Personalized Gifts from BecauseITriedIt

Personalized Gifts for Anyone, Anytime from Because I Tried It

A great tool for those framed prints of what was going on "This Day in History".  I've always loved those Birthday Chronicles you see framed in nurseries.  I filled out my girls' baby books with what was popular, what was in the news, the price of a stamp, the price of a gallon of milk, etc.  But to have it in a newspaper format to print on the paper of your choosing?!  That's just great!

I filled out the order form for my Husband's birthday and it let me choose the headline!  Hahahaha!  Of course I made note of my hairy hubby with "A Bear Child Was Born!" Shhhhh! He hasn't seen it yet ;) They emailed me the file within 24 hours, but it took me a week to print it because I kept forgetting to buy a new ink cartridge for my printer.

There is a personal message from the President at that time with mention of the birth flower within the message.  Music hits from that year, world headlines, celebrities that share that birthday, Academy Awards, prices for certain items, sports, and Chinese Zodiac all combine to make a complete Birthday Chronicle.

Things I would change about this product:  Send as JPEG instead of PDF for more functionality in the way it is printed.  Mine printed small and didn't fit to page.  As an image, this option would have automatically popped up on my printer.  A splash or two of color would make it even more special.  More like a newspaper, with the washed out images.

Overall, these are perfect for a very low- cost, personalized gift for a loved one.  Just print on special paper and frame!

BecauseITriedIt offers FREE items often.  To learn more about these offers and to find out when they are available, follow them at:

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Angela's Crafts Mini Tote and Soap...

ANGELA'S CRAFTS MINI TOTE & SOAP GIVEAWAY

www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/angelascrafts

Thegiveawaytree, Housewife Survival Guide and a group of bloggers are bringing you a mini tote and soap giveaway sponsored by Angela's Crafts. Angela specializes in handmade soap; she says she uses essential oils, aromatherapy scents and nutrients to lock in moisture and leave your skin feeling silky smooth! She offers bar soaps, bath bombs, milk baths and bath salts.To learn more information about Angela's Crafts, visit her blog: www.angelascrafts.com  One lucky reader will win a mini tote filled with a face cloth, (1) 3.5 (approx. weight) bar of handmade all natural vegan soap-Egyptian Musk or your choice (Value $6.00), (1) Single use packet of Sweet Pea Bath Salt (Value $1.00), (1) Single use packet of Lilac Bath Milk (Value $2.00), (1) Hand Knit 100% Prima Cotton Facecloth (Value $3.00), (1) Re-usable Canvas Mini Tote Bag (Value $3.00). This giveaway has a retail value of $15.00


*Disclaimer*By entering to win this prize, you understand that Angela's Carfts is solely responsible for providing and shipping the prize being offered (mini tote bag and soaps) and thegiveawaytree and participating bloggers are not in any way responsible for providing a substitute nor cash prize of any kind should the sponsor fail to fulfill their prize obligation. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery of prize. This promotion is in no way associated, sponsored or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter or any other social media network. It is each entrant's responsibility to read all terms, conditions and official rules associated with this promotion.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to find lost money...

Yesterday was a bit of a depressing day for me, so I was a little out of sorts and busy feeling sorry for myself.  Welllll....don't handle important items or cash when in this frame of mind!  I paid the babysitter and he had to break a 20 and bring me back a 10. I was sitting at my desk and just sat the 10 right there between myself and the monitor. 

This morning, we wanted to go get some garden plants so I went to get the 10 and it was gone. We interrogated the kids, which led nowhere, searched the entire house, went through pockets, cleaned out my purse (yikes), and still no sign of the mysteriously disappeared 10. 
Guess who started feeling sorry for herself again? That's right...this pouty girl! So I turn to my husband and tell him "I don't feel right buying up a bunch of plants for the garden today when I just threw away $10!" Of course I was kinda pouting.  Until I had an Ah Ha moment:

Instead of finding that $10, let's find a different $10! (If only I had a picture of the facial expressions of my hubs and kids lol.) I explained that I had a $1 bill unaccounted for in my wallet and a handful of change. We had a lotto scratchy worth $2, and hubs said he had $1 in his wallet. The kids robbed change from my piggy bank and off the counter. Then I grabbed the change from the top of the dryer. In the end, we had $10.30.

Moral of the story....
After stressing and pouting, we all joined forces while having a fun spare change scavenger hunt, and found the $10. Sure, it wasn't the same $10, but it eased the mood and now when/if we find the it, we will come out ahead :) Don't sweat the small stuff....enjoy your family and have fun!

P.S. We got a lot of tomatoes planted today :)

FREE BLOGGER EVENT :D

FREE BLOGGER EVENT: Get Fit! - Health Awareness

*Sign Ups Open*

"I am proud to announce the Get Fit! Health Awareness blogger event!

This giveaway will begin on July 1st and run until July 15th @ 12:01am. 

This is FREE/optional blogger event.

The only thing that is asked of you is to make a blog post sharing this event.

The first link is free and if you choose to have a 2nd link, the fee will be $2.

The Giveaway will be open to the US and will include products to encourage healthy living, exercising, and getting fit!

