I have many new readers, so I thought it would be good to give a refresher on what Swagbucks are, since I frequently post “Swagcodes” on the Facebook fan page or remind you that it’s Mega Swagbucks Day.  Basically swagbucks is a way to earn points by searching the web.  So, instead of using Google, you would use Swagbucks.com & get rewarded with points or “swag bucks” periodically as you search.   You can then cash in your “bucks” to earn gift cards or prizes.  As far as doing your searching on the web – they don’t have to be special searches – you could even search for the websites you use regularly & you will be randomly awarded swagbucks throughout  the day.

A few of my favorite gift cards are: Amazon gift cards ($5, $25, $50), Macy’s, Paypal (you can earn cash to go directly into Paypal) , Target.com, Barnes & Noble, iTunes & much more. Those are all online gift cards, but they also offer Starbucks Gift Cards which are sent by mail – great to give as gifts, too!  I have used Swagbucks regularly for over a year & have been so pleased with how well it works.  I was able to pay for a number of Christmas gifts last year by saving up my points to buy Amazon gift cards. I’m going to try to do that again this year, too!  I don’t have to do anything extra, except search the web using their system.

Here are some of the ways you can earn more “Swagbucks” or points:

• Install the Swagbucks Toolbar – this way you can make Swagbucks your default search engine. This way you’re automatically using it when searching the web & you’ll earn more points by using it more regularly.  An added bonus – they periodically post Swag codes in your toolbar. Look for the Red Envelope that says “From TSG” & it will typically have a number beside it if there is a new code.  To enter Swagcodes, go to the main Swagbucks page & look under your “Account Summary” on the top right.  There is a box that says “Enter your Swag Code” & that’s where you enter any Swagcodes you find.
• “Like” Swagbucks on Facebook & they frequently offer Swagcodes good for a limited time.
• Follow Swagbucks on Twitter where they will frequently offer Swagcodes
• Subscribe to the Swagbucks Blog where they will often have Swagcode searches (this is where you have to search the prizes to look for a swagcode based on clues that they give you.
• Have friends & family sign up as your referrals - One of the best way to earn swagbucks is to invite your friends & family to sign up under your referral.  You can earn up to 100 points for every person who signs up as a referral.  This is a great way to earn those extra swagbucks without  having to do a thing! Just click on “Promote” – one of the top tabs on the Swagbucks.com website & click “Invite Friends & Earn”.
• Mega Swagbucks Days on Fridays – every Friday, you have the chance to high swagbucks when you search the web, as you normally do.  You can earn 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and even up to 500 swagbucks, just by searching on Fridays.
• Answer the “Daily Poll” question once a day & you will earn Swagbucks.
• Install the Swagbucks Widget on your blog – if you have a blog, this is a great way to encourage people to sign up as a referral & they will frequently feature extra Swagcodes on the Widget on your blog.
• Click on the “Ways to Earn” tab on Swagbucks.com to check out more great ways to earn Swagbucks.

Hopefully this list was helpful for even those of you who have been using Swagbucks regularly, to find a few new ways to earn Swagbucks.  Let me know if there are any other ways you’ve found to earn bucks & I can add it to our list!

Have you been strawberry picking or just have a lot of strawberries you’ve found on sale? In that case, you might be looking for a new recipe to add to your summertime collection!  Last week, I asked the Thrifty NW Mom Facebook Fans what were some of their favorite ways to use strawberries & they responded with an awesome list of ideas.  I’ll list some of those at the end…but for now, this is a yummy recipe that Facebook Fan Christi emailed me!

Strawberry Spinach Salad:

• 1 bag spinach
• 1 pint strawberries
• 1/2 Cup pecan pieces for garnish

Dressing:

• 1/3 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp onion, grated
• 1 cup light olive oil
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds

Directions:

In a blender, combine vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt & onion. Slowly add olive oil & blend for 1 minute (can also be whisked by hand in a large bowl, just skip the extended blending step).  Refrigerate until chilled & then dress salad. (I usually won’t wait for it to be refrigerated). We like our salad with minimal dressing, so I would be able to make 4 salads with just one dressing recipe.

