Guest Post by Rebecca Pacrem

How To Coupon

I'm sure many of you are amazed by how extreme couponers can save 90 to 100 percent on their grocery bills. I have a shocker for you. It's very difficult to accomplish huge savings in real life. Spending thirty to forty hours a week scouring and scrimmaging for coupons is not my idea of fun. On the bright side there are plenty of ways to save.

Let's keep this super simple! Pick a few stores where you purchase your groceries. Check the weekly sales on Sundays and for grocery stores usually have  bi-weekly sales. Next find coupons online at coupons.com, redplum.com, and smartource.com. You can try other websites but I've had difficulty redeeming them so like I said keep it simple. Also you can purchase coupons at collectiblecoupons.com or any other clipping service. This is only practical if your purchasing coupons in bulk.

It's time to go shopping. To get the most savings always use your coupons when the item is on sale and in conjunction with a store coupon. Warning! Math alert! For example if bread is on sale for 1.99 and you have a manufactures' coupon for 50 cents with a store coupon for 75 cents then you pay 74 cents. Not bad right? There are other ways to get a deeper discount but it takes too much time and I'm all about simplicity. If possible stockpile item when purchased for cheap. I know for many people this is not possible. If all you can stockpile is toilet paper then that's fine.

Please don't feel discouraged if you only save ten percent because that's still awesome! Bare with me I have one more example. If you spent 800 dollars every month on groceries and save ten percent then at the end of the year you would have saved 960 dollars. Woo hoo! Good luck and happy shopping!

Rebecca

http://dvrdame.blogspot.com/

Here's Another Meme - sorry but I'm feeling crummy today!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I thought this could be fun for everyone to check out. I didn't think there would be many people with my full name. However, my first name (Tania) is somewhat common - 20,294 people have this name in the US. Cool, huh? Have fun checking out the popularity of your names folks!

Nurturing Paws Book Review

 
I recently had the pleasure of reading (thanks to Whispering Angel Books) a simply beautiful book of short stories and poems about the amazing ability for pets to give us the most incredible gifts - their love and companionship.

If you haven't already figured this out, I am a huge animal lover. My heart is currently owned by a Somali cat named Sammy and so when the opportunity came along to read Nurturing Paws I jumped at the chance. Nurturing Paws is an uplifting read for any animal lover. There are over 80 short stories and poems which tell the tales of animals who give their unconditional love, undying friendship, as well as warmth and comfort to those people in their lives.

I had to have the tissues nearby while reading this lovely book but many of the stories and poems simply made me laugh too. This is a great, well-rounded collection of animal stories. I found I especially loved "Undercover Cat Lover" by Dwan Reed because it is so close to my own story with my husband. My husband swore up and down when I first got together with him that he was allergic to cats, didn't like cats, and never wanted to live with a cat. Well, needless to say, my husband is now the king of Sammy's world and vice versa. Sammy will always go to my hubs first for cuddles before me and when my hubs gets home everyday he always asks where "his boy" is! So I thoroughly enjoyed this short story.

Another short story that really warmed my heart was "How My Cat Helped Save My Life" by Aphrodite Matsakis. I always have loved to hear stories of how animals are able to forewarn their people of danger and this story is a pretty remarkable one.

Of course, this book is not all about cats either. There is a nice variety of different pets that are written about in Nurturing Paws, from cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, horses, and more.

Another amazing animal story I enjoyed was "Pepper: The Prosaic Pigeon" by John R. Chega. This story is set in my previous hometown, Calgary, Alberta. I know, I know - A Pigeon? Trust me, it's a really interesting story and will warm your heart.

If you are wondering what to get for the animal lover on your Christmas list this year, may I suggest a copy of Nurturing Paws? I think this is an inspiring read for any pet owner/animal lover and I know they will thank you for this gift. Not only because of the incredible content but also because Whispering Angel Books donates a portion of its book sales to charities like St. Judes Children's Research Hospital, American Red Cross, Roy & Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, and GivingBooks2Kids.com.

If you would like to purchase Nurturing Paws or any of the Whispering Angel Books and you live in the US you can always go to their website HERE, Amazon, Barnes & Noble (BN.com), Books-a-Million, and most bookselling sites.

Canadians, people in the UK, and Australia will now be able to order any of the Whispering Angel Books from the Whispering Angel Books website and most book retailers. If you aren't able to find Nurturing Paws right away just ask your favorite book seller to order the book for you via the ISBN which is: 978-0-9841421-6-3.

You can also find e-book versions of any of the Whispering Angel Books by going HERE. You are able to stay up to date with Whispering Angel Books through their website HERE or via Facebook or Twitter.

I received a copy of Nurturing Paws for the purpose of providing a review for Whispering Angel Books. I received no compensation for this. The above post is entirely of my own opinion.

Travalo Review

I do love to smell pretty when I go out. When you spritz yourself with a fragrance it just seems to finish off any perfect outfit. However, as most people who have ever traveled in their lives will understand it isn't always possible to take your favorite fragrances with you when traveling because of airline restrictions against having liquids in your carry-on luggage and of course it is a little hazardous to pack a bottle of fragrance in your checked baggage due to the risk of breakage. This is something my hubby can attest to - he once came home from a business trip to the States and when his baggage was searched, the agents must have unscrewed the top of his cologne bottle but failed to re-tighten it. He got home and all his items of clothing reeked of his cologne and he had liquid cologne lying in the bottom of his suitcase. Yuck.

Needless to say, I have since been a little hesitant to pack my fragrance while traveling. But not anymore thanks to Travalo! The Travalo is an ideal travel solution for taking your favorite fragrance in your purse, bag, or suitcase. Travalo is a refillable atomizer bottle with a quick and easy filling system. Now I remember growing up and hearing about atomizers but having actually used some of the older atomizer systems I can tell you that they are not user-friendly when it comes to filling them up. They are terribly messy and usually I ended up wasting a lot of my precious fragrance in the process.

Travalo has solved the issue of messy and wasteful spillage of fragrance while filling the atomizer because of its Genie-S refill system. This is an internal pump system which allows the user to easily fill the Travalo without funnels or other parts. All you do is take your original fragrance bottle and unscrew the plastic spray top. Then you insert the fragrance bottles pump stick into the filling station at the bottom of the Travalo. Just press down firmly and repeat until the Travalo is full of your fave scent. The Travalo has a small window to show you how much fragrance you have inside. Ta da! No muss, no fuss.



I wasn't planning on traveling any time soon so I decided to test out the Travalo for use while on the go and put it in my purse. I had a lovely gold color Travalo which I took out of my purse several times over the course of a week. I never had to worry about it leaking, spilling, or making any kind of mess in my purse. It was super easy to fill and wonderful for a quick spritz when I needed it. I love this little device! It really is quite ingenious.

Travalo Facts:
- Approved for carry-on luggage on board flights
- Environmentally friendly (98% recyclable)
- Holds 50 - 65 sprays of fragrance, depending on model
- Features a clear window to gauge level of fragrance
- Suitable for men or women
- Assorted colors
- Lightweight material and shatter-proof
- About 3 inches long and weighs only 0.5 oz
- Spill-free internal refill system doesn't use funnels or other parts
- Works with most bottles with a removable nozzle
- Lifetime warranty
- Three different sizes:

1. Travalo Pure - 5 ml - Plastic container holds 65 sprays
2. Travalo Classic - 4 ml - Aluminum container holds 50 sprays
3. Travalo Excel - 5 ml - Aluminum container holds 65 sprays

These would make for fantastic stocking stuffers or gifts for men or women. The Travalo comes in four colors - black, silver, pink, and gold. If you would like more information or would like to purchase the Travalo you can go to the Travalo website.

I was given a sample of the Travalo for the purposes of doing this review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Win Two Weeks' Worth of The Zone Diet Foods!

END DATE: October 5, 2011 @ 10:00 AM

ELIGIBILITY: ???

Over at Lessons Learned you could be one of three winners to receive a full two weeks' worth of The Zone Diet food! How awesome is that? This way you can try this diet for two weeks and see how you find it works for you. This is a prize worth $179. Pretty nice. Plus having looked at the list of foods for The Zone Diet I have to say that some of them look incredibly yummy! Delicious diet foods? Does such a thing exist? I'm thinking it might just.

Enter to win two weeks' worth of The Zone Diet food!

Win a Hamilton Beach Panini Grill!

END DATE: October 4, 2011

ELIGIBILITY: Canada only

At Feisty Frugal and Fabulous you can enter to win a Hamilton Beach Panini Grill courtesy of Dempster's! Mmmmm. Who doesn't love a good panini? I know I love them and have been known to eat several at one sitting. I'm just kidding about that. Actually I'm not. The panini is such a great upgrade from a grilled cheese. Galdangit. Now I'm hungry. Again.

If you want the chance to win a Hamilton Beach Panini Grill then head over to Feisty Frugal and Fabulous and enter today!

Enter to win a Hamilton Beach Panini Grill!

Win a BelleDangles Jewelry Organizer!

END DATE: September 29, 2011 (hurry!)

ELIGIBILITY: US/CAN

I am sure I am not the only person out there who owns a teeny tiny jewelry box where all of your lovely necklaces will get tangled together. Am I right here people? That's what I thought. This is a hugely frustrating problem especially when you are in a rush and need to get out the door and suddenly you are put behind schedule because your dang jewelry is in a tangled mess. Well BelleDangles has a solution for all of us. BelleDangles are wall mounted jewelry organizers that will allow you to hang your necklaces where you can see them and keep them from becoming tangled up. You can keep your earrings on a BelleDangles along with any other jewelry pieces. The BelleDangles have a shelf where you can put jewelry or perhaps even place a mirror or anything else you may want.

You have an opportunity to win your choice of BelleDangles Organizer from My Little House of Treasures. You will receive the BelleDangles of your choosing as well as the all the mounting screws and anchors. But hurry cuz you only have until September 29, 2011!

Enter to win a BelleDangles Jewelry Organizer!

Another Kitty Post ... sorry to the non-cat people!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Tee hee!

Sunday Stealing: That Meme That's Going Around...

Sunday Stealing: That Meme That's Going Around

A. Age: 34

B. Bed size: King

C. Chore that you hate: Any?

D. Dogs: 0

E. Essential start to your day: my computer

F. Favorite color: green

G. Gold or Silver: Silver

H. Height: Uhhhh 5'5" or so

I. Instruments you play: the whine-o-phone

J. Job title: blogger/homemaker

K. Kids: 0

L. Live: Yes? LOL I think they want my location - Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

M. Mother's name: Janet

N. Nicknames: Giggles

O. Overnight hospital stays: Too many to count

P. Pet peeve: Just one? Disturbingly slow dumbass shoppers at the grocery store who don't care that you are waiting to get to something while you twiddle your thumbs and park your cart in my way!!!! Argh!

Q. Quote from a movie: "I don't mind being alone. I just don't like to feel lonely."

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: two half siblings

T. Time you wake up: 7 to 7:30 am

U. Underwear: Usually.

V. Vegetable you hate: Turnips

W. What makes you run late: my husband

X. X-Rays you've had: wrist, chest, back

Y. Yummy food that you make: split pea soup with ham

Z. Zoo animal: tiger

The Somali Cat Breed

I have had so many people ask about my little furbaby Sammy that I thought I would post something about the breed's characteristics and features for you all to learn about. This information is taken from the Fanciers Breeder Referral List.

Photo © Chanan

Description

The Somali, despite its name, does not come from Africa. The recessive longhaired gene was present in the Abyssinian breed for years, probably introduced after World War II when the Aby breed was nearly wiped out in England. For many years, longhaired kittens from Aby breedings were quietly eliminated (some by placing as pets, sometimes not) until unrelated groups of breeders in Canada and the United States began working with these longhaired "throwaways" in the early 1960s to develop the breed that exists today. 

The Somali breed was accepted for championship status in CFA in 1977, though only in ruddy; other colors -- red, blue, and fawn -- were accepted later. The breed was first imported to the UK in 1981, and received championship status from GCCF ten years later. 

The Somalis perhaps most easily described as a longhaired Abyssinian, although over time, the types have diverged some and these breeds no longer look like exact counterparts. This lively breed with a bushy tail has sometimes been called the "fox cat". Its dense, soft coat is ticked in the manner associated with wild cats. 

Somalis are extroverted, active, inquisitive, very affectionate and people-oriented. They can be stubborn and obedience is better won with love and praise than with punishment. 

Although sources often state that Somalis are not good apartment-dwellers, they are fine apartment cats as long as they have the run of the place. They do not like being caged or closely confined to a single room for extended periods. 

They are most commonly available in blue, fawn, red (sorrel), and ruddy colors. They are also available in silver tones in Europe and less frequently in the United States, although many associations do not accept these color. They are accepted outside the United States in other colors in some other associations, including chocolate and lilac. Theoretically, the Somali can be found in twenty-eight colors total, but only the four mentioned above are widely accepted. 

Interesting fact: The Somali shares the distinction with the Birman of being one of the most challenging breeds of cat to breed for show. This is because there are key features of the breed -- intense undercoat color and clarity (lack of stripes on the neck and legs) -- that tend to interfere with one another. The longer hair length also makes undesirable marks show up more than they do on their parent breed, the Abyssinian. 

Associations: The Somali is accepted in all major cat registries. 

If anyone is interested in the Somali or the Abyssinian I can only recommend the breeder that I have dealt with and who I can vouch for. She is a lovely lady named Susan Marshall and you can find her contact information and website HERE. I can't imagine not having a Somali in my life now that I have Sammy. They are such majestic and curious creatures and will surely give you many joyful and happy memories!

Here are more pictures of Somalis and their different accepted colour variations:

Blue Somali

 

Red Somali

 Ruddy Somali

Fawn Somali

Aren't they gorgeous?

The Life Of A Canadian Angel: I Died Today.....

The Life Of A Canadian Angel: I Died Today.....: I died today. You got tired of me and took me to the shelter. They were overcrowded and I drew an unlucky number. I am in a black plastic ba...

Sorry for the lack of posts folks!

I am feeling under the weather the last week or so and haven't been up to my usual blogging and/or contesting (gasp!). Not sure what is going on with me. Not sure if I am suffering from an escalation in depression or if this is something medical. Of course, I am still suffering with weird heart symptoms like palpitations and chest heaviness. I went to see a doctor and had a Holter monitor done. No phone call regarding the blood work or Holter monitor results so ... I guess that means I'm not going to die? Really really fatigued too. I am normally running at a medium level fatigue where I don't have the energy to do anything too terribly outgoing but now I feel exhausted and have to have naps. Blech. I hate feeling this way. I especially hate not getting the normal things I do done. Stupid body. I have some great reviews coming for you all and a fantastic giveaway too. eeek! so excited. So stay tuned and once I get back on track I will have some great stuff for you.

Sorry y'all!

BzzAgent - I want in!!

I would love to be able to read The Help for BzzAgent. I am an avid reader and have heard so many great reviews on The Help, both in book form and in movie form. I feel I could really sink my teeth into this amazing story and would love to be able to do it as a #bzzagent. Please let me in BzzAgent!

Test Test Test

Sorry

test test test

New Contest - Perfume!

END DATE: October 12, 2011

ELIGIBILITY: Canada only

A new contest for some purse-sized perfumes for us ladies! This is a contest from The Kit which is a fairly new online Canadian magazine that is offering contests. I would check them out and maybe sign up if you want to know about new contests like I do.

From the website:

Prize: There is one (1) prize available to be won by one (1) winner, a fragrance prize pack consisting of Burberry Body (60 ml), Dance with Givenchy (50 ml), DKNY Pure (50 ml), Thierry Mugler Angel (50 ml), CK One Shock For Her (100 ml), Prada Candy (30 ml), and Vera Wang Lovestruck (50 ml). Total value $579 CDN.

