Halloween Hilarity

Last nite was the annual preschool/church Halloween Carnival. Yes, I said Halloween and church in the same sentence. Our preschool/church actually celebrates Halloween, which is one of the reasons we chose it. I know you are thinking that when looking for your preschool you were considering instruction, creative play, and pedagogy. Not me, I just wanted to know they would have a great Halloween Party, and they do.

They have a haunted house in the church basement, ran by the church teenagers. Oscar really wanted to go. Felix not so much. Oscar begged and pleaded. I was hesitant after I heard that a group of his classmates didn't make it all the way down the stairs before they came crying back. Every time I tried to dissuade him he would say, "I am the Hulk I have big big muscles." I was worried if I let him go through the Haunted House and he got scared, that he might be scarred for life, or if he liked it and become a serial killer.

After, much discussion he managed to talk his buddy into going with him (no amount talking would convince Felix). So, down he went. At one point, his buddy started to get scared, but he looked over at Oscar and he was growling at the monsters. He kept telling them that "I am the hulk. I am mean. "followed by his growl. When we got out, he told me that he scared all those big kids. The teenagers couldn't hardly keep a straight face at the three year old that was growling at them. Maybe they are teaching reverse psychology at preschool?

Time = Money

So, today at lunch we were discussing Alice.com , and how much we love it. If you loathe Wal-Mart, but feel guilty for overspending on everyday stuff at Publix or Target, then Alice is your new BFF.
Basically, you can get all the stuff you would normally buy at Walmart for the same price or lower than Wal-Mart, and you don't have to deal with the horrible shopping experience that is the essence of Wally World. You like to clip coupons.. me too, and Alice does clipless coupons making the deals even sweeter. Plus, it is shipped straight to your door for free and no sales tax. There is a minimum 6 item purchase, but on your first time they will waive the 6 item limit (ssshh! that is a secret).

I find I save money, by not going into Wal-mart and buying stuff that I didn't realize I needed until I got there. Somehow, Wally is a vortex. Go in for two things come out with four. You can raise that figure to the tenth power once my foot crosses the Target Threshold.
Try it Out



Let me know what you think.
Use the referral button and once you spend 50$ they should send you a 10$ coupon.

I personally, have just booked marked it on my laptop, and when I see something getting low, I add it to my list. When there are 6 items in my cart I press send. In three days I have all the stuff I ordered. It is like magic.

The free stuff keeps coming

Barnes and Nobles has a coupon for a free cookie and kid’s size hot cocoa on October 24th.
Barnes and Noble’s Hot Cocoa Cookie
and Sears is giving away a free Mattel Toy for every kid dressed in a Costume on October 31st:
Free Toy

Wordless Wednesday ~ Hand Soap

Yes, it really is soap. Sorta creepy and funny.. perfect for Halloween. If you wanna buy some head over here

More free Stuff.

I hae already done this, and I got the coupon. It works.
Edible Arrangements: Free box of dipped fruit--first 100,000 only

Go here to become a fan of Edible Arrangements on Facebook and then go here to sign up for a coupon for a free box of six chocolate-dipped fruits. Offer is good for the first 100,000 people who sign up. The coupon will be emailed to you within 1-2 days.
No purchase is necessary but delivery costs will apply. (If you have a local store, I'm thinking that perhaps you could possibly pick it up without incurring any charges, but I'm not certain on that.)
At any rate, this would be a great and inexpensive way to surprise someone special in your life! The coupon is valid through November 21, 2009.

Freebies make Me Happy

Kodak Gallery: Free $15 gift code to 300,000

The first million people to register here with Kodak Gallery will get a free gift. 300,000 of those free gifts will be a $15 gift code--which would be perfect to use to purchase some Christmas gifts for grandparents or to get photos printed to include in your Christmas cards.
Go here to sign up and see if you win a $15 gift code. It only takes about 30 seconds to do and I just signed up and already received my $15 gift code via email!
Thanks, More Than Cents!
By the way, be sure to click thru Ebates first to redeem your gift code as they are offering 20% cashback right now!

Just Say No

So, Chato started his new job and has been out of town during the week. Since I am sorta a single parent now, I am trying harder than ever to stay on top of things. Housework, Work, Playtime, all those things that are easier when you have someone to split it. I am bound and determined to make this not only work, but to see my family thrive. Therefore, I am being super selective on what I commit to these days.

I don't want to seem flaky, and I just don't want to over commit (over committing is my Achilles heal). I am focused and organized. This means alot less "me" time and a lot less "social" time, but my family is worth it. Those people who love me will be there when the dust settles, and the outpouring of support has been wonderful. Thank you- to all those of you who have offered a hand, I might still need it.

Remember, No is only a two letter word not four.

Haunted Gingerbread House

The Box Image

Our House

Oscar.. the Proud Parent of an ugly house.

Consumer Seis

I am elated and over the moon. They are opening a new Target that is much closer to me. I should feel bad about this, but I don't.

Halloween Happiness - The Review Edition

So, anyone who knows me, knows Halloween is by far my favorite Holiday. The twins have their costume, I am going to be the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. Gotta re purpose the Easter Bunny costume. So, on with the month long Holiday extravaganza. I am going to try and share our picks and pans, in hopes that it will inspire.

Hubby and I dislike scary movies, but every year we watch them just for the month Halloween. It really gets us in the spirit. Friday night we drank a bottle of Gnarly Head Zinfindel . It was very yummy and the bottle had a very spooky label. We rented El Orfanto (The Orphanage), which listed Guillermo del Torro at the top of the case. He directed Pan's Labyrinth, if you haven't seen it rent it right away. It would be a great Halloween rental.

Basically in a nutshell, it is what is subtracted when you take "The Others" and add the "Sixth Sense". Plus, as a mom it is hard for me to watch movies where children are abused in any way. It was pretty and creepy, but not gory. So a good pick for Chato and I, but can't recommend it.

I started to read the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It is a thriller about Dracula. I am 165 pages in and it is moving about as fast as a snail in a marathon. Can't waste my horror month on a 600+ page snoozer. I am setting it free. I got a suggestion for a Batman graphic novel, and thought why not. So, I will be picking it up Wed. at the library. I have never read a comic and the only graphic novel I read was MAUS. So I am somewhat excited about it.

Went to Scarecrows in the Garden, and maybe it was too early but there were not that many scarecrows. Holding off review until my second trip. I hope the bad economy hasn't axed this gem. Felix and Oscar loved it enough to want to make their own Scarecrow Garden in the front yard. It too is a work in progress. Right now, it consists of twin boy scarecrows and miniature pumpkins. We also made this Halloween Gingerbread House. I'll let y'all review it on Wordless Wednesday.

I love starting new traditions and hearing about unique ways to celebrate. Please share yours and inspire Seis.

Strange in Encounters

Today, i went hiking with musicmama.
It was just like that Finley Quaye song
Sun is shining
The weather is sweet yeah
Makes you wanna move
Your dancing feet - guess you could change that to hiking feet.

Anywhoo, as we were trotting back to the car, we were passed by a woman mountian biking wearing bright red lipstick. I loved it. Her spirit really shined through, and if it wouldn't have been way too bizzarre, I would have flagged her down and requested to be her friend. I thought it was awesome. I wish I looked better in red. This stranger made my day. What a totally cool free spirit.