DIY Basement Makeover: Part 2 - Flooring from Rite Rug + a Giveaway! - CLOSED

As I shared previously, my husband and I (more my husband than me!) started a DIY basement makeover project about 7 weeks ago. And like all of the home improvement projects we have completed, this one came with a tight budget. We have not really been saving up for this, so it has been a "pay as you go" project.

Thankfully my husband is great at figuring out how to do home improvement projects himself, and we estimate that we are going to save anywhere from 30-50% by doing everything except the carpet install on our own. I am planning on sharing a cost breakdown of the project at the end of this series.

To give you an idea of what this project entails - we are finishing approximately 500 square feet of living space in our basement. Because we have so many things in the basement, we divided the project up into 2 parts - a work out space (for our treadmill etc...) and a family room space. We chose to start on the work out space first. 7 weeks in, my husband has completed the framing, electrical, insulation, drywall (this took 3 weeks!), painting, and he has now started on the flooring.

As I mentioned previously, this whole project began with Rite Rug asking me to complete a review of one of their stores as a part of their 75th Anniversary Celebration. One of the first things we did was choose the flooring for our space, so it is really exciting to see it finally going in!

We have replaced nearly 2000 square feet of flooring in our house over the past 8 years, and I had never been to a Rite Rug store. I don't really have a good reason - we just never found our way there. The Rite Rug store that we worked with on this project was great - they were extremely helpful, giving us advice on what types of flooring would be best suited for a basement.

Rite Rug has a huge selection of flooring - tile, laminate, carpet, wood - and in my opinion, their prices are both reasonable and competitive. As I mentioned previously, we are on a tight budget with this project, and I loved that Rite Rug gave us the option of purchasing the wood flooring and installing it ourselves - this saved us approximately $2/square foot. The store we visited also had a small area for kids to play in - which was extremely helpful as we had to take our 3 year old shopping with us. In fact, she cried every time we left the store because she didn't want to leave the toys. :-) I also love the Rite Price Guarantee: If any store in the same city beats their price on the same product within 30 days of your purchase, they will refund you the difference plus 5%.

We are also planning on ordering our carpet from Rite Rug when we finish the family room portion of this project, and I will be sharing my thoughts about working with Rite Rug on the delivery and installation of the carpet.

I am really excited because Rite Rug has given me a $199 gift card to give away to one of you, so that you can purchase an area rug, or start a project of your own!

What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive a $199 gift card to Rite Rug. This card can be used on an area rug, or toward any item/project of your choice, and it expires in October, 2010.

How can you win?

You get up to 4 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite type of flooring is. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Become a fan of the Stretching a Buck Fan Page on Facebook. If you are already a fan, you can leave a comment letting me know that you are already a fan (thank you!).

3) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

4) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it (follow me: I'm @stretchingabuck), post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible. Please be sure that you have a Rite Rug near you and that you'll be able to use the gift card.

When does this giveaway end?

Friday, November 6th at 10 PM, EST.

The winner will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Monday, November 9th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winner within 4 days that another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: Rite Rug provided me with approximately 150 square feet of Bruce Engineered Hardwood flooring. No other compensation was received. Rite Rug also provided the gift card for this giveaway. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

DIY Basement Makeover: Part 1

When my husband and I built our house 8 years ago it was just the two of us. We had more than enough space - especially because we really didn't have that much furniture and stuff to fill the house with. Fast forward to today and I think it is safe to say we have pretty much filled our house up. Between having a baby, buying furniture and accumulating a bunch of "stuff" we can definitely use some extra space.

We have always talked about finishing our basement, but due to other priorities and limited funds, it has consistently gotten pushed to the bottom of our "to-do" list. This summer we finally completed a project that we have been wanting to do forever - replace all of the builder grade carpet in our house with something nicer (and not white - what were we thinking!?!).

