My Front Porch

Happy First Birthday, Lincoln!

2009-08-29T11:09:00.008-04:00

Today is Lincoln's first birthday. I'm not gonna lie. It's definitely gotten overshadowed by our recent move. In fact, I can't even upload lots of adorable pics of him because they are all on our desktop computer that still isn't set up yet.

We did have a joint celebration for both the boys before we left--but again with the no pic thing. You'll just have to believe me on that one.

But let me tell you, in spite of the lack of hooplah, we really love this kid.

Here's one cute pic I was able to track down!

I think most Moms understand that fear that you won't be able to love a second child as much as the first. I struggled with that feeling right before Lincoln was born. But, I quickly discovered that there is a whole new space in my heart to love a second child. It's funny how that works. It's the same love but completely different. Does that make any sense?

I love how Lincoln:

says hi to us every time we come into the room.
works so hard to copy what we do and say. He makes the best silly face ever.

already says ball, uh oh, night night, daddy, book, and no (all in his own little way!)

snuggles with his bunny at night--thankfully it wasn't long after this post that he learned that sleeping is fun. I am one grateful Mama!

giggles with his brother--Griffin makes him laugh like no one else!

wants us to hold him. I know this won't last long, so I'm trying to soak it up now.

loves to be outside. It's a great cure on his grumpy days...which do happen on occasion!

Lincoln Parker, we are amazed that it was a whole year ago that you waltzed into our lives. We are excited to watch you grow and learn and become who God created you to be. How we got so lucky to be your Mommy and Daddy is a mystery to us--but we are so grateful that God placed you in our lives.

We love you. Thank you for taking this whole crazy phase of life all in stride.

We'll make it up to you next year, ok?

Happy Birthday, Griffin!

2009-08-07T14:43:00.013-04:00

Today, Griffin turns 4.

The progression of childhood is sneaky. The minute you think you've finally mastered one stage, the next one arrives. I'm trying to remember how Griffin moved from the stage of sleepless nights and baby bottles to big boy beds and pop tarts. When were Baby Einstien and the Wiggles replaced by The Incredibles and Spiderman?

When did he move on from being this precious helpless little thing...

to this fearless one...

with the BIG muscles...

and the BIG brothers' heart?

When did he become this little man?

Griffin,

I will always treasure the days of 'Bootball' and 'Melmo'. But I'm loving the days of "Shimby Me Timbers" and 219 questions as well (most of the time...). I know one day I'll wake up and you'll have moved on to other things. So for now, I am soaking up the era of the ABC song and eskimo kisses, afternoon naps, and nighttime lullabies (with the occasional "Shot to the Heart" medley mixed in.) You remind me often that you are a Big Boy, but you will always be my Little Man.

We love you more than we know how to put into words.

Love, Mommy

The Next Step in Our Journey

2009-07-30T07:30:00.003-04:00

A little over a year ago, I wrote this post after Wes was laid off from his job. In it, I shared this picture of a card that I had made for Wes the week prior to the lay-off.

We chose to tape the card to our bathroom mirror as a constant reminder of our promise to stay the course even when the course seemed uncertain and downright frightening.

Months passed. The card fell off the mirror. We stuck it back up there. It fell off again. We got more tape and slapped it back on. More months passed.

At times, I felt tempted to just toss it when it fell to the ground. The course seemed too hard to follow. Too confusing. Too unknown. When we made this promise we had no idea that it would be over a year before we had any idea what the next step in our journey would be.

I am so grateful to share with you that this week Wes accepted a job as youth pastor at Grace Bible Church of Souderton, PA.

If you know Wes, you know that he is a man of many talents. But, primarily his gift with teenagers is extraordinary. He has a way of reaching them that is unlike most others that I have seen. They are drawn to him and he is able to speak truth into their lives with both grace and boldness.

Over the course of our journey (which actually began shortly after we married 7 years ago), Wes has struggled with his call to youth ministry at times. We have been tempted to throw in the towel and walk a completely different path. The call to ministry felt too hard to follow. Too confusing. Too unknown. At times, it was so tempting to just find an office job and be done with it.

But there was no getting away from it. Over and over again, through a number of circumstances and people speaking into our lives, it's been made clear. Wes is made for youth ministry.

Once we were sure of this, the next step was to find a church. This proved to be much more difficult than we anticipated. There were so many factors to consider. Philosophy? Vision? Mission? Leadership? Location? (Both of our families live here, so the thought that we might have to move far away from the grandparents has been difficult.)

We have been in process with Grace for several months now, and we are confident that this is where we are supposed to be. We already have great respect for the leadership and feel a kinship with the people there. (The fact that it is only 2 1/2 hours away AND only 15 miles from my brother's family has also helped!) We are SO EXCITED!!

(That's not to say that there isn't sadness mixed in as well as we prepare to leave our family and friends here in NY. However, I think this is a post for another time. I've got some tears saved up for that one.)

Thank you for your love and support along this journey. We know that the journey doesn't end here...it simply picks up in another location. We will continue to run the course that God lays out for us.

We are confident that He will show us how.

Better Late than Never...

2009-07-21T16:51:00.004-04:00

I could tell you all about how busy we are.

How we just got back from camping.

And how we are going again this weekend.

And how much laundry I need to get done.

But I will spare the details. I'm guessing you are pretty busy yourself. It is summer after all.

So in lieu of my top 6, I will share my ONE goal for this week:

1) Spend LOTS of quality time with my family!

How's that for a list?

Super Griffin to the Rescue!

2009-07-17T08:53:00.005-04:00

"Mommy, can I get dressed? I need to put my Super Hero clothes on!"

It's how we start most mornings here in the Ehret household. The Super Hero phase has begun and is going strong. If he's not Super Man, then he's Spider Man. Or Bat Man.

Griffin and his cousin Natalie at our church picnic

The other day he told Wes, "You stay here. They usually pick up the trash in an hour." (a la Mr. Incredible to the Bad Guy).

So when Papa Doug asked Griffin to be his sidekick in a special skit at our outdoor service at church, it was a no-brainer. Of course he could help Papa by donning his alter ego for a few hours. Helping is what Super Heroes do best.

Papa and Griffin saving the day

I, being the Super Hero's Mommy, was too busy feeling all proud and stuff to think of taking a video of this occasion. However the Super Hero's Aunt did. You can see it here.

So, this begs the question:

"If you could have any Super Hero power, which one would you choose?"

I used to think mine was flying.

Now, I think it's the ability to wash, fold, and put away tall piles of laundry in a single bound.

Lovely List Day

2009-07-13T14:51:00.003-04:00

Daddy and Griffin boathing with our friend Dean

Wow. This week has flown by! In the past week, we've been busy, busy, busy. There's been swimming and boating and playing with friends and grilling and birthday partying and roasting over fires and swinging and going to the park--sheesh. I think I need a nap!

Really, summer has finally arrived here in upstate NY and it is a beautiful thing!

I did find time in the midst of all of our fun to accomplish most of my list as well. I had lots of fun keeping track of Griffin's sayings this week. Here is one of my favorites:

"My brain told me to smack Lincoln."

Stay tuned for more to come!

And in keeping with my commitment to post my goals every Monday, here are my top 6 Goals for this Week (in no particular order):

Get those pictures printed that I was supposed to last week. =)

Continue to work on reading with Griffin.

Run. (Even if it's only once. Gotta start somewhere!)

Make those bran muffins I've been meaning to for weeks now!

Attempt to eat only from the pantry (a.k.a. the freezer) this week.

Make some down time for my husband.

No excuses in not completing them this week. Griffin is gone all morning at a local VBS=lots more free time for me!

Hi. Have we met?

2009-07-06T15:50:00.005-04:00

Wow. What a crazy ride that past few months have been. I am LOVING Cha-Ching on a Shoestring, but I miss you guys! While I do get jazzed about the money that I saved at CVS last week, I also greatly care about many other things.

So, if you don't mind, I'd like to re-join you here on My Front Porch. Let's go grab some lemonade, shall we? I have so much to tell you.

But before we get all comfy, I need some help. (That's what friends are for, right?) I'd like to start sharing some of my goals for the week with you every Monday. I figure it's a great way to keep me accountable, plus wouldn't you just love to hear about it?! So here goes...

This week, I would like to:
1) Take the boys to the library.
2) Spend quality time with some friends.
3) Do a better job of chronicling Griffin's sayings. (There are so many--and I forget if I don't write them down right away!)
4) Work on getting some pictures printed to be put in albums.
5) Work with Griffin on reading.
6) Post some pics of the boys!

That's it! Those are my top 6 Goals for the Week. Feel free to check up on my progress!

Now, onto the fun stuff. I think I'll get started on number 6 right now. Our boys have had some great firsts over the past few months that I wanted to share. Lincoln has learned to crawl and is now pulling himself to a standing position. His big brother still loves him very much. Let's hope this continues!

AND Griffin was in his FIRST wedding.

He was the ringbearer in Wes's cousin's wedding. I'm not gonna lie. I was one proud mama. He took his job very seriously. Although he did get a little antsy during the wedding and at one point wandered over to the bridesmaid's side. But don't you always hope that ringbearer does a little something to steal the show?

Ok, friends. I think I'll save the rest for later. Stop by again real soon! I can't wait to get caught up with you!

Hiatus

2009-04-23T07:54:00.003-04:00

I like that word, don't you? Go ahead. Say it out loud. Hiatus. Just kind of rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?

Sorry...now why was I writing again? Oh yes, to talk about my My Front Porch hiatus.

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm taking a brief hiatus from writing at My Front Porch. I just need some time to learn the ropes at Cha-Ching on a Shoestring. But I will be back!

I need a place to share my stories that don't necessarily belong on my money-saving blog. Stories about things like my three year old asking me yesterday: "How did God make me? Did he stick his head inside your belly and make me?"

Yep. I'll be back.

Did ya check it out yet?

Let's Get this Party Started!

2009-04-20T07:33:00.000-04:00

Cha-Ching on a Shoestring is LIVE!
We're moving Money Saving Monday over to our new place--
you won't want to miss the fun!
Head on over now and join the party!

Tick...tick...tick...tick...

2009-04-19T07:34:00.003-04:00

Countdowngreat free widgetsWidgetbox

CVS 101 Week of 4/19/09

2009-04-18T06:32:00.006-04:00

We are back in action this week with CVS 101. If you are a newbie CVSer, I will detail some great transactions you could make. Then go ahead and check out all of the deals at CVS this week below to help you plan your strategy!

If you are new to CVSing, you can go here for a quick tutorial. See right sidebar for coupon lingo definitions.

Here are three transactions I would recommend for a newbie CVSer:

Transaction #1:

Buy:

(2) Crest Pro Health Toothpaste 4.2oz, Rinse 250ml,Oral B Floss 27-55 yds or Super Floss 50ct, $2.88
$1/1 Crest Rinse 440ml or larger (4/30/2009) P & G 4/5/09
$.50/1 Crest Toothpaste, 4.2 oz.+ (4/30/09) P & G 3/15/09
$1/1 Crest 4.2 oz or larger (4/30/2009) P & G 4/5/09

Pay: $3.76 (with coupons) - $5.76 (without coupons)
Receive: $4 ECBs

Transaction #2:

Buy:

(1) Edge Infused Comfort or Hydrate Shave Gel, $2.89
(1) Bayer Aspirin Quick Release Crystal, $2

Use: $4 ECBs

Pay: $0.89
Receive: $4.89 ECBs

Transaction #3: (SUNDAY ONLY)

Buy (3) Aveeno at $6 and (1) at $7
Use $4/$20 Beauty Purchase coupon (expires 4/19)
Use $10/3 Coupon and $2/1 Coupon
Update: You may not be able to use the $10/3 coupon on the lower priced Aveeno. If you can print out two of the $2/1 coupons on your computer and have someone else print two out, you could still save $8 with coupons. With the beauty purchase coupon and the ecbs, you will only spend $3 for four Aveeno!

Use: $4.89 ECBs

Pay: $4.11
Receive: $5 ECBs

Here are the best deals that I see for this week. You can go here to see all of this week's deals. (Please note that coupons listed are not available in all areas.)

ECB DEALS:

NEW Edge Infused Comfort or Hydrate Shave Gel $2.89,
Get $2.89 ECBs (LIMIT 1)
Free after ECBs !!!

NEW Bayer Aspirin Quick Release Crystals $2,
Get $2 ECB (LIMIT 1)
$1/1 Bayer Aspirin Product, 24ct+, exp. 6/30/09 (SS 3/22/09)
Better than free after coupons and ECBs!

Crest Pro Health Toothpaste 4.2oz, Rinse 250ml,Oral B Floss 27-55 yds or Super Floss 50ct, $2.88
$1/1 Crest Rinse 440ml or larger (4/30/2009) P & G 4/5/09
$.50/1 Crest Toothpaste, 4.2 oz.+ (4/30/09) P & G 3/15/09
$1/1 Crest 4.2 oz or larger (4/30/2009) P & G 4/5/09

$10 ECB WYB $25 of ANY Aveeno Skin Care, Hair Care or Sun Care Products (LIMIT 1)
$1.00/1 Aveeno product (excludes cleansing bars and trial sizes) exp.7/5/2009 (SS 4/5/09)
$1.50/2 Aveeno Products (excludes cleansing bars and trial sizes)exp. 7/5/2009 (SS 4/5/09)
$2 Printable
$2/1. $5/2. $10/3 Aveeno printables

Tresemme 3/$10
Get $5 ECBs, (Limit 2)
$1 Printable (print 3!)

$2 ECB WYB Act Rinse 18oz 3.79 (Limit 2)
$1/1 Act Total Care 18 oz , exp. 7/20/09 ( SS 4/19/09)

Other Sales Items:

Rimmel Lip Products, psa $2.99 (BOGO)
$1/1 Rimmel Kiss & Stay Lipgloss, (RP 4/19/09)
$1/1 Rimmel Face, Lip or Nail Product, (RP 4/19/09)
$0.49 ea. after 2 coupons!

L’Oreal Eye Shadow or Liner, psa $3.89 (BOGO)
$2/1 L’Oreal HIP Eye or Eye Product, exp. 4-26-09 (V 2/1/09)
$1/1 L’Oreal Lip product, exp. 4-26-09 (V 2/1/09)
$2/1 L’Oreal make-up, powder, blush or concealer, exp. 4-26-09 (V 2/1/09)
$2/1 L’Oreal HIP Eye or Eye Product, (RP 4/19/09)
As low as FREE after coupons!

WE HAVE A WINNER! (Make that TWO winners!)

