Thought of the Day

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!  

I will not be blogging the rest of the week.  I plan on spending my time with family and close friends.  I will return on Monday.

U. S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade - Creating Better Moments with Apps

Its almost here!  Less than 24 hours to Christmas Eve!  Its that time to celebrate the season with your friends and family.  Make those memories that will last a lifetime.

I have been looking forward to using my Samsung Galaxy S4 apps to capture those special moments to cherish forever.  I can also share these moments with friends and family just by hitting a few buttons on my phone.  Mobile devices help us communicate more frequently, share experiences immediately, and generally enrich the quality of our relationships. Whether at home or on-the-go, U.S. Cellular is providing the tools needed to help consumers create, discover, enhance and share life’s Better Moments with their families.

I plan on taking lots of pictures and recording my beautiful childrens faces when they come downstairs on Christmas morning.  Their precious sleepy faces full of excitement seeing their new toys and gifts from Santa.   I will be using Vine and Instagram for all of my pictures and videos.

You can use can Vine and Instagram with friends and family to share the following:

• Share holiday recipes. Let your friends and family see the behind-the-scenes work as you whip up your favorite holiday meals or desserts. Recipes on Vine and Instagram often show preparation or presentation tutorials. You can take your followers through step-by-step directions so they can try it on their own. 
• Send holiday messages. Calling your loved ones is always important, but try mixing in personalized Vine or Instagram videos you can send and tag them in. With access to U.S. Cellular’s high-speed nationwide network, you can upload and share your greetings quickly, even if you’re away on a holiday vacation.
• Show off holiday lights. Bring the photos of holiday lights strung around your home or neighborhood to life by making a video of them. You could start a time lapse video of you putting them in place or showcase any special effects.
• Follow hashtags for promotions. There are a number of brands that utilize Vine and Instagram to promote their products or specials, especially around the holidays. Search for their verified accounts and see what they have to offer. Some brands even ask their users to create videos based on one of their hashtags, so they can select winners to claim prizes.

Holiday Gift Guide -

• Gift Under $25 – Accessories are essential for your smartphone or tablet. A case, shell, skin or travel charger makes a great stocking stuffer. Examples include the Ballistic LS Jewel Gel Skin in purple or grey.
• Gift Under $50 – Gift a U.S. Cellular Bluetooth Headset for the multi-tasker who’s constantly working to do more.
• Gift under $100 – Gift the Griffin TC Monster Truck for the adventurer in your life, you can control the truck with a virtual dashboard or tilt your device to steer. 
• iPhone 5s or 5c – the new iPhone is one of the hottest tech gifts this shopping season. U.S. Cellular offers iPhone 5s, the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, and iPhone 5c the most colorful iPhone yet. Use your iPhone to connect with family and friends this holiday season by taking photos with the advanced iSight camera system and video chatting via and FaceTime.

Links that Help Facilitate Better Moments

• iPhone 5s: http://goo.gl/J3DbYW
• iPhone 5c: http://goo.gl/BWMRGp
• iPad Air: http://goo.gl/ZnaWJl

Disclosure:  I am a compensated member of the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade.  All opinions are my own.

Menu Planning Monday

Monday - Chicken Parmesan, Salad

Tuesday - Christmas Eve Dinner with my In-Laws!

Wednesday - Christmas Day Dinner at my moms!

Thursday - DH's Birthday Dinner at Home - We are having whatever he wants!

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Cheeseburgers, Homemade Fries 
  
Sunday - I try to leave Sunday open because DH likes to cook! 


You can find other great weekly menus at Menu Planning Monday at Organized Junkie!

Thrifty Christmas Gifts Series - Gift #5

People of all ages are wearing scarves including myself.  I found an awesome deal this year on nice scarves and purchased several for gifts and added a couple to my gift closet.

Dollar General has scarves for just $5.  I was able to find prints, stripes, and solid colors.  If you are looking for a last minute thrifty gift, check out your store.  I was able to purchase mine for $4 each.

Purchased:
5 - Scarves at $5 each = $25
Used $5 off $25 purchase coupon
Final Price - $4 each

Rudolph Foods Pork Rind Appreciation Day

Rudolph Foods, the world’s largest manufacturer of pork rinds, has announced its Third Annual Pork Rind Appreciation Day campaign. Celebrated on the biggest football day of the year, and on the first Sunday of February, Pork Rind Appreciation Day was cemented as an annual event after the pork rind leader secured hundreds of thousands of consumer votes, as well as political designations.  Matched each year with charitable support, Rudolph Foods will again support the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides medical and financial assistance to former National Football League (NFL) players in dire need. 

Between now and the big game, $.10 of the purchase of all Rudolph Foods branded products will support the organization’s assistance fund (up to $15,000). The campaign is also matched with several opportunities for consumers to play along for chances to win football parties, pork rinds and other prizes to celebrate pig skins and pig skins together.

As part of the 3rd annual campaign, Rudolph Foods is further encouraging lovers of pork rinds to help make the six month campaign a success by visiting the brand’s web site at RudolphFoods.com/PorkRindDay. There, fans can vote for Team Spicy or Team Smooth as their favorite pork rind team. Team Spicy is lead by Super Bowl Champ, “coach” Dennis McKinnon and home to all the Hot & Spicy flavors of the Rudolph Foods family of brands. Team Smooth is lead by Hall of Famer, “coach” Lem Barney and home to all the classic and smooth flavors of the Rudolph Foods family of brands. Consumers will also be encouraged to vote for their favorite pork rind player. One winner will be chosen, at random, from the winning team and awarded the grand prize of $1,500 and one year supply of pork rinds and announced on January 7^th.

About Rudolph Foods:

Rudolph Foods Company, Inc., one of the world’s largest suppliers of branded and private-label snack products, is the world’s largest pork rind manufacturer. Awarded the title of 2010 Energy Saver, Rudolph Foods operates energy efficient plants in Ohio, Georgia, Texas and California, and is solely dedicated to providing its customers with sustainable, top quality products and the highest levels of customer service at the best price. For additional information, please call 1-800-241-7675, or visit www.RudolphFoods.com.

About Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund:

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF) is a non-stock, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing financial grants and ‘pro bono’ medical assistance to retired NFL players in dire need. The organization focuses on the humanitarian side of post-football related issues, which include coordination of social services to retired players who are in need due to a variety of reasons including inadequate disability and/or pensions. For additional information, visit www.GridironGreats.org.

PorkRindDay.com

RudolphFoods.com

Twitter.com/RudolphFoods

 Facebook.com/RudolphFoods

Pinterest.com/RudolphFoods

YouTube.com/RudolphFoods

Instagram.com/RudolphFoods

GridironGreats.org

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  I did receive free product samples for sharing this.  No other compensation was received.

My Favorite Drug Store Deals This Week - 12/22-12/28

Here is a list of my favorite deals at CVS this week:

Gillette Venus Razor - $5.99 

Receive $5 ECB

Use $3 coupon 12/15 RP 

Final Price - FREE plus overage after coupon and ECBs

Here is a list of my favorite deals at Walgreens this week:

Colgate Dental Care - $3 

Receive 2000 points

Use $1 coupon 12/15 SS 

Final Price - $1 each after coupon and points

Here is a list of my favorite deals at Rite Aid this week:







Select Sugar Free Candies - 2/$3

Use $1 printable coupon 

Final Price - .50 each 

Finesse Shampoo, Conditioner, or Stylers 2/$4 

Buy 2 - Receive $2 +UPR

Final Price - $1 each after +UPR

Limit 2

Nivea for Men Face Wash, Scrub, Lotion and After Shave - $4.99 

Buy 1 and Receive $2 + UPR

Use $3 printable coupon 

Final Price - FREE after coupon and +UPR

A. C. Moore Coupons

Click here to print this awesome coupon.

- 55% off any regular priced item - Valid 12/22-12/24

Thrifty Christmas Gifts - Gift #4

Sign up for email offers and mailing lists with department stores you shop at most often.   They often include great coupons in their emails and sometimes send you coupons in the mail.

My favorite coupons to receive from department stores is JCPenneys and Kohls.  Earlier this month, I received a $10 off any purchase from and Kohls and JCP in the mail.

The picture on top is an outfit for Payton that I got for absolutely nothing from Kohls.  It is a pair of yoga pants and shirt that she can wear to school or dance.  It was on sale for 9.99 (regularly $32.00) and with my coupon I paid nothing and also received free shipping (would have been $5.95).  Thats a total savings of $37.95.  

The second picture is a warm up suit that I purchased at JCP for Bryson.  The jacket was on sale for $7.99 (regularly 24.99) and the pants were on sale for $5.99 (regularly $19.99) plus I received an extra 20% off.   With my $10 coupon, I got his outfit for $1.27.  Thats a total savings of $ $43.71.

Thats 2 outfits I purchased as gifts for my children for $1.27!!

If you don't want these emails coming to your primary email account, set up a second free email account and use it for emails offers. 

New Coupons Available

Great coupons available and many more.  Print them while you can.

Thought of the Day

The code of the elves:

1) Treat everyday like Christmas.
2) There's room for everyone on the nice list.
3) The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.