Modern Mama Coupon Clipping

Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

My friends at P&G and Kroger challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and try something new. I HATE routine and am always up for a change - major or minor - so this was right up my alley. A few months back I wrote a post about making our money stretch (literally, every single dollar) so I could stay home with Miss Paige (read that post by clicking HERE). In the post I noted there was one major place I could cut back, and really SHOULD do more of, but I just hadn't yet... and that is clipping coupons (cue dramatic music). Something about sitting down with a stack of coupons and my handy dandy scissors made me cringe. Not because I think I'm above it or anything like that - but more so because I feel like it would take SO much time for very little ROI. But, in the name of trying something new, I decided to become a coupon clipper. Well - sort of. More of like a coupon PRINTER and electronic coupon DOWNLOADER : ) I started by searching for products that I use all the time and buy on every shopping trip - bread, spaghetti sauce, chicken, toilet paper - and seeing if the manufacturers offered any printable coupons on their websites. Lo and behold - they did! Maybe I'm the only fool who never did this before, but I was really impressed with all the coupons available. On some of the sites you have to sign up for email newsletters - which is kind of annoying - but with the newsletters I found you receive coupons for $1.00 off everyday products - which can make a big difference! Here is the P&G one which is pretty great: http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/index.jsp?utm_source=charmin

And then - during my searching - I came across something I consider utterly amazing... downloadable digital coupons! HELLLLLLLO?! Where have you been all my life?! I happen to do all my food shopping at Kroger, and if you go to Kroger.com and click on "In Store" and then "Coupons", you'll be amazed at this whole new world of savings that will open up right before your eyes. I know - I'm being a little dramatic. But for someone who's never done anything like this before, it really is pretty cool. In a nutshell, you register your Kroger swipey card thing (the one the cashier swipes anyway whenever you shop)... and then you click through all the coupons and click which ones you want downloaded RIGHT ONTO YOUR SWIPEY CARD. Genius! 

So here's to turning over a new leaf, saving money, and keeping Mama at home another few years : ) Thanks Kroger and P&G for the inspiration... I owe ya one! 

10 Things Never to Say to a Mama

I found these hilarious lists on Redbook.com and I just had to share... Happy Friday!

10 Things Never to Say to a Stay-at-Home Mom

1. When the kids are older, do you think you'll get a real job?

2. How June Cleaver of you!

3. Oh, so you don't work?

4. Since you have extra time on your hands, could you whip up a few dozen brownies for the bake sale tomorrow?

5. All day with your kids? I can't even imagine.

6. I'm jealous. I wish my husband were rich so I wouldn't have to work either.

7. What do you do all day, anyway?

8. I'm sure you're not the only one who's ever wasted money on a college degree.

9. That explains why your son is so clingy!

10. Weird. I assumed your house would be superclean.

—Candy Kirby of thelaughingstork.com, with help from her Twitter followers and friends


10 Things Never to Say to a Working Mom
1. It must be hard missing all those special moments every day.

2. I suppose it's smart that you're working. You know, in case your husband leaves you some day.

3. I'm surprised you went back to work. Your husband seems so successful.

4. It's cute when they call your nanny "Mama."

5. I just love my kids too much to leave them during the day.

6. Did you see Dateline? The one with the hidden camera in the day care?

7. I could never let someone else raise my children. But that's just me!

8. I hated my mom because she was never home after school like everyone else's mom.

9. You must feel so guilty.

10. I wish I were as laid-back as you and could just let the housework go.

—Liz Gumbinner of Mom-101.com, with help from her blog readers

Keep It Movin'

About 50 times every day, I say to Miss Paige, "Keep it movin'. Just keep it movin'." She knows this means that it's time for her to move onto the next thing because she's about to get in trouble for what she is doing at the moment. Eventually she figures out she needs to "keep it movin'" past certain obstacles - like Lenni's dog bowls, potted plants, the TV. Unless she wants to get in trouble, she needs to keep on her way towards more appropriate toys and activities that will result in positive outcomes.

I've realized that over the past few years since becoming mama (with baby in belly, and then in arms), this has become my personal mantra - "Keep it movin'. Just keep it movin'." I don't have the time or patience for negativity, stupidity, drama, etc. Gone are the days of worrying if someone is mad at me, judging me, let down by the things I have or haven't done. I'm no longer concerned with people who want to stand still in their confines of anger, resentment, judgment, fear... I just keep it movin' right past them. I used to be overly concerned about pleasing people and meeting up to their expectations of me. Now? I still strive to do my personal best and live up to my potential as a Child of God. But I don't do it to please other people. I do it to please myself, God and for the benefit of my family and friends. I live the best life I can, making sure not to take a single minute for granted. Negativity and the like can only slow me down... and I've got too many good things going on to get tied down in that nonsense. Interested is being a part of the positivity? Join in! Not interested in change and letting go of the nonsense of life? Sorry, but I'm just gonna "keep it movin'" right by ya.