I went clothes shopping tonight on the news that Old Navy was having a sale. Every paycheck we set aside some money for clothes so I knew I could afford to buy a few things, plus I’m starting to need a size bigger pants. So I thought I would check it out.
Boy oh boy. Let me show you how I did.
I only shopped the sale racks which totaled a 75% savings on clothes that would be out of season come spring.
For the baby boy I bought:
2 Zip-up Hoodie sweatshirts
1 T-shirt
1 pair of pants
1 pair of swim trunks
I spent ————> $12.73
I would have spent ——————-> $56.50 had I purchased these items at full price
A savings of —————> $43.77
For Jessica I bought:
4 Long sleeve shirts
1 pair of pants
I spent ————> $14.99
I would have spent ——————-> $52.50 had I purchased these items at full price
A savings of —————> $37.51
For myself I bought:
2 pairs maternity pants
1 non-maternity dress (think mu-mu here) for spring when I get huge.
I spent ————> $9.99
I would have spent ——————-> $84.50 had I purchased these items at full price
A savings of —————> $74.51
On sale items totaled $37.71
I would have spent $193.50 had I purchased at full price
A total savings of $155.79
Are you kidding me? This is what excites the crap out of me. I’m a total coupon clipper and love deals and steals. I just had to share this with you.
posted on January 31, 2008| 12:09 AM EST
I’ve never been good at the surfing of the Internet’s. I married someone who could tell you, while sleeping, 17 awesome sites to visit every single day and they would all be different, every single day. He knows what he’s doing. Me … well, I just kind of read 3 or 4 sites religiously and get stuck.
Until recently. As mentioned in an earlier post I did come across some new sites as of late which have led me to a wealth of other bloggers out there. All kinds of fascinating ideas and people. I’m loving this connection, if you will, to other mom’s and women on the internet. Not that I know a single one - it’s just nice to know there are women like me around who are writing about their lives and sharing some great ideas.
It also motivates me to get into action on my own “stuff” around the house. I could chalk all this up to nesting, and I probably should, but I love seeing photos and how-to’s on other blogs, it makes it seem so much more manageable for me to try being organized when I see how it works instead of just reading about it.
We have plenty-o-books laying around on home organization and although they have photos, not one of them has a how to in it and further more they’re generally pushing a certain store in all their photos (like Pottery Barn or The Container Store) which I love but cannot afford to outfit my closet with. Lets talk Big Lots, shall we? Big Lots is my best friend in the world of shopping for our home.
No, I am not kidding. Remember that beautiful sleigh bed we had? We bought it at Big Lots for $250 and that thing was SOLID. A very well made bed. We sold it and made money on it through the classifieds. By that time we had also boughten the bed-side tables that went along with it. And those lamps you see in the photo? Big Lots.
That store is a little piece of shopping heaven in my book. Good thing the one in our town closed and now I have to think good and hard about going to the one 30 minutes away. It’s always worth it, but now I usually have to have a plan to shop there - which is better any way.
If you know of any great ideas/websites - pass ‘em on!
posted on January 29, 2008| 6:11 PM EST
It’s getting a little difficult to sleep at night - uncomfortable wise. There were a few nights last week that I only got 3 hours total and was still able to function during the day, which, believe me, is beyond my comprehension. I’m a bit of a sleep nut. I love sleep.
Other than that though, I’m comfortable most of the time. I some times hate to say this because I know the symptoms of pregnancy for so many women are irritable - I just simply don’t have any. My body loves and agrees with pregnancy. So when you ask me how I’m feeling and I just say - oh I’m good. I really am. Good. I have nothing to say - it’s a hard question to be asked over and over again.
I am getting antsy about the name though. And about putting his room together. I have a list of things to do and everything baby-related is in our attic, which is above our garage - not easily accessible to me and my bump these days. I keep thinking I’ll go to the library to get a book of names to help stir up the conversation but it just never happens. And we do have time, cross our fingers that this guy stays in there til he’s done developing, but I’d just like to think of him as “insert name” and know we’re mostly set there - because it’s always subject to change in the delivery room or once we meet him face to face. Still, a girl in my position wants to be prepared.
This baby has gotten more active lately also and I’m guessing it’s due to a lack of room, or growing lack of room, in my belly. At my last doctors appointment as the doctor was listening for his heartbeat (they put cold gel and a little dopler on my belly) he kicked it away 4 times. I don’t think he appreciated the cold of the gel or the pushing and prodding of the dopler, it was hilarious. Up until that point this baby has pretty much been “quiet” - he kicks all the time but mostly towards my back or my bladder so it’s rare for someone to feel him moving. This is all changing of course.
I remember being pregnant with Jessica - she kicked to be noticed. Hard and often. She was also facing outwards so it was easier - but she was active, o-so-very active under strict constraints for movement and this baby has so far been under the radar. There, for sure he’s there, I feel him, but I don’t notice him if that makes any sense. Most of the time his movement feels like a muscle twitching so although it’s present it’s not present enough to make me stop what I’m doing like I did with Jessica. And I’m having a few Braxton-Hicks contractions now which are just joys. It’s one thing to have the basketball in my stomach it’s another for it to become a boulder of maniac proportions on my back bone.
Should I keep talking? I could go on. We could cover my feelings about labor this time around, now that I know what. is. going. to. happen. Are. You. Kidding. Me?
I’m a little more reserved about wanting this baby out because I know, oh do I know, what’s going to happen. I’m not against the drugs- not at all. I was so against them with Jessica that it became all I thought about when I was in pain - how I WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE MEDICINE, that resulted in my taking the medicine and being blissfully happy throughout the experience that was her birth. I loved, loved, loved my birth experience with Jessica - with drugs. It was glorious, spiritual and moving and I was able to breath. Thank you baby Lord Jesus. Also? Aaron begged me to be open to the medicine, not to be a martyr or super mom from the get-go … he couldn’t handle seeing me in pain and he hated that he could do nothing about it.
I am so open to medicine this time around. It costs $175 for an epidural - money well spent, people. I’m not saying that I’m going in the hospital and hooking up to the IV - no, I’m just willing to have options, to be open minded and patient.
I am super excited about doing most of my labor at home (depending on time of day, Jessica’s location and pain level) in our bath tub. Or in the shower, or in both or all three at various different stages. If a shower is what I want, we’ve got two. If a bath? No problem - lets fill ‘er up! I can do walking (it’ll be spring) or sitting, laying, whatever feels right. I don’t feel panicked into the unknown of rushing to the hospital. Of course I’m praying that my sister’s ability to pop kids out some how manifested itself in me over the last 3 years. Her first child? I think under 3 hours and her second? She hardly made it into the delivery room. AND THEN SHE WENT HOME EARLY … because she was bored. Are you kidding me? She’s a rock star. The hospital is like a hotel to me - I’m going to stay until they kick me out, man. Check out is 1 pm? I’ll be ready at 12:58.
Can you tell I’m alone? Aaron took Jessica sledding so I have all this time to put my thoughts to ink (or blog - whatever). And now I think I’m done. Sorry if this was all over the place or boring. It was fun for me :)
posted on January 27, 2008| 6:09 PM EST
This past week we went to see Dave Ramsey Live - it was awesome. I’ve been devouring his books for the past few years and Aaron has done some listening to the tapes/CD’s. It was so good to see him in action, in person. The event itself was great - humorous, well timed (although at times a little long for my pregnant self to sit for) and tons of superb information.
I’ve even recommended his books on my book list - which I should probably work on updating more often, I know.
I, personally, think everyone who has a bank account or will have one in the future should be reading his material, cutting up their credit cards and saying no to overspending. But that’s just me. I grew up being responsible with money - to the point of hording it, I know this - and have worked hard at being able to give my money away. (Thank you Crown Financial Ministries, among other things)
After Aaron and I went through the Crown bible study with some friends we paid off our last debt, his car, and have stayed debt free since. I don’t have a credit card and I don’t carry my debit card with me. It sits in a block of ice in the freezer. Being a stay at home makes it way too easy to spend $50 or more at Target every week, just because I’m bored or I needed toilet paper. (Who buys toilet paper from Target? It’s a TRAP!)
Any way, our views on finances are simple - don’t spend more than we have, save, give and have fun.
For those of you who are engaged - I would highly recommend putting your finances together before the wedding. This was our experience with finances when we were engaged, we had purchased a house together and joined our accounts once the ring was on my finger - we got all the bumps and kinks of working together out before the wedding and have only had a handful of arguments when it comes to budgeting or spending our money. This is also highly due to the fact that I do the budgeting and then we get together every other week (some times every other month depending on schedules) and talk it over, see whats going on and make changes as needed.
I’m a bit of a numbers nerd - I love this stuff. We obviously aren’t perfect and don’t have this down to a complete science as far as our money goes - but it’s getting there slowly. I’d be happy to recommend a number of books if you’re interested. Otherwise, keep checking the book list - I’ll try to get some more up there soon.
posted on January 26, 2008| 2:46 PM EST
I took Jessica’s 3 year photos this morning and had a blast with her. Doing her hair was a bit of a job only because I was hoping to get them level - which never happens. In the end it didn’t matter any way - and she had fun with it which was the ultimate goal.
We’ve been toying with the idea of me actually opening up our house to take photos of other people, namely kids. I’ve been doing a bit more of it lately and it’s a great way to spend a few hours in a day and make some extra money. Plus I feel like I’m getting a better handle on what my camera can do and how important the right processing is for each photo.
I’m no professional, by any means. And we have very dear friends who make their living taking photos so we’ve always been sensitive to that - it’s just a hobby for me - but one I might be willing to expand into something on the side. I’ve done weddings for friends and for friends of our family and I will do that, too - but what I’m really interested in is taking photos of kids in our home. When the weather is nice we can do some fun things outside, but I’m not looking to be a traveling photographer. Pretty soon I’m going to have another baby to care for and it’s just plain easier if people bring their kids to me so I don’t have to lug equipment all over.
The difference between me and a studio is this - I have no studio. Also - I don’t mess with prints, ever, ever, ever. No, I will not order prints for you. I don’t do prints. Thats where photographer’s make their money, in the print orders and the books and special/fun things they offer. That kind of time commitment is not for me. I don’t like messing with it.
My process is to take the photos, process them and hand over a CD (up to 3 per customer, free) and then be done with it. So essentially I would charge a flat rate per hour that might sound pricey to begin with - but when all is said and done - you’ve only paid for 2 hours and you get 50 photos of your kids to do with what you please - you’ve saved lots of money.
So - I don’t know, just thinking things through right now. Maybe you’ll see some changes to this website to encompass all of this in the future - but it depends on the demand for photos and the time my wonderful husband has to help me.
posted on January 22, 2008| 9:33 PM EST
