Iowahippiechick

I love this video - it will totally melt away any stress you might be feeling!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

Every time I go through my reader - I’m amazed at the posts I read. 

The work these blog authors put into providing useful information for free, astounds me! 

Here are links to some of their hard work:

1. Just Lint In My Pocket  author ‘I’m Broke Baby’ - has an A-Z clickable link list of all the Black Friday Ads.
2. Gather Little By Little  has a free e-book download called, “Money Saving Tips for the Holidays ” created by the M-Network Bloggers.
3. My Dollar Plan has a list of all the free stuff available on Black Friday.
4. And last but not least … BFADS.net has all the latest updates on Black Friday.

I also want to list a cool freebie that I found:

1. The Fitness Diva has a link to Gymticket.com - Where you can get a free day pass to almost any of the major gyms.  A pretty cool way to check out your local gym … without throwing down any money!  Thanks Fitness Diva

I’ll conclude with something totally just for fun:

1. The Shiba Inu Puppy Cam - It’s live video stream of six of the cutest little puppies I’ve ever seen!  Click on the link to bring a warm fuzzy smile to your face …

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

Let me start with, I totally love my dad - but mercy this man is HORRIBLE with money.  He is retired and on a fixed income.  Yet he spends as if it’s coming out of his ears.  The problem is he is incredibly bored.  Ever since my mom passed away in 2000 he just doesn’t know what to do with himself!

The only thing he claims that brings him pleasure is GAMBLING.  Which he has been known to drop 2K a month on.  Well … that is definitely not financially healthy when that is your approximate monthly income!

He also shops in quantity.  Recently a local home lumber type store (Menards) had small electric heaters on sale.  He wanted one for his bathroom.  Does he come home with one - maybe two?  Nope … he has a stack of ten brand new heaters still in the box sitting in his t.v. room.  In fact his house is full of stuff still new & in the box sitting around collecting dust!

This year he finally emptied and unplugged the outdoor hot-tub.  Which he normally heats through our cold Iowa winters - using it maybe once or twice all season.  Believe me the list for his wasteful energy use could go on for days!

He still has a decent sized mortgage on a house that should have been paid off at least twenty years ago.  This is from mom and him always consolidating credit card & loan debt into the house equity.  They bought this house in 1960 for $3k … and he presently owes $44k!

My dad is 69 years old.  Old enough to know better … But the reality is he doesn’t!  We are very close and I am always there for him - but gosh he needs to take a little ownership in some of his decisions. 

How do you help a parent develop better personal finance skills?  I could totally use any ideas you can come up with - please help me!

dawn (a.k.a iowahippiechick)

Here are some links for some terrific activities, crafts and games for the kids to do, during the Thanksgiving holiday -

1. The First Thanksgiving 
2. Counting Pilgrims 
3. Pilgrim Children Dramatization
4. Thanksgiving Bingo 
5. A Thanksgiving Fill-Them-In-Tale 
6. A Turkey Hat 
7. Paper Bag Turkeys 
8. Tiny Toms 
9. Turkey Pinata 
10. Turkey Puppet
11. Pilgrim Pal 
12. Thanksgiving Coloring Pages 
13. Thanksgiving Activities from Crayola.com 
14. Various Activities From IPTV Kids Clubhouse (Not Thanksgiving - but fun activities nonetheless!)
    
15. Children’s Literature Read Aloud Online (It’s a neat resource - reads to the kids while your trying to get something done!)

Here is a wonderful Thanksgiving Prayer I found.  Maybe you can get one of the older kids to memorize it, in time for dinner on Thursday …

Thanksgiving Grace

We bow our heads dear Lord, to You,

For all the special things You do,

For all Thy brethren everywhere
We offer You this humble prayer.
Oh mighty Lord who art above
Bestow on us Thy gracious love,
Please bless us as we sit to dine
To break some bread and sip of wine.
For all these foods You do provide
Your presence cannot be denied
We bow our heads in silent prayer
To have You know we really care.
We thank Thee Lord for all Thy good
You offer to all brotherhood,
And especially for this gathering,
We thank Thee, Lord, for everything.

—Joseph Ferrara

A Blessed Thanksgiving to everyone!

dawn @ iowahipipechick

Not much time to look this week - but I did find these:

1. The Holiday Taste of Sam’s Club … A three-day event where you can sample the perfect holiday meal.  Pick up a free one-day pass and go sample all the goodies!  It’s running November 21st thru November 23rd.
2. Free Thanksgiving eCards … Hey - why not save a tree & the cost of a stamp by sending an eCard greeting instead!
3. A Free Pack of Stride Gum …  This is a little whack-a-do, but just click on the ’settle’ rather than sue and you will be able to enter your mailing information.
4. Free Programs & Giveaways From Scholastic …  Everything from coupons and printables to free stuff - a lot of interesting items.  Definitely worth checking out!
5. $50 Sharebuilder Bonus …  This find is from Carrie over at MoneySavingMethods.  Click on the link to check out this offer & her website - she is the master at earning money from bank offers!
6. Thanksgiving Holiday Craft Ideas From Crayola … My goodness - over thirty incredibly fun choices for the kids work on!
7. A Buy 2 Yankee Candles / Get 2 Free Coupon … Click on the link for the coupon.

Have a terrific day!

~ dawn (a.k.a. iowahippiechick)

Even when cash is tight - there are many ways that we can give back to our communities.  First and foremost, is our time and talents.  These are always gifts our communities will value. I have also found a few other ways, that I personally try to pay it forward.

1. Donate Blood to the Red Cross:  I know, the needles - yikes! But it truly is such a wonderful way to help people. You are literally giving of yourself. I am definitely not a fan of needles, but the feeling I get after donating outweighs my fear.
2. Collect Product Samples:  I do this and donate them to various places. For example battered women shelters, food pantry’s, & for sending over to our troops in Iraq. A few great websites to find them are: www.fatwallet.com, www.walmart.com, www.totallyfreestuff.com. (To save clutter in your email account just open up a quick one somewhere specifically for this project.)
3. Save Some of your Recyclables for Local Preschools and Daycare’s:  Scrap paper, cardboard pieces, plastic containers w/lids, scrap material, scrap yarn, Styrofoam trays, etc… These can all be used by the children, for projects, and will be greatly appreciated by the teachers.
4. Help with a Community Meal:  If I don’t have time to work at one, I try to donate a baked good. It is a rather simple yet appreciated way to help.

There are obviously many other ways to give - but I thought this was a nice starter list.
I truly believe, paying it forward is an important part of personal success - because it makes us a part of something bigger than ourselves.  (And it feels really good!)

Have a terrific day!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

F.Y. I.  Did you know that losing 10 pounds could lower your blood pressure by about 4-5 points?

Here Are Some Tips For Eating Heart Healthy -
(Excerpted from Better Homes And Gardens Magazine / February 2008/ By Doug Donaldson)

• *Buy Fewer Boxes - Cut back on processed food that is usually boxed, wrapped, or in bags. These products have fewer phytonutrients that have been shown in studies to reduce the risk of heart disease.

• *Be Colorful - The greater the variety of colors in your whole food choices, the greater your exposure to a variety of heart-healthy antioxidants. (So be sure to buy a variety of colorful fruits and veggies)!

• *Hide The Salt - The U.S.D.A. recommends less than one teaspoon of salt per/day. (Especially if you have high blood pressure - which is more difficult to control if you’re not monitoring your salt intake). Salt balances against potassium in the body - so you may want to add more foods with high amounts of potassium to your diet. For example: bananas, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe, potatoes, and nuts.

• *Eat Fish - Try to have broiled or baked fish once or twice a week. Many studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids found in many types of fish may help prevent heart disease - by improving the elasticity of arteries and slowing down plaque formation.

Maintaining a healthy heart & body will simplify  our lives, as well as save us money in the long run.  (By avoiding related health care expenses.)  During the upcoming holiday season we need to remember to take care of ourselves - because we only have one heart!

Have a terrific day!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

I looked up frugality in the dictionary.  Now I know why some people have such a negative connotation of the word.  The definition read - sparingly, meager, costing little.  Sure makes me want to run out and live a life of frugality.

My definition of frugality differs from the Oxford Dictionary. My descriptors would be, conscious consumerism; thoughtful use of natural resources; living below means - therefore able to live a life of choice.  Doesn’t that definition make frugality much more appealing?

Choosing to live more frugally doesn’t have to be a life of less.

Choosing to live more frugally will help us reduce our debt & increase our savings accounts.

Choosing to live more frugally is a life of choice & integrity.

Have a terrific day!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

Here are some terrific things I’ve had bookmarked for awhile …

• *Beingfrugal.net - had When times are tight:  168 tips to make your dollar stretch.
• *YahooFinance - had How to Save $8,919.45 a Year.
• *My Dollar Plan - had CVS:  My Frugal Dream Come True!
• *FrugalDad’s - Free Ebook titled The 7-Day Turnaround / One Week to Change Your Family’s Destiny.
• *The Wall Street Journal - Where Old Gadgets Go To Breathe New Life.
• *One Hundred Pushups - Need I say more?
• *MoneyTrack (A Public Television Series) - Your Guide to Investing and Protecting Your Money.
• *Joysofhome.blogspot.com - Emergency Preparedness.
• *Walmart’s Elevenmoms - Money Saving Tips.
• Retailmenot.com - Coupons For More Than 20,000 Stores.
• *Panera Bread - Recipes.
• *Hillbilly Housewife - Don’t Buy Your Bread, Make Your Own - Frugal Challenge.
• *Wesabe - Your Money. Your Community.
• *YouTube - Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.
• *Hula.com - Free Television & Movies.
• *Wordle - A Toy For Generating Word Clouds.

