Juggling

Lately, I've felt like I've been juggling too many balls and some of them are starting to get dropped.  There is so much in life that's important to me and there's nothing I want to give up.  I keep trying to find more hours in the day, which turns out to be impossible every single time.  I have so many interests and I want to try everything. 

This summer, I planted a garden.  It was my first time and it was a lot of work, but I wouldn't trade that for anything.  I canned my own salsa.  That took up nearly two days but I am so glad to have fresh, homemade salsa right now. 

I tried my hand at sourdough bread again and planned on posting about it.  I took pictures at every stage and made great notes.  It flopped.  That was a huge disappointment, as homemade sourdough is something I really want to do in life.  I must try again.

I love my blog.  I try to post at least every weekday.  Lately, I feel like I've been losing quality in my posts because I'm simply trying to get something on here every day.  Do you feel like my quality is lacking?  I don't want to give up blogging...it's a creative outlet that's just for Me.

Church activities.  There's way too many to name- from the sign language group I direct to the teenage girls group I'm in charge of.  Simply going to services and singing in the choir is a big commitment that a lot of people don't make.  These activities are things I certainly don't plan on giving up.

I recently started couponing, which a lot of people think is totally nuts.  I saved nearly a hundred dollars yesterday, which is something that comes in really handy for this non-working mother.  I think this is one of the projects that threatened to send me over the edge.  Still, I don't plan on giving it up.  I will simply try to manage better.  And I hope to get much quicker as time goes on.

Add to all that a husband, four kids, and a home that needs a lot of cleaning.  Those are the most important things to me in life.  I know some overwhelmed mothers end up walking away from all of that.  Not a chance.  I will drop anything and everything before I neglect my family.

My husband gets home from work every day between 7 and 7:30.  That's after leaving the house at 5:00 AM.  After we eat dinner, it's time for the kids to get ready for bed.  Also, starting in December, he's going to be picking up Saturdays until around noon.  I feel like we have no family time.  Weekends are spent getting everything done that we didn't find time for during the week.

After all this is said and done, what's left?  About five minutes.  That's my Me Time.  I'm not one of those women who goes out weekly for a Girls' Night Out.  I don't take a mental health break for a regular mani/pedi.  My Me Time consists of a half hour after everyone goes to bed.  The house is dark and quiet and the stress melts away.  In my flannel pajamas, I read blogs, watch TV, or occasionally read a magazine or book.  A half hour is all I need to wind down and drift happily into a sleep filled with frequent, odd dreams.

But I have dropped some balls.  I totally don't help out in PTA any more.  I feel horrible about that.  I used to be at the school for every event.  Now, my kids are spread out between two schools and I can't find time for either of them.  Taking Monkey Girl with me to meetings proves very difficult.  I did help run the Halloween party Friday but that was my first time helping out this year. 

I also haven't been on a run since the day of the race.  I've seen the results of that decision, which are extremely visible around my waistline.  Running, although so incredibly hard, was a bit more of Me Time.  Plus, I felt great when I did it.  But dark evenings and cold weather mixed with no babysitter makes finding running time impossible.  (I wish I had a treadmill!)

There are several messages I've posted on the board at the back of my mind, the one that I rarely access.  I'm supposed to find a recipe for a friend.  I'm supposed to work on the schedule for youth groups and share it with the other leaders.  I'm supposed to research and report all the unnecessary charges from our vacation that were caused due to our train being cancelled.  All these things were supposed to be already done.  There are a few other notes on that board that I can't quite make out.  See, that's what I get when I try to remember things.  I just can't.

What's the solution?
A.  Hope that God decides to stick a couple extra hours in each day
B.  Petition for an extra weekend day called Sunterday
C.  Give up some of my projects or hobbies
D.  Man up, manage my time differently, and refuse to accept stress, all while continuing to do everything I'm doing now

I choose D.  What do you do when you're feeling overwhelmed?  What things cause you to feel like you're about to drop all that you're trying to juggle?  If someone else is in this boat with me, maybe I'll feel less stressed knowing I'm not alone.

Better Late than Never

I love it when I get my daily posts out early in the morning.  But sometimes, on days like this, I can't find time to post until after 4 in the afternoon. 

You see, today was couponing day.  While it was technically my second week on this new, crazy journey, it was actually only my first full week.  A good friend, who just doesn't get it yet, came over this morning to learn from my vast, frugal knowledge.  We spent hours clipping, sorting, and studying ads.  I helped her determine which deals were good enough to splurge on and which needed to be passed over.  She had a $130 weekly budget.  I was determined to help her stay under budget but stockpile some necessities at the same time.  My budget was also about the same. 

Results were good!  My friend only went $3 over budget but scored $8 in savings on her next shopping trip!  Success!  I spent $197.19 (eek!).  Weekly specials and sales saved me a whopping $61.88 and I had $20.50 in coupons!  I also scored $12.00 in coupons toward my next shopping trip!  So I got almost $200 worth of groceries and toiletries for $102.81!  I was quite proud and grinned all the way to my car!

Ready for another deal?

Today after 6:00 PM, go into any Chipotle Mexican Restaurant dressed in a costume inspired by The Family Farm (think farmer, crop, animal, or farm implement) and you'll get a burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos for only $2.00!  You can't beat that deal, especially if you're an addict like me. 

We have choir practice tonight but I plan on taking the whole family to Chipotle afterward!  Yes, I will be wearing a cowboy hat to practice.  Laugh all you want, but I'll be enjoying a very cheap burrito for dinner!  I might just wear my boots.

Weigh-In Saturday

I worked hard this week and hoped to have better results today.  Yet, I am still pleased to report that I officially lost one pound! 

Yesterday, I had a bowl of cereal with skim milk for breakfast, a turkey sandwich for lunch, and an apple for an afternoon snack. By dinnertime, I was starving and really enjoyed my meal!  I still have two pumpkin cupcakes in the fridge that I absolutely refuse to touch!  Yay for me!

Starting Weight: "112"
Week 2 Weight:  "111"

How did you do this week?  I want to hear results, whether good or bad.

Remember, I don't actually weigh 111.  That is an adjusted weight because I want to lose 11 more lbs.

Free eBook

I found this deal today and wanted to share it with you.  I'm not sure how long it will last so check it out soon!

You can receive the book One Imperfect Christmas for your Kindle for FREE on Amazon!  Read the book synopsis below.

Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult Christmas of her life. For almost a year, her mother has lain in a nursing home, the victim of a massive stroke, and Natalie blames herself for not being there when it happened. Worse, she’s allowed the monstrous load of guilt to drive a wedge between her and everyone she loves—most of all her husband Daniel. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, her prayer life is suffering, and she’s one Christmas away from hitting rock bottom.Junior-high basketball coach Daniel Pearce is at his wit’s end. Nothing he’s done has been able to break through the wall Natalie has erected between them. And their daughter Lissa’s adolescent rebellion isn’t helping matters. As Daniel’s hope reaches its lowest ebb, he wonders if this Christmas will spell the end of his marriage and the loss of everything he holds dear.

There's nothing better than free!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas cards?  I would love to get an early jump on it!  The most difficult part for me is getting a good photo of my family.  I love receiving cards from friends that include pictures.  When I get a generic, boxed card on which someone has simply signed their name, I get disappointed.  There is nothing quite like a personalized Christmas card!  I have been using personalized cards ever since Son #1 was born, 12 years ago.  I doubt I'll ever stop.

Each year, I display all the cards I've received around the central door frame in my home.  That's how my mother did it so that's how I do it.  Then after Christmas, I pitch the generic cards.  I cut out all the photos from the other cards and make a collage on my refrigerator.  I enjoy looking at it all year long.  When Christmas is over the next year, I'll redo the fridge.  I love it!

I recently saw a promotion for TinyPrints.com.  They offer the exact kind of cards I like to send out.  I'm a simple, plain person and don't like a lot of hoopla on my card.  I want my family to be the main focus.  So this is probably the style I like best- it's called Simple Class.  Knowing me, I'll end up using a black and white picture on the front of my card.  I had the best card last year....LOVED it!


This promotion is for 50 free holiday cards if you blog about it.  So that's what I'm doing!  If you would like to participate, fill out this form.

If you're not interested in the promotion but want to browse their card styles, you can do that by clicking here.

I will post a mock up of my card if and when I get it done!!!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Warning:  if you are taking part in my weight loss/healthy eating challenge, do not make these.  They are addictive.  I had to give the rest of mine away because I couldn't leave them alone.  Trust me.  Don't do it. 

Now, for everyone else, try these cupcakes!  They are divine!  They are great year round but even more perfect at this time of the year.  I was introduced to this recipe at a funeral years ago.  I often volunteered to help serve the funeral dinners at my church.  One woman would always bring this pumpkin cake.  It was so delicious and was the first dessert to disappear.  I broke down and asked her for the recipe and was surprised at how easy it is! 

My kids were eating the icing with a spoon.  (I didn't tell them there was cream cheese in it.)  It goes perfectly with many other cakes and desserts too.

Pumpkin Cake
2 C sugar
2 C flour
2 C pumpkin
2 t baking soda
½ t salt
2 t baking powder
2 t cinnamon
1 C oil
4 eggs

Mix all ingredients well. Pour into a greased 9” x 13” pan. Bake at 350º for 35-45 minutes.  (I baked my cupcakes for approximately 20 minutes.)
 
 
Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream together 1 lb. powdered sugar, 8 oz. cream cheese, 1 stick butter, and 2 t vanilla.

I'm linking up with JDaniel4's Mom and her Halloween Traditions!

Independence Day

We've been having days of Meltdowns and "I Do Its."  Today, when Baby Girl was ready to eat breakfast, her puzzle was spread out all over the table. I quickly picked up the large pieces and tossed them into the box.  "I pick up da puddle!"  Baby Girl proceeded to sulk on the floor for the next couple of minutes.  I had to take two pieces out of the box and place them back on the table for her to pick up.  She happily did it and moved on to breakfast.

She still sleeps in a crib.  It's partly because she's tiny and still fits fine, but mostly because we don't have the extra cash right now to purchase a new bed for her.  She loves her crib and enjoys climbing in and out of it by herself.  Occasionally at bedtime, I pick her up to give her a quick squeeze and then place her in the bed.  You would think the world is coming to an end!  I have to take her back out and allow her to climb in by herself.  "I Do It!"

Recently, she has started demanding to tie her own shoes.  The problem is, she certainly doesn't know how.  She pulls on the laces until the shoes become unlaced.  Only when she reaches her maximum point of frustration is when I can offer assistance.  I'm thrilled that she's independent (her sister still lets me do everything for her) but getting ready to go anywhere takes twice as much time.

Earlier this week, I was helping Big Sis get ready for school and noticed all was quiet downstairs.  When I checked on Baby Girl, she was sitting at the table having breakfast and reading the Target ad.  She made it herself.  She used a small prep bowl (my Home Ec teacher used to call them custard cups), filled it with cereal, and was using a giant soup spoon.  She was happy.

Big Sis still can't make her own breakfast.

I'm wondering what difficultites lie ahead as I try to raise this Monkey Girl.

Randomness

I took my girls group "Booing" last night.  We filled five paper sacks with candy and treats.  My artistic assistant skillfully painted the word BOO on the bag along with a stencil of a pumpkin.  Adorable.  She tied them with black curly ribbon.  Inside, we included a picture of a friendly ghost with this poem:

The Halloween Phantom haunts you happily from now through Halloween,

And was delivered by a friend who was not seen.
The spirit of the neighborhood has come to wish you well,
Someone, somewhere, selected you to receive this happy spell.

You must display the Phantom on your door so all can spy
That you’re already haunted by this happy little guy.
Then fix 3 sacks with goodies like the one given to you,
Ring someone’s bell and leave a bag and make them happy too!
Happy Halloween!



I forgot to take a picture...these are last year's bags.


We picked five favorite families from the church as our victims.  In groups of five, the girls quietly approached each house.  They placed the bag on the porch, rang the bell, and bolted.  We were waiting down the street in a van with the lights off.  The funniest line of the night was from one of our Seniors who said, "I've got nervous pee!"  We had a great time and don't think we were ever seen.  This is a great tradition to begin in your neighborhood!

----------

This week is Spirit Week at the kids' schools.  Of course, the themes aren't the same for both schools.  The boys had Crazy Hair Day and Big Sis had Crazy Sock Day, or so I thought.  She was all dressed and we were getting ready to walk out the door.  Suddenly, she noticed her planner said today was Team Shirt Day.  She's a girly-girl.  She doesn't have a team shirt.  So, into brother's closet we went.  We borrowed a college football jersey that is probably too small for him anyway.  She actually looked quite adorable in it with a red shirt underneath, a red bow, and gray striped leggings under her skirt.  Team Shirt Day actually triumphed over Crazy Sock Day.  It's all good.

----------

I am now dreaming about coupons.  That can't be good.

----------

We have some new friends that we've really enjoyed getting to know lately.  I've been promising to have them over for some time now but I haven't found the right opportunity.  First of all, I haven't been able to get my house clean enough.  For regular friends, it's fine.  But for new friends, I have to portray the image that I'm one of those good housekeepers.  (I'll hope they'll still like me when they find out I'm deceiving them.)  So, Friday night was the night.  We had a Fall Festival at church and I invited them over for dessert afterward.  I made two pumpkin pies (one for a pie contest that I did not win) and pumpkin cupcakes.  The house was not Company Clean but it was acceptable.  This family also has four kids so I knew they probably wouldn't judge too harshly. 

