A matter of perspective.

"Thank God for dirty dishes; They have a tale to tell.

While others may go hungry, We're eating very well.
With home, health, and happiness, I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence, God's been very good to us.

This poem keeps running through my head. I loathe the mess that awaits me each evening, after I put the kids in bed. If only I could snap my fingers like Mary Poppins and everything would put itself away. Tonight, however, I remembered this cute little poem and reminded myself that some of the worst things (like a messy house) are actually blessings in disquise. A messy house is a very small price to pay for these little people I love so much."

I read this on a friend's blog and decided to share it with you, I hope she doesn't mind. I find myself reminding myself every night this same concept with my own little personalized twist to it. When my girls want me to lay down with them for 45 minutes in bed while they fall asleep and I just REALLY don't want to because 45 minutes is precious to me and well I lay with them almost EVERY night. I have to tell myself "This does NOT last forever. This IS what is important RIGHT NOW." Usually that gets my mommy butt in gear and I stop whatever it is I am doing. Head straight upstairs and into a squashed twin bed with my 5 and 2 year old girls. And my dishes, books, the computer, and sometimes my husband awaits till hopefully later if I manage to stay awake longer than my children. Some sacrifices are actually blessings in disguise. And like my friend says "A messy house (or personal time alone) is a very small price to pay for these little people I love so much."

This is trivial...

Do any of you have fake nails? My hubby really wants me to do them again, and I am seriously considering it. I used to keep them done (well before kids), and I loved them, but it was a lot to keep up. Anyone have a comment?

Hope everyone is enjoying the upcoming holiday season!

Behavior

Hi, I just wanted to share this idea I got from Flipflops and Applesauce. Specifically this post. I used it with Avery and it seems to have work very well. It gave her an direct visual of what was her punishment, also what and when she would receive her privilege back.

See my lovely version. Not as pretty when it comes to the artistic aspects but either way it does the job effectively.

First week of work...

Well, I finished my first week of work...a full 40 hrs. There were a couple of rough times, but overall, it went well. Tye and Kenadie are adjusting, and I am enjoying being back out with adults. Kenadie wants to go to the "mall" every day, and Tye is always saying, "Mommy works at Yankee Candle." One morning Tye had a meltdown and I had to bribe him by telling him I would take them to McDonald's for dinner...it worked. I am using the crock pot a lot, and I am making large dinners to split and make freezer meals, so we don't have to go out. So far, so good. I am off today and tomorrow, then I work Tues thru Sat and by Sat I will be done with my training and I will get my keys back!!! Thanks for the support!

Last day before work...

Well, I go back to working outside the home tomorrow. This should be interesting. Today went alright, but I kept getting aggrivated because I spent hours cleaning on Friday, and my kids take minutes to destroy it again. Ugh. We went to church this morning, I am proud of myself for that since Michael isn't here. Now he doesn't have an excuse when I am working on Sundays to not take the kids to church!
The kids are at grandma's tonight, so that will help in the morning. I am able to sit back and relax a little tonight before the "big" day tomorrow! I will let you all know how it goes!

A Glimpse...

Well, Michael is gone for 5 days, so I am getting a glimpse of what it would be like to be a single mom. It is pretty dang hard...and I am only on Day 1! Starting work on Monday will be the real test. Today was crazy. It started bright and early with a garage sale at 7am. That ended up being a flop...but it was our 3rd one in a fairly short amount of time. After that, we had a bday party to go to. When we got home, we stayed there for a bit, then went to McDonald's because the house was clean and I didn't want it messed up.
Kenadie bit a kid while we were there, then had a massive meltdown. That was tough. I finally had to gather everything up and we had to leave. Poor Tye had found a friend and they were playing so well together, I hated to pull him away, but there was no way in hell I was letting Kenadie stay there acting like that. She was completely out of control. I threw away her drink and her toy on the way out, and that made her even more mad. So, we got home around 6, I bathed them, and put Kenadie to bed! I had had enough of that.
Tye and I hung out the rest of the evening and watched Polar Express. Kenadie woke up around 8, so I let them have some hot chocolate together, now they are in Tye's room watching a new fish light. I am about to have to separate them. It's sad, because Tye has already apologized on his own for throwing a couple of fits this evening, and I was really trying to be nice...but I am afraid now I have to be the bad guy again.
It is tough doing it on my own. I feel for all the single moms and all those that are alone in the evenings while their hubby is away.

Wish me luck...

