11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
Winning!
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Remember my post about how I win stuff? Well, I won some new things lately. I promise I don't enter giveaways all day long. I might enter once a week, maybe. It takes about 60 seconds and I don't look for giveaways, I mainly enter if they are posted on blogs I'm already reading and its a giveaway for something that I'm interested in. I never enter jewelry giveaways for example since I always wear Stella & Dot. I also don't enter giveaways where I know there will be a TON of people entering (like if the giveaway is for a $100 gift card to Amazon).
So a couple months ago, I won this cream (valued at $48):
L'Occitane 'Almond' Shaping Delight Gel Cream
And last month, I won some skin care from Darphin Paris valued at $150! Here is what I got:
Defying Lip Balm
Intral Soothing Cream
Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water
I haven't tried the products yet but I am excited to test them out!
And in the spirit of free stuff, I just heard that Julep has a promo code where you can get your first month of nail polishes for one cent. Enter promo code PENNYINTRO here: http://www.julep.com?r=21824697
I just did it and will probably cancel my membership on July 24th so I'm not charged on the 27th for July's box.
Hope you got some good deals lately, too!
So a couple months ago, I won this cream (valued at $48):
L'Occitane 'Almond' Shaping Delight Gel Cream
And last month, I won some skin care from Darphin Paris valued at $150! Here is what I got:
Defying Lip Balm
Intral Soothing CreamAzahar Cleansing Micellar Water
I haven't tried the products yet but I am excited to test them out!
And in the spirit of free stuff, I just heard that Julep has a promo code where you can get your first month of nail polishes for one cent. Enter promo code PENNYINTRO here: http://www.julep.com?r=21824697
I just did it and will probably cancel my membership on July 24th so I'm not charged on the 27th for July's box.
Hope you got some good deals lately, too!
Maternity Monday - 36 Weeks
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How far along: 36 weeks 3 days
How big is the baby: Baby Z weighs around 5.8 pounds and is about 18 inches from head to heel. The bump says he is about the size of a Honeydew melon now. Total weight gain: At my last appointment I weighed 221.0 lbs
Sleep: Sleep? I want a night that I sleep a solid 8 hours without waking up to go to the bathroom. It gets hard because when I want to move or change positions it feels like I have to put effort into it now. I think I wake up everytime I move. Maternity Clothes: Yes - definitely now
Best moments of the week: It has not been a good week. I have been very moody and uncomfortable :( Symptoms: I have been very moody the last few days and I do not like it. The top of my bump feels like it is buring - there are times it is painful to the touch. Exercise: I am trying to walk for at least 30 minutes plus now... I used to push myself for 45 minutes and 2.5 miles but with the way my breathing has been I have just been happy if I make it to 3o minutes.Movement: Lots of movement. He has the hiccups 3-4 times a day it seemsGender: BoyWhat I’m looking forward to: Not being pregnant... What a down post today huh? What I miss: I miss my energy, my ambition, and my flexibility.
Next Appointment: July 6th - this Friday. I get thet group b strep test done that day and schedule an appointment for the next week. It is crazy that we are this close. I want to meet this little guys that has been keeping me awake at night.
How far along: 36 weeks 3 days
How big is the baby: Baby Z weighs around 5.8 pounds and is about 18 inches from head to heel. The bump says he is about the size of a Honeydew melon now. Total weight gain: At my last appointment I weighed 221.0 lbs
Sleep: Sleep? I want a night that I sleep a solid 8 hours without waking up to go to the bathroom. It gets hard because when I want to move or change positions it feels like I have to put effort into it now. I think I wake up everytime I move. Maternity Clothes: Yes - definitely now
Best moments of the week: It has not been a good week. I have been very moody and uncomfortable :( Symptoms: I have been very moody the last few days and I do not like it. The top of my bump feels like it is buring - there are times it is painful to the touch. Exercise: I am trying to walk for at least 30 minutes plus now... I used to push myself for 45 minutes and 2.5 miles but with the way my breathing has been I have just been happy if I make it to 3o minutes.Movement: Lots of movement. He has the hiccups 3-4 times a day it seemsGender: BoyWhat I’m looking forward to: Not being pregnant... What a down post today huh? What I miss: I miss my energy, my ambition, and my flexibility.
Next Appointment: July 6th - this Friday. I get thet group b strep test done that day and schedule an appointment for the next week. It is crazy that we are this close. I want to meet this little guys that has been keeping me awake at night.
Project Night
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Last night was a outdoor project night here. Tim worked on the stone area he wanted where the hose is kept. He was almost done when I got my camera out.
I went up to the garden with the hose to check out my crop and water. I had two helpers following me...
Then they got distracted and Nutmeg started chasing Scribbles.
I got to the garden and I was happy with what I saw, though there was a lot of weeds in the area that I did not have anything planted. I started weeding and after a good 20 minutes I had most of it cleared. I clawed it after to get the stragglers.
The rest of the garden looks good though... I have some blossoms on my summer squash and cucumbers. I cannot wait to have all the squash!!! Tim has been picking peas and we are still waiting for the beans.I have some small peppers... hopefully the plants will grow taller.
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It is supposed to be another hot day today. Yesterday I got home from work and walked 2.5 miles on the treadmill and was drenched in sweat when I was done. I took a nice cool shower which felt great! The walk and the shower that is.
It is a little after 10 and I have already accomplished quite a bit :) I did a load of laundry and hung it on the line. I am in the process of changing the sheets on our bed. I walked 3.8 miles at 3.3 mph for 3.5 and then .3 at 2.5 mph (7% incline). I am feeling great now that I got that done early before it got too hot. Nothing like a little Chris Powell and Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition to motivate you to walk a little further! After my walk I turned my iPod on and mowed the lawn. It had been over a week and it is supposed to get hot and humid after tomorrow so I decided to do it this morning.
I am now all showered and ready for the day. I am going to run errands with Tim's mom, Judy. We are going to Toys R Us to pick up the extra car seat base that is in as well as some other places. I am hoping for a nice lunch on Lake George at one of my favorite places - The Boardwalk. Yummy :)
I went up to the garden with the hose to check out my crop and water. I had two helpers following me...
Then they got distracted and Nutmeg started chasing Scribbles.
I got to the garden and I was happy with what I saw, though there was a lot of weeds in the area that I did not have anything planted. I started weeding and after a good 20 minutes I had most of it cleared. I clawed it after to get the stragglers. 
The rest of the garden looks good though... I have some blossoms on my summer squash and cucumbers. I cannot wait to have all the squash!!! Tim has been picking peas and we are still waiting for the beans.I have some small peppers... hopefully the plants will grow taller. 
***********
It is supposed to be another hot day today. Yesterday I got home from work and walked 2.5 miles on the treadmill and was drenched in sweat when I was done. I took a nice cool shower which felt great! The walk and the shower that is.
It is a little after 10 and I have already accomplished quite a bit :) I did a load of laundry and hung it on the line. I am in the process of changing the sheets on our bed. I walked 3.8 miles at 3.3 mph for 3.5 and then .3 at 2.5 mph (7% incline). I am feeling great now that I got that done early before it got too hot. Nothing like a little Chris Powell and Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition to motivate you to walk a little further! After my walk I turned my iPod on and mowed the lawn. It had been over a week and it is supposed to get hot and humid after tomorrow so I decided to do it this morning.
I am now all showered and ready for the day. I am going to run errands with Tim's mom, Judy. We are going to Toys R Us to pick up the extra car seat base that is in as well as some other places. I am hoping for a nice lunch on Lake George at one of my favorite places - The Boardwalk. Yummy :)
It Happened....
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It finally happened... My feet are swollen. Currently my right foot more so than my left. I noticed the last few times I walked that my sneakers felt tight, but they would get better after I walked for a while. I guess I can take the swelling considering that it is just showing up and I am 37 weeks pregnant today. It was humid yesterday and this morning with high temperatures so I guess it is to be expected.
As I am writing this Baby Z has the hiccups. If he comes out of the womb and has the hiccups I will not be surprised. He has them 4-5 times a day. I was up at least twice last night because of the hiccups. I did not sleep well at all last night. I was up almost every hour and when I did wake up I felt wide awake. I woke up at one point and saw this...
Really? She lays on the floor where I put the pillow so she can have something under her head? She is crazy.
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So our lunch on Tuesday was great! I love sitting on a deck near the water to eat lunch. It was not too hot out and it was a great day. We were lucky enough to get a table right near the railing. The food was delicious too - we both had chicken wraps with homemade potato chips.
When I got home that night I wanted a nice refreshing drink. I took out my Ninja (love this thing :) ) put some frozen strawberries in it with a can of lemonade concentrate and mixed it up.
Yum :) Strawberry Lemonade with real strawberries. ***********
Yesterday was a lazy day for us. We went to a parade in the morning with the ambulance and then we went home for lunch. After lunch I layed down for a couple minutes and that turned into a two hour nap for both Tim and I. I was not complaining, I have been having a tough time sleeping at night. We went to another parade in the late afternoon. We did not go anywhere for fireworks - we ended up sitting on our front porch listening to the firework to the west and watching a thunderstorm brew to the east. The sunset was nice though..
