I'm giving away one copy of a conservative Christian music CD, Love So Amazing. This is the newest CD release by Kevin Inafuku. I love this CD because the album is a mix of old hymns and new songs, but done in a conservative style!

You can listen to a few samples from the CD below

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Forgive Me
Speak, O Lord

How to enter & win: Leave a comment on this post by 10pm EST January 30, 2009. The winner will be chosen at random. Be sure to leave your blog or email address so I can contact you if you win! Shipping to US (and Territories) & Canada.

Go to BloggyGiveaways.com to enter more giveaways!

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Do I hear a collective groan from everyone out there? Yep, it's time to gather all your financial paperwork and crunch those numbers!

Good news! Several companies offer free filing if you meet certain criteria! In years past, I have used both TurboTax Freedom and H&R Block TaxCut. Now that I own my own business, things are more complicated and I have to pay for software. Now I use TurboTax Home & Business and have been pleased with it.

TurboTax Freedom 
To qualify for free federal tax preparation and filing using TurboTax Freedom Edition 2008, you must meet one of the following criteria *

• Earned an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for tax year 2008 of $30,000 or less; or
• Qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); or
• Served Active Duty Military with AGI of $56,000 or less.

To qualify for free state tax preparation and filing using TurboTax Freedom Edition 2008, you must meet both of the following criteria:

1. You must qualify for free federal tax preparation (above); and
2. The state(s) must participate in the state FFA. States (AL, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NY, ND, NC, OK, OR, RI, SC, VT, WV)

H&R Block TaxCut Free File
Free if you earned $56,000 or less AGI and were 50 years or younger on December 31, 2008. State e-file is $29.95

TaxAct freefile
You qualify for free tax preparation, printing, & efiling if your age is between 19 & 55, and your AGI is $56,000 or less. State e-filing is $13.95

You can find more free tax preparation sites on the IRS website.

Another tip - many times you can print a copy of your state taxes and mail it in. It takes a little longer, but I usually don't get enough back in state taxes to justify spending the money to e-file.

If you need more advanced tax preparation or don't meet the criteria for free preparation, here is a list of major software titles and the lowest prices I could find.

TaxAct
Online 2008 Standard  Free online prep (1040, 1040A & 1040EZ) and federal e-filing. State e-file  is just $13.95.
Online 2008 Deluxe $9.95 federal, optional state is $7.00
TaxAct Ultimate $16.95 free filing for federal and state.

TurboTax
Deluxe  direct from Intuit $29.95 (Federal e-file included, state prep & e-file additional $34.95)
$38.99 from Buy.com (Federal e-file included, state e-file additional $19.95)


Premier direct from Intuit $49.95  (Federal e-file included, state prep & e-file additional $34.95)
$59.99 from Buy.com  (Federal e-file included, state e-file additional $19.95)

Home & Business direct from Intuit $74.95 (Federal e-file included, state prep & e-file additional $34.95)  
$59.99 from newegg.com (Federal e-file included, state e-file additional $19.95)

$10 TurboTax Rebates can be found here. It says "participating retail stores", but the FAQ indicates online stores are participating as well, but I can't find a list. It's worth a try if you have to buy the software anyway!

TaxCut
Premium Federal + e-file $34.95  $32.99 from Buy.com (state e-file cost determined at filing time)
Premium Federal & State + e-file $49.95  $45.99 from Buy.com (state e-file cost determined at filing time)
Home & Business $79.95 $70.99 from Buy.com (state e-file cost determined at filing time)


Don't forget to purchase through ebates to receive 1% back from buy.com and 2% back from newegg! (plus $5 for new members)

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As I was ready to board a flight last week, it was canceled due to a maintenance issue. The gate agent announced we could get in line to rebook if we had a tight connection at the next airport. EVERY SINGLE PERSON in that waiting area rushed the counter! I ended up being the very last person in line. There were probably at least 30 people ahead of me now. This is gonna take awhile! From my cell phone, I called the reservations number of my airline and found I had already been rebooked on another flight that was leaving in about 30 minutes. (The guy ahead of me in line asked for that phone number!)  If I had just waited in line, I would not have been able to catch that next flight!

I arrived at my new gate in time to sit and relax (it was delayed). After awhile I saw someone huffing & puffing and out of breath arrive at the gate. She had been siting near me at my original gate and had finally made it through the rebooking line to find out her new plane was leaving shortly. (Well, it was supposed to, but unbeknownst to her it was slightly delayed.)

Calling the airline reservations number helped relieve the stress of waiting/wondering if I was going to make all my further connections.

The rest of the story - Unfortunately my newly rescheduled flight had a few delays and complications causing me to miss the next connection so I spent 5 hours in the next airport, but that's another story!

Head over to Rocks in My Dryer for more hints and tips!

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To see more pictures of Gumby's travels, click here.

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Several years ago I was fed up with my acne. I was about ready to break down and shell out the money for Proactiv because I had heard good things about it. In researching alternatives, I found Dan Kern's acne.org. A little skeptical about how it would actually work, I decided to buy the initial supplies at Wal-Mart. (Similar items are available in stores. Dan's products are only available online. Long term, the items on acne.org are more cost effective.)

