Sunday's media madness...

As many of you know I really enjoy watching TV on DVD, I love being able to put the shows in the order I enjoy watching, being able to pause them or skip over an episode if I have seen it. I know I could watch many of them on line but they usually don't have a whole season and I have problems with pausing on the computer, many times I come back and my computer has gone into sleep mode and the video wants to start over. Don't get me wrong, its great if I miss an episode of Top Chef or Project Runway, but for a full season of fun I need my DVDs. Recently I had a few shows come out close together and found something I had never watched. I had a great coupon from Best Buy so I picked up the first season of a show called The Glades.  It airs on A & E on Sundays at 10/9 central.  It is the story of detective Jim Longworth, from Chicago, who moves to Florida after his boss shoots him in the rump.  He is a little crass, a little self centered, a little full of himself and has a wry sense of humor.  He is also hopelessly in love.  Unfortunately the woman he loves is currently married to an inmate of the Florida Correctional Facility making things a little more complicated.  This show fits all my credentials for great TV, the characters are fun and a little bit quirky and the dynamics are perfect.   If you are interested on finding the first season on DVD be sure to check the going rate on eBay or Sell.com.  For a new copy the lowest price I found was at DeepDiscount for $26.65 with free shipping on your order.

I hope you are all having a terrific long weekend!  Remember to check out the Saturday Sojourn swap we have going on right now, it should be a lot of fun!

C.Q.

Saturday's Sojourn...

Saving along the way



Today I decided to look at vacations a little differently at let you in on some money saving ideas that will make it easier to go on a vacation with your family.

The first thing to tackle is the getting there. If you are driving make sure your car is tuned up and your tires are inflated properly, this is a huge gas saver. Also, you can check eBay auctions and gift cards sites like ABC Gift Cards for gas gift cards, there is usually a very small savings on these but any savings is good. If you are flying then make sure you check all the sites for the lowest fares, including the airline directly. Kayak, Cheap flights and Booking Buddy are great places to get deals. Most importantly, remember to include all your expenses in your calculations, here's what I mean; I am going to Chicago with some friends in a couple months and we thought about driving, the cost of gas from here to there is about $215.00 according to the AAA fuel cost calculator, plus the additional expense of parking at over $40 per day for 6 nights ($240) made the driving cost about $465.00. Our local airport ran a special offering one way tickets, non stop to Chicago for $99.00, so flying cost us a little less than driving and we don't have to worry about a car. Almost everything is with in walking distance to where we are staying so our transportation in the city is almost nil.  Also, be sure to check eBay for drink vouchers and airline gift cards, these can increase your savings even further.

The next huge expense is the hotel.  For our vacation I found a great deal right in the city using SniqueAway.  They offer 4 and 5 star hotels at very discounted rates.  This vacation will be my first time using them but the reviews on TripAdvisor are all favorable.  Another great option is Hotels.com, sometimes you can find rooms they want to book closer to your arrival date.  Remember to join the hotels guest rewards program if they have one as well, this may not earn you a free nights stay unless you visit a lot, but it will almost always get you free internet service in your room.  If you are a member of AAA be sure to ask when checking in or making your reservation is you get a discount with your card.

Once you have arrived its time to have some fun, one of the best things I have found to do is see if there is an Entertainment book for the area you will be visiting, these are filled with discounts and can save you hundreds.  Also be sure to check in with at the Tourist Information area, most every place has them, from big cities to little towns and they can be a source for some great coupons and information on specials in the area.  If you have a general working idea of the area you are going to visit then you can shop ahead at Restraunt.com for some great discounted meals, just be sure to read the small print, some require a purchase of a certain amount and others may expire.  You can also check on eBay and places like Gift Card Rescue for discounted gift cards, just make sure you don't get a card larger than you can use or it will go to waste.  If you are headed to a larger city be sure to check out CityPass, they offer a discounted price for all the largest attractions in the area.  I have also found that doing a simple Google search on Tourist Discounts for ______ will net you some pretty amazing results.

Do you have a money saving tip? I would love to hear about it.

Have a great weekend! 

