What I am thankful for today:
*As I write this, it is my favorite night of tv shows. Kevin's at a movie with a friend so we're DVRing the ones we watch together, and I'm snuggled in my blanket ready to watch my Greys and Private Practice. Ahhhhh....
*We have an AWESOME steering team (the leadership team) for MOPS next year!!!! I am so happy to be working with such amazing women, I just love them. What a heart they have for other moms, that they would give of their time and energy so other moms are blessed. MOPS is Mothers of Preschoolers and we meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at HOPE - we have maybe 50something or so moms, and we have full hot breakfast, speakers and there is childcare provided - you can't beat it! Let me know if you want more info - you can google MOPS and find one near you! (ok advertisement over. I could go on and on - I LOVE Mops!)
*This week had its ups and downs, but tomorrow is Friday and the weekend looks fun. Tomorrow night is Family Fun night at HOPE with "Olympic games" and pizza. Saturday is breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Applebees with HOPE friends, and Bailey has her first softball practice and game!!! Sunday we hope to see the new Hop movie, the girls love going to the movies!
*The girls had great report cards. I'll tell you, report cards are different than when I was a kid - remember the S for Satisfactory? And Taylor doesn't get checks or letters, she has a booklet, practically, of where she is measuring up with all her goals -- I haven't even gone through the whole thing yet, but from skimming it I didn't see any red flags jump out. And of course Bailey's teacher wrote she "is a joy to have in class."
*Bailey was diagnosed with strep AGAIN on Monday, but I am happy to say she is on the mend. I was really concerned this morning when she woke she was coughing - I asked friends and family to pray - and not ONE cough since she came home from school. Praise God! I would be devastated if she was ill for her dress rehearsal for choir concert this weekend and her first day of softball. And selfishly, I really enjoyed my time with her, extra snuggling, reading, movies and Wii. She's my little girlfriend.
*The girls and I had a really fun time going to the Disney store to pick up Tangled. Their grandparents had bought it ahead of time, which came with a $20 off coupon when you spend $40 - so I let them pick out 2 "no reason" gifts. We had such a good time, and Bailey did really well - she usually has a terrible time with choices, takes forever, and practically hyperventilates. But she chose a coloring set which she whispered to me, "Do I have to share this with Tatie or can I hide it?" (she doesn't have to share it) and Tatie chose a Rapunzel soft dollie. Once we got home Taylor wanted to cut the doll's hair like in the movie and I had a very interesting hour of trying to talk her out of it and explaining the hair wouldn't grow back or change color like in the movie.
*Tatie lost her 2nd tooth tonight! I was so proud of her for not crying, because it came out unexpectedly, while she was horsing around with Kevin. And I was proud of myself for not crying, because my baby's getting so big :(
Have a great weekend all!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Whatever Wednesday - the man who offered to pay for my milk
I wanted to share this story, really so I don't forget it. It reminded me that there is human decency in this world, because it is easy to see all that is indecent.
I was at CVS several weeks ago, buying milk and toothpaste. The milk we needed, the toothpaste I was getting was because I had a coupon, making it free. Anyway, I go to pay and give the coupon first, and it wouldn't come off the bill. It wasn't expired and it was the right kind, it just wouldn't work. I rifled through my purse to find another coupon for it bc I thought I had one. Seeing a short line form behind me, I told the cashier to forget it, I don't want the toothpaste, but could I have my coupon back. The cashier wasn't on my wavelength, and was going to get the manager to come over, and I said a few times, "no, please, just take it off, I'll come back." Anyway, the man behind me said, "I'm sorry to butt in, but can I treat you to that milk." I didn't understand, and then his eyes told me he thought the problem was that I couldn't pay for the milk. It took me back - I've never had anyone say something like that to me. I quickly explained I meant the toothpaste, and that I didn't need the toothpaste, and I definitely had money for the milk! He said, "well, I wasn't much listening but I see the 2 gallons I figured you have kids at home and in this economy, we gotta help each other out, ya know?" I thanked him several times, and said I hope he finds someone who needs him to treat them to some milk.
