Savvy Spending

A couple of people have asked me how I "do it"...
And no, get your mind out of the gutter!! lol-
The discussion was about how to get what you want without sacrificing what you need.

I was a single mother of two, and now part of a blended family of 7 (5 kids & 2 Adults) with a mid-range salary, so needless to say I've had to find 20 different ways to stretch a dollar!!

I'm a brand name shopper who believes in Quality over Quantity, but I don't shop without a good deal (or sacrifice- depending on the purchase! lol)

Just thought I would share some of my tips & tricks, it's not 100% foolproof but maybe you will pick up an idea to expand your budget, or maybe you have some awesome tips and would like to share with me as well!! =)

Today's topic is groceries. Here goes...


Groceries:
I can never keep track of coupons (for food) if that's where you thought I was going. LOL
I actually have a more complex approach for groceries.

Keep in mind, I'm a "GRITS" (girl raised in the south) so this is based off of American/Southern food basics. It would be easy to make a similar list based off your own most frequently used items.

1. Keep staples in your house at all times-
I PROMISE you will use at least ONE of these a day. Even if you don't have any other groceries, you can make a meal out of these alone!!
This list totals to around $25

-bread [$1.50]
-butter [$2]
-sugar [$1.50]
-all purpose flour [$1.50-$2]
-milk [$2-$4]
-eggs [$1-$2]
-potatoes [$2-$4]
-onion [$2-$3]
-ketchup/tomato sauce [$1.50]
-mayo [$1.50]
-cream of chicken soup [$1]
-cream of mushroom soup [$1]
-crackers (saltine or ritz) [$2-$3]
-for my southerners - Lipton Tea Bags for brewing Ice Tea [$2]

2. Try to plan your week's menu around the same key ingredients so you don't have to buy a whole bunch of different things.
Example: canned tomatoes can be used in spaghetti, enchiladas, beef/vegetable soup and gumbo (among other things). One large family can is $1.80, which can suffice for two meals.

3. Cook enough to have leftovers to take to work the next day.
Eating out at work is the NUMBER ONE "wallet-killer"!!
The money you would spend on ONE meal eating out is the equivalent of two packs of dinner meat (or a romantic steak for 2 dinner at home!)

Also make sure you are making meals that carry well to work. Save items that don't "rollover" for Friday nights.
Example: Tacos/Nachos, Fish & soups aren't easy to take as leftovers. Save these types of meals for Friday nights and weekends.

4. Gadgets make life easy!!
You may be thinking, how will I ever find time to cook dinner when I get off of work?! Sorry, you get NO sympathy from me! I work 8-5pm, have a 2hr commute, children with bathtimes & homework, and my own shows I like to watch too. If I can make dinner every night, so can you!
These are kitchen gadgets that I would NOT be able to do it without though!!
Any time I give a housewarming gift, I pick one of these items b/c I know how nifty they can be!


Griddle- I make ALL breakfasts with this gadget, I also use it to sear meat before cooking in the oven so it doesn't dry out, and it's great for sauteed veggies as well. You can get the basic size from Walmart or any other all purpose store for about $29. Larger sizes are $40-50, which is what I need to upgrade to considering the number of ppl I'm usually cooking for!


Slowcooker/Crockpot- My mom gave me one when I turned 18 and moved out. I have always had one since! The one I have now only has 3 legs (LOL), so it's time for an upgrade on this too- but it just proves how useful it is.
The great thing about this is, you never actually have to COOK anything. Just throw all the ingredients in and it cooks all day on a low heat setting (which is impossible to burn!)
You can use it to make a main course, appetizer, or one pot meal.
Great for any type of meat (will have meat so tender it falls off the bone!), Spaghetti/Chili are delicious when slow cooked.
You can get a million different meal ideas at www.slowandsimple.com.
Crockpots can also be found at places like Walmart, ranges from $25 to $50 depending on the settings. 5 to 6 quart is the size you would need for a complete meal. You can get the basic with three heat settings (keep warm, low & high), or you can also get more high tech digital slowcookers that allow you to set a timer. If you have a long commute like me, the extra $$ for the digital slowcooker is worth the investment b/c most of your meals will be overcooked by the time you get home.


