This is incredibly cool! I hope some of you Utahns take advantage of this/ What a perfect FREE date night!

The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to be teaming up with the Utah Film Commission to present the Utah State Capitol 3rd annual summer film series, "Movies Under the Stars", featuring four "Made in Utah" movies:

July 1 - The Sandlot (1993) MADE IN UTAH
July 8 - Legally Blonde 2: Red..., White & Blonde (2003) MADE IN UTAH
July 15 - Planet 51 (2009)
July 22 - Forever Strong (2008) MADE IN UTAH
July 29 -The Goonies (1985)
August 5 -The World Fastest Indian (2005) MADE IN UTAH
August 12 -The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
August 19 - Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
August 26 - The Blindside (2009)

Films will be shown at dusk on the southeast corner lawn of the Utah State Capitol and are FREE to the public. So bring your picnics, blankets, and friends, and enjoy this years Movie Under the Stars!

LOVE this!! Check out & join their Facebook page here.

Wow-Well, as it turns out, my laptop has more than just a virus-it has a collapsing hard drive that has to go all the way to the Toshiba people (which, if you watch Modern Marvels, you know that that really means it goes to a UPS hub to be worked on) to get fixed. It could take anywhere from 1-2 WEEKS! AHHHHHHH....

So, to try to get the ancient desktop to work faster, I have spent all day getting all pictures, documents and such OFF this thing and on to our external hard drive so I can actually use it and blog again. Things are looking good on that front!

Speaking of pictures, I wanted to tell you all about the wonderful miracle of this whole ridiculous thing. When the laptop collapsed (well not completely, but mostly), my first thought was "Oh crap! I have no back up for the pictures on there!". Usually the best of my pictures is "backed up" on my personal blog, but I am literally about 9 months behind on that currently. so I wanted to cry. I JUST took a ton of cute pics in a photo shoot with the kids and the only place they were saved was on that laptop. Well, what it is doing, is basically overheating and shutting itself down randomly-and NEVER more than 15 minutes on at a time. Well, I miraculously (and patiently) got all our pictures off the laptop 10 minutes at a time over the past 2 days (as well as my husbands important applications and resumes for his fellowship)!

SO, I thought I would let you know that in spite of all the sadness of the injured laptop, I was able to save the important things, and I will end up getting back a like new laptop in the end (that is still covered under warranty by the way)! SO, I have a lot to be thankful for and I promise I will get in gear looking up deals again now that this desktop seems to be working better!

Now on to getting the Air Conditioner fixed! :)

Well, what a crazy day! Do you ever feel like EVERYTHING is falling apart around you all at once? This week alone, my car died, my AC died, my laptop died and BOTH of our toilets sprung leaks...ahhh...

By way of explanation for my blogging absence...here at Beckee's Abode, we have 2 "working" computers-a nice newish laptop and a very slow, ancient desktop. The desktop takes like 10 minutes just to start up and is slow as molasses once it is up!

Currently, our laptop is in the computer hospital as it was infected by a terrible virus. I am feeling like my right arm was removed. This is the first time today I have been able to get online (some earlier posts went up that were pre-written and scheduled) and my poor husband who is working nights this week has been up all day today helping with the laptop (which as I mentioned ended up at the shop anyway).

Needless to say, I am currently on the ancient desktop trying to get this out just to let you know why I am absent from my blog world. It may be a day or two before I get up and running again, so I REALLY apologize. Please don't give up on me though, I will be having some fun and exciting things coming up when I get this newest problem fixed!

As I mentioned last week, Cat over at 4 Nuts in a Nutshell is doing a great summer challenge. It is a 120 mile walk or run challenge, and I have decided to take the challenge. After all, we walk to the lake near our house (3 miles round trip) as a family 3-6 times a week, so this should be easy, right?

Well, I am still behind, btu making some progress.  I should be at 40 miles by the end of the month (June 30-next Wednesday).  I do not know if I will make that or not!