How many people go out of their way on a daily basis for others? How many people surprise a stranger with random acts of kindness? Doing so takes thought, time, and sometimes not knowing their reaction means taking a risk. I remember one time taking a meal to a neighbor down the street who had just had a baby. I didn't know them, I just saw the stork sign. While my little ones napped, I made a full meal and when they woke I put them in the double stroller and walked the meal down. She opened the door, gave me the strangest look, and took the meal with a quick thanks. I walked away wondering if she really might throw it away by the way she looked at me. But I knew in my heart that I was doing something I should.
Treating others with respect, kindness and grace is a gift you give yourself, too. Doesn't it feel good to know you're making a difference in someone's day - maybe even their life?
I don't know that man who offered to pay for my milk - but someday I really hope to be in a situation where I am behind a mom who might need me to pay for her milk, diapers, whatever. And I promise, I'll tell her I'm paying it forward, and that man's kindness will be honored.
I was at CVS several weeks ago, buying milk and toothpaste. The milk we needed, the toothpaste I was getting was because I had a coupon, making it free. Anyway, I go to pay and give the coupon first, and it wouldn't come off the bill. It wasn't expired and it was the right kind, it just wouldn't work. I rifled through my purse to find another coupon for it bc I thought I had one. Seeing a short line form behind me, I told the cashier to forget it, I don't want the toothpaste, but could I have my coupon back. The cashier wasn't on my wavelength, and was going to get the manager to come over, and I said a few times, "no, please, just take it off, I'll come back." Anyway, the man behind me said, "I'm sorry to butt in, but can I treat you to that milk." I didn't understand, and then his eyes told me he thought the problem was that I couldn't pay for the milk. It took me back - I've never had anyone say something like that to me. I quickly explained I meant the toothpaste, and that I didn't need the toothpaste, and I definitely had money for the milk! He said, "well, I wasn't much listening but I see the 2 gallons I figured you have kids at home and in this economy, we gotta help each other out, ya know?" I thanked him several times, and said I hope he finds someone who needs him to treat them to some milk.
How many people go out of their way on a daily basis for others? How many people surprise a stranger with random acts of kindness? Doing so takes thought, time, and sometimes not knowing their reaction means taking a risk. I remember one time taking a meal to a neighbor down the street who had just had a baby. I didn't know them, I just saw the stork sign. While my little ones napped, I made a full meal and when they woke I put them in the double stroller and walked the meal down. She opened the door, gave me the strangest look, and took the meal with a quick thanks. I walked away wondering if she really might throw it away by the way she looked at me. But I knew in my heart that I was doing something I should.
Treating others with respect, kindness and grace is a gift you give yourself, too. Doesn't it feel good to know you're making a difference in someone's day - maybe even their life?
I don't know that man who offered to pay for my milk - but someday I really hope to be in a situation where I am behind a mom who might need me to pay for her milk, diapers, whatever. And I promise, I'll tell her I'm paying it forward, and that man's kindness will be honored.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tummy Tuesday
So I didn't have my WW weigh-in on Saturday bc we went to NYC to see Lion King. We tagged along with my MIL's middle school classes, my mom also went. It was a wonderful day, complete with an L&M donut in the morning, and a gyro for dinner. Hmmm....
How am I doing. I am staying the same, based on my home scale. Emotional eating is still very much a part of my life. Last night I ate 3 Thin Mints only because I was watching Last Song, which made me sad, and I needed a pick me up. I wanted it, so I did it. Okay, it might've been 4 Thin Mints - I was eating out of the box and only stopped because a friend called me and I had to get up to answer. If I could figure out the secret of what it takes to WANT something in a particular moment and yet NOT fulfill that desire, I would immediately start to shed. And begin a multi-billion dollar empire I suppose, as I know I am not alone, by a landslide. Someone who doesn't understand what I am talking about, would suggest eating sugar free jello instead, or exercising during tv instead of eating. That really doesn't have anything to do with it, and yet I can't fully explain it. Self-indulgence, self-protection, self-sabotage all rolled into one...I don't know. All I know is that I do eat sugar free jello and exercise to tv sometimes. But then there are these other times, when the thought of me in a bathing suit still isn't enough to deter me, and I overeat. WHY. Like I'm saying, I don't really know. I guess it's similar to any addiction - why would a smoker smoke, even knowing they could die from lung cancer. Why would a drinker drink, even after his spouse has told him she'd leave with the kids if he didn't stop. Is the liquor, are the cigarettes that strong? Yes. It's so sad, isn't it.
So with each day, I am trying. Trying to make food choices that are good for my body, trying to move more, trying to understand myself.
