What We Did This Summer – 2010

August 26th, 2010

As summer is coming to an end, I am looking back and remembering all of the wonderful things we did this year. Having Elliott has made Richard and I both want to get out and do more things together as a family so we tried to do that alot this summer. Here’s a look at some of the things we did:

We went to the Waterfront Festival where we walked around and saw animals and DORA!



We took lots of long walks around the neighbourhood.

Had a picnic in the park with Erica.

Celebrated Canada Day.


Elliott went on his first ever boat ride (and it was awesome!).


We went to the beach.


Visited Grandma for her birthday.

Celebrated Elliott’s 1st birthday with an awesome party!



Elliott started walking!

There were lots of birthdays this summer, including Richard’s!

We went on our first weekend getaway without Elliott.

It’s been an awesome summer. I’m sad to think that soon there will be snow on the ground. I HATE SNOW.

I hope next summer is just as good as this one… and I have a good feeling it will be. ;)

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Canada Free Stuff – FREE Thomas & Friends Wooden Engine

August 25th, 2010


Toys R Us has another awesome coupon right now for a FREE Thomas and Friends wooden engine! You have a choice of either Rheneas, Smudger, George or Thomas.

This coupon is only valid on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 and only 1 coupon per customer is allowed.

Click here to print your coupon for a FREE Thomas & Friends Wooden Engine!

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Our Weekend Getaway (2nd Wedding Anniversary)

August 24th, 2010

Yesterday was Richard and I’s 6th Anniversary (2nd Wedding Anniversary). To celebrate, we decided to go away for the weekend (last weekend) – JUST THE TWO OF US. We agreed on Toronto, since it’s not a long drive for us. Plus, it was more of the alone time and sleeping in time that we were craving, more than an elaborate vacation.

My mom kindly offered to watch Elliott and the animals for us while we were away. I was so dang nervous to leave Elliott, that I wrote my mom 3 pages worth of notes. HA. That’s the “I NEED TO BE IN CHARGE” Cassie for ya.

Before our getaway, Richard and I both researched a ton of hotels to try and find a nice place for a decent price. We both liked the Pantages hotel, but at $239 a night, I was second guessing our choice. Before settling for a Days Inn or Howard Johnson, I searched for some coupon codes for Pantages and I actually found a pretty sweet deal – $280 (with taxes!) for both nights! DEAL!

The hotel was really nice…

The bed was super comfy…

The room even had a full size kitchen with dishwasher!

Of course, like many fancy hotels, there was a shelf full of goodies. $11 for a bag of popcorn, $7 for a bag of chips, $4 for a pack of gum – UM, NO THANK YOU!

Let’s not forget the refridgerator stuffed with drinks. Tiny bottles of liqour for $9, $8 for a beer, $4 for a can of pop – again, NO THANK YOU!

Instead of indulging in the over-priced hotel items, we went to the Shoppers Drug Mart and LCBO down the street and bought a case of water, 2 bags of chips, and 2 cases of beer for $35 – and we came home with lots of leftovers!

We spent Friday evening at a restaraunt bar, just because we felt like it. It was fun to get a bit loopy and stay out way past my bedtime. :)

My body was a real jerk on Saturday morning and would NOT let me sleep in, so I was up at 9am. I had some grapes and water to hold me over until we had our breakfast…

We ate breakfast at a nice place…

And then headed on down to Kinsington Street to check out the second hand stores.

Richard used to go down there all the time before he met me and says he would find great vintage shirts for $5. Well, this time they were $18 and up. He found an awesome shirt that he was considering buying until he saw the $30 price tag! Seriously, why would I pay MORE for a second hand item than I would for a brand spankin’ new one?

We left Kinsington dissapointed and just ended up walking around for awhile until we realized we were starving and wanted to get some lunch.

Wow. Seriously, this place was aweeeeeesome! I would go there every day if I could. I mean, come on. Look at that! Ceasar salad with maple bacon (MAPLE BACON!) and Bruschetta. OH MY. It was SO good.

