Cat Diaries: The First Movie Ever Filmed By Cats!

New Year's Eve Centerpiece~Frugal Mompreneur Tip

Get ready to bring in the New Year in style! This stunning centerpiece looks impressive, and you’ll love to tell your friends that you made it yourself.

Materials:

•Krylon Looking Glass®- Mirror Like Paint - Mirror Finish (#9033)
•Krylon Stained Glass Color - Blue (#9021)
•Krylon Make It Pearl!® Pearlescent Paint - Sheer Pearl (#1207)
•Krylon Premium Metallic - Sterling Silver (#1030)
•Krylon Leafing Pens - Silver (#9902)
•Oversized Martini Glass
•(5) 70 mm and (7) 50 mm clear glass ball tree ornaments
•18 foot long hologram silver star garland
•6 yards holographic silver curling ribbon
•Silver glitter
•1 package silver metallic shredded basket filler
•8 metallic silver sea grass picks
•3 metallic silver sea grass picks with Stars
•(1) 18”x 12” X 1” piece of Styrofoam® brand foam
•A piece of bubble wrap packing material cut to fit inside bowl of glass
•U-shaped floral pins
•Glue
•Glass Cleaner and lint free cloth
•Plastic grocery bag (for masking material)
•Cardboard boxes for spray booth and drying painted balls
•Dowel rods to fit thru hangers on balls
•Scissors
•2 inch wide blue painter’s tape
•Waxed paper
•Circle template with 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4"circle sizes
•Pencil
•Straight pin
•Glue gun & glue sticks
•Serrated knife waxed with old candle stub

Instructions:

1.Clean and dry all glass with glass cleaner.

2.Slit the bottom of the grocery bag open. Tape the bottom of the bag around the edge of the base and the top of the bag around the top outside edge using blue painter’s tape. Following manufacturer’s instructions, spray inside of glass and bottom of base with Looking Glass. Let dry. Remove bag and tape.

3.Apply strips of painter’s tape to waxed paper. Trace and cut out the following circles: 5 to 6 each 1 1/4” and 1 3/4” for outside of glass (the wide top portion); 5 each 1/2” and 5/8” for stem of glass and 4 each of 1/2”, 5/8” and ¾” to be applied randomly on (3) 70 mm balls. Remove circle masks from waxed paper and apply to areas, burnishing edges with fingernail to make sure they are adhered well.

4.Line inside of bowl with plastic bag, taping in place at rim so that inside is completely masked off. Cover top of base with painter’s tape. For painting and drying balls, hang and securely tape them to the center of dowel rods that fit across the drying box. The rods serve as handles while painting.

5.Spray outside of martini glass, (3) masked 70 mm balls and (3) 50 mm unmasked balls with Blue Stained Glass Color. Let dry for 30 minutes. Remove masks by first carefully lifting outside edges with straight pin. Dry throughly. Spray (1) 70 mm and (2) 50 mm balls with Sterling Silver. Immediately sprinkle each with silver glitter. Let dry. Spray (1) 70 mm and (2) 50 mm balls with Sheer Pearl. Let dry. Remove balls from rods.

6.Paint top rim of martini glass, outside edge of base and all ball hanger caps with Silver Leafing Pen.

7.Line inside of glass with cut to fit bubble wrap. Use waxed knife to cut pieces of Styrofoam to fit inside lined bowl, stacking higher in center, and gluing in place with glue gun. Curl sea grass by pulling strands across scissors. Arrange and glue picks around outer edge of bowl bending picks to spill out of bowl. Glue 2 large handfuls of basket filler over foam in bowl. Fold star garland in half, wrap loosely around hand and spot glue and u-pin resulting loops among basket filler. The loops will help to hold balls in place. Curl sea grass with stars. Twist star stems around finger to shape. Glue into top center of arrangement. Cut (6) 1 yd lengths of curling ribbon and curl each piece by pulling over scissors blade. Fold each length in half. Spaced evenly, glue folded ends into foam around outer edge of arrangement. Push fold into foam with glue gun needle nozzle. Arrange and glue balls in place.

Resources: FaveCrafts.com

SMALL SPROUTS SUPER DEAL OF THE DAY!!

