mamasaysmine

Things have been busy around here lately, and they’re only getting busier.  When this happens to you, do you find that you’re just passing your loved ones in the halls?  I’ll admit it.  I do. Some months seem to simply be about survival, and April is one of those at our house.

This time, though, I don’t want to wake up May 1 wondering how I managed to go an entire month without a meaningful discussion with my husband.

As cheeseball as it may be, these conversation starters from the April 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan will be put to use at our house, and I invite you to bring them into yours too.

1. Where is the number one place you’re dying to visit, and what would you do there?
2. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
3. If you could go back in time and change one thing about your life, what would you do differently?
4. What’s your most embarrassing childhood memory?
5. Which adventure would you be most tempted to try: skydiving, white-water rafting, or race-car driving?
6. Which character from a book, movie or TV show do you relate to most?
7. If you could take private lessons to master any skill, what would you choose to learn?
8. If you could be more like me in any way, what trait of mine would you select?
9. Would you rather be rich, smart, famous, or gorgeous? (you can only pick one!)
10. If you won a $10 million lottery but couldn’t spend the money on yourself, what would you do with it?

Happy Monday!  I’m able to give away over $120 in coupons from my stash… I won’t be shopping as much in April (at least, not for food) because Hurricane Eva and I are headed to LA for two weeks to help a friend get ready for her wedding and then celebrate that wedding.  We had about six inches of snow this weekend, so I can hardly wait. 

(note to self:  when I complain about the occasionally mind-numbing nature of being a stay-at-home mom, remember that it allows me to go help a friend in LA for two weeks and that no job would possibly allow me that flexibility.)

Since I’ve got weddings on the brain (and some wedding-related posts planned), to enter the contest, leave a comment telling me the best wedding gift you’ve given or received.  It doesn’t have to be the most frugal or the most creative.  Just your favorite.   My favorite?  A dear family friend wrote down all of her recipes, including her famous fried chicken, for me.  I still treasure them, especially now that she has passed on.

The giveaway is open until Midnight, Monday, April 5.  US & Canadian residents only, please! 

Mamas, it’s that time of year again.  Hurricane season, tornado season, flood season and yes, even the end of blizzard season (hello, Colorado!).  Since moving to the midwest from Florida, where I had a nicely stocked emergency stash, I’ve slacked off big time.  I’ll never forget my first winter here - we had an ice storm which knocked our power out for a few days.  I went down to our emergency supplies and was less than enthused to find that it mostly consisted of portable fans.  Great in a hurricane, less than great in an ice storm.

Other than stockpiling water, I’ve never been great about stockpiling people food. I used to have a stash of MREs that I would then take to the office as my “forgot my lunch stash” once hurricane season is over, but that all fell by the wayside when we moved.

However, last year’s historic flooding, combined with the fact that I have a toddler around (and therefore subsisting on our canned goods in the pantry for days might add stress to an already stressful situation), I’m looking for more substantial fare to get us through an emergency.

Enter Daily Bread. These meals actually look edible (let me tell you, the word delicious rarely applies to emergency supplies), they have a 25 year shelf life (!!!) and they’ll send you a free sample to test them out. Click here to give Daily Bread a try.

Feeling less than inspired to build an emergency stash? Let me speak frankly for a moment. Ever feel anxiety? Maybe about natural disasters? And what would happen to your family? DO SOMETHING. Action will help relieve the anxious feelings and you can remind yourself that you’ve taken this step toward preparedness when you’re up late at night worrying. It’ll help. Trust me.

Thanks to My Penny Pile for the freebie tip - gave me some much-needed motivation to get back on track with our emergency preparedness!

My allergies have been raging, right along with the weather here in the Midwest. (This week has seen spring temps, par-worthy weather and, today, snow.  This is not unusual, sadly.)

 Turns out that not only is the Midwest the breadbasket of the nation, it is also the allergen-basket of the nation.  

My first spring & summer back in the Midwest wasn’t bad (similar to my first winter in Florida where I didn’t wear socks the whole time, because it was so darn warm).  Last spring & summer involved heavy drug use.  ALLERGY DRUGS, people.

Here’s allergy medication’s dirty little secret:  there’s no way to just figure out the right one for you.   If you don’t get lucky right out of the gate, you just have to keep buying and trying them.

Here’s my embarrassing little secret:  I spent half of last summer forgetting that Claritin didn’t work for me and stocked up on it every time it was on sale.  Then I’d get home and say bad words.

Finally, I discovered Zyrtec and life was worth living again.  (and I removed all Claritin from the house.)(it DOES work for my brother-in-law, and I think he’s stocked for months)

But, Zyrtec is $20 and change for 30 pills.   So, when Walgreens had an Easy Saver Rebate for something like $2.99 off a $4.99 pack of 5 Wal-Zyr (really? who thinks of these names?) I happily poinied up the cash.

Want to know what? It was awful.

It worked for a few hours, then left me with only side effects (muddled thinking, dry mouth) and no actual alleviation of symptoms.

How is this possible? My stupid insurance company believes so strongly in generics that they refuse to pay for brand-name prescription drugs, even when medically necessary. Not that my insurance company is the standard I hold all others to when it comes to my health care, but seriously.

And, what to do with 4 extra Wal-Zyr pills??

Is there anything better than coming home (sick) from an out of town visit and finding a big box of craft stuff waiting for you?

My craft swap partner was Ms. Mik over at So Dazzling Blogs (run over and check out her templates!) and she sent all kinds of stuff… some that I’ve been wanting to try, some that my toddler has already stolen and some that I’ve already put to good use.  (what can I say - being sick makes me crafty) 

When a package comes with zebra tissue paper, you know the contents will be good. 

mmm… paper… 

tons of baby-themed die cuts, perfect for the tons of babies my friends are pregnant with these days 

stickers!  (successfully hidden from Hurricane Eva) 

tons of blank discs… I’m already dreaming up projects… 

the doo-dads pile.  lots of stuff I’ve been meaning to check out at the craft store anyway! 

stamps & purple ink (also successfully hidden from the toddler) 

this stuff, I sacrificed to Eva’s craft cabinet. 

SO excited about this - it’s a metal square!  I think I’ll put felt on one side, so it’s a felt board AND magnet board.    

Putting new supplies to good use! 

Sorry for the terrible photos - I’m having computer issues.  

Thanks to April at April Showers for coordinating the craft swap!  

Want to do a swap but don’t know where to start?  Check out Swap Dex for a list of current swaps! 

This is last-minute, but Land’s End is offering 20% off your purchase with promotion code SPRINGSAVE and PIN 00005926.

I know that Land’s End isn’t tops on everyone’s list for hip clothing, but ladies, they last forever. AND, there are lots of cool new styles that I was happy to see in my latest catalog.

Example: This groovy Patent-Trim Hat, $14.99 and this cute 3/4 sleeve stretch shirt for $29.99. (photo won’t show up for some reason. grrr.)

Seriously, the site is full of cute stuff like this, so it’s definitely worth a look. And if you have, ahem, problem areas that you’d like to cover with a swimsuit, their fit system is pretty darn good.

March 26-29, Crazy 8 is offering 25% off your total purchase with code C8ONLINE. (and free shipping on orders over $75, but I find that a whole lot less exciting)

Never been to Crazy 8? It’s Gymboree’s cheap little sister, like Old Navy is to the Gap. I have mixed feelings on Crazy 8 - I’ve never had an issue with the quality of merch, but the colors and styles are not always my cup of tea. Still, the low low prices make it worth a shopping trip.

If you’re like me, your pets were your first “children” and have now been demoted - off the bed & off the couch. But still, I can’t imagine life without my furry family, even if it would mean that I would pretty much never have to vacuum again. (as it is, I spend more time sucking pet hair into the Dyson than I do on pretty much anything else.)

So, keep the zoo safe. Click here for a free Pet Safety Pack from the ASPCA. (a decal for your window letting rescuers know that there are pets in your home & the number for pet poison control) (which, let me tell you, comes in handy if you have an animal like mine, who seems to think he can eat any and all items in the kitchen)

Thanks, Frugal Freebies & Deals for the tip!

Through March 31, Brooklyn Industries is offering 30% off of already reduced outerwear (priced as marked online).

Through March 22, an extra 25% off all sale T’s with code MENTEE and WOMENTEE (you know, for men’s and women’s tees).

And finally, through March 29, 30% off all bags with code BAGSALE30.

Seriously, just shop once, before the 22nd.

I made these Spinach Balls last night and they were pretty darn good.  Other than green jello & the disgusting usual corned beef & cabbage, it’s surprisingly difficult to come up with creative green food.  Or maybe that’s just me. 

I got this recipe from some parenting magazine… maybe Family Fun?… in their “Ball of the Month” section.  Use your imagination to make a joke out of that one, folks.

Spinach Balls (makes 50) (and they aren’t kidding)

Ingredients: 2 (10 oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed
4 eggs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing Mix (I used a generic because it was cheaper)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
10 Tbsp melted butter (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons)

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 350.
2. Squeeze the water out of the spinach through a colander in the sink until the spinach is just about dry.
3. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, then dump spinach & the rest of the ingredients in and mix.
4. Cover bowl & refrigerate until the mixture holds together, about an hour.
5. Shape into roughly 1-inch balls and bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet until just browned and crispy, 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Sprinkle with a little more salt if desired.

These aren’t pretty, but they’re darn good, mamas.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!