I am very excited that Florida is doing this again this year!
Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, August 12-14
Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 12, 2011, and end at midnight Sunday, August 14, 2011. During this period, no sales tax will be collected on sales of clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $75 or less, or on certain school supplies selling for $15 or less. Find out more at http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/. There is a frequently asked questions link and a list of taxable and tax-exempt items. For example, diaper and diaper bags are exempt, but watches and jewelry are not. I think I will print a copy of the guidelines to bring with me when I shop that weekend!
No taxes on stuff we need for 3 days - I think I will shop early in the morning to avoid crowds, but it may be worth it! Family Approved!
Friday, July 29, 2011
National Cheesecake Day 7-30-2011
Today, July 29th, is National Lasagna Day! We are going to be enjoying some yummy Stouffer's!
But tommorrow is National Cheesecake Day! My hubby is not a big cheesecake fan, so I am going to make these Ghiradelli Brownie Cheesecake cupcakes.
Someone brought them to a function we went to recently and they are AMAZING! My hubby loved them and the lady told us they are super simple and the recipe was on the box!
Both items are simple and yummy - I'm all about it! Family Approved!
But tommorrow is National Cheesecake Day! My hubby is not a big cheesecake fan, so I am going to make these Ghiradelli Brownie Cheesecake cupcakes.
Someone brought them to a function we went to recently and they are AMAZING! My hubby loved them and the lady told us they are super simple and the recipe was on the box!
Both items are simple and yummy - I'm all about it! Family Approved!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thrift Store Find! Pink Santa hat
It's July! Lots of stores do a "Christmas in July" sale. This includes lots of thrift shops like Goodwill.
I found this Victoria's Secret Pink rhinestone Santa hat for $.99 at our local Goodwill! It's not new with tags (NWT), but in excellent shape. I came home and checked on e-bay and it is selling for $12 - 14.
I found 12 great thrift shopping tips on the SimpleMom site and even more detailed tips on The Thrifty Chicks site.
But, I've learned thing or two about treasure hunting in the shops from my mom. She has brought me awesome one of a kind souvenirs from London and Amsterdam by asking locals where the resale shops were! So, in a nutshell, here are my top tips for thrift and resale shopping:
1) have an idea of what you are looking for but keep an open mind - you never know what you might find!
2) have patience and time to look through the racks - you might not find anything this time, but inventories change every day so don't be discouraged.
3) check everything before you buy it - do the zippers work?, are any buttons missing?, look for stains or defects.
Most thrift or resale shops support a charity like Hospice or Habitat for Humanity. Goodwill's mission is to "help people who are looking for work or better jobs so they can better provide for their families." You can find one in your area to support by shopping and donating!
All in all - big time money saving and some really fun finds! Family Approved!
(check back for future posts on my thrift shop finds!)
I found 12 great thrift shopping tips on the SimpleMom site and even more detailed tips on The Thrifty Chicks site.
But, I've learned thing or two about treasure hunting in the shops from my mom. She has brought me awesome one of a kind souvenirs from London and Amsterdam by asking locals where the resale shops were! So, in a nutshell, here are my top tips for thrift and resale shopping:
1) have an idea of what you are looking for but keep an open mind - you never know what you might find!
2) have patience and time to look through the racks - you might not find anything this time, but inventories change every day so don't be discouraged.
3) check everything before you buy it - do the zippers work?, are any buttons missing?, look for stains or defects.
Most thrift or resale shops support a charity like Hospice or Habitat for Humanity. Goodwill's mission is to "help people who are looking for work or better jobs so they can better provide for their families." You can find one in your area to support by shopping and donating!
All in all - big time money saving and some really fun finds! Family Approved!
(check back for future posts on my thrift shop finds!)
Sloppy Jedis
Time for a recipe post!
This recipe came from my sister-in-law who adapted it from a Paula Deen kids' cookbook. I wanted to call these "Messy Bessies" but my kids decided to call them "Sloppy Jedis" (my 8 year old son is into Star Wars - what can I say?). We like them much better than with the canned sauce and they're super easy.
Sloppy Jedis
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
dehydrated onions to taste
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tsp yellow mustard
dash of white sugar
dash of salt
buns (We buy whole wheat slider buns.)
sliced pickles or pickle relish
sliced cheese optional
Brown meat with dehydrated onion and drain well.
Stir in 1/3 cup ketchup. (Add a little water to the measuring cup just to rinse out the ketchup and add to beef mixture).
Add in 1 tsp yellow mustard. (Trust me, start small with the mustard.)
Stir really well until all combined and taste. If desired, add more ketchup, or add more mustard SPARINGLY - the mustard goes very far!
Add in dash of sugar and salt, if desired.
Serve on slider buns with sliced pickles or pickle relish. We haven't tried these with a slice of cheese yet, but that would be good, too! Sliders are the perfect size for my kids - she eats one, he usually easts 2. We add a green veggie and...voila.
With school starting in 25 days (who's counting, right?), I plan on browning up plain ground beef and freezing in gallon size freezer zipper bags in 1 1/2 lb. batches.
All in all, yummy hot sliders at home and healthier than the drive thru on busy nights! Family Approved!
This recipe came from my sister-in-law who adapted it from a Paula Deen kids' cookbook. I wanted to call these "Messy Bessies" but my kids decided to call them "Sloppy Jedis" (my 8 year old son is into Star Wars - what can I say?). We like them much better than with the canned sauce and they're super easy.
Sloppy Jedis
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
dehydrated onions to taste
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tsp yellow mustard
dash of white sugar
dash of salt
buns (We buy whole wheat slider buns.)
sliced pickles or pickle relish
sliced cheese optional
Brown meat with dehydrated onion and drain well.
Stir in 1/3 cup ketchup. (Add a little water to the measuring cup just to rinse out the ketchup and add to beef mixture).
Add in 1 tsp yellow mustard. (Trust me, start small with the mustard.)
Stir really well until all combined and taste. If desired, add more ketchup, or add more mustard SPARINGLY - the mustard goes very far!
Add in dash of sugar and salt, if desired.
Serve on slider buns with sliced pickles or pickle relish. We haven't tried these with a slice of cheese yet, but that would be good, too! Sliders are the perfect size for my kids - she eats one, he usually easts 2. We add a green veggie and...voila.
(Yes, she's wearing a pink Santa hat in July!
It's my favorite recent thrift store find! She loves it!)
With school starting in 25 days (who's counting, right?), I plan on browning up plain ground beef and freezing in gallon size freezer zipper bags in 1 1/2 lb. batches.
All in all, yummy hot sliders at home and healthier than the drive thru on busy nights! Family Approved!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Kids eat free at Chili's Monday, July 18th
Thanks to Amy at Who Said Nothing in Life is Free, I found out about a "2 kids eat free with purchase of one adult meal with coupon" promotion on Monday, July 18th!
Click here to send yourself the coupon, print it out, and enjoy!
Click here to send yourself the coupon, print it out, and enjoy!
What we did this weekend...
We've been a busy little clan!
Friday, July 15th, we went back to the library, this time for a cool (and free) science presentation by staff from the Orlando Science Center. The kids helped to make a baking soda volcano and test their play-doh-and-popsicle-stick structures on a table that simulates earthquakes - all very cool.
Saturday, July 16th, we all went to the local roller skating rink for a Cub Scout event (our son is entering his 3rd year of scouting). It really brought back memories of the skating rink I went to in middle school! I was a nervous wreck to see my kids on skates for the first time but, in a half hour or so, they were both doing pretty darn well. The rink offers cheap beginner's lessons on Saturday mornings and discount skate times on some weekdays so we plan to go back when it's not crowded to let the kids get in some practice.
Sunday, July 17th, we chilled out at home, watched the free dvd's we checked out from the library, and ate some Breyer's Rocky Road to celebrate National Ice Cream Day!
Planning for another fun filled week coming up to include Vacation Bible School at our church, maybe some more free bowling, and probably invading a friend's pool - three activities that are always Family Approved!
Friday, July 15th, we went back to the library, this time for a cool (and free) science presentation by staff from the Orlando Science Center. The kids helped to make a baking soda volcano and test their play-doh-and-popsicle-stick structures on a table that simulates earthquakes - all very cool.
Saturday, July 16th, we all went to the local roller skating rink for a Cub Scout event (our son is entering his 3rd year of scouting). It really brought back memories of the skating rink I went to in middle school! I was a nervous wreck to see my kids on skates for the first time but, in a half hour or so, they were both doing pretty darn well. The rink offers cheap beginner's lessons on Saturday mornings and discount skate times on some weekdays so we plan to go back when it's not crowded to let the kids get in some practice.
Sunday, July 17th, we chilled out at home, watched the free dvd's we checked out from the library, and ate some Breyer's Rocky Road to celebrate National Ice Cream Day!
Planning for another fun filled week coming up to include Vacation Bible School at our church, maybe some more free bowling, and probably invading a friend's pool - three activities that are always Family Approved!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Sunday is National Ice Cream Day
Yes! This Sunday, July 17th...!
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month. He also established National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday in the month. I knew I liked him!
There are so many ways to celebrate....
Breyer's Ice Cream is buy-one-get-one-free at Publix this week. You could invite some friends over for a make-your-own-sundae party - B.Y.O.T. (your fav topping)!
And/or, your family could make your own or visit an ice cream place. Chain stores like Dairy Queen or Baskin Robbins are a safe bet because they are consistent and offer a variety of menu items to make everyone happy.
But, we like to find locally-owned shops. One easy way to do that is to use Google Maps. At the top of the screen, type in any address (if you are going to be at Grandma’s, type in her address), then click search. Once your location is viewable on the map, go back up to the same search field and type in “ice cream” (or “soda fountain”). You may find a hidden gem like this quaint old pharmacy with soda fountain counter service we found a couple summers back!
![]()
All in all – ice cream and fun memories! Family Approved!
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month. He also established National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday in the month. I knew I liked him!
There are so many ways to celebrate....
Breyer's Ice Cream is buy-one-get-one-free at Publix this week. You could invite some friends over for a make-your-own-sundae party - B.Y.O.T. (your fav topping)!
And/or, your family could make your own or visit an ice cream place. Chain stores like Dairy Queen or Baskin Robbins are a safe bet because they are consistent and offer a variety of menu items to make everyone happy.
But, we like to find locally-owned shops. One easy way to do that is to use Google Maps. At the top of the screen, type in any address (if you are going to be at Grandma’s, type in her address), then click search. Once your location is viewable on the map, go back up to the same search field and type in “ice cream” (or “soda fountain”). You may find a hidden gem like this quaint old pharmacy with soda fountain counter service we found a couple summers back!
All in all – ice cream and fun memories! Family Approved!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)