Saving Money-- Ebates.com

In this quest of being a great and simple Momma, I have found myself shopping online more than ever since its easy and I can do it at any time of the day and no one cares what I look like (well David cares but I digress).  This kind of simplicity is what Simply Momulous is all about.  While shopping online, I have been using ebates.com, where you can get cash back for shopping for the things you buy already.  Joining is free and they don't spam you like other sites-- its really great!

Since using this site to start my shopping adventures, I have saved money through using promotions I didn't know about and have received about $50 cash back, so far. I know many others have earned more, but I am lucky enough to be able to curb my spending but I just earned 25% off  plus 4% cash back at Old Navy for boxers for David and 40% off and 10% cash back from Walgreens for our Christmas cards. I know you probably like Amazon just like I do, and there are even ebates for Amazon! Click on the link and join the savings.

**Note, this is not a paid post, but if you do follow the links in this post and join the site, I will receive cash back from ebates, and I thank you in advance.**

New Car Seat Law in 2014 & Simple Car Seat Resource

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has released new laws about car seat safety starting in 2014.  The law in itself is a little difficult to understand, however the basic premise is: if your child's weight plus the weight of the car seat is over 65 lbs, then do NOT use the LATCH system of attaching the car seat to the car, you should use only the seat belt to attach the seat to the car according to the manufacture's instructions.  The only exclusion is that if a top tether is available to use, you should continue using it with the seat belt, as this top tether will help keep the seat secure and limit movement in the event of a crash, but as always be sure to follow the instructions that came with your seat.

It is also important to note that you should never use both the LATCH system and the seat belt system at the same time because using both can cause failure in the event of a crash.

Party Deprived-- Advice Needed

Dear Experienced Parents,
My darling husband and I are party deprived, yes I know this is a first world problem, but it is nevertheless bothersome.  Before baby, we were semi-regulars on the going-out circuit and even when I was pregnant I trudged along (maybe rolled a bit) and enjoyed myself as best I could.  However, I really miss a good party, and I am thinking of New Years Eve and the challenge that I do want to celebrate it with baby because he is a HUGE part of what we are celebrating, but I don't know how to do this and still see your friends?  All advice is sought and wanted, and I can't wait to hear from you all.

Sincerely,
Party Deprived New Momma

photo credit: -Snugg- via photopin cc

News about Best Fitting Booster Seats

While, I am not here yet with William, this is good info to know for all my readers who have "littles" who are getting bigger but not big enough or old enough for just a car's seat belt.

IIHS names best fitting booster seats for 2013

More seats than ever receive top rating from IIHS

Booster seat safety ratings released: Inside the report's results

Edited: I just found a updated newsletter where there is a list of car seat and booster seat recalls from SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.; you can like them on Facebook too.

Baby Sleep Sack Recall Announcement

As safe sleep habits are important and not using blankets for babies under 1, this is an important recall of a sleep sack.  I know we are big users of the sleep sacks in my house, and I am sure many of you are as well. 

Name of product: BreathableSack wearable blanket for infantsHazard: The zipper pull tabs and sliders can detach posing a choking hazard to infants.

You can read more about this here: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/BreathableBaby-Recalls

Loneliness as a Mother

I am lucky, a least I keep telling myself that I am, and I did not get the same postpartum depression I watched my mother suffer from after my sister was born.  However, I can now clearly understand why she felt the way she did, being a working mom is exhausting and incredibly lonely, especially when your friends are at different points in their lives and they don't want to be around children.  At times, I didn't even recognize myself anymore, and it has simply scared me-- Was this the depression I was in or just a funk?

Lonley is more than just a word.
photo credit: Andreas-photography used with permission via Creative Commons

So I realised the only way things were going to change is if I did something about to make the change

Momulous Links Updated

Happy Monday!  I know my weekend was so beautiful, that I am missing my little man like crazy right now (how could I now with such a cute face as this) but alas, this is the plight of the working mom.  I just updated the links page, so please check out the "Momulous Links".  I hope you find something enjoyable there.  If you know of a blog or page you think I would like, please send me a message or post a comment.

