Cinderella Dreams Project Helps Richmond Area Girls Afford Prom Dresses

The Midlothian Junior Women's Club and 103.7 The River are joining forces to ensure that no young woman is denied her chance to experience a quintessential event of adolescence – attending her Prom.

The Cinderella Dreams Project aims to help shoulder the financial burden of attending this formal event by providing gowns and accessories for free to any girl who, like Cinderella, needs help obtaining a gown for the ball.

Have last year's gown you can donate? Donate new and like-new gowns and accessories at Local YMCAs and Puritan Cleaners. For more information, call Chrystal at 804-201-3332. Want to donate or help in some other way? Click HERE.

Find out where to Shop for a gown!

Suggested donation $5.00.

Friday, March 18, 2011 5:00PM - 8:00PM
Saturday, March 19, 2011 11AM - 3:00PM
Saturday, March 26, 2011 11AM - 3:00PM

For more information on the Cinderella Dreams Project or to find out about other projects of the Midlothian Junior Women's Club, you may reach them via e-mail: info@cinderelladreams.net or on the web: www.midlothianjuniors.org

Frugal, Green Solutions to Some Peskiest Household Problems

From AOL Shopping in a post by Marquette Heaven

Marquette shared some reader ideas for using everyday household items to solve some of life's peskiest problems--frugally!

Here are a couple of great ideas:

"Hard to believe but true: Worcestershire sauce makes a great (and cheap) compound for restoring dull, tarnished brass to its original shine. Just take a small amount of Worcestershire sauce, place it on a soft toothbrush, rub it wherever your brass needs a good polish, let sit for a few minutes, then rub off residue with a soft damp cloth. Do this a few times as needed and soon you're brass will look shiny and new once again! " J.

"White distilled vinegar is a housewife's best kept secret! It is one of the strongest natural astringents, so you can disinfect your bathrooms toilets, tubs, and also clean your kitchen counter top with it. Plus, it removes stains from upholstery, carpet, and clothes! You can also get rid of an abscess toothache, toe nail fungus, and strep throat with it. All for these things for just a couple dollars at your local grocery store." T.

This one is really clever:

"Dryer sheets contain positively charged ingredients that are released by heat and movement. To loosen caked-on food from a pan, place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm water, and let soak in the sink overnight. The pan will be a breeze to clean in the morning." Charyn

Stay tuned for more great ideas!

I love these tips because not only are they frugal . . . they're "green." No chemicals or toxic products required to clean our homes, for grooming or for solving some of life's inconveniences.

Savory Beef Make Ahead Dinner

As promised on facebook, here's the Savory Beef recipe from Once-A-Month Cooking.

2 lbs. Beef round tip steak (I used stew beef/bought on sale)

1 C sliced fresh mushrooms

1 sliced onion

3 TBS vegetable oil

3 TBS all-purpose flour

2 C water & 2 beef bouillon cubes (I used 2 C beef broth)

2 TBS tomato paste

1 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp dill weed

2 TBS Worcestershire sauce

1 8 oz package wide egg noodles*

Cut beef into thin strips (if using tip steak). Sprinkle beef with pepper, and set aside in a cool place. In a heavy skillet, saute mushrooms and onions in oil until golden; remove them from skillet. Put meat in same skillet; cook and stir beef on all sides until brown. Remove meat and set aside.

Blend flour into the oil in skillet, gradually adding water/bouillon or broth. Stir constantly until smooth and slightly thick. mix in tomato paste, dry mustard, oregano, dill week and Worcestershire sauce. Stir meat, mushrooms and onions into sauce. Cool meat mixture and freeze. (After the mixture cools for a few minutes, I place it all in a zip-lock bag to store in the freezer).

To prepare for serving, thaw beef. *Prepare noodles according to package directions. Heat beef in saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until it's bubbly. Serve meat over noodles. Makes 6 servings.

Serve with: Green beans and/or salad and rolls.

Use any leftover beef for sandwiches.

This is so yummy and one of my family's favorites.

******

Tomorrow I will have a guest blogger, Roxanne Peterson, offer some advice on saving money by buying items second hand. Roxie has written extensively for numerous financial planning and mortgage industry websites.

I think you'll enjoy what she has to share. Would you like to be a guest blogger on Just Be Frugal? Just leave me a comment letting me know your topic and I'll get in touch!

Stop by tomorrow to read Roxie's suggestions on how to buy second-hand without sacrificing quality.

Free Reusable Lunch Sack from Annie's

Buy any two Annie’s Homegrown products and get a free Kids Konserve lunch sack ($8.00 value). Just fill out the form in this rebate offer that started July 15 and ends October 31.

You should receive your free lunch sack within 6 to 8 weeks. Here is their store locator for Annie's Homegrown products (Target and Kroger are on the list:-)

Free men's apparel - just in time for Father's Day!

Here's a great deal for CVS shoppers: Today (Sunday) you can snag a $50 Sears Gift Card at CVS and get a $10 ECB back.

Take that $50 gift card and buy $50 worth of Men's clothes submit for the $50 Sears "Come Back Cash" (we told you about HERE) it's like getting $50 worth of clothes for FREE and make $10!!!

Now through June 20th Sears is offering $50 in "Come Back Cash" when you spend $50 or more on Men's apparel. Go HERE for the rebate form and more information!

Program Details:

Receive $50 in Come Back Cash by mail, redeemable for men’s apparel when you purchase $50 or more of any combination of men’s apparel, with transactions dated 6/11/10-6/20/10.

Mail in rebate must be postmarked by 7/20/2010. Limit 1 per household. Not valid with any other promotional offer. Reward Cash Expires 10/29/10. Not valid with any other coupons or discounts (including associate discount). Come Back Cash valid only on men apparel and excludes LandsEnd Merchandise.

Thanks, Saving Addiction!

Bath and Body Works Freebie! Woo Hoo!

Get a free full-sized body care item at Bath and Body Works with any purchase of $10 or more (up to $13 value).

Click HERE to print the coupon and be sure to use it before June 10, 2010!

While you're there, check out these savings opportunities:

Buy 3 Get 3 FREE Signature Collection
Buy 3 Get 3 FREE Signature Classics

Visit the mall--save tons of money with these coupons

Lea Ann at Mommy's Wish List just posted these great reasons to visit your local mall this weekend:

Print a $15 off $30 coupon for Express and then hit the sale rack. Coupon good thru Sunday the 23rd.

Then check out these printable coupons & deals!

Free panty at Victoria's Secret

Free lipgloss at Victoria's Secret

Free treatments at Aveda

Free mini-facial at Origins

Free cooking classes at Williams-Sonoma

Free panty at Lane Bryant

20% off at Hollister

Free lip gloss at Aerie

Free item at Bath & Body Works

Free mascara at JCPenney's Sephora Counter

Download free appetizer recipes and slow cooker cookbook

FREE COOKBOOK: For easy meals, you might be breaking out the Crock Pot. Here's a site where you can download and print a 55-page cookbook featuring 33 slow cooker recipes. You can also print individual recipes.

FREE RECIPES: Download this free Appetizer Recipe Cookbook. Everything from Hot-n-Easy Buffalo Chicken Wings to Bacon and Garlic Shrimp and Football Spinach Dip, 39 recipes for every occasion and level of cooking skill from RecipeLion.

Free movies all summer long at Regal Cinemas!

Regal Cinemas offers their FREE Family Film Festival again this summer!

This promotion will run from 6/15/10-8/11/10 and selected G and PG movies will be FREE every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 AM during this time.

Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and are limited to theater capacity.

Here are a few of the movies that will be playing this summer:

Charlotte's Web (G)
Astro Boy (PG)
Wallace and Gromit (G)
Night At The Museum II (PG)
Space Chimps (G)
Hotel For Dogs (PG)

To view a complete list of movies that are playing for FREE, read more here. Click HERE to locate a Regal Cinema near you!

I did this years ago when my children were young and I babysat children in my home--we had a blast!

Do you have a Regal Rewards Card? Join Regal Crown Club and earn rewards for going to the movies. Free movies, popcorn, soft drinks and more! Enter to win a trip for two to the Daytona 500!

Purchase a large fountain beverage, swipe your Regal Crown Club card and be entered to win! (If you don't have a Regal Crown Club card yet, click HERE for the rules to enter by mail.

2 free Black and Decker LightsOut auto switches from ToysR Us and BabiesRUs

Receive 2 free Black and Decker LightsOut auto switches from ToysR Us and BabiesRUs when you purchase $45 worth of participating Proctor and Gamble products in one transaction at ToysRUs or BabiesRUs stores.

When you enter a room, the lights can turn on for you– as well as turning off when they leave. The Lights Out AutoSwitch covers any standard light switch-no wiring required-and integrates a simple motion sensor that turns lights on when needed.