Stay cool today!
As I am writing this Baby Z has the hiccups. If he comes out of the womb and has the hiccups I will not be surprised. He has them 4-5 times a day. I was up at least twice last night because of the hiccups. I did not sleep well at all last night. I was up almost every hour and when I did wake up I felt wide awake. I woke up at one point and saw this...
Really? She lays on the floor where I put the pillow so she can have something under her head? She is crazy. ***********
So our lunch on Tuesday was great! I love sitting on a deck near the water to eat lunch. It was not too hot out and it was a great day. We were lucky enough to get a table right near the railing. The food was delicious too - we both had chicken wraps with homemade potato chips.
When I got home that night I wanted a nice refreshing drink. I took out my Ninja (love this thing :) ) put some frozen strawberries in it with a can of lemonade concentrate and mixed it up. Yum :) Strawberry Lemonade with real strawberries. ***********Yesterday was a lazy day for us. We went to a parade in the morning with the ambulance and then we went home for lunch. After lunch I layed down for a couple minutes and that turned into a two hour nap for both Tim and I. I was not complaining, I have been having a tough time sleeping at night. We went to another parade in the late afternoon. We did not go anywhere for fireworks - we ended up sitting on our front porch listening to the firework to the west and watching a thunderstorm brew to the east. The sunset was nice though..
Stay cool today!
Grill Pizza
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Last night was a nice relaxing night around here. We made a delicious pizza on the grill. I tried Pizza on the grill last year too. I wanted to share how we did it, so here you go...
I get my pizza dough from our local grocery store - Price Chopper. They have BOGO sales on pizza dough a lot so I get them and freeze them. I took the dough out the night before and put it in the refrigerator to thaw out. Take the dough out about 45 minutes before you are going to start your cooking to let it rise. I then spread it out over a piece of foil so I had something to carry it to the grill on.
I preheated the grill for 5-10 minutes and then put the dough directly on the grates with some Pam sprayed on the grill. After 5-6 minutes we flipped the dough. On the second side I left it for only 3 minutes and then took it to the kitchen to put the toppings on...
I was not coordinated enough to put the dough back on the grill without the foil so I just put foil and pizza back on the grill to finish cooking.
Nothing fancy in this house last night, just the good old pepperoni pizza. You can use any toppings you want to. I would have put broccoli and black olives on it if I had any in the fridge. It was delicious and of course I like any excuse to use the grill :)
After dinner last night we went to meet a co-worker of mine who used to be a certified car seat installer/inspector. Is that what they are called? She helped us install the base for the car seat in Tim's truck. She did my car last week. We are all set for Baby Z's arrival - we can take him home :). After we got back and completed some things around the house we ended up in the nursery just sitting there and talking. Scribbles and Nutmeg were in there too. They think it is their room I think. They are constantly in the room sleeping on the floor.
What is on tap for today? Well, I have to get my walk in before it gets any warmer here. I did not get my walk in yesterday because I went to a few different stores looking for a pool noodle before I found one and did not have time for a walk by the time I got home. The pool noodle was for the car seat - it is cut into pieces and used to prop the base up more to get the right angle.
I have a doctor's appointment today. After today's appointment I will have one every week until our little guys decides to come out and meet us.
Has anyone tried pizza on the grill?
I get my pizza dough from our local grocery store - Price Chopper. They have BOGO sales on pizza dough a lot so I get them and freeze them. I took the dough out the night before and put it in the refrigerator to thaw out. Take the dough out about 45 minutes before you are going to start your cooking to let it rise. I then spread it out over a piece of foil so I had something to carry it to the grill on.
I preheated the grill for 5-10 minutes and then put the dough directly on the grates with some Pam sprayed on the grill. After 5-6 minutes we flipped the dough. On the second side I left it for only 3 minutes and then took it to the kitchen to put the toppings on...I was not coordinated enough to put the dough back on the grill without the foil so I just put foil and pizza back on the grill to finish cooking. Nothing fancy in this house last night, just the good old pepperoni pizza. You can use any toppings you want to. I would have put broccoli and black olives on it if I had any in the fridge. It was delicious and of course I like any excuse to use the grill :)After dinner last night we went to meet a co-worker of mine who used to be a certified car seat installer/inspector. Is that what they are called? She helped us install the base for the car seat in Tim's truck. She did my car last week. We are all set for Baby Z's arrival - we can take him home :). After we got back and completed some things around the house we ended up in the nursery just sitting there and talking. Scribbles and Nutmeg were in there too. They think it is their room I think. They are constantly in the room sleeping on the floor.
What is on tap for today? Well, I have to get my walk in before it gets any warmer here. I did not get my walk in yesterday because I went to a few different stores looking for a pool noodle before I found one and did not have time for a walk by the time I got home. The pool noodle was for the car seat - it is cut into pieces and used to prop the base up more to get the right angle.
I have a doctor's appointment today. After today's appointment I will have one every week until our little guys decides to come out and meet us.
Has anyone tried pizza on the grill?
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
My 33rd Birthday and Favorite Hangouts
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Yesterday was my 33rd birthday! It started out with a really, really late breakfast at Denny's (since I slept in) and then I went out with my friend for the night. Well, on the way to the mall I got a flat. We were on the freeway and it was just Juliet, Michele, and I. It was extremely hot and I had the baby in the car. I didn't even know if we had a spare but thankfully we did. Phew! This is the second time Michele was with me when I got a flat and we had to figure out how to change a tire together. LOL. It's probably a good experience for us so I'm not stuck when I'm alone. We finally headed off with black hands and nothing to clean them with till we got to the mall. Now I know why mechanics use special soap because we couldn't completely get the black off. Michele and I were super embarrassed when we had to hand a card to the cashier and our hands were dirty looking. Ha ha. We tried scrubbing and scrubbing.
By the wayyyy! Check out this awesome site I found where you can get free treats on your birthday! http://www.freebirthdaytreats.com/
Yesterday when we were out for breakfast with the kids, I was soooo proud of them. It's not easy to have 7 kids and have peace and quiet all the time. However, they were super respectful to the server and talked quietly and stayed in their seats. All the hard work of training becomes more noticeable when we go out like that in public. That's not to say it's always perfect of course. It's just when Charles and I weren't taking our family out very much, there was not a lot of training moments. Now that we are getting out more, it gives us more opportunities to train them on behavior in public. I've had my share of embarrassing moments!
We love living nearby an IKEA and it's even cooler that they started doing Kids Eat Free every Tuesday! It's a HUGE store that is two story and you get TONS of exercise just walking half of it. You can get lost really easy but since we've been there so many times we can find our way out. We still haven't learned all the shortcuts though. They have a restaurant on the second floor and it's so cheap to eat there. Well, Tuesday we took our family there and all the kids ate free and Charles and I each got dinner for only $3.99 each. Our favorite is the meatball plate with the sides. Seriously, that is so cheap. Every time I go I get a coffee there but I found out that since I signed up for their card (those cards you take to the store and it gets you money off) I get a free coffee every time I go. SWEET! I get coffee every time I go anyway! Seriously, it cost us $10 to eat there for our family of 9. You can't beat that. I have a feeling we'll be eating there for dinner at least twice a month now. They also have a kid check in area and our kids love it. The kids that are too young or two old to go in the fun kid watch get an ice cream cone. IKEA is one of our favorite hangouts.
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| Michele helping change the tire |
By the wayyyy! Check out this awesome site I found where you can get free treats on your birthday! http://www.freebirthdaytreats.com/
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| Juliet |
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| Charles, Chaz, and Ryan at IKEA |
Prayers for a Job
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Oh my gosh, it is so hard to get an available computer around this large family. Ha ha. So I have something important to ask. My husband is currently out of work and he has a second interview with a company tomorrow. He has been out of his field for three years since the economy went down and this is the first time he's been able to find any work in it. Please, please pray for favor for us. This is huge, it's what he went to college for and although he's been able to find some work out of his field, the pay is not so great So Charles getting this job would be huge for us. He's incredibly smart, my man is. Heh heh. I'm so proud of him.
We have been wanting to get out more with our family but it's been so incredibly hot outside we tend to just stay inside. However, we did go to the YMCA yesterday and swim. Of course we brought a friend with us, Ryan's best friend. Usually we bring an extra kid with us when we go places. Not sure why but we just always have. It is fun having adventures with this family. :) If we had to pick between having brand new things or going on more adventures, this family picks adventures every time. Living frugal so we can afford to go out to fun places together or travel has always been our first choice. It's just that our party size is getting bigger. LOL. By the way, we are one short of a group rate.
