-Applebees, Unos, Outback and More!

There's nothing better than a freebie, right? How about a freebie that goes out to the men and women who have served our great nation. Sounds like the perfect Veterans Day treat!Here's a list of the swag vets can pick up around town.

Applebees Veterans and active-duty men and women are entitled to a free entree at Applebees on Veterans Day. Just stroll in, identify yourself as a vet or member of the military, and order off the menu. That's some tasty patriotism!

Chicago Uno Grill If you're willing to purchase one meal, you'll get another one free on November 11 at Chicago Uno Grill. Show up in uniform, with a picture of you in uniform or with your military ID and you're entitled to the deal as a veteran or active-duty member of the armed service. No coupon necessary!

Krispy Kreme Whether you like a hot glazed, cream-filled or jelly variety, you'll have your pick of a free donut at Krispy Kreme on Veterans Day. To honor America's service men and women, Krispy's giving veterans and active military personnel who visit any participating U.S. Krispy Kreme store on Veterans Day one free donut of his or her choosing.

Outback Steakhouse If you're active-duty military or a veteran you can also grab a free Bloomin' Onion and drink at Outback Steakhouse. Seems even the Australians are looking to thank you for your service!

I have a coffee plant. I would give it to he who really does want it. (And he knows who he is.)

I just posted to a foodie blog that asked for help with frugal living. I thought about it and decided all my Live Journal homies also deserve the info if they want it. Use it as you please. If your eyes start to glaze over, realize you probably aren't a coupon queen/king in the making. ^_^

I have used coupons to save money since 1989. There are tricks to being successful with coupons. Anyone can throw a few in their purse (or pocket) and think they'll remember to use them, but you need real organization and consistency to be successful.

1) Clip coupons from all sources you can find. The Sunday paper is the best. If there are a lot of coupons in any particular Sunday paper, I'll go buy extras at the store, just for the coupons. Don't feel guilty about the paper-- it's recycleable!

2) You need an organizer for your coupons. Mine is a box that's about 12 inches by 10 and it has dividers I cut from sheets of plastic and each section is labeled. You decide what your sections are. I have divided things up to a degree that makes sense to me. Canned goods, cereals, baking supplies, beverages, frozen foods, snack foods, household goods, etc. There are accordian folders out there as well. Just remember that organizing the sections is part of the key. 

3) When you put your coupons away, organize them alphabetically. That way you can always put your hands on just the one you need in seconds. Update every month by getting rid of the expired coupons. I usually alphabetize by manufacturer. (e.g., Kelloggs, Kleenex, Reynolds, Friskies, etc.)

4) Shop the sales, WITH a coupon. I rarely buy anything without a coupon, but when you also shop the sales, I call that a double whammy. Only shop stores that double your coupons: triple whammy. Get a rebate with the product! Home run!

All of this takes me a couple hours a week, but I save as much as I spend most shopping trips. Imagine the cashier telling you your total and then telling you your savings was more than you spent! That is the payoff! The hours I spend clipping, sorting, organizing and reading the fliers before shopping are well paid off if you look at the savings as an hourly wage.

Stretched Too Thin - by Diana

“Working mom,” simple; a short enough phrase
a title of sorts, a measure of praise.
But little enough do the words explain
the problems entailed, the perpetual pain.

What unfolds every day when mom has to leave
the baby at daycare is hard to believe.
The baby is screaming and crying for mama
and mom’s crying too; Leave? She don’t wanna.

Alas she must also attend to her boss,
take care of her business or suffer a loss.
A paycheck’s important to us poor working slobs
because, sad to say, we need our day jobs.

So all day she slaves for the price of her wage
She does a good job; she won’t rattle her cage.
All the work’s done, she has shopping to do
Picks up the kids, to the store with her crew.

“We’re shopping for dinner, no you can’t have a treat”
“Put that down now, please sit down in your seat.”
Then home with circus, or that’s how it seems,
The wild behavior, the shouts and the screams.

After dinner is homework and laundry and chores
Baths and some stories and (oh joy) bedtime wars.
“I won’t go to bed.” “Oh yes you will. Now.”
Is she a WORKING mom? Answered simply—And how!

I have had the strangest past few weeks: I have been having a series of odd, weird, warped and crazy dreams.

There are so many, but the first worth mentioning was about my boss, at my office. I was standing in his office and lava started coming up through the floor. When I went back in later, there were holes in the floor with lava burning at the bottom. (I had unresolved anger issues...)

There was one with a huge castle that looked out on my actual home, (once you looked past the moat) and I would lurk at the windows of the castle, watching over my family (and myself) as a ghost. Weird. Lots of old paintings and cool rooms and secret rooms and passages, though.

One dream was me at work, searching endlessly for a document for a client who was standing right there, being impatient. I didn't want to wake up until I found the damn thing, but when I finally forced myself awake I remembered there was nothing to worry about. *sigh*.

Last night I had a dream that I was commuting to the space station. One of my friends' ex husband was there, to annoy me primarily, I assume. I was supposed to stay three weeks, but about three days in, I realized that my sons were still little kids and I hadn't told them I was going to be gone so long. And then I realized I hadn't told anyone at work I would be gone. I managed to get back home and everything was fine. Work had only missed me for one day, the other two were weekend days or something. The kids were older than I thought and they wondered why I had rushed back. When I looked all this up in the dream dictionary, it indicated that I was doing something new and exciting (picking up my writing again) and that my family would be fine with it.

So, those were entertaining, but puzzling. I have a sort of fun dream life, if only I could stop being so stressed in my sleep.

Don't ask...just go...

http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf


HEEE HEE hee hee heeee!!!

The University of Florida is prepared. For the Zombie Apocalypse.

http://chalkboard.blogs.gainesville.com/files/2009/10/zombieplan.pdf

Happy Johnny Appleseed's birthday. Unlike so many other folk heroes, he was real.

I watch Lonesome Dove endlessly. Somehow it helps.

"Never too Late" by Three Days Grace. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWapziQ2mAk

 THis is so cool, I wish I still had a little kid at home.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/tauntaun.html

I wonder if the kitties would like it... Hmm....

Change is inevitable--except from vending machines.

I do things without thinking about how other people will take it. I want to be who I am, and forgive me, but I like to share. Stuff is just not that important to me, I donate to Goodwill as soon as I am done with something, and if someone I know can use it, I hope I can feel free to just give it to them. I am also someone who believes other people's wishes count. I am good at presents because I remember what people have said about different things, just in passing maybe, and when I can, I pick up that thing. It's just a thing, but the thought is: "OH YEAH! 'Person A' really wanted one, and so do I!! How cool, I'll buy two and then we'll both have one! HOORAY!! Win for the day!!" 

So when it's time to 'give/share' the thing, whatever it is, I am like a happy puppy, jumping, slobbering and wagging like crazy. But sometimes people feel funny about accepting something, and I forget that. So that is my problem. The puppy needs to go home, tail between her legs, and just stop being a pushy-giver. It must be kind of like a stalker or something, me coming up and going "Here!"

I don't know, what do you think, people? Any advice for my puppy self??

:P

I am home, waiting for the banana bread to finish baking. I am taking it to Yahudah's celebration of life. There are three loaves, but there are going to be over 500 people, so I don't suppose it's going to last too long. I'm also bringing something called "watergate salad", which is basically this fluffy green stuff made with pistachio pudding, pineapple, cool whip and pecans. Oh, and marshmallows. Very easy to make and kind of addictive.

I can't quite grasp that I'll never get to see Yahudah's smile again, though when his daughter got up to speak at his memorial, I saw it to a certain extent when she smiled. I'm so going to miss him. :(

Maybe not a theme restaurant as such, but a coffee shop/bakery/book store. There would be wi-fi and extra computers for people to use. There would be an area where the majority of the food/drinks are and then rows and rows of books with lovely large cooshy chairs in ideal locations for reading. And there would be a store cat. Named after one of Shakespeare's characters or something. :) 

How to get air on the moon. ^_^

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090810/full/news.2009.803.html?s=news_rss

A little weird, a little sick, but funny!! :) 

I present:  Drunk Yoga!!

http://acidcow.com/pics/3100-russian_drunk_yoga_10_pics.html

I have green eyes, I love Leo Tolstoy, and I was once bucked from a horse as it jumped a ditch.

Haa ha ha ha ha hahahaha...*snort* *gasp* *breath* HA HA HA HAHAHAHAhaha ha ha....can't breathe...too funny....hahahahaha....