I have been searching for a good recipe for homemade mosquito repellant for a while now and I think I finally found one!!

First off, though, I have to say that I have tested it up here in the Dallas area, but NOT where I grew up in the mosquito-haven of southeast Texas (high heat + super high humidity = an insane number of mosquitoes).

That said, this homemade mosquito repellant has worked GREAT up here in Dallas and I’m thrilled to have found something that isn’t full of chemicals AND that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (like, for example, California Baby Natural Mosquito Repellant at $16.99 a bottle).

So here’s the recipe:

(And yes, in typical Rachel fashion I totally guessed on the measurements for each ingredient)

• Lavender Essential Oil (probably around 15 drops or so)

• Homemade Vanilla Extract (around 3-4 Tbsp… which is why I recommend making your own so it’s inexpensive!)

• Lemon Juice (4-5 Tbsp also)

Mix all of the above ingredients in a spray bottle and fill the rest up with water.

Spray away!!

And I LOVE the smell of this mixture too! No need for perfume, lol.

I would recommend reapplying fairly often as well.

There are a few other options that you could use as well instead of the above ingredients (although it might not smell as nice). Instead of the lavender essential oil you could use cinnamon oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, or citronella oil, and instead of vanilla you can just use your favorite cooking oil, witch hazel, or just plain vodka (my homemade vanilla extra was made in vodka).

Have you tried making your own mosquito repellent? I’d love to hear other recipes too!

And let us know if you try this one and it works for you!

If you have never signed up with Ebates, then TODAY ONLY (7/26) you can get a FREE $10 Gift Card to one of several popular merchants when you sign up and then make a $25 purchase (the purchase doesn’t have to be today)!

Ebates is one of the top websites for getting cash back on your online purchases and you get a check from them with your cash back once every quarter.

If you need diapers, then you can shop through Ebates to grab the $5 diaper sale at Babies R Us (and even get free 2-day shipping through a ShopRunner trial!).  Just grab at least 5 packs of diapers to make your total $25, and you’ll get one of the $10 Gift Cards!!

The only catch is that you have to sign up TODAY (7/26) to get the $10 gift card (your purchase can be any store on Ebates and you’ll get the $10 gift card when you make your $25 purchase).

Here’s how to do it:

1.  Sign up for Ebates TODAY (7/26) and pick which $10 gift card you want.

2.  Search for the store you want to shop at purchase at least $25 worth.

3.  Make your purchase and you’ll get the $10 gift card!

*You can also choose to get a $5 cash bonus instead of the $10 gift card if you want to.  And if you don’t sign up today, then you can also get the $5 cash bonus with your first purchase!*

Okay, so before I ask you guys to share, I’ll go first.

What’s our biggest financial financial failure?

We’ve had PLENTY of failures over the years.  But the biggest?

I would have to say that our biggest financial failure was the massive amount of eating out that we did at the beginning of our marriage.

We went into marriage pretty financially solid.  Ryan had a job, our expenses were low, and we had money in savings.  We really could’ve made it without going into debt.

But I didn’t really know how to cook.

So we ate out.  A LOT.

And tore through the money in savings… and went into debt.

It’s amazing how all of those seemingly small eating out expenses add up to HUGE amounts by the end of the year ($20 x 3 times a week x 52 weeks = $3,120 by the end of the year).

Yeah, not the way to be financially responsible.

On the other end… what are some things you can do to have financial SUCCESS?

I’ve already talked to you guys about a website called Manilla before, and they are offering ANOTHER giveaway for y’all if you sign up!!  (Yay!)

In case you haven’t heard about Manilla yet, here’s what Manilla does to help you have financial SUCCESS instead of financial failures:

• Manilla manages all of your household and financial accounts, travel rewards programs, and subscriptions in one secure place — for free.

• With Manilla, one password provides instant access to all of your accounts. No more hassle. No more lost or forgotten passwords.

• Manilla automatically posts reminders of all of your bills, making bill management easy and stress free.

