Easy Errands: Time is Money!

I had to blog about this. The Groupon is for Easy Errands, a new errand-running service in town:

• $29 for three errands (a $59.97 value)
• $55 for six errands (a $119.94 value)

The professional errand runners at Easy Errands can control time—that is, by cutting the excess from any to-do list, they restore time to their clients' calendars. Like genies, professional helpers are at their customers' commands, replacing their car oil with fresh brew, stocking their fridge with groceries, and urging them not to wish for more wishes. Staff members need only 45 minutes' notice before arriving to their clients' aid, though a full day ensures on-time service.

After coming off a weekend during which much of my and my husband's free time was consumed by running errands... dropping off dry cleaning, grocery shopping, buying birthday gifts, new shoes for the kids, washing the car, etc... This deal is so tempting. I mean think about it, gas is still over $4/gallon... so  getting someone else to do it might make financial sense. Trekking across town to Toys R Us, then Costco, then the Meat Market gobbles up those gallons. Then I started daydreaming about what I could do with all that extra me time, if my "to do" list was passed on to someone else. Give myself that mani/pedi I've been ignoring. Try a new recipe from Pinterest. Work on tanning my pasty pale legs before shorts season rolls around.

Obviously the concept is not new... in fact somebody told me about a Bay Area-based company called Rent-A-Spouse!

Welcome to RENT-A-SPOUSE, where you will find a variety of services designed to fulfill your needs. Especially with today's fast moving lifestyle, where a week feels like it was only a day gone by.
Do you find yourself not having enough time to clean your home, let alone time to do a deep spring-cleaning? Or, do you find yourself not having the extra time to complete a home project of some sort?

It's hilarious. Their services are divided into categories with names like the "Handy Husband":
The Handy Husband will gladly nail things back together, assemble basic items such as (bookshelves, armoire & etc.), paint fences, decks, interior walls, install items & hang paintings.
Your Spouse will focus on all your odds & ends for you.

and the "Loving Wife":
Will clean & shine all your bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen & other lived-in areas from top to bottom. Including dusting, polishing, all furniture & items, as well as making all bedding.
Adding complete attention to cleaning the corner ceilings & walls, appliances, surface areas (stove, microwave, & more) adding decor & presentation throughout your home.


HAHAHA my unmarried friends will be devastated to find out that while I consider myself a loving wife, I neither clean the corner ceilings nor dust the furniture. But I do tackle the "assembly-required" projects and am pretty handy with a drill. And my husband is not as handy as one might imagine. The gate on our fence remains difficult to open and the hanging of paintings is done by yours truly. Yet he is stellar at scrubbing toilets and showers and doing the dishes. Sure, in movies and in fairy tales, the roles are clearly defined. But at our house and many others... the chores fall more along skills and strengths than gender lines. Now if I could just find someone to put away the laundry. Neither one of us likes to do that.

Hey Mom, are you worth six figures? I think so.

Every year... for the last 12 years, salary.com has released its Mom Worth survey. And every year I chuckle at the thought of getting paid for being a wife/mother and all the chores and responsibilities that accompany that role. Cook, housecleaner, driver, laundry service, CEO. Thankless, endless, and pay less!

So can you blame moms for fantasizing, even for a second, that their hard work is worth something?

Setting aside the debate of stay-at-home versus working moms, what if those late nights cradling a feverish child counted as overtime? The yogurt eaten with one hand while driving your kid to soccer practice counted as a missed meal break? Bedtime stories meant your day care teacher salary kicked in? And best of all, you got a raise with every new child as well as credit for years of experience?

Go ahead. Calculate your own mom salary with their calculator. I couldn't resist. Especially since you can actually print out a check to show your family at the end! You can customize the number of children you have, the number of hours you spend doing specific tasks. Then the calculator does the rest of the work, figuring out your hourly wage for each of those tasks. My annual mom paycheck came out to a grand total of $46,590! That's on top of what I make in my "day job" as a news anchor at ABC30. Suddenly I feel like my contribution to the household carries more weight. Wouldn't any mom get a kick out of being presented with a check like this simply as a thank you, acknowledging just how much work she really does? She feels valued and appreciated. Even if it's monopoly money. Which, by the way, is a pain to clean up.


