Twitter, etc.

I know I haven't been writing much. I do write often on Twitter though, particularly sharing interesting news tidbits.

I didn't do a cool shopping trip at CVS this past week, I only picked up a prescription. I plan on going this coming week though, and will share the details later.

I have handed over the baton of taking care of The Savvy Boutique's website, email newsletter, Facebook and Twitter accounts. I hope everything stays up to my standards! ;-) *wink*

I'll be moving in less than 3 weeks. Yay. Boo. I'm now close enough to my move-out date that I no longer want to leave. Perhaps Ben could get a job in Iowa City and move back...

Amazon.com gift card contest

One of the blogs I read through Google Reader is Sarah's Deals. She is having a contest with the following details:

I've earned multiple $5 Amazon.com Gift Cards by using Swagbucks.



I'm currently earning enough points for $35 each month (though I can't cash out for that many...the limit to five $5 Amazon.com codes per month).

This week I want to share some of the love with all of you! Two lucky readers will win $20 in Amazon.com Gift Card Codes (in the form of four $5 codes).

In order to win do at least one of the following and then come back here to enter, letting me know what you did. You can enter once per way below.

Enter by Tweeting:
Enter to win $20 in Amazon.com Gift Cards from @Sarahs_Deals! #SDGiveaway http://bit.ly/a9w0Hr

Enter by Sharing on FB: (Be sure to tag...type @...then start typing Sarah's Deals and pick it from the drop down list...it will show in blue if done properly.)
Enter to win $20 in Amazon.com Gift Cards from @Sarahs_Deals! http://bit.ly/a9w0Hr

Enter by Blogging:
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this giveaway post.

Winners will be chosen next Wednesday, June 23 after Noon EST.

So go to her website here to enter!

Cookies

I made peanut butter cookies from a mix and banana/oatmeal cookies from scratch last night. I found this recipe for the banana/oatmeal cookies on www.allrecipes.com and modified it to my liking. Here is my recipe:

Oatmeal Banana Cookies

Makes 24-48 cookies, depending on size

• 1 1/4 cups margarine (I used a butter substitute)
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten, or substitute for 1 egg (I used Ener-G egg replacer)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 3 very ripe bananas, mushed
• 1 1/2 cups raisins (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grease cookie sheets.
3. In a large bowl, mix everything together to form a moist mixture.
4. Create cookie balls and place a dozen on each cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 11-13 minutes in preheated oven until underside is browned.
6. Allow cookies to cool before eating.
7. Enjoy!

csnstores.com Contest

One of my favorite blogger's (Deal Finding Chik) is giving away an $80 CSN gift certificate! I would love to win this because I will be needing more furniture when I move from Iowa to Connecticut in a month.

Here are the details from her blog

"""CSN Stores have generously offered to give away an $80 Gift Certificate to one of my readers! This gift certificate can be used at any of their 200 stores!! Each person has up 4 chances to enter!

1) Leave a comment letting me know your a Follower Deal Finding Chik.

2) Leave a comment letting me know you "like" Deal Finding Chik on Facebook.

3) Leave a comment letter me know you Subscribe to Deal Finding Chik.

4) Blog about this Giveaway and leave a link to your post.

-

Only 4 entries per person are allowed and all other entries will be deleted before the winner is chosen. This giveaway will end Friday, June 18th, at 9PM CT and I will announce the winner on June 19th!! **Please keep in mind that once you receive your certificate that may be shipping charges and if your a Canadian resident, then there may be an international fee for certain products.

-

Good Luck!"""

Go *here* to enter your comments in order to enter the contest.

Friday's CVS Trip

6/11/10 trip to CVS

Key:

(C)=coupon

ECB=Extra Care Bucks

OOP=Out of Pocket

Skinny Cow ice cream $1.00-$1.00(C)

Skinny Cow ice cream $1.00-$1.00(C)

CVS "Claritin" 30ct (for my mom) $9.99-$1.00 CVS (C)

Powerbar $0.99

Powerbar $0.99

Powerbar $0.99

Vitamin D supplements 200ct (for my mom) $10.49-$1.00(C)

Vitamin D supplements 200ct (for my mom) FREE (B1G1 Free!)

CVS Calcium supplements chewables 60ct (for my mom) $6.39

CVS Calcium supplements chewables 60ct (for my mom) FREE (B1G1 Free!)

Cascade action packs 20ct $3.97-$2.00(C)

Always pads 18ct $2.97-$1.00(C)

Always liners 40ct $2.97-$1.00(C)

CVS cranberry supplement 100ct (for my mom) $6.89

CVS fish oil supplement 240ct (for my mom) $18.99

Used:

$1.00 ECB

$10.00 ECB

$5.00 ECB

(C) for $5 off a purchase of $15 or more, expires 6/11/10

Subtotal: $38.63

Tax (7%): $3.93

Total: $42.56 OOP

Received:

$2.97 ECB for the three powerbars

I saved $58.22 with coupons, CVS coupons, ECBs, and things being on sale!

Princess Diana--a Fashion Icon

Just read this article from: http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2010/06/09/princess-dianas-dress-fetches-more-than-276000-at-auction/?cnn=yes

Princess Diana’s Dress Fetches More than $276,000 at Auction!

Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Princess Diana may be gone, but she’s certainly not forgotten. The daring black taffeta gown that she wore for her first public appearance as Prince Charles fiancée, fetched a whopping £192,000 (about $276,621) at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London yesterday. Bought by Chilean fashion museum Fundación Museo De La Moda, the dress–designed by Elizabeth Emanuel and David Emanuel–was sold along with an original copy of the invoice, fashion sketches, and photographs of Di wearing it. “As the weeks before her wedding progressed, Diana lost so much weight that she returned the gown to the Emanuels to have it taken in,” explained auctioneer Kerry Taylor at yesterday’s sale. “The alterations required were so drastic that they decided it would be easier to re-make a smaller version for her. They kept the original and forgot about it only re-discovering it quite recently.” A bold choice at the time for its color–which was reserved for funerals in royal circles–and its somewhat revealing nature, the strapless dress established Princess Diana as a budding fashion icon. Jorge Yarur, founder of the museum that bought the dress, said that upon his death, Princess Diana’s dress will be returned home, donated to Kensington Palace. –Marissa Patlingrao CooleyJoel Saget/AFP/Getty

Fashion Fun

I work for The Savvy Boutique in Iowa City, Iowa. I am responsible for keeping our website, Facebook page, and Twitter updated. On Facebook and Twitter I have been posting useful links and tips regarding fashion. Here are some:

No clothing will keep you safe enough from the sun. Learn the facts about SPF: Sun Smarts: "Everything You Need to Know About SPF": http://bit.ly/c2RyKu via @addthis

Did you gain some weight this winter? You're not the only one! See tips on how to dress thinner here: http://bit.ly/PqIBr RT @Real_Simple

A brightly colored wallet is easy to find in a handbag. Find cheerful wallets at Savvy. RT @Real_Simple

Use pushpins and a bulletin board to keep your jewelry organized and tangle free. RT @Real_Simple

Staying on top of color trends? Find your favorite spring/summer 2010 colors at Savvy! http://bit.ly/3mqwAT

Wait at least 15 minutes after applying perfume or body lotion before putting on jewelry, otherwise there will be a greasy buildup. Find jewelry at Savvy! RT @Real_Simple

Tips on how to dress for any occasion: http://bit.ly/duQnTC RT @Real_Simple

Jeans with fading that is centered on the thighs is slenderizing: The combination of light and dark shading tricks the eye. RT @Real_Simple

Tips for Trying on Clothes Quickly RT @Real_Simple http://bit.ly/cVZiAt

Need a laugh? Read Most Embarrassing Fashion Moments here: http://bit.ly/c6oJlN RT @Real_Simple

How To Iron a Dress Shirt RT @Real_Simple: http://bit.ly/5eVwfO

Safety-pin socks together before throwing them in the wash. You'll never search for matching socks again! RT @Real_Simple

See fashion and beauty made out of paper here: http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/fashion-beauty-paper-sculptures-00000000031779/index.html

Stylish for Pennies (or pretty darn close)---How to Shop at Consignment Stores - at WomansDay.com http://shar.es/mu4bx

My CVS trip today

Key:

(C)=coupon

ECB=Extra Care Bucks

OOP=Out of Pocket

LifeSavers Gummies Sours $0.25 (clearance)

Gillette Fusion ProGlide $9.97-$4.00(C)

Coppertone Continuous Spray Sunscreen (50 SPF) $10.49-$1.00(C)-$6.00 CVS (C)/2

Coppertone Continuous Spray Sunscreen (50 SPF) $10.49-$1.00(C)-$6.00 CVS (C)/2

Palmers lotion $6.99

Used:

$6.99ECB

$8.00ECB

Subtotal $11.20

Tax (7%) $2.67

Total $13.87 OOP

Received:

$1.00 ECB for using my Green bag tag

$10.00 ECB for Coppertone Continuous Spray Sunscreen

$5.00 ECB Gillette Fusion ProGlide

(C) for $5 off a purchase of $15 or more, expires 6/11/10!

So I essentially made $2.13.

JCPenney towels

I saw that in their newspaper ad today that JCPenney is having an Appreciation Sale, which means you can take 15% off anything through tomorrow (Saturday). I did want more green and blue towels for my apartment in Connecticut, so I went shopping online at jcpenney.com I settled on these.

I was going to use the 15% off code (15JUST4U), but then I remembered that one of my favorite bloggers: The Thrifty Mama had posted a code for JC Penney for $10 off a $10 purchase (DADROCKS). I chose one olive green and two serene blue towels to make my total go above $10. I shopped through upromise.com, so I should get 3% of my purchase back (I think it will be just 3% of $1.97, which was my subtotal, but hey $0.05 is 5 cents!).

Here are the details:

Towels were $3.99 each ($9.99 originally)

Promotion: ($10.00)

DADROCKS

Total Savings: ($28.00)

Subtotal: $1.97

Standard Shipping & Handling: $5.95

Tax: $0.48

Order Total: $8.40

I don't think I could have done any better than $2.80 per towel, and that includes shipping and tax!

Me wants them, my precious

I wanted to experiment with adding photos to a blog post, so here is my experiment. With a pair of shoes. Manolo Blahnik specifically. The dream of many a shoe lover, which surprisingly, I am not. I just wear what is comfortable, matches my outfit well enough, and never high heels. I am also very frugal, and often cheap, so I would never buy Manolo Blahniks, but they are fun to look at.

From Gilmore Girls, season 4, I think:

Lorelai: (Holding a Manolo Blahnik) Me wants them! My precious!!

I do not own this photo, is that bad to put it in my blog?

$25 gift certificate contest!

One of the blogs I just discovered is called Unravelled Threads. I haven't looked at the older entries yet, but I like the clothes that the blogger picks out for work. The blogger is having a contest to win a $25 gift certificate to Tulle4us.com After looking at Tulle's clothes, I would really like to win a gift certificate to that site, wouldn't you? Thanks Melanie for sponsoring this contest, I hope I win (or at least one of my few followers)!