Life throws many curve balls, we all know that. We can even appreciate a little turmoil every once in a while. The important aspect to focus on is to stay positive. Life's miserable moments can be made that much more with a bad attitude. My husband is taking some classes and its not the most fun thing in the world. He came home from class with a bad attitude, and I told him it was going to be a really long quarter if he kept up his bad attitude. Attitude is 90% of the fight nowadays. When I'm grumbling about things, I take some time to reflect on my blessings. I thank God and try to move on. I know that there are many things in life that attitude won't fix, but think about all the things that it will. If you were nice to that checker even though they were bitchy to you. It's all about attitude.
Kids are the light of this world. They see things so purely and so innocently. Nothing has a string attached. It's amazing to look at the world through a child's eye. They are always positive about life, and what it might bring to them.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Getting Away
Last night I took the opportunity to take some time off from being mommy. I went to a concert with my two sisters. It was a lot of fun and very well deserved. Time with your kids is vital, but time away is just as important - especially for us stay-at-hom-moms. All day, everyday we spend the day picking buggers, wiping butts, cleaning up after tornadoes, and feeding an army. After awhile, the stress wears on you. I never realize that I need time away, until I actually take the time. It's nice to not have to worry about what my son is doing at that moment. (I still do, but I'm not on the hot seat, :)
When I'm away, I constantly think about what he's doing and how I know that I'm missing an adorable moment. For instance, last night my husband was giving my son a bath. He's playing, happy as a clam and then all of a sudden my husband says he squats in the tub and starts making "THE GRUNTING" noise. His face is turning red and my husband and grandma are thinking that a bomb is about to be dropped. My son stands up looks around and lets out the biggest fart my husband says he's ever heard. And then he lets out a huge sigh of relief. :) Those are the moments that I love!
I got home, tucked my baby in, thanked God for the opportunity to get away, so that I may appreciate my blessings even more. Take some time for yourself, even if it's only for a few hours, Your kids will thank you!
When I'm away, I constantly think about what he's doing and how I know that I'm missing an adorable moment. For instance, last night my husband was giving my son a bath. He's playing, happy as a clam and then all of a sudden my husband says he squats in the tub and starts making "THE GRUNTING" noise. His face is turning red and my husband and grandma are thinking that a bomb is about to be dropped. My son stands up looks around and lets out the biggest fart my husband says he's ever heard. And then he lets out a huge sigh of relief. :) Those are the moments that I love!
I got home, tucked my baby in, thanked God for the opportunity to get away, so that I may appreciate my blessings even more. Take some time for yourself, even if it's only for a few hours, Your kids will thank you!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Depressing times
If you are like me it seems that every time you turn on the news there's more bad news to consume. Lately it's been all about the economy. You know the all important dollar. In past I haven't been old enough to appreciate the importance of it all but now that I am old enough, I find myself staying awake at night worrying about money. Being a one income family is hard enough but having to also deal with economic troubles is really scary. I listen to each candidate and try to muddle through the garbage to hear what their real plan is. I'm still confused. At times like these it doesn't matter what their political affiliation is, I want the economy fixed. I want to be able to raise my kids without the stress of money.
Instead of sitting around and grumbling I've just cut back and started building our emergency blanket. I'm focusing on putting my family in the best situation in case times get even rougher. I'm thankful each day that my husband has a job that is really secure and that I'm able to stay home with my son. I know that many people would love the opportunity but can't afford it. Hug your kids tight today, cut back on the expenses and know that greener pastures are ahead. :)
Instead of sitting around and grumbling I've just cut back and started building our emergency blanket. I'm focusing on putting my family in the best situation in case times get even rougher. I'm thankful each day that my husband has a job that is really secure and that I'm able to stay home with my son. I know that many people would love the opportunity but can't afford it. Hug your kids tight today, cut back on the expenses and know that greener pastures are ahead. :)
Money Tips #2
1. Stay away from the Credit Cards - The only time that I use my credit card is when I absolutely have to...for instance to rent a car...other than that I stay away from them because they are too tempting to use...I've been there, where I've thought, "Oh I'll pay it back when I get the bill." The bill comes and something always comes up...So don't use them.
