Halloween

It's October 31, the house is quiet, and I can finally drink in the conclusion of Halloween. To me, it's almost as sad as saying good-bye to Christmas. What's not to love about Halloween?! You get to don a costume, slither your fingers in pumpkin goop, and gather as much candy as you can!

And Halloween isn't just about the evening of Oct. 31. That's just the finale of a host of activities leading up to it. My husband doesn't understand all the hoopla but I''m hoping we're creating wonderful memories and traditions for our children. There's the visit to the Fruit & Berry Patch in Halls. You get to ride a tractor, feed sheep and goats, pick out a pumpkin, run through the corn maze, drink apple cider, and get a coloring book.

Then there are the parties: this year we made it to six events! We celebrated with our playgroup, MOMS Club, the neighborhood, our church, their school, and Earthfare. (I'll write more about Earthfare in a future post).

All these festivities may seem like a lot, but they were our way of connecting and celebrating with the people who make up our community. And when your family lives hundreds of miles away, community is so important. Enjoy a few snapshots from our Halloween fun.

All Star

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He’s the last batter of the final inning in the last game of the Karns little league T-ball season. The bases are loaded, and my 6-year-old son Bobby steps up to the plate. This is his moment—his chance to be the hero.

Bobby eyes the ball, winds up, and does a complete 360--clearly missing the ball. He regains his concentration, fixes his stance, and whacks the T--again missing the ball. Undeterred he gets back in position, takes a deep breath, and…smacks the ball past the pitcher, past the second baseman, and into the outfield where not a single player is ready to retrieve it. Bobby sprints to first, doesn’t stop at second, rounds third at full speed, and slides triumphantly into home on his belly. He hardly notices that the other team is in the dugout by now. The only cheers are the ones from his parents, but his smile proves that’s enough.

This was Bobby’s first year for organized sports: soccer in the spring, baseball in the fall. We were surprised that he was already “behind” many of the other players who began as young as four. We wanted him to start in the non-competitive league where there are no outs, every player rounds the bases, and everyone gets a trophy. Bobby didn’t seem to mind that he was literally head and shoulders above some of his teammates. Skillfully he blended right in. I was thrilled to see that Bobby was given the #7 jersey (my number from softball). Bob got nostalgic as well, pulling out his first baseball hat from second grade.

Not wanting to be over-scheduling parents, we’re choosy about our children’s extra activities. But we didn’t hesitate to sign him up for little league baseball. Sports teach so many valuable skills: coordination, teamwork, taking turns, paying attention, and one day, learning how to be a gracious loser. And there’s something magical about this All American sport; it’s practically a childhood rite of passage.

There were times when I dreaded the mad dash of getting the boys fed, the baby nursed, the dog her dinner, and Bobby dressed in time to be on the field by 5:45pm. More often than not Devin’s face was smeared with dinner remnants and Brooke needed a diaper change just as the game started. It was a good day if I remembered toys and extra layers for the younger two. The crowd consisted of four dozen faithful family members who generally remained quiet. But we all secretly beamed with pride when our little one stood poised at home plate.

Today all the extra chaos sports add to a family’s life melts away because it’s the All Star game. The four teams of the league combine to battle it out as representatives of the American and National Leagues. It’s a beautiful, crisp sunny day when these pint size peanuts have the privilege of ascending the hill to the big ball field. Their faces are giddy with anticipation.

Adding authenticity to the spectacle is the announcer who calls their names over the loud speaker. One by one, each player tips his hat and bows. When it’s Bobby’s turn, he bows with the flair of an Elizabethan prince. He knows this is a big deal since I’m shooting video with my professional camera. This is an occasion to be recorded for posterity.

The game only has two innings—perfect for their short attention spans. The players show off their improved skills. A few times they even come close to making a real out. Bobby proves he’s no baseball prodigy and I doubt scouts, scholarships, or the major league are in his future. And no, he couldn’t really claim to be the hero in today’s game, but that wasn’t the point. Today was about making every kid feel like a hero—to let the youngest players of the game taste glory. Thank you to everyone who helped our happy, normal, well-adjusted son feel like an All Star. This is the good stuff of life.

Green Products that save you Green

Yes, it's frugal Margaret again just back from Kroger. This week I saved $75.29 but I won't bore you with the details other than you should check out products that are buy 10, save $5. That makes Uncle Bens rice boxes more than half off. I was also able to get 2 bottles of Flinstone vitamins for much less (regularly $14.78, on sale for $4.50 each, take $.50 each off for the promotion, use $3 printable coupon; my total: $5).

I do want to point out one good deal that's good for the environment and for your pocket book: Windex Nature's Source glass cleaner. According to their label, it's 99.9% natural, uses plant-based, biodegradable cleaners, contains no ammonia, bleach, phosphorus, or dyes, and was not tested on animals.

Now at Kroger, if you buy two, you get $1 off your next shopping trip. You can also use the $1 coupons attached to the bottles. If you buy one more or have other SC Johnson products to buy (see list & get rebate form here), you can send in your receipt for a $5 rebate. That brings the cost of buying three glass cleaners from $11.37 down to just $2.37. Go green, save green.

Why a Bad Economy is Good for the Planet

I learned an incredible and embarrassing fact recently: the average home in Tennessee consumes more energy than typical homes in any other state. And since most of our energy comes from coal burning plants, we are burning our natural resources faster than anyone else in the country. How sad! We can do better, we must do better, and I think the best people to change that statistic are moms.

Think about the unique opportunity mothers have: we are largely responsible for the items we buy, the energy we consume, and the influence on our children to make good choices. And a bad economy is really the best time to change our energy habits because we all could use more money in our pockets. Often the best ecological and economical choices are the same.

I challenge you—no, I dare you—to try some of the steps I’ve taken to lower our energy consumption—TODAY. Start with the biggest energy hogs in the home--appliances that add or take away heat: furnaces, air conditioners, hot water heaters, fridges & freezers, ovens & stoves, dishwashers, and washers & dryers.

1. Stay cool without or at least less AC. I know it sounds crazy (Southern summers can be sweltering), but it’s possible. Most summer nights, we open the windows and let nature and fans cool our home and then close them by 9am. You’d be surprised how long you can go without turning on the AC—sometimes all day. If you have a basement, it’s likely cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than the rest of your house. We spend lots of time in our basement playroom and rarely have to heat or cool it. We also save by staying out of the bedrooms on the top floor for most of the day. A programmable thermostat makes modifying the temperature a no-brainer, and it’s easy to over-ride when desired. And if none of these work for you, at least turn your thermostat up 1 or 2 degrees. According to KUB, you save 1% on your cooling bill for each degree you raise your thermostat; they recommend a setting of 78 in the summer.
2. Buy Energy Star appliances. If you have a fridge in your garage from the 70’s, get rid of it because it likely costs you more money to run than you think. We recently emptied our garage fridge and we’re doing fine without it. Thankfully the Energy Star ratings have taken the guesswork out of buying the best appliances for the environment by rating each appliance for electricity and water consumption (if applicable). I’d rather spend twice as much for an appliance that should last twice as long and uses half the energy; it’s better on your pocketbook and on landfills.
3. Use your microwave instead of the oven when possible. I learned from an energy expert that it costs about 2 cents to cook a potato in a microwave but about 2 dollars in an oven. You can always start something in the microwave and crisp it up in the toaster oven; that’s what I do with chicken nuggets. I steam broccoli or peas in the microwave in about a minute. This from the FDA: “Microwave cooking can be more energy efficient than conventional cooking because foods cook faster and the energy heats only the food, not the whole oven compartment. Microwave cooking does not reduce the nutritional value of foods any more than conventional cooking. In fact, foods cooked in a microwave oven may keep more of their vitamins and minerals, because microwave ovens can cook more quickly and without adding water.”
4. Select the no-heat dry option on your dishwasher: If your dishwasher has the option, select to dry your dishes without heat. I run the dishwasher at night and unload anything still wet onto a drying rack in the morning. By lunch, everything has dried naturally. KUB says air-drying saves 30% of a dishwasher’s energy use.
5. Cut down on laundry. If you dread doing laundry like I do, then this one saves you time, money, water, energy, and hassle. Only run the washing machine when you have a full load. You can really pack front loader washers and dryers these days (leaving some room for tumbling of course). Shorter cycles with warm or cold water rather than hot save energy too. You have my permission to skip ironing and lose the wrinkles with a few minutes in the dryer instead. I draw the line at hanging clothes on a clothesline, but if your neighbors don’t mind, go for it.
6. Turn it off and Change those bulbs. Be mindful of lights and electronics left on around the house. I’ve commissioned the boys to become “Light Police” so that they can have just as much fun turning off the lights as turning them on. We’ve replaced at least half our lights with compact fluorescents (a move I initially resisted because I was picturing stark bright lights from elementary school), but the “soft light” bulbs look great. Each one can save $40 or more in electricity costs over its lifetime. They use less energy, produce the same light, and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. If every American home replaced just one bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year!
7. Unplug: Walk around your house to find anything that’s plugged in that really doesn’t need to be; they’re called phantom loads and draw energy 24/7. We’re guilty of plugging in cell phone chargers, battery chargers, baby monitors, and alarm clocks in rooms we rarely use. I’m making more of an effort to plug them in only when I need them and to shut down the computer at night. We’re looking into installing a GreenSwitch Master Switch, one electrical switch that shuts down whatever you choose when you leave the house.

