Party Time!

I absolutely LOVE party planning!  Since my due date is so close to Juliana’s birthday and Easter is the weekend before we decided to have her birthday party early.  I have been planning her second birthday party for months!  I have been Pinteresting ideas, designing images to use and crafting decorations for a while.  The thought of having a party at our house being so close to giving birth terrified me… there was no way I would have the energy to clean the house (I’m lucky if I can find the energy to vacuum or fold the laundry these days!) and I had no clue how I would entertain ten two year olds! SO I booked a party at the gymnastics studio and I am very pleased with how it turned out! It was 45 minutes of free play in the gym and 45 minutes in the party room.  I thought the amount of time was perfect for this age group.  The instructor set up a huge obstacle course and the kids were allowed free range!  The kids were able to climb, jump, slide, balance, swing, run and play in a fully padded area!  It was awesome and I think everyone had a really great time! Since I booked the party late, we got the last time slot of 4:30.  Thankfully there was a pizza place next door with $5 large pizzas so it worked out perfectly! My husband was able to sneak out for 5 minutes and pick up some dinner for everyone.  The best part, I didn’t have to clean up and we drove home and I was able to relax while Juliana was entertained by her new toys before bed.

For this blog post, I want to share with you some simple, fast and easy party ideas.  Surprisingly, most everything was done the morning of the party! We even did a run to the grocery and dollar store.  The thing that took the longest was designing the images I used for the water bottle labels, invitations, napkin holders, and goody bag tags.  I designed those over the past few weeks.   I don’t have a fancy computer program for this like Photoshop or whatever, I just use Accessories Paint and Microsoft Word!  You can also buy already made ones from Etsy or try to find some free ones on Pinterest.

Below are some photos from the party with info and links on how to make them:

 For the goody bags, I found white paper bags at the craft store, filled them and then folded over the top, punched two holes and threaded ribbon and tied them shut!  Inside I put Playdoh (the mini ten pack is on sale at Target now and with the store and manufactures coupon makes it CHEAP! Time to stock up on Playdoh!),  a Mickey and Minnie coloring page with crayons tied with a ribbon, Mickey and Minnie gummies, lolipops, sticker sheets, and the girls bags had minnie necklaces and the boys matchbox cars.  I also made Minnie Mouse hair clips and clipped them to the outside of the bags!! I used this Tutorial I found on YouTube to make the clips.  She even includes all the measurement  written under the video! They were pretty easy and didn't take long at all. 

Tip: When using hot glue, use a lighter to quickly melt unwanted glue (then quickly wipe away with your finger or something.. its usually not too hot but maybe I'm just used to it lol and glue strings also melt away!  I also recommend heat sealing the edges of the ribbon with a lighter after you cut them.

 For the party hat I used this tutorial but instead of using fabric, I cut out a piece of sparkly thick scrapbook paper (I used a party hat as a template like she does in the tutorial). I cut out a mickey mouse shape and the number 2 also out of scrapbook paper and hot glued those on.  Then I added a marabou trim and ball which I made by tying knots in the marabou.   Finished it off with some ribbon and skinny headband elastic!

Almost everything for the cupcakes was bought using last weeks Commissary coupon match up list that I posted.  Currently you can find a coupon for ALL the ingredients! I wasn't really a fan of the Frosting Flavor Creations though (I used the two pink packets, strawberry on the vanilla cakes and cherry on the chocolate cakes). I also used an ice cream scoop to scoop the batter (anyone watch cupcake wars?!) and WOW what a difference it makes!  All my cakes were exactly the same size and had the perfect amount of batter and it didn't drip anywhere.  For Juliana's smash cake I used my favorite frosting recipe.  I wish I had used this recipe on the cupcakes instead of the can frosting, but I already had the cans in my pantry.  

The BEST cream cheese frosting recipe

1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 stick cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar (I make my powdered sugar by putting granulated sugar and 1 tbs corn starch per cup of sugar in a blender or food processor)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*Combine all ingredients in mixer and beat on high until you get a frosting consistency.

Water bottle labels look super fancy but are SO quick and easy!  Just peel off the old label and tape on a new one.  My two year old was a HUGE help with these.  She loves helping and copying mommy and daddy so we are always finding little ways to try to include her in case she offers a hand.  She had fun taking out all the water bottles and peeling off all the labels.  Then she lined them all up and counted, "one, two, four, six, seven, eight, nine mama!". This entertained her while I was able to do something she wasn't able to help with and it saved me 20 minutes since I didn't have to peel the labels!  Since she cooks and bakes with me almost everyday, she can now pretty much crack all the eggs and dump in ingredients and mix them all by herself with just me verbally guiding her! This is also a big time saver for me since I can be right next to her doing something else. She has really cut my kitchen time in half! I hope she always is enthusiastic about helping around the house ;-)

Seasonal Couponing

Here is an awesome list that I found on a couponmom.com forum post of when things go on sale seasonally!! I have been looking for a list like this ;-) This shows when you should stock up on these items since they will be on sale plus there will be tons of coupons out for them at that time!  I love how this list has seasonal produce listed as well (you can freeze most produce!). 

January
National Oatmeal Month: Quaker

Diet Foods including: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs, Yogurt

Clearance: Christmas Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Papers,

Winter Health: Cold Medicines and Vitamins

Super Bowl Sunday: Pepsi, Coke, Chips, Dips, Cheese, Sandwich Items, Crackers, Snacks, Wings

Seasonal Produce: Oranges, Pears, Grapefruit, Tangerines, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Cabbage, Spinach

February
National Canned Food Month: Canned Fruit, Pie Fillings, Vegetables, Meats: Tuna, Chicken, Salmon

National Hot Breakfast Month: Malt O Meal, Oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, Syrup

Valentines: Chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc

Chinese New Year: Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Noodles, Canned Water Chestnuts

Seasonal Produce: Artichoke, Asparagus, Raspberries, Potatoes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Spinach

March
Frozen Food Month: Ice Cream, Frozen Vegetables (Boxed, Bag, or Steam), Frozen Meals, Foster Farms Chicken, Waffles, Pizza

Seasonal Produce: Artichoke, Asparagus, Haas Avocado, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Fennel, Kale, Leek, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Spring Onions, Orange, Peas, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Strawberries, Tangerine

April
Easter: Ham, Eggs, Spices, Baking Supplies: Sugar, Spices, Baking Mixes, Chocolate Chips, Butter, Coconut, Marshmallows, Brownie Mix, Cake Mix

Clearance: After Easter sales

Earth Day: Organic Foods, Energy Saver, Reusable Totes

Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbages, Carrots, Grapefruit, Haas Avocado, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Rhubarb

May
Memorial Day: BBQ Sauce, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips, Grilling Meats, Hot Dogs, Hamburger Meat, Marinade, Salad Greens

Paper Products: Plates, Utensils, Insect Repellant, Sunscreen

Cinco De Mayo: Salsa, tortillas

Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, Beans, Green, Beets, Blackberries, Carrots, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Peas, New Potatoes, Raspberries, Strawberries

June
National Dairy Month: Eggs, Milk, Ice Cream, Cheese, Cream Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, Whipping Cream, Whipped Cream, Cool Whip

End of June is Fourth or July Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips

Seasonal Produce: Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cherries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Honeydew, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Raspberries, Red Onions, Squash, Summer, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon

July
National Ice Cream Month

More 4th of July BBQ Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips

End of July: Back to School Sales Begin: Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders

Seasonal Produce: Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Beans, Green, Blueberries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Nectarines, Onions, Red, Valencia Oranges, Peaches, Sweet/Bell Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon

August
Back to School: Pudding cups, Lunch meat, Lunchables, Bread, Cold Cereal, Waffles, Lunchboxes
Disinfectant: Clorox, Purell

Clearance: Insect Repellant, Sunscreen, charcoal

Seasonal Produce: Gravenstein Apple, Haas Avocado, Green Beans, Beans, Berries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapes, Melons, Onion, Peaches, Bartlett Pears, Bell Pepper, Plums, Raspberries, Squash, Summer, Tomatillo, Tomato

September
Back to School Sales through Labor Day: Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders

Diabetes: Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal

Baby Items: Major Baby Equipment, Baby Safety

Seasonal Produce: Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Chili Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Onion, Valencia Orange, Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Pomegranate, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Winter Squash

October
National Seafood Month

Halloween: Candy, Fresh Pumpkin

Beginning of the Baking Sales: Canned pumpkin, Evaporated Milk, Baking Chips
Daylight Savings Time Ends Promotions: Alarm Clocks, Batteries, Safety Equipment, Smoke Detectors

Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: Pedigree, Purina

Seasonal Produce: Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Chard, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Lemons, Parsnip, Pears, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Winter, Turnips, Yams

November
Hot Cocoa, Coffee, Tea

Baking Sales in Full Swing: Nuts, Chocolate Chips, Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Coconut, Cake Mixes

Canned foods: Soup, Broth, Vegetables, Fruits, Spaghetti Sauce

Thanksgiving Items: Turkey, Canned Pumpkin, Stovetop Stuffing, Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes, Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows

Clearance: After Halloween Sales

Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Comice Pears, Cranberries, Kiwi, Lemons, Orange, Potato, Squash, Yams

December
Holiday Dinner: Egg Nog, Deli Platters, Instant Potatoes, Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows. Sour Cream Dips, Crackers, Chips, Soda, Ham

Baking: Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Cake Mix, Brownie Mix, Muffin Mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream

Canned Foods: Soup, Broth, Condensed Milk, Vegetables, Fruits, Spaghetti Sauce

Clearance: After Thanksgiving and After Christmas Sales

Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Bok Choy, Bosc Pears, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Dates, Grapefruit, Haas Avocados, Kale, Kiwi, Kumquat, Lemon, Napa Cabbage, Oranges, Sweet Potatoes, Red Cabbage, Rutabaga, Savoy Cabbage, Spinach, Winter Squash, Yams, Turnips, White Potato

Here we go again…

Moving stickers keep popping up!!

It's been a year since our last PCS and I am still finding stickers from the moving company on random things! As my daughter’s second birthday is coming up I realized that she will have lived in six different houses in four different states in just the first two years of her life (that's not including the two we lived in while she was in utero)!   This past week I met my husband on base and we took the cat and dog to get registered with Animal Control.  We were joking about our first drive with the cat and how he totally freaked out and cried the entire 14 hour trip… now he just walks right in the cat carrier and lays down all relaxed!  It does make me a little sad that we are not stationary, like right now when I can’t decorate the baby’s nursery because there would be no point since we could move a week after the birth.  I have a pinned a ton of photos on Pinterest for my dream house and always ask my husband, “Someday when we have a real house can you build this for me?!” He smiles and says “Sure”, both of us having no clue when that will ever be.

Let me just start out with, NO we are NOT changing duty stations again (Hallelujah!).  We have decided to move onto base housing.  I honestly wish I had done more research and put in a pre-application while my husband was TDY. Since we couldn't officially be on the ‘active’ waitlist until he physically checked into this duty station I was apprehensive and after three months of living out of a suitcase bouncing from house to house with a one year old, dog, and cat I was SO ready to just move in anywhere ASAP!  Now that our lease is almost up, we have decided to get on the waitlist.  It will just make things easier for the entire family.  My husband’s commute will be cut down from about 2 hours (those around Camp Lejeune know how horrible the traffic is!) to five minutes, the kids and I will have endless activities to keep us busy during deployment, we will be minutes away from the hospital (hey, you never know with kids!), and we will just be closer to everything in general.   The current waitlist is 2 to 4 months (which is short compared to most military housing wait lists!) so that may mean I will have to do this move on my own, which I am not too concerned about since it will keep me busy during that lonely first month and I have pretty much done every PCS on my own since my husband always had to leave earlier than I did (sometimes by choice, like when I stayed behind a few months so I could FINALLY finish college).  After having lived in horrible, old, moldy and falling apart military housing I was glad to hear that Camp Lejeune is working on renovating the houses. We are on the waitlist for a newer developed neighborhood. I am also in love with the fact that we will have sidewalks, parks, pools, and community activities all in walking distance! 

Anyway, I feel really relaxed about this move. Even with the baby coming any week now, I feel good with our tough decision to move again.  It’s not a big move like going cross country and being without our entire house for three or more months, but just to the next town over and TMO *should* move our household goods in one or two days. I say should because it’s what the housing office has told us, but you never know with the military let alone the housing office. I will definitely start to stress if they don’t, but it will work out.  Moving so often also helps me keep my house super organized.  With every move I become more and more organized being forced to sort things and get rid of things we no longer need or use.  Plastic bins are your best friend when you move a lot.  All my closets, kids toys, garage, even my kitchen utensils are all stored in plastic bins. It makes things so much easier to unpack after the movers drop your boxes off.  You just open the box and unload each bin onto a closet shelf and you’re done! Now as we ‘live’ in the house, things become misplaced and end up not in their correct bins.  So while we are on the wait list, I will attempt to to go around and put everything back where it belongs.  I am also working on going through my daughter’s things she has outgrown and we have two bins of random wires, electronics and chargers that I need to sort and get rid of. My motto is, "if you haven't used it in a year, why keep it?"  It’s just another thing to unpack and find a new place for.

Here's one of our closets- craft supplies to batteries to light bulbs,

everything in its own bin.

With this move since we will be taking all our food and pantry items, I figured now would be a good time to better organize our pantry.  While searching on Pinterest one day, I found Oxo’s POP Containers!  Vertical pantry storage that was airtight and looked nice?!  Yes please!  The only problem was that they were expensive.  My mom surprised me this week with two sets of ten and I immediately got to work dumping, sorting, and throwing things in my pantry away!  The amazing thing is that everything I had bought in bulk couponing fit inside the containers!  I was ecstatic when all five boxes of spaghetti fit into the spaghetti Oxo. I will do another blog post once I finish our new and improved, super organized pantry.   I am still working on collecting a ton more Oxo POP Containers.  My goal is to have everything in my pantry in a container by June first.  It will definitely help this move go more smoothly since the items in my stock pile will be consolidated to one container.  

Before and After pics of our snack cabinet with the Oxo POP Containers! 

Commissary Couponing March 2013

Here is the list from my trip today.  This should be good from 3/7 to 3/20.  My Commissary had a TON of stuff with coupons taped to them or tear pads and marked down items.  I saved about $25 today and about $75 two days ago so that means I earned $100 in the Disney fund- woo hoo!

   

                 ITEM                                      PRICE       # OF     TOTAL $                      SOURCE

• Tyson Grilled and Ready                   4.79                       3.79                           1/6/13 SS
• Philidelphia Cream Cheese                 .99                       +.02                           Print (limit reached)
• Cool whip                                         1.00                         .50                          Here
• Duncan Hines Cake Mix                     .95                          .45                          Here and Here
• Jello refrigerated cups 4 pack            1.49                          .99                          Here
• Jello refrigerated cups mix in 2 pack     .99                       +.01                          3/3/13 SS
• Birds eye veggies                                .79                       +.29                          Here 
• Dole pineapple can                              .60                         .23                          2/3/13 RP
• Kraft fresh take                                 1.50                         .50                          2/10 SS                              
• Buitoni Tortellini                                2.30                        1.30                         2/10 SS
• Duncan Hines Creations Flavor           .68                        +.32                          Here and Here
• Yobaby                                            1.50                          .75                          Here                               
• Pedyalite                                           4.66                        3.26                         Here          
• Gushers Fruit Snacks                         1.00                          .50                        Tear pad 
• Weight watchers cheese sticks           1.99                          .99                         All You and Here
• Land o Lakes Butter                          2.86                        2.36                        Tear pad

Commissary Couponing March 2013

Here is my Commissary list from my most recent trip!  These sales should be good thru March 20, but keep in mind that there are many coupons that expire before then (most from the newspaper).  This list is pretty much for half of the store... my toddler was about to have a major meltdown before we got to the frozen and dairy section so I decided to do that trip later this week!  I will post that list later this week.  For more info about couponing click the 'Couponing' tab at the top of the blog (I can't figure out how to add this post to that page, can anyone help me?)  Also, a BIG thanks to Kay from Reap Your Harvest for all her hard work on finding deals and price matching (you can check out her blog for even more Commissary and other store savings!)!! 

