Good Information...

In This Issue: Finding Holiday Savings, The Latest Gift Card Scam, Winterize Your Car

The Best Savings
Most of us know about shopping online, but did you know that you can find the best "real world" discounts online, too?

Slickdeals.net is our favorite place this time of year to find some of the best coupons and "freebie" offers around, both online and in brick and mortar stores. As an example, at the time I'm writing this, the front page of Slickdeals has a 30% off Foot Locker coupon, a 20% off coupon at Macy's, and a 40% off (plus an extra $10 off) Timberland coupon. And those are just a few of the many special deals on the front page.

Gift Cards
I've been seeing a lot of stories about gift card scams. If you've had a birthday in the past ten years, you know that every store now offers gift cards... little plastic versions of what used to be called "gift certificates."

They're a fantastic gift. Lately, though, I've seen every news outlet reporting on people purchasing gift cards and then finding them valueless just a few days later... thanks to a new form of theft. I was skeptical, so I went to Snopes.com, my favorite website for laying bare the urban legends of the world. Learn how to protect your gift card purchases this holiday season.

Winterizing Your Car
With hazardous conditions and freezing temperatures, winter is the hardest season on your car.

I know there are things I need to do every year to ensure my car makes it through the ice and snowstorms every year. However, I usually need something to give me the little "kick" to get the process started. This year, MSN gave me that kick.

Sweet Treat! YUM!

Holiday Baking!

Holiday baking is probably one of my favorite times of this holiday... well, the eating part of the baking is (since I don't cook)! HA! Anywho... I found these yummy recipes for those of you that like to cook, do it well, and like to try new recipes!

Check them out, they look so yummy!!

Mint Chocolate Bark

Peppermint extract and chocolate chips -- both white and semisweet -- give this melt-in-your-mouth candy a familiar after-dinner-mint flavor.

Makes about 2 dozen pieces.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
	1 cup white chocolate chips
	1 teaspoon vegetable oil
	1 teaspoon peppermint extract
	2 drops green food coloring

1. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper; set it aside. Melt the semisweet chips in a heatproof bowl set atop a pot of simmering water over medium-high heat. Stir continuously until smooth. Pour the chocolate onto the cookie sheet and spread it to about a 1/4-inch thickness with the back of a spoon.
2. Using the same method, melt the white chocolate chips with the oil. Stir continuously until smooth. Add the peppermint extract and food coloring; stir well. Pour the mixture over the chocolate layer and spread to about a 1/8-inch thickness with the back of a spoon. Draw the tip of a butter knife through the layers to create swirls. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
3. Remove the bark from the pan. Peel off the waxed paper. Set the bark on a cutting board and cut it into 2 dozen bars with a sharp knife. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.


Sweet Tortilla Snowflakes

Whatever the holiday weather where you live, you can set your kids to snowflake snipping and make our one-of-a-kind wintry snacks. They're almost too pretty to eat -- but too delicious not to!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	10 flour tortillas (fajita size)
	1 teaspoon vegetable oil
	1 cup chocolate chips
	l/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1. Heat the oven to 350°.

2. Fold each tortilla into quarters and then snip out shapes with clean scissors as if to make a paper snowflake; add a few decorative cuts but maintain some structural integrity (if your tortillas are stiff, soften them in the oven for a minute).

3. A few at a time, place the snowflakes on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake 5 to 7 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

4. Remove the snowflakes from the oven, immediately dot each one with about a dozen evenly spaced chocolate chips, then return the flakes to the oven briefly to melt the chips.

5. Once the chips begin to melt, transfer the snowflakes to a cooling rack and use a butter knife to spread the chips a bit.

6. Pop the iced snowflakes in the fridge for 5 or 10 minutes to harden the chocolate, then put the confectioners sugar in a sieve and shake an even layer across them.

7. Serve on dark-colored plates.

8. Makes 10.


Source: FamilyFun.com

Disney Shopping Anyone?

Anyone shopping at the Disney store for the kiddos this holiday? If so, here are a few coupons... but wait, they end TODAY! Sorry... but here they are!! Click the logo below to go there!

Gift Giving Guide from Parenting.com

It's the holiday season! Tis the season to be jolly... and all that stuff! Here, I've found a "mom tested" gift giving guide straight from Parenting.com. Check it out HERE!