The Weekend

You're going to have to be patient with me in this post.
My brain is kind of a pile of mush at the moment, so all them big learnin' words are escapin' me.
Instead, I think I'll just narrate in pictures.

Friday.
Our girls' Bible study group celebrated my little sister's birthday. The girls actually got there way before I did (I was still waiting on the husband to get home from work). My mom got Madison out of the house, while the girls sneaked in and decorated the rec room upstairs. Once they heard my mom pull in the driveway, they all hid. As they walked in the house, my mom asked my sister if she had shut the rec room door. She answered no. Then my mom asked, "Who shut the blinds up here?? Madison, will you go open them?" My sister refused to go up. She could hear rustling up there and thought someone had broken in. She made my parents go up first. Ha! Needless to say, she was pretty shocked (and relieved) that her friends went to all that trouble to throw her a surprise party. :)
We held off on doing a lesson that night and just had a good time. Cupcakes, pizza, Cheetos... enough to make me feel queasy thinking about it. But it was a lot of fun. The party continues after I left, but I did hear they decided to at least stop and pray for people before the night ended.

Playing balloon volleyball...

(those are streamers they turned into headbands)

St Patty's Day.

We didn't do any parades. But we did make some green cupcakes!

Thanks to my friend Meagan for the idea. :)

Everything in between.

We kept things pretty simple this weekend. Brad cut the grass, I weeded our veggie garden (less than a month before it's officially safe to plant!), and Noah did a whole lot of this...

 

 

 (we're serious about our sandbox work around here...)

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

 

the aftermath and some craftin'

So here's a tip. If you don't eat much sugar on a daily basis? Don't pig out on Halloween candy before bed. Something about this holiday brought out my inner 6 year old (and 10 yr old... and 15 yr old... and let's face it, 25 yr old) and, embarassingly enough, completely took over. We're talking a few pixie stix, a couple of snack sized Snickers/Milky Way/KitKat/Crunch bars, and whatever else I happened to dig out of Noah's bucket. Add that to the hype of it all, and I could NOT relax last night.
Noah didn't fall asleep until about midnight.
Me? I'm guessing somewhere around 3am.

I got 4 and 1/2 hours of sleep last night. The weird part is that I'm not a total zombie today. Noah didn't get enough sleep either, but he's been an angel all day.

I'm pretty sure the reason I felt so energized had something to do with getting together with some of my favorite girls today.
Our Moms Bible Study had a Stampin' Up craft day today, which is so right up my alley. Before I quit working, I used to be BIG into stamping. Some people loathe this kind of thing... it stresses them out. But for me? Totally therapeutic. So there was no way I was missing out on today.
The demonstrator was super sweet and NOT pushy. She was just there for us to have fun, not make any sales. We had a great time.

(BJ, on the left, leads the entire study. The lady in the middle is our table mom. She's the sweetest. And my girl Kara - on the right - is pregnant with her 3rd cutiepatootie. She's had morning sickness this whole time and is such a champ to keep coming to these things)

And these are the cards we made this morning!

Aren't they cute??

I'm going to use the one on the left to attach to a little gift bag.

Love it.

I was a little worried about Noah going to his little class this morning, since he was so sleep-deprived. He even zonked out in the car for about 15 minutes on the ride up there. But when I went to pick him up, he was busy playing with a plastic dinosaur. And it made my day to see that he was playing with the animals along with all of the other kids. He was all smiles and attempted (in Noah language) to tell me all about it. :) His teachers are so so sweet (they're from the school they have there) and said he did perfectly fine. Phew! I was worried for their sake!

I've decided to stay up for the rest of the day. Call me crazy, but I have other things to do (meaning I'll just lay there thinking about all the stuff I should be doing instead), and the exterminator guy is scheduled to come between 3 and 5. Which means if he comes early? I'd have only gotten maybe 30 minutes of sleep. So I'd just wake up feeling worse. Here's hoping for an early bed time.

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Totally unrelated...

I made these muffins the other day for Noah, and they've been the biggest hit. I've been trying to sneak some more veggies in his diet, and after he downed like 5 of them in one sitting, I figured somebody else out there might want to give them a try. Go here if you're interested: Sweet Potato Mini-Muffins

Saving Money on Groceries

This post may be super boring to y'all. But just in case someone could benefit from it, I thought I'd share. Because I love it when someone explains something so simple to me that seemed so overwhelming.

