August at a Glance

August At A Glance

If you missed anything, I'm here to fill you in!

August was my first full, busy and oh so very exciting month of blogging! A lot happened behind the scenes and I enjoyed recapping the month of craziness, hope you do to!

1. The Stay at Home Mommy Syndrome

I learned this summer what it's like to let yourself go being preoccupied with little people, I even included my hideous no make up face.

2.  Sale Shopping Secrets 

This is just one of my secrets to finding great deals, be sure to check out my other posts to learn more!

3. Weekend Recap

Every weekend I recap all the fun, crazy, exciting, not so crazy... Pretty lame things we do as a family and this month was an interesting one!! Be sure to check out all my weekends ;-)

4. Fall Home Decor Giveaway

My first giveaway! It was a success! Here's what you missed, be jealous ;-)

5. Potty Training Shenanigans

Potty training is more than a headache with this crazy kid! Here are my trials and tribulations of the toilet problems!

6. Mini Mommy Wednesday

My daughter declared every Wednesday to be a special pampering day for mommy, be sure to read the weekly sweetness my daughter fills MY day with!

7. Apparently I can't count and skipped the number seven but here's a post to fill the gap! One of my favorites!! Let Them Be Little

What would we do without our children! A must read!

The REAL #7 (I'm tired!) Back to School Blues

This post was featured at Mommy Mentionables it's all about the kids returning to school and the thoughts that fill my head during the silence of an empty house! Definitely a must read!!

8. Craft Room Organization on a Budget

The start to a great project! Cheap, crafty, fun organization!

9. Crazies of Craigslist

Find a dog and post a listing on Craigslist only to become distracted by craziness and interesting things people post on this site!

Sale Shopping Secrets Saturday

Frankly, this week I have been so busy with work that sale shopping was put on the back burner :-(

Talk about a stressful week! Work, work and more work with no retail therapy?! That's recipe for disaster!

No worries I still have plenty of secrets to share. The next best thing to actually shopping is reminiscing on shopping.

Our little town we live in only has one place to shop... Good 'ole DG.

Dollar General that is!

Some may laugh but others may find this secret helpful! Especially if your the type of mom aspiring to be the best room parent at school or the latest Pinterest sensation.... All while keeping a budget!

I comb the aisles of DG on two occasions... After major holidays and between seasons.

Have you ever tried putting together goody bags for classroom parties ON A BUDGET?! It's difficult when paying full price to please 24+ kids. Each bag can easily cost $5 or more..

Unless you plan ahead... A year :-)

DG practically gives away their seasonal items after the holiday. Cheap just got cheaper! 

Valentine's Day cards, Halloween decorations, Easter basket fillers and all the goodies to send to school sell for pennies!

(Treat bags for Valentine's Day 10 cents a pack)

Christmas is my favorite time to shop...after the holiday of course! 

I buy table runners and decorations for the house dirt cheap. Even gift sets are on sale. My house looks like a freakin' winter wonderland every year and my favorite part is always having new stuff to display each year and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg :-)

Just take off the tacky yellow and black sticker and no one knows its from the DOLLAR STORE :-) 

How do I store it all, you ask?!

Well after every holiday the color coated totes are also ON SALE! Makes organizing your holiday items that much easier!!

Don't blame me when you didn't plan ahead and your assigned treat bags for a school function :-). You're welcome!

Sale Shopping Secrets Saturday

Besides crafting, one of my biggest stress relievers is shopping! What girl doesn't find an excuse for retail therapy?!

I have never been a big fan of shopping for myself. I have many reasons for this.....

My hips

My thighs

My stomach

Lack of "filling" for a top..... 

Too much "junk in the trunk" for bottoms.... Sigh.

The thought of stepping foot in a dressing room makes me want to vomit.... Everything I ate that week!!

But over the years I have found a solution to that problem! No, not exercise!!! I have started shopping for everyone else! I prep for holidays a year in advance. All major holidays and even more minor ones... Christmas, Easter, Halloween...

Teacher Appreciation Day, Birthdays, Nurses Week, classroom parties, April Fool's Day....

The kid down the streets possible birthday party, pool parties, toga parties... Get my point?? 

Some call me a "hoarder" or OCD but I politely disagree. I am extremely prepared for whatever comes my way :-)

No birthday goes unnoticed and my kids enjoy giving their friends a variety of presents clustered together in cute little baskets.

How can I afford to do this?!

Well.....

I shop sales!

And not the advertised sales! The type I'm referring to go on every day! I like to call it "end-cap browsing."

I decided this weeks Sale Shopping Secrets should be about some place frequented often. After reading the secrets you can apply them to your weekly trip.... To Walmart (or is that just my family?!)

Already low prices get even lower if you know how to shop! Now, every Walmart is different when it comes to the daily sales. I know because I shop multiple locations and states :-). 

Some locations have clearance aisles and others have the end-cap sales that are a lot less noticeable and kinda tucked away. Another, more obvious, is the rows and rows of carts brought to the front entrance of the store and items in those carts are dirt cheap! Have you ever stopped and browsed these daily sales?? Maybe you should start! 

When I see racks like this I get excited! When shopping the sales I am thinking about what size the kids will be in NEXT year. Swim trunks, P.J.'s and summer tanks and shorts for kids $1!!!! 

The closer you get to the upcoming season the cheaper the prices! In September school supplies, kids shoes and remaining summer items are a steal! Every store marks down differently! What is $6 at one, may be $2 at another.

Not all items are gathered and hung on a giant rack either. Often times I find items (especially kids clothes) for $0.50 to $3 just browsing the regularly priced racks. Just look for the little red and white sticker price tags :-)

A lot of the local stores now have CLEARANCE aisles....

It's typically a ridiculous mess and nothing is marked down directly on the item but if you take the time to check it out the rewards are endless ;-)

This is a collect all from all departments, especially toys! I browse these aisles prepping for Christmas! My kids are still young enough that Walmart toys suit them fine! I also buy the inexpensive trinkets and toys for other holidays and occasions. Board games are always a good buy in the clearance section, usually marked down 60% or more.

Another Walmart SALE! secret... All major holiday products go on sale the day immediately following the holiday..... at MIDNIGHT! I always wondered why everything was gone when I strolled in later in the day! I love shopping the post Valentine's Day sale to snag my love and Paris themed room decor super cheap! If the item has a "holiday" price tag it's on sale! I stock up for Easter, Halloween, Christmas and everything in between!

The much less obvious sales are located at the back of each department on the end-caps. These sales are few and far between but the deals are great! 

Ok! Enough about Walmart sales! Get going! Practice "end-cap browsing" and think about all occasions when shopping the sales! It saves TONS of money and stress once the holiday approaches! Not to mention its a new excuse for shopping :-)

Be watching for my weekly Sale Shopping Secrets! I have PLENTY of secrets you won't want to miss! Comment and share tips or secrets about your shopping experience!

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