IWave Mini Microwave

A lot of you know that my Microwave officially died about 2 weeks ago. For the last year I've only had the numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and reset and start to use on the key pad. (Try making 8 minutes using only those numbers!) - well, it's now gone to Microwave heaven and it's time to stick it in the trash.

Friday when I woke up I had a iWave Microwave in my front door waiting for me to review it and do a giveaway (yup, you heard that right!) - what timing! It's amazing how disappointing it is when you REALLY want a cup of cappuccino, oatmeal or a cup in hand and I can't because it needs to be microwaved and I didn't have one. I also was really missing my popcorn.

The iWave Mini Microwave is a cool 12 pounds, approximately 12"x12" and it's just the right size for a dorm room, putting on a desk or in the RV/Boat for those cups of coffee to keep you awake. I have it sitting on my little washing machine (it hooks up in the kitchen at the sink) along with my toaster w/ a little space to make toast/oatmeal.

It has a little handle on top to make it easy to carry in the car, to store it at work, to put in the RV or on your boat. Also the keypad is on top to make it easy to access and read. There are little buttons for hot sandwiches, coffee, popcorn, gel packs and soup. (I was really excited about the gel packs - I use those religiously to cut pain and ease my cramped muscles from Fibromyalgia. Sometimes the packs are all that works.)

The only downside to the Mini Microwave is that it's too small for frozen dinners like Healthy Choice or the regular size Weight Watchers meals. I haven't tried the mini meals like Fresh Lunch by HC or the smaller entrees by WW like their spaghetti w/ Marinara. The trays are smaller so they may work. I have made the cups of macs & cheese (the larger cups) and those turned out really good - just give them a little longer to cook. And I've also heated up water for a cappuccino and heated up a Cup in Hand by Campbells.  The 600 watts of power is more than enough to heat up things - you just may need a few extra minutes to heat up your food.

You can purchase your own iWave Microwave online here - it comes in several colors. Like I said above I think it would be perfect for the dorm room and would fit on those dorm fridges to make it easy to have something to eat when studying or the cafeteria's closed.

These links for Healthy Choice (register w/ newsletter), Weight Watchers and Soup in Hand all have coupons - to make putting together your care packages for college kids easier. This way you know they are eating somewhat nutritiously and with the iWave Microwave it's easier!

Giveaway: iWave.com is giving away a Mini Microwave to one of my LUCKY readers!

Women of Faith

I just found out this week that I won two tickets to the Women of Faith conference which will be in Omaha August 12-13th. I'm so excited! I usually only go every 2-3 years because it takes a lot of me. It's a good exhaustion but still it takes me a couple of weeks to recover. This year I have my TENS unit which hopefully will help me avoid being in a ton of pain all weekend - the hard chairs and floor really are hard on me. (Keeping my fingers crossed - please pray for me)




In the past I've always enjoyed listening to Luci Swindoll and Sheila Walsh and the music is wonderful too. I'm trying to remember who the music was by last time I went - I know Natalie Grant was one and Nicole Johnson was there another time (she is a great comedian/motivational speaker). And I think Mercy Me was another group (they're awesome!).


This year Mandisa is going to be there. I just started listening to her this last year. Beautiful voice! Lisa Whelchel and Sandi Patti are going to be there as well as Marilyn Meberg and Patsy Clairmont and a few others I haven't heard of. Oh, Amy Grant will be there too - she's great.


If you'd like more information on the Women of Faith conference and where it will be at near you click here. The tickets are about $100 and if you can't afford that see if one of the churches in the area is putting together a group. It's always nice to go as a group, you have someone to talk to and visit with and hang out with.  Also, you might see if you can volunteer. I know in the past when things were really tight I was able to go FREE because I volunteered to put together sets of items for the sales tables and also hang bags on the chairs.


Stay tuned for more details and news about this years theme and conference. =D

School Savings for supplies....

 

SavingsAngel is your hub for all the best 'back to school' savings. In addition to our 'big box' stores (WalMart, Target, Meijer, etc...) and drug stores (Walgreens, CVS, etc...) we have added (throughout Back to School season) Office Depot, OfficeMax, and Staples.  

We are also actively monitoring the Internet for more fabulous deals. Watch this thread in our Angel Community for these deals!  (You will need to log in to see the details) 

I am able to offer you a special invitation only offer - just click here! to save.

Here is an example post on the thread:


Lunch Boxes w/$80 Worth of Coupons

These are children’s/adult’s lunchboxes. The coupons that are listed are either attached or inside the lunchboxes. They can be used just like any other coupon towards the purchase of the item listed. 

Walmart: Artic Zone Lunch Boxes – $6.96 
Walmart: California Innovations Lunch Boxes - $6.97
Target Lunch Boxes - $4.99/$6.00/$6.64

· $1/1 Post It Super Sticky Pack 
· $1/1 Scotch Pop Up Tape 
· $5/1 Scotch Thermal Laminator 
· $1/1 Scotch Fasteners, any 
· $1/1 Scotch Restickable Shapes or Strips 
· $1/1 Scotch Brand Scissors 
· $.50/1 Scotch Masking Tape 
· $1/2 Kids Yoplait 
· $1/2 Dole Fruits, Gels or Parfait 
· $1/1 Lil’ Critters vitamins 
· $1/1 Vitafusion Vitamins 
· $1/2 LaTortilla Factory products 
· $1/2 Langer Brand juices 
· Family Circle Magazine Subscription Coupon ($5.99/1 yr or $11.98/2 yrs) 
· Fit Brains. 50% off. Reg. $80. 
Expire December 2011.

Coupons in the packages that advertise $6 in savings:
· FREE package of King Hawaiian Snacker Sub Rolls 
· $1/2 Yoplait Kids Yogurt 
· $1/1 Orajel Kids Toothpaste 
· Wrap Mat Offer 
Be sure to read the coupon’s fine print for Family Circle. Last year you could get a rebate rather than the magazine. I haven’t read it yet to know if that is the case. Worth the look.

SavingsAngel.com public service announcement...

Check Out These Hops!

Public Savings Announcement

I was recently introduced to a new Savings site that helps families cut up to 60% off their monthly grocery bills. SavingsAngel.com is a new site that does a weekly scouring of all the grocery stores (etc) to find the best deals - then they tell you which store has the best deals. To help you even further they go through and provide links to the coupons (and any freebies they've found) that are available to help you with your savings. Details here



You can click on this link to sign up for your savings program on Savings Angel. There is a monthly sign up or a yearly sign up and

The list of stores they review is very large and I'm sure if there is a store you like they will help you out by checking out those stores. I really like to use HyVee and I didn't see them on their list so I will definitely be talking to them about adding HyVee to their list of stores. I will (and have) shared SavingsAngel with HyVee and hopefully they will be included soon.

Example Savings: I love Whole Foods - I feel like I am getting better value for my food dollars by purchasing products that are nutritious, not full of chemicals or "fillers" and the produce is the best I've seen outside of a farmer's market or a farm garden.

Savings Angel provides links to their coupons, their online savings Market Ad and any other coupons they've found the product you're interested in.

This weeks savings are:

Walmart: You will find a detailed information page about price matching and Walmarts Coupon policy to help you succeed in saving money.



Savings Angel really can help you save serious $! Here's how:

1. With over 30 stores across the country (and more coming) you are sure to find a few stores that you use.
2. They offer personal mentoring (including a call from your mentor the first week) to answer any questions and to receive tips to help you save more.
3. They compare stores & savings for you so you don't have to.
4. You have access to over 2000 coupons as they are constantly added and updated.
5. You are able to personalize, organize and print your shopping list.
6. Savings Angel Academy - teaches you how to maximize use of the Savings Angel database and how to find the savings you need to save on groceries and home items.
7. Learn from others through the Savings Angel Community, Webinars, the Savings Angel Academy - and you can also ask questions! =D
   

I am able to offer you a special invitation only offer - just click here! to save.

** Disclaimer: I received 10 days FREE to review the SavingsAngel site and learn how their program works. It's a wonderful site and I plan on continuing to use it. I was not required to have a positive review.**

Need advice... & the outcome!

