Random thoughts

Random thoughts, er facts, or whatever at midnight:

* Why can't I sleep like a normal person. / Why do I feel the urge to clean every single thing in my home before sleep is achieved?

* My tooth is annoying me, I should really save money to go to the dentist instead of hoping it will go away. Teeth are important to me and I know better than to put it off. (It's a bad filling from a bad dentist)..

* I am so busy I have no friends to socialize with :( / My kids have become my friends (good for the time being, bad for later on?? I haven't made my mind up yet. I just know I wish I had someone to socialize with and walk with in the mornings).

* My cousin's wedding is in 2 weeks and I still haven't lost weight. (I stress eat).

* My house smells like lemon Mr. Clean, because I wanted to give Pine Sol a rest :)

* Doug is asleep on the couch. Doug ALWAYS passes out on the couch.

* My dad called me at 9 pm (I was passed out on the recliner) to ask me what the weather was like..
   He lives 10 minutes away, the weather is the same ;) lol..haha..oh geez..

* I am getting too old for my age..or maybe I think I am supposed to still have this youthful glow? Hi-ya crows feet..Oh, you're a sign of a happy person? hmm, okay just delay the grays a bit longer:)

* It's still too hot and humid in my city, but atleast it is cool in the mornings. THANK YOU, MAN UPSTAIRS!

* I am going to be 29 in November and I STILL get a random pimple. The heck?

* I miss my sister... A LOT

* Do apple's really not fall far from the tree?

* Is it wrong to religiously watch the Jersey Shore & Teen Mom at my age?

* My lawn needs to be mowed, the hedges need to be trimmed, and I need the exercise, I should do that tomorrow.

* I STILL have not finished Ethan's room (it's been near a year now).

I think I am going to bed. Sleep well, friends!

Another one bites the dust

I hate when that happens. I went into the living room to see my (well, my daughter's that I stole) slinky in a ball of tangles on the couch. I managed to untangle it this much and it's too warped to fix.

No more guilty pleasure nights of watching Jersey Shore and Teen Mom and whatever other late night drama I can find whilst tossing the rainbow slinky back and forth.

Whatever will my super boring - have no life outside of my kids, personality type do now? ((sigh))..

I hate bugs..

In about 2 weeks we will be taking the 10 hour drive up to Jersey for my cousin's wedding. MiMi will be the flower girl and she is so excited.

Why is my title "I hate bugs"? Well, we will be staying in a hotel for two days. If you know me, you know I have a slight mental issue with bugs. Particularly the kind that super infest (fleas, bed bugs, roaches, bla bla). Thankfully in my lifetime I've ONLY ever had to deal with fleas. AND I PRAY it stays that way (knock on wood).

With bed bugs being an epidemic of sorts, I am naturally paranoid about staying in a hotel that houses a different person nightly. I even found a website that tells you if the hotel you are looking into has a bed bug report (bedbugreports.com). So far no reports *whew*. I will be keeping my luggage in the car until I need to take it out. I'll hang MiMi's dress on the shower bar until it is needed to wear (which I may put on her last minute at the church so she doesn't stainit somehow in that short car ride).

I will check the matress' and behind photos hanging on the wall (Yes, I AM THAT ANAL).

I used to not give a honk about bugs, I used to play with bugs as a kid. But knowing how hard it is to eradicate bugs, I don't want to take my chances. So if anything it gives my mentality a peace of mind. ;)

I am elated to visit Jersey again. It's been a good near 3 years AND I miss it!! I think we'll only spend one day in Hazlet the rest will be in another city. I would love to visit the beach again, but I don't know if time will allow it. If MiMi wasn't in school and we didn't have to rush to get her back I'd stay the entire week.

Hopefully this summer we can go back though, I hate not being able to see my family up there. Jersey is so beautiful!

Other than that, I am glad the weekend is here and I have had some time to catch up on sleep. It's been a great but tiresome week :)

MiMi is getting another box from thredup today and that always excites me :D We have sent a ton of boxes also so earned credits to get the ones we picked COMPLETELY free! Don't forget if you sign up under me you get the $10 credit and can try a box for just $5.95 and I will get $10 credit when you send your first box:)  - Thanks to my two friends who have sent boxes and earned me $20 already:) My kid enjoyed the free clothing that we redeemed the credits on :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

First Day Of First Grade..

The time has come. First grade. It's weird, but I remember her first day of pre - k like it was JUST yesterday. I have a crystal clear image of her first teachers, how I adored them for being such a huge impact on her life. I remember her first day of kindergarten the same way. First grade was a little different. I have been babysitting and I was pushing Ethan in the stroller, carrying a bag full of the school's wishlist items in one hand and the little girl I babysit on my left hip. We waited outside for the doors to open for a good 30 minutes. My back was aching. :)

Another mom was making small talk with me (which I love, by the way because I usually look like the dorky adult that stares into space in a huge crowd). FINALLLLY the doors opened and I walked MiMi to her class room. I took one photo, yes, one lol:) With one baby girl on my hip and my son screaming like the wild child he is, I figured I did not want any evil eyes from other parents (haha)..no, really, my son can be that wild.

Her teacher..SHE IS SOOOO SOOOO SWEET! I can say I have NEVER met someone who is so KIND, GENUINE and wears a CONSTANT smile! I have only met her twice now, but I ADORE her already. When you think of teacher's, she is the teacher you think you'd LOVE for your child to have.

