Saving $$ on Groceries: the month in Review

I'm hooked. It's partly due to the fact that I recently lowered my grocery budget by $100 per month. It's really mostly due to the inspiration at Money Saving Mom. I *love* this blog. She's got all the sweet deals already worked out for you, every week, broken down by store, complete with links to online printable coupons. Could saving money get any easier??

This month concludes my first month shopping the deals at CVS. Now that I am fully stocked up on toothpaste and deodorant, I have started a give-away box for those who need it, whether that be friends who are too busy to shop the deals {need some goodies? email me privately!} or someplace local that accepts donations. I have slowly whittled my ECBs down to $3, but thanks to a friendly CVS cashier, have a raincheck for some Listerine Smart Rinse for Kids, that when combined with $1/1 coupons will give my ECBs a little boost. Hooray for rainchecks!

This week I got some great deals at Meijer, thanks to their 10/$10 deal. According to my receipt, I got $75.92 worth of groceries for $39.33. Not too bad for just starting to work the deals! It's a shame that my local Meijer doesn't double coupons or I could've gotten many goodies for free. My favorite part of the deal was for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. It was part of the 10/$10 deal and there is online printable for $.75/1 making them $.25 each! You could either get a 15 oz tub or two smaller 7.5 oz tubs. I picked up several for myself and my grandma as well, who is on a fixed income. I also got some Life cereal for $1/box by combining their deal for 5/$10 on Quaker brand items with a $1/1 coupon. These deals run through Wednesday, in case you were hitting your local Meijer soon and hadn't gotten these goodies!

I've called many a grocery store in the suburbs east of me, in the area that I am most familiar, looking for coupon-doubling stores, but to no avail. Why don't any of those stores double??? Lo and behold, after consulting with a dear friend that I consider my local area resource {whom I will be buying Starbucks for tomorrow as a thank you}, I was turned on to not one, but TWO, grocery stores in the major city near me that double. One is Hilander {Kroger} and the other is Logli {Schnuck's}. I am planning a trip tomorrow to one of them that is running 10/$10 deals as well & will be getting some {nearly} free Green Giant frozen veggies and free Totino's pizza rolls. Once I confirm another money saving strategy at Kroger, I will post about it here.

Another great addition to my bookmarks has been the Sunday Saver circular. {This is the link for Illinois, but there is a drop down box where you can select your state.} It has links to all the stores divided by category. Then you can just look up each store to compare the deals. This has been invaluable to me in planning my shopping trips.

I also can't stop reading the forums over at Hot Coupon World, especially the ones about CVS. I like the CVS forum because you can also see previews of the upcoming weeks sales {Huggies diapers, ya'll} so you can plan your purchases accordingly. Check out the forum for your local grocery store to save yourself some moola.

We went to dinner at the home of a church family last Friday and the wife started mentioning how her and her husband were discussing how to lower their grocery budget. WELL, let's just say she got an earful ;>)

Let me know if you find something I've mentioned interesting. Any other online sources of inspiration for getting good deals?

Once Upon a Time

We are avid book reading family, but I've found that the more children I accumulate, the less and less time I can just sit and read to the children. I'm trying to reclaim more of this precious time though, especially before naps and bedtime. Lately though, instead of reading books, I'll tell my three year old a story instead. All the stories are about Princess Sienna and her many adventures. I think this is a HUGE creativity builder and encourages the use of their young imaginations. A recent fairy tale went something like this:

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Sienna. One day she decided to go to the zoo , so she hopped in her pink mini-van and drove away from the castle. She saw lots o f animals there, like lions, giraffes, and tigers. She saw elephants with looong trunks. She had lots of fun there. She drove her pink mini-van home and had a very lovely nap. Princess Sienna was tired from her long day at the zoo. The End.

Do you ever make up stories for your children? Do they use the same characters/storyline?

Taking the Good with the Bad

Isn't that a lot of what life is about? I am really trying to be a woman of grace, one who realizes that life can't always be mountain top living, accepting the bad as it comes. I thoroughly appreciate that some of life's best and most valuable lessons are learned in the valley. On top of some recent lessons regarding relationships, I've now been dealt some physical blows. I had been having a few problems with my hands falling asleep. First it was just at night. I would actually have to hang my arm over the side of the bed to get the circulation back. I chalked it up to sleeping on it wrong. Then it would happen after prolonged use of the computer mouse AND while driving AND while using the treadmill AND while knitting, to the point where I couldn't even feel the needles anymore. Another curious symptom arose where I would get a tingling sensation going down my neck. I knew something was really wrong. So I visited my step-mom's wellness clinic and had a diagnosis done with a chiropractor. I was shocked to learn that I have this in both arms. I also have this. I had both of my wrists "adjusted", which was a less than pleasant experience. It sounds like I have a lot of therapy ahead of me and am committed to taking better care of my body. This whole thing is stressing me out though, which is why I haven't been blogging as much. Not to mention a baby who nurses a lot and only cat naps during the day, still waking several times at night. Valley living, ya'll.

Easy Crafts

Here's a couple easy crafts that don't require a sewing machine {shocking, I know} that are tried and true:

::Bunny Racers::
Guess that Bunny on the right ate a little too much chocolate & is feeling tipsy from his sugar high!

These were featured in the latest issue of Family Fun magazine. You will need: marshmallow Peeps, ho-hos, frosting, life savers and skittles or m & m's. Everything will be attached with the frosting. Use the life savers as the wheels and steering wheel. Add the skittles for the headlights and they can also be added as the hubcaps for the wheels. Stick a Peep on for your driver & you're all set. I had some mini Cadbury eggs laying around that I thought would be cute stuck behind the Peep-driver, but my mom said we have enough candy as it was. OVERRULED! So cute & great kid craft. Best of all is that they can eat their creations ;>)

::Croc Doo-dads::

I don't know what else to call these. My mom surprised us by making two sets for the girls. I love 'em so much. They are little buttons that fit into the holes on your Crocs. Basically you will only need three supplies: a 1/2" button, a decorative shank button, and a needle and thread. Securely attach the shank button to the 1/2" button by sewing them to one another several times.

::I tried to capture the underside so you could see how the button is attached::

They don't have to be super tight together or else it might be a little difficult to get them into the shoe. Then you just fit the 1/2" button into one of the holes on your shoe and voila:

{Ignore the semi-dirty shoe & just focus on the cute doo-dads!}

These would make a cute addition to put in your eggs for your Easter hunt or basket {if you participate in that sorta thing}!

P.S. I've been trying to post a little more, as suggested by a friend lately who enjoys my blog, but says I need to update more regularly. I hope you're still reading ;>)

Deals for the Day: FREE STUFF!

Here are my scores for today:

The Johnson & Johnson Buddies soaps were from Target. They are kinda cool as they are a bar of soap within a scrubbie net. They were $.94 each. Combine that with two $2/2 coupons & that means I made $.06 per bar. They are $.99 at CVS, in case you will be shopping there soon. I'm sure that they are probably available at Wally World as well. You can find the $2 coupons here, here, and here. Get your kiddies some free soap!

CVS purchases were:
Transaction #1
(2) Irish Spring 3-pack bars $4.98 ~ Buy $10 of Irish Spring, get $5 ECBs
(2) Irish Spring deodarant $5.98
(2) Charms Blow pops $ .66 ~ filler

Irish Spring Coupons - $1.35
ECBs -$9.98

Total OOP: $.37
ECBs earned: $5

Transaction #2
Fructis Shampoo $2.99 ~ Get $2 ECBs
Fructis Leave-in Conditioner $2.99 ~ Get $2 ECBs (
2) Nivea Mens' Shave Gel $5.58 ~ Buy $5 of Nivea, get $2 ECBs

Fructis Coupons -$2.00
Nivea Coupons -$4.00 ECBs from Trans #1 -$5.00

Total OOP: $1.04
ECBs earned: $6

Just as a heads up, next week, March 16-22, CVS will be featuring Listerine Smart Rinse {for kids} for $2.99 with $2.99 in ECBs. There is an online $1/1 coupon available here. Plus, there is a tear-pad at the Listerine display with a mail-in rebate. If I am calculating correctly, not only will these be free, but you will get back $4 per bottle. {I'm still new at this though, so I could be wrong.} Limit 2 on this deal, I believe. Super money-maker!!

