Spare Dollars

Argan Oil: Hands Down, The Best Moisturizer I Have Found!

Megan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:23:21 +0000

I found it on Amazon for only $10!!! Click on the Text links or the picture below for that Deal...

Now if you know me, you would know that for a long time I have been a no-fuss kind of girl when it came to my skincare and makeup. However, when I hit a milestone birthday last year – no, I am not telling which one – I discovered that the easy life wasn’t happening anymore. It was time that I started paying attention before it was too late!

Now when you live in a cold-snowy-winter climate like I do, the rough, dry weather can wreak havoc on your skin. Literally, one second it feels good and the next it is screaming at you with a shrieking voice of pain. “Moisturize for goodness sake!! Don’t you love me anymore!?!?!”

So, that is where I am at with both my skin and my hair. Until, a little birdie friend popped up on Facebook and mentioned how she just loves Argan Oil …

Then, I looked that brand up.

She of course goes for the fancy one from a line of products that shall remain nameless because frankly it is way too darn expensive.

All well and good for her if she chooses, but I on the other hand am saving my what? That’s right, my Spare Dollars. I can’t spend $40 on a tiny bottle of oil.

So I went to my local grocery store (It’s about $1 cheaper on Amazon.com too!), which thankfully has a wonderful natural products selection and to my great luck they just that day got a shipment of new oils in and one of the brand new ones that they were starting to carry that very day was argan Oil, and guess what??? It was ONLY $11!!!! Can you believe it??? I totally felt like I was getting away with something! But nope, it was just my lucky day!

I of course immediately took my un-moisturized self home, washed my face and tried it out and it was FANTASTIC!!! I really do like it a lot. Not greasy, very smooth and it rejuvenates (according to argan oil experts!). Perfect. Rejuvenation is exactly what I need! Especially after a rough patch with some post-pregnancy acne that is still showing it’s effects.

I really must say, the argan oil definitely works far beyond what any of the moisturizers on the market have ever done for me. I have tried so many and so many have not lived up to the what I have seen in just one week with the Argan Oil .

Plus, it’s natural. I love anything natural that really works. Who knows how all of the chemicals in all of the products we were always told to use can affect our skin?

So you know what to do now… pick yourself up some Argan Oil and give a pump or two before bed and when you wake up and you will be all set!!

Dough Bowls, Breadboards, and Bread…. my new love.

Megan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:09:15 +0000

Before the end of my life, I wish to have a collection of dough bowls and breadboards that I myself have made. Until I learn how to use those tools necessary to make those much-loved boards, I must just admire those of others…

Here are a few I have found that are perfect in size, shape, and “rustic”appearance that I am looking for.

My goal is to find some that are unique,
and primitive looking. I would rather not buy some straight from the store that have been factory made, but in some cases, that might be necessary if they have the right look.

They also have to be seasoned properly so that they do not get rancid after food prep. I’m pretty sure a good rub down with mineral oil takes care of that, but I do have to read up some more on that.

As far as bread goes. Well, it is my favorite thing to make now. Since “Red”, my new best friend came into my life.

I have transitioned from desserts, to bread. I keep telling myself that the bread is better because it doesn’t contain the butter and sugar amounts that desserts do. But then again there is the massive amounts of flour in the bread. I’m still in denial about that though.

One thing at a time, one thing at a time…

I have found some great recipes for some easy, great-tasting bread. I thought I would share with you -

Today I am trying this recipe for a soft honey oat bread from the Bakingdom blog and it is fantastically simple to make.

This bread was made from the Bakingdom recipe I mentioned above. I would make this every day if I could. It the MOST YUMMY bread I have ever tasted. Seriously.

12 Days of Christmas Activities With The Kids… Day 12: Felt Christmas Tree

Megan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:59:24 +0000

I have started doing the 12 days of Christmas countdown with my kids and instead of gifts, I have been giving them time. Time to be creative, time to bake cookies, time to make and play with things like felt Christmas trees!!

Felt Christmas tree for the kids

I have been thinking of doing this for so long, because of all of the adorable posts I see that other bloggers have made about there felt Christmas trees. So I finally got around to it!

