Saving Cents With Sense

Apple Berry Kale Smoothie

Melissa — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 20:00:10 +0000

Start your morning right with this yummy, healthy and refreshing Apple Berry Kale Smoothie. This is one of my favorite morning breakfasts because it doesn’t take long to make, it’s easy to take on-the-go, and it is packed with nutritious food!

This really fills me up all morning long and I feel good knowing that I already have a few servings of greens at the beginning of my day. The biggest plus is that it actually tastes great! My husband wasn’t sure about having kale or spinach in his smoothies, but this is so good, everyone in my family enjoys it – even the kids!

If you have been wanting to try a “green” smoothie, give this one a shot and let me know what you think.

How to Make an Apple Berry Kale Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
3-4 large Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 Apple, cored and cut into chunks
Handful of Kale, chopped
Handful of Spinach
1-2 cups of Almond Milk (depends on how thick you want it)
1 serving Protein Powder (optional)
1 cup Ice

Directions:

Place the ice and apple in the blender first.
Layer the rest of the hard ingredients.
Pour in the Almond Milk last. I sometimes add more almond milk half way through mixing if it is too thick.
Blend until smooth

Enjoy!

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Easy DIY Twine Wrapped Eggs

Melissa — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 16:30:00 +0000

This simple Easter DIY craft is also very inexpensive. You only need three supplies to make the Twine Wrapped Eggs. You can pick up plastic eggs on Amazon, at Walmart, Target, a craft store or even the dollar store. If you are having the kids help with this one, you’ll probably want to manage the hot glue gun, but other than that, this is a great fine motor skill development activity.

These eggs look so elegant, and could make lovely gifts for neighbors, family and friends. They will also last year to year, so you will have a nice Easter decoration to pull out each year. Have fun making these Twine Wrapped Eggs!

All you need for this craft is:

Plastic Eggs
Twine
Hot Glue Gun

How to Make Your Twine Eggs:

This is as simple as 1-2-3…

Put a dab of hot glue on the end of the egg and attach the twine.
Begin wrapping the twine, periodically putting a dab of hot glue to keep the wine in place.
Continue wrapping until the egg is completely covered.

There you go! Enjoy your eggs as decorations around your house or gifts for loved ones.

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10 Savvy Ways to Save in the New Year

Melissa — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:25:00 +0000

Have you already made your New Year’s resolutions? Do any of them include saving more? If not, it isn’t too late to make one – and this is one resolution that you can succeed at, too. I have 10 savvy ways to save in the new year, but before you become overwhelmed with the idea, read through these simple and easy tips. Before you know it, you will be saving more in 2015 and become a savvy shopper!

10 Savvy Ways to Save in the New Year

1. Pay yourself first with a savings account. It is simple to open a savings account if you haven’t already. Start with just a $25 automatic deduction each pay period and increase it if you are able to in the future. Having money automatically go into your account will help you stick to your resolution and save for your future, such as an emergency fund, a child’s college education, or retirement.

2. Record all your expenses for one month. It is an eye-opening experience and will allow you to figure out what you can cut back on, as well as what is a necessary expense. Are you spending too much on coffee each month? What about eating out? How much are you spending on groceries? How about clothes? These are all things that you can cut back on so that you can tuck away extra cash each month.

3. Avoid impulse buys. Before heading to the store, make a list of what you need and stick to the list while shopping. Don’t shop hungry and if your kids aren’t helpful with shopping, you may want to leave them at home so you can concentrate on getting the best deals.

4. Be a savvy spender by using coupons. You knew this tip was coming didn’t you? :) You can find coupons in newspapers, magazines, by mail, or online to help you save each week at the store. Utilize coupons with a sale and you’ll see a 50% savings on your grocery bill immediately. If you are new to using coupons, I recommend that you check out Couponing: Where to Begin. And all my coupon articles are on the Coupon Resources page to help you out.

Don’t like to cut coupons? Don’t worry, you can use eCoupons, which can be loaded directly to your shopper’s card.

5. Enjoy FREE family friendly events. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Michael’s, the LEGO store, and more stores offer FREE kids events each month. Bank of America card holders can enjoy FREE museum membership once a month. Don’t forget to check your local library for FREE events, movie and magazine rentals as well. And when you are eating out, you can find a restaurant near you that offers FREE kids’ meals by visiting KidsMealDeals.com.

6. Sign up for Daily Deal sites, like Groupon and Living Social to save on everything from dining out and salon services to car maintenance and vacations. We all like a little splurge now and then, but why not save 50% to 90% the next time you get a pedicure, get a massage or watch a movie!

7. Pack a lunch and watch your savings grow. Buying a lunch each day can be pricey, even if you are finding a good deal. For example, a foot long sub sandwich and drink can cost approximately $7. When you multiply that by 20 work days, you end up spending $120 a month, or $1440 a year! Packing your lunch, as well as your kid’s lunch will not only be a healthier option, but it can also help you cut back on extra expenses.

8. Cut down on your bills. You can lower your utility bill by turning off lights, electronics, and other appliances when not in use. My son was constantly forgetting to turn off his bedroom light, so we installed a motion sensor light switch in his room. Installation was simple, the cost low, and now we aren’t paying extra on our electricity bill.

We also eliminated cable and switched to an antennae last year. It saved us $600 ($50 a month)! We also get to watch movies and TV shows since I’m also signed up for Amazon Prime, which saves me on shipping as well.

9. DIY. Household cleaners, body scrub, baby food, as well as many other household items are easy to make, and cost a lot less than the packaged items from stores. For example, vinegar and baking soda are effective household cleaners that kill most molds, bacteria, and germs. Plus these non-toxic cleaners only costs a few dollars.

Here are some DIY ideas:

10. Save at the pump by finding the cheapest gas wherever you go. Use the smartphone app GasBuddy, which is free, to compare prices before you head out. You can also save by watching your tire pressure, driving the speed limit, and filling up at stores that offer reward programs. And to save even more, check out my 9 Ways to Save at the Pump.

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Four Tips to Host Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner

Melissa — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:00:42 +0000

Holidays are for enjoying, eating and having fun with your family and friends. So is the Thanksgiving Day, but this particular holiday involves a bit more effort in order to be perfectly organized and to prepare a good dinner.

Decorations

Best way to show off your holiday spirit is to decorate your whole house with some Thanksgiving decorations. You can make turkeys out of paper and hang them on your drapes or walls. You may even put some baskets with dry leaves around your house and some small decorative pumpkins. This will give a nice fall feeling to your house. Also, you should incorporate fall colors like red, orange, deep purple and brown and arrange some flowers of those colors.

Seating arrangements

If you are planning on hosting a big dinner you can neatly arrange where your guests will sit. For example, you can seat together all the couples, family members can also sit together and put some good friends near each other so everyone would be comfortable. To make this easier, plan a few days ahead and you can make seating cards. These cards should also be decorated, and you can use yellow paper and write down the names in some beautiful letters.

Organize the table

To perfectly organize meals, dishes and everything else on your table, you should plan a few days ahead. Decide on which plates you want to use, which table cloth, glasses, drink and of course the menu. If you are stuck and do not know how to organize things try consulting Peters of Kensington. They have a tableware section where you can find everything you need, from plates and cutlery to diversity of bowls and glasses. Not only all the products are of a good quality, but they are also creative and well-designed and they will definitely make your table look charming. Besides the tableware, here you can find many interesting and useful ideas for any occasion.

Play some games

After this big perfect dinner you should rest your stomachs and have a few drinks with your guests while playing some fun games. You can always play usual card games, or you can get creative and try some new ones. A game called Top Turkey Artist involves drawing the best turkey but without looking. Both kids and adults can play this game; all you need is a pen, paper and a blindfold. Another game that is both for children and adults is Turkey Tag. This is an outdoor game and it is just a Thanksgiving version of flag tag. However, if you are hosting a party with no children, just adults you can try any of the interesting drinking games. Just turn on the TV, find an interesting show and establish the rules for drinking and you are done.

So, to plan and organize the most perfect and the most fun Thanksgiving dinner just follow some of these tips and you will not make a mistake. You and your guests will enjoy and create some good memories.

Thanks to Emma Lawson for this guest post.

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15 Mouthwatering Thanksgiving Recipes to Try This Year

Melissa — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 02:30:34 +0000

Thanksgiving is almost here! Do you have your menu set yet? I’m still working on mine. There are so many yummy recipes out there that you definitely don’t have to make the same thing as last year. Be a hit this Thanksgiving with these mouthwatering recipes from around the web. We’ve found a little bit of everything, so you have lots of choices! Be sure to “pin” this so you can be a Thanksgiving rock star this year!

15 Mouthwatering Thanksgiving Recipes

So many wonderful choices – it is hard to pick! What do you plan to have for Thanksgiving?

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Snickerdoodle Bites Recipe

Melissa — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:00:29 +0000

Snickerdoodle Bites Recipe

I love baking around the holidays and these cookies are no exception! Warm cinnamon and sugar cookies that make your house smell divine. These are perfect for an afternoon treat for the kids, a dessert (add some ice cream for an extra treat) or for your holiday entertaining. I hope you enjoy these Snickerdoodle Bites as much as I do!

Snickerdoodle Bites Recipe

Snickerdoodle Bites

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

Author: SavingCentsWithSense.net

Ingredients

½ cup butter
½ cup shortening
1 ½ cup sugar
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ¾ cup flour
For Rolling:
2 teaspoon. cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add eggs and stir until incorporated.
On low speed, slowly add in salt, and baking soda, and flour. Mix until incorporated.
In a separate small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar.
Shape dough into tablespoon sized balls and roll into cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Place balls 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

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Pumpkin Butter

Melissa — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 19:00:47 +0000

I love pumpkin and I love this twist on the classic apple butter. If you like pumpkin, you don’t want to miss this Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter, which is simple to make and perfect on toast, biscuits, crackers, or fruit.

Make this ahead a time and enjoy it all season or as a fun appetizer for a Fall party or Thanksgiving. Try this Pumpkin Butter and you won’t want to go back to plain apple butter anymore!

Ingredients

30 oz Pumpkin Puree
2/3 cup Apple Juice
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tbsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Ginger
1/2 tsp Cloves
1/4 tsp Allspice
1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
pinch of Salt

Directions

Add all ingredients to slow cooker and stir.
Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
Remove lid, stir and cook for 1-2 additional hours until mixture has darkened and thickened.
Turn off slow cooker and allow to cool.
Transfer to jars and refrigerate.

Here are some more pumpkin recipes you may enjoy:

Still not sure what to make with pumpkin, check out these 5 different ways to use pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin Butter

Author: SavingCentsWithSense.net

Ingredients

Ingredients
30 oz Pumpkin Puree
⅔ cup Apple Juice
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tbsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Ginger
½ tsp Cloves
¼ tsp Allspice
½ cup Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
pinch of Salt

Instructions

Add all ingredients to slow cooker and stir.
Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
Remove lid, stir and cook for 1-2 additional hours until mixture has darkened and thickened.
Turn off slow cooker and allow to cool.
Transfer to jars and refrigerate.

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Save $100 on Family Hawaii Vacation

Melissa — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 15:41:31 +0000

Hawaii has a special place in my heart. My husband and I were married in Hawaii 13 years ago. We have wanted to go back for one of our anniversaries, but finances, jobs, school, kids, and just life, has come first so it hasn’t happened yet. We would love to take our kids now that they are a bit older and would remember the vacation – plus it would be fun to show them the beach that mommy and daddy were married on! So, when I heard that US Family Guide has partnered with Pleasant Holidays, a leading provider of package vacations, to help families save on an unforgettable family vacation – I had to share! They’re based in the U.S. and have great deals on family vacations worldwide – Hawaii, contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Europe, Tahiti, Fiji and more. They can also book complete cruise vacations with airfare, onboard accommodations, and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays for vacations where everyone can relax and enjoy.

They’ve currently got a great deal on Hawaii vacations that saves you $100 per booking. Select from 26 hotels and resorts on the four most popular islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai (where we were married!) and island of Hawaii. Explore the exciting sights of Oahu, including world-famous Waikiki Beach and historic Pearl Harbor. Watch the sun rise from the slopes of a dormant volcano on Maui. Snorkel, hike, kayak, surf, experience Polynesian culture and more. This deal is valid on new vacations booked by 10/30/16 for select travel through 6/30/17 that include roundtrip airfare from the continental United States and a stay of five nights or longer at a participating hotel or resort. The $100 savings is per booking and taken at time of booking – no waiting! For more information or reservations visit www.PleasantHolidays.com, call 1-800-837-5154 or contact your travel agent.

Pleasant Holidays is new to US Family Guide, but has been partnering with hotels and resorts for more than 55 years to get great offers you cannot book anywhere else. If I hear of more amazing family vacations, I’ll be sure to share with you!

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Free Halloween Printable Coloring Pages

Melissa — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 15:10:18 +0000

Looking for some free Halloween printable pages? My kids love to color pages to hang up around the house to decorate for different holidays. When it comes to Halloween, I try to have pages that are fun and not too scary. I hope you enjoy these free pages!

Here are a few free coloring pages and printable graphics to help you decorate. To print the pages, just click the link below the picture. The picture will open in your browser and you can print.

FREE Halloween Printable Coloring Pages:

Click HERE to print

Printable Halloween Signs

Click HERE to print

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7 Dollar Store Back to School Essentials

Melissa — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 19:00:00 +0000

7 Dollar Store Back to School Essentials

If you have a child heading back to school this fall, you know how expensive it can be to buy all of the supplies you need. Backpacks, lunch bags, markers, scissors, and all of those other supplies can really add up, and fast! Luckily, your local dollar store can still be a treasure trove for back to school supplies at a great price. Dollar stores offer plenty of quality supplies that will help your child get back to school for less. Take a look below at seven items you can find at your local dollar store that are perfect for getting back to school for just pennies. These dollar store back to school essentials will help you save! You will also find what items to avoid as they are not of ideal quality or a good value. Take a peek!

Dollar Store Back to School Essentials

1. Pencils.
Dollar stores carry a large variety of pencils. While the colorful and decorative ones are fun, you’ll find that they don’t sharpen very well. Instead, stick to the plane yellow variety. You can get a pack of 12 for one dollar and they will hold up much better than the decorative ones.

