The concept at Teespring is really simple:

1. Get an idea and design your t-shirt. There are no upfront costs and no risks!  With over 10,000 pieces of art and more than 50 fonts, the design options are endless!

2.  Set a goal and reach for it!  Whether your goal is 20 or 10,000, you decide how many t-shirts you wish to sell and your cause.  Choose a price for your t-shirt and figure out how long you want the campaign to run. 

3.  Utilize social media to spread the word about your campaign!  Post your t-shirt and cause on facebook, twitter and instagram!  Email the link to your friends and family, too!  Buyers won’t be charged until you reach your goal.  (Love that!)

4.  Sit back and say “thank you”.  After you reach your goal, buyers’ t-shirts will be made and sent out.  (But you can still keep the campaign going!)

A couple sold this “Love makes a family shirt” to raise money to adopt!

This one raised over 85k for Boston relief!  

Take a minute to check out the other featured campaigns or start a campaign of your own!  What would you like to see on a t-shirt?

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Kroger is giving shoppers a fun way to save on gasoline this summer through their Fueling Your Summer event!  Right now, shoppers can get 2X the fuel points on weekends!  That means you can save up to $1 per gallon at the pump by redeeming up to 1,000 Fuel Points at any Kroger Fuel Center, and participating stations!  

Take a look at how the program works:  Every $1 spent on qualifying items at Kroger earns you 1 fuel point. To help you fuel your summer Kroger is offering a digital coupon that will double shoppers fuel points earned when shopping at Kroger on weekends, meaning every $1 spend on the weekends equals 2 fuel points.   

My family stays busy over the summer!  From road trips to soccer games to movies, one thing is certain….everyone needs snacks!  To prepare for our next summer road trip, I’ve been shopping for fast (and non-messy) snacks that I can pack in a bag to take with us!  Shopping ahead of time helps reduce the amount of pit stops and the amount of money spent on said snacks during our trip!  (I also picked up other things for our vacation such as my favorite sunscreen and a new pair of sunglasses)!  By shopping on the weekends, I’ll be able to bank some fuel points and fill up the truck before our trip!

One lucky The Frugal Mom reader will win a $100 Kroger gift card to help fuel your summer at Kroger!  Enter through the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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 Last week, I had the opportunity to test drive a 2013 Mazda3 i Grand Touring for 7 days.  I have driven a van for about 4 years, so going to a 4-door car was different.  And fun!  (I don’t know that I want to go back to the van!)  I like the sporty feel of this sedan!

Though sporty and fun, this vehicle is loaded with the safety features I am interested in:  

• Adaptive Front-Lighting System
• Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) with brake assist
• 5-passenger 3-point safety belts
• Dynamic Stability Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Active front headrests
• Collapsible steering column
• Blind Spot Monitoring System
• LATCH Child Safety Seat Anchors

It also has a keyless ignition, which I fell in love with!  It was convenient to stick the key fob in my pocket, and not have to pull out keys when I was out shopping!  If the key fob is within close distance, you simply push a button on the door or trunk to open.  To start the car, you step on the brake and push the ignition button.  No “traditional” key needed! 

Once I was inside the Mazda3 i Grand Touring, I noticed the technology.  Features, features and more features! 

The Mazda 3 Technology Package includes a 4-month subscription to SIRIUS Satellite Radio.  You can enjoy your favorite stations or sync your smartphone and listen to the tunes you love!  (You can even pull up your Pandora account through the standard USB audio input port.)

Another technology feature?  The steering wheel is equipped with a “Steering-wheel-integrated button for the Multi-Information Display (MID).”   This means the Mazda3 i Grand Touring offers Bluetooth hands-free capabilities which allow users to access the phone through voice commands!  I was even able to access the built in Tom Tom Navigation system and speak my directions….no typing necessary and designed to keep your eyes on the road!  You can also read text messages through the audio system.

The dual-zone climate controls allow you the flexibility to control separate temperatures than your passenger.  If you are always cold (like I am), set the temperature to a comfortable level and let your passenger do the same!  If it’s a cold day, you can take advantage of the dual seat warmers, too.

The safety and technology features are enough to make the Mazda3 a great competitor in it’s class, but make note of the fuel economy as well.  Combined with Skyactiv Technology, the Mazda 3 i Grand Touring gets 40 Highway MPG and 28 City MPG!  In one week, I drove the car over 375 miles, not once having to stop at the gas station. 

Fuel Efficiency. Performance. Together.

Mazda: Our goal was to reduce fuel consumption and emissions
without compromising driving performance.

What feature do you look for in a vehicle?

The post Take a Look at the Mazda3 i Grand Touring appeared first on The Frugal Mom.

I recently found out about a fun kitchen gadget that would satisfy my family’s dessert craving.  It’s a product called Yonanas, and I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review one!

Yonanas is a frozen dessert maker with a healthy twist.  The Yonanas dessert maker uses frozen bananas and other frozen fruits to make an ice cream type of dessert!  This is great for those who want to add more fruit to their diet and anyone who may be health conscious!  I think it is perfect for making the desserts I want my children to eat!  (Especially on a hot summer night!)

The Yonanas machine comes with a handy Recipe Guide to get you started, but creating your own recipes is fun, too!  We have made dessert with only bananas; we have made dessert with bananas and strawberries; we have made dessert with bananas, strawberries, mango and papaya!  Though different, they all come out delicious!

Using the machine is very easy.  Simply take your “cheetah spotted” bananas, peel them and place in the freezer for 24 hours.  If you are using other fruits, too, place those in the freezer as well.  When you are ready to make your dessert, take all of the fruit out of the freezer and let thaw for about 10 minutes.  You then put your fruit into the Yonanas machine and get ready to enjoy!  (The blending process is quick and easy!)  

Take a look at the Yonanas machine in action:

 My children eat it up every time, and I love the fact that there are no added sugars!  (There is no guilt, either!)  Yonanas sells for about $50, and is available on Amazon and at Target stores.

For more information, visit the Yonanas website or connect with them on facebook.  You can also find them on twitter.

The post Yonanas Frozen Dessert Maker Review appeared first on The Frugal Mom.

Chili’s is giving away one million of their NEW freshly-baked flatbreads! Loaded with signature toppings on a crispy crust, it’s a taste not to be missed. Claim your free flatbread* before they’re gone and get to your local Chili’s!

*Free full-size flatbread when you join Chili’s Email Club.

The post Chili’s – Free Flatbread! (No purchase necessary) appeared first on The Frugal Mom.

Our summer is filled with activities! We have plans to visit the library, the zoo, the splash pad and so many more places!  But there is no doubt rain will be in the forecast at some point.  In that case, we are most likely to stay home.  (Boring!)  I have a plan for that, though….with a few prepared indoor activities! 

One of the activities I have prepared is an indoor scavenger hunt!  It was so easy to create, and my children will have lots of fun finding the items around the house!  I think we might try this in a store, too!

I will include a copy of my list below, but keep in mind this list can be altered as needed.  If you have absolutely nothing “shiny and new” in your house, change that to “something green”….the options are endless!

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Summer is here!  Make sure you sign-up for the Summer Unplugged and Summer Pass – where kids bowl free all summer long! Kids registered in the Summer Unplugged program can bowl two games per day, every day, for the entire summer! https://freebowling.amf.com/?source=USFAMILY

The post Kids Bowl Free All Summer! appeared first on The Frugal Mom.

Summer is here.  If you thought today’s 97 degree temperature was hot, just wait!  Your air conditioner will not stop for the next few months!  Trust me!  There is always a large spike in my electricity bill from June – September.  Always.

Though I have really good energy prices per kwh with my energy company, it’s still good to monitor your electricity use where possible.  Check out these 5 energy saving tips:

1.  Unplug Unused Electronic Devices
 - Electronic devices still consume power when plugged in, whether or not they are in use or even turned on.  If there is a computer that rarely gets used or a toaster that is used every other week, consider unplugging it and plugging it in when needed.

2.  Adjust your Air Conditioner’s Thermostat
 - Find a comfortable temperature and stick to it.  In our house, the thermostat stays on 78 degrees, going down to 77 when it’s really hot outside.  Use fans to help cool hot areas.  *It’s also a good idea to change your A/C filter on a regular basis!

3.  Close the Blinds!
 - Sun = HEAT.  Keep the sun out when you close the room’s window blinds.  Adding a shade or curtain can help cool a room, too!

4.  Wash Clothes and Dishes at Night!
 - Both the dishwasher and dryer use heat to dry their contents inside.   Turn these devices on at night, when the temperatures are somewhat cooler.   *Don’t forget to remove lint from your dryer’s trap!

5.  Grill It!
 - Instead of turning on the oven, consider going outside to grill dinner.  Ovens put off a lot of heat (obviously) and that means more use of the A/C to cool off what heat you are bringing into the kitchen!

The post Energy Saving Tips for Summer appeared first on The Frugal Mom.

I fell in love with Sister Act about 20 years ago, when Whoopi Goldberg took the big screen!  Still today, anytime the movie is on I can’t resist myself from singing along!

SISTER ACT is Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash!  The New York Post calls it “RIDICULOUSLY FUN,” and audiences are jumping to their feet in total agreement!

The musical was somewhat different from the movie, but just as funny and show girly!  We smiled through the entire show!

The story follows Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

 A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT is reason to REJOICE!

Sister Act, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals, will be on stage at Music Hall at Fair Park until June 16th. Find more information and buy your Sister Act tickets here. Parental guidance is suggested for this show for ages 9 and up

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Kids born between June 11, 2002 – June 10, 2003 (10-year-olds) can get in free before noon at all five locations on June 10, 2013. Kids 10 and under can get in for only $10 all day at any of the five waterparks with a special coupon, which is available to print at hfalls.com/bday.  There will also be food and drink specials at each park throughout the day.

The post Hawaiian Falls – 10 Year Olds Get in FREE 6/10 and Under 10 Pay Only $10! appeared first on The Frugal Mom.