My JC Penney Steal!

Don't you just love it when you score such a great deal that you feel all giddy inside? This weekend's shopping trip was somewhat unplanned but because I keep my little accordian coupon folder with me inside my reusable shopping bag at all times, I was able to get exactly what I wanted for a great price! Since many of you have recently voted on our blog poll for more money saving ideas, I thought I'd end the weekend with this post.

While I was doing a little Christmas shopping/browsing yesterday, I remembered that I had another one of my favorite $10 of $10 or more coupons. If you've been following my blog for a while you may remember the first JC Penney post I wrote where I used this same coupon a couple months ago, and how I got a stunning pair of chandelier earrings for just $2.77!

I made a beeline for the jewelry counter with one item in mind-sterling silver hoop earrings. They're a staple in a woman's jewelry box.  Sure, you can buy a pair of hoops anywhere but if they're not real silver they will eventually tarnish badly over time. My old pair had started to turn color and were not responding to soaking and I didn't want to wear them out like that, so it was indeed time for some new ones.

A good pair of sterling can run you around $30-50 but I found a great sale for 65% off!! I used my coupon on top of this discount on the original $44.00 price and wound up only paying $5.40 before tax! Pretty sweet deal for sterling silver at 87% off. Even the cashier commented and said, "You're robbing us!" and I said, "Yup, gotta love coupons!" ;). So, this was a little present to me from me. Take a look at the receipt below for the breakdown. Oh, and here are my shiny new hoops!

Stay on the lookout for these coupons, they were circulating in my area last week and are good until Dec.24th on almost anything. If you find an item for ten dollars then you won't even pay a dime. Even if you are finished all of your holiday shopping, there's no reason why you can't treat yourself to a freebie, right?

Have you been able to take advantage of this coupon? What did you buy?

Gift Cards Are the New Fruitcake?

If you're thinking of giving a gift card this year, you might want to rethink your idea. It turns out that they may not be the gift that keeps on giving or the best choice for that hard-to-shop-for person after all.  

Last year I discovered that not all gift cards are created equally. While many of us believe gift cards will never expire and are as good as the cash value they're denoted with, it may not be so.


I came across a great article about the negative aspects of the gift card and thought these highlights might be worth a read before selecting them for your gift recipient this Christmas.


THE UGLY SIDE OF GIFT CARDS


1. Infinity and Beyond?- Many believe that gift cards are good forever, and most stores do operate this way and honor that policy. On the other hand, some do not and have expiry dates unbeknownst to the purchaser and the recipient. This is generally not the case with a major credit card gift card such as Visa or Amex, however some smaller stores often do implement such a restriction. If you are the recipient of such a card, it is best to mark the expiry date on your calendar and use the card up as quickly as you can.


2. Fees, Fees, Fees- Did you know that many gift cards issued by credit card companies will actually start deducting from the balance of the card if it hasn't been used in a particular timeframe? Some cards may start deducting as much as $2.50 per month after the first year! Many of these cards involve a fee to obtain them to begin with so they can be quite pricey all around. This doesn't wish you or the gift recipient a very Merry Christmas.


3. Left High and Dry- With the plethora of stores that are going bankrupt, they leave gift card recipients without a place to use their card, thus it goes to waste. A friend of mine purchased a prepaid gift card for herself to a prepared dinner club where frozen, homemade meals can be purchased, only to find out they had gone under and she had barely put a dent in her card. She found this out by dropping by and seeing a sign in the window. She called and tried to get her money back but they were unable to help her out. Before buying a gift card for anyone make sure you know the financial status of the company.


4. Some Restrictions Apply- Many retailers with online stores will not allow their gift cards to be used on the web such as CVS. These restrictions can be quite frustrating in general, especially for men who typically don't frequent stores and aren't generally interested in shopping in busy stores. Another common issue is cards purchased in say the U.S and mailed to Canada. I found this out the hard way with a $200 Potterybarn gift card that some colleagues' had purchased for my bridal shower. When I went to shop online or redeem after I had moved to the U.S., the card was only good in Canada. I had to wait until I was back in my good old home town to make my purchase.


5. He's Just Not that Interested!- Sometimes our best intentions to provide a useful gift such as a gift card may not be well received. Perhaps the recipient isn't interested in the particular store that the gift card was purchased from. Worse than this are those that ldamage or ose their cards or misplace them in a shuffle of paperwork or they are stolen, etc. Most times these cannot be replaced, but there are some companies that will help you out. If you are the recipient of a card for a store you loathe, you can sell or trade yours on http://www.plasticjungle.com/ or http://www.giftcardsagain.com/


 It's been reported that a whopping $5 Billion of the money spent on giftcards in the U.S. will NEVER be used! Shocking, isn't it? This actually happens to be the exact reason why store gift cards are so heavily promoted. Many stores recognize that many will never be redeemed AND if they ever are, the recipient will usually purchase something for beyond the amount that the card is valued at, so it is a win-win for them. Another common scenario are shoppers that make purchases with their gift card and wind up with $3.42 for example as a remaining balance. Many will never make the trip back to a particualar store just to redeem that amount so it is money lost.
Here is the original article.
 
In spite of this new found data, I will gladly accept a Potterybarn (despite my previous experience), Ikea, Whole Foods or Starbuck's giftcard any day of the week. They are solid stores that always have what I love!


How about you-have you ever had one of the above situations happen while attempting to use a gift card?

12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS!

With just two weeks left until Christmas, I thought it was only appropriate to share a fun homemade gift idea for those that wish to create vs. buy.

As promised in last week's 'Humble and Merry Christmas' post, I am sharing with you what I made for my hubby last year. The creating part was pretty easy but mine did involve a little bit of cash, however I stuck to my set budget.

All the details are below and this would make a great last minute gift to put together if you've run out of time or ideas because all you need is a computer and a printer!

THE 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS

Last year my husband and I decided to exclusively give homemade gifts to one another so the time, creativity and thought put in was the most important part. We were both so excited to open up each other's handmade creations.

While searching last year for some insipiration before beginning, I stumbled upon and idea about the 12 dates of Christmas from an Oprah viewer who had done something similar with her husband, but theirs weren't presents, rather something fun to do during the holidays. I knew after hearing about it, that was what I wanted to create and I was thrilled that it would be a personal gift but one that I got to also enjoy and partake in. ;) While the gift was for him, it was also great for our relationship and we had a blast enjoying each date together.

Here is what we did and what my present looked like:

SUPPLIES

1. (13) identical envelopes and some cardstock or even regular printer paper will do. ( I preferred the durability of cardstock and the look of the overall finished product.)

2. Computer/Printer and microsoft word. You could also do this with a shabby chic effect and use some scrapbook paper and supplies instead of your computer.

3. Google: Images found via the web for each date and also to do some searches of what special and fun events are taking place in your area.

That's it!

I first wrote my hubby a special and personal letter and put it inside one envelope and attached it to a wrapped box filled with the other 12 envelopes or 'dates'. Each were hand stamped on the outside or decorated in some way too. Inside, the box contained 12 separate envelopes for him to open up, so it was like opening 12 different presents! Without further ado, I scanned the finished cards and uploaded them so here is what we did...

*Yes, I do realize there is a typo on this salsa card. That's what happens when you try to multitask! ;)

Stay tuned for my upcoming post to see what my husband's handmade gift for me was. It is something that I will cherish and keep forever. :)

Do you like to make handmade Christmas gifts? What have you made? What is the best homemade gift you've ever received?

Manners Monday: Cell Phone Etiquette

Do you have friends, colleagues or family members that are rude when it comes to using their cell phones? We would all like to think after years of having the cell phone in existence that most would know how to mind their mobile phone manners but it is actually becoming more of a problem.

As cell phones have become more sophisticated and user-friendly so have their usage and their acceptability in many public places. It's not uncommon to see people typing on their blackberry during their child's Christmas pageant, or chatting away while they're at the bank teller window. While cell phones by nature were meant to be used for safety and convenience, the way they are used can be down right disrespectful.

After working part time at a local Target store for the Christmas season and being at the checkout lanes the odd time (that was not my regular role), I've got to witness all sorts of interesting things. One particularly ignorant woman was talking on her cell the whole time and gossiping about a friend to what sounded like another friend. She was bad talking someone and being rude to me, she wouldn't even look up in my direction to say hello or say thank you when I handed her change to her. On the contrary I had another lady who apologized profusely after getting off of her cell since she was speaking to an ill friend who wouldn't let her off the phone. She told me she thinks it's SO rude when people do that and she really didn't want to do that to me. I could hear her conversation and assured her it was not a problem. She was so sincere and sweet and clearly understood cell phone etiquette.

After September's blog poll vote on your favorite blog topics, it's clear that 82% of you want to know more about etiquette and manners, so here is another of many more posts to come.

Below is a list of quick tips on how to be courteous around others while on your phone.


Cell Phone Etiquette Reminders

1. While Visiting- If you're out for dinner with a friend, that is not the time to leave your cell on and start replying to text messages or taking calls, unless it is for an emergency. Perhaps you're a mom and you have a new babysitter, you might want to leave it on vibrate just in case. For regular calls, it is best to leave your phone off so you can fully enjoy the other person's company. Taking the call tells your friend that the text messages and calls are more important that what you are doing together at the moment.

I have a friend that is notorious for texting and taking calls while we go to dinner or are out and about. I love her to pieces but that is one thing I wish she wouldn't do, especially when our time together can be limited with us both being so busy.

2. The Noise Factor- Why is it that the same people who have the most obnoxious ring tones are also the same people who have their volume raised to the max? Keep ringing volumes to a moderate level or turn them to vibrate. When in a public place; especially one that demands quiet such as a library, doctor's office (where they are often not allowed at all) and the movies, keep them on vibrate if you must have them on at all. It's kind of like smoking, you might be enjoying it, but nobody else wants to be subjected to it. Other important places to turn your phone off are restaurants, church, special performances and the gym. Really-how focused can you be on your workout with a cell phone in one hand?

3. Safety Hazard- We've all heard about how dangerous it can be to drive while dialing or texting on mobile phones, but the truth is I don't think we really think hard about it until we're almost driven off the road by a distracted driver or know someone who has been. Three times now this year alone I have almost been hit or driven off the road by someone on their cell phone. It's so unnecessary and the important thing to ask yourself is: " Is my phone call worth killing someone or totaling my car?" I'm certain everyone would answer no, but we still have so many on the road who do. There is nothing that can't wait until you are off the roads. Kudos to the state of California and the province of Ontario (where I grew up) in Canada who both have banned cell phone usage while driving.

4. Loud Talkers- Whether people do it to get attention from others or they are just really THAT loud, we'll never know but whatever the reason, it is rude to talk excessively loud, especially while on a cell phone in public. It's hard enough to concentrate and think most days with the amount of distractions around us. If it's not flashing billboards, then it's the radio or the store's background music. I am a bold person and while I always strive to be as courteous, polite and well mannered as possible to everyone, there are times when a 'Shhhhhh' has come out of my mouth in the library or another quiet place, and others surrounding me have smiled, sighed with relief and acknowledged what they didn't feel comfortable to do themselves. Sometimes people are just plain rude and if we don't stop them in their tracks, their poor manners will continue.

5. Inappropriate Public Conversations- I am always amazed at what people will talk about on their cell phones. Topics that you'd make sure nobody was around to hear at home or in the office are suddenly acceptable in public. Who knew? I can assure you that passers-by don't want to hear the dirty details of your nasty divorce and see you cry, how wasted you were the night before, who you hooked up with on the weekend or all the latest details of how broke you are and why you hate your job so much. If a topic comes up while you are not in a private place to discuss it, ask the person if you can continue the conversation later.

6. Ignoring While Ordering- I'm sure you've seen the many people in lines at stores, fast food drive thrus, line ups and the like on their cell phones, they're usually breaking one of the above rules along with just being plain irritating and rude to the person taking their order. As I described about the Target customer above, this is becoming so much of an issue that stores and fast food places are now starting to place signs up like the one at the top of this post. You can see a McDonald's location decided to take action. Good for them!

What is the worst scenario you've encountered with a rude person on a cell phone?

7 Quick Tidy Tips that Make a Big Impact

With the holidays upon us, I know many will host guests or holiday parties and may even have some drop-in visitors. If you've got someone dropping by last-minute (as my inlaws often do), then you might only have 5 or 10 mins to do a quick tidy up before they arrive after receiving a call from them that they're on their way. Let's face it, nobody's home is immaculate 24/7 unless they have a housekeeper on staff full time or they never get out to enjoy life.

Here is a list of  tips that take very little time but make a big visual impact in your home.

7 QUICK TIDY TIPS

1. Make Your Bed- Nothing looks messier than an unmade bed. Of course you can always just shut the door but it does make a huge difference in how you feel about your home even on a daily basis. A made bed instantly makes any bedroom look neater.

2. Gather Loose Items- If you grab a bin or basket and can round up kids' toys, magazines, and any other odd items laying around the house, they'll be much easier to grab vs. holding them in your arms. This way you can quickly deliver the items back to their designated areas or if you're really pressed for time, you can stash them in a bedroom closet and put the items away after your drop-in guest leave.

3. Load it Up- Any kitchen instantly looks neater by moving the dishes from the sink to the dishwasher. The trick is to make sure day-to-day that you never let the dishes pile up excessively or your dishwasher may not have enough room.

4. Fridge Facelift- Many fridges often have various papers taped to the front doors as well as  loads of magnets on the sides and front as well. As a Professional Home Stager this is one of the first things I recommend to my clientsfor their showings. It's quick and easy and makes a dramatic difference.

5. Fluff the pillows- If you're having a short drop-by visit, the guests are likely to use the bathroom and the living room area as well as kitchen. Focusing on these areas is best, the sofas and chairs need to be fluffed/plumped up as do the pillows so they look neat and inviting. Any blankets or throws should either be stored away or neatly draped over the edge of the chair or sofa.

6. Beautify your Bathroom- The same tip that held true for rounding up items in your home is true for the bathroom. Keep all personal care items, toothbrushes, prescription meds out of sight. If you have a lot of items, round them up in a basket and place them in your linen closet where you can later put them back neatly, if you're pressed for time. You can also use storage baskets to gather these items and place them on a bathroom shelf or under the sink. Be sure to draw the shower curtain and change out the hand towels for a new, clean set. Also,  make sure there is a full roll of toilet paper and some hand soap.

7.  Toss theTrash- Any visible and non-visible trash cans should be emptied from the bedrooms, bathrooms, office and kitchen and taken to the garage's main trash bin. This eliminates odors from kitchen scraps and instantly neatens the room. Nobody likes to look at a full trash can or worse, try to put their garbage into one that is about to overflow. Light a few scented candles and place them in rooms such as the living room, kitchen and bathroom or a hall console table to freshen up and add additional warmth to your home. You can also open a few windows for 5-10 minutes to eliminate stale air.

These of course are not meant to be 'cleaning' tips but rather quick tidy-up and de-cluttering  tips that can be used everyday in conjunction with an already clean home. I will be posting some holiday clean-up schedules in the coming weeks as many prepare to entertain.

For more great cleaning and tidying tips, visit our previous posts on keeping a clean car , keeping a clean fridge  and cleaning with natural ingredients.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

A Humble AND Merry Christmas!

At Casa Davis, this Christmas will be a humble and frugal one and I'm excited about it! It forces me to be even more creative.  During the past 3 years that we've been married we've kept everything pretty low-key with the focus being on Christ and family time together instead of presents under the tree and a whole lot of hoopla. This year in particular we have decided to forgo buying Christmas presents for each other. We truly do not need any more 'stuff'. And really, don't we all just have too much stuff? Not only does it help us keep our home clutter-free but it also saves us money too.

One thing we really enjoy doing is making each other gifts and using our talents and getting creative instead of heading to the mall or surfing endlessly online. More on that in my next post where I'll share with you exactly what we made for each other last year! We DO like to fill up little stockings so our budget is basically $20 and under. It's those little things that you feel guilty buying for yourself like a $10 starbucks gift card or a pretty new lipgloss.

We do not in any way feel deprived and do not have any expectations from other family members either. In fact, we've all decided to do a very casual Christmas exchange with our parents and inlaws. There are no children in the family so it is easy peasy and we have a small, set budget for the 5 people we'll be buying for.

I love to decorate so the fun for me has been decorating the tree and the the front porch, making some homemade Christmas decor on a budget, mulling apple cider in the evenings and curling up with some DVD's from the library or listening to a festive CD. Because we live in a high tourist area, Hubby and I also love to go to the biggest, grandest hotels and check out their holiday decor, it's always so beautiful and perfect for photo opps. We usually try to dress up and snap a few pictures. Last year our Christmas card included a fun photo of us in front of some gorgeous holiday scenery and the best part is it's free, no studio sitting fee. 

Classy women know their budget and stay within it. They don't feel the need to go into debt so they can provide flashy gifts on Christmas morning or to impress anyone so they'll feel like a success. A $100 gift today could translate into thousands down the road in compounded interest if your credit card cannot be paid off in a timely manner. I've seen this happen so many times and when January comes they are the very women who are panicking and not sure how they'll pay their rent and then get even deeper into debt. It's important to remember that your family and friends will love you no matter how inexpensive their gifts are.  In their hearts I'm sure time with you will be considered far more valuable.

How about you? What have you and your families decided to do this Christmas. Do you go all out or draw names so each family member buys for just one person? There are so many great ideas among families to ease the burden of gift giving. I'd love to hear yours so leave a comment. :)

Holiday Party Dress Inspiration

Are you searching for the perfect holiday or party dress to wear this season? Here are a few trendy, sexy and classic dresses to inspire you- the classy woman! These are all from the Victoria's Secret website and if you order now they'll be at your doorstep in a matter of days just in time for your holiday event! Most of the dresses are suited to formal events but I've thrown in a couple for more casual affairs or in-home parties too.

(*I am in no way compensated for sharing these dresses or making any statements regarding Victoria's Secrets products. This post is based on my opinion and preferences.)

ALL DRESSES UNDER $129

Ruched Jersey Dress- $78

Ruched Convertible Dress- Sale $79

Lace Boatneck Dress- Sale $129

Ruffled V-Neck Sweaterdress- Clearance $24.99

One Shoulder Dress- $78

Lace Halter Dress- Sale $129

Flirty Little Sweetheart Neck Dress- Sale $79

Matte Jersey One-Shoulder Dress- Sale $69

Cotton Rib Turtleneck Sweaterdress- Sale $39

Flirty Little Dropwaist Dress- Sale $59

There were so many to choose from so I hand selected ten that are a little sexy and show off a bit of skin but in all the right places of course- a peek of the back, a shoulder revealed, but always tasteful and timeless too so you could wear these for several more years to come.

Happy Browsing!