When Diaper Champs Attack

Time to Stretch

2011-05-02T17:39:00.002-05:00

I'm like most folks and easily feel good about the justice of the killing of Osama Bin Laden.

But I'm going to try to stretch myself spiritually and remember that I should grieve he rejected the redemption that our Father in Heaven has offered to all the lives He created. The life of Bin Laden, despite his evil, was still one God longed to redeem and be reconciled to.

So, while I am thrilled that for the surviving families of the 9/11 victims that a measure of satisfaction hopefully can be felt, I must try to remember I am an Easter Christian every day and need to pray for ALL to accept that Christ my Savior died and was resurrected for them.

Laundry Issues

2011-03-15T08:44:00.002-05:00

I have found that no one else in my household takes the 5 seconds it requires to turn their clothes right side out before putting them in a hamper (or on the floor, behind the toilet, under the bed, etc.). Despite requesting this on a DAILY basis, I still spend about 10 minutes a load turning every piece of clothing that is not my own right side out. Clothes need to be inspected for stains, rips, missing buttons, etc. By my count, at 10 minutes a load of JUST turning clothes the right way, I spend TWO HOURS every week on this task before I ever even get to the inspection/cleaning portion of laundry. Ridiculous.

Walgreens for Diapers this week!

2011-03-07T14:26:00.001-06:00

Diaper deal at Walgreens this week. Here's how:
-Buy 2 Pampers Jumbo Pack $10.00 each - diapers or Easy ups
-Use 1 $2/1 Pampers Diapers Walgreens coupon from in-store Infant Care Booklet (It will actually deduct $4 at ring up.)
-Also use 2 $2.50/1 from the 2/27 P&G
-You'll may need to buy an inexpensive "filler" item so that you have as many items as you do coupons (3). Sometimes my Walgreens waives this, but I like to be prepared.
-Pay $11.00 for the diapers, get a $3 Register Reward to use in the future.

In my opinion, Walmart is anti-mother and therefore, unAmerican.

2011-02-05T18:16:00.003-06:00

I know there are all kinds of global economic reasons not to shop at Walmart, but I'm not going to discuss that in this blog. I have a simple premise to discuss. Because Walmart treats the average mother with disrespect when she is attempting to make ends meet or make the most of her money, Walmart is unAmerican and should be boycotted.

Walmart brags about it's price matching policy, but it's not a convenience or a benefit to me if EVERY TIME I try to price match an item, the cashier argues with me and forces a manager to come over. And even then, the majority of the time my price match is rejected.

It seems to be Walmart policy to reject every coupon presented and then make a hard working mother have to fight to have each one approved. It seems like you get called a coupon defrauder the second you hand over coupons.

The hidden cost of shopping at Walmart is the stress you endure fighting and arguing for their "great prices." And that's just too big a cost for me to pay.

Walmart, I will never shop you again. You are anti-mother and unAmerican.

Hi, my name is Hannah.

2010-06-15T17:14:00.001-05:00

After Vacation Bible Camp today, Punkinhead told me she didn't want to go home, she wants to sleep at church. So, I asked her if she wanted to be Samuel from the Bible and I'd be his mom Hannah. She decided she wanted to come home after all.

Then I remembered a rough night when she was a preemie in the NICU and I prayed that, like Hannah, I was giving her back to God. I prayed that if he'd protect her and grow her tiny body, she'd be His child. I didn't vow to never let a razor touch her hair though. But I think God wants us to take care of her at our place and not roam the halls of our church at night.

Unlocking the secret pancake

2010-05-29T13:51:00.002-05:00

I've got lots of posts coming about our trip to Georgia for my grandmother's 100th birthday, but thought I start with the pancake experiments I've done that begun with Chip putting the "why can't all pancakes be as good as Cracker Barrel" wish into our world.

My first reaction was to answer - because we're not on vacation everyday and I can't spend $8 a person every time we eat breakfast. But then I began to ponder, really, why not? It's pancakes and syrup. I make a good version, but if Chip particularly likes the Cracker Barrel version, I'll give it a shot. As always......to the Internet!

I'd bought a bottle of their maple syrup/cane sugar combo so that Chip would have the same syrup the restaurant serves to comparison taste my attempts at home. Then I googled Cracker Barrel pancake recipe and came up with a couple to start with.

And it boils down to this: Add a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar to ANY buttermilk pancake preparation (store bought or homemade) and cook on a 375 degree hot griddle SWIMMING in unsalted butter and you will get a pancake comparable to the Cracker Barrel version. Even if you don't use their $9 bottle of specialty syrup.

Time to get my bake on.

2010-04-21T23:50:00.004-05:00

So I watch my carb intake obviously since I'm a diabetic. I do indulge from time to time, but for the most part, I like to spend "treat" carbs on a glass of wine or a beer with a yummy dinner and forgo the dessert.

But I do LOVE to bake, so it's nice when there are events that come up where I can get creative for others. The church's annual Cookie Caper is coming up and I'm making some straight up yummy chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal-coconut cookies. I know that the oatmeal-coconut combo is not for everyone's palate, but if you enjoy coconut, these are divine.

The endeavor I'm most excited about is for the Punkinhead's Teacher Appreciation Salad Luncheon. I'm making the pasta salad we always ate at the lake house in spring/summer. So delicious with marinated artichoke hearts. But that's the cooking, not the baking. I'm making a Peeps Chica-dee cake. I have some left from Easter and was inspired by this:

Milk envy

2010-04-07T20:28:00.003-05:00

Watching 19 Kids and Counting the other day (Josie Duggar Sisterhood episode) amazed me with it segment about how much milk the mom pumps. Thinking back to the Punkinhead's preemie days - my pumping days - and how little I produced, I was amazed by how blessed baby Josie is to have so much breast milk ready for her. 18 bottles a day pumping!!!!! They had a full deep freeze ready to go for her.

When Beanie had a blocked tear duct, I was told that an eye wash with breast milk often helps to clear it. My milk was long gone by this time, but a friend of mine generously gave me 2 oz of her own pumped milk. After I left her house, I pulled over to the side of the road and cried with gratitude. For her it was a small amount, but 2 oz in one session was the most I was ever able to pump for the Punkinhead so for me it was more of a loving sacrifice than she'll ever know.

Yeah, I'm ticked.

2010-03-19T14:58:00.004-05:00

The other night Buzzkill was using my laptop and mentioned off hand for me not to touch it for a while - he was upgrading it. Now the upgrading part seems quite thoughtful and I'm glad I have a husband that stays aware of those things, but here's the part that ticked me off: I'd been waiting all day to have time to update all the Vacation Bible Camp database info I'd been needing to input and he hadn't even taken a second to pause and ask me if it was a convenient time for me to not have access to my laptop. He definitely wouldn't do that to a co-worker and I consider this laptop my business computer. I do VBC, kids stuff consigning, couponing, research on how to temporarily fix a broken dishwasher, etc. This laptop is required for the modern day stay-at-home-mom. And if it's going to be unavailable to me, that needs to be scheduled for a time that I plan for.

Plus, here's the kicker. The upgrade totally wiped out all my regular settings to sites I completely trust and have for ages. I also had to reinstall software for dozens of sites I use to coupon and consign with. It's added hours today to do things I regularly complete in under an hour. And I don't have extra hours, so this is going to cause stress for days.

I need to let out my anger here. Unfortunately, I now feel like I just wasted time I could have used to repair the mess.

Bleech.

When you find a deal, buy it!

2010-03-13T15:32:00.004-06:00

So, of course, I'm already party planning for Beanie's first birthday party. I love that custom printed cards are so readily available (and affordable) online. But with this spring being a rather, um, expensive one...I was nervous I wouldn't be able to get her something as special as the Punkinhead sent out for her first birthday party. Okay, parties!!!!!

As always, I've got a budget and sticking to it is critical. I've imputed all the Pampers Gifts that Grow points from diapers and wipes on their website - I'd saved over 900 points! Enough points to "buy" a promo code for 12 custom cards from Shutterfly.

Here's where the really good deal part comes in. The card I liked was temporarily 20% off and I had an email from Shutterfly for $10 an order because of their 10th anniversary. And a friend sent me another promo code for free shipping.

Cut to the chase: I paid $20.20 for 25 cards. Without the discounts and promo codes, these invites would have cost me just under $60! Money saved is going straight into the custom cake portion of her party budget.

Yummers.

Being a stay at home parent is not a luxury or "the easy life."

2010-02-11T10:54:00.004-06:00

I work hard every day to do this. It's my career choice. And I do get a paycheck. It's the same one my husband works hard out of the home to get. I know folks that work out of the home work super hard and make tremendous sacrifices to provide a good life for their families. I give out of the home careers props all day long and extras on the weekend. How could the economy run without those jobs? It's a necessary component in this world that I'm grateful people go do.

But the deal is, I deserve respect too for equally hard work I do and the (different) sacrifices I make. THIS IS A CAREER TOO.

Why do folks that pay tons of money to have people take care of their children talk to me like what I do is easy? Do they think the folks that care for their children have easy jobs? If that was true, why is childcare so expensive? Or is it that they believe my kids just have sub-par childcare from me and would be better off with professional caregivers?

I'm also tired of folks saying, "Well, what a luxury it is that you can afford to stay home." Luxury? My clothes come from Walmart and Target. And they have to last a LONG time. My children get consignment store clothes, and hand-me-downs from friends and family make me dance like I've hit the lottery.

We drive 7-10 year old cars. That new kitchen the neighbor put in that looks so fantastic? I'll get one, but it's going to take us 5 years to save for it.

Anything we buy new, we've planned and saved for weeks or months and it also means that something else probably got postponed on the priority list. Sharing one income means no impulse buying in our household. Zero tolerance policy on it here.

So that's the honest truth......we live on a lot less than many people to have me stay home to work. That's the sacrifice Buzzkill and I make to have careers we both want to do.

I LOVE my life and have all my needs met. I'm also really grateful to be aware of the difference between my wants and needs.

PLEASE, stop acting like I've got a free pass on hard work. If I don't do my job, the consequences are exactly the same as everyone else - we go broke, we can't pay bills or eat food.

And also, sorry for the ranting, but I figured over here I could vent without starting huge drama on Facebook.

Moo. Maybe she'll get me a free Chick-fila sandwich.

2009-11-04T17:31:00.002-06:00

Pouty Punkinhead

2009-10-11T18:41:00.001-05:00

Punkinhead Verbage

2009-10-09T01:15:00.004-05:00

The more her ability to string a sentence together grows, the funnier the Punkinhead gets!

She's learning when to use contractions like can't, won't, don't - she's a toddler and different ways to say no are important to her. She has not learned when to use them in quite the correct context; mixing up don't and can't most often. The following quote is a good example.

(Watching the new Nick Jr. show The Fresh Beat Band) "I can't like this show." Although Buzzkill and HotMommy also feel mentally incapable of watching this show, we believe she meant to say "I don't like this show."

Punkinhead is officially enamoured with her daddy. "Mommy, look at Daddy. He's so beautiful!"

She's gotten very good at listening to the things adults say and adapting the language for her toddler world. Apparently I often sigh and say how I really need something (nap, sleep, margarita) because upon biting into a Halloween cookie the other day, we got this gem: "(Sigh) I needed this good cookie so much!"

I'm also having to deal with those moments where she says something that is just wrong but all I'm trying to do is not bust out laughing before I give her an attitude adjustment. Today when I asked her to give me a flashlight she was carrying around, she replied, "No, I don't share." And I'm really sure she got the "don't" applied to the sentence correctly this time.

A little late, but "getting real" just the same.

2009-09-03T20:50:00.005-05:00

I hope that most have you have read Amy's blog The Lawsons Did Dallas linked under the blogs I read. If you haven't yet, pop over to one of her latest hilarious posts. It's a challenge to us mom-types (dads not excluded I'm sure) to "get real" about how our houses look on a day to day basis. Not to embarrass ourselves, but to let go of that self-condemnation that we're the only ones that have dirty dishes, laundry that needs folding, toys on the floor, unmade beds, and general clutter.

So here's my "confession." Our Achilles heel is toys. I pick them up during nap and before bed, but they're everywhere. I WANT A PLAYROOM for the toys!

The first photo shows what happened after I went to Target for an hour. The toys were under control before I left Buzzkill and Punkinhead to play.

The next photo is just funny; it actually looks a little neater than the night before, but I think is a better illustration of the general chaos that can and does occur an a daily basis.

Sweetums is a month old already?

2009-08-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

Some of the mommies of Punkinhead's friends did this creative idea on their blogs, but I was too far along to track Punkinhead's growth this way. The idea is to pose your kiddo with the same stuffed animal every month so that their growth is obvious next to said stuffed animal. Of course, Buzzkill pick from his collection of penguins.

I've decided to use the idea for Sweetums - a special thing for her on the blog and in her scrapbook. Officially, she is 8 lbs, 13 1/2 oz. and 21 1/2 inches long.

I can hardly believe she's a month and I also feel like I don't remember our family without her.

Introducing Sweetums

2009-07-21T14:57:00.002-05:00

Joining the Punkinhead, HotMommy, Buzzkill, and Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert....

Sweetums!!!!

She was born last Friday in the early morning. A precious 6 lbs, 9 oz. and 18 inches long.

Super easy c-section delivery (thanks Dr. K) and we went home Sunday night.

Once HotMommy is off the pain meds and has regained her full brain capacity, she'll fill you in on all the details with lots of pictures.

But am I TV ready?

2009-07-08T17:06:00.005-05:00

For those of y'all interested in seeing HotMommy on tv making a grocery list and grocery shopping - and I know my fans having been dying for it - I'll be on CBS 11 tomorrow night during the 10 pm news in a Survive In 09 segment. The segment will also be online about an hour later on their website.

I'm not sure how I'm going to look - I was VERY aware of the camera the entire time, but it's not like Buzzkill and I were planning on providing for our fam through reality shows, so I think it'll be okay even if I look like a deer in headlights.

Ready and waiting.

2009-07-01T19:56:00.004-05:00

During the last few months of pregnancy I've had all these milestones I felt I needed to get past before I felt ready for the new baby to arrive. Punkinhead's birthday party, Vacation Bible School week, a local news station's video shoot, the beginning of July so my push present is a ruby, my haircut today.....(I missed an appointment when the Punkinhead came early and I've never like how I looked in all the photos the month following her birth.)

And I realized this afternoon, she can come whenever she wants now. I feel ready. And my back hurts and it's too hot to be preggo in Texas anymore. Sure my folks have plane tickets for the Wednesday before her due date and my MIL is scheduled to be in Houston next week. And I know I should say, well, Friday is 36 weeks and it's really not safe for her to come before that, but in all honesty, I'm really ready. And she weighs over 6 lbs. I even packed my hospital bag this afternoon and made sure the fridge is full, and the dishes and laundry are done.

Pwetty Sunday

2009-06-08T09:23:00.004-05:00

The Punkinhead loved wearing her new outfit from her great aunt and uncle to church this weekend. She kept saying, "I pwetty Mommy!" Love her self-confidence and am praying she never loses a bit of it.

With this math, it's no wonder the newspapers are shutting down...

2009-06-05T15:08:00.004-05:00

I was recently really bummed to discover that the double edition of the Sunday paper I buy every Saturday night (so that I can get 2 of each of the coupon inserts)has gone up in price from $3 to $5. A monthly budget difference of $8. So, I figured I'd give the subscription department of the Dallas Morning News a call to see if they could offer me home delivery of 2 Sunday papers for an amount somewhere between $12 and $20.

I checked online first, but they only offered a single Sunday edition for delivery at $2.91 a week. So, I called the Customer Service number to negotiate with a live person. Here is a brief run down of the craziness that followed....

HotMommy: Hi, I wanted to speak to someone about subscribing to the Sunday paper?

DMN Person: Yes?

HotMommy: Well, I currently buy the double edition at the grocery store and I was wondering what the closest price to $3 a week you can give me for delivery of 2 papers?

DMN Person: I can offer you 2 Sunday papers delivered for $28 a month.

HotMommy: (pausing to mentally process this.....$7 a week...)You want me to pay 9 cents more per paper than I'd pay for the single edition if I subscribed to it twice and $2 a week more than I pay for the double edition at the grocery store?

DMN Person: Well, you're paying for the convenience of delivery and it's more difficult to deliver 2 papers than to deliver just one.

HotMommy: (again pausing to mentally process) So, you're not willing to negotiate at ALL to gain another subscriber to the paper? It really isn't more convenient for ME to have to wait until Sunday morning to get the 2 editions I buy easily on Saturday night.

DMN Person: Ma'am, $28 per month is the best price I can offer you.

HotMommy: Well, I'm going to stick to buying it at the grocery store then. Thanks for the info!

So, no wonder no one wants to subscribe anymore. What a horrible sales strategy! I'm bummed that I still have to pay $8 more a month than I use to, but there is no amount of "convenience" that would make me want to pay $16 more than I used to!!!!!

On the Precipice

2009-05-30T14:11:00.004-05:00

I'm 31 weeks and 1 day pregnant today. I know for most folks that still feels like there is a hefty chunk of time to go, but this was the day in the Punkinhead's pregnancy that she was born so to me it feels like time has flown by. Tomorrow I will be pregnant longer than ever previously. I'm very much looking forward to having the next 48 days go by uneventfully.

Posting Easter Pictures Late

2009-05-12T02:52:00.005-05:00

This pregnancy is kicking my butt - 10 weeks to go, though. So that's the reason it's taken me so long to post anything. Buzzkill, HotMommy, and Punkinhead started a new tradition this year of going to the Arboretum on Good Friday. The flowers were beautiful and the weather glorious. The Punkinhead loved running around the grounds in her pretty Easter dress and white patent leather shoes. She did manage to destroy her tights with her excessive climbing. Awesome family day!

Follow up to the key flushing

2009-03-17T18:32:00.002-05:00

Remember how Buzzkill couldn't find his spare set during Friday's key flushing incident?

Well, they just turned up in the Punkinhead's sock drawer. Really.

Punkinhead’s Challenge of the Day

2009-03-13T14:02:00.001-05:00

We had an appointment this morning at Sweet & Sassy for the Punkinhead to get some swoopy side bangs; they’ll hopefully prevent the horrendous knots we’ve been battling every day.

Before her haircut, she needed a diaper change so we darted into the restroom to take care of business. Punkinhead had grabbed my keys – standard practice and no big deal, but today....she flushed them down the toilet while I was getting a diaper out of her backpack!

That’s right. They went right down the drain. I don’t have a big “janitor’s” ring of keys, so the heavy duty public flusher sucked them down super fast. I tried for about 10 minutes to plunge them out but no luck. They were gone, baby gone.

Buzzkill was called at work and asked to grab his spare set to the minivan at home and bring them to the hair salon ASAP.

Unfortunately, Buzzkill was unable to locate the spare set, so he called the dealership and was told if he had the VIN number, they could cut him a new key in about 10 minutes to pick up.

Punkinhead and I moved on to Stride Rite to pick out some white dress shoes for Easter.

Buzzkill called to let me know it was going to be a little bit longer than he thought because the dealership forgot to tell him to bring the minivan’s title, so they’d have to look it up for him before they could cut the key.

Punkinhead and HotMommy next visited Gymboree where the Punkinhead watched TV and HotMommy spent a little more money.

Cut to Buzzkill’s next update call. With the downpour of rain, the highways were taking him longer than he anticipated.

Punkinhead and HotMommy decided to stop in to Build-A-Bear to get a birthday gift for one of our friends. Punkinhead also managed to “borrow” a Sharpie from the front counter and drew a goatee on her chin. Well, at least it wasn’t a Hitler mustache .

So, two hours after the initial flushing incident, Buzzkill makes it to the shopping center and we’re able to gain access to the minivan. Punkinhead dismisses her daddy with a “bye-bye, close peas.” (Translation: See ya, close the door now.) She promptly falls into a deep slumber and HotMommy gratefully drives home.

I think Buzzkill and I met her challenge handily. Mission accomplished!