Not only was it so easy to make, but it was so incredibly cheap! I went to the craft store and got 1 yard of green felt for $5.99 /yard (which I have heard is cheaper at other places even). I then went to the craft section and got several sheets of felt squares in different colors. The basic solid colors are 4/$1.00. I did find a pack of 50 felt squares on Amazon that is almost the same as what I paid. That excited me so much that I bought way more than I needed. However, I am sure I will need it all for other projects.

Luckily, in case you didn’t realize, felt sticks to felt (I didn’t know this since I am just learning this craft stuff as I go along ). That means the only other supplies you need are scissors, a permanent marker(s) for decorating ornaments, and things to trace shapes. I traced the shapes with a pen, because the marker marks would be too obvious, but the pen worked well.

You will also need to decide how you will hang the tree on the wall. I have seen them hung on brick walls with a hot glue gun, which I hear works great. Also, you can probably try using painters tape, since it won’t leave marks on a painted wall. I used the command strips for posters, which when using them all, seems to hold the tree pretty well. Let’s just hope the 16 month old doesn’t get a little crazy with it and it should last through the season.

This was a really great project! The kids just love playing with it and it is great for teaching the younger ones shapes too. Surprisingly, the older ones like it better than the younger. My 7 year old son was actually placing the shapes in different ways to create robots.

Enjoy!

A Dollhouse Deal I found on Amazon… 72% OFF!!!!

Megan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:00:20 +0000

Just checkin in to share the awesome deal I just saw on Amazon for a Wooden My Home Playset 48 Pieces. Now, as you know, I just posted the other day about a great dollhouse for girls that I ended up purchasing for my two. If only this deal was around then! Ours is already shipped, wrapped and waiting for Christmas.

This Dollhouse and the pieces that come with it are 72% off… now $29 (plus maybe $4.99 SH). Unbelievable! I just had to share it with you all!

Wooden My Home Playset 48 Pieces

Kringle Candles Are A Great Gift for Mom!

Megan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:20:32 +0000

I posted last year aboutand because I love them so much, I am posting about them again!

Kringle Candles are a special and unique line of candles created by the founder of the Yankee Candle Company. not only are they gorgeous to look at, but they burn beautifully for 95 hours at least and provide wonderful pure scents.

According to Amazon:

Kringle Jar Candles are created by the Kittredge family of Yankee Candle fame. The ultra-fragrant Kringle Jar Candle line unites the best of the traditional and the new with exciting jar candles designed to mesh with virtually any decor. Kringle Candles uses only the finest perfumers to create an array of robust, realistic candle fragrances. Kringle’s all-white candle concept not only blends perfectly into all backdrops, it emits the purest, brightest light possible. Kringle Candles offer over 40 wonderful scents including Botanicals, Fruits, Foods, Spices, Aromatics, Herbs and Holiday Favorites.

These are a great gift for mom, grandma, family, teachers, etc. They come in various sizes and smells as well.

Using Reclaimed Wood… My Barn – Wood & Hooks For Backpack Storage

Megan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:01:47 +0000

I am so thrilled about our latest project! I have tried for the longest time to find the perfect set of hooks to put into my newly decorated dining room. I have gone from a blood red, more elegant dining room, to a more casual, family friendly room with an updated modern style.

It is so hard to find unique hooks that are strong enough to hold the massive backpacks that the children bring home. The really cool and decorative hooks that I like are never made of high quality metal and are likely to break easily.

These cast iron hooks, I got at a craft store and are super strong. You can find the same thing on amazon.com though for cheap!

This wood obviously has some imperfections, but that is what I love about it. Since I went from a fancy, red with gold accent dining room, to a casual light blue room, I wanted something that featured the laid-back nature of the room. Wood knots and all! I think there is even a paint splatter or two on there as well!

Kathie Lee and Hoda’s Favorite Things, Along with Sara’s Favorite Thing

Megan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:43:22 +0000

I am giving props to Sara today from The Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda. While Kathie Lee and Hoda’s favorite things today were rather minor in the grand scheme of things, Sara outshined them all with her bracelets that are made to profit an organization set up after a young girl died.

