Dear Wine, I love you...

...let me count thy ways. I love it when you relax me after a busy, stress-filled day. I love you, late harvest riesling, with your split personality of sweet and tangy. Merlot, your burgundy softness never grows old with me and my palette. Please share with me your favorites!

EXTENDED!! PacSun: 20% off Everything! with $50 purchase!

They are also offering a $25 pacloot gift card! Plus FREE shipping!

Plus get 5% cashback when you sign up and shop through ebates and 5% through shopathome!!So here's a scenario for ya: Spend $50 at their store through ebates.com,

                                              -$10 (20% discount)

                                              =$40 out of pocket and FREE shipping and GET:

                                              +$25 pacloot

                                              +$2.50   ebates cashback

It's like getting $50 of stuff for $12.50!!

What's Yours?

Well, it's the day after Cyber Monday! What deals did you score? Send me a pic or comment, and you'll be entered into the drawing for the Christmas Giveaway!

Christmas Presents to You! Full-Size Products Giveaway!!

Cheapskate Life is hosting a full-size products giveaway! All that is necessary to enter is to follow me and leave a comment and your email! Emails remain private and are only used for notifying the winner. Please let me know in your comment if you're following me!
Products include:
Tide, Snuggle, Febreeze Fabric Refresher, Glade jar candle and spray, Scotch-Brite 3-pack sponges, Gain dish detergent, Crest toothpaste, Colgate 360 toothbrush, Tylenol 8 Hour, Secret Flawless, Gillette men's deoderant.
Drawing will be held December 3rd at 8:00. Open to residents of US only and winner will be notified via email.
*For bonus entries, tweet this giveaway, and share it on facebook, and/or stumble it on stumbleupon! Just let me know when you've done it!

PacSun: 20% off Everything! with $50 purchase!

They are also offering a $25 pacloot gift card! Plus FREE shipping!

Plus get 10% cashback when you sign up and shop through ebates and 5% through shopathome!!So here's a scenario for ya: Spend $50 at their store through ebates.com,
                                              -$10 (20% discount)
                                              =$40 out of pocket and FREE shipping and GET:
                                              +$25 pacloot
                                              +$5   ebates cashback
It's like getting $50 of stuff for $10!!

Lil Luxe: L'amour Shoes as low as $15!!

These shoes are soooo cute! Get your designer shoes for your kiddos as low as $15 from L'amour Shoes!

Walmart: Picture Me Deals!!

Plus this offer might be eligible for cashback through ebates or shopathome!!

77Kids: Free shipping plus 20% off!

77Kids is a division of American Eagle for kids and tweens! My girls LOVE this site! Today, get 20% off your purchase and free shipping. All hoodies are $14.50!! Plus get 3.0% cashback when you sign up and shop through ebates or shopathome!!

Toys R Us: 60% off!!

Plus get 2-4% cashback when you sign up and shop through ebates or 2.5% through shopathome!!

Sports Authority: 20% Off Entire Purchase + 99 cents shipping!!

Plus get 3.0% cashback when you sign up and shop through ebates or shopathome!!

Over 4 feet Dollhouse 40% off!

This Savannah Dollhouse is normally priced at $149, but is now $90 shipped! This price won't last for very long, plus it comes with furniture!

Sears Cyber Monday!

Check out Sears for their awesome Cyber Monday deals with FREE shipping! Plus get 5% cashback from shopathome.com or 4% from ebates.com!!

Crocs 25% off + FREE shipping!!

Crocs are 25% off today with FREE shipping! Plus get 10% cashback from ebates!

American Eagle 20% off + 5% Cashback from Shopathome!!

Cyber Monday Only!! 20% off + FREE shipping! Plus get 5% cashback from shopathome. If you're new to shopathome.com, just sign up, then search for "american eagle" and click to go to the store. It's simple and it rewards you!

Usborne Books 70% Off Sale!

Usborne Books is having a sale on books up to 70% off right now! There are some really cute children's titles included in this sale!
Thanks Frugal Living NW!!

Cyber Monday! American Girl 50% Off Sale!

