A Day In The Life Of Mommy

GREAT TIPS

2011-03-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you have heard these before, but always good to hear ideas again.

1. Reheat Pizza - Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the
stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy.
No soggy, micropizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really
works.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs - Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal , mash
till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients , reseal , keep
mashing it up mixing thoroughly , cut the tip off the baggy , squeeze
mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done. Easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting - When you buy a container of cake frosting from the
store , whip, it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in
size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat
less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread - To warm biscuits , pancakes , or muffins
that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The
increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away - Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients
in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as
you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some
gardening plastic but they will not get through wet newspapers.

6 Broken Glass - Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards
of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes - Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the
mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away! - To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your
plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and
the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum - To get something out of a heat register or under the
fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum.
It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling - Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip
and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks
that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta
da! -- static is gone.

11. Measuring Cups - Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup,
fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add
your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right
out.

12. Foggy Windshield? - Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and
keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the
eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope - If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot
to include something inside , just place your sealed envelope in the freezer
for an hour or two.Viola! It unseals easily.

14. Conditioner - Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot
cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a
great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you
tried it in your hair...

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies - To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small
glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing
liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone
forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants - Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They
eat it, take it "home", can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week
or so, especially if it rains , but it works & you don't have the worry
about pets or small children being harmed!

(Not my story, but I did do the test with the water on the lint thingy and it's true!)

17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS - The heating unit went out on my dryer! The
gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show

us something.

He went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. I
always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes. He told us
again that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the
sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material -
I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. WELL...the hot
water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told
us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh and that's what burns out
the heating unit. You can't SEE the film but it's there. It's what is in the
dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free - that nice fragrance
too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, well
this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also
what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down
with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long
time & to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash
it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every
six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!
How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know
dryer sheets would do that.

Life is Good

2011-02-22T00:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a great picture of the kiddies. They are my pride and joy. We have a ton of fun together and I love to be with them. When I have my moments of needing time to myself, I go off and all I do is think about them. I'm sure when they are older and have moved out of the house I will miss these times. Hanging on mommy, pulling on my clothes, crying at my feet, begging to be carried around on my back, wanting to play with me, jumping on me when I least expect it.....and all the others times, I'm sure I will miss.

I am trying to enjoy every moment....even like the one today where Ellie asked to take her crackers (cheese-its) into the living room and I told her no, she asked a couple more times and after I said no again she proceeded to throw them on the floor. It took me a little time out, but I enjoyed it.

Jack is 5 months and already scooting ALL over. My whole view of my home has changed. Nothing is safe anymore. I see the changes that need to be made for a crawling/walking baby. Oh, the changes.

Ellie is my little fireball, as you can tell from the earlier story. She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. She loves to change her clothes 10 times a day and she loves to eat. She wont eat bread and wont even sit by you if you are eating it, but she loves EVERYTHING else. She is very smart and pays attention to things that are said and done around her. She is quick to understand things that are said and quick to ask questions when she doesn't. She and I are very much alike and a lot of the time it makes me crazy, but I'm getting better at understanding her. I've forgotten that 3 year olds are very strange, still babies, but not really.

Lucy loves school and I think is doing more than I did in the 4th or 5th grade. She is easily thrown off track, (I like to say air-heady, but the other sounds nicer), but is easily put back on track with bribes. She likes to do "quality work" and will spend her time staying in at recess or snack time (I've never missed a snack time in my life, she doesn't get that from me). She had learned how to ride a two-wheeler in 20 minutes , in spite of my yelling and threatening. She is a kind hearted girl and gets more enjoyable as she gets older.

I need to be good to my children. When I am old I don't want them tying me up in the corner and throwing food at me.

Don't Call Me Shrimp

2011-01-15T19:40:00.000-08:00

I did it, I got my kids a pet.

I said I would never do it, but I have been wanting one myself.

Lately Lucy has been saying that she wants a dog....

(yeah right, like I need another kid to take of)

So, this is what I bought them.

Alexa, JJ, Ellie, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Trisha. (Well, I couldn't get all of them in the picture at the same time and not sure who's who, but here's 3 of them.)

Aren't they so cute?

I have been wanting these for a long time.

OPAE'ULA

They are the easiest pets in the world and the smallest.

We had to go to the mall and I decided to take the girls to the pet store. I don't really like animals (for myself and/or family), mainly because I'm allergic to everything and I can't imagine taking care of something else....like my kids would actually take car of a dog....and most animals aren't 99cents. When I told them that we were going to buy these, Lucy got all excited and saying (really loudly), "We are going to get a pet, I' m so excited, I can't believe we are getting a pet." I was almost embarrassed because I got her so warped she thinks of these as "pets". Well, I guess I do to, but walking by all the dogs, kittens, turtles, birds, etc and she's excited for her "pets". I guess she realizes she'll take what she can get.

Look them up they're pretty cool.

Our Christmas Card

2010-11-27T23:35:00.001-08:00

Now Playing Snow Christmas

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Learning

2010-10-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

I always thought I loved Halloween....

then I had children.

You'd think I'd like it more, but I didn't

and you want to know why?

Because I would make myself crazy (and everyone else) trying to MAKE my kids have fun.

(you know that saying, Momma aint happy, aint nobody happy....it's SOOOOO true!)

I thought if I made them look cute and wear great costumes and drag them to the right houses (to get great candy because it's for them...right) and, and, and....then they would love me more and think I'm a great mom and be SO happy...........

WRONG!

I was a crazy lady! Yelling at them to stand still so I could do their hair or makeup or whatever. And they always seemed to hate the costume because it was itchy, uncomfortable, not what they want. I was psycho!

Then after I forced them to do want I thought would make them happy, I would force them to smile for the camera and again stand still.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I would always try to get (okay....force) my hubby to dress up or decorate the back of the truck...let's say that would never go off well.

I'VE CHANGED! (Well, for now.)

I let my girls do whatever they wanted. If they asked for makeup or for their hair to be done I would do it, but if they didn't....no big deal! I didn't even take the camera to the trunk or treat. And guess what....we all had a great time. All of us. My girls, Julius, and...

ME.

I really hope I remember this for the next holiday when I'm going crazy and trying to force people to do things I want...which I'm sure will.

(I need to save forcing for the things that I really need to enforce.)

Here's a pic of Lucy at school. They got to dress up in the morning and have a parade. I did take pics here, but there was no forcing going on at all.

2010-10-16T14:11:00.001-07:00

ellie.three from julius ludovico on Vimeo.

Seriously? Really? What?

2010-10-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

So I'm asking for you help. I might not like what I hear, but I want your opinion.

I'm going to tell you a little story.

In Dick and Jane style.

Someone let me borrow a breastpump.

She offered, I didn't ask.

She moved away.

To a different country.

She didn't take breastpump with her.

She came back to visit.

Asked me to meet up with her.

She never called.

She came back to visit, again.

Asked me to meet up with her, again.

She never called.

Again

She came back to visit.
Asked me to meet up with her, again.
I was going off island.
I left breastpump at mutual friend's home.
She never picked it up.
She asked me to send it to her.
It cost a buttload to send. 
Told her I would keep it here until she came to visit again.
Emails started to get ugly.
Jamie started to get pissed.
She is blaming.
Is this my responsibility?
The End.
But not really.  Read the latest e-mail she sent to me.  Names have been changed to protect...I'm not going to say innocent, they are just changed.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Hi,


To say the least, I am rather miffed with this entire breast-pump-
return fiasco. Quite frankly, regardless of the fact that we never
seemed to "meet" whilst I was in Hawaii, I am going to point out that
in my opinion, YOU should have been coming to me, not vice versa.
After all, I was doing you the favor, NOT you doing me a favor.

