Homemade Face Cream

Ingredients for making Face Cream

• 1 cup Grape Seed, Olive Oil or Jojoba Oil
• ¼ cup Virgin Coconut Oil
• 1 tsp. Lanolin
• ½ oz. grated Beeswax
• 2/3 cup Distilled Water
• ½ cup. Aloe Vera Gel or Juice
• Vitamin E at least 10,000 IU
• Vitamin A at least 150,000 IU
• 2 drops Essential Oil of your choice
• Clean Cream or Lotion Jars 

Procedure

• Before you begin making your face cream, ensure that all the ingredients are at room temperature.
• The first step is to mix the grape seed oil, coconut oil, lanolin and beeswax and put them in the top pan of the double boiler. Apply low heat to the boiler and heat the mixture until the mixture has melted.
• Once melted, take it out from the pan and pour it in a glass measuring cup. Allow it to cool until it reaches room temperature.
• Now, put the distilled water, aloe vera, Vitamin E, Vitamin A and essential oil in a mixer. Make sure that you blend them at the highest speed. While you blend them, drip the above made oil mixture into the mixer.
• The lotion would start getting thicker and the mixer would get slow in speed. Turn off the mixer when you reach this stage. The face cream is ready!
  Pour the cream in fresh cream or lotion jar and store them in a cool place. If you do not intend to use the cream for a few weeks, you can as well put the jar in the refrigerator. 

Coupon Organizer Pattern

I found this super cute (and fast to make) coupon organizer over at A Happy Little Family.  So now you can rock your organizer in style!

Net10 Customer Service FIASCO

Well we decided that spenidng almost $200 on cell phones was ridiculous and decided to search out some changes.  For me we got Simple Mobile $40 for unlimited everything!  I bought a used iphone,  Simple Mobile micro sim card, mini sim card tray off ebay and I was up and running.  Not so much for my BT.

We decided to go with Net10 and have his number ported since he doesn't call much but needed good coverage for when he's out in BFE working.  I bought a cheap slide phone off ebay and tried to have it activated ya...that was fun.  They told me they'd have to send a new sim and in the meantime I bought the $20 for 200 roll over minutes card.   The sim card arrived but too much was going on so I waited a bit to have it activated.  Finally after like 2 weeks I decided I finally had a chance to mess with the cell phone problem and  that's when the fun began.  After 5 hours and being disconnected 6 times I found (with my kiddlets going bonkers in the background)  that my sim card that had just been sent had been activated incorrectly.  Now the part I haven't mentioned is that the customer service is off-shore...so good luck understanding what's going on.  After speaking with "supervisor" after "supervisor" who did nothing but repeat the same thing over and over I asked for the US  #.  I got disconnected.  I called back and asked again...I got disconnected again.  Obviously they didn't know who they were messing with...I did what any strong, independent, ex-rock star chick would do...I went to the internet and found THE REAL NUMBER to customer service.

It took about 5 minutes after I called the US # to get what I needed which was another sim card sent and my number ported.  So here is the info for Net10 if this jacked up situation happens to you (some of the info may be outdated..you're warned):

Customer Support (Executive Resolutions Dept): These numbers tend to be more helpful and have people with more knowledge and better command of the English language.

1-800-339-9345
1-800-626-4883  ******This is the number I called and got help from******
1-888-442-5096

Direct Sales:

1-800-323-2366

Corporate Office: This is not a toll-free number and will more than likely lead you to a voicemail box.

305-715-6673 (M-F 9am - 6pm EDT)
305-640-2000
305-715-6501

Corporate Address: These are the corporate addresses of the company. I suggest mailing the CEO and others. Sometimes having a name on the letter saves it from being passed off and replied to with a form letter statement.

Tracfone Wireless, Inc.
8390 Nw 25th St
Miami, FL 33122-1504

Fj Pollak
President and Chief Execuitve Officer of Miami based TracFone, United States
Tracfone Wireless Inc
8390 Nw 25th St
Miami, FL 33122-1504

Stephan J. Ritter
Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Tracfone Wireless Inc
8390 Nw 25th St
Miami, FL 33122-1504

Kevin Gulbranson
Senior Vice President of Product Management
Tracfone Wireless Inc
8390 Nw 25th St
Miami, FL 33122-1504

Paul Kozma
SVP Operations
Tracfone Wireless Inc
8390 Nw 25th St
Miami, FL 33122-1504

Head of Refund Department: This is a name and extension of someone known to work at the Executive Resolutions Department.

Monica
1-800-339-9345 ext 3214
or ext 6673

Warehouse: This is where Tracfone usually tells people to send their phones.

Tracfone Wireless Inc
Attention Warehouse
8390 Northwest 25th St
Miami FL 33122

Email Addresses:

Stephan J. Ritter
Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
sritter@tracfone.com

Melissa Sanchez
MeSanchez@tracfone.com

Sales Cycles - How To Stock UP!

