Knott's Berry Farm FREE Admission with Toys for Tots Donation Dec. 5 -20, 2009

Help put a smile on a deserving child's face this holiday season, plus get free admission.  Admission will be FREE when a toy, valued at $15 or more, is purchased at a Knott's Berry Farm merchandise location.  Proof of purchase required. 

Guests wishing to bring a pre-purchased toy (purchased elsewhere) to donate, valued at $15 or more, will receive a coupon for $15 admission into Knott's.

Want to avoid the lines?  Donate a toy online!  

Click here to buy a $15 toy for Toys For Tots 

and a receive one  e-ticket 

valid for admission to Knott's Dec. 5 - 20, 2009.

Black Friday Shopping Tips

Black Friday Shopping Tips

If you're one of the brave ones willing to shop on Black Friday, here are some survival tips.

1. Check online for coupons.Remember to take along copies of the ads for stores you plan on shopping at.
Plan which department in each store you will shop first.

2. Set the alarm and be prepared to stand in line at 4 or 5 AM.

3. Wear your most comfortable pair of shoes.

4. Carry a large tote or bag with a bottle of water and something to snack on.
Remember to take along some tissues-you never know!

5. If possible, get some friends together.
Form a shopping team and have each person shop at a different store for the team members. This will insure that you get most of your items before they sell out.

6. Call ahead to the stores, and ask to speak to a manager.
Ask the manager to tell you how many items of what you want are instock.
One year I stood in line at Kohls for 2 hours and was the third person in line.
They only had 2 video cameras per store to sell. Lesson learned-the hard way!

7. Go over your list the night before you ship and again the next morning.
How much money can you spend? Is there anything that you can do without - or that may be even cheaper right before Christmas?

8. Do not keep your purchases in your car where they can be seen.
Lock them in the trunk."Tis the season" for bad things, too.

9. Don't be upset if something is sold out. Ask if there will be more available later.
Some stores will restock items after 1 PM.
I learned this last year after standing in line for $7 video games. Hmmm,,,by the time I got to the counter-ALL GONE!
The store clerk told me to come back after 1 PM and there would be more available.
I asked at another store, yes, more available in the afternoon.If you totally miss out on a deal, tell yourself that it just wasn't meant to be.Maybe this is a sign that lower prices are ahead.

10. Have fun, be safe, do not shop alone, and remember to make every dollar count.

Quick and Easy Fudge Recipes

My kids love to make fudge using these recipes. You can use any flavor of frosting and add nuts, candy canes, sprinkles, coconut, or whatever you want. I love to make big batches and put them in tins or jars for gifts.

Oreo Cookie Fudge

1 (12 oz.) pkg. vanilla chips
1 can cookies and cream frosting
10 oreos, cut in quarters
3 oreos, crushed
Line an 8 inch square pan with foil. Melt chips over low heat. Remove from heat.
Add frosting. Stir in quartered oreos, and mix until well coated.
Quickly spread into pan. Sprinkle with crushed cookies.
Refrigerate 1 hour until firm. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Quick Chocolate Fudge
1 (12oz) pkg (2 cups) semi-sweet cchocolate chips
1 can Chocolate Fudge Creamy Supreme Frosting
1-1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
3/4 cup chopped mixed nuts
Line an 8" square pan with foil, extending foil over edges, and lightly butter the foil.
Melt chips in large saucepan over very low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in frosting. Add marshmallows and nuts, mix until well coated. Spread in buttered pan, and chill until firm (about 1 hour). Remove from pan by pulling up foil,and  cut into squares. Yummy fudge!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

This pot pie recipe is a family favorite. I love the easy preparation and the flavor is wonderful!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

• 1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup
• 1 8 oz. pkg. of frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 1 cup of cooked chicken, in bite size pieces
• 1/2 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup Baking mix, such as Bisquick

Preheat oven to 400*. In a 9" greased pie plate, mix soup, veggies and meat. In a bowl, combine Baking mix, eggs and milk. Pour over chicken and vegeables. Bake for 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven. The crust should be a nice golden brown. Allow pot pie to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6.

Ralphs Triple Coupon Days thru 11/17/09

Ralphs in Southern California is tripling coupons up to $1.00. That means that a coupon for .20 cents would be tripled to .60 cents, a coupon for .30 cents would be tripled to .90 cents. A coupon that equals more than $1 when tripled will only be doubled up to $1.00. If it is less than $1.00 doubled, the amount to equal the triple max of $1.00 will be added. For example, a .35 coupon would be doubled to .70 and you would get the .30 cent triple max added to make it $1.00. Coupons for a $1.00 value will be honored at the face value of $1.00.

A .50 cent coupon would be doubled to $1.00.

This is a great opportunity to save on those school lunch box items! If you've shopped  Ralphs lately, you know that  they have lowered prices big time in the past few months.

Offer good through 11/17/09.

Get more coupons at Ralphs.com and at Coupons 4 Mom Digest!

