Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Extreme Couponing...A good thing/A great thing...A rant coming up....
I am all for saving a buck and I use coupons. In fact, my daughter is trying to be an "extreme couponer" (yes! that's a word. I just made it up) and we have had several conversations on this subject. I will now share them with you. This has become something that people who have "hoarding tendancies" are able to cripple themselves with. Those who do not have "hoarding tendancies" seem to be "stockpiling"......I know! I know! This is JUST my view and my opinion (and we all know what opinions are worth).
At any rate, I am fully supportive of individuals who cut coupons to save money, even to the point of what they are now terming "extreme couponing". What I am NOT supportive of is people who are stocking up on these things like they are pirates treasure. On one of the shows I glanced at, one person had rows and rows of Maalox bottles (it may have been another product....does it really matter WHAT the product was?) The fact of the matter was, unless she and everybody in her family has chronic ulcers, those items will expire long before they will ever be used. This seems to be a trend for some of these "extreme couponers". Notice my wording there -- THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND FOR SOME OF THESE "EXTREME COUPONERS".
This is what I am proposing....For those of you who are "stockpiling" items such as cleaning supplies, toiletries, health and beauty items and yes....even some of the food you and your family may not eat....Take some of those items and put them in baskets give them as housewarming gifts, wedding shower gifts, off to college gifts -- that kind of thing. Here is where I believe your extreme couponing can do some real help in our depleting economy. Especially for some of those individuals who have fallen upon rough times -- look at our men and women in our Armed Forces. They are fighting for our country all the while worrying about what their families are going to survive on while you have the means to help them.
Yes, I know you have worked HARD to amass this collection of "things" that you are so proud of. Heck! I would be too. The thing about it is, there are Women's Shelters, Homeless Shelters, Churches, Food Banks and all kinds of charities that will take the items (as long as they aren't out of date) and pass them to people who can use them.
So, you're obviously very good with math so let's work this out. Obviously, you, in a month, can get (lets just say) $1500 worth of groceries and other toiletries/health & beauty items for a paultry $100. If you've done this over a year or more, 6 months or even 3 months you have amassed a plethera of items that can be donated if you or your family aren't using them. Seriously, if you can get 30 bottles of shampoo for 10 cents each in one month and you've done this for approximately 3 months, you've got somewhere in the vacinity of 90 bottles of shampoo.
There is thing called Karma -- I won't get into it but you know what it is. If you want to go another direction with this thought, you can say "Give unto others as you would have them give unto you."
These kindnesses will be payed back to you 3-fold. Everything comes back to you my friends. If you're having such wonderful luck couponing, share that luck with someone who is "down on their luck." If you're affiliated with a church of any kind, go to them, they will point you in the right direction. They will probably know of a specific family that truly needs the help.
So....now that I've gotten that off my chest...Hope you're having a wonderful weekend and.....
Keep Reading Dearhearts
Bakin_Goddess
At any rate, I am fully supportive of individuals who cut coupons to save money, even to the point of what they are now terming "extreme couponing". What I am NOT supportive of is people who are stocking up on these things like they are pirates treasure. On one of the shows I glanced at, one person had rows and rows of Maalox bottles (it may have been another product....does it really matter WHAT the product was?) The fact of the matter was, unless she and everybody in her family has chronic ulcers, those items will expire long before they will ever be used. This seems to be a trend for some of these "extreme couponers". Notice my wording there -- THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND FOR SOME OF THESE "EXTREME COUPONERS".
This is what I am proposing....For those of you who are "stockpiling" items such as cleaning supplies, toiletries, health and beauty items and yes....even some of the food you and your family may not eat....Take some of those items and put them in baskets give them as housewarming gifts, wedding shower gifts, off to college gifts -- that kind of thing. Here is where I believe your extreme couponing can do some real help in our depleting economy. Especially for some of those individuals who have fallen upon rough times -- look at our men and women in our Armed Forces. They are fighting for our country all the while worrying about what their families are going to survive on while you have the means to help them.
Yes, I know you have worked HARD to amass this collection of "things" that you are so proud of. Heck! I would be too. The thing about it is, there are Women's Shelters, Homeless Shelters, Churches, Food Banks and all kinds of charities that will take the items (as long as they aren't out of date) and pass them to people who can use them.
So, you're obviously very good with math so let's work this out. Obviously, you, in a month, can get (lets just say) $1500 worth of groceries and other toiletries/health & beauty items for a paultry $100. If you've done this over a year or more, 6 months or even 3 months you have amassed a plethera of items that can be donated if you or your family aren't using them. Seriously, if you can get 30 bottles of shampoo for 10 cents each in one month and you've done this for approximately 3 months, you've got somewhere in the vacinity of 90 bottles of shampoo.
There is thing called Karma -- I won't get into it but you know what it is. If you want to go another direction with this thought, you can say "Give unto others as you would have them give unto you."
These kindnesses will be payed back to you 3-fold. Everything comes back to you my friends. If you're having such wonderful luck couponing, share that luck with someone who is "down on their luck." If you're affiliated with a church of any kind, go to them, they will point you in the right direction. They will probably know of a specific family that truly needs the help.
So....now that I've gotten that off my chest...Hope you're having a wonderful weekend and.....
