Whether the market is crashing, the sky is falling or all the other “Doomsday” theories out there, I am TRYING to tighten up.  My husband would laugh or even scoff, but I am thrifty on several fronts.  I buy most of my clothes at Target, I play The Grocery Game and I do try to buy things on sale.  However, when it comes to house decor and my facial products and chemical peels, there’s just no way to cut corners.  We all have our vices, right?   

Being the on-line shopper that I am, I always look for free shipping…and it is usually SO easy to find.  My latest trick, however, saves even more than shipping!  Anytime I order on-line, when I get to the last page that asks for coupon codes, I minimize my page and Google the coupon codes for that company.  Once I find it, I cut and paste it to the code box and VOILA!  Money saved!  For instance, I bought a few swimming suits from Lands End a few weeks ago. (A cute giraffe top and ruched swim mini…I love it!)  I Googled, “Lands End Coupon Code” and I ended up receiving 40% off my bathing suits (seriously?) PLUS free shipping!  I saved $80 simply by taking two extra minutes to look for coupon codes.  Just now, I ordered a few cute things for the boys at Boden for our upcoming beach trip (Lord, please keep the oil away from western Florida!).  When I Googled “Boden Coupon Code” I came up with 15% off my order PLUS free shipping!  How can you lose on that?

I don’t have to drag my 3 toots to the store with me just to save on shipping. For me, it was WORTH the shipping to not have to do that!  These days, however, those Coupon Codes can add up really quickly and save you a lot of money…just for taking a moment to look for them.  The day I ordered those bathing suits from Lands End, I ordered from two other companies online.  In total, I saved $190 that I was “OK” with spending… 

There are many many coupon code sites, so I couldn’t begin to list my favorites.  Many sites rank the success of each code or publish when it was last used successfully.  I have yet to have a code not work for me by following the recommendations on the site.  Who couldn’t use an extra $200 in their pocket? 

For the record, I’ll keep that in cash, so “You-know-who” doesn’t know how much I saved.  Then, I can use it on the next “must have” for my house or new “age-defying” treatment for my face…Fantastico!

They have really great ideas for how to gift these bags…to grandparents, bridesmaids, friends.  Such a great way to capture a moment and make the memory last by printing it on a bag.  I think my favorites are the coin purse and cosmetic bags.  I know our grandparents would love to have one of these.  Mother’s Day, Birthday, Christmas…every occasion would scream for one of these.

Darling picture on a cosmetic bag…

Two cutie boys on a wristlet…

Fabulous idea for a Bridesmaid’s gift!

I love these bags.  They are so cute and a perfect gift for someone who has it all!  Who wouldn’t want a picture of your cutie-pies on a bag to carry with them everywhere they go?  You might check out the give-aways today….you might like it!

Jen can doing anything.  Big blogs, little blogs, red blogs, blue blogs…kidding.  Can you tell I have little Dr Seuss lovers?  I love what she has done for Penelope’s Pitstop and I want her to get all the credit and kudos she deserves.  This is my review of her on her site…

“It is amazing to me that every time Jen touches my blog she makes it bigger and better. I recently wanted to expand Penelope’s Pitstop, which Jen originally designed, to accommodate Product Reviews and Giveaways and allow it to have a more professional look. Jen moved me over to WordPress and it turned Penelope’s Pitstop upside down. I absolutely love what she has done to my site. I receive comments on a daily basis from perfect strangers telling me just how cute my site is. Once again, she turned my rambling thoughts into everything I wanted and more. As I have worked with Jen over the past couple years, I have grown to love her work AND her. I love that she allows me to “mess” with and sometimes mess up my site. Slowly but surely I am learning to manage my site via WordPress, but she is always there to patiently back me up and give me the support I need to make my blog a success. Penelope’s Pitstop has been successful in a large part due to the image it portrays…the look that Jen has given it has made Penelope’s Pitstop what it is today. Thank you so so much, Jen!”

She is awesome.  Should you have any web design needs, I would HIGHLY recommend Jen at Blue Yonder Design.  Just go check out her gallery…she has a wide variety of styles and ideas.  Coupled with your ideas, you are guaranteed to have an amazing design when she is finished with you!

Anybody have a little boy (or girl) that stashes things like crayons in their pockets?  Unfortunately, I found out mine did just that when I opened the dryer yesterday and everything was coated with red crayon.  It looked like there had been a major injury in the dryer.  I was so upset- it was my whites and Khakis…all the kids school uniforms.  I was in tears thinking of buying all new uniforms after church today.

I got on the Internet and Google sent me to a website www.thriftyfun.com.  Apparently I am not the only one who has experienced this.  There was a recipe that I want to share that was on that website that included lots of comments on how it worked.  I was skeptical, but figured I had nothing to lose.  I only wish I had taken pictures to show how amazingly it worked.

Recipe:

1 c Tide

1 c Oxiclean liquid

1/2 c Borax

1 c Shout or Spray and Wash

1 c Vinegar

 Fill washtub with hot water.  Add recipe.  Add clothes.  Let agitate for a minute or two to make sure it is all mix up.  Let sit overnight…at least 6 hours.  Drain tub.  Wash load as usual.  

