Today I am Thankful for: Quiet before the storm (Day 5)

Quiet before the storm? Sounds foreboding I know...but it isn't as bad as it may first sound.

I have a busy week ahead.

1. Bridal/Personal Shower - to organize, decorate, and execute
2. A Meeting to plan an area wide "girls" event for church (which I may have to miss because of scheule conflicts)
3. Rehersal Dinner
4. Wedding
5. Youth Event

As a matter of fact I have a busy next two months ahead.

November

1. (Everything above)
2. Organize church Thanksgiving dinner
3. My time helping to serve an elderly lady at church (two or three times this month)
4. My own family thanksgiving
5. Church duties
6. Plan and organize Decembers advent calander
7. Parade of Lights in Fort Worth
8. College and Career activity (we are the leaders)
9. Organize Decembers concert, including gathering money for people who want to go and pay for the tickets
10. Create Christmas Cards (because I was the winner!!)
11. Organize Turkey Bowling with other fun Youth leaders
12. Decorate for Christmas
13. Babysitting almost daily

December

1. Plan and execute Christmas Banquet
2. Concert with College and Career
3. Plan and execute Christmas party for College and Career
4. 25 days straight of Advent events/activities/stuff for my family (should I have 25 spaces for this alone??)
5. More Youth activities with more fun youth and leaders
6. New Years Eve
7. Christmas Recovery
8. Babysitting almost daily
9. There is more I am sure just have no more mental capacity in my head to think about writting....

 And even though every single day is not planned out, I know that most weeks are jammed packed with things to do, events to be at, people to see, etc. But as of today....I have nothing on my agenda for today. It is a quiet day. I am able to put dinner in the crockpot sit back and do blogs, facebook games, snuggle with my honey, enjoy the nice weather, catch up on laundry, and dishes (the last two do not seem fun, but doing them at my leisure is better than rushing about trying to squeeze them in).
All in all, I have a busy week,and next few months.... but today is mine...to be relaxed and enjoy a Saturday!

Today I am thankful for: Coupons (Day 4)

I have posted several blogs about my coupon trips. I have several pictures on facebook as well. I love coupons.
I have been interested in coupons WAY before the Extreme Coupon show on TLC. As a matter of fact I used to help my grandmother sort and file coupons back when I was little.
Just two years ago I got interested in a website called www.thegrocerygame.com this site was a phenomenon to me. It told you where each coupon was and what store you can get the best savings for. I used it a few times to get a few deals, but I ran into a problem every time I went to get the advertised "deal" (mostly freebies) I could never find the product. I was unaware of coupon policies, and rainchecks and how they all worked together, so I got discouraged and quit.
Once I got into the TLC show Extreme Couponing, I did a little research, and poked around the world wide web for different (free) websites that I could use. And the one I found, and like the most had a "Coupon 101" tutorial. It also layed out each store, how the coupon police worked and how to play the coupon game. I was hooked.
Now, a few months into it, I am still not an obsessed extreme couponer, however I do have a stockpile. I would love love love to have a crazy huge stockpile, but I never see that happening. Why you may ask?? Well that's because I don't coupon to hoard. I coupon to help the less fortunate, people in need, family, and friends.
Currently I have about 30 razors and 10 refill packs in my closet, do I need all of those? No. Did I spend a ton of money on them? No. BUT every time someone comes into the house, they typically leave with something out of my closet.I have sent people away with two huge grocery bags full of stuff.
If finances are good that month, Jason gives me $50 to play my coupon game. Do you know how much stuff you can get with $50???? More than my family will need....but enough to help others.

I am not the best coupon organizer. I do have one of those fun ginormous double sided binders filled with baseball card holders....but I am the worst at clipping and organizing the coupons. I am not worried about it too much because the website that I use will tell me the date and insert the coupon I need is in....so I can have the whole insert laying about and still get the job done.

I use the website www.southernsavers.com the most. but there are a few others I follow on facebook and get info about good deals from.
I typically coupon at drug stores like CVS and Walgreens, I do the occasional Walmart trips, and I have done a few grocery stores. The actual grocery store intimidates me with coupons, so I am not all about it yet. I know I could get deals, and it kills me when I buy something I know I have a coupon for (bringing the coupon binder would be helpful here, but remember it is unorganized and outdated with coupons) but I don't let myself stress too much about it. And if worse comes to worse, I can go home gather the coupons, take the receipt and the coupons back to the store and they will give me money back...
My goal is to be a well oiled coupon machine, but all in due time.

Creepystalkercards...

Okay so I have a secret.
I am a blog/twitter stalker.
I know, creepy.
But I love being able to sneak into the window of peoples online corner, and see what other people do day to day, and if they offer up the info online, then, shoot, why not read it.
I used to blog all.the.time. and I would blog about anything! And when I did, I had a few "paid" posts, where a company would pay me money to advertise for them. BUT then there would be other posts that I did that I got stuff from. Last year at this time I was able to post for Shutterfly and my compensation was 50 free christmas cards to design and edit for my family. I was excited for it this year, and had been keeping my eye out for the sign up website to get considered. Sadly this year they didn't want me. I figure it is because my blog traffic isn't as great as it once was....but thats ok. I get the chance to win 25 free prints by stalking a super fun girl from Oklahoma.
The point of this blog tonight is to mention that :
Whitney from Glamlifehousewife has a reviews blog. And there she is able to offer 3 different people the 25 cards....
So here is to a good luck for me, and the other two luck winners of thses cards!!!

Today I am Thankful for: Crockpots (Day 3)

As petty as it sounds, today I am thankful for crockpots.

I have three crockpots.
People may think that that is two too many...but take it from me, it's almost not enough.

My favorite thing to do is put together a crockpot meal overnight, and wake up to smelling the goodness inside.

One pot mess.
No Fuss.
Easy.

Every third Wednesday I am in charge of a team that makes dinner for the church, we use it as a fundraiser for a new Familylife Center. And with that I typically make things for church via crockpot.
Tonight (as in 10:30pm) I prepared stuffed cabbage, I put it in my crockpot, and it will be ready to eat tomorrow for lunch. YAY! See how esasy it was for me to prepare it when I had the energy and tomorrow I will have a much more relaxed day.

Here are the things I typically make in the crockpot.....(but I am not against trying new things!)

Chili
Spaghetti/Marinara sauce
Roast
Soups
Red Beans
Pinto Beans
Cabbage Rolls

YAY for Crockpots!! And if just having a crockpot isn't enough for you, here is a website that will help you use it to the best of its potential!!
http://crockpotgirls.com/

Today I am Thankful for: Old Bundles of Joys (Day 2)

between etting married to Jason and my dad getting married to Karen, I got to inherit lots of nieces and nephews I never experienced this before...and then shortly after that, flesh and blood nephew was born, so I went from having 0 to having.....15 as of today. So today I am listing my neices and nephews and what I appreciate about all of them..

1.Kaitlyn - She is so fun and bubbly. She is at the fun teenage years where talking, boys, and shopping is the funnest. I wish I lived closer to her so I could go watch her play basketball!!!
2.Walker - He is a goofball, he is always so polite with they ma'am and sir. Once when he spent the night with us he had us rolling with all the funny jokes he had to tell. Aaron and him are like brothers, play hard and fight hard, its quite fun to watch them together.
3.Sarah - I have heard many stories of her as a little kid and all the mischief she would get into. I haven't experienced that myself, but I have got to see her be so versitile, a tomboy to the heart but a girly girl at the same time! She is so sweet!
4.Austin - He says the funniest things. like "I tant share my toys I just tant".
5.Alexa - She is shy at first and since we don't get to see her often, it takes her a minute to remember me, but each time she gets comfortable, she comes and gives me the sweetest hugs!
6.Abigail - She is a newer addition, don't know much about her yet except that she is the cutest little doll face in the whole east side of texas! and she laughs at anything Uncle Jason does and gives him the biggest and sweetest hugs each time we see her.
7.Shayla - She is Miss Social butterfly now that she is older..she is very compassionate and cares for peoples feelings, and is the sweetest big sister (well most times).
8.Jasmine - She was one of the first kids to call me "Aunt Layla" and that memory will stick in my mind forever! My favorite memory of her is when she would come sit in my bed with me and want to watch Rachel Ray cooking show with me. I taught her nursery rhymes when she was little and we would play ABC's as I would try to teach her how to write....I love this girl.
9.Julia - She is an independent woman, she loves to hang with her sister Gabby and is very popular. She has managed to still be a wonderful young woman despite some hardships growing up! Admorable.
10.Gabby - When we lived next door to her in our old apartment, she would come over and have me teach her how to cook and scrapbook, I loved that she was interested in what I was interested in.
11.Delia - When I see her at church she makes me smile, she is always quick to hug me and tell me if I am looking nice that day. She wants to be around her family and is a wonderful big sister to Kristen.
12.Kristen - he makes me a bit sad...only because I was his babysitter until last July when I had gotten sick, and now he barely knows me and takes a minute to hug me or talk to me. I used to be his favorite, and maybe one day when he grows up I will return to #1 spot...until then, I will remember he is 2 years old and that time heals all wounds, lol.
13.Nikolas - He is a firecracker, he likes things the way he likes them, including his sippy cup, he won't just settle for anything...he doesn't do much talking yet, but he will grunt up a storm. He is my "almost" birthday buddy, and right now I get the honor of watching him daily as his mom is working...I am his favorite, just ask him.
14.Calista - She is also one of those, girly tomboys, and it fits her perfect. She loves animals, and her mommy and grandmother. It is so sweet when she draws me pictures, I put them on the fridge for the whole world to see!! So sweet!
15. Victoria - see yesterdays post for details on the newest kid.