2009-04-17T11:30:00.004-04:00

And the winner of our $10 Amazon.com Giveaway is:
Kimberly!!

Who was referred by:
Joy at My Reasons to Blog

I have sent you both an e-mail. Congratulations!

Stay tuned for more information on when Cha-Ching on a Shoestring is GOING LIVE!
(hint: it's VERY soon!)

How We Got Here, Part 3: Wes's Edition

2009-04-16T05:42:00.010-04:00

How We Got Here, Part 1

How We Got Here, Part 2: Kaley's Edition

I ~~suckered Wes into~~ asked Wes if he'd be willing to write a guest post. I wanted him to share his side of the 'How We Got Here' story and I knew he would not disappoint.

My wife has a way with words. On the contrary I only have a bad way with commas. I once got a 40 on an English paper in college due to my unabashed misuse of commas. To this day I am gun-shy when it comes to using them so I would suggest taking one BIG BREATH before trying to read the story of my life.

"I grew up frugal."

It is what I know, it is how my parents taught me to live. My Pop worked very hard to provide enough income to keep my Mom from having to work. When my brother and I started school my Mom worked part-time jobs that would allow her to get back home before the school bus dropped us off. We didn’t have a lot, but we certainly had enough. My parents were the dog; they wagged money like it was their tail.

First off, I learned that lots of people throw away money and that I shouldn’t be one of them. There I was at the horse show hanging around the trash bin after lunch (isn't every little spendthrift into dumpster diving?), like a cat ready to pounce. They would walk up and toss it in, before it could hit bottom I had snagged it. It was in my plastic bag, and my eyes were peeled for my next victim. Don’t they realize that with a little bit of effort and some sticky fingers they could have a nickel to call their own? I wasn’t about to tell them. The masses threw those can deposits away before recycling was cool, so I snagged them and turned them into video games.

Coupons, packing your lunch, hand me downs, washed out sandwich bags, hatching your own chickens, patched up pants… they all rang up as dollar signs in the Ehret household. A trip to the grocery store meant that poor lady at the register had to double and triple my Mom’s manufacturer coupons, whoo hooo FREE FOOD! Mom drove around in her Chevette, hunting the supermarkets for deals like Dirty Harry hunted bad guys with his .44 magnum.

A little extra time and effort clipping coupons was my Mom’s way of sticking it to the man, or woman in most cases. She stretched our $80 a week grocery budget like it was nobody’s business. It is only in looking back that I’m able to marvel at it now. My mom was willing to do the UNIMAGINABLE (clipping coupons, using buy-one-get-one deals, she bought in bulk, and exercised restraint) to increase our food budget by upwards of 25%. I’m glad she did too, because we loved that dish of ice-cream during The Cosby Show.

Secondly I learned that Kids = Slave Labor...I mean ‘Hard work can save a lot of money’. Growing up to us meant some chores intermingled with Scooby-Doo and WWF Wrestling, or maybe it was the other way around. My brother and I were scrawny but we could pull weeds, shell peas, and toss firewood with the best of them thanks to our plantation-owning parents.

Gardening, splitting firewood, raising chickens for the eggs, and milking goats all rang up dollar signs and exercise. News flash--when you grow some of your own food and chop your own wood for heat you don’t have to pay someone else nearly as much to feed you and keep you warm. Rather than seeing it as grueling work, we saw it as a way of controlling where we spent our money. We could hand it over to the “the man”, or our dirty fingernails and a little sweat could be turned into a new cd player, a swimming pool, or a week at camp. A little effort really does go a long way.

Thirdly, I learned the satisfaction of doing it myself –vs- paying some schlub to take my money. My first bike was a nice repainted compilation of bike parts, the greatest of which was a beautiful cushy white banana seat. My Pop spent a few hours putting that bike together for me to learn to on. I also looked on as he snubbed the Maytag repair man by figuring out how to re-wire our washer for the price of parts. Pop took on things he had no business fixing, he’d tinker around and a day later it was good as new.

Fourthly, I learned that a budget is a very good companion. Every Thursday evening, like clockwork, my Pop was at the kitchen counter with his checkbook and a stack of bills. He had it all worked out--what bill to pay when and which account to take it from.

“That money is already spent," he’d say as he pointed to a lump of cash sitting in the ledger book. He knew the car insurance would need to be paid every six months so he saved every week and when the bill came due he sent that “already spent money” in to pay it.

I didn’t appreciate it as much then as I do now, but my Pop was exercising some serious wisdom right in front of me. Wisdom says you don’t spend money that you don’t have, save for an emergency, save for a rainy day, save for something of quality even if it takes a little longer.

These formative years of frugality laid the groundwork for 'How I Got Here'.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Swagbucks, How I Love Thee...

2009-04-15T15:47:00.006-04:00

Have I mentioned how much I love Swagbucks? I've considered writing poetry to it, I love it so much.

Some of you have asked if there is a 'trick' to earning more Swagbucks. Yes. There is.

You see, you will most likely only earn 1-3 Swagbucks per day, and they will randomly be rewarded to you. So if you do an online search every day, you should easily earn your first gift card ($5 for Amazon.com) within the first month or two.

BUT the real earnings come when you get others to join you in your Swagbucks love. Then you can just sit back and let others do the work for you!

There are a few ways to get others to join you.

ASK them. After signing up here, click on the 'Promote' button at the top of the page and send everyone you know an e-mail. (Hey--who doesn't do online searches? Why not give people a chance to earn free stuff just for doing what they normally do?) You can also e-mail them from your personal account, but make sure to use the referral link that they give you on the 'Promote' page or you won't get credit!
If you have a blog, ya just gotta blog about it! Again, after signing up here, click on the 'Promote' button and then 'Promote banners'. Use the referral link and banners in your blog post to make sure you get credit. Then sit back and watch the savings come in!

**This may go without saying, but be sure to download the toolbar once you join. That's how you'll be on your way to Swagbucks heaven!

Let me know if you have any questions! Go here to find out more about what this Swagbucks craze is all about.

HAPPY TAX DAY!!!

2009-04-15T06:35:00.002-04:00

In case you forgot, TODAY is tax day! If you haven't gotten those taxes filed, you have until midnight tonight. You can do it!

Once they are done, it's time to celebrate! There are several super fun freebies being offered today, including a free cookie from Subway and free bites from Cinnabon--ohhhhh yeah! I am there.

Deal Seeking Mom has the scoop (including a free scoop of ice cream) right here.

Images of Easter, part 2

2009-04-15T06:00:00.011-04:00

tracing griffin's hand.

to create this lovely lily for the grandmas.

my handsome boys.

and my other handsome boy.

wes's deee-lectable cheesecake.

egg-dyeing, of course.

Free Reynold's Wrap

2009-04-14T08:11:00.002-04:00

In honor of Earth Day, Reynold's Wrap is offering a FREE roll of their recycled aluminum foil. Go here to sign up. The rebate will not be available until April 22, but you can sign up for an e-mail reminder now. Quantities are limited.

Just in time...we're almost out!

Thanks, Thrifty Homemaker!

Images of Easter, part 1

2009-04-14T06:26:00.009-04:00

mrs. pattycake's easter eggstravaganza.

the hunt.

buddies.

yummy.

seder dinner.

Money Saving Monday: The Spring Break Edition

2009-04-13T05:54:00.006-04:00

For many of you, this week is Spring Break. Your kids are home from school and you may be feeling a bit like this:

Perhaps some good deals will ease your stress? I'm here for YOU.

In the Keeping Your Kids Occupied department:

For your princess-loving litte girl: how about a free Precious Places DVD? Go here to order yours today!
Thinking ahead about summer break? Go here to find out how your kids can bowl free all summer long! You can sign up to get two free games of bowling for every child in your family every day for the entire summer. How fun is that? (Go here to find participating locations.) Thanks, Jaycie!
Did you know that Garmin has a program that allows you to upload Audiobooks for you to listen to on those long trips? Go here to find out more and to download a free Marley & Me audiobook!
For those of you in my area (Binghamton, NY), have you checked out the BOOKS Reading Rewards Program? I LOVE it! About the only thing that will keep my three year old occupied for long periods of time is reading. How cool that he can earn free stuff just for doing what he loves!
If you are not from my area, you may want to find out if your school participates in the Pizza Hut BOOK IT program. You can also enter a fun BOOK IT contest here until midnight tonight!

In the You Deserve a Break Today department:

Did you know that Walmart gives away a free music download every week? Go here to get yours today. Then keep checking back weekly to build your collection!
~~How about some free chicken wings? Go here to get your coupon for 6 free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings! (Offer expires April 30.)~~ Apparently this coupon is no longer working. How about $3 off on your next visit to Boston Market instead? Go here to sign up!

And finally...in the FREE DIAPERS department

This past week I have found deals all over the place for free samples of diapers. Listen...every bit counts when it comes to saving money on diapers, so I thought I'd share the love. Here's what I found:

Go here to find out how you can complete a phone survery and earn a free sample of diapers (and possbily $10 as well!)
Go here to request a free sample of Huggies Pure and Natural diapers from Walmart.
Go here to request another free sample of Huggies Pure and Natural diapers.

Happy Monday!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

I hope you are enjoying this very special holiday with your family and friends. I am planning a day full of celebration, worship, and lovin' on those who are dearest to me.

I will be back next Sunday with my regular CVS 101 post. So as not to leave you hanging this week, you can check out this week's CVS deals here, this week's Walgreens deals here, and this week's Rite Aid deals here.

Happy Easter!

Family and Friends Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card

2009-04-09T14:56:00.005-04:00

Tick...tick...tick...tick...

Do you hear that? It's the sound of time ticking away
before our new blog opens sometime SOON!
(If you haven't heard the news, go here to find out more.)

We have another contest for you and this time, we're asking for your help to SPREAD the word about the opening of Cha-Ching on a Shoestring.

HERE'S THE DEAL: The winner of this contest will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card. But here's the catch: If YOU are the person who referred the winner, you will also receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card! That's right--it's a two-for-one deal!

So, here's what YOU need to do. If you haven't signed up here for notification of the opening of Cha-Ching on a Shoestring, then go ahead and do it now. Then, leave a comment saying that you signed up and you will automatically be entered into the contest.

Once you have signed up, start telling your friends and family about it! Send them an e-mail. Give them a call. Sign your husband up! Take a coffee break and go tell your co-worker to sign up. Twitter about it. Post it on facebook.

And, of course, if you have a blog, then BLOG about it! (Go ahead and copy and paste my button if you'd like.) Consider it your giveaway for the week. (Money Saving Mom has a Giveaways Galore post going on here right now. Leave a linky for your blog! It's a great way to get traffic!)

Ok, just to be sure we are on the same page, here's what you need to do:

If you haven't signed up yet, sign up here. Then leave a comment letting me know you've signed up. If someone else sent you here, MAKE SURE YOU LET ME KNOW WHO IT WAS!! If you are the winner, the person who referred you will also win!
If you are already signed up, then start sending others to this post. You will be entered into the contest once for every person who indicates you as their referral!

In order to give you plenty of time to get the word out, we will leave this contest open for a whole week. It will end Thursday, April 16 at 8 pm. EST.

Any questions? E-mail me at: kaleyehret@hotmail.com.

GOOD LUCK!

219.

2009-04-09T06:30:00.002-04:00

No, it's not my golf score (although that's quite possible.) Nor is it my bowling score (I wish.)

Just for fun, I decided to keep a running tally of how many questions my three year old asks me in a day. Yesterday the total was 219.

And I didn't even start counting until 10 AM...and finally gave up at dinner time. Plus he had time for a 3 hour nap (must be his barrage of questioning wears him out).

How is that possible?

It's quite impressive, really. I started counting when we were on our way to help a friend whose car was in the shop. The rapid-fire technique is his favorite. "Why is her car broken? Did she break it? Who's going to fix it? How did she get it to the fixer place? How are they going to fix it?"

Is this normal?

My favorite question of the day:

"Why do I have a chin?"

I mean...how do you answer a question like that?

You are probably wondering if I answer every question. I would estimate I get an answer in every 5th question or so. His .02 second response time requirement before asking the next question doesn't allow me to prepare my answers as I'd like.

I just keep reminding myself that someday I will miss his interrogative little self. When the only question he asks becomes, "Can I have the car to go hang out at my friend's house?", I will look back at these question-filled days with longing, I'm sure.

And seriously, why do we have chins?

CVS and Upromise

2009-04-08T06:31:00.006-04:00

My philosophy when I go to CVS is that I want to get the most that I can for the very smallest amount of money possible. Typically, I will walk away from CVS with $40-$50 worth of stuff, having spent less than a couple of dollars out of pocket.

There are two exceptions where I am willing to pay slightly more money out of pocket.

1) If the deal is on something that we absolutely need and I know it will be more expensive elsewhere (i.e. diapers!)

2) If I know I will get a large amount of extrabucks in return.

This week, both were the case.

Which is why I spent twenty-three whole dollars this week. Here's what I got:

(3) 12-pks of Diet Coke (used $1/1 coupon from MyCokeRewards)
(1) package of Huggies wipes (used $1.50/1 coupon from mailer)
(1) package of Huggies diapers (used $3 coupon from coupons.com--no longer available)
(1) package of Huggies pull-ups (used $3 coupon from coupons.com--no longer available)
(1) can of Pringles (used $1/1 coupon from P&G's Year of Savings booklet)
(1) bag of Easter grass
(1) Skintimate Shaving cream
(1) Colgate Max Fresh (used $1/1 coupon from SS 3/29/09)
(2) Easter baskets

Used $10 off $50 purchase coupon from CRT (cash register tape)

Total after coupons: $23.15

ECBs received: $23.26 (woohoo! $.11 more than I spent!)

However, I am kicking myself because I didn't activate my Upromise eCoupons until after I made this transaction. There is an eCoupon for $1.50 when you purchase a pack of Huggies diapers. Sigh.

If you haven't signed up for Upromise yet, I highly recommend it if you are starting to shop at CVS. I was a Upromise member for 3 years before I started CVSing and didn't earn a dime. But since I so often buy name brand products at CVS now (for almost free!), I've discovered that those products often earn me money at Upromise as well.

Once you sign up, be sure to go to the eCoupon section on the side. By activating these monthly, you'll have another way of earning a little more 'bang' for your buck!

In fact, right now there is a great Beech Nut promotion here plus if you sign up here, you will receive printable coupons for Beech Nut products. AND on top of all that, this month there is an eCoupon for Beech Nut products. My hungry 7 month old is already doing his part to help save for his college education!

Update: Wait...I just realized that I DID sign up for the eCoupons in time. My Upromise account was just credited for $1.50! That makes a girl happy. PLUS...have any of you seen the B1G1 free peelies on Beech Nut cereal? My Walmart has them! This deal just keeps getting sweeter!

life.

