Some gems of a deal...

If you are buying jewelry for the holidays there are some things to remember.  Don't be dazzled by the first bright and shiny thing you see, remember there are some pitfalls to buying the perfect piece.  Most folks know about cut color clarity and carat when it comes to diamonds, but for a quick refresher you can check out the great information at Gem Sutra.  The cut, clarity and carat weight also apply to other gems as well; so if you know the basics it will help you a lot when you are out looking.  Its important to know you setting information too, for example the difference between gold fill, gold layering and gold plating is gold fill is made up of 1/20th 14kt gold to equal 3% actual gold in a gold filled piece. A layer of 14kt gold is put over brass by heat and pressure bonding. Gold filled has an actual layer of gold, while gold plated merely has a microscopic film. Gold vermeil by FTC standards has a 100 millionths of an inch layer of 14kt gold over sterling silver. Gold also can be made into many many colors ranging from gold, silver, and rose as well as the surprising colors of purple, green or blue depending on which metals are mixed with the gold, for example 18kt rose gold is made up of 75% gold, 5% silver and 20% copper.  Finally,  Platinum which is the most pure metal of the precious metals. The highest grade of platinum jewelry is .950 or 95.0% pure. If you are looking at platinum that feels light or is surprisingly low in cost ask the grade.  As a general rule, a setting in .950 Platinum will cost about 7 times more than the same piece done in 14kt yellow gold.

There are 2000 identified minerals, and of that group 100 are considered to be gemstones so here are some things that can help you find just the right one for the holidays:

A Ring Size Comparison Chart if you are looking at rings can help you find the right size no matter where you purchase the item.

Birthstones:

January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Alexandrite or Pearl
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Blue Sapphire
October - Tourmaline (pink)
November - Citrine or Topaz (golden)
December - Zircon or Tourmaline (blue)

If you find something you think looks great but need more information there is a wealth of it at GemInfo.com, everything from Buying tips and care to the history of specific stones.

Now that you are armed with good information here are some wonderful sales going on right now. 

Zales is offering a $50.00 off $300.00 coupon when you sign up for their email offers, they also have a 60% off sale running with an additional 10% off until 12/12/2010, they also have free shipping on any order over $149.00.

Kay Jeweler's is having a sale on select items right now, they also offer to buy your old gold for cash.

ICE.com is having a sale of 25% off site wide with coupon code IBLHY through 12/31/2010, they also have a Christmas wish-list sweepstakes to enter to try to win over $15,000 in giveaways.  Remember when you are there to check the deal of the day as well.

JC Penny is offering $50.00 off your fine jewelry purchase of $250 or more if you use coupon code SANTAGEM at checkout, if you use coupon code FALALA you can get free shipping on orders over $69.00.  If you are planning on going into a local JC Penny then be sure to print your coupon for $10.00 off any $50.00, this coupon is good until 1/10/2011.

Helzberg normally doesn't have sales but they are offering free shipping on orders over 149.00.  I was able to find a coupon code of 32182 that says it will give you $10.00 off your order but its not a reliable code so it may or may not work for you.


Jared is having their customer appreciation event this weekend both on line and in the stores, for every $500.00 you spend you will get $100.00 in holiday rewards that you can spend immediately, each reward certificate is good on purchases over $300.00 and won't expire until January 29, 2011.  This weekend you can also get a free set of four Waterford glasses with any purchase over $300.00.

Blue Nile has a coupon code available HOLIDAY40 that will get you 10% off you order as well as free shipping until December 24, 2010.  Every day until Christmas they have an exclusive offer of the day, be sure to take a peek.  While you are there be sure to enter their drawing to win a Blue Nile Signature Diamond.

And the best for last, because really, what woman doesn't want a beautiful blue box under the tree!?!?  Tiffany and Co. is offering complimentary free shipping on all orders until December 23, 2010, and guys, don't be afraid to check out Tiffany's, you can find some truly great items for $100.00 or less.

Have a great weekend everyone!

C.Q.

Friday's freebie...

Getting free stuff is sweet! First head over to get your fee sample of Rimmel Sweet Jelly Lip Gloss in your choice of one of four shades.  If that isn't sweet enough for you then maybe you need some pie.  If you live near a Whataburger then be sure to print the coupon for a free piece of decedent fried pie good December 11th only.  If that's a little too sweet for you then hope over to The Republic of Tea and request a free catalog, each one comes with a free tea sample, it could be a fruit tea, a chocolate tea, a hibiscus tea or a traditional tea, its a surprise each time but always good.

Have a great Friday everyone!!

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal...

The picture...

The other day we had our little 6 point male buck in the yard, he is growing into a very handsome boy.  We have quite a few deer, we don't feed them but they do love to come and see if the birds have thrown anything out of the feeders.

The deal...

Now through December 13th Spa Finder has an awesome deal going, buy one gift certificate and get one of equal value at 20% off!  That means you can either give more or get more, or both. You could get a $100.00 certificate for your best friend or daughter and have a special day together with you certificate only cosing $80.00 or you could make your child's favorite teacher, hair dresser or mail carrier very happy with a $25.00 certificate for them and one costing only $20.00, its a great way to get your nails done at a discount.  This deal is only good through December 13th though so you need to hurry, just use coupon code HOLIDAY20 at the checkout.

Have a fantastic day everyone!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn

~WORD OF THE DAY~

venerate  \VEN-uh-rayt\ ~ verb

DEFINITION:

1: to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference

2: to honor (as an icon or a relic) with a ritual act of devotion

EXAMPLES: Adoring fans venerated every item touched by the rock star's hands.

"In just two terms, he has become an important voice in the House, an institution that normally venerates seniority." -- From an editorial in The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), October 15, 2010

DID YOU KNOW? "Venerate," "revere," "reverence," "worship," and "adore" all mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. "Venerate" implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age. "Revere" stresses deference and tenderness of feeling ("a professor revered by students"). "Reverence" presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring ("she reverenced the academy's code of honor"). "Worship" implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony ("he worships their memory"). "Adore" implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment ("we adored our doctor"). "Venerate," incidentally, traces back to the Latin verb "venerari," from "vener-," meaning "love" or "charm."

~THE REBATE~

Got pets on your holiday shopping list?  Check out the funny t-shirt offer from Kong toys UPCs.  This offer is good through 12/31/2010.  If you want to check out the products they have available for both dogs and cats, as well as enter their contest to win a free Kong treat basket, you can visit them at their website, Kongcompany.com.

Have a fantastic Wednesday everyone!

C.Q.

Is There An App. For That?

photo © 2009 Nina Matthews | more info (via: Wylio)


After Michele's post about Apps. I got to thinking about Apps. I think I would really enjoy. I hope the App. developers are listening. Its not that long of a list, just some Apps.

• An App. that will clean my kitchen for me. That seems to always need to be done.
  
• An App. that will set my coffee pot up. That way Mr. Bernie and I don't have to wait each other out to see who will do it.
• An App. that will filter out repetitive posts on Facebook. The ones that say the same thing almost everyday. I know you all know what I mean.
• An App. that will help my mailman deliver my mail to me. Mine, not someone who is several streets over.
  
• An App. that will slap people upside the head if they are rude.
• An App that will clean the litter box for me. How cool would that be?

I don't think that I'm asking for much. I could think of others I want. However, I don't want to see greedy. What kind of Apps. would you like to see?

Monday's value meal...

This time of year its nice to entertain your friends with a nice meal and great company.  This dish lets you make something that looks like you slaved away but in fact only takes a half hour to prep and put together and an hour and twenty minutes to cook, just enough time to chat and toast the season.




CHICKEN AND MUSHROOMS IN RED WINE SAUCE

4 small chicken legs (drumstick-thigh piece) (about 2 pounds total)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
16 pearl onions (1-1/3 cups)
2 cups fresh medium mushrooms, quartered
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1-1/2 teaspoons snipped fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1-1/2 teaspoons snipped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chicken broth
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
6 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled
Snipped parsley (optional)
Hot cooked noodles

1. Skin chicken. In a plastic or paper bag combine 2 tablespoons flour, the garlic salt, and pepper. Add chicken, one or two pieces at a time, to the bag, shaking to coat chicken well.

2. In a 4-1/2-quart Dutch oven cook chicken in hot oil about 10 minutes or until lightly browned, turning to brown evenly. Drain. Add wine, 1/2 cup chicken broth, the onions, mushrooms, tomato paste, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to boilling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Discard bay leaf. Transfer chicken to a platter; keep warm.

3. Stir together 2 tablespoons broth and 1 tablespoon flour. Add to mushroom mixture in Dutch oven. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Stir in bacon. Spoon some of the mushroom sauce over chicken; sprinkle with parsley, if desired. Pass remaining sauce. Serve with hot noodles.

Makes 4 servings.


---Main course---

$0.55 off Pilgrim's Pride Chicken
$1.00 off any Arrow Mills flour
$1.00 off any Filippo Berio Oliv1e Oil (this was at the bottom of page 4)
$1.00 off  Hatfield Bacon
 
---Beverage---
 
For the adults save $10.00 off any $ purchase from Wine.com using coupon code CPNBASKET
For the younger folks save $2.00 off two Welch's Sparkling Juices
 
---Salad---
 
$1.00 off any Olivia's Organic Salad
$1.00 off any two Lighthouse products
 
---Sides---
 
$0.40 off Green Giant Frozen Bagged Vegetables (this was on page 2)
 
---Bread---
 
$0.40 off any two Pillsbury Italian Meal breads (this was on page 2)
 
---Dessert---
 
$1.00 off any two Pillsurbury Refrigerated Holiday Cookie Dough (this was on page 2)
$1.00 off any two pints of Starbucks Ice Cream (I found the coupon on page 12)

Have a great start to the week everyone!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

This holiday season why not let your iPod and Smart Phones make your shopping a little easier?  There are some really great cool apps available that can help get your shopping done in short order so you have more time to relax and bake those cookies for the office cookie exchange.

First lets start with know how much you can spend, you can use Mint to help you with a budget, its available for free download to both the Android and iPhone, if you don't want that information on your portable device they are also available on Yahoo.com.  When you have your budget set you can stretch it using application such as Coupon Shurpa, it offers coupons to over 5,000 stores from your home computer, or download the free app and it will send coupons to over a hundred stores directly to your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Need directions or store information?  One of the best apps available is YPMoble, this is not the Yellow Pages of your childhood, now it is super charged with a search feature, driving directions, web links, reviews and a way to save your contacts or favorites lists. YPMoble is free and available for your iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Android, Palm and Blackberry.  Now that you have made it to the mall and parked in the sea of cars, will you ever find your car again?  You will if you download Carr Matey, this app is available for the Android and will help you find a place to park, let you enter parking garage information,and remind you when your meter is set to expire.

Well you made it, look out shoppers your off to the races!  But which direction do you need to go?  With Mall Maps Mobile you can find your way around almost any mall with ease, its great for finding new places that have just opened or when you are traveling and shopping an area you are unfamiliar with. This free download is available in the iTunes store for the iPod, iPad, and iPhone.  Now that you have found your favorite store are you getting the best deal on your purchase? Used to be you had to run all over town to find out, now you can just use an app like Shop Savvy 4 by using the camera on your iPhone or Android camera to scan the bar code and compare prices with other stores and on line.

Ahhhh, almost done but where did you put all those reward membership cards?  With an application like CardStar you can keep all that information together in one spot.  With an ever growing list of merchants that are supported as well as the ability to add your own this is one of the easiest and most beneficial apps available, epically since its free and available for the iPhone, iPod, iPad, Android, Blackberry and Windows phone.  All you do is find the card info and show your phone to the cashier, no more extra plastic cards to carry around.

I hope you all have a rewarding shopping experience this holiday season!

C.Q.