Kim’s Shopping Blog

I told the kids all I wanted for Mother’s Day was for them to get along with no fighting or screaming for the day, and that lasted all of 15 minutes (history repeats itself).  But it was soon halted when a bunch of my extended family came over for a picnic lunch.  It was a beautiful day out where the men grilled hotdogs and hamburgers.  I love hosting family and friends, but I hate cleaning prior.  Luckily, I designed my house to have lots of storage and closets and a laundry room big enough to throw stuff in and shut the door. 

My aunt works part-time at a flower shop over the holidays.  She said Mother’s Day is the busiest holiday.  I had presumed it was Valentine’s Day, but she told me, “Not everyone has a valentine, but everyone has a mother.”  Good analogy. 

Hopefully soon, I’ll be able to announce our new site format! I know a lot of you are very anxious to redeem your points.  And the new site will have more point opportunities and cool prizes!  Good things come to those who wait, but as always, we still have hot, hot deals available!

Happy Mother’s Day out there to all moms, grandmothers, aunts, etc!

Tags:   grandma · grandmother · mom · mother's day 1 Comment

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “5th of May”) is not Mexico’s Independence Day as most Americans believe (that day is September 16th). According to Wikipedia, it’s a celebration in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico.  The only state in Mexico to actualy observe Cinco de Mayo is Puebla.  In fact, more people in the United States celebrate the day to recognize Mexican culture.  There, you have your history lesson for the day!

Now that’s it’s May, school will be out soon!  I have been complaining all year about how much school lunches cost, but I’m afraid them eating at home for the summer (and me not liking to cook), we will spend more eating out!  Last month, our lunch bill was so high that I actually requested a print-out from the school thinking someone must be using our family number to eat!  No, it was simply my kids (one of the twins in particular) buying extra a la carte items (which I think should not be offered at all - make them eat the stuff on their tray).  I had a talk with her that there is no need to buy PopTarts (we have them at home), or bottled water (drink out of the faucet), or O’Henry Bars (ok, I would have probably bought one of those, too, but she bought 3 in one day).  I have a feeling the kids are going to get sick of frozen pizza within the first week they are home.

Consumer Reports Recalls If you have any of the following items, please call the phone number about getting a replacement/refund…
‘97-’03 GM Regal/Grand Prix (Call Buick 1-866-608-8080 or Pontiac 1-800-620-7668)
Avon Cozy Warming Polar Bear (Call Avon 1-877-217-0916)
Combi Infant Child Restraint System (Model # 4400, 4515, 4520) Call 1-800-543-7734
MagnaMan, Magtastik & Magnetix Jr magnetic toys (Call 1-800-779-7122)
16 pc Puzzle Track Play Set (QVC item T16876) Call 1-800-367-9444

Fuel Savings How to cut costs at the pump (from Consumer Reports)
Drive a moderate speed.
Drive smoothly.
Reduce unnecessary drag.
Don’t use premium fuel if you don’t have to.
Minimize driving with a cold engine.
Keep tires properly inflated.
Buy tires with lower rolling resistance.
Avoid idling for long periods.

As you can tell, I’m a big fan of Consumer Reports magazine.  Sure, I like the gossip and women mags as well, but the only magazines I actually pay to subscribe to are Consumer Reports and All You Magazine.  All the other dozens and dozens and magazines I get free.  You find a huge list of Free Magazine Subscription Offers here.

And don’t forget to check out Kim’s Top Online Deals for the week!  Adios!

Tags:   cinco de mayo · consumer reports · free magazines No Comments.

I remember when I was young and my mother helped me make May Day baskets out of green strawberry containers (I don’t think they make those anymore?) and pipecleaners, filled with popcorn and candy. One year we even used Little Debbie snack cakes.  Then we’d drive around placing them on friends’ doorsteps, ring the doorbell and run.  What fun.

I had good intentions of making May Day baskets for my Kiwanis group today at lunchtime, but was busy with work, so just brought the Easter basket we still have sitting here filled with Easter candy.  So, then I had good intentions of helping my daughters make some baskets up after school with all the leftover Easter candy.

