Tootsie Pop Conspiracy Day Two

This morning I appologized to the student about the tootsie pop misunderstanding. She sat there looking confused. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong." I told her that I heard that some students were hurt by this whole thing but I wanted them to now that I appreciated everything. Still confused she asked me where I heard that anyone's feelings had been hurt. I told her that the club sponsor had let me know that I'd upset some kids and I hadn't meant to do it. At this point the student rolled her eyes and said, "Look you didn't say anything wrong. I simply asked someone what they wrote and when they showed it to me I said that some of the messages seemed inappropriate. YOU didn't say anything wrong." Well, I still apologized again and said please tell everyone that the cookies and all the other things you've all done has been absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!!!

I saw that cat today. I think I mentioned it before. Someone abandoned a cat over in Rome and I hadn't seen it the last couple of times I stopped at the gas station I didn't see it. I had this feeling today to stop there and low and behold there he was. This time he even let me pet him. Oh how great. I'd like to adopt him. I stopped by after school to get him but he was gone again.

Remember I told you that I would be having a giveaway coming up soon? Well another company contacted me and I might actually have TWO giveaways coming up soon on Thrifty Maven. One will be on this site and two will be on thrifty maven. AMAZING. I can hardly believe it myself. Keep your fingers crossed and if this all comes through then I will be letting you know about the contests soon.

Here are the blog contests I entered:

Prize: Spa Time Baby product.

Prize: Plantronic Discovery 925 (ARV $150).

Prize: Pair of Baby Leg Huggers.

Prize: One pound of organic fair trade coffee (ARV $9.75).

Prize: Mystic Wonders Complete Laundry System (ARV $49.95).

Prize: $25 in coupons for Laura's Lean Beef.

First Prize: $50 Target gift card.
Second Prize: $25 iTunes gift card.
Third Prize: $20 Starbucks gift card.

Prize: Personalized lovie blanket from Noodles and Milk.

Prize: Polka dot plate.

Prize: Calendar Girls DVD.

Prizes (3): Chocolate spa gift basket including Free Fiber one product coupon.

Prize: Parker Satchel (ARV $458).

Prize: Variety of ecoStore cleaning items.

Prize: Cotton infant bodysuit that reads "Together We Can Help Save a Life" on the front with the Pampers and UNISEF logos on the back.

Prizes (2): Plant A Maple Tree Seedling Kit from Child to Cherish (ARV $6.99).

Prize: JJ Cole Diaper & Wipes Caddy (ARV $30).

Prizes (3): Honey Kix Sweet and Simple prize pack.

Prize: $75 Tea Collection gift card.

Prizes (3): Fiber One spa gift basket.

Valentine Essays Are Heating Up

I entered another essay contest. This one is from a local radio station. They are selecting 50 couples to renew their wedding vows on Valentine’s Day at Stone Mountain Park. I'll keep my fingers crossed on that. I had wanted to do that last year but we jut didn't have the money to do that. After all we've been through lately maybe we need to do just that, renew our vows. If they are selecting 50 people then I really wonder how many people bothered entering the essay contest.

I have to give up my title as the Only Woman Who NEVER Watched a Single Episode of Dallas. We've watched four episodes from the first season.

I've also entered some blog contests:

Prize: 2GB SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 player in choice of color.

Prize: Choice of $15 Amazon or iTunes gift card.

Prize: Pink Flip video camera.

Prize: White cotton cable knit throw from Lands' End

Prize: Copy of What's Age Got To Do With It? by Robin McGraw.

Prize: Breakfast at Tiffany's DVD

Prize: Valentine's Cupcake Soap from Serah's.

Prize: Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals 2 cookbook.

Prize: $50 Tiny Prints gift certificate.

Prize: Copy of The Only True Genius in the Family by Jennie Nash

Prize: $50 The Home Depot commemorative gift card.

Prize: The Couponizer.

Prize: Face Off Frenzy portable indoor air-hockey game.

Prize: Space Buddies DVD and set of three plushies.

What's Free Under The Tree

Like so many others, we’ve cut way back on spending this Christmas. Then again I’ve always been able to buy super gifts that have the Wow factor for the recipient without the Oww factor for my wallet. Let me share what’s under the thrifty maven’s tree this year.

For hubby there is an 11x14 collage photo poster from Snapfish. I bought it when they were running a special for free shipping and I was able to use a credit I had for a free poster. Mr. Thrifty and I have been married for seven years now and I thought he’d appreciate a collage of happy moments we have spent together. The other gift he will be opening come Christmas day is a mouse pad which features a photo of us taken on our last vacation. This was another free credit I had earned on Snapfish and I ordered it when I ordered the poster. I was also able to take advantage of a promotion advertised on Oprah for a free 8x10 hard covered photo book. Hubby and I had won a weeks’ vacation at an all inclusive resort in St. Lucia and I used the pictures from this vacation to create a unique gift. Out of pocket for hubby this year? ZERO dollars but don’t tell him because he’ll think I spent a fortune.

