Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

This is where I bust out some brutal honesty

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With the impending (and then not-so-impending) sale of my house, the holidays, and just stay-at-home toddler raisin' in general, I haven't been able to blog as much as I'd like to.  When I think of it...and by think of it, I mean look back at my post archives...my blogging frequency tapered off right about Rayna's one year birthday and her transition from two naps to one.  Back in the good ol' days of two naps, the morning nap was my time to do computer stuff and blog.  The second nap was my time to maybe scrape myself together, eat lunch, clean, etc.  Now that there's only one nap the blog has taken the back burner.

And that's fine, really.  I'm not someone who is going to plop my kid in front of a movie all morning so I can electronically hob-knob with blog friends.  I do take pride in the fact that Rayna & I have really full days of playdates, meeting friends and family and other totally off-line activities.  Yet why do I feel a lot of guilt about not squeezing in the time to write more here?

That was a rhetorical question, but really I have an answer.  I feel guilty because I started my blog as one venture and it has meandered its way into something completely different.  And I keep lamenting that "my blog really sucks" as a "deal" blog.  This is where I need to be brutally honest with myself: I am not your sole source of deals, freebies and coupons (and if I am, then dear, you should think about expanding your horizons!)  When I first started out I couldn't find another blogging soul who was posting Acme deals.  Every weekend I would agonize over my need to get my Acme deals post up in & it took me hours and hours of my time.  Then this summer I found Mindi's blog Moms Need to Know and not only was she putting up an Acme deals post every week days before I would, hers was way better than mine.  So I fizzled out the Acme deals.

I guess I'm rambling on to level with you and myself that I am not a super "deal blogger".  If you want a lot of really great posts about deals, freebies, coupons, etc. then start reading Money Saving Mom or Common Sense With Money, or like I mentioned for you Acme shoppers, Moms Need to Know (check the links on my Resources page).  If you've read here for a while you also know that I'm not "super giveaway girl".  I actually can't stand doing giveaways and reviews, but I'll do them once in a while if they are relevant to me.

So what am I?  I'm a first-time, stay-at-home mom who loves to nab good deals & try to stretch our money as far as possible.  I'm currently a girl on Weight Watchers, menu planning, trying out new recipes & trying to be overall "greener".  I'm a Lost fanatic who could talk your ear off about theories and easter eggs for hours and hours.  I'm constantly trying to scheme new ways to find more time to read, do cross-stitch (you can say it, dork!) and occasionally get out for happy hour with the girls.  And all of that my friends is what you can expect to hear about on my blog.  So be warned, you are going to hear a bit more from me about me in 2010.

And just by saying all that, I have released a lot of completely unnecessary weight off my shoulders. =)

 

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A little update

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Well...

My house isn't sold.  This is the second time we have had our buyer fall through shortly before closing.  And honestly, it sucks.

It would be one thing if we just didn't have any interest on our house, but instead we get showings galore, people who "love" the place and a couple of first-time homebuyer single guys that think they want to buy a 100+ year old  house.  Instead my hopes get up, I waste tons of time and energy and it is pretty much for nothing.

I'm complaining and yet I'm also not, because today is the day before Thanksgiving.  I am SO thankful to have a house.  A safe, (relatively)warm house for my family that, as much as I complain about it, is actually very nice.  I'm thankful for my awesome family and friends and for the health of us all.

Recently, I posted about how I went to NYC for the Aiming Low event.  Aiming Low's founder, Anissa Mayhew (one of the "bloggy rockstars" I mentioned) was just recently struck down with two debilitating strokes.  I have been broken hearted that the amazing, vibrant woman whose funny words I love reading & I had the pleasure to meet in person just weeks ago is in the hospital just fighting to be able to open her eyes.

If that doesn't put things in perspective for a whiner like me, I don't know what will.  I have been touched and amazed at the outpouring of support for Anissa & I would be totally remiss if I didn't point my readers in her way so that you can add your prayers to the thousands who are believing for a miracle.

Anissa's husband Peter is posting updates on her recovery at Anissa's old blog Hope 4 Peyton.  (And why is it called Hope for Peyton? Because Anissa started that blog to chronicle their family's struggle with her daughter Peyton's recovery through childhood cancer)  If you are so inclined, please consider donating to the family who clearly have a long road ahead of them.  Here is a link to information about a PO box being set up and here is the link to a button if you would like to donate via Paypal (I can't get the button to work right here on my site).  I'm sure that no amount is too small; imagine if everyone gave $5, how quickly that would add up!

And while you're at it, if you're on twitter why not follow Anissa's 'celebrity' crush Ralph Macchio & tell him that Anissa sent you ;o)

 

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

My personal take on the whole FTC thing

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You may or may not be aware that the FTC has updated its guidelines to incorporate bloggers and their disclosure of payments for advertising (including product reviews). This is pretty big news in the blog-world, because now all of us who write a blog have to disclose when we are being paid or given product to review for a post.