Oh my gosh, it is so hard to get an available computer around this large family. Ha ha. So I have something important to ask. My husband is currently out of work and he has a second interview with a company tomorrow. He has been out of his field for three years since the economy went down and this is the first time he's been able to find any work in it. Please, please pray for favor for us. This is huge, it's what he went to college for and although he's been able to find some work out of his field, the pay is not so great So Charles getting this job would be huge for us. He's incredibly smart, my man is. Heh heh. I'm so proud of him.We have been wanting to get out more with our family but it's been so incredibly hot outside we tend to just stay inside. However, we did go to the YMCA yesterday and swim. Of course we brought a friend with us, Ryan's best friend. Usually we bring an extra kid with us when we go places. Not sure why but we just always have. It is fun having adventures with this family. :) If we had to pick between having brand new things or going on more adventures, this family picks adventures every time. Living frugal so we can afford to go out to fun places together or travel has always been our first choice. It's just that our party size is getting bigger. LOL. By the way, we are one short of a group rate.
The Curse of Hollywood
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Can you believe this? Man, time has changed! I've always thought the models in the runway were waaaaaay too skinny that it was gross. When I was a teen I would try and drink Ensure shakes because I felt that I was too skinny. It didn't work and I didn't gain any weight. I probably thought like that because I wasn't raised with a TV and didn't read the teen magazines so I didn't feel that pressure to be deathly skinny from Hollyweird. I'm telling you, kids get that vibe from those places. When you are sheltered from that, you don't feel that pressure. Hollywood has really, really twisted our view of what is beautiful. I bet half the women in America would not even worry about dieting if it weren't for the sick view of what's considered beautiful. Of course obesity is unhealthy and that's a reason to diet but I see perfectly healthy women worrying about their weight. I've been frustrated at myself for my weight and I have to keep mentally slapping myself and telling myself that I just had a baby a month ago.
Have you seen this? I love it! I have it printed out for my kids and I'm gonna frame it. Talk about taking it down to where kids can really understand it. I read it to my family with a southern drawl and my husband and kids loved it. Ha ha.
Ashley has been telling me how much she can't wait to be a mommy. I was sitting down talking to Juliet and Ashley came up with her dolly and was copying everything I was saying. Later, Ivy joined with her doll right next to me and they were copying every word. It was so cute. I've been telling Ashley to just enjoy being little but she insists she's gonna grow up, get married, then have lots and lots of babies and she can't wait. Heh heh... Fine with me since that'll make me a happy Grandma. Still, I'm in no hurry for my own babies to grow up.
Can you believe this? Man, time has changed! I've always thought the models in the runway were waaaaaay too skinny that it was gross. When I was a teen I would try and drink Ensure shakes because I felt that I was too skinny. It didn't work and I didn't gain any weight. I probably thought like that because I wasn't raised with a TV and didn't read the teen magazines so I didn't feel that pressure to be deathly skinny from Hollyweird. I'm telling you, kids get that vibe from those places. When you are sheltered from that, you don't feel that pressure. Hollywood has really, really twisted our view of what is beautiful. I bet half the women in America would not even worry about dieting if it weren't for the sick view of what's considered beautiful. Of course obesity is unhealthy and that's a reason to diet but I see perfectly healthy women worrying about their weight. I've been frustrated at myself for my weight and I have to keep mentally slapping myself and telling myself that I just had a baby a month ago. Have you seen this? I love it! I have it printed out for my kids and I'm gonna frame it. Talk about taking it down to where kids can really understand it. I read it to my family with a southern drawl and my husband and kids loved it. Ha ha. Ashley has been telling me how much she can't wait to be a mommy. I was sitting down talking to Juliet and Ashley came up with her dolly and was copying everything I was saying. Later, Ivy joined with her doll right next to me and they were copying every word. It was so cute. I've been telling Ashley to just enjoy being little but she insists she's gonna grow up, get married, then have lots and lots of babies and she can't wait. Heh heh... Fine with me since that'll make me a happy Grandma. Still, I'm in no hurry for my own babies to grow up.
When Husband is Home We Play
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Does anyone find it difficult to do your housework and other duties when your husband is home? In the past when my husband would have a day off from work it was for playtime and fun. Now that he is home every day we just want to play and hang out. I get behind on my housework and laundry. Either he is just THAT much fun to be around or it's a switch in my brain that I can't work around. I like having daddy home and so do the kids.
Well, as much as I love having my husband home he does have another job interview tomorrow. This is my dilemma... Charles had a job offer last week for a really, really good company. The problem is they are slow to hire but then people stay there for a lifetime. It's SUCH a good company to work for. Well, they won't give Charles an answer for 2-3 weeks. The office really works together on who to hire and they have meetings about it. Since some are on vacation, they have to wait till everyone is together to decide. Where does that leave us for 2-3 weeks? Still no income till they decide. However, he has a job interview tomorrow that sounds really interested and could be an immediate hire. The only problem is that it's only a contract job and it will run out after awhile. Do we just take the job because it's an immediate hire or wait for the other? What if we wait and the other doesn't end up hiring? Sigh. If we had the money we would wait but the way the economy is right now you have to just take what you can get. I prayed last night that God's will would be done. I prayed that God would just shut the doors that would need to be shut and open doors where He would want them opened. That took some relief off my tortured mind about this.
Juliet has been smiling a lot and is just a happy baby. She rarely fusses and only does when she's hungry. Ivy was deemed her "buddy" so she is happy to get stuff for her when needed. Caleb is Ryan's buddy and Kyle is Chaz's buddy. It works out good say when we are in public and one has to go to the bathroom then they aren't alone. :) Chaz took this picture of Juliet.
Does anyone find it difficult to do your housework and other duties when your husband is home? In the past when my husband would have a day off from work it was for playtime and fun. Now that he is home every day we just want to play and hang out. I get behind on my housework and laundry. Either he is just THAT much fun to be around or it's a switch in my brain that I can't work around. I like having daddy home and so do the kids.Well, as much as I love having my husband home he does have another job interview tomorrow. This is my dilemma... Charles had a job offer last week for a really, really good company. The problem is they are slow to hire but then people stay there for a lifetime. It's SUCH a good company to work for. Well, they won't give Charles an answer for 2-3 weeks. The office really works together on who to hire and they have meetings about it. Since some are on vacation, they have to wait till everyone is together to decide. Where does that leave us for 2-3 weeks? Still no income till they decide. However, he has a job interview tomorrow that sounds really interested and could be an immediate hire. The only problem is that it's only a contract job and it will run out after awhile. Do we just take the job because it's an immediate hire or wait for the other? What if we wait and the other doesn't end up hiring? Sigh. If we had the money we would wait but the way the economy is right now you have to just take what you can get. I prayed last night that God's will would be done. I prayed that God would just shut the doors that would need to be shut and open doors where He would want them opened. That took some relief off my tortured mind about this.Juliet has been smiling a lot and is just a happy baby. She rarely fusses and only does when she's hungry. Ivy was deemed her "buddy" so she is happy to get stuff for her when needed. Caleb is Ryan's buddy and Kyle is Chaz's buddy. It works out good say when we are in public and one has to go to the bathroom then they aren't alone. :) Chaz took this picture of Juliet.
Raking In Savings from CVS
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Yesterday my friend and I went out to CVS to see what kind of deals we could get. We knew we were gonna pick up 6 bottles of Bayer Aspirin for free but since they were out we just got a rain check. However, I got some other really good deals like Pantene ProV for only $1 each and pads for .77 cents each. Here are my favorite deals that I got yesterday
All makeup (except for the Covergirl was 50% off) was 75% off then we used coupons for each item. Should have cost $83.73. Paid $2.90.
Diapers 75% off they should have cost $57.49. Paid $14.90. Was only $2.49 each.
We love savings and hop on them when we can. I was already getting low on diapers and once I saw a shelf that said 75% off, you bet I was gonna clear the rest of them out. Diapers are a constant need around here with two in diapers and one in Pullups at night. The makeup was a big deal because I was already in need of some. Paying under $3 total for it was a major score since they had lots of makeup on clearance. This is why I mostly buy any makeup from CVS or Walgreens (drugstores) because since they keep such a large selection, they tend to clearance them off more. That's when I take those clearance items, put coupons with them, and rake in major savings. My nonfood pantry is getting filled up with things we actually use. It's nice that when we run out we can just go straight to the pantry to get another. Most items in there were free or at least 75% off after sales and coupons.
All makeup (except for the Covergirl was 50% off) was 75% off then we used coupons for each item. Should have cost $83.73. Paid $2.90.Diapers 75% off they should have cost $57.49. Paid $14.90. Was only $2.49 each.
We love savings and hop on them when we can. I was already getting low on diapers and once I saw a shelf that said 75% off, you bet I was gonna clear the rest of them out. Diapers are a constant need around here with two in diapers and one in Pullups at night. The makeup was a big deal because I was already in need of some. Paying under $3 total for it was a major score since they had lots of makeup on clearance. This is why I mostly buy any makeup from CVS or Walgreens (drugstores) because since they keep such a large selection, they tend to clearance them off more. That's when I take those clearance items, put coupons with them, and rake in major savings. My nonfood pantry is getting filled up with things we actually use. It's nice that when we run out we can just go straight to the pantry to get another. Most items in there were free or at least 75% off after sales and coupons.
7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi
Surviving in a Tough Economy
To contact us Click HERE
Prayers were answered! My husband has a job back in his field again! It's been a tough 3 years with him losing his job to the economy. I had to check my attitude many times when it got really tough. I didn't have the spending money I used to have but quickly learned how to be frugal. I didn't know bargain hunting would be so fun! :D I learned that saving money and being responsible is important no matter how much money you make. I also learned to plan for the future rather than think what I have is permanent.
Nothing in this life is guaranteed. The last 3 years he had to find work way out of his field just so we could have something. I was proud of him because instead of wallowing in the mud and refusing to work unless he had THAT pay, he took a pay cut and stuck it out. Finally, he's back in his career field and back to what he used to make. In the last 3 years I've learned how incredibly wasteful we were and how to be resourceful. I feel like God was doing a heart check on me. Rather than rely on myself, I learned to rely on Him and have faith. God gives and God can take away. It's easy to smile when we have everything going for us but what about when that's all taken away? Can we still praise God?
I never want my husband to work extra hard just so I can have nice things. I will sacrifice wherever needed to have him home and able to enjoy his family and not have to work his life away. I know some have to just to survive. I mean, having the choice, if it meant a smaller house, an apartment, whatever it takes, I'd rather have him home. Awhile back when I was questioning whether or not to have any more kids. Could we make it? How will our finances cover it? I had all those doubts and a man walked into my husband's office and wanted to talk to him. Without him knowing anything about us he said he felt that God wanted him to share something with Charles about faith. He said God has a blessing on families and to trust Him. As God gives us children, he will also make a way. I believe we had 3 kids at the time. He wasn't the only stranger that came up to us and shared like that. We had many incidents like that. It's amazing how true that's been and how God has always provided. I've learned on my heart to be very, very frugal. Whether it's making money online, spending hours each week couponing and looking for deals, or making cut wherever needed, it can be done to save money! I've even raised chickens and sold them to homes where people wanted to have fresh eggs. That was pretty fun and I'm thinking about starting that up again. I thank God He's kept His promise and kept us afloat through the tough times. I've learned some valuable lessons of not being wasteful that I'm gonna keep with me.
Prayers were answered! My husband has a job back in his field again! It's been a tough 3 years with him losing his job to the economy. I had to check my attitude many times when it got really tough. I didn't have the spending money I used to have but quickly learned how to be frugal. I didn't know bargain hunting would be so fun! :D I learned that saving money and being responsible is important no matter how much money you make. I also learned to plan for the future rather than think what I have is permanent. Nothing in this life is guaranteed. The last 3 years he had to find work way out of his field just so we could have something. I was proud of him because instead of wallowing in the mud and refusing to work unless he had THAT pay, he took a pay cut and stuck it out. Finally, he's back in his career field and back to what he used to make. In the last 3 years I've learned how incredibly wasteful we were and how to be resourceful. I feel like God was doing a heart check on me. Rather than rely on myself, I learned to rely on Him and have faith. God gives and God can take away. It's easy to smile when we have everything going for us but what about when that's all taken away? Can we still praise God?
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| My dad and Charles |
Larger Families Living in a Glass Bowl
To contact us Click HERE
We joined this awesome and new community center that opened up and it's waaaay better than the YMCA we always go to. One day we decided just to do a tour and see what they offered and we were blown away. Even MORE, we were blown away that they offer music lessons to kids for a low cost. There are many homeschooling benefits there. My kids can do the sports in August, music lessons, and can swim in the indoor pool all year round no matter the weather. My husband does Muay Thai and although I'm not sure they have that there, they do have boxing and a full boxing ring. :D After seeing everything they had we quickly signed up. Also, they will be offering ballet lessons which the girls have been waiting and waiting for.
I don't know about you but I can't stand cabin fever and ALWAYS being indoors. We need to have an outlet, a place to go to just run off energy, work out, play, and just get our mind off our work. Who doesn't? The gym though is my favorite and if I could, I'd spend at least an hour to maybe two hours a day in there. I love being in the gym, the sound of the weights, and just working out. However, it's not so easy to do that and I haven't been able to go daily like when I was a teen. I miss it though! So, maybe just three times a week for now at the gym.
Being that Juliet is a newborn and I don't want her getting wet, I have to sit out while Charles swims with the kids. Someone has to always be with Caleb and Ashley in the water so I just brought a picnic and happily took pictures. :D Juliet is such a sunshine and my sidekick so we were fine just sitting and watching the kids play.
Getting out doesn't necessarily have to always cost a tons of money, that's why we joined a community center. Usually we are at the YMCA every year but they just didn't have much to offer. It was just a gym and a pool. I'm super excited this place was built because I feel like for such a low monthly fee my large family can just get out and hang out here whenever we want.
When I was signing up I asked if there were any other large families that come. I love meeting other moms with lots of kids. They said yes and they had just been in the other day. I said I hoped I would run into them sometime. The guy said, "Yeah, they were here. The kids were all over the stairs and being crazy." Hmmmm... that statement was loaded. I got the hint that he was saying the mom couldn't control them but he wasn't really being rude. I think since large families get watched more, there is a bit of a higher standard. You wouldn't notice as much if one or two kids were just going up and down the stairs. Sure they laugh and make some stomping noises but times that by seven or 10 and it can seem really chaotic and out of control. Imagine a small daycare set loose on the stairs. Therefore, I do get on my kids a bit more about setting an example for other kids. "But mom, that kid is doing it!" I know but that doesn't mean it's okay is the same thing I tell them every time. For awhile there we were hardly ever getting out to save money so when I would take the kids out, it was really tough. We've been having to train our kids and remind them again that in a restaurant you can't talk as loud or be as wiggly as you would at our own dining room table. My older three had lots of training because we went out A LOT with them. My younger three had very little training since we rarely were going out so we've been really working with them. Baby Juliet's job is to just be cute. :) We even write the littlest ones a chore card that says "Be cute". Caleb is turning three pretty soon and he'll be getting his first chore. There first chore at three is always to pick up shoes and put in shoe bin.
Do you ever notice when you are in a restaurant and people are just staring? I don't think it's because they are being rude but more that they are just curious how a large family functions. They want to see how you control your kids, what their manners are like, and how everyone interacts. One time we were in a little pizza joint and a lady kept staring at us. I felt a bit uncomfortable but just tried to ignore it. She was alone and dressed very nice. Well, when we went to go pay for our food the waiter said we were paid for. I asked him how that was possible and he said that lady had paid and wanted us to know we had a nice family. I did notice that she had a sad look on her face and was very quiet. Then I wondered what life was like for her. Was she able to have any children? Does she have children but they are grown and raised? Is her family broken? I had no idea but my heart went out to her because she had sad and longing look on her face.
We joined this awesome and new community center that opened up and it's waaaay better than the YMCA we always go to. One day we decided just to do a tour and see what they offered and we were blown away. Even MORE, we were blown away that they offer music lessons to kids for a low cost. There are many homeschooling benefits there. My kids can do the sports in August, music lessons, and can swim in the indoor pool all year round no matter the weather. My husband does Muay Thai and although I'm not sure they have that there, they do have boxing and a full boxing ring. :D After seeing everything they had we quickly signed up. Also, they will be offering ballet lessons which the girls have been waiting and waiting for.I don't know about you but I can't stand cabin fever and ALWAYS being indoors. We need to have an outlet, a place to go to just run off energy, work out, play, and just get our mind off our work. Who doesn't? The gym though is my favorite and if I could, I'd spend at least an hour to maybe two hours a day in there. I love being in the gym, the sound of the weights, and just working out. However, it's not so easy to do that and I haven't been able to go daily like when I was a teen. I miss it though! So, maybe just three times a week for now at the gym.
Being that Juliet is a newborn and I don't want her getting wet, I have to sit out while Charles swims with the kids. Someone has to always be with Caleb and Ashley in the water so I just brought a picnic and happily took pictures. :D Juliet is such a sunshine and my sidekick so we were fine just sitting and watching the kids play. Getting out doesn't necessarily have to always cost a tons of money, that's why we joined a community center. Usually we are at the YMCA every year but they just didn't have much to offer. It was just a gym and a pool. I'm super excited this place was built because I feel like for such a low monthly fee my large family can just get out and hang out here whenever we want.
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| Ivy at the top |
Do you ever notice when you are in a restaurant and people are just staring? I don't think it's because they are being rude but more that they are just curious how a large family functions. They want to see how you control your kids, what their manners are like, and how everyone interacts. One time we were in a little pizza joint and a lady kept staring at us. I felt a bit uncomfortable but just tried to ignore it. She was alone and dressed very nice. Well, when we went to go pay for our food the waiter said we were paid for. I asked him how that was possible and he said that lady had paid and wanted us to know we had a nice family. I did notice that she had a sad look on her face and was very quiet. Then I wondered what life was like for her. Was she able to have any children? Does she have children but they are grown and raised? Is her family broken? I had no idea but my heart went out to her because she had sad and longing look on her face.
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