Posts Tagged ‘left’

Amazon Frustration Free Packaging

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Amazon, if I could, I would seriously make out with you right now.  Yes, I said it.  Whoever came up with frustration free packaging is a genius.  They deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.  I also have to give a shout out to 37 Signals and Remarkable Parents for letting me know about this.

Now, you can see from this picture how the packaging is different.  The one of the right is what it looks like now.  The one on the left is the new packaging.  I find it weird that a lot of bloggers find this wrong.  However, as a mother of a 4 year old and a 1 year old I find this genius.  I remember when Madison turned one.  It took 6, yes I said 6, adults over an hour to open her toys.  Now, that is crazy.  I remember my fingers hurting from the twisty tie things and just the waste and the mess.  How would you like to get just a brown box, and all you have to do is open it?  Sounds much better, doesn’t it?  How many of you have had kids whining “do you have it out yet??!!??”?  I know I have that here.  They don’t have the attention span while you find a screwdriver and everything else you need to get some of these toys out of their packaging.  Heck, I remember cutting my arms on the clamshell packaging when you are trying not to saw the entire top of the packaging off.  Plus, this new packaging is so much better for the enviroment.  I would love to be able to recycle that box (where I live, the more the community recycles the less we pay for our garbage to get picked up).  Now, this packaging is done right at the factory too, and only effects Amazon.  You will still find normal packaging at your favorite brick and mortar store.

The main argument against this is that the kids can’t see what they are getting.  My response to that is what is worse — they have to actually open the box or have the toy stuck in packaging so the kids can see it but can’t play with it because it will take me 20 minutes to get it out?

I am interested — what are your thoughts on this?  If you can’t tell, I give Amazon two thumbs up on this move!

Halloween, Here We Come

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Bill just called home to let me know he is coming home early. Since we haven’t had a chance yet to get pumpkins, we are going to go grab some tonight.  I know that Madison is going to be super excited.  She has been asking for a week when we can carve some pumpkins.

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Big Decisions To Be Made

Monday, September 29th, 2008

We decided to join a new church here.  We haven’t 100% decided to send Madison to private school yet (we have a school referendum on Nov. 4th.  If that passes, it solves all of my issues with the public school.  However, after watching the debates of Friday night, that may not hold true either.  If McSame, I mean McCain, wins he proposed a spending freeze.  In theory, that sounds great.  However, the schools don’t have enough money for No Child Left Behind as is.  If they keep the amount frozen, that means even less money going towards the kids.)  The church we joined is a part of hte private school we are looking at.  It is a very cool looking church, and we have been there before.  Bill’s friend got married there and his daughter will be baptized there this weekend.  We also started working on her tuition.  They have a program called VOICE.  That has you buy gift certificates from them for stores like Speedway, Kohls, Jiffy Lube, Walgreens, etc. to name a few.  A percentage of the purchase amount goes towards the school.  Madison has to raise $150 with that.  With the certificates I bought on Sunday, we are up $17.  Woohoo!  The cool thing is that everything we earn over the $150 gets taken off her tuition.  If we don’t end up sending her there, I just figure that money will go towards another family who can use it.  I just think that is super cool that we can start earning towards this now already! So, if anyone needs gift certificates come Christmas time, let me know!

I’ll be honest, this school decision makes me sick.  I get a stomach ache every time I have to think about it.   I would rather have to use a colon cleanser than have to make this decision. Public schools are suppose to be good. I shouldn’t have to worry about the class sizes or if subjects like music and art are being taught.  I just always assumed that my kids would be able to have the same education I have.

**okay, whine over.  I think**  :)

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Mismatched outfits . . .Oh my!

Sunday, September 21st, 2008

Between my husband and my kids, I am amazed that I even go out in public with them.  :)   My husband has no idea what matches.  Some days he comes home from work, and I cringe when I see what he was wearing.  Unfortunately, Madison (my 4 year old) takes after him.  If you don’t believe me, look at the picture to the left.  Granted, I have seen worse (I just don’t have any pictures.  LOL)  I am not sure when yellow matched with purple.  You can’t tell, but her socks are pulled up as high as they go.  She also put dress shoes on!  Needless to say, I did not take her out in public that day.  I never make her change when she mismatches her clothes — we just don’t go anywhere that day.

I’ll be honest — I am afraid of her getting Barbies or one of those Polly Pocket sets just because of her fashion sense.  If she dresses herself like this, how is she going to dress her dolls or would she just leave them naked all the time?  Then again, it may be pretty humorous.  Do you have any pictures of your children with mismatched outfits?  Do you let them wear them or do you make them change?  Any advice for me?