Mommy Octopus

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This Weekend, I Plan To….

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Say “Goodbye” forever to this nasty ivy in my kitchen.  I’m sure at one time it was nice, but now it’s quite yellowed and really not my style.

Ewww… I know.  When we moved here 7 years ago, we just had 1 kid and since then we’ve had 3 more, so really I’ve been busy with babies and kiddos and the house maintenance took the back burner.  Now it’s time to tackle some projects.  I’m so super excited, too.  Can’t wait to show after pics!  I think what really got me motivated is my new countertops from the Giani Granite project.

And I have to say it really warms my heart seeing my 2 boys working hard on the house 🙂 Here they are prepping for painting:

For paint, we are using a 5 gallon bucket of paint that I found at Lowe’s for just $30!  It was in the OOPS section.  I love shopping this section because you never know what fun colors you will find and it’s a fraction of the normal listed price!

Soo… what color do you think the kitchen will end up?  Any guesses?

Hiking Safety Tips from Georgia’s State Parks

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No one ever plans to get lost in the woods, but it does sometimes happen.  Each year, Georgia’s park rangers spend numerous hours searching for hikers who did not return on time, slipped on waterfalls, got off the trail or encountered other problems.

“Most of the time, our guests are just running late or they’ve gotten slightly off course,” said Danny Tatum, manager of Tallulah Gorge State Park and chief of the Department of Natural Resources’ Search and Rescue Team.  “And sometimes they’ve forgotten to call home.  But occasionally people really are in a bad situation and need help from rescue personnel.”

With so many people heading to the mountains for leaf watching this fall, park rangers have offered the following tips for a fun and safe journey.  To find trails ranging from easy, paved paths to more challenging hikes, visitGeorgiaStateParks.org.

Safe Hiking Tips

  • Avoid hiking alone because the “buddy system” is safer during any type of activity.  If traveling with a group, never stray from the group.  If hiking alone, pick a well traveled trail.
  • Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.  Don’t forget to check in with them when you get back.
  • Stay on marked trails.  Making shortcuts and “bushwhacking” causes erosion and greatly increases your chance of becoming lost.  As you hike, pay attention to trail blazes (paint marks on trees) and landmarks.  A double blaze indicates a change in trail direction or intersection, so be sure to follow the correct trail.
  • Never climb on waterfalls.  A high number of injuries and deaths occur on waterfalls and slippery, wet rocks.
  • Always carry quality rain gear and turn back in bad weather.  If you become wet or cold, it is important to get dry and warm as quickly as possible, avoiding hypothermia.
  • Dress in layers and avoid cotton.  Today’s hikers can choose from numerous fabrics that wick moisture, dry quickly or conserve heat.  Many experienced hikers wear a lightweight shirt that wicks moisture, while carrying a fleece pullover and waterproof jacket in a daypack.
  • All hikers should carry a whistle, which can be heard far away and takes less energy than yelling.  Three short blasts is a sign of distress.
  • Carry plenty of drinking water and never assume stream water is safe to drink.  Frequent hikers might consider buying a water filter or water purifying tablets at an outdoor supply store.
  • Don’t count on cell phones to work in the wilderness, but if they do, be able to give details about your location. Telling rescue personnel that you’re lost by a big tree won’t help much as telling which trailhead you started from and how long you’ve been hiking.
  • Don’t rely on a GPS to prevent you from getting lost.  Batteries can die or the equipment can become damaged or lost.
  • Invest in good hiking socks and boots such as those found at sporting goods stores.  Avoid blisters by carrying “moleskin” (available at drug stores) and applying it as soon as you feel a hot spot on your feet.  Available in the foot care section of drug stores, moleskin is like felt that sticks to your skin.
  • Wear bright colors.  Don’t dress children in camouflage.  Keep dogs on a leash because they sometimes become injured or lost too.
  • Keep dogs on a leash because they sometimes become injured or lost too.

