I confess that when Lands’ End asked me to review one of their swimsuits, I was a bit apprehensive.  Swimsuit shopping is not a favorite activity of mine.  I struggle with knowing what kind of suit to get and it seems I always pick a black one. 

I was relieved and excited to find out that Lands’ End has a video explaining the different body types.  In addition to this, they sell swimsuits specific to your body type!  With this information, I suddenly felt more at ease about my swimsuit shopping. 

I clicked on the Lands’ End website, clicked on swimwear, and then clicked on the shape for my body.  Immediately, a selection swimsuits appeared which were designed to be more flattering for my shape.  What was even more surprisingly is that they weren’t all black or solid colors.  There were some nice prints.  I pondered upon this and decided to go for it.  I chose the polka dot floral enhancing v-neck swimshape tank swimsuit. 

I am extremely pleased with this swimsuit.  It is the nicest swimsuit I have ever owned.  The suit has a built-in seamless bra and figure smoothing panels.  I also like that the fabric provides UPF 50 sun protection.  This suit feels great and is definitely well made.

By the way, I have a special surprise for you all this week. (hint, hint!) 

Have you tried any Lands’ End swimsuits?  What is your favorite feature?

image from lands’ end

One of the best things about blogging is I get to try out some of the latest and greatest products for the family. Today is no exception. I recently received a pair of pink (of course) Lanikai Stride Rite sandals for my daughter and a pair of blue Bondi Stride Rite sandals for my son. There were lots of good things about the shoes that I liked and one major thing that I found lacking, IMHO.

Best parts of the sandals:
• They were easy to get on and off, both for me and her.
• My kids have fat feet so they were easily adjustable over the arch of the foot.
• They were easy to walk in for both the kids and didn’t cause my son to trip. I am presuming that a new walker wouldn’t have a hard time learning in these.
• They seem to wear well as my daughter is so hard on shoes right from the start.

The main issue I had with the sandals:
• I have always heard that you should have an ever so slight arch. These shoes don’t have any arch at all.

I know Stride Rite shoes are more expensive than say Payless shoes. But when they run good 50% off sales, they are more than worth it. My kids get hand-me-downs a lot and it seems that Stride Rite shoes are the best for wear and tear so the money is well worth it most of the time. You can also get them on Ebay. But these days the debate is this … Do we support our stores that run good sales to keep others in a job or do we do everything second had? What do you think?

images from stride rite

For quite a while now I’ve been using the same coupon organization system. I was using The Grocery Game to help me find deals on groceries. The Grocery Game tells you which week of the paper to pull the coupons from so that you don’t need to clip the coupons until you need them.

The filing system shown above a great system to use if you’re only using The Grocery Game.  I definitely like the convenience of the system.  The big problem is, I’m missing out on saving money on unadvertised specials, close-outs, and triple coupon sales.  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been in a store and seen an advertised special or close-out item.  I know I have a coupon for the item, but since the coupons are not clipped, I have to search through all the inserts and hope to find what I need.

Finally I have switched to a new coupon organizing system!

I am now using the coupon organizer inserts from Smart Spending Resources.  The coupon organizer inserts fit into a regular 3-ring binder which sits on your grocery cart allowing you to flip through the binder and find the coupons you need.  A few things I like about this system from Smart Spending Resources:

1)  The coupons can be easily viewed.
2) The tabs are neat and professionally printed.
3) You can easily find coupons you need for unadvertised specials, close-outs, and triple coupon deals.
4) The system is neat and keeps loose coupons under control.
5) The system is expandable. More pages can easily be added to each section as needed.

A few tips for those who are interested in this system:
1) Be sure to buy an oversized 3-ring binder. I bought a regular binder and I mine is slipping around on the cart. I plan to pick up a larger binder the next time I go to the store. It will make couponing so much easier.
2) I would recommend purchases extra insert pages.
3) You might want to consider buying a zipper pencil pouch for your binder. I purchased one and will use it to put coupons I know that I will be using or to store my pen and calculator.

