Don't you love Etsy?

Holy Moly are these cute or what?  Not a big fan of the ubiquitous giant bow but I DO need something to hold back Vivian's hair. The only thing is I might go into a panic if I lose something so darn cute.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77767957/new-alli-the-crocodile-and-alligator

Why I stay home with the kids....

Things have gotten crazy since school started last week. I had no idea how relaxed we had gotten this summer until having a schedule for school whipped us back into shape. I'm trying to make a real breakfast every morning. So far we have had buttermilk waffles and oatmeal. Tomorrow we are having Dutch Baby which I can only imagine has some Northern? origin because I'm not at all familiar with it but it will include strawberries and whipped cream which makes anything good.


They only need a few books and then they fall asleep. AMAZING!



Sophie has school, Wes is adjusting to school and the babies are becoming their own people that probably need to have separate cribs but I know I'm not ready. They are such good companions at sleeptime, waving at me and saying 'night-night' (this has been unheard of in our home) bedtimes have always been disasters. Sean is so busy making artwork and selling it and also finding time to work. I think it's nice for all of them to know that I have everything covered at home. When they get home from work and school I'm ready to hear about their day, absorb it as my own and prepare them for the next day. I love my job, I sometimes forget this when I have a week like last week when I wanted to throw the manicotti off the deck and pull a full on Kramer vs. Kramer. I finally did leave and walk around CVS for an hour (there aren't many places to venture and I needed the A/C). I was still mad when I got home but I wasn't screaming. I needed to leave and remind myself why I stay home and what a special time it has been. I look forward to working outside the home when the kids are all in school but I can't imagine it will be half as fulfilling as the time I've spent shaping their lives.



Undercover Mystery Shopping Mother

I saw an ad for local mystery shoppers and signed up with Intellishop http://www.intelli-shop.com/evaluator-area/become-an-evaluator it was free and quick to do but I assumed we would not get much mystery shopping action in Laurel.  However, last week I got one at a local cell phone store (I had to go there anyway to reset my pin) and all I had to do was ask the clerk a question. Perhaps my giggle gave me away but I hoped by bringing the kids with me they would never assume I was actually trying to shop them. The hardest part was remembering her name while wrangling the kids (I'm terrible with names anyway). When I got home I filled out the review in about 10 minutes and I was paid $15 through Paypal. Right now this same company is offering to reimburse oil changes for certain American made cars at a local dealership.

 A friend told me about National Shopping Service, http://www.nationalshoppingservice.com/ Tonight we had pizza delivered for free on top of a $12 bonus. The kids thought it was fun to take pictures of a pizza before we could eat it. I was just excited because my self imposed $150 weekly grocery limit was made easier with free pizza (we also made a salad). Last week we got in under the $150 weekly limit ($134.91) which was nice to know it could be done.

Pricematching in Laurel 8/12 ending 8/16

Not a whole lot going on this week exciting. Even Kroger isn't amazing....
Milk 1/2 Gallon $1.66 Kroger
Coke 12pk cans 3/$9 CVS (ends Sat.)
Popcorn Indiana $2.50 CVS (ends Sat.)
Hilshire Farm Sausage $2.49 Sunflower
Ground Chuck $2.59/# Sunflower
Boneless Skinless Chicken $1.88/# Save Rite & $1.87/# Kroger
Bama Grape/Apple Jelly $1 Sunflower
Wishbone Salad Dressing $2 Piggly Wiggly
Ore Ida Potatos $2.50 Kroger
McKenzies Chub Corn $1 Corner Market
Blue Bell 1/2 gallon $4.48 Save Rite
Red/Green Grapes $1.38/# Save Rite
5# Red Potatos $3 Save Rite
5# Russet Potatos $2.99 Piggly Wiggly
Celery .98 Save Rite
Tomatos .99/# Kroger
Peaches/Plums $1.28/# Save Rite
Nectarines $1.29 Kroger
Strawberries $2 Kroger
Brocolli Crowns $1.49/# Piggly Wiggly
Green Beans $1.29/# Corner Market

No more wearing your brothers jeans....

