It is no secret that Valentines Day is hands down the busier flower day of the year, as it is also no secret that 1-800-Flowers {their web url also} is one of the most popular places to order flowers for Valentines Day and other occasions.  They offer a wide and beautiful selection, from tulips to roses to daisies to carnations to many others.  You can even get your flowers delivered the same day!

My personal favorite flower is the white calla lily, which was our wedding flower, but I am also quite partial to the very traditional red rose, though I love all the colors that roses are now available in and love the more vibrant colors.

With all the different holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, dinners, get-togethers, special occasions, events, and seasonal celebrations, it is always party season!  When you throw a party or put together a special event, do you tend to stick to the basics or do you kick it up a notch, go for the gusto, and throw a theme party?

I was checking out Celebrations party themes and was thinking that an Island Bliss Getaway Party would be a lot of fun. We’ve been talking about taking a cruise, and it has been forever (it seems!) since I’ve visited the islands, so this could be a fun way to bring the islands here! Some decorating tips from Celebrations includes decorating with beach towels & flip-flops, bowls filled with seashells & tea lights, and tropical flowers. Serve up some conch fritters, grilled mahi mahi, keylime pie, and tropical drinks complete with little umbrellas and you (me!) are good to go!

What theme would you choose for a fun party?

This year, there is going to be a lot of changes around our house. Painting, new furniture, and other changes in décor throughout the whole house. I’m very excited about getting it started (though you couldn’t tell b/c my Dining Room still sits waiting for that second coat of paint!). 

One of the rooms we will be focusing quite a bit on, is the bedroom.  It seems that with everything else going on (and isn’t there always lots of “everything else” going on?) the bedroom has just been a place to sleep at night. I’ve been checking our magazines and watching lots of HGTV and getting ideas on how to make it more of a place to wind down from the day, a mini retreat of sorts.  Since the bed occupies the majority of the space in the room, I’ve been thinking of making some changes there too. I was browsing Time 4 Sleep Beds, gathering some ideas – they have a nice selection, including divan beds, but at this point, I’m not exactly sure what I plan to do. We may keep our mattresses, but I’m pretty set on a new headboard and footboard (and of course a new bedding set or two!). I sleep fairly well once I can actually get to sleep, but I probably shouldn’t throw the idea of new mattresses out the window – I might be surprised what a new mattress could do! Looking at the ones at Time For Sleep Beds sure makes the idea tempting. There is a huge selection and reading up on them makes me realize that my mattress may not be quite up to par, LOL! 

Are you in the market for a baby sling? When my son was an infant, I bought a couple different ones, but never really figured them out, so never used them.  Looking back, I wish I did – and plan to if/when we have another baby.  There are tutorials online and you can also go to a La Leche League meeting & they’ll show you how it works. I think it seems more complicated than it really is (isn’t that true with most things?).

If you are shopping for baby slings, you may want to check out Baby Slings dot com.  They offer a wide variety of baby slings and you can browse by type, brand or size. I was checking out the Baby K Tan sling carrier – very versatile as it can be worn in 8 different positions.  It is sized for both men and women and comes in sizes Extra Small through Extra Large, as well as being offered in lots of colors and designs.  The Pink Octagon is a fun design, but I would personally probably go for a solid color to better coordinate with outfits.

Have you tried the Baby K’Tan sling carrier? What is your favorite baby sling?

The Gallery Collection has an absolutely stunning collection of Business Christmas Cards and it isn’t too late to order! As long as you place your order by 1:00 PM EST December 22nd, you can receive them on December 23rd.  There is also a 40% discount sale currently going on. 

If you have your own business, then you should ensure that your business Christmas cards stand out and represent who you are.  Make an impression with those cards!  Let the cards speak for you and let others see what a professional, first class business you operate.  Don’t forget business Christmas cards are an ideal way to tell your customers “thank you” for their business and patronage – and it will also place your company name in front of them, remind them about you, and may even lead to future sales. 

