Friday's freebie...

Bath and Body Works usually has some sort of sale going on but this one is one of the better deal in a long time. Right now if you order online you will get a free Signature Collection body item with the purchase of two other Signature Collection items, you will also get a free 2 ounce sample of the new Summer scent Deep Aqua body lotion with any order. You can take advantage of their free shipping on any order over $50.00 as well as $10.00 off any order of $30.00 or more with coupon code TENOFFSHIP or you can print out an in store coupon. Something else that is new at Bath and Body Works is the money back guarantee, try their Signature Lotion for 7 days and if you don't think your skin is softer you can bring it back for a full refund.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend ahead!

C.Q.

Thursday's picture perfect deal...

The Picture...

Where I live we have a lot of old buildings that have wonderful architectural detail, this Fleur-De-Lee is from the entrance to the old news papers building.

The Deal...

I recently purchased a new bottle of Burberry Brit Perfume at my local mall and received a free tote with my purchase which was a nice little bonus. However, because I was being reckless and shopping on impulse it cost me. That nice bottle of perfume was $70.00 plus $5.25 tax! So, today's deal is for Fragrancenet, where I have shopped in the past and had great experiences. All the perfumes are new, top shelf designer scents and they are not tester bottles. My $70.00 department purchase would have only been $42.19 + $5.95 shipping if I had waited until I got home to purchase on line. My "free" tote bag actually cost me $27.31. Today only they are offering 15% off your entire order if you use coupon code MOM15 so be sure to check out everything, not just the scents. Fragrancenet also offers free shipping on all orders over $70.00 and there is no sales tax on orders from outside of New York. If you are planning on giving your purchase to someone for Mother's day they will gift wrap your purchase for an additional $3.99.

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn

~WORD OF THE DAY~

sub rosa • \sub-ROH-zuh\• adverb

: in confidence : secretly

Example Sentence:The private investigator met sub rosa with his client to show her photos of her husband rendezvousing at various local establishments with another woman.
Did you know?"Sub rosa" literally means "under the rose" in New Latin. Since ancient times, the rose has often been associated with secrecy. In ancient mythology, Cupid gave a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to keep him from telling about the indiscretions of Venus. Ceilings of dining rooms have been decorated with carvings of roses, reportedly to remind guests that what was said at the table should be kept confidential. Roses have also been placed over confessionals as a symbol of the confidentiality of confession. "Sub rosa" entered the English language in the 17th century, and even before then, people were using the English version, "under the rose." Earlier still, "unter der Rose" was apparently used in Germany, where the phrase is thought to have originated.

~REBATE~

With the summer fast approaching and camping season starting now is the time to check your gear. If your tent sprung a leak last season then check out the Eureka Apex 2XT Tent with Fiberglass Poles. It is a self-supporting, free-standing, 2-pole, rectangular dome tent. Two vestibules for maximum weather protection, and extra gear storage space. Two easy-entry, drop-down doors with zipper covers. Poke out vent on side wall increases air flow. This tent will sleep two, is 3'7" tall, floor dimensions are 7 ft. 5 in. x 4 ft. 11 in., it has 2 vestibules of 6.7 sq. ft. each and 2 doors. The lowest price I was able to find was a Sunny Sports, they actually were the 2nd lowest, but with their have free shipping they actually come out with the best price. Plus, since they offer a low price guarantee you really cant loose. Their final cost is $84.95. There is currently a rebate on many Eureka! Tents of up to $30.00. The rebate on the Apex2XT is $10.00. You will need to print the rebate form and mail it in together with your original receipt dated between 11/1/09 and 7/31/10 and the UPC from the product to Eureka! Rebate 2010, P.O. Box 1966, Binghamton, NY 13902. Please see the rebate form for additional rebates on other tents and any other requirements.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

C.Q.

Tuesday's tid-bit

Monday's value meal

Pan-Roasted Turkey Cutlets with Orange Gremolata:

***Every week I get an email from William-Sonoma with new recipes and cooking gadgets, I found this recipe a while back and liked how easy it is.

