Crap my B.R.A.T. Says

So Lil'Bit heard a "snap" and looked out her window to see that the rat-trap had caught a rat… Not understanding what really happened she came in my room and said "Mommy, its cold outside, a rat froze while driving his wood boat" [I was just glad she didn’t understand what a rat-trap really was] 

THEN hours later, while trying to get Lil'Bit to clean her room, my mom says: "You better clean your room, when I went out to the car I saw an elf run behind the bushes, you know they’ve been watchin you through the window… I bet the elf was mad that you didn’t clean your room and took his anger out on the rat this morning" OMG, instant tears… I had to go check Lil'Bit's room, under the bed, behind the dresser and all, while she cried "Mommy, I don’t want an elf to make me go drive a boat in the rain, I’ll freeze like the rat!" …Poor thing, now I’m doing elf patrols outside. :-/ Yeah, thanks a lot Grandma.

The U.S. Army Considers Making iPhones Standard Issue

Had anyone seen this? The Army is considering making iPhones (and Android phones) standard issue for soldiers... And to top it off they want to pay their monthly bill. I don't know about you, but this use of government funding just doesn't really sit right with me... Especially considering they just froze all federal civilian salary increases for the next two years.

The U.S. Army Considers Making iPhones Standard Issue

Chris Gayomali   |   December 16, 2010   |   Time.com

The U.S. army is considering a proposal to arm its soldiers with a new weapon for the 21^st century battlefield: smartphones.

The Army Times is reporting that early next year, iPhones, Androids and even Blackberries could potentially become standard issue next to fatigues, tactical knives and M4 rifles.

The idea behind the proposal – part of a program dubbed Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications (CSDA) – is to grant soldiers instant access to to up-to-date information and intel while shedding a few burdensome pounds from their field bags.

The report states:

"In February, the Army plans to begin fielding phones, network equipment and applications to the first Army brigade to be modernized under the brigade combat team modernization program. That test will not be limited to smart phones but will include any electronic devices that may be useful to troops."

While the plan is still a long ways from actually being implemented – with testing and securing a data network at the forefront of priorities – the idea of widely outfitting troops with smartphones seems a bit overdue, especially when you consider how many civilian offices distribute smartphones to their employees for work purposes.

The announcement comes at a controversial time for information sharing in military circles, during a week when the U.S. army also issued a ban preventing its soldiers from viewing websites like WikiLeaks while serving.

Gaggle of Chicks: Playhouse ONLY $5 Shipped

Gaggle of Chicks, yet another daily deal site, is offering up a very sweet deal! Currently, you can snag a Box Creations playhouse for ONLY $15 + FREE Shipping ($39.99 value)! Even sweeter, if you’re new to Gaggle of Chicks, you can score a playhouse for only $5 shipped because you will have earned a $10 credit upon sign up! This is one *HOT* Deal – Snatch it up while you can! I did!!!

You’ll even get to choose from these playhouses:
Princess Carriage
Medieval Castle
Pirate Ship
Country Cottage Playhouse
Space Shuttle

It’s Mega Swagbucks Day!

If you still haven’t signed-up for Swagbucks then I’d love to start you off with 60 Swagbucks in your new account today. It’s the best way to earn free gift cards (and even PayPal cash) just by searching the internet.

How to get started with 60 Swagbucks (brand new sign-ups only):

1. Sign-up for Swagbucks by registering with your name, email, password, zip code, and birthdate

2. Enter the code: SBTVisOnTheAir (case sensitive, try typing in the code, expires Friday, October 22 at 11:59pm PT)

 

3. Now start using Swagbucks as your search engine and win more! Plus read my 4 Tips to Earn More Swagbucks

Military Post Secrets

I've had this PostSecret on my computer FOREVER cuz just reading it makes my day... I'm sure a lot of you out there won't find it nearly as amusing as those of us who have been through bootcamp...

More Arlington woes

Seriously, what the heck is going on at Arlington? Does anyone know if it's the Army who preforms the actual burial or just the ceremonial stuff?

More Arlington woes: 8 remains found in 1 grave
The Associated Press     Sunday Dec 5, 2010 9:02:16 EST

WASHINGTON — The Army has launched a criminal investigation after Arlington National Cemetery officials found eight sets of cremated remains buried in a single grave with a headstone marked “unknown.”

Cemetery spokeswoman Kaitlin Horst said officials learned of the problem in October and that investigators have now identified three of the sets of remains.

One set could not be identified and was reburied, and investigators are still working to identify the others.

The probe comes on top of a report earlier this year that found more than 200 graves had been mismarked on cemetery maps. Christopher Grey, a spokesman for the army Criminal Investigation Command, said that while those previous problems might have been human error, the placement of eight urns in one grave was unlikely to be by mistake.

National Consumer Panel

Remember the Nielsen National Consumer Panel opportunities that I have mentioned in the past?! Well, check out this email from reader, Darla, to see how she just snagged $30 in FREE cash courtesy of Nielsen…

I got a pack in the mail the other day with 2 $1 bills in it and a quick survey. I thought, “Why not…You just bought me coffee.” So I took the 3 minutes to tell them what I like to watch on tv. A month later, which was yesterday, I got a much larger package from them, with $30 cash inside! They asked me to fill out 2 weekly books of what we watch… which is 90% PBS anyway, as we don’t have cable! I don’t mind doing this, and that certainly was a nice, unexpected $30 to spend on my family today. I plan to keep doing this. Who knows what they will send me next time?

Free Johnson & Johnson Travel First Aid kits

Go here to print a coupon valid for $1 off any one Johnson & Johnson RED CROSS Brand Product (No Size Exclusions). Walmart, Target and various other stores sell the Johnson & Johnson Red Cross Travel Size First Aid To Go kits for around $0.99, so FREE after the coupon!

Fun Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients

• 36 (2-inch) foil baking cups 
• 36 vanilla wafers 
• 1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet & White Morsels, divided  
• 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, at room temperature 
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar 
• 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Place 36 baking cups on baking sheet(s) with sides. Place one vanilla wafer, flat-side down, on bottom of each cup. Place 5 to 6 morsels on top of each wafer. 
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, and flour in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. Spoon heaping tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into each baking cup. 
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until just set and not browned. Remove from oven to wire rack. While still warm, top cheesecakes with remaining morsels. Morsels will soften but will retain shape. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate.

30% off Entire CVS Purchase!

Beginning tomorrow, Saurday December 4th, through Sunday, December 5th, you can snag 30% off your entire purchase in-store or online (excludes iPad, Lookbook, and Netbook). CVS has not yet released any further details at this point; head over here for information about this sweet promotion.

Seriously The Best Hanukkah Song EVER!

Regal Cinemas printable coupons

There are 2 new Regal Cinemas printable coupons that are valid through 12/5/10:

• Small popcorn for $1.00 HERE
• Small soft drink for $1.00 HERE

Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop

As I posted last month, Santa's Wonderland is happening down at Bass Pro Shop. We visit Bass Pro Shop every year for FREE crafts, FREE Photos with Santa, and FREE Santa Bands. Seriously, the pictures we receive at Bass Pro Shop are WAY better then any photo we've received from a shopping mall. See below for event times, check local stores for further details.

December 4th 

• (Noon-5pm)  Snowman Suncatcher
• (10-8pm)  FREE Photo with Santa 
  

December 5th 

• (Noon-5pm)  Snowman Suncatcher
• (Noon-5pm)  FREE Photo with Santa  

Free Tide Stain Release Spray!

Woo Hoo! Tide will be giving away FREE Tide Stain Release Pre-Treat Spray TODAY at Noon EST (9am PST). Just head over to the Tide Facebook page and be one of the 1st 5000 people to request this free product.

If you are not quite fast enough, Tide plans to offer thousands of free products over the next several weeks so you may still be in luck!

UPDATE: By 12:03 EST (9:03 PST) they had hit their 5000 mark and were out. I got one, but my mom (sitting right in front of me) is a slow typer and she missed out.

It’s Mega Swagbucks Day!

It’s Mega Swagbucks Day!

Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day (MSBD), which means better odds of winning BIG Swag Bucks denominations – up to 10,000 in one search! Swagbucks is completely Free and Swag bucks can be traded in for rewards such as gift cards, electronics, apparel, household goods and much more!

Looking for more information on Swagbucks? Just head over here, for my previous post! I am earning my way to a CASH FREE CHRISTAMS!!!! I have earned $150.00 in Amazon gift cards for just searching the web and am hoping to pay for most of my on-line Christmas shopping by just using Swagbucks!

Boss Makes Women on Their Period Wear Red Bracelets

Posted by Kim Conte at The Stir

A boss in Norway is requiring menstruating femaleswear red bracelets so that it's clear to everyone in the office that they are having their period. The thinking -- if it can be called that -- behind this new policy is to help monitor bathroom breaks; the bracelets signal why these women are using the restroom more often.

Now those are some superior micro-management skills! The only thing better would be if he was to fasten a scarlet "P" to the cursed women's chests.

Can I tell you what I would do if forced to take part in such a sexist and humiliating tagging system?

Honestly, I'd be concerned that a red bracelet wasn't a significant enough reminder that I was on the rag. Therefore, in an effort to be entirely obvious about my condition in the workplace, I would employ the following tactics in an effort to convince this boneheaded boss that it really was that time of the month: I would eat lots of chocolate. I would bring my heating pad to work. I would fill my cubicle with tampons and Midol. I would even clutch my lower abdomen screaming, "Owwwwwww. Menstrual cramps are the worst!"

It sounds dramatic, I know, but I wouldn't want anyone to be confused about what was going on down there.

In fact, in the spirit of transparency, I would insist that all of my co-workers -- men and women -- be forced to reveal intimate details about their bodies, lives, and washroom habits through this color-coded bracelet system. For example, pink or blue bracelets (depending on the sex of her baby) would signal that a woman was pregnant. Green means someone came to work hungover. And, of course, brown would be for people who have to ... you know.

What do you think about this red bracelet policy?
 

Crap my B.R.A.T. Says (Happy Hanukkah)

My 4yr old: "Mommy, I need a menorah for my room"
Me: "You're not Jewish"
My 4yr old: "How do I get Jewish? I want a menorah"
Me: "I'll look into it, go clean your room"

She walked away singing: "Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Festival of Lights..."

Christmas care package from Scion

If you are Active Duty Military or in the Reserves, head on over here to check out this awesome offer from Scion. For a limited time, Scion is offering up all stateside U.S. military and all military stationed overseas a FREE Scion Holiday Gift Package.

This care package includes some leisure items such as CDs and a deck of cards – and some functional items such as a pre-paid internet card with an hour’s worth of internet access; however, there may be some variation in the mix of items that they place in each of the care packages. To order a package, head over here to register; keep in mind that there is a limit of one care package per person.

 

I ordered my husband a care package through Scion last Christmas and it was pretty awesome... He's real excited to receive this years.

Be sure to register soon as this offer will only remain active while supplies last.

Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

This is a recipe I found on Land-O-Lakes website and it was just way too amazing not to share! Plus, it's a great way to kick off the holiday season.

Cookie
3/4 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled slightly
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup mini real semi-sweet chocolate chips

Frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 drop green food color

Drizzle
1/2 cup mini real semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening