Post Valentine's Day Shopping Spree!

Post Valentine's Day Shopping Spree!

I read and follow many coupon and savings blogs to make sure I am not missing out on any great deals.  I love shopping and love getting great deals even more.  I do not usually post about my shopping deals or savings but my trip this week for post Valentine's Day deals was not to be missed.  

Last Saturday, one of the blogs that I follow (I wish I could remember which one) posted about how Target and Walmart were clearing out their Valentine's Day stock for 75% off.  I waited until Monday to do my shopping (hubby is not that into stocking up) and Wiggle and I headed out early.

I started at Target and loaded up on a ton of Valentine's day cards and candy.  I can not count the number of times we (my daughter and I) walked away saying we had enough only to turn around before getting to the check out to get more.   I checked prices on a nearby price scanner just to make sure items were worth the cost.  What I found was astonishing, the bagged candy was coming up at 75% off but the cards, cards with candy and the decorations were coming up 85-90% off!  We left with 4 bags full of stuff. 

Our next stop was Walmart.  While their left over stock was marked 75% off, the starting prices were slightly higher and it was not like Target where the prices were coming up 85-90% off.  One example was a Pixy Stix candy and card kit, 75% off at Walmart brought them to $0.84 (good deal) but the same box at Target was only $0.32! I did pick up a valentine's table cloth and a box of Mickey Mouse cards because my daughter could not live without the cute box that had lights on it. 

While driving towards home, my daughter and I (OK, more me that her but don't tell my husband) decided we had to go back to Target to get more.  I can't help it, the deals were too good to pass up.  We loaded up the cart with almost as much stuff as the first trip and walked out with another 3 bags of stuff and a pile of gift bags.

At the end of the trip, my daughter was exhausted and I was on cloud nine from all the great deals.  We ended up with $248.38 worth of Valentine's Day cards, candy and decorations for only $28.89 (saved $219.49 or 88.4%).

My husband was not nearly as excited as I was (until he saw that I got bags of nerds for only $1.12) with the amount of stuff that I purchased.  His comment was, what are you going to do with it all.  I explained that the stash of cards will be used by our daughter and the candy I will eat!

I admit while laying it all out to take the above picture, it might have crossed my mind that I bought too much stuff but come on, can you really get too many Valentine's day cards?  She can use them for many years to come (I made sure to get cards that are not year/movie specific).

A few of my favorite post Valentine's day shopping deals were the gift bags (large ones for only $0.29 and medium for $0.19), the card/candy kits ($0.32) and the Starwars silly bands (30 bands individually packaged for only $0.99).  All the cheap candy is pretty high on the list also!

Man I love getting great deals!!!!

 

Ghost Nest Custom Drawer Knobs Review and Giveaway

Ghost Nest Custom Drawer Knobs 

Review and Giveaway

About Ghost Nest

Ghost Nest opened their custom drawer knob business just over one year ago, February 16, 2010, after building the business for three years . Their goal is to put the power of design in your hands.  Ghost Nest offers three different styles of knobs that can be used for cabinets, dressers, drawers, desks, coat hangers, and much more. 

Custom Knob Creator

Ghost Nest has made creating your very own custom drawer knob simple and easy.  To create your own custom knob,visit the Dreamerator knob creator.  Start by selecting your knob style, upload your photo, add text if desired, add background color, and click Buy this Item.  It is that simple!

Over Thirty Mommy's Custom Drawer Knob Review

Ghost Nest sent me six of the Sky Hudson style drawer knobs with my favorite picture of my daughter and myself.  I was absolutely thrilled with how cute they turned out (I did not use the Dreamerator to create them so I was not sure what they would look like).  They are so adorable, I almost swiped them and put them on my own dresser but I stayed with my original plan and put them in my daughter's room to help spruce up and customize her old (it was my husbands when he was growing up, so it is OLD) dresser.

The beautiful Ghost Nest custom knobs did not magically make the dresser "younger" but it did give it an extra special touch and I love it.  

Where To Find Ghost Nest Drawer Knobs

Ghost Nest Knobs can be purchased directly from their website as well as in a couple brick and mortar stores.   RAG (Resident Artists Gallery), in San Francisco California, was the first store to carry Ghost Nest knobs followed by Urban Bazaar, also of San Francisco.  

What's Next For Ghost Nest

Ghost Nest recently partnered with a local San Francisco designer, Matthieu Brajot.  Matthieu just released a poster  – the zombie alphabet.  Ghost Nest will soon be releasing a series of zombie knobs to go along with the poster.

Ghost Nest Custom Drawer Knob Giveaway

WIN IT! 
One Over Thirty Mommy Readers will  be randomly chosen to receive a $25 credit to the Ghost Nest Store to create their own custom drawer knobs.

 

How to Enter: Mandatory

To enter the giveaway please leave me a comment telling me which style of knob you would select.

Extra Entries:
You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

• Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar) (1 entry)
• Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email. (1 entry each)
• Follow Over Thirty Mommy on twitter and tweet about this review/giveaway. (1 entry daily)
• Like Over Thirty Mommy on Facebook (1 entry)
• Submit a sample knob to the gallery (5 entries) (done through Dreamerator, let me know name)
  
• Blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy and Ghost Nest (leave a link to your post in comment) (5 entries!!!) 
• Grab my Blog Button (2 entries)

 Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Good luck!

 
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents 18+ only. Please have a valid email address in your comment or on your blogger profile.  

Giveaway ends midnight PST on March 11th

**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.   I received Ghost Nest Custom Knobs for the purpose of this review .  This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the.**   

Buy Group Coupons - Sponsored Post

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Recall Alert: IKEA Recalls Cribs Due to Mattress Support Collapse

IKEA Recalls to Repair Cribs Due to Mattress Support Collapse; Cribs Pose Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: SNIGLAR cribs

Units: About 20,000 in the United States and 6,000 in Canada

Distributor: IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pa.

Hazard: The four bolts provided with some SNIGLAR cribs to secure the mattress support are not long enough. This can cause the mattress support to detach and collapse, creating a risk of entrapment and suffocation to a child in the crib.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves SNIGLAR non-drop-side, full-size cribs with model number 60091931. SNIGLAR, IKEA and the model number are printed on a label attached to the mattress support. The crib frame and mattress support are made of natural/light-colored wood.

Sold exclusively at: IKEA stores nationwide from October 2005 through June 2010 for about $80.

Manufactured in: Romania

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the crib immediately and check the crib. If the mattress support bolts extend through the nut, the bolts are the proper length and the crib is not included in the recall. If the bolt does not extend through the nut, the crib is included in the recall. Contact IKEA for a free repair kit for recalled cribs. In the meantime, find an alternate, safe sleep environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the child's age.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.ikea-usa.com

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1266

The IRS is Finally Recognizing the Benefits of Breastfeeding

Last October the IRS ruled that nursing mothers will not be allowed to use their tax-sheltered health care accounts (FSA or Cafeteria 125 plans) to pay for breast pumps and other supplies.  The Internal Revenue Service came to this decision because they determined that breast-feeding does not have enough health benefits to qualify as a form of medical care.

Despite numerous studies, including one recent study that found it could prevent the premature death of 900 babies a year, showing that the antibodies found in beast milk could reduce disease among infants.  Another  large study, done by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, showed that children who are breastfed have a 20 percent lower risk of dying between the ages of 28 days and 1 year than children who weren't breastfed.

Apparently lowering the risk of SIDS and reducing diseases in infants is not "a form of medical care" but denture cream and acne cream is. 

The IRS has denied a request from the American Academy of Pediatrics to reclassify breast-feeding costs as  "medical care expenses" instead  it remained classified as “nutritional”.  The IRS stated that breastfeeding does “not have enough health benefits to qualify as a form of medical care” therefore breastfeeding expenses are not covered.

Following the October determination, to continue to exclude breastfeeding supplies, 13 members of the United States Senate and 34 members of Congress signed letters (one from each the Senate and Congress) addressed to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Douglas Shulman, urging him to change the ruling.

I am please to announce that last week the IRS reversed their ruling.  This means that now Breast pumps and other lactation supplies are now tax deductible as medical expenses.

What does this mean for nursing mothers?  It means that families can use pre-tax funds from their flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts for these supplies.  If you do not have a FSA or HSA plan, you can deduct breast-feeding costs if your total unreimbursed medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income and you itemize.

Finally a big step towards supporting breastfeeding.

Make a Local Movie Premiere Special

Make a Local Movie Premiere Special

 by Janice Hill 

A dedicated mom who is determined to find her way without losing her hair :)

This is something your kids will love! There are 2 main ways to dress up a local movie premiere, “dress” being the key word. This is a great time to allow your kids to dress up for the red carpet or as a movie character. They should take advantage of this while they can. Why? Because, usually if a full grown adult shows up to a movie theater in full costume, they are bound to get a few glares, but when you are there chaperoning a group of kids in costume, then it becomes acceptable. Oh the ways of our society J

The blockbuster movies coming out this year can easily be turned into a special event. Harry Potter wraps up with the Deathly Hallows Part II, there are new X-men and Transformers films, plus The Smurfs. These movies and many others will provide the perfect opportunity to make opening night an unforgettable night. What can you do for a special local premiere?

Dress Up as a Movie Star

Pretend you are movie stars; put on your Sunday best and hit the town. Get someone to be the pretend chauffeur and tell your kids to imagine they are in a limo as you drive to a fancy restaurant and later get dropped off in front of the theater. You can walk the red carpet like George Clooney or Angelina Jolie. Let your kids get into character by having them pose for pictures as you pretend to be the paparazzi.

Dress Up as a Movie Character

Theme costumes are the perfect choice for a movie opening. If you have friends or fellow parents who are also fans of the new film get together and make it a large group event. You can decide who will take on the role of which character. For example, when Harry Potter, The Deathly Hallows Part II premieres, reserve seats in the cinemas for your special group by explaining what you plan on wearing and the theater will love to have you, since it helps promote the opening of the movie.

Pick a Harry Potter and someone to dress up as his best friend Ron Weasley. You definitely will need a Lord Voldemort, since this movie features the final battle between Harry and his arch rival. Imagine the fun you can have taking on all of the different roles. If you really want to add a little fun to the evening, find a local restaurant in a castle, or old school house where your costumed group can have dinner to stick with the Harry Potter theme.

Theme costumes will work out well for kids’ movies as well. When the Smurfs is released, make the premiere fun by dressing up a group of kids as the little blue characters. There are plenty of films with superheroes coming out this year as well and you could have the kids dress up as Iron Man, the X-men, or Green Hornet.

CONCLUSION

Just like they do in Hollywood, the point is to make opening night an event. Dress up and have fun with your kids at the local premiere of a film that you have been anticipating for a long time. What is wrong with taking a little break from reality once in a while? Stimulate your child’s imagination and get yourself to let loose. 

Read More by Janice Hill
3 Things to Teach Your Kids By Example

5 Big Adjustments You'll Make For Your First Child


**Disclaimer: this post was not written by Over Thirty Mommy, it was a guest post written by Janice Hill*** 

Winners and an Apology

Normally I do not make a special post for winners but for this one I needed to add in an apology.

I just realized that I forgot to draw the winners for the Purex Complete Crystals giveaway that ended last month, for that I am extremely SORRY.  I am usually more up to speed with drawing my winners and some
how this contest got lost in the shuffle of planning and recovering from my daughter's second birthday party.

So with out further delay here are the three winners:

#1:  Congratulations to: latishajean

#2: Congratulations to: esluka

#3. congratulations to s8r8l33