On Tuesday mornings, I attend a MOMS ("Making Our Mothering Significant") Bible study class. It's just a  group of moms, mostly of toddlers, that get together to make new friends, get in the Word, and talk (um... a lot...). :) It works out, because Noah gets to go to his little class and make friends at the same time. It's structured with teachers, snacks, story time, play time, etc. And I also get some ME time.

Anyway, this morning we had a guest speaker come and talk to us about couponing (and no, not the Extreme Couponing type... from what I hear, they kind of cheat because the retailers waive some of their normal coupon policies).
The majority of us are just real people who crack up at the thought of being that organized and efficient. We're doing good to get there on time, fully dressed, and our kid in something besides pajamas. Or maybe that's just me. Sorry, I'm rambling.

So I admit, I kind of had a closed-minded approach when first listening. I don't like to buy too much processed food (because really, it leaves you just feeling hungry again an hour later anyway) and we buy a lot of produce. I just figured none of this was going to apply to me. But man has my perception changed. These women are amazing with how much money they're able to save!

Here are a few tips I learned this morning.

(This list was authored and put together by Terri Cendejas. She's overcome a lot in life, and she had no choice but to figure out a way to make $50 provide meals for a family of 4 for the month. If you're local and really want to find her so she can speak at an event/function, she goes to my church, and I've got her email and phone number).

via



1. Attitude is everything!
Seek the Lord and have thankfulness for His provision and wisdom. I call it "Groceries from God" when I am getting such great deals.

2. When I go grocery shopping, I am "going to work".
 I hear a lot that clipping coupons and tracking sales seems like a lot of work. But if I spend an hour and save $20 or more, I am making a pretty good wage for my efforts, and being a good steward of the funds with which the Lord has blessed us. Since I am going to work, I need to be properly outfitted for my task and have the needed tools:

• Calculator
• Organized coupons
• Shopping list
• Budget or spending goal
• Adequate time
• No children with me

3. Cook from scratch.
Packaged foods, as well as meals out, cost more and are usually less nutritious. Strategize ways to make cooking from scratch more convenient! I pre-cook meats bought on sale and freeze them into dinner-sized portions. I make spaghetti sauce in bulk in the crockpot and freeze it. When making a casserole, make two or more and freeze the extras. You can also cook something one day and incorporate it into an entirely different meal that week.
Batches of cookies, breads, and brownies can be multiplied and frozen for school lunches, too.

4. Pick one grocery store to frequent - preferably one that doubles coupons.
I like to have one store and really know that store. It saves me time and makes it much easier on my aging brain! (seriously, she was only like 35-40. lol) I don't have to look at multiple ads, and I don't have to run all over the place to different stores for the deals. Each store has its own policies and practices. I like only having to keep track of those for one store. I also tend to shop in the nicer grocery store, rather than the "bargain" retailers. Guess what? Their normal, everyday prices might be higher, but I don't plan to pay full price. But their sales are usually awesome.
Sales tend to run in cycles, so if something is a great deal this week at a different chain, it will probably be on sale in my store soon too. Find out if your preferred store takes other store's coupons.

5. Know your prices.
How are you going to know if something is a good deal, unless you know what it normally costs? And if something is on "sale", is it really the best price at which you can get it? You can make a master grocery list (or find one online to print), and then start noting the lowest unit costs for your items. Have that with you when you shop, and you will be armed with valuable information that will make you a wiser shopper!

6. Look for the lowest unit cost.
Wherever you shop, whether it is Costco or the grocery store, or even a drugstore, break the cost down to the cost per item, per pound, per ounce. You have to be able to compare different quantities and different prices. It used to be that the biggest box was the best price... that may or may not be true. You can compare the shelf tags, and often, you will have the information there that you need to make wise decisions. But, if you are also using coupons, or the unit price is missing, you have to do a little math! (don't let the math scare you! it's not that hard) This is one reason to have a calculator with you. Many items are measured in pounds and ounces. Remember that 16 ounces are in a pound. Here is how to calculate unit prices:

PRICE divided by QUANTITY = UNIT COST

So, a 12 oz box of cereal that costs $2.99 would be:

$2.99/12 ounces = $.25 per ounce

[PRICE less TOTAL COUPON SAVINGS] divided by QUANTITY = UNIT COST

But if I had a coupon worth $.75 and the store doubled it, it's worth $1.50; I would get that box of cereal for $1.49. My unit cost would then be ($2.99 - $1.50)/12 ounces = $.12 per ounce.

Twelve cents an ounce is much better than twenty-five cents per ounce!

7. Buy only what is on sale.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, I am only buying items from the grocery store that are on sale. Exceptions would be if I absolutely had to have a particular ingredient for a special recipe, or we were out of a staple item that we could not do without. This means I need to do some planning. I need to check the sale ad - they come out on Wednesdays, and are available online. I make my shopping list baed on what is on sale. I make it my goal to never, ever pay full price!

8. Match coupons to sale items.

Besides only buying items on sale, I also try to match coupons up with those sale items. If pasta is on sale for $1 a box that might seem like a good deal. But if I have a $.50 coupon... once my store doubles my coupon, I will get that pasta for free!

Don't use a coupon if an item is not on sale. Just because I have a coupon, doesn't mean I have to use it! If I have a coupon for something and it is not on sale, I save the coupon and WAIT until the item is on sale. Unless, it is an ingredient or staple I have to have now.

9. Stock up on items at lowest possible price - Stockpile!

When things are on sale and you know it is a rock-bottom price, buy as much as you can! As you practice these tips, you will start to see cycles. Last winter, frozen veggies were constantly on sale, and coupons were abundant. I was able to fill my freezer with them. Throughout the summer, that wasn't the case. As school started, breakfast and granola bars have been on sale. In the summer, barbeque sauce was on sale. I take advantage of those cycles, and get as many of a particular product as I can, and store it. Keep in mind the expiration date and only buy as much as you can store and use before that date.

10. Coupon Facts

•  Coupons are advertisements from companies that want you to buy their products.
• Look at the numbers under the bar code... if the first number is "9", it won't double; if it is a "5" it will, even if the coupon has "do not double" printed on it! (the computer reads the barcode, not the text!)
• If it scans, it's good - you don't always have to buy the exact product pictured (remember, they are advertising!) (she used the example of using Nature Valley granola coupon on General Mills cereal... it still worked!)
• Don't try to use expired coupons.
• Only one coupon per item... if something is "buy one, get one free (BOGO)", then you should be able to use 2 coupons, one for each item you buy.

11. How I Shop.
When I am going through the grocery store, I have my list and coupons ready. I have a spending goal in mind. As something goes in my cart, I write the amount it will cost on a tally on my shopping list. When I hit my spending limit, I stop shopping. If I am out of money, but still need something from my list, then I can decide what in my cart needs to go back on the shelf.
My store allows me 20 coupons per day. As I put something in my cart for which I will be using a coupon, I use a binder clip to attach the coupon to the front of my coupon binder, ready to hand over at checkout. When I have selected 20 coupons, I stop shopping. If it is a triple coupon event at the store, I may come back on another day to use more of my coupons.

12. Giving is Good.
Share the "Groceries from God"! I clip some coupons for things my family won't use. I regularly stock up on boxed rice, cake mixes, cereals, and pasta sauce that I donate to our church food pantry. Toiletries can be donated to shelters.

 



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So there ya have it.

She also said she shops at Costco for bulk items such as TP and stuff, but she still has to do the math to make sure it's a better deal than the grocery store. She also practically has to put blinders on so she doesn't get suckered into walking out with a new laptop and playset. :)

She stressed that you have to take these tips and make them work for your family. Obviously, like for our family, we buy several items that don't have coupons, such as produce. And if you have kids, they're going to have their preferences with food. I love that Noah eats blueberries like candy, but they aren't always cheap or on sale. But I make room for them in our budget. Grocery shopping is kind of a personal thing... we all buy different items and prefer certain stores. But even if you take a few of these tips and use them, it could really save some money.

A couple of my own tips...

Buy meat that's on clearance. Check the date on the package, then immediately cook or freeze it when you get home. I still have steaks in my freezer right now that I bought for $2.17 each.

I learned today that you can freeze milk. She told us to pour out a cup (not sure why, I didn't ask that), then freeze the rest. You can also freeze certain produce, including grapes.

Anyway, just thought this might help somebody as some point. :)

Monday Musings

So remember how I said in my last post how our Fall doesn't really hit until the end of October? Well, mother nature decided to tease me a little (because Fall happens to be my favorite season). It's been in the low 60's all weekend. And it's been gloooooorious. People are opening up doors and windows, having bonfires, going apple picking... Fall fever has officially hit our area.

Unfortunately, it's back to warm weather this week.

Don't mind me. I'll just be crying in a corner somewhere.

Either that? Or living in total denial and still lighting my pumpkin spice candles and wearing jeans as if I won't immediately burst into flames when I walk outside. Actually, after the heat this summer, 85 isn't too bad...

Anyway. I'll stop talking about the weather now.