Make Money Recycling Your Old Electronics and Cell Phones

Don't throw out those old electronics!

Your old pc or laptop is worth money and deserves to be recycled.

Your broken wii and that old Game Cube could net you some cash!

Did you get a new cell phone? Your old cell phone is worth some money!

There are companies that will buy your old electronics and recycle them.

You can be paid to go green and help our environment. Of course, you will also be able to ship your old electronics to the buyer free of charge. They will send you a pre-paid postage label, box, and shipping form. This is a win - win during these tough economic times.

BuyMyTronics.com will buy your old game systems, computers, ipods, etc. You can enter your model and its condition and get a price on their website.

CellForCash.com will buy your old cell phones, as long as they are not obsolete! Even if you do have a 10 year old phone, they will recycle it for you free of charge. Visit their site and use their estimator. My old cell phone was actually worth $2 more at this site, so be sure and compare estimates among sites.

Radio Shack will give you a Radio shack gift card in lieu of cash when you recycle your electronics through their program.

Toshiba will pay you cash and for a limited time you will receive a $25 Starbucks gift card with your trade in. The offer is limited to 1 gift card per person. Toshiba gave me the best estimate for my old phone-$24 plus the gift card. Wow, $49 for my old cell phone!

Toshiba also has instructions on how to erase and back up data before you send your trade in.

All of the sites listed here will pay you after they receive and evaluate your item to assure that it is in the condition that you gave when you got your estimate.

This is a great way to recycle and make some money. I strongly urge you to take advantage of these programs now, the sooner you do, the more money you will receive for your old electronics and phones.

Remember my mission - let's make every dollar count.

Richard Nixon Library FREE Admission on Veteran's Day, Nov.11,2009

Admission is FREE to the famous Nixon Library on Veteran's Day, Novemebr 11,2009.

from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Nixon Library is located at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, California, 92886. The library's phone number is (714) 993-5075.

The regular admission price is $10 for adults, kids 7-11 are $3.75, 6 and under free.

Seniors and military with ID admission is $7 and students are usually charged $6.

Click here to go to the library’s “Plan Your Visit” website

What's to see there?

You can walk through the Nixon Presidential helicopter,visit the magnificent galleries, stroll the first Lady's rose garden which holds thousands of breath taking roses, and even visit Richard Nixon's fully restored birthplace. President and First Lady Nixon are buried on the property, and you will also see their memorials. This is a wonderful family trip to plan for Veteran's Day and definitely one that you'll always remember.

Coinstar-Change $40 and Get a FREE $10 Gift Card

Visit the Coinstar machine and change $40 of coins for a gift certificate to receive a additional $10 gift certificate FREE! Choose from amazon, i tunes, Lowes, and more!

For more information, visit Coinstar.com

Find a Coinstar machine

Offer ends 12/06/09

Work At Home Sites

Here is a list of sites to search for work at home positions.
I am listing them here for your convenience.

http://www.liveops.com/
http://www.westathome.com/
http://www.convergysworkathome.com/
http://www.alpineaccess.com/
http://www.arise.com/
http://www.vipdesk.com/
http://www.workingsol.com/

It's a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if a company has complaints before working for one.

Veteran's Day~ FREE Offers for Veterans

Here are some great offers for FREE dinners and merchandise in honor of our Veterans:

11/1 - 26th - Knott’s Berry Farm - Free Admission for active military or veteran, and one guest.

11/8/09 - McCormick & Schmick’s - One free lunch or dinner entree from special menu.

11/11/09 - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - One free doughnut on Veterans Day. All veterans and active military personnel.

11/11/09 - Hugo Canes and Sam’s Club - Free canes for Veterans in need. 25,000 canes will be given away.

11/11/09 - U.S. Department of the Interior - FREE Admission-Fee Free day at National Parks, Refuges, and other Interior Lands.

11/11/09 - Outback Steakhouse - Free Bloomin' Onion and drink for Veterans and active duty military.

11/11/09 - Applebee’s - One free entree for Veterans.

11/16/09 - Golden Corral - Free Dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m for Veterans.

Pumpkin Cookies Recipe

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

These cookies are a big hit with my family.
My kids took a few each in their lunch boxes to school, and
I ended up baking dozens more for their friends and teachers.

Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup shortening or oil

2 cups pumpkin( I use canned)

2 cups sugar

1 cup nuts, chopped

1 cup chocolate chips

2 tspns vanilla

2 tspns baking soda

2 tspns baking powder

2 tspns cinnamon

4 cups flour

Mx together shortening, pumpkin and sugar. Add nuts, chocolate chips, and vanilla. Add baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and flour. Mix together. Drop by tablespoon on cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

FREE Snow Valley Mountain Ski Lift Ticket~ California

EXPIRED
Snow Valley Mountain Resort will give you a FREE ski lift ticket, valid any day during the winter season of 2009-2010, excluding holiday days. Simply fill out this form to receive your ticket.

Snow Valley Mountain Resort is located 5 miles east of Running Springs, Caifornia on highway 18.