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

I recently finished the Autobiography Up Till Now by William Shatner.  I really love to read autobiographies of people I find interesting, its even better when I find an audio of their book narrated by the author.  What I love about an autobiography is that it really gives you a feel for the person, since its the story about their life told from their perspective, they are going to skew it in a way that flatters them....usually.  Some come across as vain, some tragic and martyr like, some are just plain fun and are well worth hanging onto to read again.  The latter is the case with Up Till Now.  William Shatner has enjoyed his life and it comes through on the pages of his book, even the loss of his wife does not overshadow the rest of the book.  He is able to look at the highs and the lows and put them all together in a way that ultimately will leave the reader enlightened and smiling. 

At the start of the book we learn of a very funny love story between Mr. Shatner and the famous gorilla Coco, from there travel through his career of Shakespeare, various rolls in movies, some he took, but shouldn't have and some he should have taken but didn't, his work with the Hollywood Charity Horse Show which raises money for children's causes and Nerine Shatner's Friendly House which he set up after the death of his wife to help women overcome Alcohol and drug abuse.  We also learn in the book that, unbeknownst to him, no one on the set of Star Trek with the exception of Leonard Nimoy liked Mr. Shatner, and there is in fact one or two entertainment venues he will NOT work, you will have to read the book to see if your child's birthday party is one of them.

I was able to find a new hardcover copy of the book at Bonanza.com for $2.99 with $1.99 shipping, there is a coupon you can click on right on the book page that will give you 42% off bringing the book cost down to $1.73 so the total with shipping will be $3.72.  The lowest price for a new copy of the abridged audio book was on eBay for $6.62 plus shipping, the unabridged version is on sale at Amazon for $23.95, you get free shipping on orders over $25.00, you can also find it at Amazon for your Kindle for $9.99.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

C.Q.




 

Sunday's media madness...

 Something I always swore up and down I would never do is buy TV on DVD, but of course I didn't listen to my own rules and currently own quite a few TV show on DVD.  I love being able to watch as many or as few episodes as I want and not have to wait for commercials to get popcorn, its also nice for those cliff hangers that the networks always make you wait until next week for the final outcome.  The down side?  The season end cliff hangers can be brutal!!!  I started watching In Plain Sight starring Mary McCormack and Fred Weller and the season 2 ending was a near impossible wait for the season 3 DVD release, but its finally here on March 29th.

In Plain Sight is the ongoing story of two Albuquerque Federal Marshals, Mary Shannon and Marshall Mann trying to take care of the good the bad and the ugly who all, for one reason or another, are in the Witness Protection Program.  Season four is set to begin airing on Sunday May 1, 2011 on the USA network right after Criminal Intent, check out the previews!

If you are new to the series you can purchase season one at Movie Mars for $27.34 with free shipping for a new copy, or I was able to find a used copy on Ebay as low as $14.95 with $3.00 shipping.  Season twos lowest price was again $27.34 from Movie Mars with free shipping, on Ebay there was a copy as low as $3.25 with $2.50 for shipping.  The season three release is set for this Tuesday and if you would like to order it on line Amazon has it listed at $26.99, if you want it right away you should be able to find it at your local Target store for $29.79.

Hope you are all having a nice relaxing Sunday!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

When I was visiting a friend in Montana we all decided to check out the local thrift stores, something I love to do because you always find some gem of a treasure.  This expedition was no exception when I stumbled across a book called Celebration; A Year of Parties, Extravaganzas & Gatherings with Friends and Family by Susan Branch.  The book is no longer in print but can still be found at Amazon new for $19.99.  I was also able to find a copy at AbeBooks.com for $7.81 with $3.99 shipping in brand new condition.  The premise for the book is  "A great deal of the joy brought about by any event or celebration is in the remembering. With that in mind, Susan created this keepsake book as a place where family and friends can share impressions, expressions of love, words of wisdom and friendly advice. Included are wonderful handwritten quotations and beautiful watercolor illustrations in Susan’s lighthearted style – with lots of room to record the memories that will truly make this book a keepsake. Every season has its events, from Spring flings and Summer celebrations to Fall festivities and Winter revelries. This keepsake book is designed to be a record of all the fun!" ~ Amazon  As always, with this or any out of print book be sure to check on Ebay as well, you may find a one cent deal with shipping under $3.00.