One big question you may be wondering is "why is this a big deal?" I would like to think that for most of us, it isn't. It's not a big deal to me. I have always disclosed when a company has provided me with product to review. You are getting my *real* opinions on these items and I will only do them if they also provide a giveaway or valuable offer to my readers. Why? Because I tend to think you don't want me shoving reviews of cool stuff I might have received for free unless there's also something cool in it for you. That's just my opinion.

If I do a giveaway where I did not specify where the product came from, you can rest assured that it was mine. Seriously. I've done this. Yes, maybe that is 'small potatoes' to some, but I think it's nice to do sometimes and this is MY blog ;o)

Also, I have never done a post for money. I get offers for these types of posts all the time. Honestly, I've considered doing it, but (to use some church-talk on you) always felt a check in my spirit about it. Run-on sentence alert: It seemed shady to me to get paid a few bucks so that a marketer could get some more traffic back to their site while you sit there and read my posts and think I might actually care about the site I'm promoting when really I just wanted some cash. I'm not bashing anyone who has done this, but it never felt right for me. I actually do participate in the Sponsored Tweets program, where I put out a tweet once in a while (I've done 12 in all of my 836 tweets so far) that is an advertisement. It is clearly marked with some type of disclosure, either by saying it is an "ad" or using the #ad hashtag. If that bothers you, I'd love to hear your opinions.

Now I feel like I might be ranting on a bit too long, but I wanted to put a post up to let you know my thoughts on all of this, and to let you know that I have always been ethical in my blogging. I added the Blog with Integrity button a few weeks back to quietly let people know (among other blog-related beliefs) that I have always chosen to disclose, even before it was mandatory. I'm not trying to be high and mighty by saying all of this either, it was just pressing on my mind. I'm just a girl who likes to share things with a little group of readers she *adores* who lives for simple things like comments (HINT, HINT!) ;o)

If you want to read more on the FTC thing, check out the article on Mashable & elsewhere.

 

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Friday, September 11, 2009

Keep coupon policies with you!

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I had my first rude couponing experience at Wal-mart last weekend. First, I'll say that I almost always bring the Target coupon policy with me when I'm shopping there. I also have a newspaper insert they had put out ages ago that showed the savings with a Target coupon *combined* with a manufacturer coupon, just in case my local store gave me some problems like they had in the past.

Wal-mart, however, has always been easy going to me. Whenever I go, the cashier scans every coupon dutifully and never blinks twice. Yet a little voice told me to just go ahead and print the Wal-mart coupon policy & put it in my Couponizer bag.

Well, last weekend I went with the family to Wal-mart to pick up some of the deals that were available. This definitely included some printable coupons. As soon as I got to the register, the cashier asks, "did you print these coupons from the Internet?" to which I say 'yes.' She then says, "well we don't take those" and starts to hand them back to me.

Hubby was very impressed with my Matrix-like speed in whipping out their policy--I had *just* printed it--and began to inform my cashier that my coups were legit. Cashier calls manager. Manager says, "we do not take Internet coupons" and I calmly begin to hand her the coupon policy that I say I have "just printed" from the Walmart website. Manager does not want to see my coupon policy, but at this point thinks that I am staring at her nametag...which I wasn't! I hadn't even gotten to that level yet, I'm still positive everything is going to go just fine. She then dramatically grabs her nametag and makes a dramatic show of showing it to me and says, "The name's Deanna* since that's what you're looking at!"

Well hold up, sister. I was NOT looking at your name tag and there is no need to get snippy here. I flabbergastedly announced that I was not even looking at her name tag, and then she seemed to calm down. I'm not a psycho, I just want to use a coupon =)

So this story is getting really long, but then Deanna (why did I change her name, when she is not really "innocent?" lol) realizes that my coupons scan and are perfectly legitimate, but she still has to check with a mysterious manager that is somewhere in the front offices. During this time, Deanna stops to chat with whoever she pleases and takes her grand ol' time. When she does come back she says that "the accounting person is not in, but HE said we could take them if they scan." That was all very nebulous and I think she was just faking, but whatever. I politely said thank you and I left paying not even $3 for two bags of stuff.

Meanwhile, my husband was very proud of me because I remained calm and got my way in the end. But, I stuck to my guns only because what I was trying to accomplish was perfectly legitimate and my right as a customer of their store. Now we all know that this is usually a rare occurance, but it has definitely served as a reminder to me to know store coupon policies and keep a written copy of them with me, if available.



And be sure to check your local grocery stores for their coupon policies and carry those with you, also!

 

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Friday, May 8, 2009

KFC No longer accepting their free meal coupon

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Well didn't that Free KFC Grilled Chicken Meal coupon really turn into a debacle?!  Sadly, KFC is officially not accepting any more of the free meal coupons.  Instead, you need to take your printable coupon into your local KFC and they will give you a form to fill out and a valid replacement coupon will be mailed to you for a free meal (and they are throwing in a free Pepsi this time...how generous!!)

So that stinks, but at least there is some type of recourse if it is worth it to you.

 

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

If I am notably absent...

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It is because a tornado hit my kitchen!! Well, that's what it looks like right? I mean there is a filthy floor, a filthy Phillies rally towel (?!), garbage, spices, a ton of misplaced items...all because my refrigerator broke. Again.

Marc and I remodeled the kitchen just before getting married a few years ago, and one of our prized items was the huge stainless steel side-by-side refrigerator we bartered for at the Sears outlet for HOURS, to get for $800. A few years later, just a few months ago, the freezer flat out died and all my items defrosted. The fridge side quickly followed suit. The warranty had JUST expired, and it took two repairman trips and $400 to repair the fridge!!!

Well, the first reason I have been post-lite lately is because Marc was out of town for a business trip in Baltimore. I didn't really think I should mention that kind of thing on here in advance because it would alarm my mom :). So all weekend while I'm here alone, there was a really obnoxious knocking sound coming from the kitchen, even waking me up in the middle of the night. I guess it was the reaper coming for my big ol' fridge (seriously, though, I wonder what it was? The fridge trying to give me an SOS?). So, at some point this afternoon, I opened the freezer to find all of my homemade baby food, ice cream, anything near the top, wasted. Of course, you-know-who has the worst memory, and forgot to put the fridge on the PSE&G repair contract. So no warranty, yet again. Ouch!!

You can imagine that all afternoon/evening I've been busy with the salvaging of food, getting rid of the clunker fridge, shopping for a new fridge, etc. Not fun! So I do hope you'll excuse me for a while while I clean up the aftermath.

And this weekend while I was attempting to hold down the fort, I never got around to doing the Acme deals...did anyone notice? I had looked through the circular and saw *nothing* worthy of note. So, I decided to skip it. Now you know. It is just one of those weeks! Can't wait for Thanksgiving!!

 

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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

My Omaha Steaks finale

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Yup, they arrived. Yesterday I actually received my eight (not twenty) Omaha Steaks burgers for $1.98. I am super excited for them, because $1.98 is still a really great deal for 8 choice burgers delivered to my door, but I can't help but leave this whole situation still scratching my head for Omaha Steaks.

I wonder just how many of us blog-reading, deal-posting, bargain fanatics really tried to place orders using the "two promotions"? I would *love* to know. Regardless, a company should honor its own mistakes and fulfill the orders we thought we were placing. Some of the really early birds got their full 20-burger-for-$1.98 orders, some of us got 8, and yet many were left not getting anything at all. I wonder what kind of impact it had on their company's reputation, especially in tough times right before the holidays?

I guess I won't know the answers to some of these questions, but yesterday I read an interesting post on Money Saving Mom's blog. She had a post (here) about a little children's DVD company called Kinderbright offering a free DVD in return for some parents' reviews. Due to the traffic of her site, Kinderbright was inundated with requests and issued this email to her:

We would like to thank you for posting our offer on your site. After more
than 440 requests in 3 hours, we can no longer offer the dvd for free. We
had been averaging about 2 requests per day before this.

We will honor all the requests received this evening (by approximately 7:45
central time), for the free Volume I, but it may take a number of weeks to do it.

We have changed the webpage, and we are now offering your visitors a
discounted price of $8.95 and free shipping.

Again, thank you. Based upon the responses we've received thus far from
viewers, we feel confident your moms, dads, and kids will find the dvd's
worth the wait.

Kind regards

I read that and immediately thought of the Omaha Steak thing. I think Kinderbright's email displays exactly how a company should react in this sort of day and age, when an offer can go 'viral' with little warning.

 

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Superfresh frustrations

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Big sigh.

I never shopped at the Superfresh near me because their prices are higher than both Acme & Shoprite. As you know from my post here I was going to try them out by picking up the $40 worth of General Mills products & get the free turkey. Well what do you know?

SUPERFRESH WILL NOT TAKE INTERNET COUPONS. PERIOD. COMPANY-WIDE POLICY.

Can you believe that?? In today's economy? They will certainly get a letter from me. So now I can say THAT is why I never shop at Superfresh.

As a reminder, Acme will take any internet coupon (and double the ones $0.99 and under). Shoprite will take any internet coupon $1 or less (and double them up to a $1 value). Wegmans will take any internet coupon that doesn't have the word "free" on the coupon (not sure about the doubling, I will check in and let you know). The "free" means you can't use a "free" value internet coupon or a "buy one get one free" type coupon. Walmart and CVS don't double any coupons, but they will take all printables that have a barcode.

So I don't know what the deal is with Superfresh, but I'm not going to post deals for them unless there is something very awesome.

 

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