It’s been a fun year for sure. I feel so very lucky to have two amazing guys in my life.  In fact, I’m pretty sure I did something amazing in a past life to deserve them. I know that 2010 has more great things in store for us and have made some resolutions to be sure of it.

Traditionally, New Years resolutions are about making a commitment to do something different in our lives and leave the past behind us. Typically, we make them and then break them. This probably describes most everyone’s track record with New Year’s Resolutions. Whether your resolution is to lose weight, exercise more, get organized or take more time for yourself, resolutions are all about setting a personal goal. Here are my goals for 2010, not to be forgotten mid year.

• Fight the guilt of not being a working Mom and find a way to contribute financially with out leaving my post as Jason’s oh so fun side kick.
• Date my husband more. Even if it means having a romantic evening at home, we need to treat ourselves more often.
• Get my butt into a gym. Slowly and steadily adapt an exercise plan that can become part of my lifestyle instead of quickly burning out on my sorry attempts to do so. People say that exercise gives you more energy, with a running sleep deficit its hard to notice.
• Play hard, be happy and laugh Often. Jason is a full proof guarantee to have a good day. Times still get tough, especially with recent financial strains of our student loans coming into payment and laughter really is the best medicine as so many people say. It makes you feel better and helps you be less stressed.
• Doll myself up on for that trip to the park or zoo. I find it hard to do but know that its possible, I’ve seen those Mom’s. (I just wonder what the toddler thought of Mom’s time in the bathroom?) Show some love to my hair and try to fix it in someway besides a ponytail once a week. Most day’s I feel lucky to blow dry my kinky curly bangs and throw my hair up into a ball and go directly into ball kicking- juice filling mode.
• Increase my environmental awareness. I’ve reduced my carbon footprint with cloth diapers but thats about the extent of it. I need to get online and find out where or how to recycle (no need to throw stones).

Brian calls me the coupon fairy because if I find a great coupon ($5 or 10 off wine I dont drink or Baby Formula for example) I clip it and leave it next to the item. I figure some good coupon karma can’t hurt. For a long time I didn’t use coupons, I thought the difference between the brand name with the coupon and the house brand I normally buy is usually more than the face of the coupon, so it was cheaper for me to go generic. So NOT true. Its easy enough to shop the sales, stock up on good buy one get one deals or the sale meat, but the real money saving comes in when you combine the coupons with sales. Yesterday I spent $40 at CVS and saved $57 combining coupons with sales. My weekly grocery trip is usually somewhere between $30- $80 in savings, I’m working to make it more. Before you even walk in to the store you have some homework to do.

Each Sunday the paper comes with coupon inserts. I initially only picked the coupons for things I already bought, but now I only clip the coupons for things I regularly buy and date and stack the inserts for future bargain hunting. I compare all the major stores CVS, Walgreens, Target, Wal-Mart and Publix sale prices and pair with the coupons I have. This week I got tons of free stuff including batteries, dish soap, bath soap, and floss and that was just my CVS trip. When you find websites of the products you use most, often times you can find great high-dollar coupons to print. (Balmex always has a $1 off) I am also always abmle to print a Farm Rich (Jason’s french toast), back to nature (Brians cookies) and Huggies (Jason’s night time diaper) just from searching online. Other times you can sign up for e-newsletters. E-newsletters are a great source of coupons that the companies send you monthly. Sign up!

Also when shopping online, I never checkout without searching for coupon codes for the site. 90% of the time can find a free shipping code and more often than not I can find an additional coupon code. This works for everything from Papa Johns to Proflowers.

Here are some great sites that help you find great deals. I just got a free Leap Frog Tag Jr book last week and a free baby einstein DVD months before just for filling out a form. My favorite is the first link.

• Common Sense with Money
• A Few Short Cuts
• I Heart Publix
• A Full Cup
• I Heart Saving Money

Another good idea is to have a plan for the money not spent at the store, for us it goes to Sallie Mae.

Because They are on Sale!

