Oh I love the Grocery Game. Yesterday I got a trunk full of food for $63. I saved $115!! So that is a savings of what, like 65%??? Awesome.
I got free Powerade (2), free Celestial Seasonings tea, $0.50 Reach toothbrushes (2), and $0.67 Hamburger Helpers (9). I love to save. It's so satisfying to watch all the money come flying off after the cashier starts plugging in the coupons.
I'm trying to get us to $50/week for groceries... getting closer! :) I'm trying to find the perfect combo of Costco food and using the Grocery Game to get great deals each week.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
It's the most wonderful time of the year....
Yes I'm singing that in my head, and have been for several days now. I'm a Christmas freak. I love this time of year - Halloween kicks off all the fun stuff. Probably goes back to my childhood and my Grandma J. She loves the holidays. Decked the halls, baked the cookies, played the music, yada yada -- tons of gifts under the tree, lots of talk of Santa Claus, great big Thanksgiving meal. Some great memories. I am so enjoying re-creating those memories and adding new ones for my little girl. And for myself, if I'm being totally honest here. :) This time of year feeds my soul in so many ways. Maybe it's because of the way people are a little nicer to each other, or the way families reconnect, or how everyone becomes openly spiritual, which IMO makes the world a truly happy place. When we all believe in something bigger than ourselves, we realize we are all connected.
And speaking of Grandma J, Nat and I are taking a trip to visit her in a few weeks. She is 88 years old, and I have not seen her in 2 years. She is in a wheelchair now, and each year her health gets a little bit worse. Nat is named after her, she had such a big influence on my life, and I love her dearly. I am looking forward to spending time with her and I know she will love to see her precious little great granddaughter. My mom and I are also hoping to get a 4-generation picture. While we are there, it will be the 5-year anniversary of my grandfather's death. It should be a special time, and quite emotional.
On to lighter topics -- this week, my little girl will be a bumble bee. Here is a picture of her, when I was trying to make Halloween cards. I got them through Wal-Mart and they blew. So I'm not sending those out! Luckily I only spent $8 on about 15 of them to send to some family. Last year, we got photo books for Christmas there, too, and they were horrible. So no more Wal-Mart photo purchases for me!!
We are going to carve pumpkins Thursday night, and take her trick-or-treating to a few houses on Friday night!! Parties on Thursday and Friday mornings... oh yes, the holiday season has begun! :)
In the world of parenting -- things are going pretty well. Nat had a few mini-breakdowns last week, I think the craziness of the month before finally caught up with her. But once she and I got back into our regular routine, the meltdowns stopped. It's amazing how much routine and stability affect toddlers!
I haven't done any more research on different types of schooling. We do live in a good (for this area) school district, so we may just give that a whirl. We have a few years before worrying about kindergarten, though. I have heard some good reports about a preschool, as well, so I feel like I can sit back until the spring now and then think about whether I want to send Nat to preschool next fall or the fall after. I am going to set some things up around our house after the holidays to do some early childhood homeschooling activities. Nothing too intense, but I know she would love it. I can already tell she has a thirst for knowledge! Loves to play games where B and I quiz her on what color things are, playing the "who am I?" game, etc.
OK this has turned into a very long post, so I'll leave it at that. :) Happy Halloween!
And speaking of Grandma J, Nat and I are taking a trip to visit her in a few weeks. She is 88 years old, and I have not seen her in 2 years. She is in a wheelchair now, and each year her health gets a little bit worse. Nat is named after her, she had such a big influence on my life, and I love her dearly. I am looking forward to spending time with her and I know she will love to see her precious little great granddaughter. My mom and I are also hoping to get a 4-generation picture. While we are there, it will be the 5-year anniversary of my grandfather's death. It should be a special time, and quite emotional.