I was stunned when I took the clothes out!  Gone!!! There were a couple light yellow spots on a couple white shirts which I soaked in Borax and Oxiclean again for about 30 minutes, then washed. A whole load of whites that I thought would be trash is back in business!  I was so amazed at this, I had to share it.  Put this in an important place!  I wonder if it would also help when lipstick gets run through the wash? Done that before, too.  I wish I had tried it.

The list is growing quickly every day.  Go see what all the fuss is about and if you have a business of your own, get listed now!

We found a fun website just for the girls in your house!  Go to Fashion Playtes and let your fashionista get started designing her own wardrobe.  It is so easy to do.  You have a choice of multiple garment types…tops, dresses, leggings, jackets and even a bag.  You select the garment, then the fabric.  From that point it is all embellishment.  You click and drag each button, appliqué etc. onto the garment. There is a price tag in the corner that clearly shows you how much your garment will cost as you add your choices.  Once you have the garment the way you want it, you can save it to your collection.  Your daughter can design away and you can go in later to her collections and make orders for the ones that you like.  What a fun surprise for your daughter to open a present and see an outfit she designed herself!

This is a remarkable invention.  If they had this when I was a younger, I would have gone nuts!  You literally create an outfit of your choice on-line and have the option of actually having it made and mailed to you to wear!  So many clothing pieces to choose from and the optional designs are endless.  Even better, there is an option to have your own label made and sewn in the clothes.  How awesome is that?  I already bought a gift certificate for my niece for Christmas.  If you are looking for something different and unique for your young daughter, niece, granddaughter this is the place to shop!  Can’t wait for you to check it out!  Enjoy!  Thanks, Wynne!  Click the link to start shopping!  A great idea for a gift certificate…

So, I recently looked in to Diapers.com.  Not only do they offer “the cheapest price on-line”, if you order $49 worth of items, the shipping is free.  So, buy 2 boxes this week instead of 1 and it’s free shipping!  Diapers.com is so not just diapers…it’s all baby necessities.  Not only do they ship formula, baby food, diapers, bottles, burpies, toys, and more for the baby, but they sell nursing items, baby gear and more for mom and dad.  The concept of avoiding late-night runs to the store, avoiding standing in lines and not having to lug boxes of diapers to the car is beautiful for this mother of three!  What a great invention!  They also have Halloween Costumes…where does it end?

What I have also discovered is that they regularly have “instant” coupons and on-line specials available at the point of purchase.  On top of THAT, if you cut coupons, you can send yours in and they will “store” them in your account.  When you purchase your diapers or formula, it automatically deducts the appropriate coupon from your account and gives you the credit.  How easy is that?

Even better is their Referral Program.  When you “join,” you automatically receive a referral code.  When any one enters your referral code upon ordering, they get a discount and you get $1 every time they order.  My friend should almost be getting a free box of diapers for the number of orders I have already made!  I also just gave a gift certificate to my sister-in-law for her new baby.  Since its her second of the same sex, I figured you just can’t overdo it on diapers and formula.  Yet again, a great gift for a new mom…or an old mom at that.  Diapers.com is an excellent resource for great baby gifts, or gift cards…and if it’s more than $49, then the shipping is FREE.

Check it out.  Penelope’s Pitstop readers can get $10 off your first order if you enter PENN2820.  Of course, you will be sponsoring a good cause…Diapers for my little toot!  Then, you can pass on the great savings to your friends with your code.

Today, I want to introduce you to Bakerella, yet another wonderful cooking/baking blog I discovered through The Tasty Kitchen.  She has the cutest ideas for baking that I have seen and I am simply fascinated with her blog.  You must go back and read through her archives to see all her clever treats.  She also has great give-aways on occassion of wonderful baking needs and supplies.  Her creativity is amazing and the detail that goes in to each of her treats is enviable.  I am not sure I have the patience to make (and complete) such pieces of art…and then watch someone shove it in their mouth and eat all the details!  Scoot on over and check out her site.  I guarantee you will be impressed with her work…

Today, The Pineapple Cove Baby has offered to give away one of their beautiful Toddler Changing Pads to a lucky Penelope’s Pitstop reader!  The Toddler Changing Pad being given away is  in Blue Antique Quilt, which is a very soft and subtle fabric.  The inside is made of a cushy and easy-clean fabric that is waterproof and a cinch to wipe clean.  Once the pad is unfolded, the bottom section has a clever zippered plastic pocket to store your diaper and wipes.  When the job is complete, it easily folds up into a concise, velcroed “tote” with a durable handle and you are on your way!  This is such a wonderful alternative to the bulky diaper bag when you just need to grab a diaper and go.

If you want this darling changing pad for yourself or a fabulous baby gift, just leave a comment below and let me know how you would use it!  Winners will be chosen using Random.org.  Feel free to submit your comments until midnight on August 24th.  Winner will be announced on August 25th.  Good Luck!!

I found Joy the Baker after joining The Pioneer Woman’s new Tasty Kitchen cooking website.  I do love keeping up with cooking blogs.  Joy the Baker takes beautiful pictures of food with such amazing perspective.  I just love looking at her pictures!  She has inspired me to make and freeze Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, among others.  My newest project, thanks to Joy the Baker, is making my own vanilla extract.  Seriously!  It was so easy and I am so excited to see how it turns out…in a few months.  If it works, won’t that be a great Christmas present?  She inspires me to  be more like Martha…or Joy!

Click on over and check her out.  I think you will be as impressed as I am!