I have lived in the south my entire life, visited most every state down here, but I’ve never made it to Mississippi. Next week that all changes, I have two workshops scheduled in Jackson and Tupelo!
Normally I never really mention upcoming classes blog posts, but these guys are different. I just mapped it and turns out Mississippi is 10 hours from my house. This gets me thinking… the odds of me putting my kids in the car and doing this trip again in the future are looking pretty slim. Not saying I won’t, just saying if you want to come to a workshop and live in one of these cities, it’s time to seize the moment!
Want Another Reason to Join Us??
For either class (Jackson or Tupelo) if you bring a packed Operation Christmas Child box you’ll get in FREE. If you don’t bring a box that’s okay it’s still the normal $10, but all proceeds from both classes will go towards Operation Christmas Child to help ship boxes over seas! (You still need to register either way)
I hope you can make it out!
Got any fun ideas of things to do with kids in Mississippi?
I am very excited to bring a new feature to Southern Savers starting today. We now have our own Community!!
There are only so many hours in my day, so this is a new way to help you get involved. You can post deals that you find in the store or online, ask questions, help others find answers, or just vent for a moment. I have also enlisted some great community leaders that are going to help us with fun frugal tips, craft projects, quick frugal recipes and more!
It’s very easy to get started, just login and click to join our community. From there you can comment and post.
To make it more fun we are going to have a lot of giveaways over the next week that are only in the community. I will pick random active community members across all forum posts to win Amazon gift cards, grocery store gift cards, iPods, and more!
At the end of our first week I’ll also pick one person to win a $300 Apple Gift Card!
The only way to win anything is to just to take the plunge and get plugged in. (I promise it won’t hurt, you might even make a new friend or two!)
There is so much that can go in a box, and nothing needs to be expensive or flashy. The kids that receive this will love everything that you give them no matter what it is.
For our box most items came from Dollar General thanks to a gift card they sent me a while ago (though I doubt they intended it for this) and using their $5 off $25 printable coupons.
If you can’t decide about making a box, I urge you to watch this, it’s a glimpse of pure joy!
Reminder:
As you pack your box to take pictures of a box and submit it for the “Best Box” contest. One reader will win $300, for so many of you that would be a huge help over the holiday’s or for others think about how much more you can donate and help others with $300!
Today Only:
For a perfect Monday movie night, pick up a free movie rental at your nearest Blockbuster Kiosk today, October 18th. Just use the code MNDY1.
From October 15th to October 25th, Picaboo is offering new customers a FREE Large Classic photobook. These 20 page, fully customizable photobooks usually go for around $40. Use the code: FALLBK to get the deal.
You will still owe shipping of around $8.
Make it an awesome deal by:
Grabbing a Groupon today to get $100 from Picaboo for $35 (which you can use toward shipping).
1. Order your Free Book, use $8 of your groupon. Save the rest…
2. Order up to 4 other classic photobooks (in a separate order).
3. Use code pntg50 to get 50% off you entire purchase.
Owe nothing!
Total you will have 5 hard cover photo books for $35!!
Other Free Photo Deals:
40 Photo Cards
Free Photo Flip Book & Prints
Last week I shared a new partnership for the upcoming weeks with Operation Christmas Child. It has already been fun this week trying to make sure that I’m always thinking about donating, and I hope that you have also had an increased awareness of how easy it is to donate and help others.
The folks at Operation Christmas Child wanted to help motivate and excite you while you think about and pack your boxes and they have come up with an awesome contest.
Now through Nov 15, as you pack your shoe boxes, snap a few pictures and save a few receipts for a chance to win a $300 Visa gift card!
To win this is a little more detailed then leaving a comment. All shoe box entries will be judged and The Most Awesome Shoe Box will be picked based on frugality but also on uniqueness and personality.
The Details
Start by filling up a shoe box! (Go here for more details and tune in next week for a detailed post and video of my family packing boxes.)
The winning box must:
- Be a standard size shoe box or a plastic container (10”-13” long by 6”-7” wide)
- Have (4) items under 50¢ in your box (save your receipt to provide proof of purchase)
- Have (1) FREE Item
- Include a photo and a letter
- Contain Gender Specific items from the following categories:
- Toys
- Hygiene Items
- School Supplies
- Candy
To really make your box stand out:
- Personalize your shoe box, and share what makes it personal in your entry email.
(ex: one volunteer in Denver packs a Strawberry Shortcake box every year because it’s what she always loved growing up) - Include a Unique Item that many wouldn’t think of but a child a world away would love (like an expandable towel)
Once your box is all ready:
Enter your box into the contest by, emailing the following to OCCcontests@samaritan.org:
Tell us about your FREE item.
Tell us what makes your shoe box gift personal.
Provide your name, address, e-mail address, and phone number in the e-mail
Attach:
One photo of your packed box (see example)
One photo of all of the items that went into your box (see example)
A photo or scanned copy of your receipts for the items under $0.50
In the subject line of the e-mail put, Southern Savers Contest
The Winner will be decided based on the following criteria:
- Meeting the criteria for entry
- Most unique item.
- Best value items.
