Friday, February 26, 2010

Virginia consignment sale tomorrow

Thanks again to Kristen, she is becoming a regular idea-generator and tip provider :)
The Fairfax County (Virginia) Moms of Multiples is having a big consignment sale tomorrow. Find out all the details here.

I went to a consignment sale last fall. It was the first time, and I admit I was impressed. Was able to get a bunch of items in the $1-$3 range. My best deal was a pair of stride rite tennis shoes for $1!

Happy Shopping!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

FREE Personalization from Disney

This promotion ends this weekend. Click here.

Michael's coupons

Click here for printable coupons good well into March. One is 40% off, the other is 60% off.

Yankee Candle $10 off

When you spend $25, take $10 off. Printable coupon, click here.

Bath & Body Works FREE item

Free Fragrence when you spend $15. Printable coupon, click here

Banana Republic 20% off

This is good through March 31. Printable coupon, click here.

Childrens Place 15% off

Now through March 16, use the code FAMILYA9 to get 15% off sitewide.

Where has February gone?

This is crazy. Its February 25th? 26th? I don't even know anymore. I keep referring to "next month" as if its weeks away, yet its Monday. If 2009 was the challenging year for us, 2010 is shaping up to be the year that flies by.

My work is winding down so March will hopefully see a return to normalcy. I miss posting deals and being able to meticulously count our pennies. I know, I am a dork.

The biggest thing we did this week was change our home owners policy. I am not entirely sure we actually are saving money. BUT, and this is huge, Travelers is no longer getting a dime from us for a policy they did not honor. After nearly $5000 in assessments and home repair issues that should have been covered that weren't. We went elsewhere, and I am happy.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

bad dish detergent

While its not as bad as Electrosal, I have decided that I do not like "seventh generation." We had a coupon a few weeks back AND it was on sale, so the price was comparable to the generic we have been buying.

Since then though, I have noticed several dishes that have come out just as dirty as when they went in. Even some that were rinsed before they were put in. Common stains have included coffee, egg and pasta sauce. So at the end of the day, its just not worth it.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Snapfish Photo deals!

They've got two that are worth noting!!

100 FREE PICTURES! Order a photobook by February 28, and get 100 free pix. Enter code: BOOKGIFT

FREE COFFEE MUG! Order two photomugs, get the third one free. Enter code: 1FREEMUG

Changes to credit card policies...MONDAY

As I have said before, Michelle Singletary is one of my favorites. I am sitting in a coffee shop, taking a break from writing about rockets, and stumbled upon this important article from Sunday's paper. If you carry any sort of credit card balance you are definitely going to want to read this. Now.

Also, Blue Patch reader MLFJ suggested signing up for Michelle's weekly emails. I did, and am looking forward to receiving them. You can too. Just look for the tab that says "Weekly email" on the above link for more information.

Hope you having a nice (SNOW FREE!) weekend.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Cheapest diapers?

As faithful readers of The Couch know I am very loyal to Diapers.com. It works for me, I get coupons, get credits when people who I have referred shop with them, its fast, easy and quick. Most importantly its dependable.

In the last month though, two friends have asked me about Diapers and felt they found better deals elsewhere. First, Kristen (mom of twins)took advantage of the crazy deals Target was offering in bulk and, forgetting the math we figured out on the phone weeks ago, determined that Target for Pampers was cheaper. The trade off was, with Diapers.com it was delievered to my door and I didn't have to haul it anywhere. Since I have to haul my lovable little Monkey everywhere (tonight he clearly said "moooon" for the first time!) the delivery option is HUGE. We didn't need diapers at that time, so we didn't go to Target.

Then just the other day, my friend Kate (one almost 2, one due any day), told me about Amazon and their "Subscribe and Save" program. You can learn more about it here, but in a nutshell, if you sign up to receive any number of products, they give you 15% off their already low prices AND you don't have to spend $50 to get the free shipping, its free shipping regardless. We do need diapers now, so I am tempted to order through Amazon. I will definitely let you know.

My question for all of you: where do you get your diapers from and what do you pay? What factors go into your decision?

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Free Pretzel Day Saturday

I love Auntie Annie's! Yum! Click here. Thanks Kristen for the tip!

Financial advice from the expert!

As you know I subscribe to a slew of blogs. Most have deals and bargins, but today, thanks to Moneywise Moms, I am passing along some financial advice. While it is geared toward SAHM, I think its applicable to all, whether married/single, SAHM or a working away from the home Mom.

Happy Reading, click here.

Victoria Secret free panty and other deals

Enter code THELACIE at checkout when you buy a qualifying push up bra.

Also, get $15 off orders of more than $100, $30 off $150 orders, $75 off $250 orders. Enter code SPRING10 at checkout.

Deal ends Monday.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Amazon magazine deals

They have a slew now for under $10.

This week's listing includes:
Redbook
Seventeen
Glamour
Field & Stream
Parenting
Working Mother
Bridal Guide
Boston
Golf Tips
Maxim
Good Housekeeping
Health
....and many, many, more. Click here for full details.

Washington Post coupons

The Post has three great coupons in Sunday's print edition, if they are what you are looking for!

Safeway: $15 off purchases $100 or more (good now through Saturday). Page A14.

Prevacid: $6 off and $10 off coupons (good now through March 13). Page A15

Ruby Tuesday: 25% off your entire check (good through the end of February). Page A19

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Saturday deals...

Lands's End: 20% off Men's clothing, online and in stores.

Restaurant.com: 80% off, use code HEART. For a limited time also get a $15 credit for FTD (nice timing with Valentines Day!)


Michael's: 40% off printable coupon, click here.

Children's Place: 15% off printable coupon, click here

Snapfish: Free shipping on all photogifts, (excluding prints). Enter code, PRESDAY

JCPenny: Salon coupons (in time for Valentines Day...ok, just getting under the wire, but still..) Click here.

Ann Taylor: $30 off purchases $100 or more, code CCABIN30

Bath&Body Works: FREE item, printable coupon here.

Gymboree: 15% off purchase, printable coupon here.

Adidas Outlet: 30% off, printable coupon here.

CVS: Deals of the week, click here, thanks to For the Mommas!

Panda Express: Free appetizer with meal purchase (great for when shopping at the mall in the food court...yum!) Click here. Thanks KC Penny Pinchin Mamma!

RedBox: Free rental! Click here, thanks again KC Penny Pinchin' Mamma!


Victoria's Secret:
FREE Fragrance Sampler, click here. Thanks Frugal RI Mom!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Lots of bargins...

Some from me, some from other bloggers. No rhyme or reason just throwing them out there....here goes! (As always, if you have trouble with a link, let me know)

ProFlowers.com: Enter SPROUT in the radio box and get a dozen roses for Valentines Day for $19.99. Get a dozen more, and your total is $29.99

FTD, 25% off. Enter code COUPONCABIN25 at checkout.

Zales, $50 off purchases more than $300. Click here

FREE!! Bottle of Exedrin, click here.

NFL, shop online at NFLshop.com, enter code NFLWIN20 and get 20% off

FREE!!! Bare Minerals Foundation, click here.

Coupons in March magazines, click here (Thanks Nicole's Nickels)

Publix Deals this week, click here. (Again, thanks Nicole's Nickels)

H&R Block Online Software for $14! Click here. (Thanks Kansas City Penny Pinchin' Mama)

Jackson-Hewitt, $25 off tax prep. Coupon can be found here

Cox Cable Free On-Demand Movie, click here. (Thanks again KC Mama!)

Did you know Target has a bunch of printable grocery coupons? I didn't, but I do now. Click here.

Wal-Mart Deals, click here. (Thanks BeCentsAble)

Barnes & Noble, 10% off any item. Printable coupon, click here

Starbucks Frappachino, $1 off. Click here. (Thanks again, BeCentsAble)

Coupon Preview, click here. If you are like me and missed your coupons because of the snow this past weekend, this is a great planning resource. Don't forget also to check out the sites themselves, such as redplum.com, smartsource.com and you can also find a bunch on couponcabin.com (Thanks For the Momma's for the list this week!)

Taking a deep breath

Several of you emailed or called about my post yesterday. Sorry if it sounded over the top. I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to let off a little steam. I have told my husband I don't need chocolate, flowers or anything fancy for Valentine's Day, but if he could give me a clean/organized home I would be the happiest woman in America.

One of the reasons though we have been able to make it through everything the last year has thrown our way is because of family and friends. So just repeating the obvious, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! There is a good chance I will take some of you up on the dryer offer, especially if we get anything resembling a snOMG 3.0 on Monday...who knows when Sears will decide to show up!

Enjoy the digging and be safe! And if you are not covered in snow, enjoy the warmth for those of us who are :)

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Days like today, I have no idea how we are doing it...we just are

The snow is so bad outside, coupled with the wind, that the plows have stopped running.

We have been in our house, pretty much non-stop, since Thursday night. That's six days ago.

We have been without a dryer for three weeks. Was supposed to be fixed yesterday, but because of SnoMG 1.0, our repair man couldn't make it. Now I wonder with SnoMG 2.0, if he will be able to come on Monday. One can hope.

Our son has a stomach virus. This has meant he has been throwing up since Sunday. So we can wash his clothes (and ours) that are puked on, but drying them, well that's a different story.

My house is such a mess right now that I would be mortified, and I mean really mortified if anyone saw how we were living. Between the clothes -- dirty, clean and drying -- our entire home looks worse than anything frat boys could come up with. Remember that line about "Make sure everytime you go out you wear clean underwear, that way if you are in accident the medics won't think you are a stinkpuss." If the medics had to God-forbid come here right now, they would surely think we had lost our minds.

This morning I stepped on an earring that had fallen on the ground. It was a direct hit to the ankle, blood everywhere. I am only grateful that it was me, and not our son, who stepped on it. THAT would have been a nightmare.

I am STILL so far behind on my deadline that I can't see it. I told my editor this morning she is either a saint or a mom herself (perhaps both!). I would have fired myself weeks ago.

We have heat (at least for now), same goes for power. Many in our area are not so lucky. We have food, tonight I am making bacon topped steak with garlic and rosemary, and fresh mashed potatoes. Yes, I stocked up last week, but also I was so overdue for shopping that I just bought a regular amount and we have not strayed since.

Did I mention our dryer has been out of commission for three weeks?

I love the snow. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a Mom. I don't mind being up at 2:30 with puke all over me, and then not sleeping for the next four hours while I rest on the couch with son who has no where else to sleep. There is no place else I would rather be. I wouldn't believe this either if I wasn't a Mom, but I am sure the Mom's out there know what I am talking about. This is EXACTLY why I am a stay at home mom.

But I do mind that I am behind. I do mind that on this six day "vacation" I have not managed to do a single thing from the master "to do" list because there was no way for it to be done. I hate that I have become, at least for now, THAT woman who can't get something done because of the demands of her top boss. This makes me sad and frustrated more than words can express.

My husband is now playing with our son. Its their favorite game of hiding behind the door and our son closes it, and opens it..."BAH!" is their universal word for fun.

And I am in our room, looking at the snow blowing off the trees, or whats left of the trees I should say. I am hoping to finish my work that was due noon on MONDAY tonight. That way I can start work on the next project which is due noon on Friday...maybe if we get more snow and my son fully recovers I can get it done by Sunday...

Yeah right.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Random deals...

Tracie, at KC Penny Pinchin’ Mamma, has some great deals posted, including this one for KFC and this one for FREE golf club! (Thanks Tracie!)


Free Grand Slam at Dennys this Tuesday!!! Just saw this advertised like the rest of America during the Super Bowl, but still wanted to share.

Red Envelope, $10 off $75 order and $30 off $150 order. Click here

Michaels, 40% off, click here (its for the whole ad, you will have to print out the coupon on first page)

Photodeals for all your snow pictures..not that you could ever forget this weekend, even if you tried!

Walgreens, buy 25 get 25, click here.

Staples, flash drive for $6.99, now you can share, store and back up all those snow pictures! Click here

Kodak, make a year full of snowmemories, 50% off calendars, start any month. Enter code SAVE50CAL

Snapfish, free key ring with any purchase $25 or more. Enter code FREEKEY. Also, 20% off collage fleece blankets, enter code COZYFEB20

Winkflash, up to 100 page photobook, flat price of $12.95! Enter code ITSBACK

snoMG! coupons...

If you couldnt get your coupons this week because of the storm, click here.

And if you are like me and totally snowed under, hope you have lots of hot cocoa, shovels, and that your kids enjoyed the snow more than my little monkey (who according to neighbors, looked like the younger brother in A Christmas Story)

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Air Tran no fee to change

I heard about this in the car and did a google search. I thought the radio guy said Continental, but nothing came up for them. Air Tran has decided to not charge customers to change their flights this weekend to ward off problems for the upcoming snow storm. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wednesday night department store deals...

For the first time in I can't remember how long I don't have to worry about science related issues. I completed this week's freelance gig, yeah :)

So, I am getting back to my roots, so to speak. Here are a bunch of deals, having savings!

JCPenny, spend $50/save $10 or spend $75/save $15 click here

Old Navy, use code ONSAVE15 and get 15% off

Shutterfly, use code SWEET50 and get 50% off photobooks

Borders, save 33% off one item, use code BCA2101T

Elizabeth Arden, free 8 piece gift set and free shipping on purchases more than $35, click here for more info

Bath&Body Works, 20% off, enter code INSTYLE20

Kohls, free shipping on purchases more than $50, enter code HOME50FREE

Finish Line, save $15 on purchases more than $75, enter code ORDERCONFIRM

The Childrens Place, enter code C99AA and get 15% off

Lowe's will send you a 10% off coupon in email by signing up here

Yankee Candle, $10 off $25 or more purchase, click here

Gymboree, 15% off, click here (although they too make you sign up, grrr!) They have another coupon though for a free play and music coupon at your local Gymboree center, click here

HWDI: True partnership

I am typing this post on my Blackberry, let's see how this goes.

My son is falling asleep in his room. I am nearly 24 hours past a deadline for one of my freelance contracts and am so far behind another one I can't even see it. I feel like I have been running on tradmill non-stop for the last month.

So, the answer to the question, how we did it (or in this case) how we are doing it, (the it being staying financially and emotionally afloat) is simple: we are a true partnership.

My husband will surely laugh when he reads this. Just last night as he was playing Wii for the umpteenth consequetive night, as I was reading and writing about NASA's DART program and the different types of orbits a satellite can take, I got wimpy with him and told him how he was not affected by my working. He comes home, plays with our son for an hour or two, then our son goes to bed. I am either in the bedroom or on the couch doing work, while he gets to relax after a day of working in the office.

But that is simply not true. He has been affected. And he doesn't complain. He has done more of the cleaning up around the house, more of the dishwasher loading/unloading (a job we both hate) and more of the dinner prep. He has always been an active father, now he is more so. Today, when we learned just as he was cleaning off the car from last night's snow that daycare was infact closed, he was affected too. He is now planning on working a half-day so I can work in the afternoon.

A friend tells me often she thinks my husband and I are her only friends who are as in love with each other today as we were on the day we married. While its a compliment, I hope its not true. The key, I think, is communication. I have never once hesitated to tell my husband what I need and when. I am not talking about a mani-pedi here (although I wish for those plenty), but really need: help in the house, help with our son. I also am keenly aware of his needs: down time to play the dang Wii, extra sleep.

I am not an expert and don't pretend our lives are perfect. But I am able to do this freelance work which is the key to extricating ourselves from this 800 sf of love we call home because my husband helps me. I am grateful that my boss is unbelievably patient and understanding, and for that he has my unwavering loyalty. But my husband is my rock. He supports me in my efforts and I his. I firmly believe if a marriage is based on these principles, whatever hardships come our way, we can handle them.

So Honey, thank you! I am sorry I got wimpy last night. It was out of jealousy. I want my free time back, but we both want a bigger home, and I appreciate your supporting me in this freelance work to get us to that point more than you know.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Amazon magazine deals

They have a bunch for $10/under including:

Rolling Stone
Health
Glamour
Money
Smart Money
Good Housekeeping
Maxim
Popular Mechanic
House Beautiful
Marie Claire
Redbook
Field & Stream
Running

...and many many more. Make sure when you click the link here, that your magazine comes up as $10 or less. I saw a few when I was scanning that were more.

Limited coupons

Click here for a rolling coupon, meaning the more you spend the more you save!

Thanks For the Mommas!

CVS deals

These are thanks to Nicole's Nickels, as well as Frugal RI Mama

Click here for an abbreviated list, or click the Frugal link above and get the whole list.

Expired coupons

My son is asleep. My deadline has been pushed back slightly, so I am going to do a driveby posting of some deals I found...either from the blogs I subscribe to or the deals I get in my inbox.

Here goes nothing.

I have so many expired coupons I never know what to do with them. But here is a tip, thanks to Moneywise Moms, on how you can donate your expired coupons to military personnel overseas. They have six months past the expiration date to use.