Remember: every time you save energy, you save money. So whether you’re doing it for the environment or for your bottom line, now is your chance to do something positive for your family. Your small actions here and there may not seem like much, but if every mom in America made an effort to reduce her energy consumption, imagine the impact we could have! And when you not only teach but show your children that we all take responsibility for changing the world, then you truly earn the title of Super Mom!

Cloth Diapers

A few weeks ago, I was very excited about saving $26 on four packs of diapers. But here's the big money saver of diapers (so new moms especially, listen up!): I primarily use cloth diapers. Yep, I'm one of those crazy types who love saving money and the environment so much that I'm a card carrying cloth diaper momma. Ok, we don't really carry cards, but if we did, I'd pass them out with pride. And I'm here to tell you: it's not that big a deal, it is worth it, and if you're at all intrigued, you should give it a try.

My cloth diaper adventure began when we lived in California (ok, get it over with--figures!). What was great about the San Francisco Bay Area is that they have a diaper service. You don't have do a thing but put a sack of dirty diapers once a week on your front porch and the diaper man magically brings you clean ones at 3am. Very little effort, no more exposure to "the yucky stuff" than regular diapers, and the cost was about the same as buying disposables. If you live in the area, check out Tiny Tots.

When we moved to Knoxville, TN, there was no such diaper service and I had to decide if I was going to carry on. We bought a great new front loader washer with a sanitary cycle and I invested in my favorite styles of diapers, FuzziBunz. Then I hit what I thought would be our quick potty training period. I decided to use disposables instead and a year later, I regretted my decision.

Then my second child came along and I was ready to cloth diaper again. He, however, threw me for a loop at 5 weeks and stopped nursing. Since I was determined to breastfeed (it doesn't surprise you, does it?), I pumped every ounce of milk for him til he was nearly a year. That was such a draining part of my life that I didn't have the energy to do cloth diapers too. So, I went back to disposables. Thankfully, he potty trained shortly after turning two.

Finally, our baby girl joined us in February '09, nursed like a champ, and gave me no reason not to return to my roots of cloth diapering. I invested in a few more diapers and I've been a faithful environmentalist so far. With a few exceptions: I use disposables at night, on trips, at the pediatrician, and under certain outfits. Designers do not have the bulkier diapers in mind when creating some of those ensembles! I've also just bought some larger diapers to try with the boys at night; we'll see. I do laundry about twice a week; if you want more details of "my system," email me.

If you're looking to get started, there are loads of resources online. One of my favorite suppliers, Zannadu, is unfortunately closing her doors at the end of the year. This could be a good time to pick up some great deals! If you live in the Knoxville area, I recommend checking out Cutie Tooties. I hear you can buy a trial pack of a variety of styles to see what works for you and you can meet with her in person to learn everything you need to know.

If you're still reading, you might actually give this a shot! Need more motivation? How about that it takes 20 trees to diaper one baby in disposables for 2 years. Or that single-use diapers represent the third largest consumer item in the waste stream. Or here's my favorite: each diaper needs 500 years to decompose! What do they put in those things?!

I admit I'm not a purist when it comes to cloth diapers, but every bit helps. Weigh in your opinion in the comment section below.

More coupon lessons learned

Today I made my weekly trek to Kroger and Walgreens in search of great deals. Since I only have an hour to shop for groceries with two kids in tow, I've learned a few tricks to be as efficient as possible.

Last night I wrote down my grocery list in order of the aisles I shop. I also flipped through the flyer online to see what extra items were worth adding. I then went through my coupons and pulled the ones I thought I would use and put those in a separate envelope (I brought all the coupons just in case).

My total Kroger savings this week was $42.96 and I spent under a hundred bucks. The best deal was on Fiber One bars and Nature Valley granola bars. Four boxes are usually $12. Each was on sale for $.50 off, there was an additional buy 4, get $4 off, I had two Shortcuts coupons for $.40 each, and I had 4 manufacturers coupons for $.40 each (which Kroger doubles). In the end, I got 4 boxes for just $2--that's right $2!! The Fiber One bars came out to $.10 each (normally $.60 at Kroger and $.36 at Sam's Club). I was practically giddy with excitement.

Then at Walgreens, I went in for the deal on Triaminic cold medicines. It's good to stock up before you need it. What normally sells for about $20 I got for free, but I learned an important coupon lesson. Thanks to Coupon Katie's guidance, I saw the big savings here. This week, Triaminic is on sale for $5 each (normally $6.50). If you buy 3, you get $8 RR, I gathered three Walgreens Health coupons for $2/1, and I printed two manufacturers coupons for $1.50/1 online (two was the limit).

In theory, this should have been a money maker, but I forgot one important Walgreens rule: the coupon to item ratio. In short, you can use a Walgreens coupon AND a manufacturer's coupon on one item but you can't use more coupons than items you purchase. The solution is to buy a few small items to fill out your cart. Since I was trying to use 5 coupons on 3 items, I needed to buy 2 more items. This should have been solved by the two extra candy bars I grabbed next to the register, but the cashier only rang up one and set the extra coupon aside (probably tired of dealing with coupon fanatics like me). I didn't realize this til I got home. Oh well.

With my $8 register rewards and a $5 coupon in the flyer, I was able to get a cool spider cape for Halloween (regularly $15, my total: $2.91). So that made me happy.

My question for all of you savvy savers out there: how do you typically handle the coupon to item ratio? What items do you buy to level the score? If you have better suggestions than candy bars, my hips will thank you. Let me know in the comment section and happy savings.

Eco Crafts

As I've noted before in my treasure hunt party craft, I believe in crafts that stress the importance of reusing and then recycling materials. Some of my favorite supplies are paper towel / toilet paper rolls, plastic bottles, egg cartons, and cardboard boxes. Out of these I've made binoculars, swords, discovery bottles, and a rocket ship with a full control panel.

Today we decided to decorate for Halloween by making spiders / one-eyed-monsters made of egg cartons, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. It's not the most original idea, but it was quick, easy, and cost nothing extra I didn't already have in art supplies. Check out our video for more details.

I was feeling so inspired on the eco craft front that I made bird feeders with the boys as well. You can find all kinds of ideas here. In the past we've just covered pinecones in peanut butter and bird seed, but today we tried something different.

I had two thicker, more durable dowels from aluminum foil packages; in theory, they should last longer in the rain. I also chose to use up some Soy Butter that did not go over well in our family. (I was looking for a peanut-free alternative for school but this was aweful. I do recommend the fresh almond butter at Ingles).

For ease of clean-up, I recommend using wax paper and plastic knives. Tips: The seed will roll on more easily if there isn't much sticky material on the paper. You can also use honey or peanut butter but you should probably stick to something you don't mind the kids tasting.

Since I had bird seed from years past and some twine in the garage, this project also cost us $0. Check out all the fun in our video.