Doesn’t this salad sound so good? And simple to make – my kind of recipe!

Here’s a list of some of the other ideas that the Facebook Fans shared for their favorite ways to use strawberries:

• Strawberry pie (anyone have a good recipe for this – I’ve been looking for one!)
• Strawberry & Rhubarb Jam
• Chocolate-covered strawberries
• Strawberries dipped in sour cream & then in brown sugar
• Fruit Smoothies
• Berry Crepes
• Red, White & Blue Pie
• Grilled halved strawberries with mango ice cream
• Strawberry Tart with French Pastry Cream

So, what is your favorite recipe to use with strawberries (or any fresh berries, for that matter)? If you have a great recipe to share (& even pictures of your recipe), we’d love to hear it! Email me at thriftynwmom (at) hotmail (dot) com or just leave it in the comments & I can share with the readers!

Thanks Christi!

Photo Credit

Now that summer is in full swing, you may already be wanting some new ideas for how to keep the kids entertained throughout the summer.  However, the trick is to finding activities that won’t break the bank.  So, here are some tips for frugal summertime fun with your kids.

Head Outdoors &  Enjoy the Sunshine:

-U-Pick Farms –Such a fun activity for kids to be involved in picking raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches & more ; Pickyourown.org is a great resource to find U-pick farms; prices should be lower when you pick them yourselves, too. So, it’s a win-win-fun for the kids & cheaper, fresh berries & produce.

-Visit a local Farmer’s Market -They offer more than just fresh produce to buy – you could find free entertainment/music, little craft activities for the kids & more; Visit LocalHarvest.org & search “Farmers Markets” on the right  side to find a Farmer’s Market near you

-Free Concerts & Movies in the Parks - Check with your local city or town (or surrounding areas) to see their schedule of free concerts & movies in the parks; bring along chairs or a blanket and a picnic lunch/dinner for some great frugal family fun

-Festivals or Small County Fairs –  They are often free or offer inexpensive admission with fun entertainment, kids activities & play areas, variety of food options (or bring a picnic lunch or dinner & drinks to make it more frugal)

-City or county parks - Check out the local parks in your area to find those which offer free wading pools or splash parks;  also, make sure to check the list of events as many Parks & Recreation departments will offer free (or inexpensive) activities for kids in the summer-gardening ideas, crafts, nature walks, etc.

-State or National Parks – These also may offer free guided nature walks (or other kid-friendly activities) - check out the list of events on their website before your visit the park.  Also, check out the Fee-Free weekends this summer at all National Parks.  The dates are: August 14, 15; September 25, 2010

-Minor League Baseball Games - Get a Buy 1 Get 1 Free ticket when you bring a Kraft singles cheese wrapper to the box office; this is valid on Tuesdays thru the summer at select Minor League locations across the country; also check the individual Minor League Team websites to see if there are any special events or family specials going on thru the summer at the ballpark.

–REI’s Passport to Adventure Program – An incentive program for kids ages 5-12 to encourage them to get out with their families on bike rides, hikes, nature walks & more.  They can earn a free prize by documenting their activities for the summer. You can also find out some great information about local hikes, walks, bike trails & more on their website.  Find out more HERE.

Indoor Fun:

-Museum / Science Center Time - Check out your local museums or science centers’ websites to see if they have any free (or discounted) admission days during the month & put those on your calendar. Your local library may also have free family passes to museums or cultural centers.

-Free admission for Military to Museums – Active-duty military members & up to 5 members of their family (spouses, sibling & children) can have unlimited visits to over 600 museums nationwide as part of the Blue Star Museum Program. This started Memorial Day, 2010 and runs thru the summer, ending on Labor Day, 2010.

-Free bowling for Kids - Check out Kids Bowl Free where kids can get 2 FREE bowling games every day during the summer (shoe rental not included). There’s also a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon for AMF bowling alleys available right now.

