Shine Stopper

Certain things are supposed to sparkle and shine, like a diamond ring or a new car. Excess oil on your face shouldn't. Stop shine in its tracks this summer (and all year long) with oil-absorbing sheets. These thin sheets effortlessly suck up the access oil on your face with a simple pat and leave your make-up undisturbed. I love Clean & Clean Oil Absorbing Sheets that you can find at grocery and drugstores for around $4.

Other brands also make them, such as Mary Kay and Sephora. They're compact enough to throw in your bag and they work wonders!

Busted!

Here's a nifty (not to mention easy) trick to bust rust in it's tracks on iron furniture. I saw this in Real Simple and gave it a try. Mix up some lemonade and cover the rust stain with it. Give it a little scrub (preferably with a stiff brush) and then rinse with water. Repeat again if needed. The rust spot should start to fade away. A little scary that the lemonade has enough acid to eat away at rust... just think about what it's doing to your belly! I'd like to try it with the individual lemonade packets to see if it works just as well, as opposed to making a whole pitcher.

Reusable Napkins

How cute are these?! I've seen them advertised in a couple of places, so I decided to look into them. These napkins come in a roll and you tear the off as needed (like a paper towel). Instead of tossing them in the trash, toss them in the washer. They are machine washable, so they can be used again and again. Visit www.buymydrap.com to view your options of cocktail, luncheon, and dinner napkins, as well as place mats. The place mats make the most sense. If you have a messy dinner guest and a stain won't come out of the place mat, no big deal. Just tear off a new one!

These printed napkins cost $28 for a roll of 20.

The place mats are a bit more expensive, $42 for 12.

Extending the Life of Your Bathing Suit

Picture this: You go to great lengths to find the perfect bathing suit and in no time it's starting to wear out. Why not extend the life of your suit by following these steps (compliments of Real Simple):

- Alternate suits. If you wear it one day, give it a rest the next.

- Rinse it in cold water after each use.

- Wash it (on the gentle cycle with a mild detergent) after every 5 to 10 wears. Use a lingerie bag for added protection.

- Allow your suit to air dry away from direct sunlight.

Chill Out

Thinking about popping the cork out of a bottle of wine, but know that you don't have the time to let it chill? Try this quick tip (compliments of Martha Stewart): Wet and wring out a linen dish towel and wrap it around your bottle. Keep it wrapped and place it in the fridge for about half an hour. If you're really in a rush, wrap the bottle and stick it in the freezer for about 15 minutes to get the same results. Cheers!

$2 Tanks

Head to your local Old Navy this weekend to score tanks for $2! Starting tomorrow at 9 am through Sunday at 9 pm, you can get tanks starting at just 2 bucks. There is a limit of 10 per customer and this is an in-store only offer.

Zip it Up!

Move over plain old Ziploc baggies! Now you can stash snacks, sandwiches, cosmetics, loose change... whatever your heart desires... in these chic releasable bags. As advertised in Better Homes and Gardens, the uses for the bags are endless. Since they come in 2 different sizes (gallon and quart), they allow for countless storage solutions. Unfortunately, they're not exactly cheap ($7.49 to $8.49 for 12). The upside is that each box has 3 different patterns in that color scheme (4 bags of each patterns). Check out http://www.tilibags.com/ for more details.

Don't Get Snagged...

Don't you hate it when you need a nail file, but don't seem to have one handy? Tweezerman has you covered! These adorable little files come in a box of 12 ($4), so you can stash them in your desk drawer, purse, or car. They're so cute that you might look for an excuse to file away! Look for them at drug stores or places like Sephora.

Towel Clips

Summer has officially arrived, which brings with it visits to the pool and beach. Invest in a pair of these cute and practical towel clips and your towel will stay put on your chair!


You can find them at places like Bed, Bath, & Beyond and Target for somewhere around $6.

Summer Savings

Summer is kicking off by saving some $ this week at Kroger. Here are just a few deals to take advantage of:

- Goldfish are on sale 5 for $5, meaning you'll save $1.37 a piece!

