Observations from StayAtHome

As I woke up this morning, I was reflecting on this time we have had at home over the past five weeks. It's only officially been four weeks since we learned of the true StayAtHome order (and still a few days short of it being four weeks its been in effect) but it was five weeks ago that things started to close. First to close for us was the schools, then restaurants for dine-in, then gyms, then non-essential businesses and so on.

On one hand, I feel isolated with no where to go and miss time spent with people (outside of those that I live with). I miss going to the kids' sports and school events. I enjoy watching them do the things that they love and the chance to connect with friends that I only see at those events (who has time in their schedule to see them otherwise). I miss being able to go to the gym and visit with people as I walk on the track or swim in the pool or take a class with friends. Sure, I am getting out and walking each day but even though I am getting in my activity and decompressing in the process just like I would at the Y, it is not the same as it lacks that social element. (Actually, I am pretty proud that I have found the opportunity every day for the past 35 days to get out for at least a 30 minute walk. Considering the rain and snow, I had to make an effort to find the right time to get out.) I miss getting together with friends for hanging out or game night, I miss going out for dinner or trivia, I miss having plans.

I know that the kids are also feeling it too, although I would say it feels like it is impacting my son more than my daughter. He has reached the point of bored where he went for a 7 mile bike ride last weekend. No destination, just a ride. Yesterday, it was snowing and he wanted to get outside for a bit. He wasn't sure what to do but settled on getting in some swings of the bat, hitting the ball off the tee into the net. This actually surprises me a bit because I would have always said my daughter is more social than my son - I think though now that I reflect on it, he has always been very dedicated to sports and spends a lot of time on a sports field and even when he hangs with friends there is usually some type of sport involved. It isn't that he isn't social, its just that he does more group social activity than one on one. My daughter is all about spending time with friends and although she does a lot of that through sports too, her and her friends can spend hours just spending time together.

I don't even get my normal weekly get away to the store (one constant that I can always count on regardless of the schedule is getting to the store to buy food), as I am almost exclusively shopping online for curbside pick up of my groceries. As I have shared, I am an in person shopper - in part to connect with others and in part because I like to explore and consider my choices - so this shopping online is not natural for me. I also find it is not easy to explore products online - you can't exactly walk down the aisle and see all your options. I have found that some stores do more abbreviating in their names making searching challenging even. I am very appreciative of those stores that have apps and I can scan barcodes of the products I have at home, then I don't have to figure out how to locate the item online. I am still rotating through stores based on what time slots I can get. Normally, I am going out about every 10 days for groceries and every other day it seems to Target for a pick up of odds and ends. This next week is an odd one as I have two grocery pick ups scheduled. The one store has a sale on 2L of soda and the other has the beer that my husband enjoys and we are out of. I haven't yet filled out my orders but anticipate that the first one will be a really light order, since I just picked up groceries last week and have been buying for two weeks at a time. I will likely make the second one be my next 'regular' pick up and fill it out with milk, bread and eggs.

On the other hand though, having no plans, no place to be has been kind of nice. There is a certain leisure to being able to get up in the morning and take care of a few chores and then to simply sit down with a coffee and a book or movie or my puzzle. It is nice to be able to have time to bake each week - I have used the same bread recipe each week but it is a little different each week (better in my opinion).

It is nice to be able to find time for a 30 minute walk each day - without having to try to squeeze it in between things or before it gets too dark. In fact, everyone is finding time to get out and be active - whether going for a walk, a run, a bike ride or simply playing in the yard. It is nice to sit down as a family each day and enjoy our meals at a normal time (we usually eat together, it just is squeezed in or after all our things) and to spend our evenings hanging out watching Jeopardy!, a TV series or a movie. Everyone has developed a new routine. We are staying up later and sleeping in. We are keeping our meals mixed up to avoid boredom and still finding a chance each week to do pick up from a local restaurant (and occasionally from Chik-fil-A because who can resist those sandwiches).

This time home has certainly made me appreciate time at home. Normally, it's only on that random Saturday where games got called due to rain that we legitimately have a completely unplanned day. I like unplanned...in doses. I suppose right now, as we all have our new routines, that it feels a little less unplanned but certainly is unrushed. The kids have flexibility on when to do their schoolwork most of the time, the exceptions being when there is a class online or a quiz that has to be done in a certain timeframe. Most of their work has a weekly rather than a daily due date.

We learned this week that the governor hopes to begin to open things up on May 1. There is officially a light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, the opening will be gradual and will not be 'full' but it is a move in the direction of returning to normal. I am hopeful that all of us will remember this time and will find ways to keep some unplanned/unrushed time in our schedules and will appreciate the little things that we had taken for granted.

How are things in your part of the world?

Exploring Grocery Pick Up Options

I am an in person shopper for most things. There are some things that I always buy that I am comfortable ordering online through Amazon or have used Target pick up for but otherwise, I am inclined to head to the store for most things. During these unprecedented times though, I have turned to online ordering for pick up at store. Some of my learnings may not apply to normal times but still are included below.

Giant Eagle - I know that normally you don't have to book over a week out but that is the current norm...if you can even find a pick-up time. As such, my pick up this week from Curbside Express may be a one and done scenario. I loved that I was able to update my order once placed until about 24 hours before pick up. This was nice because I was able to reserve my spot a week out and then add to the order based on what we needed and the current sale deals.

I was disappointed that you can't rely on their online status once order is completed. There were several things (not surprisingly) cut from my order that were either missing from the order summary and others that said unavailable. When I saw those cuts, I used the information to head to another store on the way to fill the gaps. Only, when I got to Giant Eagle to pick up my order, they had in fact filled many of those things with substitutions.

I recognize that currently stock is limited and they are doing their best with substitutions but I learned that I need to be much more specific in my notes and/or simply don't allow substitutions. Unfortunately, their choice is allow substitutions or don't, and they offer a spot for notes regarding the item on your list. They don't seem to use the notes for your substitution - at least not in the one that I put a note about what to substitute. They do however review the substitutes and allow you to decline items, so that was good. As an example, I had ordered 3 x approx 1# packages of boneless, skinless chicken breast from their current sale. They were out and the swap was two value packs, each just under 3#. Unfortunately, they couldn't honor the discounted $/# pricing on the larger packs - not sure if that is typical or due to the current situation. I know that in the past, I have been able to have them honor the sale price and/or repack to smaller counts for me, when I was shopping in store.

During this time, I was appreciative not to have to spend the time in store but some things were things I wouldn't have skipped when the item I wanted wasn't in and should have said no substitutes. The produce selection was okay. The tomatoes were softer than I would have bought but not bruised, the red peppers were too heavy for their size but still sweet and the avocado was not as firm as I prefer. The meat that I ordered looked good. The expiration dates were good. All in all, they did okay with the shopping.

Giant Eagle offers Curbside Express free with a $35 order (at my location, since it says varies). I would be most inclined to use it when I need a couple of items and don't want the hassle of running in the store but that is not an option.

Acme Fresh Market - Acme I was very lucky and able to get an appointment for pick up within 2 days of placing my order. The first day I scheduled, only 2 of the items on my list were available. They called me before completing the order and I was able to cancel the order and then copy it into a new order for pick up on a different day. The shopper who called was even able to check the schedule to see when the next truck was coming in and I was most likely to find more items in stock.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way in the system to change the order once submitted. This was disappointing because there were things I would have liked to add or update after placing my order.

Their substitution approach was more comprehensive. Their drop down allowed you to select whether to up count or to change brands or flavors or no substitution and they also allowed you to choose a substitution from a recommended list. I only got one substituted item on my list but it followed my request.

When I did my pick up they had about 1/2 of what I ordered. I did not get a call that time.

Acme typically has a nominal fee for picking up an order, so I could use it for a small order but if I want to maximize the value probably wouldn't.

Target - As I said, I have used their drive up and/or pick up for items in the past. The biggest issue that I have is that it is not offered for several items, including dairy, frozen, produce or bread and (I know because we tried to order them for pick up) windshield wipers. Aside from some limitations on the selection that qualifies, it is great and during normal times your order is typically ready to pick up in less than 4 hours. I have used it get ingredients for baking, soup and medicine in the past.

Most of the time, their app is accurate on inventory but I did have an item cut from my order that had shown in stock and was likely purchased between my order being submitted and shopped. This past week, I used it to get Gatorade and shop ahead for Easter treats (since I'm not sure when we will have the chance to get treats for the baskets). The drive up process is super easy and once you tell them you are coming, if you leave the app open it knows when you arrive and alerts them. The order was out within a couple minutes of my pulling up.

What has been your experience with online ordering groceries for pick up? What is your favorite thing about shopping that way?