American Girl has a TON of accessories, books, etc. on sale for 50% off today! The foal (pictured above) is only $22 with this sale!
Thanks Frugal Living NW!!

Ebates: 13% Cashback from Snapfish!! Cyber Monday!!

Snapfish is offering 13% cashback through ebates.com! Sign up at ebates.com here, then search for "snapfish". Next, click "Shop Now". There is also a code for 25% 30% off your entire order AND FREE shipping! Plus, if you're new and upload your photos the same day, your first 50 4x6 prints are FREE!! I love this site and it makes printing photos a breeze, the service is fast, and the prints are quality!

All You One Year Subscription for $9.78!

Go to ebates here then sign up and search for "valuemag.com". Valuemag.com is offering 51% cashback right now!!!! This is a great deal for Cyber Monday, and if you love coupons like I do, getting All You for this price is incredible!
Thanks Frugal Living NW!!

FREE Family Event at Michaels!

Check out this great in-store deal from Michaels on FREE Family Event Finger Knit Scarf in Kennewick, WA

Webkinz!!

Webkinz are pretty low at Amazon here right now!! I found these for between $1.99 and $4.99!! Get these fast....Amazon's cyber Monday began today!

These are great bargain prices right now at Amazon!! Combine with FREE Supersaver shipping and you've got a HOT gift for someone special on your list!

How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket with Fringe by JOFabric.com

For those of you thinking of making last minute gifts for the holidays, this is a great video for a no sew blanket!

The Children's Place HOT deal!!

The Children's Place is having an incredible deal right now! Their fleece is on sale for $5, $7, and $10. Go through ebates.com to get free shipping, 3.0% cashback, AND 20% off your entire purchase!!

Lil Luxe!!

Lil Luxe is another site that offers daily deals and right now they have a great deals on Melissa and Doug toys when you sign up! Get FREE shipping through Christmas and 20% off when you like them on Facebook! These could go fast! Make sure you sign up fast here!

Here's some of the incredible deals!

Pound-A-Peg Only $6.41 shipped after 20% off!

Farm Cube Puzzle Only $8.01 shipped after 20% off!

Farm Sound Blocks only $8.01 shipped after 20% off!

Alphabet Nesting & Stacking Blocks just $7.21 shipped after 20% off!

Princess Elise Magnetic Dress-Up just $8.01 shipped after 20% off!

Thanks Frugal Living NW!!

Droid Deals!

Droids are HOT HOT HOT right now! Here's some great deals I found!

Gaggle of Chicks!!

Gaggle of Chicks is similar to Groupon and has some great deals for the holidays and you can get a $10 credit to use towards your first purchase! Just make sure you sign up here soon since they probably have only a limited number of these to dole out! It only takes a couple of minutes to sing up! You can get these cute kid's kitchen items for just $10 shipped with your new credit!

Turkey Lurkey

I've got all of this turkey! What to do with it?!! There are some really good ideas out there...I just know it. What's your's? This morning I saw a great idea on the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda and my husband was watching it with me...so since his belly wants it, we're gonna try it. Check it out here.

Office Max Black Friday Ad!!

Doors open at 7am on Friday and 9 am on Saturday. See the ad here.

HP Color Inkjet Photosmart Premium Wireless All-in-One $69.99, save 130.00
The Printshop 2.0 $39.99, save 50.00
Samsung WEP460 Bluetooth Headset $9.99, save 20.00
Tom Tom XL340-S GPS $89.99, save 80.00
Microsoft 3500 Wireless Mouse $14.99, save 50%
Vivitar DVR 810HD Camcorder 8.1 MP 8X zoom 2.7" LCD $69.99, save 30.00
Epson Color Inkjet Workforce 610 Wireless All-in-One $59.99, save 70%

Free Snacks with New Membership at Bi-Mart!

If you aren't already a member of Bi-Mart, right now is a great time to join! A Lifetime Family Membership is just 5.00 during their open house (through Nov. 24th) and you would receive FREE 9 oz. Lightly Salted Kettle chips, 6 oz. Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds, and 12-pk 12oz. cans Shasta Twist,  Diet Cola! Membership is not required for entrance during open house.

