Have you noticed? Can you feel it?

When I get up in the morning…it’s dark.

By 8:00 pm…it’s dark.

I know, I know…it’s still only August, but I’m already having seasonal anxiety.

Yes, I am THAT person. And, sadly, it’s getting worse and worse every year.

Medication? No thanks…I refuse any medicine unless absolutely necessary. As far as prescriptions go, I take ZERO, NADA, ZILCH. In any case, I always look for an alternative cure before turning to medication…which is not only good for my body, but easy on the pocketbook too!

I’ve noticed that weight-loss and diet will cure many of my ailments, but not seasonal anxiety. The only cure I have found thus far? A winter vacation. That’s right folks…you heard me correctly…A…winter…vacation. Okay, so it’s not cheaper than medication. Though, pills can’t give you a good tan, a plethora of culture or priceless memories (and if they can…please contact me ASAP. I pay in baked goods.)

We may or may not have been dancing on a bar top.

Four years ago, we traveled to Acapulco during the month of February. Give me a quick moment to relive the memory…ahhh…the sun…the food…the people…the endless freakin’ amount of alcohol…ehem. Anyway, February is a perfect time to go somewhere warm. Reason being, everyone is always so busy up until Christmas that you really don’t have much time to think about sitting around doing nothing. January is pretty much spent packing, planning and donating blood plasma to afford a few extra drinks while you are away. February comes, you vacation and when you return, it is practically March. Helloooo Spring! It really sounds like a bunch of over-talking but it works. It really, really works. We did this for THREE years: Acapulco, Acapulco and Maui. Last winter? Nothing. The LONGEST.WINTER.EVEH.

I can’t do that again (does that sound spoiled and bratty? Honey Badger don’t care.)

Money can always be spent elsewhere. It never fails. Just when you think you have some “extra” income, the dishwasher breaks or you get a leak in your exhaust. It’s always something. Though, we all need to realize the importance of a “mental break”, time away…a vacation. It’s just good for the soul. Fortunately, there are websites out there that make it affordable for us frugal folks to take these much needed trips.

Here are a few of my personal tips on how to afford to get your frozen butt out of the winter snow and onto a beach…somewhere:

• Plan Ahead: Give yourself plenty of time to plan your trip and save some money. Start checking sites like Bookit.com to see what the going rates are and if you can find a package deal. Can you cut your budget anywhere? Maybe you could stop eating out until your trip and bank what you would normally spend. Something simple like that can sure add up.
• Accommodations: Make sure you are staying in a place that fits what you need. For instance, we make it a general rule to eat in for breakfast and lunch with only eating out at dinnertime. Therefore, we try to find a hotel that includes a kitchen area…at least a fridge and microwave. Hotels with included breakfasts are a huge bonus.
• Ditch the kids: The less people you have, the less the vacation will cost. Are your kids old enough to leave with family and too young to appreciate an “older” vacation? Is it time for mommy and daddy to take some time away? In the past, we have planned two trips per year: one with just us and one family oriented vacation. Now that our son is older, he is more interested in learning and able to appreciate the “larger” travels. So…back to donating more blood plasma…
• Gifts: Is your family a big “gifting” family? Christmas and birthdays – when they ask you the dreaded, “What do you want?” question, tell them gift cards. Visa/Mastercard gift cards, hotel gift cards, airfare gift cards, restaurant gift cards, etc. Why pay for your own vacation when someone else can do it for you?
• Travel partners: I know it is difficult to travel with other people, but are you able to find a travel buddy or another couple to split costs with? You can save BIG time by splitting a timeshare, food and ground transportation with other people. We traveled with another couple for all three of the trips I mentioned above. Our second year in Acapulco, we only spent $25 per night on a two bedroom, two bath, full kitchen timeshare. It’s good to know peeps. *fist to chest bump*

Needless to say, I am looking to go somewhere, ANYWHERE where the sun shines…a LOT…and, oh…a beach would be nice.

How ’bout it Bookit.com? I hear Cancun is really nice…in February (or anytime.) Save me from seasonal anxiety, that nasty ole’ beast. *cheesy smile*

Honest Blogger Found Here: I received no compensation or product for my blog post. Though, I do get a chance at a 5 night trip including airfare. As always, 100% my honest opinion. Disclosure policy can be given upon request.

You can choose multiple photos, change the background color, add a title…and have it printed in about an hour.

What are you waiting for? This deal only lasts through today.

This is already the third deal of the week…are you stocking up on gifts? You should be. *wink*

The deal of the day is an 11 x 14 Collage Poster for only $2.99 – normally priced at $11.99. You can include up to 20 photos, choice of background colors and an optional title above or below the pictures.

Once again, put this in a frame and set aside for your next birthday or anniversary gift.

