Have y’all heard of Groupon?

It’s pretty new to me, but I love the idea of getting a great deal on things!

How It Works:

1. Each day Groupon features something cool to do/buy at an unbeatable price.
2. You only get the deal if enough people join that day… so invite your friends!
3. Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!

You can sign up to get emails for deals in your local big city. I’ve been pretty impressed with what they’ve offered so far at deeply discounted rates for restaurants, services, stores, etc.

Occasionally there are online deals. I’ve only bought one thing and it was from the cute dress shop Shabby Apple. The deal: $100 gift certificate for $40! That’s a 60% savings!

*UPDATED TO ADD* Just learned that you can shop different cities and occasionally there are online deals! I actually found the Shabby Apple deal under the Baltimore if your interested, but hurry!

Have y’all tried it yet?

Groupon works for me!

Next week, there’s a themed edition of WFMW: Your best bathroom or kitchen tip (organizing, cleaning, etc.) Please remember that themes are just suggested and you’re always welcome to link up a helpful tip.

Last week, my ghetto mom van was in the shop for over a week. We had a few issues the dealership agreed to fix on our paid-for 2006 van and we weren’t about to turn them down. Because we like free. A lot. In exchange for my minivan, they gave us the tiniest car that seats 5 people.

I never thought I’d say this: but I missed my big white stinky, crumb-filled automobile something fierce.

Because noise and smells are magnified in a small car and the little people are VERY close to you.

For a split second, I rethought the whole driving for days and miles in a recreational vehicle.

The tight space reminded me that I really needed to have some activities ready for the long drive (it also reminded me to wash my son’s shoes).

Moving on.

A couple of years ago, I wrote this mega post of travel tips while on-the-road with kids. I thought I’d share it again with y’all:

• Audio books (my library checks them out) or you can download them here
• Ice chest w/drinks
• DVD player, preferably with movies that haven’t been seen
• We’ve been driving our smaller less gas-consuming car that doesn’t have a built-in TV.  So, we strap our laptop on an ice chest with a bungee, so the kids can watch a movie. (Yeah, we are THAT family).
• Bag or backpack with coloring books and small toys for each child.  
• This site says pack a plastic box for kids personal things and then use the lid as a tray to eat on.
• Lap Desk for writing and drawing
• Headphones for MP3 players and/or DVD player
• Kid’s camera
• Sketch pad/pencil
• Extra change of clothes, separate from luggage.  Because if it can happen, it probably will.
• If you’re traveling with a toddler, leave when they are tired.  If you leave first thing in the morning, this is their active time and they don’t make the best travelers
• A package of pipe cleaners (to bend, twist and create)
• Pack paper towels, wipes, and a couple of blankets.  Remember, we’re talking kids.
• Buy $5 Tape Recorder and ‘Read’ stories to your kids in your own voice
• Put a trash box in the back seat
• Travel Journal
• Sing silly road trip songs
• Travel games from the store  (Target has some great ones in the stationary section that are cheap and magnetic!)
• Travel freebies-links to free stuff for traveling
• Play the I spy game with license plates
• Wipe-off white board/marker
• Magnetic sets (paper dolls, fire trucks, found in book sections)
• Snack bag filled with pre-portioned zip-lock bags of non-messy foods
• Kid’s music
• Tin foil for creations
• Play Go Fish
• Make string figures
• Check out these awesome games (like Noah’s Ark, Build a Story and Fooler, Fooler) to play in the car!
• Kids pillow and blanket
• Treasure Jar
• Rest Stop Box-stock with jump rope, frisbee, inflatable beach ball and Nerf ball, according to July’s issue of Parents Magazine.
• They also encourage travelers to ‘crank up the radio, open the doors and have an outdoor dance-a-thon).
• Printable Car Trip Check List
• Child-safety scissors and paper (it worked on a long flight w/my preschooler)
• Invisible markers/Magic paper
• Chalk Cloth Oil Mat
• Moon sand on a tray
• Post It Notes-draw on them, then decorate the car (Women’s Day, July Issue)
• Spill-proof Bubbles (yes, in the car.  My toddler loves this).
• Printable Car Bingo
• Stickers
• Band-aids (again a toddler-pleaser)
• Leapster, DS Lite or hand-held game
• Magna Doodle
• Cookie sheet with magnetic alphabet letters
• The following incredible ideas came from MomsMinivan:  travel tickets, surprise packages, and more (Actually EVERY idea on this site is amazing!)
• Printable Boredom Busters
• I spy bags/jars
• Ear plugs for when the “how much longer questions begin”

What works for you on road trips?
Thanks for joining in, you can read the WFMW guidelines here

I don’t know about y’all, but by the time dinner rolls around at my house in my part of Texas, it is hot outside. Like a million degrees, give or take one or two. The last thing I want to do, is bake at 350 (no offense, Bridget).

Here’s what we’ve been doing: bulk grilling.

I marinated a couple of pounds, seasoned another pound and put barbeque sauce on a couple of pounds. I grilled them (or my hubby did to be exact) and we just used the grilled meat in different recipes all week.

It works for me!

View WFMW guidelines here.

This is my favorite summer dish! It’s delicious and yummy and terribly good. Did I mention that I love it?

It’s easy to make too!

Baked Zucchini Tomato Pie

Ingredients:

2 zucchini, sliced

2 garden fresh tomatoes, sliced

6 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled

Sprig of Basil, chopped

1/2 Cup of mayonnaise

1/2 Cup of shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Lightly saute 2 chopped zucchinis in a dab of olive oil. Salt and pepper.

Cover the bottom of a pie shell with the sauteed zucchini. And cover with fresh tomato slices.

Mix parmesan cheese, mayo, bacon and basil:

Spread over the fresh veggies:

Sometimes I make enough for two!

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Can’t wait to drool thru your recipes (or use your helpful tips!)

What works for you? View WFMW guidelines here.