Friday, December 31, 2010

The date is set!

Boy, I am huge.  People are really starting to comment on my hugeness and seem surprised I am not due until March.  March sounds like a long time away, but it is only 2 months people.  Of course, some people (MIL) have commented about how big I am since 8 weeks, so I guess people just say dumb stuff no matter what.  I tried to get a cute preggo shot around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but nothing really came out cute.  Just huge.  But, I figured I would put a pic or two on here since you were nice enough to visit my blog. 
Thanksgiving.
Christmas.  
Really just look like the Michelin Man.
So, had my last appointment of 2010 today.  Everything looks good and we have a date! 
Baby Ashley should arrive (via c-sect) on March 3, 2011.  Legs crossed she stays put until then.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

"New" Kitchen table and chairs

Our kitchen table and chairs are well over 10 years old.  They were great until the back broke on one chair and really all the spindles are a pain to clean.  They get a lot of peanut butter and jelly on them from little messy hands.  So, we were on the hunt for a new set.  While we loved the tall bar table and bar stool options out there, it just isn't practical with little kids and a baby on the way.  It seemed like there wasn't really a lot out there we liked or that was reasonably priced, so I went into DIY mode.  Andrew was against this as I have a habit of starting but not finishing this kind of thing.  He would just as soon buy a similar chair to the one that broke and be done with it.  But alas, I won and we did it...  together even!  Here is our table before and after.
This is our table before (we had just finished our tile)

Our "new" table and 4 chairs I ordered online.

I think it actually goes pretty well with the cabinets and granite.  Just need to finish the tile backsplash and do something with the back of the island.


YAY me for finishing!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

My first couponing post.

Couponing has become a way of life for me.  Since having kids, I became a stay at home mom and saving money is the biggest way I can contribute to our budget.  I love to share deals with people wanting to learn and try to save money, so these are a few deals from the past week or so.  This is just a sample of all the great deals I get at Rite Aid.


So here's how it works:

Disney and Sponge Bob Gone Fishin' games - 2.24 (on sale this week)
Each one printed a $2 +up and $1 +up coupon to be used on my next purchase.  That was a money maker for me.

Dry Idea $3.99
Dry Idea was BOGO a few weeks ago and I had a raincheck b/c the store was out. 
Get 2 and use a BOGO coupon and both are free.

Sonicare toothbrush 44.99 (on sale)
Rite Aid $5 off $25 purchase coupon
$10 coupon from the paper
$20 rebate from Rite Aid
$10 rebate from Philips
Free toothbrush!

John Frieda travel size hairspray $1.49
B1G1 half off sale
Buy 3 for  $3.72
$5 Rite Aid rebate when you buy 3 John Frieda hair products make it another money maker!

The Duracell Skin was $23.99 (With my 20% discount)
$25 Rite Aid Rebate made it a money maker!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Visit with Santa

So, here's a family post.  I took the boys to see Santa this morning.  Alex really gets who Santa is and that he is bringing toys.  Josh was very apprehensive.  Luckily, there was no line to see Santa.  Guess the freezing weather kept people away.  So, we walk on up and Alex is chatting it up with Santa while Josh cowers behind my leg.  Santa has smartees, and that did the trick for Josh.  He sat, silent, on Santa's lap while Alex went on about Criss Cross Crash and Lightning McQueen.  He also spoke for Josh and said he wanted cars and trucks.  We got a decent pic, no crying. 

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Welcome!

Ok, so I wasn't going to do this but I am hoping it will keep me motivated to try new projects and actually complete them.  I do not consider myself a creative person, but I think I do a pretty good job of copying ideas and sometimes even improving on them.  Since I do not want to maintain more than one blog, this one will probably contain a variety of posts from crafting to couponing to family stuff.  Lets see how this goes!

Car Cozy

Similar to the crayon roll, this car cozy is perfect for entertaining a little one while waiting on dinner at a restaurant or anywhere really.  My boys both love matchbox cars, specifically Lightning McQueen.    Of course this is another idea I got from here.  I made a modification with an elastic drawstring instead of hook and loop closures.  Seems to work better.
Of course the gift wasn't complete without a name embroidered on the outside.

Crayon Roll

So, I am really just going through pictures I have and creating posts for practice.  This is a crayon roll I made using the tutorial here.  Think that link will work?  This actually comes in handy a lot.  I keep one in my purse with the fat washable crayons.  Then I can pull them out at a restaurant or doctor's office.


Ruffled apron

I made these sweet aprons for a friend.  Santa is getting her little girl an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas and she wanted the perfect ruffled apron to go with it.  I used a pattern and voila!  My first apron. 


Added the name using my super duper embroidery sewing machine.  I love this feature and I plan to get a lot of use out of it when my baby girl arrives!