How Swagbucks saved my bacon

I have this terrible tendency to pack my car mere inches from the wall of our garage, and as Richard is fond of telling me I was bound to wreck something that way. And so I did. Last Tuesday as I was leaving for Forensics I caught my passenger side mirror on the garage door frame. I grabbed some duck tape - Halloween patterned of course, that I had bought on clearance last year - and did what I could to hold the thing on. I was really upset with myself, such a silly, avoidable accident, and now I'd have to go rummage through a junk yard in below freezing temperatures.

Here's where Swagbucks* saved my bacon. Each month I earn enough Swagbucks (digital "currency") to redeem $25 in Amazon gift cards and $10-$20 in other gift cards. Richard was quick to find a replacement side mirror on Amazon for just $28 shipped straight to my door. So not only did I not have to dip into my "emergency fund" but I also didn't have to freeze while rummaging through a junk yard.

I usually use the gift cards from Swagbucks to buy little things for around the house that aren't in our regular budget and each year I save them up for a few months for Christmas gifts.  The easiest way to explain the program is that each "Swagbuck" you earn is equal to $0.01 so a $5 Barnes and Noble gift card is 500 Swagbucks.  But as a little bonus each $5 Amazon gift card is just 450 Swagbucks.  It's a really easy program to use and if you decide you want to give it a try please consider using my referral link (I get a bonus when you do!) and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments.

Now through February 25, 2014 use the code "FreeGiftCards" when signing up through my referral link and receive a 50 Swagbucks bonus right away!

*referral link

Notes on Blindness

This is beautiful.

2014 Reading Goal

According to my goodreads account the number of books I read in a year hasn't broken from the single digits in the last few years. I'm hoping that because I've already finished two novels, Fangirl and Divergent, I can hit my goal of 15 books this year. Theoretically, as long as I don't pick up any extremely long novels, if I continue at this pace I should hit 24 by the end of 2014.  But I know my limits, and I know I go through reading jags and slumps. 

2014 Reading Goal - 15 books

1) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (January)

2) Divergent by Veronica Roth (January)

Happy New Year, and a journey southward

We had a lovely trip down to the mountains of North Carolina, Richard, Wicket, and I.  It was a smooth drive, with few delays, and when we arrived we had only one party to attend and the rest of our six-day visit delightfully devoid of any other engagements.

Wicket roams the woods

We tromped through the woods again, and again.  Visited with Mamu and all my other relatives who have settled in the area.  Walked to the lake where Wicket took an impromptu swim.  Ventured into town and down to mountains for more visiting and roaming.  Mostly though we enjoyed our quiet mornings with Mamu and a Downton Abbey marathon.

Struck by Lightening

Now we're back home and with a high of just 4°F school was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday.  But tomorrow its back to work and I'm throwing myself head first into Forensics and hoping for the best.