Wordless Wednesday: Sleepovers and Letting Go

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A few nights ago, my daughter had her first sleepover. Other than the two whirlwind nights I spend in the hospital when her brother was born, I’ve never been apart from her for the night. So, while it was difficult for me to let me to let her spend the night away from me, I knew she was in good hands. After all, she was at my parents house.  Literally down the street.  And I knew it was an experience she needed to have.  I needed to have it, too.


While I weep for the loss of each new stage in her life -yearning to hold on to even the smallest pieces of my “little” girl, I can’t help but feel excitement.  I have nothing but fond memories of spending the night at my grandparents houses, and I want nothing more than for her to build such memories with the people she loves as well.

Happy Wednesday, y’all!

Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara

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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!**

Check Out My Latest Guest Post: Spinach-infused Pancakes — A Surprising Hit!

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To kick off a new page I created here on the blog, I direct you to my latest guest post, on spinach pancakes.  Yep, spinach pancakes.  :o)  Check it out here at Peace, Love, Recipes.  


Then make sure to check out my new “recipes” page!  Do you have a favorie recipe?  Contact me about getting it featured RIGHT HERE!


Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara

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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!**

Wordless Wednesday 5-16-12

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Delicious!



Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara
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Follow Me on Pinterest

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!**

Inexpensive Workout DVDs

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Inexpensive Workout DVDs
photo credit: Jeff Bucchino, “The Wizard of Draws”

HUGE thanks to Girl Loves A Bargain for finding these great deals!! 

If the idea of dusting off your bathing suit makes you cringe, there is hope.  And you know I wouldn’t be sharing this if there weren’t a bargain involved!  Here are some great workout DVDs currently available at Amazon.  So you can break a sweat in the comfort (and privacy) of your own home, then feel at ease when you strut around the pool this summer.  ;o)

For more details, or to order any of these, click on the link in the DVD’s title.  Please note: Amazon prices can be fickle, and are subject to change.  So you may sneeze and the price will change, just like that.

Inexpensive Workout DVDs:

7 Minute Power Abs and Total Body Bean Blaster – $2.86

Inexpensive Workout DVDs - 7 Minute Power Abs

Jillian Michaels Level 1 – $1.99Inexpensive Workout DVDs - 30 Day Shred

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred – $5.99

Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom – $6.27

Dancing with the Starts: Ballroom Buns and Abs – $6.99

Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism – $7.01

Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones – $7.01

Yoga for Beginners Boxed Set (Yoga for Stress Relief / AM-PM Yoga for Beginners / Essential Yoga for Inflexible People) – $20.44

The Biggest Loser: The Workout – Weight Loss Yoga – $6.63

Pilates For Beginners & Beyond Boxed Set (Pilates for Inflexible People / Pilates Complete for Weight Loss / Pilates Complete Sculpt and Tone) – $19.99

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!**

Wordless Wednesday 5-9-12

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“Look, Mommy! A cloud deer!”


Happy Wednesday, y’all!

Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara 

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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!**

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday

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As fast as things have gone 
with my daughter, now three, 


it seems like my son 
is growing up at warp speed.


Happy Wednesday, y’all!
Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara 

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Follow Me on Pinterest

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!**

Wordless Wednesday 4-18-12

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I’ve not done a “Wordless Wednesday” before, but I couldn’t resist after this scene this morning.  I love my goofy kids!


How would YOU caption this one? 🙂

Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara 

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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!**

When Coupons Don’t Add Up

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Let’s face it: a certain show has led to a great influx in coupon users within the last year. But whether your an old pro, or a couponing “newbie”, consumers need to keep their goal in mind when shopping: to save money.

Sometimes coupons are NOT the cheapest route.


Case in point: one of Target’s giftcard deals this week is for a $10 GC when you buy two specific containers of Enfamil formula, a little over 40 oz total. The formula is $32, and this Sunday’s inserts had a $5/2 coupon to coincide. Thus, after coupons and GC, you net $24.50 for each container of formula.


However, if you are NOT brand dependent, you can score roughly twice as much formula for $20. The store brand formula, whose ingredients match the name brand within mere tenths or hundredths of the name brand, is a MUCH better deal.


The bottom line is this: keep your eyes and your options open when your hunting bargains. Sometimes a store’s “sale item” isn’t always the best deal. The store’s agenda is to push a product, perhaps in conjunction with the manufacture; therefore, you as a consumer must be savvy enough to read between the lines.  Remember to always calculate the unit price before pulling the trigger with a coupon.  Don’t chase that coupon high under false pretenses; if the deal doesn’t add up, MOVE ON!



Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara 


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Follow Me on Pinterest

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!**

Applebees Under 550 Menu — A review in Deliciousness!

