Choose Your $50 Gift Card Giveaway! Live until 12/14 #giveaway

Welcome to the Choose Your $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

Hosted By: Simply Southern Couponers

Co-Hosted By: Tales From A Southern Mom, Sweet Southern Lovin, My Silly Gang, An Exercise in Frugality, Romania and Missions, The Breezy Mama, Deliciously Savvy, Delightful Ideas, Fun Fierce Fab Beauty Over 50 and Love Me Some Coupons!

A special thanks to all of the bloggers participating and helping promote this event! This giveaway could not be possible without all of them, so be sure to stop by and send them a thank you.

One lucky winner will receive a $50 Gift Card of their choice.

(Old Navy, Target, Kohl's, Walmart, Toys R Us or Amazon)

Chips Off The Old Block blog is delighted to help promote this giveaway. Winning a gift card from any of the choice stores can help with your last minute gift buying, a stocking stuffer, secret Santa gift for someone special or you can use it to shop for you yourself! 
I am liking that Amazon gift card, my favorite spot the shop.....my couch..online.

Good Luck!! Let me know if you win, that would be so exciting. 

Event Details:

December 1st - December 14th

Open to US Residents only.

Must be 18+ to enter.

How to Enter:

Enter using the Entry Form below. By entering you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions listed on the Entry Form. All winning entries will be verified. Winner will receive an email from Jennifer at simplysoutherncouponers@gmail.com and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thanks for entering.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Chips On The Old Block blog  received no compensation for this post. Simply Southern Couponers is responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed by, affiliated with, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google or any other social media platform. If you have any questions please email Jennifer at simplysoutherncouponers@gmail.com.

   

Elegance and Exotic Meet Love and Passion: Shebusa Creates Timeless Art #fashion

I have to admit that I am not a bling bling kinda girl anymore and enjoy the simpliar things in life, but I am a sucker for shiney colorful and the out of the ordinary. That is why these bracelets caught my eye. Made from various different leathers like ostrich, alligator, stingray, beavertail, frogskin and snakeskin, then combined with a shiney melted down metal that is fashioned into a bracelet just for your wrist.

Can we say Ohh La La ladies! I am loving the colors an vibrancy of these jewelry creations. I would love to get a gift like this, hint hint Mr Block... Lol. The blues and purples are my favorites, you can mix and match with outfits, the pink thin bracelet is so cute. I do appreciate that animals are not just harmed to make these either, the animal skins are by products of animals that have passed away somehow, not just killed to make jewelry.

Shebusa creates an elegant and timeless piece of jewelry created by the beauty of a wrist when a shiny metal bracelet is melted down and merged with an exotic skin selected for you with love and passion. Created by "Chris" a French designer who left the corporate world a few years ago to give something real to customers, the elegant custom designed bracelets by Shebusa that are custom created for each and every customer. You choose your design, the skin, the color to help insure that it’s a perfect fit for your personality and your wardrobe.

Visit the Shebusa Etsy shop to view some examples and be sure to contact them for how they can create a very special customized bracelet for you. Be sure to also follow the Shebusa Facebook page.

The wonderful Shebusa company has provided our blog friends with a 15% off coupon code. Just for Chips off the Old Block readers inserts the code CHIPSO and receive 15% off your custom made bracelet. The code lasts until August 31st only.

Visit this link to shop for your beautiful bracelet or gift today! : http://www.shebusa.com/en/5042-custom-bracelets

Stay tuned for a chance to win an elegant ostrich custom bracelet in my next post!

This is a sponsored post, I have been compensated in some form of exchange or payment to write this post. Please see my disclosure policy for more info.

Try Chili's Amazing Flatbreads Today! Hurry Ends Soon

Click the banner

These Flatbreads are delicious with some mouth drooling ingredients. Get yours free for a very short time. 

Join the Chili's email club to get your free full-size flatbread, and you'll also get the latest happening and exclusive offers.

Chili's is giving away one million of their NEW freshly-baked flatbreads. Loaded with signature toppings on a crispy crust, it's a taste not to be missed. Claim your free flatbread* before they're gone and get to your local Chili's! 

*Free full-size flatbread when you join Chili's Email Club. 

Frugal Ideas ~ Vinegar ~ Unleash the Power!

Or if they are worn, she is a mom and a homemaker most likely. Frugal is where its at lately at this house, anything to save a dime and I am all over it! I recently bought a big gallon jug of white vinegar to use for cleaning and then I read this fantastic post by one of my friends via our Centralfoothillsmommies.com domestic goddess forum. I was happy to see so many uses for white vinegar!

