Category: Family

The Box Top Momma

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I will preface this by saying – I AM NOT A COUPONER-

But I do want to be one in the worst way! I have a giving heart the size of Texas, and the time and wallet the size of Rhode Island.

Today I found myself in an accidental couponing zone. I think I fell into Novice Couponer territory as of today, and now I want more!

My Daughters School collects Box Tops. If you’re not familiar with Box Tops for Education it’s a program where schools can earn extra money to help support their programs. The school gets .10 cents per box top turned in.

I have been on the hunt. You can’t tell someone who loves to collect and plays major MMORPG’s just to farm, that they need to collect something. To me this is the most epic of Mommy Quests!

To-date I have collected 215 box tops this year! I am pretty proud of that! I would like to hit 500! Now I think I can!

So here I was – at Duane Reade picking up a few things when it hit me to check my Box Top App. That’s when the inspiration struck

I earned a total of 18 Box Tops in the photo below and spent $8.94 to do it – Let me explain how!

Duane Reade offers Balance Rewards. Often if you spend $25 or more they offer you $5.00 in store credit on your next visit. On that next visit you are welcomed to redeem your points however you like. What I love is that you are able to stack these points.

So I completed 2 Transactions

Transaction 1:

The Cereal was on sale for $3.49 a box when you use your store card
2 Boxes @ $3.49 was a total of $6.98
At checkout apply your $5.00 store credit
Total Final Cost: $1.98
Box tops Earned: 6 (2 via the packaging and 4 from using the Box Top App!)

Transaction 2:

I purchased 4 boxes of the Annie’s Mac n Cheese (no sale here – Bummer)
Each box @ $2.99 was a total of $11.96
At checkout apply your $5.00 store credit
Total Final Cost: $6.96
Box tops Earned: 12 (4 via the packaging and 8 from using the Box Top App!)

This was the first time I have ever hit a zone and it made sense. This is the start of something wonderful! Where are my coupon friends! Help me reach my goal of 100 box tops via the App!

Using the Box Top App

It could not be simpler! From the App you select the item you want to claim your Box Top Credits for, then the app Takes a photo (scans your receipt).
Once the receipt is processed – your credit goes straight to the school!

Box Top even doubles points by shopping at certain stores! So I will be on the look out for Stop-&-Shop deals to increase these cents for my daughters School. The donations of these box tops go to help fund the First Catholic School to have a Hydroponics Lab in a NYC!

New Year – Same Me – Same Shit I learned last year that I keep pretending I didnt… Blah

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

One of the hardest things to do as an adult is to face a new year and wonder if you will trip over the same stones you did the previous year.

No new me in 2019. I very much like the current me. It’s a great version of me! (albeit 60lbs heavier than I should be) But I like to think of it as some life lessons I’m still carrying with me that I haven’t quite found the place to set down just yet.

I stopped making resolutions in 2018. I did that because 2017 was a bit of an awakening for me. I went through my own personal Renaissance. I enlightened the shit out of myself.

I did something that most people never want to do.

I admitted that a majority of my problems are my fault.
I admitted that when someone may have done something against me, my choice of reactions and path becomes ultimately my choosing. and If I don’t like the outcome – that would be my own fault.
I admitted that choosing to lay blame in someone else and then forever falling victim to the pain that causes again is my own fault. I handed the power of my happiness over to someone who did me wrong.

As a child – there is very little control over the wrongs an adult commits. A child has to float with the tide of it all, fight the fights that these wrongs create in their small worlds. Then bare the emotional, mental, and spiritual battle wounds it creates.

That child is then expected to grow up and be functional. See the world the way other adults see it. Some adults who don’t wear the scars of a childhood left unprotected.

Now don’t get me wrong – There is such a thing as being so beaten down that you just function differently. That there is so much resentment and anger that it takes permanent structure in your life. You end up wiring your brain to accept that as part of your function.

But then you age and try to figure out why it has to be this way.  There’s a tiny voice that says – It doesn’t. Its faint enough for you to consider it. It makes you strong enough to decide to start a new journey. A long journey. A difficult journey. The Journey to find your center. In that center is your Zen and the voice. That Zen holds the healing power of 100 gods. But, it will be the hardest journey you will ever travel.

It will be worth it. Grab a hand of the strongest figure in your life. Say no sorries for the version of you they may witness during your journey and fight the good fight. Go get your Zen.

Healing is the most painful thing you will do. Don’t shy away from it. Embrace it and run to it.

Happy New Year Friends.

~Written from the center of my Zen.

My Mornings – It’s fine… It’s totally fine..

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Mornings are my own version of the old Nickelodeon show Double Dare. Remember that show? It was where contestants were asked a series of ridiculous questions and if they didn’t know the answer they could instead take a physical challenge. That’s my morning.

My almost 4 year old machine gunning questions faster than I can answer them.  I then take the Physical Challenge! The game is called NYC Stairmageddon!

My obstacle course is a:
♥ Three flight segmented NYC wall-up apartment building
♥ Followed by a two block trek to the longest flights of stairs known to man.
♥ All while carrying a stroller and adorable chunky baby motivating a almost 4 year old to just keep moving.
♥ Then to stand on a double open elevated subway platform, with what feels like an       unpredictable unleashed puppy to wait for a speeding train to take us to school!

Everyday. Twice a day!

Then I win! I get to start my work day! Winner-winner chicken dinner! Where’s my #citymomlife trophy! ♥