Five Below #shop5B #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post for Five Below, through She Speaks. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

The wind down has begun...after weeks of crazy fall sports schedules, this past week wrapped up the remaining fall sports. Of course, the break will be short lived, as we officially kicked off winter sports with our first swim meet of the season this weekend. During the wind down and the slow period that we can enjoy for the next few weeks, we have been taking advantage of the quiet evenings and weekends and getting out and doing things as a family.

The other weekend, because we had no sports and had a few errands to run on Friday night, we took the opportunity to stop at Five Below with the kids. Five Below is a family favorite shopping destination. Usually, we head there without a shopping list, but often times we choose Five Below when we are looking for a specific (and unique) item. I think part of the appeal to the family is just the unique collection of items that they offer and that they offer them all for $5 and below. It is a great place to pick up stocking stuffers and fun items for a white elephant gift exchange.

On this trip, since we came armed with an available budget and an intent to spend it, we spent longer than normal shopping. Everyone wanted to see what was available before making any commitments.

My daughter's first stop was at the plastic shoes. They offer both a lined and unlined version. She found a pink pair in her size and tried them on. Satisfied that they fit, they were the first item added to our cart.

My son headed to the back of the store and checked out the assortment of sports balls. They seem to have one for every sport. A few minutes were spent playing with the balls and deciding if we wanted one or another.

The giant tennis balls were a hit with the kids, but they opted to skip getting a ball and continued around the store.

With the release of the new Star Wars planned for this fall, the kids were excited to check out the vast assortment on Star Wars items that were available at Five Below.

In addition to those items, they also had some posters. The kids gave them a good review, looking for the best options to update the decorations in their bedroom.

Our next stop was in the office/art section. We looked for gift options for a birthday party my daughter was planning to attend. She settled on a sketch pad and a set of colored pencils for her friend. Then, she added in another sketch pad for herself and a dry erase calendar with magnets for her room. Then we found a photo clip pack that consisted of a string that could be mounted and several small clothes pins for attaching pictures. This was a solution I had been looking for to display my daughter's ribbons from swimming, so I added this to the cart.

Our next stop was at the phone/tablet accessory wall. Their selection in the tech area is diverse. They have covers for seemingly all brands/styles of phone and tablet with several colors, styles and themes to choose from. I think my personal favorite was the Lego cover where you could attach building bricks to further personalize the cover.

They also offer charging cables and headphones. My kids are required to bring a set to school, so we always keep a few on hand to replace the ones that get lost or the cords bent and stop working.

Then, we headed up to the candy section.

The selection, oh the selection! Suddenly, the cart started to fill faster. There were the theater boxes of candy...there were three or four varieties chosen. There was the wall of 10/$1 candy items. There were three or four bags filled with personalized assortments of candy. There were gummy bears and candy corn (shh! those were mine, all mine!).

Everything we bought was $1 - $5, in even dollars, except the candy corn which was priced at $1.79, which I found odd given the typical pricing that we saw in store.

Everyone was pleased with their purchases and we headed on to tackle our remaining errands and grab dinner, although I'm pretty certain that a couple of the 10 for $1 candy items might have been consumed on the way to dinner.

This is a sponsored post for Five Below, through She Speaks. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Christmas Shopping Day!

Today is the annual Christmas Shopping Day. Every year, my husband and I choose a day in December to take and go shopping for the remaining items we need for Christmas.

Now, the reality is that most of our shopping is done already and a good number of gifts are already wrapped. This day usually is more about picking up the odds and ends that are needed to complete our shopping and occasionally, that spontaneous got to have item that we stumble upon in our journey. But, by setting the day aside, if there are things that we do need to get, we can get them together and not have to worry about the kids.

What I like best, is that it is a day for just the two of us. Once the kids are off to school, we will have breakfast and figure out where we are going and what we are getting. We will do some shopping, enjoy a nice lunch out together and then head home in time for the bus.

It is nice to have some time for just us (and get something done) amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Plus, by going in the middle of the week, the crowds are generally smaller than they are on the weekends.

Christmas Shopping Day works for me!

Lodi Station Outlets: A Real Departure

When I first started shopping at what is now Lodi Station Outlets, it was just another outlet mall. It had the standard assortment of stores and a food court. Then a few years ago, it underwent a rebranding and a transformation. It went from being an outlet mall to being a shopping experience. Where once were just walkways and grass, now there are train tracks and trains. They used the names of historic local train stations to name the stations on the Lodi Line. Part of their goal was to help preserve the heritage of Ohio's rich train history. You can read more about their stations here.