Girl Scout Cookie Time and how we now know Punkinhead isn't allergic to coconut

2009-02-25T22:42:00.004-06:00

Before you read this next Punkinhead story, please keep in mind that (1) HotMommy has a massive sinus infection and (2) is 17 weeks pregnant. So I fall asleep ALL the time. Can't be helped.

Yesterday our large cookie order was delivered (refer to (2) above) and we opened up a box of Samoas. Samoas are the Girl Scout cookies at the top of our eating priority pyramid. We're big on coconut here. After a half box "sampling, " I closed up the box and left it on the coffee table.

Fast forward to this afternoon following Punkinhead's naptime. I stretched out on the sofa to nod off a little bit while Punkinhead played around me in the great room (or The Great Playpen since it's enclosed by baby gates).

I woke up to the sound of plastic rustling and sat up to discover the Punkinhead sitting on top of the coffee table, an open box of Samoas with two remaining in the tray, one cookie in each little sweaty hand, an entire cookie in her mouth, and chocolate smeared over her entire lower face. She had clearly consumed quite a few cookies before I woke up too. She looked at me with a look of total joy and said (after swallowing a whole cookie) simply, "MMMMmmmm!"

Yup, that says everything you need to say about Girl Scout cookie time.

Cadillacs aren't just driven by J.R. Ewing here in Texas

2009-02-22T22:24:00.004-06:00

Buzzkill had to get the emissions test done on the Altima this past week and was waiting in line to pay behind a 60-something lady. She was complaining about how expensive repairs on her Cadillac were to the early twenties dude that had worked on her car.

The dude responded, "Well, it's like my buddy says...pimpin' ain't easy."

Buzzkill wasn't sure if he laughed because the car dude assumed the Caddy's owner would understand or because she actually was nodding as though she understood.

Trader Tuesday

2009-02-03T17:01:00.003-06:00

Another trader mentioned mac and cheese on FB today, which led to me wanting to make my "Queso" shells and cheese. You know that ol' Velveeta queso dip recipe with Rotel? This is an adaption of that.

Queso Shells

2 cans Rotel (20 oz total), undrained
1 cup water
2 cups of small pasta shells (or elbows, the do just as well)
8 oz. Velveeta, cut up in little squares

Bring the Rotel and water to a boil in a pot, pan, whatever you boil your pasta in. Once boiling, add the shells. Reduce the heat to med.-low and simmer for 15 minutes. 13 minutes if you like firmer pasta. Add the squares of Velveeta and stir often until the cheese is melted. I like to let it sit for 5 minutes to congeal a bit before I serve it.

New vehicle!!! Well, new to me anyway....

2009-01-23T14:36:00.005-06:00

After 2 months of being a one car family, we finally found a used minivan that fit our needs at a price we were THRILLED at! Woot woot that we're also still a zero car payment family. It really eases the stress of a new baby on the way that we didn't need to take on a car payment to get a vehicle that works for us perfectly.

It's not my first choice in color, but during negotiations, every time the price dropped, I found that my attraction to the color increased. Interesting....I think Buzzkill was proud that a fuller wallet was more important to HotMommy than the color of the car. I also thought I wanted the 3 seat bench in the back row which this minivan didn't have. It has 2 individual seats, so instead of seating 7, it seats 6. But the more I think about it, the more I think this will work out to my benefit. Since the 2 seats need to be removed individually, I'll be able to lift them out myself, rather than need Buzzkill to lift a giant, heavy bench seat.

So, in conclusion, totally happy to be a suburban, minivan mom!

CVS and Wal-Mart runs this week

2009-01-14T13:24:00.007-06:00

Days like Wednesday make me giddy to use coupons. I hosted the neighborhood playgroup on Monday and was "morning sick" all day Tuesday, so I was (and still am!) running behind on shopping deals this week. I still have a Walgreens run for diapers and a Kroger run for milk and toilet paper, but I managed to knock out biggies this week - CVS and Wal-Mart. And I did it with the Punkinhead in tow!

CVS was first. Here's the run down.
Transaction #1
I swung by the "magic" coupon printing machine and got $1.50 in ECBS instantly.

2 Golden Emblem (CVS brand) Cheese Crackers 9oz @ 1.97 ea. (Punkinhead digs these)
Received $2 in ECBs

4 3-packs of Kleenex tissues with lotion @ $3.69 ea. (good stockpile built now)
4 $0.50 off coupons on Kleenex 3-packs
Received $4 in ECBs

$15.41 Total after tax with $6 in ECBs to spend.

Transaction #2
3 12-packs of Caffeine-Free Diet Coke on sale for $11
Used the $6 in ECBs, so the total after tax was $5.41.

Wal-Mart had awesome deals.
8 Beech-Nut Let's Grow Microwaveable Meals $1.06-$1.16 (Totally a convenience item for when I need to throw a portable meal in the diaper bag.)
8 $1 off coupon on any Let's Grow product

3 No More Tangles Spray @ 2.72 ea.
$3 Off 3 coupon on Johnson's products

2 Johnson's Buddies soaps @ $0.97 ea.
1 No More Tangles Shampoo & Conditioner @ $3.52 (my receipt has gone missing so this amount may be slightly off)
$3 Off 3 coupon on Johnson's products

4 Green Giant Steamers on sale @ $1.50 ea.
4 $0.50 off 1 Green Giant Steamers coupons

1 Healthy Choice Frozen Dinner on sale @ $2.00 (Kept me from buying fast food for lunch!)
1 $1 Off coupon for any Healthy Choice Frozen item

Without coupons, this trip would have cost me $35.58. With coupons....$14.19!!!! That's over 60% off.

Victoria's Secret Coat Deal (the deal's not a secret)

2009-01-13T16:21:00.004-06:00

Victoria's Secret has a bunch of coats on sale right now. Plus use the Offer Code Pick50 and get an additional 50% off! I got a white puffer coat. It'll be perfect for next winter 'cause by the time it's delivered it's not going to fit over this preggie belly!

Apparently, this code also works for sweaters too.

Frugality the Walgreens way

2009-01-10T14:41:00.006-06:00

I had a really great trip to Walgreens this week. It involved stockpiling Buzzkill's and HotMommy's favorite cereals, getting dish washing soap practically free, and getting much needed concealer better than BOGO.

Here's how it went:
Kellogg's Special K Strawberry 2 boxes @ $2.50 (my fav)
Coupon for $1 off when you buy 2 box of any Special K cereals
Raisin Bran 2 boxes @ $2.50 (Buzzkill's fav)
Register Reward of $3 earned by buying 4 boxes of cereals

Electrosol Dishwashing pods 20 count 2 boxes @ $3.49
2 Coupons for $2.50 off 20 count boxes
Walgreens Easysaver rebate of $1.50 earned this month

L'Oreal Concealers BOGO - bought 2 for $8.99
Coupon for $3 off any L'Oreal foundation, concealer, powder or blush

So, after coupons my subtotal was $16.97 plus $0.66 tax for a total of $17.63. On top of that I earned a total of $4.50 in RR and Easysaver rebates. That's a total savings of $33.49.

Thanks Walgreens!

Want to see more Drugstore Savings? Visit the "Cent"sible Sawyer's Drugstore Divas!

Scenes from from an out of town Christmas Eve and Day

2009-01-04T01:15:00.004-06:00

HotMommy, Great-Mamaw, and The Punkinhead before church on Christmas Eve.

The Punkinhead's Papaw is also known as the Tickle Master!

Are you peaking for Santa, Punkinhead?

Caught her mid "oh."

Little Mommy testing her baby's bottle.

Why my grandmother is amazing.

2008-12-24T20:37:00.002-06:00

She's 98 and just bought a condo. And she got a 30 year mortgage. That's a woman that thinks positively.

Blog Titles that spoke to me today

2008-12-14T22:56:00.002-06:00

* How to lie, as taught by the world's worst liar
* In awe, or just hungry?
* Taking Grandma to a Neil Diamond concert?
* The Pitter-Patter of Baby Fever
* Snarky Gratitude
* Sometimes You Just Can't Win
* Dibs
* How many snowmen can you punch?
* Get in the kitchen and blog me some pie.
* Snap
* The three little vultures
* When we last left our heroine...
* Santa! I Know him!
* My Morning in Whoville
* Rock Star
* Boy is January going to be boring.
* MORE whining but this time with shotguns
* Sometimes a Snake is Just a Snake
* driving miss lazy

You know what this kind of photo means....

2008-12-12T11:49:00.003-06:00

HotMommy and Buzzkill made a sibling for the Punkinhead. Of course, we're also just excited that a special new individual will be joining our family next year.

Trader Tuesday. No one will probably notice.

2008-12-09T15:49:00.001-06:00

It's been such a long time since I posted a recipe.

Spicy Appetizer Meatballs

2 lbs. frozen meatballs
15 oz. can jellied cranberry
12 oz. jar chili sauce

Combine the jellied cranberry and chili sauce. Blend until smooth.

Pour over frozen meatballs in a large skillet. Cook over med. high heat for about 15 minutes.

Serve in a warming bowl (or regular bowl; they go fast before they get cold) with those fancy long cocktail toothpicks next to the bowl.

Yum!

I swear this is not a Polish joke.

2008-12-07T22:25:00.004-06:00

It's more of a cubicle prisoner joke (aka about the dudes Buzzkill works with).

The other week they were all pumped to go check out this new restaurant called Simply Polish for lunch. Buzzkill couldn't go with them, but asked how the food was when they returned later.

"Well, we parked and walked into the front entrance, and were overwhelmed by a horrible stench. We then noticed there were only women inside and they all had their hands and feet soaking in water. It was a nail salon!"

Simply Polish (Pawl-ish, as in nail), not Simply Polish (Pole-ish, as in from Poland).

This tale is going to be repeated at every holiday party we attend this season.

A Christmas Glimpse from Punkinheadland

2008-12-03T23:00:00.008-06:00

I'm holding back some great pictures from our family photo shoot because I want friends and family to "oooo" and "ahhh" when they get the annual holiday card, but here's a few of our other favorites featuring HotMommy, Buzzkill, and our star, Punkinhead. I promise to post our card and annual update later once all the paper cards go out.

Admission

2008-12-03T14:30:00.005-06:00

I know I coveted it. I begged for it. I blogged for it.

And I finally got it.

But I don't entirely like it. The Couponizer.

I love the money I save using coupons. It takes work, but as a stay-at-home-mom, I consider it part of my job to make the most of the one income we have. So, coupons. It's not for everyone, but I've grown to love the process. But not the disorganization that happened because I dove into the deep end. Total immersion into the coupon culture.

I've search all over YouTube, frugal blogs, coupon blogs, etc. for a coupon sorting system that would work for me. The Couponizer seemed to be the be all, end all, and I was eager to try it.

But here's why it sucks for me. I hate to cut coupons. The Couponizer needs you to cut all the coupons you file in it.

I use The Grocery Game to stockpile food deals and I like how it allows me to cut only the coupons I use. But I also need a way to quickly and easily sort through and keep track of all the other coupons I use at CVS and Walgreens.

I've decided to start my own system. When the Smart Source(SS), Red Plum(RP), and Procter & Gamble(PG) come in the Sunday paper, I'm entering all the coupons into an Access database. I'll be able to search it by publication date, source packet(SS,RP,PG), product type, expiration date, product name, quantity of coupons, etc. The time spent entering these once a week will be an hour at most.

Then all the coupon packets will get put into an accordion file(uncut) by source packet and then by packet date. When I need I coupon, I can search the database, pull the correct source packet, cut the coupon, return the source packet to the file, and go shop. No cutting a million little squares, no scissor blisters.

Never fear about The Couponizer being wasted though. All those random coupons that I get in the mail with samples, the blinkys from the grocery store aisles, and the ones I pull from magazines will get sorted in it. These loose coupons will also be entered into the database, but their "source" will list TC(The Couponizer).

It's taken some work, but I think I'm one my way to a system that's finally going to work for me. Yay!

Holiday Contests & A Little Horn Tooting

2008-12-02T20:22:00.005-06:00

I know when I think about the holidays, two things at the top of my list are Walmart and Subway.

Well, maybe not the top, but I kicked tushie at Walmart on Black Friday and I crave Subway roast beefs more than fortnightly. So, I think about them. Your thinking about them now too, aren't you?

Luckily for us, a terrific frugal blogger (and soon-to-be mommy), The Centsible Sawyer is giving away a $100 Walmart gift card and a $15 Subway gift card.

Check out her YouTube channel as well. She's from my home state and I just love hearing the accent so dear to my heart.

P.S. On a bragging note, I payed $3.26 for 3 12-packs of Caffeine Free Diet Coke at CVS today. It was 3 packs for $11 and I had $7.99 in ECBs from Black Friday shopping to use. Buzzkill LOVES the stuff and I find it drinkable as well, so we go through a good bit in a month. I'm always trying to find a way to pay less then 20 cents a can.

Attention procrastinators!

2008-12-02T11:24:00.004-06:00

So you haven't order your holiday cards yet? Good for you! This Kodak deal is rewarding you for taking your sweet time.

I, myself, have already ordered this year's holiday cards. Okay, I did it last Friday, and they haven't even been delivered yet. I decided to go ahead and get some more cards with this deal because I always find that there are folks not on my official list that I get cards from and need to add last minute.

I found this deal at another great "frugal" site Money Saving Methods . Her site's great and I'm going to add it to the frugal blog list to the right for y'all to check out.

So, the deal:

You can get THREE sets (30 photo cards total) for free! Plus, you get 75 4x6 prints free for registering with Kodak Gallery. You have to use the 75 prints within a month, but still, score..

I'm reprinting Carrie's instructions here, but you can also follow the link above to her original post.

* Click here to register with Kodak Gallery. Your 75 Free Prints will show up as a credit on your account. You ONLY have 1 month to use them. So, don't delay and lose those prints.

* Upload your holiday photo and create 30 cards (3 sets) Your quantity should show 3.

* Enter code tryus3

* Enter code 20freecards

You will have to pay shipping/handling, but it comes to a little over $3.(HotMommy paid $3.48)

Carrie also has instructions on how to save on shipping by having the cards sent to CVS. I personally thought spending the $3.48 to have them sent right to me was totally worth it.

The cost of the cards is pretty decent if you want to order more than 30 cards too.

No word on when this deal ends.....get busy!

She's caught up!!!!!

2008-11-05T18:59:00.007-06:00

We had the Punkinhead's latest appointment with the developmental pediatrician today and she's completely caught up to her chronological age. No more preemie 9 week adjustment!!!!!!!!

Verbally she's right on schedule and her fine motor skills are somewhat advanced. Such a miracle.

We'll still need to go in for a 2 year check and then again when she's 4 1/2 - before she starts full time school. But no more need for constant concern and worry. And no more reports. I hate the reports.

I'm a joyous HotMommy and Buzzkill is cautiously relieved. Pretty characteristic reactions.

P.S. Yes, I know I need to correct the date stamp on my camera....

We missed you!

2008-11-04T22:46:00.003-06:00

It just wasn't the same without a dry erase board! Luke was great to watch.

Date Night

2008-11-03T16:47:00.003-06:00

Buzzkill and I don't do many things just the two of us. I mean, we go out for a movie every now and then, for our anniversary, and we have a great group of friends that we do non-baby attending things with, but we just don't often make time to do something special just him and me.

So, when he found a great deal (awesome, awesome deal - $15 each!) for Platinum level seats to a Dallas Stars game, I was very excited. I'm not really the type of girl that prefers to get super dressed up and go to the ballet. It can be fun, but I'd much rather go to some sporting event. In preferential order: Auburn football, SEC football, non-SEC college football, hockey, baseball, and then basketball.

Buzzkill even called his mom to babysit and picked out a restaurant for us to go to dinner beforehand. I was giddy; it made me feel like I was being dated again. Normally I'm the organizer. It was nice to have it all planned by someone else.

The night could not have gone better. The restaurant he picked was one of my favorites, but not one he'd been to before. We got there before happy hour ended and had half price drinks. I promise it made them taste better. The food was delish.

We rode DART incident free. Okay, it might have been nice to have a funny public transportation story to blog about.

Buzzkill bought me lots of pretzels, beer, and popcorn at the game. The Stars won 4-2 which made Buzzkill happy. And when we got home, the Punkinhead was feed, changed, and sound asleep.

The best part of the night was talking to one another uninterrupted for a few hours. We definitely need to do this kind of thing more often.

Future Blogger?

2008-10-30T15:11:00.001-05:00

The Punkinhead has totally mad computer skills. She likes to do her creative writing in the morning before HotMommy wakes up.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jon Stewart is a funny dog.

2008-10-28T15:31:00.002-05:00

My new birthday flashlight has a laser pointer thingy that Buzzkill has been having fun with all week. Stephen doesn't fall for these tricks, but man, oh man, Jon totally does.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Halloween Photo Shoot at Walgreen's for 31 cents

2008-10-27T13:21:00.005-05:00

I'm such a deal addict and man, Walgreen's knows how to get me to their store! On Friday, Walgreen's Photo is offering a 31 cent Halloween Photo Package, which includes:

* Photo CD with your child’s image
* Halloween Photo Greeting Card of your image

Punkinhead is dressing up as, what else, a pumpkin! Okay, technically, it's a Jack-O-Lantern costume. I know all the grandparents are going to want a pic, so I'm going to head over there right after we do our play group's photo at the Halloween event at our neighborhood Rec center. It's going to be a busy Halloween. We have such amazing friends and neighbors that make such a production out of Halloween. I can't wait to see what everyone dresses up as!

Back with a Barbie Deal

2008-10-17T13:02:00.003-05:00

Well, it's been a month. Wow, I've never taken this long a break, but honestly until about a week ago I hadn't even missed it. Why, you ask? The first week was just laziness and lack of creative thought and then a horrible, horrible plague descended on our house in the form of flu. WE ALL GOT IT!!!!

It was the worst time too - we missed seeing friends in town from Nashville, a family member's baby shower with Sprinkles cupcakes, and my BFF's daughter's first birthday party.

It's taken a good two more weeks to feel back to myself and catch up on all the housekeeping, laundry, etc., but I have been trying to read everyone else's blogs so that I at least know what's up with y'all.

But I'm back and I have an awesome Barbie deal. Punkinhead isn't quite ready for Barbie yet, but I'm thinking about going ahead and storing stuff for Christmas/birthday gifts in the near future. All you mommies with the over-3 Barbie addicts should take advantage of this.

The deal is, buy $100 worth of the products listed below and get a $50 Visa prepaid card that you can use anywhere Visa is accepted! (Dude, that sounded like a commercial.....yikes.)

1. Barbie The Diamond Castle Princess Liana Doll $19.94 @ Walmart.com
2. Barbie The Diamond Castle Princess Alexa Doll $19.94 @ Walmart.com
3. Barbie The Diamond Castle Horse and Carriage $44.94 @ Walmart.com
4. Barbie The Diamond Castle Glimmer Flying Horse $22.99 (sale price) @ ToysRUs.com
5. Barbie The Diamond Castle Playset $94.97 @ Walmart.com
6. Peekaboo Petites Peekaboo Place $29.97 @ Walmart.com
7. iDesign Ultimate Stylist $29.97 @ Walmart.com
8. Barbie My House $34.97 @ Walmart.com
9. Barbie Party Cruise $64.94 @ Walmart.com
10. Candy Glam Style Station $44.88 @ Walmart.com

Go to BarbieBucks.com to download the Offer Certificate.

You have to make all the purchase by 11:59 p.m. 12/31/08 and have the forms received by Mattel no later than 1/21/09.

Tuesday Trader - Transition back to meat with fish

2008-09-23T18:08:00.002-05:00

This is a recipe that was served at one of my baby showers and is an Easter favorite too. It is NOT a bargain recipe. Definitely a holiday/party treat recipe. Or maybe you're a lottery winner and can pass it off for your personal chef to make weekly; I'm not totally clear what my average reader is.....

Noodles in Dill Sauce with Smoked Salmon

Sauce:
3 Tbsp minced shallots
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 c. heavy cream
2 Tbsp fresh chopped dillweed

Combine shallots and white wine in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer until the wine is reduced to about 2 tsp. Pour in cream and bring it back to a boil. Reduce and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove it from the heat and stir in the dillweed.

Noodles:
Cook 6 oz. of dry egg noodles according to directions.

Salmon:
4 oz. thin sliced smoked salmon. Cut it along the grain into narrow 2 inch pieces.

Pour the dill sauce over the noodles. Toss until coated. Add the salmon and stir gently. I like to add a little kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste before serving it.

This is also good the next day cold.

You ask them to do one thing and they do another.

2008-09-22T14:21:00.003-05:00

But at least this time it was cute! I was trying to get the Punkinhead to show off her "find your nose" skills. Instead, she gave us a glimpse into her future as a cast member of The Lion King. That bit of cuteness is right up top in the show; the rest is fun to watch as well. Buzzkill on the sofa is about the height of his activity on weekends. Actually, he's a tremendous help with the Punkinhead on weekends. Also, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart make a rare appearance.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hey Buzzkill!

2008-09-22T13:59:00.004-05:00

You claim I don't tell you about the things I want gift wise, right? Well here's a link to a description of something - The Couponizer! Yes, Common Sense With Money is giving one away, so maybe you should enter....

I apologize to my readers that I'm not married to, which is quite fairly, a lot. Just needed to put a little wifely directive out there.

5 SEC teams in the top 10!

2008-09-20T23:27:00.001-05:00

That's all I have to write. Just proof that the SEC is the TOUGHEST conference in the country. We deserve to have a team play for the national championship every year. We're that good.

Contest, contest, contest

2008-09-17T13:38:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite frugal blogs is running a contest in conjunction with the new season of Lipstick Jungle. The Punkinhead and HotMommy love Brooke Shields.

Go enter the contest and check out the blog: Penny Pinching Parent

Penny Pinching Parent lists the diaper and formula deals every Sunday all in one convenient blog post. They always have a link to it on their front page too.

Just a thought I had on 75 North

2008-09-16T14:56:00.002-05:00

I passed Condoms to Go (a chain of stores in DFW carrying, I assume, condoms) and thought, "When they named it, were they worried people might use the condoms in store? As in, for here or to go?"

Buzzkill would like Trader Tuesday to go vegan.

2008-09-16T00:53:00.004-05:00

If it does, should we call it Traitor Tuesday?

Anyway, in honor of Buzzkill, a requested recipe I can tolerate. But I may add bacon to it!

Vegan Black Bean Soup
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 or 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 1-pound cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
4 cups water

Optional toppings: Green onions, thinly sliced, soy yogurt, reduced-fat sour cream, or low-fat yogurt.

1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Saute the onions over moderate heat until translucent, 3 or 4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until the onion is lightly golden, another 3 or 4 minutes.

2. Add the remaining ingredients, except the toppings, along with the water, and bring to a simmer.

3. Mash some of the beans with a potato-masher, just enough to thicken the liquid base of the soup. Cover and simmer gently but steadily for 10 minutes.

4. Serve hot topped with one or two of the optional toppings.

Serves 6 to 8.

This also freezes pretty well. And makes the whole family farty. Be prepared.

Isn't that just like a Punkinhead?

2008-09-14T17:38:00.002-05:00

She has a million toys to play with (look behind her) and all she wants to do is play with an empty can of Puffs......

Soaking Saturday

2008-09-13T20:07:00.003-05:00

Man, the rain has just poured buckets today! I had to do my Walgreens, Kroger, and Target deal runs this morning in the rain, but afterward I just settled into the sofa with discounted Coke Zero to watch SEC games. I literally dreamed about the Auburn game last night - that I was watching it, cheering, and teaching the Punkinhead about the game. I'm so glad fall is here. It's always my favorite season.

I'm on a "saving money" push for the next week or so to try to only buy Punkinhead's milk at the grocery store in the next week and really use the great bargains I've stockpiled in the freezer and the pantry. Let's call it Eat Your Freezer Week!

To that end, we did the ol' comfort food meal of spaghetti and meat sauce. I think I could serve this to Buzzkill EVERY night and he'd be in heaven.

So, I racked up at Walgreens today. I spent $50.65 out of pocket for merchandise that would have cost me $200.30 at full price. Plus I have the monthly Easysaver rebate items that will give me $25.76 back at the end of the month. So, really I got $200.30 worth of items for $24.89!!!!!!

I had one last 50 cent coupon for a 4 pack of Cottonelle toilet paper to use at Kroger today. It was $1.21, so with Kroger double coupons, I paid 21 cents. I'm going to miss my little stockpile of Cottonelle coupons.....

Target was good. I did some diaper and bottle scenarios to get 2 $5.00 gift cards. I also took advantage of some of this week's baby-themed sales for some baby shower gifts. It wasn't a money-maker day a Target, but some good, solid deals I'm content with. According to Penny Pinching Parent I got LUVS for 6 cents below standard per diaper cost. I don't think I'm going to be really satisfied with diaper costs again after last month's Walgreens 10 cent per diaper bargain. They've ruined me for standard, run-of-the-mill sales.

Just Now

2008-09-09T22:19:00.003-05:00

I was asking Buzzkill, "Isn't the Punkinhead extra funny this week?"

To which he replied, "Yes, if by funny you mean screamy and uncooperative."

She's such a daddy's girl.

Trader Tuesday - Because bacon and butter make everything better.

2008-09-09T20:45:00.003-05:00

Yummy Popcorn the Menfolk will love. Good with tail-gaiting beers.

4-6 slices of bacon cooked until crispy, drain and chop up

1 standard size bag of microwave popcorn, popped

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

4 Tbsps melted butter

2 tsps buttermilk Ranch dressing powder mix

1/4 tsp pepper

Toss everything in a big bowl.

Makes 2-3 servings.

HotMommy's got video!

2008-09-03T16:28:00.003-05:00

I bought a couple of Polaroid digital cameras this week - it was an awesome deal that I'll blog about later. The best part is that it has video! Now I can show you live exactly how unorganized my house really is despite my stellar reputation! In moving picture!

Here's the first test run I did after setting the camera up. I'm hoping in the future my skillz get smokin'.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I forgot Tuesday Trade day

2008-09-03T14:01:00.005-05:00

It was the Punkinhead's first day at Mother's Day Out and for the first time in maybe six weeks I couldn't swing the energy to cook so Buzzkill was sent out to fetch a Little Cesaer's pizza. After making my own crust and having lots of yummy toppings I combine lately, the takeout pizza tasted like cardboard and horrible dry cheese.

So no new delightful recipe to share. But I did like Auntie M's drink recipe. Here's what I mix up when I'm screaming War Eagle! on the sofa. And okay, whenever an SEC game is on period.

Currantly Absolut Zero

Sprite Zero (Diet Sprite - has to be because it has a sweeter flavor needed for the drink)

Currant Absolut vodka

Ice

Highball glass - or iced tea class

Fill the glass with ice. Pour in 2-3 fingers of the vodka. Fill up the remaining space in the glass with Sprite Zero. Stir and drink.

You can make this with plain Absolut vodka but then it's just an Absolut Zero!

Target Pop Tart Deal

2008-09-01T22:35:00.007-05:00

This is the kind of fun I can have when Buzzkill is home an extra day during the week!

Target had Pop Tarts 4 boxes of 12 for $9. Good deal, but wait.....when you buy 4 boxes of 12, you get a $5 gift card for Target! I bought 12 boxes yielding me $15 in gift cards.

Kellogg's has a deal that if you buy 10 products and submit a Fuel for School rebate form from the newspaper a few weeks ago, you get $10 back!

So basically, I paid $27 upfront, got my $15 gift cards, and will soon have a ten dollar rebate on the way = overall cost to me the consumer...$2 for 144 Pop Tarts.

Yes, experienced frugal shoppers, I know there were coupons I could have used. I even printed them out and took them with me, but the store told me they were no longer accepting web coupons. I'm new to this wheelin' and dealin' so I let it go for now....

But all in all I was pretty psyched about the deal.

I was going to be responsible and put the gift cards towards groceries next week. Then I remembered that the swimming vest I wanted to buy the Punkinhead for next summer was marked down again from $24.79 to $12.38 so i put that in my cart. And then there were some beach balls marked down to 76 cents each so those hopped into the cart too. Whoops, grocery budget help all gone!

But wait! I won a $25 gift card to Save-A-Lot from Sisterly Savings last week! I tell you, I can't wait for grocery day on Friday!

Our last deal for Saturday? We dress in Auburn t-shirts and went to Chick-fil-a for the free 3-strips of chicken for each person wearing college logo adorned clothing. I asked for our free food and sent Buzzkill to a table, then I pulled out a buy-a-Med.-Coke-get-a-Large-Waffle-Fry-Free coupon. I took that yummyness to our table and sent Buzzkill back with a buy-a-Med.-Dr.Pepper-and-a-Med.-Waffle-Fry-get-a-Chicken-Sandwich-Free coupon. So to recap: for $4.49, we feasted on 6 chicken strips, 1 chicken sandwich, a large fry, a med. fry, a Coke, and a Dr.Pepper!

I tingle inside with a little cha-ching! noise.

New blogging path

2008-09-01T11:51:00.003-05:00

This blog has been such a great outlet for me as a mom. Recipes, baby bragging, embarassing moments - you name it, I feel free to talk about it. So even though I was brought up to believe that talking about money is not polite, I'm going to do it anyway.

Not money exactly, but financial responsibility and saving money by practicing frugality.

Buzzkill and I were shocked by the skyrocketing gas prices this summer and the escalating prices of everything else related to that via shipping costs. Buzzkill works a good job and makes good money, but we made the decision that until our youngest child enters 5-day schooling, my career will be stay-at-home-mom. And that means our income decreased after the Punkinhead to complicate things even more. So, part of my new job description is household accountant and I want to make sure that I use every penny we earn to the best use it can have.

After doing research (where else?) on other mom blogs, I found there is a whole network of moms (and dads) working to be frugal. Not cheap, frugal - responsible and thoughtful about their money choices. It's been such a great education and I've loved getting to make more online friends too.

All that to say, from time to time, HotMommy's going to post about some of the great deals she's learned how to buy over the last month. It's another area I'm a newbie to, but it's become a big part of my life recently and one that I believe is here to stay. I've been stock-piling entries and will be sharing them very soon.

