First Post of 2011... Here, Home, Hope

Have you ever filled out a survey and it asks you about your interests and you check that you enjoy reading. Of course I always check that box. I love to read books. I find it relaxing to sit and get lost in a good book. Sometimes I even think about reading and hope that I find the time. When I think back at 2010 I sat and tried to think of a good book that I read. Did I read any books that weren’t related to finishing my MBA? Did I even read those books? Where did 2010 go? Thinking of the first five months of 2011 I’ve thought the same. With these memories being fresh, I know I have not read one book this year for enjoyment. I barely have read the magazines that I subscribe too. Why is it that I check that I enjoy reading but yet I never find the time to read a good book? Why is it that we just don’t find to do the things we enjoy?



I haven’t posted on my blog in quite some time. Last time was in 2009 and I must have been excited about a free taco! Where have the last two years gone?



What a better way to start out my reading for 2011 by reading a book called Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda. I have never read any other books by this author so I was open to whatever the book had to offer.



The best part about a good book is that it is a fast read. The worst part about a good book is that it is a fast read. Some books you just never want to end or you just want more. I think Here, Home, Hope, made me want more. Not sure if it made me want more from myself or from the characters. Inspiring, motivational, and most of all it made me realize that we all make mistakes but in the end there is still hope for a happy ending for all of us if we put our minds to it.
The book has made me get back into writing and blogging a bit. I hope to make this the first of many great books for 2011. To all of you looking for a light, fun, fast, and inspiring read this is a good book to read.



Get to know the author and check out her webpage.

I love being a member of the One2One Network. If you haven't heard of them check out their website so you can enjoy great reads such as this also!

FREE TACO BELL TACO

Wow!! This is great and I plan on getting my free taco. Go to Taco Bell between 6pm and Midnight on Halloween, October 31st and receive your own free Black Jack Taco!!

Check out the details here!!!

Joshua Bell At Home With Friends Review

I will be the first to admit this was not my kind of CD. I had to really keep an open mind listening to it. Since this was not my normal style of music I had to look at it from the point of view of someone who might enjoy this. Here is what I came up with.

A few words to describe this CD would be classy, smooth, crisp, wonderfully played, and meaningful. The way the instruments played so smoothly and in sync was joyous to listen to. The piano, the trumpets, and all the great instruments were well played. Check it out!

Here are the track listings.

Album Track listing (Originally performed by):

I Loves You Porgy featuring Chris Botti, trumpet

Come Again featuring Sting, vocals

Oblivion featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon

Cinema Paradiso featuring Josh Groban, vocals

Para Tí featuring Tiempo Libre, various

My Funny Valentine featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals

Maybe So featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, strings

Grieg: Sonata No. 3 featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)

Eleanor Rigby featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals

O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone

Il Postino featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon

Left Hand Song featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals

Chovendo Na Roseira featuring Dave Grusin, piano

Look Away featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolin

Variant Moods: Duet for Sitar & Violin featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar

I'll Take Manhattan featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano

Left Hand featuring Regina Spektor, vocals

Check out Joshua's website

Harry Connick Jr. YOUR SONGS

Ok, so honestly when I saw Harry Connick Jr on the cover of this CD I thought of him being on Will & Grace and was thinking did he sing? I thought maybe it was other people singing the songs and to my surprise it was him. So putting the CD in for the first time I was not excited at all. So here we are a few weeks later and I am writing my blog review and to my surprise I have listened to this CD almost every single day since I got it. Who would of thought that it would help me relax, sing, smile, think about memories, and enjoy my drive into work.

I didn't find one or two songs that I liked. I found FOUR that I listen to almost everyday. Every morning now on my way to work I sing Can't Help Falling in Love With You, And I Love Her, Close To You, and my all time favorite Your Song. I enjoy this CD more than I ever thought possible.

Here is a list of all the great songs on the CD.

Album Tracklisting (Originally performed by):

All The Way (Frank Sinatra)

Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)

Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)

And I Love Her (The Beatles)

(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)

Besame Mucho

The Way You Look Tonight

First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)

Your Song (Elton John)

Some Enchanted Evening

And I Love You So (Don McLean)

Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)

Smile (Charlie Chaplin)

Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)

Here are some great links to check out Harry Connick Jr.

