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Homemade Dishwasher Tablets with Lemongrass

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December 20, 2016 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Essential Oils, Frugal Living, Instagram, Online Shopping, Pinterest, Social Media, Summer

These homemade dishwasher tablets offer a hint of lemongrass. They are an easy recipe to add to your kitchen cleaning supplies.

Homemade Dishwasher Tablets with Lemongrass

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Sometimes everyday household products can be made with the simplest of ingredients. Recently, we made homemade dishwasher tablets using Lemongrass. If Lemongrass isn’t your scent, also consider orange, lavender, or your favorite smell for the kitchen!

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
3 tablespoons Salt
1/2 cup water
45 drops essential oils (we used Lemongrass)
Silicon Mold

Directions:

Mix washing soda and salt together in a bowl.
Mix water and oils together and pour into dry mixture. Stir well.
Place a dollop of mix into a silicone mold and press firmly into the mold. Scrape away the excess with the side of the spoon.
Let set overnight/24 hours to dry. Pop out of mold.

To Use:

Place 1 tablet into your dishwasher soap tray and wash dishes as usual.

Enjoy! Also see where I get all my Essential Oils.

Love Essential Oils? We love our Homemade Lavender Linen Spray – Pin to Pinterest.

Also check out our Bath Bombs for Kids – Pin to Pinterest.

Also check out our Purple Peppermint Bath Bombs, Essential Oil Aromatherapy Playdough, Essential Oils for Students, Essential Oils for the Office, Essential Oil Water Recipe, Homemade Furniture Polish, DIY All Purpose Cleaner, Lavender Lemonade, Homemade Wrinkle Cream, Natural Eye Redness, 20 Uses for Thieves Oils, Homemade Vicks VapoRub, Tangerine Lip Balm with a Touch of Lime and Homemade Sugar Scrub using Essential Oils.

Do not forget to check out our current Essential Oils Deals. Are you into cleaning eating and taking care of your body. Learn more about how you can get Juice Plus+ for FREE! This provides you with a daily dose off all your essential Fruits and Vegetables.

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.

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How to Stitch Fix – Become Fashion Forward From Your Couch!

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October 18, 2016 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Beauty, Fashion, Frugal Fashion, Frugal Living, Instagram, Online Shopping

How to Stich Fix

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These days women are busier than ever and finding time to go shopping for clothes is not always high on the priority list. Stitch Fix is a company that addresses that need quite well. The whole idea behind Stitch Fix is to provide women with stylish clothes that fit without ever having to leave your home. Basically after filling out a simple profile and schedule, a stylist hand picks 5 items each month jsut for you! I personally am a huge fan of TJMaxx, Marshalls, Botique Stores and Daily Deal sites and I would say Stich Fix covers all of these fashion cravings.

The process is rather simple and it only takes a short time to sign up and get started.

How To Stitch Fix:

Step One – The first thing you will want to do is sign up for a Stitch Fix account. When you do, you will quickly see that the website is quite professional and thorough. The website is clean and very easy to navigate and understand.

Step Two – This is where you let Stitch Fix stylists know what you like, your sizes and other such details. This needs to be extremely specific and the more information you give, the better your initial results will be. Learning someone’s style is a process, however, so understand that it will take shape over time. Stitch Fix even lets you share Pinterest boards of the styles you like to give them a direct idea of your style. Again, be as detailed as you can be. I highly suggest the Pinterest Board. Make your own fashion board, and in your social media URL shares, share this pinterest board. You can pin items from the Stich Fix Pinterest Boards. This allows your personal shopper to get to know you.

Step Three – You pay a stylist’s fee of 20 bucks each shipment. Best of all this $20 gets applied to your purchase if you keep any of the clothes. This is reasonable given the work that goes into finding your clothes and so on and over time you will save that much in gas, energy and time shopping and over all dressing room frustration. When you do fill out the questionaire on step 2, let them know your spending habits – you spend a lot or a little on clothing.

Step Four – Now that you have done your part, you simply wait on a box to arrive in the mail. The stylists will take your information provided and pick out clothes that they think you will like. When you get the box, you go through the clothes and try them on. If they work for you and you like them, you keep them. If you don’t like them you return them along with feedback about what you liked or did not like so that the stylists will do better the next time around. They even provide a postage paid envelope to return them so you won’t have to pay for that.

