Let's Make a Meal Mondays

Are you tired of thinking about, planning and organizing your meals? Are you looking for something new to try? Do you have days you need to cook in the blink of an eye? Then let me tell you about a new cooking method you are just going to love.

Lily on the Fly – http://www.lilyonthefly.com/ – where you can plan on the fly, shop on the fly and cook on the fly. Lily on the fly’s Hearty Meals for Hungry Families starter kit will give you a new attitude when it comes to planning and cooking for your family.

Lily provides you with complete recipes and shopping lists along with a way to organize your menu planning.
You will be able to prepare delicious family favorite meals with ease.

Ready to try Lily on the Fly? We are looking for a few 24/7 MOMS bloggers to review the Lily Starter Pack and post their review on their blogs. In exchange, you, the MOM blogger, get to keep the Lily on the Fly Starter Kit for FREE! Email me at trisha@247moms.com with your name, email address and blog URL. On July 5, 2008, 24/7 MOMS will randomly select our 24/7 MOMS for this blog tour.

This week's Let’s Make a Meal Mondays recipe comes from the Lily on the Fly Starter Pack.

PorkChops, Oh baby.(print this sample recipe off at www.lilyonthefly.com by clicking on sample card)

Ingredients
6 bone-in pork chops
2 cups baby carrots
15-18 baby red potatoes
1 medium onion
1 can (14 oz) beef broth
2 Tbsp margarine
½ cup flour
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

Directions

Melt butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Combine flour, thyme, salt and pepper in a large plastic bag. Rinse pork chops in cool water and individually drop in flour mixture to coat. Brown pork chops in melted butter on each side, about 4 minutes per side.
Add the carrots, red potatoes, quartered onion and beef broth to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 35-40 minutes.


Do you have a simple, quick, easy cooking method or recipe? Email it to trisha@247moms.com for a potential future 24/7 MOMS publication.

Trisha's Friday Summer Favorites

Did you know that California provides 88% of the nation's strawberries? This week alone the growers will be picking nearly 6 million crates to deliver to grocery stores. Are you a strawberry fanatic? After you read today's Friday Summer Favorites you just might become one.

My Favorite Summer Fruit:

Strawberries - Being a native Cali girl, raised on those incredible California Strawberries, I have to admit they are still my favorite summer fruit.

Not only are strawberries a incredible yummy sweet treat, they also have some other great health benefits:

* Strawberries contain powerful antioxidants and rank second among the top ten fruits in antioxidant capacity. One serving of strawberries contains more Vitamin C than an orange.

* Strawberries may help reduce the risk of heart disease, fight some types of cancer and lower blood pressure. Not bad for a little red berry!

* Don't forget! The antioxidants in strawberries also aid in memory performance and may help prevent Alzheimer's disease by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, two key factors that can cause age-related diminished brain function.

With all the GREAT benefits of eating strawberries, I decided for this week's Summer Favorites I'd share my Summer Strawberry Favorites.


My Favorite Frozen Strawberry Dessert:
This is a perfect desert for a birthday, baby shower or other celebration. Warning: one bite and you won’t stop!

Frozen Strawberry Delight
1 cup flour
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup butter, melted
2 egg whites
1 cup Sugar
2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream, whipped

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup.
In ungreased 13x9 pan, combine flour, nuts, brown sugar and butter. Spread evenly in bottom of pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Reserve ½ cup baked crumbs and spread remaining crumbs in pan.
In large bowl, combine egg whites, sugar, strawberries and lemon juice.
Beat at highest speed until stiff, about 10 minutes.
Gently fold in whipped cream, spoon into pan over the crumb crust. Top with the reservef crumbs.
Freeze 6 hours or overnight.
Serves 12


My Favorite Strawberry Party Pleaser:

Milk Chocolate Fondue using Sephra Chocolate http://www.sephra.com/, and when I am throwing a big party I use my fun Sephra chocolate fountain.

I serve various items for dipping: bananas, graham cracker sticks, vanilla wafers, marshmallows, sliced apples, brownie bites, cheesecake bites, pineapple, anything that sounds yummy dipped in chocolate. And, the #1 dipped item is always strawberries.

