Little Guppy Big Pond

Seriously, this is too much!! I had to register my first born for Kindergarten today AND then pay for her cap and gown for her preschool graduation. Are you kidding me??? She was just a tiny baby (5 lbs and 14 oz to be exact!). Now she is a red haired ball of fire that is going to sport a cap and gown in May and start school in the fall. I thought I would be really excited about her going to school from 8-3 Monday-Friday, but I walked in and the school looked HUGE...Way bigger then her little church school she goes to. She is like a little guppy in a big pond.

I am excited to join PTA and take her back to school shopping!! I am not excited that she has to be in her seat by 8 am or she is tardy. YIKES!!! Well, life is changing and babies are growing...Welcome to our new chapter!!

Calling all Savvy Shoppers!!!

Ok, so being a stay at home mom (the whole one income family thing), you would think I would be an expert coupon user. I JUST don't understand the whole system. Seriously...I have a sister in law that stays home with her kids. She is ALWAYS finding deals. Not just at the grocery store, but on-line. I swear at Christmas she spends NOTHING but gives really cool gifts. She has all kinds of codes, points, whatever.  You would be AMAZED at the steals she gets. She can also go to the store and spend over 300 dollars on groceries and then after coupons, her bill is like 60 bucks. I know she is not the only one that can save a mean dollar.

Why can't I??? Am I lazy...I tried the whole coupon thing a few years ago. Every Saturday, the husband would bring a newspaper home. I would cut through the coupons. I even had a cute file thingy to put them in. But you know what...I kept buying things I didn't need simply because I had a coupon. I mean seriously, sometimes I don't need 3 boxes of something in order to get the 50 cents off. Also, many times I can get the generic brand for cheaper then what the brand that I have a coupon. Take diapers. I have started buying the Target Up and Up brand (which I LOVE). I can get a box of 84 for 13.49 versus pampers or huggies 19 something and then a 2 or 3 dollar coupon (still the Target ones are cheaper).

I buy the same things most weeks. Literally, we have our staple meals (quick and easy). I wish I could be more savvy about my shopping. I would LOVE to come home and say, "Honey, I just saved us 60 dollars on our weekly bill." But for some reason, I DESPISE coupons. Even when I have a coupon, I never HAVE it when I need it. It is usually left at home on the counter or in my other purse...

 I have even spent LOTS of time looking at other people's blogs, message boards, and websites all devoted to saving a buck....I want to be thrifty, honest. But then I just get all stressed out trying to figure out how people get things FREE using a coupon on double or triple coupon day. I wish there was a REALLY easy class to take or something. Any tips would be great!!!

Late Night Guilty Pleasures!!

I don't know why I always get sucked into late night TV shows. Last night, I was soooo tired and needed to go to bed early.  Instead, I stayed up watching the show, Hoarders. WOW....it was interesting to say the least. The woman on the show hadn't thrown away a single piece of trash in over a year. Her house was LITERALLY floor to ceiling of stuff and a TON of trash. Seriously, pizza boxes, food to go boxes, old to go cups...It was really sad. I don't understand how that happens. I can see holding on to sentimental things, but a pizza box? In any case, I couldn't stop watching. I kept staring at the clock and thinking how I needed to go to sleep, but NOPE. I watched the entire show.

I have the opposite problem. I am a freak about clutter. I don't save anything. I wish I was a little more sentimental. I mean, I save special baby clothes and artwork from the kids, but that's about it. I keep thinking I need to start saving cards I receive for special occasions, but what do I keep them in? A hat box or something...

ANYWAY, not only did I stay up way too late, I ended up having dreams of my house being infested with rodents and (scuse my grossness) BIG rodent poop....GROSS and DISGUSTING!!!!!

On a not so gross note, take a look at the latest photo I took of the blond one.

Seriously, is she adorable or what???

I am having a lot of fun editing my photos. This is another excuse I have been using to stay up late. Needles to say, I am tired and DRAGGING on this Monday. OH, and I have been assigned next Tuesday at 9:30 to officially register the Red Head in Kindergarten. I can't believe it. I have been told that once they start school the time even goes faster....How is that possible??? The time goes too fast as it is. I want to push the pause button or something. 

Well, if you have any great suggestions on how to keep cards and small sentimental things NEATLY tucked away, I would appreciate your suggestions!!!

Spring is Here!!

This week the Red Head and the Brunette have been on spring break. We have been having a lot of fun outside because the weather has been GORGEOUS. I'll say it again, we live in Texas and pretty soon it is going to be 100 degrees so we are going outside as much as possible. 

The Blond One has also started taking steps. I am not ready for her to walk yet...(though she is almost 14 months). She is still my baby. She is so cute and looks so proud when she takes her steps. I suspect she will be walking in the next couple weeks. 

I have been staying up WAY too late playing with the photo shop program. I only have it for 27 more days.....I am still learning, but here are some pics of some outdoor adventures!!

She LOVES being outside!

The wonders of weeds!! 

He is one handsome fella!!

Hmmm....I was trying to be artistic....I still need to work on that!!!

This is not from our outdoor adventures, but I just love the photo!!! By the way, I made that hat!

Tomorrow is Friday and spring break will just about be over. We have had a great time this week going on a few play dates and just relaxing. OH, and next week....I actually have to register my first BABY for Kindergarten. REALLY....where does the time go??? 

So, my last baby is about to be walking and my first baby going to school....I am not sure I am ready for all this growing up!!! 

Lightroom is AWESOME!!!

I am doing a free trial of this photoshop program for 30 days. I want it!!! This is why the hubs should buy it for me....

I love this pic...

I mean really, I could never take this myself.

Pleeeaaasseee.....I want this program.

Think of all the money we can save of prof pics!

I was just playing around with this program. I am sure it does way cooler stuff. I need to work with it more. But sadly, after 30 days it miraculously goes off my computer. Not sure how that works, but whatev... I am enjoying it now!!!!

Not Me Monday!!!

Brought to you by McKmama


I was not super excited to meet my friend and her daughter and my mom to take the two girls to American Girl. Only to have the Brunette PUKE in the car all over himself not once but twice on the way to drop him off at his other grandma's house. Then, I was definitely NOT annoyed at him that I would have to cancel my trip with the girls to American Girl. NOT ME. I would never be annoyed at one of my kids for getting sick!


Oh, and I did not ask him 9 million times if he was sure he didn't feel good. And if he was SURE he didn't want to go for his special day with his grandma. NOT ME!!!


It also NEVER crossed my mind that I could drop him off anyway and pretend like the throwing up never happened (except he had no shirt on and was as white as a ghost). NOT ME. 


I did not stay in bed on Sunday until 10. NOT ME. Never happened.


I did not curse the time change. 

What's Your Theme Song?

It seems like I have always somehow associated my life with some type of theme song. You know, the kind you listen to over and over again and sing at the top of your lungs! I think I do this because I am (and I admit this freely) a bit of a drama queen! Being a drama queen, I always think I am the leading lady in my own movie. So of course I need a theme song, right?

When I was in junior high, I would say my theme song was Girl's Just Want to have Fun.

High School, definitely Elevate My Mind. Just read the lyrics!! My friend (now sister in law, story for another time!) and I would drive around in her Buick singing it at the top of our lungs... Give me a break people. I was a teen in the 90's.

College was such a roller coaster that I can't pinpoint one song...I had MANY!

Of course, during the big break up with my husband (boyfriend at the time), I Will Survive. Although, I am pretty sure that is every girl's "break up" theme song. I would listen to it every morning on the way to work. Well, not so much listening as YELLING the lyrics. Gloria Gaynor knew what she was doing when she wrote that song!!! Of course, he came to his senses and we got back together to live happily ever after!!

So, I was thinking tonight...what is my theme song for this point in my life....I'm not really sure. I don't think I really have one. I mean, there are a lot of songs that I sing (loudly) in the blue minivan. My Daughter's Eyes (The Red Head calls this our song),  Anyway, and This One's for the Girls (we love Martina McBride). Honestly, we sing lots of songs in the car, but none have really been dubbed (by me) my theme song. 

Maybe I don't have a theme song anymore... Is it possible that I am no longer a leading lady? Am I NOW the MOTHER of the leading lady??

What's your theme song?