64th Anniversary of D-Day: Stop What You are Doing and Give Thanks


normandymarker06062008.jpgA lot of news circulating today about the upcoming election, high gas prices, the economy, and of course, National Doughnut Day.  Many of us are so wrapped up in our busy lives we have forgotten that today marks one of the most historic invasions in American military history, D-Day.

On June 6, 1944 over 150,000 Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.  Their mission for the day was not to push Germany out of the country, nor was it to secure the beachfront, it was merely to land.  You see, the very act of setting foot on occupied France was itself a minor miracle.  Can you imagine the logistical effort required to land 150,000 infantry and paratroopers, along with some 30,000 vehicles?  It was a massive undertaking, and a costly one.

More than 5,000 American troops were killed or wounded, as were thousands of other members of the Allied forces.  Take some time to remember all of those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy today.  It is a also a good time to remember those who are currently serving home and abroad, and particularly those in harms way fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Put aside your political views for just one day and be thankful there are men and women willing to lay down their lives for this great country we call America.

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photo by Doolittle1989

ProFlowers: An Inexpensive Gift Idea for Mother’s Day


I just completed my annual Mother’s Day ProFlowers.com order and thought I would pass along some deals to my readers. As a frugal son and husband I’ve never been much for flower delivery because florists tend to tack on outrageous delivery expenses just so a stranger can deliver flowers to your loved one. So, a few years ago I started using ProFlowers for special holidays such as Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and of course, Mother’s Day. I order the flowers and have them delivered to me, and then I arrange them and present them to my loved one. I think it makes for a very personal touch.


ProFlowers operates an interesting business model. From ProFlowers website:

Our Provide Commerce marketplace is a proven e-commerce platform that consistently delivers fresh, high quality products direct from the supplier to the customer. We believe that the distribution chain for perishable products, including flowers, premium meat and fresh fruit, is particularly well suited for a technologically enhanced and compressed supply chain that more efficiently connects customers with suppliers. By using our platform, customers receive a higher quality, fresher product at a lower price point, and suppliers receive significant benefits through improved profitability, expanded customer reach and better cost management.

The fact ProFlowers can have orders from the grower to your doorstep in a matter of a couple days is an amazing logistical feat. In the past, many of the flowers I received were just beginning to bloom from bulb form – helping the flowers last for a longer time and providing a unique experience to actually watch the flowers bloom right in front of you.

Mother’s Day is one of the busier times for florists, including ProFlowers, so get your order in soon and select one of the Mother’s Day delivery options (a flexible delivery option will allow delivery on the Thursday or Friday before Mother’s Day, while a Friday delivery guarantee is available for a small surcharge).

Top Mother’s Day Deals at ProFlowers.com:

ProFlowers

Frugal Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas


Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Do you have your frugal gift giving list in order? Saint Valentine sure had it in for us guys when he decided Valentine’s Day would fall on February 14, less than two months after Christmas. It is a rare occasion when frugality and romance mix, but why not make this Valentine’s Day the year to celebrate frugally with some low-cost, romantic gift ideas. Warning, this is an area where frugality could be harmful to your health, so be sure you are giving these gifts from the heart, not just to save a buck.

Homemade coupon books are an inexpensive way to show your appreciation for loved ones. The design is not as the important as the content here, so don’t fret too much over the type of paper to use, the cover design, etc. Spend your time and energy brainstorming ideas and activities that really make your loved one happy. In a small booklet format, start listing those ideas, one per page. On Valentine’s Day present the homemade coupon book along with the promise to fulfill the coupon when presented. Here are a few ideas that may provide some inspiration:

  • Good for One Free Car Wash
  • Dad Takes the Kids For One Day
  • A One-Hour Massage
  • Dad Does the Cooking for One Week
  • One “Chick-Flick” Date Night
  • Get Out of Doing Dishes for One Week
  • Spend One Week With No Television (not eligible for redemption during football season)

Browse Amazon.com for frugal gifts.  Amazon.com has dedicated an entire page to Valentine’s Day gifts, and the best part is you can quickly search for Her/Him by price, meaning you can quickly filter out those non-frugal items.  Then again guys, just this once, you may want to splurge a little.  I do about 90% of my holiday shopping there, including Valentine’s Day.

Plan a picnic. In some parts of the country the weather is nice enough to plan a picnic by February 14. If not, bring a coat and go anyway. Besides, cold weather usually resorts to snuggling, and that’s a good thing on Valentine’s Day. Pick up an inexpensive basket at a flea market or craft store, and prepare an assortment of your loved one’s favorite snacks at home. The menu could be as simple as some fine cheese with crackers, or homemade mini-sandwiches and a small dessert. A quick search for picnic menu ideas yields some great results. Top it off with an inexpensive bottle of wine, or your beverage of choice. Don’t forget at least two blankets (one for the ground, and one for her). Make this a surprise and add to the suspense. Load up the picnic basket ahead of time and then tell your Valentine to dress warm for a surprise date.

Take a day trip. Schedule a vacation day from the office and surprise her with a short day trip to a regional attraction. Make it a fun date – maybe a visit to an aquarium, museum, or even the zoo. Plan ahead by ordering tickets in advance, and be on the lookout for any merchants that offer deals if you buy from them (your Valentine doesn’t have to know). Plan to eat lunch and/or dinner before visiting the attraction because food at entertainment venues is nearly as expensive as movie theater candy.

Bottom line, it is true what they say – it is the thought that counts. You don’t have to go broke showering your Valentine with overly expensive gifts to show your love for them. In fact, gifts from the heart usually mean more to the recipient than something bought at a store, at least they do to us frugal dads.

ProFlowers

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