Keep Reading Dearhearts
Bakin_Goddess
Friday, April 8, 2011
Review of Children's Book: Shoe-La-La by Karen Beaumont, LeUyen Pham
This is an awesome 40-page hardback book. The dust jacket is beautifully done with sparkly embossing (if that's the tight word). The text of the book rhymes and has an amazingly cute storyline about girls and their shoes, going to a shoe store and making a mess of the store after having a ton of fun trying to decide which pair of shoes would look best with which "outfit". When I got this book in the mail (that I won in a blog contest), I read it to my 7-month-old granddaughter and she was mesmerized by the colors and the brilliantly thought-out whimsical illustrations.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read to any girl (young or old). It brought a huge smile to my face as well while I read it to her.
If I were to rate this book I would give it 4.5 stars. This is one book you must pick up.
Keep Reading Dearhearts
Bakin_Goddess
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read to any girl (young or old). It brought a huge smile to my face as well while I read it to her.
If I were to rate this book I would give it 4.5 stars. This is one book you must pick up.
Keep Reading Dearhearts
Bakin_Goddess
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
My New Blog Design!
Well, I found this new blog design and LOVE it! Tell me what you think. I'm getting back into reading again (had to stop for a little while because of eye issues) and yes, I am going to FINISH) Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. When I do, watch out, here come some real book reviews and my normal "book a day" reading schedule - (hopefully). I do plan on starting my children's books as well - these pesky little characters won't stop banging around in my brain.
Please comment and tell me what you think of the new blog design.
Keep Reading Dearhearts
Bakin_Goddess
Please comment and tell me what you think of the new blog design.
Keep Reading Dearhearts
Bakin_Goddess
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A CoFA Giveaway/Awesome pen by Very Cool Jewelry Designer, Viviane Hebel, and a chance to Give Back!
Hi Everybody!
I am really psyched about this giveaway. It's NOT mine but I found a link to it on Twitter and it's just awesome.
First, you will have a chance to win a pen designed by the awesome jewelry artist Viviane Hebel and on top of that Cassandra Clare's City Of Fallen Angels.
If you visit Viviane's Etsy Site and make a purchase, some of the proceeds will go to Reading is Fundamental. You can read all about it in the awesome blog by the great Paperback Dolls!
Excuse just the link to their site. I'm new at this but PLEASE visit their site! It's amazing!!!
Paperback Dolls: Interview and Giveaway with The Mortal Instruments Jewelry designer- Viviane Hebel
Keep Reading Dearhearts!
I am really psyched about this giveaway. It's NOT mine but I found a link to it on Twitter and it's just awesome.
First, you will have a chance to win a pen designed by the awesome jewelry artist Viviane Hebel and on top of that Cassandra Clare's City Of Fallen Angels.
If you visit Viviane's Etsy Site and make a purchase, some of the proceeds will go to Reading is Fundamental. You can read all about it in the awesome blog by the great Paperback Dolls!
Excuse just the link to their site. I'm new at this but PLEASE visit their site! It's amazing!!!
Paperback Dolls: Interview and Giveaway with The Mortal Instruments Jewelry designer- Viviane Hebel
Keep Reading Dearhearts!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Contemplating a Giveaway
So, I'm contemplating a giveaway. The problem is.....as there is a horrible echo....there is nobody here to give anything away to. I, sadly, have no followers, yet. I will fix that problem soon enough though, I'm sure of it.
Now.....on to what to give away. I have books. Some slightly used. Some new. I have cookbooks....I LOVE to bake! Have I mentioned that? It's amazing what therapy it can be. Let me get in a mood with some baking ingredients and in a few hours I have made the house smell divine!!! The neighbors adore it. My sister-in-law loves it. My daughter....it's a love-hate relationship. She loves it but hates what it does to her hips. My mother and I are always up for some good baking. My dad always wanted me to bake for him.
So....Do I offer up some of my favorite recipes???? Ones that I have tweaked until they are just so good you can't stand it. Like Cowboy cookies....or the Best Ever Big Chocolate Chip Cookie, Peanut Butter Cookie Bars.....
I have a great recipe for buttercream icing that I stumbled across. It's not too sweet, the perfect consistency and oh so good.
So answer me this......
If you cook or bake, are you a "perfection" kind of baker? You know the one where everything has to be done exactly right, put out perfectly.... Or are you a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of baker? She's (or he) is the one that just pulls out what is in the pantry and it always turns out great no matter what it looks like.
When I get some followers, I will do a giveaway.
Keep reading Dearhearts.
Now.....on to what to give away. I have books. Some slightly used. Some new. I have cookbooks....I LOVE to bake! Have I mentioned that? It's amazing what therapy it can be. Let me get in a mood with some baking ingredients and in a few hours I have made the house smell divine!!! The neighbors adore it. My sister-in-law loves it. My daughter....it's a love-hate relationship. She loves it but hates what it does to her hips. My mother and I are always up for some good baking. My dad always wanted me to bake for him.
So....Do I offer up some of my favorite recipes???? Ones that I have tweaked until they are just so good you can't stand it. Like Cowboy cookies....or the Best Ever Big Chocolate Chip Cookie, Peanut Butter Cookie Bars.....
I have a great recipe for buttercream icing that I stumbled across. It's not too sweet, the perfect consistency and oh so good.
So answer me this......
If you cook or bake, are you a "perfection" kind of baker? You know the one where everything has to be done exactly right, put out perfectly.... Or are you a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of baker? She's (or he) is the one that just pulls out what is in the pantry and it always turns out great no matter what it looks like.
When I get some followers, I will do a giveaway.
Keep reading Dearhearts.
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