Whatever Works

Save every time you shop with Groupon Coupons

If you've been following along for a while, you know that my blog is mostly about feelings.  I'm a feelings person.  Everything I do has some sort of feeling attached.  I try my best to make most of those feelings good ones.  And I don't particularly like writing about things I don't like.  When I get the opportunity to work with a brand, I will NOT write about it if I don't like it regardless of compensation.  If you see it on here, you can be sure it's because I like the product. In this case, this is a sponsored post, but I look at it as a bonus for writing about a product I truly adore. 

With that in mind, I'm glad to be posting once again about Groupon.  

Back in November of 2015, I had the pleasure of introducing Groupon Coupons to you here on my blog.  Since then I'm happy to report they are still going strong and still saving me plenty of money both online and off. 

A quick story for you...

My son recently got a hand-me-down drum set from a friend.  He took to it pretty quickly and loves banging out tunes for us, which made us want to fix up the set for him.  Our quest lead us to Guitar Center to find out how much the replacement parts would cost.  While there, we found that buying a new-to-us (AKA: used) set would be more cost effective, so we did.  

Now the only thing our little Josh Dun/Neil Peart wannabe wants to do is drum and visit Guitar Center.  I love watching his eyes light up when he sees the newest arrivals on the sales floor.  It gives me great ideas for gifts.  I like to take pics with my phone for reference so I can come home and sneakily purchase that new set of sticks or the cowbell he was eyeing up at the store.  But before I purchase anything, I check Groupon first!  Right now, Guitar Center has over 50 coupons listed - most for online purchases, but with some In Store printables.  

Look for yourself: https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/guitarcenter.com 

Of course Guitar Center isn't the only store Groupon has coupons for.  There are over 11,700 stores using Groupon's services with over 79,700 FREE coupons.  

Oh, did I mention using Groupon is also FREE?

So next time (and every time after that) you want to buy ANYthing, check Groupon first. You may be surprised at the savings you can get by simply taking one tiny extra step. 

 Some more examples of Groupon Coupon deals: 

• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/homedepot.com
• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/nordstrom.com
• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/ebay.com
• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/hertz.com
• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/neimanmarcus.com
• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/amazon.com
• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/finishline.com
• https://www.groupon.com/coupons/stores/macys.com

 Check their site for even more! 

...of my whole life

Sometimes I hear young people say so-and-so was the best whatever of my whole life.  I've said it, too.  When I was younger, I didn't realize that life hadn't even started yet.  Even now, I know that telling younger people that life really doesn't start until you are well into your 20s or 30s sounds ridiculous.  Unbelievable.  Absolute garbage.  But it's true, and I wish that there was a way I could tell every young person.  But young people don't find stats as cool as I do.  They don't want to listen to an old happy person talk about the pleasure of watching their small children do homework at the kitchen table or how fulfilling it is to grow an avocado tree from a seed.  They need info quick and now and to their liking.  I often wonder if there is a way to get the point across without sounding like an old codger stumbling over "when I was your age..."

I worry.

I think kids are the same as we were when we were kids, but with different surroundings.  They know so much more about so many different things than we did.  They have access to anything they want to know within milliseconds of typing in a word.  They don't even have to finish typing that word and the world responds with information.  It's that fast.  Processing all that information can sometimes be scary and intimidating.  Their brains can sometimes be overloaded with information about things they know exist, but haven't actually participated in themselves, giving them false senses of experience. They think they are worldly.  But they are just kids.

 I try my best to step back into my own kids' shoes and remember what it was like when everything I did was the best thing of my whole life.  I remember that that statement was actually true at the time.  When I was 12 I entered a cooking contest and thought winning 2nd place was the best thing in my whole life.  Then in high school when the guy I liked called me, that was the best thing in my whole life.  

Then I think about now and how I still have the ability to say that about experiences.  What does that mean?  It means that when I was young, those experiences that were the best ones of my whole life have gotten even better.  Now I can cook for my family.  Now I am married to the man of my dreams.  These are the best things of my whole life.  

The point is, the best things keep getting better and better with age.  They don't stop once you say it once.  You can continue to have the best every single day and that best will always be better than the one before.  It's important for kids to know that.  

Bad days happen, but so do good days.  So do the BEST days.

Open letter of thanks to Kelly Joseph and Laura Dun

Where to start...

I obviously don't know either of you personally.  I hope I don't overstep at all with this post.  I have just been feeling this overwhelming urge to write it.

 

This has always been one of my favorites by @bridge.art_

A post shared by Cindy Dudas (@wthbonbon) on Feb 16, 2017 at 1:06pm PST

We share a bond as moms.  Whether we know each other or not, we still know the same love and yearning for our respective children's health, happiness, and success. We may be at different stages of their lives as parents, but I am certain the feelings remain regardless of their ages or ours. I just want to point out something that you probably already know and don't need to hear from a stranger, but regardless... here it is... your sons are wonderful.  They have changed my daughter's life with their music.  

