Blogorama Bonanza Sign Ups are OPEN!
Shelbysbarn Monday, November 28, 2011 1 comments
Bloggers and Sponsors Wanted for Hopping for your Honey Giveaway Blog Hop
Couponing and Reviewing in Texas, If Only Life Could Be That Simple , Going Crazy, Wanna Go?, and Whirlwind of Surprises will host their first ever “Hopping for your Honey” giveaway blog hop! They are looking for sponsors and bloggers to participate. They are also looking for any bloggers who would like to be co-hosts.
- increase traffic and followers to your blog, Facebook, Twitter and any other social media site
- increase your exposure
- meet other bloggers
- HAVE FUN and win a cash prize!
- increase exposure of your product
- increase traffic to your site and other social media sites
Shelbysbarn Sunday, November 27, 2011 1 comments
Blog Giveaways ~ My new obsession
My friend, Megan, introduced me to blog giveaways recently and I'm officially hooked. I haven't won anything yet because I just started them and most of the submission deadlines haven't passed. But I'm finding all sorts of great things that bloggers are giving away for free! All you have to do is follow a checklist they supply with things such as: follow their blog, like their page on facebook, follow them on twitter, tweet their contest on twitter...and other such things. I'm going on legit sites only that I've found recommended. I'm sure there are some out there that aren't very trust worthy, so just have to be careful.
Now Megan's site is here:
http://www.naturallythrifty.com/
And the post that introduced me to my first giveway is:
http://www.naturallythrifty.com/?p=3168
This is a Christmas Treasure Train, that includes a blog giveaway hop and treasure hunt. You can join all 24 of the giveaways or do as I've done and just join the ones you are interested in. Here are a few I've submitted to so far:
The Mama Zone
Prize: My Memories Suite (digital scrapbook software)
http://www.themamazone.com/2011/11/welcome-to-christmas-treasure-train.html
Laughter Does the Heart Good
Prize: Southern Living At Home Hemingway Hurricane
http://godcreatedlaughter.blogspot.com/2011/11/welcome-to-christmas-treasure-train.html
Susan Heim on Parenting
Prize: Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack
http://susanheim.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-treasure-train-blog-hop-and.html
About A Mom
Prize: ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover
http://www.aboutamom.com/2011/11/recon-60-programmable-rover-giveaway.html
At The Maple Table
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
http://www.atthemapletable.com/2011/11/christmas-treasure-trainblog-hop.html
Couponing Texas
Prize: Pink Monogram Gift
http://couponingreviewingintexas.com/2011/%2011/pink-monogram-review-and-giveaway.html
Prize: Stampin' Up Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps
http://couponingreviewingintexas.com/2011/%2011/stampin-up-sweet-pressed-cookie-stamps-review-and-giveaway.html
A Gal Needs...
Prize: Christmas Classic Gourmet Gift Basket
http://helena-agalneedsatleast2blogs.blogspot.com/2011/11/win-gourmet-gift-baskets-christmas.html
I will add more to this post as I enter more! Finding some great stuff, even if I only win one thing that would be great! Of course, one can always hope for more ;)
Shelbysbarn Saturday, November 26, 2011 2 comments
What I'm Thankful For ~ Thanksgiving 2011
This year for Thanksgiving
So much I'm thankful for.
Sometimes its hard to see past
The rough times we endure.
But this year I have come
To appreciate the things
That may seem so small
But happiness they bring.
I'm thankful for my family
Without whom I'd be lost;
For the times they've stood beside me
When grey hairs it did them cost.
I'm thankful for a husband
Who loves me more than I can say.
And is there for me always
In each and every way.
I'm thankful for our son
And all the joy he brings.
Along with all the silly things
He says and funny songs he sings.
I'm thankful for the blessings
That God has given us
Even when we don't deserve it
He sees beyond our fuss.
I'm thankful for so many things
I don't know where to start
But if you're on my friends list
Know I'm thankful for your part!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Shelbysbarn Thursday, November 24, 2011 4 comments
Couponing & Comparison Shopping - Realistic or Absurd?
For us it has become a necessity. Luckily I my inner dweeb enjoys the challenge of figuring out which store has the best deals every 2 weeks on grocery day and finding coupons around the internet and in store ads that I can use to help lower the cost even more.
Two weeks ago began my official start of couponing and comparison shopping. I was desperate to save money somewhere and have seen and heard about all these people that save TONS of money with extreme couponing. While I know I don't have the time or the resources to go the extreme route I figured surely I could at least save a little! The first thing I did was call all the grocery stores in the area asking several questions: Did they take manufacturer coupons (all did), if they price matched (only Walmart does that), if they double coupons (no one does that anymore I guess), and if they had a store discount card (only Smith's and Alco have it).
Next I compared normal every day prices between all the stores in the area. Walmart has gone up on everything lately and isn't the cheapest anymore on many things, at least in this area. But that varies from item to item and week to week. So now what I've started doing is to gather up the store newspaper ads every other week on pay day and go through them comparing prices.
I make a lit of things we HAVE to have first...toilet paper, milk, etc. Then I go through all the store ads and find if any of them are on sale and where I can get them cheapest. Then I look at other things on sale and write down what is cheapest and where so I know where to buy all the other food to stock us up as much as possible for the next two weeks.
After that I start browsing internet coupon sites. A few of my favorites:
- http://forthemommas.com/
- http://www.shopathome.com/
- http://www.wantacode.com/grocery
- http://www.coupons.com/
- https://savingstar.com/coupons