It is the little things that make my kiddos smile! It is the big things that make my heart soar!

This came in the mail today.

My kids love snack bars.  The athletes and health nutty ones really like it if they are "protein" bars.
So this arrived today.
The question was who gets it???
So the label was read and it was "happy tummy!"  No peanut/nut contamination.  I offered it up to all to split and try together.  My allergy one, oh so (wisely) declined.  Mom, they make nutty/peanutty versions.  The facility it came from just might not be safe.  True...but it has to be on the label...  Then I told him he was wise and correct in questioning the possibility of possible cross contamination.  And he was right to decline if he was concerned and didn't want to take the chance.
My heart just soared.  At first it was jumping and skipping because the oohs, ahhs and getting to see the smiles.  But then witnessing a maturity in my youngest as he is growing up and learning to take responsibility for his health and able to make decisions/sacrifices based on the big picture.  He didn't pout.  He didn't get upset.  He just recognized the risk and determined whether it was worth the risk and made a choice he was vey happy and content with...   That is hard to do, even as a grown up.  Just so proud. My heart couldn't help but swell up and soar because I know how much he normally feels left out by the protein snack bar world.. so many are nutty and/or peanutty.  Today, it just didn't matter.  Contentment.

In the event, you are wondering how this little bit of freebie heaven found its way into our mailbox, I am signed up with Sample Storm  Free to join.  Freebies are offered.  Just click and sign up for the ones you want.  I opt out of a lot of the extra emails.  I don't seem to get flooded with too much extra email as a result.  The packages we get periodically are super fun suprises to find in the mailboxes!  Free kitty food, personal "girly" products, lotions, toothpaste, paper products, magazines, and makeup are just some of the goodies we get.  There is a referral program, points are earned for referring people who sign up.  I have yet to redeem any points. I have primarily focused on signing up for the free sample offers.
Let me know if you sign up and enjoy the mailbox suprises!

Shoe Shopping ~ Savings and Sanity Survival for us

With a whole bunch of kiddos, shoe shopping can quickly become NOT FUN! It can, also, be very expensive.  Now my kiddos are getting bigger, and several are in the adult sizes, which means clearance and sale prices are just not the same as they used to be when they were little.  Sports, running and just general hardness on their footwear, I have, also, learned brand and quality do matter.

Some things I consider:

1. If the current style worked well, meaning it held up, was comfortable and just met the need, I search online to see if the "line" is still available.  I can sometimes get away with this for a time or two, depending on age and tastes.  Often the color choices are different.  This is a bonus because then, they still feel like they are getting something different.

2.  Is anyone else, getting close to needing new shoes?  Is a new sports season coming up?  Most of my kids have a standard "growth schedule".  Certain months of the year, they tend to spurt.  Is anyone eating more than normal?  I try to look ahead and save on shipping this way, many times earning free shipping.

3. Not all my kids NEED to get new shoes at the same time. If I shop the online clearance, I won't always spend enough to get free shipping.  I have learned a lot of stores will match online stores and if the shoe (even clearance) is not in stock, they will order it for you and not charge shipping.  So if the store isn't super out of the way and costing me more in gas, it is worth it to run to the store with my print out or screen shot of what I found online.  I try to go right away, because the ease of shopping online can mean things sell out really quick.

4.  Before I do option 3, I do a quick cost analysis.  I check to see what discounts are available on Swagbucks, RetailMeNot, and Ebates.  I also consider what shipping is going to cost.  As a military family, we are sometimes able to get a military discounts at stores.  This isn't always possible online. I, also, check Ibotta and see if there are any rebate offers.

5.  If I am close to a minimum amount to receive a discount, for instance $10 off 60 or $20 off $100.  Maybe my total is $50 or $80.  I will shop and find something to fill in.  If I am going to get that extra $10 or $20 off, I might as well think ahead.  Is there anything I can get and put away for birthday or Christmas?  What about socks?  Socks are always needed! So "finishing" off my "minimum" sometimes means making my future gift shopping easier.  Essentially these socks are free if they are just finishing off my "minimum".  Who doesn't like "free" birthday or Christmas gifts?

(If you have multiple kids close in feet size this might help you out: The last few years we have started blessing the kids with name brand socks for Christmas.  One gets "brand A" in black, another "brand A" in white, "brand B" in black, etc.  It was survival.  NOT one person in the house likes to match socks and it was getting impossible to know which socks belonged to who. The matching game was a huge headache.  Some didn't care and would wear whatever, stretching out or putting holes in, others did care and could never find their socks, or their socks were "ruined".  The sock wars needed a resolution. By assigning a brand and color, matching and identifying the owner was simplified! Another bonus, is these name brand socks are lasting longer.)

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