Do I Dare?

In an attempt at wishful thinking (and tiring of the overflowing tote dominating my dining room!), I desperately hope I am not jinxing the nice 60+ degree weather we've had five days running by washing up piles and totes of winter wear and putting them out in the shed!

Winter Fun

In Tony's vocabulary these two words do not exist together. I wonder if they ever did? Something I'll have to ask his mother about. The older I get the more I prefer to be well bundled and have a little sunshine to please me. But when I was a child I couldn't wait to play in the snow.

This year, the girls did not have hand-me-down snow pants or boots that fit and I didn't get any bought in time for them to enjoy the very first snow. But we are predicted to get more snow this weekend. The weather report keeps fluctuating from 4-17 inches, so take your pick. They tend to exaggerate our snow storms down here and we rarely get what they say we will...wishful thinking on their part, I say. So in preparation for the big storm, just in case the weatherman is right, we bought brand-spanking new snow pants and the girls DID get to use them this afternoon. Lucky for me, they had enough time (and good incentive) to clean their room in order to allow a nice accumulation to fall before hitting the yard :)

Who is having more fun here?

Classic case of baby sister bullying bigger sister
(and you thought they never fought!)

And finally, the question of the day: Why is it, when they are little and Mom has to bundle them up, they only stay out 5 minutes before begging to come in and dispense of the soggy, wet clothes. But when they are old enough to dress themselves, they stay out longer?

Taken 12.09.07

Laundry Report and Coupons

I've had a friend or two during my lifetime that have been awesome at saving money with coupons. Whenever we have bought an Early Edition Indy Star, I clip about $1.50 worth of coupons and then half the time they expire before I use them. No savings there for me. Factor in all the time spent clipping them and I'm in the hole.

One day at a Ladie's Bible Study, we had this discussion (no, I don't think you'll find coupon clipping in the Bible). I was glad to find that I wasn't alone. So, the discussion continued until we had analyzed why there were two sides to this coin. We finally concluded that those who were brand specific were the ones who didn't save by clipping coupons. Where those who were willing to switch brands to which ones were on sale that week and combined those savings with a coupon - they saved bundles of money!

But I am much to stubborn to change to a different brand every week. I guess that goes along with my personality of being slow to change :) I prefer Wisk laundry detergent. If for one reason or another, I am forced to purchase another, my next choices are Era then Tide or All, respectively. Last week, I tried to switch to Snuggle fabric softener, whose scent I LOVE! But I had been using Bounce throughout the winter and guess what I discovered? Snuggle just doesn't cut the static electricity like Bounce does. I probably hadn't noticed this because I used to use store brand fabric softener. After much frustration with electric heat in my house (although that is cause for less frustration on my husband's part when paying bills :) and four long-haired females and nightmares of static, I finally discovered that if I put out a little more money, I could cut down on a little bit of stress. Nuf said?

So there you have it, my preferences for laundry detergent and fabric softener. I bet you'll all sleep better tonight!