Pinterest: The New Crack

     If you've been wondering where I've been for the past month, I have been traveling, and most likely wasting most of my spare time on a little site called Pinterest.  In case you haven't heard, Pinterest is a fantastic place for getting new ideas on just about anything.  It is also an awesome place to create a virtual bulletin board for all your great finds across the web.  Gone are the days of bookmarking items only to forget about them later.  Not only can you bookmark or "pin" items, you can organize them by categories, such as, "Recipes I Want to Try," etc.  Although Pinterest is free, you have to request an invite or be invited by a current member, which is a drag.  Don't worry, I promise it's worth it.  Hang in there.  When you are a member, you can look up cool topics such as these:

Good books

Handmade Cards

Quilt designs

Hairstyles

Seafood Recipe

Spring Fashion

Cupcake Decoration

Kids' Parties

Handmade Gifts

Color Pallettes

Nursery Ideas

Encouraging Quotes

Ways to entertain toddlers

Homeschool ideas

Gift wrapping techniques

How to make a bow

Growing tomatoes

How to knit a hat

Wedding dresses

Dog clothing

Organizing your closet

How to make jam

Upholstering a chair

Kitchen gadgets

Ab workouts

Flower arranging

Appetizers

How to frost a cake

Winter Decorations

Childrens' Valentines

Funny Pictures

Where to vacation

Do you get the point?  You can find almost anything on here.  I rarely even Google pictures anymore.  Looking for an idea for a project, dinner idea, gift?  Look no further than Pinterest.  Seriously, you need to join. All the cool kids are doing it.



I Heart Heartsy

     Let me tell you about my favorite new obsession.  Are you a fan of Groupon like I am?  They offer some good deals, but let me tell you about something even better.  It's called Heartsy, and is more awesome than I can even tell you.  I should seriously be a spokesperson, or something.
     Heartsy offers daily deals from {my favorite website} Etsy in several areas, such as jewelry, paper goods, bath and body, clothing, accessories and more.  Each day you will have around five deals to choose from.  The deals are generally great, but if you sign up to be a VIP for only $7.99 a month, the deals become sensational.  A monthly charge seems like a pain, but it will pay for itself in your first purchase, as VIPS receive an extra $10 credit on most deals.
     Here's why Heartsy is so cool: You can buy gifts for others (or yourself!) for CHEAP! I bought myself a necklace with the boys' birthstones for a little over $18, including shipping!  Some deals are as low as $6!  Do you have a small budget for a friend's upcoming birthday?  Want to buy a little something for your mom just because?  Heartsy is the place!  But wait, there's more! Use this link to sign up, and receive $5 FREE to get started! You won't be disappointed!

 These bracelets, offered by DarkChocolateNTulips are part of Monday's deal.  VIPs will spend $20, and get $50 worth of product.  You can personalize TWO of these bracelets for that price with any message you'd like!

Check out these earrings in a $11 for $38 deal by Lilly Queen. $38 of jewelry would only cost you $6 if you sign up using the link above! Wow!

I hope you love Heartsy as much as I do!

ShoeMall Deal: $30 of Shoes for Less Than $10 Shipped!

     Here's a deal I saw today that I have to pass along: a $30 credit to ShoeMall for less than $10 shipped.  I know, pretty good.  So here's how you can do it.
1. Sign up for Mampedia.  It is a daily deal site like Groupon. They even give 5% of your purchse to any school of your choice.
2. Use coupon code "FRIENDS5" to get $5 off, making your total $10 instead of $15.
3. A coupon code for ShoeMall will be emailed to you, or can be viewed in Your Account at Mampedia within 24 hours.
4. Log in to Ebates for 8% cash back.  If you are not a member of Ebates, you totally should be.  You get a $10 gift card just for signing up, and you get cash back for most online purchases.  It is a really cool site.  You can sign up here: 
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=N9AUQMNB29FYCiIiVHiP1A%3D%3D
5. Buy your shoes or accessories for cheap!  There are lots of shoes on clearance.  It could be possible to get two or three pairs of shoes for your initil $10.  I am getting two pair for $14 total out of pocket.  And did I mention the FREE SHIPPING?

These are the babies I'm getting:

Awesome Deal for Ebay on Groupon

      Ever heard of Groupon?  It's a website that offers a daily deal.  Some are good, others so-so, but today's is great!  I love Ebay.  I love getting a deal, and it's a great site to make that happen.  Now back to Groupon.  They list deals by cities, but many of the deals are for online purchases, so it doesn't matter where you are. So here's the deal: $7 for a $15 gift card to Ebay.  Basically, you are getting $8 FREE dollars to spend on Ebay.  The deal is listed under Ann Arbor, MI.  What are you waiting for? Use this link to check it out: 
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu16165610.

Etsy Sellers: You Have To Get This App!!

     I just installed an application on my Etsy account that is so sweet, I just have to pass it along.  So what is it?  It's a little something called moneybox.me.  This service, which is completely FREE, keeps track of your Etsy sales for you.  It's like a mini bookeeper.  It is even smart enough to take out Etsy fees, and Paypal fees, so you can see exactly how much you are making.
     But wait, there's more!  It will also keep track of your Etsy expenses for you (i.e., supplies, shipping materials, etc.).  This way, your personal dashboard gives you a complete report of what money you are actually making.  This is a great little tool to help with pricing and end of year taxes.  I LOVE this little gadget!  Head over to Moneybox.me to install yours, and get crackin'.  They even have a great little video you can watch so you know how to do it all!

Cheap Diapers: How to Work Amazon Mom

     One great way to get cheap items for your kids is by using Amazon Mom.  They offer a service called Subscribe and Save which saves you 30% off the top of all the items you need: formula, wipes, diapers and more!  You will even get FREE shipping!  This is a great way to score some sweet deals on your basics.
    But wait!  There's more!  Amazon regularly puts coupons in Mom-ish magazines, such as Parenting and Baby Talk.  This month's Baby Talk has a $10 off coupon good for anything on coupon mom!  Don't subscribe?  It's easy to sign up for FREE.  Just head over to babytalk.com to sign up, and get these savings, and many other great coupons.  Free issues of the magazine are also available to take in hand at Babies R Us and Burlington Coat Factory.
     Here's one scenario:
          Buy a box of Luvs size 1 diapers (264 count), regularly priced at $35.54.  With Suscribe and Save, pay only $24.88.  Use $10 off coupon to pay only $14.88 with free shipping! That's only 5 cents a diaper delivered to your front door!

     Subscribe and Save is a service that allows you to get repeat orders of the baby products you use the most.  If you do not wish to repeat your order, simply log in to your account, and cancel the service.  It is very easy to do. Note: Don't cancel subscribe and save until your order has shipped.

UPDATE: There is also a $10 off coupon in the March issue of Parenting.  Be the next person to follow this blog, and I will send you a coupon code to save $10 on Amazon Mom!  Just comment with your email below, and follow We Can Do It Girls!

Awesome Website for FREE Templates!

     I just found this fun website called Mirkwood Designs that offers pdf formatted templates for FREE.  You just choose the ones you want, and print them off. How sweet is that?  The templates are for envelopes, cards, boxes, bags, and more.  I was excited to find a template for library card envelopes. What will you be able to use?  Check it out!

My favorite place to Shop for Christmas

     Well, Halloween is over which means every retailer in America is bombarding us with holiday music and threatening countdowns to Christmas. My husband and I have sworn that this is the year will be celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by spending more of our time and money on people in need, and my family is toning down the over-the-top festivities as well, but that being said, I cannot give up shopping altogether.  I just love picking out the right present for a person, and the anticipation is so great that I've been known to give presents away way before Christmas!  This is not to mention that absolute joy I have buying my kids presents, and watching them tear through the wrapping paper.  As long as we remember our Savior and his love this holiday season, a little shopping never killed anyone, right?
     Over the years, I have developed a tried and true method for Christmas shopping.  Years ago, I actually saved the festivities for Christmas Eve day, but looking back that seems absolutely crazy.  I now start plotting around Thanksgiving, and try to catch some of the awesome sales that start then.  Being a military family, we are always traveling over the holidays, and I have learned that buying stuff online and having it shipped to our holiday destination works the best, especially when we visit so many branches of the family. So the last two paragraphs were just a ridiculously long way to say that today I will be sharing some holiday shopping tips with you.
1. Black Friday- If you can handle it, the deals on the day after Thanksgiving can be absolutely amazing.  That being said, take it from someone who semi-seriously considered suicide while standing in line at a Children's Place last year: sometimes it is just not worth it.  If you live in a somewhat rural place it may totally be worth your while.  Newspapers reveal flyers for the event a day early, but searching many websites will give you sneak peeks way early.  Here are some: 