Hi everyone, I just had my neighbor knock on my front door (at 1:40 am) and tell me he had seen what I was doing through my window. The only place he could see in is my bedroom (the curtains are drawn) or the kitchen and I don't wander around in the kitchen unless I'm doing dishes, cooking, etc. And all I do in the bedroom is change clothes, sleep or occasionally read. When I told him I didn't want to talk to him he started arguing with me, asking me why, etc....


He's just really starting to creep me out. Should I say something to his wife who is a very nice lady? Or, let my other neighbor know? They are part of the Omaha Housing - can I say something to them?


I just heard the window screen in the kitchen move and went and locked all my windows and now I'm to freaked out to go to bed, watch TV, etc.... I'm tempted to call and have the police patrol the neighborhood at night.


Any advice - Thoughts?


The outcome....
I called 911 and all I can say is:


3 cheers for the Omaha Police! 4-5 police officers came in 3 squad cars! I called 911 and they were here in 9 minutes and arrested my neighbor for stalking me! I don't know if that is a more serious charge than trespassing? But he scared me to death - and he seemed like such a nice guy! I just feel so bad for his wife - she's devastated! Crying hard and she told the police that he drinks a lot (he's an functioning alcoholic).


The police arrested him for stalking me (just the one time?) and gave me a Ban and Bar Letter and told me to get a Protection Order so if he comes around again and only sets a toe on my lawn they can arrest him again and make it a felony. I also probably have to go to court and press charges against him.


So, friends.... PLEASE double check all your locks, windows, etc - mine are now closed up and locked tight. I had them open so I could let the fresh air in and turn off the air conditioner - but now it's back on. Please check on your neighbors (especially the elderly and the single women) and make sure they know they can call you if they need help - even at 2 am. I've added links to the Omaha Police Departments website above so you can find out what options you have if you are being stalked (or think you are being stalked).


I just feel so bad for his wife - she works SO HARD to keep that family going and her kids are awesome. She said that she no longer wants to live in this neighborhood. How do I support her and encourage her (she's a very strong Christian lady and I personally look up to her)?

Mixbook ~ a Review

Mixbook

I received my first photo book from Mixbook.com this week and love it. It's a gift for my parent's Mother's Day & Father's Day gifts and I can't wait to give it to them. They are opening a bed & breakfast in Cherokee, Iowa hopefully by the end of the year and I thought they need a guest book for all of their guests to fill out when they visit.



Mixbook actually has several different kinds of photo albums that you can make up. Their prices are very reasonable and even though they said that it would be shipped for arrival the week of July 13th I received mine within a week I think.



When I decided to make up a guest book for Mom and Dad I had to send out an email to friends and family that I thought might have digital photos of Mom and Dad with their friends and thanks to our friend Kay Jipp (who sent me like 8 emails FULL of pictures) and my sister and brother in law (who have SCADS of pictures of their family of Facebook) I was able to fill up a Guest Book with lots of pictures.

Photobooks start at just $6.99 for a 20 page softcover and are printed on archival-quality silk 100# paper with full photo wrap covers. The paper used is acid and lignin-free so your memory book lasts for years. You can make a soft cover or a hard cover photo book, each is 100% satisfaction guaranteed!



When you make up your photobooks you have the option of several layouts (weddings, parties, school, kids, romance, recipes, etc), you can add stickers, backgrounds, text boxes to add quotes, and more. You start out by "naming" your book, add photos, customize it and that's it. It's very easy to use. (sorry, I used my camera phone & they came out a little grainy)

You can make up your own album by clicking here and setting up an account. It's fun to make up an album and dream a little about being an author and writing up your own book. You can also have friends and family join you in designing your book which makes it great to give as a gift. My sister looked over the book and added suggestions on the final design which helped me out a lot. 

Like Mixbook on Facebook and receive $10 off your order of $75 or more (these make GREAT gifts for the holidays! Grandparents, Aunts, graduation gifts, wedding and babies!) 

or $15 off your order of $125 or more! 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.