Life of TeeJay: July 2011

Ruby Tuesday: FREE Garden Bar Add-On (1st 100,000)

Holy smokes! Ruby Tuesday is offering up a freebie! Head on over here, login with Facebook, then allow the application and fill out your email address, zip and your nearest Ruby Tuesday location and score a coupon valid for a FREE Fresh Garden Bar Add-On with entree purchase! Whoop Whoop...lunch anyone??? :)

Your coupon will be sent via email. Available to the first 100,000.

Did you get one?

[Party Inspirations] Newly Maid

Have you ever been a bridesmaid? Do you have a closet full of once-worn dresses in every color that you will never wear again? Would you rather a stylish little black dress?

NewlyMaid offers just that! Simple and elegant, perfect! All you do is mail your old bridesmaid dress to NewlyMaid, unlock special pricing for the purchase of a NewlyMaid dress, and purchase your new, compleltely versatile dress!

Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

Photo Credit: NewlyMaid

Fuel Perks at Winn Dixie

Did you get this email???
Do you shop at Winn Dixie?

For every $50.00 spent on qualified purchases at participating Winn Dixie locations, you will earn 5 cents off per gallon of fuel (up to 20 gallons) at Shell and other select gas stations! For more info and specifics, go HERE.

[House of Manners] Respondez S'il Vous Plait

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Oooo french!
For all the english speaking readers...RSVP (means please respond). This is one topic that lights me on fire.... Only becuase I feel as if it is disrespectful to the host. I ~~live~~ try to live on manners every single day (this is no easy task, FYI.).

Responding to any type of invitation is just the simple way of thanking the host! They went through planning the event (making preparations, inviting guests, food, etc). It might be grabbing drinks or lunch. It might be formal or informal. It might be a small group or a large group of people. People you know or don't know every well. The fact of the matter is...it is still an invitation. No matter if it is a Yes or a No...respond.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Reading through my Bible (Emily Post Etiquette)...I notice a variety of parties. All forms of communication can be used with an invitation as well as the response! In Person, On the Phone, Email, Facebook, Evite, Paper Inviations...the list can go on.

To name a few types:
Anniversary Party
Child's Party
Dinner Party
Graduation Party
Open House

I google everything. Yep..everything just to make sure to check it out see what others have to say..just because my generation "googles" probably! lol.

Researching so many articles I should of just stopped at the first few... ehow has the best recap with easy peasy instructions. 5 steps...everyone can do 5 steps, right?

Photo Credit: Pinterest

See below or visit their page!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Invitation
Telephone, computer or appropriate means of contacting someone

- 1
  Read the invitation. The host should have a telephone number, email address or some instructions on how to reply to the invitation. Less formal events typically note the RSVPs at the bottom of the invitation. Real formal events send a self-addressed, stamped RSVP card for you to answer and return via U.S. Mail.
- 2
  Respond to electronic RSVPs, too. As the world is becoming more "e" based, many invitations are sent using electronic software such as Hallmark or Evite.com. It saves on stamps and is almost a guarantee the person will get it. Electronic emails arrive faster and allows you to answer the RSVP with a click of the reply button. If the host desires, e-invitation system will show you who plan to attend the party and have RSVP'd.
- 3
  Pay strict attention to the deadline. The host will set the deadline for the RSVP a couple of days before the event. It is important that you adhere to this because party preparations are made based on the number of RSVP responses received. The caterer need to be notified and many require a 24 hour notice. Don't wait until the day of the event and show up. That is poor etiquette and just plain rude.
- 4
  If the invitation says "Regrets Only", you only need to RSVP if you cannot attend the event. Otherwise, the host has already counted you in. Remember to contact the host if you cannot attend.
- 5
  Do not answer yes to the RSVP and fail to show up. Only a matter of serious illness or death should keep you away. It is bad etiquette and rude to RSVP stating you will attend and not show up.

I leave saying this...no matter your response...just give one! Just do it!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Peace. Love. Seeya!

[Deal Alert] Address Labels

Have you head of Vistaprint? Well, its a great little online shop that prints all kinds of things. Like business cards, invitations, labels, rubber stamps, etc!

The personalized labels are back on sale!!! For $3 you will get 140 labels...you can design them however you would like for addresses, property labels, back to school teacher gifts!

I just made the cutest (Jay would disagree that labels can be cute) return address labels! We were running low from the last batch I ordered so perfect timing to order. I get so excited for useful products for so darn cheap.

Verdict on the Design: Cute or "Just a Label"???

(The real one does include our info)

Will you be ordering any?

Here's how:

Go here and register/log in
Under Industry (along the top toolbar) select Education and Childcare if you want to make the personalized teacher labels. You’ll find all the other label designs by category here as well.
Design your label and add it to your cart
Be very careful not to add anything else to your cart and select no to all offers. I’ve found that after I add the labels to my cart that I can click on cart in the top right corner and skip all the offers.
I highly recommend that you pay for your order with Paypal to make sure you never see any additional charges on your credit card bill (it’s rare but it can happen; I always use Paypal)

[Word of the Week] \groh-TESK\

Happy Monday everyone! This week's word is again coming to you from Merriam-Webster Dictionary online.

Ready....set....learn!

grotesque
\groh-TESK\

DEFINITION

adjective

1: fanciful, bizarre

2: absurdly incongruous

3: departing markedly from the natural, the expected, or the typical

EXAMPLES

Gargoyles with twisted faces and grotesque features leered down from the medieval cathedral.

Photo Credit: Gargoyles

"At a private event earlier this year, chef Ryan Poli sent out what looked like birds' nests filled with cracked eggs, inside of which were black particles…. These goodies were the highlight of the evening: rich, earthy, a little grotesque-looking -- and funny." -- From an article by David Hammon in Chicago Sun-Times, May 11, 2011

Photo Credit: Pinterest .... of course!! :)

Enjoy this week's word!

[Modern Day Housewife] Meal Planning

Housewife I use loosely; as this weekly post will be for anyone out there. Everyone needs to eat. Everyone {should} clean. Thursdays are devoted to that precisely! Learn a little about my everyday and what I would like to accomplish!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Today...meal planning. Wow. I know it sounds a bit old school but it really does work! I found a great worksheet from a blog called Anything but Perfect...confession: I read weekly checking to see what she has done recently! She is an an awesome blogger and so so creative and puts lots of her things on her blog FREE to download. How sweet is she?! The monthly calendars are just the right does of color and fun that I love looking at and figuring out my month!

Back to the meal planning....this is how I do my families meals. It works for me. Try it and tweak whatever to help your families!

To start planning out meals, I head over to another favorite site iheartpublix to see upcoming deals, this site is AMAZING..the time it takes to write up all the deals and coupons..thank heavens for her! I also look into another blog called 5 Dinners. This site plans out meals on one day for the entire week to grab and make that day, WOW! Time saver thank you very much.

At this point, I have great ideas for meals and I scribbe them down on my weekly sheet...each meal and snack. Helpful to place in snacks so you snack healthier..not vending machine style. Every week I set a day to plan (Sundays or Wednesdays are typically devoted to this) to see what I have and make out a grocery list. Pull out recipes and make the snack packs.

The hardest part in my meal planning is...Jay does not like veggies. Sad, I know. He does garden...and grow veggies for his darling wifey. How it works for us is he has a little more whatever else that meal while I have a veggie. And that veggie I have for a few days...as it is hard to prepare for one serving. I do make salads as he will eat some of that (lettuce, cheese and dressing...not as healthy as a salad sounds lol). Just a little bump on the road of meal planning!

Have you guys checked out the new food pyramid? I think I like it much more then the old style! Thoughts???

You can check out more on the USDA website.

[Party Inspirations] Pom Poms!

Need a little inspiration for planning a party or wedding or even just a get together? Glad you stopped by as Wednesdays are all about events!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

I plan on doing some DIY, add some real life party things to this blog as well as all those amazing ideas people have used or I just think would be awesome.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

To start it off, I have been researching how to make Pom Pom's; you know the Martha Stewart kind! Well, this tutorial is SUPER easy...who knew! And what a great decoration for any occassion...so many colors to choose from.

