Penny For My Thoughts

The Gap Friends and Family Give and Get Program will be running again from March 18 to March 21.  For those of you unfamilar with this promotion, you need to get an invitation with a barcode on it,  With the barcode, you can save 30% at Gap stores, GAP Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic factory stores, and Old Navy, both in store and online.  I find it interesting that if I’m reading the e-mail correctly, this season’s Friends and Family Sale does not include their online Athleta brand, whereas the Holiday one did.

As always, if you need a code, just leave a comment with your e-mail and I’ll get it to you!

While perusing the coupons and flyers which came with the Sunday paper today, I noticed that Best Buy featured a new feature that is both in-store and online: The Best Buy Trade-in Center.  It looks like it could be a great way to get a little extra cash from your own electronics that are outdated, as well as ensure they are recycled rather than thrown out.  I was underwhelmed by what I was offered for my iPod Click Wheel (a $14 gift card, but it’s pretty beat up), so I didn’t send for the pre-paid envelope.  I’d definitely use it again, when I get a new cellphone or something similar though.

Here’ this week’s Sunday Stealing

1. What were doing 10 years ago? I was 16 years old, a sophomore in high school.

2. Five snacks that you enjoy in a perfect, non weight-gaining world Ice cream, nachos, cinnabons, cake, cheesecake

3. Five things you would do if you were a billionaire: Pay off debt, invest wisely, start a charity, buy a house, buy a nicer car

4. Three of your habits: playing with my jewelry, saying “like” a lot, being germaphobic

5. Five jobs that you’ve have had: Cashier, dishwasher, substitute teacher, library wench, cold caller

6. Five places that you’ve lived: Home, College, Mexico.  I don’t move around much.

7. Five things that you did yesterday: Go grocery shopping, clean, pick out birthday cards, eat a cookie, remove contact lenses

8. Five people you would want to get to know more about: No idea.

9. Abortion: for or against it?  I’m pro-choice.  I’m in favor of abortion being legal, and support your right to to choose to have an abortion.  However, I also support your right to choose to not to have an abortion.

10. Do you think the world would fail with a female president? No, but I also don’t think that a female president would bring about magical essentialist joy either.

11. Do you believe in the death penalty? No, I’m unwaveringly opposed to it.

12. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already? I’ve been a long-time proponent of medical marijuana.

13. Are you for or against premarital sex? Whichever both parties want, and is between to consenting adults.

14. Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized? Yes, I think it’s reprehensible that a civil right has become a moral battleground.

16. Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?  I think it should be 19.  I fall into the “if you can vote and serve in the millitary, you should be able to drink legally” camp.  However, I worry that if people could drink at 18, it would trickle down into high schools more redily than it already does.

17. Should the war in Iraq be called off?  I was against it seven years ago, and I’m still against it now.

18. Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree? No, I think that humans deserve the right to die with dignity should they choose to do so.

19. Do you believe in spanking your children? I don’t have children.

20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers? Probably.  But what do I care?

So, given that I’ve been blathering about it for months, I figured I might as well give you guys a review of it.  Now, the whole movie going experience was kind of a fail.  I rarely go to the movies as I freely admit I’m too cheap to do so.  Lately I’ve only been going to the movies if it’s 3-D (like Up or Alice), or something big, like The Princess and the Frog.  I have some stockpiled giftcards, so it’s kind of free.  Anyway, I was planning on paying for my ticket at least partially with a gift card.  So I go to the screens at the front of the theater to do so, and there’s an option to pre-order my popcorn.  I select it.  I slide my gift card, it wasn’t enough, so it requested I use a credit card as well.  I found out too late that they charged the whole mess to my credit card, grr.

The movie itself; however, was awesome.  The visuals were great, the plot was clever, and it felt very Lewis Carrol.  I thought the casting was great-I freely welcome Johnny Depp and Helena Bonaham Carter as our new overlords.  ROTFL.  I’m a rarity in that the words Johnny Depp do not make my panties drop, but him reciting “Jabberwocky” was pretty hot.  I’d see it in 3-D if you can, otherwise wait.

I did have fun though, I think the last movie I saw on opening night (aside from ones my nephews wanted to see) was The Man in the Iron Mask. I ‘m also excited for Toy Story 3, although the trailer almost reminded me more of The Christmas Toy than the past two Toy Story movies did.

As I’ve said time and time again, I am a huge fan of coupons…and of Whole Foods. Since I made that post, a Whole Foods has opened near me.  I grabbed one of their Whole Deal circulars.  As I leafed through it, I found that there were several substantial ($1 off) coupons for items I use anyway.  All told, I ended up saving $5.50 on a $50 grocery bill, which I don’t think is bad at all.  So check it out if you’re at Whole Foods.

Join Godiva Rewards and get a free piece of GODIVA chocolate every month!
Here’s a coupon for a free Deluxe Sample of TooFaced Lash Injection mascara at Sephora inside JC Penney.

The eternally awesome Tricia is giving away some Betty Crocker goodies and there’s a donation to Make A Wish in it as well! Tricia’s parent company, Meyer Tech LLC sponsors this blog, but did not in any way affect the content in this post.

Finally, the awesome Kim featured as the Referral Link of the Week on her blog, so show her some love, please!

So, about 18 months ago I ordered some Prescription sunglasses from Zenni Optical. They were around $20, and while not as thin as my usual lenses, they were pretty good. My prescription is high enough that I cannot go with most cheapo eyeglasses-had I bought the glasses that are included in my medical plan in August 2009, the lenses would have touched my cheeks.
Anyway, my mom got two pairs of glasses at a major prescription chain last week, including a pair of prescription sunglasses. She wore them on Saturday for the first time…and a lens popped out.
That’s all I’m saying.

Thisv week’s belated Sunday Stealing.

1. Are you currently in a serious relationship? No

2. What was your dream growing up? First female President of the United States.

3. What talent do you wish you had?No clue.

4. If I bought you a drink, what would it be? Something girly.

5. What was the last book you read? You Know You Love Me

6. What zodiac sign are you? Aquarius

7. Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where. Aquarius symbol on left hip, three lobe holes a piece.

8. Worst habit? Bluntness.

9. What is your favorite sport? Baseball.

10. Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude? I prefer to call it realistic.

11. Worst thing to ever happen to you? no idea.

12. Tell me one weird fact about you. I had hernia surgery at 3 months-I still have a scar from the supported “dissolving” stitch.

13. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Cute.

14. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? Remove excess facial hair.

15. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? Conscience, and an utter goody-goody at that.

16. Ever been arrested? No

17. If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? Max out my IRA’s.

18. What’s your favorite place to hang out at? No clue.

19. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes

20. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? Blog

21. Do you swear a lot? yes

22. Biggest pet peeve? People who touch me.

23. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Unique

24. Do you believe/appreciate romance? Sometimes.

25. Do you believe in God? Yes

I went to the AAA Travel Marketplace today, as I have for the past two years.   While I had a good time and got lots of free goodies, I did notice a decline in some of the booths; offerings-namely, there was no chocolate fountain in the Western MA area, nor was the Essex giving away a trip.  There were a few giveaways; however, as well as free pens, bags and paperclips; and Busch Gardens had a baby wallaby again (I later ride with it in the elevator.  I consider any day you ride in an elevator with a zoo animal a good day).

However, the real disappointment of my trek there was when I, just for the fun of it, decided to request the travel agent price a Universal trip for me this summer (they were offering a bonus if you booked at the show, as well as an AAA discount).  Now given that they were wearing Harry Potter shirts, and had huge signs, the fact that the sentence “How do I book the Harry Potter package?” left my agent’s mouth is a sign.  In short, I did not book my trip then, and I am underwhelmed by the caliber of agents which are at the expo.

That said, I had a good time there, they are having some nice discounts at some Patriots Place restaurants this weekend if you show your AAA card, and I will go back next year.

The AAA Travel Marketplace runs through Sunday, March 6 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.

Sign up at Focusgroup.com!  I’ve done oodles of easy focus groups (beer testing-seriously) with them.