A few of my favorites from The Gallery Collection are the Snowflake Sparkle Card, the Golden Sleigh Bells Holiday Cards, Glittering Pines Seasons Greetings Card (reminds me of our very recent visit to Utah – ah, snow!! So beautiful when it is freshly fallen!), and the adorable Peace On Earth Holiday Greeting Card with the polar bears (this one reminded me of a trip way back I took to Alaska and polar bear prints & cards I bought there).  Take a look around the site and I’m sure you will find some favorites too. 

The Gallery Collection is offering free downloads of Charles Dicken’s “Christmas Carol” on DailyLit.com, so be sure to hop over there and get your copy. 

http://dailylit.com/books/christmas-carol

Are you a resident of the United Kingdom and thinking it may be time to shop around for new automobile insurance?  You may be interested in checking out Auto Net Insurance Group.  (It isn’t just automobile insurance, by the way.)  They offer car insurance, home insurance, bike insurance, courier insurance, hgv insurance, motor home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, caravan insurance, and business insurance – basically every type of insurance to meet your needs.

Auto Net Insurance Group is one of the country’s largest independently owned insurance brokers and they have formed excellent relationships with many of the UK’s leading insurance companies.  If you are in need of insurance, the Auto Net Insurance Group may be a great match for you.

Auto Net Insurance Group offers online quotes, and hints at some pretty remarkable rates (car insurance up to 65% off and van insurance up to 70% off, plus others).  The site also mentions that you may be interested in calling directly for a quote as they keep some of their deeper discounted rates off-line so it is not directly available to their competition. 

Visit Auto Net Insurance Group (UK residents) to check out their rates & see if it may be possible to lower your insurance payments. 

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet?  We have officially started: Hubby insisted the tree come out the day after Thanksgiving, ‘cause… well… that is just how things are done, LOL!  We have a pre-lit tree and most of the “pre-lit” part about it has finally bit the dust. He is in the process of removing all the lights and we will purchasing a whole new set of lights for the tree. {So yes, our tree is up, but BARE! LOL!}

 We will be jumping full swing into holiday decorating any moment now, so I was checking out some holiday decorating online and found Celebrations.com – they have some great tips, especially for a holiday party (but those tips can be applied even without having a party).  One tip I like (suggested as a last minute décor idea when guests are on the way) is to wrap several gifts and use as a centerpiece.

I found a recipe on their site for Reindeer Munch, a combination of Crispix cereal, chocolate or butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and powdered sugar – YUM!  This will be a great, fun snack for my son! 

How cute is this Santa Suit Shoebox? This would be perfect for smaller gifts and for the littlest ones who haven’t yet got down pat the concept of unwrapping gifts.  They would also be great for gifting baked goods.  It is a Do-It-Yourself craft project, perfect for the economic crunch right now. 

There are tons more ideas on Celebrations.com if you are still looking for ideas for holiday decorating, parties, or just some DIY gift / craft ideas. 

What are you working on for the holidays? Crafts? Homemade gifts? I have a two-year-old and would love some ideas for him, too. 

My husband is the full-time work-away-from-home one in our relationship. I am at home with our son and neither work full time nor outside the home.  He has wonderful benefits in my opinion and if something should ever happen to him (all the while praying it DOES NOT), my son and I should be ok financially.  However, if something were to happen to me, even though I am not the bread-winner here, it could become a difficult situation financially since he would have to look into child care (I shudder at those costs!) and he would be inclined to take less overtime so he could spend as much time as possible with our son (since he would spend a lot of time with those who are not his parents).  It is very much a depressing situation to talk about and one I’d much rather ignore, but thinking about life insurance, mortgage insurance, and final expense insurance are a few things you may need to face head on, just to get all your ducks in a row, because that is not something you want to have on your plate should such a horrible moment arise.  I know it would give me peace of mind knowing our home would be paid in full should anything happen.  NAA specializes in life, disability, annuities, and mortgage protection insurance. At NAA, mortgage insurance is not just a piece of paper; it is an investment in peace of mind.  Take time in the near future to go over your (and your spouse’s) benefits, other insurance, and any planning you have officially documented. Make sure everything is in order – chances are you will not need it, but that is what insurance is about… paying for something you hope you will never need, but will be there if you do.

Do you plan to do any of your Christmas shopping online?  Gas prices might be dropping (Woo hoo! How wonderful is that?), but a lot of people still find that they can save time by shopping online. As we get busier and busier, it just makes sense. 

When doing your online shopping, take the time to do a little research and always keep your eyes open.  Sometime online stores will post promotions right on their site, but most of the time you will need to know where to look to find “coupon codes” you can use at their online store.

A coupon code is basically like a coupon you may clip out of the paper to save $0.50 on butter, except the savings are greater and it comes in the form of a special code instead of a slip of paper.  Coupon codes may offer free shipping, or a percentage or dollar amount off your total (or sometimes off specific items).  The terms differ from coupon code to coupon code.

FindSavings.com is a great resource for coupon codes. 

Some examples:

We love The Children’s Place apparel, so The Children’s Place coupon code on the sidebar at FindSavings.com jumped right out at me: Save 15% off your total purchase using code HAC8.

Target is another one of my favorites, so I checked out the Target coupon codes and found that there are offers for free shipping on a lot of products! Shipping can get pretty expensive, so anytime you can get free shipping it is a good thing!

There are MANY other stores listed, so be sure to check those out before making your online purchases!  Happy shopping!!

Are you concerned about your personal finances, and especially your debt, in this current economy?  Finances are getting a little tighter all the time, all across the board.  If you are thinking about debt consolidation as a means of getting your debt under control, I’ve come across a site that specializes in debt consolidation. 

Bills.com has an overview of what debt consolidation consists of, a glossary of terms related to debt, as well as other useful information to help you explore the area of debt consolidation & get a feel if it is the right plan of action for you.

Debt Consolidation: taking multiple debt or credit lines and consolidating them into one new payoff plan. Frequently, this is a consolidation loan, provided to consolidate debts into one loan with one payment, typically shifting credit card debts to secured debt by refinancing a mortgage. It could also refer to a credit counseling or debt settlement program.

After researching the available information, you may feel that a debt consolidation loan is the best option for you.  You can use the Savings Center tool at Bills.com to find debt consolidation loan quotes.  Debt consolidation can lower your payments each month, may be a better alternative to bankruptcy or credit counseling, can create one monthly payment instead of multiple payments, and could help you become debt free fast.

As always, explore all of your options before planning a course of action.

“Christmas-time’s a’comin’, Christmas-time’s a’comin’…”  {And coming fast! We are easin’ up on Thanksgiving and you know it will only be a brief moment later and it’ll be Christmas.

Do you send Christmas cards?  Most years I plan to, some years I actually do, and some years the time slips by so fast there isn’t enough time left!

What is your choice in the cards you send? Do you prefer photo cards, a box of assorted cards, matching boxed sets, individual store bought cards just for close friends & family, or do you get creative and make home made cards?  In years past I usually go with one of the box options, but I am leaning toward photo cards this year.

I came across a site that has a nice selection of both types of boxed sets and photo Christmas cards.  {They even have Thanksgiving cards!}  They make the process very simple & offer step-by-step directions to ensure you get the card just the way you want it.  I’ve been checking out all the great designs and there are even tropical designs which could very well apply to us, LOL!

What is really great about Christmas Cards Direct is that they give back.  They are partnering with Home Depot and Operation Christmas Tree to support our troops by sending 5,000 Christmas Trees and Christmas cards to troops stationed abroad this Holiday season. 

It is not a pretty time in our economy, folks: job losses, mortgage crisis, serious debt issues.  I was reading parts of a book a little while back that made me think… If you are having your own economic crisis and are struggling with debt, you DO have options.  I had the privilege of speaking with several friends of mine in an online conference last night and this subject came up.  If you are breathing and have a kitchen table, I bet this topic gets some focus time at your place too.  I’m not sure how the convo might have went for you, but for us, it was great. We were actively discussing…  Not the negative effects it was having…  But….   Wait for it…    Ways to take control & be empowered, even when the circumstances didn’t appear to given reason for doing so.  Because there ARE options. There are laws that may be able to work in your favor. We also acknowledge the part that prayer has in such circumstances, simply because that is something that we felt strongly about it. 

With the economy the current buzz word everywhere you turn, the book I had skimmed through, and the great convo we had yesterday evening already on my mind, I came across a debt relief program that may just be the best option for some.

There may be certain avenues you can pursue independently, but if you feel you do need assistance, some of the options you may find are: Credit Counseling, Debt Counseling, Bankruptcy, and Credit Card Monthly Payment. An additional option is Freedom Debt Relief’s Debt Reduction Program. 

You may wish to explore the website of Freedom Debt Relief, like I did, and read about the ways they differ from other options.  A few examples: Credit Counseling may reduce interest rates & fees, yet you will still owe 100% of principal plus interest.  Debt Consolidation transfers who you owe what to, and may reduce the monthly payment, but it does not decrease the overall amount that you owe.  Filing for bankruptcy can possibly get you out of some of your debts, but it carries a high price that also has a lasting effect.  Making the minimum monthly payment amount to your credit card company(ies) may keep your head floating above water (just for the fact you are not late on payments), but it is usually just interest you are paying, as more interest builds. 

The main focus of a Debt Reduction Program differs from these by working to reduce the actual debt you owe, without the typical effects of bankruptcy.  Their program is described as “an aggressive approach to becoming debt free.”  This program is for those with a serious amount of debt and/or are considering filing for bankruptcy.  Their site states that they are typically able to reduce debts by 50%.  I have to say I was pretty impressed by the chart of their top settlements.  I imagine for the people behind those numbers, that had to be one HUGE relief!

I strongly encourage you to explore all your options & be smart, but remember there ARE options.   Find the one that works best for your situation.

Technology is going green. It seems like everything is these days, and I guess that is a good thing. I wrote about starting a compost pile the other day, and though it really doesn’t count for much, it is my small step of moving in a greener direction. I’m relatively new on the green scene, so I am interested in learning more about it and finding ways it can smoothly fit into my life. {If it is too inconvenient or awkward, I’m not likely to do it.}

I’ve been talking {well, mostly dreaming about!} getting a laptop for myself. I have the desktop, and Hubs recently got a laptop, so it isn’t a strong need for one, but I would like to be more flexible with where I work on the computer. Say the couch or outside while my son plays.

I’ve always had computers using Windows & usually stuck with the HP brand, so while my first choice might be one of the HP Laptops, I’m hearing that Mac Laptops are the most environmentally friendly. That says a lot to me – but enough to go in a totally different direction? I know there are a lot of people who love their Macs, but I sometimes agree with the phrase, “Better the devil you know than the one you don’t”. J I know, I know, think green…. I’m trying.

I landed on Super Warehouse - anyone buy from them and have any opinions about the experience? – and was “window shopping”. Probably a bad move because it gets me itching to want to buy something, but I do like that they sell eco-friendly products. {Again, I’m trying with this whole green thing. Baby steps!} I got a digital camera for my last birthday, so I honestly don’t need a new one, but they up the quality of pictures they take so quickly, sometimes it is tempting. The Canon digital cameras seem a little out of my personal price range, but I’ve heard Canon really knows their stuff on cameras and they’ve started a new green imitative: “Generation Green” with three product classifications: Eco-standard, eco-conscious, and Eco-friendly, so it might be worth it when I am ready to shop for a new camera.

So, while I was there anyway, killing some time (yeah, I know, I really need to be doing that with all I have on the to do list!), I was looking at Epson Scanners since the scanner on my “all-in-one” hasn’t seemed compatible with my computer.

“I’m dreaming of a {techy!} Christmas…” LOL!

What brands do you favor in computers / electronics? Do you buy the hottest new thing, go with a brand you really know, make your shopping decisions based on eco-friendliness, go for the least expensive product, or a mix of a couple of these?

 
How do you compute? Do you sit down at a desk or work station in front of the traditional home PC set up? Or have you made your computing choices based on a need of portability and use a laptop? PC or Mac?

How do you connect to the internet?  Do you use antiquated dial-up internet? DSL? Cable? Satelite Internet? Are you connected through cords & cables or is it all wireless (or maybe a combination of both?).

I have a confession to make. I have been connecting to the internet for over 10 years now {no that isn’t the confession – leave my age out of this } and for every single day of every single year of that time (until very, very recently!), my computer dialed a phone number, waited through each slow & agonizing step of the connection process, and I dealt with it.  Having my phone line forever busy during connection time was just par for the course {and sometimes that was ok, because let’s face it, sometimes you wish you didn’t answer that phone call!}.

