Being Green with Mismatched Socks

Here’s what we did with our mismatched socks today…


First I pulled out 6. Two for Ky, Alaina, & me.

Then I let my kids pick out their socks. (It’s always more fun that way!)

Then we filled a dishpan with water and soap (don’t use those chemical cleaners for this!) and of course STUCK our feet in!

We then washed the floor.  (By the way, if you are preggo--this will make washing the floors less of a "back-ache.")  So you don't slip, I recommend buying some puffy paint from your local Walmart/Joanne's/Michael's.  It costs around $1.  Then you can paint some grid marks on the bottom of the socks so you have some traction.--please wait for the paint to dry before washing.  We don't use the puffy paint--and just "risk it!"--the kids usually laugh if they fall.

Ky glided beautifully across the main part. I worked on all the corners and sides. And Alaina…well, she just stood in the dishpan.

It was a great time. We accomplished 2 things—washing the floors and keeping the kids entertained (by making them work!—Shhh! Don’t tell them!)

Afterwards, there was a fair amount of water on the floor which I cleaned up with some old t-shirts and towels and then I put a fan on the area. We all had fun.  Oh and Ky buffed the floor with his butt--see how shiny it is??

So those, mismatched (or even holey) socks can have a second life! (They are also quite handy for dusting.  Put one on your hand and use water or your favorite dusting solution.  I love using socks to dust the top of window sills.)

And OF COURSE…you can always make sock puppets!

Here is a fun website for crafting with socks.

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/sockcrafts/Sock_Crafts.htm

and this one is good too!

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25486520.tip.html

What do you do with your mismatched socks??

Free Feminine products & Goodnite's

Here is my freebie roundup for the past week.  Remember, when signing up for these freebies to use the email address you created for these freebies & other deals.

Free Goodnite Underwear

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid88580.aspx

Free Playtex

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid89515.aspx

Free OB

https://ob.promo.eprize.com/hub/request_sample_intro

I LOVE freebies.  Often they come with HIGH value coupons that let you get the product free.  I would expect the OB freebie to come with one of these coupons.  This is how I no longer pay for feminine products--but get them free (or just pay tax.)

(The Walmart Freebies rarely come with coupons.)

Next Update will be Sunday, August 22nd!--I am ON VACATION!

As of tomorrow, I am on Vacation. (For some reason I feel the need to capitalize vacation.)  I will have limited access to computers, so I will not be updating this page/my blog for the next week. Stay tuned though...I am sure I will have LOTS of good stuff to share with you when I get back!

180 Diapers for $10...I'll buy that...

If you get Parents or Parenting Magazine, you can score diapers at an awesome price this month (deal ends August 31st.)

Look inside these magazines (both August & September) for orange Amazon inserts.  These inserts will EACH save you 20% (enter as promo codes) AND they are stackable on top of Amazon's current 30% off Subscribe and Save diapers deal.  And did I mention you will receive FREE shipping!

The 30% Subscribe & Save is a way to have diapers sent to you at certain time intervals so you don't have to order each month.  It can be cancelled at any time.  My plan and recommendation for  you is to select the diapers you want, sign up for the Subscribe & Save to get the 30% off, purchase your diapers, then immediately go back into your Amazon account and cancel the diapers from Subscribe & Save.

To add to all this savings, you may also be able to stack an Amazon online coupon to all these savings!  Check out the coupons here

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000490791


I personally have 2 of these orange 20% off  inserts and will be taking advantage of this deal on top of the Subscribe & Save!  (Though hopefully Alaina will be potty trained before we even use half of these.) 

Check out what kind of deal you can get!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Ahpc%2Ck%3Adiapers&keywords=diapers&ie=UTF8&qid=1281618397

Here is an example of what one user (who had 3 20% off cards, the Subscribe & Save 30%, and an Amazon Coupon) did to purchase their box of diapers for $2.69!

Free Cheese! (YUMMY!)

Sign up to receive this free coupon for a block of Goat Cheese.  (Not a big fan, neither am I.  But, when I received the coupon I used it at HyVee and got the Basil & Roasted Garlic and it is SO YUMMY!  I am now sold--I will be buying this for future gatherings!)  Follow this link

http://www.chavrie.com/chavrieclub.html

Fill out the info, and you will get a coupon in the mail (to redeem in the store to get your cheese.)  Copp's does not carry this cheese, but I know HyVee does.

The form asks for a UPC (I don't think I entered one when I originally submitted for the cheese, but here is one that you can enter  070551786531 )

Be sure to use your extra email account you created for freebies when signing up for this offer.    MMM...Enjoy!

Best Deals in Town this week!

Check out the best deals this week at Target, Walgreens, Hyvee, and Aldi.
* indicates that this item is at its lowest price.