-Free (or Cheap) Family Films in the Movie Theaters - Check out your local movie theater to see if they’re participating in free or inexpensive (often $1/ticket)  family films on select days during the summer.  Here are a few of the participating movie theaters: Regal Cinemas, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark,  & Great Escape Theaters.

-Free library programs – Your local library is a great resource for free kids activities throughout the summer.  They may have free puppet shows, movies, kids concerts, craft days, etc. Also, make sure to check out their Summer Reading programs for great incentives to keep your kids reading.

-Vacation Bible School – Enroll your kids in a Vacation Bible School program at a local church. They typically last a week and are several hours a day, filled with songs, crafts & more to keep your kids entertained & meeting some new kids. They are usually free or inexpensively priced for children to attend.

Fun around the House:

-Shaving Cream Fun – Get a cheap can of shaving cream (if you coupon, you might have a stash you got for free); Spread it out on an outdoor table  & let your kids go at it, making fun designs & being silly. When they’re done, just spray down the table {and them, for that matter!}

-Outdoor water fun – Invite friends or family over for some fun on a hot day – get out the sprinklers, slip & slide, water balloons, squirt guns

-Movie time at home - Rent a movie from the library or a $1/day rental from Redbox for a marathon movie morning or a family movie night

-Make homemade ice cream- a yummy  treat for a hot summer day; check out these how-to’s & recipes at Allrecipes.com

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to go camping with my family.  We have gone even when our kids were babies and I don’t regret one minute.  But before I started using coupons, I would dread the price tag that came with it.  It seems that the “cheap” vacation became a huge expense.  I am so thankful that even though our income has dropped, that I am still able to give my kids this fun experience with the help of using coupons.

Today I am going to share a few of my favorite recipes that I like to make when I am camping.  Because this is our family’s vacation time, we like to pull out all the stops and eat well.  Here are some great recipes that you make ahead of time to alleviate some of the mess, but not sacrifice the quality or flavor.

Egg McMuffins

Now this may sound a little weird, but it works and it is good!

Ingredients:

Sliced Cheese
Egg
English Muffin

Pre-Cook your eggs in a bowl in the microwave.  This way they will be the size of an english muffin.   Make sure you spray the bowl with PAM first.  And I found that in my microwave 40 sec is perfect. Then once they cool stick in a ziploc bag ready for packing.

When camping use your BBQ Grill to toast the English Muffin & reheat the egg and add a slice of cheese if you would like.

Oh they taste good!

Lunch:

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

This is so simple, but yet SO good

Ingredients:

Tortillas
Shredded Cheese
Turkey Meat
Ranch Dressing (or one you prefer)
Lettuce
Red onion
Already Cooked Bacon*
{And whatever other fixings you would like}

I have everything cut and ready in ziplocs and just throw together when I am there.  I find that the wraps are better than sandwiches because you don’t have to worry about the bread smashing.  As well, with using ranch dressing, I am not having to pack mayo, mustard and all those other goodies.

*I just pre cook a day before trip regular packaged bacon and keep in ziploc bag.  You could use the already cooked if you would like

Dinner:

Fire Cracker Salmon

This is one of those recipes that gets better the longer you marinade it.

• 8 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
• 1/2 cup peanut oil
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 4 tablespoons green onions, chopped
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Just add all the ingredients together and put the salmon in a ziploc bag or container and your ready to go.  Marinate at least 4 hours. I cook it on a Travel BBQ.

*Serve with Betty Crocker Instant Potatoes & Asparagus

There are so many recipes like these that are awesome for going camping.  No need to just eat hotdogs.  I actually prefer to make marinated meals because then you will not have to worry about bringing all the condiments and you will save some space.

Quick Tip: if you are ever wondering if a recipe would turn out okay…. do a practice run at home first.  I did that with the english muffins and I was very happy with it.

In the next month over on my site, Coupon Connections NW, I will continue to share some more of my favorite recipes that I like to take camping.  Hope that you will stop by for a visit.

Amber is married and a stay-at-home mom to 4 young children, living north of Seattle.   Make sure to check out Amber’s site, Coupon Connections NW. This is an informative & fun Northwest deal blog featuring  grocery store deals for NW stores, freebies, money-saving tips & much more!

