Frugal Friday : Making an Effort

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I want to start with Sorry! I know that I have missed a couple of Frugal Fridays lately, and for that I do apologize…but what a perfect way to bust into an easy to envision, yet hard to grasp concept.

 

MAKE AN EFFORT

Everything about Frugality is making an effort. Will it always be the right choice? No, will your effort always be seen and rewarded, bwahaha, no. I know this doesn't sound like a fun idea, and it may not be, but it is so important. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have almost bailed on being frugal, and this blog. Because, sometimes, I don't make a great effort, shiz, sometimes I don't even make an effort at all. I am a sell out, screw up, bailer…but aren't we all?

Corey and I have been is the midst of slow season over the last six week :gulp: and I wished so hard I had savings, because we should. We just can't, thanks to the bankruptcy, and that sucks. We have been living on a tight budget, which in turn forced us to really examine our money and where it has been going. Hmm, how do I say this. It has been going to eating out…a lot. Ya, not so great. So we made an effort to eat at home, have we made a ridiculous number of trips to the market, why, yes we have. Am I making another today, that should be for all of our groceries, but is really just going to be for dinner food, because I forgot to buy any meat this week?? Yup. That is okay because we have spent $25 on extra food we should have bought (because, I should have a meal plan, but the sight of food makes me queasy), how much does that really save on take out? Well, lets say we had to grab ingredients for 3 meals x 5 people @ 8/per person…40 per meal x 3 = 120…a little effort saved a lot of money. I consider that worth it.

 

Where in your life do you have to make an extra effort? I would love to hear I am not the only one ;)

Filed Under: friday, frugal, frugal. friday

rockSTAR review : MomAgenda

May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

As a busy mom of almost 4, my life is always up in the air…jumbled and on the go. I depend all to much on my dayplanner. I have to, I mean I am balancing my schedule- doctors, midwives, races; my husbands schedule (how else would he know when his meetings are?); Jay has art shows, soccer practices and games; Brett has football, play dates and a weird school schedule; Emmy has play dates, preschool (next year). I have tried about every planner on the market, I have never found anything that was awesome and had enough space for everyone until I stumbled…okay, searched frantically for the momAgenda day planner! I love my planner and haven't strayed in years ;)

 

Here is the planner I have

I have the red version, but I can say hands down that even though it is huge (and it is huge), I have enough space for my everything. I love that I can keep my blogging schedule, life schedule, kids schedule all in one place, with out having to color coordinate it! It also has all the room I could every need for all my extra shit, like IDs, money, business cards…blah, blah, blah.

 

When is the last time you forgot an important event because your 3 year old deleted your phone calendar? I mean, I can't be the only one who has had that happen, right? Or had your computer crash? I realize that a dayplanner that is made of paper is mad old school, but there is something to be said for writing stuff down, and no one being able to delete it :)

 

What is your favorite dayplanner?

 

Filed Under: review, rockstar, rockstar review

Mommy Mayhem Money : Forgive Me : Yogurt Covered Blueberries

May 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Today, I want to talk about forgiveness…about that thing that all of us suck at. I have yet to meet any one, single, person that is really good at forgiving. Are you? I mean, really good at forgiving, not the kid that pushed you down in 2nd grade, I mean the parent that abused you, the man who raped you, the neighbor who molested you, the bottle that drowned your daddy, and the pills that stole your mama. That forgiveness.

 

I am really bad at forgiveness, I wish I weren't, but I have gotten better…slowly. I have realized the more I am trapped in my past, the less I can move forward. I have had to forgive my mama, because I was becoming her, I forgave her abuse, the pain, and all the wrongs…I didn't forget them, just forgave her. I forgave my cousin who sexually abused my family, I won't be invitin' him to dinner any time soon, but when he dies in jail, he will die with my forgiveness. My most recent struggle has been forgiving my daddy, he put a bottle to his head and pulled the trigger, and I will never understand that. I will eventually work through it all and be able to forgive him. I have forgiven a lot in my past, it doesn't make me more trusting, lie to me once and watch me walk away…it is really hard for me forgive. Do any of you feel that way? I may forgive my past, I won't can't forget it. It just no longer haunts me.

