Coffee Talk Mom

How can YOU save some $$$ today???

Many of you know that I am a shopper! I must admit, the thrill isn't as strong as it used to be. As you get older, you would rather have 3 NICE quality things than 20 sale t-shirts from Ross. That is not to say that I don't still shop at TJ Maxx and Ross, but my drive to buy more for less has abated. Have you put on a pair of good quality leather shoes lately? Or are you still stuck at Payless shoes in the vinyl section?? Quality lasts, but chose your battles. If you just want a little something trendy (like a colorful purse) who cares? Go for Target! It does take some energy to TRY to stay in style (age appropriate of course). I gag at the sight of 40- some things in booty shorts or men in their 50's with "affliction" shirts…I'll show him an affliction! This fall season, there isn't much new that I can coordinate into my current wardrobe but recently I found a $99 fur vest for $14 at the Rack…(They don't call me nordygirl for nothing) and my first pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes originally $295 (who pays that?) for $19.99…Check out the photo! Deals can be found!

For those of you who would rather stay in the comfort of your own home. PICK UP THE PHONE! I did today and threatened to switch back to Comcast from Quest…My CURRENT bill went from $189.55 to $143.71 instantly…starting NOW. It is like free money! It is like the frog in the boiling water…he doesn't know he is boiling until it is too late! Have you checked your bills lately, or do you just robotically pay them? DO you know how much money you can save JUST by watching the ticker at the grocery store?? The checker isn't paying attention, but YOU have just wandered through the aisles for an hour! Watch the bill!

Always call the hotel/store/spa first!! Never buy a "groupon" until you do! Did you know that the average business pays 50% for the privilege of lowering their prices to a reasonable/buy-able rate? They would MUCH rather have you as a customer without having to give their profits back to groupon. Just today I asked at my facial spa place about a $285 procedure (hey…I'm getting old…this beauty thing doesn't just happen…it takes work!). Since I have been a customer for a long while, she offered the service to me for $85: a savings of $200!

Times are tough! Last night William informed me that I owed him for mowing/buying the drummers doughnuts and drinks/and other various things to the tune of $130. I told him he would have to "wait until Friday" when his Dad gets paid because we are going "over budget". "That stinks for me" he said and walked off. Whether or not we have the money in the bank, it is ALWAYS good for kids to know that money doesn't just come from the magic VISA fairy in the sky! He waits for his check, and I will wait for my next facial! First we have to make the final "wisdom tooth removal" payment: a $1500 surprise this summer. Of course, I made a deal with the doctor and spaced it out in payments rather than a giant sucking sound from the bank, it was a slow drool…works for me!

Let me know how YOU save…what was your BEST deal??

Have a great week…

Coffee Talk Mom

Hot Sauce anyone??

 

On a recent trip with my sister and parents I watched while my sister doused her Mexican food with tons of hot sauce. She LOVES hot sauce! She could probably drink it which exactly matches both of my boys. There is just something about being raised on spicy food…or in our case…hot sauce! So today, it was with great surprise that I heard on the news that there was a lady who was charged with misdemeanor child abuse in a case involving her giving her 5 year old son hot sauce. I don't think this is the greatest thing to do...probably not going to endear you to your kids, but definitely not child abuse. I thought you might get a kick out of the conversation this morning at my breakfast table. I had my brother visiting with their 3 and 4 year old well-behaved boys. They have never experienced the "hot sauce for lying" technique at their house…Times have definitely changed but here goes:

Me: Whoa

Brother: What?...A mom got convicted for giving their kid house sauce?

Me: Mom might be in big trouble

Brother: Ya, Mom may just now be getting out of the clinker!

My Husband (Dave): What are you talking about?...My Mom didn't do any of the fancy techniques…she just beat the crap out of me!

Brother: Ya my Mom gave us a tsp. of hot sauce when we lied or said a bad word (which probably was "shut-up"), then she put ice in a bag and had us hold it to our mouth on the couch to cool it down.

Me: Wait…I never got the "ice in the bag thing"…

Brother: Ya …she softened by the time she had #4!

 

Just thought I would give you a little perspective on the whole thing: Don't send your freakin' videos to Dr. Phil!! AND keep your cool! Always MAKE YOURSELF count to 30 BEFORE you act on your anger (which is usually involved). We ALL love our kids and don't want to see them hurt, but let's face it…some kids in today's world could use a little hot sauce. It's amazing…to this day I thank my Mom for the way she and my Dad raised us. There were always hugs after, and we actually learned how to function in the real world with some form of manners and respect. I still love hot sauce but for some reason I can't stomach red Tabasco!

Why not?

When you're young, it's all about the adventure and the excitement. When you're older, it's all about putting on the breaks and being practical. Whatever happened to just having some fun for funs sake?... stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something unexpected. What would that be for you?? After you have been a mom for what seems like 50 years, it may be something simple like wearing a dress and going on an actual date with your man. How about planning an unexpected weekend trip? Maybe even pass on the usual restaurant and going to hole in the wall. Growing old means rules…everything is fattening or expensive…or impractical…or dirty…well…not that kind of dirty!! HAHA…I have noticed this summer that there are the new wave of races called "mudders"...it isn't enough to run a few miles (aka do a 5k)…now it is cooler to do it through mud and electrical wires and mountains of mud. Why? Why not? What holds YOU back?

Have you been to a dinner party lately? Here is how you know you're getting old:

Jo Blow is allergic to cats

Billy Bob is gluten free

Susie Q doesn't drink…it gives her a headache

Lori Loser is off sugar and on a strict diet

We can't eat outside cause Betty is allergic to mosquito bites

I was AT a party like that recently…All with GREAT friends!! And I WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS!! That is what is so pathetic. Someone actually ate whipped cream for dessert because chocolate gives them headaches and another friend equated cats to clowns…haha…I have never laughed so hard and had so much fun…all of us…even with our "isms"! Some things we acquire with age…like allergies and fears.

How many of you have parents who worry and/or talk incessantly about the weather? It's too cold…or it's too hot? Or it MAY snow! I have actually found myself saying to Dave "Be careful, it is supposed to storm" as if he will drive differently from me saying that! I think I am not only becoming my mom, but a worrier and a thinker…I think too much!!

Some things we just need to let go of and realize that God did not make us to put us into a cavern of fear and issues…Have a beer! Go white water rafting without worrying about capsizing! Do the laundry tomorrow…Just for today…think of something outside the box and go do it this week!!

I call myself a “chronic volunteer”…

You know it is bad when you walk down the halls of your church and people ask questions or request things as if you worked there. I have always been big on volunteering although I must say that this past few months has been a sort of "break" for me. I am blessed to have the time and energy to volunteer. There is ALWAYS someone who could use your time/help/encouragement. I am not really a "sitter a rounder" so volunteering is a great way for me to schedule "work". Although there are people depending on you, the GREAT thing about volunteering is that YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER!

Webster : Volunteer: : a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service: as a : one who enters into military service voluntarily b (1) : one who renders a service or takes part in a transaction while having no legal concern or interest (2) : one who receives a conveyance or transfer of property without giving valuable consideration

I don't receive a paycheck, but I have the flexibility to be home if I need to be with a sick child, for an appointment, or even planning a family vacation.

When you volunteer, you have a different viewpoint on the job. I never look at the clock (as if to say…how much will my paycheck be?). I focus on the kids, or the homeless, or the paperwork, not on when I get to go home or what if my "boss" walks through the door. I try to make it fun. As I have gotten older, I chose things I actually "love" and try to say no to things that don't feed me in some way. You get so much more out of volunteering if you have a passion for what you are doing! If you hate the outdoors, don't volunteer to go on a "no waste left behind" backpacking trip. If you like adults, don't volunteer to take 3 year olds to a park. Back when I was a mom in my 20's and 30's I felt it was my "responsibility" to go on every field trip and sign up as room mom every year (which I did for my oldest). Now, I think more about what I am volunteering for…not just jumping into every little activity like a mom on a hamster wheel. It's ok to say no! (But that is a whole different blog!)…

DO you have some time on your hands this fall? Dive in to something you have a passion for…It doesn't have to be EVERY week…it can be for an annual event, or a short term need. GO FOR IT!

You is kind…you is smart…you is impoe-tant!

Now I want to borrow a 3 year old baby girl…

Dave is panicked!

The end!

It’s America…what happened to freedom

It was a sad day for Douglas County Colorado yesterday. A judge ruled that the school voucher program was a violation of church and state and therefore placed a permanent injunction on the Choice Scholarship program.

Many of you know that before I was a "Mom" I was a high school teacher in the state of Washington. I am an advocate for public education in that I taught in public schools, went to public schools, and my children both attended public schools. However, as you grow in your involvement, participate with your children, and understand the politics of the teacher unions, it becomes clear that there is indeed a dark underside to some public education.

I remember when I was only 22 teaching in a high school in a suburb of Seattle, I attended a couple of classes at the university to maintain my certificate. One of my fellow teachers would walk in the room, check his attendance, ask me to take notes, and go home for the night. You see, at that time, you needed a few credits to maintain your credentials every year. It was mostly a game to the teachers, not an actual addition to their knowledge on a particular subject. It shocked me, saddened me, and tainted my view on some teachers and teaching in general.

My kids are close to being done with school (K-12) so the recent decision in DC does not necessarily affect me. I think about my nephews and other local kids who may have had the chance to choose their education and have full access to any school they wish to attend. YES, many private schools are religious. I am a Christian, but honestly would be thrilled if my Jewish friend's kids could attend the Jewish school, or my friend with a high school child with special needs could attend a school to meet those needs without the threat of financial disaster. Isn't having "no religion" a religion in itself? Watch yourself…and keep in touch with your kids…ask LOTS of questions. There will be times when you will be amazed at what they are being taught as truth…especially in high school.

Is this what our founding fathers had in mind? Must my high school boy attend the local high school in a "good school district" where 70 kids in last year's class did not graduate? Our country has laws about the separation of church and state so that we could choose our religion and my kids could do the same, NOT so the government could choose NO religion.

Don't we ALL want what is best for the kids? Maybe the local high school works for you and that is a GREAT thing. Maybe I want to go down the road to a private school…and that should be my decision.

The fight will go on in the courts…I am hopeful our freedoms will extend to the education system someday…maybe sooner than you think...God willing…

Hey, I brought you a major prize!

OK…I am very happily married but we all must admit- sometimes there is a pendulum swing in our relationships where we feel a little out of balance with each other. Recently, Dave had 18 holes of golf, man-movie night, and an entire day and night at the Mile Hi National drag races… all in a week. I think even HE was realizing that lately, it had been "all about him".

Remember those t-shirts they had when we were growing up? "My Mom and Dad went to California and all I got was this stupid t-shirt"? Well, Dave pulled one of these flashbacks to childhood after his "week of Dave". Saturday morning as we stood in the kitchen he announced "I got you a prize!"…Granted, a prize always sounds like you are a "winner" but NOT IN THIS CASE! I mean, what on earth would I want from the drag races? Apparently the "Fast Help for Fast Friends" cookbook was on my secret "want" list. Yes! Drag racing's favorite recipe book was my prize! It reminded me of the movie "A Christmas Story" when the Dad gets a "major award"! There I was in my pajamas wondering if it would be ok to laugh out loud! I secretly wondered what the potential lady in the "wife beater" t-shirt looked like who talked him into buying this gem!

All it took was a little light reading that night in bed to discover that the way this "prize" could be best used was by putting it to work! Let's see…how about we start our dinner party out with a little "spam salad" which includes macaroni, mayonnaise, and bite size spam chunks. I'm not sure if the next salad would be used as a dessert but it is a "molded" avocado salad with lime jello, mayo, cream cheese, avocados and celery…yummo! Are you getting the picture now? These things must be required to be made from ingredients found at the local 7-11! God bless the drag racing association for women!

I have officially decided to give Dave some credit and YES it does count!....Don't worry Dave…I have a GREAT "prize" for you from a recent HGTV episode: a can of paint and a brush! ENJOY!

There is something about getting older…..

I consider myself VERY blessed with girlfriends! I think one of the things that saved my life in high school were my 3 friends that I still have today. We have been spread all over the world (literally) since we married years ago. Today, I was visited by one of these girls and we had the day to play. The first thing I asked Annie about was her uncle who had recently lost his wife (Aunt Pat)…Now Uncle Nolan and Aunt Pat lived right behind Annie in Colorado Springs, so I feel like I grew up with them in a way. We used to see them when we were in the hot tub in the back yard, riding bikes in the front, and at all of the family activities. Uncle Nolan was recently put into a retirement home and off we went to see him. Granted, he was in Denver, but not in the part of town I am familiar with, so it took us awhile. Annie warned me that he may not recognize us, but with great courage (haha) I did not wait in the car with my Kindle (like a wimpy friend would do) but I marched in right behind her.

I really don't think it is until your mid forties that you realize…wow…my parents are getting older and that will be ME someday!! You never really appreciate how you treat your parents by calling (or not calling), visiting (or not visiting) until your kids are old enough to start you thinking about those things and asking the questions: DO I do enough for them? DO I send enough cards? DO I call?...With today's technology, it is not hard to pick up a phone. We ALL carry one. Now, I secretly wish my parents texted, but I get it! My kids will probably want to interact using the Xbox Kinect someday…WAIT…we already do that!

Onward and upward we went passing elderly ladies getting their nails polished from their wheelchairs and men sitting on the couch listening to classical music. They had trays of rice krispie treats, mostly untouched. We smiled and made our way to the room. "Come In!" we heard after we knocked. There was Uncle Nolan, happy to see us, calling us by name and sharply dressed. I could tell that his daughters were taking excellent care of their dad! He was so happy to see us, tell us about the food, wanting us to take the tour of his one bedroom place and show us his schedule. I imagined that he enjoyed our visit, but what he didn't know was that it meant more to the two of us than it did to him. We left him a bag of M&M's from the Walgreens and even offered to sign him up for the guitar concert later in the day.

We continued our day together complete with pedicures, a white wine lunch, and hours of talking and 2 trips for coffee. There was never any question, or any specific plans, we just drove and caught up and talked about life: past, present, and future. There is just something about growing older with good friends. You learn to appreciate the little things…knowing that someday you may be getting a visit from someone who loves you…from way back when.