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!

Today’s Groupon could help with that.  For only $35, you can get one month of unlimited boot camp sessions at Edmond Bootcamp.  I’ve always wanted to try a boot camp workout.  I think it would be truly torturous but would make me feel smug and morally superior upon completion.  I could be all proud of myself as I soaked my aching muscles in a bathtub filled with Icy Hot.

Here’s what Groupon has to say about this offer:

A strong man wrestles you to the ground to show off; a stronger man boosts your self-esteem and then accidentally breaks three of your ribs with a supportive hug. Learn the tenets of both strength and community with today’s militantly muscled Groupon: for $35, you get one month of unlimited boot-camp sessions at Edmond Bootcamp (a $249 value).

Edmond Bootcamp offers one-hour sweat sessions throughout the week to fit nearly any schedule. During the month, you can drop in on fitness classes whenever you want to have the camp’s extensively trained trainers push and inspire you toward a state of anti-flabbery. The gym provides all necessary equipment including mats, towels, weights, and water. Although classes are sometimes held outside, most classes at Edmond Bootcamp take place in a large, air-conditioned indoor building, ensuring a safe haven from falling iPods.

In boot camp, the enemy is predictability. Each day, your instructors will throw down a fresh guerrilla ambush’s worth of challenges for your muscles and your brain, fueling constant gains and keeping you engaged. Over the course of the one-hour session, you may run, jump, lift weights, slam out push-ups and chin-ups, chase chickens, punch slabs of beef, and end with a live crocodile wrestle. In the heat of your workout, you’ll sweat out weakness, fear, and monosodium glutamate while beginning to gain the functional, unsurpassed strength of a body in fluid, powerful motion. Calling ahead to schedule is recommended.

You must be 15 years or older to redeem this Groupon.

Click here to get in on this deal or to sign up for Groupon in your area.

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:

I have to work during naptime and after bedtime every day.   A big problem is tha since the Bear went to a toddler bed, his naps have been cut nearly in half.  Since he isn’t trapped in the crib, as soon as he starts to wake up, he gets out of bed (if anyone has any suggestions short of tying him to the mattress, I’d love t hear them).  This means that my ability to work in the daytime has been seriously restricted.

I cannot blow off work.  Every article, every minute counts.  If I procrastinate, everything snowballs so that I quickly become buried.  If even one client decides he isn’t happy with my turnaround time, we’re in big trouble.

Everytime I think I am caught up, I get a new load of work.  This is actually a VERY good problem to have, but it does keep me from ever feeling like I’m caught up–or even, miraculously, a little ahead.  Working ahead is my goal, but it never seems to happen.

I have exchanged a steady paycheck for small, inconsistent, and not guaranteed checks.  This is scary and stressful.  What if something were to happen to my husband?  What if I lose a client?  I’m sure it would all work out in the end, but it would be painful and difficult, and would mean that I could not provide for Bear in the way I want.

I could not do this alone.  At all.  I am very lucky that I have family nearby to support me.  Bear spent all day Monday with his grandma and grandpa, and he will do so again today.  I know that I could take him to Auntastic and Uncle Awesome anytime I needed to.  Without that support, without that time to work, I think being a work at home mom might be impossible for me.

However, I am certain that I have made the right choice.  The difficulties and sacrifices don’t even come close to outweighing the rewards.  If you are considering working at home, my advice is to do whatever you can to make it happen.  Just be prepared.

Now.  I really have to go do the work that pays the bills.  You may not hear from me again until the first of September, when I’ve finished all of August’s projects and sent my invoices.  Trust me, though.  I’ll be back soon.  You’ve stuck with me for the first part of my journey, and as I continue on this path, I want to share it with you.

Hi-ho, hi-ho.  It’s off to work-at-home I go!

If you missed your chance to attend one of her earlier Clip SmART seminars, you now have another chance.  Amanda offers both a beginners class and an advanced class in Edmond.  Here are the details for both upcoming seminars:

Clip SmART (Couponing 101)
Monday, August 23, 6:30-8:30
Learn where to find coupons, how to organize them, and how to use them to get groceries and household items for free or cheap at WalMart, Target, Crest, and Homeland

Super ClipSmART (Advanced Couponing)
Monday, August 30, 6:30-8:30
Take your coupon knowledge even further.  Get items for free or cheap (or even make money on them!) at CVS, Walgreens, and through mail-in-rebates.  Learn how to create a stockpile to go weeks without buying anything except perishable items.

Each class costs $20, but you will save well over this amount in no time at all with your new knowledge.

If you are interested in attending either of these classes, email me through the Contact Nix9to5 page, and I’ll send you more information and Amanda G.’s contact information.

How do you like this picture from my latest photo shoot?  The photographers for Gap are really easy to work with and I look great in all their ads.

Lies.  Not me.

Today’s Groupon is not just for my OKC readers–this one is good at any Gap nationwide!  Get $50 worth of merchandise for only $25.  Act fast on this one–you have to redeem it by Nov. 19 (they are usually good for a year).  That’s just in time to finish up your back to school shopping or do some Christmas shopping to beat the rush.  Here’s what Groupon has to say about this deal:

Like underground kickboxing, finding the perfect ensemble requires flexible limbs, a balanced knowledge of styles, and a willingness to go shirtless in compact, windowless rooms. Attack the shelves with today’s Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of apparel and accessories, including sale items, purchased in-store at Gap, which has hundreds of locations nationwide. Today’s Groupon is not valid for online or previous purchases, or at Gap Outlet, Gap Factory, or Gap Generation stores.

Since its first store opened more than 40 years ago, Gap has been clothing knee trunks in premium jeans, swathing stomachs in swanky shirts, and adorning spleens with fashionable, shiny accessories. The latest manifestation of the company’s devotion to fresh styles and high-grade fabric: a new line of women’s black pants. Ruthlessly resistant to lint and wrinkles, this versatile leg armor can fight static while fielding spellbound stares at work, at happy hour, through dinner at a fancy restaurant, and into the wee hours, or simply while riding a freshly painted horse. The black pants are made from premium material that’s stretchy or relaxed depending on which of the seven tailored fits you choose. There’s true straight, skinny, curvy, boot cut, slim crop, boy fit (relaxed and roomy), and perfect trouser (slim hips and flowing bottom cuffs).

Likewise, today’s deal lets you select any of Gap’s premium 1969 Jeans to fit your physique: The men’s vintage wash standard fit jeans please classic cowpokes, while the authentic fit, whiskered wash jeans outfit scores of sincere cat people. Fashionable females can alphabetize their wardrobe with the ballerina gown pintucked raw-edge top, the shawl collar cardigan, and embossed floral belt.

Sign up for Groupon and get in on this and other great deals!

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.

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:

Until surgeons figure out how to fuse the human brain with a high-capacity flash drive, mankind will continue to record every moment on a pocket-sized slab of limestone. Turn your slab of limestone into a bound memory book with today’s Groupon: for $25, you get $100 worth of photo books from Picaboo. The value of this Groupon can be used toward tax and shipping.
Armed with Picaboo’s free photo-book-making software (Mac- and PC-friendly), digital pack rats can easily create photo books that will grace coffee tables until the tables naturally dissolve into table paste. Picaboo’s highly customizable interface allows anyone with human hands to organize an artsy album and show it off with a broad range of high-quality books, such as a medium chocolate-colored Classic hardcover book (6″x8″, $19.99) and a plushly padded, subtly stitched Regency album, available in black or British tan (8.5″x11″, $69.99). If your photographic experiments produce large panoramic spreads, opt for the Madison (8.5″x11″, $99.99), which includes a custom cover option and offers your collection of wide-angled shots an elegant final resting place. Albums come with 20 pages included, but extra pages can be added for an additional fee.
The intuitive Picaboo software lets users drag and drop photos, insert witty captions across over 240 pre-designed page layouts, and personalize your own picture book using tens of thousands of available backgrounds. Once you’ve prepared your custom photo book, Picaboo gives you the option to share a copy via email or order a hard copy in a variety of book sizes and different levels of invisibility.

Valid for redemption on 8/19. This Groupon is valid with other offers.

Visit Groupon to get today’s deal or to sign up for Groupon in your area.

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.

Hey everyone, Chef Joseph here. As many of you are aware, there was a considerable mix-up today surrounding a Groupon promotion. Groupon accidentally got their wires crossed and sent out an email promoting a Groupon deal for Saturn Grill instead of the actually deal for Jump Zone. This email was a mock up they were using to try and attract our participation and was never intended to be used for today’s deal. This was an unfortunate situation for everyone. There ended up being a lot of frustrated and disappointed people due to this mistake. Naturally I don’t like to see our loyal Fans be disappointed even if it’s not our fault. So I got to thinkin’, all of you have been so great to us over the years. Even through the frustration of today’s debacle, so many of you expressed your love for Saturn Grill. Well, seeing that just makes me wanna do something nice for all of you. So tomorrow (Aug. 17, 2010), 1 DAY ONLY & ONLY AT OUR NEW LOCATION AT 4401 W MEMORIAL ROAD ACROSS FROM MERCY HOSPITAL, we will be selling $20 Gift Cards for $10! This promotion will go on all day during normal business hours from 10:30 am-9:00 pm. There will be a limited number available (750) and we will need to limit 3 per person. I really do appreciate ALL of you and your continued support. Thanks! ~Joseph

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:

If kids want to someday get into a good moon college, early manipulation of gravity and bounce training will start them off on the right path. Prepare your wee one for low-gravity econ classes with today’s Groupon: for $17, you get a six-visit Jump!Pass redeemable at Jump!Zone (normally $7 per visit, for a $42 total value), an indoor inflatable arena. This deal can be used for multiple children in one visit or across many visits.

Jump!Zone is an inflatable indoor play center packed with moonwalks, bouncers, and giant slides for children ages 2 to 12. A giant inflatable Kraken wrapped around a 26-foot-tall ship makes a great slide and provides deep-sea adventure for landlocked kids. A 16-foot Batman stands guard over the obstacle course, while five large playsets provide loads of bounceless entertainment. Grade-schoolers looking to book the perfect destination playdate can check out the Ella’s Castle playhouse, complete with rock wall, wave slide, and tire swing. Miniature humans who prefer stationary entertainment can dominate in the arcade, leaving their adult counterparts free to recite the periodic table of elements backward in peace.

Parents appreciate Jump!Zone’s attentive staff, clean facilities, and commitment to safety. Treat a van full of distant cousins to a fun day out or give your sister the day off and help your nephew hone his fire-spinning skills in the Ninja jumping area. The Jump!Pass will pay for access to all inflatables and playsets, keeping precious quarter stockpiles intact and available to bail you out during your next Skee-Ball emergency.

Socks are required to play on the equipment.

To get in on this deal, or to sign up for Groupon in your area, just click here.