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Welcome
Do you remember those Minute Maid Lemon-Aide commercials that showed a grandfather and grandson, relaxing, fishing, and enjoying the “lazy days of summer?” For most of this issue, we’re going to celebrate that theory. We’ve got tips on how to save money on a last minute vacation and easy “no cook” recipes that will help you serve a healthy and delicious meal in no time. You’ll be out of the kitchen and back outside, enjoying the summer! But we can’t forget that it is August and the kids will be heading back to school soon. For that, we’ve got tips on how to save money on those school clothes! So sit back, enjoy a glass of lemon-aide and enjoy this month’s newsletter! Back To School Special The latest Version of the MasterMind Power Learning SystemTM is available for a limited time with a special Instant Rebate of $20. Just click the coupon in the lower left corner of the web page here. Save Money On Last Minute Vacations 
Are
you looking for one more chance to get away from it all for a few
days and enjoy a last minute vacation? Of course, we all know that waiting until the last minute to book a trip could mean paying more than someone who booked months ago, but there are ways to save on last minute travel. Instead of booking each piece of your trip individually, try looking for a vacation package. Some experts insist that a family can save between twenty to sixty percent on their overall vacation by traveling this way. These packages may include flights, rental cars, hotel rooms, and tickets for tourist attractions. If you have any travel rewards, such as frequent flier miles, cashing them in on a quick getaway can definitely help bring the costs of travel down. When flying, remember that many airlines are now charging fliers for checked bags and other services that were once free. Have some extra cash on hand to make sure your bases are covered. Looking online for the best deals will help stretch your budget. Discount travel websites such as hotwire.com receive notices from hotels that are looking to fill up their rooms. This can be a great source for last minute deals. Priceline.com allows travelers to name their own price for their travel costs. You may not be able to pick your flight times or the exact hotel you’ll be staying at, but the cost savings can be worth it. Easy "No Cook" Recipes When the temperatures start to rise, the last thing you should have to do is stand over a hot stove cooking dinner. Instead, use the following recipes to create a three course Mexican inspired meal that will have your family saying “Ole!” The best part? You can prepare the whole thing without breaking a sweat! (all recipes serve 8) Gazpacho (a chilled vegetable soup) Ingredients 3 – 4 tomatoes, roughly chopped 2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped 1 red onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp. lemon juice Optional – tomato juice Combine first 8 ingredients in a blender and blend slightly, so that mixture forms a chunky soup. If it is not thin enough for you, you can add some tomato juice (such as V8). Cover and refrigerate for several hours, in order for flavors to blend. Serve chilled; if you like, top with a few green onions and even a dab of sour cream. Fiesta Chicken Salad Ingredients 3 cups cooked cubed chicken (can be cooked ahead of time, or purchase a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store) (1) 15 oz. can corn, drained (1) 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained (3) medium to large scallions, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 head of iceberg lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 cup thick and chunky salsa 1/4 cup chopped cilantro Your favorite salad dressing, to taste (ranch goes well, as does an oil and vinegar dressing) Combine first 8 ingredients in a large bowl; toss gently. In a separate bowl, combine the salsa, cilantro and salad dressing. Once combined, pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve chilled. Margarita Pie Ingredients 4 cups vanilla ice cream, softened 6 oz. can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed 1 9" prepared graham cracker crust In medium bowl, mix ice cream and limeade concentrate until blended. Spoon mixture into graham cracker crust; cover and freeze until firm (around 4 hours). To make serving easier, take out of freezer and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting into pieces. How To Get A "Back To School" Bargain 
Back
to school shopping can be a very costly adventure. Here are a few
tips to help you save money during this shopping season:Before you start shopping, it’s a good idea to know what you are shopping for. Start by going through your child’s closet and drawers and evaluating what they will still be able to wear this year. Then, make a list of what your child actually needs. When you go shopping with a list in hand, you will stay on budget and be less likely to buy impulse items. While many people head straight to retail stores, going to consignment shops, yard sales, and sites such as eBay can be more budget friendly. Before buying any used clothing, check for any tears, rips, or stains. At the same time, keep an eye out for each retailer’s weekly sales ads. Each store will likely have a big sale on one or two items, in order to draw shoppers in. It may take a little bit of time to run around to each store in order to buy just the sales items, but it could save you a lot of money. If money is tight, break your purchases up over several months. The first things to buy are of course, the necessities. The weather is typically warmer during the first month of school and kids may be able to wear their summer clothes during this time. During this time, you can keep an eye out for good deals on warmer clothes and coats. If you are crafty, you can buy plain items, such as t-shirts and backpacks and let your kids customize them. Some easy ways to do this are with fabric paints or iron on transfers. Retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart will have good deals on notebooks, pencils, and other supplies. If your child needs specialty items such as textbooks, definitely look on eBay before you buy from a retail store. Getting ready for another school year can be exciting and fun. Make it even more of an adventure by getting your kids in on the act. Challenge them each to find the best deals possible. Whoever saves the most money wins! Homeschool Discovery 
A homeschooling mom's day is not all about teaching children their ABC's and 123's. She has to be the medic for bumps and bruises, the domestic help who cooks and cleans, the nurturer of her children, encourager of her husband, occasional gardener... the list goes on. Click Here for Help!
Closing Message That’s all for this issue. I hope your August is great and you're having a GREAT summer! Barb |
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