Fri 24 Dec 2010

Merry Christmas!

Posted by Stacy under Uncategorized
[2] Comments

This year, we are doing electronic Christmas Cards. (Mainly because my apartment is in disarray, so we prioritized.) Next year we hope to be back to the good old fashioned kind. So here you are.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

This year our family has had many wonderful changes. No one really cares about what Jason and I are up to (though in case you are wondering it is mainly packing, tripping over boxes and toys and trying to maintain our sanity while completely enjoying our adorable little family)

Alexander has grown and changed so much since last year. He is such a fun lil Ham! We are noticing his personality to be very strong and wonderful. He is very concerned with tidiness (in his own little way). He makes sure our hats and coats are hung up, our dishes are in the kitchen etc. He loves to help with dishes and cooking and sweeping. He talks like crazy and is showing signs of being willing to potty train. But alas even at 19mos old he still despises sleeping. Naps, and bedtimes are still a struggle, but he is getting better. We love this little guy and everyday it seems he does something new to make us smile.

Kalea is pretty much the sweetest little girl you have ever met. She is such a joy of a baby.  We are very interested to see how her little personality will work out. She is very easy going and relaxed, but also very energetic. She loves loves loves her Johnny Jump up. and is about to crawl any day now. She will talk your ear off if you look at her. Ever so seriously telling you about her day. She lights up so easily and her smiles and giggles and eyes will light up the whole room.

After the New Year we will be moving to  a town away in our very own wonderful house. We greatly look forward to what 2011 will bring!

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Mon 1 Nov 2010

Thoughts From the Second Parent

Posted by Jason under first post, resource, strategy
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Yes, Believe it or not, this is Cheap Parenting – and Stacy isn’t the only parent. I’m usually more of the behind the scenes guy on this blog, but as we were talking, Stacy mentioned it might be good for me to occasionally pop in and give my experiences with some of the changes we’ve made.

I feel like we have a lot of lady readers out there, so I was wondering if any of you have shared Stacy’s posts (cloth diapering, make your own cleaning supplies, dropping paper towels, etc) with your man. What was his response? Did he have questions? Was he interested in trying any of our cheap tricks?

I’m happy to share the insights that have helped me with these transitions to a more alternative/non-consumerish lifestyle.  Yes, I checked wikipedia, non-consumerish is a word.

Let me know how I can help.

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Sat 23 Oct 2010

Directing education starts early.

Posted by Stacy under Alexander, organize
Comments Off on Directing education starts early.

Lately I have been sending myself on major guilt trips. Alex is to a super fun and exciting. I really love to watch him play. He plays really pretty well with other kids (obviously we are working on the sharing thing, but in general he does great!) and he plays well by himself too! You will often hear him singing as he goes about whatever it is he is in to, or actually more often making a vroooooooming noise as he pushes around our little bissel sweeper.

I know that these early years are so important in the development of kids. They learn sooooo much in the first 5 years of their lives, especially compared to the rest of their lives. As Alex has gotten older, it has become easier to just “let him play” by himself. And while there is nothing wrong with that, I personally have started to feel like I am not helping him make the most of these years. So I came up with a “schedule” for Alex’s daily activities when he is home with us.

I use the term schedule lightly. There are no time allotments. For two reasons. 1. If something falls behind schedule, I start stressing out. 2. Our family operates best with more flexibility. I think that allowing flexibility and creativity with kids is a good thing! Here is what I came up with.

Fill in with naps for K as needed.
Wake up
Eat breakfast
Watch Babies Read (while eating?)
Alex play by self / Play with K (activity mat, bumbo. Work on sitting and playing with toys?)
Preschool activities A
Read 2-3 books (A and K if can, for sure A)
Lunch
Nap (A/K)
Snack./ Babies Read
Outdoor activity (weather allowing)
A play by self
Supper
Read books
A Play by self
Bed time (8)
The preschool activities I am thinking of for Alex are simple things. Like, get all his cars out and sort big and little. Come up with a creative and fun way to learn colors. Cutting the alphabet out of sandpaper and mounting on posterboard to encourage multi sensory learning. There are some other ideas that I have up my sleeve, I just need to make them (when I do you can be sure I will post about them!)
Anyway, I don’t know if this will actually be beneficial to Alex more than his current life or if it is simply to eliminate my guilt. But either way I kinda think it will be a good thing. We have just started using it, so  I will let you know how it goes, but I have to say it kinda has me excited!
…now I need to make a parallel schedule for me!
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Sat 23 Oct 2010

Giveaways are fun!

Posted by Stacy under deals, free, freebie friday
Comments Off on Giveaways are fun!

So I know that  cloth diapering can be a fairly large up front expense, and especially if you don’t know exactly what kind of diaper system you want. A way to save a little money possibly is to enter give away’s online. A lot of cool blogs do product testing, reviews and then giveaway some of their diapers. Now it isn’t a sure way to increase your stash, but  it is a lot of fun and you never know you just might win. (I did, I won 3 pocket diapers totaling almost 60$ in value!)

Here is one giveaway that is going on now: Cake blast She is reviewing and giving away some great name brand diapers from Thirsties.

Duo Diaper

Have fun! Happy entering =)

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Fri 22 Oct 2010

A few smiles from my day.

Posted by Stacy under Alexander, Kalea
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I have pretty much the best life ever.  This little girl God blessed me with just lights up my life. She is in that kinda awkward stage developmentally. Where she doesn’t sleep all the time, so she wants to be doing something, but she just isn’t quite able to yet. Even still, she is really such a joy. I took a few (dozen or so) snapshots of the little princess the last few days. I just had to share. Plus I have recently discovered ( I am a little lot behind the times) piknik. And you know since I am cheap, er…  thrifty, I just use the free parts. But still I had a lot of fun.

She loves her little bean bag I got her (Dora the explorer - $1 ) Note the totally relaxed crossed ankles

Seriously does it come any cuter?

She is definitely our little princess. Good thing is she hasn't realized it yet.

🙂

I had to edit my current favorite pic of my little boy as well!

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Thu 21 Oct 2010

Thrifty Thursday: Cleaning

Posted by Stacy under cleaning, recipes, strategy, thrifty thursday
[2] Comments

Today my mind is a flurry of activity. I feel like I have a lot to write about. Things like what I want to do with a thrift store sweater, or my latest craft project that has me excited to girlify Kalea all up, or perhaps the healthy and yummy sounding brownie recipe I have found that I would like to try. In fact, today I am in the mood to be very very domestic. I could sew up a storm, can up a what ever it is that you can up (as long as it isn’t chicken, I am done with that). I would make my own soap (because I do you know) but I don’t need any right now so I won’t. I am in the mood to grind my own flour, make my own butter and all other kinds of incredibly ambitious domestic kind of things. But you know, the fun ones, not the washing dishes and folding laundry ones.

Yes I would love to write about those right now, but alas I can not. Why? Well first of all because I don’t have pictures of any (except that blue sweater, but I haven’t done my project with that yet) second, because that doesn’t have a whole lot to do with saving money, and today is Thrifty Thursday. Third, it is better to write about it after I have accomplished it, which I have not because the kids are still awake =)

After my chicken post, I was all planned to tell you how I did/do groceries for $120 for a month. I should have just written it then, because I am not really in the mood right now. So instead I think I will tell you about how I save money cleaning. (Maybe next  week we will talk food.)

I had thought about making my own cleaning supplies for a while, mainly to save money. Then about 2-3 months ago I had an epiphany. As I was cleaning my bathroom Alex walked in… and walked right back out carrying my chemically bathroom cleaner bottle I had laid down. AHHHHHH DON’T PUT THAT IN YOUR MOUTH, I shouted. After I rescued my son from the cleaner and nearly passed out myself from the horrid smell I decided that was it.

Bye bye chemicals, hello natural food based cleaners.

Here is what I use:

For windows and mirrors : White vinegar (probably could dilute, but I didn’t when I first put it in my bottle). And rags. No streaks!, Works better than W!ndex and I don’t get a head ache from the ammonia.

Bathroom Cleaner:

  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 2 liters water

    • Mix together and dump in an old spray bottle, it scrubs and shines, deoderizes and disinfects.

    For a toilet bowl cleaner I just sprinkle Baking Soda in the toilet, a little vinegar and let it set till I am done with the rest of my bathroom, scrub and flush.

    My stove gets cleaned with baking soda for those tough stuck on things.

    Are you sensing a pattern here? =)
    I still have a big bottle of P!neSol left that I mop my floors with yet, I won’t replace that until it is all gone (Cheap remember?) But other than that, we are pretty non toxic.
    I even make my own laundry soap (though that will be another post, when I need to make some again). I know you can add essential oils to make for a better smell, but I keep forgetting to pick them up when I go to the store. (Hey I go with two kids under two, give me a break 😉 )

    Benefits:
    1. CHEAP I just bought a BIG container of distilled white vinegar for $2.30. That will last me a looooooooooooooooooong time. Baking soda is pretty inexpensive too.
    2. Non-toxic. While I wouldn’t encourage Alex to drink any of these concoctions I don’t freak out if he comes in to “help” me clean.
    3. I no longer get sick cleaning. For as long as I can remember I got horrid head aches whenever I cleaned with name brand cleaners. Now I don’t get headaches, I get hungry 🙂 I love salt and vinegar chips, and the smell of my cleaners makes me crave them 😛

    Hmmmmmm now I should go use some of these so I can plop myself in front of the sewing machine after my babies go to sleep…

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    Wed 20 Oct 2010

    Word of the Day: Determination.

    Posted by Stacy under Alexander, Word of the Day
    Comments Off on Word of the Day: Determination.

    Determination:  firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end.

    I can learn a lot from my kids. Right now I am learning a lot about determination from Alex. Determination and stubbornness. Once Alex has his mind set on something, he will NOT give up until he succeeds. He will ask for help, but he will do what he needs to get where he wants. This summer we  went to the park, his cousins were climbing this big “mountain” to get to the big kid slide. He wanted to do just like they were, and so he did! It was fun to watch this little guy, who won’t accept  “you can’t do this” as an excuse. Sometimes I think I need some of his determination.

    Assessing the situation

    Figuring out how to accomplish

    Attacking the problem head on.

    Rewarded

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    Mon 18 Oct 2010

    Anyone want some chicken?

    Posted by Stacy under deals, Food, strategy
    Comments Off on Anyone want some chicken?

    I have to say I am rather impressed with how far we can make our grocery budget stretch. Many people will tell you there secret to stretching groceries is “couponing”. I have to say, I am not one of them. Coupons work really well for some people just not me. Maybe it is because no one has ever really showed me how. But every time I try to try it, the only coupons I can find would require me to purchase something I wouldn’t really purchase anyway. So I would end up spending $1.00 (for extra product) in order to save .20 on that same product. For me (so far) it just hasn’t been worth it. But if someone could show me the trick to coming home with getting paid for buying toothpaste, I would probably reconsider.

    Since I don’t coupon, my “secret” is simple:

    Buy Bulk.

    Generally speaking, the larger the quantity something is sold in the cheaper per unit it costs. Last week I once again, struck gold. Our local bulk foods market ran a sweet special. Boneless, skinless chicken breast for $1.59/lb if you bought 40lb boxes. So I of course did! In fact I bought 2! I split one of the boxes with mom, so I ended up with 60 lb of chicken breast. Unfrozen, just waiting for me to do wonderful things to it.

    Now I will tell you, it was a lot of work up front. But it will save me TONS more time and money in my grocery budget for the next several months. Here is what I did:

    My set up

    Step one was trimming the chicken. I cut off all the fat, then measured it using a kitchen scale. I cut each breast into 3.5-4 oz (the recommended serving size) pieces. If a piece was smaller than that I set it to the side to be used for stir fry.

    Pre- packaged individual meal servings.

    After it was all sectioned I put 3 pieces into one quart freezer bag. If it was the “scraps”  it got cut up into stir fry pieces and 10 oz went into one quart bag.

    Yumminess!

    Once it was bagged I added the marinades to each quart bag. This will help out already knowing what to do with it in the future. This time I used, Raspberry Chipotle BBQ, Italian and home made Teriyaki. I also left  some just plain so as to allow for creativity in the future.

    Who says pre-cooked meals can't be yummy?

    Some Chicken I didn’t marinade, I cooked it on my (mom’s much larger) George Forman grill. Then bagged 3 of those. This way if I need something SUPER quick it is ready, or to grab for a quick lunch. Better than deli meat in my opinion =)

    Meals for the winter/spring.

    Meals for the winter/spring.

    Once each quart bag was marinaded (or not) I put quart bags into larger freezer bags, and labeled. I fit about 7 quart size into 1 gallon size. The reason is two-fold. First extra protection against freezer burn, and second. This made for a more organized freezer.

    All in all, I ended up with 84 meals worth. Which breaks down to $1.07 a meal for meat total, or .37 per person per meal. And I now have  “convenience” food without the convenience food price!

    But just to be clear, any dish I take anywhere this winter, will involve chicken 🙂

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    Fri 15 Oct 2010

    Happy Fall

    Posted by Stacy under activities, Alexander, fun, Kalea
    Comments Off on Happy Fall

    Football

    Camp fires

    Apples

    Corn fields

    Warm hats

    Pumpkins and mums

    Leaves

    This is what I love best about Autumn!

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    Wed 13 Oct 2010

    Thrifty Thursday: All Kids Stuff Sale.

    Posted by Stacy under baby, deals, shopping, strategy, thrifty thursday, Uncategorized
    Comments Off on Thrifty Thursday: All Kids Stuff Sale.

    There are few things that I love more than saving money. Except possibly (ok definitely) seeing my kids smiling and having fun! Enter : All Kids Stuff Sale. Pretty much the best thing ever for cheap thrifty parents.

    It is basically a giant, amazingly organized garage sale, with some quality control. (They really don’t sell junk stuff) Priced somewhere between garage sales and chain re-sale shops (like Once upon a child). I have found that especially with baby/kids things getting something new is really overrated. The kids don’t use something long enough (in general) to make it worth the outrageous price that a lot of retailers put on the item simply because it is labeled “baby”. I went tonight and struck gold! Here is how I do it.

    1. I sorted through all the kids clothes last week to see where they are lacking. (Alex only needs snow pants, Kalea some
    more 6-9 or 9-12mo stuff. More on this later)
    2. Jason and I talk about and compile a list of what we think the kids need, so I have a plan of attack going in.
    3. I get there an hour before the doors open to the sale so I can get a front spot in the line.
    4. First place I head is if I have any major items on my list (like a pack n play, stroller or crib.) This time my “big item” was outdoor toys.
    5. If something even makes me think about it and it is a “big item” I grab the tag off of it (claiming it as mine, even if I can’t lug it around the whole sale) I can always put a purchase back.
    6. I always go in with a budget and keep a running tally (roughly) in my head.
    7. I re-evaluate all my purchases before I check out.
    8. My general rule of thumb on pricing is : if I can’t make it cheaper, I will buy it. If I haven’t seen it cheaper I will buy it.

    9. Unless there is a major clothing item (like a winter coat) I don’t purchase any clothes till Saturday. That is their half price day. There are soooooo many clothes that it is easier to even look for clothes when they have been kinda picked over.

    So here is what I got last night:

    All my finds

          

    They will cook lots of yummy meals with this!

    Some pretty cool inside toys.

    Some pretty cool inside toys

    Two wall hangings with matching bedroom set.

    All in all I got : Play kitchen, lots of play food/dishes, outside swing, two baby dolls, baby basket, head bands for Kalea, play lawn mower, Little Tikes car, complete bedroom suite (including 2 twin quilts and 2 wall hangings), somewhere around 15 match box cars, somewhere around 10+ animal “action figures”

    For a grand total of: $64.00.

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