What's my Credit Score?

Do you know what your credit score is? Most people don't have a clue until they get ready to open a new credit card, buy a house, buy a car, etc. Don't be surprised, plan ahead. Many credit bureaus offer your credit information including a score for a fee. However, Credit Karma is offering your credit information including score for FREE! How do they do it? The advertisers pay for this service. NICE! Credit Karma also tracks your score when you come back to the site, shows you how you compare to others in your age category, people in your area, etc. This is an amazing tool to take charge of your credit. It also lets you simulate actions such as paying off a card, being late once on a payment, etc. The score is not a FICO score but it is within 5% of what that score may be. So, don't take it as a hard number but rather an idea of where you stand. It also does not show your actual credits but a summary of the total: total debt, total accounts open, etc. Take charge of your credit by the horns and tell 'em whose boss!

Knock off the horns and gimme the beef!

Be at fan of Woody's on Facebook and enjoy a FREE super juicy burger compliments of TGIF! Sweet! Bring on those hot fries and honey mustard!

Luv the babies!

Have a new little one and want some gorgeous professional pics? The Picture People are having a special good until October 4, 2009 for a FREE Portrait Pack including a 8x10, two 5x7, and eight wallets. There's no sitting fee and their pictures look so wonderful. So grab that baby, kid, dog, or even grandma and head over to the Picture People to take advantage of this awesome offer. Hint for the kiddies: dress them up in bold, simple colors and plan around the time when they will have the most energy like after a nap. Remember that even a wail or a quick glance can provide some of the best memory shots. Enjoy!

Let's go Krogering!

Let's face it! The wallet is getting tighter and everything is costing more including food. I used to go to Publix for my groceries where I enjoyed the shopping experience. After all, Publix subs were da bomb! But lately, I've been feeling the pinch along with the rest of the country and I needed to make the switch. I journeyed to every store possible to claim the "best grocery store":

1. Trader Joes-not enough selection for a full grocery trip
2. Super Target-not that much less expensive and the meat department was ho-hum. There is no seafood department.
3. Super Walmart-most of the prices were good, meat selection-not good, and I had to beat down the hoards! Back off that head of lettuce! It's mine!
4. Whole Foods-they don't call it whole paycheck for nothing-LOL
5. Super H Mart-fantastic meat, seafood, and produce department! If you want some fat (phat) chicken breast, this is THE place to go! However, only Asian dry goods. Don't get me wrong. I love asian noodles (I am after all Vietnamese) however, I need some cereal, spagetti noodles, etc too!
6. Ingle's-My husband told me to check it out and I certainly went kicking and screaming. I thought it would be "icky" but to my pleasant surprise, it was OK. They do have the BEST chicken salad out there. But not the staple place to go......
7. Costco/Sam's Club-they are great for bulk cleaning products, drinks, and toilet paper but I don't need 10 Ribeyes or 20 filets of salmon.




So the winner is Kroger! Yeah! Why? They have a huge selection of food in each category. You can find 5 different brands of diced tomatoes. The pricing is cheaper than Publix by $.20-$.50 depending on item. The deli meat is sliced to order. The meat /seafood department has great selection. The produce glistens with the daily misting. And on top of everything, if you sign up for the Kroger card, you can get $.10 of each gallon of gas! Now, that's the clincher for me! And I save about $20 per week by making the switch. Nice!



So, clip out those coupons. Look over the weekly ads before making out your grocery list for the week. And save, save, save!

Hint: To save time in the store, I put everything in a category. So let's say produce. Put all of your produce needs in that category and get it all in one stop. No more running around the store. Easy peasy! And let's go Krogering!

Weight Watchers for Free

I'm back from vacation in Mexico and those all inclusive resorts as so nice! 4 huge buffets, restaurants, and all of the margaritas I can handle! Whew! Looks like gaining some lbs is surely in my future. So why not kick off the 2nd half of summer with a life style change. Note I didn't say the word "diet". Diets are short term and most diets don't work. I have certainly tried the South Beach and Atkins diets but you can't maintain those diets. And then the lbs are coming back to haunt you with a vengeance. Eeeeek!

