I never win anything. Well, I can't say "never" anymore. These are some cute shoes that I won for my little girl's feet. As you can tell, they are cute even though they have cupcake frosting on them in this picture. To check out more adorable shoes from the same company please visit http://www.bugabooshoes.com/

Magic Erasers

If you have been looking for that “magic” cleaning tool, you need search no longer. The Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean is the end of your quest. I know from personal experience that not only does it do a great job of cleaning surfaces soiled with dirt and grime but it is also fantastic at removing unwanted pen, crayon, marker and pencil marks. Believe me, with three little children, I use my Magic Eraser often! There are several different kinds of Magic Erasers targeted to different needs, and they are widely available at such stores as Target and Wal-Mart.

submitted by: R.S.

photo courtesy of: Mr. Clean

Only Hearts Club

I don't know about you, but at my house, baby dolls never seem to stay dressed. This includes the busty Barbie dolls. I just don't care for such naked detail lying around for my little boy to see. Last month, I came across what I think is a great alternative to Barbie dolls. They are dolls that belong to the Only Hearts Club. The dolls are about the same size as Barbie dolls, but they look more like ten year olds than grown women. I think they make a much better role model for my girls to play with, and definitely are not as offensive when you find them undressed as a Barbie doll is.

You may or may not like some of the role models, but there is a good variety of role models and clothing accessories to choose from.

They are available at Target, and if you hurry, you might find some of the accessories on clearance.

Shopping

I am a frugal person. Ok, my husband says I'm just plain cheap. I guess that comes from growing up in a family of seven surviving on a single income of a disabled soldier's military pension. Being that as it may, I love to find a good deal. There are a couple of stores that I especially enjoy shopping at to find a good buy. T J Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, and Tuesday Morning are at the top of my list. Where else would you find an Adidas t-shirt for $1.49 or a Liz Claiborne Spring Duster Coat for $7.00? How about a "little black dress" for $10.00? Not bad deals, huh? Granted these stores are reduced priced stores, I still shop on their clearance racks. Cheap? Well, maybe, but I think that I have some good bragging rights!

Aldi

I love shopping at Aldi. What is Aldi? It's a low cost grocery store that originated in Germany. At first shopping at Aldi may be a new experience, but it is one that I highly recommend. Be sure to have a quarter handy to rent your grocery cart. Don't worry, you get the quarter back. What you do is, put a quarter into a little box that is attached to the grocery cart. When you are done shopping, you put the cart back and reattatch the chain to the box on the cart. This pops your quarter back to you. Why in the world would they do that? Hey, it keeps the parking lot cleaned up of carts, and the company doesn't have to hire anyone to put the carts back where they belong. That is just one of the ways this grocery store keeps costs down. Another way, Aldi keeps its overhead low is by selling their grocery bags. You can also bring your own bags if you like. Also, make sure you bring cash or a debit card. They do not accept credit cards. The brands sold at Aldi are mostly the store brand, but what they have done is contracted with major companies to make their food for them under a different label. I like just about everything they sell there. If you don't mind bagging your own groceries and paying cash, I think you would love this place. Check out their website to see if there is one near you.

Logo courtesy of: Aldi