Big Lots! Black Friday Sneak Peak!!

Open Thanksgiving 7am-8pm, Friday 6am-11pm, Saturday 7am-11pm

Friday:
AC Delco batteries, AA/AAA 20 pk 5.00 - 5.00 Mail in rebate = FREE!
Sleepy Time Snoozem Pal 10.00, save 50%

Saturday:
Jazz Digital Camcorder, 5 mp, 4X zoom, still photos and video, supports SD card up to 8 GB (sold separately) 18.88, save 62 %

Rite Aid Black Friday Sneak Peak!!

Lots of FREE and Money Makers!!

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I can't tell if their hours will be different though. View the ad here. Some of the good deals with coupons/rebates/+UPS are:

Colgate Total toothpaste and 360 toothbrushes $.77 each, limit 2, 

buy one of each and 

use Colgate Total Rite Aid Video Values $1/1

use Colgate 360 Rite Aid Video Values $1/1

use SS 11/14/10 insert coupon $1/1

Total OOP = FREE + possible $1.46 Money Maker

Oberto Beef Jerky 2/$5-$2 +UPS wyb 2 = 3.00 after reward, like paying $1.50 each!!

Gillette Sensor, Custom Plus, Simply Venus 4-ct. disposable, limit 3 $5.49-$2.50 +UPS = $2.99 after reward!!

Edy's Ice Cream 1.5 quart 2.99 and $1.00 +ups

buy 2 and 

use $1/1 from All You Mag. October 2010

total OOP = 4.98

get 2 1.00 +ups = 2.98 after reward for 2!!

Kitchen Elite 5-cup coffee maker, 2-slice Toaster, and Dry/Steam/Spray Iron 7.77-2.00 +ups = 5.77 after reward!!

Conair Dryer, Straightener, Hair Cut Kit

Revlon Pink Dryer, Straightener

= 9.99-5.00 +ups =4.99 after reward!!

Kellogg's cereal - Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran, Apple Jacks

1.99-1.00 +ups, limit 4 offers

Best Scenario

buy 3 Froot Loops or Apple Jacks

5.97

use  1.50/3 RP 11/14

total OOP = 4.47, plus get (3) $1.00 +ups, so 1.47 or .49 each after rewards!!

Rite Aid butter cookie tins 1.88-1.00 +ups, limit 2, so .88 each after rewards!!

Cottonelle double roll bath tissue, 4 pk

Cottonelle moist wipes, 42 ct.

Kleenex facial tissue, white, 200 ct.

Splash n' Go wipes

1.88 each - 1.00 +ups

Scenarios: 

buy 2 Cottonelle wipes = 3.76

use1/1 RA Video Value 

use (2) SS 11/7 .50/1

total oop = 1.76, and after (2) rewards it's a possible money maker!!

buy 3 Kleenex = 5.64

use .50/3 SS 11/7/10

use 1.00/1 RA Video Value

total oop = 4.14 and after (3) rewards it's like paying .38 each!!

Hershey's, Reese's, M&M Mars, Nestle single serve candy bars 2/1.00 -1.00 +ups wyb 2, limit 5 offers

FREE after rewards!!

Carmex Lip Balm 2/1.00

use .30/1 SS 11/7/10

total oop = .20 cents each!!

Crest 3D Whitestrips, Professional Effects, 20 ct. 43.99-10.00 +ups, limit 2

use 10.00/1 P&G Homemailer Books or PG 10/31/10 insert

like paying 23.99 after reward!

Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion, 10 oz. 2.99-2.00 +ups

use 1.00/1 RP11/14

like getting it FREE after reward!!

Old Spice High Endurance and Secret Invisible Solid, 2/5.00-3.00 +ups wyb 2

There are some coupons for Old Spice that make it cheap, but the best scenario is for Secret.

buy 2 and use 2.00/1 Homemailer book

use 1.00/1 What Matters Most Mailer

total oop = 2.00, and it's a possible money maker after rewards!!

Got2B Hairstylers (excludes glue stylers) 4.99-4.99 SCR, limit 1 rebate

use 2.00/1 from All You Mag. from Sept/Oct/Dec issues

use 2.00/1 RA Video Value

$4.00 money maker after SCR!!

Noxzema disposable razors 3.99-3.00 SCR = .99 after rebate!!, limit 1 rebate

Philips 3 Device Remote Control or Ear Bud with Case 4.99-4.99 SCR = FREE after SCR, limit 1 rebate

50"x60" fleece blankets 1.99 - 1.00 +ups = .99 after rewards

Leave me comments and let me know how you do! Don't forget to post your pics of your deals too! I would also love it if someone sees a mistake to let me know! 

Free Hallmark Purchase!

Click here if you're a mom or are going to be and get your in-store coupon for $10 off a $10 purchase! Hurry up and get it!
Thanks Frugal Living NW!!

Giving

As the holidays approach, I worry that our family won't have enough money this year to meet the demands of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We have had a hard time adjusting to me not working this year. Eventually, we will fall into a good groove and be able to adjust to it. But, what worries me a lot too, is that there are other families that have it 100 times harder than our family. I am eternally grateful that my husband has a good job and that we have a roof over our heads and that I have the skills to save tons of money and keep food on the table every day. So, I encourage you to participate in the many food drives you will be asked to participate in, volunteer your time to wrap presents or deliver food baskets, or help cook meals at your church for the needy. Helping doesn't always mean giving money away. Sometimes it just means giving someone an ear to talk into. Donate used coats and go through your kids' toy bins and donate what they no longer play with or want to places gathering things like that. Some places will accept gently used or new toys and books. It is also a great way to teach your children community service. Let us not forget others this year. Helping others in your community is a reward in itself!

BOGO Starbucks Coffee Today!!

Okay moms! Today you can get a free holiday coffee from Starbucks when you buy another! There is no coupon necessary, so hurry in today to get yours! Plus send the code "12DAYS" to 29943 so you can get a new offer each day from Starbucks for the 12 days of Christmas!

Baking Bread and Pie

Last night, while preparing some apples given to me by a gracious friend for apple crisp and apple pie filling, I realized that I should really be baking at least one thing per day. I know I'll need to get up earlier in the morning, but I think it'll be worth it. Today, I'm going to bake some bread and prepare pie crust. Tomorrow, I'm going to bake some granola bars or bagels. I thought things like this would be hard to do, but I found recipes for each, and they look pretty simple enough to do. The fact that baking my families food from scratch has some perks, too. I know what's in it. No chemicals or preservatives. They're healthier too! Baking can also create family time. Last night my son helped me core and slice all of the apples while I peeled. Since I don't own a countertop peeler, his help made the time slip right on by. I used the time to teach him a little about cooking and talk to him about some things we needed to catch up on. Since today's a day off for him, I'm sure he and my 3 year old will be helping with the bread too!

This book looks like a great book to own if you're planning on baking your own bread. It has tips, recipes, etc designed to help. I noticed it is 51% off right now!

Giveaway: Cynthia's Elegant Cakes dessert cake!! Valid until Nov.19th

Cynthia's Elegant Cakes offers some beautiful designs and scrumptious desserts. Her specialty is wedding cakes, but she does offer a wide variety of other desserts, such as cherry chocolate cheesecake, cupcakes, petit fours, muffins, birthday, anniversary and event cakes. Her business is gaining rapid acknowledgement all around Eastern Oregon and Washington and she has offered up a dessert just for one lucky winner! It's a $30.00 value! Be sure to enter this one!

1) Make sure each comment includes your name and email address so I can notify you that you're a winner!

2) Follow my blog and subscribe to my newsfeed or email, then leave me a comment letting me know you've done this. If you've already done this, leave me a comment letting me know.

3) Follow me on twitter and let me know by leaving me another comment. If you're already a follower, leave me a comment letting me know.

4)  Optional:  Because the point of this giveaway is to draw more followers to my blog so they too can save money and time in our area, you also need to refer a friend who will follow my blog and enter the giveaway. Your friend must leave a comment in their first comment (step 1) that they were referred by (username).

