Back to School Traditions: Five Back to School Traditions that ROCK!

August 25, 2012 by 2 Comments

I have always been big on trying to establish traditions with my family. Last weekend I stayed at my sister’s house for a night so that she and her husband could get away for the first time in almost six years without kids and I realized that traditions don’t have to be “big” They just have to be meaningful to your family! I loved that as soon as her kids woke up Saturday morning they KNEW it was Saturday and that they could eat their breakfast in the family room while watching cartoons!

Image Credit: Nie Nie Dialogues

The summer before my daughter started kindergarten, I read on NieNie Dialogues about her fabulous Back to School feast for her kids. I’m not quite as creative (or ambitious) as she is, but I decided to start this tradition in our house. My kids have been asking me about it for a few days now. We have one of their favorite meals (so far it has been homemade macaroni and cheese four years running now!) and talk about goals, fears and the upcoming year in general.

First Day of School Picture Ideas:  Since my daughter started kindergarten, I’ve always taken a picture of her holding the date and her grade. My son starts kindergarten this year and I plan to do this again, but then I’m going to save that picture for the end of the school year and I’ll take another picture on the last day of school with each kid holding their first day of school picture like this one I found on Call Me Crafty Al!

First Day of School Picture Ideas
Image Credit: Call Me Craft Al

Back to school letter from parents
Letters – Write your child a letter at the start of the school year telling them all the things you love about them, the things you hope they’ll learn that year, or the things that they love at that point in time. Save all of the letters and make them into a book for graduation! I am planning on starting this tradition this year! When they head off to college, you can send them with their book of letters and another letter!

Image Credit: Skip to My Lou

Heart Attack – Cover your child’s door with hearts telling them all the things you love about them to start their day off right on the first day of school. This is also great for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or just because!

Image Credit: Happiness Is

Back to School Fairy – Have the Back to School Fairy visit and bring a new book, a journal, or school supplies!

Back to School Fashion show – I can remember doing this as a kid and now I love to see my kids parade around in their new school clothes while we try to choose a first day of school outfit and outfits for the rest of the week!

Don’t forget to add a special “I love you” or “Have a great day” note in their lunch boxes!  That’s something else my daughter looks forward to each year!

What are YOUR back to school traditions?

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information

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Retail round-up: printable coupons for your weekend shopping!

August 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

If you’re planning on doing some back-to-school shopping this weekend, here’s the retail round-up of printable coupons!

(Thanks Your Retail Helper!)

 

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Restaurant Round-Up: the top printable restaurant coupons!

August 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

If you’re headed to a restaurant this weekend and you don’t want to bust your budget, check out the top printable restaurant deals and coupons that are available right now!

Bob Evans Coupon – $3 Off $10 Dine-In Purchase (exp: 8/30/2012)

Boston Market Coupon – Free Family Dessert with Family Meal Purchase (exp: 8/27/2012)

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream – 1/2 off Bruster’s Freeze with Purchase Of Another One (exp: 8/31/2012)

Buca Di Beppo Coupon – $10 Off 2 Pastas, Baked Pastas, or Entrees and $10 Off $30 Buca To-Go Order (exp: 9/3/2012)

Carrabbas Coupon – Buy 1 Entree Get 1 $10 Off And Buy 1 Entree Get 1 $5 Off (exp: 9/30/2012)

Carvel Ice Cream – $1 off Girl Scout Cookie Carvelanche or Dasher (exp. 8/27)

Chilis Coupon – Free Skillet Queso & Chips When You Join the Email Club (exp: 8/31/2012)

Chipotle Coupon– FREE Kids Meal in September WYB 1 Kids Meal from 8/24-8/31 (exp: 8/31/2012)

Cinemark Coupon – Free Small Popcorn WYB Large Fountain or Frozen Drink (exp: 8/29/2012)

Cold Stone Coupon – Buy 1 Creation Get 1 Free (exp: 8/30/2012)

Corner Bakery Coupon – Free Sweet WYB 1 Entree (exp: 9/4/2012)

Daphnes Greek Cafe Coupon – Free Kids Meal WYB 1 Adult Entree (exp: 8/29/2012)

Dennys Coupon– 20% Off Entire Check (exp: 9/5/2012)

Fire Mountain Coupon – 2 Free Kids Meals Per 1 Adult Buffet (exp: 9/30/2012)

