IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN

I am not the author of this, but I could be - I am sure many of you out there will recognize yourselves as well! Happy Mother's day (One day late - hey it was Mother's day!)

If you give a Mom a muffin, She'll want a strong cup of coffee to go with it.

She'll make herself some.

Her three year old will spill the coffee.

She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.

She'll remember she has to do laundry.

When she puts the laundry in the washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the box of Goodwill items.

Bumping into the Goodwill items will remind her she has to get these boxes in the car and out of her basement.

When she puts the boxes in the car, she'll find a bag of groceries and this will remind her she has to cook dinner.

She will get out the chicken defrosting in the fridge.

She'll look for her cookbook (101 Things To Do With Chicken).

The cookbook will be sitting under a pile of mail.

She will see the Netflix movie she's meant to mail; the preschool bill, which is due tomorrow.

She will look for her checkbook.

The checkbook will be in her purse that is being dumped out by her one year old.

She'll smell something funny. She'll change the baby's diaper.

As she finishes up, she'll realize she brought the hand sanitizer down to the kitchen.

While she is throwing away the diaper and searching for the hand sanitizer, the phone will ring.

Her three year old will answer and hang up.

She'll remember she wants to phone a friend, not for coffee, but for a very strong drink.

Thinking of drinking will remind her that she was going to have a cup of coffee in order to stay awake for the rest of the day.

And chances are.. If she finds her cup of coffee (which she has to reheat by now), Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

RH

Daily Coupons

1. This looked promising: $50 off at Compact Appliance Store/ Living Direct - This coupon is for patio furniture! Who doesn't need patio furniture? Shop LivingDirect.com today and save an additional $50 on Patio Furniture Orders $499 and up - use coupon code: PATIOJUNE now thru 6/30/09
   
   
2. Kodak coupon code for 25% off a camera: Save 25% when you buy a new KODAK EASYSHARE M1093 IS Digital Camera in Silver - Use coupon code AFFSAVE25 - This coupon expires at the end of the month - June.
   
   
3. Maryland Square coupon code for $20 off $100 order at MarylandSquare.com - Promo Code: SQUARE20 Exp. 05/31/09
   
   
4. Domestications coupon code: 15% OFF* Your ENTIRE Order at Domestications - Enter coupon code D9FAFF15 at checkout. exp. 6.30
   
   
5. Lands End coupon code: Free Shipping & Handling: Enter the Promotion Code SALE and the PIN 00006179 in the space provided. Offer valid through 11:59 p.m. CDT Thursday, June 25, 2009.
   

Retro Housewife Survival Guide - Coupons

Just an FYI - In light of the wave of companies that have gone belly-up recently, I am making it my personal mission to make sure certain companies make it through. Not because I own stock in them, I don't - at least not the kind you can buy at Schwab or e-Trade. I am invested in them emotionally.

Sounds silly to some, I know.

Which companies am I talking about?

Sears, Macys, Kodak, Nordstrom, McDonalds, Coca Cola and Saks.

Sears, because they have been around since the 1800s, because who hasn't sat on a Sears Catalog as a child when a regular booster seat wasn't available, because ToughSkins were my favorite pants in the fourth grade and the knees really did hold up.

Macy's - because without Macy's, the Macy's Day Parade would be just the Day Parade, because my Grandfather always took me shopping at Macy's to buy new school clothes when we visited them.

Kodak, because my first camera was a Kodak.

Nordstrom, because they have the best return policy on the planet and always have.

McDonalds & Coca Cola - because nothing says USA like McDonalds and Coca Cola.

Saks, because how can I shop there when I am rich and famous if they aren't there?

RH

Some Sunday Coupons:

1. Sears coupon code: Save EXTRA 15% Off Apparel, Shoes & Accessories MAYFFAP3 From 9am-5pm Sun 5/3 w/ coupon code: MAYFFAP3 From 9am-5pm Sun 5/3
   
   
2. Sears coupon code: Online Only - Save An Extra $20 Off Orders $250 Or More w/ coupon code w/ coupon code: SAVE20 End date: none
   
   
3. Esprit coupon code: 20% off already reduced exclusively online at the ESPRIT - Online Store! Coupon code SUQ3B9US valid 6/21 - 6/28/09!
   
   
4. Maryland Square coupon code (shoes) $20 off a $100 or more order at Maryland Square Promo Code: SPRING20 exp. 5/3.
   
   
5. Old Navy coupon code for free shipping on oldnavy.com coupon code FREE50 ends 4/30.
   
   
6. Kohls coupon code: 15% Off at Kohls.com with coupon code: SAVE15LPS thru 4/28/2009.
   
   
7. Macy's Friends & Family coupon code:
   Take 25% off or 10% off Small Electrics, Personal Care Electrics, Technology, Furniture, Mattresses, and Area Rugs during the Friends & Family Sale at macys.com! Receive Free Shipping on $99 Purchase. Enter coupon code: MACYSFRIEND at checkout. Offer Valid 29-Apr-09 through 4-May-09. (Many more macys coupons here)
   

Retro Housewife Survival Guide - Coupons

Hello All!

How about some coupons! Note the dates on these coupons/sales because most are for a very short time, and some begin in the future.

1. Here is a Sears.com Coupon Code: Exclusive Offer: Save an Extra $25 off $300 with coupon code AAPRIL25 at cart 4/14-4/16
   
   
2. Sears sale: Grills & Patio Furniture Sets on sale + shop our huge selection and new items 4/12-4/18
   
   
3. Free shipping offer at Sears: New on Sears.com over 20,000 Office Products + get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50 4/5-5/2
   
   
4. Sears Appliances: All Appliances on sale + EXTRA 10% off sale + EXTRA 10% off Kenmore Elite Energy Star 6pm 4/12- 4/13 I buy most of my appliances at Sears - I am not even sure why! My parents did, so I do too. That and tires - for tires we have always gone to Sears. Although sometimes we do go to Costco for tires.
   
   
5. This is a good one! Storage! Yahoo! Whoopeee! All Garage Storage & Shelving on sale + Free Shipping on Tool orders over $199 oops - also at sears.com. 4/12-4/13
   
   
6. I didn't know Panasonic made Vacuums - I have a Dyson. 2 actually. Save 15% off all Panasonic Vacuums at sears.com 4/14-4/18
   
   
7. I don't usually buy clothes at Sears, but Levi's are the exception. My son insists on Levi's - which I think is rather cute - I loved Levi's too when I was his age. Let's hope they don't kill off that brand! Here buy some Levi's just in case: Lowest Prices of the Season Mens Levis as low as $31.99 + 75-80% off Fall/Winter Apparel (4/12-4/16)
   
   
8. Here's a nice baby sale at Sears: Online Only: Baby on sale + get an EXTRA $15-$75 on Baby purchases of $200 or more 4/12-4/18
   
   
9. OneHanesPlace.com coupon code: Save on Shipping! $1.99 shipping at OneHanesPlace.com! Use promo code: 611517 at checkout. Offer Valid 4.14.09 through 4.17.09. - good place to stock up on hose and undies.
   
   
10. Maryland Square coupon code: Save 20% on online exclusives at Maryland Square. Coupon Code: EXCLUSIVE - ends the 19th (end of day) - Maryland square sells shoes... in case you didn't know!
    
    
11. eHarmony coupon code: Save 17% on a 12-month subscription at eHarmony (coupon code: CJPROMOQQQQ, Exp. 6/30/09) - for those who aren't married but would like to be!
12. Another eHarmony coupon code: Save 20% on a 6-month eHarmony subscription! (coupon code: CJPROMOPPPP, Exp. 6/30/09) I think eharmony is probably the best dating service if you are looking for a serious - marriage- relationship. Not for serial daters!
    

I saw some other cool coupons but I have to find them first. Be back later - I hope!

RH

Retro Housewife Survival Guide - Quality vs. Quantity

Should you pay a little or even a lot extra to get quality? It depends on how much you use the item in question, whether there are costs associated with the use item, how much replacement vs. repair costs and how long you plan on keeping the item.

I have a little story about 2 dishwashers, both made by GE or General Electric, one around 2003 and the other around 1983. So about 20 years apart. The new GE dishwasher came with our new house and is the biggest hunk of junk on the planet. It cleans nothing unless it is washed beforehand and started falling apart the first year we moved in. The top rack wheels fell off, so the rack sags and has to be lifted and pulled out to load it. The rubber seals are cracking and falling off and if there is any food left on the dishes it gets caught in the screen and sits there. I hate this dishwasher. It wastes water due to the fact that all dishes must first be rinsed completely, and I am constantly running around telling my family members to SOAK THEIR DISHES!

Now the 1983 GE dishwasher is a powerhouse. It came with our cabin in the mountains and I verified that it was in fact the original dishwasher, and was built in in 1983. First, there is the obvious fact that the dishwasher is still working 26 years later - in a house that served the previous owners as a rental unit - (think groups of gung-ho skier types using the dishwasher for 26 years). Second, it actually cleans dishes and without washing them before they get loaded into the dishwasher. It is a power hog, but I don't care - it gets the job done and can deal with disposing of food remains on its own, so that when I open the dishwasher after a cycle, both the dishes and the dishwasher are spanking clean. I love my 1983 GE dishwasher.

Back then, it probably cost a lot more compared to what my 2003 dishwasher did today- there were simply no cheap appliances. But, they were intended to last, and last they did. My 2003 dishwasher needs to be replaced - and will be as soon as we can afford to buy a decent dishwasher. I want a Miele or a Bosch. These days, it doesn't come into my house if it isn't German. They cost more, but they are built like they used to be built in America. I had a Miele when I lived in Munich (a skinny little thing) but it was quiet and it cleaned dishes. Good qualities in a dishwasher.



Some Stores For Quality Shopping and the Daily Coupons:

1. Orvis coupon: FREE 18" x 27" Leaf or Grid Pattern mat with the purchase of any two Water Trapper Mats (any size/st
2. Orvis coupon: 30% OFF UNIQUE DEALS
3. Orvis coupon: $20 OFF COZY SLIPPERS
4. Orvis: For your bow-wow-woof woof: big fat savings on DOG BEDS & ACCESSORIES
   
5. Maryland Square coupon code: (Shoes) 20% Off All Orders! Click and enter coupon code: SAVE20 at check out. Promotion ends March 29, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. CST (got that one out of their newsletter...)
6. Bosch Appliance rebate: Bosch $1,000 Visa Prepaid Card rebate! I found this rebate at AJ Madison - and here is an aj madison coupon code: Save $50 off every order over $1999! Use coupon code: XE61S808 (on www.ajmadison.com). Here is another aj madison coupon code: Save $20 off every order over $999! Use coupon code: 46JZ5K5A And one more! Save $5 off every order over $499! Use coupon code: 8AE6QVT7
7. Lands' End coupon code:
   20% OFF - MOST EVERYTHING! Enter the Promotion Code SPRINGTIME and the PIN 5926 in the space provided.