UNFREAKiNBELiEVABLE!!!

Pictures, Pictures & More Pictures!!

We had a storm Friday, silence Saturday, another storm Sunday! We're supposed to be getting ANOTHER storm tomorrow. 15" have already fallen, and of course, b/c of the drifts (crazy winds!!) in some spots infront of my house (& around..) there's 3' if not more! There was also thunder & lightning while it was snowing/hailing!

AND, on that note--here are all my recent freebie photo catches! =)

I used the code for a free 8x10 from Walgreens, & then the code for a free 8x10 from Snapfish picked up at Walgreens.

Then at another blog, I found a code to get a free 5x7 or 8x10 from CVS--so I went to sign up for an account, and it said I get 30 free prints for signing up, and then 20 free prints for registering my rewards card w/ them-so I got 50 free prints, plus 1-(duh, 51, alyssa).

THEN, I decided to redeem some of my mycokerewards, so I redeemed 64 for 30 free Snapfish photos--well, you get 30 for using your code, and 20 for uploading the photos! I have 73 mycokerewards left, so I plan on doing that whole transaction again. =D

AND...(I know, I know!) I recently mailed in a form to get a free $10 gift card for Shutterfly~by buying 3 packages of LUVS diapers @ Save A Lot. LUVS diapers that we would buy anyways....what a deal! Oh, did I mention that Shutterfly gave me 25 free prints for signing up?

I'm VERY excited to be catching up on printing out all of our photos. Of course, now I just need time to work on the scrapbooks! I want to completely re-do Jordan's scrapbook(s), so that's quite the project. So, go me! on getting almost 200 photos free, if not more, depending on how far the $10 @ Shutterfly goes. (I wonder if that will cover shipping?)

Freebies Anyone??

I ♥ Freebies!!

FREE!

Seriously, though, it's an addiction. Although it's controlled. (for me atleast)-I don't sign up for freebies I won't use-or know anyone who can use (like free cat food/treats, I don't have cats-but I know people who do & could use them!)...which is good. Less clutter in my house= happier Alyssa!

My all-time favorite freebie site is
www.absurdlycool.com
I try to check it daily-sometimes I only check it weekly-but it is updated daily, and includes the Walmart freebies.

Here's a great freebie that is good until I believe Saturday night @ Walgreens. Whenever they offer this freebie (which is frequently, I believe)-I take advantage of it.

Free 8x10 photo-- use the code 'FREEGIFT' at checkout.

I just used mine for an 8x10 of Jordan in the snow-a photo both Andy & I love.
The last time I used this freebie was after Jordan's birthday (oct.23rd) for an 8x10 photo of him eating cake on his actual birthday (not from any of his parties..which we had plenty of).
Needless to say, 8x10 (& 10x13...for the photos we got done @ Sears) photo frames are on my Christmas list!!

Off to bed...I have to take Andy to work in the morning, then off to do Christmas shopping!! I'll let you know how that goes, haha!

OH! I went to walgreens today & got free toothpaste! I used their .99 cent in-ad coupon for Colgate toothpaste, and then used our $1.00 off manufacture coupon from a recent Sunday paper. =) I swear I *never* pay for toothpaste!

Christmas Bonuses?

Since the economy is weakening, I'm wondering if many companies are cutting out the Christmas bonuses. Andy got a $25.00 gift card last year to Tops, and this year, he got a $50.00 gift card to Tops! Way to increase during hard times! We're not complaining though! I stopped @ Tops after work armed w/ my envelope w/ my list & coupons, as well as a $5.00 off of a $50.00 or more purchase at Tops between 9/08-12/31/08...mostly everything on my list was for baking, and that's pretty much all I bought. I also picked up an economy pack of coffee filters--which stinks. We had a 5 cup maker Andy had bought me years ago-I had it in my bedroom when I lived with my grandmother!-which didn't need filters...one day, the pot was positioned wrong in the dish drainer (read: stacked on top of pots which were stacked on top of dishes...Hmm.)-and fell & shattered. The only other coffee pot we own is a Melitta one that pours the coffee into 2 travel mugs. ~I also bought Minute Rice (they wouldn't let me use my $1.00 coupon AND my .40 cents coupon...poop!) and a small box of cookies for Jordan, as well as (squeals with excitement!) a can of French Vanilla Folgers Cappuccino mix!!! I haven't had that in YEARS-I haven't been able to find it anywhere!!! I used to buy a can a week at $ General, I was obsessed!! It's soooo good! ~Well, anyways-before savings, my total was roughly $76.00--after savings, $47.00~the best part, is that I used the gift card, so it was all free! =) Like I said, the rest was all for baking-4 cans of sweetened condensed milk (which I found peelies on!), Crisco Shortening, 3 bags of chocolate chips, a bottle of Corn Syrup, 2 things of baker's chocolate, 2 things of cookie icing (using the B1G1F coupon, of course), Nilla wafers (for rum balls!), cream cheese (truffles! yummmmmmm!!), and pancake mix (For Peanut Butter Blossoms)--so I'm excited, b/c I'll be baking all weekend, and probably half of next week!!

