So I have some random things to tell you guys about. The first couple of items involve making your holiday shopping easier, and the last one is just totally random. They all involve some nice kickbacks for me, though. :-)
First I want to tell you about the Usborne books e-show I'm hosting. My friend Nancy, mother of Itty Bitty Becca, had to quit work when her daughter arrived 3 months early weighing 13 ounces. In between shuffling Becca to all her appointments, Nancy is a consultant for Usborne books, which sells classics like Everybody Poops and That's Not My Kitty. Check out Usborne's Cyber Monday deals to get some extra discounts on books for the little ones in your life. Here's the link to my show: http://www.ubah.com/HOS188314. It runs through November 30, so get your orders in soon! Depending on how many orders I get for my party, I'll get credit to order my own books from Usborne. That means you also can host your own show and earn credit for free books, so contact Nancy if you are interested!
Next I want to tell you about my favorite shopping tools: Ebates and RetailMeNot. I can't remember which blogger first told me about Ebates, but it's a great way for me to spend a little less on my online shopping. Basically, many shopping sites offer a percentage of your purchase back to you -- maybe 1% or even 5% -- if you go through Ebates as a referral site. Just go to Ebates, sign in, find your shopping site, and click the link. I've ordered so much from Old Navy and Express when shopping for Paul and me online that I've already received $15 back in the past year. We recently ordered a washer and dryer online with 5% cash back, which takes quite a nice chunk out of the cost! If you sign up through Ebates through my referral link (here, click here!), you and I both get $5 in our account after you make your first $25 purchase.
After I go through Ebates to get to a site, I always make sure to check RetailMeNot.com before I checkout. RetailMeNot is a great central database of coupon codes, with users rating how reliable each coupon is. Just last night I found free shipping for my Container Store order!
And now for something completely different.....I've also been asked to refer friends to the Right from the Start early pregnancy study at Vanderbilt. Right now they are looking for women who are trying to become pregnant, and they will provide you with free pregnancy tests. If you are asked to complete a diary while attempting to conceive, you will be eligible for other incentives as well. I've been participating in the study since I was about 8 weeks pregnant (they also work with women in early pregnancy sometimes). I'm not sure what the focus of the study is, but I'm hoping my misadventures will help another woman's pregnancy. For more information, check out Right from the Start's website at http://www.mom2be.org. I know they are currently enrolling women from Tennessee. If you live outside the state, try contacting them to see if you are eligible. If I refer someone to the program, I get a "gift," so tell 'em I sent ya. ;-)
Well, that's all I have to blog today, folks. I hope you will find some of these links helpful!
11.26.2010
Thankful
I am so much to be thankful for this year.
I am thankful to still be pregnant.
I am thankful for a new (old) house where each of my boys can have their own bedrooms - a wonderful luxury!
Most of all, I am very, very thankful for the friends and family who have helped us through this busy season of bedrest and moving. So many of you have supported us with prayers, entertainment, food, company, and even financial blessings, and we really appreciate it.
I've always tended to be one of the "busy" people.....one of the people in the Good Samaritan story who passed by the person who needed help. Oh, sure, I love to help "when I can," as long as it fits into my schedule and budget. I hope that the compassion I have received in the past few months will remain in my heart and mind forever and move me to take extra time for those around me who need help.
Oh, and I'm also thankful for cheesy Christmas music.
I am thankful to still be pregnant.
I am thankful for a new (old) house where each of my boys can have their own bedrooms - a wonderful luxury!
Most of all, I am very, very thankful for the friends and family who have helped us through this busy season of bedrest and moving. So many of you have supported us with prayers, entertainment, food, company, and even financial blessings, and we really appreciate it.
I've always tended to be one of the "busy" people.....one of the people in the Good Samaritan story who passed by the person who needed help. Oh, sure, I love to help "when I can," as long as it fits into my schedule and budget. I hope that the compassion I have received in the past few months will remain in my heart and mind forever and move me to take extra time for those around me who need help.
Oh, and I'm also thankful for cheesy Christmas music.
11.17.2010
I Can't Protect Him
I haven't wanted to blog much lately, mostly because sitting with my back propped against pillows is no longer comfortable, and thus typing is no longer comfortable.
However, Nancy wrote this beautiful blog post that motivated me to respond and share. Today, November 17, is Prematurity Awareness Day, and Nancy details some of her emotions about having a micropreemie.
Nancy also touched on a topic that has been on my mind for several weeks, one that she and I discussed a little while ago.
I can't protect my child completely.
I can forbid as many activities as I want. Require seatbelts, prohibit riding on ATVs, serve only organic food. I can make tons of rules, reasonable and unreasonable, and I can try to do everything "right," but I can never fully protect my child.
Nancy posits that many parents live in a state of denial about this, thinking that nothing could ever happen to their child. But having a premature baby often makes parents "really, deeply, soul-rendingly aware" of how much is out of our control.
The complications I've been experiencing with this pregnancy definitely started me down this path of awareness, although I won't claim to have the same experience as parents who have watched their babies struggle in the NICU. A recent accident involving a little boy who is a year older than Ian moved me further down the path.... I obsessed about the incident for several days as I struggled with the fact that loving, attentive parents who took their family out for a day of fun had their lives turned upside down. (You can read about the incident at helpcaleb.com, but be warned, it is very sad. However, the story seems to be taking a happier turn.)
As a parent, my vulnerability and powerlessness are absolutely terrifying. I mean, that's scary stuff when it just involves me, but once my kid is involved....woah. Thinking about these things truly is heart-rending. The joy and the pain of parenthood combines to make me an absolute mess.
I don't really have a conclusion here for this one. Just observations. And I guess my final observation is that I'm really not in charge. And overall, that's a good thing. I want to take good care of my child, but I'm not supposed to be his Savior, anyway. That position has been filled.
So I guess I'll let him play hockey. But only with pads, a helmet, and a mouthguard. And a full face shield. And only on a cushy, foam surface....
However, Nancy wrote this beautiful blog post that motivated me to respond and share. Today, November 17, is Prematurity Awareness Day, and Nancy details some of her emotions about having a micropreemie.
Nancy also touched on a topic that has been on my mind for several weeks, one that she and I discussed a little while ago.
I can't protect my child completely.
I can forbid as many activities as I want. Require seatbelts, prohibit riding on ATVs, serve only organic food. I can make tons of rules, reasonable and unreasonable, and I can try to do everything "right," but I can never fully protect my child.
Nancy posits that many parents live in a state of denial about this, thinking that nothing could ever happen to their child. But having a premature baby often makes parents "really, deeply, soul-rendingly aware" of how much is out of our control.
The complications I've been experiencing with this pregnancy definitely started me down this path of awareness, although I won't claim to have the same experience as parents who have watched their babies struggle in the NICU. A recent accident involving a little boy who is a year older than Ian moved me further down the path.... I obsessed about the incident for several days as I struggled with the fact that loving, attentive parents who took their family out for a day of fun had their lives turned upside down. (You can read about the incident at helpcaleb.com, but be warned, it is very sad. However, the story seems to be taking a happier turn.)
As a parent, my vulnerability and powerlessness are absolutely terrifying. I mean, that's scary stuff when it just involves me, but once my kid is involved....woah. Thinking about these things truly is heart-rending. The joy and the pain of parenthood combines to make me an absolute mess.
I don't really have a conclusion here for this one. Just observations. And I guess my final observation is that I'm really not in charge. And overall, that's a good thing. I want to take good care of my child, but I'm not supposed to be his Savior, anyway. That position has been filled.
So I guess I'll let him play hockey. But only with pads, a helmet, and a mouthguard. And a full face shield. And only on a cushy, foam surface....
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