Hey you! Have you registered to Vote?! That's what I thought!

I have never been a fan of politics. I have never had interest in the subject and honestly found it pretty boring and dull. It was also under my "it-will-for-sure-get-you-into-an-argument" category right along with religion, but since I felt pretty willingly ignorant about politics, I would much rather talk about religion.

Then, I met my husband. Two years passed before we talked about politics, and I remember very vividly when that happened. The first time we ever talked about politics was when I was visiting him in Pennsylvania (long story), it was one month after the September 11th attacks and I was 17. He pretty much flat out told me that he was going to be running for president one day and that he was just letting me know. I remember thinking in the back of my head: "Okay, and I will grow wings and fly around the world, Ah, did I mention that I will also be able to breathe under water like a mermaid?!" But I smiled and said: "That is so cool! Good for you!" gave him a hug and changed the subject.

Today, I am registered to vote and I vote in every single election. Believe me, if I don't, he will trick me, telling me he has to go to the store (I love going to stores!), and on the way he will drive me to the courthouse or the voting place and make sure I cast my ballot. Sneaky Sneaky. However, today, being more mature and educated, I appreciate his efforts to make sure that I am involved in the decision making of our community.

Most people will only vote for president, and they think that their vote is really making a big difference. Well, not that it is not making a difference.. sure it is, but to be brutally honest, no one really gets to vote for the president, the electoral college does it. So, sure we can influence their vote.. but are we really making a difference?

Local elections is where this "difference" lays. Let me give you an example: Two weeks ago we voted on 10 Amendments for the Texas Constitution. Glen and I were election judges and we oversaw the election for our precinct (1641) which has about 2300 people. It covers a few neighborhoods around my area. Well, 31 people showed up to vote. So, those 31 people DECIDED for the other 2300 people. These votes REALLY counted, they really made a difference. Those were also issues that will affect you and I right here on our backyard, so why wouldn't you want to give your two cents?!

Remember what I say.. you must BE the change you want to SEE. It is time to uncross your arms and get involved in our local politics.. if you don't, then you can't complain if the neighbor that you really hate voted for opening a gas well next to your house and not theirs. Get it?!

Not registered to vote? Click here so you can start! 

(Tarrant County only)

Kroger Deal: Buy 4 Items and get a gallon of FREE milk! Scenario!

Kroger is having this sale where when you buy 4 selected items for $10 you will get one gallon of Springdale Milk for free. At first I didn't think the milk was worth the deal, so I didn't give much thought, then one of our readers (thanks Ginger!) wanted me to take a second look. So, I may have cooked up a decent deal:

Buy 4 Frozen Pillsbury Biscuit Sandwiches (it's on the ad pictured) = $10

Use 4 $1/1 from GM 10/02 (see picture below)

Pay: $6.00 and Get a free gallon of milk.

Springdale Milk usually runs between $2.50-$3.60 so this turns out to be a pretty good deal!

 (If you find another good deal, please come back and let us know!)

140 FREE LABELS! – 2 DAYS ONLY! 11/16 & 11/17

140 Free Labels! – 2 days only!

140 FREE Return Address Labels!

I posted about these yesterday and got such a great feedback that I am posting this again, and with a GREAT idea for TEACHERS! Whoo Hoo! I wish some parent (or student) had given me some labels like these.. these are so cute! And we all know how much we need labels as teachers since our stuff seems to "walk" away from us!

The labels are free – just pay shipping and processing!  Shipping $3.03 – $3.83 depending on location

With over 7,000 of designs to choose from, these labels are extremely versatile. You are sure to find a design that suits your style. Unsure where to start? Sort by style or theme or search for a specific color or image!

So hurry and make yours NOW!

Offer ends 11/17 at Midnight

Ideas:

Use them at To: and From: for Christmas… or special labels from Santa.

Make your kids their own labels for lunches, notes, and more.

Need a teacher gift idea?  How about making them at set of labels for their classroom.

CLICK here to start making yours

Black Friday: Store Opening Times, Price Matching Policies, Ad Scans, + More

If you’re planning on hitting the stores bright and early on Black Friday, you may want to scout out the best stores, price match policies, and return policies. To see the specific Black Friday ads available for various stores (and lots more!), be sure to head on over here.

Best Buy:

Open Time: Doors open at midnight on Friday 11/25
Price Match Policy: No price matching on Black Friday weekend, starting Thanksgiving day through November 28th . However, through January 24th Best Buy will match the price if you find a lower price on an identical available product at a local retail competitor’s store, a local Best Buy retail store or BestBuy.com.
The Guarantee does not apply to: Our competitors’ website prices, offers that include financing, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors, mail-in offers, competitors’ service prices, items that are advertised as limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, refurbished/used items, BestBuy.com Midnight Sale and special hour sale events, BestBuy.com Outlet Center and Marketplace items, and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Return Policy: Shop with confidence thanks to no-hassle returns on purchases made and returned between now and January 24.  Gift purchases made between Nov. 13, 2011, and Dec. 24, 2011, qualify for their Holiday Return and Exchange policy. Products purchased as gifts may be returned through Jan. 24, 2012.
Shopping Online at BestBuy.com:  Take advantage of free standard shipping on everything at BestBuy.com now through December 27th.

Home Depot:

Open Time:  Doors open at 5AM on Friday 11/25.
Price Matching Policy: If the customer finds a current lower price on an identical, in-stock item from any retailer, Home Depot will match the price and beat it by 10%. Excludes special orders, bid pricing, volume discounts, open-box merchandise, labor and installation, sales tax, rebate and free offers, typographical errors, and online purchases.
Return Policy: Contact your local store for the holiday return policy.

JCPenney:

Open Time:  Doorbusters will start at 4AM until 1PM with over 500 Black Friday deals.  Sale prices valid through 11/26, unless noted otherwise.
Price Matching Policy: N/A

Return Policy: Contact your local store for the holiday return policy.

Kmart:

Open Time:  Kmart will have Blue Friday with Doorbusters from 5AM to 11AM on Friday 11/25. 2-Day Sale prices will be valid from 5AM on 11/25 until 11PM on Saturday 11/26.  Also, they’ll be having Super Hot Prices on Saturday 11/26 from 6AM to Noon only.
Price Matching Policy: No price matching.
Return Policy: Must have receipt to get full purchase amount back on your debit or credit card.

Kohls:

Open Time: For the first time in company history, Kohl’s will be open for 24 hours on Friday, November 25 from 12AM to midnight, offering shoppers even more time to shop for holiday gifts at exceptional values. They’ll be offering including more than 500 Early Bird Savings Opportunities and $15 Kohl’s Cash for Every $50 Spent.
Price Matching Policy: Most stores will not price match; however be sure to contact your local store to see if they will honor competitor prices on Black Friday.
Return Policy: Kohl’s offers a hassle-free return policy and no brand exclusions when using offers like Kohl’s Cash or Kohl’s Charge card discounts.

Lowe’s:

Open Time:  Doors open at 5AM on Friday 11/25.
Price Matching Policy:  Lowe’s will beat the price by 10% for an identical product at any local retail competitor that has the item in stock. Must bring the competitor’s current ad or Lowe’s will call to verify the item’s price. Price guarantee honored at all Lowe’s retail locations. Some restrictions apply. Call local store for more details.
Return Policy: Contact your local store for the holiday return policy.
Shopping Online at Lowes.com: Lowes.com will offer FREE shipping on all Lowes.com parcel orders from 11/24-11/28.

Office Depot:

Open Time: Doors open at 6AM on Friday 11/25 and 11/26 unless otherwise noted.
Price Match Policy:  Must show ad for lower price at another store on a new, identical item. Office Depot will match the price at the time of purchase, or if the customer presents the ad within 14 days of the purchase, Office Depot will pay the difference. Office Depot price is the final price after any discounts, coupons, instant savings and mail-in savings are applied. Office Depot will match the other store’s point-of-sale price after deducting their instant rebates and coupons but will not match the other store’s mail-in rebates nor will they deduct the value of any gift with purchase.
Return Policy: Contact your store for the holiday return policy.
Thanksgiving day at Office Depot.com: Starting at 7AM on Thanksgiving Day, shop online and get Black Friday deals and prices.

Office Max:

Open Time:  Doors open at 6AM on Friday 11/25 and at 9AM on Saturday 11/26.
Price Matching Policy:  Must complete the OfficeMax online Price Match Request. Some exclusions apply.
Return Policy:  Contact your store for the holiday return policy.

Old Navy:

Open Time:  Doors will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 9AM – 8PM.  They’ll also open at midnight on Friday 11/25. They’ll also be offering Saturday-only deals.
Price Matching Policy: N/A
Return Policy: Contact your local store for the holiday return policy.

Radio Shack:

Open Time:  Doors open at 5:30AM on Friday 11/25.  Shop online at RadioShack.com starting Thursday to get Black Friday prices.
Price Matching Policy: N/A
Return Policy:  Contact your local store for the holiday return policy.

Sears:

Open Time: Doors open at 4AM on Friday 11/25 and they will have over 500 Doorbuster items on sale until 11AM.
Price Matching Policy: Sears does not offer price matching during special events including Thanksgiving day through Cyber Monday. At other times, Sears will price match within 14 days of purchase, and beat the price by 10%.
Return Policy:  Contact your local store for the holiday return policy.

Staples:

Open Time:  Doors open at 6AM to Noon on Friday 11/25 for Doorbuster sales.
Price Matching Policy: Staples’ price match guarantee applies to participating individual stores on the day after Thanksgiving. Must show the lower price on a new identical item, or within 14 days of the purchase and Staples will pay the difference.
Return Policy: Contact your local store for the holiday return policy.

Target:

Open Time: Doors open at midnight on Friday 11/25.  Stores will be open 8AM to 11PM on Saturday 11/26.
Price Matching Policy: No price matching on Black Friday.  Target does not offer its Low Price Promise on Black Friday.  However, at other times, Target will match prices within one week of purchase.
Return Policy: Head on over here to find the general Target Return Policy details.

Toys “R” Us:

Open Time: Doorbusters will start at 9PM on Thanksgiving night through Friday 11/25 at 1PM.  Doors open on Saturday 11/26 at 7PM to 11PM.
Price Matching Policy:  No price matching on Black Friday.
Return Policy:  No returns accepted during Doorbuster hours.

Walmart:

Open Time: Doors open at 10 PM on Thanksgiving Day, 11/24. Walmart’s Black Friday events will be held at the following times:
*10 PM on Thanksgiving Day, 11/24 – Top Toys, Home and Apparel
*Midnight on Black Friday 11/25 – Electronics! Electronics! Electronics!
*8AM on November 25th through the weekend – Gifts for the entire family; electronics and more
Price Matching Policy: Along with its full plate of Thanksgiving weekend specials Walmart promises to match the price of any local competitor’s printed ad for an identical product, including matching competitor’s deals for the day after Thanksgiving.
Return Policy:  Be sure to contact your local store for more details.
Thanksgiving Day at Walmart.com: All-day long on Thanksgiving, shoppers can get great online-only specials and save with free “Fast, Faster, Fastest” shipping options. Examples of a few of the incredible online savings include:
*46” HDTVs for under $400
*Electric Ride-Ons for children, priced under $40
*Choice of four select Blu-ray discs for only $20

Thanks Colin!

High-Value $1/1 Smuckers Uncrustables Coupon

Yay! There’s a new Smucker’s Uncrustables coupon available! Just head on over to Smucker’s Facebook page , “like” them and click on the Coupons tab to print a high value $1/1 any box of Smuckers Uncrustables brand Sandwiches coupon! Walmart and Target sell the 4-packs of Smucker’s Uncrustables for around $2 per box, so just $1 after the coupon!

(Thanks, Coupon Pro!)

*HOT* $2/1 Community Coffee Red Bag Coupon

Here’s a great coupon for all you coffee lovers! Just head on over to the Community Coffee Facebook page, click on the “Enter to Win” tab (left side), then share with 3 friends to score an exclusive $2/1 12 oz Community Coffee red bag coupon!
* Coupon expires 12/31.

(Thanks, Denham on a Dime!)

Dallas Arboretum Holiday Events!

Holidays at the Dallas Arboretum Activities are coming soon!

Weekdays November 25 – December 21
Cinderella’s Holiday Carriage Photos – Daily – 9:00am – 5:00pm
Holiday Seated Tea in the DeGolyer Estate – Monday-Friday 11am – 2pm
(Reservations required –             214-515-6511      )

Weekends November 26 – December 18
A live reindeer – Saturdays & Sundays 1-4pm
Frosty and Rudolph Costumed Characters – Saturdays & Sundays 11am-3pm
Photos with Santa by Haynsworth Photography- ($15) Saturday & Sunday 11am-3 pm
Holiday Seated Tea in DeGolyer Restaurant-Saturday & Sunday -11am and 2pm
(Reservations required –             214-515-6511      )

The Dallas Arboretum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For more information on upcoming events and activities during Holiday at the Arboretum, please call            (214) 515-6500       or visit Dallas Arboretum.org.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden are located on the Southeastern shore of White Rock at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX. The Arboretum is open daily from 9am until 5pm. General Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and older, $8 for children 3-12, and free for children two and under. On-site parking is $7. Group discounts are available with advance registration at             214-515-6520      .

Thanks, mydallasmommy