Remember my post about going back to work? Well, I decided to go for it. I am working as 1st Assistant Manager at Yankee Candle. When I left the first time, I was store mgr, so this will be a bit of a change, but I think it will be good. I am not sure how much time I will have, but I would like to come on here every day and let you all know how it is going. I am excited, yet a bit nervous. The kids know I am going back to work, and I will be gone for a "long time" every day. So far they are ok with it! I am sure it is because they have no idea what this really means! I am going to give it a good try. It may last a week, a month, or I may continue working for the rest of my life! Who knows!
As a side-note, I was also diagnosed as "Soft bi-polar" so we will see how a bi-polar mom juggles work inside the home and work outside the home and if it is possible to maintain sanity! The last couple of days I have cleaned, organized and packed for our upcoming move in order to prepare for not being home every day. I have done pretty well, but I have lost it with the kids a couple of times. You know, the normal things like taking out everything I am putting up. We are still working on med dosage, so the outbursts may subside. Hopefully since I will not be with my kids all day, I will appreciate the time I am with them. That is the plan, anyway.
Well, I start Monday! Wish me luck!

Just a vent...

Ok. This isn't a question post, just a venting one. So, I walked Lily down to the park by our house last night after supper. There was a group of about 10 boys playing basketball there next to the playscape. Not a problem. Then I realize there is a little boy who was around 3 to 3.5 yrs old playing on the playscape. I look around and notice that there are no parent(s) watching this little boy. He proceeds to climb up onto the very top of the playscape onto the striped plastic awning. Obviously this is not where he should be climbing! I didn't know what to do, but I couldn't just stand there and watch him fall off! So, I tell him that he should climb down because it's dangerous up there and he could fall. He just stares at me. Finally, one of the older boys playing basketball (probably around 16 yrs old or so) tells him he should get down. I think he must have been his older brother. He never came over to make sure he climbed down, he just went right back to playing ball. Eventually the boy climbed down. A few minutes later I notice that there is a plastic cup on the wooden table under the playscape that has what appears to be old orange juice in it. Well, the little boy picks it up and ducks under the table. I look under there and he is about to drink it! I tell him that he shouldn't drink it and to go pour it out on the grass. Thankfully, he complied. Then he walks up to me and says "Halloween is a scary movie. I was watching it. The man kills people like this." He made a cutting motion across his throat! I didn't know what to say! Before we left to go home, he climbed up one more time on top of the awning. I'm assuming that the parents instructed the older brother to watch the little brother, but I sure wish there was some way I could let them know that he is not being supervised at all! He probably watched Halloween when his parents weren't around too. At least I would hope so. No wonder we have so many messed up teenagers and adults. If that poor kids survives his childhood, his brain is going to be totally warped from watching who knows what! Sorry, I just had to vent about this. I wanted to have a fun time with Lily at the park and instead I end up holding my breath the whole time and wondering if this little boy is going to fall to his death from the top of the playscape or get seriously ill from drinking who knows what out of some random cup!

Sign Language

With Kenadie being over 2 and still not talking, I have decided to really start with sign language. We started it a long time ago, but never stuck with it. I found a really neat site that has video clips on how to sign different words!! Just thought I would share.

Signing Savvy

Call me C-R-A-Z-Y

I decided to challenge myself to not spend more than $25 this week on groceries, household items, clothing etc. I wanted to ONLY spend $25 on EVERYTHING, but as I awoke this morning, I remembered I had a dr. appointment today, med refill, $65 for car registration, $25 for contacts...you know the unavoidable things. So, I changed it to the groceries, etc. I challenged 3 friends to the same thing, and we have to report to each other this coming Sunday. I hope to update you everyday on what I am cooking, what I purchased, what sales I found, what coupons I used, etc...so maybe you can do the same! This will be a learning week, but I hope to implement a similar thing for my budget every month. We shall see!

Today:
Entertainment: went to friends' house while I was a dr.
Food: Breakfast: donuts, cereal
Lunch: friend's house (thanks, Mary!)
Dinner: hamburger helper
Dessert: BlueBell ice cream!!
Money Spent:
-dr. visit
-car reg
-$0 on groceries, etc

Need Your Advice

Okay. I know I haven't written on this site for a while, but I have a situation here and I need your help. So, here goes. A writing colleague of mine has completely obliterated me from her life. I was gone for a while this summer, and when I got back she had taken her name off my "followers" list on my blog, Conversations With A Cardinal.
When I went to read her blog, she had erased my blog from her blog list. To make matters worse, she excluded me from conversation on a yahoo group we belong to. After I wrote something on the site, she decided to take her name off that, too. She won't answer my e-mails asking what I did. I HAVE NO IDEA why she is shunning me, but it hurts. It really hurts.
I am praying for her happiness, but I want to know what is going on. We had worked on a project for the guild and we were co-editors, but she took my name off that too before she sent it off for publication. I put a lot of work in that. And she took advantage of my being gone. What is your input as to what I should do? I would greatly appreciate any advice because this is eating away at me. Thanks!

Going back to Work

Ok, so we all know that being a mom is the hardest "job" on the planet. I am trying to decide if I want to add to that stress, and balance career outside the home. Or, looking at it from the perspective that I would rather look at it, give myself a "break" from the stresses at home. I have done both. I had a full-time retail job until my son was 14 months old, and I was also 6 months pregnant with my daughter. I had the luxury of being able to take my son to his grandma's daycare, which made it just a little easier. Every day I wanted to quit and spend more time with him. But, now that I have been home for 2 years, I have come to the realization that staying home is really difficult on me and my emotional/ mental health. On the other hand, I keep thinking that trying to balance the 2 would just be that much harder. So, how many of you work outside the home, also, and think it makes you a better mom? How many of you work outside the home and hate it? How many wish they could work outside the home?

I know this blog has a lot of readers...so I would like to hear from everyone!! Please!! I need help!

How to Make Lemonade out of Lemons

Ever have one of those day, or weeks, or years even that are just "lemons?" As moms, we have so many responsibilities. We are supposed to be strong women that are able to play the role of wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend. With these roles, come all sorts of responsibilities. Sometimes they can be overwhelming, and sometimes we feel like we can never measure up. The problem is that we always try to measure up to the "mom at church that walks in 10 min early, 6 kids dressed to the 'T,' they all stay quiet with no bribery snacks or toys, they are the first one to show up with a casserole when needed, the first one to volunteer for the community bake sale..." I could go on and on. What we don't see are behind the scenes. We do not know what her weaknesses are. We just see all of her strengths. This same woman that we envy may just be looking at us the same way. We may have a strength or a talent that she wishes she could have. We are comparing our weaknesses to someone else's strengths, and that is not fair to our self-esteem.

So, I want to know how you all make lemonade out of the lemons you are dealt in life.

How do you keep your sanity?

How do you relax?

How do you convince yourself you are a beautiful daughter of God with the most divine role in this life?

What do you do for fun when you have time alone?

Coupon Blog

If you are trying to get into couponing, or already a veteran at it, don't forget to check out my coupon blog, Cedar Park Coupon Divas.

Helpful Hubby...

Preface: This was sent in an email, and I have to say that this time, because Michael is a big help (usually) around the house.

How do you get your husband to help out around the house? Sometimes, backgrounds, cultures, upbringing, and so-forth cause men to think that it is a woman's "job" to do all the housework and child-rearing. When a man is brought up like this, it is very hard to change his mind. So, have any of you dealt with something like this, and if so, how have you dealt with it??

**I used to keep a daily chore chart. I would have daily duties that I would cross off as I did them during the day. When Michael got home, he just had to look at the chart and see what else had to be done. It always annoys me when I have to tell him the trash is full, or dishes need to be done, but this way, no words have to be exchanged, but he still knows what has to be done. I have not done this in months, but I may go back to it. It really did work when we stuck to it.

**I also think sitting down and having a serious talk about it helps. Let him know how you feel. Being a wife and mother is a very difficult "job" and men do not see it that way unless they are told. I think leaving them alone with the kids for a day or two usually opens their eyes, too!

Why and HOW do kids get into EVERYTHING??

It seems like my kids find every bottle of lotion, tube of toothpaste, bottle of shampoo, hair detangler, hand soap and candy...no matter where it is. We are in a rent house, and at this point, we are done thinking we are getting our deposit back ($1350). That is depressing. There are sharpie and crayon marks on the walls and floors, stains on the carpet, and holes in Tye's room from throwing stuff during his tantrums. The really frustrating thing, is after I clean up after them all day long, Michael gets frustrated because he is convinced I leave the stuff lying around. I can assure I don't. Yes, there are times that has happened, but most of the time, I am completely baffled when they come up with some of this stuff. When we are looking at houses, the main thing I am looking for are cabinets and closets! It really makes me upset. I just went in and Kenadie had red toothpaste all in her room, and when I tried to scold her, she looked at me and laughed. What do I do????

sleeping position for newborns

My son, Landon, is 8 weeks old. He used to only take naps if I was holding him. Then when I started giving him tummy time I noticed that he falls asleep within minutes and will stay asleep for a few hours. I keep him in the living room so I am able to keep a close watch on him. If I turn him over to his back he will not fall asleep. I put him on his back this morning and he cried for an hour and a half. I decided to turn him over to his stomach and he fell asleep after a minute. I know babies are never supposed to sleep on their stomachs, but what if that is the only way I can get him to sleep by himself.

Happy
Mother's
Day!!!

Hope you are all able to sit back, relax and enjoy the day!

Sorry for no posts...

It has been close to a month since my last post! I have been pretty busy. I will try to be better, but do any of you have anything going on you wanna share? It seems like this happened last year, though. The end of school is here and with summer around the corner, everyone is super busy. Posts seemed to pick up again in the fall. So, I hope we all keep each other posted on fun things we are doing in the coming months, and also give words of encouragement to those who may be having a tough time. I switched my medication...again...but I think we found a winner this time. I may need to up the dose a bit, but I will know in a week or two. So, if any of you have questions concerning that subject, I am more than willing to share my experiences. You can email me if you want it to be more private.