I have been having a hard time finding a place to use my $2 off a box of Honey Bunches of Oats with Chocolate Clusters {new product} coupon. My local {dinky} Wally World doesn't carry it & low and behold my beloved Woodman's does not accept internet coupons. {BOO!} I called Meijer tonight since we will be heading out that way tomorrow & she told me that Post cereal will be on sale for $2 per box. Free cereal ya'll!! Stock up!

Any other great deals you're getting this week?

Baby Love

Yep. I've got my hands full, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I don't talk much about my little bug-a-boo, so I thought I'd brag on him a bit. He's a good baby. He loves lots of physical contact & sleeps really well when you're holding him and not so well when you're not {during the day at least}. As far as the nights go, he's a night owl. Always has been since before birth. He goes to sleep about 10:30 pm and will occasionally sleep all the way through til about 7 am. If not, he usually wakes up about 4 am and then will sleep another 4 hours. He is still sleeping in his bassinet, as every time I try putting him in the crib for naps and such he only sleeps about 20-30 minutes and the times I've tried at night, he'll only sleep about 2 hours. Yeah. I know there aren't any toddler boys sleeping in their bassinets, so hopefully that means that somehow we'll get through it. I've tried giving him cereal, since it almost seems like he needs it, but haven't given it to him for about a week now, just because I really rather not unless absolutely necessary.

He loves his chupy {pronounced choo-pee} which is a nickname for his pacifier. In spanish, it is called chupon, but we've shortened it to chupy. I love all the baby cuddles & the occasional naps that we get to take together. I love slathering him with kisses. I've managed to avoid getting peed on, but I'm sure that's inevitable. He has severely {and I mean, severely} dried & chapped skin. Just putting baby lotion on him made him scream yesterday, that's how scaly & sensitive it is. I'm sure he'll grow out of that too. But in the meantime, lots of snuggles, lots of nursing, and lots of love.

Round Two

DING! While visiting my dad in the big city over the weekend, my little daughter came down with the sniffles and needed some cough/cold medicine. Now which pharmacy should I purchase this medicine from?? I pondered. Aha! CVS, of course! {Wouldn't you know it that the nearest CVS is only 1 city block away?! There is also a Wal-Greens about half a block away, along with a Hancock Fabrics & a Dominicks with a Starbucks kiosk right across the street. Uh, Dad? When can I move in???} Since I needed the medicine, I used up some of my ECBs to pay for it.

Round #2

Triaminic Thin Strips $4.99
Chicago Tribune $1.79
CVS Smarties Candy $ .99
Cadbury mini-eggs (3) $2.97
Oral-B Toothbrush (2) $9.98

CVS Candy Q -$ .99
Oral-B Q -$2.00
Hershey's Candy Q -$1.50
ECBs -$14.95

Total OOP: $1.46
ECBs for next visit: $9.98 {plus $1 leftover from very first visit}

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. I need to learn to read my coupons a little more carefully though. After scanning my CVS card, I thought the coupon said $3/$10 purchase, but in reality, it was $3/$10 CVS products purchase. Yeah. Big difference. Anyways, I plan on keeping one toothbrush & one of my toothpastes in my overnight bag {along with my new Venus razor} so that I don't have to keep repacking these items since we've been traveling nearly every weekend. I plan on sewing up a cute little satchel for all these toiletries, when I finally get a little time. Right now, an Easter dress for the littlest daughter is at the top of the priority list.

P. S. Need a free sports bra? I ordered mine here after reading this post.

CVS Time!

I tried my hand at all this CVS commotion that I've been reading about. I was really excited to try this, as it seems sort of like a puzzle, getting the coupons & deals & ECBs to all work together, and I love puzzles!! I sorta felt a little sneaky, like I was trying to buck the system & one of my nearest & dearest friends shared that she felt the same way, which I think is sorta comical. At first I was skeptical and didn't really want to invest $$ in some system that I'm not sure would work. But, three things convinced me.

One: I would only plan on making a small initial investment, like $20 or less. Enough to get the ball rolling, so to speak, but not enough to bust my budget. I would try to squeeze this into my newly reduced grocery budget of $75/week.

Two: If after my first few trips, if I didn't think I would want to continue, I would just spend my ECBs on grocery type items that I would normally buy, therefore not really spending any extra money & still getting all the items that earned those ECBs for "free".

Three: I will look as this as a ministry opportunity by donating any items I don't think I'll use to Rockford Rescue Mission or another local charity. I can even roll over my ECBs and buy things that I know I won't use, just so I can donate them. I want to call RRM and another local womens' shelter to see what types of donations they can really benefit from. I encourage this mindset to those of you that are hesitant to try this, but don't think you could really benefit. I'm sure there are many others out there who could. Maybe you can't afford to give much money or loads of time, but who can resist shopping in the name of the Lord?? LOL!

Ok. So on to the details! Things did not go as I had planned {isn't there a Bible verse about this?}, but I was able to think on my feet and adjust my purchases. I had a limited amount of time, which was good in a way, since I had to just find what I planned & be done with it.

Transaction #1

Venus Razor 9.99 {6 ECBs}
Dove Dark Chocolate 1.99 {1 ECB} ~ Just because it looked yummy & DD #2 loves chocolate!
3 Lypsyl 8.97 {8.97 ECBs}

CVS $4/$20 coupon
Venus $4 coupon
Total OOP: $13.94


Transaction #2
Old Spice Deoderant 2.49
5 Colgate Total 14.95 {14.95 ECBs}

Old Spice $2 coupon
$14.97 ECBs from Trans #1
Total OOP: $.63
ECBs to use for next visit: $15.95

I originally planned on getting the Oral B toothbrushes and some Hershey's Easter candy that I had coupons for, but they were ALL OUT of BOTH!! I also got the last three Lypsyls. I guess I will have to hit different CVSs or go on a different day. God is really amazing because after I went for groceries this week, I had only $12 left. I then found an extra $3 in my wallet. I also received my $4/$20 coupon yesterday morning to help with my purchases. And wouldn't ya know it, my total OOP came to $14.57!! I had 43 cents left to spare ;>) I forgot to scan my card when I first got to the store, so I probably missed out on another good deal, but I will remember next time. I also didn't realize that the ECBs print for each item and can be used separately. I thought they printed for a total on each transaction. This will help me plan my next trip. Now I can't wait til Saturday to buy Sunday's paper. We will be in Chicago this weekend & you can bet that I already know where the nearest CVS is {and of course where the nearest fabric store is: right across the street from my dad's condo, wouldn't ya know}! For more good CVS deals, check in with MoneySavingMom & don't miss my friend Steph's CVS deals either ;>)

If you CVS, do you find that it's better to get the monthly deals towards the end of the month, figuring that everyone else grabs them at the beginning?

Still Alive

If {any} readers are still out there, I wanted ya'll to know that I'm still alive. I have been {somewhat} purposely neglecting my blog to accomplish other things. I am barely even getting those {necessary} things done, since life is very chaotic around here. Between baby nursing about every 2 1/2 hours, our new business, broken cars/appliances, lots of red-tape phone calls, baby nursing constantly, trying to homeschool, baby nursing a lot.....Did I mention that it seems like my baby is nursing a lot? Seriously. By the time he's done eating, I get him changed, calm him down, put him to sleep, he sleeps for about 30 minutes, then I start all over again. I really don't know how women with many children do it. Really. I am trying to be less selfish with my time & more family-serving. I feel like I am endlessly behind on housework, even with hubster home now. Maybe it is because I am tired a lot too. It doesn't help that it seems like I need more sleep than the average person. Seriously. We've been going out of town every weekend for the last three weeks now, so that makes things even crazier. I've been able to successfully complete one bag order that I had hanging out there, so that is a plus. Gives me a little extra funds to support my {every growing} passion of sewing. So that's what I've been up to. Hope to most more exciting things soon ;>)

P.S. Thanks to Steph, I am totally jumping on the CVS bandwagon. I got my ExtraCare card today & hope to make my first big purchase tomorrow!