The idea behind Stitch Fix is quite interesting and the consensus is very positive. One thing to remember is that only ordering once and then giving up if the style is wrong kind of defeats the purpose. You need to allow the stylists time to see what you like and don’t like. Since they pay the postage, this is not that big of a deal. Over time, they get to know your style and can find you clothes you will love.

Shopping with a personal stylist has never been so economical or easy! Give them a try and you just might love it too!

How do you Stitch Fix?

Your First UBER Ride is FREE!

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October 12, 2016 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Online Shopping, Pinterest, Social Media

What is UBER?

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What is UBER? UBER App is Powerful Way to Get Where You Need to Be…Cheaper

If you have visited a larger city, or needed to get somewhere without a car, chances are you have hailed (or tried) a cab. With hailing a cab comes frustrations and irritations. Late arrivals, missed signals and ridiculous and unknown pricing can all cause one to second guess getting a taxi in the city. UBER is a smartphone “taxi” app that came along back in 2009 and has slowly been changing the transportation landscape ever since. This idea is a very interesting take on the economic model we pattern our lives around….we buy and sell based on reputation and convenience.

With UBER, you send a signal through an app that you need a ride. That signal is then given to a driver that is nearby (through the wonders of smartphone and satellite technology) and all payment is done via credit card – no cash necessary. The driver picks you up and then takes you to the desired location. This business model, at it’s core, is pretty solid. You do not need to carry cash OR even tip!

How it Works:

1.) Download the app. Use my Uber promo code, ashleyl4951ue, and get $20 off your first UBER ride.

2.) Request your ride.

3.) Track your driver and their arrival time on your GoogleMaps-like map.

4.) You have your driver’s name and car color and make so you can make sure you get in the right car. They often an UBER sticker on the side of the window. They also have your picture so they will know what you look like.

5.) Place your end location in the app and your driver will get you there. No need to pay (as your credit card info is in the app) or offer a tip.

There are some challenges that UBER has faced over the years, however. One such problem is the safety of the drivers and riders. Because the drivers are vetted to some degree, that is somewhat under control. Drivers MUST PASS background checks and have a constantly monitored driving record that meets certain standards. While not foolproof, it is a fairly solid program to keep riders safe. The flip side of that equation, however, is still somewhat a point of contention. Compared to a taxi, however, there is RECORD of your travel, location and diver leaving a safe history to your whereabouts and who you are with.

Prices are, of course, another important aspect of the program. They implement what is called surge pricing and the model is based on supply and demand. At high traffic times, the pricing goes up. When demand is lower, rides are much cheaper. Compare these prices, though, at all times to a cab. Living in the city (DC), we have found this service to be much cheaper than the alternative. For our family of four, UBER IS EVEN CHEAPER THAN THE METRO!

This is important when selecting a car. There are also many different levels of UBER rides. You can get luxury automobiles, SUV sized vehicles (UBER XL or UBERSUV) and various other types of Uber rides if you are willing to pay for them. The key is to fit the Uber experience to what you are comfortable with. When we have more than 5 people, we always select UBER XL

UBER has carved out one heck of a niche in a powerful market. The company is worth billions and they seem to be expanding all the time. Right now, they are in hundreds of cities across the globe and that number is only going to increase in the coming years. It is the ride of choice for our DC Family of four!

We love UBER…often more affordable than the Metro for larger parties and cheaper than a Taxi. DID YOU KNOW? Your first UBER Ride (up to $20) is FREE?! Go to www.frugalcouponliving.com and search UBER for your code. Grab it now, add it to your app and use later!

A photo posted by Ashley Recio Langston (@frugalcouponliving) on Oct 9, 2015 at 6:27am PDT

Want to try it out? Grab a FREE UBER Ride with this promo code! Use my Uber promo code, ashleyl4951ue, and get $20 off your first UBER ride.

Party and Hosting Tips for the Holidays

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October 2, 2016 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Christmas, Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Thanksgiving

Why didn’t I think of that Party and Hosting Tips and Hacks for the Holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, Cookie Exchanges and Beyond.

Party and Hosting Tips for the Holidays

The season is beginning to cool and with the dawn of cooler temperatures comes celebrations with family and friends. We are hosting Thanksgiving this year and wanted to take a closer look at Party and Hosting Tips for the Holiday season! From prepping with decorations, to laying out the table a day before to scented home recipes, cooking and serving tips, these creative ideas are sure to help your holiday party go off without a hitch!

Make your home warm and inviting from the time your guests arrive – a lantern with greenery on the porch looks great | French Country Cottage.

