Why having a toddler is like being at a Frat Party

1.  There are half-full, brightly-colored plastic cups on the floor in every room. Three are in the bathtub.
2.  There’s always that one girl, bawling her eyes out in a corner.
3.  It’s best not to assume that the person closest to you has any control over their digestive function.
4.  You sneak off to the bathroom knowing that as soon as you sit down, someone’s going to start banging on the door.
5. Probably 80% of the stains on the furniture contain DNA.
6.  You’ve got someone in your face at 3 a.m. looking for a drink.
7.  There’s definitely going to be a fight.
8.  You’re not sure whether anything you’re doing is right, you just hope it won’t get you arrested.
9.  There are crumpled-up underpants everywhere.
10.  You wake up wondering exactly how and when the person in bed with you got there.

Menard's Crazy Days

I am not sure what paper the Menards flyer came in, it probably was the Tomah one.  Anyway, March 25 to the 27th, there are some Crazy deals going on.  It's even called "Crazy Days Sale".

• Doors $1.99 after $8 MIR (actual Doors! "we bought one of the largest door distributors in the western US.  Over 70,000 1st quality assorted styles of interior and exterior doors in mixed widths and heights, and 250,000 quality locksets.  Each store has hundreds of doors and a thousand locksets in stock.  Styles and sizes of doors and styles of locksets will vary by locations.  Hurry in for best selection")
• Locksets 99 cents to $3.99 after $2 MIR
• 10' Kayak with paddle $189
• Jack's Pizza 4 for $7
• Viking Kubb Yard Game $4.99 after $10 MIR
• Firepits $29.99
• Shoe storage bench + wall shelf (very nice looking) $59 after $50 MIR
• All Detergent 32 loads 99 cents after $3 MIR

There are many many more deals.  I couldn't find the brochure online, and I don't think it came in the Winona paper, yet.  So keep a look out!

AND

Menards MIR are for store credit!  They mail you a store credit check, it looks some what like a check you can deposit, but you can't.  Trust me.  I used to be a teller, and folks would ALWAYS try to cash them, but you can't.  So, if you aren't an avid Menards shopper, these may not be your kind of deals.

Garage Sales?!?!?

That is right, it's a picture of Summer's Eve that was for sale at a garage sale once upon a time!

While outside, I was thinking, it's nearly garage sale season time!!! I am wondering, when do the big sales happen? Like the WE Valley, or Wincrest ones.

I am planning on having one of my own, since my "sell" pile has taken over a spare bedroom. Side note: if you are interested in boys things, up to 4 years, come on and shop it!

But seriously, when does the season officially start? When even-odd parking ends?

Walmart Clothes and MORE

Kari told me about this yesterday, and I said "Have I shared my spreadsheet? I really have no need to buy clothes until he's in kindergarten". So I checked my list again, and I was in need of PJs. So I checked out the clearance section of boys clothes at Walmart. I picked up two pairs of PJs for $4 each, originally $12. I also picked up a pair of jeans. Con has serious holes in all his 4's now, and I didn't want to buy any more of that size. But these were also $4 Wranglers, marked down from $12. And Con will need jeans for all the upcoming 4-wheeler rides this summer. For those of you with skinny boys, they have slim ones too, adjustable waist bands!

There were a lot of clothes available, 3 piece track suits, lined hoodies, PJs, thermal shirts and jeans, all for $4. I would have snapped a picture, but BB was left in the car.

I also picked up the window insulating kit. I bought the same one last fall, it was enough to do 5 windows and has some weather striping as well. It was $9, but now they are marked down to $3. It worked so well this winter, I know I'll be doing it again next year.

Hy-vee Hot Deals 2-day sale

• Colgate Toothpaste, 4.6 ounce for 88 cents, 75 cents 2-27S, 13 cent toothpaste
• Skippy Peanut Butter 15 to 16.3 ounce for 99 cents (this is my "buy" price point, as I go through a lot of this stuff)
• Red Seedless Grapes 99 cents a pound
• Mini 4" planted roses 4 for $10
• Palermo's Pizza $1.88 (are these any good?)
• Keebler Cookies 3 for $5, 55 cents off 2 from 3-6 RP
• New York Strip Steak $3.99 for 8 ounce
• Hormel Whole Boneless Pork Loin $1.99 pound use 2-13S $1 off
• Butter $1.99 a pound (for those of you looking to shop my garage sale pile, I prefer un-salted quarters)
• Tostitos $1.99

Sales is this Thursday and Friday, if they run out, they always do rainchecks. Hy-vee rocks like that.

Recalled Peanut Butter

On March 4th, Unilever announced a limited recall of Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, because it may be contaminated with Salmonella. The product was distributed to retail outlets in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. Please note that NO other Skippy products are affected by this recall; and to date, no illnesses related to this issue have been reported (The recall was initiated as the result of a routine sampling program by the company, which revealed that these finished products may contain the bacteria).

The affected product, which is packaged in 16.3 oz plastic jars, is as follows:
* UPCs: 048001006812 and 048001006782 (located on the side of the jar’s label below the bar code.)
* Best-If-Used-By Dates: MAY1612LR1, MAY1712LR1, MAY1812LR1, MAY1912LR1, MAY2012LR1 and MAY2112LR1 (Stamped on the lid of the jar)

If you have an affected product, here’s what you need to do…
* Discard the product immediately and call the company for a replacement coupon.
* Contact the company at 1-800-453-3432, which is operational 24 hours a day, for information on the recall. In addition, a consumer services representative is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM EST.
* Click here for more information.

** Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Groupon

Anyone else use Groupon? I have bought a few little things, like 3 for $1 Redbox rentals in the past. Recently I bought a weekend subscription to the Star Tribune for $12. And never received it. Even though I know some other Winona folks did. I contacted Groupon, and they went to work for me. They kept contacting Star Tribune on my behalf, and after a week, they got no where, and refunded me my $12. BUT, they kept working to get a hold of Star Tribune. And when they finally did, they were able to get me my subscription, FOR FREE. They worked so hard, and emailed me all the time with updates of how it was going. I am really impressed with the high level of personal service, and am seriously recommending them to everyone.

Unfortunately, the closest site is MSP, so most of the deals don't apply to us. But I keep my eyes pealed for it. Looking to join, feel free to click through my link and get me a $10 credit.

KFC

Maybe it's mean of me to do this, but really....the picture speaks for itself. Every time I go to KFC, which is once in a blue moon, I feel oppressed by them. There are a half dozen signs that say things like "no children on the counter", "don't lean on the window", "don't touch the glass", "no extra napkins", "no Checks ever EVER EVER!" This one against coupons just puts them over the top.

And, this is a Winona thing. The Eau Claire KFC will give you all the napkins and refills you want. And they don't care if you set your kid on the counter so they can see the fryers better!

Target Deals

• Charmin Mega Roll pack, sale $9.99, used $1 off Target 2-20RP, and $1 off from the PG packet, $5 gift card back for buying 2, makes them $5.50 a piece
• Boys Packer t-shirt, $12.99 marked down to $3.24
• Vicks Sinex $5.69, used $4 off 2-27PG, and got free Puffs from 2-27PG, $1.69 for the Puffs and meds (x2)