GO Team!

I know I have said this before- but today is the beginning of the end. Or is the the end of the beginning? I don't know.  Either way. I am amped up. Excited, and ready to see some amazing changes! Watch out all you MILF's out there... Kalyn is here! 

I'm being Honest Here.....

....I'm falling in Love with Walmart! 

Targét still rocks the house on home decor, and clothes, but you can't beat Wally's food prices!!!

We just got back from my weekly trip to Super Walmart and it is lookin' good!!! There was even more stuff on the shelf, and it looks AMAZING!!! The people were very friendly (much to my surprise!) and I was actually smiling while I was there. I know!!! AMAZING!!!

While looking for a better juice option for Paisley, I stumbled upon a drink called "Honest Kids" it is USDA Organic, and they come in recyclable pouches (like Capri Suns, minus about 25 grams of sugar!) There is no High Fructose Corn Syrup and it has a full day's of vitamin C in them. We got the "Berry Berry Good Lemonade" and I am excited for Paisley to try it out! Oh- and it was only $3.98 making each pouch only $0.50! Yay! ;) HERE is the website!!! 

Saving Money Challenge!

OK- so I know it is Tuesday, and I really wanted to start this personal challenge on Monday, but we can just start a day late! :) What I want to do, is challenge ourselves to see in how many ways in our life we can save money.  Whether it be by shopping at a different grocery store or by shopping online, (most grocery stores waive the delivery fee if you spend a certain amount!) there are so many ways to save money.  I am SO on that Savings Train, and I want to challenge all you- my friends, to do the same! We may be dorks.... but at leas we'll have more money!!! :)

Here are some fun ways to save money!

1. Recycle, and cash it in.

2. Save your change in a change jar.

3. Cut Coupons

4. Price check at various stores

5. Write down everything you buy in one day, you'll be surprised!

6. Cook at home

7. Drive in a line (ie: plan out where you need to go in the day=saves gas)

8. Get rid of a home phone, and up your cell bill by only a few dollars! It works!

9. Pay off credit card bills faster, gets rid of high interest. 

10.  Go to the beach/park more often, and pack a lunch.

11. TURN OFF THE LIGHTS!!!!! (unplug too- it WILL save electricity!)

12. Only run the dishwasher/Laundry when it is a FULL load.

13. Pay the $8 to get your car washed. It uses less water and it is treated b4 it goes in the ocean where when at home, it goes straight into the ocean and uses almost 3x as much water!

14. Drink at home- not bars!

15. Make a shopping list, and ONLY buy what is on it.

** These are just a few ways to save money..... what do you do to save???

Overheard Playground Talk

SO- I wanna tell you about my personal challenge, that I want you all to take part in. But first- I have to talk about my observations today at the park!

There were two little girls at the park playing together. They must have know each other from previous play dates, b/s there Mom's were sitting on a blanket together chatting away. (no where near the playground either!) The easiest way to refer to each little girl is by the color shirts they were wearing, one in green, and one in yellow. Here are the conversations I over heard.

Green: Can I be your Best Friend?

Yellow: Ummm... I don't know.

Green: Why? Puhleeeease!!!

Yellow: Ummm....No, because you don't do what I tell you to do.

Green: SUPER sad, and sits down.

Yellow: Trots away happily.

I don't understand little girls. Why do they have to ASK to be best friends? Shouldn't they just BE friends??? UGH! 

Then, after I over heard that conversation, Paisley was off playing tag with some older kids, and they two girls (yellow and green) sat down (near me) and played with Paisley's sand toys. Paisley had already asked them if they wanted to sit and play with her- but the "yellow" said "NO!" and ran off. (do you see a trend?)  This is what happened next:

Yellow: Let's play with these toys. They are mine.

Green: They are??? Ok!

Yellow:  I am going to dig a hole.

Green: Okay, so am I

Yellow: NO you are NOT!! (takes sand toys away from green!)

*Paisley walks over now

Paisley: Hi! If you guys want to play with my sand toys, you need to share! (Atta girl!!!)

Yellow: No I don't, these are MY toys.

Paisley walks over to me and is sad. I tell her to go back and tell them that they are her toys and she is sharing. She does.

Yellow:  Gets up and attempts to walk away with Paisley's buckets and shovels.

Yellow: Come on Green, this girl is mean! 

ME!!!: Excuse me girls- if you want to play, these toys stay right here. These are her toys and she is sharing with you!

The two girls walked away toyless, and Yellow looked back at me and said "I don't like them!" 

This is the one thing I can not stand about some little girls. I know it is most likely from the lack of parenting and Paisley WILL NOT , EVER be like this to anyone else. I expect her to be nicer, and kinder to other people. I started talking with some other mom about these two little girls, and her and I both agreed that not all little girls act like this. (WHEW!) It would kill me to know that Paisley talks down to other people and that she thinks she is better. Seeing this reminds me to constantly teach my daughter about kindness and compassion. 

$UPER $AVING$..... (but I still {heart} Target!!)

**EDIT** the prices line up on my end- they are just crooked on here- yes, it bugs me! ;)

O.K. So I am soooo excited right now, I had to blog about it. It's my 4th of July resolution ;)

I did a little grocery shopping today for some of our weekly stuff and I knew that our Walmart (across the street) was getting ready to have all it's cold foods in stock. You see, it's always been the ghetto, more white trash version of a Walmart, but for the past 6 months, they have been renovating it, making it a Super Walmart!  All I have to say is- It is SUPER! I am in love. I can not wait until it is fully stocked! We have about 2 more weeks until it is finished, but I love how clean and shinny it looks!!! It makes me feel better about shopping at a Walmart! As far as the prices go- they are literally ONE DOLLAR cheaper, if not more, on EVERYTHING!! I bought some of my grocery items at Walmart- then went to Vons ( for my Organic stuff) and while I was there, I actually went and price compared the items I had just bought at Walmart. Here is the comparison:

                                         Walmart                               Vons

Sara Lee Bread                 2.48                                       4.19
Tampax Tampons            5.47                                        5.89
Jiffy PB                             1.50                                        3.50
Eggo Pancakes                2.44                                       4.39
Coke Zero                        3.99                                       5.99
Rice Krispies                   3.99                                       3.99
Special K Strawberry     3.98                                       4.99
"             " Blueberry       3.98                                       4.99

 TOTAL:                        $26.83                                  $37.93          $$$11.10 in SAVINGS!!!!!!!!!!!

Those are just the things I bought this week- so I could compare, next week will be a bigger shopping trip, and I will price check again!!! I am so addicted to this saving money thing, I am going to start a Personal Challenge tomorrow. Come back and read what it is tomorrow!!!! :)

Hidy Ho!

Hey everyone.... sorry I've been MIA lately!!! I have been spending a tremendous amount LESS, time on the computer!!! I am here, alive and well. Just busy!!! Should I keep this up and running??? Drop me a comment if you want me to keep it up..... even if it is occasional drive by's! ;)

I decided to post this one out of them many readings I read a day, b/c I felt tlike it could touch a few peoples heart right now.... you know who you all are! ;)

" You must be happy now to bring happiness into your life through the law of attraction. It's a simple formula. Happiness attracts happiness. Yet people use so many excuses as to why they can't be happy. They use excuses of debt, excuses of health, excuses of relationships, and excuses of all sorts of things as to why they can't use this simple formula. But the formula is the law.

No matter what the excuse, unless you begin to feel happy despite it, you cannot attract happiness. The law of attraction is saying to you, "Be happy now, and as long as you keep doing that, I will give you unlimited happiness." "

Dear Santa....

All I want for Christmas is for Liz and the girls to come to our LadyBug Picnic, also known as Paisley's 4th B-day party on August 15th at 10:30 in the morning. It WILL.NOT. be the same without them. Please work some magic.

Thanks,
A Queen "Bug"

"Furnt"

Is this better Liz?



:)

"The Man Plan"

From the book "The Man Plan" Here are a few ways to spark up your marriage!

"There is a chemical release in your brain that you can actually re create to get that new feeling in a relationship! (also known as the Honeymoon phase!)

*Novelty is Key to a marriage.

Go to a new restaurant, or if you can't do that, cook new meals or try new fruit!

Change your music. If you like country, try some new Arabic music! New music brings new moods into the home!

Chocolate is the ONLY knows aphrodisiac.

Change your sheets to spark up your love life. If you sleep on flannel, try Sateen for a month.

Change your perfume!!! He will think there is a new woman in the home! Vanilla and Grapefruit are scents that attract men. Grapefruit is a scent that gives men the impression that a woman is thinner and younger!

Go on a vacation. One summer trip a year WITHOUT kids! Even if it is a hotel down the street.

Have a One Night Stand with your husband. Bring something fun and new to the bedroom. Put some chocolate, or body oil in the nightstand! 98 % of men like "it" with the lights on.

Things I Lie To My Child About:

1. If you don't take your nap- then we can't go to the park, it will close.
2. If you don't eat your vegetables, you wont grow up!
3. If you eat too much Ice Cream, your butt will get big. (ok- that's true!)
4. If you grab things off the shelf (at the grocery store) the man in the back will come and yell at you!
5. If you don't eat your dinner (in a restaurant) the man in the back will come and yell at you!
6. If you cross the street without holding a parents hand, a car will squish you. (mostly true)
7. Shamu has the sneezies.
8. Playwerx is closed today. They called and told me that you shouldn't have hit Mommy!!!
9. *Ring, Ring* (pretend phone rings!) "Hello Mrs. Hansen" (her teacher) "What? You want Paisley to eat all her dinner so she can watch a movie?! Okay!!! "
10. If you leave any of your toys on the floor, I will throw them away (ok- totally true.)

In Tha' Hood....... MotherHOOD That Is!

