Back to School Savings Guide

I really can’t believe it’s already here – but it’s back to school season and savings.com has a comprehensive list for all your back to school needs.

From school supplies, to new clothes and kicks, there’s plenty of savings to go around.

If you didn’t see my Target List Assist post you need to go check it out -Target makes getting all your school supplies super easy! You select your school, your child’s grade, and Target adds all the supplies to your cart. Easy peasy!

I have talked before about the great alternative to a cell phone for younger kids, and Verizon has some great deals on their Gizmo Gadgets including special edition Mickey Mouse Gizmo Gadget (which I completely LOVE!)

Shopping for school clothes??

Get an extra 20% Off Back to School Essentials at Macy’s 

Get 25-50% Off at Aerie

Get a 10% student discount at NIke

Get 25% off a $100 purchase at Under Armour

and so much more – be sure to check it out and come back and let me know what deals you found!

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Skinny Chicken Alfredo

So with the new year most of us have promised to eat healthier, or at least better than we did in the past. What I always think makes this really hard is the cold and snow that leaves you laid up in the house and what else is there to do besides eat some yummy goodness? So instead of ruining your entire plan, there are ways to eat your favorites without all the fat, artificial flavors and preservatives. One of our family favorites is chicken Alfredo, and the Alfredo sauce you buy in stores or even if you use your Mom’s homemade recipe is full of fat. So we’ve came up with a skinny chicken Alfredo that will fulfill that craving without breaking your resolution.

skinny chicken alfredo

Now I triple this recipe because I cook for 5 plus always want leftovers for lunch the next day. The ingredients below is 1 serving for 4 people. If your family eats like mine, you want to at least double that. If there’s just 2 of you, the amount below should be just perfect.

6 oz (about 3 cups) uncooked pasta (I like bowtie for this recipe)
2 Tbsp of olive oil
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
1 3/4 cup fat-free milk
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Cut chicken into cubes and season with salt and pepper. Heat skillet with olive oil over medium heat – add chicken to skillet and cook thoroughly, adding minced garlic about half way through.

In separate skillet or pot (if you make a lot you’ll want to use a big pasta pot) add chicken broth, milk, flour, onion powder, basil, parsley and pasta and stir well.

Bring to a boil and cover, reducing heat to simmer.

Simmer for about 20 minutes or until pasta is cooked and stir like you would any other pasta – make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom!

Add chicken and stir for another few minutes. (personally I just add the pasta combination to the chicken, and leave some chicken-free pasta for my vegetarian daughter – this is a favorite meal for all of us and I just make her a side of sauteed asparagus to go with her pasta!)

Remove from heat and stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Enjoy!

skinny chicken alfredo

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Making a Better Home with Small Design Tricks

Although most people do not realize this, interior design isn’t only about visual appeal of a home. It also revolves around creating a functional space; a space where all your needs are met.

That being said, a lot people neglect this part of the design. Instead, they focus on things that should look nice thinking they have basics covered. Although this may be true, there is always possibility to make your interior even more functional.

Now, let’s check some small interior tricks that mainly revolve around functionality, not so much visual appeal.

 

  1. Placing a mirror in bedroom

Most women put makeup in their bathroom thinking that this is much more hygienic option. Truth be told, it is much cozier applying it in your bedroom.

Women should always a have a good professional makeup mirror. Furthermore, these types of mirrors (called Hollywood mirrors) is much better fit for bedrooms as it allows you to sit and apply your makeup quietly, without any rush.

This little swap will help you relax which in terms helps you make fewer mistakes and makes the entire process much quicker.

 

  1. Making floor adjustments

A lot of heat is lost through the floor. Luckily there are one or two solutions that can help you out.

First of all, you can always go for full wood. This is an expensive solution that is also a long-term solution. However, if you are in a pinch for money, you can always opt to get more carpets.

Having your entire floor covered in carpets may seem as a real hassle at first. In the end, you will need to vacuum it all the time. Nevertheless, you won’t have to change them so often. In the long run, this approach will save you a lot of money as you won’t have to heat your home as much.

 

  1. More windows for your bathroom

Everybody knows that windows and bathrooms go hand in hand as they allow you to ventilate the space. Did you know there is another good reason why you should get them?

If your bathroom is getting a lot of sunlight then you can easily dry it out. There will always be a lot of moisture in the room especially if you don’t have a fan. This moisture will destroy your walls after a while and there are only a handful of things you can do. Getting more windows is definitely one of them as it reduces humidity.

 

  1. Change the window frames

If you have wooden window frames you have to know that they are extremely susceptible to rot and after a while micro holes will start appearing in them. These holes will allow cold air to penetrate your home and in time, your heating bills will increase.

By getting window frames made from durable materials, you won’t have to worry about this.

 

  1. Add bigger closets and cabinets

Here is a tip that will help you save space.

When we shop for closets and cabinets, we usually go for the ones that look nice. We make a plan where they will be positioned etc. However, as the time goes by, we figure out that we need more space.

Whenever you shop (or build) such furniture, make sure to get the biggest possible option. Even if it’s too much at the given moment, you will fill it up sooner than later. This way, you can reserve part of your home for one furniture piece instead of constantly buying new, small pieces whenever you get overcrowded.

 

These tricks will do wonders for your home! Make sure to implement them as soon as possible!