Wow! I saw results within 1-2 weeks. Soon others were commenting that my skin was clearing up and asking where they could get it!

I switched to the products on the acne.org website and they are MUCH better than what you get in the store. The Neutrogena benzoyl peroxide cream turns white when you sweat. Dan's formula is a gel that goes on clear and doesn't turn white. It also absorbs into my skin better than the cream.

Dan has a whole regimen available, but the treatment product is the only one I've used. In my search for inexpensive gentle soap, I realized that baby soap would work! I don't need moisturizer very often, but when I do, I use oil free lotions.

So that is what works for me! For more, visit Rocks in my Dryer.

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As holiday travel season is approaching, I thought I'd share travel tips that work for me!

Water - TSA regulations forbid bringing liquids through security, and drinks in the airport are EXPENSIVE! I bring my own empty water bottle and fill it up at a drinking fountain after I clear security screening. I like my CamelBak because the lid has a loop so I can attach it to my bag with a carabiner. Or you can attach a regular water bottle with one of these. You could also bring some "on the go" flavor packs along for some variety.

Luggage - Mail it! My next upcoming trip has 3 separately ticketed segments with overnights and stopovers at each place. I plan on mailing clothes ahead to a couple of the destinations. This will save me money in the long run and I won't have heavy luggage to collect at each stop. For instance, for my farthest destination, I'd have to pay a total of $90 round trip for my first checked suitcase. I can mail quite a bit for that amount! :-) I'll carry a couple changes of clothes and things in my carry-on.

Pillow - Airline pillows just don't cut it. They are small and wimpy. Most of the time I travel with my full size down pillow. Especially on international flights! So far it's never been counted as an extra carry-on. I guess because it can sit in my lap. I used to have a drawstring backpack that I could stuff it in to hike through the airport without having to carry it. But then I got a smaller bag and a larger pillow. That combination didn't work so well. :-)

Snacks - bring your own candy, granola bars, dried fruit, peanut butter sandwich, etc. Airport food is expensive and snacks on the plane are OUTRAGEOUS!

Bungee cords - stick a couple different sizes in your carry-on bag. They come in handy for all sorts of things. I now strap my pillow to my wheeled carry-on suitcase with them.

Packing cubes - these keep your suitcase neat and organized, especially when it gets checked by TSA! I have 2 sets of these and they hold almost all of my clothes for a 2 week trip! A place for everything & everything in it's place!



Document organizer - This keeps my tickets, passport, frequent flyer cards and other documents organized. There is a pen holder loop and a zippered pocket where I keep my foreign currency. I drop it in the front pocket of my carry-on so it's always accessible.




Pack-it-flat Toiletry Kit - I absolutely love this toiletry kit for traveling. It's slim for packing in my carry-on or suitcase. It holds everything I need. When open, there is a small hanging hook for the bathroom door or towel rack.



For more works-for-me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks in my Dryer

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Kevin Inafuku released a new CD last month - Love So Amazing  It's on sale through the end of November for $12.

Harvest Ministries announces the release of the latest musical recording by Kevin Inafuku, Love So Amazing. For the glory of God, this recording is congregationally-oriented to help people comprehend and worship God for Who He is through hymns that speak with power about our God, Psalms straight from Scripture that challenge our view of God and spiritual songs that push us to a genuine relationship with Christ. Selections on the recording include "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," "O Great God," "My Abba's Child" and many more. You can listen to a few samples from the CD below, then be sure to visit the Online Store to purchase your copy of Love So Amazing.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Forgive Me
Speak, O Lord

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Did you know you can save $5/month if you have DSL and cellular service from AT&T? Just make a simple phone call and they will set you up with a bundle and combine both of the bills in to one.

Here's the link to the information.

This saves me $5/month or $60/year!

If you have a landline that you only use for DSL access, ask about switching to dry DSL. That can save you about $15 extra per month!

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Mike & Luke are the biggest Star Wars fans I know!



You can view the lyrics here.

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I've hauled some fairly decent loads with my bike. Others that have Xtracycles have hauled much more than I. The loads on this video are quite impressive! :-)

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Earlier this week for "Works For Me Wednesday" at Rocks in My Dryer, Shannon posted about the the things she cleans in her dishwasher besides dishes. She received lots of comments from her readers and posted some of the more unusual things here.

My two favorites? Cleaning a computer keyboard and COOKING SALMON! What?! I don't have a dishwasher and I don't eat fish, so I won't be trying that one anytime soon. It certainly is interesting though!

Oh, and my parents didn't get a dishwasher until after I left home. Not that I'm bitter or anything. It built character. Or so they tell me anyway. :-)

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A couple near my hometown was out geocaching and stumbled upon a key in a plastic bag under a picnic table. They won a new car in a contest promoting Iowa's parks. Funny thing is...they didn't even know about that contest, they were just looking for an ordinary cache! You can read the full story here.

