Keep Your Home Germ and Chemical Free This Flu Season

With the fear of swine flu high, not to mention the regular run of nasty bugs we can expect in the weeks and months ahead, make sure your first line of defense is prepared—keeping germs at bay on the home front.

Bleach and other chemical cleaners may be effective germ killers, but they can be bad for your health and your environment. Certain natural cleaners have the same powerful antibacterial qualities without the harmful effects.

For all-purpose cleaning that’s powerful enough to kill the vilest bacteria, spray vinegar (which kills most bacteria and germs) followed hydrogen peroxide in its own spray bottle. Hydrogen peroxide kills germs (and whitens—it’s good in the wash too!) like bleach, but is totally safe in the 3 percent concentration that’s found in stores. The combination can’t be beat to stop bacteria in its tracks!

For dishes, use the dishwasher as much as possible—the ultra hot water knocks out unfriendly bugs more consistently than washing in a sink does.

For carpets, upholstery and any surface that can stand heat and hot water, use a steam cleaner, which you can rent at home stores.

Source: All You Daily Savings

FREE Fisher Price ~Precious Places Princess DVD

Little girls love playing princess-and they're sure to love all the magical surprises of the new Precious Places™ line from Fisher-Price. Catch Princess Sirina and her friends on this exciting DVD, as they discover their own unique strengths and the magic of teamwork.

Free DVD- Precious Places

Recycling Old Bicycle Tires

Bicycling is an inexpensive way to travel around town and is environmentally friendly. Biking is the perfect way to go. There is one minor expense that seems to deflate the joy of serene cycling; the flat tire follies. Once a tire or an inner tube becomes too old, retire these treasures into the garden. An inner tube with a dozen patches is still excellent for use in aligning and training trees. Simply wrap a cut tube around the young tree trunk in a figure eight with the other end around a stake to guide the wayward tree. Apply pressure and tie off. For small jobs, cut the inner tube in lengthy strips and use as garden ties. The rubber inner tube strips are plant friendly, stretch with the wind, and won't carve into the plant. For tough jobs use cut bike tires. They're reinforced with metal and material and will last a long time. I even saw one gardener using strips of cut bicycle tires as a garden gate hinge. With this rubber material, the possibilities are endless, so go ahead and tire yourself thinking of ways to re-use and recycle.

Re-using "Peanuts" Packing Materials

Have you ever wondered what you could do with the foam "packing peanuts"? You know, those irritating little things that get all over the floor and cabinet when you open a box?

You can put them in a plastic bag and store them for using next time you need to mail a package. Deposit them at most recycling centers across the nation. Did you know you could even use them in potting plants to help in soil drainage? Instead of adding the traditional gravel to the lower 1/3 of the planting container, add unused foam packaging peanuts instead. As a low weight, high volume alternative to potting gravel, you'll find your pots will weigh substantially less, making gardening a little less burdensome. This volume drainage alternative also helps stretch valuable quality gardening materials for other plants. The insulation properties of the peanuts also help to sustain plant roots during cold winter chills.

Reusing Laundry Scoops

Scoop-Out Measured Savings
What do you do with your plastic scoops that are included with your powdered laundry detergents. What about the plastic caps on the fabric softener bottles? Start saving these! They are very handy for mixing gardening chemicals, and they are also helpful in the kitchen. If you purchase bulk quantities of flour and sugar, like I do, you can re-package them in large glass pickle jars. In each container, use the scoops with graduated measures.

To mark the scoop with proper measurements, take a known volume of water and fill up the scoop. Take a marker and mark the known measurement on the scoop using the permanent marker. Liquid detergent and fabric softener measuring tops also work well. Make sure to wash everything completely before using and marking.

Make Fabric Softener Last Three Times Longer

Here is a tip to make your fabric softener last three times as long. Your clothes will be softer than with just plain fabric softener. Purchase a large bottle of softener and pour into another bottle two cups of softener and two cups of white vinegar. Shake this mixture well and then use it just as you would the full strength softener.

Your clothes will be soft, and the towels are fluffier.

Generic Prescriptions- $9.99/ 90 days at Harris Teeter

SAVE NOW!
Harris Teeter's Generic Prescription Savings Club

No Prescription Coverage? No Problem.

We're offering a 90-day supply of more than 300 prescriptions for only $9.99. That means you can save on generic drugs used to treat a tremendous range of medical conditions.

With the know-how of our expert pharmacists, the convenience of picking up your prescriptions while you shop and our new Generic Prescription Savings Club, we hope to serve you better than any pharmacy in town.

Here's how you can save:

$9.99 for a 90-day supply of over 300 generic prescriptions
Save at any Harris Teeter Pharmacy location
$4.95 annual enrollment fee, per VIC card
It's easy to enroll. See store pharmacy for details
Click here to see the list of the 300+ generic prescriptions.
Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

7 days Gym Membership Pass

24-hour Fitness, Sign up HERE!

Reserve the 2010 Entertainment Book, Receive the 2009 Book FREE

For nearly 50 years, Entertainment has been helping people save in tough economic times with the big Entertainment coupon book. Today, more then ever, people realize that the premium 50% off and 2-for-1 coupons found in the book help them save on everyday essentials right in their neighborhood including:

* Dining
* Shopping
* Movie Tickets

* Groceries
* Services
* Travel

* Attractions
* Car Care
* Home Furnishings

Plus, with each book purchase you get online access to hundreds of additional local printable coupons and incredible online shopping discounts not found in the book.

Reserve your 2010 Book HERE and receive the 2009 Book FREE

FREE Chocolate Fridays!

Mars is giving away 250,000 coupons for free chocolate every Friday through September! Coupons are available beginning at 9 a.m. EDT. You can keep signing up until you have reached the maximum number of four coupons.

You can redeem your coupon for M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Dove, 3 Musketeers, or MilkyWay.

Sign up HERE for FREE Chocolate every Friday!

5th Annual Cow Appreciation Day at Chik-fil-A

Friday, July 10, 2009

Come into any Chik-fil-A Restaurant dressed as a cow and receive a FREE meal!

Show your appreciation for the cows while eating more chicken. Put on your best cow costume and join us for free fun on Friday, July 10, 2009. Don't have a costume? Make your own using our starter kit. Plus, you can add to the excitement by entering our Kids' Photo Contest and Facebook Photo Contest.

Source: CowAppreciationDay.com

FREE Mocha Mondays at McDonalds

Get a FREE sample of iced or hot mocha every Monday until August 3, 2009. 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Start your working week with a complimentary McCafe Mocha, the sweet side of Expresso.

Limit 1 sample sized 8 oz. mocha or 7 oz. iced mocha per person per visit.

7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3 Promotion Dates

While supplies last!

Visit www2.mcdonalds.com/mccafe/

Earn Extra Money Mystery Shopping

What is Mystery Shopping:

Mystery shopping, also known as secret shopping, involves posing as a regular customer in order to evaluate the goods and services that a business provides. Your findings are reported back to the client, and used to improve their services.

How Mystery Shopping Works:

A business hires a mystery shopping company to evaluate their services; and the mystery shopping company, in turn, hires shoppers to perform those evaluations. Shoppers are given a list of things to evaluate/note during the shop. This may include:

* how long it takes to be greeted
* speed of service
* cleanliness of the location
* compliance with company standards – dress code, signage, greetings, etc.
* listening for specific services to be offered
* names/descriptions of employees

After completing a shop, the shopper submits her evaluation and receipts. Payment is made one to eight weeks after submission of a successful shop.

What Types of Businesses Use Mystery Shoppers:

* restaurants
* hotels and resorts
* retail stores
* grocery stores
* movie theaters
* car dealerships
* amusement parks
* gas stations
* and many others

How to Find Mystery Shop Assignments:

If you're new to mystery shopping, Volition.com is a good place to start. It provides a database of reputable mystery shopping companies, as reported by actual mystery shoppers – so the information is more reliable than what you'll find through a web search.

Spend some time looking through the database. Then, form a list of the companies that you're interested in working for, and submit an application with each one.

Once your application is approved, you'll have access to the company's database of shops. Check it often for shops in your area, and apply for any of interest.

How to Avoid Scams:

Unfortunately, not all mystery shopping companies are reputable. To avoid falling for a scam, you should avoid any company that:

* requires you to pay a fee – you shouldn't have to pay anything to get assignments
* advertises for shoppers in newspaper help-wanted sections or through unsolicited e-mails
* requires you to pay for and earn a shopper certification
* guarantees you shops or a set income

For even more protection against scams, look for companies that belong to the Mystery Shopper Providers Association (mysteryshop.org).

What the Typical Mystery Shop Entails:

Every mystery shop assignment is a bit different, but most assignments will require you to complete your shop on a specific day and time. It will also require you to listen for certain services to be offered; to ask specific questions and remember the answers you receive to those questions; and to note the details of your surroundings – everything from the cleanliness of the bathrooms to whether signage is placed appropriately. It may even require you to try out specific services (say a new burger at a fast food restaurant); to take photos of the location; or to record conversations that you have with employees.

How Much Mystery Shopping Pays:

Mystery shopping is not a way to get rich, nor is it a full-time job. Expect to make $10-15 per shop in addition to any merchandise or services that you receive during the course of the shop. A typical restaurant shop, for example, might result in a free meal plus a small shop fee for your time.

What It Takes to Be a Good Mystery Shopper:

* attention to detail
* a good memory
* objective evaluation skills
* the ability to perform and submit shops promptly

Tips for Success:

* Apply to a lot of mystery shop companies to increase your chance of getting regular assignments
* Check for available shops often – the good ones go fast
* Don't accept a shop unless you are sure that you can complete it. Many companies will remove you from their list of shoppers after just one failed shop
* Be willing to accept last-minute and less-than-glamourous shops when starting out – this will improve your standing with the company
* Read over the requirements of a mystery shop several times before attempting the shop. If you miss some of the details, you won't be paid

Starting Out with a Mystery Shopping Company:

When starting out with a new mystery shopping company, there are several things that you can do to ensure that the relationship is a good one. This includes:

* Starting with a shop with no or low out-of-pocket expenses
* Waiting to receive payment from your first shop, before taking on additional shops
* Evaluating whether you are being fairly compensated for your time. $20 may sound like a fair payment until you discover you're spending five hours on each shop
* Evaluating how easy to use and reliable the site is. If the tools are difficult to use, you may find your earnings doesn't justify the hassle

Disclaimer: Mystery shopping ads found on this page may or may not be for legitimate companies. Research all companies carefully before submitting a shopper application.

Source: About.Com:Frugal Living
Check out About.com for more tips and information.

Product Giveaway to WLS patients!!!

My sister is giving away products on her website to WLS patients! Go check it out! www.recoveringfatty.com.
Prizes: FREE Celebrate Vitamins (specific to your wls procedure) to one lucky winner, a case of Kay's Naturals product to two lucky winners! We sure have some great bariatric companies who give lots of wonderful products!

Here is what will get you entries (if done between July 7th - July 14th):

* Become a member of Recovering Fatty website www.recoveringfatty.com (see "Login" box on Home page; 1 entry, existing members will automatically be entered) Please note: the RF website membership and RF forums membership are two separate entities; both will get you an entry to the giveaway.
* Post a comment on any blog entry on the Recovering Fatty website as long as its done between July 7th - July 14th (1 entry total, NOT per comment)
* Become a member of the RF forum before the giveaway ends on July 14th (1 entry, existing members will automatically be entered)
* Post a comment on the RF forum between July 7th - July 14th (1 entry total, NOT per post)
* If you have a blog or website, add me to your blogroll but you will have to contact me to let me know it's there. Existing links do qualify, so shoot me an email (1 entry)
*To follow me on Twitter and Facebook, go to my site and click on the links.
* Send me an email at melinda@recoveringfatty.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (1 entry total, NOT per email)

Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Are your makeup brushes a little worn, caked up with makeup? That will clog your pores, causing acne. Don't throw them away. Clean them and they will be like new! Take a little baby shampoo and put in just a little bit of water in a bowl. Swish the brush bristles around in the water and baby shampoo. Wipe the brush off and lay to the side to dry.