Debt Limit - A Guide to American Federal Debt Made Easy

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It's pretty comical and so clearly illustrates our national debt. Let me know what you think!

Debt Limit - A Guide to American Federal Debt Made Easy

Blessings of a Small Home

If you have even the slightest feelings sometimes of "keeping up with the Jones'" or if you just wish you had space for yourself, check out "The Blessings of a Small Home"! Some good reminders on why it's great to live in a small space (and it's giving me the decluttering itch)

Nurturing Marriage: Date Ideas

 Interestingly enough, there is more than one way a date can nurture your marriage. Besides spending quality time together, having cheap date ideas in your arsenal means that alone time doesn't put strain on the budget.  "Financial related tensions...raise the risk of divorce." (NY Times) We all need some ways to fill up the love tank, without emptying the bank!

 The key to free or cheap dates is identifying them as a date. Often times, they are simple things you probably already do with your spouse. But when the kiddos and extra commitments come along, something about calling it a "date" and setting aside the time a week in advance makes it special. It gives you something to look forward to through your crazy week. 

We take turns planning dates too, which means nurturing comes from both sides of the marriage. It also means we get a better variety of dates and both get to do things that we like. 

 Last, we like to use these free date ideas as wedding gifts. We'll buy a couple card games, stick a $5 gift card for ice cream (or something similar) in each one. Then we'll stick a few date ideas, cut up in strips of paper, in each one. The new couple has some fun date ideas and a little date fund to help them start their lifelong journey of nurturing marriage. It's a winner every time!

Enough "how to", let's get to the ideas!!! (These are the ideas we used for new married couple gifts. I'll post more as my hubby and I continue in our adventures as well).

Creative Play Kitchens

  I have been DYING to do something with the double stroller box we have just hanging around! I thought of making plenty of things (a movie ticket counter, a "tunnel", a train, and a play kitchen). I found so many cute ideas for play kitchens that I confess, I REALLY wanted to make it. I asked my foodie sister: Is it weird to make a play kitchen for a boy? She responds, "No! What are most professional chefs?" To which I easily respond, "Men." (we both LOVE Alton Brown). Interestingly enough, this is what you get a boy who loves trains, has a mom who makes him a play kitchen!

 And the features of our play kitchen (plus some ideas for making your own) are: 

M-I-C-K-E-Y spells Home!

It's kind of sad, but I realized when we went to see Cars 2 as a family last Monday night that Disney has captured me! I have the nostalgic feeling of home whenever I am around anything Disney. I think that's what their whole marketing scheme is based around (and I was sucked in). Of course, I feel a little better about myself considering that I grew up only 20 minutes from Walt Disney World. I used to tell my students that Mickey Mouse is my brother (well, we did tease my brother Michael with that name).
One of my good friends is going to Disney World with her family for the first time in October with Make a Wish Foundation! I'm so excited for them (Excitement = BLOG)! Not to mention I was so excited that we continue to talk with each other about it until I promised her the dreaded link list (dun, dun, dun) of some other fun things to do in Orlando. So here it is, for my special friend, Mel, and anyone else who wants to know how to make Orlando into more than just a Disney vacation!

Beat the Heat with Summer Reading

This blog for me is an opportunity to record my favorite sites, topics, ideas, and adventures as a mother and homemaker. It makes for easy access when I forget something and makes it easier for me to share my thoughts (not having to repeat it ten times or write 3 emails of the same information). Lately, I've had so many things to post about! I admit that while the two's can be terrible, it's a budding time of learning for mommy and toddler! Now that I have two children, the new learning seems to happen everyday (and the growing pains at least once a week if you know what I mean).
Looking over my list, I realized how silly it will be for me to post in the fall about summer reading. So, while you may not be able to take advantage of all of the ideas below (because half of the summer is over), at least it will be a resource and idea bank for next year's summer reading. Enjoy!

Breastfeeding Fashion

I've been struggling for clothes lately, now that I'm nursing again. Seriously, what did I do for clothes the first time I was nursing?! I feel like everything is uncomfortable to nurse in this summer and I'm dreading when the baby starts pulling at the nursing cover!
I ran across Mod Milk Momma - a site by my college friend, Mandi. So cute! I love her thrift. I love her easy tutorial on making any top to accommodate breastfeeding AND modesty by including a tank underneath! I just bought 10 of the Old Navy tanks for only $20! I'm so excited that the $20 is going to save me A TON in buying nursing clothes! The tutorial looks super easy (even for an intimidated, green seamstress such as myself). It might just help me get over the fear of using that machine ;) Hope you enjoy the site! I'm proud to be a Mod Milk Momma too!

Even Bath Time is Educational

Toys R Us a cute little birthday club. Your child can come into the store and get a free balloon and they give you a free $3 to use in the store (plus more, but that's all Cade and I cared about). While there is not a whole lot worthwhile that's $3, I told myself that if I got something about $6 it would at least a half off!


So in March, (though Cade's bday is in January, we didn't end up getting there until the $3 almost expired) Cade and I wandered the store and finally scored this fun little item - soap crayons!

Actually LEARNING in church?!

Do you REALLY think a two-year-old can learn something about God during church? It seems so often we just bring stuff to entertain them (don't get me wrong - I'm a Disney fan too!) so that we can focus on what is being said and feel some sort of spiritual inspiration.
Just the other day I thought, "this just isn't working". Cadence has very few "quiet" toys, so he was getting bored pretty fast. Plus, I learned the majority of "quiet" things we usually do together at home, so he always expected me to help "entertain him" - which leaves both of us not receiving any spiritual upliftment! If we sit near other kids it is a disaster because they're either having a great time with lots of loud laughter, or fighting over toys with lots of loud frustration.
The answer to my original question is: YES! They don't go to nursery (our 18 month to 3 year old class in our church) to just play with toys and be babysat while mom and dad learn the gospel. They go there to learn about God. We have a BLESSED nursery leader in our stake, who has spent so much time magnifying her calling by making books and other manipulative toys that are cheap, yet still gospel centered. She buys stuff from the local thrift store, uses old church magazines, and re-crafts Christmas cards. She has INSPIRED me! Here are some of "my" creations:

Breastfeeding is Tax Deductible!

Check out this article! I was happy to hear some support in favor of breast-feeding.

Breastfeeding: It's Now Tax Deductible!

Halloween Grinch

I have affectionately named myself the "Halloween Grinch". Here are all small things that bug me about this "holiday":

1. I don't want to spend money on a costume my child will wear once.
2. I'm not very creative or even comfortable dressing up (nor can I make a costume creatively for cheap...I've tried).
3. I REALLY don't want my child eating a whole bunch of candy and getting sick with all of the other trick-or-treaters (who put halloween at the beginning of flu season anyway..or is that what STARTS flu season...?).
4. I don't like being scared, scary movies, being afraid, etc.
5. Honestly, what are we "celebrating" anyway? Nothing! Though it's not longer really considered a "pagan" holiday, it still has it's origins in one (which is why some religions don't celebrate it at all).
6. It's a really UNSAFE holiday. Ever since I was small I always feel scared on Halloween night, even if I'm not going outside. Who knows what crazy person will show up at your door, or even at your church party (seriously...I've heard stories).

That being said, I somehow feel "sad" I'm missing out on all the excitement of this time of year. Who's not getting a pumpkin and picking a cute costume, right? Yet, "missing out" is not a real reason for me to want to "celebrate" Halloween (just like the excitement of the first day of school with all of the pictures and cute new outfits alone can't justify me sending my children to public school).

While I still decide what to do here are some ideas I've recently read/heard (please comment with any ideas you may have):

ReUpholstering

...is not as hard as it sounds. My sister Cristina has been doing some research on different blogs and got a real craving to do it. Since she's not sure what will happen with her current couches, I told her to come help me do my kitchen chairs. I had to shorten the curtain fabric anyway, so we had some extra material to use that already matched my new (well still coming along) kitchen.

Here are the steps:

1. Take off the old fabric. This is the hardest part and I recommend getting a strong man (like my husband) to do it, or using a good staple remover. Make sure to note (we took pictures - another blog suggestion) how the fabric was stapled/attached so you can reattach in the same way.

2. After carefully removing the fabric, use it as a pattern to measure and cut your new fabric the same way. Make sure that they face the same way when you cut (both fabric "bottoms" down, or both "tops" down).

3. Pull the fabric over the surface again (making sure to evenly pull) and staple in place, as was done with the old fabric. I found it helpful to have two people at this point - one pulling and one stapling. (Guess we needed one more to take a picture)

4. Reassemble the furniture.

Cristina said that all the blogs she looked at the ladies waited until their kids were in bed and they had pictures of them in their pj's :) We just had to do the same (at least I'm in pj's).

