Christmas Card ShoppingA big hello! Since today is Shoppin' Saturday, I thought I would finally order my Christmas cards. I say finally, because I started thinking about these way back in August after our family trip to Italy. I love to share a mini year in review on my cards featuring photos taken throughout the year on trips and special places visited. Because I happen to be the ultimate online shopper, I have been buying my Christmas cards via the internet for many years . I find it very easy and with all the internet coupons and cash back sites, you can save time, money and even make a little money too! Here's my 3-step system (and some links) that might enable you to get your Christmas cards done this weekend! Step 1: Select your Online Card Retailer There are so many print sites today from which to order your cards. Accessing their site, you will find the prompts for ordering cards and the necessary subsequent links for uploading your photos. Through the years, I've used the following, with good results!! * Tiny Prints Offers free shipping with order over $49 or use code FREESHIP. * Shutterfly Offers escalating discounts, the larger your order. 50% off $100 order; 40% off $50 order and 30% off orders $30 and under. Use code MORE4U (ends Nov. 9th). * Walgreens Most pharmacy retailers have very elaborate photo centers these days. I happen to like Walgreens and their site is easy to navigate. Currently, they are offering 40% off all photo orders through November 8th. Step 2: Access Your Retailer through a Cash Back Partner Today, when you order online, why not take advantage of the cash back portals that allow you to earn cash when you link to an online retailer. There are a number, but listed are a few. * Ebates * UPromise * FatWallet Check out this great Forbes article with comparisons about Cash Back programs. Shopping Online? Be Sure To Get Cash Back Step 3: Select Your Card!! This is the fun part!! Shop for your favorite design; personalize it the way you want, with the photos and text you like. It's really that easy! LOTS OF SHOPPING TO DO TODAY! There's much needed shopping to done on my end today. Food shopping at the supermarket and specialty food stores; and online Christmas shopping! I really didn't make much progress yesterday as I browsed through some of the online stores. I think because I didn't have a clear idea of what to get for each person on my list. It's also another day of house organizing! Today, I will tackle Gianna's clothes closet and my office - more hauling and a trip to the Salvation Army I'm sure! GET WELL WISHES TO JET!!! Was sending positive, healing prayers to my cousin Jet all night after her horrible ordeal with her finger yesterday! Poor Tanya was beside herself having been the one to take her to the Emergency Room. I hope they are both feeling much better today!!! I am sending you happy wishes for a GREAT Saturday!!!!  | Hoping that Shopping Perks Me Up!Hi all! I've got yet another busy day ahead of me, but I can handle this type of busyness (yesterday's was another story - found below). Dominic has classes from 9a-10a, then we'll shoot over to Green Bliss, before going back for his 11:30a-1p class. Take him home, and head to the mall for some much needed itens that I'd like to get out of the way before leaving on Tuesday morning. I'm looking for my Christmas dress (I found one online, and am hoping to try it on in the store), plus I still need to do some more shopping for Dominic's birthday, and search for the perfect secret santa ornament that will be exchanged on St. Nicholas Day (Dec 6th). And I only have until 3pm, because we then have to pick up Cosette and take her to a Girl Scouts ceremony, which leads up to a Girl Scouts Party, which then leads up to a Girl Scouts Slumber Party! So my night will probably end somewhere after 10pm - giving me absolutely no time to catch up on the lost time from Friday. ***PLEASE accept my apologies for not posting FOODIE FRIDAY on Friday! Luckily I did manage to get a lot done. But still not finished packing...Not a good feeling! Here's why: Well everyone. There was a definite delay in my game yesterday...  Hanging with this cutie pie!  Dream We we're heading back home from the Stables and a quick run into Kohl's when my sister Jet had a horrible accident! ***WARNING GRAPHIC DETAIL BELOW*** ***MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR IMMATURE AUDIENCES/READERS*** Jet had just loaded Chaplin into her car seat, shut the door and all of a sudden started using a few choice words! I could tell that she must've got her hand/finger caught in the door. And since she wasn't stuck, I figured that it was a bit smashed up (like we all have experienced at one point or another). I felt bad, but at that point really what could you do, except ice it. Well, that certainly would've made for a happier ending to this already hectic day. But in actuality, Jet started to scream in pain and as I turned in her direction there was blood spraying into the air. OH CRAP! I ran out to see what I could do, as she yelled that her finger was dangling off!!! OMG OMG OMG WTH do I do?!?!? I figured that I should run back into Kohl's and try to get some help. In return I got a lot of BLANK stares! Huh? I NEED HELP - NOW! I rushed back out to my sister, and found that Cosette had pulled out the first aid kit. I took the gauze and tried to cover and wrap her finger as she held it above her head. "We should go" she said, "I obviously need this taken care of!" So off we went, heading in the direction of... Where the hell was the nearest ER??? All this while Chaplin and Cosette are handling the situation like champs, and Jet is really being quite brave and strong. I on the other hand was an absolute bundle of nerves! I was a mess! I figured out where the nearest ER was and drove like a pro to get the patient there in as little time as safely possible. We've got to save the finger! We arrived to the ER and Jet was immediately taken in and seen by the doctor very quickly afterward. I was in touch with my mom, Brigitte, Andrew, Elisa, Dave & Dave all the while. My mom cancelled the appointment that she was heading to, turned the car around and came to meet us at the hospital. Andrew immediately got off of work and came straight the hospital. Chaplin still in my care, was perfectly happy and very understanding of the situation. I was still completely frazzled. My mom arrived, Andrew arrived. Everyone prayed. And after what seemed like an long wait, my mom and I were allowed to go see the patient. In total from getting to the hospital it was only slightly more 1 hour and exactly 10 stitches later that Jet walked out of the ER and we all headed home. We saved the finger!!! This took so very much out of me. I felt so very sad about what happened. But all in all, the situation could've been a lot worse and aside from feeling exhausted Jet was feeling swell by the end of the night. All is well! Please remember to be careful when closing car doors!!! Hope you have a fantastic Saturday, -T  |
