• A lot is two words, darn it – http://tinyurl.com/y42zurt #
• Been wanting these forever – http://www.buxr.com/deal/locked-on-proximity-sensing-shirt_48924 #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Popularity: 16% [?]

Hurray for used things! For once I’m not talking about baby stuff. Recently we’ve saved a metric crap ton of money thanks to my people being awesome about giving us their cast offs.

First off, my parents brought down their old Rav4 to give to us when they came to visit Maggie. They knew they weren’t going to get much on a trade in for it, so they figured ‘why the heck not’ and gifted it to us. We did have to pay some taxes and fees on it (and $30 a month in insurance) but it’s well worth the price to have a second car for emergencies. Best of all, we know it’s in fabulous shape because my parents are obsessive about taking care of their vehicles.

Secondly, good ol’ Mom and Dad packed the car up with my old bedroom furniture, which they had refinished. It was chilling in their house and not getting used a whole lot. The whole set is solid oak and the current cost of a single piece of furniture of that quality was more expensive than getting the whole set (bed, two dressers, mirror, 2 nightstands) refinished. Now we have furniture for the guest room and it will be Maggie’s furniture when she eventually transitions out of the nursery. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Geek.

And finally, my mom sanded down, replaced the trim on and repainted the old dresser that our roommate gave us.  He didn’t want it because it was his ex-wife’s and she certainly wasn’t going to claim it (or any of the other crap she left behind which spent months in our basement). It came out really well, but I don’t have pictures yet because it’s still chilling in our garage until our friend comes over to get it up the stairs.

So yeah. We owe a lot to my parent and their generosity.

Have you ever gotten an awesome hand-me-down?

Popularity: 18% [?]

• Extra 40% off Sale Items at Ann Taylor's Loft – Code SALE40 #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Popularity: 17% [?]

Please excuse the mess, I’m trying to type with a passed out baby on my chest.

In the one week that Baby Geek has been with us, she’s cost another ~$300. Unfortunately, I was having issues with my milk, so we had to get a pump plus the accompanying bottles, cleaning stuff, storage, etc. Then we needed to buy saline for her stuffy little nose, a new suction bulb because the one we had was too big and irritated her mucus membranes, and prescription eye drops for the gunk in her eye. Oh, and we did cave a little and purchase professional photos, because she’ll only be a newborn once.

(And that’s not counting the bouncer Grandma Geek bought her. Of course she can’t use it yet, but they were at BabiesRUs with a 20% off coupon -and it was on sale- so she got it because she’s Grandma and it’s her mission in life to spoil her grandbabies rotten. I have a feeling Grandma Geek will also be buying a microphone and webcam for Baby Geek as well since she lives 8 hours away.)

Today we’re off to the doctor again to get her nose and eye checked out, which is $20 for the copay. Thankfully well visits are ‘free’ with our insurance, so we won’t have to fork out for those too.

I don’t begrudge any penny spent on Baby Geek, but if you are planning to spawn, make sure you’ve got a big wad of cash ready for all the extra expenses. We were positive we had everything covered, but obviously we were wront.

Popularity: 21% [?]