Additional 10% off sale items

December 29, 2009-January 12, 2010

verabradley.com/sales

code:winsale09

They are better for active toddlers anyways…I have been using a Jan Sport  backpack on our outings for some time now, its just easier to run around with Jason while we are out without a bag on my shoulder…or wherever I parked the stroller. Brian was nice enough to put this lovely backpack( In my favorite print Yellow Bird) under the tree for me. Its relatively small and lightweight, but with a lot of storage capacity and different pockets. I can easily fit all Jason’s and my own stuff, and find everything I need in a second. Plus, it’s very comfortable to carry, and best of all hands FREE! I’ve been using this bag on a daily basis and I love it!

He also got me this Cool Keeper in Mediterranean White. When ever I leave for a morning outing, I bring Jason’s lunch. It saves money, but I know he’ll eat it and if he doesn’t eat and falls asleep on the way home then he wants lunch and not a nap.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have so much love in my life. There were some lovely presents under the tree for me, but the best gift Brian has ever given me is the chance to stay home with Jason, despite our inability to “afford” it. Here are some shots of the big day:

New Shoes, New Kitchen

New Tools

Play Dough with Dad

Helping Sew

More Help

Hugs

Sleepy Boy Sharing his Blanket

I’ve taken a long break from blogging, I had a hard time dealing with Isis’ loss and sort of forced out two posts after my tribute to Isis post. I was visiting her post any chance I could during the day and now its only every so often. I didnt want to have it leave the main page. I fixed that by giving it its own category.

Brian took Jason and I to the pet store to check out their kittens and we came home with TWO cats! Maxine “Max” is the 3 month old kitten and Sissy is the black teenager (8 months). We considered renaming Sissy, but she took time adjusting to our crazy house and responded to her name so we kept it. Jason loves them both and is very sweet with them. He carries Max all around very gently and Max just sort of goes limp. The two were fast friends. Sissy isnt as easy to capture on film, she is either sleeping in the den part of her cat tree or running around full speed ahead. It feels good to have cats in the house again.

After breakfast when I asked Jason if he wanted to go to the local park and play he responded that he wanted to go to the Zoo, so we did. Spontaneity is hard to come by in our busy lives, but it’s so important. Not just with our children, but in all of our relationships. Freedom from the cares of the world is the very essence of childhood and when we respond to their spontaneity, those moments develop over time into great childhood memories.

Parents today load their kids’s schedule with enrichment activities, hoping to get them ahead of the curve. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that spontaneous “kid play” is actually what kids need and crave for healthy development and the building of appropriate social skills. Jason has been using his imagination for a while now, feeding his stuffed puppy snacks or letting his horse drive his train. Besides being fun to watch, the uninstructed activity might be the healthiest development of all for him. If I could just get him to stop pushing our friend “E”.

I pulled out my Pampered Chef Cookbook 29 Minutes to Dinner Volume II to try and find something new to do with chicken and found the above pictured casserole. It wasn’t until  I assembled it that I realized we were having chicken nacho’s for dinner, but it was sooooooooo good.  I cut a few corners and cooking with my covered baker makes life so much easier. When my Pampered Chef Consultant called to finalize details of my party, suggesting we roast a chicken in the microwave, I didnt hesitate to trust her. It came out delicious, it even browned on top. If you don’t have the baker, you should buy one! or you can just layer diced cooked chicken and bake until the cheese is melted and juices are absorbed. If you haven’t hosted a show, its so much fun and you get free Pampered Chef products.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 tbs southwest season mix ( I used double this in taco seasoning)
• 1 ¾ cups salsa verde ( I used peach mango salsa)
• 1 cup chicken broth ( I used beef cause that’s what I had)
• ¾ cup cilantro
• 12 cups resturant style chips (  resturant style is thicker and absorbds the broth/salsa mixture well. I didn’t measure just layered it in)
• 2 cups Chihuahua cheese ( I used publix colby jack)
• Sour Cream (optional garnish)

Directions

1. Cut chicken into 1-in. (2.5-cm) pieces with Utility Knife. Combine chicken and seasoning mix in Deep Covered Baker; mix well. Spread chicken evenly over bottom of baker. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 4 minutes; stir to separate chicken. Microwave, covered, an additional 4 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Drain using small Colander.

