Free Mp3s from Spin.com for July

For each issue, Spin Magazine offers free downloads of the songs that "make" the issue. Visit Spin.com for the 14 free mp3 downloads from their July issue (available through July 31, 2011), as well as the 15 songs from the June issue (available through June 30, 2011).

5 Recipes for DIY, Green, and Frugal Pest Control

Summer is officially here, which means that bugs of all persuasions (let's take a moment and shudder a collective ick) are out in full force. Most bug repellents and pest control sprays are laden with chemicals (and unsafe to use by kids and pets) and fall on the pricey side. Whole Living magazine included 5 recipes in their June 2011 issue for do-it-yourself, homemade repellents.

For Ants: 

• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tbsp Borax

Sprinkle in kitchens and bathrooms (alas, this one must be kept away from kids and pets, however).

For Bedbugs:

• 1 tsp of peppermint oil
• 1 tsp of rosemary oil
• 2 cups of water

Spray on the mattress and the floor surrounding the bed. (To me this sounds like the perfect aromatherapy mix for the bedroom, too!)

For Flies:

• Cloves
• Eucalyptus
• Clover blossom

Tie in a sachet and hang from the ceiling.

For Mice:

• 1 tbsp peppermint castile soap
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 8 cups of water

Spray along the baseboards in your house.

For Roaches:

• 2 tsp of tea tree oil
• 2 cups of water

Spray in kitchens and bathrooms.

For a list of store-bought, non-toxic pest repellents, visit www.wholeliving.com.

June 2011 Sweepstakes from Better Homes and Gardens

I've been a bit remiss in posting the fabulous sweepstakes from Better Homes and Gardens; they've even re-designed their website (it looks fabulous!). The site for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine is a treasure trove of ideas for the DIYer. What's more, they offer some fabulous sweepstakes from Better Homes and Gardens and their affiliates that you can enter daily!! Here are the sweepstakes that you can enter during the rest of the month of June:

• BHG $10,000 Celebrate Spring Sweepstakes Like the BHG Facebook page for a chance to win $10,000 PLUS a free magazine issue! (Ends 6/24/11; one entry per household.)    
• The Small Dog Adventures Sweepstakes Enter to win $2,000 in The Small Dog Adventures Sweepstakes brought to you by Mighty Dog! (Ends 6/30/11; one entry per household.)    
• Ladies Home Journal 2011 Walmart Shopping Spree Sweepstakes Enter for a chance to win a $1,000 Walmart shopping spree! (Ends 6/30/11; enter once daily.) 
• 2011 Best New Products Sweepstakes. Ten winners will receive a prize basket consisting of thirty-four best new winning products (retail value $305), and a $33 check for the retail value of eight best new perishable products. (Ends 6/30/11; enter once daily.)
• Better Homes and Gardens $25,000 Home Makeover Sweepstakes One winner will receive a $25,000 check! (Ends 6/30/11; enter once daily.)
• Better Homes and Gardens $10,000 Ultimate Media Room Makeover One winner will receive $10,000 to create the ultimate media room. (Ends 6/30/11; enter once daily.)
• "A Touch Better" Sweepstakes Ten winners per week (130 total) will each receive a copy of Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, retail value $29.95.  (Ends 7/11/11; enter once daily.)
• Better Homes and Gardens A New Viewpoint Sweepstakes Win a $5,000 window makeover from Budget Blinds! (Ends 7/28/11; enter once daily.)
• Better Homes and Gardens $5,000 Dream Garden Makeover Sweepstakes Win $5,000 cash to create your dream garden! (Ends 7/31/11; enter once daily.) 
• Better Homes and Gardens Garden Retreat Giveaway Enter to win a garden retreat getaway at the Biltmore Estate Inn, North Carolina! (Ends 7/31/11; enter once daily.) 
• Recipe.com $5,000 Groceries Sweepstakes One winner will win $5,000 to spend on groceries! (Ends 8/4/11; enter once daily.)
  
• Better Homes and Gardens $25,000 Save Money, Save Energy Home Makeover Sweepstakes Win a $25,000 home makeover to celebrate healthy, energy-efficient living! (Ends 8/15/11; enter once daily.)
• Better Homes and Gardens $25,000 Summer Switch & Save Sweepstakes One winner will win $25,000 cash! (Ends 8/31/11; enter once daily.)
  
• Parents $20,000 Best Family Car Sweepstakes One winner will win $20,000 for a new car! (Ends 8/31/11; enter once daily.)
• Better Homes and Gardens Daily Sweepstakes. Enter daily for your chance to win great cooking and decorating prizes! Plus, be entered to win the grand prize of $2,500 when you enter! (Ongoing; enter once daily.) 
• Prize Tested Recipes Contest Each month, enter for your chance to win $500! Two winners will be selected each month. (Ends 12/31/12.)
  

Today Only: 12-Pack of Pepsi for 99 Cents at CVS

Today only, swipe your ExtraCare card at any CVS store and receive a coupon for a 12-pack of Pepsi or Diet Pepsi for 99 cents (excludes stores in New York and Connecticut).

Today and Tomorrow: Bath and Body Works' Yellow Sale--Save up to 75%!

Starting today (deals online) and ending tomorrow (with deals in-store), you can save up to 75% during Bath & Body Works' Yellow Sale!

CVS Deals Rock!

On Sunday, I went to CVS to get a pack of cigarettes (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know), allergy medicine, and lip balm. As is my ritual, I always scan my ExtraCare card to see what coupon goodies are waiting for me. This time? A coupon for $4 off a purchase of $20 or more and a coupon for $3 off a cosmetics purchase totaling $10 or more. (I also had a coupon for $1 off L'Oreal hair color, but I'm waiting to use that one later.) Since I did need new eyeliner (though my husband might debate that necessity), I decided to use my coupons.

My purchases:

CVS-brand Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride (generic Benadryl): Price $4.69

Camel menthol cigarettes: Price $5.19

Blistex lip balm: Price $1.67

Revlon ColorStay eyeliner: Price $7.79

Revlon ColorStay eyeshadow: Price $7.29

Total: $26.63 plus tax

Coupon total: $7.00

Total Spent: $20.42

I also got $4 in ExtraBucks to be used by July 6, so I suppose I could argue that I truly only paid $16.42 for my loot :)

Yay for CVS!

Free Pet Safety Pack from ASPCA

A fabulous find I stumbled across while searching for which plants are toxic to cats. The ASPCA has a free pet safety pack, which includes a window decal (which, in case of emergency, alerts rescue personnel that pets are inside your home) and an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet (so you've got the correct numbers and websites handy in case your fur children get into something they shouldn't have).