Summer Reading – Freebies

To me, nothing says summer like the arrival of summer reading programs for kids!  I will be sad when DD is too old to participate, and that day is coming way too soon!

Barnes and Noble has launched their summer reading program, which culminates in a free book that your elementary school-age child can select from their list.  As always, they have a great selection of free books for kids to choose from.  I would have to choose Mercy Watson, Mr. Limoncello, or the new American Girl book about Lea Clark.

Have you participated in the Barnes and Noble program in the past?

Ordering Summer, Hold the Big Vacation

Morton Arboretum. Looks like England, Not Chicago Suburbs.

In January we begin thinking about summer vacation plans. We add money to our vacation fund every week, year round when we come in under budget with our weekly expenses. We try to hone in on our plan in January to make sure we have money to pay in full for our fun. (Bring home memories, not debt!)

This year we tossed around a number of ideas… Another train trip out west, or a trip to Montreal? Rent a summer lake house? We felt like we needed to come up with some sort of “legitimate” vacation, but we weren’t really feeling any of the ideas. They all sounded like work for mom and dad!

We came up with some driveable regional options that would give my husband lots of long summer weekends, good food, no travel stress, and time together doing new things. Two-thirds of us are excited to be going to the Madison Children’s Museum American Girl doll benefit sale this summer, but we hooked my husband in with snazzy accommodations and hiking at Devils Lake State Park. Minimal planning, packing and stress, and something for everyone to enjoy.

We have saved up enough to fund our summer plans, and plan to keep on saving so that next year we can contemplate a bigger trip if we are up for it. We would love to get to England in the next few years, but right now that level of planning seems daunting, and the cost to travel as a family seems like a lot of money for a week or two.  That doesn’t mean we won’t ever do it, but if we can build up a nice vacation fund, it may not seem so painful!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day from all the girls decked out in pink at our house today!

It’s brutally cold out today, so we are enjoying a night of sushi at home and maybe a little “Top Chef” finale off the DVR.

American Girl fans, note that the preview for the movie “Grace Stirs It Up” will premiere Tuesday, Feb 17 during the show Master Chef Junior on Fox.

American Girl Outlet, Oshkosh

My fellow budgeting, decluttering, and meal-planning friends, cast your eyes away while I take a moment to talk to American Girl doll bloggers about the American Girl Outlet Store, located in Oshkosh, WI near the Experimental Aircraft Museum.  When you consider the Wilmot Warehouse Sale, the Madison Children’s Museum doll sale, and the Oshkosh outlet store, Wisconsin is quite the location for AG deal-seekers to make a pilgrimmage. There are some deals to be had for sure, and other items at the Outlet are not priced far off the catalog.

Some prices are nothing to get excited about

There were many huge boxes with Julie’s VW car, at the still-astonishing price of $ 350.  At the Wilmot Warehouse sale this same item was $ 175.00. In fact, there were many Julie items, but none priced to move quickly.  

The best deal is the American Girl books, all generally 50% off sticker price.  This includes the illustrated historical fiction before they switched to the BeForever books, and activity and quiz books.

Two things got our attention recently. Saige’s welcome t-shirt, $ 2.50.  A nice price!  I also saw Saige’s wrap bracelet for girls which I believe was around $6.00. Another find was Addy’s birthday dress, retired in 2013.  The boxes contained all items originally sold with the outfit, including the pointelle stockings and a brown and cream snood.  Price was $ 14.00.  The sewing detail on this blouse and dress blows me away.  This item came home with us, paid for out of my personal fun money of course!

The sleeves are to die for!

There were definitely a few Ebay folks there–some items at the Outlet do have limits on how many can be purchased.  I can see how this can be an income stream, but that is too much risk for my  taste.

Other items include Bitty Baby clothing, AG clothing for girls, (including Saige’s sweater and a number of BeForever clothing for girls’ items), and clothing for retired Cecile and Marie-Grace.

There are no dolls, of course.  The only place to buy those on discount is the Madison Children’s Museum sale.

If you are in the area, it is worth a stop to be sure.  Personally, I think only the Wilmot Warehouse sale has prices to warrant a road trip.

Stop over at our AG Doll blog “The Dolls Between Us”!

Send in the Butterflies

Happy New Year!

I have been blessed to be home for the past two weeks.  Today Mr Saver and our daughter took down the Christmas tree–hooray! Meanwhile, I was in our daughter’s room trying to do some cleaning.  I’m talking underneath dressers and beds kind of cleaning.  She has been working on her room a little every day, but there is a force in there that resists it ever looking much improved.

This force is… creativity.

As I was digging out home-made American Girl iPhones and tiny school folders for dolls from underneath the dresser, it hit me… I have a Flybaby in training.  Flylady is the home organizing system created by Marla Cilley.  Flybabies are her creative souls who weren’t “Born Organized” as she says.

I present Exhibit “A” at right:  A container used to store Barbies has been turned into an “American Girl Washing Machine.” Creative right? Guess where the Barbies are?

