Be Thankful...

A little reminder of what all this hub-bub is all about lest we forget the important factor behind today's celebration.

Be thankful for what you have, for whom you have in your life, and for what you have been given.  The gift of love surrounds you as you and your loved ones come together to give thanks to each other for being a part of each others' lives.  In all reality, it's not about the turkey, the dressings, and the pies or anything else that people focus so much on.  

It's about what you are truly thankful for in your life, right? Let those important to you know this. Share your thoughts and love in abundance.  Don't hold back for you know with certainty that you have this moment, this one moment in time...Live your today with thanks.  Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Best bang for your buck!!! Bonus gift cards...

Gift cards are easily available nowadays in retail places such as CVS and Publix.  But you can also buy them online AND get free bonus gift cards and products! Yeah, baby!  And...Don't forget to check www.eBates.com as well to get additional cash back!  Check out this list compiled by Mashup Mom!

Be sure to review the fine print for expiration dates and etc!

• AMC — Buy $30 in gift cards, get a $5.00 concessions card.
• Applebee’s — In-store only: Purchase $50 in gift cards, get a $10 bonus card.
• Barnes & Noble — Free $10 eGift card when you buy $100 in gift cards.
• Ben & Jerry’s — Free scoop of ice cream when you buy $10 or more in gift cards.
• Benihana — Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 promotional card.
• Best Western — Buy a $100 travel card, get a bonus $10 gift card. Choose from Best Western, Amazon, Best Buy, Darden, or Walmart.
• Black Angus — Get $5.00 in bonus bucks for every $50 in gift cards you purchase.
• Bonefish Grill — Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 bonus card + a sweepstakes entry.
• Boston Market — Buy a $25 gift card, get a $5.00 bonus card. Advertised in SmartSource, but don’t see it online, so check in store.
• Brunswick — Buy a $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus certificate.
• California Pizza Kitchen — Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 rewards card.
• Carl’s Jr. – Free Six Dollar burger with purchase of a $20 gift card.
• Carraba’s — Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 bonus gift card + a sweepstakes entry.
• Cheeseburger in Paradise — Get a $10 bonus card for every $50 in gift cards purchased.
• The Children’s Place — Get a $10 e-gift card for every $40 you spend on e-gift cards.
• Chili’s — Not a bonus per se, but save 10% when you buy $100 or more in Chili’s gift cards.
• CiCi’s Pizza — free buffet with purchase of a $20 gift card.
• Claim Jumper — Buy $500 (!) in gift cards, get 10% back in bonus gift cards. This one only runs through 11/30.
• Culver’s — Get a free double deluxe value basket for every $25 in gift cards you buy.
• Dairy Queen — Free mini blizzard when you buy a $10 gift card. In email, may not be all stores — check with yours.
• Denny’s — Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5.00 coupon. Advertised in RedPlum.
• ExxonMobil — Buy $100 in gift cards at an Exxon or Mobile Station, register them online, and get a $10 ExxonMobil gift card by mail.
• Flat Top Grill/Stir Crazy – Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $25 bonus card.
• Fuddruckers — Spend $25 on gift cards, get a $5 bonus card.
• Gap/Old Navy — 10% off gift cards when you use your Gap credit card to purchase and use coupon.
• Half Price Books — get a $5 coupon with each $25 gift card you purchase.
• Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille — Get a $30 bonus gift card when you buy $100 in gift cards.
• IHOP — Give a $25 IHOP gift card, get $5.00 off your next visit.
• Joe’s Crab Shack — Buy $25 in gift cards, get $5.00 bonus bucks.
• Maggiano’s — Buy $100 in e-gift cards, get a $20 bonus card plus a free subscription to Food & Wine magazine.
• Marriott — Buy a Marriott gift card here by 1/7 and get an extra 10% applied to it with code MMF.
• Max & Erma’s — Get a $5 bonus card when you buy $25 in gift cards.
• Morton’s — Buy $500 in gift cards, get a $100 bonus card. Buy $300 in gift cards, get a $50 bonus card.
• Noodles & Co. — Buy $25 in gift cards, get a card for a free sandwich duo.
• Old Spaghetti Factory — Buy a $25 gift card, get a $5.00 bonus certificate.
• Outback Steakhouse — Buy a $100 gift card, get a $20 bonus gift card.
• Panda Express — Get a free two-entree plate with purchase of a $25 gift card. Exclusions apply; some locations it’s $30, read fine print.
• Pappadeux – Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 bonus card.
• Romano’s Macaroni Grill — Get a $5.00 bonus card with every $25 in gift cards.
• Ruby Tuesday — Buy $50 in gift cards get free ground shipping plus a $15 bonus card.
• Ruth’s Chris — Buy $250 in gift cards, get 10% off.
• Steak & Shake – Bonus $5.00 when you buy $20 in gift cards. Several people sent this one in — I can’t find it online, only last year’s promo, so verify in store.
• Sunda Chicago — Buy a $100 gift card, get a $25 gift card.
• Sweet Tomatoes — Spend $50 on gift cards, get a complimentary meal pass.
• Taco Bell — Buy a $20 gift card in store, get a free taco flatbread sandwich combo.
• TGI Friday’s — Spend $25 on gift cards, get a $5 bonus card.
• Uno Chicago Grill — Buy a $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus voucher.
• Walker Bros. Pancake House — Buy a $100 gift card, get a $20 gift card free. (Looks like at the restaurant only.)

 

Call me a hater, too!

From the blackest of black holes came the Kardashians.  And honestly, I'm not even sure why the family has risen to it's current "celebrity" status because I'm still trying to find that needle in the haystack called TALENT. As most of us are aware, The most famous family member is Kim, who catapulted to fame by her sex tape...umm...sure....  

Ironically enough if any one in the family is a celebrity, my bet would be on her step-father, Bruce Jenner, a world renowned Olympian Gold Decathlon Medalist (10 events), motivational speaker, Hall of Fame inductee, Athlete of the Year award recipient, world record place holder, and overall is given credit for changing the definition of "training" for future Olympics athletes.  Hrmmm...guess he should have made a sex tape, too, and perhaps he'd still be talked about in the media? lol!

But back to what this blog post is really about...KK... What I find interesting is that she has a very clear cut separation of followers.  Her "fans", either love her or they have a strong dislike for her (let's call them the KK-Haters for the purpose of this discussion). I think her celebrity status grew because of the wedding, reality show, clothing and shoe lines but more so because of the KK Haters.

Case in point, as of the news reports this morning, over 100,000 KK Haters have signed a petition to boycott the Kardashians reality show. I wonder if the KK Haters actually watch the show to begin with...so why boycott?  Why not target the network instead? I suppose the ratings would be affected some if the KK Haters boycotted the show and Nielsen Media would be able to show this but wouldn't the network be affected more if people boycotted their network? Hrmmm...just something to think about.

In any case, if you're wondering where I stand, I'd be perfectly pleased with one less reality show, especially one that promotes bratty, spoiled behavior showing a grown woman crying because she doesn't get her way.  And do I think KK has talent? Sure!  She's great at teaching young impressionable girls and women that you should pout, act like a bubble brain, and be a spoiled brat to get ahead in life. Point taken? :) 

Oh...And for the record, Bruce Jenner is THE celebrity in THAT family. 
 

Ebates.com: So why aren't you using this?

For those of you who have yet to actually sign up AND leverage this money saver, let me give you a few reasons why you SHOULD! Oh...and this gal was NOT compensated for this post...just wanted to share the love!

1. Free money back on items you often purchase online (i.e. eBay, department stores, clothing, and etc)

2. Free money back on grocery/drugstore items you use daily (beauty & hair care, household, and yes, even paper goods)

3. You can have the money paid to your PayPal account if preferred.

4. You don't pay a thing...not one penny. (except for whatever you buy of course)

5. No driving required so you save gas AND build up a little extra cash...you can't lose!

So far I've built up a little kitty of cash from buying these types of products:
gift cards
sewing machine
the monster machine AKA the serger
fabric and sewing accessories
shampoos and other hair care products
medicines of all kinds
household cleaning products
electronics

birthday gifts
baby gifts
toys
shoes and clothing for the kids
school uniforms
school supplies
doggie stuff
music from iTunes
Halloween candy and party stuff, and much much more.  

C'mon people!  If you're NOT doing this...WHY THE HECK NOT???? The Holidays are coming up and I KNOW many of you will be shopping online!!!

DIY: The Fashionable Cape

If you haven't been paying attention to the national media, Erica from P.S. - I Made This is stirring up some major publicity everywhere.  She's captured the hearts of DIYers at home to couture designers across the globe and is now considered one of the most popular DIY bloggers and fashionistas around town.  The Wall Street Journal has even featured her!  

So...in any case...why bring her up?  I've had this desire to create the perfect cape and have been searching patterns all over the internet but most of the instructions were more bothersome than I wanted to deal with.  Now...after seeing her post and the final product, let's just say she gave me the final kick-in-the-butt-kind-of-inspiration I've been looking for to actually take the plunge, buy fabric, and save myself a few hundred smackaroos!

