Thin’s been in, but fat’s where it’s at…

I knew it!  An article in today’s Trib describes new research about people who consume full-fat dairy having a more balanced metabolism and being less likely to develop diabetes.  I hate this modern trend towards hamster-piss skim milk, no- and low-fat yogurt, ICBNB [ps.  I can], low-fat ice cream(!), etc.  It’s always moderation, people.  Better to enjoy a small pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia than the tub on wheels of fat-free chocolate-flavored dreck.  Anyhoo, here’s the article.  Print it out, forward it,  just get the word out.

I’m off to run some errands, do a little house cleaning, hit a few stores for free stuff (yeah, what else would I be doing, right?)

APB on baby jesus – details at 11…

Is it just me, or do you find this an incredible waste of police manpower? The article appeared today in the TribLocal for Downers Grove.

Baby Jesus stolen twice from Downers Grove manger

Thieves have stolen two baby Jesus figurines from a nativity scene outside a Downers Grove business and the owner believes those responsible have a “grudge against Jesus.”

“There was a time and a place where you just didn’t mess with Jesus,” said Henry Schmidt, who owns both the manger scene and Moldtronics Inc., a high-end machining business in Downers Grove. “I’m going to put another (baby Jesus) up. I’m not giving up, I’m not afraid.”

Schmidt told police that the first baby Jesus figurine was stolen sometime last week from his business in the 700 block of Rogers Street. He later replaced it without giving much thought to the theft, police said.

But then sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning a second Baby Jesus figurine was stolen, police said.

“At this point we have no suspects, no nothing,” said Sgt. Dave Bormann of the Downers Grove Police Department “We don’t know if it is a prank, or kids walking by taking him.”

Joseph, Mary, the three Wise Men and all of the other figures in the manger scene were left alone and remain unharmed.   The estimated value of the stolen figurines was about $60, according to a police report.

Schmidt told police he believed whoever was stealing the figurines has a “grudge against Jesus,” police said.

Bormann said police will be stepping up patrols in the area as a result of the thefts.

“One would hope that will prevent the theft of a third baby Jesus,” he said.

witnesses report seeing an elderly gentleman dressed in red and white…

???

OK, maybe I’m a little slow here, but how can you say that no purchase is necessary, but only Blockbuster Express customers renting a DVD can enter?  Are they just handing them out at the kiosks?

As an early Happy New Year wish to all of you, we are giving away 150 coupon booklets – each containing promo codes for 30 nights of first night free rentals. All BLOCKBUSTER Express customers renting a DVD or Blu-ray disk between December 20th – 31st will be entered into a random drawing to win. Winners will be announced in January 2011.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The BLOCKBUSTER Express Win 30 Nights of DVD Rentals and Golden Ticket Game are subject to complete rules available at blockbusterexpress.com.

Wags and the wait…you’re putting it where?

Well, they’re obviously not pushing enough flu vaccines out the door, so now this promotion shows up:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that Walgreens has agreed to donate $10 million in vouchers for free flu shots to 350,000 eligible uninsured and underserved people in 15 markets across the country.

and while you’re waiting for that free flu shot, look around and do a little shopping…yeah, i’m cynical like that…

A good day for mail

Received a Sobe Free coupon (exp. 12/31 – 2 weeks, they’re still cutting it close, huh?) and my first Neuragen MIR.  I got the whole purchase amount, $19.99, so I’m up $10 on this deal from using the $10 coupon.

Jewel Avenue is baaaack

Yup, the Avenue program is back up and running smoothly.  Unfortunately it’s not running anything I can stack with coupons this upcoming week:  every card has great discounts on PF Chang and Häagen-Dazs.  Häagen-Dazs is on sale 2/$6 starting Thursday; with a $2.50 Avenue discount, you’re looking at .50/pint.  There are no insert coupons, but check your cat and tearpad collection.  See if there’s potential gold in them thar cards.

Jewel is messing with us

Warning here, peeps! Jewel has dropped the Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers from some/most of the preferred cards.  I just checked and I’ve lost a $2 and a $1 discount – only a $1 left on a single card.  And who knows how long that one will remain.  Considering I have 100 coupons ordered, yes, I’m majorly pissed about this.

If a store offers a discount through a certain date, it isn’t fair or honorable to yank it without notice.  Want our continued loyalty, Supervalu?  Show us some first, or it’s guerilla warfare time…

Free Fannie May

Here’s a picture of the insert:  Note that it’s mixed in with all the inserts but is a single page, glossy sheet with the $10 plastic coupon attached.  It will be a madhouse at the B&M stores, as those people who normally don’t coupon see this card and hit the stores early this week, causing long lines and many out-of-stock items.  Wait until the end of this week or the beginning of next (exp. 24th) and you’ll be a whole lot happier.

CW is posting that tomorrow’s Trib (12/12) will have a $10 coupon off purchases at any retail location with no minimum.  Not an insert, but a single sheet ad.  There is also a code for free shipping online.  english toffee, i luvs you….

If you get your paper today, share the deets:  dates, restrictions, online shipping code and does retail locations mean FM B&M stores or Jewel locations …

Extreme Couponing on TLC

Back last March, Nightline had a segment on “extreme couponing,” which basically sums up my approach to shopping.  Jill Cataldo was one of the people invited to shop with $50 to see just how much they could get.  She used a balanced, healthy choice to shopping, obviously not what the viewing public wants, ’cause it’s the other guy (Nathan of the ABC/Jello logo in his driveway) who got the tv show!  Yup!  TLC will premiere Extreme Couponing on December 29 at 8 pm ET/PT.

I should comment here that Nathan shops in a state/store where double and even triple coupons are common.  This makes a huge difference in your ability to stockpile for cheap.  Even items you don’t need/use/want are purchased for the overage.  rather like Hallmark tissue paper *cough, cough*

and i just ditched the dish…

Despite court order, Aurora refuses to return seized cash

This article was in the breaking news section of today’s Trib.  I don’t understand it, frankly.  Is Aurora so desperate for cash that it will just seize money without probable cause and then ignore Court orders to return same?  Remind me to set mapquest to avoid toll roads and Aurora!