Frugal Friday: Beauty Secret

by Alyssa Francis on July 3, 2009

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frugalfridayThe other day, I happened to catch a glimpse of my profile in a window.  I was caught off guard by the reflection of an old, tired Mom. This did not portray the 30 year old energetic me I hoped to see.

Then it hit me. I was slouching. Gone was my perfect dancer’s posture I developed years ago. Nursing and carrying three babies has taken a toll on my back. Hunching over my laptop late at night has not helped, either.

So I looked again at my reflection as I straightened my spine and pulled my shoulders back.

Aahhhh….

Much better. A refreshed, younger version of me was now staring back. Such a simple thing, yet so easy to forget!

This simple beauty secret costs nothing, and makes a huge impact- POSTURE!

Good posture is not only a way to look younger, more rested, and more confident, it also prevents back pain. It brings balance to your spine and protects your joints from excessive stress.

Here are a few tips for developing and keeping good posture habits:

  • Exercise regulary to strengthen your core muscles.
  • Avoid carrying heavy totes over one shoulder.  Yes, even diaper bags!
  • At a desk, sit with your back straight and your feet supported.
  • Do not cradle a phone between your head and shoulder.
  • Sleep on a firm mattress on your back or side.
  • Be aware of your posture and make it a habit to correct any slouching.

It is not easy to change a bad habit like poor posture.  I know I have some work to do.  It is said that good posture can make you look 10 years younger and 10 pounds lighter, so the efforts are certainly worth the benefits!

Are you sitting up straight?

For more frugal fun, visit Life as Mom.


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Frugal Family Fun on the 4th!

by Alyssa Francis on July 2, 2009

4th

Need some frugal fun ideas for this weekend? Free fireworks shows are always a hit, but here are some additional options for the family:

Home Depot is offering their once-a-month Kids Workshop on Saturday, July 4th.  Kids ages 5-12 can enjoy making a FREE Picnic Caddy from 9am-noon. A perfect craft for the 4th!

Bank of America customers can enjoy free admission to over 100 museums during their Museums on Us program this Saturday and Sunday. Find your nearest participating museum here.

Are you near a Ruby Tuesday? This Saturday, July 4th ONLY, enjoy a B1G1 FREE entree with this coupon. Find your nearest Ruby Tuesday location here.  Thanks, Rachel!

Sign up for Quick and Crafty newsletter and receive a free Summer Crafts for Kids eBook. Includes July 4th Easy Kids’ Crafts, Free Patriotic Crochet Projects, red, white & blue garden crafts, thrifty July 4th recipes.

Download these adorable free printable 4th of July tags from Living Locurto. What a cute addition to your holiday decor!

Perhaps you just wanna go shopping this weekend? Aeropostale July 4th Weekend Special! Printable Coupon good in-store only from 7/3-7/5. $10 off a purchase of $50 or more.

Are you on Twitter? Go follow Pizza Hut to score a special coupon code on July 4th for free stuffed pizza rolls with purchase. How cool is that!?

Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

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A Melting Pot Meet-Up

July 1, 2009

On Sunday, I had the chance to combine 3 of my favorite things…
Cheese, chocolate… and blogging, of course!
Ten local DFW bloggers, myself included, met up for a delicious dinner at The Melting Pot in Southlake, TX. Many of us have connected at one time or another through blogging or Twitter, so Rachel organized this fabulous [...]

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Freebie Roundup!

July 1, 2009

It has been a while since I posted a good freebie round up, but figured I would kick off the new month with some goodies for your frugal enjoyment.
Hurry! Grab this free kitchen idea book from KraftMaid. It is only available on the 1st of the month, and goes fast.
Looking for a sitter? Sittercity.com is [...]

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Giveaway: Devotions to Go (Now Closed)

June 29, 2009

Daily Devotions are a wonderful way to get a quick dose of encouragement and God’s word when we need it the most.  If you are a busy Mom, this is essential!
I was recently acquainted with the Moms’ Devotions to Go series of books.  These little treasures are small enough to fit in your purse, and [...]

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Free Veggie Tales DVD from Big Idea

June 28, 2009

Here’s a fun freebie to start your week! Sign up for the e-newsletter from Big Idea and choose 1 of 3 Veggie Tales DVDs. Just pay shipping, $2.99.
It’s never too early to start Christmas shopping, right? There is no coupon code necessary, and you can even pay via PayPal.
Thanks, Pocket Your Dollars!
Enjoy!

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The CVS $5 Challenge: June 28-July 4

June 28, 2009

Welcome, my fellow CVS fanatics and newbies! It’s Sunday, time for our weekly CVS $5 Challenge. The place to go for simple CVS scenarios with step-by-step instructions.
Update: I will soon be featuring The Walgreens $5 Challenge on my blog each Sunday as well!  Until I get it up and running, feel free to link [...]

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Tomorrow’s Coupon Preview: June 28th

June 27, 2009

Happy Saturday! Hope you are staying cool this weekend. It is so hot here in Texas, I am staying inside today and updating my coupon binder.
Get ready for 2 inserts in tomorrow’s paper! 1 Smart Source and 1 RedPlum. Remember that coupons do vary by region.
Here are the best high value coupons I see:

SS
$1.00 [...]

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Frugal Friday: Saving Money on Gas

June 26, 2009

With the Summer months upon us, the price of gas has inevitably crept up recently.  A few cents here, a few cents there, and WHAM we may hit $3.00 a gallon again any day!
So naturally, we are all looking for ways to save at the pump. Here are my top 7 tips for saving [...]

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Keeping it Centsible: Vacations on a Budget

June 25, 2009

It’s Thursday! Time for all new episode of our podcast, Keeping It Centsible.
We neglected to air a new episode last week thanks to a nasty migraine I just could not kick.  But we are back tonight to share some money saving ideas for vacations on a budget.
Quite frankly, I have not been on any official vacations [...]

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