WHO LIKES FREE BOOKS????

I like free books that's who. I have started a new adventure in my life. I have become a consultant for Usborne books. I have loved their books for years. They have books for newborns up to teens. Most adults like to read their books also. I am really excited to be able to do this because I am passionate about children learning. A few years ago, I worked for the school district's literacy program and fell in love with helping kids love books.

Usborne is offering an awesome special right now. You can sign up to be a consultant for only $15.00 plus tax (NO SHIPPING). You get 10 great books and supplies. All you have to do is sell $100.00 in twelve weeks. It would be so easy to do if you have just a few friends to buy from the catalog.

I'm also trying to make it to another level by Sept. 3. I need a couple of good parties. If you hold a party I will give you a free book. If your sales hit $300.00 I'll throw in free shipping. These books are great for young kids, older kids, teachers, anyone that works with children. Check out my website to the right of the blog and see for yourself. Thanks for looking!

ANOTHER NEW BLOG

I can't seem to find the time to post the deals in a timely manner, so if you will go HERE this blog lists many school items at several stores. Publix is listed also. The only store that I use often that's not on it is BiLo, so if I see anything that I really think is a great deal I will post it.

WHAT"S THE PLAN?

Alright. According to my very thought out schedule (uhhh NOT), it seems to me that the new school year is rushing in here way too fast and I am definitely not ready for it. I thought we would start August 10 to get a head start. I'm just not so sure. For some reason I can not get it together! I will be working on 1 thing and then get side tracked and go to something else. Better yet, the phone will ring (or the doorbell), Melanie might yell for me, the dog barks, and then it's time to cook breakfast, lunch, or supper, etc. I sure am in the kitchen an awful lot. Or plan a trip to the store to get the supplies you need for something and THEY DON'T HAVE IT!!!! Are you getting the picture of this? It seems that I have a very bad habit of researching something FOREVER and then be all unorganized about carrying it out. I used to not be this way. I used to be on top of things (well, I can THINK that I used to be, right?)

So, how do I fix my situation? How do I follow through without being interrupted or side tracked? It doesn't take much nowadays for me to get side tracked. I will be doing one thing and go off to work on something else not even finishing what I first started! I figure I better write out some sort of list and schedule. I used to write lists for myself all the time when I was working outside the home. I better do something because this house is going to be in one chaotic mess when the fall comes because I got my wish. What wish? Extracurricular activities. I fuss about how busy we are and then fuss when we are not. I know, I have issues. Bottom line is that I DO miss the kids being involved with things and they are very excited about what they will be doing this year also. So, I pretty much know what I NEED to do, it's just following out my plan. Well, I plan on making a chore chart similar to this one HERE and maybe getting some tips from HERE as well. Wish me luck and say a prayer because we all are going to need it.

Playing Around

Ok, since a couple of you are changing the looks of your blog, it made me want to goof around with mine.

Free Tea

Check out McAlister's Deli tomorrow and grab a free tea. More details HERE. Thanks moneysavingmom!

MORE GOOD DEALS

I'm not going to post the good deals on school supplies, but I will say you need to check out CVS for their 3 day sale. WalGreens has a good sale on lots of supplies and don't forget my post on Staples below. If you don't need any of these supplies, it would be a great way to buy some up and donate them to an organization or school for a needy child.

Our Backyard Harvest

These are our giveaway veggies. God has really blessed us this year with what we planted. I wish now we had planted corn and okra. I really wasn't expecting much of a veggie haul. We have tried our hand at gardens before, but for some reason we were not very successful. Now I am sure our garden isn't as beautiful as some of the ones I have seen, but we try! We did make more of an effort to give it some fertilizer and we have been blessed with the rain. Other than what you see, we also have sweet petite bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and onions. We have just planted some beans (I know it's late) so we will see how those go. I have enough tomatoes that I believe I am going to can some salsa. We eat salsa like it's going out of style. Thank you Lord for your blessings.

FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES

I have been looking through our school supplies and the list that I get with our curriculum to see what we need for this year. I stocked up so much last year that we really do not need much "normal" items. Looking at our science experiments, it seems that we need inexpensive things.

I am so excited about our upcoming school year. The kids seem to be fine with the idea of starting in a few weeks. We have listened to a history cd on and off this summer thanks to a good friend who shared what she does! The kids have also worked on a couple of math pages and of course they have continued to read. (ok, I'm off subject here).

We are going to sponsor a child this year and buy her school supplies. The Lord has blessed us and we feel that we can do this for a family who's husband has been out of work. With the back to school sales, it will be easier to get more bang for our bucks. This morning I checked my email and what do you know, an email from Staples with their ad starting July 19. Here are a few things they will be GIVING AWAY.

STAPLES-
pencils, pens, and highlighters, pencil sharpener
$1.00 deals-photo paper, notebooks, dry erase markers, binder hole punch, erasers, and pens
$2.00 deals-pens, mechanical pencils, magnetic dry erase board, post it notes, and eraser pack
scientific calculator 12.99
graphing calculator $109.99
4 GB flash drive $12.99
compaq laptop $379.98

Something else I have been enjoying are the 50% off coupons from Michael's and AC Moore. You can sign up to get a coupon through email and also they will print once you make a purchase. This has helped recently with Phillip's birthday, a baby gift, and on photo albums for my summer project (organizing allllllll my photos from the past 10 years).

FREE MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

Go HERE to sign up for a free subscription to woman's day magazine. I already get this free along with Martha Stewart Living and Prevention. I did not pay for them at all!

Thanks for the heads up money saving mom!

Hair Do

Today has been a day where not much has been going on. I'm sick, so of course the kids have had their fill of tv and video games. I did read them a couple of devotions and we listened to a history cd. Other than that, I managed to curl the girl's hair for some fun. Michael opted out of the adventure, but we had to push him away from the camera! I will be so glad when I feel better. I don't like being sick and I know the rest of the clan doesn't either!

A New Little Girl In This Great Big World

Today Emma Grace Chandler was born. She is a beautiful 7 lb. 14 oz little girl who is 20 inches long. This is DeAnn and Steven's baby girl!! See those tiny toes and feet. Isn't God amazing? So precious (and born exactly on her due date)

I wish I had better pictures. I really need a new camera.

Savings

CVS
Buy $10.00 worth of Frebreeze products and get $5.00 ECBs. Use the coupons that come out in this weeks paper for free or inexpensive Frebreeze.
Buy 2 Dawn dish soaps get $1.00 ECB and use 2 coupons from this weeks paper (ends up being $.25 per bottle)
Buy 1 Colgate Advanced toothpaste for $3.49 and get back $2.00 ECBS use $1.00 coupon from 6/28 and pay $.49
Buy 2 Head and Shoulders products for $4.99 get back $2.00 ECBs and use the Buy 1 Get 1 free coupon from this week for some inexpensive shampoo

Oil of Olay body wash 2/$7.00 use $2.00 coupon and pay $1.50 each
Dove hair care buy 1 get 1 free and use $2.00 coupon from 6/7
L'Oreal Lip Color buy 1 get 1 free. Buy 2 $5.99 products and use 2 $2.00 coupons from 6/14 and pay only $1.00 each.

PUBLIX
You can earn $30.00 in gift cards between July 13-Aug. 9.
Purchase 4 different Kraft items
Buy at least $50.00 worth of groceries after coupons
Complete rebate form HERE
Repeat this 3 times!

Deals for week of 7/8
Crystal Light Buy 1 Get 1 Free $3.99
Use coupon from July All You and it will be free
Mueller's Pasta Buy 1 Get 1 free and use coupon from 6/14 $1.00/2
A1 steakhouse buy 1 get 1 free $2.89 use coupon from 6/14 $2.00 off and should be free
Smart Balance buy 1 get 1 free $2.79 several coupons that help you get a great deal (free peanut butter and milk with the coupons)6/28 inserts and 6/21 inserts also printable HERE
Klondike ice cream Buy 1 Get 1 free $3.59 and use printable HERE to pay $1.59 for 2 boxes
Spray and Wash products Buy 1 Get 1 free use coupons from 6/14 or HERE
Dial Soap $1.19 use $.35 coupon and it will double so you only pay $.49

In Add coupon $10.00 off $50.00 gas gift card to BP or Shell. This is a way to get your $50.00 order for the Kraft $10.00 rebate.

BILO
the list below are buy 1 get 1 free items
Kelloggs cereal use $1.00 coupon
Colgate toothpaste use coupon from 6/28
Hellman's mayo use coupons from 6/28
Uncle Ben's ready rice use coupons from 6/28
Hot Shot Roach and Ant Spray use coupon from 6/5
Red Baron Pizza
Apples
Red Potatoes
Sargento Cheese
Chinet items
Blue Bell ice cream
Yellow onions
PictSweet veggies
Doritos
Power Ade
Wish Bone salad dressing

Many other deals too many to list

Frugal 4th of July

The kids are all home now from camp and I am one happy mama. I am so glad they had a great time this week. It's comforting to know also that I can send them off to camp without crying or worrying too much. Today we went to our family's annual 4th of July celebration. This event gets many extended family together each year at a distant cousin's home. We always have a wonderful time with plenty of food.

We came back home and all of us took a nice long nap and then got ready to go to Pelzer's celebration. This is our first time doing something in our new community and it was really nice. Pelzer puts on a fireworks show, plus many other events that are totally free. Free hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, cotton candy, shaved ice, train rides, horse shoes, volley ball, and a few of the blow up slides, etc. They also had a petting zoo and pony rides for a small fee. It was at the park, so it was nice and shady. The added bonus is that we saw several people from church that we got to visit with. Here's an amateur clip of part of the fireworks.

Savings for week of July 1st

PUBLIX
Buy 1 Get 1 deals
sweet baby rays bbq sauce use $1.00/1 from 6/21 insert and pay $.15
Kraft salad dressing use $1.00 coupon from 6/21 and pay around $.50 or use coupon here
A1 steak sauce $2.00 off 1 from 6/14 or use coupon here and pay about $.10 per bottle
Kraft Mac and Cheese use Buy 3 get 1 free coupon from 6/28 insert or here
Bushes baked beans use coupon here and pay $1.19 for 2 cans
Cool Whip use coupons here and pay $.49 for 2
Athenos feta cheese use coupon from 5/31 or here and pay only $.50
Glad prices vary from $1.49 and up use coupons here and here
Ziploc bags are $1.99 and there are many coupons out there, combine them with a target coupon here and you will get free or cheap ziploc bags


I wasn't able to get the deals up for last week at all due to being so busy with life! I was able to do some deals myself with Phillip and here are a few things worth mentioning. Bloom had triples all last week and it was worth the trip. I also did the Pubix deals. I did find out that Bloom usually has lots of meat marked down in the mornings, so I was able to get $43.00 worth of meat that will last us SEVERAL days. What makes me the happiest is having about 5 bags of groceries and household items packed up for me to give to a family who needs it. I also have tomatoes coming in that we will be able to give away. What blessings do you have that you can share with others today? God is so good.