Dollar Tree Now Accepts Coupons!!!!

Just in case you couldn't tell I'm BEYOND excited that Dollar Tree is now accepting manufacturer coupons. I mean really, does it get any better than that?!  You know the price is always a dollar and you don't have to wait for sales.  There is only two tricks to this game.  What do they carry and does the product size fit what the coupon requires. I made a list of items that the N Dixie Dollar Tree in Dayton, OH carries that POTENTIALLY could have coupons available for them.  Use this as a reference as you go through your coupons to give you an idea what kind of deals you might be able to get.

TIP:  When checking out give the cashier the coupon with each item.  It appears the register system is not set up for scanning and accepting coupons (as far as determining if the item was purchased), so the cashier will review your item and your coupon as you go.  This also means you need to pay VERY close attention to the size and product description listed on the coupon, because the cashier likely will. 

You can use the coupon database at MyFrugalAdventures to help you find coupons. http://myfrugaladventures.com/database/

Food
Lance Snack Cracker 5oz-5.5oz
Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade single cup
Michelina Frozen meals

Luigi's Italian Ice 4ct
Tony's personal pizza
PictSweet frozen veges 10oz
Hormel pepperoni 3oz
Icee freeze cups 4ct
Banquet chicken pot pie
Banquet personal apple pie
Malt o Meal cereal (small bags and boxes)
Sunny D 48 fl oz
Libby canned veggies $.79
Hunt's ketchup 24oz
Nature Valley granola bars 2ct
Sun Maid Raisins 4.5oz
Swiss Miss hot chocolate 6ct
Welch's fruit snack 4ct
Nescafe Taster's Choice singles 6ct
ActII popcorn 3 bags
Jolly Rancher candy 3.8oz
Twizzlers  5oz
Werther's Orginal 2.65

Household

Spic and Span (wipes, liquid cleaner, and spray cleaner)
Pine Glo 48oz
Ajax dish soap 14oz
Palmolive dish soap 16oz
Scooties tissues 75ct
Kleenex 100ct (I think?)
Bounty basics single roll 52 sheets
Chinet casual napkins 25ct
GE 75wat bulbs 4ct
Scotch Brite scrub sponge 1ct
Scotch Brite scour pad 1ct
Hefty slider sandwich bags 13ct
Hefty slider quart bags 8ct
Colgate toothpaste 4oz
Speed Stick

Office Supplies
Roseart 3ct glue sticks
Scotch tape 2ct (300" each)
Bic 2ct Mark it permanent markers
Bic White out
Bic 10ct pens (they were on an end a special environmentally friendly kind)
Shaprie 1ct



Print this post

Birthday Countdown Fun

Train cupcake treat Ethan brought to school for his 4th Bday.

I'm big on planning fun stuff for the kids birthdays.  Nothing terribly expensive and elaborate, but definitely creative.   This year I have plans on doing a combined family party with the them of Tutus and ChooChoos. Tutus for little Miss Zoey who will be 2 years old and ChooChoos (for the 3rd year in a row) for Ethan who will be 5.  I think it sounds wonderfully fun.  We'll just have to see in a month or 2 what comes of that idea.  ;)

Zoey sporting the tutu I made her for her 1st bday

Any who, I ran across an idea that is too brilliant not to share (and quite frankly help me remember).  A paper chain birthday countdown.  So easy but so cool!  Kids are totally visual, so this is perfect.  On the outside of the paper link write how many days until their birthday.  On the inside of the link have a family member write a memory they want to share the the birthday child. Each day the birthday child gets to take another link off and read the message.  I love sharing and keeping memories, so I am in love with idea.  I think I would want to save the links in some sort of book to be able to review years down the road.  

Print this post

Paint in a bag

Paint is a bag is awesome!  All the fun of painting without the mess.   Just squeeze a bunch of paint in a zipper bag, tape it close, then tape it to the work surface.  I was going to use the kids' picnic table, but it was a little hot to be outside, so we just used the kids coffee table.  (I bought a super cheap coffee table at Goodwill and the kids use it as their work area. If it get scratched, painted or otherwise....no harm)  :)

Zoey thought they were like the water
in a bag and wanted to roll on them.

Making car tracks in the paint

There is a decent chance that Zoey didn't get
the concept,but she was having fun anyway.

Ethan making smiley faces.

Zoey found stickers and started
to add her own flare.  :)

Print this post 

Remembering where it all Started

(I have always loved this water fountain at the hospital.)

Do you ever drive past a place and you are all of a sudden flooded by memories and emotions?  For me that is the hospital my children were born at.  Today I had a dr apt in the hospital, and it's funny all the things that instantly popped in my head on the drive there, while I walked through the hospital, and on the drive home.


On the way there:
I thought of when my water broke and my drive to the hospital. 
With Ethan my water broke 4 weeks early and we weren't expecting it AT ALL.  We were at Andy's parents' house and gathering up to leave for the evening.  I stopped in the bathroom and knew our plans were about to change as I yelled out the bathroom, "Andy, we have a situation!!" (which by the way the whole family stills laughs at me saying this.) Andy's mom replies, "Andy, get Becca some toilet paper."  I say, "Um.....that's not going to do it, my water broke!"

With Zoey my water broke 3 weeks early.  But this time we were completely expecting it, joking that my oven just cooked fast. :)  I wasn't feeling quite right and just wanted to go to bed.  As I was getting ready to get in bed and read stories to Ethan my water broke.  (these things never happen at convenient times. I just praise God it never happened in the middle of the grocery like in my nightmares) Ethan response was, "I'm going to tell Daddy you are peeing on the floor!!!"  I said, "Yes please, get Daddy!"  

While there:
 I thought about the many ultra sounds I had during my pregnancies. The excitement of finding out we were having a boy.  The relief when we heard our boy was growing and looking healthy at his 2nd ultra sound.  The worry and fear we felt during my second pregnancy when the ultra sound tech read from the previous early pregnancy ultra sound that "there is no sign of pregnancy." (I wonder when they were going to tell us that) Then finally having the 3rd ultra sound at not even 8 weeks pregnant when the dr finally congratulated us that yes we in deed were pregnant.  (that was a month of emotion and prayer to say the least)

 

On the way home:

I thought about taking each of our babies home and the emotion involved in leaving the hospital and that baby being OURS.  Wow!  What a journey.  I love thinking about and seeing how far we've come.  It's been a fun journey and I can't wait to see what adventures we still have to come!

(Picture taken by Ashley Logan)

Print this post

Eating out with the Kids the Affordable Way

(Mother Son "Knight" at Chickfila)

There is a good chance I enjoy eating out a little too much.  It's a bad habit we picked up when Ethan was first born.  We just couldn't figure out how to handle a new baby and everything else that life dished out and still find time to make dinner.  I like to think I have gotten WAY better at this, but still enjoy a lazy evening out.  Like everything else in life, it is my mission to find the most affordable way to eat out  :)

Here are some of my Mommy Tricks and Tips:

*Avoid ordering a kids meal that they are going to eat 2 bites of and be done (read on for more)


*Pack your own juice box and fruit cup.  There is no point in paying $1 or more for each


*When you order your side and entree keep the kids in mind.  Order something that you can share with them.


*Stash some Crystal Light packets in your purse and just order water.


*No sugar added Nesquik powder is HUGE in our house.  Put some in your formula storage container and add to your child's milk. (does not save money, but does save some bouncing off the walls from the sugary stuff)  ;)


*Go for the bigger kid's meal and split with the 2 kids.  If the younger child is old enough to realize they aren't getting a toy you can order an extra toy and still be better off than ordering 2 meals. (I do this at McDonald's for my 4 year old and 18 month old)


*Know when kids eat free and take advantage of it! You might be surprised of all the places that offer kids eat free night.  Start making a master list of your local restaurants.  Check their website, give them a call, or just ask the next time you are in to verify the details of each restaurant's promo details.


Print this post

Batter Up!

 Ethan is loving the YMCA sponsored sports and I have to say I'm pretty impressed myself.  The philosophy of the Y sports is everyone plays and everyone wins.  What a great concept!  Andy is assistant coaching Ethan's team, which Ethan is LOVING. 

Today I found that I am an assistant coach by marriage.  Did you know it worked like that?  :)  Luckily for me (and the kids) they are only 3-5 years old.  While my T-ball knowledge is limited to my experience picking dandelions in the outfield, I was able to keep up with the learning curve.  The kids were learning which base was which, where to run, and when.  (on a very basic level).  

I stood on 3 base and "helped"  direct the traffic of base runners.  I got to run with a little boy who was crying as he slowly walked  to 3rd base, give high 5's all around, and make kids feel good about the accomplishment of making it to 3rd base.  I may have found my niche in sports....official encourager.  

Back when I played sports....now spot laughing ;) it's true, I gave many sports a shot, but they were never as fun as the kids seem to be having on Ethan's T-ball team.  So bring on those high 5's, smiles, cheers and applause and maybe just maybe our kiddos will find the fun in athletics that I never saw. 

Print this post

Plastic Drop Cloth + Water = Tons of FUN!

It's true, I've been sucked into Pinterst in a BIG way.  I even have Pinterest pinned as one of my internet tabs for quick and easy Pinterest viewing.  And to think I went into using Pinterest kicking and screaming, figuratively....okay maybe the screaming in frustration as I learned how to use it was a little real. :)


This Pinterest find was a HUGE hit with the kiddos, especially Ethan (4).  Zoey (18 months) was a little less sure about the whole situation. :)


So here's the site where I got the original inspiration.  The pictures made it look like so much fun I HAD to give it a go myself. :)

Here's what you need:

*Husky Plastic Sheeting 25x10ft (I think it was 3.5mil)  about $7.50 at Walmart
*Duct Tape
*LOTS and LOTS of water (took about 1.5 hours to fill)
The original blogger did use food coloring, but we put 2 WHOLE bottles of blue food coloring in ours and saw NO change in the water color, so I would just skip that part.

Here's what to do:

*Clear the area of sticks and such
*Fold your plastic sheeting in half
*Duct tape the 3 open sides leaving a small hole to put the hose in
*Put hose in the hole and fill'er up
*Wipe hole dry and tape it up
*Have a blast walking on water!

Tips:

*You can NOT over tape.  The more you do before the water goes in the less leaks you will have to deal with later.
*Maybe I'm not a good taper, but our water only lasted for one evening of play.  So we cut a small hole and refilled the next night.  (just something to plan on.  It probably won't stay filled for more than a few hours)
*Try to get big air bubbles out.  My husband pushed them out with a broom.  It was genius and worked great!




Print this post