I think this is such a great idea! ItsGravyBaby.com gives you step by step instructions on how to make a homemade water wall out of recycled materials. I can imagine kids would love to play with this!
Thanks, Money Saving Mom!
Free 4-Week Online Profitable Blogging Class! Sign ups End June 25, 2012
June 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Through June 25, 2012, Blogelina is offering her 4-Week Online Profitable Blogging for Beginners class for free. If you’re considering the possibility of starting your own blog or if you’re a new blogger who would like to take it to the next level this class may be perfect for you.
To sign scroll to the bottom and fill out your name and email address at the bottom of this page.
When you sign up for the free Profitable Blogging Class, you’ll get:
- One free year of web hosting
- Four weekly online class sessions
- Plus, a class manual
You’ll learn:
- How to Get Your Blog Started on the Right Foot
- Questions to Ask As You Begin blogging
- How to Choose a Web Host for Your Blog
- Why Your Blog Design is So Important
- 9 Different Ways to Easily Monetize Your Blog
- How to Draw Visitors to Your Blog
Sign up for the free Profitable Blogging for Beginners here. If any of you have taken this class before please feel free to share your feedback!
Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas!
June 11, 2012 by 9 Comments
It’s that time of year again- the beginning of summer, which means lots of barbecues, graduation parties, beach trips, and of course, Father’s Day. It’s coming up this Sunday, which means you have a little less than a week to get everything together for your husband, father, or other important man in your life. So what to get Dad on a tight schedule? Here are some great last minute gift ideas!
1. Tickets to a Sporting Event
Does your Dad or husband love sports? Then tickets to a baseball or soccer game would be a perfect gift! (Bonus points if you also love sports and would accompany him to the event)! There’s nothing quite like a relaxing day at the ballpark, so give your man the gift of sports. Throw in some team merchandise, like a jersey or baseball cap, to add even more value to the gift and help Dad show his support for the home team. If you’re worried about tickets taking too long in the mail, many websites have a print-at-home option that will give you tickets in hand in 30 seconds.
2. A Solid Watch
Every man needs a versatile, stylish, yet classic watch that can be worn for both work and play. Look for a great mid-range watch that will stand up over the years yet also be affordable for you. Deep Blue watches, like the one pictured right, range in price from about $200 to $700 and are noted for their incredible durability. Invicta is another superb brand in that price range. Shop around online at sites like ShopNBC to gauge prices, read reviews, and ensure a quick delivery. No matter what watch you decide, Dad is sure to relish such a thoughtful and useful gift!
3. Golf Equipment/Attire
Got a golfing fanatic on your hands? There’s no better place to shop than a retailer like Golfsmith, where you can get golf clubs, apparel, and anything else he’ll need on the course. Indulge his inner golf pro with a unique gift. If you have siblings, see if they’ll go in on a new set of clubs with you to give the ultimate golf gift.
Whatever you choose, your father or husband will be sure to appreciate the thoughtfulness and effort behind any gift. But if you’re quickly running out of time and ideas, try one of the above suggestions for an unforgettable (and quick!) Father’s Day present.
Benefits of Emergency Food Storage
June 2, 2012 by 9 Comments
One of my goals I have is to prepare long-term food storage for my family. I currently have about 6 weeks worth of food but I have some friends that have 3 months worth. Some families even have enough food for a year or more! There are quite a few benefits to having an emergency food storage plan and I want to share with you a few of my personal reasons with you.
Lower Grocery Bill
Using wise food storage techniques can shave a significant amount of money off your grocery bill. You can buy in bulk, divide large purchases of meat with friends, can your own food, and buy items at their rock bottom price.
Health Benefits
Personally, when I have items on hand it’s much easier to prepare meals and I’m less tempted to go out for dinner. When I cook at home I make healthier choices than I would if we ate out. I can easily implement grains, legumes, and spices that have great health benefits I won’t find in processed foods.
Emergency Benefits
It seems there are natural disasters occurring all the time in the US. Having a food storage plan in place would allow your family the resources you need in case of an emergency. I hate to say it but with the way the job market is looking it could be possible that a family would have to live off of their stockpile because of a job loss. An emergency food plan should include a variety of healthy, nutritious foods that can easily be accessed. Hopefully your food storage will remain on your shelves {as you regularly rotate products in and out} and you’ll never have to fully rely on it. I would feel at peace having a security net though just in case!
I know how to stock up on finds from “extreme couponing” trips but I would love any information you have on how to build a food stockpile. Does your family can food that you grow yourself? Do you prepare frozen meals? Have you ever bought in bulk and split it with friends? I’m excited to build my stockpile and I would love any tips you have to share!
Mommy-to-Be Hospital Packing List and Tips
May 28, 2012 by 3 Comments
This is a guest post from my blogging friend, Jamie! Since my baby is coming upon her 1 year birthday I’m looking back at my hospital visit with a lot of fond memories. I’ll interject a few comments of my own in teal throughout her post. If you enjoyed the post or think of another “must have” to add to the list please leave us a comment. I’ll turn it over to Jamie now.
I have a few friends who are about to be new mothers (how exciting!) and some that just became new mothers. I have been asked a few times about the best items to pack for your trip to the hospital and things to do or remember beforehand and after. I love helping new moms so I decided to put this packing list together, along with a few tips for when you bring baby home and before you even leave for the hospital. To print this list off please click on the green “Print Friendly” button beneath this post. I hope you find it helpful. *These statements are my opinions and I am in no way a professional.
Things to do before you leave:
- Install baby car seat (Weeks before, you’ll think these things were invented by NASA!)
- Have both you, your partners, and baby’s bags ready to go weeks before!
- Buy travel size everything if possible
- Buy extra SD cards, batteries and phone cards. (If applicable)
- Buy Disposable Cameras
- Buy Baby Book {Have it open to the foot stamp page so the nurses can quickly do this stamp for you!}
- Buy Journal (Optional)
- Buy paper plates, plastic cups, and utensils if you can. You will not feel like dishes when you first come home.
- Buy extra sheets for bassinet and/or crib (you will thank me later.) {Layer the bed with a waterproof pad, sheet, waterproof pad, sheet, etc. so you can easily peel off dirty layers in the middle of the night}
- Have care lined up for pets
- Try to get things organized and tell your husband where everything is for you and baby. You may be sore esp. for c-section moms and will not feel like getting up and searching for things.
- Have everything in place for baby. {If the rest of your house is a mess, make the baby’s room a place of solitude. You’ll need all the order you can get in your life.}
- Have a pediatrician picked if possible and all info ready.
- Have the house stocked up with groceries. You will not want to have to go grocery shopping with a newborn! {Yes! Frozen meals are divine!}
- Have a babysitter or help lined up for the siblings if need be.
- C-section moms, if you have a high bed, get a step stool. Trust me.
Items to Pack for You and Husband:
- Camera, batteries/charger, & extra SD card.
- Camcorder & charger {A cord to connect your camera to share pictures on your laptop}
- Disposable Camera (Just in case technology isn’t perfect because you don’t want to lose those precious moments.)
- Cell Phones (For both you and your husband) & chargers.
- Phone Card (If needed)
- Lap Top (Optional) and charger
- List of Important Phone Numbers {Don’t forget to call your photographer. They like to schedule a newborn shoot before a baby is two weeks old}
- Things to entertain you and your husband. Books, mags, laptop, etc. (I had 23 hours of labor with my first son, you could be there a while.) {We found iPad games to come in handy during this time}
- Lip Balm (Your lips can get pretty dry and chapped when your huffing, puffing, and pushing.)
- Mints or Gum ( Some hospitals will not allow you to eat or drink ESP for C-sections, so this will help curve hunger and keep your mouth moist if they allow it.) {I devoured Jolly Ranchers. I’ll never eat one again without thinking of my sweet baby!}
- Pads (LOTS of pads, you will have a pretty decent amount of bleeding after.)
- GRANNY Panties in a size or two larger than normal. Especially for C-sections, you do not want them rubbing your stitches. Bring EXTRAS.)
- Comfy BIG Pant (You will hold water for a few days and your tummy will sit different, even the pants you wore when you came in may not fit the same. I recommend big PJ pants with elastic cotton band.)
- Slippers or Flip Flops. Weather Permitting (Your feet will swell afterward and regular shows won’t feel comfy.)
- Nursing Pads (Even if you do not breast feed.)
- A couple change of clothes for you and your husband.
- All toiletries for you AND you husband (Shampoo & Conditioner, Soap, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Brush, Make-up, ect.)
- Blow Dryer and/or Straightener (Optional)
- Night Shirt (If you do not want to wear a gown.)
- Belly Band (Optional)
- Change for Vending Machine and Money for Cafeteria/Parking
- ID (Driver License)
- Insurance Cards
- Glasses (if needed)
- Bath Robe (Optional)
- Your Own Pillow and Blanket (Optional) {I brought my favorite soft throw and it was a comfort to cuddle with}
- Bathing Suit for Partner (Optional for Water Birth)
- Note Pad and Pencil {To write down important stuff & sweet memories.}
- Snacks for your husband and you afterward.
