A Cleaver Catch-Up

So it's been a while since I updated our blog, and a lot has happened!
First, we bought a house!

Perfect, right? Okay, no, not perfect, but pretty darn close.You can probably catch a glimpse of the inside of our garage right there on the right side of the picture; sadly, it still pretty much looks like that. How in the world does everything that fit into our 800 square foot apartment NOT fit into our 1200 square foot home? I guess it's a matter of organizing. Which, according to my track record, will take about the first year of living in this home. O, and combine that with all my Pinterest inspiration, like this:and this:and this: I will most likely be like this:I guess this is that whole loving-what-you-have sort of thing.

Also, I finished my internships! Whew, 400 hours of clinical work goes by fast ( not!)! But really, I learned so much, and it got me closer to graduating. I also have a working draft of my thesis, so I REALLY hope to meet the deadline for August graduation. But this means that Wally and I get to spend all day together. I love it, and it's great, but man, we need to start going through all those "100 things to do with a toddler" and "Keep your kids entertained for hours" pins I have. Wally's at a tricky age where she needs engagement and exposure and exploration, but seeing as 50% of things go in her mouth and 50% ends up on the walls, some things just aren't in the realm of reality yet.

June Cleaver Approved!: Edible Finger Paint

We've been going nuts here in the Cleaver house on Sundays. It's too cold to go out, it's too Sunday to go anywhere, and our little apartment just can't contain Wally. So.... ta-da! Edible finger paint. I googled (cuz that's what moms do nowadays lol) it, and I was getting recipes that involved cornstarch or flour or cooking on the stovetop. In the words of that one lady...

 

So I just used what I had... vanilla yogurt and food coloring. It works perfect! However, if you are going to try and actually paint on paper (as opposed to high-chair), I would recommend one of the other recipes. This, I feel, would not dry well. 

The great thing: Easy clean-up! Just plop the baby in the tub, and rinse off the high chair!

A Bad Week at the Cleaver House

It's only Wednesday, and I'm already writing off this week. It has just been one thing after another. On Monday, I stopped by the Dollar Tree to pick up some things, and I managed to not only lock my keys in the car, but the car was still running. As I realized this, my phone died. Luckily, I was able to borrow a girl's cell phone and call both my husband and Roadside Assistance, but my car was idling for about 30 minutes total. Then, my period started that same day- yuck. And now, today, after Ward spent all yesterday evening working on the car (getting it in shape for the emissions inspection), the car won't start. It just goes chugga-chugga-chugga and won't start. Seriously?!?I guess on the plus side I get to spend all day with Wally at home, and maybe even work on my thesis (gasp!). And maybe shop for cars. If this is a major repair, the car's worth less than the repairs.

Couponing... Let's Talk

Hi again!
So, food prices are not what they were in the 1960's. We can't get ice cream for a dime, and we certainly don't get glass bottles of milk delivered to our front step. Because of this, I coupon.
Some of you may have heard of a little TLC show called Extreme Couponing. I am here to tell you that the show is not real. Gasp! I know.
Nevertheless, I am here to tell you that you can coupon legitimately, without going dumpster diving for coupon inserts, and save your family some moolah.
And that is definitely June Cleaver approved!

Here's my approach to couponing:

Couponing 101: You Can Do It!

What to do:

1) Buy a Sunday newspaper. Some stores in my area bundle the two big Sunday papers, so you get double the inserts.

2) Sign up for coupons.com (it’s free). Best place to get online coupons. Know, however, that you can only print 2 coupons per computer through this site (as with most online coupons)

3) There are several coupon blogs and databases. These usually are based either by region or store. My favorites are:

a) iheartkroger.com

b) iheartriteaid.com

c) BabyCenter Group- Coupon Newbies

d) hip2save – not always, but sometimes you can find deals here.

e) dealdivas- I think this one is okay, you can also google “Utah coupon blogs”

Check them out. They are how I found out about a lot of deals I wouldn’t think about, or how to get coupons by liking companies’ Facebook pages.

Where to go:

1) Kroger is a good place to go for using coupons. There’s almost always a deal going on, with coupons to match. Also, if you sign up on Kroger websites, you can download digital coupons right onto your card!

2) Rite Aid. It’s a little trickier, but once you get going, you can score some BIG deals. I’ll explain further down.

3) Walmart. Our Walmart (any in Utah County) doubles coupons up to $1 on Tuesdays. This means you can score certain things for cheap or even free!

How to do it:

The best way to maximize your savings is to use a coupon on an item that is on sale. Here’s an example:

Kroger has select Progresso soups on sale for 88 cents. While this is a great deal in itself (usually 1.50 or more), if you have a 25 cent off coupon, each can becomes 63 cents!

I have also found things on clearance (either on Kroger clearance rack or in its usual shelf), paired with a coupon, makes for a great deal!

I have found that it is helpful to have a general idea of what you are willing to pay for items. For example, I will probably never pay more than 25 cents for toothpaste again, but my price point for cereal is 1.50 or less. This is strictly based on what you are comfortable with.

Like I said before, couponing blogs are awesome for highlighting great deals and when things are at stock-up prices.  

Rite Aid: This deserves its own heading

Rite Aid is its own beast. However, once you get it and get going, it is THE place for toiletries, makeup, etc. I have found, though, that is it not the greatest for food. You can usually get food cheaper at Smith’s or Walmart.

Okay so here’s how it works:

Rite Aid has a rewards program known as Ups. You ask to sign up for a wellness card (basically a RiteAid loyalty card). This is cash back to you when you purchase certain items. Here’s an example:

They have deodorant for 2.99. But when you buy the deodorant, you earn 2 ups rewards. So, your net cost of the deodorant is 99 cents. 

This cash back can be used the next day, starting at 6 am. The ups rewards are only good for two weeks. There is also usually a limit as to how many ups you can earn on one product. For example, on the deodorant, you may only be able to buy 2 deodorants, for a total of 4 ups rewards.

So the same principle still applies: pair a coupon with a sale for the best deal. Again with the deodorant:

The deodorant is 2.99, with 2 ups rewards earned. BUT, if you have a $1 off coupon for it, then the deodorant is FREE!

RiteAid’s coupon policy is also quite different from other stores. You can stack coupons at RiteAid. They accept 3 kinds of coupons per item:

                a)manufacturer coupons b) RiteAid coupons (found in the weekly circular), and c) Video Values coupons. 

                RiteAid coupons are found in the weekly circular. Video Values are coupons earned by watching commercials for products on the RiteAid website. You can then print them.

Here’s a stacking scenario (this isn’t common, but just for example’s sake):

Shampoo is $5, with a 2 ups reward on the purchase. But, you have a $1 manufacturer coupon, a $1 RiteAid coupon, and a $1 Video Values coupon. So, you pay $2 for the shampoo, but you earn 3 ups rewards. Technically this makes the shampoo FREE!

Also, to trigger the ups, it’s the amount BEFORE coupons, not after. This is how you can get great deals with combining coupons and ups; you “spend” enough to trigger the ups, but you don’t actually pay that much.

The trick with the ups is to use ups to earn more ups. Here’s a scenario I did this week:

I went to RiteAid with 20 ups. My total bill, before my loyalty card and coupons and ups, was $91. After my loyalty card and coupons and ups, my bill was $26. However, I EARNED 42 ups. So, technically, I earned money on those purchases.

This is known as “rolling your ups.” It really saves you money, and you feel like a superhero when you do it.

Other things to know about couponing:

Target is the only other store I know of in the Utah area that allows stacking coupons. You can go to coupons.target.com, and print off store-specific coupons that can be paired with a manufacturer’s coupon on one item.

CVS is very similar to RiteAid, but I don’t know anything past that.

Once you get going, there is a website called klip2save.com. It is a coupon clipping service. You pay the 8 cents or whatever per coupon, and a dollar for shipping (no matter how big your order is), and you can get as many coupons as you want. It’s perfect for if you miss a Sunday paper, or if you want to order 10 or 20 of a certain coupon.

iheartriteaid.com has the RiteAid sale ads for the next 3 or 4 weeks. So, you can plan ahead.

Some Ideas for your first RiteAid scenario (deals I’m seeing next week):

1) Here’s a good starting sale: Wet N’ Wild cosmetics are Buy One Get One ½ off, and then 5 up when you spend $15. This could be a great deal, depending on what you want. So (these numbers are just thrown out there):

Foundation: 5.00

Powder: 2.50 ( orig. $5, but ½ off)

Lipstick: 5.00

Mascara: 2.50 ( orig. $5, but ½ off)

So, you pay $15, but you earn 5, so you spend $10 for foundation, powder, lipstick, and mascara.

2) Here’s one next week that pairs a coupon with ups:

 Ziploc storage bags are 2/$6, earning 2 ups when you buy 2. There is a coupon coming out this Sunday for $1 off 2. So, with the ups and coupons, you are paying $3 for 2 boxes, or 1.50 apiece.

3) Here’s the weekly freebie (usually there is one):

                Culturelle, a probiotic (think yogurt on steroids in capsule form), is priced at $16, and you earn 16 ups. I use this with my baby, so you can bet I’ll be snagging that.

Now that you’ve got the tools….

Go for it! Jump on to the couponing blogs, and coupons.com. And on Sunday, snag those bundled papers!

Of course, there will be bumps, and shopping will take a lot longer, but it is SO worth it!

Got Shots?

Well today was Wally's one-year checkup. And, of course, she got her one-year shots. 4 shots for my poor baby! Luckily she is one of the fastest recoverers (?). Sometimes I think she must not be our daughter, because both of us whine and groan about every real or imagined ailment we think we feel.
Okay, so she wasn't quite this content, but she was still okay.


Since she got shots today, I thought I would address the ever-controversial topic of vaccinations. I feel that vaccinations are a blessing to this world, and personally my children will receive vaccines. The only one I'm not sure about is the HPV vaccine; it is so new I am still waiting for the data to come in and be replicated into oblivion. However, I understand and accept that parents have a right to make decisions like this for their children. I also understand that some children cannot get vaccinated for various reasons. So, while I may not agree with choosing not to vaccine, it is still your right to do so.

June Cleaver time. This is from the CDC website:

"On April 12, 1955, the Salk polio vaccine was declared “safe, effective and potent.” Since that date, great strides have been made in reducing and eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. Diseases that were once common-place, such as polio, measles, mumps, diphtheria and rubella, are now only distant memories for most Americans. Today, there are few reminders of the suffering, disabilities, and premature deaths caused by diseases that are now preventable with vaccines.
Measles was once epidemic in the United States, with more than 55,000 cases and more than 120 deaths as recently as 1989–1991. Today, measles is no longer circulating in the United States or anywhere else in this hemisphere thanks to measles vaccine. Just two decades ago about 20,000 cases of invasive Hib disease occurred annually. A physician training in pediatrics today will likely never see a case of Hib meningitis, formerly the most common form of life-threatening bacterial meningitis in the United States. This year, rubella is no longer endemic in the U.S., but in the 1960s, many people witnessed first-hand the terrible effects of the rubella virus. During an epidemic between 1964 and 1965, about 20,000 infants were born with deafness, blindness, heart disease, mental retardation, or other birth defects because the rubella virus infected their pregnant mothers.
During the last 50 years, numerous changes in vaccine production and administration have resulted in safer vaccines. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has worked since 1964 to carefully review vaccine benefits and risks before making vaccine recommendations. The 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act resulted in a nation-wide reporting system, the Vaccine Adverse Reporting System, to monitor reactions to vaccines. The reports to this system were instrumental in the changing U.S. recommendations from the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to the injectable polio vaccine (IPV) ultimately eliminating the occasional health threats caused by the live virus contained in OPV. Vaccine safety remains a priority among government officials, health care providers and consumers. Vaccines, which do so much to minimize the burden of disease, must remain safe and effective.
April 12, 2005 marks the 50th anniversary of the first polio vaccine. Since the introduction of the vaccine, great strides have been made in significantly reducing the health impact of vaccine-preventable diseases among children and adults worldwide. Smallpox has been eradicated worldwide. Polio, measles and rubella have been eliminated in the U.S., and disease rates from vaccine-preventable diseases have been reduced by 99% in the United States. The last 50 years have given us much to celebrate but we must remember that there are still children, adolescents and adults who need the protection that vaccines provide. Our work is not done!"

So it would seem that kids in the Cleaver era were just starting to get vaccinated. So while the show makes children out to be happy-go-lucky and carefree, you can see that others (lots of others) were dealing with diseases such as rubella, polio, and Hib. I am grateful to be a Cleaver in this era, where these diseases and their consequences are very nearly forgotten.

Wally

Most of you know Wally as the adorable Tony Dow, who, after puberty, actually was quite good-looking, even if his logic wasn't exactly sound. Our Wally is, in fact, a girl, but Wallyna or Wallette just sounded too cruel. And she is nowhere near puberty. In fact, she just celebrated her very first birthday!

How cute, right?! She is the pride and joy of our lives. She can do just about everything except actually use words outside of "nana" and "mama/dada." She walks, climbs, and just generally keeps us on our toes. She loves music, dressing up, and skyping. And, as we learned over Christmas, dog food.

I'm considering this to be the early years of the Cleaver family, the years we didn't see on the series. As you can see, there is a fair amount of screaming and scowling involved. However, there is also a whole lot of laughter and love going on too.

The 5 W's of this blog

The Who
Hi, I'm June Cleaver. Obviously that's not my real name, but just for fun, let's go with that. I live with my dear husband, Ward, and our little one, Wally. We are both going to school, Ward to become a journeyman electrician, and me for speech therapy. Wally just turned one, and boy, is she a handful!!There's no Beaver yet, but hopefully he or she will come along one day.
The Why
Why a Cleaver-themed blog? The main reason is because we watch a lot of Leave it to Beaver- thank you Netflix on Sunday. As all who are acquainted with the show know, June Cleaver is the quintessential 1950's housewife. Her hair is perfectly coiffed (see picture), the house is spotless, and she always has a snack or meal ready for her children and their friends. And it got me thinking, what would a 2013 June Cleaver look like? How would she parent? What issues would she have to face and overcome raising children in this day and age? What hilarious or all-too-familiar situations would she find her children in?
The Where, When, and What
Well, where and when are kinda silly in this case, but I'll let you know that these Cleavers live in Utah. I'll try to post as often as possible, or when I don't want to work on my thesis.
The what gives me more to work with. Back in the days of the show, children spent all day out of the sight of their parents, didn't talk to the opposite gender, and the most technology they were exposed to was the radio or the 3 black-and-white channels on their tube tv. So, I wanted to use this blog to document our adventures in parenting, and our successes and failures in trying to raise children in a much more technological and complicated world.

So here we go! Cue the theme music!