Don't Leave Cash on the Table This Christmas

I couldn't let Black Friday pass us by without mentioning Ebates this year.

You've probably heard of Ebates. If you haven't or if you're a skeptic, let me tell you, somehow it's NOT too good to be true.


If you shop through Ebates you earn cash back at most of your favorite online destinations. They offer cash back at GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, J. Crew, Wal-Mart, Tractor Supply (I know this because I was just shopping for Carhartt overalls, random), Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Dillard's, Carter's, Land's End, Neiman's, to name a few.

It's easy. You sign up, do a little search on their website for the retailer you want to shop for, then a new browser tab or window is launched for you to shop, along with a tracking ticket to keep a record of your purchase. This is where you will be skeptical until they notify you a few days later that you've earned $x amount from Ebates.


How it Works info graphic is straight from Ebates.
Once a quarter, you'll get a check in the mail with your total Ebates. It's that simple. You receive cash back in the form of a check for purchases that you were going to make anyway. I've endorsed the checks and cashed them myself. They are real.

They even have a friend referral program, so if you click here to sign up and then use the site to make a purchase, I'll actually get a little bonus cash in my next check!

When you receive your first check in the mail with money back on all those things you were going to buy anyway, you'll feel like a power shopper. Because you ARE a power shopper!

Sign up and start earning cash back!

Mama Monday: What a SAHM is Missing

I thought of something last night that I'm totally missing out on while being a stay at home mother.

(Hold on to your hats. It's clearly very serious and important.)

(Except I am kidding in case you've not yet begun to understand my sarcasm.)

We're missing FOOD DAY AT WORK, SAHMs.

It didn't even register to me that I no longer get to experience the smorgasbord that is food day at work until last night when I was putting together party sandwiches for my husband to take to his office for food day today. Food day is when I found some of my best recipes--sampling my Co-Workers' dishes. Food day is one of the very best days to be in the office. (The #1 best day to be in the office is pay day.)


I think I may organize the other moms in my neighborhood for a potluck, which will technically be my very own food day at work.

What's in my bag?

I don't think I've ever done one of these posts before, so let's dive right in!


Here's my bag. It's a mom bag. I'm good with that, although I swap out with my non-mom bags when I'm running kid-free errands. Don't let her white stripes fool you. She's a work horse.

(I really thought I had lost my mind when I bought an everyday bag with white stripes. It's okay if you do too.)


The usual suspects: indestructible mom sunglasses, a good neutral lipstick (MAC Modesty), face powder, Tylenol, my wallet. Diapers, wipes, and food.

Also, you're looking at 4 different kinds of wipes: Shout wipes, regular wipes, Kleenexes, and anti-bacterial wipes. No shortage of paper goods in this bag. There are also 2 sizes of diapers, which work to absorb many different kinds of liquids if you're ever in a jam.


Tiny shoes that a tiny girl kicked off at lunch yesterday. (Robeez Gracie.)
HEB Buddy points and a ticket from riding the train at the Zoo.
Two tubes of Desitin, two tubes of sunscreen. This might seem like overkill to some, but I can't say enough about applying diaper cream and sunscreen.

My favorite burpy bib along with a grab and go snack for the baby. I bag the spoon up with the baby food (I don't make my own) to keep it all together, plus it gives me a little throw away baggie if I need one while we're out. Puffs and the formula dispenser are back there too.

I carry enough food to feed both an infant and a preschooler at any given time. Not pictured are the Teddy Grahams and fruit snacks that I forgot to pull out of their hidey pocket.

There are so many pockets in the bag that all of this is actually quite organized, and I know where to grab any of it at any given moment. Except for the HEB Buddy points and train ticket--those were actually a surprise.

I've shared my anti-bacterial, sunscreen, and diaper ointment applying tendencies along with my need for a wipe for all occasions. Tell me, what's the strangest thing you're carrying around "in case of emergency?"

Weekending

I'm just a few days late with this one. This has been a busy week, with sick kids, meeting up with friends, and prepping for a Pinterest day at our church this Saturday where I'm leading a class. Busy!

Last weekend I dropped our babies off with my parents on Friday afternoon and headed back to Fort Worth after eating supper with them and my brother. We had gotten a call a couple of days earlier inviting us to take advantage of some Aggie football tickets our friends had been given. Everything totally aligned--childcare, tickets, and a mostly free weekend. YES!

The tickets were passed along by two gentlemen in our church who have had them for probably decades. Our parking pass was in the lot right in the shadow of Kyle Field, which really uncomplicated a lot of game day for us. So wonderful!


We caught one of our former high school students who is in the Corps during march-in, saw Luke Joeckel on his scooter with his hurt ankle, and managed to grab some Aggie stocking stuffers for the kids. After a ridiculous first quarter, the Aggies started to come alive. It was great to watch Johnny play even a little longer than we expected. We headed out in the fourth quarter since it was already late (kick-off was at 8 PM), and we all had to be back for Harvest Day, our new building dedication, and other responsibilities at church the next morning.


8 AM came pretty early the next morning, even with falling back an hour. It was Harvest Day at church, and we dedicated a new building with dining facilities, music suite, and education space for Senior Adults. It was a great day! After, we headed back to Corsicana to pick up my kids and visit with my family for a bit. It was a great weekend, and we were so grateful we got to make a trip to Aggieland this year to see our Fightin' Texas Aggies!