FREE Movie Rental Codes, Burger Recipes, Swagbucks and Check your Plugins!

We're having burgers for dinner tonight, and I just happened to come across these two recipes that I thought looked so entirely tasty, I want to NOM THEM NOW PLEASE!

Cajun Style Jucy Lucy Burgers

Grilled Cheese Onion Burgers

Also, I have never used a Blockbuster Express before, and I didn't think there were any near me, but it turns out there's one just down the street at the Genuardi's. I usually use RedBox when I get free codes, but now I shall take advantage of both, thank you very much!

TIP: This is a good way to see movies you were iffy about paying to see in the theater, or that you think might be entertaining but not worth any money. That's why I love FREE CODES! I know Bobby probably wants to see G-Force, but I don't want to pay for it, so I'll just rent it when I can for free (probably tonight) ;)

Here is a FREE Blockbuster Express rental code (1 night):

http://www.forthemommas.com/deals-and-steals/free-blockbuster-express-rental-code

Here is a FREE RedBox code (courtesy of Inside RedBox) for use at GIANT / STOP-N-SHOP ONLY:

SMLVCTS
Special Use: Giant / Stop & Shop only

BTW, if you're using FireFox and have a lot of plug-ins (like I do), you can go here to make sure they are all up to date. Pretty cool. I love you, Mozilla. 

Last but not least, I know I may have mentioned this on FB before, but in case I didn't ... or something... You should all seriously join Swagbucks and use it for your searches. Ridiculously easy, no emails to click on to earn the points, and you can redeem $5 to Amazon for only 450 "bucks". I have redeemed 9 NINE NINE NINE of those (that makes 45 free dollars to Amazon) within the last TWO MONTHS. You can redeem for $5 cash to Paypal but that costs 700 "bucks", so if you shop on Amazon, the Amazon thing is a better deal. Seriously, check it out, you'd be doing yourself a monetary favor!

And yes, this is a referral link, but I would NOT refer anyone to anything I hadn't tried and proven first!
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/mamaskull

10 Things I Think I Need to be Truly Happy

I once in a while look at this thing called the "Imagination Prompt" and it yields some interesting food for thought. This is what came up today.

10 Things I Think I Need to be Truly Happy (not really in any particular order):

1. Enough money to get by and enjoy life - I'm not talking about excessive cash here, just enough to pay my bills, purchase some really nice groceries and ingredients for recipes, some to save every month for emergencies, and some (like a couple hundred) for entertainment. That is all.

2. Immediate family - although sometimes I want to strangle them, life would be pretty empty without them.

3. Extended family - I really love large family gatherings.

4. Friends - The best and closest all the way down to the acquaintances and those who live far away. We connect on Facebook, and lots of people give me lots of great advice, and I can help people also with advice and encouragement.

5. Reading material - sometimes I'll read almost anything to get my fix. I do love words on paper (or the computer screen).

6. Basic clothing - I think I'd miss it if I had to go without it. I'd be pretty cold a lot of the time at any rate.

7. Health - anyone who has been in ill health can attest that it can really ruin your shit.

8. Food and Drink - I love it and I also need it to live, so win-win, right?

9. Shelter - even if it was just a car to live in. Or a sturdy crate. I could make do. I'm creative. I just don't like the elements. Seriously. Wind pisses me off the most, probably followed by rain. Or maybe equally. I'd have to give that more thought.

10. Errrrr, having trouble thinking of a #10. Nope, I got nothin'. So what would YOUR list look like?

A tank for all seasons

I love tanks tops. Plain ones most of all.

Do you know WHY I love tank tops?

Because I REALLY get my money's worth!

I can wear a plain tank top all year round. Yes, most people use tank tops for layering, and I do too, but you know what else I do?

Since I refuse to wear bras (shocking, yes), I use them as undershirts! That not only means that I don't purchase bras ($$ anyone?), but it means I can wear thin weight shirts throughout the winter as well.

I use tank tops as such:
- Layering under lighter weight shirts during colder seasons
- as undershirts (bra substitute)
- underneath a blazer or cardigan for the colder months
- just as a tank top in the summer

I've recently discovered (last couple of years) how important PLAIN pieces are in the wardrobe. SO versatile!

Another thing I have that I REALLY love is this lightweight blazer I got umpteen years ago. Plain black, comes to about my upper thigh/mid-butt (?) area. I can wear it with almost ANYTHING - love it!

I have this terrible habit of HATING to try on clothes, so a lot of times it's hit or miss when I purchase something. I missed on one of the shirts I bought this weekend, and I'm ready to trash it. I could almost kick myself for not sticking to my rule of PLAIN, GOD DAMMIT! The shirt itself isn't too bad, but the sleeves are ridiculous. Like you'd have to be anorexic for the darn things not to rub a rash into your underarms. You probably know the kind of sleeve I'm talking about - shorter than a short sleeve, but longer than a sleeveless.

Abysmal, I tell you. I'm ready to chuck it in the damn trash. I don't care about the $6 I spent on it!

On the flip side, I bought a plain $1 blue tee by Abercrombie that I just put on with a yellow tank under it (being a bit cooler today and being that I'm at work), and it's really soft and comfortable. So, I'm chalking the $6 mistake up to the fact that I would have spent the extra $6 on this t-shirt.

Me talking about fashion? You probably never would have thunk it! You know what, neither would I - I'm going to stop now ;)

Recent Articles I love

Good tips of nutrition and good habits for sanity's sake.
How To Save You From Yourself | Marc and Angel Hack Life

Hrm, interesting. Can you pick up those Starbucks cards without actually loading them? I know you can do that at Subway and use them to earn points with each purchase, but I don't know how it works with Starbucks.
Saving at Starbucks: Gourmet Coffee Just Got More Affordable | Wise Bread

I love all of these things! I do find that doing some housework, getting things organized, or making lists does help, even if it seems mundane at first look.
15 Low Cost Ways to Beat Stress | Wise Bread

Hrm, interesting. Interesting indeed.
Three Effective Ways to Enhance Your Willpower

I approve of this message. I'm guilty of checking many email inboxes, but Digsby centralizes them all for when I don't have much time.
17 Things you Should Stop Doing : Productivity501

I am really loving this idea. The article is a little long-winded, but you can skip the personal examples and go right for the "meat" if you're impatient.
The Big Question: Are You Better Than Yesterday?

I approve of this advice. I will even take and apply it!
To Get What You Want, Don't Go With Your Gut - Peter Bregman - HarvardBusiness.org

I WANT TO MAKE THESE RIGHT NOW!
Drumsticks
Source: www.instructables.com
Just in time for summer, an easy recipe for making your very own Drumstick style ice cream cones - also known in some parts as Cornettos!

Ha, this is so interesting! I do fidget a lot, and I always wondered if it was burning extra calories. That's awesome.
Use NEAT Activities to Burn More Calories - Health - Lifehacker

Hrm, I'm wondering what you all think of this advice, or how you work your own resumes.
Avoid These Phrases to Keep Your Resume Relevant - Job search - Lifehacker

People are really creative with cardboard!
Create an iPhone Document Scanner from Cardboard - iPhone - Lifehacker

This is really flippin' nifty, and a really cool idea for a really cool small gift for a dude if you're strapped for cash and they need a new wallet... well, that's pretty narrow, but you know what I mean!
Use Cardboard To Make A Billfold or Wallet!

Mail-In Rebates for Free/Cheap Products

CENTRUM® OR CENTRUM® SILVER® - $5 Rebate

Any 12 oz. bag of Seattle’s Best Coffee

Precious Cat Free Bag (of Litter) Rebate Offer

Try Sure® MAX FREE

Try Sure® for Men FREE

Consolidated Articles and Pantry Update

I haven't been posting recently, and instead have been putting things on my Facebook page, but I figured it was time to consolidate here. Not only for the benefit of the no one reading this, but for my benefit when I want to go back and reference later.

First, an update on my pantry challenge:
Due to some sales and BBQs in the past few weeks, we have added a few more things to our pantry, but we have been doing REALLY great eating meals from what we have! I actually used some of the things that have been sitting in my freezer for ... forever... and feeding my family in a healthful and frugal way always makes me feel great!

Here are a few articles and links that I've posted over the past couple of weeks on my Facebook that you may or may not have seen:

How To Get A Job By Thinking Outside Of The Box
Yes Yes, another employment article. I just really love these, though, and find it useful to stir up ideas about job hunting.

Zero Waste Lunches: How to Make Your Own Executive Style Supply Kit | Wise Bread

I really dig a lot of the products in this article!

Hungry Girl "Egg Mug" Meals
I AM a big fan of the egg mug - been doin' it for years!

College Student Eating Survival Guide (Until Spring Break) | Wise Bread

You may or may not find some of these ideas off-putting, but they are truly good ideas for desperate eaters!

8 ways to find and keep a temporary job

This is a great article. Read and absorb! Indeed, the job I have had for 8+ years now started out as a temp job.

Hungry Girl posts a couple of awesome snack ideas!

I really like #2 and #3 snack/meal ideas!

Pantry Challenge Week/Month

I recommend taking the "pantry challenge" - go through your cabinets, freezer, fridge and see what you can make for meals without shopping!

My husband and I went through our cabinets, freezer, fridge, and other misc shelves and detailed (in spreadsheet format) all of the food we have that could be used to make dinners and some lunches for the next few weeks. Here's what we came up with:

1. Pasta with Sauce (carrots or applesauce on the side) x 3
2. Bean & Rice Tacos (with small amount of chicken for my son's taco) - turns out we got 2 meals out of this!
3. Tuna Melts (carrots or applesauce on the side)
4. BLT on Bagels (carrots or applesauce on the side)
5. Egg Beater Omelets w/Hashed Browns
6. Elbow Mac w/Franks in Cream of Mushroom "Soup-Sauce" (carrots or applesauce on the side)
7. Steak Tacos w/ Beans and Rice
8. Pancakes with cinnamon applesauce on the side (or other "breakfast for dinner" option such as Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal)
9. Beef w/Mushroom Gravy & Egg Noodles w/ Butter x2 (carrots or applesauce on the side)
10. Spaghetti w/ Clam Sauce
11. Hamburger Helper w/ Peas and Mushrooms (and the hamburger, of course)
12. Baked Beans w/ Hot Dogs
13. Mix and Match night: Pizza Slice, Chicken Soup, Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese, Cheeseburger Boca Burger(s)

The only thing we'll need to go to the store for is 1 can of mushroom gravy, and the weekly staples like cheese, bread, milk, and chocolate milk. I'll also need to pick up lettuce and tomatoes last minute for the BLTs so they don't go bad beforehand.

That's 17 meals!

For lunches, I discovered things like:

• Frozen Muffins
• Canned Pears
• Pineapple Cups
• Pudding
• Raisins
• Frosted Shredded Wheat (used as lunch snacks)
• (2) Boca Burgers

That's not including the staple lunch items like carrots and cheese sandwiches.

I also have lots left on my list of foods that will not be used in these meals, so I can plan meals around those items and not have to pick up a full complement of groceries for probably an entire month.