2. Erasers.
Your local dollar store sells decorative erasers 12 for a dollar or plain pink erasers 2 for $1. These are great to have on hand for all those mistakes that are made, however the pink erasers are a better value. No you don’t get as many as the decorative packs, but they erase better than the decorative ones.

3. Folders.
While your local dollar store may not have very many decorative folders, you can always buy plain colored folders and decorate them yourself. Grab folders at your local dollar store as well as a sheet or two of stickers so your child can decorate their folders themselves. They will enjoy giving their folders a personal spin.

4. Crayons.
Dollar stores sell boxes of crayons in a 24 pack variety of colors for just one dollar. These generic brands are just as good as the name brands and offer colors there just as rich and bright. Buy a few boxes at this great price so you have plenty though out the year. Dollar stores sell several different varieties of crayons, so be sure you are getting the biggest box and getting the most bang for your buck.

5. Lunchbox supplies.
While your local dollar store may not carry lunchboxes, it does carry sandwich baggies, juice boxes, plenty of dried snacks, and plastic storage containers. These items are perfect for all of your lunch needs and a great value at $1. Avoid single serve snack items as chances are you can find them for less at your local grocer.

6. Homework materials.
Your local dollar store will have plenty of homework practice books, notepads, rulers, markers, and other supplies perfect for all of the homework projects that will be coming home. Grab a plastic storage container while you are there to keep all of these supplies in so you will always have what you need on hand.

7. Organizational materials.
Your local dollar store offers calendars, storage containers, planners, and other supplies that can keep your child organized. Stock up on these items as they are usually of great durable quality and for just a buck, are truly a steal.
Head to your local dollar store and take advantage of these hot finds!

Your local dollar store is the perfect way to get back to school for less while still getting plenty of the important items you need. Good luck!

More Back to School posts you may enjoy:

How to Set a Back to School Routine

Back to School Safety Tips Every Child Should Know

5 Simple Tips for Back to School Shopping

Tips to Save on School Uniforms

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Back to School Clothes for Less | 5 Tips to Save

Melissa — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Find Back to School Clothes for Less

Back to School Clothes for Less – Whether your child is in school uniforms or traditional clothing for school, you are probably looking for ways to get back to school for less. Buying back to school clothes can be quite pricey, and leave you feeling broke before the school year even begins. Don’t let that happen! Instead, take a look at some great tips for how to find back to school clothes for less. You don’t need to sacrifice quality in order to get some great clothes that will last you all year for less. Take a look at these Back to School Clothes for Less ideas!

Find Back to School Clothes for Less:

1. Look for hand me downs.
Talk to the parents of children older than yours. Chances are they have clothing items their child no longer fits. Ask if you can purchase it at a discount, or perhaps they would even be willing just to pass it on to you. It never hurts to ask!

2. Attend clothing swaps.
Back to school time brings clothing swaps to many areas. Check your paper or local events board to see if any kid’s clothing swaps are happening in your area. Then, dig out your old children’s clothing items and get ready to do some trading. Can’t find one in your area? Start your own!

Tip: If your child wears uniforms, ask the school if they have a uniform swap scheduled. This is a great way to get rid of clothes your kid has outgrown and get the items you need for less.

3. Check out eBay.
Good deals are still to be found on eBay. Look for clothing lots in your child’s size. You will also be able to find plenty of uniform items. Look for items with free shipping and save even more. Craigslist.com is also a great place to look for clothing online, and since it is local you won’t need to pay shipping.

4. Use coupons and coupon codes!
Use coupons and pair them with sales to help you save. If you aren’t sure where to find them, check a store’s website, their Facebook page and/or sign up for their email newsletters which many times have coupons. If you are shopping online, check out Savings.com for coupon codes or just bookmark the coupon code page I have for you.

Tip: You can also get cash back on your online purchases by shopping through Ebates – you can get anywhere from 1%-20% cash back depending on the store!

5. Hit up fall garage sales.
Even in the fall months, garage sales can still be found. Check your local paper or Craigslist for sales in your area advertising children’s clothing. You may be able to find items for as low as a quarter. Good luck!
Give these couple of tricks a try and see how easy it can be to find quality back to school clothing for less. Whether you need shirts, pants, shoes, skirts, coats, or uniform pieces, chances are one of the ideas will net you some results!

If you are specifically looking for school uniforms, check out my Tips to Save on School Uniforms.

How else do you save on back to school clothes?

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50 FREE Activities Your Family Can Enjoy this Summer

Melissa — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:55:00 +0000

50 FREE Activities Your Family Can Enjoy this Summer

Are you looking forward to that final school bell of the year ringing so you and the kiddos can spend a fun and exciting summer together? Or does the sound of the end of the year school bell have you shaking in your sandals, knowing that you could be shelling out some big bucks to keep the family entertained this summer? If the thought of beating summer boredom also makes you think of draining your budget, you are going to want to keep reading. Luckily, enjoying fun and family friendly activities this summer doesn’t have to mean taking out a mortgage on your home to do so. With a little planning and creativity, you can easily enjoy a summer that is entertaining for family members of all ages while still keeping plenty of cash in your pocket. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of 50 free activities your family can enjoy! Yes, FREE!

Don’t think this is possible? Take a look and see how you can easily keep your family entertained without spending a dime. Reading will be believing!

50 FREE Activities Your Family Can Enjoy this Summer:

1. Host a neighborhood dog wash. Gather your soap and buckets and offer to wash the neighborhood dogs for free or for a small donation you donate to your local shelter.

2. Enjoy a backyard bonfire. Tell scary stories while you gather.

3. Go bird watching at a nearby park. Look at pictures of the various birds in your region online before you go.

4. Visit your local library for free story hours.

5. Take advantage of free admission days at your local museums. Don’t know when these are? Just call!

6. Take a nature hike and collect beautiful leaves you find along the way. Scrapbook them.

7. Visit a fireworks display put on by your city or local parks.

8. Take a picnic dinner to the beach after 5 p.m. which is when most stop charging admission.

9. Take a tour of your local fire department. Just call ahead and ask.

10.Make freeze pops at home using fruit juice, ice cube trays, and toothpicks.

11. Rent free children’s movies from your local library.

12. Enroll in one of the many free book clubs offered by stores such as Crate and Barrel and Barnes and Noble.

13. Create murals with sidewalk chalk.

14. Make your own bubble solution with dish soap and water and hold a bubble blowing contest.

15. Volunteer as a family at a local animal shelter.

16. Find free vacation Bible school camps in your area.

17. Attend a free make and take clinic at your local Home Depot.

18. Attend a free concert. Just look in your local newspaper for upcoming events.

19. Watch a local sports team practice, or enjoy a free game if one is offered.

20. Ask a local bakery if they will give tours.

21. Attend a free crafting session at your local library.

22. Watch the stars at night and look for various constellations.

23. Hold roller skate races.

24. Spend some time tending to a family garden.

25. Set out the sprinkler and host a bike wash.

26. Visit your local post office for a tour. Just call first.

27. Have a bike parade around the neighborhood.

28. Set up an obstacle course in your backyard.

29. Enjoy the many free kid’s printables on the internet. You can visit sites such as ABCTeach.com and PBSKids.org to find all sorts of fun and free print outs.

30. Have fun after a storm making mud pie.

31. Enjoy a fun old fashioned water balloon fight.

32. Gather old costumes and clothes and have a funky fashion show.

33. Make your own kite out of newspaper and any scraps you have around the house.

34. Play flash light tag once the sun sets.

35. Go on a hunt for butterflies and make a journal or scrap book about the ones you spotted.

36. Enjoy a family movie night with a Red Box movie. You can find free movie codes by doing a simple Google search for them!

38. Gather your crafting supplies and make cards for your local nursing home.

39. Organize a dog parade in your neighborhood.

40. Visit your local zoo on free admission days. Just call ahead to see when these might be offered.

41. Patronize eateries where kids can eat free with an adult.

42. Organize a field day for your neighborhood that includes various skill games.

43. Get creative with the leftovers in your fridge and have a cook off.

44. Get out the nail polish and have a spa night.

45. Have a fun sensory experience with a can of shaving cream. You can spray it, write your name in it, even dye it with food coloring.

46. Visit a local pet shop to see and pet the various animals available.

47. Take advantage of free educational classes or presentations offered by your local library.

48. Go to a plant swap. Take some plants from your own yard so you can trade them for new ones at no cost.

49. Find free music downloads then host a living room dance party.

50. Make bird feeders by rolling pine cones in peanut butter and seeds.

As you can see, this is quite a variety of free activities that can appeal to children of all ages. Plus, you may have noticed that some of them allow children to have fun while serving others and their community as well! So, which ones will you choose to try this summer? If you tried just one per day, that is nearly a month and a half of activities for you and your family to try that don’t cost a dime. Now that is a great value! Have fun!

What else would you add to this list?

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Time Doesn’t Heal Grief

Melissa — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 00:51:29 +0000

I wrote the following letter to my dad 3 years ago for Lifetime Moms (which doesn’t exist anymore) on the 10-year anniversary of his passing. This letter was such good therapy for me 3 years ago and I realized that I needed to express grief that had been built up in me for so long. There is so much pain in this letter that I held on to for a decade. Writing this helped me heal in many ways. Time still doesn’t heal grief – but finding my voice did allow me to feel more peace.

Since the original article is no longer available, I need to repost this – for my own therapeutic motives, but also because I received so many emails, comments and direct messages from others that had lost parents, or other close loved ones, and appreciated the voice.

This is for you Daddy, – and all of you that know what it is like to have your world turned upside down and inside out…

Dear Daddy,

It has been 10 13 years since you left this earth and a huge hole was fastened in my heart. I’m not the new blushing newlywed that I was – losing you only 4 months after our wedding made our first year of marriage a turbulent one. Those first few days, weeks, and months were so hard to deal with after your sudden and unexpected death. The grief blinded me and I don’t remember a lot of that time. I’m sure it was a copying mechanism my brain used to help me function through those long days and nights. But we pushed through – you were right to like Ben and bless our marriage. He has been a supportive husband and father. Yes, that is right; you now have 3 beautiful grandkids: 2 boys and a girl. Our oldest even has your namesake.

Yet the past decade has taught me a lot – not just through the masters’ degrees (3 of them!!) I earned – but through understanding that life is not all rosy. I know you wanted to protect me from the evils in life, but the truth is, we can’t keep our children from reality and I got a hard dose of it when you past away.

I’ve also learned that the idea that “time heals all wounds” is a bunch of crap.

Time doesn’t heal – it just helps numb the pain a bit. Grief isn’t like other wounds that heal over time. It just continues to fester and just when you think you are done with the pain, it strikes again. Each birthday, holiday or family event I think of you and how you would have loved to be there with us. But those are just the obvious times. The times that other people may expect me to be still grieving. It is the simple things each day that make it a challenge and remind me that grief is never ending. Like when I hear a classic rock song on the radio, or see a movie I know you would have enjoyed, or see a little girl holding her father’s hand. It is all the times that I would have called you for your advice or just some reassurance on who I am, where I’ve come from, and where I’m heading.

Even as a professional working mother in her 30s, I’m still your little girl and craving the assurance of your presence. I miss you and I always will because no matter how much time passes, the grief remains.

Lovingly,

Your Little Girl

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DIY Lip Balm

Melissa — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:18 +0000

I have a confession. I’m addicted. To lip balm. I have some in my desk, in my purse, in the bathroom, in the kitchen and probably elsewhere. But all this lathering got me thinking about what I was actually putting on my lips. Have you ever looked at the ingredients on lip balm? Granted you can find some natural varieties that are pure and few ingredients, but they are also expensive. So, I started on the quest to making my own in order to save money and my sanity.

I made my own Hard Lotion Bars years ago and love to add my own essential oils in them. Making your own lip balm is very similar and I can create the scents/flavors that I want. Since I started using essential oils over a year ago, I have used essential oils in many different ways – topically, diffusing, and in my water (only using Young Living essential oils). Adding them to lip balm was perfect because I could add some of my favorite flavors like lavender, peppermint, grapefruit, lime, cinnamon and orange. I’ve even enjoyed mixing a few to create my own favorite concoction!

So if you share in my addiction – or just want to make a fun gift for a loved one this holiday season, check out how easy it is for DIY lip balm.

DIY Lip Balm

What you need:

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil
1/2 teaspoon Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
1/2 teaspoon Bees Wax (I recommend the pellets because they are easier to melt)
3-5 drops essential oils (lavendar, peppermint, etc)
Double-boiler (or improvise like I did with a pot inside of another).
empty lip balm containers

Directions:

1. Melt the coconut oil, shea butter (or cocoa butter) and bees wax in a double boiler. The bees wax will take the longest to melt, but just keep stirring to help it go faster.

2. Once everything is completely melted, add your essential oils.

3. Pour the liquid into your empty lip balm containers.

4. Let cool for 1-2 hours.

Enjoy!

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Family Fun Free or Cheap June 2016

Melissa — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:33:07 +0000

Well, summer is officially here! My kids got out of school 2 weeks ago – but it is the 115 degree weather this weekend that is telling me that we are in for a HOT summer! Luckily there are some fun free and cheap family fun activities that we can enjoy indoors while we are in the heat wave.

Scroll down to find a round up of available free and cheap family fun activities that will keep your kids entertained and your wallet full!

And don’t forget to check out my 50 FREE Activities Your Family Can Enjoy this Summer.

Plus, check out these posts for more free family fun:

Pin or bookmark this page and forward to your friends and family so they can enjoy all the freebies, too. Keep scrolling down and you’ll find a list of items for upcoming weekends, too.

:: FREE Museum Weekend for Bank of America Customers

Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th

Bank of America’s Museums on Us is offering free admission to more than 150 museums nationwide. Simply present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain free general admission to any participating institution. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission. For more information about Museums on Us, visit: http://museums.bankofamerica.com.

Barnes & Noble

Summer Reading Triathlon – Kids in grades 1 through 6 can earn a free book.

Contact your local Barnes & Noble store to verify participation.

Guitar Center

Saturday, June 4th at 10:15 AM – Learn to Play the Ukulele

Home Depot Kids Workshop

Saturday, June 4th from 9 AM to 12 PM

Kids make and take a Father’s Day Smart Phone Holder. Get more information and register at Home Depot workshops .

Lakeshore Learning

Saturday, June 4th from 11 AM – 3 PM and a few locations offer crafts on Sunday.

Kids design and take a birdfeeder craft. Get more information from Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids.

Michael’s Kid’s Club

Saturday, June 4th from 10 AM – 12 PM

Kids make and take a Chalk Butterfly craft. Cost is $2 per kid. Get more information on the Michael’s website.

Williams-Sonoma Free Cooking Classes for Adults

Sunday, June 5th – hours vary by store – Blender Essentials with Tess Masters

Get more information at your local Williams-Sonoma store.

……… Coming up Summer 2016……..

:: FREE National Park Admission Dates for 2016

August 25th-28th – National Park Service Birthday
September 24 – National Public Lands Day
November 11 – Veterans Day

Find a list of participating national parks

:: FREE National Parks Admission for 4th Graders

Every 4th grader will get an Every Kid in the Park pass food for FREE admission to all of America’s National Parks. The pass will be good for one full year and will be good for the 4th graders & their families as most parks charge admission per car. This is part of President Obama’s Every Kid in the Park initiative.

:: Bass Pro Shops

Ongoing outdoor workshops in stores. Check your local Bass Pro Shop store for specific events, times, and details.

:: Cheap Movies

Harkins summer movie program has begun! 10 family friendly movies over 10 weeks all for just $1 each!

:: Home Depot Workshops for Adults

Saturday, June 11th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Landscape and pest control

Sunday, June 12th from 1 PM – 2:30 – Choosing the best door locks
Get more information on Home Depot workshops.

:: Kids Bowl Free

Registered kids receive 2 FREE games of bowling, all summer long. Select bowling alleys all across the USA are participating. Get more information here.

:: Lego Stores Free Model Build

Usually held monthly in stores, kids ages 6 to 14 can build a model and take it home. Contact your closest LEGO® Store for details.

:: Lowe’s Build and Grow

Saturday, June 11th at 10 AM, kids make and take a Captain America craft. Registration opens 5/30 and registration is required: Lowe’s Kids Clinics.

:: Pottery Barn Kids

Storytime on Tuesdays from 11 – 11:30 AM. For more information, visit Pottery Barn Kids events here .

……….Available All Year………….

:: Apple Store

Free workshops – learn the basic of Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod. Learn how to create slideshows with iPhoto. Edit home movies with iMovie and more! Find your local store and make a reservation for a free workshop here.

:: Athleta Stores

Free fitness classes, group runs and special events at your local store. Visit your local store page here for more information.

:: Beauty Events in Stores

Find free beauty events at local stores with free samples and demonstrations. Visit the website that keeps track of these right here.

:: Factory Tours

Find factory tours all across the USA, go here, The site has 570 tours and counting! Many are free but some may have an admission fee.

:: Flying Lessons

Young Eagles – kids ages 8 to 17 experience aviation and get free rides in private aircraft flown by experienced pilots. Get more information here.

:: Home and Garden Shows

If you like Home and Garden shows, this site will give you a free pass. Check the ACS Home Show site.

:: Lululemon Fitness Classes

Lululemon locations offer free yoga classes, go here for schedules and locations.

:: Major League Baseball Clinics

Through the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, kids can attend a free baseball clinic in many locations across the country. The free program is called Free Legends for Youth Kids Clinics.

:: Microsoft High Tech DigiCamp for Girls (free)

Microsoft is proud to offer technology programs specifically for youth. Find out more information here.

:: Playground Finder

If you find yourself in a new location and are looking for a playground, use the free KaBoom Map of Play, playground finder and just type your location into the search bar.

:: REI Running Classes

Learn or get back into running with training and techniques classes. Find our more at REI.com.

:: Sephora: Free In Store Beauty Classes

Join the Sephora Beauty club , and attend free beauty classes inside Sephora stores to learn everything from building a skin care routine to creating the perfect smoky eye. Classes are held on Sunday at more than 60 stores across the USA. Check with your local stores for schedules and times.

:: Target – Free Community Events

Target is also sponsoring FREE community events ranging from free museum admission, free theater tickets, family activities and tours at some of our countries most famous venues. Times and locations vary by city. Find free family activities sponsored by Target in your area right here.

:: Wine Tasting

Total Wine stores offer free wine tasting classes each weekend. Learn about specific producers, regions and varietals. Where allowed by law, participants receive special discounts on the wine being tasted. View the FREE Wine Tasting Schedule here.

:: More Free Museum Dates

This site, www.freemuseumday.org, tracks free museum days in the following cities: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area, and the Seattle Area.

:: Celebrate Crazy and Fun Holidays

Make memories and celebrate fun holidays with your family. This week you can celebrate Go Hug Your Cat Day, Hot Air Balloon Day, Chocolate Ice Cream Day and more. See the schedule at Days of the Year.

* For more ideas for family fun, be sure and check Groupon, Amazon Local and LivingSocial in your area. Join each site for free and start having more fun on a budget! These vouchers make great gifts too!

Be sure and check out your local library and parks and recreation departments for free programs and events right in your hometown!

(Big thanks to Lori at More with Less Today)

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DIY Father’s Day Gift: Nuts About Dad

Melissa — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Easy DIY Father’s Day Gift: “Nuts About Dad”

Looking for a last minute Father’s Day gift for dad from the kids? This DIY Father’s Day Gift “Nuts About Dad” is simple to make and will brighten dad’s day! Fill the jar with his favorite nuts (or a variety of nuts if that is what he prefers), attach the printable label and let the kids wrap the gift.

They will love making something for dad and he will appreciate getting his favorite snack! This jar is perfect to keep at a desk to show off his kids’ handy work, and once the nuts are gone, it is easy to refill so that he can enjoy it year round.

My husband LOVES cashews, so that is the kind of nuts that he will get. What will you give your hubby or Dad this Father’s Day?

Here’s What You Need for this DIY Gift:

1 Quart Mason Jar
Dad’s Favorite Nuts
Printable Label
Yarn, Ribbons, Twine for decoration

How to Make the “Nuts About Dad” Jar:

Print the supplied label and trim to fit.
Using a glue stick, affix it to the jar.
Fill the jar with nuts.
Decorate with ribbons, etc.

Have the kids write their names on the top or on another label on the bottom of the jar. Don’t forget to add the year so dad can remember exactly when he received this special gift. And that’s it! – easy right?

The post DIY Father’s Day Gift: Nuts About Dad appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Melissa — Wed, 11 May 2016 23:02:39 +0000

Aren’t these Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes adorable? They would be a perfect dessert for a summer BBQ with family and friends. And the fun part is that they are pretty easy, so you can grab the kids and have them help you make them!

My daughter has recently found that she loves cherries – she had her first Shirley Temple the other night at dinner and was in heaven! She has also always loved pineapple (got that from her mama!) so this treat is one of our new favorites. Since she has a birthday coming up, I’ll let her decide if these are the cupcakes she wants – although I know she also loves chocolate – so who knows? Either way, these will be great to make as a nice surprise for the family.

You might want to serve them with a DIY Pineapple Dole Whip (my family loves pineapple!).

So, without further ado, here is how to make Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes:

Ingredients

20 oz canned Pineapples
1 box Yellow Cake Mix
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
3 Eggs
1/3 cup melted Butter
2/3 cup Brown Sugar
24 Maraschino Cherries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.
In using pineapple rings, cut them into quarters.
Spray muffin pan with non stick spray.
Combine cake mix, oil, eggs and pineapple juice in a bowl and beat on low until incorporated.
In another bowl combine melted butter and brown sugar and stir until blended.
Spoon 2 teaspoons of butter mixture into each cup.
Place pineapple pieces in a circle around bottom with cherry in center.
Fill each cup 2/3 full with batter.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes.
Run a butter knife around edges of each cup and invert onto baking sheet to remove cupcakes.

You can print this recipe here:

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Author: SavingCentsWithSense.net

Ingredients

20 oz canned Pineapples
1 box Yellow Cake Mix
½ cup Vegetable Oil
3 Eggs
⅓ cup melted Butter
⅔ cup Brown Sugar
24 Marischino Cherries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.
In using pineapple rings, cut them into quarters.
Spray muffin pan with non stick spray.
Combine cake mix, oil, eggs and pineapple juice in a bowl and beat on low until incorporated.
In another bowl combine melted butter and brown sugar and stir until blended.
Spoon 2 teaspoons of butter mixture into each cup.
Place pineapple pieces in a cirle around bottom with cherry in center.
Fill each cup ⅔ full with batter.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes.
Run a butter knife around edges of each cup and invert onto baking sheet to remove cupcakes.

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Captain America Civil War: #TeamCap or #TeamIronman

Melissa — Fri, 06 May 2016 23:25:46 +0000

My oldest son and I had a chance to go to the screening of Captain America Civil War this week. Before I even mention how much we enjoyed the movie, I have to say that we were invited to view it at an Imax AND in 3-D, which was such a fun experience! It really felt like we were IN the movie. If you get a chance to see this movie in 3-D, I highly recommend it!

We are pretty big Avengers fans in my house – last Halloween 4 out of 5 of us were the Avengers (Baby Girl wanted to be Elsa instead). We had Captain America, Black Widow, Ironman, and Spiderman. Don’t we look tough!

My son loves the idea of Ironman and Captain America facing off in the new Captain America Civil War movie.

In the movie, another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, which brings political pressure to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

So which side will you choose? #TeamCap or #TeamIronman

The movie is full of action, emotion, and the humor we are use to in the Marvel movies. I love that Spiderman is finally an Avenger – and my son was very excited to see Ant Man as well. This movie is a blast and definitely worth seeing. If you haven’t seen the other Avenger/Marvel movies, some of the story line may not be completely clear, but you will get the main gist (friends fighting friends). And if you are an avid fan like we are, you won’t be disappointed. Don’t forget to wait around for the extra scene after the credits.

Here’s the official trailer:

I love Ironman – but I have to say I’m #TeamCap on this one. How about you?

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DIY Mother’s Day Butterfly Flip Flips

Melissa — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift – here is one that you can make yourself (or the kids can make) that won’t cost you a fortune. Get Mom’s feet looking fabulous for less with these DIY Mother’s Day Butterfly Flip Flips. With just a few dollar store supplies you can create customized flip flops just for her.

Supplies needed:

Flip flops in your choice of color
Embellishments from your local dollar store (this can includes $1 items such as silk flowers, butterflies, felt cut outs, etc.)
Hot glue, glue gun (hot glue is essential to making the items stay secure, craft glue will not work)
Ribbon (optional)

As mentioned, all of these supplies can be found at your local dollar store for $1 or less. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make something nice and thoughtful for mom.

Directions:

1. Begin by deciding what embellishment you will be using. You will need two, one for each flip flop.
2. Apply some glue (be generous) to the back of the item and press it to the spot of the flip flop that would rest between the toe.
3. Repeat on the other flip flop, pressing firmly as you apply the embellishment.
Give the flip flops a solid hour to dry. Tie them together with ribbon for presenting.

Head to your local dollar store and grab the supplies you need to make your own fabulous Mother’s Day flip flops. If they have different sizes, you could even make Mommy and Me flip flops!

The post DIY Mother’s Day Butterfly Flip Flips appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Everything Parents Need To Know About BurnNote

Melissa — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:00:29 +0000

Similar to Snapchat, BurnNote is the texting equivalent to this popular photo sharing application which allows users to send temporary text messages that disappear after a short period of time. As innocent as this may seem, just like Snapchat, using this app comes with some hidden dangers that should concern parents.

Good News

On a positive note, unlike other temporary apps, BurnNote’s unique display system makes it more difficult, but not impossible, for users to save text messages by taking a screenshot or picture with their smartphone or other handheld device. Also, according to their user agreement and privacy policy, BurnNote doesn’t share personal information with third parties unless legally obligated.

Not So Good News

But knowing that their messages will be permanently deleted can lull some kids into a false sense of security. For some kids, they may be more apt to send inappropriate messages or share other types of dangerous information online if they believe it will disappear.

In the cases where the text is in fact permanently deleted, that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t shared or saved by dozens, hundreds or even thousands of other users. On the flipside, in the case of tragedies like cyberbullying and other online threats, there can be no evidence that these illegal (in most states) transgressions occurred in the first place.

Age Issue

Unlike Snapchat who denies users under the age of thirteen from user their services (although they can sign up anyway), there is no age restriction listed for BurnNote. Instead, their terms of service agreement simply offers, “You may not use the Services and may not accept the Terms if you are not of legal age to form a binding contract with BurnNote.”

This means that the user should be eighteen years of age to use their services, but young eyes may not see this letter of the law. This should be enough for parents to at least consider these types of temporary apps as being inappropriate for children and adolescents. Also, BurnNote messages can be sent to non-users through an email or text message and will appear as a link.

For more information on the hazards of BurnNote, check out their video, check out the following video from the folks at TeenSafe:

About the Author: Hillary smith is a freelance writer and tech geek who concentrates on the telecommunications industry. She uncovers the latest trends and writes about their impact on society. Since receiving her degree in journalism from Northwestern, she’s been on a mission to embrace her inner nerd and reveal the all that technology has to offer the world

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Tips to Keep Your Taxes Organized All Year

Melissa — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 22:35:54 +0000

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Block Advisors. Sponsored posts help support this site (and me) so thank you for reading!

Tax season is almost over. For those of you that have not filed yet, don’t worry, you still have (a little) time. Relieve your stress a bit and call a professional tax advisor, who can help you through the process. If you aren’t sure how to find a professional, I have tips on finding a tax advisor that you will want to check out.

For those of you that have already filed your taxes, take a sigh of relief! Hopefully this year’s tax return went smoothly for you and you will get the tax outcome you would like. If it wasn’t stress free, what could you have done differently? It is easy to not want to even think about taxes once you have your tax return done, but with a little extra time and energy you can make next year’s tax season even better. You can start now and ease the discomfort of the next tax season. Here are a few tips to help you.