One who actually enjoys the job. You know, a real people's person.. And as far as I am concerned that means a good Christmas for her;)

So, MiMi enjoys school already & I am so happy about that:)

*ahem* notice her hair? Yep, miss frugal over here (me) cut it for her:)

Enjoy your week, everyone!

I love dragonflies...

If you know me, you certainly know I have an affinity for dragonflies. I have made dragonfly pillows for my couch, I have a dragonfly wind chime, a dragonfly towel hanger in my bathroom, and a small dragonfly plant pot clinger, that i put on a picture frame because I love them so much. To me they represent luck. They always have.

So last night, I was sitting in the recliner, and I hear this rustling noise. I am thinking "Dear God, please NO MICE!". I lean over to look in the candle holder only to be smacked in the forehead at 2 am, by (at the time) God only knows..

I thought "OH MY GAAAAAH, it must be a HUGE waterbug/american roach". AAAAH!

Doug rushed in to see what was the matter. Then told me it was a dragonfly. I semi calmed down, except it was flying so hard and heavy and bumping into everything it nearly gave my old soul a heart attack.

Eventually it went on the cabinet top to sleep - I guess?

The next morning I seen it chilling on my window sill:

I was wondering how to catch it - with out killing it..

Eventually I settled on thinking a glass cup with a piece of card stock paper SHOULD work..

The only glass cup I had in my cabinet was (of all things- a DRAGONFLY cup) lol, sweet irony!! ;)

I scooped him up and stuck the paper between the glass.

Of course, I had to admire him for a good 10 minutes before I actually went outside and set it free. So beautiful!!!

I think, what are the odds a dragonfly greets me at 2 am? I consider this a sign of good to come. Or if not, maybe a sign things will be okay :) Who knew a critter bug could make me smile so big today?

Where do I keep my couponing finds?

Randomly if I post a deal on here people usually ask where I keep everything.

I have to admit, I don't do extreme couponing like most.

Believe it or not IT DOES cost money to make a huge stock pile and I don't have the money to invest in multiple papers or worry that a product will go bad before I can use it.

And I am cheap and frugal, and it cost a lot to cloth and feed two beautiful kiddos:)

But, I like to think I save the family as much money as I can = When I can by stocking up on non perishables when on sale and with coupons!  This all takes of space of course and you know me, small house, small space! Make it happen!

I DO however extreme save. CVS is my fav. place to coupon because they offer great incentives for their shoppers.

I haven't too much couponed in a while, and that is because my closet has plenty:)

I feel blessed with what we were able to get for next to nothing with our coupons, and I like to store them in my hall closet.

This bad boy was CLUTTERED bad before. (I did not take a before photo) but I used a bathroom cart rack our old roomie gave us that was collecting dust and put it to use as a body wash/shampoo & conditioner rack.

I used the old plastic drawer bins I got out of MiMi's closet when I did her closet makeover (blog below) and used that to store toothpaste, deodorants, tissues, diapers, wipes and pinesol.

I used my top shelf for laundry detergent and dish soap (I have 20 I got for free using coupons/dish soap that is). I also put my paint on this shelf.

My middle shelf has 15 bottles of Lysol toilet bowl cleaner that I got for 40 cent at my local Harris Teeter (note I have been buying these for MONTHS, i did NOT get them all during one sale, I'd get 5 each super doubles trip). I also use these to clean my tub :)  Then I have two 1 gallon jugs of Murphy oil soap and two reg. bottles of it (not on sale but I LOVE this stuff and it kills bugs). It also has my sewing machine and other stuff.

I think I did a good job decluttering (but you wouldn't know because I did not take a before photo, but if my below blog with my daughter's BEFORE closet is any testament to how cluttered this one could be, take it for face value) :) hhahaha! I am DONE decluttering and organizing for the night. I would paint the walls of this closet, but it's nothing fancy, if I get bored enough I am sure I will. I haven't painted the inside of the old green doors because I am gambling on getting new paneled ones next tax time as a gift to myself. Until next time, sweet dreams, friends!

My daughter's SMALL closet make over - good bye CLUTTER - hello PRETTY IN PINK & STORAGE!

When I refurbished this dresser, I knew I had to do something with my daughter's old dresser.

I knew right away what I would do. Her closet was non functional, as I had been hoarding toys and other odds and ends in it for so long that we never used it as anything BUT that :( BOO!

As you know, small spaces have limited storage.

After I decluttered THIS hot mess:

I swept and mopped and broke out the paint my Dad lent me from my sister's old bedroom & started to paint.

The paint, being 9 years old was extra strong smelling. I am going to guess most paints were strong before the odorless stuff came out?

Don't know, don't care, it was my pleasure to put the first coat of paint that closet has EVER had on it since this house was built in the 60's.

I had Doug remove the shelf (I have plans for that later).

AND I added her old dresser to the closet. Well-Doug did actually & it was a HUGE PAIN, it did not fit, he had to disassemble and re assemble it in that small space (hehe sorry, dear).

But in the end, pretty in pink prevails and her old dresser now houses toys, baby doll blankets and other clutter.

SUPER WIN!!!! Her new dresser I refurbished will house her clothing.

I LOVE making space and PRETTY on a low budget in a SMALL house!! FREE PROJECT for me!

Before:( BOOOO!!

And After:)

I seriously can't WAIT to show MiMi in the morning:)

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