FREE Event: Home Depot Kids Workshop Saturday June 2nd

Vocalpoint: Tide Pods FREE Sample

Are you a Vocalpoint member?  If not, you should be!  They offer plenty of great coupons and free samples on a regular basis.

Right now, you can request a FREE Sample of the new Tide Pods Laundry detergent.  Even though I make our own detergent, I like samples like these to send to college students or just randomly hand out when people visit my house {no joke, I've been known to send people home with bags of things}.

Be sure when requesting free samples or coupons that you're using an e-mail address specifically for freebies.  AND be sure to always check the package when the sample arrives to make sure that you snag any coupons included with it.

Your sample should arrive in 5-7 weeks.  Hopefully you have a plan for your dirty laundry between now and then.

Reward Points: Pampers Gifts to Grow {10 Points}

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading

We LOVE Summer Reading programs in the Queendom.  In fact, the Eldest Princess spent most of the afternoon of her 2nd official day of summer reading while the Youngest Princess napped.  From the local library to many book stores, it seems as if there's always a program that offers perks to your little ones for keeping their minds sharp and their imaginations engaged during the summer months.  Our library also offers prizes for adults, too.  WOOHOO!

Barnes and Noble's Summer Reading program is very easy and yields your child a FREE book for their efforts this summer.  Simply read any 8 books, record them in B&N Reading Journal {print it out here or snag one in stores}, bring it into the store and your kiddo can get a free book from the Summer Reading Collection.  I'm not totally in love with the titles offered but I think there's one or two the Eldest Princess will want to snag.

There's also a free downloadable Summer Reading Kit with Fun Activities.  Ok, so I don't know if they're fun or not but the site says they are.  We'll have to try one out and get back to you.  It might be only mildly amusing.  You never know.

Thanks Lady Jennifer of Stretching a Buck!

Amazon: The Everything Food Allergy Cookbook {FREE!}

I know this one is going to make some of you do a big 'ole happy dance!

The Everything Food Allergy Cookbook: Prepare easy-to-make meals--without nuts, milk, wheat, eggs, fish or soy (Everything (Cooking)) is currently available FREE for download on Amazon.  Regularly it's priced at $15.95!  That means if you want to snag this deal I'd do it now before they mark it back up.  Currently it's priced at $0.00 but with Amazon this could change any second.

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Monday Meal Plan

Yes I know it's Tuesday.  Yes I know I took an extended weekend off from blogging.  But if it comforts you at all, while I wasn't bringing you deals and freebies or frugal advice but I was having a fabulous time with my friends and family {including a quick trip to Cincinnati to visit college friends we see EVERY year about this time}.  The King of Free and I also hit IKEA and picked up a fabulous new desk all of my very own.  I redesigned my workspace and reorganized a ton.  And we worked for a very long time in our huge hot yard {2 showers, 5 shirts for me in the span of 1 day!}.  Just so you don't think I was sitting around in my pjs picking my nose while not blogging.  Ha!

We're blessed to have TWO pitch in dinners this week {Do you say pitch in, carry in, potluck or something else?  I've heard that Indiana is one of the only places that refers to such meals as pitch-ins.  Is this a new term for out of state readers?}.  Seriously, how awesome is that?!  So here's what else is on the Royal Table this week.

Tuesday:  Grilled Chicken
                 Baked Sweet Potatoes
                 Roasted Green Beans
                 Corn on the Cob
                 Sliced Strawberries

Wednesday:  Pitch In with the 5th/6th Grade Leadership Team from Our Church
                      I'm bringing a fruit salad and fresh cut veggies.

Thursday:  Pitch In with Our Bible Study Group
                    Not sure what I'm making yet.

Friday:  Homemade Pizza
              topped with Turkey Pepperoni, Baby Portabella Mushrooms, Onion, and Spinach
              Salad
              Homemade Breadsticks
              Grapes

Saturday:  Lunch: Leftovers
                   Dinner: Black Bean Tacos
                                 Salad
                                 Apple Slices

Sunday:  Lunch: Something crockpotty but I haven't decided what yet.  :)
                Dinner:  Grilled Veggies
                               Leftovers
                               Grilled Cheese
                               Grapes
                        

FREE Betty Crocker Spring Recipe Cook Booklet

You can download a FREE Best of Spring 2012 Betty Crocker Recipe Cook Booklet right now {in PDF form}.

Thanks Lady Mercedes of Common Sense with Money!

6 Ways to Save on Birthday Parties

Exquisite and complicated themes, expensive favors, and of course mouth watering catered food.  No I'm not talking about this summer's hottest premiere party or even a grand wedding.  Most of these things are now featured at your average three year old's birthday party.  People, it's getting a little ridiculous out there.  But the good news is that you can stop the madness.  The great over-the-top birthday fiasco can stop with YOU.

Here are a few of my favorite tips for saving while still celebrating:

• Limit the number of friend fetes.  You can choose to limit the number of "friend" birthday parties that you allow your children to have.  We celebrate "big" birthdays with friends 1, 5, 10, and eventually 16; however the off years are spent celebrating with only our families and a few close family friends.  Limiting the number of parties you throw cuts down on expense as well as the ugly too much birthday monster {haven't you read that Berenstain Bears Book?}.  

• Fancy napkins, plain plates.  No need to buy every single matching party item.  Let your child choose their favorite character based napkin and then get plain or generic items to coordinate.  Better yet, choose a number of reusable items {yay for being green and saving green!} that will match a wide array of characters.  We have a wide array of red items which match almost any theme and holiday.

• Hire cheap {or free teens}.  Still feel like you need an entertainment element to your party?  Instead of a hiring a scary and expensive clown, consider hiring your babysitter or a local high school athlete to keep the kids occupied.  From baseball players to cheerleaders, from aspiring artists to garage bands, many high schoolers in your community are wildly talented and unemployed.  See if you know someone who fits your theme and then invite to come and entertain. Whether they're good with pets or a paintbrush, one thing's for sure, they're cooler than you are and hungry for work.

• Keep it Simple.  We'll call it the KIS principle because I don't think you're stupid.  One Google search or Pinterest inquiry will prove that birthday parties are wildly popular and perhaps a little OOC {out of control, I'm all over the acronyms}.  Ask your kiddo if a big party is really what they want.  You might be able to take one friend to the Children's Museum or even King's Island with what you'd spend on a party.  What are your true options?  

• Budgeting Fun.  Last summer for her 9th birthday, the Eldest Princess managed her own birthday budget.  She kept track of the cash and planned the menu, decorations, and even cake from the cash budget that we gave to her to manage.  It was a fabulous learning experience and helped her sort through what was really important and what she could chuck.

• Think Outside of the Cake.  Parties don't require the Cake Boss.  Seriously, while they're cool, they're designed to be EATEN.  And as long as it doesn't end up on Cake Wrecks, your kid is going to love it.  Birthday milkshakes, a sundae bar, make-your-own strawberry shortcake, or even pancakes could possibly get the job done just as well {if not better}.  Once again, ask your kid.  Be prepared to do the crazy though as you never know what they might really want.

FREE Krispy Kreme on June 1st

I always get a little warm and fuzzy when I post about National Doughnut Day.  No it's not just because I love warm fried dough dipped in sugar {what's not to love though?}.  It's because I did a lot of graduate work regarding doughnuts.  And no, my degree didn't have anything to do with Culinary Science.  National Doughnut day has ties to the Salvation Army who's Doughnut Girl, Helen Purviance was a WWI efforts have great historical significance and hailed from Indiana.  Trust me, it's the book I'll never write but she was an interesting lady.  :)

Anywho, on June 1st, 2012 regardless of your historical knowledge of the doughnut, you can score a free one at participating Krispy Kreme Restaurants.  It appears to be one per customer so everyone in your family should be able to enjoy the tasty goodness in stores.  I will try to remember to give you a reminder on or close to June 1.

With any restaurant food freebie, I strongly encourage you to call your location to make sure that they are indeed participating.  Lord knows we wouldn't want you going all crazy over no free doughnuts, mmkay?

Thanks Lady Bargain Briana!

Amazon: FREE My Sketch App