How am I doing. I am staying the same, based on my home scale. Emotional eating is still very much a part of my life. Last night I ate 3 Thin Mints only because I was watching Last Song, which made me sad, and I needed a pick me up. I wanted it, so I did it. Okay, it might've been 4 Thin Mints - I was eating out of the box and only stopped because a friend called me and I had to get up to answer. If I could figure out the secret of what it takes to WANT something in a particular moment and yet NOT fulfill that desire, I would immediately start to shed. And begin a multi-billion dollar empire I suppose, as I know I am not alone, by a landslide. Someone who doesn't understand what I am talking about, would suggest eating sugar free jello instead, or exercising during tv instead of eating. That really doesn't have anything to do with it, and yet I can't fully explain it. Self-indulgence, self-protection, self-sabotage all rolled into one...I don't know. All I know is that I do eat sugar free jello and exercise to tv sometimes. But then there are these other times, when the thought of me in a bathing suit still isn't enough to deter me, and I overeat. WHY. Like I'm saying, I don't really know. I guess it's similar to any addiction - why would a smoker smoke, even knowing they could die from lung cancer. Why would a drinker drink, even after his spouse has told him she'd leave with the kids if he didn't stop. Is the liquor, are the cigarettes that strong? Yes. It's so sad, isn't it.
So with each day, I am trying. Trying to make food choices that are good for my body, trying to move more, trying to understand myself.
Mommy Monday
I have realized over these last several years of being a mommy that there is a lot I do for my girls I am proud of. I know I love them unconditionally, I take care of them, I would die for them. With just 2 years of being a social worker before having children, it was still long enough to meet several women who just did not feel this way. They did not have that "maternal instinct." Whether it was because of how they were raised themselves, or something actually missing from their heart and soul, they put their own needs first and did not place any (or the appropriate amount of) importance on their children. Abortions, drugs and alcohol while pregnant, neglect, abuse...the list could go on and on unfortunately. Now, I do not want to sound judgemental here. Every woman has her own story, and mine includes being raised by a mom that taught me how to be a mom myself. I am blessed for that, and I realize that many women didn't have a mom to model appropriate behavior to them. Financial, physical, emotional, spiritual needs not being met as a child means a woman has a lot to overcome not to repeat that cycle with her own family.
All that being said, I have also realized that while I am a "good" mom in many ways, sometimes I really drop the ball. Whether it's yelling at the girls because they're fighting and not sitting down with them to work on a resolution peacefully...whether it's turning on a movie for them so I can sit at my laptop instead of doing something with them...whether it's rushing Bailey through her homework because I don't feel like actually teaching her. I know, isn't that awful? There are times I feel just down right lazy, and tired of good parenting. I know, that's awful too. I read of how friend's or family's kids know things like all the states names, and I feel bad about myself, knowing I don't take the time to teach them that.
Becoming a mom has opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn't know about myself. One thing I have learned is that I always do "better" when I am intentional about my day. It sounds odd, but actually writing, "play with girls on the floor with the dollhouse" on my to-do list means there's a much greater likelihood I'll do it. And over time, some things I have had to write on my list have become habits - like praying for our day with the girls before Bailey goes to school.
Maybe if I write "no yelling" on my list everyday, I won't do it as much. Actually, I have tried that here and there over the years, it doesn't really work. I don't yell at them a lot but I do yell. Sometimes quite loudly. I truly think if I had just one child I would hardly ever yell, because most of my yelling happens when the two of them are going at each other and I can't take it anymore. I would think it would be quite calm and quiet with just one child, I just can't imagine that I would "need" to yell hardly ever. And truly, before I make myself appear like a barracuda, I don't yell all the time! But I wish I never did.
So for today -- ok, no yelling (this morning doesn't count, 'cause I already yelled at Taylor for following Bailey around the house, singing at the top of her lungs bc she knew it was annoying), I'll play a game with the girls, and I'll read them each their favorite books - which of course are long ones :) They'll love it, and I'll feel like a "good" mom. And that's a really, really great feeling.
All that being said, I have also realized that while I am a "good" mom in many ways, sometimes I really drop the ball. Whether it's yelling at the girls because they're fighting and not sitting down with them to work on a resolution peacefully...whether it's turning on a movie for them so I can sit at my laptop instead of doing something with them...whether it's rushing Bailey through her homework because I don't feel like actually teaching her. I know, isn't that awful? There are times I feel just down right lazy, and tired of good parenting. I know, that's awful too. I read of how friend's or family's kids know things like all the states names, and I feel bad about myself, knowing I don't take the time to teach them that.