Are you trying to think of some cute ideas for Father’s Day crafts for your kids to make this year? Make sure to download this FREE Craft E-Book filled with 10 great Father’s Day crafts from bloggers.

So, what are your best ideas of homemade gifts or crafts that your kids can make for Father’s Day – either for dads or grandpas?

Guess what – Safeway has just updated their coupon policy & there are some new changes in the policy which should make it easier for you to use printable coupons at Safeway.  You  can find the full Safeway Coupon Policy HERE – make sure to print off a copy of it & stick it in your coupon binder/folder so you have it on hand in case you have any problems (it does say that the policy should  also be posted at the Customer Service desk) ! This policy is in effect from June 7, 2010. Thank you to Maygan from Maybe Frugal for alerting me to the change!

Here are the highlights:

#5: Coupon amount may be reduced so that any combined discounts and coupons do not exceed the value of the item. See number 12 below. This means that you cannot get overage on an item – but  they must reduce the coupon down. Ex: If the price of the item is $1.99 & you have a $2 off coupon – they just adjust the coupon to $1.99.

#8: Safeway will accept valid manufacturer coupons that display another retailer’s logo or name. – This could include those manufacturers coupons that you can print from the Target website or that Albertson’s has had recently can be used at Safeway, as long as it’s a manufacturer’s coupon (not a store coupon).

#9:  Safeway will accept valid Catalina manufacturer coupons that are issued to a customer by another retailer. Wow, this is a big change – so, if you get a catalina from Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, etc- you should be able to use it at Safeway. I’m not sure if this includes Register Rewards from Walgreens, but I would  think it would – you’d have to ask your store specifically or email Safeway corporate.

#16:  We gladly accept internet printed coupons. The same manufacturer and store coupon rules above apply to all internet printed coupons. This changed so that they no longer have the rule that the coupon has to be 50% or less of the product’s value (I know some of you had stores that enforced this rule,  so glad it’s gone! ).

#20. We will not accept “free product” internet printed manufacturer coupons.

E-Coupons & Paper Coupons:

Safeway’s new coupon policy does not specifically address the use of paper coupons with e-coupons (electronic coupons), except in the state of Hawaii, where it says you cannot use a paper coupon & e-coupon on the same product.  However, check out this post from Coupon Connections NW – a reader emailed Safeway to find out what their policy is in regards to using paper & e-coupons together.  You could print off that email, too – although I think it would be better to email Safeway directly & get them to send the policy to you, since it’s not part of their online coupon policy.

Thanks again Maygan!

Here’s a FREE E-Book for Recycled Crafts which may give you some great ideas for repurposing & reusing items you have around your house! We frequently do this in our house – I’m always saving plastic containers, egg cartons, & more so that we can use them for crafts, arts/crafts storage

As a family, we do participate in some of the fun Easter traditions (egg hunts, dyeing eggs, etc), but most importantly, we want our girls to understand the real meaning behind Easter & the fact that Jesus is alive & He is risen!  Here are a few recipes you can make tonight and tomorrow morning to celebrate His resurrection with your children!

RESURRECTION ROLLS:

Ingredients:

• 1 can of refrigerated Crescent Rolls or Biscuits {I’m sure you couponers have many of these from recent sales!} -you could also use homemade dough-even better! We used biscuits for ours.
• 8-10  Large Marshmallows
• Melted Butter {around 1/4 cup}
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons white sugar {we were out of white sugar & just used brown sugar-just as good!}

{Mix the sugar & cinnamon together in a bowl & have the melted butter                 in a separate bowl}

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (or whatever the package directions say)
2. Give each person a crescent roll triangle or a biscuit dough circle (with our biscuits, we used a rolling pin to flatten them a bit & make them larger) – This represents the tomb where Jesus was buried.
3. Give each person a marshmallow – this represents the body of Christ
4. First dip your marshmallow in the melted butter – make sure it’s covered in butter on all sides. Then roll the marshmallow in the cinnamon/sugar mixture so it’s coated.
5. Next, lay the cinnamon/sugar coated marshmallow in the center of the crescent roll or biscuit. Then carefully wrap the dough around the marshmallow & make sure to pinch the seams really good to keep the marshmallow in.
6. Place on a baking sheet and bake your rolls according to the package directions. Let them cool.
7. Have your children “break open the tomb” and see that the tomb is empty & Christ is gone – He is risen!

