coupons

I have just recently gotten into the MADNESS that is couponing, and let me tell you it is NOT as easy as it looks. But when done right, it truly pays off! I'm still not very good at it and still end up spending more money than anticipated but each time I get a little more thrifty :)

This last week a good friend from the ward who is a coupon queen helped me out a bit and helped me understand what I was doing. A few days later I put her advice to use and well, I won't say how much I spent but I CAN say that every single thing was either free or a REALLY good discounted price being on sale combined with my coupons. I was so thrilled!

One thing I've learned about using coupons is that you should never buy stuff just buy it at a good price, so I only get those things that I know we'll have need of. It's been very rewarding to have the luxury of just grabbing an extra something off our shelf at home when we need it but don't have the time or energy to go to the store.


Over the course of being married, case lot sales, all other kinds of sales, and couponing our little family of 3 has acquired LOTS of stuff...and then about 6 months back Jonathan and I made the goal to build up a solid food storage. We've been shoving things in the crevices here and there, and I got to the point today where I didn't want to look at another box of cereal stuffed in between other boxes of who-knows-what. So we got this awesome storage shelf at Home Depot and it has made me sooooooo happy. I could just stare at it all day.

How wonderful to have everything in one spot and all organized! Who cares that I have to sleep next to canned vegetables? NOT ME! haha...actually, I really envy a garage :)

his kind of fun

There's a lot of things that Talmage thinks are pretty fun, but to top the list is definitely being OUTSIDE.

He loves going to the park, and especially riding the carousel! (I know he doesn't look too enthused but I promise when the camera is off he's bouncing and laughing!)

He also loves to play in his pool! This boy could spend hours in the water...his favorite thing to do in the pool is throw all of his toys out, climb out of the pool to get them, and throw them back. haha. I don't know where he comes up with these things.

Another favorite is climbing! He tries to climb onto EVERYTHING! So we bought him this little camp chair and he loves to climb up into it, put his milk in the sippy holder, and read a good book :)

And after all that play play play this silly boy loves his sleep- which I am SO grateful for. Luckily he sleeps so darn well these days that we hardly get up at night anymore. And he takes awesome naps (most of the time).
The other day I found this vinyl lettering for half price and couldn't pass it up. I've always wanted to do something like this in his room but well...I am a penny pincher to say the least. The vinyl doesn't stick very well so we shall see how long it lasts...

No other saying could be more true! I love my son so much and I love him even more for all the energy and excitement he brings into the day!

4th of July!

I love this holiday. It has always been one of my favorites. I just love getting together with family and friends and eating good food, the fireworks, and everything else!

This year we kept ourselves pretty busy! We started the day with the 4th of July Parade here in town on Main Street. I was really impressed with it- there were actually horse-drawn carriages and dancers and bands and all kinds of other things. We were smack in the middle of Main with awesome seats so it was really neat to watch!

Talmage was content sitting in his stroller until the fire trucks and marching band came by, then he wanted to jump up and down!

For me, the best part of the parade was watching all the little kids run out into the street and try to catch candy being thrown from the floats. Kids are too funny...

Then we came home, put T down for a nap (he was EXHAUSTED) and I made deviled eggs to bring to the lunch bbq at our friends apt, the Bradleys. :) A whole lot of people came and the food was superb. It was nice just sitting out in the warm sun and soaking up the day!

This is the most expensive thing Talmage has ever worn- daddy's sunglasses! haha... He really loves them :)

When we got home from that I made macaroni salad and flag cake for our last event of the day- dinner and fireworks with our friends the Tataipus. They moved a few weeks ago and we've really missed them :(

Here's my flag cake! I thought it turned out pretty good!

It was great to see our friends, including some families from our ward, and Talmage especially loved playing with his buddy Kai again :)

At the end of the day we were very tired, but pleased with all the fun things we could do as a family :) I am very grateful that Jonathan had the day off (he was scheduled to work but his boss gave him the day off). I love this country and the freedoms that come with it, and I really love my husband and sweet baby boy. We are truly blessed!!

books, books, & more books!

Every morning after I take Talmage out of his crib, he does the same thing. He pulls out his bucket of books. I leave the room for a few minutes to do some morning chores and when I peek my head around his door, what do I see? BOOKS! Everywhere. He takes one out, flips through it briefly, tosses it aside, repeat. Pretty soon his room is covered with them. Fortunately he only digs into the board book bucket and not the paper book one. Sometimes I catch him babbling to himself as he turns the pages, almost like he is reading them to himself! It is so funny...but cute :)

It's nice for me, too, that he so easily entertains himself. And when Jonathan or I say "Want to read a book?" he actually climbs into our laps! ahh :) sweet sweet boy, I don't think there's a time I love him more than when he does that....or when he sleeps, haha.