Hope are are all doing well!

Walgreens Deal

Ok, this was a little more oop (out of pocket), but the Burt's Bee's items were almost $15 themselves...but I get a tote bag when I send in my receipt information. (I was in need of some face cleaner and that was $7.99, not too bad). I also did not get one of the Lysol items for free, apparently they have to be EXACTLY the same price for that to work (they were .29 different). I will take these back and exchange for 2 that are alike to get one for free. The Degree deoderant is a situation that just shows exactly what we try to do with couponing. We combine sales with coupons. These deoderants were reg over $4, and they were on clearance for $1.09. I had coupons for $1/2 ($1 off 2) which made them .69 each!! I also picked up the 2 small shaving gels because they were on clearance for .42 ea, a great travel item.

In the end, my total was $44.93, but I saved $55.62!

Pre-School Freebies

Click on this link http://www.preschoolprojects.net/sample.php to receive a sample packet of their preschool curriculum. I thought it looked pretty cool!

CVS and Walgreens Deals

Here are the CVS and Walgreens deals I snagged today. I will do a breakdown, so that you will see what I did.

CVS

Pantene was on sale for 2/$7 and you got $2 ECB if you bought 2

I had a coupon for $3 off 2

So, I paid $4 out of pocket (oop) for them, but got $2 in ECB!

I also had a coupon for a FREE Pantene styling product when you buy (wyb) 2

When I walked into store, I scanned my card in the machine, and it spit out a $5 coupon for any Lumene item. I found a $10.99 toner that I had been wanting...so it was $5.99

I had $5 in ECB, so my total ended up $5.40 oop, and a savings of $20.97!!

Wags

Hefty Zipper bags were on sale for B1G1 Free (1@ $3.29)

I had .55 coupons, so I got 2 for $2.19...$1.10 ea!

Herbal Essence was on sale for 3/$10

I bought 4 (4th still rang up discounted price)

I had 4 coupons for $1 off

So, I got them for around $2 ea

Lysol products on sale for B1G1 Free

Many products were out of stock, but the wipes were $3.49 ea

I had coupons for $1 off 2, so I paid $2.49 for 2, or $1.25 ea!!

I spent $20.57

I saved $25.68

Let us know if any of you are able to snag some of these deals. We are willing to answer questions, too, if you have any!!

Little Swimmers Deal @ Babies R Us.

Alisa and I went today and got this great deal on Huggies Little Swimmers at Babies R Us. And it's just in time for summer! They are regularly priced at $8.49 a package. (price may vary in different locations) I purchased three packages and two small packages of wipes for $10.25!! It just can't get any better than that! You'll need these coupon for this deal:

Three $3/1 Huggies swimmers coupon (there is a limit of two coupon prints per computer)
One Babies R Us $5 off $25 purchase coupon
Two $1/1 Seventh Generation Coupons

On this deal you can omit Seventh Generation wipes if you don't want them. The checkers had a problem scanning the Babies R Us coupon but they just manually did it for us. And don't let them tell you diapers are not eligible!! Coupon does not specify.

Free DVD!!

https://store.mattel.com/transition.aspx?TransitionID=153

Click on link and get a FREE dvd!! Free shipping and all! While supplies last, 12-14 weeks for delivery.

Family Fun: April 4-5th

Here some stuff going on this weekend if u want to get the kids out and have some family fun. Some are in the Austin area while others are national, just have to find a store or participating location near you.

Saturday:
Kid's Workshop @ Home Depot : make a window bird house!
Great Easter Adventure @ Toys r us : Free Gift for kids!
Free Museum Admittance for BoA members
TEXPploration Bob Bullock Story time: Austin, TX
Wildfire Awareness Day @ Austin Nature & Science Center: Austin, Tx

Sunday:
Cedar Park Egg-Stravaganza @ Milburn Park  : Cedar Park, TX

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Myth

I just saw on the Doctors, that food does NOT have to cool down before you put it in frig or freezer. Apparently, it is a myth. They said that the sooner you put it in the frig or freezer, the less time it has to start growing stuff. Just thought I would share.

New and reset coupons!! HERE Time to snag all those great coupons for the month.

Cooking

Those of you who know me, know that I do not cook. If we have a nice meal, it was probably cooked by Michael. I try (sometimes) but I usually end up messing up, then getting discouraged. Or, if I actuallly do cook something nice, Michael either comes home late, had a big lunch and is not hungry, or has basketball that night, so can't eat. So, then I just get aggravated and don't cook again for weeks. Seriously, my kids live on whatever I can get them to eat, and I live off cereal and junk food, and I am not sure what Michael eats. (We do occasionally have tacos or spaghetti or something easy like that).

I have decided that my diet is out of control. I have no energy, and it is probably because of my lack of nurishment. I hardly eat, and when I do, it is not healthy. My kids deserve better. Michael deserves better. I deserve better.