So, it's time to change the lifestyle and eat in moderation which is key to longterm success. You didn't put on 20 lbs in 3 weeks. Don't expect to lose that much in 3 weeks! So where to I turn to help?

One of the most popular programs is Weight Watchers. And many people have used this program to lose weight by tracking the food you eat. Well, I really like the idea but I don't want to pay a monthly fee of $47.



I found Sparkpeople that offers the same program as Weight Watchers for FREE! Yippeee! It is free to sign up and Sparkpeople will ask you how much weight you'd like to lose and when your goal time frame. Then, it calculates how many calories, fat, protein, etc that your frame needs to lose that weight. Cool! Everyday you plug in what you eat and Sparkpeople tracks everything for you. You can choose the automatic menu if you'd like, however I think the self select eating is easier with your current lifestyle.



Sparkpeople also has an exercise plan which includes cardio and strength training. And this doesn't mean running a marathon. Just 30 minutes on a treadmill or they give options for strength training even if you have no weights. Try the towel training :) My hubby laughs at my beginner skills but hey it works!



What is so cool about this program is it teaches you how to eat better. You realize how much that Quarter Pounder with Cheese is costing you and find another alternative. It gives you 3 meals a day plus snacks so you don't starve. And if you fall off the wagon 1 day, no worries! Jump back on it the next day! Plus it tracks your water intake! I hope you like water!




There are sister websites too like Babyfit (for those who are expecting), Spark People for Teens, and Spark Recipes for healthy recipes. So get off that tush, drop that bag of chips, and sign up for free! And get ready to lead a healthy lifestyle!

Is that a Coach Bag?

Everyone loves Coach bags! They are so popular that even counterfeit purses are manufactured overseas and sold on the streets of New York for ridiculous prices for a fake bag. If you think that I'm going hand you a Benjamin for a fake bag in a back alley, you are out of your mind Mister! So dilemma, I want a real Coach bag but don't want to pay hundreds of $ for a bag at the Mall. What's a girl to do?

Here's a test for you. Which one of these bags is real and bought at less than retail price?

Bag A

Bag B

Bag C






Bag D

The answer is they are all real, genuine Coach bags however Bag B is the only bag I bought for retail (love at first site, I couldn't resist). The rest were brand new for 50-60% off. Where?

Not on Ebay, but right here in Georgia at the North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville. About 30 minutes north of 285 off GA 400. For all of you who don't know, there is a Coach Outlet that is AMAZING! They were so popular that they expanded this year to be bigger and better. All styles are current (later in the season) or last year's style. But to tell you the truth, I couldn't tell that they were "older" styles. They looked fabulous! There are wallets, belts, shoes, watches, and of course bags in every style both fabric and leather all for at least 30% off retail pricing PLUS they always have additional markdowns: 30-60% depending on style. They have Carly bags, Hampton bags, Legacy bags, etc. Don't pay retail at the Mall, go to the Outlets!



NGPOs is my fave place to go clothes shopping as well because they have J. Crew, Banana Republic, the Gap, Ann Taylor, among others. Even designer styles for guys like Polo, Nautica, Tommy Hilfinger, Brooks Brothers, etc. For the home designer in you, Pottery Barn, William Sonoma, and Restoration Hardware stock many items from duvet covers to furniture at discount pricing.

And for the real savvy shopper, there is a VIP club. You get extra special discounts by visiting the information booth in the food court and picking up a coupon booklet. BTW, the food court isn't that good so eat lunch beforehand.

And for shop purse-aholics that love Kate Spade, there is a shop right around the corner from the food court! Discount pricing on Kate Spade? Gotta love it!

Hint: NGPO is having a huge sale over July 4th weekend. There's always coupons to be found to stack up on the deals! Bring your walking shoes and a drink! There's some shopping to do this weekend!

Chocolate Cake in 5 Minutes

Ok, this is not a deal per say but it is SWEET! When I saw this recipe from Dizzy Dee, I got so giddy I couldn't wait to try it out! I gave it a whirl this weekend and it actually came out pretty good for microwaved cake! Now, whip up some frosting and you are good to go when you have a hankering for some cake!

Ingredients:

4 Tablespoon cake flour (I used normal flour)
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa (I used chocolate syrup)
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
1 Mug

Instructions:

Mix flour, sugar and cocoa ( a mug is shown here, but I used a small fluted corningware so that my mug doesn't break-just in case):

Add the egg, milk, and olive

Stir it up really, really well....keep stirring until it is like chocolate pudding consistancy

Microwave on the highest setting for 3 minutes. Take a peek. I put mine back in for 60 more seconds- just in case.

It's forming! It's forming!

Enjoy! Mine came out in 1 piece. Flip upside down on a plate. Add some frosting! Voila!

Chocolate cake in 5 minutes! Fun! Let's do it again!

For variety, add nuts, canned cherries, coconut flakes, the possibilities are endless!

Enjoy!

It getting hot in heeerre.....

Fridays.....I love Fridays! What is there not to love about the beginning of the weekend? A big reason to love Fridays is shopping! For all you amateur shoppers, Friday is THE day to go shopping, not Sat, not Sun. FRIDAY! Why? All of the sales are in full gear and there are no crowds and you get the best selection before the masses come in over the weekend. Shop at your leisure, no waiting for fitting rooms, and you are in and out in a breeze. More time to hang out over the weekend :)




Since it's getting hot, hot, hot, what better place to spend it than sipping on a margarita waterside. I'm gearing up to bear the Swine Flu, riots, and hurricanes to spend my American freedom in Mexico! I cannot wait! By the way, the resorts down in Meh-he-co have suffered a huge blow to the tourism economy due to the H1N1 virus scare. Many resorts are down to only 10% occupancy and this is prime vacation time folks! So....what does that mean for you (and me)? Great deals(all inclusives under $1K for 2 peeps), eager to please waiters (mango daiquiri, please), and top notch service(I'll take that lobster stuffed with lobster)! Yeah!

But before I embark on my summer pilgrimage to the beach, it is bathing suit time! Old Navy is having a sale on bathing suits: $5 per piece! Awesome! $10 bucks for a whole ensemble is right up my alley! With all of that money you saved, you can buy some flip flops and a cover up! Score! And to top it off, Old Navy always has a "weekly" hunt for a coupon. Sometimes it's 10% off, 15% off, or I've even scored a 30% off your entire purchase. There's always a coupon available, so be prepared to print it out before heading to your local ON!!! More moola for me in Meh-he-co! I think that zipline tour is calling Jerry's name!

Isn't this coverup cute? I got it!

So whether you are going here this summer:

OR here:

It's time to gear up for some fashionable swimmies!

Stock up on some fashionable bathing gear!

Just Paint Something

Painting things is fun! You can dramatically change the color of an old, ugly dresser that you inherited from your blue haired aunt into a modern centerpiece. Better yet paint it once with an under color like black and paint it again with a top coat like cream. Then, take the sandpaper out and distress it! Voila! Shabby Chic! Tres beau, no?

Don't forget to sand and prime your furniture before putting that first coat of paint so that you get a smooth coat. And if you mess up, no worries, let it dry and start over!

And if you are really wild, buy some new cool cut glass knobs from Home Depot to replace those old brass ones. There's some bling for ya.

To start off that project, here's a free quart of paint by Glidden. Hurry, offer ends July 2. (Edit-sorry it had such high demand that they ran out. You gotta hustle with the good deals)

Save money on a purebred dog!

So your family is looking for a new puppy or dog. Puppies are so darn cute with their waggin' tails going a mile-a-minute and kisses with sweet puppy breath. How can one not resist man's best friend? Imagine the romps in the backyard and snuggles on the couch. Now imagine the cost of purchasing that purebred poodle that little Johnny needs due to his allergies. Let's see:

1. Cost of dog from breeder (Toy Poodle $1000)

That's all. Wrong!

