Shopping Online -- Beating the Crowds and Saving the Bucks

I used to LOVE getting out to the malls and shopping, shopping, shopping. For the most part though, that's just not what I love to do anymore. So far, most of my Christmas shopping has been done online. I've hit up Amazon (love me some Amazon Prime!), Victoria's Secret, Macy's, Christian Family Bookstores and others to find really great deals on things I know the people in my life will love.

So many great online deals have been found so far this year. I love the fact that I don't have to drive all over town to shop. I don't have to deal with checkout lines for the most part and I can pick up the gifts from the comfort of my own couch.

Plus, there's the ability to save money too! Online coupon codes (especially through Retail Me Not), links through UPromise or Swagbucks, putting it on my AmEx to get points (that can be converted to cash) -- all of these serve to stretch my dollar as far as it can possibly go.

I'll still have to get out and do some shopping in the old fashioned way --- but not as much and I won't have to devote a full Saturday in December to finish it all up! Woo hoo!!!! Have you been finding any great deals online?????

Contemplating Thing 3

When we lost Thing 1 in August, many people asked me if I was going to get another dog. At that time, we just weren't ready. Although I did know I would eventually. So, the Princess and I have decided we are ready. The trick is finding the right pup for us. A friend had rescued a stray and was looking to adopt him out. I thought that would be perfect, so the pup came for a visit. That visit was one step shy of disaster. He was constantly looking for our friend, and kept getting out.... of the house, of the fence, all in all it was a stressful combo --- he wasn't ready to let go of his rescuer, and my house is less than 100 yards from a busy busy road. It just wasn't going to work. I hated to give him back, because he was a sweet pup, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Later that week, I was in our vet clinic and I mentioned the failed home visit, and how we were ready for another pup and Thing 2 was pretty bored and lonely. They mentioned that they had stray that had been there for a few months and they were looking to adopt her out (my vet will not surrender strays to kill shelters) and wondered if I was interested. I was, so they brought her out to meet me. Sweet girl, very excited at first but then calmed down quickly for hugs and loves and ear scratches.

So, Saturday morning I will bring her home for a weekend visit. I'm hopeful this will be right fit for us all. For me, the Princess, Thing 2 and the sweet girl with potential to be Thing 3. Wish us luck!

And Back To It

Wow! I have been away for a while. Life's been busy and I just really haven't had my thoughts together. Add that in with the fact that my internet connection has been less than reliable lately...and I just didn't get around to it.

So, in addition to being back on my blog (boy! I have a ton of reading to catch up on too!) --- I also finally went and did a bit of coupon shopping this week. Nothing big -- just taking advantage of some sales to get me back in the mode.... So here is what I picked up....

4 Beneful Healthy Smile Dog Treats (after coupons and BOGO sales, these were .65 each... normally priced at $4.29 -- they will be stocking stuffers for Thing 2)
2 CoffeeMate Creamer
2 Hormel Mashed Potatoes
2 Kraft Shredded Cheese
2 Progresso Soups
2 Ronzoni Pasta

Spent: $18.94
Saved: $31.91 or 63% -- not bad -- but YIKES that all that (very little) stuff would have been over $50 without sales and coupons.

Any good deals for you lately?

 

A Hard Week

This has been a terribly hard week. Just rough all the way around. Completely and totally emotionally draining. The Princess has been having a hard time lately. With school. With her friends. Just all the way around probably at her lowest point ever. It hurts to watch your child hurt. You just want to "fix" it, even though you know you can't. Just have to help them try and pick up the pieces and move forward.

And Another One Bites The Dust......

Earlier this week, I noticed that my microwave wasn't heating on the 30 second and 1 minute buttons. No worries, I just started using the 2 minute button. But in the back of my mind, I knew it wasn't good. I was hoping it would last until the Black Friday Sales, at least. No such luck. This morning I popped my coffee cup in to warm it up. And pressed the 2 minute button. It started going... but made a terrible sound (closer to what my lawn mower sounds like than what a microwave should!). And it smelled funny, not quite like something burning, but close. Yeah, ummmmm, I think it was done.
So I turned it off and unplugged it. Crap.

Being ever resourceful, I dragged up the Princess's teensy microwave from her dorm. FYI, when a college student "says" she's cleaned the microwave, you might want to check on that before putting it up to store. Ew. So, I got busy cleaning that. Then my mom called. I told her what I was doing and why and she was like "Oh, No!" -- it seems her "friend" had gotten rid of an almost brand spanking new one a month ago when he'd moved to a place that had a built in. But she called him to check just be sure. Somebody must have felt sorry for me, because she called back telling me to go to his house and get it! Woo hoo! I asked how much? And she laughed and said NOTHING! That's my absolute favorite price!

So, I hopped in the car and headed out to get it. Lost about 2 hours of my day, but I consider it time well spent!!!!!!!