The drink sounds very, very interesting to me. Now that I am older, I’m trying to eat more vegetables, drink more water, and take certain vitamins more frequently (I am terrible at taking them though!). Overall, I much prefer natural solutions, like teas or vegetable diets and phytonutrient drinks. I believe that God gave us everything we need for good health here, and it’s found either in plants and in living a healthy lifestyle. So I’m keen on checking out the Nopalea. My joints have been complaining lately– I wake up very stiff every morning now and it takes me a good half an hour to shake the pain and stiffness. I don’t want to take medications so I’m trying to boost my health with Omega-3 fish oil tablets, coQ10, D3, B12 lozenges, and a phytonutrient green drink (my daughter makes the most amazing smoothies with it). I haven’t tried the Nopalea but it sounds great! The free sample is a good deal and a great way to see if the drink helps.

Note: I was compensated a small amount to mention Nopalea in this post. Please know that all opinions expressed are 100% mine. I am not a physician or nutritionist but I am keen on healthy living products for my own health and well-being. Thanks for reading!

Oh wow, I have FINALLY found the jackpot, friends. It’s dealnews. It’s a website that collects all the latest and greatest deals online and organizes them all for easy viewing. This site is amazing! It’s especially good for  electronics deals, and nabbing good prices on apparel, toys, movies and travel deals. Sweet!

Take, for example, my recent quest for a good, reliable paper shredder at a good price. I couldn’t find anything, even with my browser plugin. But here it is, found easily at dealnews.

The price is a good $15 less than what I paid, too.

Well, I learned my lesson. I’m definitely checking out dealnews.com first. The sales are very good, it’s like Black Friday every day. :D The prices on electronics are especially good– dealnews.com has a huge, huge listing of laptops, computers, hard drives, TVs, and more.

If you are like me and tend to forget to check websites first, you can have dealnews.com email you deals in email alerts. You can tailor the emails to suit your deal, too– choose a particular category or a specific product or a particular store, and dealnews will email you when they know there’s a discount. That’s a very nice feature. You won’t get clobbered with unrelated emails. Nice! There’s another email feature where you can sign up to receive the “best of the best” deals, too. No more wasting money on exorbitant retail prices!

Definitely check out the site. It’s totally free to use and there are no hidden charges or sneaky sales maneuvers. This is a great site and has become my favorite “go to: site before I shop. Check out the site yourself and come back and tell me what great deals you found!

I got a smartphone a little over a year ago, and I have to say that I love it! It has made my busy life more organized, and I am finding that I am forgetting fewer things and am better able to manage all my activities. Before, I had sticky notes plastered all over my desk, refrigerator, and even my shirt! Now, I just get a little “ding.” lol

I use an iPhone and I love it… but the geek in me has been wanting to try other phones. i know, I know, I must be bananas! But have you heard about Sprint’s sale going on right now?! It’s almost too good to pass up. It’s only going on until February 8, 2012 and the sale is online ONLY. If you’ve been waiting in the wings for a great deal on a new smartphone, here’s your opportunity.

Spring is having a sale on the Nexus S™ 4G and HTC EVO™ 3D phones. Both are Android phones and so have a gazillion very cool apps at the Android Market Store.

The Nexus is perfect for the working mom or busy SAHM mom. It’s got a super-fast 4G connection and a speedy processor, perfect for Internet browsing, checking email, looking for that perfect restaurant, or whatever you need. This phone features Google Voice, Google Apps, and has a very thin contour (so it doesn’t bulk up the purse). It’s for FREE with any new Sprint account or line of service.

The other phone is the HTC. This phone is drop-dead gorgeous. It has an oversized screen, perfect for watching movies and social networking. It also is 4G and Android-based. This phone is only $49.99 with a new line or service or addition to your account. Sweet!

I personally prefer the HTC because it’s so pretty and because I like the large screen. Hmmm…. which one would you choose? If you want it, better grab it quickly- the sale ends soon!

The thought of tackling the store aisles and checkout lanes makes you want to wilt. Oh, this happens to me all the time. Even when I write a list, there is always something that I inevitably overlook. UGH.

Well, guess what– I’ve got a solution! And it’s a great one– order online!!!! Have flowers delivered or order a lavish gift card or book and order the fast shipping (which has saved my neck on many an occasion). Seriously, fast shipping is not at all expensive when you grab a coupon or discount code from Savings.com. The website also has loads and loads of discounts on goods and services. I always check out Savings.com first before hitting that “Buy Now” button. I have literally saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars from the website. And it costs you nothing to use! You can even get help for your own frugal needs, because Savings.com has a community of members who band together and discuss discounts and how to save money. It’s a very, very nice site.

So relax. Take a deep breath. Battle the traffic and go home. Order what you forgot online and MAKE SURE you use a coupon!

Well, it’s “that time” of year for us again…. not the holidays, the time when I have to renew the cell phone coverage for the kids. All the younger kids use TracFone, but my oldest daughter and I use a contract carrier for our smartphones. My contract carrier recently informed me that I could “add a line” for as little as $10 a month! Whoa, that’s a deal, right?! So I did some checking into it…. and yyyeahhhh, rrright, $10 a month, my eye! $10 a month PLUS a $40 activation fee PLUS taxes, fees, more taxes on the fees, PLUS I’d have to pay extra for texting…. it’s just insane. I hate that kind of deception. Forget it.

So I’m sticking with TracFone. It’s really the best cell phone plan out there. I’ve checked all the others, and TracFone is the least expensive with the best coverage. They have a slew of new phones, too. I really like the Senior Value phone, the numbers are large and the phone interface is geared for folks with “older eyes.” I’m going to get the kids some QWERTY phones when it’s time to renew their coverage. They do a lot of texting and they’ll love them! Texting is CHEAP on TracFone, it only uses up 1/3 of a minute and minutes with TracFone can be as low as 9 cents each!

TracFone has NO activation fees, either. No terminations fees, no cancellation fees, no intrusive credit checks, no contracts, nothing like that. My husband, who delivers mail for the USPS, has a TracFone and he’s very happy with the coverage.

Rates are great– they REALLY ARE $10/month. The 1-year service cards cost us $120, and they come with bonus minutes which is plenty for the kids’ phones. I’m pretty impressed with TracFone. I used to hate their customer service (well, lack of it), but they have really improved that in the past two years. Definitely check out TracFone if you want inexpensive, Get into Everywhereness service. It’s worth it, just check out the video!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

What’s better than saving big bucks on stuff at Dollar General? Saving even more bucks with coupons at Dollar General! Check out the Dollar General Back to School coupons for some great savings. There’s a 20 percent off Back to School coupon at the top of the page, don’t miss it. ;)

I like Dollar General. It’s easy to shop there and they have lots of the little things I need around the house: toilet paper, detergents, hardware items, spaghetti sauce, and school stuff. With another school season just around the corner and with the cost of supplies creeping up and up, every penny counts. It’s great to have coupons to stretch that dollar even more.

Here’s a peek at some of the savings:

• Duffel bags are $7; fashion backpacks are a STEAL at $8.
• Fashion spiral-bound notebooks are $2 each.
• Crayola crayons or markers are buy one get one free.
• Retractable pens, invisible tape are $1.
• Automatic BIC pencils are $2 per package.
• Wall clocks are $4-$10. Some are very funky! I like the silverware one, lol.
• Dollar General also has a ton of snack foods and drinks for the lunch boxes, too.
• And Dollar General has clothing– jeans, shoes, underclothes, and socks.

If you use the coupons, you save even more. Very nice! So stock up, moms and dads! Get more of your Back to School needs for less at Dollar General

It was inevitable.

All the kids want their own cell phones.

I have FOUR kids. Plus there’s me and my husband. That’s a lot of cell phones, you know that? The husband and I have had TracFone for years, but I started to phase over to a contract carrier just because the phones were nicer (I do a lot of texting) and I thought it would be less expensive and more convenient to eventually put everyone on one plan. Yow, boy, was I wrong. Oh SURE, the contract carriers SAY the charge is $99.99 a month for a family plan, but then they charge you $10 for 1,000 texts (PER person), $15 to $25 for a data plan (PER person and it’s required on some phones), and then there’s the outrageous fees, surcharges, and taxes by the feds, the state, and the county! The $99.99 plan easily becomes a $250 a month plan! It’s highway robbery and I can’t believe how shady it is.

Well guess what– if you’re stuck in the cell phone conundrum like me, there’s TracFone. I’m rather impressed by how improved their service has become, and apparently, so are a lot of other real TracFone customers.TracFone is definitely the least expensive cell phone plan around– We currently have three TracFones for the family (my husband loves TracFone), and they cost me about $120 each per year. PER YEAR. That’s a very good price. The kids can text and browse the web all they want without incurring fees, because the texts and surfing are included in the minutes I buy. If you buy a “Double Minutes” card or phone (lots of the new phones come with the “double minutes for life” feature, you don’t spend any extra money. Just about $120 a year for each of us.

Best of all, TracFone is improving their phone selection. They now have a QWERTY phone!! I’m going to get that for the kids. We do a lot of texting. Other TracFone phones sport other features, like Bluetooth technology, cameras, even video cameras and app phones! Our favorite right now is the Samsung phone, and one of the kids has a Nokia and a Motorola, but I am interested in that QWERTY one! Phones are very inexpensive, usually $15 to $30.

There are NO contracts, no hidden charges, no cancellation fees. Everything is upfront. I was thinking about putting all the kids on the contract phones but after seeing the new phones with new features offered by TracFone, I think I’ll keep the TracFone service.

You can check out other testimonies from real TracFone customers for more information.

Honestly, I never thought I’d get to the place where I had TOO many gadgets. But I think I do. I dislike the online auction sites because of all their outrageously high fees, so all the stuff just sits on my shelves and in the file cabinet and all over the house…. taking up space. I’ve had intentions of selling them (lots of stuff is still in exceptionally good condition), but I loathed the thought of listing them at the auction site and paying those high fees. No thanks. And those “buy back” programs from the retail stores are a RIP OFF. Don’t ever fall for those! The retail store will give you only a teeny-tiny percentage of the value of the gadget, believe me. You’ll be lucky if you break even.

Ah, but now there’s uSell! Cash for Your Cell Phones and Electronics! This is a new site (well, new to me) that allows you to list your gadgets, cell phones and other electronics. I like it because 1.) it’s limited to electronics so you won’t have to hash through old shoes, clothes, collectibles and dolls to find good gadgets, and 2.) uSell includes the top buyers of gadgets in their roster, so you know you’ll be getting bids from interested buyers.

Here’s the scoop on uSell:

• Search the site for your gadget or phone to see what the going price is on the item.
• Select the best offer coming your way.
• Send your device to uSell, and get paid.
• uSell has something called a “Max Cash Guarantee” that promises to get you the best offer on your gadget, or uSell will PAY YOU the difference.
• uSell has been mentioned by the Wall Street Journal, FOX, CBS, and the Chicago Tribune.
• Selling your old gadgets is WAY better than filling the landfills and much better than suffering through those online auction sites (IMHO).

Check it out if you have something to sell. You really don’t have anything to lose! I checked out the value of my iPhone, and a buyer would take it for $350! Wooo!

Have you moms and dads heard of Parent’s Choice Infant Formula Savings Sweepstakes? It’s a “generic” brand of baby formula that costs a fraction of the price of the fancy name-brand baby formula. The Parent’s Choice Infant formula is exclusively sold at Walmart as Walmart’s private brand baby formula. It’s a terrific cost saver. There is absolutely no nutritional difference between the name-brand formulas and Parent’s Choice. All formula sold in the United States must meet basic nutritional guidelines, and Parent’s Choice does. The only real difference between the two is the price. So save yourself some cash and get the Parent’s Choice– they’ve been in business for 13 years and have a reptutation for nutritious, inexpensive baby formula.

Another good reason to use Parent’s Choice is the Parent’s Choice Infant Formula Sweepstakes! It’s so easy to enter! Just go to the Parent’s Choice sweepstakes page and sign up. No purchase necessary. The prize is a $10,000 college scholarship in the form of a College Savings 529 Plan! The contest is already up and running, and will continue until August 1, 2011. So get your entry in. And save the money by buying Parent’s Choice forumla!

Family Vacations – Keep Everyone Happy In 3 Steps

Holidays are meant to be relaxing times for the entire family, from the most mischievous toddler to the wisest grandmother. It’s often mum and dad that end up needing even more vacation after a vacation. All the organising and running around can easily tire even the most energetic parents out and it won’t stop when you finally get to the airport for your trip. Nope, this is often just the beginning, but luckily, if you have a few things prepared before your trip. It truly can end up being the relaxing and fun-filled family holiday you were dreaming of the entire time you planned it.

Step 1 – Know What To Expect

Some of the very best vacations can start off differently to how you planned them to, simply by not fully understanding what to expect when you arrive at your destination. For instance, travelling from Northern to Southern hemisphere will mean that the season you be heading to will be completely different to where you’re coming from and even some of the most exotic places can be very cold when it is their Winter. A good example of this is Johannesburg in South Africa. As warm as Africa is portrayed to be in films and documentaries. I made the mistake of underestimating their winter in July and spent my first day (and much of my spending money) kitting myself and kids up with winter clothes. Once this was done it was a fantastic trip, however that first day will forever live in infamy in my mind as a steep learning curve.

Step 2 – Be Prepared

I know this is easier said than done, especially with young children. What I specifically mean though, is ensure you have taken out a specific family travel insurance policy. The reason I say this, is if something unfortunate was to occur while on holiday, medical bills can become very expensive, especially if you need to be transported between places. Your personal insurance at home may not cover you and you don’t want to have to be in debt after a vacation. It is much safer to rather not have anything to worry about on your mind while away.

Step 3 – Research

Of course you will already know much about your destination, which is why you will have chosen it. However, try to have a general idea of the sites and attractions to be found in the area you will be staying. Find out the best transport to and from the sites and fares on buses, trams, trains and taxis in order for you to plan ahead. you may also be heading to a vacation spot to experience the outdoors, however, sometimes nature might not play fairly and you could have a rainy day. Knowing about indoor attractions ahead of time will ensure you have somewhere to go to experience a fantastic day out with your family.