My Favorite Strawberry Website:

For you strawberry fans, this is the site you will want to add to your favorites. It is full of recipes, from appetizers to desserts. It gives you everything you ever wanted to know about Strawberries. So, if your kids ever have to do a report on strawberries, this is the site to hit. http://www.calstrawberry.com/


My Favorite Strawberry Kid Fun:
Call your kids to the computer and together go check out Strawberryville with fun games, recipes and activities for kids, parents and teachers. Beware the line-up game can be addictive. http://www.strawberryville.com/

My 10 Favorite Ways to Eat Strawberries:

1. Strawberry filled crepes with whipped cream

2. Fresh strawberry shakes using Kirkland vanilla ice cream from Costco

3. Strawberry shortcake using Bisquick shortcakes recipe on the box

4. Chocolate dipped strawberries

5. Jell-O with sliced strawberries mixed in

6. Sliced strawberries over vanilla ice cream and loads of whipped cream

7. Sliced strawberries over angel food cake and more whipped cream

8. Strawberries mixed in my green salad with almonds, red onions and poppy seed dressing

9. Fruit salad with strawberries and various other fresh fruits

10. Just plain fresh strawberries


What is your favorite about strawberries?

21 uses for BOUNCE Dryer Sheets

Quick, run to Costco or Sam's Club and grab your enormous box of Bounce dryer sheets, because today I have 21 uses for those fresh-smelling dryer sheets.

1. All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer! It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.

2. Put Bounce around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are parked for a time. Will keep mice from getting in.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.

4. It repels mosquitoes! Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

8. To freshen the air in your home, place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put a Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew .

11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

12. To freshen the air in your car, place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.

14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in your back pocket to keep the bees away.

21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

Thanks to my Mom for these great Bounce tips. She always has great MOM stuff to share.

What MOM tips do you have to share? Email me at mailto:trisha@247mos.com and share your MOM tips with the 24/7 MOMS.

Thrifty Tuesday Finds

Tuesday has arrived again, and I have some great thrifty finds for you!

Here are my finds for the week:

FREEbies: 5 FREEbies for you

FREEbie for the coffee drinkers – Free sample of Seattle's Best Coffee HURRY these often run out fast http://www.startsampling.com/sm/100198/captureAddress.iphtml?

FREEbie lunch – It’s two free tacos day on Thursday, June 26th, at Jack in the Box. Bring any gas receipt to get your free tacos. http://jackinthebox.com/twofreetacosday/index.php?Campaign=GOOG-TFT

FREEbie children's book from Barnes and Noble when your child participates in their summer reading program. Details at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/

FREEbie from Wal-Mart a sample of the new Simply American Greetings Cards instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid44454.aspx

FREEBie for the Man - All new Gillette Body wash https://gillettepcc.safeprocessing.com/

Online Bargains:
I have come across several blogs that offer freebies, contests and give-aways, and knowing we all like free stuff I thought I would share some of these online blogs with you.

http://www.freebies.thesocalledme.net/ This is a brand new blog so keep your eye on it as it grows into a informative blog.

http://www.motherhood-moment.blogspot.com/ A blog full of money-savers, time-savers and great tips for moms.

http://www.prizey.blogspot.com/ New contests added daily.

http://www.freegrabber.com/ Freebies and samples posted weekly

You can subscribe to these blogs and have daily updates sent to your in-box which saves you time, not having to check in on them each day.



Coupon Queen:

Join Coupon Surfer for great coupon savings on groceries, retail shopping, restaurants and so much more. Be sure to check out the deal of the day. http://www.couponsurfer.com/

Sign-up and subscribe to receive the coupon surfer newsletter and coupon alerts sent directly to your in-box, so that you won't miss out on the great savings opportunities from Coupon Surfer.


Don’t FORGET-

Be sure to check out Luvs diapers at http://www.luvs.com/ on June 25th for your $5.00 off coupon. These will only be available for a limited time.

If you have a thrifty find to share with the 24/7 MOMS - send it to trisha@247moms.com

Let's Make a Meal Mondays

Hands down, PIZZA is one of the Novotny kids’ top 10 favorite meals. It's a meal they and I both could eat at least every other night.

This week for Let’s Make a Meal Mondays I found some yummy alternative pizza recipes.

At the Pillsbury website http://www.pillsbury.com/ I found two yummy pizza treats, and I signed up to receive their E-Newsletter filled with more recipes and coupons.

Pizza Melts from Pillsbury

Pizza toppings are baked inside flaky crescent layers, and then sliced into triangles. Perfect for dipping in pizza sauce.

Ingredients2 cans (8oz each) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
¼ cup pizza sauce or 3 tablespoons tomato paste with basil, garlic and oregano
1 package (3.5 oz) sliced pepperoni
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8oz)
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 cup pizza sauce, if desired

Directions
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Grease cookie sheet. On cookie sheet, unroll 1 can of dough into 1 large rectangle. With floured rolling pin or fingers, roll or press dough into 12x9-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal.
2. Spread 1/4 cup pizza sauce over dough to within 1/4 inch of edges. Top with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.
3. On 14-inch length of parchment paper, unroll remaining can of dough. Press to make 12x9-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. While holding paper with dough, turn dough upside down to cover cheese. Remove paper. Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and oregano.
4. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand on cooling rack 5 to 10 minutes. Move to cutting board. Using pizza cutter, cut into 16 squares. Cut each square in half diagonally. Serve with 1 cup pizza sauce.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 15 to 18 minutes.


Pizza Calzone from Pillsbury

Favorite pizza fillings tucked between layers of tender crust. Save the extra pizza sauce for dipping. It’s so easy with Pillsbury refrigerated pizza crust.

Ingredients
2 cans (13.8 oz each) Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust
3 oz small pepperoni slices ( 42 slices)
Additional pizza fillings of your choice
8oz thinly sliced provolone cheese
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 jar (14 oz) pizza sauce, heated

Directions
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 12-inch pizza pan. Unroll 1 can of dough; placing in greased pan. Starting at center, press out dough with hands to edge of pan. Layer pepperoni, mushrooms, olives and provolone cheese over dough.
2. Unroll remaining can of dough. Press out dough on work surface to form 12-inch round. Fold dough in half; place over provolone cheese and unfold. Press outside edges to seal. Cut several slits in top crust for steam to escape. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown. Cut pizza into wedges; serve with warm pizza sauce.


From the Rhodes bread website http://www.rhodesbread.com/ come two more yummy pizza treats.

Calzones from Rhodes Bread

Ingredients9 Rhodes Texas™ rolls, thawed, but still cold
1/2 cup diced ham (or other toppings)
1, 2 1/4-ounce can sliced olives (or other toppings)
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms (or other toppings)
1/4 cup chopped green peppers (or other toppings)
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup heated pizza sauce

Directions
1. Flatten each roll into an 8-inch circle.
2. Combine ham, olives, mushrooms, green peppers, and cheese. (or other toppings of your choice)
3. Place 1/4 cup ham mixture on each circle.
4. Fold dough over (like a turnover) and seal edges with a fork.
5. Place on a sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes. Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.



Mini Pizzas from Rhodes Bread

Ingredients
8 Rhodes Texas™ Rolls or 16 Rhodes™ Dinner Rolls, thawed and risen
spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
grated mozzarella cheese
pizza toppings as desired: pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, olives, onions, green peppers, etc.

Directions
1. Stretch 1 Texas™ roll or 2 dinner rolls pressed together into a 6 inch to 8 inch circle.
2. Place on a sprayed baking sheet.
3. Spread each roll with sauce and cover with desired toppings. Sprinkle with cheese.
4. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.


Over at Pampered Chef recipes I found this yummy Breadstick recipe www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/pampered-chef-recipes/pizza-breadsticks.htm

Pizza Breadsticks from Pampered Chef
Ingredients
1 (11-ounce) package refrigerated French bread dough
1 Tablespoon olive oil 2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 Cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 Teaspoon dried oregano
1 (8-ounce) can pizza sauce

Directions1. Unroll the bread dough. Pat the dough over the bottom of a 12x5-inch baking sheet with sides.
2. Brush with the olive oil.
3. Spread the garlic evenly over the prepared layer.
4. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and oregano.
5. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Pour the pizza sauce into a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on High for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until heated through.
7. Cut the baked layer into long strips with a pizza cutter. Serve with the warm pizza sauce.

Yield: 20 servings



The last pizza treat recipe is one I learned to make when I was a pre-teen, and to this day I still enjoy eating them!

English Muffin Pizzas

Ingredients
1 English muffin
A handful (about 1/3 cup) of shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tablespoons of tomato/pizza sauce
Pepperoni or other toppings (optional)

Directions
1. After slicing the English muffin, Toast it.
2. Spread the sauce and place the mozzarella cheese on each half of the English muffin.
3. Top your 'pizza' with a few pepperoni slices or other favorite pizza toppings.
4. Place your completed 'pizza' on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet in an oven preheated to 350°F.
5. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your pizza, or until the cheese is a golden brown color.


Do you have a yummy pizza treat? Share it with the 24/7 MOMS - email me at trisha@247moms.com or leave a comment here on the blog.

