We Won!!

Monday, May 31, 2010

So this is fun!

I am a “fan” of Cotton Candy Shop on Facebook. The owner of the business, Lauren, was running a fun contest earlier this month to celebrate her two year anniversary. She asked that anyone interested in participating submit a photograph of their baby/child with a sign that read “I Love Cotton Candy Shop,” “Cotton Candy Shop Rocks” and the like.

With the help of my sister, we were able to create this photograph:















Everyone participating would receive a free headband and bow, and the winner of the most creative “sign” won a little something special in addition to their new headband. Well, WE WON! Can you believe it?! Of all of the precious babies with their signs, and all of the sweet pictures, Emily’s photograph was chosen. I feel more than honored to have the most creative picture, and I feel even more honored to sport some of Lauren’s beautiful work.

I recently purchased a tutu from Lauren, as well, to support a young child with Cystic Fibrosis. We are waiting with bated breath for the arrival of our new Ginger Blue Tutu, and we couldn’t be MORE excited to wear it! I speak for Emily, of course – she is excited, I promise!!

Having said all of this, I am a huge supporter of small businesses, and I often encourage you to do the same. Please visit Lauren’s website and see her beautifully unique artistry. There are many ways on her website to become a model for her shoots, and get involved with her work. She has found a wonderful way to stay home with her children while finding a very successful outlet for her creativity.

If you are a member of Facebook, simply search Cotton Candy Shop and become a fan. This will allow you to see any specials or fun contests that she is currently running. Doesn’t it just make you want to eat an entire bag of cotton candy?! Maybe it’s just me...

Put on your Patriotic Panties!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

These next few days, and even the days after Memorial Day has come and gone, are fabulous opportunities for savings at every turn. Retailers are taking any holiday they can get their hands on as a reason to have a sale. What’s the downside, right?! I don’t see one! I’m not a Veteran, a Dad or a Grad, but I’ll sure take advantage of the sales for them!

Because profit margins are sagging, stores are more inclined to offer consumers incentives to patronize their stores, and Memorial Day holiday is a catchy way to tap into your wallet. Spring into Summer, Memorial Day Extravaganza, etc. You’re starting to get the idea.

Keep your eyes and mailboxes open to all of the stepped-up advertising you’ll be seeing this weekend. Keep in mind the things that you having been hoping to purchase, saving up for, or are waiting for JUST the right opportunity to pounce! If you don’t receive advertising via email or snail mail, chances are really good that you could pop into your favorite store and see savings on every aisle.

I hope to see you out and about saving this weekend!

Jeans, The Dreaded Topic!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Okay, so don’t judge or hate me before you read the whole blog!

If you know me, you know that I am BY NO MEANS a stick. I am on the shorter side at 5’2”, and have never been “skinny”. More on the rounder side of average, I would say.

For some reason, I am TOTALLY unable to find flattering, trendy jeans that aren’t three feet past my toes, or worse – the “short” length makes it look like I’m expecting rain. Not cute.

So, I saw my sister in a nice looking pair of jeans that are dressy enough to wear to work on Casual Friday, but easily transferrable for casual t-shirts and tennis shoes. I decided to take a chance and try some on for myself. Here is the part where you don’t judge…

The jeans are Charlotte Russe’s Refuge denim line. WAIT WAIT WAIT! They are so cute and flattering, and they are inexpensive at $30 per pair. Charlotte Russe carries a wide array of sizes, and their jeans come in short, regular, and long lengths. The pair that I purchased are dark wash denim, with no “wear” or “holes,” low rise (but not so low that you see crack) and they have a wide hem at the bottom which allows me to wear them cuffed if I want to wear flip flops without them dragging on the ground. They are not teenie-bopper pants that scream, “Why do you have your kid’s jeans on?” and I am interested in purchasing another pair so that I don’t wear my first pair out prematurely.

I like the dark wash in particular because I think they look more expensive and are more easily dressed up. To keep them this way, I wash them inside out and I do not dry them. This prevents the fading and preserves the “new” look of my jeans.

So…if you simply cannot bear to walk into Charlotte Russe to purchase your jeans, or maybe you’re looking for something a bit different, try JC Penney!

With the availability of Macy’s and Dillard’s in the same shopping centers, I usually bypass JC Penney for some unknown reason. However, I went into JC Penney on a whim when I was desperate for some cute jeans. I found mine in the juniors section (which goes up to a size 15) and I couldn’t love them more than I do. They are Arizona brand (don’t judge me!) and they are worn looking with several faux holes and purposeful tears.

“Holey Jeans” will run you $100+ at Abercrombie or Hollister, and I can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money on something that I may, or may not like next month! They have flap-style back pockets, which I especially like, and the best part….THEY WERE ONLY $25! They are truly my favorite pair of jeans and I wish I had two of them, too!

If you struggle to find jeans that fit you properly, I urge you to at least give these two styles a try. All it takes is 5 minutes in a dressing room to decide if you like what you see. What’s not to love?!

Let your creative side out!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Hello! Sorry I haven’t written in a few days, but I don’t like to write just to write. My goal is to write things that will be of true value to you.

So, yesterday, my sister and I decided to take a trip to Hobby Lobby. It had been a few weeks since we had both been in, and we wanted to see everything in the whole store.

We browsed aisle-by-aisle, and we were both so impressed with the selection and variety, as well as the sales they were offering. About half of the store was on sale, and I am confident that the other half will be on sale next week! Hobby Lobby is really great about their sale items.

We were both looking for inexpensive ways to spruce up items that we already have in our homes. For example, I purchased a few drawer pulls that were ½ off, and the new pulls give the appearance of refurbished nightstands or nightstands that got a little “face lift”! I’m really happy with the result, and it only cost me around $5!

As a busy mom with a busy family, I began a habit years ago that has worked well and keeps me from following behind everyone, folding and refolding towels. I purchase attractive, decorative hooks that hang in the bathroom, usually at two different levels (Daddy’s is tall, Mommy’s is short) for hanging towels. The appearance is appealing and the labor is quick and easy. Instead of folding your towel in thirds, you simply hang the center of your towel on a hook. The towels dry more thoroughly and I don’t find myself fixing everyone’s towels because they’re crooked or hurriedly folded. So, I purchased a couple of hooks for our guest bathroom/Emily’s bathroom so that I can start moving toward redecorating that bathroom. The hooks were less than $2 after the 50% off sale. Score!

Hobby Lobby has also introduced something that is new to me. In each aisle, there are inspirational pamphlets that are free for the taking. These pamphlets highlight merchandise that Hobby Lobby carries regularly, and what you can do with these items. Everyone has ideas and concepts floating around in their mind, but it is so refreshing to see what someone else has come up with. I picked up about 10 inspirational pamphlets and will put my own personal spin on some of their ideas. Instead of feeling “stuck,” I feel more creative and motivated to try some of their suggestions.

As always, if you are a member of Hobby Lobby’s email distribution list, you can preview the coming week’s sales on Sundays. They also send a coupon that is usually 40% off one regularly priced item. Although I primarily purchase things that are ½ off or clearance, it is nice to take the coupon with you JUST IN CASE you can’t live without something that isn’t on sale while you’re there.

We always try to find the best way to create what we want without spending a lot of money, and Hobby Lobby is our go-to destination for help with our projects. Bows, quilts, dresses, wall-hangings, décor, home fragrance, and party decorations are on the short list of things that we shop Hobby Lobby for on a regular basis.

You will be so excited and proud of yourself when you make something with your own hands and see how beautifully it turns out!

Bottoms Up!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

So, I told you a while back that I signed up at Proctor & Gamble’s website to receive samples of their products. I chose several products including Pamper’s Cruisers to try on for size.

You’ve heard me talk (a couple of times!) about my undying love for Parent’s Choice diapers. However, three free diapers is THREE FREE DIAPERS and I wanted to see what all the hype was about.

Well, we used all three diapers today. And…THEY STINK! They have ridiculous pictures covering the entire diaper, which I hate. I hate being able to see cartoon faces through her shorts, and I saw Bert and Ernie ALL DAY LONG. No, no, no.

Set aside the aesthetic issues with the diapers. Whatever gel-like absorbency aid they put in these things (perhaps the dry max feature) makes your baby look like they have a huge load in their diaper – even when it’s dry! NO GOOD. I was checking her fanny all day long thinking I had left her in a wet diaper too long.

The diaper feels extremely heavy after it gets damp after one wetting. Surely, that must feel uncomfortable on your toddler’s bum, too.

Something that I hadn’t seen before, however, was an extension tab that unfolds from the front of the diaper. The tab lines up with the sticky tab from the back of the diaper, allowing you to line your baby’s diaper up correctly even if they are squirming and wiggling all around.

Although the tabs were helpful, I would never purchase Pamper’s Cruisers under ANY circumstance. They are more costly than their store-brand equivalents, and they were nothing but an ugly, cartoon-covered hassle!

