Summer Time

So summer is here, school is out, and the weather is BEAUTIFUL!!! The kids and I are spending the week relaxing and cleaning - getting prepared for a busy summer of swimming and fun!! For several years know the kids and I spend our afternoons at our local recreation center, sitting around the pool. I get to spend the summer chatting it up with my Mom friends and the kids are free to play with theirs! Overall a GREAT way to spend our summer. We practice sun and water safety, take swimming lessons, and eat lots of snacks ;)

This summer brings on a few changes too. We are "forced" to consider a second vehicle as we live miles away from our summer time haven, and the husband is super busy with work!!! Right now I am going through the motions of getting things set up for school next year - Change number 2 - Homeschooling.  This is something the hubby and I have batted around for years now, but haven't been ready to take the plunge. With our oldest entering 5th grade and the middle school years looming near by, we new now was as good a time as any! SO we started researching the reality of homeschooling him - Fortunately we have SEVERAL close friends who home school as well and they are a TREMENDOUS help and GREAT resource!!! With the full intention of starting with our oldest and allowing the "middle" child to continue in public school, we felt pretty confident in our abilities. THEN after a bit more deliberation and a check into the reality of the school schedule we decided it would be best for all if we jump in fully. SO I am going from stay at home mom to a toddler and shuttling the older two to school and doing the after school thing to a full time homeschooling mom! WHAT am I getting myself into. Unfortunately our local school has declined in offerings and the reality of my children continuing there makes me sad, nauseous, and a bit frightened. This is the school I attended as a child, and our oldest would have most likely had the same 5/6 grade teacher I had this year! We are in an inanely small community which holds so many blessings, but keeping a good school going that meets or hopefully exceeds national standards, is just not happening. SO here we are staring straight into the eyes of our children's educational future! Mixed feelings abound, but confidence in this decision holds strong!

The Summer Giveaway by Soulographer

CHECK IT OUT!!! - http://www.soulographer.com/the-summer-giveaway/

Head over to Soulographer June 13th - 24th to enter to win a prize package from 25 vendors - more info and details on the site...so what are you waiting for...GO to http://www.soulographer.com/the-summer-giveaway/ NOW!!!!

Another AMAZING Giveaway!!!

To celebrate the opening of I Live 2 Click's new blog, they are throwing a HUGE giveaway - A MUST enter for sure!!! Check it out here!!!

 - http://ilive2click.com/2011/05/22/2100-mega-giveaway-launch-of-i-live-2-click/

"The Big Spring Giveaway"

Wild Hearts Photography is sponsoring a GREAT Spring giveaway!!!! A MUST Enter!!!!!

http://wildheartsphotography.com/blog/?p=4035

ROCK THE SHOT - Sweet Contest!!!

Rock The Shot has amazing offers for photographers, offers that will save you time and money. Instantly download free products from your favorite vendors while learning and sharing with other photographers. Plus, for this week only enjoy a huge bonus! This bonus is a valuable bundle pack from Beyond The Shot. All photographers need portrait agreements, client questionnaires and model releases. This week you can receive all these products for free ($87 value) with your Lifetime Membership. Plus, for a limited time enjoy an additional $35 off your Lifetime Membership by using the code "RTSfan”.

There is no better time then now to get in on a Lifetime Membership from Rock The Shot. If you want to test out the forum first you can start with a 6 or 3 month membership. All memberships include access to special giveaways, coupons, instant downloads and lots of amazing information. Plus, instantly you'll have over 800 new friends who love photography and are there to help you along the way. Get in on this amazing offer today! Sign up now to start enjoying all the goodies. Use the code "RTSfan" to enjoy a limited time offer of 20% your membership.

Head on over NOW!!! - http://www.rocktheshotforum.com/amember/go.php?r=1256&i=b0

"Spring int Summer Photographer's Giveaway" - A MUST Enter!!!!

Spring Into Summer Photographer's Dream Giveaway - Beautiful Photo Props

beautifulphotoprops.typepad.com

I am SO excited to be hosting my very first giveaway for photographers! Some of my absolute favorite vendors have graciously donated wonderful items for the giveaway so it's gonna be a HUGE package for one lucky photographer to win! Each item in this giveaway will benefit any photographer!

 

http://beautifulphotoprops.typepad.com/my-blog/2011/05/spring-into-summer-photographers-dream-giveaway.html

Inspire Me Baby - Brandsushi Giveaway!!

If I ever needed to win a giveaway this is the ONE!!! Brandsushi is giving away their 3 part ebook series on studio pricing!!! As photographer this is one thing I have struggled with all these years!!! I want to be reaonable, but not lose money...

Check it out for yourself!

http://inspiremebaby.com/2011/04/26/giveaway-total-package-pricing-from-brandsushi/

"April Showers/May Flowers Giveaway" By Olive to Sew!

Head on over to Olive to Sew's Blog and enter this AMZING giveaway!! 66 vendors!!!

http://olivetosew.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-showersmay-flowers-giveaway.html

Crave Photography Giveaway!

Ok, this just blows my mind!!! An all expense paid mentoring session from one of the best, Crave Photography!!!!!! Not to mention even MORE....I just entered and you should too!!!

http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/world-wide-giveaway/

Savings

Ok so here's the thing. I watched Extreme Couponing on TLC and although I will probably never take it to THAT extreme, I realized that my habit of shopping the clearance racks for clothing could be taken that much farther. I know I've had several posts lately showing you this and that to go like and try out, but seriously these sites are great. For one, I am taking on the task of couponing. If a family of six can eat on $160 a month, why not my little family of 5. Another thing I just found...not ALL coupons are for processed food! I have found one for Olivia's Organics and another for $1 off produce with the purchase of something else (sorry can't think of it at the moment)...Today I was buying bottled water, yes bad for the enviroment I know, but I seriously dislike out tap water EVEN with a Brita or Pur filter, I was supposed to recieve a $5 off a future grocery purchase...the coupon printer jammed so the nice manager lady gave me a $5 gift card...that could TOTALLY be used for healthy food. You have to research and shop smart!

Here are some of my new fav places - Couponing to Disney - No you do NOT have to put the money you save into an account for Disney, but hey why not ;) I LOVE the organization to her site. Things are broken down really well...Take some time to look around. I know you'll love it too! Scroll down a bit on my FB page (http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=556509598) and you'll see the link to her page.

Another FABULOUS find is EBATES...so I do tend to do SOME online shopping, but not too much. Ebates is SO simple you join (http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=RCvTp9Uk5zSEThVAqst%2Bcw%3D%3D) and whenever you are looking to do a bit of online shopping - EBAY INCLUDED - go to ebates, click the place you want to shop, and voila you earn money back on ALL purchases, as long as you click Ebates first you earn cash back...and it's not CREDIT, you get ACTUAL money back every 3 months, as long as you have at least $5.01 earned!! You can have them mail you a check or even add it to your Paypal account. I for one am SO sad that I JUST found this site out. For ALL the Ebay shopping I have done over the years...well it's a new day and I'm not making this mistake anymore!

Well that's all for this evening...

Happy Savings
~Rachel

Giveaway

I just entered to win a super cute laptop bag!!! Go here and you can enter too!

http://www.nobiggie.net/2011/03/giveaway-lani-laptop-tote-35-value.html#comment-15030

Paper & CAKE Giveaway!

Paper & Cake is giving away an HP Photosmart Printer! Go enter to win! http://www.paperandcake.blogspot.com

Awesome Photographer's Giveaway!!!

I am just AMAZED at the amount of FABULOUS items included in this giveaway. A must enter for any and ALL photographers professional and amateur alike!!!

Go here to enter!!

http://laurawinslowphotography.com/blog/2011/02/07/2600-61-shops-1-winner-the-awesome-photog-love-giveaway-from-laura-winslow-photography