To sign up for this event, click here!"

*I am posting this from A Delicious Obsession

Xperience Days and To Sew With Love are at it again :D Lucky You!

I teamed up with To Sew With Love and Xperience Days, the leading provider of unique gift experiences,  to bring you this exciting giveaway!
Looking for a unique gift for that special someone? Well, you're in luck!  Xperience Days is giving away one (1) $50 Gift Certificate redeemable against any of the gift experiences in their site!
To enter, just fill up the Rafflecopter form below. Follow the instructions carefully. If your mandatory entries are void, all other entries will be void.
This giveaway will end on May 4, 11:59 PM EST. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How do you learn to decorate?

I'm on a mission to get some decor in my home. We bought our house 1 year ago and I haven't hung up anything! I am begging for help! I haven't the slightest idea how to make it look good. I have ideas but can't envision it or don't know how to go about it. Stay tuned for pictures of my walls...coming tomorrow.

To Sew With Love and SV Soaps

To Sew With Love is having a giveaway where one of you could win a $25 Gift Certificate to SV Soaps. V. Soaps offers luxurious handmade spa quality gourmet soaps that looks as heavenly as it smells. Your skin will thank you for pampering yourself with these fabulous handmade products.

This giveaway is open worldwide, 18+. For a chance to win, enter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Hump Day!

What are your plans for the weekend?  I'm going to have another very busy weekend, and need to find time to get the garden planted.  So.... I think we are going to have a garden party...literally.  Drinks, planting, and grilling.  Sounds so fun...I can't wait!!! The more the merrier, so if you are in the Central, IL area BYOB and shovel, and covered dish :D

I also want to take a moment to say thanks to my online community:

As Housewife Survival Guide is gaining more followers on this blog, the facebook page, and on twitter, I wanted to take a moment to thank all the people who are supporting me in this endeavor/hobby.  Also, the blogging mamas I am meeting and becoming friends with are such an invaluable resource to me as I learn to blog efficiently.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!  Also, let's see if Housewife Survival Guide can get over 100 follows/ likes by this weekend?  Think we can do it?

Follow @HWSurvivalGuide



Love you all...

Free Touchscreen Cleaning Wipes!

Free touchscreen cleaning wipes!  They are reusable, too....just keep them in the resealable pouch.  Great to have in your purse or car to wipe the makeup, grease, fingerprints, and yuckies off your phone/tablet's screen.

CLICK HERE and request your free sample.

Costumes for all shapes and sizes REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY!

Please read the review before entering Rafflecopter giveaway below :D  Thanks!


Wholesale Costume Club has such a HUGE selection of costumes! Seriously, if you can't find what you are looking for on their website, then it doesn't exist. What I found to be even more exciting.... Costumes for Plus Sizes!

 I have a couple really close friends that have expressed their issues with finding costumes that fit them and still look good. So frustrating to the point that they don't dress up to take their kids trick or treating anymore. Sure, some people think it's immature, but Hey! Some of us enjoy this time of year and love stepping outside of our typical roles and into something more fun/scary/silly/sexy.

I received this cheerleader costume for my best friend to try out.  My first impression upon receiving this was that of sheer amazement.  Maybe I didn't read the description closely, or I'm just used to the crap at the big retail stores, but this came with not just the dress, but the ribbons for pigtails, pom poms, and the knee socks!  

The only con is that the costume we tried was really thin material and felt like the cheap costumes from the big chain stores.  However, it was an all inclusive package so the thin material was easily overlooked.  Still looked great on Jess: 

Our household skips adult costumes some years because of the expense of buying the peripheral items to go with.  From my experience, the costumes at Wholesale Costume Club include these items for the same great price :D  That's just fantastic.  Go over to their site and take a look around at the Other Costumes.  Especially if you are a Plus Size beauty....

Python Printables Review and FREE COUPON!!!

Hosting a birthday party? Baby shower? Slumber party? Movie trivia night? or a Pirate Party???

Being host/hostess is hard work.  When I had my daughter's 2nd birthday pirate party, it was difficult to find games or activities at an affordable price and not full of junk that would go to waste.

I hadn't heard of Python Printable Games before doing this review so I am super pumped about sharing this with you all.

They carry a wide range of printable party games to choose from.  You select, pay, and then download the pdf files to your computer.  YOU GET TO KEEP THEM FOREVER!  So if you decide to purchase a party pack rather than individual games, you have more options and can use others at a later time if they don't fit the current party.

Want to know something even better?  Not only are the games for kids/teens....they have adult ones too!  Drinking games, Sexy Scavenger Hunts, and trivia games for different occasions/themes.

Here is a sample of the artwork:

The quality of all the printables is excellent!  I can blow up the posters, signs, and placemats without losing image quality!