Classic Tomato Soup with a Twist

Ok. Ya'll talked me into it. This is a combination of recipes featured in Fine Cooking magazine {hubby surprised me with a subscription for my birthday}. Don't skip the roasted red pepper. It really gives the soup a nice smokiness and depth of flavor & is simple to do yourself {see instructions below}.

2 T. EVOO
1 T. butter
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 T. flour
3 c. lower salt chicken broth {I just buy a 14 oz. can then add 1 c. water & 1 bullion cube to make 3 c.}
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 roasted red pepper, coarsely chopped**
1 1/2 t. sugar
1 sprig fresh thyme {if you have it, or I just use a couple large pinches of dried thyme}
1/4 t. each salt and pepper

In a large pot, heat the oil and butter over medium-low heat until the butter melts. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned, about 8 minutes. Add the flour and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute. Slowly add the chicken broth, stirring to avoid lumps. Add the tomatoes, red pepper, sugar, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat while stirring the mixture to make sure that the flour is not sticking to the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes. Discard the thyme sprig {if using}. Let cool briefly and then puree in two or three batches in a blender or food processor. {Or if you have a stick blender, like I do, use it! Just puree it right in the pot.} Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm, but not hot. OAMC Alert: The mag says it can be frozen for up to three months.

**To roast your own pepper, just turn your stove top burner on low and set the pepper right on the burner. Turn periodically until charred on all sides. Place in bowl covered with plastic wrap for 5 minutes to steam off the skin. Peel. Cut off the top & take out the seeds. Voila!

Today I am going to try to make this Basil Coulis {pronounced coo-lee} to drizzle over: In food processor, combine 1 c. packed basil leaves, 1 clove garlic and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. With processor running, slowly drizzle in 1/4 c. EVOO, plus 2 T. more if needed. Can be made 2 or 3 days ahead, storing in the refrigerator and bringing to room temperature before using.

Enjoy!

Cooking Without an Oven

Yeah. ASK ME HOW I KNOW. Remember the saying, "You don't know what you've got until it's gone." Well, I realize how much I do love baking. Call me weird, but I even bake pizza rolls & chicken fingers when I could just put them in the micro. Everything just tastes better baked. So, in case you ever find yourself without an oven {three weeks and counting, folks!}, here are some ideas of meals you could make:

Tacos
Chili
Any kind of soup: I recently made a yummy homemade Tomato soup ;>)
Breakfast for dinner: Sausage, Bacon, Waffles, Pancakes, French Toast, Eggs
Pasta: last night it was this, or Spaghetti, or Mac & Cheese
Pan-seared Chicken w/sides
Anything in the Crockpot: I've made this a few times {OAMC!!}
Sandwiches & Salad

I wished it weren't so freezing out, or else I'd be out grilling every night. Thankfully, my oven-less days will be coming to an end next weekend. We are inheriting a hand-me down stove from the in-laws. Gotta love a free solution!

Sew and Sew: Resources

Seems like more and more people I know are either taking up sewing or picking it up & improving their skills. This excites me to no end! Nothing better than to talk with a friend about something you both enjoy. I, myself, love learning from other more experienced sewers, like my grandma and my mother-in-law, and would love to share what I've learned with others as well. Here is a list of some of my favorite tutorials or sewing resources:

Sew, Mama, Sew blog : there is a link in my sidebar to this also. Every month they feature something new. I *loved* the Handmade Holidays series {30 posts worth of tutorials in this one link, ya'll} for gift-giving inspiration {not to early to start for next year}!

Tiered Skirt Tutorial: Sew easy! You know I've made like 10 of these so far. Always a perfect fit!

Installing a Zipper: Just in case those zippers leave you clammy with nervousness, this will calm your fears.