What's the beauty of this?  Her pattern for this cape (Click here for DIY Tutorial for Cape) on her site was so simple I about fell off the chair. Grab a pair of scissors and cut, cut, cut, tie, and you're done?  Unbelievable!  No need for finishing hems, using interfacing, and etc.  Ummm...are you kidding me?  How many of these should I make?

So call me crazy but I found some high quality expensive wools on discount, and I've placed an order of 24 lbs of amazing wool fabrics...some plaid, some not, for a total cost of $93 (retail total cost approx $400-500).  And I'm so excited because the 21 yards of fabric should arrive later today (estimate approx 10 capes and matching skirts lol!). Here are a few pics of the fabrics I ordered and please note that I'm going outside the box a bit on the plaids simply because I don't normally wear a ton of plaid...but the purple/taupe and navy/chocolate brown plaids?  Ummm...let's just say those are so delish!!! And yes...I will post pics in a follow up post as my capes are completed! 

Navy & Chocolate

   

Purple and Taupe

Tan, butter cream, antique pearl (this is a present for my mom...shhhhhh!!!)

Black, Navy, and Red

Be sure you purchase fabrics that don't unravel or you will need to finish the hems!  Now...go make one for yourself or your favorite gal.  A message to all the guys and gals that don't sew...It's way too easy to NOT do this!  Just think how amazing your gal will look wearing one of these this winter!  Just think how surprised she'll be! 

So...what are you waiting for?  

Lost in translation...

From that camera-touting tourist's mouth to the largest global companies' advertisements, language translations continually prove challenging to accurately convey the correct message.  Even more challenging is catching the mistake...take a look at this pic gallery for some examples of signs where the translations became lost due to one nuance or another... :)  Which one made you laugh the most?

Lost in Translations picture gallery 

Saturday Outing

By: Stephanie

Yesterday I was in a dilemma about how to spend my Saturday afternoon. I'd received an invite a few days earlier from a few friends to join them for a bite to eat, to catch up, etc. I really wanted to go because I haven't seen them in years. But I was hesitant because I live so far away from the chosen destination.

I went back and forth in my mind, and decided it was definately worth the trip. So, I picked out what to wear, showered, got all dolled up. By the time I was in my car and on my merry way, I got more excited to see everyone! It's about an hour one way, but the weather was beautiful. I rolled down the windows and cranked me some tunes. I arrive about 20 minutes late (as my previous blogs explain about me). No worries, because they "know" if I were to show up on time, they'd all pass out!

Here's where my story takes a few turns, that would probably make a heck of a SNL sketch. First of all, my friends told me the wrong name of the restaurant. It was close, but no cigar. I did find it. I get out, go to one of the front doors, and it's locked. Walk over to the second door, and it swings wide open. I go busting in looking for my buddies, and there's no one there but the manager, chef, and servers having a meeting. (I guess they forgot to lock the door.) I apologize and go back out to my car.

Now, if you were to leave home and travel an hour south to meet your friends, don't ya think it's wise to have their phone numbers saved on your cell? Not me, I guess. What do I do now? Obviously I feel like a complete idiot! I come up with the bright idea that I could track 'em down on Facebook from my phone. (That is rediculous, because they're supposed to be meeting up with me.) I can't get my FB to launch. So, I call another friend at home to get her to pull up HER Facebook, hoping to catch one of them online so I can see what's going on. (This friend I'm calling has NO idea who my other friends are. LOL)

She does a search for me and finds them all. She sends a message to each of them "from her" to call me. (And, of course THEY don't know who SHE is.) Lordy...Finally one of them calls me. I said what are you doing, and where are you? He says, "I'm at home getting ready for a party, where are you?"I said I'm at the place I was supposed to meet ya'll." He said really? I said, YES. He said, you mean on Saturday, December 3rd??? (The conversation went a little south from there..Ha!)

This is probably the kind of story that doesn't seem as funny unless you were there. But I stayed light hearted on my weekend outing. After all, I did bother to take my shower, get dolled up and don my rarely worn high heels. I hit the grocery store just in time to get the freebie food samples. They weren't the restaurant food I was looking forward to, but those chunks of deli ham were "fer sure" tasty!

As I started to head home, I realized that I didn't get that Cafe experience from the grocery store samples. I looked to my right, and low and behold were the golden arches. With total happiness, I left the drive through with my mocha frappe in hand, windows down, and once again; tunes a crankin'!

Until Monday, Blog On!