Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Wonders of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid


TUB AND SHOWER CLEANER


Take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with white vinegar. Heat in the microwave. Fill the rest of the way with blue Dawn. Put lid on and shake to mix well. Spray on your tub and shower walls. Allow to sit for a few minutes and rinse away. It will totally melt all the gunk, slime, sludge and other stuff that builds up including a bathtub ring.
Click here for an awesome article . . . Original Blue Dawn, Not Just for Dishes Anymore from the blog One Good Thing by Jillie, where you will find a listing of lots more uses for Dawn that will save you money!



Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Simple's Cleansing Facial Wipes . . . a Klout perk!



I just received my newest Klout perk today!


Simple, sensitive skin experts, and UK’s #1 facial skincare rage, is now available in the US. Simple has no dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh irritants that can upset your skin. 

The product I really loved . . . the cleansing facial wipes!  Since we live in Florida and spend a lot of time outdoors, these cleansing wipes come in handy.  They leave the skin feeling clean and refreshed . . . love them!  I will be purchasing more when the free product is used up :)


Do you qualify to receive full size samples of Simple's Cleansing Facial Wipes and Replenishing Rich Moisturizer?  Click here to find out!



Influencer disclosure: 

I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.



Join me on Klout!












Thursday, March 15, 2012

Free body lotion from Burts Bees Gud



My newest Klout perk for being an influencer was this awesome "gudee box" of three full sized products from Burts Bees gud.  So far, it is one of my favorite perks :)))  

The body lotion is one of the best I have tried . . . the smell of  Floral Cherrynova is awesomely delicious and left my skin smooth and silky!

Get your free sample of body lotion
 while supplies last!

I love being a Klout influencer :)))

I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer.
 I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company.
 I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.








You have to smell it to believe it. Good thing we are still giving out samples! Share this post to tell all your friends about how they can get a FREE Body Lotion sample!

Samples available in the U.S. only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Ages 13+. Takes 4-6 weeks for delivery.

CLICK the link below to request a sample: http://www.facebook.com/Gud/app_173756732737396


Friday, January 20, 2012

Sweet Treats!



Gina's Italian Kitchen, my food blog, 
will be featuring sweet treats
 now until Valentine's Day!

Come by and check it out the
sweets for your sweetie :)




Thursday, January 12, 2012

Kitchen Stuff on Sale Now


Stock up on these following items
 while the stores have too much
 inventory left from the holidays!
It happens every year . . .

1. Fruit & Citrus: These items are usually heavily stocked, intended as holiday gifts.  If you can't use them right away, citrus can be juiced, pureed or even frozen (most fruits can be frozen).  Plan your menu around these items while they can be purchased for a fraction of their original price!
2. Baking Supplies:  Look for discounts on flour, sugar, baking soda (which can also be used for your cleaning needs) . . . Basic staples are stocked in large quantities for holiday baking.
3. Pie Crusts & Phyllo Dough:  Take advantage of discount prices . . . same as baking supplies!  Grocery stores buy these items in bulk for holiday baking. Stock up!  Don't forget you can freeze pies :)
4. Cookie Cutters & Icing Supplies:  You will find inexpensive cookie cutters and icing tips at discount prices, although the inventory could be picked over . . . you never know!
5. Yogurts:   We tend to make our resolutions to lose weight in January, so it is logical that yogurt and other assorted "healthy" items will be purchased in large quantities by the stores and sold at a discount.  Just stick a popsicle stick in the top of yogurt you anticipate will not be used by the expiration date and pop them in the freezer for some handy healthy treats.
6. Sponges & Cleaning Supplies: You can count on deals for pricier specialized items like hand brooms or single sponges that might otherwise be over your budget.
7. Cookie Mix-Ins: Just when you made your resolution to lose weight, you will be tempted by the deep discounts on items like wrapped caramels, chocolate chips, marshmallows, chocolate bars, candies, nuts, dried fruits, sprinkles and other assorted cookie items for the next several weeks.
8. Winter Alcohol Packs: Beer, wine, hard liquors and gift sets are sold at reduced prices this time of year . . . stock up for that Super Bowl party! 
9. Super Bowl Foods:  Time for the start of the big push for party items like soda, chips, crackers and cheeses.  
10. Festive Beverages & Mix-Ins: Be on the lookout for holiday items like gingerbread and peppermint teas, holiday coffee creamer and flavorings . . . big markdowns on these items this time of year!