2009-04-07T09:13:00.001-04:00

a trip to the maple festival on a beautiful day.

fried dough. yummy.

tasting fresh maple syrup.

a visit with great grandpa.

and great grandma.

cute.

cuter.

Grieving.

2009-04-06T08:28:00.003-04:00

In light of the recent tragic events in my hometown of Binghamton, I've opted to forego the regular Money Saving Monday feature to write what is on my heart.

This past summer, I sat in an airplane across the aisle from a woman who was clearly distraught. After spending several minutes wrestling over whether I should speak with her, I finally did. I leaned over the aisle and whispered that I didn't mean to pry, but did she need to talk?

She smiled grimly through her tears and shared with me that her mother was dying and that she was worried that she wasn't going to get there in time to say good-bye.

As she opened up to me about her story, the tears began to flow...both hers and mine. As she wept, I wept. Her pain was raw and, in that moment, what I had to offer in response was my grief. The affirmation that what she felt was real and valid, and she was not alone. I wanted to do more, but I had nothing more to give.

Last night, I attended the prayer vigil in remembrance of the 14 victims of this weekend's massacre. I saw your faces--the faces of the families of the victims. I marveled at the number of different hues of skin, all telling the story of your countries of origin: Haiti, China, Pakistan, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, United States, and Iraq (and no, the irony is not lost on me with that one).

I watched you as you passed by and wished I had something to offer. Although it was only a glimpse, I had the sense that you have felt this kind of pain before. That this kind of horror was much more familiar to many of you than it should be.

But then, this time you are far from home. I tried to imagine how it must feel to experience such deep loss in a place that is not home. I wondered if you are longing for home now.

And I wept. All I had to offer in that moment was my grief. The affirmation that what you feel is real and valid. And that you are not alone.

In the middle of the onslaught on Friday, there was a low, long rumble of thunder. Strange for this time of year. But for me, it was a reminder that there is a God who grieves with you as well. He has a Son who has experienced deep agony in a place that is not His home. He is fully acquainted with grief. He affirms that what you feel is real and valid. He has felt it too.

And although I do not know you, I grieve with you. It is all that I have to offer in this moment. In this place that is not home, may you know that you are not alone.

CVS 101 (Week of 4/5/09)

2009-04-04T15:50:00.003-04:00

If you are a beginning CVSer, you can go here for a quick tutorial on how to get started.

Don't let this overwhelm you! Feel free to ask lots of questions. It can be confusing at first, but you'll get the hang of it!

To get you started, I'm going to suggest two transactions that will get you the most ECBs for your money. You can go with my suggestion or create your own. Scroll down to find more deals this week at CVS. (Hint: There's a good ECB deal on Huggies diapers and wipes this week!)

Transaction #1:
Buy:

(1) Colgate Max Fresh or Max White, $2.99
Get $2 ECBs (limit 1)
If you have coupons saved, there are two Colgate coupons. (See right side of screen for coupon lingo definitions!)
$0.75/1 Colgate Adult or Kids Toothpaste, exp. 5-31-09 (SS 2/22/09)
$1.00/1 Colgate Toothpaste, exp. 4-18-09 (SS 3/29/09

(1) Skintimate Shave Cream, $3.49
Get $3.49 ECBs (limit 1)
FREE after ECBs!

(1) Excedrin (20 to 24-ct.), $1.99
$1/1 Excedrin printable
$2/1 Excedrin printable
$2/1 Excedrin printable
FREE to $0.99 after coupon!

Total spent: $5.48 to $7.00
ECBs received: $5.49

THEN, I would ask if I can do another transaction (which I do ALL the time) and buy this:

(1) Easter Grass, $.79 ea. Get $.1.58 ECBs

(2) Bamboo Easter Baskets, $1.99 ea.
Get $3.98 ECBs

Use ECBs from previous transaction.

Total spent: $.07
ECBs received: $5.56
(This deal is good only on Sunday and Monday!)

Here are the rest of the good deals I see this week, thanks to Deal Seeking Mom!

Leave me a comment and let me know how it goes for you this week! What kind of deals did you work up?!

2 Day Sale Sunday & Monday only

Easter Grass $.79
Get $.79 ECBs (limit 2)
Free after ECBs (after Monday, no ECBs)

Bamboo Easter Baskets $1.99
Get $1.99 ECBs (limit 2)
Free after ECBs! (after Monday, no ECBs)

:: ECB Deals

Skintimate Shave Cream, $3.49
Get $3.49 ECBs (limit 1)
FREE after ECBs!

Colgate Max Fresh or Max White, $2.99
Get $2 ECBs (limit 1)
$0.75/1 Colgate Adult or Kids Toothpaste, exp. 5-31-09 (SS 2/22/09)
$0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste, exp. 4-18-09 (SS 3/29/09)
$0.24 after coupon and ECBs!

Lindt Truffles, 2/$6
Get $1 ECB (limit 5)
$1/1 Lindt printable
$1.50 ea. after coupons and ECBs!

Coke 12-packs, 3/$11
Get $3 ECBs wyb 3 (limit 1)
$1/1 Coke 12-pack (MyCokeRewards)
$1.67 to $2.67 after coupons and/or ECBs!

Covergirl
Get $10 ECBs wyb $20 (limit 1)
$4/1 Covergirl Simply Ageless Fountain (P&G 4/5/09)
$1/1 Covergirl, (P&G 4/5/09)
Cheap makeup after coupons and ECBs!

Baby Products Deal
Get $10 ECBs wyb $25 (limit 1)

Enfamil/Similac, 2/$10
Huggies Jumbo, $10
Huggies Wipes, $5
J&J Baby Bath, $2.99
Playskool Diapers, $10.99
Playtex Cups and Accessories, 25% off
CVS Mega Pack Diapers (34 to 52-ct.) or Kids Pants (40-ct.), $10
Enfamil or Similac Ready to Feed 32-oz. (excludes Alimentum & Nutramigen), 2/$10
CVS Soft Cloths (72 to 80-ct.), 2/$4

$1/1 Similac Powder, any 22 oz.+, exp. 4-30-09 (SS 10/12/08)
$1.50/1 Huggies Diapers, exp. 4-19-09 (SS 3/1/09)
$0.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, any 64ct+, exp. 4-5-09 (SS 1/11/09)
$0.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes 64ct+, exp. 5-24-09 (SS 3/1/09)
$2/2 Johnson’s printable
$0.75/1 Mail-in Rebate Caregiver’s Marketplace
Prices vary after coupons, MIR, and ECBs!

:: Other Deals

Excedrin (20 to 24-ct.), $1.99
$1/1 Excedrin printable
$2/1 Excedrin printable
$2/1 Excedrin printable
FREE to $0.99 after coupon!

Revlon Cosmetics, psa $1.99 (BOGO)
$1/1 Revlon Color Cosmetic Product, exp. 4-7-09 (SS 12/7/08)
FREE after coupons!

Glade Air Freshener, $0.99
BOGO Glade Spray, excludes air infusions, exp. 4-25-09 (SS 3/15/09)
$0.50 after coupon!

Glade Carpet Deodorizer, $1.50
$1/1 Glade Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator, exp. 4-4-09 (SS 2/22/09)
$0.50 after coupon!

Schick Intuition Plus Razors, 2/$9.99 (BOGO)
$4/1 Schick Intuition or Intuition Plus Razor, exp. 5-3-09 (SS 3/22/09)
$0.99 ea. after coupons!

For this week's Walgreens deals, go here.

For this week's Rite Aid deals, go here.

AND THE WINNER IS...

2009-04-03T08:22:00.004-04:00

Thanks to everybody who took part in our new blog contest! It's been so much fun reading your comments and having others join in our excitement.

This morning I used random.org to select the number of the winning commenter. Random Integer Generator, work your magic.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-04-03 12:07:42 UTC

And the winning commenter is #2: Leah! I've sent you an e-mail. I'll pop your gift card in the mail when you let me know which one you'd like!

We can't wait to continue the fun at Cha-Ching on a Shoestring when it opens sometime in the next two weeks. Expect more contests and giveaways and a regular old part-ay!

Wanna know when the fun is going to begin? Go here to sign up to find out when we GO LIVE!

Welcome, MOPS moms!

2009-04-02T13:35:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to any of the MOPS moms that stop by today from my presentation this morning. I know it was a whirlwind of information, but have no fear. We'll work through it together!

Here are a couple of links to get you started:

Click here for a quick tutorial on CVS shopping. (For further info, you can click the link to CVS on the right hand side of the page.)

Come back Sunday for a posting of all the drugstore deals.

And don't forget to sign up for our new web-site and post a comment here so you can enter to win a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card or $10 Rite Aid gift card!

Oh...and go here to check out those those organic coupons I promised.

Thanks for stopping in!

The Moment You've All Been Waiting For

2009-03-31T13:05:00.004-04:00

May I have your attention, please?!

It is with great excitement that I announce to the world our 'little secret'.

COMING SOON:

OUR NEW BLOG!

We have been working feverishly behind-the-scenes to prepare a super fun, engaging site that chronicles our journey of learning to live large on a limited budget. In the process of sharing with you, we hope to make your journey to saving money a little easier. Plus, we'll have coupons, freebies, and the latest scoop on what's hot in the world of great deals.

And did I mention it's going to be FUN? You'll want to be there when we GO LIVE sometime in the next two weeks. There will be contests and giveaways and you won't want to miss it! Click on the picture above to sign up for a notification when the site opens!

And speaking of contests, I have a $5 Target gift card for the first commenter today! Who's it gonna be?!

AND so as not to make the rest of you feel left out, I also have a $10 Rite Aid gift card OR a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card (winner gets to choose) for one random commenter.

You have two ways of entering:

Leave a comment saying that you have signed up to be notified about the new blog.
If you have a blog, write a unique post about this giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post.

Go sign up here and get a-commenting!

This contest will be over on Friday, April 3 at 8:00 AM EST. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address or web-site so that I have a way to let you know if you win!

Hmmm...

2009-03-31T05:30:00.001-04:00

Could today be THE DAY?

Thought you'd like to know...

2009-03-30T07:01:00.005-04:00

I earned enough swagbucks for my first Amazon gift card and I'm working on my second.
Woohoo!
(Don't know about my latest obsession? Go here to find out more!)

Money Saving Monday--Part 2: The Free Food Edition

2009-03-30T06:32:00.003-04:00

I think it's a conspiracy. This is the third ice cream deal I've found since giving up ice cream for Lent. And it's my favorite. Get a FREE three scoop sundae and other special offers just for signing up for the Best Friend's of Friendly's eclub. I worked at Friendly's for about 6 years in high school and college, and this still sounds yummy to me!

While we're talking free food, Arby's has several more free food with purchase coupons out. These are only good until tomorrow, March 31, so print them now!

Oh...why not one more? Do you have a Boston Market nearby? Sign up for their e-mail club and receive $3 off your next purchase!

Money Saving Monday: The Moneymaking Coupons Edition

2009-03-30T05:13:00.002-04:00

All right class, who here would like to get paid to shop?

Mmhmm. Thought so.

I went to Walmart last week and had so much fun actually making money on the coupons that I used, I just had to share. (Of course, I bought other things because I'm thinking that Walmart would frown upon actually paying me money at the end of my transaction.)

Here are my moneymakers:

Have you printed these $5/1 Glucerna cereal coupons yet? Glucerna was $3.92 at my Walmart, so I made $1.08 per box! (Be sure to print off two by hitting the back button. Plus, you can go here to find out how to get another coupon by mail.)

If you haven't printed or used the Johnson's Buddy Soaps coupons, do it now! I'm not sure how long they are available and I think they expire April 1. They were only $.97 at my Walmart, so I made $.03 per soap!

This one was my favorite. Look for 'Try Me Free' peelies on the Nestle Toll House Chocolate or Caramel Filled Refrigerated Cookies. Then use this $1/1 printable to actually get paid a dollar to eat them. How can you go wrong there?

If you get All You magazine, (I highly recommend it!) use the $1/2 coupon from the February issue to buy two Ortega Taco Seasonings. They were $.47 for me, so I made $.06!

I also thought this was a fun deal:

Lender's Bagels: $1.37 each (some stores have them for $1.25)
$5 Mail in Rebate coupon when you buy 5
$.25 to $.37 each after mail in rebate! Note: Be sure to ask for two receipts if you plan to do this MIR and the Nestle MIR.

Happy Monday!

My Trip 3/29

2009-03-29T17:24:00.002-04:00

I actually made it to CVS today, which usually doesn't happen on a Sunday. I wanted to get those Paas egg decorating kits, but alas they were out. Got a rain check though!

Here's what I scored:

Transaction #1:
(1) Glade Sense & Spray
(1) Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber
(2) Veet Gel creams

Used:
$4/1 Glade Sense & Spray, exp. 6-27-09 (ALL YOU magazine March ‘09 issue)
$2/1 Veet printable (2 of these)
$2.75/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber printable
$7.99 in ECBs

TOTAL: $2.18
Received $6 ECBs

Transaction #2:
(2) Softsoap Ensembles Hand Soap Refills

Used:
$2/1 SoftSoap Ensembles Hand Soap, exp. 4-11-09 (SS 3/22/09)
$1/1 Soft Soap Ensembles Hand Soap (All You Magazine, February '09 issue)
$5 in ECBx

TOTAL: $.24
Received $4 ECBs

TOTAL OOP (out of pocket): $2.42
$5 ECBs remaining

I see a few more deals I might try to score this week. I'll let you know if I do.

SO...how did YOU do?!

CVS 101 Week of 3/29

2009-03-28T17:00:00.007-04:00

Are you ready?!
CVSers UNITE!

CVSing can be somewhat overwhelming at first, but just follow me and I will make it as simple as possible. For more tips on how to get started, go here.

If you are completely new to CVS, here is a transaction I would suggest:

Buy:
(2) Paas Easter Egg Coloring Kit, $1.99
Get $1.99 ECBs for each.

Pay: $3.98
Receive: $3.98 in ECBs
(This deal is only good on Sunday and Monday!)

THEN, I would ask if I can do another transaction (which I do ALL the time) and buy this:

Buy:

(2) Veet, $5.49 ea.
Get $5 ECBs wyb $10 (limit 1)
$2/1 Veet printable
$2/1 Veet printable
Use two of these coupons.
*Update: I am having trouble with the second coupon. So I just signed up for two of the first--one for me and one for my husband!

(2) Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber, $2.99
$2.75/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber printable
Use two of these coupons by hitting the back arrow after the first one prints!

PLUS if you have a copy of the All You magazine (you can get it at Walmart!), you can get two Rimmel mascara for FREE. Here's how:

(2) Rimmel Cosmetics, BOGO (Buy One, Get One Free)
Use FREE Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara coupon, exp. 5-31-09 (All You magazine, April ‘09 issue)
2 FREE after coupon!
*Note that the coupon says 'Only at Walmart', but it is a manufacturer's coupon, so they should accept it. It worked for me at Walgreens. Just ask them to see if it works.

When paying, give your coupons first THEN your extrabucks from the first transaction.

Total after coupons and ECBs: $3.48

$5 ECBs remaining for your next transaction!

If you'd like to see more CVS deals this week, go here.

BIG TIP: You will NOT receive change from the ECBs that you use. It is important to figure out your transactions carefully so that you don't end up losing money on your ECBs.

BIG TIP #2: If CVS is out of stock of any of these items, ask for a rain check.

Stay tuned later today for the deals that I plan to score at CVS this week!

If you head out to shop, let me know how it goes, OK? And bring on the questions!

Happy shopping!

Shopping Trip

2009-03-27T21:08:00.004-04:00

CVS purchase: $.48

Walgreens purchase: $0

Target purchase: $.28

An entire afternoon to shop by myself: Priceless

Yep. It was a good day. After carefully planning my shopping outing this afternoon (with only a few minor setbacks involving computers and printers NOT cooperating...sigh), I dropped the boys off at Grandma Ehret's house and hit CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, and Aldi in a matter of 4 hours. (Oh...and found time to sit still for half an hour in the Target Starbucks enjoying a caramel macchiato. Love those gift cards!)

Tonight I will just share my CVS purchase. The others will have to wait. It was actually a very slow week at CVS, but that's Ok. Slow and simple is a good way to start for all you CVS virgins. (That was for you, Natalie!)

Here's what I got:

Transaction #1:

1 Crest Pro-Health: $2.49 with $1 off coupon/Earned $3.49 ECBs
1 Maybelline Instant Age Rewind *YES!*: $4.99 with $3 coupon/Earned $5 ECBs
1 York Peppermint Patty: (and yes...that wrapper is empty...yum) $.89

Transaction #2:

2 Johnson's Buddies Soaps: $.19 ea. with 2 $1 off coupons
1 bottle of Vitamin D: $2.99/Earned $2.99 ECBs

I used $8 in ECBs that I already had on the first transaction and then used $3.49 ECBs from the Crest Pro-Health on the second transaction.

TOTAL OOP (out of pocket): $.48
TOTAL ECBs to use next time: $7.99

Come back on Sunday when I will share my plan for your CVS ~~steal~~ deal of the week!

Here it is!

2009-03-27T06:27:00.010-04:00

It's the moment you've all been waiting for! As promised in a previous post, I have something exciting to share!

Oh I'm sorry...did you think I meant this exciting news? Nope. Not yet. (Am I the only one laughing here? Please don't hate, you'll find out soon!) Actually, the 'something exciting' I am referring to is a response to a question I've been getting for months now.

If you want to know how to become a CVSer, I've got the goods today. And as I always say, It's gonna change your life!

I'm actually not kidding about that. If you don't believe me, ask my mom. She would be the first to tell you that she never thought that becoming a couponer was in her dna, until I started teaching her about CVS. She's nearing retirement age, folks, (Is that ok to share, mom?) and has never used coupons or followed ads until about two months ago. Now she calls me each week feeling hyper (her words) about the deals that she scored.

Since joining the world of the drugstore game (Walgreens and Rite Aid also have great deals), I estimate that I've saved my family over a thousand dollars. Crazy, huh? And the better I get at the game, the more money I am saving.

If you’d like to join the game, I’m going to give you the simplest tutorial I know how and then leave it up to you to bring on the questions.

Here goes!

The CVS ExtraCare Program provides shoppers with something called Extra Care Bucks (ECBs). These are ‘coupons’ that print out at the end of your receipt after you purchase certain items. The coupons are a dollar amount that can be used on your next purchase at CVS.

Weekly and monthly, CVS promotes products by offering a certain amount of ECBs if you buy them. My goal when I shop at CVS is to figure out how I can get the most ECBs for the least amount of money. This means buying items that either offer a high amount of ECBs or items that I have a coupon for or BOTH, which is the ultimate deal.

(For example, CVS has toothpaste this week for $3.49 that will earn you $3.49 in ECBs, PLUS I have a $1.00 off coupon. So, I will spend only $2.49, but get $3.49 back. That’s good stuff.)

When you earn your first ECBs you may feel that you have a coupon burning a whole in your pocket and you should use it right away. Actually, the best idea is to save your ECBs so that you can use them when there is a new week with new deals and new coupons. Again, the goal is to figure out how you can get the most ECBs for the least amount of money. And now you have a coupon that will make it that much easier to do so!

What made learning this game possible for me is that there is a whole world of resources available online. There are numerous web-sites dedicated to helping you figure out the best deals and the coupons that you can use with them. Stick with me and I will introduce you to these sites and help walk you through them.

Here’s what you need to do to get started:

1) Sign up for a CVS Extra Care Card. You can do so online, but I suggest just signing up in the store so that you can start using your card right away.

2) Start saving your Sunday coupons. If you don’t get a Sunday paper, it’s time to start! For tips on the easiest way to organize your coupons, go here.

3) Plan your shopping trip in advance. Check my blog each Sunday for the upcoming week’s best deals. Look through the store flyer to see if there are any deals that you don’t want to miss.

4) Take a carefully planned list and the store flyer with you, so you can be sure you are getting the exact items that are advertised.

5) If at all possible, take NO children with you! You will end up feeling stressed and rushed and paying more than you intended. (Besides, the CVS carts are about the size of my kitchen sink. No, I’m serious.)

Ok, let the savings begin!

(Check back later today for my CVS deals this week. I'm heading to the store this afternoon...without children!)

Wordless Wednesday (a.k.a A Reason to Show Cute Pictures of My Children)

2009-03-25T16:57:00.005-04:00

The Secret is Out...or will be

2009-03-24T06:30:00.005-04:00

Some of my best ideas come in the middle of the night.

Although my 7 month old continues to sleep well, my 3 year old still needs potty breaks in the wee hours occasionally. (I SOOOO did not mean that as a pun!)

So, last night as I lay in bed after putting him back to bed, I started thinking about this little secret of ours. Some of you have been asking about it. I've been trying to figure out how we should tell you.
Then it hit me. A CONTEST!! Why not have a little fun?

So, here's the scoop. (Oh...and speaking of scoops, if you live near a Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop, stop by TODAY--March 24--only with a non-perishable item and you can get a scoop for only $1!)

At some point in the next 7 days, I will write a post, outing our little secret.

If YOU are the first commenter on that post, I have a $5 Target gift card with your name on it.

Now, isn't that fun? Just keep coming back...maybe it will be YOU! (hint: if you want a bit of an edge in this contest, become a follower or subscribe to this blog!)

Besides, aren't you just dying to find out?! (And seriously, I'm not pregnant, folks...)

Swagbucks Love

2009-03-23T07:10:00.007-04:00

It has now been a week since I signed up for Swagbucks.

Update: I am only 2 swagbucks away from my first gift card!!!

It has been so much fun to watch my numbers grow with very little effort on my part. I have searched the web several times, but most of my points have come from a few people who signed up last week when I posted about this new online search engine. As they earn swagbucks, so do I!

Here are a few tips:

Once you are signed up, be sure to download the toolbar and start earning bucks right away. You'll automatically receive 3 swagbucks just for signing up!

Then, click on 'Promote' to find banners and links to post on your blog.

If you don't have a blog, you can simply click on 'Promote' and send out an e-mail to your friends to invite them to join you in this fun new way to earn free money.

Seriously, this is so much fun. Join the Swagbucks craze with me. Hey, everybody's doing it! (This is what we call positive peer pressure. =)

Money-Saving Monday: The Health and Beauty Edition

2009-03-23T05:27:00.004-04:00

It's been interesting to see how the deals I find each week all seem to follow a certain pattern. This week, I'm gonna help you stay healthy, strong and beautiful for a looong time.
(← Ok, maybe not that long, but at least for a few weeks...)

1) Go here to find out how you can get up to $28.00 of Attune Probiotic Granola Bars for FREE.

2) If you know someone with diabetes, or if you simply like healthy cereal, or FREE cereal, check this out. Go here to print two $5/1 coupons per computer (hit the back button after it prints the first time.) You can also call 1-877-879-4857 (it's an automated call) to receive a free $5/1 coupon for Glucerna cereal. Most stores have this cereal for around $4.50 a box, so you should be able to get three FREE.

And...if you live near a Kroger (unfortunately, I do not), the word is that if you buy two boxes of this cereal at Kroger stores, a $2.50 off your next purchase coupon is printing. SCORE!
Tkanks, Money Saving Mom!

3) Herbal Essence has a new promotion out when you buy specially marked products, they will pay for a haircut for you. Go here to find out the scoop!
Thanks, Faithful Provisions!

4) Want some free mascara? The April issue of my favorite magazine, All You, has a coupon for a free Rimmel mascara, up to a $6.47 value. All You magazine is only carried in Walmart stores at a price of $2.24. So, you can buy one magazine and still get a great deal. OR you can find out how you can get a 2 year subscription for ~~$19.95~~ $17.99 here. This magazine is loaded with coupons, so you can easily pay yourself back if you use them!

I should add that the mascara coupon says 'only in Walmart stores'. However, I took mine to Walgreen's and was able to use it because it is a manufacturer's coupon. Just to be safe, you may want to purchase it at Walmart though.

5) Finally, to finish off the 'healthy living' theme, I recommend heading to CVS and buying the following items:

100 ct. CVS brand Vitamin D 400. It is priced at $2.99 and until the end of the month, you will get $2.99 in extrabucks back.
Crest Pro-Health Enamel Care. This week only, you pay $3.49 and will get $3.49 back in extrabucks. AND if you happened to save your coupons from last week, you can use the $1.00 off Crest coupon from the 3/15 Procter and Gamble insert. You'll pay only $2.49 and get 3.49 back!
Stay tuned for more information about how to become a CVSer. If you have not joined the CVS craze, I promise it's gonna change your life!

Happy Monday!

Gotta share this HOT coupon...

2009-03-21T03:47:00.005-04:00

MARCH 21-22 ONLY: Use this coupon to get a FREE Thomas and Friends wooden train at Toys R Us. (Coupon states it can be used for Thomas the Tank Engine, Lights and Sound Percy, Sir Handel, and Peter Sam.)

These go FAST so hurry!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Update: Sorry if you missed this coupon! If you want to be sure to not to miss any offers in the future, why not sign up in a feed reader or become a follower of this blog?

Project Sleep through the Night

2009-03-20T05:51:00.003-04:00

Remember this post?

Sleep deprivation is the worst, isn't it? Thankfully, after writing that post, I had a change in perspective that helped me get through quite a few more sleepless nights. But my frustration about my son's sleep habits always lay right beneath the surface of my emotions, ready to pop up its ugly head at any given time (usually around 3 am).

Then a couple of weeks ago, I read an article about a couple with sextuplets. The wife talked about the point of desperation that they hit with their lack of sleep. (I can't even imagine!) She shared that when their babies were 4 months old, they simply turned off the baby monitor for two weeks and all six of them had learned to sleep through the night since.

Two things crossed my mind:
1) They can get six kids to sleep through the night and I am struggling with just one?!

2) Why haven't I tried that?

And then I remembered why I hadn't tried that. Our two boys share a room. And while, our three year old has amazed me by sleeping through hours of Lincoln crying, I could only imagine the drama that would unfold if mommy and daddy didn't come running if Griffin ever he needed us. There would be therapy bills to pay for sure.

Then it hit me. Wes had to go out of town last weekend. I would let Griffin sleep in my room for those two nights and kill the monitor.

So Project Sleep through the Night began once more--only I slept worse with the monitor off than I did with it on. Partly due to the fact that Griffin wanted to sleep on my head...and also that I couldn't hold myself back from turning on the monitor every hour or two. Oh, and going into check on Lincoln every other hour or two.

But I stuck with the plan of letting Lincoln cry when he did wake up. This meant no running at the first peep to give him his binkie. He had to learn to put himself back to sleep. No mommy intervention allowed.

It's been almost a week since the Project began. This past week, there have been several times that Lincoln has woken up in the night, fussed for a few minutes and then put himself back to sleep. What a good feeling.

The night before last, he slept 10 hours straight. And at this present moment, Lincoln is going on 11 1/2 hours of sleep. Straight.

CAN I GET AN AMEN?!! GLORRRRRRY?! HALLELUJAH?!

Someday I hope I meet that family with sextuplets. I plan on giving all 8 of them big fat smooches.

How We Got Here, Part 2: Kaley's Edition

2009-03-18T07:33:00.001-04:00

You can read the first part of this series here.

I've always been a fan of the "This is Your Life" concept. If there were a made-for-tv movie highlighting all of the events in my life leading up to my current state of frugality, I think it might look something like this.

Cue soundtrack. Cut to slideshow of old family pictures. Begin voice-over of Kaley speaking.

The early years--I'm the one with the finger in my mouth

"I grew up poor.

Wow, that feels weird to say. I think I had no idea how poor we were. My parents worked hard to find creative ways to keep us from feeling poor. And rarely did we talk about money being tight.

But, the salary of a small country church pastor is small and our family was large, so we were definitely poor.

If I had to do it all over, I think I might grow up poor again. (Although I might choose to be filthy rich the third time around!) For a lot of reasons.

First of all, I learned how little I really needed. Cut to scene of young girl sitting contentedly on ugly orange carpet. I was the kid who wore her sister's hand-me-downs with pride, had no hate about the ugly orange carpet in her teeny tiny bedroom, and was completely unfazed by the fact that the guy she dated in high school had a brand new red sports car. And I promise I wasn't weird.

I also learned that I liked to save my money. At some point when I was younger, my parents gave us a set of three envelopes to keep track of our money. We labeled them Savings, Tithe, and Spending. I would separate any money that I earned into those three envelopes. My favorite envelope was the one for savings. Maybe I was secretly hoping to save enough to replace that ugly, orange carpet...I don't know.

Being poor also meant that I saw God provide for me a lot. When I was in college, my parents moved overseas to become missionaries in Korea. So our family's pay scale changed from poor to dirt poor. To be honest, I'm not sure how I was able to afford college. But, over and over, God showed His care for me in the form of financial provision.

Cut to scene of college-aged girl in line at the grocery store, searching through her purse. Whether it was the $.25 that I found on the day that all I needed was a quarter or the $100 bills that would show up randomly from a secret provider or the woman behind me in line at Kroger who paid for the rest of my grocery bill when I didn't have enough money--I knew my lack of funds was not a problem that was too big for God.

There were a few things that being poor did not teach me, however. Learning to be wise in my money management was one of them. Cut to scene of girl standing in the middle of a bank, crying. Loudly. The day that I stood in the middle of my bank sobbing uncontrollably because I had bounced my first check was one evidence of my lack of money sense. (I've always felt sorry for that poor bank teller.)

Cut to scene of girl devouring a pack of Twizzlers. I also signed up for a credit card in college because by doing so, I would get a pack of Twizzlers. By the time I was done with college, that was the most expensive pack of Twizzlers I have ever purchased. I had a good chunk of debt and little idea of how to get rid of it.

Then I married Wes."

To be continued...

Couponizing

2009-03-17T10:06:00.006-04:00

I have a confession to make.

I hate clipping coupons.

I hate the mess it makes and the time it takes. And then, when it's time to look for my coupons, I hate searching through them all to find the one that I need.

So I use the simplest method possible to store and keep track of my coupons. I thought I would share it with you in case you are a closet coupon-clipping hater like myself. It doesn't get much easier than this.

First, a quick tutorial in case you are new at this coupon thing. I just started less than a year ago, and I promise it was all greek to me.

1) Sunday papers contain three basic sets of coupons: Red Plum, Smart Source, and Procter & Gamble. (Some regions also carry Valassis coupons, but mine does not.) Some weeks they carry all, and some just one or two.

2) There are tons of web-sites dedicated to matching up sales to coupons in stores nationwide. Rather than spending hours trying to do so on your own, why not let someone else do the work? Check out some of my favorite sites: Walmart, Price Chopper, Drug Stores, Other Grocery Stores...just to name a few.

And now for my system. I bought an accordion type file folder like this:

Then I labeled it like this:

PG=Procter & Gamble
RP=Red Plum
SS=Smart Source
MIR=Mail-in Rebates
All You=All You magazine (it's full of coupons)
CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens=my coupons for those stores
(These are the stores I frequent. Your list may be different.)

Each week, I take the coupon inserts out of my paper and I use a sharpie to label them with the date. Then I file them away, without clipping them.

As you look for the deals online, you will note that the sites use the name of the insert and the date the coupon was in it to indicate what coupons you should use. For example, if a coupon was in Procter & Gamble the week of March 1, the coupon will be labeled: PG, 3/1/09. So you can just open your handy dandy file folder, grab the 3/1 insert from the PG section, and clip the coupon that you need.

Isn't that easy?

But wait, it gets better! I know that some of you may actually want to know what coupons that you have, in case you need to use one that isn't listed on a site. Have I got a deal for you! I am going to post a weekly database that lists all of the coupons from the Sunday paper in alphabetical order. I will update it each week so that it is current and all expired coupons have been removed. So, if you need to know if you have a coupon for Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, you can just open the database, scroll down to the L's and BAM! your question is answered. Look for a link to the database on the right hand side of my blog for easy access.

HOLD THE PHONE!!! I just found out that there is an online database for coupons ALREADY. Just go here to register and then you can search for coupons to your heart's content. Their database will also list printable coupons that are available...SCORE! This is why I love the world of money saving bloggers...there is never a need to re-invent the wheel. THANKS, SHARON!

I would love to know if you have any questions. I really want to be a resource, particularly for those who are new to this whole coupon thing. It's easier than it seems!

Happy non-clipping!

Money-Saving Monday: Wait, there's more!

2009-03-16T07:48:00.004-04:00

Remember these fabulous coupons? Well, they're BA-AAACK!!!
If you print out each of these coupons twice (hit the back browser after they print the first time), you should be able to print enough coupons to score as many as 16 FREE Buddies soaps. I've found them at Wegman's for $.99 and I think they may be about the same price at Target. They are usually $1.19 at CVS, but sometimes go on sale for $.99.

Note that I've listed links for both Internet Explorer and Firefox, depending on which browser you use.

I just printed mine and they expire April 1, so hurry up and print yours today!

Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!

Update: I seem to be having a problem printing the last two coupons. Let me know how it works for you!

Money-Saving Monday (Things that make you go Cha-Ching! Edition)

2009-03-16T05:35:00.003-04:00

cha-ching: The sound that a cash register makes when its drawer is closed after money has been put inside. Used in conversation to indicate that the person being spoken about is going to or already has made quite a profit at little expense. (urbandictionary.com)

One of my favorite ways to save money is to take advantage of every possible offer that will let me earn money for little or no effort. I'm a sucker for 30 day free trials (and have only been scammed once...but that's a story for another time.) Last night, I signed up with Nielsen TV ratings to keep track of our tv viewing for a week for $30. Mail-in Rebates? I'm there.

The way I see it, by signing up for these offers, I'm earning free money. And who doesn't like that?

So for this edition of Money-Saving Monday, I thought I'd let you in on my favorite 'free money' sites. Sign up for these and you'll be saying, "Cha-Ching!" in no time.

MyPoints: Earn points by reading e-mails, signing up for offers, and shopping through their site. Then redeem the points for gift certificates from their extensive list of merchants. I've been a MyPoints member for years and have earned hundreds of dollars of gift certificates. Right now, I consider MyPoints to be my home furnishings savings for when we buy a home. Go to mypoints.com to sign up, or better yet leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send you a referral and earn 250 points!

Swagbucks: I just signed up for this site, but am pretty excited about it because of all the buzz. It's an online search engine that rewards you for searching online. It's very easy to sign up for and once you download the toolbar, you'll start earning points just by searching the web. After only 45 points earned, you can get a free Amazon gift card. Or at 50 points, you can get a Starbucks gift card. There are dozens of other prizes, too. You can also earn points by referring your friends. You'll not only instantly earn more points when they sign up, you'll also earn points for the searching they do online. What are you waiting for? Sign up now!

Upromise: Sign up with your grocery or drug store card and save money for college as you shop. The savings are a little slow, but you can speed things up by signing up for monthly eCoupons and asking friends and family to sign up as well. Hey...it's free money!

Pampers Gifts to Grow: Earn points for every package of Pampers diapers or wipes that you buy. Use those points to earn a long list of rewards. Kind of makes me feel better about changing yet another messy diaper.
Coke Rewards: I like earning free stuff from products I already use. Since I happen to enjoy Diet Coke, I thought I might as well start earning something for it! Sign up for Coke Rewards or Pepsi Stuff, depending on your drink of choice. (Oh, yay! I just earned 2 swagbucks for googling Pepsi Stuff!)

There are so many more, but I think I'll stop for now. Leave me a comment if any of these sites make you say, "Cha-Ching!'

Seasonal CPS

2009-03-14T14:41:00.010-04:00

Many of you are probably unaware that I suffer from a malady called Seasonal CPS. It seems to really flare up every year around this time. This past week I have suffered with an unusually bad case.

If you are unaware of the meaning, it stands for Seasonal Cranky-Pants Syndrome. And I've got it BAD.

Since I live in New York, I do my best to brace myself for the long cold winters. We try to be creative with our indoor time--reading, coloring, dancing, learning, lots of sesame street and curious george. We even occasionally brave the outdoors. At least long enough to get pictures--proof that I am a good mom.

But around about the fifth month of frigid temperatures and cloudy days, I start to feel a little loony. No. Scratch that. A LOT loony.

This week I decided that CPS must be genetic, because I'm pretty sure my son has inherited a case of it. The other morning, in complete desperation, I picked him up, threw a coat and some boots on him and tossed him outside with strict instructions not to come back in until I said so. Don't worry. I let him in before dark.

Well, today I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Cranky Pants has left the building. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the screen door is open and it's over 40 degrees! Do I hear an amen?!

In honor of this special occasion, Griffin and I celebrated with our annual first signs of spring activity:

Part of my euphoric state could also be attributed to the fact that I ran a St. Patrick's Day 4-mile race with my sister this morning.

Can we say endorphins?

PLUS...I went and took advantage of these deals yesterday.

Sigh...life is good. (I refuse to look at the weather forecast, but life is still good.)

The Next American Idol?

2009-03-11T11:31:00.007-04:00

Take a look and then cast your vote!

p.s The girl in the background is our friend, Chelsea, who also
happens to be a super fun babysitter.

If Mama ain't happy....

2009-03-11T08:05:00.004-04:00

Just gotta share a couple deals to make Mama happy.

The $5 and $3 Huggies coupons have been reset here. So if you already printed two out, you can go back and print two more now! Then, I recommend going here to find out how to get an amazing deal on Huggies diapers at Walgreens this week!

Target has Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Goldfish Crackers on sale this week from $1 to $1.79, depending on your store. Use this $1 off 1 coupon to get them for $.79 or FREE!!!

While you're there, pick up some Mott's Applesauce for only $.22! Just use this $1 off 1 Target coupon, combined with this $.55 off 1 Mott's Applesauce coupon.

You should also be able to get some free broccoli if yours is a Super Target. Just use this $1 off 1 coupon!

And again with the cheap date theme...

2009-03-10T07:19:00.003-04:00

Thought I'd add one more option for your night out. From now until April 28, 2009, you can use this coupon in your local Border's store to get a free mocha or latte when you purchase one of equal or greater value. Alas, we have no Borders nearby, so please enjoy one for me!

Thanks, Lori!

Money Saving Monday: The Cheap Date Edition

2009-03-09T05:46:00.006-04:00

Wes and I have been wanting to go on a double date with my brother and his girlfriend for about 6 months now and this weekend, we finally made it happen. As we talked about what to do, I asked if I could find us some good clean ~~cheap~~ value-conscious entertainment. They humored me.

Aren't we cute?

So, we started the evening off at Arby's where we used this coupon to get a free roastburger with a drink purchase. Don't knock it until you've tried it...yummy. (Oh, this coupon expires today, but you can go here to sign up for another one.)

I thought it would have been fun to use this coupon to get our fries at Wendy's. But the coupon hasn't arrived in my inbox yet. Oh well--who needs all that trans-fat anyway?

Next, it was onto Barnes and Noble. I had a gift card to use here, plus this 10% off coupon. So I saved about $.30 on my caramel macchiato. Hey...every bit counts.

Then, we headed to Auntie Anne's--one of my favorite places on the planet--and used this Buy One Get One free coupon. Thankfully, the pretzel was much better than the customer service.

Our final stop was going to be a Redbox to score a free movie, but we opted to play a game instead. Which turned out to be fun because I won. I am a Triple Yahtzee Ninja.
Definitely a quality evening. Thanks for being such good sports, Ryan and Macia!

How about you? Been putting off going out because it costs too much? I think it's time for a night out. Let me give you some more ideas:

Sign up here for a free sammie (sandwich--in case you aren't a Quizno's aficionado) at Quizno's with the purchase of a side and a drink.

Sign up here to receive free Fazoli coupons with purchase. (One of my favorite college hang-outs--I miss that place!)

How about a trip to the ice cream shop? Go here for a Buy One Get One Free Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Sundae coupon. I would be all over this if we had a Baskin-Robbins. (Oh--and if I didn't give up ice cream for Lent.)

Do you have a Melting Pot nearby? Sign up here for the Melting Pot club and you'll receive a FREE chocolate fondue for two.

Wanna go to the movies without having to take out a loan to buy snacks? Here's a free large popcorn at any AMC theatre.

And no date is complete without a great soundtrack to complement the evening. How about a complete Jack Johnson album download for only $.99??!!! (Thanks, Tami!!!! Oh--and Happy Birthday!!)
Update: This album is no longer available for $.99. Sorry!

Have fun!

How We Got Here, Part 1

2009-03-06T04:42:00.000-05:00

Do you ever look at your life and wonder, "How did I get here?" Lately I've been asking myself that question about the frugal, deal-seeking, coupon ~~freak~~ fan I have become.

Less than a year ago, I would have told you that yes, I liked to save money. But coupons were those pretty papers that I threw out with the newspaper and my idea of thrifty was filling up my diet coke to the brim when I left McDonald's.

Now I'm making my own baby food. Whaa--what?!

In fact, a friend e-mailed me today after reading my blog and asked me what has happened to me. How did I become so interested in this world of saving money?

And so, I've been thinking. How did I get here? It's a really good question to ponder.

For those of you who don't know, my husband was laid off almost a year ago. Since that time, we have experienced a variety of new and different life situations, including the birth of our second son, some temporary employment positions, and months of no job at all.

This, of course, was the kick in the pants that I needed to begin seeking out new ways to cut costs in just about every year of our lives. I really didn't want to. But I had to.

So, I guess that's how I got here.

But wait, there's more...

Because in the past year, in spite of both cars breaking down and me giving up my job, and the birth of a new baby, and our vacuum cleaner going on the fritz and life happening, we have managed to make it without ever having to touch our savings.

And it wasn't because of all the extrabucks I earned at CVS.

I'm thinking about taking a trip down the road aways to explore 'how we got here'. It's sure to include glimpses of my childhood, my life as a poor m.k. college student, and my marriage into the Ehret family. In fact, I've asked Wes if he'd like to share a 'guest post', which promises to be fun.

Mostly, I think it will be about a journey down the path of God's grace.

Wanna come?

True Confessions of a Tired Busy Happy Mom

2009-03-04T06:06:00.001-05:00

Lincoln just turned 6 months old. I'm running a 10-mile race in May with my cousin. Griffin asked if hot dogs were a vegetable the other day. I gave up Oprah for Lent. I am so looking forward to the end of Daylight Savings Time. I think the way they are doing American Idol this year is cheesy. At first, I was just going to give up ice cream. And why birds don't wear underwear. But then, I just made a chocolate cake instead. How do my children sense when I am up early? Lincoln used to sleep in the bathroom. Do they smell me? I just ate some chocolate cake for breakfast. Now he sleeps in Griffin's room. I'm doing just fine without her, thank you. I am in love with the children's play area at Wegman's. I'm not even Catholic. Is it ok to bribe my son with a fruit roll up to stay in bed? Wes and I have a secret. No, not Lincoln. I'm not pregnant. And why girls don't have beards. We'll tell you soon. So far, I have only run 3 miles. Griffin used to sleep in until 8:30 or 9. I'm pretty proud that I just taught myself how to ~~cross off words~~. Arby's roastburgers are yummy. ~~I am so looking forward to the end of Daylight Savings Time.~~ Oops. I already said that. Griffin sings "Shot to the Heart" every day. All day long. I read a story about a mom with sextuplets last night. Is that wrong? I just noticed that Lincoln is working hard to push himself forward on the floor. I just got a whole bunch of free stuff from walgreens. When they were four months old, she and her husband turned off the baby monitor so they would learn to sleep through the night. I love to kiss my son's cheeks. They did. Let's see what Lincoln thinks about Baby Einstein. I guess I'm not as tired or busy as I thought I was. Actually, I've run more than 3 miles--just not all at once. He likes it. I cannot wait until I can sit out on my porch in the morning. Why didn't I think of making videos of pretty pictures and classical music? I promise I'm not pregnant.

