For The Love Of A Bargain

Before I begin this entry, I have to admit to two of my biggest reasons that I hesitate to start a blog. I can't break myself of those darn runonsentences. You know the ones that you are like reading and wondering when is she gonna stop. That's me. I have a runonstyle. Sorry. Also. I have no recollection of the ins and outs of punctuation, beyond the bare minimum. Hang in there with me. I may have some good things to say. If ya have some simple advice that my little mind may remember, do share! I need help. "hello, my name is Kim and punctuation confuses me. Okay. Ready. Here we go!~

Those who know me, know I love to shop.  That does not mean I like to spend money.  I like to shop for bargains and I love, love, love it when I can get something less expensive than I know other people are probably paying for the same thing. 

 It is a good thing that I love to browse because it can definitely take time to know just what’s a bargain and what isn’t.  Also, you never know when you will get lucky with a once in a blue moon find.  Ya gotta get out there and look folks!  This is especially true for thrifting, but I’ll save that for another post.
Today I want to share with you some of my guidelines and some of my go to buys at one of my favorite “hot spots”.
First of all, if it doesn’t have a cart, it’s not for me.  I like my cart, buggy, whatever you call it..  It’s a comfort thing.  So that rules out the mall for the most part.  Now I know some of you will say, but my receipt says I spent $25 and saved $100.  Sometimes that is the case, other times, the original price is soooo jacked up, you didn’t save anything.  I say to you, give me a Kmart receipt that shows 40% off of the clearance price and you’ve got my seal of approval.  (and let's face it, you want my approval because I am so cheap I squeak and shouldn’t everyone all look for validation from an overweight lady facing menopause full on)  
But I digress...  
My favorite go to, budget loving, I can’t believe this receipt is...  Drum roll please...  The Dollar Tree!

From now on, I will refer to The Dollar Tree as TDT, just cuz I don't want to get writer's cramp.

 I can get giddy, honest to goodness giddy when I look at all they have to offer.  I am aware, because I shop all the time, that everything isn’t a deal just because it’s, for me, ONE DOLLAR!  HA HA!  Get it?  Okay, moving on. Did you hear the latest? You didn't? OMGosh! They will be accepting manufacturers coupons soon. On August 26th, to be exact. How can this be possible?? I don't know, but I'm a happy girl!

Here’s some of the items that I will not buy elsewhere unless I absolutely must.  

BANG.  No, I’m not taking a page from Emeril and spinning it from BAM to BANG.  That’s the product name and it cleans bathrooms like nobody’s business.  I dare you to show me a bathroom that this amazing product can’t make sparkle.  Spray it on, check your email, return and wipe all the nastiness off off your shower and tub.  If you need to, and I have needed to, repeat.  It will get it done.  The fumes are not nearly as harsh as other products, but I still open up and run the fan.

THE SCRUB IT QUICK ERASER.  These are heaven sent, I swear to you!  They are similar to the very popular magic eraser by that wonderful Mr. Clean company..  However, you get 2 for $1!  One side is white magic stuff and the other is just a blue spongy thing.  It is perfect for showers, doggy cement, I mean dried nose prints on windows, and glass-top stoves.  Trust me.  Give them a try and see if you can ever pay for another brand.

LA’S TOTALLY AWESOME ALL PURPOSE CLEANER.  Use it full strength or dilute it.  It is TOTALLY AWESOME!  I use it diluted for my linoleum floors and general spot cleaning.  Undiluted, I use it as a pretreater for clothes and carpet spots.  I didn’t even do the test spot first because I am a rebel like that, but I highly recommend you do that test spot in an inconspicuous area,as it will suggest on the label..  

LA’S TOTALLY AWESOME OXYGEN CLEANER.  It is the same thing as the fancy-pants stores will try to sell ya, but at a fraction of the price!  I use it in my homemade laundry detergent and love it!  

NATURAL WHITE SENSITIVE TOOTHPASTE.  My son has sensitive teeth and that can be very painful for him so we followed the dentist’s advice and bought the name brand product for that issue and it worked very well, but it was so expensive.  I hesitated when I found this at TDT, but took a chance and bought it.  I compared the active ingredients and they are exactly the same!

HOME PREGNANCY TESTS.  This is the same urine test that your doctor will use.  I swear this is true.  If you need to take two or three tests, as I did, to be sure~I even had dear hubs take one just to be sure my results were right..  Shhhh!!!  Don’t tell him I told you~ you can afford to with these.  Why spend $20?  You’re gonna need that twenty bucks if the test is positive!  Bahahaha!!

SOFT WHISPERS BODY WASH.  My fave is the cucumber and green tea scent.  The bottle says to compare it to Dove’s brand.  I don’t know about that.  I think it may be thinner, but it lathers up fantastic, rinses clean, smells lovely and lasts a long time.    

After some quick math, I can say that if you try these products and like them, you will have saved at least $25.  Not bad, huh? My best advice is to read your labels.. Are the active ingredients the same? Is it worth risking a buck to find a new product that can save you lots more over the course of a few years?

Well, now that I got all that off of my chest, I feel better!  How about you?  Those 5 minutes that it took to read this post are 5 minutes you will never get back.  I really hope I didn’t waste your time!  If I did... don’t tell me.  I’m feeling vulnerable...  JK.  Let me know what you think and if you find any treasures that shouldn’t be missed at TDT, same me some!

So, as I restart this blog, I thought it may be time to explain why I call myself a cracked pot...  I read this story a few years ago and felt it hit home to my constant feeling of inadequacy.  Now, I say constant, but it's more like often present..  I am learning to love myself, flaws and all.  It's been a long road and I'm still in the early phase of my learning to accept myself and the blessings this cracked pot can offer those around me.
Some times, I'm pretty darn awesome!  And the others times?  Well we'll get into that another post.  Enjoy the story and let me know if it just might apply to your life and the way you see yourself!

The Cracked Pot Story

A water bearer in India had two large pots,
one hung on each end of a pole which he carried
across his neck. One of the pots had a crack
in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always 
delivered a full portion of water at the end
of the long walk from the stream to the
master's house.  The cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it thought it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it
spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer.

"What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?

That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers
to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.
It's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
We've got to learn to take ourselves and others as what we are and where we come from, and learn to appreciate it all!
There is a lot of good in us!
Thank you to the cracked pots in my life.

Blessings!
Kim

Feeling Inadequate

Every have a day. or two,or three, where you just simply let yourself do nothing? How do you feel after the day is done? I've had a few of those days in a row and as bad as I feel about it, I can't figure out why I do it again?
I tell myself tomorrow is another day, forgive myself and expect to be productive the next day. I did that Saturday and Sunday and on Monday~today~I did nothing! Now, I'll give you the excuse that I slept horribly last night and while that's true, other's have lousy nights of sleep but they manage to accomplish something. What's the key that will unlock these ruts that I allow myself to get into??
Now, this blog isn't about beating myself up, not at all. I think this blog will be about finding myself and learning~ hopefully~ how others deal with the same issues that I face. I know I can't be alone in this... I'm simply not that unique! LOL!

Today, I was a mom that knew her kids shouldn't sleep in until noon and lay around the rest of the day watching tv, but allowed them to and kept them company while they did it.

Today, I was the same woman that made this awesome "goal chart" for the boys and I to refer to every day.. I spent over an hour making it look just so... Yet, today, I did nothing on that list beyond the absolute necessities.
Wanna see my list?? I knew that you would!!! Here it is! All the little tasks that would make our live better!!

Dan Brush AM
Nick Brush AM
Nick Brush PM
Dan Brush PM
Nick Read 15 minutes
Dan Read 15 minutes
Dan Math 15 minutes
Nick Math 15 minutes
Feed and Water Cats
Feed and Water Guineas
Scoop Litter
Quick Clean Bathroom
Tidy Living room
Tidy Dining room
Wash Dishes
Tidy Kitchen Counter
Dishes Put Away
Vacuum Living room
Vacuum Dining room
One load of laundry
Boys Tidy Room
Laundry away



Today, I was the woman that is very overweight and the woman that just went to the grocery store and has ample groceriess, and the woman that is seriously considering joining weightwathers, but ~are you ready for this??~ asked her loving husband to pick up Mc Donalds for supper. God Love Him, HE DID! Can you say ENABLER I knew you could!!



Today, I was the woman that is trying to be frugal, responsible and I didn't pick up the phone one time to book a show. By the way, I'm a Premier Designs jeweler and really do love my company, product and customers... Go Figure..

Here goes #2 post!

Well, it's Sunday and since I've made it my mission to save more money on the things that we need, I've spent the day so far learning all about the fine art of couponing from A Full Cup! Check out the site and tell me what you think! http://www.afullcup.com
Now, like most people, I have used coupons before, but never to the point that I would save tons of money. I usually made out better, or thought I did, with store brands. Let me tell ya, this couponing looks like it can be really involved at first, but it looks like fun! I'm trying not to be intimidated, but simply learning the acronyms is going to take a little bit of time. I am very excited to think of all the money I will save on things and I promise, unless it's free or very close to free, I will NOT buy things that I don't use! This I vow!
I may be a cracked pot, but I'd love to live with a full cup!

Wow, this wasn't hard at all!

Just decided to give blogging a whirl. Not sure what I'll be blogging about, but I love the name I chose!! Now, I'm not saying I'm crazy or anything, but a cracked pot means much more than that to me. To me, it means although I have imperfections, I can serve a beautiful purpose! Time will tell if that's true or not, but.... we'll see.
Here's the story/fable that most recently inspired me. \A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts." The pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Fathers table. In Gods great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.