~This week after Christmas is typically our slowest week of the year, so I am offering for the first 5 customers to contact me a $10.00 discount coupon on your choice of a Car Seat cover or Stoller cover~

How about this gorgeous black and white damask polka dot hot pink cover!

~Super cute toddler cover~

~Adorable stroller cover~

**Infant cover offer does not include, Peg Perego SIP or 30/30, Safety 1st air onboard or Orbit covers. Toddler cover is only valid of Britax Marathon, Roundabout or the Alpha Omega covers, Stroller covers available for Graco Quattro, Passage, Alano only. **Some fabrics are not available for this offer, please contact me for details

ATM Fraud Gets Even More Brazen~Frugal Mompreneur Tips

Fraud involving debit cards and personal-identification numbers is on the rise as criminals go where the cash is—even targeting banks' own automated teller machines.
Techniques such as "skimming," in which criminals capture card information and personal-identification numbers, have existed for years, often on a small scale. Though the dollar losses still are relatively modest, organized gangs now are pulling off more-sophisticated attacks.

They also are targeting bigger players: Whereas most of the fraud in previous years took place at independent ATMs or at retail points of sale, fraud at bank-owned ATMs made up more than 80% of the breaches in the first six months of this year, says Fair Isaac, which provides fraud-detection software.
Europe, which has faced a bigger problem than the U.S., saw card-skimming ATM attacks jump 24% in the first six months of this year, to 5,743, the largest six-month number since data-gathering began in 2004, according to the European ATM Security Team, a nonprofit group. (Losses from skimming fell 8%, to €144 million, or $197 million.)

Attacks on retailers continue to climb as well. Last month, supermarket chain Aldi said it had discovered that payment terminals in major U.S. cities in 11 states had been altered to allow the skimming of card numbers, cardholder names and PINs between June 1 and Aug. 31 this year.

Avivah Litan, fraud analyst at Gartner, a research firm, estimates that fraud involving debit cards, PINs and point-of-sale equipment has surged 400% over the past five years. One tactic, she says, has been "flash attacks": Using the stolen information, gangs create thousands of counterfeit debit cards and then dispatch cronies to at least 100 ATM machines in several cities at once. Each withdraws a small dollar amount from several accounts to avoid fraud-detection software, adding up to tens of thousands of dollars in losses.

Until recently, skimming equipment was relatively crude and clunky, attached to card-readers with double-stick foam tape and relying on small cameras to record hands punching in PINs. Newer devices include equipment that fits inside card readers, pinhead-sized cameras and well-crafted attachments that sit snugly on top of ATM card readers and PIN pads, looking just like the real equipment. Bluetooth technology allows the fake card reader and PIN pad to talk to each other, and data drives or wireless technology can make downloading of stolen information quick and easy.

Given such clever engineering, consumers may not be able to tell that a machine has been compromised. Banks may not know either: Fair Isaac says that perpetrators of such fraud often place skimmers on outdoor ATMs on Saturday mornings and remove them before the bank opens Monday. The data is typically passed to crooks in another country within hours.

Better technologies are available: Canada and several European countries, among others, have adopted so-called chip-and-PIN debit cards, with chips built into the card, adding a layer of protection. But American banks and retailers have resisted adopting the technology because it is expensive to replace cards, ATMs and point-of-sale machines.

The chip-and-PIN technology isn't foolproof, and experts say U.S. banks and retailers may instead leapfrog that technology, possibly by using the capabilities of smartphones to verify transactions or to actually make the transactions instead of using a card.

Given scammers' growing sophistication, consumers are at a disadvantage. But there are some steps you can take—beyond becoming an expert in equipment design and appearance—to avoid the traps or lessen the impact if your information is stolen:

• The simplest protection, says the American Bankers Association, is to get in the habit of covering up your hand when you enter your PIN so that a camera can't record what you are typing.

• Use an indoor ATM. Because they are less isolated, indoor ATMs are less likely to be tampered with than outdoor machines.

• Use your PIN sparingly at retailers, and choose the signature option—or a credit card—instead, Ms. Litan says.

• If you don't have time to check your bank account regularly, set up email or text alerts to send you balances weekly or, if you are particularly paranoid, daily, so that you will know sooner if something is amiss. Most banks will refund your losses promptly, but you need to report the violation quickly, preferably within two days and no later than 60 days after receiving a statement showing the fraud.

