11 Goals for 2011

Happy 2011

I love the challenge of a new year.  I love the fresh start…it feels like we get a d0-over.  At the end of  2009 I sat down and wrote out my goals for 2010 and for the first time in my life, I actually kept some of my resolutions.

I’ve learned that in order to get anywhere, you need to have a plan.  I’ve been working diligently on this plan for the last few weeks.  I think I finally have goals and a plan to go with it!

1.  Read through the entire Bible in 90 Days. (I know it’s not a yearly goal, but my intention is to read the Bible in it’s entirety every year! I’ll just consider it a bonus that I finished 9 months early.  And maybe I’ll read it twice like I did last year!  Not only will I be reading the  Bible in 90 days but I also have the privilege of being a Bible in 90 days Mentor!)

2. Complete 3 half marathons.  Run at least 1 of those half marathons without walking.  (I have a training schedule planned out, now I just need to decide which half-marathons I’m going to do).

3.  Exercise 14,600 minutes.  (This breaks down to 40 minutes of exercise a day or 280 minutes a week.  I’m going to shoot for 60 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, so I will hopefully be able to reach this goal.)

4. Finish our house.  Complete all our remodeling projects and make it look cute.  (I have a list…and it’s long, but I think it’s doable!)

5.  Double the amount of money we put into our savings account each month. (Every month, I have money automatically moved from our checking account to our savings account.  This year, I’ve doubled that amount.  We’re going to have to be more intentional about our spending this year in order to save more. See #6)

6.  Go back to a cash envelopes budgeting system.  (When we were working hard to get out of debt, we used a cash envelope system for most things.  Somewhere down the line, we decided that using our debit card and getting rewards was just as good as using cash.  We’ve lived within our means, but I think that switching to a cash envelopes system will definitely help)

7.  Lose 55 more pounds.  This should put me pretty close to my goal weight. (I joined WeightWatchers.com® and am really excited about their new Points Plus program.  I’m also planning to start posting a Losing It post each Friday. Some online accountability will also come in handy!)

8.  Post 1 recipe per month on my blog.  (Last year my goal was to try new recipes and this year, I’ve decided to share some of my recipes with you.  I’m always so inspired when I see recipes that someone else has made that are easy, tasty, and healthy!)

9.  Declutter…at least 730 things. (That’s an average of 2 things a day and would really help me with goal number 4.  I’m not sure how I ended up with so much stuff, but life would be a lot less stressful with less stuff.)

10.  Go to bed before 10pm 5 nights a week.  (One of the best ways I can serve my family is to get to bed at a decent time.  I’m a disaster when I don’t have enough sleep and then I’m less productive and everyone else suffers for it.  I may even try to get in bed before 9 some nights!)

11. Attend at least 2 blogging conferences. (I just found out today that I won a ticket to Blissdom! So if you know of anyone looking for roomies, send them my way!)

I really want to be intentional this year….in my relationship with God, my family, my job, my blog, my health.  I’m planning on saying no more often to things like sugar, laziness, and late nights online and saying yes more to fruits, veggies, exercise, and family fun time!  I’m excited to see what God has in store for this year!

What about you? Any goals for the New Year?

{This post is linked to Top Ten Tuesday}

Ten Ways To Earn Swagbucks

Search & Win

I’m always looking for ways to stretch a dollar and one of my favorite ways is Swagbucks! Swagbucks is a website that rewards you for searching the web and for other little tasks.  They pay you in “Swagbucks” which can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, and even money in your PayPal account.  I usually redeem my Swagbucks for Amazon gift cards (450 Swagbucks = $5 Amazon Gift Card) and I use those Amazon gift cards to pay for Christmas gifts and for little extras throughout the year.  I’m currently saving my Amazon gift cards for a camera.

There are lots of ways to earn Swagbucks and in the spirit of Top Ten Tuesday, I thought I’d put together an easy list for you!

1. Search – This seems obvious, but use it any time you look something up online.  Tell your kids and hubby to use it too.  I have one daughter who is absolutely delighted any time she wins Swagbucks while doing her homework.

2.  Toolbar – If you haven’t downloaded the Swagbucks toolbar yet, you need to do it.  Not only does it make searching easier, but TSG (The Swag Guy) often posts codes that are exclusive to the Toolbar.

3.  Take the Daily Poll - On the Swagbucks homepage, there is a Ways To Earn Tab.  Click on the tab, scroll down to Daily Poll, answer a simple question, get 1 Swagbuck.  It’s that easy.

4.  NOSO (No Obligation Special Offers) – This is also found under the Ways to Earn tab.  The NOSO will take  you through a series of offers.  You do not have to participate in any of these offers.  Simply click “No”, “Skip” or “See Next Offer”.  You will typically go through 4 or 5 of these and then will be rewarded with a Swagbuck.  It typically takes less than 30 seconds.

5. Trusted Surveys – I have never taken one of these surveys, but I visit the survey page daily because they usually give me 1 Swagbuck just for visiting the Survey page.  You can also earn larger amounts of Swagbucks for taking surveys.

6.  Swidget – If you look at the right sidebar of Simplified Saving and scroll down to the bottom, you will see a Square box that says “Swagbucks” in it.  This is called a Swidget.  Use it to check if there are any available Swagcodes. (These codes can be entered for free Swagbucks).

7.  Shop Online- I usually use a cashback site (like Ebates, Mr. Rebates, Cashbaq or Shop At Home) when shopping online, but I have found that there are times when the amount of Swagbucks I earn in the Swagbucks Shop and Earn section is worth more than the amount of cash I’d get back from one of the cashback sites.  In those cases, I shop with Swagbucks.

8.  Trade In – Recycle your old cell phones, MP3 players, video games, and video games consoles and you could be well on your way to some great new stuff!  If you’re family is anything like ours, chances are you have some old cell phones floating around.  Decrease the clutter and increase your Swagbucks.

9.  Refer friends – When your friends sign up with Swagbucks using your link, not only will they earn Swagbucks, but you will earn Swagbucks as well.  You can earn up to 1000 Swagbucks per friend you refer and there is no limit to the number of friends you can refer!  It’s definitely a win-win situation!

10.  Be Social Media SavvySwagbucks is on Twitter and Facebook and they also have a blog.  They regularly post codes, so check them regularly (or just check the swidget…they’ll let you know if there is a Twitter, Facebook, or blog code out).

I hope this will help you earn more Swagbucks.  If you still haven’t signed up for Swagbucks, what are you waiting for?  Sign up here!

This post is linked to Top Ten Tuesday!

I Like to Move It, Move It! {Ten Frugal Workouts}

Over the last year, I’ve lost 65 pounds.  I’m not quite at my goal yet, but I will get there.  I’ve had lots of people ask me what I’ve done to lose the weight and my answer is always eat healthy and exercise.  It’s not glamorous, but it works.  If you’re looking for a great workout that won’t break the bank, check out these 10 frugal workouts.  Most of the workouts below are under $20 and some are FREE!  Hope you enjoy!

1.   Jillian Michaels – 30 Day Shred {Under $10}

This is my favorite!  She kicks your butt in less than 30 minutes! Amazing! {This is my current workout of choice}

2. Billy Blanks: Ultimate Bootcamp {$15-$25}

I love Ultimate Bootcamp, but then again I’ve enjoyed every Billy Blanks workout.

3. Lindsay Brin’s Shed 5 Fast with Moms Into Fitness {$15-$20}

I reviewed this a few weeks ago and it has some killer ab moves!

4.  C25K {Free}

The Couch Potato to 5K will take couch potatoes and turn them into 5k runners in less than 10 weeks. Sounds impossible, but it actually works.  During my very first run, I thought I’d die.  Now I’m amazed at how long I can run for. Best of all…this workout is free!

5. Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds Ultimate Collection {$10-$15}

This is a great option for beginners!  It’s also a great way to build up your endurance!

6. Turbo Jam Beachbody 5 Rockin’ Workouts {$10-$25}

Turbo Jam Rocks!  Every Beachbody program I’ve tried has been well done!

7.  The 200 Sit Up Workout {Free}

This is not a full body workout, but the training program will improve your ability to do situps.

8.  The 100 Push Ups Training Program {Free}

Did you know that push ups are one of the best exercises you can do?  They are great for your arms, shoulders, and core!

9.  Ride your bike! {Free if you already have a bike}

Bike riding is a great low impact workout!  The weather is cooling off and fall is a perfect time to get your bike out!

10.  Walk {Free}

Grab a friend or family member and go for a walk.  If they’re not available, that’s OK.  I love to take long walks while listening to audio books.  It makes the time fly by.

Bonus:  Dance

I love to dance and you’d be amazed at the workout you can get just by moving!  Put on your favorite music and dance around your house!

Also, keep an eye out for workout gear and DVDs at garage sales and thrift stores.  I bought the whole Power 90 DVD collection for $5 at a garage sale!

This post will be linked to Top Ten Tuesday.

Group Buying: A Frugal Solution to my Naturally Non-Frugal Nature

I’m always amazed by how naturally frugal some people are.  They cut their own hair, make all their meals at home, only shop at thrift stores and garage sales, make their own cleaning supplies and beauty products, and some even {gasp} make their own clothes.  It is admirable to be that kind of person, but unfortunately, I’m not.  I love expensive things!  I’d rather eat out then do dishes. I like to have my hair cut and colored at the best salons, I adore massages and pedicures. I’m obsessed with handbags and luggage.  If I had it my way, every piece of clothing in my wardrobe would sport a designer label. The reality is I’m a mom on a budget! It’s a little unrealistic to expect my life to be like that, however, there is a way to take advantage of some of these luxuries at a fraction of the price…Group Buying.

In the past year, group buying sites have been popping up all over the internet.  These sites allow you to purchase a gift certificate for a product, service, or experience at a deeply discounted rate if (and only if) enough other people purchase the same deal!

In the past 6 months I have purchased gift certificates to my favorite restaurant for half off, a massage at a spa I love for 54% off, a gift certificate for a facial or massage at an Aveda Spa, half price eyebrow threading, a $50 gap gift certificate for only $25, a custom hand stamped necklace for only $20 and much more!

Here are a list of 10 group buying sites you should check out and sign up for!  These sites have localized deals, but they also frequently have internet deals that will work for everyone!

  1. Groupon
  2. Living Social
  3. Adility
  4. Buy With Me
  5. Tippr
  6. Social Buy
  7. Eversave – You’ll get a $5 first time buyer credit just for signing up using this link
  8. Jasmere
  9. Deal On
  10. Certifikid

Also, make sure you share your deals with your friends.  Many of these sites offer some kind of referral credit when your friends sign up and your friends will think you’re a superhero for hooking them up with such a great deal! It’s definitely a win-win!

This post will be linked to Top Ten Tuesday, Works For Me Wednesday, Things I Love Thursday, and Finer Things Friday.

Image Credit:  iStock photo

Resolutions Revisited

This year has been flying by!  I had grand intentions of posting monthly updates on my New Year’s Resolution progress, but that obviously hasn’t happened!  Since we’re almost halfway through the year, I thought I’d give you an update on where I am this year!  Since I originally linked my New Year’s Resolutions to Top Ten Tuesday over at OhAmanda, I thought it was only fitting that I link my update!

1. Lose weight (average at least one pound/week for the year)

So far this year, I’ve lost 45 pounds!  I’ve worked my tail off, but it’s been totally worth it!

2. Exercise at least 10,950 minutes

So far this year, I’ve exercised 5,490 minutes! That’s over 91 hours!  I’m pretty sure there’s a direct correlation between the time spent exercising and the weight loss!

3. Stick to our budget…every single month!

I am horrified and ashamed to tell you that we haven’t been doing a great job of sticking to our budget.  Although we haven’t been overspending, we haven’t really been tracking like we should and we haven’t sat down for a “budget update” in months! {hanging head in shame}

4. Track all of our income and spending.

This ties directly in to the above resolution!  We definitely need to get back on track with our budget meetings and tracking our spending!

5. Read through the entire Bible.

I made it through the entire Bible, however I didn’t make it in 90 days as planned.  It took closer to 150.  I’ll be starting the Bible in 90 Days again on July 5th.  Feel free to join me!

6. Take a trip with the kids to Disney World or Disney Land.

In February, our family headed to Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference!  It was an absolutely amazing trip!  I can’t say enough good things about Disney!  I wish we could visit Disney every month!!!

7. Post at least 5 times/week on my blog.

Although there are a couple of weeks where I missed the mark on this one, for the most part, I’ve posted at least 5 times each week!

8. Try 2 new recipes per month.

I’ve tried at least 1 new recipe each month, but I’ve been in a terrible rut with our busy schedule!  Hopefully this will improve over the next few months!

9. Read 1 book or listen to 1 audiobook each week.

I’ve made it through 17 books this year (so I’m a little behind schedule), but I’ve been much more consistent lately with the audio books, so that’s definitely helped.

10. Take a creative writing or public speaking class.

I didn’t sign up for a formal class, but I did join Toastmasters.  I’ve been amazed at how much my public speaking has improved.  My husband, my mom, and my dad all joined as well and it’s been so fun to do this with them!

So there you have it!  Overall, I’m pretty happy about what I’ve accomplished so far this year!

I’d love to hear how are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions! Leave me a comment!   If you’ve blown it, it’s not too late to get back on track or start over with new goals!

Top Ten Things To Do At Disney World

Last Wednesday, we returned from a wonderful week at Disney World.  I was thrilled to be a part of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and the rest of my family was thrilled to be at Disney World.  This was my girls’ first visit to Disney World, so we stayed quite busy.  Since we’ve been home, we’ve been asked a zillion times what our favorite things at Disney World are.  We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Disney experiences. So without further ado…

Top Ten Things To Do At Disney World (as determined by our family)!

1. Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Class (Hollwood Studios) – Each 30 minute class teaches you how to draw a different Disney character (and to top it off, you get to keep your drawings.) You can’t beat free souvenirs. We skipped the movie and just went straight to the class.

2. Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios) – This has been a favorite ride of mine since it opened in 1994.

3. Toy Story Mania (Hollywood Studios) – During our Friday night dinner at Hollywood Studios, the Disney Social Media Moms (and their families got to ride Toy Story Mania over and over again.  We probably would have gone on it more times than we did, but after 5 times, my arm was hurting).

4. Everest Expedition (Animal Kingdom) – I absolutely loved this ride and so did the rest of my family! It was fun, a little bit scary, and best of all, it didn’t give me a headache like some roller coasters!

5. Kilimanjaro Safari (Animal Kingdom) – I loved the variety of cool animals we saw and were able to take pictures of.

6. It’s Tough to be a Bug (Animal Kingdom) – I totally didn’t expect to enjoy this, but since our friends were going  to see it, we joined them. I’m so glad we did.  It’s a short 3D movie and multimedia show and it’s really cool!

7. Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom) – When I think of Disney World, Space Mountain is always the first ride that comes to mind. I had to “make” one of my kids go on this ride, but after the first time, she enjoyed it so much that we rode it over and over again!

8. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom) – I was so disappointed that this wasn’t open while we were there, but that doesn’t diminish my love for it.

9. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Magic Kingdom) – This is another favorite from way back, but it was just as fun as I remembered it to be.

10. Test Track (Epcot) – I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did.  It was really fast and I loved the cool road conditions.

(Bonus: Rock N Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios) – Our girls absolutely loved this. I rode it twice and thought it was really fun, but it’s extremely loud and it jarred my head around, so it wouldn’t make my personal top 10.  Fred and the girls all think this should have made the Top 10, so I included it.)

To see more Top Ten Tuesday posts, visit Oh Amanda!

