Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Peace


Baby L's pajamas say it all....



PEACE baby!
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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Wii for your Wee Ones






Ever since my brother and sister in law gave us a Wii we have all been hooked! I have loved playing video games since my older brother (the one who gave us a system) used to play the original Nintendo system. We would take turns with him and my sister with a lot of the timing watching him play. I was not very good at games back then but I have awesome memories of playing as kids. We played Mario, Sonic and Castlevania.

My son has oddly mastered some of the games we have on the Wii and hes only 18 months old! I find the games that have no button pushing and only involve him moving the Wii remote around to be the best ones. It makes sense of course since its not in his age category to play the Wii.  He doesn't get the button pushing other than pause. Which is hilarious when he pushes it he will run the Wii remote over to us so we can fix it for him to play again.

Trying to play the Elmo game


We have rented many games to see which ones he could play before buying any. To be frugal we always buy them used. We go to Game Stop since they have a guarantee that they will work. Oddly many of the games for EC (Early Childhood) like the Sesame Street ones involve a lot of button pushing. I have to play those with him and he gets mad that he can't do it himself.

Chuck E Cheese Basketball. He loves this one!


I have made a list of the top 5 games my son at 18 months can play.

1. Mario Tennis (this one he whirls his arm around and scores points and power ups he has a blast)

2. Racquet Sports ( he can do the hitting in this one, not the power hits which need buttons but he still loves to play)

3. Chuck E Cheese ( He loves this! Only drawback is I have to go earn the tokens by playing a game he cant do on his own, but once I have tokens he can play many games and has a blast.)

4. Wii Sports Resort (the sword fighting one he has so much fun, he claps when he knocks his opponent off the pedestal.)

5. Petz Dogz 2 and  Petz Catz 2 ( he likes to see his favorite animals on the screen, there is some button pushing for some things but he can make them run around and dig in the ground. He smiles a lot when he plays this one.)


There are more that we play "together" like Shrek, Toy Story and Garfield he likes to watch the characters but can get bored since it is really not made for him. I just love that we have our Wii to have some frugal fun with! Its great for the super hot summer days that are ahead of us and we can't go out to play. Plus once you buy the games and system its free to play as many times as you want!

What games do your kids love or you love to play on the Wii?
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Baby Bedding Zone Website Review

BabyBeddingZone.com


*Sponsored Post

I must admit I did not do enough research on products for my son's bedding. I wish I would have looked online rather than have to pick from what my local stores offered. I was a newbie to online shopping before getting pregnant. I had used eBay only to get ripped off so I was weary about shopping online. I went with basic blue for my son's baby bedding, which is cute but not memorable. I won't have those so cute pics of his nursery like I would have wanted. I guess hindsight is priceless!

While searching for places to help my sister find bedding for Baby L I found Baby Bedding Zone. I spent over an hour looking at everything thinking of what Baby L could use, what would make a cute gift and what a new baby (wishful thinking Im NOT pregnant lol) could use.

Pirate set


I found really cute baby pirate bedding. I love the whole trendiness of Pirates with the new movies coming out and the products that come along with it. Its a fun theme. Swashbucklers and Sea Captains Ahoy!!! We played the New Pirates of the Caribbean Wii game, it was a blast!

Fire Truck set


For my next baby I want to do a different color from the basic blue, pink or yellow. I am thinking Red! The site had some really cute red baby bedding. My favorites were the Fire Truck Bedding Set and the Wild West Bedding Set. Who doesn't love cowboys and fire fighters!

Monkey set


Since my favorite color is brown I had to look at all the selections for that color. My husband told me the next baby not so much brown. I am not sure about that!  My son has brown on his crib, stroller and many of his outfits. There are many selections for the brown category. I found frogs, dinosaurs, sports themes, fishing, cowboys and so much more. My favorite brown one is the Monkey set. My son has an adorable monkey costume and monkey themed clothing that I adore.


Madison Set


For the Mommies that have little girls they have some really sweet pink and black baby bedding. The two sets I liked in that category were named girls names I love too! The Madison set and Sophia set are really stylish! Both sets also had FREE Shipping. As do many of the sets on the website.

