20 Fresh Peach Recipes

Are you enjoying juicy, ripe, local peaches right now? If not, THEN YOU SHOULD! It is the best time of year for peaches, so buy enough to enjoy these recipes and extras to peel and store in your freezer for the off season.

20 Fresh Peach Recipes

1. Blueberry Peach Bread at Big Bear's Wife
2. Blueberry & Peach Crumb Pots with Homemade Whipped Cream at Family Balance Sheet
3. Creamy Peach Ice Cream at Grass Fed Kitchen
4. Greek Yogurt Peach Pancakes at The Kitchen Paper
5. Grilled Peaches with Homemade Whipped Cream at Family Balance Sheet
6. Grilled Salmon with Peach Mango Salsa at Family Balance Sheet
7. Homemade Ginger Peach Iced Tea at The Happy Housewife
8. Juicy Peach Margaritas at How Sweet It Is
9. Peach BBQ Sauce at Family Balance Sheet
10. Peach & Blue Cheese Bruschetta with Honey and Thyme at Taste Food Blog
11. Peach Brown Butter Shortbread at Baking in Pyjamas 
12. Peach Caprese Salad at Iowa Girl Eats
13. Peach Chicken with Balsamic Glaze at The Spiffy Cookie
14. Peach Cobbler Trifle at Yummy Fun
15. Peach Jam at The Apple Crate
16. Peach Pie at Two Peas and Their Pod
17. Peach Sorbet (3 Ingredients) at What's That Smell
18. Peach & Strawberry Crisp at The Happy Housewife
19. Peach Streusel Bread at Tutti Dolci
20. Peach Vanilla Bean Bundt Cake with Peach Soaking Syrup at Week of Menus

Be sure to click through the links to visit the sites for the recipes. Also, follow me on Pinterest for more Peach recipes and post your Pinterest link in the comments, so I can follow you too!

What's your favorite Peach recipe? Let us know in the comments.

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Back to School Sales for July 28 - Aug 3

Here is a snapshot of the stores with the best prices on back to school supplies this week:

CVS Sales

[ ] Five Star 1 Subject Notebook, 100 Sheet - $3.99
$3 ECB wyb $10 in participating Sanford Products, Limit 1

[ ] Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Marker, 8 ct - $3.99
$3 ECB wyb $10 in participating Sanford Products, Limit 1

Kmart Sales

[ ] Marble Composition Books - $0.25
Shop Your Way Member Deal Of The Week; With $5 or More In Store Purchase ~ Limit 3; $1 Thereafter

[ ] Bic Pens, 10 - $1
$1.50/2 Bic Stationary Products

Office Depot Sales

[ ] Office Depot 12" Ruler - $0.25
Limit 3

[ ] Office Depot 6" Protractor - $0.25
Limit 3

[ ] Office Depot Composition Notebook - $0.25
Limit 3

OfficeMax Sales

[ ] Sharpie Accent Assorted Tank Style Highlighters, 4 ct - FREE
Limit 2

[ ] OfficeMax Clear Zipper Binder Pocket - $0.01
After $5 Minimum Purchase ~ Limit 5 @ $0.01

[ ] Westcott 5" Junior Blunt or Pointed Scissors - $0.01
After $5 Minimum Purchase ~ Limit 2 @ $0.01

[ ] Avery 5160 White Laser Mailing Labels, 3000 Pack - $26.99
$26.98 MaxPerks Bonus Rewards wyb 1, Limit 1

[ ] Ogio SuperSized Backpack - $49.99
$49.98 MaxPerks Bonus Rewards wyb (1) ~ Limit 2

Rite Aid Sales

[ ] Select Back To School Items (Erasers, Portfolios, Notebooks, Sharpeners, Crayons, School Glue) - 3/$0.99 ($0.39 each)
$0.99 +UPR WYB (3) ~ Limit 1

[ ] Mead Composition Books, 100 ct - 3/$1.98 ($0.79 each)
$1 +UPR WYB (3) ~ Limit 2

Staples Sales

[ ] 2-Pocket Paper Folder - $0.01
Limit 10. With an additional $5 Purchase.

[ ] Slider Pencil Case - $0.01
Limit 4. With an additional $5 Purchase.

[ ] Staples School Glue, 4 oz - $0.01
Limit 2. With an additional $5 Purchase.

[ ] BiC Velocity Gel Pens, 2 pk - $0.50
$1.50/2 Bic Stationary Products

[ ] 1" Simply View Binder - $2

[ ] PNY 8GB Mini Metal Flash Drive - $7.99
Get FREE USB Flash Drive Bracelet

Target Sales

[ ] UP&UP Crayons, 24 ct - $0.25
Up & Up Crayons, 24 Count Target Cartwheels eCoupon (exp. 08/03/13)

[ ] Up & Up Washable Markers, 8 ct - $1
10% OFF Up & Up Markers Target Carthweels eCoupon (exp. 08/03/13)

[ ] Up & Up Watercolors, 8 ct - $1
10% OFF Up & Up Watercolor Paints & Brushes Target Cartwheels eCoupon (exp. 08/03/13)

[ ] Up & Up Durable Binder, 1-inch - $2
20% OFF Up & Up Binders Target Cartwheels eCoupon (exp. 08/03/13)

[ ] Expo Dry Erase Markers, 4 ct - $2.50
5% OFF Expo Dry Erase Markers Target Cartwheels eCoupon (exp. 08/03/13)

Walgreens Sales

[ ] Wexford 2-Pocket Folder - $0.01

[ ] Mini Highlighter - $0.19
Limit 8

[ ] Wooden Ruler, 12 in - $0.19
Limit 8

[ ] Paper Mate Highlighters, 6 pk - $0.49

[ ] Wexford Scissors, 5 in - $0.49
Limit 3

Walmart Sales

[ ] Fiskars Wood Ruler - $0.25
[ ] Dixon Pencils, 10 ct - $0.47
[ ] SchoolWorks Blunt-Tip Scissors, 5-inch - $0.50
[ ] Cra-Z-Art Crayons, 24 ct - $0.57
[ ] Inc Highlighters, 2 pk - $0.64
[ ] Avery 1-inch Economy Binder - $1.78
[ ] Cra-Z-Art School Glue, 4 oz - $0.34
[ ] Filler Paper, 150 Sheets - $0.82
[ ] Bic Cristal Pens, 10 pk - $0.97
$1.50/2 Bic Stationary Products

Find a full list of all store back to school sales at SavingsLifestyle.com.

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July 27 & 28 | FREE or Low Cost Activities for the Whole Family

Click the links below for more information at the respective web sites.

Lowe's Build & Grow

• Saturday, July 27, 10 AM | FREE Kids clinic - Build RC from Toy Story
• Sunday, July 28, 2 PM | FREE Kids clinic - Build RC from Toy Story

Toys R Us

• Saturday, July 27, Noon - 2 PM | Legends of Chima: Build an exclusive Legends of Chima Speedorz Challenge.

Michael's Kids Club

• Saturday, July 27, 10AM - Noon, on the 1/2 hour | Elmer's Frog - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10:00am - 11:30pm.
• June 17 - August 2, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10AM - Noon | Passport to Imagination - Just $2 for a 2 hour crafting adventure for children ages 5 & up.

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Christmas Savings Club | July Meeting

Happy 5 months til Christmas!

On the 25th of every month from January to November in 2013, I'm holding a virtual meeting for the Christmas Savings Club. The goal for this monthly accountability meeting is to give updates on our progress, motivate one another, and help all of us save for a cash Christmas. Today is the seventh meeting, but you can join us at any time.

If you are new, please read more about the Christmas Savings Club in the first post and join us. My offer for a FREE Christmas Gift & Spending Budget excel spreadsheet is still available.

On with the July meeting...

How did I do in July?
Our monthly goal for Christmas savings is $100. That number includes gifts for our kids, extended family members, teachers, friends, neighbors, bus drivers, service people, our Christmas cards, stamps, and our donations towards the Salvation Army's Adopt-a-Family program.

I was able to transfer the $100 to our savings account in July, but I'm still short from June when I needed to use some of the savings for other gifts that we needed to buy last month.

To make up for the shortfall, I've decided to do a pantry challenge in August.

What's a pantry challenge? Plan your menu around what is in your pantry or freezer and limit your spending at the grocery store to just the necessities. Any grocery money that is left over at the end of August will go towards my Christmas Savings Account to make up for my shortfall from June.

Not sure about a pantry challenge? Here are some other ways to make up a shortfall:

• Host a yard sale. Or sell some bigger items on Craigslist.
• Sell your unused gold.
• Pick up extra hours at work.
• Cut your cable TV.

August Assignments:
1. If you have not done so, complete the Christmas Gift & Spending Budget worksheet.

2. If you have not done so, open up a separate checking account specifically for your Christmas Spending Savings.

3. Set aside your monthly savings goal for August.

4. Consider a pantry challenge for August. With all of the vegetables coming out of the garden, August should be the easiest month of the year to have one.

Will you do a pantry challenge in August to help make up any shortfall or maybe to get ahead?  Let us know how you're doing with your Christmas Savings Account in the comments. You don't need to leave specific numbers if you don't feel comfortable, but let us know if you did anything specific to save your goal.


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Zucchini Basil Corn Muffins

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If you are looking for new ways to use up your garden zucchini and basil and you don't mind turning on your oven, try these savory and tasty Zucchini Basil Corn Muffins. I make several batches to store in the freezer for the colder months when soups are a menu staple.

My inspiration was a similar recipe that I found years ago on the popular blog, Get Rich Slowly.

Zucchini Basil Corn Muffins

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup milk
• ⅔ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup corn meal
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups shreddded zucchini
• 2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
• ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and oil.

3. Combine the corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and pour into the egg mixture. Stir until just combined. Don’t over-mix.

4. Stir in the zucchini, basil, and Parmesan. Again, don’t over-mix.

5. Prepare a muffin pan with non-stick spray and fill it with the batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 12 muffins.

Make several batches and freeze in freezer bags to serve with soups during the colder months.

Print recipe for Zucchini Basil Corn Muffins.

This post is linked to Thrifty Thursday and Weekend Potluck.

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Back to School Sales for July 21 - 27

Here is a snapshot of the stores with the best prices on back to school supplies this week:

Dollar General Sales

[ ] Binder, 1-inch - $1.50

[ ] iMagine Dry Erase Markers, 6 ct - $2

Kmart Sales

[ ] Folders, 3 Prong, 2 Pocket - $0.10
Shop Your Way Member Deal Of The Week; With $5 or More In Store Purchase ~ Limit 5; $0.25 Thereafter

[ ] Crayola Crayons, 24 ct - $0.49

Office Depot Sales

[ ] Office Depot 2-Pocket Folders - $0.10
Limit 10. While supplies last.

[ ] Office Depot Eraser Caps, 12 ct - $0.10
Limit 3. While supplies last.

[ ] Office Depot Office Depot Fine Tip Permanent Markers, 5 pk - $1

OfficeMax Sales

[ ] OfficeMax Glue Sticks, 2 ct - $0.01
After $5 Minimum Purchase ~ Limit 2 @ $0.01

[ ] Schoolio 3x5 Index Cards, 100 ct - $0.01
After $5 Minimum Purchase ~ Limit 5 @ $0.01

[ ] Single Woodcase #2 Pencil - $0.01
After $5 Minimum Purchase ~ Limit 20 @ $0.01

[ ] Schoolio 1 Subject Notebook, 70 Sheets - $0.50
Limit 5 @ $0.50 each

[ ] Avery 5160 White Laser Mailing Labels, 3000 Pack - 26.99
$26.98 MaxPerks Bonus Rewards wyb 1, Limit 1

[ ] OfficeMax Multiuse Copy Paper, 10 Ream Case - $46.99
$42 MaxPerks Bonus Rewards, Limit 2

[ ] OfficeMax 8.5x11 Multipurpose Paper, 500 Sheet Ream - $6.99
$5.99 MaxPerks Bonus Rewards WYB (1) ~ Limit 2

[ ] PNY Micro Sleek 8 GB USB - $7.99

Rite Aid Sales

[ ] Avery Big Buff Tabs - $0.47

[ ] Crayola Chalk, 12 ct - $0.47

[ ] Crayola Crayons, 8 ct - $0.47

[ ] Mead Composition Books or Notebooks, 70 ct - $0.47

Staples Sales

[ ] BiC Round Stic Ball Point Pens, 8 ct - $0.25
Limit 2. While Supplies Last.

[ ] Sharpie Permanent Fine Tip Marker, 2 ct - $0.25
Limit 2. While Supplies Last.

[ ] Staples 1-subject spiral bound notebook, 70 sheets - $0.25
Limit 5. While Supplies Last.

[ ] BiC Velocity Gel Pens, 2 ct - $0.50
Limit 2. While Supplies Last.

[ ] Staples Filler Paper, 120 sheets - $0.50
Limit 5. While Supplies Last.

[ ] BiC Great Escapes Dry Fine Tip Erase Markers, 4 ct - $1

[ ] BiC Great Escapes Dry Fine Tip Erase Markers, 4 ct - $1

[ ] Crayola Colored Pencils, 12 ct - $1

[ ] Westcott 7" Scissors - $1

[ ] Staples 8.5 x 11 Multipurpose Paper, 500 sheets - $6.99
$5.99 Easy Rebate Rewards

[ ] Staples Photo Plus 4 x 6 Gloss Paper, 60 sheets - $9.99
$7.99 Easy Rebate Rewards

[ ] PNY Attache 16 GB USB Flash Drive - 8.99

Target Sales

[ ] Up & Up Glue Sticks, 2 ct - $0.25

5% OFF Up & Up School Glue, Liquid & Glue Sticks (exp 08/03/13) Target Cartwheel Coupon
[ ] Crayola Colored Pencils, 12 ct - $0.99

Walgreens Sales

[ ] Wexford 2-Pocket Folders with Prongs - $0.17
6/$1 ($0.29 each)

[ ] Pink Erasers, 2 ct - $0.25
Limit 8

[ ] Wexford Highlighter - $0.25
Limit 2

[ ] Wexford School Glue, 4 oz or Jumbo Stick, 2 oz - $0.39
Limit 6

[ ] Wexford Filler Paper, 130 Sheet - $0.69
[ ] Crayola Colored Pencils, 12 ct - $0.99
[ ] Crayola Markers, 10 ct - $0.99
[ ] Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils, 30 ct - $2.99

1000 Balance Rewards Points wyb (1)

Walmart Sales

[ ] Fiskars Wood Ruler - $0.25
[ ] Dixon Pencils, 10 ct - $0.47
[ ] SchoolWorks Blunt-Tip Scissors, 5-inch - $0.50
[ ] Cra-Z-Art Crayons, 24 ct - $0.57
[ ] Inc Highlighters, 2 pk - $0.64
[ ] Avery 1-inch Economy Binder - $1.78

Find a full list of all store back to school sales at SavingsLifestyle.com.

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• have updates sent to your email,
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Join Home Depot Garden Club - Over $300 in Annual Savings

It's more than half-way through July, and by now, you may not want to think about all those summer-maintenance and home-improvement activities, but Home Depot is your one-stop shop for most everything you'll need for the home and garden. When you join the Home Depot Garden Club you will receive email newsletters that deliver more than $300 in savings during the year.

And, even without the great savings, those emails are packed with useful tips and information. The most recent email (from 7/17) featured Midsummer Makeovers, with Container Gardens Made Simple and Martha's Bright Ideas: From Gutter to Garden.

In these informative and timely email newsletters, you'll regularly find:

• Project ideas
• Monthly to-do lists
• Expert Advice

To sign up for the newsletter, just click the Garden Club banner at the top of this post.

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• have updates sent to your email,
• through your RSS Feed
• become a fan and 'like' FBS on Facebook
• become a Twitter follower

Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Family Balance Sheet! You can read the site's full disclosure here.

Refurbishing a Filing Cabinet

The location of my home office has been in limbo. For years it was in the basement, but that isn't the most convenient location for me. I need to be able to see/hear/know what my kids are up to, especially during the summer months when they are outside playing in the backyard. That's hard to do from the basement.

So I converted a corner of our dining room into my own corner office. I'm not pleased that I've taken over my dining room (and neither is my husband), but it's definitely more convenient for me than the basement. It will do for now.

I'm using a small white desk that we didn't need any longer at our business office, but I also needed a filing cabinet for some additional storage. While I love the white Bedford Lateral File cabinet at Pottery Barn, I just don't have $499 to spend. We did have an unused cabinet at our business, but it wasn't white. Never fear, with a little spray paint, my husband took care of that for me.

Before:

And 2 cans of spray paint later:

We are super pleased with the results. The cabinet is in great condition and the drawers work very well. My husband used Rust-oleum Universal in Gloss White. He used 2 (12 oz) spray bottles, but there was a slight breeze that day, so we think some was wasted--thus the 2 bottles. The total cost was $12--beats the $499 at Pottery Barn.

I'm in the process of cleaning out my old filing cabinet and my plan is to downsize my paper files to just the top drawer of the new cabinet. I'll use the bottom for storage.

My corner office...

...with a view to my back yard:

Have you refurbished a piece of furniture lately with spray paint? How did it turn out? Let us know in the comments.

This post is linked to Thrifty Thursday.

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20 S'mores Recipes

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My husband starts a fire frequently in our back yard fire pit and roasting marshmallows and making s'mores is one of our favorite summer activities and also one of our favorite summer desserts.

My favorite way to make a s'more is to smear peanut butter on the graham cracker. It melts with the chocolate once you add the roasted marshmallow---so yummy!

If you love the flavors of s'mores, but building a fire is quite appealing or possible, then try these different s'mores desserts.

20 S'mores Recipes

1. Brownie S'mores Trifle Dessert at Mom Endeavors
2. Crescent Roll S'mores at Stockpiling Moms
3. Frozen Banana S'mores at Oishii treats
4. Nutella S'mores Cheesecake Cups at Lemon Tree Dwelling
5. S'mores Bars at Diana Dishes
6. S'mores Blossoms at Just Putzing around the Kitchen
7. S'mores Cheesecake at The Peche
8. S'mores Fudge Bars at Cookies & Cups
9. S'mores Martini at Hungry Couple
10. Cookies 'N Cream S'mores at The Frugal Girls
11. S'mores Cake at Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body
12. S'mores Hot Chocolate at Minimalist Baker
13. S'mores Kiss Cups at My Recipe Journey
14. S'mores Muffins at Archimedes Bakes 
15. S'mores Pie at Gimme Some Oven
16. S'mores Pizza at She Knows
17. S'mores Popcorn at crazylou
18. S'mores Pudding Shots at My Baking Addiction
19. S'mores Rice Krispie Treats at Six Sisters Stuff
20. S'mores Whoopie Pies at Mrs. Regueiro's Plate

Be sure to visit all of these sites for the actual recipes. Also follow me on Pinterest for more S'mores recipes.

Do you roast marshmallows in your back yard? Do you eat the tradional s'more or do you have a secret ingredient?

Thanks for reading. If you would like to receive FREE updates of FBS, there are four ways to do so:

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5 Cooking Basics eBooks for Just $7.40

Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Family Balance Sheet! You can read the site's full disclosure here.



This week's bundle takes you back to the basics with 5 cooking resources to help you meal plan, create your own recipes, make homemade condiments and reduce waste. With a little planning, you can save time and money in your kitchen, and this week only get all 5 ebooks for just $7.40, or 85% off their list price!

How To Cook For Yourself by Rachael Roehmholdt
How To Cook For Yourself: A Complete Beginner's Guide is your guide to meal planning, grocery store strategizing, and learning the ins and outs of cooking basics and techniques. Rachel takes you through the entire process of selecting meals, grocery shopping, and getting a great meal on the table in no time. Learn how to cook for yourself in a way that is simple and can easily integrate with your life, right now!

Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil by Mary Platis and Laura Bashar
Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil is a fabulous resource for cooks of all experience, from the novice to the professional. With detailed descriptions, a variety of recipes for vegetarians and meat eaters alike, and plenty of beautiful and vivid photographs, Mary and Laura show you how to poach, braise, marinate, infuse, and even bake with olive oil!

Restocking the Pantry by Kresha Faber
Making your own condiments isn't difficult! Restocking the Pantry is packed with nearly 75 pages of recipes and tips, and Kresha shows you exactly how easy it is – not to mention frugal and healthy – to make your own favorites at home, including ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, jellied cranberry sauce, hot sauce and more, for a total of 55 recipes!

Design a Dish by Millie Copper
In Design a Dish, Millie shows you how to use formulas rather than recipes to design dishes with the ingredients that are available so that you can reduce food waste and save money! Once you start using formulas for your meals you will discover just how easy it is to nourish your family for less!

From Garbage to Gourmet by Carrie Isaac
From Garbage to Gourmet features more than 80 recipes and creative ideas for using things like broccoli stalks, potato peels, carrot ends, herb stems, corn cobs, and more, plus hundreds of strategies to help you prevent food waste and create delicious food out of things you normally throw away. Carrie has taken the strategies she's learned in her quest to reduce waste and stretch her budget and packaged them in a beautiful ebook that will make you forget you're reading about food waste!

The Cooking Basics bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 7/22. Get yours today!

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• become a Twitter follower

Back to School Sales - July 14 - 20

If you're preparing for back to school, here is a snapshot of the stores with the best prices on back to school supplies this week:

Meijer Sales

[ ] 2 Pocket Folder - $0.15
With or Without Prongs ~ Limit 30

[ ] Elmer's Glue, 4 oz or School Glue Sticks, 2 ct - $0.50
Limit 10

[ ] Bic Round Stick Cristal Pens, 10 ct - $0.97

$1.50/2 Bic Stationary Products

Office Depot Sales

[ ] Office Depot Filler Paper, 150 sheets - $0.25
Limit 3

[ ] Crayola Crayons, 24 ct - $0.50
Limit 3

[ ] FORAY Single Pens - $0.50
Limit 10

OfficeMax Sales

[ ] Single Woodcase #2 Pencils - $0.01
Limit 20 @ $0.01 with additional $5 purchase

[ ] Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer, 1 oz - $0.10
Limit 6 @ $0.10 - Additional Quantities $0.99

[ ] Schoolio 1 Subject Notebook, 70 ct - $0.15
Limit 5 @ $0.15 - Additional Quantities $0.59

[ ] Just Basics Ballpoint Pen, 10 ct - $0.25
Limit 5 @ $0.25 - Additional Quantities $1

[ ] Office Max Glue, 4 oz or Glue Sticks, 4 ct - $0.25
Limit 3 @ $0.25 - Additional Quantities $1

[ ] Crayola Crayons, 24 ct - $0.50 *Sunday and Monday Only*
Limit 4 @ $0.50 each - Additional Packs $1

[ ] Crayola Colored Pencils, 12 ct - $1

[ ] Schoolio Poly Binder, 1" or 1.5" 3 Ring Binder - $1
Limit 5 @ $1 each - Additional Quantities $1.49 - $1.99

[ ] Duracell CopperTop AAA and AA Batteries, 20 pk - $16.99
$16.98 MaxPerks Bonus Rewards WYB (1) ~ Limit 2

[ ] OfficeMax 8.5x11 Multipurpose Paper, 500 Sheet Ream - $6.99
$5.99 MaxPerks Bonus Rewards WYB (1) ~ Limit 2

Staples Sales

[ ] RoseArt Crayons, 24 ct - $0.25
Limit 2

[ ] Staples All Purpose Glue, 4 oz - $0.25
Limit 2

[ ] Dry Erase Board with Marker (5.5" x 8.5") - $1

[ ] Staples Photo Supreme 8.5" x 11" Double Sided Paper, 50 sheets - $14.99
$11.99 Easy Rebate

[ ] Kingston 16 GB Flash Drive - $9

Walgreens Sales

[ ] Wexford 2 Pocket Folder - $0.13
Limit 16

[ ] Wexford 2 Pocket Folder - $0.13
Limit 16

[ ] Penway Crayons, 24 ct - $0.39
Limit 6

[ ] Wexford #2 Pencils, 8 ct or Penway Crayons, 24 ct - $0.39
Limit 6

[ ] Wexford 1 Subject Notebooks, 60 or 70 Sheets - $0.49
Limit 8

[ ] Wexford Scissors, 5 in - $0.49
Limit 6

[ ] Penway Colored Pencils, 12 pk - $0.99
[ ] Penway Markers, 10 pk - $0.99

Walmart Sales

[ ] Cra-Z-Art School Glue, 4 oz - $0.34

[ ] Dixon Pencils, 10 ct - $0.47

[ ] SchoolWorks Blunt-Tip Scissors, 5-inch - $0.50

[ ] Inc Highlighters, 2 pk - $0.64

[ ] Filler Paper, 150 Sheets - $0.82

[ ] Bic Cristal Pens, 10 pk - $0.97

$1.50/2 Bic Stationary Products

[ ] Avery 1-inch Economy Binder - $1.78

Find a full list of all store back to school sales at SavingsLifestyle.com.

Thanks for reading. If you would like to receive FREE updates of FBS, there are four ways to do so:

• have updates sent to your email,
• through your RSS Feed
• become a fan and 'like' FBS on Facebook
• become a Twitter follower

Visit a State Park | Summer Fun Guide

Do you like to picnic, hike, swim, camp, bike, bird watch, canoe, fish, and spend your free time exploring the great outdoors?

You can enjoy all of these activities and more at a state park!

Pennsylvania is home to 120 state parks or conservation areas.  None of the PA state parks charge an entrance fee into the park. Campsite rentals start at $15/night. Lake swimming, hiking, and bicycling the trails are all free. Picnicking is also free unless you are renting a pavilion. Some parks have pools and those fees range from $3-$7, depending on your age. A day at a state park is family friendly, fun, adventurous, and inexpensive.

As I was poking around PA's state park website, I found the First Time Camper program where $20 gets you two nights of camping, equipment rental and hands-on instruction on how to camp by state park expert campers. That's a fantastic opportunity and price!

Not from PA? Then head to Google and look for a list of state parks within your state.

My family spent an afternoon at the beach at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA recently and we didn't spending a dime. We brought our own picnic lunch and drinks and the kids had a blast. Next time we want to take our bikes to ride on the bike paths around the park.

Have you visited a state park recently? Where did you go? What did you do? Let us know in the comments.

For more frugal summer fun ideas, Visit my Summer Fun Guide.

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How to Make Simple Syrup

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My husband and I drink a lot of iced tea in the summer. I brew tea in the sun several times a week during the hot months, so we always have it on hand.

To sweeten our tea, I make a simple syrup. I like my iced tea a little sweeter and with simple syrup we can each sweeten our tea to our taste.

To add some flavor, I infuse the syrup with herbs from my garden--pineapple sage, lemon verbena, and lavender. The herbal syrup makes iced tea incredibly flavorful and it's so easy to make. My favorite is the lavender.

Use 1-3 teaspoons of the basic recipe or the herbal version per single serving. The syrup is a delicious way to sweeten tea, lemonade, mojitos, and other summertime drinks.

How to Make Simple Syrup (Basic Recipe)

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water

Over medium heat, stir and dissolve sugar in the water in a small saucepan. Once sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and cool. Once cooled, store in the refrigerator. This recipe stores well in an 8 oz jelly jar. You can increase the volume of the syrup, just keep the 1:1 ratio.

How to Make Herbal Simple Syrup

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup packed fresh herb - mint, lavender, lemon verbena, or pineapple sage

Over medium heat on the stove, stir together the water, sugar, and herb in a small saucepan. Once sugar is dissolved, place a lid on the pan and remove from heat to steep for an hour. Allow the syrup to cool and pour through a sieve into the storage container. Store in the refrigerator. This recipe stores well in an 8 oz jelly jar.

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5 Writing eBooks for Just $7.40

Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Family Balance Sheet! You can read the site's full disclosure here.




Are you a writer? Do you want to be a writer? If so, this bundle is for you! With five incredible resources from well known and successful authors, this collection is packed full of inspiration, practical tips and strategies to help you take your writing to the next level and earn an income from your craft.

Get this bundle for 70% off this week only!

You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins
You Are a Writer {So Start Acting Like One} is an ebook about the process of becoming who you already are. It’s a guide for those called to a life of words, a book about passion and calling, striving and sacrifice. Mostly, it’s about writing: the glorious and grisly process of putting your butt in the chair and creating something worth remembering. This ebook will challenge you, call you out, and launch you into the life you should be living — a life of writing.

Self-Publish: Moving from Idea to Product by Erin Ulrich and Teri Lynne Underwood
Self-Publish is an ebook for writers intrigued and/or intimidated by the world of self-publishing, writers who value quality and are prepared to devote time to creating an excellent product. With detailed information about each component of a great self-published work, Erin and Teri Lynne guide you from idea to product to help you ask yourself the right questions about four key elements of a successful book -- content, design, audience, and marketing -- with 20 worksheets to help you plan and prepare to write and release your book.

31 Days to Become a Better Writer by Kristina J. Tanner
Written for every writer who longs to hone their craft but is pressed for time, 31 Days to Become a Better Writer covers 31 different aspects of your craft with a daily exercise to reinforce that day's topic. This book is beneficial for individual writers by themselves, but can be used effectively in a group setting as well!

How to Market and Sell Your eBook by Sarah Mae
Why should print books have all the fun? You can earn a full-time income with e-publishing, and you don't have to be a superstar to do it. Based on her own experience (she's sold over 40,000 in eBooks) and by studying the experiences of other's, Sarah Mae shares the lessons she's learned about communicating your passion to others in a new way and then getting those ideas to the world, one practical and thrilling step at a time in How to Market and Sell Your eBook.

On Becoming a Writer by Denise J. Hughes
The world of blogging has revitalized people’s interest in the craft of writing. They want to improve their craft too. In On Becoming a Writer: What Every Blogger Needs to Know, Denise answers thirty-four of the most important questions about writing that bloggers need to ask. What’s the difference between writing advice and editing advice? What if I hated English class? How do I tell my story? With the answers to these questions and more, this e-book will help you become a writer who has something to say and says it well.

The Writing bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 7/15. Get yours today:



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Back to School Sales - July 7 - 13

I'm not wishing our summer away, but school is just 7 weeks away for us--plenty of time to find great deals on most of our supplies.

Andrea of Savings Lifestyle pulled together this list of stores with the best prices on back to school supplies this week:

Dollar General Sales

[ ] iMagine Pencil Sharpener - $0.50

[ ] iMagine Coloring Pencils, 12 ct - $1

[ ] DG Mini Stapler with Staples - $1

Kmart Sales

[ ] RoseArt Crayons, 24 ct - $0.25
Shop Your Way Member Deal Of The Week; With $5 or More In Store Purchase ~ Limit 3; $0.50 thereafter.

[ ] Sharpie Fine, Ultra Fine, or Chisel Marker, 2 pk - $1
2000 Shop Your Way Points (=$2.00) WYB $10+

OfficeMax Sales

[ ] Tote Bag - FREE
WYB $15+ in select Pos-It or Scotch Products

[ ] Schoolio Paper Folders - $0.01
After $5 Minimum Purchase ~ Limit 10 @ $0.01

[ ] OfficeMax White Glue, 4 oz - $0.01
After $5 Minimum Purchase ~ Limit 2 @ $0.01

[ ] Schoolio 1 Subject Notebook, 70 Sheets - $0.20
Limit 2

[ ] Expo Chisel-Top Dry Erase Marker, 4 ct - $1
With In Ad Coupon ~ While Supplies Last, Limit 1

[ ] Lexar 250 8 GB JumpDrive USB - $7.99

Rite Aid Sales

[ ] Crayons, 24 ct - $0.29

[ ] Playskool Glue, 4 oz - $0.29

Staples Sales

[ ] BIC Round Stick Ball Point Pens, 8 ct - $0.01
Limit 2. Minimum $5 Purchase

[ ] Staples Cap Erasers, 12 ct - $0.01
Limit 2. Minimum $5 Purchase

[ ] Staples 3 x 5 Index Cards, 100 ct - $0.01
Limit 2. Minimum $5 Purchase

[ ] Avery Insertable Divider Tabs - $0.25

Target Sales

[ ] Elmer's Glue Sticks, 3 ct
Buy 1 participating Elmer's Glue Stick, Get a FREE Elmer's Liquid School Glue, 4 oz instantly.

[ ] Crayola Pencils, 12 ct - 0.99

[ ] Crayola Markers, 10 ct - $0.99

Walmart Sales

[ ] Cra-Z-Art School Glue, 4 oz - $0.34

[ ] Dixon Pencils, 10 ct - $0.47

[ ] SchoolWorks Blunt-Tip Scissors, 5-inch - $0.50

[ ] Inc Highlighters, 2 pk - $0.64

[ ] Filler Paper, 150 Sheets - $0.82

Find a full list of all store back to school sales at SavingsLifestyle.com.

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Why I Run at 6 AM

I'm not fond of the high heat of summer weather. My body doesn't handle it well when the temps hit north of 85 degrees. The sun fries my fair skin if I'm not careful and I get light-headed easily from the blazing heat.

But I love to run, so to avoid a total meltdown, the only way I run throughout the summer is to hit the pavement at 6 AM...even on the weekends when sleeping in is pure joy.

After several late nights and early mornings this past week, I finally had the chance to sleep in this morning, so I didn't get out the door until 9:00 AM.

Big mistake! I suddenly remembered why I run at 6 AM. It's too bloody hot anytime after that!

The above screen shot is from my phone at 9:38 AM after I finished my run. I stopped just short of 3 miles. It was too hot for me--81 degrees and the sun was blazing, not a cloud in the sky. It was going to be a hot day.

Tomorrow morning, my alarm will go off at 6 AM, my normal time, when the weather is much cooler and running is far more enjoyable.

What time of day do you run? Does the heat bother you too? Let us know in the comments.


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July 6 & 7 | FREE or Low Cost Events for Families

Click the links below for more information at the respective web sites.

Bank of America Museums on Us

• Saturday & Sunday, June 1 & 2 | Each Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholder gets FREE general admission to 150 museums nationwide. Just present your credit or debit card along with photo ID. List of participating museums.

The Home Depot Kids Workshop

• Saturday, July 6, 9 Am - Noon | Despicable Me 2 craft

Michael's

• Saturday, July 6, 10 AM - Noon, Sessions start on the half hour. | Summer Games - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid.

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Go Bowling | Summer Fun Guide

When the weather hits 90+ and the pool feels more like bath water or a summer storm seems to last for days, I'm looking for indoor activities that are inexpensive, yet entertaining for my kids.

Go Bowling! It's indoors, air-conditioned, entertaining, competitive, and often inexpensive. Bowling offers just about everything I'm looking for in an indoor activity.

I've found coupons in our community's Bonus book and Clipper magazine for Buy 2 Games, Get 2 FREE.

Or check out KidsBowlFree.com and register your kids at a local, participating bowling center to receive certificates to bowl 2 FREE games a day all summer! Shoe rental is not included.

It's indoor fun for those less than desirable days to be outside.

Do you go bowling with your family? Let us know in the comments.

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How to Grill BBQ Chicken Without Burning It

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No more burnt grilled BBQ chicken!

In the past, I've always burned BBQ chicken. I just couldn't find that balance of cooking the chicken all the way through and not burning it.

It turns out that I was grilling it wrong. In the past, I put the BBQ sauce on the chicken before I placed the chicken on the grill. And by the time the chicken was done cooking on the inside, I had burned it on the outside. I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of burnt chicken.

The problem: If left too long, sugar burns on a grill and BBQ sauce usually has sugar in it, whether it's an ingredient or it's from the ketchup.

My solution...

How to Grill BBQ Chicken without Burning It!

1. Drizzle chicken thighs and legs with olive oil and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper or your favorite spice.

2. Place the chicken on a hot grill, about 450 degrees. Close the lid. Cook for 10 minutes. Flip and then cook for another 9 minutes. (If you are grilling boneless chicken, you will reduce the grilling time. Follow these grilling instructions.)

3. Brush some BBQ sauce on the chicken. Close the lid and grill for the last minute.

4. Flip the chicken, brush the top side with sauce and close the lid again and grill for 1 minute.

5. Use extra sauce for dipping.

Voila!

Grilled BBQ chicken that isn't BURNT!

For as often as I grill, I don't know why I didn't think to do this earlier. Oh well! Lesson learned.

Now if you excuse me, I'm off to eat that delicious platter of Peach BBQ chicken!

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5 Christian Living eBooks for Just $7.40

Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Family Balance Sheet! You can read the site's full disclosure here.




This week's bundle is packed full of tools and encouragement for living a life of active faith. Discover and embrace your identity in Christ, the path to truly forgiving those who have hurt you and simple ways to let your light shine through this inspiring collection of ebooks and devotionals.

Get this bundle for 60% off this week only.

Complete by Arabah Joy
Research shows it takes only 21 days to change the way we think. In Complete, Arabah Joy takes readers on a 21 day journey to think about themselves truthfully: that in Christ, we are complete. This journey takes readers through practical daily applications such as targeted scripture memory, visualization, exercises to renew the mind and address fear, and much more.

Shine by Trina Cress
In Shine: The Beginner's Guide to Living More Intentionally for God Everyday, Trina shares ideas and inspirations for letting our lights shine in our own little worlds and in the world at large through simple acts like starting a conversation with a stranger, giving unexpectedly, and living intentionally for Christ everyday.

Holey, Wholly, Holy by Kris Camealy
Though the season of Lent occurs once a calendar year, the reality is, as Christians, we live the Lenten experience again and again. In Holey, Wholly, Holy: A Lenten Journey of Refinement, Kris walks along side the believer and offers encouragement and hope for the journey from holey (broken in sin) to wholly (surrendered unto God) to holy (claiming the gift of grace through Christ). This ebook is for anyone who longs to grow closer to Christ, and hungers to accept that grace that His resurrection offers!

Desires of My Heart by Heather Bixler
So many believers walk their Christian walk without really knowing what it means to delight in the Lord. In Desires of My Heart, a devotional based on Psalm 37:4, Heather helps readers work to get past the barriers that are inhibiting their walk with the Lord, while also encouraging them to live a life guided by The Holy Spirit.

31 Days of Forgiveness by Tracie Stier-Johnson
In 31 Days of Forgiveness, Tracie leads us on a biblical and compassionate walk through the depths of our hurt, pain, unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, and anger. If you commit to walking this journey, God will redeem your pain—pain you may not know you’re carrying—and your life will never be the same.

The Christian Living bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 7/8. Get yours today:



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