Day 86: January Quest: Family Fun Time, just not on the weekends.

When we first found out that we were having a baby, we were baffled, confused and overwhelmed. We had been married for 2 months and both Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer and I had demanding careers. Our work schedules were all over the place. Mr. BBH was the first of us to get a consistent schedule and since I was a event marketing director having any semblence of a traditional schedule was inconceivable. Our 2-some, now referred to by the general public as DINK's (Dual Income No Kids) was about to change and we weren't really that "into" changing our lifestyle. Sure, having a baby was going to change our home life, but our working life, we weren't willing to compromise our livelyhood. But as  life happens things change. I got laid off 8.5 months pregnant and learned that by staying home and collecting unemployment, we would actually make more money a month than if I was still working and we had to pay for daycare. So it was a no-brainer for us. We were going to ride the unemployment gravy train until it ran out and I had to start working again. Well unemployment ran out, I couldn't find a job in the current market and we had to make it work. Funny how a traumatic experience and life's greatest blessing collide.

When Monk was 2 month's old, he needed out of the house, heck I needed out of the house. We were the second couple in our circle of friends to have a child and well the only ones in our area. So we joined a Stay at Home mom's group. It has been the most wonderful experience for both of us. Monk has made some great playmates and learned from so many other children that have come into our lives. I have made some really great mom friends that the sharing life's experiences of motherhood brought us together. Had we not have been "forced" into becoming a one-income household, Monk and I would be a a different place, and our circles with these families probably would never have collided.

Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer's profession requires him to work non-traditional hours. There is no concept of 9-5 in our household. Some of the other families that we have met share our non-traditional family hours. Our children go to bed late, sleep in during the morning hours so that we can have some semblence of family time at night. Mostly this time is so that we can all sit down together and share supper, but there has to be a way that we can incorporate more. Not necessarily more activities on our plate, but more togetherness. We do not want our children to think that it is perfectly normal to eat supper, watch some tv, and go to bed. For some people that method of togetherness is fine, but for shaping the minds of our household...not so much.

 Our quest for January and throughout 2012 will be to incorporate more family fun time throughout the week and not only on the weekends. This past weekend was a great family fun weekend, but our family is suffering in the getting to really enjoy each other throughout the week. As our children get older, we want them to know that there is always a time for them rather than them thinking that watching tv is more important than what they think and want to share. 

Day 79: Mommy's new Addiction

If you haven't found it yet, Pinterest. OMG! It is fabulous! It is like having one place that doesn't clutter your house or your computer that stores all of those things that you either jot down or are meaning to get around to jotting down by just clicking pin when you come across something really cool online. I had heard about this website from someone that I honestly disliked with a severe passion and well avoided her recommendations like the plague. Well finally here I am in the New year, trying to try new things and well I have a new addiction! This website has motivated me in ways that I don't truly think I could possibly put into words.

Y'all know how much I am into decluttering our home and lifestyle, well this website gave me the green light into tackeling those places that I oh so much dreaded cleaning out. Starting small my patootie. In my kitchen we have the smallest counter next to the stove reserved as our overflow area. Most people have a drawer in their kitchen devoted for the catch all junk and we do too, but having 2 small children, I just don't get "round 2 it". I admit it I am a pile person and a clean it up really fast by just putting everything in a bag and stuffing it away out of sight. This place is comprised of just well we didn't know just what until today...coupons that I picked from the blinkies at the grocer, magazine articles for ideas, toys that needed to be "fixed", recipes, mail, cards, chargers and batteries... you name it this is where it lands...landed. Over the course of adding that new bundle of joy into our home, things have gotten a little out of hand. The junk drawer and counter overflowed it's way to another counter, the hall closet and the end of the entertainment center. I couldn't take it anymore. Out came the trash bags. Gone. Out of the house. Clear counters, clear junk drawer, clear hall closet.

A New Year brings a fresh new start here at Chez Stoneford, and well, the old went out with yesterdays news. Literally. Pinterest is giving me that place to put all this stuff hopefully into one little place except for those broken toys that need fixing and those cell chargers. Paperless billing is coming our way and a trash can next to the front door for junk mail to be drop directly into. An envelope into the car seat carrier has been placed to put those blinkies and a fresh start has begun!

Disclosure: My new addiction, I vow will only allowed to be followed when the children are napping.

