Diamond in the Rough

In honor of the group returning to Africa this week, today’s wordless Wednesday will feature some of my favorite pictures from my trip last November.

Our group of 48

Veronicah, the girl who stole my heart

The death grip hugs were out of this world!

Baby in a bath tub

Purple Rain Boots

Isaiah and Donnell

Omari

These are 3 of my wonderful nephews! Aren’t they super cute. They recently moved to Georgia and I do not get to see them a lot, but I did this past weekend and that makes me very happy

So, I have a secret. I love getting mail. I sometimes check the mailbox upwards of 3 times a day, waiting for it to arrive. Granted, that is in part to them showing up at such inconsistent times everyday, but it also have to do with my excitement to see what is inside. I’m not going to lie, if I get to the mailbox and there is nothing for me I am always tempted just to leave the rest of it in the mailbox.

But Friday’s mail was good to me!

Contents of the Mailbox

People, US, Entertainment Weekly, Rouge

My P&G Sampler and the ful bottle of Renu contact solution.

Look at all those coupons that came with them!

It was a good mailbox day!

So this week we began hardcore potty training Mikayla. When I interviewed for this position, last July, there was talk about beginning the potty training. Shortly after I arrived, the switch was made from diapers to Pull-ups/Easy-ups. A potty was bought, and I thought the process was going to begin. But instead the Pull-ups were used just like diapers, forcing the only thing to change to be the price that was being paid for diapers.

But that all changed this past week.  I woke up Tuesday to Mikayla wearing panties.  I was told by her mom that it was time, and we would try to only put her in the Pull-ups at nap and bed time. Since I only have her half a day on  Tuesday, I did the best I could to keep her motivated that day, knowing that I ha to have a full plan ready to roll out by the next day.

Mikayla is a child who likes to have control of her situation, so I knew I had to find a way to make potty training on my and her parents terms otherwise this was never going to get done. Thankfully, I had several people tell me about a technique that put the control of the rewards back into the parent’s, or in my case, nanny’s hand. It is based on a book called “On becoming Pottywise” by Gary Ezzo.  It spells out a whole technique, but since I didnt have time to read the whole book overnight, I had to come up with a way to incorporate the parts of his tecnique that I knew. The main point is to reward the child for staying dry, not for when they use the potty.

Star Chart

So for Mikayla, I came up with a star chart. When I ask her is she is dry and she says “yes”, and really is dry, she gets a star. After she gets 5 stars she gets a piece of candy.

The rest of the week went pretty well. Yes there were a few accidents, but way less than I had expected. And she loves the star chart.

So here’s hoping  next week keeps going so well!

I started saving my spare change after returning from Africa in November. I have wanted to go to Wilmington, N.C. for a while. Not only is it beautiful, but it is also the town where one of my favorite shows is taped, One Tree Hill. There are several locations from the show I would love to visit. Plus, it will be my first road trip!

I was a person who NEVER carried cash. Everything was paid for by my debit card. Right before we left for the trip, I saw my dad cash in an old pill bottle ( about the size of a 1000 count Ibuprofen container). He made over $60, JUST FROM CHANGE!! So I decided that was something I could do as well.

So it has been 6months, and while my jars were no where near full, I happened to be at the dollar store today and picked up some coin rolls. I decided to roll what I had and see how far along I was. I was SHOCKED at the results. I was, by no means, prepared for how much it was.

$50 in quarters

$15 in Dimes

$4 in Nickles

$3.50 in Pennies

That gives up a whooping total of:

$72.50!!!!

$72.50!!!

And there was leftover, that stayed at the bottom of the jars ( I separate pennies from silver coins)

On top of that, I received one of my rebate checks for $5, plus a $36.46 refund from Geico. So my total for my Wilmington trip fund right now is:

$113.96!

OK, as some of you out there know, I have a new couponing obsession. I follow several blogs who give lists of match-ups on a weekly basis. From there I find the deals I want to do, gather my coupons and separate what I will need for each store, then get shopping. It is a game for me. I love it!  I have been playing this game since just before Christmas of last year, and have gotten some VERY good deals. My favorites include Disney Blu-ray combo packs for well under $10( i.e. I got both Toy Story 1 and 2 blu-ray combo packs for a grand total of .54cents), 2 Bop-its and two Monopoly card games for $2, and just last week I was able to get 2 bottles of Scrubbing Bubbles, Windex Multipurpose, Shout, and 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Power Spray for free.

But today I got a very good deal that I wanted to share. (And it’s the first time I remembered to take a picture before I put everything away)

CVS Trip 4/27/2010

For a grand total of  $21 and some change I was able to get

2 boxes of Wheat Thins

3 boxes of Lucky Charms

2 (50 oz) bottle of All Detergent

2 boxes of Fig Newtons

1 (12 pack) Quilted Northern Toilet paper

And Finally

AVATAR on DVD!

Now, I haven’t seen Avatar yet, but I heard it was really good, and to be able to get it for just over $2, I wasn’t going to pass it up.

If you want to know how I did it, let me know, I can pass along the info.