One thing that I keep hearing lately is Mothers pushing themselves to the edge? Why do we not allow ourself to relax or put the house cleaning off for a day? (Well I dunno about you all- but sometimes I put my house cleaning off for 2 days! ) Why don't we spend more time with the things that matter, our kids and husbands? I have heard it in 3 different places this week. One of the places was on Oprah. Did you guys see the show on "The Secret Lives of Motherhood"? It was awesome!!! It was all about how Mothers sometimes don't like what they do- and that it is okay to feel that way. That sometimes we "hate" where our lives have gone and all the things we have given up to get here. Some Moms admitted to lying to their children to avoid conflict. We all do one or more of the things I just mentioned, we're just afraid to admit it!!! I'm breaking the ice and opening up! :)

Take last night for example; I had a spontaneous moment and thought it would be fun to go to Sea World. I had glanced at the website and saw that Summer Hours were now in effect. I told Paisley we could go to Sea World after we dropped her Daddy off at the airport and she was ecstatic!!! I figured we could get in a solid 2 hours of fun before closing. So, I got dressed and then got her dressed and ready. Just as I shut down my computer, I noticed it said "Orlando" in the top left hand corner of my screen. My computer screen went black and I thought to myself " Hmmm.... was I just on Orlandos webpage? Orlando and San Diego park hours can't be that different, can they?" Being the smart Mommy that I am, I re logged on, and checked San Diego's Sea World park hours. To my surprise, they closed at 7:30pm. It was 7:00.

I quickly panicked and imagined the meltdown that was about to happen. I walked up to Paisley and told her that Shamu was sick, and that he had the sneezies! WHAT???!!! The "Sneezies"? What kind of lie was that? Whatever it was, it worked! She said she felt bad for Shamu, and that he needed to take his medicine so he could feel better. She told me that is was okay, and that we would see him another time! *WHEW* That was easier than I though! :) Am I going to Hell? Or am I getting a Mommy Award? Mothers tell lies all the time. Sometimes it is what you gotta do to get through the day!

I love being a Mother. It is the best, but hardest job there is. I have worked as a server, as a nanny, as an activity coordinator, I worked at a yogurt shop, a paper goods store- I have yet to find a job harder or one that does not include anything in my day to day tasks of being a mother. Have I let go of some of the things that once made "Me" ? Yes. Have I lost close friends due to a difference in life paths? Yes. Have I stopped shopping at Urban Outfitters and Nordstroms ? Yes. Everything I have lost or given up is what makes me the Mom I am today, and I guess at the end of the day, all that matters is that I love my little girl, and she loves me.

Movies Make Me Cry

I watched "Marley & Me" last night, it was wonderful. It was a good thing I had just dropped Tommy off at the airport because it would have been over before it started. Plus, I cried like a baby!!! Being the dog person I am, and knowing how the end was going to turn out, I should have turned it off when they couldn't find him. But being the self torturer that I am- I kept watching. Ohhh lordy...... I had a lump so big in my throat it hurt, and the tears.... ohhhhhh the tears. I guess it is the 2009 version of Ol' Yeller ( I have never seen it- and never will thanks to Marley!)

A whole lot of nothin'

Thanks to my friend Sarah, I am going to a Padre Game tonight. We haven't had a girls night out in a long time.... so I am pretty excited!!! Things have been super busy on my end lately.... and I like it. :)

Hmmm... let's see.

I just shot a wedding this past weekend, booked myself another one for June. The June wedding allows me to travel to Virginia for a few days. The bride was one of my roommates in college. I am so excited to be there, and photograph it for her!!! Hopefully while I am there, I will get to see two of my other college friends. I also get to hang with Joslyn, my cousin, and maybe even possibly see my other cousin (her brother) and his wife and new baby (OMG- he's almost a year!) WOW- what a mouthful that was. :) Let's not even mention the new business venture I may be starting. Along with my Photography and being a Wife/Mommy. I am going to do more! Yes, I am crazy! :)

So anyways- please forgive me for not calling back, or writing back, or blogging for that matter. I barely have time to sit down and grab a bite to eat! Oh- that reminds me- I have gone to the gym every day (except once) the past 10 days!!! I am on this weight loss mission like a fly is on Sh@#.

Green Is The New Black... Thumb That Is.

Unlike one of my closest, dearest friends black thumb, I, a once black thumb gone green, am growing some vegetables!!! I have 9 Zucchinis and about 7 Yellow (Straight & Crook Neck) Squash. I have about 4 radish plants sprouting over 15 red radishes, 3 lettuce plants, and 3 spinaches. We also have 2 soon-to-be red tomato's. THEN..... we have had 3 juicy strawberries and there are about 5 about to turn red! My carrots and cucumbers are so far the slowest. THey are the ones we grew from seeds- and so far they are still alive and growing, but no vegetable life is seen. I'm kinda excited. I just want to bite into that big tomato and eat some home grown veggies!!! Spray on some zero butter, add some spike..... there is nothing better! :)

Yesterday I planted 3 containers of Marigolds. Paisley loves them. She thinks they are happy flowers. I put some in pots for my front door and the rest went into our flower bed. I am having so much fun planting.... I need to try and hold off the urge to re do our front entry area b/c we wont be living here at Christmas time. I don't want to invest even more time and money into a home we wont be living in. Ya know what I mean?