Nicole

DIY Self Tanning Lotion

2015-05-12 08:40:55

Hello again, savvy savers! Today I wanted to share my new favorite DIY beauty product, homemade self tanning lotion. This self tanning lotion will set you back $1.20 for a ten ounce tub; a savings of over $10.00 over commercial pricing! Here's how:

Write a review

Save Recipe

Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Ingredients

1 Ten Ounce Bottle of Unscented Lotion
6 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
1 BBQ Brush
1 Empty Tub

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate overnight. When applying, be sure to use small curricular motions, otherwise the product will streak; I applied three layers an hour apart for ideal application and color. Enjoy!

By MissLaughsLot (@LDYPrefers2Save)

The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/

3 Comments

DIY Montreal Seasoning!

DIY Montreal Steak Seasoning

2015-05-11 08:49:57

Serves 4

With Summer vast approaching, and Memorial Day just around the corner, I wanted to share my go-to Montreal Steak and Burger seasoning! This blend is excellent for steaks, burgers, salmon steaks, grilled skewers, and more! Enjoy!

Write a review

Save Recipe

Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Ingredients

4 tablespoons coarse, Kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion, dehydrated
1⁄2 tablespoon garlic, dehydrated
1⁄2 tablespoon red pepper, crushed
1⁄2 tablespoon thyme, dried
1⁄2 tablespoon rosemary, dried
1⁄2 tablespoon coriander, dried

Instructions

Mix together and store in a shaker; stores on shelf for up to three years.

By MissLaughsLot (@LDYPrefers2Save)

The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/

0 Comments

Meal Plan Monday & Stockpile Shopping Trip, 5/11/15!

Happy Monday, savvy savers! This week is starting off to a sunny, yet chilly start here in Dixie. Thankfully, this weeks menu is going to be a breeze, and consists of Cupboard Clearing ideas, so stepping out to the market is not necessary! I am cooking and prepping solely from what is in my deep freeze pantry, and stockpile this week! I have spent nothing for this weekly menu plan, part of my 30-Day No-Spend Challenge!

As well, here is my weekly stockpile shopping trip, purchased on 5/1o/15; all goods which will be used in my pantry, blanched, frozen, or used for freezer meals! Please note, the funds used to purchase this weeks groceries were purchased using two earned affiliate gift cards, thus allowing me to stay within my No-Spend limits.

Here’s what I purchased:

Sam’s Club:

2 1-Gallon Jugs of Italian Dressing, $4.01 each
Split Chicken Breasts, $0.69/lb; 10 lb. pack
Boulder Sweet Potato Fries, $1.81
Simply Right Grain-Free Cat Food 18 pound bag, $8.81
2 3-Packs of Libby’s Pumpkin Mix, $0.91 each
3 piece Neutrogena Body Wash & Oil Gift Set, $5.71 each

Used: $5.00 Sam’s Gift Card Credit (from Savings Catcher Savings)

Total Spent: $27.88, Plus Applicable Tax

Winn-Dixie:

4 Jumex Juices, $0.49 each
Candied Orange & Lemon Peel Tubs, $0.25 each
Ripe Banana Bags, 2/lb for $0.39
2 Marshmallow Fluff Cups, $0.39 each
(2) 1-Liter Coke Bottles, $0.99 each; Submitted for a $1.00 iBotta App, and only paid $0.50 after rebates
2 Zapp’s Chips, 2/$2.00
2 lb bag of Cabbage, $0.49/lb
3 bags of Yaki Nori, $1.00 each
Tomato, $0.89 each; submitted for $0.25 Checkout51 Credit
2 cloves garlic, 2/$1.00
2 Tubs Move Over Butter, $1.19 each
1 Quart Fat Free Land-O-Lakes Hal and Half, $1.39
1 cucumber $0.50; submitted for SavingStar 20% back credit
Ortega Packet, $0.79
3 pound bag of Bolthouse Carrots, $1.29
EarthBound Farms Salad Tub, $3.99; used $1.00 Earthbound Farms Coupon

Total Spent: $20.38, Plus Applicable Tax

So this week I paid $49.16 for $181.23 worth of groceries and home goods, all of which went to replenish my stockpile, freezers, and pantry!

And here is our Monday Meal Plan Menu:

Monday
Breakfast: Meatless Monday low-fat Mozzarella and Spinach Omelette, with Green Tea.
Lunch: Almonds, Cheese Crackers, Cheese rounds, with celery, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Almonds, and Gala Apple Slices.
Dinner: Crockpot Three Bean Chili, cooked with Boca Crumbles, with Diet Cola.
Dessert: Sugar-Free Dulce de Leche Cups.

