Christmas of Dreams Blog Party Day 2

You have got to check out the Blog Party over at Momdot. It looks like it's going to be a ton of fun, with some great prizes given out.

The Jimenez Family Traditions
(Or Lack Thereof)

Honestly, we don't have many. We live in Colorado. My family lives in Wisconsin. Mike's family lives in Virginia. It's just us out here, so it's not as easy to make family traditions when you're not near the fam.

The first few years after I came back to Colorado we traveled back to where I grew up for Christmas, once again not making it easy to make our own traditions!! The last couple of years we've stayed home. Although it's a bit lonely, it's much easier not to have to travel 1200 miles just to deal with family. Ugh.

The one thing we do for Christmas is let the kids open one present before they go to bed. After they're in bed and asleep then my husband and I open ALL of our presents that we gave each other. Yes, all of them. Why? We can't help it!! We love to give gifts to each other. Unfortunately, we are not able to give them very often, so Christmas Eve we make each other open the gift that we gave. We're funny.

I pretend like I send out cards every year, but the truth is....I've done it like 3 times in the last 10 years. I'm a total procrastinator. And when I don't procrastinate, I just forget. Damn ADHD.

For Thanksgiving the five of us usually stay home. I start cooking a day or two ahead of time. I cook enough food for 20 people, I swear. Ummm, if not more. I can't help it!! My family was HUGE growing up, and I learned to cook BIG!!

Sponsored by: LaPlates and Lets Go Strolling and Natitys Design

VIP Bloggers: Parent Reviewers , Mom Most Traveled, Mommy Zabs, MomStart, HipposToes, Run DMT

Christmas of Dreams Blog Party Day 1

Since I obviously cannot think of a single thing to blog about, I decided to join in on the blog party over at Momdot. They will be asking a new question every day. It's going from Nov 12 to Nov 27. Jump in on the fun over at Momdot!! (and yes, of course, I'm starting a day late).

Introduce You & Your Family & Share Holiday Photos

Sponsored by: La Belle Toile and This and That by Randi

My name is Melissa. Yep, that's me.



I have a wonderful husband, Mike.



And three little monsters named Dylan, Michael, and Madison.



We also have 3 dogs, Gruff (black one), Goldie (dark yellow), & Bogey (light yellow). Then there's Luke, our Iguana. Next we have Guinea(pretend like you have a french accent), who is our (wait for it) Guinea pig. I have 3 hermit crabs, all of whom are named Mr. Krabs. We also have 2 parakeets (named birdie) and a cockatiel who we call Girly. Last we have a fish. I think we call him fish. I will spare you all of the pictures, and just put one in of our dogs.



Let me try to find a couple of Christmas pictures from last year......Well, I can't seem to find them. I will post them when I figure out where hb is hidding them.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Okay, yeah, so I've been slacking off. I haven't had hardly any posts to my blogs in quite a while. Hopefully that will change soon. I'd like to get back on track. Till then here's picture I took just a couple of weeks ago.

Colorado Sky Right Before Sunset

Wordless Wednesday #1

Coupon Abbreviations

So here is a list of coupon abbreviations for newbie’s like myself. ;) I was sent this and it is soooooo helpful when looking at other peoples blogs.

MQ = manufacturer coupon

MIR = Mail in Rebate

OOP = Out Of Pocket

P&G = Proctor & Gamble Sunday supplement coupons

Peelie = coupon that you peel off the package

RP = red plum coupon insert from Sunday newspaper

RR = Register Rewards (these are the catalinas that print out at Walgreens)

SS = Smartsource coupon insert from Sunday newspaper

Stacking = the art of "stacking" your coupons in a certain order so that they will ring up how you want them to

Tear Pad = A pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display

V = Valassis (same as red plum) coupon insert

WYB = When You Buy

Blinkies - Machines that spit out coupons in store isles

BOGO - Buy one get one free

Burn - Paying for purchases with ECBs or RRs that DO NOT generate more ECBs or RRs

Catalina - machine that spits out coupons, usually at grocery store

CRT - Cash register tape - coupons to use at CVS, target, etc.

ECB - Extra care bucks at CVS

FAR - Free after rebate

Filler - Getting other stuff for free when you go negative

IPQ - Internet Printable Coupon

OOP - Out of Pocket

Overage - When coupons make you go negative, add a filler

Peelies - coupons found on the package

Q - Coupon

Rain Check - When store is out of an item, they will give you a paper with the sale price and when they restock, you can take advantage of it!

Roll - Using ECBs or RRs to pay for purchases that generate ECBs or RRs

YMMV - Your mileage may vary, different at different stores

OAS: "one any size" Some coupons specifically state on them that they can be used on any size product.

POP: Proof of Purchase. This is the upc symbol on the package.

P/H: postage and handling

SAE: self addressed envelope

SASE: self addressed stamped envelope

SMP: specially marked package, meaning a package you find in the store that has been printed with a refund offer on it.

UPC: "Universal Product Code". It is that box of black lines that the checker passes over the scanner at the checkout.

WSL: while supply lasts.

Blinkies = coupon dispensed near product, in the store (usually from a "blinking" red box)

Catalina = a coupon dispensed at the register at the time of purchase (either at end of receipt or separate)

ECB = Extra Care Buck (CVS)

ESB = Easy Saver book (Walgreens)

ESC = Easy Saver Coupon (coupon found in Walgreens Easy Saver Catalog)

FAR = free after rebate

IP = Internet Printable (a coupon you print off the internet)

IVC = Instant Value Coupon

MFR = manufacturer

B1G1F: "Buy 1, Get 1 Free"

BTFE: Box Tops for Education

BRU: BabiesRUs

C/D: Complete Deal. A refund form with all the proofs of purchase needed to send for the refund.

C/O: cents off coupon, or cash off coupon.

CRTC: cash register tape

DCRT: dated cash register tape. Must show the date of purchase on the tape.

LSASE: long self addressed stamped envelope

NED: No Expiration Date

Being pretty new to Couponing, this was a MAJOR help.

Love Coffee? Get Your Free Sample Of Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Here:

I love me a good cup of joe. Ran across this while I was cruising around on the internet, thought I'd share the love. Enjoy!

Why I Am A "Mean Person" ~A Daily Rant~

It was a beautiful day here, so we decided to take the kids to the City Park. Lots of people were out and about. Lots of Adults, kids, families, just tons of people. Along with that came many, many dogs. Not a problem. Mostly.

The kids were playing on the playground, which is fairly big. Still, it was covered with lots of kids. There were a couple of families that brought their dogs over, but all of them were on leases and kept right next to adults.

One woman had a small child who looked like she had just learned to walk. I don't think the baby could have been older than a year, but probably around 10 months or so. This woman also decided to bring her dog. She soon realized that she couldn't play with her child while she was holding the dogs leash.

So she tied the dog up to one side of the playground. And then left the dog to go play with her baby. Really?

My daughter is 4. We have 3 dogs at home, so she loves dogs. She came over to try to pet the dog. My husband and I were standing right near the dog, on the edge of the playground. As she was going for the dog, I told her she could pet the dog without permission (a rule, that we don't touch other people's dogs without permission).

The lady then says, "yes, don't touch my dog. She won't bite, but she might bite if I'm not holding her leash." What?

My daughter made 3 or 4 attempts, one after the other to get to this dog. On the final one she got a little big closer, but still not within reach of the dog. This woman GRABBED my daugher's arm and told her not to go by her dog.

Okay. Now I'm pissed. I say to this woman, "Do not touch my daughter. You shouldn't leave your dog tied up away from you, especially if you think it might bite someone if you're not next to it."

The woman continues to try to argue with me, but I just keep repeating that she shouldn't tie the dog up and walk away from it, much less bring it to a park full of kids, if she thinks it might bite someone. What the hell was she thinking? Sounds like she was asking for a lawsuit if you ask me.

She stayed next to her dog after that. She was flirting with some man who had a couple little girls of his own. Her daughter wandered away from her, and came right in front of us. When she realized her daughter was next to us, she ran over, scooped her daughter up and said, " oh, don't play here, these people are mean." Ummm. Okay lady.

Please note in the picture how she is sitting right next to her dog after I tell her she shouldn't have left it alone - even though she insisted that "it wouldn't bite. But it might bite if I'm not next to her." After she was done over there, she went to the swings, and thankfully took her dog.