Friday, September 13, 2013

Wherein I tell you where to spend your money (7qt)

(1) 
Before we start, I'd like to ask y'all take a moment and raise your seventh cup of coffee with me in celebration of the first full week of school ending without anyone crying about school work.

Tears welling up doesn't count.

And we even managed to get to church at 8:30 this morning to hospitalitate for our first round of Friday co-op classes, where I succeeded to only minimally embarrass myself and my children by employing my uber-cool "raise the roof" hand gesture on multiple occasions.

 (2)
Hey, wanna see what I'm wearing?  You totally do because Imma compare everyone's two favorite NewUsed websites and, like, this post needs a photo and junk.

Here goes:


I am totes obsessed with this shirt.  It's probably not that impressive in that incredible photo up there but I don't care.  In person it is adorable and comfy and forgiving and soft.  It came from Twice and sealed my preference for that site.  ThredUp is cheaper and has kids clothes, so that's good.  But Twice has, from what I can tell so far, better clothes and a better website with more information and more photos.  The moral is that both are good, but given the option I like Twice better for grown-wimmin stuff but have to shop ThredUp for kid goodies. 

 (3) 
Since we're comparing things, I'll tell you that we recently had a water softener installed and oh my gosh, the difference in our clothes, hair, food, appliances...all the things is incredible.  If you're currently lost in the Culligan vs. Kinetico vortex (probably super common, right?), Kinetico is the much better deal.

(I'm not getting paid for this, swearsies.  It's just the most exciting thing going on in my brain right now...)

-uses no electricity
-doesn't have gauges that need to be re-set
-you can rent them and the rent goes toward your purchase price after a year
-the rent is less than for a Culligan softener anyway

It was really no contest once we actually took the time to get the dudes out here and it has been FABULOUS.

 (4) 
Hmmmm, what else can I advise you on?  OH!  How about Amazon Prime vs. Netflix???

Dude.

The other day Sheena from Bean in Love  told me that I should try Amazon Prime and I was all "Gosh that seems like a lot of money to spend...." and then she was all "Not in addition to Netflix you goob (I'm paraphrasing here), INSTEAD of Netflix.  It's cheaper per month AND you get free 2 day shipping on your orders!"

Somebody revoke my budget lady card because why had I never actually done the math before?  Derp.

So we've canelled Netflix ($95.88 per year) and signed up for Prime ($79 per year).  Unlimited streaming of shows and movies PLUS free 2 day shipping on all our orders.  Hot diggity dog!

 (5)
Welp, I'm out of things to tell you to spend your money on.  I'm sure you're super sad.

Hey, I have an enormous zucchini and I want to make zucchini bread- do you have a recipe you like?

(6)
Hey, I should pick the winner of the MOPS membership giveaway!  Ready?


The winner of the MOPS annual membership is.....*****Lacey Vejar*****

I'll try and scrounge up an email address for you, but if you see this before you hear from me, drop me a note at dwija at houseunseen dot com .

(7)
Why do we all run out of steam at the end of these?  Man.  It's like 7 blog posts in one, that's why.

How about a picture of Mary?

7 quick takes sm1 7 Quick Takes about isolation, Chardonnaydo, and the creepiness of Furbies (vol. 232)
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46 comments :

  1. The thing with Amazon Prime vs Netflix for us is that we have an Apple TV, and so we can stream Netflix on to our TVs but can only watch Amazon Prime stuff on a computer (very inconvenient). So yeah. But glad you're enjoying it!

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    Replies
    1. Um, I didn't put in any links in my above comment... is that something Blogger does automatically now? Weird.

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    2. Oh man! Bummer. We have a....standard? TV and we can stream Prime to it. Well we could if we hooked it up. That's another story, though :)

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    3. And about the links, I don't know. I can't keep up with technology. #wherearemydentures

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    4. Totally missed this whole thread. Boo, can't switch if I can't facebook AND watch tv at the same time. Sick, I know.

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    5. We have amazon prime and it's kind of lacking when it comes to some of the shows. We run it through a roku and a DVD player. But when we can afford it, we have both Netflix and amazon prime. The amazon prime isn't as user friendly, either. IMO.

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  2. What devices can you watch Prime on the tv with? I have Netflix and super love it, but we use appletv for it so not sure we could switch. 2 day shipping sounds awesome though.

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  3. Amazon still thinks my husband is a student (well, he was until about a month and a half ago), so we get Prime for free. :) Prime AND Netflix for us! If we had to choose ... I really don't know which we'd go with.

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  4. we use our PS3 to stream Netflix, Hulu ( when we had a subscription) and Amazon Prime on it tv. check the Amazon website, they will have s list of devices.

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  5. we use our PS3 to stream Netflix, Hulu ( when we had a subscription) and Amazon Prime on it tv. check the Amazon website, they will have s list of devices.

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  6. You can play Amazon on most new digital TVs. We route it to our slightly older flatscreen through our Wii. My daughter plays old shows (Andy Griffin, Gilligan's Island) from Amazon on her iPod.

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  7. Re#2: Yup; have come to that very notion myself! Nice shirt!!

    Having just gotten rid of Blockbuster (I know old school) we are doing that exact deliberation regarding movies/tv shows.

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  8. RE: Amazon Prime. I did that math too, but ended up going back to Netflix after a year because the overall selections are better on Netflix. I appreciate what I get on Amazon Prime, and I keep it for the 2 day shipping (which is totally worth it for us, since we don't drive much to big box stores), and the odd series that shows up on amazon first (Downton Abbey, season 3, I'm lookin' at you!). (Plus amazon has Mr. Rogers on prime, totally worth it!) I'm thinking someone needs to merge the two into one awesome streaming service so we don't have to choose between a good viewer (amazon) and a great one (netflix).

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    1. You know, I always forget that people watch grown up shows :). When I saw that prime had blues clues AND downtown, my research was over!

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  9. Well, I hope you want chocolate zucchini bread (might be more like cake), because that's the way I roll. http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/chocolate-chocolate-chip-zucchini-cake/

    I've made this twice, then tried a different recipe and it was awful, so just trust me and just make this one.

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    Replies
    1. Actual link in linky format, for the lazy: chocolate zucchini yumminess

      Good thing I taught myself html at age 13, right?

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  10. Does amazon prime have breaking bad?

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  11. Amazon Instant Video is where most of my favorite shows are right now: Downton, From Larkford to Candlerise, and Shaun the Sheep!

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    Replies
    1. Downton is the only thing I watch, so all my requirements have been met :)

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  12. Another idea for that zucchini...squash can be an awesome sub for apples in a crisp.

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  13. Best zucchini bread recipe: http://ablogwithfood.wordpress.com because chocolate, DUH.

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  14. We have Amazon Prime and use a Roku device to stream it. Honestly, I'm disappointed and almost never use it. There is a view charge for like everything! Sometimes I get so excited because, oh, I found a movie on demand I actually like! and then it's all like: give me $5.00. Especially frustrating are the TV shows that charge like $3 per episode. Um, no. So hope I'm not raining on your parade. Or maybe I'm just not doing it right, who know.

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  15. We got Amazon Prime for the free shipping and was only just recently reminded about the streaming capability. Lucia liked Peep, so we've been doing that, but I have a goal to watch 20 old movies (made before 1960) before I turn 30 and they have a bunch, so I'm mostly happy so far. I also got to watch Captain America for free so that was a plus.

    I might have teared up a little bit when I saw that I didn't win the MOPS giveaway. Thanks for hosting though, Dwija!

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  16. We have Amazon Prime and Netflix. Netflix definitely has a way better selection...which is why we have it. Prime is awesome for the free 2 day shipping but with the exception of a few shows (like Downton) I'm not too pleased with the selection.

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  17. That little Mary is just so darn scrumptious!!!
    Ree Du
    (aka Marie Siobhan Gallagher between you and me, hon!)

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  18. I make these Chocolate Zucchini cupcakes/muffins, my husband does not know he's eating zucchini.
    3/4 lb shredded zuchini
    1 box devils food cake mix -we use a GF or natural version.
    3 eggs
    1/2 cup oil
    chocolate chips (enough for your liking, I find it masks, any zucchini chunks that might end up in the mix)
    Mix all ingredients, then add chocolate chips.

    350 degrees 25 min

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  19. So are you able to watch Amazon prime on your TV or do you only watch it on your computer? I cannot get it to work through my Blueray player so it doesn't seem to be worth it!

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  20. Yippee skippee!!! Thanks for the mention! And so glad you made the switch! So funny because we just ordered razors for the very first time on eBay thanks to you!!! :)

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  21. We're in love with Amazon Prime. We do their Subscribe and Save program for all of our diapers, wipes, toilet paper, lotion, and random other things that we use on a regular basis. The first two might be under the "Amazon Mom" program, actually, which (I think) gives you a bigger discount than Subscribe and Save. Also, when I joined Amazon Mom (free to join!), they gave you a year of Amazon Prime for free. And not only did they do that, but because I already had an Amazon Prime membership, they extended it for another year, for free. (They weren't like, "Too bad, you already have a membership. You miss out on that bonus.") I've no idea whether they still offer that to new members, but it's worth checking out!

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  22. We have both Prime and Netflix. Prime for the shipping whilst in Korea (free priority mail, so it took about a week or less) and Netflix for watching all the things. But now we are back and Netflix is really bumming me out with their lack-of-good-showness. I must spend more time investigating Prime shows. Must!

    And you already know that I heart Twice and Mary. But not in that order.

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  23. I am a lover of all things Amazon. They have amazing customer service and were ridiculously accommodating to us when we were stationed with the military in a remote part of South Asia. HOWEVER, we let Prime lapse when we got back to the states and didn't need the shipping because we felt like all the shows we wanted to watch (with the exception of Downton)cost EXTRA above what we were already paying for Prime. So, Netflix for us. (But I still do really love Amazon!)

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  24. I am so glad that tears welling up don't count. Yes! We are doing well at school, then.

    I've had Prime for so long, and my UPS man knows us so very well now....if I forget it at Costco or can't go because everyone is sick or whatever, I can click it and get it. love it.

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  25. I can't believe you just figured out about Amazon Prime! So sorry - I would have told you sooner! I love it - especially when I'm ordering school stuff and DEFINITELY at Christmas time. Present for a cousin? Order and ship. Present for a friend? Order and ship. Forgot a present for someone 3 days before Christmas? Order and ship. Love, love, love. We have the added benefit of having a Roku device, which streams everything that you would get on the computer right onto our TV through the wireless. Magic. Even has an Amazon channel, which you load with your Prime membership info and you can live stream right onto the TV. Again, magic.

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  26. We have Prime and Netflix. We mostly use Prime for the free shipping and Kindle lending feature. I'd like it a lot more if it was more user friendly though for the movies and T.V. shows.

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  27. I feel like such an idiot at the moment. I have Amazon Prime (mainly on account of a free trial that I forgot to cancel) and I literally had NO IDEA, that you could stream movies and tv shows through it. I only ever use it for the free Kindle rentals. I think I found my new entertainment for the next few months until this Prime membership cancels itself.

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  28. We live in southern Mich and I'd love to know the monthly rental for Kinetico (without having to have a salesman come to our house ~ I hate dealing with sales pressure). We're paying $24 a month for rental of a Culligan softener. Is it possible renting a Kinetico could be less than that? I await your response with baited breath!

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    1. Yes, me too! We live in WI, our water needs a softener BAD. I didn't even think to research "other" water companies... but I am at a stall because NO ONE will put any dollar amounts on their websites. I'd rather not have people come to my house unless I know these things up front.

      ~Beth

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    2. Okay! Hope this will be helpful. I only have quotes for the twin tank softeners because we have a lot of people and use a lot of water- it's the best way for us to make sure we never run out of softened water. I believe it's more expensive than a single tank. Also, our water hardness level is 22 and our iron level is 1.8, in case that helps. Here were the two quotes we got:

      Culligan twin tank:
      $35 per month rent
      $150 installation fee
      rent does NOT go toward purchase of the unit

      Kinetico twin tank:
      $29 per month rent
      $0 installation fee
      11 months of rent goes toward purchase of the unit after the first 12 months.

      Hope this helps :)

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  29. hands down, this is my favorite zucchini bread:
    http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2007/07/summer-of-the-bats/

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  30. I am an Amazon Prime fanatic. Forever and ever amen. It's the best.

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  31. We currently have cable...I do free Hulu and my husband is trying to make a business case that it is a requirment that he knows the details of some drama that is only available on NetFlix...

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  32. I'm trying to convince Mike to do Prime over Flix...help.

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  33. I never knew that Amazon Prime was more than shipping... I'm using a free trial right now... two months late but oh well

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  34. I never knew that Amazon Prime was more than shipping... I'm using a free trial right now... two months late but oh well

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