After lunch we made our way on over to the CN Tower. We have both lived near Toronto our entire lives and had never been to the CN Tower. After visiting, I can understand why no one wanted to bring me. IT SUCKED BIG TIME. It took us half an hour just to get on the elevator to go upstairs. We looked out at the view (this was the best part, and it wasn’t even really THAT exciting)…

And at this point we were hot and sweaty and annoyed at all the morons that kept getting in our personal space (if the person in front of you can feel your breath on the back of their neck – YOU ARE STANDING TOO CLOSE), so we decided to leave. Another 30 minute wait to get on the elevator back down. Ugh. CN Tower, I will NOT be back to visit you! The $40 we spent was totally not worth it.

We went back to the hotel and hung out there for awhile. We needed some time to rest and get ready to go out to eat.

Dinner was at a place called Dimmi (sorry, no photos) and it was very good. After we ate, we went over to the movie theatre to buy our tickets for “INCEPTION” (crappy movie!) and then hung out at the book store for an hour or so before the movie started.

We were up early again (UGH!) Sunday morning and I was super excited to see Elliott so we left right away. After stopping for breakfast at Tim Hortons, we were on our way home.

I had a wonderful weekend getaway and I thank my mom so very much for staying with Elliott and allowing us to spend some much needed alone time together.

I think we are going to make this whole “going away for the weekend – just the two of us” a yearly event!

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Pampers Gifts To Grow – 15 FREE Points

August 24th, 2010

For those of you that collect Pampers Gifts To Grow codes, here are two new ones for you:

GTGCOUPONPOINTS – 10 Points
GTG5FREEPTS0810 – 5 Points

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Easy Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

August 24th, 2010

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup margarine
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch salt

Instructions:
1. Mix margarine, peanut butter, egg and sugar together. Next, add in baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour.
2. Chill dough for several hours or overnight. (optional)
3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place 3 inches apart on a LIGHTLY greased baking sheet. Flatten with a fork dipped in flour or sugar.
4. Bake for 10 minutes at 375F.

Makes about 18 cookies.

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How To Sell Your Stuff Online – Kijiji & Craigslist

August 23rd, 2010

Have you ever wanted to sell your stuff online but weren’t sure how to do it? Or maybe you have tried it but things just did not sell. Yeah? Here are some tips that I hope will help you to sell your stuff online, easily!

Craigslist & Kijiji

These are the two websites that I post most of my items on. The best thing about them is the listing fee – ZERO DOLLARS! That’s right, it is absolutely FREE to list things for sale on these sites. That right there is enough to pull me in.

These sites get a remarkable amount of traffic and because of that, things usually sell pretty quick. You do have to do a bit of work on your end though. It’s not just as easy as posting a picture of a coffee table and saying “Coffee table for sale!” in the ad.

You really want your ad to stand out. You want people to see your item description, see the photo and say I WANT THAT. I WANT IT BAAAAAD. To get that reaction, follow these steps:

- First, take a really good photo of the item. Make sure the item is clean and you have good lighting and then SNAP that camera! If your item has more than one thing included, take one photo of everything. For example, if you are selling your dining room set, which includes a table, 6 chairs and a buffet & hutch you should take a photo of the table, the chairs all together, the buffet & hutch and then a photo of everything all together, so potential buyers can see what it looks like all set up.
- Now, before you post your ad, you need to do some research. Take a few minutes to check around on the website for other listings that offer the same item you do. This will give you a good idea about how much you should list your item for.
- Next, you have to think of a good headline that will attract buyers. Instead of putting “kitchen set”, try saying “Solid Maple Wood Dining Room Set – Table, 6 Chairs, Buffet & Hutch”. Which link would you click? Exactly.
- Finally, you have to describe your item. It’s best to be very descriptive, without writing paragraphs of information that no one will read. Still staying with the dining room set example, in your description, you should include:

  • brand name/store it was purchased at
  • type of wood
  • what’s included (table, chairs, buffet, hutch)
  • dimmensions of all pieces
  • note any damages (if applicable)

    It’s also wise to include your nearest intersection so people know where you are located (otherwise you will get a bunch of emails from people checking to see if you live too far away from them), and if you offer delivery.

    When posting an ad on ANY site, always be sure to use correct grammar and spelling. Quality is important and people want to make sure they aren’t dealing with someone sketchy!

    A few tips for when you finally get that lovely email from a buyer saying they want to purchase your item. YAHOO!

    Act Fast – Respond to their email as soon as you get it. The longer you wait to respond, the more of a chance that the buyer finds someone else to buy the item from. You want to sell your item fast, so respond to emails as quickly as possible.

