My Top Ten - August 29, 2011

First, let's Recap Last Week's Top Ten:


Personal

• Run 60 minutes - I ran 40 minutes for sure, although it was probably closer to 60.
• Girls Night Out to watch The Help - crazy night of movie time changes, but we did it!
• Assist with the children at church on Wednesday - love watching my little ones interact with the other little ones!

Family 

• Begin reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to Finley - maybe I should actually FIND the book this week!
• Make sweet potatoes and avacado baby food - made and in the freezer - he loves the sweet potatoes!
• Eat dinner at home together three nights - crazy week of tragedy and business...we were together but only at home I think once :(

Work

• Read Whale Talk - done and had book talk with 8th graders
• Outline next week's lessons for each grade - not so much...better luck next week!

Home

• One complete load of laundry each day - almost caught up washing...folding is another story!
• Go to bed with an empty sink each night - definitely not this week, unfortunately!

OK - now onto this week's TOP TEN

Personal

• Run 60 minutes.
• Drink no more than one coke per day.
• Plan and delegate wedding shower.

Family

• Locate a copy of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Eat at home together at least three nights
• Friday movie and ice cream night

Work

• Outline next week's lesson plans before leaving for the weekend.
• Send in all evaluation materials.

Home

• Fold and put away all the laundry
• Go to bed with an empty sink every night

My Top Ten - August 22, 2011

In an effort to be more accountable and actually get things accomplished, here are my ten goals for this week:

Personal

• Run 60 minutes
• Girls Night Out to watch The Help
• Assist with the children at church on Wednesday

Family 

• Begin reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to Finley
• Make sweet potatoes and avacado baby food
• Eat dinner at home together three nights

Work

• Read Whale Talk
• Outline next week's lessons for each grade

Home

• One complete load of laundry each day
• Go to bed with an empty sink each night

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Cloth Diapering for the Working Mom, the Beginning

I considered cloth diapering my second child before he was born, but truthfully, once I started looking into it, I was just too overwhelmed with the options and supplies.  Therefore, cloth diapering fell to the wayside before he was even born.  About once a month or so after he was born I would revisit the idea, again becoming overwhelmed each time.  Fast forward to baby boy turning four months old and mama getting ready to start teaching again.  My sister-in-law casually mentions she's been cloth diapering my niece and nephew at night...I ask a million questions, go home, and again am overwhelmed with all the choices.  This time, though, I am determined, and with a promotion from diapers.com, I go for it and place my first order of gdiapers.  Being the cheapskate I am, I then scoured ebay and the gdiapers resale forum for deals on more.

I ended up with 7 medium gdiapers, 11 cloth inserts, and 8 plastic snap-in liners.  I put the first one on baby Forbes, and I was hooked within seconds.  Love them.  Seriously love them.  No leaks during the first day...even though I really didn't know what I was doing.  And, Daddy even changed one!

(pic taken by the sweet four year old)

Now the only problem is that in about two weeks I go back to work...great timing to start cloth diapering, huh?  We will have to see how daycare feels about these things!

Printable Coupons

So, are you one of those extreme couponers like the people on tv? Watching that show makes me really wonder about the hoarding tendencies of some people, admire the giving spirit of others, and then sometimes wish I was more thrifty. However, I just can't get a good stash of coupons going, and printing from a hundred different sources everyday is just too time consuming. But, I do like to save money on the things I am going to buy anyway.  So, my go-to coupon sources are as follows:

1. Target

I visit Target's coupon section about once a week or every other week.  They have some great coupons that when combined with things on clearance can lead to some really good deals.  In addition, if you have manufacturers coupons for items, you can combine them with the Target coupons for additional savings.


2. Coupons.com

I like this website best for printing coupons because of the quantity, variety, and relevancy.  They always have great cereal, yogurt, and snack coupons, and they get high dollar diaper coupons, as well.  I try to visit this site once a week as they get new coupons and reset others.


3. Sunday Paper Inserts

I buy the Sunday paper at Walmart and save 33% on the price of the paper.  Usually this is where I find the healthcare and beauty coupons.  I also sometimes steal my mom's from her paper because she doesn't use very many.  So, if there is an especially good deal, I will snag hers also.

What's on the Menu? August 8, 2011

Breakfast:

• toast and jelly
• smoothies

Lunch:

• turkey sandwiches
• peanut butter and banana sandwiches
• taco leftovers

Dinner:

• taco bar
• hamburgers and hot dogs
• leftovers
• dinner with family

Snacks and Desserts:

• oreos and milk
• smoothies
• trail mix
• bananas
• mixed nuts 

What's on your Menu this week?

Mommy's Yummy Trail Mix

We eat this for breakfast and snack often!  It is definitely a staple around our house.

Mix equal parts of the following:

• Raisins
• M&M's
• Peanuts or Cashews (other nuts work great - really your preference, here!)

The number one rule with Trail Mix - you must eat all three parts of the trail mix to receive more (no M&M hoarders around here!).

Yummy Summertime Treats

Some of my favorite summertime desserts are berry parfaits and homemade ice cream sandwiches.

Right now, you can get a free ebook from Mr. Food with 18 different no bake dessert ideas.  Two of which are, you guessed it, variations of my all time favorites!!  August definitely still counts as summertime around here, even if we are back in school.  So, I have planty of time to whip up some of these goodies while it is still nice and hot outside!  I think I may even sneak some orange creamsicle and pink lemonade pie making into the Summer Fun Jar!

Wordless Wednesday - Zoo Baby

This Week's Meal Plan - August 1, 2011

Breakfasts

• Cereal and milk
• Sausage and juice
• Pancakes
• Bacon and eggs

Lunch

• Peanut butter and jelly
• Hot dogs
• Out and about (movie day!)
• Macaroni and cheese

Dinner

• Out with friends
• Stir fry
• Hot dogs and hamburgers
• Chicken enchiladas
• Pork chops

What is on your menu this week?

Festive Friday - Sock Monkey Party

I have absolutely fallen in love with the sock monkey theme.  As I was attempting to get in the spirit for a boy nursery after only dealing with all things girly for the last our years, I came across the sock monkey Finley was given for Christmas a few years ago.  All of a sudden I had the perfect mix of fabrics, colors, and feel for a classic, vintage boy nursery.

Now, I've been scouring the web for sock monkey birthday parties in hopes of finding all the right pieces for my little one's first birthday!

This sock monkey party, thrown and photographed by Shutterbug and the Sweet Life, is absolutely my favorite party on the web right now, I do believe!

images from Shutterbug and the Sweet Life

Host Your Own Sock Monkey Party!

Funky Sock Monkey Party Favor Treat Bags

Red, White, Blue Custom Sock Monkey Invitations

Classic Sock Monkey Wall Stickers

 

Funky Monkey Table Cloth

Sock Monkey Digital Scrapbook Kit

Sock Monkey Tin Tea Set by Schylling

Sock Monkey Stickers

Schylling 20" Sock Monkey