10 Time saving tips...What are yours?

So, being a busy mother, you need to have some time saving techniques that you use to get through your day, and get everything done. I am here to share with you my 10 tips on saving time while having a busy life without sacrificing quality in the tasks you do.

1. You need to have 4 arms. This would give you the ability to hold on to children while completing your tasks, thus completing everything in a timely fashion J

2. A taxi. A taxi would save time, it could pick up and drop off the kids at different times and save you from having to run all over town.

3. A personal assistant. This would help with organizing your tasks so you can get them done on time and perfect.

4. A time travel machine. This would give you the ability to see into the future, so you can plan more accordingly.

5. The ability to be in 5 places at once . This is extremely important.

6. Magical toys that clean themselves up, dinner that makes itself, and laundry that washes itself. These are extremely important too.

7. A husband who can do everything for themselves

8. A car that never breaks down

9. Children that listen.

And last but not least.

10. A money tree that never runs dry J

Obviously, these things are impossible. So, There is really only one tip I can give you.

You need to plan out your day accordingly, the night before bed, is the perfect time to do this. If you plan your day, and give yourself enough time to get your tasks done, than you should have enough time incase anything jumps up and gets into your way.

I know, your probably saying that this is going to be impossible, and that you cannot predict the unpredicted, but in truth my friend you can. I wish I knew yesterday, what I knew now. But your hindsight is 20/20 right?

You can’t always get everything done. We are not superwomen. But we can get enough do everyday to survive. That’s all that matters. At the end of the day, when you’ve completed your tasks, you’ll feel good about yourself, and remember, the laundry can wait until tomorrow, Live for today, and do what you need to, to the best of your ability.

Enjoy your children, and your family. Nothing is THAT important that it can’t wait.

What are your time saving tips? Do you have anythign that helps you through your day. I want to know. Comment here with your tips! You never know, I may feature your tip as a post!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Frugal Family Vacation...Tricks of the trade

I would love to take a family vacation sometime soon. But, I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to get us through it. I want the lowest prices, for the best quality. Spoiled? Yes, I am. Rich? I am not.


The ways to find the best deals are by utilizing your time, and planning it early enough in advance. The absolute best resource has to be the World Wide Web, or AKA the internet. There are so many deals floating around just waiting to be found and used!

1. When planning for a family trip, it is best to plan it at least 6-8 weeks in advance. There will be all kinds of deals that you are going to want to look at, however sometimes; booking at the last minute might save you even more than booking early. When resorts, and cruises, and ECT have space to fill and it’s getting near the date, they will cut their prices just to fill the empty space.

2. However this (#1) is all based on multiple things, especially peak season versus off peak season.

3. Off peak season is the best time, usually just after the peak season. You know fall instead of summer.

4. Loyalty rewards programs are usually the best way to go if your family travels quite a bit. They will save you time, money, and hassle. Using a loyalty rewards program however does have their downfalls, like blackout dates, and very confusing restrictions, but this all is contingent on which loyalty rewards program you choose to use.

5. Child Friendly, and Age appropriate are all things we look for. We do not want to take the children to a hotel that is not child friendly. Who know’s what it is like if it’s not even child friendly.

6. Daily deal sites are great- But you must be spur of the moment with them. Usually the deal is only for 24 hours.

7. If driving, know your route and ALL the pit stops along the way-Those are important

8. Pack your own food if and when possible. On vacations food is the #1 expense that can be cut down to make it a frugal fun vacation. The amount you can save by bringing your own from the grocery store will probably pay for one more night at the hotel!

9. Don’t choose popular dates. Everyone and their uncles, aunts, and twice removed cousins will be traveling and vacationing on those days. It won’t be a pleasant or enjoyable vacation when you’re sitting in traffic wasting gas which will cost you more money, or if you’re paying more for a hotel because it’s a popular date.

10. if you decide what you’re going to do when make sure its refundable if you pay in advance, life happens, things change, and even sometimes you find a better deal.

