mismikado down the sidewalk

Preschool: Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 16:30:00 +0000

Materials

Grapes
Lock Board ($18)
Art Tray ($2 - Paper, stickers, stapler)
Bowl
Baster
Paper Towel Rolls
Ribbon
Crayons
Egg Carton
Wooden Hammer - $2
Golf Tees
Bible
Daily Text
Song Book
My Book of Bible Stories
Become Jehovah’s Friend Videos
Become Jehovah’s Friend Songs
Story time books of choice

Lesson Plan

Day 1
Daily Text

Practical Life - Picking Grapes off Vine

Story Time - Why Do Birds Sing?

Critical Thinking - Mastering Locks

Spiritual - Genesis 12-15; Become Jehovah's Friend #2

Arts & Crafts - Stickers & Paper

Day 2
Daily Text

Practical Life - Picking Grapes off Vine

Story Time - Public Library Toddler Story Time

Critical Thinking - Water Transfer with Baster

Spiritual - Genesis 16-18; My Book of Bible Stories 4-6

Arts & Crafts - Paper Roll Beads

Day 3
Daily Text

Practical Life - Picking Grapes off Vine

Story Time - My First Reader - Monsters

Critical Thinking - Hammering

Spiritual - Genesis 19-22; Song 106

Arts & Crafts - Paper & Stapler

Preschool: Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 02:21:00 +0000

Materials

Button Snake (Free to $3 - felt, ribbon, button, needle & thread)
Buckle Buddy ($20)
Dressing Frames ($10 - 3 embroidery hoops, clothes with snaps, buttons, zippers)
Paint (Free to $.50)
Ziploc bag (on hand)
Art Tray ($2 - Paper, stickers, crayons)
Bible
Daily Text
Song Book
My Book of Bible Stories
Become Jehovah’s Friend Videos
Become Jehovah’s Friend Songs
Story time books of choice

Lesson Plan

Day 1
Daily Text
Practical Life - Snaps Dressing Frame

Story Time - My Big Book of Trucks & Diggers

Critical Thinking - Mastering Buttons with Button Snake

Lunch - Pesto Grilled Cheese

Spiritual - Genesis 1-3; Become Jehovah's Friend #1

Arts & Crafts - Crayons & Paper Art Tray

Day 2
Daily Text
Practical Life - Buttons Dressing Frame
Story Time - Public Library Toddler Story Time

Critical Thinking - Mastering Zippers with Buckle Buddy

Lunch - Gouda Jalapeno Roasted Red Pepper Grilled Cheese

Spiritual - Genesis 4-7; My Book of Bible Stories Part 1 - Lesson 3

Arts & Crafts - Color Mixer Bag

Day 3
Daily Text
Practical Life - Zippers Dressing Frame
Story Time - My First Reader My House

Critical Thinking - Mastering Buckles with Buckle Buddy

Lunch - Roll Ups

Spiritual - Genesis 8-11; Song 120

Arts & Crafts - Stickers & Paper Art Tray

How We Homeschool: 18 Month Preschool Curriculum Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 02:06:00 +0000

We start Montessori-with-a-twist style preschool tomorrow with Minion who is almost 18 months old. It breaks down to 2.5 hours a day (incl. lunch) 3 days a week. Below are the files for the curriculum I put together if anyone needs inspiration and each Sunday I'll post our week's plan:

Subject Overview/Schedule

Montessori Record Keeper

6-Week Planner

Practical Life Lessons

Reading Log

Critical Thinking Lessons

Art Trays (Independent Activity)

Arts & Crafts Projects

All inspiration can be found on my Pinterest board.

Setting Up a Project life Album for a Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Supplies:

Project Life Mini Kit - Childhood - Wellington

Assorted Recollections 12x12 Papers

American Craft 12x12 Black Cardstock

Becky Higgins Big Variety Pack 1

Becky Higgins Big Variety Pack 3

Becky Higgins Photo Pocket Pages - Design C

Recollections Album

Wausau Card Stock

HP Everyday Glossy Photo Paper

IBPB Pattern Filler Cards

Miss Trina Good Life Journal Cards

Kimla Designs 201 Calendar Cards

VFTR: Urban Decay Primer Potion vs. Ruby Kisses 24 HR Eyeshadow Magic Primer

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 03:20:00 +0000

I compared Urban Decay Primer Potion to Ruby Kisses 24 HR Eyeshadow Magic Primer. End of day result:

I can't tell the difference. Can you?

Verdict? I'd say for a 1/3 of the price, Ruby Kisses is definitely a winning choice in eye shadow priming :)

Vlogging from the Road: My Thoughts on Fairest and the Winter Sneak Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 03:59:00 +0000

Vlogging from the Road - Hair Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 06:18:00 +0000

Quick update to show off my new do ;-)

Mismikado Down the Highway - Vlogging from the Road 1

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:41:00 +0000

That's right, I'm giving vlogging a shot. Don't know if this will stick but it's worth a shot. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, the moral is: Barnes & Noble believes that disabled people don't like coffee.

Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 05:19:00 +0000

My father-in-law (Hi JD!) keeps picking on me about my absence here. I know it's been MONTHS. And I've thought about blogging often but my heart hasn't been in it. It just seems to take way more time than I have these days. Like even with this post, it was suppose to be quick and simple, but I've been sitting here for 2 hours now and ignoring my half washed sink of dishes.

A lot has been going on, all good, nothing news worthy. On a personal emotional level, I've been a rut that comes from being as SAHM. Before motherhood, whenever I would read about blogging moms feeling like they've lost their identity post first child, I just didn't get it. And for the first few months of Minion's life, I still didn't feel it. But then my mother moved away and my daily interaction with other humans outside of Luke and Minion disappeared. I also lost my support system for getting little mommy breaks to do things that helped me feel fulfilled.
As 2015 rolled around, I decided I needed to find outlets to help me feel like more than just a mom. One of the big things I miss is creating things on a regular basis. Since I was on "maternity leave" for most of 2014 and had my hands full with an infant, there was no reason for me to be crafty and it left a big hole. So after some brainstorming, I refocused my Etsy shop. I'm exclusively speacializing in prints now and have some exciting marketing plans for my Bibliophile Collections. Here's one of my latest prints for a clients...

I've decided that I want to create at least one new print every week in addition to any custom orders I get. I also want to start giving myself at least one craft night each week to work on a small project I can finish in one sitting. Tonight I made this homemade sugar scrub. It took 5 minutes and helped me feel productive.

In my sidebar, you'll find a list of the latest projects I want to try and more in my Make and Do pinterest board. These projects also tie in with my long-term business goal of wanting to manage a booth at an Antique Mall. We have one in the area that I want go check them out at some point but it's not a priority.
Well that's all I got now since the dishes are calling...

10/14 Couponing Breakdown - Mini Pharmacy Runs

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 03:06:00 +0000

So I did something new today and tried couponing at Walgreens again. Luke says I'm a battered wife who keeps going back when it comes to them. Every time is a hassle and today was no exception. But the cashiers were super nice and worked out the issues. So here are mini hauls from today.

CVS
(7) Starbucks Iced Coffee, $1.50
- Use (7) $1/1
- Use $3 ECBS
= $.50, Get $2

(2) Aquaphor 2 packs, $5.99
(2) Aquaphor 1.75 oz, $6.49
- Use (4) $1.50/1
- Use $2/1 CVS Lotion q
- Use $12 ECBs
= $4.96, Get $10

Walgreens
(2) Dove Dry Shampoo, $4.99, bogo50%
- Use (2) $2/1 wags q
- Use (2) $1/1 sq
= $1.48, Get 2000 points

(2) Lasinoh Lanolin Minis, $1.27 (reg. $12.79)
- Use 2000 points
= $.54

Total oop = $7.48
Got back $10 ECBs
= $2.52 mm

10/13 Couponing Breakdown - Tons of Freebies!

