Momma's got a brand new

DELL!

I got an email from them the other week about a 3 day sale. I was very subtle and C&P'd the whole thing in an IM to the Hubster! hehehehehe. The hubster, sick of me whining about my ancient system, told me to "go for it". My New baby arrived yesterday!!

YAY! well, except that I need to get a converter cable for my wonderful split keyboard. I'm currently using this teeny tiny thing that came with the system, and it's a challenge, for sure!

Certainly makes me realize that while I may like the concept of a laptop, I'd probably hate one! I need a full, comfortable keyboard!

I also need to transfer my mail program over here too. I left the pics and stuff on there, cause our plan is to get a desk and set up my old system with games and things for J to use.

I sent out a WANTED on on Freecycle, but haven't found anyone with a desk to give away yet, so I may need to suck it up and buy one. If you know of any good sales on (cheap) computer desks that would work for a 5yo, please let me know. :)

I need to work on cleaning the whole computer area now too. My desk looks like it was hit by a bomb.

Oh and I thought CPU's were supposed to be getting SMALLER? This is bigger than my 5 year old Gateway... sheesh! Owell. I can now have two different browsers open at the same time, and my comp doesn't come to a screeching halt. So, I'm a very happy Momma!

Yikes!

So the other week I was at the mall and I picked up a couple pairs of Sandals for Ava at Payless. They were BOGO 1/2 off. So, being the smart Mom I am, I got her 1 pair in a size 5 and another in a size 5.5, figuring we would be set for the summer or at least a couple months anyway.

So I put her size 5's on this am, and I swear her feet grew overnight! Her toes are thisclose to hanging over the ends of the sandals now! ACK! They were NOT like that yesterday!

At least I can be thankful we have a bigger pair on hand and Payless generally runs their BOGO sales pretty frequently, huh? ;)

Ebates

Do you all know about Ebates? A friend of mine was talking them up a while back and they offer your $5 just to sign up, so I signed up and then promptly forgot about it. LOL

Dunno if you guys know about ebates.com or not. I signed up a while ago and then forgot about it. LOL

This w/e I was wanting to make a purchase from a certain UK catalog company... I'm not easily influenced by their catalog mailing and offering of free shipping and a certain % off AT ALL. :ahem:

I remembered someone saying that you should remember to shop through ebates w/them because you'd get an addition % off. I think it was only 5%, but hey. 5% is 5%!

I really need to use ebates more often. Goodness knows I do enough online shopping. It really wouldn't take that much more of my time to check and see if the place I want to purchase from is an ebates member and I can save a little extra.

You can click here to sign up: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?id=32655517 if you are interested. Plus I get a little kickback if you do end up making a purchase if you use my link. ;)

Pretty Pathways

Spring has Sprung here! For us that means time to think about yard work. It's not my favorite thing in the world, but it needs to be done. When I was out in the backyard the other day, I noticed that the area on the west side of the house was looking a little bare. Last year, the grass was always shorter in that area, I think because the dogs are always running back and forth and barking at the neighbor kids. lol

I've been trying to think of a way to make that area look a little bit better. I like the idea of putting down some Stepping Stones. I think they'd spruce up that area and help it to look a little less bare. It would make a nice pathway leading to and from the fence gate as well.

When I was looking around over at Online Discount Mart, I saw this great stone that I think my friend Jilley NEEDS to have! She lives on a farm and owns peacock. I think she needs this one! They have a great selection of really unique Stepping Stones. I had a lot of fun browsing around over there!

Toothpaste

Ok, I've been meaning to write this for some time now, I just haven't seemed to manage to find the time.

I grew up using Crest Toothpaste. When the hubster and I got together, he was a Colgate guy. In the interest of saving $, as I was a SAHW I went ahead and just started using Colgate. No need to buy 2 different kinds of toothpaste. Toothpaste is Toothpaste, right?

This went on for years until I was PG with Johanna and I couldn't STAND Colgate. In fact I ended up using Crest Kids Toothpaste, cause it was the only thing that didn't make me nauseated.

Afterwards, I went back to Colgate. Until I got PG with Ava. Then I just wanted to use Crest. Of course I could barely stand to brush my teeth with her either.

So A while back, I bought the hubster a 4pk of Colgate at Sams Club. Later that week I was in WM and they had it for $1/tube. You could buy 5. I had a coupon. So now we are at 9 tubes for him. At the same time, I bought myself a 2 pack of Crest.

I can't remember excatly when all this was, but I can tell you that since then, The hubster has gone through the 4 pack I bought at Sam's Club, and I am STILL using the same tube of Crest.

HTH can he go through 4 tubes when I haven't even gotten through ONE? I'm not brushing any less. There's the same amount in each tube? Is he just a wasteful slob? Probably!

I'd also like to add, that I enjoy having different colored toothpaste than he does. It is now GLARING obvious which one of us is spitting all over the sink/faucet/counter when we brush, and I will give you a hint here, it's NOT me! LOL He used to try and say how did I KNOW it was him. Well now I know, and he can't dispute it! Muahahahahahahaha

Anyway, that's my Toothpaste story. LOL

Do you guys have a brand you like better than the other? Is it the same one your spouse prefers? Is it the kind you used as a kid?

Discuss....

New Ride!

There I go being MIA again!

Vans, Vans and more Vans! I was Vanned out!! We spent the weekend looking at Vans, We spent Monday looking at Vans. We went to dealerships to look at Vans. We went to small, used car lots to look at Vans. We got online and looked at Vans. I DREAMT about looking at Vans.

Tuesday, we drove an about an hour away to Madison, SD. We got an email from a guy at Cars For Les up in Madison about a 2005 Town & Country they had. I emailed him telling him how much we had to spend and if he thought that was doable before we hauled both kids an hour away or not. He replied and said "it was close" we took that as salesman talk for "yes". LOL

So after an hour or so of the usual cat and mouse games, we left my grand-am with them, and brought home a van!

YAY! I'm SO glad to be done car shopping, at least for maybe another 10 years or so. LOL

So, I now have a Mom-mobile! Isn't it purty? Go Me!!

Duuuuuuuude!!

Are you looking for a good deal on a new Dell? Look no further than Cheapstingybargains.com There, you can find some great Dell Coupons and hot deals!

You all know how I love to find a good bargain, and this site is just chock full of them!

They have an extensive list of great Dell Deals, from Notebooks and Desktops to MP3 players and home audio systems.

You can also find a great deal on a digital camera through Dell. I know that quite a few of my friends shopped around for a good deal on a digital SLR only to end up buying one through Dell, because the price was amazing!

So if you are in the market for a new PC, MP3, Camera or even home audio system, be sure to stop by Cheapstingybargains.com before you buy!

Colds, Car Shopping, and Cats, Oh MY!

The girls are still snotting around. Fun times. LOL Thankfully the weather's warming up, and I've even opened a window or two during the day. We still have quite a bit of snow on the ground that needs to melt, but it's getting there.

Since it was so nice out yesterday, the Hubster talked me into going out to look at cars. It was less than successful. I seem to have champagne tastes on a beer budget! LOL I'm sure we will find something at some point, even if it means pitching in my PayPerPost money to help out! LOL

We also FINALLY got Ava to Stride Rite for her first real shoes. She's less than impressed. Oh and since we had to take the girls' seats in and out when test driving, when we put Ava's back in my car, we put it in forward facing. She was NOT dealing with all this change very well. By the time we headed home from supper last night tho, she seemed to be enjoying her new perspective.

We stayed up way to late last night. I was chatting with Laura and looking at cars online (I even dreamt about cars... UG!) There was some sort of big scuffle between the Dogs, and Wolfgang. The end result was a fluffy, wet cat, and two fluffy dogs. Wolfgang spent the night hiding out under our bed, despite the fact that the dogs are locked up in their crates all night.

We may go car shopping again today, if anyplace is open. I'm not sure if they are ot not. At the very least, Eric will be getting a Sunday paper when he heads over to Walgreen's to pick up a few pictures he had printed there.

I've got a good case of spring fever and decided to break out the girls' spring clothes. I've gotten Johannas' out so far, and am working on washing them. I weeded out some of her size 6 stuff, and put it a bag to bring to OUAC when they start taking Fall clothes. I'm sure she has more things I can weed out too, I just haven't caught up on her regular wash yet. lol

Hope everyone's having a good weekend, and I'm going to try and work on the Blog Party post too! I hope they plan on making it an annual, or even semi-annual event! It was a ton of fun!

Oriental Trading Company

The Oriental Trading Company has been around forever it seems like. I can remember being a young teen, and my cousins wife and and her SIL's would all go in together on an order to buy birthday or holiday supplies for the kids. I used to have a lot of fun looking through the catalog, in fact, I still do! By going in together on the order, they were able to save quite a bit on shipping costs. Thankfully today we have online coupons! There's currently a great Oriental Trading Company deal where you get 15% off AND Free shipping on orders of $60 or more. Seems like a lot to spend, but if you buy some Easter bunny supplies and maybe some birthday things, you'll be up there in no time! I also love how you can get a complete birthday party themed kit there, for a lot less that shopping at some of the better known party supply places. They usually even include a pinata too!

