Frugal Living ~ Ibotta, Shopkick, Fetch

"Frugal Living" is my middle name.  I've been a "coupon clipping - rebate mama" for decades.  I've had successes (free trash bags for years to come) and failures (free 2L sodas - didn't know they had expiration dates until they started popping and going everywhere in the garage).

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

With Smartphones and apps, rebates have evolved and I've evolved with them.  It's actually easier to save money now.  It helps to have a plan.  My daughter, Ginger Alana, is the best at whipping a plan together.  When visiting and "Ibotta" shopping, she went aisle to aisle telling me exactly what to get and we truly scored some good savings.  I'll go shopping with her any time!

Photo by Michael Longmire on Unsplash

So - if you need some saving ideas...my favorites to use are Ibotta, Shopkick and Fetch.  We get to try new things and get some dollars back to help pay for them.  The marketing strategy has worked because I've fallen in love with some products I never would have tried.

More to come.  Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Enneagram 5 ~ the Need to Learn and Possess Knowledge

Finding out that I'm an Enneagram 5 was life changing.  No longer trying to figure out why I am the way I am.  Free to just be me!

Fives are alert, insightful and curious.  Fives are constantly learning and picking up new skills.

No matter what we want to believe about ourselves - we are who we are.  I experienced this a few minutes ago while checking my email.

Don't need that - Delete.  Don't need that - Delete.

Email from allrecipes.com - "Lebanese Fattoush" - don't need that - De.... - Lebanese Fattoush?  I don't even know what that is much less how to make it.

Photo by Taylor Kiser on Unsplash

Click on email link..."lettuce, cabbage, radishes, cucumber, red bell pepper, carrot, sweet corn kernals, tomato, small onion, clove, olive oil, pomegranate seeds and syrup plus pita bread"  Lebanese Fattoush

fattoush

[faˈto͞oSH]

NOUN

1. a Middle Eastern salad consisting of tomatoes, cucumber, and other vegetables together with croutons made from toasted pita bread.

There you have it - an hour in the life of "Reia - Enneagram 5".  Gaining knowledge about things I didn't even know existed.  You're welcome!

Want to know what Enneagram you are?  This is a test my group of Enneagram friends have found useful.  https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Songs in My Life ~ Madre de la Iglesia

 Anyone remember the kid's song "Bend and stretch - reach for the stars"?  My life reminds me of this song.  If I'd made a list or a Bingo card even, "play for a Spanish service" wouldn't have been on it.  I felt incompetent - I couldn't do that.  I'm one of the whitest females on the planet - can't dance, can't play by ear, just...can't.

Photo by Moritz Mentges on Unsplash

So thankful I always ask for God's "will" - not for what I want but for what God wants.

One of the richest blessings in my life is playing for our weekly Spanish Mass every Sunday.  The people are such a blessing - the music is amazing - the music is fun.  I could go on.

Photo by Ann on Unsplash

Today the song going around in my head and heart is "Madre de la Iglesia".  May is "Mary's month" at our church and we sing a Mary song each week.  I've fallen in love with this song.  It's bilingual.  The link is in Spanish but I'm putting the English words here.  If nothing else, you'll find yourself bee-bopping around with this tune in your head and a smile on your face.

Refrain - Pray for us, O Mary, mother of all nations,

in our hearts forever - hope of our salvation.

Dawning of Christ’s sunlight, our doorway to heaven,

pray for us, O Mary, mother of all nations.

1 – Mother of the nations, star above the ocean,

lead us to Christ Jesus, fill us with his blessings.

Holy Virgin Mother, bearer of Christ’s dawning.

God’s most lowly servant, Queen of all creation.

2 – Grant that we may see you in all your radiant beauty.

Guide us in our journey to God’s holy presence.

Holy Virgin Mary, hope of our salvation,

lead us to Christ Jesus, fill us with his blessings.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Prolonging Life ~ What Does it Mean?

So we're in the stage of "prolonging life".  We called quits on "curing" and now we're "prolonging life".  I thought I'd be a widow much earlier so being in this stage is better than I thought.  I still have today and maybe tomorrow with an incredible man, husband, father and most of all - best friend.

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

I'm not sure where you're at in life.  I hope that you're making the most of every day.  Loving the people in your life and not worrying about the people that don't make your life better.

Photo by MARK ADRIANE on Unsplash

Wherever you are - make the most of every day.  Love those that make your life better.  Pray for everyone in your life.  Be thankful for the extra days you didn't think you'd have.  Live!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Favorite Christmas Movies ~ Journey Back to Christmas

Have you seen this movie?  I just love it.  I love time travel movies and this is such a good one.

A WWII era nurse is transported in time to 2016 and meets a man who helps her discover the bonds of family and that the true meaning of Christmas is timeless.  You can read about it here.

A comet is involved.

Candace Cameron Bure and Tom Skerritt are in the movie and Hallmark made it.  Need I say more?  It's good.  Here's the preview...Journey Back to Christmas.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

British Mysteries ~ Cadfael

If you know me at all...I love all things British.  Could be because I started out as an "Albritton".  Could be that my Albritton roots landed in Jamestown early on and I'm always searching for my roots.  It's probably that it's just good content and I love watching all things British.

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

I've been re-watching one of my favorites - "Cadfael".  The medieval era cases of a Crusader turned Monk who investigates mysteries in the Norman English town of Shrewsbury.  You can see the trailer using the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Bk_iZiQIc

You can read more about "Cadfael" here - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108717/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Fr. Cadfael is played by one of my favorite British actors - Derek Jacobi.  He's outstanding in so many roles.  Just one of the best.  I'm on a quest to see everything he's acted in.  So far I love him in Marple, Last Tango in Halifax and Vicious. He's even been in "Doctor Who".  You can read more about him below.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001394/?ref_=tt_cl_t1

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Grocery Planning and Savings "Go-Tos" ~ Southern Savers

I have "Go-Tos", you have "Go-Tos", we all have "Go-Tos".

According to Merriam-Webster, "Go-Tos" is defined as... "regularly or repeatedly chosen or employed for reliably good results"  (https://www.merriam-webster.com/).

One of my favorite and most reliable "Go-To" for Grocery Planning is www.southernsavers.com.  Why?  I'm glad you asked.

• You can find deals by categories - Grocery Stores, National Stores and Drug Stores.
  
  
• Each sale's item is shown with the Coupon available (digital, printed and newspaper).
  
  
• Online / App deals are also shown - (Ibotta deals, etc.).  I can make sure I have the item in my Ibotta "list" before I make my purchase.
  
  
• I can "Create or Update a Printable Shopping List".  I use this feature all of the time!  You can choose to print with or without the coupons showing.  I always print with the coupons and then I make sure I have the coupons and Ibotta deals ready to go.
  
  
• Other helpful areas on the website are:  "Frugal Living, Online Deals and New Coupons".
  

I hope this helps you as you plan.  I've always been frugal.  I've used coupon and rebates for over 30 years.  I'll write about my many years of couponing in the future.  It's been a fun journey with many interesting experiences.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia