Jessica, The Mom

Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes

2012-02-20T10:38:00.000-06:00

This morning we made some delicious, yet so easy donut holes as an addition to our otherwise healthy breakfast. They were so simple and tasty, I had to share.

1 can of refrigerated biscuits

1/2 cup sugar

cinnamon

vegetable oil

Put sugar in a dish and add a few shakes of cinnamon until you reach desired ratio. Pour oil into a medium saucepan, about 2 inches high. Begin heating over medium heat. Open biscuits and separate each into 4 pieces. Roll into balls and roll into cinnamon sugar. When oil is ready (a few drops of water should "dance" when sprinkled on top of oil, but should not "spit" too much; use caution to protect from burning yourself), use a tongs to drop balls into oil and cook just until golden brown. Remove to paper towels to soak up excess oil and then immediately roll again in the cinnamon sugar. Transfer to serving plate and enjoy!

Alive and Well

2012-01-16T09:43:00.000-06:00

I realize that it has been some time since I've posted here on Jessica, The Mom. Well, life happens! Sometimes we are just swept up in all that life throws at us that some things have to take the back burner for awhile! The most exciting thing that has happened to me since my last post - I'm pregnant! Yes, baby number three is scheduled to arrive sometime in June. Unfortunately, morning sickness (all day sickness) was much worse and lasted a lot longer with this baby. Doing anything productive was a major chore. I finally started feeling better around Christmas time. Now that the morning sickness has subsided, the headaches have rolled in. Thank goodness for Tylenol!

The rest of the family is doing good. I'm still doing daycare in my home. Still trying to coupon the best I can when I make the time to do it. I had a few good hauls this past weekend. I've been thinking about my blog and how badly it has been neglected over the past several months, and so I felt the need to drop a short note to let my interested readers know that I am still alive and well. I would like to find some time to post more frequently, as I did in the past. I still love to blog and am grateful to those that still visit. If I haven't responded to a comment or inquiry from you, I apologize, as this is the first time I've logged on in quite some time. Keep your comments and inquiries coming. I do love to hear from you!

I have a great post planned that I hope to get up soon. Until then, make each day wonderful and live in the moment! Take care!

Mom On Wheels

2011-09-15T21:54:00.000-05:00

So, I was recently given the opportunity to test out some Heelys. If you didn't know, Heelys are shoes with wheels. When I decided to order the shoes I thought, I bet my three year-old would love these! Contrary to my preliminary thoughts, I did not find Heelys in a toddler size. Okay, so maybe three is a bit young to be coordinated enough for shoes with wheels. Hmm. I've already committed myself to testing some shoes, so...guess who's testing some shoes? Yes. Me. Mom. On wheels. This could be interesting (and laughable).

Needless to say, I ordered the shoes in my own adult size. I was surprised at the selection available. There are colors and styles to fit about any personality. And a nice thing about these shoes - they're versatile. The wheel comes out and you can simply wear them as an everyday street shoe. The wheels are very easy to install and remove. So, I got my shoes, and they are pretty cute! I do have a chubby foot, though and would prefer a wider width. They also aren't very deep, meaning that I feel like my heel should go in farther. But overall, they were pretty comfortable. Let's wheel!

Okay, so that didn't last very long! I have to admit, as an adult in my thirties, I just don't have the coordination that I used to! I honestly couldn't do it. Now, I will say that I didn't try overly hard because I recently found out that I'm pregnant with my third child...so, I really didn't want to risk falling on my face! Unfortunately, I will have to stick to using these as an everyday street shoe. I think these are great for a kid, not so practical for your typical adult. I should have gotten them for my 10 year old nephew. He probably would have loved them! If you want to try out some cool wheeled shoes, but fear that you lack the coordination, Heelys does offer a tutorial, Skate 101. I will be enjoying my Heelys sans wheels!

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this review. I received a product sample for the purpose of my review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sweet Moments® - Review and Giveaway

2011-08-23T14:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we all just need a moment, right? A moment to sit back, relax and enjoy a little something that sweetens the day. Hmmm...chocolaty sweetness. I definitely have a sweet tooth, so I was more than content to pick up two free bags of Pillsbury^® Sweet Moments^® . I was disappointed to find that they were sold out of most of the available flavors at the store where I did my shopping! These sweet little pieces of brownie goodness must be good! I ended up getting Cocoa Carmel Obsession (which I would have chosen anyway) and settled on Cocoa Fudge Chip for my second bag. The other available varieties are Cocoa Fudge Escape, Sweet Moments® Caramel Cheesecake, and Sweet Moments® Raspberry Cheesecake. I would love to try the Caramel Cheesecake ones next. I'm a sucker for a chocolate and carmel combination!

Sweet Moments® are marketed as bite-sized brownies. I would describe them as a truffle, of sorts. Call them what you will, but I call them delicious! If you plan on sharing, you better get more than one bag! The Cocoa Carmel Obsession were awesome. Those were gone in two days. The Cocoa Fudge Chip were just okay for me. They seemed a bit more dry, whereas the caramel one was very moist. I have to be honest, I probably won't buy these very often. The only reason being that these are one of those treats that I would indulge in rather than "eat in moderation". By indulge, I mean eat the whole bag and regret it in the morning!

You can visit Pillsbury^® Sweet Moments^® for a sweet $1off coupon if you are ready to indulge! Or, you can indulge for free by entering this giveaway! Enter here for a chance to win your own Pillsbury^® Sweet Moments^® prize pack including:

2 VIP coupons for the free purchase of any Pillsbury^® Sweet Moments^® variety
Leather journal
Fleece blanket
Coffee Mug

How To Enter:

Mandatory - Follow Jessica, The Mom via GFC and comment on this post, and tell me what your everyday "sweet moment" is. (One entry.)

Additional entries:

"Like" Jessica, The Mom on Facebook. Be sure to comment here with your facebook name for your entry to count.
"Like" Pillsbury^®'s Facebook Page and thank them for the giveaway, tagging Jessica, The Mom. Be sure to comment here with your facebook name for your entry to count.
Tweet this post. Be sure to comment here that you did for your entry to count. (Can be done once daily.)

Good luck and have a SWEET day!

This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 years and older. All entries must be submitted no later than August 30, 2011, 11:59 CST. Winner will be chosen via True Number Generator at Random.org and notified via blog post and email. Winner must respond to notice within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. Jessica, The Mom is not responsible if your notice goes into your spam box.

Disclosure: Pillsbury^® Sweet Moments^® , information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Great Deal on Propel Zero

2011-07-22T14:37:00.000-05:00

Check out Menards through July 31st and score up to six 6-packs of Propel Zero for only $1.75 each!! That is an awesome price at only 29 cents per bottle! Price is after 75 cent mail-in rebate (limit 6) and rebate is in form of a merchandise credit check. Even without the rebate, you're getting a great deal at $2.50 per 6-pack. That is still only 42 cents per bottle. I personally LOVE Grape Propel Zero and will be taking advantage of the great sale price at Menards!

Visit Menards for complete details.

Even If It Makes Me Cry

2011-06-24T16:23:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, I was a 135 pound, size eight, 27 year-old bride to be. That's a picture of me, then, at my baccalaureate party. Five years and two kids later, I'm tipping the scales at a much higher number than I wish to share. I got married in 2006, had my daughter in 2008 and my son in 2010. I had both of my children via C-section. But now it's been over a year since my son was born and it's time to lay the "I've had two kids" excuse to rest.

The fact is, I've struggled with my weight since high school. I've been up. I've been down. For most of my late teens and early twenties I bounced around between 120 and up to 150 before I got in decent shape for my wedding. Keep in mind that I'm only 5'1", so 150 was heavier for me than it would be for a taller woman. I actually started putting weight back on before I got pregnant with Kaiya. I was careless. We had started trying for her right after the wedding and I kind of had it in my mind that I was going to get pregnant and gain weight anyway, so why bother working too hard on my weight right now? Not the wisest choice on my part. I was back up to around 150 when I finally got pregnant with Kaiya and gained 50lbs during my first pregnancy. Yes, I broke the 200lb mark (while pregnant). I did lose a lot of the weight after she was born, but never got back below 150. Then came Carson. At least I didn't break 200 with him, but I did put on about 35lbs. I lost some of it, but now, 14 months after the birth of my second child, the body of my past seems like such a distant memory.

Being overweight sucks! I hate it. I hate looking in the mirror most days and I hate trying to find clothes that I feel good in. Some days I am really hard on myself, and it really gets me down. I do not like the way my body looks. It affects me on a day-to-day basis. I know I'm the only one who can fix it. One good thing is that I still don't have to shop plus sizes. I promised myself I never would. If I'm going to keep that promise to myself, I have to fix it now. I feel like I'm at a point right now where I have to draw the line. I cannot let it go any longer. I cannot make any more excuses for myself. I need to just do it.

