From the category archives:

Beyond Shopping

Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day

by The Queen on July 9, 2008

in Beyond Shopping

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Chick fil A Cow Appreciation DayGet your cow costumes ready! Friday is Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A. Dress up like a cow and you get a free meal. If you don’t have a complete costume, you can still get a free entree with you partial cow attire.

If you need some tips on how to create your own unique cow costume you can visit the Cow Appreciation Day website. Just remember to change your outfit before you head back to the office.

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Apple Camp

by The Queen on June 8, 2008

in Beyond Shopping,Kids

With the kids out of school for the summer it’s tough finding activities to keep them busy. But don’t worry, Steve Jobs would like to help baby sit.

Well not exactly…

Apple retail stores are offering Apple Camp. These free workshops are recommended for kids ages 8 – 12. Each workshop lasts 3 hours. Students can learn how to make movies, music and more. For more details and to learn how to sign up check out the Apple Camp site.

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Giving Up Bottled Water

by The Queen on March 26, 2008

in Beyond Shopping

I love bottled water. Through both of my pregnancies, I carried 24-pk cases of bottled from the grocery store to my car and then to my house. Yet, I kept feeling guilty about the amount of empty bottles our household produced. I did recycle; however, we all know recycling is not the same as reducing. So I began to look at my alternatives. After weighing all the pros and cons, I decided to purchase a home filtering system. I purchased it from Costco.com thinking that if it didn’t work out I could return it without any hassles.

After reading many reviews online, I settled on the Lotus Water Treatment System by Tersano. I was a little Tersano Lotus Water Treatment Systemhesitant given its price, but ordered it anyways. Now after a week of use, I am extremely satisfied. It’s very easy to use and it has fit into out everyday lives. I now use the filtered water in everything from brewing tea to filling our fish bowl. The compact carafes fit conveniently into our refrigerator door and look nice enough to take to the table for dinner.

Given how much bottled water we used to consume, this system should pay for itself in a few months. Now I can feel good about saving money and the environment.

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The Value of an Accountant?

by The Queen on February 22, 2008

in Beyond Shopping

I wish I could take advantage of the tax software deals I mentioned, especially since we are State Farm customers. However, our taxes are a little complicated with both my husband and I owning small businesses. It’s late February now and I am in the midst of possible accountant change. I can’t help it. I was reading an article regarding a new tax deduction called the Sec 199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction. My current accountant who deals with small businesses is not familiar with this deduction.

Now this is my financial dilemma: Do I stay with my small business accountant and her small fees and miss the deduction or do I go to a big accounting firm with big fees and take the deduction? Without the taxes actually being completed, I don’t know what my costs and benefits would be.

The clock is ticking, so I need to decide soon. I will let you know once I have decided.

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Tax Software Savings

February 16, 2008

It’s time to start thinking about your taxes. To make doing your taxes less painful, here are some deals and promotions for tax software. IRS Free File Alliance The Free File program is a free federal (and some states) tax preparation and electronic filing program for eligible taxpayers. You must have an adjusted gross income of $54,000 [...]

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Toy Recall Info

August 16, 2007

Fisher Price has received the most attention for their massive toy recall, but there are several other toy recalls as well. The Consumer Product & Safety Commission has detailed information as well as pictures of all the items subject to the recall. Fisher Price Recall All Toy Recalls

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Health Insurance

March 15, 2007

Well, we got the renewal notice for our insurance company and what renewal would be complete without a rate increase. Oh no, here we go again having to start back at step one and compare insurance companies, plans and prices. President Bush wants Americans to become more involved in their own healthcare choices, but honestly [...]

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Flu Shots at Costco

November 3, 2006

Luckily this year there are more flu shots to go around. Costco was giving flu shots on Friday, so we went as a family outing to get flu shots at Costco. I know, its very exciting. But hey, at $18 a shot, it was a good deal.

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My DVR Stopped Working

November 3, 2006

Murphy came by with his law. On the day I was on Atlanta & Company and had set my DVR to record the show, the DVR decides not to record any more. By taking out the SmartCard and resetting the system, I managed to get it to work temporarily. But now I have come to the [...]

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