This post probably won't win me many brownie points and I have been very hesitant to even write it, but several folks have told me that their kid (or spouse) is a picky eater and therefore they have no choice but to buy name brand foods because that's all their little dumpling will eat. I have also been asked countless times how we trained our kids in this area. So, here it is!
One of our more finicky friends states that he's not picky, he just has a refined palate. Ha. Call it what you will, it can run up a food bill in a heart beat. Obviously we all have foods we don't like. For me it's okra. Nasty slimy stuff that should never be consumed by humans and makes me gag when I try to swallow it. However, having said that, I would graciously eat it if you served it to me and would thank you for it.
It has been our experience that most little babies will eat about anything until somewhere around the age of 18 months to two years. All of a sudden, the green beans they had been eating with joy the day before ooze down the side of their face (or get spit into yours) and they start pointing at the applesauce. Happened with all 4 of mine and with countless other parents who have gone through our parenting classes. This is when the battle begins. But you really don't have to fight very hard, and you certainly don't want your kid to think it's a battle. It was at this point with our own kids, after a few consecutive tries with the food in question, that we wrapped up said food, put it in the fridge, made sure our little angel had had lots of water (no filling up on juice or milk) and then let them go on their merry way. No outward battle. (We did try that a few times...it's never pretty and makes everyone else at the table uncomfortable.) An hour later when cutie-patootie came skipping back saying she was hungry, I would produce the offensive food, heat it up if needed, and set it before her. Our kids only held out 2 meals max. That may sound horribly mean, but it was quite effective. They learned to eat (not necessarily like) what was given them. As they grew older and I learned the foods that they truly didn't like, I never made them eat more than a bite or two. But if I heard them outwardly complaining/whining about the food--in my books a mortal sin--I have been known to put another spoonful on their plate. As most anyone with any maturity to them knows, tastes change over time. There were foods I hated as a kids that I love now. Coffee and olives come to mind. I never expected to teach my kids to like everything. What I did expect was an appreciation for the time and effort that went into preparing a meal and the maturity to eat things that they didn't necessarily like.
Now that our kids are older, I refuse to be a short-order cook in my own home. I make the meal. If you don't like it, you don't feel good, or you're just not hungry, you can pass. No dessert, no other food. You can eat with us the next meal. Obviously, there are exceptions (esp if they are sick), but they are rare. I spend too much money on the food and too much time preparing it to tolerate a bad attitude.
My kids may tell you a different tale...but I doubt it. One time when my daughter was babysitting, I overheard her tell a kid that she wasn't going to make him something else just because he changed his mind after she had given him a clear choice (PBJ or mac n cheese, I believe it was). That would be a waste of food, she explained. The kid ate it without complaint. She related the story to me later and was apalled that the kid would even ask. Ahhhh, my dear, so much to learn...and you might want to make sure your future husband wasn't raised by a mama who was his own personal chef.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
From Dave Ramsey...7 ways to be a smart shopper
OK...the creative juices just aren't there today. I've been staring at the computer for 2 hours and it's just not happening for me! Therefore, I'm going to steal and article from Dave Ramsey. Dave is my financial hero...here's a little wisdom:
Who doesn’t love to spend less and save more? Keeping cash in your wallet is something everyone loves to experience, and thinking of ways to be a smart shopper can result in plenty of saved money. But you don’t have to make drastic changes in your daily life. Here are seven things that many smart shoppers do that literally pay off.
1.Save up for quality
From sofas to shoes, it pays to purchase quality products. When you buy cheap stuff, you end up replacing it more often, thus spending more money. Saving up for something nicer and a little pricier actually helps you save money over the long term.
2. Clip coupons
You don’t have to be that batty lady who goes crazy when the Sunday paper isn’t delivered, but taking time to clip coupons—and combining them with store specials—is a smart way to save money. You can also sign up for online coupon websites that deliver coupons straight to your email. All you have to do is hit the print key!
3.Balance your checking account
If you write a check or use your debit card, note it in your checkbook register immediately. Keeping a close eye on the cash in your account means you’re less likely to spend frivolously.
4.Stick to the budget
Make a budget every month and stick to it. Fill your envelopes with a set amount of cash, and when the cash is gone, stop spending. When you’re tempted to take a few bucks out of another envelope, don’t give in!
5.Just say no!
Learning to say no is hard, but once you know how to do it, you’ll be in control of your money. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Tell your kids no when they ask for a fast food dinner that’s not in the budget. It’s hard to do, but it’s worth it in the end.
6. Maintain what you have
Keep your items longer by taking care of them. This seems like an obvious one, but how many people do you know with a car that looks like a garbage pit or a home that looks like a tornado went through it? You spend hard-earned money on your stuff, so take care of it!
7. Travel wisely
Be a smart traveler by taking advantage of your drive time. Instead of zooming around town twice in one day, plan your schedule so that you run two errands in one outing. Do your grocery shopping on the way home from work or after your child’s basketball game. This will save you money and time!
Simple steps like these can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. It may not seem like much when you’re saving $10 here and $20 there, but it really does add up when you see it reflected in your budget!
Who doesn’t love to spend less and save more? Keeping cash in your wallet is something everyone loves to experience, and thinking of ways to be a smart shopper can result in plenty of saved money. But you don’t have to make drastic changes in your daily life. Here are seven things that many smart shoppers do that literally pay off.
1.Save up for quality
From sofas to shoes, it pays to purchase quality products. When you buy cheap stuff, you end up replacing it more often, thus spending more money. Saving up for something nicer and a little pricier actually helps you save money over the long term.
2. Clip coupons
You don’t have to be that batty lady who goes crazy when the Sunday paper isn’t delivered, but taking time to clip coupons—and combining them with store specials—is a smart way to save money. You can also sign up for online coupon websites that deliver coupons straight to your email. All you have to do is hit the print key!
3.Balance your checking account
If you write a check or use your debit card, note it in your checkbook register immediately. Keeping a close eye on the cash in your account means you’re less likely to spend frivolously.
4.Stick to the budget
Make a budget every month and stick to it. Fill your envelopes with a set amount of cash, and when the cash is gone, stop spending. When you’re tempted to take a few bucks out of another envelope, don’t give in!
5.Just say no!
Learning to say no is hard, but once you know how to do it, you’ll be in control of your money. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Tell your kids no when they ask for a fast food dinner that’s not in the budget. It’s hard to do, but it’s worth it in the end.
6. Maintain what you have
Keep your items longer by taking care of them. This seems like an obvious one, but how many people do you know with a car that looks like a garbage pit or a home that looks like a tornado went through it? You spend hard-earned money on your stuff, so take care of it!
7. Travel wisely
Be a smart traveler by taking advantage of your drive time. Instead of zooming around town twice in one day, plan your schedule so that you run two errands in one outing. Do your grocery shopping on the way home from work or after your child’s basketball game. This will save you money and time!
Simple steps like these can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. It may not seem like much when you’re saving $10 here and $20 there, but it really does add up when you see it reflected in your budget!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday Thoughts
"To mortify sin in our lives, we must first load our conscience with the guilt of it." from the teachings of English theologian John Owens. (Thanks, Dr. Da!) And I add, only then can we truly appreciate grace.
That doesn't sit well with the touchy-feely self-actualization mantras we hear today, now does it??
Here's a song for you...sung beautifully in our church today (Thanks, Lance!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faspqlLGYUQ
That doesn't sit well with the touchy-feely self-actualization mantras we hear today, now does it??
Here's a song for you...sung beautifully in our church today (Thanks, Lance!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faspqlLGYUQ
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Cheap Checks & Free Queso Chips @ Chili's
http://www.chilisemailclub.com/
If you get free checks from your bank, great! If not, this is by far the best deal I have found for ordering them by mail or online. Go to http://www.4checks.com/. Order two boxes of regular wallet style checks. In step two of the check out process, it will ask you if you have a code. Use DE0378. This dropped my price from $37ish to $4.05 and I chose the free shipping. I'm not sure when this deal ends, so I went ahead and ordered my now.
Don't forget that I have a drawing coming up if we get to 200 subscribers/followers. When I looked a few days ago, I had 198. I think we surpassed the goal at some point, because I always have a few folks every month that unsubscribe. Surely you can get one or two more to add to the list for me?! If we don't hit the goal by Sept 2, I will draw for another gift card.
Going to pick up a few deals at CVS before they end today. Only spent $73 at Aldi yesterday. Got a few deals at Walgreens and cheap TP at RiteAid. Homemade pizza for supper...mmmmmm.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Digital Albums
This is how we grow 'maters in the south. When I left Maine on August 4th, my brother's were knee high. Mine were this height, and my husband has trimmed them back twice. Love 'um. Read an article recently that said the acid/lycopene in them helps clear acne. Perhaps that explains why my forehead always clears up in the summer?
Going to a friend's house for lunch today. Some good Vietnamese cooking. (I can't wait ToKhanh). I must do some shopping on the way there. I'll try to let you in the deals I find.
I have posted a couple of codes for digital online photo albums and I want to talk about these for a few minutes. There are literally dozens of sites out there: Shutterfly, Snapfish, Picaboo, Kodak, not to mention all the major retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, Rite-Aid, Walgreens and CVS. If you are new to digital cameras and uploading your photos onto the computer, just know that there can be quite a learning curve. I know every site claims to be "so easy an imbecile can do it" (well, maybe not in those terms...usually it's stated "upload a beautiful album in minutes"), but the bottom line is, it can be very frustrating. I suggest setting aside an entire afternoon or evening to learn the ropes, because the results are worth it. Here's why I think so:
Since this is still a relatively new phenomena, online (and other) businesses are offering really great deals. As with any other venue, this means lots of discounts if you are willing to shop around and not be "brand loyal." The first album I made was at CVS. My wonderful-coupon-savvy-cashier helped me and I was done fairly quickly. I was very happy with the book. It was the 6"X8" hardback version and holds 60 photos. They had a BOGO sale, so the price was two for $12.99...but I used another coupon and some ECB. Can't remember my total, but they were dirt cheap.
Then I moved on to Picaboo. Downloaded their free software and just finished an album for my mom. The prices start at $9.99 plus shipping. However, there are always codes, you just have to google "picaboo codes" or read my blog and I will try to let you know. Right now they are offering their classic or leather classic 8"X11" 20 page book free with code FREEBK until the end of August. This is normally $39.00. You pay only $8.99 for shipping. That may seem high, but I look at it like this. You can put 20+ pictures on one page. 20 pics X 20 pages equals 400 photos for less than 2/10th of a cent per picture, with your captions, in a hardback album. That is a really good deal!! You can sit in your living room in your jammies drinking coffee while you create your masterpiece and then have it delivered to your door. This is why I am hooked! Picaboo has another code-ALLYOU50- for 50% off their classic 20 page album through Sept 30th.
So, maybe before September is over, you can make your very own masterpiece and tell us about the results!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Can't cut back to part time?? Free Rayovac
Work meeting done....nice coffee and muffins provided for breakfast! Grilled cheese and fresh tomato for lunch (smile...favorite foods!) Chicken soup in the crock pot for supper. Getting ready to go to the first cross country meet. I love cc!! Why? Every kid "plays" in every "game." Everyone cheers for the other guy...and even for the runners on the other teams, and it's OK!! It's an individual sport, and yet every finish matters when it comes to scoring. There isn't a bunch of expensive equipment or training. It's a sport you can keep doing for the rest of your life. And cc parents just rock!! We know our kids are awesome and we're out there (with cowbells???!!!) at the finish line. It's the only sport--at our school anyway--where all four of my kids, 7th-12th grade, are on the same team. Tonight is my youngest first race. He's pumped and I can't wait to watch!!
I read an article last night in Money magazine (free subscription, of course) about a family who was trying to figure out a way for mom to cut back to part time work. Stats: Mom and Dad in their late 20s, two kids ages 3 and 1. Combined salary: $133,000.00. Mom wants to cut down to 20 hours a week but, doggone it, they just can't make ends meets if they loose 32 thousand a year, sniff sniff. Hmmmm. Our combined salary is less than half theirs (despite my lousy inaccurate reporting earlier...my bad). I feed 7 people, 2 cats, 1 dog and 6 fish. I took two months off this summer. We went on a cruise (OK....a really cheap one, but still...) We have no debt but our mortgage. We eat fine and dress decently. We give a lot away!! Honestly, help me out here. Are most folks really that stupid with their money? I guess when the average credit card debt is over 5 grand and the economy is still going downhill, I should know the answer, but articles like this always shock/sadden/aggravate me. I just don't understand. Off my soapbox...
Got my Atkins kit with 3 free bars in the mail yesterday. That was fast.
I'm very happy to announce that Walgreens now has a nationwide coupon policy!! No more annoying cashiers making up their own rules on the spot. Best new policy? Up to 2 coupons can be used if there is a BOGO sale. Woot. I'm going to print a copy (see link) and carry it in my wallet because I know I'm going to need it. In fact, I can't wait to whip it out and use it! If you are a serious couponer, you should print one also. http://www.walgreens.com/topic/help/generalhelp/coupon_policy_main.jsp?_requestid=37856
RayOVac Alkaline batteries are as cheap as .94 at Walmart. If you go to the Rayovac Facebook page, the $1 coupon has been reset. Click to 'like', then click the "coupon" tab. FP = free
I read an article last night in Money magazine (free subscription, of course) about a family who was trying to figure out a way for mom to cut back to part time work. Stats: Mom and Dad in their late 20s, two kids ages 3 and 1. Combined salary: $133,000.00. Mom wants to cut down to 20 hours a week but, doggone it, they just can't make ends meets if they loose 32 thousand a year, sniff sniff. Hmmmm. Our combined salary is less than half theirs (despite my lousy inaccurate reporting earlier...my bad). I feed 7 people, 2 cats, 1 dog and 6 fish. I took two months off this summer. We went on a cruise (OK....a really cheap one, but still...) We have no debt but our mortgage. We eat fine and dress decently. We give a lot away!! Honestly, help me out here. Are most folks really that stupid with their money? I guess when the average credit card debt is over 5 grand and the economy is still going downhill, I should know the answer, but articles like this always shock/sadden/aggravate me. I just don't understand. Off my soapbox...
Got my Atkins kit with 3 free bars in the mail yesterday. That was fast.
I'm very happy to announce that Walgreens now has a nationwide coupon policy!! No more annoying cashiers making up their own rules on the spot. Best new policy? Up to 2 coupons can be used if there is a BOGO sale. Woot. I'm going to print a copy (see link) and carry it in my wallet because I know I'm going to need it. In fact, I can't wait to whip it out and use it! If you are a serious couponer, you should print one also. http://www.walgreens.com/topic/help/generalhelp/coupon_policy_main.jsp?_requestid=37856
RayOVac Alkaline batteries are as cheap as .94 at Walmart. If you go to the Rayovac Facebook page, the $1 coupon has been reset. Click to 'like', then click the "coupon" tab. FP = free
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
lovin' the crockpot!
I'm officially tired. I worked a 12 hour night shift and wasn't able to sleep today. Almost 39 hours with no sleep makes for a foggy-headed mama. Did manage to just finish making strawberry oatmeal squares, a chocolate cake, homemade mac n cheese and a big pot of chicken soup for supper tomorrow. Now when I'm even more tired after the kids first Cross Country meet tomorrow and they are all wanting to go to the resaurant with everyone else, I will tell them dinner is in the crockpot!
Abby filled out 2 more college apps tonight...total so far: 4.
Thanks to Bradsdeals for this info: New customers can get a one month free trial of Blockbuster By Mail with code 4weekfreetrial2010. That's two weeks longer than the usual trial and the best trial offer we've seen from Blockbuster since June. This "two discs at a time" plan applies to both DVD and Blu-ray movies and games and includes five in-store exchanges. Note that this plan will continue at $16.99 per month after your trial expires; you must cancel it before the trial is over or you'll be billed for a month's membership. Unlike Netflix, there is no extra charge for Blu-ray rentals plus you can get 5 free in-store movie exchanges (for many this is the best part). Too bad our High Point BB is out of business! Go to http://www.blockbuster.com/ and look for the link.
Here is a link for a coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase at JC Penney. Only good until 8/28. http://f.chtah.com/i/2/95827765/main_20100825.html
Tomorrow I have a class at the hospital and then it's off to the cross country meet. I'll try to get the blog done somewhere in between!
Oh, happy sleep...
Abby filled out 2 more college apps tonight...total so far: 4.
Thanks to Bradsdeals for this info: New customers can get a one month free trial of Blockbuster By Mail with code 4weekfreetrial2010. That's two weeks longer than the usual trial and the best trial offer we've seen from Blockbuster since June. This "two discs at a time" plan applies to both DVD and Blu-ray movies and games and includes five in-store exchanges. Note that this plan will continue at $16.99 per month after your trial expires; you must cancel it before the trial is over or you'll be billed for a month's membership. Unlike Netflix, there is no extra charge for Blu-ray rentals plus you can get 5 free in-store movie exchanges (for many this is the best part). Too bad our High Point BB is out of business! Go to http://www.blockbuster.com/ and look for the link.
Here is a link for a coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase at JC Penney. Only good until 8/28. http://f.chtah.com/i/2/95827765/main_20100825.html
Tomorrow I have a class at the hospital and then it's off to the cross country meet. I'll try to get the blog done somewhere in between!
Oh, happy sleep...
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