 

What do you need to forgive?

 

Since that was heavy lets try something light to munch on

Yogurt Covered Blueberries

What You Need

Cookie Sheet

Parchment Paper

Blueberries

Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Tooth Picks

 

Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper

Poke your blueberry with a toothpick dip in greek yogurt

Place on parchment paper

Repeat

Freeze

Enjoy while frozen (they mellt quickly)

 

 

Filed Under: mommy, mommy mayhem monday, monday, Recipe

rockSTAR review : Cinch to Hang

May 8, 2013 By 1 Comment

Being in Colorado we tend to spend a good amount of time, be it in the back yard or the woods. We love it, okay well, CJ loves it and the kids love it and I am trying really hard to *like* it. With Spring upon us, I figured I would tell you my really…awkward….camping story.

 

CJ and I had just had Jayden (he was, oh, 9 months old) and his dad and step mom offered to keep Jay over night, so we decided to go camping! Yay! My first real camping expereince, and my last. We were about to get married, and our stress was just through the roof, at this point in time I am not sure we were even speaking to each other (because we were very mature and ready to get married, riiight). We drove up to this remote mountain area, set up our camp, and CJ decides (because he has been camping his entire life) that we don't need to hang our food. See, I read a book on camping, and it said don't leave food where bears can get it. Bears live in Colorado *surprise* and CJ thought our dog could fight off a bear, riiiiight. So, we fight about this and then go to sleep (I lost, and the food was in the back of our car, backed up to our tent). Well, wouldn't you know it. There was a bear in the woods that night, our woods. I could here is groaning (for lack of a better term), thankfully there was a raging camp party going on not too far from us. I could hear the bear get closer, and further, and closer, and further, and our dog was trippin out. The partiers won the bear, so I didn't get to see him, THANK GOD! But it was enough to keep me out of the woods, until this year.

 

This year is different, because I will win. Mike at Cinch to Hang sent me these awesome

Cinch to Hang Hooks
I think they are really one of the best inventions I have ever seen. I can easily strap them to a tree, I know this because I tried! And hang food from them, away from my tent. They hold a good deal of weight (I hung Brett from one, kind of, to see how it held) and they are plastic so if it rains they won't get trashed (not that this would be an issue in Colorado). I personally never thought I would love something intended for a man (in my mind any way) but I can say I am so excited to go camping this year, even if there is a bear in the same woods as us!

 

 

What is your favorite outdoors story? I want to read about it!

Filed Under: review, rockstar, rockstar review

Mommy Mayhem Monday : I Lost The Poem

May 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I had this amazing poem I wanted to post, it was about motherhood and what that means. How it is different for everyone…but I can't find it :( I am totally bummed about this! I love poetry, and moms, and crying- which made thi perfect for today.

 

But sense I can't find it lets just chat (ish). I am sure y'all have noticed that my posts have kind of been either hit or miss, or miss them completely. I apologize! If you haven't got the memo, we are pregnant :YAY: and very excited (as well as very nauseated!). We have wanted to have another baby for some time now (our last :D ) and this is just awesome timing for us. I apologize if my writing over the next few weeks is a little less than par.

 

I wrote a post yesterday on food (check it out)! So, I shall bid you adeau, while I still feel well enough to clean my kitchen :D

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Cinco de Mayo Treats and a Giveaway from Goya!

May 6, 2013 By 5 Comments

I love to cook, and more than that I love occassions to cook, especially foods I normally wouldn't. Today being Cinco de Mayo (and since I am not shooting tequila) I figured why not try my hand at some Mexican food? Well, lets be honest, this is Amer-Mexican food, because, well, I am not Mexican!

 

Goya sent me the awesome Goya MyPlate Cookbook, and some beans, and olive oil, and said 'GO, CREATE, BLOG'! So, here is what I created, with a recipe!