So, if I’m not updating here, you can be sure to find me over there. It’s taking a little time to get everything up and running, so please bear with me.

From here on out, anything “food” will be discussed at Food.(Just Sayin’).

Oh…and if you’re interested, come “Like” me! *wink*

Today, the offer is for a 5×7 Easel Art for $1.99! They are normally priced at $14.99. Remember the upcoming holidays: Easter, Mother’s Day & Father’s Day. Snag your gift now.

Watch this…and let me know what you think.

Thanks to Frugalista for bringing this to my attention.

Christmastime brings gifts.

Gifts bring wrapping.

Soo…how do you feel about that? Some people love.love.LOVE to wrap gifts. Heck, around here, kids can even take “gift wrapping” in 4-H! what?

When we were little, my aunt (who is 10 months younger) and I couldn’t WAIT to sit on my grandma’s living room floor and wrap all of her presents. Now, I’m not talking two or three little gifts – this was a MAJOR undertaking…like an ENTIRE BEDROOM FULL. We would sit for HOURS, sometimes all day wrapping and decorating boxes. Mind you, this was way before the days of stuffing everything in a gift bag and topping it off with a piece of tissue paper. Bows, ribbons, picks, curly q’s, stickers…whatever it took, we were determined to make them the best looking presents in the whole town of Knox.

Years have obviously gone by…and now? Beautiful packages done up in silver paper with turquoise bows, adorned with glittering sequins? Dreams? Yes. Reality? Not so much. Oh trust me, every year I have visions of those beautiful cadeaux under a vintage style Christmas tree, awaiting wide eyes and anxious fingers. But, gosh darnit, it just never happens.

So, with the time and money had, I do my best. Do I really need to mention that I also hate to waste money on paper, bows and disposable things of that nature? As if the gifts themselves don’t cost enough I hate to sound like a Grinch, why spend money on something that will go straight to the recycle bin? I know…it’s just part of Christmas…I get it. Though, there are ways to lessen those “needless” costs and still have beautiful, classy gifts.

• Never, ever, ever ever, ever…pay full price for wrapping paper. ALWAYS buy it after Christmas for at least 50% off. Prepare yourself now to go shopping on the 26th.
• I’m totally not about saving wrapping paper off of gifts and reusing it I may be in my 30′s but I’m not 90. Though, I DO save very nice looking tissue paper, gift bags or cute items like small, decorative boxes or organza bags. These are NICE touches that can really dress up a gift. Who wants to spend money on these things? Not me!
• Shredded paper for baskets? Easy…save a bag full from something else you have received…either from a gift basket or a promo item like the one pictured here. Or, run some colored paper through your home paper shredder and crunch it up! Voila!
• Has someone sent you a fruit basket or gift tower? Save the boxes, refill with gifts and give them away. I can make a MUCH prettier and more fun-to-open gift with reuse.

For instance, I recently received some Cheryl & Co. cookies in these pretty, winter themed boxes. Immediately, I knew I wanted to fill them with small items, restack them, and give them to my mother for Christmas! Not only will she be impressed with the uniqueness of the gift, she’ll have a blast opening each little treasure box (see how I also used the shredded paper to fancy it up?)

I’m even reusing the ribbon that came with them. I’ll add a little Christmas themed pick to the top and it will be ready to go!

Just remember, being frugal at Christmas doesn’t mean wrapping everything in your Sunday comics. Dig up some creativity, use what’s on hand and you, too, can have some beautifully wrapped gifts to share this holiday season.

Do you have other ideas? Please leave a comment and share!

I once read somewhere, “the more stuff you have, the more time you waste dealing with that stuff.” Isn’t it the truth? I don’t know about you, but in my world, I am just as frugal with time as I am with money. The less time I deal with mundane cleaning, the more time I have to focus on experiences and opportunities. Life is just too short to deal with fast food meal toys or needless key chains…sincerely.

Now…the new year is upon us. Some people feel a sense of reorganization my OCD self loves filling in the calendar for the new year. Others wait until “Spring Cleaning” to get rid of their junk. Around here, we prefer the Pre-Christmas Purge. After having a child (11 years ago), I quickly learned that new Christmas presents can lay around in a pile for months because they have no where to go. When toys don’t have a “home” they just keep landing wherever, mainly underfoot or sucked up into the vacuum cleaner. Honestly, I hate this…and I bet you do too.

So, guess what? Now is the time. See that toy that your kids never play with but just keeps getting passed around from room to room? Put it in the “pitch” box. Do the same with numerous other items around your house, like the coffee mugs that are overflowing from your cabinets how many can one family use anyway? If it suits you, save all of your items up for a yard sale in the spring (make some money on your junk!) not THAT kind of junk. Nasty. Not in to yard sales? Donate your items to a local Salvation Army or Amvets…and write it off on your taxes. Wash up your good used coats and give to a local school for a coat drive. Purging doesn’t always mean throwing things away which I KNOW freaks some of you out. It also doesn’t mean that everything is trash. But, if an inanimate items is causing you stress, get rid of it from your life. Whatever you do…just do SOMEthing…one item at a time.

As a personal note: We have started on the 2nd floor of our house, room by room, purging towards the basement. Because we are going through every.single.thing, it’s taking us quite a while. But, all things in our son’s room now has a “home.” And guess what? It now stays CLEAN because he knows where to put the toys! Before? Things always ended up on the floor because he was too overwhelmed and wasn’t sure where to place them. We are noticing the same thing happening with the rest of our house. It’s staying more put away because nothing needlessly lays around. So, what am I going to do with all of this newfound time? Oh, I dunno…clip coupons…read blogs…exercise?..err…um…I think there may be more purging to do. *wink*

Honest blogger found here: As a CSN preferred blogger, I receive gift codes for help in the promotion of CSN store links. As always, 100% my opinion.

So, I mingled a little; exchanged a few business cards and sat down at the bar area. Why do I always find myself at the BAR area? I was then informed of the “Martini Flight.” THIS is why I’m always at the bar area…got it. What’s even better? It was complimentary to the tweet-up! So, over these flavorful little yummies, I got to know Connie a bit better as we stirred up a few stories and shared a few laughs. After a while, she needed to go meet her company for dinner. Oh no! Don’t leave me here by myself again! As I finished my drinks, a lovely lady and her friend sat down at the bar to my left. They quickly introduced themselves and went on to talk about how they were just discussing their loves for making jewelry. Sitting closest to me, the woman pointed out that she had made the bracelet she was wearing. I, in turn, told her how beautiful it was…and that I loved the solitary red bead in the center. She turned to me and said, “I have AIDS and I put that red bead in there to represent AIDS awareness.”

That is when I first met…and immediately loved…a woman by the name of Rae Lewis-Thonton.

You see…Rae is the first, and only person, I have EVER personally and openly met with HIV/AIDS. Ever. I was immediately compassionately intrigued. Upon closer reading of Rae’s business card, I noticed she is not only an AIDS activist…but an EMMY AWARD winning AIDS activist whose story and ministry has been featured EVERYWHERE! Over the next hour, the three of us talked over a light dinner at the bar. That’s when Rae mentioned that she was organizing a charity event tweet up in July and said I should come. Of course! I didn’t even have to think twice; I knew I needed to be there. Eventually, we all hugged our goodbyes and said , “See you on twitter!”

And…we twittered and twittered and twittered…until it was time for the RLT Event. I can’t tell you how excited my husband and I were to be a part of this. It took place in the Encore Liquid Lounge in the Hotel Allegro in Chicago. You wouldn’t believe the generosity of the sponsors; I was blown away. Gift bags, food, venue, giveaways…everything was donated! Did I ever tell you that Kurt won a certificate for lap dancing classes? Um..er…and I won a $250 purse…amongst other things. *grin* Trying to explain how well this tweet-up went over wouldn’t even do it justice. It was an amazing success. And, as I understand…there may be another one coming up in February of 2011.?.?

It was during this RLT Event that we were made aware of the Chicago AIDS Walk/Run 5k, happening in October. My first thought? OOH…we should participate! My second thought? FIVE K??? Aww…who cares…we are DOING IT! So, we went home, discussed it a little further and signed the THREE of us up online. Yes, our 11 year old was taking part in the 5K as well. He’s in much better shape than we are anyway.

So, we joined Team Rae. I will admit, I am HORRIBLE at any sort of fundraising …but I do want to thank the few supportive friends that sponsored me for my very first 5k walk. Your donations are helping people with HIV/AIDS right here in Chicago…so thank you, thank you!

There it was, the first weekend in October…it had not rained in WEEKS.

It’s raining. Oh…wait…not just raining but cold, blowing AND raining. I kept thinking to myself, if Rae can do this, I can do this. There’s no turning back now.

Rae and I - I think we might have been twittering each other? LOL

Fighting the weather every step of the way, we all finished the race. I felt both blessed and honored to be there for Rae that day…and will always feel a bond with our “Team Rae.” and will never forget lunch at Manny’s either *wink*

If you don’t know Ms. Rae Lewis-Thornton…you need to. Her dedication and life-long selfless work has been more of an inspiration to me than she will ever know. On a daily basis, I think of Rae. Anytime I feel like I can’t make it through or can’t accomplish what I should…I think of her. When I feel myself creeping up on another brick wall…I think of her.

“If Rae can do it, I can do it.”

Today, I honor you. Thank you for friending me. My life is richer because of it. Much Love.