We are Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!  We hope you all have a day full of fun and blessings with your families.  We are so THANKFUL to you, our readers, for giving us your attention and feedback, and for helping to make so many great things possible for us through this blog!

Have a wonderful day, and THANKS from both of us!

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Small Business Love

Thanks to American Express for sponsoring my writing today about small businesses. American Express is presenting Small Business Saturday, a way to honor the local merchants who are the backbone of the economy, this Saturday, November 27. They’re offering statement credits to people who shop at small businesses, advertising for small-business owners, and donations to Girls Inc. for “Likes” of the Small Business Saturday page on Facebook. Join the celebration by clicking the “Like” button and then visiting the Facebook page to learn more about the program and read the terms and conditions that apply.

OBVIOUSLY, my dears, Christmas is coming.  For us, it’s Christmas, for you, maybe it’s Hannukah or another seasonal or religious excuse to buy presents.  Whatever your reason for the season, ’tis undeniably the season to GIVE.

This year when you are thinking about where to shop and what to shop for, American Express wants you to consider patronizing one of the thousands of small businesses that offer amazing goods and services all year round. To support this Saturday, November 27th as “Small Business Saturday”, American Express asked me to highlight some of my favorite small businesses.  I thought it was a great idea! So here are three of my favorite small shops that do big things!

For yummy treats: Lulee’s Lollies!  I posted just last week about how much I looooove these cake-on-a-stick treats!  Seriously they are the tastiest thing EVAH.  If you’ve got a local friend or relative to send goodies to, these are what you want to send!  Whether you want an assorted bunch of pretty treats or you want your Lollies to look like Christmas Trees or stars, Lulee can do it.  She could probably even make a Baby Jesus lolly, but I am hoping you do not have anyone on your gift list who wants to bite off the Christ child’s head. 🙂

Carabella’s – I have a thing for personalized gifts, and I can’t wait to order a couple of things with Jonah’s name on it for him!  Of course he already has just about everything he needs, but with all the great gift selection on Carabella’s site, I am *sure* I can find *something* he MUST HAVE.   Actually I am thinking my kids really need these sibling shirts.  So THAT is what we might go with!!

From onesies, blankets, travel mugs, booties, boxers, diaper covers, dresses, diaper bags, totes, aprons…Carabella’s has EVERYTHING.  Go check out their selection!

Finally, there’s Usborne Books.  Now I know Usborne Books as a whole is not a small business, but Usborne consultants DO run their own small businesses.  I just had an Usborne party a few weeks ago and friend and helped friend and reader Jen support her small business.  I LOVE Usborne books and got a ton of books for the kids for Christmas.  Books are some of the most VALUABLE gifts you can give a child, so support Jen or your favorite Usborne consultant in their small business and give a child a great gift. You can order online and have your books shipped to you or to the lucky recipient!

So do yourself and your local and online small businesses a favor this weekend!  Click below & go “Like” Small Business Saturday on Facebook and get ready to make a difference with your dollars!

Small Business Saturday

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I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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Pre-Thanksgiving Deal Fix

I am pretty much saving all my coupon skillz for Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, when I GIVE THANKS that drugstore deals start on Thanksgiving Day and I do NOT have to shop on Black Friday.  I never shop on Black Friday, I am far too claustrophobic to try and beat the crowds.  Can you say “there are no savings worth a panic attack??” I CAN!  But anyhoo, I did want to get to Rite Aid to get myself some of my fave Viva paper towels today and also to get this good deal on the “toy of the week” – a Nerf Gun which I bought for Sophie to give Joshua for Christmas.  It was on sale for $9.99 with a $2 +UP reward back, which is a really good price!  Here’s how I worked my deal:

DSC05999

Viva $6.99
Nerf Gun $9.99
Motrin PM $4
Lime Crush 2 Liter $1.34 (this was totally and impulse buy and it is SOOO GOOOOOD. I had never seen it before! It is going to become my new carbonated obsession!)
AMO contact solution $7.99
total = $30.31

coupons:

-$5/$25 Rite Aid printable

-$2 Motrin PM from this Sunday’s inserts

-$1 Motrin PM Rite Aid video values printable

-$6 +UP Rewards from last week

=$17.31

I got back $2 +UP Rewards for the Nerf Gun, $1 for the Viva, and will get back a $7.99 Single Check Rebate for the AMO contact solution and a $2 Single Check Rebate for the Motrin PM.  Making my net expense a little over $5 for all that!  Not bad for a Christmas present and my must-have paper towels!!

I can’t wait til Black Friday when there are tons of good deals!  Crystal at the Thrifty Mama has them posted here. What are YOU planning to get??

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