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I took a survey yesterday about baby formula (yes, even though I am slightly passed that stage now with my youngest being two).  They wanted moms’ opinions on their preference for baby formula, even for moms who have slightly older children.  I always have been passionate about my baby formula, so I happily obliged to complete the survey.

When my oldest was on formula, I used the brand name formula.  I was a first time mom and fed her what they gave me in the hospital and what my pediatrician gave me samples of, which was probably Similac.  But when my twins were born six years later, I could not justify paying all that money for double the formula and had to seek out another alternative.  That is when I found Parent’s Choice.  My son Louis had acid reflux, and the Gentle formula worked wonders for him.  I was able to purchase their formula for much less at Walmart, they were happy, I was happy, and everyone was happy!

When the baby came, I didn’t think twice but to stick with Parent’s Choice.  By then, diapers.com started to sell it online, which made my life even easier!

I also nursed all four of my children, but formula supplementing was the best for me.  And there is no doubt in my mind, if I had to do it again, store brand formula is the only way to go!

With four children running around, my home takes a beaten most days.  My living room and dining room was painted two years ago and between dirty finger prints, nicks and crayon marks that I have cleaned off as best as possible, my walls were crying for new paint.  Not to mention my couches and dining room chairs are all stained and falling apart.  But in today’s economy, it has not been in our budget to get new furniture.  And even if it was, the boys are still too little for new couches!  They would be ruined in no time! 

My husband decided to paint, and he asked his dad for help.  I remember that the last time we painted, it cost us quite a few hundred dollars on paint alone!  Paul went to Home Depot and brought home swatches of the Home Depot brand of paint and we picked out our colors.  For the long wall, we chose Chianti (wine).  For the other walls, we chose Pita Bread (a wheat color).  We had used the Home Depot brand before, so we were happy with our decision.  I must say, I am LOVING my new walls!!!

Next it was time to figure out something for the furniture.  I went on Walmart.com and picked out slipcovers for my couch and two chairs.  I also picked out slipcovers for my dining room chairs.  Voila!  A “brand new” dining room and living room set of furniture– and I didn’t spend much!

The only thing left is a new window covering for our sliding glass doors. 

I’m VERY happy with our new living space… I will post pictures soon!

I got this in my inbox yesterday.  I wish I could find the original author (if you know who wrote it, please let me know so I can credit it accordingly!), but the message is just great!  We talk about buying STORE BRAND all the time on this blog, but mainly to save money.  But in today’s economy, with so many people unemployed, buying store brand can really help us out even more than we think!

ONE AT A TIME

This probably sounds crazy, but just yesterday I was in Walmart looking for a wastebasket. I found some made in China for $6.99. I didn’t want to pay that much so I asked the lady if they had any others. She took me to another department and they had some at $2.50 made in USA. They are just as good. Same as a kitchen rug I needed. I had to look, but I found some made in the USA and they were $3.00 cheaper. We are being brain washed that everything that comes from China and Mexico is cheaper. Not so. That is also why I don’t buy cards at Hallmark anymore. They are made in China and are expensive. I buy them at Dollar Tree …. 50 cents each and made in USA.
One Light Bulb at a Time

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn’t slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American . . .

Good idea . . .. one light bulb at a time . .. ..

Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowe’s the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments ….. They were all made in China.

The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking . . ..

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else – even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track … Let’s get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey’s candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico … now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything ….

This past weekend I was at Kroger . . . I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets.

I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, “Everyday Value.” I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats – they were the same except for the price . . .. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in – get ready for this – the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here ………..

So on to another aisle – Bounce Dryer Sheets … yep, you guessed it – Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada … The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA – the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!

(We should have awakened a decade ago ….)

Let’s get with the program and help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the USA.

Its time for a photo contest! Now that the weather is changing we want to see your favorite photo of your child(ren) from this past summer!

How to enter

1. Like the STORE BRAND FORMULA Facebook page!

2. Share this contest on your own Facebook wall

3. Email your photo and your name to swagner@perrigo.com  subject: Store Brand Formula Contest

Photos will be posted in an album on our page. Contest ends 5pm EST Friday.

Winner will receive a gift card! Winner will be selected at random from all the entries and announced Monday morning.

I have read many articles, blogs & even watched the T.V show a few times.  I starting taking the Sunday newspaper so I could clip coupons & subscribed to a bunch of online couponing sites (filled up my e-mail with junk :/ too)

Long story short, I was spending more than I was saving on extra newspapers etc.., I guess it really is an art to the whole process. I could never really establish a system. I do use my MVP card and buy store brands etc… but leaving the store with 2 carts full of goodies for less than $15 bucks, has not been the case for me.

Do you have any interesting, EASY, stress free ways of doing it? Please share…

Shanta

Mommy of 3 BOYS

For families looking for new products at a great value – just head to Sam’s Club or visit www.samsclub.com.  Sam’s Club is announcing the availability of three new private label brands found exclusively at Club locations nationwide: Simply Right™, Artisan Fresh™ and Daily Chef™.

The introduction of these brands is a direct result of customer feedback and research conducted by Sam’s Club.  The brands provide a range of products from personal care to cooking essentials to made-from-scratch favorites. As an introduction to the brands, during September Baby Month at Sam’s Club, Members can sample and take home Simply Right diapers, wipes and formula  on Saturday, September 17, or receive free formula samples at www.simplyrightformula.com.

If you were to visit our home you would think I was a Parent’s Choice sales rep. or something?! We literally have 90% of their baby products on hand. I recently fell in love with the baby wash & lotion, smells delicious.  I use the formula, diapers, wipes (love), toddler snacks, uuummmmmm I know there is more! Lol

Now that there is ANOTHER new guy in the house, I would love to see Stage I/First food, I know they have great Stage II foods, etc. I am a fan of the quality first, then the price second.

I have to admit a family member introduced me to the formula about 3 years ago, her little girl drank it and she said “ It’s the same stuff as the fancy/expensive name brand stuff”

After consulting with our pediatrician, we’ve been hooked ever since.

BIG can means extra savings!

Mommy of 3!

Shanta

Over the past 13 years, Wal-Mart’s Parent’s Choice Infant Formula has helped write the earliest chapters in millions of success stories by allowing parents to provide their children with outstanding nutrition at affordable prices.

Now the folks at Parent’s Choice will help one student and one family write another important chapter with the launch of the Parent’s Choice Infant Formula Savings Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes, created in partnership with PBM Products, LLC, a Perrigo Company, will provide one lucky winner with a $10,000 college scholarship in the form of a College Savings 529 Plan.

The Parent’s Choice Infant Formula Sweepstakes was officially launched  June 15, and will run through 11:59 p.m. on August 15, 2011.

More information, rules and an entry form is available at http://parentschoicesweepstakes.listrak.com

Parent’s Choice Infant formula is Walmart’s private brand formula and is available exclusively at Walmart locations nationwide and online at www.walmart.com.

Granted, I have four children, I manage my house and take care of everyone by myself while my husband is at work all day, I do loads and loads of laundry and run around after two toddlers, run a business, blog, and more from early in the morning until late at night.  Naturally, I am bound to be tired.  But I recently realized that I need to find a little more energy in my day. 

My eating habits are not the greatest.  No matter how hard I try to eat well balanced meals throughout the day, many times I find that it is 3pm and I have yet to eat consume anything all day except the half pot of coffee and whatever leftovers my kids didn’t eat from their breakfast and lunch.  Not only is that sad, that is really not good for my body.  I find myself always running and taking care of everything else that I fail to properly take care of myself!  I have made ME a promise to eat better throughout the day, and I have also made ME a promise to take a daily multivitamin.

When I went into the pharmacy on Sunday to pick up some cough medicine (yes, I have gotten quite a few colds this year, probably because I am so run down!), I decided to pick up vitamins.  I refused to spend $20 on name brand vitamins, so I picked up the generic Women’s Multivitamin the store had for $7.99.

I am not sure if it is all in my head, but it has been four days and I am already feeling a bit better.  This morning, I was able to get out of bed without rolling around for an hour and I’m finding myself doing better through the day getting things done this week.  Can it be the multivitamin?

Do you take vitamins?  Do you think they help?