Archives for December 2013

Snowed In So Read Giveaway Hop featuring Lean Body Fat Wallet – giveaway CLOSED-

Snowed-In---So-Read-Giveaway-Hop  featuring Lean Body Fat Wallet -- savingsinseconds.com

Disclosure: I will receive a copy of this book to review. This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome to the Snowed In? So Read Giveaway Hop hosted by StuckInBooks. Since this hop starts on January 1, a time when many people have made resolutions, we’re giving away a copy of Lean Body, Fat Wallet: Discover the Powerful Connection to Help You Lose Weight, Dump Debt, and Save Money to one lucky winner. After all, many people have two big goals in mind when the new year starts. Losing weight and paying off debt are always the plans for my year.  According to the authors of Lean Body, Fat Wallet, you can do both!!  [Read more…]

Alphie the Squid app is FREE for a limited time

Alphie the Squid app is free for a limited time -- #ad  savingsinseconds.com

One more day of 2013 just might be the end of my patience.  We were blessed to get some wonderfully fun gifts from our family, such as a light saber and nunchucks.  You can just imagine the havoc that has wreaked in the Savings in Seconds house.  Once a quiet and stable home, now we’ve become accustomed to hearing Darth Vader’s noisy breath and no longer flinch when the light saber hovers dangerously near our faces.  It’s time for a peaceful app.  Thank you, thank you Crystal Entertainment, for offering the Alphie the Squid app for FREE.  The music alone is enough to soothe my frazzled nerves. [Read more…]

Two Dads Cafe in Kingsport

We finally had a date night last summer—the first time in years.  This deal is making me want to repeat it.  The dinner part, at least!  We like going to local restaurants, and finding coupons online makes it so much more affordable. We enjoyed a wonderful meal at Battery in Johnson City for $25 by going through an online coupon site.  I loved going to this beautiful restaurant.  It’s located in the old train station (where the Farmer’s Market is) and makes you feel as though you’re stepping into a Charleston restaurant.  I got the seared scallops with scalloped potatoes and an appetizer of lobster fritters.  OH MY STARS, it was a meal for the gods!!  I didn’t take pictures because, you know, we were on a date.  The next time we visit I’ll be sure to share it with you!  [Read more…]

New looks for 2014 made easier with new beauty products

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

One of the best things about Christmas is having some time off to spend a little time on my family. We’ve enjoyed some pajama days, nursed my daughter back to health after her strep throat, and basically watched TV for several straight hours. It’s been relaxing and rejuvenating. With 2014 peeking around the corner, I realize that my 38 years are starting to show. Never before have I been so aware of thinning hair, fading glow, or overall decline in youthfulness. Perhaps it’s because I’ve had a bit more time these days to reflect upon my outer appearance. Whatever the reason, I’m determined to work smarter, not harder, at keeping myself up in 2014.  New beauty products make it fun to try a new look for 2014. [Read more…]

Our house is full of polished music

What does the fox say? He says you’ve gotta jam on Christmas break!!   Look what Santa brought to our house on Christmas morning.

Disclosure: I received samples; the post contains affiliate links. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Disclosure: I received samples; the post contains affiliate links. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Can you just imagine the tunes that are floating out of these microphones?! You, too, can have this polished music at your house.   [Read more…]

Use Loom Magic and goloops! to keep the kids interested while indoors

Disclosure: I received product samples; this post contains affiliate links. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

When winter weather hits and school’s not in session, it can be a real chore to keep the kids contained.  We try to limit the screen time even though we’re on a school break.  Those poor iPads sure get a workout!  If your kids haven’t yet hit the Loom Madness, what are you waiting for?

Keep the kids busy indoors this winter -- savingsinseconds.com

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On My Bookshelf: Unspoken by Dee Henderson

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Bethany House to review; the post contains affiliate links.

Like a made-for-TV movie, Unspoken starts out with the bored businessman who comes across the intriguing female. In the case of Unspoken, the intriguing female is Charlotte, and she’s full of mystery.  Bryce Bishop is a little bit too cool for words and I didn’t like him too much right off the bat.  I did admire his respect and trust in his employees, though.  As I read Unspoken it just seemed too contrived.  Clearly both Bryce and Charlotte were loved by their friends, which was a redeeming quality for me.  I also appreciated the way the secretive conspiracy that seemed to take place in the background.  That’s what held my interest in the end.  [Read more…]

The perfect ending to December 27

Thanks to strep throat, cold weather, and Christmas exhaustion today was the first day in a long time that my children got to play outside.  The temperature was warm enough that they could make it with a light jacket or hoodie.  My daughter, who was sick for a few days, was prohibited from playing with her new toys just yet.  She wanted to break out the Pogo Stick that Santa brought but I vetoed that, afraid to bring the fever back.  So she settled for sitting in a rocking chair and using her new watercolor paints.  My son attacked the tree with his new lightsaber (complete with Darth Vader voice) and TMNT nunchucks.  The dog ran around with her candy canes from Best Bully Sticks and generally scared the sense out of all the busy squirrels running in our yard. When the sun started to go down and the kids were too cold to stay outside, they came in for some snacks.  I was tickled pink to bring out this little beauty that I’ve been saving for the perfect occasion.

Thank goodness someone thought of this!! savingsinseconds.com [Read more…]

The tree is down — Literally. My living room is mine again

Did you ever see that episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where they have a silent argument about the suitcase?  Basically the suitcase was left in the corner of the stairs for a long, long time and both Debra and Raymond refused to move it.  Well, we had an issue kind of like that last year. The tree is down, people!

My Christmas Tree is down -- savingsinseconds.com

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Bring in the New Year with @EyeniTies #sponsored

Disclosure:  I will receive a product sample. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

My husband's "jumpsuit" -- savingsinseconds.com

My husband calls it his “jumpsuit” — the business coat, dress pants, and stiff button-down shirt.  He needed some new dress shirts for work so I bought him several for Christmas.  Buying these shirts just wasn’t as fun as buying clothes for myself.  I’m sure wearing them is even less fun!  So what’s a girl to do?  Add some colorful ties to the mix, that’s what!!  Since he wears a tie every day as well, it’s an easy way to change up the outfit but still keep the basic uniform the same.  Ties are also acceptably vivid in contrast to the rest of the ensemble.  A new site that I recently found offers beautifully colored ties at extremely affordable prices.  Eyeni Ties even has a current discount available, giving you $10 off a $30 purchase!!  That’s a pretty great way to stretch those dollars that are probably crying now that Christmas is over. [Read more…]

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