6 Tips for Shopping on Amazon

Amazon has fast become the number one online stop for any product you could imagine, which means, if you’re new to using Amazon or have never shopped on Amazon before, it can be very overwhelming to even know where to start. Having enough choice is always helpful, but what to do when there is too much choice or too many products to comfortably narrow down?

Here are six tips to help you shop more easily on Amazon and always get your money’s worth.

1. Be Sure to Check Reviews

Reviews are extremely helpful for when you’re considering a product, or perhaps deciding between two very similar ones. It’s always worth a browse of the best (and worst) reviews to better understand a product you’re considering.

It’s important to take some reviews with a pinch of salt, however, and be sure to look out for any reviews that might look less than authentic. Reviews from verified customers, coupled with customer photographs, can be the best ones to look out for.

2. Consider Amazon Prime Membership if You’ll Be Ordering Regularly

The delivery options for products on Amazon vary for each one, and so does the price. You can still find free standard delivery on certain products, but there will be a lot of delivery charges, too.

If you’re going to be making a lot of purchases with Amazon, especially small and regular ones, then Prime membership may be a good option for you. It allows unlimited next day delivery for free, and the price of the monthly membership may be significantly less than what you would spend on delivery costs.

3. Use Discount Codes to Save Money

There are always great deals to be found on Amazon, so make sure to use any Amazon promo code to save money, as well as browse during sales and Prime events (if you're a member).

4. Choose Items Sold Directly from Amazon.com

Amazon will display a lot of third-party sellers, but to find the most dependable product, try to look at those which are listed as sold directly from Amazon. This is because Amazon’s product and selling process can be more reliable than that of third-party sellers, through items sold from them rather than from Amazon itself.

5. Take Advantage of the Many Filter Options

With so many products to choose from on Amazon, whatever you can do to narrow down your search will be a great help. Amazon has a very detailed list of filter options on the page, including item information, delivery information, location, price range, and more.

6. Look at the Product Questions and Answers

Some products will display a detailed list of questions and answers from buyers, which may display key information that isn’t included in the official product description.

You also have the option of asking a question yourself regarding a product, which other buyers may be able to answer for you before you commit to buying a product.

Using these tips, you should be able to browse more safely and confidently using Amazon.

WW: @mallofamerica in Minnesota {Linky}

I'm a bigger shopper than my boys, but not as big as my sisters or other girls I know.

We knew if we went to Minnesota that we'd have to go to Mall of America. It's an iconic place. We didn't want to make it an all day thing though. 

Parking:

They have FREE parking. The fast train links up to it.

We spent the morning at Fort Snelling, the afternoon at Mall of America, and the evening at Minneapolis Institute of Art. A worker at MIA said we're crazy, and hardcore. Let's just say that Isaak and Mica were DONE. I had a blister on my foot that indicated I was DONE. BUT I loved all the places. I don't think I would have changed things. Possibly do Fort Snelling a different morning. My husband likes to pack all our time as full as possible. It was handy having the fast train hook up.

Eating:

We had reservations to Rainforest Cafe. We rushed to go eat. Then, for some reason we looked at the brochure only to see the map thinking it was outside of the Mall of America. I was annoyed because the boys were set on eating there. In another way happy because online people said the service wasn't great, and it was expensive. The place we ended up going to had crappy service too. It took way too much time to get our food! I wanted to eat at a place we don't have in Omaha, Nebraska. Looking back I would have gone to their food court. Lots of choices there!

Cupons:

Online they do have a coupon book. If you're a shopper, that may be something to invest in. It's $10, and full of savings. We didn't get it.

Shopping:

I didn't want to freak the boys out by going into all the stores. I said, "Ok we're only going to go into stores that we don't have in Omaha." Even after saying that we skipped a lot of stores.

L.L. Bean - I know the catalog, but have never been in the store.

 

Paper Source - Kansas City has one, but it's not in Omaha. They have fun things in there.

Chapel Hats - I know they shouldn't have tired them on (lice), but dang they had fun. They look like Elton John, only younger. 

Crayola Store - The boys had fun with their computer that did a drawing of a photograph. 

Lego Store - We've been in them in other cities. Mica drooled over $300 and up sets that I'd never buy. I do have to say that The Stranger Things set looked pretty cool. Just not $200 cool. 

