Schmoozins

Not many gals I know would turn down a new dress.  Really most of us moms just keep giving to the rest of the family and frequently think of everyone else.

If you have left yourself out of the clothing budget do I have a treat for you.

Marissa over at New Dress A Day has got to be one of the most creative females I have seen in a long time.  She is on a mission that a lot of us could learn from.  She hunts for clothes at vintage shops, flea markets and thrift stores.  Paying only $1 for a dress (most of which I wouldn’t be caught dead in) each day in order to re-purpose it.

I am sure she will win the heart of many Green bloggers and leave the frugal gals in awe.  I am all about clearance deals and coupons but Marissa has me beat by a long shot!

Check out some of her before and after pictures.

Marissa states she was “inspired by the movie Julie & Julia while in a creative-funk-crisis”.   Food doesn’t inspire her but as you can see clothing surely does!

I hope Marissa has inspired you to tap into your creative side.  May it be food, clothing or decorating I am sure you have something special to offer.  What leaves you feeling creative?

As moms most of us get overworked, overwhelmed and high strung from time to time.  Others may feel that way all the time.  Well it is time to relax and that doesn’t have to require a lot of energy or preparation.

Take a look at some of the great ideas other mom bloggers have:

Katy from Katy’s Daily Smack has some great ideas aimed at single moms but really they are good for all of us.   This is a nice variety of simple ideas. Check out “Solitude Ideas For Single Moms”.

Rachel over at Rachel’s Cottage House has an entire series on relaxation tips.  I think you could almost get lost in these ideas  Scrubs, facials, teeth whitening, Oh My! Get ready for some home pampering with Rachel.

Lisa at The Well Grounded Life has a true to reality post about losing track of yourself and creating a “me-time menu”.  I love the ideas she puts forth and you won’t want to miss  her post.  While it can be difficult to find me-time maybe we should all just schedule it and save the hassle.

Jill from Jill Savage has some great ideas for reducing stress with No-Cost Exercise.  Exercise is not only going to reduce immediate stress but will help your health and provide some long term stress reduction.  Give yourself the gift of good health while you reduce your stress level.

Just for fun I thought I would add myself to the list.  You can check out how to make an affordable Mini Home Spa over at My Red Apron.  I love this littl spa I created and I often hide away in the bathroom for awhile just to unwind.

I hope this gives you a few resources for the next time you want to scream “I need a mom moment”.  Don’t scream just take a few minutes and do something good for yourself.  Remember that old saying “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”.  Taking care of you will be rewarding for both you and your family.

Last year, our family came face to face with the reality of our finances.  We were spending more than we made and we were up to our eyeballs in debt.  I didn’t have any idea how we could save money on our every day purchases and expenses, but I knew we had to try!  I spent hours and hours online and discovered a whole new world, the world of frugal mom bloggers.  Over the last year, our finances have radically changed.

I’ve learned how to stretch our  budget and with these great blogs you can learn how to stretch your budget as well!

1. Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom is chock full of some of the best advice you’ll find about saving money.  The site includes store specific deals and coupon matchups, free samples,  and lots of great info help you learn to budget and meal plan.  It’s also an incredibly inspiring blog.  Crystal and her husband have lived frugally for quite some time and have now saved up enough money to pay cash for their first house!

2.  Keeping the Kingdom First

Keeping the Kingdom First is a great place to start if you want to make the most of the “drugstore” game.  Each week Alyssa hosts both a CVS $5 Challenge and a Walgreens $5 Challenge where she shares a few transactions which require you to spend less than $5 out of pocket while earning Extra Care Bucks (CVS) or Register Rewards (Walgreens) to use during the next week. (I had the privilege of meeting Alyssa in February at Disney World.  She was the first blogger I met “in real life”.  She’s as wonderful in person as she is on her blog.)

3.  Bargain Briana

Bargain Briana not only covers grocery store deals, she also includes deals at stores like Victoria’s Secret, Home Depot, and Old Navy.  Bargain Briana is also home to the Frugal Map, which allows you to find frugal bloggers in your state!

4. Hip 2 Save

Colin at Hip2Save is a young mom whose husband serves in the Marine Corps.  I don’t know how she does it, but she manages to not only have tons of great deals on her website, but she also does a weekly “Follow Me Monday” video which followers her on one of her frugal adventures!

5. Deal Seeking Mom

Deal Seeking Mom is full of coupons, deals, and freebies.  Tara has an incredible coupon database which is extremely useful when you are looking for a specific coupon.  She also regularly lists free Amazon Kindle downloads!

6.  Nickels-N-Dimes

Becky over at Nickels-N-Dimes is one of those people who is always giving to others.  She has put on numerous charitable events (like her annual school supply drive) which allow people to make use of the items they’ve stockpiled while helping people in the community! In 2009, she was given the Hometown Hero award for her contributions in helping her community save money as well as her involvement in the community!

7.  Money Saving Methods

Money Saving Methods is not your average deal site.  Carrie covers various ways to earn money, not just save money.  I’ve made money by opening new bank accounts and mystery shopping thanks to Money Saving Methods!

8.  The Freebie Blogger

I’m sure you can probably guess what The Freebie Blogger blogs about…freebies!  Every day there are new freebies added to the list. You’ll find magazine subscriptions, music download, free grocery and beauty items, and more!

9.  Cuponeando

Cuponeando is the premier frugal blog for the Latina community.  This site is written entirely in Spanish, although there is a button on the right sidebar that will translate the site into English for you.  Yolanda not only includes nationwide deals, but she also includes deals in Puerto Rico.

10. Simplified Saving

The author of Simplified Saving is charming and witty and…oh, right, it’s me!  If for no other reason, I think I should make the top ten list because my husband and I have been able to pay off over $50,000 of debt in less than 18 months (and most of what enabled us to pay off that much debt is knowledge from the aforementioned  blogs).

There’s nothing like getting more than what you’ve paid for and even though you’re not paying for this info, I thought I’d throw in a little bonus anyway.  Here are 10 more great Money Saving Blogs for moms!

• Mommy Snacks
• Mama’s Money Savers
• Good Deal Mama
• Couponing to Disney
• Cha-Ching on a Shoestring
• Coupon Geek
• Free Is My Life
• Frugal Femina
• Stretching A Buck
• The Centsible Life

Free stuff will be available in neighborhoods all over America on May 15, 2010. It’s an event Mike Morone is hoping to establish world-wide twice annually. The event could eventually help millions, while diminishing landfills, reducing clutter, and boosting the economy.

Many of us own valuable stuff we just don’t want anymore. But instead of giving it away or selling it, we allow it to clutter our households and businesses. Billions of great items are just wasting away, taking up space.

Wouldn’t it be cool if we could magically shift ownership of this stuff, in one weekend, coast to coast, with zero effort, little time, and at no cost?

Cool happens on May 15, 2010. It’s called Give Your Stuff Away Day and it will work (almost) like magic, as long as we promote the idea and follow common sense procedures.

On May 15, bring your valuable, but unwanted stuff to your curb. Some guidelines – no trash, recyclables, illegal or dangerous items. No food, drugs, chemicals, or weapons. Just safe, valuable items we would like to donate. Then watch the fun – or better yet, take a walk and find some free stuff you can use.

A few warnings: Give Your Stuff Away Day can get a bit messy, but it’s worth it. Trash hauling expenses could spike that week. But in the long run, fewer items in landfills equate to lower hauling expenses.

Local governments won’t like it – until they understand how beneficial it can be. Last month, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell became the first elected official to understand that. Read about it here, and please call Mike Morone if you would like to discuss this event.

Brand new movies are great! It’s so much fun standing in line at the theater, breathing in the buttery popcorn smell, giddy with anticipation when a new movie is released.

My children love watching the latest and greatest movies, but I just grin when I hear my children singing the songs I used to sing as a kid – “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” or “Tomorrow”. Hearing their little off-key renditions is the best music to my ears.

Have you introduced your children to the movies you enjoyed when you were younger?

Swiss Family Robinson (1960) Buy it on DVD: Swiss Family Robinson

The Robinson family gets shipwrecked near an island. With hard work and togetherness, they build a majestic tree house. They are faced with many trials – wild animals, weather, and pirates, but their ingenuity carries them through. Great family values!

The Parent Trap (1961) Buy it on DVD: The Parent Trap

Twin daughters are raised not knowing about each other, each living with one parent. They unexpectedly bump into each other at summer camp, put two and two together, and work out a scheme to get their parents back together again. This movie is just plain good fun.

Mary Poppins (1964) Buy it on DVD: Mary Poppins

Mr. and Mrs. Banks are both so preoccupied with their own interests that their children, Jane and Michael are unhappy. When the magical nanny, Mary Poppins enters their lives, she brings the family closer. Between the penguin scene, the chimney sweep dance, and the magic, your children will be entranced.

The Sound of Music (1965) Buy it on DVD: The Sound of Music
The hills are alive with the sound of music. Your home will be alive with the sound of music once your kids watch this one.

Annie (1982) Buy it on DVD: Annie
Oh, how we love Annie! The music, the dancing, the wealthy Mr. Warbucks, and a happy ending. It doesn’t get much better than that!

These five movies are a must in every family library. Share the memories, and sing the tunes. It’s ok if you’re a little off-key. I won’t tell.

Don’t miss Show Kids The Fun – a fun site to inspire parents to keep the lines of communication open with their children, making memories that last a lifetime.

Mother’s Day is a treasured holiday that each year is celebrated with an overabundance of flowers, brunch reservations, and sappy cards intended to give moms across the nation a little well-deserved recognition. But today’s moms are drastically different than the pearl necklace and high-heel wearing housewives of yesteryear. Women have careers to juggle while simultaneously catering to their families and upholding a decent social life. Traditional gender roles are being challenged on a daily basis with the frequency of single moms, stay-at-home-dads, and the complex uniqueness of the modern family. As meaningful as traditions can be, the modern mom’s idea of a day devoted to her has changed from what it was twenty years ago.

So, it’s time to catch up with the trends and give Mother’s Day a renewed jolt. Think about your mom’s unique interests and try something unusual. Here are a few ideas that have become high demand activities of the modern woman. [Read more...]

Mom’s Talk Network is pleased to welcome the Schmoozins blog into their small but growing network of Mom Blogs.

Future plans include publishing mom focused product and website reviews as well as implementing a recognition award for products created by or for moms.

If you’d like to see your product or site featured here for moms to find, just leave a comment and we’ll be in touch.