Walgreen’s

Buy 1 Dial NutriSkin Body Wash (16 oz) for $3.99, Get $3 Register Reward

Use $1/1 Dial NutriSkin printable http://www.dialsoap.com/

Spend $2.99, get $3 Register Reward back

Final price: Free after coupon and Register Reward



Buy 1 Bausch & Lomb Bio True Multi-Purpose Solution (4 oz) for $4.99, Get $4 Register Reward

Use $1/1 Bausch & Lomb Biotrue Solution printable http://www.biotrue.com/coupon.html

Spend $3.99, get $4 Register Reward Back

Final price: Free after coupon and Register Reward


Buy 1 Schick Hydro 3 or 5 Blade Razor System or Cartridges for $7.99, Get $2 Register Reward

Use $5/1 Schick Hydro Razor from 8/8 Smart Source insert or $2/1 Schick Hydro Refill from 8/8 Smart Source insert

Spend $2.99, get $2 Register Reward Back

Plus, submit the Try-Me-Free Schick Hydro Mail-in Rebate if you haven’t already http://www.schickhydro.com/freehydro/

Final price: $0.99 after coupon and Register Reward or better than free after coupon, Register Reward and rebate**

**Look for specially-marked razor packages with a Free Shave Gel coupon attached.


Aldi

Baby Carrots $0.69 lb

*Cantaloupe $0.99 each

*Grapes $0.89 lb



HyVee

(Be sure to look at last week’s deals as they are still good this week. I was at HyVee today and they were out of fliers with the in-store coupons, however, they have said that they will honor the coupon prices. Just be sure to remind your cashier so they can give you the discount.)

In addition Hyvee is having a 1 Day sale on Friday with the following fabulous deals!

*Dole Lettuce $0.38 head (limit 2)

*Pepsi Products (2 Liter bottles) $0.69 (limit 8)
Get 2 for $0.69 when you use this BOGO fee coupon to make this deal all the sweeter! (you will need to “like” them on facebook)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6513522&id=56381779049

*Palermo’s Pizza $1.67 each
Use this $1/1 coupon to get your pizza for $0.67 each!
http://www.palermospizza.com/coupon-download.aspx

Frozen Chicken breasts $3.99 for 2.5 lb

*Prego Pasta Sauce $0.99 (limit 2)
Or get 2 for $0.99 with this coupon
http://www.campbellskitchen.com/coupon.aspx

*Skippy Peanut Butter $0.99 jar (limit 2)
Use the $0.75 Q in the 8/1 RP to get 2 jars for $1.24!


Target

Super Sticky Post IT Notes FREE with this Coupon
http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/promos/201007_ss/supersticky_coupon.pdf





Thanks PocketYourDollars!

Being Green with Toilet Paper: Let's get to the bottom of it!

I was amazed by how quickly my family was going through toilet paper--and honestly, I think it all happened once my little boy was potty trained.  I knew there had to be a better way for me to invest (at a proper price) in toilet paper--(This sounds a bit ridiculous...I know), as well as teach or restrain my family from using too much.  Here are some tips on helping that roll last a little longer...

* When putting a new roll of toilet paper on, pinch the toilet paper so the roll is now oval instead of circular.  The toilet paper will then roll out slower helping little ones use a little less (as well as big ones--I have noticed the hubby uses a little less when I do this as well! :)

*Teach your child to use a certain number of squares.  Our magic number is "no more than four"  (and I try to encourage three).   You can also make this a fun game, by having them count out the squares as they pull the roll.    Here's a fun little rhyme. 

              One, Two--that won't do,
              Three, four, DON'T PULL MORE! 

*Fold, don't bunch the toilet paper.  You get more surface area, therefore use less toilet paper.  You can show your kids how to fold on the squares and then in half to help them. 

*Buy single ply 1000 sheet toilet paper for the kid bathrooms (or your own if you like).  Okay--yes NOBODY likes 1-ply, but have you ever actually purchased one of these rolls and put it in your house?  THEY LAST FOREVER!  Seriously...I experimented with this and put a roll in and it lasted OVER 2 weeks!  And we usually go through a double roll of 2-ply in 2 days!   If your kids aren't counting squares (or even if they are) you will be amazed by how long these rolls last.  These rolls go on sale at least once a month at Walgreen's for $0.50 each, or I will find them at my local grocery store occassionally for $0.40 each--this is my stock up price on these.  (And yes, in my house, these rolls are for the children!)

*Finally--Stock up on toilet paper when the price is right.  My buy price for 2 ply 12 Double rolls is $4.00.  I watch for when my grocery store has a sale and then match it with a coupon.  I will buy as much as I can whenever I can get this price, knowing--we will ALWAYS need toilet paper.  And then when you don't see a sale for a while, you have plenty stocked up. 

How do you save on Toilet Paper?  Please share any tips & tricsk!