I'm falling behind

2008-08-26T02:46:00.003-05:00

Lots to write about and I promise it's coming soon, but since is Tuesday Trade day and I've been instructed to focus on a crock-pot meal, here's something to fill bellies until I can fill y'all with my genius writing about our fabulous adventures.

Crockpot Enchiladas

• 1 lb. ground beef, cooked
• 1 medium onion, sauteed
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 4 flour tortillas
• 1 14 oz can corn, drained
• 1 10 oz can enchilada sauce
• 1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• sour cream, salsa, guacamole

In a bowl, combine ground beef, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

In another bowl, mix the Rotel and enchilada sauce.

Place 2 tortillas in the bottom of the slow cooker.

Place half of the following in layers over the tortillas: meat, corn, sauce mixture, and cheese. Repeat layers.

Cook on low 5-6 hours. Use the sour cream, salsa, and guac as garnishes if you like.

Tuesday trade for Ms. Should-be-in-Texas-by-now

2008-08-19T22:44:00.005-05:00

Since you posted a Paula dish, I'm posting one too. Also because I made it this week and everyone and their pets asked for the recipe. Two birds, one stone.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup sugar
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping
2 (3-ounce) packages strawberry gelatin dessert mix
2 cups boiling water
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen strawberries
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
For the crust, mix the pretzels, butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan and bake for 7 minutes. Set aside and allow to
cool.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar. Fold in
the whipped topping, and spread over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until well
chilled.

In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, and allow to cool
slightly. Add the strawberries and pineapple, and pour over the cream cheese
mixture. Refrigerate until serving time.

The Neutering - Yes, it does sound like a horror movie.

2008-08-19T01:48:00.007-05:00

I've meant to tell a little funny story about Jon Stewart and his snip-snip trip for a while. He got through it just fine, unlike his life companion Stephen Colbert's spaying. (Yes, I have the gender/operation correct. Boy Name + Female dog = You're caught up.) Stephen managed to chew her stitches out on Thanksgiving day, bleed all over my MIL's carpet, and cost $1000 in emergency (holiday) vet bills.

Why is it that boy dogs take 4 days to recover and the girls take 2 weeks? Even in animal recovery the female gets the bum deal. Well, the boys don't have it so hot either.....

Anyway, Buzzkill thankfully did not have reservations about Jon getting snip-snipped. I remembered my mother having to wait until my father was on a business trip to sneak the male cat to the vet for his, ummm, procedure. I don't think my father knows even now that the cat died "gender-neutral."

Jon was dropped off early morning and picked up late afternoon. While I was checking him out, the office assistant asked me if I wanted to spend an extra $8 for pain meds for him. She misconstrued the confused look on my face as an aversion for spending extra and assured me they weren't necessary. My confused look was because I didn't know I hadn't already asked for them. My response to her was, "We SURE DO want them. It's a firm rule in our house. If your testicles get removed, you get pain medication!"

When I told Buzzkill about the above exchange, he wavered between relief that I understood the importance of limiting male genital pain and fear that there was some reason for us to keep it an official "house rule."

Remodeling Bug

2008-08-18T10:19:00.005-05:00

I've caught the bug. When we bought our house a couple of years ago, we knew eventually we'd pour a bucketful of money into this place in flooring, kitchen, and master bath. But we had a live-with-what's-here-but-paint policy for 4 to 5 years.

The Punkinhead pregnancy interrupted the completion of some rooms being painted and up until now I could live with it. Unfortunately, two things have happened this summer. One, our neighbors sold their house and I saw the upgrades they put in just before. Two, a playgroup mom and her husband have done AMAZING things to a house in our neighborhood and I got to see them when I took them a post-new baby meal.

These visitations have infected me and there is no cure other than.....REMODEL NOW!

Clearly, the budget still isn't ready for a flooring, full kitchen, or full master bath gutting. But I CAN paint. And maybe a little more.

So the plan:

1. Repaint all the mismatched trim throughout the house as this bothers me every where I go in the house.

2. Repaint the kitchen.

3. Do a cosmetic update on the master bath including: rent a steamer to get the border off the walls, repaint the walls, paint the cabinets, replace faucets and fixtures, maybe replace the mirrors, and hire someone to lay down the tile left in the garage by the previous owner so that the shower room matches the rest of the bathroom Here's an inspiration room:

It's probably going to take me a full year to do all this since I'll be a DIY queen. I'm going to budget for a tile guy 'cause I KNOW that's not something I want to learn in the tiny, awkward shower room, but I think the rest is totally within my capabilities and I know it will make me happier at home.

MDO Prep

2008-08-14T13:38:00.000-05:00

The Punkinhead is starting Mother's Day Out (MDO) next month and I've spent a big portion of the day calculating what she needs to be prepared. You know, enough play clothes, the right size bag, something for her lunch/snacks/etc. to be carried in. It's her back-to-school list.

I'm so overwhelmed to realize that she ALREADY HAS nearly everything she needs because of all the generous first birthday gifts from friends and family!!!!!!

These wonderful items include, an adorable insulated lunch box monogrammed with her name from our neighbors from the Roswell days, a perfectly sized NAME BRAND backpack monogrammed with her name from close friends from our high school days, and a butt load of cute clothes from cousins, aunts, friends.

As much as I love, oh no, wait....HATE to shop, it's such a relief to have these things all done. We have the best friends and family EVER!

Co-opting the Breakfast Club

2008-08-13T13:47:00.004-05:00

I've noticed and listened to a lot of discussion about JCPenney's ad features the teen models/actors in scenes reminiscent of the 80's classic John Hughes movie The Breakfast Club lately.

The comment mostly commonly made is that teens today aren't going to "get" the connection to the movie or find it cool.

Of course they won't! I mean, maybe some of them HAVE seen the movie, but they're still not going to make the leap that JCPenney is cool from that commercial. Want to know why?

They ARE NOT the target audience of this commercial. Parents that were teens when the movie came out in theaters are!

The line of clothes featured in the ad is geared towards an age group of teens that still has their parents shop with them and purchase their clothes. If JCPenney can convince the PARENTS that their store and these clothes are cool, then the parents will shop there for the teens. So the commercial is supposed to appeal to the older folks' (yes, we are now) memory of cool. Trigger it and you trigger the credit card.

I admit I squealed a little inside at the blob-like sculpture Judd T. climbed so many years ago and the Pixie Sticks on a Capt'n Crunch sammie. If this commercial was for toddler clothes, I'd be willing to go check out those clothes. But I'm very impressionable.

Inspiration Post

2008-08-12T13:33:00.003-05:00

Ms. Longing-for-Texas posted about her recent easy and delish recipe , so I thought I'd share the quick-bake mock cobbler (mockler? mobbler?) that I wooed Buzzkill with last night. Keep in mind I substitute Splenda for sugar since I'm diabetic.

2 1/2 cups berries (we used Blackberry)
1 cup sugar divided
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine berries with half of the sugar. Kinda smush it together so it's juicy enough to dissolve the sugar but still has clumps of berry.

In another bowl, combine the other half of the sugar, milk, and flour. Mix in melted butter.

In a greased 8 inch pan, pour the batter. Spoon the berry mix as evenly as possible on top of the batter.

Bake for 40-60 minutes (depending on how hot your oven can get, 350 is REALLY hot in mine). Just check on it after 40 minutes to see if the crust on top is golden - then it's done.

I served it with whipped cream, but vanilla ice cream is good to. Or if you don't like topping, have a big glass of cold milk. Or soy milk or whatever.

Summer of Punkinhead-Cousin Fun

2008-08-11T23:10:00.005-05:00

The Punkinhead has a sweet cousin. He's one of her only boy playmates and man, you can tell already that they're going to get into some trouble together!

Hat drama from a swimming Sunday at Grandma's:

Friday lunch and playdate fun:

And for fun, yoga meditation. Ohmmm.....

Thanks to her Auntie S. for the pics!

I was denied membership

2008-08-06T17:24:00.004-05:00

to my regional Freecycle. Who knew a group that I want to offer stuff free to is so picky about its members?

Apparently, you have to join a neighborhood (your city) Freecycle before you can join the regional. But there isn't a Freecycle for my particular city, so what's a girl with stuff she doesn't need to do? Another yard sale? But this time just put up a sign that says, "if you can haul or carry it out of my yard, have at it?"

Adventures in cooking

2008-07-31T00:30:00.005-05:00

HotMommy was a Super Suppers addict for ages, but with skyrocketing gas prices this summer, I decided to sign up for Menus4Moms and do my own weeknight meals. Menus4Moms.com sends you weekly menus, recipes, and most importantly...groceries lists for under $100 a week!

I've been on a quest for years for the perfect mac and cheese recipe. We've tried Paula's, Southern Living, you name it, but until Menus4Moms I was never able to nail it. The Béchamel sauce is the secret to it. It was a hit at pool night and I'm taking it to book club this week.

Here is the recipe:

Macaroni and Cheese

* 2 tbsp cornstarch
* 1 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp dry mustard
* 1/4 tsp pepper
* 2-1/2 cups milk
* 2 tbsp butter
* 2 cups (8 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
* 8 oz Mueller's Medium Shells (this is adaptation - the original recipe calls for elbows), cooked 5 minutes and drained

In medium saucepan combine corn starch, salt, dry mustard and pepper; stir in milk. Add margarine. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in 1-3/4 cups (425 ml) cheese until melted. Add pasta. Pour into greased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake uncovered in 375 degree oven 25 minutes or until lightly browned. This can be prepared ahead of time and kept refrigerated until you are ready to bake. Add 5-7 minutes to the cooking time if cold.

Here is what I have to say about the Real Housewives of Atlanta....

2008-07-30T23:05:00.011-05:00

based on it's preview tonight.

Atlanta may be about new money to YOU, but Atlanta is NOT about new money to anyone who's opinion matters. Yes, that makes me a bitch, but all I have to say about that is, "you're in my prayers y'all."

Next point: Your houses are tacky McMansions. If it's on less than ten acres, it's not an estate - it's just a big yard. And if your house is attached to another house...it's not even a McMansion. It's a condo or townhouse.

Bless your over-reaching hearts, if you have to work so hard to look like it....you ARE NOT IT. Kind of like that quasi-countess from New York. Even if she does have nice manners and plays tennis well. In Atlanta, you're just good for a donation. Heck, my family had the largest single family owned farm in Alpharetta and my grandfather was president of an institutional Buckhead business, but I don't have the gall to claim to be Atlanta society. There are standards and these housewives clearly don't cut it.

Bravo, maybe you should document the real thing. Or did the ones you approached first realize how tacky it is to be on a reality show? Must have...I can't think of any quality people that would appear on this show.

I do understand the groups in Orange County, New York, and Atlanta you've shown until now are very "good tv." But not good society. Not even nouveau riche - just nouveau unimportant.

Yes, I feel bitchy tonight.

Walker Texas Punkinhead

2008-07-30T00:30:00.002-05:00

She took a step! Her very first independent step.

She was cruising along the edge of the sofa, reached her little Punkinhead hand out to hand me a ball, and when I didn't stretch out my arm to get it, she let go and took a step toward me! No fear or freak out from her or anything. I'm sure full on walking is coming any day now.

What a precocious Punkinhead we have!

The Punkinhead does an awesome Sean Penn impersonation

2008-07-10T23:49:00.005-05:00

Just for fun. It's good to know she'll fit in with the Hollywood teens fleeing from the paps. 'Cause she's my LiLo and I'm her Dina! What, I don't seem like a stage mom?

Give me your camera now! I want that film!

LiLo on a Saturday night impersonation thrown in for free...

There's the pretty smile we all know and love! (yes, that is sweet potatoes on her face. Deal with it - she got a bath just after!)

Punkinhead Parade

2008-07-10T22:47:00.004-05:00

Our HOA puts on a parade for the 4th. Punkinhead invited her gang over to watch from our front yard since our house was on the parade route this year. So much fun!

Shakes your maracas! Or just one.

Again, so lucky to have a handsome hubby and pretty Punkin.

A neighbor asked if they were triplets. My response should have been, "No, but we all share a husband!" That would have started some neighborly gossip!!!!

This is as good as it gets when posing 3 babies!

Yes, I look concerned about my snow cone. No, Punkinhead doesn't look concerned about ANYTHING!

Nicole Kidman names her baby girl Sunday

2008-07-07T16:51:00.002-05:00

I had a cat named Sunday as a child. Because we found him in the church parking lot on a Sunday. Other than that, I'm not going to comment on celebrity child names.

Mmmmm, goldfish crackers

2008-07-03T16:47:00.004-05:00

One of the biggest benefits of being a mom is the unlikely, unexpected special moments that I wish could last always. That's so cliched isn't it? Anyway, here's today's moment.

Punkinhead discovered a love of goldfish cheddar crackers at VBS this year, and me, lazy mom that I am, just remembered today at Target to get that GIANT pour carton of them for her.

I filled up her snack cup when I got home, handed it off to her, and collapsed from errand-induced heat exhaustion into the armchair.

Suddenly she made a howler monkey noise and when I glanced down at her, she was so delighted by what she found in her cup the glee was just plastered across her face.

She then proceeded to stuff as many as she could into her mouth, chew them, and then opened her mouth to show me the yummy goodness inside. See-food Mommy, get it?

A little sadness in my heart

2008-07-02T15:42:00.006-05:00

If you don't know already, HotMommy was adopted when she was six months old. Before Buzzkill and I knew we were pregnant with Punkinhead (but were in the planning phase), I sent a letter to my birthmother asking for medical information so that we'd have as much knowledge as we could about possible complications, genetic diseases, etc. If you want to read more about it, I blogged about it on my old Myspace blog back in '06.

The trail

So, the sadness thing. My head understands that she's not willing to provide me that information, but every day before the mail comes, my heart leaps a little and I wonder, "Maybe today I'll get something."

I wonder when my heart will give up the hope?

Wedding Dress Quasi-Tag

2008-06-26T23:11:00.006-05:00

Not actually a tag, but a blog friend wrote about hers because a friend did and back and back, and now voila I'm thinking about mine.

We got married half-way across the country from where I lived, so to make the alteration process easier on me, I bought it where I lived, flying my mother and my grandmother's check out to me. Buzzkill's mom joined us for a day of shopping.

We had an appointment with a snooty Dallas shop that I now know caters mostly to snooty Highland Park debs. We got out of there toot sweet (yes, I actually know how it's spelled in French).

We found this quaint little place of Routh Street and I tried on everything they had in store in my size. I wanted to get it THAT DAY and not have it ordered. I get paranoid and didn't want to buy I dress I hadn't seen in person.

I was facing away from the big mirror and as I slipped my arms into the sleeves, the fabric fluttering against my skin, I thought, "This is the one." I turned around to face the mirror and what I saw was nothing less than everything I never knew I wanted. It was totally perfect. I capped off the day with a giant glass of white wine. Trust me, I needed it.

I'm pretty sure it preserved in a closet at my folks house for future archaeologists to study and display in a Natural History Museum under "Middle Class Ritual Coupling Attire."

Blog titles I liked this week

2008-06-23T22:39:00.002-05:00

They all spoke to me in one way or another. The titles, not always the blog entries when I read them.....

Suck it up and go to the pool
Bootcamp, Day 13 & 14 -- Sleeping In
Urgent Apparently Has Different Meanings For Different People
Mosquitoes, please have mercy
It’s Because I’m Psychotic. I Mean, Psychic.
Flag Cake Smackdown
Because I’m immature.
Baby showers are fun!
I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up
Find a Safe Laundry Detergent without a PhD in Chemistry

Summer is a time for reruns

2008-06-23T22:10:00.005-05:00

My ol' myspace blog readers will recognize this tale from my marriage, but frankly, it's funny and bears rereading. Plus, sometimes I'm just lazy.

Buzzkill and I discovered a key component in maintaining martial accord towards the beginning of our marriage: Our home MUST be a two Tivo household! My Tivo once went kaput and suddenly every night was a battle.

We had to lay down some ground rules for what got recorded on the only working Tivo. We actually wrote the rules down, signed it, and discussed having it notarized. We finally agreed not to drag the legal process into it and just trust that we would follow the rules self-governed.

Rule 1: If you could get someone to record a show for you, your choice lost out. Rule 2: If you can buy the entire season of a show on DVD in the near future, your choice lost out.

This went on for a month before my replacement Tivo arrived. (And the villagers rejoiced. Yeah!)

Among the benefits of a two Tivo home, Buzzkill can record Gossip Girl (his O.C. replacement) on his Tivo and the Bachelorette only gets recorded on mine! But stangely, The Soup, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report must be recorded on each one or we both get fussy.

VBS workers of the world unite!

2008-06-23T21:25:00.004-05:00

This blog is awesome....that's all I can write. Please enjoy it.

V-Very-B-Bad-S-Sign

Seriously?!!!????......

2008-06-21T19:52:00.003-05:00

This word seems to pop up more and more frequently in my day-to-day life as a reaction to things that completely shock me. Comments friends get from family, scoldings from a stranger at a religious event, it goes on and on....

Today's was two for the price of one. I did my weekly grocery shopping at my FAVORITE super store (no sarcasm, I love it) and while passing the group of slacking sample-offerers at the frozen foods area, I overheard the engrossing topic that kept them from their jobs. How much pot they smoked and how much they wished it was legal. Okay, moving on.

As I unload my items for check out, I ask if an item being bag is one that I was rung up for because it was definitely NOT one I had selected. This question apparently hits the "non-English speaking immigrants should be deported" button in my cashier's brain because she launched into a diatribe the likes of which you don't even hear on AM radio.

So, seriously???? I'm not even going to say what my opinions are on these subjects, but you'd think a national chain would have a policy that controversial topics are not to be discussed with customers to reduce the risk you alienate those patronizing your establishment.

I know that when I worked at one of the "big two" bookstore chains, during the 2004 election, the only political statement I could make to customers was that it is important to vote. I had to be familiar with both sides of an issue so that I could make book recommendations once a customer expressed an opinion, but even if I shared that opinion I couldn't have that discussion in the store.

I can let the stoned sample-offerers pass 'cause they were talking amongst themselves (although I don't think I'll sample whatever they might be offering), but the cashier lady just shocked me.

HotMommy's doing a mediocre job skimming the pool

2008-06-18T15:09:00.003-05:00

It's summertime and HOT, HOT, HOT! We're in the pool nearly every day. Montana, Montana's cousin (HotMommy is mulling over her nom de plume still) and their mommies are joining us lots. All the daddies join in on "Pool Night."

I think we also need to post a rule - "No cannonballs by Dads!" I'm tired of having to refill the pool after one!

Little Love Bug!

Yummy raft!

Punkinhead has found a toypedo..

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T15:40:00.002-05:00

One year ago today.....

And now, a word from the Punkinhead:
Most girls think their daddies are much nicer than the rest.
But I know something they don't know - my daddy is the best!
Happy Father's Day! Love you always!

HotMommy has some words too:
Sometimes in a special moment when we're talking or laughing or I'm watching you being a caring father, something makes me see you as if for the first time - and I realize again all the wonderful reasons why I fell in love with you!

(Words reprinted from Buzzkill's Father's Day cards. You can buy some really deep, emotional cards at the Dollar Tree, no?)

The Punkinhead loves to hang with friends.

2008-06-15T01:49:00.004-05:00

Who knew a 1-year-old could have so many friends? The Punkinhead was born during a girlie baby boom. There are a couple of dudes in her gang, but for the most part, it's all chicas!

Her oldest friend (ie the friend she's had the longest) is Miss Montana and Miss Montana's mommy is HotMommy's drinking buddy, uh, I mean Vacation Bible School co-teacher and go-to in any situation friend. What would we do without them?

And now we have their aunt/sister and cousin/niece to hang out with too! Girls, I promise at least ONE morning this summer, Punkinhead and I will join you for walking!

PS - Forgive me for snaking the photo. It was simply irresistible...

Bye Tim...

2008-06-14T20:08:00.004-05:00

You weren't consider just a journalist in our home, but a friend.

We'll miss you.

Buzzkill causes thrill. Now chill.