2. Budget - Create a budget and stick to it. I've written out all of our bills and what it takes to keep the house afloat. That way you know exactly what is going out.
3. Talk about it - I cannot count the amount of discussions/arguments that my husband and I have had about money. But the bottom line is that communication is key. You can't do everything alone and you shouldn't expect your husband to. Keeping each other in the loop about what expenses need to be settled and what amount needs to be saved each month is paramount.
4. Savings - I make sure to transfer something into my savings account every month - I try for every pay check but sometimes that doesn't work...I've opened an account away from our normal account so that it's that much harder for us to use.
2. Budget - Create a budget and stick to it. I've written out all of our bills and what it takes to keep the house afloat. That way you know exactly what is going out.
3. Talk about it - I cannot count the amount of discussions/arguments that my husband and I have had about money. But the bottom line is that communication is key. You can't do everything alone and you shouldn't expect your husband to. Keeping each other in the loop about what expenses need to be settled and what amount needs to be saved each month is paramount.
4. Savings - I make sure to transfer something into my savings account every month - I try for every pay check but sometimes that doesn't work...I've opened an account away from our normal account so that it's that much harder for us to use.
Monday, September 15, 2008
What did you do today?
A cute story emailed to me by my sister...Enjoy!
A man came home from work and found his three children
outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with
empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front
yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front
door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.
Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A
lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded
against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly
blaring a cartoon channel,! and th e family room was strewn
with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen,
dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the
counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled
on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a
small pile of sand was spread by the back door .. He
quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more
piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He wa s worried she
might be ill, or that something serious had
happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it
made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he
found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the
floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste
had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to
the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in
her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked u! p at hi m, smiled,
and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and
asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and
answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work
and you ask me 'what in the world I do all day?' 'Yes,' was
his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't
do it.
A man came home from work and found his three children
outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with
empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front
yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front
door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.
Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A
lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded
against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly
blaring a cartoon channel,! and th e family room was strewn
with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen,
dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the
counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled
on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a
small pile of sand was spread by the back door .. He
quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more
piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He wa s worried she
might be ill, or that something serious had
happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it
made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he
found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the
floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste
had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to
the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in
her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked u! p at hi m, smiled,
and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and
asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and
answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work
and you ask me 'what in the world I do all day?' 'Yes,' was
his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't
do it.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Saving Money
Saving money - the big thing that is important to all, but especially us stay-at-home moms. I know that since I stopped working, I have made it my mission to save as much money as possible and bring in a little extra income where I can. All these tips are things that I do or have done, take them as they are. No plan is perfect for everyone, apply at your own discretion.
1. Costco - probably the biggest way I save money is by buying in bulk. I buy anything that I can at Costco that won't go bad before we use it. I buy a lot of food and freeze it: bread, cheese, cold cuts, buns, hotdogs, etc. I'm working on buying a big freezer for the garage, but for now we get by. I also buy all my diapers and wipes there. They only carry Huggies and Kirkland but I can't complain, plus I only have to shop for diapers and wipes about once a month. Complaint, they don't have newborn diapers. They do carry some types of formulas. My son was nursed so I'm not sure of the brands. I wish they carried the gerber snacks, because I'd invest in their stock. :) In general though, I love shopping there...they also carry some really cute and affordable clothing. Their gas tends to be anywhere from $.10 - $.30 cheaper than other gas stations.
2. Clothing - I only buy clothes that are on clearance. This tends to mean that I shop at the end of the season for next year. But I save a ton of money. My husband is very hard on clothes so when a sale comes up, I stock up on everything. Just recently Old Navy was having a sale on their men's jeans - they were $10 each. I bought my husband 15 pairs. It should last him a while. I also refuse to spend over $5 on his t-shirts. I hardly ever buy myself clothes, but that is because I'm really picky to my fits. But I still only buy clearance clothes. A great place to look for your little ones is The Children's Place. They have awesome sales at the end of the season. Usually $2.99 - Amazing! I bought my son some jeans for $.99. They really are a bargain. You usually have to guess on size for your little one for next year. But some stuff is wearable year round.