So, when Dick (named changed) arrives in Hawaii next month I expect you to drive out
to where ever he is staying and return the pump to him in immaculate
condition. I hardly got to use my pump, so I would appreciate it's
condition being near new.


Jane (Named changed)

________________________________________________________________________________

Am I wrong for being pissed and feeling like it's not my responsibility to get this thing to her?  Now I'm even more pissed (after this last e-mail) and want to write her and tell her off.  It's as if I am keeping this damn breastpump away from her. What the hell? Really? Over a freakin' breastpump.  I'm not going to pay to ship it to her (though I should have to get her off my back), but that was the whole point of borrowing (might I remind it was she who offered!) I am a cheap son-of-a-gun.  I borrow so I don't have to pay for something.  And when I let people borrow things I don't expect them to be at my beck-and-call with whatever item it is.

So please tell me exactly what you think.  I need a sanity check here.

Oh, by-the-way I've had the breast pump since Lucy was born.....almost 5 years ago.

Still Simple. Now Stable.

2010-09-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

4 + 1 = 5

We are now the Ludovico 5. I can't believe I have

3 children.

I don't know how people do it. I am still trying to get used to school for Lucy and early risings with Jack and remembering to get breakfast, lunch and dinner ready at appropriate times. My parents were here for 10 days and I thought I was doing great; my house was always clean, food was always on the table, everything was really easy................................

Then they left.

Well, I am slowly but surely getting my crap together. I am still trying to keep life as simple as possible and Yes,

I am stable. (Although Ellie still likes to tell me I'm not).

I enjoy not being pregnant. And I enjoy even more having this

wonderful little person

in our home.

Jack is a sweet boy. He loves to pee on Daddy and Mommy and anyone else who takes too long changing his diaper. Lucy and Ellie are great big sisters and love their Jack Jack. Ellie has turned out to be a great little babysitter. She doesn't give up even if he's crying.

Jack is gaining an ounce a day. He is already 9lbs 13oz (born 8lbs 9oz) and grown an inch....all in 3 weeks.

More pics to come, but I have found that I took a million of Lucy when she was this age and I forget with Jack....will try to get better!

I'm Not Stable!

2010-07-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my girls were trying to crawl all over me when I was kneeling down. And being pregnant I don't have good balance. So I told the girls,

"Mommy's not stable..."

Well, that just started a whole conversation (almost daily) about how

mommy's not stable.

(Yes, I put this on my facebook update, so if it looks familiar...that's why.) Wow, if I had known that I would have to eat those words I would have never said them.

I could have said something about balance, maintaining equilibrium, staying upright, keeping steady, being wobbly....oh the options are endless.....

But noooooooooo, I had to say,

"Mommy's not stable..."

I hear the girls saying it all the time.

One day they were outside playing with the neighbor girl (who's mom was close enough to hear) and I heard them mention,

"my momma's not stable."

Then last night Ellie (she's 2) was laying in bed ready to go to sleep and here's how the conversation went:

Ele: "You're not stable, right?"

Mommy: "Well, only because I'm having a baby and it's hard for mommy sometimes when I'm kneeling down or bending down."

Ele: "But, you're not stable, right?"

Mommy: "Only because my tummy big and it's hard for me...." (she didn't let me finish).

Ele: "But, you're not stable right?"

Mommy: ".....right..."

Ele: "Cause you're so big, right?"

Mommy: "...right..."

Ele: "But, Daddy's stable, right?"

Mommy: "...right..."

A few minutes later she was asleep.

So, I've learned a few things:

Watch what you say to your children, even if you think it's safe.....nothing is safe!

And

When having a conversation with a 2 year old, stop trying to explain, because they don't care about long explanations (does anyone really?), they just need a one word answer.

Simple and to the point.

I'm sure I will have to explain about why I'm not stable to a few people, but I'm sure the damage will have already been done.

This is my husband and his obsession

2010-07-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

Surf from julius ludovico on Vimeo.

The Simple Life

2010-05-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

Nothing to write about.

My life is pretty simple. I don't have my kids involved in tons of daily activities.

Geez, we don't even have cable.

How boring!

I love my simple life.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

2010-04-08T19:08:00.001-07:00

Isn't this a great photo. It's of our cute little house (with the black truck in the carport).

It has been raining everyday, but as I remind my children (and they remind me back if I ever say anything negative about it) that rain makes everything beautiful. Gotta love rainbows!

(Thanks to my neighbor, Author Cheryl Okimoto, for the the fab pic. www.cherylokimoto.com)

Bag Lady

2010-03-12T11:03:00.001-08:00

Yep, this is my little bag lady. She carries around 5+ purses, bags, backbacks, etc. on her little stroller. You wouldn't believe what's she got in each bag, it's filled to the brim with anything and everything. Underwear, socks, jewelry, books, little tiny princess shoes, knik knacks...etc. She just takes it around the house and pretends to go to work or to school or shopping or wherever else little girls pretend to "go". She wont let anyone touch any of the bags or the stroller. I have tried many times to put things away, but I'm not very sly and it never works.

Gotta respect a girl and her bag.

Here's her stroller when she's not carrying it around. Too much stuff for the little thing to handle.

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. (Coco Chanel)

Lucy is both!

Happy Everything!

2010-03-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have neglected the blogging world for toooooo long.

Here are a few of the things we have been doing.

The girls and I went to the Discovery Center. I wont go on about the price, but man, if I'd known...let's just say it was only kinda worth it.

I don't know how many square feet there are to this place, but everything there is for children and the size of children. Guess what my girls played with almost the entire time....

The freakin' kitchen play stuff. Guess who has tons of kitchen play stuff at their own home? Lucy was totally obsessed with the plastic pink frosting donut.....she has asked for it numerous times for her birthday. So easy to please.

There are little rooms with places from around the world with something to do from that country. The girls had fun trying to use the chopsticks on the fake food in Japan.

There is a little store, with little carts and a little cash register. Guess what my girls filled their carts with...hmmmm....can you say ice cream? (I would do it, too.) They also loved the bubble blowing area. Mommy doesn't like blowing bubbles or being a part of anything to do with bubbles, so they were loving this and so was the little boy they were blowing them for..yuck, I hate bubbles.

This is just a sweet pic of Ele Bell. Isn't she cute. Gotta love them when they are asleep!

We went to Kauai with Julius and had a great 2 weeks. Here is Lucy on a tree swing outside of the place we were staying in Kohala.

We stayed with some friends at the Marriott in Waikiki for New Year's Eve. It was so great. I think we might make it a tradition....It's a little crazy in Hawaii on New Year's Eve. Staying at the hotel made it not so bad.

We were able to go and visit my family in California. We had so much fun! Playing games with the fam, eating with the fam, playing Wii with the fam....it was a blast.

I can't believe it's already March. The time goes quickly. We are safe a happy and enjoying life. Hope you are, too!

Oh, by the way we are having another baby, due September 11, 2010.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-17T12:38:00.001-08:00

And the WINNER is...