A little Tuesday love

2009-03-03T15:42:00.000-05:00

Go here to download the new U2 album, No Line on the Horizon, for only $3.99.

Thanks, Susan!

AND

Go here by 11:59, CST TONIGHT to get your FREE $20 gift card for dillyeo.com!

Money-saving Monday

2009-03-02T06:23:00.000-05:00

Raise your hand if you're excited that it's Money-saving Monday again!

Me too.

'Cuz I've got some sa-weet deals for you!

Oh, and speaking of sa-weet, I am sipping my Hazelnut Gevalia coffee as I write this post. You too can be sipping your (fill in the blank with your favorite flavor) Gevalia coffee with me. I just checked and the deal is still available! C'mon...you know you want to...

Ok, let's get this show on the road:

First, a great find for my mom friends:

I have never before seen a $5 off coupon for diapers, but hallelujah...that day has come. Go here and print out yours before they are all gone! (I also found a $3 off coupon...they were on pages 3 and 5 for me. You should be able to print out two of each!)

Thanks, Mercedes!

And now something fun for my girlfriends:

Wanna receive free stuff for joining the brand new Victoria's Secret PINK Nation? I just did and got a coupon for a free gift and $10 off a $35 purchase, valid until March 31 . (Word on the street is that the free item is a PINK tote.) You'll need to bring a photo ID with you when you use the coupon. Hey...ya gotta love FREE!

Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!

And here's a little something for all you hungry people out there:

Doesn't that make you hungry just looking at it? Go here to download a coupon for a free Roastburger with any drink purchase at Arby's. It's valid through March 9. Are you thinkin' Arby's? I know I am.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

And finally, for all of my pre-teen friends...(who am i foolin'? I'm gonna use this one on me!)

Wanna save $10 on High School Musical 3? Right here, Right now print the coupon below and the Mail-In Rebate--hey, it's Now or Never.

$5 off 1 High School Musical DVD printable
$5 Mail-in Rebate for Sara Lee/Hillshire Farms products plus HSM 3

My Wal-Mart is still selling it for $19.98, but I've heard that some have it on sale for $10...which would make it FREE! Does anyone know a store where you can get a good deal? If so, let us know 'cuz We're All in this Together!

Thanks, Laina!

Don't ya just love Mondays?

Rookie of the Day

2009-02-27T05:33:00.000-05:00

It's a banner day.

I found my first coupon to share with the world.

You see, in the world of moms saving money, there are certain 'celebrity bloggers' that the rest of us can only aspire to be like. Deal Seeking Mom and Money Saving Mom are two of my personal favorites.

Then there are the thousands of deal-seekers out there who can simply sniff the wind, and they know what direction the next deal is coming from. These coupon-savvy bloggers have a network of underground deal-sharing that would make the CIA envious. They work with precision, skill, and unbelievable speed in spreading the word about savings.

Well, yesterday, this newbie couponer may have become the newest member of the team. I happened upon this Buy One Get One Free Glade coupon (which is a great deal...and I hear you should wait to print it out) in my inbox and thought, "Hey, why not send it along to a few other blogs. No doubt, they discovered it months ago, but it doesn't hurt to try."

And so I dropped a quick e-mail to several of my favorite sites.

Nothing could have prepared me for the sheer delight I would experience when, upon checking these sites, I discovered MY NAME highlighted in that lovely linky blue, thanking little old ME for leading them to this coupon. I feel like I should thank the academy...

And so, if you are a fellow couponer who happened upon my little site today because of this, drop me a line. Say hey. I'd love to meet you!

Meanwhile, I'll be sniffing the wind.

update: Found a deal here! Go quickly to get a 15 or 20% off coupon at Old Navy before they run out! Thanks, Anca!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-25T07:40:00.001-05:00

Am I Crazy?

Because deals sometimes show up on Tuesdays...

2009-02-24T09:26:00.000-05:00

I'm so glad you all are enjoying Money-saving Monday!

But now, I have a predicament. I just found some GREAT free magazines, but it's only Tuesday. Let's see...shall we call it Thrifty Tuesday?

And here they are:

Get a free 2-year subscription to Parents magazine here. (This is a great gift for expecting moms.)

Get a free subscription to Martha Stewart Living magazine here. (Hurry! I've heard this one goes fast!)

And check out this free subscription to Woman's Day magazine here.

Thanks to Angela for help in finding these deals!

Money-saving Monday...

2009-02-23T06:49:00.000-05:00

...and you, and you--you're gonna love me. Ooh, you're gonna love me. (yes, I am singing that in my head as I type the phrase. And I hope you join me.)

Ok, seriously now...I have a very fun find for my mom friends. Actually, it's for anyone who knows anyone with kids. And anyone who likes to take pictures. I'm guessing that's you.

And here we go:
1) I found coupons for 10 FREE Johnson's Buddies soaps. I LOVE these soaps. I have a growing collection of them and at this rate, my boys will still be using them in college! Click here for a $3 off 3 coupon and here for $2 off 2 coupon. Be sure to press the back button after you print each out, because you should be able to get 2 of each coupon. I have found them at Wegman's and on sale at CVS for $.99, so with all of your coupons, you should be able to score LOTS of free soap!
Tip: If you have trouble printing this in Firefox, try Internet Explorer. That worked for me.
NOTE: The expiration date on these coupons is March 1--so use 'em while they're hot!

Thanks to Deal Seeking Mom for this find!

2) Plan on taking a lot of pictures anytime soon? Artscow.com has a great deal for new customers. Right now, when you sign up as a new registrant, you can get 600 free 4 x6 prints and 600 free 5x7 prints! You only have to pay shipping. Check out the terms and conditions here.

Thanks to Lizzy's Language for help in finding this deal!

As always, let me know if you have any questions and I'd love to know if either of these is a help to you!

The Art of Shopping with Children

2009-02-20T05:57:00.000-05:00

I told Wes last night that my children may need to go through therapy one day because of me. They suffer a certain trauma almost weekly that may leave a lasting impression on them.

It's called shopping. With one child, the horrors were manageable. As long as his chubby little legs still fit through those leg holes, we were fine (which is until about age 12 in my book). But two children is a whole new world. I mean, what will his therapist think when my older son shares his haunting memories of being trapped in a steel cage for endless hours?

Grocery shopping is among the worst of the offenders. Two children + a pile of food = a lot of smooshed bread. But OH THE JOY the day that I discovered the car cart. Never mind that maneuvering it through the store requires brute strength and an aircraft navigational system...I'll take that over being one of 'those moms' with the screaming children any day.

However, since CVS is my drug of choice...I mean drug store of choice...it means squeezing two of them into a cart the size of my kitchen sink. And then finding room for all of my loot. And keeping Griffin bribed...I mean occupied. Fruit snacks are a blessing.

And why is it that the need to go potty always presents itself at the most inopportune moments? I think Griffin is a fan of the drug store bathrooms that are somewhere in the deep recesses of the stock room and require the help of a sales associate to find.

And then there is the check-out line. I am always so relieved when I find an employee who doesn't mind their credit card machine being attacked by sticky little fruit snack-covered fingers. And since my cvs shopping requires multiple transactions involving higher math and about 12 coupons each, heaven only knows how many packs of lifesavers have been swiped by my little one from those perfectly-eye-level candy shelves. But hey--I probably had a coupon for them anyway.

How about you? Do you have any horror stories? What's your secret to the art of shopping with children? Tell all and help save on my therapy bill when my children finally escape their steel cage.

Read a Book. Check.

2009-02-17T16:47:00.000-05:00

If you recall, I made an adventure list a few months back. My very first goal was to finish reading a book. Just one. That's all. I made it my first goal because I considered it to be the easiest. However, it turned out that actually finishing a book was more taxing on me than training for and running an 8k.

But I did it! (Here's where you applaud, please.)

Interestingly enough, after starting a number of books, the book that I actually chose to finish was "The Shack" by William P. Young. I received it as a Christmas present this year and when I picked it up, I vowed to myself that I would finish it.

Here is where I step out of my comfort zone a bit. I do not consider myself a book critic. But I thought I'd stretch myself and give it a try. Here goes. Clears throat...

I did not like the book. I like a book that makes me like it, and this one did not. It wasn't even about the theology (although I often disagreed). It wasn't about the fact that God the Father was portrayed as a black woman named Papa (which frankly, just felt a little strange).

The best way I know how to describe it is that I got the same feeling reading this book as I do when I watch a Hallmark made-for-tv movie. Do you know what I mean? That feeling you get when the plot is too contrived, the characters are under-developed and sickeningly sweet, and every single issue must be completely resolved? Yep. That feeling. (My apologies to those who enjoy Hallmark's Hall of Fame. I am, admittedly, a big fan of their commercials.)

All that being said, I'm glad I read it. It has become a marketing phenomenon and has scores of people singing its praises and saying it has transformed their life. I'm glad I read it, so I can better understand what fascinates our culture. That's the kind of thing that fascinates me.

So, let me ask you. Why do you think this book has been such a success? Why are so many people in love with this book?

Oh, and while you are at it, I'd love a few suggestions on what to read next. Something that I like so much that I can't put it down and it makes me neglect my children, please.

Money-saving Monday

2009-02-16T06:59:00.000-05:00

Last week's post on my 'deal spottings' of the week went over so well, I thought I'd like to make it a regular feature. Thus, my clever title: "Money-saving Monday"!

This week is dedicated to all of my coffee lover friends. And if coffee isn't your cup of tea, well then... you can opt for tea instead.

Here goes:

Gevalia has a fantastic new offer where you can buy 3 half-pound boxes of their gourmet coffee (or tea) for just $3, including shipping!

Plus you’ll get a FREE stainless steel coffee mug.

I just ordered mine!

Note that you will be enrolled in their autoship program, but you are under no obligation to accept future shipments. Once your initial 3/$3 order has shipped, you may cancel the autoshipment program by calling 1-800-GEVALIA.

*Tip: I keep a notebook by my computer for all of the free trials that I sign up for. It's an easy way to keep track of dates and phone numbers to call.

And for those of you who like a little somethin' somethin' in your coffee, you absolutely have to go to coffee-mate.com and sign up for their coupons. Since we are regular consumers of this creamer, I have saved quite a bit of money with these coupons. I think you can print out four coupons (maybe more?) by hitting your back button after the coupons have printed. But, you will also receive e-mails from time to time when new coupons are on the site.

(I also checked out the International Delight web-site just now and they have coupons as well. We are coffee-mate snobs, so I haven't used these yet, but I'm sure you can!)

Enjoy your cup of (almost) free coffee on me!

My heart belongs to Wesley

2009-02-14T10:20:00.000-05:00

ALERT: Let this be your warning if you are not into sweet and a little bit sappy. Read no further. There's something about these holidays that tweaks my sentimental bone. Couple that with the fact that I forgot to buy Wes a card this year...

Wesley,

This is our 8th Valentine's Day together. Our first Valentine's Day was only a few days after we had gotten engaged...after dating for only four months. (But that's a story for another time.) And our second was after having been married for 6 months.

I recall a conversation between the two of us that year about whether we should buy each other gifts or not. I won't reveal who thought what, except to say that one of us ended up in tears. And Valentine's Day has been fully and liberally celebrated every year since then.

I will admit that I do love celebrations and this has put a good deal of pressure on you as my husband. Especially since you have to deal with my precarious mixture of love for surprises and my never-ending nosy nature (which I prefer to call curious)...it's not easy surprising someone who always assumes that she is going to be surprised. You managed to pull a good one off the year of my 30th birthday, which was not easy considering I had surprised you the year before and so, of course would expect the same for me.

If I could go back in time and whisper into my naive little newlywed ears, I would have so much to say. I would reassure myself that there would be plenty of big celebrations and romantic gestures over the years to come. I would pat myself on the back for being honest about what was important to me.

But most importantly, I would say, "Just you wait, Kaley. You think it's the big things that matter. You will discover that it's the hundreds and thousands of simple gestures that show Wes's love for you."

Things like:
-getting me coffee every morning, just the way I like it
-putting toothpaste on my toothbrush for me at night
-getting up early with the kids so I can attempt to catch up on sleep (which is BIG in my book)
-laughing at me when I attempt to be funny
-still sounding excited to hear my voice when I call
-knowing just when I need a hug
-calling to make sure I don't need anything at the store before coming home
-actually enjoying watching endless hours of American Idol with me
-somehow summoning up enough energy to keep up with our boys when you get home at night
-getting up late last night after I had fallen sound asleep, so you could get this ready:

note the missing swedish fish--courtesy of a certain three year old

I love how you love me, Wes. It is a deep love that shows up in countless ways. You are a good man, an amazing father, and the love of my very blessed life.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Love,
Kaley

cheap diapers and a free meal

2009-02-11T14:53:00.000-05:00

I've shared several times what a fan of good deals that I am. But, if there's anything I enjoy more it's helping other people find good deals. Recently, it hit me that it would be fun to share some of these deals with you all as they come my way.

So, here are two of my fun little 'deal spottings' for the week:

1) If you are a mom of a baby in diapers and have never used Diapers.com, now is the time to give it a try. All of their diapers are on sale and you will get $10 off for being a first-time buyer. Plus, if you get any friends to buy diapers from them through the end of February, you will get a $5 credit in your account. It really is a good deal.

Shipping is free on orders over $49 and very fast. I usually have my orders in a couple of days.

If you decide to take me up on this offer, I will be your best friend forever if you use my referral code: KAEH7706o or my e-mail address: kaleyehret@hotmail.com. Promise.

2) If you like free meals, T.G.I. Friday's has a 'Buy One Entree, Get One Entree Free' coupon online now. The good news is that you can print the coupon out as many times as you'd like between now and and March 1. The bad news is that you can't use it on Valentine's Day. But who says you have to celebrate Valentine's Day on Feb. 14? Besides, who wants to wait in those lines?

I'd love to know if you take me up on either of these deals. Making you happy makes me happy.

frogs and snails and puppy dog's tails...

2009-02-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

I absolutely adore having boys. I really can't picture it any other way.

