Musings from Me on Kids, Preteens, and Teens » shopping http://www.musingsfromme.com Seizing family time one dinner at a time. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:29:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Binging and Purging, But in a Good Way [Giveaway] http://www.musingsfromme.com/sams-club-giveaway/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/sams-club-giveaway/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:04:13 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5209 Over the past few months, I have purged, recycled, consigned, and moved a ton of stuff from our family room. I’m about to declutter the dining room office. Early last year I tackled the playroom. The year before last, the master bedroom was on my hit list of rooms to declutter. Some days I can actually see the top of the family room coffee table. Some days…not so much. Baby steps. Likewise, some days my floor is clear and other days…not so much. What works for me is storage units. No, not the storage unit complexes in industrial parks. No, I mean storage units, shelves, and tubs. Give me a Rubbermaid or other tub and I have the tools to tackle the clutter. Over Christmas break, I set up a couple of storage shelves and a small table for my son’s Lego. With our new found family space, game playing is back on the table — literally — as a fun activity for our family to do. It’s hard to play a board game amid the clutter of papers, glasses, books, magazines, and who knows what else is stored on top of the coffee table! The start of the new [...]]]>


Over the past few months, I have purged, recycled, consigned, and moved a ton of stuff from our family room. I’m about to declutter the dining room office. Early last year I tackled the playroom. The year before last, the master bedroom was on my hit list of rooms to declutter.

Some days I can actually see the top of the family room coffee table. Some days…not so much. Baby steps. Likewise, some days my floor is clear and other days…not so much. What works for me is storage units. No, not the storage unit complexes in industrial parks. No, I mean storage units, shelves, and tubs. Give me a Rubbermaid or other tub and I have the tools to tackle the clutter.

Over Christmas break, I set up a couple of storage shelves and a small table for my son’s Lego. With our new found family space, game playing is back on the table — literally — as a fun activity for our family to do. It’s hard to play a board game amid the clutter of papers, glasses, books, magazines, and who knows what else is stored on top of the coffee table!

The start of the new year also heralds kids going back to preschool, school, or even college. Sam´s Club wants to help you keep yourself and your children organized. You can also find Box Tops for Education products at Sam’s. Collect Box Tops for Education to help your school of choice.

Check out these sweet deals and promotions from Sam´s Club and Box Tops for Education to make your life as easy! While purchasing some of your favorite General Mills brands you can also earn more cash for your local school with the Sam´s Club “6 Box Tops on a Pack” promotion.

I have a Sam’s Club $25 Gift Card for one lucky reader! Winning is easy. First, leave a mandatory comment. Second, leave one or more of the optional comments. Remember, you must leave the mandatory comment for the other comments to count. Oh and don’t forget to leave your email address in the comment. so I can contact you if you win!

Mandatory Comment — Leave a comment.

Subscribe to Musings from Me by reader.

Optional Comment — Leave a comment.

Keep your eye on this blog for more giveaways. Coming soon: Another fun toy from Best Pals and a Giveaway! And a week of DVD Giveaways!

I was given a Sam’s Club Gift Card to facilitate my review. The review samples, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity. Giveaway ends January 30, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/sams-club-giveaway/feed/ 51 I Want to Work in Film, But Not Like This [Giveaway] http://www.musingsfromme.com/ocean-spray-snacks-giveaway/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/ocean-spray-snacks-giveaway/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:17:29 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5255 I have nightmares that one day I will see myself in a news story about overweight people. Only the story isn’t about me or my weight gain or loss. No. I am just one of the people filmed from the waist down as I walk down a city street as part of the background film for the story on overweight people. Yikes, I’d hate to see myself in this type of news story…wouldn’t you?! As the new year progresses, I am making goals for myself. I don’t want to blog about my New Year’s resolutions because (1) I’m not ready to commit them to “paper,” and (2) I see resolutions as for my eyes only. But, I will admit to wanting to change a few things about my way of life. As with previous years, a huge goal of mine is weight loss. I’m one of those people still trying to lose baby weight from a decade ago. Yikes! It’s hard reading that sentence, but the reality is that I need to make changes. One of my downfalls is snacking. I either eat foods that are not that healthy OR I eat a too large portion of healthy and nonhealthy [...]]]>


I have nightmares that one day I will see myself in a news story about overweight people. Only the story isn’t about me or my weight gain or loss. No. I am just one of the people filmed from the waist down as I walk down a city street as part of the background film for the story on overweight people. Yikes, I’d hate to see myself in this type of news story…wouldn’t you?!