Each comment is an entry to the giveaway, so start referring!! You must be 18 years of age or older and live close enough (she is located in Hermiston, Oregon) to pick up the cake in order to enter and/or be eligible. The winner will be chosen by random and must have included his or her email on each comment. Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to claim winning giveaway or another winner will be selected. Be sure to check back often for more giveaways and contests to enter! I've got some great ones coming up this week!

Giveaway entry time period: accepted until November 19th 2010, 11:59 p.m.

Finally! Good luck!

The Art of the Crock Pot

I am getting into the habit now of having meals planned out as far as I can and decided to browse through my Crock Pot recipe books. When I turned to the recipes for desserts I couldn't believe my mouth...um, I mean my eyes! I started salivating even more with each page I turned, with the expectation that the next recipe would be even yummier looking, and I was not disappointed. Most of the recipes use simple ingredients that are in most household cupboards, and only need 2-5 hours in the crock pot. Now that's sweet for me since I usually forget to go in the kitchen when I need to to get it started .so when a recipe calls for 8-10 hours and I have to drag myself out of bed to get the ingredients in the pot on time there are lots of times I don't make it. Some of the most tantalizing recipes had names like Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Cake, Caramel Apple Pound Cake (might try this one today), Steamed Southern Sweet Potato Custard, and Cinn-Sational Swirl Cake. With recipes like this, I can't go wrong for dessert. I can't wait for a holiday dinner and show off dessert made in a crock pot!! Which recipes are your favorite for the crock pot?

Coupon Basics: Getting Started, Part 2

Getting started with couponing and creating a stockpile can look like a daunting task when you realize how long it takes to clip an entire coupon insert with the assumption that clipping them will save you time. For me, clipping them takes so much time because I buy multiple Sunday newspaper issues, which can turn into hours of unnecessary time away from my family, college course work, and other demands of being me. It took me an incredibly long time to figure out a system that worked for me because I just thought that all coupon pros clipped all of their coupons. My search for a good system sent me to forums, searches, and websites selling their coupon products. I ended up designing my own binder system and have received many compliments on it while shopping, as well as from other pros. I was still clipping all of my coupons though, and spending a lot of time doing it...still. I was pulling my hair out at the end of the Sunday nights when I realized that I didn't get anything done on my to-do list and that I still had to go to bed and get some needed rest for work the next day. I had dreams of clipping coupons, sorting coupons, matching coupons, building coupon scenarios. Coupons were becoming my nightmare! I didn't want to give up though, so I kept at it and slowly but surely I am developing a system I've had in place now for about 6 months. I had to take stock of all my types of coupons (inserts, homemailers, booklets, peelies, etc.) and decide how I could best store them in an accessible way that would not require pre-clipping them. I gathered up some supplies I had already laying around the house, and organized them according to type. I wrote on the top of each insert with a Sharpie (first making sure I'm not writing on the back side of a coupon on the reverse side of the page), and grouped them together by date. I store all of my other types of coupons in an expandable file box. My coupon binder still gets used too, since I can use it for loose coupons, such as peelies, wine tags, and coupons I clipped intending to use, but ended up not using once I got to the store. I have a coupon center...sort of. Actually, it's my craft, card-making, textbook, school supply, coupon center. But hey, it's my center, and it saves me time...and money.

Cheapskate's First Giveaway!

The giveaway will include a box of full-size products and samples from my stockpile for ONE lucky person! It's pretty easy to enter. You must follow all steps to be eligible and the deadline is November 12th 11:59 p.m. Just follow these easy steps to be eligible:

1) Make sure each comment includes your name and email address so I can notify you that you're a winner!

2) Follow my blog and subscribe to my newsfeed or email, then leave me a comment letting me know you've done this. If you've already done this, leave me a comment letting me know.

3) Follow me on twitter and let me know by leaving me another comment. If you're already a follower, leave me a comment letting me know.

4) Because the point of this giveaway is to draw more followers to my blog so they too can save money and time in our area, you also need to refer a friend who will follow my blog and enter the giveaway. Your friend must leave a comment in their first comment (step 1) that they were referred by (username).

