Tax Free Weekend 2013 & Back to School Basics

Tips for a great Tax Free Weekend from the QUEEN’S!!

 

Most important knowledge is to know that only clothing items priced under $100 are tax-free this weekend, and accessories priced under $50.  Sporting equipment like cleats is exempt from the tax free weekend sales.  Check out the Arkansas Tax Free Exemption Laws before you venture out this weekend.

 

Remember in Conway you are saving about 6%…In Little Rock you are saving 6.5%. 

 

Its so easy to spend a lot on your Childs back to school clothes because after all we want our kids to look their best. . . .We don’t want you to spend top dollar on every outfit we want you all to shop smart!!  Here are some of the rules Sondra and I have followed  . . . .

 

Rule number 1: Never buy an item unless you absolutely need it this weekend. This is important because we want you to remember that there will be some great Sales around Labor Day, which means that gives you a couple of more weeks to save and buy more of the things your child needs.

 

Rule number 2:  Some great ways to save on clothes is to buy from consignment shops, On line Yard sales, getting items from a family members child who has grown out of them, and of course EBAY..      EBay is important because you can target exactly the item you need and compare the price to the consignment shops or at the department stores and more than likely you will score a great deal. 

 

Rule number 3:   lets move on to the department store deals.  We don’t want you to pay too much for an item that you need, so your best bet is to type in to Google each store’s sales ads you plan to shop at . . . Check out their ads so that if one store has it cheaper then you know to buy it at that store where the better deal is.  Yes; this will take you about 30 minutes to review but it is soooo worth your time!!!

 

Rule number 4:  Even better go to group on and write down all of the coupon codes for every store you are planning on attending, trust me this is so worthy of your time.  You will get a certain dollar amount or percentage off plus what the store is advertising.  Which makes for a great deal!!  This is a stackable savings!!!

 

Rule Number 5:     Know your stuff. . . Lol . . .  Take advantage of specialized shopping programs. . . Let me give you an example. . . . .Sears Kidadvantage Program…….

For every $100 you spend on clothing and shoes you will receive a 15% off coupon for your next purchase. . . .The best part is if your child wears out an item before they grow out of it they will replace the very same sized item for FREEEE!!

 

Now we have taught you the Rules that the Queen’s live by. . . .let me give you a few insights to some of our local  popular stores. . .

 

OLD NAVY

For every $20 you spend this weekend you will receive $10 super cash to use during August 25 throught the 29th.  This is a reallll steal!!!  Because by this time they will Have out the new looks and great sales. . . it’s a beautiful WIN WIN deal.  Also, they will be selling their jeans for $10. . . . .yes you heard it here first . . . .$10 jeans. . . Wow

 

JcPENNY

Every $25 you spend you save ten dollars right then!! That is a great savings!!!

 

SHOE CARNIVAL:

They of course will have the famous BOGO going on. . . .but they have a coupon you can print from the internet for an additional $5 off!!!  I so love the additional savings!

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE:

When you shop here you will receive 20% off of your total purchase. . .which is really a 26% savings. . . . They have a coupon online . . . .here is the code

 

Q7AKURMC8A

 

BELK:

$10 off of every $50 you spend

$20 off of a $100

And $30 off of $150

 

MAURICES:

You will receive 20% off of purchases and or  $20 off of every $100!!

 

2013 sales

 

 

 

• Sondra Rodocker
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Here's the link to the website to shows the stipulations regarding purchases.

http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/exciseTax/salesanduse/Documents/holidayItemized.pdf

 

 

Back to School Basics to get you started!

 

Boys Need

7 Pairs of Pants

7 T-shirts

2 Collared Shirts

10 Pairs of Socks

10 Pairs of Underwear

1 pair of GOOD tennis shoes

1 pair of dress shoes

 

Girls Need

4 Pairs of Pants

2 Skirts

1-2 dresses

1 jacket to alternate with dresses, skirts, and blouses

5 T-Shirts

2 Button up blouses or tops

3 Feminine Fitted Shirts

Undergarments

7 pairs of socks

1 Pair of Tennis Shoes

1 Pair of Boots

2-3 pairs of sandals

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken Fajitas & Ranch Chicken

I've been very persistent with cooking every night for the past 2 going on 3 weeks now. I had to get us back on our budget after our move. We got so out of sorts from the move we just keep "picking up" food. Well that can get costly for a family of 4. Here are 2 of our recent recipes my family LOVES! I don't have to stress about dinner tonight either because I've been prepping and I have a Lasagna in the Freezer we shall fest on :) Happy Saturday everyone!

 

<3 Sondra

 

Chicken Fajitas

*You can prep this and freeze ahead of time in bulk*

3 Chicken Breasts, sliced into fajita strips , 1-2 Tbsp Fajita Seasoning, from a packet or a jar, 1 medium onion sliced, 1 medium pepper sliced, 1 Can Rotel tomatoes & green chiles. Label and freeze.

TO COOK- thaw and dump into the crockpot – cover and cook 4-5 hours on low

 

*Add whatever you like to your fajitas to make them super yummy! We do a dab of sour cream and a little shredded cheese :)

 

Ranch Chicken

 

*You can prep this and freeze ahead of time in bulk*

4 Whole Chicken Breasts, 1 Packet Ranch Dressing Mix (The dry kind)

• Dust the chicken with the ranch dressing – try to get the whole packet to stick. It worked a bit better if I didn’t try to do it in the bag before I froze it, so I did it on a plate and put whatever didnt stick in the bag. Label and freeze.

TO COOK- Thaw and place in your slow cooker with about 1 C of Water or Chicken broth for 3-4 hours on High, or 4-5 Hours on Low. Serve whole or chop up for tacos or sandwiches.

 

*These recipes yield 4 servings. It really yielded 5 because we usually feed out babysitter too. So we didn't have leftovers which I'm ok with because it motivates me to cook more :)

 

Week 23 of our 52 week challenge to stress free organized home life

It is officially week 23 of our 52 week challenge to a stress free and organized home life!!!!

This week we are going  out into the yard ... Sort of!  Let's create a good space for our yard and garden tools.  That could be in your garage . . .your shed or some where on the outside of your house.  Whatever works for you and your home and your space.   We have like a lean-to so I am going to come up with something that will allow me to hang all of these items on the inside of the lean to.  Gosh it was a mess trying to gather all of those things up this year!! So I am going to do it in a way that is inexpensive and attractive.  Maybe paint a board and faux finish it so it looks nice then I will attach some hooks from Walmart, they are also inexpensive!!! Yes, that's what I will do!!  Good luck everyone get your homework done and I will see you guys next week!! Hope your week is amazingly wonderful!! xxoo Shelly
Let us know if you come up with some cool ideas!!!

Week 22

Good morning it is officially week 22 of our 52 week challenge, we took a week off last week in honor of our Oklahoma neighbors!! Still praying for them!! This week is organize your purses and bags. All luggage type and carry every day type. Make a place in your closet or behind your bedroom door or under your bed for these items!! Make them easy to get to but as usual . . . .it's time to get rid of stuff. If you havent used a purse in two years more than likely you are not going to" . . .sell it . . . . . .or donate it or hand it down to someone who love to carry it !! Let's get busy guys and get this home work done.....remember just jump in any time do not worry about playing catch up!!! Have a wonderful day!!!!

Hello everyone it's officially week 19 of our 52 week challenge to an organized home life!!! Hi guys so sorry I'm late I've had a small knee issue.. :)!!! So your homework this week is to organize your shoes. . . .yap get them together. Summer shoes together winter shoes together ..... And if you are not wearing them then Dell them or give them away!!! I know how hard this is because a i am a shoe hoarder .... Yes ... Admit it I need therapy... Or just AN UNDERSTANDING OF MY FETISH!!!! lol ... Seriously ... Pray for the weak shoe hoarder!! Lol ... Lets clean it up guys ..... Together .. :)

Week 18

Good morning everyone!!!! This is officially week 18 of our 52 week challenge to a stress free organized life and home!!  This week I want you to create an entry space of some sorts.  A mud room might not be doable .... But if we can add hangers ... A bench ... Anything that can give us a designated coat, shoes, backpack and purse and key location!! We can make our own homemade look or we can buy something from hobby lobby or Lowe's.  I am looking forward to see what I can come up with since I basically have no space for this kind of thing.  So I  am going to get creative  and try to make a neat little space ... I will come back and post this week the pictures of before and after! Lets do this guys ... Please send us pictures of what you guys come up with ... I can't wait!! xxoo Shelly

Give away

Hello to our precious fans!! I made a basket and tried and tried to contact the sweet lady ... No response .... So I am giving it away this week for the second time ... Please go to our page give us a shout out and share our link on your page so we can enter you into the drawing!!!! Ty so much!!!