As the new year progresses, I am making goals for myself. I don’t want to blog about my New Year’s resolutions because (1) I’m not ready to commit them to “paper,” and (2) I see resolutions as for my eyes only. But, I will admit to wanting to change a few things about my way of life. As with previous years, a huge goal of mine is weight loss. I’m one of those people still trying to lose baby weight from a decade ago. Yikes! It’s hard reading that sentence, but the reality is that I need to make changes.

One of my downfalls is snacking. I either eat foods that are not that healthy OR I eat a too large portion of healthy and nonhealthy foods. One key factor for me is portion control. If I bag up popcorn or baked chips, I eat less. Recently, I was given a few boxes of fruit snacks.

Now if you are picturing those super-sugary, character-themed snacks your child begs you to buy in the grocery store…think again. Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks are in a different league. The fruit flavored snacks are full of taste. You can taste juice spilling out of the fruit snack.

Now for the details on Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks…

  • Great snack for kids and adults. Pop a pack in the lunchbag or stash a pack in your purse. Tasty anytime.
  • Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks: Assorted Fruit and Berries and Cherries.
  • Made with real fruit juice, natural colors (colors from natural sources), and flavors.
  • Made with apple, pear, and cranberry juice concentrate, but are not intended to replace fruit in the diet.
  • 80 calories, gluten free, and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.
  • Like Ocean Spray on Facebook.
  • Follow @OceanSprayInc on Twitter.

BONUS for MOMS of SCHOOL-AGED KIDS! Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks are available year round Double Box Tops! Is your school a member of the Box Tops for Education Program? If not, why not? For more information on Box Tops for Education, click here.

The kind folks at Ocean Spray have asked me to host a giveaway. Did you know that 80 years ago Ocean Spray was started as a cooperative with three families? Today, the values of community are integral to Ocean Spray’s 600 grower families? But, back to the giveaway…

Four lucky readers of Musings from Me will each receive 6 boxes (3 of each variety) of Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks!

Winning is easy. First, leave a mandatory comment. Second, leave one or more of the optional comments. Remember, you must leave the mandatory comment for the other comments to count. Oh and don’t forget to leave your email address in the comment. so I can contact you if you win!

Mandatory Comment — Leave a comment.

Subscribe to Musings from Me via reader.

Optional Comment — Leave a comment.

Keep your eye on this blog for more giveaways. Posting reviews and giveaways through the end of January and beyond. Coming soon: Another fun toy from Best Pals and a Giveaway! And a week of DVD Giveaways!

I was given six boxes of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks to facilitate my review. The review samples, information, and giveaway have been provided by Ocean Spray® through MyBlogSpark. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity. Giveaway ends January 23, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/ocean-spray-snacks-giveaway/feed/ 17 Holiday Gift Guide: Dancing Family Fun #seizingfamilytime http://www.musingsfromme.com/holiday-gift-guide-dancing-family-fun-seizingfamilytime/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/holiday-gift-guide-dancing-family-fun-seizingfamilytime/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:14:35 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5251 Is there a speed faster than fast? I’m thinking about the Spinal Tap amp that goes to 11. Right now, my speedometer is at about 250. Fast. Speedy. Vroom. Whoosh. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of school, work for two parents, dental and doctor appointments (with 3 kids…someone is ALWAYS at the doctor!), holiday activities, band and strings concerts, and more. Life is obviously too fast paced for little old me, because guess what I remembered that I never put out for the holidays? Guesses? Hint: I should have put it out on December 1. If you guessed the Advent calendar, you would be right! It’s December 8…how in the world did I forget to hang the Advent calendar?! While I go and find the Advent calendar, here are some pics from last week’s Just Dance 3 party. We had the most fun family/friends game night. Some played. Some watched. Those that played didn’t want to stop. Those that watched loved seeing the happy expressions on those that were playing Just Dance 3. Just Dance 3 is a game rated E for Everyone 10+. My son is 8. He had no problem keeping up with the game. [...]]]>


Is there a speed faster than fast? I’m thinking about the Spinal Tap amp that goes to 11. Right now, my speedometer is at about 250. Fast. Speedy. Vroom. Whoosh.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of school, work for two parents, dental and doctor appointments (with 3 kids…someone is ALWAYS at the doctor!), holiday activities, band and strings concerts, and more. Life is obviously too fast paced for little old me, because guess what I remembered that I never put out for the holidays? Guesses? Hint: I should have put it out on December 1. If you guessed the Advent calendar, you would be right! It’s December 8…how in the world did I forget to hang the Advent calendar?!

While I go and find the Advent calendar, here are some pics from last week’s Just Dance 3 party. We had the most fun family/friends game night. Some played. Some watched. Those that played didn’t want to stop. Those that watched loved seeing the happy expressions on those that were playing Just Dance 3.

Just Dance 3 is a game rated E for Everyone 10+. My son is 8. He had no problem keeping up with the game. Just Dance 3 is available for PS3, Wii, and XBox Kinect. Great for family game nights. Perfect icebreaker or activity for a tween or teen party/gathering. And don’t forget that the holidays are just around the corner. Still time to buy a game for that special someone! Another Holiday Gift Guide post: If you’re out and about shopping til you drop, you might need one of these or buy one for someone to stay connected.

Time to set up the game!

So what are we doing?

Let’s dance!

A little blurry, but this is one of the opening screens of the Just Dance 3 game for XBox Kinect,

Dancin’ the night away on Just Dance 3 for XBox Kinect.

Learning the moves on Just Dance 3.

Lots of hand motions…maybe even jazz hands?!

IGNORE THE MESS! WATCH THE CUTE KID DANCING!
I don’t have a giveaway for Just Dance 3 or Just Dance for Kids 2…sadly. But if you would like a discount coupon to save $25 when buying Just Dance 3 and a Kinect sensor for the XBox 360 at Best Buy, leave a comment with your email. Coupon is valid through 12/18/11. I’ll contact you for your mailing address and ship the coupon to you, just in time for holiday shopping.
I was sent Just Dance 3, Just Dance for Kids 2, a Kinect poster, and a stack of coupons for hosting a Just Dance party for houseparty.com. I was not compensated for the post. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity. Giveaway ends 12/12/2011. Give is open to anyone in the U.S.A. and Canada.

 

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/holiday-gift-guide-dancing-family-fun-seizingfamilytime/feed/ 0 Holiday Gift Guide: A New Twist on an Old Game http://www.musingsfromme.com/holiday-gift-guide-a-new-twist-on-an-old-game/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/holiday-gift-guide-a-new-twist-on-an-old-game/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:33:27 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5208 I’m always on the lookout for something to do, somewhere to go, something to watch, something to read. Family time is a huge deal for me. I crave it. I know my kids and husband need the time at home to regroup. After a busy fall of two on the swim team and one on the Varsity Volleyball team, we’re a tad tired. Swimming is a year-round thing for our two kids. Our volleyball player who played in the fall, resumes playing in December after a brief hiatus. Knowing that we had a short break before our insane schedule gets back in to gear, I have been in overdrive trying to schedule stuff for us to do. We caught a screening of the #Muppets movie. We wrote postcards to the troops. We considered going Black Friday shopping, but didn’t. Of course we celebrated Thanksgiving with family. We shopped — not exactly until we dropped, but at least we ventured to Target and the Mall — as a family for Christmas gifts and ideas for Christmas lists for Santa. And we had a fun game night! I brought out a fun game for us to play…a game that really takes up [...]]]>


I’m always on the lookout for something to do, somewhere to go, something to watch, something to read. Family time is a huge deal for me. I crave it. I know my kids and husband need the time at home to regroup. After a busy fall of two on the swim team and one on the Varsity Volleyball team, we’re a tad tired. Swimming is a year-round thing for our two kids. Our volleyball player who played in the fall, resumes playing in December after a brief hiatus.

Knowing that we had a short break before our insane schedule gets back in to gear, I have been in overdrive trying to schedule stuff for us to do. We caught a screening of the #Muppets movie. We wrote postcards to the troops. We considered going Black Friday shopping, but didn’t. Of course we celebrated Thanksgiving with family. We shopped — not exactly until we dropped, but at least we ventured to Target and the Mall — as a family for Christmas gifts and ideas for Christmas lists for Santa. And we had a fun game night!

I brought out a fun game for us to play…a game that really takes up no space at all. We played UNO Roboto. Are you an UNO player? I know that my kids play UNO at recess. Usually the card game, but sometimes they play UNO Attack. My son has UNO Attack on his Christmas list to Santa. Though I never played UNO growing up in England, I appreciate a game with staying power.

After a recent binge and purge of stuff in our family room, we used the extra space on the coffee table for cold drinks and ice cream! The kids love ice cream as much if not more than cake. I’m a chocaholic to the nth degree, so if I am buying ice cream there are no guesses as to what I am buying! In order to get a little variety going, I let my oldest choose a couple of yummy sounding Coldstone Creamery flavors — Cake Batter Batter Batter and Shock-a-Cone. And yummy there were. We slurped those ice creams down lickety split.

The game — UNO Roboto — is a blend of the traditional UNO card game and an interactive game. Before you play, each player records his/her name on the UNO Roboto device — a cute, compact, little guy with a space on top of his head to store cards.

After the names are recorded, one player records a Special House Rule. Examples of Special House Rules are listed on the a few of the UNO cards. The object of UNO as always is to get rid of your cards as quick as possible. As you play the UNO Roboto will instruct players by name to do tasks. A nice twist to a traditional game. Adding to the “fun” for mom, dad, or the grandparents is that UNO Roboto comes with 3 batteries. You can literally buy the game at the store and play the game in the car coming home!

Before you click to another post, don’t forget to Like Uno on Facebook.

Considering purchasing a game this holiday? You might want to know that you can get a FREE 7″ x 9″ Shutterfly Photo Book (a $15.99 value) when you buy one of the following games at Toys R Us:

  • Disney Apples to Apples
  • Apples to Apples Junior
  • Apples to Apples Kids
  • Apples to Apples
  • Blokus
  • Angry Birds Knock on Wood
  • Cars2 Finish Line Frenzy
  • Imaginiff
  • Loopz
  • Loopz Chrome
  • Mad gab
  • MindFlex Duel
  • Othello
  • PictionaryMan
  • Pictonary Junior
  • Red Rover Game
  • Rock’em Sock’em Robots
  • Toss Across
  • Whac-a-Mole
  • Molehill Mania

And don’t forget if you buy any of these UNO games, you can get a FREE 7″ x 9″ Shutterfly Photo Book (a $15.99 value), too!

  • UNO Attack
  • UNO Choo Choo!
  • UNO Moo!
  • UNO Roboto

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of UNO Roboto and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/holiday-gift-guide-a-new-twist-on-an-old-game/feed/ 1 It Is #BlackFriday Isn’t It?! http://www.musingsfromme.com/surviving-blackfriday-shopping/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/surviving-blackfriday-shopping/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:41:45 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5149 Shopping is a necessity not a desire. For me I shop when I need things. My days of browsing the racks and window shopping are long gone. I have a more precise, laser-like method of shopping than in my teen/college/premarriage years. If I need it, I buy it. If I see it on a rack, I buy it. If I browse the internet and see something I want, I buy it. And the item must be on sale…or I have a coupon…or it is a deal on a deal site. If I can’t save money, I’m not buying it. countdown to black friday // Even before I was serious about shopping with a stack of high-value coupons in one hand and a bunch of coupons loaded on to my store discount card in my other hand, I liked to save. And way before I had a coupon pouch, I was a bargain shopper. Especially on Black Friday. The bargains to be had can be plentiful. No matter what time of day, day of the week, or season you shop. You just have to look for the deals. And the bonanza bargain time is Black Friday, particularly Black Friday 2011. My [...]]]>


Shopping is a necessity not a desire. For me I shop when I need things. My days of browsing the racks and window shopping are long gone.

I have a more precise, laser-like method of shopping than in my teen/college/premarriage years. If I need it, I buy it. If I see it on a rack, I buy it. If I browse the internet and see something I want, I buy it. And the item must be on sale…or I have a coupon…or it is a deal on a deal site. If I can’t save money, I’m not buying it.

countdown to black friday

Even before I was serious about shopping with a stack of high-value coupons in one hand and a bunch of coupons loaded on to my store discount card in my other hand, I liked to save. And way before I had a coupon pouch, I was a bargain shopper. Especially on Black Friday.

The bargains to be had can be plentiful. No matter what time of day, day of the week, or season you shop. You just have to look for the deals. And the bonanza bargain time is Black Friday, particularly Black Friday 2011.

My daughters and I will scan the ads. Even my son and husband will get busy. Peruse the books. Ogle at the savings. Analyze the bargains. And plan our assault on Black Friday. Armed with the Black Friday ads I’ll establish a game plan. Set the alarm and Go!

One Black Friday, in particular, I spotted a sale on Power Wheels cars at Walmart. I was beside myself with glee and joy and excitement and every other emotion as I cradled the Black Friday ads book in my hot little hands. I knew my kids would love seeing the two surprises under the tree.

I rose at 4 a.m. to get over to Walmart. Raced back to the toy area. Spotted the two cars I wanted.

  • I knew my 5-year-old would love the Fisher Price Power Wheels Kawasaki Quad. I could see her four-wheeling through our yard. This was a little girl who could rock a pair of camo cargo pants one day and wear a Disney Princess dress the next.
  • The Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler Rubicon would be perfect for my 3-year-old. I knew that though she wasn’t quite ready to “drive” on her own. she would love to be driven around in style by her big sis.

I manhandled one Power Wheels vehicle in to a shopping cart while keeping an eye on the other vehicle. The first vehicle was boxed up, which made it slightly easier to get in the shopping cart. How I managed to lift it in to the cart…I don’t have a clue. Brute force and determination I guess! I rolled the cart containing one of the Power Wheels vehicles while pushing the other boxed Power Wheels vehicle. Took me a while to get to the register as I slid and pushed and shuffled and rolled and dragged both of the huge boxes. I was relieved that the check out line was short.

Once at the register, I was surprised when the prices rang up differently than what I thought I saw. I looked at the Walmart Black Friday ads. Looked at the cash register. Looked at the two Power Wheels boxes I had just manhandled. To my horror I realized that the “too good to be true” sale prices were actually not Black Friday deals at all. No! The deals were just sale prices. I had misread the ad circular. I felt a little kooky. I told myself I’d come back the next day. I abandoned both Power Wheels boxes with a sales clerk and shuffled back home to bed. I knew I needed backup (AKA my husband) to help me manhandle the boxes in to the van.

So, if you’re headed to Walmart Black Friday 2011, don’t forget to check out the amazing deals here.

This post is sponsored by the coupon and deals experts at www.BlackFriday2011.com. Visit their site to browse the latest Black Friday Ads and find the best holiday savings at top stores, including Walmart, Lowes, and Walmart Black Friday 2011 deals.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/surviving-blackfriday-shopping/feed/ 1 Plumbing the Depths of the Backpack http://www.musingsfromme.com/plumbing-the-depths-of-the-backpack/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/plumbing-the-depths-of-the-backpack/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:52:24 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5064 I never had a backpack until I started college. Before college, I carried a satchel or a briefcase to school. My school required all items to be brown, so of course the briefcase was brown leather or more precisely brown pleather. I never got a new backpack each school year. I recall having 3 school bags in 9 years of school. Previously, when I attended elementary school in England I probably had a backpack. I’m not sure what the backpack looked liked. My best guess would be plaid. I do remember getting a new lunchbox each year. You know the ones I mean, don’t you? Rectangular metal lunchboxes. I had a plaid lunchbox of course. Another one was the Addams Family. I had maybe one other lunchbox in my early elementary school years. What was your favorite lunchbox? But, back to backpacks. My kids get a new backpack about every 2 years. We used to do the new backpack every year until we had to buy several new backpacks midyear. After these unexpected mishaps — broken zips, torn plastic — we began to buy sturdier backpacks from Lands End or Nike. My daughters both used a Swiss Army Backpack from [...]]]>


I never had a backpack until I started college. Before college, I carried a satchel or a briefcase to school. My school required all items to be brown, so of course the briefcase was brown leather or more precisely brown pleather. I never got a new backpack each school year.

I recall having 3 school bags in 9 years of school. Previously, when I attended elementary school in England I probably had a backpack. I’m not sure what the backpack looked liked. My best guess would be plaid. I do remember getting a new lunchbox each year. You know the ones I mean, don’t you? Rectangular metal lunchboxes.

I had a plaid lunchbox of course. Another one was the Addams Family. I had maybe one other lunchbox in my early elementary school years. What was your favorite lunchbox?

BackpacksBut, back to backpacks. My kids get a new backpack about every 2 years. We used to do the new backpack every year until we had to buy several new backpacks midyear. After these unexpected mishaps — broken zips, torn plastic — we began to buy sturdier backpacks from Lands End or Nike. My daughters both used a Swiss Army Backpack from Costco for about 2 plus years each. In the end, the sheer load of books and notepads required of tweens and teens taxed the backpacks’ zips.

I’m sure I am not the only one who has unearthed a permission slip that was never turned in or found a flyer for an event that happened days ago. I have been known to get perturbed when I find important papers in the kids’ backpacks. How difficult is it for the kids to hand in forms or bring home forms to be?!?

My child’s school sent home this checklist for dealing with the “Backpack Black Hole.”

Tips for Helping Your Child Organize The Backpack

Each week parents should work with their child to:

1. Take everything out of the backpack
2. Organize binder(s) by putting papers in the correct sections
3. Read through any papers sent to you (fliers, etc.)
4. Throw away/recycle all trash
5. Check your child’s agenda book for HW from each class, missing work stamps, and notes from teacher.

In addition, children should be encouraged to write down all assignments in their agenda/calendar books.

What do you do to help your child stay organized at school?

The links in this post are to my amazon affiliate account. Photo credit: o5cm.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/plumbing-the-depths-of-the-backpack/feed/ 2 Fill Your Closet for Fall http://www.musingsfromme.com/fill-your-closet-for-fall/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/fill-your-closet-for-fall/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:18:29 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5048 New deals from RetailMeNot for beefing up your fall wardrobe and more… 30% Off at Kohls.com! Coupon code: SAVEATKOHLS. Expires 10/29/2011 Free Shipping Everyday at Gap.com on orders over $50! No coupon code necessary. Save up to $195 on special order windows or patio doors at HomeDepot.com! See store for coupon codes. Expires 1/1/12 $30 Off $100+ at Coldwater Creek! Coupon code: NZA8152. Expires 10/31/11 The links are to my RetailMeNot affiliate account.]]>


New deals from RetailMeNot for beefing up your fall wardrobe and more…

30% Off at Kohls.com! Coupon code: SAVEATKOHLS. Expires 10/29/2011

Free Shipping Everyday at Gap.com on orders over $50! No coupon code necessary.

Save up to $195 on special order windows or patio doors at HomeDepot.com! See store for coupon codes. Expires 1/1/12

$30 Off $100+ at Coldwater Creek! Coupon code: NZA8152. Expires 10/31/11

The links are to my RetailMeNot affiliate account.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/fill-your-closet-for-fall/feed/ 0 It’s Not Too Late To Buy a Costume #Halloween http://www.musingsfromme.com/its-not-too-late-to-buy-a-costume-halloween/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/its-not-too-late-to-buy-a-costume-halloween/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:51:32 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=5030 I wanted to give you a headsup on savings from RetailMeNot. Vistaprint $2 Halloween Tote Bag and Other Halloween Treats From Vistaprint! Kohls Friends and family get 20% off with coupon code: OCTFF20. Valid through 10/16/11. Spirit Halloween Get 20% off highest priced item in your order with coupon code: SPAFF20. Valid through 10/26/11. Macy’s $10 dollars off orders of $75+ with coupon code: XJW56A992. Costume Express $20 of $100+ with coupon code: RETMENOT1031. Zulily 10% off $30+ your one-time purchase with coupon code: Shopmom108. CostumeSupercenter 15% off orders of $40+ with coupon code: OCT40. Oriental Trading Company Free shipping with any order of $39+ with coupon code: HS1280000. Halloween Express Save 12% on orders of $35+ with coupon code: SPOOKY12CJ. Costume Kingdom Get 10% off any purchase with coupon code: RETAIL10. All links click to my RetailMeNot affiliate page.]]>


I wanted to give you a headsup on savings from RetailMeNot.

Vistaprint $2 Halloween Tote Bag and Other Halloween Treats From Vistaprint!

Kohls Friends and family get 20% off with coupon code: OCTFF20. Valid through 10/16/11.

Spirit Halloween Get 20% off highest priced item in your order with coupon code: SPAFF20. Valid through 10/26/11.

Macy’s $10 dollars off orders of $75+ with coupon code: XJW56A992.

Costume Express $20 of $100+ with coupon code: RETMENOT1031.

Zulily 10% off $30+ your one-time purchase with coupon code: Shopmom108.

CostumeSupercenter 15% off orders of $40+ with coupon code: OCT40.

Oriental Trading Company Free shipping with any order of $39+ with coupon code: HS1280000.

Halloween Express Save 12% on orders of $35+ with coupon code: SPOOKY12CJ.

Costume Kingdom Get 10% off any purchase with coupon code: RETAIL10.

All links click to my RetailMeNot affiliate page.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/its-not-too-late-to-buy-a-costume-halloween/feed/ 0 Giving Back Is Simple with @SamsClub #MyBlogSpark http://www.musingsfromme.com/giving-back-is-simple-with-samsclub-myblogspark/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/giving-back-is-simple-with-samsclub-myblogspark/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:11:28 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=4961 It’s funny to think that I joined a membership warehouse club when I was in my 20s…pre-marriage…and pre-kids. What did I buy? Why would I need a gallon drum of mayo? Did I even think about saving money back then? My then-boyfriend/now-husband and I joined Pace Membership Warehouse in 1989. Pace, you say? Why am I mentioning Pace when I am writing about Sam’s? Well, the first Sam’s Club was opened in 1983 by Walmart. By 1993, Walmart acquired Pace Membership Warehouse. By 1993, I had been married a few years and loved shopping at membership warehouse clubs. The savings. The stuff. And yes, we did leave quite a few times with a football or fuzzy stuffed animal nestled in our cart of tomato soups, yogurt, and humongous bags of Mexican Cheddar cheese. But, you know what? The savings from shopping at a warehouse are tremendous. Now that we are a family of five you can bet that we shop at warehouse clubs all the time. Sam’s Club wants to help you give back by purchasing your favorite cereal or snack. This October, when you make simple everyday purchases at Sam´s Club, you can help support breast cancer education and [...]]]>


It’s funny to think that I joined a membership warehouse club when I was in my 20s…pre-marriage…and pre-kids. What did I buy? Why would I need a gallon drum of mayo? Did I even think about saving money back then?

My then-boyfriend/now-husband and I joined Pace Membership Warehouse in 1989. Pace, you say? Why am I mentioning Pace when I am writing about Sam’s? Well, the first Sam’s Club was opened in 1983 by Walmart. By 1993, Walmart acquired Pace Membership Warehouse. By 1993, I had been married a few years and loved shopping at membership warehouse clubs. The savings. The stuff. And yes, we did leave quite a few times with a football or fuzzy stuffed animal nestled in our cart of tomato soups, yogurt, and humongous bags of Mexican Cheddar cheese. But, you know what? The savings from shopping at a warehouse are tremendous. Now that we are a family of five you can bet that we shop at warehouse clubs all the time.

Sam’s Club wants to help you give back by purchasing your favorite cereal or snack. This October, when you make simple everyday purchases at Sam´s Club, you can help support breast cancer education and research.

Sam´s Club stores will feature exclusive pink packaging on some of your favorite participating General Mills products in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So, what are you doing to give back to help the fight against breast cancer?

I have a giveaway so that you can experience all that is Sam’s Club. One lucky reader will win a $25 gift card for Sam’s Club. And don’t forget that you can use your Sam’s gift cards at Walmart. If you want to enter, complete the mandatory entry. You must complete the mandatory entry for all optional entries to count.

Mandatory Entry

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Optional Entries — Leave a comment for each optional entry.

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I was given a Sam’s Club gift card to facilitate my review. The views expressed in this post are my own. The information and gift card(s) have been provided by Sam´s Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

]]> http://www.musingsfromme.com/giving-back-is-simple-with-samsclub-myblogspark/feed/ 18 Sweet Kids’ Clothing from @Kudzoom http://www.musingsfromme.com/sweet-kids-clothing-from-kudzoom/ http://www.musingsfromme.com/sweet-kids-clothing-from-kudzoom/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:07:49 +0000 Jill http://www.musingsfromme.com/?p=4947 From time to time I post about deals. After Blogher, I became a tad obsessed with deal sites. Previously, I didn’t think deal sites were for me. I’m not a huge shopper. I was surprised to find how many of the daily deals were of interest to me. Over the past few weeks I have purchased a deal for kids to bake their own cookies from PlumDistrict…a phone skin from Eversave. While I haven’t purchased any event tickets yet from ScoreBig, I am eyeing a couple of New York shows. I’m no #extremecouponer but the coupons and deals on ebates are too good to pass up most days. Locally, I am a fan of Certifikid’s D.C. and Baltimore deals — the only deal site for moms, dads, and kids. One day when the kids are out of school we are going to a local trampoline place called Rebounderz to spend our Certifikid daily deals. And finally a site that I would have adored when my girls were little…Kudzoom. With up to 60% off designer and boutique clothing and accessories, what is not to love about this site! Brands featured included Danica and Dylan, Baby Deer shoes, Scribbles tees, and Mixed [...]]]>


From time to time I post about deals. After Blogher, I became a tad obsessed with deal sites. Previously, I didn’t think deal sites were for me. I’m not a huge shopper. I was surprised to find how many of the daily deals were of interest to me. Over the past few weeks I have purchased a deal for kids to bake their own cookies from PlumDistrict…a phone skin from Eversave.

While I haven’t purchased any event tickets yet from ScoreBig, I am eyeing a couple of New York shows.

I’m no #extremecouponer but the coupons and deals on ebates are too good to pass up most days.

Locally, I am a fan of Certifikid’s D.C. and Baltimore deals — the only deal site for moms, dads, and kids. One day when the kids are out of school we are going to a local trampoline place called Rebounderz to spend our Certifikid daily deals.

And finally a site that I would have adored when my girls were little…Kudzoom. With up to 60% off designer and boutique clothing and accessories, what is not to love about this site! Brands featured included Danica and Dylan, Baby Deer shoes, Scribbles tees, and Mixed Up Clothing.

One more thing before I go…a couple of affiliate links to stuff we have purchased on amazon or received as review item in the past few months. All items get the Musings from Me Family Seal of Approval.

  • Boys Knight Warrior costume…a good idea for your 7 or 8-year-old boys who want a costume that looks cool. My son loved the silver and gold shoulder pads. I liked how the costume looked weather beaten. A nice touch was the cotton pants.
  • Accessories for knight costume just right for your little knight in shining armor. Perfect for Halloween.
  • My Tween is still in to Halloween and trick-or-treating. While she has outgrown the traditional costumes, she gets her creative juices going “inventing” her own costume. Last year she paired a rainbow tutu with a blue short wig and no I don’t know who she was supposed to be, but she looked cool…very cool!
  • My son and daughter are currently quite enthralled by these Geomag kits. I would love to do a giveaway for one of these magnetic building kits. Perfect gift for the girl and boy in your life. Tweens and teens would love these kits, too!

I was not compensated for this post. I was given several Geomag kits to facilitate my review, but the views expressed in this post are my own. All links are to my affiliate pages on the sites mentioned on this post. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

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