Over time, technology has advanced little by little to offer a wide array of connectivity options. I, however, still rang-up ole Mr. Dial Up.  I know, I know. Do the same thing you’ve always done, and you will get the same results you’ve always gotten. Yeah, we now how great the results were with dial-up.

Just recently I started checking out options because I needed to connect a little quicker (you know, actually DO things online!) and I wanted my phone line back. (Because, quite frankly, our cell phones don’t work so well out here, but that’s a whole ‘nother story!). My best, most immediate option, was to check out the DSL service offered by our local phone company.

I’m proud to announce I have moved out of the dark ages and into the early morning light! I can listen to music online! I can watch videos! Who knew? (Well, we all did, myself included, but I didn’t realize just how great it would feel!).  Now, after those dark ages, the morning light is nice.  Really nice.  But that has me wanting even more. Oh, how I’d love to bask in the full on afternoon sun (of course with a fan blowing on me and a tall glass of lemonade or sweet tea nearby… oh wait.. analogy.. not the real sun… I’ll still take the sweet tea, thank you.).

I’m sure you’ve all seen the Hughes Net ads on TV.  You’d have to live in a box or under a rock to have missed them. Commercials work, because when I think of satellite Internet, HughesNet comes to mind. They have speed comparison charts and checking those out made me question again why it took me so long…To download a 4 MB file using a dial-up service would take 9.9 minutes. To do it using their Elite Plus? 10.7 seconds. SECONDS! Oh, come install that here. Right now. OK, to be fair, Elite Plus is their top of the line and may not be practical for everyone. However, their Home package downloads that same file in 32 seconds.

I’ll stick it out with DSL for now – it is still brand new to me and I haven’t exactly paid for everything yet, lol.  We have been talking of moving, once we do some things needed here and are able to sell {insert a heavy sigh at the current housing market & economic issues}, to move closer to hubs work and family. Maybe as a housewarming gift to myself, I could get Hughes Net?

I’d love to hear your answers to the barrage of questions I opened with… ‘cause I’ve also been considering a laptop. 

When it comes to shopping, I usually only blog about stores that I frequent or online deals that I could personally take advantage of.  Realizing that my readership extends beyond my neighborhood {grin}, I started the Frugal Deals Roundup, so that anyone, anywhere, can link to deals going on in their area and link to their deal brags. {Disclaimer: I’ve been in a funk and haven’t done any deals and haven’t posted the FDR in a couple of weeks. I’m gonna pull out of it and get it going again, promise!}

Since I have readers all over, I may occasionally blog about shopping and other things that may interest some of my wide spread readers.  Today I am going to do that & if you live in the UK (where my eldest nephew just returned from after 2 years!), then this one is for you.

You hear a lot about “Spring Cleaning”, but for me it is the Fall that gets me in the cleaning and organizing mood.  One area of my home that desperately needs a facelift and some serious organizing is the home office.  It doesn’t help that it doubles as a storage room.  If you are setting up a new home office, need to give it an overhaul, or have a few needs for your away-from-home office, I’ve found an office furniture store that could help.  Office desks, office chairs, bookcases, filing cabinets, even education furniture - which caught my eye since I’ve recently started doing Preschool At Home with my 2 year old. 

We are still in our first week of doing Preschool At Home, but as we continue I may need to check out some storage options for the education materials.  Some of the storage options may also work in his bedroom to help corral the multitude of books and toys.  I’m sure no one else has this issue, right? 

Back to the home office…  I need to do some decluttering {serious decluttering!} and then I will be looking at my options for maximizing the office space.  Also on the list is getting a new chair that will be comfortable and fit the space {don’t tell anyone, but right now I am using a wood chair that is part of a dining room set}.  The Office Supermarket has an office chair buying guide to help you {me!} select the chair that is right for you.  They also have a similar desk buying guide.  Other features I like about this store is fast shipping and a five year guaranty on all furniture. 

If you are in the UK, go check out this site and get that office (home or otherwise) whipped into shape!