@ChardeeMacDennis I got some really cute suede wedge booties at target recently. They lace up, but zip on the inside. They're surprisingly comfortable and can be dressed up or down. They had a taupe and black pair. I went with the taupe and have worn them with black, navy, and brown. You could do something like that with tights.
I learned today to not wash plastic bottles together in the dishwasher with a bowl covered in pasta sauce. Apparently the pasta sauce will stain the clear plastic
Ok so we are getting a loan from the bank because my husband won't be going back to work until after the new year, they want to know how much I'll be spending on Christmas, I'm not really sure, I've never been on a budget before lol, how much would you gals say is reasonable for 5 kids?
I learned today to not wash plastic bottles together in the dishwasher with a bowl covered in pasta sauce. Apparently the pasta sauce will stain the clear plastic
Ok so we are getting a loan from the bank because my husband won't be going back to work until after the new year, they want to know how much I'll be spending on Christmas, I'm not really sure, I've never been on a budget before lol, how much would you gals say is reasonable for 5 kids?
Honestly if everyone is out of work and a loan is necessarily my budget would be as close to zero as possible. I'd still celebrate and be festive but in non monetary ways. I'd make sure the kids have some gifts to open but perhaps they'd be from others or creative economical options. Maybe your circumstances are different from mine though.
@Sammy K WHAT?! This would have been great to know years ago! Lol What doesn't OxyClean fix?!
I learned this by accident. I was soaking some poop clothes a while ago and used a white but stained plastic bowl. When I took the clothes out the next day, the bowl looked brand new! That is also why our utility sink is so clean, I'm always soaking dirty kid clothes, not actually scrubbing a utility sink.
I just *finally* caught up on every thread! I was MIA because of work last week and this thread had over 200 new posts but I made it through all of them. I'm actually feeling quite accomplished and proud of myself >-
Just quickly read through the next very long looking leap (Relationships). It says "It is very normal that you feel exhausted at the end of this leap." So kind of like how I feel every day? I half give up on this leaps business. It's interesting, but it's all become a mess of regressions and exhaustion.
Well I must be in that leap because gah I'm exhausted. Lo doesn't sleep anymore and he acts like he's starving 24/7. We're doing 2-3 night time feedings and he's eating every 2-3 hours again. DH keeps thinking he's sick but it's just a fussy spell he has every afternoon. He's 20 weeks....Is that a leap? I'm not even sure what a leap is or how you know they're in one???
Just quickly read through the next very long looking leap (Relationships). It says "It is very normal that you feel exhausted at the end of this leap." So kind of like how I feel every day? I half give up on this leaps business. It's interesting, but it's all become a mess of regressions and exhaustion.
Oh no...again? Leap 4 kicked my butt harder than childbirth.
Just quickly read through the next very long looking leap (Relationships). It says "It is very normal that you feel exhausted at the end of this leap." So kind of like how I feel every day? I half give up on this leaps business. It's interesting, but it's all become a mess of regressions and exhaustion.
I did this too last night and was like 'oh. And that's different from now in what way?'
Yeah, these leaps are kicking my butt. My twins are on different leap schedules. So my girl is done with Events, and she's as sweet as can be. But my boy is in the thick of it.
Into the app, I put the birthdate as one baby and the due date as the other.
It says "12 days till the next leap" for my girl. And "13 days til the end of this leap" for my boy.
So, I have a 20% off of ONE item coupon from Buy Buy Baby. I want to use it on something a little more substantial (vs clothes or some toys). Anybody have any ideas on what I could use this for? I already have a crib, changing table, rocking chair, stroller, highchair... I guess I could use it on a convertible car seat for once LO gets bigger, but he could conceivably be in his current carsest for quite a while yet, its good up to 35 pounds.
So, I have a 20% off of ONE item coupon from Buy Buy Baby. I want to use it on something a little more substantial (vs clothes or some toys). Anybody have any ideas on what I could use this for? I already have a crib, changing table, rocking chair, stroller, highchair... I guess I could use it on a convertible car seat for once LO gets bigger, but he could conceivably be in his current carsest for quite a while yet, its good up to 35 pounds.
I have some of those too. The crappy part is they exclude pretty much everything if you read the fine print. I know you said no toys, but maybe a big toy? Like a cool walker? Or maybe a nice umbrella stroller? Play pen gate thing? I'll keep thinking.
For no toys I mostly meant like the small toys that are like $20. Larger toy items that will get use for a goodish period of time I'm into. Basically, if I'm going to get 20% off something, I'd prefer it to be an item that is a bit more expensive (around $50, $75, $100 or more) and that isn't trivial or will be aged out of quickly.
ETA the gates is a good idea tho. Those are more expensive than I thought they would be
What about an Exersaucer, snowsuit, or that wool zip up thing for the car seat? Or like pp said, an umbrella stroller. I know they don't count on diapers.
So, I have a 20% off of ONE item coupon from Buy Buy Baby. I want to use it on something a little more substantial (vs clothes or some toys). Anybody have any ideas on what I could use this for? I already have a crib, changing table, rocking chair, stroller, highchair... I guess I could use it on a convertible car seat for once LO gets bigger, but he could conceivably be in his current carsest for quite a while yet, its good up to 35 pounds.
Hold off on the car seat. They have a lifespan and you wouldn't want to waste it sitting in the box. I would say toddler bed, jumper, activity center (for when Master P is standing), water table, or winter snow suit.
Hi ladies...I just wanted to give my 2 cents about the coupon. Bed, Bath, and Beyond is the same as BuyBuy Baby so they accept bed,bath...coupons in buybuybaby stores. I save all of my coupons and use them on my shopping trips (they will accept expired coupons and apply a coupon to each item...you can even use the $5off bed/bath coupons). Diapers, wipes, and food are excluded from coupons...just read the fine print. My buybuybaby store is really great at accepting all the coupons I can throw their way even if expired.
@mellymar I wouldn't use the coupon yet. 20% off isn't that great and if you don't need anything yet you have plenty of time to find a better deal somewhere else. We'll probably be back in garage sale season before you need most of the stuff in this thread anyway.
For no toys I mostly meant like the small toys that are like $20. Larger toy items that will get use for a goodish period of time I'm into. Basically, if I'm going to get 20% off something, I'd prefer it to be an item that is a bit more expensive (around $50, $75, $100 or more) and that isn't trivial or will be aged out of quickly.
ETA the gates is a good idea tho. Those are more expensive than I thought they would be
I think I just loved your random post trying to quote it. We bought our gates online. Brand was Northern States so still local even if online. They were reasonably priced and held up well to my climbing jumping toddler and 85lb dog.
Well we don't have a buy buy baby or a bed bath beyond that is less than an hour and half away, so I must use this coupon online, which means I have to use it before it expires because there isn't any human interaction. Good ideas and advice ladies! Thanks for the input, it helped me to organize my thought a bit
Well we don't have a buy buy baby or a bed bath beyond that is less than an hour and half away, so I must use this coupon online, which means I have to use it before it expires because there isn't any human interaction. Good ideas and advice ladies! Thanks for the input, it helped me to organize my thought a bit
@mellymar - wow 1.5hours!!! We are in a 5 minute radius of groceries and a ton of stuff and less than 15 minutes from malls and bbb stores. the max distance I have ever lived away from a grocery store was 30 minutes and it was awful having to be so rigid in planning before going out to ensure we remembered everything. Are you located more rurally? If ordering online I would just think of something you will get a lot of use out of for the purchase - a need that will be worth the while. Good luck shopping!
Apologies for the long post... Okay all, honest opinions needed. My grandmother is quite ill and in a long term care facility. The only things she is eating are those ensure drinks, soups and yoghurt as of the past couple days (before that she wasn't eating at all). The problem is the care aids aren't allowed to give her this food because our family brings it in (it's not provided by the facility). My mom and uncle have been going up during meals to make sure she is eating and drinking, but my mom's compassionate leave is up and my uncle has business out of the country for the month of November. I live in a different province, but it was suggested that because I was on Mat. Leave I might be able to stay with my parents and help out for 3 weeks (either until my grandma rallies and gets strong enough to eat on her own, my uncle comes back or heaven forbid my grandma passes). This would mean taking LO away from DH for that amount of time. My uncle did say he would fly him in for a weekend or two...but anyways...what are everyone's thoughts? I thought this was a no brainer, I would be supporting my mom through a difficult time and helping comfort my grandma, but my best friend (in not so many words) told me I was selfish for taking LO away from DH and it was selfish of my mom to ask this of me.
Agreed ^^. It's really about how your DH feels. We live away from our family and so unless I travelled home they wouldn't get to see our LO. DH misses the crap out of us when we go (sometimes for 2 weeks) but he doesn't want the family to miss out just because he can't accompany us.
DH says he's fine and that family is important. We try to be honest with each other, but between you wonderful Internet strangers and I, I'm not sure he'd tell me if it did bother him because to him when family needs you you should be there.
@kbooth412 I agree with your DH. In the grand scheme of things is three weeks away from your husband worth it to help provide for your grandmother? It sucks to be away from him, but this is an opportunity you have to help your family. What would happen if you didn't go out? Would your mom have to go to the nursing home three times a day, and work? Plus if he could fly in for a weekend or two, it might not seem so bad.
@kbooth412 I think it is touching and a good example for LO. We should all be so lucky when we are old to have such good family. Sadly you don't see that a lot anymore
@kbooth412 you said your DH feels "because to him when family needs you you should be there." So it sounds like he understands. And I'm not sure how its selfish to take your baby with you while you help you grandma, sure your DH doesn't get to see her every day, but that's what Skype and video calls and all that can be for. I mean, what else are you supposed to do while you go - leave your LO in daycare while DH works when you're gone?
@kbooth412 you said your DH feels "because to him when family needs you you should be there." So it sounds like he understands. And I'm not sure how its selfish to take your baby with you while you help you grandma, sure your DH doesn't get to see her every day, but that's what Skype and video calls and all that can be for. I mean, what else are you supposed to do while you go - leave your LO in daycare while DH works when you're gone?
I think what my friend was getting at was that I shouldn't go - at least not for that length of time
@kezdk we live in the biggest town in the county, but there are less than 10,000 people in my town. We are 1 minute away from a grocery store, but its not a chain grocery, its a family owned grocery. As the biggest town in the county (of which there are only 30,000 people in the entire county), we also have the county's Walmart and Target in town. But that is it. There are 2 McDonalds (one at each end of town), 1 Taco Bell, 1 Arbys (both attached to the same gas station) and 1 Subway. There is no freestanding Starbucks in my town. It is that small. There is a Starbucks inside Target, tho. Anything else requires you drive at least 50 minutes south to get into the bigger town, and the mall area with all the stuff like babies r us, etc is another 30 minutes once you get into the more populated area. So yeah, I order a lot of stuff online.
@kbooth412 ah, I gotya. But I still don't think that 3 weeks is a very long time to be away from home. I'd probably still go for it if I were you
To further illustrate how much in the sticks we live - I just saw a commercial for a jeweler (down in the area that has the mall and all that) that said 'buy jewelry for her, get a 12 gauge for you!' They're giving away shotguns with qualifying jewelry purchases. :-bd
Re: Randoms!
Ooo I didn't know that! I'll have to do that, thanks!
Also. Hi everybody. Work has been kicking my butt and leaving me little time for bumping.
Into the app, I put the birthdate as one baby and the due date as the other.
It says "12 days till the next leap" for my girl. And "13 days til the end of this leap" for my boy.
FML. Constant leap.
ETA the gates is a good idea tho. Those are more expensive than I thought they would be
Good ideas and advice ladies! Thanks for the input, it helped me to organize my thought a bit
Edit to add- DH was changing LO at islands and it smelled so bad the guy in the stall next to him was all "uh courtesy flush, bro"
Lol...at least LO has got to feel better after that! Yikes.
Okay all, honest opinions needed. My grandmother is quite ill and in a long term care facility. The only things she is eating are those ensure drinks, soups and yoghurt as of the past couple days (before that she wasn't eating at all). The problem is the care aids aren't allowed to give her this food because our family brings it in (it's not provided by the facility). My mom and uncle have been going up during meals to make sure she is eating and drinking, but my mom's compassionate leave is up and my uncle has business out of the country for the month of November. I live in a different province, but it was suggested that because I was on Mat. Leave I might be able to stay with my parents and help out for 3 weeks (either until my grandma rallies and gets strong enough to eat on her own, my uncle comes back or heaven forbid my grandma passes). This would mean taking LO away from
DH for that amount of time. My uncle did say he would fly him in for a weekend or two...but anyways...what are everyone's thoughts? I thought this was a no brainer, I would be supporting my mom through a difficult time and helping comfort my grandma, but my best friend (in not so many words) told me I was selfish for taking LO away from DH and it was selfish of my mom to ask this of me.
@kbooth412 ah, I gotya. But I still don't think that 3 weeks is a very long time to be away from home. I'd probably still go for it if I were you
@mellymar there is a jewelry store in my area that always does that around the holidays