Extreme Couponing, Houston Frugal Living Blog
If you don’t have time or have not been to IKEA to pick up the secure it kits for the dressers involved in the recall. You can request one by mail HERE. You will need to let them know what kit you need (#1 or, #2) and the dimensions of the dresser you are anchoring.
Around our home, my girls know that you have to be 12 to get your ears pierced. For really no other reason then my Mom made me wait until I was 12 to get mine done, and I like to torture my kids that way! Plus, I figure at that age they can take care of them by themselves and it is one less thing I will have to do.
Last night was the night, she is not quite 12, but all the girls were together at the mall and it was really close to her birthday. I called her Dad to see if he objected in any way, fully expecting him to want me to wait so he could be there.
“Yeah, I don’t care, do whatever.” he says.
Not quite the response I was expecting, but then again I am not sure he gets the 12 year old girl ear piercing anticipation!
I gave her the option and she chicken out a few times, we walked around the mall for a while, got some food and were ready to leave exiting the opposite end of the mall when she finally changed her mind. I thanked her for the walking workout and we trekked back to the other end of the mall, 100 kids in tow to get it done!
As we sat there and they got her ready, I started crying. I am not sure why, it was a 100 different emotions from, “OMG I have a kid this old!” to “I remember how excited I was when I got mine done…..”
Oh yes! When I got mine done…..
As we waited, my girls recounted to the nice lady at Merle Norman the entire story of when I got my ears pierced. They told the story like I was not even there, telling her about how “a long time ago, when my Mom got hers done, they didn’t even have a place like this…”
OK, that is NOT entirely true. My Mom figured why waste the money, she would do it herself at the kitchen table. Just like she had gotten hers done!
My kids have no idea how good they have it, when I got mine done, my Mom didn’t take me to some fancy schmacy place, (I didn’t take my daughter to one, there were too many people in Clair’s so we went next door to Merle Norman who was the same price!) we sat at the kitchen table!
My Mom took a cold Sprite (which was a miracle, as were not allowed to have soda) a needle and thread and a potato. We numbed my ear with the Sprite, put the potato behind my ear and she stuck the needle through! The potato stopped the needle from going in to my neck, thank goodness, and she pulled the needle through with some pliers! Then, she pulled the string through the hole and tied the string in a loop. I had to keep the string clean and pull it back and forth for weeks to keep the hole from closing.
My sissy kids get a quick “pop” and it is done!
I guarantee I wasn’t smiling like that when mine were done 🙂 Isn’t she cute?! She also gets darling cubic zirconia ‘s and I got a string!
What a fun night we had, and what a good group of girls I have!
How old were you when you got your ears pierced and where did you get it done?
::Update::
This is from my Mom… I knew you would comment! 🙂
I was 17. And we used ice cubes to numb them before the needle was used to pierce the ear lobes with the potato. The potato was cut in half and the cut/flat side supported the ear lobe so the needle could go through the lobe better. And I think it was a can of frozen lemonade we used on your ears rather than Sprite…or maybe the Sprite was your reward when we were done. You’ve always been a brave girl. Love you, mom
This program offers a couple different ways to earn.
The Homescan Consumer Panel is a “mini-U.S.A.”, representing millions of Americans. By scanning the bar codes on your purchases and completing fun surveys, you can make your opinions count in the consumer marketplace. Nielsen will send you a scanner to scan your products and in turn you received valuable gift points that are redeemable for electronics, household items, jewelry, toys and lots more!
They may not have a spot available in your zip code now, but one could open up at anytime- check to see if you can get on their waiting list- this is a hugely popular panel to join. Good Luck!
There is no reason to cook tonight (unless you want to!) here are some places that have free treats today for Halloween!
Caribou Coffee – Come in and get a BOGO FREE drinks with this coupon.
Arby’s – Arby’s if you say “trick or meat.” you will get free bacon on anything from a burger to a milkshake!!
Chipotle – Chipotle between 6PM and close this evening where you can snag a $2 burrito, bowl, salad, or an order of tacos if you wear a costume inspired by the family farm. Think crops, farm tools, tractors, silos, or farm animals; be super creative and you may even win a prize in the Costume Contest.
Sonic – $.50 Corn Dogs all day!
Boston Market: Enjoy a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entree from October 28-31. Print this coupon to get this deal.
T.G.I. Friday’s: Kids in costume October 31 score a free kid’s meal on Halloween, with the purchase of an adult entree. Take the kids out for free before trick or treating!
Bullritos: Kids in costume eat free all day October 30, at Bullritos. One free kid’s Bull Bag ($3.99) per bowl, bullrito, or taco purchase ($6.29).
IHOP – From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m on October 31st kids 12 and under can enjoy a free “Scary Face Pancake” at IHOP.
Outback Steakhouse – On Facebook you can check out their Halloween deal “Mom and Dad — Your ghouls, goblins and ghosts eat free on Friday.” Fine print limits the offer to two kids meals.
Applebee’s.Participating locations let kids 12 and under dressed in Halloween getups can eat for free. Freebies are allowed only on Halloween itself, though two kids can eat for free with each paying adult.
Starbucks – You can get a “Franken Frappuccinos” and other grande Frappuccinos for $3 after 2 p.m. this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The Franken Frappuccino is green… How fun! It has a chocolate minty flavor.
Olive Garden – You can get a free kid’s entrees for Halloween when you purchase a adult meal.
** As always call ahead and make sure your location is participating!
The National Consumer Panel (formerly Nielsen Homescan) focuses on measuring consumer attitudes and behavior.
The panel is made up of people just like you, whose opinions help manufacturers and retailers make decisions on what products to develop or improve. You’ll earn gift points that are redeemable for name-brand merchandise, including electronics equipment, jewelry, household items, toys, and much more. You’ll also earn entries into their many exciting sweepstakes. But, above all, you’ll be making your opinions count!
If you decide you do not want to continue with the program at anytime, you can return the scanner at no charge! There are no obligations. You can work at your own pace and on your own schedule.
As a panel member, NCP will provide you with a hand-held scanner. Every time you or members of your household shop, you’ll use the scanner to scan the barcodes on all of your purchases. Then, once a week, you’ll send Homescan your purchase information. It’s as easy as that! Just click here to get started. *Some zip codes may not qualify.
***BUT…. the cool part is that if you sign up anyway and they turn you down, you get picked up for other offers! These are MUCH better in my opinion. I was sent cash in the mail to do a survey, and when I mailed that survey in ( it took me 15min to do) they sent me $30 CASH in the mail!
You can pick up a free subscription to Lego Club Magazine!
If you have a BOY or GIRL you can sign them up for 2 years of FREE Lego magazine! They even send the subscription based on your child’s age, so younger kids get a magazine with stuff that’s age appropriate and the bigger kids get something that focuses more on the sets built for them!
To sign your child up and receive your free LEGO Magazine go HERE.
If you want to track Santa via NORAD’s Santa Tracker, you can go HERE and watch him go around the world on Christmas Eve. My favorite is the cookie tracker, they keep track to how many cookies Santa has also eaten!
We also have a lot of fun with the Send a Free Personalized Call from Santa, Watch the Reindeer at the North Pole for Free, and Portable North Pole with Free Video from Santa too.
Zaycon has opened their ground beef event to many parts of the country. To see if your area is included, go HERE login and click on “events”.
Are you ready for some Fresh 93/7 Ground Beef? Cause it’s coming to TX!
Fresh 93/7 Ground Beef:
** If you would like to split a case with someone. please leave a comment by clicking on the comment button. I know many people who want to split a case. Leave your first name, area you live in and how much you want.
In Spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day and 20 million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities! We now celebrate Earth Day on April 22 every year. It’s always fun to do crafts with kids but it’s also nice to give a positive lesson to go along with it.
Here are some ideas to make Earth Day fun with some cheap/freebies to do with the kids!
1. Take a pledge with paint and scissors:
This is a super cute idea that helps put the why/what together for the first grade age. I really like the hand paint hand print idea, anything that personalizes it turns a fun craft into a treasured keepsake.
QUICK if you hurry, you can print a $1/4 Libby’s Veggies coupons on Coupons.com! This will go FAST, so make sure that you get yours!
There is also a $1/4 Libby’s Veggies coupons as well!
You will need to use zip code 77477. I am not sure if these are still on Rollback or not. $.50 for a can of veggies is still a sweet deal!
Libby’s Vegetable’s $.75 each
$1/4 Libby’s Veggies coupon (77477)
Total: $.50 each!Libby’s Fruit: $1.38
$1/4 Libby’s Fruit Coupon (77477)
Total: $1.13
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..