Here's a list of the sales cycles for the year so you can stock up when things go on sale and use those coupons to score BIG!

January:

National Oatmeal Month: Quaker
Diet Foods including: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs
Super Bowl Sunday:  Pepsi, Coke, chips, dips, cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks, wings
Seasonal Produce: oranges, pears, grapefruits, tangerines, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, kale, kiwis, avocados, cabbage, spinach
Clearance:  Christmas decorations, toys, wrapping papers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Winter Health:  cold medicines and vitamins

February:

National Canned Food Month:  canned fruits and vegetables; meats:  tuna, chicken, salmon; pie fillings
National Hot Breakfast Month:  Malt O Meal, oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, syrup
Valentines:  chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc
Chinese New Year: soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, noodles
Seasonal Produce:  artichokes, asparagus, raspberries, potatoes, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, kale, kiwis, avocados, spinach

March:

Frozen Food Month: frozen meals, TGI Fridays, Contessa, Foster Farms chicken, Eggo, Sara Lee, Healthy Choice, DiGiorno, Freschetta, Breyers, Dreyers, Marie Callendars
Seasonal Produce: artichokes, asparagus, avocados, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, fennel, kale, leeks, lemons, limes, mushrooms, onions, oranges, peas, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, tangerines

April:

Easter:  ham; eggs; some baking supplies:  sugar, spices, baking mixes, chocolate chips
Earth Day: organic foods, Energy Saver
Seasonal Produce: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, grapefruits, avocados, mushrooms, onions, peas, rhubarb
Clearance:  after Easter sales are the time to stock up on decorating, baskets, etc for the next year.

May:

Memorial Day: BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Paper Products:  plates, utensils
Cinco de Mayo:  salsa, tortillas
Seasonal Produce: artichokes; asparagus; avocados; green beans; beets; blackberries; carrots; sweet Vidalia onions; peas: edible-podded peas,  English Shelling peas; new potatoes; raspberries; strawberries
Outdoor: insect repellant, sunscreen

June:

National Dairy Month:  eggs, milk (free milk Catalina, wyb cereal), ice cream, cheese, butter, yogurt, Cool Whip, in-store dairy coupons or booklets
End of June is Fourth of July Sales: hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Seasonal Produce: apricots, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, honeydews, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, raspberries, red onions, summer squash, strawberries, sweet Vidalia onions, tomatoes, watermelons

July:

National Ice Cream Month
More 4th of July BBQ Sales:  hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
End of July, Back to School Sales begin:  crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Seasonal Produce: Asian pears, Bartlett pears, green beans, blueberries, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, figs, garlic, grapes, nectarines, red onions, Valencia oranges, peaches, sweet bell peppers, plums, potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon

August:

Back to School: pudding cups, lunch meat,
Staples and Office Depot penny items
Disinfectant:  Clorox, Purell
Clearance:  insect repellant, sunscreen, charcoal
Seasonal Produce: Gravenstein apples, avocados, beans, green beans, berries, corn, cucumber, eggplants, figs, grapes, melons, onions, peaches, Bartlett pears, bell peppers, plums, raspberries, summer squash, tomatillos, tomatoes

September:

Back to School Sales through Labor Day:  crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Diabetes:  Bayer glucose meters, Glucerna cereal
Seasonal Produce: apples, artichokes, beans, bell peppers, chili peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, grapes, onions, Valencia orange, pears (Asian, Bartlett), pomegranates, squash, tomatillos, tomatoes, winter squash

October:

Halloween:  candy
Beginning of the baking sales:  canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, baking chips
National Seafood Month
Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: Pedigree, Purina
Seasonal Produce: almonds, apples, artichokes, arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, chard, chestnuts, cranberries, lemons, parsnip, pears, pomegranates, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, winter squash, turnips, yams

November:

Baking Sales in full swing: nuts, chocolate chips, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake mixes
Canned foods: soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Thanksgiving: turkey, canned pumpkin, Stove Top stuffing, Betty Crocker boxed potatoes, gravy mixes, Rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, Jello, marshmallows
Seasonal Produce: Anjou pears, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, Comice pears, cranberries, kiwis, lemons, oranges, potatoes, squash, yams
Clearance:  After Halloween Sales are the time to stock up on things for the next year.  I like to buy the Halloween candy-alternatives like Halloween crayons, erasers, watches, spinning tops, etc.  I mix this in with my next year’s candy bowl, and it stretches my loot for all the neighbor kids!

