Happy Halloween!

The kids had a blast tonight. We went door to door with a couple of neighbors...

Ryan had his mask on most of the night, so the majority of my pictures are of my sweet little bunny...

Kaylin RAN from house to house and caught on to the concept immediately...

Many people dressed up to pass out candy and one particular mask scared the kids pretty badly. They were still talking about it at bedtime...

After Trick or Treating, I stuck to the new rule of each child getting as many pieces of candy as they are old. Ryan got four, Kaylin got two. And I got 32!

I hope everyone had a fun, safe evening!

Stretching Our Faith

I have the gift of faith. (I even believed in Santa for way, way too long; I felt so sorry for the other kids who believed the lies that their older siblings and other kids told them.) My faith is rarely tested...I know with 100% confidence that God is in control of every aspect of my life, whether or not things are going the way I think they should.

But this week, we were blindsided.

Mike was laid off. It's no surprise in this economy that people are losing their jobs, and I'm convinced it will only get worse. But for some reason, this really caught me off guard.

Yes, giving at our church has decreased this year. (To my Christian readers - please continue to tithe, even through the tough times. The church still has a staff to support and bills to pay!) Yes, our church is very large with an equally large staff. But Mike is a great employee - works smarter rather than harder, doesn't chit chat around the water cooler all day, he is a man of integrity, and he's very knowledgeable in his field. But I suppose the majority of the people on staff at our church are all of the things on that list, too.

Somehow, I just thought my husband's job was more secure. He was a part of the meetings where they tried to trim any and every area in an attempt to not have to let people go. I thought that if they had to make cuts, it would be the lower men on the totem pole. But his job is being dissolved and the group remaining in his department will now have to share his duties.

Isn't that always how it goes? It's great to be one of the people still on the payroll, but when there are layoffs, everyone suffers. The people left with their same jobs end up with more responsibilities and longer hours. All because of this horrible, stupid economy. Ugh, don't get me started.

As for me? I'm doing fine. I should say that I'm doing better. Last night, I wasn't doing so hot. I tried to hide my tears from Mike and the kids, realizing all that will be changing in the coming months. We've had a pretty sweet deal these last couple of years. Mike leaves for work at 8:25 and arrives at 8:30. He comes home every day for lunch and has to drive through 3 stop lights to get back home in the evening. The only employers between our house and our church are in a grocery store strip mall.

Now I'm wondering where God will take him next? I know He has a plan. And just like a friend said: I know this happened for a reason, I know I'm not given more than I can handle, I know many people are going through much worse, I know we will survive this and I know I will come out of it a stronger person. It's just tough, you know? It hurts my heart that Mike has to go through this again.

The last time he was laid off was just weeks after I found out I was pregnant with Ryan. His department was being transferred to California and he was given 6 months to find a new job. That was a scary time. And, of course, God provided a great position for him. I am confident that will happen again, it's just a bit unnerving.

It's also frustrating to know that in recent months, I've tightened up our spending quite a bit. What will we have to do to scale back now? Will we have to pull Ryan out of school? Sell a car? Sell a house for thousands less than it's worth? We're locked into certain commitments like our cell phones and we have pre-paid discount plans with places like our gym. So our lifestyle may not appear to change much at first...especially because we've lived very frugally for quite a while! Or so I thought. I just learned the definition of a "spending freeze."

I am proud to say that I took some time this afternoon to plan our meals for the entire month of November using only what we have in the house at the moment! I will still get the produce co-op every other week and will need to buy milk and eggs, but I think that's the extent of our grocery needs this month. We'll see if it works out.

So girlfriends (and the few gentlemen readers out there) - I need your prayers. WE need your prayers. Men put so much stock in having the ability to put food on the table and to support their families. It encompasses such a huge part of who they are as a human being and a member of society. I don't want this to get my man down. He stresses out way too easily and I want this to be a time where we pull together as a family and look back with thankfulness. I want this to stretch our faith and deepen our relationship with each other and with Christ.

And a quick, shameless plug: if my local Phoenix friends have any leads or connections to Accounting or Finance jobs (preferably in our area of town) - please let me know!

Thank you for your support and prayers. I'll keep you posted.

Easy Halloween Craft Ideas

Here are some cute, easy crafts to do with the kids this week to get them excited about Halloween:

Pipe Cleaner Spiders:

- Take a large-ish button with 4 holes in it

- Weave pipe cleaner through holes for the legs

- Use black beads at the ends of the legs for feet

- Glue two googly eyes on the button

PB&J shapes:
- Make PB&J (or any other sandwich) and use large cookie cutters to shape into ghosts, bats, etc.

PB&J Jack-o-Lanterns:

- If you don't have Halloween cookie cutters, use a paring knife to cut a jack-o-lantern face out of the top piece of bread for each sandwich.
- Trim off the crusts and form into a circle, if you want

Marshmallow Frankensteins:
- Put two large marshmallows on a candy stick
- Mix melted white chocolate with green food coloring
- Melt semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips in another bowl
- Coat marshmallows with green chocolate
- Dip the "hair" of the frankenstein in the brown chocolate
- Put a straight pretzel through the top marshmallow for the "bolts"
- Use mini chocolate chips as eyes

White Chocolate Ghosts:
- Melt white chocolate first, then mix in oil

- Drop 1 tablespoon of mixture onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper

- Use the back of a teaspoon to quickly spread into a ghost

- Place a lollipop stick at the base, spinning to coat

- Add chocolate chip eyes

- Refrigerate ghosts 5 minutes, then peel off

Lollipop Ghosts:
- Take a lollipop and cover it with a Kleenex tissue
- Tie around the "neck" with a piece of ribbon
- Use a black marker to draw circles for the eyes and mouth

Peanut Butter Cracker Spiders:

- Spread smooth peanut butter between two Ritz crackers

- Insert eight straight pretzels into the middle of the sandwich part as "legs"

- Use peanut butter as glue to hold on two raisins for eyes

Popcorn Hands:

- Put one candy corn in the finger tip of a clear, plastic glove

- Fill the rest of the glove with popped popcorn

- Tie at the wrist with a twist tie

Halloween dry-run

It took an hour to get the kids dressed for our first Halloween party today. I'm so glad to have had a dry-run before the big day!!! FAMILY PHOTO TIP: I'm a huge proponent of dressing kids up several days before the "big day" to take the staged pictures. Whether it's Halloween, Christmas, their baby dedication outfit, whatever. That way, the day OF, you're not concerned with staying clean or being happy for pictures...you already have your first photo shoot to fall back on.

Kaylin was such a good sport this morning.


I "colored on" her face (which she allowed, but begged me to stop) to turn her into a bunny. Once she saw herself in the mirror, though, she was thrilled.

But the first ears were too big and kept falling off of her, so I had to dig into the Easter decorations to find her ears from last spring. (notice her tail!)

Our first "nose" didn't turn out right.

But the final transformation turned out great.

Then there's Ryan: put on costume, cut eye holes bigger so he can see, he's done. Boys are so easy.

Happy early Halloween everyone!!! (I know this looks weird...hay and a scare crow with a palm tree behind it. Just GO with it...)

Palin on SNL

Some people are such good sports. Did anyone else catch this skit?

So many questions to answer...

Has anyone noticed that I rarely "answer" questions within the comment section? Not sure why. I guess I just never know if the person who asked thought enough to subscribe to subsequent comments to get the answer. I'm not trying to be rude, honest.

But in the last few days I've had so many questions that I have to do a whole post about the answers. So here goes...

* I'm so excited to meet a few of the looky-loo ladies who came out of the shadows! (I'll stop calling you that soon, I promise) But I need more. I know many of you have visited today and read that post, but STILL didn't comment. Are you a scary stalker? Because I distinctly remember telling you to "shoo." Come on, people. Give me some comment love! I'm not to proud to beg. Blackwood, NJ, I know you're out there. Lisa isn't my only New Jersey reader, so introduce yourself, wouldja? And I know Jen isn't the only Michigan reader...there are several cities who come up in Michigan, and I'd love to "meet" you.

* For Rachael and all those who are curious: my "blogging friends" are real people I know and consider friends. That list used to be about 8 people long, but more and more people are coming to the dark side and starting blogs! I keep that list so that, if you know me personally, you can look through it and you may see someone that we know in common that you didn't realize has a blog, too. If you are a friend of mine and have started a blog and I don't know about it, please give me the site address! I'd love to take a peek and add you to the list.

The "blogs I read" list is much more extensive. That is there to share the most recent blog posts of the "blogging friends" list plus people that I've met in blogland that have never met personally (and likely will never meet) plus the higher traffic blogs that I follow, like Money Saving Mom and Simple Mom. I just realized that you should be on both and are on neither...sorry Rachael! I haven't updated the list in a while. I'll do that tomorrow and you'll see yourself on both.

* Okay Carrie, to satisfy your curiosity, Jessica was right. The mystery project is that I'm making some tutus. Don't worry: all of those colors aren't going into the same tutu! I'll make a couple with different colors for Kaylin and a few for birthday gifts, I'll post all about it when I'm done. Today I only got through the first couple of steps before I was stopped by the fact that I needed to measure the waist size of my sleeping daughter! Unfortunately, I guess I can't do everything during naptime.

* Chandy, it was so fun seeing you tonight. I now have to try QT donuts. There has to be a QT closer than a Krispy Kreme...they're on every corner!

* Rachel left a comment (I'm not sure which Rachel you are!) about Winstead's being better than Krispy Kreme. GIRL! That job across from Krispy Kreme that I mentioned was at Winstead's! I worked there, sporting that hideous green 50s diner dress, all through high school and college. (when I was home from K-State) I would die for a hot fudge shake and a single with pickle, mustard and ketchup right about now. Well, not RIGHT NOW...it's midnight for heaven's sake...

* My mom said she almost sent my post about my Krispy Kreme excitement (the first one) to the Krispy Kreme company. *humph* I think she needs to send them the second post to let them know that they need to make sure there are enough original glazed donuts to go around on a Friday morning! (I'm kidding, Mom - please don't!)

* I can't believe how many of you moms-of-boys out there deal with the pee issue. I went to a huge women's event at my church tonight and was told several times from friends that their bathrooms smell like pee, too. Moms, this is an epidemic. We need to teach our boys how to pee IN the toilet, otherwise they'll turn into MEN who don't know how to pee IN the toilet! I'm just sayin'...

* Finally, thank you for all of your encouragement and comments about my darker hair! Mike actually mentioned tonight that he's really getting used to it and starting to like it. I think I'm going to try again to go darker this weekend. (not sure I'll have time...the schedule is packed) I'm hoping that brown will color better over brown than it did over blonde. I'll keep you posted.

Looky-loos

What is a "looky-loo," you ask? I heard the term a few months back and assumed it's meaning. When I googled it just now to make sure I'm not making an idiot of myself using it correctly, I found out that it is "net lingo" for someone, similar to a lurker, who never posts on a newsgroup or blog. It is also slang for a user who visits online shopping sites but never makes a purchase. So there - use it in a sentence today.

I am amazed at how many people read this blog. Truly. It's quite humbling, actually. People care about reading my random rambles? Sometimes it makes me blush just thinking about it.

I'm also amazed at how many people read my posts and don't comment. (don't worry, Bunco girls, you're off the hook) I'm talking about people who don't know me. I'm hoping assuming they are parents or women or Christians or health junkies or organizing nuts just like me who are using me for my ideas, tips and recipes. That is why I blog and if that describes you...welcome!

But if you're a dirty old man who's trying to look for clues about where I live and plotting how to snatch my children in the middle of the night (yes, I watched too many programs about Elizabeth Smart) - then consider this an uninvitation to read about my world. Seriously - shoo!

If you're a looky-loo and never comment...I'd love to hear from you. I see you, Milwaukee. And Medford. (I was born in Framingham, BTW!) And Redmond, WA. And Sherwood, OR. And Omaha and New Jersey. And those of you who are all over Texas. And Ashburn, VA and Atlanta and Michigan. Even Tucson...you've been around for a while, haven't you? Do I know you???

And so I wonder...stalker or blogging friend? I'm hoping that you found me through a friend or a link on another blog. That's how I've found my blogging buddies. But I like attention, so I post comments. :)

I really don't have the emotional energy for a stalker, so let's here it. Who are you and where are you from?

Ready...sound off! (that's what they say in the military, right?) Go on - leave a comment and let me know a little something about yourself.

Easy money

I just ran across some great printable coupons and free sample offers on Money Saving Mom's blog and wanted to share:

- Go to the Barnes and Noble website here to print out your coupon for a free tall-sized latte, cappuccino, espresso, freshly-brewed coffee, or hot tea (up to $3.20 in value). This coupon can only be redeemed once per customer but I assume that means each person in your family could print and use one. The coupon is good through October 31, 2008.

- Go here to print a coupon for $5 off any $25 or more purchase at Whole Foods. Often, the produce sales at 365 Organic products are pretty comparable to regular grocery store prices. Using this coupon, you could score some fairly decent deals on higher-quality foods. The coupon is good through Wednesday, October 22, 2008. If you don't have a Whole Foods near you, Albertson's always accepts competitor's coupons and Fry's Food & Drug is doing the same this week (possibly longer?) except they aren't taking Super Target coupons for some reason.

These deals come from Free 2 Be Frugal:

- The folks over at Picaboo would love to let you test out their personalized greeting cards...free!Simply download the software, click create card, and make a 5×7 card. At the checkout screen click the use coupon button and enter coupon code: FREECARD. Shipping is free as well!

- Also, rent a free DVD from any Red Box location (today only) using the code:PK66H8

These free samples are also easy and FREE from MSM:

- Free Dove haircare sample

- Free Always Infinity sample

- Free Men's Degree Deodorant sample

- Free Carefree pad sample

- Free T-shirt from CubeBix

- Free tote bag

- Free Splenda sample

The Importance of Delayed Gratification

Sorry I've been absent this week...I've truly had NOTHING to say! I've been busy-ish, but nothing exciting or worth sharing. Then at church tonight, our pastor shared something interesting that I'd like to pass along...

We're going through a series about finances and today was about the bondage of debt. The point that caught my attention was regarding the idea of delayed gratification. Some university (Stanford, maybe?) did a study on the 4 year olds in their staff day care. They put out a bunch of candy and sweets and observed what was each child's favorite.

All of the goodies were then removed, except two of each child's favorite treat. Our pastor used the example of marshmallows. The kids were told that the adults were going to leave the room for a little while and that when they returned, if the child hadn't eaten their marshmallow, they wouldn't get one, but two. If, at any point, the child couldn't handle it and HAD to eat the marshmallow, they could eat one right then, but only one. SO two if they waited, one if they didn't. The adults left for 15-20 minutes, leaving the marshmallows in front of each child. Some ate one, others were patient and were rewarded with two.

These kids were followed for the next 15 years to see if the ones who made the decision to delay gratification would do so consistently through their teen years and if the ones who ate their favorite treat immediately when they were 4 years old would continue to make impulsive decisions and be unable or unwilling to delay gratification.

Sure enough, all of the kids made decisions over the next 15 years that were consistent with their result at age 4.

My pastor's point was this: If parents give in at the grocery store checkout line, have a hard time saying "no" and don't choose to teach the importance of delayed gratification, their children may never learn this skill. It's our job to teach this habit NOW, especially if we expect them to make certain decisions later.

The kids who refused to delay their gratification at a young age became teens who had sex before marriage. They were early drinkers and got into drugs. They were the young married couples who felt entitled to have the big house and all the "stuff" that their parents had after 25 years of marriage. THEY are the people who are in debt up to their eyeballs because they need to have things before they have the money to pay for them.

It's so logical! I found all of that very, very interesting.

And you know I wanted to try this little experiment with my own kids at home!!! But my curiosity will have to wait to be satisfied until tomorrow because we came home too close to bedtime.

I have a feeling I know how it will go, though. We have no problem using the word, "no" in our house! Plus, I've seen evidence of their impulse control over the last couple days. Yesterday I had a bunch of snacks on the counter for a meeting I had at my house. Ryan asked for a section of a cinnamon roll and I told him he could have only one: either right now or after his friends arrived. He chose to have it when his friends were there. Of course, as soon as we welcomed the first guest 20 minutes later, he said, "May I have my cinnamon roll now, please??"

Kaylin chose to have hers "now" before the other kids arrived, but in most cases, when she's given a treat, she always holds onto it. For a long time - like she's saving it or something. To the point that I can attest that the "M&Ms melt in your mouth, not in your hand" theory is no longer valid. When I gave her M&Ms while potty training, she'd hold those things forever, staining her hand and outfit blue, green, yellow, red or brown.

On a similar note, at a birthday party this afternoon, I was talking to another mom about a great concept I read in a book a few months back. The author was discussing the motivation that drives kids to do what they do, both good and bad. For example, why certain kids choose to study hard and get good grades: some do it for their parent's acceptance or praise, others do it because they're personally driven to succeed, some enjoy being competitive, there are all sorts of reasons.

It was the whole idea of praise vs. encouragement. Praising your kids is tying their behavior to your acceptance. Encouraging them increases their self worth and focuses on the act, not the child. He suggested that in addition to saying, "Great job sharing with your sister, Ryan! I'm so proud of you!" Add on something like, "Doesn't it make you feel good inside to give to others?" Or when he finally finishes a tough puzzle, say, "Good job, Ryan! All of that hard work paid off. Don't you feel proud of yourself for sticking with it?" That internal good feeling the child feels will be the motivation to do something in the future, not the desire to please their parents. Who would imagine that this one extra sentence, connecting their feelings of pride and accomplishment, could develop into a habit of self-motivation?

All of this is a good reminder that the little battles we're not choosing today will affect our child's temperment tomorrow and potentially for the rest of their lives. Lovely - like I wasn't feeling enough pressure as a parent already...!

Getting Bath-tized

I had plans tonight, so Mike took the kids by himself to the baptism of one of his co-workers. When I got home, he couldn't wait to tell me all about the "bath-tism." I thought it was a misunderstanding of how we pronounced the word "baptism," but after he said it correctly a few times in a row, he said, "But wait - I thought it was BATH-tism because it was kind of like she was taking a bath..."

My kid is the cutest. (and very literal!)

Two Blondes, a Redhead and A BRUNETTE!!!

I was actually hoping my hair would be a bit darker than this, but it's a good start. A little anti-climactic for my family...Mike wondered if I left the dye on long enough, Ryan said, "I thought you said it was going to be brown!" and Kaylin didn't even notice, until I pointed it out. I squatted down to her level and she came over to inspect my hair, pulling chunks apart to see if it was the same color all over. Then she said, "I lite it!"

So here's the big reveal...before (100% natural color...all traces of highlights are finally grown out) and after...

Does this mean I have to change my blog name? Because I really like Three Blondes and a Redhead!!!

How to live on less

With this crazy economy and the recent fear because of the dips in the stock market, I'm hearing and reading a lot of tips and tricks on how to "cut back." The instability of the market gets Mike pretty nervous, so I've been listening for new ideas ways we can tighten our budget and reduce our spending. What's cool is that I'm finding that most of what is being suggested are things that we already do. For instance:

- Don't spend more than you can afford (seems obvious, but it's a foreign concept to most Americans)
- Pay with cash - it hurts more to see the actual cash leave your hand than simply swiping a credit card

- If you don't use cash, pay off your credit card every month
- Save for big ticket items long before you need them

- Track your receipts to see where you're spending your money

- Separate "needs" from "wants"

- Create a budget and stick to it, adjusting it every few months, as needed
- Consolidate errands or carpool to save gas

To reduce the grocery budget:
- Pre-plan your meals for the week
- Clip coupons (there are lots printable coupons online now)
- Shop from a list, don't impulse buy (I've heard it said that for every extra minute you spend in the grocery store, you spend an additional $2.50)
- Eat what's on sale at the grocery store and stock up on seasonal items. For example, baking ingredients will be on sale as the holidays approach, cheese is really cheap before Cinco de Mayo, condiments and BBQ items can be FREE with sales and coupons around Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day, whole turkeys are the cheapest price of the year just before Thanksgiving - that's when I buy our Christmas Day turkey and put it in the freezer for a month, things like that.
- Look for mark downs like the "day old" bakery items and perishables (like meats) that are getting ready to expire, but can be frozen in your own home to eat later
- Check out your local store's savings plans and policies: some stores double and triple coupons, other stores except competitor's coupons, a few stores will accept a manufacturer coupon AND a store coupon on the same item and Super Walmart price-matches local grocery ads.
- Don't eat out, even during the day - pack sack lunches for the family
- Learn to only drink water; cut out soda, coffee and alcohol and just say "no" to $3-5 Starbuck's drinks!
- Bake and cook from scratch - it's healthier and usually much cheaper than buying something prepared by someone else. Involving the kids will teach them great kitchen skills and they tend to try new things if they helped prepare them.

- Don't make meat/chicken the main course in a meal
- Incorporate cheap, healthy, filler ingredients for protein, like eggs and beans

Cheap family entertainment:
- Go on a walk or ride bikes around your neighborhood. This morning I decided to hike (if you don't belong to a gym, you can still exercise outside and at home!) before Mike left for work, since we're potty training and I didn't want to venture out yet. Afterward, I did some yoga in the family room and the kids thought it was hilarious. Here they are doing the airplane and triangle poses with me...

- Instead of renting $5 movies at Blockbuster or joining Netflix, check out DVDs from the library for FREE or find a RedBox near you for just $1 per night. (Free 2 Be Frugal posts free RedBox movie codes on Mondays and the movies can be returned at any RedBox location, nationwide - so you can rent them for roadtrips for the kids, look up online where there's a RedBox at your vacation spot and drop them off when you arrive)
- Wait a few weeks and go to the second-run movie theatre instead of paying $9.50 a ticket in the regular theaters.
- Find local parks in your area to take the kids swinging or have a family picnic
- Camp in your backyard (it's finally getting cool enough to do that here!)
- Play cards or board games...remember those???
- Take advantage of seasonal entertainment in your area...pumpkin patches, parades, festivals, etc.
- Fire stations give free tours and kids LOVE to climb all over the fire trucks
- Barnes and Noble has story time every Monday at 11am and the third Friday of the month at 7pm (check your local store to verify)
- Lowe's and Home Depot offer free Saturday workshops for kids - they're great dates with Daddy

New ideas that we may try:

- "The envelope system" - I know many people who take out $XX each week and divide it into several envelopes, designated for specific budget categories. For example: $100 in the grocery envelope, $40 for gas or public transporation, $10 for dining out, $15 for entertainment, etc. If you don't use the dining money this week, keep the money in the envelope and it rolls over into next week's allowance. If you use all of the grocery money and run out of food, you shuffle cash from another envelope and make sacrifices or decide to eat PB&J for the rest of the week. This isn't something I look forward to, but Mike mentioned it last week and I'm preparing myself mentally for trying this system.

- Unplugging items when they're not in use. I've heard about this from energy-saving activists for years, but I heard a lady yesterday say that she was really neurotic about this habit all spring and reduced her electricity bill from $260 in March to $80 in May. She also turned off the A/C, which would NEVER happen here in Phoenix in the summer, but I think I'm going to give this a shot. Maybe not unplugging the computer equipment or the tv (how would my DVR record my shows???) but I walked around yesterday finding things that didn't need to stay plugged in, like the cell phone charger, the video monitor (that's only on an hour a day), Mike's razor and electric toothbrush, the stereo in my craft room that I never listen to, nightlights in the kids' rooms that are off during the day but stay plugged in all day long...things like that. Even when an item isn't being used, it still uses electricity.

- Bartering - There are so many ideas for bartering: you can trade services, your time, meals, the list goes on and on. A few months ago, I started a dinner swap with a friend in my neighborhood. Every other Thursday, I double my dinner recipe and bring 1/2 to her house at 5:30, hot and ready to eat. The opposite Thursdays, she does the same for me. Before we had kids, I babysat my neighbor friend's son (because she was a hair stylist) and she gave me free cuts and color. I love the idea of trading babysitting so you and a friend can each go on a weekly date night. Last year, I hosted an "Everything for $1" indoor yard sale with some friends. We all brought stuff we wanted to get rid of and basically, traded dollars back and forth while getting rid of things we no longer needed. A year later...I still wear a pair of jean shorts I bought for $1 and use my $1 purse every day! I got a bunch of great clothes for the kids and sold some kitchen supplies, a waffle iron, some DVDs...one person's trash is another person's treasure!

- Find a specialized seller or local butcher to purchase meat/poultry. My Dutch friend said that in her local market, she's found that their products are almost always cheaper than the grocery store (except maybe when there's a sale), there's less packaging, and they have fewer preservatives. She also suggested just trying the meat counter in the grocery store (since I've never seen an actually butcher here in Phoenix) - asking the guys working behind hte counter for the off-cuts, bones, etc. They'll probably either be free or really cheap, and you can use them for soups and casseroles, rather than expensive cuts. Boil the bones to help make the stock, then whatever little bits of meat are on them can be cut off and used in the soup.

So those are some frugal tips that work for me and a few ideas that we may be incorporating pretty soon. If you're freaking out because of the economy, are in debt up to your eyeballs or laughed out loud while reading this list...just take one step at a time. Like anything, living with less is a process and it takes time to create new habits. Sit down with your spouse and your kids (if they're older) and explain that things are going to be different from now on.

I've heard people (teasingly) scoff at our family's cheap ways, but I love that we're debt-free and have money in the bank. Would I prefer to get monthly pedicures and join the club at Massage Envy...um, yeah!!! I like getting pampered and shopping at Ann Taylor just as much as the next person, but I can't have my cake and eat it too. I actually have a friend who took classes at a massage school with her husband so they could learn how to properly massage each other. How smart was that?!?!

Just remember to think outside the box, make small changes and develop new habits and your checking account will thank you. If you have other tips that I forgot to mention, please leave a comment!

Here are some frugal blogs that give great ideas:
- Money Saving Mom (she posts the weekly ads for grocery stores, Target, Walmart and the pharmacies with links for printable coupons to save even more money)
- Free 2 Be Frugal (lots of links for freebies on this blog)
- Frugal Upstate (click here for links to her Frugal Food Series with tons of recipes for cheap meals)

Garlic Chicken Farfalle

I've been meaning to try this recipe for Garlic Chicken Farfalle all year, but haven't gotten around to it. Until recently, when a friend had us over for dinner and made it.

Oh. My. Word. It was amazing. But knowing that it had a pound of bacon and a full cup of heavy whipping cream, not to mention a whole stick of butter and no vegetables, well...I was on a mission to make this healthier. SO here's what I came up with, except I omitted the fact that I snuck in a whole cup of pureed broccoli into the sauce because I don't think anyone does that kind of stuff except me! I found a bag of broccoli in the freezer and ended up sticking that in, too, so it was CHOCK full o' broccoli.

GARLIC CHICKEN FARFALLE


3-4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
1 (12 oz) Lawry’s "Mesquite Marinade with Lime Juice"
1 (16 oz) pkg frozen broccoli or frozen peas
16 oz Farfalle (or Bowtie) whole wheat pasta
1/2 lb. bacon, cooked and diced*
1/2 c. butter
1 (12 oz) can of evaporated milk (next time I'll try fat free)
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
1-2 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese

*You can cook the bacon in the oven @ 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. Time varies, so you just have to watch it.

In the morning, put the chicken and bottle of marinade in the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.

About an hour before serving, pull marinated chicken out of the juices, allow to cool a little bit, and shred with two forks. Discard juices and return chicken to the crock pot. Stir in the broccoli (or peas) and continue cooking on low.

Boil the water for the pasta. Cook according to package instructions.

While the pasta is cooking, melt butter in a small saucepan. Add garlic, evaporated milk, pepper and bacon. Whisk together over low heat for 3-4 minutes.

Add the cooked, drained pasta to the crock pot and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Pour the sauce and stir to combine. Keep the crock pot on low until the vegetables are warm and you're ready to serve the meal. This serves 6-8 good-sized portions. I suggest serving it with a salad so people don't go back for seconds...it's still not the healthiest meal ever!!!

I try to be sensitive!

My sweet friend had a bad day. Specifically with the issue in my last post. But you know how I can't keep things to myself when I'm excited (which can work both FOR and AGAINST me) - and knowing that she reads my blog - I was a little concerned that I'd come across as gloating if she read my story.

I had to call her. She wasn't home, so I asked her husband to tell her not to read my most recent post. He said, "You know she'll turn on the computer and read it immediately." Then I told him what it was about and he said, "Yeah, that may not be good. But you'll have to tell her yourself not to read it." I got a hold of her a few minutes later and this was our conversation...

Me: "Do you trust me?"

She: "Of course."

Me: "You can't read what I just blogged about."

She: "WHY NOT?!?!?"

Me: "Because it will make you sad. Probably mad. Not at me, well...maybe at me, but for sure you'll be upset. Just don't read it."

She: "Okay, what's it about?"
Me: "I'm not telling you."

She: "Did Mike get a huge raise?"
Me: "Yes. $100,000 more than he makes now."

She: "Did you win the lottery? Seriously - what's going on?"
Me: "Stop guessing! I'm not telling you. Just do me this favor...don't read it. It's for your own good."

She: "When can I read it? Will I EVER be able to read this post?"

Me: "You'll find out what's going on eventually, but after our conversation this morning, I don't think it's a good idea for you to read it. Yet."
She: "Did you lose 15 pounds?"
Me: "Yes - that's it! Since I saw you on Saturday, I lost 15 pounds and I now wear a stunning size 6."
She: "Ryan learned how to ride a bike without training wheels, didn't he? Is he writing cursive or something?"

Me: "Oh no, I wish...but he did read us 'Green Eggs and Ham' all by himself tonight. Are you kidding me??? STOP...GUESSING!"

She: "I'll bet Kaylin's pooping on the potty. That's it, isn't it? My daughter has been pooping (she didn't say pooping...) all over the floor all day and yours is going on the potty, right? That's just great."

Me: "I'm NOT telling you...QUIT guessing! Just trust me and don't read it."

She: "Fine. If you really think I'll be upset, I won't read it."

When she got home, I got an Instant Message that read, "So, me not reading your blog. Is that for my benefit or yours?" I said, "YOURS - promise!" And it was finally settled.

I don't want to appear like I'm flaunting. I really don't!!! I've been told (more than once) from friends that they have to take a break from reading my blog so they don't start feeling inadequate. I hate hearing that, but honestly, I'm more fueled by the people who tell me how encouraged and motivated they are by what I write. So I continue to write.

It's so tough appealing to everyone while staying true to the purpose of my blog. I need to express my thoughts. A rooftop to shout my accomplishments, my frustrations, the random highlights, my mommy moments, and this is the perfect outlet for all of that.

But unfortunately, the way we are as women and especially moms, we tend to compare ourselves - our talents and abilities or those of our kids - with others. It's so hard NOT to, I get that. I have several friends with children around my kids' ages and often when I write certain things, I worry about one friend or another feeling down that their kids aren't doing or saying the things I write about. Personally, I try to remember that all kids advance at different rates and usually end up in the same place by 1st grade; physically, verbally, intellectually, all of that.

I mean seriously - Kaylin didn't walk until she was 19 months. NINE. TEEN. MONTHS. OLD. Now you can't tell me that's on the "late side of normal." There's nothing "normal" about an 18 month crawler unless there's something wrong with them physically. My baby was just lazy! And I finally accepted that when she started crawling just after her first birthday.

Please know that it makes me sad to think that some of my readers have insecurities that arise from the topics I post. This is my public apology and plea to ask you to STOP READING a post if it makes you feel sad/overwhelmed/inadequate or badly about yourself in any way. If a topic annoys you enough to make changes (like my recent marriage posts or personal goals or crafty ideas for the kids) go with those feelings and do something about it. Take baby steps and do something to feel a little better about yourself!

Okay, my rant is over. My hope is to encourage you while reading, not deflate your self esteem. Thanks for reading what I have to say...love you all!!! XOXOX