Rice Cooker
My Asian Friends, I KNOW you have this item ON LOCK (LOL!!), so you can skip over this one! My American Friends, get a rice cooker! I know most American meals don't call for rice (unless you are making cajun or low country), but rice is a great side filler for meals or soups, it's inexpensive and it feeds many!!
This rice cooker is $24.88 at Walmart, but you can get larger sizes and more features with more expensive versions.

5. Where to shop for what
Some places have great prices for meats, but screw you on other items. Because of my commute, I pass almost every store on the way home, and some items I purchase on my lunch hour (depending on whether it needs to be refridgerated)
I also designate days to purchase different items if I can't get it done on the weekend. For example, Tuesdays I go to the asian market for fresh meat and veggies, Wednesday I go to Kroger for their 10 for $10 deals, Thursday I stop at Sam's Club for bulk TP, Paper Towels & laundry detergent.
Here's what I've found to be the best shopping combinations:

Asian/Farmer's Markets: have the best deals on meats and fresh vegetables. There are a ton of local farmer's markets in every major city so this isn't an unattainable place for most ppl. You DO get price-robbed for toiletries and staples at these places though (so pick up windex and ketchup somewhere else!)

KROGER: Occasionally they will have a meat special, but most of the time I only go to Kroger for their $10 for $10 deals. This special has certain items for $1 each! Example: canned veggies, flour, sugar, liquid hand soap and other basics. Also the more points you build on your Kroger plus card, you can save $0.10 a gallon on gas if you use Kroger gas stations.

PUBLIX Rarely ever have good prices on meat OR veggies, but they have a lot of buy one get one free sales on other items. Example: cereal, bread, pasta sauce, salad dressing, etc. This is also the best place for Kids Lunch items!!
Today I bought Ritz Cheese Sandwiches and Teddy Grahams for Sarina's lunch- buy one get one free!!

WALMART I know there is a lot of hype around their groceries being cheap, but don't be fooled! You will get better deals on meat and veggies at the farmer's market. Walmart IS great for non-perishables and toiletries.
Use this place for non/p items like Mac & Cheese packs, dry beans, pasta, cereal and also toiletries- mouthwash, toothpaste, deodorant, household cleaners, etc.

Warehouse Membership Shopping: Costco, BJs, Sam's Club, etc.
YES, you can AlWAYS get great deals on places like these, but do you really need everything in bulk?
Normally when I go to Sam's or Costco, I'm only buying a couple of items.
These are my favorites for Warehouse Shopping:
Bottled water, toilet paper, laundry detergent, and CLOROX Bleach for Trail's obession for cleaning countertops 5 times a day! (haha)

40 Wardrobe Basics

Okay, as promised, I looked at my old list and revised some items.
I didn't have time to do the combinations yet, or provide with pictures/examples, but that sounds like a fun project for later on.

Anyways, here goes!!
I used black and gray as my staples b/c those are the colors I wear most often. If you generally wear warmer tones, substitute black and gray with brown & navy or olive as your basics.

Good Color Compliments for Black & Gray
Pop Colors: Fuschia, Plum, Royal Blue, Teal
Pastel Colors: Ice Blue, Lavender, Pink

Good Color Compliments for Brown & Navy
Pop Colors: Butter Yellow, Deep Red, Sienna Orange, Hunter Green
Pastel Colors: Light Gold, Peach/Coral, Seafoam Green

40 WARDROBE ESSENTIALS

Section 1- Tops
1. Crisp white shirt
2. Crisp black shirt
3. Pinstripe shirt
4. Silk Blouse
5. Blazer
6. Cardigan
7. Mock Turtleneck
8. Pop Color [your choice of style]
9. Pastel Color [your choice of style]
10. Trench coat

Section 2- Bottoms
11. Pinstripe Pants
12. A-Line/Full Skirt
13. Dark skinny denim
14. Black Pencil Skirt
15. Trouser style denim
16. Gray dress pants
17. Black dress pants
18. Gray pencil skirt
19. wide leg pants
20. black leggings

Section 3- Dresses
21. Sheath Dress
22. Sweater Dress
23. Shirt Dress
24. Long Tunic/ Kimono Style
25. Black/White Pattern Dress

Section 4- Shoes
26. Black Pumps
27. Black patent loafers
28. Black boots
29. Gray pumps
30. Gray boots
31. Nude shoes [your choice of style]
32. Jewel tone shoes [your choice of style]

Section 5- Accessories
33. Cinch belt
34. Scarves [assorted colors]
35. Skinny belt
36. Stud Earrings
37. Necklaces [assorted styles]
38. Watch
39. Black Sunglasses
40. Coach Bag!! =)

Work Wardrobe Essentials- Style Combos

YAY!! WE GOT A NEW DRESS CODE POLICY AT WORK!!

Puhahahaha, I know my thought process is difficult to understand (except by Lyn)-
But I HEART structure!! LOL
Organized lists, detailed to-do projects, powerpoint presentations & illustrated reports ROCK!
I am a CAPRICORN in the truest sense!

And NOW we get more strict on our Business Casual policy. =)

No, we aren’t strictly Business Attire YET, and though I love that idea I couldn’t afford a closet full of suits right now.
But since our dress code policy had never previously been established (small company), many employees (I’m guilty too!) began to take advantage and dress more comfortable than norm for an office. We interact with clients over the phone, so it was more lenient.
Now we are expanding from a smaller company, to a more formal business environment, with potential and perpetual clients in and out on a daily.

This gives me the opportunity to clean house if you will, and of course… GO SHOPPING!! =)

It reminded me that long ago I created a “work wardrobe essentials” list for myself & girlfriends. I searched my old emails and found it!!
Haha, kinda funny that even 3-4 years later- all of these items are still wearable.

Tonight I'm going to revise and update some things then post a new version tomorrow.
Hope this helps out my corporate ladies!! Have a great Monday!


-------------------------------------------

So most of you who know me pretty well know that I'm walking a fine line between genius and insanity...
(LOL- but it's true)
But you also know that I am an obsessive/compulsive list maker who has lists for her lists. (And I'm PROUD of it too!)

Anyways, I did one of my CRAZY lists last night after a convo with Lyn and this list actually doesn't seem that crazy!
Thought I would share…

The conversation was about how working in the office world you have to look professional and exude a certain polished air to gain the respect you deserve (especially YOUNG FEMALE MINORITIES who are attractive).

But often times your budget- when allotting for rent [now- mortgage!], a car note, credit cards, KIDS (God bless you)- isn't very compatible with the look you need to put together.

So I took 15 basic work wardrobe essentials and switched around combinations to make an ENTIRE MONTH'S work wardrobe NEVER wearing the exact same thing!

The items that don't have a color listed can be adjusted to your style, and this would work with whatever budget.
YOU determine whether your white shirt is from Target or Nanette Lepore, but either way you'll be totally outfitted for your CAREER!! =)

And now that you have the wardrobe figured out, you can spend more time ACTUALLY working (or surfing myspace- haha)! <<<<------ [note, I guess this should be changed to facebook now!!! lol]


Wardrobe Essentials:
1. Crisp white shirt
2. Black Pencil Skirt
3. Black Blazer Jacket
4. Black Dress Pants
5. Black Leggings
6. Black Pumps/Stilettos
7. Long Tunic Sweater
8. Black Boots
9. Gray Cardigan
10. Dress- Black/White Pattern
11. Jeans- Dark/ Skinny Fit
12. Mock Turtleneck
13. Ruffled Blouse
14. Wide leg pants
15. Dark Jeans- Bootcut or Trouser Style

Work Week Combinations:

Week 1

Monday: 5-7-8 black leggings, long tunic sweater, black boots
Tuesday: 1-2-6 white shirt, pencil skirt, black pumps
Wednesday: 4-9-8 dress pants, gray cardigan, black boots
Thursday: 3-10-8 blazer, dress, black boots
Friday: 11-13-8 skinny jeans, ruffle blouse, black boots