Each comment is an entry to the giveaway, so start referring!! You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the Continental United States to enter and/or be eligible. The winner will be chosen by random and must have included his or her email on each comment. Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to claim winning giveaway or another winner will be selected. Be sure to check back often for more giveaways and contests to enter! I've got some great ones coming up this week!

Finally! Good luck!

Cheap Family Fun!!!!

The Power Team is coming to Hermiston High School in the Commons on November 18th thru Nov. 21st from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each night!!! It's just a $2.00 suggested donation at the door. This strength building, worship team has several members who are world record holders and they have been featured on several networks, such as ABC, ESPN, and more. I know I'm sure to be there with my kids since their last show they put on in Hermiston was fantastic!

Free Movie for Kids

This year, Hermiston Stadium 8 is offering "Despicable Me" as their FREE Holiday Movie Event! This is a great opportunity to see the movie and parents are welcome with their kids. Kids receive FREE popcorn and pop! A food donation is appreciated and it will benefit our local food bank, but it is not required in order to view the movie.
It's showing on November 13th at 9:00 a.m. The doors will open at 8:15, so make sure you get there early!
http://hermistonchamber.chambermaster.com/directory/jsp/events/EventPage.jsp?ccid=473&eventid=1757

Coupon Basics: Getting Started, Part 1

The question I asked myself when I began couponing, and the one many have asked me advice on is: Where do I get all the coupons I need to get started? It's really not that difficult to build up a pile of them. It will take time to get coupons for some things, like that Febreeze sale you wanted to hit but don't have the inserts needed to get it for free. Here's a list of places, ways to begin your stockpile of coupons right away:
1) Sunday newspapers (usually the bigger the area, the better the coupons). For eastern Oregon, it's gonna be The Oregonian. Sometimes, our local papers are missing vital coupons. If you're from the Tri-Cities area, get the Seattle or Spokane paper. Don't forget to check the Parade section!

2) All You magazine - It has a coupon on nearly every page and you can pick it up at Walmart for 2.49, less their magazine discount or subscribe. For now, I would pick one up, but also subscribe. There are discounts all of the time online for it. Scour any magazines you have in your house since a lot of magazines now put coupons in them. Good ones are Good Housekeeping, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens.

3) Your local supermarkets/drug stores for booklets, peelies, and wine tags. I do not promote taking peelies off of items you aren't purchasing, but if you are purchasing something with them on it, make sure you sift through all of the available boxes to make sure there is a peelie on each item. Booklets are often placed on shelves near products or at the check stands. Wine tags are usually hanging from wine, olive oil, dressings, etc. and are coupons or rebates. When you check out, make sure you don't leave your catalinas behind since they are usually combinable with store coupons and manufacturer's coupons.

4) Now what I'm about to type might gross some of you out, but if you are desperate, you might try it out: Dumpster diving...well, really...recycle bin diving. You'd be surprised how many people throw out completely intact coupons in the recycle bin because they don't use them. There's nothing illegal about it. It's not gross, but you might want to wear gloves just in case. And yes...I have done it, to my kids' embarrassment. Most of the time, the papers in the bins are not even opened or even read.

Now, here are some suggestions for building your coupon stockpile in a slower way, but still highly recommended.:

1) Go online to your favorite manufacturer's websites to sign up for free samples and coupons. Some good ones are: PGesaver, Hunt's, Kraft, Kellogg's, Betty Crocker, Arm and Hammer. There is a website for almost everything you want to get a coupon for, so just google the brand and I'm sure you can find it!

2) Print coupons online from sites like www.coupons.com, www.redplum.com, www.smartsource.com, or directly from the brand site. Some stores, such as Safeway have printables too.

3) Add e-coupons to your shopping cards through www.cellfire.com, www.pgeversaver.com, and www.shortcuts.com.

4) Buy online from e-Bay and other sites.

5) Trade in special forums, such as www.hotcouponworld.com or with other coupon groups locally or online.

6) If you have a Rite Aid, join the Wellness Club and start watching videos in their Video Values section. These are usually really great coupons.