Heidi Jacobs Crochet

I am not crafty and don't really sew or knit or crochet, but I love cute homemeade hats for my kids. My aunt made a pumpkin hat for one of my older kids when he was a baby and I LOVE it so much it has gone through all my kiddos! I am sure the baby will be forced to wear it whether he wants to or not.

Lucky for my untalented self and for any of you that also love adorable homemade crocheted items for your families, I have a lot of talented friends and family.

One of my very best friends from high school, Heidi, has just started a blog/online shop, Heidi Jacobs Crochet where you can buy her amazing creations. She is SOOO talented. I know it is hard to take my word for it when I am her guardian angel (sorry-I could not help myself-that is an inside joke, but she is my great friend), so check out some of her stuff for yourself:


Are you impressed yet?! You should be!

She has more stuff on her blog, and is adding more and more each day-there are a lot more items she has done that she will be posting in the days to come! Make sure to check out Heidi Jacobs Crochet!

In case you are reading this in just an email or a feed, I wanted to let you know you should stop by and take a look at a couple new features on the blog. If you look across the top (under the title) you will see that I have added a couple of new pages: Giveaways at Beckees Deals and My Winnings.

The Giveaways at Beckees Deals page has a list of all current giveaways on the blog as well as a list of all old giveaways I have done with the winner listed! Check it out here.

On the My Winnings page I have begun to keep track of all the giveaways I win. If you are interested in reading about how I win so many giveaways (well over 50 in the past 9 months), there are links to the posts I have written about my methods. There is also a running list of what I have won that I update with each win. I have one new one to add today!! Make sure you go check out the full list on the page here.

I used Random.org to generate a winner in the $25 Sexy Modest Gift Card giveaway. I had 37 entries, and Random.org chose comment #2 which was Jakell from at Smile a Day Giveaways! You ought to go check out her blog when you get the chance! I am her newest follower!

2. jakell said...
posted on their FB wall too!
jakell
(smile a day giveaways)


I have emailed JaKell and she has 48 hours to get back to me (If you are JaKell and did not get my email, please email me at beckeesdeals AT gmail DOT com)!

I just posted about how much fun we had at the Annie Chun's party. Here are some pictures of all the fun (with some more info and descriptions of what we served and how it looked!!)


Great times!! Thanks you Annie Chun's!!

I mentioned on here a few times that I won an Annie Chun's dinner party. I was able to actually have the party with our family while we were in Utah in December. I was quite sick at the party, but it was still such a BLAST!! I want to share with you some of the fun and also give you a little review of the awesome Annie Chun's Products we used/ate.

First let me tell you all the awesome stuff they sent me:

1. A Menu Card with three types of cuisine: Thai, Korean and Chinese. I was able to chose a gourmet Asian meal of my choice for my dinner party-We chose to do Korean and got Annie Chun's Korean Noodle appetizers, made Korean BBQ beef (with Annie Chun's ingredients), and admittedly cheated a little on the Korean theme by also making some Chinese Chow Mein Vegetables.

2.Annie Chun’s products to make all three menu options. (They sent stuff to make all 3 types of cuisine, and I do still have many leftover Annie
Chun’s items!! And I am LOVING them!)

3.One $20.00 check from Annie Chun’s to help in purchasing the remaining required ingredients for the party (I went all out though so it cost me a bit more than this amount, but how nice to have the $20 help!!)

4. One Annie Chun’s product coupon for each guest (We gave one to each family as we had more guests than they expected for the dinner party-we have big families!)

5. A gift of premium wooden chopsticks for each of guest (again-it was each family)

6. One OXO Good Grips silicone extra-large spatula for me – as the hostess/host of your party.

WOW-this was one big box of items that showed up at my house!! I loved it all and could not wait for my party to begin. My husband, Wes and I planned out what we were going to serve, where to have the party and how we were going to make it all happen. We invited just our immediate family members and went to work.

As I mentioned, the day before the party is when I got sick (diagnosed with pneumonia at 26 weeks pregnant) so I was pretty sick, but luckily we had done a lot of planning ahead and I have an amazing husband who took over and became the main host (in spite of his aversion to hosting parties).

It was a blast and out food was amazing! I loved ALL the Annie Chun's products we tried at the party (and have tried since the party). I recommend checking for Annie Chun's products in your local stores and giving them a try! I will buy them in the future for sure. I am going to post some fun party pics and videos in a separate post, but I do want to leave you with these two short videos in case you wondered what other people thought of the food:

Wes and the others loved it as you see!!

And...there you have it...even the kids liked the food!!

I have 4 great giveaways going on right now and would love to have you enter them!! Check them out and enter them at the following links:

1. Sexy Modest $25 (UTAH) ends 1/30

2. Just Eyewear $50 for a pair of glasses ends 2/4

3. The Chalkboard Tee Shirt ends 2/14

4. Brilliant Lenses ends 2/14

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

If you have not joined yet, click on my referral link here and start earning Swag Bucks with me! This is a GREAT time to join-with Mega Swag Bucks going on today!! As an FYI, I have gotten $140 in Amazon Gift cards so far and I have enough to get another 291 Swag Bucks left. (450=$5 Amazon card).

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

If you go into Pei Wei on Wednesday, January 26 and/or Thursday, January 27 to "celebrate the Lunar New Year" with them, you can ask for a card to “Try Korean BBQ for FREE”. Then stop by again sometime between January 31 and February 6 to redeem your card and try the new Korean BBQ for FREE!!! No purchase necessary.

Thanks Freebies 4 Mom.

Here are my favorite deals in Omaha grocery this week:

Hyvee

• Midwest Country Fare Vegetables (16 oz peas, corn, green beans or mixed) 3/$2 (about $.66 each)
• Coke product 12 packs 4/$11 ($2.75 each)
• Hy-Vee 100% Natural Value Pack Split Chicken Breast, Drumsticks or Thighs $.99/lb
• Campbells Spaghetti or Spaghettio's 14.75-15 oz $.58
• Ragu Pasta Sauce 16-28 oz $1.48
• California Kiwi 5/$1
• Bar S Jumbo Meat Franks or Balogna 10/$10
• Hy-Vee Pretzels 10-15 oz 10/$10
• Hy-Vee 6 ct English Muffins 10/$10

In addition to their regular week long special, Hy-Vee also has a 4 Day Sale Wednesday 1/26-Saturday 1/29 that includes the following:

• Larry's side dish Potatoes 8.16-10 oz $.99
• Angel Soft Bath Tissue 12 double rolls or Sparkle Paper Towels 8 roll pack $4.99 (limit 2)
• Hy-Vee Ketchup 20 or 24 oz $.88
• Hy-Vee Whole Wheat or Omega Enriched Pasta 13.25 or 14.5 oz $.99

On Thursday 1/27 there is also a special Spaghetti Dinner for only $1.99!! You can add a side salad or 2 Breadsticks for $1 each! YUM!

No Frills Fresh

• Frozen Split Chicken Breat $.88/lb
• Dole Head of lettuce $.88 each
• Roberts yogurt 3/$1
• General Mills Cereal (8.7 oz Kix, 8.9 oz Cheerios, 10.7 oz Trix, 10.9 oz Wheaties or 11.8 oz Cocoa Puffs) $1.68 
• Creamette Pasta 12-16 oz $.68
• Granny Smith apples $.88/lb 

Bag N Save

• Frozen Boneless Chicken Breast 3 lb bag $3.99
• Our Family (generic) Eggs 18 ct $1.39
• Our Family (generic) Bacon 16 oz $1.99
• Kellogg's Cereal (12-14 oz Frosted Flakes, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, or Froot Loops) $1.69
• Village Hearth White Cottage or Country Hearth Stone Ground Wheat Bread 24 oz loaf $.89
• Carl Budding Water Thin LunchMeats 2/$1 (2 oz)
• John Morrell Deli Ham $1.99/lb

In addition to their regular week long special, No Frills also has a 3 Day Sale Friday 1/28-Sunday 1/30 that includes the following:

• Bananas $.39/lb
• Butter (generic) $1.88 (limit 3)
• White Rain Products $.88

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

• Pepsi Cola 2 L $.89 (when you buy 10)

Aldi (remember Aldi's is all generic)

• Bremer or Fit & Active fully cooked meatballs $1.99
• Grandessa Signature Hummus $1.69
• L'oven Fresh hot dog or hamburger buns 12 oz $.79
• Appetitos Spft Pretzels $1.69
• Carrots 2 lb bag (full size carrots not baby) $.49
• Yellow Onion 3 lb bag $.89
• Russet Potatoes 10 lb (generic) $1.79
• Navel Oranges 4 lb bag $1.49 

Super Saver

• California Navel Oranges $.47
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Value Packs $1.77/lb
• Bartlett Pears $.84/lb
• Marie Callender's Dinners, Pot Pies or Steamers 8.5-21 oz $1.77

In addition to their regular week long special, Super Saver also has a 3 Day Weekend Sale Friday 1/28-Sunday 1/30  that includes the following:

• Land O Lakes 22 oz Cottage Cheese $1.65
• Deli Fresh Cooked Deli Ham $1.88/lb
• On the Vine Tomatoes $1.07/lb

Fareway

• Butter (generic) $1.99
• Nabisco Snack Crackers 7-10 oz $1.88
• Mission Tortilla Chips 14 oz $1.88
• Rotella Vienna Bread $.88
• Kraft Mac N Cheese original only $.69
• Ambrosia, red or golden delicious apples $.79/lb

Walmart (YES they have and ad this week!!)

• Roma Tomatoes $.98/lb
• Avocados $.78/each
• Marketside 16" Pepperoni Pizza $6.98
• Great Value Salsa (Which BTW-tastes JUST like Pace) 24 oz $1.98
• Great Value Parmesean Cheese 8 oz $2.88

In addition to the great groceris there are other sales in here:

• Rival Quesadilla Maker, 5-QT Slow Cooker, or Griddle $14.88
• Sunbeam 0.7 Cubic Foot Microwave 700 wats $39
• Girls and Boys Faded Glory Jeans $8
• Men's Faded Glory Jeans $9 
• Ladies Faded Glory Jeans $12
• Georgia Pacific Copy paper 500 ct $2.97
• Graco Freeport Crib $139
• Lots of tv sales!! ( I read yesterday that this time of year right before the Super Bowl is the best time to get TV deals...)

***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.***

GO NOW over to get your free hair dye-it will open in 15 minutes!!

Well, now that Clairol has announced their new awesome product, I feel like I can tell you about it. I was given the chance to try their product early (about a month or so ago) and I really liked it. It is Clairol Nice ‘N Easy Color Blend Foam, where you "foam" in your color. It is different and interesting and I liked it. At some point I will post a full review of it, but for now I just want to tell you about it because in conjunction whit releasing their new product, they are also doing a week long Facebook giveaway!!

Remember that each weekday this week (Monday-Thursday) the first 25,000 peaople daily to sign up will get a free full size product to try out!! It will begin at 11 am Central Time (about an hour and 20 minutes from now). 

Go to Clairol's Facebook page NOW and like them so you are ready to claim your free product when the time comes! If you want to check out the colors available before you claim yours, look here.

FYI, I used the Medium Reddish Brown and I think it turned out great see (Ignore the fact my eyes are closed and just check out my hair!!):

Make sure you are ready just before 11 am!!

Celebrate Customer Appreciation Days at participating Dairy Queen locations!! Some locations had their Customer Appreciation Day yesterday (sorry I did not know that in time to let you know, my local store has it Saturday and just sent me an email about it), but some are having theirs on Saturday. It is such an awesome Customer Appreciation gift Dairy Queen is giving-thsy are giving us 1/2 off items on their menu! YES, I said HALF OFF!!! NICE-I know where we will be eating Saturday!

Please click here to find a participating store near you and find out if your store has appreciation day Saturday (you will also want to check and see if your store is offering 1/2 off cakes, novelties, or everything)!

Here is a 42 point code for Pampers Gifts to Grow Program: VMF776C7HMXXT4A. Log in and Enter it in your account for the 42 points.

Today's ALL YOU Freebie of the day will be sure to go fast! They are giving away 25,000 sample-sizes of Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid. So, go here now to request yours.

There is a FREE Red Box Movie rental code good TODAY ONLY: It is MOVIENIGHT. I will so have to use this one!

Looks like today might be the last day on this one...I thought it went through Friday, but I see that today Clairol says in the LAST day. SO if you have not gotten this sweet freebie yet, today is your day!! Be ready just before 11 am CST.
Well, now that Clairol has announced their new awesome product, I feel like I can tell you about it. I was given the chance to try their product early (about a month or so ago) and I really liked it. It is Clairol Nice ‘N Easy Color Blend Foam, where you "foam" in your color. It is different and interesting and I liked it. At some point I will post a full review of it, but for now I just want to tell you about it because in conjunction whit releasing their new product, they are also doing a week long Facebook giveaway!!

Remember that each weekday this week (Monday-Thursday) the first 25,000 peaople daily to sign up will get a free full size product to try out!! It will begin at 11 am Central Time (about an hour and 20 minutes from now). 

Go to Clairol's Facebook page NOW and like them so you are ready to claim your free product when the time comes! If you want to check out the colors available before you claim yours, look here.

FYI, I used the Medium Reddish Brown and I think it turned out great see (Ignore the fact my eyes are closed and just check out my hair!!):

Make sure you are ready just before 11 am!!

I just wanted to take a deals break and tell you about my baby/pregnancy. I am 30 weeks pregnant as of yesterday (YEAH) so I have about 10 weeks left. As many of you know, my husband is a doctor and in fact a radiologist so occasionally if they are not super busy we can sneak a peek at our baby through ultrasound. It is about the only perk to residency! :)

Anyway-yesterday they had some time to scan my tummy (and they wanted to show a student how to do 3D & 4D Ultrasounds) so went and got some pics of baby boy J. So far his face has been covered in ALL the ultrasounds and so we have not seen it before, but I will tell you, he is a cutie! And boy-he really looks like his siblings!!

The other fun thing is that baby is actually measuring at 32 1/2 weeks instead of 30 weeks and he is already over 4 pounds, so maybe he will come early! :) Fingers crossed! (He is due on his brother, E Dawg's 7th birthday, so It would be nice if he was born early and they did not share a birthday...)

Anyway-here are a few of my favorite pictures of baby J (first is of his feet-he has is big toes crossed, the other 2 are his face!!):


I think he is a cutie! Yes I know I am biased, but oh well...if anyone has unique but not too weird boy names to suggest, I am all ears!!

To celebrate reaching 1,000,000 fans (or "Likers") on Facebook, Olive Garden is giving away 250 prizes a day for 10 days...another long shot, but I do not think this one is a first come first serve. You fill out their form each day and they pick out 250 winners. So, go like them here then fill out the form under the 1,000,000 fans tab each day the promotion runs!!

I super LOVE Olive Garden so I would love to win this, but once again I am not counting on it...please let me know if any of you do win! I would love to hear about your success!!