Archives for January 2013

From Our Hearts to Yours Giveaway Hop: Feb. 1-14

Welcome to the From Our Hearts to Yours Valentine’s Day Giveaway Hop hosted by Life With Two Boys and With Our Best. The participating blogs have prizes of at least $25 value so after you enter my giveaway, hop along and see what the other bloggers are giving away! [Read more…]

Printed Books Giveaway: Feb. 1-7 (Beautiful Battlefields)

Welcome to the Printed Books Giveaway hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Savings in Seconds is grateful to Litfuse Publicity for providing one lucky winner with a copy of Beautiful Battlefields by Bo Stern.

[Read more…]

Crazy Cupid Giveaway Hop: February 1-15

Welcome to the Crazy Cupid Giveaway Hop hosted by Cheap Is The New Classy!   All of the participating blogs in this giveaway hop are linked at the bottom of this post.   What are you waiting for?  Get started entering these giveaways!

At the Savings in Seconds household, we are doing the Financial Peace University home study program.  We started a couple of weeks ago and haven’t updated since, but we are already seeing HUGE results.  For example, I checked the bank account and we are over $1000 under budget this month!  My husband and I have been way more conscious of our frivolous spending and it’s paying off in a huge way.  Next year we start paying back our enormous student loans, so we are trying to get ready for those monthly payments now by paying everything else (except the house) off.   Wish us luck!   Years ago I read The Total Money Makeover and learned a great deal, especially about “the debt snowball.”  Using Dave Ramsey’s plan, we paid off our cars and a couple of small bills we had accumulated over time.   Unfortunately we slacked off quite a bit when we had kids and the rest is history.  Now, thanks to Financial Peace University, we are getting back on track.   There’s something in it for you, too!!   [Read more…]

Valentine’s Day at home becomes something special with Mrs. Smith Signature Deep Dish pies

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mrs. Smith’s. All opinions are 100% mine.

Just when you didn’t think that something as perfect as all-American apple pie could be improved upon, Mrs. Smith comes along with something fantabulous like her Signature Deep Dish Dutch Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce.  I mean, come on — how much better can something get?  This pie has it all, from a real butter crust to the brown sugar streusel on top.  Delicious!  There are four scrumptious pies just waiting for your fork.  Keen on peaches?  How about trying the Signature Deep Dish Peach Pie with Cream Cheese Icing?  The cream cheese comes in its own happy little pouch just waiting to be drizzled over those perky slices of pie.   If the cream cheese icing made you stop cold, you might also be interested in the Signature Deep Dish Pumpkin Pie with Cream Cheese Icing,  Welcome to pumpkin pie heaven, with dreamy condensed milk and cinnamon smiles all around.   Hello!!   We can have Thanksgiving dessert every weekend of the year!  The final contestant in Mrs. Smith’s pageant is the Signature Deep Dish Cherry Pie with Butter Fudge Sauce.  Yes, you read that correctly—cherries and chocolate.  This is the one that will be waiting for my sweethearts (big and small) on Valentine’s Day.

Mrs. Smith’s Signature Deep Dish pies are a great way to make this Valentine’s Day into something special.  You don’t have to spend a fortune on a restaurant meal to offer a delicious treat for your loved ones.   You can even customize your pies by using the  the icing/topping packets to create a personalized look.  Make a design on top of the pie, for example, or maybe draw a big heart with an arrow through it.  Write “Be Mine” in cream cheese or drizzle caramel sauce in pretty little lines.  It’s completely fun and easy to do with Mrs. Smith’s Signature Deep Dish pies. Just imagine the sparkle in your family’s eyes when you bring any of these pies to the table. If you have little ones at home, consider letting them finish off the pie with the icing packet!  Planning a romantic evening?  Just turn on the oven, pop in a Mrs. Smith pie, and get ready for the fireworks.   If you’re solo this Valentine’s Day, all the more reason to celebrate the day with one of these pies.  You get to keep it all for yourself!   Which one will you choose?

Join Mrs. Smith’s on Facebook to see what she’s cooking up next.  Don’t forget to post your favorite pie on Pinterest.  Look for Mrs. Smith’s Signature Deep Dish pies at these retailers.   Happy Valentine’s Day!

This winter weather has me dreaming of Australia!

