Welcome to the Make This House A Home giveaway, hosted by Tales From the Nursery & Mama’s Baby Cupcakes.

Don’t forget to enter to win the grand prizefor the event.  It’s sponsored by Gallery Direct!

Here at Savings in Seconds, we have three great sponsors ready to help make your house a home.

Our first sponsor is The First Years and they are providing one lucky winner with a Reclining Feeding Seat.  You can read about this seat on my review, and print a coupon for it too!  This seat is really handy for small areas and traveling.  One of the best things you can do with your kids is eat with them at the table—and that’s at any age, even from infancy!   Thanks to The First Years, one lucky winner will get this seat valued at $39.99.

Our second sponsor is Clean + Green.   If you like having a clean home without using scary chemicals, this is a product for you.  Clean + Green is providing one winner with 3 cans of product:  1 can of Furniture Fresher, 1 can of Carpet & Upholstery for dogs/cats and 1 can of Wood & Tile for dogs/cats.  This package is valued at $25.

The third sponsor is Allegra, who is offering a fabulous allergy-knockout prize package valued at $66!  I wish I could win this package for my family because my husband goes through a lot of Allegra.  You can read my review of Allegra to see what’s included in the package and why it is so important for my family to stay stocked up.

If you have a prize preference, please indicate your choice of prize in the optional entry in the Rafflecopter form below.  Otherwise I will choose for you!  This giveaway is US only and ends August 3.  Good luck!

Rice is a budgeting mom’s best friend.  It can easily go from a side dish to a main component in a meal.   You can even change up the menu by using different varieties of white rice, wild rice, or brown rice.   Strangely enough, sometimes serving rice with meals can be a bit of a dilemma.  Finding the appropriate rice to water ratio is a fine-tuned skill.  Coming from an Asian home made a big impact on my cooking style.  We eat sticky rice quite regularly in our house.  If you’ve been cooking your rice in a pan, let me tell you the wonders of using a rice cooker.   With the right rice cooker, your rice is all steamy and fluffy—just perfect—with the touch of a button.  No worries about undercooking, burning, or how long to leave it on the burner.  Now you just need to find the right cooker!  I used to have a Japanese rice cooker but it was way too big and required a lot of storage space.  I opted for the smaller versions that you can get in the department store, but because we use them so often our rice cookers typically have a short life span.  Eventually they all start to give out, requiring two or more cycles to completely cook the rice.

Recently I was given an opportunity to try an Oster saute rice cooker.  The Oster cooker is larger than the other rice cookers I’ve used in the past few years, so I had to pay attention to how much rice and water I put in it.  Once started, the cooking cycle was extremely fast!  The rice cooker got very hot and I was afraid it would boil over.  If you use this appliance, I would suggest keeping it pushed back on your counter so that your little ones are in no danger of getting burned.  When the rice was finished cooking, I was thrilled to find that it was perfectly cooked!   The texture and moisture was just right.  Also, the bowl of the rice cooker was large enough that we were able to store the rice and stirfry leftovers in it; we just added the food to the leftover rice and put the whole pot in the fridge.  This model also has a saute feature which I haven’t used yet, but it would be perfect for the recipe that I posted below.  Overall, I really liked the Oster rice cooker and will be on the lookout for more appliances by Oster.

So, what meal will you make with your rice cooker?  Here’s one of my daughter’s favorite recipes.  And yes, she even eats the vegetables.   Enjoy!

Smoked Sausage with Veggies and Rice  (I apologize for guessing at the measurements, I don’t use a recipe)
1 pkg. beef smoked sausage, cut into bite-size pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced

any other fresh veggies you want to use—we like corn, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, edamame…..whatever is in our garden.
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbs cornstarch mixed in water
steamed white rice

Cook the sausage and onions in a large skillet or stockpot.  Drain well.  Add the other vegetables and soy sauce; cover the pan.  Cook until the veggies are tender.  A few minutes before serving, add the cornstarch-water mixture and stir until the sauce is thickened.  Serve over the hot rice.