Granted, I can't deny the intangible, non-monetary rewards of parenthood. Just before bedtime, my daughter told me she loved me more than anyone else in our family and our whole world, and starting tearing up at the thought of what would happen if I died. (She's an emotionally complicated child LOL) My fridge is covered in "artwork" expressing her affection for me. And this morning, my son was all smiles as he crept into my bedroom and asked to snuggle with me until it was "time to wake up." As I laid there smelling his baby shampoo in his hair, and feeling his cold little feet tucked under me, I thought... maybe I am willing to keep working as a mom for free.

Shopping Around for Your Carrier

Do you love your phone but hate your service where you live or work? Are you thinking of switching but not sure which one's the best for you? There's a new app for the iPhone (and coming soon to Android) called Carrier Compare app that can help.

I just downloaded the free version (the ad-free version costs $1.99) and it works pretty simply. The home screen says "Touch to Compare." And after a few seconds, the analysis appears:

CNN Money explains why this app is such a novel, great tool for consumers:

"iPhone carriers Verizon, AT&T and Sprint have successfully kept that information out of the public's view -- until now.

Carriers rigorously test their networks and their rivals' networks, hiring third-party surveyors to perform comparisons. However, those surveys are almost always performed under non-disclosure agreements.

Each carrier provides its own coverage map to customers, and some even offer a street-level view. (Here are the maps for Sprint, Verizon and AT&T.)

But that still doesn't give users the kind of precise detail that CarrierCompare provides -- and the carriers certainly don't offer up direct, pinpoint comparisons against the competition."

Here are a few other free, consumer-friendly apps that TVNewsMom recommends to help you shop around, save money, and budget... all through your iPhone.


1. Mint.com brings all your financial accounts together online or on your mobile device,
automatically categorizes your transactions, lets you set budgets and helps you achieve your savings goals.


2. The Find is featured in all the major business and consumer publications as the must-have app when comparison shopping on the web, or at the mall. Scan barcodes. Find the best price. Search for deals. Save money. Create a shopping list. The perfect on-the-go shopping companion.


3. Gas Buddy finds the cheapest gas on the go for free.
It relies on its community of users to report and update gas prices. You can locate gas stations near you and see their current gas prices.



4. Coupon Sherpa provides hundreds of in-store coupons for many merchants right on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Save money on clothing, shoes, restaurants, electronics, travel, jewelry, sporting goods, books and more. I make sure to check this app right before I get to the cash register while I'm in the checkout line.


5. Kayak is the most popular travel app for a
reason. The app includes flight and car search, hotel search and booking, and Flight Tracker and My Trips, so you can easily manage your itinerary.

Just Between Friends

It's that time of year again! The Just Between Friends Fresno sale is upon us. I've blogged about this consignment sale before... but this year, it's bigger than ever... moved from the Manchester Center to the Fresno Fairgrounds for the first time. This not only means more room to shop, but more merchandise to choose from! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

For those of you who've never done JBF, the concept is simple. Kids outgrow their clothes, shoes, toys, etc. faster than our wallets can keep up. So twice a year, consignors sell their new or gently used items to try to recoup some of that money for 50-90% off retail prices. It's a win-win. I've been both a consignor and a shopper at JBF, and I'm a believer. At the last Fall 2011 sale, I made $500 back on baby items, including my kids' crib mattress, exersaucer, and clothes. And in turn, I scored new with tags Gymboree outfits and shoes for my 5 and 2-year-old. Here are the details of this week's Fresno sale:

Fresno Just Between Friends Sale
Fresno Fair Ground Junior Exhibits Building
April 12th-14th
Wed. April 11th Pre Sale Day (pass required)
Thurs April 12th Opening Day! Hours 10am-7pm
Friday April 13th Hours 10am-7pm
Saturday April 14th Final Day 50% off Hours 10am-4pm (Most items go 50% off)

Here are a few tips I got from Seamlessly Savvy fellow blogger/shopper/consignor Nicole Scholl if you're hitting the sale:

1) Make a list. Bring a list of things each kid needs, their sizes, etc. All the items are sorted by category and the clothes are hung by size but it's easy to get overwhelmed by the racks and racks of stuff. Lot's of times you can find brand new clothes with tags, even toys unopened in the box.

