tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63133498792383692222024-03-13T21:05:31.025-05:00I Heart SAHMsA dad's perspective on stay-at-home moms.Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-51237203180640864662009-08-28T08:42:00.000-05:002009-08-27T19:08:28.815-05:00Survey Site Opinion Outpost Pays Out!<div align="center"><a href="https://www.opinionoutpost.com/join.php?aid=af12638-16430"><img border="0" src="https://www.opinionoutpost.com/affiliate/images/bannerads/OpinionOutpostwebbannerv2a.gif" width="468" height="60" /></a><br /><br /><div align="left">I have been using a survey site called <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sahms-getting-paid-for-their-opinions.html">Opinion Outpost</a> for quite awhile now. The site connects users with companies that conduct surveys for clients on a wide range of topics. At the time I had only completed surveys, but I had not actually redeemed any of my monetary rewards.<br /><br />I have to say I am <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">VERY</span> impressed. I looked back at my account and realized I've been a member of Opinion Outpost for about 7 months. In that time I have earned $67.50. Granted, that's not a ton of money, but a couple of things should be pointed out. First, I'm not sure I'm the target audience for a lot of these surveys. I'm a 30 year old guy. There are a lot of these surveys that just don't apply to me. A typical SAHM, however, would be right in the wheelhouse for a lot of these surveys.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Also, there are times when I'm just too busy to respond to surveys. There are times when I just delete every survey I get for about a week at a time. That is a lot of opportunities passed up. If I could respond to every survey (and there are a lot of surveys) I know I could make more money.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The other thing that impressed me was the turn around time on recieiving my check. The website says to allow 4-8 weeks for delivery. No problem. It's not like I need this money to live on right this second. But surprise, surprise. My check showed up yesterday less than a week after I requested it. That is a really good response time.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">So I am officially fully endorsing Opinion Outpost as a survey research panel. The surveys are easy to comprehend. The website is set up very well. And most importantly, they actually pay you for your time. So if you're interested, just click on the banner at the top of this post and sign up. It doesn't cost a dime to sign up and you could be earning money in a matter of minutes. Have fun.</div></div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-67102150277457474432009-07-22T09:39:00.003-05:002009-07-22T10:29:02.687-05:00Another Great Deal from Restaurant.com<div align="center"><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3483979-10665295"><img height="250" alt="Restaurant.com Weekly Promo Offer 300 x 250" src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3483979-10665295" width="300" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">I know I've had some Restaurant.com deals on here before, but this one is ridiculous. You can get a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant in your area for just $2. That's one hell of a deal. All you have to do is click on the link above and use the Promo Code "NAPKIN" when you check out. It's pretty darn simple.</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-23359098187459494802009-07-22T09:10:00.000-05:002009-07-22T09:10:41.604-05:00Time Management for SAHMs (Part 1)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdSLaaG9MzV3pRn0SCxEWKA8aX-8Hvlpm9O3CmUygR8rxKSdVUlvYLR5xRKk21ulfUFfKy_PSQHqctgZKV9Cjo3x_8h41lFt_BVELXlFOO4Hj8AVLILSOj_IVBrr-ert8ISJX4U7DpgA/s1600-h/time-flies-clock-10-11-2006.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361088446704822914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdSLaaG9MzV3pRn0SCxEWKA8aX-8Hvlpm9O3CmUygR8rxKSdVUlvYLR5xRKk21ulfUFfKy_PSQHqctgZKV9Cjo3x_8h41lFt_BVELXlFOO4Hj8AVLILSOj_IVBrr-ert8ISJX4U7DpgA/s320/time-flies-clock-10-11-2006.gif" border="0" /></a> I think I've figured out the one thing that is the difference between a good day and a bad day for my wife: time management! Of course there are those wildcard variables that can wreck even the best-planned day. My son scraping his knee falling on the driveway, my daughter deciding today is the day she going to bite her brother repeatedly. But those things aside, time management can make or break a SAHM's day.<br /><br />For some people time management is second nature. They have no problem setting up a schedule, planning out a day and sticking to it. I don't think my wife and I are like that. We try. We really do. I swear. But there are plenty of times it just doesn't happen.<br /><br />So I started doing some research and came across a couple of websites that profess to help those of us that are time management deficient. Today we'll cover one of the websites, and we'll get to the other one tomorrow. The first website I came across was <a href="http://www.motivatedmoms.com/">Motivated Moms</a>. The website offes printable chore lists to help with the sometimes difficult task of deciding what needs to be done when. If you're like our family, looking at a house of chores that need to be done can be very daunting. Where do you start? What task comes next? My wife likes to tell me I have ADHD, so I typically jump from one job to the next.<br /><br />According to the website, the <a href="http://www.motivatedmoms.com/">Motivated Moms</a> chore lists are "designed to help you complete chores and tasks throughout the year so that you don’t spend your entire day doing housework." And let's be honest, nobody wants to spend all day doing housework. The goal is to reduce stress and make it easier to maintain your home in the easiest possible manner.<br /><br />The chore lists come in 8 different styles and can be easily downloaded for a measly $4 on the website. All you need is a PayPal account. Here is a sample of a <a href="http://www.motivatedmoms.com/samples/2009full-sample.pdf">Full Sized Weekly Planner</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=50190&c=ib&aff=78109" target="ejejcsingle">Click here to view more details</a><br /><br />Anybody ever used this system? Any thoughts?Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-72503996338398481672009-07-20T11:58:00.000-05:002009-07-20T12:04:50.039-05:00Money Saving Tips for SAHMs - Promo Code Websites<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTu_HQKF771QdLoCo1k0YU-YPzPLp9GaGaX9mMCipm65olMs1eH5_DUOgBC9fN_DuHGKAHkrZLml9ZIBqZrs1DdLw_1P_0x_xyPfQ3MJsZMYiExDnqbjGKsUBJNNt2Ali1KFeMyZTIKM/s1600-h/Savings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323822887629770306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTu_HQKF771QdLoCo1k0YU-YPzPLp9GaGaX9mMCipm65olMs1eH5_DUOgBC9fN_DuHGKAHkrZLml9ZIBqZrs1DdLw_1P_0x_xyPfQ3MJsZMYiExDnqbjGKsUBJNNt2Ali1KFeMyZTIKM/s320/Savings.jpg" border="0" /></a> I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted on here! I bet all 5 of my regular readers are terribly disappointed in me.<br /><div><br /><div>I don't know about you guys, but we buy a lot of things online. We buy presents online from places like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="http://www.target.com/">target.com</a>. We also buy a lot of picture prints and picture gifts online. Our favorite is <a href="http://www2.snapfish.com/">Snapfish</a>. We just bought my mom a new mousepad with a picture of all 3 kids on it (presents are so easy when you have kids!).</div><br /><div>While placing our latest order on <a href="http://www2.snapfish.com/">Snapfish</a> we thought about trying to find a promotion code to save some money. Much to my surprise, there are plenty of websites dedicated to sharing these promo codes for all kinds of websites. We used a code that saved us $10 for any order over $25. Not a bad deal for a 45 second Google search.</div><br /><div>The website we used for our <a href="http://www2.snapfish.com/">Snapfish</a> order was <a href="http://www.retailmenot.com/">RetailMeNot.com</a>. This website claims to have coupons for more than 20,000 stores. Who knows if that is true, but there certainly seem to be codes and coupons for every major store I searched for. I also like the fact that people can click a single button to share whether or not the code worked for them. There is also a success rate displayed as a percentage.</div><br /><div>I found a few more websites dedicated to sharing promo codes and coupons like <a href="http://www.dealtaker.com/">DealTaker.com</a>, <a href="http://www.promotioncode.org/">PromotionCode.org</a> and <a href="http://www.currentcodes.com/">CurrentCodes.com</a>. Anybody use any other promo code sites that work well?</div></div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-90728968526029462532009-06-19T10:38:00.000-05:002009-06-19T10:38:44.726-05:00Infatutation With Penis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqosz8Dg6an1tQdJKE_B5faDrpYM00pppeT_kzbm38df8ZMpx5RZzK3j45qji3I0QmIKUG4sh15ZCjRIgkUk_Ux9-CdRYyvtt2LAeToZh7M1kIyQnyq3zhCbYy-RhJhyphenhyphenk5KG2-ddtfuF4/s1600-h/ff.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349058924167753602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqosz8Dg6an1tQdJKE_B5faDrpYM00pppeT_kzbm38df8ZMpx5RZzK3j45qji3I0QmIKUG4sh15ZCjRIgkUk_Ux9-CdRYyvtt2LAeToZh7M1kIyQnyq3zhCbYy-RhJhyphenhyphenk5KG2-ddtfuF4/s320/ff.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So it's another Fatherhood Friday over at <a href="http://www.dad-blogs.com/profile/fatherhood-friday/575-fatherhood-friday-18.html">Dad Blogs</a> and I thought I would discuss something that is truly unique to dads while asking for a SAHM's opinion: penises. At least I think that is the plural of penis. Maybe it's peni. Regardless, I think people understand what we're talking about here.</div><div><br /><div>But specifically I want to talk about my son and his recent infatuation with his little helper. I walked into the bathroom the other day to help him after he finished going to the bathroom. See, we're in the final stages of potty training. Actually, we're pretty much done. He knows when he has to go, can go by himself, etc. The only thing we've yet to master is pulling up our underwear and pants. It's not uncommon for him to waddle out of the bathroom with pants around ankles. It's actually pretty funny.</div><br /><div>But back to the point. I head into the bathroom to help pull up his shorts and I stop dead in my tracks. He has picked up Mom's small make-up mirror and is using it to get a better look at his man parts. And it was a pretty good inspection.</div><br /><div>As a guy I realize we are all transfixed by our junk, but I didn't know how to react. I realize it's completely natural, but it was a little crazy. I don't even remember if I said anything. I certainly didn't want to embarass him or stunt his maturation. But still, what is the right response in that situation? Just ignore it? What happens when I walk in on my little girl doing the same thing in a year or so?</div><br /><div>Actually that answer is simple: </div></div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-17284504146136994492009-06-15T10:53:00.002-05:002009-06-15T11:01:30.141-05:00SAHM Tips About PreschoolMy oldest starts preschool tomorrow. He's doing a two-day-a-week program during the summer. He'll do a three-day program starting in the fall. I'm very excited for him to start for a few reasons.<br /><br />First, I think he'll really like the school aspect of it. He's a pretty inquisitive kid, so I think the learning side of preschool will really appeal to him. I can already envision him telling me all the cool things they did as soon as I walk in the door after work.<br /><br />I'm also excited to see how he does in the program. He's a fairly advanced 3 year old (of course, all parents say that), but I'm curious how he'll do. I'm really looking forward to seeing him progressive with his gross motor skills like writing, using scissors, etc.<br /><br />And for me, it's just cool to see him growing up and moving on to the next phase of life. Since he's the oldest, he gets to meet all of these milestones before his sister and brother. So everything is new to him and to us as parents. I like moving forward and seeing what lies in front of us.<br /><br />But, at the same time, I have no idea what I'm doing here. Is there a certain preschool protocol that I need to know? What do you all, as SAHMS, think I need to know as my son heads to preschool? And don't worry about thinking your advice is too silly or too minimal. At this point, I need all the help I can get.Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-32254037380948774952009-06-14T09:54:00.001-05:002009-06-15T10:53:45.806-05:00Playgroups USAJust found a cool <a href="http://www.playgroupsusa.com/Default.php">website dedicated to playgroups</a>. This is perfect for stay at home moms looking to find other SAHMS in their area. You can search for playgroups by geographic area and find kids for your little ones to play with. Or, if you already have an established playgroup and would love to add new moms and kids, post your group.<br /><br />Another great example of SAHMS helping SAHMS.<br /><br />Anyone ever used this website to find a playgroup? There weren't any in our area, unfortunately, but there were plenty in other parts of our state. Let me know if you've ever had any experiences with Playgroups USA.Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-11024126703984626652009-06-09T09:20:00.004-05:002009-06-09T10:05:42.996-05:00SAHMS Getting Paid For Their Opinions<div align="center"><a href="https://www.OpinionOutpost.com/join.php? aid=af12638-16430"><img src="https://www.opinionoutpost.com/affiliate/images/bannerads/Opinion-Outpost-blog-ad.gif" width="150" height="200" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">I know that a lot of stay at home moms are always on the lookout for ways to make a few extra dollars. Because let's be honest, we could all use a few extra dollars at the end of the month. </div><div align="left"> <br /></div><div align="left">One of the most common money making ideas I see suggested for SAHMS is online surveys. They make it sound very easy: sign up, share your opinion, rake in the cash. In just a few minutes a day you can help dictate what products companies make & sell and put some cash in your wallet.</div><div align="left"> <br /></div><div align="left">The truth is that these survey websites offer a chance to make some pocket money with a very minimal amount of effort. The surveys are delivered right to your inbox and usually take less than 15 minutes to complete. You aren't going to get rich doing this, but you can make some money. Look at it as your Starbucks fund. Or your movie night fund.</div><div align="left"> <br /></div><div align="left">My personal favorite of these survey websites is Opinion Outpost. I've been a member for a few months now, and I've made some money for very little work. One of the reasons I like Opinion Outpost is that they actually pay cash instead of prizes. You can actually trade in your "points" for dollars instead of gift certificates, magazine subscribtions, etc. </div><div align="left"> <br /></div><div align="left">I'll admit that I haven't actually cashed out yet, but I've done a decent amount of research and haven't come across any red flags. So if you're interested, just click on the link up top, sign up and start making money. Then go out and buy yourself something nice with that "hard" earned cash!</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-79120913954711838952009-06-08T13:36:00.000-05:002009-06-08T13:36:27.571-05:00What Does Your Husband Do That Pisses You Off?Part of my rationale for this blog is be a better husband to my SAHM wife. How can this blog help? Well, honestly, that's where my readers (all 3 of you!) come in.<br /><br />Today I'm trying to figure out what your husbands that annoy you as a SAHM. All husbands do stupid things that drive their wives crazy, but I'm talking about SAHM-specific stuff here. It could be not appreciating the amount of work you do. Maybe they pass off all of the kid-related work to you even when they're home.<br /><br />Whatever it is, I (and my fellow dads) want to know. We can only fix it if we know what we're doing wrong. So don't hold back. Come out with both barrels blasting.Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-84502479306056560812009-06-07T09:18:00.000-05:002009-06-07T09:18:10.947-05:00SAHMs Use Internet To Stay ConnectedSorry I haven't updated the blog in a while. It's been a busy time around our house with a 2nd birthday party and the start of summer (read: the pool finally opened!).<br /><br />Regardless, I saw <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090526/LIFE/905260302/-1/SPORTS09">this article</a> the other day and found it interesting. Not that this a shock to anyone reading this blog, but it seems as if SAHMs are using the internet to feel connected to the outside world.<br /><br />I know that a lot of SAHMs have trouble connecting with people in the world outside of their house. My wife has this issue sometimes; it's hard being surrounded by toddlers and babies all day without having an adult conversation. But can blogging and Facebook really take the place of a real conversation?<br /><br />Listen, I love blogging and Facebook, but there is no way conversing online can replace those personal connections. There is just no replacing personal interaction. But when those personal interactions aren't possible, I guess electronic connections will just have to do.<br /><br />So do any of you use the internet as a means of connecting with the outside world while holed up in your house? Or is just something fun to do to pass the time?Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-43823534159145452432009-05-31T07:46:00.002-05:002009-05-31T07:51:43.962-05:00<div align="center"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3483979-10665295" target="_top"><img height="250" alt="Restaurant.com Weekly Promo Offer 300 x 250" src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-3483979-10665295" width="300" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Just a quick reminder. The Restaurant.com 80% off special ends today. You can grab a $25 gift certificate for just $2. Use the promo code SPECIAL to get this great deal.</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-29824628798992739112009-05-29T11:21:00.000-05:002009-05-29T11:21:00.283-05:00Benefits of SAHM for Dad<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDH7amG_0OUCiR9XuQTm7V9dpYAfkFnexdZwiQh1qREAk62oOD4KtjZ5TokM3bZ64d8uj2H0LhI2tcR_g0ZGg65TGNzZtWKhJiaa7rKbXAN48uWgJm8NWY3OlhvQdupaycxX1Agb6RSAg/s1600-h/ff.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341276678965108802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDH7amG_0OUCiR9XuQTm7V9dpYAfkFnexdZwiQh1qREAk62oOD4KtjZ5TokM3bZ64d8uj2H0LhI2tcR_g0ZGg65TGNzZtWKhJiaa7rKbXAN48uWgJm8NWY3OlhvQdupaycxX1Agb6RSAg/s320/ff.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today is another <a href="http://www.dad-blogs.com/profile/fatherhood-friday/512-fatherhood-friday-15.html">Fatherhood Friday</a> over at Dad Blogs. If you haven't checked it out yet, shame on you. There are a ton of talented dads (and moms) that you should be reading.</div><br /><p>Most of my time on here has been singing the praises of stay at home moms and talking about what husbands can do to support them. Because I think that's important. Staying at home is a difficult job and requires as much assistance as possible. And I am more than happy to do my share to make sure this lifestyle works for my family.</p><p>But today is about me. After all, this is MY blog. I do all the work around here, so why shouldn't I get to talk about myself for a while. Don't worry, we'll get back to our regularly scheduled programming shortly.</p><p>Today we're going to talk about how dads/husbands benefit from the SAHM lifestyle. I think it's pretty obvious how children benefit. And there are plenty of discussions out there about a SAHM's gains from staying at home (and some obvious minuses). But what about the dad? What does he get out of this deal? Obviously I can only speak from my experience, but here is what I see as the benefits for me so far.</p><p>1. <strong>Less chaos.</strong> Especially in the mornings. Granted our kids are not in school yet, but our mornings have gotten considerably easier. We don't have to rush around to get 5 people ready for the day and out of the house by 7:15 in the morning. Which is good because we're not really big on mornings in our house. Now we have the ability to have a more relaxed start to the day, and I think that carries over to the rest of the day.</p><p>2. <strong>More home-cooked meals. </strong>Now before someone jumps down my throat, let me say that I don't expect my dinner on the table when I walk in the dinner every night. Far from it. But staying home has allowed my wife to cook more often. Which is great because my wife is a damned good cook (whether she thinks so or not). So this isn't about me thinking a woman should be in the kitchen, this is purely about my stomach. And my stomach is happy!</p><p>3. <strong>More time with my kids.</strong> Even though my wife is the one staying home, I still get to see my kids more. We have more time in the morning. I get to see them when I go home for lunch (though I do kinda miss my lunch-time runs). We spend more timing playing in the evening as opposed to getting ready for the next day.</p><p>4. <strong>Most importantly, my wife is happy.</strong> And that means the world to me. She loved her profession, but she was ready to stay home. The stress of working and running a family (I have no illusions about who wears the pants) was a big strain on her. That has all gone out the window. She is more relaxed. She is happier. She is awesome. And that makes me happy (and awesome!).</p>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-1211037488859649022009-05-29T10:54:00.004-05:002009-05-29T11:21:39.224-05:00Time Is Running OutThe <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/05/treat-your-sahm-to-dinner-for-less.html">Restaurant.com sale</a> is almost over. Your chance to buy $25 gift certificates for $2 ends on Sunday. Remember to use the promo code SPECIAL.<br /><br />And today is Friday (like you didn't already know) and that means you can get <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-chocolate-friday-mars-real.html">free chocolate </a>at the Mars Company website.<br /><br />Don't you just love great deals?Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-77329036763143448992009-05-27T11:20:00.000-05:002009-05-27T11:20:34.581-05:00The Power of the Garage Sale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjLV-xjWnI21CzlDTN4OK-8kdOJY5lU4y4sTzE-XUCqNwQxn6CFMrLmiJh1f0q1ibCVvIpClL5LPiKBshX_ZN7qWNtWO4Dw9dexbh9riHaEgQJiSh1-Ah8BXmvPxxXxpL2bGQH0b6WVY/s1600-h/garage-sale-sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340538973360590738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjLV-xjWnI21CzlDTN4OK-8kdOJY5lU4y4sTzE-XUCqNwQxn6CFMrLmiJh1f0q1ibCVvIpClL5LPiKBshX_ZN7qWNtWO4Dw9dexbh9riHaEgQJiSh1-Ah8BXmvPxxXxpL2bGQH0b6WVY/s320/garage-sale-sign.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Garage sale season is kicking into high gear all across the country, and SAHMS are ready to find those great deals. We buy all kinds of stuff for our kids at garage sales: cribs, toys, clothes, bedroom furniture, strollers. It amazes me the kind of deals you can find with a minimal amount of work.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So I want to hear about your amazing deals. Ever find a perfectly good crib for $25? A full set of toy cars for a quarter? Share with others your bargaining skills. Maybe we can all get some good ideas of things to look for.</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-78630116222399705192009-05-26T11:22:00.003-05:002009-05-26T13:51:18.313-05:00More Freebies For SAHMs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSqxJDMJDejJx4j8bLe2nLk5jOnikQcvJG6OGTYjp1mxRDMmcrlBX_XbicgLMNHiaiMqrnOwgv1BZ2ythDOg1oKe1ZLuUoUtWOPIRge1HxR53LtdXFzrsJLOLiAyLutLvb-eae_9y8CM/s1600-h/free-stuff_jpg.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340170457006884530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSqxJDMJDejJx4j8bLe2nLk5jOnikQcvJG6OGTYjp1mxRDMmcrlBX_XbicgLMNHiaiMqrnOwgv1BZ2ythDOg1oKe1ZLuUoUtWOPIRge1HxR53LtdXFzrsJLOLiAyLutLvb-eae_9y8CM/s320/free-stuff_jpg.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>You know you like free stuff. And you know you like fabric softener. So how much are you going to like Free Fabric Softener? My guess, a lot! Check out <a href="http://www.totallyfreecrap.com/Archive/2009/may/downy.htm">this website</a>, answer like 3 questions about fabric softener (your opinion on fabric softener, not a quiz!), and get a free 23 load bottle of Downy Fabric softener in your favorite scent. Doesn't get much easier than that!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Also, the <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/05/treat-your-sahm-to-dinner-for-less.html">Restaurant.com deal</a> I blogged about last week has been extended until May 31! So you still have 6 more days to get your $25 gift certificates for only $2. Click on the link in the <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/05/treat-your-sahm-to-dinner-for-less.html">blog post</a>, find your restaurants, use the promo code SPECIAL, and save a boatload of money.</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-69919068758892905102009-05-26T11:08:00.000-05:002009-05-26T11:08:37.117-05:00SAHMs Love Freebies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iY8AI28gYDxqGXSWGB3eFu0relsgmRBgQp3t55NHFE2NqDRmfTZxyC85yFXsO0OpRpQnYlkYM2otxCLJePs9Va7gmNOja33r-45x1sZMWH_u8eDj_gqCcgZ28Pdev8Cwp1uAQ4OBvyo/s1600-h/twimme.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340164531781888802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 62px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iY8AI28gYDxqGXSWGB3eFu0relsgmRBgQp3t55NHFE2NqDRmfTZxyC85yFXsO0OpRpQnYlkYM2otxCLJePs9Va7gmNOja33r-45x1sZMWH_u8eDj_gqCcgZ28Pdev8Cwp1uAQ4OBvyo/s320/twimme.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I found a new website the other day called <a href="http://www.twimme.com/">Twimme</a>. This website constantly updates giveaways, contests, freebies, etc. that are currently being tweeted on <a href="http://twitter.com/">Twitter</a>. So instead of wading through 500 updates from all of your Twitter friends (I'm still trying to figure out the lingo of Twitter), this site does all of the work for you. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So sit back, watch the giveaways update and save you some money!</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-2119097813331944562009-05-22T16:30:00.003-05:002009-05-22T16:37:41.183-05:00Treat Your SAHM To Dinner For Less<div align="center"><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3483979-10665295" target="_top"><img src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-3483979-10665295" width="300" height="250" alt="Restaurant.com Weekly Promo Offer 300 x 250" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">Restaurant.com is having another ridiculous sale: 80% OFF. That makes for $25 gift certificates for a mere $2. This is a superb deal that you can't pass up. Just click on the box above, search for restaurants in your area, use the promo code SPECIAL and enjoy a nice meal out on the town for a pittance.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Guys, Mother's Day may have already passed, but just think of the brownie points.</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-16531029837765782852009-05-22T08:29:00.001-05:002009-05-22T08:36:42.701-05:00Single Moms Have It Easier!?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJYJP3mR1IDF1FRYOhEy4J8zIXIBD_KONplaBuqVSDMmyDf1KhV7137Ej5FGQA4tjXyQN1wcSOforoKU7y5hLKE5k8_5ATrt3ZdB7AMlj4UT_foJN31TVVQMMqARZsBAmIkZq6eahdH0/s1600-h/lawyer_i-object.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337916108718773986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJYJP3mR1IDF1FRYOhEy4J8zIXIBD_KONplaBuqVSDMmyDf1KhV7137Ej5FGQA4tjXyQN1wcSOforoKU7y5hLKE5k8_5ATrt3ZdB7AMlj4UT_foJN31TVVQMMqARZsBAmIkZq6eahdH0/s320/lawyer_i-object.jpg" border="0" /></a> As a quasi-attorney, I really like lawyer jokes. And since I vehemently object to the text of the article I'm going to talk about, I thought this little cartoon worked perfectly.<br /><br />Apparently the women that read <a href="http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Work--Family/Married-vs.-Single-Moms/2">Babytalk Magazine</a> would rather not have a partner around when it comes to parenting. They think it would just be easier to do it alone. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?! Almost 2/3 of the unmarried moms that responded to the survey said it's sometimes easier to not have a husband or boyfriend. Their reasons, you ask:<br /><ul><li>No arguing over how to raise the kids</li><br /><li>Don't have to worry about working on their marriage</li><br /><li>Free to follow their own dreams</li></ul><p>I just loved this little gem of a quote:</p><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"A friend of mine has two little boys and one very big one: Her husband is more<br />of a responsibility than a partner," says Amy King of Kissimmee, Florida. "I<br />would rather be single than in an unequal relationship. I don't have that cloud<br />hanging over me if the relationship needs work and I'm too tired to put in the<br />effort. And I don't have time to get lonely!"</blockquote><p>Even some of the married moms agreed it would be easier to go it alone. A whopping 22% of the married respondents felt that way.</p><p>And here I thought I was being helpful. Apparently I'm just getting in the way and creating more work for my wife. Haven't men for years been berated for taking an active role in the lives of their children? We've told how important it is to be there, be helpful and be supportive. Then I go and read something like this. Almost makes me feel like men just can't win. Either we're not doing enough or we're in the way.</p><p>By the way, Happy Fatherhood Friday everyone!</p><p>And don't forget to visit the Mars website for your free chocolate this morning. <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-chocolate-friday-mars-real.html">Look here</a>.</p>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-10565344054168329712009-05-21T08:38:00.001-05:002009-05-21T13:37:43.456-05:00Great Gift Idea: Personalized Kids Books from I See Me!<div align="center"><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3483979-10596486" target="_top"><img height="200" alt="I See Me! Personalized Storybooks" src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-3483979-10596486" width="350" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><p>If you are looking for the perfect gift for a child in your life, take a look at I See Me! Books. These books can be personalized with the child's name and picture. It's a great way to give a reasonably priced gift that is incredibly personal and thoughtful.</p><p>Click on the link above to check them out.<br /></p>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-73252378377501698572009-05-20T09:21:00.000-05:002009-05-20T09:21:20.651-05:00SAHM Writes Parenting ManualSo I saw <a href="http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/may/17/moms-put-together-parenting-manual/">this news story</a> and thought I would share it. A SAHM from North Carolina co-wrote a parenting book with her best friend, a fellow mom. A sort of point-counterpoint book, one mom is a SAHM and the other is a working mom.