Soon to Have Give Aways!

I am so excited! I have applied for and been accepted to Spark Blog. (I assume they accept everyone, but I am just guessing.) What is Spark Blog you ask? It is a market tool by General Mills (and a few other companies if I am correct) that supplies bloggers with products for review and for give aways in order to get feed back about their products or get the word out about new ones.

So, when they have a product they think fits the profile I filled out they will send it. I honestly don't care if it's a sample box of cereal, if it's free I'm all over it!

Keep your eyes open because I'll be sharing information as it comes available.

The Dreaded Hamster Wheel

Somehow, although I didn't see it, I stepped into the giant hamster wheel of housework and stress and can't escape. I feel like George Jetson "Hey Jane! Stop this crazy thing!"

It's not just the dishes, laundry and cooking that as soon as they are completed it's time to start again- that I can handle. It's the picking the same toys up everyday, several times a day. It's the vacuuming the floor only to turn around and see the baby following behind with an opened, upside down box a cereal he found in the pantry. It's the picking up two toys  only to have the kids take out three more.

Don't get me wrong I adore my kids and I am so blessed to have them. Yet the timing of my children- two sets of kids 12 years apart- is not always great for my sanity. Although the toddler years are my favorite, they certainly have their stresses, especially when trying to maintain a somewhat clean environment.

I finally had the toddler years behind me. Life was comfortable and natural. The girls were old enough and responsible enough to clean up after themselves and to be helpful. We no longer needed a baby-proof home. In fact when we moved into this house they were four and six so it wasn't necessary.

Things were by no means perfect. The house looked lived in, not a show house but any standards, but that's OK. Yet when I cracked down to thoroughly clean, it actually got clean. It was good! Then BAM-O! Enter two little boys... need I say more?

I know as they they get older, it will get better. I know these are precious times and I don't want to miss them because I'm cleaning. Yet at the same time a certain amount of cleanliness must be maintained to avoid health issues. So I am wondering how do you stay off the hamster wheel? How do you keep things sane with little ones in the house? Please share your ideas or links in the comments.

Setbacks

I've been thinking that perhaps I've misnamed this blog. Instead of Wiki Mom the how to place for moms, it should be called Un-Wiki Mom the how not to do things place for moms. I had dreams of the school year starting with me getting all the chores on my list done early in the day and then doing home schooled pre-school with my three and a half year old while the toddler played quietly or ate in his high chair.

Reality check! No, instead an elderly relative needed a ride to an appointment, which led to taking her to other places she rarely gets to visit. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, in fact it would probably have been enjoyed, but I didn't correctly manage my time yet again. So I ran out the door with the house a wreck. When we got home the boys were asleep and it was almost time for the teenagers to get home from school, so we chucked until tomorrow. That was Monday.

Tuesday, yea, I did get some learning time in. But  my chores were set aside until afternoon because my crazy life happened again. First off between a phone call from the school counselor and trying to find get my Tot book ready for him (Yes, it should have been ready the day before- but that is another part of the story.) we were going to run out of time again so I put the cleaning on hold, cleared off the dining room table and had some fun.

Here is what I learned from out first few attempts at pre-school:

• To make a Tot Book when the directions say to cut a file folder in half it doesn't mean along the seam. You are to open the folder and cut it horizontally. (I needed my 16 year old to figure this one out)
• When searching for regular staples you will only find heavy duty ones. When you then decide you really need the heavy duty stapler and finally find it (of all places in a box of tools in the barn) you will only be able to find the regular staples, but if you stop looking long enough to wonder what is poking your thigh you will remember you shoved the staples in your jeans pocket to keep them safe from the baby.
• Things don't have to be perfect for a three year old to have fun and learn.

What Noah has learned so far:

• Mom cares enough about me to have some one on one time.
• Taking turns is NOT the best part of playing memory match, but an important one.
• Although it usually drives mommy crazy when I play the copy-cat game, when she is trying to teach me a Bible verse that's what I'm supposed to do.
• If I eat one of my 4 PB&J triangles it is no longer a square, but if I share one with my little brother then remaining 2 little triangles make one big triangle if I push them together.