I’m a Nice Girl and I admit it.  I’ve always been a Nice Girl.   Once upon a time, before kids and with time to exercise, I was decently fit.  Even then, I was too modest to show what little cleavage I had or to wear makeup that was too bold.  I wear neutral colors like brown and gray, sometimes black to try to look slimmer.  My go-to outfit for the weekend is a baggy crewcut shirt, a pair of jeans that I bought for $1 at a thrift shop and some flip flops.   Sound familiar?  If so, you might be a Nice Girl too.  This book might be for you!

Now, let’s change the subject.  Remember that girl in high school who stopped everyone in their tracks?  The green-eyed beauty with the glossy black hair that looked like she walked out of a shampoo commercial.  She wore clothes that met the dress code but still somehow seemed to look too good.  Her legs looked all shiny and smooth like Barbie’s and she wore heels with her shorts.  Her eyes sparkled and somehow she never broke a sweat in gym.  Yes, that girl.  She was Naughty.  Not that kind of Naughty….but instead the kind that taught you what sex appeal was when you watched her prance by your locker.   Author Dimitri James explains in his book Naughty Makeovers for Nice Girls that “Naughty Girls” are not trashy.  He gives very specific advice and examples to help ANY woman, no matter her age, shape, or height.  These are makeover examples from Skinn Cosmetics that any woman could try.  They are not expensive or hard to do.  Just the smallest suggestions that you could implement right away, such as using eye drops as part of your makeup routine.  Easy, right?!   This is a great book for any woman who wants to build her self-confidence or learn how to look her best.   There is even a section on how to look awesome when you travel.   I’m not saying that I will never wear my oversized t-shirts to bed again, but I think there is a time and place to kick up my look a notch.  My husband thanks Dimitri James, I’m sure!

Here’s a chance for you to win your own copy of Naughty Makeovers for Nice Girls.  Just enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  This post contains affiliate links.

Join Fresh Ideas!

Here’s a chance for you to join Fresh Ideas; a new consumer panel designed to collect your thoughts and feedback regarding food and what you are looking for in the foods you choose for yourself and for others, such as your family and friends.

Here’s what they have to say:

“Become a member of our Fresh Ideas Panel! Please share your thoughts with us on our product ideas and offerings. By sharing your opinions with us you are eligible for monthly giveaways.”

I’m always ready for a giveaway or sweepstakes, what about you?  Click here to answer the quick survey (about 10 questions) and enter your info.   It’s a limited-time offer, so don’t delay.
I love being a member of panels like this.  I often get to try new products, receive high-value coupons, and sometimes get rewarded with cash and gift cards!   I did some research on this group before offering it to you, just to make sure it was legit.  Although not everyone will qualify, those who did seemed happy with it.  Several people even said that they got a gift card from Fresh Ideas. I’m a member but haven’t received anything from this panel yet.

(This is my affiliate link.)

Well, it’s official.  The doctor says I need to watch what I’m eating and be aggressive with weight loss.  I have been lazy long enough, not bothering to keep off the weight after having my daughter eight years ago.  One of my biggest nutrition downfalls is pasta, and it shows in my triglyceride level.  I loooooove me some spaghetti or penne.  I’ve been adding more fresh veggies to my pasta meals to make them filling without the extra carbs.  I’ve tried for a while to eat whole wheat pasta. High triglycerides=low taste pasta?  Nope.  I love to eat it in lasagna, because I don’t really notice the difference, but in something like spaghetti I have a hard time enjoying the texture.

Mara’s Pasta sent me a box of pasta to try.  Maragrain was created when the owner’s daughter wanted to eat pasta but her parents were concerned about the empty carbs in most pasta grains.  From reading the testimonials, it seems that they hit the bullseye on taste and quality!   You can purchase Mara’s Pasta on their online store.  Could it be true that Mara’s Pasta is smoother than other whole wheat brands?  I was willing to give it a try.  The first thing I tried was the spaghetti.  I boiled it with some olive oil and salt, then topped it with my hubby’s delish meat sauce.  Mmmmm……..

I won’t say that it was the same as eating my normal spaghetti because it isn’t.  Whole wheat pasta has a different consistency and texture than the regular white pasta I know and love.  It’s something that you have to accept.  Still, I definitely agree that Mara’s has a better texture than other whole wheat pastas that I’ve tried.  It also has a slightly nutty flavor which was really tasty with the sauce. Afraid to try whole wheat pasta?  Give it a chance……The first bite is the hardest.  Seriously, after you get through that initial reaction, you will probably enjoy the rest.  Take it from me, there were no leftovers of this meal!  It is something I’ll make again.   Next I plan to use the penne with some fresh zucchini and Juliet tomatoes from the garden, then top with parmesan cheese. How does that sound to you?

Click here to sign up for Mara’s Pasta email newsletter.  You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Click here to enter the giveawayfor your own gift box of Mara’s Pasta! The giveaway ends 8/6. Good luck!

Disclaimer: Mara’s Pasta provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Paper Coterie has given you another freebie for summer!!   Grab your free printable download today by clicking here.  It’s so cute and easy to use.  These are perfect for summer BBQ’s, pool parties, and birthday bashes. It has that custom look without the custom price! [Read more…]

Click below to print off your coupon, then take it with you for a big savings on your meal!   It’s available for  a limited time.

I love getting the Chili’s emails—-they often have free dessert or free kid’s meals.  Pair the coupon with one of the specials (like the 2 for $20 deal) and it makes eating out so much more affordable.

(Note that the link is an affiliate link.  It is completely free for you to use it.)

So hopefully you grabbed the Groupon for the Knoxville Super Why! show (if you live in Northeast TN, of course.)   But if you didn’t, here is an even better deal!   And it’s available for shows in the following cities: Birmingham, Knoxville, Raleigh, Memphis and Charleston.

Click here to go to the Super Why Live page, then click “Get Tickets” in the city of your choice.  Look for the Promotion Box and enter code SUPERFB (see picture below).   The tickets will be only $19 which is over a 50% savings for the show that I’m attending.  Anyone 2 years old or older needs a ticket, so depending on the number in your party you could save a ton of money.

Here’s what the Knoxville prices were before the code:

After the code, there were two seating options available that were formerly $39 each:

I’m excited about this savings; I hope it will make it possible for more families to enjoy attending this show together.

My husband used to suffer from vertigo every year when the seasons changed.  When the vertigo hit, my poor guy would be bed-ridden for a week, unable to stand up without assistance.  We finally determined that the vertigo was triggered by his allergies.  He seemed to have trouble with his middle ear that was brought on by the change in the seasons.  Pressure changes especially affected him, so we were unable to fly anywhere or even to drive in the mountains.  He couldn’t go swimming because the fluid seemed to get trapped in his ears.  After trying several different allergy medications, Allegra finally seemed to be the most effective for him.  He takes the 24-hour time release pill daily and hasn’t had a vertigo attack in six years!  We’ve also replaced all the carpet in our home with hardwood floors.  That has helped, too.

Allegra products are available in several forms and also come in children’s varieties.  Since Allegra can now be purchased over the counter, allergy sufferers are able to get their medications without having to get a prescription.  This is a considerable savings, especially when you pair a sale with a coupon!  There are lots of coupons available for Allegra.  I found some on a tearpad at the pharmacy.  You can also visit Allegra’s website to print your own.  Sign up for the Allegra newsletter to receive special offers and updates.  Be sure to follow Allegra on Twitter for even more news.

Enter to win a prize pack from Allegra in the “Home is Where the Heart Is” giveaway (starts July 20). The prize pack will include:

• Allegra^® 24-Hour – one daily dose relieves allergy symptoms all-day, for adults and children 12 years of age and older  (70 tablets)
• Children’s Allegra^® 12-Hour Tablets – specially formulated to give non-drowsy relief, for children six years of age and older (12 tablets)
• Children’s Allegra^® 12-Hour Oral Suspension – tasty, berry-flavored liquid goes down easily for non-drowsy relief, children two years of age and older (4oz bottle)

QUICK!

Get your kids away from the computer screen.

I’ll wait.

Whew!  That was close.  If your kids saw this picture, you KNOW they’d be begging you to go!  And I wanted to make sure you know about T-shirt Tuesday.  This is a limited time offer that I just heard about —if your child wears a Wallabie’s tee on Tuesday, admission is only $5!    Don’t have a Wallabies shirt?  Buy one for $10 on Tuesday, and your child gets in FREE that day!   Yeehaw, we are headed to Wallabies, my friends!

(I received no compensation for posting this.  I just think it’s a great deal for a fun activity!)