• You should add your bank's and credit card's customer-service numbers to your contacts so you can access them from both your email and cellphone. Having the numbers at hand will eliminate the frustration of trying to find them when you are traveling or at a public computer.

• If your bank suspects fraud, it needs to be able to reach you quickly. Make sure it has your cellphone number as well as your email address and that your other information is up to date. Taking my own advice, I discovered that my bank had home and work phone numbers that were more than a decade out of date.

Resources: Finance.Yahoo.com

How Long Can You Freeze Food~Frugal Mompreneur Tip

When it comes to preparing healthy meals at home, don't underestimate the value of your freezer. A well-stocked freezer can save you a trip to the store when you're pressed for time, which could mean the difference between making dinner and ordering in. It also lets you save meals that you prepare in big batches ahead of time, take advantage of discounts at the grocery store, and keep food that might otherwise go to waste.


Freezing is also an easy way to preserve local, in-season, fruits, and veggies that you buy at farmers markets or grow in your garden. If you want to eat delicious tomatoes in the dead of winter, for example, but are intimidated by canning, freezing is worth considering.

But just how long will that casserole or whole chicken last in the freezer? According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, food stored in a freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit will stay safe indefinitely. But that doesn't mean the taste and texture will remain the same.

Here is a guide to how long you can freeze foods before you sacrifice quality. Keep in mind that quality does deteriorate the longer food sits in your freezer, so aim to defrost sooner rather than later.

Bacon: 1 to 2 months
Breads: 2 to 3 months
Casseroles: 2 to 3 months
Cooked beef and pork: 2 to 3 months
Cooked poultry: 4 months
Cookie dough: 3 months
Fruit: 8 to 12 months
Frozen dinners: 3 to 4 months
Hot dogs: 1 to 2 months
Lunch meats: 1 to 2 months
Sausage: 1 to 2 months
Soups and stews: 2 to 3 months
Uncooked chicken (parts): 9 months
Uncooked chicken (whole): 1 year
Uncooked steaks, chops, or roasts: 4 to 12 months
Uncooked ground meat: 3 to 4 months
Vegetables: 8 to 12 months

Basic tips for freezing food:

Freeze foods as close to purchase (or harvest if you have a garden) as possible. The fresher food is when you freeze it, the better the quality when you defrost it.

While most foods can be frozen, there are some foods you should keep out of the freezer. Don't freeze canned foods or eggs in shells (which can crack and allow bacteria to enter). Technically you can freeze mayonnaise, cream sauce, and lettuce, but the quality takes a big hit. Here's a list of foods that don't freeze well with details on their condition after thawing.

Cool cooked foods down before freezing so they freeze faster, which helps preserve quality.

Packaging matters and varies depending on what you're freezing. If you choose glass over plastic containers, wrap, or bags, you'll need to make sure it's tempered so it doesn't break.

You can freeze meat in its original packaging, but if you want to store it for long periods of time, add an additional layer of packaging, such as plastic wrap or bags.

It's always a good idea to label items so you know what they are and how long they've been in the freezer.
Resist the temptation to defrost foods on your countertop. The three safest ways to thaw foods are in your fridge, in cold water, and in the microwave.

How to freeze fresh produce:

The key to freezing fresh fruit is to spread out the cleaned, dried, and prepared (cut up) pieces of fruit on cookie sheets. Once the individual pieces of fruit are frozen, you can combine and put in freezer bags. Some people prefer to pack fruits in sugar or sugar syrup to help preserve texture and flavor. The National Center for Home Food Preservation has tips on how to freeze specific fruits such as strawberries, tomatoes, peaches, and many more.

Vegetables usually need to be blanched (boiled or steamed for a short time) before freezing to maintain flavor, color, and texture. Blanching times vary depending on the vegetable. The National Center for Home Food Preservation has a chart with blanching times for everything from corn to collard greens and simple instructions for how to freeze a large variety of vegetables.

Resources: YahooShine

Merry Christmas

~Merry Christmas~

~Peace on Earth~

~Goodwill Towards Men~

Thank you all for being loyal fans of our blog and Small Sprouts. Your referrals have been much appreciated and help to further our work here in the Yucatan of Mexico.