• Manilla stores your important documents in an automatically updated system. You can keep them filed for as long as you want, and they’re always available to you.

Sounds awesome, right? AND, they have bank-level encryption (which is definitely important to me) so that all of your information is totally secure!

You can check out a sample account page HERE.  I LOVE how it has everything all in one place!!

What tips can you share from your own financial successes and failures?

Manillawants to know and is giving away a Spa Day worth $500 to one lucky person that tries their household account management site this month! Get control of your finances and relax knowing all your bills and statements are organized in one secure online place! It’s simpler and free!

.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Manilla. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest runs July 14-31, 2011. Winner must be signed up with Manilla to win. A random winner will be selected by August 5, 2011. Official Contest Rules

If you have never signed up for Groupon, you can SIGN UP HERE!

Just click on a link below to go directly to that deal!

Elite Brights – Home Teeth-Whitening Kit from Elite Brights ($299 Value) for $37 – free shipping shipping

10 Issues of “Everyday Food” and 12 Issues of “Martha Stewart Living” (Up to $36 Value) for $20

ShoeDazzle – Handbag, Jewelry Set, or Pair of Shoes from ShoeDazzle for $19 – free shipping

Periwinkle Rose – $40 Worth of Beeswax Candles, Organic Fabric Care, and Sleepwear from Periwinkle Rose for $20 – free shipping

Blockbuster Express – Five One-Night DVD Rentals from any Blockbuster Express in the US ($5 Value) for $2

Dali Decals – $50 Worth of Wall Decals and More from Dali Decals for $20 – Shipping starts at $6.50

SimplytoImpress.com- $40 to Spend on Custom Invitations, and More for $15 – $8 shipping (look under “Nearby Deals”)

Fierce Hugs – $65 to Spend on Baby Clothing for $30 – $5 shipping (look under “Nearby Deals”)

The Golf Zone – $50 for $100 worth of products – free shipping included

Roaste.com – $15 for $30 worth of Gourmet Coffee & Accessories – $5.95 for shipping under $39

Be sure to sign up for all of the Group Buying Sites to see all of the daily deals in your city.

If you know someone that’s going to be getting married or are getting married yourself you may want to get this FREE 2 year subscription to Bridal Guide Magazine! (12 issues)

You can access the subscription through ValueMags here: Bridal Guide Magazine Free 2 Year Subscription.

Make sure to select “Please don’t send me any more special offers” before you hit submit as you may get barraged with junk mail if you don’t. Allow 6 – 10 weeks for your first issue to arrive.

More great Freebies!

(Thanks, Freebies 4 Mom!)

There are a ton of great school supply deals this week at lots of stores!!

I’ve posted the highlights from each store, but click on each store name (it’s a link) to see the post from the bloggers that have the full list!  I’ll be posting the full list of deals from OfficeMax each week.

:: CVS Back To School Deals ::

Caliber 1-Subject Notebooks – 24¢ each

Buy $15 worth of Five Star Notebooks or Binders – $5.99 and up, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 5)
As low as $4.33 each after ECBs

:: Kmart Back To School Deals ::

RoseArt (24-ct) crayons - 25¢ each

Basic (70-ct) notebooks or selected fashion folders – 33¢ each

:: Kroger Back To School Deals ::

Crayola Crayons (24 ct) – 25¢ each (Limit 4)

Write Bros. Pens Blue or Black (10 ct) – 33¢ each

Top Flight Filler Paper (150 sheets) – 75¢ each

:: Office Depot Back To School Deals ::

Buy 2 Five Star Notebooks, Get a FREE Five Star Composition

Tug™ 2-Hole Manual Pencil Sharpener – 1¢ each (Limit 3)

Office Depot® Brand 2-Pocket Poly Portfolios – 25¢ (Limit 10)

Office Depot® Brand Multipurpose Paper – 8 1/2 x 11 (500 ct) – $6.49 each, Get $5.49 Mail in Rebate Visa Gift Card
Send in for $5.49 Mail in Rebate Visa Gift Card
$1 each after MIR