*We added a bit of extra melted butter & cinnamon/sugar mixture on the outside & it made it even tastier! They were yummy & meaningful at the same time!

RESURRECTION COOKIES:

Image from Women Living Well – visit this site for recipe!

Another idea that we’ll be trying tonight are Resurrection Cookies – Easter Story Cookies!  These are a great one to make on the evening before Easter, so you can open these up on Easter Sunday!  Very similar to the Resurrection Rolls, but they go into more depth about the Easter Story from the Bible!   I’m excited to try these as a family tonight to prepare our hearts for tomorrow’s celebration!

Are you looking for some fun Easter crafts to do with your kids this week and weekend before Easter Sunday? Here’s a great resource – FREE E-Book filled with Easter & Spring Craft Ideas!

This e-book is filled with fun crafts such as homemade Easter cards, home decor ideas for Easter, crafts for kids & even a few Easter recipes!

Have you noticed the a new logo on many Tropicana juice containers? Tropicana has an exciting, new program called Tropicana Juicy Rewards.  Basically, they are rewarding you for drinking orange juice! Sounds pretty good, right?  I am going to be sharing all about the benefits of this cool, new reward program over the next few months as a Tropicana Juicy Insider.

The way the Juicy Rewards program works is that you’ll look for specially marked cartons of Tropicana juice and those cartons will have a unique code you can enter on the Tropicana Juicy Rewards site.  Many rewards site required you to earn a significant number of points before you’re able to use your rewards; however, Tropicana’s program is different in that they have rewards at every level. They even offer rewards for just 1 point.  Even better…just one carton of juice can earn you up to 15 juicy reward points. There are over 20,000 rewards to choose from on the Juicy Rewards site.  The rewards vary from everything to discounts on sportswear and camping supplies to bowling alleys, zoos, museums, theater tickets, spa services, and much more!  You can search for rewards by zip code, point value, or reward type.

I had the opportunity to try out this new reward program with a fun, family outing on Friday with my mom and my girls.  I looked up the rewards on the Juicy Rewards site and we decided to check out a local kids museum, Kids Quest Museum in Bellevue, WA,  that I’ve been wanting to try out.  For just 1 reward point, we were able to print off a discount for 2-for-1 admission.  This was a nice savings for us and my girls had an absolute blast at this kids’ museum!  I think we’ll try out another local kids museum next  - the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia, where we can get 50% off admission for up to 4 people for just 6 reward points!!

Look at all the fun they had at Kids Quest!

Extra Code for New Signups::

Now’s your chance to try out Tropicana’s Juicy Rewards program for yourself! You’ll get an extra bonus point to get started!

Here’s how it works:

-Visit Tropicana’s Juicy Rewards site

-Register for a new account

-Click on “Enter codes” (top right hand corner)

-Get an extra bonus point for your account – Enter code: “MOTHE” (in 1st box) “RHOOD” (2nd box) within 6 hours of registering for the Juicy Rewards program. This extra bonus point will be worth $5 in savings.

Your bonus point can be redeemed immediately or you can save it and add more by buying Tropicana Juice & entering the codes online.  Once you have your codes entered, click on “Explore Rewards” and you can check out the wide variety of rewards offered.

Make sure to follow Tropicana on Facebook and Twitter, too, for more information on Juicy Rewards and possible rewards codes as well!

Update: Here’s an extra code that was in the newspaper last week, too, which you can add to your account: LA73E – CL9W4

Disclosure: I am working with the Motherhood and Tropicana, and am being compensated for my participation in this program.   All thoughts & opinions I’ve expressed are 100% mine and not edited by any sponsors.  See my disclosure policy for more information.