Super-cheap kitchen decorations

Recently, I found myself browsing through some personalized vinyl decals (they were part of a SaveMore deal) and found one that I LOVED! Unfortunately, my oldest daughter's name had too many characters to fit their design so I wasn't able to purchase it.

Since I'm pretty frugal and pretty crafty, I decided to whip up something myself. It's a fork, a spoon, and three sporks. Each utensil has a family member's name on it (I'm the spoon, lol). I think it will look great hanging in the kitchen. I haven't decided if I'm putting it in a 5-photo frame (shown below) or into 5 individual frames, but I'm getting all of my 4x6 prints for free at Target this weekend (click here for the free photo offer).

I loved the design from Sissy Little (left), but I also love the framed images. So... why am I telling you this??? I'm telling you this because YOU can create your own art... for pennies!!!! If I go with the cheap, black IKEA frames, this will look great and, in total, only will have cost me less than $9 to have cute, personalized art in my kitchen.

20 FREE Prints at Target Photo

Target has 4x6 prints on sale for 10¢ each this week. Print this coupon to save $2 off 20 or more photo prints at Target and you’ll get 20 FREEBIES!

$10 Chili's gift card for only $5

SaveMore has a $10 Chili's gift card for only $5 today. This is an awesome deal and will probably sell out! Click here to order yours. FYI: You can't use your referral credits or sign-up credits to purchase this deal.

While we're on the subject of Chili's, click here to sign up for their email club to get a coupon for a FREE chips & queso!

Sun-Dried Tomato and Artichoke Chicken Paninis

I'm loving sharing all of my favorite recipes with you. This one is a definite "keeper" and great for lunch guests! We had these sandwiches tonight with Ore Ida Sweet Potato Fries- yum!

Here is the recipe for the Chicken Artichoke Panini.
The recipe includes how to prepare the chicken as well as how to make the sundried tomato and artichoke goodness. I regularly make just the sundried tomato and artichoke mixture and serve it as a dip with pita chips. It's a little greener than usual in this pic because I got lazy and used the Magic Bullet instead of hand chopping all of the ingredients.

I usually serve mine with homemade rosemary/garlic focaccia bread. You can certainly purchase the bread from the bakery or do it all Sandra Lee style and start with the canned pizza dough and just sprinkle some olive oil, sea salt, FRESH rosemary, and chopped garlic over the top before baking.

Five FREE Blockbuster Express codes!

Click here to view the codes.

Two FREE Chicken Soft Tacos from Del Taco

Click here to sign up for the Del Taco email club. They'll send you a coupon for 2 FREE chicken soft tacos when you sign up AND you get a free drink on your birthday.

How to get a FREE remote controlled helicopter

You all already know how much I LOVE all of the SaveMore deals!!! Today & tomorrow, they've got a remote-controlled helicopter for only $25. This would make a GREAT Christmas gift for the boy (or man) on your list. Twenty-five dollars is a great deal, but here's how you get it for FREE:

1. Click here to sign up for SaveMore. It's free and they'll give you $10 credit just for signing up.

2. Get 2* of your friends to sign up for SaveMore using YOUR referral link and have them take advantage of the FREE re-usable water bottle deal OR the FREE phone cases deal.

3. Within about a half hour (that's the usual time for me anyway), you'll get a $10 credit in your SaveMore account for EACH friend who purchases (or takes advantage of a FREE) SaveMore deal.

How awesome is that?!??!!? You just promote a FREE item that anyone could use and you get an awesome FREE Christmas gift. Yay!

*If you're already a SaveMore member, you'll need to have 3 friends sign up for the freebie deals to have enough credits to get this deal for free.

FREE Prilosec OTC Sample is back!!! These sample sizes are GREAT for keeping in your purse or car!

 

Prilosec OTC is giving out FREE samples again. Just click the "Reqest a FREE sample" button above. I get this one EVERY time it's offered!!!

Would you let your toddler carve a pumpkin??? Check out these kid-friendly jack-o'-lanterns!

Tomorrow is October 1st... that means that it's time for me to start getting crafty for Halloween!!! (Yes, I know that Target has had pre-lit reindeer in the back corner of the store for a few weeks now, but I actually like to give each holiday it's own special time). :)

Anywho, if you're crafty, or even if you're not, check out this FREE EBOOK "11 Easy Halloween Craft Ideas". We're saving our milk jugs to make the Jack-o'-lanterns pictured above. The kids just draw on the front of an empty milk jug and  you put in an led tea light (they're pretty cheap on Amazon- here's a link). I'm thinking this would be a great playdate/halloween party idea. You can even have each kid bring their own empty jug.

Zumba

Ok, so when it comes to rhythm, I'm white like Wonderbread and have NONE... at. all. As much as I want to try Zumba, I'm not keen on making a fool of myself by jiggling my post-pregnancy belly in front of people who are more rhythmic and more in shape, than I am.

Yesterday, I googled "Zumba Free Video" and came across these two videos someone posted on Cafe Mom. I tried them both and actually had fun working out! Once I get the moves down, I may actually venture out and do this with a group... maybe. :)


This one is the 60 min Zumba Basics workout. It's basically an instructional video and breaks down each step. Trust me, this one is still a workout:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/cbZPZEwkFps/

Once you've gotten the moves down, here's the REAL Zumba workout.
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTA1NDI2MzEy.html

 

Two SaveMore Freebies Today!

There are TWO freebies on SaveMore today!!!! You could get either a FREE reusable, collapsable water bottle OR FREE Halloween nail shields.


Click here to check out the deal.

Have you already used your $10 sign up credit??? Here are a few ways to get ANOTHER $10:

1. Click here to sign up using a different email address... OR
   
2. Use your referral link to refer yourself (you'll need another email address for this one as well). When you purchase this deal with your second (new) SaveMore account using the $10 sign-up credit, your old (referring) SaveMore account will receive ANOTHER $10 credit. It's a great way to double-dip!
3. Tell a friend about SaveMore and this freebie. Within about 30 minutes of them signing up, you'll get another $10 credit to use!

Recipe Swap Wednesday: Easy Comfort Food

On the weekends, I love to experiment in the kitchen. Weeknights are a little harder so I prefer to make easier dishes. My friend Jannae gave me this recipe a few years ago and it is seriously one of my favorites. This is now my family's go-to recipe for comfort food and t's at the top of our list for 3 reasons:

1. It's easy to make (only 4ish inexpensive ingredients).
2. It is SO yummy.
3. It's Weight Watchers friendly

Ingredients:

4 boneless chicken breasts (can be frozen)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I use the 98% fat free)
1 16oz container of sour cream (I use the fat free or the reduced fat)
1 packet onion soup mix

Directions:

Put the chicken breasts (frozen is fine, seriously) in the crock pot. Mix the other 3 ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Cook on low for around 8 hours... you can usually give or take an hour in the crock pot- I've gone everywhere from 6-10 hours on this one.

The chicken will have shredded itself while cooking and turned into this chicken stroganoffy yumminess. I usually serve it over rice, but egg noodles work well too. Although I've never tried it, I bet a big 'ol piece of Texas toast wouldn't be a bad option either. We just serve it with some steamed veggies to round out the meal.

If you're looking for a good slow cooker, I have the Hamilton Beach one below. It's got a locking lid and an option for just keeping the food warm. Plus, it comes with a serving spoon to replace the one that just melted in the dishwasher... oops! ;-)



What's your go-to recipe when you're craving an easy comfort food?

$25 Restaurant.com gift card for only $2

It's that time again! Restaurant.com gift certificates are down to 80% off again. I know that they do this about once per month or so, but I've FINALLY figured out the system. The best restaurant gift cards go super quickly when they're at this price (a $25 gift card for only $2).

If you want those great gift cards at the great price, here's what you do... You purchase a Restaurant.com gift card today (not a specific restaurant, just to their website in general). You can get any denomination you want, but I recommend getting the $100 gift card for only $8. They usually re-stock with the best gift cards the day after the 80% off sale ends.

Then, a few minutes before you're ready to go out to dinner, use your restaurant.com credit to purchase a gift certificate to a restaurant. If the 80% off sale is over, you'll have more options, plus this way you get to choose your cuisine based on your appetite, not on your existing gift certificates.

Click here to check out the participating restaurants in your area. You'll need to enter the code TASTY  at checkout to receive the discount.

If you'd like to save even more, you can go through EBATES first and get 15% cash back on your purchase. New EBATES members will also receive $5 when they make their first purchase using EBATES.

Free Tire Rotation from Pep Boys

Print this Pepboys Coupon for Free Brake Inspection, Free Tire Rotation, Free Battery Check, Free Tire Pressure Check, Free 25 Point Inspection!

TWO Super-Cute Bracelets Only $3 Shipped!!!

Every day, I love SaveMore a little bit more!!! You can get TWO of these super-cute bracelets with today's BillyTheTree SaveMore offer. The deal on SaveMore is a $30 credit to BillyTheTree for only $13. If you're new to SaveMore, they give you a $10 credit, making the deal only $3. If you've already spent your credit, keep reading. I'll tell you how to get ANOTHER $10 credit!

There are TONS of items on BillyTheTree, and these magnetic bracelets are only $14.99. Shipping is included with the SaveMore deal. So, that gets you TWO for only $3. This is another great item to put away for a future gift!

Click here to check out the deal.

Have you already used your $10 sign up credit??? Here are a few ways to get ANOTHER $10:

1. Click here to sign up using a different email address... OR
   
2. Use your referral link to refer yourself (you'll need another email address for this one as well). When you purchase this deal with your second (new) SaveMore account using the $10 sign-up credit, your old (referring) SaveMore account will receive ANOTHER $10 credit. It's a great way to double-dip!
3. Tell a friend about SaveMore and this freebie. Within about 30 minutes of them signing up, you'll get another $10 credit to use!