This One's for the Dogs

Sunday mornings...ahhh...my favorite!  The house all to myself, reserved for light cleaning, facebooking, coffee drinking, paper reading and music listening.  The only sounds, besides my music and my fingernails hitting the keyboard, are those of the roosters; not only of my own rooster, Marvin, but the neighbors on each side of me as well.

As I skim the front page of the paper, pull out the coupons to review another time, and read the obituaries I can feel my heart start to pound a little harder knowing that the sale ads await.  Ahhh, sale ads.  This "ahhh" is not similar to the Sunday "ahhh" but more of an excited, can't contain myself, ahhh. 

While I rarely find myself planning my shopping around them, because my list has grown all week whether the item is on sale or not, I still find joy in looking at every item and its sale price in the abundance of circulars that have been not so carefully stuffed into my Sunday paper.  I find them all quite entertaining however, I do have a favorite. TARGET.  Yay for Target! 

Recently, our Target started selling grocery items so now I'm finding it my one stop shop unless I'm in need of "BIG" grocery shopping. That's a code that John and I have for, "I'll be getting a cart, going down every aisle, and you probably don't want to go with me."  Along with this addition of grocery items they have had to completely rearrange the store which I gotta say, is quite frustrating!  I usually write my lists out by aisle because I, at one time, had that store memorized. Not so much anymore.  So, with my little trip to Target today there were a few things on my list that are worthy of sharing. 

Target's Up & Up Make-A-Size Paper Towels

I'm a paper towel freak.  I also wash my hands a ton and find that using a dish towel to dry them seems counter productive, hence, the paper towel!  Target's "UP" brand is the best paper towel around. They have them in full sheet size and also "make-a-size" which comes with half sheets pre-perforated. (not sure if that's a word but pretty sure you know what I mean)  I have friends that only use Bounty and I have found that Bounty paper towels, while they may be the "quicker picker upper", leave my hands smelling after I dry them.  Again, seems counter productive to me.  I buy the 8 pack of the "make-a-size" because they are perfect for those smaller jobs.  Now, here's the silly part.  I have no idea how much they cost.  I KNOW they are cheaper than Bounty but I can't find my receipt for the life of me and sure enough, they don't sell them online.  Then again, who would buy paper towels online, anyway, right? So, you'll just have to take my word for it. They're great, they cost less and they don't make your hands stinky after you dry them. 

My second deal of the day is Target's Boots & Barkley Mini Franks, a treat for dogs. I have 4 dogs and one of them is on medication. Whenever I give Charlie his medication I always reward him with a treat because I figure the taste of that pill is probably nasty even though I do try and shove it down his throat. Well, how do I give just 1 of my 4 dogs a treat? I can't. So, whenever I yell, "Come here Charlie, it's time for your medicine," they all come running because they have learned that as soon as Charlie opens up the hatch and lets mom shove a pill down his throat they are getting a mini frank! Hail to the mini frank, a.k.a. Snausages! These are exactly like the treat known as Snausages but at half the cost! I pay just $2.14 for a 9.75 oz bag so whenever I go to Target I stock up on these things. Pretty sure that as soon as I walk in the door the dogs recognize the Target bags and are secretly thanking me from the bottom of their little puppy hearts.

4-pk Rawhides

Sorry, but my last deal is also for a dog but this is way too good of a deal to pass up if you buy these for your furry friends. Last weekend, John and I went to Petco to see about getting Charlie some medicated shampoo. The summer months really give him some bad allergies and he was itching furiously. Whoa..I'm getting off topic here. ANYWAY, we strolled by the rawhides and figured we needed to get some for our pooches but.... wait a minute. $9.99 for 2 rawhides? Are you kidding me? I have 4 dogs! That price just wasn't going to cut it. So, today during our Target adventure we looked at their rawhides and dang is Petco ripping people off!!! We found the same size rawhides for just $2.99 for 2! (The picture shows the 4-pk.) Needless to say, we bought our boys (yes, all 4 of my dogs are boys), new rawhides. Wait a minute,... now I'm starting to think that their little thank yous were for the rawhides and NOT the mini franks. Oh well, it's ok. They don't need to thank me for anything. I should be thanking them every day for the joy they bring to my life.


So, while this evening's blog is pretty much all about the dogs, I dedicate it to the homeless pups, living in shelters or on the streets who need a family to open their homes and hearts. I also write this in memory of "Joli" who had to be put to rest today and is now living over the rainbow with our Miko Boy.

Joli

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."
- Gilda Radner

This One's for the Girls!

I can't help myself. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to make-up. Cheap stuff, expensive stuff, sometimes kind of crazy sparkly stuff and well, I'm okay with it! And, I have to give credit where credit is due. My friend, Kim, the gal who told me about the bronzed eyeliner by Wet N Wild last week, is the same gal that told me about this find.

Have you ever noticed, in the afternoon, that you are completely unrecognizable in the bathroom mirror? Granted, the lighting is probably not the best, you're a little tired from staring at a computer for a majority of the day but seriously, I have found myself saying, aloud, "Who are you and what hole did you crawl out of?" I'm not quite sure WHAT happens to the face that had been staring me in the mirror just a few short hours ago. That's when I just shake my head, attempt to look presentable by brushing my hair and sometimes changing the style a bit, add some spray and then it hits me. My face looks exactly the same. Similar to the road kill I passed on my way into work that morning. Damn! 

Alas, I think I've found the solution to that unrecognizable road kill that had once crawled out of a hole only to see his demise of two headlights roaring at him at a speed of somewhere between holy hell and aww shit! It's Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Liquid Foundation.

 
Unlike other foundations, it's quite inexpensive. I paid just $6.49 for it at the drugstore. And, what I'm loving about Rite-Aid, Wal-greens and CVS is that if you purchase the wrong shade, they will take it back, no questions asked! Just keep your receipt. 

Don't get me wrong, I will still ALWAYS visit my favorite make-up store, Sephora.  They have Hello Kitty make-up and well, I can't NOT have some Hello Kitty make-up. They also have the BEST lipstick. Sephora's own brand of lipstick Lip Attitude. Just 12 bucks. I know, most lipstick from the drugstore is cheaper but when you find something you really like and you can afford it, I say go for it. My favorite shade of Lip Attitude is Dolce Nude especially when paired up with a dark smokey eye. 

Isn't she just TOO CUTE?!

 

 

 

So, while I promise this won't be a blog about make-up and will be a blog about good deals well, today, you're getting a little of both. I also promised that I'd give you a tip or two at the end of each entry so here's my tip of the day and it's NOT deal related..sorry. If you have a blemish and you've made it red because you just HAD to pick at it, take a Q-tip and squeeze a bit of eye drops on the tip. Dab your blemish(s) and watch the redness disappear. SERIOUSLY, IT WORKS!!! Not that I ever get acne...I've just heard that this works. LOL!

And here's the BONUS!! Sales Circular! This website will automatically compare prices of all the sales in your area and tell you which store has the lowest price of what you're looking for. Check it out! It does everything for you so you don't have to go to each individual website. Saving time..well, that's just like putting money in your pocket! (Ok, maybe not but you get my drift!)

Two Great Finds at a Great Price!

So, I decided to join the blogging community.  My best friend blogs about food and wine and I see how much joy it gives her so, I figured, why not give it a try.  While I, too, enjoy good food and wine my BFF (Best Friend Forever) is so good at trying new recipes and new bottles of wine that she was meant to blog about it!  Me, not so much.  I tend to stick to what I know and love when it comes to dishes and drinks however, when it comes to bargains, I’m willing to try anything!  So, here is my gift to you.  I will share with you my favorite finds.  The deals and steals that I truly love.  I’ll also throw in little money saving tips that you may just not know about but may come to appreciate. By the way, her blog is listed to the right. Check it out! You won't be disappointed.

Have you ever noticed that when someone compliments you on something you’re wearing the first thing you say is where you bought it, how much it cost and how much you love it?  If not, you’re not me. I realized that I do it a little too often and sometimes, I kind of just need to keep these little secrets to myself.   Well, no secret keeping for me!  For example, last Sunday my BFF and I were doing our Avon Breast Cancer training walk in Santa Barbara.  As we walked by Old Navy, on State Street, I overheard the group of three walking behind us mention the store and how much they like shopping there.  Out of nowhere, I flipped around and said, “I bought these pants there!  I love them and they were only 20 bucks!”  As they smiled to “humor” me I embarrassingly turned around and imagined them rolling their eyes at one another thinking, “Uh, don’t think we asked her about her pants.”  Well, c’est la vie I say! Now they know about my pants, how much they cost me and that I LOVE THEM! 

First of all, let me tell you why I love them so much. They are made of cotton and just enough spandex to hold it all in. They are NOT low rise so, when I bend over no one is seeing something they shouldn’t. I’m not a plumber. Never have been, never will be. Also, they come in a long length. I’m only 5’7” but have realized that if I don’t buy long pants they shrink and end up looking ridiculous on me. And, the best thing about these pants is that they were only $19.50! So, with that, here is the link to the pants. Take a look. You may just gotta have ‘em! Old Navy Yoga Pants

The second deal also begins with a story.  Last Thursday I attended a meeting in Sacramento. As I met up with a friend,  I found myself staring at her eyes.  Yes, I know.  When you talk to someone you’re supposed to stare into their eyes but as she was talking I found myself wondering, “Where did she get that eye liner??”  Her eyes looked amazing!  As she talked I kept thinking, “Okay, Kim, take a breath so I can ask you where you got that eye liner!”  Sure enough, she decided to breathe and I quickly threw out my question for her.  Her reply, “Wet N Wild.  Pretty sure the color is Bronzed and I buy it at Wal-greens. I think I only paid like 99 cents for it.”  Oh, the sound of the angels singing in my head were so crisp and clear!  “99 cents!,”  I thought.  “What a deal!”  So, I visited Wal-greens this weekend. Wore the eye liner today and well, I’m truly amazed out how much happiness 99 cents can give me! Wet N Wild Bronzed Eye Liner

 

And, here’s my little money saving tip.  Don’t ever be too good to shop at a store such as oh, say, Big Lots and make sure that’s one of the first stores you think of when you’re on a mission to find something.  I have found some of the best deals there.  I have walked out with things as small as Revlon make-up and as large as a piece of furniture.  Just remember, between Big Lots, Wal-Mart and Target, we can live happily and save money at the same time.  Don’t get me wrong, you should definitely go to Macy’s every now and then, too!  Splurging never hurt a woman if she did it wisely!