Ebates Purchase: Percentage back plus additional $5.00 Promotional Bonus!

I like using Ebates for items I had already planned to buy on the internet anyway. Just last week I bought a cool folding footrest for traveling on the plane this summer. I went through Ebates and got it from Magellan's. I received 5% cash back and $5.00 for being an Ebates promotional purchase (Ebates gives you deadlines for some promotions to make a "qualifying purchase." This was for "first purchase;" however, more like my third! ) :-)

P.S. I have earned $16.94 thus far on Ebates since joining in March.

Sorry for lack of post today: Sister may be having the baby!

That is right friends! My sister May be having the baby as I type. I am waiting for the confirmation call from my mother as soon as they confirm it isn't false labor!

I'll keep you all "posted!" (psst...I will let you know that gifts I give my sis and the baby, as well as, any hospital costs that are incurred.) :-)

Pray for her everyone...speedy, healthy delivery for mom and baby!

Thrifty Thursday Finds: Found 2 Great Sites that use/make their own Natural Cleaning Products!

Now, I realize many folks may do this, but I will be honest, this is something I have not tried myself. I now am convinced to do so, thanks to these two fine bloggers that make it exciting and something you really want to try!

These bloggers use Lemon Juice, Vinegar and other "natural" cleaning products (self-created)! I love Do-It-Yourself ideas, and am definitely going to give this a go. I like how these bloggers explain their reasoning for using natural items for cleaning...

Without further delay, here are the natural cleaning posts:
(The link on the blog title is their homepage):

Budget Hippies: "Cleaning My Kitchen with Food"

BeCentsAble: "Works for Me Wednesday: Cleaning Your Whole House Naturally and Frugally"

Enjoy! Happy Thrifty Thursday!

Got another natural cleaning supply idea? Drop it in the comment jar! :-)

Wordless Wednesday: Good Morning! Nice Hair!

What is going on here?

Okay...I get it...Mom is taking my picture! Cool!
Now, is this really necessary?

I thought he was sooo cute with his hair all over the place yesterday morning. I couldn't resist! He is a great little sport!

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Thrifty Note: Notice the table, chair, and potato/onion bin? I got all of them at an Antique Store and I LOVE them! 1950s Table/Chairs and the chairs were newly upholstered....beautiful. The table is all original. I got the table, 4 chairs with two leafs for $350! I find that to be a steal because it is beautiful! The Potato/Onion bin came from the same store...my mom gave it to me for a birthday gift one year because I really wanted one and not a new one. New will cost you anywhere from $50-$70+! My Mom gave $30! I love it! (psst...this is also considered GREEN! You are recycling furniture instead of buying new! Hey, you also are unique in your decorating! Good luck to anyone who tries to copy you!) :-)

I'm Listed on 5 Minutes for Mom! Yay!

I just wanted to share that I am listed on 5minutesformom.com. I am so excited! I love that site. They have a large community and I am so appreciative to be a part of it! Thank you 5 Minutes for Mom!

Here is my interview if you would like to visit:

Tuesday Toot: Inexpensive Shoes; Bubbles; and Vet Visit Done!

My Tuesday Toot this week is actually Tuesday Toot Plus Two More!

The first and second "toot" is for our trip to Rose's (Discount Department Store...only a few are still around...like a Big Lots kinda). The picture below is of my son and my $6.00 (each) pairs of shoes. Both cute and comfy...both cuter on the feet than pictured! My shoes are the "croc" style material...just that plastic material that is soft and very lightweight. They feel good. I do not recommend the "croc" style shoes to pregnant women. I learned the hard way when I was pregnant...your feet will swell to the size of those things. Wear leather or a fabric (breathable) shoe.

Also at Rose's we bought our son a huge container of Bubbles(picture below)! $2.00 (I know, you can make your own...but it was a better deal than walking out with a $10.00 Art Set he wanted! :-) Art Sets in our house are unnecessary as our entire hobby room is loaded with Art Supplies...he doesn't need them, and we won't buy them! He can use anything we have (almost...he has tons of his own as well).
Lastly, not a "Thrifty Bargain" but very necessary! Our pet Phoebe (pictured below) had to go for her yearly wellness check today along with every shot you could think of. Poor thing...she is perfectly fine, passed all her tests (she must have studied...hee hee), and didn't squirm or give the doctor or nurse a hard time! Way to go Phoebe! She got a treat once we got her back home. Good girl! Also, don't she look like she had shots!? Poor thing! The Toot? Glad to be done with the visit for the year and she is a healthy little thing.

Got a Toot? Share it here by dropping a comment in the comment jar and visiting Mommy Community using the link included below!

Make use of the After Easter Sales!

While surfing for After Easter Sales...I ran across the following site that has wonderful ideas and uses for items you find at After Easter Sales. They have ways you can use Easter Baskets, grasses, and much more. Use for other holidays and general uses. Now you can make purchases for more than next year's Easter! Be Thrifty by not buying more than you need or can use.

Check out Don't Crack Your Nest Egg!

Also, if you are Orthodox...you haven't celebrated Easter yet as it falls at the end of April this year. You can get some great deals on egg dyes, etc... and stock up now before April. (My husband is Christian Orthodox...so, some years we celebrate Easter twice! This year is one of those years.)

