Halloween Fun

What are you passing out tonight? I have a bucket full of my favorites: Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut M&Ms, and Almond Joy. I really want those out of my house, but I am kind of excited to pass out the full size Mentos Gum. John and I had fun snagging 80+ packages of Menton Gum FOR FREE yesterday. On an impromptu trip, I noticed Safeway had the gum for .99, which they do every so often. Of course, the sale ended today and I know I had a huge stack of $1.00 coupons for the gum. So, off we went to grab the coupons and we hit both local stores and used up all our coupons in one day. Woo hoo for fun, free treats for the neighborhood kids.

Have fun tonight whatever you are doing, where ever you are going, and whatever you are passing out to the kids.

What Deals Am I Working This Week?

Wednesday Check-In:  I'm continuing to stock up on my FREE Gain dish soap. Walgreens has some great Register Reward deals this week, including Colgate, Contac Cold Medicine, and Alka Selzter to-go packets. I'm also loving the Skippy Peanut Butter deal I worked in (today I scored 4 jars for $2.58!). If you need any of these items, drop me an email or a comment to this post and I will run the deal for you. I'm interested in starting up a bargain hunting business, where I do all the work in terms of finding the deals and actually making the purchases. I just don't know if there's an interest on the other side. To me, the deals seem so easy, but others tell me they don't have the time/energy/brain to make it happen.

I am hoping this week will pick up speed. I had an amazing moment Tuesday when a letter from an anonymous student appeared in my school mailbox. It was simply a thank you / hang in there / you're a hard teacher letter, and it more than made my day.

John started a new shift on Sunday and we, as a family, are still adjusting to his absence at night.

I have been staying up later each night this week in an attempt to wrangle some "me-time". It's working. I feel a bit more organized, and the house is a tad cleaner. I'm following the Fly Lady and picking and choosing what works for us. So far, I like it! I'm not getting to the gym in the morning anymore, but hopefully that will come next week.

Last, here's a great coupon for Boogie Wipes, valid 10/28-11/1 only. If you head on over to, where else, Walgreens, you can score a 30-ct, pack of Boogie Wipes for $1.49. I love these wipes for the winter/cold season. They have menthol in them, so when your snot-monster wipers his nose, he inhales the menthol, clearing out the germ fest!

Here's the deal:
Buy one 30 ct package of Boogie Wipes $3.99
Use the $2/1 coupon
Stack with the $0.50/1 Walgreens coupon from the Nov. coupon book (found in the store by the door)
Final cost only $1.49!

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday

I love, love, love coordinated sets of rainboots/umbrellas and hats/mittens/scarves for the kids. Be sure to check out the Deal of the Day today for an awesome deal for cute items from Modnique.

Today we are off to work/school/everything but I am excited to head to a friend's jewelry party after work. Looking forward to the distraction and hopefully finding some nice gifts for the mother's and teachers in our lives.

Halloween Picture Bargain

We are headed to Park Place Mall today to have some fun Halloween Pictures taken today. Picture People is offering up an awesome deal. You can score 6 sheets for $9. All 6 sheets will be the same pose, but what a great way to send a litte picture surprise to everyone on your mailing list. Even if we get 5x7's, we'll still manage to have enough to send to all the grandparents and aunts and uncles! Click here for the coupon. Expires 10/31/10. Be sure to call ahead for an appointment. Picture People can get a little chaotic!

Here's the picture we chose, after an almost entertaining 18 minute pout-filled session, following a 53 minute wait past appointment time. Sigh.

Fall Festivities - How to Pick and Choose

What I love nost about this time of year is the excitement and pure joy on kids' faces as they see all the fall decorations and notions. What I don't love about this time of year is the inevitablly filled calendar and the blown budgets. As November approaches, we will be going back to our one-event a weekend family rule. It helps us to keep the stress and "obligatigatory" appearances in check. We simply commit to only attending one event - birthday parties, fairs, parades, etc - per weekend. I usually RSVP in a first come-first served manner, and as family members and friends picked up on our no's, they started planning earlier, helping us to better prepare. There's nothing worse than a last-minute party to throw your kids' routine off kilter. Finally having the "guts" to say to to parties, even for those of some of our closest friends, also helped to reign in our spending.  This weekend we'll be attending the Fall Fair, next weekend, it's Halloween of course, and the weekend after, we have a birthday party. That's it. No more. Just Say No!

Britax Marathon Giveaway

I stumbled across an awesome opportunity to win a free Britax Marathon 70 carseat, in your choice of cover patterns. If you know me, you know I am a Britax devotee. They are ranked the highest is car seat regulations and safety. If you want to get in on this opportunity, click here to connect to Making My American Dream, another great blog on all that is family, deals, and cutting out the fluff.

