The Greatest Show on Earth!!

has gone to the dogs - these precious little sweet steal your heart dogs! I think these dogs are awesome. Bean has been begging for a poodle (pink of course) and I admit that these dogs are so sweet. Here is a video from the Circus pre-show.

The last time I went to the circus was in the early 90's while Roon and I were dating. He has absolutely no recollection of going with me - but I remember it was a big deal cause Gunther Gebel-Williams big tiger show was the bomb! I have to admit that we all enjoyed the Circus. I shelled out $12 for cotton candy. I know pick yourself up off the floor - but it did come with a commemorative hat. Thank goodness - Bean had no interest in the $20 light up and spin array of toys. She opted for a small elephant stuffed animal. The circus truly is a place for kids of all ages!

There is nothing like the sweet smell of

fresh baked bread. I woke the bread machine up (after an extended retirement I might add) and got to baking. I have this real cool machine called the Toastmaster Corner Bakery and you can make all kinds of wonderful things!

Bean ran around the kitchen with her nose in the air all afternoon - saying "Mommy what is that smell?" Needless to say, she scarfed down nearly two slices. That is impressive considering she normally turns her nose up at store bought bread. She also told me what a wonderful cook I am. Of course she tells me this when I serve her hot dogs and frozen pizza, but hey she thinks I am a master chef!!

Too bad the picture is not scratch and sniff - cause if smelled as yummy as it tasted! Next I am going to make pizza dough!

Some more shopping deals!

The picture above is from my Albertsons trip utilizing the mega sale. I paid $13.57 for all the above after coupons. I also received a $1.50 off my next meat order thanks to the Tuna/Hamburger Helpers. The peanuts alone would have been almost this much regular price. I am really happy about these great deals! My receipt shoes that I saved $40.80.


Below is from my Kroger trip. I paid $7.65 (after coupons and the mega sale discount) and earned $4.00 catalina coupons off my next order for buying the four pledge. My receipt shows a savings of $80%! Rock On!

A MEME (cause I am cool like that)

I got this from my bloggy friend Rooney (at my little musings) - not to be confused with Roon my husband. Isn't it funny that they have the same nickname?

Anyhoo -here we go!

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was working at my second job out of college doing marketing. It was a great learning experience. We were also buying our first home.

Favorite Snacks

York peppermint pattie
Red Grapes
Coke Zero
Baked Cheetos / Chips
Fiber One Chocolate Chip Bars

To Do List

I heart to-do lists. I wish I could have a digital post it note that I could update continuously!

1. Vacuum


2. Mop


3. Get outfit together for big make-up glam session with the girls-


4. Finish paying bills-


5. Look into Creative Memories Digital Scrapbook software

Jobs I Have Had

-Kroger cashier
-Movie theater box office girl (fabulous job)
-Sales clerk at Lerner
-Sales clerk at Payless
-Sales clerk at Mervyns
-Employment/ Background Checker
-“Customer Service” at Ford Motor Credit (aka collections/repo job)
-Marketing at numerous places
-Project Assistant at two construction companies
-MOM (The BEST JOB of them all)

Places I Have Lived

All Over Texas

Bad Habits

1. Be sarcastic


2. Worrying too much – although I have made great strides with this – Praise Jesus!


3. My car is usually a disaster area – although I am working on this too!


4. Asking the same thing over and over


5. Over sleeping

5 Random Things People May Not Know

1. I played Clarinet while in 6 – 12th grade. I was even in a Dixieland band for a while. Please hold all the comments on how cool I am – Ha Ha!

2. I have an irrational fear of pedicures and bugs, especially the flying cock roaches of the Gulf Coast.

3. I used to not shop sales or use coupons at all!

4. I called the TV “fu” as a child

5. I really want to be on the Price of Right and play Plinko!

CD's I Would Want If Stranded On An Island:

I enjoyed listening to Hurley’s I-Pod selection on LOST and was very sad when it ran out of juice – that Hurley had some fun songs. If I don’t have an I-Pod with me and I had to pick a few – eeks, this is what they would be right now.

