AC Moore has a 50% off coupon for Friday, September 26th, 2008 ans Saturday, September 27th, 2008.

Micheal's has a coupon for 40% off one regularly priced item.

It is valid from September 22nd, 2008 to September 27th, 2008.

How to hold a givaway.

I am sure many people put a contest up thinking "now this will help bring people to my blog" or "this will spread the word about what I am selling" and it will... but most of the time this can be improved upon.

How?

Easy!

Get linked to. This can mean giving extra entries to those who blog about the contest and link to you. OR you can get linked up in a contest blog of some sort (they don't host the contest, they only blog about contests... just follow the links, you will see).

My favorite contest blogs are:

Etsy Giveaways : Etsy contest only
Wiknit : Knitting, crochet, or spinning related prizes only.
PRIZEY : From what I can tell they take ALL types of contests and are even equipped to help you by providing the legal mumbo jumbo needed... very nice! (I suggest you do pay up to get the legal help, at least the first time.)
Then there is Bloggy Giveaways and their VERY AWESOME carnival. I have done the carnival once and got over 600 hits in one day! Talk about crazy! It comes around every 3 months so plan ahead on this one.

I know there are more out there (just Google "contest blogs" and "contest directory" and see the many HUNDREDS there are!) but I am only linking to the ones I like the most (the ones that have products on them that I like and use...). So be smart about which directories are worth it for you and hit the demographics you want and would be interested in your product.

The fastest way to find ones that suit you, that I have found, is to find one or two that you like and then add them to Google Reader. Then look at your suggested reading.

Anyway, that Works for Me....

JoAnn's has a 40% off coupon.

This coupon is good from September 21st, 2008 to October 4th, 2008.

Career by Color

I found this test on the net today. They claim that they can tell you what your ideal job is by the colors you most like.

I thought this was too interesting not to do!

Strangely accurate...

• Best Occupational Category

  You're a CREATOR

  Key Words:

  Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

  These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

  CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
  Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

  CREATOR WORKPLACES
  Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

  Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

• 2nd Best Occupational Category

  You're an ORGANIZER

  Key Words:

  Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate

  These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

AC Moore has a coupon for 50% off. Good on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 only.

Getting busy!

I have been rather busy lately, mostly trying to distract my self from hubby being gone for training this month. I have Bible study on Thursday and MOPS every other Tuesday. We also try and get out of the house everyday either with shopping, swimming, or playing on the playground. I am starting to think I need to get a different type of sling for little G because flops wildly when I try to pick up N.

I am also getting caught up on CSI: Miami while knitting X-mas gifts. I love this show and missed the last 2 seasons due to no TV or cable.

My knack for coupons

I have a odd knack for finding coupons (like my shopping trip last Sunday that I got 71.81dollars worth of food for 28.12) and most people think it is luck. It isn't. I just know where to find them and how to get them. And guess what, I am going to share with you how I get them.

It starts with figuring out what products my family needs/likes to have and visiting the website for the manufacture. Many of these sites have a sign up for deals and coupons right to your mailbox or email. I love this. They are also usually for a dollar or more off and sometimes even for free! These are usually the BEST coupons for the most off. They usually also send you major coupons before they introduce a new product so even if you don't use the product all that often, signing up might be worth it. Also coupons are the first part of the ad campaign so you might be able to do a double whammy with the item being half off and having a coupon for a dollar more off!

Also remember to go to your favorite grocery store websites and see if they will send you coupons (Publix baby club does and you can also find Target coupons). These coupons will most likely be good only in the store in question and the store brand but that is better than nothing.

Sometimes you can also google search for coupons. I usually don't find very good coupons this way but I also have a linix box (which means I can't download the software for most of the online coupon sites).

Anyway, that works for me!

So what color are you?

you are violet #EE82EE

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be. Your saturation level is lower than average - You don't stress out over things and don't understand people who do. Finishing projects may sometimes be a challenge, but you schedule time as you see fit and the important things all happen in the end, even if not everyone sees your grand master plan. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

I see this as a little more pink than violet, but that is ok I guess.

Joann coupon for 25% off select classes. This is good from September 9th, 2008 to September 21st, 2008.

