Scott McMillan Blog

Ask / Thinking / Saving / Food and Wellness / Music / Watching Welcome to my blog where I love to talk about saving money, fashion, fitness and much more. Here you will find tips and tricks to stretch your dollars and maybe even cook up something new. I love learning new things maybe we can learn something new together.

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I know they have been playing this on the radio over and over but I can't get enough I'm CURRENTLY OBSESSED! Ariana has such an amazing voice and the whispering part COMMON lol you know you be jammin to dis Plus IGGY GURRRRLLLLL SHE so fancy

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Natural Sunscreens

Staying protected this summer is majorly important!!! Melanoma accounts for more than 9,700 of the nearly 13,000 skin cancer deaths each year. SO WEAR SUNSCREEN even if your just going for a walk outside or down the block. Most sunscreens contain toxic ingredients that in many cases may actually promote skin cancer growth and free radical production in the body. In fact, in the years since sunscreen use began, skin cancer rates have actually risen, and a 2007 document from the FDA stated that: “The FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer” In fact, many reports show that most sunscreens actually raise skin cancer risk. So how can we protect our skin without harmful sunscreens that they sell in the drug stores? I have found a few sunscreens at Ulta that are 100% natural with no chemicals. If you have an Ulta near by go in and ask the sales clerk for an ALL Natural Sunscreen they will show you a few different options. Yesto the company that makes natural face/skin products just came out with sunscreens check out their website: www.yestocarrots.com Also Check out > Good House Keepings article on affordable sunscreens it lists 21 different natural sunscreens and gives a little synopsis about each one I found it very helpful in deciding which one to choose. 

Or for those of us who like to be crafty check out this homemade Sunscreen recipe I found from Wellnessmama.com

Natural Homemade Sunscreen Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)

1/4 cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)

1/4 cup beeswax

2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide (This is a non-nano version that won’t be absorbed into the skin. Be careful not to inhale the powder). This makes a natural SPF of 20+ or more can be added.)

Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil

Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter (natural SPF 4-5)

Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

Note: All ingredients and many essential oils are available here.

How to Make Natural Sunscreen:

Combine ingredients except zinc oxide in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, olives, or other foods.

Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.

Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.

As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, add the zinc oxide, stir in well and pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Small mason jars (pint size) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!

Stir a few times as it cools to make sure zinc oxide is incorporated.

Use as you would regular sunscreen. Best if used within six months.

Additional Notes:

This sunscreen is somewhat, but not completely, waterproof and will need to be reapplied after sweating or swimming

Make sure not to inhale the Zinc Oxide- use a mask if necessary!

This recipe has an SPF of about 20, though adding more Zinc Oxide will increase the SPF

Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make smooth sunscreen

I recommend coconut or vanilla extract or lavender essential oils for fragrance

Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge

I prefer to store in a small canning jar and apply like a body butter. It will be thicker, especially if you use coconut oil in the recipe.

remove the Zinc Oxide and this makes an excellent lotion recipe!

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ORGANIC SNACKS Delivered to your door For just $2

While shopping the internet one day for natural and organic products. I stumbled upon this lovely website that delivers Organic and healthy snacks right to your door. Excited to try I was a bit worried it would be expensive but they have a bunch of different plans to fit almost any budget. Plus I spend money on snacks each month anyway I figured this would would save me a few bucks instead of going to the store. So OF COURSE I had to find a discount/coupon for this. Sign up with them and get the first subscription box free just pay $2 shipping. There is no obligation and you can cancel your subscription at anytime. I just ordered mine today I'm excited to get it!!! They change it every month and you can always buy the full sized version of the snacks they send you on their website as well. After you receive your box you can let them know the snacks you loved and the ones you didn't so they can personalize your next boxes even better for you. Seems like a really cool idea and I'm anxious to see how I like it.

Click the link below for your first box free just pay $2 shipping

For more info check out their video:

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I'M BACK!!!!!!

I'm so sorry I haven't been on to blog in the past few weeks. I will try and post more often. I'm sure everyone has had those weeks/days where you are so busy you can't seem to find the time to get things done. I still need to clean my room.....eh...anyways. I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial day weekend. I will be posting some fun exciting summer ideas/recipes so stay tuned!!! I've been loving this warm weather we have had so far! Just make sure we are all putting on our sun screen you do not want Cancer! I will also post my natural sunscreen alternatives as well!

Stay tuned and enjoy the day :)

SM

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Kroger Weekly Ad Changes to Wednesdays

Make sure your check your local Kroger Ad this Month mine over here by Oakland County Michigan is changing to Wednesdays. Normally the Sale would go from Monday-Sundays. It's Now changing to Wednesdays just an FYI to everyone who shops the Kroger Sales.

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NEW 2X FUEL POINT PROMOTION AT KROGER

Starting this weekend Clip the 2X Savings coupon to your Kroger Card and get 2x the fuel points on almost everything you buy Friday Saturday and Sunday!!! This weekend till July 27th!!!

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Check out this MICRO Apartment love love love this concept I think as Americans we are always thinking bigger is better but this is less space and more eco conscious. Smart ways of living and storage space I really enjoyed watch this video. Check it out :)

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SAVE $$$ ON GAS!!

If you shop at Kroger you already know that you earn fuel points to save money on gas. Every 100 points is 10¢ off a gallon BUT did you know just by taking a survey online you can earn an extra 50 points?

You get done after a shopping trip to Kroger, come home and put the groceries away. Grab that receipt and sit down for 5-10 mins and log onto: https://www.krogerfeedback.com/

You can take the survey every 7 days earning you up to 200 extra bonus points each month just for taking a survey each week when you do your shopping!

So if you normally only earn 10¢ or 20¢ a month for gas you could be getting 30¢ to 40¢ off!!!

Happy Savings $$$

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Was cleaning to this last night...got a little bit OCD with it lol enjoy

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This  was amazingly well done!!!!!

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STOCK UP 62¢ PASTA SAUCE!!

4/26/14

This week at KROGER Stock up on Classico Pasta sauce.

ONLY $0.62 A JAR!!!

HERE'S HOW TO SAVE

First visit Classico's website and fill out your info to get a $1.50 off coupon

Click Here For Coupon

It let me print the coupon twice or you can just print one depending on how many jars you want. The coupon is good on 4 jars of pasta sauce so if you print two you can get 8 jars. Now that you have your coupons head over to Kroger they are having a BUY 4 SAVE $4 SALE. The pasta sauce is on sale for a $1.99 and when you buy 4 you will get $4 off plus your $1.50 coupon which makes it $0.62 a jar!!!!

STOCK UP

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Happy Earth Day :)

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Wishing Everyone a Happy Easter Enjoy 🐇

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Wishing Everyone a Happy Easter Enjoy 🐇

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Make this yummy organic French toast for Easter brunch :) nummy Organic French Toast Serves about 4 INGREDIENTS: 4 eggs 2/3 cup almond milk 1 rounded teaspoon organic cinnamon 1 rounded teaspoon organic sugar 8 slices of organic bread or Ezekiel bread Organic butter Natural maple syrup Fresh organic berries DIRECTIONS: 1 Beat eggs, milk, and cinnamon together. Whisk until well blended. Pour into a shallow bowl. 2 Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, let bread soak up some of the mixture. Melt some butter (or use vegetable oil) over a large skillet on medium high heat. Add as many slices of bread onto the skillet that will fit at a time. Fry until brown on both sides, flipping the bread when necessary. 3 Serve hot with slices of butter, maple syrup, and fresh berries. Enjoy

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Save on gas with this nifty app!!! If you haven't heard of it download it NOW this little buddy here will search your current location and tell you where to find the cheapest gas prices. The app is free to download and is available in the App Store. You can search by price or by distance. It's an essential app I use daily and it will warn you when gas prices in your area are rising. If you notice the gas price at the pump changed be sure to enter it into gas buddy. All prices are crowd sourced so be sure to report incorrect prices. Happy driving :)

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WATER BOTTLES ARE EVIL!!!!

Your at the store thirsty as can be and buy a fancy bottle of water, the label has some sort of mountain or tropical spring on it. You think for $2 this water has got to be better then what I have at home.....right? WRONG!! Most water bottle companies use plain old tap water or water from a public river or lake. Most likely it doesn't come from a fancy mountain or spring. In fact most Americans not only buy tons of bottled water but the plastic ends up getting thrown away and not recycled. Last year Americans used 50 billion water bottles that's enough water bottles to circle the entire earth 502 times......holy shit. Let's do a little math problem here: Lets say you buy a 24 package of bottled water once a week $4.99 is about average I'd say. Times that by 4 weeks in a month= $19.96 Times that by 12 months in a year=$239.52 and lets say you have been buying bottled water for the past 5 years that's $1,197.60. So your paying all this money for....water? Do the earth and yourself a favor and ditch the bottled water. I know I know its convenient but if you can save money why not. For all the money you have been spending on bottled water go and get a water filter to install in your house. Most filtration systems are easy to install yourself and cost under $100 which will pay for it's self in less then 6 months. Do your homework before you buy you want to make sure you get a good filter that works well with your water source. Visit your local county's website for water quality report. In my past experience Britta filters don't work well and are expensive so avoid getting a pitcher filtration system. Now that you have your water filter you can start enjoying clean fresh water right from home at a fraction of the price you'd pay for bottled water.

Now here are a few tricks I've learned to help you once and for all never need to buy bottled water again.

Most stores sell glass drinking dispensers pick one up and stick it in your refrigerator on the top self for easy ice cold water on hand.

For those that are on the go I recommend drinking out of glass as much as you can because a lot of plastics can leach chemicals into your water causing hazardous health effects. You can buy glass refillable water containers or use my little nifty idea if you drink Snapple or other glass juices.

So you finish your delicious Snapple or other glass bottled beverage with a twist off cap. Instead of putting it in the recycling tear off the label and wash it out. For stubborn sticky residue I use a little orange oil or you can use goo be gone. Don't forget to save your twist off cap! Wash bottle out well and let air dry. After it's dry you can fill it with your filtered water and take it with you on the go. Make a bunch of glass water bottles, fill them up and have them waiting in the fridge so when you are running out the door you can grab one quick. If your bottle breaks or you loose the cap just put it in the recycling. :)

Reduce Reuse Recycle