We want to help you have a frugal and fun Christmas ! Please check this page often as we will post deals and offers that will be perfect for Christmas ! Start your Christmas shopping early and save big. If you have a Christmas deal that we should add to this page please email me at Melissa at CosumerQueen.com (remove the at and replace with @) Just think of me as Santa’s Little Helper! Note: Using links on this page helps keep this site free by using affiliate links. Not all links are affiliates.

TOYS:

Print Hasbro and Playskool coupons here !

Save over $75 on PlaySkool Toys

20% off Build A Bear coupon (10/24)

60% off Toys at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/ydtfuj5

Amazon Toy Outlet http://tinyurl.com/y86lcr5

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I have no idea what has gotten into me lately but ever since Rubbermaid has decided ti help me organize my garage I have been in the cleaning mood! Usually I come home from work just exhausted! I have been learning to take on just little tasks at a time which have been making it so much easier than trying to take many things at once.

When I would try and clean before I caught myself starting in one room, putting away something in another room, seeing a mess and getting side tracked from what I was originally working on and start on another. So nothing would ever get done the way I wanted and I would just get stressed out. I thought I might post a few cleaning tips that may help you get back in the mood after the holiday weekend.

1. Listen to books on tape while you clean or use your Ipod. This will help lighten the mood and make the time go by faster.

2. Some times I will clean when I am in a really bad mood. It seems that I have a bit more energy and it also helps me unwind and forget what I was mad about in the first place.

3. Don’t feel like you have to tackle the whole entire space immediately.Instead break down the process into smaller steps.

4. Create a cleaning schedule. Maybe schedule yourself 30 mins a room. What ever you get done , great when your 30 mins is up move on to the next room. Once it’s clean do not give up on your schedule! This will help keep it clean. Below are a few home remedies that I have been told over the years. Some I have tried and some I have not so use your best judment when tyring these. Please let us know if any of these has worked for you!

5. Cleaning your garage? Check out what professional Organizer Melissa Smallwood is doing for me !

 *A few Home Remedies*

1. Check out my last post where you can learn to make your own Dryer Sheets,Foaming Hand soap, and using White Vinegar!

2. Bathroom-Sprinkle Baking soda around the bathtub and it will make a paste that you can use to scrub the dirt right off. You can then rinse with vinegar water to help keep your tub cleaner longer! I keep a bottle of white vinegar in the bathroom and after every bath or shower I spray  the shower and tub down with vinegar! You can also use the baking soda for your sink and toilet as well. I have also heard that you can drop seltzer tablets in the toilet to make it sparkle and shine but I have never tried it.

3.  Rust in the Bathroom- Mix lemon Juice and Salt and scrub with a toothbrush!

4. Remove Candle Wax- If you have candle wax in your carpet you can take a brown paper bag and place it over the spill. The run a hot iron or Vaccum cleaner over it and the paperbag will ubsorb the wax. Always use a clean spot on the bag when finishing up the stain.

5. Crayon on walls- Well I use the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser it’s awesome! But when you don’t have that around you can spray some WD 40 on it and wipe with a paper towel. You can also try some baking soda as well.

Ok that is enough for today. I will be posting more tips soon!

Lands’ End will be counting down the days to the 4th of July with special giveaways starting June 30th and ending July 4th. All you have to do is become a Lands’ End Facebook Fan and enter the contest via an entry form on Lands’ End’s wall. Each day Lands’ End will randomly select fans to win great summer items.
Day 1: Vertical Stripe Rugby Towel
· Day 2: Stadium Blanket
· Day 3: Soft Side Cooler
· Day 4: American Flag
· Day 5: Open Top Natural Tote with American Flag Embroidery

*Note* this contest is not on CQ you must enter on their facebook.

Last Thursday Coupon Princess, Shannon Snow and I did a show on Blog Talk about “Free and Cheap things to do with your kids this summer and we told we try and get a post up as well. Well…….. here you go! Enjoy and have some summer fun with your kids!

Summer Movie Programs- Check your local theater for kids summer movie programs in your area. Some offer free movies and some offer very low prices!

 Regal Cinemas

AMC Theaters

Free Summer Bowling-  Lot’s of bowling alleys are 2 free games everyday for the summer. Check your area for free bowling!

Water Spraygrounds- Water Spraygrounds are popping up all over. They area filled with water play and they are totally free. Most of them are put in at regular state parks.

Summer Reading programs- Lots of sites and companies are offering summer reading programs.

Scholastic 

Barnes & Noble

Check your local library, for all kinds of free activities.

Get a Zoo Pass and enjoy the fun all summer! 

Plant a garden with your kids

Start a summer cooking class with your kids

Scrapbooking is a fun and creative way to spend time with your kids 

Volunteer at a local animal shelter. 

Water sprinklers are a great way to beat the heat!

Go on a nature/treasure/scavenger hunt.

Lets the kids write their own book and decorate it.

Let you kids make their own puppet theater.

Make movies with your kids.

Write skits and act them out. 

If you live in Oklahoma, Metro Family Magazine has a great Kids Summer Guide you can use! 

There are a lot of other ideas but I would love to hear some of yours! What do you guys plan to do? 

ConsumerQueen.com would also like to welcome all you Oklahoma Gazette Readers! If you missed our article in today’s edition Click Here to read! 

While there are still a few brands that I absolutely love there are many things you can use or make around the house to save money. You don’t have to skimp on quality when using home remedies. Some of these items are just as good if not safer to use around kids and pets. Check out some of the ideas at home and feel free to share your own!

White Vinegar:  White Vinegar can be used for a lot of things! Put it in a spray bottle mixed with a little water and spray it around your door frames and windows outside it will keep ants away as they hate to cross it. You can also spray it on windows and glass to make them sparkle and shine. If you have pets use it to deodorize cat litter boxes and stains on carpets. I use it in my laundry to help fight stains and help with musty odors and pet odors.

Make your own dryer sheets: Use your favorite Tupperware container and use 2 parts 1 water and 1 part of your favorite liquid fabric softener. Take 2 kitchen sponges and cut them in 1/2. Toss them in and let them soak over night. When done ring one out and toss in the dryer. They can be reused over and over and just think how many dryer sheets you can get out of a bottle? Be sure and keep it air tight and you can color code your sponges so you can remember which ones need to soak.

Speaking of Dryer sheets did you know that dryer sheets help keep mosquitoes away? Just pin them to the back of your toddlers shirt. You can also stick them in stinky shoes to freshen them up! Place under your seat in the car to keep it smelling fresh. For more tips with dryer sheets click here! 

Baking Soda: Baking Sodais another good one. Sprinkle it in Cat litter boxes to help fight odors. Pour 1 cup a vinegar and a little bit of baking soda down the drain monthly to help fight clogs! Keep a box by the stove,great to put out grease fires. Great to clean formica counter tops. Sprinkle it on your barbecue grill, let soak and rinse off to spruce your grill up for the summer. Polish your silverware.

Make your own foaming Soap: We all love those cute little foaming soaps but we all hate their cute little price. Once you but the product once do not throw away the container. If you take 5-6 parts 1 water and 1 part liquid dish or hand soap and add to your empty container you will have your own foaming soap and you can get a bottle of soap for .99 at most stores. Just think of how many bottles of foaming soap you can get out of that one .99 bottle of soap?

For more Home Remedy tips click here ! 

Be sure and listen to our Earth Month Show on Blog Talk Thursday night 8pm CST ! ( we will be giving away 1 case of White Cloud Green TP and 1 case of White Cloud paper towels on our show!)