It seems like just yesterday that my credit card took a major hit in the name of the Holidays. And yet, right around the corner waits another celebration through gift giving; Valentines Day.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m no cynic. I don’t care if the day was made up by greeting card companies to make a quick buck (or whatever cynics believe). I want my flowers and candy and an evening to feel special and loved.

And of course I have to show that in return. So how much is this going to cost me?

I’ve checked out a bunch of stores online to see what kind of deals are going on now. Whoever you are shopping for or whatever gift you have in mind, I am sure you’ll be able to find it on one of these sites while getting a great discount!

ProFlowers special offers starting at $19.99 and free ginger or tulip vase with a bouquet order , no promo codes required

Edible Arrangements $5 off any order using promo code MAPC1212, free shipping on purchases made 2/12/14 using promo code VDAY2014, many other deals with no codes required, also get $30 worth for $15 on livingsocial.com

Kohls special savings in their Valentines Day Gift Shop

Macy’s extra 15% off using promo code RED

Red Envelope check out the sale section for the deals or shop by price range

Enjoy your Valentines Day. But with these savings, I’m sure you will!

It was just a couple of weeks ago that the East Coast got hit hard with a winter storm, but the heavy snow and freezing temperatures are back for round two.

Brrr…It’s cold out there!
Photo Courtesy: weather.aol.com

Many of you will be finding yourself staying indoors because of the weather conditions.  It can be quite a challenge to find things to do around the house, especially if you have children to entertain.

Have no fear, Wanda is here!

I think we can all agree that there is no better pick-me- up than the smell of baked goods in the oven, warming up the whole house.  Don’t worry, you don’t have to go scouring the internet or your cookbooks for a great recipe, I have already done that for you.

I have listed my two favorite winter snow day recipes that I hope will become your favorites too.  Plus, baking is such a fun way to involve your little ones in the kitchen and enjoy some quality family time.  Grab some blankets and cozy up to a movie while digging in to your delicious treats!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe: These are the perfect balance between chewy and crispy and are sure to be a hit in your home!

Cream together ¾ cup of unsalted melted butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, and ½ of a cup of white sugar.

Beat in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, one egg, and one egg yolk.

Once the mixture is light and creamy, mix in 2 cups of flour, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt.

Add 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips.  Drop the cookies, one tablespoon each, on a greased cookie sheet (no need to shape them) about 3 inches apart because they will expand in the oven.

Bake at 325°F (165°C) for 10-12 minutes. The edges should look lightly toasted when they are ready. After the cookies initially cool on the baking sheet, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Hot Cocoa: No need to trudge out in this weather if you’ve got this recipe in your arsenal! 

Mix 1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/3 cup of sugar in a saucepan. Add 1/3 cup of boiling water and stir over the fire. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about one minute. Then add 4 cups of milk, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract while continuing to heat. Pour into four mugs and top with whipped cream. Done!

Now go snuggle up and enjoy that movie!

The holidays are so close that you could probably hear the sleigh bells and smell the eggnog. If you’re like me, you’re probably still digging yourself out of whatever you spent last year. And, if you’re like me, whatever gifts you bought and gifted are currently:

1) Lost or broken (due to clumsiness)

2) In the attic (the gift became boring)

3) Sold on eBay (the gift recipient needed to pay off last year’s holiday debt)

Think of all the money you ever spent on toys…

So you’re planning to spend more money this year on more useless things, right? It’s inevitable. You can’t possibly pretend that you forgot about the holidays. No one would believe it.

“Woops… oh wow. The holidays? Totally slipped my mind. Sorry.”

Some people have invented new religions to avoid buying gifts/ spending money.

“Sorry, it’s against hallelujah-ism. What’s that, you ask? New religion. Basically, I’m not allowed to spend more than ten dollars this month.”

That won’t work (trust me, I’ve tried it).

So what can you possibly do? Well… saving money during the season of spending is easier than you think. It’s all about being sentimental in your gift- giving process. An expensive product doesn’t necessarily qualify it as a good present.

Sentimental Gift Giving 101

1) Don’t be afraid to use the old-photos-in-a-nice-picture-frame gift (cost: less than $20 bucks). The gift of good memories is priceless. Print out that one photo you both love and frame it. It’s easy, it doesn’t get in the way, and it’s cheap. What else do you need?

2) Put lots of thought into it. Write a long note. Paint a picture. Make it surprising. It’s all about the presentation. If your recipient is unable to forget your gift, you’ve done an excellent job.

3) Don’t overspend. Research has shown that expensive gifts make recipients feel guilty. They’ll be obligated to reciprocate by “returning the favor.” It’s a big mess. If you know someone is having financial problems, give them a cheap gift. They’ll be happier with something simple, because they won’t feel like they owe you something. They don’t need any more debt on their back.

Those are our tips. We really hope you’ll save more this year. Maybe take a few surveys for some extra money (every little bit helps). Try not to stress too much. Remember, the holidays aren’t about money. The holidays are about getting together and sharing things. Unless, of course, your religion is hallelujah-ism.

Here at MyShopDiscounts, we receive a ton of e-mail from our members. Like, here’s one from Tammy D. from South Carolina.

“You guys are what I wake up to! I got Good Morning America in the background and my coffee and the surveys are there on my computer. It’s like that feeling you get from finding quarters in your shirt pocket. It’s not a lot but it adds up to something decent!”

We agree, Tammy. And we also agree with Wilson from Bronx, New York.