Disclosure: I paid a small fee to attend the conference, but it was drastically less than what I would have normally paid for park admission and WDW resort lodging.  Disney also provided us with great perks including gifts, meals, and a golden ticket (otherwise known as a media fast pass). Disney did not ask me to post about the conference, however since it was one of the best experiences of my life, you’ll probably see lots of posts.

Wondering Why I Didn’t Post Any Good Deals?

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I had grand intentions of posting some deals today and it didn’t happen.  I’m consoling myself (and you) with my very valid excuses reasons.

1. I woke up with a killer sinus headache and the day got off to a late start.

2. I worked all day…and left the office later then I planned.

3. My daughter’s basketball team had 2 games tonight instead of the 1 I planned on (and if I can brag a little, my daughter K scored 14 out of the 20 points her team had in the first game for a 20-2 victory!)

4. I was reading the Bible in 90 Days.

5. My husband is out of town and life is crazy without him.

6. I was talking on the phone with my husband (see #5).

7. I was daydreaming about Disney World and planning our upcoming trip.

8 I was reading about Kristen’s upcoming trip to Kenya with Compassion International.

9. I was looking at pictures of kids who need sponsors (and there are lots…so I looked for a long time).

10.  I was sponsoring 2 kids through Compassion…little girls with the same birthdays as my girls, but without all the privileges.

So that’s why I wasn’t posting deals today.  I think they’re pretty good reasons, don’t you.

And if you’re looking for a good deal…I have one for you.  You can sponsor a child for only $38 a month.  And it’s tax-deductible.

Sponsor a child in Jesus' name.

For more Top Ten Tuesday, visit Oh Amanda!

Top Ten Tuesday: New Year’s Resolutions

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It’s Top Ten Tuesday over at OhAmanda (and if you don’t read her blog already, you really need to. And just a little FYI, she’s a Disney Mom, which I totally want to be when I grow up). Ok…now on to the important things (not that OhAmanda and being a Disney Mom aren’t important, but really, this is my blog and today I’ve decided to post about what I want).

I know it’s not even Christmas yet, but I’ve been thinking about my New Year’s Resolutions quite a bit lately and this is the year that I am going to accomplish them. I’ve tried to make these goals all SMART…Specific, Measurable Attainable, Realistic, and Timely, so here they are (in no particular order)

1. Lose weight (average at least one pound/week for the year)
2. Exercise at least 10,950 minutes
3. Stick to our budget…every single month!
4. Track all of our income and spending.
5. Read through the entire Bible. (I’ll actually be reading through the entire Bible in 90 Days!)
6. Take a trip with the kids to Disney World or Disney Land
7. Post at least 5 times/week on my blog
8. Try 2 new recipes per month
9. Read 1 book or listen to 1 audiobook each week.
10. Take a creative writing or public speaking class.

{BONUS} I’d like to get more organized too, but I don’t have a good plan for that yet…

If you’d like to check out more Resolutions and Goals, head on over to The Happy Housewife.

Top Ten Tuesday: New Year’s Resolutions

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It’s Top Ten Tuesday over at OhAmanda (and if you don’t read her blog already, you really need to. And just a little FYI, she’s a Disney Mom, which I totally want to be when I grow up). Ok…now on to the important things (not that OhAmanda and being a Disney Mom aren’t important, but really, this is my blog and today I’ve decided to post about what I want).

I know it’s not even Christmas yet, but I’ve been thinking about my New Year’s Resolutions quite a bit lately and this is the year that I am going to accomplish them. I’ve tried to make these goals all SMART…Specific, Measurable Attainable, Realistic, and Timely, so here they are (in no particular order)

1. Lose weight (average at least one pound/week for the year)
2. Exercise at least 10,950 minutes
3. Stick to our budget…every single month!
4. Track all of our income and spending.
5. Read through the entire Bible.
6. Take a trip with the kids to Disney World or Disney Land
7. Post at least 5 times/week on my blog
8. Try 2 new recipes per month
9. Read 1 book or listen to 1 audiobook each week.
10. Take a creative writing or public speaking class.

{BONUS} I’d like to get more organized too, but I don’t have a good plan for that yet…

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Favorite Sites of 2009


I love the internet. Seriously…I big pink puffy heart the internet! I have no idea what I did before its existence. Although there are many sites I love and check every day, here are my 10 favorite sites that make my life better in one way or another. Without further ado… the Top Ten Sites of 2009 according to moi!

1. SwagbucksI’ve received over $100 in Amazon (and other) gift cards just for surfing the web and referring my friends to do the same!

2. Amazon – Using the gift cards I mentioned above (and some of my hard earned cash), I’ve been able to buy great Christmas gifts and much needed stuff for our house and family. The prices are great and I don’t have to leave the comfort of home.

3. (in)courage – A website full of posts that feel more like letters from a good friend. Some of my all time favorite bloggers are contributors here!

4. GirlTalk – A mom and three daughters talking about Biblical womanhood and a whole lot of other fun stuff. Prepare to be challenged!

5. Coupons.com – You can’t beat high value coupons that you can print off at your leisure. Plus, they introduce new coupons each month.

6. Mr. Rebates – It doesn’t get much better than getting money back for shopping! This cashback site is easy to use and the payouts are quite good!

7. Hotwire – You can’t beat the travel deals! Last weekend I stayed in a 3 1/2 star hotel for $49. Last fall, it was a 4 star hotel for $79 in Chicago. And there were plenty of other Hotwire hotel deals in between. Definitely the way to go for hotel rooms!

8. ShopAtHome – Another great cashback website. This site even offers cashback on gift cards. It’s almost like getting paid to shop.

9. Facebook- Admit it…we all love it and use it regularly. How would we keep track of all of those friends from elementary school without it? If you’re on Facebook, you ought to become a fan of Simplified Saving. All the cool kids are doing it!

10. Dave Ramsey – I love both the Dave Ramsey website and theMy Total Money Makeover site. I can’t say enough good things about Dave Ramsey.

This post is linked to Top Ten {Tuesday} over at Oh Amanda and Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family (both also make the cut in my fave sites!)

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Favorite Sites of 2009


I love the internet. Seriously…I big pink puffy heart the internet! I have no idea what I did before its existence. Although there are many sites I love and check every day, here are my 10 favorite sites that make my life better in one way or another. Without further ado… the Top Ten Sites of 2009 according to moi!

1. SwagbucksI’ve received over $100 in Amazon (and other) gift cards just for surfing the web and referring my friends to do the same!

2. Amazon – Using the gift cards I mentioned above (and some of my hard earned cash), I’ve been able to buy great Christmas gifts and much needed stuff for our house and family. The prices are great and I don’t have to leave the comfort of home.

3. (in)courage – A website full of posts that feel more like letters from a good friend. Some of my all time favorite bloggers are contributors here!

4. GirlTalk – A mom and three daughters talking about Biblical womanhood and a whole lot of other fun stuff. Prepare to be challenged!

5. Coupons.com – You can’t beat high value coupons that you can print off at your leisure. Plus, they introduce new coupons each month.

6. Mr. Rebates – It doesn’t get much better than getting money back for shopping! This cashback site is easy to use and the payouts are quite good!

7. Hotwire – You can’t beat the travel deals! Last weekend I stayed in a 3 1/2 star hotel for $49. Last fall, it was a 4 star hotel for $79 in Chicago. And there were plenty of other Hotwire hotel deals in between. Definitely the way to go for hotel rooms!

8. ShopAtHome – Another great cashback website. This site even offers cashback on gift cards. It’s almost like getting paid to shop.

9. Facebook- Admit it…we all love it and use it regularly. How would we keep track of all of those friends from elementary school without it? If you’re on Facebook, you ought to become a fan of Simplified Saving. All the cool kids are doing it!

10. Dave Ramsey – I love both the Dave Ramsey website and theMy Total Money Makeover site. I can’t say enough good things about Dave Ramsey.

This post is linked to Top Ten {Tuesday} over at Oh Amanda and Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family (both also make the cut in my fave sites!)