Ian Usher a LIfe 4 Sale inspires my idea of a Kid auction

Turning the "Mommy, I'm bored" syndrome into a Kid Auction -

Summer has just begun, and I am waiting for those famous words, “Mommy, I’m bored!” because I have a new plan of action this summer.

I was recently reading about Ian Usher http://www.alife4sale.com/, who decided to auction off his life on EBay because he wanted to start over with a new one. The announcement of this auction has resulted in hundreds of people emailing Ian and sharing that they are bored and tired of their own lives and want news ones as well.

So, I got to thinking... If my kids decide that this summer thing gets a little boring, and I hear “Mommy, I’m bored!” I just might suggest we auction off their oh-so-boring lives to someone else who might appreciate the lazy summer days, the closest full of toys they own and the ability to play and do what they choose almost all day, everyday during the summer.

I’m guessing the “Mommy, I’m bored!” words will quickly become extinct from my children’s vocabulary for fear their Mother will auction off the GREAT life they live in Gig Harbor.

Though you still might want to Keep an eye on ebay for the Novotny kids lives being auctioned off this summer in case they forget about the Oh, so GREAT life they are living.

Feel free to use my new method for stopping the “Mommy, I’m bored!” syndrome in your home. We can both Thank Ian Usher for a great idea.

P.S. Today at 1:21pm I checked in on Ian Ushers ebay Auction , the current bid was AU$2,200,100.00 - WOW with that kind of bidding the Novotny children might be willing to auction off the GREAT life they live in Gig Habor.

Summer Book Club "One Tough Mother" By Julie Barnhill

The votes are in, and I am ready to grab my copy of One Tough Mother, by Julie Barnhill - the chosen book for our first 24/7 MOMS Summer Book Club (Chat) .

I hope you will join me and the other 24/7 MOMS and be part of the chit-chat as we discover together the truth about stepping up and being THE MOM by reading One Tough Mother.

Ladies, it’s summer - take time to slow down the pace of life a little, enjoy your kids, grab that book, and let’s get reading!

The details are:
1. Grab your book – borrow it from your local library or you can purchase it right here through Amazon.

2. Read Chapters 1 and 2, then come back on July 2nd, I will post my comments along with some discussion questions then you can post your comments and thoughts with the 24/7 MOMS - Come back to see what the chatting is all about.

3. We will then read 2 chapters a week following the schedule below:
July 9th: Chapters 3 and 4
July 16th: Chapters 5 and 6
July 23rd: Chapter 7 and 8
July 30: Chapters 9 and 10
August 6: Chapters 11 and 12





I am looking forward to chatting with you as we continue the MOM journey together.

Trisha's Friday Favorites

Summer has officially arrived in the Novotny home – school's out and the non-stop playing with friends, backyard bon fires, vacations, swimming, late night bed times and endless fun have officially begun!

Summer also brings about many favorites for me, so as we continue to enjoy our summer in the Novotny home over the next couple of months, I will share with you some of my Summer Favorites:


My Favorite Kid Product for Traveling :

The Crayola Mess-Free Color Wonder is one item that gets packed into Nate-no’s bag when we travel. Color Wonder markers are clear markers. Once your child colors on the color wonder paper, their creation magically appears before their eyes. This is the perfect mess-free item to take along and keep your children occupied while traveling.

WIN: Share your favorite kid product for traveling by commenting or emailing me at trisha@247moms.com with your email address and you will be entered to win a FREE Crayola Mess-Free Color Wonder Alphabet book. ( Random drawing to be held July 1, 2008)


My Favorite Summer Dessert :



Apple S’mores are one of my favorite summertime treats. As you know, I am a chocoholic and enjoy mixing healthy fruit with it any chance I can.

My recipe for apple s’mores is simple:
1 roasted marshmallow
1 piece of chocolate candy bar (Hershey or Nestle Crunch are my favorites)
2 Slices of Granny Smith apples (thin slice your apple WHOLE)

Roast one marshmallow, place it between two slices of apple along with a piece of chocolate and enjoy!

What is your favorite summer treat? Comment and share it with the 24/7 MOMS.


My Favorite Summer Read:
My favorite summer read is going to be the first 24/7 MOMS Book Club selection: One Tough Mother, by Julie Barnhill.

I am looking forward to reading this book with you and sharing our thoughts as we discover together:
- Saying NO like we mean it
- Learning to stop overanalyzing every tiny detail
- How to enhance the fun factor in our homes
- Communicating truthfully and effectively with our children
- Saving ourselves from the scrapbooking madness. (Val, you can skip this part of the book.)

So, get your book today, and we will begin reading together. (Watch for more details on the blog.)


My Favorite Summer FREEbie:

During the summer I enjoy taking my kids to the movies, especially the FREE ones at Regal theatres. The Free Family Film Festival at Regal theatres is offering 9 weeks of FREE movies for kids and parents each Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00AM. Seats are first-come, first-served and limited to theater capacity, so get there early for good seats.

For a participating Regal theatre and movie schedules near you, check their web site: http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/freefamilyfilm.aspx

Another inexpensive option: AMC Movie Theatres http://www.amctheatres.com/ are offering $1.00 movies on Wednesdays at 10:00am. Check the AMC website for the nearest participating locations and movie schedules.

Favorite Summer Fun :
The Novotnys have become a camping family. Last summer we purchased a travel trailer (RV) and began our new adventures as a camping family. I am looking forward to our first camping adventure of the summer next weekend.

My husband refers to our trailer as the Lucille Ball trailer, as it is enormous in size, and once we fill it with all of our necessities it must weigh 10,000 lbs.! Yes, with a family of 7 there is a lot of stuff to pack, as we like to camp with the comforts of home sweet home.

What is your favorite summer fun? Comment and share it with the 24/7 MOMS


Not-So Favorite Thing:
I thought I would share with you, my 24/7 MOMS friends, that this week has also had a few not-so favorite moments for me as a mom. I suppose you could title this, “My Not-So Favorite Mommy Journeys.” This past week three of my children graduated into new journeys of their lives, and I, the MOM, am still not ready to travel into these journeys. However, it's more like ready-or-not, here we go!

#1 Son graduated from High School. Yes, I am a proud mom of his accomplishments. However, I also look back and think, "Where did the years go?" There is so much more I want to do with him, teach him, tell him and experience with him as a little boy. He did remind me that he is still amongst the living and plans on being part of our family still - WHEW! So, off we go to the journey of Western Washington University.

The Middle Child, Savannah, #2 Daughter officially is a High School Freshman, and ready-or-not, Gig Harbor High is about to be changed forever as she steps foot on her new turf. This mom was not ready to say good bye to her middle school years, her in-between years of childhood and the teenage world. It has been enough to watch her grow from a little girl into a precious young lady. Again, ready-or-not, here we go!

The Baby, Nate-no, said good-bye to his kindergarten teacher and classmates. He is ready to move on to 1st grade. With or without me he is going. No tears in his eyes. My baby is growing up, ready for the new adventures that are ahead. Again, I, the mom, am not ready to journey beyond the kindergarten door with him. However, it's another ready-or-not, here we go!

How much can one mother take in one week?

I know, I know, it's time I suck it up, put on my big girl panties, as they say, and journey with my children into their exciting new adventures. Oh, yes, the places I will go as a mother are not always the places I am ready or want to go, but that is all part of our mommy-hood journey. So, here I go, ready or not.

Share your favorite or not- so favorites of the week with the 24/7 MOMS by leaving a comment.

Luvs Teams up with Anita Renfroe

As a MOM you might be wondering how we are going to make it through this changing economic time without losing our minds, wallets, or sense of humor!

My personal favorite MOM comedian Anita Renfroe has teamed up with Luvs diapers and created another hilarious song/video about a day in the life of a mom and all the things she juggles with family life and managing a home.

Luvs has given 24/7 MOMS the opportunity to share this video clip with you prior to it going live on June 25, 2008.

Luvs is also offering moms an amazing limited-time coupon that will give you $5 off your next purchase of Luvs diapers. On June 25th go directly to http://www.luvs.com/ to request your Luvs $5 off coupon. They won't last long.

MOM, if you are in the diaper-changing phase of life and have not tried Luvs diapers, then take it from me, the mom of 5, who changed more diapers than I care to remember, that once you try Luvs diapers they will soon become your #1 choice in diapers with ultra leakage protection for baby and low price at checkout for you. You won't go back to another brand of diapers.

Comment and share your thoughts on Luvs or Anita’s new song.

Thrifty Tuesday Finds

Welcome back to Thrifty Tuesday Finds full of FREEbies, coupons, bargains and more.

If you have a thrifty find to share with the 24/7 MOMS, send it to trisha@247moms.com

FREEbie:


Are you signed up at www.247moms.com? Do you receive the 24/7 MOMS monthly e-news full of FREEbie contests to enter and win great stuff such as books, mom products, Cold Stone gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, and so much more?

Each month 24/7 MOMS offers a variety of FREEbie contests to enter and win both in their e-news and on their blog.

