Drugstore Ninjas Disaster Preparedness Kits

 

`I know that many of you out there are drugstore ninjas – swooping in with fistfulls of coupons, Register Rewards, and Extra Care Bucks and flying out with $67 worth of stuff for $0.06 before the clerk knows what hit them. I also know that sometimes, you stock up on just a smidge more than you actually need right now. Or might actually need for the next 35 years. I speak from experience, and I end up looking for a charity who happens to be having a toothpaste drive.

I am sincere when I say that resourcefulness is a gift. It fits in the ‘talent’ portion of time, talent and treasure your church asks you to share with someone less fortunate than you.  Something about “The Recession” makes me want to focus my giving more locally, but not being sure when a layoff is coming, we are careful with our money and have had to cut back on some donations. I feel awful about this, but I believe the University of Georgia Alumni Association will live without me for a few years.

While the Red Cross is a huge organization, the local chapters coordinate services for their communities. Right now, the Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids is collecting items for Disaster Preparedness Kits for one of the most fire prone areas; the Baxter Neighborhood. For more information about their wish list and donating, check here. And yes, toothpaste is on the list.   

Donating items I have an abundance of is one way I can help other people with at a very low cost. It is a very tangible way for kids to see you give, too.  Just print off the list and go ’shopping’ from your stash for items on it.  People are so excited when kids are involved that they will get lots of praise for when you go to deliver the items.  It always bewilders my kids a little, but I think it is laying a good foundation for community involvement. For more Frugal Friday, go to Life As MOM.

Having A Moment

We’re wrapping up summer this week and finalizing our fall plans. For our family, it’s a big shift not only from summer to school, but it’s also the beginning of my work season so we go from lots of time together to lots of time apart. My plans have changed slightly as the nanny situation I wanted wasn’t coming together. I’ve almost been too deep in thought and busy with little pesky ‘get ready for school’ tasks to write a coherent blog post this week but the urge to blog is overtaking me; so here we go.

Last year when I worked, my husband worked an opposite shift so we didn’t have any childcare. This year, he is starting school (and still working full time) and we don’t have that option. We have known The Nanny for quite a while, and she loves our kids. Unfortunately, our schedules don’t work together so I had to come up with Plan B. After a few days of trying to work out The Nanny Situation, I felt like I was doing math, and I am really bad at math. I decided to check out daycare centers.

This was a giant big huge enormous step for me. I am officially a Working Mom (even if it’s not year-round). Someone else is taking care of my kids the majority of the time. I had to swallow hard just to write that last line. They are only in school half days.
My kids seem completely unfazed. A.P. is excited that he gets to ride the bus from school to daycare. Maybelle is excited because they have a lot of books.

I am trying to look at this as a growth experience. As a parent this is just one of many ‘controlled releases’ into the world, until they ultimately become independent. School didn’t bother me though, partly because I’m a very involved parent, and partly because I loved school and believe they will too. I never went to daycare. I never rode the bus. I worry that Maybelle is too young for this and it will change her in a way that isn’t best for her. On top of it, it’s so much change at once – school for them, school for my husband, and me working out of the home and not as able to do for them what I usually can.

I know change isn’t always bad. I am actually pretty good with change myself – it’s when my kids are involved that I get nervous. Am I doing what is best for them? Am I doing my best for them? I have pretty close to 0% guilt as a mom. I am confident in my ability to be a good mom to my kids – it comes more easily than anything ever has and when it’s difficult; the struggles feel ‘real’ as opposed to some situations I encountered in Corporate America. I am 100% vested in the outcome.

I know my kids are resilient and flexible. I also know that this isn’t forever. I am encouraged by their excitement, and look forward to the satisfaction of ‘making it happen’ at work. I am going to have faith that this will work out for everyone.

Menu Plan Monday

This is it! The last week of summer. Here in Michigan it feels very October-y and there’s no getting around it – it’s strange.  I’m sad that the loosey-goosey schedule we’ve enjoyed for the past three months is coming to an end, but I’m so excited for my kids to start school.  They both have fantastic teachers this year, and we just found out Maybelle’s “boyfriend” will be in her class with her.  They’re both thrilled; but cannot physically be near each other without making some sort of contact. I’m hoping they behave themselves in class.  It’s a Christian school, after all.

Here’s what’s on the menu for this week.  I have been very fortunate lately with people giving me produce from their bountiful gardens, so I will be making good use of it. Our garden; not so bountiful.  And considering there is a frost warning tonight, I am not sure how this harvest season is going to turn out.

For more Menu Plan Monday, check out I’m An Organizing Junkie.

MONDAY:

Maybelle’s birthday was Sunday, but we’re having her favorite dinner today instead.  She has requested “pasketti”. Pasketti it is. 

TUESDAY

This is A.P.’s birthday, so we’re having baked fish and broccoli slaw for dinner.  Seriously.  At least he’s normal enough to want cake; but he wants a “pineapple upside down cake, with strawberries instead of cherries”.

WEDNESDAY

Grilled chicken and grilled zucchini.  On the side, I’ll make tabouli. I have some heirloom tomatoes I don’t really know how to use, so I figure this will be a good way to really get the taste of them. And since it feels like fall, we’re also having Apple Crisp. 

THURSDAY

Homemade pizza with bacon, banana peppers, and cherry tomatoes.   For a side dish, I’m going to try and make Broccoli Salad, but since this is my first attempt I’m just using a random recipe and will give it a shot (except not with the sugar subsitute – yuck).  Anyone have a recipe for Broccoli Salad they like?

On a side note; my husband and I are having our, ahem, “Budget Meeting” later in the evening so I will probably be enjoying one or three glasses of wine with dinner in preparation for the loving, uplifting discussion I’m certain will occur.

FRIDAY

Red beans and rice with saugsage. I am thinking I will have some side dishes left over by this point in the week so I’ll just set those back out.

Museum Pass

This is sweet – did anyone take advantage of this last year? The free museum day pass  is back, and the date is September 26.  There are participating museums all over the country, but for those of us in West Michigan the two biggies are the Air Zoo and the Kalamzoo Nature Center.  I vote for KNC because the Air Zoo has been free all summer and is until August 30. Click here for the website, and follow the instructions from there – you do have to print a pass to get in. Have fun!