Holiday Budget Saver! MYO Gift #2 - Bath Bombs

Bath Bombs are HOT gifts but can cost $10 or more at the store.

You can MYO (make your own) for about $2 each so you can afford to give them to everyone on your gift giving list!

It's also a perfect "craft" slash science project to make with your child, for them to give to their teachers as holiday gifts!

The best part of this project is it's easily customized!  You can pick the color and scent of your choice.  We used Royal Spa Essential Oils.  They come already blended in formulas perfect for any need.  And you can get 20% off using promo code: 20OFFMA when you shop this LINK.

Here's the recipe we used...but you can find lots of them around on the internet.

 

Tip:  We bought our citric acid online from Alpha Chemicals

Holiday Budget Saver! MYO Gift #1 - Cranberry Orange Butter

Cranberry Orange Butter

2 lbs of bagged cranberries, rinsed and picked through
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar, divided
1 to 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup orange juice
zest of 1 orange
1 tsp vanilla

1. Put the cranberries, 1 cup of brown sugar, the cinnamon, and the apple juice in a crockpot.  Stir to combine.

2. Turn crockpot to high and cook for 2 to 3 hours, until cranberries have popped.

3. Puree the mixture in blender (may take 2 batches).  Be careful, it's hot!

4. Return the cranberry puree to the crockpot and cook on high with lid ajar for 1 to 2 hours.

5. Whisk the cranberry butter well to incorporate any thick parts.

6. Turn off crockpot and add additional 1/4 cup of brown sugar, orange zest, and vanilla.  Mix well.

7. Transfer the cranberry butter to clean jars with tight fitting lids.  Refrigerate for up to one month

Best Laptop Bang for your Buck!

My hubby is a bit of a computer geek...and a bit of a snob about processors, sound/video cards and such. So, for him to find a computer that he LOVES and adheres to MY BUDGET is unheard of UNTIL NOW!!!

With that said...If you are looking for a good student computer that is powerful enough to play games (fast processor and good video card) THIS is the DEAL of the century!

Acer - Aspire E 15 15.6" Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 4GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive Model: E5-575-52JF

We bought THREE of them last week on sale at Best Buy for $349 (one for each of the kids). After using them for a week we are VERY impressed!

Frankly, it's not just for students! It's a good computer for ANYONE!

(Hubby adds "It's not a gaming laptop")

The sale is over but at $379 it's still a bargain!

This link http://bit.ly/2bK7Jj5  will bring you to my shopping portal.  If you choose to purchase your laptop through my Shop.com site, I will receive 1% commission on your purchase.  I greatly appreciate your support! 

Skinny Labor Day BBQ Secret!

Ok, so Labor Day isn't just about BBQs but what better way to celebrate us hard working laborers than with a celebratory feast?

But if you're like me this holiday also means worrying about what I can eat and not go off my "diet".

So here's my Skinny Labor Day BBQ Secret:

This is the simplest way I've found to cut calories without cutting the flavor....BBQ 3000 Spice from Penzeys.  It's got all the great flavor that you love without added calories.  

No sugar, no salt - just paprika, black pepper, nutmeg, mustard, allspice, citric acid, garlic powder, ginger, sage, thyme, white pepper, cinnamon and natural smoke flavor.

Plus just in time for the holiday weekend Penzeys is offering FREE BBQ 3000 with a $3 purchase!

For more of Better Living on a Budget follow me on Facebook!

Seasonal Savings on the Gift of Health

Giving the gift of health has never been easier or more affordable!

Do you know someone on your holiday giving list (maybe even yourself) who wants to lose weight or maybe needs to de-stress?  

These kits are designed to provide the nutritional support needed to achieve results and offer a huge savings!

For more information on each kit click the link:

TLS 21 Day Challenge Kit

Complete Detoxification Kit

Anti-Stress Kit

Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale Ditching New York for Connecticut?

Did someone say shoes and pets together in the same sentence???

The Manolo Blahnik sample sale is moving out of NYC to my home town and will benefit UCONN Animal Science Students. Will I see u at the sale?

via @RackedNY:

The Manolo Blahnik sample sale is heading to University of Connecticut's West Hartford campus on Saturday, November 14th. This news doesn't come as a total surprise — these rumors first sprang up after the brand's farm town fire sale back in August. What would be surprising, however, if the fancy shoe brand ditched its usual, sometimes terrifying semi-annual event at the Warwick Hotel.

Madison Avenue Spy is reporting that over the border, shoppers will have their pick of Manolo overstock and samples — the company's execs donated its entire inventory, which doesn't bode well for us New Yorkers — to raise money for UConn animal science students. If you're planning to make the journey just in case nothing pops up in the city this month, it'll probably be worth it: An assortment of stilettos, slides, slip-ons, and boots in sizes 4.5 to 13 will be priced between $150 and $450.

30 to 40% OFF at Old Navy, Gap & Banana Republic

OMG!  This was such an amazing deal I had to pass it on!

IF you are a GAP, OLD NAVY, or BANANA REPUBLIC credit card holder you can get 40% OFF PLUS earn SUPER CASH!

Non-card holders will still earn 30% OFF

Use code "THANKYOU" at checkout - deal ends 10/6/15

PLUS if you shop via my website www.shop.com/angelliving you will receive an extra 2% cashback!
Here's a breakdown of the deal I got:

I also earned $30 in Super Cash to use on a future purchase!