Bargain Bits-

I have in the past participated in market surveys. They are companies that are commissioned to find specific demographics, have them sample or listen to concepts and ideas and then they pay you for your time and for your opinions. There is always a wide variety of different things they are looking for and a wide range of consumers. Sometimes you need to be within a specific age range and or fall within specific parameters. You might not always qualify but you may know someone who does It is a great way to see what products are up and coming and which ones may be changing marketing strategies.

Say Hi to ED

This is Ed-
Ed would be my other half.
Ed is very sad that I don't have any pictures of him on my blog.
Now he is- say hi to ED
Everyone needs an ED- Make me an offer.....

American Earplugs

I come from a musical family. My mother and her sisters grew up singing songs from musical theatre and it continued through most of my life. Mom played piano to some extent but she really knew how to sing. She was a strong voiced first soprano. My father was not always a soloist but he was very talented with instruments. While I was growing up he would play his set list of music on the organ for us, he would pull out one of his many guitars on a whim and once a year he would drag out the trumpet to play in the UConn alumni marching band. Since then he has collected and learned to play so many other instruments that I have lost count. My brother plays guitar, my sister sings and also plays guitar. My last sister sings very well for the most part as long as you don't ask her to keep harmony on her own.
  I sing- I actually sing rather well. I grew up as a soloist, sang in a few years of  High School All State chorus. I've sung for weddings and funerals. I was the female lead in a benefit musical and even had an audition for a show on Broadway. But I didn't go because I knew that even with all my experience and with all of the training I had,  I was not good enough.
 Now on to American Idol. I cannot for the life of me wonder what some of these kids are thinking.

Shoebuy 20% off!

I am not sure if this will work because it was an e-mail exclusive. Shoebuy sent me a note today offering 20% off for their Winter Clearance Sale. I am giving you the page that I was sent- hopefully this works for you all! EVERYONE LOVES SHOES!!   Shoebuy 20% off click here!

Reanne'cipes

Old Bay..... how I love the?
Tonight I came home from work to the smell of Old Bay and Shrimp. My heart skipped a beat because I knew what joy I was about to have for dinner. If you have heard of it, you are nodding your head in agreement, thinking of all the things you could eat it with and drooling. There is something about that combination of celery salt, paprika, pepper and "spices" as the bottle notes that makes everything taste like the Chesapeake Bay area and all the goodness that comes from there. It's not quite Cajun. Its not really a seasoned salt either but a seasoning that goes with everything. Its great on popcorn, steak, seafood and potato chips. Add it to a fried batter for a great fried chicken.  My sister even puts it in her scrambled eggs. You can mix it into sour cream for a veggie dip or add shredded cheese to the same dip with a can of crab meat and bake for a hot pretzel dip.  It is the be all, end all of seasonings. But back to my dinner, I will share with you my recipe-
 One pound of peel your own shrimp, One can of beer (only if you like to steam things that way) 1/4 cup of Old Bay Seasoning.
Steam the shrimp using the beer as your steam (or water if you don't have beer)
When shrimp is pink all over, put in a bowl and toss with the Old Bay.
Peel and Eat. Yes your fingers will get very dirty but all of the seasoning that you have on your fingers will get on the shrimp. This is intentional. You are supposed to do that.
*Note!! Be sure NOT to wipe your eyes with dirty hands- TRUST ME ON THIS!!! NOT FUN!*
 So there you have it- Maryland Steamed Shrimp...... it doesn't get any easier, even a caveman can do it. ;) Enjoy.

Cabela's Valentine

Need ideas for that "Manly Man" in your life? How about getting 55% off at Cabela's. Last I checked they were also offering free shipping if over $99 when you use the code 12FREE . Get something for each of those "Manly Men" in your life all in one stop! Although my personal valentine would rather just live in the store for a weekend. I wonder if they rent out tents for in store overnights?


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Valentines Spa Day!

My husband dreads the month of February because its not only Valentines day but it is also my birthday and our anniversary. Every year it would be a bunch of flowers and a card. Sometimes he would make me a dinner comprised of HIS favorite foods. Another year he threw me a surprise party surprisingly on "Super Bowl Sunday" where his team was playing and all of HIS friends were invited.  Imagine my surprise.... or lack of. The year after my youngest was born, he finally got it right! I had a spa day at our local casino. I steamed in the steam room, lounged in the jacuzzi and sweated in the sauna. Then bathrobe and all I found myself walking to the nail salon for a spa pedicure. It was one of the most relaxing days of my life. I love Spa Finder because you can get gift certificates for locations near you and with this latest promotion you get 5% off of them. What a better way to say "I Love You"! Be sure to "Click the Pic!
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Wine'ing about Weight

For the first time in years I have stuck to my New Years resolution for more than a week. I have now accomplished two weeks and one day. This year my goal was to lose between 15 and 20 pounds before I had anything with alcohol to drink. Easy right? WRONG! Don't get me wrong, I am far from an alcoholic. I like a glass of wine with dinner or sometimes I will wait until the kids are all in bed. After all I AM the mother of 4 kids, I think that giving birth 4 times gives me certain inalienable rights doesn't it? Unfortunately, it also gave me the right to gain the 15 - 20 pounds that I am so eager to lose now.

Printable Coupons

You know you want them! You have hundreds to choose from, many are great for double and triple stacking!! Clip away!

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Valentine Cookies

I was trying to think of some interesting ideas for Valentines day. I started with something different than the regular box of chocolates because I never get the nut ones I like and the kids always eat the caramels before I even know they were in the box. Really, I don't know how they sniff them out! I came across this- I love Mrs.Field's Cookies! I used to get the mini ones fresh baked in the mall whenever we would go shopping. What a neat idea to send instead of just a card? And with this code you get 10% off as a new customer! New to GAN 10% Off Discount
(so
me posts in this blog may contain affiliate links)

Bargain Bits-

The Secret Smile of the Savvy Shopper Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you are going from store to store with coupons in hand or your best thrift shopping circle of stores and you happen to see the same people shopping with you over and over again? I do this all the time. After the second or third store you realize that you are both there for the exact same reasons.... TO SAVE! When you figure it out is normally about the same time you notice that they are looking at you with the same look of,"I CAUGHT YOU!" That is when you both give what I call "The Secret Smile of the Savvy Shopper".

Reanne'cipes

Shhh- dont tell anyone I gave you this!
I'll give you 3 guesses what's on the stove for dinner.
Simon and Garfunkel Soup-

Everyone that knows me, knows that I can't bake. It's not that I don't have an oven or that I don't have recipes. What I don't have is patience to measure things. Everyone also knows that I make AMAZING SOUP! Well here you have it- the secret to most of my prized soups. I call it the S&G spice collection.
No matter what kind of soup I make I tend to add the same spices to it. Turkey soup? S&G. Vegetable soup? S&G. Potato Leek soup? S&G. In fact I have also used it in Pea Soup, Chowder and Beef Stew. Now you are curious aren't you what the mysterious ingredients are for the S&G Spice collection right? I know some of you have to have caught on by now and are already humming a bar or two of Scarborough Faire. Parsley-Sage-Rosemary and Thyme.
Ok, so I also add garlic, salt, black pepper and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Sometimes I add sugar or bay leaves if its a tomato base soup. Ill add celery seed if Im out of celery, onion powder when we are out of onions and we all love Old Bay when looking for that extra kick. But for the most part my soup stock always contains the S&G Spice collection. I don't even have to measure it because if I accidently put too much of anything in I can add water. It never comes out wrong and I can just throw them all in while boiling a carcass for broth. It never fails and it always works. Well except for Chili- I don't put them in Chili.... That would be rather disgusting. Trust me- it works!

Free Dunkin Donuts Coffee x2!

Something to WARM YOUR HEART!
When you sign up for Dunkin Perks Rewards you will receive a coupon via e-mail for a FREE MEDIUM BEVERAGE NOW and another FREE MEDIUM BEVERAGE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!   Also be sure to register all of those gift cards! 

"Got boys"? - $8 off Darth Vader Ultimate FX lightsaber!

My sons would disown me if I did not post this one- I have three of them ages 16,8 and 6. All three would love this!
Save $8 on Star Wars Darth Vader Ultimate FX Light Saber with Promo Code - HSBRBC28

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Soda Stream- product review

I was given a chance to review the product we all saw advertised over and over during the holidays called "Soda Stream".
 Now being a very avid consumer of flavored (or non-flavored) seltzer water, I was very excited to see if this system truly works and if the syrups offered truly lived up to all that it was implying.  I had already understood the concept because my first job ever was working at a soda fountain ice cream shop called "Friendly's". I used to travel from shop to shop covering for other stores and a few of them still had the old fashioned pumps where you squirted three shots of syrup into the bottom of the cup and then added the seltzer to make the soda. But I also knew that sometimes if the mixture was wrong, then so was taste. I knew that depending on when the CO2 was installed that the amount bubbles would also be affected giving you either flat,medium or sinus killing carbination. I know that you know what I mean when I say sinus killing.... although my kids would refer to that as AWESOME! Another thing that interested me was that I tend to be very careful when it comes to using reusable bottles for my beverages. I have a collection of different sizes and styles for any kind of liquid so I was already looking for ways to avoid bringing bottles back to the store. Yes, it is true.  I would love to be the mom that is all green and having pure intent for the environment which of course I do in many ways but the truth in my bottle hoarding is that I hate bringing them back to the store. Half the time I'm at the wrong store and the other half of the time its just too time consuming. The big bag of bottles sits in my closet and takes up room. I would love a carbonated product that does not require returnables!  All of these thoughts were in my head as I awaited for the box to arrive.