Click here to get a free sample of Dial Nutriskin.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Let's Rock Elmo
Let's Rock Elmo is adorable and my 2 year old and 5 year old are totally in love with this toy. Kmart.com has it for $56.99 and if you use code KM2011 you get an extra $5 off a $50 order. Get it through store pick up and shipping will be free. As an added bonus, if you buy through www.Shopathome.com you will get 8% cash back.
All the other accessories that play along with Elmo like the guitar, microphone and keyboard all on sale as well. This is a great opportunity to get this hot toy for a great price!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Softsoap® Pampered Hands Foaming Hand Soap Printable Coupon
Buy 2/$6.00 - 2(0.70) coupons = $4.60
Get $4 ECB and it's like getting 2 for $0.60.
Hurry and print coupons now. Click here.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Nature Valley Bars - Oats 'n Dark Chocolate Review
I went shopping with my daughter this weekend to get her snacks for school. She participates in lots of after school activities so she always carries snacks with her. As she was picking out her granola bars, I came across these Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars. The flavor was Oats 'n Dark Chocolate.
I have eaten their other flavors and I must say I love Nature Valley bars. To me they seem to have just the right texture. They also seem to be just hard enough. Not too soft, but not so hard you feel your teeth breaking. I just had to try these.
I am a 100% dark chocolate lover. Some people feel that some varieties are too bitter but I love it. I'll think about it and maybe even turn down a piece of regular chocolate, but give me dark chocolate and I will accept it every time. I took these home and just had my first pack.
I must say I was not disappointed. In fact, it has no bitter dark chocolate taste at all. It's also not overly sweet that you feel like you had too much chocolate. It has the perfect blend of chocolate and oats and I loved every bite. I did, however, feel that it crumbled a little easier than other varieties, but other than that I have no complaints. This will now become my new favorite snack.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Walmart Free Samples and Coupons
Walmart has free samples for Poise pads and Playtex tampons. They also have coupons for Kraft Parmesan Blend, Black Magic and Sara Lee Bread. These samples and coupons never last long so click here to get them now!
New Coupons
Lots of new coupons have been added to Coupons.com. They have new coupons for cleaning products that include: Scrubbing Bubbles, Pledge, Windex among others. Head over there and get your coupons now before they are all gone.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Tween Issues
Before I start this post I want to let everyone know that I will be covering the topic of cutting and tween / teen suicide throughout this post. I don't usually write about this sort of topic, but I had an issue this week with a related topic and felt the need to share. After all, this blog is called the Surviving Stay at Home Mom and this is all just part of the survival process.
This week I received a call from my daughter's school. The call came from her school counselor. The call began with the counselor saying, "First I want to let you know that your daughter is OK." Immediately my mind started racing. I thought maybe she fell, broke an arm, broke a leg, was in the hospital or something similar. After what felt like forever she said she had to talk to me about an incident that happened at school.
There my worry turned to anger. Now I was thinking she had done something wrong. She got in a fight or disrespected somebody. But, what she proceeded to tell me caught me completely off guard. She went on to say that a few of my daughter's friends had approached her to tell her that my daughter had suicidal tendencies and had admitted to cutting herself. The strange part about this conversation is that the more she spoke, the angrier I got. Not at my daughter, but at the counselor for believing the girls.
She then continued to tell me that she called my daughter to her office and asked about it and my daughter completely denied it. Again, more anger bubbled up inside of me. Now a lot of you are probably thinking that I shouldn't be angry at her because she is trying to help my daughter. I mean after all when this sort of thing happens aren't parents the last to know? Don't parents always think this sort of thing would never happen to their children?
In my case, however, I knew she was wrong about all this and she should believe my daughter and not these girls who called themselves her "friends". She then asked if I had seen any changes in my daughter. Angry as I was, I gathered myself and told her that contrary to other people, we have no family nearby; thus, we do everything together as a family. Nobody watches my children for me. I don't have a babysitter. I don't have close family or friends I can leave my kids with and because of this we are all together, all the time. We all go grocery shopping together, to the movies, the mall, and so on. We are together 24/7 except when they are in school.
She said she understood, but that she had a boss and she had to report to her boss (the principal) and that I had to go to the school talk to the principal and pick up my daughter. When I got to the school, I spoke with the principal and discovered the issue was much bigger. I had to take my daughter home and have her see a professional counselor. The counselor would evaluate her and if she felt my daughter was not a threat to herself or others she would write a letter. Once this letter was released to the school, my daughter could return. At this point I was outraged, and the principal must have noticed because she then smiled and said that they were taking the necessary precautions to keep my daughter safe because they just cared about her well being.
Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that when a parent gets this type of news they should just say that's not true and sweep it under the rug. Cutting and suicidal tendencies are serious and they should be taken seriously. No parent wants to believe their child is in such a bad place that this seems to be their only way out. But in my defense, and this is why I reacted the way I did: I have always been an avid reader on all these subjects and know there are particular signs and behaviors associated to this type of situation.
Most cutters cut their arms or legs. They wear long sleeves because of this. My daughter loves to wear spaghetti straps and short shorts. Cutters have feelings so overwhelming that they cut themselves as a way to release all the pressures they feel. My daughter is chatty and happy and always laughing and being silly. Sometimes I have to tell her to be quiet for a little while because she talks so much. She has an opinion about everything. Everyday she comes home and has something to tell me about her day at school. She's not quiet, reserved, a loner, etc. The only time she's alone is when she goes to bed. She is always in my room (as are all my kids). So for her to be doing this sort of thing would have to be while we are all sleeping, but my husband is the type of person who gets up 100 times a night to make sure all the kids are still breathing.
My point is she is almost under actual 24 hour surveillance at my house because of how we all interact so much. This is how I know my daughter could not be doing this. Anyhow, I called the psychologist for an appointment and managed to get a $350 appointment for the following day so that she could get her letter and return to school by Friday. As I sit to talk to to my daughter about this situation, she tells me another friend of hers was sent home after the same girls said the same thing about her.
At this point I am so upset about all this that I just say I don't want to talk about it anymore and just want to wait for her appointment. When we go to the appointment, the psychologist tells me that she doesn't understand why my daughter is there since she presents no signs of a suicidal person or a cutter. I tell her I know this but the school has decided to ignore me and my daughter and believe the girls who were showing "concern" for her well-being.
Cutting and suicidal tendencies are extremely serious things and any parent who gets this sort of call should treat it as the serious matter that it is. My anger at this point, however, is that because this was completely made up by these girls, I can consider this a form of bullying against my daughter and her other friend. A form of bullying where the school administration has been involved, my daughter (as well as her other friend) was caused to miss school and I had to pay an unexpected (non-Emergency) expense.
I understand where these things have to be taken seriously, but the proper investigations should also be conducted by the school before going to the extreme of keeping the child out of school and forcing them to a psychological evaluation. Laws and regulations are meant to protect the kids but I also know they are meant to keep the school or anyone else involved from being sued, but automatically concluding that all cases are extreme without the proper investigations can end up harming the student as well.
This week I received a call from my daughter's school. The call came from her school counselor. The call began with the counselor saying, "First I want to let you know that your daughter is OK." Immediately my mind started racing. I thought maybe she fell, broke an arm, broke a leg, was in the hospital or something similar. After what felt like forever she said she had to talk to me about an incident that happened at school.
There my worry turned to anger. Now I was thinking she had done something wrong. She got in a fight or disrespected somebody. But, what she proceeded to tell me caught me completely off guard. She went on to say that a few of my daughter's friends had approached her to tell her that my daughter had suicidal tendencies and had admitted to cutting herself. The strange part about this conversation is that the more she spoke, the angrier I got. Not at my daughter, but at the counselor for believing the girls.
She then continued to tell me that she called my daughter to her office and asked about it and my daughter completely denied it. Again, more anger bubbled up inside of me. Now a lot of you are probably thinking that I shouldn't be angry at her because she is trying to help my daughter. I mean after all when this sort of thing happens aren't parents the last to know? Don't parents always think this sort of thing would never happen to their children?
In my case, however, I knew she was wrong about all this and she should believe my daughter and not these girls who called themselves her "friends". She then asked if I had seen any changes in my daughter. Angry as I was, I gathered myself and told her that contrary to other people, we have no family nearby; thus, we do everything together as a family. Nobody watches my children for me. I don't have a babysitter. I don't have close family or friends I can leave my kids with and because of this we are all together, all the time. We all go grocery shopping together, to the movies, the mall, and so on. We are together 24/7 except when they are in school.
She said she understood, but that she had a boss and she had to report to her boss (the principal) and that I had to go to the school talk to the principal and pick up my daughter. When I got to the school, I spoke with the principal and discovered the issue was much bigger. I had to take my daughter home and have her see a professional counselor. The counselor would evaluate her and if she felt my daughter was not a threat to herself or others she would write a letter. Once this letter was released to the school, my daughter could return. At this point I was outraged, and the principal must have noticed because she then smiled and said that they were taking the necessary precautions to keep my daughter safe because they just cared about her well being.
Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that when a parent gets this type of news they should just say that's not true and sweep it under the rug. Cutting and suicidal tendencies are serious and they should be taken seriously. No parent wants to believe their child is in such a bad place that this seems to be their only way out. But in my defense, and this is why I reacted the way I did: I have always been an avid reader on all these subjects and know there are particular signs and behaviors associated to this type of situation.
Most cutters cut their arms or legs. They wear long sleeves because of this. My daughter loves to wear spaghetti straps and short shorts. Cutters have feelings so overwhelming that they cut themselves as a way to release all the pressures they feel. My daughter is chatty and happy and always laughing and being silly. Sometimes I have to tell her to be quiet for a little while because she talks so much. She has an opinion about everything. Everyday she comes home and has something to tell me about her day at school. She's not quiet, reserved, a loner, etc. The only time she's alone is when she goes to bed. She is always in my room (as are all my kids). So for her to be doing this sort of thing would have to be while we are all sleeping, but my husband is the type of person who gets up 100 times a night to make sure all the kids are still breathing.
My point is she is almost under actual 24 hour surveillance at my house because of how we all interact so much. This is how I know my daughter could not be doing this. Anyhow, I called the psychologist for an appointment and managed to get a $350 appointment for the following day so that she could get her letter and return to school by Friday. As I sit to talk to to my daughter about this situation, she tells me another friend of hers was sent home after the same girls said the same thing about her.
At this point I am so upset about all this that I just say I don't want to talk about it anymore and just want to wait for her appointment. When we go to the appointment, the psychologist tells me that she doesn't understand why my daughter is there since she presents no signs of a suicidal person or a cutter. I tell her I know this but the school has decided to ignore me and my daughter and believe the girls who were showing "concern" for her well-being.
Cutting and suicidal tendencies are extremely serious things and any parent who gets this sort of call should treat it as the serious matter that it is. My anger at this point, however, is that because this was completely made up by these girls, I can consider this a form of bullying against my daughter and her other friend. A form of bullying where the school administration has been involved, my daughter (as well as her other friend) was caused to miss school and I had to pay an unexpected (non-Emergency) expense.
I understand where these things have to be taken seriously, but the proper investigations should also be conducted by the school before going to the extreme of keeping the child out of school and forcing them to a psychological evaluation. Laws and regulations are meant to protect the kids but I also know they are meant to keep the school or anyone else involved from being sued, but automatically concluding that all cases are extreme without the proper investigations can end up harming the student as well.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
So Happy
I am so happy to be getting so many followers as a result of this great giveaway! Please also remember to "like" me on Facebook. I hold giveaways whenever I reach a fan milestone and sometimes I give away amazon gift cards just for fun! I know times are hard and we all do what we can to save money and put food on the table.
Knowing there are others out there willing to share their experiences, not only with saving, but going through regular family situations seems to make things a little easier. With all the technology around us we can all reach out now and help each other have a better day! Also on my Facebook page, if you have any particular topic, deal, recipe or anything you can think of that you would like me to write about leave your requests. We are all part of this blog.
Knowing there are others out there willing to share their experiences, not only with saving, but going through regular family situations seems to make things a little easier. With all the technology around us we can all reach out now and help each other have a better day! Also on my Facebook page, if you have any particular topic, deal, recipe or anything you can think of that you would like me to write about leave your requests. We are all part of this blog.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Phineas and Ferb
Do your kids love Phineas and Ferb? My husband rented the Wii game last week for my son to try out: Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension. He loved it and Amazon has it for $29.99. Great price to get as a Christmas gift and you can get free super saver shipping.
Would you like to buy the movie too? Amazon also has the DVD for $16.99. My kids love getting movies as gifts. That way they have new options for movie night.
Would you like to buy the movie too? Amazon also has the DVD for $16.99. My kids love getting movies as gifts. That way they have new options for movie night.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Justice Sale
Do you have a daughter who loves Justice? Get great deals today. Shop at Home has 15% cash back from Justice. You can also use code 767 and get 40% on you purchase. Make sure you check the clearance section while you are there. Prices start as low as $2.99 once you take 40% off.
So head over to Shop at Home and shop Justice today. Click here to get started!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
School is in Session
Labor Day weekend is over so most schools have probably started by now. In my case, my kids went back to school today. My 7th grade daughter and Kindergarten son were up bright and early this morning. My daughter wasn't too excited since today is also her birthday, but my son was full of excitement. He met his teacher yesterday and even gave her a hug.
As the kids head back to school I am full of mixed emotions. Happy they are getting one more year of education and new experiences. Sad to have my little boy leave my side after the last year and a half of doing everything with him on a daily basis. Excited to have my 2 year old all to myself for those ours. Worried about helping not one, but two children with homework and projects ( I am a very hands-on mom when it comes to school work). I'm also trying to figure out how I will divide up my time to volunteer to help out at two different schools.
But all these emotions are part of the back to school package. I am, however, looking forward to having some quiet time as the house can get pretty loud with three kids running around. Maybe I'll actually have some time, while the little one naps, to get a new hobby. Yet, even with a few hours to dedicate to my youngest and try new things, school time is the busiest time.
Driving kids to and from after school activities, going to parent/ teacher conferences and Back to School Night and attending choir or band concerts, sports events and school plays take up a lot of time. Add to this cooking, cleaning, laundry, preparing lunches and helping with school work; the day can become extremely hectic. That's why I can understand parents looking for a way to lighten the work load.
Some parents get tutors for their children. Tutors are not just for students that need extra help in certain subjects. Parents get them for many reasons. Sometimes to take a breather from being the one that does everything with the child, some children respond better with a tutor than they do with a parent. Other parents get them to help teach the child learn extra information and of course some get them for the child that needs a little extra help to understand the class and succeed.
I am all for the parents that need a little extra help, getting it. What I have a little concern with is leaving this all in the "hands" of computers. Don't get me wrong, we live surrounded by many technological advances that I love. I also have educational games and programs my kids use to expand vocabulary, practice math problems and improve reading skills. Lately, however I have seen parents talking about new apps so they no longer have to practice spelling, multiplication tables and vocabulary with their children.
Are we really going to leave our kids to be taught completely by computers? Are we really so busy that we can't practice multiplication tables with our kids? Some of the best memories I have are of my parents helping me with my homework. I remember eating breakfast and my dad practicing my spelling words with me just before school. I remember and do the same with my children so they can have those same wonderful memories.
As parents, we need to give our children the best of ourselves. Children love video games and computers, but they also love to have attention from their parents. So let's make this school year a fun experience for our children but also get involved and help them succeed.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Money Maven's August Celebration Giveaway Winners
Huge thanks to everyone who joined our Money Maven's August Celebration Giveaway! We have over $1500 worth of prizes and a total of 47 winners!
To our sponsors we appreciate your support and hope that you will be part of another giveaway with us in the future.
All winners will receive an email and has 48 hrs to to claim their prize. please check your inbox (including spam folder please) tonight.
Money Mavens Group:
MadameDeals, This Mama Loves Her Bargains, Living on Love and Cents, Coupons are Great, Mom on Dealz, Stretching Your Budget, Saving Toward a Better Life, We Use Coupons, The Coupon Challenge, Just Trying to Save Money, A Frugal Chick, Time 2 Save and Cincinnati Cents.
Congratulations!!!
| Win $25 Amazon Gift Card from Madame Deals | Lillian Hudson |
| Win Mario Party for Nintendo DS from The Coupon Challenge | jennifer dansberger jones |
| Win Mario Party DS from This Mama Loves Her Bargains | Jennifer Hall |
| Win Super Mario 64 for Nintendo DS from Living on Love and Cents | Lisa Danielle Grice |
| Win 100 Cut Coupons from A Frugal Chick | Susan Bode |
| Win 100 Cut Coupons from Just Trying to Save Money | Jessica Bern |
| Win 100 Cut Coupons from Mom on Dealz | Rene Vogt |
| Win a Mario & Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story for the Nintendo DS from Saving Toward a Better Life | Jennie Meyers |
| Win 100 Cut Coupons from The Dealyo | Louis/td> |
| Win $25 Jockey Gift Card from Time 2 Save | Cari Griffin |
| Win 100 Cut Coupons from Stretching Your Budget | Sally Grubbs |
| Win $10 Amazon Gift Card from Coupons are Great | nicole chandool |
| Win 100 Cut Coupons from Cincinnati Cents | Barbara Blanton |
| Win 100 Cut Coupons from The Giveaway Train | Dawn S. |
| Win an iPod Touch $230.00 from Born 2 Impress | Adrianna P. S. |
| Win an authentic black leather Coach purse. It's a cute little purse for on the go, with a fold over flap, and of course the Coach "C" pattern. Value $200. from Crunchy Frugalista | Chelsea Spurgeon |
| Win 10 Disney Cars Birthday Invitations includes envelopes. Prize Value $12 from Moms Saving Money | tammy dodson |
| Win $20 Amazon Gift Card from The Frugal Free Gal | tiffany pandolfi |
| Win an Ultimate Body Applicator. This wrap will help you to tighten, firm, and tone in just 45 minutes. The value of this wrap is $29! From Wrap Yourself Skinny by Jennifer | stacy |
| Win a $25 Restaurant.com Gift Certificate from The Tween & Me | Christina SLiney |
| Win a $15 Walmart Gift Card from Slick Housewives | ellen |
| Win $10 Amazon gift card from Frugal Mom Rocks | Amanda Starr |
| Win $10 Amazon Giftcard from Yanky Texan | April Brenay |
| Win $10 Amazon Gift Card from Melissa's Bargain Blog | Colleen Schindler |
| Win $25 Amazon Gift Card from Mummy Deals | Zeny Saligumba |
| Love is Photography is a new Etsy Shop that offers various photos taken over the years. They are all downloadable files that once purchased will be sent via e-mail. One winner will get to choose any 1 photo from Love with Katie | Julie Lynn Bickham |
| Win a bow a month club membership $75 value. A hair bow mailed on the first of the month for a year as well as a special birthday bow in their birthday month. Also another one will win one tutu of your choice... up to a $40 value. From Priss Pot Creations | Bow Month Club - Linda Meyers-Gabbard ; Tutu - Holly |
| Win a mark Powder Brush from Bountiful Beauty with Mark Beauty Products | Casey Lynn Everidge |
| Win a 1 inch glass tile necklace with a beautiful daisies that includes a 24" sea green color ball chain. From Glass Creations | ellen levickis |
| Win a $25.00 E-gift card for Restaurant.com from Coupon Clipinista | bridget carty |
| Win a Starfish Hand Stamped Sterling Silver Necklace $30 from Kristy Lynn Jewelry | Anggela Aranda |
| Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card from Just Married with Coupons | Beatrice Zink |
| Win $50 in Coupons from Going Crazy!! Wanna Go??!! | Renee Hanf |
| Win $10 Amazon Gift Card from Insights by April | Lisa Danielle Grice |
| Win $25 Restaurant.com Certificate from Deal Hunting Diva | Kristie Betts |
| Win $5 Amazon Gift Card from ISave "A 2 Z" | Elissa Mahler |
| Win $25 Restaurant.com Certificate from Centless Deals | Amy Bailor |
| $12 Worth of Cell Phone Accessories from CellPig.com + FREE shipping!! Use for any cell phone accessories from A Proverb's Wife | Stephanie Hirsch |
| Win $25 Amazon Gift Card from Shereen Travels Cheap | Alicia Ebaugh |
| Win $10 Amazon Gift Card from The Surviving Stay at Home Mom | Nikki Field |
| Win $10 Starbucks Gift Card from Frugalista Chick | Shannon Gallagher |
| Win a set of handmade Labor Day "stars and stripes" themed placemats. Or win one set of Cancer Awareness placemats. Retail value: $40 from Lesson's Learned | Kelly Paradise and viola harris |
| Win an anklet made from Light Sapphire Swarovski Crystals and Swarovski Pearls. It has a sterling silver lobster clasp on the end and is 9 1/2 inches long. This is a One-Of-A Kind Anklet, Value $24.00 from Belly Charms | Amy Knight |
| Win a Gold Leaf Necklace with Pearls and Swarovski Crystals, $18.00 value. This intricately detailed, lightweight metal leaf measures 1 3/8 inches tall. I wire wrapped two 4mm Swarovski Red Magma crystals and 2 8mm plum glass pearls, which resemble berries next to the beautiful leaf.The chain is 20 inches long and closes with a hook and eye clasp. From Jewelry 4 Change | Alexandra Houseman |
| Win 2 inserts from the current newspaper from 2 Kouponing Ks | Judy Zajac |
Friday, September 2, 2011
Fan Giveaway Results
The winner of the $10 amazon gift card or $10 paypal is:
Kimmie Barnes
She has been notified by email and remember you have 48 hours to get back to me.
Congratulations!
Kimmie Barnes
She has been notified by email and remember you have 48 hours to get back to me.
Congratulations!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
New Coupons
Hurry over to Coupons.com and print new coupons. There are coupons for:
Simply Orange
Lactaid Products
Welch's Juice
Totino's
and lots others, but hurry before they are gone. Click here and start printing now.
Simply Orange
Lactaid Products
Welch's Juice
Totino's
and lots others, but hurry before they are gone. Click here and start printing now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)