Check him out on FACEBOOK...I did!!

Check out his own WEBSITE

Check out some of his songs on iTunes for sample listening!

Rock of Ages Broadway Cast Recording HOT!!!

I have never been a big fan of CD's from Broadway shows. I bought one and have not had a good experience. So when I got the Rock of Ages CD to listen to I had little to no expectations that I would actually like it. Next thing you know I am singing Don't Stop Believin in the car.

I still will admit that I am not a big fan of these types of CD's but if you are this is one to get. There is a lot of classic rock songs that are just amazing. The great thing about this is that I have another addition to this review and my sister just came back from New York and actually saw the Rock of Ages show and said it was AWESOME!!! She even got a picture with American Idol's Constantine Maroulis! So we have decided to see this show when I go to New York in November. I am excited and am looking forward to a great musical performance. Can't wait to report back on how the show was.

Here are all the great tracks on this CD. Check out all the hot songs!!!

Tracklisting

Just Like Paradise / Nothin' But A Good Time

Sister Christian

We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands

I Wanna Rock

We're Not Gonna Take It

Heaven/More Than Words / To Be With You

Waiting For A Girl Like You

Wanted Dead Or Alive

I Want To Know What Love Is

Cum On Feel The Noize / We're Not Gonna Take It (Reprise)

Harden My Heart / Shadows Of The Night

Here I Go Again

The Final Countdown

Any Way You Want It / I Wanna Rock (Reprise)

High Enough

I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Can't Fight This Feeling

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Oh Sherrie

The Search Is Over

Don't Stop Believin

Here are some great links for you to check out the making of the soundtrack and a link to buy this great CD.

Making of Soundtrack Rock of Ages

Buy this Soundtrack NOW, only $12.99!!!

Have you listened to this soundtrack? Tell us all what you think!!!

FREE Product Samples

Interested in trying something out but you don't want to pay the full price and find out you don't like it? Well ask me for a sample and you can try it out. Leave me a message here on what product you want to try a free sample of and I will see if I can get you one to try out. Isn't that just great to be able to pick what free sample you can get?? I see a lot of you have entered my giveaway and are interested in trying out a product. Now is the time to ask for a free sample and I will mail them right to your house!!

So leave a comment with your email address and I will contact you and provide you a free sample!!!

There are some great new products out there like the new Tinted Lip Balm!! The free samples on this are just great!! You got to try one.

Visit my Mary Kay Website if you aren't sure what product you would like to try!!

Super Saver Mommy

Mary Kay Giveaway Limited Edition Tropical Pineapple Gift Set

So to start my first month off in Mary Kay I am starting it off with a great giveaway!!

This a $30 Limited Edition Tropical Pineapple Gift Set!

So I have been wearing this lotion and using this product for the last week. So far I have had 2 people ask me what is that you are wearing, you smell great! One of them was my teenage daughter so it must be HOT!

I want you all to have the opportunity to try one of these by entering my blog giveaway!!

Here are the ways to enter and you can get more than one entry by doing multiple things.

1 entry for checking out my Mary Kay Website and sharing what your favorite product is

1 entry for twittering about this giveaway. Make sure you leave a separate comment that you twittered about this giveaway!

1 entry for following my blog! This will be a great chance for you to stay on top of all my giveaways! Planning on doing once a month for a new Mary Kay productm and more!

2 entries for checking out my Mary Kay Website and registering on my site

5 entries for checking out my Mary Kay website and purchasing product. Since this is my first month I am offering a 25% off to all new customers! Register now and add the comment NEW2U and I will make sure you get 25% off your whole order plus free shipping. If you spend over $40 you will get a free compact and 4 mini eye shadows!!

You can get a total of 10 entries to win this great Limited Edition Gift Set!!!

Good Luck to all!!! The giveaway ends on July 31st and I will post the winner on the blog and hopefully they will do a product review!!

My New Idea

So a couple of months back my sister starting selling Mary Kay and I thought to myself I really don't wear make-up and then realized Mary Kay is so much more than make-up. Again, I thought to myself gee I barely wash my face with more than soap and water. Not the biggest form of advertisement here now am I!!



Guess I have never liked my complextion. Thought I always had uneven skin tone, redness, my freckles don't help either, so this was my first real attempt in my adult life to try taking care of my face. The one thing I can tell you I noticed right away was that my foundation went on much smoother. All of that dead skin and dirt of my face was being removed. Since I wasn't really washing with product before this was all new to me. I was excited and realized I didn't have to put on as much make up either because it seemed to be covering a bit better.

So now I have started to sell Mary Kay more because I love the products and I want to share with others some of these great products. I am hoping all of my friends can check out my personal website and register and that way I can share monthly speicals with you and you can enter to win my great giveways!!

Check it out!! http://www.marykay.com/dkwhitaker/default.aspx

Diane Birch CD Review

First off when I first got this CD I wasn't too excited to have to listen to this. I thought to myself great, not interested but let's see. So when I opened it up my daughter said to me, (who is 15), why don't you ever get any good CD's? I said well check it out and let me know what you think. To my surprise she listened to the whole CD. We were getting ready to drive somewhere and she pops the CD in the car and says let me play my favorite songs for you???? Yes, that many question marks came up in my head! First off, I wasn't expecting her to say she listened to the whole CD and then have her tell me she wanted to share her favorites with me!!! Excited...so needless to say this CD is pretty awesome. Cool enough for my 15 year old daughter to want to jam to it as we drive down the road. Some powerful and meaningful songs on this CD. I call it my Sunday afternoon CD. If you ever want to sit around and relax and listen to great music this is a CD for you. I have to say that REWIND is my favorite song!!! What a powerful song. Check it out on her myspace page for yourself!!!

Check out this link to listen to FIRE ESCAPE

Then check out Diane Birch on My Space You can listen to some clips from her CD on here also.

I AM BACK!!!

It has been awhile since I have posted a blog. TOO LONG! I have been so busy with work, school, life, etc that I haven't had time for anything. So now that things have calmed down I have decided to start back blogging. I have enjoyed doing it and now I finally can start back. I miss my CVS deals and sharing those great deals that I found with everyone.

Great New Reward Program Get $10 For Joining!

I am seeing more and more deals to become a frequent shopper at stores. I think that because of the economy stores are trying to find ways to get us to shop there. I liking that some of my favorite stores are starting to offer great new rewards programs.

Here is a great new reward program for Bass Shoe Stores, IZOD and VanHeusen.

Become a member and here is what you get.
-Free Membership
-Receive a $10 coupon just for joining (new members only)
-All members receive 500 bonus points upon registration
-Earn Valuable Rewards Certificates
-Email Advance Notice of Sales
-Birthday Bonus
-Members Only Event

Here is how it works. Earn 10 points for every dollar spent (example: spend $50, earn 500 points). Once you've earned 1,000 points or more you'll receive your Reward Certificate via email, which you can redeem at any Bass, IZOD or Van Heusen Company outlet stores. There is no limit to the number of points you can earn.

I love Bass shoes so this is going to be huge for me!

FREE FOOD ANYONE??

There are two great ways that you can get some FREE food from TGI Friday’s.

Check out this Buy One Entrée Get One FREE Coupon that you can print out. Check for restrictions listed on the coupon. Pass this on to your friends and family and share the news on your blog!

A second way to get some free food is to enroll in TGI Friday’s NEW Give Me More Stripes Guest Recognition Program.

Here are a few of the great perks:

- FREE Appetizer or Dessert just for joining
- One Time Jump-The-Line Pass
- Get $8 reward (FREE FOOD) for every 100 Stripes you earn
- Plus other FREE PERKS and Specials

Over $27 In Coupons Free For You

I just received my over $27 in savings coupon book from the Home made simple promotion.

Have you signed up and received your coupon book yet? If you haven’t look at what great coupons you could receive.

