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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mercury in retrograde - I LOVE YOU

Today is the last day Mercury is in retrograde for 2011. If you do not know what Mercury in retrograde is, talk to my friend, Wonder Bright! She's amazing at letting you know how to understand yourself through astrology!

I'm now starting a practice of sitting down and writing a list of "things to do" and actually take action on it while Mercury is in retrograde. It's a time where I sit down, asses and reassess what I'm doing in my life. I figure 4 times a year set aside to catch up is a great time frame and so far it works. Just to let you know, Mercury is in retrograde happens 4 times a year.

It was very uplifting to cross things off the list, complete those items lingering in the back of my head and clean! The closet is clean, clothes are donated, electronics are recycled and there's physical freedom in my space! There's also a lot of unexpected things that showed up. I found thins to start moving that used to be at a standstill. Also, because all the clutter is cleared, I get to be present in my life more times than not. I know it's probably because of the holidays, but I am really enjoying it. For the first time, I'm enjoying company, I'm enjoying being present and grateful for my life and I'm thankful for the people in my life. It is a real nice treat to end my year with! Because lord knows, last year ended a little differently.

The other thing that came out of this journey is realizing who I am, what I like to do and embrace it all. I'm taking ownership and through that... I know that I can handle any challenge coming my way.

At last, Mercury will go direct tomorrow, I'm prepared for the new things that will appear and the opportunity to be with the challenges, people and my life!

Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

As some of you may already know... I'm turning into an avid shopper/couponer! I'm all about saving money and making sure I'm getting a deal. I guess you can say it's the modern day haggling process, where I find codes and coupons instead of doing a back and forth negotiation.

Given the state of economy today, I must say that the Christmas spirit doesn't need to be crushed because there's not enough green. It's just a matter of staying informed and keeping your eyes and ears open. Of course, there's the whole being patient process, waiting to purchase what you need when there's a deal instead of waiting to the last minute. But all in all, I've been able to finish all of my Christmas shopping with not spending a whole lot of money! :) I think I spent $100 for everyone in my circle!

I'm going to show you a couple ways in which I've been able to save:

First, use the points you have. There are a lot of programs that you may already be a part of that you can turn your points over for cash or merchandise. Or at places you never thought of like Dave and Busters! For a 7 year old kid that wants a ball, you can get one that lights up for 450 coupons.

Second, take advantage of the online deals so that you don't have to fight traffic, find parking, wait in line and waste gas. A lot of websites are doing free shipping and some may even let you pile on coupon codes! Always do a search for coupons they may have. But first, make sure you head on over to Ebates , search for the place you're going to shop and click on the shop now button. By going through Ebates, you get some cash back from your purchase (The percentage varies by site, it ranges from 1% to 10%). In essence, when you shop with coupons, you save on the front end and when you shop with Ebates, you save on the back end. Also, when you sign up now, you get a $10 gift card. That's free money!

Lastly, there's nothing wrong with having a gift that comes from the heart. Lately, I've been feeling really grateful for what I have in my lift, for the friends and family that are with me and for knowing a lot of people that have moved on. Having a little something cherish a memory is just as good as the new iPad. Also, start finding some cool recipes to bake. My boyfriend and I made chocolate covered oreos and puppy chow. Great treats for the holidays and everyone loves them!

I hope your holidays are starting off smoothly and enjoy the time you have NOW! :)

Happy Shopping!