Apology

Sorry for the slowness around here...S has been sick, the holidays are a busy time and I've started a new part-time job!  I am uncertain as to the future of the blog, but keep checking back in case I find a few extra minutes in the day ;)

Highchair Stickers

I usually shower in the morning before my husband leaves for work, but he was out of town a few weeks ago and I needed a way to contain and occupy S while I showered.  I brought his highchair into the bathroom and gave him some stickers and paper.  He still has a lot of trouble removing stickers from the backing, so I peeled each one off and placed a corner of each one along the perimeter of the highchair tray.  He was able to easily remove each one to stick to the paper and I was able to shower!  Feel free to leave your shower-occupying tips in the comments. 

Thanksgiving Megapost

I thought I would just list a bunch of Thanksgiving activity ideas since I'm behind on posts: 

• Feather color matching:  See above photo.
• Place setting vocabulary and matching:  I printed this place setting from Nick Jr. and placed it inside a clear sheet protector.  We have been naming and matching the parts of the place setting and we will use it as a placemat during Thanksgiving dinner. 
• Food photographs:  I have been cutting out photographs of traditional Thanksgiving foods from catalogs, ads, and foodie magazines and gluing them down on a paper plate to help S learn turkey, corn, sweet potatoes, squash, pie...
• Thanksgiving coloring book:  I printed several Thanksgiving coloring pages from here, added a cover page and stapled them all together to make a Thanksgiving coloring book.  The original purpose was just to keep S busy, but it has been a good visual to learn Pilgrim, boat, turkey...
• Painting with feathers:  Simply use feathers as your paintbrush.
• Turkey hand prints:  An oldie, but goodie.
• Corn sensory tub:  Be sure to use dried corn!  Add various containers, funnels, and scoops to the tub as well.

Thanks, Activity Mom and April Flowers!

Note:  I did end up getting my free contact solution.  Thanks, Christy!

Free Sample of Seventh Generation Dish Soap

No longer available...

Go here to request a sample of Seventh Generation dish soap.  You will have to login or register if you are new.  I thought I would post this freebie because I like to use dish soap samples for traveling.  They are good to have on hand for washing breast pump parts in hotel rooms.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

CVS $10.84

Well $10.84 may not seem great, but I earned 14 ECBs and diapers cost money.  Though we are a Pampers family, I was sucked in by the Huggies deal.  Here's today's trip:

Huggies Jumbo pack diapers (x2)
$18.99 for 2 packs

- 4.00 (2 x $2.00 mailers)

= $14.99

Huggies Mega pack wipes
$6.99
- 0.50 (mailer)

= $6.49 and earned 5 ECBs for spending $20 on Huggies

Clean and Clear Facewash (x3)
$5.49 each
- 2.00 (printable)
= $3.49 each and earned 5 ECBs for spending $15 on Clean and Clear

Used a $5 off $30 printable for taking a Medicare quiz

Used a "Earn 4 ECBs on $20" card found in the CVS Season to Save booklet at store

Used 14 ECBs 

Paid $5 on CVS $5 giftcard earned for free by purchasing a CVS eGift card at CVS.com

Total OOP = $10.84 and earned 14 ECBs and an extra $1.25 for submitting a Caregiver's Marketplace form for the Huggies diapers

Note 1:  You can get FREE contact solution at CVS too this week, but my store was all out by the time I went this afternoon :(

Note 2:  Saving with Shellie has CVS Black Friday deals posted.

Reader Question: Coupon Organization

A reader asked:  "Would you do a post on how you organize your coupons?"  There are 3 basic components to how I keep my coupons organized:

1. Large accordian file for Sunday inserts:  I keep the inserts whole and write the date at the top.  I then file them by month.  This way if I read about a deal and the coupon is from "11/8 RP" I can just pull it out and snip.  I like this because there is no unnecessary cutting.  If I need to buy something and I want to know if I have a coupon for it, I use A Full Cup's coupon database to search for it.  It's free to sign up. 
2. Small accordian file for loose coupons:  This is used for coupons I receive in the mail; cut from magazines; print "in case"; pull from blinkies in stores; find in or on packaging; cut out of an insert and planned to use, but never did; etc.  It is organized by type of coupon (bathroom, cooking, dairy...)  I go through and clear the expired ones out at the end of each month. 
3. Envelopes:  When I plan a CVS or Target trip, I make my list on a junk mail envelope.  Note:  these are great for saving for many reasons.  I then store the needed coupons, gift cards, CVS card, printed coupon policy, a stock-up price list, etc inside the envelope to take with me.  I have a Target, CVS, Mall, and BRU/TRU envelope at all times. 

Just because this works for me, it may not suit your needs.  Some people like to cut out all coupons and make a coupon binder with trading card inserts.  Others like to carry around a box with little index dividers.  You just have to find what works for you.  Please feel free to share your own organization system in the comments.  Hope this helps!

{late} CVS $0.40

Things have been very busy around here and as a result I didn't go to CVS until today (which doesn't do you much good).  Chances are good I will go tomorrow as well for the start of a new week so stay tuned.  Here's this past week's deals:

Kleenex 110 ct. (x2)
$0.99
- 0.75 (printable)
= $0.24

Ragu (x3)
$1.67 each (3/$5 and earn 3 ECBS when you spend $10 in Ragu/Skippy/Hellmans)
- 0.30 (11/15 RP)
= $1.37 each and earned 3 ECBs

Skippy (x3)
$1.67 each (3/$5 and earn 3 ECBS when you spend $10 in Ragu/Skippy/Hellmans)
- 0.40 (11/15 RP)
= $1.27 each and earned 3 ECBs (same as above, not 3 more)

Earned 1 ECB for 4 visits with a bag tag

Used 8 ECBs

Total OOP = $0.40 and earned 4 ECBs