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3 Things to Know When Moving from Connecticut to New York City

You’ve lived a great life in Connecticut thus far. Even though you want to live in Norwalk for the rest of your life, circumstances have changed and it’s time to relocate to New York City. Because the Big Apple is so new to you, you’re wondering how life is going to be once you make the transition and move into The Cole apartments in NYC.

Wonder no further about New York City. Every New Yorker has no problem letting the rest of the world know that it’s the best city ever.

Do you believe them? Why do they say it’s the best so often? The food is amazing, the entertainment is even better, and it’s one of the most exciting places to go on planet earth.

Will it be difficult to transition from Connecticut to NYC? It’s certainly possible. But if you’re excited to move to the city that never sleeps, you’re in luck because we’re about to tell you the most important things to know when moving into the city.

  1. New York City Is an Expensive Place to Live

Everyone knows that moving can be a real nightmare. Even worse, if you aren’t paying attention you might not realize that everything is much more expensive in NYC. The cost of living in the city that never sleeps is insane, to say the least.

And we’re not just talking about the incredibly lavish housing. But at the same time, you could end up spending thousands of dollars a month to live in what ultimately amounts to a closet.

On the other hand, if you’re relocating to NYC because of work, you obviously know that it’s expensive. Make sure your new employment opportunity will pay you enough to live in this affluent place. But be prepared to know that your alcohol, entertainment, groceries, and overall bills are going to be higher here than just about anywhere else in the world.

  1. Very Few People Own a Car in NYC

    As far as cutting down on expenses go, one of the best ways to do so is to forgo owning a car when living in the city. If you do own a car, you’ll never find a parking space or you’ll have to pay lots of money to permanently lease or rent a space. Obviously, this is impossible for many of us because it’s just too expensive.

    But that doesn’t pose a problem for most New Yorkers anyway. They have no problem accessing the wonderful public transportation system available in the Big Apple. Between the subway system and oodles of bus stations all around the five boroughs, you’ll have no trouble getting wherever you need to go exactly when you need to be there because public transportation runs like clockwork in NYC.

    3.NYC Has Beaches Believe It or Not 

    New York City isn’t exactly famous for its beaches. Most people think they’ll need to spend hours in the car driving to the Jersey shore in order to have some fun in the sand during the summertime. But nothing could be further from the truth.

    You could go to Coney Island or Rockaway Beach whenever you want. Or if you’re brave enough, you can take a trip to the Bronx and go to Orchard Beach but enter at your own risk. Also, note that these beaches get very crowded at times so be prepared to share it with thousands of other city dwellers. Or if you prefer, rent a car and drive to Robert Moses State Park in Long Island better known as Jones Beach.

    Final Thoughts

    Moving from Connecticut to New York City doesn’t need to be a dreadful experience. In fact, it can be an amazing opportunity if you open yourself up to the wonderful possibilities. So consider relocating here for work or pleasure. Just know that it’s an amazing place to live and if you ever wanted to be in the heart of the action, you’ll certainly find it and more in NYC.

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Pros and Cons of Living on the East and West Coast

Which is better between the East and West Coast? No matter who you ask, you will always hear a different answer each time. Depending on your preferences, there is no wrong or right area to live. If you are considering a move to the East or West Coast, you should look at the following pros and cons:

Pros and Cons of Living on the East Coast

The East Coast has a lot of variety. When you are on the West Coast, you will only have three states to choose from: Washington, Oregon, and California. However, the East Coast offers more diversity. You can live anywhere from the tropical climate of Miami to beautiful Connecticut. If you want to live in Connecticut, you should choose prime apartments like these to live in.

If you prefer to live in Massachusetts, you will have the best places to choose from, including Boston and Nantucket. Moreover, you can still choose top-notch cities such as Manhattan and Cambridge. Georgia is also another location that offers plenty of local charm.

The biggest con when living on the East Coast is that you will not have an ocean view from most areas. Unlike the West Coast, which has ocean views from hilltops, the East Coast is mostly flat. This means that to get an ocean view, you have to go closer and view the ocean from nearby. Even if you are across the street from the beach, you probably will not see it.

The East Coast offers a historic, upscale and proper lifestyle. Because the original thirteen colonies were in this region, you will find that the East Coast has old money, historic architecture, as well as conservative ways. This can be a pro or con depending on your way of thinking.

Pros and Cons of Living on the West Coast

 

If you go to Southern California, you will have a view of the ocean even from two miles away, which is not possible on the East Coast. Of course, when you are in California, the views are amazing and so is the weather. Because the West Coast is not humid, you can enjoy the outdoors more easily than if you were in the humid East Coast. For instance, if you live in apartments such as the Asher apartments in Fremont, you can spend most of your time outdoors enjoying the weather.

However, the water in the West is a lot cooler, which is problematic if you are used to the warm waters of the south and the East Coast. Another big con of residing in the West Coast is that some of the cities and states in the north do not get sunshine. Such areas are known for rain, which might be a pro for some people.

Because the West Coast is newer, you will encounter more fluidity and extravagance there. The people there are more liberal and the architecture is more modern. As with anything, this can either be a pro or con depending on your preferences.

Both are Beautiful

The East Coast has southern charm, cultural diversity, and history. Moreover, it is close to many major cities, which makes it well connected and a great place to reside. On the other hand, the West Coast has plenty of beautiful ocean views for you to enjoy. No matter which coast you choose, you will love it there.

Conclusion

Regardless of where you choose to live, both coasts have a lot to offer. The rich culture that the cities in both coasts have allows you to learn and grow. You will find a way to make it home. 

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