Make a Schedule this Summer For Easier Days

It's almost summer time and soon your kids will be out for the summer. That means that my days with having only one child home with me will soon become days with three kids. I always worry when school is about to let out for the summer because I don't always know what I should do with my kids. This year, I came up with a schedule.

My Favorite Money Making Apps

   

When you are a stay at home parent, you might want to try different things to bring in some extra spending cash. This was definitely the case with me. I wanted to be able to chip in and pull my weight since I'm a terrible house cleaner. I discovered many different apps and websites to help earn some extra money or free things by reading around or asking friends. Here are some of my favorites.

• Ibotta- This app is amazing. It's like an after thought coupon. Many of the grocery items are items that I was going to buy anyways. All I have to do is scan the qualifying grocery items at the end of your trip and your receipt and then voila- you have cash back. You can redeem your rewards for Paypal or featured gift cards after accumulating $20 or more. You also can get bonus cash back if you redeem a certain # of rebates for that month's challenges or if you invite friends who use your referral code to join. If you would like to try Ibotta, you could sign up with my referral code at https://ibotta.com/r/systysj or sign up on the app on your own. When you download the app, you can also get at $10 bonus just for signing up! 

• Checkout 51- This app is very similar to Ibotta, but not all bonuses are from the same store. You also have to be on the lookout for cashback offers where you have to buy 2 or more of the same item in order to redeem it. You also can only redeem after you've reached $20 or more 

• Saving Star- This app used to let you cash out at $5, but has changed it to $20 as well. With this app, it's hit and miss. Many times you have to redeem multiple of the same items, but you don't need to redeem it all at once. If it is a multiple rebate, the app will save the items from a previous receipt and roll it into the next until you reach the limit requirement.

• Inbox Dollars- This app can make you money in several different ways. The fastest way for me is to do the surveys, but you can make money in other ways. One of my other favorites is to print out their coupons. For every coupon I use, I get $0.10 back. If I don't use the coupon, I'll leave it next to that item and let someone else use it. It's a win because you get the coupon discount and then another $0.10 back. Explore the site and find out what works for you. If you would like, my referral code is https://www.inboxdollars.com/?r=ref19683421&s=7 

• GlobalTestMarket- this is an app, but I use it most as a website to do surveys. If you have the time to participate in them, the points add up quickly. I've redeemed my points for restaurant gift cards or as money towards PayPal.

• GigWalk- Have you ever heard of a secret shopper? A secret shopper is a person who is hired by a company to order something or check out their premises and then report back to them the requirements from the job. Gigwalk is an easy way to secret shop. When different "gigs" are available to you, you can click the offer, and if you decide to accept it, you apply for the job and then within a few hours or days, you could be accepted or denied. The more gigs you do, the more offers you are also given.

• Influenster- Influenster doesn't earn you money, but it could get you some free things to try. In order to get things from Influenster, you have to agree to the terms of reviewing each product online. I have gotten many things like shampoo, laundry detergent, and even food. 

• Heartbeat- A new app that I found recently is an influencer/ambassador app. After you've signed up your email and given them your information, you can look every day for new ways to join a campaign. On top of getting things to try or getting discounts for them, you'll also make a certain amount for reviewing that will get sent to your paypal account. 

Which apps or websites have you used to earn money or products. Did I miss any?

Trying to Lose Weight When You're Obese

I'm 5'4'' and I'm obese. I won't mention my weight on here, because it's my shame to carry around. If you look at me, you will know that I'm plus size. Any picture that you see of me is usually a head shot.

What About the Rights of Others?

We live in a world where everyone is offended by everything. Right now, someone is saying, "I'm offended that you think that way!". While I  believe that there are admirable reasons to protest, I also believe that many protests are just selfish and could be done in a better way. Sometimes, when we are defending our offenses, many times we are attacking others.

Graduates Vs. Mike Pence

Let me explain. Two years ago, I saw a video about a graduation at Notre Dame. Vice President Mike Pence was the speaker and during his speech, hundreds of students walked off in protest. I'm extremely naive about current events, facts and fictions, and news. I know that Mike Pence has things going against him and also things going for him. I'm not going to debate his credibility because this post isn't about him. This post is about the students and parents who didn't protest.