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My Publix had an in-store special of 99 cents for a bag of Malt-O-Meal cereal. A coupon for $1.00 off Honey & Oat Blenders with Almonds is available here. You can print the coupon twice.

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InvisibleSHIELD skins are the best out there for protecting your electronics from scratches! I have one on my iPod and plan to get one for my GPS too. I've taken my keys to my iPod (with the InvisibleSHIELD on!) and no scratches. They are made from the same material that protects military helicopter blades. (These would make great stocking stuffers for your hard-to-buy-for gadget lover!)




If your beloved iPod device already has scratches, I highly recommend using their Applesauce Polish. I had my doubts about it, but my friend badly scratched his screen so we tried it out and I was VERY impressed. It went from being a deep, highly noticeable scratch to being barely there and having to look for the scratch that still remained! (He now has an InvisibleSHIELD to protect his iPod!)

Applesauce Polish Applesauce Polish

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Publix  
(Publix specials change on Wednesday, so they're good until 10/21)

Smart Balance 50/50 Butter Blend Sticks (BuyOneGetOne, save up to $3.59) Buy only one and use the coupon below and get 16 oz of butter blend sticks for 80 cents! I have never tried this, but from what I read from people who have, it’s great for baking too.

$1 off coupon (Note – I went back to the site and was able to print a second coupon, so I’m buying 2!)

Kellogg’s Mini Wheats are BOGO (3.99) You can use 2 coupons when you buy 2 boxes, which makes them $1 each

Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Corn Pops, Apple Jacks, or Froot Loops, 16.9 to 17.5-oz box Go to coupons.com and they have 6 different Kellogg’s coupons! One is for any and the others are different flavors of Mini Wheats. I haven’t tried yet, but heard you can print the coupons at least twice.

See the whole list of what’s on sale and what coupons are available at the Hot Coupon World Publix Forum

Remember, any of the BOGO sales at Publix – if you only have one coupon, you don’t have to buy 2 items to take advantage of the sales. (At least for the Publix stores I’ve visited in Greenville, SC)

Wal-Mart

There are some great deals at Wal-Mart this week! Visit Money Saving Mom for all the details about these. She has a lot more listed, but these caught my eye!

Free Honey Bunches of Oats Just Bunches (my store is usually a little higher, than $2, but it’s almost free!)

Money-maker Arm & Hammer Essentials Cleaners Starter Kit using $1 off coupon and rebate for full purchase price (note, MSM’s link for the rebate is currently incorrect. The correct link is here.)

12 cent Wet Ones trial size. I like to take these along on bike rides for quick cleanup after putting my chain back on or just feeling grimy after a ride!

27 cent Barilla Piccolini pasta

48 cent Nestle Toll House Morsels

60 cent Pillsbury Refrigerated Pizza Crust

I need to check my coupon stash to see about some of the other cheap or almost free items such as Powerade, Disposable Razors

Walgreen’s

Check out Money Saving Mom’s post on Walgreen’s specials for this week. There are lots of great free or almost free items!  I’ve listed a couple here for you

99 cents for Arm & Hammer Detergent

Free after rebate LypSyl LypMoisturizer Honey Berry 1 oz. (Winter and dry lips are coming!)

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Packed up my mobile office and some lunch and set out for downtown. Falls Park is a great place to go and enjoy the outdoors while I'm working! (they have wifi there!)

This was the view from my "office"!

On Saturday, I stopped at the Library to pick up a book and headed back down to the park to read and relax. Weekends are definitely MUCH busier in the park! It was nice and relaxing. A guy near me was playing hammered dulcimer. What more could I ask for on a lazy Saturday? Relaxing under the shade by a waterfall with some live, soothing music? (Same park, but a different angle.)

These two boys were having fun playing at the edge of the water. (Don't worry. They were supervised by someone just outside my shot.)

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According to this Fox News story, a 16 year old girl was killed moments after sending a text message. Her mother "said she hopes the accident will make other people think before texting and driving." 


While I do think texting and driving is dangerous, the article also stated that she was drunk (not to mention underage!) and speeding. I would have to believe that was more of an impairment to her driving than the texting.

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For quite some time now I have been wanting a GPS to take up geocaching (basically an electronic worldwide treasure hunt) I finally got my GPS on Monday! (Note- Some may see this as a frivolous purchase since I am carfree, as in, "Couldn't that money be spent better elsewhere or put towards a car?" Well, yes, but God provided a gift certificate to a sporting goods store, so I was able to purchase this and several other things for about $8 total!)

Anyway, this morning I put the bike mount on my bike, clipped on the GPS and headed out. I hunted several downtown and in the parks nearby. I also hit the Saturday Market and had lunch at Falls Park. Unfortunately, I only found 2 of the caches, but I was really close to several. I didn't take a list of hints with me that would have helped. Guess I'll do that next time! In all, I biked/walked 19.7 miles today! (Thanks to my GPS, I can now track my miles & speed!)


Had several inquiries about my Xtracycle today. One guy has even been considering buying one and previously ran into the other guy here in town that owns one. Oh, and one guy that saw me riding at Furman a couple weeks ago!

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