Becoming a mom has opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn't know about myself. One thing I have learned is that I always do "better" when I am intentional about my day. It sounds odd, but actually writing, "play with girls on the floor with the dollhouse" on my to-do list means there's a much greater likelihood I'll do it. And over time, some things I have had to write on my list have become habits - like praying for our day with the girls before Bailey goes to school.
Maybe if I write "no yelling" on my list everyday, I won't do it as much. Actually, I have tried that here and there over the years, it doesn't really work. I don't yell at them a lot but I do yell. Sometimes quite loudly. I truly think if I had just one child I would hardly ever yell, because most of my yelling happens when the two of them are going at each other and I can't take it anymore. I would think it would be quite calm and quiet with just one child, I just can't imagine that I would "need" to yell hardly ever. And truly, before I make myself appear like a barracuda, I don't yell all the time! But I wish I never did.
So for today -- ok, no yelling (this morning doesn't count, 'cause I already yelled at Taylor for following Bailey around the house, singing at the top of her lungs bc she knew it was annoying), I'll play a game with the girls, and I'll read them each their favorite books - which of course are long ones :) They'll love it, and I'll feel like a "good" mom. And that's a really, really great feeling.
Spirit Sunday
I didn't get a chance to go to church on Sunday, since B. was sick. Is sick. So I haven't had a chance to listen to the sermon on podcast either. So this week I can't steal Pastor Jeff's ideas...booo....
So I thought I'd tell you my favorite Scripture, and why. It is the Lord's Prayer. Growing up, I learned this prayer early on, and we recited it every week in our Presbyterian church. But I never dissected it, never meditated on it, never felt it.
When Bailey was a baby, as I have said before, I lived in fear of her CF rearing it's ugly head. I'd hold this precious, rosy cheeked, beautiful baby on my lap and wonder when she'd get sick. How old would she be when she needed to go to the hospital all the time, like the children I read about on the forums. Would she be able to keep up with her friends, would she stand out as the "sick kid." Worst was when I thought - for a second at a time, because it was too unbearable - what if I have to say goodbye to my child. The average life expectancy is in the 30's...and even though she was a young baby and that was years and years away, it filled me with a feeling I can only describe as the devil. It is the worst feeling I have felt to date -- and it wasn't even real.
That fear can still sneak up on me at times. I love reading the Lord's prayer because it reminds me of ONE DAY AT A TIME. "Give us THIS DAY our DAILY bread..." Isn't that interesting that Jesus uses day twice in one sentence? It must be important! The whole prayer itself gives me a sense of peace, but this in particular confirms that we are not supposed to get ahead of ourselves. I believe God wants us to prepare for the future yes, but I also believe He wants us to be "present" in THIS day. If we are worrying or too focused on the future, how can we live for Him today?
I was not honoring God by being so fearful about Bailey's future. I was not giving Him room to be glorified by how well she was doing TODAY. I was not praising Him for her health - I was pleading with Him to not take away her health. I am thankful that I am not that same young scared mommy I was when Bailey was little, I would hate for her to see me like that. Instead, I stand firm on God's promise to prosper us and not harm us, to give us hope and a future. (that's Jeremiah 29:11 - the verse I have hanging over Bailey's bed).
I encourage you to ask God to point you towards a verse that you can return to over and over again as a source of peace, guidance and love.
So I thought I'd tell you my favorite Scripture, and why. It is the Lord's Prayer. Growing up, I learned this prayer early on, and we recited it every week in our Presbyterian church. But I never dissected it, never meditated on it, never felt it.
When Bailey was a baby, as I have said before, I lived in fear of her CF rearing it's ugly head. I'd hold this precious, rosy cheeked, beautiful baby on my lap and wonder when she'd get sick. How old would she be when she needed to go to the hospital all the time, like the children I read about on the forums. Would she be able to keep up with her friends, would she stand out as the "sick kid." Worst was when I thought - for a second at a time, because it was too unbearable - what if I have to say goodbye to my child. The average life expectancy is in the 30's...and even though she was a young baby and that was years and years away, it filled me with a feeling I can only describe as the devil. It is the worst feeling I have felt to date -- and it wasn't even real.