As always, I try to provide an honest product review, so I will tell you that this system is a lot more time consuming than my previous method.  I feel that the savings will be worth my time though.  As I’ve told you all before . . . Time is Money but Money is Time.

Have you tried the binder organizing system?

top image (c) Karen Weideman, bottom image (c) Smart Spending Resources

If you’ve ever shopped for coffee, then chances are you’ve noticed the many different brands and prices.  If you’re trying to comparison shop, then you want the best price for the taste.  The problem I have is, what is the difference between them?

Millstone is a popular coffee. I like that you can buy it by the pound. I don’t brew a lot of coffee, so I like that I can purchase 1/4 lb if I choose.  It also allows me to try different flavors and bean types without feeling stuck with a whole pound of something (if I don’t like it).  The problem I have with Millstone is that I find it to be incredibly bitter.  I have yet to find a Millstone flavor that I really like.  Any suggestions?

The Juan Valdez coffee is a more affordable option.  The price is pretty good and we’ve heard the Juan Valdez name for years, but I have never tried their coffee.  If anyone has tried it, please let me know what you think of it.

A few months ago, Wal-Mart began carrying a less expensive by-the-pound coffee.  At $6.54/lb, Veneto’s is an affordable alternative to Millstone.  I found that Veneto’s has a similar taste to Millstone.

A few other coffees I have tried are Folgers, Maxwell House, and Starbucks.  Folgers is ok, Maxwell House seems to taste good for a few days and then loose its intensity, and I have yet to find a Starbucks flavor that I enjoy.  They’re too strong, too bitter, or something just isn’t right.  I don’t mean to be so picky, but if I’m going to have coffee I want it to taste right.  Know what I mean?

I was getting very frustrated at my coffee experiences and so I asked my friend Marye at Kettle & Cup which coffee she recommended.  Her top recommendation was Ugly Joe’s.  I was giving thought to trying Ugly Joe’s (and still am), but then I came across Caribou Coffee while I was shopping at Target. 

I probably wouldn’t have bought the Caribou Coffee, but it was 50% off.  The $4 price tag made it hard to pass up, plus I had tried the Caribou Coffee granola bars before and they were quite tasty.  I decided to give it a try and got the Sumatra blend.  Let me just say, I am pretty happy with this purchase.  It is creamy and not bitter and the earthy taste is delicious.  I don’t know that I have found the “perfect coffee” for my personal taste, but this is pretty close. 

Some of you may have no problem drinking inexpensive coffee such as Maxwell House, Folgers, or S&D.  Unfortunately, I have developed a preference for a certain taste.  In areas such as this, it is difficult to use coupons and buy whichever brand is the cheapest.  It is, however, thrifty to find something that you like and not waste hard earned money searching for something that meets your preferences.

If you enjoyed this article you may also enjoy 20 Ways to Save on Coffee. 

Which coffees are your favorite?

Disclaimer:  These thoughts are only opinions and should be treated as such.Images 1-3 by Karen Weideman.  Image 4 from Caribou Coffee. 

Just as promised, we are letting you know of some great products this month for Earth Day.  This time, I had the opportunity to review some of the Bright Green™ cleaning products. Bright Green is a new line of home care products featuring cleaning and laundry soaps made with biodegradable and naturally derived ingredients, energy-efficient light bulbs and paper products made from 100% recycled content.  The Bright Green products are sold exclusively at Safeway stores.

I was able to review the Bright Green dishwashing liquid and all purpose cleaner.  The question that I have often asked myself is, “Is it possible to use green cleaning products and get the same results?”  My experience so far has been a positive one.  In all the environmentally friendly products I have tried, I have not found a difference in the way the product cleans from the other products. 