- Large Envelope or a folder for all the documents the hospital will give you.
If you plan to Breast Feed:
- Nipple Cream (Just in case.)
- Breast Pump (You many need it to help you produce and get started. My hospital supplied one.)
- Nursing Bra
- Nursing Top (Optional)
If a sibling will be present:
- Things for them to sleep on
- Gift
- Change of clothes
- Activities to keep busy
For Baby:
- Diaper Bag
- Diapers (Hospital may provide SOME. Bring some size 1 ALSO. My boys were big (9lbs.) and did not fit into Newborn!)
- Wipes
- Vaseline (For boys being circumcised)
- Gauze (For boys being circumcised)
- Going Home Outfit {Make sure it has legs so they’ll fit nicely in the car seat. I also got one that snapped all the way up so I didn’t have to fit it over her tiny head.}
- Bottles (If not nursing)
- Formula (Hospital may provide.)
- Pacifier or Binky
- Blanket
- Sleepers
- Hats/Beanies
- Burp Clothes
- Socks
- Mittens (Their nails are long when they are born. They will scratch their little faces.)
- Anything for pictures. (Accessories and such.)
- Baby Book (For prints and to write things down.)
- Anything you want their prints on.
- Car Seat and INSTALLED Base
- A Preemie Outfit (Optional) (My boys were both 9 lbs. and new born clothes were still to big!)
For Pets:
- Have someone bring a piece of babies clothing or blanket home before baby to introduce baby’s scent to pets.
- Have someone let out and take care of pets while you’re away.
- Have thank you cards and a gift on hand for after you’re back home.
Tips for when you come home:
- Have everything organized in the baby’s room so you won’t be up in the middle of the night searching for it. Gather and organize diapers, wipes, burp clothes, extra sheets, blankets, diaper rash cream, etc.
- Sleep when the baby sleeps if you can!
- Get on a sleep schedule as soon as possible!
Did we leave anything off the list? If you have an questions or comments please leave a comment below!
Jamie is a mother of two boys, ages 1 and 3. She is married to her high school sweetheart. Currently she is a stay at home mom going to school and running the blog Money Saving Mommas and Poppas. Here you will find ways to stay frugal, hot coupons, frugal cleaning tips, DIY projects, giveaways, reviews and more! Everything you need to help you be a frugal Momma or Poppa!
Remember, this while in labor. The pain you’re feeling can’t compare to the joy that is coming!
Minted Manicures
May 27, 2012 by 4 Comments
The latest trend in nail polish is minted manicures. It will keep your tips looking like a million bucks and leave others green with envy. Mint can be subtle or sharp, but it’s perfect to accent your summer florals. Whether you wear an aquamarine shade or stay true to a pistachio hue, your minted nails will have you in style for the rest of the season.
- NARS Cosmetics nail polish in Kutki, $18
- Essie nail in Turquoise & Caicos, $8
- Forever 21 mint green nail polish in Minted Mean, $2.80
- Illamasqua matte finish nail polish in Nomad, $14
- L Oréal Paris nail polish in Club Prive, $5.99
- Deborah Lippmann glitter nail polish in Mermaid’s Dream, $18
- Revlon nail polish in Minted, $5.49
- China Glaze nail polish in For Audrey, $4.76
- Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquer in Baby Blue, $6.99
- Opi nail lacquer in Mermaid’s Tears, $16 {My personal favorite and can be seen in this Dyson post here if you look close!}
The 5 “S”s to Savings
May 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
If you have been thinking about starting you & your family on a shopping budget, then couponing is definitely something you should look into doing. Couponing is a great way to save a few bucks at the grocery store. Just remember, you don’t need to start out buying 30 bottles of mustard, start small, and evaluate your family’s needs. If you’re a beginner couponer, here are some tips you might find helpful:
Search – Where to get my coupons?
Well, this would be the best (and obvious) place to start because without coupons you simply cannot save money on groceries. You should definitely also take advantage of printing coupons off the internet. You are allowed 2 prints per coupon per computer. There are also a few other ways you can get your coupons besides just buying newspapers. Check out Embracing Beauty’s post Where to Find Coupons for more creative ideas.
Sample – Try new things
The one thing I have learned from years of couponing is that you have to be open to trying new brands and products. First off, you will save more money and second, you will open your mind (and tummy) to products you never knew existed. For example, my household were Scott’s snobs (yes I’m talking about TP), until one week my store ran a sale on Marcal (it was during dollar days) so essentially, the Marcal TP was FREE, so I decided to try some, we used it and liked it, we saved a ton of money and tried something new! Now if someone asks if I’m brand loyal, I always say “Yes, to whichever brand is on sale that week!”