 

Chicken Quesadilla

*Ingedients*

Left over chicken (pulled apart)

Goya Organic Low Sodium Black Beans

Salsa (I used Picante)

Cheese (I used a shredded Mexican Mix)

Tortillas

 

*Directions*

Rinse your black beans until they are nice and clean

Heat your black beans on low heat on the stove top

Lay out your bottom tortilla, top with cheese, salsa, chicken, and warm black beans

Add more cheese

Add top tortilla

Cook, flip, Cook

Cut and Enjoy

 

This is obviously Coreys, since I do not eat meat. Sadly, baby doesn't seem to like most food, so no quesadilla for me :(

 

Want to win a Cook Book and Ingredients from Goya?

Heres How

Comment : What is YOUR favorite Cinco de Mayo Treat?!

Must be in the US to win :) I will leave this giveaway open for 2 weeks! Closing May 19th!! So enter NOW!!

 

Filed Under: Recipe, sponsored post

rockSTAR review : Daisy Natural {GiveAway}

May 1, 2013 By 1 Comment

 

I live in a really dry climate, with this dryness comes some really scaly skin :( Emmy actually asked me the other day, 'Mommy, why do your legs look like lizard legs?'…well, honey because mommy hates the chemicals in lotion? I mean what is the right answer to that question? I had been in contact with a company Daisy Natural (I mentioned them here) and the owner sent me out a few full sized samples, and I fell in love. I hands down recommend Daisy Natural to anyone looking for natural body and skin care!

Why? Why I prefer Natural Body and Skin Care!

Lets start with why I don't like conventional crap…yes, I did just call is crap. I have eczema, dry skin, and cracked feet; I live in a dry climate with little to no moisture. I don't need anything to suck the moisture from my flesh! Conventional lotion has alcohol in it, and that shiz hurts when you put it on a cracked foot, razor burn, or eczema! Daisy Natural contains all natural ingredients, ones I can read! On top of that, they don't hurt my poor, neglected, sad skin! The lotion and body butter last, but the scent doesn't linger (I enjoy a lovely scent for a little bit, but I can't haRndle smelling like sweet pea all day).

Lets Talk Beauty

Or at least chap stick. I am a firm believer that chap stick begets chap stick. It's a fantastic concept, but it has been manipulated by big corps to contain chemicals leaving your lips in worse condition than you started. That being said, I told CJ that when the package got here, he could try the chap stick…I lied. I tried it once and fell in love, its smooth, not sticky and when it wears off my lips are softer, not more parched!!!!

I have had over a month to find fault, not love, or just grow weary of the products from Daisy Natural and I can honestly say they are worth every penny. I fully intend to reorder when I run out! Although the body butter seems to fluff back up over night :love:

WIN IT {DAISY NATURAL GIVEAWAY}

*win the set above! It includes a soap bar, body butter, and chapstick*

Main Entry – What is your favorite scent from Daisy Natural

 

Additional Entries

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Like Daisy Natural on Facebook

Follow Daisy Natural on Twitter

 

This Giveaway will close on Tuesday!

 

Filed Under: Giveaway, review, rockstar, rockstar review

Mommy Mayhem Monday : Spring Colors and Cheese and Berries for Lunch

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

It has finally stopped snowing here in colorado, at least temporarily. I have so enjoyed the warm breeze on my skin, the light food and the bright colors of Colorado spring. The blue sky is bluer and the grass such a vibrant emerald and lime mixture. Maybe this year is different for me because I have been showered with brightly colored weeds, cups fill my kitchen with dying dandilions and withering purple weeds; maybe this year is different because it has snowed so much this spring, that I really feel blessed by God for the color, and sun, and kite flying… I don't know exactly, what it is that makes this year different, but I am grateful that it is…I can say without fail, I am elated to take part in the warm weather foods :)

Here is what I ate for lunch…who wouldn't appreciate all those colors?