ENTER HERE

RULES

Blog Hops

I thought I would make a page specifying the blog hops that Horseshoes likes to be a part of. So here goes:

MONDAYS

WE ARE CANADIAN BLOG HOP

 MONDAY MORNING BLOG HOP 


MONDAY MINGLE BLOG HOP


MONDAY FREE HOP

TUESDAYS

THE MONSTER HOP

 WEDNESDAYS

 I HEART BLOGGING BLOG HOP

WELCOME WEDNESDAYS BLOG HOP

THURSDAYS

THURSDAY FRIENDS AND GIVEAWAYS BLOG HOP



THIRSTY THURSDAY BLOG HOP

THURSDAY BLOG HOP


JOINING CIRCLES MAKING CONNECTIONS

FRIDAYS

FRIENDLY FRIDAY BLOG HOP

FRIENDLY FACEBOOK FRIDAY


WEEKENDS

 SPICEY WEEKEND HOP

WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND BLOG HOP


PLANET WEIDKNECHT BLOG HOP 


WEEKEND WARRIOR BLOG HOP


STOP AND STUMBLE SATURDAY




SAY HI SUNDAY BLOG HOP

So there you have it! Come join me at these great hops and make some new blogging buddies!

Canadian Date Night Twitter Party

I am going to be participating in the Canadian Date Night Twitter Party being hosted by @mapleleafmommy and @MultiTestingMom. If you would like to be a part of this awesome event you can RSVP HERE. The Canadian Date Night Twitter Party will be happening on September 20th at 9 PM EST. You can find all of the details on what is required and even how to be a part of a Twitter party at @mapleleafmommy 's special post (which you can read HERE). There are going to be lots of prizes available and tons of fun I'm sure!

#CDNDateNight Twitter Party: Tues. Sept. 20th 9pm EST RSVP here: blt.cc/uki5e0 Hosted by @mapleleafmommy and @MultiTestingMom

Yesterday was a good day!

Yesterday, September 12th, 2011, was an awesome day for me. I won three different things yesterday. I know they say that wins come in three's but I have just never had them all come on the same day!

Yesterday I was notified that I had won a Takeya Flash Chill Lemonade Maker from the Cooking Club of America that I have been a member of for several years. This is a $30 win. Then I was notified that I had won the Today's Parent blog contest for a Swanson Skillet Meal coupon. I'm not sure exactly how much this one is worth but I'm guesstimating that it would be about $6. Then, late last night I was notified that I had won the Name the Flavour contest from Krisda Natural Soda. My entry, Citrustastic, won out and I am the proud winner of a year's worth of Krisda Natural Soda which is pretty awesome considering I am a type I diabetic and can't really drink regular soda! I have to do some research on how much 16 cases of Krisda Natural soda would cost but I am just tickled pink!

Best of luck to you all!

Win a copy of Starting Your Career as a Web Designer!

END DATE: September 23, 2011

ELIGIBILITY: US/CAN

At Sweeps4Bloggers you can enter to win a copy of "Starting Your Career as a Web Designer." This will be invaluable for many bloggers out there including myself! I have always had an interest in web design but this would just be perfect to get me started down that road. So if you could use a little more finesse with regards to your website or blog then enter to win this great book.

Enter to win "Starting Your Career as a Web Designer"!

Win an All Natural Face Vegan Mineral Makeup Starter Kit!

END DATE: September 30, 2011

ELIGIBILITY: US/CAN

At Mommy Kat and Kids there is a great giveaway you can enter for a starter kit from The All Natural Face.  The All Natural Face is a great vegan mineral makeup company that offers a full line-up of makeup products and all of them are completely animal product free and fabulously gorgeous! The Get Started Green Kit contains samples of a huge assortment of makeup products so that you can try them out and see what suits your skin type best.

Enter To Win The All Natural Face Get Started Green Kit!

Win a Seventh Generation Prize Pack!

END DATE: September 16, 2011

ELIGIBILITY: Canada only

At Mommy Kat and Kids you can enter to win a spectacular prize pack from one of the leaders in eco-friendly household products - Seventh Generation. You will receive a 100% organic cotton lunch bag as well as free product coupons for Free & Clear diapers, Free & Clear baby wipes, and dishwashing products. Nice! We can all use a little help to be more environmentally conscious, right? Exactly. Plus now that Seventh Generation is now in Canada you can sign up for the 7th Gen Nation which will give you access to coupons, member perks and members-only special offers. Just go to their website HERE to sign up.

Enter to win a Seventh Generation Prize Pack!

Beauty and Cosmetic Product Packaging Symbols

Makeup, Beauty, Fashion Tips, Trends, How to - Beautyconnexion

Thursday Friends Cafe Blog Hop for September 8, 2011

Win Shoes For A Year!

END DATE: September 24, 2011

ELIGIBILITY: Canada only

ENTRY TYPE: Single entry online, single entry in-store

Reitmans now has shoes ladies!! To celebrate their stylish add-on for your feet they are holding a contest for all us Canadians. You could win yourself a pair of shoes each month for a year along with a Tana Shoe Care Kit for those lovely new shoes. Woohoo!

RULES & REGULATIONS

ENTRY PAGE

Welcome Wednesday Blog Hop for September 7, 2011

Win a Magnabilities Prize Pack worth $137!

END DATE: September 21, 2011

ELIGIBILITY: US/CAN

At Menopausal New Mom you can enter to win some really great jewelry from Magnabilities. This is such a fab idea I wish I had thought of it. Tons of different variabilities to match up with any gal's taste. Here is what you could win:

18" Antique Silver Water drop Stainless Steel Necklace

1 Antique Silver Blossom Pendant

1 Daisy Silver Razzle Dazzle Insert

15 Classic Inserts (random)

 

How great is that? Tons of possibilities for you to try out with lots of your outfits. To change your look it's as easy as changing out the insert. Nice? Nice!

 

Enter to win a Magnabilities Prize Pack worth $137!

 

My August Wins

Okay folks here's what I won for August:

1) PR Guide e-books - Publicity Spark - $95
2) "Careers for Your Cat" signed book and kitty catnip toys - Paper Bag and String Blog - $17
3) Pair of Stride Everyday Panties - Stride Survey - $13
4) $25 Restaurant.com e-gift certificate - Coupon Trade - $25
5) KY Intense - Simply Bug Blog - $25
6) Gourmet Gift Basket Snack Basket - My Little Review Corner - $59.95
7) $25 Best Buy Gift Card - True Blood Best Buy Contest - $25

Total: $259.94

Thursday Friends Cafe Blog Hop for September 1, 2011

Bounce It Off Millions Contest

RULES PAGE (Open to US and Canada)

Let me ask you guys something - do have a challenging choice to make for yourself? Are you perhaps wondering what colour to paint your bathroom - stuck between "ocean sky blue" and "gumdrop green"? Or maybe you are struggling with something a little more complex - whether you should buy your 16 year old son a new car or not? Whatever it is that you are trying to sort out - Bounce can help you. Bounce has a marvelous campaign on right now to help many people who are struggling with various difficult choices. It is called Bounce It Off Millions and it allows you to submit your question/decision. Bounce will then turn your question/decision into a poll for the people on Bounce's Facebook Fan Page to weigh in on. Plus, Bounce will take the 4 most interesting polls and feature them in Facebook ads to have all of the 150 million+ people on Facebook chime in on your question/decision!! How great would that be? So if you have a choice that you haven't been able to figure out, submit it to the Bounce It Off Millions campaign and you could have it answered easily by millions of people around the world!

Bounce also has brought back their incredible Bounce Dryer Bar sweepstakes and this time you can win one Bounce Dryer Bar for yourself and one for a friend! Just go to the Bounce Facebook Page HERE for either the Bounce It Off Millions Contest and/or the Bounce Dryer Bar Sweepstakes!

 I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  All opinions stated in the post are my own.