A Little Idea... Save with Deal-a-Day Coupon Sites

Have you heard of those coupon sites that offer a deal a day? If you live in a metro area, you have likely heard of Groupon or Living Social. Many companies are following in their footsteps and offering a deal every day for your city.

Whether it is 50% at your favorite restaurant, show tickets, or a massage, it's easy to find something you can use on these sites. I have purchased many of these deals and I can say that I absolutely love the concept. It's been a good way to get deals on items I would have purchased anyway and also experience new things in my city that I wouldn't have otherwise thought of doing.

Just some examples of coupons I have purchased and loved: A Segway tour of the city, a dozen gourmet cupcakes, make my own wine (30 bottles!), aquarium tickets, and a bunch more!

Groupon - Featuring 95 cities and also a handy iPhone App so that you don't have to remember to print your coupons in order to use them! Also features a discussion for each deal which helps to clarify questions customers may have about the terms (very helpful!) Also includes 22 other countries.
Living Social - Deals on this site are typically 50% off. Featuring 62 cities including two in Europe as well as a comprehensive iPhone App and discussion forums.

Buy with Me - Featuring 10 cities and growing. Often offers more than one deal a day for select cities.

Other sites I haven't tried yet but offer the same type of service:
Adility
CrowdSavingsSocialBuy
Scout Mob

Have you ever tried any of these sites? What was the best deal you've gotten?

A Little Idea... Throw a Fairytale Birthday Party

Once upon a time, my daughter turned 6.  This is what the invitations looked like.  I just bought a box of wedding invitations for $10 at TJ Maxx.

All the girls came dressed as their favorite Fairy Tale character.  I had my mom dress up like Mother Goose and tell Fairy Tales.  She told Rapunzel and had the girls plant their own "garden," a little pansy in a pot. 

I also had my best friend dress up like Fairy Godmother and tell Fairy Tales.  Then all the girls got their pictures taken with her while sitting on the pink horse you can see in the photo above.

We played fairy tale themed games.  They tried to throw the golden ball in the pond.  And we made candy necklaces to get ready for the royal ball.  The girls got to select prizes like bouncy balls, play jewelry, and more from the little prize table.

Instead of cake I stacked sprinkled donuts.  Easier, cleaner, and cuter!  And I used stuffed animals that we already had for inexpensive and whimsical decor.

I found these little gumball machines for $1 at Walmart.  They were the perfect finishing touch.  I used part of the wedding invitations for the labels.  The girls had a magical time!

A Little Idea... Scum-Free Soap Dish

I absolutely hate the scummy goo that builds up on soap dishes in the tub and shower!  I just happened upon this delightful solution.  I place my bar of soap on a smooth, flat, rounded rock and the would-be goo just never accumulates.  Not to mention it looks so zen.

I picked up this particular rock on Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, Ca.  Not in the neighborhood?  You can find them at craft stores too, maybe in a canyon stream, or even your backyard.

{Read all posts by Aly}

A Little Idea... Throw Yourself a Birthday Party!

My Birthday Day Trip to Salt Lake City!

Want some fun with the girls?  Here's an idea... plan a "stay-cation".  Visit fun local sites and shops.  Make a day of it!  I did!

Here is the invitation that I sent to everyone:
Come celebrate with me!
I am so looking forward to our day out on Saturday! My hope is that we
will discover some fun/cool places in our own hometown. Here is our
itinerary for the day....

A Little Idea... Glitter Toes (by You)

by Aly

(Me in my jammies)

It's Spring... sorta.  My Uggs are too hot and my pregnant feet are too swollen to wear cute flats.  So I am into flip flop/sandal season a little early this year.  My toes were looking less than adorable having been packed into boots for months.  So I decided to give them a little pick-me-up!  Thanks to my cute friend Angie for sharing this idea with me last summer... it sure has come in handy.  Hope you like it too!