Silver Polish~Frugal Mompreneur tips

As Christmas approaches and some of you will be hosting Christmas dinner for friends and family. You may notice that your silver wear or silver table accesssories are tarnished. We have some silver that is tarnished and were looking for a non-toxic method to remove it. We will thrilled to find the answer in white toothpaste!!

•Toothpaste is not just for teeth. It removes stains, deodorizes, brightens and restores luster and shine to many surfaces, including silver. Non-gel toothpaste doesn't usually contain as many chemicals as gel-based toothpaste, and abrasives such as calcium carbonate and silicon-dioxide as well as the toothpaste's foaming action make it an alternative to expensive and chemical-filled cleaners. You can also choose from a variety of organic or "green" toothpastes. Rubbing, lathering and wiping non-gel toothpaste on silver surfaces will assist in getting out stubborn stains, or use the toothpaste as a polish to keep your silver looking new. A little toothpaste goes a long way.

Baking Soda

•Baking soda is a safe, effective aid in cleaning, and its use dates back to ancient times. The crystalline white powder has been used as a deodorizer, a scouring paste, a toothpaste and a body soap. It contains sodium bicarbonate, which can be found everywhere in nature, from food to the human body. Baking soda also regulates carbon dioxide, which causes stains and tarnish on your silver. Make a thick paste of baking soda, and massage it on your silver, or put a few scoops in a tub of water, and soak your silver overnight. This truly multi-tasking substance makes an inexpensive, chemical-free cleaner.

Salt

•Salt is another underestimated household ingredient that makes a good, cheap cleaner. A natural anti-bacterial and deodorizer, salt penetrates into little nooks and crannies of surfaces, which makes it a good choice for cleaning metals with indentations and decorative grooves. It's an even more powerful cleaner when combined with ingredients such as vinegar or lemon juice.

Resources: Ehow.com

Winner of the Frugal Contest Tip Giveaway

~CONGRATS TO AMY!! FOR WINNING OUR FRUGAL CONTEST TIP GIVEAWAY~

~LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT AMY WILL CHOOSE~

Frugal tips Contest Tip from Katy~The Country Blossom

.Katy~The Country Blossom  is a Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below



TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR Katy~The Country Blossom .LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT MONDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"A frugal tip I want to share is that I use cloth napkins...then just wash them with your towels! :) That saves money on buying napkins and also saves trees! I also like to line-dry my laundry!"

Frugal Tip Contest Tip for Sarah G

Sarah G. is a Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below



TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR SARAH G.LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT SUNDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"My frugal tip is self restraint, don't buy something you don't really want (or even need) just because it's a good deal. Start a budget list of necessities that you always use and when the coupon or great deal comes up,(watch the coupon bloggers) buy it then. It's okay to have extra things you'll need."

Frugal Tip Contest Tip for Tylerpants

Tylerpants has been a long time Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below


TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR TYLERPANTS JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"My best fruglal tip is to cut out cable TV. It saves a lot of money. We watch TV shows online on Hulu.com or from each channel's website. We also borrow DVD's from the library. Saves us a lot of money!"

Frugal Tip Contest Tip For Trixx

Trixx is a Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below


TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR TRIXX JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT FRIDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"A great tip I learned was when I was getting a facial. She recommended making a paste of baking soda and a bit of water. Gently scrub your face, it'll be super smooth and costs mere pennies"

Frugal Tip Contest tip For Katie

Katie is a Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below


TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR KATIE JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT THURSDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~


"a BIG money saver that a lot of people dont know-
buying bottled water is one of the most over-priced items.
buying a water filter- regardless of how expensive it may seem- is WAY worth it!! its been proven"

Yucatan Children's Outreach~The Meaning of Sacrifice

This last Saturday, we had the priveledge of being invited to this very poor area of the Yucatan. Our friend Lydia, intoduced us to a wonderful woman who has opened her home and especially her kitchen to her whole neighborhood to feed the hungry of which there are many, eventhough she herself is very poor.

This is the dining room of her home were she has a constant stream of families that are in need of food. She uses up large quantities of chicken, bread, flour, sugar, onions, peppers, vegetables and fruits to provide for her neighbors.

Most of the impoverished here live in houses that look like this one. Concrete block, about 200 square feet for a family of 2,3,4 or 5. They sleep on hammocks. They may or may not have electricity and running water. No washers or dryers, just tubs to wash and clothes lines to dry. Electricity is very expensive here due to the corrupt Mexican government. These are hard working people. The men typically work why the woman stay home with the children. Minimim wage here is 50 cents and the 40 hour work week is usually more, but they only get paid for 40 hours.

