Are you sure you aren't tired...

Titan has been trying to convince us that he doesn't need naps anymore. I'd be more convinced except when he doesn't get a nap he turns into Sir. Grumpy Pants & on more than one occasion we've found him like this...

...and like this...

The day of the second picture we actually put him in his crib for over an hour trying to get him to take a nap & the entire time he kept shouting,"Mom...Dad...Hello. Mom...HELLLOOOOO!" over and over and over again. Then Broc got him out of his crib and tried taking a nap with him by laying on our bed. Titan still fought it & kept telling us he wasn't tired. Finally we both gave up and told him that he didn't have to take a nap but that Mom & Dad were off duty and it was quiet time! We were not to be bugged. 

Titan wandered into his room and about 20 minutes later I noticed it was really quiet. I went in to check on him and sure enough, he was passed out on the floor...

...so much for not being tired, little stinker!!!

Needless to say, we are back to holding regular nap times. Well, attempting to hold regular nap times that is, he's still trying to fight us on it! Guess we'll see who's more stubborn, us or him! LOL

P.S. One of my favorite things about this photo is the two binkies in his hand, the one by his mouth and the two spares close by. He may or may not be a little obsessed with his binkies. ;)

A Glimpse into Our Kitchen

I always have to smile when I hear people say that they don't "coupon" because you can't eat healthy with coupons, or you can't cook dinner with things you buy with coupons. There is also the popular line that "Eating healthy is too expensive." 

It is because of these two statements that I've decided to post a glimpse into our fridge & freezer. 

As I mentioned yesterday, this month we spent under $200.00 for our groceries and home supplies in January (and in fact, we had some money in our budget to spare at the end of the month). Here are some of the things we bought on that budget: 

Egg Whites

Horizon Organic Milk & Odwalla Protein Smoothies 

Chicken & Turkey

Go! Strawberry Applesauce

Happy Tots Organic "Mash Ups" 

9 Grain Bread

Apple Cranberry Juice

Sweet Potato Bites

Cracked Wheat Rolls

Potstickers (One of our favorite meals on the weekend)

Italian Meatballs (Love Meatball Subs for Dinner)

Organic Blueberries for Smoothies

...and Organic Vanilla Yogurt, also for Smoothies. 

Last time I checked, all of those items are fairly healthy for you & most of them can be used to help make lunch or dinner.

So, you see, couponing doesn't just help you stockpile tons of free ketchup and toothbrushes. You can eat healthy and save money at the same time. It all goes back to, where there is a will there is a way! :)

P.S. To learn more about how to eat healthy on a budget make sure to read the Starting Fresh in 2012 with Couponing Series over at Freebies2Deals!

January at a Glance!

Remember my $200 a month budget for groceries and household items? Well, here is how we did this month: 

Shelf Cost: $569.21

Savings Amount: $282.45

Savings Percentage: 49.62%

Total spent in January: $286.76

As you can see, I went over our $200 budget by $86.76 this month. So we did not stay on budget this month when you look at just those numbers. Plus, my savings percentage is a little low. I'd prefer it be closer to the 60%-75% range...

Remember though how I said that when we got back from Utah everything in our freezer was ruined? Well, a lot of the groceries we bought this month (especially right when we first go back) were to replace some of the items in the freezer & since we needed a couple of the things right away, I wasn't really able to wait until the lowest price possible or for a coupon to come out. Thus, the lower percentage!

Plus, I'll admit where I have been out of town so much since October, September is really the last time I did my coupon shopping/stocking up so we are a little low on some things.

Thankfully though, we did get a refund check today from the flooring company today for $117.00. So, if you factor that in, we actually did indeed come in under budget & actually we still have some of the freezer refund money to spend! Woo hoo! The excess from the refund we figure we are just going to use to "pad" our money budget in the future and give us a little wiggle room.

How did you all do with your budgets this month??? Did you stay on budget? Come in under? Or do you not keep a budget at all and just pray at the end of the month you still have money in your account? ;)

P.s. I know I said I wasn't going to factor into the budget the things we had to buy to replace the items in the freezer but it got to hard to differentiate. So, in the end I just added it all together & the initial shopping trips that I was leaving out, I went ahead and added back in. This total is EVERYTHING we spent this month on household items and groceries. 

Chip/Bag Clips from Hangers!

So, I was checking all the frugal/deal finding sites that I check each day for my job and on one of the sites (can't remember which right now) I came across this brilliant idea! The idea is, you take your old pant hangers with clips and turn them into clips for your chips, opened bags & anything else you need a clip for! 

This idea is so simple and yet so genius...especially for someone like me who has a thing about hangers and prefers all my hangers to be the same. I am generally just throwing away all the hangers I get from the store, but now I'll have a use for some of them. Well, at least the pant ones that is! 

Here is what you do...

1. Gather all your old hangers (These were in a bag about to go out to the garbage!)

2. Use strong clippers/wire cutters (I used my heavy duty wire cutters for when I'm cutting faux floral stems) to cut off the clips from the hangers. I found one clip near the edge was enough to break it clean off. 

 3. Enjoy your new clips! 

...no more rolling down the top of the Veggie Straws and hoping it stays that way...

...especially since they go on the top shelf! 

...and there you have it. Quite possibly the easiest & cheapest "DIY: Project" ever! I've already found a few uses for these new clips and so has Titan. Once he realized what they were for he started using them to clip his fruit snack and chip bags "to save them for later" as he put it. He loves it because he thinks it's cool and I love it because his snacks are finally not spilling all over when he leaves them open. LOL 

Did I also mention that this project didn't cost a dime? See, I told you, we're all about simplifying around here this year! ;)

Simplifying Under The Bathroom Sink

Now that I know we'll be moving in the next 6 months or so, my goals around here have been less about decorating (ie. painting over the black that's been on our walls since we got here, switching out the black curtains, etc.) & more about getting organized. That way when we do move, it's as easy as possible and we don't spend our time & money moving junk! 

Here is one of the first projects I've finished in my new found need to organize & simplify. I took a Saturday morning and organized under one of our bathroom sinks. It only took a 15-20 minutes to get it from looking like this (where it was kind of a catch all place for everything and anything):

...and this...

To looking like this: 

...this...

...and this...

Now, if we were planning on being here another couple years I probably would have made a stop at The Container Store and bought some shelving units, etc. and made things a little more permanent. Since, we won't be here much longer though my main goal was to get rid of any junk & clutter that I don't want following us to another house. Now for the next few months I can see what we have & more importantly use up what we have (anyone else always buying multiples of things because you can't find the original???) Plus, when the time comes it will be a breeze to pack this all up. 

Here's to more simplifying and organizing in 2012! 

Love Surprises in the Mail!

Here is a random fact about me, I LOVE getting mail. I love getting the mail every day and seeing what's inside. In fact, one of the only things I don't like about where we live in Colorado is that our mailbox is not right in front of our house! Mind you, it's just a short walk down the street, but still, I grew up on Utah in a neighborhood where the mailbox was just at the end of the driveway. It never even dawned on me that it was different anywhere else. Just one of those things you never think about until it changes! LOL

Here is one of the reasons I love getting the mail, I actually don't mind junk mail. It doesn't bother me at all. I like going through it, sorting it & often finding unexpected surprises. For example, the other day I received a catalog for NextDirect.com. I have no idea how I ended up on their mailing list, but once I opened the catalog and started looking at their little boy clothes...I am so glad I did get on their mailing list. 

Here's why...little boys don't have many options when it comes to clothing at most stores & I am a person that likes options. So, I am always THRILLED when I find another option for my little guy. 

I'll admit, as I flipped through the catalog I had a mini "I die" moment. The clothes are so stinking cute while still being all boy! 

Here were just a few of my faves: 

Stripe Shawl Neck Sweater $28

3 pack of t-shirts $26

Polo's $9.00 | 2 Pack of Shorts $22.00

...and of course there is EVERYTHING in the photo at the top of this post! :)

I also fell a little more in love with this company when I went to their site and saw that they offer FREE 2 day shipping all the time! There's nothing I love more than being able to shop from home in my pajama's after Titan is in bed and then have it shipped for free right to my front door! 

Of course, I just went through Ti Guy's clothes on Saturday and he is totally set on all clothing size 3T! So, I'll have to wait to take advantage of this site. I actually told Broc on Saturday not to let me buy anything else 3T for Titan and then got this in the mail that afternoon! Like really? ;)

I'm being good though and filing the catalog and info away for when I start shopping for his 4T clothes! I definitely plan on ordering from these guys in the future! 

Hooray for random junk mail! :)

Giveaway Winner!

It's Monday! That means it's time to announced the winner of the The Money Saving Mom's Budget Book.

Drum roll please...the winner is....

amanda.corley (at) ymail (dot) com

Congratulations Amanda! Please email me with your mailing address & I'll get that in the mail for you! 

Amanda said her family is saving money this year by: 

"Cutting back on shopping trips. The more we go in the stores, the more tempted we are with impulse purchases."

Isn't that so true? The more you go into stores, the more you shop? Cutting back on how often I'm in stores & what stores I go into has been on my list of "ways to save" money this year as well. 

For example, when I knew Banana Republic was having their Military Event Sale and offering all Military Members & their families 50% off three regular priced items in the store just a few days ago, I stayed as far away from the mall as possible and instead stayed home going through my own closet. I mean, I still have clothes in my closet with tags on them...do I really need 3 more items from Banana Republic?! Probably not! LOL

Do I want them? Yes! Do I NEED them? Nope! So I simply stayed away and then reminded myself of how much I already do have in my closet, which is A LOT! 

Congrats again to Amanda! I hope everyone is having a GREAT Monday & finding ways to save lots of money this year!!! :)