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 05:52:00 +0000

This is gonna be brief because I've HAVE to go to bed! But got all this for under $20 today after rebates. with several freebies and moneymakers!
HEB
(2) Starkist Deli Tuna Pouches, $1 ($1/2 Starkist mq)
(2) Bush's Black Beans, $.92 (bogo sq)
(4) Nesquik Chocolate Milk, $.84 ($1/1 mq + b3g1 sq)
= $2.73

Walmart
(2) Santitas Tortilla Chips, $2.48
(2) Huggies One & Done Wipes, $1.97 (2 - $.50/1 Huggies mq)
(2) Huggies Soft Skin Wipes, $1.97 (2 - $.50/1 Huggies mq)
(5) Poise, $.97 (5 - $1.50/1 mq)
White Onion, $.62
(6) Avocados, $.52 (reg. $.64)
(4) Roma Tomatos, $.37 (reg. $.47)
Iceberg Lettuce, $1.12 (reg. $1.18)
(2) Limes, $.08 (reg. $.15)
2.55 lbs boneless pork ribs, $5.68 (reg. $8.11)
(2) Simple Green, $1.97 ($2/1 mq + $1.50/1 mq)
24pk Water, $2.48
(2) Chili Diced Tomatos, $.72
(2) Rotel, $.98 (bogo mq)
(12) Beechnut Baby Food, $.25 (reg $.63)
= $26.92 (with tax)
Submit for $8 Snap rebate + $.25 Checkout51 rebate
= $18.67

Dollar General
(2) Huggies Simply Clean Wipe Tubs, $2.50 (2 - $.50/1 Huggies mq)
(2) Huggies Natural Care Wipe Tubs, $2.50 (2 - $.50/1 Huggies mq)
$2/$10 dg digital q
= $6.50 (with tax)
Submit for $8 Snap rebate
= $1.50 mm

10/6 Couponing Breakdown - Cheap Jeans & More

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 04:39:00 +0000

Today was an epic savings day. The main highlights were my Kohl's finds. Last night I heard there were great deals to be found on Rock & Republic jeans when you stacked a $10 off coupon with already marked clearance. I went to RetailMeNot and printed a coupon for me and my friend and made plans to run to the store today. Each coupon was good for up to 8 pairs.
Well, I was nervous when we got there as I didn't see too many at first but eventually, I hit the jackpot and added about 15 pairs in 4 varying sizes to our cart and we made our way to the fitting room. They run about a whole size small but I was able to find 2 pairs that fit great and were marked at $26.40. So for $16.40, these were still on the high end of my jeans budget but since I have had no good fitting jeans since having Minion, I thought the investment was worth it. Imagine my excitement when they rang up for 80% off at $17.60. I literally did a happy dance in the aisle for Minion in his shopping cart seat :)

After the $10 coupon and 15% off email discount, I was able to walk out with 2 pairs for under $6.50 each! I also found a pair of suit pants that match some Luke already owned but damaged. They were also 80% off so it was epic day considering I found clothes that make me feel great in my new mom body and for amazing savings too.

Here's my breakdown for everything I got today:

CVS
(3) Playtex Gentle Glide, $8.79, B$25G$10
(2) CVS Jumbo Diapers, $5 (reg. $9.29), B2G$3
Used(3) $3/1 mq
20% off CVS q ($4.28)
$15 ECBs
Paid $8.09, Received $13 ECBs
Saved $36.86 or 82%

Target
(4) Pledge Floor Care Cleaners, $3.50
(2) EAS Powders, $1.29
Accent Table, $17.98 (reg. $59.99)
(4) 6pk Party Plates, $2.80 (reg. $4)
Used
20% Party Cartwheel ($2.24)
$3/2 EAS Catalina
(4) $2/1 Pledge mq (the cashier scanned 1 q twice and acknowledged it but gave it to me anyway, whoop whoop! Makes up for forgetting my recycle bag discount and Shopkick gc)
(1) $1.50 Pledge mq
(2) $2.50/2 Pledge tq
Red Card Discount ($1.30)
Paid $24.72, Redeemed $1 Checkout 51 Rebate
Saved $92.57 or 73%

Kohls
(2) Rock & Republic Jeans, $17.60 (reg. $88)
Haggar Suit Pants, $20 (reg. $100)
AB Studio Skirt, $12 (reg. $40)
Used
(2) $10/1 Rock Republic q
15% off Kohl's q ($7.08)
Paid $40.12
Saved $275.88 or 85%

Spent $72.93, Saved $405.31 and got back $14

10/3 Couponing Breakdown - Cheap Diapers and Wipes & Free Groceries & Johnson's

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 01:21:00 +0000

So I know I owe you guys so many posts like our most recent favorite baby gear, life update, breastfeeding update, etc etc etc. But I just haven't felt like writing those posts. What has been keeping me happy and busy though is saving money with coupons. I have created a spreadsheet to track how much I save in each transaction and if I would have bought those items without coupons or not. The results are pretty impressive and maybe I'll share at the end of the year.
To do this however, I breakdown every single transaction and post most of my deals on Instagram. However, sometimes my deals feel too long to breakdown there so on those occasions I will post here.
Today I bought all this ($82.42 retail) for $10.82 and got back $9.97 making it a net cost of only $.21. Below is how I did it:

CVS

(8) WNW Lipstick, $.99/ea

(1) Maybelline Falsies Mascara, $7.49

~ Used ~

(8) $1/1 wnw mq

$1/1 Maybelline Mascara mq

$5/$15 CVS cosmetic q

Paid $1.42 + tax

Dollar General

1st Transaction

(2) Huggies 56 ct Wipes, $2

~ Used ~

$1/2 Huggies mq

$2 digital DG q

Paid $1 + tax

2nd Transaction

(1) Johnsons Bedtime Bath, $2.75 (reg. $3.50)

~ Used ~

$.75/1 Johnsons mq

$2 digital DG q

Paid $0

Family Dollar

Huggies Diapers Size 3 36, $10

~ Used ~

$3/1 Huggies mq

$1.50 FD mobile q

Paid $5.50 + tax

Redeem $3 snap rebate

Net Cost = $2.50

HEB

1st Transaction

(1) Slim Fast Meal Replacement Shakes 8pk. $9.98

(1) Slim Fast! Meal Bars 5pk $4.88

(10) Starkist Tuna Pouches, $1/ea (reg. $1.16)

(10) Bush's Black Beans, $.92

(1) Suave Deodorant, $.97

(6) Progresso Soups, $1.48/ea (reg. $1.77)

~ Used ~

Bogo Slim Fast sq

(5) $1/2 Starkist mq

(10) Bogo Starkist/Bush's sq

$1/4 Progresso mq

(2) B2G1 Progresso sq

$5/$15 catalina

$15.87 in gc

Paid $0

Got back $5/$15 catalina

Net Cost = - $5

2nd Transaction

Bread, $.88

Hunt's Tomato Sauce, $.38

Corn, 4/$1

Paid $2.26

~ Redeemed ~

$1 snap bread rebate

$.25 bread ibotta rebate

100% SavingStar Hunt's rebate ($.38)

20% SavingStar Corn rebate ($.20)

10% SavingStar cc bonus ($.14)

Got back $1.97

Net Cost = $.29

How to Make Money on 23 Baby Food Pouches at Target

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 01:00:00 +0000

This deal was too good not to share the details. Since Minion has started on baby food, I have been looking for any good deal I could find to stock up.

Today I was able to find a killer deal by getting 23 baby food pouches that usually retail for $1.39+/ea for only $.43 at Target. Had Luke's computer not died before I printed one more coupon, this deal would have been a money maker.

Below is the breakdown to try to get it for yourself :)

Buy

(4) Ella's Kitchen Stage 1 Pouches @ $1.25 = $5

(6) Plum Organics Stage 2 Blends Pouches @ $1.25 = $7.50
(2) Plum Organics World Baby Pouches @ $1.43 = $2.86
(4) Plum Organics Mighty4 Pouches @ $1.61 = $6.44

(3) Plum Vida Pouches (these were in the clearance sections so your mileage may vary) @ $.36 = $1.08

(4) Happy Family Stage 1 Baby Pouches @ $1.25 = $5

Subtotal = $27.88

Use

(4) $1/1 Ella's Kitchen printable

$1.50/4 Target Mobile coupon (text "Baby" to 827438)

(4) Plum Organics BOGO printable (auto deduct $1.99/ea)

(1) Plum Organics BOGO coupon from mailer (auto deduct $1.99/ea)

(4) $1/1 Plum Mighty printable

(2) $1/2 Happy Family Products
$1/$5 Happy Family Purchase Target Mobile Coupon (text BABY4 to 827438, expires 8/23)

$5/$20 Made to Matter Mobile coupon (no longer available)

Pay $.43

After your purchase, submit your receipt for the $.50/1 Plum Organics World Baby and $.50/1 Plum Organics Mighty4 Ibotta rebates making this deal a $.57 money maker!

Our Favorite Three Month Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 05:17:00 +0000

Could this post be any later? We got back from our nearly month-long vacation after Minion already turned 4 months and then both of us came down with a summer cold. We are still recovering, but I wanted to take the chance to put this post together. The past month experienced a lot of developmental changes for Minion. Plus he gained tons of weight, weighing in at 15lbs 1oz for his 4-month checkup. But since we traveled for the entire month we didn't introduce too many new things. Here's what we did use:

ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES

Nuk silicone cushions
Footie PJs & Sleepers
North American Bear 8.5" Loppy Baby Cozie Blankie, Bear
Stage 2 bottle nipples

1. I really took advantage of the Babies/Toys R' US Clearance Blast sale the last several weeks. I wound up shopping at 6 different stores and snagged tons of awesome gear that was so cheap I could justify trying it even if it wasn't something I thought I would need. These were an example of that. I was able to get them at 80% off ticketed clearance price which came out to $1.20. I had really been hating pumping but desperately needing to because of the previously discussed breastfeeding issues. Well, these cushions, fortunately, fit my Nurture III Deluxe Breast Pump perfectly and have made pumping so much more bearable. I no longer feel raw afterward.

2. We previously had Minion sleeping in onesies but he would wake up a lot and we quickly realized it was because he would get cold. So footed PJs and long sleepers have been perfect for regulating his temperature at night sans blanket.

3. I admitted to not being impressed with this toy when it arrived in our Citrus Lane box. Well, boy was I wrong. Minion absolutely loves it and it was definitely his favorite toy this month. With all our time on the road, this was a life saver. We would give it to him and he would start cuddling with it to self soothe and go to sleep. It is now called "teddy" (real original I know) and coincidentally matches the main character of his favorite book. I actually believe he recognizes this similarity and that contributes to his obsession with both. There were many hours spent this month with us reading to him while he held his teddy. It melted my heart a little more every time.

4. Upgrading his bottles to stage 2 medium flow nipples was also a necessity this past month. He just couldn't get his milk out of the slow flow bottles fast enough anymore that he would get so frustrated.

GLAD WE BOUGHT/WERE GIVEN

Infantino Activity Pal, Daisy The Cow aka "Moo moo cow"
Carrier Car Seat
Mamas & Papas Morph Carrier Bib (2 Pack)
All free & clear mighty pacs
Baby Einstein Around The World Discovery Center
Cloth Swim Diapers
Inflatable Baby Safety Swimming Seat
NuRoo Pocket

1. Minion's "mom moo cow" was a gift from his great aunt and uncle and spoiler alert has possibly become his new favorite toy. It's very interactive and he loves to grab and cuddle with it and make all the different sounds rattle and jingle.

2. I had never planned to get a big travel system with the carrier car seat and stroller. Well, I am so happy that someone gave us one anyway. Having that smaller carrier seat was great on our trip since we could easily transfer it to different vehicles. Plus it was nice to keep him in when we were going into a restaurant or a store with a shopping carriage.

3. These clip on bibs were not designed for the Beco but still clip on nicely which has been great since Minion drools so much now. Plus they were another Clearance Blast steal at $1.40.

4. I have been making our own detergents for both us and Minion and have been very happy with both. But when CVS had a sale where I could get these detergent pacs for cheaper than I make and they were decently rated for baby laundry, I decided to stock up. Tossing a bag of these pacs in our luggage was perfect for traveling. Such a simple convenience!

5. This was a gift from my father-in-law that Minion has really put to use. He loves every toy on it and when he gets bored with one, we can just spin him around to the other side (he isn't strong enough to spin himself yet). It was very handy for putting him in while we were in Dallas and needed a second of free hands and serves the same purpose at Ama & Opa's house now.

6. I am very pleased with the cloth swim diapers we invested in. I purchased this one in the 12 month size and this one in size small and both have been perfect for this summer. Minion is definitely a water baby and I'm sure we will be putting them to even more use when I hopefully enroll him in a Mommy & Me swim class at 6 months.

7. Along those lines, this swim seat was perfect for his first time in the pool. The handles meant we could easily hold onto him and guide him. But this seat helped him confidently make his way through the water. We were amazed how he immediately started kicking his legs constantly to tread water and even propelled himself around the pool. It was such a fun experience to watch and be a part of.

8. This skin-to-skin top was another Clearance Blast find at $8 and I wish I had one of these for the newborn phase. I can't help but wonder if it would have helped our breastfeeding relationship. The little I was able to use it before he sized out did help during his nursing strike so I definitely plan to have it ready to go for baby #2.

HAVE, BUT HAVEN'T USED/NEEDED

Crib
Pack n' Play
Baby Monitor

1. We have not used his crib at all save for the first night and (2) 10 min naps in the last 4 months. It was my goal to have him in it by 3 months but with us not being home at all that month, that became an impossibility. He did make progress though by napping in a friend's crib and on his own in a bassinet for one night while we traveled.

2. This has been another item we have not used at all. Since Minion hasn't slept on his own yet, this really hasn't been needed as a travel crib. And we have other smaller devices for keeping him in when we need to get stuff done. Maybe next time we travel he will be more apt to use it.

3. Since he is always with us and our house is so small, we have not needed to use our baby monitor either. I'm so happy we just stuck to a hand-me-down one.

DON'T HAVE, HAVEN'T NEEDED

Video Baby Monitor
I had the opportunity to get one for very cheap at Target with coupons but there wasn't a need for us considering we don't even use the old school kind. So I was able to pass the savings along to a friend. Maybe when he's more mobile I'll look for another deal but right now I'd rather spend the money elsewhere.

THINGS WE STILL USE REGULARLY

Beco Gemini
Maxxima MLN-50 5 LED Night Light with Sensor
Rocker Recliner
Nuk Nursing Pads Ultra Dry
Earth's Best Organic Soy Formula
Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle
Muslin Swaddling Blanket
Pacifier Clips
Graco SmartSeat All-in-One Car Seat
Lansinoh mOmma Brush
Hanes size 6-12 month socks
Star Wars Poster
Breast Pump
Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lemon Verbena Dish Soap
Munchkin Sprout Drying Rack
Car Seat Toys
Fisher-Price Snugabunny Cradle 'N Swing
1 Nursing Pillows
NUK Barely There Nipple Shield with Case
MAM Silicone Start Pacifier
Gerber Birdseye 10 Count 3-Ply Prefold Cloth Diapers
Contoured Changing Pad
Ikea Knodd Bin with Wet Bag
Plush Blankets
Nursing Cover
Zoli On-the-go Dispenser
Baby Bjorn Little Potty
My Mini Book of Bible Stories
Bibs
Bumbo
Collapsible step stool
Ducky Inflatable Bathtub
Seventh Generation Dish Soap
You Are My I Love You/ Tu Eres Mi Te Quiero
Travelon 3 Speed Folding Fan
Flushable Wipes
Baby Sunglasses

THINGS WE'VE RETIRED

Fisher Price Sleeper

When Breastfeeding is a Fight

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 05:15:00 +0000

You are in a busy but quiet restaurant

It's 105° outside because it's June in Texas

Try as they might the air conditioners just can't quite keep up

You try to maintain some level of modesty by wearing a poncho style cover

Your child is screaming under it

Sweat is pooling in your cleavage and on your sons brow

He thrashes his head back and forth

Pulling the nipple shield he refuses to eat without with him

You struggle to get everything back in place although it's difficult with the cover and the heat

His crying intensifies because of the hunger

You feel heads turning your way

Hear whispers pointed in your direction

You try to stay calm to help soothe him and get a successful latch

It's not working

Finally you ask your companion to mix up the emergency bottle you have in the emergency diaper bag

The second that bottle nipple his your child's lips his crying stops and he peacefully eats

This is our new daily norm albeit not always in public. From the beginning breastfeeding has been a struggle for us. I have sat down to write about it so many times but each time I'm ready to post, our situation has changed and my words are outdated.
From the beginning we did not have an easy go. Minion refused to latch and eat for the first two days before my milk came in resulting in a 10.5% weight loss. Once my milk did come in, he would latch but I had a lot of issues with my right side. After bleeding repeatedly, I broke down and started using a nipple shield and lanolin.
Fast forward a couple weeks and I was feeling exhausted from the round the clock every 1.5-2 hour feedings that were lasting for 45 mins to an hour each. But I was feeling like we finally had the whole latch thing down and I was healed enough to wean off the shield.
But minion would have none of it. He would absolutely refuse to nurse without it, to the point of throwing epic tantrums until I'd put the shield back on. At some point the same started to happen with nursing in general. He would scream and push away until finally we'd just give him a bottle. But the confusing part is that it wasn't a complete nursing strike because when the next feeding would roll around he would nurse perfectly fine.
Meanwhile his colic picked up and we couldn't figure it why. I started an elimination diet and we deduced he had issues with diary, beans, broccoli, and onions. Combined with my own food issues, this meant my diet had to drastically change and I was pretty well miserable.
When we introduced his first soy formula bottle and he greedily gobbles up every last drop without any fussing, I only felt relief.
Around 3.5 months it got to a routine of bottle feedings during the day and nursing at night. Since pumping had always bothered me and caused cracking more than once, my supply began to dry. My goal was to at least maintain a morning and night feeding.
We tried more skin-to-skin with the nuroo top at night and it helped for a few days. But he's gotten too big to wear it comfortably and its too hot for it in Texas in July. As of this writing, it stands that Minion has refused to nurse for 28 straight hours (It ended up being a 41 hour strike). He just cries and pushes away. I still don't know why and at the cusp of 4 months, I'm ready to throw in the towel.
I know that le leche leaguers and militant bf'ers can sit here and write a laundry list of everything I've done wrong and haven't tried. I know I should never have started the shield, or offered him a bottle or even a pacifier. I shouldn't have introduced formula and if I was a "real" mom, I would have started on supply boosters and pumped around the clock. I would have laid around topless 24/7 with my breasts available. I would have done skin-to-skin 90% off the time. I should have done so much different and its entirely "my fault".
But the thing is I'm done feeling guilty. I'm done feeling exhausted. I've never loved my feeding relationship with my son. In fact I resent it and feel my body tense every time another meal rolls around. Outside of a few peaceful moments that have been far overshadowed by the bad, I've never felt that blissfulness of sustaining my child with my own body. Maybe that makes me a bad mother in some women's (and men's) eyes. Maybe I'm just being selfish. But I feel like my relationship with my son should be so much better and could be if we didn't have this point of contention between us. If I just let him eat the way that keeps him happy and not in the way that I "know is best for him". Because it doesn't feel like what's best anymore. I don't know if we are done with nursing for forever, or if things will change again tomorrow. But I do know that I'm not going to feel guilty if this is the end. In fact I think I'll only feel relieved.

Budget Diapering - Week of 7/6/14

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 21:44:00 +0000

Crazy busy week for us here! But Here are a few deals I was able to find early. Sorry there is no CVS breakdown this week. I just didn't have a chance to check the sneak peak ad :-/

A note on wipes:
The regular wipes cost at Walmart is $13.47 for a 800 ct box of Parent's Choice and $1.25 for an 80 ct pack at HEB. These are the best prices I have seen without couponing and even with for the name brands. If I come across a better coupon price, I will share it. Otherwise I recommend just buying these.

Spending Goals:
NB-Size 2 = $.12/diaper
Size 3-5 = $.17/diaper

Abbreviations:
q = coupon
mq = manufacturer coupon
tq = target coupon
ip = internet price
pm = price match
exp = expires
gc = gift card
oop = out of pocket
EBR = Extrabucks Rewards
SS = Smart Source insert
RP = Red Plum insert
PG = Proctor & Gamble insert

I will update this post throughout the sales week as new sales are discovered by me :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Target

Target ads will have a $20/$100 baby coupon this Sunday. Plus super packs of Pampers & Huggies and the value packs of Luvs are on sale for $24.99 and buy 2 get $10 gc.

Huggies

Buy (4) Huggies Snug & Dry Super Packs, $24.99 = $99.96
Use (4) $3/1 mq (printable - print 2 per computer) = - $12
Use $20/$100 Target q (7/6 Target Ad or text "infant" to 827438) = - $20
Pay $67.96, Get $20 gift card making your net cost $11.99/pack or $.09/diaper for Size 1, $.10/diaper for Size 2, $.11/diaper for Size 3, $.12/diaper for Size 4, $.14/diaper for Size 5, and $.17/diaper for Size 6.

Buy (4) Huggies Little Movers Super Packs, $24.99 = $99.96
Use (4) $2/1 mq (printable - print 2 per computer) = - $8
Use $20/$100 Target q (7/6 Target Ad or text "infant" to 827438) = - $20
Pay $71.96, Get $20 gift card making your net cost $12.99/pack or $.14/diaper for Size 3s.

Pampers

Buy (4) Pampers Baby Dry Super Packs, $24.99 = $99.96
and Buy (4) Pampers Soft Care Wipes, 72 ct, $1.97 = $7.88
Use (4) $5/1 Pampers Diaper & Wipes Blinkies (available at select grocers) = - $20
Use $20/$100 Target q (7/6 Target Ad or text "infant" to 827438) = - $20
Pay $67.96, Get $20 gift card making your net cost $10.99/pack of diapers and $.97/pack of wipes. Or $.013/wipe and $.09/diaper for Size 1, $.10/diaper for Size 2, $.11/diaper for Size 3, $.12/diaper for Size 4, $.14/diaper for Size 5, and $.17/diaper for Size 6.

Buy (4) Pampers Swaddlers Super Packs, $24.99 = $99.96
and Buy (4) Pampers Soft Care Wipes, 72 ct, $1.97 = $7.88
Use (4) $5/1 Pampers Diaper & Wipes Blinkies (available at select grocers) = - $20
Use $20/$100 Target q (7/6 Target Ad or text "infant" to 827438) = - $20
Pay $67.96, Get $20 gift card making your net cost $10.99/pack of diapers and $.97/pack of wipes. Or $.013/wipe and $.11/diaper for Size 1, $.12/diaper for Size 2, $.12/diaper for Size 3, and $.15/diaper for Size 4.

Buy (4) Pampers Cruisers Super Packs, $24.99 = $99.96
and Buy (4) Pampers Soft Care Wipes, 72 ct, $1.97 = $7.88
Use (4) $5/1 Pampers Diaper & Wipes Blinkies (available at select grocers) = - $20
Use $20/$100 Target q (7/6 Target Ad or text "infant" to 827438) = - $20
Pay $67.96, Get $20 gift card making your net cost $10.99/pack of diapers and $.97/pack of wipes. Or $.013/wipe and $.12/diaper for Size 3, $.15/diaper for Size 4, and $.16/diaper for Size 5.

Luvs

Buy (4) Luvs Value Packs, $24.99 = $99.96
Use (4) $50/1 mq (printable) = - $2
Use $20/$100 Target q (7/6 Target Ad or text "infant" to 827438) = - $20
Pay $77.96, Get $20 gift card making your net cost $14.49/pack or $.10/diaper for Size 3, $.11/diaper for Size 4, and $.13/diaper for Size 5.

Amazon

Amazon offers a free service to parents called Amazon Mom. This service offers you 20% off on diaper and wipe subscriptions plus free 2-day shipping. You can start a subscription in conjunction with a coupon for one month and cancel all future deliveries after your first month. Sign up before completely any of the deals below.

Luvs

Buy (1) Luvs With Ultra Leakguards Size 1 Diapers 252 Count = $32.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $26.39
"Clip" $1 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $1
Pay $25.39 or $.10/diaper for Size 1. This scenario also works out to $.12/diaper for Size 2, $.14/diaper for Size 3, and $.16/diaper for Size 4s.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Seventh Generation

Buy (1) Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers, Size 1, 80 Count = $19.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $15.99
"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4
Pay $11.99 or $.15/diaper. This is higher than my goal but these are premium diapers an my absolute favorites so definitely worth the extra few cents.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Huggies

Buy (1) Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers, Size 1, Economy Plus Pack, 276 Count = $47.19
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $37.75
"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4
Pay $33.75 or $.12/diaper for Size 1. This scenario also works out to $.17/diaper for Size 3 (222 ct), and $.175/diaper for Size 4 (192 ct).
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Fisher Price

Buy (1) Fisher Price Happy Day and Night Baby Diapers Size 3, 156 Count = $29.97
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $23.98
Pay $23.98 or $.15/diaper for Size 3
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Pampers

Buy (1) Pampers Baby Dry Diapers Size 3 Economy Pack Plus 204 Count = $47.19
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $37.75
"Clip" $3 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $3
Pay $34.75 or $.17/diaper for Size 3
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

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Southern Savers has a great guide for how many diapers of each size to buy when stocking up. For quick reference, she says:
"Size 1 is good up to 14 lbs, size 2 12-18 lbs, size 3 up to 16-28 lbs. I would not plan on preparing ahead on any sizes larger than size 3 for right now. You can buy those as deals come along after the baby is born. However, if you are having diaper showers then go for it! This being our fourth girl, we really don’t have any baby showers. So this is all on us to prepare for.

Generally you aren’t going to stay in the newborn size long, nor do you want to when you see that they actually cost more than a size 1. So here’s my plan:

Math assumptions:

Changing on average 10 diapers per day/night
½ lb growth per week
starting weight of 6 lbs

First 4 Months
Newborn Size: 2-3 packs (not really needed most can go straight to size 1)
Size 1: 840 diapers needed to get to 12 lbs = 16-20 jumbo packs
Size 2: 560 diapers needed to get to 16 lbs = 13-15 jumbo packs

5 months to 12 months
Growth slows to 1 lb every 3 weeks on average
Diaper Changes on average 6 per day
Size 3: 1512 diapers needed to get to 28 lbs = 56-62 jumbo packs

Total Diapers needed in the first year: 2,912"

Our Favorite Two Month Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:42:00 +0000

I have a 3-month-old now. Insane! O_O This past month has been so fun as Minion has defined more and more of his personality and really started to engage with the world around him. Plus he's become a total chunk and I just can't get enough of him. I've been really wanting to write more detailed day-to-day updates on here but just haven't had the time. So, for the time being, I'll share the quick hits with the gear we've been loving over the past month.

ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES

1. This is one of the best baby inventions I have come across. We were using regular baby storage containers for packing servings of formula on the go but every time we went to pour it in the bottle, we'd lose some in the transfer. This dispenser has a built-in funnel that means no formula loss plus it holds 4 bottle servings in 1 compact container.

2. We have started to practice EC (elimination communication) part-time now and the Little Potty is perfect for this. The size is just right for Minion that he has no discomfort sitting on it. Plus it's low enough that his feet firmly touch the ground (or toilet lid since that's where we place it for potty time) which was a recommendation from his pediatrician. I don't know why these EC potties got discontinued but I'm so happy I was able to snag one on eBay.

3. This was one of my absolute favorite projects for Minion. I took my favorite childhood stories from My Book of Bible Stories and made abridged versions for a padded baby book version. Spoonflower did an amazing job printing it out and Minion just loves staring at all the bright illustrations. It's a great way to keep him quiet and engaged during meetings.

4. I think Minion is entering the early teething stage because he constantly is drooling or blowing spit bubbles. Needless to say, he ends up as one slobbery mess so cloth bibs have been crucial to keeping his clothes dry.

5. Our Bumbo was actually my very first baby purchase long before Minion was ever in the works. A mommy friend had raved about it to me, so when I spotted one (with the tray) at Goodwill for only $2.99, I had to snatch it up. It has been so great for helping Minion sit up on his own.

6. Minion rarely sleeps in his sleeper but it's a convenient place to lay him down when we need to get some housework done.

7. Our collapsible stool has been perfect in the bathroom as a sitting place for holding Minion on the potty and when giving him a bath. Plus it will be great for him when he starts being able to go on his own.

8. I can't believe I haven't talked about his bath before! Since we don't have a tub, his ducky bath has been great for bath times in our shower. He's really gotten into splashing in it here lately :)

GLAD WE BOUGHT/WERE GIVEN

1. Last month I talked about my new found love for Mrs. Meyers soap for bottle washing and I still LOVE it but hate the price tag. Fortunately, I discovered Seventh Generation dish soap and almost love it just as much and a bit more so because I can get it even cheaper than Dawn with coupons, sales, and Cartwheel at Target.

2. I'm pretty sure this is Minion's favorite book. We keep it in the truck and every time we read it to him he cries at the end until we start reading it again.

3. Minion easily gets overheated and then starts to get rashy. After our 3rd Sunday meeting in a row without AC, I decided that we needed a portable battery fan to keep in the diaper bag. The very first day it came in, we experienced a 7-hour power outage and it immediately proved its worth.

4. Flushable wipes have been perfect for ECing. They make the process so easy since we just dump everything in the potty down the toilet and move on with life.

5. I highly underestimated the need for these in Texas. Minion was squinting everywhere before we finally picked him up a pair.

HAVE, BUT HAVEN'T USED/NEEDED

Receiving blankets
Neckroll pillow

THINGS WE STILL USE REGULARLY

Beco Gemini
Maxxima MLN-50 5 LED Night Light with Sensor
Rocker Recliner
Nuk Nursing Pads Ultra Dry
Earth's Best Organic Soy Formula
Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle
Muslin Swaddling Blanket
Pacifier Clips
Graco SmartSeat All-in-One Car Seat
Lansinoh mOmma Brush
Hanes size 6-12 month socks
Star Wars Poster
Hello Baby High Contrast Book & Flash Cards (8+ Weeks)
Breast Pump
Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lemon Verbena Dish Soap
Munchkin Sprout Drying Rack
Car Seat Toys
Fisher-Price Snugabunny Cradle 'N Swing
2 Nursing Pillows
NUK Barely There Nipple Shield with Case
MAM Silicone Start Pacifier
Gerber Birdseye 10 Count 3-Ply Prefold Cloth Diapers
Extra Change Pad Covers and Carters Keep Me Dry Flannel Lap Pads
Contoured Changing Pad
Ikea Knodd Bin with Wet Bag
Plush Blankets
Nursing Cover

THINGS WE'VE RETIRED

Pandora One
Size 1 Diapers
Most Size 0-3 Month Clothes

Budget Diapering - 6/29/14

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:32:00 +0000

So I missed the last couple weeks, sorry! I hope though that my series has taught you guys some of the places to check for scouting your own deals. Last week was the Spend $30 Get $10 deal again at CVS so that was the same as a couple weeks before that I had posted about. But I had a minute this afternoon to share some of this coming week's deals.

A note on wipes:
The regular wipes cost at Walmart is $13.47 for a 800 ct box of Parent's Choice and $1.25 for an 80 ct pack at HEB. These are the best prices I have seen without couponing and even with for the name brands. If I come across a better coupon price, I will share it. Otherwise I recommend just buying these.

Spending Goals:
NB-Size 2 = $.12/diaper
Size 3-5 = $.17/diaper

Abbreviations:
q = coupon
mq = manufacturer coupon
tq = target coupon
ip = internet price
pm = price match
exp = expires
gc = gift card
oop = out of pocket
EBR = Extrabucks Rewards
SS = Smart Source insert
RP = Red Plum insert
PG = Proctor & Gamble insert

I will update this post throughout the sales week as new sales are discovered by me :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CVS
All CVS deals require an ExtraCare card. This card not only entitles you to sale prices but also earns you coupons from the red box found inside the store and online when you sign into your account at cvs.com.
If your CVS runs out of stock of one any sale diapers by Saturday, ask for a Rain Check. Be sure to have them write the event code at the bottom for any ExtraBucks you will earn and save the sales flyer if you have issues when you go to redeem your Rain Check in the future. CVS Rain Checks never expire.

CVS Brand Diapers or Training Pants Jumbo pk. are on sale for $6.99 plus buy 1, get $3 EBRs. There's an offer limit of 5 per household which is great for this kind of deal.

Buy (5) CVS Brand Diapers, $6.99 = $34.95
- Use $3/$15 Minute Clinic coupon (printable expires 6/30) = - $3
Pay $31.95, Get $15 EBRs making your net total $16.95 or $.07/diaper for Size 1, $.08/diaper for Size 2, $.09/diaper for Size 3, $.11/diaper for Size 4, $.13/diaper for Size 5, and $.15/diaper for Size 6.

Amazon

Luvs

Buy (1) Luvs With Ultra Leakguards Size 1 Diapers 252 Count = $32.99

Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $26.39

"Clip" $1 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $1

Pay $25.39 or $.10/diaper for Size 1. This scenario also works out to $.12/diaper for Size 2, $.14/diaper for Size 3, and $.16/diaper for Size 4s.

Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Seventh Generation

Buy (1) Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers, Size 1, 80 Count = $19.99

Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $15.99

"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4

Pay $11.99 or $.15/diaper. This is higher than my goal but these are premium diapers an my absolute favorites so definitely worth the extra few cents.

Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Huggies

Buy (1) Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers, Size 3, Economy Plus Pack, 222 Count = $47.19

Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $37.75

"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4

Pay $33.75 or $.15/diaper for Size 3. This scenario also works out to $.12/diaper for Size 1 (276 ct), and $.175/diaper for Size 4s.

Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Fisher Price

Buy (1) Fisher Price Happy Day and Night Baby Diapers Size 3, 156 Count = $29.97

Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $23.98

Pay $23.98 or $.15/diaper for Size 3

Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Generally you aren’t going to stay in the newborn size long, nor do you want to when you see that they actually cost more than a size 1. So here’s my plan:

Math assumptions:

Changing on average 10 diapers per day/night
½ lb growth per week
starting weight of 6 lbs

Budget Diapering - 6/8/14

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 21:25:00 +0000

Another late week of posting due to out-of-town guests and 2 day trips almost back to back. But fortunately none of this weeks deals were contingent on Sunday's coupons.

A note on wipes:
The regular wipes cost at Walmart is $13.47 for a 800 ct box of Parent's Choice and $1.25 for an 80 ct pack at HEB. These are the best prices I have seen without couponing and even with for the name brands. If I come across a better coupon price, I will share it. Otherwise I recommend just buying these.

Spending Goals:
NB-Size 2 = $.12/diaper
Size 3-5 = $.17/diaper

Abbreviations:
q = coupon
mq = manufacturer coupon
tq = target coupon
ip = internet price
pm = price match
exp = expires
gc = gift card
oop = out of pocket
ECB = ExtraCare Bucks
SS = Smart Source insert
RP = Red Plum insert
PG = Proctor & Gamble insert

I will update this post throughout the sales week as new sales are discovered by me :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CVS
All CVS deals require an ExtraCare card. This card not only entitles you to sale prices but also earns you coupons from the red box found inside the store and online when you sign into your account at cvs.com.
If your CVS runs out of stock of one any sale diapers by Saturday, ask for a Rain Check. Be sure to have them write the event code at the bottom for any ExtraBucks you will earn and save the sales flyer if you have issues when you go to redeem your Rain Check in the future. CVS Rain Checks never expire.

Huggies jumbo packs are on sale for 2/$18 plus when you spend $30 you will get a $10 gas card.

Buy (2) Huggies Little Snugglers and (2) Huggies Snug & Dry = $36

- Use (2) $2.50/1 mq (printable)

- Use $4/2 mq (printable)

Pay $27 and get $10 gas card which makes your net cost $4.25/pack or $12/diaper for Size 2 Little Snugglers and Size 3 Snug & Dry

All Seventh Generation boxed diapers, BabyGanics boxed, up & up bulk packs, Huggies or Pampers super packs, or Luvs value packs are on sale for $24.99 and will trigger a free $10 Target gift card when you buy any two.

Buy (2) Huggies Snug & Dry Super Packes = $49.98

- Use (2) $3/1 mq (SS 5/18 exp 06/14 or printable)

Pay $43.98 and get $10 gc making your net = $16.99/box or $.15/diaper for Size 3 or $.17/diaper for size 4.

Buy (2) Luvs Value Pack = $49.98

- Use (2) $1/1 Target mobile q (text BABY4 to 827438)

Pay $47.98 and get $10 gc making your net = $18.99/box or $.13/diaper for Size 3 or $.15/diaper for size 4 and $.17/diaper for Size 5.

Buy (2) up & up bulk packs = $49.98

Pay $49.98 and get $10 gc making your net = $19.99/box or $.11/diaper for Size 2 & 3 or $.13/diaper for size 4 and $.15/diaper for Size 5 and $.17/diaper for Size 6.

Babies R Us

Huggies Snug & Dry Super Pack Box = $24.99

- Use $3/1 mq (SS 5/18 exp 06/14 or printable)
- Use $10/1 BRU mobile q (text DEALS to 72229 or load from here on phone or download and print here)Pay $11.99/box or $.09/diaper for Size 1, $.10/diaper for Size 2, $.11/diaper for Size 3, $.12/diaper for Size 4, $.14/diaper for Size 5

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Southern Savers has a great guide for how many diapers of each size to buy when stocking up. For quick reference, she says:
"Size 1 is good up to 14 lbs, size 2 12-18 lbs, size 3 up to 16-28 lbs. I would not plan on preparing ahead on any sizes larger than size 3 for right now. You can buy those as deals come along after the baby is born. However, if you are having diaper showers then go for it! This being our fourth girl, we really don’t have any baby showers. So this is all on us to prepare for.

Generally you aren’t going to stay in the newborn size long, nor do you want to when you see that they actually cost more than a size 1. So here’s my plan:

Math assumptions:

Changing on average 10 diapers per day/night
½ lb growth per week
starting weight of 6 lbs

Our Favorite One Month Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 02:27:00 +0000

I cannot believe over another month has passed! Minion is now 2 whole months old and he has developed quite the little personality. I am loving every new stage and milestone he hits more and more. This past month was so much better than our first and we really felt like we had a system down. Here's some of the things that did and didn't help us...

ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES

Beco Gemini
Maxxima MLN-50 5 LED Night Light with Sensor
Rocker Recliner
Nuk Nursing Pads Ultra Dry
Earth's Best Organic Soy Formula
Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle
Muslin Swaddling Blanket
Pacifier Clips

1. We semi-retired the Moby this past month in exchange for the Beco. I had done a lot of research on which hard carrier I wanted and the Beco Gemini won out because of it's versatility. We tried it during the first month but Minion was still too small. So it didn't start to shine until this month. My mom or I carried him in it every time we went shopping and I even figured out how to nurse him in it which made life so much easier at meetings. 2. Since I started nursing Minion in the living room at night and the light switch is n the opposite end of the room from our bedroom, we needed some sort of night light. The 2 that came in this pack were perfect for lighting our 16x22 living room and I don't even have to turn on any extra lighting. 3. I can't say enough how much I wish we had gotten the rocker recliner sooner. It is so comfy and was a huge lifesaver in the transitioning period from Minion's colic to restful nights. 4. I had the hardest time finding nursing pads that worked for me. I started with lasinoh disposable pads for convenience and bc they are suppose to be THE breastfeeding gear brand. But I find the material they were made our of to get incredibly hot and sweaty and itchy. So my mil recommended reusable pads. I tried the ones also from lasinoh but the size was weird and not conforming so they looked weird under shirts plus they were scratchy. I tried making my own with sift cotton and fleece but they weren't anywhere near absorbent enough. I was about to give up and had been suffering with the least bad disposables for a month and a half when I ran out and went to buy more at Wal-Mart. The cheapest box they had were Nuk's ultra dry so I decided to give them a try. They were perfect! So soft and absorbent that I forget I'm even wearing them. Plus with a target online price of $3.99 that I can price match in store to use a $1 off coupon to get a box for $2.99. 5. It turns out minion has some intense food intolerances that led to us supplementing one feeding a day (I have a whole post I'm working on about this). Since he can't have dairy, I was on the lookout for some soy formula and found Earth's Best on 60% clearance at Babies 'r us. I was able to buy a six month supply for $80 and I feel good that the formula I'm giving Minion is premium and organic. Plus he absolutely loves it. 6. We have several different nursing friendly bottles but the como tomo is our favorite so far. The soft bottle design makes it easier to hold and I think it reminds minion more of nursing when he grabs onto it. 7. Muslin swaddling blankets were something I never even noticed until after minion was born so I was late to the game in buying them. They are so great for this Texas heat and calm him right down on fussy nights. 8. I don't know why it took us so long to start using pacifier clips. After weeks of constantly washing dropped pacifiers, I finally got smart enough to start using the clips we were given and life has been so much easier.

GLAD WE BOUGHT/WERE GIVEN

Pandora One
Seventh Generation Diapers
Graco SmartSeat All-in-One Car Seat
Lansinoh mOmma Brush
Hanes size 6-12 month socks
Star Wars Poster
Hello Baby High Contrast Book & Flash Cards (8+ Weeks)
Breast Pump
Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lemon Verbana Dish Soap
Munchkin Sprout Drying Rack
Car Seat Toys
Fisher-Price Snugabunny Cradle 'N Swing
2 Nursing Pillows

1. Minion is a huge "standards" fan when it comes to music. So Pandora is perfect for punching a station like "What a Wonderful World" and getting a never-ending stream of music he loves. However he hates commercials and I figured we were gonna blow through our 40 free hours in no time with the amount he wanted to me soothed to classic tunes. So at $3.99/mo the Pandora One subscription seems definitely worth it. 2. I'll share my thoughts on why I love these so much in my upcoming diaper review post. 3. Now I can't justify putting the no stops barred full bells and whistles of the Graco SmartSeat as a necessity when there are comparable cheaper convertible seats out there. But we LOVE our SmartSeat. We are fortunate enough to have a relative who worked for Graco and offered to give us this seat with their employee discount. It is truly the king of seats. There is so much padding and safety features that I feel so secure in Minion's safety when he's riding with us. Plus he has no problem getting cozy and conking out. 4. Another non-necessity but total convenience is the mOmma bottle brush my parents got us. The shape and size of it is perfect for reaching and cleaning the breastfeeding friendly bottles we use. 5. These socks are the ONLY ones that stay in Minion's feet. We were given 1 pair and now I don't know where to get more. 6. His Star Wars poster was a $12 project that I love so much. I find a cool pen and ink star wars piece that I vectorized with Illustrator's "live trace" tool. Then I ordered it as a 2x3 engineering print from staples for $3. Popped it in a cheap poster frame and we hung it over Minion's changing table with industrial strength Velcro. He loves staring and smiling at it during changes. The high contrast is perfect for his developing senses. 7. Speaking of high contrast, these books and flash cards were the first ones to capture his attention and engage him. It was so cool to see how intently he starred at them the first time at 8 weeks. 8. Since I started supplementing one feeding a day, I've needed to pump for that feeding and I'm so happy I got my free Bailey pump. It empties my milk in 9 mins flat. 9. I've always marveled at the pretty packaging of Mrs. Meyers soap but never tried it. I love the consistency and scent for using this stuff for Minion's bottles, pacifiers, and nipple shield. Hope to pick more up with coupons. 10. I really wanted the boon grass but when I was looking they only had the bigger sizes that didn't fit anywhere on our counter. (This one would be perfect now). So I went with the sprout rack and its perfect for Minion's bottles. Plus I love how much it holds since we are really bad about washing stuff frequently. 11. This month marked Minion getting into his car seat dangle toys as well. I'm thinking yellow is his favorite color right now because it constantly grabs his attention and his Bee toy is his favorite. We'll catch him just smiling and giggling at it while in the car. 12. We were so fortunate to have some generous friends pass on their son's swing to Minion. I know that some babies don't care for them but, Minion loves swaying in his and takes some of his best naps there. Plus it helps us get some house work down since it's the only place he will tolerate being other than in our arms. 13. Having 2 nursing pillows is by no means a necessity but it's been so convenient to keep one in the living room in my rocking chair and the other by our bed for night feedings. Plus I can take one next door when we go to my parents and not have to freak out if we forget it over night.

HAVE, BUT HAVEN'T USED/NEEDED

Shoes
O-cal-ette Nursing Cups

1. Minion hates shoes and will kick them if before we are even out of the driveway so we've just stopped trying to put them on. 2. I got these nursing cups to help with tenderness and try to collect some of the milk I was leading at home. They really didn't collect much to be worth it and while they felt better than my other pad options, I could only were then at home since they're so conspicuous. Once I discovered the nuk pads these were obsolete.

DON'T HAVE, HAVEN'T NEEDED

White Noise Machine
Wipes Warmer
Video Monitor

1. I've never wanted to use one of these bc I'd hate for minion to become dependent and ONLY be able to sleep with one. When he needs some background noise to calm, we just pop on his Pandora station. 2. Ditto to the wipes warmer to getting him dependent on something. 3. Our house is too tiny to justify one of these. Plus he's never been out of adult supervision yet since he demands being able to see and preferably touch us at all times.

CHEAP ALTERNATIVES

Doggy Poop Bags

These things are the exact same bags sold for dirty diapers but you get 120 in the pet section for the price of 36 baby ones. Plus I found a bunch on clearance for even cheaper.

THINGS WE STILL USE REGULARLY

NUK Barely There Nipple Shield with Case
MAM Silicone Start Pacifier
Gerber Birdseye 10 Count 3-Ply Prefold Cloth Diapers
Extra Change Pad Covers and Carters Keep Me Dry Flannel Lap Pads
Contoured Changing Pad
Ikea Knodd Bin with Wet Bag
Plush Blankets
Nursing Cover
Rocker Recliner

THINGS WE'VE RETIRED

Newborn Clothes & Diapers
Stability Ball
Sleeper Gowns

So there's our 1 month survival list. What helped you out during that second month?

Budget Diapering - Week of 6/1/14

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Fri, 30 May 2014 16:30:00 +0000

Sorry I'm so late with posting this. After back-to-back out of town guests I got a little behind on couponing and deal hunting :-/

A note on wipes:
The regular wipes cost at Walmart is $13.47 for a 800 ct box of Parent's Choice and $1.25 for an 80 ct pack at HEB. These are the best prices I have seen without couponing and even with for the name brands. If I come across a better coupon price, I will share it. Otherwise I recommend just buying these.

Spending Goals:
NB-Size 2 = $.12/diaper
Size 3-5 = $.17/diaper

Abbreviations:
q = coupon
mq = manufacturer coupon
tq = target coupon
ip = internet price
pm = price match
exp = expires
gc = gift card
oop = out of pocket
ECB = ExtraCare Bucks
SS = Smart Source insert
RP = Red Plum insert
PG = Proctor & Gamble insert

I will update this post throughout the sales week as new sales are discovered by me :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Walmart

Luvs Size 3 (120 ct) are marked at $19.77 which equals $.16/diaper without coupons

Target
Target allows 1 mq and 1 target q or target mobile q and 1 cartwheel offer per item purchased. Cartwheel is a savings app that gives you extra discounts on hundreds of items. Sign up here.

Huggies

Buy (3) Luvs Big Value Pack, $17.99 = $53.97
Use Target mobile q (text "JUNE" to 827438) for $10 gc when you spend $40
Pay $53.97, Get a $10 gift card. Making your net cost = $14.65/box or $.14/diaper for Size 3 and $.17/diaper for Size 4

Up & Up - On sale for Buy 2 and Get a $5 gc

Buy (2) Up & Up Bulk packs, $24.99 = $49.98
Use 5% Cartwheel = - $2.50
Pay $47.48 and get a $5 gc making your net cost $21.24/box or $.12/diaper on Size 2 and 3, $.14/diaper on Size 4, and $.15/diaper on Size 5

Publix

I've never lived in an area with Publix to shop their personally so this scenario was brought to you by sophiecoupons on Instagram. Publix coupon policy is very accepting of coupons and makes me totally jealous.

This deal is good through 6/4.

Buy (2) Huggies boxes , $18.99 = $37.98
Register will auto deduct $7/2 = - $7
Use (1) $5/30 Winn Dixie Q = - $5
Use (2) $3/1 MQ (SS 5/18 exp 6/14) = - $6
Use (2) $2/1 Target Q (nla printable) or (2) $1.50/1 Target Q (SS 3/23 regional) = - $3 - $4
Pay as low as $7.99/box or $.10/diaper for Size 2, $.11/diaper for Size 3, and $.14/diaper for Size 4

Amazon

Buy (1) Huggies Simply Clean Baby Wipes, Refill, 648 Count = $11.97
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $9.58
"Clip" $2 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $2
Pay $7.58 or $.0116/wipe
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Buy (1) Huggies One and Done Refreshing Baby Wipes,Cucumber & Green Tea, Refill, 504 Count = $11.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $9.59
"Clip" $2 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $2
Pay $7.59 or $.015/wipe
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Here are some great diaper deals too...

Luvs

Buy (1) Luvs With Ultra Leakguards Size 1 Diapers 252 Count = $32.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $26.39
"Clip" $1 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $1
Pay $25.39 or $.10/diaper for Size 1. This scenario also works out to $.12/diaper for Size 2, $.14/diaper for Size 3, and $.16/diaper for Size 4s.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Seventh Generation

Buy (1) Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers, Size 1, 80 Count = $19.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $15.99
"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4
Pay $11.99 or $.15/diaper. This is higher than my goal but these are premium diapers an my absolute favorites so definitely worth the extra few cents.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Huggies

Buy (1) Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers, Size 3, Economy Plus Pack, 222 Count = $47.19
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $37.75
"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4
Pay $33.75 or $.15/diaper for Size 3. This scenario also works out to $.12/diaper for Size 1 (276 ct), and $.175/diaper for Size 4s.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Munchkin

Buy (1) Munchkin Super Premium Diapers, Size 3/Medium Ultra (16-28 Pounds), 96 Count = $18.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $15.19
Pay $15.19 or $.16/diaper for Size 3
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Fisher Price

Buy (1) Fisher Price Happy Day and Night Baby Diapers Size 3, 156 Count = $29.97
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $23.98
Pay $23.98 or $.15/diaper for Size 3
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Generally you aren’t going to stay in the newborn size long, nor do you want to when you see that they actually cost more than a size 1. So here’s my plan:

Math assumptions:

Changing on average 10 diapers per day/night
½ lb growth per week
starting weight of 6 lbs

5 months to 12 months
Growth slows to 1 lb every 3 weeks on average
Diaper Changes on average 6 per day
Size 3: 1512 diapers needed to get to 28 lbs = 56-62 jumbo packs

Total Diapers needed in the first year: 2,912"

Citrus Lane: April Box Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Mon, 26 May 2014 17:00:00 +0000

So I've been on this subscription box kick and was able to score a month of Citrus Lane for $9. I have to say I was very pleased with this box. While the monetary value of this box doesn't make it worth subscribing monthly to me (mine had a $47 msrp), I liked everything I received.

First Keys from Green Toys - $7.97
These are such a standard fair item that I think every child gets at some point. I had completely forgotten to get some for Minion so I'm so happy that these were included in our box.

On-the-Go from Zoli - $14.99
Since Minion isn't on snack foods yet, we haven't put this to use. But I know it will be very handy in a few months.

Cozy from North American Bear Co. - $10
While I would have never picked out a toy like this myself, Minion has actually started to enjoy snuggling with it while he's in his swing. So it's turned out to be pretty awesome.

Lemon Verbena Dish Soap from Mrs. Meyers Clean Day - $3.99/16oz
I had never used Mrs. Meyers products before this sample and now I'm hooked. I've been using this soap to wash all of Minion's bottles, pacifiers, and my shield every day. It smells so good and cleans so well.

Greeting Card from Treat - $3.49
This came at the perfect time since I needed to send a greeting card that week and had no plan to head into town. I definitely like this service and see it coming in very handy for long distance gifts.

Overall Impression: From this one box, Citrus Lane seems to have a better curating team than Bluum. But of course I could find another month's box to be less desirable. This time I was very pleased and will probably order another box some time in the future.

Budget Diapering - 5/25/14

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Fri, 23 May 2014 16:30:00 +0000

There are no coupon inserts this weekend because of the Memorial Day holiday. So don't go buying your Sunday prayer anticipating coupons.

Despite that there are a few decent deals this week on diapers :)

A note on wipes:
The regular wipes cost at Walmart is $13.47 for a 800 ct box of Parent's Choice and $1.25 for an 80 ct pack at HEB. These are the best prices I have seen without couponing and even with for the name brands. If I come across a better coupon price, I will share it. Otherwise I recommend just buying these.

Spending Goals:
NB-Size 2 = $.12/diaper
Size 3-5 = $.17/diaper

Abbreviations:
q = coupon
mq = manufacturer coupon
tq = target coupon
ip = internet price
pm = price match
exp = expires
gc = gift card
oop = out of pocket
nla = no longer available
ECB = ExtraCare Bucks
SS = Smart Source insert
RP = Red Plum insert
PG = Proctor & Gamble insert

I will update this post throughout the sales week as new sales are discovered by me :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CVS
All CVS deals require an ExtraCare card. This card not only entitles you to sale prices but also earns you coupons from the red box found inside the store and online when you sign into your account at cvs.com.
If your CVS runs out of stock of any sale diapers by Saturday, ask for a Rain Check. Be sure to have them write the event code at the bottom for any ExtraBucks you will earn and save the sales flyer if you have issues when you go to redeem your Rain Check in the future. CVS Rain Checks never expire.

Huggies Big Pak Diapers, Pull-Ups or GoodNites are on sale for $18.99.

Buy (1) Huggies Big Pak Diapers @ $18.99 and (1) Huggies 64 ct Wipes @ $3.99 = $22.98
Use (1) $2/both diapers & wipes CVS q (printable) = - $2
Use (1) $3/1 diaper mq (SS 5/18 exp 6/14) = - $3
Use (1) $.50/1 wipes mq (SS 5/18 exp 6/14) = - $.50
Pay $17.48 or $.17/diaper for Size 3s and $.046/wipe. Since the $1.50/1 CVS q from last week is nla you have to buy the wipes to use the $2 q. But the wipes are still higher than my goal so this would be a deal I personally would pass up on.

Buy (1) Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers = $8.09
Use (1) $2/1 Huggies Little Movers mq (printable) = - $2
Use (1) $2/1 Huggies Diapers Target q (printable) = - $2
Pay $4.09 or $.13/diaper for Size 3s and $.15/diaper for Size 4s.

Kroger

I don't live in an area with Krogers but this deal was brought to you by FreeStuffFinder.

Huggies Pull-Ups Training Pants 24 ct are on sale for $8.99 and prints a $5.00 Catalina when you buy 2 at Kroger Affiliate Stores (Ralphs, Smiths, Fred Meyer, QFC, Frys, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Gerbes, Bakers, Hilander, JayC Food, Pay Less Food, Scotts).

Buy (2) Huggies Pull-Ups @$8.99/ea = $17.98
Use (2) $3/1 mq (printable) = - $6.00
Pay $11.98 and get back $5.00 Catalina
Buy (2) more Huggies Pull-Ups @$8.99/ea in a separate transaction = $17.98
Use (2) $2/1 mq (printable) = - $4.00
Use $5 Catalina from previous transaction = - $5
Pay $8.98 and get back $5.00 Catalina. Making your net cost on 4 packs = $3.99/ea or $.17/diaper for Size 2T-3T.
You can make this deal even sweeter by redeeming

Amazon

Buy (1) Huggies Simply Clean Baby Wipes, Refill, 648 Count = $11.97
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $9.58
"Clip" $2 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $2
Pay $7.58 or $.0116/wipe
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Buy (1) Huggies One and Done Refreshing Baby Wipes,Cucumber & Green Tea, Refill, 504 Count = $11.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $9.59
"Clip" $2 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $2
Pay $7.59 or $.015/wipe
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Here are some great diaper deals too...

Luvs

Buy (1) Luvs With Ultra Leakguards Size 1 Diapers 252 Count = $32.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $26.39
"Clip" $1 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $1
Pay $25.39 or $.10/diaper for Size 1. This scenario also works out to $.12/diaper for Size 2, $.14/diaper for Size 3, and $.16/diaper for Size 4s.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Seventh Generation

Buy (1) Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers, Size 1, 80 Count = $19.99
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $15.99
"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4
Pay $11.99 or $.15/diaper. This is higher than my goal but these are premium diapers an my absolute favorites so definitely worth the extra few cents.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Huggies

Buy (1) Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers, Size 3, Economy Plus Pack, 222 Count = $47.19
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $37.75
"Clip" $4 coupon by clicking button under list price = - $4
Pay $33.75 or $.15/diaper for Size 3. This scenario also works out to $.12/diaper for Size 1 (276 ct), and $.175/diaper for Size 4s.
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Munchkin

Buy (1) Munchkin Super Premium Diapers, Size 3/Medium Ultra (16-28 Pounds), 96 Count = $17.62
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $14.10
Pay $14.10 or $.15/diaper for Size 3
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Fisher Price

Buy (1) Fisher Price Happy Day and Night Baby Diapers Size 3, 156 Count = $29.97
Use Amazon Mom to subscribe & save 20% = $23.98
Pay $23.98 or $.15/diaper for Size 3
Cancel subscription after your first delivery

Generally you aren’t going to stay in the newborn size long, nor do you want to when you see that they actually cost more than a size 1. So here’s my plan:

Math assumptions:

Changing on average 10 diapers per day/night
½ lb growth per week
starting weight of 6 lbs

5 months to 12 months
Growth slows to 1 lb every 3 weeks on average
Diaper Changes on average 6 per day
Size 3: 1512 diapers needed to get to 28 lbs = 56-62 jumbo packs

Total Diapers needed in the first year: 2,912"

Bluum: April & May Box Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mismikado) — Wed, 21 May 2014 23:40:00 +0000

For a month now, I have been meaning to post my review for April's Bluum box. Time got away from me and now my May box has come in so I'll just review both at the same time.

Bluum sent me an amazing box in April! At a retail value of $57 ($49 from Amazon), this box was totally worth the $9 I had spent on it and even made up for March's box. I can honestly say I loved every item I received in it :)

Playtex Baby - Ventair - Bottle 6oz - $4.49
3 pack available on Amazon for $13.47 With all of the bottles out there, it can feel like a daunting task to choose the right bottle for your baby, but it's easy to trust Playtex.
This came right when we were dealing with Minion's colic issues and had decided to start supplementing one of his night feedings (more on that later) so I was anxious to give it a try. Minion is pretty easy going and will happily take any bottle we offer him as long as it has my milk or his favorite formula in it (yes, he has a preference!). So I can't say this bottle was a magic worker compared to the others we have. But it was nice to add another bottle to the rotation since I always keep one in my auxiliary diaper bag and we use one every night now.

Tea Collection - Baby Hat - Four Square Sky - $10.00
Similar available with a blanket for $34.95
Babies always bring a certain freshness and vibrancy with them, and no one knows how to bring freshness and vibrancy to children's clothing like Tea Collection!
We haven't gotten to use this adorable hat yet because it's too big. But it is so soft and cute that I know it will get a lot of use :)

Priddy Books - Hello Baby Baby Grip - $5.99
Available on Amazon for $5.39
Your child's eyes are improving every day, but high contrast colors remain the clearest visuals for them. The Hello Baby board book taps into the importance of this visual stimulation.
I was actually planning on making Minion some high contrast flash cards the same day this came in so it was perfect timing. We've had fun reading it over and over again.

Perseus Books - The Stay-At-Home Survival Guide - $17.00
Available on Amazon for $11.87
In the waning days of your pregnancy, you're likely considering how life will be different once your little bundle of joy finally makes their arrival! The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide is here to help you sort through the range of changes and challenges you may encounter on the next step of your parental journey.
I have not had the opportunity to start this book since my extracurricular reading time is gone. But it definitely sounds interesting and I look forward to giving it a shot.

Klorane - Dry Shampoo - $19.50
Available on Amazon for $21.95
What Mommy can't benefit from the convenience of Klorane's Dry Shampoo? In every stage of parenthood, the grueling schedule means that sometimes your in-and-out shower didn't quite cut it (if you make it to the shower at all!). We are THRILLED to be featuring it as our Mommy Product of the Month.
I love dry shampoo and was so excited to try a premium brand. I've used this stuff and its pretty great and is way more absorbent than some other brands I've tried.

Overall Impression for April: This box blew me away and restored my faith in Bluum. Everything we got was perfect for us and totally useful! :)

Now for my May box which just came in so I haven't had as long to test everything, here's what we got:

Flap Happy - Boys Swim Diapers - Size S - $17.00
Similar available on eBay for $11.65
As you gear up for summer by spending more and more time outside, it's great to be prepared for unplanned trips to the pool (or maybe just the chance of turning on the sprinkler?). This swim diaper, with its elastic legs and waterproof cover, will keep your child's water play experience fun!
I think it's so funny that this was included in my box since I just bought 2 swim diapers for Minion this Summer from My Pool Pal and i play. It actually works out perfect that we got these because Minion's first swim adventure will be for our 3-day convention in July. Now I won't have to worry about washing them each night at the hotel but can rinse and toss them in a wet bag for washing when we get home. Having multiples is also not a big deal since we want to expose Minion to as much water as possible this Summer since we were both water babies :)

Sticky Bellies - Happiest Holidays: Baby's First Holidays - $14.00
Available on Amazon for $12
A new baby means lots of "firsts" - first time they sleep through the night, first time they try solid foods - and the first time they look adorable in a Valentine's Day outfit! Memorialize all of those firsts with this adorable set of First Holiday stickers!
I love the idea of Sticky Bellies stickers but I wish these had been the monthly ones. Since we don't celebrate holidays, we will get absolutely no use out of these :(

7th Heaven - Mud Mask - White Thai Mud, Detox Mud, & Miracle Mud - $2.99/ea
Available on Amazon for $5.99+
For all the time you spend trying to keep your little one clean, it's hard to believe it could feel so good to rub mud all over your face - but it will! Go on - rub that revitalizing mud all over your face!
I have never used a mud mask before so I'm kinda nervous to try these but I definitely plan to. I'll probably make a pampering session out of it since I've been needing to give myself a pedi as well.

Playtex Baby - Binky Silicone Newborn Pacifier - Cloud & Fish - $6.25
Available on Amazon for $6.13
You never know when you'll need a pacifier. While all babies are different, this tiny little thing can sometimes be a small miracle worker! Designed to imitate the shape and feel of a mother's breast, the Binky is a great choice for your newest family member.
I was incredulous about these at first because Minion has gotten to the point of refusing all pacifiers except his MAMs. The first time I put one in, he immediately spit it out. I didn't force the issue but tried several hours later and low and behold he's kept it in so far. It looks like time will tell on the success of these.

Priddy Books - Hello Baby Flash Cards - $8.00
Available on Amazon for $7.19
These eight, double-sided, individually shaped flash cards are fun for little hands to touch and hold, and are collated on a ring for safekeeping.
This was the real highlight of this box. I immediately started showing the cards to Minion and his eyes were glued to them the whole time. I like to point out the different shapes and colors to him. This was the first time he was so transfixed by a book (if he catches a look at the TV, he's glued) so it was extra fun to show these to him. I definitely see us using these a lot over the next couple of months.

Overall Impression for May: The retail value for this box was $54 ($58 from Amazon) which is pretty great for having spent $9. It was disappointing to get stickers that we won't use and I wasn't as in love with everything as I was last month. But I think it was worth the value and I'm sure we will get our use out of everything else.

This was my last box in my subscription and I don't think I will renew for a while since I'm still not convinced in paying the full $25 every month. But I can see myself ordering a box from time to time as a special treat for Minion when he gets a little older and will personally appreciate the products more.

Have you gotten any good subscription boxes lately that you can recommend?