I saw this story a few days ago and couldnt’ believe my eyes.  Now, I am all about good time management and multi tasking but I don’t think this mom was going about it in the right direction, no pun intended.

Genine Compton of Ohio was arrested at the beginning of the month for driving, breast feeding, and talking on the  phone.  Now, I am a proponent of all 3 but not at the same time.  There has to be another side of this story.  Anybody know it?  Because I am not getting it?!?!?!

At my mall, this weekend, the Disney Store was having a great sale on its pajamas.  I am so cheap, I left brand new Disney PJ’s for $5 and $6 only because I knew I could get PJ’s for less than $4 at my consignment sale or at the great yard sales coming up.

So was I cheap or frugal?  I want to hear from you.

I love Pottery Barn but will never pay full price for their stuff.  I think it is great quality but too expensive.  Maybe I’m just cheap.  But I was cruizin’ around and saw some great deals in their Clearance sale items.  You should check it out.  I love their Pink Patchwork Stars Nursery Bedding.  It’s so sweet!

Turkey Butt has been very sick with the stomach flu. Her doctor gave her a prescription for anti-nausea that has helped but we are still trying to get Gatorade and Pedialite down her. Her favorite drink is strawberry milk and I can’t let her have that on such a queezy stomach until she is better. Our doctor says if she isn’t better by tomorrow, then she iwll have to be hospitalized. Not exactly what I wanted to hear.

So here is what I am trying and I hope it will help you as well to be mindful of keeping fluids in your sick kids:
* Use Pedialite freezer pops. Turkey Butt thinks they are ice pops and I am hoping she will eat them.
* Find a favorite color. Of course, I let Turkey Butt pick out her Gatorade and she picked pink. I’m trying everything.
* My LEAST FAVE IDEA - I let her go to bed with a cup of ice water. I will take any fluid any time I can get it down her.
* Use fun straws and cups they aren’t normally allowed to drink out of.
* Take them shopping for a new cup or water bottle.
* If they like pop cycles, then freeze their favorite juice in ice trays, cover with saran wrap and stick a toothpick in it.
* Make a smoothie with ice instead of milk and add fruit to the juice. This is very healthy and full of water.
* Let her pick out a fun kind of drink package like the healthy juice boxes and bags. Not the best thing to do to your pocket book, but it is very fun for them.
* Save a fun bottle and mix tang. My aunt does this and we call it special juice. My daughter will drink it like it is going out of style because of the packaging. This works great in the summer time for Turkey Butt.
* If they aren’t stomach sick, just not drinking, offer strawberry or chocolate flavoring to their milk. At least it’s fluid down the tummy.

I hope these ideas help you keep your kids hydrated during the summer and when they are sick. I am trying just about all of them right now. Wish us luck! Will update you tomorrow wither from home or the hospital.

I love personalized burp clothes.  When I take my infants to church, I don’t have to worry about sharing snot rags and spit rags since they have their names on their burps.  So when I decide to buy personalized burps, I go to Bibs, Burps, and Beyond.  I do think $9 a burp is a little much but now they have a sale going that if you spend $25 or more, then you get a free burp or bib.  Also, if you spend $100 or more (way more than I could recommend) then you get free shipping.  I have always loved this site so I thought you would like the sale.

So I went to Sam’s Club today and tried to comparison shop.  I have always heard how much cheaper their diapers were so I made a list of my usual regular items and then went to Wal-Mart and figured out how much they were per unit.  I checked a few items I use regularly and usually cost me an arm and part of a leg.  I thought I would let you in on a little secret…

Huggies Diapers: Sam’s  $.2373/ diaper  Wal-Mart  $.2936

Clorox 2: Sam’s  $.1692/load  Wal-Mart  $.1970/load

Oxiclean: Sam’s  $1.162/lb  Wal-mart  $1.96/lb

Surf:  Sam’s $.087/load  Wal-Mart  $.0993/load

Downy:  Sam’s $.0726/load  Wal-mart  $.075

Gain:  Sam’s  $.1257/load  Wal-Mart  $.133/load

Dishwashing Gel:  Sam’s $.0387/oz  Wal-Mart  $.0384/oz

Wipes:  Sam’s  $.0292/wipe  Wal-Mart  $.0232/wipe

Turns out, Sam’s WAS cheaper.  Their organic milk, however, was $.30/half gallon more expensive.  So I will continue to buy my organic milk at Kroger for less than #3/half gallon.