Two weeks after our carpet was installed and I was attempting to put the house back together, I received a note from a PR representative for Rite Rug. (For those of you in Central OH, you have more than likely heard of Rite Rug and the "call Mr. Edwards" jingle. :-)) Rite Rug was offering me a mud room/laudry room flooring makeover to celebrate their 75th Anniversary.

I was initially excited about this opportunity until I realized that we have literally replaced every square foot of flooring in our house in the past 6 years. And then I thought about the basement. Thankfully the PR representative from Rite Rug was more than willing to work with me, and several weeks later, we are on the way to having a finished basement with beautiful flooring!

I will be sharing more about our progress on this project (so far 100% DIY to save money) and about our experiences with Rite Rug. I may also have a giveaway up my sleeve. Stay tuned!

Review/Giveaway: Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion - CLOSED

Recently I had the opportunity to try out all three varieties of Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion. According to Vaseline:

New Vaseline Sheer Infusion with Stratys-3 body lotion is a breakthrough in moisturizing technology that delivers superior moisture across all layers of skin.

I have dry skin, and the ultimate test for me when deciding if a lotion works is if it keeps my elbows and legs from being scaly. I can’t tell you how many times I have rubbed lotion in, only to find flaky, scaly legs and rough elbows by the end of the day. I was excited to find that Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion passed the test - one of the first lotions to do so for me in a long time!

This product is available in a 6.8 oz bottle and a 13.5 oz pump, and I tested the 6.8 oz bottles. In addition to moisturizing extremely well, I really liked the design of the bottle – it is small and curved to fit in my hand well. Another plus is that the lotion is squeezed out of the bottom of the bottle versus a pump. I tend to shy away from pump lotion because I am frustrated with the fact that I have to cut the bottle open to get the last of the lotion out of the bottle (because the pump won't get it).

I also found Vaseline Sheer Infusion lotion to be non-greasy and it absorbed quickly and it leaves my skin feeling nice and soft. It comes in 3 scents (Mineral Renewal, Botanical Blend, and Vitamin Burst), with my favorite being the Mineral Renewal. I liked the nice light scent.

This product retails for approximately $6.25 (6.8 oz bottle) and $8.99 (13.5 oz pump) - which is a little steep in my opinion - even though this product does work really well. On the plus side, it is new, and we will likely see coupons which will help bring the price down. To learn more about Vaseline Sheer Infusion lotion and to print a $1.50/1 coupon, read more here.

I am excited to share that I have one set of Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion to give away to one of you!

What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive 3 Bottles of Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion

How can you win?

You get up to 4 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite body lotion is. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Become a fan of the Stretching a Buck Fan Page on Facebook. If you are already a fan, you can leave a comment letting me know that you are already a fan (thank you!).

3) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

4) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it (follow me: I'm @stretchingabuck), post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Thursday, October 15th at 10 PM, EST.

The winner will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Monday, October 19th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winner within 4 days that another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: I was provided with 3 bottles of Vaseline Sheer Infusion body lotion for the purpose of this review. Vaseline is also providing the items for this giveaway. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

Review/Giveaway: Dove Nutrium Body Wash Set - CLOSED

Have you seen the new Dove Nutrium Body Wash in stores yet? It has been in stores since July, and I recently had the opportunity to try it out.

My favorite was the Sensitive Skin Body Wash. I had pretty much resigned to the fact that I was going to have to use a Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar for the rest of my life (because my skin is that sensitive), but Dove Nutrium Sensitive Skin Body Wash has been great! No breakouts or skin irritations for me, and I love being able to use a body wash again.

According to Dove, Dove Nutrium Body Wash:

• Repairs and maintains skin’s protective layer during cleansing

• Penetrates surface skin deep down to replenish and nourish

• Is clinically proven to significantly reduce dryness and improve moisturization

• Available in Deep Moisture, Sensitive Skin and Gentle Exfoliating

In addition to sensitive skin, I also have dry skin - mostly in the winter. So far I haven't noticed any drying from this product at all - something that other body washes tend to do to my skin. I won't be able to tell until it gets colder whether it is actually reducing dryness, but look forward to finding out!