I wasn't quite prepared for the evening so I was running around doing things after they arrived.  (Actually, they had to bring me to my own home because Hubby disappeared without his phone but with my car keys.  I was stranded and super embarrassed.  If that guy wasn't so cute, he'd be out on his ear.)  I made a fresh pitcher of sweet tea and was placing it in the fridge.  Hubby had just removed the drawer that the pitcher sits in to clean it.  He did not put it back in properly.  When I set the pitcher down, the shelf collapsed and and entire gallon of sweet tea exploded in my kitchen.  It drenched me, all the way to my hair.  It trickled down into the lower living room.  It seeped through into the basement.  Imagine my sheer horror!  My new friend was on her hands and knees in my kitchen, cleaning up the spilled tea.  It became a sticky mess so I had to get a bucket and actually scrub the floor.  Let's hope they come back again.

Couponing - The Results

Well, I survived my first adventure in Extreme Couponing!  It wasn't very extreme this time but I'm looking forward to when it does become full-blown extreme!  I did have some good results and thought I'd share them with you.

First of all, I still spent about the same as I spend in a normal week.  But I got a lot of extra stuff that I'll stock pile.  Here are some deals I'm proud of:
  -Lipton Tea- Regularly $2.69, On Sale for $2.25, Scanned Coupon for $.60, Multiplied for $.60
   Final Price- $1.05 (60% off)

  -Froot Loops- Regularly $3.39, On Sale for $2.00, Scanned Coupon for $1.00
   Final Price- $1.00 (70% off)

  -Pillsbury Brownies- Regularly $2.39, Buy One Get 2 Free
   Final Price- $1.59/each (66% off)

At Store #1, I saved $25.13.  At Store #2, I saved $28.34.  Not a bad start, eh?

Also, I earned fuel perks at each store as well as $5.92 for my local school.

The results:  I'm going to continue on with this madness in hopes of getting better and better!

Couponing

A while back, I mentioned that I would love to try my hand at Extreme Couponing.  I had never seen the show but planned to record a few episodes.  I also told some of my friends I was thinking of looking into it.  Everyone I talked to had pretty much the same response, "You don't want to do that."  Others said, "Unless you want to buy 40 bars of soap at one time, this isn't for you." 

I watched the show.  I loved the show.  I decided that I do want 40 bars of soap.  I envied the stockpile in their basements.  I totally don't see it as hoarding.  It's well organized, it consists of things they're going to use, and they saved a ton of money by doing it.  I've been suckered in.

I started researching.  I found some good blogs that give step-by-step instructions of how to begin.  I read informative websites and I found out the best places to print coupons.  After reading everything, I discovered that I've been doing a mild form of extreme couponing for years, I just haven't been using coupons.  One of the most important steps is to only buy what's on sale.  That's what I do.  I don't plan family meals based on what sounds good or what I've been craving.  I decide what to cook based on what's on sale.  For example, this week it's pork ribs and turkey breast.  My store receipt keeps a tally of  how much I've saved to date.  My total saved from coupons so far this year is only $28.53.  That's laughable.  Our grocery store has a food perks program that you build up by using their gas station.  With that program, I've saved $67.33.  Again, that's nothing.  But with weekly specials and sales, I've saved $617.61.  So you see what I mean- I've already been shopping the sales for years.  If I add coupons to this mix, I think I just might be able to do this.

One thing I will not be doing is buying things we don't use, even if it's free.  I don't believe in waste.  But I don't see any problem with having a stock of soap, deodorant, and paper towels.  We go through those things so quickly anyway and seem to always be running out.  It's amazing how fast our family of six goes through one of those giant packs of toilet paper (Baby Girl uses about 3 times the amount she should use).  Those packs cost $12.  I'm tired of paying that much money to clean my hind end!  If I can get it for cheap, I'm going to do it.

Monday is my shopping day.  I'm a scheduled girl!  So I'm starting today.  I know I won't gets results like the people on the show and I'm not expecting to.  I don't have a huge supply of coupons yet.  But I hope to save at least ten dollars.  Last week, I saved $11 with coupons.  That was huge for me!  I hope to increase my savings each week.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I will be shopping at two different stores.  Browsing through the ads, I found out that the store across town has much better specials this week.  I hate that store and don't know where anything is, but I guess I'll figure it out eventually.

So, wish me luck if you want.  Roll your eyes at me if you want.  I'm going to give this a serious go.  I found out this year that I can grow tomatoes, I can run 6 miles, and I can post almost daily on my own blog.  So I think I can do this too.  We'll see...