Stork Stack

Last month the subscription box "Stork Stack" had a discount code for the first box. I decided to try it out and just received the December box today.The theme this month is "Rock, Roll 'n Roar"

I get the infant box so this is what I received:

The subscription is usually $28 a month. While I like everything that I received in this box I would have been highly disappointed had I paid $28 for it.

*Rockabye Baby "Good Day, Good Night" 2 Cd Set ($24.98). This has lullaby renditions of "The Beatles", "u2", "Metallica", etc. I'll be the first to admit that I hate typical lullaby music and that this is a CD that the whole family may actually be able to stand when it's playing (maybe even hubby!) but I would never buy a CD for $25.

*BearHands & Buddies Fleece Mittens ($12.99) Adorable and warm

*EDUSHAPE Baby Maraca ($3.75) Seems to be like something that could be purchased at the dollar store. Not impressed.

*Zubels Guitar Rattle ($17) It's 100% hand knit and organic. Love that aspect as I won't worry about the baby chewing on it now but I wouldn't pay $17 for it.

*Rockin' Green Detergent 4 load sample ($1.25). I LOVE Rockin' Green so this was fun.

This box was valued at $60 this month but I truly don't feel I would pay more than $15 for this whole box without being disappointed. I know that other ages get other items in their boxes and I am curious to see what they receive. I've been impressed with the past boxes that I have seen so wonder if this theme just "isn't us" or if this is an "off month" for Stork Stack. I will probably cancel for now as I wasn't as impressed as I had hoped.

Disclaimer: This is just my honest review of Stork Stack. They have no idea who I am and I was not compensated for this review, nor are there any referral links in this post.

Today

*We are working on our Christmas chains. The minute the calendar page turns to December the kids want to get their craft on!

*I really want to stay in my pjs today but there are lots of errands needing to be checked off the list so I suppose I need to resemble a human while out and about. By the way, have you ever worn your pjs out in public? I beg of you not to!

*While shopping at Goodwill this past weekend I spotted an adorable corduroy Fossil purse. It's the real deal, but was only $2.50 because it had a large white stain inside. I figured no one would see the stain seeing as how it's inside the purse so I would buy it, but also attempt to wash the purse to see if it would come out. This morning it emerged from the washing machine looking brand new!  It really never does hurt to try.

*I'm trying to get together my to-do list for baking this holiday season. What is your all-time favorite holiday treat?

This Week

*I'm more then 1/2 finished with Christmas shopping. All of it has been done online thus far, which makes everything oh so easy.

*My Christmas shopping is easier this year since we have adapted the 4 gift rule: "Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read". Since the kids really don't need anything to wear this year we are substituting another "something you need" gift. Plus stocking suffers. Loving this simple concept!

*I went from looking a little chubby to completely pregnant in one weeks' time. Uh oh!

*I haven't had much time for reading this past week but am a few chapters into The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble and so far it's okay. Does anyone have as much trouble with keeping characters straight in a book that introduces so many at the beginning and keeps switching back and forth? This book is going to have to get more captivating in order to keep my attention because right now I'm a little lost.

*I dropped off another bag for donation yesterday. But I picked up a few baby outfits at Goodwill and St. Vincent De Paul. I am already starting another donation bag today and the kids are doing a toy purge soon...or I'll be doing one for them!

Have you started/finished your Christmas shopping? What are you getting your kids this year?

 

Insanity

I worked last night. For the 8pm sale at our store. And I was able to witness the 10pm sale madness as I tried to leave left the store after my shift.

CRAZY. That is the only way to describe it.

I've been on the shopping end of things on Black Friday before. Only to get the $2 movies that Walmart has had in the past, but still. As a shopper you only witness your little area of the store while purchasing items.

As a worker you see the madness from a different view.

First of all, I'm saddened by the fact that many stores are now opening on Thanksgiving. Every store that is open on Thanksgiving needs employees to work. How selfish is it for a store to pull people away from their families on a special day just to earn some extra money. Profits surely go before people at these businesses.

They are called Black Friday sales for a reason - they used to be held on FRIDAY! Now shopping is invading a day that was meant to express our thankfulness. This is incredibly sad.

Second, I know that it's awesome to get a good deal. I know that some people do Black Friday shopping with family and friends as a fun outing. I get that.

But as a worker I saw people trampling over merchandise. Pulling things from the pallets so quickly that the pallet displays collapsed. Filling their carts with things that could only be described as last minute purchases of junk. Pulling out credit cards to charge all this "stuff", putting them into debt for months or years even. It became, literally, disgusting.

Luckily, no one here got in a fist fight or trampled over people. They seemed to be aware that the people around them were more important than a "good deal" (even the drunk people were more....err...."cozy" than crazy). Yet, people have lost their lives in the past at these shopping events. Being trampled to death in the name of shopping just doesn't seem worth it to me.

I was already feeling odd about Christmas this year. Decided to make it more about "Christ" than presents several months ago. Seeing this madness only reiterated that feeling for me.

While I walked out of the store into a jam packed parking lot, surrounded my people pushing cartloads of stuff, my heart was heavy and I seriously felt like crying. Yet I also felt thankful. Thankful that I have enough. 

For the next month my goal is to help others...whether that be charities, people I know in my own life, or complete strangers. That will be my Christmas gift to myself...to see Christ in everyone around me and to ask Christ to help me see a need that someone else may have. One doesn't have to be rich to do that - whether it be bringing a plate of goodies to a lonely neighbor, writing a card to someone who may need a lifting up, donating items to those in need (both humans and animals), there are actual needs around us.

For that lesson, I suppose I was thankful for Black Friday. 

 

The Winner Is...

More people guessed girl than boy on the poll...

the majority was right! :) Out of the 8 people who wrote "Girl" in the comments, Random.org chose number 4:

Sara November 15, 2012 3:27 AM
girl!

Will that Sara please e-mail me at babys_mama1 "at" yahoo . com with your name and address?

The kids were thrilled to learn that they are going to have a little sister...that is what all three were hoping for!

Box to Basket

Since I've been getting a few subscription boxes I wondered what to do with the boxes once they were empty. I was about to throw them in the recycling bin but they are so sturdy that I hung onto them, thinking I would use them to ship something myself.

I've recently been looking at those linen lined baskets sold at stores for some organizing that needs to be done. I love baskets for everything but new they can be expensive and used they are hard to find. Baskets are great for little trinkets, kids underwear and socks; the possibilities are endless.

While organizing the craft section at work last night inspiration struck. Straightening the decorative Duck brand Duct Tape rolls I ran across adorable penguin design. For just $3.37 I had to buy a roll.

I used a Kiwi Crate box (shown above) and cut the top off. I then chose a piece of scrap book paper (I thought the dark blue paper with white dots reminded me of snow) and cut it to fit in the bottom of the box.

I then just covered the outside and inside of the box with the duck tape. It was incredibly easy. It took less than 20 minutes and this was my first box!

I love the look of it and the boys were excited to stick it on top of their dresser for their treasures. Becca is already begging me for one for her desk so I think I may have to pick up the Hello Kitty design for her.

This box took about half the roll of tape, so cost only about $1.65. That is much, much cheaper than what baskets sell for at stores. I'm anxious to start making some for the baby; baskets for socks, diapers, blankets. There are so many designs of Duck Tape to choose from that you can have a wide variety of baskets.

I think that these would also make adorable gift baskets for giving holiday treats or gifts. Or make baby shower baskets, birthday gifts, or just because gift boxes. Even if the recipient just throws the box away after taking their gifts/goodies out it is still cheaper than buying a basket or even a gift bag in some instances!

Menu Help

I've done a poor job with grocery shopping and meal planning recently. It's gotten to the point that hubby and I were running to the store several times a week to pick up meal items here and there. That wasn't working for the budget and we never seemed to have any good food in the house.

In the December issue of All You magazine (found at Walmart), starting on page 48 is a week's worth of healthy meals...breakfast through supper. This is the first time that I've found a week's worth of meals in a magazine that doesn't include weird foods or recipes that my family wouldn't try. Every single meal looks easy and healthy.

The best part is that it took the guess work out for my meal planning this week. I made a shopping list for every single food item and went shopping. Our menu will start tomorrow and last us a week (we will skip a day on Thursday for Thanksgiving). This was an awesome help and I'm just passing it along to all of you in case you are in a cooking rut and need a little jump start to get back on track.

For example of how easy this meal plan is, tomorrow our menu is:

Breakfast:
1 hard-boiled egg, 2 slices whole-wheat toast with 1 T. peanut butter, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 cup coffee (for me; milk for the kids)

Lunch:
2 slices whole-wheat bread with tuna salad, baby carrots, yogurt

Snack:
banana

Dinner:
Whole wheat penne with meat sauce, lettuce salad with tomato and cucumber, milk

Snack:
Pudding

While this meal plan is for low fat and counts calories, I adjusted it for us by not buying the low-fat or fat-free items suggested. There are some new recipes included in this menu and it will take the guess work out of this next week for me!