It's that time of the year again...time for back-to-school bargains! I made the rounds today to CVS, Walgreens and Staples and got some things for our upcoming homeschool year: Staples had 8-packs of pencils for 1 cent, and 500 sheets of copy paper for 1 cent (after rebate), so I bought 2 of each since that was the limit. 1000 sheets of printer paper for 2 cents? I'll take it! It says "copy paper", but we use it for our printer, copier, and even just as drawing paper.
At CVS I got 2 containers of glue (similar to Elmer's), 2 pairs of kid scissors, 3 8-packs of Bic pens, 2 80-sheet notebooks, and a wooden ruler, all FREE after CVS Extra Bucks. Plus I got 10 pocket folders for 5 cents each.
At Walgreens I just picked up 2 packages of Huggies Pull Ups that were $4.50 each after coupons and Register Rewards. Pretty good deals on things we were going to buy anyway.
And I found a good article on nutrition here.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Smiling Again
I hate that I left such a negative post up since Friday, so I am stopping in real quick with a cheerful update;-) What a difference a day makes, because yesterday was a great day! It didn't start out so great, but by afternoon I had eaten something I've been craving for a long time: eggplant parmesan sandwich and french fries takeout from my favorite Italian place, and a cola from Whole Foods, along with a piece of chocolate cake and coffee for dessert. The baby took a nap for awhile, Ms. 3 yr old was happy after she ate a giant cookie from Whole Foods (hold on...my banana bread is going to burn in the oven...okay I'm back...). My dh took 5,8 and 9 yr olds to the movies and lunch, so I just enjoyed time with my teenagers and the youngest 2. It was such a nice break for a few hours that I felt recharged enough to get some major stuff done around here, like cleaning out and organizing kitchen cabinets. I was tired and happy at the end of the day because I felt such accomplishment. Cleaning out cabinets doesn't seem like much, but when you've been putting it off for a very long time, it feels good to have done it. And getting a break was just...awesome.
So that's my happy post for today. Happy Sunday everyone;-)
So that's my happy post for today. Happy Sunday everyone;-)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Hanging on...barely
Have you ever heard the saying "when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on"? I am hanging on today. I have not had a very good day, starting with having to clean up cat crap out of the bathtub as soon as I woke up this morning, and then having a really bad headache all day, and no chance to rest and get some quiet around here, and kids who were extremely loud and wild, and, so on. But my life is not so bad over all. It's just been one of those days, for which I will be really grateful when the day is over and I am in my nice warm bed drifting off to sleep.
IOU?
So the State of California's government is sending out I-owe-you notes instead of paying their bills......hmmm...wonder if I can do that for my bills too? Or, even better, do what the federal government is doing and just print more money when I run out! Nah, I'd probably end up in jail.
Read This Book
I am reading a really good book right now called Common Sense. The original Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine, but this a new version that relates to our modern situation. If you are an American, you should read this book. Here is a paragraph that speaks volumes about what is going on in America right now:
"You cannot take away freedom to protect it, you cannot destroy the free market to save it, and you cannot uphold freedom of speech by silencing those with whom you disagree. To take rights away to defend them or to spend your way out of debt defies common sense."
It's not a very long book and the chapters are short, so it's easy to pick up and put down as you go about your busy days. I can't recommend it enough.
"You cannot take away freedom to protect it, you cannot destroy the free market to save it, and you cannot uphold freedom of speech by silencing those with whom you disagree. To take rights away to defend them or to spend your way out of debt defies common sense."
It's not a very long book and the chapters are short, so it's easy to pick up and put down as you go about your busy days. I can't recommend it enough.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Twins and more
I took these pictures of the baby earlier. He was trying to follow big brothers and sisters up the stairs, but hasn't quite figured out how to get there yet...
Well I am still sore but able to move easier today, after 3 days in a row of my new exercise routine. I took a break from it today because I needed to, and I had so many urgent things to take care of that exercise had to be put on the back burner. But I will be at it again tomorrow. I am sticking to drinking my green smoothies 1-2 times a day because I notice that I feel so much better when I drink them. I was cleaning off my bookshelves and I found a good book that reminded me all over again how incredible green smoothies are for our physical (and mental) health. The book is called Green For Life and it is a nice little book of information and recipes. If you are looking to improve your health (and your family's as well), this is a good place to start.
While I am always trying to eat healthier, I will say that I am no stranger to junk food. I'm no saint, just for the record. I just ate a cannoli yesterday when I was at Whole Foods. That's an Italian pastry, if you've never heard of a cannoli before. Very rich, and very delicious. Goes great with coffee, especially Starbucks, lol. These days I'm drinking iced coffee when I go out, it's so darn hot out that I feel like diving into a large tub of ice water. Anyway, I like moderation when it comes to food, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. ;-)
Enough droning on about food...
15 yr old dd told me that she had a dream a last night that I had twins. How cool is that?!! But she said it wasn't realistic because I had them at the hospital, and I usually have my babies at home. BUT I told her, my midwife won't deliver twins at home so I would have to have them at the hospital...hmm...and then she said that the twins didn't look alike at all, so they were fraternal. One looked like my 9 yr old dd, and one didn't look like any of us. Weird. I have always wondered what it would be like to have a set of twins, but the reality of it, I don't know. Life seems pretty full just with 1 baby at a time. But I sure would take 2 at a time if God gave them to me!
