Give free $10 Restaurant.com certificates

Right now, you can send free Restaurant.com certificates to everyone on your Christmas list. You can send up to 40 free certificates every day until December 31.

Keep in mind, Restaurant.com certificates usually require a minimum purchase (probably $15-$20 for a $10 certificate), so you can't score a completely free meal with them, but if you eat out anyway, it's a great way to save money.

$3 off your first purchase at Mamapedia

Mamapedia is a deal a day site aimed at moms. Right now, using code Holiday3, you can get $3 off your first purchase. This is in addition to the $5 credit you get for signing up. Mamapedia also donates a percentage of your purchases to the school of your choice. Talk about a win-win!

Thanks Money Saving Mom for sharing this deal.

Do good: Give a day of water

http://changents.com http://givehealth.changents.com

Please enter your email address above to donate a day of water. Share it on facebook or twitter to donate even more.

Life Update

It's been almost two months since my baby girl was born. I haven't written about it yet because I'm never quite sure how. She's beautiful and perfect, and I'm convinced she's insanely smart and strong (but what mother isn't, really?)

Life continues and every day I figure out a little bit better how to manage things. Flylady has been a help in some ways; having a few routines (I vacuum on Tuesdays, clean mirrors on Wednesdays, swish and swipe every morning) helps to keep me sane and keep my house clean enough by getting things done in little spurts. It also helped to have groceries (and especially diapers!!) stockpiled to so I didn't have to run around buying stuff up, and some meals in the freezer for when I didn't have time/energy to cook. I'd much rather play with or cuddle my little girl than deal with that stuff.

As for the money part, it continues too. I found I can read some deal and freebie blogs with her on my shoulder or in my lap playing, so I'm starting to get back into couponing, but only as much as works for me. I can't easily run to several stores, so the drugstore deals are taking a backseat for a while, and I'm just focusing on one grocery trip on the weekends when my husband is home. I've had to schedule some time into my week to do bills and budgeting too, stuff that used to always just get done whenever, but now wouldn't get done if I didn't make an appointment with myself. So again, things are coming along.

I'm going to start trying to post some money and life tips as I figure them out and experience them, but remember that I'm no expert. I'm just trying to get through and enjoy this phase of life, and I know so many others out there are too.

Do good: 100,000 Heartbeats for Women