going to the library

A new thing we have been doing lately is heading to the library every few weeks. Our local library has a toddler story and activity time on Friday's where they can sing songs read a book and some weeks have a craft time.  I think its pretty cool. As much as i love to bring my son out for these activities and as much as he does enjoy them for us it is almost always stressful and more work that most parents. Having a son with autism and sensory issues has its ups and downs. He wont generally sit still for to long he always want to be moving and wants to be up close and personal with every kid and play with them but most kids his age don't really want this level of intensity or to play cooperatively. I know what you may be thinking don't autistic kids not socialize? And yes this is the case for most but every kid is different. My son in particular had alot of speech delays and while he tends to shy away from adults and hates being touched he is the extreme opposite with kids he seems to have a need to please them and also be very intense and up close almost to excitable.

So back to our trip to the library. He had a good time running around while kids sang and kinda listen to the story and glued a feather and 1 goggle eye on the paper before wanting to give up. So we went to get our books. He loves Clifford books and was happy to pick out 2 to bring home.  He was chasing another little boy around the book case i wanted to go home but i have to set a timer so he knows it is time. We had a small melt down when it was time to go he doesn't understand why the other boy wouldn't play too. All and all not to bad of a trip perhaps next time i will have to make up a picture book to read before hand on what we will do at library so he isn't too out of control and not as many tears.

New life to my blog

Well it has been 3 long months since i have even looked at my blog! I will say i have often thought of it and have wanted to but life just got the better of me and with the holiday stresses i honestly did not have the time or patients. In addition to thanksgiving,xmas, and new years it is also my sons birthday. One more thing to add to list of fun activities that will stress my son out but the family expects and also doesn't understand why the chaos upsets him or why he scream that someone cut his cake and everyone laughs that he cries when they sing happy birthday. (he hates singing if i hadn't mentioned before)  We got thru it all pretty much in one piece only took a few weeks to get back to normal routines.  Then i just wanted to rest for the rest of winter i was kinda in a funk my self after it all. But know I'm back! i have a few reviews coming up soon and hope to focus a little more attention on couponing post since i get a few free hours a week as son is in preschool!   Thanks for anyone who has stuck around love you all  Mel

Great coupon savings Econofood match up

Today's shopping trip was one of my better savings days. Now I'm not a super extreme couponer like in the TV show because realistically i buy an actual weeks worth of groceries not 100 of the same thing and no store in my area doubles coupons. So I'm an everyday shopper that keeps an eye out for good deals and stocks up when i can but i don't over do it. Now you may also see that there are no "meals" here because i only buy meat every few months during the meat sales and most frozen food during a frozen sale too so from week to week i usually just need normal things like sides,produce,milk, eggs, bread ect.

This weeks break down: Total before coupons $85.00 Total paid $50.00 money saved $35.00

I did all my shopping at my local Econofoods.

Some of the highlights: 2- 8ct pepcid ac tablets only .38 each there was an awesome coupon in this weeks paper for $4 off any size i clipped 2 of them.

  This week all these items are on sale and there is an in ad coupon for save $5 when you buy 10 participating smuckers brand items it works out to .50 off per item i got 4 boxes of HJ potatoes,$.99 each 1 box of HJ pancakes $1.49,1 condensed milk $1.49,1 crisco oil $2.99,Folgers coffee $4.49,smuckers caramel topping $1.49, Brownie mix $1.49. I also had from coupon flyer $1 off the Folgers coffee, printed from online .55 off milk and 2 $1 off 2 HJ products  Hungry jack potatoes both scalloped and instant mashed were .50 per box, Eagle brand sweet condensed milk 1.00 and Folgers coffee 3.50.

Chex cereal 3 boxes only $4 after in ad coupon of buy 2 get one free and clipped coupon of $1 off 3 boxes

Our family in ad coupon for save $3 of 10 participating items including many Thanksgiving items like stuffing,gravy,cranberry sauce and much more very easy to find 10 items most will cost between .70-1.00 after coupon.

And last was 2 bags of salad, croutons,cucumber,carrots,tomatoes,dressing all for $8 you buy 2 salads and you get dressing,carrots,tomatoes and cucumber free, you can print and online coupon for .50 off your free dressing and .50 off croutons.

Kemps products also on sale this week gallon milk is only $2.50

Sources to print coupons and check out the ads:

Econofood website  gives you the weekly ad and also link for our family brand coupons

Smart source  Additional coupons available

redplum  Most of the same but sometimes you find a few

Thanks for check it out hope you can save some money too!

Sick baby?

One of the big problems of having an Autistic child besides the obvious is trying to tell if they are sick or not feeling good in general. He cant tell me when he doesn't feel well and really it is just a guessing game on my end especially when there are not many outward signs. He doesn't tell me when he is hungry and would probably go all day without eating if i didn't give him food and feed him. Like wise he doesn't stop eating if he is full either unless i tell him he has had enough.

Today he woke up crying and calling out to me i rushed to get him and asked him knowing i would get no answer if he was ok.  He seems good no fever didn't seem to interested in breakfast but was able to get him to eat after awhile. Day went by with little issue and he even napped. Bed time was not so good at 11:30 pm he was still awake and ever 15 mins or so he would cry out for his mommy. So know I'm trying to figure out what is wrong. He has a slight stuffy nose but can breath and usually has worse from allergies. No fever still but I'm thinking his belly hurts i rub it and ask does it hurt and he cries no and squirms away so i suspect that yes it does i rub it gently and he says stop it. So i guess we will see DR in the morning he is finally asleep i can hope for the best as maybe a DR can tell me whats wrong but i doubt it.

Cloth Diaper Series: Washing and care

Check out privious post here:  How to begin And Options and buying

OH NO!! Washing diapers!!! Sounds scary i know but i can assure you it is not as bad as it sounds. I can honestly say (and i know its weird) that my diaper laundry is my favorite to do! Yes i know it sounds crazy but i know that many cloth diaper mommies out there agree that it feels so satisfying and you have a feeling of giving back when you wash them instead of throwing them away.  It takes me less cloth wipes to clean a mess than disposable wipes and i don't need to smell them in my garbage for week.

Which pile looks better to you?

Basic cloth instructions

*pee diapers simply put in pail or wet bag
*poop diapers shake solids into toilet and spray or rinse away excess then put in pail
* Wash diapers every 3 days or less depending on stash size to keep stains and smells at bay
* first step cold rinse cycle no detergent
*hot wash cycle with recommended amount of detergent safe for cloth if not using a cloth specific detergent then use 1/4 the the amount needed.
* Do an extra rinse to get rid of any left over detergent
*dry on low heat setting or line dry

Giveaway Feature

My new shop has been featured on 17 sirens head over to her blog for a great review and a giveaway of some awesome products. The winner will get prize package including Laundry detergent, home deodorizer and all purpose cleaner. All items are homemade and not full of harsh chemicals. Check it out and Enter the giveaway for a chance to win! All reader can use discount code: 17sirens  for free shipping on any order on my site MN momma shop 

Looking for sponsors

Hello fellow bloggers and Wahm's. Are looking to increase traffic to your blog,Facebook page, Twitter or etsy/hyena cart?  I am currently in need of some sponsors for some up coming giveaway blog hop events.  The Made with love event is a hop dedicated to hand made items and an awesome event 25 crazy days event that has so many great prizes valued at over $4000 and that does include all the blog prizes the main event has up for grabs an ipad2, mac book air, and tons of visa gift cards this event is guaranteed to have alot of participants so be sure to contact me today for a chance to sponsor and get more followers today! What i am looking for and what you get: If you sponsor a prize of under $25 you can choose 1 page to have followed during event and i will combine yours with other smaller packages.  If you sponsor $25-$49 you can have up to 3 pages to follow during event. If you sponsor $50 or more you can have as many pages to follow as you have and you will also have a pre-event spotlight article for more exposure and to give followers a chance to follow prior to event.  Besides my many followers i have an average of 2000 readers a month and I'm a member of Triberr a post multiplier, my posts are sent via twitter to over 40,000 people (not a member i can invite too).  So if this is interesting to you post a comment below or email me direct for more info: mnmommashop@gmail.com

Don't have product to sponsor but want to join hop? Be sure to say Minnesota momma sent you!