Boneless turkey cutlets are regularly stocked in the poultry section of supermarkets. Here, they are dipped in beaten egg, coated with bread crumbs, then browned on the stove top before they are quickly finished in a hot oven. The sauce is inspired by the gremolata of Northern Italy, a mixture of parsley, lemon zest and garlic traditionally used on osso buco. Lemon juice and zest may be substituted for the orange juice and zest.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 egg
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 1/2 cups fine dried bread crumbs
4 turkey cutlets, each 4 to 6 oz. and 1/2 inch thick
2 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

For the sauce:
Grated zest of 1 orange
Juice of 1 orange (about 1/3 cup)
3 Tbs. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 large garlic clove, finely minced
2 Tbs. brandy
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions:
Preheat an oven to 400°F. Place the flour on a plate and season with salt and pepper. In a pie pan, whisk together the egg, mustard, and a little salt and pepper. Place the bread crumbs on another plate. Coat each cutlet on both sides with the seasoned flour, then dip both sides in the egg mixture and then finally in the bread crumbs, coating evenly on both sides each time. In a large, heavy ovenproof fry pan over high heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. When it is very hot, add the cutlets and sauté until the crumbs are crisp and golden, about 2 minutes. Turn the cutlets over and transfer the pan to the oven. Roast until the cutlets are firm to the touch and the bread crumbs are nicely browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the cutlets to a warmed platter or warmed individual plates.To make the sauce, place the pan over medium-high heat and add the orange zest and juice, parsley, garlic and brandy. Cook, stirring, until slightly reduced, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon an equal amount of the sauce over each cutlet. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Serve with a spinach salad with sliced black olives and oil and vinegar dressing or you can use the left over orange in with the spinach, warm bread sticks and steamed vegetables.

----Main dish----

$0.50 off any ONE (1) McCormick® Seasoning Blend, Spice, Herb, Extract or Food Color

$0.55 on any ONE (1) Morton® Season-All® product 8 oz. or larger

$1.00 off Honeysuckle Turkey, one package of scallopini, cutlets or tenderloins

$0.50 off one package of any LAND O LAKES® Spreadable Butter Products

----Salad----

$1.00 off Lindsay Olivesone package

$1.00 on any Filippo Berio Olive Oil

$0.50 on any size or variety of Pompeian Red Wine, Pomegranate or Balsamic Vinegar

----Bread----

$0.40 on any TWO Pillsbury® Italian Meal Breads - Includes any Loaves, Bread sticks, Dinner Rolls, and Pizza Crust

----Vegetables----

$0.50 off on Green Giant vegetables (its at the bottom of the Green Giant page)

Hope you all enjoy this meal and have a great start to your week.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

Its a gray rainy day, the kind I like for watching old movies. I have a lot of favorites but today I thought I would find you a great deal on a movie my dad and I loved to watch together. He wasn't big on musicals but he did love Brigadoon.

Brigadoon is the story of Two Americans, Gene Kelly and Van Johnson, on a hunting trip in Scotland who become lost. They encounter a small village, not on the map, called Brigadoon, in which people harbor a mysterious secret, and behave as if they were still living two hundred years in the past. In the end the men need to decide on staying forever in the enchanted land of Brigadoon or go back to their own lives, possibly never finding love again. Its a heartwarming story that makes me smile everytime I watch.

Released in 1954 the cast also includes Cyd Charisee, Barry Jones and Elaine Stewart. The best price I found on the DVD today was at Buy.com for $11.15 with shipping. If you are a member, you can find the movie available to rent at NetFlix, the movie is also available on iTunes for $9.99 to download and keep or $2.99 to rent, there are also used copies available on eBay, I was able to find a couple with starting bids at $4.50.

Hope you all have a great Sunday.

C.Q.

At home spa specials...

As Mothers day gets closer folks start looking for a nice pampering gift to give. One idea is to put together a nice spa day basket. This is something I have even done for myself and it is a wonderful revitalizer.

Light a great scented candle, (if you don't already have one Candles to my Door has a ton of different candles from Yankee, Colonial, Beanpod, Woodwick and more and they are all on sale), put on a relaxing sound track (here is a nice free one you can put on your iPod of nature from Musical Relaxation, its a little over 11 minutes so just put it on repeat) and draw a nice fragranced bath. Bath and Body Works has their buy two get one free sale going on both their Aromatherapy products and their True Blue Spa line. When its time to step out of the tub slip on a super plush micro fiber robe for the feel of luxury. Overstock has pink and blue in sizes L to 2X right now for $46.99.

Onto facial care; the Yes to Carrots line is very nice, offering items for Dry, oily and sensitive skin types, and its reasonably priced. Though you can buy direct, you can often find their products on sale at Target, Walgreens, Meijer and Drugstore.com (which has the carrot body spa kit on clearance right now for $12.99 with free shipping on orders over $25.00). What I truly love about this line is that I can read the ingredients list and know what everything is, they also feature a lot of organically grown ingredients.

Nails next; You should maintain regular gaps between applying nail polish allowing the nails to breathe and reducing the possibilities of drying and chipping, but if your planning a night out there are many nice polishes on the market. I usually look for Nail Lacquer, it is a little stronger than just polish and lasts longer, OPI is one of my very favorites and is sold in many salons, I keep an eye out for when my local salon has a sale. If you are prone to dry skin and hangnails the Burt's Bees Cuticle cream is fantastic, it leaves my hands feeling soft and smelling great. I apply this after any polish because it will cause the polish to flake if it is on the nail before hand. Burt's Bees has a sale right now on their Tips and Toes kit regularly $13.00, now its only $8.00. The kit has everything you need to not only take care of your cuticles but your hard working feet as well. They are also giving away a free lip balm with any purchase over $25.00, just use coupon code WELCOME at checkout.

Next comes the make up, when I am looking for new make up I always check the sale page at Sephora, they also throw in free samples and birthday goodies which is always a nice surprise when my package arrives. Another good site is Beauty.com they are offering $10.00 off your next purchase of $60.00 or more, this offer is good through 12/31/2010. The coupon site Red Plum has a printable coupon for $1.00 off any Rimmel London product which can be found at Tartet and Walmart. If you think you need a little lifting and firming Garnier is offering a $2.00 coupon for their new Ultra Lift Pro Gravity Defying cream, just run your mouse over the lower center section and it will show the whole line, the coupon is the bottom link in the group or you can wait for it to come around on their splash page.

Finally comes the perfume, FragranceNet.com has tons of great designer scents at a fraction of the cost, they also have free shipping. If you use coupon code NAM48 you will get an additional 15% off your order. The other frequently used site is Perfume.com and they are offering a similar deal, enter coupon code LOVEMOM and you will get 20% off your order, they offer free shipping on orders over $50.00. I would recommend checking the price of what ever fragrance you like at both sites and seeing which will come out best for you.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

C.Q.

Friday's freebie...

Walmart is offering a free sample of the new Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Skin-Fortifying Body Lotion. All you need to do is click on the "GET YOUR SAMPLE" button on the web page and you will get a pop up box asking for your name and address. I have used the Walmart free sample offers before and they usually arrive in about 2 weeks. I have used Eucerine product myself in the past and they were quite well on my dry skin.

Hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend!

C.Q.

Thursday's picture perfect deal

The picture...

We had a brush pile buring this spring and the sun and smoke made a dramatic effect in front of the trees.

The Deal...

From now until May 2nd Cold Water Creek is offering 25% off everything in the store. If you shop on line use coupon code WHH2648 if you plan on going to the store then you can simply print the coupon to bring in with you.

Have a great Earth day everyone!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn

~WORD OF THE DAY~

omnium-gatherum • \ahm-nee-um-GA-thuh-rum\ • noun: a miscellaneous collection (as of things or persons)

Example Sentence:
The book, a collection of short stories, is an omnium-gatherum of works by various writers.



~REBATE~



Has your coffee pot finally seen its last cup? There is a $30.00 rebate right now on a Cuisinart Grind and Brew DGB600BC Coffeemaker-10Cup Stainless Steel Grinder, Amazon has them marked down to $105.00 right now with free Super Saver shipping. (They were $235.00!) To get the rebate simply buy the coffee maker before June 30, 2010 and send the completed rebate certificate, original dated store receipt and the original UPC from the bottom of the Cuisinart box to the address on the rebate form. Any response received after 7/30/10 is not eligible. To check rebate status, go to www.rewardsbymail.com or call 1.866.538.1195.

Hope your Wednesday is "good to the last drop"!

C.Q.

Tuesday's tid-bit

Sunday's media madness...

Well the weather is finally nice, time to make a glass of iced tea or lemonade and sit outside with a good book. I love a good mystery, and even more that, that I love finding a new series by a great author. This book came out in 2004 and is the first in the series of Anna Travis mysteries by Linda La Plante. Ms. La Plante is well known for the Prime Suspects series that is on the BBC staring Dame Helen Mirren. I found this books lowest price at BookCloseouts.com marked down from the list price of $14.99 to $1.99. BookCloseouts.com will charge $3.25 for their standard shipping no matter how much you order. If you find some other books that you think you might enjoy they currently are offering a coupon for $5.00 off of a $35.00 purchase, just use code 5-1-2010 when you check out.