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I’m still salivating just thinking about the event I attended a few weeks ago: a sampling of Applebees Under 550 Menu!  I was treated to five of their dishes, all of which are under 550 calories, and was delighted with the rich flavor of each.  We also had the option of sampling two of their cocktails, each around 100 calories each. (Being a nursing mother only 4 weeks post-partum, I simply could not partake.)  I’m providing you my account of each dish below.

Before we adjourned, we were further treated to “punch cards”, good in the greater Atlanta area Applebees locations only:   You get a “punch” for each Under 550 OR Weight Watchers item you purchase.  Once you get 5 punches, you get a FREE under 550 or Weight Watchers menu item!  How cool is that?  I have two of these cards to share with my readers.  If you’d like one, email me with the subject line: Applebee’s Punch Card and I will mail to the first TWO people who respond.  :o)

Sizzling Asian Shrimp & Broccoli – Sizzling, blackened shrimp with rice, broccoli, red peppers, sugar snap peas, water chesnuts, mushrooms and bok choy, atopped with a sweet and spicy sauce.  (Let me interject here and warn you, I do NOT eat shrimp; therefore, my dish was all of the above, minus the shrimp.)  Every one of us cleaned our plate with this dish!!  The sauce was lightly spicy, and not too much sauce to take away from the taste of the veggies, but enough to give it a nice kick.  Again, I did not eat any shrimp, but I -along with the other participants- cleared our entire plate!



Roasted Garlic Sirloin – A 7 oz sirloin, served with sauteed onions, a portobella mushroom stuffed with creamed spinach and a dash of Parmesan to top, and a side of herb potatoes.  Okay, let me just say, I can count on my one finger the number of times I have voluntarily eaten steak until this meal — it’s normally just not my cup of tea.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed this steak!!  it was juicy, tender, and quite flavorful.  I wasn’t a fan of the onions, as I prefer mine to be sauteed a bit more; otherwise, this dish was to die for!  Again, I cleared my plate!


Grilled Dijon Chicken and Portobellos – This was a creamy and delicious dish, which again beckoned me to enjoy!  I’ve had my share of chicken dishes that were healthy but just …blah.  Not this one.  It was a creamy balance of taste and good for you.  Were I eating this as a dish all on its own (and not after sampling two other dishes) I would easily clear my plate!


Signature Sirloin and Garlic Herb Shrimp – In all honesty, by the time I got to the fourth dish, I was already pretty stuffed!  I’d already had the equivalent of one FULL dish, but trudge through I did, all in the name of sampling, right?  ;o)  I must say I didn’t like this steak as much as the first steak dish.  Again, I’m not a steak person, but this one just -hmm- lacked the full flavor of the first dish.  And -as before- I declined the shrimp.  Although I didn’t dislike this dish, it simply wasn’t my favorite.  The 7 oz sirloin was topped with shrimp in a cream sauce, served with herb potatoes, veggies, bruschetta, sliced almonds, and parsley. 


Sizzling Chili Lime Chicken – The final dish was met with a little less enthusiasm, simply because we were all pretty stuffed by then.  However, this one was certainly packed full of flavor as well.  Tender, juicy chicken pieces were paired with a spicy chili sauce; served with steamed veggies, rish, fresh cilantro, and a hint of lime juice.  The dish came together with a nice kick to it — I would certainly order this again!


Oh, and there was the opportunity to sample their SkinnyBee Margarita (around 100 calories), however, being only 4 weeks post-partum, I thought it best not to indulge.  But the gals who did said they were not disappointed.  


While attending the tasting, we were informed of three new dishes joining the Weight Watchers/Under 550 menu: Cabernet Mushroom Sirloin, Creamy Parmesean Chicken, and Grilled Jalapeno-Lime Shrimp.  How delish do they sound?!!  Coming February 20, 2012!


Remember, if you’d like a “punch card” good for a free meal after you purchase five, send me an email with the subject line: Applebee’s Punch Card and I will mail to the first TWO people who respond.  :o)


Thanks, again, to Applebee’s of Atlanta for hosting such a great event!!


Keep on saving!  :o)

–Barbara
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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!**

Stockpiling: The Benefits, Burden, and Blessings

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If you’ve tuned in to any episodes of TLC’s Extreme Couponing, then you’ve seen the overwhelming stockpiles the shoppers have built!  Certainly in comparison, theirs puts my meager stockpiles, if you could call it that, to shame!

Coupon Queen Laci stockpilingThank you, Coupon Queen Laci

The benefits of couponing are maximized when one learns to stockpile, without a doubt.  Buying items at their lowest sales price, and stocking up on said item, certainly saves money in the long run.  It is an amazing way to ensure that you are not overpaying for items; nor that you’ll have to run out and pay too much for an item, simply because you didn’t have it in stock when it’s needed.

Obviously, non-perishable items are super-easy on which to stock up.  Creating a seemingly endless supply of toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, cleaning materials, and Spam (because would you really know if meat in a can has gone bad?) is the way to go, and a great way to start a stockpile.  But with careful planning and attention to detail, you can expand your stockpile to edibles, including frozen foods and pantry items.

Over time, and with a bit of effort put forth, your stockpile can offer a sense of security.  Living paycheck to paycheck can be tough; and in this economy, the uncertainty of one’s job security these days is rather stressful.  But knowing that you can still feed and care for your family with the material you’ve accumulated in your stockpile offers a sense of security that cannot be shaken!

Tammilee's Tips stockpilingKudos, Tammilee’s Tips
on a  stock well-piled! 

The burden of stockpiling may be quite apparent: it requires time, effort, and -most importantly- space.  My meager stockpile consists only of items that can fit in their designated spaces: toothpaste, shampoo, razor blades, feminine hygiene products, etc. must be able to fit in my bathroom cabinets.  Pantry items must be able to fit in the pantry.  Laundry items must be able to fit in -you guessed it!- the laundry room.

Stockpiling becomes a burden and a bit of a nuisance when it takes over other areas of your home.  Again, on Extreme Couponing, I’ve seen TP stockpiled under a child’s bed, nightstands crammed full of items, garages converted to stockpile rooms, and so forth.  To me, the insurance and security that comes from a stockpile can be undercut when it prevents you and your family from using and enjoying the space in your house in its intended fashion.  Stockpiling should not CONSUME your home.

Further, I have witnessed a few frugal blogger friends display fits of anxiety when their stockpiles drop to levels they deem unacceptable.  I’m sorry, but ten 12-packs of toilet paper seem to be pretty darn impressive for a family of four!  You “only” have 20 bottles of laundry detergent left, and declare it a crisis?  (Honey, go read about how to stretch your laundry detergent!!)  Stockpiling should offer a sense of security, not an added dimension of stress and anxiety to our already stressful lives!

In my humble opinion, if you become anxious because a group of items in your stockpile is running low, you need to re-prioritize.  Sales will always cycle back, and that item(s) in question can be replenished over time.

Finally, the burden continues with feeling compelled to buy multiple copies of the paper, just for the coupons.  If you have a large family, I can see the justification in this; however, for the typical family of -say- four, why on earth would you want to spend hours upon hours sorting, organizing, clipping, and storing coupons?  Are you really, truly saving that much?


Klippin Krazy stockpiling
Ingenious re-purposing,
Klippin Krazy!
We have a regular subscription to the AJC, and my parents save their Sunday coupons for me. Lately, I’ve been investing in the purchase of a Sunday paper on Saturday, but that’s in my attempt to get the deals to you sooner.  Furthermore, I’ve been extremely fortunate enough to get a slightly varied, condensed copy of the Smart Source coupons in the mail on Tuesdays.  And when I see my dear sweet MIL, I end up with an additional set of coupons, usually at least two weeks’ worth.  Therefore, I have more than enough sets of coupons each week, anywhere between two and five.   This is more than enough for my family of three (soon to be four).  I have a small network of friends with whom I can tap, should I see a good coupon that fits my family’s needs; and I’m happy to offer them ones for them in exchange.

I digress.  I call in to question the benefits of BUYING multiple copies of the paper, just for the sake of having multiple coupons.  I’m speaking mostly about paying money for ten or more copies — at what point do the coupons pay for themselves??  Additionally, many coupons are also available in print form these days; that’s FREE, as long as you have access to a printer. AND you can typically get TWO copies of each printable coupon.  Why take on the burden of paying money, all with the chance (not guarantee) of saving more money than you’ve invested.


Freetail Therapy stockpiling
Thanks, Freetail Therapy!!

The blessings of a well-fed stockpile can be counted in the securities it may provide, in knowing that, even if you find yourself without an income, or on a drastically reduced income, you can still provide for your family with little to no impact on your day-to-day living.  (…and isn’t that the purpose behind stockpiling….?)  All those hours of carefully planning shopping trips, matching coupons, and vigilantly watching sales cycles pay off.

But beyond your own life, charitable donations you can make with any extras you may have on hand within your stockpile are assuredly a blessing in itself.  Whether you share a few items with a neighbor in need, or sizable donations to a homeless shelter or other charity in need, you need not look further than your well-endowed stockpile.  Being able to share your fantastic savings with those in need ensures that others can help meet their basic needs, while you reep karmic the benefits of paying it forward.

All in all, I think we must each strike a balance between letting our stockpile(s) consume us and overtake our lives, with the pragmatic benefits of stretching your dollar while also being able to extend a helping hand to those in need.

***I share with you my thoughts and observations on stockpiling, but please heed this disclaimer: I am not bashing nor ridiculing those who create big stockpiles.  I have made some great blogger friends over the last few months, who have been gracious enough to share their stockpile pics with me (and thus, with you) and they’re pictured here — check them each out; they’re great ladies with great blogs.***

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!**

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