Bath and Body Works: $6 Wallflowers, Now through Easter!

Hurry everyone! If you love Bath and Body Works and their Wallflowers...they are on sale now til Easter Sunday for $6.00! You will save MORE than that: $6.50! I love those things. My all time favorite is Brown Sugar & Fig! I put them in an hour before guests arrive and bingo...my house smells great! (I know, too many exclamation points! There it goes again!)

Have a wonderful GOOD FRIDAY! :-)

P.S. Also right now...if you spend over $65...Free Shipping! Time to stock up and save!

Reduce your Hospital Bill for Childbirth!

Hi all!

Here is a list of some advice I gave to my sister whom is due any day!!!! She asked me for advice on how to save some money on her childbirth hospital bill, and what she needs and doesn't! I hope this big sis gave some good advice and would like for you all (my visitors...regular or not) to leave more ideas or experiences in the comment section. I am going to share any ideas you give me with my sister with hope I can give this information soon as she is ready to go any minute! :-) Yay! I will be an Aunt! I hope it is an Easter Baby!

Okay...here is a fast list of the advice I gave her (maybe it is useful for you as well):

1. *What I got AT the hospital and should NOT have; Nivea Cream (nothing special....charged me $17.00 for it...few dollars in the store! It was for my son's little cracked heals...wasn't a big deal...they just love to offer things when you ask questions...but they fail to tell you how much or that you are charged for it!)
2. *Advil (they gave me these like a couple times each day and two at a time and charged me $5.00 PER PILL...you know a whole jar doesn't cost that hardly)
3. *I did NOT buy this at the hospital because someone warned me to bring my own: Dermaplast (I didn't need this due to a c-section....this is VERY necessary if you are giving birth the normal way as you are going to have stitches will itch! They will charge you like $20 for a small can of it, and it cost me $3.00 at walmart, same stuff!)
4. *If you plan to use a BreastPump and have one, Bring It! They kept insisting and brought me one even when I told them I had one. I got charged for the rental of the pump and parts that I didn't use to the tune of over $1000 for everything. I protested the bill (make sure you get an itemized statement) and had it taken off. They didn't give me any trouble.
5. *You will have a "painkiller" button that they will tell you to press when you feel pain...it is just simple medication..and every time you press the button they charge you for it. At the end they come and look at a couter and write it down! I didn't realize it! It was like $5.00 a button press and I got button happy! So push the button if you really are in pain don't sit in pain, they are there to help you afterall, but if it is a normal feeling or whatever don't.
6. *Big Savings here: ***Whatever you do..DO NOT let them take the baby out of the room unless they say it is for shots or something. That you can't avoid. But if you are just tired and need sleep and want them to take the baby...DON'T DO IT! They charge $500 each time they roll the baby out! And not only that...they will bring the baby back if it starts crying or hungry, or needs a diaper change...they aren't going to do that for you in the nursery..they BRING IT BACK for YOU to do! They did that to me!!!!!! Not worth $500 if you ask me. The whole idea for me was to have peace and quiet...what kind of peace is that? The baby would have slept anyways! If you need sleep, make sure someone is there with you and rest easy!
7. *My sister had asked me a good question...did she need to bring bottles? I said no because they have little bottles that are disposable for you if you need supplemental milk. They are so cute too!
8. *Now, if you are going to use YOUR pump while in the hospital, you will need to bring like two or three breast pump bottles, but that is all! I did take the pump and a couple of breast pump bottles and that is all!
9. *Don't forget to take the items they tell you are Yours in your bassinet! Very useful stuff and you will pay for it regardless!
10. *It is too late for my sister but for all you out there in blog world not pregnant yet...get yourself some supplemental hospital insurance. I did and it paid the part of the bill I had to pay after my insurance! Technically I paid NOTHING out of pocket! :-) I did have to pay out of pocket until I received the reimbursement check but still....it was paid for! Nice, Very Nice!
11. *Don't forget to go on your hospital tour to see what is supplied for you and maybe things you could bring like a gown, etc... to cut cost!
12. *Most importantly, if you feel like being pampered and not worrying about the bill..by all means.. DO SO! You deserve it! Every mother needs pampering!
13. *Don't go cheap on those hospital pictures either! Bring your own camera, video camera, etc...but DO BUY THEIRS TOO! :-) I got the next to the largest package...you do have to pay them right then but you have your pictures in hand with your baby on your way out the door! Hold on to those memories!
14. *About forgot...don't forget to bring your car seat! You can't leave the hospital with your baby without it! :-)
15. *Alright Bloggers! YOUR TURN!!! Post Comments to my Comment Jar PLEASE! I want to help my sis as much as possible! We can all learn something from this for the Next time...or First for others! :-)

Happy Thursday!

P.S. I am not against the hospital services...I had wonderful doctors and nurses! Great manners, etc... We bought our nurse flowers. My husband did a drawing for my doctor. We enjoyed our stay. I just wanted to share how I saved some money or Could have, had I known.

Wordless Wednesday: Bonnet?

This picture is from a little while back. I think it is interesting to how kids interpret things. Look at the hat! He put it on like a bonnet! :-) It is just a regular baseball type hat.

Happy Wordless Wednesday!