Above Suspicion

The Book:

In the footsteps of Jane Tennison, immortalized by Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect, comes Anna Travis, a rookie female detective about to embark on her first murder case. The murders couldn't be more gruesome. The method of killing is identical, the backgrounds of the girls very similar - all are prostitutes. As the book opens, a seventh body is found, same modus operandi but the victim this time is a sweet young student. Anna stumbles on a vital piece of information that links one man to the killings, a well-known, much-loved actor. His protestation of innocence is convincing, and Anna might be succumbing to his flattering attention. What if he is arrested, the media erupts, and he is the wrong man?

The reviews:

From Publishers Weekly -
La Plante's gripping thriller (after Cold Shoulder, Cold Blood and the Prime Suspect television series) launches the crime-fighting career of another brainy, sexy female homicide detective, fledgling London copper Anna Travis. As the bright and eager young daughter of recently deceased Detective Chief Superintendent Travis, Anna is hired by Detective Chief Inspector Langton, whose murder team has been completely outfoxed by a serial killer with a trail of six murdered prostitutes dating back 12 years. Anna joins the team just as they identify the corpse of a younger victim with no history of prostitution, a casualty that Langton takes as a sign of the killer's escalating blood lust. Further investigation reveals handsome up-and-coming film actor Alan Daniels as a potential suspect, and Anna and Langton widen their inquiry to include Daniels's past movie locations in the U.S., following a trail of victims to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. Suspense builds and circumstantial evidence continues to pile up, but absolute proof eludes Anna and Langton as the sociopathic suspect attempts to turn his seductive powers on Anna. With crime lab authenticity, a sympathetic heroine and an affecting undercurrent of May-December romance between Anna and Langton, this spellbinder spirals down to an edge-of-the-seat denouement. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist -
Creator of the popular Detective Jane Tennison, heroine of the Prime Suspect TV drama, Londoner La Plante brings a new crime series to America. Originally published in Great Britain in 2004, Above Suspicion follows young Detective Sergeant Anna Travis, daughter of the late Detective Chief Superintendent Jack Travis, as she works her first homicide case. And what a case it is: a serial killer who has brutally murdered prostitutes for the past eight years has suddenly switched to a beautiful young student. DCI Langton, who chose Anna for the team out of respect for her father, pushes her mercilessly. In fact, Anna's complex and heated relationship with her boss is almost as compelling as the chase for the serial killer. When a popular actor is identified as a subject, he denies it all and begins an amorous pursuit of Anna. Flattered by his attention and confused by her feelings for Langton, Anna finds herself in grave danger. For readers wondering if veteran La Plante has still got it, Above Suspicion leaves no doubt. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The Author:

Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She trained for the stage at RADA, and work with the National Theatre and RSC led to a career as a television actress. She turned to writing - and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series Widows. She has written eight subsequent bestselling novels, The Legacy, The Talisman, Bella Mafia, Entwined, Cold Shoulder, Cold Blood, Cold Heart and Sleeping Cruelty and her original script for the much acclaimed Prime Suspect won a BAFTA award, British Broadcasting award, Royal Television Society Writers award and the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Writers award. Lynda La Plante also received the Contribution to the Media award by Women in Film, a BAFTA award and Emmy for the drama serial Prime Suspect 3, and most recently she has been made an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute. From Fantastic Fiction.

Have a peaceful Sunday!

C.Q.

Monday's value meal...

Coffee marinated grilled steak:


***This recipie comes from a series of mystery books I very much enjoy by Cleo Coyle that are based on a woman who owns a coffee house, you can check the books at the Coffee House Mystery Site.***

You will need -

Steaks for grilling (top round or flank are most economical)
Cold coffee
Salt & Pepper
Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Scallions or shallots (optional)
Steak dry rub (optional)

If you want to tenderize the meat pound the steak out with the spike side of a meat hammer. Prick the meat with a fork to allow for the marinade to get into the meat and tenderize it further. Place your steaks in a glass or plastic container and pour enough cold coffee over them to cover. You can use any kind of coffee. Just save the last dregs of your coffee pot for a few days (store in fridge) and you should have enough for the marinade. Add a tablespoon of salt, a dash of pepper, and (optional) a couple of diced scallions or shallots along with a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Cover the container with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 1 to 3 hours. No longer. Pull the steaks out of the container and discard the liquid. Do not rinse. Just apply a favorite dry rub if desired. There are many dry steak rubs available in your grocery aisle. Cook your coffee-marinated steaks on a charcoal or gas grill, or broil the meat in the oven.

Serve with frozen vetetables, a tossed green salad and ice cream for dessert.

Coupons for this recipie:

------Main dish------

$1.00 off Caribou Coffee on ONE (1) 12-oz bag of Caribou Coffee (Whole Bean or Ground)
$.55 off any Morton® Season-All® product 8 oz. or larger
$1.00 off one bottle of Lea & Perrins® Thick Classic® Worcestershire Sauce (this one needs to be requested via their web site)

------Miscl.------

Save $2.00 off AmeriGas® Cylinder Exchange or Purchase for your grill

------Vegatables------

$.50 off Green Giant Steamers or baged vegetables

-----Salad------

Save 50¢ on any one (1) Newman's Own® product
$1.00 off any Two (2) Litehouse® Products

------Dessert------

$1.00 off any TWO (2) pints of Starbucks® Ice Cream: Available in Coffee and Coffee-Free Flavors

Shopping tip ~ If you make a list and stick to it you really will save on your grocery bill.

Bon Appetit!

C.Q.

Friday's freebie...

Amazon has a great deal going ~ Until April 30, you can get a free Fisher-Price TRIO building set with any purchase of the select toys. Please note though that the offer applies only to products sold by Amazon.com and not to products sold by third-party merchants and other sellers through the Amazon.com site. As with all items sold through Amazon, you get free shipping on any order over $25.00.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal

The Picture...

This young bear found the bird feeders in our yard last year and he was just too cute for words.

The deal...

Are you looking for a great Mothers day gift or is it just time for a new set of pans for your kitchen? William-Sonoma has a beautiful set of two Calphalon Unison pans with a lid on sale for $149.95 regularly $325.00, that's a savings of a little more that 55%!! The set includes the 3 quart saute pan and the 10 inch fry pan. These pans will last forever and are dishwasher safe.

Hope you are all having a great day!

C.Q.

Tuesday's tid-bit

Creative pots for pennies

Its getting to that time of year where I start getting antsy to get planting, but the weather doesn't always cooperate with me so I start off small with container plantings that I can bring in if the nights get too chilly.

I have some great ideas for creating a little oasis of green on your deck before the trees have fully budded. One of the easiest thing is to take a plain clay pot and just paint it with strips or polka dots, or get out the glue gun and put some fun buttons around the rim. One of the favorites I have done is to use a Dollie that I tape to the rim and bottom and then dab paint on the pot, it gives a lace effect to the surface. If your feeling a little more crafty take a plain old terracotta pot, add some pieces of ceramic tile, broken china or flat glass marbles that you find in the floral section of the craft store and you will have a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Check out this You-Tube how to for more info. Remember your not limited to clay pots for planting, if you line a container with plastic you can use almost anything. Some of the out of the box ideas I have seen are Johnny Jump ups in baby shoes, Miniature roses in cast off purses, mixed flowers in tea pots, strainers lined with moss for trailing plants, Marigolds in old watering cans, let your imagination run wild.

Thinking ahead to your peaceful nights out on the porch in the summer why not have some nice candle light, a simple project to start on now is the old fashioned looking tin punched lights, just take a tin can, fill it with water and freeze it, then take an awl and hammer and punch out a design on the can, let the ice melt and then dry the can and spray it with a rust resistant paint, then your all set to put a candle in it and enjoy it for the summer. These also make great little gifts during the summer months.

If you are looking at your seed catalogs now remember that its important to plant according to where you live, my husband always sees things he wants that I have to remind him we can't start from seed here. Some vegetables that lend themselves to container gardening very well include carrots, radishes, lettuce, peppers and of course the old stand by of tomatoes. Herbs do wonderfully in containers, even if they are a little crammed for space and most of them either dry or freeze well to use over the winter. If you need seeds to start but are on a tight budget check out The Dinner Garden for free seeds, gardening advice and tips as well as some great recipes. If you buy vegetable or herb seeds from your local home store or nursery and have any left over please consider sending them to the Dinner Garden so they can be distributed to people that need them.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

C.Q.

Tuesday's tid-bit

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter, this Saturday's blog will be back on it's regular schedule.

C.Q.