Butt Out!

Note: This blog is a re-post from March that I thought you might find helpful!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Since I became a Mom 16 months ago, I’ve had several friends ask me if I had any helpful hints or secrets to offer up. The biggest secret that I am constantly having to restrain myself from telling people in a given store on a given day is…BUY CHEAP DIAPERS!

I have tried a LOT of styles and brands. When we were expecting, both my husband and I were Public School teachers. My school hosted a baby shower for me, and his school hosted a diaper pounding for him. Diaper pounding is just an old-fashioned way of saying that everyone participating brings the expectant parent diapers or wipes. If you are ever offered a shower, ASK FOR A DIAPER POUNDING! They are awesome! We didn’t buy a single diaper for 8 weeks and we lasted even longer than that with the wipes.

So, having said all of that, we have tried a lot of different kinds of diapers! The diapers that held the most “matter” without leaking, and stayed in place, were the Parent’s Choice at Wal-Mart. They are also significantly less expensive than their name-brand equivalents. The Up & Up brand of diapers at Target are also superior to any other diapers we have found. However, I have an issue with big, silly prints on the diapers as if my kid even cares about what her diaper has on it. Winny the Pooh?! Seriously? My kid can’t even see her butt, so the only person who gets “enjoyment” out of the pictures on her booty is me, and I don’t like seeing Eeyore poking out beneath a sheer onesie! The Parent’s Choice brand diapers have a small, gender-neutral pattern around the top of the diaper that does not seem to show through clothing. The Up & Up brand diapers have GIANT blue and green dots on the whole diaper. These dots DO show through her clothes, making Parent’s Choice my all-time favorite diaper when she was 6 pounds and now that she is 25 pounds.

Don’t let people pressure you into buying the newest, most fabulous product on the market. Stick with the Parent’s Choice or Up & Up diapers!

Say Cheese!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

I am so INCREDIBLY happy with the outcome of our photography session on Saturday!

As is par for the course, my 16-month-old daughter, Emily, decided to be a HUGE PILL for our photo session, and would not cooperate no matter what we bribed her with!

She was fussing, hollering, and carrying on the entire time. True to form, Lisa Felthous of Lisa Felthous Photography was amazingly patient and pulled stuff out of her rear in order to get Emily to look nice for our pictures.

It will be SO hard to choose from the 80-or-so pictures in our slideshow.

To view her work, visit LisaFelthousPhotography.com, click "client viewing" and our password is Emily.

If you are interested in portaiture for any occasion, please consider Lisa Felthous Photography. We do our best to patronize local small businesses, and we encourage you to do the same!

Shopping Extravaganza

Sunday, May 9, 2010

So, I’ve been waiting for this weekend for a while now. We have been spending the last 5-6 weeks eating all of the groceries in our kitchen to the best of our ability. I’ve been purchasing only foods and dry goods that we needed to finish off everything in our arsenal. When I looked in the pantry on Friday, I saw rice, Triscuits, and cereal. In the fridge – milk, condiments, grapes, and celery. The freezer: dinner rolls, popsicles, and some banana baby food. Now, don’t call CPS…I did all of this on purpose.

Before you freak – see my blog entitled “Stretching Your Meal Options” from April 1st.

Before I got to the end of the groceries and meal options, I knew that my shopping ventures would be expensive because we were out of everything: mustard, ranch, paper towel, canned goods, chicken breast, EVERYTHING. You name it, we were out of it! So I started by buttering up my husband. “Babe, we’re going to need to do the BIG PUSH this weekend and it’s gonna be ugly.” This way, he was prepared to go with me, help me, and make the whole nightmare that much easier.

However, you KNOW that when you shop with your husband, you often buy stuff that isn’t on the list; it’s just how it goes. They don’t usually do the shopping, so they see things that you never buy, and they want them! I, personally, will take the help and spend a few extra dollars.

Having said all of this, we went to four different stores in two days to complete our list. We started at Aldi – our brand new, discount grocery store to save as much money as we possibly could, and scratch as much off the list as possible. I had a detailed list, but I certainly picked things up as I saw them. After Aldi, we hit up Big Lots to get the majority of the list taken care of. They do not have a cold or frozen section, and I knew I’d need to visit Target or Wal-Mart thirdly.

Big Lots was important for one reason, mostly: Insanely low prices on sandwich bags in all sizes. A nice bonus was the canned goods, crackers, pretzels and chips, and dry goods like pasta and rice all at extremely discounted prices.