Week 2

Monday: 3-1-4-6 blk blazer, whte shirt, dress pants, black pumps
Tuesday: 9-2-6 gray cardigan, black pencil skirt, black pumps
Wednesday: 5-10-6 dress, leggings, stilettos
Thursday: 13-14-8 ruffled blouse, wide leg pants, black boots
Friday: 15-6-12 bootcut or trouser jeans, black pumps, t-neck


Week 3

Monday: 7-14-6 tunic sweater, wide leg pants, pumps
Tuesday: 3-10-6 blazer, dress, pumps
Wednesday: 12-2-8 t-neck, pencil skirt, black boots
Thursday: 9-4-6 gray cardigan, black pants, pumps
Friday: 1-11-8 white shirt, skinny jeans, black boots


Week 4

Monday: 13-2-6 ruffled blouse, gray pencil skirt, pumps
Tuesday: 9-10-8 gray cardigan, dress, black boots
Wednesday: 12-4-8 t-neck, black pants, black boots
Thursday: 3-14-6 black blazer, wide leg pants, black pumps
Friday: 15-7-8 long tunic sweater, trouser/bootcut jeans, blk boots

Cocktail Mix for Wedding Favors- Yay or Nay?

Okay, getting to the point where I need to have a set budget and an idea of what I want our wedding to be like.

Came across these wedding reception favors.
Cocktail Infusions= HOW CUTE?!!!!
They are little mix drink satchels that you put into your cup and then add alcohol of your choice for a custom mix drink!! Like a Bartender in a box! haha







This is an original USEFUL gift idea. Much more creative than a candle or mini box of mints...
But is it cliche to assume that EVERYONE attending the wedding drinks alcohol? lol
Hmmm, I really like these though...

Fall Fashion Love - Blazigans!! =D

Deconstructed Blazers and Cardigans= BLAZIGANS??
haha That's my new word!! Called it!!

I love these new Blazer/Cardigan hybrids!!
They have the look of a jacket, but soft pliable fabric textures.
Looks super comfy and cute!!
Come on LOTTO!! hehe, I want them ALL!!

bebe fragrance is back!

happy, happy, joy, joy!!
One of my fav fragrances [bebe] of all time is coming back!!
They broke my heart when I ran out of my last bottle and found out it had been discontinued!
If you like Earthy, sensual scents- (reminiscent of Prada) then you will love this perfume.
Countdown is ON!! =D

Not a baby anymore...

Huyyy, ok so I spoke briefly about this last night on F/BK, but today it's sinking in more.

My Sarina is growing up.
A couple of her back to school looks she put together)


You know how they say that moms will cry when their little one starts Kindergarten or gets on the schoolbus for the first time? Well, actually did OK with that.

So why NOW, when Sarina is beginning THIRD grade, do I all of a sudden feel like boo-hooing into a tissue?

I'm not quite sure what bothered me most...

Was it her demeanor at the Elementary School for her Open House?
She held my hand through the parking lot, but once we got inside the school, she let go and took the lead.
Teachers and other students were stopping her in the hallway, carrying conversations with her while Mimi and I stood in the background like a celebrity's no-name boyfriend. (LOL- Think Forgetting Sarah Marshall)

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't bothered by it. I was IMPRESSED.
For the first time, Sarina was introducing ME to people instead of the opposite. She just looked so confident, so self assured, and spoke so intelligently...

Or was it when we went school shopping?
After the open house, we stopped by the outlet on the way home to get her some school clothes so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds this weekend.
There were some young girls we had JUST seen at her school go into a store that was suited more for High School girls than 3rd grade.
Sarina asked if we were going in that particular store like her friends.
...And that's when I realized I need to start having "talks" with her.
Girl Talks- like clothes, makeup, peer pressure, smoking, etc.

I told her,"Sarina, something VERY important for you to understand as a young girl (and when you grow up as well) is that however you dress is how people will treat you. Your appearance is the first thing people will see before you even open your mouth, and whatever you say AFTER that won't matter because they already have pre-judged you. So I'll let YOU decide, how do you want others to perceive you?"

And then I let her pick out her own school clothes. No supervision, no direction.
Once she was done, there was NOTHING I had to tell her to put back. She even put together some looks that even I wouldn't have thought of.
She came out of the dressing room and said, "Mom, do you think THIS is appropriate for a young lady?"
Young Lady... OMG, yes- she certainly was that. I just nodded my head, gave a thumbs up and had to turn away b/c my eyes starting watering!!



...It seems like just yesterday when she loved Carebears and Cinderella. Now she wants an IPOD, a bedroom that doesn't look like a baby, and shoes with a heel on them?

Where did the time go??
This is not a sad thing. I'm glad to say that she is molding into a young lady that I am very proud of. It's just tough to see your babies changing.

...I hope my little Mimi will STAY little for me a while longer!!

Tax Free Shopping

Hey FB/Blogger Parents
Just a reminder that this weekend is the Tax Free weekend to school shop!

Georgia's Tax Free Week: July 30-Aug. 2, 2009

Applies to:
+ Clothing under $100
+ Computers/computer equipment under $1500
+ School supplies under $20

Georgia has also scheduled a separate tax free week for the purchase of energy efficient appliances (priced under $1500) for October 1-4, 2009.

Sarina's request for school clothes this year:
A button down shirt and converse sneakers.
So glad I dodged a "mini-skirt" request for another year at least! LOVE IT!! <3

So it's tax free weekend, New Fall stuff is 40% off and I have an addt'l 30% off outlet coupon... Sounds like Sarina might get loaded tomorrow!!


Happy shopping.

Military Vest - ON, now GONE!!

So this vest that I blogged about last time, I went to the store to actually try on and...



Voila, btches!


Wow! That goes superhord, son.
Unfortunately I didn't have the $$$ that day to actually purchase the vest.

Went back yesterday to check on it, and it's GONE!!
I should have KNOWN b/c the sales lady was sweatin' the vest when she saw me come out of the fitting room to look at it in the long mirror. She probably bought it RIGHT when I left for like half the price I would have paid for it. *SIGH*

So back to square one on "Mission: Fall Fashion Supremacy". Gayness!!! =P

Inspiration this Fall

Come on mild weather, I got some shopping to do!!!

Here are the looks I love this fall:

Silk Shift Dresses




Military Vests


Oversized Dark Glasses


Trench Coats


I also need some eyeglasses! Trying to find a really cute style that I like, something different but not sure yet. I'm thinking I might get a couple pairs if different colors. I'm kinda digging this two-tone look! Might look good with my black hair. What do you think?

Guilty Pleasure...RHWOA!!

Ok, so as much as I want to say I'm NOT going to watch this season of Real Housewives in Atlanta... I'm probably going to watch this season, faithfully. lol
Especially since I learned they have a new addition to the cast, Kandi from Xscape.

For those who didn't catch last season and are thinking of watching, I found this recap on Popwatch.com to bring you up to speed....

After the jump, a quick update on what's going on with the Atlanta ladies, according to Bravo.


Kim: When we meet back up with the ladies, Kim will have broken up with the mysterious "Big Poppa," yet she'll still be reeling from it all. (Translation: It ain't over!) And, of course, she'll still be trying to turn her busted voice into a successful music career, with the help of the new gal, which brings us to...

Kandi: A friend of Lisa, the newbie jumps right into the nest of ladies. The recently engaged Kandi, who is a former member of the '90s R&B girl group Xscape, sets her sights on launching her solo career with a new album and by helping Kim.

Lisa: She's still doing real estate, but with that slowing because of the economy, Lisa decides to launch a clothing line called Closet Freak. Mmhmm. Lisa also contemplates having another baby -- but her husband's NFL career might deter things.

NeNe: The fan-favorite is still busy doing the charity thing while also looking for her biological father. Looks like her sassy mouth is going to get her into more trouble, too! (Translation: Hell yeah!) Oh yah, and the fan favorite's fan-favorite friend Dwight Eubanks will be back.

Sheree: In the best move ever, Sheree throws a divorce party to celebrate the end of her nuptials. To keep the celebration going, she throws herself into her clothing line, She by Sheree, and its runway debut.

And, of course, the release doesn't detail who's fighting with who this season, but we can generally assume that everyone will be fighting with everyone. Or at least hope for that. The release says funny things like that NeNe will "explore her ever-evolving friendships with the other housewives, with some dramatic results," and that with Lisa "old rumors resurface." Translations: catfights. Lots of them! Hallelujah!

Premieres Thursday July 30 @ 10pm on Bravo!!

Blogging just got more awesome!!

I see my BFF/alter ego has begun blogging again. BLOG GAME ON! lol
Nice!! Happy Monday!!

K. So in other news, my mission for a new look is full swing ahead!
A cool thing about working my weekend retail gig is seeing the clothes people wear. Some walk in kind of outrageous (i.e. Michael Jackson Memorial T-Shirt as a dress with a large gold belt! WHAT?!!) But more often, style mavens arrive in supercute ensembles!!

One of the best looks I've seen so far was a lady in a deep blue/indigo wrap dress with bright scarf as a headband and silver gladiator sandals. It was simple, but tasteful. The bright colors in the scarf really played off of the dark blue of the dress. And you can never go wrong with a cotton wrap dress, it fits perfectly and is comfortable.

This gave me some inspiration for my "re-invent" project this fall. I really want to play up on accessories, which I don't always do, but they REALLY DO make your outfit. Right now I'm going to stock up on accessories- scarves, shoes & jewelry, then figure out where to go from there.

Back to School

Hard to believe summer is winding down and the kids will be back in school in a couple of weeks! (August 3)

I printed out Sarina's school supply list and it's ridiculous how fast it adds up! I've totaled about $70 worth of stuff?!

I've heard there are websites you can buy a whole pack from and save $$, anyone heard of this? If you have the link, let me know! If I find one, I will share!!

My Grown Up Toy Wishlist

If you have a gutter-mind, this list is NOT what you think!!
(Shame on you!!)

It has just come to my attention that there are some COOL little gadgets and gizmos that I would LOVE to have for myself (or receive as a GIFT, hint! hint! lol)

If you have these already, I'm jealous.

If you don't have them, GET them so I can borrow or so we can start a "club" when I get mine. =)

1. AMAZON KINDLE!!



Those of you who know me well, know that I am a BOOK LOVER. I have dreamed since I was a little girl of having a library in my home... Now this may actually attainable with this super slim, magazine size electronic book!!

Depending on the size, it can hold between 1500 and 3500 books, which are downloaded directly to the kindle in a manner of seconds after purchasing!!

Of course, it's not the library I was picturing as a youth, but if you think about how much more diverse your music collection is with an IPOD instead of stacks of CDs- I can only IMAGINE what my book collection would become!! =D

And now I won't have to worry about taking up counterspace in my kitchen for cumbersome cookbooks!!

This item is priced around the same as the IPOD touch, but for someone who reads as much as me- definitely worth the money!!!

2. Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System



Okay, so don't get me wrong. I LOVE my Gevalia coffee maker!
But I'm also a big fan of other warm drinks like tea and cappucino. The Keurig Home Brewer makes a single cup of whatever warm drink you fancy, and come with an adorable carousel of different flavors to choose from.

Plus can you IMAGINE how HORD this would look in my kitchen?!!

Talk about Modern Accessories!! lol
Also I'm an every day coffee drinker, while Latrail is more fairweather. It seems like I waste a lot of coffee making a pot in the morning when he doesn't always drink his share.... aaand I can think of about 101 OTHER useless reasons to justify this purchase!! hahaha


3. NINTENDO DSI


I didn't realize how many cool things the DS can offer an adult as well!
Learn another language!!



Crosswords (No more paper and pencil needed!)



And then a lil' OL Skool!!


...OUT OF TIME FOR NOW!! I'LL CONTINUE WITH THIS LIST LATER!! :)

Old School Movie Wish List

Random thought and list, but that’s my current mood. {shrugs} ;-)

I hope I can win Keno, or CASH 3, or some other “small” lottery amount just so I can empty out my Amazon wishlist!

What I wouldn’t do to have this awesome collection of old school movies!!!
Chime in if any titles bring back memories!

-Date with an Angel
-The Boy who could fly
-Splash
-Teen Witch (for myself this time)
-Troop Beverly Hills
-Jumpin’ Jack Flash
-They still call me Bruce
-Naked Gun 1 and 1 1/2
-Police Academy 1-A million. Lol
-Blind Date
-Shag
-Steel Magnolias
-Mystic Pizza
-Flatliners
-The Lost Boys
-Stand by Me
-Hot Shots & Hot Shots Part Deux
-Footloose
-Father of the Bride
-Howard the Duck
-My Stepmother is an Alien
-Little Shop of Horrors
-Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
-Coneheads
-Spaceballs
-Weekend at Bernie’s
-The Princess Bride
-Beetlejuice
-Ghostbusters 2 (we have the first one)
-Gremlins
-Short Circuit 2 (we have the first one)
-Cocoon
-Batteries Not Included
-Gods Must Be Crazy
-Crocodile Dundee 2 (embarassed to say it but I have the first one. lol)
-Starman
-Enemy Mine
-Critters
-Ladyhawke
-Harry and the Hendersons
-The Great Outdoors
-The Burbs
-Money Pit
-Breakin 2: Electric Bugaloo
-Beat Street
-Solarbabies
-Gleaming the Cube
-Pretty in Pink
-The Breakfast Club
-Weird Science
-Adventures in Babysitting
-Can't Buy Me Love
-Heathers
-She’s Outta Control
-Who’s Harry Crumb
-Top Secret!
-Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
-I Love Trouble
-The Goonies
-Willow
-Neverending Story
-High Spirits
-Beastmaster
-Conan the Barbarian
-Red Sonja
-The Joy Luck Club
-Trading Places
-3 Ninjas
-The Original TMNT Movies

Kiddie Decor

The only rooms in the house I have not done any decorating in are the MAN CAVE (a.k.a. Boom Boom Room- lol) and the kid's rooms.

The Man Cave I have not touched for OBVIOUS reasons... I am NOT ALLOWED TO. =P

The girls rooms are a different story! I want to decorate them so bad!!
We just have so much going on with birthdays and family roadtrips, I don't have the money to do what I want yet.

I'm hoping by the time the warm weather is gone, when we get back into hibernation mode, that we can do some more projects around the house. The kid's rooms are one of my priorities.

Decorating for kids can be tricky.

You work all hard to make things look nice, but the bottom line is that kids mess things up. LOL
They write on furniture. They get fingerprints on the wall. They NEVER keep collections arranged attractively (think bookshelves and stuffed animals).

I want their rooms to look as nice as the rest of the house is progressing to look, but I don't want to spend a lot of money and then be angry when they don't take good care of it.

I've been looking an inexpensive kiddie decor ideas to satisfy my two concerns: Affordable & Durable Style.

Here are a few ideas I'm toying with...

1. A Fresh coat of paint!
The walls of our house came in flat paint, which sucks when you have children. I need to put a nice semi-gloss on the kid's walls so the fingerprints can wipe of with a washcloth like they were never there.
The girls have already selected their bedroom colors: Sarina wants green and Mimi wants purple. Now I just need to get busy finding ATTRACTIVE tones of those colors that go well with the warm muted sand of our trim and floorboards.
Paint is an affordable quick fix to change the look of a room. This would also be a good starting place as the color of the room can help me visualize the accessories to add.

2. Wall Decals
I want to go for a more modern style in the kids rooms, so I've been checking out websites that have elcletic removable art (b/c I like to redecorate often. =])

Tai's Birthday Ideas

Okay so birthday 4 out of 5 for our kids is upon us, and this may be my biggest challenge yet!

I'm really not sure where to begin because:

1. Tai is a boy.
I'm great with little girl theme's because I only had girls before. Things that boys are into are not really my forte...

2. Tai is a PRETEEN boy.
Which makes it even more difficult! He is well beyond Cowboys & Indians, Cops & Robbers, Tonka Trucks & Dirt!
I want him to enjoy his birthday as much as the girls have, but I want to make sure I'm not picking a theme that's too "baby" or "lame". LOL

One good thing I have to work off of is that Tai definitely has a passion for gaming.
I think my safest bet would be to plan something Gamer Related for him.
Now the important thing is picking a game he thinks is "cool"...
Is Sonic the Hedgehog still what's hip? LOL- Ok, just kidding!

I think it's safe to say that with gamers, HALO 3 is universal.


But now that I've started to look for party stuff- man, it's really hard to find party favors for ANYTHING beyond Mario! What is the DEAL with that?

Looks like I'm going to have to get creative on this one...
And the best place to start is with a cake!!

I found this really cool one online and I think it will be my inspiration...



As a gift I think we are getting him his own gamer tag on XBOX live- Apparently it's not "cool" to share a screen name with your dad!
(Even if your dad is TRE! lol)
I want to get him a couple of other things too but not sure what yet. Like I said, this is tough for me. I don't want to screw things up!!

Wish me luck!

Wedding Inspiration...

So we just got back from my cousin's wedding in Ohio, and I'm so proud of my little girls- Their wedding party skills are impeccable! =)



Sarina gave out programs and wedding favors to guests as they entered and exited the church, while Madison did her part as a flower girl.



My mom kept encouraging me to "take notes" since Latrail and I are planning a wedding next fall. Unfortunately the only thing we have really decided on thus far is an ANTICIPATED date. I still have no clue what I want my wedding to be like.

There are a few ideas floating around in my head, but nothing concrete yet.
Carrie's wedding was a large, beautiful formal affair with a Black/White/Red theme.
The color theme was sophiscated, her gown stunning, but for my own wedding I'm thinking something on a much smaller scale...

...And now that I'm actually thinking about it- A year is really not a lot of time to organize a wedding!! I need to get moving on some ideas!!
What to work on first??!

Mimi's Princess Party Recap

I LOVE this picture of her!! Isn't she so darn cute?!! LOL


Ok, so the cake did not totally come out as planned (and I beat myself up over it all night!) Several factors came into play- I didn't have the right size dimensions for my cake pans, and the heat made one of my cakes fall (and my sugar cones begin to unravel!!).

Oh well, certainly not professional level, but here goes.


And her princess decorations...
(Around only $6 TOTAL spent on this table set up and it came out great!)


Mimi loved it none the less!
Here is a picture of her eagerly waiting for the cake to finish baking...


And here are all of the ingredients (Baked Diabetes, I think)


The first layer was the most time consuming...
(note the time on my stove clock!)


Her she is with her present.


The envy of other babies, haha!
(Lesa I know what Jada wants for Christmas!!!)


And a couple of highlights from our day at the Renaissance Festival!

Grandma gave the girls temporary purple streaks and nail polish



Ok, I begged her to give them to me too!! LOL


Mimi arrived like a true princess, carried by her ninja bodyguard! LOL
My brother is slightly retarded, but She loved it, and he pretty much MADE the party with his goofy ninja antics!


Some of the girls showing off their painted faces.


The "fairy store" where they bought their wings


Parrots of the Carribean, Bird exhibit


The Guys trying their hand at archery


By the end of the day, it was determined that we NEED for our home:
1. A Talking Parrot (with pirate accent)
2. Bow and Arrows & Bullseye for the backyard
3. I should start making "turkey legs" for dinner!
4. And possibly ninja suits for the whole family!! =D

We had an AWESOME experience, kids loved the festival, and then they topped it off with a sugar high from my cake! LOL

Tai, the ONLY boy, is the next birthday on the calendar- in another week!
Now I'm working on my plans for him....