Four days ago, I started Insanity®. This is the first time that I can remember (since my days in the National Guard, anyway) that I've worked out for more than two consecutive days (let alone 4!). I will do the Day 5 workout tonight and I will do the Day 6 workout tomorrow. And I will do the entire 60-day challenge, resting only one day per week. I cried (just a tiny bit) on day 3. It is a hard workout. I'll probably cry again. But I'm sticking with it and I'm going to like my body again.

Follow me on my journey, if you like. I'll be posting updates and, eventually, pictures of my progress. I'm not yet comfortable posting a "before" pic, but I think I will be once I can say, "That used to be me."

A Coupon For Just About Everything

2011-06-21T12:09:00.004-05:00

I was recently invited to visit a coupon website that I had actually never heard of. I'm always looking for a good deal, so of course I was curious to check it out. I went to couponchief.com to see what I'd been missing. I was expecting another site for clipping traditional grocery-type coupons for food, health & beauty, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love these sites, but most of them provide the same coupons as the next and I can only deal with so many email alerts in my inbox.  I was pleased to find that couponchief.com is different.

I haven't had the opportunity to do much online shopping lately, although it is one of my favorite ways to make purchases. But I will definitely be visiting this site the next time I want to make an online purchase from a major (and even not so major) retailer.  Coupon Chief has a coupon code for just about any popular store you can think of. Planning on doing a little bra shopping? Click here for a free shipping code at Victoria's Secret. Looking for a discount on your next electronics purchase at Best Buy? There's a code for that. In fact, I did a search on several major retailers (there is a search bar right on the site) and found Target, Verizon, Carter's, Amazon and Hobby Lobby, just to name a few. There is no guarantee that every code will work and the codes are not provided directly by the retailers, but it appears as though many of them are legitimate.

The codes at couponchief.com are submitted by its fans. They have a program called pays-2-share that allows you to be rewarded for submitting coupon codes that can be shared on the site. There is also a blog highlighting current major retailers with codes.  You can create an account to receive newsletters and email alerts.  The site is visually appealing, as well. It is neat and organized without a lot of clutter. I'm inclined to not make many return visits to sites full of clutter that are hard to navigate. The colors are clean and fresh and it had a bit of a retro feel to it. Overall, I was pleased to add this site to my favorites. I look forward to utilizing some great discount codes on my next online purchase, and I feel confident that there will probably be one available for what ever my needs might be.

I would love to know if you've visited this site before and, if so, what was your success rate? Would you recommend it to others? Stop by for a visit and post your feedback here. You can also visit them on facebook! As always, happy couponing!

Disclosure

Classic Entertainment

2011-05-31T14:08:00.000-05:00

We had a great three-day weekend at our house, but the weather was a little grim on Saturday and Sunday. Bored children (and adults). We made the best of it by having some good, old-fashioned fun! We built forts and played hide-and-seek! What kinds of things do you do with your kids to keep the family entertained? Here are some ideas that came from my childhood. Classic, fun, and mostly free!

Build a fort. Drape blankets or sheets over chairs and couches to make a fun hideout for the kids. We have a couch on each of two opposite walls. We also have a large chair and ottoman. We stick the ottoman in the center of the couches and drape blankets across, tucking them into the cushions and creating a tunnel on each side of the ottoman. For an easy fort, throw a huge blanket or sheet over your cleared dining table, setting something sturdy on top to hold in place.
Play hide-and-seek! A no brainer, this classic is always fun for all ages. My husband and I take turns with our three-year old daughter. First, one of us helps her hide and the other finds her (little brother helps in the seek.) Then one of us hides and the other helps her find us. You can find lots of great places to hide a little kid!
Create a club house. Do you have a large box from a recent appliance purchase or other box large enough to fit a kid? Turn it into a club house! Use a razor to cut doors and windows. Decorate it with curtains, markers, stickers, etc.
Make friendship bracelets. This is great for kids that are a little older. I loved making these when I was a kid. You can find instructions on the web for some basic knot bracelets. Embroidery thread can be found at most craft stores. We used to make them and trade them. Do a mom and daughter bracelet! These can be for boys, too. Just use boy colors and call them wristbands!
Play store. Get out some canned and boxed goods. Put them out on a table, or shelf, within your little one's reach. Grab the toy shopping cart and go shopping! My daughter likes to use my expired coupons and we use her child's laptop as a cash register. The mouse is the scan gun. Take turns shopping and checking out.
Play restaurant. Let your little one seat you and take your order. Then they can use play-dough to create you a culinary masterpiece!

There are lots of things you can do with your little ones. The most fun are usually the things you can remember from your childhood. Small children love to do just about anything a grown-up does. So, think about the normal activities you do as a grown-up and turn them into a game with your kids! Get creative and have fun!

Aunt Lisa's Mojito

2011-05-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

*This post is intended for readers 21 years of age and older.*

My favorite summer-time, grown-up beverage is definitely the Mojito! The Mojito is a cool, sweet, minty refreshment that I've enjoyed since first drink during a visit to my husband's Aunt Lisa's. There are lots of recipes on the Internet for the Mojito, and I've tried a few, but this is definitely my favorite. With warmer weather just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to share. This would be a great addition to your Memorial Day Celebrations!

For one 2QT pitcher of Aunt Lisa's Mojito, you will need:

A 2QT pitcher
Fresh Mint Leaves (at least 50)
Ice
White/Light Rum
Simple Syrup (dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/2 cup boiling water, and chill prior to mixing)
Limes and/or Lime Juice
Seltzer or Lime Seltzer

Put a handful of mint leaves (around 40sih) in the bottom of your pitcher and muddle. If you don't have a muddler, the end of a thick wooden spoon will work. If you muddle to much, you will have a lot of floaters in your glass. I provided a picture of before muddle, and after. You are basically just mashing them a bit to extract the mint from the leaves.

Add ice to the the mint leaves, in your pitcher, to about 3/4 full. Pour 1 cup of rum over ice. Add 1/2 cup of lime juice (either fresh squeezed or bottled - I used bottled just because its easier) to your chilled simple syrup and add to ice mixture. Top off the pitcher with Seltzer (I used Lime Seltzer -yum). Stir with a long wooden spoon. Pour over ice into tall glasses. Garnish with mint and lime. Now kick back and enjoy!

Remember to always drink responsibly!!

And The Winner Is....(Blog Design Makeover)

2011-05-16T14:03:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to all of you that participated in the Blog Design Makeover giveaway!
The winner is Night Owls Perch! Be sure to let us know when your page is done so we can check out the makeover! Congratulations! Please check your email inbox for confirmation!

Winner selected via True Random Number Generator, powered by Random.org. (Value 2-67, Result 40).

Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop!

2011-05-13T13:37:00.001-05:00

I'm co-hosting! Don't forget to comment so I can follow you back!

It's Sensational Week 7 of Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop hosted by Shelly from My Saving Game and Jeannette from The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug! We are finding some fabulous blogs through this hop and having a great time getting to know so many of you! So thank you for linking up again this week to those of you who are hop veterans and welcome to those who are new! Let's continue to make new bloggy friends and increase our traffic! We do have a few simple rules for you - nothing too tough though. So here we go:

1. Please follow your hostesses My Saving Game and The Advetures of J-Man and MillerBug. Leave us a comment and we will follow you back! (If you already follow us on GFC, we'd LOVE it if you would follow us on Facebook or Twitter.)

2. Please follow our guest co-host who, this week, is Jessica from Jessica, The Mom.

3. You don't have to post our button but we sure would like it if you did. Not only does it help our hop grow so we can all get new followers, but each week we will choose a guest co-host and to be considered you must have our button somewhere on your site! If you post our button and want to be considered for guest co-host, please email me at mailto:jmanandmillerbug@gmail.com.com to express your interest.

4. You can link up blogs, facebook, twitter accounts, whatever - just be sure to specify what each link is.

5. Hop around and find blogs that you enjoy. Be sure to tell them you are following them from Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop so they can follow you back!

6. Have fun!

Winner - 31 Tote Giveaway - Ending 5/9/11

2011-05-10T07:57:00.002-05:00

The winner of the 31 Tote is Stefani! Please contact me at jessicathemom1511@gmail.com to claim your prize. Include your full name, mailing address and phone number. The tote will be shipped by the sponsor.

Congratulations, Stefani!

Winner chosen via True Random Number Generator, powered by Random.org. (Value 1-70, Result 44).

$5 Amazon.com Gift Card FB Winner 5/9/11

2011-05-10T07:44:00.001-05:00

The winner of the quickie FB gift card giveaway is Heather C.
Heather, please email Jessicathemom1511@gmail.com to claim your prize.

Winner chosen via Random.org, True Random Number Generator. (Value 1-6, Result 4)

Swag Code Alert

2011-05-09T13:09:00.000-05:00

Swag Code worth 8SB in the blogs until 2:30CST! Easy!

Don't Swag? Start now!

100 Photos for $10 Plus Free Shipping!

2011-05-09T08:28:00.000-05:00

Snapfish is offering 100 photos for $10, plus free shipping!

Use coupon MOMDAY100 at checkout, now through May 11, 2011.*

*Complete details at snapfish.com

Kid Speak of the Week, Round 2

2011-05-06T19:13:00.000-05:00

She's on a roll this week!

As I return to the dinner table from taking out the puppy:

(Daddy) These kids sure like their cheese!
(Me) They're gonna be constipated.
(Kaiya) And we won't be able to poop, either!

Ah ha ha! We got a pretty good laugh about that!

BOGO 50% off plus free shipping at Maurices!

2011-05-06T14:23:00.000-05:00

Head on over to Maurices.com and take advantage of Buy One, Get One 50% off all casual tops & bottoms, including plus sizes! Order 4 items or more online and take advantage of Free Shipping!

If you've never checked out Maurices online, you'll be pleased to find a much large selection of SIZES! Get your size shipped right to your door for free!

Find them on facebook, too!

New Blog Design!! Review & Giveaway! ENDED 5/15

2011-05-05T12:21:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the new and improved Jessica, The Mom! I am beyond happy with the makeover results! I was just spending too much time figuring out the codes and what not, to get my blog looking the way I wanted it to. Plus, the template was kind of generic and not exactly what I had in mind. So, I decided to let someone else do the work for me! Pip Designs did an awesome job!

I found Tara at Pip Designs while visiting another blog. I thought the design of that blog was super cute and was pleased to find a link to its creator. I browsed around Pip Designs and found that her prices are extremely reasonable! (I would have expected to pay much more for a professional designer.) I checked out her portfolio and I liked what I saw. So, I decided to get started!

She has an order form right on her site that let's you submit your requests and make your payment. Communication during the process was excellent! She contacted me almost immediately to answer some questions and confirm my order. I think I was most impressed with how quickly she did everything! My design was complete and installed in two days! And I was able to view a draft in less than 24 hours! Being able to view the "test site" while she was working was great. This allowed me to request minor changes, here and there, throughout the process. I was able to give a lot of input and make it my own.

Overall, I am definitely a very satisfied customer of Pip Designs! She also offers other services, such as Etsy Customizations, Twitter Backgrounds, Invitations and Cards, Facebook Landing Pages, Business Cards, Logos and Ads. If you are thinking about hiring out for any of these types of services, I highly recommend you check her out.

So, who else needs a blog makeover?

One lucky winner gets a makeover from Tara at Pip Designs!

Giveaway details:
1 Blog design package 3 worth $55:

clip art and scrap kit not included
Custom background
Custom header
Custom font for sidebar titles, post date, and post titles
Choice of template
Signature
Button with grab code
Favicon
sidebar title backgrounds
simple post divider
drop down navigation bar with 8-10 main tabs unlimited sub-main tabs
post divider image
post title image
social networking buttons on the sidebar max. of 5

How to enter:

**Remember, you must post a comment here for each entry and you must include your email address in each comment! Comments without an email address will be deleted!

Required (3 entries):

Follow Pip Designs via GFC.
Like Pip Designs on facebook and leave her a comment thanking her for the giveaway. Be sure to tell her Jessica, The Mom sent you!
Follow Jessica, The Mom (this blog!) via GFC.

Extra entries:

Like Jessica, The Mom on facebook. Be sure to "like" from your personal profile for it to count. Include your fb name in comment.
Share this post on facebook. (can be done once a day)
Tweet about this post. (can be done once a day)
Leave a comment here telling me what you think of the new design. (Don't forget your email address!)
Comment on a design that you like in Pip Design's portfolio.
Grab my button and place it on your site. (Or you can add my link to your blog roll.)

Have fun and good luck!

This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 years and older. Contest ends May 15, 2011, 11:59 CST. Winner must agree to Pip Design's Design Terms. Winner will be notified via blog post and email after chosen via True Number Generator at Random.org. Winner must respond to notice within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. Jessica, The Mom and Pip Designs are not responsible if your notice goes into your spam box. Prize provided by Pip Designs.

Kid Speak(s) of the Week

2011-05-03T09:20:00.000-05:00

Oh, my 3 year old daughter never ceases to amaze me with what comes out of her mouth!

To me at the dinner table:
Mommy, what is that?
(Me) It's Teriyaki Sauce.
So does it tear easy, or what?

Last night during a television commercial:
Mommy, why is that girl running on top of cars? Is she stupid or something?
(Me just laughing)

This morning after breakfast:
Mommy, I'm just gonna go out quick and try to catch that birdie.
(Me) You won't be able to catch a birdie, honey.
Yes I can. Let me just try.

Has you child amused you lately with his/her spoken words?

Free cup of Yoplait Original yogurt!

2011-05-01T16:10:00.000-05:00

According to Yoplait.com, 60% of women aren't getting the calcium they need. So, they are giving away 1 Million free cups of Yoplait Original yogurt to help close the calcium gap! Wow, that's a lot of yogurt! Get your free cup here!

And The Award Goes To...

2011-04-27T22:19:00.002-05:00

My first award! Thanks so much to Chauny Writes for selecting me as a recipient for this award! It was a pleasant way to start the day. Please take a moment to stop by and visit her.

ver·sa·tile:

embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills; also : turning with ease from one thing to another

Versatile Blogger Award Etiquette:

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

Tell us seven things about yourself

Award fifteen recently discovered new bloggers. (Don't forget to contact them!)

Seven Things About Myself:

I'm a great cook.
I tend to be bossy and sometimes impatient..
I want to lose 50lbs.
I like to do nice things for other people, just to be nice.
I was in the Army National Guard for 6 years.
I've never been to New York or California.
I barely knew anything about blogging before this year!

I come across great blogs everyday, but I had to narrow it down. Here are the recipients I've chosen to award:

Please take a minute to stop by and show these great bloggers a little love! Thanks again!

$35 for $100 Worth of Photo Books, Cards, and Calendars at Picaboo

2011-04-27T11:22:00.000-05:00

Head on over to Groupon today and snag $100 worth of product for $35!

The Story of Bruce

2011-04-25T10:27:00.027-05:00

As told by my husband to our three-year old daughter:

Each year, the Easter Bunny puts a litter of baby puppies into a large Easter basket with a soft blanket. The puppies go with him on his Easter deliveries. As the Easter Bunny makes his stops at all of the little girls and boys houses, he lets the puppies choose a home they would like to stay at. This year, a cute little Yorkie puppie sniffed around while they were stopped at our house and he nudged the Easter Bunny with his little nose, telling him that he wanted to stay. The Easter Bunny had to wake up Mommy and Daddy to see if it was okay and if we could take good care of him. So we told the Easter Bunny that, yes, we think Kaiya & Carson would really love a puppy and we will take good care of him. So, after we thanked the Easter Bunny, we put the puppy in small carrier that the Easter Bunny left with us, gave him a little blanket and said goodnight.

The puppy was a little timid with my husband and I at first. He was nervous and a little jumpy. We did get up with him twice in the night to go outside, and he whined a bit between outings. We were a little worried about how he would handle meeting the kids.

Kaiya woke up early and came trotting into our bedroom and climbed up in the bed with us. We had a little snuggle time while Daddy went to "start his coffee". He went to let the puppy out and clean up a little mess. About the time she and I came out and headed down the hallway toward the kitchen, the puppy had gotten loose from Bobby and scurried out from mudroom, into the kitchen and into our sights. (So much for our plan of brining him out in an Easter basket and getting a picture of her reaction!) She immediately stopped, threw her hands up, and said in the cutest little emotional voice, "A puppy!" I'm a bit of a sap, so I did get a bit teary eyed, only for a moment. She was so excited!

To our very pleasant surprise, the puppy toddled right up to Kaiya and I'm pretty sure it was love at first sight for them both! She was so very gentle and soft spoken as she scooped him right up into her arms. Bobby and I couldn't believe how calm he was! So they played for a bit and she toted him in her arms in between finding eggs and sneaking bites of candy from her basket. We asked her what she wanted to name him. Without averting her eyes from the puppy, she said, "You name him." This pleased my husband, the comic buff, who already had a name in mind. Bruce Banner. Also know as The Hulk. Oh, the irony.

Carson was still asleep during the excitement. He is only one-year old, so we thought it was probably best that they were introduced one at a time. A short time later, Carson beckoned from his crib. He wasn't really sure what to think. He was very curious and seemed to like him from a safe distance. The puppy was interested, and again, to my surprise, went right up to check him out. Bobby put his hand over Carson's and helped him pet the puppy. When he stopped, Carson mimicked this action, putting his hand over Daddy's. Too cute.

So we had a wonderful day enjoying our newest family member, but had to wind it down and get ready to head to Grandma & Grandpa's house for dinner. Bruce cried a bit when we put him in his pen and Kaiya immediately grabbed a book off the toy shelf, sat down next to his pen and read him a story. He went to sleep! (She continutes to read to him whenever she thinks he's sleepy.) Kaiya asked us if Bruce would be here when we go home. We explained (again) that, yes, he is our puppy and he will be with us for a long time. "Mommy, I love bruce." Bruce loves you, too!

31 Tote Giveaway ENDED

2011-04-23T15:33:00.005-05:00

Let me start by saying a big THANK YOU to Michelle. Michelle is my 31 consultant and has, ever so graciously, offered to become my very first sponsor! If you've never heard of or owned a thirty-one(TM) product, now is the time! I purchased a bag a few weeks ago and absolutely love it! Please check out her latest catalog!

Up for grabs is an Organizing Utility Tote.

This versatile, spacious tote keeps your clutter organized! Great for cleaning supplies or sporting gear. Use it as an everyday tote or a gym bag! Seven side pockets are perfect for shampoo, magazines, your MP3 player and water bottles. Made from extra-tough nylon with stain-and water-resistant lining. Measures approx 10"H X 15.5"W X 6.5"D

Help me grow, and let me show you that I appreciate your support! Entries will close once I reach 200 facebook fans! I hope you enjoy my blog and what I have to offer. I am still a new blogger, trying my best, with the resources (and time) that I have available to me, to provide a fun and useful blog to my newly loyal fans! I would love to keep on growing so that I have more opportunities to provide my readers with great product info, reviews, giveaways, recipes, insights, deals, and much more! I greatly appreciate all of my supporters!

You will snag two entries by doing the following:

Become a facebook fan . (Required) (Remember to use your personal page for it to count.)
Follow via GFC. (Required) (Google Friend Connect found on blog homepage)

Get one extra entry for each optional task you complete below:

Share this post to your facebook page(s). (one entry per share, one share per day, per page)
Tweet this post.
Refer a fan to my facebook fan page. (one entry per referral)
Visit my Give Back Giveaway and become a participant.
Read any of my blog posts and comment on that post. (one entry only)
Place an order with Michelle at thirty-one(TM). (one entry per item ordered)

**BONUS 5 ENTRIES** If you have a blog or website, please add my button to your sidebar or add a link to my blog on your blog roll. (Be sure to comment 5 times to ensure your 5 entries!) Thanks!

Please be sure you leave a comment on this post for each task you complete! If you are already a facebook fan or a GFC follower, let me know in a separate comment for each. Remember - each comment is ONE entry. You could get a lot of entries! If you refer someone, be sure to state who you referred in the comment. Make sure you comment with a valid email address so you can be contacted. The winner will be chosen via True Random Number Generator at Random.org.

So go ahead, enter! Good luck to you all and again, I truly appreciate all of your support in my exciting new adventures! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Contest open to US residents 18 years of age and older. Contest ends at 11:59PM CST on the day that Jessica, The Mom's facebook fan page reaches 200 fans (likes). Winner must have a valid email address to receive prize. Jessica, The Mom is not responsible if your email notification goes to your spam folder. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours of notification to claim prize, or another random winner will be chosen. Prize will be shipped to the winner by said giveaway sponsor. Comments not deemed as entries to this giveaway will be deleted. Other comments should be made here.

Sweet & Sour Sauce

2011-04-22T09:56:00.000-05:00

I was experimenting with a recipe I had found online, but didn't have all the ingredients for, when I came up with this awesome sweet & sour sauce. It is, hands down, the best I've tasted! It is very easy and quick to make, and it makes a large batch. You could freeze it or jar it in small portions if you want to use it as a dipping sauce. We had it yesterday with diced boneless pork chops and rice. I've also made it with chicken. So delicious!

You will need:

1 can crushed pineapple (I believe it was 16oz) in its own juice (do not drain)
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 cup of water
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2/3 cup of vinegar
2 TBS Soy sauce
3 TBS cornstarch

Set aside 3 TBS of the pineapple juice. Add the rest of the pineapple and juice to a medium/large saucepan. Add all of the remaining ingredients, except the cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until bubbly. Mix the set aside pineapple juice and cornstarch together in a small dish until smooth. Add this to the sauce mixture, slowly, while still cooking and stirring over medium heat. Continue cooking and stirring for a few minutes, until it has thickened a bit. Pour over chicken, pork, rice, or use as a dipping sauce for egg rolls, won tons, etc. Enjoy!

Thursday Blog Hop

2011-04-21T13:55:00.000-05:00

I found Momma's Time Out at the Mom Blogger's Club. She has a Thursday Blog Hop! Hop along and find a few blogs you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing bloggy love!

Kid Speak of the Week

2011-04-21T10:37:00.001-05:00

My daughter to her brother, last night, as she gives him a kiss before bed:

"Sleep tight, Brudder. Don't let the bugs bite. If they bite YOU, beat 'em up with a black shoe!"

I love the thoughtful things that come out of childrens' mouths!

For those of you not familiar with this old rhyme, this is how I've always heard it:

Good night, sleep tight.
Don't let the bed bugs bite.
If they do, beat 'em with a shoe,
until they're black and blue.

**Did your little one say something cute, silly, off the wall, etc? Submit it to me to be considered for Kid Speak of the Week!**

Welcome Wednesday - Blog Hop - Hosted by Take It From Me

2011-04-20T16:22:00.002-05:00

Thank you "Take It From Me" for the friendly blog hop!
Please visit them and follow their guidelines for the hop!

Please take a moment to "like" and follow Jessica, The Mom.
I will share the love!
Thanks for stopping by!

Folger's Coupon!

2011-04-20T10:35:00.001-05:00

Click below and get your Folger's Coupon! Limit 2.
http://www.folgers.com/facebook-coupon.aspx?cid=fb_wall_112004

Mickey & Minnie Birthday Party

2011-04-17T23:23:00.006-05:00

Our family & friends joined us yesterday to celebrate my daughter's third and my son's first birthdays! They are pictured here with Daddy.

They each had a personalized T-shirt with their name & age which I purchased from My Preppy Rags on eBay.

Aren't these invitations cute? I ordered them from Cupcake Card Invites. I purchased them through her eBay store and provided her with the personalization info. She then mailed me the file to print at any photo center as a 4x6 photo. There were two "tickets" per photo, so each was cut into two. I loved how these looked. There are also many other themes to choose from.

The treat bags were super easy to customize. I bought plain red and plain pink treat boxes from Walmart. I glued white buttons on the red ones. I used white circle labels (like for garage sales) on the pink ones and used a hole punch to tie a ribbon on the top. I purchased ear headbands from The Party Store online and used the hole punch again to put ribbon in for the girls. The treat bags also had Mickey Mouse Clubhouse coloring pages (from a coloring book I bought at Walmart), Mickey Mouse (for the boys) and Minnie Mouse (for the girls) crayons from The Party Store, Minnie beaded bracelets, also from The Party Store and Mickey Mouse wristbands from Fun To Collect online.

I did the centerpieces (below) using empty formula cans, black spray-painted Styrofoam balls, fabric, felt, buttons, ribbon, crafter's glue, toothpicks, wooden dowels, and tissue paper. Most of the craft items were purchased at Jo Ann Fabrics. I was really pleased with how they turned out.

The punchies (confetti) that you see on the table were created by StarLight StarBright Creations. They were so cute and her prices and shipping time were awesome! They are a lot bigger than the typical confetti you would purchase at the store. I was pleased with the size. She did a custom order for me and was great about it! She has a lot of other custom items as well.

The Cakes!! I was so thrilled with the cakes! We got tons of compliments on them. Thank you so much to Shannon, the mother of the smiley little girl I provide daycare for. The Minnie cake was inspired by a photo I found at Simply Captivating Events. The Mickey cake was inspired by a photo I found at Coolest Birthday Cakes.

I made white chocolate dipped pretzels and chocolate dipped Mickey krispie treats. Yummy!

Of course, the best part of the whole party was watching my babies enjoy themselves! They are so precious and grow up so fast! I love them to pieces! Here are a few of my favorite pics from the party:

Blowing out her candles.

Carson is being proper with his spoon (lol).....

....and then his auntie stole his spoon!

Kaiya decided spoons weren't necessary for her, either!

Peek-A-Boo!

Kaiya's favorite present was real diapers and wipes for her baby dolls! She was ready to go home after she got these and toted them around in the gift bag for the rest of the party. Such a little mommy!

Carson was very into the tissue paper! He pulled it out of one bag and then onto the next. No presents needed!

Just shootin' hoops, Mommy!

Awww...giving Mommy love.

It was a fabulous day!

And The Winner Is....Amazon Gift Card Giveaway ending 4/14/11

2011-04-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

KAPUMAKA

Please check your email and respond within 48 hours to claim your prize! Congratulations and thanks for visiting!

The Give Back Giveaway! Ended 5/31

2011-04-14T13:57:00.011-05:00

Jessica, The Mom and Adventures of The Bauer's bring you

The Give Back Giveaway!

It seems that more and more people are learning how to effectively coupon, are getting some great deals and building some impressive stockpiles. In light of recent events and coupon controversy, I thought it was a good time to encourage some "give back".

I personally don't have a huge stockpile, but I have a nice starter collection and have been able to donate a few items to our church during a food pantry drive. But, I am a very blessed person, and I feel like I could do a little more. I'm sure that at least some of you feel the same way.

Here is what I propose:

Anytime you go on a shopping trip and purchase more than 5 of the same items at greatly discounted prices, take one of those items and contribute it to your newly dedicated "donate stash". If you bought 10 boxes of cereal at $1 a piece, are you really going to miss one box? How about those deodorants & body washes that you got for free with double BOGO? Or the free toothpaste that CVS is always giving away?
I'm going to run a little contest and I hope you will participate and encourage others to participate. Let's see how big we can make this collaborative donation!

Here's how it is going to work:

Start your "Donate Stash" as soon as possible. Separate it from any other stockpile you have in your home. Maybe you have enough on hand now to get it started or start with your next shopping trip.
Link-up here once to indicate that you are joining this Give Back Giveaway. (Enter your first name, last initial, participation (example - Jessica H. - participating)
For every ten items you donate, link-up once, using your first name, last initial, and where you donated (example: Jessica H. - donated 10 items to Holy Cross Church in Stockton, IL).
This Give Back Giveaway will be based on the honor system. Should you feel the need to cheat (false link-ups), then shame on you.
For each qualifying link that you post, you will receive one entry to the Give Back Giveaway Drawing. (A winner will be chosen at random via Random.org.)
This Give Back Giveaway will run though the end of May, 2011.

THE PRIZE
For each participant, Jessica, The Mom and Adventure's of The Bauer's will personally donate one item to a separate dedicated stash (on a rotating basis - one item per participant, up to 100 items per hostess). The winner of the drawing will provide us with the name and address of a food pantry, church, or other charity of their choice and we will ship the items to them on behalf of the winner. I will also write up a complete post-article that I will send as a press-release to the winner's local newspaper and provide to any participant to share as they see fit.

*Note: If anyone else is interested in co-hosting this event, please contact Jessica, The Mom. As a co-host or hostess, you would personally donate one item for each participant, on a rotating basis, up to 100 items. (Example: 3 hosts, 75 participants = 25 items per host.) You would also help promote the event via your blog, website, facebook, etc.

Etiquette
While I am all about blog hopping and blog networking, this is just not about that. By all means, feel free to make new friends through this event, however, please refrain from "advertising" your blog, page, service, or product directly in this forum. You may list your blog home page URL only as an accompaniment to each of your links, in case anyone is interested in checking out new blogs, but please do not include any other links, promotions, requests, etc. Violations will be deleted.

Please leave links only as indicated above (participation & donations). If you would like to make any additional comments, please use the comment forum on this post, NOT the linky list.

I would love to see this get huge so we can all just feel great about helping others in need! Please, please share this post and lets see what a difference we can make!

**NOTE** I have created a button / link directly on my homepage, in the top right-hand column, for easy access to this post. Just click the photo to be directed here.

get the InLinkz code

Cherry White Cheese Cake

2011-04-12T14:02:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately, I don't have a photo for this one yet, but I promise to add it next time I or my grandma makes this. This is my grandmas recipe and a family favorite for sure! I wanted to post it in time for Easter, since many of us do some cooking/baking for the holidays. Let me know how you like this one!

NOTE: This recipe makes two 13x9 cakes. If you only want one and don't want to waste the other half of the cake batter, try it in a slightly larger jelly roll pan.

1 package of white cake mix

2 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened

4 cups of powdered sugar

1 16oz container of whipped topping, thawed

2 cans of cherry pie filling

**also good topped with strawberry or blueberry

Prepare and bake cake as directed on package, using only half the batter. Cool. Beat cream cheese & sugar until fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cooled cake. Top with pie filling. Chill and keep chilled.

So yummy!

Easter Recipe Swap Meet

2011-04-12T11:55:00.010-05:00

get the InLinkz code

HOT DEAL on Batteries!

2011-04-11T11:21:00.004-05:00

Head on over to your local Menards and pick up a 20 pack of Rayovac Alkaline Batteries "AA" or "AAA" for $5.99. Get a $3.00 Mail-In Rebate. Use $1 off printable coupon. Total $1.99 for 20 batteries! That's 10 cents per battery!

Limit of 4 Rebates per household - stock up!

80% off at Restaurant.com

2011-04-11T07:29:00.000-05:00

Once again, get your $25 restaurant gift certificates for $2! Go to Restaurants.com and enter promo code STEAK. This is a great way to try out some new restaurants in your area at a fraction of the cost!

Offer ends April 14, 2011

Stock up on on Finish Jet-Dry rinse, gelpacs or Powerball tabs at CVS

2011-04-09T12:32:00.004-05:00

I run my dishwasher at least once a day and sometimes twice, so we go through gelpacs pretty quickly. This is one item I try to stock up on when it is on sale. Starting tomorrow at CVS, these are on sale for $3 each. Plus, if you spend $20 on select items, you get $10 Extra Bucks. There are other items that qualify (select varieties of Lysol and Air Wick) for the 10EB, but I'm going for the Finish products. You can go here and print off coupons for extra savings. You should be able to print two .50/1 and two .75/1 coupons (plus others for additional products) on one computer.

Buy 7 packages at $3 each = $21
Minus $10 EB
Minus $2.50 in printable coupons
Total = $8.50/7 = $1.21 each

This is a great price, considering they typically retail for at least $4 at a super store.
What are you going to buy from CVS this week?

CVS - $9.88 for all of this!

2011-04-08T14:00:00.004-05:00

I mentioned earlier in the week on facebook that I had a great purchase at CVS this past Sunday. As a fairly new blogger and couponer, I wanted to share this just to show you that you don't need "mad skills" to get great deals. It just takes a little planning. Read my first posting about CVS if you are not familiar with their Extra Care Bucks program and read my Couponing Basics post if you are totally new to couponing. Reading these will help you to better understand how you, too, can easily achieve deals like this. Sorry I didn't get this posted sooner, but the current sale is still good through tomorrow!

Here is how I paid just $9.88 for 6 boxes of Puffs Plus, 12 Double rolls of Charmin, 1 Complete Contact Solution, 2 packages of G.U.M Flossers, 2 Oral B toothbrushes, 40 Duracell batteries, 2 Crest mouth rinses, 1 Right Guard Men's body wash, 2 Herbal Essences styling products and 3 bottles of Dawn dish washing liquid. Subtotal before coupons and Extra Bucks $68.98. This was the subtotal on sale!

As a member of CVS's Extra Care rewards program, I have an Extra Care Card. I started with $5 extra bucks that they emailed me for the month that I had earned from purchases, $5 coupon that they emailed to me as a member, and $6 in Extra Bucks from my prior week purchase. So I walked into the store with $16 in CVS coupons and a handful of manufacturer's coupons, as well as my planned out list.

1st transaction:

Charmin with .25 off coupon
2 20-packs of Duracel batteries with 2x $1.50 off coupons
3 Dawn dish washing liquid with 3x .25 off coupon
2 Herbal Essence styling products with BOGO coupon

Using all of Extra Bucks and my coupons, this transaction cost me $12.50 plus I got an additional $10 EB from this purchase. (Deal was to buy any of the above sale items totaling $30 (subtotal) and get $10 EB.)

2nd transaction:

6 boxes of Puffs plus with 2x $.25 off 3 coupons (on sale for .87 minus .25 on 3 = 0.79 each)
2 Oral B toothbrushes with 2x $2 off coupons (on sale for $2.99 minus $2 coupon minus .99 EB = Free!)
2 Crest Rinse with 2x $1 off coupons (on sale for $3.49 minus $1 coupon minus $2.50 EB = -0.01 money maker!)
1 Complete Contact Solution with $1 off coupon (on sale for $8.99 minus $1 coupon minus $8.99 EB = $1 money maker!)
1 Right Guard Body Wash (on sale for $3.88 minus $3 EB = 0.88)
2 G.U.M. Flossers (on sale for $2 minus $2 EB = Free!)

This transaction, after coupons and EB from first transaction cost me $20.35 and I got $22.97 in EB!!

So....I spent a total of $32.85 in cash from my wallet, but left the store with $22.97 in EB = $9.88 spent on entire purchase! I left the store quite satisfied! Most of my manufacturer's coupons came from that day's Sunday paper coupon inserts - mostly P&G. I also had a few in my stash from prior inserts.

Tell me about your best deal!

Chic & Crafty Thursdays at Frugal Girls

2011-04-07T21:31:00.001-05:00

Check out The Frugal Girls on Thursday Nights - browse and share your crafty new ideas!

Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

2011-04-07T15:09:00.002-05:00

This will be the first ever giveaway by Jessica, The Mom! Yay! Before you get too excited, please realize that I only recently started blogging and I am only in a position to give away a tiny prize, but it's a prize none the less! As I've stated, I'm relatively new to the blogging world (debut 3/1/11) and so, naturally, I have only a few followers to date. To help share my blog and grow readers/viewers, I've decided to have a little fun with a mini giveaway.

Five big smackers for the lucky winner! The winner will receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card that I personally earned with Swagbucks. The gift card will be emailed to you. The contest will run for seven days (who wants to wait for free stuff, right?). Entry is simple!

"Like" this blog using the "Like" button on the top right of my page or directly on my facebook page.
Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect, also on the top right of my page
Share this post on facebook.
Tweet this post.
Do you have a blog or web page? Grab my link button and place it on your page where it is easily viewed.

You get one entry for each of the above tasks that you complete. You must submit a separate comment on this post for each task that you completed, telling me what you did. If you have completed any of these tasks prior to this post, just post a comment for each task stating that you did so. If you do not leave a comment, you did not enter the contest! Each comment posted will serve as one entry and will be assigned a number, in numerical order, starting with 1 for the first comment. At the end of the contest, a winner will be chosen at random via computer using True Random Number Generator at Random.org. Winner will be announced as a blog post on Jessica, The Mom and will be notified via email.

Thanks so much for your support, have fun, and good luck!

Contest open to US residents 18 years of age and older. Contest ends at 11:59CST April 14, 2011. Winner must have a valid email address to receive prize. Jessica, The Mom is not responsible if your email notification goes to your spam folder. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours of notification to claim prize, or another random winner will be chosen. A limit of 5 entries per person, one for each task as stated above.

Creamed Dried Beef Over Toast

2011-04-05T18:18:00.001-05:00

One of my favorites, this is easy, cheap and delicious.

5 small packages of dried beef or one large package, chopped

1/2 can of sweet peas

4 cups of milk

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup of flour

dill weed

pepper

garlic powder

Worcestershire Sauce

In a dutch oven, large frying pan or a wok-like pan (this is what I use) melt the butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir together until smooth. Add milk all at once and stir with a whisk frequently until thick. Don't let it scorch. Add spices and Worcestershire to desired taste . I usually eyeball it, probably about 1/4 tsp of each spice and a tablespoon of Worcestershire. Stir in peas. Serve over toast, mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes. My favorite is over boiled potatoes, skin on! Enjoy!

70% off gift certificates at Restaurant.com

2011-04-05T09:28:00.001-05:00

Go to Restaurant.com now and get a $25 gift certificate for $3!

Hurry - offer is good April 5, 1:00AM PST through Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 11:59PM PST.

Use promo code PLATE.

Extreme Couponing Premiers on TLC

2011-04-04T15:03:00.000-05:00

Do you need some inspiration to start saving big time? Check out Extreme Couponing this week on TLC.

Airing Wednesday, April 6, at 8:00pm CST.

I will be watching! Will you?

Online Comparison Shopping Review

2011-04-04T14:37:00.000-05:00

I am a big fan of online shopping, especially when I am looking for something specific or unique. As a mother of two small children, shopping in stores can really be a hassle. I recently encountered http://www.become.com/ and decided to test it out with a few searches. The nice thing about a site like this is that it pulls the item you are looking for from multiple retailers and lets you compare them all on one screen. A thumbnail of the item, description, location and price are all in a tidy format for easy comparison without having to jump from site to site.

I did several searches at http://www.become.com/, looking for several different products. I searched for seventeen bedding (very cute, funky stuff inspired by Seventeen Magazine) and it really didn't provide the results I was looking for, but did offer links to other sites featuring the brand. I also looked for dressing tables with mirror with slightly better results. (Found a really cute pink one for little girls, but it was a bit pricey for a 3 year old!) Next I tried for a moon chair and got some decent results. I had better luck searching for a canvas book display and quad stroller, which I'm hoping to purchase within the next month. These two items really supplied more results for a true price comparison.

Overall, the site had a clean and tidy appearance and fair results. I typically search for an item using a search engine and then hop from site to site, and this can be time consuming. I haven't really used many comparison sites and I'd love to get some feed back as to what sites you use to do your comparison shopping. Have you tried http://www.become.com/? How did you like it?

Free Sample of Boogie Wipes

2011-04-01T14:15:00.003-05:00

Click Here for your free sample of Boogie Wipes. Hurry, offer expires 4/2 at midnight!

I've never tried them, but I'm going to give them a shot for FREE!

Fun Fuzzy Rings

2011-03-31T11:48:00.000-05:00

My husband and I went to a comic book convention in Chicago about 2 weeks ago and there was a little girl selling these cute little rings for $1. I bought one for Kaiya, my almost 3 year old daughter. I could tell they were super simple to make and so we decided to finally have a little craft time this morning. All you need are some fuzzy sticks (aka: pipecleaners). They don't need much explanation; the pictures pretty much tell all.

Roll the ends really snug for best results.

Here is where you just have to do a little twisting and turning of the 6 "stems" until you get the right look. I started by wrapping the base around my finger.

So cute and you could really get creative with colors and styles. You could add more or less if you want a larger or smaller ring. Too easy!! You could also probably have your little one help to sell some for a little fundraiser at a garage sale, expo, or bake sale. Afterall, purchasing one is how I got the idea to make our own. Enjoy!

Couponing Basics

2011-03-22T18:16:00.000-05:00

I wouldn't go as far as to say I'm an expert, but I've become quite good at combining coupons with sales and getting some great deals. For those reading my "deal" posts who are new to the fabulous world of couponing, I just wanted to list a few tips to help you get the most out of your buck. I'm going to try to keep it simple.

Clip Coupons! A no-brainer. If you want the coupons, you're going to have to do a little leg work.

Start by getting the Sunday newspapers. For the few bucks you spend on the paper, you'll definitely get your return by using the coupons included. I get the two local papers (JS & RRS) as well as the Chicago Tribune. Haven't checked out USA Today or The Wall Street Journal yet, since these aren't usually available where I purchase my other papers. I would love to hear from someone if these would be worth purchasing as well. Have your non-couponing family or friends save the papers for you. This way you get extras!
Search the Internet for coupons. There are many sites that will let you print coupons right from your computer. I have not had any difficulties redeeming Internet coupons. Coupons.com is a great place to start. You can view and print their coupons right from my site by clicking the Printable Coupons tab at the top of the page. Couponmom.com is also a great site and will link you up to several other coupon sites. You should also visit websites of your favorite products to look for printable coupons (Campbell's, Kellogg's, etc.).
You can also get coupons on eBay.com. Just be careful to read sellers' feedback and don't pay too much. You can typically get around 100-150 mixed coupons for $2 or $3, including shipping. (Note: you are paying for the time for someone to clip and ship, not for the actual coupons themselves.) Make sure they are manufacturer's coupons and check the expiration dates. One good coupon will pay for the bunch.
Get a few magazine subscriptions. Again, one good coupon can pay for the subscription. Example: I signed up for Parents Magazine and paid $12 for a 3-year subscription. My very first issue had a $10 off Amazon Baby purchase, which I immediately used towards my monthly diaper purchase.

Save Coupons! I learned this the hard way. When you are clipping coupons, look at each one and, if its not something you would normally purchase, consider this: Would you use the item if it were incredibly cheap? For example, maybe you always use one brand of toothpaste or dish soap or whatever. Would you be willing to switch if you could get another brand for next to nothing? Save any coupon for a product that you would consider buying if it were the right price.
Organize Your Coupons! You can get a sturdy, coupon-size, accordian-style file folder at Wal Mart for under $5. Don't get a paper one; it will fall apart going in and out of your purse. Watch expiration dates so you don't miss out on a good save. Plan your shopping trip out ahead of time. Look at your sale circulars and compare with your coupons and make a list. I sometimes go as far as to calculate it out so that when I'm at the register I'll know I'm getting the right prices and discounts.
Start Saving! Watch the flyers that are typically in the Sunday papers. You can also visit store websites to view their circular ad. Don't forget to double when you can! Unfortunately, the grocery stores in my area don't typically double coupons, but many major chains do. Kmart will occasionally double coupons as part of their sale. They will indicate it in their circular and sometimes it is only for part of the sale duration. Stock up on staple items if they are cheap. I have tons of tomato soup because I found it on sale for 39 cents, plus I had additional coupons. Once you have some items in stock, you'll find that you start spending less on your regular trips because you don't need the staple items so consistently. Pledge, for example, is not so cheap anymore. But I have about 5 cans right now because I paid less than $1 for each can. Five cans should hold me over until there is a another really good coupon-combining sale. We have about 10 tubes of toothpaste (all Colgate or Crest) because I paid $1 or less (some free!) for them all. Same with deodarant, body wash, paper towels, etc. You get the idea.

I hope this is helpful to the new couponer and encouraging to the non-couponer. There is so much money to be saved! I don't know why I didn't start much, much sooner. It can be fun, as well It's pretty satisfying to bring home so much for so little! To my fellow couponers, please feel free to leave a comment if I've left out anything essential. I've really only been doing this for a few months and I'm always looking for tips & tricks!

Freebies and Under $1 Through 3/26/11

2011-03-22T14:56:00.002-05:00

Sales and good deals are great. Free is even better. Here are a few items you can pick up this week for under $1.

Let's start at Walgreens:

Reach Floss or Toothbrush = Free! / Go here and get your $1/1 coupon from Reach (I was able to print 2). Combine with coupon from Walgreens circular this week.
Plackers Flossers = Free! after $2 RR
Tena-Serenity Pads = Free! after $9.99 RR (give them away if you don't have a personal need!)
Pure Protein Bar 50 cents each after B1G1 coupon from prior newspaper
Kraft Mac & Cheese 69 cents w/Walgreens coupon
Hunts Tomato Sauce 3/$1 w/Walgreens coupon
Campbell's Tomato or Chicken Noodle Soup 69 cents w/Walgreens coupon
Jell-O 59 cents w/Walgreens coupon
Assorted Gum 79 cents w/Walgreens coupon
Palmolive Dish Liquid 5/$4 after $1 RR, plus use coupons from prior newspaper .25/1 and .50/1

And at CVS:

Allegra Allergy = Free! after $6.99 EB
Crest or Oral-B Pro-Health select varieties = Free! 22 cents or 49 cents (depending which coupons you have on hand) only 99 cents after $2.50 EB plus use your saved coupons for .50/1, .75/1, or $1/1
Colgate select varieties only 99 cents after $2 EB
Suave Invisible Deodorant only 75 cents each if you buy 12 for $9 after $3 EB Stock Up!

There are a few other good deals at the drugstores this week, but since there were a notable amount of "under $1" deals, I wanted to do a separate post. Go save some money!

Cupcakes in a Cup

2011-03-17T12:11:00.001-05:00

I was volunteered to make 2 dozen individually wrapped cupcakes for a bake sale at my husband's place of employment. Hmmm...individually wrapped cupcakes?? How do I do that without either completely smashing up the whole cupcake, or making a sticky frosting mess? After much consideration - this is what I came up with:

Pretty simple, once I narrowed down the options. I envision it with much more flair, but I had to make do with my time frame and what I had on hand. A wider, pretty ribbon to completely cover the twist tie would really fancy it up. Another idea, to add some color, would be to put colored candies in a single layer under the cupcake. You could also coordinate the ribbon with a cute cupcake liner. The creative possibilities are endless.

All you need for the basics are plastic punch cups, fold and close sandwich bags (not zip bags), twist ties, cupcakes (of course), and ribbon. Include any other embellishments you choose to fancy it up. This was a great way to get the cupcakes individually wrapped and ready for transport. I imagine you could use the same concept to package other goodies (small cookies, candies, etc).

Try it out and I would love for you to send me pics of your final products to add to this post!

Think Outside The Basket

2011-03-16T12:18:00.002-05:00

Do something unique for your little ones this year!

These cute and trendy bags from 31 Gifts are simply adorable. Easter Baskets are traditional, yes, but what happens to them when the festivities are over and the goodies are gone? Why not give something that can be used over and over again, long after the holiday has past? With spring and summer around the corner, these bags will be great for picnics and trips to the beach. There are many options of bags and personalization, as well as other gifts for you to choose from. Visit 31 Gifts today and make an impression this Easter!

Thanks, Michelle, for this great idea!

(You will also find a link to 31 Gifts in the right hand column of the page you are viewing.)

My CVS Deal Picks 3/13/11 - 3/19/11

2011-03-15T21:29:00.001-05:00

Here are my top picks for CVS this week:

Spend $25 on these products, get $10 Extra Bucks:
16 Big Rolls (=32 rolls) Charmin Toilet Paper $10
12 Big Rolls (=16 rolls) Bounty Paper Towels $13
Puffs Plus Lotion 132 Ct 2/$3

Subtract $10 savings from above and pay 16 cents per roll toilet paper, 50 cents per roll paper towels, and $1.50 per box of tissue. This is a great deal. Add manufacturer's coupons for extra savings.

Crest Pro Health / Oral B select varieties $3.49 plus $2.50 back in EB plus 50 cent coupon from Sunday paper = 49 cents!
Thera Flu Trial Size 99 cents plus 99 cents EB = Free! Use a coupon for extra savings (I have a $3 off any 2, so I'm going to get a total of 4 at no cost to me!)
Irish Spring Deodorant or Body Wash $2.99 plus $2 EB plus 50 cent off coupon from paper = 49 cents!
Dial Nutri Skin Lotion $4.99 plus $3 EB plus $1 coupon = 99 cents!
Gallon Milk $2.49

As with any of my "top picks", these are not the only good deals to be found, just my top picks. Check their ad or website for more!

My Walgreens Deal Picks 3/13/11 - 3/19/11

2011-03-15T21:14:00.001-05:00

Here are my Walgreens Picks this week:

Easter Candy singles select varieties 29 cents
Kleenex 89 cents (use Walgreens coupon)
Right Guard Deodorant or Body Wash B1G1 plus use B1G1 coupon from Sunday paper = Free!
Purex Fabric Softener $4.99 plus $2 in Register Rewards, plus $2 coupon from paper = 99 cents!
Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner or Wipes $1.99 plus use $1 off 2 coupon from paper = $1.50 each

Special Mention - Olay Collections (these smell so good) 3/$12 plus $3 in Register Rewards = 3/$9, plus if you save your coupons, there was a coupon for Buy One Olay Facial Cleanser, get one Body Wash or Lotion free in a past paper, plus $1 off Olay Facial Cleanser - Stack 'em up for more savings!

As with any of my "top picks", these are not the only good deals to be found, just my top picks. Check their ad or website for more!

Maybe You Coupon, But Do You Groupon?

2011-03-14T15:02:00.000-05:00

If you aren't an avid couponer, then maybe you've never heard of it. If you never shop without at least one coupon on hand, then you probably have. Groupon is just one more of many ways that you can save big money! Simply put, Groupon posts a new deal each day (specific to major geographic areas) that would allow its purchaser to typically save 50-90% off the indicated product or service.
How it works: Visit Groupon and pick your area. You will see the daily deal for the area specified. It might be, for example, Pay $10 for a $20 gift certificate to (name of a local restaruant here). Or maybe it will be for a spa package - Pay $75 for two one-hour massages at (name of a local salon here) $150 value. It might be for a hotel stay at a drastically reduced price. These are just examples and you can view actual past deals at the Groupon website. If you like the current deal, you can purchase it. If not, try again tomorrow. You can sign up for a daily email with the daily deal so you never miss a great opportunity.

Groupon is a great resource if you are planning an evening out, a weekend getaway, etc. You can watch for deals in other areas if you have travel plans in your future. Why not save some extra money on something that you might be doing anyway? Give it a try. Tell me about your great deal if you find one!

Diapers Much?

2011-03-12T12:53:00.000-06:00

As a mom of two, with one still in diapers, I speak from experience. Diapers are expensive!! And all diapers are not created equal. In my opinion, you do pay for what you get when it comes to diapering your child. I tried several brands when my daughter was born and it definitely boiled down to Huggies for my family. That being said, Huggies are expensive. So are wipes, for that matter. But most of us with small children can't live without them.
I've paid full price (with the occasional coupon) for Huggies, Pull-Ups, and Overnites since 2008, when my first child was born. She's fully potty trained now, thank God. But my 10 month old son is not, and so I really didn't get much of a break on the diaper buying. A few months back, I was enlightened by a fellow Mom (this is you AP :)) about purchasing diapers on Amazon. WOW. What a huge savings! Let me tell you why you should buy diapers from Amazon.com if you are currently using a popular brand diapering product.

I was buying a box of Huggies size 4, 108 count, for $25 at that super center we all shop at. Then I signed up for Amazon Mom and Subscribe and Save. Now I get a box of 140 for $23.51!! That includes free shipping. You can save 15% just for being a member of Amazon Mom (free) and another 15% for enrolling in Subscribe and Save. Plus free shipping!! I also use these services for my wipes, my Overnites, and my Diaper Genie Refills. Not only is the price great, but the convenience of having them delivered to your door right when you need them is priceless.

Bonus - use Amazon coupon codes, often found in magazines, to get additional savings. I just got a $10 off code in my March issue of Parents magazine. How often are you gonna find a $10 coupon to use toward your diaper purchase at Wal Mart? Bonus 2 - Earn Swagbucks and earn $5 Amazon gift cards (only took me 5 weeks to earn 2!!). [Check out the Swagbucks link on my page, in the right-hand column.]

Okay, now I'll get off my diaper soap box and let you hurry off to Amazon.com and start your diaper savings right away!

$10 Off Amazon Baby Purchase

2011-03-12T12:13:00.001-06:00

Get your March 2011 copy of Parents magazine today! Mine just came in the mail today and I found an awesome $10 off Amazon code (green postcard insert). It expires on 3/31/2011. If you are not getting your diapers and wipes at Amazon.com, you should start ASAP! More to come on that topic.

Local Grocery Savings 3/9/11 - 3/15/11

2011-03-11T08:55:00.005-06:00

For those of you who live in the area, here are some of the best sales at the local grocery stores. Check their circlular ads for official pricing and more deals.

Sullivans Foods
Pepsi 24 packs - 2/$11 with coupons from their circular
Corn King Bacon $1.99 with coupons from their circular
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks 4/$4 - wow! Must purchase 4. Print coupons from my site for these and save even more.
Centrella 8oz bags of shredded cheese 99cents - wow!
General Mills Cereal 4/$6 - use coupons from my site and get them for $1 each!
Crest Toothpaste $1.69 - use P&G $1 off 1 coupons and get it for 69cents!
Kraft Singles 12oz only $1.99!
Rice a Roni & Pasta Roni $1

Cub's (use coupons from their circular and their coupon book, both found inside the entrance at the store)
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts B1G1 w/coupon
Hormel Pork Loin Filet B1G1 w/coupon
Apples 3lb bag B1G1 w/coupon
Mr. Dee's Frozen Hashbrown Patties B1G1 w/coupon
Deans OJ Gallon B1G1 w/coupon
Del Monte Fruit Cups & Fruit Chillers 3/$5
Special K Bars $1.99 w/coupon
Nutrigrain Bars $1.99 w/coupon, plus use coupon from newspaper 75cents off on 2

My Walgreens Deal Picks 3/6/11 - 3/12/11

2011-03-09T14:24:00.004-06:00

Walgreens has a savings program similar to CVS Extra Bucks (see my CVS deal picks post). Its called Register Rewards. Works the same way (prints coupon on receipt for next purchase) except you don't need a savings card. Its automatic if you purchase qualifying items. My picks this week don't include any Register Rewards, unfortunately, but they are good deals none the less. Find Walgreens coupons in their circular and/or their website and combine with newspaper coupons and/or coupons from the coupon.com link found on my site. Here are my picks this week.

Pedia Care select fever reducer, cold or allergy relief or infant drops - use $5 off coupon in Walgreens ad plus $2 off coupon found in my coupon.com link = free!! A must if you have a little one. Print more than one manufacturer's coupon, you can purchase up to three with the Walgreens coupon.
Kellogg's Cereal or Pop-tarts select varieties $1.99 plus use $1 off 3 coupon from Sunday paper, Kelloggs.com or my coupon.com link = $1.66 per box!
Puffs select boxes 99 cents with Walgreens coupon, plus 50 cent off 2 coupon from Sunday paper = 74 cents per box!
Dawn select dish soaps 99 cents with Walgreens coupon plus 25c off 1 coupon = 74 cents!
Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner select varieties buy one at $2.99 get one free, plus use $1 off 2 coupon from newspaper and pay only 99c each!
Lysol Disinfectant Wipes select varieties buy one at $3.99 get one free, plus use $1 off 2 coupon from paper and pay only $1.49 each!
Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste 5.8oz buy one at $4.29 get one free, plus use 2 $1 off 1 coupons from paper and pay only $1.14 each!
Salt & Baking Soda 2/$1 with Walgreens coupon.

As with any of my "top picks", these are not the only good deals to be found, just my top picks. Check their ad or website for more!

My CVS Deal Picks 3/6/11 - 3/12/11

2011-03-08T14:50:00.005-06:00

If you don't already have one, sign up for an Extra Care Card at CVS. It's free, only takes a few minutes and you need it to get the good deals. You can earn Extra Bucks on a lot of sale items each week. Extra Bucks print as a coupon on your receipt for you to use on future CVS purchases. I usually do two purchases at CVS if I'm buying enough stuff. I purchase anything that will give me Extra Bucks (EB) first. Then I use my EBs toward my second purchase (if I earned 10 EBs in my first purchase, I get $10 off my second purchase). There are some exclusions (gift cards, liquor, etc.) You should visit their website or look at a circular ad for complete details. Combine with manufacturer's coupons for big savings!
Here's what I like at CVS this week.

Gallon Milk 1.99 after 1EB
Select Pepsi 12 packs 4/$10 after 3EB
Scott Paper Towels 6 mega = like 9 rolls $5.49 (like 61cents a roll on 9 rolls - cheaper than the off-brand at that big store we all shop at)
Select Windex & Pledge products 2/$6 plus spend $12 total and get 4EB plus use manufacturer's coupons from the coupon.com link on my page (often, you can print multiples of one coupon) get $1 off two Windex and 75 cents off one Pledge (x2) Like getting 4 of these products for $1.38 each!!
Select Easter Candy spend $10 get 3EB plus use Nestle and Wonka coupons from my coupon link for extra savings!
RevitaLens Contact Solution Only $3.89 after 4EB, use $3 manufacturer's coupon in March 6 Sunday paper - like getting it for only 89 cents!!! wow - I love the under $1 and freebie deals!
Free Stroller with purchase of $25 of select baby products (which are on sale) (Huggies, J&J, etc)

There are many more good deals if you check out their circular, but these are my top picks.

Chinese Pork Chops with Vegetable Fried Rice

2011-03-07T13:37:00.004-06:00

Last night I pulled some boneless chops out of the freezer and studied them for a few minutes trying to decide what to do with them. Chinese sounded yummy. This is what I came up with and it turned out really good. It was dubbed "make again" by the hubby. You can get even more flavor into the chops if you use thin cut or pound them good with a meat mallet until they are pretty thin. I tenderized mine only for a few minutes, as I wasn't looking to spend too much time in the kitchen. I imagine it would also be good with the pork cut into bite size pieces. My recipe is below. Let me know if you decide to try it!

For the Pork Chops:
1 TBS Soy sauce
1 TBS Teriaki sauce
1 TSP Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
dash of cayenne
dash of Chinese 5 spice
1 TSP garlic powder
2 TBS brown sugar
1 egg
6 TBS corn starch
2 TBS oil for cooking

Mix all but the last two ingredients. Use this to marinade your meat for at least 30 minutes for best flavor. When you're ready to cook it, push the meat aside and mix the cornstarch into the marinade until smooth. Re-coat the meat and fry in oil until juices run clear. or a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees. Don't over cook!

For the rice:
2 cups instant white rice
2 TBS chopped onion
1 carrot diced small
1/2 cup peas
1 egg
1 TBS of soy sauce or more to your taste
2 TBS oil for cooking

Make rice according to box directions. While rice is cooking, stir fry onion and carrot in oil in a wok or non-stick fry pan over medium-high heat. Add cooked rice and soy sauce and fry for a bit, tossing often. Push rice aside in pan and add a touch more oil and crack the egg into oil. Scramble and cook on the side until cooked through. Mix into rice and vegetables. Stir in peas. You can keep this cooking on low while your chops are finishing up.

If you enjoyed this, follow my blog. I will add new recipes with pictures as I make the good stuff!

My First Time

2011-03-05T22:44:00.002-06:00

Here I sit on a Saturday night, kids in bed, a glass of wine within reach, and I begin my very first blog. I have been a stay at home mom now since July of 2010 and a Licensed Day Care Provider since November 2010. Having been a mom who worked ten hours a day outside the home (including commute), I truly appreciate the new found benefits of working at home.

On the downside, our income was greatly decreased. So far, we've managed. While viewing a program on TLC on a Sunday evening a few months ago, I was amazed to witness the featured "extreme couponers" saving tons and tons of money by effectively using coupons. I was intrigued. It seemed to be around the same time that I noticed a friend on FB posting her own successful money saving experiences. I was inspired. I should be doing that, too!

It didn't take long before I started surfing the web, reading blogs, checking store ads,printing coupons, clipping coupons, signing up for store "savings cards" and SAVING MONEY! I actually got addicted pretty quick. I gained a lot of useful information from blogs created by other moms trying to save a buck. Blogs? Hey, I should do that, too.

So, I decided to start this blog. I get excited when I get a really good deal, and I want to share so that someone else can maybe get a really good deal, too. I also love to cook and sometimes I want to share a really good recipe. Sometimes I want to talk about my kids and parenting. Sometimes, I want an outside opinion on things. Hence, the blog. I'm just in a sharing mood. LOL. I'm new to blogging, so don't expect too much, too soon. But I hope to be able to post regularly about things that I hope will be useful to my readers. Deals, recipes, opinions, good books, family, and who knows what else. My long term goal is to build a well-viewed blog site with many useful posts and links, and to eventually even make a little extra income.

For those of you reading this, I hope you will subscribe to Jessica, The Mom and I hope that you find it useful as it grows. Please share my blog and help me build viewers / readers. And please feel free to comment or contact me. I may be interested in posting certain info, links, or reviews about your product, service, group, cause, etc. Thanks so much for taking a few minutes to read my very first blog! Keep in touch.

Contact Me

2011-03-01T11:43:00.002-06:00

Please leave your comments, questions, or inquiries here. My intention will always be to respond to you as quickly as possible. If you have a private inquiry, contact me at jessicathemom1511@gmail.com.
Thank you so much for visiting Jessica, The Mom!