Free Paint!

Yep, you read it right! Free paint, no strings attached! I just requested my coupon, now it's your turn.

Sign up for a free Valspar paint sample soon as supplies are limited to the first 100,000 requests. This is a Facebook link.

Plug in your address and other simple info (takes less than 30 seconds), click submit and *ding* you'll have a coupon in your mailbox for a free 8-ounce container of Valspar paint from Lowe's in the mail. Evidently it takes 2-4 weeks, and the offer runs out on March 29th or when they hit their 100,000 limit.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Make Me or Buy Me Monday: Laundry Detergent

As I'm about to make another round of laundry soap, this post seems especially appropriate today. Happy laundry soap to you!

Laundry Detergent: Buy Me?

Sneaking around on Amazon, I searched specifically for liquid, non-toxic, fragrance free laundry detergent for sensitive skin. Granted, it is quite a mouthful, but I was trying to find something to compare to my laundry detergent. The only product fulfilling these requirements were the NaturOli EXTREME 18X Soap Nuts Liquid Laundry Detergent (also a household cleaner).

Personally, I've never tried this product, but I've heard rave reviews. Currently available for $16.95 for an 8-ounce bottle, it evidently requires just one or two squirts per load to get your clothes squeaky clean. So, unlike most commercial laundry detergents, it is mostly product rather than mostly water. Each bottle is supposed to do 96 loads.

Laundry Detergent: Make Me?

It's easy. If I can do it, you can too. But, it does take some time and a bit of energy. My laundry detergent recipe is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and safe to use for children. Plus, if anyone is going to react to it, it's going to be me. Look Mom, no reactions!

My homemade laundry soap is incredibly cheap too, averaging out to around 50 cents per gallon for us without buying the ingredients on sale. It requires maybe one or two hours of your time for every ten gallons of detergent you go through, and doesn't leave your friends in a chemical-induced stupor every time you walk by them.

Laundry Detergent: The Take Home

Now that my brain hurts from the math, I figured out the sheer numbers in terms of cost per load:

• NaturOli Soap Nuts: 18 cents per load
• My laundry soap: Less than 1 cent per load

I checked the math, and while I could be experiencing "stupid fog," I don't believe I made a mistake. Granted, the time required to make the laundry detergent should be taken into account, but knowing exactly what is in a potentially product certainly gives me peace of mind.

So, which is it for you? Make Me or Buy Me?

Tears in My Eyes from LAUGHING!

Oh. My. Word. If this list of 50 Funny Amazon Reviews  doesn't make you laugh so hard you'll cry, nothing will.

Note: Some of these may not be kid friendly. Nothing raunchy or explicit (it is Amazon, after all) but not all are for little eyes to read and understand. ;)

What's your favorite? I haven't been through them all yet as I keep crying, and it's far past my bedtime. I shall resume tomorrow!

The Least Flattering Item You'll Never Buy

For some reason, I have this irrational belief deep down inside me that I'll suddenly luck out and find all sorts of clothing online from websites such as Target, Amazon, and Old Navy. While I have lucked out and found a couple of dresses online from Target, which I had to remove the elastic from, it's insanely difficult to find clothing without elastic, spandex, lycra, or elastene (all of which contain latex).

So, if you wonder why you itch all the time, that could be the problem. Myself, I had no idea I was itchy all the time until I went a week without elastic and spandex. It was a lifechanger.

Anywho, I was yet again irrationally surfing online for clothing that I will not find, and checked out the plus-size dresses on Amazon. This is what I found:

 The Caftan/Kaftan with Vintage Floral Print, One Size Plus, Up2date Fashion Style#Caf-50. The description describes the print as "unique" and "like an art work." Yep, that sure is like a work of art. The work of art of that couch in the background of my baby pictures in 1982.

Check out the page, and you'll see other pictures of this incredibly happy woman. Now that is a professional model!

If I Had $100 on Amazon....

It's pretty obvious that I'm a big fan of Amazon, both as a customer and as a blogger. I've screwed up a handful of times as a blogger, contacted them, and all has been forgiven immediately. I've also had a few not-so-wonderful experiences with products, contacted Amazon, and their return process (if it's even needed in that case) has been nice and easy. I like easy.

While I could easily spend 100 bucks on stuff on Amazon that I need or can really use, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what I would do with the luxury of $100 designated for what I want.

So it's your turn today. Surf around a bit on Amazon, then come back and tell me: what would you do with $100 to use on Amazon for your own selfish enjoyment?

Fibromyalgia E-book Round-Up

So while I was fiddling around on Amazon.com today, it occurred to me that I hadn't really searched for ebooks on fibro. After thinking about smacking myself upside the head and deciding I didn't have the energy, I found some ebooks that look quite interesting. I haven't read any of these yet, but I will keep an eye on them and cross my fingers that they go free soon! When they do, I'll be sure to post!



I Hurt Like Hell: We Have All Heard of Fibromyalgia, Now Hear It from Someone Who Lives It Every Day

*giggles* I'm into this book just because of the title. OK, so it's not really funny, but if you just read the first four words, it kinda is.






If You Have to Wear an Ugly Dress, Learn to Accessorize: Guidance, Inspiration, and Hope for Women with Lupus, Scleroderma, and Other Autoimmune Illnesses

This one isn't all about fibro, but again, the title makes me giggle. And we all know that giggles are good!








Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I can relate to this face...





There are more that look either entertaining or helpful, but I'm cold. Off to microwave some water for a foot bath, cross your fingers it won't give me a hot flash!

Now that you've browsed my completely random, unscientific selection of ebooks on fibro and related fun, are there any you'd recommend?

50 Animal Cookie Cutters for $8.99!

Let's face it. Cookies are fun, but animals cookies are so much more fun!

Hence my excitement at the Wilton Animal Pals 50-Piece Cookie Cutter Set currently available for $8.99, down from $20.97!

Use them for cookies, Rice Krispy treats, sandwiches, clay, Playdough...

But wait, there's more!

The Wilton 50 Piece ABC & 123 Cookie Cutter Set is currently $8.99.


Don't go yet! In my opinion, the best deal of them all is the Wilton 2304-1050 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set for $12.98.

Hey, if you can't do much due to feeling like crud all the time, you have to get excited about something right?