Schedule Meals – Plan ahead
Planning your weekly menu, based on the coupons you have, is another great way to maximize your savings. For Example: I purchased Chicken Thighs for $0.69 lb for a 4 lb package (when it was on sale) at that price, I bought 4 packages. Then I cut up some Onions ($1.49 Bag) Carrots ($0.75 Bag) I added some spices and put it in the crock pot. I made enough that I froze the remaining leftover for another day in the week. Total spent making that meal, $5.00!!!
Stockpiling
When we are able to purchase products for free or at a very low price we purchase multiple items of it. Sales of products go in cycles. If you’ve got a coupon for basic non-perishable items such as toothpaste, Toilet paper and paper towels, take advantage of them even if you aren’t running low on supplies yet. There’s nothing wrong with stocking up on some items if you know you’ll eventually use them.
Savings
Remember that the ultimate goal behind couponing is to save money! Just because there is a coupon, don’t feel obligated to use it. You maximize your savings by pairing up your coupons with your store’s sale cycle. Always remember, if you do overbuy (which I think all of us do when we first start out) it’s OK, you can donate what you will not use before expiration to a charity.
This is a guest post from B and V Savings. They strive to bring you the very best (and most reliable) coupons, samples and freebies around. Together they have saved their families over $6500.00+ in groceries. Their goal is to spread their knowledge and provide tools to help you save!
Why Beauty Vanishes When Debt Takes Over
May 17, 2012 by 2 Comments
There are a lot of headlines making the news about the impact debt and bad credit is
having on families and society as a whole. Desperate people are doing desperate things
to get money they need to satisfy their own financial problems. People are developing
more mental health issues and stress-related medical conditions due to the constant
worry over financial stability. If you are one who also loses sleep at night due to your
big pile of bills, it is time to start reversing your bad money habits so you can live a
wealthier and healthier future.
Reality of Debt
If you have ever had a bill collector ringing your phone twenty times a day or live with
the fear of having your car repossessed because you can’t pay your bills, you likely
understand the constant strain individuals live with daily. This stress can make it difficult
for you to even get out of bed in the morning or even go to sleep at night. Not only does
bad money management keep you from getting financially ahead, it places a great toll
on your physical health.
Stress can do a number on your body. Not only do you develop the dark, foreboding
circles under your eyes and may find yourself sick more often, you also are likely to
become anxious, eat poorly, and stop practicing your healthy habits. Stress over your
finances often leads to depression, especially when the money troubles have become
so bad, you don’t know where to turn.
Adding insult to injury, your credit score suffers greatly every time you miss a bill
payment or default entirely. This leads to your having to spend more just to get the
basic services you need in life like car insurance and utilities. You credit score is a very
important factor in your overall financial health and if it remains compromised by your
poor financial management, your overall physical and mental health will begin to suffer
as greatly.
Adding Salt to the Wound
When you live stressed out about your money issues, you will look and feel much older
than you are and that stress will begin to take a toll on your body. Your propensity
for being sick more often or developing more serious medical conditions is a reality
you’ll have to face. Stress causes your body to use a lot of its resources very fast. It’s
an innate reaction that dates back from the days when people needed to fight or run
in order to survive. The problem comes when stress turns your body into offensive/
defensive mode so often that it ends up wasting all available resources until you get
completely exhausted. And that is when aging and diseases can hit you the worst.
Medical treatment will start to add more debt to your growing pile and eventually you
may find yourself totally out of control with nowhere to turn. Once you have begun this
vicious cycle of debt and stress, your credit score will also fail you and make it next to
impossible to get the financial help you need.
The only way to stop the madness is to stop doing what you are doing. If you find your
current actions are making things worse, it is time to change your habits. Stop impulsive
spending and start budgeting every penny that comes into your household. As soon as
you see the effect of improving your personal finance habits, it will be much easier for
you to keep a cool head even when new problems hit you.
Financial Freedom Starts Here
Once you commit to turning things around, you need to start tracking every cent you
spend on a daily basis for a period of 30 days or more. You will need to always carry a
small notebook and pen wherever you go and account for all spending including your
morning coffee and newspaper. You have to be consistent and dedicated with this
tracking if you want accurate, reliable information to help you learn better money habits.
Tracking your spending is often an enlightening process as many people have no
real idea of how much their miscellaneous spending adds up to at the end of a month
or even a year. Small items are often overlooked but can be a real turning point in
reconstructing your finances if you stop buying and start saving.
After the 30 days of consistent expense tracking is over, go back and add up all your
expenses in different categories like gasoline, entertainment, food, and clothing to find
out how much of your money you are putting out there. Try splitting things into smaller
categories to figure out how every type of purchase affects your bunged. When the
totals are done, think about how much different your life would be if you saved $225 a
month rather than spending it on fast food and stuff you don’t need to survive.
It can be difficult to change your habits so start small, changing one bad money habit at
a time. This will help you incorporate better habits into your financial life and allow you
to clear up your existing debts. You can worry less and enjoy a healthier life without the
stress and strain ruining your life, your looks, your health, and your overall well-being.
This is a guest post written by Eliza Collins, a professional writer specialized in the
personal finance space. Eliza’s experience includes working for financial institutions,
private debt relief companies as well as years of balancing the family budget. You can
read more of her articles at the debt settlement blog.
Canadian Coupon Codes: CouponCodes.ca
May 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Recently, I’ve been asked by readers to post Canadian freebies, giveaways, coupons, & deals. I had no idea I had so many Canadian readers. *Waves hand* Welcome, we’re very glad to have you here!
While I have an amazing resource for US readers for coupon codes I don’t have anything on Embracing Beauty for Canadian readers. What? You haven’t heard about our enormous coupon code database powered by Savings.com? You need to check it out! You can easily check out the top deals of the day or you could search by deal category {toys, beauty, or flowers for example}, or by the online store you’re needing a coupon code for. This is a tremendous resource right here at your fingertips! Simply click here to go to our coupon code database or go to our menu and hover over the word “Coupons” and scroll down to click “Coupon Code Database.”
Now, for our Canadian friends, I have a coupon code gem for you! Couponcodes.ca. This site launched in August of 2011 and already they are working with over a thousand retailers in Canada. You can find online deals for Apple, Dell, Amazon, Ebay, and so many more!
They keep their site full of the latest coupon codes to save you hundreds of dollars a year. You can search under their “Top 50 Deals” to find the hottest deals. You can also search by product name or store name. They even have a “Mother’s Day” tab right now with the best deals for Mother’s Day. Are you worried you’ll miss out on a hot deal for your favorite store? You can register for coupon codes, also known as signing up for their newsletter, to never miss a deal and you’ll also receive exclusive discounts.
If you ever shop online in Canada I highly recommend that you check out CouponCodes.ca for extra savings. You can even “like” CouponCodes.ca on Facebook to stay on top of the best coupon codes!
Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control Test Drive #CrestSponsored
May 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
A month ago I wrote a review of the new Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control line of products which I received to review from Crest and Mom Central Consulting. After using the products for a full month I’m back here to share my thoughts.
The Crest Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control Toothpaste has a pleasant taste that isn’t too overpowering. I love the texture of it! It leaves my teeth feeling unbelievably clean. I never thought I could really have “just from the dentist” feel at home. Everyday.
I’ll be honest, I’m not too picky when it comes to toothbrushes. I want a nice comfortable handle, super soft bristles, and well, that’s about it. The Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical Pro-Flex Toothbrush was very nice though! The handle is comfortable with the squishy little grippies that I like. You know the ones. The head on the toothbrush is raised slightly to give it a good angle and it’s flexible to reach all those hard to reach spots. I’ve been consciously brushing in circles because I know it’s suppose to clean better and be gentler on my gums. I’m pretty proud that I’m now doing that which I thought a month ago was an impossible task. It’s so much easier to go back and forth, you know?
I know I said in my previous post that I still preferred woven floss to Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Clinical Protection Floss but I have since changed my opinion! My husband disagrees and still loves his woven floss better because he can grip it easier but I love this floss because it never, ever hurts my gums. Remember recently when I was in the hospital for a week or so? I was able to brush daily but I didn’t bother with flossing or mouth wash. When I came home I immediately started back with my plaque control routine and my gums didn’t bleed at all! If I had used any other floss on the market my sensitive gums would have at least bled for the first two days.
Last but not least, the Crest Pro-Health Clinical Rinse! My husband insists on the floss, brush, rinse method and I prefer the brush, floss, and rinse method. My method makes sense, right? You get the majority of nastiness off, floss in the crevices to get the leftovers, and them you use mouth wash to rinse it away. My dentist said that it doesn’t matter which order you do the three steps as long as you do them but I still think my way is right. : ) I like the Pro-Health Clinical Rinse! My teeth feel clean afterwards without a burning sensation on my mouth and gums.
All in all, I think the Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health products are great! If you’re unhappy with your current regimen you should look into these products. I can also tell you that I’ve found a couple great deals on these products in the last month so the price is right if you look for the deals!
Disclosure: “I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and Oral-B and received product samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a promotional gift to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