Joann also has an online code for 50% off a regular priced item from now until September 20th, 2008: EDF264

Miracle Preemie Hat

I hate when my ears are cold and I figured that little preemies would hate it too. Hence a hat that covers the ears.

And in case anyone wants to know, you can get your own doll at Target or Wal*mart in the toy section. Just remember to bring your tape measurer so you know what size preemie (baby doll) you have. Another thing you can remember is that small preemies are born with heads about the size of an apple or orange, so if you don't want to buy a doll you can just buy fresh fruit instead!







Yarn: Soft Baby Solid by Red Heart
Hook: J/10-6.00mm

Notes:

• I made this with 2 strands held together.
  
• Finished hat should fit a 1 pound to 3 pound preemie.
• Repeats are from * to *.
  

Pattern:

Ch 2
sc 6 st into first ch, connect.
ch 1, *sc 2 into next st, sc* connect.
ch 1, *sc, sc 2 into next st, sc* connect.
ch 1, *sc, sc, sc 2 into next st, sc* connect.
continue with pattern adding sc's until you have 11 rows (36 stitches).

ch 1, *sc, sc, sc 2 st tog, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc 2 into next st, sc, sc* connect.
repeat this for 8 rows.

Note: this pattern has NOT been tested. Please do tell me if there are any issues.

CTM: Thank you for the correction! I have added the 2 stitches needed in red! I no longer have the hat so I think I got them added correctly.

Hobby Lobby has a 40% off coupon. It is good from September 15th, 2008 to September 20th, 2008. (It is also the "text only" coupon for those who are still on dial up!)

Michaels has a 50% off coupon. It is good from September 12th, 2008 to September 20th, 2008.

JoAnn's has a program for teachers (this includes parents that home school, that is if you have proof of home schooling) that gives them 15% off all purchases all the time. It will be good until August 31st, 2009 and can be used over and over.

They also have grants for teachers (same link) that can be applied for. You must apply by September 30th, 2008 for the grant.

silly memories...

One of my first ever memories was of Star Wars. I was really little at the time, in fact I was still nursing. I know this because mom was watching it while I was eating and I kept wanting to watch and eat but could not do both at the same time.

But back to Star Wars. The scene was of Obi-wan Kenobi and Darth Vador fighting with light sabers and Darth Vader "killing" Obi-wan.

Now as an adult I know that people don't just vanish when they die. They leave behind all these thing, like a BODY. I didn't know that as a child. I truly believed that when you died that nothing was there, like you just instantly disappeared into heaven and took your physical shell with you.

This was rectified by the time I was 5 or 6, but until then I was very confused by many things. Things like why you would need a burial plot or a coffin. Or how someone would even know that someone died if someone were not there to witness it and tell people. (I came to the conclusion that was the reason my parents had drivers licenses with pictures and everything on them. Just in case a stranger saw it happen)

The reason I tell this story is because you never know what your child is picking up and what they make of it. I look in wonder at little N and wonder what she thinks is "logical".

AC Moore has a coupon for 50% off one regularly priced item.

It is good Saturday, September 13th, 2008 only.

What if...

A blog I read often, is wanting people to blog about what they would name their handbook and why for a prize, so I am.

If I were to write a handbook I would name it Frugal Motherhood. The reason I would name it this is because we have been living under the poverty line for quite some time (since little N was born... before really). I would put all sorts of helpful hints in it about how to find free things to do online and off line (activities and products), get gobs of coupons and cheap cleaning tips. I would have these things sprinkled in between stories of the crazy things my kids have done, odes to people I respect and the crazy stories from own childhood.

Now I just need write it. Wait a decade or so and it might be started!

9-11

It is hard to believe that it has been 7 years.

Lima beans

I don't remember my parents ever making lima beans. I remember the kids at school complaining about them but didn't know what they tasted like so I assumed they tasted a lot worst than they do and never bought them.

At least, I didn't until about a year ago.

A store in town was having a sale on frozen mixed veggies and they happened to have lima beans in them. I figured that N wouldn't eat them and that I could.

Imagine my surprise when she picked out all the lima beans and left the green beans, corn, peas and carrots. With hefty encouraging she ate all the peas and corn too but nothing could get her to eat the carrots or green beans.