- Creativity in personalization
Print official rules here. The Winner will be notified by e-mail on or before Nov. 18, 2010. Non-winning entries will not be notified. All Most Awesome Shoe Box Gift donations will be distributed to children through our OCC program and cannot be returned. Donations are tax deductible, however, Samaritan’s Purse does not give individual receipts for shoe box donations. For other questions, please contact contests@samaritan.org.
A Quick Reminder: It’s Easy to Give!
Currently there are so many places desperate for funding and donations of goods, and as we prepare for the holidays that number will only increase. I want to urge you to think about how easy and inexpensive it is to donate.
How many products do you get for pennies or even free on Southern Savers? Every week there are extreme sales, coupon matchups, and money makers on many grocery lists. I try to highlight the best deals in a number of ways, with the $1 or less list and now the Great Deals for Donations list. I want to challenge you to think about adding donations into your shopping routine without having to add them into your budget.
To make this easy I want you to do two things:
1. Set a price threshold in your mind that if anything is less than “x” amount I will always try to get one extra. This helps you to always flag those items and make it a habit to always buy that one extra. For example: if pasta is 9¢ after coupons and sales, then grab what you need for 6 weeks and one extra box. Honestly, for most of us that’s maybe 3-4 boxes total.
2. Grab an empty box and keep it in your pantry or somewhere near the kitchen. When you get home from shopping put the extra items automatically in the box. When the box is full take it some where and donate it.
Organizations like Food Banks, Battered Women’s shelters (many of which need things for children as well), Homeless Shelters, etc. need anything you can bring them from canned and dry goods to toothpaste and detergent. The blessing is that everything they need, we experienced shoppers can get at a major bargain.
If you are curious about the needs of organizations around you, it only takes a second to call them and ask! They will be more than happy to give you a list.
One other place to donate is to start to work on your Operation Christmas Child boxes. I have something fun to share that hopefully will help motivate you to pack some amazing boxes! Stay tuned for details later tonight.
A few weeks ago I had dinner with the newly published Christy Jordan from SouthernPlate.com. We have been blogging friends for a long time but it was awesome to finally meet her in person. The day of our get together she had just received the very first copy of her new book, I felt like an insider getting to turn the pages and see her giddy response to every picture.
I’m not one for book reviews, that means I had to find time to read the book, and cookbooks… that’s a whole different problem… now I have to find time to cook! Christy’s book though is different from any cookbook I’ve ever had.
- This is a book and a cookbook in one. Every recipe has a story with it, about who she learned it from or a special memory. You slowly feel like she is there with you sharing this recipe in person and that’s awesome!
- There are tons of amazing color pictures! I love cookbooks with pictures. It just makes it all seem more simple if you know what it’s supposed to look like in the end. (One fun fact I learned from my dinner with Christy, every picture in the book of food is photographed in her own bowls and dishes.)
- My favorite part — every recipe calls for things I own!! They are down home, simple yet elegant, meals. I love cooking but hate having to run out and buy random spices and items that I will never use again. Even more fun on some recipes that call for things you might not have, she has small tips to help with substitutions for things you do have!
If you are thinking about Christmas presents or just wanting a copy I encourage you to get one this week. I know that’s a little strange but here’s why: first the price isn’t really going to change it’s a new release… plus Christy is incredibly close to making the New York Times Best Sellers list, to do it all that counts are sales through next Tuesday. It’s all based on your first week of sales.
You can get it on Amazon for $14.49 (reg. $27.50)
(Don’t tell my family members but a few of them are getting it for Christmas).
Win a Copy
I love Christy and her book so much that I’m giving (5) readers a free copy!
To Enter:
Leave a comment with one person who taught you the most about cooking.
I’ll pick the winners Monday morning.
(I was provided a free book but there was no expectation for a review. These comments are my 100% my own opinion and the giveaway is sponsored by me.)
I’m so excited to share with you something new that we are going to do for the next 6 weeks. I’m teaming up with Operation Christmas Child to help spread the message of the joy provided by Christmas Child boxes and to help you find awesome deals to pack some amazing boxes.
Over the next few weeks we’ll have posts on how to pack boxes, hear from kids who have received boxes, take a tour of one the packing facilities, and visit some drop off sites. My goal is that you won’t be able to prepare for Christmas without thinking about these kids who would love to have a small piece of that Christmas joy.
Two New Southern Savers Features::
- For the next 6 weeks grocery and store lists will have a new icon next to deals that would be awesome to put in a shoebox.
- A new special deal round up list — “Great Deals That Make For Great Donations”.
Whether you use these for Operation Christmas Child boxes or to donate to local groups, I think you’ll find it will make the Christmas Season all the more fun.
What is Operation Christmas Child::
This is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse to help children all over the world experience the joy of receiving a gift and to share the love of Christ with them. They have shipped over 77 million boxes in the past and this year they are hoping for record 2010 numbers!
I encourage you to watch this video (though it makes me cry so bring tissues). Can’t see it? go here.
If you want a glimpse at the joy of these boxes, watch this.
Stay tuned this is going to get even more fun for you guys starting next week!!