- Soundtrack to Across the Universe
- Greatest Hits of the Carpenters and Bee Gees
- The Cranberries, Everybody Else is Doing It So Why Can’t We?
- Some Third Day or Planet Shakers
- Soundtrack from Phantom of the Opera
- Soundtrack from Moulin Rouge
- Michael Jackson, Greatest Hits
- Enya

What I'd Do If I Were A Billionaire

Buy new house and pay off credit card debt

Take care of the parents
Invest wisely
Set up a fund for those going through adoption process
Set up a fund for people going through fertility
Donate to SPCA
Go to Russia and work with orphanages
Travel
Pay for college of all my nieces and nephew

Help friends in need

Latest Shopping Deals

I paid $47.34 for all this stuff! Woo Hoo! I saved 63% (total savings on receipt $79.21) and the best part is I got $23.00 in Catalina coupons to use on my next order! This is part of the Summer Savings Marathon that is running at Tom Thumb (a Safeway store). I have done this deal twice now - but it is rather complicated and takes more pre-planning than a lot of the grocery shopping I typically do. It is looking to be a good grocery shopping week as Kroger and Albertsons are running Mega Event sales this week. I will post about those after I shop.

Happy Shopping. Sorry it was hard to fit all the stuff in that picture but there are two milks and a coffee creamer hiding behind the pasta.

Tunes on Tuesday

This week I wanted to review a CD I purchased a couple months back. I debated this purchase for quite a while - but am so glad I did it! Thriller – 25th Anniversary – Deluxe Edition. This takes me back to my younger years. I did not own this album, cause I was like 9 at the time, but don’t fret I did not miss out. My daycare owned Thriller (and all the good ones – Remember Xanadu?) and as our afternoon entertainment, we got to listen to all the classics, Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean. Then during our TV sessions, somewhere between 3-2-1 Contact and Electric Company (see there was some Quality TV), we got to watch the Thriller video. Boy those were good times. My younger siblings even got to watch with me. I don’t think our parents ever knew this, but perhaps this is where our nightmares stemmed from. But alas I will not digress on our daycare anymore and will move on now.

This CD Rocks and it is MJ at his finest.

- Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’ (featuring Akon) just plain rocks. You will probably dance around your kitchen to this!

- The Girl is Mine (with Paul McCartney) is just plain sweet

- Thriller – need I say more.

So if you don’t have your LP anymore and are looking for some of the classics (with some cool re-mixes of today) – get this CD.

When did I get old?

So I was watching VH1 Top 20 this morning and guess who was #2? New Kids on the Block (NKOTB). Here's the thing - the song was actually fairly decent. I was never a NKOTB Groupie like some of my dear high school friends...but you can't rule out the boy bands. Anyhoo - they all still look pretty good - although much older! Then it hit me - that is me - I am so much older too! Where has the time gone?

And guess what else they are doing? A new 90210 and Brenda, Kelli and Donna are all coming back. I was a HUGE 90210 and Melrose Groupie. 90210 class graduated (I believe) the same year as I did - so we were bonded. I know it is silly - but heck - I think I might just have to watch it to see if they are still cat fighting. I know it will be focused on the next generation, but still - the Peach Pit and Nat, how can you resist that?

So any 90210 or NKOTB fans out there?

Cool Free Stuff!

In the past couple weeks - I have scored some great freebies - thanks to the help of Freebies 4 Mom with all her sweeps info!

• Bean got to build a free birdhouse with Daddy at the Home Depot. She also got an adorable orange home depot apron, certificate of completion and pin. She loved it!
• I won a movie ticket from the Subway game online.
• I received a free canvas tote bag from World Market (signed up online to get their e-mails)
• Won a $100 Travelocity Gift Certificate by playing the International Delight Flavor Race

I feel like the Dad in a Christmas Story waiting for his grand prize (leg lamp)! WOO HOO!

Feeling Better

Thanks everyone for your sweet comments, e-mails and calls. I am feeling much better today. The Dr. thinks (I also thought this too) I had an ovarian cyst that ruptured and that was the cause of all my grief. He says that certain people (I think he means me) are more likely to get them. I got these numerous times as a teenager and that is how I got diagnosed with endo. So - he said generally people don't get these frequently and I should hopefully not have any more any time soon. He does not think the pain is my endo as he says that would be too quick for endo to grow back.

