Saturday Splendors

Today has been a good day. I managed to get my shopping done yesterday - broke my own goal of only getting what was on my list but stuck very close to it. When we were out, I realized we could stock up on a few items on discount so I grabbed those to. I did very well - usually my trips mean a one time $120 and then several small 10-20 dollar stops. The first one was only 59 bucks - and that was the big one! I felt so proud as I used my 8 dollar off formula coupons for 2 containers of powdered formula - I am using it to supplement my breastfeeding. Totally awesome deal! Then I came on a consignment sale and got a baby carrier for 7 bucks. All in all, I managed to spend a whole lot less than I usually do - thanks to the stocking up in my pantry. My deep freezer arrived today - yep, I ordered it and got it delivered. I had to do the dance of joy as I had also found some ground beef, chicken and steaks on sale during my travels(travails too) yesterday and needed to get them out of the fridge as quick as possible. All in all I had a good shopping time. Even managed to do it with the newborn and her 11yo brother in tow - only meal we ate out was lunch. I had cut it too close to picking up the others so we had to eat on the fly and even that was cheap b/c we had a coupon from the consignment sale that gave us a lot for a little price at Long John Silvers. Excellent shopping I would say! One thing I learned yesterday - 10 cents off per gallon really only adds up to about a buck on a fillup. I was thinking I was doing something great by doing my mandatory 100 bucks/month at an area store but it didnt make a dent really in the gas - but I did get a free soda thanks to their current promotion. Well, duty calls and I have to start preparing dinner for tonight and load my deep freezer with my shopping palooza!

Thursday's Thumpings

Today was a wild ride from start to finish. The elementary school was closed today for parent teacher conferences and I was honored to attend my 5th grader's conference. The teacher was laudatory of his accomplishments and very appreciative of his manners. I was proud and dismayed when she remarked on his never-failing use of the word ma'am: proud because it is always good to hear when your child is using some aspect of his/her upbringing in the world when you're not around but dismayed because the teacher remarked that he was the only one in the class who did so. I was insulted(not too terribly but still felt slapped in the face) when she asked was that something that was required in his school we just moved from(in the south). My on time response was, " No, the school didn't require it but his father and I do require it of every one of our children. Manners and respect are expected at all times. To this day, I use the ma'am and sir as well and my mother is quick to remind me if I slip when speaking to her - and I am a mother myself several states away." Was I crazy to feel that I was insulted? Why aren't more parents insistent and persistent in their desires for their children to use simple signs of respect? Now that I think of it, for each of the conferences we have attended over the past few weeks across all 3 school levels teachers have remarked about our children's manners and respectfulness, but in a fashion that causes me to wonder what are the other children doing? Anywho, the menu I have been working on for the month is almost completed. I have to complete the menu tonight as the weekend is threatening to storm and grocery shopping must be completed tomorrow morning. Bless me, Lord, as I shop with the babies. :-) I am determined to stay along the grocery list and control my shopping habits. My passion is finding a good bargain and I will be vigilant in my control of this. The house is calling....

Still wearing maternity clothes - oh boy

I am 3 weeks out of the hospital from the birth of our latest family addition, Alanna Pearl, and just realized that the pretty turquoise shirt I am wearing with my outfit today is actually a maternity shirt. Does that mean I am going to take it off? Heck no! It is a beatiful color on my skin and goes perfectl with my Old Navy pants. I am going to have to get over the feeling of dejectedness I felt and realize that I am not supposed to be in pre-pregnancy clothes right now. In fact, before I go back to work, I am going to have to go shopping because I don't have many outifts for the spring and summer. I have suits that have lining designed for the winter. I remember trying to wear one last year around this time - mistake!!!! I had to turn the AC in the office down as far as I could to keep from passing out from the amount of heat my own body generated. Lesson learned - LOL. Just because you are small framed doesn't mean you can get away with anything. Anywho, I am neurotically surrounded by cookbooks and my Mom's Family Desk Planner trying to get my grocery list and month menu completed for next month. Time to replenish my stocks and see if I can get a good deal on a deep freezer. May have to rent one for a few months until the sales come on. Don't want to but may be my only option. What else for today? Dinner is already on - 2 roasts in the oven and red beans in the crockpot. The house smells delicious. I felt a great sense of pride when my 11 yo DS walked in yesterday and asked, "Ooo, is dinner done already, 'cause it is smelly some good???" Thanks to Flylady and LargeFamilyLogistics, the answer was Yeppers!!! What am I going to do when I return to work in a few weeks? Definitely get out of the office on time and try to - no, not try, make sure that dinner is in the crockpot or - since I will definitely have a deep freezer this weekend - have it pre-prepared so the kids will just have to throw it in the oven and we can still eat at a decent time together. Now, to search for more menus online because I am running out of meals and I know I can cook more than what is on my list so far.

For starters...

I am officially beginning my blog today. Okay, where to start??? I am the mother of many - as my blog indicates, including a beautiful now 3 week old little girl named Alanna. I am in the staffing department of a major teleservices company. I enjoy writing short stories and poetry - although I haven't had much of a chance in quite a long time. That's probably why I am so crazy right now - no outlet for my energy. Since I am on maternity leave, I am determined to organize my home even further - thanks to Flylady and a few other sources. My current aim is to get my household binder back in shape with my daily, weekly, monthly and yearly routines as well as get my menus for a month at a time completed. You would think with all of the time on my hands it would be easy but it really isn't. I am used to getting into work and not having much time to think a lot. Now, I have more time than work and can't get myself together. I have rediscovered the library and have a favorite library to haunt during the day with the little one in tow - truly sad. So of course I have a stack of books, movies and CDs but haven't gotten to them. For someone who pared her house down tremendously with the last move a few months ago, I have discovered the locations of several discount and secondhand stores. It is a sad occasion when you give birth and return to the stores and they remember you well. Alas, I am addicted to bargains. My family says obsessed is more the word for it. Anyway, I enjoy it and it doesn't hurt anyone. My second obsession came when I went through a massive nesting phase towards the end of the pregnancy and managed to catch several grocery sales. My home doesn't or at least didn't have a pantry - just a lot of cabinets in the kitchen. I created one in my garage first(oh, did I mention the bazillion cans of veges, washing powders, bleaches, household stuff that I managed to hoard over the last month or so of being pregnant??) and then moved some to what is supposed to be my linen closet. My understairs storage closet became a linen closet thanks to 2 bakers racks I got from - where else? - the dollar store. Before we moved, I found a deal at Dollar Tree for a bunch of towels for $1 each - so I loaded up. Then I got here and found some more so we have plenty of towels - enough to contain a small army - which is what I have in the home anyway. So, I must organize my home a little better - in particular those 2 areas. The kids' rooms are in need of my attention as well but I am dreading getting those started. I at least have handled the master closet. I am determined not to by any more clothes until/unless it is organized to see what is needed/not needed. Anywho, I have to get started. As Flylady says, you're not behind, just jump in where you are. I will not get boggled down with perfectionism - or try not to dang hard. :-)