Friday, November 30, 2012

Dino Lingo - Learning a new language for kids

I have always been very interested in the Italian language which makes sense, since I am Italian. I have wanted to learn the language ever since I could remember, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Influenster, just featured Dino Lingo as a Vox Box challenge. If you aren't familiar with Influenster and Vox Boxes,  I highly suggest heading to their website and taking a look around. Mainly, you earn as many badges and do as many challenges as possible in order to be chosen to receive a Vox Box. A Vox Box is a goodie box filled with coupons and free samples. A couple of months ago, I received the 'Mom Box'. It had a Stash tea sampler, Dentek floss picks, a Quaker oatmeal cookie, Impress nail samples, coupons, an organic sugar supplement sample, and an Ivory soap bar. The best part, it was all free!

Anyway, there is a Dino Lingo challenge right now to win a DVD (a $23 value) that teaches colors and numbers in the language you choose. So, my monster and I watched the video for Italian and I would definitely love to give it a try. It will help teach both, my son and I, some of the basics in Italian. I'm super excited, so wish me luck!


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope this blog post finds you all well and I hope you all had such an amazing Thanksgiving. I know I did. This post is going to be quite a bit more personal, so you can really get to know me better.


Growing up, it was pretty much just my mom, my brother, my grandpa, and me. My dad wasn't really around too much and all of our other family lived too far to travel. We had a small tight-knit family and holidays were a big deal and we still went all out on the food, despite our small numbers. My husband, however, has a very large tight-knit family who pretty much goes where the rest of the family goes. Family means everything to them which is why I am so incredibly thankful to have them in my life.


My mom passed away 3 1/2 years ago and I could not have made it through that time without these a amazing people. Regardless of where life takes my husband and I, I know they will still be there for me. They are my family and a damn good one, at that.


I am also eternally grateful that my son gets to grow up with just about everyone around for every birthday and holiday. He will get to grow up with so much love from so many people. It baffles me, sometimes.


I could go on all day about my family because I am so incredibly proud and happy to have them. They are the most amazing (and slightly crazy) group of people you will ever meet. So, thank you, family. Without you, I would be nothing.



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

*Update* Home Remedies (Reader Suggestion)

Hello lovelies!!

I had a lovely friend and reader ask me to write about some home remedies for illnesses, so here it is. There is a plethora of websites, articles, and books about home remedies and there are too many things for me to cover on my own. So, I'm just going to highlight a few of the most common.

For any illness, ache, etc, REST and HYDRATION are crucial to the whole process of getting better. If you're not resting, your immune system doesn't have the opportunity to recuperate. Which in turn, leads to you not getting better as fast as you usually would.

I have used quite a few of these home remedies growing up and have acquired more from friends and family throughout the years.

Some home remedies for a cold/the flu include:
  • Honey- Relieves a sore throat and cough. Mix 1 tablespoon honey into 1 cup hot water, stir well, and enjoy. Honey acts as a natural expectorant, promoting the flow of mucus. Squeeze some lemon in if you want a little tartness.
  • Lemon- Lemon oil is like a wonder drug containing antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory constituents. The oil also acts as an expectorant. To make this flu-fighting fruit drink, place 1 chopped lemon -- skin, pulp, and all -- into 1 cup boiling water. While the lemon steeps for 5 minutes, inhale the steam. Strain, add honey (to taste), and enjoy. Drink hot lemonade three to four times a day throughout your illness.
  • Pepper- It is an irritant and helps allow the mucus to flow smoothly.  Place 1 teaspoon black pepper into a cup and sweeten things up with the addition of 1 tablespoon honey. Fill with boiling water, let steep for 10 to 15 minutes, stir, and sip.
Some common household remedies for depression include:
  • Vitamin C
  • Magnesium
  • Exercise
  • St. John's Wort 
  • Change in your diet
  • B Vitamins
  • Yoga
Vinegar plays a huge role in home remedies, not to mention housecleaning. There are far too may uses for vinegar to post about, but I highly recommend checking these out and doing some research of your own, to fit your symptoms. You can pretty much just Google 'Home Remedies' and you can find just what you're looking for. You probably won't even have to make a trip to the grocery store because a lot of them are common household items.

I sincerely hope this helps and that you find what works for you. Don't forget to follow and subscribe, so you don't miss a post! I hope everyone has a safe holiday tomorrow! Happy Thanksgiving.

*Update 1/18/2013*
I just came across a Facebook page called Doterra Jodi Deru that I highly suggest taking a look at.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Manic Mondays

Is it just me or do Mondays seem a bit more stressful that the rest of the week? You would think a person would get used to it after 23 years of having Mondays. However, I have not.

I set so many goals for myself to accomplish throughout the day and I only ever get about half of them done. My son always seems to be much more of a monster than usual, and I tend to give up on cleaning or baking, or whatever other task I was working on, before it even hits noon! Whoever tries to tell you this whole "parenting/housewife" business is easy, either hasn't done it, or they are lying through their teeth.

My Mondays usually end up with me and the monster going for a walk, a coupon haul, or vegging on the couch/floor playing. Not a terrible day, by any means, just incredibly unproductive.

I am thinking of making myself, my husband, my brother, and my monster all separate chore charts in order to try to prevent my Manic Mondays. Pinterest is amazing for finding just about anything, but you have to have an account. In order to get one, a friend who already has it, needs to invite you. You can try signing up without an invitation, but you'll be waiting forever to get an account. Before my invite, I had been waiting three months. WARNING: Pinterest is addicting! Don't say I didn't warn you!

How do you get over the "Monday Hump?" Is there some trick I don't know about? As always, if you have any questions, concerns, comments, suggestions, etc, feel free to email me at avittori@asu.edu.

Happy Almost Tuesday!!!


Sunday, November 18, 2012

First Ever Blog Post!

....And guess what its about?.. Dun Dun Dun.....COUPONS!!

Alright, so I am really big into couponing and I am, just now, really getting the hang of it. There is a sort of adrenaline rush when you get a good deal. At least, that's how it feels for me. I have the huge binder with the card protectors and all of my coupons are organized by Baby, Household, Grocery, and Hygiene. Then, there are subcategories within each normal category. That's how dedicated I am to it.

I have been asked, so many times, where I get my coupons. Well, I am currently following thecentsableshoppin.com to help match the weekly sales with the coupons that are out. I also provide feedback to companies and they usually send free coupons. Every Sunday, my son, husband, and I go "coupon hunting." This means we go find the newspapers (usually free ones), that have coupons inserts in them. The top three inserts are Red Plum, Smart Source, and the P&G Saver. I'm too cheap to pay for The Arizona Republic, so I get my coupons, elsewhere.

I also wanted to share an awesome haul that I snagged the other day at Fry's and Safeway. I bought two Dove for Men body washes, four Secret deodorants, four Old Spice deodorants, and a pack of Stayfree pads for .....wait for it....$0.94. That's right, under $1. The total retail was $30.91, making it a 97% savings!

(Not pictured: 2 Old Spice deodorants, Stayfree pads)
I also wanted to show you the beginnings of my lovely stockpile. I have spent a total of $5 for everything, including the vitamins. I'm pretty proud of it. :)


Overall, couponing is one of my biggest hobbies, plus I'm saving a TON of money. If you want to learn more about coupons, feel free to shoot me an email at avittori@asu.edu.