Monday Magic - Shopping Reward Apps

It's Monday. Let's make something happen.

Frankly, I should have shared these apps before December, but, better late than never, I guess.

One of my daughters and one of my granddaughters are in contention for Reward Points Queen. They both actually earn quite a bit of cash and products because of their merchant reward apps.

Most of us know about getting digital credits for taking a slight delay on Amazon deliveries, but there are so many more rewards that can be claimed.

PAYPAL HONEY

If you use PayPal, you need to sign up for PayPal  Honey. It will help you find cash back offers and coupon codes while you browse online. You can add this shopping extension to your browser. It will automatically search for any rewards or discounts and present them when you check out with PayPal.

Click to find out more about PayPal Honey.

SLICKDEALS

If you don't use PayPal, you might be interested in SlickDeals, a community-driven platform where users find, post, and vote on discounts, coupons, and freebies from across the web, with top deals promoted to the "Frontpage" by community votes and expert verification.

The site earns money through affiliate links, getting a commission when users purchase through links posted on the platform, and also features sponsored content. Users benefit from crowdsourced validation, forums, deal alerts, and browser extensions that help them find great savings. 

Click to find out more about SlickDeals.

IBOTTA

Ibotta has been around a long time. I can't remember how many years ago I put the app on my phone. If you shop for anything, you should get the Ibotta app. Reward points equal cash.

I know someone who regularly gets $50. a month because she's in the Ibotta habit. It's second nature after a while. It's easy  like 1, 2, 3.

1 - Add offers. Add your cash back offers to Your list by tapping (+). You can see your Ibotta offer list in the app before you head to the store.

2 - Submit your receipt. After shopping for your items in-store, head to the retailer page in the app and tap Submit receipt to earn your cash back.

3 - Withdraw earnings. Link a bank account or choose a gift card to withdraw earnings when you reach $20. 

Click to learn more about Ibotta.

FETCH REWARDS

FetchRewards works like Ibotta. You take photos of any shopping receipt (or link accounts for e-receipts) to earn points, which you redeem for free gift cards to your favorite stores.

You get bonus points for buying specific partner brands or completing offers; it's a simple, free app turning everyday spending into rewards without needing specific coupons. 

Click to learn more about FetchRewards.

Of the apps I've listed, I've only used Ibotta, but I'm going to try PayPal Honey since I do most of my shopping online. Maybe 1 or more of these would work for you. Just be sure to read the information about eacy including Terms of Service so you can make an informed decision.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're not taking advantage of these opportunities, maybe you should start.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Rustic Potato Soup

Oh, the weather outside is frightfully cold. You know what would be delightful?

A simmering pot of rich, creamy potato soup—the easiest simple meal that's utterly delicious.

I think my Mom learned to make potato soup from her mother, my grandmother who was also a very good home cook.

Mom would make potato soup for a simple supper and pair it with hot, freshly made skillet cornbread. It's equally delicious with toasted French or Italian bread.

Let's make this for lunch or dinner today!

LOUISIANA POTATO SOUP

Ingredients

3 cups diced raw potatoes

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

2/3 cup dinely diced white onion

3 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon salt to add to broth

2 cups scalded milk

1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base

Order from Amazon

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, if you use salted butter, don't add salt to the broth

1 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon AP flour

1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Salt to taste for the finished soup

Directions

1. In a heavy Dutch oven or other covered cook pot, cook the potatoes, celery, and onions in the salted broth over medium heat until potatoes and vegetables are tender.

2. Add the milk, bouillon, and butter. Stir until butter melted.

3. Reduce the heat to a simmer. In a small bowl, mix the sour cream with the flour until the mixture is smooth. Then add the mixture to the simmering soup on the stove.

4. Stir constantly until the soup has thickened and the bouillon is completely incorporated.

Immersion Blender - Amazon

5. Taste for seasoning then add the salt as needed and the black pepper.

6. At this point, the soup is ready to serve. (If you want the soup to be more elegant than rustic, turn the heat off. Use a stick blender aka Immersion Blender to puree the ingredients into a creamy thick soup.)

If you don't have a stick blender, carefully pour the soup into a blender and puree in small batches umtil finished. Be very careful and cover the blender lid with a pot holder or dishcloth to keep it from loosening and hot mixture spattering.

6. Serve hot.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is one of my favorite recipes from my Mom. When I cook this on a cold winter day, I always think of her. Enjoy!

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Friday Facts - Hallmark Christmas Movies

Believe it or not, Hallmark did not invent Christmas Movies—but they certainly popularized them.

It's rare to meet someone who has never seen a Hallmark Christmas movie—at least when it comes to the female population.

How many of you put a Christmas movie on while you decorate the home for Christmas? We do.

What about Men? The movies aren't made for men. Some men watch these movies, but usually because they have no choice. LOL

 I do know a woman whose husband was a cop who watched Hallmark movies to unwind from his shift patroling the mean streets.

Yes, the movies are formulaic. Yes, the stories have become standardized so that the plots and elements are all too often the same. Still, there's something appealing about them that makes us tune in—again and again. Many of us have our favorites that we'll want to watch every Christmas no matter how many times we've seen them.

HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIE FACTS

1. These Christmas movies are filmed in the summer—usually in Vancouver or Montreal, Canada for the tax breaks and lower expenses. This is done because it's less expensive to use ice trucks, fake snow, and dress actors in winter wear than film in winter.

2. Some productions use European castles as settings, i.e., all of those Prince and Princess Christmas movies.

3. The movies follow familiar plots, i.e. city woman meets small-town guy or vice versa and romance ensues. The main character is usually a single woman, and the story unfolds in 9 acts or major scenes.

4. The movies are filmed much faster than is usual for a production—mere weeks rather than months. Some wrap in no more than 20 days. Lacey Chabert, frequent female lead in many of these movies calls it "boot camp." 

5. Common plot elements include career-focused heroine, rediscovery of love and the Christmas spirit, picturesque small town settings, barriers to love, and a requisite happy ending.

Hallmark took note of the popularity of their early Christmas movies and scaled up their output so that dozens of new movies are now made each year.

They began streaming their own channel with these Christmas movies and mystery movies that are available year-round to subscribers.

The result is a fan base that has exploded. There are social media groups, Twitter hashtags for each premiere, and "Christmas Con" events that draw passionately devoted fans.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

What's not to love about pretty people in pretty small towns who learn some home truths and realize that love—of children / husband / wife / community—"is all there is" and that the Christmas spirit can be alive and well in all of us all year long?

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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En Vogue Gift Suggestion for Women

Ladies, if you're dropping hints about what you'd like Santa to bring you, may I suggest what I just while shopping on Amazon?

I was looking for a couple of last minute gifts, when my attention was captured by these earrings. 

They're something I probably won't find under the tree. They're also something I would never think to buy for myself if it wasn't Christmas because I have dozens and dozens of pairs of earrings.

However, if my Santa doesn't take the hint in this blog, I think I'll order them myself. For me. After all, I've been a really good girl this year so I deserve an awesome gift from Santa. Right?

Huggie Hoop Earrings by Ana Luisa Eden. These really caught my attention because they're different from the usual hoop earrings of which I have a few pair. 

You can choose 14K Gold Plated as shown at right. A slightly less expensive pair of "gold" ones come with 2 "rows" rather than the 3 "rows" seen her.

You can also get them with Silver Rhodium Plated.  

The earrings are Hypoallergenic, Water-Resistant, and Tarnish-Free. The stones are Cubic Zirconia (what did you expect at this price point?).

"Silver" or "Gold" earrings with 3 "rows" of stones  are $63.75. 

"Gold" earrings with 2 rows of stones are $55.25.

They're not what would be classed as "fine jewelry" but they are distinctive with a nice contemporary look. They'd probably go with any outfit, and I think they look far more expensive than the price  you'd pay for them. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I love it when I find something different and unexpected—especially when it's at a fairly reasonable price. I'll keep shopping. Maybe I'll find something else to share.

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Top 10 Funny Christmas Songs

Christmas music is fabulous, isn't it? From Christmas carols to Christmas rock songs and pop songs, there's something for everyone.

Most of the popular Christmas music that's played tugs at the emotions. A lot of it moves us to tears because of those emotions.

That's okay, but for many, the emotions that rise to the surface swamp listeners with feelings of sadness. The holidays can be a mine field for many. 

Listening to songs about longing to be home, lost love, and longing can lead to a serious case of holiday blues. We know those songs: I'll Be Home for Christmas, Please Come Home for Christmas, If We Make It Through December, etc. If those make you feel sad, then try this list...

10 BEST FUNNY CHRISTMAS SONGS

1. Christmas Don't Be Late aka The Chipmunk Song by Alvin and the Chipmunks. This novelty song hit big in 1958 and sold millions. 

It was #1 on Billboard, won three Grammys, and remains a perennial favorite. In today's world, it charts digitally as new generations discover it. It's one of the best-selling and most recognized holiday tunes ever. 

2. Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms, 1957, or Brenda Lee, 1964. Many artists have recorded this song, but Brenda Lee's version remains supreme. Since 2019, her version has charted every year on the Billboard Hot 100. 

3. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. In 2023, it reached #1 on the Billboard Top 100.

4.  A Holly Jolly Christmas aka Have a Holly Jolly Christmas was most famously performed by Burl Ives. The recording was used in the classic 1964 stop-motion animated TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, in which Ives also voiced the narrator, Sam the Snowman, who sang the popular tune. It's one of the top 25 most-performed holiday songs.  

5. Feliz Navidad was written and first recorded by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. The song is upbeat and has a great message. It taught the world how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish. I love the song.

6. Let It Snow was written by the famous duo of lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heatwave as they imagined cooler conditions. The version by Dean Martin remains popular today.    

7. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, a novelty song

 written by Randy Brooks was originally performed by Elmo Shropshire in 1979 under the brand of Elmo and Patsy,  his then-wife Patsy Trigg.

8. Santa Claus Is Back in Town was written in 1957 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and first recorded by Elvis Presley for Elvis' Christmas Album, the best-selling Christmas/holiday album of all time in the United States. The song has become a rock and roll Christmas standard.

9. Baby, It's Cold Outside was written by Frank Loesser and his wife Lynn in 1940s as a playful flirtatious duet. Sadly, in today's world, the song has been banned because of complaints from radio listeners who decry the male singer as maliciously coercing the female.

I don't see it that way—perhaps because I write romantic comedy. I see the song as a flirtatious scene from a romcom set to music. The version recorded by Dean Martin made the song a pop hit. 

10. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released that same year by pop singer Andy Williams. His recording of the musical celebration of all the reasons Christmas is a wonderful time remains popular today.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is my Top 10 List. Most of these songs have been covered by numerous artists over the years, but the ones cited above remain at the top of the charts. All of these are guaranteed to make you smile. What's your Top 10 list?

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Review - Fatman on Netflix

I read a review that said this "Christmas" movie was an edgy thriller with an unorthodox premise.

Since it had a cast featuring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, I thought it would be excellent in terms of acting and plot. 

I thought such a stellar cast would be picky about the screenplays they accepted.

Well, I'm sorry to report that I was sadly mistaken. Perhaps the film's director and producer hijacked it?

No that wasn't the case because the writers of the screenplay were also the directors, brothers Eshom and Ian Nelms, that's not the case.

Still, because of the 3 main actors named above, I decided to throw caution to the winds and spend my Sunday evening watching it.

MY 2¢ REVIEW

If you want to watch a movie with a repugnant rich kid who hires a psychotic hitman (Goggins) to kill a curmudgeonly Santa aka Fatman (Gibson), then this is the movie for you. Unorthodox? Yes, but sadly lacking in wit and appeal.

Actually, I could see where this premise might have been executed as a screwball comedy similar to the first Home Alone, but there's no humor in this bleak, violent tale.

SPOILER ALERT

The hitman shoots Santa, inflicting a body wound and also taking his eye out. Santa's wife (Jean-Baptiste) comes to the rescue and shoots the hitman who then chases her. In the house, she shoots and kills the hitman. 

The rich kid (Chance Hurstfield as Billy, the sociopathic, amoral rich kid) doesn't see the error of his ways, but he does get the fear of a vengeful Santa instilled in him. 

I hate to be so negative, but I found little redeeming value in the movie. For me, it was a waste of 100 minutes.

OTHER CRITICS

Curious to see if my reaction was vastly different from "real" critics, I checked to see how the movie was accepted when it premiered in November 2020. 

Metacritic, a website that agregates reviews, gave it a 40 from mixed and average reviews, and Rotten Tomatoes gave it 45%.

A few critics liked it. One even said, the movie "reflects the worst instincts of modern times and shows how selfishness and immoralitycan lead to violence." Personally, I think that's giving the film too much importance.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'll keep watching Christmas movies and share my thoughts with you during the holidays. Hopefully, next tme I post a review, it will be for a one that deserves an audience.

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Monday Magic - Holiday Free Apps

Believe it or not, today's Monday Magic Free Apps are from Microsoft. 

Go to the download pages in the links and sign into your Microsoft account then download the apps.

Animated Snow Fall.  See the world painted white with the colors of snow. Chill your environment with snow falling on your screen. This snow app is designed with the animated view of the snow and soft background music. Use the background music pre-loaded in app for the perfect ambiance. 

Click to Download Animated Snow Fall from the Microsoft Store. (Be sure you're signed in.)

Holiday Watch helps you count down to Christmas. You can track the days, hours, minutes, and even seconds until Christmas. A festive snowfall image shows on your desktop.

This is great if you have young children who are constantly asking, "When will Christmas get here?" It's also great if you're tight on time and need to know exactly how much time you have left to fulfill all of your holiday requirements.

If you still need to do some Christmas shopping, it will display a  list of the hottest gadgets and toys of the season which means it has ads and offers in-app purchases.

Click to Download Holiday Watch from the Microsoft store. (Be sure you're signed in.) 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Avoid getting overwhelmed. Smile and be of good cheer!

(Try reading a funny Christmas romance like Nobody's Cinderella for an attitude adjustment.)

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Christmas Quotations With a Chuckle Inside

Image by Alexa from Pixabay

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and I'm glad. Christmas should be a season of joy—a time of good cheer, smiles, and laughter.

After all, "There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor." —from A Christmas Carol

Smiles and laughter are the best way to chase away any holiday blues that many suffer from. 

Here's a baker's dozen from my favorite quotations about the holidays because, as Rosie Thomas said, "Christmas works like glue. It keeps us all sticking together."

"Christmas is a baby shower that went totally overboard." —Andy Borowitz

"What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day." —Phyllis Diller

"Once again, we come to the holiday season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice." —Dave Barry

"I left Santa gluten-free cookies and organic soy milk, and he put a solar panel in my stocking." —Unknown

"Some people are born for Halloween, and some are just counting the days until Christmas." —Stephen Graham Jones

"Santa Claus has the right idea: visit people once a year." —Victor Borge

"Adults can take a simple holiday for children and screw it up. What began as a presentation of simple gifts to delight and surprise children around the Christmas tree has culminated in a woman unwrapping six shrimp forks from her dog, who drew her name." —Erma Bombeck

"I love Christmas. I receive a lot of wonderful presents I can't wait to exchange." —Henry Youngman

"I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights." —Maya Angelou

"Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas." —Johnny Carson

"There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus; he does not believe in Santa Claus; he is Santa Claus." —Bob Phillips

"There's no experience quite like cutting your own live Christmas tree out of your neighbor's yard." —Dan Florence

"I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, 'Toys not included.'" —Bernard Manning

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Spread Joy today—you never know how many people may need a smile and a laugh.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Add some Love and Laughter to your Christmas.

STUCK ON THE NAUGHTY LIST 

"A must read for fans of small towns and second chances."

99¢ Christmas Sale or KU.

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Saturday Share - Feliz Navidad Party Dip

With Christmas parties just around the corner, I thought I'd do my part in helping you prepare some delicious food.

For the next few Saturdays, I'll give some recipes that are perfect for holiday parties and celebratory dinners. 

Today, I'm offering a Tex-Mex party dip that's delicious and easy to make in advance. You control the heat level by choosing ingredients thar are as hot and spicy as you wish.

In case you don't know, the name of this dip recipe means "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Christmas" which is my greeting to you. Feliz Navidad.

FELIZ NAVIDAD PARTY DIP

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce can of refried beans
• 1 4-ounce can of finely chopped green chilies, whatever heat level you choose
•  2 medium green onions, finely chopped

• 

  From Amazon.

  1 cup of sour cream, not the fat free kind
• 1 1/2 ounces guacamole seasoning
• 1 fresh tomato, diced
• 4 1/2 ounces chopped black olives
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 large avocado, mashed
• 1/2 cup picante sauce, your choice, mild to hot

Directions

1. Select a shallow dish in which you'll layer the ingredients. First, mash the  avocado and mix well with the guacamole seasoning. Chill this mixture.

2. Combine the olives and green onions in a bowl and the chilies and tomato in another bowl.

3. When the guacamole mixture is chilled, begin your layers. Layer 1, refried beans. Layer 2, guacamole mixture. Layer 3, spread the olives and onion. Layer 4, green chilies and tomato. Layer 5, grated cheddar cheese. Layer 6, sour cream. Layer 7, picante sauce.

4. Return to refrigerator until ready to serve.

5. Serve with tortilla chips that you've warmed in the oven.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Chilled guacamole and bean dip with warmed tortilla chips? What's not to love?

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Friday Facts - Decorated Christmas Trees

Image by Jim Cooper from Pixabay 

The popularity of Christmas trees have spread beyond Christian homes. 

It's not uncommon to see decorated trees in homes all over the world—regardless of one's cultural background or religious beliefs.

Christmas trees are beautiful, but this tradition that began in Germany several centuries ago didn't feature glitzy, sparkling decorations.

Prior to the 16th century, trees were decorated with nuts and apples and were designed to symbolize religious stories.

Beautiful ornamentation began in the 1800's when blown glass ornaments called baubles were created by glassblowers in Lauscha, Germany.

This tradition of glass ornaments became popular in Queen Victoria's reign in England because of the popularity of Queen Victoria's Christmas tree. 

Tree of Life Glass Ornament

As I said above, Germany was where decorated Christmas trees began, and the Queen's husband Albert—Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha—came from a German principality. 

When he married the Queen in 1840, he brought his German Christmas tradition with him.

Nearly 20 years later, an illustration of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their decorated tree was widely published and was a hit wither practically everyone in the English-speaking world.

The popularity of the royal family's Christmas tree spread to America, and American merchant F.W. Woolworth began importing German glass ornaments to sell in his stores.

Woolworth blazed the way, and other merchants followed which made the decorations available and affordable to most Americans.

Starry Night Glass Ornament

Glass ornaments aren't common in today's plastic world, but they are more beautiful than plastic.

They're also available in many different styles and shapes from round balls to snowflakes and miniature holiday scenes and cultural and religious themes. Even better, you can find them at many price points.

You can find ornaments with Christian, Buddhist, nature, music, and classic art themes, and so much more. Click the links in the caption and explore some exquisite glass ornaments.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

When you begin placing ornaments on your tree, why not lift your eggnog in a toast to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in honor of this tradition? Happy decorating!

9 piece Glass Ball Set

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commission but at no extra cost to you.

* * * * * * * * *

Have fun reading! NOBODY'S CINDERELLA, a spicy Christmas RomCom, on sale. Only 99¢.

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Bumper Sticker - Vol. 1

Image by Saleh Perdomo, Pixabay

I had a doctor's appointment this morning. Early. With lab work required which meant I'd been fasting since midnight. I was sleepy, hungry, and coffee deprived.

On my way to the appointment, I saw the funniest bumper sticker on the car in front of me at a red light.

Pretend to honk if you love mimes.

Oh, my. I honked and I laughed which helped me shake my grouchy mood and put a smile on my face.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Laughter can quickly change a mood. I guess it really is the best medicine.