<br /><br />The whole point of the book is to show that there is no one single right answer when it comes to parenting. Must of us that check out this site have made the choice to have a parent at home all of the time. And that's a great way to do it. But it's not the only way.<br /><br />It drives me crazy when parents think they have all of the answers. Or when they think their way is the ONLY way to do something. It doesn't work that way. No two families are exactly alike. What works for my family may not work for yours. That's why I've never tried to use this blog to convince people to become SAHMs. I just want to provide help to those that may want to take the leap.<br /><br />Anyway, the book is called The Must Have Moms Manual, and you should be able to find it in bookstores now.Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-36647971551736655192009-05-19T08:00:00.000-05:002009-05-19T08:00:00.929-05:00Free Chocolate Friday! Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzQ56OY6ZU5vchQM0sGIfN0m2KtPFNGO7vtwVceSYMR7iCSsNqNqZtQXPmHSzVIAqadTZbuBmZA-DytzoUgTFXw5DhtSfId90vUlLo-NLGzf5NGt7MpHcwCSQ_rSPecltu1VPYFMAYbw/s1600-h/20050726-eye_candy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337202186181194626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzQ56OY6ZU5vchQM0sGIfN0m2KtPFNGO7vtwVceSYMR7iCSsNqNqZtQXPmHSzVIAqadTZbuBmZA-DytzoUgTFXw5DhtSfId90vUlLo-NLGzf5NGt7MpHcwCSQ_rSPecltu1VPYFMAYbw/s320/20050726-eye_candy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The folks over at Mars (the makers of M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, etc) are giving away free chocolate this entire summer. That's right, I said FREE CHOCOLATE!</div><br /><div>The first 250,000 people to visit their website <a href="https://aws.realchocolate.com/">Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act</a> every Friday morning through September will get a coupon for a free Mars product. The giveaway opens at 9:30 AM Eastern Time. So set your watches, put it on your calendar and get you some free chocolate!</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-35395212960798103152009-05-18T11:23:00.000-05:002009-05-18T11:23:00.649-05:00More Thoughts on Dr. Laura's Book: "In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms"<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326448050928557058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ktPzjBrL3dHco-_3z4UsuTonmCV0bDwJDBeWXNIihZIYYw-62KaMCU9iohupnV_Zf2TrSDWFfTvfqrdLCTDGfw7iQliUJ_GziJrpp0XMhqZUS1RzJf89PFlpbwkNM9bSjYJiaHvPLck/s320/51ZL-CqCkbL.jpg" border="0" />I've been thinking some more about some of Dr. Laura Schlessinger's comments in the interview I posted a few days ago <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/04/dr-lauras-in-praise-of-stay-at-home.html">here</a>. Specifically, I've been fuming about her comment regarding a father's ability to stay home with a child under the age of 3.<br /><div></div><br /><div>It is absolutely ludicrous to me that this woman honestly believes that a guy cannot successfully stay home with a young child. After all of the years where men have been bashed for not taking an active role in their kids' lives, this lady comes along and actually says that men don't have the ability to stay home with young kids.</div><br /><div>Is that condescending to anyone else? Because, honestly, I think I'm a pretty damn good father. I don't know if I'd be a great stay at home dad, but that's not the point. I could absolutely do it, and do it well, if I had to. And I know that there are plenty of great stay at home dads out there.</div><div> </div><div>Having a vagina does not make you more qualified to be a stay at home parent! That's just not part of the qualifications. It's all about your ability to provide for your children and do the things that will make them well-adjusted people.</div><div> </div><div>Damn you Dr. Laura. I'm done talking about you.</div><div> </div><div>She does, however, say some great things about stay at home moms, so I do appreciate that. Here's <a href="http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/may/04/mothers-way-dr-lauras-new-book-touts-stay-home-par/">another interview</a> if you're interested.</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-41794528305437868362009-05-16T08:10:00.009-05:002009-05-16T09:52:16.528-05:00Last Day For Restaurant.com Promotion<div align="center"><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3483979-10404309"><img height="60" alt="" src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-3483979-10404309" width="234" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I realize I've mentioned this promotion 3 days in a row, but this is just such a good deal. Usually you can get $25 gift certificates for $10. That's a pretty good deal. But for the rest of today, and today only, you can get 70% off. That means a $25 gift certificate for $3!!!! All you have to do is use the promo code "TASTY" when you check out. It's that simple.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">And this is no joke. I took advantage of this deal myself. I got $75 worth of gift certificates for all of $9. I'm no mathematician (hell, I'm not even sure I spelled the word right!), that is a HUGE savings.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">But you have to take advantage of this deal today! So get on it!</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-6810432413497223002009-05-15T10:07:00.004-05:002009-05-15T10:44:12.927-05:00What Should A SAHM Expect From Her Man?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeduCJCOmB2nanpO9WW_ymj7T42ecQuvohQwitJWYpdr39JNJ8fi8-JHrKGtFvoE6XFlCv6B_nN0CTv_S7netIRniHAa0DtVVzdfQnjQPNFq3t6qR6cJ5Pt0bgO8ZnAV0tGhvyu-i7_s/s1600-h/ff.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336077027031868146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeduCJCOmB2nanpO9WW_ymj7T42ecQuvohQwitJWYpdr39JNJ8fi8-JHrKGtFvoE6XFlCv6B_nN0CTv_S7netIRniHAa0DtVVzdfQnjQPNFq3t6qR6cJ5Pt0bgO8ZnAV0tGhvyu-i7_s/s320/ff.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>First of all, Happy Fatherhood Friday. I missed last week, but I'm back on the horse this week. If you haven't checked out the blogs over at <a href="http://www.dad-blogs.com/">Dad Blogs</a>, you are truly missing out. There is some great stuff over there.<br /><br />OK, so a couple of weeks ago I blogged about what a guy can <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/05/husbands-realistic-expectations-for.html">realistically expect</a> from the SAHM in his life. That post sparked a lot of great comments, and I don't think I really ticked anybody off. I also got a lot of interesting stuff about the whole "nothing but an apron" thing :)<br /><br />So this week I thought I would flip it around and talk about what a SAHM can realistically expect from the man in her life. Obviously I'm writing this from the guy's perspective, so I'll be interested to see what the women think about this.<br /><br />First and foremost, I think it is a must that the man <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0XAI-PFQcA">RESPECTS</a> his SAHM. This one is pretty much non-negotiable. I don't care how important you think your job is. I don't care how much money you make a year. Nothing is more important than raising your kids. NOTHING! So you better show some respect to the woman that (presumably) put her career and aspirations on hold to raise your kids. It really is the <em>least </em>you can do.<br /><br />Next, how about some <a href="http://www.ftd.com/">flowers</a> once in a while? Is that so hard to ask? Or maybe dinner out on the town? Check out <a href="http://iheartsahms.blogspot.com/2009/05/sahms-need-to-dine-out-too.html">yesterday's post</a> to get some great deals on gift certificates to local restaurants.<br /><br />On the same note, SAHMs need a little "me time." At least a couple times a week she should be able to get out of the house and away from the kids to do whatever she wants to do. Whether it's working out, taking a cake decorating class or drinking a glass of wine with a couple of girlfriends, "me time" is terribly important. Just think about how you feel after 2 hours by yourself with the kids. Now multiply that by 4 (and that's assuming you're only away from the house for 8 hours a day) and you'll start to realize how she feels at the end of the day.<br /><br />And finally, it's not gonna kill you to help out around the house. Do some laundry. Take care of the dishes. Pick up after the kids. When I talked about a guy's expectations for a SAHM, I mentioned that everything has to be flexible. And that' going to require the guy to pick up some slack. Or, just let the laundry go for a couple of days. It's not really the end of the world.<br /><br />So what did I forget? What else should my wife expect from me?</div>Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6313349879238369222.post-50654847859247095162009-05-14T16:53:00.004-05:002009-05-14T17:02:21.534-05:00SAHMs Need To Dine Out TooI realize we're all on a budget around here, and the first thing that usually goes is dining out. Plus, it's never easy to go to a decent restaurant (and Applebee's doesn't count as a good restaurant) with kids.<br /><br />But right now there is a deal going on over at <a href="http://www.restaurant.com/index.asp?prti=1647&aid=10404305&pid=3247817">Restaurant.com</a> that is just too good to pass up. If you've never been to <a href="http://www.restaurant.com/index.asp?prti=1647&aid=10404305&pid=3247817">Restaurant.com</a> before, here's the deal. You can buy $25 gift certificates to a number of restaurants for only $10. That's a pretty darn good deal.<br /><br />There is a special going on right now, though, that makes it darn near impossible to ignore. If you use the promo code "TASTY" when you check out, you save 70% on each gift certificate you purchase. That makes a $10 purchase only $3. Which means you get a $25 gift certificate for only $3!!!!!!<br /><br />I bought 3 $25 gift certificates for a total of $9! That is $75 worth of dining out for only 9 bucks! Sorry about all of the exclamation marks, but this is a hell of a deal.<br /><br />The only catch is the promo code expires on May 16th. So you have 2 more days to take advantage of this deal. Get yourself over to <a href="http://www.restaurant.com/index.asp?prti=1647&aid=10404305&pid=3247817">Restaurant.com</a>, use the promo code "TASTY," call up the babysitter and get yourself some much deserved me time at your favorite local eatery.Kyle Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916880341136852506noreply@blogger.com0