned I have a terrible habit of drinking entirely too much soda and sweet tea?  Neither of which are good for you in the first place, but both are even more dangerous if you’re trying to stay hydrated.

So, when I was sent SweetLeaf Stevia Water Drops to try out, I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to try to replace the soda and sweet tea I’ve been consuming with something better-for-me.  (Disclosure: SweetLeaf sent me the water drops to try out, in exchange for a review on this here blog.  However, all opinions, commentary, and bad puns are 100% my own.)

Here’s what I’ve learned so far: [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Where to Get Cheap Zyrtec

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cheap zyrtecHow can you get cheap Zyrtec?  I am frequently asked about where to get the best deal on particular items.  And, between my husband and I, we seem to be allergic to absolutely everything!  Thus, we are year-round Zyrtec users.  As such, I’ve done my research, and continue to find the VERY best place to get cheap Zyrtec is at Costco.

They sell their store brand equivalent for $14.99 (sometimes on sale for $11.99, as illustrated below), with 365 pills in the bottle.  That comes out to about 4¢ a pill.  Bam!  Cheap Zyrtec!

Even if you snag the coupons that come out from time to time to grab free Zyrtec, you still pay taxes on the pre-coupon amount (in the state of Georgia), and you still have to spend the time and gas money to get there.  Also, it’s usually the 5-count trial size, so it’s not the best “green” option for year-round or long-term users.  All in all, buying once or twice a year, at this LOW price, is by far, the way to go!


For us, it works just as well as its name brand counter part, keeping itchy noses and watery eyes at bay.  So, if you’re a Zyrtec user, you may want to consider taking a trip to Costco and stocking up!

Where to get cheap Zyrtec

UPDATE 8/2015:
Apparently Sam’s Club caught wind of Costco’s rock-bottom prices, and stepped up. Just this week, I was able to snag a 400 count of store brand Zyrtec for $16.48 – which also works out to about 4¢ a pill.

Where to Find Cheap Zyrtec - Sam's Club

Update 4/2017:
You can also now get CHEAP Flonase at Costco, too.  I got this five pack of their store brand equivalent for about $20.  The best I’ve seen on Flonase is $12 for a single bottle.  Anyone with seasonal allergies or year-long allergies will testify that Flonase is your first and best line of defense against allergies!  So this is an awesome deal – you just have to remember to USE that Flonase.  I keep mine by my toothbrush, to use in the morning after I brush my teeth.Cheap Zyrtec - Cheap Flonase

Now that I’ve told you about cheap Zyrtec, do YOU have any items you’ve found consistently at rock bottom prices?  If so, please share with me, and all my readers!  🙂

Make sure to “pin” this post, so you can share with your friends and to keep for later reference!
cheap zyrtec

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Healthy Habits: The Benefits of a Benefiber Routine

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Benefiber CouponDisclosure: this is a sponsored post by Savings.com to share with y’all a great Benefiber coupon.  However, all opinions, anecdotes, and off-color comedy are all my own.

And now my I’m-not-a-doctor disclosure: Please please please please please please keep in mind I am not a doctor.  Heck, I didn’t even enjoy science until adulthood.  So, if you are experiencing any medical issues, please please please -for the love of sweet tea- please talk to your doctor before starting any sort of medically-related program.

This week, my daughter started 2nd grade, which is not totally unlike that time she started Kindergarten, and I felt like I was just trying to stay afloat, getting back in the swing of things.  Typically, I feel like I’m flung in to a swirly chaos for a few days, trying to (re)adjust to a new routine.  During these times of change and transition, I find it super-helpful to keep my routines and habits as intact as possible.  My daily dose of fiber is no exception. [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

8 Ways to Beat & Treat Winter Weather Dry Skin

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Winter Weather Dry Skin

Winter weather = dry skin. Fewer things make me feel itchy all over!  Ok, so living in Atlanta all my life, I know I haven’t been subjected to super-harsh sub-zero winter weather.  But I’ve spent many a-winters with cold enough weather to dry out my skin.  For thirty-something years, I’ve lived through dry, itchy winter skin – some years worse than others.  Along the way, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep the dry and “itch” to a minimum.  (I’ve also got a few tips to naturally treat and prevent eczema, for those who deal with that.)

Frugal Tips to Beating the
Winter Weather Dry Skin: [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Painting with Nature

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painting with natureNow that fall is upon us, it’s no longer uncomfortable to be outside, so we can now start enjoying the outdoors!  This is the perfect time to engage in family walks – not only is it great excercise and a great way to bond as a family, but it’s also an opportunity for ART!  Painting with nature is fun, easy and very educational for the kiddos! So how exactly do you paint with nature?

Perhaps enjoy a fall picnic with your kiddos, and then take a walk with your kids and start looking around (make sure you take a bag or bucket with you to carry your items) for items that have a different texture. Look everywhere and keep your mind open because anything goes when painting with nature! Make sure you talk about the texture and color with your kids! There are so many ways to learn during this activity. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Ideas for Painting with Nature

  • Corn Cob (there are 3 ways you can paint with corn cobs: the husk, the cob with corn on it and the cob with the corn taken off)
  • Acorns
  • Wildflowers
  • Leaves
  • Walnuts (These work well in a bin with your child holding the bin and rolling them around in the paint)
  • Pine Needles
  • Pine Cones
  • Rocks
  • Sticks

Get your work station ready and your supplies out. It may be better to have this activity outside if you are able to otherwise just cover your table with a trash bag or some other kind of covering to try to contain the mess. Washable kids paint is always best that way they can paint their masterpiece and not worry about messing up their clothes!

Set out different colors of paint for them to choose from. I find that small bowls work well but if you have a muffin tin that actually works best. You can put many different colors in the tin and you only have one thing to wash….. not counting your child. 🙂

Set out all their nature “paintbrushes” that you collected and let them start painting. Refrain from showing your kids how to do it… instead let them figure out how it works. All kids will work differently when painting with nature. Some will dip and drag the items and some will dip and roll. Some will even paint their hands instead! There are no right or wrong ways with this activity so just let them have fun and enjoy it.

Painting with nature can be a really fun activity and what better way to spend time with your child than by taking a fun walk and creating something from it! Make sure you let your kids create their project all by themselves without instructions from you. It will teach them independence and they will sure be proud of something that they created themselves. Try joining them and making your own masterpiece it really is a lot of fun!

Let me know what items you end up using when painting with nature!

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Orkin’s Guide to Ousting Bed Bugs

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So if you’re at all like me, the title alone of this post just sent you spiraling in to an upheaval, complete with the childish on-the-chair “it’s a bug” dance.  What?  No one else does that?  Mmkay…

Ask the Orkin Man

Recently, Orkin  hosted a blogger event for Atlanta bloggers.  In exchange for sharing skin-crawling information during the event and in this post, I receive a form of compensation; however, all opinions and bad puns are completely my own.  I also wish to note, as I’m typing this, I’m listening to the clickety-clacky crunchy sound of stink bugs fluttering around my den.  Bonus points?? [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

How to Save Money Eating Clean

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New Year, New You - Save Money While Eating Clean

The next installment in my New Year, New You series involves clean eating.  We’ve discussed the benefits of fitness, as well as simple ways to stay active.   So clean eating is the next logical component in this discussion.

Recently, there’s been a huge spike around the world in interest regarding eating clean. Eating clean is a great way to improve your overall health and lose weight if you need to! It can be hard to make this adjustment on a budget though, because there is a misconception about the cost of eating clean. The great news is that there is definitely a way to save money and eat clean!

How to Save Money Eating Clean

The first step to save money and eat clean is set up a budget. Decide how much you are able to spend each month on food, and more importantly how much you want to! No matter what you decide, if there’s a will, there is a way and you can save money and eat clean. Setting a budget is important so you don’t go crazy overspending and ultimately give up because it becomes too expensive. [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Feed-a-Cold Quick Soup

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So last night, in the midst of all the coughing my family has been doing this week, I made pasta on a whim for the kids.  One thing led to another, and I had a soup for me and the hubs (for the life of me, I cannot get the kids to eat soup!) and pasta for the kids.  It was simple, and I really just grabbed whatever I had available in the fridge.  It was nice because it was simple, yet filling – and from start-to-finish, took less than 20 minutes.

Feed-A-Cold Quick Soup Soup Shot

 

Here’s what I did, and here are some ways you can jazz it up and make it your own.

Feed-a-Cold Quick Soup

First, you’ll need: [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

6 Shockingly Simple Ways to Be More Active

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New-Year-New-You_Ways-to-be-Active

After guest-poster Mindy Hadar shared with y’all the real cost (benefit) of fitness, I’m pleased to share another piece in my New Year, New You series – this one is from Deanne, who has been faithfully and kindly kicking my derriere in to shape for a few years now over at the JCC here in Atlanta.  She.  Rocks.  🙂

 

6 Shockingly Simple Ways to Be More Active

Ways-to-Be-More-Active

None of the tips I’m suggesting is earth shattering. In fact, most of them are things you could start doing immediately, and cost absolutely nothing at all.  Try out the tips that seem most realistic for you at this point in your life. Once you’ve mastered them, consider trying a couple others. And please share with me your tips for making physical activity a part of your day!

1. Park further away.  Build in extra walking by parking further away from your destination. With how crammed many parking lots become, you’ll not only burn calories but save a lot of time (and potential accidents) waiting for a closer spot to free up. [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Atlanta's Frugal Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. In other words, if you click through to Amazon from some of the books or products I recommend and make a purchase, I get a small percentage in exchange for your purchase. It's a small way you can support AFM.