UltimateMama has a little tip for you when looking for bargains on children's clothing, shoes, and accessories – MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE SALESPEOPLE! It is easy and fun to chat to sales assistants when you are on shopping adventures. Many times, salespeople will tell UltimateMama about upcoming sales, hand her samples, or give her special coupons to use on future store visits.
Who doesn't like to make a friend and save a buck?!
UltimateMama was just told she was a day late for the spectacular Children's Place sale that is going on right now in stores! However, she just bought her daughter a "rugby sweater" in blue with multi-colored stripes, a "solid henley sweater" in petal pink and the "favorite jacket" in horizon blue for $3.99 each plus an additional 15% savings with her "Spring Pass" booklet of friends and family coupons! For all you mathematicians out there, that is right, the final price of each of the three items was $3.40!
Not to mention the FABULOUS deal that a few mothers of young boys received when they found "3-in-1" multi colored blue/black winter jackets for $9.99 from $59.50 originally (plus they also used their 15% off coupon). Read my lips (or font in this case), the total cost of the winter jacket was $8.50!
UltimateMama will note that it does not appear to be the same sale ONLINE where prices are higher on most items she evaluated!
UltimateMama's only regret was that she did not know about the MONSTER sale yesterday!
UltimateMama was a Costco virgin up until a few weeks ago. Now, she's a Costco slut. Once, she thought of Costco as the utopia for suburban American overinsdulgance. Now, she thinks of Costco as a smart, efficient, and effective way to shop for her family without breaking the bank.
UltimateMama loves her Manhattan Costco! Costco recently opened a store on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that is accessible to those without cars! (those with cars can ride up there and park). One can walk, take a subway or a bus, or cab it (like UltimateMama who was under time constraints with childcare) uptown without a problem. After shopping, you walk out and a limo service is there to load your goods into a towncar and deliver them (with you) to your apartment. UltimateMama did not even lift a finger!
Check it out at 517 E 117th St (E 116th St and FDR Drive).
What I loved about Costco:
- Dove soap
– Cheerios (huge boxes)
– Dried fruit (20 packs)
– Desitin
– Canned tomatoes
– Eli Zabar bread
– Carter's clothing for babies and toddlers
– Speedo bathing suits for kids
– Armani shirts for men
– Patagonia fleeces for women
– Organic milk in 3 packs
– Great fruit
– Lots of meat and fish (the veal cutlets were amazing)
– Barilla pasta
– Goldfish crackers
– Kleenix
What I did not like:
– No Triple Paste
– No Pampers Sensitive Wipes without perfume
– No Huggies Overnight diapers
So, go to Costco and stock up on food and necessities today! Make extra portions of marinara sauce, soup, and stew and freeze some for future happy eats!
UltimateMama is always amazed when one of her intelligent, educated, sophisticated friends tells her they have not yet completed their will. If you have children, a will is a must.
Do not procrastinate by thinking that a will is an uncomfortable topic and one that you are too young to deal with at this stage of the game. Creating a will is the most selfless thing you can do for your family and it will be extremely helpful should anything terrible happen to you (or your partner).
Run to your lawyer and draft a will today. If you do not have an attorney then get a recommendation from a friend or ask your accountant for a referral. You can even go online and do a search to find a lawyer close to your home.
Think about the following when drafting a will:
– will you do a living will for yourself and your spouse?
– who are a few people you and your partner comfortable leaving your children with in case anything happens to both of you? (ask them first!!)
– who is in charge of executing the will? who will be the executor of your estate?
– who is in charge of dividing your finances or trust? (please make sure your assets as well as finances are in order, create a spreadsheet or folders and let someone you trust know where to find all of your accounts, insurance statements, valuables, art work, jewelry, etc.)
– will your children have trust funds? if so, what age can they retrieve the money?
– who should make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself?
After your will is completed make sure those mentioned and all beneficiaries in the will either have copies of the will or know where to find them.
Also, re-visit your will every year and make appropriate changes as needed.
Trust UltimateMama, you will be able to sleep better at night knowing that your family is protected in the event of a tragedy.
UltimateMama wanted to give her daughters a huge, colorful, fabric wall map of either the United States or the World for the holidays. She envisioned her children spending hours learning the locations of states, countries, cities of interest, and more. However, FAO Schwarz sold out of them in the fall! UltimateMama was slightly relieved because each wall map was well over $100 but she was a bit disappointed that she could not provide her children with such an important educational tool.
An idea came to her! UltimateMama decided to buy oversized colored paper maps of both the United States and the World and take them to Staples for lamination. For under $20 per map, UltimateMama's kids will have hours of fun learning about different destinations!
UltimateMama wants all of you to know that according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Graco has recalled strollers because of fingertip amputation and laceration issues. Remember, this is on the heels of the November Maclaren USA stroller recall.
Do yourself and your family a favor and put safety first! Pay attention to recalls as well as safety notifications.
Many of my loyal readers thanked me for encouraging them to visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website on a frequent basis and for alerting them to the November 2009 Maclaren USA stroller recall following fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child.
Do not mess around when it comes to your child's safety!
UltimateMama got soaked today while strolling her two girls home from school in a NYC rain storm! And it was her fault for not being prepared. The positive news is that her daughters were 100% dry!
Not that she regrets it but last December UltimateMama donated her ill-fitting, long, raincoat to the annual New York Cares coat drive but failed to buy herself a replacement. Now she's all wet.
You need to be prepared when you take your children out in the rain. Here's a list of things for mommy or nanny on rainy days:
– Umbrella
– Plastic rain cover for stroller
– Hooded waterproof rain jacket (the longer, the better)
– Waterproof rain boots (shoes to change into once at your destination) UltimateMama prefers Burberry rain boots
– Warm socks
– Hat or baseball cap for under your hood
– Pants that you don't mind getting wet (and maybe even a back-up pair of pants to change into once at your destination)
UltimateMama says "Thank you" several times a day to those who assist her and her children. And, UltimateMama teaches her children to do the same. Making a habit out of saying thank you to those who deserve it is easy not to mention kids feel a bit "adult" when they say it!
UltimateMama encourages her children to say thank you in the following situations:
– when someone holds a door open
– every time they step off the bus, they thank the bus driver
– to cab drivers
– to salespeople in retail stores
– to the check-out helpers at the grocery store
– to doorman and porters
– to the mailman or any delivery person
– to people who visit
– to anyone who gives a gift
One of UltimateMama's mommy friends who happens to have an older child as well as one the same age as UltimateMama's oldest recently told her something to the effect of "I am not one to give unsolicited advice, however, if a parent wants to change a behavior or implement something new it is up to the parent, not the child, to make that happen". UltimateMama thought it was brilliant. Keep this delicious quote in mind when thinking about potty training, implementing a bedtime routine, eating meals at the same time each day, etc. As long as you, the parent, acts in a consistent manner your child will follow suit! You can make change happen.