That fear can still sneak up on me at times. I love reading the Lord's prayer because it reminds me of ONE DAY AT A TIME. "Give us THIS DAY our DAILY bread..." Isn't that interesting that Jesus uses day twice in one sentence? It must be important! The whole prayer itself gives me a sense of peace, but this in particular confirms that we are not supposed to get ahead of ourselves. I believe God wants us to prepare for the future yes, but I also believe He wants us to be "present" in THIS day. If we are worrying or too focused on the future, how can we live for Him today?
I was not honoring God by being so fearful about Bailey's future. I was not giving Him room to be glorified by how well she was doing TODAY. I was not praising Him for her health - I was pleading with Him to not take away her health. I am thankful that I am not that same young scared mommy I was when Bailey was little, I would hate for her to see me like that. Instead, I stand firm on God's promise to prosper us and not harm us, to give us hope and a future. (that's Jeremiah 29:11 - the verse I have hanging over Bailey's bed).
I encourage you to ask God to point you towards a verse that you can return to over and over again as a source of peace, guidance and love.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sales Saturday
I'm too lazy to get up and find my receipts from ShopRite, but after 2 trips this week I spent around $37 and saved around $140. This week I will hopefully not spend that much, it's a slow sale week. I have to go to ShopRite instead of another store because I have $49 in catalina money and there's no way I am letting that go to waste! I'll use it towards milk, produce, eggs, bread and lunchmeat. Those are things I have to buy every week.
Ok so here are a few more tips for you.
*There are more ways to get coupons other than just printing them off the internet and getting the Sunday paper. You can buy coupons from different sites (legally, you're not buying coupons, you're "paying for someone's time to cut them") or you can do things like Cellfire and text coupons. Cellfire's website has different groceries listed - enter your cell # and birth year, pick your grocery and then you click the coupons you want to save to your store loyalty card. The great thing about this is that you can use a regular paper coupon on top of that. Target has text coupons - you load coupons onto your cell phone and show it to the cashier when you check out.
*Speaking of Target, you can "stack" a Target coupon with a Manufacturers coupon. Meaning, if you go to Target.com and print out the coupons you select, it is a store coupon. It says "Target coupon" on the top. When you pay, use that and also a like coupon that says "Manufacturers Coupon" at the top. ie - say Target has a $1 off of 2 Kraft cheese products coupon, and in the paper there was a Manufacturers coupon for $1 off 2 Kraft. That's actually then $2 off of 2 products...wait for a sale where they have Kraft cheese at 2 for $3, and you get 2 products (like string cheese, shredded cheese, etc) for $1. A good price!
*When there is a good sale - even better, a great sale - buy enough to last your family for at least a few months, unless it can't be frozen or is perishable. Of course this means trying to get your hands on a good number of coupons for the same product and also having the space to store it. Don't be a hoarder and get all crazy, but buy what your family will realistically use. This really saves time and your budget - you don't have to run to the store and you bought it at a much lower price.
*Make a list of everyone who you buy for at Christmas and throughout the year for birthdays. As items are on sale - especially if you have kids and they're invited to a lot of birthday parties! - buy it. For instance, at Christmas time, Target had a great Hasbro games sale and there were Hasbro games coupons online that I printed off. I bought a bunch for a few dollars each (like Twister, Operation, etc). Actually, post Christmas clearance is a great time to load up on your kids' friends' birthday gifts for throughout the year. A great way to see what is on sale without being at the store ('cause then you'd probably buy stuff you don't need!) is to subscribe to coupon blogs like A Thrifty Mom, Couponing to Disney and Living Rich with Coupons. They're my faves. They do a lot of grocery store coupon match ups, but they also let you know when there's random great deals, like getting 2 years of Redbook magazine for $5. Really!
*Eating out at restaurants is another way to use coupons. Or if you don't have a coupon, try to go to a place that has a 2 for $20 deal or something like that. Out with the kids, try to go on a night when they eat free - kidseatfree.com shows you what restaurants and which day of the week they offer free kids meals.
*Groupon and LivingSocial are ways to get basically what is a gift card, for more money than you paid for it. For instance, speaking of eating out, I bought a $30 gift card for Pasta Pomodoro in Voorhees for $15. I also bought a $200 Groupon for $95 to a local hair salon for a cut and highlights, and a Living Social deal where I got 2 movie tickets through Fandango for $9 total. Every day these sites have a different deal.