Target was third on my list – produce (only the items that I was unable to purchase at Aldi), lunch meat, and Stauffer’s Whales – found in the $1 section which beats the HECK out of the prices on Goldfish.

Wal-Mart was last, and we wanted to kill ourselves momentarily, as we were TIRED OF SHOPPING! Paper towel, frozen chicken breasts, store-brand allergy medicine, and canned tuna fish. DONE!

Now, we have purchased everything that we need except a FEW things that we only purchase in bulk at Sam’s…Purina Dog Food, Splenda, Coffee, lean ground beef, and bacon.

Stay with me – I know you’re exhausted! We were tired and cranky by the end.

Let’s break it down…
1. Aldi: $78.16
2. Big Lots: $51.39
3. Target: $36.54
4. Wal-Mart: $35.71

TOTAL: $201.80

By taking some time…and a great deal of patients…to travel to four different stores in order to complete my list and save the most money possible, I was able to stuff our pantry, freezer, and refrigerator FULL TO THE BRIM with groceries that will last us about six weeks. Of course I will be going to the store for fresh dairy, produce, and the few items that I still need from Sam’s, but I believe I truly saved a great deal of money by doing it this way.

Give my new technique a try one time, and see how much money you are saving. The savings is significant and it is such a good feeling to empty your pantry as much as possible, and then fill it, starting the whole process over again!

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Candid Camera!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Okay, so I’m super duper excited for tomorrow! We will be having our first EVER professional photographs taken as a family! This is only the third time we have had professional photographs taken in the history of our relationship! (Except our wedding, of course!)

Lisa Felthous, of Lisa Felthous Photography will be photographing us in Las Colinas, Texas tomorrow morning. Visit her WEBSITE, her work is absolutely beautiful.

My Mom, Michelle, and I have been working on a dress and coordinating shirt for Emily and I to wear tomorrow. We picked our fabric a few weeks ago and she finished the sewing portion last night! They turned out beautifully – visit her BLOG to see how we did it!

I am so excited to have some family photographs to display in our home. Visit Lisa Felthous Photography for pricing information and to view her beautiful work. From weddings to senior portraits to expectant parents, she has done it all! Check her out!

Click it!

Wednesday, April 5, 2010

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Have you checked out Michelle's List yet?! HELLO?? Where have you been!?

Get on it!

A Real Bruiser!

May 4, 2010

Sorry I’ve been away for so long! This weekend was a real doozie!

My husband went out-of-town Saturday morning for a short visit to New Mexico with family. He was scheduled to return Sunday evening. Saturday afternoon was filled with fun shopping and lunch with Emily and my sister, Jourdan. My sister and her husband spent Saturday night at our house along with their black lab, Toby.

Because Toby was asleep in the guest room and our two chocolate labs, Libby and DJ were asleep in our room, I decided to close the bedroom door to keep the dogs from romping around and waking the baby during the night. To make a VERY long ordeal short, our room was very dark and I tripped over one of the dogs at 4am, turning my knee into a black and blue baseball. Accompanied with a sexy black eye, (I hit the playpen on the way down) I was looking really good by 7am when Emily woke up.

Around 10:00am, the swelling was continually increasing, and would not go down no matter what I did.

Jourdan and I decided it was time to take a little trip to the Emergency Room – the first of my adult life. We do not have an ER in Wylie where we live, so we prepared to make the 30 minute drive to Medical Center of Plano. Then, I remembered that there was a brand new medical center about 15 minutes away in Richardson.

Richardson Regional Medical Center, here we come!

Why am I telling you all of this stuff? Because our experience at Richardson Regional was ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! We arrived and checked in at 10:30, were admitted to a room at 10:35, and we were seen immediately. I was the only patient in the ER, and nurses were FIGHTING each other to take my blood pressure or my temperature.

Talk about service! I was x-rayed in my room immediately after being evaluated. The x-rays were reviewed about 10 minutes later and my x-rays were normal. I was given an injection for pain, fitted with crutches and my knee was wrapped by one of the nurses. They were incredibly caring, gentle, and speedy with their procedures. We were getting back in the car at 11:30 – only ONE HOUR in the Emergency Room!

I was so impressed with the quality of care, and the overall appearance of the medical center. There was not ONE SPECK of dust or dirt on anything, anywhere! It is a relatively new facility, and appears to be very well taken care of.

If you have access to Richardson Regional Medical Center, located at President George Bush Tollway (Hwy 190) and Renner Road, I highly recommend that you choose their facility over any other. We will continue to keep them in mind should we need emergency care in the future.