- Hillshire Farms lunch meats are on sale 10 for $10, saving you $1.99 a piece!! The packs aren't huge, so feel free to mix and match.

- Sargento cheese slices are on sale 2 for $5, and there was a $.50 off coupon in the paper (either from this week or last), which doubles to $1 off any two. That makes each package only $2 each.

- Men's Schick Hydro Razor is on sale for $6.28 (saving you $1.57). Pair that savings with a $4 off coupon (from Sunday's paper- 6/19) and you'll only pay $2.28.

Diaper Cake

This Diaper Cake (a "cake" made out of diapers) is sure to be a hit... especially for the mom-to-be. I recommend having an extra set of hands when assembling to make this project a piece of cake (no pun intended)!

You'll need:

- diapers (the newborn ones are very tiny and you'll need LOTS to make multiple layers)

- toilet paper (also a gift that keeps on giving)- 7 rolls

- ribbon (2 different patterns/widths)

- thick foam board

- straight pins with round, plastic heads

Directions:

1. Put the foam board on a hard surface (like a table) and place 4 rolls of toilet paper in the center.

2. Start by rolling up one diaper at time. You might want to carefully pin the first few closed to help the diapers all stay together as you work your way around the outside of the toilet paper core. This is where the extra set of hands comes in handy! If you don't have any help, I'd suggest placing a piece of ribbon around the toilet paper rolls that you think will also accommodate a ring of rolled diapers. Tie it loosely (snug at first), and then adjust it as you expand. When you have placed diapers all the way around the base, secure the ribbon with a few straight pins.

3. Place another 2 rolls of toilet paper on top of the center of the first tier. Repeat secure with a different ribbon and pins.

4. On the 3rd tier, place 1 roll of toilet paper on top of the last tier and continue to roll up diapers and secure with pins. I used small newborn diapers on this level, and then added some extra diapers on the top to cover the toilet paper.

5. Transport carefully! I did not feel the need to secure the base to the foam board. It was heavy enough to stay in place. If you feel as though the cake is too heavy for the foam board, double up with another layer or board. "Serving" the diaper cake on a cake stand would have been cute, but it was too big for the stands I had. I used about 65 diapers on the entire cake.

S'mores are Back!

Just like last year, Bass Pro Shop is hosting their "Family Summer Camp" beginning now through July 10th. They'll offer free workshops, different free crafts every week, and best of all... free s'mores! Visit your local Bass Pro on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4 to 6 pm) or Saturdays and Sundays (2 to 5 pm) to get in on the action.

Cute (and Cheap!) Father's Day Crafts

Michaels is holding "make-it take-it events" this week where kids can make some adorable crafts for Father's Day. Most are completely FREE (while supplies last).

Tuesday (6/14) 6 to 8 pm: Decorate a mug (with the purchase of a mug).

Thursday (6/16) 6 to 8 pm: Make a wallet out of Duck Tape.

Friday (6/17) 6 to 8 pm: Make a Father's Day card.

Saturday (6/18) 10 am to noon: Decorate a key chain.

Fresh and Clean Savings...

I can't let the opportunity pass to not share with you some savings to score at Kroger...

- Bic Disposable Razors (4 count) for men are on sale for $3.99. Pair it with a coupon from Sunday's paper for $3.00 off and you pay $.99. There was a coupon from a few weeks ago for women's razors that was also for $3.00 off, making them $.99 as well.

- Quilted Northern Toilet Paper (12 double rolls) are on sale for $5.99. Download a $2 e-coupon to your Kroger card and you'll only pay $3.99.

- All Detergent (32 loads) is on sale for $2.99. Pair that sale with a coupon for $1 off from Sunday's paper and you'll pay $1.99.

Sedentary Danger

It might be easy to lounge around during the dog-days of summer, but a recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that "two or more straight hours of sedentary TV time can double your risk for heart disease". So the next time you're catching up on some must-see TV, sneak in some stretches, sit-ups, or just get up and move during the commercials. Your heart will thank you.

The Ten Commandments

I realized the other day that we have been able to save some serious cash this month on groceries simply by planning ahead and using coupons. I figure that we've saved over $200 on things we use everyday. I can't tell you all items we've paid less than a dollar for or have gotten totally FREE. Below is a picture of some of those items (and that's not all!).
Here are a few tips that I'd like to pass along to you. I didn't grow up in a house that used coupons. I didn't understand what a "10 for 10" deal was until I met my husband. (I really thought you had to buy 10 of 1 item to get a deal. I wondered how so many people could use 10 loaves of bread in a week.) So I've taught myself how to make my dollars go even further. I'm sure that not all of these tips are new to you, but for what it's worth, here they are... The Ten Commandments of Savings:

1. Don't be a brand snob. Colgate might not be my first choice, but for free, I'll learn to like it! Which leads me to tip #2...

2. Don't pay for toothpaste (or at least not very much). Toothpaste has a remarkable shelf life, so don't be afraid to stock up. You'll see several in the picture that didn't cost a dime.

3. Check out weekly ads (either from inserts in the Sunday paper or view them on-line) and maximize savings by combining coupons with sale prices.

4. Make a list! Kroger's website allows you to view the weekly ad for your area and select items to be added to a digital list. You can also add items not shown in the ad and print it off.

5. Speaking of making a list... when you make your list, group items you need based on where they are in the store so that you're not running all over the place.

6. Visit stores that double coupons and offer you an additional discount for using your own reusable bags. Target lets you combine a Target coupon and a manufacturer coupon, which can be very helpful. Senior Citizens discounts can be helpful, too.

7. Organize your coupons you think you'll need before you go. I like to keep mine in the order items are on my list.

8. Watch your checkout carefully. If something doesn't ring up as you thought, speak up. Be particularly diligent about watching the coupons scan correctly.

9. Don't shop when you don't have a lot of time. If you feel rushed, it's easy to carelessly make a mistake in calculations or walk away from a nice deal. Also, don't shop when you (or the other members of your party) are hungry or tired. Someone has learned this the hard way......

10. Be on the lookout for deals that you didn't expect. Give the clearance sections a good once over. I remembered seeing Dramamine in the clearance section at Target and later in the week I saw a coupon for $1.50 off. I went back to get a pack for a mere 38 cents.

O'Banks

Here's letting you know about a little hidden gem... Nestled in the Hanover Industrial Park (near the Hanover Airport) is O'Banks. Don't be fooled by the area. You might expect to find a law office there over a restaurant, but as a plus there is plenty of parking. The service is friendly, the food is delicious and reasonably priced. It seems as though they are almost finished with a remodel, adding extra seating. They have a nice patio dinning area as well.

The laid back atmosphere includes live music on most weekends. If that's not your style, then drop in during the week for some unbeatable specials, such as $4 burgers on Monday nights. They offer a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 2.

You can find additional information and a menu at www.obanks.org.

(Fun Fact- They are running a coupon that prints on the back of Martin's (VA Center) receipts that will save you an extra $2 off a $15 total purchase.)

A Little Bit Nuts... Or A Lot...

Don't you hate when you get a snack mix and end up not eating half of it because you ate around all the cashews? Mymixednuts.com allows you to pick and choose from 70 different ingredients to customize your very own trail mix. You can select up to 14 different items (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, etc...) that equal 30 ounces. If you're a big chocolate fan, you can go heavy on the chocolate and skimp on the other ingredients, just as long as you have 30 ounces total. The 30 ounces come in 20 convenient 1.5 oz bags. You get to pick your own name for your creation as well. Prices vary depending on the ingredients you select for your mix (as well as the quantity used). It looks like it would run you in the neighborhood of $25 for 20 servings. Shipping costs also vary depending on the method used, and they recommend steering clear of items that might melt during the summer months.

Cutting Boards

I love these cutting boards! Casabella makes a set of 4 silicone boards that are easily identifiable by their color-coded ring and picture (one for beef, poultry, seafood, and veggies). This way there's no second guessing what you chopped last on the board. You can find them at places like Bed, Bath, & Beyond ($14.99- and don't forget a 20% off coupon!).