To clip or not to clip.....

If I had to chose one word to describe me it would NOT be frugal. As a matter of fact that word may not even be in the top 10 words to describe me, however, with the economical crunch we are faced with I am trying to find ways to save money. My latest challenge has been coupons. I have tried numerous times to clip coupons and I either lose them or leave them at home, but this time it is different. It is a CHALLENGE! How much money can I save each week at the super market. For those of you who don't know me, you will soon find out that I love a good challange. Two weeks ago I challenged myself to see just how much I could cut my grocery bill each week.

My first stop was obviously the Sunday paper. I cut out the coupons that I usually use and any coupons that I might end up using like on cleaning supplies and such. After that I went to the computer and googled free grocery coupons. I found that there are many places to get free coupons, but all of the coupons seemed to pretty much be the same, so I decided to go with http://www.coupons.com/. When you type in your zipcode it will pull up all of the coupons that go with your zipcode and you can print them right from your home. After that I googled super target coupons and found coupons on Target's website that I can print and use in their store. Once I printed all of my coupons I made my grocery list and made sure to write a "c" for coupon beside the items that I had coupons for. With two kids in tow at the supermarket, if I am not organized before I go there is a good chance I would forget half the things that I need.

My first week using coupons I saved $19 and I was super excited! I really had only anticipated a savings of $5 or $6. I usually try to keep my weekly grocery bill down to about $100 so I was looking at a savings of 20%! I was pretty impressed with myself. The second week I saved $14 and it only takes a few minutes of preparing before you head out to the super market. I know that there are people out there who tell you that you can really save a lot of money by checking the local ads at the various supermarkets in your area, but I have a 2 and 3-year old and going to multiple stores to get my groceries every week is not an option for me. Luckily I am finding that coupons just might really save me some money. At this rate, the metallic gold gladiator sandals I have my eyes on are in my near future! With a reward like new shoes, maybe I can learn to be more frugal after all!

T

Don't get burned

With the weather changing and the kids playing outside almost everyday, it is definitely time for SUNSCREEN! There are so many sunscreens in the store that say "baby" or "kids" but how do you know what is safest for your little one? Well I did a little research before going out and purchasing sunscreen for my kids.

According to the American Association of Pediatrics website this is what to look for when purchasing suncreen for your baby.

• Use a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label - that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.
• For sensitive areas of the body, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears, and the shoulders, choose a sunscreen or sunblock with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. While these products usually stay visible on the skin even after you rub them in, some now come in fun colors that kids enjoy.

After looking at these guidelines and looking into the many different sunscreen brands I decided on the New Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby. My son is 2 years old and he has very sensitive and fair skin. I chose this product because it is free of chemical sunscreens and because of Neutrogena's excellent reputation with sensitive skin. This sunscreen is also waterproof and doesn't feel greasy or oily on the skin. It also rubs into the skin nicely so your child doesn't have the white color on top of the skin like other zinc oxide products. This suncreen comes in a lotion form in a tube and in a stick which is pictured here. I personally like to have both on hand because I prefer the stick when applying sunscreen to the precious little faces and ears of my little munchkins. And for under $1o each I think it is a great buy!

For those of you who want another option, the Blue Lizard sunscreen was my next choice as it is chemical free too. There are great reviews for this sunscreen, but I went with the Neutrogena strictly for their background in sensitive skincare. I hope that this information is helpful in keeping your little ones safe in the sun. Happy playing at your local park or on vacation!

T

Here we are.....

Hello everyone! We are Tina and Tiffanie and we are Bliss Baby Planners. We are experienced mothers, maternity fashion stylists, and knowledgeable baby planners! We understand what it's like to work, plan for baby and keep true to who we are as wives, sisters, daughters, and friends. There is the stroller to pick, the nursery to organize, choosing a pediatrician, and the endless list goes on and on. It can be overwhelming and confusing with all the conflicting information out there on the web, our friends, and advice from our mothers. This is where Bliss Baby Planners come in to help.

Here on our blog we will be giving the latest information in baby gear, maternity fashion, and going green with your little one. Please join us as we share with you our passion for all things baby!

T & T