Genghis Grill Coupon – Free Appetizer or Possible Free Bowl When You Share on Facebook (exp: 9/15/2012)

Grannys Buffet Coupon – 2 Free Kids Meals Per 1 Adult Buffet (exp: 9/30/2012)

Huddle House – FREE Golden Waffle (exp: 8/24/2012)

Macaroni Grill Coupon – $5 Off Any Summer Feature (exp: 8/26/2012)

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream – $1 off Medium or Large Favorite Combination (exp: 8/31/2012)

Olive Garden Coupon – $5 Off Any 2 Dinner Entrees (exp: 8/26/2012)

Orange Julius – Buy 1 Get 1 FREE drink when you join the Julius League

Papa Murphys Coupon – Free Mini Murph Pizza Kit WYB Any Regular Price Pizza (exp: 8/31/2012)

Papa Murphy’s Pizza – $7 Famly Size 2 Topping Delite (exp. 8/31)

PF Changs Coupon – Free Appetizer When You Buy 1 Entree (exp: 9/22/2012)

Planet Hollywood Coupon – $5 Off $20 Purchase (exp: 2/28/2013)

Pretzel Maker Coupon – FREE Pretzel Dog (exp: 8/31/2012)

Qdoba Mexican Grill – FREE Chips & Salsa or regular drink when you join Qdoba Rewards Club

Quiznos Coupon – Buy 1 Sub Get 1 Small Sub for $1, Med for $2, or Large for $3 (exp: 9/3/2012)

Red Mango Coupon – $2 Off $6 Purchase (exp: 8/30/2012)

Ryans Coupon – 2 Free Kids Meals Per 1 Adult Buffet (exp: 9/30/2012)

Smashburger Coupon – Free Chai Tea Shake WYB 1 Entree (exp: 8/25/2012)

Smokey Bones Coupon – $5 Off $15 Purchase (exp: 8/26/2012)

Steak n Shake Coupon – Buy 1 Get 1 Free Banana Milkshake (exp: 8/29/2012)

TGI Fridays Coupon – 20% Off Entire Purchase (exp: 8/29/2012)

Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen – Free Flavor Upgrade with Value Meal Purchase (exp. 8/31)

Waffle House Coupon – Free Waffle (exp: 10/31/2012)

Wetzels Pretzels Coupon – Free 21 oz. Watermelon Lemonade WYB Wetzel Dog or Bitz (exp: 10/31/2012)

White Castle Coupon – Buy 1 BBQ Pork Slider Get 1 Free (exp: 8/31/2012)

Wing Stop Coupon – Free Regular Cut Seasoned Fries with Any Boneless Wing Purchase (exp: 8/30/2012)

 

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Melissa & Doug Deluxe Puppet Theater only $30.31 shipped (regularly $89.99)

August 25, 2012 by 1 Comment

Melissa & Doug puppet theater

Amazon has an amazing deal on a Melissa & Doug Puppet Theater today!  It’s regularly priced at $89.99, but right now you can get it for just $30.31 shipped!  We have lots of Melissa & Doug toys and my kids love them all.  I love them, too, because it gets them to use their imaginations and gets them off the electronics!

It’s always show time! This wooden puppet theater has been designed with a sturdy, non-tip base and plenty of room inside for a puppeteer or two! The stylized theatrical graphics and plush, velvety curtains will inspire creativity and expression in any child. Including a clock with movable hands and a chalkboard panel for playbill information, it’s a stage just awaiting imagination

Click here to grab this deal–> Melissa & Doug Puppet Theater for $30.31 shipped

Please keep in mind that pricing on Amazon can change at any time and changes do frequently happen. Please verify final pricing before completing your purchase!

(Thanks The Centsible Family!)

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information

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Publix deals for the week of 8/23-8/29

August 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Thanks to Brittany from The Prudent Patron for the weekly Publix deals! Here are the highlights for the week. You can find all of the deals for the week at The Prudent Patron (this is based on the Florida/Southern Georgia market)

Here are some of the items you can get for FREE this week:

Advil Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer, 20 to 24 ct, – $2.99
$5/2 Advil, Advil PM 32 ct +, Children’s Advil .5 to 4 oz or 24 ct, Advil Congestion Relief 10 to 20 ct, or Thermacare 2 to 3 ct Publix Coupon
$1/1 Advil Pain Relief Item, excludes trial sizes, TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 09/01/2012) 
$1/1 Advil PM, 16 ct+ 05/20/2012 RP Insert (exp 08/31/2012) (if included)
$1/1 Advil, 20 ct+ 05/20/2012 RP Insert (exp 08/31/2012)
Final price: FREE

Here are some of the items you can get for less than $1 this week:

Ben & Jerry’s or Starbucks Ice Cream, pint, BOGO – $4.79
$0.75/1 Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Product, 16 oz, WHOLE FOODS coupon (If WF is a competitor.)
$1/1 Starbucks Ice Cream Pint 06/17/2012 SS Insert (exp 08/31/2012)
$1/1 Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Or Frozen Yogurt, any pint tearpad (exp 9/15/2012)
Final price: $0.65

Classico Pasta Sauce, 8.1 to 24 oz, BOGO – $2.99
$1/2 Classico Pasta Sauce, Any hangtag (exp 12/31/2012)
B2G1 Classico Red Pasta Sauce FREE WYB (2) Classico White Pasta Sauces (DND5) – valid up to $2.29 hangtag (exp 12/31/2012)
$1/3 Classico Jars, any
Final price: $0.50

General Mills Cereal: Lucky Charms, Trix, Cookie Crisp, Reese’s or Kix, 11.25 to 14.5 oz, BOGO – $3.39
$0.60/1 General Mills Lucky Charms Cereal printable
$0.60/1 General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal printable
$0.60/1 General Mills Lucky Charms Cereal printable
$0.60/1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats, Cocoa Puffs Treats, Lucky Charms Treats, Golden Grahams Treat, Chex Mix Treats or Milk ‘N Cereal Bars printable
$0.60/1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats, Cocoa Puffs Treats, Lucky Charms Treats, Golden Grahams Treat, Chex Mix Treats or Milk ‘N Cereal Bars printable
$0.60/1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats, Cocoa Puffs Treats, Lucky Charms Treats, Golden Grahams Treat, Chex Mix Treats or Milk ‘N Cereal Bars printable
$0.60/1 General Mills Lucky Charms Cereal printable
$0.60/1 General Mills Lucky Charms Cereal printable
$0.50/1 Lucky Charms Cereal printable
$1/2 General Mills Cereal, exp. 8/25/12 (SS 07/15/12)
$1/2 General Mills Cheerios Cereals, exp. 8/26/12 (Peelie)
$1/3 General Mills Cereal, exp. 9/15/12 (GM 08/05/12)
$0.50/1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats, Cocoa Puffs Treats, Lucky Charms Treats, Golden Grahams Treats, Chex Mix Treats or Milk ‘N Cereal Bars, exp. 9/29/12 (GM 08/05/12)
$1.50 off Bananas AND any 2 General Mills Cereals 8.9 oz or larger PUBLIX coupon (regional 8/11 inserts)
$2/2 Participating General Mills Cereals: Trix (14.8oz), Cocoa Puffs (16 oz.),Cinnamon Toast Crunch (17 oz), Frosted Toast Crunch (17 oz), Lucky Charms (11.5oz), Chocolate Lucky Charms (11.5 oz), Golden Grahams (16 oz), Kix (12 oz), Honey Kix (12 oz.) PUBLIX coupon (regional 8/11 inserts)
Final price: $0.10

Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, 30 oz, BOGO – $4.73
$1/1 Hellmann’s or Best Foods Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil printable
$1/2 Hellmann’s or Best Foods Mayonnaises, 9 oz+, TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 09/01/2012)
$0.75/1 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, exp. 1/31/13 (Making Life Better Unilever Booklet)
$0.70/1 Hellmann’s Product, exp. 8/26/12 (RP 07/29/12 R)
Final price: $0.87

Peter Pan Peanut Butter, 13 to 16.3 oz, BOGO – $3.29
$1/1 Peter Pan Conagra Back to College Coupon Sheet Publix Coupon
$1/2 Peter Pan Peanut Butter, any 16.3 oz + – All You Summer Fun Special, July 2012 (exp 9/2/2012)
$2/10 PARTICIPATING CONAGRA FOOD PRODUCTS manufacturer’s coupon (Peter Pan peanut butter 16.3 oz is included) tearpad
Final price: $0.15

 

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