Full time mama

I've been toying with idea of going back to work. Not because I want to. In fact it's the furthest thing from want to. . . The idea of leaving little man makes me beyond sad. I know Ive been spoiled rotten the past 15 months. Many parents can not even consider staying home. I have witnessed the first rolling, the first smiles, and all of the other firsts !
So the hubs and I have been back and forth ... weighing the pros and cons of being home vs. Going back to work.... I would hate not being here with little man... missing our snuggles .... our afternoons together .... watching him learn and discover new and amazing things. But I would really love having a bit of flexibility in our expenses.
I started writing down on paper what exactly I do with my day... trying to figure out how much of that would have to be done by other people if I was working.  We also took a look at our monthly expenses and tried to figure out what could be cut... we are living with family ... so we are saving rent ... and I looked at our grocery bill.  In an attempt to save as much mullah as possible I've begun couponing. In the past two months of being serious about it
I've managed to save an average of 50% at every shopping trip. So instead of our weekly groceries costing $150... we are averaging about $75
Its nothing major.  . . .but every little bit helps :) so f

Shop Rite Deals

Okay Friends, I've finally gotten my act together and been a mad couponing lady trying to get my act together on the coupon blog.... if your looking for deals and steals... I'd love the extra follows :o)

FREE

Free - Colgate toothpaste, .77¢, .75/1, 4/3 SS
Thanks Smurfytigger!
Free - Breakstones sour cream - $0.99 - .50/1 IP
Thanks llaffer!
Free - Heluva Good Dip, $1.49, .75/1, 2/27 SS
Thanks Smurfytigger!
Free - Frank's Sweet Chilie Sauce $1.49 - .75/1 IP
Thanks leenburke!

Great Bargains / Pretty Cheap

$0.25 - Duncan Hines Brownie Mix - (ea wyb4) 4 for $5, MB4 - .50/1 IP
Thanks llaffer!
$0.34 - Wonder Smart Wheat Bread - $1.99 - $.55/1 IP & $.55/1 cellfire
Thanks CKFreebie81!
$0.49 - Pictsweet Veggies ea wyb2 $.99- $1/2 2/13 SS (showing in database- please confirm)
Thanks crissy148!
$0.49 - Folgers - $2.49 - $2/1 recent Facebook IP (NLA)
Thanks llaffer!
$0.49 - Breakstone Sour Cream ea wyb2 @ .99 ea. - $1/2 (4/10 SS)
Thanks savingchic!
$0.49 - Breyer's Ice Cream - $1.99, $.75/1 recent IP (NLA) ( If your store doubles in full)
Thanks Theselenaverse!
$0.49 - Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce $1.49 - .50/1 IP
Thanks leenburke!
$0.74 - NY Texas Toast 1.74- .50/1 3/6 SS or $1 Blinkie
Thanks crissy148!
$0.49 - French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce $1.99 - .75/1
Thanks seashell82!
$0.79 - Polly-O mozzerella cheese $1.79- $1/1 Blinkie
Thanks crissy148!
$0.99 - Super Pretzel, $1.99, .50/1, 4/10 RP
Thanks Smurfytigger!
$0.99 - Lawry's Marinade - $1.99 -.50c (4/17 SS)
Thanks dmistry82!
$1.00 - Lay's Kettle cooked or regular potato chips (ea wyb2) 2/$4- .55/1 3/13 SS
Thanks crissy148!
$1.00 - Resolve Stain Remover $2-1/1 4/10 SS
Thanks crissy148!
$1.00 - Land O Lakes half and half qt. , 2/$5, .75/1, 4/3 SS
Thanks Smurfytigger!
$1.16 - Ziploc bags (ea wyb2) , $1.79, 1.25/2, 4/3 SS
Thanks Smurfytigger!
$1.19 - Reynolds Foil Wrap $2.69 - .75c (4/17 SS)
Thanks dmistry82!
$1.40 - Ballpark Franks-2.50 .55/1 Coupons
Thanks momofone221!
$1.50 - Stella Parm Cheese-2.50 .50/1 Coupons
Thanks momofone221!
$1.79 - Treasure Cave Feta Cheese-2.79 .50/1Coupons
Thanks momofone221!
$1.99 - Frigo String cheese-2.99 .50/1 Coupons
Thanks momofone221!
$1.24 - Hefty Basic Plates - $1.99 x 2 = $3.98 -$1.50 = $2.48
Thanks dmistry82!
$1.29 - Hefty waste bags, $2.39, .55/1, 4/10 RP
Thanks Smurfytigger!
$1.38 - French's Fried Onions - $2.88 - .75c (4/10 SS)
Thanks dmistry82!
$1.49 - Folgers $2.49 $1.00 4/10 (ss? rp?) or $1/1 IP
Thanks momtoothree! & Thanks llaffer!
$1.49 - All Oxy Detergent - $2.99 - $1.50 (4/10 SS)
Thanks dmistry82!
$1.49 - Snuggle Fabric Sheets (80ct) - $2.99 - .75c (4/10 SS)
Thanks dmistry82!
$1.49 - Solo Cups or Plates - $2.99, $0.75/1 recent Facebook IP (NLA) (If store fully doubles)
Thanks Theselenaverse!
$1.69 - Reynolds Foil Wrap (37 sqft) - $2.69 - .50c (4/10 SS)
Thanks dmistry82!
$1.88 - French's french fried onions 2.88-.50/1 2/27 SS
Thanks crissy148!
$5.99 - Brita filters 3 pk, 9.99 (ad says save $9), $4 All You coupon or $4/1 IP
Thanks Luvs2Shop! & Thanks CKFreebie!

Great Deals after Catalina /MIR's!

Splenda Cat Buy SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener Between 4/18/11 - 5/15/11 and SAVE up to $4.00 on a future order with coupon -credit WUC

Buy 2, Get $3 cat
Cheapest deal:
2 50 ct Splenda @$2.99
2 $1/1 IPs Print [splenda.com]
OP: $.98 (after coupons & $3 cat)

Great Splenda deal!!
7.98 2 100 ct boxes (with coupons inside!)
3.99 1 Brown sugar 16 oz
- 9 MFQ 4/17 SS (Hartford Courant)
= 2.98 get back $4 CAT( $1.02MM!!) credit lifeternalangels

There were $3.00 off coupons in this weeks papers!
Thanks pookie111!

4 Day Price Break Starts Wednesday

Adios Mis Amigos,

We're BAAAAACK

Wowza Meowza..... what a crazy wirlwind it has been. We got the entire house packed, cleaned, and loaded in a uhaul in less then 10 days. . . . had a crazy awesome yard sale netting 800 buck-a-roos... and then the bambino and I flew up while the hubs drove our uhaul and car across country.

we unloaded, unpacked, and are officially settled in to our grandparents house while we house hunt . . . hubs first day in his new office was today, praying that the day goes amazingly well . . . .that he meets and finds some super great new friends!!!!

I plan on getting back blogging full time, I have some super fun projects and recipes to share ... as well as some hysterical stories to share.... but alas.. I'm also back to school full time today.... so it's off to school I go ....

Adios Mis Amigos,

Banners, Signs, and Neon Lights OH MY !!!!

To say I was thrilled when Build-A-Sign contacted me about blog sponsorship is an understatement.  I have about a million things that need printing. They offer everything from banners, parking signs, real estate and commercial ply wood signs to super fun and funky neon lights. . . . to pick which items to use as my product review was a struggle. I chose to go with Vinyl Banners since I have had a few project on my to do list ... well... they've been there a long time!!!

I am in the process of launching my Estore Keeks Mageeks and plan on doing a round of farmers markets, trade shows, and local vendors. I knew I needed some signage so that was first up on the list. . . .
 

I wish I had a camera that would show you guys just how great this banner looks....  I had a set digital banners that I have used for all of my business cards, websites, and ads, so I wanted something that looked similar, but that was , in Emeril's terminology, "Kicked up a notch...... so BAMMMMMM" The colors are rich, and dimensional. The photo upload quality was amazing and to say that I'm happy with the banner is a no brainer. It's the prefect size, 3 feet x 6 feet. and I will be taking it with me everywhere Keeks Mageeks goes :o)

 The second item I chose to get printed was a birthday sign for little man. Nothing says happy birthday like an 8 foot by 4 foot HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANNER. Plus both the hub's and little man's first names are the same... so... two for one :o) voila.

The design process was a piece of cake. You can upload your own images. As shown in my Keeks Mageeks Banner. They have a million different fonts, colors, and clip art. The balloons on the birthday banner, as well as the stars on Keeks Mageeks were all uploaded from their clip art Gallery. The image quality is amazing, the final is strong and thick and will stand the test of time. . . .

Basically . . .. If you can imagine it... you can print it.

Another thing that completely won me over was the Customer Service. The contact person there at build-a-sign, was awesome. The original picture I chose to upload wasn't the best quality and instead of letting it print and come out pixalated (is that a word) she contacted me and let me know that the upload quality wasn't the best, and did I want to change pictures? I will definitely be a repeat customer, and can't wait to dream up other items to get printed :o)

***Legal Smegal*** I was given these banners for review purposes and to include a text link in the post, however all opinions are my own.


Adios Mis Amigos,

My Quest to Rock... Seriously this time

It's a standard running joke in this marriage about my uncanny ability to start a million and one things and finish exactly 1 of them.

In the over three and a half years we have been married, my to do list has contained some pretty hefty goals. I can count on one hand.. nope ... don't even need a whole hand to count the things I've finished. (not counting little man obviously because I was kind of a spectator to all of that, luckily my body took over and there was not a darn thing I could do about that one :o)

Here, in my happy land of blogging, I started a quest and I'm determined to Rock it!!!

It's my Quest for domesticity. I want to be an awesome wife, mom and housewife.

I want to be that girl that has dinner ready when hubs walks in the door. Has a weekly schedule that includes laundry, cleaning, and story time at the library. I want to and need to get things written down and organized. I'm a list maker. I need a plan, direction, and encouragement in order to stay on task.... perhaps that means I'm 4 years old???

Lately, I've been lucky to find anything resembling a balanced meal to feed little man. I really want him eating healthy and nutritious meals. I've been trying to limit the processed, "kid" entrapment that was my childhood of mac n cheese and chicken nuggets. Not to say it doesn't happy when I'm desperate, but I would like for it to be a rarity instead of a regular occurrence.

So.... part of this is creating a weekly/monthly meal plan. I feel like it will only do great things for this baby maker. So today's task.... getting the "tools" together. Creating  a set arsenal of meals (healthy, EASY, yummy things I can make) and setting up a weekly/monthly calendar where we don't get sick of the things I can make.

Anyone else do a meal plan? do you fly from the seat of your pants? order take out? any tips or tricks to offer this newbie???


Adios Mis Amigos,