2. Vet visit x 4 if the puppy is 8 weeks old for shots, deworming, etc. ($75 average per visit with shots x 4 = $300)

3. Spay/neuter ($250)

Total before the crate, toys, food, etc. ($1550)

Other things to consider: does the puppy have heartworms, parvo, worms, etc? Oh no! Then pull out that plastic and make sure that card swipes well.

Rule #1-Don't EVER buy from a breeder who does not show you the parents. PERIOD. Everyone has heard of the "puppy mills". Well, anyone who breeds many dogs (more than 4 adult dogs) and does not show their dogs in the show circuit, could quite possibly be a puppy mill. Anyone that keeps their puppies and dogs in outdoor kennels and runs with multiple dog breeds is a puppy mill. Many dogs in close proximity spread disease and infections. I have seen and read about too many unsuspecting new owners adopt a new puppy, take it home and helplessly watch the puppy die. Read all about sweet Scrabbles story.

Please don't support these backyard breeders. Don't try to save a puppy because you are only making the situation worst by putting money in their pockets so the cycle continues. Adopt AKC dogs only if you must buy from a breeder. To be AKC, a dog must have a lineage of 4 generations and have detailed paperwork to be considered AKC. Most puppy mills won't take the time to do this and don't even know any history. They turn to other organizations like CKC who don't have any requirements other than sending in a photo. Yep, looks like a dog, here's your papers.

Hint: Papers don't mean jack if you don't intend to breed your dog (write this down ya'll). It means that it is purebred. That's all folks. And don't breed your dog unless you are serious about showing it. Spay and neuter America! Keep the homeless pet population down.

Rule #2-Don't EVER buy from a pet store. Not only do they jack up the prices of dogs to be 2 times (a normal $1000 poodle at a breeder costs $2000 at a pet store), but guess where they get their puppies....ding, ding.... a puppy mill. Now they will tell you that the puppies are from a breeder. Hello? Let's use our brains for a second. How could any breeder keep up with having such a large selection of puppies at 6-12 weeks old? Why would a reputable breeder sell to a puppy store? They wouldn't. Pet stores get their dogs from the Hunt Corp. See above about puppy mills.

So what does one do to get a loving, sweet dog?

No need to fear and bust your budget on a portuguese water dog-the most popular dog since Beau hit the White House. Go to a rescue. In Atlanta, go to the Atlanta Pet Rescue in Midtown. But I want a purebred dog, Mommy. The Atlanta Pet Rescue has almost 50% purebred dog and puppies or more (mostly small dogs), as well as cats for the feline lovers, who all need homes for the adoption fee of (sit down) only $250 for dogs and $115 for cats. What a bargain! And the adoption fee includes all of their shots, spay/neuter, leash, and food. The volunteers provide foster homes, give them any medications, grooming, report on their developments, take them to the vet, and give them some good old fashioned lovin'. The volunteers take the time to make sure you are a good match before leaving and will always take the pup back if it doesn't work out. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Go check out the shih tzus, yorkies, poodles, doxies, etc. Even mixed breed dogs need loving homes too! Best of all, you can look at who's available on the website all from the comforts of your couch. If you don't see what you like, wait a week or two, there are always new ones to replace the cute pups that have been adopted. Take a peek and pick up a new best friend! And when you do, you'll be famous and posted on their website like us! At least for 2 days-LOL!

Here is our new BFF, Phoebe from APR (she's the black and silver purebred miniature schnauzer)! And we saved $1250 at the same time! Ca-ching!

P.S. If you think $250 is too expensive of an adoption fee, then you certainly don't need a dog. Dogs depend on you for food, shelter, medical, etc. and you will definitely spend more than that in the 1st year on your new BFF. Dogs require and deserve dedication, time, and love. They are living souls so please consider this when adopting a new pet.

And if you just want a backyard lawn ornament that you would call a pet, Target has these cute metal pups ($39.99) that would be perfect and doesn't shed! Check, check, check it out!