Free or Cheap Bic Markers

BIC is offering up a high-value coupon on their Facebook page! Just head over here, “like” them, and you’ll be able to print a coupon good for $5/1 BIC Mark-It Permanent Markers (24 or 36 ct.). These should make a nice and possibly FREE gift for the artist in your life! (Thanks, Hip2Save)

Clean Dishes for Free and Cheap TP!

Free Gain Dish Detergent at Walmart.
Gain Dish Detergent is on rollback for .97. Use the $1.00 coupon from the 10/11/10 PG insert for free dish detergent. Need some coupons? I have a few to spare. Email me for inquiries. I usually charge $1.44 for 10, when I sell them on ebay. The coupons are free, of course. You're just paying for my time to cut them and mail them to you. $1.44 for 10 bottles of dish detergent is pretty sweet!

Super Cheap TP at Safeway:
Cottonelle 12 pack is $6.99 regular price at Safeway. there is an in-ad coupon for 4.99. Plus there is a blinkie coupon machine right in front of the toilet paper. Finally, when you buy two 12-packs, you will receive a Catalina coupon for $2 off your next purchase. If you snag 2 of the coupons and get the flyer from the customer svc, desk, you can walk away with 2 12-packs of TP for $4.00. That's a stock up price for me.

Here's the breakdown.

2 12-packs Cottonelle = $13.98
In-Ad coupon  = $ -4.00
Blinkie MFR coupon = $-4.00
Total OOP = $5.98
plus receive $2.00 ONYO (On Your Next Order) Coupon
Final Price = $3.98

Yet another photobook deal. Think Christmas!

Picaboo: Free Photo Book ($40 Value) + Shipping

Picaboo, an online company that specializes in high quality and very unique Photo Books, is once again offering up a FREE 8.5 x 11 Hardcover Photo Book ($39.95 value) to new customers!! Yay!! All you have to pay is $8.99 for shipping. To get started, head on over here, enter your email address and then you’ll be able to start creating your very own photo book! At checkout, use coupon code FALLBK which will deduct the cost of the photo book and leave you to just pay shipping. How sweet is that?!
*Note: This new code is only valid thru October 25th, so hurry and create your book. (Thanks, Hip2Save)

Happy Friday!

I'm heading out to a few Yard Sales today and tomorrow. Hoping to find some good deals. Two are in Rancho Sahuarita today and tomorrow. I don't get a chance to cruise the Friday sales very often, and that's when you can usually score some awesome treasures.

And I have to plug a super sale taking place tomorrow. I don't know what they will have but I know the cause. One of my students will be heading to England with me in March. Her family is having a yard sale tomorrow to raise funds for the trip. This is the first time they have had a sale in 17 years of living at this house, so there are sure to be some fun, unique treasures at this sale. They live in the gorgeous neighborhood behind the old Walmart strip. Follow the signs. The say they are opening at 8, but that signs will be up tonight. Rookie mistake, friends. Be ready at the crack of dawn, I say.

Who Likes Free?

In need of a distraction, for you or the kids? Why not pick up a movie, and why not do it for free? Check out the Deal of the Day for more info.

Try Your Hand at Origami... for FREE

Have you always wanted to try your hand at making origami? Well, here's your chance to try it out. Get 50 sheets of origami paper FREE, and then check out the Everything in Paper Crafting site for origami tutorials.

I have a feeling this one won't last long, so request now! Limit one per household, U.S. requests only. Limited time offer. (thanks snappy dresser)

Parenting 101

No one ever said parenting, or life, was easy. Here I am, 4 years into this lifetime job and I am taxed, enlightened, angered, amazed, frustrated. I wouldn't trade any of it for all the riches in the world. In my hour of peace tonight, I came across this letter from Vicky Bell's blog and it is way too good not to share. Below is an excerpt from a letter she wrote to her college-age daughter.

You may or may not have heard about the NJ college student who killed himself last week because his room-mate had posted videotape of him having sex with another guy. A terrible, senseless tragedy.
My mommy job requires that I remind you of two essential things:
One:
Nothing ruins your life forever. NOTHING.
Two:
Nothing ruins your life forever. NOTHING.

If that young man had only waited a couple of weeks nobody would have cared- he'd have gotten past it. People have short memories- life would have gotten better, much better. His parents and friends? They loved him prior to the tape- they would have loved him afterward too. A few awkward moments and then life goes on.

But when you are young you don't know that even the awkward moments are fleeting. On this, you just have to trust the old people. Remember when you were really small and cried and cried over something? Well, it didn't last. That's kind of what it's like- awful things happen, you feel like there's a rock in the pit of your stomach, somehow time goes by and it gets better. I promise you, it ALWAYS gets better. The students, a girl and boy, who were involved in the taping and posting-- they are being charged with bias crime, invasion of privacy and possibly other things. Their college life is over. They will have to live with this death the rest of their lives-- and their families are devastated. What they did was so wrong- but also so kid-stupid. Not to mention mean. And so their lives will be different forever- but even so- their families will love them and they will have time enough to hopefully live in such a way as to make meaning from their mistake.

So, my beautiful girl, never, ever think something is unfixable. NOTHING you do will ever keep us from loving you. NOTHING you do could be so awful you can't get past it.

And if someone is mean to you, and it isn't something you can ignore-- seek out people to talk to about it. Surround yourself with people who are supportive. If you ever need help and don't know how to ask- try writing a letter instead. And right now- before you might need such help- think about who you would talk to if needed. In the midst of turmoil sometimes we don't always think as clearly- having a plan makes it easier to find help in crisis. And remember there are always alternatives. Always.

Finally, don't be mean. Don't let other people be mean. Stand up for the underdog, protect those who aren't as smart or confident or easygoing as yourself. Treat people's feelings like fragile little puppies- if you play with them- be gentle.

I love you so much and I know you really don't need me to tell you this stuff.... but it's my job.

Love and hugs,
Mommy

So, so true! Please share this with your kids.

GFCF Cook Book FREE!

Dreading the holidays because someone in your family requires a GFCF diet? Despair no more. There is a free GFCF Cook Book available. Click here for more information. The book is free until 10/14/10. Hurry now to order your copy and then breathe a sigh of relief/ (Thanks to Kristi for the tip!)

Huggies Doubling Points

Just like Pampers, Huggies offers a rewards system. They don't give away as many freebie points as Pampers, but you can still get your fair share of points and save up for gift card prizes or play the games for a point or two. You can win gas-card, Visa gift cards, and much more.

Here are a few freebie codes to get you started.

BHSGSWKLGQRQPGB (5 points)
BGNDJBBNXFKTPGB (1 pt only)
BGQGJPQZFGDXPGB (1 pt only)

If you already have an existing rewards account you can use the follwing codes to double whatever points you need to enter off diaper and wipes packages. You will enter them after you enter your codes from a package of diapers or wipes. After you are prompted to enter where you bought your product, there should be a place to add a "promo code".  Doubling points will work on up to 4 packages and are good until the end of October.

96739416
89217100

Free Lip Gloss from Victoria's Secret

Head on over here to get a coupon for a free lip gloss with any purchase at Victoria's Secret. Limit one per customer and offer expires 10/27/10. Remember, you are a new customer every time you walk through that door. ;)

Halloween Deal Alert

Ebates' Spooktacular Double Cash Back

Had enough of spending $40-$50 on Halloween Candy? Thinking about giving away something besides candy? This year, I am ordering from Oriental Trading for Halloween give-aways. Oriental Trading has tons to offer for Halloween, from creepy eye-popping suckers to traditional Hershey's Mini's or non-cavity inducing give-aways like wind-up fingers, glow sticks, or bendable spiders for as low as 6 cents each! Keep in mind when you are browsing: 

• Start off by going through ebates for double cash back
• If you spend $49 (split an order with a friend or buy your holiday treats too) you can use the code MB1130200 for free shipping.

Other stores that are offering double cash back through ebates right now are The Candy Warehouse, Disney, Halloween Express, and KMart, and many others.
Check it out today and place your order. Double cash back offers don't last long.

Pampers Gifts to Grow

If you don't already belong to Pampers' Gifts to Grow program, head on over here to create an account. You don't even need a baby in diapers to benefit from Pampers' rewards. You can collect generic/multi-use points and score gift cards to Starbucks, Target, and other mass-retailers. What a perfect way to justify those $5 coffees! Better yet, use them as teacher-gifts or donations to schools or other organizations.

To start you off, here's over 200 points worth of codes. They are all multi-use, so everyone can use them!

enter 10PTSFREECODE4U for 10 points
enter PUNTOSPARAMI123 for 10 points
enter JOINNOW4REWARDS for 50 points!
enter GIFTSTOGROW4MOM for 50 points!
enter 2BEGINEARNING50 for 50 points!
enter PAMPERSGTG10PTS for 10 points
enter PAMPERS4MOMSOND
enter CAREFORNEWBORNS
enter GETSTARTEDNOW10 for 10 points
enter PAMPERS4MOMJFM1
enter WELCOME2PAMPERS for 50 points!

And we're off....

If you are a friend, a colleague, or just someone who has miraculously stumbled upon my blog, on it’s first day no less, thank you for joining me on this adventure. I will be adding bits and pieces over the next 2 weeks, and hope to have the official look and the basics ready by October 17. This initial construction phase is when I need your input the most, so please send along any feedback or suggestions, and of course, become a follower!