I hope the result of adding more stores is that people who come to DealTaker will better be able to find what they are looking for with our increased variety of merchants.  Moving in to the holiday season, I hope everyone will be able to find exactly what they want, at the price they want, starting right here at DealTaker.com!

Well, we heard you, DealTakers! We are proud to announce that DealTaker.com now has a printable Grocery Coupons page! From here you’ll be able to search among a huge collection of grocery coupons. Just find and check the ones you want, then print them up from the convenience of home!

Best of all it’s free.

Now you can save even more money with DealTaker than you did before!

That came to a screeching halt about a month and half ago.  Mom’s health took a turn for the worst and she now relies on us financially as well as for some daily assisted living.  We made the decision to move into Lori’s house next door and Mom will be living with us.  We had planned on moving there down the road after we made some renovations, but, under the cirsumstances, we have to do it sooner rather than later.  It was our only choice.

My glorified state has now turned to organized chaos.  Although we don’t anticipate being fully moved in until mid January, there is an endless amount of work that needs to be done.  Not only do we have to contend with the hassle of moving, but we need to renovate the two rooms upstairs in the other house before the move,  Okay, I can deal with that.  I’m always up for a good challenge.

I had to seriously rethink the holidays this year.  Time is of the essence.  Every hour of every day needs to be productive.  I’ve drafted up timelines.  If everything goes as planned (knock on wood) we should be okay.  This meant deducting a good chunk of time I usually devote to the holidays.

Do I really need to send out 40 (give or take a few) holiday cards this year each with a few handwritten paragraphs?   Most of these people I haven’t heard from in years.  This task takes me an entire day.  In a day I can apply a coat of joint compound to the walls of both rooms and strip the hardwood floor.  Is it necessary to spend three days baking for everyone we know and have come in contact with?  No.  The possibilities are endless as to what I can get done in those 3 days.

We decided that we’re not decorating this year except for the tree.  By mid December we want to be down to bare minimum here except for the heavy furniture.  The time we spend decorating is obnoxious.  I’m going to take advantage of all the fancy holiday gift bags we have stashed upstairs.  I don’t have time to wrap and ribbon.  The days of stringing popcorn and cranberries are over.  I’m exchanging my kitchen apron for a tool belt.  Pass me the safety glasses and sander.  I’m ready.

I have come to realize that tomorrow is just going to be tomorrow, not the day I receive a large inheritance from a distant relative (although that would be nice, he he he).  I have a choice in what everyday will bring me.  I have a choice to be in a good mood or a bad mood when I wake up.  I have a choice to get up 15 minutes earlier so that I am not yelling at my kids to get ready or eat faster.  I also have a choice to make changes so that my life continuously improves.  Everyday there is a choice to make it a successful day!

This knowledge has helped me to enjoy each day for what it is.  I have learned to see the good in the days that I wish never happened.  I am not saying I don’t lose it or break down, but for the most part, I look for something to make my day easier.  I hope that I can teach my children to look for the good in life and to be able to keep their chin up even when life seems to be crumbling around them.

Carpe diem

Growing up my Mom taught my Sister and I how to make the edible kind of Buckeyes which are super yummy peanut butter balls dipped in milk chocolate.  I remember gathering around in the kitchen before Christmas making these treats with them for hours.  They are quite a chore to make but if you ask my family are worth the hard work once you get to pop one in your mouth.  I wish I could say the more you make the less of them you mess up but that was never the case with us.  We never could make them as perfect as what we would find in the store.  We had lots of fun and made great memories though!  Fortunately for you, I have found some Peanut Butter Buckeyes for you to enjoy without the time spent making them and a 25% off coupon to purchase them with.

If you were to ask my Mom, who is a frequent traveler, what her biggest travel tip is she would tell you one thing, “Buy the ugliest and most hideous strand of wide ribbon you can find and tie it to your luggage.”  My Mom has traveled to places like Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Jamaica and this is the only bit of helpful information she has to give?  I thought she was out of her mind.

I adhered to this tidbit of advice the first time I traveled years ago.  I went to the craft store and bought the ugliest ribbon they had.  It was cheap…almost free.  The cashier smirked at it.  I knew she was wondering why I was purchasing such ugly ribbon and counting her blessings that she wasn’t on my Holiday gift giving list.  I tied it on my two luggage bags and left for my trip.   I happened to own luggage that was identical to several others.  Someone, who wasn’t paying attention, almost grabbed my suitcase and walked away.  The ugly bright green, pink and orange ribbon on it let me know that it was my mine.  Point taken Mom.

I’ve been hooked on ugly ever since.  I happen to think that there is a great deal of beauty in what most would consider ugly.  They are my treasures, my comforts and things that I often brag about.  You’ll find a trove of my beloved ugliness scattered around my house.  I don’t hide them.

I look down at my feet and I’m wearing ugly socks.  They are plastered with bright pink and red stripes.  They keep my feet warm and are the softest socks I’ve ever owned.  I got them for $0.25 at the store.  I bought all 10 pairs. No one else wanted them.  All of the beautiful pairs had been bought already.  I also own ugly mittens and scarves.  They have outlasted any other cold weather accessories that I’ve owned in the past.  I have a couple of ugly purses too that I absolutely love.  There is a sweet history behind them and they’ll never see the bottom of any trash bin.

The biggest and proudest piece of ugliness in my life is the house that we’ll be moving into shortly.  It’s next door and has been in Lori’s family for years and years.  We had planned on moving into the house a few years down the road, but due to Mom’s failing health and financial situation, we’re having to do this sooner than anticipated.   The house is run down and it’s obvious that there hasn’t been cosmetic work done on the inside in a long time.  It’s in rough shape.

For the past couple of weeks we’ve been assessing every square foot on the house trying to establish what needs to be done first and what can wait.  I’ve touched the walls, examined every nook and cranny and gone through items that have been stored in various rooms for at least 30 years.  I have come to love this great big ugly house.  This house is filled with rich history and stories.  We’ve decided to preserve all that we can that had been built by Lori’s grandfather including the banister and bathroom cabinets.  The rest of the cosmetic work will be done over time and blend in with what we preserve.

Ugly, by society’s standards, has a place in my life and I plan on keeping it there.

Portero (coupons):  The leading curated marketplace for buying and selling pre-owned authenticated luxury goods.  They provide unprecedented access to more than 450 of the world’s top luxury brands at exceptional values.

Abazias Diamonds (coupons):  They have been selling diamonds, engagement rings and jewelry online since 2001 and have the largest selection of loose diamonds available anywhere online, and an ever-growing selection of fine jewelry for every taste and budget.

Untangle (coupons):  Enable small business owners and parents to take back control of the Internet. Their Untangle software installs on a single PC in the office or home, and intercepts all Internet traffic in and out of the network giving people the ability to monitor who is doing what online, and control whether to allow it or not.

Branders.com (coupons):  The World’s Largest Online Seller of Promotional Items: Promotional Items, Promotional Products & Corporate Gifts for Your Trade Show Promotions from Branders.com

Apex Battery (coupons):  Sells practically every battery for every need. They offer over 200,000 replacement batteries and accessories at up to 70% off retail prices.

Cooking Enthusiast (coupons):  Specializes in essential tools for the cooking enthusiast. Products are chosen for their quality, value and special features – not fancy packaging or popular brand names and all are fully tested by their own professional chef to ensure the customers complete satisfaction.

Costume Kingdom (coupons):  At Costume Kingdom, you’ll find a wide range of Halloween costumes that will suit your taste. They have one of the best and largest inventories of adult, sexy, couples, children’s, infant and pet costume ideas that will help you get started.

Outletbuy.com (coupons):  One of the largest sites on the Internet focused on discount footwear, bags and apparel from over 350 top brands. They also offer free shipping, free returns and a 100% pricing guarantee.

Product Express (coupons):  A leading retailer focused on all categories of footwear and related apparel for the shopper that needs it now. ProductExpress offers free overnight shipping on all purchases from over 200 top brands.

My Punchbowl (coupons):  Helps you plan a party that your guests will always remember by bringing your party to life with ideas, invitations, favors, gift registries, photo/video sharing, and more.

1st Wishes (coupons):  Your source for first birthday party supplies offers a wide selection of themes to make your child’s 1st birthday a memorable occasion.

FIRST BLACK FRIDAY AD OF THE YEAR NOW ON DEALTAKER.COM

Premier Coupon & Deal Site Features Most-Anticipated Sales of the Year Well Ahead of Schedule

PLANO, Texas—October 7, 2009—DealTaker.com today announced the official start of the holiday bargain shopping season with the first Black Friday ad now at www.DealTaker.com/blackfriday.html.

“It’s a great day for bargain hunters everywhere,” said Kevin Strawbridge, President of DealTaker.com.  “With pent up demand at an all-time high and retailers eager for consumer dollars, sales will abound and organization will be the key to sorting through myriad opportunities.  Perusing the ads well ahead of Thanksgiving makes it easier for deal takers to optimize their time and money, and for retailers to ensure traffic to their stores,” Strawbridge said.

There are 50 days before November 27 which could be the biggest shopping day of the year.  To prepare, consumers can quickly and easily find the most up-to-date Black Friday deals, coupons and sales at DealTaker.com.  The popular site also features a countdown calendar, a handy downloadable Black Friday Organizer ® exclusively available at DealTaker and a searchable list of free shipping codes for consumers who also take advantage of the online deals every day and on Cyber Monday.

Besides sales from nearly 2,000 merchant partners, more than 225,000 DealTaker.com members actively post deals, ads, coupons and offers on DealTaker.com every day, saving consumers millions of dollars over the past 5 years.  Historically, members have posted Black Friday ads directly to the Black Friday forums.  But some retailers have balked at members trying to help each other.  Already, one major retailer has made a pre-emptive strike with a cease-and-desist letter, insisting DealTaker.com police the forums and remove ads that members post.

About DealTaker.com

DealTaker.com is the premier destination for consumers looking to spend less and get more.  A free coupon site for members to share and take deals, DealTaker.com makes it easy to save on merchandise and services including food, travel, electronics, home furnishings, jewelry and pet supplies, among others.  Founded in Plano, Texas in 2004, DealTaker.com works with more than 1,900 stores, nearly 19,000 followers on Twitter and more than 225,000 deal-sharing members to provide over 8,000 active coupons and deals every day.

# # #

Contact:  Jeanine Connolly

DealTakerPR@gmail.com

214 – 636 – 3900