1. Combine salsa and broth in (4-cup/1-L) Easy Read Measuring Cup. Chop cilantro using Santoku Knife. Arrange half of the tortilla chips over bottom of same baker, breaking chips; top with half each of the chicken, salsa mixture and cheeses. Sprinkle with ½ cup (125 mL) of the cilantro. Repeat layers one time ending with cheeses.

1. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 5-7 minutes or until cheeses are melted and most of the liquid is absorbed. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup (50 mL) cilantro. Serve with sour cream, if desired.

Cook’s Tips:

• Queso fresco, also called queso blanco, is a salty, crumbly cheese that is common in Mexican dishes. Farmer’s cheese can be substituted for the queso fresco.

• Mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese can be substituted for the Chihuahua cheese.

• Authentic Mexican restaurant-style tortilla chips are thicker than other types of chips and keep their texture in this casserole.

• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for chicken breasts, if desired.

• Taco seasoning mix can be substituted for the Southwestern Seasoning Mix, if desired

Isis was hit by a car Monday night and had to be put to sleep this afternoon. The picture above is my favorite picture of Isis, even though she is out of focus you can see my enamored look adoring her…and I did. Had I know this was it, I would have paid a professional to follow is into a field and captured her hunting, sunbathing and napping.

It was extremely difficult to say good bye to such a good cat, she was really a dear friend and very much a part of our family. Isis was such a loving friendly cat, with such a trusting heart…people that didn’t like cats, liked Isis. I got her my freshman year in college and her brother Mister went to my brother Travis. His cat passed away not to long ago, and I have good reason to believe that they are together running in meadows and up and down hills. They are happy and content, just as I will remember them. One of these days I am going to see her again. I miss her very much and have almost entirely gotten rid of the sick feeling in my stomach…until I think of her. She led a good and happy life and I am so grateful that she was part of mine.

I have this void in my heart that I am inclined to try and fill instantly at a shelter. Isis is my second cat, I grew up with a sweet cat Heidi, who actually got her name because she hid so much. She was a total love but was particular to her owner…who she thought was my Mom after I went away to school. Isis will always be that cat I loved the most, fit me the best, made me smile when ever I saw her and will remember the fondest. One day I will see her again, and until then I am going to try and give that much love to another cat.

This is how I sleep now, waiting for her to join me. We’ll see how long it takes to break it.

I’ve recently completed my internship with the Guardian Ad Litem program seeing how a case works and was assigned my first case on Friday. I immediately went for my stash of fabric (thanks Mom!) and picked out the colors for this quilt. It is a gift for my child that I will meet this week and see through their case plan for the next year. I’m excited to meet them and get started.

My mom recently introduced me to the log cabin quilt pattern and I love it. If you haven’t made a quilt before this is a fun and easy pattern to get you started. I find sewing log cabin blocks very addictive. I’ve also recently become addicted to stripes. The strips are so much fun to work with.  I made larger quilt blocks this time because of time constraints but you can downsize the strip width and make a smaller log cabin. I think the smaller blocks with even more contrast look even better. To make a log cabin block you need strips, lots of strips! Contrast is important to making the design. By adding strips and trimming the excess off you don’t have to actually cut out or measure all of the pieces you can simply cut and sew as you go. Here is a link that shows you how to assemble your strips.

We were planning on taking a trip to Disney on Brian’s birthday to take advantage of their free admission on your birthday program, but the program comes to a close at the end of the month. I was able to find a new program on their site, Give a Day Get a Day. Beginning January 1, 2010, when you sign up to volunteer a day of service with a participating organization (and your service is completed and verified) you’ll get one day admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park, FREE! They are trying to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service. Although it was too soon to sign up for service, I signed up to receive reminders and updates about the program.

Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change lives, including your own. You may not necessarily have the time, but have the heart…so make the time! Check out these other resources for volunteering:

• Your local CASA program offers a volunteer opportunity like no other. As officers of the court, CASA volunteers, also known in some areas as volunteer guardians ad litem (GALs), are empowered to make a lifelong difference in the lives of abused and neglected children.
• DoSomething.org has a large database of volunteer opportunities nationwide. Just enter your zip code to find tons volunteer opportunities near you!
• Idealist.org is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas and locate opportunities and supporters.
• VolunteerMatch.org strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement.