Deal Seeking Mom

Preparing Your Home For The Holidays: Moving On To The Bathrooms

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Mandi of Life… Your Way and I have teamed up to bring you a special series over the next two weeks called Preparing Your Home for the Holidays.

In my quest for a saner and less hectic holiday season, I’ve now turned my attention on the bathrooms. Well, to be honest, I focused on our guest bathroom for this post as I only had enough time to finish that one to completion before leaving for Boston for an event, but it’s the most important one as far as guests go, and I’m planning to tackle the other two this weekend.

As you can see, our guest bathroom is quite small, without a lot of storage space. My biggest challenges in this space are:

  • This is a high traffic area for us that needs maintenance cleaning multiple times per week and some deep cleaning once per week.
  • The pedestal sink, though lovely, creates storage issues for necessities.

:: Keeping the Bathroom Clean

I quickly assessed the state of the bathroom using Mandi’s handy printable checklist, and right away I could see that there were some things I could toss out or find a new home. I trashed the Glade plugin that was completely used up, and found a new home for the wipes container that we no longer need on a regular basis (yay for being diaper free!!!) and also the toilet plunger which was just an eyesore and not often used.

Though relatively clean, there were some areas that I’ve been neglecting in this space. I pulled out my handy microfiber cloth once again to surface dust, and then again I used it damp to wipe down the baseboards, the grimey doorhandles, light switch covers, and the walls. I think I forgot to mention the other day how fantastic these are for cleaning walls! They really work well without stripping the paint like the Mr. Clean Erasers have a tendency to do.

I also noticed that my flower arrangement was extremely dusty. The microfiber cloth didn’t seem to do much as far as removing the deeper dust, so I pulled out my Dyson Handheld Vacuum (pricey, yes, but I literally use this several times a day) and used it to pull the dust off each individual flower. I was surprised to find that my arrangement looked almost brand new when I was done!

And then of course I cleaned the sink, making sure to wipe down the pedestal, the toilet, and the floor around the toilet — blech. You moms with young boys know what I’m talking about here.

:: Creative Bathroom Storage

As storage is at a premium in our guest bathroom, I’ve needed to get a little creative here.

I picked up this medicine chest at Target many years ago, and I love that it’s both attractive and decorative, while also being functional. The drawers on the front are perfect for storing feminine needs, as well as cleaning cloths and toilet scrubber tips.

And this is my creative toilet paper storage solution. I just stick it inside of a tissue holder on the back of the toilet. We don’t really use tissues in the bathroom, so this works perfectly for us.

Going forward I just need to stay on top of wiping everything down weekly, following Mandi’s maintenance tips. Oh, and reminder to self, I need to purchase some new hand towels because we’re down to only one, and that’s just not cutting it.

You can join us in Preparing Your Home For The Holidays over the next couple of weeks by using the handy printable checklists that Mandi has created for each room of the house! And of course we’d love to hear your tips and tricks for getting your home ready for the holiday season.

Weekly Coupon Insert Preview: 11/07/10

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Coupon Insert PreviewHere is a preview of the coupons in this week’s newspaper insert. They’ve all been added to the Deal Seeking Mom Coupon Database as well!

Submit regional coupons to the database for a chance to win a $25 Amazon GC!

Be sure to refer to the coupon insert schedule to see which inserts are included in each week’s paper!

Please note that there are regional differences in coupons, and your newspaper may not have all of the same coupons or same values as listed below.

However, if there’s a great coupon missing from your insert, you can always buy additional coupons from a coupon clipping service!

SmartSource (SS 11/07/10)

  • $1.50/1 Bic Multi-Purpose/Position Lighter, exp. 12-31
  • $2/1 Bissell Deep Cleaning Formula, exp. 12-11-10
  • $20 MIR Bissell ProHeat 2X, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/1 Burt’s Bees Body Lotion, exp. 1-30-11
  • $1/1 Burt’s Bees Gift Set or Non-Lip Item, exp. 1-30-11
  • $4/4 Butterball Whole Turkey, exp. 12-31-10
  • $0.25/4 Campbell’s Great for Cooking Soup, exp. 1-31
  • $0.30/1 Carmex Lip Balm, exp. 1-31-11
  • $0.55/1 Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balm, exp. 1-31-11
  • $0.55/1 Comstock or Wilderness Pie Filling, exp. 4-30-11
  • $0.50 off Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes, exp. 12-19
  • $0.75/1 Finish Powerball Tabs or Gel Pack, exp. 12-12-10
  • $1/1 Finish Quantum, exp. 12-12-10
  • $0.40/1 Fleischmann’s Yeast Strip or Jar, exp. 4-23-11
  • $0.50/1 French’s French Fried Onion, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/1 French’s Spicy Brown Mustard, exp. 2-28-11
  • $1.50/1 Gas-X Prevention Product, exp. 1-8-11
  • $1/1 Gas-X Product, exp. 1-8-11
  • $1/1 GE Reveal or Energy Smart or Halogen, exp. 12-31-10
  • B1G1 Select Glade Reed Diffuser, exp. 12-19-10
  • $1/2 Glade Jar Candles, exp. 12-4-10
  • $3/1 Select Glade Plugins Holder, exp. 12-19
  • $1 off Glade Plugins Scented Oil Refill, exp. 12-19-10
  • $1.50/2 Glade Premium Room Spray, exp. 12-4-10
  • $1/1 Glade Scented Oil Candles Holder, exp. 12-4-10
  • $1/2 Glade Scented Oil Candles Refill Pack, exp. 12-4-10
  • $1.50/2 Glade Sense & Spray Refill, exp. 12-19-10
  • $0.50/1 Godiva Chocolate Bar or Gems, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/2 Halls Drops, exp. 1-1-11
  • $0.55/1 Horizon Organic Eggnog, exp. 12-15-10
  • $0.55/2 Hormel Chili Product, exp. 1-3-11
  • $0.55/1 Hormel Pepperoni Pack, exp. 1-3-11
  • $0.55/1 International Delight, exp. 12-15-10
  • $0.40/1 Karo Syrup, exp. 4-30-11
  • $0.50 off Eggs wyb Keebler Pie Crusts, exp. 1-2-11
  • $0.30/1 Kingsford Corn Starch, exp. 6-30-11
  • $0.50 off Kleenex Facial Tissue, exp. 1-2-11
  • $0.55/1 Land O Lakes Half & Half, exp. 12-15-10
  • $1/1 MidNite or MidNitePM, exp. 5-31-11
  • $1.50/1 Pedialyte Product, exp. 1-31-11
  • $5/2 Pediasure Product, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1.50/2 Pledge Furniture Care Product, exp. 12-19-10
  • $1/2 POM Wonderful, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/2 Precious Ricotta or Mozzarella Cheese, exp. 2-7
  • $1.50/1 Resolve In-Wash Stain Remover, exp. 12-19-10
  • $2.50 off Resolve Stain Remover & Pre-Treat, exp. 12-19
  • $1/1 Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/2 Seneca Apple Sauce Product, exp. 12-31-10
  • $0.55/1 Silk Soy Milk, exp. 12-15-10
  • $1/2 SunMaid Raisins or Dried Fruit, exp. 1-31-11
  • $0.75/5 Swanson Broth Can, exp. 1-31-11
  • $0.75/2 Swanson Broth Carton, exp. 1-31-11
  • $0.40/1 Swanson Stock Carton, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/1 Tyson Anytizers, exp. 1-6-11
  • $1/1 Tyson Anytizers QuesaDippers, exp. 1-6-11
  • $2/1 Woolite All in One Tool, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/1 Woolite RugStick, exp. 12-31-10
  • $3/1 Zegerid OTC, exp. 12-4-10

RedPlum (RP 11/07/10)

  • $1/1 Carbona Touch Acting Oven Cleaner, exp. 2-5-11
  • $2/1 Cesar Treats, exp. 12-5-10
  • $1/2 Crisco Product, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/1 Del Monte Bowls, exp. 2-7-11
  • $1/3 Del Monte SuperFruit Cups, exp. 2-7
  • $2/2 Diamond Product, exp. 12-26-10
  • $0.50/1 Diamond Product, exp. 12-26-10
  • $1/1 Disney Vitamins, exp. 12-21-10
  • $1/2 Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk, exp. 1-31-11
  • $0.55/1 Endust Product, exp. 12-19-10
  • $2/1 Ester-C Powder, Tablet or Gummies, exp. 12-21-10
  • $1/1 Eucerin Hand or Body Product, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/1 Fixodent Adhesive, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/1 Fixodent Cleaner, exp. 12-31-10
  • $3/1 Flex-A-Min Tablets, exp. 12-21-10
  • $1/2 Folgers Gourmet Coffee or K-Cups, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/1 Folgers Product, exp. 12-4-10
  • $1/1 Garnier Cleaner or Moisturizer, exp. 2-15-11
  • $1/1 Select Garnier Fructis Products, exp. 12-15-10
  • $1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 12-15-10
  • $3/1 Garnier Herbashine Color Creme, exp. 12-15-11
  • $1/2 Goya Rice Mix, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/2 Hefty Waste Bags, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/2 Hungry Jack Instant Mashed Potatoes, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/1 Hungry Jack Pancake Mix AND Syrup, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/2 Hungry Jack Premium Hashbrowns, exp. 12-31-10
  • $2/1 Kaytee Regional Blend or Wild Bird Food, exp. 12-19
  • $1.50/1 Kibbles’n Bits Brand Dry Dog Food, exp. 12-26-10
  • $2/1 Select Mach3, Sensor3 or Custom Plus3, exp. 12-31
  • $3/1 Select Mach3, Sensor3 or Custom Plus3, exp. 12-31
  • $1 off Manischewitz Broth Carton or Cans, exp. 12-31-10
  • $3/1 Maybelline New York Foundation, exp. 12-15-10
  • $1/1 Select Maybelline New York Products, exp. 12-15-10
  • $1/2 Murray Sugar Free Cookies, exp. 1-2-11
  • $1/1 Nature’s Bounty Vitamins, exp. 12-21-10
  • $1/1 Nature’s Bounty Your Life Multi, exp. 12-21-10
  • $4/1 Osteo Bi-Flex Product, exp. 12-21-10
  • $1/1 Osteo Bi-Flex Liquid Joint Aid, exp. 12-21-10
  • $1/1 Pedigree Dentastix Treats for Dogs, exp. 1-2-11
  • $1/2 Pillsbury Cookie Mix, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/2 Pillsbury Frosting or Brownie Mix, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/2 Pillsbury Quick Bread Mix, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/1 Premio Sausage, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1 off Renuzit Adjustable Single/Multipack, exp. 12-20
  • $1/1 Renuzit Crystal Elements, exp. 12-20-10
  • $2/1 Scope Mouthwash, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/2 Smucker’s Jams, Jellies or Preserves, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1 off Smucker’s Topping + Jif Peanut Butter, exp. 12-31
  • $2/1 Splenda Granulated w/ Fiber Product, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/1 Splenda Product, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/1 Stayfree Product, exp. 1-31-11
  • $1/1 Sun Crystals All-Natural Sweetener, exp. 12-31-10
  • $1/1 Sundown & Marvel Vitamins, exp. 12-21-10
  • $1/2 The Goodlife Recipe Treats for Cats, exp. 1-2-11
  • $1/1 Tylenol Cold Liquid Product, exp. 2-28-11
  • $1/1 Tylenol Extra Strength Product, exp. 2-28-11
  • $1/1 Tylenol PM Product, exp. 2-28-11

Which coupons are you most excited about? Do you see any that will make fantastic deals when combined with upcoming store deals?

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