Boston, Here I Come

Until October 31st, Boston Market has a special where up to 2 kids eat free with one adult purchase of $6 or more.

Environmentally Friendly Cleaning (Cheaper To)

I have been amazed at how many cleaning supplies I have sitting underneath my kitchen sink and in my laundary room. Since we now have two little ones, I have been thinking about making the transition to greener products. The only thing is they can be very expensive so I have been reading a lot online about making your own cleaning products. As I was doing research, I found an old article on CNN about how commercial cleaners killed 99.9% of germs while all natural cleaners (vinegar and baking soda) only killed about 90% or less. What they didn't mention is if they used cleaners that combined several ingredients that are known to disinfect if they killed a higher percent of germs. Undiluted distilled white vinegar is known to kill 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of viruses. I've included several suggestions that I found online to make your own natural cleaning products.

To make an all natural disinfectant spray:

Combine 2 Tablesoons borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 2 cups hot water and mix until the borax dissolves. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil for a pleasant scent (this oil has disinfectant properties also).

or

Combine equal parts vinegar and water and add essential oils (such as mint, birch, or tea tree).

To make window cleaner:

Mix 2-3 Tablespoons vinegar per quart of water. (Use newspaper to dry for a streak free shine.)

To clean the toilet:

Sprinkle baking soda in the toilet, let sit, then scrub

or

Spray vinegar in the toilet, let sit, sprinkle on baking soda, and scrub

Polishing wood:

Mix 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar, and 20-30 drops lemon essential oil (or fresh lemon juice) and rub onto wood with a cloth

or

Mix together 2 parts olive oil and 1 part fresh lemon juice and rub onto wood with a cloth

Other interesting tips I found:
Use olive oil to polish shoes
Put used sponges in the dishwasher to clean them
To get rid of water rings on wood surfaces rub on mayo or toothpaste with a damp cloth and then buff the wood
You can also decrease the amount of liquid detergent you use by adding baking soda to your laundary (it softens your water making your detergent work more effectively)

Lesson Learned

We've lived in our current home for 4 years and for that entire time we've had our car and homeowner's insurance policies with the same company. We've been trying to cut the fat from our family budget and I thought that it would pay to check out other company's prices. It turns out we could have been saving over $800 a year just on our homeowner's insurance alone. Why didn't I do this before? There are a lot of online price comparison websites. I used Netquote just to check out our homeowner's insurance. I filed out the online form and they gave me 3 companies who would contact me with quotes. Within a half hour I had received a call from Metlife with a quote and an estimate through email from Allstate. I'm still waiting an hour later to hear from Erie. It saved me from thumbing through the phone book and calling individual agents.

Beans for a Snack

My daughter this evening asked my husband for beans. She was referring to M & Ms. She thought they were beans. When my husband told her they were M & Ms. She looked at him and said Emmy. I guess I shouldn't call her my little M & M (EM is her nickname) any more since I seem to be confusing her.

Red Box Movies

Those Redbox kiosks seem to be popping up everywhere I shop. Wegman's, Walmart, Giant... This is probably a good thing since our closest Blockbuster is closing at the start of next year. If your unfamiliar with them, check out the Redbox site. The kiosks are easy to use (this from someone who is technologically and electronically challenged). All rentals cost only $1.00. Online at Inside Redbox you can find codes for free video rentals. Keep in mind that if the movie is not returned by midnight of the day after you rented the video then you will be charged for an extra day.

Free Cesar Dog Food Every Saturday

You can obtain a free Cesar Bistro Entree every Saturday from 9am-midnight by visiting their website. Be one of the first 1,500 to visit their site on Saturday to get your freebie. The limit is two per person and 1 per week while supplies last. This promotion will continue until next Saturday (10/10/09).

Free ThinkPad Journal

Lenovo is giving away a free ThinkPad Journal. It has a hard cover measuring 10.5" X 8.5" and it contains 50 lined pages. This would be perfect for a college student. It will arrive on your doorstep within 3-4 weeks.

Amazing Deals at Amazon

I got a tip from a friend that the new Snow White Blu-Ray DVD (includes 3 discs) at Amazon was only $14.99 if you pre-order it using the promotional code snowhite. The list price is around $40. It is being released on October 6th. If your order is over $25 you may also qualify for FREE Super Saver Shipping.

I also got a one year subscription to Disney's Family Fun Magazine for $9.95 (the newstand price is $39.50). In October if you purchase select magazines at Amazon, you will get a $5-$15 promotional code good for your next online purchase. My subscription scored me a $5 coupon code (which I will get in about 2 weeks). It was like getting the subscription for only $4.95.

Burts Bees Freebie

If you or someone you know has acne, Burt's Bees is giving away free samples of their new Natural Acne Solutions line.

Free Starbucks Coffee

From Oct. 2-5 Starbucks is conducting the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Taste Challenge. You can compare Starbucks Columbia VIA with Pike Place Roast and for participating, you will receive a coupon for a free Tall brewed coffee good on your next visit.

Watching TV Online

If you forget to set your dvr and don't want to wait until they start showing reruns, you now have another option. I was shocked recently when I saw how many online tv websites had sprouted up. The one I am most familiar with is Hulu but there are others such as Fancast and Spreety. They do have the latest episodes of your favorite shows and also old episodes of shows that are no longer airing.

I'm No Julia

I read the book Julie and Julia about two months ago. I liked Julie Powell's sarcasm and sass. The biography of Julia Child was interwoven with the story. I was surprised at the outspokenness of Julia Child and her humor. It made me more curious about her life. I know she didn't enter the world of French cooking until her 30's and that she seemed to have a zest for life. I reserved her biography at the local library since the book was checked out. It seems I am not the only one who has a newfound interest in the life she led.

When it comes to cooking, Julia Child I am not. While reading Julie Powell's book, I thought, "I could do this". I had grandiose visions of whipping up some of the simpler French dishes, just to say that I did. Yeah, right. That lasted for about a week after I finished the book and then the desire to do so vanished without me attempting even one recipe. I once heard or read someone say that you are not a true cook if you need a recipe. I guess I'm not a true cook then.

There are a lot of good recipe sites out there. Here are some of my favorites:

Recipe Sites (Quick, Easy, & Cheap)
Kraft
$5 Dinners
Betty Crocker
A Year of Slow Cooking
I can't wait to try the apple butter recipe. Stephanie O'Dea who writes this blog is also coming out with a cookbook.
Top Secret Copycat Recipes


Healthy Eating Recipe Sites
Weight Watchers
Cooking Light
Taste of Home
They have a Healthy Cooking Magazine.
Southern Living
They have a "Healthy and Light" page. I have their Southern Living Light and Easy Comfort Food cookbook which I love.