Click here to see where I've spent my day.

Curse you, Shosh for forwarding me that site! I have literally been reading it all day. Most of you know that I have a great desire to be organized. I also have 4 kids in a small 3 bedroom house (Elisha, Shana, and Jakie share 1 three foot long closet and one 6 drawer dresser. ) It's tight. Very tight.

Over the past few days, before Shosh made me waste my day I even found this site, I became inspired to pare down. Maybe it was the great clothing switcheroo. The great turnover inspires fear in even the hardiest mother. So, today I dropped off 8 (yes, 8) bags of boys' clothing today, and I'm just getting started.

After I read that blog (and seriously wanted to cry. How is that woman so organized? Seriously!) I was inspired. I cleaned out the entertainment center shelves, and tossed all the DVD cases. I put them all in some CD flip book thingies and tucked them into some wicker baskets, along with all the Wii paraphernalia. Tomorrow brings the great organization of my desk area shelving and the closest that holds all my silver and crystal stuff.

I do think that being organized is, to some degree, inborn. Some people have it, some do not. Some do not have it and do not care, other do not have it and have a great desire to have it (what are we having again? Oh yeah, the organizing trait. Maybe it's a gene. I bet in about 5 years, they will have found the gene for organization and will be offering genetic therapy to help you become a better homemaker. Ha)

I, unfortunately, fall into the last category:

Those who do not possess the organized trait but have a great burning desire to be organized.

My mom? Crazy organized. I honestly do not remember my house ever, and I mean EVER, being messy when I was a kid. And we were four kids. And she worked full time. How did that happen? Simple. She possesses the trait. That I do not.

So I am inspired. I am going to clean it out and clean it up.

Wish me luck!

Fine, Fine. I'll explain.

But let me tell you, this was one of the most complicated deals I've ever done (but sooooo worth it). It had about 18 steps!

About 3 weeks ago, Aquapods were on sale at Jewel for $1. The sale ended September 5th.

During the sale, I became aware of an upcoming Catalina deal on Aquapods, buy 3 or more, get $3, beginning September 6th. Yes. The day after the sale. Which irked me.

Additionally, the week of the sale, there were $1.50/2 Aquapods coupons in the paper.

So....how did this all work together to get me Money Making Water????

I ordered 20 of the $1.50/2 coupons off of eBay. (and had about 4 of them from my own papers)

The stores ran out of Aquapods. I requested rainchecks. Over the course of the week, I collected rainchecks for about 50 8-packs.

Then, I placed my special order for 48 8-packs of Aquapods. They told me it would be in....September 6th or 7th. Awesome. After the Catalina started (don't think I didn't plan it that way....)

So I went in on the 6th at night to pick up my cartful of water and get my Catalinas.

But don't forget, the Catalina was buy 3 or more, get $3. And I was buying...44 (Shosh took 4 of my order)?

So. How to do it?

I did 11 transactions of 4 each! The checker was soooooo nice. I grabbed a case of 8 off of my cartful. She closed her lane. She took my rainchecks, and rang 4 at a time, price modified them to $1 each, I then gave her my $3 Catalina from the transaction before, paid $1.09 and got back another $3 Catalina.

It only took about 20 minutes to check out.

I paid $11.99 and got back $33 in Catalinas.

So now you know. That is how I got all my Money Making Water. Enjoy? Or did your eyes glaze over?

Water, Anyone?

I figure I'll give you guys a couponing post.

Happiness is Jewel paying you $22 to remove 44 cases of bottled water from the store.

Explanation about the Tefillin

When a Jewish boy turns 13, he begins wearing Tefillin.

Hmmm....not sure what more I can say that the article didn't

Faint.

I'm not sure what else to say other than to put up these pictures.

Time to Whip Them into Shape (not literally of course)

So I've decided that my kids are little slackers who don't do a blessed thing in this house. I'm constantly on them to do the things that...well...they should be doing. Make your bed? Put your clothes (shock) in the hamper? C'mon, guys!

So I've instituted the next level in my county jail house...

Chores!

These are hanging up in my kitchen (to my Keshet staff readers-didn't I do a nice job? I feel like we live in Keshet-laminated, velcroed, and hung up in the kitchen!)


Can you guys read it all?

Really, there is no rocket science here. Just put your freaking laundry in the hamper, PLEASE for Pete's sake! (Who is Pete and why is he in my blog post?)

This is week one. So far the little slaves kids are being surprisingly cooperative. But then again, kids like responsibility. And guidelines. And rules. And allowance. Which will most probably be awarded for completion of chores. Speaking of which-who here gives allowance? How much do you give?

I'll keep you all posted...

7th Times the Charm!

This summer was Dovi's SEVENTH year at Camp Simcha Special. It floors me that he's been going there for so long.

This year was a change from the past two years in that Dovi's beloved Raphi was not his counselor. Raphi had some school that he needed to take care of, so we had a new counselor!

Wednesday, July 28th, Dovi and I hopped a plane to New York.

bright and early...think he looks a little sleepy?

And no....we do NOT travel light!

We met my sister at LaGuardia, and the three of us headed off for the drive up to camp. Luckily it all went smoothly, unlike the time I got a $250 speeding ticket!

When we got to camp, this really nice guy came and met us at the car. He was helping us get Dovi's luggage out. I then told him that I needed to go find Dovi's new counselor Yakov. At which point he told us HE was Dovi's new counselor Yakov! I still think it was kinda funny.

Yakov and I spent a good three hours going over Dovi's stuff-and we when we were done he had that scared "deer in a headlights" look. I'm pleased to say that Yakov came through with shining colors.

Dovi has shared a cabin with the same few boys for the past few years...we always take pictures of the kids, but this year, the parents decided to take our own picture!

(yes, the sign behind us DOES say "FD Drools")

Dovi reunited with his buddies


showed off his cabin

smiled winningly for pictures

And got to know Yakov.


My sister and I then decided to stroll around camp-she'd never been there before and wanted to see everything. We went to one of the buildings and found this on the wall:

Look how little Dovi was!

If I get any pictures emailed to me (ahem!), I'll be happy to post about Dovi's 12 days at camp, which were filled with helicopter rides, concerts, workshops, and lots of pushing counselors in the pool

Good to know that Dovi is consistent.