Have a terrific day!

dawn ~ (a.k.a.  iowahippiechick)

… Is the question I read on page 284 in the November issue of O magazine. (Another freebie I earned somewhere along the way - at the moment the details escape me.)  Immediately all sorts of things start flying through my mind.  *There is a God.  *My utility bill is due tomorrow.  *Obama is going to change our economy,  etc…  ~You get the picture.

Apparently, answering this question, is a regular column Oprah writes in her monthly O magazine.  It’s such an intriguing question - something we all should all be asking ourselves.  Our answers, certainly would help us, on the path to simplifying our lives.

If your curious - here are Oprah’s all-time top 20 answers:

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what.  (This is my creed.)
2. You define your own life.  Don’t let other people write your script.
3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present.  Only you give it power.
4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.  (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)
5. Worrying is wasted time.  Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.
6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for.  You become what you believe.
7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you , that will be enough.  (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)
8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.
10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.
11. Trust your instincts.  Intuition doesn’t lie.
12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.
13. Let passion drive your profession.
14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love.  Then every paycheck will be a bonus.
15. Love doesn’t hurt.  It feels really good.
16. Every day brings a chance to start over.
17. Being a mother is the hardes job on earth.  Women everywhere must declare it so.
18. Doubt means don’t.  Don’t move.  Don’t answer.  Don’t rush forward.
19. When you don’t know what to do, get still.  The answer will come.
20. “Trouble don’t last always.”  (A line from a Negro spiritual, which calls to mind another favorite:  This, too, shall pass.)

My goodness - there is some wisdom to digest!

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick

Oh my gosh this is a sweet deal, courtesy of Oprah & Snapfish.com …

But it is a limited time offer - so act quickly!

They are giving us this, to help us get organized, with a focus on what to do with all our kids artwork.

But - it does have a lot of potential for many other uses.

You can upload any special digital photo’s and snapfish.com will make it into a hardcover book - for FREE!

Here are the details of the offer:

•  * This offer is only good for one standard 20-page 8″ x 11″ custom-cover photo book per household. Coupon dispersal ends at 11:59 p.m. PST Friday, November 14, 2008. Free photo book must be redeemed by 11:59 p.m. PST Sunday, November 16, 2008. Offer does not include customary shipping and handling changes or additional pages. Offer applies only to mail-order delivery to U.S. customers. Offer cannot be combined with other coupon codes. Coupon cannot be resold or otherwise transferred and is void on the earlier of redemption or the offer end date.

• On Oprah’s Clean Up Your Messy House Tour, you saw how our custom cover photo books easily organize and showcase everything from your favorite photos to your children’s artwork. Now you can get organized too!

Simply create an account or log in to your account to receive this offer.  Click here.

DON’T LET THIS FREEBIE PASS YOU BY - IT’S TOO SWEET OF A DEAL!

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick

It was so cold, damp, and rainy today, that all I was craving for dinner was a hot bowl of soup.  This broccoli-potato soup with greens totally satisfied my craving.  It only takes 20 minutes from start to finish, and the cost is around $3.50 per serving.

Broccoli-Potato Soup w/greens

2  medium red potatoes, chopped

1  (14 oz.) can reduced sodium chicken broth

3  cups small broccoli florets

2  cups milk

3  Tbsp. all purpose flour

2  cups smoked Gouda cheese, shredded (8 oz.)

2  cups winter greens … like curly endive, chicory, romaine, escarole, or spinach.

Optional - additional Gouda cheese, shredded

1.)  In large saucepan combine potatoes and broth.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, covered, 8minutes.  Mash slightly.  Add broccoli and milk; bring just to simmering.

2.)  In medium bowl toss flour with cheese; gradually add to soup, stirring cheese until melted.  Season to taste with black pepper.  Divide among shallow serving bowls.  Top with greens and additional cheese.  SERVES 4.

Each Serving:  365 cal, 18 g. fat (11g sat. fat), 74 mg chol, 782 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 23 g protein.  Daily Values:  30% vitamin A, 125% vitamin C, 59% calcium, 9% iron.

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick

Have you checked out the energystar.gov website?  If you haven’t - click on the link and take the energy star pledge!  (It’s a national campaign challenging Americans to join with others and take small, individual steps that make a big difference in the fight against global warming).  That’s all green and good!  But as somebody who digs frugality - the best part is learning all sorts of new ways to save cold hard cash!

• The energystar.gov website has a huge section on products that will help you cut your energy costs.
• There’s also a common home problems with solutions section.
• It also has a home energy audit - you can do yourself.
• There’s even an energystar kids site where Horton (via Dr. Seuss) helps kids learn about saving energy.

And … for my fellow Iowans there is a terrific incentive program that is running through November 30th, 2008.  It’s called The Iowa Change a Light - Change the World Campaign.  Which encourages the use of compact fluorescent bulbs.  The program allows Iowans to receive an instant rebate of $2 per bulb, when you buy them from participating retailers.  You may purchase up to 12 CFL’s.  The size of the CFL may range from 11 watts (equivalent to a 30 watt incandescent bulb) to 26 watts (equivalent to a 100 watt incandescent bulb).  A variety of styles such as flood and globe are also eligible for the rebate.  Two dollars will be taken off of the price when the bulbs are purchased.  For verification purposes, you will be required to complete a quick form before  receiving the discount.  Remember though … the instant rebate is only through November 30th, 2008!

Frugal to buy - frugal to use … you can’t beat this deal!

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick

My finds this week include:

• 1.) Sign up to receive a free sticker by Shepard Fairey, the artist who designed the Obama “Hope” poster.  Click here to get Shepard’s Yes We Did - Victory sticker.  Don’t wait too long … they are going fast!
• 2.) Click here - to sign up to receive, a free $5.00 off coupon for a bag of Hills Science Diet Pet Food.
• 3.) Glad Food Storage Bag sample - click here to receive one.
• 4.) Pedigree Good Bites Snacks - click here to order one for your pet.
• 5.) A buy one entree/get one free coupon for TGI Fridays - click here for a link to the coupon.
• 6.) Buy any two Post-it Products, and get $5.00 in McDonald’s gift certificates.  Click here for rebate form.

I also wanted to let you know about the 2nd Carnival of Financial Resources - which can be viewed at The Financial Wellness Project.  There are a lot of interesting posts, from a variety of personal finance bloggers!

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick

This time of year when we start to close up our homes, is when I really like to light candles.  Especially scented candles - they can make you feel so cozy on a cold winter night.  I was delighted when I came across a blog post involving Yankee Candles, Coupons, and a Free Giveaway.  Check it out …

Suzanne Wells, also known as the ebay selling coach, is having a terrific giveaway …

This giveaway is for 3 Yankee Candle Coupons for:

• Large 22 oz Jar Candle - BOGO ($24.99 value)
• Medium 14.5 oz Jar Candle - BOGO ($21.99 value)
• Small 3.7 oz Jar Candle - BOGO ($9.99 value)

They can be used at Yankee Candle Company Stores (excludes outlets, Pier 1 Imports, and military exchanges.) Expires 11/30/08.

Just leave a comment, and name your favorite Yankee Candle scent on her blog post.  Click here by November 10th to enter. A winner will be chosen at random on November 11th.

She also reveals how to get Yankee Candle coupons sent via the mail directly to you.  All you have to do is sign up for their mailing list.  Click here if your interested!

I don’t know about you …

But BOGO free coupons sure do make these delicious smelling candles much more affordable for me!

Check out Suzanne’s blog for selling on Ebay tips, too!

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick

I checked Mercede’s web post this morning - her readers are still commenting that they took part in this hot deal.  Basically it is two bras and a panty, from Victoria’s Secret, shipped for $15.99.  That’s right … shipped for 15.99! I’m guessing this won’t last for long - so please click on this link to Common Sense with Money to get the juicy details!  Thanks Mercedes …

And did you know, that Starbucks is giving away a free tall cup of roast coffee, to people that tell them they voted.  Check out their website for more information - but it looks easy enough!

Here’s a deal from Walmart to get a free, travel size sample, of a yet unnamed, Salon Secret shampoo.  It’s kind of cool - because it’s not the usual little foil packet size, but the larger travel size.  Click here to request yours!

I could certainly use some of this product right now.  (Craig is home from work, sick with a cold.  Let me tell you  … it’s not a pretty sight)!  I’m referring to Airborne Health the original zesty orange flavor.  Click here to sign up for a sample.  Hopefully you won’t have to use it this cold & flu season.  But you might as well get one just in case!

Last but not least - here are some free Shrek downloads for the kids.  The selection includes:  ornaments, gift tags, wall paper, and screensaver.  Click here for the link.

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick