Nix9to5

More Love from Groupon

// August 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Couponing, Money Matters

Charla from Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom and HootieMomma sent me this little tidbit.  The Groupon from Grand Rapids, Michigan is really great, and anyone can get it.  You can get $25 worth of jewelry from the Loved Stamped Etsy shop for only $12.  That makes this precious mommy necklace only $12 shipped:

I’ve been wanting one of these since the Bear was born, and now that I can get it for only $12, I have no excuse not to get it!  To get in on this deal, log into your Groupon or sign up for Groupon in your area.  Then click “Visit More Cities” and find this deal on the Grand Rapids link.  Thanks, Charla!

The Work at Home Reality

// August 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Balance, Time Management, Work at Home

My dedicated readers have noticed that, once again, I have been missing in action.  My husband returned to work two weeks ago when teachers reported for the beginning of school.  Since that time, the reality of being a work at home mom has set in.  I am so happy to stay home with my Bear all day, and I don’t regret my decision for a second.  I went up to my old school yesterday to have lunch with a friend, and while it was good seeing them, and I miss my friends, being there for even the short time I was there just really helped solidify that I made the best decision for myself and my family.

However, the reality of being a WAHM is more difficult than I anticipated.  I told myself that I knew that I would be every bit as busy as a WAHM as I was as a mother who worked outside the home.  I told myself that, but I am not sure I fully grasped it.

Here is the reality: (more…)

Low-Fat Whole Wheat Pancakes

// August 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cooking, Life in General

Several days ago, I gave you a recipe for Low Fat Whole Wheat Waffles and promised you a similar recipe for pancakes.  Well, here it is!  These pancakes aren’t as good as the waffles, but they are still good.  One batch made 14 pancakes at 93 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 16 grams of carbohydrate, and 4 grams of protein.  These make very dense pancakes, so if they are too much for you, you could make them with half all-purpose flour and half whole wheat flour.  Here’s the recipe:

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, well beaten
2 cups skim milk
2 tablespoons applesauce

Mix, pour by 1/4 cupful into your skillet, and cook like pancakes.  I’ll be honest, I didn’t beat the eggs ahead of time, and the world didn’t end.  These are so hearty that Bear ate about a third of one–that just means they’ll last longer!  I’m flash freezing the remaining pancakes as we speak, and when they are frozen, I’m dumping them in a gallon ziploc bag in the freezer for quick breakfasts.

If you try this, let me know what you think.

Today’s Groupon (not just for OKC!): $25 for $100 worth of photo books

// August 17th, 2010 // No Comments » // Couponing, Family, Life in General, Money Matters

I love photo books.  Since Bear has come along, I’ve made several that commemorate the big events in his life.  These make great gifts, and they are also just a really nice way to showcase your photos–my sister has made some great vacation books.

With today’s Groupon, you get $100 worth of photo books for $25–that’s 75% off!  And the great thing is that this offer can be spread out over multiple orders, and it can be combined with other offers.  Here’s what Groupon has to say about this fantastic deal: (more…)

More Fall Consignment Sales

// August 17th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Children and Babies, Money Matters

I began my Fall Consignment list about a week and a half ago, and I have a new one to add.  The Original Children’s Consignment Sale will be held in the Market Plaza at NW Expressway and Rockwell from Sept. 17 – Sept. 25, with 1/2 Price Day on Saturday, Sept. 25.   The sale is open from 10-6 daily, except for Sunday (closed).  Thanks to Stephanie and Katherine, two local Nix9to5 readers who sent me information on this upcoming sale.  Katherine sent me this information:  “If you want to put things in the sale you can this coming weekend, Aug. 21-22. You get 55% of the profits, but the nice thing about this sale is they provide hangers if you need them, and they price everything, unlike the Pass it On sale. The website is www.occsale.com.”

EDIT:  Thanks to Summer for providing information about the Just Between Friends sale at the Fairgrounds.

This brings our OKC area fall consignment sales to:

Aug.  23-28:  Just Between Friends; Oklahoma City Fairgrounds; $2 admission first day, 25% off Aug. 27, 50% off Aug. 28
Sept. 10-11:  Pass It On Kids Consignment; Church of the Harvest, Edmond; 1/2 off Saturday, Sept. 11
Sept. 17-25:  Original Children’s Consigment; 6925 NW Expressway, OKC; 1/2 off Saturday, Sept. 25

For more information or to learn how to sell your items at these sales, click the links above.

Groupon: $17 for 6-Visit Pass to Jump Zone

// August 16th, 2010 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Couponing, Money Matters

Ooh!  Today’s Groupon looks like fun!  You can get a 6-visit pass to Jump Zone for only $17–that’s 60% off.  JumpZone in Oklahoma City has six inflatables for kids aged 2-12.  My Bear isn’t quite 2, but the Groupon is valid for a year.  I think that this will be a fun way to keep him entertained and busy when it is too hot–or too cold–to play outside.  For those of you with more than one child, this Groupon can be used for multiple children.  That means you could take one child six times, or six kids one time, or any mathematical combination between the two!   Here’s what Groupon has to say about this deal: (more…)

Low-Fat Whole Wheat Waffles: YUM!

// August 14th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Cooking, Life in General

Bear frequently eats a waffle or a pancake for breakfast.  Because they are so easy to fix and I can get them to the high chair quickly, I’ve been buying the frozen ones.  However, I’m not convinced that this is the healthiest thing ever, and I’ve been wanting to make them myself.  Of course, making them every morning would not be very conducive to either quick or easy, so I decided to make my own frozen waffles and pancakes.  Today, I got out the waffle iron and made up a batch of low fat, whole wheat waffles.  Right now I have them flash freezing on cookie sheets in the freezer, but we did eat a few when they were hot and fresh.  All I have to say is YUM (or, to quote Bear, “Wummy!”).  Hot Husband said, “Oh, man.  I think these are the best waffles I’ve ever had.”

I haven’t seen how they do after being frozen, but here is the recipe I used: (more…)

More Bzz: L’Oreal Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse Eye

// August 14th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Life in General

As a BzzAgent I got to try a full-size sample of L’Oreal Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse eye treatment.  This eye treatment is different than anything I’ve tried before.  It is a two-part process:  first, you apply the lotion, cream, or whatever you want to call it; next, you dab a vibrating metal “micro-pulse” thingie underneath your eye.  I was not sure what I’d think of L’Oreal’s Collagen Micro-Pulse, because it just seemed odd.  And tickly.

However, I do think that Collagen Micro-Pulse did instantly reduce the puffiness under my eyes–which is good, since as a WAHM who works through naptime and after bedtime every day, my eyes look a little tired and puffy.

As for the long-term treatment of fine lines and wrinkles . . . well, I can’t tell you that yet for two reasons:

1. I had a little irritation under my eye just before receiving my sample, and when it didn’t clear up immediately, I thought it might be a good idea to keep it free of lotions and make-up for a while.  It seems to be better now, so I’ll try again.
2. I’m terribly inconsistent at any kind of skin regime.  If I’m supposed to do something nightly, I’m lucky if I manage to do it twice a week.  Now that my skin is not as young as it used to be, I’m going to have to be more vigilant about this.

Have you tried L’Oreal Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse Eye?  What do you think of it?  If you haven’t tried it, does it sound like something you’d want?

Fall Consignment Sales

// August 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Money Matters

Last spring, I posted a list of upcoming kids consignment sales in the Oklahoma City area.  Now that Fall/Winter consignment season is rapidly approaching, I’d like to do that again, if my local readers are interested.

Today I got a brochure in the mail about Pass It On Kids Consignment sale in Edmond.  Their Fall/Winter consignment sale will once again be at Church of the Harvest in Edmond, and it will be held September 10-11.  Saturday, Sept. 11 will be their half-price sale.

I went to their Spring/Summer consignment event, and I found some nice things for the Bear.  If your kids need clothes, shoes, toys, bedding, or baby gear, check out Pass It On Kids consignment.

To save even more  money, consider selling baby and kid items that you no longer need.  You keep 70% of your sales.  Plus, if you volunteer to work at the sale, you can take advantage of special worker pre-sales.  For more information, check out PassItOnKids.com.

In the meantime, if you hear of other upcoming Fall/Winter kids consignment sales, let me know in the comments below, through my Contact page, or on the Nix9to5 Facebook fan page.  I’ll start keeping a list posted for your reference.

Tax Free Weekend in Oklahoma

// August 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Money Matters

Don’t forget:  This weekend is Oklahoma’s Sales Tax Holiday.  There is no sales tax on clothing or shoes priced at $100 or less through Sunday, August 8.  Stack the tax break with back to school sales for some great deals:  Kohl’s has toddler shorts for $3.60–I think I’m going to stock up for next summer.   I’m sure there are other fabulous deals, but I didn’t shop for anything besides toddler clothes.

Visit the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s website more information on Oklahoma’s Tax Free Weekend.