Tip Tuesday: Muddy Boots in your Car!

Recently we got a new car. Since our Ford Escape was past the 200, 000 mile tune up and the bearings were making sounds we decided to upgrade at the end of the year with a Toyota Highlander. We can actually hear each other talk now. And even though we are still a one car family, at least we can make sure we have a more reliable car.

This car is a Limited hybrid with leather interior. The only bragging I am going to do, however, is put a plug in for my husband who managed to talk the sales guys into taking off almost $5, 000 off this 2007 used gray vehicle.

The only problem to date (knock on wood) with our new car is making the purchase smack dab in the middle of winter. MUD...SAND....SALT....your freshly cleaned car does not always keep so clean then.

Yes, we put the rubber shoe mats down for every seat. And we keep the car clean in between snow falls with wet, slushy streets.

So what is the problem, you ask? MUDDY, SOAKING WET, FILTHY WINTER BOOTS!

We have a 3 1/2 year old with muddy boots that has seemed to grow a little taller to reach the back of the new leather seats. He likes to kick the seat and even though we work on trying not to kick the seat, what little 3 1/2 year old remembers every time. Plus if he gets himself into his own car seat, he cannot manage on his own unless he uses the seat for a step stool.

Sounds all to familiar, right. More than kicking my back as I am driving, I find myself upset about the new leather seats. I know they can be wiped off but still every parent has high hopes that something will last longer than it really will. So I should get over it, right. But we just got it.

So I keep telling my husband to put plastic over the seat. His reply: "And how do you propose I do that (as he complains about getting it to stay or ruining the leather)?"

Well, we have yet to try it but what about those disposable table place mats that you can by at Walmart. The sticky removes easily making a permanent attachment unlikely or leaving marks. The picture would be fun for the kids. The place mat lays flat over the covered surface intended. And you can always replace with limited hassle. I think I might try it.

Tip Tuesday: Monitoring those Contractions!

At 38 weeks pregnant, yes, I have had a few contractions. Nothing major yet. I remember though when I was pregnant with Judah having contractions and trying to keep track of them.

My husband was a very nice support system the first time around (and is now too). It was on Wednesday afternoon when I started having contractions after a short nap that I had taken. I patiently waited until he came home from work and immediately we started timing them as they became more intense and regular.

Somewhere we had found this really neat tool that allowed us to time our contractions and monitor their regularity. So my husband had his computer nearby opened to Contraction Master. Throughout the evening he would wait for me to say when a contraction was starting and then hit the space bar. The timer would start and he would then hit the space bar again as soon as the contraction was over.

By the time we went into the hospital at 3:00am, we had several sheets printed off of contraction records which had finally gotten to 1 minute long every five minutes for several hours. This made it easy on the hospital staff as they immediately assumed their roles.

The web site made it so much easier to time contractions. While we timed them, we simply stayed relaxed and watched several movies. I had my homemade heating pack (old sock filled with rice that had been microwaved) and sat with my feet up.

And my husband (who loves technology) felt like part of the process with his timer keeping track of those contractions. It was his contribution to the process.

As a side note, review with your doctor when you need to go to the hospital. Instances where your water breaks, regular, intense contractions for 1 minute, every five minutes, for over an hour are reasons to seek medical help.

Tip Tuesday: Special PARTY Favor Ideas!

Now that spring is upon us, many people are gearing up for parties of all kinds. Baby Showers, wedding showers, weddings, birthdays, and Easter to name a few spring occasions. And if you are like me, you are looking for party ideas that are original and special for such special occasions.

I was cleaning out the back of my freezer recently and discovered I had saved some packages of M&M's. These were not ordinary M&M's though. These were special packages specifically ordered to be used to celebrate different life events.

I still had some blue and green ones from when my husband proposed to me. I love peanut M&M's, making them probably my most favorite candy. As a back up plan to the carriage ride we took, my husband had ordered directly from the company, M&M's that said (in our favorite colors) "will you marry me" and our initials on them. He then took these and carefully added them to a package of peanut M&M's before skillfully repackaging the bag back together. I was surprised and of course I said, "yes."



The theme stuck. So for our wedding we ordered as part of the cake table, M&M's in our purple and green wedding colors, M&M's to celebrate the special day. Then later on, we again ordered pink and blue M&M's to hand out to the prospective grandparents to tell them we were expecting a baby.



When I cleaned out my freezer, I did finally throw away the M&M's after five plus years. My son snatched a few while I took pictures of them to remember them. The special sentiment though will last forever in my heart and memory.

If you are looking for an original idea to share with someone special, consider customizing your own M&M sayings. Order a short, clean saying in colors of your choice to be shipped to your house for your special occasion. It is easy, fun, and definitely original!

Tip Tuesday: Know your Product for your Price: Children's Tylenol

A few weeks ago, Judah was in the hospital overnight for dehydration from the flu. A bad case of gastronitis has been going around every where you turn. I guess it is that time of year for the flu.

Every so often when Judah is sick, I check with his doctor the dosage amount of medicine, namely Tylenol, to give him for pain. Kids are constantly growing and changing making the dosage amounts different over time. And if you have not done so recently, you may want to do the same for your kids.

It was a good thing I checked again while we were in the hospital. What we discovered was that Tylenol has recently changed all their infant's and children's bottles to the same concentration amounts. This means that concentration amounts will be consistent among the brand name as they restock setting the standard for generic brands as well.

On the other hand, you need to be aware of marketing schemes used to sell the same concentration amounts. Infant's Tylenol now contains the same concentration amount as Children's Tylenol. The difference however, lies in the price point. In some stores, you will pay several additional dollars for the infants version of Tylenol than you would Children's Tylenol.

So frugal shoppers, I implore you to do your homework. First, check with your doctor on dosage amounts per child per weight. Check at the store to make sure concentration amounts are acceptable and in fact the same. From there I encourage you to buy the cheapest bottle per ounces. And in the meantime, save your infant droppers by washing them to reuse. You will be surprised on how much you will save.

This discovery encourages all of us shoppers to stop and read the labels. We may in fact be paying more for something that is just packaged and advertised differently. A good example remains generic canned brands that actually get processed by the same company. Usually they are slightly different but still have good taste and are always a few cents cheaper.

Let's know our product for the price. And in the interim, check your Tylenol bottles the next time you go into the store.



For more frugal tips, visit Learning the Frugal Life.