So Close

Discount Barbie

I am the quintessential Discount Queen.  I absolutely LOVE getting a discount / bargain. Even if I don't need the item, I will buy it if it is on sale / on special offer. I have a cupboard full of 'buy one get one free' stuff. I dream about sales like other people dream about sex.  

Almost as good as finding a 50% off deal on an item you really wanted, is sharing the news about special deals with my friends (or even strangers). And so I am v v excited to tell you about my BILs new venture - Extreme Coupon.  I've heard that coupons are a big thing in the States, but not so much here in SA, which makes this even more exciting.  

In a nutshell, what my BIL has done is go to various online outlets and negotiate discounts with them.  They issue him with a list of coupons (discount vouchers) which he makes available to the public. At no cost to the public.  So if you want to shop at Zando or 5Rooms or Kalahari or Wantitall or lots of other online retailers then you first go to his site http://www.extremecoupon.co.za/, get a coupon/discount voucher and then click over from his site to the online retailer.  When you purchase from the online retailer you enter in the coupon code and voila - you get the discount. No extra effort on your part, no extra cost either.  

When he first told me about it I was like "what's the catch?"  And he said "there is no catch". I told him that is impossible because it sounds as if you are getting something for nothing and he said exactly. He gets commission from the online retailer, the online retailer gets more business and the consumer gets a discount. WIN-WIN-WIN!!!!

So, go do yourself a favour and visit his website http://www.extremecoupon.co.za/ (or like his Facebook page to get regular updates about special offers / discounts https://www.facebook.com/extremecoupon) and score yourself a little bargain.  

It's a pleasure

(Oh wait, I just remembered something that is even BETTER than finding something you really wanted unexpectedly on sale. It is buying something you really want and finding out at the till that it is actually on sale!!!  A surprise bargain!)

 

A Perfect Day

I had one of those perfect days on Saturday. A day that reminded me of how lucky I am.

The day started with a cricket tournament in which Adam played at the school. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Blue blue skies, no wind. Not yet too boiling hot. Marko brought Adam early and I came a little later with Max and Kate. My parents came for a while to watch Adam play cricket. I volunteered at the cooldrink stand.

I was reminded how lucky I am to be a parent. To have a healthy child who is able to play sport, at a wonderful school that I am fortunate enough to afford.  That I am fortunate enough to have siblings for my children.  That my parents are healthy and live close by. 

After the cricket my BFF came around to my house to watch the rugby with my husband and drink champagne with me.  While my BFF and husband watched the rugby, I sat outside sipping my champagne and laughing at all the children in the pool.  The kids had an awesome time, playing pool rugby and jumping in the pool.

It made me realize how lucky I am to live in a beautiful house, in a beautiful estate, in a beautiful city, in a beautiful country. And that I have a home that all the children want to come to.  I absolutely LOVE having a house full of children, even if they make me run ragged with all the requests for juice, ice creams and chips. 

It made me realize how lucky I am to have a partner who I am quite fond of. To have a best friend who I admire enormously. And not only because she is always willing to drink champagne with me on a lazy, warm Saturday afternoon. And that my husband and my best friend get on so well.  It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy that my friend and her daughter feel so at home in my home. Which could or could not have something to do with the aforementioned champagne.

Saturday was a perfect day. I was reminded of how incredibly lucky I am to have what I have. 

It's not easy being Kate

Kate is not fond of boys. At all.  Boys are annoying and stupid and gross.  (Long may this last!)  Even boys who are related to her are not exempt from her distaste. Her father (who she refers to as "your husband" when she is moaning about him) annoys her and she has told me in the past that my biggest mistake was having more than one child (The one child being her. Obviously.)

Last night there was near hysteria because 'Booger Boy' aka 'Nekkid Baby' aka Max climbed on Kate's bed naked. HIS NAKED BUTT TOUCHED HER DUVET!!!  She said she is Never.Touching.That.Duvet.Again. I tried to appease her by saying that his butt was clean as I had just washed it but she was having none of it. I eventually had to swap her duvet with Adam's. (He didn't mind, he is a kind boy)

You would think that such acts of generosity from her twin brother would warm her to him but apparently not.  She drew this broken heart on my white board later on while I was on a Skype call to my MIL.

She added the addendum (the drawings below the broken heart) after a few minutes because I wouldn't let her interrupt my conversation so she could explain why Adam made her sade.  I think that is me sitting down at my computer and that is her crying, holding something. I think an iPad. 

It is not easy being Kate. Her life is VERY HARD. 

PS here is Booger Boy in Kate's room a while ago when she wasn't there. Luckily he had underpants on. We won't tell though.