I asked what he thought about IVF and he said if we want to we should still do it. I was kind of hoping for a yes or no type answer, cause this being in limbo over IVF is no fun. So that is the update and I really do appreciate the support!

A very rough night

Ever since my surgery back in November, I have had on/off miscellaneous pain which I am fairly sure is due to my reproductive system being "woke up." The sad reality is that I am fairly sure my endometriosis is rearing it's ugly head again. It comes on so quickly and is just debilitating. Last night around 10:30 I started feeling intense sharp pains. I decided to go to bed and try to ride it out. I writhed in pain for hours and around 1:30 a.m. decided that I was going to the ER.
Roon got up dressed, I got up but the thought of dragging Bean at 2:00 a.m. was so hard. I decided to try to tough it out for another hour - and I think about 3:00 a.m. I was finally able to sleep as the pain started to subside. I am guessing I had a cyst and it ruptured at some point. It has been a LONG time since I have had this pain and I forgot just how horrible endometriosis is to have. The pain is comparable to when my appendix ruptured...so it is very hard to put in words.
I am going to the Dr. tomorrow to see what is going on. I am worried that IVF may have stirred all this up. I also worry that my body is trying to tell me that IVF is a fleeting reality for us.
Please pray that my Dr. appointment goes well and we can get this back under control.

Tunes on Tuesday

A promised, here is my current playlist featuring my favorite songs (thus far) from So you Think you can Dance! If you need another TV show to watch - watch it - it Rocks!
All of these songs can be purchased off I-Tunes! Let me know if you like any.

• Untouched, The Veronicas
• Elevator (featuring Timbaland), Flo Rida
• Lost, Anouk
• Belief, Gavin DeGraw
• Dark Waltz, Haley Westenra
• A Different Corner, George Michael
• I'm Yours, Jason Mraz

Catch Up

The Bean having fun with her cousin (below) and getting all dolled up above!

Wow what a whirlwind of a weekend we had. We started Friday off by dressing as cows, then we quick changed into swim suits for a swim party. On Saturday we had a birthday party at McDonald's at lunch and then in the afternoon we had a Sleeping Beauty princess party to attend. Then we joined our good friends at an "all you can eat" meat place. Think large slabs of meat cut right at your table. Bean licked her lips when the servers came by and said - "yum - I sure like meat." I think they thought she was pretty entertaining.

On Sunday the Bean & I drove down for my lovely sister in law's surprise 30th Birthday party. We had a grand time seeing everyone and Bean loves playing with her cousins. Now that we are back I have tons of laundry and catch-up to do.

Our menu this week will be whatever I have on hand. It is looking like spaghetti (did not make last week), chicken with a kick (also did not get to make last week), vegetable soup, hamburger helper and whatever else I can throw together!

Chic Cows

We tried to be fashionable and fun today for free Chick-fil-A food. I was going with the theme (in my mind anyway) of Princess Cows. At the last minute, Roon had a great idea to use the Chick-fil-A calender cows for accessorizing. I cut out the "Lady Marinade" for Bean and I used "Spicy Skirtsteak." I scavenged the house for things to re-use so I did not spend any money making these fun costumes. I think we were unique as we got lots of compliments. Is is hard to see, but I did put cow hears on my headband and made a scarf with a cow nose!

I am really trying to emphasize to Bean how much fun it is to be creative and save money. She had a blast and was very sad we had to leave the Chick-fil-A cow. She wanted the cow to come home and play with us. Enjoy the pictures. Let me know what you think!

$7.11

I got all this for $7.11 at Kroger. They have a great sale running where if you buy 3 qualifying items - you get $3.00 off instantly. You can do up to three mix/match combo's per transaction and combine with coupons. Here is a linky of a blog I found via Freebies 4 Mom today: My Two Cents. She does a great job outlining the Kroger sales. If you have any questions - or need help - please feel free to let me know too.

Let me know how you do also. Most of the coupons were in last Sunday's paper - which you could still get today at Kroger today, as I bought a double bundle.

Also since by total was $7.11, I thought if fitting to tell you about the freebie I also so on Freebies 4 Mom - free Slurpee day at Seven-Eleven tomorrow on 7-11. Go to this linky for more details.

Hope you clicked on my widget and visited Freebies 4 Mom - I sure love that blog! Happy Saving!

The Pirate Bean

Look what Gramps taught Bean on vacation. She sure does a good pirate look!

Tunes on Tuesday!

Most of you know about my (ever so slight) obsession with music. In general I like all kinds of music, but I do go through phases of certain genres of music. I make play lists for my I-pod all the time! I also like to make mix CD's for my friends/family from time to time. So I thought I would try to make it a regular thing to share about music on my blog. Here is a first in (hopefully) a long line of installments. When I buy music (on I-tunes) I do try to download the "Clean" version. Sometimes when you listen to a song - you don't even hear the offending word, but I want to make sure that Bean does hear it for sure! Let me know if you have any favorite songs right now. Next week - I will talk about my music selections from "So you think you can dance." I love this show and love all the music that is featured on it.

So - Here is what is playing on my Summer mix so far:

• Say - John Mayer
• Stop and Stare - One Republic
• Viva la Vida - Coldplay
• Shake It - Metro Station
• Sky - Joshua Radin (featuring Ingrid Michaelson) - **I love love love this song
• Paralyzer - Finger Eleven
• Dance Dance - Fall Out Boy
• More Time - Needtobreath (this is from the PS I Love you Soundtrack - note to guys - Roon liked this move!)
• Shadow of the Day - Linkin Park

Menu Planning Monday

These are the meals I am making this week. Are you making anything yummy?

Monday - Pork Loin, Rice Pilaf, Asparagus and Fruit Salad
Tuesday - Vietnamese-Style Chicken Salad (this is super healthy and very filling - big thumbs up form the husband) - recipe from Saving Dinner
Wednesday - Tuscan Bean and Sausage Soup
Thursday - leftovers
Friday - Chicken Casserole with a Kick
Saturday - Spaghetti with Boca crumbles
Sunday - ??

The Bathroom Remodel...

We finished the remodel a few weeks ago and are so pleased with the results. I love the wall color. It is called Guacamole!! Love it! I searched high and low for accessories that I loved and thought Bean would love. I found this adorable shower curtain, rug and accent set at Kohl's but it was full price. I agonized ($39.99 for a shower curtain) and finally broke down and bought it. Then greatness happened and it went on sale 40% off and I took the receipt in and received a nice credit. The before pictures do not do the transformation justice. Let me know what you think.

Hey - Dig the Widget on the side of my blog...

And go Check out an awesome website called Freebies 4 Mom. She updates her site daily and always has exciting info to share with us about saving money, getting freebies and winning things. Thanks to her site I won a $10 gift card to Kroger, numerous bags of Subway Chips, and lots of fun free samples.

Ya'll know I love a good deal! The Bean and her Daddy also built an adorable bird house over at the Home Depot free kids event yesterday. They had an awesome time and guess where I found out about the free even - Freebies 4 Mom! So click on over and start saving!

p.s. I googled Widget and I found out they are codes that hold data that you can move around on your blog. Now I (and you know) what they are!

First Attempt at AMC Summer Movie Camp...

Well we made it 25 minutes....just enough time to eat the AMC's kids snack pack and leave. I love that AMC does this all Summer and we will try again, but the movie this morning was the Water Horse and was very dark and scary for the Bean. She got teary eyed and said the movie was making her sad as the water horse looked sad. She is very sensitive to movies and especially animals in movies or on TV. If an animal looks sad or afraid - she does not want to see it at all. One time Wishbone came on and she was crying so hard about the mean animals.
She has such a good heart and I love seeing her heart for others......

Get thyself to Super Target and get...

Three twelve packs of A&W / Sunkist Products (look for signs on store shelves - as other's qualify like 7-Up) and get free Dryer's ice cream! So I bought 2 diet A&W, 1 diet 7-Up and used three $1.00 off coupons found here at afullcup. Make sure to scroll down to find these coupons. So 5 bucks for three twelve packs and ice-cream, not too shabby. I also found Prego Family sized lasagnas clearanced to $2.98 - of course YMMV on that. Happy Shopping!