Tomorrow, get here now. Unless Calgon can take me away.

Yeah. I'm ready to be swept off my feet right about now. I'd gladly let a maid clean my house, a sitter watch my kids, and a chef prepare my food.

I'd also gladly let someone else drive my parents here, so they can go faster than 55 mph.

Calgon, take me away!!

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Hmmm. I'm still here. Since Calgon won't take me away, I'll have to resort to my other source:

Tomorrow, get here now please.

DUM DUM DUM DUM...DUM!!!!

It's almost Thanksgiving! It's almost time!

I've spent my money & down to a dime.

Family is coming, there must be no mess,

I am full of excitement, plus some stress.

I'll cook the turkey, it better not burn,

we'll share our thanks, each offering a turn.

It's only Monday, but I better get busy,

'Lest I get myself in a tizzy.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friends!

Enjoy the rest of November, as it comes to an end.

Alright, I'm no poet and I certainly know it, but Aidan and I were doing rhyming words, so I couldn't resist. Sorry you had to suffer through my juvenile attempt at a rhyme. ;0

Busy! 

That is the word to describe my week.

 I am really looking forward to it, though.

Tomorrow my parents should arrive (evening), so today is more cleaning and checking the grocery list. I skipped MPM because there is too much, and our dinners will be last minute meals. 

Tomorrow will be mopping, cleaning the bathroom, washing rugs, vacuuming, and cleaning the fridge. Of all those tasks, I dread cleaning the fridge the most. Just ick.

Wednesday will be cooking and doing some shopping for the fresh ingredients. 

Aidan and I will make the Teepees, Pilgrim Hats, Football Rice Krispie Treats, and my mom & I will make the potatoes, both mashed and sweet. We'll hard boil the eggs for deviled eggs, too. 

Thursday! Thanksgiving is only 3 days away! Isn't that crazy? November has just flown by. This year is truly almost over, especially with Advent starting this coming Sunday. 

I am ready to start the madness. I am hopeful my first Thanksgiving hosting will only turn out good memories. 

I can't wait to see my family. 

My blogging will probably be light this week, so I want to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING now. Have a wonderful week! How will you be spending your Thanksgiving?

Cleaned

Yesterday was a day of cleaning, in all forms.

House:
Our boys were with their grandparents all day, so we did heavy duty cleaning you can only do without little ones running around. Our big area rug in the living room? Yeah, completely moved that, moved the couch out of the room, train table, too, and vacuumed, swept, and mopped that room. It looks so much better.

Same with the playroom. My parents will be sleeping in there, so we rearranged toys, did the winter window-covering to the windows in that room, and organized the bookcase.

That alone took a good 2 hours or so.

Marriage:
We had time alone! For the first time since MAY! It's so nice to be able to finish sentences, eat without sharing food, and just have an opportunity to be with each other if only for a few. Grant it, most of our alone time was spent cleaning, but we did take a lunch break and enjoy eating out at Subway. Without ordering a kids' meal, without needing excessive amount of extra napkins, without a highchair...
Not that we don't adore and love our kids. We do. We even missed them. But in making time for each other, you do serve as better parents.

Soul:
We made it to Confession yesterday, then Mass, and got in some quality prayer time. Without kids! I tell ya, you can really absorb a lot more of the Readings when you can hear what's being said. HA!
Ironically enough, this was the first time in months we wore jeans to church, and of course we were asked to carry up the gifts. Figures.

We also did the last of non-perishable shopping for Thanksgiving, buying our trail mix to put out, nuts, and today Aidan & I are considering making these cute Footballs to have for turkey day.

Productive weekend.
We cleaned up.
I feel refreshed.

TGIF! Feather Party Time

We made it through another week!

We're officially at the end of November already. How did that happen?!

I'm ready for this weekend. Not just because it's the weekend, but because last weekend was so rough. Aidan and Brennan were waking incredibly early, and we barely saw Pat all weekend. He had a test he was studying for for his Tuesday night class, and he had to work on a presentation for his Monday night class. Understandably so, his attention needed to go to those things and not us, but we missed him and it was hard. Thank God we're one step closer to the end of this semester!

I'm also welcoming this weekend because it's finally time to do the hard-core cleaning to prepare for my parents coming to stay with us for Thanksgiving! I am so excited to see them. I saw them last in August, which is better than most years, but I am excited to have them to my home for Thanksgiving for a change.

My in-laws are being so kind, too, and meeting us to take the boys for the day while we do much needed work around the house, finish some shopping, and maybe even catch an hour-long date with each other.

The week, over all, wasn't so bad.

Patrick's presentation went very well, Aidan stayed on green all week in school, Brennan finally started sleeping to a normal time again, and we bought almost everything needed for turkey-day. Plus I started the shred again, and that always feel good. Well, sore, but good. ;)

We also gained some positive news about our finances. Nothing major, but every penny counts. I look forward to the day when we can call up Dave Ramsey and yell "WE'RE DEBT FREE!!!" It will happen. And it will happen probably within 5 years, God willing. I can not wait.

So we're ending this week in a fun way: we're going to our parish/school Feather Party! (ha! yeah right they're exclusive to Detroit)
It should be quite fun. I know Aidan will have a blast, with the raffles and kids' games. I heard there will even be adult beverages and raffles for a free turkey, maybe even other adult-aimed things.
The adult beverages I'll be passing on, since I'm working the 2nd shift.

Feather Party tonight, a free (meaning study-free day for hubby) tomorrow, and just a few days away from my parents arriving...
TGIF!

From ICK to Best (Christmas songs)

My absolute favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. I like all versions I have heard, but I love Martina McBride's. So incredibly beautiful.

Goosebumps every time.

The non-religious one I love is Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby. Don't care for Madonna's too much. I love the old-time sound to Eartha Kitt's. I don't dig this video too much, but you can hear the 
song, at least.





There you have it. I posted on my least favorite song, and now you have my favorites.
What are yours?

Ick. Worst Christmas Song?

And I do like country music, but I can't stomach this song:






It's just too whiney sounding, and mopey, and unpleasant!
And our station that is playing nonstop Chrismas music plays it all.the.time!
Too often!
I love nearly all Christmas songs, but in my book, this one goes down as possibly the worst.
Right there next to the annoying Feliz Navidad.

Perfect Timing

This post: To the Grad School Widows

I had never been to her blog before, but I found that post just now, and it is perfect timing.
I really needed to read that, and I wish the comments weren't closed. I'd add a big thank you to the author.

I so often feel like such a big wimp.
I feel disappointed in myself that I'm getting impatient, frustrated, and wondering how the heck I'm going to endure another year of this.

It's not like I'm a military wife.
My husband is not overseas. He is not deployed.

It's not as though I really am a single parent.
He comes home every night.

Sometimes, though, it's harder because of that. He's here, yet not really. He might be home, but he should be studying, he should be preparing for his next case study.

I know he is doing it for our family. I know he loves us all.
I love him for doing this.

But I'll tell ya, it's not easy. The world knows it's hard for him-balancing his full time job, plus family, while being in grad school.
I just wish at times that the world could see, it's not so easy on my end, either.

Not that I want a pity party, but at this point in the semester, over a year into grad school now, I am feeling burned out.
I am getting tired of him having to devote nearly every weekend for school.
I am getting tired of doing dinner with the boys solo.
I'm tired of these strangers consuming his world.

I'm just tired.

I feel like this is a taste of playing single parent, and no thank you.
It's not easy. I give much credit to those who do this singlehandedly.

He will continue, he will finish.
I will continue, and I need to try and be less of a wimp about it.
But I needed to vent.
It's hard. Especially considering I have no family in town, and we only have one car.
Our choices, yes, but I also choose to vent about it now.
Just for this post.

Tomorrow I will be stronger and more brave.
I better be. My grad student -my husband- has a big test tomorrow. I need to be strong for him.
One more year...we'll make it.

Menu Plan Monday--November 16, 2009

Monday: Crockpot Pork & Potatoes
Tuesday: Chipped Beef Gravy
Wednesday: Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Thursday: Vegetable Quesadillas
Friday: Pasta Night

I love Laura's new banner! Isn't it beautiful & festive? she's the great host of MPM.

This week will be a busy one, with finalizing the Thanksgiving menu, cleaning, making room for guests, shopping, plus some activities at Aidan's school. Busy! I hope it will be a good week, for both myself and you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Giving Thanks: Round 3

Today I am Thankful for avocados.

Avocados on sale for $0.69/each!
That is a GREAT price, and we're going to the store.

MMMMMM. Mushy, green avocado....

I'm also grateful for Brennan sleeping until 6:15 this morning. Still early, yes, but it beats 5:00 (the time he's been waking up lately)

I'm grateful for buying most of our Thanksgiving things last night, including the pies, turkey, stuffing, some of the veggies, and DRUMROLL....saving $10 in coupons!

The coupon total may be higher, depending on today.

I bought those oven bags for $2.29, then this morning I saw a $1 off coupon for them. The store doubles up to a $1, so if they'll honor it, I'll get $2 back and score those oven bags for $0.29. The store is close enough to our house that we're willing to make the trip and see if they'll honor it. I hope so! I love good deals.
**they honored it, and less than 5 minutes later Patrick walked out of there with $4. Sweet!*

Of course I'm thankful for my family & friends. I just happen to be food-focused today. ;)

What are you thankful for? There has to be at least one thing!

Friday's Edition of THIS & THAT

Make my own?
We're getting a new Christmas tree this year (artificial, which I am a fan of;).
With that, we need a tree skirt. Why the heck are those things so pricey?! It's ridiculous.
Now I'm not crafty, I can't even sew a button. But I came across this last night, and I think it's a cute idea: Make Your Own Tree Skirt. It mentions that if you have little kids, you could do their handprints on it. I thought what was adorable sounding. We'll see if it actually happens.

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I'm buying my turkey tomorrow! On sale for $0.59/pound. I'm excited. I have been obsessing over turkeys, prices, fresh or frozen, etc. I'm nervous about hosting Thanksgiving, but I'm also getting very excited. I think our table layout will be pretty festive.
Aidan and I are planning to do a trial run of making these teepees this weekend:

I'll let you know how they turn out! Pictures will reveal it all.

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Tube Time: I loved the CSI trilogy episodes, I'm hooked on The Biggest Loser now, I haven't watched House at all this season, and I think Flash Forward is a show you can easily lose interest in.

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Coffee is my friend. Lately, my best friend. Since daylight savings, my boys have been up before 6 every.single.day. Ah! Gain an hour? I wish!

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I <3 the Lean Cuisine Philly Cheesesteak meal. 7 points of goodness. Delicious goodness, and it put a smile in my tummy last night.

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Finally, need some olive oil?

A good friend had e-mailed me a coupon for free olive oil. I was skeptical it'd work, but last night I went grocery shopping and used it, no questions asked. Saved me $9.49!

I'd be happy to forward it to you. Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address, or e-mail me and let me know you'd like it.

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Have any weekend plans?

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

What is the main item on your Christmas list?

And for Thanksgiving dinner, what is the dish you love the most, excluding turkey?

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday: Thankful

I made one post so far this month about being thankful.
After a few more days, I'm ready for another.
Here goes:

I'm thanking God for:

-my boys. They may be waking us up before 6 a.m. for over a week now, but they are adorable & sweet (most of the time;), and I love them to pieces.
-Having our own backyard for them to play in, and jump in the many leaves we have.

-I'm thankful for getting in some good exercise since Saturday. I had been slacking off, but since saturday I've power-walked nearly 17 miles, and that feels good.
-turkey going on sale! Honeysuckle White for 0.38/pound. That means I'll be buying our turkey for less than budgeted, and only around $10.

-my hard working husband. I know that sounds corny, but I appreciate him more than I show him. And it's cute to think he's probably getting a little red in the face reading this. (save the slugs, Pat!)
-yummy dinners the past few days, from Pork & Apples to our awesome Pot Roast. Yes, food makes me happy.

-Lastly, I'm thanking God for the means to buy some stocking stuffers yesterday. Aidan's stocking is almost completely accounted for, with the exception of the candy. I was at Michael's yesterday, and their dollar bin has some good stuff in it, especially if you have Toy Story, Lightning McQueen, or Princess fans in your home.

What are you thankful for? 

"12 Reasons Displaying the Cross is Not A 'Violation of Freedom' "

12 Reasons Displaying the Cross Is Not a 'Violation of Freedom'


Excellent article to read. The first sentence sums it up perfectly: "The meaning of 'freedom of religion' has nothing to do with creating a society that is 'free from religion' ".
Amen to that!


Another part that had me screaming "heck yes!" was this:
"Forcibly removing the symbol of the cross is a violation on the same level as it would be to force atheists to mount this symbol." 


In our home, we have a crucifix hanging in nearly every room. 
We fully know and understand that even if we didn't, God would still be with us in every single room. 
Of course. 
That's not the point. 


We believe, and in expressing our belief, we will honor HIM by having that crucifix hanging.
If a visitor to our home doesn't like that, I'd be happy to talk about it, but it will remain.


My thoughts go more deeply than this, but I can't express myself as well as the article. It's a worthy read.

Menu Plan Monday--November 9, 2009

Happy Anniversary to Sue & Jeff!! xoxo

Monday: Crockpot Greek Chicken & Potatoes (alter recipe)
Tuesday:  Pork Chops and Apples
Wednesday: Soup & Sandwiches
Thursday: Make-your-own pizza (from Little Caesar fundraiser kit)
Friday: BOYS decide 'cuz mom's not cooking!

Giving Thanks

Sarah's blog inspired me to find some good and give thanks.
As a natural pessimist, I easily dwell and find the bad in situations, failing to acknowledge the good surrounding me.
I don't like that too much about myself, but it's me.

Now I'm focusing on some of the blessings that I've had this week. Good things, maybe little things, maybe big. But there is no doubt that even though my life isn't perfect right now, God has not ignored me and has blessed us. (if only I could tell myself this day in and day out...)

What am I thankful for this week? Here are some things:

• Having a good parent-teacher conference w/ Aidan's teacher. He knows all of his sight words and is doing very well. :)
• Having Aidan home 2 extra days this week (no school). I miss him! Plus he had a friend over on Thursday, and it went really well.
• My husband has a job next year. Confirmed. Finally.
• Yummy pot roast I bought on sale, and now we're going to have a delicious dinner tomorrow. 
• I am so grateful we found the Dr. Sears children's vitamins at two of our local stores. I've been ordering them online, for quite a bit more. I'm stoked! It's like paying half.
• My family being healthy again. Aidan back in school, Pat's cough much better.

Finding good in the little things-it's important, don't you agree?

I have to say, I am also grateful I got in some exercise today. It truly lifts my spirits.

What are you thankful for this week?


"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies", Mother Teresa

Happy Birthday, Good Friend!

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

Amanda is a person I've become better friends with than I ever expected.
She and I both married Michigan guys we met in college, moving away from our own families after marrying them. (She from Iowa, me from SC)

Our friendship has grown and it's so nice to know Amanda and have her friendship.

Happy Birthday, Amanda! I hope you enjoy your special day. :)

(oh, and I'd give you some Andes Mints if I had them-you like those, right?)

Happy Birthday to Haleigh!

Beautiful goddaughter, growing into such an equally beautiful person.

Already so nurturing, caring, thoughtful

Happy Birthday, Haleigh! We love you and wish you the best day.

Because I Can: Wordless Wednesday

Post ridiculous pictures, that is.

Good Deals + Playing the Shopping Game

I'm easily amused and entertained. I get giddy over small things, like naps, bite sized chocolates, my kid being in our church bulletin...you get the idea.

So without fail I'm feeling giddy over some recent deals.
In our course to become debt free the Dave Ramsey way, I'm aiming to be more resourceful, frugal, and just pay better attention so as to maximize our means.

I'm not nearly as impressive as some of those bloggers out there, where I'd get paid to buy something, or where I calculate the total meal per person. Maybe one day, but I'm just not there right now.

Here is how I feel impressed, though:

Remember how I posted that we're nearly finished our Christmas shopping?
We shopped when Toys R Us was having their Fisher Price-buy 2, get 1 free sale. So we bought the Imaginext dragon castle, the Little People Fire Station, and a Trio building set. The Trio set was the least costly item, so that was free. Before that became the free item, though, I had printed the $5 coupon from their site, so we had a free item + $5 off. I was pleased enough with that. :)

Then last weekend the Toys R Us Big Toy Book came out (holiday toy catalog). I was skimming through it and noticed the Imaginext castle we bought was going to be on sale for $10 less. We waited until the sale started, and sure enough on Sunday morning we went there and they honored the price adjustment! I was surprised. Pleasantly surprised. Buy 2 get 1 free, + $5 coupon, + $10 price adjustment. Woo-hoo!!!

Good Deal #2:
Giant Eagle had some yummy red meat on sale, buy one, get on free. (Giant Eagle is like Publix around here. The cleanest, freshest, most organic, etc). We rarely eat red meat, so having it is a treat.
I took advantage last week, and I bought just shy of 7 pounds of pot roast beef for $13. I have 2 delicious, red meat-pot roasts in my freezer! I can't wait. Pot roast is more of a "special occasion" meal for us, so I'm excited.

To make it even better, (Good Deal #3), Meijer has 10-pound bags of potatoes for $1.69 on sale! Perfect timing! Got my beef on sale, now my potatoes, too.

I was resourceful at Meijer yesterday. I bought about $85-$90 worth of groceries and only spent $41.42.
I used my coupons combined w\ sale prices. It helps that Meijer doubles coupons up to $0.50. I saved $10.87 yesterday in coupons alone. That put a smile on my face, especially because they were all for items we'd normally buy.

It's the little things that make me happy.
I don't bring any money in, but I can sure do my part to make the money coming in go farther.
Scoring good deals and being responsible for finding those deals...yup, makes me happy.

Have you had any good frugal find lately?
What is your Christmas shopping progress?