Merry CHRISTmas!

Hi everyone!
Well, this is it....Christmas Eve! Hopefully all of your shopping and
wrapping are done and you are now enjoying the season! Here are just a few ideas to set the mood for tonight...
In case you want to call family or friends, but need Directory Assistance to find their numbers....Phone companies (residential and cell) are charging $1.00 or more to use their 411 Info lines. When you need to use the 411 option, simply dial 1 800 FREE 411 (1 800 373 3411) without incurring a 411 charge at all.
Free MP3 download of Silent Night
(http://www.jennyphillips.com/downloads/mp3/SilentNight.mp3)
Attached is a FREE calendar for 2006....just for us girls. Enjoy ladies!
Here is the famous Christmas scent Southern Living Annual Recipe to simmer on your stove:
3 4 inch sticks of cinnamon
3 bay leaves
1/4. cup whole cloves
1/2 of a lemon
1/2 of an orange
1 quart of water
Combine all in a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer. check often and add more water if needed. Mixture may be stored in a fridge several days and reused. Makes 4 cups.
To track Santa's journey tonight with your children go to www.noradsanta.com
And finally, if you've been too busy to write Santa your own wish list, you could always use mine:
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.
Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.
It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to always believe in Santa.
Of course, Christmas is really all about the Savior of the world. May we feel His spirit as we celebrate His birth and try to emulate His life. Merry CHRISTmas!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

Christmas

Hi everyone!
We're in the home stretch now....are you ready for Christmas? Hopefully all of your gifts are purchased and wrapped and now you'll have time to really enjoy the season with your family. There are tons of great Christmas stories at www.walkthroughlife.com/Holidays/christmas/stories/
Here's a sweet deal too...You can get 2 FREE Christmas downloads at
http://ldsaudio.directtrack.com/z/1417/CD124/ Use code GIFT4JOY
Are MP3 players and Ipods on your Christmas list? If so, you can downloand a free copy of the Book of Mormon at http://ldsaudio.directtrack.com/z/1418/CD124/
I love buying gift cards from stores and restaurants that give you more bang for your buck, such as Rubio's...when you spend $25 you get another $5.
And now, a MERRY CHRISTMAS WISH TO ALL OF MY FEMALE FRIENDS...
If I were ol' Santa, you know what I'd do I'd dump silly gifts that are given to you and deliver some things just inside you front door Things you have lost, but treasured before.
I'd give you back all you maidenly vigor, And to go along with it, a neat tiny figure.
Then restore the old color that once graced your hair before rinses and bleaches took residence there.
I'd bring back the shape with which you were gifted, So things now suspended need not be uplifted.
I'd draw in your tummy and smooth down your back, Till you'd be a dream in those tight fitting slacks.
I'd remove all your wrinkles and leave only one chin, So you wouldn't spend hours rubbing grease on your skin.
You'd never have hot flashes or queer dizzy spells, And you wouldn't hear noises like ringing of bells.
No sore aching feet and no corns on your toes, No searching for spectacles that are right on you nose.
Not a shot would you take in your arm, hip or fanny, From a doctor who thinks you're a nervous old granny.
You'd never have a headache, so no pills would you take, And no heating pad needed since your muscles won't ache Yes, if I were Santa, you'd never look stupid You'd be a cute little chick with the romance of a cupid.
I'd give your heart a lift when those wolves start to whistle, And the joys of your heart would be light as a thistle.
But alas! I'm not Santa, I'm simply just me The matronest of matrons you ever did see.
I wish I could tell you all the symptoms I've got But I'm due at my doctor's for an estrogen shot.
Even though we've grown older, this wish is sincere-- MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

Christmas shopping

Only a few more shopping days til Christmas!!
Of all the online shopping sites, which ones offer the lowest price and best merchandise? Well, according to Consumer Reports, Yahoo Shopping and Froogle.com are the best. Both got great scores in terms of having the lowest prices and the largest selection. Product availability is good on almost all shopping sites, but four sites got bad ratings on prices. They were Shopzilla, Pricegrabber, Become.com and Nexttag.com. The good thing about the Web is that there are many layers. You peel them away and can continue to get great deals. You just have to keep on looking.
This is the time of year when cell phone companies get more aggressive and try to poach people from other companies. Lots of people have contracts that are about to expire, so it’s a good time to jump ship. T-Mobile is offering a great deal for typical users. For $39 a month, you get 1,500 peak minutes.
For $10 more dollars a month, you also get unlimited nights and weekends.
T-Mobile service is evidently much better than it used to be. And that is a theme throughout the industry. There are also new pre-paid companies such as Net10. You can get 10 cents a minute with that plan. Cricket Communications and Metro PCS also offer great unlimited, local plans. Check those out at www.mycricket.com and www.metropcs.com.
Did you know that a full freezer stays colder than a half empty one?
Hmmm....I guess I HAVE to buy more ice cream then! In light of Hurricane Katrina and everyone's efforts to be more prepared for emergencies, here's an idea...Fill all the empty space in your freezer with 2-liter bottles and zip-lock freezer bags with water. Fill the bottles almost full, leaving a little room for expansion. If you have a power outtage everything will stay frozen longer and you'll have an extra source of drinking water when they thaw.
"Thank A Soldier Week" begins next Monday, December 19th. Check out www.thankasoldierweek.com where you can send a letter instantly!
Anyone traveling during the holidays? Not a thrifty tip, particularly, but it'll save you time and it's kinda interesting...The Transportation Security Administration has decided to launch a Trusted Traveler program throughout the United States. It will be at major airports first and it’s based on a program started at the Orlando airport. Basically, if you want to join, you pay $80 and a background check and iris scan are run on you. If you pass the background check, you go through an expedited security section at the airport. It started out at five airports, but is only in effect now in Orlando.
I'd write about more nifty deals, but I gotta get out there and finish my Christmas shopping!!
Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

