Cinebistro

If you haven't heard about Cinebistro coming to Stony Point, you're missing out! This ultra luxurious movie theater does not disappoint. The premise is that you can enjoy a delicious sit-down meal while watching a newly released movie. You have to be 21 to go into the theaters, because alcohol can be taken into the movie. Each theater seats about 50 people in over sized armed chairs, and there are table tops that can be used during dining and then moved aside when the movie begins. You need to arrive at least 30 minutes before your movie time, where the theater will open and a waiter will take your order from your theater seat. The menu ranges in price greatly (a grilled chicken BLT sandwich with fries will run you $12), and you do not have to order anything to watch the movie. Once the movie begins, the waitstaff will disappear so that you are not disturbed during the movie. You can order movie theater staples (like popcorn) and help yourself to refills throughout the movie. There are free refills on the sodas, but remember that you have to leave the theater to get them.


Some other fun facts to know:
- Tickets are $7.50 each until 4 PM.
- You get to select your seats when you purchase your tickets at Cinebistro.
- There is a 17.5% gratuity already added to your food bill.
- The popcorn is served in large ceramic bowls, so if you're one of those people who like to take any leftovers home to much on later, bring your own Ziploc!

Did You Know...

Did you know that the two Dillards at Virginia Center have been consolidated into one? Did you know that the entire store is 50 to 70% off the original price?? Why did I not know about this??!! Jason questioned two different salespeople to see if this store was going out of business, and they both said that it was going to be used as a clearance center. Think of it as a Marshalls type of set up. If you're going to find a deal, you're going to have to search for it. You're also going to have to look past the mid-90's decor. There seemed to be more men's clothing than women's, and very few children's and/or housewares. You're going to have to be 100% sure about your purchase because all sales are final. They have kinda of peculiar hours (like the are closed on Mondays and most days by 7 PM), but it's worth looking into. I might have gotten a tad carried away and invested in four dresses, but I only paid $72 and one dress alone was originally that much.

Keeping it Clean...

It's been a while since we've cleaned up at Kroger. This week, be sure to check out a couple of things...

1. Charmin Toilet Paper... it's part of their "Buy 4" promotion (meaning you buy 4 selected health and beauty products, and $4 is knocked off your total). It's on sale for $5.99 with the promotion and you can download a $3 off coupon to your Kroger card. We also used another $1 off Charmin manufacturer coupon making the grand total: $1.99!!

2. Old Spice Deodorant... it's also part of the promotion that's on sale for $1.07 each. We combined that was a manufacturer coupon ($1 off any 2) and got them for about $.60 a piece!!


3. Herbal Essence Shampoo... part of the promotion... making it on sale for $1.84. We used a manufacturer coupon to save a dollar and paid a whopping $.88!!

Make a Joyful Noise

Supposedly singing is linked to stress reduction. So don't hold back when you're belting it out in the car or shower. Prevention magazine also shares that those people who sing in choirs have a higher satisfaction with life as opposed to the general public singing solo. Maybe those "Glee" kids are onto something! (Speaking of "Glee", Target has the complete 1st season on sale this week for only $14.99! Huge bargain!!)

Catching Some zzzz's

It's so nice not to have to get up at the crack of dawn while I get to be "Holiday Mary Catherine"! Prevention magazine suggests that if you sleep for a good 7 1/2 hours for 3 consecutive nights, then you'll be able to get through at least 5 full REM sleep cycles each night. This means you'll be able to ascertain the best benefits of sleep, including strengthening your immunity. So snooze on!

Motivation to Exercise??

I'm oddly intrigued by these...

S2H makes these bracelets that log the amount of physical activity you complete. After an hour of activity (and it doesn't have to be consecutive), the bracelet will show you a special code that you can apply for discounts and gifts at places like Apple, Target, GameStop, etc... The bracelet is $19.95 and for $2.99 you can change the band to one of 7 different colors. The downside is that in order for the activity to register on the bracelet, you'll have to be doing something pretty vigorous, like soccer, so that your arms are moving as much as the rest of your body. The company is almost ready to release pedometers, which seem like it would be easier to rack up points.

