Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Here's a great thing to do that is always free, giving thanks! I actually write down five things that I am thankful for every day in a journal that I keep by my bed. It's a great way to keep this crazy life in perspective. Here are a few things that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving day: my buddy, that man can make me laugh like no one else on this earth; my dogs, it was a tough year with losing Maddie, but I'm glad that Ella found us and so is Mandy; my job, so many people are struggling with this right now, and I am thankful that, not only do I have a job, I really like my job; I'm healthy and everyone in my family is healthy; my new niece, Isabella Grace, I haven't gotten to meet her yet, but will for Christmas and just can't wait, my kitties, I love watching all of my animals hang out together. These are just a few of the fabulous things that I am thankful for. I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Gives Back Card

Joseph Beth Booksellers has a fabulous program called the Gives Back Card. For $25 you get the card, and here is what the card gives you: $25 gift certificate to the Bronte Bistro (the fabulous restaurant attached to Joseph Beth), a free meal on your birthday, $10 coupon for every $200 spent in the bookstore, $10 coupon for every $200 spent in the bistro, ok, and really tons of other stuff. But, now why, you ask, is it called the Gives Back Card? Well, that is because 1% of all bookstore purchases are donated back to a local charity of you choice. I chose to have mine given to the Levin Children's Hospital. It's a pretty cool card and a fantastic deal all around.

Cheap and Free Date at Brixx with Buddy

We love Brixx, and I mean L-O-V-E! So, when I came upon a coupon for buy one, get one free pizza, of course, it was time to walk up to Brixx for the night. The very best night to go to Brixx is Monday for $1.95 domestic drafts. Their domestic drafts aren't what you normally think of. We're talking microbrews, the best kind of beer delicious-ness. If you go to Brixx, be sure to start working on your MBA. That's your Masters of Beer Appreciation. You get stamps for having different beers, and you get different prizes along the way, but the grand prize is the party. Oh yes, I will be earning a party!

Back for some more free wine!

Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day! And, just try to keep me away from the free wine! My friend Sarah and I headed to Reid's today to see what the wine tastings were all about today during free wine week. Of course, they were pouring a Beaujolais Nouveau, which was amazingly delicious. It's a holiday that I always like to take part in. We actually had every intention to go up to the Mint Museum, but we were just having so much fun tasting the wines, and the pours were quite generous. I would say we both had about two full glasses of wine. I stuck to the Reds, but Sarah was tasting both Reds and Whites. Our favorite, though, was the Bliss Merlot. Plus, to make it even better, that's an $11.99 bottle of wine! Great wine for a great price, and the tastes are free? Fantastic!

Free Wine Tasting at Reid's

Reid's Fine Foods is kicking off the holiday season right, with free wine! I headed up to Reid's tonight with my friends, Erin and Anie and we were very happy to partake. Reid's is doing free wine tastings and free appetizer tastings all week. I would say that we probably each had enough samples to equal 1- 1 and a half glasses of wine. Did I mention that I love free wine?

Buddy Loves Samples

Buddy (that's what I affectionately call my husband, he calls me buddy too) hates going to the grocery store, and, I mean hates. There is one notable exception, and that is Earth Fare, and I'll tell you why he likes that store: free cheese samples. So, when I told him that Earth Fare was going to be hosting their Taste of Thanksgiving event and handing out samples of Thanksgiving dinner, he was so in. Of course, we had to enter the store near the cheese section, so we had our fill of the cheese, meandered and did some other shopping, and then made our way to the free Thanksgiving. It was delicious! My favorite quote of the day happened while I was then waiting to order our Thanksgiving turkey. Buddy said to me, "If this takes much longer, I'm going to have to get another plate." I told him to just go, and he was off and running before I got the last word of my sentence out. These plates were more than a snack too, a very enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Giving back and getting something in return

Today I got to give back in a very awesome way... A friend of mine works at Hemby Children's Hospital and today was their annual Thanksgiving party for the patients and families. I was able to go and serve the drinks and mix and mingle with the adorable kids. This is a fabulous event that they put on, and they do a similar event for each holiday. Most of these kids won't get to spend Thanksgiving at home, so the hospital brings the Thanksgiving dinner to them and their families. It's a feel good time for everyone. The kids get some time to just be kids and eat macaroni & cheese and pumpkin pie. US Foodservice donated the food and the talented culinary students at Johnson & Wales cooked and served it. As an added bonus to the great feeling that I get to carry around in my heart after seeing these very special little people, I also got to eat this fabulous Thanksgiving lunch. And, let me tell you, those students can cook! This bumps up eating at the Johnson & Wales cafeteria on my list. I can't wait to help out at the Christmas party!