Savings Summary Saturday - December 31

Grocery Shopping (and other savings) this week:
Saved 54% at Giant this week.(paid $65.38; $120.39 before savings)
Savings Highlights:

• Best Life Spread - paid $0.67 each (sale price of $1.67 each plus a 50 cent coupon that was doubled!)
• Coke Zero Liter - money maker of $0.99 each (sale price of $1.00 each plus a 99 cent coupon that was doubled!)

Gas Savings:
Saved 30 cents per gallon using my Giant card at Shell.  Plus I used my Shell SuperSaver card to get an additional 2 cents off per gallon.

Money received this week (AKA thank goodness for Christmas gifts!)

• $50 CASH from a contractor
• $25 Michaels gift card from The Segalls

Things we got in the mail:

• Entertainment Weekly (from Mycokerewards.com)
• 2 books from Paperbackswap.com
• Fitness Magazine
• calendar from The Humane Society

Donations this week (got to get them in before the end of the year!):

• Donated money to Ashburn Fire & Rescue
• Donated money to Jill's House

Rewards programs:
MyPoints (personal account) - 6,797 points (6,762  points -last week)
MyPoints (coupon account) - 2,730 points (2,640 points-last week)
Swagbucks - 1,928 points (1,891 points-last week)
Listia - 14,623 points (14,578 credits-last week) $0 paid out (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit)
Postpoints - 2,250 points (2,235 points as of Dec. 3)
mycokerewards - 3,923 points (3,896 points-last week)
Bondrewards - $20.71 ($20.61-last week)
Upromise - $12.47 ($12.47-last week) available for transfer
Capital One Rewards - 1,686 miles (1,586 miles-last week)
Thanks Again - 0 points

New Year, New Goals

• Use rewards programs to get gifts - Another WHY HAVEN'T I DONE THIS moment - What about using gift cards for daily stuff!  Thanks to Crunchy Frugalista for the idea.  While I can usually get better deals at the store for laundry detergent & stuff, I could definitely use this idea for dog food!
• Use Restaurant.com coupons - no action this week
• Buy a New Car - no action this week
• Set up an Estate - no action this week

Mutts - My Favorite Comic Strip

I love Mutts.  I think mostly because it's true to life.  Patrick McDonnell does a GREAT job at portraying the relationship between pets and "owners" and pets and other pets.  Here is today's comic.

This one just REALLY touched me.  So much that I almost started to tear up.  Why, because that is Zed to the T.  He will follow me and Dan to the ends of the earth.

Conversations at the Dog Park

Esa and Zed go to the dog park every once in awhile.  Yesterday, we went to Brambleton's Central Bark.  After four years, I'm used to people say about Esa "She's so beautiful!", and lately, "She's so calm", which I answer "thank you" and "lots and lots of training".  We always get asked what type of dog she is.

Yesterday, was no different.  We got asked what type of dog and when I replied "Husky/Shepherd", one of the lady's replied "Have you had a DNA test done on her, she looks like a Shiba Inu" I replied, "she's too big.  That breed is small."  Her response "They come in large sizes too."  When I told them the results on the DNA test 2 and DNA test 1, one of the other lady said that her friend's didn't come back accurate either.

She was also trying to guess what kind of dog Zed is.  I did hear her say "terrier", then she asked.  I responded "Heinz 57 - your guess is as good as mine.  Our vet can't even tell"  Then came the DNA conversation (above).

Later on, a guy came with 2 german shepherds that were very well behave.  He commented on the one Labradoodle who wouldn't drop a ball that was a puggle's.  The owner said no, he doesn't drop and mentioned about having to go to the emergency room to get stitches because she tried to get a chicken bone out of it's mouth.  He continued about how his dogs obey because of the shock collar and tried to show the lady how it works, but she was totally against even looking at it. 

I know he was trying to help, but people who use that need to remember that not everyone believes in them, plus you need to keep in mind the dog personality.  I bet you anything she could easily train the Labradoodle to drop by click training.  People just don't take the time to figure out what works with their dog.

People are funny.  I know people are trying to make conversation while their dogs play, but some funny conversations (or should I say "you should do this" conversations) happen.

Saving Summary Saturday - December 24

Grocery Shopping (and other savings) this week:

• Saved approximately $40 on Zed's medicine by using AAA pharmacy card.
• Purchased 2 Maybelline powder foundations - buy one, get one 50% off.  Used (2) $2 coupons and $5.49 in ECBs.  Paid $6.98
• took advantage of a tenant's employee appreciation days and received 25% off my purchase (instead of the usual 10%).  Purchased items that were already marked down to increase my wardrobe!
• Joined Thanks Again reward program (we are promoting this at work and need to walk the talk).

Gas Savings:
Didn't have that many Giant gas points, so just went to Exxon this week - goes towards Upromise.

Money received this week (AKA thank goodness for Christmas gifts!)

• $50 gift card from a tenant
• $36.08 from some legal action re: currency exchange
• $30 Chipotle gift card from my boss
• $55 Red Robin gift cards from my family
• $$ Michaels gift card from my co-worker

Things we got in the mail:

• $25 Best Buy Gift Card from Mycokerewards
• Fitness Magazine - I think this was through Gold Rewards.com
• Holiday greeting cards from The Humane Society
• Get Glue stickers

Donations this week (got to get them in before the end of the year!):

• Cat & Dog toys and food delivered to the Loudoun County Animal Shelter
• Donated money to The American Heart Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in memory of two friends who passed away this year.
• Shipped two boxes of denim to The Cotton From Blue To Green Organization
• Participated in a silent auction to raise money for United Way (yes, I won an item!)

Rewards programs:
MyPoints (personal account) - 6,762 points (6,682 points -last week)
MyPoints (coupon account) - 2,640 points (2,570 points-last week)
Swagbucks - 1,891 points (1,861 points-last week)
Listia - 14,578 points (14,578 credits-last week) $0 paid out (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit)
Postpoints - 2,235 points (2,200 points as of Dec. 3)
mycokerewards - 3,896 points (3,787 points-last week)
Bondrewards - $20.61 ($20.51-last week)
Upromise - $12.47 ($12.47-last week) available for transfer
Capital One Rewards - 1,586 miles (1,431 miles-last week)
Thanks Again - 0 points

New Year, New Goals

• Use rewards programs to get gifts - WHY haven't I done this in the past?  I can get free gift cards to give as gifts - that's what I usually buy anyway!
• Use Restaurant.com coupons - We have several of these coupons that we have not used.  We need to expand our tastebuds.  That's why I bought them in the first place!
• Buy a New Car - Yup - it's time.  Plankton (our (green) 2002 Nissan Sentra) is 10 years old and getting close to not being worth fixing.
• The plan:
• A - test drive
• B - figure out trade in or sell to Carmax
• C - figure out financing
• Set up an Estate - I know, really bad that we don't have our papers together.

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Me on Monday

 

Extra long this week because of the Monday holidays the next two weeks!

Questions:
1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?
     Usually wrapping paper, but sometimes gift bags.

2.Real or artificial tree?
     Artificial - so much easier!

3.When do you put your tree up?
    HAHA!  Haven't yet this year!  I did put up a little LED light that we had bought for my Aunt Helen.

4.When do you take your tree down?
     Sometime within the first two weeks of January.

5.Do you like eggnog?
     No

6.Do you have a nativity scene?

     I have a felt banner that my mom made.  I usually don't put it up. 

7.Favorite Christmas Movie?

     Bad Santa (seriously!)

8.Favorite Christmas cookie?

    Sugar cookie.  Not just at Christmas, but anytime.

9.Where will you eat Christmas dinner?

     Christmas Eve dinner will be at our house.  Christmas Day dinner will be at the local Chinese restuarant!

10.Angel, bow or star on top of your tree?

     This year, it's a star (on the LED tree).  Usually it's an angel.

11.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

     People are rude when you are out shopping.

12.Do you like Fruitcake?

     No

13.What are you most excited about the holidays?

     Time off from work!

14.Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

     Christmas Eve

15.Will you still be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

     Gifts are all wrapped!

Sunday Souvenir - Haircuts

Sunday Souvenir

Once again, my haircut memories are with Aunt Helen - because she was our hairdresser!  She did all of our hair (mine & my brothers).  I always had the same hair cut growing up - bangs and long.  I do remember one special time though - I had Helen cut it short.  I don't know if she suggested or if I suggested it.  I do remember Mom did not know.  For some reason, I think she was in the hospital after we had a car accident so I was around 5.

Helen saved my hair and I presented it to Mom.  This is probably gross, but I still have my hair.  It's still in the box and wrapped with a bow.  I'm thinking I should take it to my hairdresser and say - THIS is the color my hair should be.  Just because she thinks my hair should be really dark.

Saving Summary Saturday - December 17

Grocery Shopping this week:
No big shopping this week.
Stopped at CVS to take advantage of the 3 for $8 Coke sale on Saturday.  Used ECB to purchase - paid 23 cents.

Gas Savings:
Didn't buy any gas this week for the Jeep.  Hubby uses his Exxon Card so all purchases are worth credit on Upromise.

Things we got in the mail:

• First purchase from Listia - Washington Capitals puck (from the 1970's or 80's) for 100 credits. 

Rewards programs:
MyPoints (personal account) -6,682 points (6,477 points -last week)
MyPoints (coupon account) - 2,570 points (2,455 points-last week)
Swagbucks - 1,861 points (1,827 points-last week)
Listia - 14,578 credits (14,760 credits-last week) $4.35 paid out - equals 1 cent per credit (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit); also had to refund two "sales" one item is lost in mail & other was a wrong purchase.
Postpoints - n/a - my account is suspended/account issues (2,200 points as of Dec. 3)
mycokerewards - 3,787 points (3,739 points-last week)
Bondrewards - $20.51 ($20.46-last week)
Upromise - $12.47 ($11.47-last week)
Capital One Rewards - 1,431 miles (1,286 miles-last week)

Wordless Wednesday

Me and my buddy....

Meet Me on Monday

 

Questions:

1.  Tomorrow I'm going to _________?

     Work......

2.  Pudding or Jello?

     Jello!

3.  What book are you currently reading? 

     N/A - trying to catch up on my pile of magazines!

4.  What is the first concert you went to see?

     Corey Hart!

5.  What is your current weather?

     Definitely December!  What happened to that 60 degree weather we had last week?

Mon
Dec 12

10 am

29° F

Precip:
10%

Sunday Souvenir - Christmas Traditions

Sunday Souvenir

You'll see a lot of my memories are with my Aunt Helen.  She was a big part of my life growing up.  She was like the matriarch of the family and I'll just say it - I was her favorite.

Anyway, all holidays were at Aunt Helen's.  Christmas Eve was always the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner, but I found out that our dinner had a Caprarulo (our family name) twist.  I'm not sure why certain dishes were different than the traditional dishes.

After dinner, we would open presents & stockings.  When I was young, I used to believe that Santa came to Helen's house early.  We would all then go to church for Christmas Eve service.

I would still get presents on Christmas morning at our house and we would go over to Aunt Helen's during the day for leftovers.

We still continue the Christmas Eve tradition.  Dan knows that it is important to me and he had the best teacher on how to make the dinner (Aunt Helen).  We are luck that Aunt Helen wrote down all the recipes.  We have put the Wentz twist on things since we don't eat seafood, but basically everything else is the same.

When Helen went into the nursing home, we started a new tradition.  Chinese on Christmas Day.  It began out of necessity.  There was nothing else open in my hometown and we didn't have leftovers to eat since everything was at my brother's and they spend time with my sister-in-law's family on Christmas Day.  We still continue the Chinese on Christmas Day.

Savings Summary Saturday - December 10

Grocery Shopping this week:
58% savings - $201.88 before discounts - paid $117.51
43% savings - $30.07 before discounts - paid $12.94 - these items are for donation.

Gas Savings:
Paid $2.75 per gallon at Shell using my Giant Bonus card.  I will also be saving 2 cents per gallon by paying with the Shell Super Saver debit card.

Things we got in the mail:

• holiday cards from Guiding Eyes for the Blind
• Throw blanket from The Humane Society
• $50 from Capital One Rewards
• Entertainment Weekly (from Mycokerewards.com)
• White Noise 2 (from swapadvd.com) - this is brand new still in the wrapper!

Rewards programs:
MyPoints (personal account) -6,477 points (6,307 points -last week)
MyPoints (coupon account) - 2,465 points (2,455 points-last week)
Swagbucks - 1,827 points (1,819 points-last week)
Listia - 14,760 credits (4,609 credits-last week) $0 paid out/nothing send this week (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit)
Postpoints - n/a - my account is suspended/account issues (2,200 points-last week)
mycokerewards - 3,739 points (3,642 points-last week)
Bondrewards - $20.46 ($20.36-last week)
Upromise - $11.47 ($11.47-last week)
Capital One Rewards - 1,286 miles (1,131 miles-last week)

Celebrity Sighting!

So, yesterday I was in baggage claim about 11:30 watching the Washington Flyer TV (an internal airport tv station that plays information about different things to do in DC), waiting to see if our video is going to play (more on that later).

Who walks by - Cesar Millan and Junior!!!!

I waved and then walked up to him and asked "What are you doing here?" He said "I just landed, I have a meeting with National Geo"  I said back "Well, have a good trip"  He just kept walking as I was talking, so I got the hint.

I know - my mind goes blank, I get so excited!  I'm such a goof!  "Celebrities" are just normal people, nothing special about them.  I had my phone with me too, I could have gotten a picture and posted it on the Shop Dulles Airport Facebook page.

Meet Me on Monday

Questions:

1.  Monday's are _________?
     the toughest to get out of bed.  I rather just sleep in.  OK - that would be every day....

2.  What is your favorite kind of milkshake?
     Strawberry.  Anything strawberry is my favorite.  I've been told that my mom used to eat strawberries and chew ice when she was
     pregnant with me.  Hence why I like both of those things.

3.  What monthly bill do you most dislike paying? 
     It's going to be the car payment shortly.  Hubby is looking for a new car.  Probably besides that, it's the cable/phone/internet
     bill.  Doesn't seem worth it.

4.  How many email addresses do you use on a regular basis?
     I have 4 e-mails - personal, online sales, junk/coupons and work.

5.  What color lights are on your Christmas Tree?
     Multi color.  Of course, the tree isn't up yet.....

Sunday Souvenir - First Words & Childhold Scrapbook

Sunday Souvenir

Stephanie's entry is about first words and childhood scrapbook.  Unfortunately, I have no idea what my first words were and I don't have a childhood scrapbook.  Which now that I think about it is amazing since my mom was an artist at heart.

Right now, most of my stuff is in boxes but since I know have my scrapbook room, I look forward to organizing EVERYTHING.  Seriously - everything.  The things I do have - a school memories book which has a bunch of report cards and stuff that I did in school.

One of my projects I have planned is to create a school memories book for myself & for Dan.  Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of Dan's stuff was saved. :(

One of the things I was amazed to find (I think I still have them) was when I was cleaning out my aunt's house.  I found ALL of the congratulations cards from when I was born.  Seriously.  Just all bound together.  This was like in 2000.  That was the first time I had ever seen the cards.

I'm sure once I start going through boxes, I'll find a lot of memories.  Those two are just ones that really come to mind.

Savings Summary Saturday - December 3

Not too much action this week - I have't done any shopping this week so no savings from the grocery store.

MyPoints (personal account) - 6,307 points (last week - 6,217 points)
MyPoints (coupon account) - 2,455 points (last week - 2,435 points)
Swagbucks - 1,819 points (last week - 1,812 points)
Listia - 4609 credits (last week - 330 credits) paid out $65.09 = $0.01/credit (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit)
Postpoints - 2,200 points (last week - 2,180 points)
mycokerewards - 3,642 points (last week - 3,523 points)
Bondrewards - $20.36 (last week - $20.31)
Upromise - same as last week - $11.47
Capital One Rewards - 1,131 miles (last week - 8,781 miles; redeemed credits for $50 gift card last week)

Freebies this week in the mail:

• Shape Magazine
• gift wrapping paper (from an animal organization)
• holiday ornament (from an animal organization - this is going in the geocache stash)