Also--we're having a Christmas Party on the 27th-and it will be Jordan's first night EVER away from home!! =) I'm at the point now where you can have him for a week! Haha..I'll miss him, but it'll be Soooooo nice to have that night away from him! Especially since when we usually have parties, I never have more than 1 drink per like...2 hours....since I always have to make sure there's a sober person (to take care of the baby, to have to drive anyone to the hospital *yikes!*, etc.)--and then Andy & I always get into a spat on who has to take care of Jordan when he wakes up at a cruel 6am-and then I'm always feeling bad that he's waking up our guests basically 3 hrs (sometimes less!) after they fell asleep! So it'll be nice not to have all of that on my shoulders this time, and just have some drinks & enjoy my night! We'll be seeing a lot of people we haven't seen in awhile, and that's the ending of our Christmas week, so it'll be nice.
Seriously, we have a week of Christmas, just about, atleast. Crazy. The 23rd, I have a dentist appt (blegh!), the 24th, after work, we're going right to my mother's (I can't go INTO work until Andy gets home, so it'll be a rush-rush-rush night..)-then Christmas Day we have my g.ma's @ 4pm--currently Andy's mom's side is undecided on the timing to get together that day--the day after X.mas, we're getting together @ Andy's parents' house w/ his father's side (his grandparents, aunt, uncle, 2 cousins...tiny family!), then the day AFTER that (the day of our party) we're getting together @ his parents' house again with his brothers, sister in laws, & 2 neices to exchange gifts w/ them. I'm planning on skipping my stepgrandparents' house on Christmas Day-it's just too much-and also skipping dinner w/ Andy's grandparents (who we'll be seeing the next day) after my Grandma's. *sigh* so much to do!! Haha.
So, a party w/ friends & a few family members (my brother, a few cousins) is a perfect way to end that hectic time!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and don't forget-NO DRiNKiNG & DRiViNG!!

p.s.-i'm hoping my employer will have something nifty to give us for christmas...hope hope hope! Haha.

WoW!!

Am I ever on a shopping high!!! I can't believe the deal I just made! Haha..I told my 19 yr old brother about it, knowing he doesn't really care @ all, but just needing to tell someone-his response 'Wow you just wasted some of my life, lol' --all the same, i told someone! My giddiness has yet to pass, of course, LOL..
K, here's what I did...last month, I took an email (printed out) to V.Secrets in search of a desperately needed new bra ...the email also had a code for free panties...I got a gorgeous (& wonderfully fitting) new bra, and a pair of underwear-after tax, etc., cost me $26.00--not too bad, I was willing to spend around $30-40, so that worked out well. Later that month, I came across an email offering their flannel pajamas at $29.50-quite the steal...(a month prior, they were approx. $60)--so, I coupled that sale w/ a 20% off coupon, and a code for free slippers, and altogether (pajamas, slippers, tax & s/h) came to $26.10! Go me! I had Andy wrap them & put them under the tree...also killed 2 items off my list (which otherwise would have been bought elsewhere & inevitably ended up costing more..) --pajama bottoms & slippers!
Well, when I bought the bra, b/c my order was over $10, they handed me a secret santa card, which can give you anything between $10-$500.00 off! (god bless the lucky woman who got $500 off! ) --and when I orered my pajamas, they also sent a catalogue which had a card in there for $10 off of ANYTHING...
SOO, when I got my email today saying that tomorrow the 25% off sale ended, I started browsing, just to see if I could pull off something amazing (i was thinking maybe another nice bra, or a cute little babydoll...) --I stumbled upon the underwear 5/$20.00 sale....and since I think the underwear I got free last month has GOT to be the world's most comfortable panties ever...and since my pregnancy last year has made my rather large underwear collection pretty pathetic looking...I decided on the 5 panties...
well, after the 25% off, the $10 off, and the OTHER $10 off (my secret santa card...) --even after s/h ($5.99) and tax ($1.01)--out of my pocket, i paid...
A WHOPPING $2.00!!!!
WOOO HOOOOOO!!!!
Seriously, if it weren't like 1a.m., and my son weren't lying in my arms, I'd be screaming for joy. =) Haha...and the 'expected delivery date' is x.mas eve...hopefully they will come sooner, and I can give them to Andy for my stocking! Go me!!!!

Of course, I have ENVELOPES filled w/ coupons w/ lists on the outside for my thursday & friday x.mas shopping adventures...& I sat there w/ the ads & coupons for HOURS, so I know I'll be pretty high off of those deals! Haha...I have to make it a point to start going to walgreens/cvs/rite aid every month to grab their rebate books...atleast then it'll be a ton easier to plan out my deals per month. =) They give you rebates for sooo much, and it ends up being free!!!

Can't beat free!!!

K..well that was wonderful =) (i'm excitedddddddd....plus, w/ the 'free panty' coupon, you can only get certain colors--nude, white, pink...and it's only in store, and of course i almost didn't find a size Medium, but I got the nude color..now I'll have basically every other color! LOL)

I need to get some sleep w/ the mr. monster here...kids. =)

Christmas Wreath.......

I really want a christmas wreath, but I don't want a 'real' tree one that will just die on me.

I saw a gorgeous blue & green one in a magazine, & I tore it out so I could look it up online & buy it, but of course I can't find that piece of paper now...it kinda looks like this ball one here from goodhousekeeping, except all of the balls were either blue or green. (the balls are ornaments)

I really like this homemade idea wreath here-- http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1972

it's made from a wire clothes hanger, and fabric scraps. =)

I've also fallen in love with this amazing wreath from GoodHousekeeping...too bad Andy doesn't even own 5 ties, let alone enough for me to make this!!! =(

~~But that does give me something to look out for when I'm at the thrift shops (amvets, goodwill, salvation army, etc.) & garage sales thruout the '09 year!

Here are a few more I really like (all from goodhousekeeping as well)~~ The wine cork one would be a perfect gift for Andy's Aunt Amy & Uncle Keith-he's a wine connoisseur (I believe that's spelled correctly, LOL), & of course they both LOVE wine...the cookie cutter one would be a perfect gift for either of our grandmothers (who bake a ton of cookies, and are the greatest at it!) or my friend's mother who is a pro in the kitchen. =)

Swagbucks

There are quite a few search sites out there where you can earn points (or 'swagbucks') to redeem for items such as gift cards or misc. items...We love swagbucks, which is mostly for gift cards, video games, music, posters, etc--here's a link to use me as a referral (i'm assuming i'd get a buck or two? lol!)

http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=198352



I've also registered at Mypoints.com which I believe gave me 10 points just to sign up-then after i filled out the info, a thing popped up for me to click on to get 100+ extra free points (which, of course, I did)-and then I got an email for a $15.00 FREE FTD.COM e-certificate. NICE! They have a much broader range of prizes than Swagbucks-but depending on your interests, one may work better for you than the other. ~Also, Mypoints I believe is just for shopping-it isn't a search engine. Swagbucks is a search engine, you can shop thru it & get bucks for that-and they also have a 'go green' section, where you can turn in your old cell phone or ipod, etc., and get bucks for that! So, if you're more of a shopper, Mypoints is probably the better way to go, but would still be nice to use Swagbucks for your search engine. I try to do all of my online shopping thru Upromise, but there are a few stores/sites I like to frequent that aren't merchants on there. For those of you who don't know-Upromise is a college savings program, you get a certain % back for every purchase made on a upromise labeled item via your registered debit/credit card, a certain % back for making a purchase at one of the stores (oldnavy, snapfish, etc) thru the upromise link, and they also have a restaurant program. It's worth it, seeing as you're basically getting $ back that you'd be spending anyways!

That's all for now. =)

Too cute!

Check out this cute email I got today!!!

A Christmas Story for people having a bad day:

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum.
When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.


The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day?
I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?'

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

Making Ornaments

So, w/ the failing economy (whatever!) we are all looking for ways to downsize our spending. Last year, I wasn't working-and @ Christmas time, we had a 2 month old son, and were trying hard to stay afloat. We got put way behind by Andy missing work to be w/ me & Jordan for the first week-and needless to say, it was my most frugal christmas ever! We bought a few small gifts for eachother, nothing special, Jordan got a tummy time mat (that was actually paid for by returning a too-big x.mas outfit we got as a shower gift!)-and a few rattles/teethers in his stocking. ~This year, he's getting a ball pit (it looks like so much fun!)-we went on a weekend to Toys R Us *never again!* and picked it up-$29.99, with a gift card & coupon, it was $17 =), as well as a few books I bought for him w/ the $ leftover from a gift card I got for my birthday (after i bought myself a book, of course)--his stocking has a small elmo case w/ cookies inside--squishy dinosaurs from the $ Tree, and a stuffed polar bear that came free in the mail w/ a National Geographic Book we bought. So he made out a bit better this year, but he doesn't need anything. He's still so young, he'll never know (or care) that we only bought him a few items-he gets SOO much from everyone else (uncles, 2nd cousins, grandparents, great aunts & uncles, great grandparents-he even has a great GREAT grandmother! haha)--so he'll get plenty more.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is making ornaments! I love it! Last year, a majority of our gifts were homemade-mainly ornaments. All of Jordan's grandparents & great grandparents (he has MANY) got a photo of him in his reindeer outfit w/ the 'Merry Christmas 2007' printed at the bottom-and they were all framed. We caught a great deal on the frames, so that was great.

SOOO--here are TWO different ways to cut back!

Instead of BUYING your own new ornaments, make some! The fact that you made them yourself with make them that much more special.

If you can't afford to get someone a gift-or if you had to cutback, but are embarrassed about looking like a 'cheapskate', or just feel it needs a little something else, add a homemade ornament to it! Seriously, last year, I made these adorable elf ornaments made from ABC blocks!

The hat is felt & pom-poms, the head is a wooden bead-the face is painted on w/ a toothpick. Under the head is a piece of lace fitted to cover the top of the block. I painted all sides of the block. The arms & legs are ribbon w/ pom poms @ the end. I swear I got the idea/pattern for this online years ago, if I ever find it, I'll be sure to post it. The 'J' shown here was made for Jordan, of course. These ornaments were a HIT last year-I made them for Andy's parents, brothers, sister in laws, & 2 neices. Each had a block that is the first letter of their name. They all loved them! I'm making them again this year for our secret santa people we picked, as well as his dad's side-grandparents, aunt, uncle & 2 cousins. I'm also making them for a few friends who don't already have one! =) The only thing I don't like is that they hang slightly funny from the tree. I can't figure out any other way to attach the ribbon...but they look so darling sitting on a ledge, I like them better that way! =)

I'm thinking of also making a few of these for gifts, as the painting is so simple with them!

They're light bulbs!! I LOVE painting burnt out light bulbs to recycle as ornaments! I got my mom hooked on it. She's been working on intricately detailed ones, like a gardener, baker, etc. I like the cute simple christmas themed ones-reindeer, penguin, snowman, Grinch. Last year, we had a water issue in our basement, and a few of my light bulb ornaments got ruined. I need to re-make my reindeer & Grinch. I also want to try a Santa this year. I know, I'm saying this w/ less than 2 weeks until Christmas, but it doesn't take long at all! Sometimes they need multiple coats of the base color, so you paint a bunch, leave them for the day, next day-paint again, etc., and then finish off. =)

Also, if you've adopted a family for Christmas, giving them a basket of ornaments as a 'family present' would also be a great idea! We've been spending all year catching up-I started working in February of this year-so we can't adopt a family this year, sadly. Although I have done my part in donating & helping people out! I noticed a blood drive sign on my way home from work today, and I think I may do that soon, as well. =) But I'm definitely planning on adopting a family next year-buying each member gifts, and then possibly giving them 2 gift baskets-one with homemade ornaments and such, and the other w/ food~canned stuff from my garden, homemade mixes in a jar, etc. Now that I'm all excited about that, and cant even do it this year! Hmph. We have like 50 people to buy for this year-not including the people I had knocked off of our list by November. Aye yay yay! Thankfully, I'm a pro (or atleast almost!) at catching great deals, so some weeks, I bought 4 people or more gifts for a total of less than $20! How's that for cutting back!!

Well, I'm off to bed...I had a rough night last night (up sick 'til 6a.m.) and I have a ton of cleaning to do tomorrow, as well as ornaments to work on! I also want to get my chocolate chip cookies made! (the dough is in the fridge, taunting me..) I might actually get some fingerpainting done w/ Jordan...I'll have to post the photos tomorrow of the literally no-cost (seeing as we had all supplies on hand..) ornaments Jordan made to go with a few christmas gifts this year! Too cute! Wait 'til you see them!!!

SCARY.

Please take the time to read this article...I know a LOT of woman shop alone in the malls, and when I became a mother I realized how truly vulnerable us females are. Please always be aware of your surroundings, and follow your intuitions. It may save your life.

http://www.thriftymommy.com/let-the-truth-be-told-and-please-stay-safe/#more-3291

Holly Jolly Christmas!!

I always forget my i.d. for here-not to mention we're currently missing-wait, lemme count-7! keys on our keyboard, 3 being letters-and our backspace is sticking, so it's hard to type! Argh.

The pictures are from our 'sledding' adventure..we took Jordan out to 'the farm' and took him around in his baby bogan! =) He loved it!! (Until he face-planted in the snow..haha)

So, who's excited for Christmas?!?!? I know I am!!! I'm excited to see the family & friends I don't normally get to see, for the COOKIES!, the food in general, the cheery peaceful atmosphere, the caring & the giving!! I gave our fake x.mas tree along w/ some old ornaments away to a family in need, which of course made me feel great! I love using Freecycle, it's like the best website invented. Well, actually..I've discovered Earth911, and RecycleNow, which I absolutely (go figure..for those of you who know me, that's a no-brained) FELL iN LOVE WiTH! Haha. So, I got like 20+ responses for my tree & ornaments, which made me tear up b/c I couldn't provide a tree for all of those people! Which made me go into a rant about how there aren't any programs out there to provide trees & such for those in need. Ha-I get to work like, the next day, and aLL over, there are print outs from one of the moms (i'm a cleaner @ a daycare center) saying how her & a friend are starting a non-profit organization to provide x.mas trees & decorations to families in need!! WHOOP WHOOP! I took one home, and I'll have to email her soon. Of course, I gave everything away, but I'll be more than willing to donate when I can-I'm sure I can find tons of stuff for like, pennies, after x.mas on clearance. I planned on going out then anyways, to pick up some stuff for us for next year. Speaking of which, I need to get to the $ tree and get more wrapping paper, and some garland-I have blue & gold garland, & Andy said it looks like New Year's garland, not x.mas garland. So I'll hafta get out & get reds & greens. =)

Oh-I read on one of those tree hugging sites (lol) that they have LED x.mas lights out? I hope those are for the x.mas tree! We need those lights, too...our fake tree was a pre-lit one, lucky us, I had a box of 100 lights I had never used-but the tree looks kind of...sad, with only those lights. Half of it is unlit! OF courseeeee, JORDAN keeps pulling the lights off, stealing ornaments & running with them...kids!

Let's see....what else...I love donating! In case you didn't already know, of course. The past month or so, I've been dropping off all of our paper in a recycle dumpster at a local school for a fund raiser. =)

I'm excited to make more Christmas cookies!!! =) What are your favorite recipes? I'm planning on making Snickerdoodles (of course!), Tatu Biscottis (aka-Chocolate Pepper Cookies), Chocolate Chip Cookies (classic, and Andy's favorite), Peanut Butter Blossoms, Meringue Surprises, & Sugar Cookies (cut outs..). I also still have to make my 'turtle pumpkin pie' I never got around to making around Thanksgiving. =) Yum!!

Off to bed now..need my energy for grocery shopping tomorrow, and hopefully taking Jordan into the doctor's to check for an ear infection. Poor little man!