The organization is called the McKenzie Noelle Wilson Foundation and here is the summary from their website..

Liv-N-Grace bracelets started out as a small act of love from a mother to her daughter in a time of need and healing due to the loss of a very special friend. The bracelets were created not only to help heal but to honor a young lady who embodied faith, love, hope, peace, and transformation.

These virtues are represented on each bracelet with a cross, heart, flower, peace sign or a butterfly. Each bracelet was handmade with love!

Profits from your bracelet purchase support the McKenzie Noelle Wilson Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps young people recognize their full potential. With the purchase of each bracelet, you are helping make a difference in young peoples’ lives!

If you are interested in finding out about Kathie Lee and Hoda’s favorite things, you can find them at the following links….

Vitacare Cool Mint Whitening Gum, Key Lime
and here…
Amazon

The Best Dollhouse For Little Girls

Megan — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:11:35 +0000

So I have looked around at many-a-dollhouse and I cannot find one that is a better deal for the amount of fun and creative play that it contains. The Fisher Price Loving FamilyTM Grand Dollhouse Super Set (Caucasian Family)is a fantastic deal on Amazon. This is being ordered right now and is going to thrill my girls under the tree.

It is a great size with it’s fold-out design, so it allows for more play access from multiple children.

You can purchase extra accessories also on Amazon for a great price. With 8 rooms in the dollhouse, there is more options than you can count!

Three Words I Never Want To Hear: Parenthood is Canceled.

Megan — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:24:47 +0000

My weekly favorite thing is absolutey Parenthood, the NBC show.

Every year when new shows come on television, you wonder if you will ever like them as much as your old TV favorites. When Parenthood started on NBC in 2010, the promos didn’t really do it justice. It appeared to the viewer as if the show was going to be about a young guy who’s girlfriend was nagging him to have a baby. I had no idea what I was in store for!

When I started watching, I found that it was hands-down, the BEST show I have seen on Tv in a long time. Every time I watch the show I tell myself that the writers just can’t do better than this, and of course they prove me wrong every week.

From the creative mind of producer Ron Howard, and creator Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights), Parenthood is a mixture of very famous actors like Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Dax Shepard and Craig T. Nelson, just to name a few.
All of the characters have a fantastic way of communicating with and caring for each other, so that the viewer wants to come back to watch each and every week. I know Tuesday is certainly my favorite day of the week because of this show!

The Braverman family fights with one another, makes up like no other and loves each other until the end. The story lines are interesting, the characters are lovable and it grabs ahold of you and won’t let go!

Although the shows writers have highlighted various topics like alcohol abuse, adultery, infertility, etc. One of the most impactful story lines that Parenthood deals with on a weekly basis is the topic of Asperger Syndrome. Adam and Kristina Braverman have a son Max, who has Aspergers. They show the ins and outs of what it is like to love and care for a child with this syndrome. From school, to friends, to home life, they have highlighted the roles of family, teachers, doctors and friends in dealing with the syndrome.

Sara From The Today Show’s Favorite Thing, Week of November 7, 2011: THE RIGHTEOUS BUTTER

Megan — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:36:18 +0000

Sara from the Today show had a great Favorite Thing This week. It is called Soap & Glory The Righteous Body Butter and it is fantastic!! I won’t do it justice if I describe it in my own words, so I have copied the product description from Amazon. You can find it there as well for a decent price if you are interested in getting it.

The description reads as follows:

What it is:An award-winning body moisturizing butter with softening shea butter and aloe vera. What it does:This body butter was formulated for very dry skin with a new dynamic moisture trap matrix to help hold hydration in longer. Its alluring scent of Soap & Glory’s signature Pink Fragrance combines fresh bergamot and mandarin, rose, jasmine, peach, strawberry, oakmoss, amber, woody notes and amber and warm vanilla notes on the bottom.

I have included the ingredients as well, since I always find those to be most important.

Aqua (Water), Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Methylparaben, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Ethylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Potassium Hydroxide, BHT, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Geraniol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Propylparaben, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben.

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