Archive for April, 2010
CheapTweet Happy Hour #14: For Mom
Next Sunday is Mother’s Day (May 9), and if you haven’t figured out what to do for your mom yet, here are some ideas. As always, links to these deals are posted below the video. And be sure to check out our two-part blog post on saving money this Mother’s Day.
Saving money this Mother’s Day, Part 2
This post is the second in a two-part series where Jenn and Heather discuss ways to save money while still having a very special Mother’s Day. In this post, Heather (who writes the Happy Hatchling posts) shares her thoughts on having a wonderful Mother’s Day without spending any money at all. In part one, Jenn wrote about how to save money on Mother’s Day.
I, HappyHatchling Heather, have never been a huge fan of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Valentine’s Day. Now that I am a mother, my views on the “Day” haven’t changed, but my appreciation for my own mother has grown exponentially. I feel as if creating one day out of the whole year to acknowledge all that mom does for us is just not enough. Additionally, the stereotypical Mother’s Day gifts of cards and flowers are not very personal. However, I do love the idea of doing something simple to say “We love and appreciate you, Mom.” Here are some ideas that would melt my heart and don’t cost a cent.
Disclaimer: My views are not shared by every woman… If your wife/mom loves cards and flowers, then by all means make her happy! And go read Jenn’s gift ideas for Mom.
Give Mom a Nice Meal
Make Mom dinner AND clean the dishes! This is an especially good option if your wife does all the cooking. Try making her a favorite dish and if you have older kids they can help out too. But don’t forget the dishes! Nothing says, “Mom, I love you” like a clean kitchen.
Give Mom a Gift
Give Mom the warm fuzzies. Instead of giving Mom a card, reminisce with your wife about becoming a mom, or your favorite family memories with your mother. Moms love hearing you (dads and kids) talk about your feelings. Make their hearts melt by taking a minute to fondly remember and talk about your family’s future hopes and dreams.
Let Mom Relax and Sleep
Let mom sleep in… In peace and quiet! If you are short of time and money for a real vacation (like Jenn suggests), just give Mom the morning off. Dads/Husbands- When the kids wake up, get them out of the house. Go for a walk or get breakfast out so Mom can sleep in without hearing babies crying or breakfast bowls clanging. This is an especially appealing option for those new moms who desperately need sleep. Oh, and maybe make a quick stop for her morning coffee when she wakes. (If you go to church early on Sunday mornings, try celebrating Mother’s day on Saturday instead so she doesn’t get her lazy morning cut short.)
Share Memories of Mom with Photos
Organize the digital photo library. We have thousands of photos, but they are all on the computer. Sort through the photos (organize the photos for extra bonus points) and pull out 10-30 of the best shots. Make a photo presentation or slide show, and then together pick out a handful to frame and put up in the house. You don’t have to go look for a new frame, just replace pictures that are already up that are feeling outdated. Your wife or mom will love having the best photos visible and accessible.
What are some of your favorite Mother’s Day gifts or memories? We’d love to hear them!
Heather and her daughter
Saving money this Mother’s Day, Part 1
This post is the first in a two-part series where Jenn and Heather discuss ways to save money while still having a very special Mother’s Day. Up first: Jenn shares a few Mother’s Day money-saving tips. Tomorrow: Heather will discuss having a great Mother’s Day without spending any money at all.
Mother’s Day is coming up soon! It’s time to show Mom how much you care about her. Here are some tips for saving money while still giving Mom a great day (tomorrow, Heather is going to take it one step further and explain how we can celebrate without spending any money!). And for fun, I included a picture of my mom with my sister and me at the end of the post (happy Mother’s Day, Mom!).
Give Mom a Nice Meal
Why not take mom to dinner to celebrate? If your mom is like my mom, she does a lot of the cooking at home, so she deserves a night out. You can go out for a nice meal without spending too much. Check out the gift certificates from restaurant.com – through April, you can buy a $25 gift certificate for only $2! If you don’t see your mom’s favorite restaurant in their inventory, try searching on CheapTweet for that restaurant. We find hundreds of meal discounts every week – from national chains to local places – so there’s bound to be something to please your mom.
Give Mom a Gift
Instead of spending a fortune on jewelry from the mall, buy your mom a lovely piece of handcrafted jewelry she will always cherish. Through sites like Etsy, it is incredibly easy to find beautiful, handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry. What’s even better is that many of the artisans who sell their work on Etsy offer great sales around holidays like Mother’s Day. For example, you can get free shipping from vividcolors and clamzeeart, and 50% off from eNVeDesigns. There are tons more jewelry discounts and sales on CheapTweet.
Let Mom Relax and Sleep
If there’s only one thing your mom wants, it’s probably some rest. It’s not too late or too expensive to give your mom a weekend getaway. Travelzoo and VacationRentals.com are two great places to find discounts on accommodations, even at the last minute. To be restful, a weekend or night away doesn’t have to be far from home; look around for small towns within an hour of your mom’s house. There might even be hidden gems right in your town. Sometimes a little peace and quiet is the best gift of all.
Share Memories of Mom with Photos
One of the best ways to share some of your mom’s favorite photo memories is with a digital picture frame. Prices on these gadgets have dropped significantly in the past few years, and you can definitely find a good deal on one now. For example, here is a ViewSonic 9-inch frame for only $69.99 (normally $159.99). If your budget is a little tighter, try this Aluratek 7-inch frame that’s been marked down to only $29 (was $89.95). Preload some of your favorite pictures on the digital picture frame before giving it to your mom and she will love it.
If these ideas don’t inspire you, there are thousands more Mother’s Day deals on CheapTweet.com. Also, be sure to read Heather’s post about how to celebrate Mom without spending a cent. And happy Mother’s Day!
Jenn with her mom and sister
CheapTweet Happy Hour #13: Garage sales, Timbuk2, and your mom
This week, Hayes and I talk about tips for saving money at garage and yard sales, how to help community health workers in Zambia by donating your used Timbuk2 bag, and a reminder that Mother’s Day is on May 7. Links to the deals we discuss are posted below the video.
Have a great weekend!
The Happy Hatchling #10: Springtime activities for kids
In this edition of the Happy Hatchling, Heather – mom and CheapTweet guest blogger – shares some of her favorite springtime kid activities. Be sure to follow Heather on Twitter!
The good weather is here! After being cooped up for the winter, my tot and I are spending a lot more time outside. Here are some ideas and inspiration for getting the most out of springtime with your kids!
1) Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market
This is the perfect time of year to put on that Baby Bjorn (pictured) and go check out your local farmers market. Even if you don’t feel like shopping, it is great entertainment for your little one. There are lots of people and dogs to watch, live music, and tons of colors and scents to enjoy.
For the heavy produce shopper, opt for taking the stroller and attaching these inexpensive stroller hooks to free up your hands.
2) Tour a Botanical Garden
Enjoy the flowers… go take a walk in a botanical garden. If you have a tots or older children, let them help water plants in your yard with their own watering can (pictured).
You can also look up flower craft projects to do at home. Here are some fun craft ideas by @momtriedit for Everything Mom.
3) Go to the Zoo
This time of the year animals at the zoo are very active (they love the good weather as much as we do). I also like going to zoos and museums for the gift shops to find new toys and books. The San Diego Zoo’s gift shop actually has some of their items online for those of you who don’t live near a zoo.
And, here are a few zoo-themed puzzles and books your kids will love:
- Melissa & Doug Touch and Feel Zoo Puzzle
- Books with wonderful illustrations and stories
4) Play Outside at Home
Hang up a baby swing. This works for younger babies and older tots. While outside have your kid point out birds, bugs, and flowers.
Walk or ride with the Stride to Ride Lion. I love this toy because it converts from a walker to a sit-and-ride toy so it can grow with your kid. This toy can work indoors as well as outdoors.
Go play ball with this adorable ladybug kickball.
What are your favorite springtime outdoor activities to do with your kids? Please share your ideas in the comments!
Tax Day = Free Stuff Day
April 15 has a bad reputation. It’s Tax Day in the US and lots of us are feeling the sting of paying our taxes. But, did you know APril 15 is also a really great day for deals? Here are a few of our favorites. Most of these are good today only, so act quickly!
CheapTweet Happy Hour #12: The Texas edition
This week, we’re messing with Texas (ha, get it?) in this all-Texas edition of the CheapTweet Happy Hour. CheapTweet is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and sometimes we feel like our state is misunderstood. It’s not all cowboys, cactus, and George W. Bush. So, this week we talk about some our favorite things about Texas and share deals on travel in Texas. Y’all should come visit!
The deals we talk about in the video are linked to below. Also, I posted a few pictures of Texas Hill Country I’ve taken over the years. Enjoy!
- 30% off rates at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Texas Hill Country
- 30% off Texas hotels from Expedia
- 10% off Texas Hill Country Vineyards Tour from Luxury Limousine
- More Texas deals
Announcing the Jewelry Discount House CheapTweet Store!
We’re excited to announce the newest CheapTweet Store – Jewelry Discount House.
Just in time for all the big spring and summer gift-giving holidays (Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings, showers, birthdays), our newest store is the perfect place to find beautiful jewelry at great prices. If you’re looking for earrings, engagement rings, watches, birthstone jewelry, gifts for children or any other jewelry item, then you should take a look at Jewelry Discount House. Plus, they offer free shipping on all orders and free sizing on all rings.
So, check out the new Jewelry Discount House CheapTweet Store and be sure you follow them on Twitter.
CheapTweet Happy Hour #11: 3-D TV, Etsy & The Avett Brothers
This week, we’ve got deals on 3-D TVs, state park passes, an Avett Brothers album, and sales in some great Etsy shops. Plus, we show you what it would be like if we shot these happy hour videos in 3-D (hint: it would be awesome). As always, the deals we talk about are linked to below the video.
And if you’re an Etsy seller and want a preview of the cool features we’re building just for you, send Jenn a DM or @reply on Twitter. Have a great weekend!
- Samsung 46″ 1080p 3-D LED HDTV for $2199 (normally $2599)
- Avett Brothers ‘Four Thieves Gone’ album for $3.99
- Sale in @softspokennews’ Etsy shop – 40% off handmade items, 30% off vintage, thru 4/5
- Sale in @greatest_friend’s Etsy shop – 25% off vintage coats, 10% shoes and more
- $5 off 12-month day-use pass to Oregon State Parks, thru 4/30