DISCLOSURE: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

What Makes You Feel Lucky? #Free Redbox Rentals!

Find a Penny and Pick it up, then all day you’ll have good luck!


I ALWAYS pick up a penny if I find one lying around. However, another tale be told is that it has to be HEADS up. SO, I only pick it up if its heads up, if it’s tails up, it stays where it is.

I never play the lottery, but when I do, it’s usually after we have had Chinese food, and I had a fortune cookie with the “lucky” numbers. I play those numbers and even though they do not win, they make me feel lucky until I lose (LOL)

When I “Gotta Feeling” (No, not the song, lol) that something good is going to happen I feel lucky, even when it’s doesn’t “happen” I still feel I had a “lucky” day. It changes your outlook on good things and bad, and it all evens itself out.

My Children make me feel lucky everyday. They make me feel lucky that I am alive to spend this time with them. My children and my family are my world! I am so lucky to have them and to share everything with them. I wouldn’t be me without my kids.

So, Why am I telling you about what makes me feel lucky?...

Redbox is holding a “Lucky to have friends like you” promotion right now until 3/17/11. For every friend you refer who reserves a DVD online through your promotional link, you will recieve a FREE rental credit! How much better can it get than that? This is an unlimited amount of FREE rentals you can earn! Head on over to Redbox HERE to see what all of the buzz is about!

Want to help me earn free rentals? Click here to help me earn free rentals so my family and I can be lucky and watch some way cool movies!

Plus, if you’re Irish, you already have luck :-) With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner; you can share the luck of the Irish even if you’re not!

So, come check out what Redbox is offering for this promotion, and I guarentee you that you do not want to miss this one! So, Spread the word about redbox and you'll earn a free online rental credit every time a friend rents online using your referral link through March 17th.

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and redbox blogging program, for a $25 Walmart gift card from redbox. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

The ULTIMATE Holiday Gift...Have you found one yet?

The Ultimate Holiday Season for a young family with two boys would be extravagant with toys! Jacob loves trucks, and cars, and trains, and he has a talking walking dinosaur that he loves to follow around and scare people with. Matthew loves anything that sings, dances, or moves.
In our family, it’s not the amount you spend on the gift, it is the quality of the gift, and how much it makes the person happy.
PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER THAT TOYS AREN’T JUST FOR KIDS!
Ten Tips for the Ultimate Holiday time:
10. Don’t spend more than you need to. Hasbro has some awesome toys are some great deals.
Bumblebee Battle Charged is only $99.99. If your kids love transformers, they will LOVE this toy!

9. Presentation is everything. Make sure you don't overwhelm the child with many gifts at once. Make it special when you present that "ultimate" gift. after the initial present opening, wait about 20 minutes then say Oh wait, there's one more, and then pull out the "ultimate" gift and watch their face light up!

8. Make sure that you know when it's the "it" gift, dont just guess.

7. Make sure that you buy more than one if you think there will be a fighting problem among siblings. This resolves alot of problems in the future!

6. Allow your child to peek over your should when you are looking at it, and if they are old enough they may say thats cool, i want that. but most of the time, then the child will forget about it and just walk away. Then, you wait some time and order it when they are not around.

5. How about a 'real' gift. Hasbro has Biscuit the Fureal Friends Lovin' pup for $169.99. This dog is amazing, it's a must see!

4. I Love the look you get when you give the ultimate gift. It's priceless, so have a camera ready.

3. Make sure it arrives by Christmas! This has to be one of the most important. Nothing stinks more than KNOWING you have the perfect gift for them, but, it's not there Christmas Morning.

2. Hype. Avoid the Hype of the toy. Allow them to have their own interests. Just because it's overly advertised, and everyone supposedly HAS to have one, go on the persons own interests.

1. Enjoy it. Enjoy the shopping, the debating, the rushes, the worrying, and finally the happiness.

There is nothing more special than finding the ultimate perfect gift that they will love and cherish and will be proud to present to their friends. Unlike the underware that grandma is probably getting them! In my family we do a special mom and dad Christmas at home, and then we travel to one place for presents there and dinner. It is a remarkable day where all problems, and worries are put aside, and it's meaning is family, joy, and love.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Hasbro Ultimate Gifts blogging sweepstakes, making me eligible to get a $50 Gift card to use at http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/! For more information on how you can participate, click here

Layering, your body, your mind, and your clothes!

When I was younger, probably around 8 years old, I remember my mom making me dress in layers. She always told me, “If you hot, you can take them off, but if you get cold, it will be a lot harder to put more on.” This was true because we used to go out snowmobiling, and 4 wheeling, and it would get really cold as the sun would go down. However, these were not stylish layers. These were ugly thermals, under large long sleeve shirts, under a fleece pull-over, under my winter jacket. I look like this huge snowman as we were leaving the house.
Now that I am older, I do the same thing to my children. They always have a tee-shirt under a sweatshirt, or a button up shirt. I try to fit style into it if possible, because well, no one likes looking like a dork. My husband has no sense of style when it comes to clothing. He wears what ever is comfortable. However, I have to wear something that I feel “me” in. Usually, I wear a spaghetti strap tank top under whatever I am wearing. Then, will come the short sleeve shirt, and then the sweatshirt, and then, if needed the jacket.
I absolutely LOVE the long sweaters, short sleeve or long, it doesn’t matter. Usually I start with the tank top, then depending on the color of sweater. These sweaters go great with pretty much anything. I love to wear them with the leggings, because they go so far down that they cover your butt, and it almost looks like a dress, but yet your wearing legging capri’s or pants, and it looks great!
Here are my ten layering tips!
10. Make sure that what you are layering is comfortable.

9. Make sure that if you can see the under layers, that they match…which means you don’t want lime green and orange…(unless that’s your style!)

8. Look at the different colors of the item before you buy it. Sometimes, breaking down and buying the brown sweater instead of buying the black one, will fit better into your wardrobe, and make it easier to fit into multiple outfits instead of just one.

7. Make sure that what you are layering isn’t too bulky, or thick.

6. Always carry a “just in case” layer in your car. This is specifically important if you live in New England like we do. The weather always changes. Or, if you spill something on your sweater, you can not worry because you have an extra one!

5. Make sure that you are properly layered. It disgusts me when I see these preteens walking down the street in the middle of winter wearing a tank top layered only with a tee shirt. It’s winter for god sakes, wear some clothes!

4. Allow for mishaps. It’s always good to allow for mishaps when layering, so make sure that your under layers are presentable if your outer layer gets, well, yucky.

3. Always look professional with your layers. Make sure that your wardrobe is professional, especially for the unthinkable. If your single you may meet the guy of your dreams, you don’t want to look dorky.

2. Make sure you keep up with the weather. You don’t want to layer too many layers especially if it’s 40 degrees when you leave the house, and it ends up be 80 degrees at noon time. If you left the house in a sweater without a presentable shirt underneath, then you didn’t keep up with the weather.
1. Last, but not least. Love the way you look. Mix and match outfits, try the impossible. You never know, you make like it. AND you want to make a style of all your own. That’s what makes you unique and unique is good.
After reading what I have here, go into your closet, pull out some of those old clothes, and start mixing and matching. You never know what a treasure chest you have if you wear the same old things. Layering is in, it makes women look slimmer, and curvy. It draws good attention to yourself, and makes your self esteem and confidence go up, and you will feel good.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Cuddl Duds blogging program, making me eligible to get a $40 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Our Favorite Roadtrip & Tips for Travel

Our Favorite Road Trip had to be when my now 4 year old son, at the time, 3 years old, and I went to Connecticut for my cousin Nikki’s Wedding. We were supposed to leave at 8am to drive the 3 hour drive to the ceremony and reception. Well come to find out, there was to be a parade that day, and our major route was going to be blocked from 9am-12 noon! Yikes!


