I'm Coupon Crazy!

So, I'm usually not the first one to admit when I'm wrong about something, but I'll 'fess up and say that I was completely wrong about coupons. I've used the few coupons my mother would clip for me each week, but I didn't really see any benefit in it. Well, after my friend Wendy told me of the deals she had been getting using coupons and this great website (Southern Savers) I thought I'd give it a shot.

I got my Saturday paper, clipped everything I would be buying anyway and then set off to Harris Teeter. This week was Triple Coupon week, so they would triple any coupon up to $0.99. Cha-ching! I normally try to spend $100 a week on food, so I was thrilled when my I spent $70 and saved $60. And I bought more than enough food for the week!

My best deals were: 3-pack boneless chicken breast, buy 1 get 2 free! and I had a 0.55 coupon for sara lee bread which was on sale for $1.50 so with my tripled coupon it was free.

I then decided to do a little reading about Food Lion and Walgreens and I went yesterday to get a few things. What I really love is that I only bought things I NEED, no spending just because it's on sale.

At Walgreens I bought Walgreens Multivitamins (on sale for $3 with $3 Register Rewards) and Crest Toothpaste (on sale for $1.99 with $1 RR). Total spent: $5 Register Rewards (a coupon for that amount in free product to spend on your next transaction) Earned: $4 I then used my $4 RR to buy a 12 pk of Cottonelle which was on sale for $5 and then a $1 coupon in the April coupon book in the store...you got it, Free!

Three items: Vitamins, Toothpaste and Toilet Paper for $5, yay!

At Food Lion I bought ALL Laundry detergent (on sale for $4 and I had a $2 coupon), Lance Crackers (on sale for $2 and I had a $1 coupon), and Snuggle dryer sheets (on sale for $2.99 and I had a $3 coupon...free again!).

Three Items: Laundry Detergent, Lance Crackers and dryer sheets for $3.

If you total that up, I've spent $80. What will I do with my extra cash...I think I'll splurge on an Old Navy arty cardi (just this week to reward myself, hehe). On sale for $15 and then I'll use this printable coupon for 30% off.

And I'm still under budget...oh yeah, I'm hooked!

Who's Being Sleep Trained Here?

I'm pretty sure we have this whole sleep training thing backwards. I thought the point was to train the child to sleep through the night, not to train the parents to function without sleeping through the night. Well, the Bug is 11 months old today and I'm sad to say that I can probably count on my two hands the number of times that she's slept through the night. She goes to bed around 8:30 and if she makes it to 5:30 then that's "sleeping through the night." I'm putting out a call for help because the RedHead and I are getting a little snippy about who has to get up with her...yes I'm a SAHM, but I didn't sign on for an 11 month sleep strike.

First, let me tell you what we have tried.

EVERYTHING!

No really, we have:
-put her to bed while she's still awake

-tried to let her cry it out (she can cry for 2 hours...without stopping...and mostly without actual tears.)

-tried soothing her back to sleep without picking her up (she will scream and cry and then poop, so I have to pick her up and change her.)

-tried giving her a paci (blah, no go)

-feeding her...or not feeding her in the middle of the night

-cluster feeding before bedtime

We are at a loss as to what we should try next. Please tell me you have some tips! Pretty Please?!

Better Than "WHAT" Cake?!

It's the Better Than Sex Cake...I wish I knew another name for it (especially when I'm trying to tell other people about it) but that's its name and rightly so. It is one of the tastiest cakes I've ever eaten!

So make this cake...

for yourself if your hubby's out of town.
for your hubby if you feel like you might have a headache that night. hehe
or for you both if you think you want to challenge that cake's name!

Ingredients:
Devil's Food Cake Mix
One Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
One Can Smuckers Caramel Icecream Topping
One Container Cool Whip
One Bag Heath Toffee Bits or a 6pk of Heath Candybars

Directions:
1. Bake Cake in a 9x13 pan according to box directions. Cool for 5-10 minutes.
2. In a pot, heat SC Milk and Caramel on low heat until smooth; just about 5 min. (This step isn't essential, but I think if the mixture is a bit runny v. thick it works better.)
3. Using a knife (I actually used a bamboo skewer) poke holes across the top of the cake. Lots of holes!
4. Pour milk/caramel mixture over cake.
5. Top cake with prechopped toffee bits or you can chop your own Heath bars to use. (Reserve about 2 handfuls.
6.Top with Cool Whip and then sprinkle reserved toffee on the top. I also use chocolate syrup to swirl the top...just to make it pretty.

Put cake in the fridge for several hours before serving. It's good warm, but it's wonderful cold!

Here's a picture of last night's cake which I forgot to photograph before we devoured the majority of it, but just to give you an idea:
Now make this cake and see if it lives up to its name!

Top Five Friday...Obsessions

This isn't what you think. I am obsessed, but not in the Ali Larter goin after your man only to get killed by glamazon Beyonce obsessed. More in a neurotic, crazy drive by lady, whose not had a good night's sleep in a very long time!

Now that you're thoroughly confused (I know I have mad grammar and language skills) I'll try to clarify what I mean by sharing my Top Five Obsessions:

#5. Keeping Bug from eating (and possibly choking) on every stray piece of debris she finds. I swear the girl will eat pieces of leaves, stickers, and dog food. I looked at her the other day and thought her mouth was bleeding, but it was actually where she had eaten a bit of red mud that we tracked in after visiting the house.

Here's the culprit eating a grape poptart she snaked from her brother!

#4. My Praxis test results. I think ets.org more hits than google due to my neurotic checking of my profile to see if my results have posted yet. Yes they give you the date of April 6th that they will be posted, but in my mind I feel like it should be earlier because it's JUST a scantron people. I mean why hasn't it posted yet??? Okay, I'm calming down. But I'm still checking every day.

#3. Number three directly relates to number 4. I'm obsessing over what I'm going to be doing next year. Will I go back into the classroom? If so, what school will I be at and what grade will I teach? It was great that the county allowed me to take a year's leave of absence, but it stinks that I have no guarantees of exactly what position I'll be returning to. Also, if I do pass my Reading Praxis, should I teach Title I? See, I can stress over anything.

#2. This one's not a full blown obsession, but I do love a lot of their products! I had a Thirty One party on Tuesday and I can't wait to turn in my order and get some free goodies. I'll be getting these:

in brown and I'm filling it with art supplies for Monkey to have when he needs to be kept occupied.

This purse has changeable covers. I'm getting a springy pink print, but I like this one too.

in a green stripe with my name in pink...for my makeup.

And I already have these:
in a polkadot print for Monkey to use as his swim bag.

in navy with our family name to use as a beach bag.

#1. Our new home. Either the RedHead of I (or both of us) are over there every day. I know the neighbors think we're stalking the neighborhood, but we just can't resist going by to see what they got done each day. Here's a few pics from last night.

There you have it, my top five obsessions. See I told you it wasn't the crazy kind of obsessed...well, maybe just a little.

For Lack of a Better Post...

I'm a bit stuck as of late...I don't know if it's the weather (these gorgeous Spring days entice me to be out and about rather than behind the computer) or just plain old writer's block (if I would consider myself a writer), but I just don't have a whole lot to share. So, for lack of a more intriguing post, I thought I'd share some of my favorite "Colsonisms" that our little Monkey has shared.

After spinning around and around, "Mommy, why is the house turning?"

Upon being called to the bathroom to once again examine his poo, "Oh man...I think it's hiding it that cave down there!"

While driving in the car one night, "Hey! Why's the moon following us?"

As I was eavesdropping on him playing alone in his room, "I thought I told you guys, 'No hitting!' That's it. Time out." (Apparently, even imaginary friends have time out.)

While playing basketball with his Nana he made the comment about a fellow imaginary teammate, "Between you and me, she's not very good."

This child keeps me laughing every day...I do love him so!

The hairstyle I tried to talk him into wearing for his class picture day today at Preschool...he wasn't having it. At least the boy has some sense about him.

Top Two Tuesday...I Need It In My Life

This week's topic over at The Undomestic Momma is the two things we can not live without. Well, there's a lot of obvious things that could go here in the names of family, religion, home, etc. but I always find it more interesting to hear the quirky random things that people are attached to in their lives. Here's my top two:

1. Volumizing Mousse: I went YEARS without using any type of product in my hair (besides shampoo and conditioner) and I just thought I was doomed to live with limp, fine hair. My college roomate, L, sold me on the wonders of mousse! I tried it and lo and behold my hair looked 100% better. So now I use it every day.

2. Magazines: I dare to say I'm slightly addicted to magazines. I love pretty much any type: gossip, decorating, women's, etc. I go to magazines for inspiration in my home, wardrobe and beauty tips, and the latest celebrity gossip. (I openly apologize to all celebrities...it is because of people like me that the paparazzi are always in your business.) These are a few of my favs:

(all images via Google images)

I also want to thank Julie at Brown Eyed Belle for this sweet award!


I'd like to pass it on to these lovely ladies!

Brittany Ann at Living in the Moment

Summer at Summer's Story

Breanna at A Southern Girl With Curls

This Is What It's All About

About 2:30 I put both babes down for their afternoon naps. Monkey went right to sleep...like always, but Bug decided to rail against sleep...like always. I could feel myself getting stressed, ill that she didn't go right to sleep. Didn't she know that I had things to get done. Afternoon naptime is when I do the majority of my cleaning and chores.

I opened the door with every intention of laying her back down (because she's always standing up in her crib) and walking out for her to cry herself to sleep. But when I walked in, she had this look on her face. Like she needed me. So I picked her up and she immediately wrapped her chunky little legs around me and buried her face in my chest. I sat down in the rocker and rocked her for the next hour, long after she had fallen asleep. This is, after all, the reason I'm staying home this year. Not to be here to do the dishes, or sweep, or put away toys. I'll always do that, but there's only a small window of time when my daughter will want me to rock her to sleep. Only mere months left that she will still be a baby. I cherish the moments of knowing exactly what it means to be her mother. Thank goodness that she reminded me of that today.

It's the Yummy!

(via google images)
It's too pretty outside for me to be here blogging, and I've got a drinky drink waiting on me so I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Here's the perfect springtime drink...enjoy!

I'm going to name this the "Appalachian" because it's what me and all of my App girls drink when we're together:

1 oz (or 2 if you're really wanting some fun) of Bacardi Peach Red Rum
4 oz Sprite
1-2 oz Cranberry juice
Lime twist

Mix together and drink up!

**My friend Tess even served this drink at her wedding as her signature drink because we love it THAT much!

Top Five Friday...Guilty Pleasures

This week I'm sharing my Top 5 guilty pleasures. I do realize that they may be lame, but it is what it is. Here we go:

#5. I watch Gossip Girl. Yes, I know I'm a 27 year old woman, and that they are supposedly college freshmen, and that the storylines are cheesy and ridiculous, but I love it! Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass are my favorite characters!

#4. Old Fashioned Cherry Cokes from the drugstore...I understand that they probably contain even more sugar than a regular coke, but there's something about a cherry coke made at a soda counter with the flavored syrups that you can not beat. I can't wait until I can have one again!

#3. I listen to rap music. I always have...I didn't think anything about it in high school or college, but now that I'm a mom it just seems a bit weird. I rationalize it by thinking that maybe by listening to it my children will develop a sense of rhythm. I do have to switch the channel quite often now that Monkey is comprehending more, but when I'm alone in the car I turn the volume up, way up. :)

#2. I love stiletto heels. I have a closet full of them and I would rather spend my money on them than practical shoes that I could wear everyday. I really want a pair of these one day...one day a long long time from now! (all images via Google images)

#1. I read this blog. I think she is hilarious. I love her delivery and I make the RedHead listen as I read every post aloud to him. I think he thinks she's funny too, but he probably thinks I'm a bit strange because of how much I like them.

There you have it...my guilty pleasures. What's yours?

Random Recap

Remember those little promises we make to ourselves...things going on in our lives...well, that's just what this post is about. A little update on my New Year's Resolution, internet unplugging, my Lenten sacrifice, and our HOUSE!!!

New Year's Resolution: Simplify and Organize. I like percentages, so I'll say I'm about 75% with this one. I did a bulk of the organization and purging right there at the beginning of the year, and I think we've done pretty well at not adding new clutter to our home. However, I am having a particularly hard time keeping my dining room table clear. It seems to be the catch all and I let it fill up and then put everything away. I guess the next step is to work on putting things away right when we get home instead of storing them on the table.

Internet Unplugged: No internet on Wednesdays and Sundays. Let's go with about 50%. I've done well to not blog on these days and not really using the internet while the children are awake, but I do admit to using the net once they're in bed and in the wee morning hours when I'm up feeding Bug. Clearly I still need to work on this.

Lenten Sacrifice: No sugar during the Lenten season. Basically no sodas, desserts, or refined sugar. Fruit sugars are fine. This is probably my best...90-95%. I did drink soda when I had that nasty NoroVirus, ate a piece of cake at Monkey's birthday party (although I did skip cake at 2 baby showers), and I had an unfortunate incident with *Nutella the other day. Other than that I've done well. I've even lost 2 or 3 lbs along the way.

Our House: We are making progress and I love it! They have cleared the land, dug out the basement, and put in the footings (whatever that means). Our brick was delivered yesterday and they are starting to put in the block tomorrow. (I may be saying all of this wrong, but I have no exp. in homebuilding so cut me some slack.) We met with our contractor again last night and discussed windows along with about 10 other things. Every time we meet I get more excited about our new home! Here are a few pics where they dug out the basement, but they were from last week and we have no new ones since our camera died an untimely death and we're waiting no a replacement screen.

*It took me 27 years to discover Nutella...oh how I wish I had found it earlier. It is divine! ...and it a serious underestimate of it's value to shelf it with peanut butter. Which, by the way, is how it fooled me into eating a ton of sugar. I honestly thought it was a type of peanut butter, so I guess now I have to stop eating it since my husband informed me of the sugar content. I'll definitely be looking forward to it at Easter!

Top Two Tuesday...Celebrity Style

Taylor at The Undomestic Momma has another great topic for this week's Top Two Tuesday...our favorite celebrity styles! Now let me just start by saying that my style is classic casual mom. Khakis, jeans, casual skirts, polos, button up shirts, tanks...all everyday wear. What I actually wear and what I want to wear are very different. My absolute favorite celebrity styles are a throwback to an earlier decade where women dressed very feminine and the clothes were anything but practical. Both picks are people who are dressed for 'parts' in tv/film, not their own style, but I love them none the less.

#1. Leighton Meester in Gossip Girl

#2. Rachel McAdams in The Notebook

(all images via Google images)

I could not find a picture anywhere of my absolute favorite outfit worn by Rachel. It was the red skirt suit she wore when she went to tell her fiance that she was going to take a few days away to settle some things (aka...go back to her true love). It was just gorgeous!

Now couldn't you just see me hauling 2 kids around dressed like this?! It may not be very practical, but this style is what I will always think of when I imagine classic feminine style.