7 Quick Takes Friday {Volume 30}

May 31, 2012 By 13 Comments

— 1 —

Last week Jen commented how the point of this meme is to literally write 7 different things that have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with each other yet many of us that link-up have this need to create a theme or to have the takes connect in some way. After thinking about it I just started laughing at myself. There are many weeks I do a theme because it’s just easier for me to prepare/write ahead of time and other times I just write a bunch of random stuff. I think my organized half my brain is like they must go together but then my unorganized part says who cares. It was interesting food for thought and made me glad I wasn’t the only one making themes.

— 2 —

I’m really looking forward to doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING this weekend. As of right now I don’t have any plans this weekend. I really need to get a handle on the mess that is my closet. We’ll see how far I get…

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We have about a month before our Family Reunion Vacation. My Mom’s friend will also be joining us and she is super excited to be traveling with “normal” people who don’t have a dress code. It should be fun. I’m hoping to work on my new website a bunch during the day when it’s way too hot to do anything else.

— 4 —

Have you made any Pinterest projects? I FINALLY made my own version of this awesome MEAL PLAN board!! My sister actually helped me create it and even though she says the paper I chose for my background is too “busy” I think it came out super cute!!

PINTEREST’S VERSION:

 

MY VERSION:

 

— 5 —

Wednesday when I went to Publix I picked up a few extra items to make 2 more Pinterest projects: Copy Cat Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

 

and a Copy Cat Disney Dole Whips!!

 

I can’t wait to see how they come out!

— 6 —

Your text here.My Disney Cruise Giveaway is still going on so make sure you head on over here and enter!! A family of four can win a cruise valued up to $3,000!! A Disney Cruise is what we are wanting to do next summer (but we will see)!!

— 7 —

This week Milo and Pierre found a new bed :)

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Filed Under: 7 Quick Takes Friday Tagged With:

7 Quick Takes Friday {Volume 29} – #SheCon 2012

May 25, 2012 By 6 Comments

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I am SOOOO excited for this weekend!! I’m going to SheCon!! Are you there? Let me know and we can meet up!

When I first found out about this conference back in January I wasn’t working and didn’t have the money to go. I kept looking at it but since it’s new a lot of people couldn’t tell me pros/cons of going and I just couldn’t decide if I had the money to go. Well TY Facebook Blogging Groups. On Tuesday in several of my groups there were several bloggers who had found sponsors and speakers that had free tickets to #SheCon to giveaway! I quickly gave my information and received several emails! Robin from @WDWDads gave me 2 tickets for SheCon in exchange for tweeting about his radio show last night! Hence if you saw me tweeting about @WDWDads #PirateRadio show on @Magic247Radio. They were also giving away several tickets for the Expo!

For those that have never heard of SheCon. SheCon is a Social Media Conference for women bloggers. This is my first blogging conference and I’m super excited!

— 2 —

During the #PirateRadio show they told us to tweet with the hashtag #PirateRadio. I tweeted a question/comment about the blogging topic they were talking about and they were actually reading the feed and answered my comment! One of the co-hosts even said she had been to my blog and loves how I mesh my two passions of Couponing and Catholicism together! That totally made my day!

— 3 —

One of the events of the conference I am really looking forward to is a Disney Scavenger Hunt. #PirateRadio is hosting a special broadcast from downtown disney on saturday night during the hunt and we can win different prizes. The author of the hidden mickeys book is even going to be there!

— 4 —

The Conference is at a Walt Disney World Resort!! It looks super nice and I was able to get a conference rate for less than half the regular price!! It is a moderate hotel and I couldn’t even get a value hotel for this price on a holiday weekend!! Like my mom said we’ll never get this kind of deal ever again (unless we go to another conference in Orlando) so we might as well take advantage!!

— 5 —

I feel like this conference is going to be full of celebrities. One of the Finalists of The Next Food Network Star, Martie Duncan, is presenting at this conference Saturday afternoon about treating your website/blog like a TV Production. It sounds like an interesting idea. I can’t wait to see what she has to say. She is also on #TeamAlton my favorite show!!

— 6 —

I’m leaving work at 3:00PM tomorrow to head to #SheCon. When I asked my bosses if it was okay if I left at 3pm one said, “Sure only if you bring us back some GREAT ideas!” and the other said, “What is Social Media?” It was a tad comical. For all the bloggers that work. Do your co-workers know you have a blog? Do they “get it” or do they just think we’re crazy? So far everyone I have told about my blog (especially older people) think I’m crazy and just write into outer space.

— 7 —

I can’t believe it is almost JUNE!! We are approaching our 1 year anniversary of moving to Florida. I can’t believe we have been here for a year so far. A lot has happened in this past year but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. That saying is so true about how things really will eventually get better.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Filed Under: 7 Quick Takes Friday, Disney Tagged With:

The Ultimate Blog Swap – Guest Post – Eating Healthy WITHOUT Breaking the BANK!

May 22, 2012 By 8 Comments

Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at The Fruitful Home about Saving Money at Walt Disney World, and I’m excited to welcome Stacy  from Stacy Makes Cents to The Catholic Couponer:

Hi, my name is Stacy and I blog over at Stacy Makes Cents. I am a frugal living blogger and I write about how to live and eat healthy on a budget, how to live debt free…and how to have fun being a mom. I am a former coupon queen and I used to do local coupon workshops on almost every weekend. Now my video is available for free online, but I no longer offer these workshops – now I limit myself to workshops on living frugally. Why? Because I don’t use coupons anymore.

These days, I save money by buying in bulk and in season. Today, I’m here to debunk a HUGE myth: in order to eat healthy, you have to spend a lot of money.

Our family of 3 (4th member to arrive this September) lives on a grocery budget of $300 per month. I live in a rural area of Virginia, so I don’t have access to lots of big city “green” stores, but I am able to make this budget work and eat a mainly whole foods diet (meaning, we eat foods as close as we can to the way they were created – without additives). I say “mainly” because while we do eat a “healthy” diet, we also live by the 80/20 Principle.

Here is how our family eats high quality, nutritious food for only $300 per month:

  1. 1. I buy in bulk. In my coupon years, I might buy 3-4 one pound bags of rice to store. These days, I purchase 25 pounds of rice at one time.  It’s not uncommon for me to get 15 pounds of oats all at once. For most things, when you purchase in bulk, you’ll get a better deal…it even lets me afford organic foods on a regular basis.

I am a member of a local food co-op so that’s how I get a lot of things in bulk (check to see if Azure Standard is available to your area. I also visit Amish stores to get the same perks. And you might want to check out Amazon for awesome deals on large purchases.

If you’re wondering how I store all this food, check out my post on Long Term Food Storage.

2. I buy “in season” and freeze for later.  I was raised on a farm, so this trait is in my blood. When something is in season, I like to buy a lot of it and preserve it for later. For you, this might take a change in how you think. Don’t buy 1 pound of green beans when they’re in season, buy 15-20 and bring them home to preserve!  If you’re going to aim for this money saving venture, you’ll also need to purchase a chest freezer – make sure to look around and find a used one!

Almost any food can be frozen or canned. For example, I freeze strawberries (http://www.stacymakescents.com/freezing-strawberries) and I can peaches.

3. I buy ingredients instead of finished products. When you think about being more healthy and then you head to the grocery store, you’ll quickly get sticker shock. Those organic products are sky high!

-Instead of buying chicken broth, buy a whole chicken and make the broth yourself.

-Instead of buying granola bars, buy oats in bulk and make your own.

-Instead of buying yogurt, make your own. It’s SO easy!

You might think all these things are too time consuming, but they’re really not. All they take is a bit of advance planning – that’s it.

So, are you ready to get started? I hope I’ve given you a bit to get you up and running! If you ever have any questions, you just give me a holler and I’ll do whatever I can to help!

 

Stacy is a stay-at-home mom to her first child, Annie (2.5), with a second one on the way. After an “awakening” in March 2011, her family switched to a more natural, whole foods diet. She likes to blog about how to live on less than you make and how to eat good food while doing it. Her passion is teaching others how to save money and she tag teams with her husband in this endeavor. At Stacy Makes Cents you’ll find information on how to save money in the kitchen, how to have fun with your kids, and how to be thrifty in all areas of life. Her passion is teaching others how to live debt free. Make sure to follow her on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with her daily antics.  

 

 

Visit Life Your Way to see all of the Ultimate Blog Swap participants!

 

Filed Under: Guest Post, Recipes, Saving Money, Stockpiling

DISNEY CRUISE GIVEAWAY!!

May 21, 2012 By 17 Comments

 


Here’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Acadiana’s Thrifty Mom has teamed up with American Family and an awesome group of bloggers to bring you our BIGGEST giveaway yet! One lucky fan will win a Disney Cruise for a family of 4 valued at $3000! That’s right, a Disney Cruise ♥ This awesome giveaway is brought to you by American Family and Acadiana’s Thrifty Mom, and hosted by Frugality For Less, and Debbie Does Coupons. GOOD LUCK!

*This giveaway is opened to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years of age to enter to win. The winner will be responsible for transportation to and from the port of departure. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Google, Pinterest, or Twitter in any way. Please read HERE for complete rules.
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Filed Under: Disney, Give Aways
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