Well, That didn’t stop us! Jacob went to bed at about 10pm. He was just getting used to his new toddler bed at the time. I had gone to bed reasonably early as well that night since well, I had a 3 hour drive in the morning. 4:30am, I wake up to Jacob crying. I’m not sure how he had done it, since his bed had slightly elevated sides, but he fell out of the bed. But, then he didn’t want to go back to bed, and it’s almost 5am at that point so I decide, GUESS WHAT?!?! We are leaving for Connecticut now!


This isn't from our CT trip, but it's from
one of our many car trips!



We packed up the rest of the car by 5:30am and off we went. However, this didn’t go without a snafu of course. Jacob falls asleep in the car about 10 minutes down 495 South. This was great, I set cruise control at 65 MPH, turned the radio up a little bit, and watched the sun rise, while there was no traffic on a brisk morning. Then we get on the Mass Pike. This was the first trouble.

Just after the rest area, with no more stops or exits for 20 miles, Jacob wakes up, “Mommy, I gotta go potty!” So, he pee’d in the bushes on the Mass Pike. No bathrooms for 20 miles, we didn’t have a choice. We get back in the car, and he falls back asleep. Next rest area, we need gas, and Jacob’s still asleep. We pull in, and I search and search, only to find, I forgot my debit card at the house, and all I had was cash, with a sleeping 3 year old in the car. Luckily, the lady inside was nice enough to come out to the car to take the cash from me so I didn’t have to wake him up. Thank God for the “Help please” Button!

Finally, after that we get into Connecticut. I turn on my GPS, and it will not find signal! Nor, can I find the mapquest I had printed just in case. Which turns out I left on the Kitchen Table. So, we get lost. We stop for a 2nd breakfast and to pee, and finally figure out where we are going. Just before the major route closes for that parade. That was pure luck!
We ended up being on time, (yes, for one of the first times in my life, I was ON TIME!)
Moral of the Story? (And, My tips for traveling!)

Well, Always stop to pee, especially if there’s 20 miles between exits.

Always double check that you have all your forms of payment,

and last but not least, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR DIRECTIONS!
 
Plus, the basics...Keep up on car matinance, check your oil, proper tire inflation, emergency roadside kit in trunk. All those are great tips for travel, and are proper safety guidelines to follow.
 
Happy Thanksgiving, and Have safe traveling Holidays this year!
 
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I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Discount Tire blogging program, making me eligible to receive a $50 gift card and be entered for a chance to win a prize valued at $1,000. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Wish Your Life Was Easier? Here’s How!!!

Do you wish your life was a piece of Cake? Do you wish that world was perfect? Do you wish that everything would go your way?
Well, Good Luck! Everyone does…!
But, I am here to tell you that there is hope! I am ready to open up and tell you my secrets into making life easier! So, Let's get started…

1. Think Positively: That has to be the most important rule in life. When it rains it pours, everyone knows that. But as long as you keep your head up, you'll be okay. Positive thinking increases your chances of thinking before acting. Thinking before taking action can make a big difference into the path you will choose, and change the chain of concurrent events that will subsequently happen as a result.
2. Organization: Having an organized life is a happy life. A happy life is a good life. Try to organize your week, the week before. Make a family Calendar. Have a different color code for every family member, and have the calendar posted for all to see. Include appointments, practices, school events, work meetings, ECT. Then along with that, make a meal plan for the week. If you share the responsibility of cooking, make sure you include the other "cook" of the house in this plan. If possible, make a few frozen portioned dinners for the unexpected changes that happen. Which you know will happen, because why? It's life.
3. Attention to detail: Pay attention to the small things in life. Cherish them, love them, change them, or hate them. It's your choice and you and only you can choose your destiny. Paying attention even if just slightly to the smallest detail will make a bigger difference later on down the road, but may seem insignificant right now.
4. Comedy: Everyone loves a good laugh to lighten the mood, and make an unbearable task, well seem at least a little bit better. Finding enjoyment even in the stupidest or the boring things in life will help you to get through it, and conquer the task. Try buying a CD of a comedian to listen to while you are cooking, or doing dishes, or laundry. Too many people take life way more serious than they should, and do not see the little funny hints that life throws them, and it's sad. Those people are also the ones that do not think positively. I love comedy, and I try to incorporate a joke even in the worst of situations to try to make the situation better.
5. Live life to the fullest: Always live life to the fullest extent. Without living life to the full extent that you are able, means that you are not living at all. It's okay to take jumps and leaps, but make sure they are practical to your situation. For Example, don't go out and buy a Great Dane just because you want one, if you live in a one bedroom apartment. So live life to the fullest, but be logical with your living J
6. Lists: Create lists of things you need to do immediately, things you need to do in the future, and things you want to accomplish in your whole life. Then cross reference this list and narrow down when you want to accomplish these things. This will make your life easier in completing the tasks that you want to, or have to do.
7. Give yourself time: Time is of the essence. Only time will tell, or allow you to realize what you do, or what you have done will change the chain of events in your life. If you have lost a loved one or ones like I have you understand that time heals the grief that you are feeling. I can give you a great example. Last November, my great grandfather died. I incorporated a little comedy into my grief. When I was about 12, I was in the elevator of his building with him. There was another woman in the elevator with us. He was in his late 80's and so wasn't the lady. When the lady got off at her floor, he looks at me and says, "She had a nice butt." Mind you, she was about 87 years old, (LOL). This made me laugh at a time that was sad in my life. Like I said, Time heals and time grows what it needs to in life.
8. Try to simplify: Simplifying daily tasks will make your life so much easier! Try to accomplish all your errands in one trip (if possible), and don't detour. Procrastination is one of the famous downfalls of American citizens. We all procrastinate at one time or another, and sometimes it's good to do so, but mostly not.
9. Love: Love is a little bit harder, but it makes your life easier. If you're not a millionaire, you need to work. To be happy, and have your life be easier, you need to love your job. You need to love the way your living, you need to love your home, and most importantly you need to LOVE your life. If you don't love your life then make some changes because most likely you're miserable.
10. Be yourself: I always try to be myself. I change it, if needed, but other than that I am who I am. I am a mom, a human being, a wife, a daughter, a lover, a sister. Someone who likes organized events, and comedy. I am me. If you cannot be yourself your making your life harder because its harder to try to be someone your not.

Stop and smell the roses once in a while. Take some time to enjoy who you are, and where you are in your life. Don't ever let anyone rain on your parade, after all it is your parade! Love who you are, and where you are at. Organize your life, especially if it's complicated. Time will tell. Simplifying will help. These are my suggestions, and tips for an easier life. You may have your own opinion that differs from mine. But I am me. Be Happy. Do what you feel is right. Pay attention to even the smallest of details, it may help you down the road. I hope what I have said will help your life be easier in the long run. Give it sometime, everything gets better, and if you get knocked down, stand back up on your feet and dust yourself off. We are only human, and we make mistakes. Don't hold grudges, thus makes life more difficult.

Live, Laugh, Love.

 

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Oral-B blogging contest, making me eligible to get full-sized Oral-B Glide products and a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

10 Holiday Survival Tips- Will You Survive This Holiday Season?

I LOVE the holidays. Who doesn't? Yummy food, presents, family, friends. Ya right! Who am I kidding? The holidays are a nightmare! Traffic, rude shoppers, ungreatful people, the exhaustion, and the list continues.

But, Here are my 10 tips for surviving, I hope they help you too!

10. Make sure the relatives are entertained: Don’t you just hate when you have your relatives or in-laws hanging out in the kitchen while YOU are trying to cook. They share how THEY would do it, or how they think YOU should do it. This is your holiday meal; you cook it how you want to.

9. Shopping with coupons and during sales: Saving money is good. Try to get your shopping do as soon as possible. Hit a sale at Bed, Bath, and Beyond during a sale (I still want that remote, lol!) and take one of their 20% off coupons with you! You can surely find a gift for someone on your list there. Plus, they get a great gift, and you don’t have to spend a fortune!

8. Photo greeting cards: Photo greeting cards are a 2 for 1 deal. Everyone has a family member that is always asking for photos of the kids, and/or family. So, you get to send out your usual holiday cards, plus the photo on it, and everyone gets the photo too! Tiny Prints has a great selection of Christmas Cards!*

7. More than one Christmas: At one point or another, either you as a child or you with your kids have done it. You throw the kids in the car and visit all the family members at each of their houses. Make it easier on yourself and the kids. All you need to do is plan 2 or 3 smaller trips on different days rather than one. Less crankiness on a holiday = Good!

6. Make clean up a breeze: obviously or well at least hopefully you have a good idea of whose coming for dinner. Create a list for everyone to help with clean up. For example, one person washes dishes, one person makes take home plates, ect.

5. Take a break: Everything can be so overwhelming, especially if you are the host/hostess. Take a sanity break. Hide in your room. Go for a walk. Have “me” time.

4. Yankee Swap: Yankee swaps are a great idea if there are a lot of kids in the family. Just make sure they are gender neutral. This makes less fuss if a boy is unhappy with a Barbie doll.

3. Start early: If you are hosting dinner for a holiday, start it early. Have your guests arrive at noontime instead of 4pm. You always have that lingering relative who stays until all hours of the night. Starting it early will hopefully have them out by 10! 

2. Organize your emails: Most invites now a days are not in the form of a card in an envelope. They are electronic through email. Make a special folder named “Holiday Correspondence” to keep all the details for the holidays in. Who’s coming, who’s not coming, who is bringing desert, who is bringing a new boyfriend or girlfriend, ect. So, there is no confusion and you can go back and look up what everyone said if you forget. Thus, making it go smooth, well as smooth as a family event can go.

1. Enjoy: Enjoy it, after all the holidays only come once a year!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

*Tiny Prints provides stylish, modern and unique stationery from photo cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards and business cards. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side the Holidays will be a cinch! They offer adorable Thanksgiving Cards, Christmas Cards, Hanukkah Cards, and even New Years Cards. All fully customizable and personalizable

**DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a $75 Tiny Prints gift certificate! For more information on how you can participate, click here.

10 Tips for bring Fun into the day!

How many times do you hear..."Mom (or dad), I'm Bored!" I'm sure the older your children are, the more you hear it.
I am going to share 10 of my favorite ways to make the boring day fun! (There’s even a mommy break!)


10. Let your child take a break from their chores- Letting your child take frequent little breaks to play while they are cleaning their room, or doing homework, or vacuuming will help the chores get done right, it may take longer but it will be right. Doing this will alleviate rushing what they are doing that they don’t want to do,




9. Have a set quiet time- Tell the children, they can have an hour of free play. This is the mommy one eye open nap time! Tell them to read a book, play a game, play with their toys as long as they are quiet.


8. Have coloring time- This is geared more towards the younger children, around 4yrs-8yrs. Allow them to decide which coloring book that day, and pick out 3 pages to color.


7. Make a pit stop at the playground- While your out running errands, and you notice the children have more energy than normal, and cannot sit still in their seats, make a stop at the playground for an hour. They will thank you for the fun, and you will thank yourself for the naps that they will take after!




6. Keep a rainy day kit- Our rainy day kit consists of crafts. We have a box with finger-paints, pom poms, pipe cleaners, feathers, glitter, Popsicle sticks, tooth picks, string, play dough, and much more. It’s the fun kit that makes them happy on yucky rainy days.


5. Plan and cook a meal together- There are lots of companies out there who make kitchen utensils just for kids. Plan a dinner and let the kids help! This will take some of the stress off of you, and the kids will love it! Hint...pizza :-)




4. Does Laundry have you down?- Try making it into a game. put a piece of tape on the floor, and stand back, and you and the kids take turns trying to "make it in" however I wouldn't suggest it with underwear, you don’t want flying underwear everywhere!


3. Sing-a-longs- Think of some great children’s songs that you can sing while doing boring unfun stuff with the kids. Dance around while you do it. Like the Hokey Pokey while putting the dishes away, just don’t spin and get too dizzy and drop the dishes!


2. Bath time pretend food- Grab a few mixing bowls, a few spoons, whisks, spatulas ect and start making some food while they bathe! it will make it easier for washing them, and they will have a blast doing it!


And finally, my favorite thing to do...


1. Create your own bedtime stories, when you wake up!- Your children probably tell you right when they wake up what they dreamt about the night before, right? While you are making them breakfast, grab the construction paper and the crayons and tell them to create a dream story book. Well, tell them to draw the pictures, and (if need be) you can write in the words..




Try some of these fun ideas to make your day with the kids more fun. Make sure that you have a camera ready thought, because kids say and do the darnest things! Have a great and FUN day!

The Hub is asked bloggers to write well thought out posts, about your 10 tips to make your kids day more fun.




DISCLAIMER: This blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and The Hub blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, CLICK HERE.

Tips and ways to $aving Money During this Back to School Season!

Hey Mama! (and dads too!)

I do all I can to save money. Coupons, sales, promotions, ect. I'd like to share my secrets, and what I do with you!

1. Walmart- Walmart has a great selection of back to school items everything from clothes to supplies, to lunch items, to sneakers! They are very inexpensive to begin with with good quality items.

2. Walmart clearence section- Sometimes you can find last years styles clothes for really cheap, along with other school items like crayons with damaged boxes and markers that are missing one, so there is 7 instead of 8.

3. Sales- I shopped for my brother this year for school while I was getting my 4 year old his birthday presents. At Toys r Us.com the Crayloa items were buy ONE get TWO FREE! This was an amazing deal. Toys rus and babies r us always has great deals.

4. Clearence with sales- Sometimes stores will have sales on certain items like for example crayola, and you can go to the clearence section and get something crayloa, and it will still qualify for the sale. This has to be absolutely amazing price wise!

5. Online clearence outlets- There is a number of online clearence outlets. Most of which offer free shipping for purchases over $49.00. This is a great way to get clothing because then you can use promo codes to get even more off!

6. Gently Used- You can find gently used clothing almost anywhere. Yard sales, freecycle, free craigslist ads, goodwill, salvation army. you can even find brand name clothing with the tags still on there.

7. Sew your own!- I am a crafty mom, I always have been. I have recently taught myself to sew. The sewing machine has to be one of the greatest inventions. Since i am a WAH/SAHM I have started sewing little items and selling them on Craigslist, and Ebay. I make both my boys clothing items, and its perfect because its not too big, not too small, but just right, since i can adjust the sizing myself.

8. Coupons- Who ever came up with the idea of giving out coupons deserves a medal of honor. he/she has to be the best person, and a very frugal person. It must have been a great thing for marketing for people to buy the product, and give them money off. The ploy behind this was..."If we give them money off to try it, and they like it, they will buy it no matter what it cost!"

9. Hand me down circles- If you live in a neighborhood with lots of children, get together with the other moms. Hand down the clothes that are too small for your children to someone else in the neighborhood, (and if you are a crafty mom like me, you can transform one thing into anything!)

10. Last but not least: The Dollar Store!: The dollar store will have everything you need in terms of supplies, from rulers, to crayons, to pens and pencils and notebooks! Although this has to be one of the greatest stores ever, not all of its products are of quality, so make sure that you look at what you are buying before you buy it.

Have a Great School year! Hope you save lots while getting what they want and need!

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.