*Look at saving money like a part time job. It's easy to get frustrated with keeping up, cutting, printing and organizing coupons. I remember when we spent HUNDREDS of dollars a month (and I don't mean a few hundred) on groceries, toiletries, toys, renting movies and random things like printer ink. I save as much money now as I would make at a part-time job and I love it SO much more! I can do it when I want, for as long as I want, as much as I want...and at home with my babies. Well, they're not babies anymore which is why I have time. :) You mommies of little ones take heart if you'd like to coupon but the thought of breastfeeding and scouring the circulars at the same time doesn't sound appealing to you. Or even feasible. You will be able to someday...and every little bit counts.
More tips next week :) If you ask me a question, I can try to answer!
Ok so here are a few more tips for you.
*There are more ways to get coupons other than just printing them off the internet and getting the Sunday paper. You can buy coupons from different sites (legally, you're not buying coupons, you're "paying for someone's time to cut them") or you can do things like Cellfire and text coupons. Cellfire's website has different groceries listed - enter your cell # and birth year, pick your grocery and then you click the coupons you want to save to your store loyalty card. The great thing about this is that you can use a regular paper coupon on top of that. Target has text coupons - you load coupons onto your cell phone and show it to the cashier when you check out.
*Speaking of Target, you can "stack" a Target coupon with a Manufacturers coupon. Meaning, if you go to Target.com and print out the coupons you select, it is a store coupon. It says "Target coupon" on the top. When you pay, use that and also a like coupon that says "Manufacturers Coupon" at the top. ie - say Target has a $1 off of 2 Kraft cheese products coupon, and in the paper there was a Manufacturers coupon for $1 off 2 Kraft. That's actually then $2 off of 2 products...wait for a sale where they have Kraft cheese at 2 for $3, and you get 2 products (like string cheese, shredded cheese, etc) for $1. A good price!
*When there is a good sale - even better, a great sale - buy enough to last your family for at least a few months, unless it can't be frozen or is perishable. Of course this means trying to get your hands on a good number of coupons for the same product and also having the space to store it. Don't be a hoarder and get all crazy, but buy what your family will realistically use. This really saves time and your budget - you don't have to run to the store and you bought it at a much lower price.
*Make a list of everyone who you buy for at Christmas and throughout the year for birthdays. As items are on sale - especially if you have kids and they're invited to a lot of birthday parties! - buy it. For instance, at Christmas time, Target had a great Hasbro games sale and there were Hasbro games coupons online that I printed off. I bought a bunch for a few dollars each (like Twister, Operation, etc). Actually, post Christmas clearance is a great time to load up on your kids' friends' birthday gifts for throughout the year. A great way to see what is on sale without being at the store ('cause then you'd probably buy stuff you don't need!) is to subscribe to coupon blogs like A Thrifty Mom, Couponing to Disney and Living Rich with Coupons. They're my faves. They do a lot of grocery store coupon match ups, but they also let you know when there's random great deals, like getting 2 years of Redbook magazine for $5. Really!
*Eating out at restaurants is another way to use coupons. Or if you don't have a coupon, try to go to a place that has a 2 for $20 deal or something like that. Out with the kids, try to go on a night when they eat free - kidseatfree.com shows you what restaurants and which day of the week they offer free kids meals.
*Groupon and LivingSocial are ways to get basically what is a gift card, for more money than you paid for it. For instance, speaking of eating out, I bought a $30 gift card for Pasta Pomodoro in Voorhees for $15. I also bought a $200 Groupon for $95 to a local hair salon for a cut and highlights, and a Living Social deal where I got 2 movie tickets through Fandango for $9 total. Every day these sites have a different deal.
*Look at saving money like a part time job. It's easy to get frustrated with keeping up, cutting, printing and organizing coupons. I remember when we spent HUNDREDS of dollars a month (and I don't mean a few hundred) on groceries, toiletries, toys, renting movies and random things like printer ink. I save as much money now as I would make at a part-time job and I love it SO much more! I can do it when I want, for as long as I want, as much as I want...and at home with my babies. Well, they're not babies anymore which is why I have time. :) You mommies of little ones take heart if you'd like to coupon but the thought of breastfeeding and scouring the circulars at the same time doesn't sound appealing to you. Or even feasible. You will be able to someday...and every little bit counts.
More tips next week :) If you ask me a question, I can try to answer!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Flash Back Friday
Tomorrow we are going to see Lion KIng on broadway in NYC. My MIL goes with her classes every year - she is a middle school gifted arts teacher - and for the last few years we have gone too. This will be Tatie's first year, we're so excited for her, she will love it. She loves musicals - at Christmastime we went to see Les Miserables at the Papermill - she is Eponine when she sings along to the soundtrack. She empathizes with the characters experiencing great tragedy. I don't know why, she just likes them the best. Bailey of course, loves whoever is closest to a princess.
Anyway, every single time we go to anything like this, I think of my dad. He loved music, he loved plays....well, if they were good. I laugh thinking what he would say listening to our kids choir at church. The kids try, and they are all so precious, but it is what it is - a kids choir. It hurt his ears to hear music if the "intonation" was off. Or if one person sang louder than the others. And it hurt his eyes to see someone tapping their foot - he said true musicians keep rhythm inside, they don't need to tap their feet. He just was so terribly opinionated, because he valued good music so much. And he was good - amazing, actually.
Music was the love of his life. He loved his family - but we had a lot of stress in our home, and he had a lot of stress growing up too. Music embraced him. Music only made him feel good. Choirs throughout all of Jersey wanted him, and he had special solo engagements too. He could play almost any instrument, and we had many - even a baby grand piano and 2 upright pianos. I know!! But that's how much he loved music. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted my brother Andy and I to follow in his footsteps, he wasn't a good teacher and both Andy and I really dropped our involvement in band and choir as soon as we were able to. My dad wanted us to practice for hours, and it was very hard for him to hear us mess up. Which of course we did. Both Andy and I love music now - albeit in very different ways! I wish I could tell my dad how much I love music, how I value it in my life. I put my Chopin on every morning. I'm trying to raise my girls to love music too, and they seem to, especially Taylor. I wonder what Dad would say about Tatie belting out her showtunes, without a care in the world for "intonation." I guess it doesn't matter what he'd say - she wouldn't care about that either.
He would have loved going to see Lion King with the family. I'll think of him tomorrow. I wish he would've had a chance to be a Grandpa, I really believe he would've been a good one. But this much is for sure -- if he had tried to correct Taylor, they would've gone head-to-head, I think she may be just as stubborn as he was. But he would've been proud of her - and of Bailey - and that much is for sure too.
Anyway, every single time we go to anything like this, I think of my dad. He loved music, he loved plays....well, if they were good. I laugh thinking what he would say listening to our kids choir at church. The kids try, and they are all so precious, but it is what it is - a kids choir. It hurt his ears to hear music if the "intonation" was off. Or if one person sang louder than the others. And it hurt his eyes to see someone tapping their foot - he said true musicians keep rhythm inside, they don't need to tap their feet. He just was so terribly opinionated, because he valued good music so much. And he was good - amazing, actually.
Music was the love of his life. He loved his family - but we had a lot of stress in our home, and he had a lot of stress growing up too. Music embraced him. Music only made him feel good. Choirs throughout all of Jersey wanted him, and he had special solo engagements too. He could play almost any instrument, and we had many - even a baby grand piano and 2 upright pianos. I know!! But that's how much he loved music. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted my brother Andy and I to follow in his footsteps, he wasn't a good teacher and both Andy and I really dropped our involvement in band and choir as soon as we were able to. My dad wanted us to practice for hours, and it was very hard for him to hear us mess up. Which of course we did. Both Andy and I love music now - albeit in very different ways! I wish I could tell my dad how much I love music, how I value it in my life. I put my Chopin on every morning. I'm trying to raise my girls to love music too, and they seem to, especially Taylor. I wonder what Dad would say about Tatie belting out her showtunes, without a care in the world for "intonation." I guess it doesn't matter what he'd say - she wouldn't care about that either.
He would have loved going to see Lion King with the family. I'll think of him tomorrow. I wish he would've had a chance to be a Grandpa, I really believe he would've been a good one. But this much is for sure -- if he had tried to correct Taylor, they would've gone head-to-head, I think she may be just as stubborn as he was. But he would've been proud of her - and of Bailey - and that much is for sure too.
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