Hubby has learned a thing or two because I do know that I’m receiving something from Victoria’s Secret. He’s not as good at keeping secrets and besides I had to go with him to pick my gifts out. I’m really big on shopping for gifts all year. This is a HUGE savings. Twice this year Victoria Secret sent us a coupon for a free pair of panties. They even put the panties in the cute pink bags and I’ve spied them under the tree.

The grandkids reaped HUGE benefits this year from my sweeping hobby. They received those Indiana Jones Lego sets. Altogether these Lego sets were valued at over $300. I won them though but the grandkids won’t care if I won them or bought them. Total out of pocket for their gift, $20 and that was for shipping.

Speaking of wins I sent the boys gift cards that I won. Dan, my oldest received a $100 gift card from AMC Bowling Centers. Michael received a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble and a $25 gift card from iTunes. Total cost of their gift under a dollar for stamps.

I realize not everyone enters sweepstakes and contests but if you are interested I will be posting articles about sweeping.

Love For Sale

OK not that kind of love get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about the house. Everyone knows how sad I am about losing the house and all that it represents. As December 15th drew nearer I was getting myself used to the idea that half my house would be gone. I was trying to motivate myself to finish packing my books to send them over to the Cartersville house. I’d been delaying it but I planned to do that this weekend as well as packing my summer clothing.

Earlier this week, I’d been listening to an audio book about the Gospel of John and John’s letters. I’d gotten the book free from I-Tunes and there were famous actors and actresses reading various parts of the story. John was the longest living of the disciples and he was there for much of the early times of the church. I was reminded once again what I knew which was that the house was of this earth. Since it was of this earth its importance should be greatly diminished in my life. I should accept that I was losing it. Whether or not I would be stuck in Cartersville or move to a better house it was not going to be my decision.

We have the For Sale sign in the front yard and someone had looked at it saying he was going to put an offer on the house. Each day for a few days I would ask if we’d heard anything. The act of saying “Did we get an offer?” made the reality of what was going on more concrete. I stopped asking because after a few days I figured that no offer was forthcoming.

I had stopped mentioning the house to Darryl. I secretly entertained myself with the happily ever after movie ending for the house. You’ve seen it time and time again in the movies or on tv. The family is on the verge of losing the house when something major happens. It is unexpected and it always comes just at the last minute. I imagine myself winning the lottery and saying to Darryl “Look honey now we can stay here!” I imagine winning a contest with a large cash prize and as I sign the affy I turn to Darryl saying “I told you we wouldn’t have to leave. I knew that we were meant to be here.” I see clips of an old Little Rascals show where an old woman almost lost her home to the bank when the Little Rascals put on a show and earned enough to save her home. I remember another show where a woman was going to lose her home when she discovers some old stock she had forgotten about and discovered that it was worth a fortune. She’s able to keep her home. I remember the part of the book in the Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio when they were days away from losing their home and she wins the money to pay off the home.

The fantasies entertain me and sometimes comfort me or make me hopeful but my mind is becoming more in sync with reality. We are going to lose this house and it will no longer be my home.

Then I got home and Darryl greeted me with some news about the house. “Did I tell you about the house?” Like I said I haven’t asked him about the status of the house for several days. I didn’t steal myself for what he was about to tell me. It was if I already knew the answer and I was ready to hear it. “No you didn’t. Did that guy make an offer? When do we need to be out?”

I almost didn’t hear his answer. That’s because the video began to flash in my head “We’ve saved the house. You can live here forever” began to play as I half listened to his answer. “The bank says that since we have the house up for sale we can stay here until March. I’ve cancelled the moving van for December 15th. “ WHAT????????????? I was lost for a moment. Did dream that sequence? It couldn’t be real. I dared break the moment because I knew I needed to be in the moment and really understand what was happening. “We can stay here until March? Why is that?’ He then explained that the bank can’t really work with us as far as lowering anything until he gets a job. In the meantime they don’t want a foreclosure on the books or a vacant house or a delinquent loan on the books. It’s better to allow us to remain in the home and try to sell it. They feel it’s easier to sell it if we are in the home and they’d get back more of their investment if we sold it than if it went into foreclosure or if we gave it back to them.

I looked out the window of the loft. The lights twinkled down below and into the distance. Does this mean I can decorate for Christmas? “Sure. If you want to do that this weekend I’ll help you.”

We talked a bit more about the house and about how I’d already begun separating myself from the house and about how for him the house was just a house. He told me that it didn’t matter where we were we could always be happy. He said that there would be other houses and that this wasn’t the end of the world. This is true. I’m just thankful, just grateful that I can stay in the house for the holidays. I don’t’ know if I dare dream that this is some signal that things are going to get better now that I’ve accepted where we are. I do know that for now I am still in the house. It is still up for sale and perhaps someone will buy my house.

I am grateful that I have more time to get my thoughts and feelings in order. I am grateful that I have someone who is there for me. Some people lose it all but I still have so very much to be thankful for and maybe that’s the lesson that I need to draw from this whole experience.

A Free Christmas Gift

I think this is a sweet home made gift. people say that they like home made gifts and in these troubled economic times I'm sure we'll see more of them.

For FREE christmas music that you can download to I-Tunes check out

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081118_tows_holiday/2

It's good for Thanksgiving day only so hurry.