Snow in October!

It is crazy, but true! It snowed in October! Yes, in some parts of the country this would not seem strange, but for my area of PA this is unusual. I can't remember the last time we had snow this early. I actually had to scrape my car off before leaving work today. Luckily, the roads were fine. I am just worried what this early snow may be predicting for this winter. With a 45-minute commute to work each way, I really hate when it snows.

-Denise

Switching to CFL's

So I am really tempted to switch to CFL light bulbs for two reasons. I have heard great things about how much energy you can save. Money savings is an automatic plus. I have also heard that they are better for the environment. I really have been trying to do my part to be better with recycling and buying more environmentally friendly products. So I am good with that too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/azadam/

I have two reasons I have not switched yet.

1) Is it really better for the environment if I throw away perfectly good regular bulbs that have not burned out yet? My husband also likes to stockpile light bulbs, so I have lots of spare ones as well.

2) My husband has a fear of the new light bulbs based on one article he read or a story he saw on the news that said there was a link between CFL bulbs and an increase in migraines. He gets bad ones already, so he really doesn't need an added trigger. So far I have one lamp that I put a CFL in to try it out. We have not noticed they trigger my husbands migraines, but the lamp is in a room we are not often in at night time.

Does anyone have any thoughts to share? Feedback?

-Denise

Linens 'N Things Closing

Linens 'N Things is going out of business. Check out their web page or your local store and you might get a good deal. Currently the sale is up to 30% off. I am guessing the deals will get even better in the next few weeks.

http://www.lnt.com/home/index.jsp

-Denise

The Project That Will Never End!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In June I decided that I was finally going to take down the ugly, 1970's, daisy wallpaper that covered every inch of our bedroom. I have been saying I would do this every year since the year we bought the house. That was five years ago this September.

Well, I did start it over the summer, but I didn't get very far before the school year started up again. I really wanted it all done before going back to work. It just didn't happen, so I am still pulling down wallpaper. I am so tired of this project. It will look great when it is done, but in the meantime it is a real thorn in my side. Ugh!

Did I forget to mention the electric blue carpet? Oh yeah, it has it, and it is really ugly. It also needs to be pulled up. Oh and did I forget to mention the nasty 1970's vanity that is on the far wall? Yes, that needs to be replaced too. There is a lot to do besides the wallpaper.

It will look awesome. It will look awesome. It will look awesome. Maybe if I keep repeating that enough times it will help the wallpaper come down easier and faster. Yeah, probably not, but I can keep dreaming and wishing. One day it will be done. I just hope it will be sooner than later.

-Denise

Cheerios-Books As Cereal Prizes

Maybe I have seen this before, but I really don't remember hearing about this or seeing this in stories before. I should say that I must have been oblivious because this is reportedly the 7th year for this! Cheerios is including books as cereal box prizes. These boxes should hit shelves sometime this month and may already be out there to purchase.

Books that are reportedly included as cereal box prizes this year are-
Duck for President, written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin
When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, written by Elise Broach and illustrated by David Small
Romeo and Lou Blast Off, written and illustrated by Derek Anderson
Monkey and Me, written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Diego's Wolf Pup Rescue, adapted by Christine Ricci and illustrated by Art Mawhinney

As a teacher, this promotion is exciting. I have so many students that really have no interest in reading. Giving kids books through this medium may just help a few kids. Yes, I know it is not going to solve any major issues for kids that are struggling with reading, but these books might reach some kids that can't afford lots of new books and may just interest some kids that don't see reading as their favorite activity. It can't hurt! And hey, a book is a better prize than most of the plastic junk or mail-in offers cereal brands often give out.

If you want to read more about this topic, check out this article.
http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2008-10/artikel-12007412.asp
There was also a blurb about the promotion in the September or October (sorry, I can't remember!) Parents magazine. This link will take you to Simon & Schuster's page for the program. The 2008 choices are not up yet, but hopefully they will be there soon. http://www.simonsays.com/content/index.cfm?pid=614966&tab=74

Have you seen these on the shelves yet?

-Denise

Fall Fun!

So we turned on the heat only to turn it back off one day later. I guess I should have sucked it up for one more day. We are having unseasonably warm weather for October. I am loving it! B. is too because he is back to playing outside several times a day. The cold weather is due back by the end of the week, but it was nice while it lasted.

This past weekend we visited a local pumpkin patch. It was a lot of fun. We went on a tractor ride to the field, walked through the patch to find a few nice pumpkins, and rode the tractor back to pay for our pumpkin. The place we went had some really neat blue and white pumpkins. I don't think I have ever seen a blue pumpkin before Saturday. It was really cool. We stuck to the regular orange ones though. B. keeps asking me to cook the pumpkin and to make pumpkin pie because pumpkins are yummy. I have no plans to do this anytime soon, so I guess he will have to wait until I have a little more free time or for Thanksgiving. I think he will be content with looking at and talking about our pumpkin for now.




If you are looking for a pumpkin patch, corn maze, or a hayride, check out this site. The web page is not the greatest as far as design and ease of use, but it does have good information.
http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/

-Denise

Two Updates

Well, I gave in and turned the heat on. It was 58 degrees in the house when I got home tonight. That was after the house had all day to warm up. I gave in also because I am tired of freezing when I get out of bed in the morning. B. also seems to be getting another cold, so I thought it was time to give in and keep the house at least at 65 degrees while we are here. Now I just need to get the heating system cleaned soon. I wanted to do it before turning the heater on, but that just didn't happen.

I also am giving up on www.libraryelf.com. I have been a member for approximately a month now and have never gotten an email from them. Luckily I stayed on top of my library books' due dates and got them back on time without the elf's help. I did discover that my county's library system now has an email service. I thought it only notified you when requested items were available, but I already got an email reminding me of due dates. I signed up less than one week ago! It is definitely worth checking with your local library to see if they have their own email notification system.

-Denise

Fall is here!

The weather really has changed, and it seems that fall is definitely here. We are in the in between time of no air conditioner and no heater as well. We open windows periodically, but it often gets too cold in the house with them open. I love this time of year. I was tempted to turn on the heat yesterday morning because it was quite chilly in the house when we got up, but I am hoping to hold out for a bit longer. It really isn't THAT cold yet! We can all put on some more layers and sit with a warm blanket when needed. We will need to run the heater regularly soon enough.

We have several fall activities planned already, and we hope to squeeze in a few more during the nice days before the really cool weather hits. We will be getting a pumpkin soon to decorate, and I would like to take B. to a pumpkin patch to pick one. We will see if that happens though or not. He got a little pumpkin today from a family member that grew them this year, and he carried it around with him all afternoon. It was really cute. We also have a few Halloween parties coming up between daycare and family. B. is going to be Thomas the Tank Engine this year. He loves his costume. We had to put it away though because he wanted to wear it all the time around the house.

Enjoy some fall fun while the weather is nice!

-Denise

Another Free Pampers Gifts to Grow Point

DONTFORGETGTG08

I found this code here www.northerncheapskate.com. I hope it helps!

-Denise

Cool Paperback Book Swap Site

I have heard of this site before, but I honestly never checked it out before. It sounds really interesting, and I think I am going to take the plunge and try it. http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

You sign up for this free site, post books you are done with, and select books you would like to read. There is no money exchanged over the web at all. The cash involved is simply paying the postage to send a book to another member. You basically get the money back when someone sends you a book. Sounds easy enough to me! There are quite a few reviews on the site as well that make it sound very worthwhile (especially now when money is tight for many people.) It has also been reviewed by many media outlets which makes me feel better about trying this out.

There are also sections of the site dedicated to swapping CDs and DVDs as well. If swapping books goes well, I may check out those options as well.

-Denise