3. Gas - As I said before I buy my gas from Costco. But I also limit my driving greatly. My husband drives daily so we pay for that gas. I plan my trips very carefully so that I'm not just wasting gas with stupid trips. When I go out I always hit more than one place. I would say that on average I only drive my car once or twice, max. It saves us a lot of money.
4. Limit the eating out - I know that there are certain days when the last thing you want to do is cook. But when you think about it, going out costs so much money. Especially if you have multiple kids. Our son is just starting to be able to eat his own meals and I can't believe how much more our bill is. I limit our eating out to once a month. It's actually easy to do. I'm a pretty good cook and I like to learn to cook my own version of certain restraunts. I put my own spin on them. My husband and son love my cooking, so it works out great. I always make extra for leftovers or for my husband's lunch.
Tune in tomorrow for the continuation of this information :)
1. Costco - probably the biggest way I save money is by buying in bulk. I buy anything that I can at Costco that won't go bad before we use it. I buy a lot of food and freeze it: bread, cheese, cold cuts, buns, hotdogs, etc. I'm working on buying a big freezer for the garage, but for now we get by. I also buy all my diapers and wipes there. They only carry Huggies and Kirkland but I can't complain, plus I only have to shop for diapers and wipes about once a month. Complaint, they don't have newborn diapers. They do carry some types of formulas. My son was nursed so I'm not sure of the brands. I wish they carried the gerber snacks, because I'd invest in their stock. :) In general though, I love shopping there...they also carry some really cute and affordable clothing. Their gas tends to be anywhere from $.10 - $.30 cheaper than other gas stations.
2. Clothing - I only buy clothes that are on clearance. This tends to mean that I shop at the end of the season for next year. But I save a ton of money. My husband is very hard on clothes so when a sale comes up, I stock up on everything. Just recently Old Navy was having a sale on their men's jeans - they were $10 each. I bought my husband 15 pairs. It should last him a while. I also refuse to spend over $5 on his t-shirts. I hardly ever buy myself clothes, but that is because I'm really picky to my fits. But I still only buy clearance clothes. A great place to look for your little ones is The Children's Place. They have awesome sales at the end of the season. Usually $2.99 - Amazing! I bought my son some jeans for $.99. They really are a bargain. You usually have to guess on size for your little one for next year. But some stuff is wearable year round.
3. Gas - As I said before I buy my gas from Costco. But I also limit my driving greatly. My husband drives daily so we pay for that gas. I plan my trips very carefully so that I'm not just wasting gas with stupid trips. When I go out I always hit more than one place. I would say that on average I only drive my car once or twice, max. It saves us a lot of money.
4. Limit the eating out - I know that there are certain days when the last thing you want to do is cook. But when you think about it, going out costs so much money. Especially if you have multiple kids. Our son is just starting to be able to eat his own meals and I can't believe how much more our bill is. I limit our eating out to once a month. It's actually easy to do. I'm a pretty good cook and I like to learn to cook my own version of certain restraunts. I put my own spin on them. My husband and son love my cooking, so it works out great. I always make extra for leftovers or for my husband's lunch.
Tune in tomorrow for the continuation of this information :)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Cleaning out the Clutter
Today I got fed up with all the clutter and finally decided to do something about it. I told my husband that we were going to clean out our drawers and closet to make it more spacious and get rid of the clothes we never wear. We made three piles: one for keeps, one to give away and one for the garbage. It went by very quickly and left us feeling accomplished.
I am a very orderly person who likes to have everything in it's place. I decided to move this lesson onto my 16 month old. He may not understand it's a lesson, but he can help his momma keep things orderly. It's so cute to watch him put things away. Mostly because he immediately grabs the stuff and makes a mess again. But still, it's nice to see him making the connection.
For those of you who have young kids and you are growing tired of picking up their stuff, take some time to teach them now. I'm sure the hard work now will pay dividends later. Until next time, Be Well.
I am a very orderly person who likes to have everything in it's place. I decided to move this lesson onto my 16 month old. He may not understand it's a lesson, but he can help his momma keep things orderly. It's so cute to watch him put things away. Mostly because he immediately grabs the stuff and makes a mess again. But still, it's nice to see him making the connection.
For those of you who have young kids and you are growing tired of picking up their stuff, take some time to teach them now. I'm sure the hard work now will pay dividends later. Until next time, Be Well.
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