Getting the Shakes to Save

I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living. ~John D. Rockefeller

Cannot people realize how large an income is thrift? ~Cicero

I'm already getting a little fixated on the challenge of couponing, so I can see how some of those ladies (and gents) on the Extreme Couponing show can get so crazy. Last night, I heard the "thump" of our once a week local paper being delivered. I was already in my jammies, but I very nearly ran out to grab it so I could read the store circulars and see if I had any coupons to make stuff free or nearly free. I resisted, but just barely. Still, it was on my mind enough that I dreamed about coupon shopping last night.

Yesterday, I found a deal at one of the coupons/deals sites I 'like' on Facebook, promising free after coupon Reach toothbrushes at CVS. I went in with my coupons, but their sale price didn't match that of the site's, so I left empty-handed.

I did, however, get a free-after-rebate bag of The World's Best Cat Litter ($9.99 savings!), so my day wasn't a total loss.

Seriously folks, I'm jonesing for my Sunday paper... I can't WAIT to see the coupon flyers. It's a little scary.

As a side note, though: Lowe's is giving away a small tree to any customer on Saturday, 4/23 in honor of Earth Day and also (at least in my neck of the woods) has their tomato and pepper plants on sale, 2 packs/$1!! It's WAY too early to plant those here, but I can buy them and keep them in my spare bedroom for a couple of weeks.

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I need to add a couple more scenes to "Now and Forever" to make the fall into love a bit more realistic for my couple. I'm not sure what I'm going to add or where. I've been thinking about it over the last couple of days. I just know it needs doing. AND the end needs fixing, which I already knew, but again... I'm not entirely certain how I want that fixed. I prefer to end my stories so the reader goes, "Awwwwwwwwwww...." when they finish, and I haven't found that "Awwwwwwww" ending yet.

Soon.

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You Are a Blueberry Smoothie

You have an intricate and accurate memory. In fact, you wish you were able to forget some things. You aren't one to stick out in a crowd. You're content to hang back and observe. Whenever someone you love feels a certain way, you can't help but feel that way too. You don't like to see anyone feeling discomfort or pain. You want to make everyone around you as happy as possible.

What Berry Smoothie Are You?

About 75% right.

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Steals, Deals and Giveaways

I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living. ~John D. Rockefeller

First off, my Sunday was remarkably dull, so I don't have a lot to report there. In case you wondered :-)

I did, however, spend a little time futzing around on my Nook and found some pretty amazing bargains. Check them out:

Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie is only $1.61 -- yes, I bought a copy. It's not my fave of her books, but a bad Jenny Crusie book is like milk chocolate. I prefer dark chocolate, but milk is still yummy...

Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber is only $1.24! - and yes, I bought a copy -- I love Shirley, Mercy and Goodness :-)

Christmas in High Heels by Gemma Holiday is only $0.99!

The Anne of Green Gables series is only $0.99!! It includes: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, Chronicles of Avonlea, and Further Chronicles of Avonlea

Midnight in Death by J. D. Robb is only $1.99 -- it's only about 100 pages long, so I think it must have been one of those she had in an anthology. Since I don't own any of those (except "Lost") I was tickled to find it AND the one below:

Interlude in Death by J. D. Robb is only $01.99!

Also, there are some pretty incredible contests going on.

Extasy Books and Devine Destinies are having a seriously incredible holiday contest. They're giving away a laptop, GPS, netbook, video camera and digital photo frame! The contest runs from 12/1 - 12/31.

LASR/WC is giving away a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC during their Jingle Bell Blog Fest. The contest runs from 12/19/10 - 1/2/11.

I love deals ...

Any good deals or contests you'd like to share?

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You Are Charitable

You like to party and live it up during the holidays. This is a time to be festive and celebrate. You are an outdoorsy, down to earth person. Authenticity matters a lot to you, and you don't mind hard work. You like your holiday decor to have personal meaning. Your ornaments and decorations each tell a story. This holiday season you are hopeful and optimistic. You are thinking of the future and giving generously.

What Does Your Christmas Tree Say About You?

Except for the party it up part, it's pretty close :-)

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Just Rambling...

Thrift is not an affair of the pocket, but an affair of character. ~S.W. Straus

I hate wasting time. Drives me nuts. Yesterday I wasted three hours looking for shoes/boots for my DH. He has weird feet, VERY high arches which make him bust through most shoes unless they are very well made.

So, I went looking for decently made boots at a reasonable price. And, I came home empty.

We've tried brands like L.L. Bean -- but the clasps that hold the laces broke in only a few days (thankfully, they'll take stuff back when that happens). We've gone cheap (KMart special) which have oddly enough lasted longer than the more expensive brands. Even so, they don't last very long.

Yesterday I tried Tractor Supply Company (a very cool store that I can putz around in for an hour, but they didn't have the kind of boot I was looking for) and finally ended up at Bob's Stores. I had a coupon (as it turns out, though, it was expired), and after much looking and poking and bending, I found a pair of boots that were a little pricey, but appeared well made. However, when I discovered my coupon was expired, it put them out of my price range and I had to leave them behind. Thankfully, Bob's typically has a coupon in the Sunday paper, so I'll grab that and go back and hope they still have a boot in his size.

We won't talk about looking for sneakers for DD. When did prices get so high? Sheesh...

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I didn't do a lot of actual writing yesterday, but I did do scene cards for the scene ideas I'd had pop into my head, and then brainstormed some more. I'll most likely continue to do that until I have a very sketchy plot outline before I start to write. And, heck, if it takes me into November, I'll use it for my version of NaNo (I'm challenging myself to write 500 words a day ... not the 1500 that NaNo requires, but I have to be realistic).

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Today? I'm building next week's pages for LASR/WC for the website and stacking wood -- the chore that won't go away. I may also finally pull up the last of my veggie garden. I can't believe we haven't had a frost yet!!

The leaves are getting gorgeous up here, and further north, they're probably at their peak for leaf-peeping. I imagine ours will be peak in another week or so. The colors are incredible.

Have a great weekend!

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