With all of that said, I am looking for some great tips for evening meals. I am going to try to make meal plans, then shop accordingly. That way, I will have all the ingredients I need, and I do not have to think of what I want to cook everyday...it is already planned for me.

If any of you have ideas (besides the normal spaghetti, tacos, roast...) or a spin on those items, I would LOVE to hear them! I want to be better at this, but I don't want to get so stressed out about it.

Target Trip

I made 4 trips to 3 Targets today and 1 to Walgreens. Although I did save some money during the other trips, this was, by far the best! My total was $21.91...and YES, that is a Blu Ray copy of Bolt! So, I was pretty proud of this trip!!!

Check out sites on sidebar!!

Need tips on couponing?? Click on any of the buttons in the sidebar. They are FULL of tips, coupons and much more to make couponing just a little bit easier! They do all the work for you!

Looking for an adorable summer wardrobe for your little princess?

Check out this site

http://littlepeoplecouture.squarespace.com/

If you email her, let her know you heard about it from Happy Mommy!

Terrible Tantrums

What are some of your successes with tantrums? I have a pretty good handle on Tye's, but sometimes they are completely out of control. I try to put him in his room if he gets too loud and obnoxious, but then he throws toys at the door and wall (and we are in a rent house).

I have had small tantrums out in public, but nothing too over-the-top. So, I can be pro-active, what are some of your successes that you have had with extinguishing tantrums??

Freebies from Wags

Skintimate Shave Gel $2.99=$2.99RR
Final cost FREE!

Edge Infused/Energy Shaving Gel $3.59=$3.59RR
Final cost FREE!

If you are unfamiliar with RR (register rewards), they are like cash to be used towards your next purchase. So, you could purchase some of these items (sometimes there is a limit), then use the RR you get at the end of the trans to pay for any other items you may have...or save them for another day!

Couponing

Hi everyone!!

So, I have had some people ask me the "tricks" to this whole coupon thing. I love sharing all the things I have learned, but, frankly, I am bad at calling people. So, I have sent some emails, but I will start posting deals on here, also. If you have any questions, please email me and I can give you my phone number to call me. It is a lot of fun once you figure out what to do!

Natalie and Mary...feel free to make posts about your trips, also.

Anyone else that finds great deals, please share them!

Check out
http://www.frugalcouponliving.com/
http://hip2save.blogspot.com/
http://www.dealseekingmom.com/


These blogs have taught me everything I know. They post several times a day great deals in stores and on the internet. They have posts that you can go back and read if you are new to couponing, and you can email, or ask questions on the blogs, and they answer you back...it's great!

Happy couponing!

**and a plug for my sidebar ads...if you don't mind, take a second and click on them! Thank you!

Coupons

Mary, Natalie and I have been doing this coupon thing for a month or so, now, and I have to say it is really paying off...literally! How many times have you gone into Target and saved more than you spent...with a basketful?? Well, that happened to Mary the other day, and I have come really close! Our totals are cut just about in half. I have a stock pile of Huggies baby wipes (we know how expensive those are) and toothpaste and other toiletries. It is definitely worth the time and effort, which has gotten so much better a month into it. I just browse the computer in my downtime, and score lots of great deals and coupons! Feel free to email me (email on sidebar) if you want websites and pointers.

Baby Bjorn Potty Seat give-away

I don't enter many contests, but this one is for a really neat Baby Bjorn potty seat. Check out this blog (I also have it on the sidebar...Mommies With Cents) and see what she has to say about this potty seat!

A little warning would have been nice!

"The world is full of women blindsided by the unceasing demands of motherhood, still flabbergasted by how a job can be terrific and torcherous."

Anna Quindlen

Mothers everywhere, who are under the impression that things will get easier when:

a) your child sleeps through the night

b) your child can walk by him/herself

c) your child can feed himself

d)your child is potty trained

e)your child is in preschool

f) you child is in Kindergarten

g) your child has a hobby

h) your child can do homework on his/her own

i) your child is old enough to help out

I am here to burst your bubble. Lol. Motherhood gets easier in some regards and more difficult in others. It gets busier (chaffeur, anyone?), and dirtier (always have wet wipes with you, even for the 9 year old!), and crazier (starting with me). And I for one, 4 children later, am just as tired as ever. But I truly was among those that thought my reprieve would come as I checked each item off my to do list. That list just gets longer and longer, my friends.

So yeah, we may never escape chaos, but there is joy amidst that chaos. I think we become better at our calling as we go along... more efficient, more organized, more REALISTIC. With that comes confidence, and the ease to enjoy motherhood. Hence, we tend to laugh at ourselves more easily when we, say, try to put socks on our kid's hands instead of their feet. :)

So I'm here to set the record straight, it woulda been nice for somebody to have done so for me... The next time somebody catches you in a fluster and pauses to tell you "It gets easier, dear...", you may look back at them with an all knowing eye and be not deceived. Because they're not saying that your burden becomes any lighter, they're just saying that you learn to adapt.

