Bargains and Coupons

Watch out...once you start...you become obsessed and can't stop.  I started doing my "deals" at CVS...Troy always called it my CVS cult...first he hated it, then when he'd see me leave CVS w/3-4 bags worth of items, and they pay me to leave...he was okay with it. 

Now don't get me wrong...Troy still hates that I look up deals & coupons online, save the coupons (which end up on the kitchen table), but he does love the free razors and deals that I get.  It's soo cute to hear him brag about my deals and steals.

I've slowed down a bit since being pregnant w/Brynnleigh, and having her.  It's just not as easy to do things with two kids, and with it as cold as it is, I don't want to keep dragging them in and out of the car.

Well today I decided to try a scenario at Rite Aid...and it worked.  Everything I got was things that we use...or will need to use/want to use...so I didn't feel like I was wasting our time or money.

Here's what I got:
10 Nivea lip products (chapstick)
1 Jumbo pack of Pampers diapers (size 3...since I've go soo many 1s and 2s already)
1 Gillette Fusion Razor holiday pack (razor, shave gel, extra cartridges, and something else)

And I paid $5.79 for all of that....plus they gave me a $6.00 coupon (Up reward) to use next time...so essentially...it was all free!!

This was at Rite Aid....I've been able to do this at CVS, Walgreens, & Kroger in the past.  I tend to stick w/one store at a time...I'm not talented enough to do the deals everywhere...but maybe one day!!

There are lots of websites out there to help you get the most bang for your buck....and trust me...they totally help me w/my deals!!

I don't think I've paid more than $4.00 for a pack of diapers for Brynnleigh!!

So I may look like an old lady w/my coupon organizer, or may be dorky for clipping coupons...but I'll be able to get face lifts or buy new friends with all the money I'm saving!!

Twin Cousins??

So...we were lucky to get some hand me downs from my brother's little girl.  We thought it would be cute, to take a picture of Brynnleigh in Kyra's outfit especially since we had a picture of Kyra in it.  Well, when we dressed B, we thought she looked a tad like Kyra....and then when we took the picture, with the picture....they are almost identical.  Now keep in mind that Kyra is a month older than B in the picture...but they are soo soo similiar.  Kyra is now 15 months old and a super cutie pie...so I hope that B continues in her footsteps!!

Now we need to figure out where all these blue eyes are coming from...but I'm not complaining, I love them.  All three kids have the same eyes...they must be my brothers!

Happy 2 Months Brynnleigh

One day...I will post closer to the actual date....but I'm still adjusting to working full time with two kids.  Mornings and evenings are so hectic trying to get in and out the door, fed, bathed and kids in bed...so of course the blog has been put on hold.

So on 12/4/10 my baby girl turned 2 months old...crazy I know.  At times it seems like she's been here forever and at others, like she just got here.  She is still such an easy/good baby.  She has her moments of course...but she's great.

She smiles, talks, and more importantly...sleeps!!  My baby girls is still sleeping all night long.  I'm soo soo spoiled!!  We feed her anytime around 8pm-10pm...and we wake her up at 7:15am, put her in the car, and take her to my mom's, where she gets her first bottle between 7:45-8am.  She's been doing this since about 8-9 wks old.

To celebrate Brynnleigh's 2 month birthday, I ran a 5k!  Crazy I know.  I did fairly well..37 mins and a few seconds (can't remember...sorry).  I could have done better, but I thought we had another hill, and it was just some idiot running for fun! : )  It was super cold though...20 some degrees....and I'm running.  At least my kids will see exercise as fun, or crazy....or well who knows!!

Brynnleigh's 2 month check up went well....she's up to 10lbs 9 oz (double digits...finally) and 23" long...so she's growing!!  Her little legs actually have a few rolls....when she was born, her poor legs were so skinny I was afraid I was going to break them!!

Happy 2month birthday baby girl!! 

Book Reviews!!

So....I just signed up to review books for WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  I selected my first book "God Gave Us So Much" written by Lisa T. Bergren and illustrated by Laura J. Bryant and cannot wait to get it in the mail.  I know Owen & Brynnleigh will love looking at the pictures and having us read it to them.  I will be stalking the mailbox waiting for this to come in!!

If you have a blog....you can sign up too at http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/sign-up

Don't worry....they have big people books too....I just thought I'd start off w/a childrens book to make it more of a family affair (That and I still need to finish reading the last book from the Twilight series!).