2) Wear comfortable shoes, pack a snack and water. You cannot do JBF in 30 minutes! I've spent hours just walking around, looking at all the stuff.

3) Bring something on wheels. This is important!! An empty stroller, wagon, or rolling cart. Because you will end up with more stuff than you can carry. Guaranteed.

4) Shop often. The last day everything is 50% off. I always try to hit the pre sale for the best selection. But also, return on the last day to get the steals.

See you there! For more information on the Fresno sale contact Kim Colburn: kcolburn@jbfsale.com
And to see if there is a JBF sale in your area: go to the Just Between Friends website event finder.

Staycation for Spring Break

We really wanted to go to Hawaii for Spring Break. Apparently so did a lot of other people because airfare was through the roof. Add that to the hotel and food costs and we were looking at a $5,000 trip. Gas prices are ridiculous too. $70 bucks to fill up a 20-gallon tank is pretty painful. Two pairs of shoes every time! So we opted for a staycation instead of a vacation.

I took the week off work, and then I started to panic... what am I going to do to keep them occupied and entertained? I wracked my brain for things to do in town with the kiddos, who are 5 and 2. I commiserated with other moms, many of who are stay-at-home and thus experts at keeping little ones from getting bored... on a budget. And here are a few ideas we came up with.


Picnic-Indoors or Out
For some reason, kids love picnics. My kids beg me to go, no matter the weather. There have been many a winter day when we spread a blanket right on the living room floor and nibbled on Girl Scout cookies and tiny sandwiches. There's something about eating away from the dining table that makes it special and fun and my kids can't get enough. We've also had "Beach parties" in the living room as well... with umbrellas and beach towels and slushy drinks. The sky's the limit!
But yesterday, the weather cooperated, a gorgeous 68 degrees, and we packed a picnic (pb&j, fruit and string cheese for the kids... wine, brie and bread for the moms) and headed to the park. It was a win-win... the little buggers ate their meals without their typical complaining and they played to the point of exhaustion.


Grown Up Fun
What little princess doesn't love to get pampered. My daughter can't wait to grow up and that means doing what mommy does. So we got dressed up and going to an adorable local tea house, Victoria Rose Cottage in Clovis. She drank with her pinky up and had croissants and scones. Obviously this is also something we can do at home as well. Now that she's old enough I'll even go ahead and bust out the fine china -- it hardly gets used anyways, right? Another fun at-home activity she's been asking for, is to have a mommy-daughter spa day. One of her favorite books is Ooh La La It's Beauty Day. In it, Nancy treats her mom to a mani, pedi, mask, etc. I don't know if I'll let her paint my nails... but she loves when I do hers.


Gardening
Nothing like digging in the dirt to provide hours of fun. This is the perfect time of year to plant a garden, and gives kids a sense of accomplishment and something to look forward to.
Help children pick a place that's all theirs. Keep it kid-sized so they don't get overwhelmed. Let the gardeners-in-training mark their plot with a low decorative border they can paint themselves. Kids have small hands -- give them tools they'll be able to use. Having their very own trowels, rakes, shovels, gloves, watering cans (the Dollar Tree has cute ones) adds to the fun. Kids won't get discouraged with proven winners like bright and pretty zinnias, marigolds and poppies.


Climb, jump, swim
We have an awesome local climbing gym called Metalmark. We have a trampoline arena called SkyWalk. I believe The Little Gym, Swim America and TumbleAmerica have kids camps or free play sessions. What's great about these places is, many of them set aside times for certain age groups. That way, my toddler isn't trying to hold his own among 12-year-olds.

Reading Challenge
We totally underutilize our local public library. My kindergarten-aged daughter has just discovered the joy of reading and can't get enough of her favorite books. Our bedtime stories now consist of her reading to me. We've created a reading challenge for her over spring break, so if she reads a certain number of books, she'll earn a prize. So a trip to the library becomes something she looks forward to. No brain drain... instead of being parked in front of a TV, she's practicing her reading skills.

Animal Safari
Fresno is lucky to have the Chaffee Zoo... but even if you don't you can go on an animal safari. Come up with a list of animals you might find at your local lake, zoo, or park, and make your kids into explorers, armed with cameras. A regular walk becomes an adventure and the kids can put together a photo journal.

