Posts Tagged ‘family’

Saving Big with the Coupon Mom Show

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Posted 28 Feb 2010 — by Jennifer
Category Time & Money

Have you heard of Coupon Mom yet? Stephanie Nelson, the Coupon Mom, has been featured on Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, The Early Show, Good Morning America, and other great shows. She has been saving big money on her groceries and she aims to show us how to do the same. I watch her show and I’m amazed. I’m a coupon clipper but nothing like her.

To find out how you can save more money each month watch the Coupon Mom closely. “New episodes of the Coupon Mom Show will be airing every Thursday on YouTube and on the Coupon Mom Show website.” I watched her shop with a family and save them big on the Kids & Pets episodeNot only can we learn to save money by watching her show and using her website as a tool, but we can post a new challange for her for her to address. Visit the Coupon Mom Show websiteto do just that. I spend about $700 on groceries each month myself. The Reeds are a big family that consist of 2 adults and 6 children, I don’t do that bad with saving money and already use some of the tools she provides, but I could do better and aim to. I can’t wait to get started. Check Coupon Mom out and save big!

You can see the Coupon Mom promo below. Please let me know what you think after you view a few of her show by commenting below. Thank you!

YouTube Preview Image

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Spring Time Near Means Swimming Cheer

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Posted 21 Feb 2010 — by Jennifer
Category Entertainment

With heat to come, our household of many kids, and not to mention all the families we are close to I was thinking it’s time to shop for above ground pools. We moved recently to a house with a decent sized backyard. What a perfect reason to shop for pools! Above ground pools just seems safer and less expensive over all for the family and our close friends.

While pool shopping I thought, why not throw a pool party once it heats up for all of our loved ones? I found some great ideas for pool time fun this spring. Yes, I said spring! We’re in California over here, and it gets hot in spring!

One really cool game I found for the pool was a rubber ducky race. You give each player a rubber ducky and have them nudge it with their nose as they swim along. The winner is the duck that made it to the other side first. There is the classic game of throwing items in the pool and seeing who collects the most within a given time. Why not throw floating items in as well. When all are swimming and splashing about, see how hard it is for the kids to grasp a floating object. Sounds like too much fun! It will be heating up soon so get ready all!

Do you have any pool party tips or ideas? Please comment below and share with our readers.

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Band in a Box by Melissa and Doug Review

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Posted 19 Feb 2010 — by Jennifer
Category Entertainment, Reed Reviews

Okay, as yall know I’m the “new” Online Customer Service Manager for a very popular Baby to Teens store. If that didn’t tell it all! Every week I bring home a new toy for Yissie because I’m now once again “an absent parent” most days because I’m busy at work (work that I LOVE by the way). Not that gift buying makes up for me being at work all day, but she sure gets excited no matter how big or small the gift is so this gift buying routine is well worth it!

I knew I’d want to one day review a product I bought but haven’t had it in me thus far. Sure the other toys were great and I’m sure I’ll get to reviewing the others that scored big points by the children but this one I can’t wait on!

Band in the Box by Melissa and Doug is the best toy I’ve bought for family fun in some time. “This musical set includes a tambourine, cymbals, maracas, clacker, tone blocks and a triangle!” These musical instruments are designed with children in mind in regards to the quality, colors, usefulness, and was also crafted with your children’s safety in mind!

I came home so excited to show the kids. I got all the kids together from ages 2 to 11 and asked them if they wanted to be in a band. The kids raved with excitement and each of us (four of the kids and I) chose an instrument and we boogied down! Not long after, the kids were showing daddy their new musical talents and who would guess it… one of the teens got involved. I can’t wait for my oldest to get home! She will enjoy the Band in the Box by Melissa and Doug more then the two year old I’m sure! The Band in the Box by Melissa and Doug is great for family fun and to teach your children creativity! Check out Band in a Box by Melissa and Doug by clicking here!

This wraps up it up for Fun Friday!

Do you have a favorite toy that you brought home for your kids? Please let us know by commenting below. We want to know what toys we should be checking out! Thanks yall.

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Teens and Trust; Can the Two Exist?

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Posted 16 Feb 2010 — by Jennifer
Category Reed Educates

My Goofballs

Watch your teens folks! My teen girls ask that I trust them, ask that I don’t intrude in their personal lives, and they speak of a word called privacy! I never heard of such a thing.

I do trust them, yes indeed, I trust that these young ladies are capable of getting into a lil’ trouble, big trouble and at times no trouble at all. I will respect their privacy if they aren’t showing me strange behavior. If you’re running around talking back, cursing, showing me boys aren’t just cute but that they mean something more then just that… then, I must stalk you! Sorry!” I’m the mom and I’m to keep you out of trouble. Deal with it!”

I found a letter titled, “I’m Pissed”. It’s not addressed to anyone and was laying out in our common living space written by my 14 year old. Do I read more, of course I do! Would I have if it was titled “Buttercups and Roses”? Probably not!

When I see a boy on your MySpace move from page 3 to your top 10 and you’re only 13, well it’s common sense my friends… It’s time to log on and see what’s really going on with my 13 year old and this new friend she is oh-so fond of that he gets to move so quickly to the spot her most important peeps are at!

Teens and trust can co-exist, but I believe it’s in a parent’s best interest to still keep an eye on their teens. I don’t write the rules, and raising teens never came with a handbook. That’s why I’m here telling it like it is! It’s so easy to get into trouble at such an impressionable and emotional age. Besides that, it’s so hard to fix the trouble once it’s dead-smack front and center! 

Many of you will agree and some of you will disagree. Some will say, “If you truly trust your teen you will give them the privacy they ask for.” I can respect that, but I chose to keep an eye on my girls the best that I can all the while still giving them some space. I do my best.

Now I must ask, do you have any teen raising tips? If so, please comment below for all of us to read. You may have an answer to what some of us just can’t grasp. Thank you friends!

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Our Children Becoming Adults

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Posted 17 Jan 2010 — by Jennifer
Category Reed Tidbits

Why can't they stay this way longer?

I often count the moments, the days, and the years that are going by. When I look at the kids while they sleep I listen to them breathe, smell their hair. touch their faces, watch their movements, listen to the humming in the air or their heartbeat as their heart strums along making a musical drumming noise of it’s own, for each child of mine has their own…

My oldest, Renae, is 14 and has been so for a bit now… since August. I can’t believe in three to four years she will be doing grown up things… paying some of her own bills, dating, driving, working, borrowing money from me, hopefully headed to college, and making plans for her dreams and aspirations! Then right behind her is Robyn. She is pressing 14 next week. This amazes me. Two very bright girls, different in more ways then I can count… soon to leave the coop, so to speak.

Knowing that my girls will soon be women, I feel I don’t have enough time with them. Renae moved to her dad’s for the weekdays about a year ago so that she could go to a good highschool, and Robyn is at her other home half the week. Knowing they will be adults in three and four years I want them closer… I want them more, and now!

I’m proud in many ways and I fear many things. Soon they will have to make big decisions on their own. Will they seek my guidance? Will they still listen some of the time? What huge mistakes will they make and learn from? Will they PLEASE just stay one more year with me as they enter the realm of adulthood. I know I have years to sort this out, but time is passing by so fast. Moments ago I heald Renae in my arms as she smiled and looked to me for all things. Now I look up at her at 6 feet tall and I’m in awe.

Come on parents help me out here! Please share your stories, as your children grow what is going on in your head? Is your children already grown? Will it be as hard as I think to let them be on their own? Please share by commenting below.

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Handling Laundry Woes

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Posted 14 Dec 2009 — by Jennifer
Category Time & Money

Six kids and two adults… Clothes, Clothes, and more Clothes! How does it all get done? Washing, folding, and putting away so many clothes when there is so much to do during our days that seem hours too short. When I worked all day while being a full time student I didn’t even try to get it done. My family lived out of clothes’ stacks. I would sort out the clothes; boys, girls, baby, and ours, and that’s about all that got done!

My husband spends lots of time in the garage unwinding: smokes, has a few beers, chats with friends. While he is in the garage he washes laundry. I’m lucky for that. I hate to wash clothes. My main task is getting them to where they belong. We moved recently and there is more room, more room means more things have a space. I set to fold every one’s clothes, since I’m home during the day. I realized that the only one, out of the eight of us, kept my neat stacks put up was the baby.