I want - no, NEED to thank you for that.

I know all parents think their kids are rock stars.  In your case, that's obviously 100% accurate. While mine aren't in the global spotlight, they are still rock stars within our own realm.  My son is still very young and is thriving in 3rd grade.  My daughter just started middle school.  Her report card just came home with straight As for the second marking period in a row in her accelerated academic program. She kills it on the basketball court and is becoming such a great artist, it amazes me.

Pure. Rock. Star.

But there are plenty of times when she doesn't think so.  Like a lot of teenagers, she can not see what I see on more than a few occasions.  She can not feel the happiness I feel.  She does not think she should.  I know this because I had the same feelings when I was her age.  Maybe you did, too?  I don't know.

 

A post shared by Art🎨 (@bridge.art_) on Aug 24, 2016 at 6:07am PDT

I'm not going to pretend to know what your sons were like before their fame or even before their desire to make music took over.  But from the lyrics I've heard and the hearts they display so boldly on their sleeves (well, arm in Josh's case considering I don't think I've really seen him with many sleeves) I can tell they are true to their Few/Proud/Emotional stance.  I can tell they have been through some thoughts that may not have been easy for you to take comfort in as their moms.    

I just want to thank you for being there.  For raising these boys (and of course all your other children as well) to be kind and share their gifts with the world.  I truly believe they were put here for the purpose of hope. 

When my daughter started listening, like really listening to twenty one pilots, I secretly started listening too.  I wanted to know what could possibly be taking up so much of her time?  Why was she suddenly immersed in red and black clothes and drawing little skeletons and aliens?  So I listened.  And I got it. 

I love how every song not only acknowledges pain, but then takes it further to explain that it's ok.  It's ok to feel the way we feel sometimes.  Sadness isn't the end.  Sadness can be overcome.  I love that every song gives that hope to my daughter.  By making it all so upbeat and light, it just makes it all seem much more acceptable.  Not as scary.  

There are so many times when I just don't know.  I don't know if "I'm fine, Mom" is accurate.  I am grateful that she has your sons' music to turn to when she doesn't know either.  

 So thanks.  For being their moms.  For supporting them so they can support so many. 

 

 

A post shared by Cindy Dudas (@wthbonbon) on Jan 21, 2017 at 12:20pm PST

The Hip Hop Kids are here! Book review and giveaway

My son is going into kindergarten this year.  He has been in preschool for two years where he has learned quite a lot about the alphabet and is now starting to string letters together to form words.  We can sit and read together for about 10 minutes at a clip.  He gets very happy when he figures out that certain letters in a row spell certain words.  

But then the ten minutes are up and he gets bored.

I am always looking for new books to help keep his attention while teaching him how to read at the same time.  And to be honest, there are only so many books about Skylanders I can take, myself.

Thankfully, I was introduced to a new series call The Hip Hop Kids which incorporates many different skills like rhyming, alphabet knowledge, counting and shape & color recognition.  I was given the first book in the series Rhyming Words with Milo the MC to review with my son.  

Guess who loved it... yep, we both did.

Growing up, I had my fair share of Pumas with fat laces and must have watched Breakin' and Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo about a million times each.  This little book brought me back to those days when we would go outside with our oversized "boom boxes" and act like we knew how to bust out a coffee grinder or head spin on some cardboard in the side yard.  Of COURSE we didn't know what the heck we were doing, but it didn't matter.  It was fun ...and so was reading this book with my son.

This first book introduces us to Milo the MC who raps his way through the book to teach readers about rhyming words.  He also introduces the rest of the Hip Hop Kids consisting of Daisy the DJ, Greg the Graffiti Artist and Brenda the Breaker.  Each subsequent book in the series will feature each character and a different learning skill.  My son is looking forward to reading them all!

The writers of the series and founders of The Hip Hop Kids Chris Bivona and Gustavo Angel want YOU to experience the fun, too!  They have offered me 3 copies of Rhyming Words with Milo the MC to giveaway here on my blog.  All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  3 winners will be chosen when the contest ends on 8/28/13.  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck to you!

Disclosure: I was given a copy of Rhyming Word with Milo the MC free of charge.  No other compensation was given to me.  All opinions are my own.

National Bullying Prevention Month: Little Punk People prove it can't rain all the time

October is Bullying Prevention Month.  Coincidentally, my friends at Little Punk People recently made a promotional video for their awesome company, but the underlying theme is about bullying.  Check it out.

 

 

Little Punk People is made up of husband and wife Justin & Daniela Fullam.  They have this really great son Elliott who is featured in the video.  Daniela and Justin are both tremendous artists with a knack for making even the most macabre subjects seem less frightening - more "normal".  

I love this video for a lot of different reasons.  Not only does it have a good message, it utilizes Little Punk People's style and uses characters and visuals I can relate to.  I personally like things that are out of the ordinary.  Things that are just slightly off kilter from the every day.  This video could be a dream I once had.  It's so similar to my thoughts.  

I also have always been a firm believer that outside appearances mean close to nothing.  Nothing.  I know nothing of fashion.  I couldn't tell you if a pair of jeans were Lees or Lucky Brands.  I buy clothes stictly because I have to and only wear things that make ME happy.  Sometimes, I'm sure I get funny looks because I don't necessarily match...or my blue nail polish is cracked up...or my hair might not be styled just right.  But ya know what?  It doesn't bother me.  I come home to my family who loves me for who I am.

This video is a testament to loving families everywhere- no matter what type of family you have.  The real world can be frightening when people treat you unkindly.  But if there is a place to come home to with loving parents who know you, it can't be bad all the time.  Your family can give you power to overcome any bully out there.

The whole point is, love one another.  There will be people out there that will try to do your children harm for no reason at all.    It's heartbreaking.  While we can all work on trying to fix that, we need to have a respite for our kids in the meantime.  Support your children.  Give them solace when their worlds turn upside down.  

To remind you of this, Little Punk People has given me a couple of their fansatical shirts to give away.  The two shirts they sent over are of the Boo Crew - which is a depiction of Elliott and his friends.  Please enter to win, but also check out Little Punk People  online.  Their artwork is truly amazing and beautiful.  Some is for kids, some is for adults, but it's all for fun.  

Here are the shirts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway Best of luck!  I hope you win. 

Big Grandma's piano

Going to my grandma's house was always a big ordeal to my sister and me when we were growing up.  She didn't live close by.  It would take up an entire day that could have been better spent wearing our play clothes, getting dirty and smiling.  We had to be proper at Grandma's.  We had to be ladies.  We ate cream of pumpkin soup and roasted lamb with mint jelly.  We used the correct fork and didn't put our elbows on the table.  We did NOT ask for seconds during dessert.  We did NOT ask to be excused until everyone was finished eating. 

We wore our Sunday best to Grandma's because we thought she expected it.  We treated those visits as pure torture.  Don't get me wrong, looking back at those days I can see our error.  But we were kids...we didn't want to sit in the parlor drinking tea.  We wanted to be outside exploring the possibility of fairy houses and mud pie eating contests.

The one thing that kept the visits bearable was a beautiful baby grand piano that my grandfather bought as a gift to Grandma before my dad was born.  We would sit there on the bench pretending to know what we were doing.  I'd hit two low keys back and forth imagining Cinderella running down the castle steps as the clock struck midnight.  We'd  look through the piano books and find 'On Top of Spaghetti' and sing at the top of our lungs.  We'd open the piano bench and find tuning forks and pitch pipes and more books with foreign musical languages in them.

Once we found a book that had the song 'Yesterday' by the Beatles in it.  Immediately, we were drawn to it; wondering why our proper grandma had a book with a song by a rock band in it.  It was mesmerizing. 

When my sister and I became adults, my grandmother aged along with us.  My grandfather had passed away long before and she had lived alone for most of my life.   But as time went on, it was becoming apparent that moving in with my parents would be a good idea.  We all wondered how it would be, considering we always were so proper during visits with Grandma.  She would see how we (gasp!) really live. 

It was undoubtedly uncomfortable for a little while.  Not just for us, but for my grandma, too.  She was so used to having such privacy at all times.  At my parents' house, she was constantly in the company of another person.  At the time, my sister's first child was toddling around doing normal kid stuff.  We tried to get her to understand that Grandma was her great grandma, but that quickly translated to my niece calling her Big Grandma.  When Grandma seemed OK with it, that was the first time I realized how wrong I was about her my whole life.  She started watching Spongebob Squarepants with my niece and nephew.  She said "yeah" instead of "yes".  She wore pants.

She had always been an enigma to me up until she lived with my parents.  I was always afraid to be myself around her.  I honestly don't know why.  When I would visit her at my parent's house, we had the most wonderful talks about marriage and God and the world... she loved me so much more than I ever understood as a child.  We just didn't know how to communicate it well when we were both younger.  As we both moved on to different parts of our lives, she became more like me and I became more like her.  She let go of a lot of mannerisms that she held onto, and I snatched them up to keep for myself.  Yin and yang, I suppose.

My grandma passed away 5 years ago and I miss her every day.  The things she taught me have stuck.  When my kids slop around their dinner plates with their napkins on the floor, I think of Big Grandma.  I explain to the kids how to properly cut their steak and where to put the knife when they're done. 

And I play her piano that now sits in my front room.  She gave it to me at one of my biggest turning points in life.  My husband had just asked me to marry him, and we had bought a house - far away from my family.  I was scared and nervous, even though I didn't mention it.  That piano soothed me then, as it does now.  I'm not a piano player.  I took lessons as a child, but never became good at it.  I just like to sit there and play the three songs I know...re-thinking all the time I spent at Grandma's house.  Wishing it all back again.