Last weekend of the Summer

I don't know what happened to my post about this being the last weekend of summer, but I wrote one, and I published it, and then it disappeared.   I am not happy, because it kind of explained how much I can't stand the cold weather.   So, here is a shortened version:

This weekend has been unbelievable.    The weather was a gorgeous 85 degrees today in Philadelphia.  In fact, the weather here in Philadelphia has been gorgeous for the last 6 weeks, at least.  Most of August was not even that bad...it was 80-85 degrees, but no humidity, which is not really usually the way it works here in Philadelphia.   It is usually hot, humid, and sticky.   Until the first or second week of September, then you will feel a slight improvement, and then it become Fall.   Which is what is happening tomorrow.

When I was young, I used to like Fall, a lot.   But then I realized that Fall means that winter is on its way, and I really, really don't like winter.  So I stopped liking Fall.  It was just a trick season, to make us forget what is coming, but I wasn't going to be tricked anymore.

I really don't like cold weather.   You will be hearing me say that a lot.   I apologize, because it will be tedious, but at least I never complain about the heat.  I say you can only complain 6 months a year, so I complain about the cold.   Truth is, I only like the weather where I live from May 1st through November 10th (I have to say November 10th, because my youngest's birthday is on November 9th, and I can't say I don't like the weather on her birthday...it would hurt her feelings.   She is only 7),   so that means I complain about the weather slightly less than 1/2 of any given year.  That isn't bad.

Anyway, I don't like the cold, so a few years ago, I tried to convince Chris we should move to a warmer climate.  The problem is, he loves the cold, hates the heat (you should see him sweat!!), and he has a job here....so we stay here.   Which is where I am unhappy slightly less than half a year.

About 4 years ago, however, I figured something out about the winter, that really improved my mood.   I really hate getting dressed up, going out in the cold, at night,  wearing boots, or other  cold weather gear, to go to a social event.   So, for the last 4 years, I adopted this new attitude which is "I am just going to make it through January and February."   That is it.   Just make it through.  Which means, I don't do anything special.    I do go out during the day, but for anything at night, if I don't want to go out, or if the weather is bad, I just stay home.  I will go out again, but just not in January and February.  It isn't worth it to me.  It makes me unhappy.  I am cold, and it is unpleasant.   So, for those two months, I just stay home, and I am happy.   It is a little hard because Chris' birthday is in early January, and mine is in early February, but I am okay.   I don't want to go out in cold weather.There is nothing celebratory about that for me.

But for now, these topics can wait, because this weekend was a gorgeous last weekend of the summer!

Television crisis.....I didn't get to see Rosie O'Donnell!

I would love to do a post about how much I loved today's View with Rosie O'Donnell...but my television/dvr is broken.   I turned on the television this morning, and there was a black screen. Nothing. but black...I tried to remain calm, and put this in perspective of life's real problems....but seriously, today???  Tell me what you thought of it!!

My husband is going out tomorrow after work to get another either tv or DVR, depending on which one is not working (we got the television as a wedding gift 21 years ago...it may be time for another one!!)

Target Clearance Alert-90% off Back to School Items

So, one of the things I love is the Target Clearance sales.   I'm not talking about 30-50% off.  I'm talking about the 90% off sales, which they have several times a year.   Most of the regular clearance never goes beyond 70% off, but Target will mark things 90% off on the following dates:

1)  Holiday/Christmas--first week of January;

2)  Valentine's Day--5-7 days after February 14th;

3)  Easter/Spring--5-7 days after Easter;

4)  Summer--mid-July;

5)  Back to School-mid-September;

6)  Halloween-5-7 days after the holiday.


So, I did get my children all types of things for their lists, but when things go 90% off, I start to buy for two reasons.   One, I buy things for me to use for my kids in the future, and I put them in a big bin downstairs, and two, to donate to other schools.  Schools in the Philadelphia area are desperate for school supplies.   If I can buy a Mead notebook for .06,  Paper-mate red pens for .09 for a pack of 10,  scissors for .30, and post-it notes for .10, I will buy a ton,  and drop them off at one of the several school collection sites nearby.    I bought $10 worth of items, saved $90, dropped them off, and felt great.


Another idea is to buy them for your nursery or preschool.  Our nursery school is church-run, so if they can save money on office supplies, that really helps.  One year I dropped off paper, scissors, tons of scotch tape....you never know what will be on clearance, which is one of the thing that makes it interesting each year.

So, if you can head over to Target, check out the Back to school sections...they are probably condensed, and picked over, but you might be able to save yourself some money!

                These were .10 each--I don't care what color they are, and I saw that 5-packs of this same size and amount are 6.79 each at Target--this is a great deal (and you never have to worry about post-it notes!!).

Rosie O'Donnell is coming (back) to the View!

I have to be honest--I love Rosie O'Donnell.   I think she is a riot.   There have been two events in my life in which she and I had close, personal interactions, during which I was convinced that she and I were going to become best friends (actually, I was kind of hoping that she would hire me as her assistant which would have made me somewhat of a paid stalker).    I think that she and I are very similar (stick with me--this is where it starts to sound like I am a weirdo).   First, we have the same background--born into large Irish families,  we both lost our mothers at young ages,  we were born within 6 weeks of each other, and we each now have lots of children.  

When she had her own show (on which I played a starring role--I will explain below), I VCR-ed it and watched it every day (at  night, after everyone was asleep).   I was devastated when it stopped (in June, 2002--I know, because of the starring role I played).     For years, I was almost Rosie--free.  It happened to be when my first four children were ages 10 and under, so it was really okay.   But then, she came back to tv in fall, 2006, on the View.   I had never watched the View (and to be honest, the idea of listening and watching 4-5 celebrity women whine and kvetch and pontificate about issues was soooo annoying, I avoided the View like the plague.

But, I love Rosie.    So, when it was announced that she was going to be on the View in 2006, I was absolutely thrilled, and I started taping her show again, and I loved it.  I loved hearing what she has to say about things (I often disagree), but I do think she is funny.   Then, in October, 2006, my sister and I went to the View to be an audience member, and again, I had a very close, deeply personal interaction with her, which made me love her even more.  Still, never got that best friend call, though.

I have loved Rosie O'Donnell for years,  and I couldn't be happier about her coming back to the View on ABC!   As I keep saying (and which she doesn't seem to care about), I have had a few close, personal interactions with her, which almost led to us becoming best friends, because that is really what we should be, instead of me being a somewhat pathetic celebrity stalker who merely watches her television show.

Ibotta

I am a little late to the technological world...I just got an Iphone a few months ago, and I didn't have any apps...until today.   Today I (had my son) uploaded the Ibotta app.  This is another one of those savings tips I supposedly started this blog about....but it has really become more about our lives.

Anyway, back to Ibotta... For the month of September, they are giving new users, like me, and you, maybe(?) $10 for redeeming 4-5 of the offers, which is itself a way to save money.    This is one of those things that seems a little like a no-brainer, to me.   You need to check it out.  

For new users, if you put in my referral code, I get a small bonus, and you might get something (not promising...there are so many different levels of referrals, I think you get bonuses for sneezing!)

Anyway, if you want to join Ibotta, there is a place on the form for the referral code (which asks about 5 questions, like name, email, etc).   If you do decide to put me in as a referrer (who knew that was such a thing?), my referral code is:



                                                              nsdsbdb


Thanks in advance!

Pumpkin Patch Update

I am losing sleep.   No, not because of any major family or physical problem.  I have been worried sick about my pumpkin patch.  

As I said about a week ago when I first wrote about my pumpkin patch, I (really Timmy and Lily) planted three small mounds of 3-5 pumpkin seeds on July 14th.  This was about a month to 2 months too late.  However, I figured I would take a chance, because the package said I could expect nice pumpkins within 100 days, which would be around Halloween.     I watered these three small flowers when I saw them shoot up starting about a week later, with the water I got out of our de-humidifier (who said I'm not a conservationist?) .  That was all I did.

I was so happy when we got back from Notre Dame on August 24th, and my patch looked so good.   I noticed, however, by the end of last week, that Powdery Mildew was starting on some of the leaves. I watched Youtube.  I googled it.  I read gardening books.   I went to garden centers and bought sprays.  Finally, I did what I thought made some sense, and I tried to get rid of it.

I immediately noticed that my pumpkin vines had started to yellow, and wither.   In the last 10 days, I went from one small possible pumpkin, to 5 nice sized pumpkins.  However, my one gardener friend just told me that the "growing season" ends around here on September 15th, and the first frost is October 12th (I'm assuming that this is a statistical generalization, and not a precise day, but it is good to know.   I try to always wait until Mother's Day to plant flowers here--I guess kind of the same generalization).   So, nothing really will grow much more after September 15th, because of the cooling of the air, the amount of sunshine, etc.   Unfortunately, my pumpkins still have  lot of growing I need them to do.  

To be honest, I would be thrilled if I just got one nice pumpkin out of the whole patch.   We have been having fun going out to look for pumpkins, and I think the kids are actually kind of proud of themselves.

Do you see how bad that vine looks?   What is with that?  It looks terrible.   The rest of the plants still seem to be growing, but is that what happens with pumpkins?  It just doesn't look good.

I am still getting some smaller pumpkins, which I hope have time to grow bigger.   Although someone suggested that we could always paint the smaller pumpkins.   That is a cute idea.

Rummage Sales

I figured that since I just told you about my fun night at the St. Paul's Rummage sale last night, I should tell you my rummage sale strategies.

In my opinion, one of the best ways to save money, bar none, is going to and shopping at rummage sales.   Rummage sales can mean "dirty, used, crowded" to some people.   To me, it means "great deals, great items, treasures."  I live near Philadelphia, so we are really lucky to have lots of rummage sales to choose from.  The majority are in early Spring, and in the fall (with the exception my favorite rummage sale which has been in July for the last several years).     If you go to every one, and buy tons of stuff from each one, then, yes, you will be probably not doing yourself any great favors, because you will soon be swamped with junk!   But if you go to rummage sales, and learn to shop like I do, you will soon realize what a fun way this is to save money.


There are lots of things I don't buy at rummage sales.   But there are things I would only buy at a rummage sale.   For example, these things I would NEVER buy at a store unless it was a fundraiser for a sick child.    Other than that, these things can be bought at prices usually 90-98% off what you would buy in a store.   The list:

1)  Children books.    I have 5 kids.   I would NEVER buy a child's book at a store.  You can get every imaginable title/kind/style of book at a rummage sale.  At the time, I got the entire collection of Harry Potter books, the entire Magic Tree House books,  the entire Lemony Snicket books, and the entire Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys series (in original, vintage conditon)  for my kids for never more than .25/book.    If my child was really into Harry Potter, for example, I would get the first one out of the library, and then I would start to put that into my mental file of facts--we need Harry Potter books.  I could usually assemble a full set within weeks.  When I see that the prices on the back of even softback books is often $10-15, I can't imagine who is buying those books in stores.   In addition, I have gotten dozens of softcover Henry and Mudge, Barbie, Spongebob Squarepants, and other books for my kids for a dime each that I will give them when they claim they are bored, or have nothing to read.     They are thrilled to get a "new" book, and after they have enjoyed it, or seem bored with it, I put it in the donate bag.  It cost me a dime, I got way more than a dime's worth of enjoyment out of it, and now I am ready to let another family enjoy the book.

2)   Those big, plastic, children's toys.    I can't imagine spending $69 on a Cozy Coupe.  I have gotten 5 of these over the last 15 years for a cost of no more than $2-4 each.    It is amazing what a little elbow grease and Lysol antibacterial spray will do to make these things look new (am I showing my age when I say things like "elbow grease"?   I also refer to walking as "shank's mare".    These are the sayings my kids will say some day).   When my kids were all really young, they would have amazing bumper car fights with those  5 Cozy Coupes.   I didn't care if one got a little roughed up and I didn't worry if they were left outside overnight in my backyard, because I know, that when I am done with them, someone will come and pick them off my sidewalk, and get the same amount of joy out of them that I have.

3) Toys.   Do a little looking.   You will find new Lego sets, and  new, often times sealed games.  I have gotten lots of sealed Barbies for my girls over the years.   Lots of Hot Wheel toys, too.   I saw  dozens of games and toys last night that were still new, and sealed.   I have gotten these at rummage sales over the years, and donated them to toy drives in December (now that I have been shopping the Target July Toy Clearance for the last 10 years or so, I buy my "toys to be donated" at that time, but this is always a possibility).    I imagine these toys going to children who might not otherwise get toys, and it makes me happy to know that these kids will get something.     If you do buy something for your child, resist the urge to share all these great toys with your child all at once.    A toy to a child is a toy, and in my opinion, just getting toys every week makes for bratty kids.  Save those toys for times when you really need to give your child something special.   I realized fairly early that most kids don't realize that the toy might have been opened already.   My boys just saw an amazing new Lego set.   Remember,  also, you need collateral for all sorts of parenting issues.   Child won't always agree to something you want him/her to do.   Saying that you are the parent and that you have authority doesn't always work.   Sometimes the promise of a new Hot Wheel was all I needed to have Matthew agree to do something.

4)  Housewares.   Things like metal colanders.  Pyrex.   Clear glass drinking glasses.  You never pay more than a $1 each.   I have gotten nice, full sets of dinner plates, with matching salad bowls,  desserts plates, bowls, and serving spoons, for $20 for a service of 64.    My all time favorite (purchased at the St. Paul's rummage sale about 4 years ago), was a set of three Pampered Chef pot holders, still with the tags on them, for $1 each.  If you know Pampered Chef, you know that this was close to $100 worth of pot holders (and yes, they are probably worth the $35 each they are cost from the catalog---these are really, really nice!)

Other thoughts--I usually don't have a plan when I go to rummage sales.   I have a few things I might want, but I am open to possibilities.   I might go thinking I will look mostly for just a few select housewares, but if I stumble upon an amazing selection of toys, then that is what I get.   Don't be too rigid.   That is what happened with the Pampered Chef pot holders.   I am glad I took the time to look more closely at these items.

Second, you must resist the temptation to over-buy.    Having 687 sets of dishes isn't a good idea, even if they are all amazing deals.   I will, however, buy every Lego set and sealed Barbie I ever see.  I have been TRYING to get rid of old things whenever I bring something into the house, with some limited success.    

Lastly, don't succumb and buy something just because it is new.   There is a reason the original owner didn't want it.  It may have the appeal of being a new item, but if it is a Chia Pet, do you really want it?  

St. Paul's Rummage Sale in Chestnut Hill

If you have read this blog from the beginning (it has been a whole month now), you will know that the idea for me to do this started because I was always having people tell me I should start a blog to talk about bargain ideas.    That seemed like something everyone else has pretty much covered, but I did start this because my oldest son was going away for college, and I wanted to have a way for him to keep up with what is going on at home.

Well, this is one of those bargain idea/saving money posts (and I will be getting to my Target clearance shopping posts soon now that the Halloween/Christmas seasons are only a few months away).

Last night, my friend, Sheila, and I went to the St. Paul's Rummage Sale in Chestnut Hill.   I have been telling Sheila about this particular sale for several years, and she would never come.   Every year, she would say, I will go with you next year.   After 6 years, I almost gave up, but last night, I decided that I wanted to go, and I wanted to go with her!

The St. Paul's Rummage sale is one of my two favorite rummage sales each year (I am really down to only 3-4 a year now).   This one is always the first Saturday after Labor Day, but they hold a special preview night on the Friday night before where you pay $10, and you get in early to the sale.  There was a time when that would have seemed like not a good deal, but now that I have done this Preview night for the last 6-7 years, I realize what a bargain it is.

First, the folks at St. Paul's are amazing.  They make it a party.   There is a smorgasbord of appetizers, desserts, and unlimited wine and other drinks.   You could definitely go and eat yourself silly, and then go outside, have a few drinks, and go in for the shopping.    Second, for those of you familiar with this section of Philadelphia, you can get some amazing upscale items for a great price!   They even have a room that they call "The French Room" where they keep all the best women's designer clothes---Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Vera Bradley, just to name a few.    Plus, just having the first shot of everything is worth the $10 admission.   Back in the day when I was going to rummage/garage sales every Saturday morning, I would not have wanted to waste a morning going to one rummage sale,  so a Friday night preview night was appealing to me.

I have tried, in the last several years, to limit my buying, to only those things I really need.   I got a few lovely children's books for Lily, and a few XBOX  360 games for my boys--I can't stand the idea of them playing the video games, but these games were $2-3 each, not the $30-50 it costs in the store.  got a fluted glass Pyrex  pie pan for $2--not an amazing deal, but I needed one, and I saved a few dollars.   I also picked up a really nice Caphalon pot for $5.   It was in great shape.   Finally, I got some nice steak knives--we are down to one steak knife, with a broken top.   Pathetic.    So we needed those steak knives--a total of 8 for $4.

 I was really happy, though, for Sheila, who doesn't go to rummage sales as much as me, because she really had a great time, and got some amazing deals.   First, she got a Toro leaf blower for  $10.    It looked like it was in great shape.  New, it would have cost $60-90.    Great deal.   She also got an amazing HUGE stock pot for $4.   It would have cost $50-75 new, and it was beautiful.   She got a nice variety of other kitchen items, and a few clothes items for her son and a new skirt for her (which is going to look great on her).   I was so happy that she got such great deals, and we came back to my house and talked about the sale for longer than we actually attended it!!

I forgot to take photos--next year, I promise!   I keep on forgetting to take photos.  I have to start thinking like a blogger.

Last Day of Summer Vacation!

This is always a sad day for me.   Four of them start school tomorrow.   Anna will be a Junior, Timmy is in 9th grade,  Matthew is starting in our Junior high as a 7th grader, and Lily is a 2nd grader.    Honestly, I love my children being home with me all summer.    I am with them all, every day, so when they all go back to school,  it is a little sad for me, because I do miss them.  

Labor Day Weekend in Ocean City!

For the last several years, we have spent Labor Day in Ocean City, New Jersey--this year was no exception!!!    It was hot, hot, hot..but the water was amazing, and we had a great time!