Looking Forward to Fall

As much as I am dreading the start of school, which means chauffeuring to early morning band practice every morning at 6:30 a.m.(which in turn means having myself and two toddlers up and dressed and ready to walk out the door by 6:30), I am looking forward to the milder weather of Fall.

I usually enjoy summer, but this year it was so hot I really didn't take the little ones out as much as normal. Also, having a 3 year-old in a cast for a month, plus the week or so it took to determine he needed the cast, much of the summer water fun had to be avoided.

So, I am starting the school year with a new, positive attitude (or trying very hard to do so) and I am looking for the positive. When fall finally hits the days will be a bit cooler which will give us more time outside without having to worry about heat stroke. The leaves will change color which will not only look beautiful, but lends a hand to so many learning and craft opportunities with the little guys. Also, apple season and pumpkin season and don't forget corn-maze season  are all great opportunities for fun family activities. (If you watch "The Middle" the portrayal of Indiana and its corn mazes was pretty accurate, he he)

Just thinking about Autumn makes me want to put on my favorite sweater, a pair of comfy jeans and some cute boots and drink hot cider by the fireplace (well if I had a fireplace).... then reality hits. It is currently 80 degrees in the shade at only 9 a.m. (which is actually one of the the more pleasant days) It's OK, in mid winter I'll be wishing for the summer heat.

Saving at CVS

In my quest to save money I have found that CVS, which is a place I used to avoid for most items expect prescriptions, actually can save you tons of money. It's just a matter of knowing the ins and outs of CVS.

I am still learning to master CVS, some times I am very impressed with my savings, others I wonder if it was actually worth the time and energy.

Extra Care Bucks or ECB are the key to saving money at CVS. These are printed on the bottom of your receipt and can be used like money on all products except prescriptions and tobacco and alcohol. (Check the store or fine print for any restrictions I may have missed.) You can not get changed back from ECB, so if your purchase total is $2.50 and all you have is $3 in ECB you can use it, but you lose the 50 cents. For more info on ECB, how to use and earn them go here.

At CVS it is important to know their coupon policy. First off you can use both a manufacturer's coupon and CVS coupon for the same product. Also, CVS accepts competitor coupons. These are especially important because many competing pharmacies have coupons will give you a gift card if you fill a new prescription or transfer one from another pharmacy. If you fill a prescription and present one these coupons CVS will honor it. I suggest double checking when you fill the coupon so there are no surprises when you check out. These coupons vary in value, but I have used one for $10 and know someone who had one good for $25 a prescription up to four scripts! Super bonus! If you have 4 scripts to fill that's $100 in free money.

Basically the plan when shopping at CVS is to purchase items that will generate more ECB, that are on sale and for which you have a coupon. This sometimes takes research and time. Also, if you make your purchase in multiple transactions you can use the ECB that you generate from transaction one to pay for transaction two, and the ones generated from transaction two to pay for transaction three and so on. The best way to get a good understanding of this is to check out the $5 CVS challenge at Keeping the Kingdom First.

CVS often gives out coupons that are good for $5 off a $25 purchase or coupons good for $10 off a $50 purchase. If you have one of these give it to the cashier before you use any other coupons. Next use your store and manufacture's coupons. Finally use your ECB.

If you have any questions or your own tips to share for saving at CVS please comment below.

School is starting

It's hard for me to believe school is starting next week. Where did the summer go? I have decided that when school starts I will start homeschooling preschool with my 3 year old. The problem is I have not yet decided what or how I am gong to do it.

I am thinking that I will do it 4 to five days a week for about an hour or two depending on his attention span and what we are working on. During the months he has story time we will only do it four days that week, the rest of the time five because that is just too much in one day for a little kid.

My main problem is coming up with lesson plans that aren't too complex or projects that I are above his ability. I used to be a daycare teacher and I was required to come up with lesson plans for different stations in a classroom of of 10-15 children. So, I need to reign things back a bit to keep it fun and exciting and not like I am putting him though toddler boot camp.
I have some material already and some things in mind, but any suggests would be appreciated

Taking advantage of summer harvest

I have so much buzzing around my head that I want to share with you, but haven't had much time to do so. Therefore, I decided to just pick one topic and go with it. And the winning topic is: saving money by taking advantage of the seasonal produce.

Even if you are like me and didn't get your act together to get a garden planted, you can still get in on the summer goods. (I WILL do it next year- I promise. Please don't ask how many years I made and broke that promise, but next year will be different.)

Depending on where you live you should be able to find farmer markets or road side stands where the produce is fresher and cheaper than the grocery store. Or you may be blessed enough to have a neighbor with too much who is looking to give the stuff away. Buy in bulk if possible and then freeze or can your purchase.

When shopping don't be afraid to haggle especially if you plan on buying a huge amount. I know a man who goes to local road side corn stands and asks them how much they would charge him for their entire stock. He fills his pick-up truck up and blanches and freezes it all.

A few summers ago I discovered a farm where they had U-Pick tomatoes and it was only $5 to fill a 5 gallon bucket. I also bought some peppers and corn and I made enough of my "famous" salsa to last a year.

Peas, beans, broccoli and cauliflower and corn freeze well, just blanch them first. If you want to bake with zucchini grate it before freezing, but if you want to steam or saute then slice it first. I have hear that tomatoes can be frozen, but I have not tried. Instead I have canned them using the hot process method (not a pressure canner.) This seems a little scary, but it is really very easy.

Also, once you get your canning equipment, all except for the lids can be reused, and these are fairly inexpensive. The bans only need to be replaced if they rust. (The equipment you will need is: a large pot, jars with lids and bans, tongs for lifting the jars. A funnel is helpful, but depending on what you are canning may not be necessary.)

I get my geek on over the weekend

Hi! It's Monday and my house and life are a disorganized mess. On the upside I had a great weekend. On Friday we took a road trip to pick up our oldest daughter from my sister's house. She had been visiting there for just over a week. We spent the night and then went to the Maker Faire in Detroit.
We had a good time. I think though it could have been a better experience. There really was things for all ages but with having ages 1-41 in our family it seemed like we were constantly trying to make sure everyone got to do and see everything they wanted. In theory someone could have stayed with the little ones and did all kinds of activities while the others went and saw what they were interested in. The only problem with that is that the person with the boys usually wanted to see what the others saw. So, I you need to approach the Faire as either a "geek fest" where you check out all the newest technology and inventions or a hands on museum for the kids. We tried to do both and it didn't work out as well as we thought.
The highlight of the day was that I spotted Leo Laporte and my husband and I got to meet him. If you don't know who he is he is a "god" in the geek world. Back when Tech TV was on he was on a show called the Screen Savers. He now hosts several pod casts including TWIT (This Week in Tech). The main reason we were there is because my husband had heard about the Maker Faire on one of Leo's pod casts and he knew he was going to be doing a live pod cast from there.
While we were eating I looked up and saw Leo walking with a man and woman and recognized him. We grabbed the new video camera, told the teenagers to watch the toddlers and took off after him. We caught up to him and I recorded my husband meeting him. Leo was really nice and so were the other people with him. The lady (maybe his wife?) offered to take the camera so I could get in. It was cool and I was so happy that I spotted him and for my husband. I know it really made his day.
Although some of the tech stuff there was beyond my way of thinking it was a cool place. I enjoyed the craft tents and the "upcycle" booth. I have been inspired to help my daughter create a dress out of Target bags. The main problem there is I've been doing more shopping at Walmart than Target and their bags just wouldn't look as cool as a dress.
Well it's a busy day. I need to do my morning routine and get the house in order, than its grocery shopping day and a doctor appointment later.

Making changes

I have been doing some serious thought about my blog and realized it is not quite what I envisioned. I have not been keeping it as up to date as I planned. I think my daily themes have become a road block instead of an inspiration. I also feel like my blog is too preachy, like I'm the mom expert or something. That is the opposite of my original idea.
I intended this to be more of a journal of my life as a mom. I wanted to share my successes and even my failures and have others comment and share theirs. So I am making some changes to try to achieve that.