It is just funny how kids like a food that you are sure they will not.

Mrs. Rosener

When I was a little girl we had a neighbor named Mrs. Rosener. She was a widow and was old. I don't know how old but I do know she was "grandma aged". I don't know how old I was either but it was some time around kindergarten and 2nd grade that I started visiting her. I remember going over to her house and watching her crochet to wheel of fortune. I can safely say she was the person that made me love yarn, fiber and crochet. I remember her talking about her children and how she always wanted a daughter but got 4 or 5 boys instead.

As I got older, like 5th or 6th grade, she started to have really bad memory problems. She would think that I was there to play with one of her sons and I would humor her and sit one her couch and crochet with her until dark. All the while she would be telling me that I was such a nice girl and she would ask me which of the boys I was interested in.

I never really found out what happened to her. We moved in the middle of 6th grade and I never got to visit like I did before.

I think of her every so often and wonder what she was like as a young woman and as a mom. I remember the stories she told me, like of her family going to Colorado in a covered wagon and her first set of glasses.

I loved her.

JoAnns Fabrics has 5 coupons this week. All of them are 40% off and all of them can be used in store. Four of them are good from September 7th, 2008 to September 13th, 2008 and one of them is good from September 7th, 2008 to September 20th, 2008.

Some one rolled over!

That is right G rolled over last night about 6 times. He would roll over and then start screaming, and I would put him on his tubby again and he would roll over again. Such a goober.

N learned to lock her door this morning and then was crying that she couldn't leave her room. I felt sorry for her but also thought it was really funny.

DIY coupon/money holder...

So I have one of these to hold my coupons (this picture is of my hubby's though because he has managed to keep his nice for 2 years...). Problem is that I am so mean to them that the plastic rips or cracks in about a week and it really only survives about a month. So, after much searching for a fabric one (And not finding a SINGLE ONE!), I decided to make one.

Supplies:

• double sided fusible fabric (the thickest you can find, mine is about 1/8th of an inch)
• Pretty fabric to fuse with
• needle and tread or sewing machine (I am hand sewing, because I don't have a machine...(Scratch that! I got a machine on freecycle half way through! I love it!))
• card stock to make the "pattern" with (You can use a cereal box or a manila folder.)
• magnetic snaps. or some other method to close it.
• iron (I iron all the hems down then sew because I find that easier.)
  

Hints:

• Make the pattern first and then get the fabric so you get enough.
• Get a few inches too much fabric so you can trim the sides and hem. (or it can unravel a little if it needs to be washed)

Directions:

1. Read the directions on your fusible fabric, some want the pretty fabric washed, others do not, so do whatever those directions say. (If it says to wash, remember to iron the fabric before fusing!)
2. Make your pattern. I wanted a 7 by 3.5 rectangle but you can make it larger or smaller based on your purse or what you are carrying. you need a 3/4th to an inch for the top and bottom.
   
3. Cut out the fusible fabric.
4. Iron your pretty fabric.
5. Fuse them. (If you want to you can make the fold over flap have a pretty edge before you do this.) Remember to give fold over space.
6. After fusing, trim the interior of the pocket.
7. Fold over and hem.
8. Make pattern for interior. I intend to only need to open this about 90 degrees so I made the pattern with that angle. I made mine 5 inches.
9. Cut interior pieces and hem them.
10. Fold the 1/4 circle piece in half and then half again. Make with some washable fabric pen or a pencil.
11. Sew the rectangle pieces to the half circle pieces like so.
12. (If you are going to use a magnetic snap this is the time to put it in....)
13. Sew the interior part to the outside part.
    
14. All done! How cool is that! (I put money in this one for the picture, mostly because my two year old destroyed all the coupons while I made this over 3 days and I have a bunch of ones in my house...)

Other uses:
Money carrier, note cards/flashcards, credit cards, pictures, business cards, business papers, and homework just to name a few. Of course you can make them bigger or smaller mattering on what you need.

Find the hurricanes

I was reading another blog and found this link to an interactive hurricane map. It is really cool and really helpful. Just remember that the course for Hanna has changed dramatically on it so you still need to keep informed and look up information every so often.