Turn your home into an amazing smell with this stove top recipe | Half Baked Harvest.

Enjoy these festive name place cards and no-sew napkin holder – perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas | Love Of Family and Home.

Host the Holidays like a Pro with these Holiday Planners and Lists (Christmas and Thanksgiving) | Yellow Bliss Road.

Depending on your party size, take a look at these Serving Sizes | The Chic Site.

Lay out Dishes and Serving Utensils the Day before | Bon Appetit.

Enjoy these 20 Jazz Standards for Your Dinner Party Playlist | Confetti and Buttercream.

Have fun with these Holiday Ice Buckets – they are so festive and easy | The Chic Site.

You can never go wrong with wine and cheese – take a look at these pairings | His and Her Wine.

Take a look at this Easy Party Cheeseboard | Toot Sweet 4 Two. (Also in our Wine and Cheese Party Ideas)

Toast the Holiday Season with Cranberry & Rosemary White Sangria | Jerry James Stone.

Also try this Autumn Sangria with Pinot Noir and Apple Cider | The Evermine Blog.

Look at this tip – Keep your Wine Chilled with Grapes | Positive Med.

Decorate a few weeks ahead of time. These German Beer Bottles with Berry Twigs are easy and quick | French Larkspur.

Bring the outside elements in to keep the cost of decorating down. We love these springs of Rosemary but evergreen would also be great | Rip & Tan.

Take a look at the Proper Way to Set the Table | Source.

If the conversation needs flowing, try these Dinner Conversation Starters | Living Locurto.

Cooking for many? Before the big day pick up this Betty Crocker 3-Tier Oven Rack for extra room in the oven.

Don’t stop hosting after the meal is done. Send them home with these fun Leftover Labels | Tom Kat Studio. (See others in our Thanksgiving Printables)

Or try print these gorgeous Leftover Labels | The Glitter Guide.

Take a lot of inspiration from our Wine and Cheese Party Ideas on a Budget. Pin to Pinterest.

Also check out our Amazing Holiday Cocktails. Pin to Pinterest.

If if you are not the hostess, bring this fun Hostess Gift Idea with free Wine Tag Printable. Pin to Pinterest.

Dieting Hacks & Tips After Baby – Weight Loss Strategies that Work!

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August 7, 2016 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media

Dieting Hacks & Tips After Baby

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It can be challenging to lose that baby weight. You may think it is absolutely insane that you aren’t losing as much as you thought you would because having a baby makes you run around like a chicken with your head cut off. However, stress is a huge factor in contributing to that stagnant weight. With that being said, here are some dieting hacks & tips after baby strategies that work!

1. Breastfeed your baby. Not only is breast milk great for baby, but breastfeeding is a great way to burn calories and help bring you back to pre-baby weight. It even helps with stubborn belly fat as it triggers your uterus to contract and shrink back down to its original size. As a first time mom (I am on my third) one thing I found very helpful were these different Breastfeeding Positions. This chart comes from WomensHealth.gov

2. Exercise with your baby. Let’s face it mom; you won’t be able to do much without having baby attached to you in some way. So, make use of that baby attachment by using baby to do push ups, leg stretches, and other exercises in which your baby is used as a weight. Take a look at these Stroller Workout Ideas from Fit Mommy Diaries.

3. Drink lots of water. Water is great for your body and staying hydrated is a great way to prevent overeating. Nothing is better than purse water but if you are looking for some water flavors, try these 6 Infused Water Recipes from She Uncovered.

4. Don’t go on an extreme diet. No matter how many pounds you want to lose, going on an extreme diet can make losing those pounds harder. Take a look at this Daily Food Journal Printable from 30 Handmade Days to help inspire and keep you accountable.

5. Eat 1,800 calories a day. Eating less calories isn’t going to make things better because then your body goes into starvation mode and starts storing more fat instead of burning calories. Stay at a healthy calorie intake of 1800-2000 calories a day. Please consult your doctor about the number of calories you need per day. Feeling really hungry, take a look at this Negative Calorie Chart from Let How, eat as much of these fruits and veggies as you like!

6. Eat nutritious foods. Try to cut back on snack cakes, pop tarts, and snacky foods. Instead, eat foods high in nutrients such as nuts, apples, bananas, carrots, wheat crackers, and other whole foods. Fit Food Finds has 15 Superfood Bowl Recipes – I love all my food in one bowl!

7. Go on daily walks. Walks are great ways to alleviate stress which can cause weight gain. Not only is walking a great way to get into shape, but it is a great way to keep your heart healthy as well. Take a look at some of our favorite Walking and Jogging Strollers.

1.) Britax B-Agile Stroller// 2.) Graco Relay Click Connect Jogging Stroller // 3.) Baby Jogger City Mini Stroller// 4.) Baby Trend Tri-Flex Stroller // 5.) Chicco TRE Performance Jogging Stroller // 6.) Evenflo Victory Jogging Stroller Tucson // 7.) BOB Revolution PRO Stroller // 8.) Thule Urban Glide Sport Stroller

8. Go for a swim. Whether you join a gym or head to the pool, swimming is a great way to build muscle town and shrink stubborn fat. Not only is it a great way to get into shape, but swimming is easy on a new mom’s body. Daily Burn has a Swim Workout Chart for swimmers of all levels. As I prefer guided workouts with others, I personally have enjoyed water fitness classes at my gym.

9. Stretch your entire body. Stretching is just as important as it is to exercise. Stretching your muscles helps circulate blood and get your body burning calories. This is why Yoga and Pilates are some of the most powerful exercises you can do. We love this Baby Wearing Yoga Chart from Wrapsody Baby but also check out this Shiva Rea Postnatal Yoga DVD on Amazon.

10. Sleep at least 5 hours a night. Not getting adequate sleep can make it difficult to lose after baby weight. If your baby doesn’t sleep 5 hours at a time, see if someone can alternate shifts with you so you can get some sleep. Nothing is worse than the first few weeks, these are a few books that helped me get my baby on a sleep cycle.

Twelve Hours’ Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old // The Happiest Baby on the Block // The Baby Sleep Solution // On Becoming Babywise

11. Ditch the coffee with creamer. If you must have caffeine, try drinking tea or coffee without cream and sugar. Remember if you are nursing, try your best to limit the caffeine. The Baby Center has a list of The Amount of Caffeine found in Common Drinks.

12. Pack snacks when you leave. You know those times you instantly get hungry from nowhere? Well, those are the times that you tend to succumb to fast food. Don’t do it. Instead, pack Ziploc bags of healthy snacks to take with you, so whenever you get hungry, you have something to curb it. Packing food ahead also helps from overeating.Ring Around the Rosies has some great 100 calorie snack bag ideas that are yummy and healthy.

13. Don’t buy new clothes. Motivation for getting back into your pre-pregnancy bod is that you have nothing to wear. If you want to wear something other than maternity clothes, you will have to buckle down and lose that baby weight. We were inspired by these Transitional Tops for Breastfeeding from Lynzy and Co.

14. Take time for you. Like I stated above, stress can contribute to your body storing fat. If you want to prevent stress from building up around your belly, take time for yourself. Take time to destress. Whether hanging out with friends, coloring, or going to the bathroom alone, take time just for you. One of my favorite things to mix with relaxation is scents – take a look at some of my favorite Essential Oils.

15. Baby squats. You never realize how much a baby can help you get back into shape. Use your baby to do squats and lunges to tone and strengthen your muscles. Also check out these 18 Moves for Baby and Mom from Skinny Mom.

16.) 10 Day Commitment! Go after the 10 day challenge. Anyone can do anything for 10 days! Pick up FREE Juice Plus Products for your 10 Day Shred!

When it comes to getting rid of that stubborn weight gain, the best advice is to do it all natural. What other advice do you have? Please share in the comments below! As always, when it comes to health, please consult your doctor or a physician first!

Pick up FREE Juice Plus Products for your 10 Day Shred!

Also take a look at these Home Workout Hacks with Baby. Pin to Pinterest.

Are you a new mom? Don’t forget our Newborn Baby Hacks – Pin to Pinterest.

Home Workout Hacks with Baby

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July 17, 2016 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Baby, Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media

Home Workout Hacks with Baby

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So if you don’t know, I am pregnant and already dreaming about loosing this third baby “baby weight.” I will have my son full time during the day so it was important to find a “gym” that was affordable, fun, and incorporated my little man. Sometimes your best gym is home. It’s free, it’s convenient, and it’s flexible (even if you are not!) Enjoy these Home Workout Hacks WITH your baby – and if he/she is sleeping, you can even do them without!

Take a look at these 18 moves for Baby and Mom from Skinny Mom. How about that Plié Squat?

Babies often relax outdoors, especially on the move in strollers. Don’t forget the jogging stroller and take a look at this Stroller Workout from Stay Fit Mom.

