OH.....Give me a home, where the VAMPIRES roam...

Since my general idea is to cut down as many expenses as possible I thought I would go after the vampires next.

NOT the garlic hatin', stake through the heart, crusifix fearin', mirror avoidin' type vampires.

I am looking for electrical vampires also known as vampire power or phantom load.

This  refers to the electric power consumed by electronic appliances while they are switched off or in a standby mode. Individually the load is insignificant but all told the amount could be about 5% of your yearly electrical costs.

Typical offenders are

• Power supplies, transformers and inefficient electronic devices.
• VCRs, DVD players and some audio systems.
• TVs and Set-top boxes
• Microwave ovens
• Computers, digital monitors and printers
• Air conditioning systems with remote control.
• Devices with "Instant on" functions, with remote control receivers, or waiting for the user to interact.
• Devices with a stand-by light or clock.
• Power adapters (such as wall warts), whether they are powering a device or not.
• Some home video game consoles (e.g. Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 & Sony PlayStation 3)

 
I know 5% is not much, but even if its only $60 saved in a year, that could be an extra night out with pizza and beer or in my case a few more pulls on the slot machines.....


Hhhhmmmm I wonder how much vampire power is lost in Las Vegas with all those slot machines and video poker displays on just flashing away waiting for some hopeful to drop in their coins? Now that would be some coin I would like to pocket!!!!

Not spending = Not saving.

Its not easy to save money when you aren't spending money. Although technically I am saving money by not spending it, I am not putting any money aside because of this.

However this weekend is a 20X points weekend at Shopper's Drug Mart so I will be spending and saving money there for sure. Tomorrow I will likely go and get a $50 gift card. I will get 500 optimum points for that alone, Then on Saturday I will hit up the sales, use up some coupons, cash in some freebies and basically stock up on a bunch of stuff and hopefully only spend around $50, giving me 500 regular points (at least) and another 10 000 bonus points!!! I should be set for the next bonus redemption then netting me $200 in free stuff and 10 000 points back to start the savings cycle all over again!!!

I love Shoppers!!!

I used $22 in coupons at Wal-mart today!

I used $22 in coupons today and my favourite deal (besides the free 12 pack of pepsi max) was Gillette shaving gel. It's regularly $3-4 each, it was on sale for $1.98 I bought 3 for $5.94 I had a coupon that said buy any three gilette products and save $5....so I got 3 shave gels for about $0.32 each!!!

Just like Jesus, I am looking for followers

Unlike Jesus, I want them to follow my blog.

I really would like to encourage you to share this blog with your friends and family. I want you to share your Vegas experience with me and help me avoid the pitfalls. So please follow my blog and add some comments. Tell me what you love/hate about Vegas, or love/hate about this blog.

If I am able to get 10 followers by the end of April I will hold a draw for a $10 gift certificate. (I will give you a choice of a few different certificates.) And I will post the draw details on May first.

So get out there and follow my blog, help me out with comments about Vegas or my blog, and very possibly win yourself a $10 gift card.

You KNOW you wanna!!!

Hells Ya I'm there!!!

One of the places I really want to check out is the VooDoo Lounge and 

I have found the perfect package for me!!! 

I think we would probably go on Sunday night because the music is more geared towards my generation

(That means I am old, and I am just as likely to bust a hip as I am to bust a move.)

 

Solid Gold Sundays @ The VooDoo Lounge features the best of music of the 80s by some of the best DJ's in the Business! Come out to the VooDoo every Sunday & Party on the Best Rooftop Venue in Las Vegas!!!! Enjoy live music, cocktails and dancing underneath the stars while looking at an amazing, panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip!

 

Sounds good right!!!

 

here is the package I found that makes it even more amazing

VooDoo Open Bar package: 

$60, per night (Sunday - Wednesday), $100, per night, (Thursday - Saturday). Includes front-of-the-line admission and open bar at VooDoo. Starts at 9:30 p.m. NO shots. Table NOT included - bar only. The open bar at Voodoo includes domestic and imported beer, wine, basic liquors (SKYY vodka, Cruzan rum, Salsa tequila, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal whiskey, bourbon and Christian Brothers), bottled water, soda and juice. Includes Red Bull. 

Would you just look at that lounge!!!

Its like a rooftop fricken patio 50 floors up. With that package we get VIP admission and and open bar for $60 each, you better keep your eye on youtube for videos of me at VooDoo, who knows what I will do! 

 And I really want to try a Witche's Brew

(its the red one that is the size of a fish bowl with fog coming out of it)

Another mail in rebate cheque

I just received another mail in rebate cheque, this time for purchasing Fabreeze. I can't believe more people don't just go around and getting all the try me free stuff!!! It boggles the mind!!!

$200 of gift certificates---for $24!!!

You read that right!

I read on a message board that you can get restaurant.com gift certificates at a very reduced price. These certificates are already a great bargain, the usual price being $40 for a $100 certificate. I found a coupon code ( DISH ) that got me an extra 70% off...so $100 gift certificate for $12.

What's the catch...weeeelllll

These are not straight forward "gift certificates" exactly... that is to say I can not use $100 to pay a tab of $100. Each participating restaurant has criteria set out for their use. I may buy a $25 gift certificate for the house of blues...I would still have $75 left on my restaurant gift certificate and I would have a $25 voucher for the house of blues, but there may be restrictions like total bill must exceed $50 to use the $25 voucher. At that point I would have paid $25 out of pocket and $24 for my certificates for a meal that cost $50, so after one use I have recoverd the cost of my original $24 investment. After that, the rest is savings.

