Happy early Birthday! A Kitchen Aid!

My husband got me a Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer for my birthday. I usually have a "no appliance" rule, but I did ask! I have not turned it on yet, but it looks great on my counter!

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Find Great Rates on Health Insurance

When I stayed at home, it was going to be very expensive to be added to my husband's company health insurance. I had to do some research, because you cannot be without health insurance! I read an article by Suzy Ormond that recommended FREE Health Insurance Price Comparisons for Individuals and Families. We started out with a lower deductible in mind, but with the price comparison, I was able to see what we needed and what we could afford with a company that had our doctor's on the plan. It is a smart idea to check with a company that can provide you with a large selection of health plans that allow you to compare online. If you are in need of health insurance, don't let another day go by without checking into the affordable options that are available.

eHealthInsurance - FREE Instant Quotes!

Click here to support breast cancer research by purchasing an original Breast Cancer No Excuses T-Shirt

Reusable Grocery Bags

My friend and Smart Mom Kim posted a few weeks ago about reusable shopping bags. It encouraged me to do some investigating. I search online and found Baggu bags. I received them last week and love them! I got 6 bags in my choice of colors. They fold up nicely in the provided pouch and can fit right into my purse. I have used them at the grocery store and at KMart for purchases. They are supper big and very durable. I had two six packs of root beer in one and carried it without a problem. They are too cool. I will take a pic soon, but you can see them on the website. And they are around $6 a bag. To save on average 16 throw away plastic bags a week, it is worth it... plus, the won't rip and spread your groceries all over the place!

Click here to support breast cancer research by purchasing an original Breast Cancer No Excuses T-Shirt

The Best Cleaning Steamer! Sanitize Without Chemicals!

Make this a Christmas gift to yourself! I bought the Shark Euro Steamer today and I cannot believe how clean my grout is! I bought this at a local hardware store because I heard how great steam cleaning is to sanitize your house without chemicals. I started just cleaning the tile. Then I noticed how the grout was coming cleaner, just going over it with the cleaner cloth. So I got down and got dirty! I scrubbed my grout with the metal scrubber brush and it turned back to the original color! Wow! I was quit warm, and gave myself a facial, but it was worth it! The 47 oz. of water kept going to clean the entire floor and to clean the majority of the kitchen grout. Now I am off again. I just could not pass up telling you about this. Buy yours today!

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Side Zip Pants

I understand the idea behind side zip pants- they give you a smoother front view without the bulky zipper where there is already bulk. But they are almost impossible to zip after two kids and a few extra pounds without getting some skin! (It may be chest size that causes some problems too!). I think I am going to be more careful about choosing pants from now on... back zip- that is a better idea- less bulk back there!

Click here to support breast cancer research by purchasing an original Breast Cancer No Excuses T-Shirt

Financial Whoops!

Online banking is a great thing- except when you make an error- like transfer money out of an account into another instead of transferring money in!

WHOOPS!

I was wondering what was happening to our bank account... I was sure someone had used my debit card or something, but no. It was me. A transfer the wrong direction!

A lesson learned once- and will never happen again.

And for moms that want to make money- not excuses, read more from Jean Chatzky- I just love her. She has helpful tips for women in money. Learn the eight simple things you need to know to get rich- besides paying fees for transferring out instead of in!

A Cool Mom Site

Yesterday on my way to Tampa, I was listening to XM. My favorite stations on XM are Take 5, 155, and Oprah and Friends, I think it is 156. I love the fact that I can listen to talk radio for women all day long if I want to. If you love to have a variety of music and talk with limited commercials, you should check out XM. It is affordable and convenient, especially when traveling. You never lose the station while you change cities, plus they have every kind of music- kids, country, 30's - 90's stations, and TALK!

I digressed from my original thought- it is late and I am sleepy!

So I was listening to Jean Chatsky in the car. Since I did not have my kids with me, I got to listen to whatever I wanted!! I love Jean Chatsky because she offers great financial advice. Yesterday, she was speaking to two women that started their own business for moms called Mom Space. It is a mom resource for all types of businesses and has a great mom chat group I joined tonight with lots of groups to join. I highly recommend you check it out. It is new, so it is not huge, and if you live in one of the 50+ cities they offer a lists of resources for, you may find it saves you tons of time!

Of course if you are a work at home mom, the GREATEST chat/forum is the Smart Moms forum. I am biased on this one, since I am a co-owner of it! Check them both out and join both!

Gas Price Increase

I have a little Pontiac Vibe. It is a great small car with reasonably good gas millage. Yesterday, I had to fill up for the first time in a few weeks. I live in a small town, and don't drive terribly far, especially over the last few weeks with sick kids... so I was shocked that the price here in town was $3.20. According the AAA fuel gauge report, our gas is at the top of the scale. We have added gas taxes in this town, supposedly some of the highest gas taxes in the state, but still... a little town in Florida with the highest gas prices? I was on my way on a 140 mile round trip to visit my friend and her children and I felt GUILTY! How could I go anywhere with gas prices so high?
This report that showed up on Yahoo this morning gives some great ways to increase you gas mileage. Some seem like they would not make much of a difference, but any difference can save you money and more than that, save the gas. So do your part! Save some gasoline, save some money!

Smart Mom Tips for Saving Energy

One of the largest expenses in a household is the power bill. It does not matter where you live, whether you have a mild winter or a mild summer- most places have one extreme or the other- a hot summer or a cold winter, each being able to strain a families household budget. Without being an electrician, there are some ways to lowering you electricity bill. These are simple steps you family can take to lower your bill each month and throughout the year.

1. Turn off the lights. It seems simple, but it is a hard habit to make. How many times do you walk out of a room without flipping the switch? Many times you do not even notice until the next time you come into the room, which could be hours later. Turning off the lights is the easiest no-cost way to reducing your energy bill. Also, replace your five most used light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs to save $60 each year in energy costs. These light bulbs use two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer.
2. Unplug appliances your are not using. Not only are you lowering the possibility of starting a fire, but by unplugging the appliances that are not is use, you will lower your bill. If it is plugged in, it is using electricity. Unplug the coffee pot, toaster, and the blender. If you keep these appliances on your counter, they do not have to be plugged in if you are not using them.
3. Unplug cell phone chargers and turn off power strips. Again, if is plugged in, it uses electricity. If you plug your computer, cell phone, printer, and fax all into one power strip, you can turn the power strip off when it is not in use with one click.
4. Turn the computer off: do not let it hibernate. Hibernating computers or computers on stand by are still using electricity. Again, turn them off or turn off the power strip when not in use. However, hibernation is better than being on. Set your computer to turn off if not in use, but make sure to turn it off if you will not be using it for a long period.
5. Use the microwave, crock pot, or counter top oven in the summer. Unless you want your house to heat up, do not use your oven in the summer time. By cooking meals in smaller appliances, you will decrease the amount of work your air conditioner has to do to cool the house back down. A small counter top oven (similar to a toaster oven, but better) can cook almost everything a large oven can, but it takes less time to preheat and does not heat up the entire kitchen. In the winter, you may want your house to heat up, so use the oven! Also, do not self-clean the oven in the summer time. The 500 degree temperatures really heat up the house.
6. Turn off ceiling fans if no one is in the room. Ceiling fans are great to cool a room while increasing the thermostat temperature. But if no one is in the room, it is not helping anyone. Ceiling fans are "instant gratification" appliances. They cool immediately and do not provide for a build up of cool air. Also, reverse the fan in the winter to help move the warm air around. All fans have a small switch to reverse the blade direction. That will help to move the warm air that has risen to warm the house.
7. Get window treatments. Blinds and curtains are more than a designer statement. They help keep the sun out in the summer and keep the cool air out in the winter. Even insulated windows can use the extra boost. Close the curtains and blinds at night to regulate the temperature, especially in the winter. Close the curtains during the day in the summer to keep the cool air in. Open the curtains in the winter to let the sunlight in.
8. Wash clothes in cold water. With the new cold water detergents, almost all clothes can be washed in cold water. That can lower an electricity bill by $63 in a year. Do full loads instead of partial loads. Do not do laundry during peak energy use times- when people are getting ready to go to work and when people are making dinner.
9. Do a few loads of laundry in a row. The dryer will remain warm and will not need to reheat from being cold. Do not overload your dryer since it will take more time to dry. Also be sure your the warm air is venting out of your house. If you have a utility room, close the door to keep the house from heating. Unless it is winter and then use the heat to your advantage!
10. Get a water heater blanket. This is an easy way to decrease your bill by keeping the water heater insulated. During the winter, the water heater is trying to keep up with the cool air. A blanket will keep the temperature regulated. It is so easy to install, you can do it yourself.

As a smart mom, you want to teach your children to make good choices and form good habits that will last forever. And of course, the benefit to the environment is another great reward. If needed, provide an incentive to your children for following the energy rules. The money you will save in the long room will be worth the time and effort to get your family into good habits. A little consistency and work up front will help your household over the long term.