It's almost upon us...the official start of the holiday shopping season. To help you plan your early morning escapades (or for me, my early morning online shopping!), here's a very handy web site:
http://bfads.net/
Happy browsing!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Raise your hand...
if your choice of beverage in the school cafeteria was chocolate milk.
Raise your hand again if you were not an obese child (we won't talk about what we've morphed into as an adult!)
I stumbled upon this little gem on Yahoo:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/should-chocolate-milk-be-offered-in-schools-544379/
Are you kidding me? Banning chocolate milk from school cafeterias? Chocolate milk (and strawberry milk, for that matter) was a staple in our cafeteria way back in the 1980s. And we were not fat kids.
But, then again, we had recess twice per day for a total of 45 minutes to an hour. We had gym class at least once per week. We played outside after school until it got dark. We played outside on the weekends. We all owned bikes, and used them frequently. We were ACTIVE.
Wake up nutritionists. Wake up school administrators. And, wake up PARENTS! The problem is not what's served in the school cafeteria. It's not the occasional cupcake or cookie to celebrate a classmate's birthday. And, it's not holiday parties that revolved around homemade treats and potato chips.
The problem, as I see it, is two-fold. And as full time working mom of three active, healthy-weight kids who eat a pretty well balanced diet, I think I've earned the right to speak out about this.
First, and foremost, many parents these days have gone soft on teaching good eating habits at home. Your toddler won't try veggies? Too bad! Keep trying until they do find something they like. "Picky eater" is the lamest excuse in the book. I have a "picky eater" but she knows she eats what she gets, or doesn't eat. And, don't let them rule the kitchen. You are not a short-order cook, and kids will generally NOT starve themselves to death because they are picky eaters. Eventually, most will eat those carrots or grilled chicken.
Second, kids are lazy. Yes, I said it. Lazy. Take away the DS, XBOX, computer, and TV. Buy them a bike or scooter for the weekends. Get them involved in SOMETHING physical during the week. Swim team and martial arts are great activities for kids that aren't into contact sports. So is tennis.
So, how about not depriving the kids who regularly eat well, who are active, and are a healthy weight for their age. Chocolate milk is certainly a better option then, say, Hi-C, and by far is not the worst offender at lunch in the fight against childhood obesity. Let the kids have those extra 60 calories, and give them an extra 30 minutes of recess time to burn it off!
Raise your hand again if you were not an obese child (we won't talk about what we've morphed into as an adult!)
I stumbled upon this little gem on Yahoo:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/should-chocolate-milk-be-offered-in-schools-544379/
Are you kidding me? Banning chocolate milk from school cafeterias? Chocolate milk (and strawberry milk, for that matter) was a staple in our cafeteria way back in the 1980s. And we were not fat kids.
But, then again, we had recess twice per day for a total of 45 minutes to an hour. We had gym class at least once per week. We played outside after school until it got dark. We played outside on the weekends. We all owned bikes, and used them frequently. We were ACTIVE.
Wake up nutritionists. Wake up school administrators. And, wake up PARENTS! The problem is not what's served in the school cafeteria. It's not the occasional cupcake or cookie to celebrate a classmate's birthday. And, it's not holiday parties that revolved around homemade treats and potato chips.
The problem, as I see it, is two-fold. And as full time working mom of three active, healthy-weight kids who eat a pretty well balanced diet, I think I've earned the right to speak out about this.
First, and foremost, many parents these days have gone soft on teaching good eating habits at home. Your toddler won't try veggies? Too bad! Keep trying until they do find something they like. "Picky eater" is the lamest excuse in the book. I have a "picky eater" but she knows she eats what she gets, or doesn't eat. And, don't let them rule the kitchen. You are not a short-order cook, and kids will generally NOT starve themselves to death because they are picky eaters. Eventually, most will eat those carrots or grilled chicken.
Second, kids are lazy. Yes, I said it. Lazy. Take away the DS, XBOX, computer, and TV. Buy them a bike or scooter for the weekends. Get them involved in SOMETHING physical during the week. Swim team and martial arts are great activities for kids that aren't into contact sports. So is tennis.
