Friday, October 30, 2009

Great Pumpkin Craft Idea


Here's a GREAT way to combine your football spirit AND help that pumpkin live past Jack-o-lanturn season!

Just take acrylic paint and paint the outside to look like your team's (hopefully it's UGA) helmet. The one pictured below even has a bulldog face painted inthe helment. CUTE! No need to throw these pumpkins away as they will last for weeks - at least until the DAWGS make it to the Sugar Bowl in January. For more great Halloween craft ideas, vivist: http://www.thekendalcompanies.com/CraftHowTos.html

Countdown to UGA/FLA .....


(Me and my dad)

Okay, so most of you probably could care less about college football when you're stressing over finishing that homemade costume you just HAD to make from Martha Stewart - but, at our house, we bleed red and black and I had to make a shout out!

Cross your fingers for us.....!

New TOBY KEITH Contest .....



Found this contest while scanning my emails this morning - can't hurt to enter!

"If you're the grand prize winner, you and up to 100 of your friends will get a private backyard concert hosted by Toby Keith!

..... and a 2010 Ford F-150."


http://fordvehicles.emipowered.net/americastoughesttour/register/index.php?EmailID=09q4_ford_nxxb_tk_sw&srcCode=312496-006&cks=41651010206

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Blessings......



Count What you HAVE
as opposed to
What you WISH you had



Instead of counting your "need -tos," "have-tos" and "must-dos," try counting your dreams, your desires and....your blessings. It's much easier to be inspired by what you do have than what you don't have.

I want to take a quick minute to count my own blessings, in hopes to inspire you when collecting your own.

I am blessed with a wonderful family - we are healthy, live close to each other and each household is blessed to be surviving in these uncertain times.

I am blessed to be able to stay at home with my children and watch them grow into beautiful, independent ladies.

I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who provides a beautiful home and comfortable life-style for us all.

I am blessed to be surrounded by a wonderful group of friends - both old and new.

I am blessed to be able to share my own loves, hopes and dreams with others through this website.

I am blessed to have so much support from all of you!

Leave a comment on how you are blessed.....

Another great Giveaway I found! $100 Sam's Gift Card

Check this out! A great way to get your Sam's Membership and save during the shopping season! Be sure to  FOLLOW her blog too - she has quite a savvy way about her - which you KNOW I like!

Christmas shoppers, start your engines…$100 Sam’s Club Gift Card giveaway – FOUR winners!!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Our First Comment Contest - Ladybugs, Ladybugs EVERYWHERE!


It's that time of year again - the ladies are on the move - into my house! Every year we have this problem and every year I vaccuum up millions of little bodies. This year I did a search to see what else I could do as an alternate to vaccuuming them and found a HUGE list of very out-of-the-ordinary ways to dispose of these fine creatures. Just to list a few....




 - Seal them out with caulk - the south side of the house will be the side to concentrate on 
    most.
 - For those inside just gently sweep them up and let them go. Most times the are not dead,
    just sleeping.
 - The one I use - Put a clean vaccuum bag in vaccuum cleaner, vaccuum them up, then put a
    ziploc baggy over the vaccuum bag hole and allow them to go into there (vacuuming only
    stuns them not kills them) zip the bag shut
 - THE CRAZIEST - Once collected: freeze them now and thaw them later and sell them or
   freeze them now and thaw them in the spring and put them on your plants.
 - BugStop - I have used this on fruit flies and it works
 - ProZap
and on and on....



OUR FIRST COMMENT CONTEST!
What do YOU do to get rid of your ladybugs. Post a comment and I will enter you in a random drawing for a $25 SPAFINDER.COM Gift Card. Be sure to leave your email so I can get back in touch with you if  you are the winner.

For Additional Entries.....
(2 entries) Sign up to Subscribe to this BLOG - Use left sidebar
(1)  Subscribe to this Blog's FEED - use top left side bar link
(1) Read through past blog posts and leave a comment on your favorite one
(1) Join The Kendal Companies FACEBOOK GROUP
(1) Add a comment to the Facebook Group Page
(2) Visit http://www.thekendalcompanies.com/ (Our website) and Subscribe to our Newsletter
(2) Add a link to this blog on your blog
(2) Add a link to http://www.thekendalcompanies.com/ to your website or blog

That's a total of 13 possible entries! You can leave me a single comment listing each step you've completed. I will validate each one so be sure to "confirm" each subscription you receive.

BONUS: Be sure to SHARE my blog contest with others - if a new subscriber leaves me a comment that YOU recommened my site to her, I will give you an ADDITIONAL (2) entries

Contest ends November 1st at 11:59pm. Winner will be contacted by email by Friday, November 6th. Be sure to check back that Friday as a new giveaway will begin with a chance to win a set of 10 Handmade Thanksgiving and Holiday Cards. 


Veteran's Day Outreach Project

I would like to share an email  I received from the Principal at my daughter's school:







Dear Parents,



Several years ago MSHS students made Veteran’s Day cards to send to ECA friends and family members who have served or are currently serving in the military. This project was one which brought a huge response from service men and women who received those “thank you” cards. One very special card and letter came from a gentleman who served in WWII…..he stated he had NEVER received a Veteran’s Day card. His wife mailed a homemade card of thanks of her own to the school. It was a touching day for everyone involved.

This year, we would like to once again recognize service men and women, and we need your help. Please send us the name and address of any veteran or active-duty serviceman/woman that you know. This may be done by simply replying to this email or by sending a hard copy of addresses! Students will prepare cards which will be mailed next week. Please make sure you have the correct address to help ensure proper delivery. Replies to this email will go to Mrs. Pickens in the MSHS office. She will make sure your friend/family member is added to our list. Thank you in advance for supporting this worthwhile effort to recognize those who have served in defense or honor of our freedom!

Paige H. Lochridge
Excel Christian Academy
Principal



What a WONDERFUL idea! My brother served in the Marines in Bagdad at the beginning of the war so this runs near and dear to my heart. If you have someone you'd like the children to send a card to - please send or post me the info. Let's tell thoe who sacrificed for us how much we appreciate it!

This week's trip to Walgreens...

Monday morning I posted all my shopping savings for this week. Since the closet Walgreen's store is about 20 minutes away, I didn't get over there until yesterday. Here's the breakdown:

Total Regular Purchase Price: $71.82
Total Sales Savings :$19.52
Total Walgreens Coupons Used:$8.58
Total MFG Coupons Used (you can stack these with Walgreen's own coupons for double savings):$28.80
Total Saved: $56.90
I used $23 of last weekend Register Rewards and earned $4 more: $27
Total out of pocket: $12.08

Real Blondes Can Take A Joke....


As a natural blonde myself - I can take a joke every now and then and this joke is perfect for the Fall season! Enjoy!

For more on my tolerance with Dumb Blonde Jokes, click the link below and scroll down about halfway down the page.

Kendal's Secret Link....

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Pickin' The Pumpkin' - Like Mother, Like Daughter...

FILE IT UNDER RANDOM (because this post totally is!)


This story is for my mother who jokes that when retailers see me pull up, they mark whatever it is I am looking for on sale - in reality, I am just a savvy shopper. Well.....seems my daughter Grace has picked up a few savvy spending skills herself. Read on to see what I mean:

Of course, with a six year old, we had to go out pumpkin searchin' this past weekend. The weather was beautiful and it only took 3 visits to 3 differnet places for Grace to pick one (sounds like me going to 3 different grocery stores to see who has butter on sale!).....After searching and searching she finally picked the one she liked best. Can you guess which one it was? Keep reading to find out.



                                                                              (ABOVE): At Pettit Creek Farms - Prices vary form $10 to $50

  (Okay, I snuck this one in from when she was 1 - I just love it too much!)  Burt's Farm in Ellijay Price Vary from $10 to $50       
               
Also took Grace, her best friend Erin and my nephew Will to the Country Club for the annual Halloween Festival......


.....where they won LOVELY Goldfish (thanks for that one, lol)

Decide which one she picked yet?

...Nope......(This one was $25)

....so, back to the "Like Mother, Like Daughter" story. After two hours and three trips, my beautiful, savvy shopper Grace finally picked her pumpkin.....Scroll Down to See......







The $0.69 one from Burger's Market - GOOD GIRL!

Now, if I can only get her older sisters to stop asking for those Coach Shoes we will be good! Happy Pumpkin Shoppin'
For more info on the places we visited, click their links below:

Monday, October 26, 2009

Last Minute Coupon Sales and Coupons

Since many of you asked for a direct link.....Here's the link to all the Halloween candy sales with links to printable coupons I told you about earlier today.......http://www.southernsavers.com/2009/10/candy-deals-round-up-last-week/

Sunday Night is for SHOPPING!

