Inexpensive Alternatives for AG Bitty Baby Doll Wear

Bitty Baby is dressed for Christmas!

With getting American Girl Bitty Babies for wee ones I thought I would post my favorite frugal alternative to paying $26.00 per outfit.

I buy Child of Mine by Carters Preemie Baby Sleepers in the Infant Department at Walmart. Often I will find the sleepers and other preemie wear for as little as $1.00 an sleeper or outfit on clearance. This Christmas Reindeer sleeper is only $7.00 full price.

Little girls will love the cute preemie pink ballet sleepers and appliqued pink pastel monkey sleepers which just came in. Top them off with making dolly headbands with bows for durable doll clothes.

I used a remnant of red bumpy blanket material and lined it with a red Christmas flannel to make Bitty a matching blanket. As soon as I find my hot glue gun the matching set will be finished with a red satin dot headband.

To make a Bitty Baby Blanket

Cut two fabrics 20 inches by 24 inches
Pin right sides together
Using 1/4 inch seam allowance
Begin in the center of one side and stitch around the rectangle, leaving a 4 inch opening.
(I put the slippery bumpy blanket material on the bottom to keep things from slipping)
Clip the corners
Slip and use a point turner or a pin to pull out the corners
Tuck in the seam in the opening and pin
Edge stitch the perimeter with a coordinating color
A Bitty Baby Blanket to match her Preemie Sleeper :)

And Bitty Needs Diapering


Buy a package of Huggies Preemie Diapers for $8.99. Right now they ship for FREE at Babies R Us. If you can find them in the store, use one of the many Huggies coupons to save $$. I used to ration them to make them last.

Can You Believe I Got All This for 77 Cents Including 5 Udis Gluten-Free Baked Goods!

Total Spent: $.77 Total Saved: $67.72










I had FUN this week. I began with rolling a Register Reward at Walgreens and ended up with a FREE Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste (not pictured), 2 Boxes of Contac, 2 Packages of Huggies Diapers. I paid for candy bars to roll the rewards and those are not included.

Then we were off to Hyvee to spend my $30.00 in Catalina shopping rewards for buying General Mills Cereal last week. I bought 6 boxes of cereal x 5 times thru the register for $2.00 each trip and got a $6.00 Catalina each time.

Walgreens: Total: Nothing but including the Royal jello $.60
Total Savings $29.80 (Sale Prices)

Hyvee: 3 Udis Harvest Grain Bread @ $4.88 ($5.99), 2 Udis Muffins @ $5.99, 3 Birds Eye Vegetables $1.25 ($1.79), 2 Gatorade $.50 ($1.25)
Used 5--$6.00 Catalina Shopping Rewards from General Mills Cereal last week's Deals
Total Paid: $.17
Total Savings: Including Sale and Catalina Coupons $37.92

I would never believed that I could be able to get ridiculous expensive Gluten-Free products for nothing until today :)

Becca's Best Movie Deal: 11/2 Release: Toy Story 3 Combo Pack $6.99 After Rebates

Becca's Best Movie Deals found another for you. Meet Becca the Movie Deal Writer.

Get Toy Story 3 Combo Pack for $6.99 after Rebates.

Buy Toy Story 3 Combo Pack $24.99
Use $8.00 mfg. coupon
Total $16.99
Submit for $5.00 Campbells Rebate
Submit for $5.00 Rayovac Rebate
Final Price $6.99 after rebates

Purchase 3 Campbells Condensed kids soups or SpaghettiOs pasta (You can save $1/3 with this printable coupon)
Remove one of the 2 purchase tabs from the back of the movie and mail it and the original receipt along with your Campbell’s receipt and UPC and this form to receive $5 back.

Rayovac Rebate $5.00 is in posted at Rayovac.com, and there was a $1.00 Rayovac coupon in Sunday's paper.

There are 2 Proof of Purchase Tabs and so it should be easy to submit for both rebates. The Rayovac will take a copy of your receipt with the UPC on the batteries and the Proof of Purchase tab off the DVD.

Enjoy the movie with your kids!

Our Family Paying it Forward in the Dubuque Paper

I just thought I would post this story that was in the Dubuque Telegraph Gerald on Thursday of this week.

Nana Shops: $9.99 Thomas the Early Engineer Sets at Target

Nana Shops

This deal is worth getting ready for and watching for the new Target Toy book which is now posted at Black Friday.com. I just got my Jolly Holiday Gift Guide today in the mail and so the Toy book should be heading out soon. There are dozens of Target coupons in the book which can be combined with manufacturers coupons.

Thomas Early Engineer Round About Station $24.99
Use $10.00 Coupon Found in Parenting the Early Years November Issue pg. 101
Use $5.00 Target Coupon from New Toybook for Any Early Engineers Set
Pay $9.99

I kind of wished I had waited for the Target Coupon but still I did score an incredible buy for the wee ones. I will have to scrounge around for some more magazines and coupons and get some more for Toys for Tots.

I ended up with 2 coupons and scored this incredible deal...

Thomas Early Engineers Round About Station 2 @ $24.99 = $49.98
Used 2 @ $10.00 mfg. coupons - $20.00
Total $29.98
Used 4--$5.00 Gift Cards from Candles, Tampax, and Dial purchases (first transaction)
Paid $9.98/2

Nana Shops: FREE Veggie Tales, The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree Album

Nana Shops






Download the entire album Veggie Tales' The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree for FREE from Amazon.com

Nana Hint: Buy a Bargain MP3 player on Black Friday (Last I found one at Walmart for $29.99) or an old IPOD and load it with FREE Kid Albums like this one from Amazon for the car while running errands or traveling with the Wee ones.

Nana Shops: Preview Targets Toy Catalog and Leapster Explorer Matchup

Nana Shops

Target's Christmas Toy Catalog is now posted at Black Friday.com.

One incredible deal is for the Leapfrog's Leapster Explorer for $59.99.

Use a $10.00 coupon from specially marked boxes of Chocolate Cheerios. I found the coupon when I got all my $.50 boxes of cereal at our Hyvee last week.

Deal:
Buy Leapster Explorer $59.99
Use $10.00 off mfg. coupon
Pay $49.99 for Leapster Explorer

For those who have the Leapster 2 and want to expand your games this Christmas....

There are also Leapster Games for $12.44 (Ni Hao Kai-Lan, Cars, Star Wars). There were $5.00 off coupons in many of the lunch boxes at Target for Back to School that do not expire until 12-31-10.

Deal:
Buy Leapster Game $12.44
Use $5.00 off coupon
Pay $7.44

• For a review of the Leapster Explorer.
• One of the biggest drawback of the New Leapster Explorer it that it is not compatible with the Leapster 2 games.
• The new system is much more complicated to set up.
• Not easy for the new younger gamer or kids with frustration tolerance issues.
  
• Our test drive with it was that our 5 year-old Leap frog fan still prefers the Leapster 2.

Nana Shops: American Girl Doll Free Shipping Code

NANA SHOPS












Free shipping when you spend $50.00 or more at AmericanGirl.com
Code: PF02831 valid until 11/7/10

Thanks you to Tara at Deal Seeking Mom for posting this code.

It has been now nearly 20 years since the first American Girl Doll came into our home when Marissa used her modeling money to buy Kirsten and since then it has been a holiday tradition for my her and the younger girls to get new dolls, outfits, accessories and Mom sewn and designed fashions for their dolls.

Miss Kasja and Miss Mahala will begin the next generation of the Yurcek American Girl Doll tradition with the two dolls that will arrive for Christmas with this code. This Nana will be sewing up some Christmas surprises to go with them for my two little sweethearts.

TAG Readers $10 at Target Shipped FREE

DEAL GONE

Tag Readers are $10.00 on price cut at Target.com with FREE Shipping.

We have given many TAG Readers at gifts and I watch for books on sale and combine the sale with coupons. I have scored many FREE or inexpensive books by watching clearance racks and using coupons.

The TAG Reader can store TAG Jr. books.

They also just came out with Early Reader books to help your child progress on their reading skills.

Impromptu Fall Field Trip

Not wanting to waste a beautiful fall day, Detamara and I went on an impromptu fall field trip to Cassville, WI. We found out that Cassville was named after the first governor of the Michigan Territory (1827), Lewis Cass. The first Governor of Wisconsin Nelson Dewey (1848) lived there, and he is buried in Lancaster. On the way home we figured out where in town that was. We had visual/hands on history is how persons with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders learn best.














Stonefield is a historic town and agriculture Museum we visited.




















Detamara checked out the train and was figuring out what this lever was for.














We went to school old fashioned style, while in school modern style.















Detamara checking out the school desks. She thought it would be much too noisy with all the different ages of kids all in one room for her to learn. Detamara needs a small quiet one-on-one environment to learn with her FASD.















What Mom learned was for Detamara to be successful out in the community, she needs one-on-one support to go to new places. She did not have time to think about going, and we just went. Other times we need to give her prompts and cues to know what to do next. We just went for as long as she could handle, and when we checked in at a few minutes to 3, our passes would be good the next day (but we convinced them to write on them for Friday). We can head back and check out more.















How does this phone work?














We happened upon catching a tug boat with 13 barges heading upstream. It was a great photography opportunity.














With all the rain, the Mississippi River is at its banks in Cassville. The boat landing and part of the parking lot were under water.

On the way home, we ran into buggies of Amish Children heading home from school, farmers bringing in the harvest and more questions and lessons about the area we live.

Total Cost: $14.75 and 19 miles from home.

Becca Seeing Peter Facinelli from Twilight at the Benefit for Pediatric Cancer

Being short often means having trouble seeing over a crowd. But as long as Dad is around, she always has the best view in the house.

After oversleeping because she stayed up all night because she couldn't wait to head out, Becca awoke in a panic at 10:30. We assured her the lines were way long already and why rush to just be at the end of the line. But the Twilight obsessed Becca had to leave immediately.

I complained about the hefty $25 an autograph and $40 picture fee, but was embarrassed for complaining when I found out where the money went. Becca for the first four years had an undiagnosed blood disorder which we now realize was JMML a leukemia, and my niece Maggie survived Neuroblastoma.

The day and money was well spent, and Becca has memories that will last a lifetime. A bright moment to carry her through the tough stuff.

Totsy--My Bands Medic Alert and Childrens ID USB Flash Drive Rubber Bracelets 50% off

I had been eyeing these for Becca. They are available beginning now for four days through Totsy, a Children's Invitation only site for 50% off. Regularly $29.99 on sale for $14.99.....

They have not just medic alert bracelets but also kids ID bracelets.

More Toys R Us Toy Deals--$8.96 for 3 TAG Jr. Books and 3 Games

Deal Scenario #1:
Buy 3 Monopoly and/or Sorry Games on sale for $7.99 each
Minus buy 2 get 1 FREE sale = $15.98 for all 3
Use 3 $4/1 coupons found here

Buy 3 LeapFrog Tag Junior books $10.99 each
Minus buy 2 get 1 FREE sale = $21.98 for all 3
Use 3 $4/1 coupons found here or here or in the 9/19 SS

Subtotal $13.96 ($37.96 before coupons to qualify to use the $5.00/$25.00)

Use $5.00/$25.00 Coupon from my previous post
Pay $8.96 for 3 Games and 3 Tag Jr. Books Savings $47.98

New -Leapster Explorer Deals--Toys R Us and Target

We already bought the New Leapster Explorer and with this deal I will be stocking
up on the games.

Target
Leapster Explorer Tinkerbell is on sale for $17.00
Use $5.00 Leapster coupon from todays paper -$5.00
Pay $12.00 Savings $12.99

Toys R Us

Leapfrog is all Buy Two Get One Free
Buy 3 New Leapster Explorer Games 3 @ $24.99 = $74.97
Register will take off -$24.99
Total $49.97
Use - $5 off $25.00 Toys R Us Coupon (link on my previous post)
Use 3 @ $5.00 off LP Leapster mfg. Coupons (if they let you)
Pay $29.97 for 3 Leapster Explorer Games Savings $45.00

Toys r Us--Toy Deals

This week with may be time to stock up for Christmas with using the $5.00 off $25.00 coupon good through 9-26-10. Read the coupon for directions... including one coupon per customer.
But that is solved by using cash and going shopping with a shopping buddy...or two... or three.
Or going back another day or two or three if you live close.

Combine it with the Buy 2 Get 1 Free Toys Deals through several popular toys.

I bought 6 Toddler Thomas Train Toys @ $7.99 6 @ $7.99= $47.94
These Chunky Wooden Thomas Trains are on Price Cut from $9.99--saving $6.00 more
(2 Sets of Thomas B2G1F) Computer Takes off 2 @ $7.99 = $15.98
Use $5.00 off $25.00
Pay $26.95 (50% savings off retail)

Another Scenario
Buy 3 of one brand of toy @ $5.99 = $17.97
Buy 3 of one brand of toy @ $5.99 = $17.97
Treat yourself to a Soda or buy a filler item to get your total after free toys $1.59
Total $37.53
Computer subtracts 2 toys at @$5.99 = $11.98
Subtotal $25.55
Use $5 off of $25.00
Pay $20.55

We also ran a couple of B2G1 Free Lego sets with the $5.00/$25.00 to get started on Christmas shopping. The Calico Corners Animal Sets are seldom on sale I got 3 of the $24.99 furniture sets, B2G1 Free, used the $5.00/$25.00 and paid $44.98 for all three, saving $29.99. I now have jumped started my Christmas shopping and the new toys for Christmas are in stock.

Late September is my favorite time to shop for Kids Toys as they are freshly out and on the shelves. Toys r Us is jumpstarting the season with this incredible deal.

Back to School

It's was Labor Day and we jump started school... The advantage of schooling at home is we can double team it. Dad does some lessons when he has time and I to the rest. Having Dad doing school is a special bonding time for both of them, while giving me a breather to do something else.

Becca and Dad are both sporting their school attire... their band t-shirts... like father, like daughter.

IPAD Review by Becca and Brody

Becca and Brody's Review of the IPAD

No words necessary.....

They were listening and reading the FREE Toy Story Application.

The Grands

This picture was snapped right before Kristy and Chris left Minneapolis for their new home near Boston.

The Grands... Kasja, Mahala and Brody.

August Pic--The Tiny Titan turned 21

Becca 21







Here is the latest picture of our Miss Becca, aka the Tiny Titan.
She is amazing and turned 21 on the 3rd of August. Becca has Noonan Syndrome and outlived her prognosis that she would never see 1. She is our miracle....

Her styling outfit... Coach purse $79.99, 50% off the clearance price and a 30% off coupon,
Aeropostle size 00 Short Jeans $9.99 less coupon of $10/$50, Buy One Get One Free Tank,
DKNY Blazer orig. $79.99, bought 70% off clearance for $11.99 and Sunglasses for $4.00. Earrings from Justice for $1.99. Becca knows how to shop and has turned into a name-brand shopper for little money. Buying classy, named brand needn't cost a fortune.

Summer Clearance-- Step 2 Water Table $21.00 at Walmart

August brings back to school shopping, but it is also the perfect time to stock up for next summer's fun. Normally beginning late August the summer fun toys, pool fun and picnic
products will begin to hit 50% and about two weeks later 75% off. I never need to buy at the beginning of the season, because we as always planned and shopped ahead by buying season closeouts.

I found this Step 2 Water Wheel Activity Table on clearance at our Walmart Store for $21.00. Whilebig people watch older ones at poolside I figured it is the perfect toy for the wee ones to get wet and play at the same time. It retails for $39.99 to $42.99 at most stores making it a savings of almost 50%.

Summer is nearly gone... and so are the backpacks!

Picture: Morgan Becca's Service Dog is used to riding in a backpack and she thought she was helping.

I should have known better than saying what I am not going to do...
I had planned on for the first time in 9 years, I was not doing backpacks. But never say never, as God will have other ideas of what we are supposed to do.

I had been gone much of April, all of May, and early June. Then gone for two weeks of July, then the first week of August, and only have been home 4 of the weekends since April.

But we were asked to do it anyway.... With help from the Grant Regional Hospital, partnering with Grant County Social Services for finding the families of children needing help, and an East Dubuque Girl Scout troop helping stuff them...

148 children are beginning school with New Backpacks filled with School supplies.














Backpacks




















Detamara the veteran backpack packer is on the job.

6000 Backpacks in 9 years paid-it-forward.

Inspiration from my email---May you be blessed

May you be blessed.... An inspiration found in my email this morning. My prayer for you.

Happy Birthday Mahala--- 7/22 Remembering a Miracle

Happy First Birthday to my granddaughter Mahala.

Last July 22, 2009 we found out she was a miracle. Click the link to read about the miracle. But not just one miracle, but two. Kristy went into septic shock a couple of weeks later and spent days in the ICU due to complications of her ruptured uterus. But it is now a distant memory, but today I thank God once again for the miracles saving my daughter and granddaughter.

She is a busy one and has a mind of her own, but like her Aunt Becca they had to be strong.....

One Major Project Done

Detamara asks "Why do I belly flop?" I snapped this picture to explain to my visual learner. Her response... I look like I am flying! Mom's response, "You need to keep your legs together and not fly or you splat!".

We are enjoying our hot summer and the pool is perfect for Becca at 85 degrees without a heater. Much better than last summer as we barely swam as it was way too cold.




















I wish I had taken a picture of the pool before we replaced the 12 year-old liner. But this one will have to do. We knew we needed to when we bought the house, but it lasted an 2 years. Before........





















After.... and $4600.00 later. Doing some of the work ourselves we saved over $1500.00 on installation by pumping out and removing the liner ourselves.

I spent Saturday using my new favorite household gadget, a Pressure Washer. I washed the old concrete and cleaned up the deck to spruce up the pool area to match the new liner and it is amazing how good it all looks.

Target Dollar Spot--A Homeschoolers Resource

Along with getting 150 to 200 kids ready for school through our Backpacks for Kids project, I have to think about what we need at home as I am a homeschooling mom.

This year we have the privilege of doing child care for Serena everyday after school. Becca has a job and I get to teach.

I am a fan of the Dollar Spot at Target and found it stocked for back-to-school and bought $1 items that will be used homeschooling my two girls and teaching Serena.















Alphabet stickers, 5 pack of Praise stamps, workbooks, and Early reading books Levels 1, 2 and 3 (Books like this can cost $5.95) and my best find $1 Teacher Planner (bought 2 one for this year and one for next).















Days of the week notes, Things to do lists (I use these each day with my girls so they can check off their work both school and chores), and a bunch of craft supplies for Serena. I had hit the 50% off and bought Toy Story crayons, pencils, markers and Hello Kitty pencils and 4 pack stampers for added fun.

I hit it a week ago, and hurry as these items sell fast!

Mom's New Shoes : Kohls-- Sketchers Shape-ups Deal $79.99, $67.99 with an extra 15% using your charge

Sketchers Shape-ups are on SALE $79.99 (Reg. $109.99) Savings of $30.00 or 28%

Use your Kohls charge and save 15% or more up to 30%.

Printed on the cover of a recent mailer is a Kohls.com Promo Code. Simply enter this Promo Code when you checkout with your Kohl's Charge, and you could save 30%, 20% or 15% off your merchandise total.*

Don't have your Kohl's Charge mailer handy?

No problem — there's no Promo Code required! Just checkout with your Kohl's Charge Card, and we'll automatically deduct an EXTRA 15% Off your merchandise total!*

Don't want to use a Kohls charge... spend $100.00 and get 15% off using code EBT15BTS (till 7-18)

Spend $75.00 or more and get FREE Shipping with using code GETFREE75.

Remember to go in through Ebates and get a 4% rebate.

I managed to get mine with a 30% off code for a mire $55.99! I wear mine all the time as they stabilize my bad leg because of the way I walk with them is changed. They are amazing and I needed a second pair for wearing in the house while working.

I just added a few items and bought 2-- 1/2 price children's bath wraps for $14.99 with matching bath mits for $3.99 to get my total over $75.00 to get the free shipping.... my total with tax for everything $85.00 :)

God's Email

From my email box today and it was meant to be shared..

From: GOD
To: All Those Who believe in Me
Subject: Life's Problems

Good Morning.
I am GOD.
Today I will be handling all of your problems.
Please remember that I do not need your help.
If the Devil happens to bring you a situation that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.
Kindly put in into the SFGTD (Something for God to Do) box where it will be addressed in MY time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold on to it or remove it.
Holding on or removing it will delay the resolution to your problem.
If it is a situation that you think you aqree capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure that you have arrived at the proper resolution.
If you need to contact Me, I am only a prayer away.

Cousins Meet

Kasja has "her" baby.... Baby Brody was her baby. (Kasja 27 mos. Brody almost 3 mos.)

We had the gift of being invited to a lake home Kristy and Chris rented in Minnesota. Nathan, Stacey and Brody came up for a long weekend and the cousins got to meet for the first time. It was amazing to have my three grandchildren together and spend time with family and friends.











Brody and Nate at the beach.





















Mahala (11 mos.) didn't leave much for Jesse to eat.

Thank you to Kristy, Chris and girls for sharing your vacation and the gift of time with family and friends.

We love you. Have a safe trip to your new home in Boston. We will miss you :(
Mom, Dad, Becca and Detamara

Little Tikes Christmas in July Sale-- Cozy Push and Ride and Classic Dollhouse 73% off

Little Tikes Christmas in July Sale.






This Cozy Push and Ride Car
Reg. $69.99 for $29.99 (73% off) Savings $40.00!!!!













Little Tikes Classic Dollhouse
Reg. $139.99 Sale Price $59.99 (73% off) Savings $80.00!!!!

Save 10% off an order of $50.00+
Use Coupon Code LTPS1020 (Exp. 12/31/2010)
Little Tikes is offering FREE Shipping on Order of $149.99 or more.

Remember to go in through Ebates and get a 3% Rebate.