Just one more reason to keep on keepin' on...

I got this from a friends blog and she was nice enough to let me share it.

Check this out!!

So, we hear "Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!"" It is everywhere, on the news, at our church's, in our communities. But, where to start?? I just found the EASIEST 3 month food storage supply, ever! Follow this link Food Storage Made Easy and look for the 3 month supply spreadsheet. Watch the tutorial, just a few min long, and super helpful!

Have fun!!

Back it up!

http://www.bloggled.com/

Back up your blog for FREE!! (for one any more costs) I think I would DIE if I somehow deleted or lost my blog. Especially since it has taken place of my journals and scrap books at the moment. So, I use bloggled to back it up and keep it stored in case of a horrible accident happening.

Just wanted to share...

Some good places I have been finding information, deals, and coupons...

http://hip2save.blogspot.com/

http://www.couponmom.com/

this one is a friend, not all she blogs is specifically for Cedar Park area...
http://cedarparkdeals.blogspot.com/

Please share your knowledge with us too...

So, we are off to a good start with this whole coupon thing. We have not had our first "meeting" (lol) yet, but, Mary and I got some HUGE deals today! I will not share the specifics, as they are already over, but I was thinking that when we do all find fantastic deals, share them with the rest of us so that we can benefit, also. There are a lot of "secret" coupons online!! Did any of you know that Target has webcoupons that you use in the store? Oh yeah, they do!!! And you can combine them with mfg coupons!!!!!!!

Share those great deals and happy shopping!

Helpful Hint...

So, Mary and I are trying out this whole coupon thing, so we are doing lots of research. One interesting tip I just found is that Target's coupon policy apparently allows you to use (1) Target coupon + (1) mfg coupon per item!!

Also, here is a tip for CVS...

Once you are ready to checkout always put your coupons in this order-
• First give them the 4/20 store coupon since your total could go lower then $20 after manufacturer and additional store coupons.

• Next give all your CVS product coupons

• Then give the manufacturers coupons

• Last give your Extra care Bucks

Save Save Save

I was just wondering what all you moms out there do to save money?

Recently I have been trying to make a few changes in effort to save. At the beginning of the year I stopped eating lunch out. We used to hit a kid friendly food place probably once a week. This has been surprisingly difficult.

Also, I am giving up my swifering. It's definitley more expensive, thanks to my husband for pointing out the actually cost per mopping, so I bought a mop and used it for the first time yesterday.

We used to leave our computer on 24/7 but now I make sure to turn it off every night and again surprisingly sometimes it doesn't come back on till after mid day. Unfortunetly that savings is hard to see.

And as Alisa mentioned we are going to start cutting coupons and watching sales. I think we are both on the fence about maybe doing the grocery game.

So, I am really interested!! What do you do? I could use some help and ideas in my efforts to save!

Hi fellow mommies!

I am trying the "ADSENSE" program thru google. If you are unfamiliar with the program, basically I get paid for putting ads on my blogs, if readers click on them. I will let you all know if it works and if it is something I would recommend. If the ads start to really bother you, please email me and let me know. (If several people are really annoyed, I will remove it. The LAST thing I want is for you to stop coming here because you are bothered by some ads...it's not worth it!) If you have a second, click on the ads...so I get paid! lol If it works well, and any of you start it, I will click on yours, too! So, happy clicking!

Great sites and giveaways!

Check out Coco Bonbons. It has adorable kids clothes that are really unique. They have a great sale going on right now! You can also visit Ladybug Soup for awesome giveways!

I am new to things like this, but I am going to try to start posting lots of great sites like this for great products and giveaways!

Mary, Natalie and I are also going to start clipping coupons and searching for great deals! We will share with all of you!

Lesson about love/service

I saw this on a blog the other day and I thought it was a cute idea. Since it's almost Valentine's day, I decided to use this idea in our Family Home Evening lesson last night. We read a couple of scripture verses about how God wants us to love one another and serve one another. Then we each took a turn standing on a red paper heart (I just used construction paper) while the rest of the family members each said something that they loved about that person. I also cut out some smaller paper hearts and put them in a basket. These hearts were to be used whenever one of us did something to love or serve another family member. For example, if you make up a family members bed for them, then you leave a paper heart behind. Or the hearts can be used to write or draw messages on for a family member. Anyway, it was a short, interactive lesson (which is so important for Lily) and went over well. Just thought I'd share.

Meals

What do all of you give your kids to eat? Especially the ones under 5. My kids eat pretty well, but I have to admit, I get lazy when it comes to meals. I do not have a good diet, I find it really hard to sit down and eat, so I find the easiest, fastest things I can. Tye loves peanut butter/ jelly sandwiches, and Kenadie loves chicken nuggets. So, that is what their lunches usually are, and supper is usually a pasta or rice dish. Do any of you have easy, healthy food ideas that you give your little ones??