College is a BIG deal.  A person had dedicated 4+ years to studying and being able to stand before the crowd, your family, and your friends to accept that EXPENSIVE diploma is HUGE. For some people, they are the first member of their family to graduate and that experience is precious. Imagine that moment when you see your son or daughter lined up, ready to transition to the next part of their life and all of a sudden, other students mock that graduation by walking out.

Why? Because they didn't like the speaker? Because they didn't believe in what he stood for? Graduation isn't about the speaker, graduation is about the student and their accomplishments.

Mom Shaming

 Another thing that bothers me is mom-shaming. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I remember going on to a mommy board and was talking about how much I couldn't wait to see my daughter. I was probably 34 weeks pregnant at the time and the moms took something so small and made it explode. I started to read, "How could you want to see your baby at 34 weeks? Don't you know that they need to go the 40 weeks?" and blah blah blah.

It just kept going on and on. The more that I tried to defend myself, the more these moms continued on a witch hunt. Have you noticed that people today can take anything that you say and manipulate it to a point so they can argue it and berate you?

Didn't I, as a pregnant woman, deserve the chance to talk about my pregnancy and my excitement to see my cute baby without getting shamed online?

Looters and Rioters

What about the protests that happen when protesters walk the streets and start to riot, block traffic, and loot others' things? The protesters may have an admirable cause, but what did the business that happened to be on the street do to them? What about the people who have to get to work on time or the ambulance trying to get somewhere? Didn't they deserve the right to, I don't, get to where they needed to go without getting delayed or having their cars dented in?

 Speak up!

Well if people don't agree with how we protest things, where are they? Why don't they speak up for themselves?  

Maybe we don't believe in conflict. Maybe we believe that it doesn't matter what we do, someone is always going to find a way counter it. Maybe they are doing it the same way that I am, they are writing about it making people aware that there are always two sides to every story and if you are going to get your point across, how about we don't interfere with the innocent bystanders?

Conclusion

The people who graduated two years ago aren't going to get that moment back. That day should have gone perfectly. It should have been about their accomplishment and instead that moment was stolen by those who didn't agree with one person. That wasn't a protest, that was theft. That was stealing the moment of someone else.

What about the first time mom who thought she would be able to find comfort and friends on that mommy board? What if she was doing this alone and that community that she was hoping to find, only made her scared to do it alone or for the mom who does have support, she's might have days where she's upset about what happened. Those mommy board people didn't help her. Instead, they were a thief of joy.

What about the person who was on their way to work one day and they got caught up in a riot making them late for work or an interview and they got ended up getting fired or missed out on the opportunity of a life time? That's not a protest, that was changing someones destiny.

I believe that the right to protest should be a right, otherwise who's to stop the government from overstepping? I suppose when I think of the people above, I'm sure that they were just trying to stick up for something they believed in, but perhaps they went about it the wrong way.

There are ways to protest that are peaceful and don't harm others.Those are the ones that I'm interested in to help change our future and right the wrongs of the past.

  

Why I'm OK With Stopping At Three

Kids- Ugh!

I used to be the type of person who never wanted to have kids... Like ever... I felt like kids took up so much time, are only cute to their parents, are rude, dirty, smelly, and loud. I just didn't want kids and I know that many women feel that way.

8 Fun Things to Do With the Kids This Summer

Summer time is coming which means that school will be getting out for the summer. For a stay at home mom, this could be exciting because the kids will be home to play or, if you're like me, you may not know what to do all day to keep the kids happy and entertained. I've come up with a list of things that are cheap and easy to do that could keep the kids entertained for a little while.

(This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links which means that if you purchase something from one, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. )

1. Water Balloons- On a really hot day, have a water balloon fight. Stores are now selling super easy to fill water balloons that tie themselves. You could fill them up over two different laundry baskets and place them on either side of the yard or outdoor area and have at it.

2. Chalk- Our backyard is fenced in with a wooden fence. I know that some parents will not like this idea, but I let my kids write on our fence with chalk. The kids have the whole area to make stories or draw and it can easily be washed clean with a good rainfall of a hose. If you would rather not let your child draw on the fence, sidewalks work too. 

3. Jump Rope- I remember spending so many hours outside with a jump rope. It was even better if It was a long one and we could take turns with jump rope rhymes. 

4. Gardening- One of my favorite things to do in the summer is gardening. I made a raised garden bed on the other side of our fence in our driveway. You can always put one in your yard (which is more sensible), but our dogs like to dig up things, so it's away from them. My kids love to garden! They love being able to water the garden and once the vegetables or fruits are ready, the kids feel proud to pick them. This is also a good way to get them to eat healthy foods. They want to eat what they grow. Another plus: It's a great learning experience.

5. Go to the park- If you're brave enough to take the kids, they could spend all day there. I usually take the kids either early in the morning or a little bit in the afternoon when the park isn't as busy.

6. Pitch a tent in the backyard- This will provide shade for you too. The kids will love running around in there and can run in and out as they please. Then, when it gets dark, you can decide if you want to sleep out there for the night.

7. Have a picnic. Set a blanket or table cloth outside and eat outside. It's different from what the kids normally do and it will feel special to them.

8. Crafts- The last idea is just plain old crafts. You can find many that you can do outside like building a bird feeder or even paint something. I like to tie dye clothes as well. It's fun to do it outside because you don't have to worry about dying something you don't want to. This is a craft the kids and I did yesterday- it may not look pretty, but they had fun!

Haha- I really needed the right kind of paint brush for the words.

Related Post- 10 Learning Crafts to do with kids

I hope that I gave you some new ideas for playing outside and keeping busy during the summer. What other ways to you keep you and the kids entertained?

Related Post- Build a Summer Schedule

Raising Our Children- Accountability Between the Parent and School

This post will probably be viewed as an unpopular opinion. I believe that after a while, there is only so much that we as parents can do when it comes to raising our children. It isn't going to matter how consistent we are with our children if the school or teachers aren't on the same page.
 
As a child, I was very strong willed. I didn't like to be told what to do or how to do it or when to do it. However, as a child, I didn't dare speak out too much in school because I was given a detention. If I was given detention I knew that I was also going to get in trouble at home for embarrassing my parents, so I tried to keep that at a minimum since I got in trouble at home often enough for being strong willed.

Happy Mother's Day

I was the first child that my mother carried. I guess I should say that I was one of two. My mom carried two of us in her womb for months before miscarrying my twin sister when she (my mom) was 17 years old. Because another baby can't live in the environment that was made at the passing of another, I was born shortly after. On April, 8th 1987, my mom became a mother.

Why Does My Kid Need To Use Tablets In Class?

I remember the day that my very first child was born. He was born on a Wednesday and he was just perfect. My family came to visit us and surrounded us with love. The youth group that I volunteered with made a card for me, my husband, and the new baby and made the trip to come see us in the hospital. A few days later, my family on my husband's side came to meet our new joy for the first time. The world was just perfect.
   
Our little boy was the best of both my husband and me. He was kind and funny, gentle to his baby sister. When I went to work full time, he was always a hit with the kids in day care and a favorite of the day care workers. His memory is out of this world and his imagination will get him famous one day.
   

My Kids Will Only Eat Chicken Nuggets

My kids are such picky eaters. I suppose that it might just be a natural part of being a kid; I mean, there were things that I definitely didn't want to eat as a kid and if I had it my way, I would have only eaten at Mc Donald's.

I remember one fond afternoon when my uncle was watching my sisters and me. He had made us all hot dogs (which I didn't like) and a fly had landed on it. I had just watched a documentary on flies that said that they threw up on your food every time they landed. Yeah... I didn't eat that hot dog so I found myself in the corner, where I fell asleep and woke up when my parents got home. From what my mother-in-law tells me, my husband was also a picky eater. Maybe it's genetic?

The Start of Something New- The Hesitation of Getting Back Into the Workforce

I have been surrounded by working women my whole life. My mom has worked my whole life, both of my grandma's have worked their whole life, and so did I... That was until my husband had gotten a new job and we moved closer to the Chicago area. I was very pregnant with my third child at the time and my husband and I both decided that the cost of childcare for three children was more than we wanted to pay. So I stayed home with the kids.

It's been five years since we moved and now my youngest will be starting kindergarten this fall. There is nothing holding me back from working again. My husband has been very successful at his job and if I decide to work, childcare for a few hours a day won't be too strenuous.What could possibly hold me back?