Thank goodness for books! My son just can't get enough!

And on a totally random note, I just had to post this picture...I'm pretty sure it's my favorite one by far.

His first time on the big boy potty. I'm sure he was thinking something like, "What am I supposed to do now?"

feeling like a fatty

For some reason these days I just feel fat. Or maybe bloated. Either way, it has motivated me to start eating healthier and getting on an exercise routine. I've decided to implement these goals: (its not much, but it's a start!)

1. No matter what I WILL eat breakfast!
This is probably my least favorite meal because I always feel so gross and groggy in the morning. I've realized that this could be caused by my poor diet so hopefully it will change! I want to feel energized and ready for the day, not eager to lay down on the couch while my son watches cartoons...

2.I will exercise for at least 20 minutes every day.
Okay, let's be honest...I hate exercising. And when I do the whole "workout" thing I usually end up sore and miserable and unmotivated to do it anymore. But I've found one that I like by Denise Austin that is just moderate enough for me. Afterwards I actually feel GOOD! Its a miracle!

3. Ride my bike.
I just got a new bike, so I'm more determined than ever to ride. We also have a bike trailer that pulls Talmage as we ride so I really have no excuse!

4. Cut down on sugar.
I have been eating a lot of sweets these days for reasons that I'd rather not go into, and its taking a toll on my energy. I plan to seriously cut back on the sugar highs and substitute it with foods like fruit and yogurt.

That's it for now so we will see if it makes a difference! My main goal here is not really vanity but a desire to be healthy and fit so that I can play with my son and raise him the right way. I want to have the energy to keep up with his 90 mph playing speeds, and look forward to getting up each morning to his cheery face. I love that boy so much- there are no words to describe!

these days...

There isn't much going on, to be honest. Every day is mostly the same, but I like it that way. I thrive on ROUTINE. :)

Jonathan is still busy at work with the Forest Service. He enjoys it when he gets to be out in the forest and I enjoy the wildflowers that he brings back for me :)

This last week he took his first ever business trip to Twin Falls where he certified to give out tickets and stuff. He stayed in super fancy hotel and had a room all to himself. He also got his meals paid for. SO basically he was pampered for a whole week. I really missed him but I'm glad that he got a little vacation...it can get stressful at home sometimes! His boss also switched his off days to Tuesday and Wednesday. That means I take Talmage to church by myself-augh! haha... when is my vacation?

And actually- I will have my turn at the end of July. Talmage and I are going home to Louisiana for a whole week! I am so excited! I really miss my family and Talmage has grown up so much since they saw him last.

About that boy! Well he is becoming a pro at signing some new words like "more", "please", and "baby". He also understands "hug", "sleep", "happy", and "strong". I am so proud of our little guy! He just gets cuter every day :)
There was an incident a few nights ago that totally freaked me out. Somehow Talmage found a way to get out of his crib...but he went head first and landed on his face. I was in the living room when I heard the bloodcurdling scream. When I went in there he was curled up in a little ball on the floor screaming his lungs out. When you are that small, falling from the height of a crib could be very painful. I'm just glad he didn't snap his neck.
Here you can see his boo-boo's :(

We lowered the mattress so that it nearly touches the floor. I don't think he will be getting out again for a while!

And me? Well I am keeping busy with some sewing projects like these couch pillows:

I'm also working on an apron with this fabric:

And if the days keep being warm, sunny, & beautiful we will soon have some tomatoes and strawberries growing! Our little garden failed miserably last year so this is our second attempt :) Fingers are crossed...

something blue

I have a new-found love for all things blue.
I don't know how it happened, but I would guess it all started with the bathroom.

I took a big leap out of my comfort zone when I tore down those silky red curtains of ours and turned our bathroom into a beach haven. But it brightened up the small space and cheered my mood.

And then I turned Talmage's nursery into a blue room. Before he had green curtains, then yellow...but it didn't seem BOY enough. So I put up light blue sheers, pulled his baby blankets from the closet, and added a fun little rug and some other things.

Remember those Anthropologie-inspired lamps I made a while back? When I saw this fabric I knew I could do something with it to match them...

And that's just what I did!

I thought that maybe the madness has stopped until I saw this darling laundry room decor at a boutique...I had to have them!

Maybe its the lack of sunshine in these here parts that is making me crazy for a little brightness...all I know is that I can't get enough!

What color do you just love in your home?

edit: hours after writing this post I even changed my blog background to blue. Have I gone mad?