Operation Playtime.

Unplug Your Play!

I am honored to be a part of Operation Playtime, 12 days of play , exploration and not a battery in sight! The goal isn't to banish the video games or battery powered trucks forever, just to find a balance and make sure that every child gets some good old fashion unplugged play!

All the fun starts January 20th !

I saw this on a blog I read called No Time for Flash Cards. It's a lofty goal but what the heck I will try to have more balance. It's definitely more work. Try it with me! 

I found this on Yahoo

5 Habits for a Happy Couple (from someone who was on the brink of ending their marriage)


Daily Habit #1: Talk to Each Other

Happily married couples typically say their relationships work better when they can sit down and gab one-on-one, like thinking, feeling adults. But who's got time for that? Actually, anybody who sleeps at night, if you follow the lead of Julie and Thom and their nightly visits to their "igloo."

"It all started one winter night years ago, when Julie had had a really bad day," says Thom, 33, a marketing director in Columbus, Ohio. "We were huddled under the covers of our bed, and Julie was describing how all the people who made her day miserable were 'bad polar bears' and how she didn't want any of the bad polar bears coming into the bedroom and how the bed was our refuge from them. You realize how embarrassing it is to admit this, right? Anyway, that's when we started calling the bed the igloo."

"The igloo is a place to retreat to," says Julie, 31. "It's our little sanctuary; only nice things happen in the igloo."

Eventually Julie and Thom began holding a powwow in the igloo at the end of every day, making a nightly excursion that Julie says has become a vital part of their five-year relationship.

"It's funny, because I always thought that when you lived with somebody, you'd automatically know everything that was going on," she says. "But we find that if we don't take that time to connect with each other, it's really easy for life to get in the way. The igloo offers one of the few times in the day where there's not a whole heck of a lot else going on, so you're able to focus on each other in a deeper way."

Daily Habit #2: Flirt

Most couples realize that getting intimate every night isn't possible, let alone a worthy goal. Indeed, a 1994 University of Chicago survey of Americans' physical intimacy habits found that only about a third of adults have physical intimacy more than once a week.

That doesn't mean, though, that you can't at least talk sensually every day, and that's the approach that Ed and Stephanie have taken in the more than six years they've been together.

"It's funny," says Ed, a 33-year-old San Francisco cab driver, "because we know plenty of couples who fight, a lot, about how often they have physical intimacy. The wife's upset because all he ever wants to do is get intimate. But this has never really been a problem with us, and I think it has a lot do with the fact that we're always talking sensually to each other."

"Absolutely," says Stephanie, a 32-year-old massage therapist. "We're always complimenting each other, tossing out fantasies, telling each other we're appealing. He gets to feel like he can have sensual feelings, and I feel like I don't have to have physical intimacy all the time to appear attractive.

Let's put it this way: The way I see it, physical intimacy is like chocolate cake. After five days of eating chocolate cake, even chocolate cake doesn't taste that great."

"Right," Ed says, "but after five days of talking about chocolate cake, that cake tastes really good."

Daily Habit #3: Get Stupid Together

Bob and Angie are ashamed to admit that the daily ritual that brings such joy to their 12-year marriage is none other than reality TV. That's right. They lived and died with "Survivor." They've adopted "Big Brother." "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" They do.

"Honestly, I think we just need to be dumb for a while," says Bob, 37, a shoe designer for Reebok in Boston. "We're both very into our careers. And when you're at work, with any job there's going to be a certain amount of professional stress. You like to come home sometimes and, for that lousy hour or whatever, kick back and relax."

Or as Angie, 36, a marketing executive, says, "Life is serious enough, isn't it? Sometimes you need to do something stupid. And if you can't be stupid with your husband, who can you be stupid with?"

Daily Habit #4: Declare Your Independence

So hold on, then: Is domestic joy found in partners smothering each other in obsessive daily rituals?

Hardly. In fact, Tessina says that sleepwalking through a series of hollow routines (although probably an apt description of your day job) is worse for your relationship than having no routines at all. The solution, she says, is to also make a daily habit of getting away from each other.

The point, naturally, is not to make space for each other in that I-can't-wait-to-get-away-from-you sort of way but to pursue your own hobbies and interests. It's a distinction that Joe tried hard to make to Lori during their delicate pre-engagement negotiations four years ago.

These days, Lori and Joe are practically poster children for the power of independence. Joe, who works for a nonprofit agency, spends his nights taking painting classes, building youth centers, and recording his guitar sessions. Lori, a college professor, spends hers directing community-theater musicals and indulging in trashy movies on cable television, a passion that Joe (go figure) doesn't seem to share.

"It all brings a freshness to our relationship because we both continue to grow as people," Joe says.

Daily Habit #5: Share a Spiritual Moment

In another University of Chicago survey, this one of married couples, 75 percent of the Americans who pray with their spouses reported that their marriages are "very happy" (compared to 57 percent of those who don't). Those who pray together are also more likely to say they respect each other and discuss their relationship together.

Not to say that prayer is a cure for all that ails you. But whether they're talking about a simple grace at dinnertime or some soul-searching meditation, couples routinely say that a shared spiritual life helps keep them close. And as Doug and Beth say, even couples who are on different sides of the theological fence can benefit from praying together daily.

"We have been married for seven years, but praying together is something we didn't start doing until about a year ago," says Doug, a 32-year-old Salt Lake City biochemist. "In the past, whenever we faced big decisions, we'd have discussion after discussion about them, but we'd never really come to a resolution."

"I soon found that praying together brings out a real sense of selflessness and humility," Doug says. "When you're praying for each other, not yourself, you're focused together and speaking from the heart on a whole different level. I would never have predicted this for us, but it really works."

"As bad as any problem may seem at that moment," agrees Beth, "prayer always helps us see beyond it. It doesn't have to be a long-drawn-out scripture reading, just a few minutes a day. When we pray, it brings another level of honesty to our conversations. I think it's the most intimate thing you can do with another person."

Now they pray together every night, once the "urchins" are in bed, which puts them in the company of the 32 percent of American married couples who say they pray together regularly. It also puts them in the company of Julie and Thom, when the other couple isn't holed up in their igloo, of course.

"It's pretty short and not at all scripted," says Julie about their giving thanks before each meal. "We just join hands and let it rip. Whether we're asking for forgiveness or giving thanks, saying it out loud holds a lot of power.

"Besides, regardless of religion or spiritual preference, I think that most marriages require a ton of faith," Julie sums up. "You've got to believe that somehow the two of you are going to make it through things. You've got to believe that you're being blessed with this person. And even if the power we feel just comes from the strength of our love, even if we don't believe that it's God who is helping us, I still think that it's good to acknowledge that there's a force between the two of us that's helping us out."

I thought this was pretty neat. They do not mention children, but if you have a good, solid, happy marriage, it is a lot easier to deal with stresses of raising children!

Note to Self

1. When you are sick and want to nap when your children are supposedly napping, make sure that the Sharpie Permanent Markers are put up.
2. Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray will take Sharpie off walls and doors.

Old Navy

Go to Old Navy!!! For 4 days, they have an extra 50% off all clearance! If you shop online, use code EXTRA50 and watch your total go WAY down!! I shared this with several people already, and they have let me know they went and loaded up!

Happy shopping!

how old is old enough???

Got a question for you ladies. How old is old enough to let your children play outside by themselves. Especially in the front yard. I have friends in my neighborhood who let their four year olds play outside together unattended. But I just don't feel comfortable with it....

Vacation ideas

Anybody have some good, inexpensive vacation ideas? My parents are going to watch the kids for a week this summer, and we are trying to come up with some ideas on places to go.

Potty training update...

So my update is that there is no update. Hope everyone else is doing better with their little ones! Tye is not having it!

children and guns

I know this is more of a boy thing but I wanted to know what if any of you have taught your children about guns. Avery went to a birthday party for a friend (a boy). He had lots of play guns and some of the kids were running around shooting each other. Avery joined in.
I've heard moms say that there is no way getting around guns with boys because even if you do not buy toy guns they'll end up using a stick or their fingers. (which Avery did when she got home) I believe that's true, they find a way.
What concerns me is when you can not tell the difference between real and fake guns. And kids don't understand the concept that there is a difference. And a majority of American's own a gun, especially here in Texas. So what do you do?

Potty Training Woes

I first want to thank Mary for having a link to this blog in her personal blog and the wonderful things I've been able to read about. I'm also grateful that I was invited to join so that I can participate fully.

I've been potty training my 3 1/2 year-old son and things went quickly thanks to the advice and help from family, friends, and a book recommended to me called Toilet Training in Less Than a Day. Then things started going backwards. Encouragement, rewards, and everything else that we tried seemed to have no effect as my son refused to even acknowledge that he needed to go potty (or had gone). The hope that he would transition out of "night-time underwear" (ie Pull-Ups) within a few months is dying quickly each time that he refuses to go to the bathroom first thing in the morning. I even have a hard time convincing him to change out of his dirty Pull-Ups and have had to resort to a rule stating that there is no breakfast or drinks until he does so. The low point came the day he insisted he watch his Elmo Potty movie twice in a row and then refused to use the toilet even once for the next two and a half days insisting that he'd had an accident like they talked about in the movie. While things have gotten a little better, it's an uphill battle (with my son everything is a battle right now) and it threatens to roll back to the bottom at a moments notice. In fact, the only time he wants to use the toilet is the 3 times (yes 3) in a row he insists he needs to go at bed time. What can we do?