Friday's Freebie...

I wear reading glasses and can never seem to keep them clean, it seems the every time I take them off or put them on I get a finger print on them. Today's freebie is just the thing for that; free lens cloth and cleaner from Walmart! Just print the coupon and bring it into your local Walmart Vision Center.

I hope you are all having a great Friday and are looking forward to a nice weekend.

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

lexicographer ~ noun

DEFINITION: an author or editor of a dictionary

EXAMPLES: The great lexicographer Noah Webster, who wrote the first authoritative dictionary of American English, was born on October 16, 1758.

"The 18th-century lexicographer and wit-about-town Samuel Johnson claimed that patriotism is the last resort of the scoundrel." -- From an article by Peter Foster in the Financial Post, April 28, 2011

DID YOU KNOW? The ancient Greeks were some of the earliest makers of dictionaries; they used them mainly to catalog obsolete terms from their rich literary past. To create a word for writers of dictionaries, the Greeks sensibly attached the suffix "-graphos," meaning "writer," to "lexikon," meaning "dictionary," to form "lexikographos," the direct ancestor of the English word "lexicographer." "Lexikon," which itself descends from Greek "lexis" (meaning "word" or "speech"), also gave us "lexicon," which can mean either "dictionary" or "the vocabulary of a language, speaker, or subject."


~THE REBATE~

How about a great way to go green and change your oil for free?  In honor of Earth Month, Green Earth Technologies is offering a rebate of  $26.00, the full cost of a 5 quart bottle of G-Oil, the first and only API certified bio based full synthetic motor oil.  If you have a hard time finding it in your local automotive store it is available at Walmart.  You will need to fill in the rebate form and mail it in together with your original dated cash register receipt and the UPC off the back label of the bottle, allow 6 - 10 weeks for the rebate to arrive to you.

I hope you are all having a great week!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

Happy Mothers day everyone!  I hope you are all having a fantastic day of it whether you are a mom, a grandmother, wonderful Aunt or a mom to very special four legged children, this is your day, celebrate it.

Today I picked a book called The Lives Our Mothers Leave Us: Prominent Women Discuss the Complex, Humorous, and Ultimately Loving Relationships They Have with Their Mothers, a long title but well worth checking out.  This book contains stories from a series more than 20 well-known women, including Melissa Gilbert, Candice Bergen, Anjelica Huston, Whoopi Goldberg and Cokie Roberts.  Their touching and sometimes funny stories may remind you of things in your own relationships or give you insight to your own relationships.  This is a great book for anyone, not just moms.  I was able to find it for $9.13 at Walmart, if you need it today I would call the store to make sure they have it in stock, if not they will charge you an additional $1.97 to ship plus your local states sales tax.  If you would like the Kindle version it is available for download from Amazon for only $1.99.

Have a fantastic and fun day everyone!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

I love to watch TV shows on DVD, I can pause them, watch them back to back, or even skip an episode without waiting for the show to come on once a week, sure, I could download the shows but usually only certain episodes are available to watch on my computer or iPad, with a DVD I get them all and I can watch them on any screen in the house, plus I get the extras that are usually on the DVDs.  The down side is the cost.  My latest purchase was the final season of Numb3rs at Target for $40.00, ouch!  I did have a $20.00 gift card from my purchases there last week and a 5% off discount credit from our pharmacy rewards and I used my Red Card for another 5% off but still it got me to thinking about the difference between finding a boxed set vs. the series one at a time.

I found the lowest price for the boxed set of Numb3rs at Overstock.com for $132.29 with shipping of $2.95 on any order.  If you are a member of Club O you would get free shipping and until April 25th you would earn 18% back on your purchase.  To join is $19.95 per year so on this purchase you would save $21.24 plus the $2.95 shipping, making it worth the price.  Interested in seeing the boxed set savings over the individual season?  Here is the breakdown from the lowest prices for new copies per season:

Season One:          $17.95 with free shipping from EDVDoutlet
Season Two:          $16.86 with free in store pick up at Walmart
Season Three:       $16.74 with $2.98 shipping at Buy.com
Season Four:         $27.00 plus $0.96 shipping from GoHastings
Season Five:          $22.49 plus $2.98 shippinbg at Buy.com
Season Six:            $38.25 plus $0.96 shipping at GoHastings

The total for the individual seasons with shipping is $147.17 vs the box set at $132.29, a savings of almost $15.00 that you can use to buy popcorn.

Happy Easter everyone, hope you are having a beautiful day!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

Well, today is game day and no matter which team you cheer on to victory, the true winners are the ads.  I watched a whole show dedicated to the Superbowl ads just last week and sat and laughed for the whole hour.  While you can't get a DVD copy of the Superbowl ads without donating a body part I did find a couple of DVDs that will make you smile and remember your childhood and not break the bank.

The first one has the simple title 1001 Classic Commercials.  The product description at Amazon says "Tons of fun for the whole family is in store with this comprehensive collection of the most unforgettable, exceptional, and memorable commercials to hit the small-screen! This is an entire history of American pop culture in its most eloquently simple and straight-forward form. Enjoy reminiscing about years gone by while watching all of your favorite commercials from the past!

Includes legendary favorites from some of the most well-know household brands like Speedy from Alka-Seltzer, The Jolly Green Giant, Barbie, Marlboro, Chevy and more!"

I was able to find it at Walmart for $3.58, and they will ship it to your local store with no shipping fees.

The next offering has two volumes.  Retro TV Commercials of The 50s and 60s volume one and two are both available at Amazon for $15.99 each.  The product description for Volume one direct from Amazon says "Color, black & white-Great commercials from televisionland of the 1950s and 1960s. Filled with nostalgia, you'll see over 2 hours of commercials for such products as Alpine Cigarettes, Micrin Mouthwash, Maypo Cereal, RCA Radios, Westinghouse Washing Machines, Chevy Cars, Lucky Strike Cigarettes, Old Virginia Jam, Hamm's Beer, Tide Detergent, Maxwell House Coffee, Skippy Peanut Butter, S.O.S. Pads, Pet Milk, Band-Aid Strips,Crest Toothpaste, County Fair Bread, Alka-Seltzer Tablets,Dristan Tablets, Goodyear Tires, Coke Soda, Bactine Skin Cream, and many more!"

The product description for Volume two says "Over 2 hours of wonderful commercials from the golden age of television. See commercials for Kodak, Beech-Nut Gum, Ivory Soap, 3 Musketeers, Chiquita Bananas, Post Bran Flakes, Auto-Lite Spark Plugs, Baggies, Cheer, Bobbi Curl, Winston, Bayer Aspirin, Quaker Oats, Aunt Jemima, Bulova Watch, Gillette Foamy, Chevrolet, Coke, Lux, Breeze Detergent, Libby's Peas, and many more! See Jimmy Durante, McLean Stevenson, and Fred Flintstone as spokesmen . Also included is a variety of political commercials from the presidential campaigns of Eisenhower, Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and Kennedy!"

I think all these look fascinating and offer a little glimpse into our not do distant past, things we thought were OK, things we liked, how politics have changed etc.  Its always fun to look back and at times think "I can't believe I/we did that and with other things remember how much we loved something and would love to see it come back again. 

Do you have an all time favorite commercial?  I would love to know what it is and why it stuck with you for all these years.  My personal favorite is the old Coke Christmas ad with all the people singing "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing".

Have a great day and enjoy the game.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

The quintessential Christmas movie is A Christmas Carol, but which version is your favorite?  Personally the the 1951 Alistar Sim version.  Here is a bit of trivia that will go a long way to explaining one of the films most famous of words: "The word "humbug" is misunderstood by many people, which is a pity since the word provides a key insight into Scrooge's hatred of Christmas. The word "humbug" describes deceitful efforts to fool people by pretending to a fake loftiness or false sincerity. So when Scrooge calls Christmas a humbug, he is claiming that people only pretend to charity and kindness in an scoundrel effort to delude him, each other, and themselves. In Scrooge's eyes, he is the one man honest enough to admit that no one really cares about anyone else, so for him, every wish for a Merry Christmas is one more deceitful effort to fool him and take advantage of him. This is a man who has turned to profit because he honestly believes everyone else will someday betray him or abandon him the moment he trusts them."  ~ Amazon

It may surprise some folks to know that there was a silent version of A Christmas Carol released in 1910.  The part of Scrooge was played by William Betchel, although he was uncredited. Worldview Entertainment and the Killiam Collection has released a set of nine early movies about Christmas collectively called "A Christmas Past," with an original score by Al Kryszak. This movie is the eighth one, and has a running time of only 11 minutes and has no Tiny Tim.   You can find a copy of this version from Red Tag Market for $15.97 with free shipping, however it was out of stock as of the writing of this article.  I was able to find it in stock at DVD Empire for $17.99 with free shipping.

There was a really nice version of A Christmas Carol produced in 1938 staring Reginald Owen as Scrooge and narrated by Vincent Price.  When the movie came out MGM released a record-breaking 375 prints of the film so that as many people as possible could see it during the Christmas season.  Now you can find this version on sale at Walmart for $5.96 if you go to the store or they will ship it to you for an additional charge of $1.97 plus your states sales tax.

The 1951 version of A Christmas Carol stars Alistar Sim as Scrooge and is the only one leaves out Scrooge's famous line: "If I had my way, every fool who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart". You can find this one for $10.49 at Amazon and it has both the original black and white version as well as the updated color version of the film.

In 1971 an animated version of A Christmas Carol was made staring Alistar Sim as the voice of Scrooge.  Surprisingly this was the only film version of "A Christmas Carol" to win an Oscar and after the film won, the Academy changed its rules so that a made-for-TV cartoon could never again win this honor, even if it was shown theatrically.  This is a rare version and you can find this version on VHS at Esty for $25.00, I found a few others, some has high as $200.00.

George C. Scott tried his hand at playing Scrooge in the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol.  As with many films shot on location there are things left behind as reminders, this was no exception, Scrooge's grave can still be visited at St. Chad's Church graveyard, Shrewsbury, where the churchyard sequence was shot - the production team left the gravestone in place once filming was completed.  You can find this version for $7.49 at Amazon, it is eligible for free shipping if you are an Amazon Prime member or you order $25.00 or more.

1997 saw the release of an animated musical version of A Christmas Carol staring Tim Curry as the voice of Scrooge as well as Whoopie Goldberg as the voice for the Spirit of Christmas Past, Michael York as the voice of Bob Cratchit, and Ed Asner as the voice of Jacob Marley.  You can find a copy of this version at Beach Audio for $11.22 plus $4.00 shipping.

The 1999 version of A Christmas Carol stars Patrick Stewart as Scrooge.  Until the most recent 2009 version this was the only film version which follows the book when Scrooge and The Ghost Of Christmas Past visit Scrooge's childhood. In this film, as in the book, the walls and floor of the room simply vanish and they are instantly in the past. In all other versions Scrooge and the Ghost fly out the window and across the city.  You can find a copy of this version at Deep Discount for $10.94 with free shipping.

In 2004 a musical version of A Christmas Carol was released from Hallmark Entertainment staring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge.  Aside from being a musical this version is also unique in that Scrooge meets all three Christmas Ghosts in human form before meeting them as spirits.  You can find this version for $10.11 at Smartz Place with free shipping.

Disney's A Christmas Carol was released in 3D in 2009 at the movie theatres at stars Jim Carry as Scrooge.  This was Jim Carry's first time working with Disney and Disney's first animated movie to release in IMAX 3D.  This version is almost completely true to Dickens' classic novel, but there are some differences: In the book, a lot more time is spent in the present, especially at the houses of his employee and nephew. Also, the novel shows us strife around the globe - in caves and on ships - that is relieved by Christmas joy.  The whole "future" scene with the horse chase and Scrooge becoming smaller is not in the novel. In the book, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is nearly immobile except for the pointing finger. You can find a copy of the newest version at Walmart for $13.00 plus $1.97 shipping plus any sales tax for your state.

I hope this gets you in the holiday spirit!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

 cacophony \ka-KAH-fuh-nee\ ~ noun

DEFINITION: harsh or discordant sound : dissonance; specifically : harshness in the sound of words or phrases

EXAMPLES: Feedback from the microphone produced an awful, shrieking cacophony equivalent to the sound of nails scratching on a blackboard.

"Imagine a tent full of celebrities, artists and art patrons dressed in their designer best -- Eli Broad, Frank Gehry, Jeff Koons, Gwen Stefani and more -- submitting to a cacophony of farm auctioneers calling, cattle ranchers whipping and drummers drumming." -- From an article by Booth Moore, describing a gala fundraiser, in the Los Angeles Times, November 15, 2010

DID YOU KNOW? Words that descend from the Greek word "phōnē" are making noise in English. Why? Because "phōnē" means "sound" or "voice." "Cacophony" comes from a joining of the Greek prefix "kak-," meaning "bad," with "phōnē", so it essentially means "bad sound." "Symphony," a word that indicates harmony or agreement in sound, traces to "phōnē" and the Greek prefix "syn-," which means "together." "Polyphony" refers to a style of musical composition in which two or more independent melodies are juxtaposed in harmony, and it comes from a combination of "phōnē" and the Greek prefix "poly-," meaning "many." And "euphony," a word for a pleasing or sweet sound, combines "phōnē" with "eu-," a prefix that means "good."

 

~THE REBATE~

 

Receive a $5.00 Walmart gift certificate when you purchase 3 participating items between 11/24 and 1/31. Qualifying items to choose from include:

• Neutrogena® Healthy Skin® Brightening Eye Perfector
• George Foreman® SkiLite™ Searing Skillet
• George Foreman® Panini Press Open Grill
• George Foreman® Smart Kitchen™ Multicooker
• Fruit of the Loom (Any Ladies’ 6 Pack of socks)
• Depend® Variety Pack (Men’s or Women’s)
• Poise® Thin Comfort
• Kleenex® Hand Towels
• VIVA® Big Roll
• Jimmy Dean® Hearty Sausage Crumbles
• Sally Hansen® Diamond Strength® Nail Color
• Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

To receive the rebate mail in a completed rebate form together with the original dated cash register receipt from Walmart with the qualifying items circled.  This offer is good only for items purchased from Walmart and there is only one submission allowed per household.

Have a great day everyone, stay warm!

 

C.Q.

Friday's freebie...

Holiday stress can cause a lot problems with your health, everything from headaches and aches and pains to wearing down your immune systems.  Today's freebies will help combat your holiday stress issues.

First up is get rid of the headache, aches and pains with a free sample of Aleve from Sam's Club.  Just click on the button for a free sample and fill in the information, you will need your membership number so make sure you have it handy. There are some other great samples at their site as well.

The next freebie is to try a free sample of Emergen-C from Walmart to help fight of colds. The new version also has vitamin D for healthier bones.  Again, just click the link and fill in your name and address and answer a few simple questions, the sample should arrive at your door shortly.

I hope you are all having a great Friday!

C.Q.

Sunday's Media Madness...

Recently my husband picked up a new CD at Target called Slash, the lead guitarist is not surprisingly Slash of Guns N' Rose's fame. I have to admit that although I was not a huge GnR fan I really do like the new album a lot. The amount of talent that is featured kind of makes your head spin, the CD features songs with Ian Astbury of The Cult, Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Myles Kennedy, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, David Eric "Dave" Grohl of Nirvana, Michael Andrew "Duff" "Rose" McKagan of GnR and Velvet Revolver, Kid Rock, Matthew Charles Sanders aka M. Shadows, Rocco DeLuca and Iggy Pop. Slash handled the majority of arranging and song writing duties and handpicked each guest artist to collaborate with on rounding out each track, which makes this album great, the different singing styles really come through on each track.  For more information on Slash, the new album or to watch some of his video's check out Slash's own website http://slash.ultimate-guitar.com/.

I was able to find the lowest retail price at Walmart for $10.00 plus tax and shipping bringing the total price to $12.76. If you look on eBay you can find a new copy for as low as $6.00 plus $3.00 shipping.

I will upload a picture of the CD cover when I get home, the hotel computer will not allow me to upload any images yet.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

C.Q.

Friday's freebie...

Looking for a cute card for Halloween to send to a grandparent, godparent, aunt, uncle or friend?  How about this fun idea; take your pictures into Walmart and get two free 5x7 instant HP Photo cards that you can personalize. Just print the page and bring it in with you, with this money saving trick you can stock up on more treats.

Have a great Friday everyone!

C.Q.

Friday’s freebie…

Today’s freebies are all about taking care of those pearly whites. First up get a free sample of the new Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection toothpaste from Walmart, just fill in the quiz then enter your name and address in the on line form and allow a couple weeks for it to arrive at your door.

To complement the new Crest Toothpaste I found an offer from Colgate for a free children’s toothbrush, the promotion runs through December 31, 2010 with a limit of one per address. All you need to do is fill in the information on the Colgate web page and they will mail one out to you as long as supplies last.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday, enjoy the weekend.

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal...

The picture...

This picture was taken looking up through the iron work of the Duluth Rose Garden gazebo.  The original rose garden was moved from the home of Mrs. John Klints and opened in 1965 within Leif Erickson Park, with 2,000 roses.  In 1990 the rose garden was revised to allow for the highway to go under the park and was reopened in 1994, it now has over 3000 roses and 12,000 non-rose plantings, including day lilies, evergreen shrubs, mixed perennials and an herb garden.

The deal...

With kids going back to college and living in drab dorm rooms its time to check out All Posters back to school sale.  Thousands of their posters are on sale starting at only $4.98, they have free shipping on orders over $9.99, just enter coupon code TAUPE in the area where is says  "Add Gift Certificate Or Coupon Code" at check out.  This is a great way to make a visual statement without breaking the bank.  To make your poster look even better you can find nice set of 6 Mainstay poster frames at Walmart for $34.00, that's only $5.67 each!  If you don't need 6 of them Target has a nice set of 2 Elite Poster frames for only $11.99, and Amazon has a single MCS Acrylic & Corrugated Back Poster Frame for only $5.95.  Posters are a nice in an office space as well because you can change your artwork when you get tired of looking at the same thing every day.

I hope you are all having a great Thursday!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

grimalkin  \grih-MAWL-kin\ ~ noun

DEFINITION: a domestic cat; especially : an old female cat

EXAMPLE: Maizy, the family grimalkin, wasn't as fast as she used to be, but she was still very good at catching mice.

DID YOU KNOW? In the opening scene of Macbeth, one of the three witches planning to meet with Macbeth suddenly announces, "I come, Graymalkin." The witch is responding to the summons of her familiar, or guardian spirit, which is embodied in the form of a cat. Shakespeare's "graymalkin" literally means "gray cat." The "gray" is of course the color; the "malkin" was a nickname for Matilda or Maud that came to be used in dialect as a general name for a cat (and sometimes a hare). By the 1630s, "graymalkin" had been altered to the modern spelling "grimalkin."

~THE REBATE~

If you have kids,  grand kids or are a kid at heart, this is a fun rebate.  Buy any Shrek, Shrek Two or Shrek the Third on DVD or Blue Ray  and a 6 pack 1.5 oz or 7oz mini boxes bag purchase of Sunmaid Raisins and get $3.00 back by mail.  Just send in the proof of purchase tab from the DVD or Blue-ray, the UPC from your 6 pack or bag of raisins, the cash register receipts (photo copies are OK) for the movie and the raisins dated between August 1st and March 31, 2011 with the prices circled and the original hand printed completed rebate form.

I checked for the lowest prices on the DVD version of the movie and found that Walmart was the lowest for the first Shrek movie at $8.32 plus shipping and tax that brought it up to $10.95.  For both Shrek Two and Shrek the Third the lowest price was at Movie Mars, both were $14.34 with no shipping fees.

I hope you are all having a good week so far.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

I love a good mystery, and I particularly like it when there its a series with characters I can get to know and follow.  I also like knowing the landscape where a book takes place, all this brings me to a series of books by a mother daughter duo of P. J. Lambrecht and Traci Lambrecht writing under the pseudonym PJ Tracy who's books take place in Minnesota, mostly in the Twin Cities area.  The most current book, Shoot to Thrill begins with a floater:

"When Minneapolis homicide cops Rolseth and Magozzi are called to a derelict stretch of the Mississippi River, they see a bride, facedown, dead in the water. And when the Monkeewrench crew - computer geeks who made a fortune on games, now assisting the cops with special anticrime software - are invited by the FBI to investigate a series of murder videos posted to the Web, it's not long before the group discovers the frightening link between the unlucky bride and the latest, most horrific use of the Internet yet. Using their skills to scour the Net to prevent more killings, the team must race against the clock.before it's too late." - From Fantastic Fiction

I was able to find the book for $13.57 with shipping and tax for a new copy from Walmart, they also carry the other books in the series.  If you would like to buy them all together then Amazon has the new book is in hardcover for $12.97 and the other four in the series are being sold for $7.99 each in soft cover which would put your order over the $25.00 total needed for free shipping.   Amazon also has the Kindle version for $12.99, they also have the MP3 CD available for $18.99 new or $12.00 used.  The lowest prices around came from Alibris which has the books in new condition hard cover as low as $1.18 and used copies of the books as low as $0.99.  They have free shipping on orders over $49.00 or the standard shipping fee is $3.99. for delivery in 4 - 14 days. Until August 24th you can use coupon code BRAVE and get $4.00 off an order of $25.00 or more, after that coupon code BOOKCLUB2 will get you $2.00 off any order of $20.00 or more until Auguat 31st.

I hope you are all having a nice weekend.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

This Summer I had looked forward to the release of Letters to Juliet, but as luck would have it sitting in a chair for more than a half hour was not on the agenda due to some medical issues so it is now my September movie must have. Set to be released on DVD September 14th, 2010, it is the story of an American girl on vacation in Italy who finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" -- one of thousands of letters left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by a the "secretaries of Juliet", but this letter was overlooked and has been unanswered for the last 50 years so she decides to go on a quest to find the lovers from the letter and reunite them, changing her life in the process.

The least expensive place to find the movie in the brick and mortar retail market that I could find was $16.69 plus tax at Walmart, they also had the lowest price on the Blue Ray version of the movie, $19.96 plus tax, shipping is free. If you would like it for your iPod it is available for pre-order at iTunes for $14.99 for the standard version or $19.99 for the HD version.

I love that the basis for this story is rooted in fact, the wall in Verona is inundated daily with letters to Juliet from all around the world from people seeking council. The letters are answered by the "secretaries of Juliet" and not a single one goes unanswered. The book Letters to Juliet tells the story of these letters and the volunteers who have been writing responses for more than seven decades; volunteers who first acted privately, and who are now sanctioned by the city of Verona as part of the Juliet Club . Featuring more than seventy-five heartfelt letters, this poetic book retraces the history behind Shakespeare's tale and tours the monuments that have fueled the world's enchantment with Juliet and her Romeo. If you are interested in the book you can find it at Walmart as well for $10.00 also, be sure to check out eBay, I was able to find a copy of the hard cover version for an opening bid of $4.99 plus $3.75 shipping.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!

C.Q.

Friday's freebie...

Well if you have been giving your grill a work out here is a sample that's worthwhile. World of Green is offering a FREE sample of SoyClean BBQ Grill Cleaner. Email them at: customerservice@worldofgreen.com to receive your FREE SoyClean BBQ Grill Cleaner. Be sure to include your name and address to ensure your FREE sample if delivered properly. You can check out World of Green on Twitter.

After your are done getting the grill cleaned up I am betting you got your clothes a little dirty, check out the Walmart freebies section to get your free sample of Tide with Febreze Freshness.

Have a great Friday everyone!

C.Q.

Friday's freebie

I have two freebie's for you today, one to fuel your pets and one to fuel you. First up, you can get a free 6 ounce bag of Purina One cat or dog food at Petsmart. Go to the Petsmart web site and sign up for the PetPerks Club or log in with your PetPerks number. After you have logged in there will be an option to print one of two coupons, one is for Canada only so be sure to check the "fine" print.

The second freebie is from Walmart, they are offering a nice sized sample of Kashi Cereal with fresh blueberries from the store. This sample offer runs through July 25th so if you want a little snack while shopping get there quick. If you sign up for the Kashi News Letter they will send you members only coupons as well.

Have a fantastic Friday everyone!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness

Recently I had a chance to get caught up on my movies so I put in Valentine's Day. The cast is really large so I wasn't sure I would be able to follow it real well since I wasn't really in the mood for a "thinking" movie, however, I had no problem and truly love the story. It is filled with twists and turns so even if you get one thing figured out there is still something that will surprise you in the end. Although not the best movie of the year it was defiantly fun to watch.

"Gary Marshall's ensemble romantic comedy Valentine's Day follows nearly two dozen people as they find and lose love in all its many forms over the course of the title holiday. The numerous characters include a very busy florist (Ashton Kutcher) and his schoolteacher best friend (Jennifer Garner). She's having an affair with a married doctor (Patrick Dempsey). Meanwhile, a businessman (Bradley Cooper) and a military captain (Julia Roberts) on leave share a long conversation during an international flight. There's also an elderly couple (Hector Elizondo and Shirley MacLaine) who are caring for their elementary school-age grandson, who is pining for a classmate and missing his mother. The huge cast also includes Jamie Foxx as a local TV personality, Topher Grace, Queen Latifah, and Anne Hathaway." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

The lowest price new copy can be found at Walmart for $12.96, if you want to have it mailed to you they will charge a shipping fee and tax that will bring the total to $15.06. The in-store price may vary, but it is worth checking out if you're there to save on the shipping. You can also check on eBay where I found it for as low as $2.88 with shipping.

I hope you all have a great 4th of July!

C.Q.

Penny wise picnic in the park...

Our sun is finally starting to come back after over two weeks of rainy days so I am thinking about having some fun with a picnic lunch. Its something we love to do on nice bright days. Whether its a local city park, a state park or a national park, there is always something fun to do. While city parks are free, State parks and National parks charge a fee if you don't have an annual pass, check the links for information in your area. When visiting any park remember the "Leave No Trace" rule to Protect our Parks and their Wildlife: Help keep our Parks safe and clean. Protect wildlife by remembering not to feed them and always clean up after your visit. The future of the parks and their wildlife is in our hands.

When packing a lunch, the cooler or picnic basket is an important part, make sure it is well insulated so you don't have any health issues later in the day, nothing spoils your day worse than spoiled food. If you like the more traditional baskets check out PicnicBaskets.com or Picnic Trip (they are currently having a sale), both offer insulated baskets with all the plates, glasses, napkins and serving wear built right in the container for easy storage. That being said, the prices at both stores reflect the price of convenience. If you shop around at local garage sales, Freecycle or on eBay you can find a nice soft sided cooler like the Coleman 30 can soft sided cooler which is the perfect size for two. If you plan on picnicking more than a couple times during the season it is worth looking at garage sales and second hand stores for some silver wear that won't leave you heartbroken if you loss or accidentally toss it in the garbage. Another good investment is some Corelle plates that won't break. You can check on eBay or WalMart has a nice 16 piece set for four for only $25.00, if you choose to have it shipped then they will charge an additional $2.39. Finally, don't forget the blanket, my best advice is to find a King size heavy blanket at a local thrift store and have it cleaned, there is no need to buy a "specialty" picnic blanket. Now that your all set, check out some great inspired sandwich ideas to pack up and take with you for the day at Recipie Zaar. Don't forget your drinks of choice and extra water for Fido or Fifi and your ready for a great day outdoors.

Once your all set to head out its time to think of things to do, if you have younger kids try measuring out a 1' x 1' area for each of them and giving them a pad of paper and a couple of wild plant and bug identification books and let them be explorers in miniature. Set each child up in a different area and let them compare with eachother what they have that's different in their section from the other kids. If you have really young kids bring along some soapy water and a bubble wand. You can even make rainbow bubbles! Check out the Creative Kids site for neat ideas and tips. For older kids bring along a Frisbee or a football to toss around. If you plan on doing any hiking or fishing its a good idea to bring an extra pair of socks in case your feet get wet. And no matter if it just you or you and the whole family, be sure to bring along a camera for the unexpected nature shots and special family moments.

Let me know about some of your fun picnic memories with friends and family!

Have a wonderful 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.