On to lighter topics -- this week, my little girl will be a bumble bee. Here is a picture of her, when I was trying to make Halloween cards. I got them through Wal-Mart and they blew. So I'm not sending those out! Luckily I only spent $8 on about 15 of them to send to some family. Last year, we got photo books for Christmas there, too, and they were horrible. So no more Wal-Mart photo purchases for me!!
We are going to carve pumpkins Thursday night, and take her trick-or-treating to a few houses on Friday night!! Parties on Thursday and Friday mornings... oh yes, the holiday season has begun! :)
In the world of parenting -- things are going pretty well. Nat had a few mini-breakdowns last week, I think the craziness of the month before finally caught up with her. But once she and I got back into our regular routine, the meltdowns stopped. It's amazing how much routine and stability affect toddlers!
I haven't done any more research on different types of schooling. We do live in a good (for this area) school district, so we may just give that a whirl. We have a few years before worrying about kindergarten, though. I have heard some good reports about a preschool, as well, so I feel like I can sit back until the spring now and then think about whether I want to send Nat to preschool next fall or the fall after. I am going to set some things up around our house after the holidays to do some early childhood homeschooling activities. Nothing too intense, but I know she would love it. I can already tell she has a thirst for knowledge! Loves to play games where B and I quiz her on what color things are, playing the "who am I?" game, etc.
OK this has turned into a very long post, so I'll leave it at that. :) Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thoughts on Waldorf...
Our parent-child classes at the Waldorf school finished up this past week. It was a great learning experience for me. While I like some aspects of Waldorf, I found that I didn't feel like it clicked for me. I think it's a little too out there. I'm learning as time goes on, as N gets older, so much more about myself as a mother and as a person. I think that I am basically a "normal" person with a few "granola" tendencies... so going so far to the extreme just didn't feel right for me.
I have learned about a local preschool where a few friends' kids go - it's cheap, it's at a church, and it's nearby. So I think when we get closer (sign-ups are in February for next fall), we'll go check that out.
It's been fun exploring the Montessori and Waldorf schools of thought, though. I have learned things I would like to incorporate here at home -- mixing and matching those two methods, and some of my own ideas as well.
I have learned about a local preschool where a few friends' kids go - it's cheap, it's at a church, and it's nearby. So I think when we get closer (sign-ups are in February for next fall), we'll go check that out.
It's been fun exploring the Montessori and Waldorf schools of thought, though. I have learned things I would like to incorporate here at home -- mixing and matching those two methods, and some of my own ideas as well.
Back to "normal".. whatever that is! :)
So my husband got a job here in town. We don't have to move!!
I didn't realize how settled I was here and how much I love living in the land of eternal sun. In spite of the past seven years being lived in anticipation of moving someday b/c of B's job, I have put down roots and really made a little life for myself.
So, while there would be wonderful things about a move to the Pacific NW (cooler weather in the summer for one!), I am very happy that we are settling in and staying put.
Which means that now I have the daunting task of putting our house back to normal. Our garage is filled with packed boxes and personal items are all tucked away and out of sight for any potential house-buyers (there were a whopping 5 people who looked at our house while it was on the market!). So I am going to spend the next few days moving back into our own house.
And then -- it's my favorite time of year, so I am looking forward to all the fun fall/holiday crafts and rituals my daughter and I will be doing! I'll post more with pictures and such.
I didn't realize how settled I was here and how much I love living in the land of eternal sun. In spite of the past seven years being lived in anticipation of moving someday b/c of B's job, I have put down roots and really made a little life for myself.
So, while there would be wonderful things about a move to the Pacific NW (cooler weather in the summer for one!), I am very happy that we are settling in and staying put.
Which means that now I have the daunting task of putting our house back to normal. Our garage is filled with packed boxes and personal items are all tucked away and out of sight for any potential house-buyers (there were a whopping 5 people who looked at our house while it was on the market!). So I am going to spend the next few days moving back into our own house.
And then -- it's my favorite time of year, so I am looking forward to all the fun fall/holiday crafts and rituals my daughter and I will be doing! I'll post more with pictures and such.
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