Sunday Sales (3/29)

I'm keeping it small this week and focusing on Easter baskets. Check out the links on my blog for some great sites that list even more deals. What I'm doing is listing the deals I am considering for myself. *Note - My grocery store ads run from Wednesday-Tuesday, so I will post my grocery lists on Wednesday.


CVS (You've got to have a CVS card to get the deals)
I'm only planning on going to the 2-day sale, which has some stuff for Easter baskets.

Paas Easter Egg coloring Kit (FREE) It's on sale for $1.99, earn $1.99 in ECB (limit 2.)

Easter M&M's, 9.9 or 14 oz bag ($1.00 each) It's on sale for $1.50 (limit 6.) use the $1.50/3 coupon from the 3-15 insert to make them $1.00 each.


Walgreens
Reynolds Foil (earn $0.11) There's an in-ad coupon to make the foil $0.89 Use the $1/1 coupon from the 2-8 insert to earn 11 cents! * Note, this will not work with coupons later than 2-8 because they exclude the 20 ft. roll.

Pepsi 12 pks (4/$9.00) They're on sale 4/$12.00 - earn $3 RR. If you like diet Pepsi, there are some printable coupons out there that make this an even better deal.

Chapstick 100% Naturals or True Shimmer Lip Balm or Butter, .15 oz (FREE) They're on sale for $1.99 - earn $1.99 RR.

M&Ms, 9 or 14 oz pkg (2/$4). They're on sale 2 for $5. Use the $1/2 Easy Saver Coupon to make them 2/$4. (No, it's not a great deal, but when you're using M&Ms for potty-training, you notice the okay deals, too.)

Pet bed ($7.99) I'm in the market for one, and though I can't tell much of anything from the ad, I'll be checking them out in-store.

Cap'n Crunch or Life Cereal, 15 or 16 oz box (2/$2) They're on sale 2 for $5 - earn $2 RR. Use the coupon from the 1-4 insert to make them 2 for $2.

Possibly FREE Mentos gum. Some stores have it on sale for $1.00. Use the $1/1 coupon from the 3/1 insert to make them FREE.

EASTER BASKET GOODIES

• Hot Wheels Cars, 2/$1.79
• Children's Sunglasses, 2/$10
• Hallmark Cards, $0.42 off each that's over $1.50 (limit 6)
• Mini puzzle or sticker book, 3/$1
• Butterfinger or Snickers eggs, $.39 each
• and more!

Entertainment While Sick

Six days ago, the boys started coming down with a cold. Just as they started feeling better, I got it! So we've been stuck at home trying to avoid boredom. Here are a few activities to make sick people (toddlers and mommy alike) smile.

Play doctor

• We used a Dixie cup to play, "Does your ___ hurt?" Placing the Dixie stethoscope on big brother's knee, I'd ask, "Does your knee hurt?" Move it to his shoulder. "Does your shoulder hurt?" He thought it was hillarious. I played this with little brother to reinforce the names of body parts. What was really funny was when I was sick a few days later and suddenly felt a toy cup on my head and heard big bro ask, "Does your hair hurt?"

Love on the doggies

• The boys usually don't do much loving on the doggies. They chase them, roll on them, and "brush" them, but just sitting and petting them... it doesn't happen. When the boys were cold and sick, they developed quite the symbiotic relationship. When sitting together on the couch, the boys could steal warmth from the dogs, and the dogs could steal the boys' snacks (not that the boys were very interested in snacks, being sick and all!) There's been a lot more hugging and loving going on since.
  

Rub 'em down

• Nothing puts a smile on a child's face like a good tickle. But when a child is sick, they don't want to roll on the floor and laugh until they cry, so a more subtle form of touch is useful. I pulled out the Vicks Baby Rub, and made a little game of rubbing it on their chests and feet. They liked the smooth touch, and the soothing smell (much nicer than regular Vicks!), but they especially liked the special attention they got as I massaged it into their skin. It tickled enough for a few giggles and smiles, but not enough to annoy them.

Blanket Buddies

• The boys love each other so much, but it seems that when one is in a hugging mood, the other is in a "don't touch me" mood. When they were both at the height of their cold, both were in a "don't touch me" mood, but they both had fevers, too. I put them on the couch side-by-side and covered them up with a big, fluffy blanket. They sat there cuddled together for at least 30 minutes, heads resting on each other.
  

Pull out the Essential Oils

• I keep a few EOs on hand for cleaning and to use in a diffuser. I pulled out the rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and orange, all good scents for sickness. Both boys enjoyed getting to smell them, and it certainly helped the overall mood of the room to have the diffuser going.

Pull out something new

• Pull out a new DVD, book, game, or toy. I always try to have a few things put back (items secretly removed from the overflowing Christmas or birthday present pile) for an "emergency." Another option would be to send someone (DH, a good friend) to the library to check out a book or DVD. My boys loved the Baby Einstein DVDs that they hadn't seen in forever!
  

Cool-mist Humidifier "sprinkler"

• Pull out the cool-mist humidifier, aim the mist out into the middle of the room, and watch them go! It was like a sprinkler or bubbles in the house. They were running through it, trying to catch it, and just having a blast. It was a positive side to while trying to help them breate better!

What other ideas do you have for making sickness less miserable?

Monday Meal Planning (3/23 - 3/29)

This week will be a bit different. The boys and I are leaving on Thursday to drive 8 hours to visit family in Georgia. We'll be there for a week, and my MIL has asked me to get her a shopping list of things she should have on hand for the boys (stuff that doesn't travel well). I also need to plan snacks for the trip itself before I head to the grocery store. So I'll be posting meals for Monday-Wednesday, travel snacks, and then my MIL's "shopping list" for our visit to GA.

Monday
Lunch: Mac-n-Cheese
Supper: Corn Dogs

Tuesday
Lunch: Crock pot pork tenderloin
Supper: Mexican Lasagna

Wednesday
Lunch: Grilled Cheese sandwich
Supper: Chicken nuggets

Thursday
Lunch: Chicken Quesadillas

Travel Snacks to Pack
5 bottles water
Kool-aid mix
Nutrigrain bars
Travel bowls
Trail mix (Chex, Cheerios, cranberries, raisins)
M&Ms

MIL's shopping list
Fresh fruit (bananas, grapes, or apples are their favorites)
100% Fruit juice (not apple or purple grape)
Half gallon whole milk
Gallon skim milk
Yogurt
Tortillas
Sliced cheese
Loaf of bread
Ball Park beef franks
Mac-n-cheese