Feed the Birds, But Use Something Stronger than Fishing Line...

 I try to find entertaining things to do with the kids during the day. Some days it will be a craft, some days I let them help me with dinner or dessert and other days we watch a special movie or play outside doing everything and nothing. One Sunday afternoon, I decided we should feed the birds. I've heard of people putting peanut butter on pinecones and then rolling them in birdseed so the seed sticks to the pinecone. You are supposed to hang it up in a tree when you are done. Voila! Birdfeeders! 

 We had some fun! Noah was all over this project! He loved spreading the peanut butter on and rolling it in the seed. We like to get our hands dirty. 

I highly recommend using something tougher than fishing string. Our home has some pesky black crows and I came home after preschool one day to find both pinecones laying in the yard about 100 feet away from the tree. I didn't have to look around to see it was the crows. They're always getting into mischief! 

                                                                                                               

One of Noah's cousins joined us. He participated for about 2 minutes. Haha.

His sister enjoyed the show, too! She watches her brother and sister like a hawk!

 

Bikini and Daisy Duke Mama---Take a Stand Against Major Department Stores Immodest Clothing

I had a setback with a major department store this evening. As I was searching for blue jean shorts for my 2-year old daughter, I was utterly surprised when I picked up the shorts to look at them and found daisy dukes! I gasped rather loudly and looked at my husband in dismay. I said, "What in the world is this?! Why would you put these on a CHILD?!" There were a few other women

around and no one really nodded their head in agreement or responded but they kept their heads down and kept browsing. I don't know if I was too obnoxious or not and I'm not incredibly worried about what their thoughts were, but what are yours? Is there a way to get these major department stores to supply clothes that cover my daughter appropriately?

Now, I do admit to being a little conservative. My hubs and I have discussed it and fully agree that neither of our daughters will EVER wear a bikini under our supervision. I just do not find it appropriate for a girl to do so. When she is old enough to make a decision as an adult, I pray she makes the right decision. I can get into the modesty debate and may pursue that in another blog but for tonight- what are your thoughts? Do you think stores have gone a little overboard on the short shorts? Do you agree they are extremely lacking age-appropriate attire for children? Not that I would wear daisy dukes now, but a TODDLER? Do you know of any way to get this situation turned around? I can't wait to hear what you have to say. 


A friend who already responded to my facebook rant, says Victoria Secret received complaints and a petition regarding their clothing for pre-teens that were inappropriate. They stopped making them. I wonder if we could do this with major department stores, as well. Why couldn't we? Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents- let's take a stand! Dress your children modestly and do it by buying the right clothing at a store who will listen. What do you say? 

(I almost posted a picture of 2 girls playing soccer in one of the store's weekly ads, but I didn't want to expose these kids to any ridicule or judgement. I mean, what if they have to bend over and tie their shoe? How do you PLAY soccer in those things? Geesh, what is going on?!)

Semi-Homemade Chicken Quesadillas

Now, some of you may think a good mom or wife needs to slave over a stove for hours and serve a wonderfully homemade meal. Not true! In today's day and age, we do not have time for that! Thank goodness for slow cookers and semi-homemade, right?! There are several routes out there to make life easier. Here is just one recipe that I made on the spot because we had a beautiful day of playing outside. I didn't want to come in and spend time cooking. Then dinner time arrived and we were starving...15 minutes later, we're eating these Applebee's-like chicken quesadillas. Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

2  5-oz. cans Chicken Breast OR Refrigerated Ready-to-serve Grilled Chicken

1 can Rotel tomatoes and chiles

1/2 finely chopped onion

1 c. favorite shredded cheese*

1/2 c. real bacon bits*

2-4 tbsp melted butter*

6 burrito tortilla shells*

Any desired toppings: Pico de gallo, Sour Cream*, Green Onions, etc. 

1. Lay one burrito shell on flat surface. Shred/cut chicken as desired. Place chicken on one half of the shell**. 

2. Top with rest of ingredients (minus melted butter) as desired on same half of shell. 

3. On warmed skillet, add about 1/2 teaspoon of melted butter and place folded quesadilla on butter. On the top of the quesadilla shell, add another 1/2 teaspoon of melted butter for when you flip. 

4. Cook until each side is lightly brown and crispy. 

5. Voila! Finis! 

                                  

*If you are looking for a healthier recipe, here are some great substitution ideas: 

Wheat Flour Shells

Light Butter

Low-fat Shredded Cheddar 

Turkey Bacon Bits

Fat Free Sour Cream

**Some people prefer to use 2 shells for 1 Quesadilla. You can place butter on the pan, place 1 whole shell in skillet, add the desired ingredients and then top with a second burrito shell. I find this harder to flip; it can make a mess! 

If you have any awesome topping ideas or a semi-homemade recipe you'd like to share, I'd love to hear it! 

A Welcome Surprise!

When you are in our position economically, you dream a lot about what could be and what you would like to be. What I mean is, Randy and I had high hopes for 5 children, our own "owned" home and to not be rich but comfortable. When we found ourselves, shall I say, "uncomfortable" financially, our dream seemed to become a foggy prayer that we could not see clearly for our future anymore. We still wanted the kids and wanted the house and wanted the moula. We were and are ever so grateful for the gifts of our 2 children and a roof over our head as well as good health and employment for both of us. Our doctors told me I would never conceive again without fertility treatments and monitoring and counting cycle days and going through the several steps it took to "get" our current children. We knew what fertility treatments cost and it would be awhile before we would be able to do that stuff again! Not to mention, we couldn't afford a baby right now if we wanted one! 

I needed to take a medication involving my PCOS and to acquire this medication, you have to take a pregnancy test. On October 31, 2011, I took this test. Yes, Halloween. It was almost midnight and I was just taking it as an afterthought so I could go get the meds the following day. I had NO reaction when the test read positive. My husband was not with me. (Funny, I just realized he was never there for any of the others either). I didn't even tell him I was taking it. I had NO idea what to do. Um, how far along was I? What did I EAT today and yesterday? WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING? REALLY? I mean, REALLY?! 

I went downstairs and told Randy we needed to talk...outside...NOW. As if my shock and anxiety wasn't through the roof, he says, "You're pregnant, aren't you?" What?! How in the world could he surmise this?! I guess my silence and dropped-jaw were answer enough because he responded, "I've been eating weird for a while now. I always eat weird when you're pregnant." Oh, well, that makes total and complete sense then...NOT. 

In the end, of the pregnancy that is, we received a beautiful blue-eyed baby girl! Not only was she our surprise gift from God but she told those doctors that God decides who will and will not get pregnant with medicine! SUR-PRISE!!!! 

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Intro To "Parroting"

Suddenly, it's so clear to me now! Noah has been familiar with and is often made to quote the verse "Children obey your parents," for at least a year. Lately we've been having some obedience issues, so we have a talk and prayer time in the morning and at bedtime and I make him say the verse again. (And sometimes at mealtimes too, here lately! Good grief, he's a handful!) Tonight, I spoke with him about his disobedience and meanness today and after he quoted his verse:

Me- So, you know what this means, right? 

Noah-Yes, to listen and do it. 

Me- Yes, to listen to mommy and daddy and do what we say to do WHEN we say to do it. 

Noah-No! I listen to my parents! You're not my parent! 

Me-(silence) ???.......Um, Noah, who are your parents?

Noah-They live in the woods.

Me- (again, silence....) ???....Noah, do you mean parrots? 

Noah-Yeah! I listen to them! 

Me-(internally, hysterically laughing!!!)- Noah, the verse and God do not want you to obey parrots, the birds, but your PARENTS. Parents are mommy and daddy. I thought you knew this???

Noah-(his turn: Silence) ???...(then suddenly a smile so wide and dumbfounded!): OH!!! HAHA! I thought it meant parrots. I'm sorry. I will obey you, mommy! 

Really?? Is this all it took? Thank you, Lord for opening BOTH our eyes! 

(August 2011)

Intro to Mommy of 2

Well, so much for having daily blogs. Life happened. Actually, the reason for this blog got extremely sick and mommy had to put things like blogging on the back burner. Let's talk about my second child a little! 

When Noah was about a year old, we decided we wanted to start fertility for our second child. Four months into our fertility treatments, Randy lost his job. We made the incredibly heart-breaking decision to stop trying for another baby. After we made this decision and came to peace with it, I took my final pregnancy test just to make sure I hadn't gotten pregnant and it was POSITIVE! God always knows when you need a rainbow during your storm. We may have been stressed out of our minds financially. We may have been in the process of selling and losing our home. We may have been hurting and heartbroken because we felt we were losing our "American Dream." But with all of this, we had hope for a wonderful surprise coming to us! We had a gift that we'd hoped and prayed and longed for! 

During the pregnancy, Randy and I decided on baby names. We just knew our second little boy was going to be so much fun for Noah to play with! We wanted a house full of boys! We wanted a whole football team! Then the ultrasound said GIRL. Uh......wha??? (I couldn't form the whole word. Just "wha"). As my mother obnoxiously jumped up and down in the room, Randy and I almost cried. We really wanted a boy! I mean, we had our hearts set on it! We had our future planned on it! Oh, well. Plan B. Or C. Or D. I think Plan B was the house and family full of boys. So with the new apartment and GIRL coming....

After what seemed like the longest pregnancy EVER, moving from a large, beautiful home to a tiny 2-bedroom apartment at 8 months pregnant and chasing after a one-year old who is faster and more durable than an energizer bunny, Autumn Rain was born. She came out at 9 pounds 8 ounces and looked quite Mexican or Chinese. I took one look at her from the operating table and said, "Randy, I swear that little Mexican baby is yours!" We both laughed and cried. 

 This little girl has brightened our lives so much! She has more energy than our little boy! She is funny, active, sweet, cuddly and independent! In fact, I haven't put her to sleep since she was born. She likes to put herself to sleep in her own bed. Thank goodness the Lord knows better for me! 

