Ultrasound?

So... I haven't quite figured out, why women have to go though all the insane things in life just to freaking procreate, why Hubby, get's to sit back and say, "Now that wasn't so bad was it?". GRRRRRRR!!!!!

Today was my first OB/GYN appointment since discovering that we were unexpectedly expecting a new bean into the family. No not the legume variety. I head to the appointment, which I think is going to be standard, you know, the filling out of paper work, answering the same questions repeatedly written 50 different ways (seriously is this some kind of IQ test?). After a while, I won't lie, I actually wrote different answers, just to see if they ask me about the descrepancies... they didn't.

Then I am lead to see my doctor. Now I have done this before, but never have they done and ultrasound so early. When I found out they were going to do the "Viability check", I was instantly nervous. Like test taking nervous, sweaty palms nervous! Would I Pass? Would I Fail?

So they wheel in the Ultrasound Cart, and instead of the wand for the belly she whips out this strange, LOOOONNNNGGG attachment! I said, "What is that for?" Well I am told she needs to do an internal exam because I am so early. Say what? "You mean, that long, huge thing, is going up my Yee Haw?" "Yes, but don't worry, I put a lot of lubricant." Then I am thinking "Oh ok, lots of lube, well I need more than that! I need to add an addition on to my Yee Haw to make room for that sucker!

"A little pressure," she says. More like raming pressure, and this is not at all adding ease, now I am freaking that this thing can puncture a lung, not just my uterus! Then all of a sudden on the screen was Bean. Heart Beat fluttering away (from what they tell me, I couldn't see anything but static looking stuff, but don't tell Bean that), I try to enjoy this moment. Fear still creeps in, as I worry about my prior experience. I hope that this time, will be different from the last.

I leave the Dr. office sore, hoping it is from said "Ram", not any signs of anything going awry, but with some hope. Maybe this is the Bean we were meant to have.

Shout Out to Mommy Maestro!

This is a shout out to Mary K. Brennan, aka "The Mommy Maestro". Thank you so much for your awesome Blog, and giving me wonderful ideas for my own, ie using pictures with my posts. I love, absolutely love reading your blog! Thanks so much for the daily info and entertainment!

Haven't read her blog? Check it out! http://marykbrennan.blogspot.com/

Frugal Tip of the Day Save on Burgers!

So this frugal tip I found by accident. I was trying to make some gourmet burgers, you know how in the restaurant, the burgers actually are a good size and juicy? My burgers are home were so not cutting it. So one day I decided to add potato to it, thinking it would help hold the flavor and juices in. I grated the potato and added it to the ground beef and spices and formed my burgers. OMGosh! It totally worked! The burgers stayed the size I had made them originally, and the flavor won raves and kudos from our friends at the BBQ.

So I was telling my mom about my culinary experience, and you know what she told me? "Yes, that is nothing new, people did it all the time in the depression era to make their meats go further." Hmmmm... First I was a bit ticked that this wasn't a new and therefore marketable concept, LOL. Second, I realized that yes, I had indeed used less meat, and was also able to use less expensive ground chuck rather than ground round because the potato kept them from wasting away! So Not only did I have great burgers, (and this is how I make them every time now, because they just rock!) but I actually saved money!!! Try it!

Frugal Tip of the Day Save on Books!

Paperback Swap! Love to read? Hate to buy books, but the library has a selection less than desireable? Try www.paperbackswap.com you list your books and then make a list of your wish list. You pay to mail the books at media rate (most are about $1.85) when a book on your list is requested. When you request a book, you pay nothing! You can get books of the NY Times best seller list, books hard to find, and books of any genre, I believe they have over 1 million books listed! If you are an avid reader you know getting a book for under $6 is a steal! Here is a way to keep your hobby and save cash at the same time!

Sleep Over... Like a Horror Flick... Come to Life!

As I sit in the chair in our room, I hear the wind whipping around the house, rattling the flue in the fireplace in our room, and blowing rain hard upon the windows. Outside a wild storm is blowing, what trees still have leaves on them are being tossed around and their leaves ripped from their branches. It is a torrent out there, but in the sounds I find peace as what is going on within the walls of our home… is anything but… it is a SLEEPOVER!!!

Really, a sleepover is an oxymoron. It is a stay up over, or a drive mom insane over. Seriously, whatever possessed me to have a sleepover with 4 girls, has vanished and the overwhelming sense of sleep deprivation is now in full swing. I have heard giggles, laughs, spats, Horton Hears a Who, Wizards of Waverly Place, etc. I tried to concentrate on the storms fury, for an odd place to find peace but it is unmatched by 4 little girls!

Prior to the sleepover I had channeled my inner Martha. Oh I had grand ideas of treats, and dinner, and a movie night! An hour after their arrival, my hair was no longer in it’s clip, I was exhausted, and dinner hadn’t been served yet!!! Following Dinner we had to make necklaces out of candy beads, so there was the whole debate on who get’s what, so I ran in there, already ready to breath fire (Have I told you that Calista is not one with patience?). I take the beads calmly (And this is feat for me since I have now heard drama for 2 hours straight!) and disburse them evenly amongst the girls. They then string the necklaces, drop all the beads off and then must start again!!!!

Following that, I decided we needed some downtime, so Colin makes Popcorn and we set down the girls (Oh did I tell you we have 2 six year olds, a 7 year old and one 10 year old? Maybe the ages was the first mistake, but I am not too sure I am ready to admit that). We put on Horton Hears a Who. I had heard this movie was fantastic. Was it? Can’t tell you, because every 5 minutes is was “Auntie, Can I have?”, or “Mommy, Can I have?” , or me saying “Sit down, before I change my mind and it is bed time” or “Can we sit with you?”. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I look around and Colin is no where to be found. He is smart. He is hiding! Well maybe not hiding but definitely upstairs in the comfort of his bed with the Beagle Rosie, watching real television that is not even animated! I want to be so irritated, but I can’t be, this “sleepover” was not his idea.

So finally it is bedtime. The storm is still surging, and I am thinking I will sleep with the sounds of nature outside of my room. I shut my eyes begin to think good thoughts, then feel something touch my arm, I jump and scream, as I was half way between sleep and consciousness. “Auntie… I have a bloody nose!” OMGosh! So now we are pushing 11pm. So I take my niece and get her a Kleenex and let her lay with me. Then she asks to wash her hair. What? Can’t this wait till morning? Ohhhh apparently not, because this wasn’t your average bloody nose, I feel her hair which is matted in blood, now I am grossed out! Not just regular grossed out, but Pregnant grossed out! Colin is asleep and dead to the world. Again, this was not his idea. Ugh!!! Why didn’t I listen to him???? Shhhh! Don’t tell him that!

So I take her in the bathroom to the sink, and begin to wash her hair. As I am watching it, I realize if there is this much in her hair, OMGosh what Elise’s bed must look like! I go in there, and Elise who when she sleeps is as dead to the world as Colin, is laying a half and inch from what looks to be carnage. I can’t deal! I see a blanket, and my solution is a little Scarlett O’Hare. I throw the blanket over it so I can “Think about it tomorrow!”. I come back to my room, where my niece informs me that she really wants to sleep with us. (Ohhhhhh, No!) We have a queen sized bed for a reason thank you very much! So I tell her she must sleep in the chair, which fits her fine with the ottoman it is like a twin bed. So she sleeps there…. So I think…. Finally I am off to dream world again, when again, I feel the tapping! OMGosh, now I am losing my patience, as my sanity dwindles from no freaking sleep!!! “Auntie, I really want to sleep with you” “My darling niece, get in the lovely chair, so I can get some sleep please???????”

Note to self… Sleep overs… need to wait… for years possibly. I need a nap!

Frugal Tip of the Day Save on Energy!!!

Make a deal with the kiddos! OK so it is kind of like a bribe but I choose to look at it as a reward system! Enlist your kids help in saving money on utilities. Put them in charge of saving money. Set up a goal to save a certain amount (make it reasonable) by the next bill, and then they get a reward. Have them in charge of lights, and making sure doors are shut, turning off water promptly when brushing teeth or washing dishes. You may also want to unplug the coffee pot, toaster and cell phone chargers (etc.) when they are not in use. Also check into the green choice of Florescent light bulbs rather than incandescent. Pretty soon the savings will become habit!

OMGosh I am sooooo tired!!!

OK! So! I have already written about our unexpected pregnancy, we are going to get our first glimpse at said bean next Tuesday. I will be sure to update you about that visit! Anyhow, I have not been pregnant in a good 7 years (with the exception of the miscarriage 18 months ago which I had no symptoms of pregnancy at all with that one, and it shoulda been the red flag right there!). Well I never realized how all that pregnancy stuff, and memories, can go shooting out the windows once you set eyes on that beautiful baby! But let me tell you... It does...

I was sitting on the couch yesterday... mind you this is my new campsite. I can be found here regularly, when in doubt check the couch! Anyway... I was on the couch, talking on the phone with my girlfriend, complaining about being tired and not knowing why???

She said, " You are kidding right?"

And I am like, "Um... No? Why?"

And she is like, " Well duh! You are pregnant!"

So then it occurred to me, as things more often than not do, way later. That maybe I was tired during my other pregnancies. I went to the source to find out the scoop. I called my Hubby, Colin, who sounding puzzled, clarified that I was tired during the first two. Why had I forgotten? Is this pregnancy Brain a real deal? So I went online! OMGosh, I cannot believe the Preggo Brain stories! I am not alone! I am not the only one to forget her head should it not be attached, while pregnant! I am not the only one who is soooo tired, they can barely watch their favorite shows like Grey's Anatomy, even thought it is online the next day (Thank goodness for that by the way!).

So I decided to resign my position as Couch Council President. I got my tookas up with great gumption! I unwound the cord on the vacuum, and I vacuumed like a champ! Then! Then! I went so far as to mop as well! I decided, that while I do need to rest, I cannot let this get to me! It was like a moment of empowerment, a shock to my already shocked system to say "Hey! You can do something about this!" I even went back to my inner Martha, and made heart shaped cookies, glazed them, and wrote on them for the girl's class parties today! They were so happy! After Colin made dinner (God Bless him!) I did go back to my Couch Domain, but I did it with pride! I conquered the Couch Potato-ness! I conquered the tiredness! And then! I went to bed! LOL

My daily goal is to remember that I can, be productive and rest! I cannot let this get the best of me! I may not win Mommy of the Year (Although I am pretty sure I should!LOL) but I can still be a good mommy! Here's to Mommy's who do everything through Anything! God Bless us!!!

Frugal Tip of the Day Save on Dinner OUT!

Especially with this weekend being Valentine's day so many restaurants are looking to do business with you! In general, make sure if you choose to eat out that you do it at a place offering coupons or specials! For instance, we have a local pizza place that offers BOGO (buy one get one free) on any pizza on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Sooo… Those are the nights that we do pizza, unless another place has a better deal. Scour the penny saver, or your local clipper magazine. Clipper Magazine even has coupons available online. Search for a restaurant, or shop near you at http://couponclipper.com/

Since this is Valentine's Weekend, many restaurants will be offering Special menus or Prix Fixe, to choose from. These menus are often more expensive than when you would go out on any given night, but also have multiple courses. Decide if a night out on V-day is in your budget, if it is shop around for the best Prix Fixe dinner pricing out there, I can guarentee you, this year, there will be some steals at some restaurants you may ordinarily not be able to go to!

Close Friends and Peripheral Friends

Oh My Goodness… I am sitting here in my office where all of my daily adventures and usually the imagined ones begin as I gaze outside to the world which amazingly continues to move ahead, even though I am not there to direct them! I suppose that sometimes I forget that my way isn’t the only way, though my darling daughters are sure to remind me of that.