Now that winter weather has hit full force here in Northeast Tennessee, going somewhere with sunshine sounds absolutely perfect.  Since I’m dreaming, I am not even going to stay within the US.  In fact, Australia is calling to me.  I’m dreaming of the spectacular waterfalls and seeing the Great Barrier Reef.  While the Appalachian Mountains are my home, I can just close my eyes and visualize the breathtaking coastlines of Australia.  [Read more…]

Tricities Tuesday: 60 minute massage for only $29? Dinner at Wellingtons? Hello, Valentine’s Day!

Ahhhhh, a massage….I feel more relaxed just thinking about it.  There’s nothing like a wonderful, soothing massage to make you feel like you’re walking on a cloud.  It’s one of those things that you just can’t really do for yourself, though.  Oh wait!  You can!!  You can get yourself a gift certificate for a massage and then go enjoy one!!

massage

Here’s a deal that will save you a bundle:  60 minute hot stone massage for $29 (regular price is $60).  This massage is valid at a specific Johnson City location, so make sure that you’re in the Tricities area to take advantage of it.  [Read more…]

What I really need….. #boostyourblog

Normally the sound that comforts me is my husband’s breathing while he sleeps.  Knowing that everyone in my house is sleeping soundly, safe in our warm home, gives me such a feeling of peace.  Except last night.  My son has been sick all weekend (in fact, I had to take the day off work today so I could take him to the doctor) and last night I started feeling bad, too.  Of course his sickness would be the one thing my kid is willing to share.  So anyway, around 1:30 AM my dog started barking.  She is normally pretty quiet but she went CUH-RAY-ZEE at something outside.  I was a little scared to go out and see what it was, so I nudged my hubby until he woke up and heard it.  He stumbled out to find that she was barking at some phantom invader, probably it was the scent of an animal wafting through a crack in the door or something.  Meanwhile, the children’s song “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” was running through my head because I was aching in all of those places. [Read more…]

The Tutor’s Daughter giveaway (Young Adult book hop) January 29-Feb. 4

Welcome to the Young Adult Giveaway Hop, January 29th – February 4th, hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and co-hosted by BookLove101. All of the participating blogs are offering a book that is themed around the young adult genre. From Savings in Seconds, I wanted to share a book that I just loved.   The Tutor’s Daughter is a book that reminded me so much of Pride and Prejudice with a touch of Anne of Green Gables.  It was a great weekend read that any Downton Abbey fan would enjoy!!   You can read my full review here.  Thanks to Litfuse Publicity, one reader will receive a copy of The Tutor’s Daughter.
The giveaway is open to readers ages 18+  in the US and Canada (except where prohibited by law).  Please enter on the Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck! [Read more…]

Get Green for Spring blogger event (March 11-25)



 

 


Hosted By:
 


Mommy’s Favorite Things &Mama’s Baby Cupcakes
 

“Get Green For Spring”

 

 


The theme of this Blog Hop giveaway event focuses on items that are either Eco Friendly OR the color Green! There are lots of options for finding a prize for this wonderful event. Lots of items these days will fall under one of those categories, now get out there and find the perfect prize pack for your blog!  Each blog will be responsible for securing their own prize on their own blog. Each prize must be a Minimum of $25. The Prize can be sponsored OR you can self sponsor. Each blog can have more than 1 winner, but each winner must win at least $25 in prizes.

Joining this Blog Hop is FREE with Announcement.

 Here are the details: 

When: 3/11-3/25
Who: Anybody with a blog can sign up for this one!
 Sign ups close March 4, so get on it!  Click HERE to find the HTML for the announcement post and don’t forget to add yourself to the Linky Below! You MUST post an announcement post in order to enter this hop! You can also join the Facebook Group for our events here. 

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On My Bookshelf: The Tutor’s Daughter

Historical fiction and period dramas are my little indulgence, and The Tutor’s Daughter hit the spot.  When I received this book for review, I couldn’t wait to sit in a comfy chair and read it.  Set in Cornwall around the early 1800’s, The Tutor’s Daughter stirs together Jane Austen style with gothic mystery into a delectable dessert.  I couldn’t put it down; the more I read, the more drawn I was to the story.  The characters in The Tutor’s Daughter kept me guessing with that bit of formal romance that I love so much in Pride & Prejudice was perfectly displayed in this book.  The relationship between Emma and Henry reminded me a bit of Anne and Gilbert from my beloved Anne of Green Gables stories. There were so many strange little twists that kept me guessing, I just couldn’t focus on anything else while I read this book. Thank goodness for the slow cooker or my family wouldn’t have eaten until I finished the story. [Read more…]

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