It's time to save!

It's shopping day! You'd think that with such excitement I would be talking about clothing, shoes or make-up when in fact I'm this excited about going to the grocery store. :) I've dabbled in couponing over the years, but never found that they saved me that much money until recently. I got hooked to the show, Extreme Couponing, as well as discovering that I have a couple friends that already do very well using coupons. I figured that I could develop the art of using coupons along with sales to get items for free. Who doesn't love free stuff?! I've been working on my skills since May and it is like a game. I've saved a few hundred dollars just in paper coupons and this money is in a separate account! Now if you've seen Extreme Couponing you may think that I'm leaving the store with 50 mustards...that's not me. I usually have about three coupons for any one item so my stash doesn't get ridiculous. Some shopping trips are more fun than others depending on how many deals I get. Since May, I've accumulated multiple free tubes of Colgate, deodorant under $1, free hand soap, free contact solution and even free tampons. :)  Although I love free, items that are extremely discounted are just as exciting. :) Today wasn't a free day, but I did get six air freshener items for $5 (well 2 of the items were free :) ), BOGO on chicken and 88 cent milk. Watching the numbers at the register tick down makes me feel so accomplished in my preplanning.

Although groceries are usually where most of my finds are, I do read a blog that gives me tips on other places to score free and/or discounted items. For example, Smashbox online has a deal every Tues and Thurs on makeup. Today I bought an eye shadow on sale and received 4 other bonus items. I can't wait until it arrives! I've also scored two free 8x8 photo books from Shutterfly which saves $30 for each book! You gotta love that!

I work on all planning while the kiddos are asleep then I shop when Dylan is at school. Ava rides along in the front pack with her wide eyes watching everyone. The checkers actually remember us because of Ava. :) Then to reward myself and a successful shopping trip, I go to the in-store Starbucks for an iced pumpkin spice latte. Mmmmm!  

My workout window...

Today I decided that no matter what time the workout window appeared, I was going to be ready. I recently accepted that even though I may want to workout after I drop Dylan off at school on T,W,& Th, it may not be in the cards for Ava. She has decided to put herself on a pretty regular nap schedule. Falling asleep in Child Watch is not her favorite thing. I understand this. Who wants to nap around strangers in a bouncer that doesn't smell like home? I tried this workout window theory last week, but realized that I needed to be ready to walk out the door before something else pops up. So...today I was ready. I wore my clothes for three hours before it appeared. Then smiley Ava gave me the nod that it was time.

Despite how irregular my workouts have been lately, today was going to be a running day...painful. I am the runner that lip syncs to the songs on my shuffle; rocking out as I run. I figure, this is the best way to get through the run as I find that stride once again. Don't get me wrong, as I'm rocking out I'm also scanning the room watching for the ladies in the purple shirts. These are the Child Watch ladies looking for parents of crying children. It's like they walk into the gym with a dark theme song. If you look around, you see all the potential targets staring at these women hoping it isn't their turn. They used to come after me all the time with Dylan. We had it down to a head nod and I knew my workout was over. Ava has only sent them once. :) After a 5k on the treadmill and ab routine I checked my favorite workout accessory, my Polar watch, and I burned over 500 cal. in 53 min. It felt great! Now my tomato red face was ready to pick up my angel, head home and get ready for my little man.

As the day wore on, we added two playdates to the September calendar and hit up frozen yogurt after dinner with a BOGO coupon. It was a great way to start off the week!

Let's get started...

When talking about stay-at-home moms, have you ever heard a phrase saying that these women are at home eating bon bons? Well, I can tell you that my life as a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) is hardly as calm and uneventful as eating ice cream. Not to say that eating ice cream isn't enjoyable, it is my favorite food, but I'm lucky if I can eat anything in one sitting without something happening around here. I am a mother of two wonderful kiddos! Dylan is my spitfire that is always on the go. He never stops unless he is sleeping! Being 2 1/2 years old, we do have the typical flair ups that include him rolling around on the ground complaining of all the injustice in the house. :) But, after it all he is quite loveable. Ava is 6 months old and I can already see that her energy is bursting at the seams with each new skill she masters. She is smiley and more easy going than her brother. I'm looking forward to when she has mastered the art of sleeping through the night. For this reason, my Keurig, is one of my favorite items in the kitchen. Let's not forget the other half of the parenting pair, the hubby Randy. He is an officer in the Navy which is a major factor of why I am lucky to be able to stay at home with the kids. I loved teaching little ones, but now I get to focus on my little ones without having to worry about alarm clocks, daycare and especially lesson plans. :)

Each week I find myself focused on four main things...the kiddos (of course), working out (I have to find my pre-mommy body again), couponing (my new obsession) and being crafty.  So I created this blog to share all the antics that occur in this house as well how I stay sane as a mommy, a wife and an overall active chica. I have active children because they are just like their mom. :) I look forward to posting my successes, challenges and discoveries as a SAHM.