Carry an Emergency Kit
Each hiker should have these items:

  • Water
  • First-aid kit
  • Whistle
  • Small flashlight with extra batteries
  • Glowstick
  • Energy food
  • Brightly colored bandana
  • Trash bag (preferably a bright color, such as “pumpkin bags” sold in autumn).  Poke a hole for your head and wear it as a poncho to stay dry.

Especially for Children

  • Talk to children about what to do if they become lost, even if in the city.
  • Teach children that they won’t get into trouble for becoming lost.
  • Reassure children that people (and possibly dogs and helicopters) will look for them if they become lost.  Do not hide from searchers; answer their calls.
  • Do not run.  Instead, “hug a tree” and make a comfortable “nest.”  This prevents wandering even further.
  • Do not be afraid of animals or strange noises.  If something is scary, blow the whistle.
  • Come up with a password that a child will respond to if a stranger needs to pick them up.  Searchers can use this password.

What to Do If You Are Lost

  • Stay in one place.
  • Make shelter.
  • Stay warm and dry.
  • Be visible and heard.
  • If helicopters are searching overhead, seek an opening in the forest.  Lie down so you look bigger from the air.

Visit  www.GeorgiaStateParks.org.

How to Eat a Cupcake!

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A friend of mine posted this on facebook and it totally cracked me up! Great way to solve that awkward moment when you’re not quite sure how to eat a cupcake without looking like a pig or without frosting on your nose! Solution in the video below!

A Case of the Stickers

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My 2 little girls have a case of the stickers…. and it’s apparently highly contagious 🙂  It also normally appears after Grandma comes over.

Do your kids love stickers as well?  Have you ever found any stuck in weird places?

Are Groupon Getaways Legit?

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I recently had a reader ask me about Groupon Getaways.  Are they for real?  Can you really take a trip for THAT low of a price?

The answer?  ABSOLUTELY!  And I’m proof that it’s so!

A couple weeks ago we bought a deal for a hotel in Helen, GA (no longer available).  We called and made our reservation with ease and the hotel was prepared for the Groupon callers.  When we arrived, we simply handed over our certificates and were good to go.  Our hotel room was just as described, if not better.  And as you can tell, we had a BLAST!

We’ve used Groupon Getaways 3 times now and I love it!  It’s always fun to try out a new place at a discounted price.

Will you have to sit through a timeshare presentation?  NO!  Unless for some reason that’s in the terms, but I have never seen in it a Groupon Getaway terms like I have on other sites. It’s always been a very easy and pleasant experience.

I will suggest that whenever you do purchase a getaway that you look at all the fine print.  Sometimes they are only good on certain dates.  Sometimes there are extra fees for certain things.  For this particular giveaway, we just had to pay tax when we arrived and that was it.  Often the certificates are stackable, meaning that you can use several of them in the same visit.

Here are some of the current deals you can grab now.  CLICK HERE to see all of the available deals:

Savannah, GA: Country Inn & Suites $53 for 1 night, $99 for 2 nights!  Combine up to 6 nights! Had indoor pool!

Kissimmee, FL: Comfort Inn Maingate – $55 for 1 night or $110 for 2 nights with a FREE pizza.  Combine up to 4 nights!  Includes shuttle to Disney World!

Outer Banks, NC – Ramada Plaza Nags Head Beach – prices as low as $44 a NIGHT!  Includes indoor pool!

As you can see, the deals are great, you just have to look and see what is best for your family.  Every Tuesday they pop up with a whole bunch of new deals and some will sell out.  Keep checking and you’ll find the right one for you.

Have a Birthday Party and Donate to the Animal Shelter!

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A little late posting this, but life happens!  My oldest turned 9 in August and is a HUGE animal lover.  She came up with the idea to have a birthday party but give her presents to the local animal shelter instead of getting gifts for herself.  I was so super proud of her.  I contacted the Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter to find out a list of what they needed and when I was talking to them, they said we could come and have a tour of the Animal Shelter with her friends for her birthday!

Here was their wish list:

  • Bleach
  • Paper towels
  • 33 or 39 gallon trash bags
  • Cat litter
  • Canned dog and cat food
  • Laundry detergent
  • Dish detergent
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Dog and cat toys (no plush)
  • Office Supplies
  • Litter boxes
  • 75 foot hoses
  • Garden sprayers
  • Brooms and dustpans

I’m sure other shelters have very similar wish lists.

To start the party, each child was able to “adopt” a Webkinz when they arrived.  I had purchased a set of these from the Graveyard Mall deal a while back.  It comes back every now and again.


We served our guests delicacies such as cat litter cake and poop!  The kids thought this was GREAT.  Poop was simply raisinettes and the cat litter cake was super easy as well.  Kitty Chow was simply Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies (you could use Goldfish instead), cheerios, chex mix, and raisins all mixed together.

Cat Litter Cake:

Bake 1 Chocolate and 1 White boxed cake mix according to directions.  Crumble into a CLEAN and NEW cat box.  Prepare 1 large box of vanilla pudding acccording to instructions and pour over crumbled cake.  Smash 1 package of vanilla sandwich cookies into crumbs and pour on top.  Lightly melt tootsie rolls in the microwave for a few seconds and then shape into “poop”.  Serve with a CLEAN and NEW scoop.

The cute little water bottles were made from the small water bottles with labels removed.  Then I used colored Duck Tape to give it the pattern.  It was so easy and took just a few minutes to do.

We also served Dog Food (cocoa puffs) and Mouse Munch (Crackers and cheese cubes), and of course animal crackers.  

And of course we had our cute veggie garden as well as Littlest Pet Shop plates.

After the party, we went over to the Animal Shelter for the tour.  It was really neat to see the “Behind the Scenes” of how they do everything at the shelter.  Of course we got to love on the puppies and sweet kittens as well.

All in all, it was a very fun party and even better knowing that we helped out a local shelter.  Here are the kids with some of the donations.

The Loose Tooth Saga

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This boy has had a loose tooth.  Very loose.  His first one.  For days.  This is my child that turns white as a sheet and nearly passes out at the sight of blood.  The fact of him having a loose tooth caused all sorts of drama around here…. “Mommy, I don’t want it to fall out”, “Mommy I want it out NOW”, “Mommy pull it out!”, “Mommy DON’T!!!”.  It’s been an interesting journey.  To top it all off, he was really freaked about the idea of having a hole where the tooth used to be and of course the blood.

I asked advice on the Mommy Octopus facebook page the other day about how to get him to move past the fear of losing a tooth and got some great feedback.  You guys rock, by the way!

We ended up trying to redirect him as much as possible away from the fear, read books about loose teeth, and had big sister talk to him about how it wasn’t bad.  We even fed him corn on the cob and many apples with the hopes it would pop right out.

No luck.  Finally last night after Awanas, he was begging me to pull it out since it kept bleeding.  I used a reader’s tip of a little orajel to numb it a touch, cold washcloth, and it came right out!  YAY!

My son was so super excited to have it out!  And I admit I’m a touch sad that my sweet little boy is growing way too fast, but we’re enjoying every minute!  Thanks again everyone who posted tips the other day!

How To Save Money: Thrift Store Shopping!

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Last night my friend and I went on a Mom’s Night Out.  As frugal moms often do, we ended up at the thrift store.  We visited America’s Thrift Store in Athens and found quite the bargains!  What’s neat about this thrift store is that from the ceiling, you’ll notice a sign like this:

That means whatever items have an orange, yellow, or white tag are marked down! The thrift store prices are low as it is, but being able to take an additional percentage off is awesome!

Here are some of the deals I found:

  • Children’s Place Dress with orange tag – $2.09 after discount
  • Girls Boots – $1.99

  •  Pink Skates for my 3 year old – $2.99
  • Boys Jeans with orange tag $1.04
  • Boys Jeans $.99

  • Disney Store plush Marie costume for my niece $2.49!

As you can see, I bought CUTE name brand items for a fraction of the cost.  I’m all about buying used and saving the difference, especially that I have 4 kids to shop for!  Also, if you are in Athens, be sure and swing into Ingles to grab one of the gray coupon books before you shop.  Inside is a coupon for 10% off your entire America’s Thrift Store purchase!  My grand total for everything (boots, skates, costume, dress, 2 jeans) after all discounts was just $13.63 with tax!  That’s cheaper than just the skates alone!  Or just the costume alone!

My friend Janet was able to score a shirt for $.79 that had a white tag, which meant 70% off that $.79!!! Only $.24 for a shirt!  You can’t beat that at all!  She also grabbed fleece sleepers for her son for $.59 and $.79 each.  They looked brand new!

Unlike Good Will, everything is all sized and organized by sizes, so it’s easy to find what you are looking for.  I shop here all the time!

My Tips:

  • Be sure and shop for items marked down further for additional discounts
  • Look for extra coupons in coupon books
  • Shop used and save the difference
  • Go in the morning when it’s less crowded and more organized
  • America’s Thrift Store accept returns within 30 days on clothing items
  • Take a friend for more fun and double the eyes looking for the deals

What is your best thrift store or yard sale tip?  What is the best deal you’ve found?

Tasty Tuesday – Homemade Butter Pecan Cookies (Soy and Egg Free!)

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My grandfather recently moved to the area and he absolutely LOVES Butter Pecan Cookies.  With my son’s allergy, store bought cookies are out of the picture.  I don’t mind baking, in fact, I love baking!  I looked around and found a couple recipes that looked intriguing but nothing that sounded perfect.  I mixed and matched and came up with my own recipe.  I might add that my kitchen smells absolutely wonderful right now!

The only problem?  Between the 4 kids (and okay I may have had a couple myself), we are going to have to make Grandpa his own batch!  They were THAT popular!  Hopefully there is one or two left for hubby to try when he gets home.

Ready to make your own?  Here goes:

Ingredients:

  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups pecans
Directions:
Chop pecans and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for about 7-8 minutes.
While the pecans are toasting, use a hand mixer and mix the butter and sugar for several minutes until combined, light, and fluffy.  Add in the vanilla, salt, and flour.  Once the pecans are done, add those in as well, stirring until just combined.
At this point, you’re REALLY going to want to just get a spoon and eat it as is.  Resist the urge!  It’s worth the wait!
Scoop into rounded balls and place on greased cookie sheet.  Recipe should make about 24 balls.  Use a plate or other object to lightly flatten the cookies, just a touch.
Bake at 350 for about 18 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire rack and enjoy!
Check out the rest of our Tasty Tuesday recipes:

Giani Granite Review and Giveaway!

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This weekend, my husband, father in law, and I tackled the kitchen counters using the Giani Granite kit.  Our counter tops are the original ones in the house when it was built and they definitely needed a little updating.  (And yes, the walls will be next!)

Here’s before photos:

Prepping took about an hour or so, taping everything up, scrubbing counters, washing counters, and all.  This was probably the longest part of the whole process.  Making sure everything is properly prepared is essential to making the counter tops look great.  We followed the instructions completely.

Here’s the difference as we painted on the first coat:

Makes a big difference!

Next comes the fun part!  Stamping on the colors!

We followed the directions again and stamped the colors all over in the way the instructional dvd suggested.  Here’s how one of my counters looked after the first color:

We got the other colors applied and then it was finally time to seal!

I’m loving it!  Doesn’t it look great?  Here’s a closeup:

And final photos:

(ignore the stuff piled in the sink!  That’s what happens when you have to have everything off the counters! lol!)

My thoughts and tips?  It went much smoother and easier than I anticipated.  Be sure to have an entire weekend free.  It’s best if kids can go to Grandma’s and plan to eat out or prepare meals in advance to be warmed in the microwave.  I LOVE the end result and can’t wait now to finish up the rest of my kitchen so it will be all up to date!

For more information on Giani Granite, please visit the Giani Granite website and their facebook page.  Lots of before/after shots on their facebook page!

HUGE thanks to Giani Granite for my kit to try and for providing this giveaway!  The winner will get to choose between the 7 different Giani Granite colors available.

To enter the giveaway, fill out the rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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