Participating products include:
Always
Bounty
Charmin
Crest
Dreft
Duracell
Oral-B
Pampers
Tide

To receive your free Light Out Auto Switches, complete THIS original form, . include your receipt, dated between 4/18/10 and 5/1/10 and follow the directions for mailing.

$75 off any HP computer 4/21 - 4/24 at Staples!

$75 OFF

ANY HP computer.*
Limited time only!

Click HERE to redeem your $75 off coupon!

*Offer valid 4/21/10–4/24/10. Valid in Staples U.S. stores, by phone at 1-800-333-3330 or online at staples.com. Offer valid on all HP computers and laptops priced $359 and above. Offer excludes netbooks and item no. 848836, clearance products and Compaq brand items. Limit one per customer, nontransferable. May not be combined with any other coupon. Coupon must be surrendered. No copies/facsimiles. No cash/credit back. Not valid on prior purchases. Coupon value does not include tax.

New Cellfire coupons released--load 'em up!

Cellfire has a new list of over $20 worth of eCoupons to add to your grocery card here. Here are just two of the great coupons available:

Save $.50 when you buy TWO any variety Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables.





Save $.75 when you buy THREE any flavor Hamburger Helper®, Tuna Helper® OR Chicken Helper® Home Cooked Skillet Meals.




Lea Ann at Mommy's Wish List suggests: Print out your list of saved coupons right from Cellfire, so you have it handy to match to your weekly grocery sales ad.

New to eCoupons? Go here to read Lea Ann's comprehensive post on what they are, how they work, and where you can use 'em. It's so easy, my husband even redeemed 2 cell-fire coupons at Kroger last week with our Kroger card!

Thanks, Lea Ann for helping us all save time and money!

Eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day the frugal way!

Eating healthfully doesn't have to be expensive! I found these great tips and techniques to make it easier to eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day. Not only are they quick and easy -- the don't cost extra!

These are offered by Laura Bofinger, Staff Writer for Sparkpeople.com.

• Add fruit to your cereal, oatmeal, waffles or pancakes at breakfast.
• Create your own yogurt flavors with plain yogurt and different combination of fresh fruit.
• Snack on raw vegetables or fruits instead of chips or pretzels. Keep sugar snap peas, raisins or carrot sticks in your car, your office or your backpack.
• Use chunky salsa instead of thick, creamy snack dips.
• Drink 100% juice instead of coffee, tea, or soda.
• Add frozen veggies to any pasta dish. It's an easy way to get in another serving of the good stuff.
• Keep fruits and vegetables in line of sight. Grapes, oranges, bananas, and apples make a colorful bowl arrangement on the table. If you see them, you will eat them.
• Dried fruit is just as portable as potato chips -- and less messy. It tastes especially good when added to basic trail mix.
• When cooking vegetables, makes 2-3 times more than you need and immediately store the extra away for tomorrow. It'll save you time later on.
• Add your own beans and vegetables (tomatoes, spinach, peppers, cabbage) to canned and quick-serve soups.
• If you must have pizza, load on extra veggies and pineapple instead of fatty meats and extra cheese.
• Try berries, melons or dates for a naturally sweet dessert rather than the usual candy bar, cookie, or ice cream sandwich.
• Frozen fruit and veggies are nearly as healthy as the fresh stuff, and only take minutes to prepare.
• Combine fruit with your main meal courses. Raisins, apples and tangerine slices add sweet, crunchy variety to a salad. Apples complement pork, pineapple is great with fish, and orange slices are perfect with chicken.

Besides being packed full of nutrients, fruits and vegetables can also be quite filling. They may even ward off any empty calorie snacking that might follow! Don’t be discouraged by the recommended 5 servings a day. The guide below shows that one serving is less than what you might think.

One serving equals:
1 medium piece of fruit
1/2 cup fruit (raw, canned, or frozen)
1/2 cup cooked vegetables (canned or frozen)
1 cup raw vegetables
1/4 cup dried fruit
4-6 oz. of 100% juice (serving size depends on the type of juice)
1/2 cup cooked peas or beans

Frugal Finds: $30 worth of coupons in the mail and kids eat free at iHop!

Click HERE to sign up to receive a free booklet, with over $30 worth of Proctor & Gamble product coupons from Home Made Simple. (The booklet can take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.)


Reminder: through April 30, you can get one free kid's meal for every adult meal purchased at iHop from 4:00pm to 10:pm every day. Kids must order from the "Just for Kids" menu and drinks not included unless otherwise specified on the kid's menu. Dine-in only, and at participating restaurants only. More details here.

Find your nearest iHop here.

What's your latest frugal find?

Free tote bag at Target - April 18 only

To kick off Earth week, Target stores are giving away 1.5 million reusable bags with any purchase on Sunday, April 18, 2010. Quantities are limited and there is a limit of one bag per customer.

Get more info about how to get a $5 gift card with purchase at Target HERE

Click HERE to enter the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Sweepstakes!

Want to find out how you'll be rewarded for recycling? Click HERE and scroll down the screen to see how you can earn 5 cents for every cloth bag you use at checkout, trade in your old electronics for a Target gift card and more.

Frugal find: Free Coffee on tax day @ Starbucks!? I'm so there!

Here is a fun freebie that I just caught wind of from Marcy at Stretching a Buck:

Stop by your local Starbucks on Thursday, 4/15/10 and receive a FREE Starbucks Brewed Coffee if you bring in a reusable travel mug. Get more info here.

For a comprehensive list of Tax Day Freebies, check out my post at Examiner.com. You can eat and drink coffee, and even get copies of your tax forms for FREE all day long!

Frugal Finds: Big Savings Round Up!

Save 25% off during World Market's 25% Friends and Family Event, April 8-11. Click HERE for the coupon. Offer valid through-4/11/10. Discount valid on current selling price. Hurry on this one!

Receive a $25 coupon booklet for ConAgra Foods Products when you purchase $10 in participating ConAgra products! This offer is valid for items purchased between 3/10-5/30/10 and is available while supplies last.

Participating brands include:

• Crunch ‘n Munch
• Snack Pack
• Chef Boyardee
• Kid Cuisine
• Egg Beaters
• Fleischmann’s
• Reddi-wip
• Parkay
• Wesson
• Banquet
• Hunt’s
• Manwich
• PAM
• Peter Pan

Get more info and print your rebate form here.

Get a $10 Rewards Card by rebate when you purchase $20 in Swiffer Refills. The rewards card is accepted at over 100,000 retailers toward the merchandise of your choice. This offer is valid on purchases made between 4/1/10-6/30/10 and must be postmarked by 7/30/10.

Get more info and print your rebate form here.

New printable Whole Foods coupons!

New printable Whole Foods coupons have been released. Go print yours here. But print them now if you want them, because they change them out every week, and the old ones disappear. Thanks, Carrie.

$1/1 365 Everyday Value Organic Peanut Butter
$1/1 Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almond Milk (refrig./aseptic)
$1.50/2 Nature’s Path Organic Granola Bars or Hot Oatmeal items
$1/2 Lifeway Products
$1/1 CLIF Quench Sport Drink
$1/1 Organic Valley Yogurt
$1/1 Method item
$1/2 CLIF Builder’s Protein Bars
$0.55/1 San-J Tamari, Cooking Sauce or Salad Dressing
$1/1 Kashi Heart-to-Heart Product
$0.75/1 Dagoba Organic Chocolate product
$1/1 Odwalla Juice (32 oz.)
$1/1 Cascadian Farm Organic Granola Bars or Cereal

Remember you can also print out coupons for many of your favorite Whole Foods items here at HealthESavers and here at Mambo Sprouts.

See the latest Whole Foods deals and coupon match-ups here.

Thanks to Lea Ann from Mommy's Wish List for this heads up!

Free Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program of the Center For Disease Control provides free screenings and diagnostic services to low-income (could be defined as less than $44,000/year for a family of four), underserved and uninsured women. Their website indicates, between 8%–11% of U.S. women of screening age are eligible to receive NBCCEDP services.

The program helps low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women gain access to breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. These services include

• Clinical breast examinations.
• Mammograms.
• Pap tests.
• Pelvic examinations.
• Diagnostic testing if results are abnormal.
• Referrals to treatment.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control Website for details of the CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to get all the details and to determine whether or not you qualify for these potentially life-saving free screenings.

You might also be interested in this post: Free Vaccines for qualifying children and also this post:

Frugal Beauty Tips

Frugal Beauty Tips for Frugal Ladies by Sarah Peppel, is a timely article for women (and men!) whose skin has not enjoyed the cold, winter weather.

Frugal Living Tips has a great post, Frugal Beauty Tips for the Thrifty.

What's your favorite frugal beauty routine or tip?