Backyard Campout
Equipped with their imaginations and only a few inexpensive supplies, your kids (and perhaps a friend or two) can go on an adventure. Small tents are inexpensive (many under $50). A couple of flashlights, some comic books, board games, and snacks will make your little ones giggle and feel ever so cool as they sleep under the stars! You can even cheat and use your grill or gas burners to make smores.

Suprise Jar of Fun
With your children, come up with a variety of low-cost activities that they want to do. Everyone, ideally, should agree that the choices are plausible and fun! Let each child, and adults, if you wish, take turns choosing a random slip. Some ideas you can include are kite flying, pizza-making, a visit to the science museum, etc.

How to Afford to Eat Organic for $100/week

Have you ever said, "I wish I could eat organic, but I can't afford to." ? I know I have. But honestly... working in my business... reading stories about pink slime and pesticides... I've really started to re-think my priorities. Yes, organic is more expensive, but what's more valuable than the health of my family? If I spent less elsewhere, I'd have plenty of money leftover for organic. So I'm making small changes at a time. I started with the milk, because I've still got to little ones, 5 and 2, who need to drink it. And my next foray into organic is produce, especially ones where we consume the skin (like apples) or ones that grow in or close to the ground (like carrots and potatoes).

I love the fact that here in Fresno we have many more options to buy organic than just Whole Foods (which some friends jokingly refer to as "Whole Paycheck"). Don't get me wrong, Whole Foods is a beautiful and lovely shopping experience, but for someone who cringes at paying $8 for a carton of strawberries, ringing up at the cash register can come as a bit of sticker shock.

Luckily, we have countless Farmers' Markets around town... many which include organic farmers (make sure to ask). We have Costco and Trader Joe's, which many of you are already fans of, and I recently discovered Kristina's Natural Ranch Market on Barstow Avenue in Northeast Fresno. Every Saturday from 7am-Noon they also serve as host to the first and ONLY completely Certified Organic Farmer's Market in the area which highlights many of our local farms, and food providers. My friend Tara at the raw food vegan restaurant Revive Cafe in downtown Fresno also runs Whole Farms. You can subscribe to the fruit/veggie CSA Club and they have a variety of price points ranging from $25 to $80 per month! They also teach you how to use your produce in different recipes, so you're not stuck with a bunch of kale or cauliflower going to waste in your fridge.

I also ran across this on another mommy blogger's page, When Pigs Fly. The author, Jennifer, has some good and practical tips on how she eats organic on a grocery budget of $100/week. Read on...

Here are 10 things I do to feed our family organic foods on a $100 weekly budget:

1. Make a menu prior to shopping. Plan meals that will include meat every other day, versus having it in every single dish.

2. Only buy what you need for the week. For example, if I am stuck buying a whole five-pound bag of organic potatoes, because they don’t sell them loose, then I try to plan another meal that will use the remainder of the bag.

3. Don’t make recipes that require excess or specialty ingredients. Many specialty ingredients can be substituted for something else you already have on hand. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

4. Substitute any dinner leftovers as lunch during the week.

5. Stay away from specialty stores! Although they have a great selection of unique items, you typically pay more in your overall bill. For instance, I get my organic meat cheapest at Costco, but since they don’t carry a large selection of organic produce, I shop for those items at a local grocery store. I recommend visiting a few different stores and browsing their organic selection. Take note of their prices to get a feel for which store might save you the most money.

6. Use coupons! Although they are harder to come by, there are organic-based coupons available online. Take time to email your favorite companies too, for the opportunity to receive coupons by mail.

7. Learn what is important in organic form, and what you can still buy in conventional form. The key is to stay away from as many preservatives, fake sugars, additives, and chemicals as possible. The fewer the ingredients, the better for you.

8. Get your apron ready! I make a lot of our snacks from scratch. In doing so, most of the food budget can go towards organic produce, meat, and dairy. This is much cheaper than buying the organic prepackaged snacks that are often priced as high as $5 per box! To save time, I double the recipe of whatever it is I am making, and freeze the second batch for later.