Making a Zippered Pouch: These could make great little gifts for all walks of life!

Baby Sewing: Lots of neat tutes here, like slings & diaper bags & sheets and more!

More Tutes than You can shake a stick at. Seriously.

Coffee Cozy: Haven't made one yet. But I think all my Starbuck-ers will be getting them for Christmas next year. Sew cute!

Bagsket Tutorial: I just made one last week. It's uber-cute! I'll post it when I get a minute.

Craftbits: Lots of goodies here. Not just for sewing either. Check it out.

Craftster: See what others have made & learn from their mistakes or process in the forums. I particularly enjoy the Purses, Bags, Wallets forums and the Kids Completed Projects and Kids Sewing Discussions.

I think that's quite enough to keep us all busy for sometime now, don't you agree? I enjoy several blogs as well for serious inspiration, such as Sugar Shop, Craft Apple, Pink Chalk Studio, & Pink Lemonade Boutique. Have a lovely weekend & happy creating!

P.S. If you're in love with a blog or tute that I didn't mention, please share with me & the rest of the group ;>)

Preparing the Way

I hate driving at night. Maybe it is because I do not have binocular vision. Maybe the inadequate headlights on my car have something to do with it. Maybe it is because I don't do it that often. Whatever the reason, I just don't like it. What's worse than driving at night? Driving at night on snowy roads! This doesn't happen to me often, but it was the case last Friday night while returning home from a night out with a near and dear friend. The twenty-five minute trip home was terribly unpleasant. I was praying nearly the whole way home while trying to stay focused on the white line. A deer on my edge of the road nearly gave me a coronary! I was extremely thankful for one thing: that other cars had gone before me to prepare the way. It made my drive, although still difficult, a little easier. I was so relieved to have someone else's tracks to follow in, instead of having to forge a new path.

The same thing has happened in our lives recently. On Friday, February 1st, hubster was "laid off". It wasn't anything personal. The company owners told him what a hard worker he is & what a great employee that he had been. They said they tried to hold off as long as they could, but they couldn't hold off any longer. They gave him a small severance {our first big blessing in a string of many} and there were three other severance checks on the desk. He wasn't the only one. They told him they would give him a good reference and would do whatever they could to help him if he needed it.

I. Was. Shocked. I knew changes were coming. He had told me so. I was thinking: promotion! Hubster sat me down and broke the news. {Note to self: Next time someone sits me down to tell me something, run, don't walk to the nearest exit.} My mental tape basically stopped and I sat there wondering what happened to my anticipated promotion. I never considered that maybe God had something better in mind. We had gone through job loss before, when I was 8 months pregnant with baby #2, just 3 short years ago. It did make this time a little easier, but nonetheless, stressful.

I had decided a long time ago that it would take much more than this to shake my faith, although, I don't want to test my limits! I knew that God would take care of us. Somehow. I am thankful that hubby would periodically be thinking about a Plan B. Now and again, he would come home telling me that if he ever lost his job, he would do such & such. I didn't think that we would ever need Plan B. The very next day, hubby had a meeting with a business contact/friend that he had made by networking at the old job. And over dinner, he announced his plan to start his own business. His business contact would be his first client. And so it was settled. He would start "working" in one week, from home no less! {My first thought was: Am I going to have to cook 3 meals a day for you??}

In less than a week, we had a business name, we incorporated, received our tax ID number, created business cards & hubby started working for himself. I know that this would not have been possible had God not gone before us to "prepare the way". Everything fell into place so nicely, it was almost hard to believe. It still all seems to good to be true. As hubby puts it, we are still waiting for someone to "torpedo our boat". Ever feel that way? Like God has given you something or done something for you that really is UNbelievable?

So that is where we stand. Feeling undeserving, yet nervous and excited all at the same time. Hubby can't wait to be able to work at the park and the beach and the McDonald's playland while enjoying his children. {He doesn't need to be at home for this job, just available by cell phone.} I can't wait for him to enjoy homeschooling with the kids by giving guitar or Spanish lessons. We both can't wait to see what God has in store for us next!

Jeremiah 33:3 ~ "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans for a hope and a future."

Aw, Shucks

I have been feeling really blessed by all my friends this week, who rallied around me for various reasons, including turning 30 and hubster losing his job last Friday {more on that to come}. Old friends, new friends, small group friends, internet friends. I have really been striving to be a better friend myself, so I'm feeling very loved in return. Thanks guys! Seriously. I also was surprised to learn that Jeanette has nominated me as her blogger of the month. Aw, shucks. *blush* I am glad that I could use this venue to offer some inspiration and helpful ideas, whether it be for crafts or for domestic engineering or womanhood in general. Thanks for the nomination!

Have you been blessed by a friend this week?

Easy Come, Easy Go

She was beautiful. I lovingly created her pattern myself, from scratch. I ordered some special fabrics online. I quilted the bottom of the front & back and made my first attempt at adding piping. She did lay listlessly in my "to finish" pile for some time, but once I got my new machine, she was one of the things to get finished first. I was saving her for summer. She would be perfect for a trip to the beach or the park. I hung her in my closet. Then.....I got impatient. I thought using her now would lift my spirits. I packed her up carefully for a trip to my in-laws house. That would be the first and last time I would use her.

My SIL: Wow! Nice bag!

Me: Thanks ;>)

SIL: Can I buy a bag from you like that? I'll give you $20.

Me: You mean, a bag like this one or this one?

SIL: No. That one.

Me: Um....ok.

So, I unpacked her & I'll hopefully see her now & again when I come to visit. Here she was:

P.S. Thanks to my summery bag, I have an order for another one in different fabrics from one of hubby's cousins!

Sew and Sew: American Girl

Yep. I'm addicted. My sister-in-law thinks I'm a nut. My niece got an American Girl doll for Christmas, so what did I get her as a gift? Handmade doll clothes of course. The great thing about sewing for a doll is that if you are a beginning sewer, it will give you a good idea of how things are generally constructed. It's great for people who get easily bored with projects {like me} because they are relatively quick to make. Also, they require very little fabric to make + 99 cent patterns = inexpensive gift! Here are some things I've made so far:

:: denim jacket & jeans ::

:: red plaid jumper {kinda matches my niece's school uniform} ::

:: purple fleece jogging suit {ya know, for when the doll exercises} ::

:: embroidered fleece coat {my favorite} ::

:: purple dress & matching headband ::

I have been using Simplicity patterns 7083 and 4786. They all fit perfectly! I also was alerted to the fact that all the old patterns that were sold with some of the dolls are available at the agplaythings website. I've downloaded Molly's clothes & Josefina's clothes. You have to print out the patterns on multiple pages & then piece them together, but hey, they're free. These little projects are seriously fun and give me a quick sewing fix. Can't wait til there's a doll in my family. Maybe for my girl's 7th birthday............or when I turn 31 :>)

She's Three!

This weekend my little Sienna-pie turned 3! We celebrated with a Ratatouille themed party, complete with a really amazing cake from Super Target and lots of presents. Here's the recap in photos:
My {uber-wonderful} family also surprised me with some balloons & a cake of my own, since my {BIG} birthday is on February 5th. {The big 3-0, ya'll!} The best part? A superdy, duperdy, awesome new sewing machine! Yippee for me! It's got lots of cool bells and whistles. It's like getting a new Hummer after driving around a used Pinto. I see a lot of sewing in my future. I've already finished up a great summery bag that was languishing in my works-in-progress pile. I also sewed up a groovy tiered skirt for Tatiana that has been cut-out for forever. Hopefully I can get to a fabric store to buy some Valentine's Day fabric for matching skirts for the girls.

It was a very lovely day, despite all the work involved {on top of not sleeping as much as I'm used to}. I did tell Hubster that since my birthday falls on a Tuesday, we will have to do a little something at the house ON that day plus maybe a little going out the weekend before. A girl only turns 3-0 once ya know!

Have you....

....had your quiet time today? No. Seriously. If you haven't, please don't read my blog. I much rather you spend a few minutes praying or reading your Bible, then hear me babble about my latest craft project. In an attempt to realign my priorities, I have set Proverbs 31 Ministries Daily Devotions as my home page, instead of having Yahoo! tempt me into reading my email. That way, when I plop myself down in front of my computer in the morning, I will be reminded what I should be doing or have done before I go blog-surfing. {On a side note, if you decide to join me in setting your homepage to Proverbs31 & reading their daily devotionals, I'd love to correspond with you via email to sharpen each other's iron, so to speak.}

I loved today's devotional on having a rag tag soul. So much of what was written resonated with me, particularly these parts:

I was so full of knowledge and yet completely starved of experiencing God Himself.

And I dared to admit that I was not a woman of faith. For if I was completely honest, I lived a life that required no faith at all.

I mean, that second part really got to me. Let me face it. My life is safe. He hasn't been asking me to make seemingly impossible choices. I want to experience Him again for the first time. I want more of Him. I really like the last paragraph as well:

One thing I do know is that a few years ago the world was asking, “Is Jesus real?” That's not the question any longer. I'm convinced the question the world now asks is: "Does Jesus work?" Oh God, that my life could answer this question with a resounding yes, is the very beat of my fragile heart, and the song of my rag tag soul.

My prayer is that others would be able to see the same in me.

That Jesus works.

It's Digital!

I started digital scrapbooking back when my second daughter was born. I received Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 {the same program I use today} with a printer I purchased. I love digital scrapbooking because there are lots of free downloads on the internet, you can use your papers and embellishments over and over, there are no supplies to take out or clean up or have little touchy fingers getting into , and for some reason, it seems faster. I don't have to worry about cutting the pictures the wrong way or screwing up a beautiful piece of paper. This is actually the first digital layout I have done in about 2 years, but I came across the Christmas kit as a free download & was just inspired to whip something up. I want Sebastian to have just as memories preserved as the girls do!

Journaling says: This Christmas was made extra special because of your arrival. Every time I gazed at you, I could not help but think about Mary and the birth of the baby Jesus. What a wonder it must have been to behold Him for the first time! I feel that same sense of wonder when I look at you & think about the miracle that you are! And as cheesy as it may sound, a baby is really the best gift that this Mama could ask for. *heart* Mom

P.S. Thanks to all who commented on the last post. I really am feeling so much better now that I am talking about it & know that others have been there. You bloggy buddies are the best!

the WHOLE truth

"I'm so blue-hoo-hoo, blue-hoo-hoo, blue-hoo-hoo-HOO, I'm so blue, I don't know what to do."
~Madame Blueberry

I received an email recently from a dear friend with "the truth" as the subject line. The email contained four small, but potent words: How are you doing? So I thought I'd share the truth here. I'm a little blue. Maybe it's just my hormones trying to return back to normal. Maybe it's trying to find the time that a busy household requires to take care of everything and everyone. Maybe it's the mental and physical fogginess that sleep-deprivation causes. Hubby keeps telling me that we're all "still adjusting". Well, I wish we would all just adjust and then move on already! He cares for me so much that I have a sneaky suspicion that he called the aforementioned friend and asked her to check up on me. He also called my mom and surprised me by having her spend the night on Friday so we could go to dinner & our small group {with the nursing baby, of course}! He tries to let me get some time to myself so I can scrapbook, think about sewing {my sewing machine got sick and died about 3 weeks ago, but that is another saga}, or just lay zombie-like on the couch, like I did last night. He is trying his best to take care of me and the children, but nonetheless, sometimes I just want to cry or scream or just hop in the car and drive away from it all. I think sleep deprivation makes it a lot harder for me to control my emotions as well! I am praying that, like I mentioned in my last FUNschooling post, that I would, Do my best and let God take care of the rest. I am praying that somehow God would fill in those places in the girls' lives that need a little filling. I pray that He would give me this day, my daily bread. So now you know, in the midst of all my other light-hearted or crafty-type posts, how I'm really doing.

How long before you felt like you fell into a rhythm with a new baby? Is there anything that you would do or tell yourself to get through the blues?