MasterCard Here's to Mom Holiday Promotion

It is definitely time to start your holiday shopping. There are so many different presents you are going to buy for your children, loved ones and friends. When I was young, I used to always give my teachers and bus driver holiday gifts. They were sometimes homemade, but other times we would buy them a little something.  I know that teachers really appreciate those little thoughtful gifts, as a daughter of a teacher. Unfortunately, the economy isn’t at its best, so we rely on sales and promotions to help us stretch out our holiday bucks.  You all know how much I like to shop online. I won’t be fighting the crowds this holiday season.  I will be shopping online for gifts, that way Santa’s special gifts will remain a secret, until Christmas morning.

I am so excited to share with you a promotion from MasterCard. The promotion is called Here’s to Mom. Being a mom is hard work, so MasterCard thought they would celebrate us.  Signing up is really easy. All you have to do to receive your $20 MasterCard gift card is go HERE  and enroll with your MasterCard card (credit or debit) and e-mail address, shop online with that card between November 15 and December 31, 2011. After spending $200 online you’ll receive and e-mail where you can redeem your gift card reward.

This sounds like such a great deal and I hope you all will sign up and earn the rewards. I mean you are going to use those cards anyways, right? May as well, be rewarded for it. I love that it includes debit cards so, it shows that MasterCard really wants to reward us.  Let me know if you sign up. It takes only a few minutes and then you can kick back with a cup of hot chocolate and shop in your jammies.

Happy Holidays!

I am participating in this MasterCard Promotion and I received a complimentary special Here’s to Mom kit for my participation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Les Gold Stars in Hardcore Pawn

Image from Wikipedia

 In April or May I was introduced to a show called Hardcore Pawn by a friend of mine. It’s about Les Gold and his family who own a pawn shop in Detroit.  The first time I watched it, I was hooked.  I know there are shows like Pawn Stars but I like Hardcore Pawn because they focus on the family dynamics versus what is actually being pawned and what it is worth. Of course people go and pawn things and they show that, but most of the show is about Seth and Ashley who are Les Gold’s children and how they are kind of in a turf war over American Jewelry and Loan. They also show a lot of the people that come in to pawn stuff, most of them are eccentric and outrageous. I sometimes wonder if they are for real. I have never been to Detroit, I have heard some scary stuff about it, but I am convinced that not everyone from there is crazy.  With all shows they always show the craziest stuff because it is good for ratings, and frankly it would be boring. It wouldn’t be Hardcore Pawn, it would be BORING.  There is also this really hot guy named Bobby J and I could just stare at him for hours. They just finished up the third season, and I hope there is a season 4.  There was only a month break between season 2 and 3, hopefully they won’t make me wait too long.  You can see it on TruTv at 9pm, you can see older episodes before and after. 

Do you watch Hardcore Pawn? What do you think of it?

What a Friend is to Me

What is a friend?  This is a question parents are asked by their children at some point. I want to share with you what I think a friend is.  If you would have asked me this before I would have said someone you care about that you hang out with and do things with. In theory that is somewhat true but there is so much more to it. A friend is someone you care about who cares about you back just as much.  A friend is someone you share a bond with. A friend is someone who lifts you up when you are down. A friend is someone who even though they might not completely understand what you are going through or why you feel a certain way about something or someone but they try and understand.  They are the ones that you can run to be it in person, on the phone or even through text and they always know what to say or do to try and make you smile.  Sometimes it just goofy pictures of them sticking out their tongue or a funny joke only you two understand, but it helps.   A friend is someone who does not tear you down.  A friend is someone who you can get in to an argument with and know at the end of the day, you will still be friends.  A friend, a true one, is a lifetime commitment.  People mess up, I do it all the time, but I know that my friends will love me for me and understand that I mess up. Just as I understand that they mess up.

I have shared with you guys before that I have had some toxic friends. These people were not good friends. I thought that they were. I always look for the good in people. That is how I was raised. I can’t stop doing it, but I need to be cautious. I am so lucky to have such wonderful true friends now. It really makes me look back and think wow, those so called friends were not friends at all. Thank you to all my true friends. Without you, I am not sure where I would be. I would name you all but, I would probably forget someone so you know who you are.