Yay For Friends with Coupons!

The Hubster has been wanting me to pick up a couple baby gifts for some friends at work. I meant to get to it last week, but I never did. My friend, Bobbie Jo sent me a 20% off coupon for Gymboree in the mail around the end of last week.

So yesterday, I took the baby over to the mall while J was at school, and we did some shopping.

Momma got her favorite Caribou Coffee drink, and then we hit Gymboree. They happen to have just started a 50% off sale too. Not only did I find the gifts I needed, I picked up some spring outfits for the girls (mostly J).

Then Ava and I hit B&BW for some soap and wallflowers re-fills.

Ava was SO funny. We had been to Wal-Mart to pick up some boring essentials before we went to the mall. She was just chatting up a storm with anyone who would listen. She was the same way at the mall, and continued chatting to me when we got home.

Later in the evening, she pushed a little chair over to mine, climbed up on it, and decided to have a talk with me. I grabbed the camera and made a little video. :)

Does it really work?

I'm always seeing ads on TV for Weight Loss Supplements like Hydroxycut, and I wonder, does that really work? Are these people for REAL, or did they just paste some gals head onto some other gal's body? Sure, you could head over to their website, but of course they are going to tell you it works, it's their site!

Supplement Judge is a great website devoted to educating consumers about supplements. They are dedicated to getting the supplement companies to be responsible, by providing useful, effective, and safe products.

They have a very user friendly site where you can search on all sorts of supplements, from the aforementioned Weight Loss supplements, to Body Building supplements, to your every day multi-vitamin. You can read reviews from people who have tried the product and also find the best place to find the best price on what you are looking for!

Monday, Again?!

Well, here we are and it's Monday again. I don't even go off to work, and I'm not a Monday fan. LOL Johanna looked at me this am and said "Mom, please don't tell me I have to go to school today!"

I said "You have to go to school today"

"Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom, I SAID don't tell me that!"

So yeah... It's Monday here. LOL

I'm trying to get my coat washed and dried before we have to leave. I was a bad Momma and didn't hang it up in the closet. I left it hanging from the railing post, and it got all furry. Imagine that... fur in a house with 4 pets. Really now, who would've figured.

I need to hit the grocery store. I should go to the MOMS Club meeting if I can. We'll have to see what time I get done at the store and whether or not Ava is awake or asleep.

Well, time to put the coat in the dryer and start our Monday. Bah.

Busy... sort of....

We were back to the grind today. I managed to get J to school on time this am. Ava and I grocery shopped and we came home after that and I put stuff away while she had a cookie and watched baby crack Einstein.

Yesterday or so, my board gals and I started up an old discussion. It's been quite refreshing. So I spent time this am, and later this afternoon chatting with them. Almost a year has gone by since there was a big change over there, and it's just nice to talk about it as a group.

We went out to Bk for lunch and then went to WM to do some additional shopping.

Ava fell asleep on the way home and after I brought that stuff in, I sat here, holding her and read my boards.

I hadn't even thought about checking in on PPP until now.

Eric came home and I realized I had totally forgotten about supper. LOL Looks like we're having fish sticks and fries instead of the chicken and rice I had planned on. He has a meeting tonite, so quick is good.

Ava's finally awake and wandering around. J's been doing classwork she missed when she was out on Friday.

AI tonite, and I'm pretty darn excited about it too!

Hope everyone is having a good Tuesday!

What Is beautiful to you?

Belisi asks, "What's Beautiful to You?"

Belisi has launched a new campaign, entitled "What's Beautiful to You?" Peter Belisi has said that there is more to beauty than just glitz and glamour. The most beautiful people he has seen are not models or celebrities, but everyday people, who make the world better. They've launched the "What's Beautiful to You" campaign with the hopes that others agree with his point of view.

My answer to this question? I see beauty everywhere. Beauty is my children. It's the way the care for one another and their friends. It's the frost covered trees, the animals at the zoo. It's the uniqueness of everyone and everything that surrounds me. Beauty isn't just a look, it's a feeling. It's how you feel when your husband looks at you, even when you are in your PJ's. It's how your daughter tells you are the prettiest Momma in the world, when you are frazzled from taking care of a crabby baby all day. Beauty is the everyday things in life that we sometimes take for granted.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Belisi brand, they manufacture beautiful high-end, ties, scarves and handbags.

To compliment this campaign, they will be giving away $100 Belisi gift cards for the best comments left on the Being Belisi blog.

So head on over to their blog, and tell them what is beautiful to you!