So, this is where you great readers come in...I need to be held accountable for my walking. So far I have been out of town week 1 and sick most of week 2 which are my excuses for being behind, but excuses will not help me accomplish the challenge. So, I am going to give you an update of my progress each Friday to try to be more accountable and motivated. If anyone is doing this challenge with Cat, or if you want to just jump in and do it as a support to me, you can leave your progress and updates in comments.

Come on, let's get moving!!

Thanks Cat for doing this challenge and getting my butt in gear! And thanks in advance to my readers for helping me stay motivated!

Right now I walked 13 miles this week which brings my total to 30 miles for the challenge overall.

Remember, as with EVERY Friday, today is Mega Swagbucks day! That means more chances to earn more Swagbucks! So, makes sure to use Swagbucks for all your searching needs today!

FYI-I have already made $80 in Amazon gift cards and still have 894 points left (which is enough to get another $5 with 444 swagbucks left). (450 swagbucks = $5 Amazon gift card) The bucks keep building up!

Last week I used my Amazon gift cards to buy a portable hard drive (on sale) that we have been trying to save up the money for-thanks to Swagbucks I was able to get it without putting in ANY of my money-I only used my Swagbucks gift cards!!! It came yesterday and we are so excited!!!

If you have not joined yet, click on my referral link here and start earning Swagbucks with me! This is a GREAT time to join-with Mega Swagbucks going on today!!

If you are new to Swagbucks, please read my explaination of Swagbucks here. And my explaination of the changes to Swagbucks here.

July 1-3 Participating Wal*Mart stores will be having a Kraft Independance Day Sampling event. My kids LOVE to go to these things and they are free entertainment (and samples that often have coupons too)!! So, Click here to find a participating Wal*Mart near you. (It looks like basically all the local Omaha ones are participating)

Biore is offering one of two Biore product samples. The choices are Makeup Removing Towelettes and Steam Activated Cleanser. Just click here to fill out the form and request your sample.

Thanks That Freebie Site.

Here are 2 new Pampers Gifts to Grow codes worth 10 pointe each:

• GTGLEARNMORE089
• ENJOYYOURSUMMER

Thanks The Close Out Kid

FYI, I am having a lot of computer issues today and may not get much up on the blog today. We got a virus on the laptop yesterday that Wes fixed this morning, but now I cannot copy and paste for some reason, and the laptop is running really slowly! So, I will do my best, but it may not be that great today! Sorry!!

WOWZA! I saw an ad on TV about this last night and didn't really believe it was so until I opened my email today!

Old Navy is having an awesome sale through 6/29 in stores and online where you get 30% off EVERYTHING! If you redeem online, just use code ONBIG30 at Checkout! This could make fr some incredible deals!!

Today's Omaha Groupon is a great deal for those summer days with the kids! It is $20 for Five Half-Hour, Private Personal Training Sessions at Endless Possibilities ($100 Value).

As with all the deals, make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing. To sign up for Groupons, click on my referral link here (this does NOT commit you to buying any deal-you choose what you buy) and to see the Omaha page, including today's deal, click here.

Not sure what Groupons is? Then click here to read all about it!

Today's Salt Lake City Groupon is $8 for a Single-Day Admission to Salt Lake City Jazz Festival on July 9, 10, or 11.

As with all the deals, make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing. To sign up for Groupons, click on my referral link here (this does NOT commit you to buying any deal-you choose what you buy) and to see the Salt Lake City page, including today's deal, click here.

Not sure what Groupons is? Then click here to read all about it!

Here are my favorite deals this week at the local Omaha grocery stores:

Hyvee

• Sara Lee Classic White bread $.99 (when I was over at Hy-Vee the other day there were $.75/1 peelie coupons on these so I bought them for like $.24 each + they had Toy Story 3 prizes on them!)
• Pepsi products 12 pack 4/$10 (with in ad coupon)
• Hy-Vee 40 oz Ketchup $.89
• Select Kelloggs & General Mills Cereals $1.88
• Doritos or Sun Chips $1.99 
• Hy-Vee 100% Apple Juice 64 oz $.99

In addition to the above week long deals, there is also an Incredible $1 Sale going on 2 days only from June 24-25 that includes the following $1 items, 2/$1 items & 3/$1 items:

• Wonder Bread classic $1
• Wonder classic buns (8 ct) $1
• Hy-Vee Shredded cheese 6 or 8 oz (limit 5) $1
• Popsicle or Fudgesicle 12 ct $1
• Hy-Vee Boxed Cereal 11.5-18 oz $1
• Skippy Peanut Butter 15 or 16.3 oz (limit 2) $1
• Dole Classic salad or coleslaw mix 2/$1
• Eggs dozen lg 2/$1 (limit 2)
• Midwest Paper Towel single rolls 3/$1

And Hy Vee also has a 4 day sale running Wednesday June 23-Saturday June 26 that includes the following:

• Hy-Vee Pork & Beans 16 oz $.18 (limit 4, with in ad coupon)
• Roberts Cottage Cheese 12 oz $.68
• Crab Classic or Lobster Classic 8 oz pkg 10/$10
• Locally raised "Just Bare" Whole Chicken $1.68/lb

No Frills Fresh

• Dr Pepper, 7 Up, RC or Squirt 12 packs 4/$8 when you buy 4
• There is an in ad coupon for $3 off when you buy 5 or more Our Family Products, so take note of the Our Family deals you can combine with this to make a great deal!
• Our Family canned vegetables $.60 on sale (so if you buy 5 and use the coupon they end up being FREE)
• Our Family lg eggs 18 count $1.25 on sale
• Our Family Ice Cream cones $.88
• Pepsi Products 12 packs 4/$10 when you buy 4**(this price only available at the new 204th and Pacific location)
• Green or Red seedless grapes $.88**(this price only available at the new 204th and Pacific location)

Bag N Save

• Yellow Peaches $.99/lb
• Wishbone Dressing 16 oz $1.19
• Hass Avocados $.77
• Mangoes 2/$1
• Lots of 10/$10 items including: Bulls Eye BBQ Sauce, Gardettos or Chex Mix, and16 oz Spaghetti or Elbow Macaroni.

Baker's (Remember their sales are almost always WITH card)

• Beef Boneless Bottom Round Roast or Steak BOGO
• Beef Boneless Charcoal Steak BOGO
• Marinated Boneless Pork Tenderloin or Loin BOGO

Aldi

• Nectarines, Peaches and Plums $.29 each
• Strawberries $.99/lb
• L'Oven Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns $.79

Super Saver

• Best Choice soda 12 packs 6/$10
• Best Choice Pasta Sauce $.48
• Best Choice 6 oz Ice Cream $1.44
• Extra Large Green Peppers $.38
• Best Choice Yogurt 4/$1
• Super Saver White Bread $.58
• Best Choice Tomato Sauce 6/$1
• Best Choice Water 24 pack $1.98
• Best Choice Cake Mix $.68

***Remember that I generally just price match at Walmart as much as I can rather than go to all the stores separately! I LOVE being able to do that. You can also pricematch at Target, but I find it easier to pricematch at Walmart.

This week the new Hyvee at Stony Brook has some special deals running from Monday June 21 through Sunday June 27. Included deals are:

• Kraft Macaroni and Cheese $.47 (limit 6)
• Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce $.77
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.97/lb
• Hyvee gallon milk $1.67 (limit 2)
• Malt-O-Meal Cereal 48 oz bag $1.99
• Sara Lee Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns $.99

On top of their deals this week, on Saturday June 26 from 10 AM- 4 PM they will have a Nebraska Made Sample Fest. We went over to Hyvee for this sample event last year and it was awesome. No need to eat lunch before you go!

If you are a Sams Club member, grab your card (so you have your membership number) and go here to request your free sample of Cascade Action Gel Pacs.

Thanks Freebies 2 Deals.

Today's Salt Lake City Groupon is $20 for Any One-Hour Massage at Heavenly Hands Massage($45 Value).

As with all the deals, make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing. To sign up for Groupons, click on my referral link here (this does NOT commit you to buying any deal-you choose what you buy) and to see the Salt Lake City page, including today's deal, click here.

Not sure what Groupons is? Then click here to read all about it!

Today's Omaha Groupon is a great deal for those summer days with the kids! It is $10 for $20 Worth of Grill Fare and Thirst Quenchers at Jerzes Sports Bar and Grill.

As with all the deals, make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing. To sign up for Groupons, click on my referral link here (this does NOT commit you to buying any deal-you choose what you buy) and to see the Omaha page, including today's deal, click here.

Not sure what Groupons is? Then click here to read all about it!

Go like the DiGiorno Facebook page, then click on the “Deep Dish” tab to get a coupon for a FREE DiGiorno Deep Dish Pizza! You will have to upload a photo or choose a profile picture to share to get this coupon (it is easy). You will receive the coupon in the mail in 6-8 weeks.

Thanks Combat Clippers.

You will want to go here and like Athenos on Facebook. After you like them, you will be able to print a BOGO (Buy one get one free) coupon for their hummus (which is super good). Apparently you can print this coupon twice!

Thanks Frugal Reality.

Happy Birthday Southwest, and thanks for celebrating your birthday with low airfare for us!! If you go to their site June 22-24 and book travel between September 8th and November 17th, airfare is al low as $39 one way!! That means all you family members that have been dying to visit us can do it on the cheap (and on my birthday if you want)!!

Please read this fantastic post on Moms by Heart about how to get the very best airfare deals with this promotion!!

Having gone to visit Salt Lake City last week, I wanted to follow up my Tuesdays Travels: Salt Lake City post with a few tips and tricks I learned while I was there.

Lagoon discounts:

• Using a Coke can for admission to Lagoon gives you $5 off per person, but you must enter before noon and you have to have a coke can with the offer on it with you.
• The Deseret Book discount is good, but you have to buy a book to get a discount. And the book you buy determines how many discount tickets you get. So, if you were already planning to buy one of the select books on this promotion, then it is a good deal, otherwise don't bother-just get the Coke cans.
• We found that the best discount we could get when we were there was offered through local Credit Unions. If you know any locals, ask them to check at their credit union for the best available discount tickets. You generally have to pay cash for these tickets but they are great discounts.
• The other option may seem hokey, but it is true as well. In the LDS church the congregations are called wards and a group of wards together make up a Stake.  The local Utah Stakes have "Stake Lagoon days". If ou have LDS (Mormon) friends in Utah, you might check and see if their Stake Lagon Day happens to fall when you are visiting because that is actually THE VERY cheapest deal that I found (but none for our family were going on while we were there).
• I am hearing that there may also be discount tickets available at Costco, but I hae no confirmation on this.

Seven Peaks, and Raging Waters Discounts

• I learned when I got home that Costco stores have discount tickets to these locations. A few of you have asked me if I know how much the discounts are, but I don't. Do any of you know?
• Apparently some of the local supermarkets and credit unions also carry discount tickets.

Tuesdays Travels today will focus on a place I used to live as a teenager: Denver, Colorado. My dad attended Law School at DU for 3 years, so I lived in Denver (ok actually Aurora) Colorado from 6-8 grades. So, much of my Denver knowledge is from a young teendaged point of view. I do not want to tell you to just go hang out at Cherry Hills Mall, so I did some research on this one!!

As always, I will use the following categories for this Denver post as part of my Tuesdays Travels series:

• General Information
• Getting there
• Accommodations
• Transportation
• Food
• Attractions and activities
• Shopping

General Information

Denver is the capitol city of Colorado and is located right by the beautiful Rocky Mountains! Nicknamed the Mile High City due to it's elevation, it is a beautiful city with a variety of food and fun options! It is where I lived when I fell in love with the theatre, so it has a special place in my heart!

Getting There

Denver is fairly centrally located in the west, so driving to Denver is certainly an option to consider. If you live in Omaha, it is a pretty quick drive for a vacation-only about 7-8 hours.

You may also look into flying. You should be able to get good deals into Denver as it has the largest airport in the country and has 6 airlines that go to/through Denver. It is a hub for United Airlines and Frontier Airlines. I recommend reading my Tuesdays Travels: Overview post for info on how I search for best flight prices and options.

Accommodations

When I have visited Denver in the past, I have always had friends or family to sty with. I don't anymore, so when I go back to Denver, I will simply do what I always do and start by looking up hotel deals on the following websites: Expedia, Hotwire, Travelocity, and Cheap Tickets. You could also try to make an offer at Priceline, but I only try one offer there, then if I do not get it, I go somewhere else that works with me better than they do.

Transportation

I will tell you that the airport is pretty far outside the city, but luckily there are many options for travel between the airport and the city. You can of course rent a car, but there are other options as well. Many hotels have shuttles between the airport and their hotel. There is also public transportation available, and you can probably walk to some of the places you want to go depending on the location of your hotel. The city of Denver has a great website on which there is an excellent page about transportation options in town. Please see that page here.

Food

The main 2 food experiences (away from my house) I remember from living in Denver were both fairly expensive, but were both not just meals, but full experiences: Casa Bonita and Mataam Fez.

Mataam Fez is a Moroccan restaurant complete with sitting on the floor and belly dancers. It is a lot of fun, but as I mentioned it is fairly expensive and it is not is a great neighborhood. In fact it is in a terrible neighborhood, but well worth the experience-just be careful going from your car inside to the restaurant!

Casa Bonita is a must do for any families visiting Denver. It is every child's dream dinner. They are the self proclaimed "World's Most Exciting Restaurant". The multi-story, Mexican-themed restaurant includes a 30-foot-tall waterfall, cliff divers, fire jugglers, strolling mariachi bands, a pirate cave, magicians, puppet shows, skee-ball machines, etc, etc. Be warned though-you are not going here for the food! It is terrible-well all is terrible except the all you can eat sopapilla desserts. But, you have to purchase an entree to enter, so buy something cheap and be warned it will not be good food. Then plan on watching the cliff divers, enjoying all the entertainment, and eating a lot of the sopapillas-they are heavenly! It is the only truly edible thing in the joint in my opinion.

I actually have read multiple reviews today that recommended eating at Taco Bell on your way over to Casa Bonita, then looking at your required entree purchase more as an admission fee. If you are looking for a uniquely Denver "dining" experience though, do NOT miss Casa Bonita!! (I have to refer you to the funniest and possibly most accurate review I have ever read about this place, but with a warning that there is some poor language involved in the review. See it here.)

In my 3 years of living in Denver, those were by far the most memorable dicing experiences I had, so I recommend trying one or both of these great experience places!

As far as being frugal in Denver, I would try to get a hotel with a kitchen area and stop by your local Walmart or King Soopers and get some food to eat in your hotel!

Also, when you are planning to go to Denver, start checking out City Deal Tracker's Denver site daily to see what deals you can snag there. They list Groupon as well as 2 other Groupon-like daily deals. (As a total side note, if you do join and buy a Groupon, I would really appreciate if you do so under my referral link here.)

One more site to check out is MyDenverDeals.com.

Attractions and Activities

Here are a few lists of things to do from me (there is way more to do that I am listing!):

Choose from these "Must see/do" for first timers

• Denver Zoo
• Downtown Aquarium
• Professional Sporting events (Basketball: Nuggets at the Pepsi Center, Football: Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Baseball: Rockies at Coors Field, Hockey: Avalanche at Pepsi Center, Soccer: Rapids at Invesco Field at Mile High.)
• 16th St Mall
• One of the many parks or reservoirs (Like Cherry Creek reservoir-where I spend a lot of time in my youth!)
• Red Rocks Park & Ampitheatre (Beautiful!!)
• Coors tours
• US Mint tour (reservations required)
• Denver Art Museum (On the first Saturday of every month, admission is free for Colorado residents.)
• Skiing or hiking

How to get discounts on some on the attractions that cost:

• Also, when you are planning to go to Denver, start checking out City Deal Tracker's Denver site daily to see what deals you can snag there. They list Groupon as well as 2 other Groupon-like daily deals. (As a total side note, if you do join and buy a Groupon, I would really appreciate if you do so under my referral link here.)
• Look for discounts online
• Look in the travel books
• Ask at the hotel for discounted deals-they often have discounts available if you ask.
• Ask locals when you get there!
• Check out MyDenverDeals.com.

Free Attractions (My FAVORITE!!)

• 16th St Mall Trolley
• Many parks.
• There are 850 miles of off-street bike paths you can explore!
• Tour the Colorado State Capitol
• US Mint tour (reservations required)
• Coors tours in Golden
• Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison
• Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
• Red Rocks Park

There are literally thousands to choose from. Since I have no clue what you will be interested in, can I recommend that you check out a travel guide (you can often find these at local libraries), go through it and pick the things you really want to do.

And Remember, you cannot so it all! Pick your favorites, then start looking for discounts.

Shopping

Check out some of the following fun and interesting shopping destinations:

• The teenager in my wants to send you to Cherry Creek Mall and tell you to scout out the boys...  :)
• Tattered Cover Bookstore is SOOO Denver and a must see for book lovers!
• 16th St Mall

Conclusion

These are just the things I have learned in my Denver travel/living and research and my opinions on traveling to Denver. I am not the definitive Denver expert by any means. Please feel free to add your own tips and tricks to this and feel free to ask me any questions you might have.

This will go quick-HURRY!!

Right now you can get a FREE sample of All Oxi-Active at Walmart. You will have to copy and paste this: http://www.startsampling.com/sm/walmart/captureAddress.iphtml?item=101224&source=&url=http://www.startsampling.com/alldetergent

Thanks Mojo Savings.

Today's Salt Lake City Groupon is $10 for $20 Worth of Tasty Thai Cuisine and Drinks at Thai Siam Restaurant. Yum!! I LOVE Pad Thai-it might be my favorite food...

As with all the deals, make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing. To sign up for Groupons, click on my referral link here (this does NOT commit you to buying any deal-you choose what you buy) and to see the Salt Lake City page, including today's deal, click here.

Not sure what Groupons is? Then click here to read all about it!

Today's Omaha Groupon is a great deal for those summer days with the kids! It is $10 for All-Day Unlimited Go-Karts, Mini Golf, Laser Tag, Spaceball, Jumpshot, and Water Wars at Papio Fun Park ($20 Value).

As with all the deals, make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing. To sign up for Groupons, click on my referral link here (this does NOT commit you to buying any deal-you choose what you buy) and to see the Omaha page, including today's deal, click here.

Not sure what Groupons is? Then click here to read all about it!

I saw a commercial for this last night and was super excited! Wes LOVES these razors!! I will have to go buy one today!!

Right now (for a limited time) Schick Hydro is letting you try one of their new Schick Hydro razors for free through Mail-in rebate! Here is how: You purchase any Schick Hydro Razor (up to $10.99) between now and August 18, then fill out and mail in the rebate form here by August 18th with the original UPC from the package and the original sales receipt. (You cannot purchase at BJ's or Sam's clubs for this promotion). TO read and review all the details see the rebate form here. It is one per household!

This is an exciting Summer Promotion! From June 21st through July 20th, we are empowering families to have fun through the Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion with daily summertime family tips and the chance to win lots of fun prizes!

To get involved, first go here and become a fan of Rayovac on Facebook. Then go to Rayovac's website at http://www.blogger.com/www.rayovac.com/PowersYourSummer. Tell them how you'll power your fun this summer each day for a chance to win prizes ranging from Cameras and Bikes to Camping Supplies and a Summer Supply of Rayovac Batteries!

There is also a Twitter event to support this promotion from Rayovac and 5MinutesForMom. The Twitter Event will feature more than 20 fun giveaways from Rayovac ranging from a summer supply of Rayovac Batteries to $50 Target Gift Cards. Here are the Twitter Event details:
Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: #rayovac
Follow: @Rayovac_Battery, @5minutesformom, @CirclePRMary

**I should disclose that the first 99 bloggers to promote the Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion won a prize package from Rayovac**