What I’ve Been Up To

On my Google Reader I subscribe to many of the "Deal Alert" and money saving blog sites. They are useful to a certain extent. Sometimes, by the time I get around to reading a certain post, the deal is no longer available either because of limited supply or expiration date. Another problem I have with the sites is the regional limitations. I am constantly marking all "as read" because the posts are not relevant for stores in my area.

This is where Twitter comes in. While Twitter hasn't replaced blogging (yet), it has replaced the necessity of subscribing to so many blogs. By following the Bloggers themselves on Twitter, I am alerted to deals when they break. If it looks like a deal that is worthwhile, I can click on the URL that often accompanies the Tweet.

Works great…but it can be better. What I need is a "network." I have no desire to start my own deal blog, but I want to somehow alert others about deals in my area. For example, Fresh & Easy recently had their grill packs marked down to $2.50. This is a great deal for 4 lbs 11 oz of chicken, sausages, and hamburger patties. I found out about it by a phone call from my mom. Of course, I didn't want to keep this info to myself. I wanted to enlighten others in my town with this knowledge. To do this I could either a) call everyone, thus intruding upon their lives or b) direct message each of them on Twitter, which ended up doing, thus taking up more of my own time than necessary. I could have just updated my Twitter status, but that would have also updated Facebook and not all my friends in the world of Twitter really care about coupons and grill packs.

The answer to this is GroupTweet. Instead of sending out individual direct messages, anyone in the "group" can send out a direct message to the "group" name and it will send out a Tweet to the whole group. (If that is clear as mud, just click on the link above.)

I have been working on this for a while now, and I think I have a pretty good grasp on how it all works. So… if you live in Hemet or San Jacinto (or are just curious to see how this all plays out) come check out the group's Twitter page: Hemet Valley Savers. You do not have to follow each individual in the group to see the updates. You just have to follow Hemet Valley Savers and the group has to follow you.

My goal is to not be the only one alerting everyone to great deals. Hopefully, others will share their deals, tips, strategies, and extra coupons (hint, hint!) I have been thankful for my friends that have helped so far and I am eager to have them share their shopping tips with others.

Ice Cream Cutie

Believe it or not, she ate this whole thing by herself!

Into the Wilderness

My husband is very concerned about the health and well being of his family. In order to ensure our fitness and also to create some family togetherness time, he took us all out to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. By the end of this "quality" time. I am sure he had a lot more sympathy for Moses.


This is toward the end of our journey. Right after we saw the coyote. This encouraged the kids to walk faster. No one wanted to be at the end of the line; just in case the coyote was especially hungry.

This is actually at the beginning of the hike. Notice the happy faces.

Yes, Jericho is carrying a purple backpack (with Tinkerbell on it!) No, Ransom is not practicing to be a rapper. I think he just likes to look like his Uncle Jonathan.

Hero and her tiny frog. This was one of the redeeming qualities of our trek.

Jericho's Graduation

Here are the photos from Jericho's Kindergarten graduation. Jericho had quite a big speaking part, but he managed to memorize the whole thing. We are so proud of our big boy!

In the cap & gown.

Saying his part.

Getting his dipoloma

His cool squirt gun from Grandpa & Grandma. He was able to use it on the last day of school. They had a "Water Day."

Jericho's First Lost Tooth

Jericho pulled out his first tooth...then he lost it. Actually, to be more accurate, we lost it. I put it in a baggie then set it on the mantle supposedly out of harm's way. Well, the time came to place it under the pillow. I reached up to get it to no avail. The tooth was gone! Our theory is that the baggy was thought to be trash and since Monday is garbage day, well...needless to say, Jericho was heartbroken. Thankfully, he found some cash under his pillow the next day that cheered him up.