However,

I get really excited when I see something about taking a quick survey at the bottom of my receipt which will save me money.

Just today I took an online survey (which took me all of  2 min) for Caribou Coffee and now have a buck off my next visit. Score. And from my recent purchase at Bath & Body Works, I  did a call-in survey which had 3 questions and I now have $10 off my next $30 purchase. Double score.

Lesson of the day – pay attention to your receipts. With just a few minutes invested you can save some CASH.

Can’t think of a more beautiful day in the month of February. Wow. Walking downtown in the ‘big city’ and enjoying every step.

• 1879 Woolworths, the first chain store, opened in 1879 in Utica, New York. Woolworth’s diners were the first to introduce the Frito Chili Pies and helped to popularize grilled cheese sandwiches and BLT’s,bacon ,lettuce, and tomato sandwiches.

Check out the rest of the lesson here.

Ellie has been giving away free stuff this month (I haven’t won anything YET) on her site.  The free stuff I am talking about is way-cool.  Her current give-a-way is custom cutout cookies. Yummy.

You have six different ways to get your name entered into the random drawing, but she’s a stickler on the deadline, so go check it NOW.

Thanks, Ellie, for providing some extra-cool fun in the blogosphere this month!

Thought I would share another excerpt from the devotional called Daily Gifts of Grace:

“I’m not defined by my family of origin, my background, my strengths, my weaknesses, my friendships, my work, my gifts, or my skills.  I am a child of God.  He loves me just as I am. God’s love is perfect.”

– Mary Graham

Trying to be someone else just doesn’t work. Be happy with who you are. Love yourself unconditionally and let God continue to mold you into His finished product.

Is it lunchtime yet?

This winter season has had effect on her.

This is my version of a wedge salad : Lettuce, blue cheese dressing, crumbled blue cheese, real bacon, crasins, tomatoes and freshly ground pepper.

So, what did I do while my daughter was in dance class all day?

1. Shopping

2. Learned to play a new game on iPad – Spider solitaire (totally addicting)

3. Downloaded another new app on iPad called Words with Friends

As you can see, my weekend was filled with top-quality laziness.  And playing those games for hours on end can really make a girl hungry.  So when my hands started to cramp up, I ate. And ate. And ate.

And I wonder why I felt like a slug yesterday on the bus ride home.  Thank goodness these weekend trips are annual.

Today has been much better though.  I had the day off due to President’s Day and am so thankful for that.  I did laundry most of the day and am in the process of cooking my family a delicious meal:  fresh fruit salad, mini-wedge salads and chicken and cheese crescent rolls.  Yum yum yum.

I also cleaned up the house from being gone for the weekend, so I am feeling pretty good right now.  Anytime I can cook a good meal without feeling rushed, I am happy.

And the benefit of getting caught up at home is that I am ready to have a great, productive day at work tomorrow.  Bring it.