What you Need:

• Clear top coat
• Glitter - I used Martha Steward brand from Micheal's.  It's very fine and the colors are beautiful.
• Your toes

How To:

• Generously and quickly apply top coat
• Immediately sprinkle glitter of wet top coat
• Allow to dry
• Apply another generous coat of top coat
• Allow to dry

If you want to do it all Summer, may I recommend:

 {Read all posts by Aly}

A Little Idea... Circus Themed Kid's Party

by Tami

Step right up!

We just had a birthday party for my 2 and 3 year old boys. As you can see our theme was

a circus party....

The menu was of course carnival food...

-Corn Dogs (polish dogs for the adults with all the toppings, sauerkraut, relish, mustards, etc)

-French Fries with fry sauce

-Fresh fruit

-Cupcakes

-Candy bars

-Pop Corn 

-Cotton Candy

-Lemonade

-Rice Crispy Cake

-Mini drumstick ice cream cones (100 calories, but who's counting!)

 

-Upon arrival each child had to tell me the pass word that was written on a ballon included in their invite.

-They then got their goodie bag that had stickers and tickets for the games!

-We played games....

-The Lion Tamer: 2 lion tamers held the giant hula hoop while the lion children crawled through.

Similar to the limbo.

-Ball toss.

-Prizes: animal noses and punching bags

-Carnival themed music was playing throughout the party

-Daddy the clown made balloon animals for the kids

-I made the birthday boys hats out of scrapbook paper, feathers, pipe cleaners, and pom poms

-Upon departure guests had their picture taken in our photo booth with the new Polaroid camera. They took home their pictures

 for a souvenir

-Photo Booth: wrapping paper on the wall

Everyone had a great time! My little guys are growing up so fast!

Inspiration for carnival party found here.

A Little Idea... An Exercise in Introspection and Editing

By Erin S.

I heard an awesome story on Talk of the Nation on NPR today and 
thought I'd share.

 

Legend has it that Earnest Hemingway was once asked to write a story 
in just six words.  His response, "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Smith Magazine has taken the six word concept a step further and is 
encouraging it's readers to submit six word memoirs.  They asked 
their readers to describe their life right now in six words, and got 
an amazingresponse. They received so many brilliant submissions 
that they have compiled several books, the most recent of which is 
"It All Changed in an Instant."

In my design work I try to get it down to most simple design possible 
to convey the message.  Six word memoirs are an exercise in the same 
self editing.  It's much harder than it seems, and is a great way to flex
your literary skills and take a moment to reflect on your life.

Look through some of the examples, take a few minutes and come
up with six words that tell the story of your life right now and post
it in the comments.  What's my memoir you ask?

My six word memoir:  Still undefined and okay with that.

Here are a few more examples to inspire you, including a few from 
some famous memoirists...

A Little Idea... Valentine's Chain

by Somer
Remember the paper chains you make every Christmas? We decided to give them a Valentine's twist.

 

Start by cutting card stock or construction paper in 1" x 8.5" strips. Make sure your paper is heavy enough to hold its heart shape. From our experience, if you make the strips much wider it is a little difficult to staple them and if you make them too long they don't hold their shape as well.

A Little Idea... Cookies!

by Somer

Whenever I make cookies I try to make a double batch. Then while I'm rolling out cookies for the oven I fill a cookie sheet with cookies for the freezer. I stick the whole cookie sheet in the freezer for a few hours, then transfer the cookies to a zip-top freezer bag. Now we can have cookies warm from the oven anytime. Well, that is if my husband doesn't eat all the freezer dough first.

A Little Idea... Leftover Candy Canes

By Somer
Have a few leftover candy canes lying around?
Make some Mint Chocolate Bark.


Crush them and sprinkle in hot chocolate or on top of ice cream. Or make some homemade marshmallows and sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top before letting them set.

Or try this little treat. Roll a lemon on the counter to loosen the juice, then cut an an X in the top. Break the top and bottom off a candy cane and insert it in the hole. Now use it as a straw to get some surprisingly sweet lemon juice.