Skip

It has come to my attention as of late that when in comes to traveling on foot my girls are very prone to skipping.  It does my heart good that they are young and carefree enough to find so much joy in such a simple pleasure.  They skip into school or down the hall to their rooms, into stores, through the library, and I don't stop them.  What a wonderful world childhood is.  It just makes me realize maybe a bit more skipping could do me good. 

Growth

I wish I was writing this post to say that I have had some life altering experience helping me to grow and an overall better person, rather I am writing about an actual "growth"  that is located on the back of baby girls left earlobe.  She had her ears pierced about 6 months ago and apparently she is a real over achiever and has over healed by producing a "growth" right next to her earring back.  Due to my stellar parenting I did not even notice it was there until it started bleeding Sunday night.  Now that I have her earring out and can see it I swear it is so big it may start speaking to me at any moment.  To make a long story short went to the doc today and we are going back on Thursday to have it lasered off!! Did I mention I pretty much have to hold her down to get this accomplished?  I will now stop typing to give myself a high five for awesome parenting.  SWEET!

Unabashedly Frugal

It has taken me almost 12 years of marriage and many attempts and failures to consider myself a some what successful budget super hero.  One of the things that really seems to help me is sitting down on Sunday with my fam  and planning a menu.  I ask what people want to eat for the week, then write my list for the grocery store based off of that menu.  After writing out my list I check out the deals for the week...( if you have never been to Pinchingyourpennies.com you should check out their grocery lists, they make this so easy.)  I then write all the prices that seem like good deals next to each item that applies on my list.  After checking to see if I have any coupons that would also help I am all set.  I ALWAYS go to walmart when doing my major grocery shop for the simple reason that they are cheap and they price match.  Oh and the fact that somehow when my 4th child came into the world my ability to effectively parent dissolved to nothing.  By the end of our shopping ordeal she is running around my cart and has normally fallen 2-3 times.  Why not keep her in the cart you ask?  I don't know....she asked to get out and for some reason I always comply....she is my kryptonite what can I say? Anyway, this is the part that some can not stomach but is VITAL, it embarrasses my husband to no end but really this is what makes all the difference.  I put all my groceries on the belt divided into two groups, those I am price matching and those I am not.  I inform my checker that everything behind the divider needs to be price matched, and when they reach them they ask for the prices.   This used to be much more difficult and embarrassing with checkers always pulling ads and such, but since Christmas time when they were really marketing their price matching it is a breeze.  I have found this saves me tons of time and money, you should try it out.

One of these days I will share my full menu and price matching list.  I will just share this weeks menu today, just because I am always trying to figure out what to make and knowing other peoples lists always helps me.

Mon....BBQ ribs w/ cheesy potatoes
Tues...Enchalads and the recipe for corn Nick shared in the previous post
Weds..Lasagna, garlic bread, peas
Thurs..Navajo tacos
Fri......General Taos Chicken and fried rice
Sat.....Leftovers
Sun.....Meatballs and Rice.

So be unashamed of how dorky it is to hold up the line pulling out coupons and making the checker enter in all the prices individually.  When you walk out spending less than you had budgeted you will be all smiles.  Trust me it is the nerdiest kind of rush you will ever have!!!  What what!!