Though they may remind me of that, and quite often, I am still pretty sure that though my way isn’t the only way, it can be quite often the best way. STOP it! Like you don’t feel the same about the way you think. I mean obviously we all think we are right, otherwise we wouldn’t do life the way we do, so take the hands off the hips and check this out!

Yesterday, my daughter Elise, comes home. She is excited because it was candy gram day. The day they reserve candy grams for their friends for the party prior to, Valentine’s day. I asked her if she had reserved her grams for her two close friends, the ones that have been her friend since she moved to this new school in August. No she says she reserved them for these two girls that I know she wants to be friends with because she thinks they are cool. Mind you Elise is only 10ish, but I was just shocked.

It occurred to me that children do not just inherently understand not only social graces, but how to do right by their good friends, and how they can have peripheral friends but that they are not on the same level as said good friends. As I am having this thought, and we are walking out of the school yard, Jana her good friend (not one of the candy gramed) came to see if she could play after school. Elise was more than happy of course to go do that, but it made me realize that we had to have the friend talk when she came home.

When I picked her up, I asked her about why she gramed the other two girls, and not her good friends. She said she didn’t even think about it that way. I had to explain that you only have a handful of good friends in life, and those are the ones we go above and beyond for, those are the ones that we stand up for, and those are the ones, we think about ahead of all of our other friends even if some seem cooler. We talked and I explained the whole concept of peripheral friends and close friends.

After we finished talked and she decided how she was going to right this situation, I began thinking about those two twitty cool girls. I know I am an adult and I am supposed to be beyond that, but hello? I found myself irritated that my daughter was trying to basically suck up to the cool girls, and I felt back in school again! Honestly, I will admit, that my dear Elise, is far more patient and kind than I was then or even now. There is no way I would have tried to befriend the cool kids, just on the mere fact that they think they are all that and a bag of Doritos already, so I wouldn’t have wanted to feed into their egos. Am I odd here? Should I want her to befriend the cool kids? I of course believe I am so right about this, but I am older now and willing to admit, (to you, not to Colin, so shush it!) that I may not be doing this right. Any ideas??? I mean seriously, let me know!

Frugal Tip of the Day

Back to Basics, Coupon cutting! The trick to cutting coupons, is to only cut coupons for things you would normally buy. Don’t go crazy and just buy whatever is available on coupon or you may actually end up spending more! Cut coupons, and put in a coupon organizer, try to use coupons if you can when the item is on sale also for extra savings!!!

Frugal Tip of the Day

Don’t just recycle, FREECYCLE!!! Go to http://www.freecycle.org/ Find a group in your area and let the swaps begin. People will offer up anything from baby clothes and supplies, to appliances and furniture. Be courteous, and make sure your first posting is an offer! Check out your groups rules and then request and offer until your heart’s content! I have received scrapbooking supplies, and swapped scrapping supplies! There is so much available out there! Check it out!

Parenting Communities

So now that I am wrapping my head around this new pregnancy, I have been doing what I do best, searching information online. There is a wealth of communities for every parenting situation and expectant parent situation out there, from adoption, to single parent, to mom’s who are not single yet feel they are too old to do this again, because the youngest won’t start Kindergarten till her oldest can drive kind of parent like me. So maybe I am still freaking… just a little. Gone are my brags about my youngest being 18 while I am only 44, now I am looking at 51. But that is OK, between the botox and the boob job that my recycling will bring me, I will still look 44… right? Yeah, maybe not.

Anyway, back to the communities. If by chance, this blog isn’t enough for you, because I know there is that chance…check out sites like http://www.babycenter.com/ or http://parenting.ivillage.com/. These sites offers tools like due date calculators, to baby name lists, to even journal sites where you can journal your pregnancy, giving you a voice, and letting other mom’s know they are not alone. They also have groups you can join and message with questions, or advice to others asking questions, or just everyday pregnant wonderings. There are many sites out there, check them out and see which fits for you!

These sites also have great links to savings for your new bundle of joy. You can sign up to receive free samples of formula (and these are actual containers when I signed up prior to my miscarriage, I was floored), and coupons for formula, diapers, and more. Expecting, want to be expecting, or just parenting, there is something for every season of parenting out there!

Frugal Tip of the Day

RECYCLE!!! Hey I am the first to admit that Ed Begley Jr. I am not. However, I am aware of the CRV fees that are attached to the price of my bottles of water (Gasp! Yes I buy them for the convenience sue me!), soda cans, and what not. So we recycle and it brings in extra money for our slush fund, say for the nights that the local pizza joint has a buy one get one on pizzas! Truthfully, I call it my bottles for boobs fund, because one day, I want to buy a pair! Errr... Did I say that out loud? LOL

Fugal Tip of the Day!!!

Many of us moms live close enough to walk the kids to school, yet we drive! I decided to start walking my kids to school, rather than rolling out the SUV. We walk about 1.5 miles, up and down hills in snow barefoot (lol ok maybe I made up that part!) but the 1.5 miles is correct and it takes us 15 minutes to get there. So when it isn’t raining we hit the pavement, and amazingly enough, I can get a couple extra days out of my gas tank!

Whew! Wasn't expecting this!

So, as you can tell I took a long weekend off. I deserve it, I do! I do! I have recently, aka the day I stopped blogging this week, found out, I am now expecting baby number 3! Don't worry I won't be changing the address to the blog to Three be a mom, one because it makes no sense, and two, because well, back to number one.

Anyway, I am in the very early stages, and have suffered a miscarriage before. I am being cautiously optimistic as the same time as trying to wrap my head around this new... development shall we say?

It is always nervewracking to be pregnant. For me anyway. I am not optimistic by nature, it is something I force upon myself. So today I get a call scheduling me for my prenatal "class". It always cracks me up, and just hearing it is a class, makes me want to skip it, or leave early, but I know the principal will call home! Darn it! LOL Anyway the schedule me for that and a viability check. WTHeck? I ran my tookas down to the office, and am like "Alright missy, what do you mean viability check? You are creating anxiety here, just drop the news!" Well apparently it is the new thing, to do an ultrasound at the same time as the class. Well hello????? I think they need to skip the V-word! Really, to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage, the V-word is super dreaded.

So I was soul searching amongst my feelings of surprise, anxiety, and worry. Why does pregnancy scare me? I had to admit... don't tell Colin... It is a complete lack of control. I can do very little, either this happens or it doesn't. There is little I can do once conception to make things alright. A lack of control, for dear old Calista... ugh! It is like Torture!!!

So that is my news! I will keep you updated!

Is Your Child Ready For Kindergarten?

To many this isn’t even a question. They turn five they start Kindergarten, end of discussion. But the truth is, not all Kindergarteners are five (at least in California) when they are eligible to begin Kinder. In California, the cut off for Kindergarten is December 2nd of the same school year. That means that your child can be eligible to start Kinder when they are still four years old!

My daughter Emma, has her birthday in Mid October. This places her at only 6 weeks from the cut off date. So the question arose in my mind, should she start at 4? I thought of my niece McKenna who would start the same year but who had been five since the preceding January! I decided to do some research and talk to teachers. What I found out from the teachers really helped make up our mind I encourage you to talk to the teachers of your school if you have concerns! (Of course the fact that in Emma's regular preschool class she would tell the teacher that she didn't have to do the work because she was the baby, also helped solidify our decision lol!)

I talked to a couple of Kinder teachers. They said that there are more and more children that start kinder at 6 years old. Parents are finding out that some children just are not emotionally ready or mature at 5 years of age. (Did you know that Kinder is not mandatory in the state of California?) So if I had put Emma in school, she would begin in August as a four year old, while others were already 6. That is a huge disadvantage for any child! The teachers agreed. They said that children who wait do better, they are just more ready for the rigors of Kindergarten (it ain’t what it used to be… see below!)