Happy Reading!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I know this is a tad late (but not as late as B's 1 mth post)...but we hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!  We had a relaxing day with family.  Normally we go to King William to enjoy Thanksgiving lunch w/my family and then head back home to do Thanksgiving dinner w/Troy's family.  This year we just had lunch in KW...Troy's family had all had a stomach bug and we didn't want to expose the kids...totally upset about not spending the holiday w/them....and the good food!! : )  It was nice not to be rushed to run from one place to the next, and not too too overstuffed either.

My aunt and uncle had raked up some leaves for the kids to jump in....O was soo excited he wouldn't even let me change him into his old clothes!!  I'm pretty sure that he could be turned into a country boy.  He loves to be outside, and would have played in the leaves for three weeks straight if allowed.

This was Brynnleigh's first Thanksgiving....she enjoyed it with a bottle & a few naps (hey...some people really do that right?). 

Both kids enjoyed seeing their King William family and can't wait to see everyone again at Christmas.  We are very lucky to have 99% of our family within an hour away!!

Thanksgiving was followed by Black Friday shopping (yes...I was the idiot w/a 7 wk old who got up at 3am to go shopping....of course B slept until 7:30 that morning) and a trip to Granny's.  After I got home from shopping (yes I went by myself...I wouldn't drag my kids) we loaded them up and headed to South Boston for a nice relaxing afternoon.  It was great!! 

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!

Owen & His Cousins

Jogging Stroller...updated...again

So...before Brynnleigh arrived, I went back and forth on the need for a double jogger....did I really need one...if so...did I really need a top of the line super expensive one? Well, I had talked myself out of it....I mean...was I really really going to be that into running that I would need to bring the kids along....and do we really take that many trips that I would need a double stroller?? They could take turns riding...right??

Well after Troy was all excited that I had talked myself out of it....I talked myself back into it. It helped a bit that it was on sale...and well O kept telling me he wanted one (so then we totally needed it right?). I had tried to take the kids on a walk while on maternity leave, but it was a pain. O wanted to push the stroller, which he can't see over the handlebars...so I was a tad leary. I mean...can't you see the news stories now...Breaking news...idiot mother let's 3 year old boy push stroller w/3 wk old baby.....story at 11?

Soooo.....I expressed my need/want for this fancy dancy stroller...but said I didn't absolutely have to have it....and magically, about 2-3 wks later, it appeared on our front porch...two days before the marathon! Of course B is too young for us to use it for running...and really even for walking....but we let her test it out one afternoon in the driveway. O helped put it together, and took the first ride around the house. This stroller is by far the EASIEST stroller I've ever pushed....and it's a double!! It fits through every doorway downstairs (yes....O & I tested)...I can't wait to take it out and about. Seriously though...for being a double stroller...I can push, turn, rotate w/one hand...it even folds up easily and I can lift it by myself...and it fits in the trunk. I can't wait to take the kids on a run.....but we'll have to wait till it warms up a bit and B gets better head control.

And yes...I know who magically delivered it to my doorstep....and I'm very very thankful. I really really appreciate it...and honestly, you really didn't have to do so much...esp. right before Christmas!!

My Marathon Man!!

Yes folks...that's right...I married a marathon man!! Actually...he turned into one about 6 years after we got married. I had always said that I wanted to run a marathon...and well he beat me to it. Troy...you are awesome...not only have you run 1...you've run 3...and at least 1 more to go. I don't know how you do it, but I admire you motivation, consentration, and person drive to complete your goal. Maybe one day I too can be like you!! : )

The last marathon he ran, was this past November....Brynnleigh was only 6 wks old...that's crazy...he wasnt even getting full nights of sleep.

Even funnier...when you run slow...you can collect all the loose change!!

Here are some pics of my marathon man in all his running glory!!

Also, congrats to Miguel on his first marathon....maybe in a year or two...this will be the two Amy's!! (Or then again...we did have fun on the sidelines catching water bottles, discussing running attire/shopping, and the "other" things we saw & discussed).

Brynnleigh smiles!!

Baby B can smile!! Yippeee.! It's the best thing in the world when your child smiles at you. It melts my heart, and well they can pretty much get whatever they want!! Brynnleigh has been smiling for a bit, but mostly in her sleep, and well, it probably was just gas.

Just the other day she let one out...wide awake. So what does psycho mommy do?? She picks her up...and grabs the camera. Nothing like shoving a camera close up in your face to get you to smile right?? This pics aren't the best angle for Little Miss...but you do what you gotta do to get that big gummy grin!! Hopefully they won't do an eye test on her anytime soon, since I'm pretty sure I blinded her for bit w/all the flashes. At least if she decides to become famous she'll be used to the paparazi!!

So on 11/11/10 we caught baby girl's smile on camera. Can't wait for many more Brynn!! : )