Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Have You Heard About NoMoreRack ? FriendRack?





From their website:
NoMoreRack is the place to find your favorite brands & hot items for up to 90% off.
One hand-picked product in each of our eight categories is added everyday.

View a video about NoMoreRack Here!

I've got five FREE $10 Gift Cards to give out to my friends.
So, if you want one, click HERE !

And then you, too will be able to give five FREE $10 Gift Cards to YOUR friends!
And earn some extra spending cash & prizes, too!

Like THESE:

Because they just started FriendRack!
FriendRack is a new way for you to earn FREE Products like the ones above (NO LIMIT)!
All you have to do is invite your friends and they don't even have to make a purchase!
Easy-Peasy, Right?

So, if you don't have an account yet, be sure to head over HERE and check out their great deals with your FREE $10 Gift Card!


Monday, June 13, 2011

KuleCash - Just Launched - Win Cash & Prizes...

KuleCash just launched and members are already earning cash and prizes. It's fun, fast and profitable. See why below.

You can...

* Send your offers to 6,000 random members every 3 days depending on your membership level.

* Promote all your websites using email campaigns, text ad campaigns, banner campaigns and exit-pop campaigns.

* Earn easy recurring and large one time commissions telling others where you advertise. These membership sell like hot-cakes.

* Win cash, text ads, exit ads and KuleCash credits.

* Plus if you signup as a pro member, or a platinum member we will give you up to 5 million bonus sokens to use at Sokule.

Now this is a deal you do not want to miss!

These memberships are literally flying out the door so be quick. The yearly memberships are strictly limited.

Grab your advertising package now while you can.



Happy KuleCash Advertiser

PS: You can join free but with this much advertising and earning power at your disposal, why on earth would you want to?

Take the plunge and upgrade now!
==> Click Here!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Delicious Summer Smoothie Recipes


Few things beat the summer heat like a refreshing smoothie. Smoothies are also a great way to get fresh fruits into your diet, and kids tend to like them, too. Here are some ideas for a frosty, healthy summer treat.

The following recipes are enough for approximately two smoothies. You can increase or decrease the ingredients to vary the amount and the taste. Smoothies are very forgiving - if you don't have some of the ingredients listed below, you can leave them out or try something comparable (soy milk instead of almond milk, for instance, or vanilla yogurt instead of plain). Leftover smoothies can be frozen in ice cube trays (use them in your next smoothie) or Popsicle molds.


1. Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie

In a blender, combine:

* 5 medium-sized, frozen strawberries
* 1 frozen, sliced or chunked banana
* 2 ice cubes
* 1 cup sweetened vanilla almond milk
* 1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (you can substitute carob powder if you like)

Blend on high speed until thick and creamy. Add more almond milk if it's too thick.


2. Summer Breakfast Smoothie

This smoothie contains protein in the form of peanut butter, and it also contains chia seeds. These little seeds are reported to help you feel fuller longer, as they form a thick gel in liquid. They also add a nutritional boost.

In a blender, combine:

* 2 frozen, sliced/chunked bananas
* 1/4 cup unsweetened, natural peanut butter
* 4 ice cubes
* 1 tablespoon flax meal
* 1 tablespoon wheat germ
* 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
* 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
* 1/4 cup plain yogurt
* 2 teaspoons raw honey
* 1 cup milk (if using sweetened nut milk, leave out the honey)

If your blender has an "ice crushing" feature, use that to break up the frozen ingredients. Then blend on high speed until smooth. Add more milk if necessary.


3. Berry and Tea Smoothie

Leftovers of this one are especially good frozen into Popsicles.
In a blender, combine:

* 1 to 2 cups of various frozen berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries
* 1/2 to 1 cup of fruit-flavored herbal tea or unsweetened apple juice
* 1/4 teaspoon Stevia extract, or to taste

Blend until smooth, using the ice-crushing feature if you have it. Taste before adding the Stevia, and remember that 1/4 teaspoon of Stevia extract is approximately as sweet as two teaspoons of white sugar.


4. Melon Smoothie

Before making this one, chunk up fresh watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, and/or melons of your choice. Freeze the chunks on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet, then place the frozen chunks in plastic zip-top bags.

In a blender, combine:

* About 2 cups of various frozen melon chunks
* 1/2 cup orange juice, orange-pineapple juice, or pear juice
* 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
* Sweeten to taste with raw honey, sugar, agave nectar, or a sweetener of your choice (you may not need to use any sweetening at all)

Blend until thick and smooth, once again using the ice-crushing feature if your blender has it. Add more juice as necessary.




Tuesday, June 7, 2011

31 Days All New Routine Challenge - Day 2 - 7


Day 2: Dishes away after breakfast, pans cleaned, counters wiped down. NEXT THING: Clean and organize any kitchen hot spots.

Supper dishes actually got done last night and breakfast around here usually consists of coffee for me. The kids sleep in during summer vacation, so their breakfast doesn't usually happen till at least noon! But, this morning I put away all the dishes that were left to dry last night and did a little sprucing up of the counters and a quick sweep up of the birthday cake crumbs on the floor.

(Yes, it was my middle son's 9th birthday yesterday! Whoop Whooop! )

NEXT THING: I would have to say that the hot spots in my kitchen are the kitchen table and the area beside it in front of my pantry. The kitchen table is kind of a no-brainer, however the area in front of my pantry is all my fault. The boxes there are things that I needed to price and take to the consignment shop. So, as my Next Thing Mission, I got them all priced and taken out to the van for our next trip to town!

Day 3: Clean kitchen. NEXT THING: Gather all the dirty laundry and sort. Main spaces pick-up.

Kitchen has been staying pretty well clean. Just need to do a quick dish / counter / sweep in the am.

Laundry is a daily thing around here with seven of us, so I've already done a load by noon.

Main spaces picked up and put away. (PUPA)

Day 4: Kitchen, Main spaces. NEXT THING: Clean one bedroom and do laundry for that bedroom. Put laundry away.

Kitchen done & Main spaces PUPA.

Clean one bedroom - well, this turned into my boy's bedroom because this morning their whole bunk bed came crashing down while they were in it! Supid, Cheap, Poorly made furniture! So, the whole bed frame had to come out and taken to the dumpster. That gave me a pretty good opportunity to get what they had stashed under their bed cleaned up, toys put away, trash bagged up and clothes re-folded and put away that they had thrown all over. Gave it a good vaccuming and it's done. Laundry put away later in the day when it got done.

*side note* I have issues with putting laundry away. I don't know why I have no trouble at all washing it, drying it and folding it. But putting it away.. somehow my brain stops once I fold! I have a dozen laundry baskets just for that purpose. To hold the clean laundry! (Not the dirty!) Imagine that. I really have to work on that. Of course, I blame not having enough dressers.

Day 5: Kitchen, Main spaces. NEXT THING: Bathrooms

Kitchen and main spaces done. Bathrooms done. I made the girls clean up the main bathroom. I cannot for the life of me figure out how they managed to collect so much 'stuff' in there. Hair stuff, body stuff, shower stuff... sheesh!

Day 6: Kitchen, Main spaces. NEXT THING: Prepare meals for tomorrow (Sunday)

Kitchen and Main spaces are done. I am not really preparing anything for tomorrow's meals. We have a lot of leftovers to choose from that I don't want to go to waste.

Sunday: Rest.

Monday, June 6, 2011

31 Days All New Routine Challenge - Day 1



Day 1: Clean your kitchen! Fresh kitchen, fresh start! Consider doing this in an evening after the babes are in bed.

Today's challenge seems to be an easy one, however I am taking it to the next level. I am going to do a total 'Deep Cleaning' of the kitchen which includes:

1. EMPTY FRIDGE / CLEAN THOROUGHLY INSIDE & OUT (check)
2. CLEAN MICROWAVE INSIDE AND OUT (check)
3. CLEAN STOVE/OVEN (check)
4. WASH CANISTER/KNICK-KNACKS (check)
5. STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/CUPBOARDS (check)
6. WIPE FINGERPRINTS OFF WALLS / DOORS (check - kids can do this!)
7. WASH INSIDE WINDOWS (check)
8. CLEAN FAN/VENT-A-HOOD FILTERS AND HOOD (check)
9. SCRUB DOWN CABINET FRONTS (check - kids can do this!)
10. CLEAN LIGHT FIXTURE / CEILING FAN (check)
11. CLEAN UNDER SINK/THROW AWAY OLD RAGS (didn't get to this)
12. CLEAN PET DISHES (check)
13. SWEEP / MOP FLOORS (check)
14. CLEAN VENT TO HEATING / AIR COND. UNIT (check)
15. SCRUB TABLE / CHAIRS (check)
16. WASH DOWN WASHER & DRYER (check)

Since the children are home for summer vacation, I am getting them involved and am doling out tasks accordingly.



Sunday, June 5, 2011

31 Days All New Routine Challenge




I have recently signed up to take part in a Focus Group and review the new "31 Days All New Routine Challenge". These challenges are geared towards building a consistent routine in the day-to-day.

With the children home for summer vacation, it will be a real test of my housekeeping skills, that's for sure! This challenge will begin tomorrow, Monday, June 6th and will run Monday - Saturday with Sundays as rest days.

So, stay tuned and check back every day for updates and progress pictures!



Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Families: Low Income Survival Strategies

We often equate our self-worth with the amount of money we have. What does that mean for families with low incomes? Money doesn’t have to define us if we know how to use it properly. Here are some strategies for saving money when you don’t have much to work with.

The economy has led to a lot of families taking big hits. Lost jobs, changing to lower-paying jobs and other factors have led to loss of income in this country. But, you can battle back if you are in this situation. It takes a little time in the beginning but you’ll get the hang of it soon.

Here are the strategies that might help you to save money.

* Create a budget – This is a tool to help you to know where you are right now and which direction you need to move in for the future. If the low income is a new situation, this is needed to know how short you will be on current bills. You can look at options for ways to cut costs.

* Talk to utility companies – Most utility companies have programs that allow you to pay the same amount each month based on your average monthly usage. This can help you to balance your books each month with no surprises.

* Investigate ways to lower energy costs – Try setting your thermostat at a lower temperature. If you are cold, use blankets. In the summer, use ceiling fans or wall fans to get the air moving. In the evening, open the windows for some natural breeze. Switching to CFL light bulbs will save money on lighting. Try other handy tips for lowering fuel bills. Over a year, it will pay for itself.

* Go grocery shopping – Eating out can be expensive, especially for a family. Buy meats and dry foods in bulk. Fix meals and freeze leftovers to be eaten at another time. Use coupons from the Sunday newspaper to lower food bills. Try a butcher shop for a better price on meats.

* Brown bag your lunch – Taking lunch to work and school saves about twenty dollars or more a week per person. You can invest in reusable lunch bags and water bottles.

* Hold a yard sale – There are sure to be items in your home that you don’t use and are gathering dust. Someone else may want them. A yard sale cleans out the clutter and also puts more money in your savings account.

* Revamp entertainment – With money pressures, take a look at your entertainment expenses. You can check out movies, CDs and books at your local library. Buy movies from Wal-Mart when they are on sale so the family can watch for movie night. Cancel book clubs, movie memberships and gym memberships to save money.

When the money is slim, you can still make ends meet with a few strategies. It doesn’t mean that you have to live without fun, just new ways to have your laughs.