I was first drawn to the (now) Lodi Station Outlets when I was expecting my son. I liked the outlet malls over the regular mall for a few reasons.

First, many of the stores feature outlet pricing. I say many, because there are quite a few stores that now actually manufacture a separate line for their outlet stores. They sell those along with some items from their regular stores. Some of these items are a good value and others are not much different than what you find at a sale in a regular store. When I was a kid, I can remember that going to outlet stores (not conveniently grouped in malls) meant that you had to dig through stacks of clothing and products to find your size and then you had to inspect it because what was sold at outlets was a mix of seconds and last seasons products. Sometimes those seconds were missing buttons (easy to correct) or had a bad zipper (not so easy for me to correct), sometimes the fabric was cut at a strange angle or seams were twisted, sometimes there were holes or other defects, but you generally could get amazing deals. Many of the outlet stores (now conveniently grouped in a mall setting) still offer great deals, but they are mixed with these separate lines that are not always as deep of a discount.

Second, I liked that they featured many unique stores that I couldn't find at other locations. Stores like Carter's and OshKosh B'Gosh. Sure I could buy Carter's or OshKosh B'Gosh clothing at many retailers, but this was the only place where I could go and purchase from their full line. I could buy this seasons clothes discounted slightly from regular price or comparable to sales at other retailers, but I could also pick up clothes from last season (or even last year) at a significant discount. Couple that with the coupons that are provided by many outlet stores, when you sign up with your e-mail, and I could get some great values.

Third, I liked that I could park relatively close to the store(s) that I wanted to shop at and could quickly get in and out of the outlet mall, as compared to the regular mall where the stores I wanted always were scattered about and I had to walk a good distance from where I parked to the stores. To that end, Lodi Station Outlets is well arranged in my opinion. The Children's Place, Gymboree, Carter's and OshKosh B'Gosh are all practically in neighboring store fronts and across the walkway you can find Motherhood Maternity. Love that!

The addition of the train and train rides to Lodi Station Outlets was a win/win opportunity from my perspective as a mom. Having something fun like a train ride to help incentivize the children to come shopping with me, to listen, to stay close and allow me to have them try on clothes is a great thing. As we move from store to store, the kids are always excited to catch a glimpse of the train driving past. There is just something so magical about watching trains, and having them full of waving passengers adds to the fun. Then, at the end of our shopping, assuming everyone behaved, we can all climb aboard for a trip through and around the outlets. The only drawback is that even when I just need to stop by to pick up something quick, they still want to ride the train. Of course, seeing their mascot Chugga Chugga Charlie is another thing my kids look forward too. They like to see him, but getting them to do more than wave can be a challenge.
The outlets also feature a playground for the kids, and an adjacent amphitheater. You can even host your child's birthday party at Lodi Station Outlets. For your party, you get the use of a party room, goodie bags for the guests and can select from several Lodi Station Outlet Food Court vendors for the lunch. The birthday child even gets to be the train engineer as the party guests take a train ride.

I will admit that until recently, most of my outlet shopping at Lodi Station Outlets was for my kids. Then, I left the expectant mom/children row of stores and explored the other rows of stores at the outlet. They have a lot to offer. I have gotten many great deals on shoes and clothes for myself. It is difficult to get to spend time shopping in stores for me, but with the train ride as incentive, I can do it!

Yesterday, the family and I had the opportunity to visit and explore Lodi Station Outlets as part of their VIP Blogger Day.

We started our day by enjoying lunch at their own Steam Cafe. The Steam Cafe serves an assortment of sandwiches and salads, a daily special and of course, a full offering of smoothies and coffee drinks. My son and husband each enjoyed a turkey sandwich with a pickle and chips and a cup of MelloYellow (it seems like a treat when you find a restaurant that serves MelloYellow). My daughter made a departure from the menu and ordered a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. It came with chips and fruit snacks. I tried one of their specials, the Summer Plate. It came with three scoops of my choice of egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad and cottage cheese, as well as lettuce, tomato, a hard-boiled egg and some saltine crackers.

After enjoying our lunch, we got set up with Premiere Passes. These passes, available for purchase, allow you to ride the train on each visit for a year. Train tickets are $3.50 for a ride all day pass on the weekdays. On weekdays, the train makes stops at all of the stations throughout the Outlets and riders can hop off and on at these stops. Tickets are $3 on the weekend for a round-trip ticket and are for a specific departure time. On the weekends, the train does not stop at the stations, other than Central Station, but rather makes an approximately 15 minute loop through and around the Outlets.

Then, it was off to shop. I had a quickly compiled list of some things that I wanted to look for - some of which, I wasn't sure I would find, but gave it a shot.

We stopped first at the Crazy For Scrapbooks store looking for Googly Eyes for my daughter's latest craft project. They have a wide assortment of scrapbooking supplies, but only one kit that contained Googly Eyes and since we didn't need all of the extras, we decided to skip it.

Then, it was off to the kitchen store. I had a covered cake pan that I had thrown out just that morning, as it had started to rust and was leaving rust marks on the other dishes in my strainer. I was able to find exactly what I was looking for and for only $5.29 with tax.

Next stop was to The Children's Place. This is one of my favorite stores. They generally have a wide selection and offer good discounts on the clothes that they have. I have signed up for their e-mails and regularly get coupons in my e-mail. Today, I was shopping with an additional 20% off coupon. I was able to get two pairs of jeans, a t-shirt and shorts for my daughter and a pair of shorts and two shirts for my son. In total, we spent $37.43 with tax. Not too bad for seven pieces of clothing!

Next, it was into Carter's. We were shopping for a baby gift and quickly found some cute pants and a monkey shirt. While in the store, we ventured back to check out their clothes for older kids and found a shirt for my daughter. Here, our total was $17.01 with tax.

We perused a few stores like Reebok and Adidas, while my husband looked to see if they had anything for him. He liked a few shirts, but didn't find one in the size/fit that he was looking for.

Our next stop was at the VF outlets, my daughter and I heading to the women's store and my husband and son to the men's store. He didn't find anything, but I picked up a pair of slacks, a pair of capris and three pairs of black socks. There was a $5/$35 coupon in the Lodi Station Paper, so my total wound up at $33.88 after coupon.

Next, we stopped at one of their newer (at least to me) stores, 4th and Goal. This store carries a selection of sports memorabilia and team gear. We watched a replay of Derek Jeter's 3000 hit on their TV and then picked up two pairs of Yankees socks, one for each child and my husband grabbed a 1991 Classic MLB Trivia Board Game. Here we spent $8.50 with tax.

Our next stop was at the Black and Decker Outlet, another relatively new store to the Lodi Station Outlets. This store featured a wide selection of household appliances (toaster ovens, coffee makers, dust busters), yard tools and tools. My husband was able to pick up a Refurbished Cordless Trimmer for only $30, after 10% off coupon from the Lodi Station Paper. According to the staff, the refurbished products could have a different color plastic or could have been sent back to the factory for a missing part. They even carry a full 2 year warranty. My husband commented that he felt the prices in this store were very reasonable and that he would come back when he needed tools.

At that point, we were shopped out. The kids were anxious to ride the train, so we dropped off all of our goodies in our car and headed back to the Food Court and Central Station. We boarded the train and enjoyed the relaxing 15 minute train ride through the Outlet property. After our train ride, we headed over to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for some ice cream to cap the day.

Thanks to Nichole and Lodi Station Outlets for inviting us to participate in the Lodi Station VIP Blogger Day. We had a great time and were able to find some great deals.

Here is what we got while shopping on Saturday, minus the trimmer:
I am ready to return and do some more shopping. The kids are ready to go back and ride the train anytime that we are ready to take them. Imagine that, my kids asking me to take them shopping (well sort of)!

No compensation was received for this post. As an invitee to the Lodi Station VIP Blogger Day, we were received a $100 gift card to shop at and experience the mall, vouchers for free lunch and ice cream, complimentary train tickets and a Premiere Pass good through 2012, and a bag with goodies and coupons from many of the stores at Lodi Station Outlets. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family.

Shopping Deals!

On New Year's Day, I took advantage of our lack of plans and ran out to make a few returns and exchanges. Overall, we did pretty good. I had only a few things to exchange. There were some really good deals out there on New Year's Day. I wish I had had a few more hours, I would have liked to have gone to Dillards - they were having an additional 50% off of clearance sale.

Walmart1 - Christmas tablecloth (60x84)
1 - 2pr Christmas socks
1 - Santa Hat
3 - Candy filled canes (Hot Tamales/Runts)

Total $4.25 OOP. They were out of the pajamas and some of the other deals that I had seen, but all of their Christmas was 75% off.

The Children's Place
1 - Long-Sleeve Boy's Tee
1 - Short-Sleeve Boy's Tee
2 - Hooded shirts
1 - Fleece Pants
1 - Fleece Pullover
1 - Long-Sleeve Girl's Tee

Total $25.97 OOP. They were having their Monster Sale, with their clearance items an additional 30% off the lowest stickered price, and I had a 20% off coupon.

Macy's7 - Women's Sweaters/Shirts

Total $50 on gift card (from last Christmas, I never get a chance to shop there) and $18.54 OOP. They were having a take an additional 50% off clearance sale and I had a 15% off sale and clearance coupon. My most expensive item was $21! The original price would have been $247.02 with tax, so I had a savings of 72%.

My actual OOP for these three stores was $48.76 for 14 shirts/pants and some Christmas stuff.

I also made a stop at Victoria's Secret for their semi-annual sale, they had certain foundation items on a Buy One Get One Half Off sale. I like the fit but normally find them to be cost prohibitive. At least with the sale, they work out to be about $30 each. I had hoped to find some in the discount bins which are even cheaper, but they didn't have the style I like in my size.

After being home for 2 full weeks with the family, it was a nice mom break to get out and shop.

Preparing for Black Friday (a giveaway)

Today was an unseasonably warm day in North East Ohio. When I headed out to take my son to a friend's house and make a quick stop at Target, I was amazed by the number of people that were putting up their Christmas lights. Why hadn't I thought of that? Of course, it is so much more fun to put them up in the freezing cold!

Seeing all of the Christmas lights made me think about how close Christmas really is. In less than two weeks, I will be hitting the stores along with thousands of other crazy people, to partake in the tradition of Black Friday.

I can remember going shopping on Black Friday ever since I was a little girl. I would get up early and go with my mom and my grandma. We would start our day at Elder Beerman - they always gave away a $10 on $25 coupon for the first of the shoppers. Then, we would head over to the mall and would meet up with my aunt and cousin and the group that they were shopping with for lunch at the mall.

When I was a "grown up", I can remember having to work on a few Black Fridays, but that didn't stop me from heading to the store - after all, the mall opened so early in the morning, that I could shop and still get to work on time. The one year that I remember, was the year that I headed to KB Toys to get the Deluxe Scrabble game for my mom. I got there and there was a line outside of the store, I waited in it, knowing that I only needed the one item and could see that it was in the front of the store. Only catch was, that the way things were organized, you had to snake through the entire store to get to the check out. I knew that there was no way that I could wait in that line and still make it to work on time. So, as I stood in line, I pleaded my case with another shopper that was close to checkout. She agreed to put the game on her purchase and I gave her cash to pay for it and was able to avoid waiting in the long line. The only catch was that I wouldn't be able to return it, but I was fairly comfortable that my mom wouldn't want to return it.

I like to be prepared before heading to the store for Black Friday. I spend part of Thanksgiving combing the ads and determining what store is best to hit first and which ones I need to get to by a certain time. I set out my clothes and a quick breakfast to go before heading to bed on Thanksgiving night.

This year, BJ's is offering to provide 4 (four) of my readers with a Black Friday survival kit.

BJ’s Wholesale Club is kicking off this holiday shopping season by offering major savings for Black Friday on its wide selection of top quality, name-brand products, including gifts you may be surprised to find! We all know that Black Friday isn’t all fun and games as proper preparation leads to less headaches and optimum savings!

From snacks to keep your energy up to hot drinks to stay warm while waiting in line, items included in BJ’s Black Friday Survival Kits will get [you] ready for the busiest shopping day of the year! [They]’ve also included multiple items to help plan your shopping strategy, like Black Friday tips directly from [their] Facebook fans and BJ’s complete Black Friday coupon book to use in-Club. The coupon book contains tremendous savings on the newest technology for TV’s (think 3D!), electronics like notebook computers, wireless printers and touch screen cameras, and small appliances from a digital convection toaster oven to a 20-bottle wine cellar! If you’re not a BJ’s member, don’t worry – [they]’ll include a free 60-Day trial membership, too.

In addition, one lucky winner will receive a surprise “hidden gem” in BJ’s Black Friday Survival Kit: a unique item guaranteed to provide relaxation after the stresses of Black Friday!

Giveaway
To enter: Leave a comment sharing your favorite Black Friday memories.

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Giveaway will remain open until November 18th at 6 am and is open to residents of US only. Winners will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 18 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. (Has to be quick, so that the Black Friday Survival Kits can be sent to you in time for Black Friday!)

"Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. is a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States." You can also find BJ's Wholesale on Twitter and Facebook.

No compensation was received for this post. BJ's Wholesale is providing me with a Black Friday Survival Kit, as well as four to giveaway to A Busy Mom of Two readers. All opinions shared are solely my own.

Managing Shopping Lists

I've always been good about making shopping lists. I even have a magnetic notepad on my refrigerator for adding things to my list as we run out or I notice that we are low. Unfortunately, I'm not always good at taking my list with me. Plus, when I would ask my husband to make a stop because I knew we needed milk or bread, he would ask what else and if I wasn't at home to reference my list, I would inevitably miss one or more items.

A while back, my husband found the perfect solution for us. It is an application called Our Groceries. You can download it to many mobile devices.

You set up all of your mobile devices on one account by using a common e-mail when you set up each mobile device. Once it is loaded, you simply add your items to the list. You can even have multiple lists - Grocery, Target, Lowes, Sam's Club. As you add an item, within a brief window, the item will appear on everyone's list. Making it easy for my husband to see what else to pick up when he stops for milk or allowing him to add something to the list while I am shopping.

They also have an option to load recipes, which I have not yet tried. With recipes, you can with one touch, add all ingredients to your shopping list or only add those that you need.

There is a "library" of items, so frequently, you can start typing an item and then select it from the list, saving you some key strokes. It also keeps those items that you add, so that you can quickly add those common items you buy to your list.

As you shop, click on an item and it is crossed off. It is moved to the bottom of the list and you can select to delete all crossed off items. One drawback is the list is alphabetically sorted. When I make a paper list, I sort it by department. It makes it a little harder to scan your list as you make the way through the store, but as you cross items off, it becomes evident if you missed something and can quickly grab it before you check out. This is an improvement for me. I generally forget a pen and then I'm constantly re-reading my paper list to make sure I got it all. The crossed off item and the deletion will also occur on everyone's list within a brief window of when you mark it on your mobile device.

The app is free to download and use, but you get some occasional ads to support the development - so far, they are very unobtrusive text link style ads at the top of your list. I can live with that for an app that has made my life easier and saved a few extra trips to the store. You can learn more here.

This post shared at Works For Me Wednesday.

CSN Stores - Gift Card Giveaway

Started in 2002, by two guys with one online store, CSN has grown to become the #3 online retailer for home and office goods. Offering excellent customer service and one of the largest product selections on the web, they have now grown to over 200 stores offering a wide variety of products. Their product categories cover everything from cookware, ultra modern furniture, bunk bed-office combinations and fitness equipment to gaming chairs, grills, greenhouses and much more. If it's a piece of furniture or an appliance that you need for your home or office, you should check for it at CSN (www.csnstores.com) first, as there's a good chance they carry it and at a competitive price.

When I was contacted by CSN about doing a review and giveaway, I was overwhelmed with the selection. I wasn't sure what I would want to review and giveaway. Whether you're looking for a dining table , dinnerware, decorations, lighting, cribs, rugs, whatever, CSN has got you covered. A few other categories include kids + baby, pets, outdoor, health + fitness, furniture, home decor, and more. And, to make it even better, many of their items come with free shipping, which is clearly noted on the search pages and the item listing (even big things like a dining table has free shipping). Those that do not, have a simple shipping rate, based on the total amount of your purchase.

The last thing that I found at CSN stores was a Razor 3-wheel scooter for my daughter, so my first thought was to find something for the kids to play with outside (she loves it by the way). I saw riding toys and backyard games like croquette and mini-golf. Then, I thought, what about some new rugs for the foyer. I clicked into the store that offers bar stools, there were over 1900 choices for counter height bar stools. They have so many choices and so many types of items, I just couldn't decide.

Then, as I continued to explore, I came across their Health and Fitness store. As you may recall, I recently started doing Yoga as part of P90X. I don't have any gear for Yoga, and when I do some of the poses, like Downward Dog, I find myself sliding and slipping - which means I don't have good form and am constantly readjusting. I did some looking through the store and I found a Yoga Mat, a Yoga Mat bag (to carry/store my Yoga Mat) and a Yoga Block (to help me with some of those poses like Twisting Right Angle Pose). I decided that I should get something for me, so this is what I chose. I can't wait for it to arrive.

I decided in the end that for the giveaway, a gift card would be the best route - that way the winner could use it towards something that they want. This could be the Yoga Gear that I selected or something else that you want.

What would you do with a $35 CSN Store Gift Card? Would you put it towards a chair for your family room? A dining table for your kitchen? A rug for your foyer? An umbrella for your deck?

Giveaway!
What would you do with a $35 CSN Gift Card?
To Enter:
Visit CSN Stores and tell me what you would use your gift card towards.

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Giveaway will remain open until August 30th at 6pm and is open to residents of US and Canada only. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.


No compensation was received for this post. I am receiving the Yoga gear that I selected and the opportunity to giveaway a $35 gift card to CSN stores, courtesy of CSN Stores as a CSN Preferred Blogger.

Shopping at Club Stores

One of the ways that my family saves money is shopping at club stores. There are a handful of club stores that I am familiar with - Sam's Club, BJs and Costco - which are all local. (well, depends on how you define local - I am at least 45 minutes to an hour away from the nearest Costco).

We have belonged to one warehouse club or another, since we have been married. Our first membership was courtesy of a gift from my company for a successful year. Once we started shopping at the club store, we determined it was a good idea for us and have renewed each year. The club that we join has varied over the years, as our needs and our locations have changed.

As a frugal shopper, and someone who used to keep a price list (too hard to maintain with two kids, now I rely on my knowledge of typical sale prices), I can tell you that not all items at a club store are a good value every day. Some items, like cereal, unless there is a coupon in the monthly mailer or the fliers at the store, typically is a better deal when it is on sale at the grocery or drug store. It definitely pays to check pricing and to make sure that you are getting a value and not to just assume that because it is a big package that it has to be a good deal. We have been known, on non-food items, to look them up on Amazon to check pricing before making a purchase decision (got to love internet capable phones).

There are a few items that are staples of nearly every trip to the club store - tissues, paper towels, trash bags, Parmesan cheese (you should see the size of the container!) and Skittles (for my husband to enjoy while watching movies in his media room). These are things that we use regularly and we have found that with the club store prices and the coupons provided monthly by the club, that these are good values. Other things that we buy there on a regular basis include fruit cups, premade hamburger patties, Bagel Bites, and air dusters.

When the kids were younger, we bought diapers and wipes almost exclusively at the club store. We found that their deals were typically the best (of course, this was before I was familiar with the Drug Store game, so maybe my perspective would be different?). At the time, we belonged to a club that took manufacturer coupons for the items in addition to their store coupons, with stacking the coupons it helped make the deals even better. We even found that we liked the store brand diapers and if there weren't any deals on the branded diapers, we would pick those up.

There are many other items, besides food and personal care items, that you can get a good deal on at the club stores. We have picked up coats, sweats, shirts, shoes, socks, pajamas, books, toys, and more while shopping. We even found an end of season clearance section on our last visit, allowing us to save even more. Their greeting cards are offered at a discount every day. Their DVDs and music, as well as electronics, usually seem to be offered at a good price, especially when matched with a coupon from their flier. In addition, my daughter loves to dress her dolly in matching outfits and we have had pretty good luck finding "dolly and me" clothes at the club store.

Our club store offers discounted gasoline as well. Unfortunately, it used to be a much better deal - now, sometimes it is the same price as local stations and sometimes it is just a few cents cheaper. If it is cheaper, we fill up - even a few pennies a gallon can make a difference.

My kids don't mind shopping at the club store either. They like to look at all the different stuff, and of course, they love to try the samples.

We don't shop there weekly by any means (although if the store were closer, I might stop in more frequently). Typically, we go every 4 to 6 weeks. We tend to only head out when we are almost out of something or as we prepare for an event. Right now, we are planning a trip in preparation for my son's birthday party and an upcoming fantasy football draft. We need some hamburgers, some snacks, and probably some plastic flatware (although I have a friend that keeps a tin full of traditional flatware that she pulls out for family events and parties - I think that might be my next step in being more green and frugal).

This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday.

(do you shop at Sam's? Enter to win a $25 gift card here)

Black Friday

I did it, I joined the throngs of crazy people arising before the crack of dawn (some never went to bed I learned while standing in assorted lines) and hit the doorbuster sales on Friday.

I was able to get some great deals, but mostly it was the thrill of the hunt and the nostalgia of Black Friday's gone by that kept me standing in the ridiculous lines. I stood outside in the rain (and occassional snow) at Target. Then, after we finally were let in the store, you could barely move. I missed out on one deal that I was in search of, but was able to get the TomTom and the external hard drive I was after. I picked up a couple of other things and then stood in line for half an hour to pay. Then I headed to Kohl's, I picked up a few deals and then I stood in line for an hour to check out. I was going to go to a few other places, but stopped home and never got the get up and go to go back out.