Now here is why I have less time for the computer: I just took a piece of hard cereal and a tiny Lego away from the baby who is crawling around all over the place. I try to keep the downstairs safe for him, but it is hard when the other kids are constantly carrying their toys from room to room (or dropping food, or whatever). And other things the baby loves are plugs and computer gadgets- which are all over the place around here. My husband is a computer engineer, and my 14 yr old son is following in his footsteps. I guess the baby is too. I give him baby toys, little wooden trucks and things, but does he play with those? Nah, he goes right for my son's computer stuff. I would move the computers to another room, but I like to keep the computers in the main area so I can keep track of what my kids are doing on the internet and all.
Oops, the baby just found the unlocked cabinet, guess it's time to get off the computer for now.
Well I am still sore but able to move easier today, after 3 days in a row of my new exercise routine. I took a break from it today because I needed to, and I had so many urgent things to take care of that exercise had to be put on the back burner. But I will be at it again tomorrow. I am sticking to drinking my green smoothies 1-2 times a day because I notice that I feel so much better when I drink them. I was cleaning off my bookshelves and I found a good book that reminded me all over again how incredible green smoothies are for our physical (and mental) health. The book is called Green For Life and it is a nice little book of information and recipes. If you are looking to improve your health (and your family's as well), this is a good place to start.
While I am always trying to eat healthier, I will say that I am no stranger to junk food. I'm no saint, just for the record. I just ate a cannoli yesterday when I was at Whole Foods. That's an Italian pastry, if you've never heard of a cannoli before. Very rich, and very delicious. Goes great with coffee, especially Starbucks, lol. These days I'm drinking iced coffee when I go out, it's so darn hot out that I feel like diving into a large tub of ice water. Anyway, I like moderation when it comes to food, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. ;-)
Enough droning on about food...
15 yr old dd told me that she had a dream a last night that I had twins. How cool is that?!! But she said it wasn't realistic because I had them at the hospital, and I usually have my babies at home. BUT I told her, my midwife won't deliver twins at home so I would have to have them at the hospital...hmm...and then she said that the twins didn't look alike at all, so they were fraternal. One looked like my 9 yr old dd, and one didn't look like any of us. Weird. I have always wondered what it would be like to have a set of twins, but the reality of it, I don't know. Life seems pretty full just with 1 baby at a time. But I sure would take 2 at a time if God gave them to me!
Now here is why I have less time for the computer: I just took a piece of hard cereal and a tiny Lego away from the baby who is crawling around all over the place. I try to keep the downstairs safe for him, but it is hard when the other kids are constantly carrying their toys from room to room (or dropping food, or whatever). And other things the baby loves are plugs and computer gadgets- which are all over the place around here. My husband is a computer engineer, and my 14 yr old son is following in his footsteps. I guess the baby is too. I give him baby toys, little wooden trucks and things, but does he play with those? Nah, he goes right for my son's computer stuff. I would move the computers to another room, but I like to keep the computers in the main area so I can keep track of what my kids are doing on the internet and all.
Oops, the baby just found the unlocked cabinet, guess it's time to get off the computer for now.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
No Pain, No Gain
I noticed it's been a week since I last blogged. Life is busy, but productively so. I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July. Ours was fun, we had family and dh's friend over, bbq (vegetarian stuff for us, and my mom grilled meat burgers for herself and her husband), then we did some fireworks out front as always. The fireworks make me so nervous. We didn't do any big ones this year, it's too expensive and I worry too much about someone getting hurt. All of our neighbors were out doing some kind of fireworks, so there were things flying in all directions and as a mother I envision one of the kids getting hurt. Sometimes when you light the fireworks, they are defective and shoot out sideways and when you have lots of people crowding around watching, it's dangerous. I never used to worry so much about this stuff...being a mother has made me more laid back about some things, but more aware of the dangers of other things. The baby was terrified, so I had to watch most of the fireworks from the front window with him. He didn't mind watching them from inside, but outside, forget it. The noise was too much for him.
I've been busy catching up on massive amounts of important paperwork and stuff for dh's business that's been falling behind for months. I've also started a new exercise routine a few days ago that includes lifting 5-10 lb weights. I am really out of shape, and I am so sore all over. I've been taking Motrin and using Arnica (a gel for muscle pain) but still am in pain. I didn't even do that much exercise on the first couple of days, I'm pathetic! Oh well, no pain- no gain. As soon as I finish my oatmeal and I am getting off this computer and starting my stretches and weights. My 3 yr old likes to exercise along side of me. She is so cute and funny when she exercises. It would be easier for me to exercise without her in the way, but she has fun and at least it keeps her out of trouble. ;-) Okay, time to get off my butt now and get moving...
I've been busy catching up on massive amounts of important paperwork and stuff for dh's business that's been falling behind for months. I've also started a new exercise routine a few days ago that includes lifting 5-10 lb weights. I am really out of shape, and I am so sore all over. I've been taking Motrin and using Arnica (a gel for muscle pain) but still am in pain. I didn't even do that much exercise on the first couple of days, I'm pathetic! Oh well, no pain- no gain. As soon as I finish my oatmeal and I am getting off this computer and starting my stretches and weights. My 3 yr old likes to exercise along side of me. She is so cute and funny when she exercises. It would be easier for me to exercise without her in the way, but she has fun and at least it keeps her out of trouble. ;-) Okay, time to get off my butt now and get moving...
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