Scrubs Website

Is it just me or have you noticed that the scrubs your doctor, or nurse, or hygenist wears are all much more stylish these days? I never used to see them them in anything but a pale blue (or, of course, the teddy bear version some of the nurses wear at the pedicatrician's office!), but now I notice that everyone looks so much nice in them when I have an appointment at the doctor or dentist.
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I may have figured out where they are getting them from. I found a website called Blue Sky Scrubs that sells attractive looking nursing uniforms. They carry designer styles for both men and women. I had a fun time looking through all the designs. I don't wear scrubs, but if I did, I would certainly feel much better in these versions of the uniform!

So, if you are looking for somewhere to labs coats, check out their website. I bet you'll feel a lot better about yourself and how you look at work! BTW: They even have some ADORABLE fun scrubs for kids!

***This blog post brought to you by your friends at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/

Save 11 Cents a Gallon on Gas at HEB

If you live near an HEB gas station, you'll want to get in on this deal.

From now, until October 31, 2011, if you buy an HEB gift card and then, use it to purchase gas at an HEB station, you'll save 11 cents a gallon.

And, in my experience, HEB is usually one of the cheapest places to get gas to begin with.

I know that I need to fill my tank about once a week, so my plan is to put on a gift card as much as I usually spend on gas and then, use that to purchase my gas for the next 6 or 7 weeks.

Just make sure to swipe your card BEFORE you fill your tank!

Click here for more details.

Signs for Your Business

You know, there's a lot that goes into the making of a great office or business - the paint colors, the furniture, the accessories.  Those are the easy ones to name.  But, what about the signs?

Every business and office has unique signage, but, until recently, I never really gave much thought to who creates this eye-catching letters and words.  It turns out, one company that does is called Impact Signs.

They make all kinds of signs - from metal logos, to those made of brass, bronze or even etched into glass.  You can get whole signs or simply individual letters to hang on your lobby or office wall.   They will even install them for you.

If you're creating a new business, or have an old one that needs some perking up, I'd check them out!
***This blog post brought to you by your friends at www.impactsigns.com

Buy a Quality Backpack and Save!

I just got some great advice from my friend, Lynda, and I thought it was worth sharing with all of you.  I just followed it.  (Got my daughter a backpack at LL Bean for $18.99 with free shipping.)  Her backpack (from Staples) last year didn't even last through Valentine's Day!

Here's Lynda's words of wisdom:

Land'sEnd (www.landsend.com) is having a sale on backpacks and lunchbags = 20% off

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Also, LLBean (www.llbean.com) is having a sale on backpacks as well (Not all of their backpacks, but a good selection. Anywhere from 11-22% off). And they are offering free shipping on all orders.

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I bet you are wondering why "always looking for a good deal" lady is emailing you about these 2 sales. Well, b/c sometimes paying a little more saves you money in the long run.

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I understand that you can go to Target or Walmart and pay $10 (or maybe less) for a backpack.  I did that every year.

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Last year, I decided to spend the $30 and buy my son (who was going into 4th grade) a backpack from Land's End. My hope was for it to last 4 years. (I know, I know... I dream big!) He used that backpack every day for school -- carrying this big ol' binder + books almost every day.

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Well, I pulled it out today. It had a hole in the lining -- I could put my hand through the lining into the mesh bag on the outside of the backpack. I called Land's End. Both Land's End and LLBean guarantee their products basically for life. After a very pleasant conversation with the Land's End rep, they are mailing a new backpack to me. In the package, there will be a pre-paid shipping label so that I can return the old backpack to them.

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I know I couldn't have done that at Walmart or Target.

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It's something to think about when you are shopping for backpacks/bookbags.

Pier One $10 off $10 Purchase Coupon

Click here to print a $10 of a $10 purchase coupon for Pier One.

Good from today until Wed (7/27).

One per customer!

Magazines and Manipulation

I was on my way to work this past Wednesday, when I stopped at our mailbox to grab the mail.  As soon as I got back in the car, my boys started asking to look at any magazines that had arrived.  I handed the Lillian Vernon catalogue to my three year old, Maclain.  A quick glance at my mail stack, though, showed me there wasn’t anything else of interest to hand to his older brother, Bennett.

“I want a magazine, too!” he whined.

What to do? What to do?  There wasn’t even a grocery flier in the pile.

And then I noticed an engineering course catalogue which had arrived for my husband.  I knew it wouldn’t be of much interest to Bennett, but it was all I had.  Perhaps just handing him something would buy me a few minutes in the whine-free zone.

“Here,” I said, as I passed back the book.

I counted to five, waiting for the complaining to begin when he saw the catalogue contained nothing but text.

Silence.

“I can’t believe that satisfied him,” I thought.

And then, suddenly, I heard Bennett exclaim, excitedly, “Look at all these toys!”

Huh?

I glanced back at him.  Did I actually hand him a magazine with photos of toys?

Nope.  Just the plain, black engineering book with course descriptions.

“Look at this ball!” he said. “Wow! A transformer!”

I glanced back again. Had he lost his mind?

And then I realized his plan.

His devious, manipulative (yet incredibly creative and ingenious) plan.

“I want that magazine!” his brother cried out.

“Okay,” Bennett said, coyly.  “But if I give you my magazine, you have to give me yours.”

“Here,” Maclain said, as he handed over his book.

And, as my mouth hung open in sheer shock at the deceitfulness of my four year old, the boys swapped magazines.

It only took a moment, of course, for Maclain to realize he’d been duped.

“I no WIKE this magazine,” he cried out.

Poor Maclain.

And poor me.  If my four year old can come up with such an impressive con at his young age, I am  doomed.

I no WIKE that idea!

Dress Like a Cow Day

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE the day we get to dress like a cow at Chick-fil-a to get a free meal!

The kids and I always go (and, since it always occurs in July in Texas, we are always sweating as we do it!).

Lucky me, we get to dress up (and sweat!) again tomorrow - Friday, July 8.
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Click here for details.  But, basically, wear any piece of cow paraphanalia and get a free entree.  Dress up in full cow costume (and Chick-fil-a has cut-outs for you to use on their website) and you get a free MEAL (drink and fries included).

You KNOW the kids and I (and maybe some other kids I drag along with us) will be there.  Hope to see you there!

FREE Iced Tea at La Madeleine Today

Celebrate the first day of summer by stopping by La Madeleine and getting some FREE Mango Iced Tea!

Enjoy!

Free Personalized Father's Day Card

Here's a great way to make a super cute Father's Day card for your dad (or your husband - from your kids) and it's FREE!

Go to the Tiny Prints website by clicking here and, once you create the card, use the coupon code 4FDAY.  Ship it to yourself for FREE or pay the cost of the stamp to mail it to someone else.

Enjoy!

FREE Donuts!

Today is the first day of this summer that I have all three kids home all . . . day . . . long.

It's going to be a LONG day.

So, I was THRILLED to realize it was actually National Donut Day.

You know what that means?

Krispy Kreme gives out FREE donuts!

So does Dunkin' Donuts (which I actually prefer) but you have to purchase a drink from them to get your donut (and there isn't one near me).

I can promise you the kids and I will be heading over to Krispy Kreme this morning.  Will I see you there??

Credit Scores

My husband and I, a few months back, taught a financial class.  One of the things we realized in the midst of the course is that people do not understand the concept of their credit score.

As financial expert Dave Ramsey puts it, "your credit score is not an indicator of winning financially. All it tells you is whether you are good at borrowing money and paying it back."

In case you are not aware, this is how your FICO score is determined:

35% of your score is based on your debt history.

30% is based on your debt level.

15% is based on the length of time you’ve been in debt.

10% is based on new debt.

10% is based on type of debt.

You know what this means?  The only way to have a great credit score is to get into debt, stay in debt, yet pay it off perfectly. 

If you pay off all your debts, and don't take on any more, your FICO score will become indeterminable.  You won't even have one! 