Allure Magazine recently awarded Dove Nutrium Body Wash with one of their 2009 Best of Beauty Breakthrough Awards. You can read their thoughts here.

Dove has graciously offered to send one of my readers a set of 3 Dove Nutrium Body Washes to try for themselves!

What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive 3 Bottles of Dove Nutrium Body Wash

How can you win?

You get up to 4 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite soap/body wash is? (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Become a fan of the Stretching a Buck Fan Page on Facebook. If you are already a fan, you can leave a comment letting me know that you are already a fan (thank you!).

3) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

4) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it (follow me: I'm @stretchingabuck), post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Wednesday, October 7th at 10 PM, EST.

The winner will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Monday, October 12th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winner within 4 days that another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: I was provided with 3 bottles of Dove Nutrium Body Wash. Dove also provided the items for this giveaway. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

Review/Giveaway; 6 Month Supply of Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream! - CLOSED

When the folks at Kroger asked me if I would like to review Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream it was a no-brainer. While I don't eat a ton of ice cream myself, I knew that my husband and daughter would be in heaven. Plus I have never tried Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream (sad but true) and was excited to give it a try.

A couple of weeks ago I stopped by the freezer section and loaded my cart full of ice cream. I won't lie - I felt like a piggy, but it was fun to pick out several different flavors. I decided to try a couple of full fat flavors, a couple of light flavors and the rainbow sherbet. So far my absolute favorite is the Orange Scream. I believe that my husband agrees. :-) While I haven't gotten through all of the ice cream yet, I also enjoyed the French Vanilla and Death by Chocolate.

This review wasn't all for my own benefit - Kroger would like to give one of you your very own 6 month supply of Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream as well! (In the form of a $30 Kroger gift card). And if you are a wise coupon shopper (I know you are!) you'll probably be able to stretch that further than 6 months!

You can learn more about Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream and about additional ways you can win some to try for yourself here.

What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive a 6 month supply of Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream (in the form of a $30 gift card - so that the ice cream doesn't melt!)

How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite flavor of ice cream is. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it (follow me: I'm @stretchingabuck), post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Sunday, September 27th at 10 PM, EST.

The winners will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Monday, September 28th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winners within 4 days that another winner(s) will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: Kroger provided the gift card for this giveaway. I also received a $30 Kroger gift card for review purposes. No other compensation was received. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Review: Ponds Wet Cleansing Towelettes

Recently I had the opportunity to review a package of Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes. I was asked to try both the Pond's product and a competitor - Olay Daily Facials Express Wet Cleansing Cloths. I had never used either of these products before, so I was interested to see how I liked them.

When comparing the Pond's Towelettes to the Olay Towelettes, I will say that I preferred both the scent and the feel of the Pond's product over the Olay product. In terms of how clean the products got my face, there was no noticeable difference to me.

Typically I use face wash and water to remove my make up each night rather than towelettes. I will say that I really like the convenience the towelettes on night when I was tired and didn't want to spend a lot of time on my bed time routine. They are great for travel as well - and to take to the hospital when having a baby, surgery etc...

Perhaps my favorite thing about the towelettes (both brands) is that they are great at removing eye make up - especially mascara. In fact, now that I am done reviewing these products, I use my face wash as normal, and then go back and clean off my mascara with the towelettes.

I was a little concerned about "residue" and about breakouts when using these products, but I did not find either of those concerns to be an issue.

If I had to choose between these two products, it would be close. I did like the Pond's product slightly better than the Olay product because of the texture and the scent (as mentioned before), but I think I would be happy using the Olay product as well. It would probably come down to price and whether both products are available at the stores where I shop.

If you are interested in trying the Pond's Towelettes, you can print $1.50/1 coupons here and here.

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: I was provided with one pack each of Pond's Towelettes and Olay Towelettes for review purposes. No other compensation was received. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Review/Giveaway: Chicco Talking Vacation Car - CLOSED

Recently the folks at Chicco contacted me about giving away a Chicco Talking Vacation Car. I had my 1 year old nephew in mind for this product, but have been surprised to find that my 3.5 year old daughter has spent a lot of time playing with this toy!

According to Chicco the Chicco Talking Vacation Car:

* Helps your child develop language skills in both English and Spanish

* Has 3 play modes to discover new words, complete stories, and solve riddles

* Develops children’s imagination, creativity, and coordination

I have found the car itself to be made well. It is sturdy and both the wheels and headlights work. The only complaint that I have with this product is with the mini suitcase/picture book (which accompanies the stories). It has fallen apart a couple of times now, however it does snap back together.

As I mentioned, my 3.5 year old loves this toy...especially the story feature. I probably wouldn't buy it for a child her age - only because I'm not sure how much longer she will like it, however, I think this toy would be perfect for kids 18 months-2.5 years, and that it would make a great gift for someone! An added benefit is that kids over 2.5 are probably going to like it too. :-)

The folks at Chicco have kindly agreed to give a Chicco Talking Vacation Car to one of my lucky readers!

What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive a Chicco Talking Vacation Car.


How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what your child's favorite toy is. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it (follow me: I'm @stretchingabuck), post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Monday, September 14th at 10 PM, EST.

The winners will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Friday, September 18th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winners within 4 days that another winner(s) will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: Chicco provided the item for this giveaway. I also received a Chicco Talking Vacation Car for review purposes. No other compensation was received. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Review: Longaberger Homestead

L to R: Tricia, Andrea, Jenny, Cortney, Amy, me

Recently I had the opportunity to spend part of my Saturday attending a bloggers event at the Longaberger Homestead in Frazeysburg, OH. I grew up with an appreciation for Longaberger baskets - my mom has a small collection and has contributed to one for me over the years as well. And while I have driven past the Longaberger Homestead many times, I have never stopped -although I have often wanted to.

After our arrival and introductions, we were off to the factory to weave our own baskets! I was most looking forward to this part of our tour because I have always wanted to see how Longaberger baskets are made. I was able to choose from 2 styles of baskets, and also got to choose my own colors and embellishments. The woman who helped me make my basket was awesome - she was extremely patient with me and did a great job of explaining the different steps of how to make my basket. I found the process to be therapeutic honestly - and I'm not the most crafty person!

Hard at work on my basket

After weaving our baskets, we were led on a tour of the Longaberger factory. I had no idea that every piece of material that goes into making a Longaberger basket is made in the USA. I also found it interesting that each basket is made from start to finish by one person. We learned about several of the things Longaberger is doing to improve efficiency and to be more environmentally friendly. It was pretty cool to see how things run behind the scenes, and I was very impressed at how long many of the employees have been with the company - and how they seem to value employee input when it comes to improving their processes.

Our factory tour was followed by an amazing lunch at the Homestead Restaurant. Let me just say that this was down home country cooking at its finest! I am sure that I consumed more than one stick of butter in my meal, but it was fabulous. I felt that the menu was reasonably priced and was extremely family friendly.

In my opinion a trip to the Longaberger Homestead would make for a great day out with the girls - be it family or friends (or both). If you are looking to save money, the Longaberger Homestead offers Terrific Tuesdays which features two for one options, discounts and more. There are new specials every month - read more about it here.

You can also get the husband involved and make a trip of it. Longaberger also offers vacation packages, a golf course and other scheduled events. Get the full scoop on their website here.

The finished product - now home to my daughter's hair bows

Review Disclosure: My visit to the Longaberger Homestead was complimentary, including my meal and my basket. No other compensation was received. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Review: Swiffer Wet Jet

A Swiffer Wet Jet has been on my list of things to buy for a long time now, but the fact that I already owned a competitor's version held me back. Even though I despised the competitor's version for its flimsiness and overall poor construction, I couldn't justify buying a new Swiffer Wet Jet. That's why when MyBlogSpark offered to send me a newly re-designed Swiffer Wet Jet that I jumped at the chance. And, (dare I say it?) I was even excited! Me...excited about something related to cleaning (I hate to clean almost as much as I hated my cheap mop).

The day arrived and so did my Swiffer Wet Jet, along with a challenge. I was asked to smear jelly on to my floor, let it dry and then see if the Swiffer was able to remove it. A few years ago (before kids) the thought of purposely smearing jelly on my floor would not have thrilled me, but at this point there is much worse that could happen to it! And so I took the challenge. I used my new Swiffer Wet Jet on my hardwood floors and my ceramic tile with overall great results. (And yes, it removed the jelly!)

What I like about the new Swiffer Wet Jet:

* Easy to assemble
* Sturdy - no buckling in the center of the pole when I am scrubbing the floors
* Great at lifting sticky messes off of the floor
* Safe to use on my hardwood floors
* No sticky residue left on my floors
* Easy to maneuver around toilets etc...
* Cleaning pads are easy to attach and remove
* No mop & bucket!

I am still trying to get the hang of using the scrubbing strip located on the front of the mop, but otherwise I have been very happy with the Swiffer Wet Jet. I will also share that while the packaging says that one cleaning pad will clean approximately 2 rooms, that my floors were dirty enough to require one pad per room. That is more than likely a poor reflection on my past cleaning habits though! The only thing that would make this mop even better is if it could do the dry sweeping prior to the wet cleaning. And the only thing better than that is a cleaning lady, right? ;-)

Swiffer Wet Jet Starter Kits typically retail around $21.99, with the cleaning solution being around $4.49 and the Refill Pads (12 pk) running around $6.59. I frequently see coupons for these products in the P&G inserts in the Sunday paper.

Yes, this option for cleaning your floors is more expensive than a bucket and a mop. But as someone who hates to clean, the cost would be worth it to me. You can learn more about Swiffer products, coupons and promotions on their website here.

Review Disclosure: I received a Swiffer Wet Jet & accessories for the purpose of this review courtesy of MyBlogSpark and Proctoer and Gamble. No other compensation was accepted. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Review: Yoplait Delights Video Review

Recently I was given the opportunity by My Blog Spark to review 2 flavors of 100 Calorie Yoplait Delights Parfaits - a new product set to hit shelves this month. My family tasted the Chocolate Raspberry & Lemon Torte parfaits - which at 100 calories are being touted as a snack you can feel good about.

Below is a video of my daughter trying the Chocolate Raspberry Yoplait Delights for the first time. I think that you'll get a good idea of what she thought of these by the video alone!

(I apologize in advance for my lack of video skills...this is my first ever "vlog" and I clearly need a little more practice!)

The Lemon Torte Parfaits also passed the test with my husband and I...they were gone in two days. :-)

In typical Stretching a Buck fashion, I have a coupon to share with you! Be sure to print this $1.25/1 Yoplait Delights coupon to have on hand when you spot these yummy treats appear on the shelves of your local grocery store this month. Now that I have tried these flavors, I can't wait to try the Creme Caramel parfaits. Triple Berry Creme doesn't sound too shabby either.

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: This review was sponsored by My Blog Spark. I was provided with 2 - 4pks of Yoplait Delights Parfaits & a Flip Mino HD Camera for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was accepted. You can view my full disclosure policy here.
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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Giveaway/Review: Protect-A-Bed Mattress Cover - CLOSED

I have been blessed with both sensitive skin and a dust mite allergy, therefore it is important that I use allergen barrier protectors on both my mattress and my pillow.

When the folks at Protect-A-Bed contacted me about reviewing one of their mattress pad covers, I jumped at the chance! I just so happened to be in need of a new cover - because for the umpteenth time the cover I had purchased at my local superstore was ripped to shreds, and had a broken zipper to boot.

When my Premium Protect a Bed Mattress Cover arrived, I was surprised to see that it is a fitted sheet style cover rather than the full zippered mattress covers that I have purchased in the past. I wasn't sure what to think about this, but will say that after washing the cover and placing it on my mattress I loved how much easier it was to put on my king size bed. (If you prefer full mattress covers, Protect-A-Bed does offer them).

So far I have no complaints about this cover. It appears to be very durable even after washing, and fits my mattress well. I also love that the cover makes no "crinkling" noises (like some waterproof covers do) and is basically undetectable under my fitted sheet.

After about 3 months of use the cover shows no signs of wear, which is more than I can say for almost every other cover I have tried in the past. I also love that the cover comes with a 10 year guarantee. I have found products like these to be somewhat of an investment (at least for my king size bed!), and I have no problem making the investment in a quality product that will not rip to shreds within a few months.

If you have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies like me, or if you can't stand the thought of bacteria and dust mites hanging out in your bed at night (ewwww!!!), then be sure to check Protect-A-Bed out! In my recent experience, they appear to make a high quality product.

In addition to mattress covers they also offer pillow covers, crib mattress covers, mattress pads, and more on their website here. If you prefer to shop in store, you can also find a list of dealers on their website.

The folks at Protect-A-Bed were kind enough to offer one Premium Mattress Cover (any size) to one of my readers!

What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive a Premium Mattress Cover (any size)

How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment. That's it! (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it, post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Saturday, August 15th at 9PM, EST.

The winners will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Tuesday, August 18th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winners within 4 days that another winner(s) will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: I was given 1 Premium Protect a Bed Mattress cover for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was accepted. Protect a Bed is also providing one Premium Mattress cover to 1 winner. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Review/Giveaway: Spring Los Angeles Designer Lunch Totes - CLOSED

We all know that packing a lunch - whether it be for work or a day at the zoo - can save BIG bucks (not to mention calories!).

Recently the folks at Spring Los Angeles contacted me about reviewing one of their designer lunch totes, and when I went to their site to check them out I was pretty excited because they are adorable!

I was given a Large Berry Bliss lunch tote to review, and have been impressed thus far. The bag appears to be very well made (and sturdy), I love the pattern, and it is super roomy. Unlike the totes that I used to carry during my working days, I can fit large frozen meal boxes and my reusable water bottle into the Spring Los Angeles tote! I also couldn't help but think that these totes would be great for transporting breast milk and/or bottles to and from just about anywhere. The outside pocket is also insulated and has a magnetic closure, which is great for additional storage.

Spring Los Angeles totes currently come in 5 designs and 2 sizes and range in price from $28-$30. The great news is, Spring Los Angeles has graciously offered a designer lunch tote to one of my readers!

Spring Los Angeles also is also offering an exclusive coupon offer for my readers! Enter code “STRETCHING20” during checkout and receive 20% off of your order! This coupon code is valid through 8/3/09. In addition, for a limited time receive FREE SHIPPING automatically at checkout for orders over $50.


What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive a Spring Los Angeles Designer Lunch Tote

How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know which Spring Los Angeles tote is your favorite. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it, post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Saturday, July 25th at 11 PM, EST.

The winners will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Tuesday, August 4th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winners within 4 days that another winner(s) will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: Spring Los Angeles provided me with 1 Large Designer Lunch Tote. No other compensation was accepted. They are also providing the item for this giveaway. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Review/Giveaway: YoBaby Yogurt - CLOSED

I have been purchasing YoBaby Yogurt for my daughter since she ventured into the world of eating solids, so I was excited when the folks at Stoneyfield Farm contacted me about hosting a giveaway on my site!

To celebrate the 10th birthday of the YoBaby line of organic yogurt, Stoneyfield Farms has reformulated YoBaby to include Vitamin D and Zinc - which is said to boost immunity and promote the development of strong bones and teeth.

YoBaby yogurt is all natural and certified organic and is made with milk from cows fed organic feed and not treated with antibiotics or artificial growth hormones. You can check out the full line of YoBaby products on their website here.

As for our favorites? My daughter went through a phase where I couldn't get her to eat anything for breakfast. YoBaby Drinkable Yogurt (banana) saved the day because she loved it - plus I felt better knowing she had something resembling a breakfast in her belly. :-) I also fed her YoBaby Plus Fruit and Cereal when she was younger because I loved the convenience. I also liked that some YoBaby yogurt is made with whole milk. Recently she has displayed a new found love of blueberries, so I decided to get her the YoBaby Original multi pack in Blueberry & Apple (3 of each). She loved the blueberry, and while I wasn't sure about the apple she ate all of it as well!

Stoneyfield offers a variety of printable coupons for their products here and here. You can also save $1 on YoBaby yogurt when you sign up here.

To help celebrate the 10th birthday of YoBaby yogurt products, the folks at Stoneyfield Farm have given me 1 YoBaby Prize pack to give away to one of my readers!

What am I giving away?

1 winner will receive a YoBaby bowl with lid, an organic YoBaby bib, and a bundle of 5 Free YoBaby coupons!

How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what YoBaby Yogurt product you would like to try (or buy for your kids). If you have already tried them, what is your favorite? (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it, post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Saturday, July 18th at 2 PM, EST.

The winners will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Monday, July 20th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winners within 4 days that another winner(s) will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Review/Giveaway Disclosure: YoBaby provided me with 2 coupons good for free multipacks of yogurt. They are also providing the items for this giveaway. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Review/Giveaway: Little Debbie 100 Calorie Snacks - CLOSED

Little Debbie recently added 2 new flavors of 100 Calorie Snack Cakes to their product line - Cookies & Creme and Lemon.

In January I had the opportunity to try out the entire 100 Calorie line when it was first launched, so when Little Debbie asked me to try out these 2 new flavors I jumped at the chance! It is never a bad day when the UPS truck brings a box full of Little Debbie snack cakes to my door. :-)

The package that I received included Little Debbie 100 Calorie snack cakes in these flavors: Cookies & Creme, Lemon, Yellow & Chocolate. I am already a fan of the Yellow and Chocolate Cakes and was excited to try out the Cookies & Creme cakes. I am not a fan of Lemon so I gave those to my husband to try. The box is gone, so I think it is safe to say that he liked them! As for the Cookies & Creme, my daughter and I tried them about 5 minutes after they arrived at our house and all that I can say is YUM! I can honestly say that the Cookies & Creme cakes have replaced the Chocolate cakes as my new favorite.

In my opinion, the Little Debbie 100 calorie snack line is perfectly portioned and all of the snacks that I have tried are delicious. To find a store near you that sells these products, read more here.

I am excited that I get to share in the fun of sampling the Little Debbie 100 Calorie snack cakes! Little Debbie has graciously given me 3 packages of snack cakes to give away to 3 of you!

What am I giving away?

3 packages containing six boxes of Little Debbie 100 Calorie Snacks!

How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what Little Debbie 100 Calorie Snack you would like to try. If you have already tried them, what is your favorite? (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it, post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Sunday, July 5th at 10 AM, EST.

The winners will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Thursday, July 9th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winners within 4 days that another winner(s) will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Giveaway Disclosure: Little Debbie supplied me with 6 full sized boxes of 100 Calorie Snack Cakes to try for review purposes. They are also providing the same for three of my readers. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own, based on my personal experiences. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Product Review/Giveaway: Savvy Sarah Designs - CLOSED

Recently I received a note from fellow Central Ohioan Sarah of Savvy Sarah Designs offering to make a customized shirt for my daughter. After checking out her website I was hooked. And of course I took her up on her offer to make a shirt for my daughter!

(The shirt I received is similar to the one you see here).

Sarah makes customized shirts that would make perfect (and unique!) baby and birthday gifts. I also love these types of shirts for the holidays and for photos (especially birthday milestone pictures!). She was also great to work with!

Sarah also uses her talent to make burp cloths, nursing covers, blankets, felt play food and more. You can view her designs and products here.

The shirt that I receive from Sarah is adorable and I can't wait to have my daughter's pictures taken in it next week. In fact, I ordered one for my nephew so that they could have matching shirts for the photos we are having taken, because they are just that cute!

To place an order with Sarah you can send her a note (savvysarahdesigns @ yahoo) or visit her Etsy shop. And because Sarah has a new referral program, I would love it if you mentioned that Marcy from Stretching a Buck sent you. :-)

I am also excited that Sarah has graciously offered to give away one of her custom shirts to one of my lucky readers!

What am I giving away?

1 - Customized Shirt from Savvy Sarah Designs

How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know what product you would order and why. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it, post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Sunday, June 28th at 11 AM EST

The winner will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Monday, June 29th. Please note that if I do not hear from the winner within 4 days that another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Giveaway Disclosure: Savvy Sara Designs provided me with one customized t-shirt to try for review purposes. They are also providing the same for one of my readers. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own, based on my personal experiences. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.

Product Review/Giveaway: Pretzel Crisps - CLOSED

Recently I was given the opportunity to sample several flavors of Pretzel Crisps - which are cracker thin, crispy pretzel snacks. I had never heard of Pretzel Crisps prior to receiving a box of them in the mail, and I was intrigued.

The flavors I received were: Original, Garlic, Honey Mustard & Onion, Buffalo Wing and Chipotle & Cheddar. (See all varieties available here). I personally tried the Original and Honey Mustard & Onion varieties. I found the Honey Mustard & Onion to be good, but they had a strong aftertaste. I preferred the Original flavored snacks...in fact I think I ate most of the bag myself, they were so good! Because I'm not a huge fan of spicy snacks, my husband and best friend tried out the Chipotle & Cheddar and Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps. They both had great things to say about these flavors. My husband also ate the Garlic Pretzel Crisps, and I heard no complaints from him! :-)

In looking at the Pretzel Crisps website, I found that these snacks are baked and contain no trans fats, no saturated fat, no cholesterol and have 110 calories per serving. The Pretzel Crisps website also suggests that their thin shape makes them ideal for dipping into salsa, dips and hummus which I didn't think to try. I have a feeling I would have loved them dipped in hummus!

Pretzel Crisps are sold in club stores, supermarkets and delis nationwide. You can view the Pretzel Crisps store locator here to find a store near you that sells them. I am unsure of their retail price, however you can join the club and receive product updates and coupons in your inbox!

The folks at Pretzel Crisps were kind enough to offer one of my readers their very own variety box of Pretzel Crisps to try!

What am I giving away?

1 - Variety Pack of Pretzel Crisps

How can you win?

You get up to 3 chances to win:

1) Leave a comment letting me know which flavor of Pretzel Crisps you would most like to try. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click "Post Comment". You must be on my site - you can't do this through a reader)

2) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

3) Promote this giveaway and/or blog. If you don't have a blog, you can Tweet about it, post about it on your favorite forum, or tell your friends about it! However you decided to promote it, be sure to come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did it.

**In order to tally your entries correctly, please include an email address or link to your (VALID) profile with your contact information. If a winner with no contact info is chosen, the next person on the list will be the winner. If you choose to leave an email address, I recommend that you use a generic email address as this info is viewable by anyone who views my comments. I strongly encourage you to create a Google profile with this info in order to better protect you.**

Who is Eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Saturday, June 20th at 11 PM EST

The winner will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be announced no later than Monday, June 22nd. Please note that if I do not hear from the winner within 4 days that another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Giveaway Disclosure: Pretzel Crisps provided me with one bag of each flavor to try for review purposes. They are also providing the same for one of my readers. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own, based on my personal experiences. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

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Are you new to this blog? Be sure to check out my latest list of sale/coupon match ups at Kroger, Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer here.