Day 78: New Year, New Beginings

Happy New Year! For our family of four here at Changing the Way We Do, 2012 welcomes so many things to look forward to and so many things to say good bye and good riddens! We hope that everyone enjoyed their holidays and are just as excited as we are for this new year.

Everyone always talks about what resolutions that they want to make and hope desperately not to break. Well that is just what this blog is about and to throw in a little humor along the way as we all travel through life's ups and downs.

Opening up your mind to just starting a new adventure has endless possibilities. Over the course of the month of January, it will be our goal here at Chez Stoneford to explore the hidden possibilities of what joy we can have as a family of four. We will be instituting a mandatory family movie night (so expect some grand reviews or some interesting thumbs down), a mandatory family game night (ooh trying to do this with 2 children...), and a mandatory get out of the house and enjoy what this city of ours has to offer that is fun day. The internet has been a great friend of ours for a long time with finding free things to do around town, but now it must become a great tool as for playing Candyland and Red Rover might get old, as well as taking trips to the airport observation deck and the old tried and true.

Expanding outside our comfort box is a must for this new year and hey, we might just find the new favorite thing we all like to do.

Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous new year!

Day 46: So Sew!

So our November challenge comes to an end today. We have been 30 days strong for this challenge of cloth diapering and well I have fallen in love. Of course there has been a trial and error period, between choosing the proper fit, to double or not double the stuffing, finding the best way to wash, but all in all Bum Genius has made CD a breeze and I can't believe that I let my consumerism antics not let me do this sooner. Whenever some one asks me about my dipes, I could just go on about how fabulous they are...I should just become their poster person for an infomercial!

Many steer away from CD'ing just because of fear of smell and what to do with dirty dipes when you are out. Hey, I was definitely one of these people and well even though I know better now, I am still paranoid. For those of you whom I do see on a regular basis, please don't think I am crazy if I am doing a sniff test! But honestly, unlike disposables, I can't tell if my child poops or not in these unless he is uneasy and a crank-a-potomus!

So what do I do with those dirty dipes? "They" make these wonderful things called wet bags. A wet bag is like a shower curtain turned bag. Some are fancy with cloth and patterns, but they are great...and not just for CD'ing. Potty training, these are a breeze to keep your car from smelling not-so-fresh or having to throw out your child's favorite pair of ummm....Nemo underpants. Going to the pool, you don't have to have be a kid to get some use out of a wet bag, throw your wet bathing suit in and go.

Now I love wet bags, I don't love their prices. Some may find them reasonable, but for this thrifty mama, not so much. So, after gazing at the $15 for a single solitary, as Monk would say "tippy tiny" one that would fit a sandwich in it, I decided that hey my mom has a spare sewing machine just laying around, and I just give it a go.

Disclosure: Keep in mind that I am a consumerism reformist. I know what a sewing machine looks like, and as for the term "sewing machine" I knew what it was supposed to do...sew things together, but as for touching one...NEVER.

I found a how-to online, but I needed the appropriate fabric. Yep, appropriate fabric. I marched my 2 children in to the fabric store and took a minor look around and was overwhelmed by the selections of the NOT what I was there for fabric. I politely walked up to the the fabric goddess standing behind the counter and asked them for PUL fabric. I pronounced the word like I knew what I was talking about, however I believe I should have spelled it. So yes, I looked like a complete A*S.  So I spent $25 in there. I walked out with 3 different PUL fabrics, 3 zippers and a how-to make baby things book. Determination was on my mind. I was going to make 3 sizeable wet bags for the price I would have paid for 1!

Off to Grandma's we went. I figured that having my whole crafty family around, Great-Aunts who have sewed before and my mom and Grandma, this whole making your own wet bag would be a breeze. Well, picture this...

Day 1 of Sewing your own wet bag...
my children playing quietly in the living room...awesome...
me, my mom, my grandma, and my great-aunt sitting at the kitchen table...awesome conversation
one fairly new-age sewing machine with manual making its way to the table...awesome
After 5 minutes we figured out how to take the cover off. Yes 4 women. 3 who have sewed before.
We looked at this new-age fandangled thing...mystified. Where was the thread supposed to go?
OK. Manual out. Thread threaded. How does it turn on? Manual out again. How does it... Manual out.

After an hour of going back to the manual and me asking what is bobbin and why do I need it and how do I do this. Getting responses like...you just do and I haven't sewn in 30 years, I don't know how to use this machine...it has too many buttons, you should just order a wet bag online...I'll pay for it...we threw in the towel and I was left with "if you are this determined...you need to read the whole manual". Ok. I'll do that and did.

Day 2 of Sewing your own wet bag...

However, after reading the manual I kind know what the machine actually does and what buttons I need to push to get it to do what I need. But actual sewing things, such a different story. Where were my accomplices? No where. They scattered. One credit card lay on the table with note "Please use me to buy as many wet thingy's as needed." How nice and how dysfunctional at the same time. Sewing is supposed to be something that is passed down from generation to generation I thought and I have been left "with...out...the bag!"So hello internet. Not to buy but to DYI. I wasn't about to let this machine beat me. My first bag turned out like a sleeve but it is holding. The second much better and hello my professional looking third one! Determination! Hey, I even made my own sandwich size snack bags! I feel that I have gotten so good at making bags that everyone is going to get one for Christmas! What's even better...I still have all of my fingers and no fabric attached anywhere to my body!

Day 33: The Dr. & The Bag

Over the past few days, there has been a looming illness around Chez Stoneford. The mini-humans in this house have been spared, and I, the co-Mayor of Not-so-Pleasantville, after days still sound like mix of Bette Davis and Emma Stone. However, Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer has been struck down, run over, and beaten to a pulp by those little micro-organisms that some people feel they must share.

Yesterday, was Doctor Day.
Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer had an appointment.
Baby Gator had an appointment.
Monk had an appointment.
I, was the chauffeur.

Preface: Kleenex in hand, heavy breathing, watery eyes, dark circles under the watery eyes and weak

Dr.: So Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer, tell me your symptoms.
Mr. BBH: I feel like I got hit by a truck, a big truck! My body hurts. I can't breathe. My lungs are trying to escape through my mouth. My nose has gone running.
Dr.: Well, obviously, there is something going on. (Look of bewilderment strewn across her face)
Me not thinking allowed: Really Doc, you must have been last in your class.

So, 1 sick husband, 2 bouncy children, running to 2 doctors offices, 1 pharmacy, cleaning up after the disaster our children made of the living room, this SAHM was exhausted. However, just like every AS SEEN ON TV product...BUT WAIT... I had volunteered to clean the adoption center for Alley Cats and there was a tornado watch in effect.

I know, I am a horrible person. I left my children home with Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer to go and clean the center. I knew that I could do it way quicker with out them and the impending potential danger of having my kids on the road was worth extending Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer's agony. Fortunately, the Gator slept the whole time, and Monk behaved, but I got a phone call.

Mr. BBH: Are you almost done.
Me: yep.

Dreading the kids are trying to kill me.....

Mr. BBH: Can you pick up food.
Me: Whew

We had yet to pick up take out since our October consumerism challenge.

Me: ok.

So tired that the thought of eating dinner wasn't even in my realm of thought.

Me: What do you want?
Mr. BBH: Something greasy, really greasy. How about Wendy's?

So, having just started antibiotics that can mess your "system" up, you want "Really Greasy" for supper! Ok. Have at it.

I walk through the door with a bag of supper and Monk comes running up.
Monk:  (a little excited) Mommy did you bring luu-nch?
Me: I brought supper.
Monk: (even more excited and squealing) Is it in the BAG! Is it McDonalds? Did you bring me French Fries?

Poor kid and hubby hadn't had take out in 47 days! So exhaustion won yesterday, but it was worth the excitement. Yep I keep telling my tired worn out butt that. Hopefully all will be back to normal here in a few more days!

Day 31: Inquiring minds for couponers Part 2

In the last Couponing blog, I left you off with where you can pull coupons from. So now what?

Getting Organized:

I was once one of those crazy people that took hours at the grocery store and pharmacy because I would have to flip and flip page after page. This is only after the hours I would spend on a Sunday afternoon cutting Q's and then playing oragami with them to get them into said binder. If you think that this is going to work for you great, but spending that time was frankly less important than spending the time with my family. So we needed a new Q system. After going to a seminar about couponers and couponing, I was introduced to the spend no more than 1 hr a week dealing with Q's and buying the products. Fantastic! Right up my alley.

