Savings for the week May 2nd to May 8th 2010

I didn't get much this week, really!!  Here is the breakdown of where I went and what I got plus my savings and out of pocket expense.

• CVS Pharmacy:  They had on sale their Citrus Mouth Wash small for 0.99cents plus a store coupon for $1 off so I got two for Free after the coupon.  They also had the Dawn Hand Renewal dishwashing liquid for 0.97 cents.  I got a $1 off coupon from the Home Made Simple mailer (request yours!!) .  I ended up getting one for Free after the coupon.  They are running a special this month on Stayfree Pads and Carefree Liners.  I got Stayfree for $3.89 on sale and got $2 ECB back plus I used a $2 off coupon and ended up paying under $2 for it.  I got two of these deals.  The limit is 5 per household with your CVS ExtraCare Card.  I also did their Nivea Body Wash deal.  I got 4 at $4.88 each and used 3 coupons for $4 off each and one for the Men's Body wash of $3 off.  I paid $4.52 and got $5 ECB back plus I had some ECB from previous visits so I ended up getting the Body Washes for Free.  At the end, after my visits, I Saved $35.66 according to the receipt.  I spent out of pocket $5.03. 
• Target: At Target this week I got a Kodak Picture DVD for $14.99 and got one Free.  I tried to use the Kodak coupon to get them both Free for this deal but Target would not honor both the sale and the coupon in one transaction.  Oh well!  Still a good deal.  I also got a Free Nivea Body Wash after $4 off coupon, Free Motrin PM after $3 off coupon stacked with a Target $1 off coupon, Free Vaseline lotion after stacking coupons, Starbuck instant coffee 3 pack for $1.50 after stacking coupons, SoBe zero Calorie water for 0.50 cents each after B1G1 coupon, and Free Armor All Car cleaner and Wheel Protectant after coupons and Mail in Rebate.  I saved, according to the receipts, $70.36 and spent $19.45.
• Walgreens: I only got a few things at Walgreens plus a Free 8x10 Collage Photo.  I saved $16.94 and spent $5.54.
• Publix: My best buy at Publix was the chicken breasts which were $1.99/lb. Also their Mojo Rotis Chicken was on sale for $4.99 so I got two, took the meat off the bones, and froze it so we can have yummy chicken for the next couple of weeks.  I also used my Nabisco Free cookies coupon I got from Facebook on the first Monday of every month.  I also got some of the new Mt Dew flavors which are on sale $1 each plus they have a $1 off 2 coupon so I got those for 50 cents each!  My favorite so far is Typhoon.  You can get them, try them, and vote online for your favorite flavor.  The winner flavor will be added to their Mt Dew line.  After coupons and sales, I saved $52.43 and spent $38.50. 
• BJ's: I only got a can of Mix nuts at BJ's and used a $1 off coupon.  Savings of $1 and spent $9.89.  

I am looking forward to a better week this week.  My goal is to try and be better each week than the previous week.  :o)

Happy Savings!!

Mothering Magazine - Free Digital Subscription

Use coupon code CDIGM and receive a Free Digital Subscription to Mothering Magazine.  It is a bimonthly magazine so you get 6 free issues.

Thanks Money Saving Mom and My Litter.     

20 Free Birth Announcements from Kodak Gallery (pay s&h)

Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom and Bucktown Bargains for this deal.
Kodak is offering 20 Free Birth Announcements.  They are flat 5x7 photo cards.  All you pay is shipping of $2.89.  They include envelopes and you can customize them.  You have 10 designs to choose from.  Go to Kodak and follow the instructions.  If you are new to Kodak Gallery, you can sign up and receive 50 FREE 4x6 prints. 

Free Ovulation and Pregnancy Tests from Sacred Heart Mission

If you know someone who is trying to get pregnant, Sacred Heart Mission is giving away any combination of a total of 10 either pregnancy tests or ovulation tests.  All you have to do is fill out the form and they will mail them to you Free of charge.  They are experiencing a delay due to the high demand but you should receive yours in a timely manner.   

Go HERE and request your tests or send this to a friend who might be needing these.  I have PCOS and the Ovulation tests are very helpful for me.

Thanks goes to Our New Life for this post.   This link if for her Facebook page.  Her blog link is HERE.

Parent Tips of the Day

Better late than never. . .  Sorry these are late, but here are a few parent tips of the Day.

• Spices: Recycle baby food jars by using them to store spices and herbs in the kitchen, or paper clips on your desk.
• Sharpen both ends of crayons.  Not all toddlers understand yet which way to pick up their crayons and which end to use.  This tip makes it easier on them and less frustrating.
• After your child outgrows his or her favorite shirt, you can sew the sleeves and neck openings, stuffing it, and then sew the bottom of it.  This way you turn it into a pillow and your child can keep using their favorite shirt for years to come.

If you have any tips please feel free to comment and add them.  We can all learn from each other when it comes to parenting.

Have a Happy Mother's Day!!

Do's and Don'ts of Potty Training

We are starting Potty Training real soon.  We actually already started but we are taking it a bit slow because we still have diapers to use and I want to switch him to Training Pants once we start Potty Training full force!
I got some Potty Training Tips from Parents Magazine, August 2009 Edition and from What to Expect: The Toddler Years.
First, here are the signs that your child is ready for Potty Training:

1. Can easily take off all clothes.
2. Asks to get diaper changed.
3. Follows you into the bathroom, asks questions, and imitates you.
4. Knows the body parts and words "pee" or "poop".
5. Understands what the words on sign no. 4 mean, where they come from, and where they belong.
6. Shows interest in books and videos about using the potty.
7. Stays dry for at least two hours in a row, is dry after naps, and is "poop" free overnight.
8. Normally stops activity when needs to "poop".
9. Has one or two formed stools a day (not constipated).

Check out Parents.com for additional Potty Training Tips and Tricks.

After I read the above signs, most of these honestly sounded like they were too complicated for a toddler but I am known for underestimating how much a toddler actually knows and understands (I am a first time parent!!).  The signs I noticed on our son were no. 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9

Some other things to consider:

• I was advised to use a toilet trainer rather than a potty seat.  You skip the step of having to train your child to use the "big" potty if you start with it.  Plus having to clean the baby potty seat . . . Yucky! 
• I was also advised to take two days and stay at home.  Take him to the potty every half hour and by the end of the two days he will know how to use the potty.  
• Be patient and expect plenty of accidents!  It typically takes anywhere from 4 to 6 months for a child to achieve Potty independence. 
• Give them plenty of praise, cheers, and applause with every success.
• Use a Chart and have your child place stickers on it for every success or give them a different form of reward for every success.  Some sample rewards from Pull-Ups HERE and Dora Progress Chart from Easy-Ups HERE and an Award Certificate HERE.  You can also order a Potty Training Kit from Easy Ups HERE which includes samples, coupons, a progress chart, stickers, and a Trophy.  We got it in the mail and LOVE it! 
• Get a box, put it next to the potty, and fill it with toddler potty books.  I ordered The Potty Book for Boys from Amazon and we love it.  It is so cute and it tells a story that Rafi could relate to.  Other books I am planning on getting are A Potty for Me and Dora's Potty Book.  If you have a Barnes and Noble Membership card you get Free shipping (No Minimum Purchase required!).   Plus you also get cash back thru ShopatHome.com 
• Stick to Training Pants!!  Do not mix diapers and training pants as it will confuse your child.  

Some of these might be repeats, but these are the Do's of Toddler Toilet Learning from What to Expect: The Toddler Years book:

1. Do switch from Diapers to Training Pants
2. Do bare your child's bottom once in a while (if temperature permits! and if there is an area in your home that is completely washable!).
3. Do make the bottom easily accessible when not bare.  Dress your toddler with easy off, elastic waist pants that can be pulled down in a flash.
4. Do watch your toddler closely for signs that tell you he or she needs to go!
5. Do watch the clock closely.  Most children, like adults, have a potty pattern (urinate on waking, or have a bowel movement after a feeding).
6. Do let your child come and go as he or she pleases.  Resistance and Rebellion to the potty grow from feeling prisoner of the potty.  
7. Do have your toddler take turns with a drink and wet doll.  At this age, going to the potty is more fun when you go with a friend.
8. Do try a trickle to start the flow.  The old turn on the bathroom faucet while your child sits on the potty is a good one.
9. Do appreciate your child's reporting after the fact as a step in the right direction.
10. Do be an enthusiastic audience.
11. Do spark motivation.  
12. Do have your toddler check for dryness.  Praise dry pants but do not criticize wet ones.
13. Do be patient with relapses.
14. Do teach about hygiene.
15. Do be sensitive to your child's feelings and needs.

Now the Don'ts of Toddler Toilet Learning:

1. Don't expect too much too soon.
2. Don't punish or shame.
3. Don't deny drinks or use unnatural means to get desired ends.
4. Don't be a broken record.  No nagging.  
5. Don't force the issue.
6. Don't turn toilet learning into a moral issue.  There is no good or bad when it comes to toilet learning.
7. Don't discuss progress (or lack of it) with your spouse in front of your toddler.  
8. Don't take slow progress personally.
9. Don't make the bathroom a battleground.  If you meet with total resistance then your toddler is not ready yet.  Postpone it for now.
10. Don't give up hope!!

I know this is a lot to take in, but I found all these tips very helpful.  We will be starting potty training soon full force (we started with going "poop" on the potty first and now think we are ready for going "pee" in the potty).  I will post updates and what worked for us as we progress. 

Thanks for reading.  Make sure and post comments on what worked for your children.  This will be such a huge help and blessing to me and my other readers. 

Happy Mother's Day!!

 

Birthday Freebies

Make sure and check out Freebies 4 Mom this week.  She is posting some awesome Freebies you can score on your birthday.  Her birthday is today and my birthday is this Friday so I am excited and looking forward to some freebies like a Starbucks drink of my choice, a coffee from Dunkin Donuts, a coffee from Borders Bookstore, ice cream from Marble Slab and from Cold Stone, and more.

Check out Freebies 4 Mom for more details and a list of her birthday freebies for people of all ages.

Enjoy!!