My husband would toss his stack in the closet on the floor, partly because he refuses to bring our old dresser in the house. He wants a new one, his thinking is if he doesn’t bring the old one in then he will conquer all and get a new one. That never works, the dresser will be in the house in a few weeks (mark my words)!  Sinya, the 8 year old, was neat enough to put her clothes on top of her dresser. First thing in the morning when it’s time to find something to wear, the clothes would be thrown about. The older girls opted themselves out of a dresser. All the years they’ve had a dresser, the only thing I found in their drawers was lost papers and doll clothes. The older girls now hang up all their clothes. The boys end up throwing all things in their closet. They don’t care about the time it took me to fold at all.

With all that said, I refuse to fold every one’s clothes once again. They are all old enough and capable of handing their own clothes’ stack. If it’s thrown about they know the drill! Don’t ask me to play on the computer, it won’t happen! I only sort the clothes out: the  teen girls, the boys, the younger girls, the adults! I fold the babies and the adult clothes only once again!

How does your family handle the laundry business? If I’m missing something that would truly help my situation I will follow suit, but I tend to think my way is the best way. Please comment below and let me know how you get it done! And of course:

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(Photo Credits: Flickr via midorisyu & this post inspired by previous twitter conversations with @abiolatv and @Hautotes )

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My Guest Post on Living My Moment – H1N1 Vaccine: To Vaccinate or to Not Vaccinate

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Posted 12 Dec 2009 — by Jennifer
Category Reed Educates

H1N1-VaccineI sit in the doctor’s waiting room so that my two year old, who we call Yissie, can get her shots updated all the while two young boys sit still with their faces strapped to a flu mask. “Oh NO,” I thought, H1N1 here we come. The poor boys sit there looking shamed due to them being the only ones partaking in this flu mask escapade. Then a little girl points them out in disbelief blurting out, “They’re SICK!” She says this over and over again embarrassing these poor boys. I truly wanted to hug them, but feared H1N1 would be knocking at our door all too soon.  

 

We get called back past the waiting room and I’m very relieved. Then my poor lil’ Yissie has to go to the potty. GERMS, GERMS, and more GERMS is all that is on my mind as I sit her portable potty on the seat of the doctor offices toilet. Stacked high in the waste bin is tissue. This mountain of tissue made me more nervous then the two boys that may have had H1N1! What’s a mother to do? I hold Yissie’s hands high in the air and snap at her every time she gets close to touching anything.  

 

After all these fears of my poor baby getting H1N1 within a thirty minutes span, the doctor tells me he can give her the H1N1 vaccine via nasal spray well after their recording told me they didn’t have any vaccines available. 

  

Great, I’ve been at odds with the choices we have as parents… Too vaccinate or to not vaccinate? My husband texted me having an outright fit, he sternly told me she can and will not get the H1N1 vaccine the same day she receives the seasonal flu vaccine. He feels this would stress her lil’ body out if we gave her both vaccines. He tells me to wait a few weeks! Okay I’m darned if I do, and darned if I don’t.  

Are you vaccinating your children with the H1N1 vaccine? I decided I will vaccinate my children with the H1N1 vaccine. I haven’t yet due to overcrowded clinics and because I just barely decided I was going to let my children get the vaccine but a few weeks ago. Please share by commenting if your family has been vaccinated or what your stance on the H1N1 vaccine is. I’m very interested in your experience and opinions. Please share by commenting below.

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Note: Thank you Abbey from Living My Moment for allowing us the opportunity to guest blog for you during your maternity leave! It’s been a great honor. Congratulations on the new addition to your family. As always we will be reading your blog for your family updates.

Friends please visist her blog at LivingMyMoment.com. Her blog is one to subscribe to!

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Overwhelmed & Overweight

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Posted 11 Dec 2009 — by Jennifer
Category Reed Educates

Overwhelmed and Overweight, how many of you came here because you feel the same way? I was browsing iMommyTalk.com and came across, How concerned are you with your children’s weight?, and even put in a lengthy reply. My son, Jamarae, at age 10 is overweight, and my daughter, Renae, at age 14 is underweight with the other four children being the right weight for their height. It’s not just the two kids with the “weight watch” issue, the husband and I have gained our fair share of pounds these last five years or so.

So now that I’ve told you that there are three size groups in my family… Too big, too small, and just right (I’m sure I sound like Goldilocks examining the three bears beds)… what to do? I just graduated to 2% milk! I’ve been having the family drink whole milk all this time because my dear Renae, being underweight, and their being a baby in the house. We all agree it’s time to leave whole milk on the shelf. Besides the milk factor, we watch our serving portions (excluding Holidays), and we aren’t lazy (well I can be at times, but shhh). We move about a lot, getting our task done and such.

My big concern is this, being of three size groups we do have our separate needs for what we eat and don’t eat, all the while getting our basic food group portions! We all should exercise more, no doubt about that! How do we do this on a budget and having different schedules at times? I’ve been Google searching away and found, Family-Health-and-Nutrition.com. Brilliant, articles and more articles about my trials, Oh boy! Kids Nutrition Blog!, Healthy Grocery Tips On A Budget, Food Pyramid Guide For Busy Moms!, Free exercise tips for the whole family!… The list goes on and on! I’m very excited to say the least.

I’ve been paying attention to the little things when it comes to health, I’m setting a goal to step things up a notch! I’m taking a lead and making things happen one step at a time! Time for better food and more exercise, isn’t it about time? Who is in on the plan with me? Does anyone want to work as support for each other with me? Please comment below and share any tips you may have for the busy family.

If you want to follow our success then please subscribe to our updates of Family Knowledge & Entertainment by clicking here! Thanks friends!

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Tiger Woods’ Personal Business

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Posted 02 Dec 2009 — by Jennifer
Category Entertainment

According to FoxSports.com, Tiger Woods may have been playing more then golf these last few years. It is reported he may have had been playing with fire and had an affair with a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, who also appeared on VH1’s Tool Academy, Jaimee Grubbs and with a female named Kalika Moquin. (In case you haven’t heard all the Tiger drama, read more about these alleged (innocent until proven guilty, right?) affairs by clicking here.)

Okay, I get it! Affairs are wrong, but is this really all of our business? Many people are demanding that he tell his story, and that he confess to whatever it is he did. Many people feel because he is in the spotlight he owes the world an explanation. Being a world icon does that really mean he owes the world an explanation? 

What happens when a typical person gets caught in an affair? The typical person doesn’t owe the whole world an apology. Typically the news spreads as far as the immediate family and maybe a few close friends. The couple decides to separate or work it out… then all is another day in this crazy world. Why does it have to be so different for his family? Maybe people feel that Tiger owes the world something because he is “a great”! He is a role model after all. Now this…

What do you think my friends? Does Tiger owe you an explanation? Or should he just call it a lesson and handle his personal business, doing what he has to do to keep it moving forward? Please comment below, I really want to know your stance on this.

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Leave Robyn Alone

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Posted 28 Nov 2009 — by Jennifer
Category Reed Tidbits

Leave Robyn AloneAs you know my step-daughter has been with us the last three weeks due to recent troubles she is having at her mothers home. Well, if you remember correctly last time we tried this her mother showed up six days later with the police due to a change of heart. Well, now I received a text message yesterday from Robyn’s mother stating she would like to go back to her regular schedule again, which is Sunday through Tuesday every week.

All is fair, right? Her mom deserves her half the time! The issue is this… Robyn has way too much freedom at her mother’s home and much of her past is sure to catch up with her over there. I knew this was going to happen the moment Robyn was sent to stay with us full time. I knew this because of what happened the last time, and her mother showed signs of wanting her back at her home too soon. Robyn’s mother’s home is toxic for her in her current state of mind. Our baby isn’t ready to be in that environment.

Our family switched her school over to our area and she was barely settled. She was just starting to embrace being part of the house full time. I always do what I can to make the kids feel like this is just as much their home as it is ours. I try to teach them all to love each other the same amount even though some are with others more often then the other siblings. Ive noticed a recent change in which Robyn was embracing and showing a different love to all her siblings not to just the brother she is with all the time in both homes. I was proud of a new found kindness I’ve seen recently in her spirit. I seen a young lady growing up with tools that she has been missing. I was seeing a young lady who loves unconditionally and one who doesn’t hold on to anger… one who forgives. If nothing else this time here has helped her see that she equally needs us as much she needs her mother.

I’m thankful for the time we had with her and know all will be okay since I see her half the week. I’m just concerned that right now she needs a parent and not a friend. She needs guidance, and the last thing she needs right now is freedom. I feel like all of our hard work will amount to less then it would if we had a bit more time. I don’t want her to make the mistakes she has been making. I will keep hope and stay in Robyn’s ear. Nothing will change, but what she can get away with Sunday through Tuesday.

I’ll keep yall updated as we keep it moving. Any other parents who can relate please share your story in the comments below. To stay updated please subscribe to Reed What Matter’s updates by clicking here.

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