So here it is. Some adaptation on your part of course to see what works for you, but here is my adaptation.

The first of every month, printable coupons are renewed and every monday new ones are added. If you see fruit, veggie, meat, and milk Q's do not wait to print. Print right then and there. Manufacturers limit the number of prints available to the whole universe and you don't want to miss it.

Big Binder filled with baseball sheets and dividers.

No, I couldn't just pitch it. I worked hard on it. So instead of filling it with my oragami Q's this is where I keep my Rain Checks organized as well as blinkies, catalinas, peel offs, tear pads and mailed Q's.

2 Small Collapsable Indexed Files:

I use them for my printables. One for Cold Printables and the other for Dry Good Printables. When I have a Q that pairs up with the sale paper for the week, I pull it and put it in the front pocket. Voila, inside aisles and outside perimeter.

1 Large Collapse Document File Holder:

When I get the Sunday paper, I pull the coupon inserts out. Write the date on the top and shove them into their own individual slot.

1 envelope:

I keep mine in my diaper bag to stuff it with Q's when we are out and about and possible stumble across some tear pads or blinkies!

Boom. Done. about 5 minutes a week. For gathering and Getting Organized. So if you don't think you have the time...

Now for Q matching up...

Do I read the sales flyers? Nope. Do you? Maybe, Maybe not. I don't have the time, but I do make time on Tueday's to scour coupon match-up sites that do it all for me. There are plenty of them out there. They list what is on sale at your grocer, tell you where you can find the Q, and tell you how much it will be OOP (out of pocket). Hello, pull and cut what you need. Done 15 minutes.

Disclosure:

You will want to know what Q's you have printed, because different Q's print for different zip codes and you might have a better valued Q printed than what they show as the highest dollar.

Then I write my list, total my bill put my little files in a recyclable bag and off we go.

So here are some great match-up websites to checkout:

southernsavers.com

mycouponteacher.com

krazycouponlady.com

thecouponchallenge.com

couponmom.com

Coming Soon: Part 3 Freebies and shopping

Day 30: Prepping for Winter

As winter is fast approaching here at Chez Stoneford, it is time to start prepping the house. How can we make our house warmer without having to shell out some major dough? I have been researching and seeking out rebates. Well, most of the rebates that I have found on our power company's website will cover up to 1/2 of the cost. Guess what, we are like your typical american family...so who really leaves extra cash like that laying around in wait for them to send a rebate? Not us. We of course have the Oh Sh*t money stashed away incase say the air conditioner or heater dies, but any further than that...nope. So what can we do to save that extra cash over the course of the winter, so we can possibly do the upgrades for next year?

The Recommended for not having to shell out some real $$$:

Recaulking your windows. Check.

Changing your air filters every month. Got to stock up.

Avoid having anything stacked or blocking your furnace. Check.

Reverse Fans. Check.

Do your laundry in multiple loads instead of letting the dryer cool down. Check

Use your microwave and toaster oven more than your conventional oven. Check.

What we do and have done in the past to save $$$ over winter besides the free stuff:

Layer up clothing. Duh.

Change out the bed blankets and comforters. Hey they all need to be rotated every once and awhile!

Reverse our dryer vent to blow back into the house.

   You'd be surprised how much heat you lose to the outside elements!

Change our curtains, light ones for down stairs and dark for up. Brings in more heat up stairs.

Fill the Attic and Storage room with summer stuff!

   Get it gone and live like a minimalist. Less space to lose heat.

Make sure the roof isn't cluttered with debris. More feet to draw heat in!

Use the crockpot to make big batches, so we don't have to cook!

The Recommended Investments that you have to shell out some $$$:

Get your furnace and air con serviced. Maybe.

   We can blow out our own ducts thank you and well we have gas heat.

   Save for Spring.

Get energy efficient curtains. More Do-able. $20 a set.

Keep your Thermostat set at 70. Right, seriously to save money? Then a few paragraphs down "they" mention to keep it about 25-30 degrees higher than what it is outside when it is stifling cold. But 60 is plenty comfortable for us when it is cold.

Layer up if you're planning on visiting us, because it won't be their recommended 70 degrees! Hopefully these tips and tricks help lower your heat bill as well as ours!