Tuesday
Breakfast: Green Tea, Coconut Milk, and Strawberry Smoothie; made with Truvia.
Lunch: Freezer Cooking Chicken and Dumplings, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Frozen/Thawed Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Taco Roll-ups; in lieu of taco shells I use Romaine Lettuce Sheets.
Dessert: Gluten-Free Brownies.

Wednesday
Breakfast: Baked Frittata Cups, with Unsweetened Almond Milk.
Lunch: Taco Salads, with crystal light.
Snack: Grapes and apple slices.
Dinner: Crockpot Chicken Curry, steamed peas, and crystal light.
Dessert: Homemade Gluten-Free Truvia brownies.

Thursday
Breakfast: Homemade Greek Yogurt, with fruit cup, and Unsweetened Almond milk.
Lunch: Tossed Salad with Turkey, light vinaigrette, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Grapes and apple slices.
Dinner: Grilled Turkey Burger Patties, sweet Potato Fries, with Crystal Light.
Dessert: Brownie flurries with leftover brownies; we use Edy’s Sugar-Free Ice Cream.

Friday
Breakfast: Homemade Greek Yogurt, with fruit cup, and Unsweetened Almond milk.
Lunch: Tossed salad, with homemade Greek Yogurt dressing, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Strawberries and two pieces of Sugar Free Chocolate; candy is used as melted drizzle for berries.
Dinner: Barbecue Pork, Steamed Green Beans, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Diet Coca-Cola slushies.

Saturday
Breakfast: Homemade Greek Yogurt, with fruit cup, and Unsweetened Almond milk.
Lunch: Chicken Salad, and Crystal Light.
Snacks: String Cheese and grapes.
Dinner: Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, Quinoa, and lemonade.
Dessert: Sugar-Free Dulce de Leche Cups.

Sunday
Breakfast: Bacon, Eggs, and Toast, with Unsweetened Almond Milk.
Lunch: Grilled Sausages, Steamed Broccoli, Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese, with Crystal Light.
Snack: Grapes and walnuts.
Dinner: Crockpot Orange Chicken with Almonds, Steamed Peas, and crystal light.
Dessert: Sugar-Free Dulce de Leche Cups.

Here’s to saving,

0 Comments

Battle Of The Bulge, Budget-Style: My Go-To Gluten-Free Lifestyle Apps!

Hello again, savvy savers! Today I am starting another new blog series, Battle Of The Bulge, Budget-Style! I will be focusing on ways to live a healthier, more active lifestyle while be able to afford clean, organic, obtainable foods! I believe this series can be worthwhile for many, who like myself, wish to get more in shape, not through crash-dieting but by small attainable lifestyle changes! All of the changes I propose will be free or affordable, and most meals and plans will contain couponed savings or deals! Fads are fancy, but coupons are a commitment! With that said, here is where I am currently: I have a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. I am looking to lose 60 lbs., find affordable non-gym membership options for working out, and change the way I consume food; this includes meals, snacks, and splurges!

Today I am 31 years young, I am 5’6”, and weigh 195 lbs; I am down two pounds since last week. I walk my dogs but beyond this am not terribly active. My lifestyle causes sedentary behaviors; I work-from-home, blog, run two internet businesses, and perform advocacy work online as well. I am an internet-based excuses queen! Today finds my continued yoga, meditation, walking my dogs, using a pedometer, portioning my meals, and monthly proportional self-measuring!

So, for this weeks series post I wanted to share three of my favorite diet-friendly apps, and these are the two apps that I use to help control my gluten consumption!

1. ipiit, the Food Ambassador

Get it for iTunes (free)
Get it for Android (free)
Visit the website: http://www.ipiit.com

App features

You can shop for gluten-free options by scanning item barcodes in-store, you instantly know whether it has gluten or not.
For off-limit items, the app gives you a list of alternate items that are safe to buy.

2. Su-Chef

Get it for iTunes (free)
Visit the website: http://su-chef.com/download/

This free app (for iPhone and iPad) features 25 different menu guides for a variety of special diets (from gf to diabetic, dairy free to vegetarian).

App features

The app includes 200,000+ recipes, and stores that offer the items needed for these recipes, and budgets.

So, these are a few of my go-to apps help me to make healthier, more budgeted recipes and shopping trips, and as both apps are free, this is a win-win!

Here’s to health,

0 Comments

Meal Plan Monday & Stockpile Shopping Trip, 5/4/15!

As well, here is my weekly stockpile shopping trip, purchased on 5/1/15; all goods which will be used in my pantry, blanched, frozen, or used for freezer meals! Please note, the funds used to purchase this weeks groceries were purchased using two earned affiliate gift cards, thus allowing me to stay within my No-Spend limits.

Here’s what I purchased:

Sam’s Club:

2 1-Gallon Jugs of Italian Dressing, $4.01 each
Split Chicken Breasts, $0.69/lb; 10 lb. pack
Boulder Sweet Potato Fries, $1.81
Simply Right Grain-Free Cat Food 18 pound bag, $8.81
2 3-Packs of Libby’s Pumpkin Mix, $0.91 each
3 piece Neutrogena Body Wash & Oil Gift Set, $5.71 each

Used: $5.00 Sam’s Gift Card Credit (from Savings Catcher Savings)

Total Spent: $27.88, Plus Applicable Tax

Winn-Dixie:

4 Jumex Juices, $0.49 each
Candied Orange & Lemon Peel Tubs, $0.25 each
Ripe Banana Bags, 2/lb for $0.39
2 Marshmallow Fluff Cups, $0.39 each
(2) 1-Liter Coke Bottles, $0.99 each; Submitted for a $1.00 iBotta App, and only paid $0.50 after rebates
2 Zapp’s Chips, 2/$2.00
2 lb bag of Cabbage, $0.49/lb
3 bags of Yaki Nori, $1.00 each
Tomato, $0.89 each; submitted for $0.25 Checkout51 Credit
2 cloves garlic, 2/$1.00
2 Tubs Move Over Butter, $1.19 each
1 Quart Fat Free Land-O-Lakes Hal and Half, $1.39
1 cucumber $0.50; submitted for SavingStar 20% back credit
Ortega Packet, $0.79
3 pound bag of Bolthouse Carrots, $1.29
EarthBound Farms Salad Tub, $3.99; used $1.00 Earthbound Farms Coupon

Total Spent: $20.38, Plus Applicable Tax

So this week I paid $49.16 for $181.23 worth of groceries and home goods, all of which went to replenish my stockpile, freezers, and pantry!

And here is our Monday Meal Plan Menu:

Here’s to saving,

0 Comments

Dreft #AmazingHood Campaign & Giveaway!

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Dreft. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review and compensation, but all opinions are my own.

Hello again, savvy savers! For this weeks Wednesday Ways To Save, I wanted to share with you all a new, exciting giveaway opportunity!

If your home is anything like mine, then laundry seems endless and ever-mounting! I feel like sometimes I cannot keep up! And if you have a newborn, this will triple for you, and inevitably you will go through so many outfits and bibs from the crazy “stuff” newborns go through. And once you turn the corner into toddler-hood, spills, food and physical, turn clothing into a laundry heap. If this sounds like your home, then you need Dreft!

Dreft has been a family must have since we started washing our babies clothes before they were even here to prepare their clothes for their arrival. Personally, I adore how well Dreft works to get out protein stains, such as milk and bottle formula, as just one wash in Dreft, and they’re gone!

[/youtube]

What’s better? Now, I love that now Dreft has come out with stages to help us make laundry time easier. Products that make laundry time more effective is a win for me! You can now check out all the stages below, plus all of the new Dreft Blissfuls… which smell absolutely incredible!

Be sure to look out for:

Dreft Newborn (Stage One): Expectant and new parents can wash their little one’s fabrics with Dreft’s same beloved hypoallergenic formula, designed to be tough on stains and gentle on baby’s skin with the beloved Dreft baby scent.
NEW Dreft Active Baby (Stage Two): Specially designed with a growing, developing baby in mind, NEW Dreft Active Baby helps to remove 99% of baby food stains and other outdoor messes with a gentle, hypoallergenic formula and fresh scent.
NEW Dreft Blissfuls (Stage Three): NEW Dreft Blissfuls in-wash scent boosters gives families the baby fresh scent they love. Safe on all fabrics, these beads help bring back that nostalgic, amazing baby scent (and all those memories) with every wash.

Also, be sure to join the Twitter Party next month for even more exciting news! As Dreft has partnered with new mom and singer Kelly Rowland to unveil the brand’s new line of laundry products that take care of family laundry needs at each life stage – from pregnancy through toddlerhood and beyond.

You can also join us on Tuesday, May 5th, from 9-10pm EST as we talk with Kelly about her life as a mom and how she plans to celebrate her very first Mother’s Day! RSVP HERE!

Also, make sure to download Dreft’s “Amazing Baby ” app now available for free on the App store. This one- of-a kind app helps parents – and parents to be – capture the amazing moments of pregnancy through their baby’s first year and has recently been updated so that moms and dads can make keepsake movies from photos and videos captured within the app!

You can also check out Dreft on Social Media for additional money saving offers:

Dreft Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dreft
Dreft Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1e5RV2v

And now for the most exciting part: I am excited to share this new line of Dreft Products with my readers, and Dreft has even generously offered a giveaway of this incredible prize pack to celebrate #Amazinghood!

