Brooke Blogs This

Call it being busy, call it the winter blues, I just haven't felt like blogging lately. But that doesn't mean I haven't thought about it, or you! I have a HUGE coupon project in the works, that will be much like my Coupon Mania post in early 2010, only MUCH MUCH bigger. =) With that being said, I've thought about moving my couponing/money saving posts to their own blog and just using this blog for personal posts. What do you think? Are you interested in just one or the other and rather have them seperated? Or is it easier to get all my info and thoughts in one place? Leave a Comment letting me know! As for an update on our lives: October We had Zachary for fall break and generally had a good time. Football season came to an end. Shiloh loved trick or treating this year, I still think we have halloween candy at the house! November We had friends over to celebrate my 29th birthday. I have decided I have to make the most of this last year before I enter my 30's....

Halloween is fast approaching, and it is stressing me out. For one thing, the town where I live has decided to do trick or treating the day before Halloween, but we don't normally trick or treat in our community. Does this mean I have to buy candy (which I haven't budgeted for) since we may actually be home on Halloween? Possibly MORE pressing is the fact that I haven't bought my daughters costume yet. Costumes are so expensive these days, for something a child only wears once (maybe, MAYBE, twice). Last year I bought her costume from CostumeSuperCenter.com and I was very pleased. I managed to find the costume at a reduced price, and was very pleased with their customer service and return policy, even though I did not need it. They have a clearance link on their website, with TONS of costumes at really low prices, including the exact costume my daughter wore for only $10! If you actually spend over $60 on their site, you can get free shipping through Sunday with cou...

Last night, I did our grocery shopping and spent just over $100 on two weeks worth of groceries!!! Yeah, I am a little proud. =) So to stroke my own ego, I am going to post my top 10 grocery buying tips. I really do hope you find some of them useful. 1. Try the store brand at least once, on everything. We have found that most store brand canned vegetables are great, except green beans. Store brand green beans suck. But, try the store brand atleast once, on every product that you buy. Most of the time we are pleasantly suprised (some are even better than the national brand!) 2. Pay attention to how much things cost, otherwise how will you know when it is *really* on sale. I have found more than one store that advertises some thing "on sale" and it really hasn't been marked down at all. 3. Pay attention to how much you actually use/need/eat. If our family will only eat half of a dish, then we have the leftovers for lunch the next day. If your family despises lefto...

It has been a while since my last frugal Friday. We survived summer and found out just how much carpooling could save us! We used the saved money to take the kids to the Knoxville Zoo, Space and Air Museum and The Adventure Science Center. We actually bought a family pass for $90 to the Adventure Science Center so we can take the kids back during the fall, winter and spring. They change exhibits often and truthfully, their “Adventure Tower” is better than any indoor play ground I’ve seen, so it is a good investment in our world. I have also jumped on the “a deal a day” bandwagon. Most people have head about Groupon , where every day they have a deal for a local business. It is usually about 50% off, for food, drinks or service. It seems that *most* of their deals seem to be for food/drinks and salon services, but earlier this year they did have a family membership to the Adventure Science Center for $45 (and yes, I missed it.) Today’s deal is 3 Laser Hair-Removal Treatments for $...

Last night I was reading an article in one of my parenting forums. The article itself was innocent enough, dispelling the myth that caffine stunts growth. The comments however, annoyed the crap out of me. “I don't see the point of giving child soda…..They are pretty horrible for you. So why give it to my daughter? There are plenty of other options out there than soda. Caffeine free or not, they don't need all that sugar. The sugar alternatives are just as bad. Their little bodies are developing so fast, why not give them beverages that encourage a healthy mind and body.” “What amazes me, in reading some of these community answers is how much artificial sugar parents are giving their children. Diet soda is no more healthy than regular soda, it doesn't contain sugar but it does contain chemically made ingredients such as aspartame or Nutra Sweet which the FDA says to consume in moderation because long term side effects need to be evaluated. Its unfortunate that even Pedia...

I am well aware that I now have not posted in over a month. I was going to write about the flood and post some pictures of all the water, but I just didn't feel like it. I was going to write about volunteering at a Red Cross shelter, and the amazing people who were living there, but I just didn't feel like it. I was going to gripe about our lawyer, but I just didn't feel like it. I was going to give you the low down on some awesome sales and money saving ideas, but I just didn't feel like it. I seem to go in spurts, I write, I don't, I write, I don't, I write, I don't. I am not going to appologize for it anymore. Until I get back to writing on a regular basis... We are all doing very well. Zachary is getting much better at fielding and his grades have been awesome. Shiloh sings constantly and usually two or three songs at once. Jeremy having weekends off has been awesome, I will be sad to see them go. I am still here, looking at piles of papers and finding r...

First of all, a BIG shout out to the hubby for THP Dispatcher of the year!!! And he is a celebrity now, check out the News Channel 2 Video He also was on channels 5 and 17! I am so proud of him!!!! Now that my shout out is out of the way, what about some retail therapy...on a budget ofcourse. Use the code N1G7ZDK2WQ2T at Old Navy and save 15% on any Adult purchases. Also if you spend over $75,which I WILL NOT BE, you get free shipping. Needing something for the kids? The Childrens Place has graphic T's for $5. Might as well stock up now, you know your kids will be wearing them, well forever. Happy Frugal Friday!