2009-12-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

KATRINA TAKAHASHI...
Didnʻt you win the last time Katrina?

It cost: 18.81

Just heard on the news about HUGE rats in China Town and closures to some of the stores...Hmmm, that doesnʻt sound all that inviting....Should I still go?

We are in Kohala (Big Island) for a couple of weeks, so I guess I have time to forget about the rat situation and will go again.

Guessing Time Again

2009-11-14T17:43:00.000-08:00

Had so much fun in China Town today....
a little bit too much.

I don't know what it is about it, I can't stop. I passed by some

Mint
and decided that I needed to make some spring rolls as it smelled too good to pass up. (I don't really know what else to do with mint.) I also bought:
Broccoli
Thai Basil
Bananas
Apples
Ginger
Zucchini
Red Pepper
Chives
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Carrot
Rice Wraps

How much did I spend?

Go Ahead, GUESS!

Just Being Honest

2009-11-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

I was going to go

on and on
about how I HATED Halloween and the candy and the dressing up and, and, and...
But, I decided that I was being really negative and people don't really want to hear me go
on and on
about my expectations and how they get SHOT DOWN...
So, I digress.

I will go on and on about something else.

Do you ever feel like a horrible mom?

Well, I do

ALL THE TIME!

Every night I go to bed and think, "What in the heck was I thinking when I did.....this or that?"
I am usually praying for forgiveness and asking to be a better mom tomorrow.

But then,
I was looking at some pictures and thinking.....wow, my girls have a pretty good life and are

very lucky

to have a mom like me.

(Good thing the pictures don't show me yelling or scolding them.)

I am hoping that these pictures will help the girls remember the good times we have together and not all the times I am the mother from
H-E-Double Hockey Sticks!

Being a parent is freakin' hard, but there are good times and fun times and funny times and happy times and great times and silly times and...I could go on forever. You get the drift.

I just need to enjoy the moment and remember to relax and
stop expecting things
to go a certain way.

Here are some moments I've enjoyed with my girls.

We were playing hide and go seek. Kids, you gotta love 'em!

At the beach. I love it when the girls sit together. I hope they continue to stay close.

Ellie's 2nd birthday. She was so excited to see the balloons and asked all day if she could eat her
"happy birthday cake".

You get to do anything on your birthday....that means all the band-aids you want and you don't even have to have any blood!

Some of her presents! Isn't she so cute?!

The girls love to have their toes painted. Though as soon as we are done Ellie wants to take it off because she HATES to sit there until they are dry. (Not some of my greatest mommy moments with this activity!)

Halloween. We only let them go to 10 or so houses. They were pouring candy into their bags...I kept saying "only 1 please"...they didn't really listen. We have finished all the chocolate and now I regret not letting people put tons in their bag and going to more houses....sure could use some more chocolate!

Leftovers

2009-09-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here we are AGAIN. At the BEACH. I'm sure you are not surprised. Hey, it's free and we all love it. The surf is starting to get good on the North Shore so this will be our new home for a while.

The girls wouldn't look at me or smile while I was trying to take pics, but I think these are almost as good as getting their cheesy little faces.

Leftovers is one of our favorite beaches. No people to bother us and the girls have the run of the place and can scream and yell as much as they want.

The tide was out and we could explore.

The girls wanted to catch some fish....I don't do that...That's Julius' thing and he was out surfing so I let them do it themselves! (Just so you know....I was just running something back to the tent...I wouldn't just leave my girls there in the water by themselves!) The girls decided catching fish wasn't any fun and started to make pancakes. I can do sand pancakes!

“My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go.” Thoreau

Water Babies

2009-09-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Here are my girls. They are my little water babies. Always asking to go to the beach or as Ellie calls it the "BEE".

Here are the girls playing at Ala Moana. Ellie is getting pretty brave my herself. And Lucy likes to swim out as far as we will let her...she would go further, but I'm not ready for that, yet!

Walk A Mile (or 2) In My Shoes

2009-08-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

Getting out of the house

BY MYSELF

is something to celebrate. Sometimes it seems impossible. My getting out of the house begins with screams and crys and "Mommy, mommy, mommy, no, no, no", or giving hundreds of hugs and kisses before I even get my shoes on. But it is always worth it.

Well, I have been able to get out and go

WALKING

3 days this week.

Usually I just walk and look at my feet and try to get the "exercising" over with as soon as possible. (I was going to say that I went jogging, but that would be an over exaggeration:) (And I NEVER do that!)

The last time I walked I started to look at STUFF. Wow, there is some cool STUFF out there. So I decided to take a few pics along the way. I'm sure some people thought I was a little crazy or if they were looking out their house windows, they would have yelled at the

crazy Haole girl,

but I was sly...well as sly as I can be...I'm not that smooth or coordinated.

Here are a few things I found along my way.

Here is the view from the top of the hill...just minutes....actually seconds from my home. The pic doesn't do it justice. (Unfortunately, we don't have this view from our home, but hey, I'll take what I can get!)

This is the fresh water stream that flows into the only fresh water pond on the Island. It's said that the pond is where the Kings and Queens used to bathe. (I'll have to take a pic of the pond sometime for you...I wouldn't bathe in it for a million dollars....okay, maybe a million.) The pics are from 2 different streets.

An old Chevy. Just sitting around, rusting. It's very cool, though.

Cool house. I think it's connected with the Japanese Library or maybe it is the Library...not sure, it's still cool, though.

The Hsu Yun Temple. (Chinese) It's HUGE!

A huge American flag and huge owl. (The owl is at the American Cancer Society House.)

A koi pond. You can't really see it, but there is a tiny village set up all around. I had to "walk-by" pic as it was in someone's yard:)

The Royal Mausoleum. All of Hawaii's Royalty are buried here...except King Kamehameha I. (His is a secret...shhhhh.)

I think there are 5 or 6 cemeteries on my walk, this is one of them. I have been fascinated with them since my mission in England. They are beautiful...during daylight hours.

Some of the MANY flowers along the way. Actually the last little purpley-blue one is a weed. Even weeds on Hawaii are beautiful!

Not sure if you can see it, but there is a faint rainbow. Always nice to see one of those:
1. It's beautiful.
2. It means that it has rained or is raining hence....it's cooler!

Seeing it was a nice way to end my walk.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

ALOHA and MAHALO!

Being Frugal IS Fabulous

2009-07-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to be
BETTER with my money, but I just seem to have this PROBLEM:
I LOVE TO SPEND MONEY.

It's kinda sad, because I even enjoy going out and buying toilet paper.....I know it's a sickness and I know I don't really have it and there are those out there who are in need of serious help, but I am really trying to live by a budget and be smarter.

So I was looking at some things and trying to get some ideas and here they are:

Save Money Grocery Shopping

Shop for produce at a local farm stand.
Never buy coffee, soda, or other drinks or snacks out.
Always grocery shop with a list.
Take advantage of sales on items that you would normally buy.
Only shop once a month.
Keep a price book and track prices by unit cost.
Stockpile staples when prices are low.
Buy generic items.
Plan meals according to what is on sale that week.
Take advantage of rainchecks if the store doesn’t have a sale item that you need.
Buy enough of a sale item to last 12 weeks. That’s about how long sales take to cycle.
Shop at discount marts: Grocery outlet, The Dollar Store, etc.
Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Many stores offer a small discount per bag.
Take advantage of stores that double coupons.
Watch out for deals on things that your friends need, and have them do the same for you.

Save Money on Cooking and Eating

Eat less meat.
Become a vegetartian.
Eat leftovers.
Cook large amounts and freeze extra for busy nights.
Scrape out food jars to use the last little bit.
Cook from scratch.
Never eat out.
Eat from your stocked pantry.
Bring lunch from home (it’s worth it to invest in proper containers).
Eat less. The average American eats too much.
Don’t use the vending machines at work.
Always have a meal plan. Always.
Use the Once a Month Cooking system.
Keep soup starter jars in the freezer. A little leftover this, a little leftover that. Nothing is wasted.
Get creative with leftovers. Concoct new recipes, so nothing is wasted.
Base most of your meals on rice or beans to cut down on meat consumption.
Look for events that entertain and feed you at the same time. Church socials, shopping at Sam’s (think about those free samples)…
Don’t drink soda. Drink water!
Make your own jello cups (or applesauce cups, or pudding cups) for lunches and snacks.
If your kids complain about generic cereal, put the generic in a name-brand box. They’ll never know the difference!
Rear your own chickens. (in Hawaii you can have 2 chickens per household.)
Join a freezer club. Get together with like-minded people to exchange meals for your freezers. It’s cheaper to prepare a lot of one meal and split it up, than to prepare a bunch of different meals.
Make your own baby food.
Always take a snack and bottle of water wherever you go. You won’t be tempted to stop for expensive fast food or drinks.
Grow your own produce. No room? Try a square foot garden! Or use pots on the patio.
Freeze, can, or dehydrate your produce.
Cook with the crockpot to avoid using the oven, which warms up the house.
Use a convection oven to accomplish the same purpose.

Save Money on Cars and Gas

Run errands once a week and use the most efficient route.
Walk as much as you can.
Stay home as often as possible.
Keep tires filled to their proper pressure.
Don’t suddenly stop or accelerate.
Carpool.
Bum a ride with friends and chip in for gas.
Ride your bike.
Use a diesel car if you have one.
Coast when you see a red light ahead, instead of hitting the brakes.
Use public transportation.
Try to get by with one car if you have two.
If you have one car that you only drive a couple of times a week, consider getting rid of it and using cabs.
Drive your car until it’s old. This works really well when you buy a car that will run for 200,000 miles.
Keep up on your car’s maintenance.
Turn your car off at lights.
Coast when you can.
Limit city driving.
Turn off the engine and coast to a stop. (Only do this if you know your car and know what you’re doing. It could be unsafe, depending on the car)
On a long trip, keep a steady foot.
Make it a challenge to see how far you can go on a tank of gas.
Use a discount card to buy gas. (Many grocery stores offer them, as well as Costco).
Fill up early in the morning when the air is cool, and the gas is dense. You’ll get more gas and less air.
Fill up when your tank is half empty.
Shop around for insurance. The rates can vary a lot!
Use gasbuddy.com to find the lowest price on gas.

Save Money on Utilities

Turn off every electrical item at the plug every night. Putting everything on power strips makes this easier.
Keep the lights off during the day.
Line dry clothes outside when it’s warm and sunny.
Line dry clothes by setting dryer racks over heater vents. Use your shower rod if you need even more room.
Let dishes air dry after running them through the dishwasher.
Cancel the cable.
Don’t use hot water in the summer.
Consider a family plan for cell phones.
Use CFL bulbs.
Turn down the thermostat (or turn it off). Use candles in the room to raise the temperature. A set of little tea candles goes a long way.
Don’t run the heater at night.
Open windows on summer nights to cool down the house.
Use a fan.
Get rid of your land line and use your cell phone.
Take short showers.
Insulate your water pipes.
Install low flow showerheads and aerators on all faucets.
If you’re going to be in and out all day, park on the street, rather than using the electric garage door opener multiple times.
If you live in an apartment, see if you can split the cost of a wireless connection with your neighbors. But make sure it’s legal first.
Turn off the PC if you won’t be using it for an hour or more.
Use nightlights that only come on when it’s dark.
Use nightlights in the bathroom, so if you have to use the bathroom at night, you don’t have to turn on the light.
Keep the freezer full. If you have to, put milk jugs filled with water in the freezer. It’s less expensive to keep a full freezer cold than an empty one.
Never leave the water running when rinsing dishes, brushing teeth, etc. Only use the water you need.
Have your young children shower with you, instead of giving them separate baths.

Save Money on Medical Needs

Use a flexible spending account or cafeteria plan, so you can pay out-of-pocket medical expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Ask your doctor to prescribe generic medication.
Buy generic medication at Walmart or Target. They have a lot of different medications available for $4.

Saving Money on Clothing

Limit clothes shopping.
Shop at thrift stores.
Shop garage sales.
Sew, using discount fabric (easy to find at garage sales).
Change into play clothes after school to keep good clothes looking nice.
Re-use jewelry. If you lose a beautiful earring, put the one you have on a chain and wear it as a necklace.

Save Money Around the House

Use only half of a dishwasher tablet at a time.
Use rechargeable batteries for electronics and toys.
Store batteries in the refrigerator. They last longer.
Do repairs (paint touch ups, sewing, etc) one day a week. If you keep things in good working order, they last longer.
Accept hand-me-downs. You can donate them if you can’t use them.
Do home repairs yourself.
Reuse things. An example: Plastic grocery bags can be reused as lunch bags, shoe bags, or laundry bags on vacation.
Email for free samples. You can get some good stuff!
Wash and re-use Ziplock bags.
Make your own Christmas cards by making a collage from the fronts of Christmas cards you received the previous year.
See if your local dump or transfer station offers free firewood or garden mulch. Take advantage of it.
Use water from boiling eggs or pasta to water your plants.
If you’ve bought stuff that you haven’t used, see if you can return it.
If you rent, rent from a person, not a company. You’re more likely to have some of your utilities paid, especially if your place is a room inside a house or a basement apartment.
Move in with roommates.
If you and your family or friends have a lot of websites, consolidate them all into one hosting package and split the cost.
Flush toilet only after you use it 2-3 times. (eww...don't really like this one.)
Use a kitchen rag instead of paper towels.

Save Money on Entertainment

Cancel magazine subscriptions.
Use the library for books, magazines, and movies. See if you can reserve them online and then just pick them up.
Read newspapers online.
Celebrate “no spend” weekends, where you don’t spend anything.
Prepare special dinners at home, rather than going out to celebrate.
Eat out only once a month.
Use hotel points and airline miles for vacation.
Split an entree with someone else when you go out for dinner.
Do free things for entertainment: Hiking, free city concerts, board games.
Only order from the dollar menu when eating out.
Go to the park and have a picnic.
Take advantage of “get in free” days at the museum, etc.
To find special festivals, get a free state tourism guide.
If you find that you go somewhere a lot (a zoo, amusement park), buy a season pass.
Entertain at home. Have friends over for dinner, or have a game night and just serve snacks.
Make your own “take out” style meals. Pizza is a good way to start. And if you do a recipe search for your favorite restaurant foods, there are some good knock offs out there!
Trade babysitting with friends who also need a sitter.

