Calvin Klein...at a Fraction of the Cost

Who wouldn't want a baby they love to rock out in adorable Calvin Klein ware? But who wants to pay Calvin Klein prices?   I Googled "2 piece Calvin Klein baby boy set" and found the typical range to be $30-40. (For that price, I could buy myself something nice to wear!)

Where did I find this awesome buy for only $10?  (Try finding a long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans for $5 a pop, Calvin Klein or no, not so easy.) I found it at TJMaxx, in the clearance section. Obviously, no one can guarantee what you'll find at TJMaxx, let alone the clearance section, but I think it's definitely worth the look.  Who knows what goodies you'll find!!

There's still time to buy $20 worth of food and drinks from Tippy's Taco House in Rockville, MD, for only $10.  Click here to be directed to this deal. (The deal expires tonight at 4am.)
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Don't forget to check out today's Conversation Starter, (found on the right hand side), regarding the best advice you've received.

There's No Such Thing as a Free Meal, but you can get one for $10!

I normally don't post on the weekends, but this great deal is only available until tonight.

Who doesn't know someone who likes tacos? Right now, you can get $20 worth of food and drink from Tippy's Taco House in Rockville, MD for only $10!!  This is a perfect gift for anyone who likes to, well...eat, (and it's perfect for my $10 budget).

Click here to be directed to this deal.

Disconnect to Reconnect

If you keep up with my blog, you know that earlier this week I was without internet access for one day. What you didn't know was that I was without television or phone access as well. For the whole day. With an energetic 2 year old running around. And since it was a rainy day, playing outside was not an option.

So what did I do?

I spent the whole day focused on the kids. There was no Yo Gabba Gabba, Blue's Clues, or Law & Order interrupting our quality time. No checking of email or updating of Facebook statuses.  There were just books, story telling, puzzles, play doh, dancing, and make believe.

Obviously, this day was pretty tiring for me since it was constant go-go-go from 5:30am when Archer woke up till 6:30pm when hubby came home; but it was filled with many more laughs and memories. Saying this, I won't keep up this disconnected state because our modern world doesn't allow for both that level of "hermit"-tude and with being a well informed person.

I do, however, appreciate the reminder that occasionally it's nice go off the grid and do activities that  connect you on a deeper level with your family, than say, that which Angry Birds provides.
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Don't forget to check out today's Conversation Starter, (found on the right hand side) on the criminal indiscretions of an 80 year old Lynn, MA woman.

Potty Training Boot Camp - Day One

(First off, I apologize for not updating the blog yesterday - I was having router issues and was not able to log  onto the internet.)

Yesterday I started potty training Archer. Oh. My. Gosh. At the end of the day, I was surprised that any adults are potty trained at all. This truly is hard, unnatural work. Archer might not have learned a lot today, but I certainly learned something about him.  He is a little liar.

I'm not ashamed to admit this, but I did resort to bribing my 2 1/2 yr old. I told him that if he went potty, he would get a piece of candy. The whole day we had the following conversation:

Archer: Give me my piece of candy.
Me:      Did you go potty?
Archer: I did!
Me:      Let me check.  <I check the empty potty>.
Archer: Mischievous smile. >:-)

So, this is a taste of what I'm in for, huh? If he already fibs as a preschooler, what tales is he going to spin as a high schooler?

Well, I guess I'll handle one thing at a time.  Mission Impossible I: Loose the Huggies...to be continued....

If I learned that my little boy bends the truth and that he posses the most adorable impish smile, I learned something about myself, as well.  I am a lot more patient than I ever believed I was.  This is knowledge I will use when dealing with life's future stressful times, (and people). And I think this is a lesson all parents can apply towards themselves.

Sometimes, I think, we just don't give ourselves enough credit.
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Don't forget to check out today's Conversation Starter on unattended children, found on the right hand side.

A Chic Key to the Past

I can cross yet another person off my Christmas list.  I got my sister a vintage key necklace.  Celebrities from Kate Moss to Tayor Swift to Naomi Watts have been spotted sporting one of these hot little items.

Since my $10 budget does not allow me to buy anything close to the price range of the necklaces adorning these celebrity necks, I had to improvise.  I went to my local antique store and bought an actual vintage key, (made between 1888 and the 1920's) for $4.24.  I bought a 20" silver box chain necklace for $5.95 from Amazon. (I have Amazon Prime, so shipping is free!)  Here's what it looks like:

I actually think it looks better than the $125 version sold by Fossil. Plus the one I created is authentic, Fossil's is a high priced replica. The below may be shiner, but the detail in the actual key is so much more profound. I'm a history geek and I love imagining stories surrounding the history of this key; what treasures did it lock away?

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Don't forget to check out today's Conversation Starter about Amanda Knox and O.J. Simpson, found on the right hand side.

Shiny Baubles to Please your Gift's Recipient and your Wallet

I found some amazing deals on 1928 Jewelry's website for my mom.  I was able to score the following for $5 each: 

For those of you not familiar with 1928's jewelry, their pieces are perfect for those who love anything retro or vintage. (Though they do have a modern offering with their 2028 brand.) Click here to be directed to a listing of their sale items.  If you order by December 16th, shipping is free!

I think I found a really great deal here.  The necklace originally retailed for $24 and the bracelets for $18 and I snagged both for $10!
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Don't forget to check out today's Conversation Starter on the right hand side!

A $10 Trend

So I can cross the first person off my Christmas list.  I found a gift that is perfect for the teenage boy who is a car enthusiast...a year's subscription to Motor Trend magazine. I found it on Amazon.com for $10, the link is the below.  (I did find the same subscription for a couple bucks less, but I wasn't familiar with those websites so I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.)

Click to see Motor Trend link

Too bad his interests didn't lie else where.  Right now Amazon is selling $5 subscriptions on certain magazines.  If you're interested in seeing the list, I've included the link below.  But hurry, the $5 price is only good through December 3rd.

Click to see list of $5 magazine subscriptions