Another thing to keep in mind.  You should never pay a company to get your credit report.  You are entitled to one free credit score a year.  Don't pay for what you can get for free!

Gold Coin Website

My husband has always had an interest in collecting gold coins - or gold bullion, as those in the 'know' call them. He doesn't have a huge collection, but he's very pleased with the ones he does have.  Unfortunately, he's not very good at putting those coins in a safe spot and, on more than one occasion, I've found out kids playing 'grocery store' and using his coins as the currency!

For those out there who are really interested in buying gold bullion, check out the website Gold Coins Gain.  On there, not only can you buy bullion, but you can also invest in gold IRAs.  (Did you even know there was a such a thing?)   

And, if you're unfamiliar with ther term, bullion, it just refers to a refined and stamped weight of precious metal.  This can be a coin or one of those larger blocks like you see in the movies!

*** This blog post brought to you by your friend at www.goldcoinsagain.com

Notepad Website

When I was a kid, I thought it was the coolest thing to have a pencil with my name on it.  I don't know where my mom (or grandparents) used to order them for me - probably from some catalogue - but I thought it was fabulous.

Now that I'm an adult, though, I tend to not have pencils - or anything else, for that matter - with my name on them.  But, why not?  Why can't I have a pencil or cute sticky note or even a keychain with my name on it? 

Or, better yet, how about a personalized notepad with my blog's information? 

That's why I was glad to come across the website Go Promos.  They sell a ton of promotional items for your personal use or that of your business.  They have bags and totes or even calendars.

So, if you're looking for some neat items with your info on them, check out their site.

Regal Movie Zap Pack

If you plan on going to the movies this weekend - and like to snack while there - here's a good deal.

With this coupon, you can get, for $2, you can get a 16 oz drink, a tray of popcorn and a Welch's fun-size fruit snack.

That's very economical if you bring the kids!  Valid May 27-29.

Enjoy!

Goodwill Outlet Stores

My husband came home last week and told me he did a little shopping at lunch.

If you knew my husband, you'd know how shocking that was.

He hates to shop.  And, he really hates to spend money.

But, he came home with three pairs of gym shorts and was all excited about his purchase.  Why, you ask?  Because, apparently, he bought them at Goodwill.

But, not just any Goodwill.  Around the corner from his office, they just opened a Goodwill Outlet Store.

I know. I didn't know they exist either.  But, apparently they do.

He said to me, "You should go check it out.  It's right up your alley."

Now, I wasn't so sure about that.  I tend to dislike Goodwill for a myriad of reasons, but . . . I did know someone for whom it would be "right up her alley."  So, I gave her a call and last night, once the dads were home to watch the kids, we set off to explore the new store.

I don't even know how to put it into words.

Let's just say, if you like thrift stores and garage sales, then you will just LOVE this.

Let's start with the prices.

Everything - and I mean everything - is $1.39 a POUND!

Yes, that's right.  They WEIGH your items on a big, truckstop-like scale.

When you walk in, there are shallow bins lined up in neat rows.  NOTHING is organized - not by gender, or size or even adult/child.  You really have to go digging.  We saw a guy wearing gloves to reach into the bins - that might not have been such a bad idea.

They also have houseware items, toys, books, CDs, etc.

All is just $1.39/lb.  Except, I learned, the books.  Because books can be heavy, they are either $1.39/lb or just $1.39 each - if they weigh more than a pound.

So, what did I get?  A bunch of stuff.

Four books, clothing items for my sons, including a jacket, and an Ann Taylor skirt for me. 

The total?  $9.74

My girlfriend got some great deals, too.  She left with a cart full of stuff and paid about $13 for hers. 

The best item found?  A pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans in perfect condition - which, of course, were too short on me - as if most everything-  but fit my friend perfectly!  At most, they cost $2, I'd say, by weight.

So, if you live in Austin, I'll tell you this store is off Burleson and Montopolis. 

And, if you don't live in Austin, you can click here to find the nearest Goodwill outlet store to you (you can search for outlet or distribution centers).

Happy shopping!