 

 

 

There were some other fun stores we went in. I have to say that I'm proud that I didn't buy a whole lot. There was a bee shop that had all things to do with bees, a shop that had fun socks, a shop that had cool shirts. I do wish we found some artsy local shops in Minnesota. I found that, that's what I was longing for. There is an art district, but we ran out of time to go there.

Favorite Store Front:

Rides:

Isaak's so like me. He said, "Mica we don't have to go on rides. Mom and Dad spent enough money on us." I always thought that way. Are we cheap, or practical?

Mica's like Travis. He said, "Don't be so cheap. We should get to do some rides, and pick out whatever Lego set we want. We are on vacation." My reply, "Ummm no!"

Log Ride:

Close Up - OMG Mica's face!

They weren't too excited about the swings, but after they went on different rides, this one was just the right amount of tickets.

Are you a shop till you drop kind of person?

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. I got no compensation, for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

Random Tid Bits

1. On Isaak's last day of school he came out hopping. His teacher was laughing and said, "If I could record this to look back at different times of the summer I'd be happy." I knew exactly what Isaak was doing. He's had this goal of standing on one leg longer than anyone else to beat out the person in the Guinness World Book of Records. Will it happen? No. He gives up after about 30 minutes every...single...time. 





2. We finally took my mom out for Mother's Day. Ya a little late, ya think? One sister was out of town, and my parents went out of town as well. I always feel like we should just celebrate early in the month. Then we get it knocked out before school ends. Everyone gets busy. We could just celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day and my birthday in one shot, but no one but me likes that idea. They all like celebrating Mother's Day and Father's Day separate because they deserve that time. Somehow my birthday gets skipped, but I don't care. I could sulk and say, I don't deserve that time? I'm the one that would like to lump them into one big meet-up.


3. I did get some use out of that 30% off Khols card. Travis got 4 or 5 shirts there. I made him try on a taco shark shirt just to get a good laugh. We all laughed, including the lady waiting for her son to try on shirts. 


4. We only had Isaak with us shopping. Travis and I were both thinking, This is going to be wonderful shopping with just one kid. Mica was busy volunteering at the library. Isaak was a talker! He never shut up, and was in one of those extra goofy moods! Then Isaak stool Travis' hat to wear backwards, and proceeded to talk in an annoying voice that sounded a bit like Sponge Bob Square Pants. So much for the joys of shopping with one kid. At least he's cute in the picture.





5. Back to shopping with my sisters...
   
   I had one stop I wanted to go on. Shhh....don't tell, but I like to shop on my own without them.
   
   Here's the deal:
   
   I bought 4 spools of thread for this art project I was working on. I had no idea what color of gold I needed. I didn't have the project with me, and I was across town. The thread was 50% off. Guess how much it was for all that thread? $25.25! My mouth dropped across the floor. I'm the girl that buys the cheap-o thread at the Dollar Store. Seriously! $25.25 for 4 spools of thread, which would have cost me over $50 had it not been on sale! I could get a whole kit that had just about every color of the rainbow + black + white + needles + a case for $15. I was beginning to think it was real gold, for that kind of money!
   
   I literally went home, picked out the thread, and sewed 2", and that's ALL I USED. It's the top of the mason jar - only the gold. Not the black shadow, or white highlight stitching.
   
   
   
   
   I wanted to return them all. I said, "I need to figure out how to get this to look like I never used it." My older sister, "That's not right. You used it!" Me, "I know, but barely. This crap is expensive!" Mind you her family has enough money to go on expensive trips. No ours! There you have it, she pulled the guilt trip on me. I know she was right. But...I barely used it, wouldn't use it again, and didn't want to spend that kind of crazy money on thread.
   
   I went to the fabric store on my own, and returned it all. No questions asked. So it was morally wrong, but dang it. I remember when I went to college a teacher said, "Buy a book, use it for the references, don't mess it up, and return it." This was prior to the internet to use images for references. There you have it folks, that was just as bad as what I did with less than 2" of thread. Have you ever returned something slightly used? I know everyone's worn a shirt, found out they didn't like it as much as they did when they were in the store, and returned it. 

