Where Is All The Money I Am Saving

So, I am trying to shop frugally.  I am desperately failing at this task.  I have tried to clip coupons and obviously this takes super power mad skills that I lack. I made my trip to Wal Mart with almost 20.00 in coupons in hand and shockingly I still walked out of the store $198.00 poorer.  I have a family of five. Four of those eat regular meals and one of those is in diapers so for what he misses in contribution to the food bill he does make up for on the "recycled" food part and diapers aren't exactly cheap now days.

So, I make my own laundry detergent and have began making lots of different things but I am not really seeing any savings.  I do manage to only go to the grocery store once every week and a half to two weeks so all in all I guess factoring that in, my grocery bill isn't too terribly bad.  I just expect to be able to share in the joy like all the others who purchase 300.00 worth of goods and only pay 10 or 20 dollars for it. I must be missing out on the secret to all this shopping glory.

So if any of you know this magic secret, please let me in on it!!

I Am a Mean Mommy

I love my children.  I love living every day listening to the sounds of their laughter and seeing them thoroughly enjoying their childhood.  I don't really give them every single thing they ask for spoil them too much.  I think if they did receive everything the asked for they really wouldn't appreciate it much.  However recently I have been told by those said lovey children that life is sooo unfair and that they never get anything and no one cares.  Well, I'd be lying if I said these whiny complaints didn't make me want to bust out the smack down right then and there.  But also deep in my heart these comments make me feel like they have a huge knife stuck right into my heart and they are agitating it every minute with each of those remarks much like the twisting and turning of a washing machine.  I try really hard to make sure they feel loved.  My husband and I as well as their grandparents spend a great deal of time playing with the kids, watching movies and various things.  They have so many toys that the playroom is junked over flowing with things to play with. Heck, they even have a playroom to begin with.  My playroom as a child was the confines of the room that I also slept in or the yard and I turned out just fine.  I think kids today lack imagination and they are used to all these techy gadgets to come up with ideas for them.  I mean we could play for hours just in the dirt alone with rocks for shovels.  I know they probably don't really mean the things that they say sometimes.  I also tend to forget what may seem like simple things that don't really matter to me may just be the end of the world for a 6 or 7 year old.


On the flip side I am so grateful that they are just worried that they don't have the latest video game or the coolest new toy that just came out and they don't know some of the harsh realities of other children who worry if they are going to have food on the table or if their parent(s) are going to beat them to death this go 'round. 


So , I can go to sleep tonight knowing I love my children and deep down they KNOW I do even if sometimes I may be a mommy monster of unfairness.  So I will wear that crown with pride because after all I am the only princess in this castle and at least I do get to be a mommy to those 3 little monsters boys of mine.

My Re-Vamp

So, I hope you like my new blog design, because I LOVE IT!!!  My awesome friend Dana Sears done the designing, installing and all that jazz. So, if you love it, visit her design shop!! You can also find her link at the bottom right of my blog.  Thank you SO much Dana. It truly is amazing and now I am all excited about blogging again :)

My Mission

Here are some things on my wish list that I am going to frugally obtain....eventually

My Daily Dose of Parenting

This morning didn't start out so great. I didn't feel so great and slept a little later than I should have.  The kids were ill as well.  We make it out the door and to school on time.  We say our I love you's, byes, and have a good day.  I go to pull out of the parking lot and notice the vast ocean of vehicles.  I wonder what is going on and did I miss something.  Then it hit me like a ton of bricks..CRAP!!!!!!!!! It was doughnuts for dads. Then I realize what my children must have been thinking as that exact moment.  My heart was broken.  My husband was going to go in to work late so he could go and we both forgot. So my parenting skills left a lot to be desired on this Tuesday morning. So I am on a mission to right my wrong when they get home from school.  We can either get doughnuts for home or they can have daddy breakfast on Saturday.  



On another note, bumbo seats aren't as safe as you think they are. John wiggled out of his and landed on the kitchen table. Glad the seat wasn't on the edge. And yes I know it says not to put on an elevated surface but i didn't think he could get out of it either. So, we are off to buy a highchair!!!! 

Handpainted Pillows

I am always on the search for really neat pillows.  I like simple yet dramatic, does that make sense?  I can never find exactly what I am looking for that doesn't carry a pretty hefty price tag.  I decided to try my hand at making my own pillow.  I took a pillow case I already had and used craft paint to paint the design then hot glued buttons around on the braches.  I love it!!

What are some frugal ideas that you have or have done recently in your home?