New FREEbie offers are coming in the June e-news, so sign-up today at www.247moms.com.

On-Line Bargain:
While surfing thru my blog updates from iMommies, I came across this great online bargain:

Almost Free Board Games From Ebates And Barnes & Noble -

Barnes & Noble has a fairly large selection of board games on clearance this week, and TODAY ONLY, they’re the featured daily double on Ebates (an online shopping portal that rewards members with cash back on every purchase made through their site).






As an example: Spiderman Monopoly is regularly priced at $34.95 from Barnes & Noble, but is now on clearance for $8.73 ($7.85 for B&N Members). When you start at Ebates, you’ll be redirected to the Barnes & Noble site through Ebates, and earn 8% cash back from your B&N purchase. That cash back amount is placed in your Ebates account until you reach $5.01 - once you reach that amount, Ebates will send you a “big fat check” for the balance in your cash back account.







To make the savings even better, there are several Barnes & Noble coupons available, including free shipping (on one item, if you spend $25 or more), and 25% off the highest-priced item in your shopping cart. If you’ve not yet signed up with Ebates, you’ll also receive a $10 bonus just for registering.


To simplify things a tad, I’ll slip into list-maker mode for a second…


1.) Click HERE to sign up with Ebates. Ebates is offering another $10 bonus to all new members who sign up and make a qualifying purchase before June 30, 2008.

2.) Once you’ve signed up for an Ebates account in Step 1, search Ebates for Barnes & Noble, and then click the Barnes & Noble link to be redirected to the B&N website. The current offer for B&N purchases made through Ebates is 8% cash back.

3.) From the main Barnes & Noble website, scroll halfway down the page, and click the SHOP NOW link within the Clearance box.

4.) From the B&N Clearance page, click the Toys & Games link on the left sidebar (directly underneath the BROWSE header).

5.) Click a subcategory underneath the Games by Category list to view the list of clearance-priced games within that subcategory.

6.) Continue shopping, adding desired item(s) to your shopping cart. (The 8% cash back applies to all Barnes & Noble purchases - no need to stay within the Toys & Games category.)

7.) When finished shopping, click Proceed to Checkout.

8.) If you’re a new B&N online customer, click Create New Account (only new B&N online account-holders will be allowed to apply coupon codes to transactions) and enter your personal information.

9.) At checkout, enter A8P8N9P to apply a 25% discount to the highest-priced item in your shopping cart.

10.) If you have multiple items in your cart, and your total is over $25, free shipping will automatically be applied to ONE item.

11.) Complete your transaction and receive your items within a few days.

12.) Receive an email from Ebates indicating your account has been credited with 8% cash back (plus a $10 bonus for new members). When your cash back account reaches $5.01 (excluding the $10 bonus), you’ll receive a check from Ebates for the amount in your cash back and bonus accounts.

13.) Thanks to Laura for pointing out a mail-in rebate from Hasbro. If you purchase three participating Hasbro games, mail your receipt and THIS form to receive a $10 gas card.



Coupon Queen:





Sometimes we can find coupons in the not-so-obvious places. I subscribe to Betty Crocker’s Dinner Made Easy Newsletter which not only emails me tasty 30 minute meal ideas but I also get great money-saving coupons and free sample offers.
Sign-up today at http://www.dinnermadeeasy.com/ and you will also get a FREE sample of Hamburger Helper microwave singles.




A sample of this week's Click, Print and Save coupon offers are:


SAVE $.55
when you buy ONE BOX any flavor/variety Nature Valley® Granola Bars



SAVE $.80 ON TWO
when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Betty Crocker® Fruit by the Foot®, Fruit Gushers®, Fruit Roll-Ups® OR Fruit Roll-Ups® Fruit Stickerz® Fruit Flavored Snacks










SAVE $.55
when you buy any flavor 4.5 OZ. OR LARGER Chex Mix® or 100 Calorie Chex Mix®





SAVE $.60
when you buy 40 OZ. OR LARGER Original Bisquick® OR Bisquick Heart Smart™ Baking Mix




SAVE $.60 ON SIX
when you buy SIX any variety Yoplait® Yogurt cups (Includes Original, Light, Thick & Creamy, OR Whips!®) OR any flavor Yoplait® Original OR Light Smoothie





SAVE $.55
when you buy ONE TUB any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Frosting







SAVE $.65
when you buy Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal






SAVE $.40
when you buy any flavor Betty Crocker® Suddenly Salad® Mix






Do you have a thrifty idea? Email me at trisha@247moms.com and share it for a future 24/7 MOMS publication.