Thing is, I’m no different. I can find myself getting Inspired on Pinterest while the dishwasher just needs to be started.  Or I am thinking about our next birthday party idea while the mail sits unopened.  We’re just too creative to want to pay attention to the boring details!

Why the butterfly above?  Marla says that butterflies flit from thing to thing, spreading beauty wherever they go.  Good analogy?  Yes, but I know that butterfly has a basket of laundry wrinkling in the dryer for sure. You can read her butterfly essay here.

This weekend I am working on getting our routines back in place so we can keep the creativity flowing but yet be able to enjoy the space and nice things we have.

Gifts for Next Year? Oh Yes!

Mr Saver and I were able to get out today for a little post-Christmas shopping (Thanks Grandma for babysitting)! I was thrilled to be able to get some 50% off gifts for next Christmas.

There are three keys to making this work for me:

1.  I have to be buying for a specific person.  I can’t just buy random stuff and hope it works for someone next year.

2.  I have to come home and enter the purchases on our gift spreadsheet for next year.  Otherwise, yes, I will end up forgetting that I already bought a gift for that person.

3. Of course the gifts must be purchased with CASH.  You can’t save 50% and then pay 19% interest on the gifts for the next three years.

Gifts for next year

 

My first haul included the gifts at left.  All were $ 5.00 or less.  The kids’ gifts are tried and tested.  The Disney Princess card set we own and used hundreds of times.  Dolly stickers – sure hit as well.  The Stonewall Kitchens soap is always a pleasure to give.  I also found a wooden gift tag/ornament. I try to pick gifts that I would have purchased at full price and not just grab things because of a low price. We all have so much stuff in our lives and I want my gifts to be valued.

Another unexpected find at Target was an Isabelle American Girl mini doll.  Strange item for Target to sell as they have their own line of American Girl-like dolls.  My daughter was there when we found Isabelle. I said 11.00 is too high for an impulse purchase for me at this time of year, but if she would like me to hold it for her birthday I can do that. It is important to me that she have some “skin in the game” with discretionary purchases. When you are a grown-up, even small purchases that you can afford affect your finances. “A small leak will sink a great ship.” Amen to that, Ben Franklin.

Isabelle Mini at Target

Finally, I knew I needed tissue paper for gifts, labels, and three small gift bags for next Christmas. Those were also purchased for 50%’off and I won’t need further gift wrapping supplies next year.

Have you found any gifts on sale for next year?

Report from Wilmot American Girl Warehouse Sale, Day 2

Last year we hit the American Girl Warehouse sale on the first day of the sale, and it was grueling.  This year we tried the sale on Day 2, with no idea of what to expect, only hoping the lines would be shorter.  We set out on the open road after our traditional stop at Dunkin Donuts.

Saige in Julie’s dress.

We arrived at 9:58 am, and were shocked to find the parking lot comparatively empty, and only a handful of ladies waiting to get in when the doors opened at 10 am.  We walked right in.  Mind boggling!

They restock the sale overnight, and there was plenty of merchandise, both Bitty Baby and American Girl.  Also some Corolle dolls.  Note the Warehouse sale does not have dolls except for the mini historical dolls, which were $ 8.00.  You need to go to the Madison Children’s Museum Benefit for the regular dolls.

Not our bags, but this is a small purchase by Warehouse sale standards!!

The sales staff wear t-shirts displaying stick figures hauling huge bags around. True!

There are always plenty of AG pets for 8.00 – 10.00

Lots of items for last year’s GOTY.

This one came home with us!

There were accessory kits for Addy, Julie, and Ivy.  Also a shawl for Rebecca.

Like I said, plenty of merchandise, and easy to find.

A favorite item: McKenna’s Warm-Up Outfit. Those are some cute shoes! $12.00 for the whole outfit.

This year there was only 1 historical doll outfit, Cecile’s yellow summer dress and bonnet.  Lots of MYAG outfits including a soccer outfit, cheerleading outfit, ski set, tennis outfit, a cello (!), and two Halloween outfits for dolls.

Alluring, yes. Enough money in the budget, No!

We were stunned to be out of the sale by 11:15.  We decided to have our picnic lunch outside the warehouse, for old-time’s sake.

Saige, Addy, and a Webkinz along for the ride.

After last year’s sale we started saving $10.00 from each of my paychecks for future AG adventures.  When it came time for the sale my daughter knew exactly how much was in the AG budget!  We were happily surprised, though, that Grandma chipped in as a way to celebrate our school year.  Thanks Grandma!

Update:  We will be blogging about future Wilmot sales at our new blog “The Dolls Between Us”, so follow us there!

American Girl Outlet Sale, 2014

 

Josefina, wearing a dress for babies 0-3 mo from Carters. Rummage sale purchase for 1.00.

I knew something was up with the American Girl Warehouse Sale because suddenly my blog was getting heaps of searches about the Wilmot Warehouse Sale.  I was shocked to find that the sale is running right now – about 2 months earlier than last year.

You can read about our odyssey to the Wilmot Warehouse sale last year here.  To tell you the truth I had to go back and re-read my blog post to give myself a reality check about what the sale is really like!   My first instinct was to skip it this year.  We just got out of school today!  The other half of me said, “You won’t be going to this sale forever.  Carpe Diem!”

So, we are gearing up to go tomorrow morning, which will be day 2 of the sale.  I called the Mattel outlet store which is on the grounds of the American Girl sale and the clerk confirmed that people have been camping out in tents for two days prior to the sale starting today!  These are the Ebay-ers who make a living reselling the items.  People arrive with uHaul trucks from all over the midwest.  No kidding!

Here’s how to prepare for the sale:

1. Leave husbands and small children at home.  The warehouse can be crowded, hot, and the wait to check out can literally be an hour or more.
2. Pack a lunch with plenty of cold drinks and candy to pass the time.  There is one gas station in town, and one cafe, which is small and is cash only.
3. Bathroom… you can use the bathroom in the Mattel outlet (a separate building from the warehouse sale).
4. Bring a blanket to sit on.
5. When you arrive you get a number and you can do whatever you like in the meanwhile.  No need to stand in line.
6. Definitely bring a doll… they may want to get acquainted with other dolls!
7. How about a book to read?  My daughter is reading Kaya’s books and I am starting Julie’s because, “Mom, it’s from your time in history!”  #feelingancient
8. There is ample room to play catch or throw a football while you wait.

So tomorrow morning we will pack lunch, stop at Dunkin Donuts, and hit the road.  I have no idea what mayhem to expect on Day 2 of the sale.  Hopefully a tad more sane than day 1 last year.  I really hope to find Addy’s nightgown.  My daughter will be looking for items for Saige and Julie. I will give you the full report!

 

Goodbye to the Two Week Party

Perpetual Party at Our Ceramic Pub

The whole family has been mostly off work since December 20, and it has been a non-stop party around the homestead.  Trips to Whole Foods (Mr. Saver reminded me that we can ‘Live like No One Else’).  Old-fashioneds (a cocktail) at night.  Dinners that are comprised of foods you eat while watching a movie at home.  The dining room table has become more of an American Girl furniture making shop than a spot for family meals!

BUT… tomorrow is back to school and work for us all.  I did prepare myself for this inevitability by having two meals ready to cook for Thursday and Friday.  I at least managed that in between buying all the fancy cheese and crab sushi!  I also kept a grip on reality by doing Flylady’s Holiday Clean-Up missions every day.  The clean-up missions are quick 15 minute actions, such as putting away holiday dishes or tossing out holiday foods that are on their way to becoming science projects.  I feel good about that.

Another thing I really let go of over the holidays was my coupons.  Today I will sort through them while we have the Rose Bowl Parade on and get back to my money saving ways.  BudgetLovingMilitaryWife – watch your mailbox, my loss is your gain.

One of the best ways I know to keep myself on budget and on task is by making a weekly meal plan and sharing it with you.  I am working on next week’s meal plan which returns to some pantry and freezer meals, and I am real excited to try a new recipe for a White Bean, Sausage, Kale soup.

While being debt-free does allow us to ‘live like no one else’ for periods of time, we have many financial goals and getting back to the basics of meal planning, budgeting, and coupons is how we can make them happen.

Windy City Wonders

Before I delve into all the budget planning for the coming year, I want to tell you about a special family day we had this month.  For me, wealth is being able to have family experiences that can be enjoyed without fear of a credit card bill the next month.  I will gladly go without a fancy car or designer purse to save for special outings.  My part-time job provides funds for our “wants.”

Every Christmas season we try to have a family day, such as going to the Nutcracker.  My husband is a peach about going where his girls want to go.  This year we went to Chicago for the all-out American Girl experience and holiday tea at The Peninsula Hotel. My daughter had intended to get the doll Molly as a Christmas present, but she was retired and sold out!  We were stunned but ‘Saige’ was the choice after a LOT of deliberation.

Children’s Tea

The Peninsula Hotel is very walkable from American Girl place.  We tried to make a reservation in early October and they were already booked!  They added another seating and we lucked into a reservation.  The Peninsula is elegant, yet comfortable.  They offer a children’s tea along with the regular tea menu.  Gluten-free is also an option.  A wonderful thing about afternoon tea is the relaxed pace, which is usually elusive when you are used to dining with children.

Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel Chicago

Saige Living it Up at the Peninsula

When you walk the streets of Chicago with a doll, you meet other doll lovers of all ages, races, and walks of life.  They all are eager to get a closer look, and know the doll’s name.  I tried to savor the experience, knowing that in the US, American Girl dolls are kind of the last stop in girlhood before the pre-teen years come knocking.  Three years from now American Girl will seem as far away as the days of Elmo and Cookie Monster do now.

If you are up for a little humor, see what happened when Conan O’Brien visited American Girl Place!