December:

Holiday Dinner:  egg nog, deli platters, instant potatoes, gravy mixes, Rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, Jello, marshmallows
Baking: flour, sugar, butter, cream, cake mixes, brownie mixes, muffin mixes, breads, pie crusts, marshmallows, whipped cream
Canned foods: soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Clearance:  Buy all your Thanksgiving decorations, extra table settings, and turkey carving products now once they’re at least 50% off.

Couponing Myths Exposed!

Here's an awesome list of why couponing really works IF you do it the right way...

This is from Embracing Beauty:

10 Coupon Myths Debunked

Myth #1: Coupons are only for junk food.
While there are a lot of coupons for processed and junk foods, now a days there are just as many coupons for healthy and organic foods too.  I have seen coupons for fruit, eggs, milk, yogurt, bagged salads, frozen veggies, etc.

Myth #2: You can’t save money if a store doesn’t double/triple coupons.
Drug stores such as CVS, Rite Aid & Walgreen’s are great places to save money even though they don’t double or triple coupons.  Most drug stores have excellent store deals, sales, and rebate programs that most grocery stores don’t have. Don’t skip over a store  just because they don’t double coupons. There are many higher dollar coupons which you can combine with a sale for deep discounts and possibly free items.

Myth #3: Shopping at discount stores and dollar stores will save you more money than using coupons.
Dollar Stores are often as expensive as other stores and have many extra disadvantages.  They don’t have the store deals and rebates like other stores do.  Also the food they have was likely to have been sitting on the shelf for a lot longer than at a grocery store.

Myth #4: Only poor people use coupons.
Maybe it’s just me but I am never ashamed to use coupons.  Saving money is more important to me than giving the appearance of wealth.  According to statistics, people with lower income (under $25,000 a year) are less likely to use coupons.  Those in the middle class with a college background are the most likely to use coupons.  Interesting.

Myth #5: You should only use coupons for products you normally buy.
By using coupons, I’ve gotten things for free or incredibly cheap that I would never have bought otherwise.  Our family has new grocery favorites because of high value coupons. I’ve also learned to be more creative in meal planning to incorporate what’s on sale that week.

Myth #6: Store brand products are always cheaper than name brand products.
Yes, it’s true that store brands are typically a little cheaper than name brands.  However, generic is rarely cheaper than name brand when you combine a coupon with a sale.

Myth #7: People who use coupons spend more than people who don’t use coupons.
If you are going to the store and buying everything you have a coupon for especially if the item is not on sale, you will spend more.  However, if you use coupons the right way by combining coupons and store sales you will get rock bottom deals and will undoubtedly cut your grocery bill.

Myth #8: It’s not worth it to shop at multiple stores.
The 3 main stores I shop at are right near each other and 5 minutes from my house, so it really doesn’t take me much time to go from store to store. Even if your stores are not as close as mine, it can be worth it to shop at multiple stores. For instance, if you are able to get $100 worth of product you need for $15 and you only spent $4 extra in gas and an additional 20 minutes, then I would say that would certainly be worth it!  You have to do what is right for you and your family but I wouldn’t rule out going to multiple stores right away without giving it a try.

Myth #9: You shouldn’t clip coupons for products you won’t use.
I clip coupons for every item I might buy.  Some coupons I throw away after they expire because I never found an item on sale.  Don’t dismiss a deal just because you haven’t used a product in the past–keep the coupon and look for a sale. I also recommend swapping unused coupons with a family member or friend. If you don’t have any use for baby coupons save them and give them to a new mom. I also keep coupons for items I know I won’t use and if a sale comes up and I can get the item for super cheap or free I will do so and later donate the item to a local woman’s shelter.

Myth #10: You will save more money by shopping at big box stores.
Big box stores such as Costco or Sams will save you money because you buy items in bulk but you can have much bigger savings if you buy a smaller quantity and use coupons.

Sonlight Too Expensive??...Really?

I've heard so many times "you use Sonlight...it's so expensive!"  Compared to what?  When you add up all the time I've spent online looking  for books at the library, paying library fines, returning books, picking up books and  scrolling through blogs and boards trying to find "the best"  you start to realize that you've spent more time looking for stuff than acutally DOING homeschool stuff.    So how can someone on a tight budget afford Sonlight?

Well let's start with budgeting.  Do you have a monthly budget for homeschool supplies?  Or do you use tax money?  If you do, start buying gift certificates from Sonlight.  Ask for gift certificates for presents.  Even $10 gift certificates will add up.

Take advantage of their payment plans.  They offer 3 month financing all year.   During April they offer 9 month financing and during May they offer 6 month financing. Cool!


If you have to buy used consider buying the IG from Sonlight so you are still supporting them for the hard work they put into this curriculum.  Then get the books from the library.  You'll have to be pretty organized but it's doable.

Happy Homeshooling!

IHomeschool Apps

Here's a list of apps done by someone on WTM (wish I could remember who but I can't... if you know let me know)

Iphone/touch Apps