~~Unleash the power of white vinegar―an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, herbicide and more. Just a bit of this multitasker, straight up or mixed with water, can replace many pricier products huddled under your sink. Try these tips to see how vinegar can make your life cheaper and easier.

1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.

2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).

3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.

6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.

7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)

8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.

9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.

10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.

11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.

12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.

13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.

14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.

15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.

16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.

17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.

18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.

19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.

20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.

22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.

23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.

24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.

26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.

27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.

28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.

29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.

30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.

32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.

34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.

35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.

36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.

37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.

38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.

39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.

40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.

41. Restore shower head pressure. If your showerhead gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.

42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.

43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.

44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.

http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/organizing-cleaning/uses-for-vinegar-00411000074974/


Now I am off the clean up the dog vomit present that somebody left me while I was busy blogging away......ughhh!!
Stupid dang dogs!!

How to save money on your grocery bill

 Do you dress for shopping, no not really, this is my little diva dressed up with things she found on one of our shopping trips for party supplies. I love to save money and use coupons to shop, with a family of 5 we have to try anything to save. My kids even say "we don't have a coupon for that" when we are in the stores.

Many families around us are struggling to find the money to feed their families, this article about how to save money at the grocery store hopefully will help someone in need. I added many great links to many couponing and frugal moms sites that my favorite moms on CFM have shared with me. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Shop In Season
If you buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season, you will spend less money. As an added bonus, your food will taste better too. Foods that are shipped in from faraway places so that we can eat them out of season - think strawberries, oranges, cucumbers in the winter - have the added cost of transportation to get them to the store. Resist buying that hot house tomato in January. It isn't going to taste good anyway! If you have Farmer's Markets in your area, consider shopping there for local produce. Chances are it will be less expensive, taste better and be organically grown.

2. Shop Sales
Pay attention to the sales that your store is advertising. Buy only what is on sale, instead of buying based on cravings. Most stores post weekly and monthly sales. Find out the sales cycle of your favorite grocer because they don't all run Sunday to Saturday.

3. Plan Meals around Sales
Plan your meals for the week around the weekly sales. Chicken and ground beef are on sale this week? Great - plan your menu to include chicken enchiladas, stuffed chicken breasts, tacos and sloppy joes.

4. Sign up for Store Rewards Cards
By signing up for store rewards cards, you will pay the lowest price for the items in that store. You will also be eligible for special deals and promotions and may receive coupons in the mail directly from the store itself. Your receipt will show you how much you have saved just by having that special card.

5. Sign up for Store email Notices
Many grocery stores now have online coupons and unique online specials. If you sign up for their email notices, you will be in the know about these special coupons and deals. Stores also use their email lists to notify customers of events like super doubles and triples.

6. Use Coupons
Shop with coupons. You can find coupons in the Sunday paper, online, in the grocery store fliers, on special bulletin boards throughout the grocery store, on store shelves, on wine bottles and in blinking machines situated inside grocery stores. You may think that buying generic is always cheaper, but that is often not the case. By combining sales with coupons, you can often get items for free.

7. Plant a Garden
Feed a man and he eats for a day. Plant a garden and you can eat all year long. Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive, even in season. Buy seeds and plant a garden for a fraction of the cost. Even apartment dwellers can plant small window gardens.

8. Eat Before you Shop
Never shop on an empty stomach. Make sure you eat before you head to the grocery store. Studies show that hungry shoppers spend more money.

9. Leave your Kids at Home
Shop by yourself whenever possible. Children often ask for empty calorie foods and have no concept of cost. Many a mom has broken down and handed over as box of cookies just to get some peace and quiet. Leave them home, shop in quiet and stay on budget.

10. Take a List and Stick to it
Get out your sales fliers, your coupons and your email notices ahead of time and make a list of what you need to buy for the week. Be sure to take your list and a pen with you on your shopping trip and determine to buy only what you have on the list. You will avoid impulse buys this way.

A little extra time each week to organize and plan ahead will pay off.

Some of our favorite CFM moms savings sites are:
Southern Savers
The Krazy Coupon Lady
coupondivas.com
hip2save.com
www.budgetsavingmom.com 
www.hotcouponworld.com
www.afullcup.com
www.couponmom.com 
www.weusecoupons.com 
www.coupsfortroops.com
For great mommy support :
www.centralfoothillsmommies.com
www.themommiesnetwork.org