Random Tid Bits

1. It's been rainy late at night and early in the morning for a few nights and mornings lately. I take these photos when I just hit a stop light that just turned red through my windshield, or while I'm getting gas.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   It tends to clear up quickly, for a sunny day. I was asthma free, since the spring. Now I'm feeling it again. I'm trying to stay on top of it with my daily inhaler that I wasn't taking when I didn't need it. No real attacks, just a heavy chest. 


2. We went out to eat last night. That's not something we do often. Travis said, "So the boys and I got new clothes, but you didn't get any." I said, "Well we have a choice...1) We could take the boys home, and leave them there. 2) We could take them with us, since we're 1/2 the way to Kohl's. We took them with us. They weren't bad, but giggly and talkative. Travis was getting so annoyed. I've been there. I was actually glad they were happy, and not complaining the whole time.


3. A sale's clerk and I really cracked up when Mica said, ""Dang woman! You look good." I thought, Maybe it's good I have these boys with me if he keeps talking like that! I tried on a bright pink shirt. Mica said, "Wow you look like a pretty, pink flamingo." The sale's clerk laughed again!


4. A thing came up in the news that said kids shouldn't have cell phones until they are 14 or 15. I voiced my opinion. I think it depends on the kid, and situation that kid is in. If a kid is dropped off by their parent everyday to school, and they have a landline then they don't need a cell phone. The bus system last year didn't do so well, Mica has to walk 4 blocks to the stop in a city, so I felt like it was needed. We found an app to track him. We also don't have a landline, so again it's important to have one. It's good for him to be able to look things up for school.
   
   Our kids have never had a game system, so they aren't glued to having screen time. We've taken Mica's charging station, and moved it to the kitchen. Then he isn't playing apps or texting his friend at night.
   
   On the news report - facebook thread there were some people that jumped in saying, "They shouldn't have a phone until they can pay the bill." I just think it depends on the situation your family is in. What are your thoughts?


5. I have a student in first year that has an A- in one of her classes (not mine), and she was panicking. She's going to have to get over that. That's part of the struggle here. They all come from high schools where they all got A's in their art classes. They all can't get A's. 

That Moment Where I Just About Lost My Mind

Travis: "Can you go get these few things at the grocery store for me to make dinner. Hurry up please."

Me: "Ok. Will do. Mica can you come with me?"

Mica: "Sure!" I was shocked that he wanted to come with me.

No kid of mine has ever loved going to the grocery store.

So we set out on adventure to go grocery shopping. I knew a few other things I wanted to get, so we got this, and got that.

I went to check out and said, "WOW! It's 5:30 and they only have 1 human check out lane open!" The line was super long! It was like that scene in The Christmas Story where Ralphie gets in line to see Santa, and a person says something like, "Why are you here? The line is back there!" and they point to what seems like forever away. 

I decided to brave it by going in the self check out lane. A staff member was standing there if I needed help.

Who knew that an eleven year old would get so excited to check out the groceries himself. Mica kept insisting that he check everything out. He couldn't find the bar codes, so I grabbed things to check them out myself. He was annoyed that I was grabbing things.

I was the opposite of Mica, I just about lost my mind when checking out my own groceries.

Everything was fine until I got to the produce. I was super frustrated. I didn't know all those codes. I didn't work there! I happen to get a lot of produce.

Frustration escalates for me when I'm hungry. By that time I was very hungry. We ate a brunch that day. No mid meal like I'm used to.

The store clerk up there was busy helping someone else. To top it off there was someone behind us that looked annoyed that we were taking so long. They too probably hated that they had to go in the self checkout lane.

I kept mumbling to myself, or maybe aloud, What store only has one human checkout lane at dinner time?

I don't even know if I checked out the produce properly. Thankfully there were only a few things. The rest: Bags of Carrots, Mushrooms, Celery, Potatoes and a Box of Spinach had bar codes on them.

Apparently a self check out lane can bring me from a good mood to a frustrated one in a flash. It's not just the act of doing it myself. I think, What has this world come to? There was once upon a time where stores carried everything out for you. I know that some stores still do, but there are less and less of them. They'd ask you as you came in, "Is there anything I can help you find?" They would great you in the check out lane with a pleasant, "Hello! Did you find everything ok?" If you didn't they'd send a store clerk out to go get whatever it is that you couldn't find. They'd open your box of eggs to make sure none were broken. If one was they'd have someone go get another box for you.

Side Note: Earlier that day we went to pick out a dress shirt for Mica. He's in between boys and men sizes. Travis wanted to get him measured. Guess what? There was no one around to help, or measure him. We ran around like chickens with our heads cut off looking for dress shirts. The men's were too big, the young men's section had no dress shirts. The boy's section had them, but all the other shirts like t-shirts and sweat shirts were too small for Mica. WTH?!

What is something that sets you off?

Family Fare Supermarkets Review Plus a $100 GC Giveaway!

Recently Family Fair bought out Bag N Saves and No Frills Supermarkets. I shopped at Bag N Save quite regularly, and have been patiently awaiting it's transition into Family Fair Supermarkets.

I'm so happy that they've remodeled. Everything looks so crisp, clean and modern.

Family Fare Locations:

• 5110 S. 108th Street Omaha NE 68137 
• 14444 W. Center Road Omaha NE 68144
• 2650 N. 90th Street Omaha NE 68134
• 3003 N. 108th Street Omaha NE 68164 
• 3026 S. 24th Street Omaha NE 68108 
• 1801 Valley View Dr. Council Bluffs IA 51503 
• 7402 N. 30th Street Omaha NE 68112 
• 1510 Harlan Dr. Bellevue NE 68005

Where Can I Find it?

It's took awhile to figure out where things were at, but as Mica pointed out they have a sign on their carts that list where everything is. How cool is that?

My favorite Part of the Store

My Favorite Sign +
They had a HUGE deal on meat!

Say, "Yes!" to Yes

I'm not all about store cards. Mainly because I have to carry yet another card in my purse. Not this time! Every store has a kiosk at the front of the store, or you can go online before you shop. You can just type in your phone number to check out Yes Reward Card deals. At the register they take care of you. I saved so much just by using the Yes Card!

10 for $10 Deal

4 for $3 Deal

I saved $28.28 with my Yes Card + I got a refund for the bags I brought in. My total bill was $132.70. Thankfully I had $100 in gift cards. I only spent $32.73. I can say, "Yes!" to all of that!

Shopping With Kids

Some of my most frustrating moments are shopping with my kids. They aren't even the type of kids that scream, or run far, far away. They just pick on one another, don't pay attention to where they are going, hop from one square to the other without touching the lines, and well you get the picture. I've learned some tips over time that I'm going to share with you.

Family Fare has little grocery carts. They are a bit too small for Mica, but Isaak loves them! He got our deal on grapes and more.

I put together a list of helpful things you can do to make your shopping experience a positive one with your children.

Shopping With Kids?

The kids weren't too bad. It was a big grocery run, I stopped for lots of pictures, and it was past their bedtime.

Check Out

They have a self checkout and regular check out. I always have so much produce that I prefer regular check out. Isaak loaded a lot of it up!

Many More Perks:

• They have fuel savings at my favorite gas station QT. 
• Some select locations have health clinics.
• They have a local selection of alcohol. When you purchase 4 or more bottles of wine you get 10% off.
• They have a pet section that looked wonderful. 
• Check out their stores for giveaways.
• Sign up for a YES Rewards card.
• There's many more perks!

Friday July 22, 2016 Daily Prize

• 2 $200 Living Well gift package 
• Cookies 
• BBQ Sauce Grill Wagon w/ Smithfield Meats (sampling/coupons) 
• 3003 N. 108th Street 11 am – 6:30 pm, outside in the parking lot Oscar Mayer Wienermobile (sampling/coupons) 
• 1801 Valley View Dr. 11 am – 2 pm, outside in the parking lot 
• 7402 N. 30th Street 3 pm – 6 pm, outside in the parking lot 

Saturday July 23, 2016 Daily Prize!

• $300 Private Label summer gift wagon Cookies BBQ Sauce Grill Wagon w/ Smithfield Meats (sampling/coupons) 
• 3003 N. 108th Street 11 am – 6:30 pm, outside in the parking lot Oscar Mayer Wienermobile (sampling/coupons) 
• 14444 W. Center Road 11 am – 2 pm, outside in parking lot 
• 5110 S. 108th Street 3 pm – 6 pm, outside in the parking lot

Giveaway Time! 

1 US reader have a chance of winning a $100 GC to Family Fare Supermarkets. You must be 18 or over to enter. End August 4th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Want More Chances to Enter?

Hostess at Heart - 2 $50 GCs Ends July 23
Kissing the Frog - $25 GC Ends July 25
The Gastronom - 1 $100 GC Ends July 29
Family Fun in Omaha - 4 $25 GCs Ends July 31
Midwest Mammas - 2 $50 GCs Ends July 31
Coolestmommy's Coolest Thoughts - 3 $25 GCs July 31
Mama Saves Money - 2 $50 GCs August 1
Liv, Laugh, Love - 4 $25 GCs Ends August 4

Disclaimer: I received this product for a discount in exchange for an honest review. The opinions on this blog are my own.

As Long as They are Good

My boys are getting better with shopping.

They no longer pretend the cart is The Polar Express. They used to yank the seat belt and say, "Stop the train! We're on ice!" Then make train sounds all throughout the store. At first that was cute. It didn't take long before that was annoying! Especially when they'd yank the belt, while I was trying to push. Strangers would walk by, and giggle at the boys.

They've generally been good with not having tempers in the store. If they ever wanted anything I would say, "Ok that does look like a nice toy. Let's put that on your birthday list." Then after their birthday it was a Christmas list. I would actually get paper out, and write it down. They seemed satisfied of the idea that someday they'd get that toy. Soon enough they'd forget about that toy anyhow.

There was a time where Mica was in general careless about where he went, and would run away. I had to watch him like a hawk. I was so worried he'd run into a little old lady, or a little old man. He would sometimes yell out, "You can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man!" I'd run over, and grab him in the football hold.

They would pick on each other in the stores sometimes. This summer that to got better.

I think over all compared to other kids, my kids are pretty well behaved. There's no crying, or yelling in the stores. Sometimes there was singing. That's better than crying, or yelling in my book.

For awhile I'd give the boys packaging for things we buy. I'd cut out just the title/label out of a box. They were their coupons. They'd have to look for those things. They liked to feel important.

It's nice when there's small carts for them to put things in. I absolutely hate the big gigantic car carts. My kids would see other kids ride them, and whine to me that they wanted to ride one to. I was firm with my, "NO!" They are hard to steer, look germy, and most of the time they have signs on them that tells you, you can't leave them outside. How's that going to work with kids? "Ok you stay here in the car, while I go take this monster of a car cart back in the store." I don't think so!

Yesterday when we were waiting in line the boys were trying to show me how to jump, and twist. Daddy thought it was crazy I was letting them twist jump. I was just happy they were happy. There was no body behind us. If there was, I would have told them to knock it off right away.

I think as a parent you have to choose your battles sometimes. Kids are going to be kids.

WW: Sit/Squat {Linky}

Mica sits, stands or squats like this:

He does it even in his chair. We're constantly saying, "Mica sit down on your butt!"

At every store we go to, Mica finds a book and sits/squats to read. One time he wouldn't follow me. He said, "Mom I have to read this." I just kept walking, and he kept reading. I hid. I could see him, but he couldn't see me. He sat/squatted there for 5 minutes with no care in the world that I was nowhere in sight. When he was done with his book, he went all over the store trying to find me. He was walking so fast I lost him, but soon found him again.

Want to enter some low giveaways? I have 2. One is to win 2 pillow protectors US and the other is to win a night cream that takes wrinkles and lines away. It's called Nerium US and Canada.

I'm Not a Girly Girl

I'm not a tom boy either. 

I get annoyed shopping with only girls. Looking at purses for 15 minutes drives me nuts. I'd rather be in a store like Lowes than kept prisoner at a girly clothing store for an hour. When we go in a clothing store I anticipate that someone going in there actually needs something, or I consider {in my mind} it to be a waist of time. I start to grab clothes to try on to refrain from getting bored out of my mind.

On the other side of the coin shopping with men drives me a little batty. Daddy doesn't want to LOOK at anything for more than 5 minutes. Even if it's something that is needed. Mica and Isaak tell me things fit just to shut me up; when actually that something doesn't fit at all. If there is a cart Mica wants to push it, but he pushes it like a drunk person drives. Then I take over, and he pouts the rest of the time.

I find myself in the middle of the boy shopper, girl shopper world. I don't mind shopping, but I like to keep moving. I browse at stuff online way more than shop at stores.

I make lists of what I need. Then I forget about them. I'll leave them in the car, or on the kitchen counter. Thankfully I'm pretty good about remembering what was on the list. I do veer from the list slightly; to buy things I like, or want, and not need.

What kind of shopper are you?

Are you the type that likes to browse, and take it all in?
Are you a list maker?
Do you impulse buy?
Do you buy only what you need? More of a survival shopper.

If I'm not a girly girl, and I'm not a tom boy either. What am I?

There should be a name for that girl {me} that's stuck in the middle.

I don't get my hair cut often. I don't dye my hair. I'm perfectly ok with grey taking it over. It's even, so we'll call that grey natural highlights. ;)

I wear make-up, but it's not caked on. It takes me 2 minutes to throw on some base, blush, lipstick and eyeshadow. The only time I wear eye liner, or mascara is for something really important. I find that mascara makes me sleepy. Mascara Seriously it weight my lids down. My eyes itch a lot because of allergies, so I don't want eye make-up on that's going to run. One person thought I never wore make-up at all. I didn't know if I should take that as a compliment, or be offended? 

It's been 8 years since I painted my nails. I painted them yesterday because the school I work out had a 20 year bash last night. I also wanted them painted for my Halloween costume for Mica and Isaak's school Fall Festival tonight.

Daddy thought I got a manicure. Nope! He should know better. I roll my eyes at the thought of paying to get something like that done. No offense to those that do. I have a few friends that pay for stuff like that. Once he looked closer he knew I painted them myself. Isaak took one look at them, and his eyes sparkled. He said, "Mom I want my nails to look like that!"

Sometimes Parenting isn't Fun

Isaak is doing what Mica used to do. He's being a total pill in stores. I talk to him about store behavior. That works for maybe a minute or two. He's not a bad kid really! Something in stores makes him want Mica's attention. In order to get that attention, he tries to get it in a negative way. Isaak wants to rough house with Mica right in the middle of the isle. He laughs and kicks him. That doesn't work for me of course. I keep telling myself, This to shall pass. Mica once acted out running from me in the stores, and laughed about it. Now he walks very nicely by my side. That is unless Isaak has him going. I tell ya this is when just having one kid is much easier.

I remember when Mica was younger/in this stage; he ran off once, laughing, and hiding behind end caps. Isaak was in the front part of the cart. I ran up, grabbed Mica in the football hold, kept caring him like that, while pushing the cart. Mica yelled out, "Don't spank me Mom!" We had a book called Just Shopping With Mom. In that book the boy gets warned to have good behavior; otherwise he would get a spanking.

Source

My times have changed! I think when Mica said that; all eyes were on me. I'm sure some people thought, "Way to go Mom!", while others were thinking, "Spanking is awful!" I'm not one to judge how others punish their kids. We just don't spank at our house. We've found that other ways to punish works for us. Even at a young age of 2 Mica used to sit in the time out chair and discuss the negative thing he did, and how he shouldn't do it.

When possible we try and match the punishment with the crime. We've taken Mica's bedroom door off its hinges a few times for slamming his door. When Isaak has written on things, he's had to remove his scribble.

Yesterday I was at my wits end with Isaak. He was not listening AT all. I think the boy had more time-outs than he had in a whole month. After our errands, Isaak was allowed to go potty, eat his lunch then he was in his room for a LONG time. I was going to let him out, but he kept yelling, "Mom this is your fault. You are mean to me!" To me he wasn't owning up to his mishaps, and needed more time to think.

Daddy came home and said he had a surprise for Isaak. He would only give him the surprise if he cleaned up his room.

What he didn't know was that the surprise was hard labor for a little guy. We weren't letting him off the hook.

Isaak had to move some mulch and take care of some branches.

I'm hoping the next shopping trip is better. Crossing my fingers.

WW: Mannequin {Linky}

I took Mica shopping with me. I turned around and this is what I saw:

He was hangin' with the mannequins.
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