Are you using Swagbucks yet?

I blogged earlier about Swagbucks. It's a search engine that REWARDS you for your searches! So much better than the other search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bling, etc...Just sign up for an account and start doing your internet searches on their site, instead of what you use now. I just signed up this week and I already have 11 swagbucks. Swagbucks can be redeemed for gift cards and more! Why not get paid for what you're already doing anyways??? Plus, if you get your friends to sign up and search with them, then you will get rewarded for their searches too! It is REALLY worth it! I would not pass this along if I didn't think it was awesome! In addition, every Friday is their MEGA BUCKS day where you can get 10, 20, 30, 50 + Swagbucks for searches!!! To put it into perspective for you, with 45 swagbucks you can get a $5 gift card to Amazon. So, it won't be long before you earn some good stuff! I know someone who signed up YESTERDAY and already has 110 swagbucks!

I thought I would share some swagbucks tips with you. These tips are to help you earn MORE swagbucks. These tips come from Freebies4mom.com!

How to Earn More Swagbucks






1. Use the Toolbar, Use It Frequently


You can't earn Swagbucks unless you use Swagbucks to search. The easiest way to remember to use it is to have it in front of your face, at the top of your web browser. Just visit the "Toolbars" tab to download a toolbar or plugin.






2. Search for Your Website, Don't Browse


Instead of typing in "Amazon.com" into your web browser, use the Swagbucks Toolbar and search for "Amazon". So just leave off the ".com" part. Pay attention to make sure you are headed to the right website (the full url is displayed below the search result in green text) and you can look for "Official Site" text by the name of the site.






3. Pay Attention When You Win (Word Verify Your Wins)


That's because on a random basis they will ask you to complete a word verification. If you "search & win" but don't complete the word verification in time then you lose those Swagbucks.






4. Win When Your Friends Win


Referrals are the key to earning more Swagbucks. So tell everyone you know - in conversation, by email, on Facebook, on Twitter. My first impression of Swagbucks was "this can't be real, maybe those gift card prizes are real - but surely it takes forever to earn them". Well - the gift cards are indeed real, and if you use Swagbucks on a regular basis and refer your friends you can redeem your Swagbucks for the gift cards you want faster than you would guess. So now I tell everyone I know about it.

If you do sign up for a swagbucks account, please use this link to sign up http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/smemery02 or you can click on the banner on this blog.

Got some FREEBIES for you!

Freebies:

Free Avery Label Pads

Free $5 Gift card to Babies R Us - Become a fan of their Facebook page, only while supplies last, and today only!

Free Two Year subscription to Lego Club Jr. Magazine! This magazine is for children ages 6 and under. It's filled with activities, comic strips, puzzles, and of course, recipes for lego building! And, if you have more than 2 children under the age of 6 you can order one subscription for both...all for FREE!

Free Ensure Shake

Play to Win:

Victoria's Secret - I just played and won a free thong with purchase of a bra! You can play every day! The biggest prize is a $500 gift card to VS!

101 Things update, Freebies & Deals

Update on my 101 Things To Do list:

One of the items on my list is to read two books on parenting/discipline. So, I was at the library yesterday getting a book for my husband and got one for myself too. The book I got for myself is called "Scream Free Parenting"
I am looking forward to reading this book and learning the technique of keeping your cool when your kids get you heated!! My 3 1/2 year old son can sure push my buttons, as I'm sure most 3 year olds do at times! I will comment on the book through my blog and will report on my findings/opinions when I am done reading it. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, check out the website (the link is above) and download a chapter for FREE! Or, you can check it out at your local library like I did!

I'm also well on my way to making a scrapbook for each year of my boy's lives. I made one last night for my youngest son who just turned a year old on Sunday! I can't wait to get it, and the best part...it was FREE! I just have to pay $8 for shipping. Since I order from Shutterfly so much, I got a code for a free 8x8 hard cover photo book (regularly $23)!!

Deals of the Day:

Seriously...Are you a fan of ArtsCow Coupons on Facebook yet? If not, what's taking you so long? Become a FAN! Today's deal...5 8x10 reprints for $2!!!! That INCLUDES shipping! Great deal!

Giveaways:
Enter to win a cordless Magic Bullet to go, courtesy of Deal Seeking Mom.

Freebies:

29 FREE photo cards at Seehere.com! Yes 29! ABSOLUTELY FREE! Just enter code newbaby at checkout...and pay just $4.99 shipping!

Free Insulated Freezer bag from Sam's Club! Just click here, you don't need a Sam's Club membership. Hurry, only while supplies last.

Birthday Bash on a Budget

Last year my second son was born on this day, January 24th. Coincidently, it's also my husband's birthday! What does that mean for me? A double-whammy on January 24th! I wanted to do something special for my son's 1st birthday and have a little celebration for my husband too. So, what I came up with were two small celebrations. We celebrated my son's birthday during our Friday playgroup. I used minimal decorations which I bought from the dollar store. For those of you who have never shopped in a dollar store (and I hadn't before I began to stay home with my kids and lived on a single income) it is a MUST for party supplies and holiday items! I bought the tablecloth, banner, napkins, candles, a serving platter, utensils, and cups all for $7.

Food that I served for the party: crackers and hummus, homemade cookies in the shapes of the Number 1 (I borrowed a number 1 shaped cookie cutter), a quiche, homemade banana muffins, juice, and water. Most items I already had on hand so I didn't buy much food for the party.

I am lucky to have a friend in the birthday/special occassion sign business and she was nice enough to provide my son with a beautiful lawn sign for his birthday, which was up for the party and will come down tonight.

For today's birthday celebration, I baked banana cupcakes with cream cheese frosting from scratch. They were DELICIOUS! I found a recipe online and added some food coloring and sprinkles to make them more festive. It was a fun little family celebration where we sang happy birthday and watched as our son opened presents, with the help of his older brother.

So, my mom to mom advice on making a birthday celebration special...it's not all about the fancy decorations, pre-bought or catered food, but about the fun you have putting together the special touches for the party and enjoying the time you're spending with your family. I was able to really get my 3 year old son involved in celebrating his baby brother and father's birthdays by having him help me with all the baking. He helped me bake and ice the Number 1 cookies and also helped me bake and decorate the cupcakes. He had a sense of pride in that he was a part of making his brother and father's birthday a special day. This was a fun birthday, the first of many years that my husband and son will share their special day together, and it was one to remember.

As you can probably tell, my week was pretty busy. But, I was able to stay on top of some pretty sweet deals over the last few days. Here are some that you should check out:

Freebies:

1 Free Photo Book every month for 12 months! Sign up at www.hotprints.com
I signed up last month and just got my first photo book in the mail yesterday. They are paperback photo books, almost like a mini-magazine, so not for a formal photo book, but for something fun, it's a great deal! I made one of our Christmas and I think it turned out nice. The only catch to getting one free each month is that your photo book will have an advertisement in it...all you have to do is rip it out, no big deal. Like those little subscription cards in magazines.

Become a Fan of ArtsCow Coupons on Facebook!
They are constantly sending out freebies! This week alone I got one free photo mousepad and a free 2-sided dog tag necklace....COMPLETELY FREE, no shipping charges either! I turned both of these into gifts for family members.

Free Kashi Sample


Rewards:


I found a new search engine that makes your internet searches work for you by earning rewards for your searches! The search engine is called Swag Bucks. I signed up a couple days ago and am excited about earning rewards (gift cards, electronics, etc...) just for searches I perform on the internet! If you're interested in finding out more, please go to http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/smemery02 Make sure you use that link so I can get rewarded if you sign up...and once you sign up then anyone you refer will earn you rewards too!

101 Things in 1001 Days

I was asked if I was going to post my list of 101 Things to do in 1001 days. So, I am going to post my list here...I'm going to have to leave some items on my list marked as private since some are surprises for loved ones who may be reading this blog. If you see an item marked private, that's why. Of course, when I complete it, then I will let you know what it was. So, here it is...My list:


1. Try Geocaching
2. Plant a tree
3. Run a 5k
4. Get a facial
5. Go camping
6. Get a massage
7. See a dermatologist
8. Influence someone to make a 101 things list
9. Go to the dentist
10. Get laser hair removal
11. Start a blog - Complete!
12. Plant a garden
13. Go snow tubing
14. Private
15. Throw a dinner party
16. Read "The Secret"
17. Hang curtains in the living room
18. Get a manicure/pedicure
19. Burn all photos onto CDs
20. Go berry picking in the summer
21. Go on a beach vacation
22. Make strawberry jam
23. Get a complete physical, including cholesterol check
24. Surprise my grandmother with flowers
25. Private
26. Take a family vacation to Disneyworld/Disneyland
27. Start an inside herb garden
28. Buy flowers for myself
29. Bake a birthday cake for a friend
30. Prepare a will
31. Organize my coupons and deals
32. Make a scrapbook for each year of my children's lives
33. Make a scrapbook album of our wedding
34. Make a scrapbook album of our honeymoon
35. Make a scrapbook album of my bridal shower
36. Plan something special for our 10 year anniversary
37. Paint and decorate master bedroom
38. Finish Kyle's room
39. Finish Mason's room
40. Visit Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
41. Take Kyle to a movie
42. Have a family picnic
43. Family trip to Atlanta aquarium
44. Go apple picking in the fall
45. Private
46. Hang family pictures - Complete!
47. Go out for lunch or dinner with my mom, just the two of us
48. Read two books on raising boys
49. Read two books on discipline
50. Hang curtains for sliding glass windows
51. Hang curtains in kitchen
52. Clean out my yahoo inbox
53. Clean out my Outlook inbox
54. Spend a day with the family Uptown, riding the light rail and trolleys, and then have lunch
55. Go to each farmer's market in the Charlotte area
56. Private
57. Start a 'cute quote' journal for the boys
58. organize toys
59. Buy a new dress and go on a date with my husband
60. Private
61. File all paperwork
62. Put all home video on DVDs
63. Plant tulips around tree in front yard
64. Set up an area to display boy's artwork
65. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall
66. Start a Valentine's Day tradition for me and my husband
67. Start an album to hold love letters/cards/sentiments between me and my husband
68. Buy a panini grill
69. Start a new Christmas Eve dinner tradition - FONDUE!
70. Have a picnic in a blanket fort
71. Sew a blanket for Mason
72. Get toy bins for blocks, legos, cars
73. Private
74. Sign Kyle up for baseball
75. Sign Kyle up for swimming
76. Take car in for service
77. Organize downstairs desk area
78. Put rubber mulch in flower beds
79. Buy or make Valentines wreath for front door
80. Buy or make Easter wreath for front door
81. Buy or make 4th of July wreath for front door
82. Buy or make Halloween wreath for front door
83. Tone my abs
84. Rock a bikini
85. Eat at Bentley's in Uptown
86. Make a craft bucket for the boys
87. Make a costume box for the boys
88. Get frame ornaments for the Santa pictures
89. Rent a boat and spend the day on Lake Norman
90. Buy a photo album for Mason's photos
91. Buy a photo album for family photos
92. Start weekly family movie nights
93. Start weekly family game nights
94. Make peach jam
95. Update Kyle's baby book
96. Update Mason's baby book
97. Throw a block party
98. Buy bikes for me & James
99. Make a list of lunch ideas for Kyle (for when he starts preschool)
100. Put away $1 every day
101. Create a scavenger hunt for Kyle


And, there it is!

The Beginning!!

Here it is! Day 1 of BLOGGING! This is new to me...new in the sense that I have never "officially" blogged before. Why I am starting now? I just completed my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days and one item on my list is to start a blog. So, here it is. Check one item off my list, 100 more to go!



What will I be blogging? My goal is to pass along USEFUL information to other moms. I am a huge fan of FREEBIES, DISCOUNTS, SWEEPSTAKES and DEALS! I love to pass along deals to my fellow mamas, but sometimes just don't have the time to get the word out.



This blog won't only be about deals, but useful tips and tricks and everyday things that I've found to make my life easier. I'll also be blogging about my progress on my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. 1001 days seems like a long time, but with the goals I set, let's hope I can get them done! I hope you find this blog informative and fun and that you will become a follower who looks forward to my posts!



Now, a little (or a lot) about me! My first readers will be friends and family, so you already know me! However, for those who come to this blog a little late...Here it is. I am a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful boys. The oldest is 3 1/2 and my youngest will be 1 this Sunday! I have been married to my best friend and soul mate for 7 years. We're high school sweethearts and have been together for a total of 15 years. In addition to my most difficult job (being a mama!) I am also a Virtual Assistant for Team Double-Click and an Independent Demonstrator for Uppercase Living. I have been working as a Virtual Assistant on and off for the last 2 years. I just started my Uppercase Living business last September. It's a fun little side business for me and one which I hope will grow into becoming a means to add some substantial income for our family.



So, here is what I have for you today, January 20th:



Freebies of the Day:

Free Cream of Wheat



Sweepstakes of the Day:

Enter to win a year of free diapers from Pampers
Enter to win free Popsicles courtesy of Deal Seeking Mom

Harris Teeter (no coupons needed) Grocery Deals (Charlotte, NC area only):

Various Beef Roasts $2.19-$2.29/lb