Fearless!

This "Thank You" goes out to someone who will never see this post. But I am writing it anyway. :)

If you want to know what it feels like to have your heart walk around outside of your body--have children!  You  feel their joy tenfold--you feel their pain tenfold! There are times a parent can do all things for their child and there are times a parent can do nothing but be there.

That being said, I have always felt that music provides a certain type of therapy. It can soothe the soul when nothing else seems to be good enough. Country music has always told stories. It is great for that "Somebody done somebody wrong song." More recently however, a new young lady has come on the scene of music. She writes about her life. She writes and sings about things that are happening to every young lady on the planet--from mean friends to bad break-ups. Whatever you are going through as a teenage girl--there is a "Taylor" song for that! Listen to her words--over and over--if you have to. It is so important for young ladies to remember they are not alone. It happens and it happens to everyone. You may not be AOK today but you will be AOK soon.

So, Thanks Taylor! Thanks for writing your songs. Thanks for telling your story. Thanks for helping my girls through the rough times. There may not be smiles today but there will be smiles sooner because someone besides me said things will get better. There are brighter days ahead. You truly are Fearless! And you empower every young lady to be Fearless too! :)

Flipping My Bucks!

This deal was so quick and so easy.
Transaction 1:  This week at CVS,  I bought Hydro 3 Blades 4 count refill and Head and Shoulders Smooth & Silky Shampoo. The Hydro blades were $8.49 with $5 CVS bucks attached. I had a $2.00 off coupon from the paper. The Head and Shoulders Shampoo was $4.99 with $2.00 CVS bucks attached. I had a $2.00 coupon from CVS that I mentioned in an earlier post  (It was from scanning my card at the coupon center.) and a .50 cent coupon from the paper. My total bill was $9.79 and I had $7 in CVS bucks for my next transaction. It's like merely spending $2.79....but it gets better. I call this "Flipping my Bucks."

Transaction 2: I bought the Revlon Lipstick on sale for $6.99 with $5.00 CVS bucks attached. I had a $1.00 coupon and I used $5 of the bucks from Transaction 1 thus just flipping my bucks. Total bill: $1.41 and I have $7.00 for my next visit. ($5 CVS bucks from this transaction and $2 CVS bucks leftover from Transaction 1.)

Can't wait to see next week's deals..... It's fun! Give it a try! It will make you smile! :)

Let Go with a Smile

It is important to remember it's okay to move on or to change your mind. It's like an "E" ticket ride at Walt Disney World....(so I am dating myself there)... but it was a heck of a ride-- smile once it's over because it was worth every minute!

It is extremely hard to let go. It's been a year of letting go. We let go of our puppy of thirteen years, we let go of a career after twenty-one years and recently, a home away from home.  The year is barely half over so there are probably more changes to come. But as I let go of that last one, a home away from home, I thought to myself that I might not have a conversation with these people again and I want to be remembered for the positive things that I did and the positive things that I said. The situation was handled with class and grace.

I let go with a smile. I can be proud of that.

Things I know for sure....the Good Lord don't like Ugly. (Thank you Miss Carla!) Never bump your head in the same place twice. (Thank you Aunt Jackie!) You really should treat others like you would like to be treated. (We all know where that one came from.) First time, shame on me--second time, shame on you. (Thanks Dad!) What doesn't kill you--Makes you stronger. (Thank you Lori!) In the end, it's all okay. If it's not okay, then it's not the end. (I have no idea where I got that one.)

So, there's my nickel--Keep it positive.  :)

Deals that make Smiles!

First things first! I received an email from another forever friend yesterday. Wow! It was so great to hear from her. She mentioned the smile that I passed on was a "wonderful surprise."  :) I wonder if she will pass on the smile.

Before time runs out, I want to pass on a couple of great deals.
Walgreens has Revlon Nail Enamel on sale for $3.99 with $3.00 register rewards. There was a $1.00 off coupon in the paper plus our Walgreens has a store coupon at the beauty counter worth $2.00. You do have to check out at the beauty counter. I made $2.01 on that deal!

Sure Antiperspirant/Deodorant is also on sale this week. Use the coupon from the ad, 2/$3.00 plus two $1.00 coupons that came in the paper. Bottom line: the Sure costs .50 cents each. However it is important to remember at Walgreens, you can only use as many coupons as you have items. (Snickers candy bars are on sale for .49 cents this week if you need an item.)

Pert Plus 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner is another great buy but our Walgreens was sold out. It is on sale for $3.99 with $3.00 in register rewards. Use the $1.00 off coupon from the paper. Bottom Line: .01 cent profit on that deal.

Publix also has a couple great deals this week. Degree Antiperspirant and Deodorant is BOGO for $2.99. Use two $1.00 coupons from the paper. The Degree is .50 each.

Resolve Spray 'n Wash Laundry Stain Remover is BOGO for $2.99. There were two .50 cent coupons in the paper and I was prepared to use them. However, there was a .65 cent off coupon on the bottle. Price after coupons is $1.69./.85 cents each. This product also works really well. It's all I use for stain removal on clothes. What an awesome deal! :)

The "deal shopping" is starting to be more fun than it is work! Who doesn't smile at a great deal?

FREE stuff at CVS!

Scan your card at CVS this week, the coupon machine gives you great coupons! It will certainly make you smile! I scanned my card yesterday and received a coupon for a FREE Hershey's candy bar, a FREE 20 ct. box of CVS Fabric bandages and a coupon for $2 off any shampoo, conditioner or styling aid (It does exclude salon brand.). There are a couple scenarios where the shampoo or conditioner would be free with the $2 coupon.

Our CVS was out of the 20 ct. box of fabric bandages but the man at the checkout desk said to use the coupon the next time CVS has them in stock. He said it would be honored even if it is expired. What's not to smile about!!

And remember, CVS will issue a raincheck on any sale item that is out of stock (as long as they normally stock it). The raincheck even has the CVS bucks!

CVS is also more than happy to do two transactions for you. Get the most for all of your bucks! It's a coupon friendly store with great deals! Great deals make me smile! :)

Getting the Word Out!

This blog was created as an after thought to the Just Passing on a Smile campaign of mine. So, yesterday I sent out an email (use of technology and the technoworld) to alert my friends that have already received a smile to stop by here and tell us if they too passed on a smile! I hope they did and I hope they do. Time will tell!

As a side note, my forever friend stopped by yesterday. It may have been business but it was certainly a pleasure to see her! It was a good reminder of yesteryear and simpler times. Great for a smile.

The Power of Positive!

Just Passing on a Smile is all about being positive. This is a negative free zone. As we all adjust to our new "normals," we need things to smile about. Please Pass on what makes you smile! If it makes you smile, it will make someone else smile too!

Just Passing on a Smile!

What makes you smile? I received a birthday card in the mail a few weeks ago and it made me smile. I don't know about you but all I ever get in the mail is bills and junk! The card made me smile because the sender was thoughtful enough to pick it out, address and stamp the envelope and stick it in their mailbox. Two days later, it winds up in my mailbox! It's a great system. Snail Mail is all it's cracked up to be!

I am not knocking emails or text messaging but it's not the same.

Now, I have started an adventure to pass on the smile. The following week after receiving that card, I bought two cards. I mailed them to two of my friends. I don't know what they did--the smile may have stopped there. The week after that, I mailed two more cards and I have done that every week for 4 weeks. But I want to know if anyone is actually passing on the smile. That's why I have created this blog. I will add the web address to the card--mix the best of both worlds(yesteryear and technoworld). Hopefully, folks will add their thoughts and tell us if they passed on the smile!