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Friday, November 26, 2010

Black Friday Safari

I have never shopped Black Friday. It's too hectic, and I never see things advertised that I want anyway. My Christmas shopping is spread out for months, so I don't feel pressured to hit the stores the day after Thanksgiving.

I did look at a few online stores by clicking through their emails tonight. The only one I purchased at was Fredericks, which had the whole site at 25% off and free shipping. Everything I bought was for me. :-)

Treklet's gifts are all purchased, and I need to find one more thing for my eldest. I am stumped on what to get my BFF this year. I usually have a few things squirreled away for her for months! Nothing seems good enough for her this year. I am sending checks for the parents to shop for the nephews and grandkids. They live thousands of miles away (Wisconsin and New Zealand) so I have no idea what they like or what they have, and shipping is very expensive.
Ready for our Black Friday Safari!

While thousands of San Diegans were fighting the mall crowds today, Treklet and I went to the zoo.  We got there early, because I was afraid it would be crowded and parking at Balboa Park stinks. We were pleasantly surprised! At 9:30 a.m. we practically had the place to ourselves. It was pretty chilly, though. We hit the reptile house first (she always makes me go in there first), then spent a long visit with the Galapagos Tortoises.

We saw the IMAX movie Galapagos last week. It was excellent, and as soon as it was over we made a plan to visit the zoo's tortoises over Thanksgiving break.  I am fascinated with anything Galapagos. When I was about Treklet's age I did a report on the marine iguanas. I can remember using tracing paper and the Encyclopedia Brittanica to illustrate my report.  I have wanted to take an Expedition Cruise there ever since.


Many of San Diego's Galapagos tortoises are over 100 years old!

We cruised through the Children's Zoo next. The have installed a new play structure, by the way. We spent most of our time there looking at creepy-crawlies.
She's sweet as honey.


"Help me!!" (in an itty bitty fly voice)
Then we headed across the park to the giraffe exhibit to line up for feeding time. We visited the koalas on the way there. After I tweeted several times from the zoo, my pal Ernie replied to me with a #BlackFridaySafari, so of course I stole that hashtag for my posts, and for this blog title. It was brilliant! We were first in line, so the giraffes were excited! Treklet got 3 biscuits, and gave them all to one very sweet giraffe while I took pictures and a video.


 

Back to the opposite end of the park again, to hop on the Skyfari. By now it was after noon and it was getting crowded. We rode to the top and spent a while at Polar Bear Plunge.


At first I was disappointed that the bears were not in their enclosure, but then a keeper went inside and put some big beef bones and treats on the ground. Shortly thereafter, the door opened and ou walked the first bear. He was huge.
A few minutes later another, slightly smaller bear came out. The bones were a hit!




 We rode the Skyfari back to the front of the zoo. We were done. That's right! We didn't visit Elephant Odyssey, Monkey Trails, Tiger River, or the Pandas. We had enough. Not too much, just enough. We were home by 3:00 and Treklet spent the rest of the day and most of the evening with her pal down the street. Now that's how you do a Black Friday.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

FREE Photo Gifts & My Mailbox is Bursting!

Now through Saturday, create an 8 x 10 photo collage online at Walgreens and enter code THANKSGIVING at checkout. Pick up your photo at your local store and pay NOTHING. I made one for a gift in about 10 minutes (the hardest part is choosing which photos to upload).  You can also get 70% off desktop calendars with the code HOLIDAY70.

My mailbox has been BURSTING with FREEBIES this week. I could barely get them all in one picture. Check it out!
Ester C Gummies with a $2 off coupon
Toms of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste
(2) Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer w/ $1 off coupon
Gucci Guilty Eu de Toilette
Mariani Cinnamon Raisin Bread Flavored Raisins
Sunset Magazine
(2) got2b Ultra Glued Styling Gel
Vaselnine Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture Lotion
MegaRed OMega 3 Krill Oil 5capsules
Kotex U Sampler with $1 off coupon
Purina One Smart Blend Lamb and Rice Dog Food

What was in YOUR mailbox this week?

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A few freebies

FREE sample of Vaseline Intensive Care here
FREE sample of Starbucks Natural Fusions Vanilla Coffee here
FREE sample Purina One dog or cat food here
FREE item (up to $13) with $10 purchase at Bath and Body Works here
 

Monday, November 22, 2010

Comic Con

Last month tens of thousands of people were disappointed when San Diego Comic Con's web server failed on the highly anticipated registration day. Official assured fans that everything would be fixed and ready to go at 6 a.m. today.

Once again, tens of thousands of people are sitting in front of an error screen this morning. I am not even that excited about the con. I am burnt out on the long lines, the smelly crowds, the disappointments, and the stress. It's a cheap con for me to attend, since I need no hotel, and I've met dozens of celebrities there over the past few years, and have a sweet autograph and photo collection. However, I think I'm going to count this registration FAIL as a sign. I will go to the Gaslamp in the evening for a tweetup or two, and spend my days frolicking at the beach or zoo with Treklet. That's a much better use of my time. Besides, all the panels end up online within a week, and those celebs? They are just humans, like you and me. Sometime later I might try to get a Sunday pass, just so I can go to Starship Smackdown, but I'm  not going to sweat it. Que sera, sera.

Treklet and I do have tickets for Phoenix Comic Con in May. I look forward to a less crowded, more intimate setting, where I won't have to fight huge crowds and worry about losing my 8 year old. I think it should be a fun week for me and my little nerdlet.

**************************************

Comic-Con 2011 Attendee Registration is Now Open!

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED!


Once more, unfortunately, there have been issues with Comic-Con registration. So we have, again decided to close it down.

We are well aware that many people have taken time from work, school or other activities and others woke up very early. There really is no way to convey our level regret for this turn of events.

We are currently researching our registration options.

Badge sales will be online only -- there will be no onsite sales of badges! Supplies are limited.

Please note: Currently 4-day Badges with Preview Night are SOLD OUT due to onsite sales at Comic-Con in July. 4-day Badges without Preview Night are available. All 4-day Badges purchased online once registration opens will be WITHOUT Preview Night.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Some FREEBIES and coupons for this Rainy weekend.

Treklet's off to a pizza party at Karate, then rehearsal for her next show, Annie. It's a rainy day, perfect for catching up on laundry, chores, my Google Reader,  and blogging. Here's what I've found for you:


$10 off $30 at World Market here
Go here and sign up for a coupon for Driscoll's berries.
15% off at Staples coupon good this weekend here
FREE sample of Nature's Bounty Adult Gummies here
FREE sample of Hearos Ear Plugs here
$25 for $50 worth of stuff at Nordstrom Rack here
BPGO Holiday drinks at Starbucks this weekend
FREE sample Snoozin' Natural Sleep Aid here
FREE Christmas MP3s at Amazon here
FREE item with purchase at Bath & Body works here
Family Christian Stores 25% off this weekend here
Buy 2 get 2 FREE jar candles at Yankee here
$10 off $50 at Pier One Imports here

FREEBIES at CVS this week (starting Sunday):
Advil PM (4 ct.), $0.99
Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
FREE after ECBs!
Excedrin Migraine PM or Extra Strength (8 ct.), $0.99
Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
FREE after ECBs!

Here's what came in my mailbox this week:

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Look what I got Today!!

Yep, I got my Starfleet Mom license plate today! It took 10 weeks to come in, and then I spent 2-1/2 hours at the DMV today, but it was so worth it!!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Black Friday Deals are Everywhere!

Amazon has announced that they will be having a week of Black Friday deals starting Nov.22nd. They will have deals all week long and will have different deals everyday!
Get all the details here as well as links to follow them via Facebook and Twitter!

Lots of stores have released their Black Friday ads. Here are some links:

Walmart
Best Buy
Toys R Us
J C Penney
Radio Shack
Target
Lowes
Kohls
Macys
CVS
Right Aid
Walgreens

Willy Wonka and The Germ

I haven't posted lately because we've been swamped with production week and I'm sick! I have been saving my freebies to show you, though, and I signed up for a bunch more on Saturday.
 Barilla sent me a game and a bunch of coupons, including one for FREE pasta.
Target sent me a FREE sample if Tide Acti-Lift and a $1 off coupon and a FREE Glad Odor Shield trash bag with a $1 off coupon.
I got FREE sample of Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, a FREE .5 oz bottle of Crisco Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a coupon for a FREE cup of coffee at 7-11, and Sam's club sent me Poise pads.

What was in your mailbox this week?

Treklet and the entire cast did an amazing job with Willy Wonka, Jr. They performed 5 shows in all. Here is my darling Oompa-Loompa:


Wednesday, November 3, 2010

I love FREEbies in my mailbox!

Great week for FREEbies! Here's what I got!
FREE 3 oz ample of Wellness Dog Food and coupon
FREE Venus Embrace 5 Blade Razor
FREE sample of Curel Sensitive Skin Remedy
FREE sample of Root Awakening Shampoo, Conditioner and Smoothing Lotion with a $1 off coupon
FREE sample Shout Color Catcher
FREE sample Garnier Moisture Rescue and $1 off coupon