                      ITEM                          PRICE                TOTAL                       SOURCE

• Tyson fresh chicken             <3.00                     varies                     Here
• Beech-nut Fruities                    .99                     +.01                        Here and Here
• Nature Made fish Oil              4.46                     2.46                        Here
• Nature Made vit D                  1.99                     +.02                        All You and Here
• Right guard xtreme deod.      1.99                     +.01                        Here and 3/3RP
• Jell-o Large box mixes             .89                       .39                        Here
• Muellers Hidden Veggie        1.09                       .54                        Here and Facebook
• Finish dishwasher deterg.      3.50                     2.40                       2/10/13 SS
• Neutrogena Product                2.58                      .58 each              2/24/13 SS
• Hormel Compleats                  1.50                       .50                       Here
• KY Jelly                                     1.92                     +.08                      SS 02/03/13
• Poise                                        1.92                     +1.10                     All you, 3/10 SS
• Pompeian olive oil                  1.99                         .99                     Here
• Purex baby laundry deterg.    2.69                       1.69                     3/3/13 RP
• So delicious coconut milk      1.99                         .99                     2/10/13 RP
• Domino sugar 2lb box            1.56                       1.18                     Here
• McCormik Vanilla Ext. 1oz     1.79                      1.54                      Here
• Duncan Hines  Red Velvet       .95                         .45                     Here and Here
• Betty Crocker corn bread mix  .35                      +.10                      Here
• Betty Crocker frosting               .89                        .50                      Here
• Cuties 3 lb bag                        3.99                      3.49                      2/24/13 SS

Woodland to Desert

YES!  It is my favorite time of year... My husband has switched from Woodland USMC Cammies to Desert Cammies! The Marines wear their green woodland cammies in the fall/winter and their tan desert cammies in the spring/summer. I'm sure other Marine spouses will agree with me, that this is the true sign that warm weather is coming!  Seeing my husband leave for work in tan cammies triggers my brain into spring cleaning mode.  First, I wash and put away his green cammies (I am DONE with anything winter, I don't want to look at these dark green, gloomy things anymore!).  Next I put away our winter clothes to the back of the closet and pull out the warm weather stuff!  Since I am close to my due date, I know I can't over do things.  That is easier said than done though...  Wednesday night I ended up in labor and delivery with severe stomach pain after I had cleaned and scrubbed the house all day.  Since then I have been trying to take it easy and let things slide which is VERY hard for me since I am a neat freak and have a two year old who likes to dump everything out and leave sticky little finger prints everywhere ;-)

It was a very exciting day today as I daydreamed about lying at the beach!  Our friends came over and the kids played outside in the sand table and then Juliana and I made lemonade to celebrate Winter's disappearance.

Couponing to Disney

I got started couponing when we PCSed to California when I was 7 months pregnant.  My husband was training at DLI to become a linguist and had NO free time between his classes, every day Marine duties and studying and homework.  I felt alone, I was bored and I was literally all the way across the country from my friends and family.   I tried going out and meeting people but it seemed like everyone had kids and were busy with play dates and doing other mommy things. I also tried joining the family readiness group, but there wasn't really one established yet for the USMC (there is now!)  So I decided to start a new hobby - couponing!

My favorite blog was Hip2Save.   I watched all of Collin’s videos for beginner couponers and read her posts daily.  I spent hours each day reading, clipping, and learning about how to coupon!  By the time I had given birth to Juliana I had made a stockpile so I wouldn't have to go to the grocery store until Juliana was about three months old (we were part of a local CSA program who delivered fresh produce right to our door weekly)!! That was a huge help as a new parent.  I had enough laundry detergent, toiletries and paper products that lasted us about 6 or more months!  I also donated to the local woman’s shelter, care packages for troops, and was able to provide the animal shelter with a huge supply of pet food and other pet products (it is REALLY easy to score free pet food… our cat and dog have special dietary needs so we can’t use any of it but if its free or cheap I grab it for donations)!

After I had my daughter, my couponing hobby was put on the back burner.  I did it a little, mostly when we needed things.  When we PCSed I had given away what was left of my stockpile.  We would just go to the grocery store, often without a list and just throw whatever we felt like in the cart.  We quickly noticed we were spending a ridiculous amount of money on food… about double what the average family of 4 spends!  My husband suggested I try to start couponing again.  I knew it would be an easy solution but when was I supposed to find the time or energy for this?! It is HARD to do with a toddler, I am not going to lie! And even harder being exhausted from being pregnant and having a toddler! She wants to play, read books, do crafts and paint and go outside NOT watch mommy coupon or get dragged around to a million stores.   Plus, once Juliana started eating table food I really changed the way our family ate!  I tried to cook healthier food, eat organically and less processed things. Was I really going to be able to coupon for things I could cook with and healthy items? Maybe even organic items??

With some practice and patience, I have been able to find coupon deals on healthier options.  Yes, if a box of cookies is free or will give me overage I snag them up as a treat but I am definitely more selective on what I coupon for. For example, if there is a box of cocoa puffs on sale with a coupon for $1, I won’t get it.  While cereal is expensive and that would have been a good deal, I would rather use that $1 to spend on fresh produce or something else.   I have also cut out using all chemical cleaners which has saved us a TON of money.  We do all our cleaning with baking soda and vinegar! I started making homemade snacks instead of buying them.   I got reusable baby food pouches (Little Green Bags) and make applesauce or different purees to fill them with, make our own popsicles, and I even make homemade crackers and granola bars (Pinterest is a lifesaver!).  If I can get granola bars and popsicles for free, great! But I don’t usually buy them unless I am feeling lazy or don't have the time that month!  My daughter loves to cook. It is probably one of her favorite things to do.  So making snacks is a fun activity for us to do together and she actually makes it a lot less work for me! We have made a ton of recipes from Weelicious and The Sneaky Chef - I can’t say enough good things about their recipes!  During and especially after the holidays, baking items go on sale and you can find a ton of coupons for those things.  It’s a good idea to stock up on these items then if you want to try making your own snacks!  

My husband knows that I am planning on training for a half marathon while he is away.  It just happens that the Run Disney Princess Half Marathon is around the same time as when he is supposed to get back.  I mentioned how I would love to do this race (dress like a princess and get a really pretty medal for my first half? Yes please!).  We had originally planned on not going to Disney until both kids were older, but he got all excited and we starting talking about how much fun we would all have (Julie will be almost three!) He said we could go for post deployment leave BUT he made a stipulation … I would have to Coupon to Disney!  I was feeling little disappointed and let down - intense couponing with a toddler AND a newborn?! ALONE?!  But I am not one to back down from a challenge, especially one from my husband who is Mr. Know-it-all and Mr. Perfectionist.  I can do this!  My husband told me to save all my receipts and where it says, “you saved $___ today!”, that amount would go in our Disney fund!  I know it is going to be hard to do, but I think in a way I need this.  I need this way to feel connected with my husband while he is away, I need something to keep my mind off the loneliness and I need this motivation!  Now that Juliana is a little older, I plan on having her help me some.  I’m not sure how yet, but I need to figure out a way to make this fun for her too!  I will mainly be focusing on the Commissary (I think focusing on one store will be less of a hassle) and maybe CVS or Walmart if I have time and the deals are good. 

My family is worried that I am trying to do too much… they keep telling me, once the baby comes things are going to change!  Yes- I know things will change. My life as a military spouse is constantly going through major changes! I will get frustrated. I will get stressed.  I will probably feel overwhelmed and cry myself to sleep some nights!  Regardless of what I do (even if I sit on the couch for months), it will suck and I will feel all those emotions.  But as a military spouse this is just how life is. You just need to suck it up and push through it for your kids, for your spouse, for the other spouses who are going through their first deployment and for the spouses whose other half is never coming home.  I have learned that I am stronger than I think I am. We will kick this deployments butt!! 

I will be starting to Coupon to Disney early, before he leaves… That way he can help me get started and the longer I save for, the better!  I will be posting my weekly Commissary list and maybe some other stores so you too can coupon for whatever your goal is! Check out the 'Couponing' page on my blog page for a "how to" section! You can also check out the 'Couch to Crazy' tab where I will be updating my progress on my run training.

Welcome to the new blog!

Well, I have jumped on the blogging bandwagon! I have always wanted to start writing a blog, but never really got around to it.  I hope I find some time to keep up with it in the future!  I thought now would be a perfect time to start.  Our family is about to go through a bunch of changes and I think writing down my thoughts, ideas and goals will help me stay sane, focused and organized! 

I also hope to write about the little things to keep family, friends and whoever else cares updated. From  DIY projects, natural parenting, military life, clean eating, and some updates on the kiddos and life in general. 

I hope you enjoy my blog, learn something new, find it helpful, and that you are at least entertained!