In addition to the new fabric, we also spray painted the chair a dark brown. For about $7 (for all of the chairs) this was MUCH cheaper than buying a new table. They even look brand new. The best part is it can be done over and over again!

Why coupon?

A couple more "steals"...

For Memorial Day weekend my sister and I went "free shopping". We didn't buy it if it wasn't free. Of course, we used coupons and rebates to make the items free. It was fun to see what we could dig up at her Walmart. We ended up paying $0.17 for tax (the original total was $25.63) Here is what we got.
I went with my mother-in-law just yesterday (helping her see how to get things "free") and bought about $50 worth of items for $0.09! I loved coming home to show everyone.
My father-in-law keeps telling the kids he'll pay them a percentage of his savings if they do it for him. The best was my brother-in-law who said "Amy, I hope I marry a wife like you!"

Saving money through coupons isn't just about hording stuff or even just saving money on my monthly budget. You can give items you get for free to a woman's shelter, or canned goods for food drives. There are always people who could use these items. I also recycle my papers at the local elementary school and they get paid per paid back to the school. Then the items I buy with box tops for education (like ziploc containers) I cut and also take into the school. I love how helpful it can be to so many people!

High #2

Today I went back with a friend who is relatively new to couponing. They restocked this morning and we wanted to make sure we got the good deals, but I wouldn't say I am a "crazy"... there were 2 other girls there who really were crazy (run to the deals, cut in front). Here is the deal I snagged:
All of this and the total came to - $0.04!!!!!!!!!! That's right - just 4 pennies from my wallet. Now, you have to understand I used the catalina's from yesterday (which I took of my total), so I don't want to count them twice.
Here is the final Smith's double coupon event total:
Groceries worth: $160.24
Total Price out of pocket: $17.67
If you want to know more go to www.savvyshopperdeals.com

I'm on a High!

I decided to work on my kitchen cabinets (yes...still) today and hoped to get them done, but something kept telling me there was something I was supposed to do today. I kept pushing the feeling off because I usually just do housework Monday. I took a break about lunch time and remembered....THE SMITH's DOUBLE COUPON SALE!!

It was stressing me out! I was so worried they'd be out of everything when I got there! I didn't get there until 2 p.m. today (some people were there at 2 a.m.!!). BUT, I am happy to report afterwords that - I am on a serious high from this coupon deal!! Check it out:

Smith's is doing double coupons (any coupon under $1 they match so it is a$1 off).
Here's the end of my receipt. What it doesn't show is that I got $6 back to spend on my next purchase at Smith's! So, I got $126.39 worth of groceries for $12.67!! I LOVE COUPONS! Here is a snapshot of all the stuff I got. It's not the best(you can't really see the cover girl eyeshadow and the McCormick seasoning) but I had to take it as fast as I could. When I got home and unloaded the grocery bags to take the picture, my husband and little boy started ravaging through it trying to grab their fav's and open them up!

One last "wow" picture - this is the receipt! Over half of it is coupons...crazy!! The guy behind me in line (after about half the coupons were scanned) was like "Wow, she's going to end up paying you for those groceries!" I wouldn't complain!!
Now with such an awesome deal you should know there were a couple of things they were out of I was planning to buy (too bad...it would've been even sweeter). I may go back 'cause I hear they are restocking tonight. If you want to know more about how to save money on your groceries, check out www.savvyshopperdeals.com - it's my favorite couponing site :)

If I had a million dollars...

My friend Shelly as me this question today. I think about it a lot actually, and most of my answers include things that would perpetuate the million dollars. I'd pay people who could save me money. I would probably invest. I'd pay off my house so that I had that much more coming in every month. A perpetual million dollars is so much better than just a million - not because I am obsessed with being a millionaire, but truly (like Shelly mentioned) because of all the good you can do with it. Being financially secure means more options, more freedom, and more ability to help others. It actually means more time because you spend less trying to make money. Sounds great doesn't it?
What would you do with a million dollars?

I found out..

I WANT BIG SAVINGS!? This website is awesome, plus they have great workshops on saving money with coupons! Right now they are also doing an awesome give away (look at the right hand column). Check it out!! KrazyCouponLady.blogspot.com or GoBabyIdaho.blogspot.com (for the giveaway you only have 2 more days)