Check out what a $19.95 Pirate Printables party pack included:

1. Balloon Pirate Craft for Kids
2. Facebook Pirate Language Game (for teens and up)
3. Pirate Mad Libs (all ages would have fun with this one)
4. Pirate Newlywed Questions
5. Pirate Placemat
6. Pirate Poster
7. Pirate Party Icebreaker (great for all ages...encourages a meet and greet among all the guests)
8. Printable Treasure Map Templates for Kids Crafts
9. H-ARRR-ible Pirate Jokes
10. Survival of the Fittest Party Game (kind of like guesstures or charades)
11. Pirate Nature Scavenger Hunt (can customize for your yard or park you are in)
12. Pin the Parrot on the Pirate Game (this file is great! Includes full color and black and white so you can have the kids color it for an extra activity.  I could see myself laminating this to keep forever)
13. Shoot the Boot Drinking Card Game (for adults obviously)
14. Pirate Trivi-ARRR

That's one impressive pack for only $19.95 and it's yours FOREVER!

Sorry, no pics of the kiddos enjoying the Pirate Printables, camera batteries dead and the children have robbed me of all AA batteries for their toys :(

What my kids loved the most:

The maps were a huge hit!  We used them in combination with the scavenger hunt so they could find the items on their cards easier.  The mad libs was a riot!  My 6 year old got to laughing so hard she nearly peed her pants!  And for some quiet time with mommy, we did the Balloon craft sans balloon.  We taped construction paper together for a bigger canvas and I let them assemble their pirates using their imaginations and the provided printables. Even though we didn't get a chance to use them all, I know we will soon.  Since I get to keep the pdf files forever, we can have Pirate Fun any time the kids request it!

25% off everything at Python Printables 

Coupon Code: HOUSEWIFESURVIVAL25 

Don't forget to show your appreciation by following Housewife Survival Guide on here, facebook, networked blogs,  blogfrog, twitter, etc ;)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Dyson Sweepstakes

Lullaby Lane is giving away a Dyson Slim Vacuum Cleaner!  Who doesn't want to own a Dyson?!  So follow the link and after signing up, click skip on the next 4 pages of ads they want you to sign up for.

Lullaby Lane Sweepstakes Here!

Now Go get in on the action!  What are you waiting for?

:)

More great giveaways...

I opened my email this morning to a nice list of giveaways from Woman's Day magazine.  Thought I'd share them with all of you:  http://www.womansday.com/giveaways/ 



Hope you're all having a wonderful Tuesday :D

Linny

iPad Giveaway

Mom Does Reviews is hosting an iPad GIVEAWAY!  Here is the Link and it ends April 21 at 11:59pm EST so get it done, Son!

3rd Generation iPad Giveaway

Dragon Blogger Technology is giving away one 3rd Generation iPad to a lucky reader.  Here are the details from their page:

"The prize is a 16GB White iPad 3rd Generation Wi-Fi only.  I did a survey and most readers didn’t the price of the 4G LTE with having to pay data fee’s was worth procuring the extra sponsorship so kept it simple.

This is the latest iPad my readers, with the A5x quad core processor, retina display 2048×1536 resolution.  It has a 5mp camera which does 1080p video recording and also has built in Bluetooth.  This device has a greatly improved camera over the iPad 2 as well"

Make sure you copy and paste the URL for my blog in the first entry. If one of my readers win, I get a $50 bonus and they get the iPad :/  lol  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway












"This contest is hosted by Rafflecopter and kicks off on April 1st and will end on May 31th 2012.  This contest is open Internationally but International residents will be required to pay for shipping and handling."

Crocs color changing bracelet $3 shipped!

Go here: Crocs Adriana Bracelet

Pick the color you want it to change to in the sun. They are all clear when not in sunlight. Then checkout using code SPRINGFREESHIP for free standard shipping. My total was $3.18 with the $.19 tax.

Lalaloopsy Doll and DVD Giveaway!!

The Mommyhood Chronicles blog is running a great giveaway RIGHT NOW!  Get over there!

l

 Lalaloopsy Giveaway Here!

Mother's Day Giveaway 2012 Open for Sponsors.

Let’s celebrate the Mother’s Day 2012 with a blast by co-hosting a
grand giveaway on May 1 to 18, 2012.



Sign up now for the Mother’s Day Giveaway which will be open worldwide. The fee to sponsor is only $5 for one link, $10 for two links and $13 for three links. Non-cash sponsorships are also accepted!



Click here for more details about the upcoming event.
Don’t forget to write *Housewife Survival Guide* referred you.

Never leave home without your coupons...

For all of us couponing divas out there (and you couponing guys too), we sure do go through a lot of time and effort to save money.  Not to mention the potential blisters from clipping coupons all Sunday.  Some of us work outside the home, so we are sacrificing precious time off to do this.  Our efforts can be appreciated by our S.O.'s or completely overlooked.  Either way, we are dedicated!

That being said.....don't EVER leave home without your coupons!  Sure you're going to take them with you when you know you are going to the store, but what about all those mid-week quick stops to grab meat for dinner or eggs or milk.  Let me just tell you....those small trips add up and can wreck your grocery budget!  Who actually goes into the store and picks up those one or two items only?  We end up grabbing a couple extra items as well, right?  Well....keep your coupons in your purse, car, or by your door at all times!

Save yourself buyer's remorse and keep your savings in your pocket.  Why do we work so hard only to wreck our savings on convenience?  Think about it ;)

Have a Great Monday!!!