Spreadin' the Word: Yogurt and Rice

A couple of days ago I was grocery shopping and went to the YoBaby yogurt section, which is never with the "normal" yogurt and I have to hunt it down any time I go into a new store....But I digress. So, I found the YoBaby. And, there was something new there:

It's organic yogurt made with 1% milk fat and they've added folic acid, DHA, and vitamin D. Just some of the things that pregnant and nursing Mommy's need. I'm still nursing Bitty Baby, so I picked some up to check it out. It's quite yummy! It only comes in packs of four, though, which can get expensive, so don't forget your coupon!

 

Also, I've been checking out this absolutely wonderful digital scrapbooking blog and I learned about a site that will donate rice to the World Food Program based on how many vocabulary words you get right from a little vocab quiz they give you. Actually, it's pretty addictive. It gives you progressively more difficult words until you start getting them wrong and generates what level you are. You can just keep playing and playing and playing trying to increase your level, all the while rice is being donated for each correct word you choose. Very cool. FreeRice.com

 

And....We're Back!

I hope everybody had a wonderful Easter!  Ours was very full between church and visiting lots of family.

I spent some time last night trying to go through and look everyone's blogs to see if I missed anything. It looks like a lot of people were sick or went on vacation. We had some sick time here, too (but unfortunately no vacation).

 

And, here we go. In a nutshell, here are some things that I probably would have blogged about:

Daddy-O left his posh traveling gig for one a little closer to home (only a 55 mile commute each way). At least he'll be home every night, though! Yay!

I bought my first mei-tai baby carrier from this EBay seller. Her work is beautiful and very well priced compared with others. But, after wearing it a few times I went back to my tried-and-true pouch sling. You just can't beat the convenience that a pouch sling offers and I'm all about convenience!

I started decorating the nursery...finally! My goal is to completed before my girls start voicing their own opinions. I can't wait to post some pictures! It's very girly. Pinks and blues and florally stuff everywhere. I think it will be my favorite room in the house!

I've spent a lot of time perusing Etsy. Can't get enough of it. I think I might start highlighting some of the sellers here every now and then. Ok...since I mentioned it. Here's a little something that makes me smile:

The seller's name is Cotton Bird Designs. If I had an extra $40 laying around I think I would like to perch him somewhere in nursery so he can sing sweet lullabies to my babies.

We have continued potty-training Little Bit. But we seem to be caught some where between trained and not trained. I'll post a more comprehensive update soon.

So we're all caught up...now let's have a bloggaly blogging good time!

Buying Gifts from Your Sofa, or Bed, or Wherever!

Hey kids! Let's all go to the mall! First, let's make sure we have a change of clothes for everyone, plenty of diapers and pull-ups, snacks, toys, the sling, pacifiers, and the stroller. Is everybody ready to go? Oops, Bitty Baby just embellished Mommy's shirt with spit-up. Mommy's gotta go change...Shopping is fun!

Going shopping with the little ones tagging along isn't always an ideal situation. Actually, I try to avoid it whenever possible, but it seams like there's always some holiday, birthday, baby shower, or wedding that I need to buy a gift for.

Problem solved. Thanks to the wonderful world of online shopping, I can usually purchase my gifts, have them wrapped if so desired, and add a personalized Hallmark greeting card all from the comfort of my own home.

Here are some of my favorite places to shop for gifts...

Amazon- As close to one-stop shopping as you can get. 

Uncommon Goods- I discovered this online store last Christmas and  immediately fell in love with it. Where else can you find a pair of "Freudian Slippers" and sassy little tampon cases?  You can find something for just about anyone here.

Think Geek- The ultimate shopping destination for the geek in your life. Products range from the practical USB Squid to the completely off the wall Giant Plush Microbes. Haven't you always wanted to snuggle up with a plush representation of Salmonella? Not a Christmas has gone by since my husband and I have been married that I haven't purchased something for him from this wonderful retailer.

Oompa Toys- Take a break from Toys R' Us and find some truly special  toys here. Their mantra? "No batteries. No blinking lights. No cartoon-themed toys. Period." I love their European made wooden toys and, if I could justify buying another stuffed animal, I would really like to get my hands on this little guy!

Hallmark- This is my favorite little secret. Yes, everybody knows that  you can get lovely cards and sentimental trinkets from your local Hallmark Gold Crown store, but what about if you just can't find the time to get out of your house and Valentine's Day is fast approaching? Did you know that you can purchase a real greeting card, have it personalized and signed by a real person, and have it mailed directly to it's recipient for about what it would cost you to go to the store and buy it yourself? The person you're sending it to will have no idea you didn't send it yourself. I have used this service several times when I knew I wouldn't be able to make it out before the particular occasion and it has been a real life-saver.

There you go! Save your gas. Forget about the hassle. Just hang out in your jammies and shop when the kiddos are sleeping!

New Designer Baby Items at Target

Target announced today that it will be partnering with DwellStudio to offer an exclusive line of linens and furniture for babies in their stores and online. (article)

Here's a sampling of designs from DwellStudio's website:

These sets run in the upper $300s to over $500. Right now the highest priced bedding collection at Target is the Cotton Tale Derby Plaid 4-pc crib set at $299.

I would expect the DwellStudio line to be priced in the $200-$300 range at Target. The new baby collection is set to appear this month, so keep an eye out!

Never Pay Retail Again!

Very few things in this world feel better than knowing you got a great deal on something. I got that feeling today when I went to my favorite consignment shop, Wallabie's Kids, for their Winter Clearance Sale and Spring Preview.

Babies can be so expensive...upwards of $10,000 in just the first year, so it's important to save where you can. I have found that I can find pretty much anything I want and need for my kids without paying full price for it.

How do I save money on baby and toddler stuff? Shop around!

• eBay- Great for buying new or used baby clothes if you want a huge selection and don't mind buying without seeing. As with most things, you’ll pay less per item when you buy from larger lots.

Most sellers provide pictures and detailed descriptions, but I've still had my share of
disappointments. Sometimes the clothes just don't look the same in person. It's hard to see
pilling and fraying in photos and some stains go unnoticed by the sellers.

Finally, there's the matter of shipping. Unless you happen to buy from a local seller, you
have to wait for your clothes to ship which could take up to a couple of weeks. I actually
won an auction for my youngest shortly after she was born, but by the time the clothes
came she was almost too big for them.

• Craigslist- My local Craigslist is my “go to” site for gear, toys, and furniture. You can expect to pay about half of an item’s retail price. Sometimes more, sometimes much less…depending on the item.

I love Craigslist because it’s local, there are often pictures of the item posted, and the prices are always great.

The problem, however, is that sometimes you have to be really quick when inquiring about an item. There have been several occasions when I’ve emailed a seller about an item within just a few hours of it being listed only to learn that they’ve already sold it.

Also, if you have something specific in mind, you may not find it right away. It took me about a month of checking the site several times per day to find someone selling an Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper at a price I thought was reasonable ($75).

• Consignment Shops- Local consignment stores are great for clothes, gear, and toys. Prices here also usually fall at around half of what you would pay retail.

Consignment stores are fun and feel more like “real” shopping". There are a few in my area that I visit every few weeks and they always have new goodies. Chances are, even if you have a specific item in mind, you’ll still walk out with some adorable outfit or cool toy that you had no idea you wanted.

• Garage/Yard Sales- Yard sales have great prices. Most of the time the sellers want the stuff gone and are just looking to make a few bucks in the process. Baby clothes are often around only $1 a piece and there are usually a ton of toys lined up that are ready to move on to a new family.

Unfortunately, yard sales are hit or miss. Sometimes you can find the deal of the century (a couple weeks ago I bought a Cozy Coupe that was in great shape for just $3), and other times you may drive around for a few hours with nothing to show for it at the end of the day.

• Freecycle- As the name suggests, this is where you can find stuff that’s being given away for free. Can’t beat that!

Similar to Craigslist, if you see something you want, you have to be fast. Sometimes things are just left at the curb and you can simply drive by and pick it up. I actually haven’t used Freecycle since I found Craigslist, but in the past I regularly scoped for miscellaneous items my family was looking for. You’d be surprised by what people are willing to give away.

Raising kids is expensive...that's a no-brainer. Between childcare, health insurance/medical bills, food, clothing, field trips, camps, extracurricular activities, and not to mention saving for college, having kids makes a pretty significant dent in your wallet. Considering all of these expenses, it's important to save wherever you can. With all of the second-hand sources out there, there’s really no reason to have to pay full price for something that you can get for less!