Sorry.

Moving on.

We kicked off the weekend with our girls' Bible study. To catch any new people up, I help lead a teen Bible study with my little sister and her friends. We meet at my mom's house, which works out great. If Brad has to work, I have a built-in babysitter.
It's so crazy to see how much these girls have grown up, just over the summer. When we said goodbye for the summer, the girls were pretty reserved; it was like pulling teeth to get them to talk much. But this Fall, most of them have switched schools and haven't seen each other since starting back. I had anticipated a repeat of last time, so I came prepared with some "ice breaker" questions, a "women of the Bible" quiz, etc. Except this time? I couldn't get them to shut up!
It was great!
They went on and on about their new schools and friends and lockers. And to my shock, they all walked in with makeup on. Not too much, but just enough to make them look older. Changing schools for most of these girls, whether they wanted to or not, ended up being such a good thing. It's caused them to break out of their shells. And it helps that they're not together 24/7, so now they have something to talk about with each other. Of course, it's going to give me a run for my money trying to keep them on topic. But this is supposed to be fun, so I don't mind.
We've already got parties, movie nights, and craft nights in the works. They're a great group of girls, and incredibly mature for the age. It's going to be a good year.

I had noticed Noah rubbing his ears a little last week. He's been getting his molars in, so unless the pulling is coupled with a cold, I don't worry. So on Friday, when his nose started running and a cough ensued? I knew what was up. And of course... of course... it happens on the weekend. Thankfully, we go to a pediatrician who is open on the weekends. It's really wonderful having a doctor who understands that kids don't just get sick Mon-Fri between the hours of 8:30 and 4:30.
So Saturday, we headed on over to get him checked out. Sure enough, he has an infection in both ears. Poor little guy. He doesn't get them often, so we don't really need to take any extra measures yet. But I still feel terrible for him.

Last night, we were supposed to go to my grandparents' for birthdays, but my granddaddy just had surgery last week. There's also a pregnant cousin and a baby, so I decided (especially since the antibiotics hadn't even been in his system for 24 hours) that it'd be best to skip it this time. Noah was still coughing up a storm and just looked like he felt pitiful.
So instead, we had ourselves a little back yard bonfire.

Everyone else have a good weekend?

bake sale

It was a HUGE hit.
My little sister's school was putting on a production of the Wizard of Oz, and we were the intermission food. The school colors are blue and orange, in case you were wondering why it's so darn bright. Frankly, the contrast of the bright orange and blue against the pasty white walls kind of made my eyes hurt.
But at least we had school spirit. 

So yeah, it was definitely a success.

Nevermind that I spent like $60 in baking supplies, too much time in the kitchen, and not to mention the gas to get there. Brad actually asked me why didn't we just donate the money we spent on this stuff? Sure, that probably would've been easier. But that's not really the point.

Let's face it, our society isn't quite going above and beyond when it comes to raising our kids to be selfless and giving. I can't tell you how many teenagers I've heard asking their parents for fancy shoes or an iPad or some other ridiculously expensive thing. And while I believe these kids really are good hearted deep down, it's important that they experience

 Serving. Selflessness. Generosity.

These kids need to spend a Friday night (when they could be at the movies with friends) working to raise money, not for themselves, but for others who literally have nothing left. 

Sure, it would've been easier to ask mom for $10 to give to a charity.

But it means so much more when a kid works for something... for someone else.

And not because they feel like they have to. I promise, not I nor anyone else coaxed these girls into this.

This was their idea; what they wanted to do.

And when you've got kids who want to help and love others?

Priceless.

I don't know if what we made will make a massive difference, but I do know that these girls will be blessed for their energy and enthusiasm and desire to help give to people whom they've never even met.

And let me tell ya... they worked.

Not only did they bring baked goods (the majority of them making everything themselves), they were there early to set up. They stayed late to clean up. And poor little Skyler (my neice) who was all excited to tell us how she'd gotten a 4 in math on her EOG's...

she got nominated to handle the money.

Thankfully, she was a good sport and did a fantastic job.

I'm so proud of these girls.

And in case you were curious, we ended up making over $200.

We charged no more than $1 (most of it being $.50) for each item, and there were about 100-150 people in attendance. So I'd say we were pretty successful.

It definitely got the girls excited.

They want to do another fundraiser, and we're already coming up with ideas.

Also, if you're interested, I'm going to be featuring some of my favorite bake sale recipes this week on my foodie blog, including these easy-peasy treats...

 

And these Crispy Rice Cupcakes are already on there...

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

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