  

  

In doing this article today I found that even though this book is no longer in print, Ms. Branch does have other books available and I am excited to find them because I love to document important moments in life, Holidays, weddings, vacations, milestone birthdays etc.  A few currently in print are Christmas Joy : A Keepsake Book from the Heart of the Home, Days from the Heart of the Home, Girlfriends Forever and Baby Love: A Keepsake Book from the Heart of the Home. all of which look like really fun books and would make great gifts for Birthdays, Baby Showers and the holidays.  You can check out the Susan Branch web site for information about the author, more great books that are on the way as well as some great recipes, you can even order books and calenders direct from the author as well as some really fun stuff for sewing and baking as well as things for the home, including one of my favorite sections, the vintage area.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

C.Q.

Be sure to check out some other great blogs on the blog hop!

Sunday's media madness...

Usually the second full moon in one month is considered a Blue Moon, but because there are exceptions to every rule today's full moon is also a Blue Moon even though it is the only full moon in November.  For the full confusing story check out the Space.com story on Yahoo News by Joe Rao.  In honor of the Blue Moon I thought I would tell you about a book and the song which share the name.

First is Blue Moon by Lori Handeland and is the first in the Nightcreature series:

From Publishers Weekly

"Sassy, wisecracking policewoman Jessie McQuade, the book's first-person narrator, takes readers on a thrilling hunt through the forests of small town Miniwa, Wis., in search of a mythical predator in this lively paranormal romance. No-nonsense Jessie has never believed in magic or other supernatural "woo woo," but when she sees schoolteacher Karen Larson turn rabid in the classroom and attempt to bite one of her students shortly after being bitten by a wolf herself, she begins to realize that the world is not just black and white but "a host of annoying shades of gray." Before long, she's tramping through the forest with a self-professed werewolf hunter by her side and lusty thoughts of gorgeous professor Will Cadote, an expert in Native American mythology, racing through her mind. The enigmatic professor may be able to help Jessie figure out why the onyx wolf totem she found on the road near where Karen was bitten is so important, but it's possible he may be a werewolf himself. Handeland (The Husband Quest, etc.) sets a feverish pace, thrusting Jessie into one dangerous situation after another, and she keeps readers in delicious suspense over Will's motives. What makes this book so compulsively readable, however, is Jessie's spunky narration, acerbic wit and combustible chemistry with Will." - Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The lowest price for a new copy can of the paperback can be found at Book Depository for $7.49 with free shipping.   If you own a Kindle or have the Kindle app you can download the book from Amazon from $7.99.  You can find a used copy on eBay starting at $0.75 with $3.75 shipping.

Then there's the song.  Blue Moon was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for MGM Studios. It was originally recorded in 1934 by Shirley Ross and has since been sung by many many performers including Harpo Marx in 1939, Mel Tormé in 1949, Dizzy Gillespie in 1954, Elvis Presley in 1958, Frank Sinatra in 1961, Dean Martin in 1964, Tony Bennett with Ella Fitzgerald in 1973, Chris Isaak in 1994 and even Rod Stewart with Eric Clapton in 2004.  You can download your favorite version to your iPod from iTunes, most of them for only $0.99.

I hope you are all having a fun weekend!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

Not too long ago I was in Best Buy and found myself looking for the new release seasons of TV shows I have in my DVD library.  On occasion I come across a show I haven't seen but will take a chance on, in this case it was season one of Human Target.  If you like Leverage or watched Mission Impossible as a kid this is going to be right up your ally.  "Based on the popular DC Comics comic book and graphic novel, HUMAN TARGET is a full-throttle action drama centered on CHRISTOPHER CHANCE (Mark Valley), a unique personal security expert hired to shield those in danger from an imminent threat that cannot be solved through normal means of protection." ~ from the FOX TV website 

The show airs on the FOX network and season two is starting on Wednesday November 17 at 7:00pm Central time.  If you would like to see season one to get caught up you can watch 3 episodes online for free at Fox, or if you would prefer to own the whole first season I found the lowest price on a new DVD copy at Go Hastings for $17.99 plus $2.28 shipping for a total of $20.27.  Also, be sure to check eBay, I was able to find copies as low as $0.99 plus $3.00 shipping.  You can also purchase the full season for download from iTunes for $23.88 for the regular version or $35.88 for the HD version, individual episodes are priced at $2.99 each.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

C.Q.

Avoiding the pitfalls...

There are times in every one's life when we look back and say something like "oh I wish I hadn't done that!"  Here are some thing that may help you avoid that headache of regret in the future.

This is one every student knows, never pay full price for text books, you can buy a little older version that is still new or a good used copy and save a ton of cash, check out Alibris to buy at a lower cost.  But here is something many students don't know, you can actually rent text book!  Check out eCampus for all the details on their rental program.

Planning a vacation soon? If you are going to be renting a car be sure to check the rates between companies as well as the difference in cost between renting at the airport vs the city vs a suburb. Almost every airport has a separate tax that you will be charged in addition to the rental fees, likewise many cities also have individual tariffs, such as Bloomington's Mall of America tax as well as the new tax to build the baseball park. If you check in an outlying suburb you can often save over $100 a week, even with the bus or cab fare that's money in your pocket for something much more fun.  If you are looking at flying some of the airlines charge a fee to be one of their premier members and then you get to use the lounge and you get miles built up as you fly with them, instead of paying the fee for becoming a premier member consider a Visa or MasterCard that ties to the airline, usually the annual fee is less and many of them will allow you use of the sky lounge as well as being able to earn miles for everything you purchase, not just when you fly.

Planning on giving a gift card this holiday season?  Many time people think its best to give a credit card's gift card, like American Express or Visa, however most of the major credit card companies charge a fee just to purchase the gift cards.  Instead consider giving a gift card to a specific retailer that won't charge an upfront fee or give cash. Also be sure to be on the lookout for discounted cards as well, Costco sells them to members at a slightly discounted rate and you can also purchase some good deals on eBay and Gift Card Rescue.  If you're a member of someplace like Market America you can earn cash back for your gift card purchases.

Small convinces can cost a LOT of hard earned cash, everything from baby formula that comes premixed for three times the price to pre-sliced deli meat, it all adds up.  If you are willing to do a little work you can save a ton of cash over the course of a year.  Doing things like making your cookie dough from scratch, making extra food for dinner and freezing some for meals at work and slicing your own bread and meat will far out weigh in cash what you spend in time.

Along the same lines is to avoid the wacky ideas, things like the hands-free soap dispenser so you don't have to touch the germ ridden soap pump, thinking this threw you can see why this is just a crazy marketing ploy, if you washing your hands, then whats the problem?  If you work in a Hospital or take public transportation frequently you may want to use the hand sanitizers out there, but as a general rule they are over kill, just remember to keep your hands washed throughout the day, if you do need to have something to kill germs you can always find inexpensive pocket sizes at Target and Walmart, you don't need to spend big bucks for a name brand, they all have the same germ killing ingredient.


Hope you all have had a great week and are enjoying the weekend.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

My friends know my two biggest reality TV musts are Top Chef and Project Runway, I love Chef Tom Colicchio of Top Chef and Tim Gunn of Project Runway, their insights are great and the stories they can tell about things within their respective industries is very eye opening!  While both have books out I have totally fallen in love with Tim Gunn's latest, Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work, released earlier this month.  This book has some great stories from the fashion industry, many involving names you know, plus a lot of inside information on both Project Runway as well as his now defunct show Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, including why it is no longer on the air, you may be surprised.  I am also impressed with his emphasis on manners in the book, its is chalk full of great reminders for us all.  Here is the book information from Amazon:

Product Description:
On the runway of life, Tim Gunn is the perfect life coach. You’ve watched him mentor talented designers on the hit television show Project Runway. Now the inimitable Tim Gunndivadom as he describes Vogue’s André Leon Talley being hand-fed grapes and Anna Wintour being carried downstairs by her bodyguards. And you’ll get Tim’s view on the backstabbing by one designer on Project Runway and how it brilliantly backfired. Then there are his down-to-earth guidelines for making life better—for yourself and others—in small and large ways, especially in an age that favors comfort over politeness, ease over style. Texting at the dinner table? Wearing shorts to the theater? Not in Tim’s book. Living a well-mannered life of integrity and character is hard work, he admits, but the rewards are many: being a good friend, being glamorous and attractive, and being a success— much like Tim himself! He is never one to mince words. But Tim Gunn is always warm, witty, wise, and wonderfully supportive— just the mentor you need to design a happy, creative, and fulfilling life that will never go out of style.

About the Author:

Beloved pop culture icon Tim Gunn is best known as co-host of the twelve-time Emmy-nominated reality show Project Runway. He also hosted two seasons of his own former Bravo makeover series, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.
 
I personally downloaded a copy from Amazon to my Kindle so I could take it with me where ever I go, this version was $9.99 directly from Amazon, Barns and Noble has the e-book available for down load to iPad, iPod, iPhone, Android, PC, Blackberry, Mac and the Nook for $9.99.  If you are a member of The Book of the Month Club you can order the book for $9.95 with free shipping, if not you can find the hardcover selling at Amazon for $14.03, if you don't order enough for the free shipping the final cost will be $18.02, if that is the case then go to The Book Depository, they have the hard cover version for $17.99 with free shipping.  If you know someone who is a huge fan and are looking for a terrific gift idea there is a seller with 4 autographed copies on eBay, the asking price for them is $42.95 + $7.50 for expedited shipping.
 
I hope you are all having a great 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.

Sunday's media madness...

In the not too distant past the TV networks strived to give us wholesome shows that reminded us of family values and to do the right thing; not to vote out our house mate or try to get fire before the other tribe so they would be cold and wet for the night. I do miss the days when the networks had to come up with new ideas for the programs each week instead of relying on a group of people all locked up together in what is reality TV. Of course people are going to get into a fight or fall in love, lab rats would do the same thing. Looking back I found two shows that were the epitome of the family values era.

The first is Highway to Heaven which ran for five years on NBC, between 1984 - 1989 and is the story of ex cop Mark Gordon who is sent probationary angel Jonathan Smith. Together they travel the country on a mission to deliver love, understanding and humility to the people they encounter. The show was a reminder of many values but also deal with very human issues such as ego, greed and fear as well as looking at some of the worst social issues like racism and terminal illness.

Second is Touched by and Angel which ran for nine years on CBS, between 1994 - 2003 and is the story of an angle sent to earth to help the people she comes in contact with, whether it be to deal with a difficult issue such as facing death or abuse to depression and homelessness, always with the help of her Supervisor Tess and on occasion the Angel of Death, Andrew.

If you have never seen these shows and would like to see if you enjoy them check out bits of them on YouTube by just putting in the name of the show and selecting what you would like to view. If you remember them and would like to own them for yourself here is where I found the best prices:

For Highway to Heaven the best deal for a new copy was at DVD Empire, the cost is $25.99 for the full first season on 7 discs, shipping is regularly $0.99 per item but with an order over $25.00 they offer free shipping with some restrictions. If you would like a used copy I was able to find them as low as $11.95 with free shipping on eBay, the less expensive copies are making up for the difference with $9.00+ shipping, which is outrageous, so be sure to read all the fine print.

For Touched by an Angel, which comes as a boxed set of season 1, 2 and 3, the best deal was also at DVD Empire for $15.99 with the free shipping on orders over $25.00, for a used copy on eBay there is a buy it now at $10.92 with free shipping and a few that are still bidding under the $10.92 with free shipping.

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

This last weekend I was chatting with my nieces and nephews and was kind of surprised to find out that whats old is new in music still. I had thought it was just a phase that the kids were liking swing and jazz but it seems to have stuck. Don't get me wrong, they still like the new stuff as well, but even that has its nods to the past. While we were talking my husband chimed in that he found a band her really likes on XM Radio that he had never heard before called Volbeat. The kids had never heard of them either so I wanted to hear a little bit of what they sounded like. So to sum up the sound of the band, ummm well, lets see, they are, old rock, a little country, a little TV theme song sounding, a little heavy metal, a little....well you get the idea. Every song has a slightly different sound to it, depending on what the band is trying to get across to the listener, and yet they do have their own distinct sound.

This doesn't happen often, but I have to agree with my hubby, I really like this band (must be the eclectic in me). Volbeat is from Copenhagen and got together in 2001, not surprisingly their inspirations come from Metallica, Social Distortion, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. They currently have 4 albums out, The Strength / The Sound / The Songs (2005-2006), Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil (2007), Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (2008-2009). They have a new album called Touring and Beyond Hell/Above Heaven that is set to be released on September 10, 2010. In keeping with the old is new theme the band has even released some of their albums as, well, albums. You can find the vinyl versions with relative ease at Amazon.

If you are interested in the most recent album on the market, Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood you can listen to samples and download individual songs from Amazon or iTunes for $0.99 each or $9.99 for them all, or you can purchase the album CD for $12.12 with free shipping at Movie Mars. If you prefer the old school version of a vinyl record you can find it for $13.08 through a few Amazon sellers. You can also find a copy on eBay, although when I checked I was not able to find one as low as the new copy from Movie Mars.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

C.Q.

Movie money savers...

So, I woke up this morning to what was supposed to be a nice day but was in fact over cast, chilly and it looked like rain. The sun finally won out but it got me to thinking of things that are fun when it rains.

Something I enjoy is going to the movies, it takes up about 2 hours of my time which means it can be a rain shower when I go in and the sun shining when I get out. The down side to the movies is that they can be expensive, but there are ways around paying full price. I have chosen 5 of the larger cinema's for this article, but be sure to check your local independent theaters as well, for example we have a nice one here that shows more independent films and serves wine and they have some great specials.

AMC Theaters: AMC offers discounted tickets before noon every day of the week so if you are an early riser this would be a good option, they also have a Movie Watcher Reward program where you can sign up and they will give you a card that you show when you purchase tickets, every purchase is worth 2 points (up to 4 points per visit), you can then earn a free movie ticket when you turn in 10 points. It can up to 4 weeks for your hard plastic card to arrive in the mail but they offer a temporary one you can down load and print to use right away. AMC also offers a chance to become an AMC Insider. Once you are a panel member, there will be ongoing participation draws where you will be entered for a chance to win cash prizes monthly depending on your participation. If you have a group of kids to look after this summer or just want to get you child and the neighborhood friends together for a special outing then check into AMCs Summer Movie Camp, they are showing select movies every Tuesday at 10AM for only $1.00.

Carmike Cinema's: Carmike's offers Super Stimulus Tuesdays, which means every Tuesday you can get great concession deals; $1 Popcorn, $1 Drink, $2.50 Candy, and now they are offering $5 off one of their fantastic concession combos (Large/Large Combo, Couples Medium Combo, Couples Large Combo, or our Nachos Combo). Carmike's also has their 2010 Popcorn Bucket. Stop by the concession stands and purchase the 2010 Popcorn Bucket for $15. The bucket is yours to keep and you can bring it back every time you visit one of their theatres in 2010 and they will refill it for only $2.50. I love movie theater popcorn and have stopped on occasion just for the hot buttery stuff. Carmike's also has a kids program, every Tuesday this Summer, you can enjoy one of your favorite blockbuster films from the past on one of the large screens for only a buck. Its called the Carmike's Summer Kid's Series and you can also get popcorn and a drink for only a buck each.

CineMark Theaters: Most of CineMark's offers are from their concession stands. Get $1.00 off your order of nachos in you purchase a large coke, upgrade your movie snack pack for only $1.00, make a money saving combo with a Large drink, large Icee and a large popcorn and save .50 cents OR get 2 large drinks, 2 large Icees and 1 large popcorn and save .75 cents. They currently also have a contest to win a wii, there is no purchase necessary.

Marcus Theaters: Marcus offers $2.00 Tuesdays, you get popcorn and fountain drinks for only $2.00 each. Every Wednesday and Thursday Marcus Theatres puts select movies in the spotlight with their Spotlight Movie Club. They select several current films that you may have missed or want to see again. The admission for the Spotlight movie is only $5.00 on Wednesdays and Thursdays. To receive this offer you need to subscribe to their emailed show times newsletter. Every Friday Marcus Theatres has special admission prices for anyone age 60 and over with their Young at Heart special, its only $4.00 for any show that starts before 5:30 PM.
Also, select Marcus Theatres locations offer an Early Bird Special Friday through Sunday before 11am, you receive admission to your choice of movie for just $5.00. Marcus also has a great kids program this year called Kids Rule, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 am from June 23rd through August 12th kids can watch their favorite family movies for just $2.75 in honor of their 75th Anniversary, this includes the Popcorn. If you are looking for a quite night out away from the kids select Marcus locations also offer a program called Dinner and a Movie, this offer varies by locations so be sure to check out what is offered in your area.

Regal Entertainment Group: Regal has a program called the Regal Crown Club which has quite a few different benefits, including, $1.00 Candy on Monday and $1.00 Popcorn on Tuesdays with paid admission at the box office, plus you earn one credit for every dollar spent and bonus credits on Tuesdays, once you reach 50 points you earn a free popcorn, if you save longer you can redeem 150 for a free movie ticket. For the kids Regal has a Free Family Film Festival featuring select G or PG movies that start at 10:00am every Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and are limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer. Tickets for the 2010 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.

All theaters seem to have a corporate section where you can buy a block of tickets at a discounted rate. This is worth looking into if you are a frequent movie goer as it may save you up to 20% of the ticket cost, eBay is another great way to find discounted movie tickets. Also be sure to check out the special offers at Fandango.

Have a great weekend 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.

Wedding ideas for a budget...

Wedding season is fast approaching so I thought I would give some ideas on how to save some cash and still have a great wedding. Did you know that the average wedding in the US costs between $20,000 and $35,000? That's a LOT of cash!!

Saving money on the ceremony is pretty easy, first consider having your service at a public park or a friend or parents house, also, don't rule out other non-traditional sites, I have a friend having a Halloween wedding in October and she is having the service at a haunted house, so think outside the box. This will save you the fee for the church and if you have a friend or relative that is a justice of the peace or a minister you can save the fee for their services as well, if not check with the local court house and churches or seminary schools and compare all the rates.

One of the biggest expenses is the dress, the easiest way to save a ton is just to NOT got to the bridal store for a gown. Check your local 2nd hand stores, eBay, and be sure to scope out the stores that sell prom dresses. If you, a friend or family member are crafty you can find a great dress and add beads and/or sequins to make it uniquely your own. Don't be afraid of adding color to your dress either, black is very elegant for an evening wedding and red or gold looks stunning around the holidays.

Instead of a traditional sit down grooms dinner why not opt for a backyard BBQ where everyone can let their hair down and have some fun? Consider some lawn games like badminton or volley ball. If you make it more pot luck the expense will be even less and everyone will have a blast.

When looking for a photographer you will want to make sure you look over every one's work BEFORE you hire them. There are some fantastic photographers at the local colleges just hoping for a way to get a portfolio together, talk to a few of them and compare their styles. The feel will be well below a seasoned professional but you will get a "fresh" eye on your wedding.

Flowers can be a very expensive part of your budget, consider having just a few flowers in your bouquets and more green, and don't be afraid to use some little cute things in your bouquet like pine cones. For your groomsmen you can send a friend to a local florist and see if they have any broken stemmed flowers that they are going to throw away, bootiners need only about a 2" stem for pinning, just wrap them with some florists tape. Stick with flowers that will be in season, Tulips at Christmas are going to be a fortune. If you use some sort of Ivy in your bouquet you can take a clipping and root it so you will have a living reminder of your special day.

Finally, consider a destination wedding, it may not strike you as a budget wedding idea, but think about it. All expenses are covered for you and your guests (with the exception of airfare and your wedding attire). Not only that, but honeymoon expenses aren't necessary as the destination is the honeymoon as well.

Of course, the very best ways to stay on budget is to simply have one, Real Simple has a very nice printable wedding budget worksheet.

I am interested in hearing your ideas, please let me know!

Have a great weekend!!

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.