Earlier this week, I told you of what my local consignment store said about the new CPSIA law enacted to keep our kids safe from lead.  Then I got another email.  So I thought I would let you know what they said.

Dear Valued Customer,

We received great news from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), clarifying the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act  that goes into effect on February 10, 2009.    From the statement -

“The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.”

“The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold.  However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content…  Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.”

We always have been and will continue to be committed to buying & selling product that meets the standards supplied to us by the CPSC.  To continue to ensure the safety of your children, we will not buy or sell items noted in the statement -

“recalled children’s products, children’s products that will contain lead such as children’s jewelry, painted wooden or metal toys, flimsily made toys that are easily breakable into small parts and dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened and could present a choking hazard for young children. ”

We are thrilled that we will be continuing to provide you with an outlet to buy quality, safe, gently used children’s merchandise.   We are also committed to providing to you an opportunity to get cash for children’s items you no longer need, and the ability to trade for items you do need.

We are committed to buying & selling product that meets these standards, and as we always have, we will continue to closely monitor CPSC recalls and advisories.

AS you all know, I love my resales shops.  Mom of 14 asked me if I thought the new CPSIA Act that was signed into law last year by President Bush that would require any toy sold to be tested for lead, among other things, would affect my resale shop.  Funny she should ask that as I just recently got an announcement from my local shop dealing with just that very thing.

Dear Valued Customer,

As you may have heard in the news or through online blogs, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) was signed into law in August 2008.  This act is referred to as the CPSIA.  To view the Act, click here. In summary, beginning February 10, 2009 all children’s products that are sold must not exceed a specified lead content.  What this potentially means is —- may not be able to buy and sell untested merchandise!

The law is very vague as to how OR if it applies to resale retailers like —-. We are working diligently with associations and legal council to ensure we can continue to provide a place for you to buy & sell gently used kids stuff. We know it is important for you to be able to recycle your gently used toys and clothing as well as to buy low-cost, high quality items that you can currently find at our store.

With Congress back in session this week, it provides us with an opportunity to communicate concerns about this law to the respective Senators and Representatives.  The timing is perfect for us to raise our voices!  If you want to alert your congressmen about your concerns click here, we have created a template that you may use if you so choose.  To find your respective elected officials, go to www.congress.org.  Under “My Elected Officials”, simply type in your zip code.

We will keep you posted as we learn more about the affect of CPSIA on our business. Thank you for your time,

I am looking at this 2 ways, I love buying and selling at my local resale shop, but I also want to know that they toys I buy are safe for my kids.  So I am happy that this will make sure my kids are safe.  I have been a little leary of buying ANYTHING these days and was happy to hear about the new law.  Life should be interesting soon.

Good news!  The Pampers Gifts to Grow program has been extended until March 1, 2010. 

The Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards Program rewards you every time you choose Pampers diapers, training pants and wipes for your growing baby.

Once you’ve become a member of Pampers.com, you can start collecting points. Just find the Gifts to Grow code inside each package and enter the code online at Pampers.com to accumulate points. Then redeem your points to choose items from the Gifts to Grow rewards catalog.  You can redeem your Gifts to Grow points for items such as Cheerios cereal, Dreft, gift cards, products from Shutterfly, and much more!

Pampers also has a gift for Thrifty Mommy readers.  Enter the code THRIFTYMOMMYGTG and you will be given 1 point, which is the equivalent of purchasing two packs of wipes.

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Also, in case you’re interested, you can donate to UNICEF’s tetanus effort.  Just five cents can help to save a child’s life from an excrutiating death.

Turkey Butt had her first night in big girl panties and not pull ups.  AND we didn’t have any accidents.  YEAH!!! That will save us tons of money.  I love this part of her growing up.