:: Rite Aid Back To School Deals ::

Buy 3 Mead Marbled Composition Book (100 sheets) @ 66¢ each, Get $1 +UP Reward (Limit 2)
Pay $1.98 out of pocket, Get $1 +UP Reward
Total after +UP Reward: 33¢ each wyb 3
**Qualifies for Mead $2 SCR #3 wyb $10 or $5 SCR wyb $20 – starts 7/27/11

Mead 1-Subject Wire Bound Notebook (70 sheets) – 33¢ each
**Qualifies for Mead $2 SCR #3 wyb $10 or $5 SCR wyb $20 – starts 7/27/11

:: Target Back To School Deals ::

Sharpie 2 pk – $1.49
Use $1/1 Sharpie Printable Coupon
49¢ each after coupon

Rose Art Crayons (24 pk) – 20¢ each

Rose Art (2 pk) Glue Sticks – 20¢ each

Mead 1 Subject Notebook – 20¢ each

:: Toys R Us Back To School Deals ::

Buy 1 Crayola Crayons, Markers, and Paper, Get 2 Free

Buy 1 Melissa and Doug Crafts, Puzzles, and Toys, Get 1 50% off

Buy 1 Backpack @ $12.99 each, Get Lunch Kit Free ($9.99 value)

:: Walgreens Back To School Deals ::

Sharpie Marker – 39¢ each (with in-ad or clipless coupon)

Sharpie Highlighters (2 pack) – 69¢ (with in-ad or clipless coupon)

Pilot Easy Touch Pens (2 or 3 packs) – 99¢

Buy 1 Penway or Wexford 1-5 Subject Polycovered Notebooks, Get 1 50% off

:: Walmart Back To School Deals ::

Folders – 15¢ each

1-Subject notebooks – 20¢ each 

Pencils 10 ct – 47¢ each

Index Cards – 64¢ each

Here is a round-up of some of the best printable coupons that I’ve seen so far today:

*HOT* Coffee-Mate Coupon – 50¢/1 Coffee-Mate Cafe Flavors Coffee Creamer
Stouffer’s Coupon – $1.50/1 Stouffer’s Sautes for Two
JELL-O Coupon (IE) (FF) – $1/1 JELL-O Temptations Dessert Mix
Talenti Gelato Coupon – 55¢/1 Talenti Gelato E Sorbetto (reset of Facebook; must “Like” them)
French’s Coupons – 50¢/1 French’s Dijon Mustard + More Coupons (login or sign up)
Luigi’s Coupon- 50¢/1 Luigi’s Real Italian Ice product
Gorton’s Coupon (IE) (FF) – $1/2 Gorton’s product
Thai Kitchen Coupon (IE) (FF) – $1/2 Thai Kitchen product
Nivea Coupons – $2.00/1 Nivea Smooth Sensation Lotion + More
Curel Coupon – $1/1 Curel Skincare product (when you take quiz)
Glade Coupon – 55¢/1 Glade Premium Room Spray

Be sure to check out all of the printable coupons that have been available recently.

Wow, this looks like a really neat FREE Kindle Book by Jeanette Windle – Veiled Freedom. It’s a fictional account of Christian relief worker Amy Mallory in Afghanistan, a special forces veteran now with a private security firm in charge of protecting key members of the Afghanistan government, and the Afghani interpreter named Jamil hired by Amy.

You can download this book completely free right now by going here: Free Kindle Book – Veiled Freedom.

We downloaded it to both of our accounts already and can hopefully carve out some time to read it. Remember, you do not need an Amazon Kindle in order to read these free Kindle Books. You can download it to your Smartphone, PC, Mac, iPod, or iPad as well!

NOTE: The prices on Amazon can vary from one minute to the next. I can make no guarantees that the price will be the same as the one above when you click on the Amazon link. Let me know in the comments section below if the price changes and I will get the post updated as soon as possible.

(Thanks, Saving with Shellie!)

Well, apparently we are going to have a football season this year (this is Ryan – I knew they HAD to work out a deal – I think the government would shut down before pro football would!). Anyway, to celebrate the uninterruption of our cherished American Sunday tradition TGI Friday’s is offering a coupon for a completely FREE appetizer – Crispy Green Bean Fries – don’t get too excited.

I think I would get this appetizer simply on the basis of its freebieness. If not, I’m not so sure. But if you have a stomach of steel and enjoy the fun atmosphere at TGI Friday’s and plan on going TODAY (7/26), then this coupon is definitely for you!

You can grab it from the database here: TGI Friday’s Printable Coupons.

Also, there is still a $5 off $15 coupon available that is good through 10/31, so if you prefer something on the lighter side or have other plans tonight you can use that coupon instead.

Oh, and we live in the Dallas area, so I’m sorry for not getting too excited about the continuation of pro football. I’ll still be rooting for America’s team, but I might pay a little more attention to our alma mater. (Gig em’ Ags!)

There is a Chili’s coupon good today only (7/26) for a free appetizer or dessert wyb 1 entree! Plus, the free Chips & Queso wyb 1 entree when you sign up for their e-club is still available as well, however it looks like both coupons cannot be used at the same time.

You can access both coupons from the Restaurant Coupons Database here: Chili’s Printable Coupons.

The coupon excludes the Triple Dipper appetizer, so if you’re into Triple Dippers you’re going to have to settle for something else this go round. And if you use the chips & queso coupon be sure to ask for a side of avocado ranch dressing as well as it is SO good with the tortilla chips! (And there’s never enough queso for the chips anyway

If you were looking to get a Nintendo Wii or like to get started on your holiday shopping early be sure to check out the deal right now on Amazon! For $30 you can get a Nintendo Wii Bundle including the Mario Cart game, a steering wheel, and the Wii console for only $149.99, plus you will get a $30 Amazon Gift Card! (exclusions apply) Plus, the order qualifies for free super-saver shipping or free 2 day shipping with Amazon Prime!

You can also choose to get a white or black console depending on what you prefer.

To get the deal:

1. Head over to Amazon here: Amazon Gift Gard Wii Bundle Deal.

2. Choose either the black or white color for your gaming console.

3. Then, under “More Buying Choices” on the right hand side click “Add to Cart” on the first one listed for Amazon.com:

4. The $30 credit will be applied to your Amazon account within two days after the Wii ships once processing is complete. Exclusions on the $30 credit includes Kindle books, MP3s, and video rentals and downloads.

Enjoy!

(And remember, if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it!

NOTE: The prices on Amazon can vary from one minute to the next. I can make no guarantees that the price will be the same as the one above when you click on the Amazon link. Let me know in the comments section below if the price changes and I will get the post updated as soon as possible.

More Great Deals & Savings!

Vistaprint has another great offer today through 7/29. Get 140 personalized labels for free, and pay only shipping! (shipping starts at $3.03)

These labels are great as not only can you use them as address labels, but they can also be used as gift tags for kids toys or even as fancy envelope seals. These come down to about 2¢ each shipped, so if you were needing some personalized labels this is definitely the time to get them!

To view the offer head over to Vistaprint here: Vistaprint 140 Free Personalized Labels.

Remember to get these by this Friday, 7/29.

More Great Deals & Savings!

Now through 7/31/11 you can get 80% off at Restaurant.com when you use the code “SAVE” at checkout. This means that you can get $25 restaurant gift cards for only $2!!

Plus, if you purchase through Shop At Home, you get an additional 25% cash back bringing the price down to $1.50!!

Keep in mind that with the gift cards from Restaurant.com you typically have to spend a certain amount before you can use the gift card. To use most of the $25 gift cards you have to have an order total of at least $35. But since the gift cards are just $2, you end up getting a $35 meal for only $12 out of pocket! (NOTE: Be sure to read the terms and conditions for each restaurant as they do vary and many require an automatic 18% gratuity.)

Hurry though because the really good ones always go quickly.