This little light of mine makes me laugh, cry and frustrated every single day. The frustration from her not wanting to nap or get to bed at night. The laughing from her clumsiness and sense of humor. The crying from her sensitivity and tenderness and sweetness. She is most definitely a mama's girl. 

So, baby makes 4! I have my hands full but it's a blast! I get to watch them grow, record their milestones and help teach them and raise them up the way the Bible tells us to. We get to have craft-time. We get to go for walks around the block. We get to go to the playground and play in the pool. I just have to add that I thought Christmas and Easter were fun and exciting until I had kids. Now, I LOVE it! I love being able to surprise them and see their faces and reactions. Praise God for babies! 

PS-Yes, this makes a mama's boy AND a mama's girl! They love their daddy, but when their boo-boo's need kissin' or when the little sickies want to be held, they prefer their mama...and I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Money-and-Time-Saving Tips for My Family of Five

I never thought I'd see the day where I'd be clipping coupons and scouring ads. But alas, it has come. I enjoy every second of it! I almost get a little too excited when I go to a store and save 65% or more. I brag about paying $1 for a 9-roll pack of toilet paper! I feel utterly giddy when I walk out of a store feeling like I practically stole the merchandise but knowing it was all perfectly legal. And the manufacturers are okay with this! In fact, I'm buying their product over another so they're happy, too! Do I dumpster dive to save a buck? No, I'm not THAT extreme. Do I spend hours and hours printing and clipping? No, I don't have time for that. Here is a little assistance and ideas from my house to yours on how to save a  buck or 2 with little time and effort.

Sunday: Purchase 2 newspapers. The coupons alone will be worth the buy. If you have a mother-in-law or brother who get the paper and toss the coupons on Sunday, ask them to put them aside for you. That's what I do! I very rarely actually purchase a paper.

Monday: Go through the weekly ads for stores such as CVS, Target, Walgreens, Food Lion, Kroger, etc. Write down needs/wants and their ad prices. This should take no longer than an hour unless you have 3 babes running around. Then it could take 2!

Tuesday: I use 2 websites specifically for couponing and pricing comparisons. On Tuesday, I search these sites and write down anything I may have missed from the ads. These sites also allow you to create an account, log in and save a shopping list if you want to skip Monday altogether! These sites also allow you to print the printable coupons directly from their site. It's super-easy, convenient and time-saving. Here are the 2 sites I use: krazycouponlady.com and southernsavers.com. If you get on either of these and feel lost, you can either take a look at the tutorials on each site or feel free to shoot me any questions. This should also only take about an hour.

Wednesday: Plan your evening meal for each day of the following week. I love using Pinterest.com, Pillsbury.com, Tasteofhome.com, etc. for meal ideas! I am signed up for several sites like Kraftfoods.com for recipes sent to my email daily as well. I find them helpful and if I like their recipe idea, I "pin" them. There are a few recipes and dinners we like to have weekly or every other week like tacos, spaghetti night, etc. but I like to try at least 2 new recipes a week. This should take about a half hour.

Thursday: Today is when you go through the coupons you got on Sunday. You pull and clip all the coupons you will be using for your trip. I do not clip all the coupons on Sunday and organize them in any binder. This is way too time-consuming. I keep them all in one accordion case and when I see them expire, I toss them. I clip only the ones I am going to use that week.

Tip: Many "extreme couponers" will purchase things they don't need or even use because it's a great deal. I find that when I enter that dangerous territory, not only do I find myself with a garage/basement full of "stuff", I also spend more than I would have on things I just needed. Think about it- if you don't NEED razors, don't buy them for $1.25 when they're normally $5 just because they're on sale. You'll find that razors and deodorant and other items are ALWAYS on sale and you can always find a good deal on them. Don't waste money on items you don't need at that time. Makes sense, right?

Friday: I go through my list one more time before I go to the store Friday afternoon/evening. Is there anything on this list I don't really need? (I'd rather spend my money on clothes for the kids or toys for Easter or their savings accounts).

Tip: I only go to 2 stores on Friday and/or Saturday. Maybe 3. Haha. Walmart price-matches newspaper ads so if you can buy it and use the coupon at Walmart, do it! Save yourself the extra trip. Kroger gives you a reason to shop there. Not only do they double coupons under $.50, but they give you points towards gas when you shop there. (See store for details, but ours gives you $.10 savings/gallon for every $100 you spend in the store!) The other store you may have to enter into is CVS if you are buying something with expectation of their Extra Bucks in return for your transaction. Luckily, I have a CVS and Walgreens right next door to me so it's not costly to take the trip.

You get Saturday off! Haha. See? This wasn't so bad. I saved money, I have a yummy weekly meal-plan and I only spent about 4 hours max during the entire week in preparation! You can have a large family, save money and spend less on groceries in little time.

I want to hear how you save. Do you like what you see? Is there anything you would change? Do you have any questions? Hit me up! Have a blessed and frugal night, beloved!