www.bfads.net

www.blackfriday2010.com

www.blackfriday.info
 www.Gottadeal.com

2. Overstock.com- I have never used this site, but people rave about it all the time, so I might give it a shot this season.  They feature $1 shipping, no matter how much you buy.  That can really come in handy on those heavy items.
3. Bidz.com- this website is kind of like Ebay on crack.  I have found some EXCELLENT deals on this site, which features bidding on jewelry and more.  It is very fast-paced, but I have found that if you stay up late at night there is less competition.  Get high-quality jewelry for a fraction of the price!
4. Etsy.com- This website is like Ebay, only everything is handmade.  Support local artisans, or get a one-of-a kind piece from someone across the world.  They offer everything from jewelry to stationery, to clothing, toys, furniture and more! Prices are generally very reasonable. Support the handmade movement!
5. Ebay.com- since I mentioned two sites "like" Ebay, I might as well give credit to the real McCoy.  I have found so many heartfelt gifts on this site over the years.  I think many people shy away from it because it may seem slightly tacky, but I can't tell you many awesome finds I have had on here.  Not only do I find awesome prices on crafty things like Cricut cartridges and accessories, I one year found an antique pencil box that so closely resembled my mom's childhood one that it brought tears to her eyes.  You could search and search through every antique store in your area and not find what Ebay has a hundred of.

     Well, this article either seemed horribly obvious, or gave you some new ideas.  Either way, I wish you the best in your shopping, and hope you avoid the homicidal urges which so often accompany the joys of the season!

Saving Money While Crafting?

     Have you ever purchased the latest and greatest new crafty gadget only to find out it's a piece of junk?  I have had this happen more than once.  You are so excited to try it out, and find that it doesn't work like the infomercial showed, or even broke in a short amount of time. 
     I have found a website that just might help us all out!  It is called The Scrap Review, and they are dedicated to trying new products and reviewing them with no bias.  They list pros and cons, and even show a project they made with the new product!  They are so serious about being unbiased that they don't even sell any ad space on their site.  You are sure to get the skinny on what gadget is worth your money.
     Check them out: www.thescrapreview.com.
 

Ebates: One More Great Way to Save $$

     In case you haven't heard of it before, I will tell you about Ebates.  Ebates is a company that acts as a middle man between you and online stores.  The stores such as Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Children's Place (essentially all the main stores you could think of) pay Ebates to direct customers their way, and Ebates shares the profits with you!  There is no gimmick.  I have been paid several times just for shopping as I normally would.  I even got 21% back on a magazine subscription.
     Simply use this link to sign up, and shop as you normally would, and earn $5 right off the bat.  Earn up to 26% cash back on your purchases!  They have soo many stores to choose from, and they also list coupon codes to save extra money.  This one is a no-brainer!  Try it out today!

Hands Down the Best Photo Website Ever

     Today I found one of the best photo printing websites ever!  Their prints are super cheap.  4 x 6 prints start at 6 cents, 5 x 7 prints at 12 cents, and 4 wallets are 15 cents.  Even 8 x 10s are an amazing 49 cents.  But wait, there's more!  New customers get credit for 1200 (Yes, you read that right!) FREE prints.  That is 600 4 x 6s and 600 5 x 7s.  Unbelivable, right?  They even give you credits toward purchases if you tell your friends about them on Facebook!  They have tons of cool products from photos on canvas, to purses, makeup bags, and netbook covers.  So who are they?  They are  ArtsCow.  What are you waiting for? Head on over, and get your free prints!