BK's 1st ride in the grocery cart

Stronger Feelings As a Mother

Let me start by saying that I have always been full of emotion and some things always "got to me" more than other people, but now that I am a mother different things are bothering me more than they ever have.  For example, I can't watch the show Criminal Minds anymore because the topics keep me up at night and it used to be one of my favorite shows, well at least until BK came along.  And any news story that involves children pulls at my heart, where before I used to care, but I didn't feel so strongly as I do know.  Some might chalk

Simply Proud of Myself

A reflection at 6 months postpartum

It was about six and a half months ago that BK was born by planned c-section.  It was not the birth plan I had in mind when I first learned I was pregnant, but it was not the plan that was important, it was the end result of a happy and healthy baby and mommy.

And the Little One Said "Roll Over"

BK has mastered the art of rolling over.  He first rolled over mid May when we were visiting a friend in Detroit when he woke up in his pack and play in a strange place and was so startled he rolled over.  The later that week, he rolled over at daycare but for weeks we would get reports that BK rolled over but we didn't really start seeing him consistently roll over until last weekend.

18 weeks later...

Baby Knight at 1 hr

So, 18 weeks later I have a lot of catching up to do.  We had a beautify baby boy on Feb 15th as a scheduled c-section (I will post my birth story in a later post).  He shall be referred to as BK (baby Knight)

Hiatus

Hello all sorry for the hiatus...this nesting stuff is serious businesses.  I have 1 week until my due date and I will be posting some of the house transformations very soon.

Family Dollar Christmas Lights Recalled from 2011

Did you buy these lights last year from Family Dollar, maybe at the end of the season to save some money??? You may want to reconsider using them if you are getting ready to decorate for Christmas, since they do not follow the UL code and can catch your house on fire or give you or your family an electric shock. Check out the full press release from the CPSC.

 

 

Thinking about DIY Projects' Safety Before You DIY

This morning at work, while researching lamp shade fabric flammability safety (aren't you jealous) I stumbled upon this great blog post from Light and Paper, entitled "fire-proof lamp shades? no such thing, be smart.".
You should really check it out Brenda Irwin, the author, really raises some key points when considering a DIY project.

October Was Nationwide Window Cord Safety Effort

So, this is a bit late but the message in itself is not late and for some reason it seems October is the month to do all sorts of awareness campaigns.. it's a not overwhelming...no not at all.  Regardless of how many campaigns we have in October, one of the most important ones to pay attention to if you have small children is one to promote the safety of  window cords.

It's the BIG DAY!!

No... I am not going into labor, it is time to VOTE.  Voting is the foundation of our country and your civic duty as an American.  People have died for us to be able to exercise this right to have a say in our government.

Wall St Journal Reports: Safety Agency Probes Complaints of Children Trapped in Graco Seats

On Oct 20 The Wall St. Journal reported that there were many complaints regarding consumers being able to remove a child from Graco brand car seats and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was launching an investigation into the validity of these complaints.  The reports indicate that sometimes people need to go so far as to cut the harnesses to remove the child from the seat after normal (non-accident) use.  The models identified are: Nautilus seats from 2009 through 2012 with model numbers 175166, 1761306, 1763461, 8J00MTX, and My Ride 65 seats from 2009 through 2011.  Do you have any of these seats?

Exciting New Link on Product Safety Page

Today I updated the Product Safety page of this blog to include the brand spankin' new cross border Global Recall Database.  This is so exciting to the world of product safety , you and me because this is the 1st ever database of its kind available to all internet  users.  So, no matter if you purchased something on vacation abroad or you were gifted something from someone overseas, you can keep up to date on if the products in your home and used by your family are on a recall list anywhere in the world that keeps track of unsafe products. The growing global nature of the way we are living dictates this necessity and I hope you find a use for this resource. Currently the database is supported by The USA, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Europe and Canada; but I suspect other countries such as South Korea and Japan won't be far behind.

Tomato Pickles Galore

The Giant Pot for Water Bath Processing

15 Pounds of Green Tomatoes

Tomato Pickles Galore

The time has come for the vegetable garden to be cleaned up for the winter.  The tomatoes are no longer ripening on the vine like they were going out of style and consequently, there are tons... ok not tons but 10 lbs...of green tomatoes looking to have something done with them.  So rather than throw them away, I have decided to pickle the last of the harvest and share my process with you.  My adventure started two

The BIG Decision...Which Car Seat?

We have decided on the Chicco Keyfit 30....yea the great debate is finally over!!!  And we will be buying new unless someone I know and trust is looking to sell theirs. (and seriously if you are please send me a message).

I did some internet research and received so much advice about the BIG car seat decision via Facebook that I feel like it would be prudent to share the great advice: