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Nicole

Book Review: 10% Happier, By Dan Harris

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Good afternoon, savvy savers! This afternoon finds us with another awesome book review, this time 10% Happier, by Dan Harris. This book is an easy read, in the best sense of the word.  Here is a little backstory on this book. In 2004, when Nightline co-anchor Harris filled in on Good Morning America, he suddenly suffered a debilitating panic attack during the live broadcast. That event, compounded with a hectic home life, was the troubled culmination of decades spent experimenting with recreational drug experimentation, and working so vigorously that he managed to burn his internal work, at both ends. The on-air meltdown spurred Harris to research nonmedicinal therapeutic remedies and retreat-style self-help through the contemplation of what exactly happiness is.

The author explains in great detail how to change from being a journalistic cynic, to profound thinker, family man, and devout humanist.

This book is a must read this summer!

To find out more about this book, click here!

 

In compliance with FTC regulation, I hereby disclaim that I received a free copy of the book from Litfuse Publishings, in exchange for my review. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions of this book, its author, and publisher, are that of my own.

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Clean Scuff Marks Off Leather Shoes With Banana Peels!

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Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Cleaning Solutions Post, I wanted to share with you a quick, go-to cleaning secret in my home. The way I remove scuff marks off of light colored leather shoes, is with the inside of banana peels! Just rub the inside of the peels on scuff marks, let sit for two minutes, rub in, and then wipe away any residue! This tried-and-true method was handed down to me by my mother, and will surely come in handy as people are switching out their winter boots for Summer flats, espadrilles, and sandals!

Here’s to natural cleaning methods!

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World Book Night 2014 Reader Giveaway!

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Good evening, savvy savers! As you may know tonight is World Book Night 2014! The Lady Prefers To Save is participating is this awesome international reading outreach program! Just last night we picked up our case of books, and today distributed them to four area middle schools and high schools! This year we had the pleasure of distributing Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs.

This is an awesome book, and an even better cause! This year World Book Night agents will distribute over 10 Million books to people all over the country, from all walks of life! Each fall individual can apply to participate, for which I will post on this topic once we are closer to that time. In the meanwhile, be sure to click here to enter this years exciting Essay Contest, to help undiscovered writers and authors, who can submit an essay for a chance to be in next year’s free ebook accompaniment to this program! All parents, community leaders, church officials, educators, librarians, and the like are encouraged to get young, aspiring writers to submit works as well!

 

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As well, I am spreading the love of the written word, by way of my readers, as I am giving four copies of this awesome book away here! This contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 5/10/14!

Good luck, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wednesday Ways To Save: Save $100.00 A Year By Recycling!

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Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Wednesday Ways To Save, I wanted to discuss recycling, and the various ways that this simple act can save you money! Check this out:

1) If you arent currently recycling, you may want to look into your city or town’s system. Some areas actually give you vouchers for recycling. These vouchers can be used at local restaurants, even stores in your area; your city managers office would be the best place to contact!

2) Some states issue a deposit on recyclable bottles and cans, upwards of $0.10 a bottle.

3) According to the EPA, 80-90% of the average households trash contains recyclable, or donation-worth items. If you recycled these items, consider the cost you will save on trash bags alone, you could save upwards of $40.00 a year!

4) Some states will give you state tax credits on your annual tax return; the average state has an allotance of over $60.00 a year!
With all of these advantages, why would you not recycle?

In my home, we recycle most items; as you can see above we are serious about our collections! We also donate goods, upcycle items, and compost our vegetable scraps. We have done this for three years, and by doing so I save over $110.00 a year!

Here’s to the environment!

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Organizational Ideas: Bathroom Spice Rack Nail Polish Organizer!

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Good morning, savvy savers! I hope many of you are off of work this fine Easter Monday, and for those that may not be, that something positive comes of both your mood and your day! With that said, I want to share the aspects of my master bathroom, that I consider positive! For this week, Organizational Ideas post, I want to share how I organize my nail polish collection, and my collection I mean the myriad of bottles that seem to come from the abyss to my bathroom!

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I organize my bottles on a hanging spice rack, which I was able to purchase for free, using earned Amazon.com gift cards, from survey sites! This rack is priced at under $10.00. This method keeps my polishes, nail art nail polish, and lacquers within reach, not sitting in drawers, and easily accessible to myself during weekly spa nights! I love to look at my rack when I go into the bathroom, for as a visual person, colors excite me! Here’s to organizing!

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Cupboard Clearing Cake!

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Good afternoon, savvy savers! This afternoon I found my family a bit down in the dumps, this combined with my needs to prepare a menu and plan meals for the week, and as I had already completed my coupon shopping this morning, left me in need to find something to cheer my family up without leaving my home, or kitchen, for that matter! Voila! A one-bowl chocolate cake recipe! Most of you, like myself, will have most of these ingredients on hand, and the end result is amazing! I also am a fan of any cake preparations that requires one bowl, and I surely do not feel like emptying the dishwasher at present!

Why call it Cupboard Clearing Cake? Well, the toppings and icing can be tailored to whatever you have on hand, and in my case, cherry pie filling, oreos, and nutella! Also note, I will be serving this cake with leftover Halloween-themed napkins and utensils, again sans-dishwashing this afternoon!

This cake is sure to cheer up even the glumpiest gus!

Cupboard Clearing Cake:
2 cups white sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Directions For Cake:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2) Grease and flour two nine inch round pans.
3) In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer.
4) Stir in the boiling water last. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
5) Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake tests done with a toothpick.
6) Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ingredients for Icing and Assembling Cake:
2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup nutella
1 can cherry pie filling
Oreo cookies, or other cookies on hand.

Directions: for Assembling
1) In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa, and set aside.
2) Next, in a large glass bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk.
3) Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy; adjust consistency with more milk or sugar if needed.
4) Fold in nutella, and let icing rest in bowl, at room temperature for five minutes.
5) Place 1 cake round on cake stand, adding half the contents of one can of cherry pie filling on top, then top with second cake round.
6) Ice cake, then place remaining cherry pie filling centered on top of cake, when finished crumble oreos around top, and reserve several to rim bottom of cake.

Enjoy!

Remember, you saw this recipe first at The Lady Prefers To Save!

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