Aloha Friday # 7

Play along at An Island Life for Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question this week…..

Do you look your age?

I have always looked at least 10 years younger than I am. Most of my life I hated it. When I was a teen I looked like a little kid. At 16 I was pulled over and questioned about my age because I didn’t look even close to 16 at the time. Then in my twenties I looked like a teen. I was 27 when I went back to collage to finish school and I fit right in with the 20 and 21 year olds. I don’t think any of them had a clue I was as old as I was. I am now 34 years old and I still get asked for my ID when I buy a drink. It doesn’t bother me because they are doing their jobs but I laugh because I am no where close to the 21 mark any more. I often wonder what people are thinking when I am with my two kids. A few years ago this really would have bothered me but today I am over it because as I get older it is nice to know I am aging gracefully. LOL…

Now don't forget to go and play along with for Aloha Friday.

Friday Photo Finish Fiesta (Toothless)

Join in for Candid Carrie's Phriday's Photo Phinish Phiesta....


The tooth fairy has made a few visits to our house here recently.



Who could not love this toothless smile.


Now go play along at Candid Carries before another phriday passes you by. Oh but don't forget to leave me a comment. I love those comments!!!

Thursday Thirteen

I had a friend send my an email with questions about the holidays. So I took some of my favorite ones out and made it my list for this weeks Thursday 13.

1. Do you use wrapping paper or gift bags?
I like using paper but more and more I find myself using bags but defiantly paper for the kids.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
We buy a real tree every year. I love the smell but hate the needles everywhere. Of course it makes my vacuum smell nice and pine fresh for a couple months.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Right after Thanksgiving so I can get pictures of the boys in front of the tree for my Christmas cards.

4. When do you take the tree down?
The day after Christmas, by this time I am sick of the needles everywhere so I waist no time getting rid of it.

5. Favorite Christmas gift you ever received?
The beautiful ring I wear on my hand that has both my boys’ birthstones in it.

6. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
The 1970’s ugly Blue Chevy Nova with flowered seats. My parent’s idea of a first car. I was not happy especially since it was the 90’s.

7. Favorite Christmas Movie?
The Christmas Story, “you’ll shoot your eye out” Love that movie and will see it at least three times between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

8. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Sometime in November but this year I am planning to finish in November. I hope…

9. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Fudge, I love making fudge and giving it to everyone and eating lots of it also.

10. Are your Christmas lights clear or colored?
Each year we switch back and forth but the last couple years have been colored lights.

11. Favorite Christmas song?
The Chipmunks Christmas Song “Alvin...” LOL I have the CD….

12. Angel on the tree top or a star?
It changes each year but I think last year was a star

13. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning has always been the tradition in my house. I have carried this tradition into my house today and my kids open on Christmas morning.

Happy Ho lidays!!!

Pampers Promise

Dear Pampers,

I would like to share my thoughts about your over priced diapers and your leak proof promises. I don’t buy your expensive Pampers for wearing during the day time. Instead I buy the cheap ones. I do this because I can monitor that diaper closely and know when to change it to avoid those leaky moments. However I do shell out that extra $5 to buy a package of Pampers with 5 less diapers per package than the generic day time version we wear so we can have better protection at night. I spend more because I want something that will hold up well while my sweet baby sleeps at night. Leak protection is very important so that I can have a good night sleep. You have promised that leak protection.

For some reason here lately my little guy has been waking around 2 AM for food and a change. I don’t want to change him but I know that if I don’t he wont make it till 6. Sure enough last night I thought we would make it and that leak proof diaper you charge me so much for failed me, again. Yes, I said again. At 5:15 this morning my little guy is crying, crying 15 minutes before my alarm clock is set to go off. I try to ignore him but he is very upset. Sure enough he had a right to be so upset. Your leak proof promises have failed and he was soaked all up and down the side of his pj’s. Now you have cost me my last 15 minutes of sleep that I really do need. Now I have to get up and change cloths and bedding so that my baby can go back to sleep in comfort and I get to start my day 15 minutes earlier.

I would like to suggest you go back to the factory and examine your leak proof promise and how well your diapers are holding up. I don’t know about other mom’s but his mom is not impressed.

Thanks!

15 minutes shy of sleep, mom

I saved big….

I am not a coupon person. I want to be a coupon person and save that money but it never happens until the other day.

My typically coupon routine is to put all my coupons in this cute organizer that I have. Then I go to the grocery store only to realize I left my coupons sitting on the table at home. OK, so I have done that 100 plus times so I thought lets get smart and put it in the car. Great we can’t forget it right. Wrong! We get half way through our grocery trip and find out we have left it in the car. With two kids I am not about to go out and get it. That $2.00 coupon just isn’t worth that much pain. So I pull this stunt about every other grocery trip. Drives me crazy!!!

Now when I do remember the stupid thing, I find that my coupons are expired or I get to the check out and find I needed to buy two boxes of cereal to save a 1.00 and I only have one box. Does anyone else hate that? Seriously why do they expect me to buy two or three of something when I really just want to buy one? My house is small, kitchen has limited space so I can only store so much. I would rather they make it 50 cents off and only expect me to by one than expect me to buy two or more. I am ranting…

Well last weekend I received some really great coupons in the mail from Kroger. I decided this time I was going to do things different. I cleaned out my nifty coupon box, threw out dozens of expired coupons that I could have used and started a new. I collected all the coupons that were stashed all over the house and started clipping. I organized everything into each compartment and thought this isn’t going to be any different. So I grabbed a sheet of paper and started my grocery list (something else I always leave at home). Now as I am making my list I pull out coupons that go with items on my list. I make special notes if I need to buy two of something, I have it written on my list. By the time I am done I have this nice grocery list and all my coupons that I plan to use for my next trip.

My big grocery day comes, and I remember my organizer and go shopping. Follow my list well and then I get to the check out. My total is adding up fast and we have passed the $200 mark. This is normal for us so I got over the shock factor long ago (dog food and diapers are killers). After she finishes ringing my order I enter my Kroger card for discounts and hand the clerk my coupons. As I watch my big $218 bill drop like a rocket I am doing a little dance. My grand total was $125. Can you believe it; I saved $93. My best deals in the trip, the Iams dog food that was $21, I had a coupon for $5 off and then I had my P&G E-saver tied to my Kroger card witch gave me another $3 off the dog food. The same thing with the Huggies diapers I bought, a $3 coupon and another $1.50 from my Kroger clipless coupons. I was so thrilled by all of this and I learned that coupons really do work if you are just organized. Right now I am all pumped up over my savings but I assure you I will be back to my old ways in no time. I want to be that organized person but I never am.

Are you a frugal shopper with all your coupons or are you more like the typical me?