Savin' Some Dough

Okay. I've been trying to get serious about my 3 month supply of food so I have started to print coupons and buy a bunch of stuff in bulk. We received some info in Relief Society about a guy who put together his family's 3 month supply just by buying a few extra items each week for 3 months. If you are interested in this I can send you a copy. I have written down what our family will need for 3 months worth of meals plus other necessities like diapers, toilet paper etc. Now I am trying to buy it a little at a time.

To save money on a lot of the items, I have been using the website www.pinchingyourpennies.com. Click on State Forums and find your state. For Utah it shows the week's deals at Albertsons, Smiths, Maceys and Associated Food Stores. Click on the store you want and then click Printable Shopping List. This shows you what the great deals are and also shows you what coupons can be used and how much you can save with the coupons. Sometimes it gives you a link so you can just print off the coupon. Since I don't receive any newspapers I just print off some coupons. Even if there isn't a deal on the item that week, print off the coupon anyway because there might be a deal on it next week. My favorite coupon printing website is www.couponmom.com.

Last time I went to Albertsons I spent $37, and saved $68!

I would love to hear what you guys do to save on groceries. If you have any money saving ideas, put them in the comment section! Thanks!

So Glad...

So glad that I could take pictures like these today because it has actually been warm!!!

So glad that yesterday I had an awesome photo shoot with Claire (I had not yet had her pics taken professionally, I know, shame on me). She was so happy and we got a lot of really cute ones! (Keiauni, I still want you to take some when we get the chance!)

So glad that we got to spend some time with family over Easter weekend. Here are some pictures of our trip. It rained a lot while we were there but we still had lots of fun! Thanks, Keiauni and Trista for letting us hang out in your trailers during the rain.)

A Recital and a Birthday

Jannika has been taking piano lessons for about a month and has been loving it! She rides her bike down to Grandma's house to practice every day. So maybe she'll have more ambition to actually stick to it than her mother did;) She had her first recital last week. She played Old McDonald. Here she is with her friend, Sophie Huntington.




Yesterday was Claire's first birthday! We had Kyle's sister, Megan and her family and my mom and LeAnne over for dinner (some fabulous Japanese Katsu Don made by Kyle) and cake and ice cream. I love this next picture of her with her daddy. Hooray for being 1!

In Progress...

Some stuff for an Etsy shop...
A cute quiet book...
Some things to hang over Claire's crib...
Pillows for my bed...

Yeah, I've kind of been in a really crafty mood lately. I have a new project every day so I'll keep you posted on the finished products! And check out my other blog for a wonderful cookie recipe!

Seven Things Tag

Seven Things I Can Do:

1. Clog

2. Type kinda fast

3. Make good Desserts

4. Paint stuff

5. Drive a Stick

6. Look at magazines for hours (that is, IF my kids and my house would let me!)

7. Dance (country, ballroom etc.)

Seven Things I Can't Do:

1. Play sports

2. Run very far

3. Stand excessive noise and chaos

4. Make a really good Sunday roast

5. Stop eating sweets

6. Want to ride a roller coaster

7. Ski

Seven Things I Say Most:

1. Stop it

2. I Love You

3. Kyle, you hottie...

4. I am going to scream!

5. What the hud? (proof that I am a Beagley)

6. Quiet!

7. "What's the plan, Stan?" and "I'm going to hurl, Earl" (do you still say those, Heather?!)

Seven Goals for the Year:

1. Get organized

2. Save some moola

3. Read the scriptures with more purpose

4. Read to my kids more

5. Get my 3 month supply of food

6. Help my mom with all her remodeling projects and do some of my own

7. Enjoy some me time every day

Seven Reasons that I fell in Love with Kyle Keither:

1. Those blue eyes...

2. He makes me laugh

3. He is ridiculously good looking

4. Loves to watch movies with me (Sorry, Trist, I stole some of your answers!)

5. Is a very worthy Priesthood holder

6. He gets along so well with my family

7. Loves me and our kids

Seven things I love to Eat!

1. Chocolate

2. Anything with chicken

3. Slurpees

4. Chilies Restaurant

5. Maggie Moo's ice cream

6. ice cold water

7. My Mom's pork chops and rice

Spreadin' the Love

I have to say, I do enjoy Valentine's Day. It's funny, though, Kyle and I don't usually do anything big or fancy on V-Day (mostly because we do something nice for our Anniversary) but I just happen to love red and pink and all things romantic...

I also wanted to tell you some news about Kirsten...drumroll....she has been DRY for two days now! Yeah! I was beginning to doubt that it would happen any time soon but she has actually started to tell me when she needs to go. Wouldn't it be lovely if I have bought my last diapers (for her anyway?!) She is growing up so much. This morning when she woke up, she gave me a big hug and said, "you are the best mom in the whole world!" Cute huh? She also likes to look at words and try to sound them out. It goes something like this: "Mom, what's this word? B-B-Clifford"!

Since Last time...

Since last time I posted, this little one has grown a bunch! She has started crawling. Everywhere. And she can wave and stand up to things. She has been so happy during the day since she can get around, but is still waking up a bit at night. We have now officially tried EVERYTHING for reflux since I tried goat's milk just a few days ago and nothing has completely helped. I still think her regular medicine and being able to crawl have helped the most.

I didn't take any Christmas morning photos since Kirsten and I both had the flu and felt pretty icky but this is a few days later of my kids enjoying their picnic table. Great Christmas present! It has been the one we have used the most. You can also see Jannika's "dog that is like a real dog" (her words) which is what she asked for (Kirsten got a panda that makes noises like a real baby panda and she calls it her Kung Ku Panda. Incidentally, every panda that she sees is called a Kung Ku Panda [from the movie Kung Fu Panda]). It was a wonderful Christmas despite being sick and Kyle even bought me a new desk and drawers for all my scrapbooking/craft stuff because I have turned my closet into my craft "room". Thanks, honey!

I loved decorating for Christmas and have been decorating for Valentine's Day lately. That's all for now!