Save Money on Miscellaneous Things

Only get haircuts every 8-10 weeks, instead of every 6 weeks.
Cut your own hair.
Do your own manicures.
Shop for Christmas gifts year round to catch the good sales.
Compost…it’s good for the garden.
Dumpster dive, if you’re brave and it’s legal where you are.
Sell something every week.
Never spend change. Collect it and put it in a savings account.
Get rid of excess stuff. It costs less to store and maintain.
Sell it on eBay or Craigslist.
Or have a garage sale.
Or give it away on Freecycle.
Don’t watch TV. It cuts down on wants.
Get rid of the TV all together.
Enter blog giveaways. You never know what you might win.
If you get a raise, don’t increase your lifestyle. Save the extra or pay off debts!
If you’re a two income family, make sure the second income is more than the expenses associated with working.
Use a fee free credit card with rewards. Charge everything to get the rewards. But ONLY do this if you are diligent about paying it off every single month. If you pay interest, it isn’t worth it.
Pay off debt as quickly as possible. Saves on interest.
Make sure you get get the best interest rate on your savings, CD’s, etc.
Invest your money. Make it grow.
Use a budget.
Use a spreadsheet to keep track of variable expenses.
Use cash.
Change your mindset. Instead of thinking “what do I need to buy?”, think, “what do I have that I can use?” That’s how people got through the Great Depression.
Give stuff you don’t use to others. It gets your mind off of your situation and onto others. And it promotes a sense of contentment and gratitude.

Here are a few things I found. I am already doing a few, but there are a few more things I could be doing that will help. Hope this helps you.

Thanks to
BeingFrugal.net http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession

Also go to my friends website, she is really great!
http://www.beingfrugalisfabulous.com/

Oh the picture:
It's to help me remember to get my little one out of diapers and onto the toilet more...that will save a lot of money!

Hair Today, Gone Today

2009-07-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I couldn't handle it any longer.

It had to go.

I still have WHITE TRASH hair, but at least there isn't so much of it now!

I'm not looking for compliments, but doing this because I know there are those of you out there who wont get your hair cut short because you are scared, but you WANT to. Come on, hair is hair. It will grow back, it's not like your having surgery or anything. You feel like a new woman!

Now, I have a great husband who doesn't care what I do with my hair. There are some of you who keep it long for them.

Really come on.

Do you think he wont love you anymore? I did hear of a couple where the man will divorce the wife if she ever cuts her hair. What do you file that under...property damage? Well, I'm sure there are things you can do to get him to agree and like it, but we will not discuss them here....it's a family show.

Do not delay. Get out there and just do it. If you don't like it (I'm sure you will) your hair will grow back and you can wear one of those cool bandannas or something...start a new trend.

I will probably grow my hair long again, but I will probably cut it even shorter the next time!

Here are some reasons I miss my long hair.

1. I can wake up in the morning and put it in a ponytail and go.

2. I can go to the beach and put it in a ponytail and go.

3. I can get out of the shower and put it in a ponytail and go.

Here are some reasons I wont miss my long hair.

1. I don't look like a frumpy mom who just wakes up in the morning and puts my hair in a ponytail and goes. Long hair everywhere, in toes, in food, on pillows, in brush, in shower drain, etc.

2. I hate sleeping with long hair. I don't sleep well. It was always getting caught in armpits or I wouldn't be able to move my head until I pulled my hair up or in my face.....etc.

3. Long hair everywhere, in toes, in food, on pillows, in brush, in shower drain, etc.

4. It's HOT! And that's not the Paris Hilton's version of hot, I mean temperature wise.

5. It's HEAVY! And I don't mean philosophically speaking, I mean weight wise.

I could go on and on, but you get the gist. Don't be afraid, Just Do it! You will thank me in the morning!

BBQ Rules

2009-06-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

We have entered the BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this outdoor cooking activity. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ, the following chain of events are put into motion:

Routine....

(1) The woman buys the food.

(2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables and makes dessert.

(3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill.

(4) The woman remains outside the compulsory three feet exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.

Here comes the important part:

(5) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.

More routine....

(6) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.

(7) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring him an ice cold beverage while he flips the meat.

Important again:

(8) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.

More routine...

(9) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauce and brings them to the table.

(10) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:

(11) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.

(12) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed her "night off ", and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.

The Gall Bladder's connected to the.....

2009-06-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

Well, no longer is mine connected to anything. It's gone and I couldn't be happier...or maybe it's because I'm on percocet. (Okay, I'm not anymore.)

My mom came and took care of the girls while I slept and slept and slept....did I mention that I slept. She'd put them to sleep for naps and bed times and even got up with them in the middle of the night... HEAVEN!

The girls went on walks, had hundreds of books read to them, got some new movies, and spent almost the entire 9 days with my mom. Well, there were a few occasions when my mom and I would have to go to "meetings"(we got another toe ring, sushi, shave ice, etc.... some really important "meetings") so we did spend a little time together.

Julius was the chef and made us some wonderful dinners ( Thai panang...so good). Don't know what I would have done without my mom and Julius. It was wonderful to not have to worry about anything. I haven't cooked, cleaned or put kids to bed in 9 days. Good things must come to an end. I must go and do my duties, my mom's gone and I can't act like I'm in pain any longer.

(Just a cute pic of the girls at the beach. I was going to put a pic of a gall bladder or gall bladder surgery, but thought the pic of the girls would be more appreciated and prettier.)

Being a Mom

2009-05-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

I had no idea what being a mom would be like, though I'd spent most of my life preparing. I remember the day I brought Lucy home; Julius left for work and I was alone with this little person. I was tired, sore, freaked out and still had laundry to do. I had made goals my entire life: Get good grades, graduate from high school, seminary, college, travel, mission, marry, and the last but not least have kids. Well, I did all of that, what they heck do I do NOW? I have no more goals. They didn't talk about this part in young women's.

I remember calling my mom and asking her that very question, "what do I do now?". I now am raising 2 beautiful girls who make my life so happy, sad, crazy, fun, etc. I have had the mommy bear come out to a few people (let's hope they never show up at my church and see me), I have felt helpless when they are sick, I have felt like I was going to go crazy when they don' listen, I have lost it a few times when they cry, and on and on. I tried to start a garden and was really disappointed when I couldn't get anything to grow. I called my mom and asked her what I should do. She told me to focus on growing my children and worry about the garden later.

I am growing my children and loving it (most days).

Happy Mother's Day!

Stay sane and do something for yourself!

HMMM........

2009-04-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

My Photo Shoot

2009-03-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

I am not a photographer, that it for sure, but I do enjoy seeing if I can get one good shot of the girls....don't worry this is not it. I decided to do another of my horrible photo shoots one rainy morning, the girls seemed happy, which always is good, and I seemed more patient than normal, which is really good, so we tried it!

I had to bribe them with 4 bags of SpongeBob fruit snacks and be their personal clown. I did end up getting a couple good shots in the half an hour I spent, but I'm not doing that again for a while.

I guess it's better than going and spending a bunch of money to have their pictures taken and then have them cry the whole time, which I'm sure the girls would do. This photo, I think, is of Ellie asking for the fruit snacks in Lucy's hand.

2009-01-22T00:16:00.000-08:00

We are in Kauai and having a great time. It has turned out to be a wonderful vacation even though Julius has been working. There are a ton of roosters that crow at all times of the day and night, but surprisingly it hasn't really bothered me (I think having children that get up at all times of the night has really numbed me to things).

It has been really cold here and I have been wearing socks everyday. I know some of you will make fun of my (and some of you already have) but it has been like 60 degrees at night.....that's cold. Even if you live in cold places you don't let your house get that cold....there is nothing we can do about it, there are no heaters here. I am enjoying it though trying to soak it up as much as possible because I know in a bit I will be whining because it's too hot!

We've seen wet caves, dry caves, amazing views from Kokee, Waimea Canyon, went quading at an old sugar cane reservoir, and of course went to the beach. It has been great! Here is a picture of a waterfall on the way up to the Kokee State Park. The picture does not do it justice, but you get the jist of it.....it was amazing!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T14:05:00.000-08:00

Goals for this year, in no particular order:

Spend more time with children. All the cleaning will be there when I'm finshed, unfortunately they don't get done without me.

Be more Patient.

Don't overreact. I'm so drama queen sometimes.

Spend less time doing things that don't really matter. I love to do things that are of no worth, when I really should be doing other things. (i.e. sometimes I spend too much time on the computer, doing nothing....way too much time.) It's okay sometimes, but I go a little overboard....I know, me go overboard? NEVER!

Family History with my mom.

Spend less money. I love to buy crap, things I don't really need...I get a little carried away at the local thrift store or Wal Mart....Hey it's only a dollar, right?!

EXERCISE more.

Do my visiting teaching.

NOT BE EASILY PROVOKED. (This is a big one for me!)

There you go...I'd better get started. What are some of yours?

And the Winner is....

2008-12-21T23:46:00.000-08:00

Aaron...he was the closest guess. The price was $14.70, he guessed $15. Until next time.....

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is being good so Santa doesn't skip your house this year. Be safe and remember the real reason we celebrate!

A Must Watch!

2008-12-18T15:43:00.000-08:00

So Cute and SO true!

(Don't forget to guess, it's still going.)

Guessing Time Again....

2008-12-14T16:50:00.001-08:00

So what do you think, $20, $30, $100....The possibilities are endless and this time there will be a prize! (Take a guess at what the brown thing is in the bottom right corner.) Two guessing games in one....you are so lucky (or I just really want some comments)!

Living in Hawaii has a few perks and China Town in one of them! Have fun! After 5 guesses I will give a hint (that is if no one guesses correctly).

Will I Ever Sleep Again?

2008-12-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

That is the question I ask myself nightly. I spoke too soon when I was telling my friend that my girls were doing great sleeping in their own beds and I'm sleeping. The last few nights I just couldn't wait for the sun to come up. At 11 and 12 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5. Getting back to sleep is no easy feat for me. I just pray for the patience to carry on and make it until it's time to really get up.

Is it just me or does anyone else have this problem? If is not Lucy it's Ellie. If it's not Ellie is Lucy. Recently the thought of going to bed gives me anxiety. Getting comfortable and relaxing isn't nice anymore. I know I will be awaken by, "mommy, I want hold your hand", "mommy, I want to sleep in your bed", WAHHHHHHHHHHH!", "WAHHHHHHHH",WAHHHHHHHH", or "mommy, I have a go pee pee". All legitimate excuses, but man it sure can take a toll on you during the day. Oh and get this, if I'm not up with them I'm usually dreaming that I am, yes dreaming, about getting up in the middle of the night with them. Sucks, I know!

Will I ever get time to myself, will I ever get to take a shower by myself, will I ever get to go to the store without hearing, "I want, I want" (oh, wait that's me), will I ever get to do my exercise video without having someone sitting on my lap, will I ever get to eat a meal is peace while it's hot, will I ever sleep again? I know there will come a day when they wont want me and I'll stay awake anyway and check on them and worry about them and fret over them, and and and...

How's your day going?

Guess I wont be moving to the Big Island anytime soon!

2008-11-29T16:24:00.001-08:00

While Julius was on the Big Island (Kohala) he went surfing. When he came back this very nice message was on his rental car window.

Move Over Beethoven

2008-11-29T15:39:00.000-08:00

We had a great time in California. I spent money, did stuff with friends and had a nanny (aka mom), how much better could it get. The girls and I had a great time with the family. The weather was spectacular, well it was cold between 4pm and 12pm, but the rest of the time was great.

We are happy to be home and back to our regular routine. There is nothing like a vacation, but being home is really great, too!

Here are the girls playing the piano at mommer and papa's house. Aren't they cute!?!?!?!?

CALIFORNIA

2008-11-06T12:36:00.001-08:00

I'm in Sacramento (freezing my little toesies

off) and loving ever minute of it (well, Julius isn't here so maybe not every minute). The girls are having so much fun with the family. I am sitting here right now by myself...no children jumping on me, crying for or because of something, asking for food or a drink, ecetera, ectera, ectera. This is going to be a really good three weeks! Will post soon!

Born To Be Surfers

2008-10-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

Momma Bear

2008-10-04T00:24:00.000-07:00

(This picture has nothing to do with my post, just thought it was cute and that you'd like to see one of my many "photo shoot gone wrong".

So, the other day I had to go to Wal-Mart to get a few things and of course I took my children with me. I like to go out early in the morning, first, because they are up dang early and we might as well and second, because going out and doing things gets them dang tired and they take really great naps. Well we weren't there more then 2 minutes and Lucy starts whining and crying and wanting to be carried, wanting to look at princess stuff (if she is crying and whining I don't let her look at stuff she likes), so I decide to just get the toilet paper and leave. Well, as we are walking to the cash registers, I have all the old cronies looking at me and at Lucy and wondering if she's lost or a brat or whatever (old people... love you guys, but sometimes....didn't you have children once?), but one lady.....says as she walks past me, "Gosh (the other word), shut up,mumble, mumble, mumble". Right in front of me! I don't know what happened to me, but I totally lost it. I am right there near the cash registers and I'm not really sure how loud I said this, but I said, "Haven't you ever had bad day.......Well, she's having one today!!!!!"

She didn't like that very much and by the looks of it I didn't get support from anyone around me. I have never felt the mother bear come out in me. I have felt it in other ways, but never the protecting from another person, and I was mad and irritated at Lucy, but couldn't help but feel... protective. WEIRD! So now I'm mad at Lucy and mad at this old lady, my day started off really well. I did have to call me conscience (my mom) to make sure I did the right thing. (She always knows how to make me feel better.) She told me just wait until the kids get older and you have people coming to your door to tell you what your kid has done....not looking forward to that. I guess I can live with them having fits in Wal-Mart.

Anyone ever done anything like that?

The Answer

2008-09-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

You were all WRONG. Sorry, no one wins the trip to Hawaii. (Lib, I didn't get any help finding my eternal companion...so you are on your own, too.....though your mom tried her darndest to help!) Jody you cheated because you know I only spend usually around $20. Bad Girl!

$21, that's all I spent (that's counting all the stuff that's not in the picture, too). Not too bad huh! Hope you had fun guessing! More guessing games to come. (You'll have to play the next guessing game to find out what the prize was!)

China Town

2008-09-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Moving to town we decided that we needed to start going to China Town (we live only a few minutes away) to get our fruits and veggies and a other things. Well it took us a while, but now we go every week, sometimes 2 times. Missing from this picture is 3 bags of mung beans, 3 plums, 2 nectarines, 2 bananas and 4 filipino thingys (we kinda get a little hungry while we are there and eat them before we even get to the car or give them to people).

Our kids love to eat the fruit and veggies and it is soooo much cheaper than at the grocery store (this would probaby cost close to $50 at the grocery store....no joke). We are eating healthier and fresher. I love it when the girls go into the fridge and get out broccoli (yes, they love it) or a nectarine or plum...they think it's candy!

I was going to tell you how much everything cost, but decided against it...I want you to guess (that's a way to get some comments)! Whoever guesses right, first, I will do something for you...maybe!

Tanks, eh!

2008-09-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

What is it about comments; it really makes one (me) feel special. I know people look at my blog, but comments are the BEST! Thanks to my friends and sister-in-law for the many comments that they left. I know they were from me and 3 other people, but it was fun to see the 24 comments on the bottom of the post. I know I sound really pathetic and I might be, but it was fun! Mahalo!

Our Sufer Girl

2008-09-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

Whether she wants to or not, Daddy is going to have a surfer in the family. Lucy does love to get on Daddy's board and paddle in the little tide pool (so we aren't forcing too much...just supporting and encouraging more in certain areas). This is the first time she stood up on the board and was doing really good, she has always had really great balance (she takes after Daddy). Now Ellie on the other hand didn't enjoy sitting on the board (hence, no pic of Ellie) and takes after Mommy with her balance.

100% Guaranteed to Cure a Cough

2008-09-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Okay so maybe it's not 100% guaranteed, but I love it and it seems to work for me. If any of us have a cough, we put VICKS VAPOR RUB on the bottom of our feet and then put socks on.....totally works for us and we sleep nicely through the night.

Other things I live by:

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, don't ask questions just use it.
O.P.I (or whatever it is) for my fingernail polish
Hyland's Teething Tablets
O.B. tampons
Clorox2 for colors to clean the spots on my rug
Define-A-Lash Maybelline Mascara Waterproof

There are probably so many more and I will think of them as soon as I post this blog, but....

YOURS?

Make Life Easier

2008-08-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

I love the magazine Parenting, it has so many great articles that (if you actually do it) can make a parents life a little easier. When kids come along life gets a little (a lot) crazier.

Julius and I used to go surfing all the time. We would get home from work, stick our boards on the car and go. We would get to the beach take our boards and surf for hours then go home. Now we have to get toys, bathing suits, snacks, tent, umbrella, lots of towels, extra snacks, sippy cups, diaper bag (and make sure it actually has diapers in it) clothes to put on after we shower them off, usually someone screams and pitches a fit before we go, and....well, you get the picture. And that is before we even get to the beach! But we have gotten it down to a science and enjoy going, but there are some things we can do to make our lives easier.

1. SAY "NO". Do you really have to volunteer for everything. People already like you, don't make yourself crazier that you already are! "Yes" is simpler to say, but is it really?

Even simple things like letting your daughter/son choose from their entire closet full of clothes, say NO and only let them choose between two of them. Or alternate foods at dinner time.....say NO and if they don't eat what you've given them....too bad. I have a friend who makes different meals for each of her children (and husband)......I don't think so!

2. ASK FOR HELP. Pretty simple, but so hard. I have kind of forced a friendship at church (Hi Nicole)...I know, I'm pushy what can I say, but I wanted to have someone close that I can go to for help and that I can help as well (it goes both ways, so if you ask for help be ready to give it). We are there if someone needs to drop off kids to go somewhere or just talk. It's kinda nice. Asking for help takes you out of your comfort zone a little, but it is so worth it in the long run.

3. PLAN AHEAD. My ward starts at 8am (I know!). We used to get up and force everything....baths, breakfast, clothes, hair etc. I usually went to church without the spirit, with crying babies and usually missing something from the diaper bag. Now I get everything ready the night before. Church really is so much more pleasant...I am sooooo much more pleasant! My children like me so much better and I don't have feel guilty anymore. Just a little planning is all is takes.

4. LET YOURSELF OFF THE HOOK. Don't compare yourself to all of your friends and try to keep up with whatever they are doing. The grass always seems greener on the other side! Don't be so hard on yourself when your kids are screaming in the store and you have to drag them out kicking and screaming or when you spend all of church out in the hall because you kid is being bad. It's okay, we all have to go through it! You're a good parent....I promise!

5. DO ONE THING AT ONCE. How many of us drive, shop, play with our kids, talk to our friends while thinking of all the hundreds of things we have to do for church, school, work, kids, house, etc. STOP! Just do whatever it is your doing, all the other stuff will be there later. I find writing stuff down helps me to get it out of my head, then I don't have to think about it again until I have to do it. Be in the moment. If you are playing with your kids, just enjoy playing with them. I am not a great mutitasker, so this one is really good for me. I think multitasking is bad for your health!

Taken from the May 2008 Parenting magazine, "I'll try anything!" pg 103-106 (with my added 2 cents!)

What have you done to make your life easier? I want to know!!!!

Why I Don't Buy Toys!

2008-08-29T01:22:00.001-07:00

Yes, my children do have toys, but I don't really go out and buy them, they come to me, but even if I did spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on my kids, what do they end up playing with???????.............the crap in your cupboards! Ellie loves the plastic container cabinet. The second she pulls them out she will leave and the second I put them back in she's back to do it again! It totally drives me insane, but then it keeps her quiet for a few minutes....I'm a total sucker for a few minutes of quiet!

Who would have thought...

2008-08-14T02:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I have to...Dark Knight was an awesome movie. I actually went on a date with my hubby (first time in a long time) and he wasn't into watching The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, so I gave in a saw Dark Knight. Holy Moly, I was chewing a piece of gum and didn't realize that I was chomping down on it so hard until the end of the movie....My jaw hurts!! Heath Ledger (God rest his poor troubled soul) who was amazing, I sat at the edge of my seat the entire movie waiting for what he would do next.

Go see it, you'll be glad you did!

My Lookielous

2008-08-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

The girls love to look out the window and see what's going on in the neighborhood. They both get their little toes up on the baseboard and hang on for dear life on the window ledge, it's so cute! They know the sound of our truck and know that daddy or mommy is coming home. They also look out and wave when the neighbors are coming and going.

Confession

2008-08-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

So I lost my voice and for the last couple of days our home has been very calm. Are those two connected?

My Surfer Dude

2008-07-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

Here is my husband body surfing (no board) at a spot called Point Panic. He is totally obsessed with looking at pictures of himself surfing, it's kinda cute (why do guys like looking at pics of themselves?). There is a guy who takes pictures of the body surfers out there early in the morning and Julius loves to go to the guy's website and see how many good shots there are of his body surfing session...this one is pretty cool! You can only body surf at this spot as it is very close to the rocks and isn't all that surfer friendly...although he has surfed there (if you get caught it's a $50 fine).

Bad Jamie!

2008-07-12T00:43:00.000-07:00

Went to Costco tonight and I totally traded grapes for ice cream and cookies....is that bad?

Past and Present Addictions Meeting For The First Time

2008-07-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

I used to love the New Kids On The Block...It is more than 18 years ago that I had my heart set on marrying Joe McIntyre. Well, I never did marry Joe, but I did save all their stuff I bought and have sold it on ebay!!!!!

I love ebay, what is it about ebay that is just so....addicting, fun, exciting, different....when I put my stuff for sale on ebay, it's...euphoric. I love to sign in and go to "My eBay" and see how much the price has gone up since the last time I checked (which is usually every 5 mins...I get excited). My NKOTB stuff is selling like hotcakes. Man, people out their are strange...yes, I know I bought this stuff myself, but that was 20 years ago! (Man, I never thought I'd ever say "20 years ago"...weird!) I have sold my magazines, old worn out...wait let's be politically correct, "vintage" t-shirts, buttons, card games, and right now the ugly carpenter's hat is at 10.00

Two worlds coming together. One addiction, that I put a lot of money into, is making me money on another addiction. I've made enough money to pay for our car registration....gotta love that!

A Wonderful Start to a Long Weekend

2008-07-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

I call this picture "my little crabs". Julius took the day off and we went to the beach. I know you are probably thinking that we are pretty boring as we always do the same thing, but we really do love the beach. We were there all by ourselves which was really nice! The girls just played and played, Julius surfed, and I read a book and took pictures of the girls. Ele feel asleep on the way home and Lucy asked to take a nap.....who could ask for anything more?!?!?!?!

HAPPY Independence Day!

Yeah, Right!

2008-07-03T02:07:00.001-07:00

You Are Snow White!

Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

"Old Lady"?!

2008-06-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

Old Lady? Old Lady! While we were at the beach the other day I was taking pictures of the girls and these little kids were playing around us and one of them said to another, "hey, watch out, the old lady is taking pictures." WHAT? Old Lady? Excuse me?

Though I have started to notice my eyes are different, what in the heck are those lines all around them? Why do my eye lids seem to stay pushed to one side after I put on my eye shadow? What is this spare tire thing that has seemed to get caught around my waist after I turned 30? Why does the skin on the back of my hands seem to be thinning? What is this gray thing growing out of my head? Why are there lines on my forehead when I'm not even scrunching my eyebrows together? Are my lips getting smaller/thinner? What is happening to my body?

Old Lady? Well, I guess. It's pretty sad, though... it's only when I've started to become an "old lady" that I've really gotten to like myself better....now that everything seems to be falling apart, I'm more happy with who I am. But, I think I might have to stop smiling, laughing and scrunching my eyebrows together. Can't afford anymore wrinkles! We never appreciate things when we have them. Never thought one should appreciate snappy eye lids....wish I would have known!

Going Green

2008-06-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not a tree hugger and/or environmentalist, by any means, I don't even really believe in global warming (I know, I'm going to hear it from some of you for that comment), but I do believe in saving money and if "going green" is the way to do it I'm all for it! Save a few trees or land fills while I'm at it.

Here are just a few things that I'm doing:

Reusable bags from the grocery store. If I forget them I will carry the stuff out without the bag, I usually get stopped and have my receipt checked because they think I'm stealing....

Hanging my clothes out in the line to dry. I love this one and am totally obsessed with doing it! We have cut our gas bill in half by doing this....they smell really good, too.

Our water heater is turned down almost to the lowest temp....our visitors don't really care for this, but come on we live in Hawaii.

We started a garden. The picture you see is the start of it, tomatoes, watermelon, and cucumbers.

Being efficient while washing dishes. I always thought my mom was so weird doing this, but I have totally turned into her! While I am rinsing the dishes I have the other one ready and while I'm putting the one I just rinsed in the drainer, I am rinsing the other on off.....it is really efficient, not only do I save water, but I get my dishes done really fast.

I shop at the thrift stores or on craigslist, I don't know why more people don't do this. There is some really great stuff out there and for really cheap.

I turn off my oven for the last few minutes of cooking. There is enough heat in there to finish the job.

All of my electrical things that don't need electricity all the time (i.e. refridge) are connected to surge protectors and I turn them off whenever not in use.

RECYCLE!! We don't have a program in our area for newspapers, cardboard, or the plastic items with 1 or 2 on the bottom, but my friend's area does. So I save up my stuff and take it to her place and add it to her stuff.

I know some of these things sound a little silly, but it has really made a difference in our bills and my peace of mind. I'm not patting myself on the back, just letting you know what's working for us. I don't want to be a wasteful person and I am trying....very trying (as my mom would always say).

Just A Pic Of The Family

2008-06-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

I HAD A BAD DAY

2008-05-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, I did have a bad day and I wrote a little song to go with it. Tune to Daniel Powter's Bad Day.

BAD DAY

Where is the moment I needed the most
You have 2 babies and the magic is lost
I’ll tell you my blue skies faded to gray
I’ll tell you my passion’s gone away
And I don’t want to carry on

You wake up in the morning and hit a new low
You’re faking a smile with the Cheerios you go
I’ll tell you my life feels way off line
I’m falling to pieces with every whine
And I don’t want to carry on

Because I had a bad day
I’m feeling real down
I sing a primary song to turn it around
Lucy says “NO, NO!”
She tell me lots of lies
I work at a smile and I want to sigh
I had a bad day
The wrinkles don’t lie
I’m getting real old and I really do mind
I had a bad day
I had a bad day

I Love Life ...For Today, Anyway

2008-05-13T02:10:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I just go about my day and forget that there is a big world out there. I get so caught up in doing laundry, cleaning this or that, putting Lucy in time-out, that I forget to have fun. Well, I went to the beach on Saturday and Monday and had a great time. Ellie loves to explore the sand and Lucy loves to play in the water. What more could a woman ask for. We are potty training and have had a few "incidents" that I wont go into, (but if you really want to know, email me and I will tell you), but they were pretty funny. I am really glad not many people were around! Life is good and I enjoy getting out and getting sun, it's good for the soul. My goal is to do fun things more often with the girls; dishes, laundry, and time-outs can wait, they are still going to be there when I come home!

I Hit Her

2008-05-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

(Now before you go and call CPS on me, read.) Lucy and Ellie have finally started to play together (by play I mean Ellie wants to be near Lucy whenever possible). Lucy doesn't really like to have Ellie around when they are playing because Ellie touches her stuff and Lucy is in time out a lot as she "disciplines" Ellie for it. For the most part I am near and see Lucy doing it, hence the time outs. One day I hear Ellie scream and cry and see Lucy running out of their bedroom (with a guilty face) and I asked her what happened, she said "I hit her". First, I was thrown off because she said a sentence, second, because I understood it, and third, because she told the truth. I didn't know what to do, so I just turned around a walked away (to get Ellie, I'm not too neglectful, this all took place in a matter of seconds). I got some good advice from my mom as I always do, but I would like to know what you would do. She was honest, I wasn't there to see it, I know I should have done something, but what? And what should I do to get Lucy to be nicer to her Ellie?

Potty Training

2008-05-08T03:19:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that this would be soooo hard? I have to say, I don't enjoy it one bit. It always just seems kids one day are in diapers and the next they are in undies. No one told me that I would have to ask her every other minute for who knows how many days about going pee-pee or poo-poo. You know I used to have decent conversations with people, now my day consists of talking about bowel movements. Today we had a little drama about going #2 in the toilet. Lucy was totally freaking out, not wanting to "go" on the toilet. Well, after 30 minutes of her saying, "No pee-pee, poo-poo in toilet" (I wont tell you I saw "it" wanting to come out...gross) I got her to put on a diaper. Well, she lasted all of 2 minutes in the diaper and then told me she wanted to go in the toilet. After she did some of her business came out she got very excited, but then started to cry.....oh,the drama. After more than a half and hour of whining, crying and fighting me about going on the toilet she did it and we did a little dance of joy in the bathroom. OK, maybe I do enjoy some aspects of it....crazy, I know!