I have had a few "bad mother" moments since the twins were born. One was not going to the awards ceremony when Sophie won the AR award for 1st grade. Another moment was realizing Sophie had worn her little brothers jeans to school (the knee marks were at her mid thigh). Soooo to prevent this from happening again and also to help us plan her daily outfits the night before (nice thought). We have divided her clothes with some fun dividers. We love our circle cutter that we used to make the universal birthday banner that we WILL use until the end of time. And we used the leftover letter stickers from same banner. So on our last day of summer we were crafty and it felt good. It feels much better than the look of disappointment I received on awards day....





The Birthday Banner that I copied off of Etsy and have used for everyone (I do add their name and birthday year)



To share or not to share your deals

I get so excited by pricematching or just getting a good deal that I assume everyone else does too, but evidently they don't.  Often I find myself talking to strangers at Walmart in line but maybe it should end there. Should I share my deal at the expense of looking like a kook? This weekend at Walmart in front of the milk I waited while a man grabbed 2 gallons of milk when I grabbed mine I mentioned that the milk was $3.19 at CVS he looked at me as if I was trying to sell him something. Like CVS had paid me to stand there. The more I said to explain the concept of price matching the more he and his wife exchanged this-lady-is-crazy looks until finally I found myself walking backwards towards my then screaming twins. Maybe I'll keep my deals to myself and maybe not everyone wants to save OVER $1 on milk???

Cooks Illustrated on a budget

I was concerned when I started using coupons that my dinners would slip and start including Hamburger Helper or casseroles with cans of soup or I would give in to the almost free Poptarts at Kroger.  This summer I did slip and gave in to the very cheap Pringles and Koolaid.  The kids were so excited every time we made Koolaid slushies that I'm considering slipping more often.  Now that school is back I'm determined to reign in the spending and control our schedule with a menu. For the last 4 years I have used Cooks Illustrated exclusively and just love their attention to detail. I only use Cooks Illustrated online and now have a binder full of their recipes.

My food spending goal for the six of us is $150 a week not sure if this can be done. I have a list of basic ingredients for most of my favorite recipes and have had a hard time finding them at a price that is stockpile worthy, (28oz canned tomatos have been the only exception).  I only buy meat on sale and pricematch my cheese and fruit. Mom gives me eggs from her chickens and our indulgent butter purchases are no longer since the dairy burned down. The meat variation is so dull usually switching from boneless chicken for 1/2 the week and ground meat for the 2nd half. I try to only buy for this menu and get a few snacks to fill in the gaps. I have the most commonly used fresh herbs in pots on the deck that I bring inside for the winter. We will see....Last week was $160 and I didn't feel deprived however we did eat out Friday night....

Can this be done? we shall see.

Pricematching in Laurel 8/3

This is my pricematching list (so incredibly dull but such is my life at times) from the stores in Laurel. The prices are valid until 8/9 except for non grocery stores which end 8/6, I put the list in order that I walk through Walmart from the back to the front of the store.
Milk $3.19 CVS
Coke 12 pk cans 4/$10 CVS (w/extra bucks)
Pepsi 12pk cans 3/$10 Dollar General & Kroger
Yoplait $.6 Kroger
Store Brand Shredded or chunk cheese 8ox 3 for $5 ($1.66) Sunflower
Ajax dish liquid 16oz. $.88 Family Dollar
Lays Chips $2.50 Save Rite
Wesson 48oz. $2.99 CVS
Gold Medal Flour 5# $2 CVS
Luxury Pasta 1# $.88 Save Rite
Hillshire Farm Lunch meat $3 Kroger
John Morrell Bacon $2.5 Kroger
Boneless Chicken breast $1.99 Corner Market
Ground Chuck $1.99 Corner Market
Jif/Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter $2.19 Sunflower
Community Coffee $4.99 Sunflower
Ore Ida Potatos $2.5 Kroger
Blue Bell 1/2 Gallon $3.99 Corner Market
Cucumber/Bell Pepper .50 Kroger
Green or Red Grapes $1.49 Corner Market
Broccoli Bunch $1.99 Piggly Wiggly
Plums $1.29 Kroger
Peaches $1.29 Sunflower
Strawberries $2 Save Rite
Cherries $1.98 Save Rite
Vidalia Onions $.78 Save Rite
Dole Bagged Salad (select varieties) $1.28 Save Rite