 
I know you want the recipe so here you go :D
Bread, Cheese and Berries
Sourdough Bread (4 pieces)
Spiced Mozzarella
Brie Cheese
Strawberry
Blackberries
Raspberries
Bake your cheese on the bread (10 minutes at 350)
On the Brie add sliced strawberry, raspberry and blackberry!
Enjoy….Now Keep in Mind I am Pregnant :SURPRISE: so I am eating for two bahahah or just getting fat

 

Filed Under: food, mommy, mommy mayhem monday, monday, Recipe

Frugal Friday : Q&A : I Need Budget Help!

April 26, 2013 By 2 Comments

 

I can't even begin to tell you how many times a week I get inquires about budgeting help. I am happy to help, if you really need it, generally all you really need though, is a budget outline to start with. Here is the budget outline I use (mine you there are about a billion budget ideas on the net).

Budget

Charitable Gifts

*SAVINGS*

Emergency Fund

Retirement

College

*HOUSING*

Rent/Mortgage

Renters/Homeowners Insurance

*UTILITIES*

Electric

Water

Gas (if not included in electric)

Phones

Trash

Cable

Internet

Cells

*FOOD*

Groceries

Restaurants

*TRANSPORT*

Car Payment

Gas and Oil

Repairs and Tires

Can Insurance

License and Tax

*CLOTHING*

Children

Adult

Laundry

*MEDICAL*

Doctor Bills

Dentist

Optometrist

Drugs

*PERSONAL*

Life Insurance

Child Care

Toiletries

Cosmetics

Hair Care

Education Costs

School Tuition

School Supplies

Subscription

Organization Dues

Gifts

Misc

*RECREATION*

Entertainment

Vacation

*DEBTS*

Credit Cards

Credit Cards

Credit Cards

Student Loans

Student Loans

I will have a post coming up on how to use your budget, to help you become more money wise and debt free :) Start here though ;)

Do you have a Question? I have answers….use the contact form to the left, to have your questions answered!

{Heritage Makers Giveaway}

Filed Under: friday, frugal, frugal. friday Tagged With: ,

rockSTAR review : Heritage Makers {GIVEAWAY}

April 24, 2013 By 2 Comments

My friend Cari is a Heritage Makers Consultant, she created with me this absolutely stunning, high quality photo book for CJ, for fathers day! I am so delighted to share with you the process and the specialized attention I received from Cari!

 

Okay, lets start with – I don't take pictures with a camera…ever! I have a camera, but I don't have a computer, I have an iPad and I don't like using cameras because I don't take good pictures. All of my picture in this book are from my iPhone (iPhone pictures don't generally print up well). I loaded all of my pictures onto Cari's WebSite. Then I went and met with her because she is local to me, but she is also available to help via the interwebs :D

 

After Cari taught me to use the software, I went and hopped on the net at the library and got to work. I used the Studio Tool (the tool that makes sure you don't mess up your entire project!) to make sure that my pictures were placed properly and the correct size for the best printing. I used a premade template (although you can make your own) because I have absolutely no extra time, nor do I want to make the time ;) . The artwork available varies from stunning to funkalicious. The process was absolutely idiot proof, which I need.

 

I got my book all loaded and beautiful, and sent it over to Cari to check over (good thing too because I missed like 1/2 the pages). I went through and fixed what I missed and she did a few touch up on things that weren't awesome.

 

I submitted my order to Heritage Makers and roughly 10 days later it arrived! I have to say the quality, stitched pages, hard, glossy cover, and printing work of this book are outstanding! I am so fantastically excited to give this to Corey for Fathers Day! I know he will love it…and it wont fall apart :D

 

Win It {4 Lucky Readers will Win 5 Points Towards any Heritage Makers Products}

*To Enter*

Post in the Comments something you like from Cari's Site < MAIN

 

< EXTRA ENTRIES >

Like F2F on Facebook

Like Cari's Heritage Makers Facebook

Refer a Friend

 

Filed Under: Giveaway, review, rockstar, rockstar review Tagged With: , , , ,
« Older Posts
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers