If you’re looking for an affordable restaurant meal tonight, consider McAlister’s Deli.  There are locations in Kingsport and Johnson City.   Our family loves it!   When I was recently there picking up a to-go order, I noticed this sign advertising their kids night deal.  Every Tuesday night from 5 til close, you can get 2 FREE kids meals with each adult meal!   WOW!  There are also crafts starting at 5:00.

I think this is a great way to stretch the eating-out budget.    If you have any other great deals on restaurants, I’d love to hear them!

I received no compensation for this post.

Again.

Well, that’s not entirely true.  I never owned Season 1, I just watched it on Netflix.  But I did buy Season 2 and swapped it at the used bookstore.  Oh, but how I regret that decision.  Downton Abbey is one of those rare shows that must be OWNED, not rented.  I don’t even want to stream it.  I just want to have the discs where I can sleep with them under my pillow.

So, I snatched up the Deal of the Day.  At $25.99 for the Blu-Ray UK edition of both seasons, I just couldn’t go to sleep tonight without knowing that I can watch it anytime.
Thank you, that is all.

Every season has its own flavor, wouldn’t you say?  For me, spring is bright and happy lemon, summer is refreshing berry or watermelon, autumn is comforting pumpkin, and winter is cool peppermint.    Until I participated in this Torani review, I had no idea that I could purchase Torani syrups in the store!    Today I saw several varieties of Torani syrups located right on the shelf with coffee.  It opened up a whole new world to me!   The only time I drink coffee is when I can find the pumpkin flavored ones in the fall.  Well, now I can enjoy that moment anytime just by adding a bit of Torani Pumpkin Pie syrup to my drink! [Read more…]

I had never heard of steampunk novels before reading Revenge of the Mad Scientist: Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles (Volume 1).  Truthfully, I probably wouldn’t have selected this book on my own if I were in a bookstore.  What a treat I would be missing!  This book has just enough juxtaposition of danger and romance in it to keep it thrilling. The characters are strangely realistic.  I could imagine all of it!  There’s so much adventure packed into this small novel that it’s almost breathtaking.  This is a book that I would read again. It’s a quick read that would be fun for teens.  Be aware that there are a few mature situations in it, and the book touches upon issues such as prostitution and slave trade.  If you give this to your teen, it might provide a good opportunity to discuss those subjects in a non-threatening way.   I definitely look forward to reading more by author Lara Nance.

I really, really liked that this book was available in paperback format.  Although ebooks are convenient, I so prefer the feel of a print book.  The Revenge of the Mad Scientist is the kind of book that I want to be able to hold, savoring each page turn.  As the story progressed, I grew more fond of the characters (especially the heroine.)  I think you’ll agree that she’s a great combination of spunk and common sense.  Overall, this was a great read that I would recommend to anyone interested in this genre.

Author Lara Nance has a fun website.  Go over and visit!   She sounds like a really fun gal to know.  Lara enjoys sailboating and doing all manners of artsy things.

And hey, she even lets you get a sneak peek at the world of Revenge of the Mad Scientist.  Want to read the first chapter?  Just head over here and click on the link!

A new sweepstakes started today on Amazon!! Click here to enter the 12 Days of Books Sweepstakes. Read the fine print—only one entry per person, per day. The prize is a $250 Amazon gift card! That would sure buy a LOT of Lightning Deals!

Speaking of Lightning Deals, Amazon is giving some amazing discounts on bestselling books. I just picked up Gone Girl for $2.99.

This is my affiliate link.

We are in the car, everyone is dressed, fed, and ready to go.  When we arrive at school, I get the goodbye kiss and what we call “the huff.”  Then I pop the question—“Didn’t I tell you to brush your teeth?”   We all know that’s a rhetorical question.  Of course I reminded the kids to brush their teeth.  But that doesn’t mean that they actually did it.   In fact, I started to suspect that my daughter was only pretending to forget so that she could get a breathmint or piece of gum before school, since I couldn’t bear to send her in the building with halitosis.  Please tell me that it’s not just my kids.

Thanks to Colgate, I now have something much more effective in my mom arsenal!  Colgate Wisp is the perfect size to keep in the glove compartment, backpack or even in your purse.  It’s a disposable toothbrush that doesn’t require water.  Just pass it over to the carseat, let your child brush, and smile smugly as they go into the building with fresh breath.  You’re so good.

This holiday season, keep some Wisp on hand in case you get caught under the mistletoe.  Need more ideas for gift-giving with Wisp?  After that holiday feast, discreetly go in the bathroom and Wisp it up.  You’ll have a clean, beautiful smile for those holiday pictures!   Make Wisp one of your Secret Santa gifts on the day of the big office luncheon.  Wisp can be a great stocking stuffer and a practical gift-wrap accessory for those who travel.  You can even put some in a pretty container in your guest bathroom for those who want to freshen up before the festivities.

You can find Colgate Wisp at most retailers around the country.   Two lucky winners will receive a prize package from Colgate Wisp. The giveaway is open to US readers of Savings in Seconds (ages 18+) and ends on December 12, 2012.  Good luck!

I love deals on gift cards because you rarely see the 50% giftcard deals!   Living Social has just that right now—you pay $10 and get a $20 egift card to use.  So easy to save this way!  When you combine this deal with coupons, it makes your savings even better.  This would be a great way to purchase stocking stuffers like candy and lip balm, or maybe grab a toy for the angel tree. I also like to use these cards when there’s a big purchase amount (like the P&G deal — buy $30 in products and get $10 ECB) to help bring down the out-of-pocket cost.

Click here to get your card.  Enjoy!

This is my affiliate link.

Seriously, have you ever seen a cuter bath-toy organizer than this?!

It’s a toy itself!  The Aquatopia bathtime scoop toy organizer is a must-have if your bathtub is overflowing with squirty toys, foam letters, and other what-not that just makes you crazy when you’re fishing your child out of the tub.  My problem is that my kids never want to clean up their toys.  Well, let me tell you that it all changed when the Aquatopia bath scoop made its way to our bathroom.  My kids immediately wanted to know what it was.  They couldn’t wait to take the gator off the clamp and play with it.  And then at clean-up time, no problem!!  They were thrilled to fill his mouth up with their toys.  It’s really a kid-friendly design because there aren’t a lot of extraneous parts to deal with.  You just put the clamp part over the bathtub side, then fit the clamp edge into the gator.  There’s even a little spot to keep your soap handy.  The red color is just as vibrant as it is in this picture.  The box made me happy when I saw it because it’s just so colorful and fun.  This is a great way to organize toys in the tub. If you’ve got bath toys on your shopping list for Christmas, definitely look for this fun guy to hold it all for you!  And you thought he was red……pshaw!  He’s green as can be, since he’s pvc-free, bpa-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free.

You can find Aquatopia at Babies R Us/Toys R Us (online and in-store).  Connect with the red gator on Facebook and visit him on the Aquatopia website!

One lucky winner will receive an Aquatopia bathtime toy organizer!  Enter on the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway is open to US readers of Savings in Seconds who are age 18+. Good luck!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

When I’m lost in a good book, I like to be cuddled in a warm blanket with a cup of hot tea or cocoa nearby.  Are you the same way? Check out the TimeMug! The TimeMug is a beautiful holiday gift because it is functional and beautiful at the same time. In fact, my kids both wanted to use ours as soon as it arrived in the mail. It has been used for everything from holding drinks to storing snacks. The outside of the mug has a beautiful clock face that will keep you on schedule if you’re sneaking in a few pages before heading off to an appointment. With all the colors that are available, you’re sure to find the perfect TimeMug for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list. And are you ready for this??????? It’s dishwasher safe!!! Hallelujah, that sold me, what about you?

The TimeMug has a stainless steel interior and can be used for both hot and cold drinks. It also fits in the cupholders of my van without threatening to topple over, which is always a plus for me. It holds 16 ounces of yummy drink for you. Save 20% off your purchase at TimeMug with code savings20. One lucky Savings in Seconds reader will win a TimeMug. This would be perfect to keep for yourself or gift it to a lucky friend. Open to US readers ages 18+, color of TimeMug to be selected by sponsor.   The giveaway will be featured in the Last Minute Christmas Gifts Giveaway Hop from December 12-19. Good luck!

There’s that dizzying moment in holiday shopping when your judgment is blurred ever so slightly.  Keep this guide in mind. Personalized reindeer sweater?  Not if the gift is for someone older than 8.

Personalized labels?  Yes. Definitely.

Everyone loves to see his or her name personalized on an item.  Sometime it’s hard to find today’s unique names on personalized items. It’s such a disappointment when your own name is missing from the dozens on the rack. Having one’s name on a special toy or gift is always a treasure, no matter what age the recipient may be.  Let’s face it, even as an adult, haven’t you looked over the personalized shelf to see if your name was on it? It’s because a personalized gift says that it’s just for you—made just for you—and you can always find it because it has your name on it.

Lucky for you, Lovable Labels has got you covered in that area.   With packages starting at just $14.99, this is a gift that won’t be forgotten in a few days.  Plus you can get $5 off your $25 purchase by using code DECBLOG30 (good through December 31, 2012.)  Created by a mom who was too busy to label everything for daycare, Lovable Labels has  durable and waterproof alternatives that will look way better than your black permanent marker name.  I really like the multi-packs that offer an assortment of items.  The Holly Jolly pack gives the recipient a great variety of labels and tags.  My daughter is always buying something to hang on her backpack, I know that she will really love the mini-metal tags in this set.  The slimline labels are very handy for marking pencils, cell phones, and other objects that don’t have a lot of space for a larger label.  These are my favorite labels to use in my classroom (where my students “borrow” at least a dozen pencils a day……not to mention rulers, scissors, and other items.)   You don’t even have to personalize with a name!  Consider getting some labels with a special message or sentiment.  See my pen in this picture? It makes me happy every time I use it!

I’ll bet you can come up with all kinds of uses for the clothing and shoe labels!   If your child plays sports or does dance, you definitely know the pain of losing the ever-important ballet slippers or jersey to the lost-and-found.  The great thing about the clothing labels, other than the fact that they’re washable, is that they’re press-and-stick.  No more iron-on with these!  The labels come in a pretty red cello bag that makes it perfect for a gift envelope.  I also like the way the labels are organized—they’re in a little flip booklet with tabs at the top so you can find just the label you need.

Lovable Labels has exciting colors and symbols available to make the personalization even more special.  You can really custom-design your label package to fit your child with these.  If you have a special teacher on your Christmas list, why not consider ordering a special set of labels for his/her classroom?  It’s definitely a gift that will be used and appreciated.

Connect with Lovable Labels on their blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

One lucky Savings in Seconds reader will win a Holly Jolly pack!   Click here to enter.  The giveaway is open to US and CAN readers and runs from December 4-10.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.