Happy Frugal Shopping!



Friday, December 30, 2011

Traditional January Bargains and Deals




Happy New Year!
Let's go January Shopping!


One of the greatest ways to save money is to wait until after the holidays to make major purchases.   Retail sales drastically drop after the holiday season . . . why not help retailers move their merchandise, keep their cash flow going to make new purchases and help yourself to some major bargains at the same time?  


The following items are Traditional January Bargains and Deals . . .



Wrapping Paper and Christmas Cards . . . General Holiday Items
Why not purchase these items for next Christmas at a fraction of the price?  Retailers need to get rid of left over holiday merchandise . . . they really don't want to store it!



Linens and Bedding
Stock up on your bedding, linens, towels during the "White Sales" in January . . . major discounts mean big sales that retailers depend on after the holiday rush.



Big Appliances
Take advantage of stores moving older inventory not sold through the holidays by offering huge discounts at the beginning of January.

Carpet and Flooring
You get your greatest carpet and flooring deals before February 15, when they are at their lowest demand.  Prices typically pick up when buyers receive tax refunds and sales increase.

Furniture

Just like the appliance stores, furniture stores need to make room for new inventory in January.  You will typically save 10-50% on the "older" furniture.



Happy Shopping!



Wednesday, December 28, 2011

FREE Printable 2012 Calendars


Freebie alert!

Super cute feminine printable 2012 Calendar!

Check it out . . . click here





Thursday, December 15, 2011

Monday, November 14, 2011

FREE Japanese Home Cooking EBook


Get your FREE Japanese Home Cooking EBook!

Click here

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

FREE Sewing patterns ~ Projects for the Home


Sign up for the Sew Daily newsletter and get free
project ebooks!  This is just one ebook available :)

Click here 

Happy Sewing!







Saturday, October 15, 2011

Frugal Halloween Costume Ideas



The cost of a Halloween costume can be very pricey.

Why not get some frugal inspiration from the following list,
 get creative and come up with your own Halloween costume?


Do you really want to look like everyone else
 on Halloween night?  Be unique!


Cruise the thrift stores to get some ideas . . . think Halloween creativity as you look through all that stuff.  Click on the link for an insightful article about thrift stores and Halloween.



Have you ever used face paint?  It can be very inexpensive and easy to find at your local party store.  Some of the most awesome Halloween looks involved face paint and no elaborate costume!


How about Homemade Halloween Masks?  You can come up with an awesome mask with little supplies . . . equates to fabulous and frugal.  Click on the link to Woman's Day for some ideas.


Look around the house . . . revamped old clothes or recycled items (like garbage bags) can become a unique and interesting Halloween costume for a fraction of the cost of a purchased costume . . . or better yet . . . free.



Sunday, October 9, 2011

Check out my new daily paper ~ Crafting News by Gina



Readers of my blogs know how much
 I love crafting and DIY projects.

One of my other blogs, LaBelladiva,
 regularly features projects from Bloggerville.


That was not enough for me . . . 
I've started a new daily paper . . . 
check it out!





Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Keep Fresh Cut Flowers Fresher Longer



Whether they are from your garden or a fabulous romantic gift from your special love, you want them to stay as fresh as possible for the longest time.

Don't you hate it when they start wilting immediately?  

Fresh flowers are one of the luxuries that I love to indulge in.  A bouquet of fresh flowers is relatively inexpensive at the grocery store, but they usually don't last very long at all.  Being the frugal person that I am, I would buy them more often if I knew I could make them last longer than one day . . . seems like a waste of money for just one day!  

I was very happy to find the following article which includes instructions on how to make them last longer:


Click here for the informative tutorial w/video!


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Organize your hair accessories!


Do you waste money buying duplicate
hair accessories simply because they
are scattered all over the place?  

If you find yourself having a difficult time finding
a hair accessory when you need it, this simple
solution may be just what you need!

I'm so guilty!!

Using toilet paper or paper towel tubes is a great
solution.  Make them pretty and color coordinated
by using some modge podge and fabric or tissue
paper to decorate them . . . or paint them.

Do you have any tips on 
organizing hair accessories?



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Free quilt patterns


ATTENTION QUILTERS!

Free patterns!


Click here to download





Thursday, August 11, 2011

Free EBook from Mr. Food!



Mr. Food always has the best recipes
 and I often post his recipes
 on my food blog.

Click here to get his free EBook,
 No Bake Desserts.


Saturday, August 6, 2011

Free Jar Labels


Do you can or preserve your own preserves or vegetables from your garden?

If you do or know someone who does . . . check out Jenny's blog, A World of Crafts.  

Click here for a link to some awesome jar labels!  They are so cute . . . and are free!



Friday, August 5, 2011

Be on HGTV



This is the height of being frugal . . . allowing the cameras and crews of an HGTV show into your home and being rewarded with a new kitchen, room, a redecorating project . . . whatever . . . most of them are free!  OMG . . . I only wish I had the nerve!


The people at HGTV are seeking participants for new episodes that will soon go into production.  


Click here to check out the list of what they are looking for!


Actually . . . I'd love to run into Ahmed from Yard Crashers at Home Depot . . .



Sunday, July 31, 2011

Frugal Household Remedies


I love discovering new uses for stuff that is
already on hand, much less inexpensive or a 
quick fix for those pesky household problems.  

Here are a few . . . 


Use ketchup to remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware. Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel.

Does anyone have a natural remedy for cleaning stainless steel cookware?

Use oatmeal to scrub very dirty hands. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water . . . rinse well.

Use glycerin to remove dried wax drippings from candlesticks. Peel off as much wax as possible, then moisten a cotton ball with glycerin and rub until clean.




Scuffed Linoleum

Rub the spot with white toothpaste and a dry cloth or with an eraser. Or spray WD-40 on a towel and rub lightly, making sure to degrease the area afterward with liquid dishwashing soap and water.



Stuck Sliding Windows

A little silicone spray lubricant (sold at hardware stores) will grease the skids. Spray it onto a rag and wipe along the tracks.



Stained Tub

Combine equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste. Rub the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft cloth. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well with water.


Clogged drains 
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour 1 cup of white vinegar. Follow immediately with 2 cups of boiling water. It will fizz and bubble then "poof" your drain will become unclogged. Do this once a month to keep drains free and clear. 


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Top Mom Craft Blogs


If you a follower of one of my other blogs, LaBelladiva, you know that crafting and DIY projects are among my favorite things.  One of the main features of that blog is showcasing awesome projects I find through Bloggerville.

I was thrilled to find 50 Top Mom Craft Blogs featured on Babble.com . . . going through this list will be lots of fun!




Sunday, July 17, 2011

Garden Frugality ~ Recycling Old Hoses



Don't toss out those old garden hoses!

Exercise your frugal wisdom and recycle them.

Here are some ways to repurpose them:

My favorite way to recycle old garden hoses is to poke holes to make a soaker hose or a really cheap sprinkler-type system.  Those soaker hoses can be expensive!  Don't forget to plug the end of the hose.

Cut the hose to a desired length and attach to the faucet for filling buckets.

Cut 1 to 2 foot pieces . . . thread onto wire or rope and use to stablize young trees on stakes. The hose helps to prevent damage on the trunk/bark of the tree.

Poke holes in the hose and plug the end of the hose . . . use as misters on patios.  Misters can be very expensive!

Cut about a 5-inch length, slit it lengthwise, wrap it around the handle of a bucket, and tape it closed with duct tape.  Makes an awesome grip for the bucket!

Slit the hose lengthwise, cut to size, to protect saw blades.





Saturday, July 9, 2011

Gina's Home and Garden Bulletin





Get all of your home and garden news condensed on my new online newspaper format that covers the newest posts from across the internet on gardening, DIY, crafting, home decorating and more!

Click on the graphic to check it out.

Gina's Spicy Tidbits is my other online newspaper that is dedicated to food-related posts.


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Save money with freezer meals

With the grocery store taking a huge portion of our budget, learning how to get the most from available food dollars is becoming more important every day.  We take advantage of the buy one, get one free deals on a regular basis, occasionally use coupons, but have not tried bulk buying and cooking, then freezing.

Natalie from A Turtle's Life For Me recently posted an article on how she saves money by bulk cooking and freezing.  The article is full of money-saving tips!  Check it out . . . click here.

I'm impressed and amazed at the system she's come up with . . . we plan on trying out many of her techniques in an effort to save money on groceries.


Saturday, June 11, 2011

I'm hoppin'



It has been way too long . . . but I'm back to blog hopping!

If you are a new follower, leave me a comment and I will
follow you back :)





Free Hot Samples
The Blog Entourage



Have a wonderful weekend!