Tips to Keep Your Taxes Organized All Year

Stay organized. How many of us keep records in drawers, desks, closets, etc. Once tax season is here, you spend so much time searching for everything! But if you keep all your necessary paperwork in one safe place, it is easy to find and it will save you tons of time. I recommend picking up an expanding file folder to keep everything in. You can keep a different for each year.
Stay in touch with your tax advisor. The great part about working with Block Advisors is that you will have a personal advisor all year – not just at tax season – so that when big changes happen during the year, you can check in with them for advice. Changing jobs, marriage, divorce, children, extra income, etc – talk with your tax professional about how that will affect your taxes.
Stay ahead of the game. Once 2015 taxes are done; start taking with your tax professional about how you can save more in 2016. What could you have done differently for last year? Did you have the outcome you wanted? Why or why not? Being prepared is half the battle!
Keep your personal information safe. Avoid the stress of identity theft by keeping all of your personal information – either on paper or digital – protected. For more tips on how to keep your information safe, read my identity theft post.

If you are organized and prepared, you can file your taxes early (and get that tax return earlier!) and feel relief knowing that you have one less thing to stress about.

The post Tips to Keep Your Taxes Organized All Year appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Free Jungle Book Activity Sheets

Melissa — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 15:43:00 +0000

Are you taking your kids to see Disney’s Jungle Book this weekend? It opens today, April 15, 2016. My daughter is so excited to see it – and the previews look amazing. The Jungle Book was one of my favorite movies as a kid so I might be just as excited! ;)

Here are some free activity sheets that you can print and your kids can enjoy before or after the movie:

Jungle Book Maze

Jungle Book Hexaflexagon

Jungle Book Spot the Difference

Enjoy!

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Free Kindle Book: The Jungle Book

Melissa — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:27:50 +0000

I love finding free kindle books and this is one that you will want to grab. The Jungle Book movie opens in theaters today so this is perfect timing to grab the free kindle book: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. This is a classic for everyone in the family!

Don’t have a kindle? Don’t worry, you can still read the book by getting the FREE applications on your iPhone, PC, Mac, Blackberry, iPad and more.

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Finding Dory Free Activity Pages

Melissa — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 01:58:47 +0000

I am looking forward to the summer movie release of Finding Dory. I can’t wait to take my kids to it. Finding Nemo is one of our family favorites and I have faith Finding Dory will be, too. Finding Dory swims into theaters on June 17, 2016.

Here are some free Finding Dory activity pages.

Finding Dory Coloring Pages

Finding Dory Dot to Dot Pages

Finding Dory Maze

You can also keep up with all the Finding Dory action on social media:

Like FINDING DORY on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingDory

Follow FINDING DORY on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FindingDory

Follow Disney/Pixar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PixarFindingDory/

Follow Disney Studios on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/disneystudios/finding-dory/

Visit Disney/Pixar on Tumblr: http://disneypixar.tumblr.com

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Free Museum Admission This Weekend with Bank of America

Melissa — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:25:54 +0000

FREE Museum Admission – April 2016

Looking for some free or cheap family fun this weekend? If you are a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card holder, you can enjoy FREE admission to museums around the country this weekend, April 2-3, 2016. This is part of the Museums on Us program, which takes place the first full weekend of every month. Card holders will receive FREE access to more than 150 cultural institutions in 100 cities across the United States.

In Phoenix, the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard is included in this promotion. Check the 2016 Participant Roster to see which museums near you are FREE.

There is also now a mobile site, so if you are traveling to a new city, you can check out what is available while on the go.

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How to Make Lady Bug Pretzels

Melissa — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 23:25:00 +0000

These Lady Bug Pretzels are a fun summer treat to make and eat! Whether you are gathering family and friends for a party or just enjoying a summer BBQ, these Lady Bug Pretzels will be a hit at your next get together.

My kids love lady bugs right now. We recently let a few hundred go in our yard as a natural pest repellent to keep our grapes safe and since then, my kids search for lady bugs in our yard every time we go out. So, these Lady Bug Pretzels are a hit in my house – I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Lady Bug Pretzels

Ingredients

24 Mini Pretzels
1 cup Red Candy Melting Chips
24 Brown M&Ms
48 Candy Eyes or Mini White chocolate Chips
96 Black candy Pearls

How to Make Ladybug Pretzels

Lay pretzels out on wax paper lined cookie sheet.
Heat Red Candy Chips by microwaving for 30 seconds stirring and repeating until melted. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
Transfer chocolate to corner of zippered bag and clip tiny piece off of corner to pipe.
Pipe candy over inside of pretzel to fill completely. Smooth with finger if necessary.
Place M&M for head on rounded end of pretzel.
Place 4 pearls for spots.
Use a small dot of melted chocolate as “glue” to attach eyes to head.
Place cookie sheet in refrigerator for 20 minutes to allow candy to set.

Enjoy!

How to Make Lady Bug Pretzels

Author: SavingCentsWithSense.net

Ingredients

24 Mini Pretzels
1 cup Red Candy Melting Chips
24 Brown M&Ms
48 Candy Eyes or Mini White chocolate Chips
96 Black candy Pearls

Instructions

Lay pretzels out on wax paper lined cookie sheet.
Heat Red Candy Chips by microwaving for 30 seconds stirring and repeating until melted. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
Transfer chocolate to corner of zippered bag and clip tiny piece off of corner to pipe.
Pipe candy over inside of pretzel to fill completely. Smooth with finger if necessary.
Place M&M for head on rounded end of pretzel.
Place 4 pearls for spots.
Use a small dot of melted chocolate as "glue" to attach eyes to head.
Place cookie sheet in refrigerator for 20 minutes to allow candy to set.

The post How to Make Lady Bug Pretzels appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Recipe for St. Patrick’s Day: Green Eggs and Ham

Melissa — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:32:00 +0000

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you are looking for something fun to do with your kids today, you can try making Green Eggs and Ham. My 4 year old LOVES Dr. Seuss right now, so when I asked her if she wanted green eggs and ham for dinner, she was very excited.

This is such a simple recipe – but I wanted to share it since it is such a hit at my house.

Green Eggs and Ham Recipe

8 eggs or 2 cups egg substitute
2 Tbsp milk
4 slices ham, diced
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1-2 drops of green food coloring

You can also add it some fresh veggies like broccoli, green bell pepper, or spinach to give added nutrition. My boys actually love broccoli and I try to put spinach in most dishes for me.

If you end up trying this, let me know how it goes. Did your family enjoy it?

The post Recipe for St. Patrick’s Day: Green Eggs and Ham appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Tax Identify Theft: Keep Your Tax Return Safe

Melissa — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 17:30:52 +0000

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Block Advisors. Sponsored posts help support this site (and me) so thank you for reading!

Nothing is more frightening than the idea of someone stealing your identity. You work hard for your money and no one else should take that from you. Unfortunately, with tax season here, more and more criminals creep out of the rocks they live under to try to destroy someone else’s life. According to the Wall Street Journal, 330,000 homes have been hacked! Many times you don’t even realize it until you try to submit your tax return and the IRS rejects it because a criminal has already submitted a fraudulent tax return using your SSN or EIN.

So how can you keep yourself safe from these attacks? Here are a few tips:

Keep Your ID Safe

Be cautious. Make sure you know who you are sharing your personal information with, especially your social security number (or EIN). And don’t be scared to ask questions about why they are requesting the information.
Shred it. If you don’t need paperwork that has your personal information on it, make sure that you shred it. You may want to invest in a personal shredder (they aren’t too expensive) and they are well worth it. If you don’t want to buy one, look for free shredding events at a local sheriff’s office, Office Depot or the library.
Stay Digitally Safe. Make sure that you have appropriate security on your computers and other electronic devices. Invest in antivirus software, keep your passwords safe, and don’t over share personal information on social media.
Use Block Advisor’s Tax Identity Shield. Be proactive and protect yourself from future tax returns being stolen. By choosing this product you will have customized advice and year round tips on how to reduce your risk of identity theft. And if identity theft does occur, your personal tax advisor at Block Advisors will have access to identity restoration assistance if needed.

If you don’t already have a tax professional that you work with, I highly recommend getting one. They can guide you through some of these complex issues and help you out if you are ever hit with the devastating news of identity theft. Not sure how to find a tax advisor? Check out my 5 Tips for Finding a Tax Professional.

Have you ever dealt with identity theft? How did you handle it?

The post Tax Identify Theft: Keep Your Tax Return Safe appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

DIY St. Patrick’s Day Children’s Sensory Bin

Melissa — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:00:00 +0000

The St. Patrick’s Day season is sneaking up on us, and believe it or not this is the perfect time to give children some fun hands on play time. A sensory bin such as the one below can help them develop their imaginative play as well as encourage the growth of fine motor skills. You don’t have to spend a lot of time or money creating your own St. Patrick’s Day themed sensory bin, in fact you can make one for very little and in just minutes. Take a peek below at how to create your own, and provide a wonderful educational activity for your child!

Supplies needed:

Plastic bin or bowl (we used a large mixing bowl we already had)
A bag of dried rice or beans
Assorted measuring cups and spoons
Tongs, stir sticks, wooden spoons, and other utensils
Assorted foam or paper clovers
Silk clovers or green flowers
Green craft pom poms
Rainbow assortment of craft sticks
St. Patrick’s Day cookie cutters
Assorted green or Irish themed items

We were able to find most of our supplies at our local dollar store and in our own kitchen. Try to find items that stay in the St. Patrick’s Day or Ireland theme and color scheme. Your dollar store will have many themed options, and your own kitchen will have many of the utensils such as measuring cups and spoons that make this activity fun.

Directions:

The directions for making your own St. Patrick’s Day children’s sensory bin are easy. Begin by laying down a tablecloth or bed sheet so you can enjoy easy clean up later. Pour the rice or beans into the bin and add in the suggested materials. Place the bin at the center of the blanket, and allow children plenty of time to manipulate the items. They will love practicing such skills like pouring, scooping, measuring, and imagining!

Head to your local dollar store (and then kitchen!) and gather the supplies you need to create your own St. Patrick’s Day themed sensory bin. This one educational activity you won’t want to miss, and neither will the kiddos!

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5 Tips for Finding a Tax Professional

Melissa — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:59:20 +0000

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Block Advisors. Sponsored posts help support this site (and me) so thank you for reading!

I’ve never liked doing my taxes (like most of you I assume), but when I started my own business 7 years ago, I had no idea how much harder filing taxes would become. My husband and I quickly realized that we needed some professional tax advice so we looked for a tax advisor who could guide us on what we needed to do throughout the year so that not only could we be in compliance, but so we were prepared for what we might owe in April. From my experience, I have found that year round tax prep and planning really relieves a lot of stress and puts my mind at ease.

Here are 5 tips for finding a tax professional who can give you piece of mind as well:

Experience. A tax advisor should have experience behind them so that they will know how to handle your personal situation. Taxes are not a “one size fits all” so it is important to work with someone who can handle your personal financial situation. At Block Advisors their tax experts have on average over 15 years of tax experience so they know what they are doing and they have probably seen it all!
Customer Support. Tax professionals should also value your time while giving the best support available. We live busy lives between work, kids, after school activities, family functions, etc., so I like that Block Advisors allow customers to drop off documents when convenient. And they are always there to meet in person if needed too.
Year–Round Planning. This one is huge! Planning and staying organized will give you less stress when tax day comes around. When you work with Block Advisors, you will get a dedicated tax advisor that is available all year long so you can ask questions along the way. Plus, when you plan, you can be confident that not only will your tax return be accurate, but you will also get the best financial outcome.
Protection. If the IRS ever requests an audit, you want someone who can help you through the process. At Block Advisors they stand by their work so if the IRS ever questions a return, your tax professional will be there by your side, helping you.
Small Business Needs. This one doesn’t fit everyone, but for those of you that are like me and have a small business, you know that taxes can get complicated quickly. A tax advisor can help you know when and what you need to pay. When you are looking for a financial advisor, look for someone who will help you with your taxes, AND other important financial factors like bookkeeping, paying bills, payroll, an A/R monitoring.

You can find out more about the Block Advisors by visiting their website and/or Twitter page.

I have felt such relief having a tax professional that I can rely on for my personal and business financial questions. Do you use a tax professional? What tips do you have?

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Frugal DIY: St. Patrick’s Day Coasters

Melissa — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 16:00:00 +0000

If you are looking for a fun but frugal St. Patrick’s Day craft to enjoy, these St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow coasters are the perfect solution. Made from just a few dollar store supplies, these coasters are colorful, festive, and so fun! You can use them for St. Patrick’s Day parties and gatherings, or just whip them up with your kids. They are a fun and frugal way to get into the holiday spirit. Take a peek below and see how easy it is to make your very own to enjoy.

St. Patrick’s Day Coasters

Supplies needed:

Bag of rainbow wood craft sticks
Assorted foam clovers
Craft glue

We were able to find all three of these supplies at our local Dollar Tree store. The total cost for this project was just $3, and with these supplies we could easily make a dozen or so of these coasters. If you need to make a craft for a classroom or kid’s party, this would be ideal!

Directions:

1. Begin by creating a square base with four sticks. Glue the ends together so that you have a four sides frame. This will be the base of your coaster.

2. You can now begin gluing on the assorted sticks. Move across the base horizontally, gluing the sticks in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green blue, purple. Depending on the width of your coaster, you may add two of one color as we did. Before gluing, you may want to lay the sticks out to get a feel for what colors/amount you will be needing.

3. Once the rainbow sticks are glued on, you can finish the coaster by attaching a foam clover. Add a generous dab of glue to the back of the clover and press it to the center of the square. Hold it in place until it adheres.
Your coaster is now all ready for use! Use it to hold your drinks or just display it as a decorative piece. Either way, it is sure to invite some luck of the Irish into your home.

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How to Cut Out Unnecessary Spending

Melissa — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 15:00:16 +0000

Saving money isn’t a walk in the park, and what sounds like such an easy task is often anything but. If you’re finding that putting away money is next to impossible, it’s time you look for ways to get rid of unnecessary spending that could be depleting your accounts.

Leave the Card at Home

It’s so easy to swipe a credit card and tell ourselves that we’ll worry about it later. Instead of falling prey to that shiny card leave it at home and save yourself the temptation. Take a limited amount of cash with you—when you run out, you’re done spending.

Avoid Impulse Purchases

Make sure you head to the store with a specific list of the items you need. Following a list will help you avoid impulse purchases and give you an idea of budgeting before you head out to the store.

Stop Using Online Accounts

Once your credit card information has been recorded into a store’s website, one-click ordering can become far too tempting to ignore, giving you no time to really think about your purchase. Sift through your usual online shopping outlets and take your card information out. If you have to enter your numbers each time, you’ll have more time to think and you just might talk yourself out of an unnecessary purchase.

Socializing on a Budget

It’s hard to cut down spending and take advantage of all of our social opportunities, but it can be done. Let friends know that you’re budgeting, and consider activities you can do together that don’t require a ton of money. Instead of going to a restaurant for your weekly meetup, host a potluck dinner and have all your friends bring something to contribute to the meal. Friends who know you’re struggling to keep your wallet in check will try to cut down temptations and help keep you from spending too much.

Hitting the Gym

If you have a gym membership and don’t use it, you’re throwing away hundreds and hundreds of dollars each year. Not having a gym membership doesn’t mean you can’t stay healthy. Put a one-time investment into a workout DVD series that you can do in the comfort of your own living room without monthly cost, go on a run to a local park, and take advantage of friends who might be willing to train you. Being healthy and spending a fortune should not be synonymous, and you can keep in shape without depleting your wallet.

Turn Off the T.V.

If you have cable, you’re likely spending upwards of $80 every month to keep it going. With the advent of streaming services, there’s no reason to be throwing down money for television shows you can catch for much lower prices. Services like Hulu, Netflix, and Roku will help you calm your spending while still being able to lounge about on the couch every once in a while.

Non-Essentials

Sometimes we make the mistake of considering non-essentials to be necessities. If you’re a coffee fiend and a regular at your local café, you’re likely throwing away thousands of dollars each year. Instead of heading out and paying $4 every morning (and wasting time in long lines) make an initial investment in a nice coffee machine and brew your own cups at home. You’ll be amazed at how much you save in the long run and still satisfy that caffeine craving every day before work. If you’re a smoker and throw thousands into a nicotine habit each year, it’s time to make a change. Try out an e-cig from a company like NJOY that you can use over and over again. These devices reportedly don’t contain the toxic chemicals that tobacco products do, so it’s good for your wallet and your health—a win-win.

Your Utility Bill

If you’re throwing money left and right into your utility bill, it’s time to conserve energy. Saving money on utilities isn’t complicated, and there are a few easy techniques you can utilize to lower the amount you pay every month. Turn off all lights and appliances when you leave the house, and unplug those that aren’t used regularly. Lower the temperature on the water heater to spend less on your daily shower, drop the setting on your thermostat by just a few degrees to save loads on heating costs during the chilly months, and don’t let the water run while you’re washing dishes. Even the smallest of changes can lead to big savings on your bill at the end of the month.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, which helps support the site and my family! Thank you for reading.

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Arizona Renaissance Festival: Family Fun for Everyone!

Melissa — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:00:44 +0000

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is back again this year! It is becoming a family tradition to go each February and we all look forward to it. We went this past weekend, on Valentine’s Day, thanks to USFamilyGuide.com. We had a full day of fun with exciting and hilarious shows, the animal petting zoo, a jousting tournament, animal rides (elephant, llama, or camel) and so much food! My daughter’s favorite part was meeting a real live mermaid :) The Arizona Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 13-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, and an arts and crafts fair.

The festival does get crowded, but it is big enough that once you get past the entrance, you will have plenty of space. Plus, most shows have multiple times to attend. I recommend picking some shows in the late afternoon after you have been walking for a bit so that you can rest your legs. Also, where comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dusty since the ground is unpaved. It is smooth enough for a stroller though, if needed.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, I recommend you check out the Renaissance Festival. It will be here every weekend through March 27, 2016. Plus, right now, there is a kids free with the purchase of an adult ticket coupon. This coupon is good with a box office ticket purchase (not valid with a Fry’s ticket). If you aren’t taking kids, your best option is to buy the ticket at Fry’s to save $2 off admission.

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The Financial Effects of Marriage

Melissa — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:04:59 +0000

Marriage is an amazing life milestone, but it also brings a variety of changes, both positive and negative. Before getting married, you’ve likely researched the financial questions you should ask each other, but do you know how your wedding will affect your finances once the “I dos” are said and the wedding certificate is signed? Consider the financial consequences of your nuptials and ensure you’re both prepared to handle all the big picture changes that come along with those sweet wedding day vows.

Health Insurance Concerns

If you both have employers that offer health benefits, and you both intend to remain at your positions, then you’ll need to compare the benefits programs and determine which are better for your individual medical requirements. As a general rule, it’s more cost effective to put both members of a couple under the same coverage. Talk with your human resources department to find out the window during which you can sign up your new spouse to your coverage. These windows are usually small and gone in the blink of an eye; if you miss it you’ll have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make any necessary changes.

Filing Statuses

Once you’ve taken the plunge, you’ll need to decide whether the two of you will file jointly or separately. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, so you’ll have to make an informed decision about it together. You may experience lower tax rates if filing together, but you also are on the hook for accuracy. There’s a host of facets to consider when choosing a filing status, so make sure you do your research and weigh the pros and cons against each other.

The Taxes Difference

While many believe that getting married will provide tax breaks and monetary incentives, this isn’t always the case. Depending on your tax bracket and whether or not you have comparable incomes, you might find that the two of you will owe more in income taxes. There is also something known as the marriage penalty, in which you’ll both owe tax for the year you got married even if you received a refund. There are some tax benefits to be aware of as well. From the Lifetime Learning Credit to an Adoption Expense Credit, there are certain credit and deductions that can only be claimed by couples filing jointly. If you’re having a hard time determining which tax breaks you qualify for, use the help of a tax professional from a company like www.communitytax.com.

Retirement Strategies

Hopefully you’ve been diligent with a retirement plan while single, and now that you’re getting married, you’ll need to adjust your saving strategies. As you’ll need proportionally higher income in retirement now that you’re two instead of one, hopefully you’ll be receiving two incomes for saving and two employment retirement plans to utilize. If both of you work for employers offering retirement plans and 401ks, put more contributions toward the option that will provide higher payoff. If your partner’s employer matches entire contributions, it’s better to put more money towards that than yours where you receive only 50 percent matching.

Paying Off Debt

If both of you are entering your marriage with debt, you might have previously been tackling your accounts in the ways that made individual sense. Once your finances are combined, however, you may need to rethink how you handle repaying old debts on things like credit card bills and student loans. Depending on the interest levels on each account for the both of you, you may need to look toward tackling your partner’s debt first in order to pay less in interest over the long haul.

Community Property Laws

Some states have community property laws. In essence, any property, assets, or money you come into after marriage will require splitting with your partner in case of divorce. If you’re considering separating property from your marital property, you’ll need to discuss a prenuptial agreement or work with a financial advisor who can help you establish a legal separation of property from your marriage assets.

Getting married changes a host of things, but making sure you realize how it will affect both of your wallets is essential. Take these facets into consideration before your upcoming nuptials and make sure you know how a marriage certificate might change the state of your finances.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, which helps support the site (and my family!). Thank you for reading.

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Printable Zootopia Coloring Pages

Melissa — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 17:15:57 +0000

Printable Zootopia Coloring Pages

I’ve been waiting for Disney’s new film, Zootopia, to open. It looks like it will be hilarious and I’m pretty sure all three of my kids will love it!

Zootopia opens in theaters March 4 and to help ease the time until then, I have some free printable Zootopia Coloring pages for you all. My daughter has really been into coloring lately so these have some at a perfect time for me. I hope you enjoy them, too!

Print your free Zootopia Coloring Pages

And here is a fun new Zootopia clip to check out:

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DIY Valentine’s Day Children’s Sensory Bin

Melissa — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 20:00:00 +0000

The Valentine’s Day season is the perfect time to give children some fun hands on experiences. Such experiences can help them develop their imaginative play as well as encourage the growth of fine motor skills. A sensory bin is the perfect activity for encouraging such skills, and making your own is easy and inexpensive. Take a peek below at how to create your own Valentine’s Day children’s sensory bin so you can aid them in developing these important skills!

DIY Valentine’s Day Children’s Sensory Bin

Supplies needed:

Plastic bin (we chose red, naturally!)
A bag of dried rice or beans
Assorted measuring cups and spoons
Tongs, stir sticks, wooden spoons, and other utensils
Valentine themed cupcake cups
Plastic heart containers
Conversation hearts
Heart cookie cutters
Paper hearts
Red items such as tinsel, ribbon, pom poms, craft sticks, etc.

We were able to find most of our supplies at our local dollar store and in our own kitchen. Try to find items that stay in the Valentine’s Day theme and color scheme. Your dollar store will have many themed options, and your own kitchen will have many of the utensils that make this activity fun.

Directions:

The directions for making your own Valentine’s Day children’s sensory bin are quite simple. Begin by laying down a tablecloth or bed sheet so you can enjoy easy clean up later. Pour the rice or beans into the bin and add in the suggested materials. Place the bin at the center of the blanket, and allow children plenty of time to manipulate the items. They will enjoy scooping and pouring the rice, filling the cups, and using the other items to play. Their creativity will surely unfold and their little hands will get practice at some important skills!

Gather your supplies and try creating your own Valentine’s Day children’s sensory bin. It is a fun activity that is both frugal and educational!

The post DIY Valentine’s Day Children’s Sensory Bin appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Stay Active to Lose Weight

Melissa — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:00:45 +0000

This is the third part of a 3-part series, so I recommend reading these posts first:

I mentioned in my last post that I have always disliked exercise, but through this weight loss journey, I have learned to stay active to lose weight. But it wasn’t always this way…. My worst subject in school: P.E. When I had to run 1.5 miles in 15 minutes my freshman year of college, I thought I was going to flunk (but I made it – barely). I’ve tried different things over the years – running, sports, biking, an elliptical – but there was nothing that I really enjoy – except for walking. So, as I progressed in my weight loss journey, I wasn’t going to kill myself doing something that I didn’t like. I wanted my weight loss to be a lifestyle change, which means that it will last and that it has to be something that I will enjoy.

My exercise of choice was walking and I started small by just walking around the block. As I started to lose weight, gain endurance (and confidence), my walking increased from 1 mile – to 2 miles – 3 miles – 4 miles – and now 7 miles. I also found that I love hiking! This is good news living in AZ because there are so many wonderful hiking trails that the whole family can enjoy.Here’s the fun part – once I started gaining endurance, I started to crave fitness (yes, I actually said that!) and ventured to try new things like biking and using a rowing machine (my newest favorite).

Tip #1: Enjoy Your Activity

As you start to become more active in your lifestyle change to lose weight, choose an activity that you enjoy: biking, hiking, basketball, swimming, running, etc. The important part is that you enjoy what you are doing so that you will continue doing it. Introducing fitness, exercise, activity (or whatever you want to call it) into your lifestyle will not only help you lose weight, it will also help keep you healthy. There are plenty of published studies to prove this point so I don’t need to into depth here.

As you start adding fitness into your lifestyle, take small steps. If this is new for you, like it was for me, try 15 minutes a day at first and slowly start to increase. Have fun pushing yourself, but don’t over do it.

Tip #2: Stay Motivated with a Fitness Partner(s)

My new favorite “toy” is a Fitbit. I have the Fitbit Charge HR, so it tracks my steps, calories burned, the numbers of flights, sleep, and heart rate. I can see how active I am each day, set goals and keep track of my progress. An added bonus: you can create fun competitions with your friends who also have a Fitbit (or at least the app). These competitions with either yourself or your friends is such a huge motivator! I’m really not a competitive person, but I do enjoy a fun game, which is what it feels like. The great part is that I’m staying active while doing it!

The Fitbit app for a smartphone is actually free, so if you don’t want to invest in something but you want to start tracking your fitness levels, that is a great option. Plus, it allows you to check it out to see if you really like it before purchasing.

Fitness Tips for Beginners

Set a goal for what you want to achieve (15 minutes a day or 5,000 steps, etc) and stick to it.
Don’t over do it – keep your goals realistic so that you can meet them every day. If you need to just walk around the block, then do that. You can slowly increase those goals.
Reward yourself! Here is the fun part, if you meet your goals for a week, reward yourself, but try to pick something NOT related to food.
Look for a buddy that you can either exercise with or will at least help to keep you accountable.
Start putting “fitness” into your daily routine: park farther away from the store entrance, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to the park instead of driving.
If you have an off day, don’t beat yourself up. Start fresh the next day
Drink plenty of water!

I am NO fitness or exercise professional. I am just an average woman, who has learned to love the outdoors and being active. My goal is to be healthy and I hope this journey I have taken on losing weight has helped to inspire you to be a healthier you, too.

Do you enjoy staying active? What are some of your favorite activities? What tips do you have for beginners?

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Working Moms on a Budget: 5 Tips for Thrifty Business Fashion

Melissa — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 16:02:56 +0000

It can be tough to dress yourself on a budget when you have children. They are always growing out of clothes and shoes, and it feels like your clothing money is quickly siphoned away. But you don’t have to break the bank to find some pieces that make you look your best. Before you start shopping, check your wardrobe for a few pieces you might be missing. A pair of nice, tailored black pants can be worn with different shirts or blazers to create a smart business suit.

Thrift Shopping
With your wardrobe in mind, start with thrift stores. Thrift stores are not the dusty, smelly places of the past. Many people donate their clothing they no longer wear or need, which often include name-brands. Women might donate clothing because the piece doesn’t fit right, or they didn’t like how it looked, and many items could be brand-new. Wear comfortable shoes when you go since you’ll have to search through the racks to find the right clothing for you.

Smart Shopping with Coupons
You can also shop online with coupons. Shopping at an online stores like Overstock means you’ll be able to get name brand clothing at a discount. Never shop online without finding coupons online as well. You can find coupons for free shipping or free club memberships for places like Overtock through a site like Discountrue.com.

Shop at the End of Seasons
If you shop at the department store, make sure you’re cruising for end of season deals. At the end of summer, there’ll be plenty of beautiful clothes for next year. You’ll have to plan ahead by knowing what you’ll need next season. Stay away from trendy items that will be out of style by next year too. The clearance rack is the best place to find inexpensive items.

Budget
Before heading to the store, make sure you have a budget in mind. You can create a monthly budget for yourself as well. When you find a bargain, you’ll be able to make a purchase without breaking the bank. Deals don’t always happen when you expect, so it’s important to have spare money in the budget for the valuable finds.

Buy Classic Quality
No matter what you buy, make sure it’s a classic, quality piece that will fit into your wardrobe. You can purchase a couple of trendy blouses, but stick to classic pieces that will last for years. You’ll be able to stretch your wardrobe with these classics for many seasons to come.

You don’t have to forgo your own clothing when you have children, but it is vital that you plan ahead. Use coupons before shopping online retailers and remember to shop out of season for the best deals.

The post Working Moms on a Budget: 5 Tips for Thrifty Business Fashion appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Beginning Exercise without Breaking the Bank

Melissa — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 20:00:00 +0000

Think you need an expensive gym membership to get in shape? Think again! You can’t escape the radio and TV ads this time of year boasting amazing deals at your local gym. While it may seem like a good idea – you’re paying for it so you’ll use it right? – more times than not the money is spent while the membership goes unused. Some estimates say that as many as 67% of purchased gym memberships go unused! Instead of throwing your money away, why not try a few of these suggestions instead and find that you really can exercise without breaking the bank.

Beginning Exercise without Breaking the Bank

Go for a Walk

Besides a good pair of shoes, and chances are you already own a pair, there’s no investment required. Grab your husband, kids, or a friend and begin walking a few times a week. It’s a great chance to get outside and catch up. If it’s too cold where you live to walk outdoors in the winter, many schools have indoor tracks that you can use for free or a small fee (a few dollars). You also can visit your local mall and walk indoors for free.

Free Workout Videos

If you’d prefer to do something a little more active fitness videos are a good way to get started. YouTube has hundreds, if not thousands of free workouts available. You can also visit your local library and check out DVD’s for free. If you have digital cable services, many offer On Demand videos that include fitness workouts. Lastly, if you haven’t searched yet, there are numerous links on Pinterest to workouts you can do at home. When you first access Pinterest, select the button on the far left side (3 horizontal bars), and drop down the menu. Then select Health/Fitness and scroll to find a workout that looks interesting to you.

Free Local Classes

Many gyms and fitness classes offer free events for the public. This might be a complimentary 2 week trial membership, or simply a free class. Keep your eyes out for these events and incorporate them into your workout plan. You may discover an activity you had never heard of, or something you wouldn’t normally pay money to try. Either way you’ll get in a workout and you won’t be out any money.

Ready to Invest?

Once you’ve gotten into a good routine you may feel ready to take things up a notch. A gym membership might be a good option, but you can also consider adding a few things to your home workout space. Check out local thrift stores, Craigslist ads, and garage sales for low cost (and sometimes free!) equipment like mats, hand weights, and fitness benches. Sometimes second hand sports stores also carry this type of equipment.

There are lots of reasons people have for not exercising, but don’t let a lack of extra money be one of them! What are some of your favorite, low-cost ways to get in a great workout?

I recently lost 50 lbs in 6 months. Find out how I did it and how I have been Eating to Lose Weight.

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Eat to Lose Weight

Melissa — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 17:40:04 +0000

Last week I started sharing about my weight loss journey and how I have lost 50 pounds over a 6 month period. If you didn’t read the first post, I encourage you to head over and start there first. If you are ready to read about the second part of my weight loss, keep reading.

I know, I know. If you watch The Biggest Loser or any of those other TV shows, you’ll find that people are working out 8 hours a day and dropping weight like crazy. Well, here’s the thing – I have never liked exercise or considered myself to be athletic. I’ve tried to exercise on and off over the years, but I always get burnt out and NEVER had any fun. So the idea of starting to work out to lose weight did not motivate me, but after the initial cleanse helped me lose some weight, I was motivated to change the way I eat to lose weight. In my experience, I found that changing my eating habits helped me lose weight more than just exercising.

Now as a mom of 3 going back to graduate school and working part time, I knew that I needed to be able to healthy but it also needed to be EASY. Planning was essential for meals because I knew that if I got tired and hungry it would be so easy to continue to snack or grab non-nutritious filler foods. I also knew that I couldn’t completely stop from eating all the foods I loved. I needed to find healthier versions of those foods to make smarter choices when I was eating. I think one of the main reasons people fail at “diets” is that they are limiting themselves so much and they finally give in to whatever their desire is. Then they feel guilty and give up.

So here is my food plan:

Breakfast: Protein shake (I use Orgain or Balance Complete) mixed with unsweetened almond milk
Lunch: Salad (pre-made on Sunday so they are easy to grab each morning) and Fruit for dessert (I have a sweet tooth!)
Snack: Almonds, fruit, veggies and hummus or greek yogurt, Slique tea (anytime!)
Dinner: Anything as long as was healthy, had plenty of fruits and vegetables, was made without processed ingredients, and was the right portion size.

Some of my favorite dinners include: spaghetti squash with tomato sauce and roasted vegetables, chicken and vegetable soup, lettuce wrap tacos, brown rice and lentil bowl, turkey, avocado, lettuce wrap, baked sweet potatoes and grilled chicken, butternut squash and turkey chili. These are just a few. I found that when you are cooking with fresh ingredients, there are many wonderful dishes to try.

Key to Healthy Eating

The real key to eating healthy is to plan and that means setting aside time on the weekend to get weekday meals ready. So each Sunday, I head to the store to grab fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, meats, etc for the week. Pre-making salads is the absolute best way to make sure you are going to eat right throughout the week. It will stop you from going out to lunch (and save money), grab something from the vending machine, or not eat, which just causes you to binge later once you get home.

If you want to do this, you’ll want to grab some portable dishes. I use bowls from Ziploc since they are the perfect size for a lunch box. Lay them out and then start cutting! I put all kinds of fruits and veggies in my salads, but I’ll share my new favorite here:

Cranberry Feta Spinach Salad

Cranberry Feta Spinach Salad

Author: SavingCentsWithSense.net

Ingredients

2 handfuls of spinach, chopped
½ cucumber, diced
¼ pear, diced
onion, diced (depends on how much you like onion)
½ celery stalk, diced
4-5 grapes, sliced
dried cranberries (handful)
pepitas (handful)
feta cheese, just a few crumples
protein of choice: 1 hard boiled egg, diced chicken, turkey or ham
Vinaigrette dressing (look for one that is less than 50 calories a serving or make one yourself)

Instructions

Directions: If you are making this ahead of time, place all ingredients except for dressing in container. These last for 4-5 days so you can get a week's worth made ahead of time. Put your dressing in a dressing container so it is ready to go.

This is just my favorite now, but really my tastes change as different fruits and veggies come into season. I’m looking forward to strawberries – they are so yummy on a fresh salad! What are some of your favorite salad toppings?

Ultimately, here are some changes I made to my eating habits:

Eat out less or not at all. If I do eat out at a restaurant, I research the menu ahead of time to find the healthiest option
Eliminate drinking soda and sweetened drinks
Eliminate processed foods
Eliminate unhealthy temptations (e.g. Potato chips, cookies, candy, ice cream, etc)
Eat fruits and vegetables at every meal
Replace unhealthier foods with healthier alternatives (e.g. plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream or lettuce caps for taco shells)
Drink more water (not crazy about plain water? Add fresh cut lemon, orange, or cucumber slices)
Replacing coffee with Slique tea to help support my weight loss goals
Stick to my calorie goals (1200-1500 a day) There are plenty of free calorie trackers out there, too. Some that I have used include Sparkpeople.com, Myfitnesspal.com, and Fitbit.

Like I said earlier, I’m not super worried about everything always being exact. If I want to make an omelet on the weekend and do a protein shake for lunch, I do it. If I’m craving chocolate, I have a piece. I just make sure I limit my portions and don’t over do it. Plus, I found that once I started ~~exercising~~ becoming more active, I wasn’t as worried about my calorie intake. Read my next post to learn how I have finally learned to appreciate (and yearn for) staying active: Stay Active to Lose Weight.

If you are interested in purchasing the Young Living Balance Complete Shake or Slique Tea, you can buy it at the retail price, or save 24% and get it at the whole sale price. I have information on this Young Living post about how to become a whole sale member. Otherwise, visit the direct links in the post above for the retail option. Young Living also has a line of products for weight management, as well as vitamins to help you stay healthy. Please contact me if you have more questions about any of their products.

The post Eat to Lose Weight appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

How to Lose 50 Pounds in 6 Months

Melissa — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:00:39 +0000

Ready to talk about how to lose 50 pounds in 6 months? I am because I am proud of my accomplishment. I’ve also had so many people asking me about how I did it, so I decided it was time to share.

Ok, it does feel a bit awkward to talk about my weight. It has been a taboo topic for most of my life. I use to dread going to doctor appointments when I would be forced to acknowledge my weight. I use to hate the BMI scale, saying that it just must be unfair for those of us “blessed” with curves. Shopping for clothes was also a chore because I would see cute things, but then I would be discouraged at the size I would need to buy to fit my body.

But I have had a transformation, inside and out. Over a 6 month period, I lost 50 pounds. I went from having a BMI of 31 to a BMI of 23 – that is going from the obese category to a very healthy normal weight. I went down 4 dress sizes (and shopping is way more fun!). I also went from being a couch potato to taking 5 mile hikes, biking for 60 minutes a day, and ultimately looking forward to the next active challenge! But even with the transformation of my body, it has taken a bit longer for the transformation of my mind to go from thinking I am the “fat” girl to loving myself for who I am. Unfortunately I should have always loved who and what I was (because weight does not define us), but shedding weight and becoming more active has given me a new found confidence in who I am and what I can accomplish.

I’m excited to share with you my tips and explain what worked for me, but I want to say that I am not a dietician or doctor and that before starting any weight loss plan, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor about your unique situation and goals. For me, I was able to lose weight through 3 main components:

Starting off right with a cleanse (continue reading)
Eat to Lose Weight.
Stay Active to Lose Weight

I know there are programs out there to help you lose weight faster, but I wanted this to be a lifestyle change, and I want the weight to STAY OFF, so I lost at a healthy rate for me.

Starting Off Right

The first thing I did to start my weight loss journey was research a cleanse program. I wanted to rid myself of all the toxins I had been consuming, plus it was a great way to get myself use to limiting calories, eating healthier snacks, etc. I had tried other cleanses in the past, including all natural juicing cleanses and Enzymatic Therapy Whole Body Cleanse Kit with Probiotics. I had lost a few pounds with them, however, I it wasn’t anything extraordinary and unfortunately I just ended up gaining the weight back.

Since I have been using Young Living for essential oils for almost 2 years and knew that they made quality products, I decided to try the Young Living 5 Day Cleanse. This nutritive cleanse includes the following:

Ningxia Red, an energizing, replenishing, whole wolfberry nutrient infusion
Balance Complete, a super-food-based, daily, superfood energizer and nutritive cleanse
Digest + cleanse, which soothes gastrointestinal discomfort and supports healthy digestion

I already used Ningxia Red every morning to energize and keep up my immunity so I was looking forward to this cleanse. I also liked that it was only 5 days as opposed to some cleanses which are 2 weeks. Balance Complete is a vanilla flavor (with a hint of coconut). I mixed it with water during the initial cleanse, but since have used unsweetened almond milk for more calcium. Balance Complete is packed with 11 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber to fill you up!

During the cleanse, you take a Digest + cleanse soft gel 60 minutes before eating. Then make a shake and take 1-2 ounces of Ningxia Red for your meal. If I got hungry between meals, I would eat a healthy snack (almonds, fruit, veggies). I also eliminated all sugary drinks (including sweetened coffee) and soda. My drink of choice, besides water, is an unsweetened tea. By the end of the cleanse I had lost 10 lbs! Crazy I know, but I think a lot of it was water weight and just not eating so much junk every day.

And that was just the first week! But by the end of the week, I was inspired and motivated to keep the weight loss going. Come back next week to read about the second component in my weight loss journey: Eat to Lose Weight.

If you are interested in purchasing the Young Living 5-Day Cleanse, you can buy it at the retail price, or save 24% and get it at the whole sale price. I have information on this Young Living post about how to become a whole sale member. Otherwise, here is a direct link for the retail option. Young Living also has a line of products for weight management, as well as vitamins to help you stay healthy. Please contact me if you have more questions about any of their products.

The post How to Lose 50 Pounds in 6 Months appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Renaissance Festival 2016 is Coming – Kids Go FREE!

Melissa — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 15:45:45 +0000

I have such fun memories going to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. My now-husband took me there when we were dating and it was such a fun date to enjoy all the entertainment, food, and shopping. Since then, we have gone back over the years with our kids (and sometimes just us!). The Arizona Renaissance Festival is fun for the whole family. It is a medieval amusement park, a 12-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast — all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure. Last year, we all went and the kids enjoyed eating turkey legs, watching the jousting, petting animals, watching a glass-blowing demonstration, and much more. I’m looking forward to going back this year!

Kids FREE!

To make it even better right now they are offering One Free Child ticket Per Coupon with One Full Price Adult Ticket Purchased at the Festival Gate.

Coupon rules: This Coupon is valid at the 2016 Festival Box Office only. NOT VALID in conjunction with a FRYS discount ticket or any other discount offer. Not for resale. One coupon per person. Distribution on Festival property is prohibited. Photocopies not permitted.

VALID FEBRUARY 20, 2016 THROUGH MARCH 27, 2016.

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10 Uses for Orange Peels

Melissa — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:00:05 +0000

Oranges are in season right now and you may have noticed that they are a great price at the grocery store! Right now is the time to stock up on this vitamin C packing fruit. We recently planted an orange tree and I can’t wait until it is producing so I can have fresh squeezed orange juice, sliced oranges on my salad, orange marmalade, or just a quick snack!

But hold on – before you throw away all those orange peels, keep reading to find out 10 uses for orange peels. Why not reuse and save some money!

#1 – Wood Polish: Orange oil is a natural way to polish all the wood in your home. You could buy some fancy orange oil polish OR just give whatever piece of wood you’re working with a tough scrub with a fresh moist orange peel and, in no time, you’ll have a great, deep new shine. For outside the kitchen, you can use this to give beat-up, dusty, wooden sofa legs a store-like finish as well.

#2 – Aromatic Candles: Save on buying those new candles…If you’ve got a few oranges lying around; when you’re peeling them, try to pull the stem out along with some of the shell (cutting the orange’s shell in half and pulling the stem out on one side works best with this. Once you got this all worked out, fill this bowl-like orange peel with some form of oil, making sure to get that stem well soaked in it. Light the oily stem as if it were a wick and you’ll have a nice, orange-scented candle keeping your home smelling great. If you have trouble keeping the stem lit, you can tie a piece of twin around the base of the stem and wrap it around the stem to help wick the oil up to burn.

#3 – Brown Sugar Preserver: We all hate it when we open up our bag of brown sugar, only to find it all clumped up and stuck together, especially when you’re in the middle of preparing a dish where time is of the essence. Thankfully, if you just finished going through that bag of Florida oranges, all those peels can help keep your brown sugar an actual sugar. Just keep some orange peels mixed in with it all in the bag, and the peels will absorb most of the moisture that gets in, keeping your sugar from solidifying and turning into that all too familiar bag of brown rocks.

#4 – Citrus-Scented Bath Powder: After a long day at work, school, or errands, some of us like to march to the bathroom and run a nice hot bath to relax in. If you’re that type, this is for you, especially if you enjoy the fine smell of orange. If you let some orange peels sit on a counter and dry out, you can grind them down to a powder. You can use this powder like you would any store-bought bath powder and have a nice, “Florida (or Arizona) orange” smelling bath, courtesy of your local supermarket.

#5 – Insect Repellent: While you could go out and buy all kinds of different insect repellents, you could simply go out and buy some oranges. After you’re done enjoying your amazing citrus snack (definitely better for you than those potato chips), just use the orange peels to keep the pests away. Rub them on your skin instead of spraying some random mixture of chemicals you bought at the store, or just lay the peels around. In addition to just smelling really good, those peels will keep a variety of insects away; snails, mosquitos, and even those pesky ants that seem to be everywhere.

When mosquitos are bad, I use this DIY All Natural Mosquito Spray.

#6 – Make-Shift Sponge: If you have a relatively fresh orange peel, one that’s still relatively moist, you can make a nice, quick sponge of it. Just use the inside of your fresh peel to thoroughly scrub whatever surface it is you are cleaning up. It’s safe for use on many surfaces; metal, wood, countertops, floors, et cetera. As an added bonus, your fresh peel will leave a nice, citrusy scent on the surfaces you clean it with. Not only will your stovetop be cleaned, but it won’t smell like that burnt chicken breast from a few weeks ago anymore.

#7 – Natural Medicine: If you just so happen to be a character in a B-grade horror flick, where your heart is constantly racing as you anticipate where the villain is going to come from, just take a page from the medicine men from the days of old. Many ancient pharmacists had concluded that oranges were an amazing natural medicine for many years, whether they were bitter or ripe. More importantly, orange peels have also been proven to decrease blood pressure through direct consumption. So, if you ever find yourself in a film directed by Sam Raimi, remember to bring a couple of orange peels along; it might just save you from a heart attack, brought upon by a camera flying through a cabin window.

#8 – Fertilizer: If you’ve always wanted to start your own garden, but the soil at your home just doesn’t seem to be the greatest, nutrient-rich stuff you’ve ever worked with, you can always just get some oranges. Once you finish your healthy treat, you can compost those peels and make that dead-grass-covered patch of land into a fertile tract of soil that will let those rose bushes you’ve always wanted to plant grow to be green and strong.

And here are a few more gardening tips:

Frugal Tips to Start a Garden

How to Build a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

3 Easy Garden Plants for Kids

#9 – Kindling: If you’re ever short on twigs, branches, or any other kind of small kindling that you need to start a family bonfire in the back yard, orange peels can help you out here as well. Just toss them into your fire and they’ll burn rather easily, especially if they’re fresher, as the oils in them will allow them to burn easier. Just remember to start fires responsibly; I don’t want the police knocking on the door because you told them that I told you to go out there and start fires.

#10 – Deodorizer: Of course, considering their usually powerful citrus scent, it wouldn’t be very shocking to see “deodorizer” on this list. Just set a few out and let them sit for a while, if your using them just to make an “okay smelling” room smell good. However, if you want to deal with bad odors, you’ll have to be a little more strategic; put them in the bottom of trash cans, put them down the trash disposal to deal with old, moldy food smells coming from there; and you’ll want to make a sort of dish from a peel and fill it with salt or baking soda if you want to de-stench your fridge.

Do you have any other way you use orange peels? I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to drop me a comment below.

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How to Save Money in 2016

Melissa — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 00:20:45 +0000

Happy New Year!! I am so excited for 2016 – there will be some very big changes with my family this year. My daughter will start kindergarten (remember when I announced my pregnancy?) – I can’t believe how fast time flies! My oldest son will also be starting junior high during this year (now I feel old!). I will graduate with my master’s in communication disorders and start my new career as a speech language pathologist. With that, I’m sure there will be more changes, but I’m so excited to see what comes our way. My faith is in the Lord and where He will lead us…

2016 will also be a year where my family can start putting more in savings, too. It has been difficult to do that with the expense of my schooling, on top of our children’s needs. I know many of you are in similar situations of needed to save, but wanting to pay off debt, and eventually be able to put money in savings. Although I don’t claim to be an expert, I have learned many money saving tips through the past 7 years of running this frugal blog. Through lay offs, new jobs, new schools, illness, and everything else involved with a family, we have had our ups and downs. If you are looking for some simple things you can start doing NOW to start saving more on things you need, so you can spend on things you want (or pay off debt), then please check out the resources I have here for you.

Before we get to my tips, I want to stress that no matter what savings tips you decide to try, make sure that you aren’t spending more to save. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but here is what I mean – if you decide to start couponing, then don’t drive farther each week to different stores just so you can score a better deal. You’ll end up spending more in gas, which doesn’t save you a thing. In the same regard, don’t spend money on things you don’t need just because it is a great deal.

Here are my Money Saving Tips for the New Year – from A to Z:

A void Impulse Buying. Make a list (with coupons of course!) before heading to the store and stick to it. Don’t shop hungry and if your kids aren’t helpful with shopping, you may want to leave them at home so you can concentrate on getting the best deals.

B udget. If you don’t have a household budget yet, I highly recommend you sit down and list everything that you are spending each month. It will be eye opening to see where all your money is going and you may just be able to cut out some extra expenses. You’ll then be able to create a budget of what you want to spend.

C oupons. If you are new to couponing, you’ll want to read Couponing: Where to Begin, and I have many different resources for you on my Coupon Resources page, like:

and much more. Start using coupons and you will see a 50% savings on your grocery bill – now that is a great way to spend less!

D IY. Do-It-Yourself projects, crafts, recipes and more can help you save big time. Here are a few of my favorite projects:

Don’t stop there – I have tips “E” to “Z” on my Money Saving Tips from A to Z post. Just click the link and read the rest.

The post How to Save Money in 2016 appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake

Melissa — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:00:32 +0000

Cinnamon rolls and french toast are two of my favorite kinds of breakfasts. This Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake is the best of both words. I love having casserole type dishes on Christmas morning and this will be such a special treat for my family. Slice up a piece of this with a warm cup of coffee and you’ll be set to watch the kids hunt for all those eggs….

I love pecans and have them in the recipe, but if you or someone if your family doesn’t like them, you can just leave them out.

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp melted Butter
1 can Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls
3 Eggs
1/4 cup Heavy Cream
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1/4 cup Pecans
1/4 cup Maple Syrup

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 375.
Pour melted butter into 8×8 baking dish.
Open and separate rolls.Cut each roll into 8 pieces and place in buttered dish.
Beat eggs, then add cream, cinnamon and vanilla and continue beating until well blended.Pour over rolls.
Sprinkle with pecans and drizzle with syrup.
Bake 20-24 minutes or until golden brown.
Transfer icing to zippered sandwich bag and set aside.
Allow to cool.
Clip corner of bag and drizzle icing over top and lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar

The post Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Grinch Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Melissa — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 18:00:17 +0000

There is something about the colder nip in the air, or all the holiday lights around town…but I have had the urge to bake. When my daughter was just a baby, I found a deal on matching “Grinch” aprons and I have been saving them until she was old enough to wear hers. This Thanksgiving I was able to give my daughter her’s (it finally fits!) and she was so excited!

She has been asking to wear our matching aprons ever since. I know this special time – where she wants to be like mom – won’t last forever, so I’m cherishing it! Aren’t we cute in our matching Grinch aprons?

The Grinch Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

In my quest to find excuses to bake – and get snuggles from my little cutie – I decided that these Grinch Mint Chocolate Chip cookies would be the next adventure. They are perfect to make and take to any holiday cookie exchanges that you have this year, or if you just want a more festive cookie! What I really like is that they are easy enough for all your “little helpers” to contribute since you don’t have to worry about cookie cutters or being perfectly exact.

Oh, and if you don’t own this Christmas classic, you can grab Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas on DVD, Blu-ray, or Amazon Instant Video.

Ingredients:

2 eggs, room temp
1 egg yolk
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 1/2 C chocolate chips
3 1/4 C flour
green gel food coloring
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 1/2 C sugar
1 C unsalted butter, room temp
1 package Wilton Red Candy Melts
1 package Wilton White Candy Melts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together until it is no longer grainy.
Mix in the eggs and egg yolk beating until well blended.
Stir in the vanilla and mix until fluffy.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl. Mix together well.
Gradually add the dry mixtures to wet mixture. Mix on low until combined.
Blend the green food coloring mixing until the color is consistent.
Pour in the chips and stir until well distributed.
Using a small ice cream scoop drop cookie dough onto the cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12–14 minutes.
While the cookies are baking using a double boiler melt the red candy melts.
Allow the cookies to cool.
Dip one end of the cookie into the melted red candy melt covering half of the cookie.
Allow to totally cool and candy to harden.
With the double boiler melt the white candy melts.
Outline and fill in a white heart to the red candy covered cookie.
Allow to cook completely.

I hope you enjoy these cookies! But don’t be a Grinch – make sure you share them!!

"The Grinch" Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Author: SavingCentsWithSense.net

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

2 eggs, room temp
1 egg yolk
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1½ C chocolate chips
3¼ C flour
green gel food coloring
½ tsp salt
1 tsp peppermint extract
1½ C sugar
1 C unsalted butter, room temp
1 package Wilton Red Candy Melts
1 package Wilton White Candy Melts

Instructions

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together until it is no longer grainy.
Mix in the eggs and egg yolk beating until well blended.
Stir in the vanilla and mix until fluffy.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl. Mix together well.
Gradually add the dry mixtures to wet mixture. Mix on low until combined.
Blend the green food coloring mixing until the color is consistent.
Pour in the chips and stir until well distributed.
Using a small ice cream scoop drop cookie dough onto the cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12–14 minutes.
While the cookies are baking using a double boiler melt the red candy melts.
Allow the cookies to cool.
Dip one end of the cookie into the melted red candy melt covering half of the cookie.
Allow to totally cool and candy to harden.
With the double boiler melt the white candy melts.
Outline and fill in a white heart to the red candy covered cookie.
Allow to cook completely.

The post Grinch Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Sparkly Snowman Cupcakes

Melissa — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 17:00:15 +0000

I love baking holiday treats! These Sparkly Snowman Cupcakes sure to delight. They are fun to create, make a festive table addition and of course are yummy to eat!

Sparkly Snowman Cupcakes

Yields: 24 Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 box white cake mix (plus required ingredients listed on the box, i.e. eggs, oil & water)
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
4 tablespoons milk
Peanut butter or butterscotch chips (1 per cupcake)
White Sugar Sprinkles
Black decorating icing

Directions:

1. Prepare cake batter according to box directions and bake.

2. While cupcakes cool, make frosting. Start by using an electric mixer to beat butter until light and fluffy. Graduallybeat in confectioners’ sugar until fully incorporated. Beat in vanilla frosting. Pour in milk and beat for an additional 3 minutes.

3. Spread a layer of frosting onto each cupcake, making it as smooth as possible.

4. Pour sprinkles into a bowl, and dip each frosted cupcake into the sprinkles – making sure all frosting is completely covered.

5. Using the black decorating icing, create dots for eyes and a mouth for the snowman.

6. Add a peanut butter or butterscotch chip in the middle for the snowman’s nose.

The post Sparkly Snowman Cupcakes appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

20+ Peppermint Treat Recipes Round Up

Melissa — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:33:46 +0000

I love Peppermint. In anything. It is one of my favorite winter flavors, so I couldn’t resist making this Peppermint Treat Recipes round up full of fun new recipes to try this holiday season. I found some great new recipes to try this year and I hope you can, too.

Check out this Peppermint Treat Recipes Round Up and let me know what you plan to try first!

Peppermint Treat Recipes

And for all you crafty readers, I even have a few peppermint-inspired crafts for you to try!

Peppermint Inspired DIY Crafts

DIY Duct Tape Peppermint Tree – fun gift or centerpiece for your holiday celebrations

DIY Peppermint Scrub – relaxing gift for loved ones!

The post 20+ Peppermint Treat Recipes Round Up appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Top Amazon Deals 12/10/15: LeapFrog Tablets 50% Off!

Melissa — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 17:12:45 +0000

Holiday deals are here! There are some great deals each day and I want to help you find them! I’m going to be giving you a list each day of Amazon deals, which includes the daily Gold Box Deals, Lightning Deals, and ongoing deals. Come back each day to find the list and see what you want to check out that day.

Some tips for shopping Amazon:

If you haven’t signed up for Amazon Prime yet, I highly recommend that you do that through the holidays. You’ll get free shipping on your purchases (plus access to free movies, music, books, etc). There is a 30 day free trial to check out Amazon Prime. You can read more about Amazon Prime on my post here.
Gold Box deals last all day unless they sell out. I recommend grabbing them early just in case.
Lightning deals can go very fast – watch the time that it is released and try to grab it as soon as it is available since there is a limited quantity of the product.
Prices can change so, again grab something if you see it, but always check the price before purchasing.
If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can still get free shipping when you spend a minimum $35 purchase.

::Amazon Gold Box Deals::

AR Blue Clean Pressure Washer 45% Off

Up to $90 Off Select Nixplay Edge Wi-Fi Cloud Digital Photo Frames

50% Off Select LeapFrog LeapPad Tablets

40% Off kate spade new york Handbags

Wenzel Klondike Tent – 8 Person

Paderno World Cuisine A4982799 Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer

::Lightning Deals::

9 am EST: Server Design 1 – Kids Ages 8-14 Learn to Code in Java & Create Their Very Own Server with Minecraft ® (PC & Mac)
Prime Early Access Deal

9 am EST: Ivation IVADM35 Powerful Thermo-Electric Dehumidifier
Prime Early Access Deal

9 am EST: Youth Digital Mod Design 1: Learn to Code with Minecraft for Mac/PC
Prime Early Access Deal

9 am EST: Shoes of Soul Kid’s Faux Fur Lined Boots
Prime Early Access Deal

9 am EST: Samsung 27-Inch Wide Viewing Angle LED Monitor (S27D590P-R) Certified Refurbished

9:05 am EST: Thames and Kosmos Gyrobot-Gyroscopic Robot Kit
Prime Early Access Deal

9:05 am EST: Peaceable Kingdom / What’s It? Award Winning Family Game
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9:05 am EST: Peaceable Kingdom / Say The Word Award Winning Family Cooperative Game
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9:05 am EST: TEKTON 2841 Everybit and Electronic Repair Screwdriver Bit Set, 135-Piece
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9:05 am EST: DEWALT D26960K Heavy Duty Heat Gun with LCD Display
Prime Early Access Deal

9:10 am EST: SanDisk Extreme 256GB U3/UHS-I SDXC with 4K Ultra HD, Up to 80MB/s Read;60MB/s Write- SDSDXN-256G-G46[Older Version]

9:25 am EST: Striker Duel with Versa Formation Technology Foosball Table, 56″
Prime Early Access Deal

9:40 am EST: SINGER 2277 Tradition Sewing Machine with Automatic Needle Threader

10 am EST: Ceramic Knife Set with Block- 5 Pc Cutlery Ceramic Knives Set By Good Cooking (Red Handles)
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10 am EST: Marble Madness Marble Run – Limited 126 Pc. Set
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10 am EST: Tanaka TCS51EAP 50.1CC 20-Inch Rear Handle Chain Saw with PureFire Engine

10 am EST: Igourmet Extravagant Bonanza of Treats Gift Basket by IG4U, 6 Pound
Prime Early Access Deal

10:05 am EST: DEWALT DC515K 1/2-Gallon 18-Volt NiCd Cordless Wet/Dry Vac
Prime Early Access Deal

10:25 am EST: Comanche Outfitters Red IR Kodiak Trail Camera
Prime Early Access Deal

10:40 am EST: Darice ArtyFacts Portable Art Studio, 131-Piece Deluxe Art Set With Wood Case
Prime Early Access Deal

11 am EST: Pyrex 1110141 18pc Glass Food Storage with Multi-colored Lids

11 am EST: BedandBreakfast.com $50 Gift Card
Prime Early Access Deal

11 am EST: Cuisinart CI670-30BG Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron 7-Quart Round Covered Casserole, Provencal Blue

11 am EST: Dehydrator – Electric Professional Grade Food Dehydrator with Four Trays By Good Cooking – Dries 30% Faster
Prime Early Access Deal

11:05 am EST: Thames and Kosmos Fun and Fundamentals Elements of Science
Prime Early Access Deal

11:05 am EST: Bazoongi 48″ Bouncer in Red – Special Exclusive Limited Edition
Prime Early Access Deal

11:05 am EST: Beyblade Legends BB-59 Burn Fireblaze 135MS Top & BB-30 Rock Leone 145WB Top Bundle
Prime Early Access Deal

11:05 am EST: DECEC OTG Micro USB 2.0 Cable Harrier Keyring Style Portable Cable
Prime Early Access Deal

11:05 am EST: Maisto R/C Rock Crawler ATV Remote Control Vehicle
Prime Early Access Deal

11:05 am EST: Power Rangers Super Megaforce – Power Rangers Deluxe Super Mega Blaster
Prime Early Access Deal

11:25 am EST: Allen Company 3.5mm Shadowgrass Blades Camouflage Bootfoot Chest Wader

11:30 am EST: Kuhn Rikon Stainless-Steel Pressure Cooker, 8 qt
Prime Early Access Deal

11:40 am EST: Deluxe Bamboo Shower Seat Bench with Storage Shelf.
Prime Early Access Deal

12 pm EST: Cold Stone Creamery Gift Card $25
Prime Early Access Deal

12 pm EST: Infantino See Play Go Link and Crinkle Animal Counting Book
Prime Early Access Deal

12 pm EST: Alder Creek Gifts Manga Gift Basket, 5.5 Pound
Prime Early Access Deal

12 pm EST: Golfers Delights Gourmet Snacking Box
Prime Early Access Deal

12:05 pm EST: Thames & Kosmos Remote-Control Machines: Space Explorers Science Kit
Prime Early Access Deal

12:05 pm EST: Maisto R/C Rock Crawler ATV Remote Control Vehicle
Prime Early Access Deal

12:05 pm EST: DEWALT DCF880HM2 20-volt MAX Lithium Ion 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench Kit with Hog Ring
Prime Early Access Deal

12:50 pm SET: Allen Sports Premier Aluminum 2-Child Jogger/Bike Trailer
Prime Early Access Deal

1 pm EST: Jiffy Lube Gift Card $25
Prime Early Access Deal

1:05 pm EST: Thames & Kosmos Physics Solar Workshop (V 2.0) Science Kit
Prime Early Access Deal

1:05 pm EST: Fairy Godmother May I? Birthday Party Game Board Game
Prime Early Access Deal

1:15 pm EST: Muk Luks Women’s Short Sweet Fairisle Boot
Prime Early Access Deal

1:35 pm EST: Playtex Women’s Play It Up The Jetsetter 2-Pack
Prime Early Access Deal

1:40 pm EST: Smart Living Steam Mop Plus
Prime Early Access Deal

2 pm EST: Logan’s Roadhouse Gift Card $25
Prime Early Access Deal

2:05 pm EST: Fisher-Price Thomas The Train Wooden Railway Bubble Loader
Prime Early Access Deal

2:05 pm EST: Vintage Wooden Toolbox with 13 Tools
Prime Early Access Deal

2:05 pm EST: Syma X11C 4 Channel 2.4Ghz RC Quadcopter with 2MP HD Camera (Tenergy Exclusive Thunder Blue)
Prime Early Access Deal

2:05 pm EST: Bendon Star Wars Episode VII Giant Art Activity Set

3 pm EST: California Pizza Kitchen Gift Card $50
Prime Early Access Deal

3:05 pm EST: Melissa & Doug Wooden Alphabet Magnets
Prime Early Access Deal

3:05 pm EST: Baby’s First Puzzle -12 Unique 2-pc Where Animals Live Puzzles with Storage Container
Prime Early Access Deal

3:05 pm EST: LEGO LEGO Hero Factory BREEZ 44006
Prime Early Access Deal

4:25 pm EST: AmScope M30-ABS-KT2 Starter Microscope Kit, Metal Frame, 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X, and 1200X Magnifications, 2 Eyepieces and 49 Accessories and Case
Prime Early Access Deal

5 pm EST: Maclaren Triumph Stroller with Accessories Included

5:05 pm EST: Mindscope Neo Tracks Twister Tracks 258 Flexible Track System
Prime Early Access Deal

5:05 pm EST: Peaceable Kingdom / Foil Art Jewelry Sticker Kit
Prime Early Access Deal

5:05 pm EST: DEWALT DCL050 20V Max LED Hand Held Area Light
Prime Early Access Deal

5:35 pm EST: Pacific Trail Big Boys’ Snowsuit with Quilted Puffer Coat
Prime Early Access Deal

6 pm EST: Ivation™ Key Finder Transmitter & Receivers Kit – Includes 3 Independent Receivers, Black
Prime Early Access Deal

6:05 pm EST: KiiToys X-10 4 Channels Radio Control Quadcopter, Color may vary
Prime Early Access Deal

6:05 pm EST: Peaceable Kingdom / Foil Art Sticker Kit
Prime Early Access Deal

6:05 pm EST: Beyblade Legends Tops 6 Pack Bundle
Prime Early Access Deal

6:25 pm EST: Classic Accessories Colorado Inflatable Pontoon Boat With Motor Mount
Prime Early Access Deal

6:30 pm EST: 3 Compartment Food Container, Designed with Style Stackable Lunch Container, Bento Lunch Box Container Is Microwave and Dishwasher Safe, 3 Different Size Compartments, Lunch Tray with Lid, Divided Plate, Includes Two Containers & Matching Silverware
Prime Early Access Deal

6:40 pm EST: Dirt Devil Extreme Power Bagless Handheld Vacuum, M0914
Prime Early Access Deal

7:05 pm EST: Teamson Kids Fancy Castle Theme Doll House with 5 Piece Funiture Toy, Multicolor

8 pm EST: Alder Creek Gifts Let it Snow Gift Basket, 2.5 Pound
Prime Early Access Deal

9:05 pm EST: Hape – Totally Amazing Under the Sea Blocks
Prime Early Access Deal

9:25 pm EST: Piscifun Fishing Line Spooler/Winding System Ultimate Line Winder
Prime Early Access Deal

10 pm EST: Blue TwinStar AstroMark 80mm Dual Tripod Refractor Telescope
Prime Early Access Deal

::Amazon Sales::

Up to 30% Off Select Games
End Date: December 23, 2015

Up to 25% Off Select Playmobil
End Date: December 23, 2015

50% Off Select Diggin Toys
End Date: January 20, 2015

Up to 50% Off Select Nerf
End Date: January 23, 2015

Up to 70% Off Girls’ Uniform Shoes
End Date: January 1, 2015

Up to 65% Off DAWGS Girls’ Shoes
End Date: January 1, 2015

Up to 75% off Blue Topaz Jewelry
End Date: December 17, 2015

50-70% Off Nautica Baby Clothing
End Date: January 1, 2015

Up to 65% Off Women’s Western Boots
End Date: December 22, 2015

50% or More Off The Children’s Place Clothing
End Date: January 1, 2015

55% off Puma Men’s Sherpa Lined Hoodie
End Date: December 24, 2015

Up to 70% Off Women’s Work Boots
End Date: December 22, 2015

Up to 70% Off Women’s Outdoor Shoes
End Date: December 22, 2015

50% or More Off Girls’ Dresses
End Date: December 15, 2015

50% Or More Off PUMA Clothing for Baby Boys
End Date: December 12, 2015

Up to 40% off Zing Bows
End Date: December 22, 2015

25% off or more Columbia Cold Weather Accessories
End Date: January 1, 2015

50% or More off Cashmere Cold Weather Accessories
End Date: December 11, 2015

50% or More Off Lucky Brand Men’s Shirts
End Date: January 1, 2015

50% or More Off Leggings
End Date: December 19, 2015

Save 50% or More on Our Favorite Sweaters
End Date: December 13, 2015

20 – 60% Off Freestyle Watches
End Date: January 5, 2015

70% off Nick Graham Ties and Accessories
End Date: December 24, 2015

50% Or More Off Frozen Clothing for Girls
End Date: January 6, 2015

50% or More Off Nautica Girls’ Clothing
End Date: December 11, 2015

45% off or more Isotoner Men’s Gloves
End Date: December 11, 2015

50% or More Off Baby Jackets & Coats
End Date: December 16, 2015

50% or More Off Boys Jackets & Coats
End Date: December 16, 2015

Up to 50% Off Skechers Mens Boots
End Date: December 12, 2015

Up to 50% Off Skechers Womens Boots
End Date: December 12, 2015

Up to 50% off Coleman Air Beds
End Date: December 16, 2015

50% or More Off Select NFL Drinkware
End Date: January 1, 2015

50% or More Off Select NFL Jewelry Products
End Date: January 1, 2015

Up to 50% Off New Balance Men’s Clothing
End Date: January 1, 2015

50% Off or More Star Wars Clothing for Boys
End Date: December 12, 2015

50% or More Off Disney Clothing for Girls
End Date: December 12, 2015

50% Off or More Disney Clothing for Boys
End Date: December 12, 2015

Up to 60% Off Girls’ Clothing Sets from Disney
End Date: December 11, 2015

Up to 40% Off Select Scepter Products
End Date: December 31, 2015

Up to 45% Off Select ScentBlocker Products
End Date: December 31, 2015

The post Top Amazon Deals 12/10/15: LeapFrog Tablets 50% Off! appeared first on Saving Cents With Sense.

Top Amazon Deals 12/9/15: Cold Weather Accessories (Stocking Stuffers) Starting at $7 + More

Melissa — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 14:56:43 +0000

Holiday deals are available at Amazon, including their 12 Days of Deals. There are some great deals each day and I want to help you find them! I’m going to be giving you a list each day of Amazon deals, which includes the daily Gold Box Deals, Lightning Deals, and ongoing deals. Come back each day to find the list and see what you want to check out that day.

Some tips for shopping Amazon:

If you haven’t signed up for Amazon Prime yet, I highly recommend that you do that through the holidays. You’ll get free shipping on your purchases (plus access to free movies, music, books, etc). There is a 30 day free trial to check out Amazon Prime. You can read more about Amazon Prime on my post here.
Gold Box deals last all day unless they sell out. I recommend grabbing them early just in case.
Lightning deals can go very fast – watch the time that it is released and try to grab it as soon as it is available since there is a limited quantity of the product.
Prices can change so, again grab something if you see it, but always check the price before purchasing.
If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can still get free shipping when you spend a minimum $35 purchase.

::Amazon Gold Box Deals::

Up to 75% Off Breaking Bad: The Complete Series and Better Call Saul: Season One

Versace Watches 65-75% Off for Men and Women

Under $30 Clothing & Accessory Gifts

70% or More Off Travelpro Luggage

Up to 40% Off Britax Car Seats

Bushnell Optics Bundle: The Truth ARC 4x20mm Rangefinder + Trophy XLT Roof Prism 8x32mm Binoculars

::Lightning Deals::

9 am EST: PureSpa Essential Oil Diffuser – Compact Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser With Ionizer and Color-Changing Light
Prime Early Access Deal

9 am EST: Star Wars Yoda Self Stirring and Spinning Mug – Mix Your Drink with the Force
Prime Early Access Deal

9 am EST: Elf on the Shelf Blue Eyed Boy with Bonus Tuxedo Outfit – Direct From North Pole in Limited Edition Official Gift Box

9 am EST: Kelty Airlift 6-Person Tent