I can't wait for Sundays to roll around when the new sales/rebates start at my favorite stores. Last week I posted my FABULOUS savings ($13 for over $400 worth of products!). This week's specials weren't so great but I still did load up on savings. See my break out below:


CVS SHOPPING OCTOBER 25th
Summary Total at Regular Price $78.60
Total Sale Price Saved $19.51
Total Coupons Used $37.54
Total ECB Earned $17.00
TOTAL OUT OF POCKET $4.55
Total CVS Savings $74.05

What did I get for $4.55?
2 Dove Body Wash (reg $8.99 each - final cost to me -3.50 each)
2 Dove Deodorants (reg. $3.50each - final cost to me - 1.00 I MADE $)
2 Boxes Raisin Bran (reg $4.49 each - final cost to me $1.25 per box)
4 cans Campbell soup (reg $1.49 each - final cost to me FREE)
Palmolive Dish Soap (reg $1.69 - final price to me .72)
Aveeno Shampoo (reg- $7.49 - final price to me $4.00)
4 Mentos Gum (reg. 1.69each - final price to me .44)
Gillette Razor (reg. 9.99 - final price to me .99)
Real Simple Mag (reg. 499 - my cost 3.99)
Halls Cough Drops (reg 2.59 each - my cost 2.59 for both)

I used a $5 off $25 coupon and last week's ECB and, although ultimately it cost me $4.55 - I actually paid $0 out of pocket yesterday by using the ECB.

Cool huh?

Summary of other receipts:
Publix - Total at Regular Price: $23.73
Sales/Coupons Used: $17.03
ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET: $ 6.70

I bought 1 of the B1G1 Free products, plus used my $.01 PUBLIX coupon (Free Greenwise Toilet Paper) - Went home with the TP, 2 boxes cookies, 2 Wet Ones Wipes, Box of Cheerios and a Lysol Spray.

Rite Aid - Total at Regular Price: $ 66.16
Sales/Coupons: $39.51
Rebates Earned: $11.00
ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET: $15.65
Total saved at Rite Aid $50.51

I went home with:
Febreeze (reg 5.99 - final cost to me $1.49)
2 bags Halls Cough Drops (reg 2.49each - final cost to me $0.50each)
Vaseline Sheer Lotion (reg 6.99 - final cost to me - .99)
St Ives Scrub (reg. 5.29 - final cost to me .01)
Crest Toothpaste (reg. - 4.49 - my cost 3.99) - Only bought to get the free mwash
Scope Mouthwash (reg 4.69 - FREE WITH PURCHASE)
(2) 2pk TONE soap (reg 2.99 each - my cost .49each)
2 GE Light bulb pk (reg 4.49 each - my cost FREE)
Always 80ct Liners (reg. 6.99 - my cost 3.49)

Off to Ingles today....I'll report back later. LOTS of coupons expire this SATURDAY, esp. the Proctor & Gamble ones - so be sure to check yours and see what's on sale this week you can stock up on!

UPDATE: Ingles Shopping trip #1
I had my 6 year old with me so I didn't have the patience to get my entire list, but I did cruise the cleaning isle...I bought things that were not on sale (See Rule #1) but I had too many B1G1 Free coupons expiring...

Total @ Regular Price: $41.16
Advantage Sale savings: $1.16 (unusual for me but I had coupons expriring)
Coupons Used: $16.24
Doubled Coupons $ .50
Total Spent: 25.90
Total savings $15.26

What did I get for $15.26?
Clorox Bleach - Not on sale but I had to have it today
4 Casacde Rinse Aid (reg. $2.15 - my cost 1.15each)
Swiffer Duster Kit (reg 4.31 0 my cost 2.31)
2 Pilsbury Cinn. Rolls (reg 2.08 each -  my cost .50 each)
Goldfish Food - Another must have
2 Mr. Clean Erasers (reg 2.98 each - my cost 1.49each B1G1)
2 Swiffer Shine (reg 3.78 each - my cost 1.89 each B1G1)
Mr. Clean w/Febreeze (reg 3.26 - Purchase for FREE item)
Mr. Clean Spray (reg-2.98 - my cost FREE)

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Inspiration Overload

Inspiration Overload

A Great Give Away From a New Blog I Found.....

Check out this blog I discovered this weekend and enter to win a cute homemade Christmas Notebook....


From the site:


"In honor of my Simple, Frugal Christmas series, I am giving away a Christmas notebook, handmade by yours truly! The one pictured above is mine (sorry), new and improved! I loved it so much I decided to make another for one of you.Inside, you'll find all you need to prepare for Christmas. I've also included a cute pen and a Christmas shopping pad!"


Check out her entire blog while you are there registering. I really like it!


Another one I found today is a new blog: http://www.themotherhuddle.com/ VERY CUTE and right up my alley!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Halloween Newsletter Released Today


The Kendal Companies Halloween Edition Newsletter came out today - if you aren't a subscriber, click the link below to view (and sign up for future editions). Enjoy!



Thursday, October 22, 2009

Coupon mania!

In getting ready for Southern Savers.com Coupon Workshop here in Cartersville on March 27th, I'm going to repost some of my past coupon shopping break-downs and shopping post. This post is originally from Ocotber 22, 2009




Okay Ladies (and fellows) - You all have heard me talk about saving money over the past few weeks and some of you have been asking me to show you how I have been saving using coupons and rebate programs since I found http://www.southernsavers.com/. The easiest way is for you to visit the site and read her blog for the details (it's FREE). I WILL show you copies of my actual receipts and break it down for you so you can see that it CAN be done.












Below are this week's shopping totals (not including groceries which I will list separate).

Step One - BUY ONLY ITEMS ON SALE
Total of Purchases @ Regular Price: $425.22
Total Purchases at the SALE PRICES $331.86
Money Saved By ONLY BUYING ON-SALE ITEMS: $93.36
Gives us a Total of $331.86 before coupons and rebates
Step Two: ONLY BUY FOR WHICH YOU HAVE A COUPON:
Total of Purchases (from above) $331.86
Total of Coupons Used: $140.44
New Total After Sales and Coupons: $191.42

Step Three: Purchase Items that Give you Rewards Bucks (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid all offer some type of rebate. Products change every week)
Starting Total after sale price and coupons (from above):$191.42
Total Rebates Earned:$110.96
New Total: $80.50

Step Four: Use Special Offers and Mail in Rebates. This week I transferred two prescriptions and got (2) $25 Gift cards, plus (2) $5 SC Johnson Mail-in Rebates, one $1.99 Sure Deodorant Rebate and one $5 off $25 purchase Coupon
Total Rewards Bucks and Rebates: $66.99
New Total after buying at sale price, using coupons, using/earning reward bucks and using special offers and mail in rebates: $13.51
TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COST THIS WEEK: $13.51
So - If I had purchased everything at full price without using anything, it would have cost me $425.22 Instead I paid only $13.51. I have scanned some of the receipts so that you can see what all I got for my $13.51. I am stocked up on toothpaste, shampoo, cereal, laundry soap, TONS of items (see the picture of my storage cabinet).
NOW - you tell me....is it worth another look at coupons?
//www.southernsavers.com/ is FREE and No, I don't get paid to tell you about her - I just love to pass on great info I try myself. Think of me as your very own Good Housekeeping Seal Test Mom. I will tell you - it does take TIME to cut and organize the coupons. But the website tells you exactly whats on sale, what coupon to use (sometimes there is even a link to print one out) AND you can "click and print" your own personalize shopping list for each store.
As for groceries - the grocery stores don't have rebate programs like the drug stores, but there is a system to get the lowest price for each item. A great website that explains it is http://www.couponmom.com/. Southern savers does list each week's sales and coupons for you so use her for your shopping list, but check out http://www.couponmom.com/ for the "hows and whys" of shopping for groceries..com

My Ingles list this week was very long, but I saved $99.61 at the end of it all......
Post your comments on your own ways you save or if you try it out and what your experience is!
CLICK the link above to go to my site and see the item by item break down in an excel spreadsheet. It lists each receipt by:
Regular price of item
Sale Price of item
Coupon Used
Reward/rebate earned
Actual Cost for the item
and the totals for each store! It took me 3 hours so CHECK IT OUT for proof planning your shopping makes a difference!












Wednesday, October 14, 2009

This week....




Hi everyone! I had a great weekend - spent quality time with my family and had a great "girls night" out on Sat. for my birthday. Nothing like spending time with those you love to make you feel great! I have a big wedding I am catering this coming weekend so this will be the only post this week, but I wanted to let you know that a special Halloween Newsletter will be out early next week - keep an eye out for it in your Inbox.



See you next week!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

My new OBSESSION

Like I needed another one right?! Those of you that know me know that I am very loyal to the products, businesses and people I run across that I love and this new one is perfect in these times. http://www.southernsavers.com/ is a great website. Before you click over there, let me give you a short rundown so you aren't scared off! If you are like me, your family budget has been DEcreasing over the last few months. Being small business owners, my husband and I are no exception. I have always been a bargain hunter (ask my mom - she will tell you " they see her coming and mark it down!) but now I am really the bargain queen - or coupon queen. This website will teach you HOW to use those pesky coupons to get things for free, or a close as you can get. I know you've heard the stories on the news about ladies that get their week's groceries for pennies on the dollar, but it's true. You can do! Don't I sound like a commercial? You guys know me and you know I and very thorough. I have been doing this for over a month now and getting tons of stuff for nearly nothing. Check out her site. I do everyday, several times a day. It's free to everyone.

I LOVE October



Maybe it's because it brings College Football. Maybe it's the fall leaves. Maybe it's that Halloween is one of my FAVORITE holidays (after St. Pat's day - hey! I'm Irish!). OR maybe because it's my birthday!!! Anyway - I DO love October. Over the past few years I've really collected a huge Halloween decor and recipe collection. If you check my website you can find more great photos of past decor/food and craft ideas. My favorite is pictured above - My front door....all I used was a dead limb I found in the woods behind our house, one bag of fake spider web, a piece Styrofoam and a few fake roses from Hobby Lobby, and some black paint. Cutting the foam into the tombstone made a huge mess, so do that outside when you paint it and the roses. Use red roses and lightly paint the ends black (to make them look like they are dead). The kids loved it! They also loved the Witches Fingers and Toes I made from Crescent Rolls (see website for recipe). Happy Decorating!! BTW - I like real rose too - hint, hint!

Where have I been!?


Wow, How time flies! Seems like yesterday I was blogging about the warmer weather finally coming around and here it is Fall - oh wait - it WAS springtime last time I blogged! I know, I know. I preach and preach about keeping things updated and here I am months behind! Give me a little break here, I had a FULL spring/summer. Without all the gory details, let me say family just has to be put before everything else, even at the expense of other things near and dear to your heart.


Now that things at home are back to normal (whatever that is!) I can get back to my website and this blog. I've got a couple of new obsessions since I last blogged ( http://www.sothernsavers.com/ being top on the list) and I want to fill you in on those as soon as possible. Give me a few days to get it together and check back here to find out what they are. In the meantime, feel free to roam over to my website as it IS updated for the season and full of great new pictures and ideas for making life a little simpler. Read below for a excerpt from the home page.......


FROM http://www.thekendalcompanies.com/........ Fall is here and with the cooler weather, it's time to enjoy the outdoors without baking in the Georgia humidity and heat! But let me ask you a question? Do you find it hard to sit down and enjoy these pretty afternoons? Does your mind race with all the things on your "to do" list? If you have been following our Simple Life Series then you KNOW how it feels to sit on the porch swing and suddenly realize, you have nothing hanging over your head but the warm sun and the fresh breeze! If not, then it's time to get moving!

Before you know it the holidays will be here and your days will be
busier than any other time of the year and more clutter will be coming INTO your life, not just in the form of wrapping paper and presents, but in the form of stress as well.


What is the Simpler Life Series?

Our Simpler Life Series will guide you towards a clearer mind and soul. Each step will motivate you to move on from your past and towards what really matters today. If you aren't ready to tackle YOU yet, tackle your stuff instead! Our 10 Things you Can Do RIGHT NOW will help you jump start your de-cluttering! Want something even simpler? Try reducing the clutter that comes in and out of your home and begin living more "green," by clicking here for ways to start being more earth friendly.

However you start making changes to your life , just start. Just like in the lottery, if you don't play, you can't win - and de-cluttering your life is defiantly a win. Once you have the ball rolling taking care of your "stuff", sit down and take stock of yourself as well. Instead of counting your "need -tos," "have-tos" and "must-dos," try counting your dreams, your desires and....your blessings. It's much easier to be inspired by what you do have than what you don't have.

Once again, thanks for your patience through the summer and I hope to be more on top of things as the holidays approach. Love you all! K