Are you rocking your baby to sleep or keeping them away until their next sleep schedule. Turn the rhythm into your own workout like this article we found in the Tampa Bay Times, but you can make your own at home!

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Need to get baby to sleep so you can clean? Maybe the white noise and rhythm from Vacuuming will stimulate him/her to sleep – get the job done while he is awake! Bonjour Ava does this well!

Try these Baby and Mommy Yoga Moves from Holly the Mommy.

Loose the Pooch that Pregnancy often brings. We love these moves from Bikini Body Mommy.

Did you know that Diastasis Recti is real? Your abs do separate during pregnancy and it is important to give them some attention after. Consider these ideas from the Inspired RD.

Tackle those arms too! These Baby Arm Workouts will tighten up those triceps and biceps. Ergo-Baby has some ideas, I love the push-up kiss!

Did you have a C-Section? Skinny Mom is sensitive to that. Try this C-Section Workout once you are approved by a doctor to get back into the “home” gym.

She Knows has some great baby workout ideas you can do even why playing or engaging with baby – we love these Leg Extensions!

Three floors in my home is more than enough. Try Stair Climbing with Baby and more ideas on Babble.

Lazy Girl has some ideas like these Frog Jumps with your Baby – they make me sore just looking at the photo! I might take these to the trampoline with the older kids!

Fit it all in in a few minutes with a few simple steps – Bikini Mommy Body incorporates a squat, curl, and press in this Mommy Baby Workout.

Workout with a friend! Nothing better than someone who can hold you accountable and complain about the sleepless night they had! Look for a Strollercize class in your area.

Need a trainer or straight direction? This chart from Darbee is pretty simple if you need a Directed Mommy and Me Workout.

The Kurtz Corner has a straightforward Hot Mommy Workout Chart too for guided direction and ideas.

Play and UNO Workout, baby might even think it is funny and give you a smile. We love this idea from Creative Southern Home. Grab an UNO Game here with FREE Shipping.

Baby might be playing, but consider this Swing Set Workout for yourself! We like this tutorial from The Live Fit Girls.

This Happy Baby Workout has 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

If you need something a little bit more “kick-butt”, Lindsay Brin’s Postnatal Boot Camp has 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Are you a new mom? Don’t forget our Newborn Baby Hacks – Pin to Pinterest.

These Dieting Hacks & Tips After Baby are helpful. Pin to Pinterest.

How to Connect as a College Freshman

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July 12, 2016 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media

How to Connect as a College Freshman

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College can be a scary time in your life. From leaving home and meeting new people to becoming an adult and having responsibilities life is changing and pulling you along with it. However, as life changes it’s still important to make connections, build relationships, and enjoy life around you. Here are some great ways to get connected in college:

Volunteer in the Community

Organizations, parks, and community outreach programs are always seeking out healthy college students to volunteer in the community. This is a great way to meet other college students with like minds. If you want to volunteer and make other friends who share your love for others, talk to your advisor about ways you can volunteer in the community.

Go to Sports Events

Whether you are a sports fan or not, sports events are great ways to meet new people. Trust me, there will be some other poor soul who got dragged to the game and needs someone to hang with. Break out of your comfort zone and stop by track events, basketball games, soccer games, and football games. You are sure to find various people to chat with.

Get Involved in School Activities

It is always important to go to class and study, but if you don’t get out there, you won’t meet anyone new. If you like drama, get involved in the drama club. If you like to study, join a study group. Look on billboards, in the registrar office, and throughout campus for opportunities to get involved in activities you enjoy.

Join a Church or Religious Organization

Not all colleges offer religious opportunities. If you are religious, look out into the city for places of worship. Join a church that fits your views and get involved. College is the time to step out in the world and find what makes you happy.

Get Involved in Rushing

Don’t know what rushing is? Well, you’re not the only college student that doesn’t know. Rushing is the first step of deciding whether or not you want to be in a fraternity or sorority. Rush week is the week you get involved in going to parties or social opportunities in which you can learn more about them or you can just enjoy the social event by socializing with others. If you are really interested in a fraternity or sorority, here are a few things to look into:

Ask about the history of the sorority or fraternity.
Find out if they participate in any community service events.
Find out the day to day operations of the fraternity or sorority.
Find out if they share the same interests or hobbies as you do.
Determine the cost of housing, food, and commitments.
You may, also, want to find out about any and all initiation requirements upon agreeing.

Also don’t forget our Dorm Room Hacks – Pin to Pinterest.