- $1 off one Febreze Noticeables Starter Kit or 2 Refills
- $1 off one Febreze Candle
- $0.50 off one Febreze Refresher
- $0.50 off one Febreze Air Effects
- $0.50 off one Mr. Clean Cleaner
- $0.50 off one Mr. Clean Multi-Surface Spray
- $0.50 off one Mr. Clean Disinfecting Wipes
- $0.50 off one Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- $5 off one Swiffer Sweeper Vac Starter Kit
- $1 off one Swiffer Starter Kit or two wet or dry refills
- $1 off one Swiffer Duster Kit or Refill
- $1 off one Swiffer Dust or Shine Furniture Spray
- $5 off one Swiffer Wet Jet Starter Kit
- $0.50 off one Swiffer Wet Jet Refill
- $1 off any one Dawn Simple Pleasures
- $1.50 off any one Dawn Direct Foam Pump
- $2 off any one Dawn Direct Foam Refill
- $1 off any one Dawn Plus Hand Renewal
- $0.50 off any one size Dawn
- $1 off any one Cascade Actionpacs or Base gel
- $0.50 off any Cascade All-In-One Actionpacs

And my favorite coupon FREE 8.45 oz Cascade Crystal Clear Rinse Agent

If you haven’t signed up to get these great coupons click on the Home made simple icon on the right tool bar and get your free coupons in the mail today!!!

He's Just Not That Into You GIVEAWAY

I just love a good chick flick and February 6th, He's Just Not That Into You premiered in theatres. Can't wait to go see it and hope we can find the time this weekend. Of course when there comes a new movie there comes a new motion picture soundtrack.

This week I have been listening to this soundtrack all week. I have picked a favorite song. I just can't get enough of, Somewhere Only We Know, by Keane. Love it! There are some great old favorites on there like, Friday I'm In Love by The Cure and Don't You Want Me by The Human League. I can't get enough of, Madly by Tristan Prettyman. Check out the songs that are on this soundtrack here.

WANT TO HEAR THE BEST PART???

I have a copy of the He's Just Not That Into You CD to giveaway along with a He's Just Not That Into You Hoodie! How exciting.

Here are some ways to enter.

(1) Check out the samples of He's Just Not That Into You and tell us what your favorite song is.

(2) Did you see the movie? Tell us if you liked it or not?

(3) Follow my Blog and post a comment that you are now a follower. Leave a post here with your blog so we can check our your blog as well.

(4) Twitter about it and come back and tell me that you did or if you aren't on twitter post the link to your blog where you talked about it on your blog.

Prize is (1) He's Just Not That Into You CD and Hoodie. (Only open to US)

This giveaway will end on February 14th. I will use random.org to pick the winner and announce it here on my blog.

February All You Magazine Coupons

So did you get your subscription to All You yet? Well I did! I enjoyed the January issue and I enjoyed using many of the coupons that were in the issue. February's issue proves to be even better with over $33 in coupons. Check it out. Here is a list of the February coupons.

$1 off any Emerald Breakfast on the Go 6 pouch
$3 off when you buy Open Season 2 on DVD or Blue Ray
$1.50 off Dove Cream Oil Body Lotion or Hand Cream
$2 off any K-Y Brand product
$1 off any Softsoap Ensembles Liquid Hand Soap Pump
$0.75 off Wet Ones
$0.55 of Splenda
$2 off any Advil
$2 off any Therma Care
$5 off any Advil and ThermaCare
$1 off Caltrate
$1 off Centrum
$0.75 off Fiber One Cereal
Buy 2 Get One Free Startkist Tuna Pouches
$1 on Any 2 Ortega Products
$1 on Hormel Complete
$1.50 on 2 Ziploc Brand Bags
$2 off any 2 l-liter bottles of Pedialyte
$2 off Stain Shot
$1 off any Nature Made
$0.75 off Banana Nut Cheerios
$5 when you buy Fireproof and either Facing the Giant or Flywheel on DVD
$1 off any Gerber Infant Tooth & Gum Cleaner
$0.55 off any Little Debbie Family Pack 100 Calorie Snacks

Enjoy!

January Where Has The Time Gone?

First off, my last post was on January 2nd. Now I can't even believe that today is the 19th. It is a good thing because I live in a very cold area and the faster winter goes the better. The bad thing is I had to look at my store ads to even figure out what today's date is. So basically January has come, has gone and I don't have a clue what is going on. Way to busy sometimes! Today I am off of work and have decided to make it a day about me and trying to get done all of the things that I couldn't get done this weekend. I didn't get much done this weekend because I was a swim meets all weekend doing volunteer work. So needless to say stuff is still not organized, put away or cleaned.

Hopefully this month and time will slow down a bit and I won't feel as busy. I seem to not be able to get the things done that I need to but hoping that things change. Getting organized a bit today should help things.

I am looking forward to more blogs and trying to keep up with all the ones I follow. Stay warm and hope your new year is all that you wanted it to be.

January CVS Deals

There are a few good free and better than free items this month at CVS in the montly extra value book. Make sure you get to your CVS early as I went today and they are already out of a few of these items.

Children's Throat Cooler Ice Pops 6ct. $4.99 (Limit 2)
Use BOGO Free coupon for Children's Pops
EARN $4.99 in ECB's
Better than free after ECB's and coupon

NasoGel Drip Free Gel Spray $7.99 (Limit 2)
USE $2 off printable coupon
EARN $7.99 in ECB's
Better than free after ECB's and coupon

Nutra Trim Weight Managment Chewing Gum $3.99 (Limit 2)
EARN $3.99 in ECB's
Free after ECB's

Money Making Opportunity You Data

I can't believe that I made $6.40 this week by checking in to a site, looking at ads and checking out websites. During this time I actually found a few sites of interest and added a few favorites to my site lists. If you are interested in making a few extra dollars each week by just visiting and checking out some websites you need to check out You Data.

You Data is a site where advertisers are basically buying your attention. You don't have to put anything on a blog or wait for someone to click on something. You visit and login to the You Data site and they give you opportunities to earn money. I visited sites such as Pampered Chef, All Recipes and many other great sites. This is such a great way to earn a few bucks.

On the main page click Sign Up to begin the process. I have the money deposited into my paypal account and every Friday they deposit the money in your account. What a great opportunity!

FREEBIE Friday

Here are some great FREE samples for the week!

FREE sample of Astroglide

FREE sample of Joico

FREE sample of Olive Oil

FREE sample of Don Francisco's coffee

FREE sample of Berry Burst Metamucil

FREE samples of Bausch & Lomb Pre-mositened Lens Cleaning Tissue

Don't forget to check out Walmart and sign up for their great free samples. I didn't see any new ones but if you haven't signed up for the ones they have now, sign up while supplies last.

Holiday Tins

So did you get any holiday tins this year? I got 4 this year. They are all different shapes and sizes and my thoughts as I finished using some of them was what do I do with them now? They are so good to have that I didn't want to throw them out but I also didn't want them sitting around just taking up space. So as I try to organize a bit this time of year, I found that these tins were quite useful in assisting me.

My first idea was to use them as a way to store my boxtops, caps and other items that I send in to my son's school. There are many great ways to raise money for schools. I do box tops for education, caps from Swiss Valley Milk and Campbell's points. What ends up happening is I save the caps, tear off the box tops and end up throwing them in the drawer in the kitchen. So I have decided to use one of these tins to help me organize my box tops and other items for when it is time to send them into school. This is going to clear space out of the drawer, help me stay a little organized and gives a good use for my tin. This way when I have to send them in to school I know where to look for them and they are organized and ready to go.

If you don't know about these great money-making opportunities for schools check them out. You don't have to have kids to do this. You can save these and drop them off at a school near you or a family members school.

• Swiss Valley Cash for Caps Program
  
• Campbell's Labels for Education
  
• Box Tops for Education

We also go through so much dog food everyday and my son is in charge of feeding the dog. Sometimes it is hard for him to get his small arms down in those big bags. I am using the tin to put a few days worth of dog food in there and he can move this right over to the dogs bowl and fill them up. This has been a great help and a great way to use one of the cheaper tins that we received.

Did you get any holiday tins this year? What do you plan on doing with them? I still have two more tins left that I need to find a way to utilize at home. Share some of your tips with me and my readers on what you are going to do with your holiday tin. It would be a shame for these tins to go to waste.