Overall I really liked the variety if their selections and the Free Shipping on many of their items. They also sell decor, kids bedding and toddler bedding. I found some great deals and one of my favorite deals was the Little Farmer Set (I have my dreams of owning a farm!) It is 50% off original price for only $74.99 and free shipping!

Little Farmer set



*This is a sponsored post. I reviewed the site and gave my honest opinion about their products.
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Saturday, May 28, 2011

The Muppets Movie Coming in November 2011


The Muppets are coming to the Big Screen!! I am so excited about this! I always say the classics like The Muppets need to make a come back. (I am also excited about The Smurfs, can't wait to see that)

My sister and I would watch The Muppets cartoon where they were all babies. I loved that show! We also watched a few of the Muppets movies and they were always fun. My favorite is Miss Piggy then Fonzie. I had a frog phase for a while and was in love with Kermie!

This movie will be in the theaters close to my son and nephew birthdays. A perfect time to take them to the movies for a fun movie. Hopefully I can get my son to sit still for a movie, maybe not but I can hope! I look forward to the previews of this movie so I can get a better glimpse at the movie.

Here is what the movie will be about:

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, “The Muppets” hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

Website: Disney.com/Muppets
Become a fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/Muppets
Follow them on Twitter: Twitter.com/MuppetsStudio


Who is your favorite character or what Muppets movie do you love?

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Friday, May 27, 2011

Joplin Missouri Aid Support






One of my favorite places to get a gift basket, Gourmet Gift Basket has created a giant gift basket of snacks with more than 200 small food items to donate to the Joplin Missouri Relief. They sell many of the snacks that would make you feel better if only for a moment and I am sure the people in Joplin will need it. I hope even more of my favorite companies do something similar. I am sure they need diapers and formula as well.

Oddly the day of the tornado I took my son to a park I only visit every so often. I was sitting on a park bench while my husband was taking our son on the slides and a slightly frazzled woman sat down next to me. She kept dialing on her cell phone over and over. She looked at me and I smiled at her and said hello. I could tell she needed someone to share her stress with, that's what a community is for. To just listen when someone needs to talk. She began to tell me about a frantic phone call she received a little over an hour ago from her family in Missouri, Joplin to be exact. All the way out here in California, Missouri seems a world away to me.

She told me her family called telling her they loved her and there was a huge tornado coming. Then she heard  nothing from them in over an hour. She told me about how she wished they would move here but its cheaper to live there and about how they were all having a BBQ that day at her parents house with her whole family.

She continued to keep dialing as we chatted, I don't blame her I would have been too if it was family. Finally she jumped up as I could hear someone on the phone say hello. She walked away to have her phone call and when she got back she told me they were all ok since they had been at her parents house the tornado missed them but had destroyed her sisters home. She said she was so grateful her sister and her family were not home.

I did not know how scary the situation was until I got home and watched the news. The devastation was horrible. Its baffling that nature can create such beautiful things and also be destructive. As I watched the news I wondered if any of the people being interviewed was a family memeber to the woman I spoke with at the park. As I watched the news though I did think its someones sister or mother or daughter I was seeing. I can't imagine the feeling of fear wondering if someone you love is ok .

I did not get her name, I dont know if I will ever see her again but I do know for a moment we were friends. I am greatful that I was there and was able to be a person she could talk to when she really needed it.


Here are some ways to help that you can help:
Food Bank Donations - http://www.ozarksfoodharvest.org/
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Kidlandia Kreechur Contest







Name that Pirate!
Enter the Kidlandia Pirate Kreechur Contest in Honor of National Pirate Month and Win Big

Recently we hosted a review of the Kidlandia company of their personalized items. They are having a contest to name one of the Pirate Kreechurs for a $250 reward to spend on their site. They have cute stuff and you could get a lot of great gifts, plus you get the honor of saying you named a Pirate! 


 Kidlandia “Name That Pirate Kreechur” contest This exciting contest coincides with the new Pirates of The Caribbean movie and debut of the new sepia toned Kidlandia Pirate Kingdom line featuring maps, puzzles and growth charts.  This amazing contest promotes creativity while acknowledging everyone’s favorite bad boys, Pirates!

Kidlandia® invites kids of all ages (with parental consent if under 18) to enter the Name that Kidlandia Pirate Kreechur contest.  Kids will win great prizes and the winning entries Pirate name will be designated to a Kidlandia Pirate Kreechur forever.

It’s easy to enter, just view all of the Kidlandia Pirate Kreechurs, pick one, and think of the most creative name possible. Entries must be 50 words or less, state why you selected that name, along with your favorite thing about Kidlandia Kreechurs.  All entries must be received by July 31, 2011. No purchase is required.  Go to the site to enter:  www.kidlandia.com/piratekreechurs
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Thursday, May 26, 2011

We needed a Date Night...


When you become a parent you forget what your life was like before you had children. You cannot imagine how you filled your time when you weren't changing diapers or rocking a baby to sleep. After you come out of the fog you realize you did do things, just different things.

My husband and I were married for 6 years before our 1st son was born. We went out on dates, watched a whole movie all the way through without interruption, went out to dinner, and I shopped to my hearts content whenever I wanted all by myself. Don't get me wrong we do most of those things still, just in a very different way. I would not change a thing about having children and we love to spend time doing "kid friendly" things but sometimes grown ups need to do grown up things.

We were way overdue for a date night so last weekend Nana was kind enough to come over and watch the boys while the hubby and I went out on what I call a "hot date". We went to a casino for dinner and gambled a bit. We talked and laughed and there was very little mention of the kids. Dinner was awesome. Dessert was amazing. I even ended up winning some money so the whole night was free! I love date night.

It is so important to reconnect with each other and remember that it starts and ends with the two of you. No matter what you decide to do for your date night just remember to enjoy the time because in a few hours you have to go home and be Mom and Dad again.

When was the last time you were on a "hot date" and where did you go?
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

OMG NKOTB


Can you believe New Kids on the Block are back together again and have joined forces with the Back Street Boys? NKOTBSB!!! When Liz and I were growing up we worshiped NKOTB. I mean it was an obsession and a sickness, like every other girl out there we LOVED them! We each had our favorite, she loved Jordan and I loved Joey. We had everything NKOTB from the fannie packs, to the giant buttons for your clothing(I can't believe that we wore those so proudly), t-shirts, any Teen Beat magazine that had a picture or an article about them, dolls, posters and much much more. I even scored a signed and framed picture of Joey! Our walls were covered with posters of NKOTB, we lived and breathed for them.

When I heard that they were making a comeback I was so excited. I thought Oh My God I love those guys! I need to see them in concert, then I heard that they even had an NKOTB cruise that I missed and I was bummed. lol Then the more I thought about it I realized that I loved them in the 90's. Don't get me wrong if someone paid for me to go on the cruise today I would go in a heartbeat, but I have to remember that I am not 13 anymore and I have other things to pay for. Sure they are still the guys we loved, just a little older. Danny, Donny, Jordan, Jonathan, and Joey will always hold a special place in my youth, and if you asked me today I would probably brush it off like they were no big deal. But the truth is I am secretly jealous of anyone who has recently seen them in concert or were lucky enough to cruise with them ;) NKOTB FOREVER!
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We Need Neon Shoes!

I never understood why they made such brightly colored shoes. They are a bit too much for me, although I had my share of neon as a kid of the 80s lol. I now know why they need to make more neon shoes for kids! I always buy my son earth tones for shoes. I love brown, crazy I know but its oddly my favorite color. Maybe its the connection to chocolate!

We were at the park the other day having a great time running in the grass and picking dandelions. He was wearing his Old Navy sandals that I adore. Thankfully he has now let me put shoes on him. We had quiet the battle with shoes and socks the last few months. He likes theses ones so I try my best not to let him lose them.




He was running around by the trees when he stopped and showed his Daddy his foot. He did not have his sandal on and his foot was dirty. I gasped since I have no clue at what point the sandal came off he had been running from one end of the park to the other with my husband.

Can you see it?

I began my search looking for a brown sandal in an area full of grass with brown patches of dirt showing through. It took me about 20 minutes but I finally found it. I declared in that moment my son needs a pair of neon shoes!


It was hiding!

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Lovable Labels Review and Giveaway



It seems with 2 boys they are always fighting over who's toy is who's. More with the 4 year old but I know that it is coming soon with the baby. Lovable Labels are going to solve many fights in the future around here. We got the opportunity to review their product Book Worms , they are cute personalized labels for books.




When JJ started to fight over a book with Baby L, I simply showed JJ that it was Baby L's name in the book and not his. When he realized this he gave the book back to Baby L, no questions asked. Now I know that it will not solve every "mine" situation we have over here, but that was a small milestone and I will take it! Lovable Labels has so many different products to choose from and for a ton of different things. They have address labels, clothing labels, bag tags, toddler toes and much more! For a little background information on Lovable Labels- they are waterproof, dishwasher and microwave safe, washer and dryer safe, sun safe, bleach safe, sunscreen safe and temperature safe. They have won multiple awards and continue to create more and more products as time goes on. Check them out you can even become a Sales Agent for Lovable Labels!


Very fun and cute way to personalize your things and my son loves to see his name in print, thanks Lovable Labels!

GIVEAWAY:
To Enter:  Go to the Lovable Labels website and leave us a comment (one per day only, please) telling us which one of their amazing product is your fav! Once you’ve entered by leaving a comment, you can gain additional entries:

    - Follow @mylovablelabels and @FrugalFamTree on Twitter and tweet " WIN Book Worm Label Pack from @mylovablelabels @FrugalFamTree  http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/ "  leave us the link for extra daily entries +1 per day

    - ‘Like’ Lovable Labels on Facebook for one extra entry and write below that you are a new fan. +1

    - ‘Like’ Frugal Family Tree on Facebook for one extra entry and write below that you are a new fan.

    - Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave us the link for one extra entry.

*This giveaway starts 5/24 and ends just in time for the little book worm in your family at 12 pm PST on 6/3  The winner will be selected by random draw and will have 2 days to respond to our notification email before another winner is selected.  This giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only. I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was provided one set of labels for this review.
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Saturday, May 21, 2011

What I Love About Spring



Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. It really lifts my mood from the rainy gloomy days of winter. It is right before the 100 degree plus summers we have too! Its the few months I can relax outside and enjoy nature with out getting wet or fainting from the heat. We try to get in the trips to the lake and river to fish, play with the dog, and have picnics before its too hot. It means its time for festivals too. We recently went to a Strawberry Fest that was so fun!

Strawberry Festival


I love taking my camera every where we go. Before my son was born I would take nature shots and pics of the dog. Now that I have my sweet little guy I take a million pictures of him. Even on a simple evening at the park I take a bunch of pics. This Spring I want to make one of those cute Photo Books I have seen other moms have. That way I can have all the sunshine fun filled days in a book for many years to come. For those days when its so hot there’s no way we can go outside I can reminisce about the Spring time.

Sping time also means Father's Day is right around the corner! As a kid it was fun to make my Dad stuff and I cant wait until our son is big enough to draw a picture or make make a macaroni picture. We would make homemade cards which of course are adorable to Dads but I want to make one of those picture Father's Day cards for my husband. One with the cutest pic I can find of him and our son. I want to include one from last year and a recent one so he can see how much our boy has grown.! This year Father's Day is going to be special. 

Last year was my husbands first and has its own special memories linked to it but this year our son is big enough to run around and take part in the festivities. Last year I purchased my husband a Personalized Gift of a mug with a picture of him holding our son on it. He has his coffee in it every morning. My son points to the picture and says Bubba or Dada. Its sooooo sweet! This year I want to get him another one. I want the one where I can put multiple pictures on it. You can never have too many pics of your sweet little ones on a mug! Until our little guy is big enough to shop for him self and have an opinion of what he wants to get his Daddy I will do the shopping for him! So even though I have seasonal allergies that make my eyes water and sneeze like crazy I have to say the Spring time is my favorite season! Nothing compares to sunshine, the beauty of nature and the positive attitude it brings.

Using a stick to poke a tree on a nice Spring day!



What is your favorite thing about Spring? 

Do you have your own blog? You can sign up for a chance for a free photo book from Shutterfly here.


 *Sponsored by Shutterfly. For this post Shutterfly will be sending me a product for free.
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Friday, May 20, 2011

Inspiration For A Lifetime Book Review and Giveaway




Inspiration For A Lifetime by Allen Klein is a great little book to open for words of encouragement at whatever point you find yourself in life. Filled with quotes to fit almost any possible situation or challenge, here we can find comfort, a laugh, or deep wisdom. From marriage to divorce, success to failure, money or aging, there is something to give us a larger or different perspective than our own. There is a wide variety of thoughts and insights on life, from the popular author Wayne Dyer, the Buddha, Miss Piggy and many more.

Everyone knows that words have the power to heal, to wound, or to stop us dead in our tracks. The author clearly understands that when they are spoken with wisdom or kindness, they can also give us hope in an often hopeless world. This book would make a lovely gift for any occasion and certainly for anyone who is facing a new or difficult situation.

My favorite quote was from the Life and Living section. Will Rodgers said "Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip". How many of us would change our behavior if we knew our lives were going to be made public? This thought provoking book does indeed give us inspiration.

You can buy this book on Amazon along with other funny and inspiring books by Allen Klein.

GIVEAWAY:
Win your own copy of Inspiration For A Lifetime.

To Enter This Giveaway:

 What is your favorite quote or saying?

 *Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address*

 

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry.
If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on. 

-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC (top right hand corner) +2

-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +3
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +2 

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +5 (top left hand side) 

-Vote for us for "Were on the Fence" (left hand side of the blog, just click the button) +3

-Enter other current giveaways on our blog +1 for each entered


*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 20, 2011 and ends on June 3, 2011 at midnight PST.  Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. I was provided for free the book mentioned  for this review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.
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The Lazy Gourmet Book Review and Giveaway



Have you ever wanted to have a fabulous dinner party, invite your boss over to impress, or show your snotty cousin Gweneth that you can make a delicious chocolate mousse, too? But perhaps you think you're not really that great of a cook. Well then, The Lazy Gourmet is your guide to fixing fabulous meals for any occasion. You don't need any previous cooking experience to be able to follow these simple yet sophisticated recipes. The easiest way to cook like a gourmet chef is to have a well stocked pantry. Chapter One is devoted to helping us have on hand everything we need from oils and vinegars to pasta, rice and other staples.

There are chapters on main dishes, soups, sides, salads, desserts and more. Easy explanations on cooking techniques, and great tips and suggestions are all here to give us confidence and increase our skills in the kitchen. Everyday family meals can be elevated to a new standard just by incorporating some of these easy but elegant recipes into your daily life. As much as I liked this book, I have to say that I was disappointed that there are no pictures included. I love seeing the finished dish and what it's supposed to look like. Even without pictures, if you want to learn to make meals that will be delicious and impressive, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of The Lazy Gourmet.



GIVEAWAY:
Win your own copy of The Lazy Gourmet.

 

To Enter This Giveaway:

 What is the one meal you would love to try to make but just don't feel like attempting it?

 *Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address*

 

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry.
If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on. 

-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC (top right hand corner) +2

-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +3
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +2 

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +5 (top left hand side) 

-Vote for us for "Were on the Fence" (left hand side of the blog, just click the button) +3

-Enter other current giveaways on our blog +1 for each entered


*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 20, 2011 and ends on June 3, 2011 at midnight PST.  Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. I was provided for free the book mentioned  for this review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.
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Kidlandia Personalized Products Review







When we select stuff to decorate our sons room with we want it to be fun and have some learning with it (gotta sneak in the learning where I can). When I found the Kidlandia website I thought they were so cute! It has all sorts of maps, growth charts, family trees, placemats and puzzles that can all be personalized. I am huge on personalized stuff. I think its adorable and fun. I had a hard time picking what to review simply because there was is much stuff I liked. There is all the cool characters from Toy Story, Disney Cars, Dora, Winnie the Pooh, Veggie Tales and more. You can see them all here.

Sample picture from the website. Looks cool in this room!


We selected the more traditional looking Maps. They have many to select from that you can add your own names for cities, oceans, towns and you can even add characters they provide. You can select a world map, a USA map and even a map of Manhattan NY. After you decide which map you want you can select between a poster, fine art print, canvas scroll, gallery wrapped canvas, or a vinyl wall cling. We selected a World Map Poster. I loved how it came out. My husband laughed a bit when he saw our names for the oceans instead of the real ones. We also ordered a Placemat Map of the USA. We had a ton of fun looking at it seeing all the states. I had a few oh that's over there moments, I guess I need to look at maps more! For now I hung even the placemat on the wall in my sons room. He got a little wild with it when I tried to feed him his lunch on it. He was so busy looking at it he wouldn't eat his PB&J. And when I tried to take it away so he would eat he got super mad! lol. So I put it in his room on the wall so he could look at it. Its really cute its a patchwork style of all the states.





I would recommend these as a special gift. They are cute and have a bit of learning along with it. I wish I would have gotten our Poster in the USA map too since I thought it was sooo cute! But either way I am still super happy on how it came out. The world map one is cute and even has his birthday on it as a national holiday and says hes the president!

You can find more info and contests for Kidlandia on their facebook page and twitter. Next week on the facebook page they will be having a Kidlandia Kreechur Pirate Contest that looks like it will be fun!

Did you want to order one? I cant get you a 20% off and free shipping. Leave a comment here and I will get it to you!
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Thursday, May 19, 2011

I love DIY


I love DIY (do-it-yourself) projects! I love to do them, I love to watch them on TV and I love it when I see someone else who is proud of their DIY project . There is something great about turning something ugly (or maybe just not your taste) into something GREAT and for CHEAP. It gives me goose bumps. Lame I know.

I have done many DIY projects but always forget to take the before and after pictures. Not this time... Our dining room chairs have been around for a long time. They were given to us years ago and we never did anything to spice them up. They are not great but they worked. Over time the fabric got stained and cleaned and stained again. They were an eye sore and I was tired of looking at them. I knew that all they needed were a good scrub and a new fabric cover over the top.

Living on one income I cannot just go out and buy a new dining room set because I want one, I needed to do this DIY project in order to get a "new" dining room set. I was on a mission. Instead of thinking about how great it would be to have new chairs I finally just did it! It was so easy and so cheap. I had already bought a table cloth on clearance at Target a while back for $8 and I thought how FRUGAL of me to use that instead of buying new fabric. I got out my trusty staple gun (you need one of those babies if you are a DIY kind of gal) and went to work. I measured the fabric, cut it and stapled away. Easy as pie. It took me about 30 minutes and I had brand new chairs! See if I can do it so can you ;)


Before picture :(


AFTER...LOVE IT!!

P.S. Don't judge me on the before photo, it is the one my 4 year old eats every meal at. YUCK, I know.
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

It's 9 am and you have maxed out your usage of the word Mom for the day!


Holy Cow! Some days my 4 year old says "Mom" or "Mom look at me" so many times in one day I want to scream! Yesterday he maxed out the word "Mom" by about 9 am. I love that kid and I love talking to him, he really does make me laugh but some days... I was extra tired and not feeling well so that did not help.
Oh dear tomorrow is another day.

I remember as a child every once in a while my Mom would declare that she was no longer going by the name Mom. She had changed her name to Penelope. As a child I never really understood why, until now.
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Yoga by the Dozen DVD Review and Giveaway



Yoga is awesome and we were lucky enough to get the chance to review Yoga by the Dozen . I have been a fan of Yoga for years now but don't get to do it as much as I would like to. I love the idea of sharing Yoga with my children and wanted to find someway so that we could all do it together. Exercise is important to learn at a young age so Yoga or any form of exercise is good for everyone. Childhood obesity is a growing trend now a days and anyway to help your child get up and move around should be promoted in everyday life. Living in the great state of Washington it seems like we are indoors a lot and sometimes it is hard to feel like we get enough exercise. One good way to stay indoors and still feel like you are moving enough is with Yoga.

Yoga by the Dozen is a top selling DVD created by JoAnna Ross, an accomplished yoga teacher, dancer and fitness educator from New Jersey. What I like about Yoga by the Dozen is how really focused it was on the kids in the video, it was not just a grown up doing Yoga poses. JoAnna was great at explaining everything so that even the youngest of kids could understand. All of the kids were not always on task and that is real, they get fidgety and she was really good at shaking things up to pull them back in. Each pose was introduced and demonstrated by one of the kids which helped encourage my son to try it with them. They did everything from the Tree Pose to a Dolphin pose and many more, there are 12 poses in all. This video targets children ages 2-6.




The web site Yoga by the Dozen explains the Key Benefits of Yoga:
  • Increase Cognitive & Motor skills
  • Confidence, Courage and Self-Esteem
  • Balance & Coordination
  • Memory Retention and Concentration
  • Nurture Creativity and Self Expression
  • Respect for themselves and each other
  • Proven therapy for kids with ADHD and Autism
We had a great time watching and learning from JoAnna and know that everyone can benefit from Yoga by the Dozen. This was a great interactive DVD that I know we will be watching often and soon be mastering all of the poses!







To Enter This Giveaway:

 Tell me if you have ever tried Yoga or plan on it?

 

 *Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry.
If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on. 

 

-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC (top right hand corner) +2

-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +3
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +2 

-Follow Yoga by the Dozen on Twitter +2
-Like Yoga by the Dozen on Facebook  +2

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +5 (top left hand side) 

-Vote for us for "Were on the Fence" (left hand side of the blog, just click the button) +3

-Enter other current giveaways on our blog +1 for each entered


*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 18, 2011 and ends on June 2, 2011 at midnight PST.  Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. I was provided for free the DVD for this review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.
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Knock 'em Dead Secrets and Strategies For Success In An Uncertain World Book Review



Knock 'em Dead: Secrets and Strategies For Success In An Uncertain World
By Martin Yate

We all know that the old days of choosing a career and working for one employer until retirement are over. With this current and long lasting recession, with jobs lost and lives shattered, what is a job seeker to do? Reading Martin Yate's new book could be the smartest and quickest way to take charge of your job or career. Mr. Yate's up to the minute, clear, practical and doable approach to finding a job or changing your career is perfect. Advice on creating a must have killer resume and how to use the internet for job searches, networking and research are just a couple of the subjects covered in the book.

Going on a job interview soon? There are four chapters devoted to helping you "Knock 'em Dead" and land the job. Being unemployed or working in a dying industry certainly creates fear and anxiety. Today's job market is so competitive that any advantage available must be seized. Reading this book could very possibly give you the edge over other people who are applying for the same job you are. Use this book to help you on your decades long journey of employment and growth. Take control of your job search or career change with the rock solid information given here. Discover how to create the career and the life you dream about.

Released today, May 18th this book was named "Career Book of the Year" by Joyce Lain Kennedy. You can find the other books written by Martin Yate in the Knock Em Dead series here.


You can purchase this great book from Books A Million and Walmart as well as the Publishers website. Right now on the publishers website you can get free shipping with orders over $25.


* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of this book for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Laughter Keeps Us Together

My Mother's Day card from my Husband


My husband and I will be married for 10 years in September. When I think of 10 years the first thing I think is "good grief where did the time go"! Thankfully its not "its only been that long" LOL. For us the one thing we always do is laugh. It maybe at the expense of one another if appropriate but its all in good fun! Half the time its an inside joke so people aren't sure why we are cracking up but its funny to us. We watch funny movies, stand up comedy, and if he finds a funny picture or video on the net he always shows me waiting to see how much I will laugh. On days I feel overwhelmed he always cheers me up with something that will make me crack up! I know it sounds cheesy but someone who can make you laugh really is the best quality in a spouse.

It was "just us" for over 8 years so we have had plenty of time to hang out and be a couple. Now as parents we still keep each other laughing as a way to keep our sanity. I smiled so big and laughed when I got my Mothers Day card. We love to read our cookie fortunes and compare them when we have Chinese food.When I was pregnant I could not get enough Orange Chicken! I love that he bought me a funny card and not a mushy romantic one. I have kept every card he has given me over the 10 plus years we have know each other. I love to have them and read them every now and then. I always say flowers make me sneeze, candy makes me fat but cards I can keep forever!
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Sunday, May 15, 2011

It Hailed In California Today!


Today it hailed like crazy for a few minutes and thundered for over an hour. Its mid May so for California here in the valley its not normal! My dog was going crazy in the back yard. I looked out there to see what she was doing then a huge rumble shook everything and it was like someone dumped a bag of ice on the whole neighborhood. Very wild! My son was watching from the doorway through the screen door with big eyes and a shocked look on his face. The dog was trying to catch the hail in her mouth while I tried to snap some pictures. I was going to have a yard sale this weekend but thankfully I waited. My freshly mowed lawn was covered in hail. The wind is still going wild out there and its cold.

Kinda hard to see it but its there!!

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Softlips So You Review and Giveaway



 I have been a SoftLips fan for over 15 years now! I have a stock pile of them in my purse and closet and can never be without it. My favorite flavor is Vanilla. I am not a lipstick kinda woman so SoftLips is my go to for anytime I want shine and protection. I just recently started to use the ones with a bit of tint to feel fancied up! Two flavors I had not tried before I now love. The Mint with a hint of Vanilla and the Wildberry are great. My husband thought the Strawberry smelled nice. My son was making me laugh since he thought it was funny to sniff my lips since he seen his Mama smelling the sticks. (That silly boy thinks it hilarious to sniff stuff)

Older packaging the new ones are more sleek!

This classic product now has a new look. They are launching the So You SoftLips campaign and have tons of online activities including giveaways and info on sample events on their facebook page. They redesigned the packaging and have added some new flavors. So if you see them looking different in the stores be assured its the same awesome product it has always been! They have an organic line with great flavors, therapeutic lip conditioners with beeswax, and my favorite to get from Santa the holiday limited edition line. You can purchase multi packs online at the SoftLips website. The website takes Paypal so if you have any survey money or something saved these are great to have! They are in dual packs at stores such as Target, Ulta, Walmart and CVS.


A little bit of info about SoftLips:

"Softlips products combine effective lip protection with SPF 20 and moisturizing emollients with a sheer glossing effect, making them perfect for natural lips or for adding protection/moisturizing over or under lipstick."

GIVEAWAY:
SoftLips has offered one of our readers a set of SoftLips like the ones I reviewed.
Softlips SPF 20 flavors Cherry, Vanilla, Raspberry with green tea extract, Mint with a hint of Vanilla, Wildberry, and Strawberry.

To Enter This Giveaway:

 Tell me what flavor of SoftLips you love or would like to try?

 *Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry.
If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on. 

-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC (top right hand corner) +2

-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +3
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +2 

-Follow SoftLips on Twitter +2
-Like SoftLips on Facebook  +2

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +5 (top left hand side) 

-Vote for us for "Were on the Fence" (left hand side of the blog, just click the button) +3

-Enter other current giveaways on our blog +1 for each entered


*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 15, 2011 and ends on May 29, 2011 at midnight PST.  Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. I was provided for free the packs of SoftLips pictured for this review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.
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Saturday, May 14, 2011

I Mow in Mary Janes


My neighbors must think I am a bit weird! Anytime I mow our lawn I wear an old pair of Mary Jane shoes. I wore them for work a few years back and they were so comfy I couldn't toss them out. They are a bit beat up so I just put them to the side knowing I would need them eventually. Well now that I am trying to be more frugal and instead of paying to have the lawn done I just do it myself. I must be quiet the sight out there since I wear black socks with my Mary Janes lol. I don't want to ruin white ones with stains! It took some convincing to tell my husband it was ok to let me mow the lawns. He finally was like ok fine when I pointed out 3 other women in our neighborhood that mow their lawn too!  I oddly find it enjoyable. Its the perfect time to get brainstorming done. I must admit I do need new shoes to do it in though since they are getting pretty beat up.

I thought it was funny today when I did the lawn I made the letter "L" in the yard! Next time I will take a picture to show everyone. I use an electric lawn mower and I have deemed lawn mowing "outdoor vacuuming"!

Who does the yard work in your house? And do you have any tips for me?

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