The Bright Green dishwashing liquid cleaned my dishes very well.  It took the grease off my dishes and had a very pleasant lavender scent.  My son especially enjoyed it.  He asked if he could wash dishes, which in our house means that I put some soap and water in a bowl and he “washes” some of the dishes in the sink.  He ended up using 1/2 of the bottle, so there were lots of suds and my kitchen smelled great for days.  lol  The Bright Green all purpose cleaner is great for the kitchen or garage and it has a refreshing lemon scent.

And now, on to the giveaway!

The giveaway includes an attractive  reusable shopping bag and $1 coupons for Bright Green cleaning products.  Safeway credits customers $.05 each time they use any reusable bag at the checkout.

There are many ways to enter this contest.  You can choose as many as you’d like.

You can earn an entry for each item you complete, but you must leave a separate comment for each one.  It just makes it easier to tally and pick a random winner.

1) Leave a comment telling me why you’d like to win this prize or why you use green cleaning products.

2) Give this post a thumbs up at Stumble Upon and leave your Stumble name.

3) Tweet this post and leave your Twitter name or status url. To retrieve your Twitter status url, simply click on the timestamp of your tweet. It will say something like, “5 seconds ago from the web”. You can earn 3 twitter entries each day for each time you tweet this giveaway. You must leave a comment for each tweet.

4) Follow @thriftymommy on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

5) Blog about this giveaway and leave a direct link to your post.

6) Mention this giveaway on any forums or message boards and leave me a link.

7) Add Thrifty Mommy and/or Keeping the Castle and/or to your blogroll.  You can earn a separate entry for each one.

This contest ends Sunday, April 12, 2009 and is available to those with a U.S. shipping address (no P.O. boxes please). The winner will be contacted by email and will have 72 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. You will not be put on a mailing list, but you must include your email address in the second box under your name (not in the comment box).

Good luck everyone!

Just in time for Earth Day, we will be featuring some products and tips geared toward making your home a bit more environmentally friendly. 

All the current information about plastics, BPA, chemicals, and contaminants is enough to make a parent’s head spin.  Lunchbots helps take away the worry and confusion by offering 100% stainless steel containers.  LunchBots provide an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable containers and they go a step further to eliminate all plastics from its containers.  Finally, there is a stainless steel alternative with a lid.  The LunchBots containers are easy to clean, sturdy, and provide a great storage container for lunches and diaper bags. 

LunchBots are available in two styles, both measuring 6.25″ x 4.5″ x 1.75″.  The LunchBots Uno is perfect for packing sandwiches, sushi, burritos, or snacks. The LunchBots Duo has a handy divider for crackers and cheese, fruits and nuts, and more.  LunchBots also provide a fundraising opportunity for schools, which I certainly would prefer to overpriced candy and gift wrap. 

LunchBots is offering free shipping to our Thrifty Mommy readers (US addresses only).  Simply use the code FREESHIP09. 

In a recent survey of 1,400 moms across the country, 87% believe that sun protective clothing for the family is important.  To help with moms’ growing concerns, Lands’ End has made the new Sun.Life collection.  The Sun.Life collection is a full line of adjustable, breathable, and comfortable clothes for the entire family with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating of 30-50, which protects 96.7-97.5% of the sun’s harmful rays.

Lands’ End is also offering Thrifty Mommy readers a free shipping code for Sun.Life products.  Simply enter the pin 6365 at the check out.  This code is valid through February 21, 2009.

The Sun.Life collection provides the same quality and style that you’ve come to expect from Lands’ End.  I received a pair of the khaki Sun.Life pants for my son.  They are lightweight, stylish, and they also have the adjustable waist that moms like so much. 

And now, for the giveaway.  The winner of this contest may choose one of the following Sun.Life collection products:

Boys Sun.Life Pants
Boys Solid Sun.Life Shorts
Boys Short Sleeve Sun.Life Tee
Girls Sun.Life Pants
Girls Solid Sun.Life Shorts
Girls Sun.Life Tee

How to Enter:

You can earn an entry for each one, but you must leave a comment for each item completed.

1) Leave a comment. You can say simply “enter me”, but I’d prefer something about the product. You can tell me which product you’d choose, what color you’d like to have, why you like Lands’ End products, or why you think sun protection is important. Anything along those lines.

2) Give this post a thumbs up at Stumble Upon and leave your Stumble name.

3) Tweet this post and leave your Twitter name or status url. To retrieve your Twitter status url, simply click on the timestamp of your tweet. It will say something like, “5 minutes ago from the web”. You can earn 3 twitter entries each day for each time you tweet this giveaway. You must leave a comment for each tweet.

4) Follow @thriftymommy on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

5) Blog about this giveaway and leave a direct link to your post.

6) Mention this giveaway on any forums or message boards and leave me a link.

7) Add Thrifty Mommy to your blogroll.

Other info:

This contest ends February 26 and is available to U.S. residents only. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 72 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. You will not be put on a mailing list, but you must include your email address in the second box under your name (not in the comment box).

Good luck everyone and thanks to Lands’ End for donating another great prize.

Recently I was sent a bag of Weight Watcher’s newest desert, Pecan Crowns.  They are 1 point and absolutely delicious.  I usually don’t like deserts, just ask Karen, but these are really good.  They are like those wonderful pecan turtles minus the guilt.  The chocolate melts in your mouth and I would wholeheartedly recommend eating them for a guilt free desert.

Tic Tac Chill

I got the opportunity to try the new Tic Tac Chill product line.  They gave me the Paradise MInt and the Cherry to try.  The kicker was that they are sugar free.  That usually knocks me out of liking something.  I took them to work and so did my husband.  I think I was the only one who didn’t like the Cherry.  The Paradise Mint was ok though.  I thought the Cherry was overpowering but my co-worker barely tasted the cherry.  So I have to say, we were torn.  But I didn’t have that awful sugar free shock that normally comes with those kind of products.  So I have to say, they aren’t my favorite tic tacs but they aren’t horrible either.  Try some today and tell me what you think.  Do the cherry ones overpower you or do you think they are weak?

Image: tic tac

Sometimes it seems like nothing is safe for children anymore.  We are constantly bombarded by news about lead in paint, unsafe toys, peanut butter recalls, and harsh BPA chemicals in plastics.

Thankfully, Munchkin has made an effort to alleviate some of those concerns.  Munchkin has just introduced a new line of BPA free products.  Available are BPA free glass bottles, silicone bottle sleeves, silicone bottle nipples, no spill sippy cups, and multi bowls.   

We recently spotted the Munchkin BPA free spill-proof cup at Target.  It retails for only $3.49, which makes it very affordable for parents to replace questionable cups in their home.   We currently have one of the cups at our house.  It’s pink and spill-proof, so no doubt it will end up in my daughter’s lunch box each day.  This weekend I’ll try to pick up another one for Cuddlebug.  I can see a bit of envy in his eyes for the new cup. 

Also, to help answer your questions, Munchkin has also posted a chart telling you which of their products are BPA free.  I’m happy to report that many of their products are indeed BPA free. 

Munchkin has become a well-trusted brand in our home.  I remember using formula containers, baby chew toys, sippy cups, bath toys, and many other products.  My children still enjoy their stackable bath cups.  They have holes in the bottom of them so that the water can drain through them.  Our family has been using them for about five years now.  And I have to tell you, when my daughter was one-year-old, she would only drink out of a straw cup.  I searched high and low to find a straw cup that didn’t leak and finally found the Munchkin one that had a valve inside the straw.  We’re still using them four years later.  Ok, sorry to ramble.  I’m just sharing my stories and I probably don’t have to convince you about their quality products.

By the way, check it out.  Keeping the Castle is giving away some Munchkin BPA free products.  Good luck!

Which Munchkin products are your favorite?

image from Munchkin