9. Know your limitations. As I am shopping, I actually jot the price of my items down, next to the item name on my shopping list. Before heading to check out, I do a quick add up of my groceries. If I have gone over budget, then we put some of the “non-necessary” items back.

10. Keep it simple. I learned that not every meal has to have a meat, side dish, vegetable, and bread. I try to keep it simple, yet healthy, often producing one-dish meals.

How to Print Instagram Photos

OK. I'm obsessed. With Instagram, that is. For those of you who have a smartphone iPhone or Android... and aren't on it, shame on you! Even if you are not a photographer, this free app allows you to take amazing, breathtaking, professional-looking photos. It's opened a whole new world to me, as I document the beauty and precious moments around me. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and there's no place where this is truer than Instagram. I've "met" IG users around the world, who offer me a glimpse of life in places I can only dream of going. If you're already on there, find me and follow me under @tvnewsmom.


I've been thinking about what to get for my son's 3rd birthday. And I realized over the past year, I've been snapping countless photos of him and his sister and posting them to IG... occasionally to Facebook and Twitter... but hadn't printed anything out. Of course this is common among us 21st century snap-happy smartphone users... where our memories are stores digitally. But I just see it as allowing us to pick and choose the best... instead of having to waste time and money on printing a whole roll of film just for one frameable print. These are a few of my favorites, but I had no idea where to start when it came to putting these on paper or canvas. I'd love to create a wall of these... alongside his baby pictures (which sadly, are the last time I really had anything of him printed and framed).


I stumbled upon a great guide... so that's why I am sharing this article originally published in Geek Sugar by Kelly Schwarze. So print away!

Instagram is the easy way of creating dreamy iPhone photos in a flash. The filters work their magic so well that nearly every picture comes out looking like a keepsake. Making those memories permanent can be just as easy with these tools for turning Instagram photos into a lasting work of art.

1. PostalPix — Use this iPhone app to print four-inch squares from your Instagram library for only 30 cents each. Fast shipping, matte finish, professional quality resolution, and the convenience of mobile shopping make this our first stop for Instagram prints. They even sell just-right square 4-inch wooden frames.
2. CanvasPop — Those filtered photos are worthy of an at-home gallery. Create a high-resolution 12-inch square or 20-inch square stretched canvas print for the temporary price of $30 and $60, respectively. Buy multiple canvases for an artful wall vignette.
3. Printstagram — The company offers multiple ways to print Instagram photos, but the 20-by-40-inch posters will make the most stunning addition to a living room wall. Between 50-400 photos are arranged in a clean grid on thick, archival paper for $25.
4. Blurb — Haven't looked at a photo album in a while? Blurb brings back what now seems like an antiquated way of sharing photos with a modern, Instagram twist. Softcover books with 20 pages of Instagram photos runs $11 and a hardcover is $22. Christmas present, perhaps?
5. Postagram — A fun way to show people you're thinking of them, Postagram mails a postcard with popout Instagram photo and message to friends for 99 cents each. A thoughtful alternative to a birthday e-card!

Three more ways to print Instagram beauties after the break.

6. Instagoodies — Print books of one-inch stickers of your favorite Instagram photos. Attach stickers to the computer monitor, phone case, or wallet for a quick flash of happiness.
7. Boo Box — For photos worthy of the mantlepiece go for the Boo Box, which places four-inch Instagram photos in bamboo shadowbox frames beginning at $20.
8. Stickygram — Take a cue from your mom and turn your refrigerator into bragging grounds for your works of art. For $15, Stickygram makes a set of nine photo magnets from your favorite images.
9. TeenyTile — As the name implies, TeenyTile crafts two-inch tiles from your Instagram pics for sticking on your fridge (thanks to the included adhesive magnet), or whatever you choose to create with them. Each tile is priced at $4.
10. Artflakes — Images get sticky with this company that takes your regular ol' Instagram pics and whips them into vinyl four-inch stickers. Buy them up in packs of 10 ($21), 25 ($42), or 50 ($63)
11. Casetagram — Create a custom iPhone 4/4S case with this company that prints your Instagram on a slim-fitting shell. You can customize how your pics are arranged, then Casetagram prints them on a white or transparent case for just $35.

With so many resources to print Instagram photos, you could easily decorate an entire house with iPhone memories. How do you share your mobile phone photos?