I spied a voucher  for 50% off  Ben&Jerrys that costs $5. I think that might come in handy in the heat!

There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from for Vegas and the best part is they are also good for restaurants all across the United States. So If I only choose $125 to use in Vegas, I will still have $75 that never expires to use any time I am in the States.


I will let you know how this actually works in practice, but in theory, I think I did good!

The art280 sandwich

The start of an exciting sandwich making career???


The art280 sandwich

The art280 is a sandwich encompassing the tastes of 4 friends.

sky likes crispy things
sarah likes spicy things
mackenzie like walking on the beach
benny likes watching pro football

I had a number of different ideas as to how to incorporate these themes into a sandwich that would reflect these individuals.( Unfortunately people frown upon killing sea gulls while others are enjoying the beach so I will have to save that idea for another time...)

The runners up included a hot dog (beach and football) covered with chili (football tailgate, spicy)  further topped with crushed doritos (football, spicy and crispy) and finally Jalapano jack cheese (spicy), and a very close first runner up to the sandwich I made was a thinly sliced bbq'ed steak (football tailgate) sandwich served on a cornbread bun (often served at clam bakes at the beach) smothered in a zesty chipotle bbq sauce(spicy), with French's french fried onions perched on the top! (crispy)

But the sandwich that started out as little more than a few ingredients in my pantry and forevermore shall be known as The art280 sandwich is a sandwich consisting of toasted pumpernickle rounds (crispy) topped with a smidge of miracle whip and then a freshly prepared salmon cake (beach) garnished with a bed of spring mix lettuce and a second salmon cake which is further topped with a spicy mango chutney (spicy) finally this awesomeness is then topped with kettled cooked chips (great when watching a football game and for extra crispiness)  the final piece comes into place when the second piece of toasted pumpernickle that has a light speading of miracle whip on it is ever so gently lowered into place.

   
I opted to make this a "hot" sandwich, but if you prefer your sandwiches chilled a tasty salmon salad could have been used in place of the salmon cake.

The salmon cake

you will need

1 can of salmon drained and cleaned (unless you like the salmon bones and stuff)
1/4 of a cooking onion minced (or 1 green onion thinly sliced)
1/4 of a red pepper minced
salt and pepper
1 tbsp. flour
approx 1/4 c. of crackers crushed fine.
1 tsp parmesan cheese
pinch of red pepper flakes

two eggs beaten

Combine the first 4 ingredients and mix. sprinkle with flour and then add the cracker crumbs, parmesan and pepper flakes. Mix once again and slowly add the beaten eggs until you get a mixure that binds together well.

Fry the salmon cake in a non stick pan over medium heat for approx. 5 mins per side.

Enjoy it on The art280 sandwich.

ORDER UP!!!!

I told you earlier about my attempt to "earn" money on fiverr.com. Today I got my first order!!!!

This is the "offer" I submitted...

I will name a sandwich after you and send you the recipe for $5

 

I will name a yummy sandwich after you.
I will take a picture of this sandwich I have created so you can share your namesake with your friends and family, I will also give you the recipe for this sandwich so you can share how amazing you really are.
I will take any special dietary concerns into account!

 In case you don't know I went through school to be a chef and passed with flying colours, however I didn't write the ministry exam to actually get my cooks trade papers. So for me this is an amazing opportunity to share my love for food in another way.

 I have until Monday to create and photograph this sandwich which,  from henceforth shall be referred to as

“The Art280 Sandwich”

and here is the order

hello we just ordered a sandwich to be designed after us. we are a group called art280. there are 4 of us.

sky likes crispy things
sarah likes spicy things
mackenzie like walking on the beach
benny likes watching pro football

please include but do not limit yourself to at least one ingredient that represents each of us.
the name of the sandwich must be “The Art280 Sandwich”

We look forward to seeing the photo and using the recipe in our own kitchen.

Check back Monday to see my creation!!!
 

Hold on...I think I have a coupon for that!

I have a new found interest in couponing. Previously I didn't give much thought to coupons, or using them....and certainly not saving  and collecting them, that is just sheer madness.

But there is method to that madness and I would like to explain it to you.

Manufacturers have hundreds and thousands of coupons distributed offering from a few cents to a few dollars off of a specific product. Here is an example.

Secret Flawless Deodorant.

These are regularly priced at about $4.
Wal-mart had them on sale for $1.64...amazing deal right, well not quite. There were coupons available that saved you $1.50.
Secret Flawless Deodorant at Wal-mart with the coupon. $0.14.

My point is I would have never known the best price for Secret Deodorant. I would have never paid attention to the coupon, and I would have never known all the ins and outs of couponing and other really great deals for stuff that is free, or nearly free if it wasn't for the web site www.smartcanucks.ca

Not only is smartcanucks.ca an amazing couponing site, it is a great social site too! And our fearless leader, Boo Radlely has once again come up with another amazing site www.flyerscoupons.ca

This site has been set up so that as a member, when you share a deal or coupon, you are eligible to get paid to post. I won't go into the details here, but it is legit! So that is yet another way I am hoping to build our Las Vegas slush fund.

(...and I am hoping there is enough slush to fund many margaritas!!!)

Well the long weekend is almost upon us!!!

It shouldn't be too hard to save some money this weekend. The stores are closed on Good Friday, so there really isn't much opportunity to spend. I was out with my folks again today picked up something for my dad and put it through with my stuff and gave mom the cash he gave me. It wasn't a lot but every bit helps.My hubby even threw in  a few bucks, so our plucky little pot keeps on growing!