    Don’t Get Too Excited – Well, not right away, anyway. Just because someone says they want to buy your item and gets your address and information, doesn’t mean they will actually show up when they say they will. I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve been stood up by buyers. Those annoying jerks. The best thing to do is keep all responses from potential buyers instead of deleting extras just because one person says they will show up. Only delete buyers’ emails once your item has sold and you have the cash in your hand.

    I hope this posts helps you all to sell your stuff online much easier. I know it can be difficult to get things sold, but with a little bit of work and a little bit of patience, you CAN clear our your stuff and make some MOOLAH in the process!

    Be sure to stop by next Monday for tips on how to sell your stuff on Ebay. It is much more complex than Craigslist and Kijiji so I figured it deserved a post of it’s own. :)

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    • Shoppers Drug Mart Canada – 2,500 FREE Shoppers Optimum Points

    August 23rd, 2010

    Do you collect Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum Poiints (and if not – why the heck?!)? Well, then I have got a great offer for you!

    Try out their new Automated Phone Refill Service by calling the toll-free demonstration line at 1-877-888-5348 and test out the service and you will be awarded 2,500 Shoppers Optimum points! This line is for demonstration purposes only and will not actually refill a prescription.

    Use your Optimum points card number in place of a prescription number and when you hear all the questions about the “prescription’, just keep entering #2 as your answer. There are only a few questions and then they say your points will be awarded to you in 4-6 weeks.

    Yay!

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    Canada Freebie – Stayfree Feminine Pads

    August 23rd, 2010

    There is a new coupon available on save.ca right now for a FREE package of Stayfree feminine pads with wings (18 count)! Woo wooo! As if I don’t already have a lifetime supply of these… oh well! Shelters and the like can always use them so if they are FREE I will get them. :)

    Click here to get your coupon for a FREE package of Stayfree!

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    Organizing My Greeting Cards

    August 22nd, 2010

    I’ve been trying to figure out how to organize my greeting cards for some time now. I just hadn’t found a solution until yesterday when I was at the book store and spotted a small organizer on the 50% off rack. It was perfect! So today I took out my cards and got down to business. My previous system looked like this:

    As you can see, it wasn’t too fancy – and since there were no labels, I couldn’t tell which cards where for what occasion. Annoying. Here’s the beauty I bought yesterday:

    It has lots of dividers inside:

    Cute huh?

    So. Out come my cards and I lay them all down so I can organize them by occasion. I have lots of envelopes too, in lots of different sizes, so I organized those as well.

    Then I took out some thick, blank white labels that I already had and cut them down to size, writing down the names of the occassions I had cards for. Then I stuck them on the little tabs in the organizer.

    After I filed the cards, I stared at my beautiful organized friend:

    Isn’t it purdy?

    ALL DONE! :)

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    Aeropostale Sale – 50% Off Everything!

    August 22nd, 2010

    GREAT SALE ALERT! Everything at Aeropostale is now 50% off (excluding clearance and fragrances)! This sale ends August 25th, 2010 – so hurry and stock up on some great back to school essentials! Or if you’re like me, get a new MOM wardrobe because everything you currently own is BLAH.

    Note: Keep in mind, these prices are in US dollars and you may have to pay customs when your items are shipped to you (if you live in Canada).

    Click here to start shopping at Aeropostale!

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    My Shoppers Drug Mart Shopping Deals (Bonus Redemption) – August 22nd, 2010

    August 22nd, 2010

    On our way home from our weekend getaway, Richard and I stopped at Shoppers Drug Mart to take advantage of the bonus redemption weekend. I FREAKIN’ LOVE THESE THINGS. I had enough points to redeem for $200 in free stuff. It was lots of fun! Here’s what we got:

    Shoppers Drug Mart:
    2x Advil @ $8.99 each = $17.98 – 2/$2.50 coupons found on tearpad in Shoppers Drug Mart = $12.98 (saved = approx. $9.00)
    8x Aluminum Foil @ .88 each = $7.08 (saved = approx. $8.84)
    2x Rubber Gloves @ .88 each = $1.76 (saved = approx. $1.82)
    2x Life Brand Fabric Refresher @ $3.49 each = $6.98 (saved = approx. $4.00)
    4x Cheese @ $7.99 each = $31.96
    4x Diet Coke @ 2/$5.77 = $11.54 (saved = $12.42)
    1x 100ct. Garbage Bags @ $10.49
    1x Shoe Polish (not pictured) @ $4.99 (saved = $1.00)
    1x Homo Milk @ $4.99
    1x Skim Milk @ $3.99
    2x Cookies @ .99 each = $1.98 (saved = $3.60)
    2x Soya Sauce @ $1.99 each = $3.98 (saved = $2.00)
    6x Olives @ $2.49 each = $14.94 (saved = approx. $3.00)
    1x Extra Virgin Olive Oil @ 8.49
    3x Honey @ $3.99 each = $11.97 (saved = $6.00)
    8x Crushed Tomatoes @ $1.49 each and 1x .53 (?????) = $10.96 (saved = $12.96)
    4x Christie Crackers @ .99 each and 2x $1.49 each = $4.96 – 1/$1.00 WUB2 coupon from tearpads in stores = $3.96 (saved = $7.20)
    1x Peanut Butter @ $2.99 (saved = $3.00)
    2x Yeast @ $2.49 each = $4.98
    2x Mustard @ $3.29 each = $6.58 – $1.50 WUB2 coupon from here = $5.08 (saved = $1.50)
    10x Gatorade @ $1.50 each = $15.00 (saved = $12.90)
    1x Orange Juice @ $3.49 (saved = approx. $2.00)
    1x Pampers Diapers @ $14.99 (saved = approx. $3.00)
    1x Bleach @ $2.69
    Tax @ $10.95

    Total = $212.21 – $200.00 Shoppers Optimum Points Redemption = $12.21 (saved = $200.00)

    Total Paid = $12.21
    Total Saved = $294.24

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    Big Skinny – FREE $16.00 Credit (Must Pay Shipping)

    August 22nd, 2010

    Jenna let me know that Big Skinny has an awesome coupon code right now, worth $16.00 off your order. They sell many things including wallets and apparel. All you have to do is pick a product or two, enter the coupon code 3793083966602 when you checkout and pay for shipping (which is $2.45 for the first item and .50 for each additional).

    They have some nice wallets I’m thinking of getting, or maybe a mini skinny t-shirt for Elliott. So cute!

    Click here to use your coupon code at Big Skinny!

    Note: This deal is available to residents of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

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    My Walmart Shopping Deals – August 20th, 2010

    August 20th, 2010

    Here’s today’s grocery shop! Stocked up on some essentials. I can’t wait until Sunday when I can get $200 worth of stuff for FREE at Shoppers Drug Mart with their bonus redemption. Wooo hooo!!!!

    Walmart:
    1x Pancake Syrup @ $3.57
    1x Grapes @ $2.51 (saved = approx. $2.51)
    1x Potatoes @ .90
    1x Tomato @ .55
    6x Tuna @ $1.88 each (price matched Zellers) = $11.28 – 3/$1.00 WUB2 coupons from a trade = $8.28 (saved = $9.48)
    1x Strawberries @ $1.77 (price matched Price Chopper) (saved = $2.20)
    1x Romaine @ .69 (price matched Price Chopper) (saved = .60)
    1x Broccoli @ .79 (price matched Price Chopper) (saved = .50)
    1x Cat Food @ $11.98
    2x Uncle Bens Rice @ $1.99 each (price matched No Frills) = $3.98 – 2/$1.00 from a trade coupons = $1.98 (saved = $4.00)
    10x Oatmeal @ $1.77 each (price matched No Frills) = $17.70 (saved = $12.10)
    1x Bacon @ $3.57
    1x Tortillas @ $2.00 – .50 coupon = $1.50 (saved = $1.47)
    20x Campbells Soup @ .44 each (price matched Fresh Co.) = $8.80 (saved = $20.60)
    Tax @ $1.55

    Total Paid = $66.14
    TotalSaved = $53.46

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    Frugal Breakfast Ideas

    August 20th, 2010

    Breastfast is the most important meal of your day, but it doesn’t have to be the most expensive. Here are some frugal meals that you can serve up for breakfast without having to worry about breaking the bank!

    Pancakes & Fresh Fruit
    Pancake mix is relatively inexpensive, but you could save even more money by making your own (try my recipe). Syrup is another thing that is not too costly (I still have to learn how to make that stuff myself!) and of course fresh fruit is always good.

    Cold Cereal
    If you use coupons, you will notice that there is an abundance of coupons for cold cereal. Combined with a sale, these coupons could net you a box of cereal (or 2, or 10!) for very cheap – maybe even free if you’re lucky!

    BLT
    Bacon, lettuce, tomato – stuffed between some bread and there is one tasty, cheap breakfast sandwhich for ya!

    Bacon & Eggs
    Bacon and eggs is something I think everyone should enjoy once a week or at least once a month. I know they may not exactly be the most healthy option but it’s okay to be a little naughty sometimes. You can even have bacon and eggs for dinner one night when you’re in a bind because you forgot to take meat out of the freezer to thaw (like I do ALL THE TIME).

    Toast & Fruit Drink/Smoothie
    Toast with jam (or peanut butter or margarine, or whatever else you’d like) alongside a nice tall glass of fresh fruit (pureed with orange juice & ice cubes, or milk & yogurt) is a tasty (and very cheap!) way to start your day. It’s also healthy which = BONUS!

    Breakfast Burrito
    All you need for this breakfast dish is some scrambled eggs, tortillas, a bit of cheese and whatever else your little heart desires. Add all of your ingredients on to your tortilla, roll it up and ENJOY!

    Yogurt & Fresh Fruit
    What could be better than a nice cold bowl full of yogurt and fresh fruit? Mmmm… creamy… Delicious and healthy too! Oh and let’s not forget – cheap!

    I strongly believe that you should always eat something for breakfast, no matter how much of a hurry you’re in. Having food in your belly makes you much more pleasant to be around. It also gives you the nourishment needed to go on with your day, ready to get down to buisness.

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    Coupons To Use This Week (August 20th-26th, 2010)

    August 19th, 2010

    In my opinion, these are the best deals that you can use coupons with this week:

    Metro:
    - Oasis Fruit Juice LG Carton @ $2.00 – use $2.00 coupon from Today’s Parent magazine (May 2010).
    - Janes Pub Style Chicken Strips @ $11.99 + B1G1 FREE – use 2x $2.00 coupons from the company.

    Price Chopper:
    - Bicks Dill Pickles 1L @ $1.99 – use $1.50 WUB2 coupon from coupon booklet in stores.
    - Snack Pack 4 pack @ .99 – use .50 coupon from save.ca (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).

    Food Basics:
    - Snack Pack 4 pack @ $1.00 – use .50 coupon from save.ca (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).
    - Goldfish Crackers @ $2.00 – use .50 or $1.00 coupon from the company.
    - Beneful Wet Dog Food @ $1.50 – use B1G1 FREE coupon from here.
    - Marc Angelo Meats @ $3.00 – use $1.00 coupon from the company.

    No Frills:
    - Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Granola Bars @ $1.69 – use $1.00 coupon from here (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).

    Rexall/PharmaPlus:
    - Gillette Body Wash @ $2.99 – use $2.00 coupon from here (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).

    Real Canadian Superstore:
    - Toaster Strudels @ $2.00 – use $1.00 coupon from here (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).
    - Gillette Fusion Razor @ $7.88 – use $4.00 coupon from here (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).

    Loblaws:
    - Ziploc Sandwhich Bags @ .99 – use $5.00 WUB3 coupon from here (you have to register and log in).
    - Gillette Fusion Razor @ $7.99 – use $4.00 coupon from here (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).
    - Chapmans Ice Cream or Novelties @ $3.00 – use $3.00 or $5.00 coupon from the company.

    Walmart:
    - Airwick Freshmatic Kits @ $7.97 – use $5.00 coupon from recent coupon insert.
    - Toaster Strudels @ $1.97 – use $1.00 coupon from here (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).

    Shoppers Drug Mart: (Saturday, August 21st – Friday, August 27th)
    - Christie Crackers @ .99 (Sunday & Monday ONLY) – use $1.00 WUB2 coupon from tearpads in stores.
    - Bandaids Kids Vartieties @ $2.99 – use $2.00 coupon from company.
    - Arm & Hammer Deodorant @ $1.69 – use $1.00 WUB2 coupon from here.

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