This Prize Pack Includes:

Dreft Product Line
Little Me Receiving Blankets (check out their website for more info)
Booster Chair
Lovey Toy
5 Year Memory Book

Please note, all entries will be counted, and this giveaway will end on 5/6/15 at 11:59 pm CST. Good luck!

Entry -Form

Here’s to saving,

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Dreft. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review and compensation, but all opinions are my own.

9 Comments

April No-Spend Month Challenge: Day 29 (How to Make Money Taking Online Surveys)

Hello again, savvy savers! I hope you all are well rested, and ready for a new daily challenge! So, for today I want to focus a way you can earn money in your spare time, with online survey sites!

Why Survey Sites: Last year I earned $420.00 taking online surveys. Here’s how:

The average survey takes 20 minutes, so one could realistically complete 3 online surveys in an hour, and have generated $9.00.
Though is not a great sum of money, the earned survey funds could potentially add up to a $36.00 a month, or $420.00 savings annually.
This is only an average of 3 surveys are taken weekly. based on qualification and availability.

I used those funds to pay for holiday gifts, birthday gifts, as well as earned Amazon gift cards which paid for my entire years worth of Amazon Subscribe & Save and Amazon Pantry items! Awesome, huh?

Here are my favorites:

1) Harris Polls: Harris Polls is the Boss of survey sites. Their research is well-respected and frequently cited; the number of points awarded per survey is generous; and there are lots of rewards to choose from – gift cards, prizes and sweepstakes entries. You can make up to $45 per survey in 20 min the #1 paying survey site today!

2) ZoomPanel: If you’re looking to earn rewards quickly, ZoomPanel is the survey site to join. They typically send out several survey invitations each week, and have a great collection of rewards to choose from – the latest books and movies, electronics, appliances, jewelry, home decor, charitable donations and more; you can earn up to $20.00 an hour with this site.

3) CVS Advisor: CVS Advisor is a must-join site. You’ll probably only get a few survey invitations a year, but you’ll want to respond to those invitations when they come. They reward participants with Extra Care Bucks, and it’s not uncommon to receive $10 in ECBs for participating in a single survey.

4) Swagbucks: Join swagbucks; answer surveys; and earn points that you can redeem for gift cards to popular stores and restaurants. Earn additional points by shopping through the site, using their search engine and watching videos. I have earned upwards of $40.00 a month with this site!

5) Ipsos I-Say: Ipsos is a global survey-based market research company that serves more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. As an Ipsos I-Say community member, you’ll have the opportunity to take surveys and earn rewards that can be redeemed for money, Amazon.com gift cards, donations such as the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, and prepaid American Express cards. Most members receive surveys at least once each month with an average of about four per month, and the more surveys you take, the more points you earn. In addition, many Ipsos members also have the chance to test new products and services before the general public. I personally use this site weekly, and since joining last year, taking an average of 10 surveys a week, have thus far earned $130.00; $90.00 of this was used on Amazon to help offset my holiday stocking stuffer costs! If you’re interested in joining Ipsos, click here.

6) KidzEyes: KidzEyes is a website that conducts market research among 6-12 year old kids, and is in full compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. KidzEyes conducts surveys for children’s companies, and wishes to have kids fill out surveys, in order to provide better products and services for children and sometimes they are interested in hearing parents’ opinions too, in which case, you will help earn your child(ren) additional KidzPoints. When kids complete the surveys that they receive from KidzEyes via email, and surveys completed earn KidzPoints that can be turned in for cash or prizes’ points can be withdrawn and deposited into your checking account and given directly to your child.

7) Funovation Panel: If you like the idea of influencing the future trends in toys, holiday purchases, and children’s clothing, than the Funovation survey Panel is for you! This is a free survey site, which enters your information into drawings and sweepstakes, often for large ticket toy items, in exchange for short surveys! I have been a member of this site for a little over a year, and have found the surveys fun; its a great way to get sneak-peeks into the upcoming seasons toys and holiday gift ideas! Click here to check the site out and to get more information!

8) PineCone Research: One of my favorite survey companies is Pinecone Research, who is currently accepting new members to their online research panel. This research firm gives points away at the end of each survey, which have a cash out value of $3.00, which can be transferred to an existing PayPal account, to a pre-paid card, a mailed paper check, which you can set aside to be directed to your savings account! The average survey takes 20 minutes, so one could realistically complete 3 online surveys in an hour, and have generated $9.00, and though is not a great sum of money, the earned survey funds could potentially add up to a $36.00 a month, or $420.00 savings annually, if 3 surveys are taken weekly. based on qualification and availability.

So today I challenge you to check out the above survey sites, and see if you can start saving today! Be sure to check back tomorrow morning, and see tomorrow’s Daily Challenge!

Here’s to saving,

0 Comments

Older Posts

Newer Posts