Today I am thankful for all my little neices and nephews, and the joys they bring to me. They have all taught me something, and continue to impress, delight, and overjoy me! Seeing their little faces during the holiday season is what and why I do what I do to make the holidays special! I love them all!

This picture is just a few of my neices and nephews along with Alyssa and Aaron.....

Today I am Thankful for: New Bundle of Joy (Day 1)

Well todays Thankful post is a no-brainer.

Yesterday my sister Veida had her 2nd baby. Victoria Frances Dima was born at 8:22am on Oct.31,2011 she weighed 7lb. 13oz and was 19inch long. She is the sweetest newborn. I haven't been able to spend too much time up there loving on her, but my day will come. However, I did get a chance to put a big ol' bow on her head, and sneak in a few kisses...I am so excited to take some of the same pictures I did when Nikolas was born, because just looking back at his hospital pics, it is funny to see how we have all changed and it has only been a year...
So without further ado, let me introduce my blog to Miss Tori (I think I am going with that has her nickname.....its still a trial run.)

So today I am thanful for this new little bundle of joy who has entered our family as sweetly as one can get. She will bring lots of laughter, smiles and happiness to our ever changing ever growing family!

Daily Thankfulness.

I am going to be doing a post every day for something/someone/someplace I am thankful for. I am hoping this will do three things for me.
1) Develop the habit of blogging again
2) Help me get refamiliar with the blogger website and all the new fun things it has added since I was a regular blogger
but most importantly
3) Help me dig deep and remind me how blessed I am and how thankful I am for the blessings in my life.
So, really this isn't for anyone but me, but if you are so inspired to play along each day, please feel free...

Inspiration has finally rubbed off...

I love my google reader. I read blogs daily. And daily I think...maybe I should sit down and write a blog...I miss the days where even the most mundane tasks were "bloggable". Occassionally my husband will say things like "why are you taking a picture of your food, are you going to blog it?" and my answers lately are no...just want to remember it. Where did the blogger in me go? Google reader is an inspiration, but when will I catch the fever again?
I had another blog I blogged almost daily, but it got boring to me, and I got married, had some family drama associated with it, and lost my inspiration, for pretty much everything.

Last November on the day after our first wedding anniversary, my husband and I had the lapband surgery. So then I was going to redirect my focus on the blog to weight loss.... fail.

This past spring I jumped on the coupon bandwagon, I even posted a few of my "deals"....then lost interest in sharing it all when there are better couponers and bloggers out there...I still coupon, but I just don't brag share it anymore...

So enter pinterest...I turned to stalking other blogs and pinning their inspirational blog pics, how to's, and information...
Que today.
I found myself happening upon a blog. That led to me reading back to the start of their blog to get "caught up" with who they were.. then I thought...if someone happened upon my blog, what would I want them to know about me? My 30/30 posts never got finished, my lapband updates were not finished, so will they know me as someone who never finished anything as true as that is sometimes..well no I would like this blog to be an inspiration to others as well as a journal of sorts for me, my husband, my family, my stepkids, my unborn unconceived children..

So here I am starting again, channeling my 14 year old self and writting with all the bubbly letters I could muster up "Dear Diary, it's me again! I can't believe I haven't written in you for 6 months, I have alot to catch you up on"

Here's to another attempt! Maybe even a more RAW, and uncensored look as to who I am and how I got here, mixed with a little bit of nonsense, food, decor, and decisions....

Kroger savings 5/14/2011

Total $50.98
Total paid $20.13
Total saved $30.85 (60% savings)

Who hearts what...

Aaron rarely has homework... I mean pretty much never.... this is only the second night in his whole entire school year he had to bring work home.
Today after he did his chores we sat down at the table and proceeded to talk about his work. When he was doing his work...I got bored. So instead of doing dishes or starting dinner like one would think I would do....I inked him. Much in the fashion of the I *heart* mom tatoos...I did my own.
After he saw it he wiped of my name and wrote in "me". The ink went from "I *heart* my layla" to "I heart me"...sheesh

Walgreens trip 5/9/2011

Total cost $25.61
Total spent $2.17
Total saved $23.44 (91.53% savings)

Another coupon trip 5/3/2011

Total cost $57.37
Total spent $17.49
Total savings $39.88 (69.51% savings)