Black Friday coupon codes

Hi everyone!
Only a few more days until the turkeys aren't the only ones who are stuffed!
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We all have much to be thankful for.
Here's a clever guy we can thank: Mr. Steve Kirsch, a 48-year old philantropist and founder of the search engine Infoseek, has filed 44 small claims, has won judgments totaling about $100,000, and collected about $25,000. He has also created a web site, www.junkfax.org detailing various legal strategies to stop junk faxing.
Here are some on-line shopping deals we can be thankful for:
www.bananarepublic.com save 30% Promotional code: FDGGNMCS02BV
www.gap.com save 30% off Promotional code: F70SQ8TCDS7N
www.oldnavy.com save 20% off Promotional code: BBB1FDZ66CLC
Overstock.com 12% off coupon
Just click & you'll receive 12% off your entire online order (New customers
only) Nov 30

Disney Shopping 10% off coupon
Receive 10% off your entire online order HOLIDAYTREAT Dec 14

Restaurant.com 50% off coupon
Receive 50% off your entire online order (As seen on Good Morning
America) 55120 Nov 30

Macys $10 off $100 coupon
Receive $10 off your online order of $100 or more PRES10 Nov 21

Circuit City $20 Gift Card Coupon
Just click & you'll receive a $20 gift card with your online order of $299
or more Nov 30

Home Depot 10% off $297 coupon - Appliances
Just click & you'll receive 10% off your online appliance order of $297 or
more Nov 23

Dicks Sporting Goods $15 off $100 coupon
Receive $15 off your online order of $100 or more (some exclusions apply;
see site) DSPAFF_15 Nov 30

Walmart $0.97 Shipping Coupon - Toys & Video Games
Just click & you'll pay $0.97 flat rate shipping on select toys & video
games (without coupon, shipping starts at $2.74) Dec 31

Target 10% off coupon
Receive 10% off your entire online order (excludes: gift cards, Bose,
Amazon.com, and personalized giftts, a CouponCabin exclusive) TCADVCBN
Dec 31

Amazon Free Super Saver Shipping Coupon
Just click & you'll receive free shipping on most online ordesr over $25
Valid Anytime
The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year. Be careful out there driving! Check out www.blackfriday.com to find out about shopping deals in stores near you for the big shopping weekend. And remember, the best Christmas presents come from the heart - not the shopping mall.
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

Water filters

Hi everyone!
Paul Krupkin just sent me this GREAT Christmas shopping tip!! He wrote:
"For the holidays I created a special custom search engine tool to help identify the lowest prices for whatever you want to get online. It's a quick way to save money if you are shopping and I'm giving free access to it. Go to www.SearchWordPro.com
Click on the Searchbuilders and click on the one titled "Shopping Quick".
In case you haven't used my vertical search engine tool it's a two step search.
First you create a search query then click the search button on the bottom of the page. This opens up second page, which is where you select the search engine you want to use.
This second page has dozens of search engines to choose from. This page presents all the shopping search engines for you to use all in one place.
The results open up in a new window.
So you can window shop very quickly, and also search blogs and selected magazines to get reviews on the products. I just bought the kids their IPods and my wife a new computer using this tool. I clearly saved myself hundreds of dollars by shopping online. Even with the two step search this tool is quicker than using the basic search engines. I think as a general rule at the very least you can you can save money on taxes, possibly get free shipping plus extra discounts, compared to shopping local in the stores. If you have any questions send me an email. I'd like very much to receive feedback on your experiences, especially your success stories.
paul@imediafax.com

To save 40% off the single item of your choice use coupon code
#0051-00755-368 at www.lanebryantcatalog.com This is a great code, because usually they only give up to 25% off.

I also received an idea from my aunt for a very practical Christmas gift, especially if you live in California or some place where the tap water is horrible. Multi-Pure just introduced it's new Aqua Dome Drinking Water Appliance, a plastic countertop water filter. Of course I'm biased because my two uncles invented the solid carbon block water filter and their company has been the leader in the industry for years. In addition to this new product, they have also recently created a new program, known as the Fast Track program. Here's how it works:
1. Under this new program, you (a distributor) can introduce the Aqua
Dome, which retails for $179.95, to your friends and offer them a $100 discount, so their cost is $79.95. However, your friends also have to pay a $4.00 (four dollar) distributor registration fee. But they are saving $100 on Multi-Pure's fantastic Aqua Dome unit.
2. Encourage your friend to offer the Aqua Dome, $100 discount, and
distributor registration to four of their friends, and get them to do the same thing.
3. When you sign-up four people who purchase an Aqua Dome unit under this
program, you will then receive ABSOLUTELY FREE, an Aqua Dome unit. You don't even have to pay the shipping and handling on the FREE unit. You can keep this unit to use in a bathroom or other location in your home, give it away, or sell it at retail $179.95 or at a discounted price.
4. If your friend signs up four people who purchase an Aqua Dome unit,
they will then receive a FREE Aqua Dome unit.
5. There is a small commission (about $4.00) paid to the sponsor on each
discounted sale.
This is a great program that makes it possible for EVERYONE to afford the best drinking water treatment unit in the world. To learn more about the Aqua Dome model, go to http://www.multipure.com/mpad.htm.
About the Fast Track program, go to
http://www.multipureco.com/fasttrack.htm. (Also available in Spanish).
When it asks who referred you use this Distributor #171450.
USER NAME: distributor (lower case)
PASSWORD: success3 (lower case)
You'll find the $100 discount certificate / order form at the fasttrack link.
Well, there are a few non-traditional Christmas ideas to get your mind going today!
I hope you are enjoying this glorious holiday season! Remember, the best gifts are those tied by heartstrings....
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty