trbarginhunter

We love Drs Foster and Smith for pet food and flee meds, and they have great, safe rawhide bones. Our Standard Poodle has been on their food her years and she's very healthy.

Local Animal Shelter, Petsmart, call a local vet.....

Check your local grocery store. Ours is offering double gas rewards points or extra bonus points if you buy gift cards in the store--your choice of any they carry (Vons and Ralphs in Southern California).

Make sure the code is all one word, I put it in as In the black, and it would not accept the code. Thanks, OP ordered two for the laptops--one for Dh and DD had the chance to customize one---$39.98 total.

Micheal's has the Cricut Create on sale this week for $200, the Jukebox and Design Studio software for $60.

Michael's has the cartridges for $30, Creative expressions (online) will price match if you send them an email. I have the original Cricut and love it. DD uses it for school, and Girl Scouts. And I use it for scrapbooking and cards. You may want the Design Studio software, I really like it, adds a lot to my Cricut for card making, can weld letters, etc.

Thanks! Tank top and skirt coming for DD--all for under $10 shipped!

Check and see if there is a Justice for Girls near you...same company as Limited Too, but the styles seem a lot more appropriate. And they have decent sales, too.

Macys is having a great baby clothes sale--I bought a sweater and pants set for the neighbor's baby--originally $40, got it $10 ....including the padded satin hanger. The sign just said 40% off, I'm glad I scanned it.

We have the Thomas wooden trains, we all love them. DD is 14 and those trains are in a case in the closet waiting for younger visitors...I might put them around the Christmas tree.....

We gave DD Bitty Baby when she was about 18 months old (family tradition). I bought the Bitty Baby with accessories, and they broke up the set to make Bitty Baby gifts for her Easter and Birthday....she loves her Bitty Baby. We also have Kirsten and Kit and the dog (name escapes me at the moment). DD is 14, those dolls are in my old doll cradle, dressed in coordinating outfits. They have been on vacation with us, shopping, grandparents, and they are still in great shape. I used to buy outfits at a craft show, and on ebay for a lot less than AG.....

My DD wears a 2 or 3, sometimes a 0, it depends. I've bought a number of party dresses at Macy's--fit the clearance rack first. Also check out Forever 21 if you have one, or look online. If you are near one, Jessica McClintock Outlet (I know there are two in California). DD loves their short dresses (she's too tall for the long ones). Actually, Target had a cut black velvet dress the other day. Fit DD like a dream, only $40...we just couldn't figure out where she would wear it...it was one of those special designer dresses, so you might try Target or Target online.....

I have the one from last year (90% off)...and I love it. Soft, warm, comfortable. Washes up really well, comes out of the dryer all fluffy. I almost passed it up since I like long robes, the sales girl encouraged me to try it on---I'm short so it comes to my ankles....I am sooo glad I bought it.

I love my Cricut...check the Cricut Message Board (Cricut.com, community) General Chat....there is ususally something about who is having a sale, although that's a great price!

Macy's on sale---I've picked up homecoming/prom/cotillion dresses for $15 to $30--Jessica McClintock, etc. American Eagle (on sale) the jeans fit and last forever. When DD was younger, Gymboree, on sale. Those clothes were babyproof. I think some of them are still being worn by friends and family--and DD is 14!

Just an FYI, the Girl Scouts do have all the permits in place to sell cookies (and nuts in places where they sell those). And it is a LOT of paperwork.....I volunteer with our Girl Scout Council and it's an amazing process. I don't think the girls can sell Hot Chocolate/etc, but thanks for the idea, because I am sure going to ask next time I'm at the Council Office. I know a couple of troops that do the gift wrap thing (donations only), but another fund raiser is always welcome!

DH bought me the Cuisnart a couple of years ago at an Outlet mall,--I don't remember what he paid, but I do remember it was a great deal. He got the large one (I can knead dough in it), and we love it. (Small family here, too)

We have Bitty Baby, she's almost 13 now. Those dolls are amazing, wonderful quality. I used to goggle American Girl codes when buying for Bitty Baby, or her "siblings". You might give it a try!

;)We do stockings, they get hung with the Christmas decorations, stuffed before we leave on Christmas Eve. My mother was ill and very disabled by the time my sister and I had kids....so I filled their stockings at my parent's house. They get small items and socks every year in memory of my Mom....and so do my sister and I, my DH and my DBIL. Here the stockings are filled with small items...last year I did eye glass wipes, hand santizer, candy, mini flashlight for DH. Nail polish, emory boards, costume jewelry, etc for my DD. The poodle gets a dog bone (her stocking gets stuffed in the am, otherwise she would steal it

Check out Lowe's if you have one near by, they usually have some on "clearance" for minor scratchs, etc. And they will deliver and install it.

Go to the Butterball website, they have all the directions. I do two turkeys each Thanksgiving (we have a ton of guests). Since I only have one oven I do one in a huge electric roaster I bought at Wal Mart for about $20 (I have seen them at Target). Very moist turkey, but not as brown if that's a concern. I prepare all the stuffing add ins (celery, onions and mushrooms, cooked in butter and a little olive oil) the day or two before, just heat it up and add the stuffin bread cubes (I use Mrs Cubbinson's). Stuff the turkey right before you cook it. I do make ahead potates, usually bake them in the microwave on Tuesday, chill overnight, peel and shred on Wed, mix with melted butter, cheddar cheese, sour cream, minced green onions, salt and pepper. Stick it all in a casserole dish for heating in the microwave (I do 5 to 10 lbs, depending). I really would do the instant mash potatoes if I didn't have a couple of nephews who love these..... For sweet potates we use a Martha Stewart receipe, peel, cut, mix spices and butter and bake...except we just dump it all in a couple of crock pots and cook (keep in mind we are feeding about 50, one crock pot full should be enough). No need to preboil, which saves a lot of time. The key is to figure out how much time you need for the turkey (Butterball website), and how much oven space you will have. Then decide on the side dishes based on where they need to cook. Have fun!

The 4th grade teachers at DD's elementary school attend the annual Halloween dress up as "SCHOLARS". They wear cap and gown, look great and it's easy. 50's is easy, t-shirt, cardign sweater and a felt poodle skirt--check Joann's for the skirt. Or wear a white t-shirt, jeans with the bottoms turned up and penny loafers....

Tile Beverage Coasters are easy to make--stamp an image with Staz On ink onto a small tile from Lowe's or Home Depot. Glue felt or cork to the back. I spray mine with acyrlic sealer, but my sisters assures me it's unnessary. Stamps can come from any craft store in any theme--check out the $1 ones at Michael's. I did some of these years ago for a friend and she's still using them. Clear glass ornaments can be filled with paper shred (for gift baskets). I have some filled with metallic green shred that I really like--trip to the craft store would get all the supplies. Be careful taking the tops off the ornaments, you don't want any cut fingers. I don't know if they have clear plastic ones.....

DD and ger friends love the Twilight series...and the movie is coming out, too. I might pich her up a t shirt (she has the books, her godfather sends B&N giftcards). I will have to look for the games, they sound like fun! Thanks for the ideas!

Christmas Eve is a huge buffet, everyone brings something, hosts do the main course...it's at my sister's this year so likely to be ham. Christmas snack is usually shrimp or mushroom puffs or something (it's about lunch time), then we open gifts Christmas dinner is ravioli, sausage (homemade if my Dad feels like it), salad, ham, chessy potatoes, sweet potatoes (crock pot), some vegtable that I cook and no one eats, and lots of desserts at both. I don't know why I cook the vegtables, I just think they should be there.....