On Friday March 23, 2012 Coffee-Mate is going to be giving away 200,000 coupons for free creamer on their facebook page! Since I have been cutting back on Starbucks I have been investing in good, flavored creamer!!! I am so in!
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Accept the No!
When you tell your child to do something do you give them the reason why? Is the reason why they obey without fighting? Here are my 2 cents. This is just how I am, I am not saying it is the only way.
(And yes, I realize now how badly framed this is but I didn’t have the time to redo it;)
Me on TV?
I don’t know how this is happening but… I have a regular gig on Central Valley Today on KSEE 24 here in Fresno! Central Valley Today is a daily show that is on from 11am to noon. I will be on just about every week and usually on Mondays. I don’t understand why a medium that is all about looks lets me on but it is a lot of fun!
I will be talking about a variety of things from household management, smart shopping, and technology. Every week I will put up a corresponding post with the details that I talk about in my segment! This week I am talking about Shopping Smart at the Dollar Store and that post is up over at NerdFamily Things!
Buying Smart at the Dollar Stores
(If you found me by my spot on KSEE 24’s Central Valley Today, Welcome! Here is the information I referenced today!)
We have all know that the various dollar stores and 99 cents stores have a ton of things but are they good deals? It seems that people either assume it is full of either all trash or all treasure. But the magic of a dollar store is realizing that it has both! Our job is to find the treasure and ditch the junk!
Dollar Store Do’s:
- Coloring Books
- Tissue Paper
- Curling Ribbon
- Gift Bags
- Scotch Tape
- Basket/Gift Bag Fillers
- Crafting Supplies
- Plastic Bins/Small Garbage Cans
- Paper Tablecloths
Even though they seem like great deals there are also some Dollar Store considerations:
- Counts count! Here is a perfect example I found recently! You know those cellophane bags that are used as treat bags? At the Dollar Tree here you can get 1 package that holds anywhere from 10 to 20 bags for $1. At Walmart I got a package of 100 for only $3.50.
- Quality Counts!I look at the quality value of a product before I buy it along with looking for flaws. An example of looking at quality value is sticky notes! I have bought generic ones at the dollar stores that don’t stick! That doesn’t help so I pay a little more and buy the Post It notes on sale so I know they will work! Often if you find glassware or little knick knacks they will be adorable and obviously a good price. But check for flaws. Sometimes they get a shipment that has flaws in many of the pieces but not all, that is why they go such a great deal to pass on to you. But don’t assume that the dollar item is not in great condition. It does take a few minutes but by finding that treasure you will be happy with the outcome.
- You can’t return! Don’t over buy in the assumption you can return what you don’t need! Also, this is why it is important to check for flaws before you leave.
- Inventory varies! Dollar stores with in the same branding may carry different items and not just the seasonal stuff but the regular stuff. I like to make chocolate dipped pretzel sticks for holidays. The bags of big pretzel sticks can run $4 in a grocery store and I used to get them at the dollar store down the street from me. I went in one Christmas and they were gone. So I called around and found only 1 dollar store that still carries them. So at Christmas time I drive over there and get them when I am out running errands! And never hesitate to call and ask if they carry something before you drive over to investigate!
The dollar stores have great deals but only if you shop smart! Put a little investigation and thought into your shopping and you will not only have more money but enjoy what you have bought!!!!
Contesting Monday 3/19
So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.
So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!
Obama YouTube Video Refocus
The title that is actually on this video says that it is a parody but to me the term parody depicts humor and exaggeration. I don’t think this is funny because it is true. But I think it is a great refocus! Refocus on what Obama has actually done!
(HT: American Digest)
Buy 1 Get 1’s at Think Geek!!!
Ok, it isn’t a secret that I love me some Think Geek! I also desperately want some geeky shirts so I was stoked to see ThinkGeek Shirt Sale for this weekend!!! I think the first one I am going to get is the Batgirl babydoll shirt, no the Doctor Who, no Hello Shroddy… Ugh! Well, you shouldn’t wait because it is only the 17th and 18th!
Word Nerd, Already?
I just had yet another weird and hilarious conversation with my 4 year old. I was doing her hair and joking about nibbling on her ears. I said I like her ears. Then NerdPud says, “I like pickles but I don’t like to eat them!” I asked her what she would like about pickles if she doesn’t like to eat them. I mean what else does she do with them? She said that she likes to look at the word pickles.
Abstractly I understand it but she is only 4! She doesn’t even read that well. Can she really be a word nerd already? Kids! They are so cute and crazy;).
Awesome Spice Deal!
I got a great deal on one of my favorite brands at my Vons today! I got It’s Delish Poppy seeds half off!!! That means I got 9 ounces of quality (not Dollar Store) poppy seeds for only $1.75! These are usually on the side of the end cap on the ethnic foods aisle. I have never seen them with the other spices.
They had a few different of the It’s Delish spices half off but limited choices (Tarragon, Allspice, White Pepper, Red Pepper flake). This is one of my favorite brands that I always buy so I hope they are just doing label change or something. I definitely hope to see my paprika and cinnamon back asap! I don’t know if this is all Vons or just local to Fresno or specifically the one at Kings Canyon and Clovis.
Don’t wait around!
Healthy Breakfast on the Go!
Ok, this may be a little ghetto but a girl does what a girl has to do;). I need a real breakfast and it is hard to fit it in! I am blessed with a great husband who makes up oatmeal for all of us but I tend to run so close in the morning that I don’t have time to actually sit and eat. So often on Sundays and Tuesdays so what I have found works is just getting a plastic cup and putting oatmeal in it. And yes, I use disposable cups because when you get home do you really want to have to clean oatmeal that has been sitting for hours. Me neither;).
Then I eat it in the car. Hey, don’t judge me;).