Family — Page 27

What’s a Great Buy – and What’s Dangerous to Buy! – at the Dollar Store

Dollar Store Deals: Which Ones Are Worth It?

This info is from an article posted this morning on one of my FAVORITE sites, LearnVest, and is full of some great tips to keep in mind when shopping at your local dollar store.

Every day I get new updates, filled with fun ideas, and today was one of my favorites I’ve read in awhile. I totally recommend signing up for their newsletter:

Delivered to you five days a week, the LearnVest Daily is packed with money-saving tips and financial how-tos to enrich your life.

There’s no better challenge than finding out how far your dollar can go.

What was once kitschy is now cool (the New York Times would agree), and more affluent consumers are getting in on the dollar store game. Since the recession, it’s been boom time for these stores, which specialize in imported, generic and knockoff consumer goods for prices that make Wal-Mart look like a luxury retailer.

But before you get bargain-hungry and sidle up to a shopping cart, you should know which are the best dollar-store deals—and which offerings can be low-quality, or even dangerous.

Here are some examples:

Deal: Everyday Cleaning Supplies – Go for it. Cleaners have similar—though somewhat diluted—ingredients. (Spring for heavy-duty cleaners for tougher jobs.) Also get rubber gloves, sponges and scrub brushes here.
No Deal: Vitamins – Stay away. Some multi-vitamins don’t have the amount of nutrients claimed on the label; others don’t dissolve fast enough to be absorbed by the body.
It Depends: Food – Proceed with caution. Dollar stores don’t always have the lowest price, especially on generics, and cake and brownie mixes here come in misleadingly smaller packages. Lastly, keep an eye on the expiration dates, since they may be near or past their freshness date.

What do you think?

I was really surprised by how dangerous some of the items at the Dollar Store could be – and REALLY glad to have read this article, so I’ll think twice about some of the stuff I buy. Because, heck, I LOVE me some Dollar Store shopping!! I use it most for party supplies, and crafty stuff- you can get some amazing deals!

You can read the rest of the article, and find out what other items they consider a deal, or no deal, on theLearnVest site today.

I like to DIY my Dollar Store cheap-o’s into cooler stuff- decorate picture frames, put together a great centerpiece from an cheap mirror and candles, and you cannot beat their prices for gift bags and cards! What are your favorite Dollar Store buys– and what do you think of the items on LearnVest’s “No Deal” dangerous list?

Think I’m a great Frugalista? Then give me a vote over at Cheap Sally, and help me make it to Round 2 in the “Bring Home the Bacon” competition!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 4, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping | No Comments

Rafflecopter Giveaway- Win The Homeschool Planner! #educational #homeschool

The Printable Homeschool Planner, by Heather Bixler

I have two little guys in my house that are in school- my youngest nephew just started Kindergarten, and the older one is in Second Grade this year- Gosh I cannot even believe that they’ve gotten so big!

I don’t homeschool the boys; they both attend the public elementary school around the corner from our home. But, since I’m the one who is here each day when they get home from school, I dedicate afternoons to helping them with their homework, and hearing about what they’re learning in class. On the days that they don’t have homework, I like to have fun activities lined up, to help reinforce the skills they’re learning.

“Heather Bixler has been homeschooling since January 2006 and knows that organization is key to a successful homeschooling experience.”

When I heard that the amazing Heather from www.thehomeschoolplanner.com was looking for people to review her Printable Homeschool Planner, I knew right away that this was just what I was looking for! And I was not disappointed- it is SO incredibly helpful to have this binder- I can have our activities, games, and worksheets all organized in one spot.

What Makes The Printable Homeschool Planner so Great:

You all know that I am a BIG fan of printables- from crafty goodies, to calendars and to-do lists, I use printables almost every single day. I put together both my blogging binder, and my “Mommy Central” binder {which you’ll learn more about soon!} from printables, and I love the way that using them allows you to fully customize your planner.

When you purchase pre-made planners, there are almost always sections that you don’t need, or sections you need more of. When you purchase The Printable Homeschool Planner from Heather Bixler, you get access to download ALL of the printable sections, so that you can add and subtract pages as needed! Plus, you’re set for years- since you just print more as needed.

The The Printable Homeschool Planner is available for only $4.99 – what an amazing value for everything that is included!

Putting it together:

If you have a sturdy 3-ring binder, ink in your printer, and some dividers to get organized, the Printable Homeschool Planner will supply everything else you need!

The Cover Page – PDF Printable
Art Project Planner – PDF Printable
Attendance Record Keeper – PDF Printable
Book Report Worksheet – PDF Printable
Field Trip Planner – PDF Printable
Project Planner – PDF Printable
Science Experiment Planner – PDF Printable
Scripture Verse Planner – PDF Printable
Student Project Notes Worksheet – PDF Printable
Thematic Unit Planner – PDF Printable
Lesson Planner – PDF Printable
Password for unlimited access to our current and future homeschool printables in our exclusive member download page.

Win a Copy for Your Family!

This is a great tool if you’re currently homeschooling, but it can also be a great help to anyone- if you’re like me, and do after school activities, this can help you stay organized and on top of things!

Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter entry form to enter to WIN your own copy today!

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 3, 2011 Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews, Printables | 19 Comments

Rafflecopter Giveaway: Winners Choice from Rock ‘N Learn!!

Rock ‘N Learn – Rocks our Socks!

About a month ago, our family got the chance to review the new “Sight Words” DVD from Rock ‘N Learn. I was super excited to share it with the kids- The youngest little guy in my house just started Kindergarten, and is really struggling. I figured that this had the potential to be a BIG help!

A little about Sight Words:

Sight words are the most popular words in the English language- words like come and go, in and out, up and down, and you and me. The idea is that kids should learn to recognize these words on sight – helping to build a great base for their beginning reading skills!

The DVD is from the great people at RockNLearn.com– where you can find tons of other great DVD Videos, Audio CDs and iPad apps to “Capture Kids’ Attention and Get Results.”

I’d read great things about them, but this is the first time we’ve gotten to experience it for ourselves. I’m very happy to tell you- this video totally lived up to the positive reviews that I’ve read!

See it in action:

The Reaction in My House:

Abby: Abby is 14 month months, which is a bit too young for this video {it’s meant for Pre-K and up}- but she LOVES her Baby Signing Time videos, so I thought she might like these too. I was SO right! She giggles and claps, and dances along to the songs. It’s never too early to start learning to recognize words, right?
Little Guy: He’s the perfect age for this, and since he’s struggling with school so far, I was really hoping he’d like these. He was totally engaged with the video the whole time! And, even after a month of watching this a few times a week- he still loves it! He says, “Reading is ROCK AND ROLL!!” {Translation- his dad is in a rock band. He thinks that rock music is the coolest thing ever. So, if he says that something is rock and roll, that’s his highest compliment.} He seems to be really starting to grasp the words and their meanings, and is getting better with his skills when doing schoolwork too. So grateful that Rock ‘N Learn contacted us to try this out!
Big Guy: The older little guy in my house is 8, and is starting to become “too cool” for some of the things that interest his brother- making it a challenge to keep them both entertained. But- he really enjoys this video too! He is a really advanced reader, so he doesn’t really need to learn these sight words- he knows them. But he gets a big kick out of helping his brother learn them- and I think it really helps reinforce the meanings of words that he already knows. I love the way the words are taught in context- the character goes up when showing the word UP, then back down to show the word DOWN.
Me: These don’t drive me crazy, like many kids video’s do – which means that I love them! They’re really cute, the songs are catchy, and the educational value of them is very obvious. They keep all three kids entertained and engaged after school, they’re teaching the kids some wonderful reading skills, and they’re totally pleasant to listen to- I give Rock ‘N Learn – Sight Words a rating of 5 Suns out of 5!! {Remember, I don’t do “star” ratings, I do suns :)}

You can purchase your own copy of Sight Words on Rock ‘N Learn for $19.99. And bonus- use this special coupon code- JQ7711 – at check out, to save an additional 25% off of any purchase at Rock ‘N Learn!!

Win It!

One lucky Sunshine and Sippy CupsA fan is going to WIN their choice of DVD or CD from Rock ‘N Learn!! Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form to enter to win! Good luck!!

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 1, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews, Deals and Coupon Codes | 29 Comments

HUGE Event Ends Tonight – Win a Mommy Goodie Bag – Over $100 Value!! #giveaway #mom #baby

Have you entered to WIN yet?

One lucky winner is going to get a Mommy Goodie Bag STUFFED FULL of great prizes- you can see some of it here, but there’s MUCH more that didn’t fit in the photo!

This goodie bag has a value of over $200!!! The coupons included are worth almost $100 in savings- plus…

Some of the other GREAT GOODIES included:

Full size make-up set from Sephora- one of my favorites!
Green products for your home!
Tons of deluxe-size samples of natural and organic baby products!
Bunches of great make-up, fragrance, and beauty samples for mom!
A $50 Visa Gift Card!!!!

Amazing right?

Enter to WIN a Mommy Goodie Bag – including a $50 Visa Gift Card today!!!

Get your entries in right away- this HUGE giveaway event ends tonight at midnight!!!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 30, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Giveaways, Contests | No Comments

More Spookamole Fun- Pumpkin Puke Recipe!

Who loves “Spookamole” ??

I shared my post with you guys last week – Spiderweb Spookamole Nachos – and loved the comments and emails I got from you on it. It was pretty popular in my house too.

Another Fun Halloween Recipe!

I found out that a bloggy friend of mine put together a “Spookamole” recipe of her own, and just had to share it because it is SO much fun!!

The boys in my house would totally go crazy over this one- so I’ll be putting together my own version soon too.

Check out her instructions on how to make Pumpkin Puke Spookamole on her blog, and let her know how much you love it :)

Do you have a fun recipe to share?

If you’ve made a great Halloween or Fall themed dish, leave me a comment to tell me about it! I’m always looking for fun new recipes. And there are always so many fun things to make for Halloween!

More Fall Fun- Get a FREE Canvas Print!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 29, 2011 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 1 Comment

Busy Mom Solution – Keep your home fresh!

Check out the New Febreze Set & Refresh!

I love a clean house. I’m a little bit {ok, maybe a LOT} OCD about organization. I organize the books and dvd’s by color. All canned goods must be in rows by category, all labels facing forward. I could go on, but I’ll stop before you think I have too much time on my hands…

Point is, it’s super important to me to have a clean, organized home. BUT- with 4 adults, 2 kids, a toddler, and 5 dogs- this can be a challenge. No, challenge is too light of a word. It’s near impossible for me to keep my house clean and tidy! But, it doesn’t stop me from trying.

Love this new Set & Refresh!

Since it’s so tough keeping things clean and fresh around here, I’m always looking for new products and gadgets to make it a little easier. When I got this little Febreze freshener, I honestly didn’t think I would be much impressed. I thought it seemed to small to really do much.

Big Surprise

This seldom happens, but…. I was wrong. Wow, right? I know, I was shocked too.

I put this Febreze Set & Refresh in the kitchen, on a little ledge we have in there. With all of the cooking, the constantly overflowing trash can, and the dogs running in and out from the patio- this room can always use a lot of help staying fresh!

When I walked into the kitchen later that afternoon, I was super shocked that it smelled like fresh laundry. The laundry room is near by– but I wasn’t even DOING laundry. Then I realized- the Febreze Set & Refresh had a “Linen & Sky” refill in it. Ohmyheck- it really worked!

Learn what makes it so cool-

There are a ton of home fragrance products out there, and there are tons of them that I really love. One of my favorites is the Febreze Air Effects, in Sunflower & Sunshine- it really does smell like Sunshine, if you can imagine it :) And this little gadget really is new and different- it’s super cool that it doesn’t have to be plugged in- you can set it anywhere. And it isn’t ugly like those cones, it’s totally unnoticeable. Love it.

You can get the Febreze Set & Refresh for about $2.99 at most major retailers. There is a great refill called Apple Spice & Delight that I’m pretty excited to try next – perfect for fall holidays! This is totally a Sunshine approved product – and a great solution for busy moms!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Febreze and received a Set & Refresh unit plus refills to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 29, 2011 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Reviews | No Comments

Extreme Couponing shows the Snookis of the Couponing World…

I’ve told you guys how I feel about TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” show a few times now.

And I wrote a post yesterday, with some of my thoughts on it- It’s Time to Get Real About Extreme Couponing.

There are SO many people out there that just totally bash the show, and I understand completely why they don’t like it. There are a lot of things with that show that I think are just awful.

Love this new post about the Show-

BUT- I do think that there are some positive aspects to the show too, which is what I talked about in yesterdays article. I had a comment from the blogger over at Dollars and Cents in Kent yesterday, and she told me she’d written a post about Extreme Couponing too- so of course I had to check it out!

She has put together SUCH a well written post about the show, and I have to share it, because it has the BEST statement that I’ve read from anyone who’s been talking about this show!!

“We understood that the show was not meant to feature the average couponer, it was extreme couponing and in true reality show style, they went there. They showed the Snookies of the coupon world.”

That absolutely cracks me up!! That’s exactly what the show is all about… It’s not meant to show you how regular families use coupons to save on their grocery bill – just like Jersey Shore isn’t there to show you how the average Jersey kid spends their summer. It’s meant to be totally outrageous.

Read the rest of her great post here- New Season of TLC’s Extreme Couponing… Is this the End for Us?

It does have some useful information…

But, while watching Jersey Shore, or The Kardashians, or whatever your reality series of choice is- you don’t learn a whole lot of useful tips, right? But at least with Extreme Couponing there are some moms who take away a few useful ideas- like how to organize their coupons, how to build a stockpile to save money and be prepared, or just the basics like where to find coupons.

So, while I agree with many of the complaints that people make about the show, there are at least some benefits to watching it too!

What do you think about Extreme Couponing on TLC?