But after school was chaos, as my cousin dropped off her twins while she got her hair cut.  Man, I forgot how demanding twins are as babies!  Plus I had to make four dozen cookies for our school’s snack day tomorrow.  Those leftover Hershey’s kisses from the Easter candy came in handy for peanut butter cookies* (recipe below).

Plus add on the normal soccer practice, track practice, homework, supper, etc., we didn’t get around to making any May Day baskets.  But we did have two of the other families in the neighborhood ring our doorbell and run leaving behind goodies in plastic cups. God Bless more organized mothers.

*Peanut Butter Star Cookies
1/2 c. margarine
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. peanut butter
2 TBsp. milk
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
We always at least double the batch, if not triple or quadruple!
Roll dough into inch sized balls and roll in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Upon removal from oven, press in chocolate star or candy Kisses (we prefer stars).
Variations - For plain peanut butter cookies, roll in balls and use fork to imprint criss-cross lines on top. For another fun option, cook un-sugared balls in mini-muffin pan and press in mini Reese’s peanut butter cups upon removal from the oven.

Tags:   cookies · Kiwanis · May Day · twins 1 Comment

I’ve been playing around with making a few YouTube videos.  Here is a product review about leave-in hair conditioners that I made today.  I recommend Suave Kids Detangling Spray over Biolage Daily Leave-In Tonic.  Not only is Suave way less expensive than Biolage, it works much better on my hard-to-comb-through long hair.

Related Links:
I donated my hair to Lock of Love
Knock-off Sunglasses

Happy Shopping!

Tags:   biolage · conditioner · kimmkamm · Suave · youtube 2 Comments

… never get me down (as opposed to The Carpenter’s Rainy Day and Monday always get me down).  I know it’s not Monday, but it is raining.

I love taking naps on rainy days, so these days aren’t real productive, but the sound and smell of rain put me right to sleep, and I can always use beauty sleep. As for Mondays, I enjoy when the kids go back to school (being a single mom of four high-maintenance children can be quite stressful).  I have to be honest that I’m not looking forward to summer when school is out.  I vote for year-round school!

If you don’t subscribe to my monthly Top Deals & Freebies newsletter, you can read yesterday’s issue online here (lotsa good stuff)!

I did a few offline deals yesterday…

Target’s Coupon Generator includes
Toys $5 off $25 (didn’t use yet, but doesn’t expire until 10/1)
Archer Farms Cereal $1 off (most cereals are 67¢ - 97¢ after coupon)
O-Cel-O Expressions Cleaning Products $1 off (and these are on clearance! I got some scouring pads for 32¢ after coupon)
Nice’n Easy Perfect 10 hair color $5 off (I found these on an endcap on clearance for $5.98! Can’t beat 98¢ for hair color!)
Pepsi products $1 off 2 (combine with sale 5/$15 plus Free $5 gift card)

The pet peeve with my Walgreens is that they never put signs up by the advertised specials.  So by the time I actually find what was in the ad, they are usually sold out of it.  ie I wanted a gallon a milk for $2.99 (ok, that was easy to find, but they were out), and I wanted the Dawn dishsoap for 99¢ because I had coupons to use (and they were out, so I price-matched at Walmart).  I did get the last case of Dasani bottled water for $3.99, and this Dasani is a Coke product, so the code on the bottom is worth 20 points at MyCokeRewards.com.

Then I went to Walmart to price-match and do the following rebates.  I simply ring up each rebate item seperately to get a new receipt for each…
Dawn Direct Foam Money Back Guarantee (up to $3.99)
Febreze NOTICEables Money Back Guarantee (up to $7.99)
Lunchables Pizza ‘You’ll Agree of It’s Free!’ Offer (up to $3 refund)

P.S. Got my free Schick Quattro Titanium in the mail today (sorry, free offer is over), but I learned that “All Quattro razors fit all Quattro cartridges.”  Good to know if I see some on clearance!

Tags:   febreze · lunchables · quattro · rain · Target · Walgreens · Walmart 2 Comments