“I kinda knew from the start that I would not make more than fifty a week, but I guess money’s money. If you have surveys, keep them coming at me. I have opinions by the dozen! I think if people have the extra thirty minutes a day, why not? Might as well make like around twelve dollars for that time instead of letting it fly down the drainpipe.”

Here’s what Michelle from California had to say:

“Yes! I’m so glad I finally got one site to work. I was looking at survey sites this entire week. This one showed up just when I was about to call it quits. Freaking amazing! The bonus is perfect. I’m waiting impatiently for the next one. Nice to be working with you guys. I’m referring my friends for the referral bonus, too!”

Here at MyShopDiscounts, we pride ourselves on the little things. We start small. When you sign up, we give you beginner’s assignments. If you show dedication, we ramp it up! That’s when the higher paying surveys come in.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t make much. Patience will get you far.

Best of luck to you!

“You can do it,” I say into the mirror every morning in October.

Halloween is when my cravings boil over. The same episode happens every year.

I muster up all of my willpower and my courage as I watch my two children pour out their Halloween bounty onto the carpet in the living room. My daughter likes to organize her candy by color; my son prefers to arrange by brand.

Toughest battle ever.

“I hate candy. I hate candy. I hate candy,” I repeat in my head.

I try to isolate myself in the kitchen, but the crinkling sound of candy wrappers taunts me to no end. I run into the bathroom (“you can do it,” I say once more) and I grab a magazine. Eventually I’ll toss the magazine aside when the candy advertisements get on my nerves. I leave the bathroom and run down the hall to my bedroom. I pick up the phone and I call my friend, Alley.

“I’m in the kitchen right now,” Alley says. “I can hear the wrappers.”

Luckily, I have friends like Alley. Every year, my small group and I get together and we set group goals.

In our mid-twenties, we realized that going through motherhood (let alone life) was going to be one heck of an uphill trek. We banded together and formed a pact. We would support one another for the rest of our days.

“You still there?” Alley asked.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Hey, this is nothing,” she said. “We can do it.”

And we would have the same conversation next year.

Get a few good friends together and try setting a similar goal.

Brace yourselves.

The season of holiday spending is coming.

If only people gave money away for Halloween…

It begins with costumes and candy for Halloween and a new cookware set at a Columbus Day sale. Then it’s downhill from there. Someone might as well dress up as a Credit Card Bill for Halloween. Nothing is scarier than debt that piles up during the holidays.

Before you know it, you’re swiping your way through ingredients for Thanksgiving, a few Black Friday deals…

It’s too easy to get sucked into the shopping frenzy.

So here’s a helpful tip.

Saving money during this time of the year is more about your awareness and less about your thriftiness. The next time you go shopping, ask yourself this question: “Do you like the actual product or do you like the price?”

Santa Claus collects sled-fulls of loyalties during the final months of the year.

There’s a difference. It’s the shopping sale psychology. It’s how retailers sell you things that, later on, become junk. When you see an amazing deal on a cookware set, the retailer is taking your focus away from the cookware set that you already have (which is working just fine, by the way) and is placing your focus on something shiny, new and within your financial grasp. Before you know it, you’re signing your name in that digital credit card machine at checkout.

So think about how they’re selling the product (instead of what is being sold). And think about the things you already have!

On the other hand… I don’t think we can ever be ready for holiday spending…

Well, good luck anyway!

I lost 7 pounds when Todd was born. That’s the name of my first son and that’s how much he weighed. That’s also how many cups of coffee I started drinking per day. After Todd was delivered, I made a beeline for the coffee pot in the hospital’s employee lounge. I was an overly cautious pregnant chick. The type that screamed at smokers.

It’s tough.

I stayed away from construction sites, where paint fumes or other harmful airborne toxins could be in the air. I didn’t even eat cheese for goodness’ sake. Abstaining from drinking coffee was the most difficult thing.

But there are a ton of benefits for pregnant women. I mean, a ton.

Like…

Unlimited naps. Wonderful, wonderful naps.

Maternity leave (you get paid to take naps for a few months).

Free stuff (a.k.a. the baby shower).

You begin to become healthier. The good habits you pick up during pregnancy will stay with you forever. Like, I love yoga now.

Also a good way to make mommy friends.

The best one: no periods for an entire year!

You win every argument. Who argues with a pregnant woman? Yes, I’m pregnant. Your argument is invalid.

Seriously. You get special perks for 6 months (the bigger your bulge, the more plentiful your gain). I would advise you all to take full advantage of your pregnancy perks. I mean, once you have children, your whole world revolves around them (they get to enjoy eighteen years of free food and housing and you have to cover the bill).

Bringing life into the world is a special thing. Believe me, it’s worth giving up coffee for eight months.

When life gives you lemons…

You say “Thanks!”

Because lemons are unbelievably good for your health! Tossing a slice in your water bottle will help expel bad breath. Squeezing it onto your steak or salmon brings on flavor without the effort. Studies have shown that lemon juice can help increase concentration. But there’s more to it than that.

Here’s one exception.

Did you know that citrus acid could help fight pimples? Of course, you might want to speak to your dermatologist before doing anything drastic.

Do you get canker sores often? Get a cup of water and toss in a lemon. There are antibacterial agents in lemons that can help the healing process.

Yet, there are more medicinal qualities to know about. The vitamin C in lemons will help your body in the fight against common colds.

If you add lemon juice to a spray bottle, you can ward off insects as well.

So when life gives you lemons, there’s plenty you could do!

You could also make lemonade.