Feelin the Love!

So lately I have been extremely blessed from all of your love!

An awesome lady that I just happened to stumble upon one day recently did a review on one of my hooded towels and she is currently hosting a giveaway for a hooded towel of your own!  (check out the giveaway here and her blog as well!)  The Funny Postpartum Lady is a hilarious, down to earth kinda gal that shoots it to you straight!  She provides a place for others to express concerns, compliments, and tips to get through your day as a momma!

I have also hit 500 fans (or likes, sorry I'm still a little old school on my page).  So I am putting together a drawing for a $25 credit to the boutique!  I have also been busy putting together the next giveaway at 750(Starts May 1st)!!  Here is the link for that drawing! You have to like the page and you can also follow my Twitter and share the tweet to earn more chances!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

$...Yes PLEASE

People around here are always asking where I work or what do I do?  Like I don't do anything at all because I am a SAHM (but this is can be a sore subject for some of us and I know y'all understand these comments).  Well actually I have my boutique but there are several other small things that I do that add up too!!
In the morning while I have my coffee and breakfast, I log onto my Swagbucks account and work it for a few minutes!   And I am earning points to redeem for gift cards.  (I have already received a $5 Target and have almost accumulated enough for a $25 gc)
I also use this awesome NEW app called Ibotta!!  Its awesome!  I have received over $45 into my paypal account within the first 3 weeks it was out!  All you do is complete the offers, scan your receipt and bam you earned money WITHOUT coupons!
I also use the shopkick app!!  All I do is walk into Target and open the app and receive kicks (since I go there weekly, they tend to accumulate quickly!  And when I have time I scan the listed products to get more kicks!  You can also accumulate the kicks for gift cards!!
AND when I'm shopping online I use Ebates.  I also received a $10 gift card for signing up.  AND earned over $67 just from my Christmas shopping!  It is so easy to use, especially if you shop online a lot!
PLUS I coupon, and no I'm not one of those extreme coupons.  But it has saved us a lot of money and we get to use a lot of name brand products that I would not buy before.  And sometimes I even make money between sales, coupons, promotions (gift cards) and mail in rebates! 
LAST but not least use Mail-in-Rebates!  I have earned a couple of $10 cards from buying a couple of Disney DVDs!  Along with P&G rebates and any others that I come across...these are FREE money and very valuable to me!

These maybe small and tedious activities, but you can do as little or as much as you want and they pay off!  (or pay you!)  Money is money to me, whether it is cash or gift cards!

My goal this year is to earn enough through these activities to pay for Christmas this year!  (And I am keeping record of everything that I earn!)

Good luck saving and EARNING!!

P.S.  I get to do most of this in my SWEATS at my house!!  Yip-eeee!!!!

Lately

Oh there's lots going around this homestead lately...I've started making baby food for Munchkin #3.  It has been fairly easier to get that started than I anticipated!  I have also started back to working out just a little every week along with working in the yard on the pretty days.  This week I have started a compost pile for our garden that we are planning this year...that has already started taking some planning!  We are trying to figure our the best place to put it! 

I have also done a little grocery shopping...I'm not sticking to budget by all means but I am at roughly $50/week right now.  It has actually been mostly stocking up on some sale items so that should make other weeks less than the budget! 

Other than that I have been really busy with the munchkins and "working" on sewing and figuring out the best and most effecient schedule for this household!

PS...I'm open to suggestions for this work at home scheduling!!  Its hard than one thinks with 3 munchkins!

Later Peeps!!

Mommy Time

Oh my!  I can't believe that it has been almost 3 months since I have been on here!  That means we have bee having way too much fun around this house!  I have barely gotten on my computer at all!  I do everything from my IPhone now while I'm nursing the little one.  I have been staying way too busy taking care of the kiddos, the hubby, the house and sewing in between these things.  My mom and I have been working on Christmas gifts and I have had quite a few orders lately (thank you to all of my repeat customers and the new ones, I love you all!) 
I have also been enjoying time with my awesome friends that live close by!  I have Mrs. H thats getting ready to leave for the winter and 2 others (Mrs. G and Mrs. S) that have 5 week old babies that are 5 days apart!  So we have been taking hard core advantage of their maternity leave, woohoo!  We started a coffee-play date last week, and then had one yesterday so we could hang with Mrs. H before she left for the winter!  She goes to Montana and sends BEAUTIFUL pictures (and I wish I could go because I LOVE the winter and snow!!)  The 3 older kids play, while the mommies drink coffee, try new recipes and take care of the 3 babies (my oldest is at school so its nice to get M#2 out to play with others).  Our first coffee date turned into coffee day (literally!) we were at Mrs. S's from 10 am until 3:30 and thats because I had to pick up M#1 up from the bus!  And yesterday we had a little sewing lesson in the middle of it too!  It is so awesome to have these friends and it makes me very thankful to have them near and dear to my heart.  Now I'm looking forward to helping Mrs. S with some sewing and getting some more of my stuff done this week.

Well now I've got to get back to tackling my kitchen while the baby is down for a nap...so later peeps!

My Current Favs

As a new mom once again, I definitely have my daily go-to favs!  So today I thought I might share them with you!  Some things are handmade and some came from the store!

My Milkies
I have blogged about these before, and that was before I had used them.  And now that I have used them I do not know how I managed without the with the other girls.  I already have about 60 oz of breastmilk in the freezer and I have only pumped 3 times!  This is what my working mommas will be getting from me, because I remember how hard it was to get a supply in the freezer when I went back to school or work with my other 2 girls.

aden + anais
Swaddling Blanket
 
Burpy Bibs

I am in LOVE with these (Thanks G Fam!!)  These blankets have been perfect for this summer heat and I find myself making sure that I have one of these burp clothes clean at all times! (I am hoping get my own version figured out sometime soon.)

My Coupon Binder
I don't go shopping without it!! (now the pics wont upload! UGH!)

My Sewing Machine
It is my friend, my slave, my co-worker and many others...maybe it needs a name??  But first is it a he or a she....hummm??

My nursing covers
I have used these at the house, pickup or at a friends house...but I am still not comfortable enough to use in the middle of a restaurant or other places like some people.  Maybe one of these days, but we will see!

These are just a few of the things that I have been getting full use of in the past few weeks..we will see what else I can find to try or find new uses for in the future.

Later Peeps...

Couponing...my way...

Okay so the Extreme Couponing marathon was on yesterday...did any of you watch it or have you ever watched it??  Well I have watched the ENTIRE season!  And let me tell you it sure would be nice if I lived in another town or area.  Because where I live it is impossible to get the deals that these people get on the food portion of their grocery bills.  We do not have multiple grocery stores in the area...there are 2, Lowe's and United.  So there is no doubling plus we dont get very many food coupons in the inserts in our area.  Most of the food coupons that I get, I print of the internet.  These factors can make getting your entire grocery bill for $5 is next to impossible around here! BUT you can save on the more expensive things like beauty & health products at Target, CVS & Walgreens!
So the hubby and I have our own goal & plan with these couponing thing...we plan to save & stock up on laundry detergent, paper towels, shampoo, deaodrant & razors (just to name a few).  These are the things that make our grocery bill shoot through the roof.
Here are some of the things I stocked up on last week at Target:
Dove Ultimate & Men's Dove deodrant  reg 3.99 on sale 3.49, bought 2 of ea, stacked two /$1 off 1 Dove's Men deodrant Target coupon and buy 1 dove ultimate get 1 dove men's free (wished I would have had 2 of these but I didn't) AND received a $5 gift card.  Paid 8.47-$5 gift card=$3.47 or .87 each (78% savings);
Here is one at CVS:
Pampers diapers (reg 11.99) on sale for 8.99 w/$3 ECB, I used a CVS coupon that I had from something for $3 off Pampers plus $2 manufacturer's coupon...total paid $.99
Pampers Wipes 2.49-$2 when you buy Pampers diapers & wipes...total paid $.49

I have a couple of great blogs that I reference and they will also teach you to coupon the correct way along with showing you match-ups, deals & coupns.
krazycouponlady.com  &  fabulesslyfrugal.com

If you have any questions, I will be more than happy to help you all that I can!

Later Peeps & happy cpning!

~Gift Idea for a College Kid~

I know some people have been looking for different gift ideas for those recent graduates who are about to head off to college!  And I have definitely been one of those!  You see my baby cousin (well I guess he isn't actually my youngest cousin, but I do remember when he was born so he is still my baby!) just graduated from high school (hold on gotta find a tissue) and I have been postponing making his gift because then that would make the reality of him living for college even more REAL!

Of course I am going to make him something that is personalized, but I am also going to work on a supply box for him.  Because I mean we are talking about a MALE here, don't get me wrong my Dev is mature, responsible and super smart, but men or boys are not use to having to go to the store and buy deodrant or shampoo!

Now back to the matter at hand, I have all of these coupons for products that my hubby, dad or brothers do not use.  So I am going to use them to find CHEAP deals and fill Dev's box with "goodies".  I'm thinking body wash, deodrant, shampoo, maybe some detergent or cleaning supplies, and maybe trash bags.  These are necessities that he will use even in the dorm!  And of course most college kids are not too picky.

For example:  this week at Target Nivea Men's body wash is on sale for $3.04.  I have a buy 2 get one free coupon, a Target coupon for $1.00 off Nivea body wash and several manufacture coupons for $2.00 off Nivea Men's body wash.  In my first transaction I will get 3 bottles for $1.08 and in my second transaction one bottle for $0.04.  So that will be $1.12 for 4 bottles of body wash!!  Not too shabby if you ask me!  Who knows I may even use some of those Buy One Get One Free toothbrush coupons and whatever else I run across!

Just a few items I'm lookin to put in the supply box:
body wash                       shampoo                    razor
deodrant                          detergent                    razor refills
cleaning supplies               trash bags                  toilet paper
toothbrushes                     first aid kit                 paper towels
Febreze                            pain reliever              batteries

Happy gift giving Peeps!!

Wildfire Assistance...(I know kinda random)

Yes I know that many people in the US have been and will continue to be affected by the wildfires, floods and tornados.  But with the flooding and storms still continuing in the East, sometimes I feel the wildfires that have severely burnt our beloved state have been forgotten.  Did you know that it took 25 days to contain the Davis/Rockhouse fire 100%??  This fire burned over 314000 acres.  As of the last update this morning on the Texas Forest Service website, the current total is over 2.273 million acres and approximately 1100 structures burned.

If anybody is wondering how you could be of direct assistance to those affected, you could go on over to the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association for more information.  Funds and hay or feed supplies are needed for many whose livestock were greatly affected.  Many counties have supply points set up.  And for those individuals that need assistance, you can contact the Hay Hotline and the FSA.  Many will need help with building fences, furnishing feed for the summer months, and building new homes and structures, and unfortunately most will not get any FEMA assistance. 

So please lets take care of those of our own before we continue to worry about those in other countries.  Let's make sure our donations stay right here in the Beautiful Texas!  Please join me in raising awareness and funds to help those in our state!  As I continue to come across more places one can donate or give assistance to I will let you know!!
Right now the Texas Department of Agriculture has a fund set up... STAR Fund and you can even use PayPal !

Also if any of you know of any other or local funds set up, please let me know!

I've Been Such a Slacker...

I am so sorry its been like 2 weeks since I have posted!!  It has been super crazy around our house lately!  We have started T-Ball with the Munchkin #1, so there has been practices and our first 2 games last week.  So far it has been fun and interesting watching all of those little girls play!  My husband has also been working nonstop finishing up the new front porch and walkways!  We even planted flowers and put mulch down last weekend!  He worked really hard to have it all done for the munchkins' Birthday Bash and Easter Egg Hunt this past Saturday.  Thankfully my awesome boss let us off on Friday, so we got to get a bunch of stuff finished up and ready for the big party.  We had a really good turn out and just enjoyed getting to spend the afternoon with some awesome family and friends (that's the best thing about having a "party"!!!) 

So as you can imagine I haven't seen much of my beloved sewing machine lately and I think I am starting to have symptoms of withdrawal...I could've probably sewed some last night but I guess I am still recuperating from this past weekends activities.  I feel like we had 3 solid days of nothing but going and going!  So now its time to crack my own whip at myself and get back to working on my To-Do List...although I am excited to get a couple of new projects completed.  I, as well as a couple of others that I know, are very curious to see how they turn out!  (I will let you in on them later if they turn out okay and if they don't I still might tell you about them!)

Here is a pic of my new remodeled front yard!!

This is the front walkway--sorry its sideways!

And the new porch, front walkway, & beginnings of the side walkway!