I was thinking about this age gap, and Colin and I decided, to give her the benefit of the cut off even though she was 6 weeks shy of it. We enrolled her in a transitional kindergarten program(http://www.fbcshiningstars.org/) . It was so fantastic let me tell you! It allowed her to be completely ready for what kindergarten requires, and has allowed her to build confidence before the stress of grades. We feel that this route for children who lack maturity required for kindergarten is really worth the investment.

Is your child ready for Kindergarten? There are so many things that children need to know BEFORE Kinder, that I was shocked when I had put Elise in four years earlier. I had no idea how important preschool was! I was glad we had put her in the year preceding her Kindergarten year, but had wished we had done it sooner! They need to know so much, to get off to a successful start!

Check out this link. It is a checklist for Kindergarten readiness. Does your child qualify? If not, really think about whether or not starting Kindergarten this year is right for your child. The stigma of holding children back, is gone in Kindergarten. They have no idea, but if they have to be held back in later grades because they weren’t ready for the foundation of kinder, that will be harder. Check out the link and decide what works for your family!

http://school.familyeducation.com/kindergarten/school-readiness/38491.html

Frugle Family Tip of the Day

As if you hadn't heard enough from me, here I am again! I have your back, and I am sharing ideas! Feel free to comment or email if you have ideas to share! Let's help each other save cash! Why spend it on inconsequential items when we can save it for a boob job! Err... Did I just say that out loud?


This is orange and lemon season! Have a tree in your yard or know someone who does? Juice the fruit and freeze in ice cube trays, then put the cubes in a freezer bag to be used in recipes, added to flavor water, and even to drink after thawing in orange juice, and lemonade! (P.S. You can do the same with leftover broths!)

Blog Gone Wild!

Ok... So... I decided to tell a friend about my blog... Yes this one! Nobody knows about this blog in my world, because I am writing under my assumed name... Like Super Mom, helping the Masses, but no one knows that Calista is me, because I am changing in my SUV as phone booths have gone by the wayside. Don't look at my blog like that, like you didn't know that Calista Quinn was a pen name, sheesh! It is pretty cleaver though isn't it?

Anyway, back to my friend. She says that I absolutely must, must, contact people about this blog because it is funny, witty, and full of information pertaining to other families in my season of life. So... I did.

I have written a book company who publishes my Fav author Jen Lancaster, I have written a local mag and even a morning show. Don't laugh. This could be my big break! LOL

The reason I am putting this out there is because, it made me realize, that we all have something to offer, and all we need is to find the right someone, venue or venture to fully utilize our talents. So get out there! Discover your talents, don't hide them! Put them to use, because you are important, even if the world hasn't figured that out yet! So hopefully the world will find out that I am as amazing as I think I am, LOL.. And that isn't being stuck-up! We are all amazing, and the sooner we all realize that the sooner this world, will be a better place! What is your talent?

Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate!

Negotiate is the word of the day! No not with your children, lest you desire conflict and constant loophole hunting by your adorable faced bunchkins. Kids, man, they are super smart, and super manipulative. No not in the malicious kind of way, but the hmmm... I really really want my way and there was some wiggle room last time, so there will be again sort of way.

So if I am not talking about negotiating with children who am I talking about, after all this is a parenting blog right? Well it is also about family life, and with family life comes finances. I am talking about negotiating with service providers to save cold hard cash!

Yesterday I got a "wild hair" up my you no what, and decided that I needed to see where my bail out is! Now I know we don't qualify as a billion dollar financial institution or an auto maker so our chances of receiving millions to fetter away were about nil. But what I also knew is that all these service providers do NOT want to lose our business in times like these either!

First I called our Alarm company. When the economy goes down, inherently crime goes up, so there was absolutely no way that I was going to shut it off, but hey they don't need to know that. So I called and asked for their best rate. They lowered my rate by $7. Now keep in mind that $7 may not seem like a lot but over the course of the year that $7 equals $84 dollars and a 25% savings on our monthly bill! Man was I jazzed and empowered!!! So I decided why stop there?

Next I called our phone/internet company. I happened upon a promo for the internet of $30 a month. I was blindly paying $50 because I didn't keep up on when our contract ended. When these companies have you on contract you should be writing down these dates, because at the end of the contract, you are eligible for their new client promos! If they refuse, change companies! You now have the right under federal law to keep your phone number and port it to any company you choose! You are not a slave to these companies and for a little bit of work you can save hundreds! So now I am saving $20 a month, which adds up to $240 a year! So I figured I was going to now press for phone savings!

Honestly, we are a cell phone nation. Cell phone plans are cheap, they include national long distance, so if you have one, you really do not need a home phone unless you have an alarm system, as we do. So I asked about the cheapest phone plan they have. And what do I find out? This is alarming! (LOL excuse the pun!) They now have digital phone services out there! I was paying $34 a month for our phone which included all the taxes and surcharges! They gave me a new rate of $12.99 a month for 300 home minutes (more than ample since we use the cell phones) on top of that, when you sign up for digital phones (which on your end changes nothing, you use your own phones like usual and the only thing that changes is on their end) you no longer are subject to state and local usage taxes only federal! So that lowers your bill even more. So now with my $12.99 and my federal usage, I will be paying $14 a month! A savings of $20 dollars! My 15 minute phone call to our phone/internet company saves me a total of $480 a year!!! or $40 a month!!!

So 30 minutes on the phone with two service providers has now saved me $47 a month, or $564 a year! So of course I couldn't stop there! I next called our pest control company! They decided to play hard ball and only come down $2 which is completely unacceptable! So I decided to call around. I found a smaller company, who provides the same services for $10 less a month, or $120 a year!

Literally my hour of phone calls saved us $57 a month and $684 a year! How awesome is that? I got very little friction save for the pest company who apparently feels they are above discounting even in this economy! Ridiculous! So take the time, call your providers, and stay on top of your contract dates! There is no reason to throw that money away and all it took me was 60 minutes to save $57 dollars, that is almost a dollar a minute, which is more than my employer pays me!

Frugle Family Fun

In a time like this, where the economy is uncertain, it is important to keep the family bonds tight. Statistics show the biggest reason for marital and family discord are finances. Believe me, I know of that which I speak. We are not immune to the economy in the least. Hubby is in commercial construction, and I haven't seen anything being built around here lately. Work is stopped, and finances are on a wire. It's scary.

In a time like this, panic sets in, and it is easy to be edgy. For our part, again, we are not immune. But what we have decided to do, and have been doing, it getting back to basics. Free or near free family fun. We are learning to enjoy our home again, yes it has it's headaches, but if going out is no longer an option or as often as you are used to, then look where you stand.

We have been doing family movie nights. If you have a DVR, record them off the TV, check out your guide so you can watch them when the time suits. Go to garage sales, or try a DVD swap such as www.swapadvd.com (they also have book and CD swaps too) for the price of postage you get DVDs that are new to you! Some local libraries allow you to borrow them for free also!You can do game nights too, borrow games, swap with friends, get them from garage sales!

There are tons of resources for families where you can get inexpensive craft ideas, recipes, organizational tips (back to being able to enjoy your own home again!) One of my favorite (and super inexpensive subscription) Magazines is Family Fun. Check out the website for free, you can also get subscription info. No magazine is perfect, and some of the ideas are like... ummm.. no.... like instructions for making a racquet using rubber bands and PVC pipe. LOL Sorry Family fun but our local dollar tree has just the ticket... for a dollar! However, there are a ton of wonderful ideas! http://familyfun.go.com/

Another get back to basics, is enjoying your local park! So many communities really have put a lot of resources into their parks departments. Try different ones in your community, weekend picnics, with your dollar tree racquet can give you hours of fun! Also check your community calendars for free and near free events! Many are now online, look for your community on google!

Bottom line, don't let the economy further affect your family by letting it come between your family. Fight for the good! Don't blame each other, just accept what things are, and look to making what you can better!!! Have Ideas? Share them!!! Leave comments or email and I can post your comments, with or without anonymity!