Day 1 and 2 winners....

Winners!! yay! I love winners... 

I will be giving contact info to the sponsors to contact the winners in the next few days... If you do not respond a new winner will be chosen! Please post on the sponsors facebook page that your the winner as proof that you are a fan. 

Thanks! 

Winner's day 1...

Winner of the hairbow is... DONNELLE! 

 Donnelle said...

Posted on Twitter, http://bit.ly/ef4wxM

Donnelle
sewmemine{at}comcast.net

March 7, 2011 4:30 AM

Winner of the Paci Clip is....LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER!

 Love You Always & Forever said...

Follow crafty creations on fb!
sleatherberry@gmail.com

March 12, 2011 1:45 AM

Winners Day 2...

Winner of the custom family block is JENNICA AND PRESTON!

Jennica and Preston said...

I like Emily's Block Party on Facebook!
pjnpatterson(at)yahoo(dot)com

March 13, 2011 12:09 AM 

Congratulations winners! And don't forget to check out the other 5 days!

Thank you to TurboTax for sponsoring my writing about household finances.Learn more about how TurboTax can help you find every tax deduction you deserve. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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{Image Source}

Everybody tells you that kids are expensive. Tuition, diapers, formula, daycare. But than there are those expenses no one saw fit to warn you about. 

Now I love my son, but there are some things that make me go WHAT?! 

(or WHUCK?! as my favorite ladies over at Rants From Mommy Land like to say)

Personally I was prepared for the average formula expense. I figured I could handle it. But than the pediatrician dropped the big news, my precious 1 month old needed special formula. He could not tolerate the regular stuff, no, instead he had to have the hypoallergenic Alimentum junk. "No problem!" And off I ran to the store where I just about fainted when I saw the $26.00 price tag on the small can of powder formula. 

Than there are the toys. Now I know that toys are not exactly something that you HAVE to buy a lot of. But if your kiddo is as cute as mine (or your as gullible as I am) you want nothing but the best. And the best always comes out 2 days after you just bought the now next to best. My biggest expense this christmas? $40 for a ride on toy that makes, no noise, doesn't steer, and I had to put it together! 

So I got to thinking... I cannot possibly be the only parent surprised by some of the expenses you incur with children. I know lots of first time and seasoned parents, and decided to pose the question.... 

"What were some surprising financial things about kids that you never expected to be that bad or just did not expect at all?"

Here are just a few of the responses I received-

Shiloh M.- "Clothes! I did NOT realize they would grow THAT quickly and outgrow EVERYTHING they own within what seems like a matter of HOURS."

Jessica H.- "[I did not realize] just how much a baby can truly eat. Our grocery bill was $100 for one week of food, and $60 of that was food for the baby... FOR ONE WEEK!"

Jessy R- Birthday parties! Seems like they get more and more expensive as they get older. Especially presents. Now I see why my grandma just sends 20 dollar gift cards


Kathryn H- Buying new binkies because he loses them constantly and they are NOT cheap! The only one that has survived his whole life is pink with hearts on it!


If I had to do it all again... I would start that savings account and put every extra penny in it! Tax time is a savior to most parents that child credit can help you get back on track... So this year when you get your taxes back don't buy a couch or a new computer... buy clothes, diapers, and all those other surprise expenses! Or if you don't have kids yet...START THAT SAVINGS ACCOUNT!

What were you surprised to realize as a new parent?

7 days of giveaways: Day 7 (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)

I do apologize for the lateness... My son ended up in the ER last night and I was unable to finish writing this post... Bad blogger me for putting it off to last minute! lol 

Peachy Keen Dolls

Our last sponsor of the week is... Peachy Keen Dolls...

These beautiful waldorf inspired, hypo-allergenic, dolls are sure to inspire lots of fun from every boy and girl who play with them. Here is the story posted from her fan page of the peachy keen dolls...

Once upon a time I bought a peach orchard. While picking peaches one day with my son we heard some silly noises and giggling. Imagine our surprise when we looked up and saw a tiny little boy sitting in the tree. The boy had a little round tummy full of peaches, big brown eyes, and multi colored hair! He was very friendly and introduced us to his other friends. The tiny little children are the keepers of the peaches, he explained to us, but they love to play.

As time went on my son noticed that the little children were lonely. So we asked if some of them would like to go live with other families to protect, and play with the children. All of them were very excited and eager to find a new forever family to love and protect.

We still have lots of little Peachy Keens to match with their forever family...Are you next?

Peachy Keen Dolls is offering a $30 gift card towards a custom doll of their choice. You choose skin, hair, eye color, and outfit.

(Good towards a new purchase, cannot be used towards a purchase already paid for)

How to enter

Mandatory entries-

1. Follow the Bug Creator blog PUBLICLY than leave a comment telling me that you did.

& 

2. Like Peachy Keen Dolls on facebook

Leave a SEPARATE comment for both of the above MANDATORY entries.

Extra entries (3)-

Tweet, facebook, or blog about this... Leave a comment (with a link to where you did it) for each one that you do!

That is 5 different ways to enter! So get to work folks!

Giveaway ends 3/15 at 11:59pm EST

Winner Winner chicken dinner!

Winner of the photobook from http://www.zooatlantaphotos.org/site/

is ...

#4

Emily Anne Knight Williamson said...

and I like your new Peachy Keen Doll babies on FB too. These look GREAT! I'm very excited that someone has started making these for an adorable price. I've been telling everyone. Best of luck with the new business venture. I hope bug creator will still sick around too.( =

March 6, 2011 12:11 AM 

Yes Emily Anne, BugCreator will still be around for as long as blogger is free! :D And maybe even after that... 

I will be contacting you soon with your code. 

Thanks for entering everyone! And don't forget you can still get $5.00 off a photobook if you use the code HOLSM at http://www.zooatlantaphotos.org