Mommie Cheapest

A Little Early Maternity Leave for Mommie Cheapest

 
Ok folks, here's the deal!

I am on the countdown to having my second baby, and the tasks are piling up big time. We need to completely rethink our carseat situation (due to the GIANT size of convertible carseats... who knew these wouldn't fit into our normal size cars?!?), get a double stroller, clean clean clean, organize organize organize, catch up on my first baby's baby book, finish several projects (including a HUGE stack of coupons that have yet to be clipped), and much more. And I have less than three weeks to do it all. And I am supposed to be on modified bedrest. All while spending hours every week at the doctor's having tests that are more than likely completely unnecessary.

People, there just ain't any way I can do all this and research and post a dozen+ deals on Mommie Cheapest every day. I WANT TO. But I have the tendency to take on too much and then guess what? Nothing gets done. Somehow, absolutely nothing gets done, at least not 100%. I need to prioritize at the moment.

So I am bummed to say that Mommie Cheapest is going to be on a little hiatus for a while. I have to get the home life together so I don't have these things hanging over my head. That way, when I am totally caught up, I can sit down to find awesome deals for you guys and devote my undivided attention to it, instead of being distracted thinking about what the heck I am going to make for dinner considering I haven't been to the grocery in many days and I am over budget anyway because of all those coupons sitting on the table not getting used and oh great now the baby's crying and oh great now the other baby is crying and what is the dog eating? You get the idea.

I will keep one eye out and if I come across any deals that simply are too good to be ignored, I will post them! Also, if you follow me on Facebook, I will be posting updates there as well. But in the meantime, please understand that though I may be taken elsewhere temporarily, I WILL BE BACK, and sooner rather than later! I just wanted to keep you all in the loop. You all have been great readers thus far and I want to keep you!!! Thanks for understanding!

Rite Aid Wellness Program

Rite Aid is offering a Wellness+ Program designed to help you save money and get rewards! The general idea is that you earn points for the things you buy at Rite Aid (1 point for non prescription purchases and 25 points for prescriptions) and those points get you things like savings passes and percent off discounts at the register! It is free to join and all you need to start earning is your Wellness+ card!

Click here to sign up for the Rite Aid Wellness+ Program!

LeapFrog and Stride Rite: 25% Off at Both

LeapFrog is currently offering a coupon code for 25% off your purchase site wide. Use code SAVE25 to get 25% off all items, including sale merchandise, some of which is being reported as half off or more already. Shipping is free for orders of $40 or more. The FridgeTalk Magnetic Wordplay Recorder (shown above) reduces from $21.99 to just $7.50 with coupon code! You can also shop LeapFrog through Ebates and get 3% back on your purchases! Don't forget, if you are a new signup with Ebates, you also get a $5 bonus!

Also, Stride Rite is having a Friends and Family sale from May 27 - May 31, 2010. You can use the coupon found here to take 25% off in Stride Rite stores, or use coupon code FFMAY25 at their website during those dates.

Thanks for the tips, Baby Cheapskate!

Walmart: Cheap Nivea Lip Balm, Ovaltine, and Free Ice Cream Sundaes

 

I don't typically spend much time at Walmart, generally because the place makes me want to kill myself. But maybe your Walmart is better than mine. If so (or even if it is not so, but you are a glutton for punishment), here are some coupon deals to get you through it, and you might even be able to get a free ice cream sundae out of the deal if you go tomorrow!

1) A while back, I got the Nivea lip balms free at Walgreens and I found out that they are great!! You can get them for about $.50 at Walmart right now, which is way worth the money in my opinion. They are priced at around $1.50 there. Coupons.com is offering two new Nivea coupons (find them under "personal care"):

$1/1 any Nivea Lip Care item

$2/2 any Nivea Lip Care item

making them about $.50 each! You should be able to print each of these twice, meaning you could score six lip balms for about $3.00!

2) It is being reported that some Walmart stores are carrying Ovaltine for $2.72 to $2.86 a can. If this is the case for you, use this $2/1 Ovaltine coupon, making them as low as $.72 a can!

3) Find more Walmart deals here.

4) What's that? "Get to the free ice cream sundae, lady," you say? Ok already, sheesh! Walmart is hosting a Joy of Ice Cream event at participating locations (check your zip code here to find a location near you) on Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They will be using featured products to make ice cream sundaes for everyone on the house. Sweet!

Thanks to Money Saving Mom for all the Walmart tips!

Pregnancy Will Do That

 

(Women like the one pictured above do not actually exist. That is why you only see them in fictional, artistic form.)

My apologies to those of you wondering where all the Mommie Cheapest posts have been for the last two days. Life caught up with me and there was no space in my schedule for searching for deals! Between doctors appointments (which have been plentiful), Target runs, laundry, mothering, and general pregnancy exhaustion, I just couldn't find time to crack open the old laptop.

Being 8 months pregnant, this may occur again. I just want to warn you. Especially because my doctors are very fond of excessive monitoring, so I am at their offices several hours a week (a big shout out to my kiddo, who has the patience of a saint as she sits in her stroller for hours at a time, entertaining herself with books and Mommy's keys while I sit hooked up to various things. She's the best). You know it's bad when the parking garage attendant knows your name, and your kid's name. I just want to let you guys know that I have NO intention of abandoning you, and I hope you won't abandon me!

I will keep bringing you the latest deals and coupons as often as I possibly can, which hopefully will be daily as it always has. But if I am off the radar for a day or two, don't fret! I will be back! Thanks for your patience and understanding!!!!

Carter's and Osh Kosh: 25% Off Your Purchase Coupon

 

There are two great new coupons out for Carter's and Osh Kosh!

Click here to print a coupon that takes 25% off your total purchase at Carter's

Click here to print a coupon that takes 25% off your total purchase at Osh Kosh

Both coupons good through May 26, 2010. Both are good in-store only. Happy baby shopping!

Free Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream!

TODAY ONLY, May 18, 2010, Haagen-Dazs is offering a free scoop of ice cream from 4-8 p.m. You can choose chocolate, vanilla or my favorite, coffee. It isn't clear if this is one per family or per person or what, but I'd bet it's one per person.

Find a Haagen-Dazs location near you here.

Thanks for the tip, Money Saving Mom!

Make Your Own Butter (No Churn Required)

 

When I was a Kindergarten teacher, we would make homemade butter as part of our Thanksgiving celebration. The kids loved it and took a real sense of pride in making something like butter, which we all take for granted normally! But I never thought about making your own butter from a frugal point of view.

Then the other day, Crystal from The Thrifty Mama posted about making her own butter. She noted that she was able to get the Horizon Organic Whipping Cream for $.88. That and a little salt (if desired) is all you need to make organic butter, and $.88 is a lot cheaper than most organic butter I have ever seen!

Here is how you can make your own butter:

• heavy whipping cream
• small amount of salt (if desired)

1. Pour cream into a container with a tight seal. We used a jelly jar so the kids could see the cream change to butter as we went. If you are making a small amount, you can use recycled baby food jars (but put that lid on tight!). Whatever you use, just make sure it doesn't leak!
2. Add salt if you are using it. You can also add honey or cinnamon or dill or whatever you want!
3. Shake vigorously for 5 - 10 minutes. Ok, let's be real. Unless you are a gym rat, it might be more like 20. Ok let's be really real. You can do this in a blender or food processor, but that's cheating. If you're comfortable cheating, well, go for it. I, for one, am very comfortable cheating.
4. There will be a watery substance that separates from the butter as it thickens. Get rid of it. I have always heard it is buttermilk, but whatever it is, it will spoil your butter right quick if you don't pour it out. You can even rinse the top of your butter with a little cold water after you dump the buttermilk for insurance.
5. That's it! Keep in the fridge. There are no preservatives, so it doesn't last as long as store bought butter, so just make as much as you'll use in a few days.

This is not only a fun and extremely easy food project for the kids, but it's true -- it can be done on the cheap!

Thanks to Thrifty Mama for the great money saving idea!

$.95/1 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls Printable Coupon

 

Every Christmas we have those Pillsbury sweet rolls, the cinnamon and the orange (I am partial to the orange). Now with this coupon, I can afford to make it a treat in the summer, too!

$.95/1 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls (IE Link)

Paired with a sale and if your store doubles coupons, this could easily be free rolls, or at least very cheap rolls! I imagine this coupon will go fast, so get on it! You should also be able to print two.

Thanks for the tip, Common Sense With Money!

Free Sample Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil

You can try a FREE sample of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil when you register here.

I use regular Palmer's cocoa butter all the time and have for years, I love it! But I have never tried the oil. I'll be interested in how it works! There are also coupons on their website.

Thanks for the tip, Deal Seeking Mom!