We came out to this area with a large group & spent the afternoon with them. Puppet show for the kids, food and fun. As you can see from the picture the kids really got into it. You see, it is Christmas time in the Yucatan and Christmas is a big season for Mexicans here, although these children will receive little to nothing on Christmas morning. These moms have learned the meaning of Frugal Mompreneur.

I ended up spending alot of time with this Mom. She has a 2 year old son named Roberto and her beautiful baby girl Jessica. Jessica was born with only one finger on her left hand. Mom explained to us that when Jessica was 2, they were hoping she could have a surgery. The more time I spend with the poorer people of the Yucatan, the more I realize that they humble themselves to their circumstances and try to do the best they can. They never complain, but are very grateful when you provide items they need.


Our company, Small Sprouts, helps to provide for the needy of the Yucatan. We supply necessary items for pregnant and new moms. Pre-natal vitamins, Education, nutrition and food items. The best way to help us is to refer your friends and family to our website, http://www.smallsprouts.com/. A percentage of our profits go to support these families needs.

 

Frugal Tip Contest Tip from Andrea V

Andrea V. is a long time Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below

TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR ANDREA V. JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT MONDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"I always use coupons, it's not hard to cut them out and take them to the store everytime."

Frugal Tip Contest Tip For Champagne Wisdom

Campagne Wisdom is a  Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below

TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR CHAMPAGNE WISDOM JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

Frugal tip - go in with friends and/or family members when purchasing online...then you can split shipping costs and as always, save even more by going through rebate sites such as Ebates!

FRUGAL TIP CONTEST TIP FROM CALLIE

Callie is a new Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below

TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR CALLIE JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT FRIDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

And my great tip is to use google alerts to have giveaways sent to your email box if you are hoping to win a specific thing--for example "giveaway baby". So far, I haven't won that much, but I know you can't win if you dont' enter, and my turn is coming. I want to be ready to have my baby have all the things she needs--plus I learn about all sorts of helpful products!

How Half Off Discounts Really Work? Frugal Mompreneur Tip

Looking for a good deal? How's 50% off sound? Once a bargain-basement super-deal, getting half-off is now about what shoppers can -- and should -- expect from a sale, experts say. And in preparation for the holiday rush, stores have figured out how to give it to them and still turn a profit.

Markdowns have already approached that level in toys and electronics, which account for much of holiday spending, says Alison Paul, leader of the retail practice for Deloitte Apparel. Household goods and small appliances are also likely to hit that magic mark by Black Friday. "If the price is already 50% off, take it and take it now," says Jeff Green, who runs a retail consulting firm.

Although half-off may seem like a boon to consumers, retailers are still profiting, says Adrienne Tennant, a retail analyst at investment bank Janney Montgomery Scott. These deep and temporary markdowns are essentially loss-leaders, designed to lure shoppers into buying more items in one visit -- or to generate more visits from shoppers wise to the strategy of rotating discounts. "[Consumers] have traditionally been quite motivated by sales because we understand that means 'here today and gone tomorrow,'" says Kit Yarrow, a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. But in the store, a deal for the shopper becomes an opportunity for the retailer to up-sell.

One thing stores can't do to make their deals look good: inflate prices. It's illegal for stores selling other companies' products (such as Sears (Nasdaq: SHLD - News) or Best Buy (NYSE: BBY - News) to set prices above those of the manufacturer, says Gloria Barczak, a professor of marketing at Northeastern University in Boston. Single-brand stores like Gap (NYSE: GPS - News) or Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN - News) can pull a price switch but rarely do -- and experts say it's ineffective. Loyal shoppers are quick to spot price or quality changes and won't buy or will look elsewhere, Barczak says.

There are three big ways retailers are able to give you that 50% off -- and maintain their profit margins. But savvy shoppers can separate the real values from the deals designed to get you to mindlessly hand over your credit card.

Sales-Cycle Lows

Stores rotate which categories and brands go on sale each week, and the depth of the discount changes over the course of a month, too. To figure out when your favorite store offers its best deals, sign up for its email list. Then scan them over the next 30 days -- you'll quickly get a sense of the highs and lows, and how often the best discounts crop up. Borders (NYSE: BGP - News), for example, usually offers weekly deals for 33% off the regular price of one item of your choice, but hands out a 40% off coupon at least once a month. Figure out when and time your purchase to that week.

Limited-Time Deals

Keeping sales limited to a tight window is another easy way for stores to offer the big discounts shoppers want, or to create a shopping frenzy, a la Black Friday, says Barczak. At the regular Saturday "one-day sales" at Macy's (NYSE: M - News), there are deeper discounts until 11 a.m., then lesser deals that continue until closing. The 40%-off sales at Gap have also been limited to single days this fall. That creates a powerful psychological incentive, says Yarrow. "That fear of missing out is giant in the minds of consumers." In return, the store gets a rush of customers who are likely to put full-priced items in their baskets, too.

Shipping Charges

Even a big online discount can be offset if you pay the full price for shipping charges. Lee Jeans recently offered 50% off all online jeans orders, but someone buying one pair on sale for $21 would still pay $5.95 for shipping, which in effect reduced the discount to 36%. Some merchants will offer a big discount and free shipping together this holiday season, but not with regularity until the Monday after Thanksgiving, when people do more holiday shopping online.

Resources: Finance.yahoo.com

FRUGAL TIP CONTEST TIP FROM VICKI S.

Vicki S. is a new Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below


TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR VICKI S., JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"I shop for vintage looks at a local thift store, especially when they have 99 cent days, I get great things hecka cheap :) I have more (interesting and quality-made) clothes than my friends who shop at malls."

FRUGAL TIP CONTEST TIP FROM PICKLED PANDAS

Pickled Pandas is a new Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below



TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR PICKLED PANDAS, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT TUESDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"We shop at Aldi to save money on groceries every month.
Shopping at Aldi not only is quick, but saves a LOT of money versus huge marketplaces.
Last month we had to wait a week before we could go to Aldi and ended up wasting nearly $100 on food that only lasted a few days. When we spend $100 at Aldi, we have enough food to 2-3 weeks"

Welcome Keegan Malea Fritz

~I love when my customers send me pictures & this one is too precious~

~Welcome Keegan Malea Fritz~

~7 lbs. 10.3 oz. 20.5 inches long~

~Thank you Katie for sharing her with us~

FRUGAL TIP CONTEST TIP FROM CHRIS & ANNALISA

Annalisa is a long time faithful Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below



TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR ANNALISA, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~


"My frugal tip is that I can pricematch all of my groceries at Superwalmart just by taking the ads for other grocery stores with me when I shop there. It makes getting the lowest grocery prices super easy, and saves me money!"

FRUGAL TIP CONTEST TIP FROM TART DECO

Stephanie is a long time faithful Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below

TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR STEPHANIE, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT FRIDAY (TONIGHT)TO VOTE~

"My husband and I drink a lot of iced tea, so to save $ we bought an iced tea maker. For pennies it will brew just as much tea as a pack of the bottles, which usually cost $7-8 dollars. To save even more, we will sterilize and reuse our old iced tea glass bottles to have it on the go so we don't spend money when we are at work."

FRUGAL TIP CONTEST TIP FROM AUBRIE WILLIAMS

Aubrie is a long time faithful Small Sprouts blog follower! Read about her frugal tip idea below


TO PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR AUBRIE, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST, YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT THURSDAY TO VOTE~

With the season of gift giving upon us, I run into two problems: Gifts are expensive, and they don't come from the heart. My frugal tip is to make your own Christmas gifts. With about the same amount of time it would take to shop for everyone on your list, you could make your own craft, blanket, or framed picture that would be much more appreciated.


One of my favorite handmade gifts is a pen flower vase. Fill a vase with rocks or marbles, use floral tape to attach pens to flowers, and make your own unique arrangement. It's pretty, practical, and inexpensive to make.

If you know how to sew, your options for gift giving are endless. Patterns can be found for $0.99 at some stores, and e-patterns can be found for free online.

For Grandma and Grandpa, send a framed picture of the grandkids, or a scrapbook of the past year.

For girls, make your own hairbows. Instructions can be found online. For boys, make a rubberband gun, or pvc marshmallow gun!

The options are endless and they save so much money!