So, how about not depriving the kids who regularly eat well, who are active, and are a healthy weight for their age. Chocolate milk is certainly a better option then, say, Hi-C, and by far is not the worst offender at lunch in the fight against childhood obesity. Let the kids have those extra 60 calories, and give them an extra 30 minutes of recess time to burn it off!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
And so it begins...
It's not even Halloween yet, and already it's time to think about Christmas. Or so the retail world wants us to believe.
Target has begun to put out their holiday decorating goods, right next to the not-quite-on-clearance-yet Halloween merchandise. You can pick up a costume and a set of icicle lights in the same $100 shopping trip. Efficient, yes, but it's just not right! It'll be ok by me come next week, when the Halloween candy is on clearance.
CVS has offered their email subscribers a "sneak peek" at their Black Friday ad. I'm not sure how it's a sneak peek if you can order these items online at the stated prices, until November 1. Last I checked, November 1 was still almost 4 weeks before Black Friday. And, who's to say these are the actual Black Friday prices? Maybe I'll do some investigative blogging, and report back when the Black Friday ads are available for real. But, that's not the point of this entry. The point is, CVS is already talking about Black Friday ads, and we haven't even changed the calendar to November yet!
I love the holidays as much as the next non-Scrooge, but this is just crazy talk. I'm still trying to enjoy those last few weeks of true Autumn, before the trees are bare. It's still the season for scarecrows and pumpkins and regular season football. I'm not ready to write out Holiday cards, or shop for gifts, or put up the lights. I know I'm not alone. Please tell me I'm not alone!
Target has begun to put out their holiday decorating goods, right next to the not-quite-on-clearance-yet Halloween merchandise. You can pick up a costume and a set of icicle lights in the same $100 shopping trip. Efficient, yes, but it's just not right! It'll be ok by me come next week, when the Halloween candy is on clearance.
CVS has offered their email subscribers a "sneak peek" at their Black Friday ad. I'm not sure how it's a sneak peek if you can order these items online at the stated prices, until November 1. Last I checked, November 1 was still almost 4 weeks before Black Friday. And, who's to say these are the actual Black Friday prices? Maybe I'll do some investigative blogging, and report back when the Black Friday ads are available for real. But, that's not the point of this entry. The point is, CVS is already talking about Black Friday ads, and we haven't even changed the calendar to November yet!
I love the holidays as much as the next non-Scrooge, but this is just crazy talk. I'm still trying to enjoy those last few weeks of true Autumn, before the trees are bare. It's still the season for scarecrows and pumpkins and regular season football. I'm not ready to write out Holiday cards, or shop for gifts, or put up the lights. I know I'm not alone. Please tell me I'm not alone!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Target
I love Target.
But, I have to ask, what is it about that place that inherently makes me put $100 worth of merchandise in my cart? Do they emit some sort of basic math neuro-blocker through the air vents? Do they broadcast subliminal messages through the PA system? What's the deal?
It doesn't matter what's on the list. It could be cat food and school supplies. It could be shampoo and kids' underwear. Today, it was (several bottles of) juice, a bag (or two) of candy for my little one's Halloween party (and mommy's desk!), Ziplok bags, a small baby gift for a friend, hair conditioner for me and the girls, a cover for my new iPod touch, and a 12-pack of soda. somehow, I walked out with all of those items, PLUS and extra bottle of shampoo for the kids, some, um, feminine products, footless stockings for big girl's costume, and, oh yeah, a $25 Halloween costume for my indecisive almost 4 year old (I want to be a pumpkin. No, I want to be a witch. Mommy, I promise, I'm not going to change my mind again!). I did not get the iPod cover. Grand total: $94 and change. It would have been $100 if I had gone with the stretch pants over the cheaper stockings.
I'd like to say the easy solution is to just avoid Target. But, I may have withdrawal symptoms. I could send the hubby instead. But, he would choose Walmart, and that place has the same effect on him. So, what's a girl to do?
But, I have to ask, what is it about that place that inherently makes me put $100 worth of merchandise in my cart? Do they emit some sort of basic math neuro-blocker through the air vents? Do they broadcast subliminal messages through the PA system? What's the deal?
It doesn't matter what's on the list. It could be cat food and school supplies. It could be shampoo and kids' underwear. Today, it was (several bottles of) juice, a bag (or two) of candy for my little one's Halloween party (and mommy's desk!), Ziplok bags, a small baby gift for a friend, hair conditioner for me and the girls, a cover for my new iPod touch, and a 12-pack of soda. somehow, I walked out with all of those items, PLUS and extra bottle of shampoo for the kids, some, um, feminine products, footless stockings for big girl's costume, and, oh yeah, a $25 Halloween costume for my indecisive almost 4 year old (I want to be a pumpkin. No, I want to be a witch. Mommy, I promise, I'm not going to change my mind again!). I did not get the iPod cover. Grand total: $94 and change. It would have been $100 if I had gone with the stretch pants over the cheaper stockings.
I'd like to say the easy solution is to just avoid Target. But, I may have withdrawal symptoms. I could send the hubby instead. But, he would choose Walmart, and that place has the same effect on him. So, what's a girl to do?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Love-hate relationship
That's what I have with my new Wii Fit Plus.
Let me start by saying that it's a lot of fun. That's the love part of the relationship. I do, however, gravitate towards games that have me trying to better my previous performance, such as Bejeweled Blitz. :P With the Wii Fit Plus, I'm getting some exercise, while playing games to better my personal score. The games i've tried so far are only about 2-3 minutes long, so it's conducive to repeating the BONUS: I have an ultra-competitive husband that will try to beat my scores in the Wii Fit games (let's not tell him that he's getting some exercise in the process, 'k?). I have not tried all of the activities yet, but my favorites so far are hula-hooping and biking.
Here's the hate part: the balance board acts as a scale. And, the Wii calculates your BMI based on the height you input (I should have told it I am 5' 11" tall!). As if that's not bad enough, it morphs your Mii to reflect your weight. My Mii became a chubby momma. I hope she becomes thinner if I do!
Do I think this is a long-term fitness tool? Probably not. But it's a good start for someone like me, who hasn't exercised regularly in eons. And, it may even be a good tool for those in-between days for a more advanced work-out routine. And, most importantly, it's FUN!
Let me start by saying that it's a lot of fun. That's the love part of the relationship. I do, however, gravitate towards games that have me trying to better my previous performance, such as Bejeweled Blitz. :P With the Wii Fit Plus, I'm getting some exercise, while playing games to better my personal score. The games i've tried so far are only about 2-3 minutes long, so it's conducive to repeating the BONUS: I have an ultra-competitive husband that will try to beat my scores in the Wii Fit games (let's not tell him that he's getting some exercise in the process, 'k?). I have not tried all of the activities yet, but my favorites so far are hula-hooping and biking.
Here's the hate part: the balance board acts as a scale. And, the Wii calculates your BMI based on the height you input (I should have told it I am 5' 11" tall!). As if that's not bad enough, it morphs your Mii to reflect your weight. My Mii became a chubby momma. I hope she becomes thinner if I do!
Do I think this is a long-term fitness tool? Probably not. But it's a good start for someone like me, who hasn't exercised regularly in eons. And, it may even be a good tool for those in-between days for a more advanced work-out routine. And, most importantly, it's FUN!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wow...I have followers!
Now I feel the urge to post more often. :) Unfortunately, that "busy mom" part of my "busy mom's diary" is getting in the way! I need to either work less hours or hire a personal assistant. Neither option is happening any time soon. One can dream, right?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Ebay, part 2
Now, apparently, is the time to shop for Halloween costumes on ebay.
My oldest girl, age 7.5 years old, is, much to my chagrin, a huge Hannah Montana fan. (Thankfully, not so huge of a fan that I'm obligated to take her to an overpriced concert!). She has decided that she wants to be Hannah Montana for Halloween. Ok, that's easy enough, and a little less obnoxious than the Bratz-inspired cheerleader costumes. But, I digress. We went into our semi-local Halloween Adventure store this weekend, and the blond wig alone (a necessity for my little curly-haired brunette!) was $6.99.
Enter the wonder known as ebay. I was on the site anyway, looking for the shipping information for the student who bought my old molecular bio textbook (which sold for $40.01). Since I was already wasting time at work, I decided to start my costume search. And, there it was, in the last hours of a 7 day auction, still waiting for a bid. It's NWT, and contains a skirt, top, belt, microphone, AND wig. Starting bid was $12.95. I bought it for $12.95. SCORE!!!!
My oldest girl, age 7.5 years old, is, much to my chagrin, a huge Hannah Montana fan. (Thankfully, not so huge of a fan that I'm obligated to take her to an overpriced concert!). She has decided that she wants to be Hannah Montana for Halloween. Ok, that's easy enough, and a little less obnoxious than the Bratz-inspired cheerleader costumes.
Enter the wonder known as ebay. I was on the site anyway, looking for the shipping information for the student who bought my old molecular bio textbook (which sold for $40.01). Since I was already wasting time at work, I decided to start my costume search. And, there it was, in the last hours of a 7 day auction, still waiting for a bid. It's NWT, and contains a skirt, top, belt, microphone, AND wig. Starting bid was $12.95. I bought it for $12.95. SCORE!!!!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Ebay and Flonase
No, I didn't buy prescription allergy medication on an online auction site!
I just found out that Ebay will allow up to 5 listings per month with no insertion fee. Pretty cool! I listed a textbook that I used in a grad class (that I ended up dropping, but that's another story for another day!). It's a molecular biology text, Genes IX, if anyone is interested. ;-) I'll be scouring the house for more items to list in the coming days. I'm thinking old Halloween costumes, those hardly-worn soccer cleats, and maybe the NCAA 09 football game I bought the hubby for the XBOX 360, that he apparently doesn't like. (OK, so I'll ask him about it first....selling it without his permission could cause marital issues!) So, if you're looking to purge some decent-quality stuff, and don't mind dealing with shipping, here's an option for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I finally took myself tot he doctor this week, for the first time in 3 years. The problem was a persistent cough brought on by my insanely potent allergy to ragweed. The diagnosis was a sinus infection and an "early case of bronchitis" My awesome doc gave me a prescription for generic flonase to compliment the Zyrtec I take for the allergies. Generic flonase smells like flowers. That's really not a bad thing, except that I'm also allergic to flower pollen, and this medication makes me think my eyes and nose will itch incessantly, a la Pavlov's dogs. I smell it, and immediately want to rub my eyes and blow my nose, even though it's not irritating me at all. It's just a little quirky thing I had to share.
I just found out that Ebay will allow up to 5 listings per month with no insertion fee. Pretty cool! I listed a textbook that I used in a grad class (that I ended up dropping, but that's another story for another day!). It's a molecular biology text, Genes IX, if anyone is interested. ;-) I'll be scouring the house for more items to list in the coming days. I'm thinking old Halloween costumes, those hardly-worn soccer cleats, and maybe the NCAA 09 football game I bought the hubby for the XBOX 360, that he apparently doesn't like. (OK, so I'll ask him about it first....selling it without his permission could cause marital issues!) So, if you're looking to purge some decent-quality stuff, and don't mind dealing with shipping, here's an option for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I finally took myself tot he doctor this week, for the first time in 3 years. The problem was a persistent cough brought on by my insanely potent allergy to ragweed. The diagnosis was a sinus infection and an "early case of bronchitis" My awesome doc gave me a prescription for generic flonase to compliment the Zyrtec I take for the allergies. Generic flonase smells like flowers. That's really not a bad thing, except that I'm also allergic to flower pollen, and this medication makes me think my eyes and nose will itch incessantly, a la Pavlov's dogs. I smell it, and immediately want to rub my eyes and blow my nose, even though it's not irritating me at all. It's just a little quirky thing I had to share.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Orange creamcicles
Nothing says summertime treat to me more than an orange creamcicle. This, to me, is literally heaven on a stick. But one disappointing creamcicle experience has led me on a journey to find the creme de la creme of the frozen pops. You see, store brands may claim that they are as good as name brands, but experience is teaching me otherwise.
GIANT brand creamcicles have inspired this quest. Yes, it's a store-brand pop, but that doesn't mean it has to be less-than-inspiring. This pop (and I've eaten two to verify!) screams of lower quality. The orange sherbert "shell" is too solid, and the vanilla ice cream center tastes like the wooden stick that makes it a popcicle. Very disappointing.
ACME brand creamcicles are a step up from GIANT brand. While still a store brand, it is a economical lternative to name brands. My only complaint is the piddly amount of ice cream in these pops. It takes two full bites from the top to reach that vanilla goodness.
GREEN's orange creamciles. The best I've tried so far. Perfect proportions of orange shell and scrumptious Green's vanilla ice cream. The shell has a sherbert consistency, making it easy to bite. The perfect pop. I'd be hard-pressed to find a better quality frozen treat.
The quest will continue, though, as there are many more grocery stores and, I'm sure, more brand name pops to sample.
Until next time...
GIANT brand creamcicles have inspired this quest. Yes, it's a store-brand pop, but that doesn't mean it has to be less-than-inspiring. This pop (and I've eaten two to verify!) screams of lower quality. The orange sherbert "shell" is too solid, and the vanilla ice cream center tastes like the wooden stick that makes it a popcicle. Very disappointing.
ACME brand creamcicles are a step up from GIANT brand. While still a store brand, it is a economical lternative to name brands. My only complaint is the piddly amount of ice cream in these pops. It takes two full bites from the top to reach that vanilla goodness.
GREEN's orange creamciles. The best I've tried so far. Perfect proportions of orange shell and scrumptious Green's vanilla ice cream. The shell has a sherbert consistency, making it easy to bite. The perfect pop. I'd be hard-pressed to find a better quality frozen treat.
The quest will continue, though, as there are many more grocery stores and, I'm sure, more brand name pops to sample.
Until next time...
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Deals
It looks like the back to school sales are dwindling.
One great deal, for this weekend only...
www.disneystore.com
When you buy select backpacks, you get the matching lunch bag for free. Backpacks range from $19.50 to $24.50, and the lunch bags are $10.50 to $12.50. So, it's a pretty good deal! We'll be getting the Hannah Montana, Cinderella, and pink Princess sets. The joys of having three girls.
www.target.com
There are still some school supplies on sale, but they are focsing on the "college dorm" stocking this week. That's great if you're looking for the essentials like laundry soap, headache remedies, etc. Another item to note (because I'm specifically looking for this) is the Circo Storage Organizer, four levels of racks and a dozen or so plastic bins...great for toy storage. We have two, we're looking for two more. They are normally $59.99, marked down to $39 this week! I'll be making a Target run this week for sure!
Until next time...
One great deal, for this weekend only...
www.disneystore.com
When you buy select backpacks, you get the matching lunch bag for free. Backpacks range from $19.50 to $24.50, and the lunch bags are $10.50 to $12.50. So, it's a pretty good deal! We'll be getting the Hannah Montana, Cinderella, and pink Princess sets. The joys of having three girls.
www.target.com
There are still some school supplies on sale, but they are focsing on the "college dorm" stocking this week. That's great if you're looking for the essentials like laundry soap, headache remedies, etc. Another item to note (because I'm specifically looking for this) is the Circo Storage Organizer, four levels of racks and a dozen or so plastic bins...great for toy storage. We have two, we're looking for two more. They are normally $59.99, marked down to $39 this week! I'll be making a Target run this week for sure!
Until next time...
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Thanks Sears Auto!
I hate shopping for tires. Hate it. And for good reason. With bad experiences with both NTB and Just Tires, and being a chick, to boot, it's just not a fun experience. So, when our Silverado needed tires, I cringed at the thought of dealing with it. And, I'm not sure how this duty got delegated to me in the first place. Isn't this a guy job?
Sears has been on the "do not shop here" list in the past for other offenses. So, they weren't at the top of my list for tire shopping. After looking around, I decided that I'd go to the Goodyear tire place. You can almost not go wrong with Goodyear tires, and I'd rather pay a little more there than take my business back to one of the above listed tire retailers.
On a whim, I checked sears.com for tire prices on Goodyear Wrangler tires. Skimming through 48 tires that fit my truck, suddenly I heard the angels singing, and the lights shining from the heavens. There they were. Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tires, for $132 each (plus installation). Marked down from $179 each. Yes, that's a $47 PER TIRE savings.
I got on the phone with the Sears Auto Center in the Concord Mall,, to make sure they had these bargains in stock. Lo and behold they did, and they were even cheaper than the web price listed...just under $129 each (hey,$3 is $3, right?). SCORE! I reserved the tires and headed on my way.
The service staff were awesome, and treated me great. The mechanics were very professional. The job was done, including oil change and front end alignment, in the estimated 2 hours. I couldn't ask for anything more. I will take my truck back to them for service in the future, and will buy our next set of tires there, whether it's for the truck, or our Camry.
Until next time...
Sears has been on the "do not shop here" list in the past for other offenses. So, they weren't at the top of my list for tire shopping. After looking around, I decided that I'd go to the Goodyear tire place. You can almost not go wrong with Goodyear tires, and I'd rather pay a little more there than take my business back to one of the above listed tire retailers.
On a whim, I checked sears.com for tire prices on Goodyear Wrangler tires. Skimming through 48 tires that fit my truck, suddenly I heard the angels singing, and the lights shining from the heavens. There they were. Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tires, for $132 each (plus installation). Marked down from $179 each. Yes, that's a $47 PER TIRE savings.
I got on the phone with the Sears Auto Center in the Concord Mall,, to make sure they had these bargains in stock. Lo and behold they did, and they were even cheaper than the web price listed...just under $129 each (hey,$3 is $3, right?). SCORE! I reserved the tires and headed on my way.
The service staff were awesome, and treated me great. The mechanics were very professional. The job was done, including oil change and front end alignment, in the estimated 2 hours. I couldn't ask for anything more. I will take my truck back to them for service in the future, and will buy our next set of tires there, whether it's for the truck, or our Camry.
Until next time...
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
My favorite websites
Who doesn't have a favorite website to share? I have a few. Ok, several. Here they are, in no particular order. I don't get anything for sharing these sites with you (well, except the last one...). This is just me, a blogger, sharing some of my most favorite places in cyberspace.
www.sparkpeople.com. It's a FREE weight loss tool, where you can record what you've eaten, how much exercise, etc. You set your own goals, set your calorie limits, choose which nutrients to track (sodium, cholesterol, calcium, to name a few). There are message boards, recipes, and you can have your own "sparkpage", a profile page where you can blog, track your successes, and much, much more. That description doesn't do this site justice. At all. Check it out and see for yourself.
www.imdb.com. Let's say you're watching a movie, and that actor looks so familiar, but you can't place him. Look him up on this web site and get a list of EVERY credit he's had in movies, TV, and even voice work in video games. It's also where I go to get the dirt on my Hollywood crush of the moment.
www.facebook.com If you're into social networking, you get it.
www.couponmom.com, a great link to find printable grocery coupons. And, they are valid coupons. I've never had a problem with them being accepted at the grocery store.
www.allrecipes.com. This is my all-time favorite recipe website. I've planned entire holiday meals with the help of this site. You can find everything on there, from main dishes to desserts. Appetizers to sides. I'm not a great cook, so I seek out recipes with at least a couple dozen reviews, and at least 4 stars. This way, I know I don't have to do anything special to make it work. Many of the reviewers will add hints or tips in their review. There is a Recipe Box feature that allows you to store your favorite recipes for quick reference in the future. Very cool.
www.wmmr.com (the best rock station EVER) and www.prestonandsteve.com (the best morning show on the best rock station EVER) You can stream their broadcasts live and listen to awesome rock music online, and download podcasts of the morning show. The morning show is hilarious. Like snarf your morning beverage hilarious. I've spent many mornings in my car at work, listening until a commercial break comes on. It's seriously LOL funny.
www.hulu.com. Find old episodes of your favorite shows online. Even Macgyver. :)
And, last, but not least, I will pimp myself on my own blog. www.tastefullysimple.com/web/akrauss. Yes, I'm a consultant. Yes, the products are really as easy to prepare as we claim they are. And are totally delish. Take our top product, Bountiful Beer Bread. Pour the mix into a bowl, add a bottle of beer (or 12 oz of any carbonated beverage), mix, pour into a loaf pan and bake according to the directions on the box. These products are great for entertaining, and great for gifts for teachers, caregivers, and all those other hard-to-buy-for people on your list!
That's all for now. Until next time...
www.sparkpeople.com. It's a FREE weight loss tool, where you can record what you've eaten, how much exercise, etc. You set your own goals, set your calorie limits, choose which nutrients to track (sodium, cholesterol, calcium, to name a few). There are message boards, recipes, and you can have your own "sparkpage", a profile page where you can blog, track your successes, and much, much more. That description doesn't do this site justice. At all. Check it out and see for yourself.
www.imdb.com. Let's say you're watching a movie, and that actor looks so familiar, but you can't place him. Look him up on this web site and get a list of EVERY credit he's had in movies, TV, and even voice work in video games. It's also where I go to get the dirt on my Hollywood crush of the moment.
www.facebook.com If you're into social networking, you get it.
www.couponmom.com, a great link to find printable grocery coupons. And, they are valid coupons. I've never had a problem with them being accepted at the grocery store.
www.allrecipes.com. This is my all-time favorite recipe website. I've planned entire holiday meals with the help of this site. You can find everything on there, from main dishes to desserts. Appetizers to sides. I'm not a great cook, so I seek out recipes with at least a couple dozen reviews, and at least 4 stars. This way, I know I don't have to do anything special to make it work. Many of the reviewers will add hints or tips in their review. There is a Recipe Box feature that allows you to store your favorite recipes for quick reference in the future. Very cool.
www.wmmr.com (the best rock station EVER) and www.prestonandsteve.com (the best morning show on the best rock station EVER) You can stream their broadcasts live and listen to awesome rock music online, and download podcasts of the morning show. The morning show is hilarious. Like snarf your morning beverage hilarious. I've spent many mornings in my car at work, listening until a commercial break comes on. It's seriously LOL funny.
www.hulu.com. Find old episodes of your favorite shows online. Even Macgyver. :)
And, last, but not least, I will pimp myself on my own blog. www.tastefullysimple.com/web/akrauss. Yes, I'm a consultant. Yes, the products are really as easy to prepare as we claim they are. And are totally delish. Take our top product, Bountiful Beer Bread. Pour the mix into a bowl, add a bottle of beer (or 12 oz of any carbonated beverage), mix, pour into a loaf pan and bake according to the directions on the box. These products are great for entertaining, and great for gifts for teachers, caregivers, and all those other hard-to-buy-for people on your list!
That's all for now. Until next time...
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sales, sales, sales!
Back-to-school time = big sales. Even if you're kids are n't in school, it's a good time to stock up on office supplies, or arts and crafts supplies for your preschooler or toddler. So, here we go, starting with my all-time favorite store, Target (www.target.com)! Please be aware that prices do fluctuate from region to region, so prices may be different where you live!
For $0.50 each, you can get a 10 pack of Paper-mate pens, a hard plastic pencil case (great for keeping homework supplies at home all in one place!), water color paint, and book covers.
For $1 each, you can get a six-pack of Elmoer's glue sticks, Mead spiral bound 1 subject notebooks with the vinyl cover, or a 2-pack of sharpie markers.
And, that's just from the weekly sales ad cover!
Firther in the ad, you'll find character lunch boxes for $8, Girls and boys Circo brand jeans for $7 (my daughter had a couple of pairs of these that held up fairly well until she outgrew them), girls size 4-16 tees or leggins for $4 each, boys 4-16 tees or shorts for $3 each, and a ton of other stuff on sale.
If Target hasn't come to your neighborhood yet, you're probably within a 20 minute drive of a Walmart. Sometimes convenience rules, so here's what's in my local ad:
If you need those 2-pocket solid coloerd folders, or generic 70 page spiral notebooks, Walmart has them for $0.15 each this week.
For $0.25 each, there are 24 pack of crayola crayons, 4 oz Emlers washable glue, or 2-pack of Elmer's glue sticks (a better deal than the 6-pack at Target).
A dollar will get you a 10 pack of Crayola markers, 24 pack of #2 pencils, and a 12 pack of colored pencils.
You can also pick up a backpack or a TI scientific calculator for $9, Purell hand sanitizer for $2, and a 3 box pac of Puffs tissues for $3.24
Land's End is offering 25% off their uniform polos, tees and tops, and $5 off their backpacks.
To be continued...
For $0.50 each, you can get a 10 pack of Paper-mate pens, a hard plastic pencil case (great for keeping homework supplies at home all in one place!), water color paint, and book covers.
For $1 each, you can get a six-pack of Elmoer's glue sticks, Mead spiral bound 1 subject notebooks with the vinyl cover, or a 2-pack of sharpie markers.
And, that's just from the weekly sales ad cover!
Firther in the ad, you'll find character lunch boxes for $8, Girls and boys Circo brand jeans for $7 (my daughter had a couple of pairs of these that held up fairly well until she outgrew them), girls size 4-16 tees or leggins for $4 each, boys 4-16 tees or shorts for $3 each, and a ton of other stuff on sale.
If Target hasn't come to your neighborhood yet, you're probably within a 20 minute drive of a Walmart. Sometimes convenience rules, so here's what's in my local ad:
If you need those 2-pocket solid coloerd folders, or generic 70 page spiral notebooks, Walmart has them for $0.15 each this week.
For $0.25 each, there are 24 pack of crayola crayons, 4 oz Emlers washable glue, or 2-pack of Elmer's glue sticks (a better deal than the 6-pack at Target).
A dollar will get you a 10 pack of Crayola markers, 24 pack of #2 pencils, and a 12 pack of colored pencils.
You can also pick up a backpack or a TI scientific calculator for $9, Purell hand sanitizer for $2, and a 3 box pac of Puffs tissues for $3.24
Land's End is offering 25% off their uniform polos, tees and tops, and $5 off their backpacks.
To be continued...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I watched a movie!
I finally saw "The Happening" (2008), starring "Marky" Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel http://www.thehappeningmovie.com/ Yes, it's been out on DVD for 9 months or so, but I'm a busy mom and a little behind on the movies.
I'll admit, the movie scared the bejeebers out of me. In that sense, I enjoyed it. However, the ending didn't really reveal anything we didn't already suspect, and actually left some elements of the movie hanging.
It was worth watching once, but I don't think I'd bother with it again. I feel that way about all M. Night Shyamalan movies, though, except "The Sixth Sense".
Until next time, when I skim through my emails and see if there are any must-have deals out there...
I'll admit, the movie scared the bejeebers out of me. In that sense, I enjoyed it. However, the ending didn't really reveal anything we didn't already suspect, and actually left some elements of the movie hanging.
It was worth watching once, but I don't think I'd bother with it again. I feel that way about all M. Night Shyamalan movies, though, except "The Sixth Sense".
Until next time, when I skim through my emails and see if there are any must-have deals out there...
Friday, July 24, 2009
I'm officially a blogger!
Here I am, trying my hand at blogging.
What you won't see me post are the trivial details of my life and daily activities. I am very busy, but I'm also pretty boring. Do you really care that some jerk driver set my day off in a bad direction? Or that I forgot to buy dog food at Target? Probably not (unless, of course, you're my dog.) You also won't read political rants, or actually, rants of any nature. No brags about my kids, no complaints about my mother.
What you will see me post are:
* Quick, easy, healthy recipes that my kids enjoyed.
* Deals I've stumbled across in my travels or in my inbox.
* My personal reviews of certain products (but only if it's something I absolutely love and cn't live without, or something I absolutely hate!), movies (especially kid movies), books (if I find the time to read, I'm working on the Twilight series right now!), and cars.
* An occasional tidbit on medical conditions, as I've learned a ton over the years with my kids.
* Gift ideas for teachers, coaches, day care providers, and those other hard-to-buy-for people.
* Fundraisers and charity events.
Until next time...
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