I'm not exactly sure how many points you get per code earned. The rewards vary on how many points you actually need to cash in. I do like how many of the offers are kid-friendly (like Toys'R'Us) that might be an incentive to keep kids active.

Check out www.s2h.com for more details.

Precious Packaging

We received these with gift cards nestled inside for Christmas. (Thanks, Bocky!) They were very appropriate because we were watching a movie that evening, but I got to thinking that they would also be precious packaging if you were giving a movie gift card to someone. Who wouldn't love to get this little package with a gift card buried beneath "popcorn" (crinkled paper)??

Greener Guacamole

Browning guacamole can be curtailed with this little trick... The next time you mix up some homemade guacamole, place the whole pit of one of the avocados in the serving container with your dip after it's made. My suggestion is to nestle it near the top so that guac enthusiasts will stay clear of the potential choking hazard. The pit will keep the avocado from turning brown so quickly, which can make perfectly delicious guacamole look less than appealing.

Check out the 8/1 post for a simple and scrumptious guacamole recipe.

Chips & Salsa

This week Target is advertising a FREE Tostitos salsa or dip when you buy any 2 Tostitos chips. The chips are also on sale 2 for $5. Fun fact!

All for $5!!

Eco Friendly Gift Wrapping

This is a cute way to have a little less trash this holiday season. Instead of wrapping gifts with wrapping paper or stuffing sheets of tissue paper in a gift bag, try to utilize the actual gift in the presentation of the present.

I used a dishtowel to cover these presents, which also provided a little extra insulation for it's breakable contents.

Reusable bags are also great to use as gift bags, and the recipient can enjoy the bag for later use. Boxes with printed patterns are also great because you can skip the wrapping paper and even reuse the box in the future.

Candy Cane Tootsie Pops

The combination might sound unappealing, but there's something about the mix of chocolate and peppermint that is delicious! Check out Tootsie Pop's Candy Cane pops.

Eggs and Sausage

You've probably already prepared to stay in for a while with SNOW in the forecast, but just in case... I wanted to mention a special that Kroger was having this week. They have Jimmy Dean Sausage on sale- 2 for $5. They are normally $4.99 each, so it's like you're getting one for free. And speaking of free... when you purchase the 2 Jimmy Dean Sausages, you get a dozen Kroger large eggs for FREE. Quite the bargain!

Adorable Crock Pots

Proctor Silex makes these adorable little slow cookers. They would be perfect for dips, appetizers, or even smaller meals. They come in several bright colors. At only $15 each, they would make cute housewarming or hostess gifts. Target.com carries them as does proctorsilex.com.

Double Dippers

With the holiday season being in full swing, chances are you will visit a gathering or two. Steer clear of dips and salsas that have been compromised by... double dippers. (You know, those folks who feel comfortable enough to dip and then dip again.) As if double dippers sharing their germs isn't bad enough, you also need to watch out for the "flippers" (people who take a bit of something with a dip and then flip their chip, veggie, etc... to the other end and dip again). Self magazine reports that these flippers are perhaps even more likely to compromise dips. The potential germs for their hands, which are now being spread in the dip, are just as dangerous. A little food for thought!

Caring for Winter Accessories

Don't neglect your winter accessories this season. Hats, scarves, and gloves need a little TLC. Real Simple suggests laundering them 3 to 5 times a season. Unless otherwise stated, hand wash knits and dry-clean leather. Gloves especially can come into contact with lots of germs and should be cleaned accordingly.

Streamline Your Morning

I'm loving Tresemme' Fresh Start Waterless Foam Shampoo. It's great for those days when a shampoo just isn't going to happen. Pump a little of the foam into your hand and apply it evenly with your fingertips. It's a plus for not over drying curly hair. It's subtle smell is refreshing without being overwhelming.

Junk Mail

Take the time to give a closer look to your "junk mail". Quite often Red Plum (the same company that puts coupons in the Sunday paper) has coupons nestled inside of fliers that come in that mail that might look like trash. I've found several coupons for $3.99 haircuts from Great Clips recently. Just a thought to give these ads a quick once over before sending them to the garbage.