2008-06-08T23:58:00.004-05:00

So maybe I had to threaten his life. And maybe he had to work non-stop for 4 days in his non-job hours. I also may have withheld sex until it was complete (and believe me what there is is precious to him).

But he DID it! And before the Punkinhead's second first birthday party on Saturday! (It was awesome, pics to come.) He built us a new entertainment center based on the gianourmous display we saw at Ikea. And ours is bigger than that one.

My hubby totally rocks. He deserves sex. But I think he just wants to sleep now. And yes, he is plotting for the 42 in. flat screen to replace the current tv.

So now, gentle readers view below what my strong, masculine husband creates with his 2 hands and an L-shaped Swedish tool thingy......

Georgia trip, the random sweet moments

2008-05-28T13:26:00.004-05:00

Just some pics that weren't a part of the "big' events.

Georgia trip, special church day & special family

2008-05-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

We went to church at HotMommy's parents' church on Sunday. Mamaw joined us and since she just turned 98, one of the ministers read a brief history of her life and the entire service sang happy birthday to her. My dad and I cried a little, but happy tears. It was amazing getting to meet so many folks that prayed for the Punkinhead and so special to worship together as FOUR generations.

As a side note, Buzzkll and I ran into one of our high school coaches/teachers and I got to reconnect with a neighborhood friend from childhood.

That evening after HotMommy's "traditional" family Sunday lunch at the Red Lobster, Buzzkill and I took Punkinhead to meet his great uncle and great aunt. Such a fun visit and such a sweet, loving couple.

Georgia trip, party time!

2008-05-28T12:45:00.006-05:00

Punkinhead's first first birthday party (no mistake on the repeat - she's having a Texas party too) was a blast! My dad and Buzzkill got the picnic area near the gazebo by the barn cleaned up (ie removing pine cones, "fluffing" pine straw, other pine related activities).

We had so many friends and family there to celebrate the little princess' - as her Gigi calls her - first wonderful year. It was a great cook-out with a terrific cake and TONS of gifts.

I had so many parties out at The Farm as a kid. Now it's named a fancy smancy name - Wildberry Creek Farm. Pretty, huh?

We were worried that rain would start before the hayride, but it was fine and we took a loop around the pasture driven by Papaw's new (Auburn) orange tractor my cousin got him a sweet deal on. Anyway, I'll save you a thousand words and just post some pictures.

Georgia historic home tour

2008-05-28T10:15:00.007-05:00

They're not a part of any history but ours - the homes we grew up in! Buzzkill had two stops. The house near Oglethorpe and the Brookfield house. I just had the one stop in North Point.

Buzzkill's first neighborhood is slowing being torn down and rebuilt with giant McMansions. His street seemed okay though.

The next visit was to his home in Brookfield. Lots of memories in this neighborhood including our wedding reception at the country club. Buzzkill's folks recently sold it since the last of the kids is finally grown and moved out. Just too much room for two people. But we stopped for Buzzkill to say goodbye to it.

The last home tour stop was at the house I grew up in. It had changed a little (particularly the color!), but all the lush landscaping felt so familiar right down to the honeysuckle smell.

If you don't already know, Punkinhead's middle name belonged to my friend that grew up next door to me. She passed away when I was 18. Age wise I was right between her and her younger sister and we three played all the time growing up. Their family is my second family and they still live in the same house, so I was over the moon to introduce Punkinhead to her Auntie S.W. on our home visit!

Georgia trip with a side of Auburn

2008-05-28T10:14:00.001-05:00

The next highlight was our trip to visit the ol' alma mater - War Eagle! I hadn't been on campus in 4 years, Buzzkill had never visited the campus, and it was high time we got the Punkinhead enrolled! Lots had changed but it still felt like home. We happened to be there on freshman orientation day - how weird is that? Most high schools didn't even have graduation until the following weekend!

We grabbed a lemonade at Toomer's Drugs, bought out the bookstore of cute AU gear, and best of all, met my all time favorite AU friend for lunch and to catch up. One of the best days I've had in a long time!

Mother Daughter Photos

2008-05-27T21:12:00.002-05:00

We were able to connect with lots of Georgia friends and it was so special that so many of us are moms now. And moms with daughters! Sons are cool too, but sometimes it's got to be about us chicas!

Mama B and little Miss B were a hit with Punkinhead!

Mama V and her fairy princess. FYI Mama V is looking fantabulous after giving birth to those beautiful boys at the beginning of the month!

Can you say "mini-me?" These girls look just like their mommies, IMO.

Georgia trip; a combined total of 99 years

2008-05-27T20:42:00.003-05:00

Okay y'all.....it was an amazing week with lots to blog about and I'm going to have to break it up into segments.

We flew in the day after Punkinhead's 1st birthday, which just happened to be my grandmother's 98th (!!!!!) birthday. Plus, because neither of them has been able to travel, this was the first time great-grandmother and great-granddaughter had ever met in person. Mamaw is right at the top of our most missed Georgia people list.

Happy 1st Birthday Punkinhead...

2008-05-20T11:16:00.009-05:00

A year ago today, you came into our lives. Life has a joy and a meaning Daddy and I never imagined was possible, so today to mark that momentous first day, I'm going to put the story of your birth on our family's blog. We don't know what we did to deserve the awesome responsibility of being your parents and we promise to do all we can to be worthy of such a gift.

"For this child, I have prayed." 1 Samuel 1:27

I always begin the story of your birth the Tuesday prior to it. Daddy and I went to have one of the many ultrasounds the doctor required since Mommy is diabetic and was considered a high-risk pregnancy. We had reached 30 weeks and everything on the ultrasound was perfect! Despite our high-risk status, Mommy's doctor was very pleased with how normal my pregnancy was going and what tight control we were able to keep on my blood sugar levels. That evening, I mentioned to your dad over Mexican food that he might want to stop taking the bus to work, just in case I needed him quickly, he'd have a car with him. We also stopped at a bookstore so your dad could buy his first "daddy/pregnancy" book. Yes, at 30 weeks.

The next morning, dad left early for work as usual on the bus. I woke up about an hour later, startled by something. When I sat up I felt a wosh and knew my water had broken. Since we were scheduled for childbirth classes that Saturday, I racked my brain for info I'd read in my pregnancy books on what you're supposed to do when your water breaks, and the only thing I could think was to call the ob/gyn's office. I wasn't having contractions so I figured it was no big deal to have your water break and was surprised when the nurse said, "Get to the hospital NOW. I'll call ahead to let them know you're on your way."

I calmly changed into one of the most comfortable maternity outfits I had since I knew it was going to be a long day, feed the dog and walked her, and then remembered to call your dad at work to tell him I was headed to the hospital and he should meet me there. And then........I DROVE MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL! It seems crazy to write that now, but at that time with no contractions, I figured it was safe and would be a waste of an ambulance.

When we got to the maternity ward, a nurse asked if I'd possibly just had and "accident." I told her "here's hoping," but I was 99.9% sure my water had broken and the test she performed confirmed it. The doctor needed to give me a steroid injection to help your lungs develop rapidly and I was told I needed a follow-up shot in 24 hours to give you the best shot at survival. They were scary words, but I'd known since the very first moment that I saw your lima bean shape on the ultrasound monitor at 4 weeks that God meant you to be my child, so I had a peace that whatever was happening now could not derail our mommy-baby girl destiny.

After the second shot the next day, it was decide that you and I would take an ambulance ride to a hospital that could not only deliver a premature baby, but give it 24 hour a day care. It was safer to move you inside me than wait until you were born.

Grandma, Gigi, and Papaw were all there to support you, me and Daddy by that time. And everyone one else - Paw Daddy, GrandNancy, your aunts, uncles, cousins, and Mamaw - prayed continuously that you would stay in your womb as long as you could. The doctors admitted me for bedrest and told me our goal was not to deliver before 34 weeks!

That Sunday (31 weeks, 1 day) was Mommy's permitted shower day and I decided to wait until after they used the heart rate monitor on my belly to hear you to take my shower. Big mistake! They noticed minor contractions (that I could not even feel yet) were affecting your heart rate causing a v-shape on the monitor. Mommy's ob/gyn had already passed off your delivery to our wonderful high-risk specialist, so she was called.

A few hours of monitoring and a few doses of Pretosin later, the doctor decided that we would have to have a c-section because you were not handling the contractions very well. As they were trying to get my epidural in and Daddy was putting on scrubs, a nurse called out to the doctor that you were in trouble. The doctor immediately decided I would have to go into the operating room RIGHT THEN, and would have to be put under general anesthesia. This meant that your dad could not be in the room when you were born and I would be asleep for your birth. We were both very sad, but wanted the best for you and trusted our doctor. She was so positive and the nurses were too.

Throughout the days prior to your birth, the only thing I felt I could do to protect you was to stay calm and confident that God would not let you be harmed in any way. As I was wheeled quickly to the delivery room, I felt the first twinges of fear that something might go wrong, so I prayed to God that I was going to let go of my fear, and give you to Him. I knew He would not fail us ever. The anesthesiologist gently asked me to count down from 10 and I was asleep.

Daddy told me the part that happened next. From the moment the doctor said "let's go!" to the moment they delivered you was only SIX MINUTES! These doctors and nurses were so gifted and we were blessed to have this team deliver you. You came out kicking and screaming, but only 2 lbs. 14 oz. Tiny and perfect with normal APGAR scores. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was in the delivery room to take you immediately to the 24-hour care you needed, but as they passed Daddy waiting nervously outside the doors, they let him hold you for about 30 seconds. He wanted to look at you forever!

After I woke up in the recovery room, Daddy told me all about you and showed me the pictures the thoughtful nurses took of you on our camera. Then on the way to my hospital room, they took me to see you for the first time in the NICU.

You stayed 33 very long days in the NICU where you grew strong and chunky enough to go home with us. Your journey home was quickened by all the prayers, positive thoughts, care, blessings, and love from all our family, friends, churches, nurses, doctors, and even strangers we'll likely never know.

Our daughter, our heart, our punkinhead. Unconditional love. Always.

Butt Up

2008-04-29T12:33:00.003-05:00

I seem to find the Punkinhead in this position when I go to wake her up from her nap. I think it looks tres comfortable.

She got it pushed up a little higher during this nap.