So here we go with the steps written out (Thank you Martha!):

Step One:

Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inch-wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

Step Two:

Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

Step Three:

Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

Step Four:

Bend wire into a loop to fit around napkin, and twist end around loop to secure.

Pretty easy! Give it a try and post your pictures of your tissue pom poms! I will be making these for numerous parties coming up and will post the pictures here! Stay tuned!!!

[House of Manners] Please and Thank Yous

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Continuing the weekly topics brings us to Tuesday...Manners. I am sure everyone of us has been told to "Mind our Manners" in some point (mostly when we were younger). How true that is though!

To start this beautiful Tuesday morning off I thought I would cover the basics. Start way back in the beginning with the simple please and thank yous. Often referred to as "the magic words"!

These two words, they go a LOOOONG way. In your personal life, in your professional life, anywhere you go those words are monumental. In short, both terms are polite ways of showing someone that you appreciate something they've done for you. You want to show someone you are nice not rude and the tone of your questions or statements are the way to get there!

Photo Credit: Girls with Pearls

Challenge today is to use your please and thank yous and see what happens!

To to leave you on this fine Tuesday...a little Barney song to remind us of our magic words! And to laugh that I used a Barney song...enjoy! You can go here to listen to the song also!

There are lots of things
We can do to be nice,
Sometimes they're hard to remember.
But there are two little things
You should never forget,
From January through December.

He's talking 'bout please and thank you,
They're called the magic words,
If you want nice things to happen,
They're the words that should be heard,
Remember please and thank you,
'Cause they're the magic words.

Use 'em in the morning, at noon, and night,
'Cause it's a great way to be polite!
Please and thank you,
They're the magic words.

We're talking 'bout please and thank you,
They're called the magic words.
If you want nice things to happen,
They're the words that should be heard!

Remember please and thank you,
'Cause they're the magic words.
Use 'em in the morning, at noon, and night,
'Cause it's a great way to be polite!

Please and thank you,
They're the magic words.

Happy Tuesday ya'll!

[Word of the Day] \vye-TOO-puh-rayt\

It's Monday! And the beginning of topics...are you as excited as I am? I hope so!

Brought to you by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, our word to use this week is....

vituperate
\vye-TOO-puh-rayt\

DEFINITION (verb)

1: to abuse or censure severely or abusively

2: to use harsh condemnatory language

EXAMPLES

During the team's recent seven-game losing streak, the coach was vituperated by many local sportswriters.

"No one likes to be belittled, ignored, vituperated, or unappreciated. Everyone warms to kindness, patience, and respect." -- From Susan Smith Jones's 2011 book The Joy Factor

Let's go out and use our big new word this week! To kick in some manners with our word: Remember, always be nice on the phone and do not vituperate the person on the other side! ;)

Leave me a comment and let me know how you used vituperate!

[Deal Alert] Taco Bell!!!

Taco Bell is offering $0.99 Burrito Suremes through August 6th!!!

A warm, soft flour tortilla wrapped around seasoned beef, hearty beans, tangy red sauce, crisp shredded lettuce, real cheddar cheese, diced onions, diced ripe tomatoes, and reduced-fat sour cream.

No coupon needed! Limit 2 per person.

[Party Inspirations] So Cute!

Want to wow guests at your wedding? End the night on a sweet note that they won’t forget, fashion your own candy bar. From colorful decorations to tantalizing treats, here’s how to pull together a buffet that looks as delicious as it tastes. Watch the video now to see how easily it all comes together. All thanks to our gal pals over at Yum Sugar shared with us this cute as can be on how to create a candy buffet.

Thanks YumSugar

[Deal Alert] Annual Sunrise Sale & Pajama Party

Set your alarm clocks! This is a fun sale you do not want to miss!

This year marks downtown St Petersburg's 38th Annual Sunrise Sale & Pajama Party!!!

Photo Credit: Deal Divas

The sale is on Thursday, July 21st and begins at 6:43 a.m. until noon! You can get great deals on merchanise and food before work!

And remember...wear your PJ's or bring a bring to donate for more discounts!!! There will be bright yellow signs or yellow and orange balloons to mark the stores!

To find out which stores are participating and more information click here!

Thanks Deal Divas

Starbucks: FREE Tall Drink!

Bring on Summer!!!

Photo Credit: Starbucks

Exciting news! Right now! July 14 - July 17...when you buy any pack of Starbucks VIA Iced Coffee, you will get a FREE Tall (12 oz) drink of your choice!! Head over to their website for more details!

NEW! Posting Topics

Photo Credit: Etsy

To begin a plan for next week and so forth. I am going to to try a few topics and see what works and doesn't...

Some Weekly Topics:

[Word of the Week]
Define and Use.
Totally going to try TRY try to use the word somehow all week. In this blog and in real life!

[House of Manners]

Reminders and Teachings of modern twisted etiquette.

Keeping you on your toes and well mannered at any point in time!

[Party Inspirations]

Self explanatory! :)

[Modern Day Housewife]

Homemade (semi homemade) meals for Jay and I; recipes and couponing; cleaning

Vocalpoint: Mott's for Tots FREE!

Children (even adults) LOVE juice!

If you’re a member of Vocalpoint, head on over here and complete the form for a FREE Mott’s for Tots Treat! Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Please note that this sample is not available in all areas of the country.

*Even if you’re not a member, you can still snag this freebie. Just go here to register and you should see this freebie offer shown under the “Latest Try and tells” section or you can try clicking here.

Thanks, Hip2Save

Everything Happens For A Reason...True Believer Right Here!!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Pinterest Inspiration

Technology: Flip Camera

So. I got one. I am in love with it.

Meet Phillipe (yes, I am one of those that names...EVERYTHING lol)...He's the beautiful glossy white one.

Now the fun part...how to upload it onto my blog lol! Trying to figure that out right now...so below should be some videos. Don't judge. Me or the Bee. You can definitely laugh though. Enjoy!

House Party: Budweiser and 4th of July!

GRAB SOME BUDS!!!

I did!!! :)

Sorry for the delay on this post!!

Hope everyone had an amazing 4th of July weekend!

I had the amazing luck of becoming a host for the Budweiser House Party!

What a great time. These parties area always so much fun to host.

Hosts recieve a box that comes in the mail (I just LOVE getting packages, cards..you know the old fashion snail mail kind..always makes me smile!) the week before the suggested party date. It is full of your goodies for the party.

Inside this box included: A $10 Visa Card, Grab Some Buds Koozies, Busweiser Cups, Budweiser frezbies, a Budweiser serving tray, a Budweiser apron, and rebates for me and my guests for some Budweiser!!!

I got to tell you, House Party has it down! They give you great ideas for games, entertainment and recipes! You just bring your friends. How cool is that?

I think these pictures and videos will sum up our weekend..ENJOY! Thanks to my MIL for having us over too! Her beautiful table and menu is always themed.

Photo Credit: MIL :)

If you’re wondering what a House Party is..
Well, a House Party is thousands of parties across the country, hosted by people like us. Each event is sponsored by a leading brand (such as Kraft) and focuses on something cool that the sponsor wants its best fans to experience firsthand and share with their friends. Basically a House party lets you share the products you like with all your friends, free of charge! Companies love to promote these type of events because it spreads the word about their products.

What free stuff will you receive?
That all depends on the specific brand you’re throwing the party for. Each brand has their own unique Party Pack filled with all kinds of free stuff to make your party a success!

If you’re interested, follow these steps to start applying:
First go on over here to sign up to be on the HouseParty.com mailing list. They will email you all the new, free and exclusive House Parties you can host as they become available. Next click over here to look at all the upcoming House Party events. When applying you will be asked a series of questions to make sure you’re a good fit for the House Party. That’s it!