Griffin is a true Daddy's boy and if there is ever an option between doing something with Daddy or with Mommy, Daddy wins out every time. Usually this does not bother me because I get large doses of Griffin-time all day long.

But lately, I've tried to picture what my relationship with my boys will look like in the future. I've found myself wondering if a boy's need for his mommy just starts phasing out at some point. And when does that process begin? To be honest, I'm not sure I like the thought of the switchover from Mommy to just "Mom". I'm not even sure I know how to be just "Mom".

Then this took place:

Yesterday, Griffin and I were having a discussion over lunch about who is in charge. He's pretty sure that he is. I assured him that he is not and will not be until he's much older like Mommy and Daddy.

"Are you older?" he asked. "Does that mean you are going to die?"

What?! I thought.

"Oh, honey....not for a long, long, long, long time. You don't need to worry about that, ok?" Then returned to my sandwich thinking that the discussion was over.

It was then that I noticed the quivering lip.

"Griffin, what's wrong?"

"I don't want you to die! Who's going to be my mommy?" And then tears.

Followed by reassuring hugs and a rephrasing of what a long, long, long, long time means (I had forgotten that in his eyes, that's how long he has to stay in his bed during rest time.) And just as quickly, the tears were wiped away and it was back to making roaring sounds and playing games with his lunch.

And that was it. It was all that I needed. Just when I thought I was being phased out, a brief, open window to the reality in my little boy's heart will fuel this mommy's heart for a long, long, long, long time.

25 Things About Me

2009-01-30T10:53:00.000-05:00

Sorry, but I am totally cheating with this post. I just did one of those '25 Things About Me' lists on facebook that everybody is doing. In an effort to multi-task, I thought I would just share the list with you as well.

For those of you who already saw this on facebook--sorry. I changed a couple of them to keep things interesting.

Here goes:

1) If I could be anything when I grow up, I would have a hard time choosing between a television talk show host and a star on a sit-com (preferably 'Everybody Loves Raymond').

2) I have been to South Korea, North Korea, Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Hawaii (that's a foreign country in my eyes!), Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, the Bahamas, and Mexico and Canada, of course. My favorite was Australia. I would still like to go to Africa one day.

3) I eat Frosted Mini Wheats just about every morning.

4) If I could get away with it, I would also serve Frosted Mini Wheats for dinner. I am not a fan of cooking.

5) My husband and I dated for four months and were engaged for four months. That would be 8 months total.

6) One of the qualities I admire the most is the ability to communicate well while thinking on one's feet. I would love to be able to do that better.

7) Two of my goals in life are to go on another cruise and to learn how to raise one eyebrow.

8) The highest compliment that you can pay me is to tell me that I am funny.

9) I love coffee. Particularly Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla coffee. With Cream and Sugar. Please.

10) I love that my husband watches American Idol and Dr. Phil with me.

11) I am a dreamer, by nature. My constant dreaming often gets in the way of my hearing. I wish it were not so.

12) I just realized that I misspelled the word 'disciplined' in my facebook post. This is one of my greatest fears. (see #16)

13) I love that both of my boys have blue eyes although no one in my immediate family does. Thank you, Grandpa Hill and the Ehret family.

14) I have run a half-marathon. I hope to do so again and finish with a better time. In the meantime, I plan on training for a 10-miler in the spring. I think.

15) I am constantly amazed as I watch my husband be a dad. He is one of the most fun, crazy, and loving dads I have ever met.

16) I was in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC in 1990.

17) I go back and forth between wishing I was more simple and wishing I was more complex.

18) I am fascinated by people and learning what makes them tick.

19) Becoming a mom has taught me to work hard to live in the moment.

20) I learn best by processing my thoughts with someone. I am grateful for the many people who have helped me work through specific struggles and discoveries.

21) I think two of the best sounds in the world are the giggles of my two boys.

22) I hate shopping, but cvs, walgreens, and rite aid have changed my life.

23) I enjoy being in the spotlight in a controlled setting, which is evidenced by my last three jobs (teacher, abstinence education presenter, and making it count speaker).

24) I like to think that I can dance. I think I learned my skills from my dad.

25) I am most happy when I am with my family.

26) BONUS: I wrote most of this in my head while up in the night with my 5 month old son.

these are a few of my favorite things

2009-01-20T14:32:00.000-05:00

i've been thinking about 2008 and it always amazes me all that takes place in one year. just thought i would share a few of my favorite things from this past year:

PLACE TO PLAY:

dorchester park, whitney point, ny

BLOG POST:

Goodbye, Novelty

NEW HOBBY:

couponing!

MINISTRY EVENT:

30 hour famine
you helped me raise over $700!

FAMILY MEMORY:

the hill family stay-cation

BOOK:

ADVENTURE:

disney world--8 months pregnant!

MILESTONE:

potty training!

PICTURE:

never mind wes's look of confusion in the background.
i absolutely love how this picture capture's griffin's personality.

MOMENT:

august 29, 12:51 am

**Sidenote: Thank you, thank you, thank you for your words of encouragement, wisdom, and empathy on my last post. I was hesitant to share my vulnerable state in this forum, but I am so grateful I did. There were still tears over this past week (occasionally they were Lincoln's), but they were mixed with a new perspective on my circumstances that was refreshing and helped me keep going. Oh...and I should add that Lincoln is sleeping much better and even slept through the night a couple nights ago! Hope is a beautiful thing. =)

raw

2009-01-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

I was all set to write a happy little post about my favorite memories of 2008, but it's just not working for me.

In an effort to not be superficial, I've decided to share where I'm at today. I so don't want this to sound like a pity party--more like a desperate attempt to gain some perspective.

Long story short. I have deemed the past week and a half 'Project Sleep Through the Night'. As a result of this attempt, Lincoln has gone from being a pretty bad sleeper to a worse sleeper. Much worse.

I knew going into this that it would not be easy. Griffin was not a great sleeper either and I had to work hard to help him learn to sleep through the night as well. But I was not prepared for Lincoln to actually digress in his sleeping habits.

I was also not prepared for the nerve that this would strike with me. I am realizing that this is about so much more than getting a few more hours sleep at night. I think I am not alone when I say that I feel as though a baby's sleeping habits are often used as a measuring stick of success for mothers of newborns. I try not to feel irritated when a gleaming mother reports that her child is now sleeping 12 hours at night. But I do. It's not that I dislike her. It's that I really want to be her. And I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

I also struggle with the reality that I know so many mothers who have children who slept through the night at a very young age. I picture these moms waking after a full night's sleep to the sound of their cooing baby in the next room. Meanwhile, I pull the covers over my head and mutter curses under my breath at the sound of my child awakening yet again.

So, there you have it. I hate the fact that my child is keeping me up at night. I hate that sleep deprivation affects so many other areas of my life, making me feel like I can't be fully present in so many ways.

But so much more than that, I hate how big I have made the 'sleeping through the night' milestone. I have found myself struggling to drink in the moment with Lincoln. I have felt myself holding my breath until that magical moment when I awaken after a full night's sleep and all is well with the world. I crave the day when I can be the mom with the bragging rights. I have been angry that it appears that I am the only mom who can't figure out the 'secret code' to sleep-filled nights.

And so, I write this to remind myself that this beautiful baby boy who laughs and coos at me all day long (and sometimes in the middle of the night too) will never be four and a half months old again. I write this to remind myself that my perspective needs some adjustment. I write this to remind myself that I am not as alone as I feel.

I find myself struggling with even posting this because I so do not want to rely on my blog as a form of pseudo-community. However, I also know that most of you who read this have 'been there' at some point or other and I'm guessing you could help with my perspective as well.

Thanks.

Post of Love for Megan

2009-01-01T22:22:00.000-05:00

As promised, I am dedicating this entire post to my cousin Megan.

Megan is my childhood best friend. Most of my favorite childhood memories contain her in some way.

At our Uncle Clayton's cottage

This past week, I had the joy of visiting Megan in her beautiful home in Pennsylvania. How odd to find ourselves in the role of mom to kids that are the age we were when we first began to play together.

Visiting Meg at her home

As I visited her gorgeous home that she and her husband have worked hard to create, I was also struck by how much hasn't changed about my lifelong friend. Megan has always been fun and energetic and has more organizational skills in her little pinky than I have in every ounce of my body. I am often amazed at how everything she does seems to be done with excellence.

When we were young, even our play was done in a high quality fashion. Megan would spend hours preparing the books and materials that we would need to play library like it was the real deal. She and her family created the most amazing play kitchen nestled in the woods next to their house. And you've never gone sledding if you haven't taken a ride down her sledding hill.

I love the memories that we share from our childhood. But I am also grateful that in spite of the twists and turns our lives have taken, we always seem to pick up easily where we left off. Megan lovingly planned beautiful showers for both my wedding and the birth of Griffin. She agreed to be in my wedding, even though she was 8 months pregnant. And now, she's going to run a 10 mile race with me in May. Right, Meg?

Dancing at my wedding (with her 8 month pregnant belly between us)

And so, thank you, Meg. Not only for helping me with my Christmas list, but for your friendship that has lasted a lifetime. I miss our days of the secret society of MEKK and writing long letters to each other and playing softball at the civic association and making 'old movies' in your camper. But just because we no longer 'play' house, doesn't mean we can't still have fun, right?

Here's to lots more memories--wanna go sledding?

And the winner is...

2008-12-31T15:26:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a fantastic Christmas with our families this year. Lincoln was very cute, albeit somewhat oblivious. But Griffin definitely 'got it' this year. His famous quote this year, prior to opening most of his presents was, "I wonder what it is!" Yep. It's definitely fun to have kids at Christmas.

One of my most favorite gifts to give this year was pictures of our family taken by our friend, Julie. We did a photo shoot back in the fall with her, but had to keep it secret since we planned on giving pics to our families at Christmas. She did an amazing job and we were so pleased.

Priceless.
Go here to see more of our photo shoot.

And now for the news you've been waiting for. Thanks to all of you who gave such great ideas for my Christmas list. I considered many of them and am already formulating my list for next year.

But I told you there would be a winner and I'm a girl of my word. And so, the winner is....

MEGAN!!!

My cousin Megan e-mailed me a list of some great suggestions. She's a mom of three and fighting the 'frumpy mom' syndrome with her christmas list this year...running shoes, ipod, balance ball, etc. She got me thinking about how I can do the same. Since a gym membership isn't possible at this point, and I hate aerobics, I tried to think of the next best thing to motivate me to get my move during the long cold months here in NY.

And so I asked for DDR. Yep. Dance-Dance-Revolution. That's how I'm gonna get my groooove on. And thanks to my mom for getting it for me!

I also promised that I would dedicate a post to the winner. And I'm gonna do it. But New Year's celebrations are calling. So stay tuned for my post of love sometime very soon!

Happy New Year, you guys!

three and a half months

2008-12-20T15:34:00.000-05:00

Lincoln at three and a half months

Griffin at three and a half months

Do you think they might be brothers?

**Come back soon to find out who the grand prize winner is in my "Help me with my list" contest. I'm pretty excited about it!

help a girl out...

2008-12-09T14:18:00.000-05:00

It's my least favorite part of Christmas and it's a dilemma I've had for years. It's not the wrapping or the baking or even the shopping. It's not writing Christmas cards (I don't) or gaining those nasty holiday pounds (I just do).

I hate making my wish list.

There. I said it. I feel better just admitting it.

The last time I remember really knowing what I wanted for Christmas was the year I asked for a real microphone, complete with mike stand. I think I was 9.

It's not that I'm Grinchy. I really love Christmas. And believe me, it's not that I don't want anything. I really do.

I just can't figure out what it is that I do want. I think I might need therapy.

Here's my list so far:
socks
clothes
Coldplay's Viva la Vida
a shower radio

Sigh. Not exactly your super exciting Christmas list.

Here's where you come in. I need to know what you think I should want for Christmas. Maybe it's something that's on your list. Or was last year. Maybe it's a book that you've read, or a kitchen gadget that has changed your life, or a piece of clothing that is a must-have. Whatever it may be, leave a comment and help a girl out!

I was trying to think of a prize to give to the winner, and I'm coming up short there too. So, if you are the lifeline that leads me to my favorite Christmas gift this year, here's what I'll do. I promise to dedicate an entire post to you--singing your praises and letting the world know why I love you.

So, get a commenting...

p.s. To be fair, I should let you all know, that I already have an early Christmas present that I absolutely loooooove. Check out these beauties from Pottery Barn:

Run a 5K. Check.

2008-11-29T15:25:00.000-05:00

Well, not really a 5k. It was actually an 8k, but I think that works.

About a week after this post about my adventure list, my brother-in-law Tim called and asked if we wanted to come to Buffalo for Thanksgiving. And then, on a side-note, he added that if we did, he and I could run an 8k on Thanksgiving Day together.

Well, how could I say no? Afterall, I could get points for two things: getting back into an exercise routine and running a race...numbers 3 and 5 on my list.

And so I did. I started off well with the training, but toward the end, I changed my training strategy: I didn't. That way my muscles wouldn't be sore. Made sense to me.

So, on Thanksgiving morn, we joined over 10,000 people running the streets of Buffalo. We were surrounded by people in a variety of costumes, including a flock of flamingos and a 19 person turkey. And although the turkey train finished before us, I was happy with our finish time considering my aforementioned training strategy...and did I mention I just had a baby?

By the way, this is a great way to justify stuffing your face later on in the day...not that I've ever needed a reason.

Thankful

2008-11-24T15:41:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for a son who is thankful for this:

I'm also thankful for:

Happy Birthday, Wes.
You light up our world with your love for us.
We love you.

Kaley and your boys

sometimes a girl's gotta brag...

2008-11-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my cvs obsession, you can read about it here. It's calmed down quite a bit since that post, but I still heart the deals I get there.

Just had to share my latest cvs haul with you guys. Check it out. I got all this for a whopping $2.55 plus I received $7.59 in Extra Bucks to use on my next purchase.
Yep. You counted correctly. That would be eight boxes of cereal. Muahahaha! Ahem.

If you want to find out more about the wonderful world of cvs savings (and other fine deals), I suggest you click here, here, and here. I'd be glad to help you get started as well.

Take this as your warning, though. It will change your life.

And you'll have to get a pantry.

Who's gonna join me?

haaaaappy birthday, deeeeaaaar kaley....

2008-11-06T19:15:00.000-05:00

yesterday was my birthday and here is how i celebrated.

what does this say about me?

*in preparation for the day, i went here and signed up for every possible birthday freebie i could find.

* my chosen method of relaxation during the day was climbing into bed with a hot cup of coffee and a big stack of coupons to clip.

*scored a free magazine subscription online.

*when i opened my card from my husband, there was a cvs extrabuck inside and several cvs coupons. and this made me very happy.

*to celebrate, we went shopping at old navy where they are having great deals and i used a $10 off coupon old navy had sent me for my birthday.

*then, i headed over to bath and body works and got about $20 worth of stuff for $3.

*we finished off the evening at cold stone creamery enjoying my free birthday bowl of peanut buttery yumminess. (oh, wes has a birthday in november too, so he got a free bowl as well. we did break down and buy griffin his own bowl, however...cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears. it's a wonder he ever went to sleep last night.)

oh...and i did find a few minutes of peace and quiet for this and my current read:

sigh...it was a good day.

my adventure list

2008-10-27T19:15:00.000-04:00

I think this newborn thing has affected my competitive bone. I am typically a highly competitive person. Case in point: When I was in labor with Griffin, I lamented over the fact that I was not surrounded by other women in labor because then we could have a contest. I was sure that would be enough to spur me on to a very short labor.

My current complacency has been revealed to me by a contest that I am currently involved in and have put forth zero effort to win. It's just not at the top of my priority list. Wait...I don't even have a priority list.

Well, it's time for a change. (No, that statement was not meant to be a political reference...politics are even lower on my pseudo-priority list.) Here is the situation in a nutshell:

I am involved in a monthly moms of preschoolers meeting called MOPS. We are all taking part in a contest this year, in which the participants can earn points for carrying out various good deeds such as making a meal for another mom, bringing a guest to MOPS, attending events, etc. The table with the most points at the end of the year will all go out to eat, while the table with the least points will watch their kids. Should be motivation, right?

There is a fun aspect to this contest that I've been pondering for a while. It's called the adventure list. We were all encouraged to write a list of activities or accomplishments that we would like to conquer over the next year. We would then earn points for each as we checked them off the list.

Lincoln was only two weeks old when we were first asked to create this list. At that point, my list looked like this:
sleep
shower
change out of my pajamas
sleep some more

Adventure held a different meaning during that very foggy time in life. Even still, I earned very few points.

Now that the fog has started to lift, I feel like it would be fun to create a true adventure list for my upcoming year. I like challenges and by putting them into writing, I may actually accomplish a few. And occasionally get out of my pajamas.

So, here goes. I thought I would categorize them by the amount of effort required, starting with the least and ending with the greatest.

1) Finish reading a book. I currently have three in process. Or is it 5?

2) Begin journaling again. I miss that.

3) Get back into an exercise routine. Walking to the mailbox does not count.

4) Sew covers on those throw pillows I bought two years ago. Wait...does this require learning to sew?

5) Run a 5K. Who wants to join me?

6) Get away for a night with my husband. Yes, this requires more effort than running a 5K.

7) Plan another get-together with my L.U. girls. Whaddya say, Beckie, Leigh Anne, Kelley, and Sarah?

8) _______ _______ _____ ____________. This one I'd rather not post for all the world to see. Oooh...don't you wish you knew?

9) Attempt to get something published. Attempt being the key word. And pressing 'publish post' does not count.

10) Buy a house. I better get extra points for this one.

So, there you have it. My goal is not to accomplish all, but to motivate myself to accomplish some. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Wait.
11) Share cute pictures of my children with the world.

These gotta be worth some points.

One month old! (plus a couple weeks)

2008-10-09T16:27:00.000-04:00

Six weeks ago tonight, I was feverishly keeping track of contractions and hoping that this was the real deal. And yep, it sure was...check out the proof:

I'm planning on trying really, really hard to keep track of milestones with the same passion that I did with my firstborn child. So, in an effort to keep myself accountable, I've decided to blog about Lincoln's monthly growth. That way, you can yell at me if I haven't blogged about him in a while. (As you can see, I'm already running late...) Here goes:

Month 1:
Wow, Lincoln, it is hard to believe that you are already a month old! So far, you have been such an easy baby--let's keep that up, ok? Here are a few memories from your first month of life:

*It's been so fun to watch Griffin with you, Lincoln. He loves you soo much! He runs to you every time you cry and tries to make it better with your binky. He tries to reassure you by saying, "It's Ok, Lincoln." (It took him a while to realize that your name wasn't Baby Bob--but he's caught on now!) Every time he catches you spitting up, he says, "Oh, Buddy!" (I think he got that from Mommy...) And when you are crying in the car, he sings "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to try to calm you down. Sometimes we have to help him slow down and help him be more gentle with you--but it's just because he gets so excited when you are around!

*You went to your first concert this month. (Mommy and Daddy like to get our kids 'cultured' young.) It was our youth group's kick-off event with the Proxy, Nevertheless, and Flyleaf. We didn't take your gentle eardrums into the actual concert, however--just right outside the doors. You seemed to enjoy it.

*Right before you turned one month old, you started giving us the biggest smiles. I couldn't believe it! We loooove to watch you smile. You are a very happy kid.

*You are one loud sleeper! After one sleepless night, Mommy and Daddy got smart and moved you right outside the door, where we couldn't hear you as well. We also discovered that you sleep better in your carseat. You've had a stuffy nose for a while, so it seemed to help with your congestion too. Now, you usually only wake us up around 3 am and 6:30 am--and that's good with me!

*Everyone says you look like someone different. For a while, it was your Uncle Ryan. Then they thought you looked more like an Ehret. Then, several people at church said you look like Papa Hill. Recently, more people have been saying you look like Griffin. I've decided that when your eyes are closed you look more like a Hill and when they are open, you look more like an Ehret. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

It is hard for me to believe how fast the time is flying already. I'm doing my best to enjoy every minute--even the 3 am ones. But, I also can't wait to watch you grow. We have so much to look forward to. I love that we get to watch another little life grow before our very eyes.

We love you, little Lincoln! (or Winkin, as Griffin says it)

domestic goddess i am not...

2008-10-06T15:02:00.000-04:00

...but occasionally I make an attempt at appearing to be one. this past saturday, i spent all day peeling, cooking, and canning applesauce...

...with A LOT of help from her (my mother-in-law)--ok she did most of the work...

...and some help from him...

...and some more help from him (papa ehret, not lincoln)...

are you impressed?

overheard...

2008-09-26T18:32:00.000-04:00

what you'd hear if you had bugged our house over the past several weeks

Griffin, please take your feet off of Lincoln's head.

Griffin, please don't throw peanut butter sandwiches at your brother. That's nice that you were trying to feed him, but he only drinks milk right now.

Griffin, please stop trying to close Lincoln's eyes during prayer.

Griffin, you really should not try to pick Lincoln up by his ankles.

Griffin, please take that newspaper off of Lincoln's face.

what you'd see:

a little boy who loves his brother verrrrrry much,
who runs to check on him whenever he hears him cry,
who kisses and hugs him multiple times a day,
who sings a medley of songs to him to help him sleep, namely:
Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle, Twinkle Wittle Sar,
and Shot through the Heart by Bon Jovi (his father is responsible for the latter),
who loves to help mommy change his diaper,
who can't wait for his brother to grow and play with him!

(his mommy is pretty excited about that too.)

1000 words

2008-09-22T15:26:00.001-04:00

In an effort to stay in connection with you all during this 'newborn' season of life, I've decided to commit to writing less wordy/more picture-y blogs for the time being. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Here are my 3000 words for the day:

Griffin and I celebrated the beginning of fall with pumpkin window cling-ons.
(Can we say, "Mommy used to be an elementary teacher?")

Then, we headed to the local farm market, where
Griffin picked out his very own pumpkin.

...and then, of course, we had to buy an apple turnover and a jug

of cider in order to truly honor the season.

Reframing

2008-09-17T10:37:00.001-04:00

Our firstborn son just left to go blueberry picking with our landlords and #2 is sitting contentedly nearby, and will soon be napping, and I find myself facing the age-old mystery of motherhood: what to do next??!!

And so I blog.

Meanwhile, the lunch dishes still sit on the table, and the laundry piles mock me, and the fall decorations call out to me to pull them from their boxes, and the list goes on...

And yet I blog.

I guess it's for the same reason that we take vacations. Unnecessary? Yes. Useless? No.

I guess I am considering this more of a therapy session than a blog. I have been pondering the priorities of motherhood the past couple days and realizing that newborns completely reshape them when they arrive.

It's interesting how it all works. I lived in the nesting stage for months while I was pregnant. I constantly felt the urge to clean and organize and plan (and even cook occasionally)--and spent a good part of my time doing so.

Then it all changed in an instant. This little life entered my world and all such priorities escaped out the window. I am lucky if I find time to shower in the day--cleaning is waaaaay down on the list. I remember coming to the realization when Griffin was first born that I had become a speed eater. I considered eating a waste of precious time and so gobbled my food down as quickly as possible so as to move on to actually accomplish something of value.

By nature, I am task-oriented. I am most content when I have a well-checked off list at the end of the day. But yesterday, I came to the realization that this 'need to accomplish' is not an option at this time in my life. As a mom of two boys, each with their own needs, my to-do list doesn't even get written.

So, I am faced with two options:
1) Feel sorry for myself and long for the day when things return to 'normal' (as I did for most of the day yesterday).
2) Find a way to reframe my priorities during this season of life.

I'm opting for number 2.

I'm realizing that this stage in life is a lot more about being than doing. I spend about 6-7 hours of my day feeding, burping, and changing the baby. I can mourn my time lost during this time or recognize that simply being with my son is a gift--for me and for him.

I also could spend the rest of my day trying to make up for time lost by catching up on those check marks. Or I could

i have to laugh. i got distracted from completing this yesterday and i have no idea what i was going to say next. i think that may be exactly what i was trying to say. i may or may not complete anything--and that's ok.

now, if you will excuse me...i'm going to put a movie on while my boys nap. and i may or may not complete it before i fall sound asleep.

I'm Baaaa-ack!

2008-09-08T10:18:00.000-04:00

May it be known that Kaley is officially returning to the land of the living. She may doze off occasionally, but she is alive and well.

I thought I would mark this occasion with the post you have all been waiting for--the birth story! Let's just get one thing straight before I start. If there is one thing that every woman who has ever endured labor has earned, it is the right to share every single nitty gritty detail of the birth story with anyone who is within ear shot--as many times as she would like.

Fortunately for you, you are reading this post, so you may opt out of enduring every little detail. Humor me, though, and post a comment whether you read it all or not. All you really have to say is something to the tune of, "Wow, Kaley, you are the woman!" and I will assume that you did indeed read the whole thing.

Now, where shall we begin? Oh yes--5:30 am on Thursday, August 28:

5:30 am: wake up early with typical pregnancy discomfort. Decide to get up and enjoy one of my final quiet mornings on the porch. Write this in my prayer journal: Dr's appointment today. I've found myself really wishing I would go into labor this weekend. If I don't, I will probably be induced next week. You know my heart's desires, Lord Jesus, and I know You delight in giving them to me. I trust Your good hand!

10 am: drop Griffin off at his cousin's house while I head to my dr's appointment a couple blocks away.

10:15 am: dr's appointment. I am still 2 cm dilated (have been all week) and about 50% effaced. Doctor Miller says she does not think I will go in the next couple days. Oh and she will be out of town this weekend. Leave feeling pretty discouraged.

11 am: stop at farmer's market up the street. Buy ripe cantaloupe. Bad idea.

11:15 am: return to my sister's house to hang out with Griff and kids while I wait to go to my non-stress test at 1:30. Let Wes and my sister and brother in law know that I will probably not be going into labor anytime soon. Fight back tears.

noon: Griffin announces to his cousins that he wants 'Baby Bob' (his nickname) to come out right now! Me too, Griffin. Me too.

1 pm: discover a parking ticket on my car. Bummer of a day.

1:10 pm: stop at Dunkin Donuts for a donut and coffee. (Dr's orders--gotta eat something sweet so the baby will move during the non stress test!)

1:30 pm: pull into parking lot for appointment and feel a very strong braxton-hicks contraction. Hmmm? But no, it couldn't be.

1:45 pm: nurse points out two contractions during my non stress test. They are about 10 minutes apart.

2:15 pm: make a run to Walgreen's (free stuff!), Toys R Us, and Price Chopper. Oh--and to pay off my parking ticket. (The fee goes up $5 every week--and we might be a little distracted this week!) Start timing contractions. Still about 10 minutes apart.

3 pm: return to my sister's house. Call Wes and my mom to let them know that I think I may be having contractions, but they are really not strong. What does that mean?

3:15 pm: decide to go for a walk since Griffin is napping and I want to try to keep the contractions coming. Find myself walking on Lincoln Avenue. Is this a sign??! Contractions seem to increase, but still are not very strong.

4 pm: decide I should head home since my bags are there. Keep timing while I drive home. Still about 10 minutes apart.

6 pm: Wes gets home and I am feeling discouraged. Contractions are very sporadic and still not intense. Starting to think this is false labor. Google 'false labor'.

6:30 pm: decide to make dinner--spinach calzones from my friend Anca (yummy!) and corn from the farmer's market. Contractions are now coming more regularly and about 6 minutes apart. According to google, this is a good sign. Still not intense.

7 pm: our landlords pull into the driveway after being gone for a week. Didn't know they were coming home! Finish dinner and send Griffin over to hang out with Grandma Mar and Papa Nick. Fill them in on the situation and ask if Griffin could stay over night if need be.

8 pm: contractions still not intense, but are about 4 minutes apart. Wes decides to pack the car, calling upstairs to check up on me quite frequently.

9 pm: head next door to talk with our landlord, who is a nurse. Let her know that contractions are about 3 minutes apart, but are not intense and ask what we should do? We finally decide to just take the plunge and head to the hospital. We leave a tearful Griffin behind, but know he is in good hands.

9:30 pm: head to the hospital, meanwhile calling both of our parents and letting them know. Tell them we will call if things progress. Contractions seem to slow down, but get more intense. Why can't they just follow the rules??!

10 pm: arrive at emergency room, feeling all eyes on the pregnant lady as I walk into the room. I know what they are thinking--why is she so calm? Indeed, my contractions come even more slowly now.

still smiling

10:30 pm: nurse gives me a knowing glance when she sees that I am far too calm to be in actual labor. Is this your first baby? she asks, quite smugly. I am ready to turn around and head home. I am now only 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. We call the family and tell them to stay home. Looks like it's going to be a long night. Try to watch news coverage of Barack Obama's speech.

11:30 pm: shift change. New nurse is someone we know from church. Contractions are becoming stronger and I ask Wes to rub my back and breathe with me. Maybe this is the real thing? Take a walk to go look at the babies in the nursery. Have to stop multiple times to breathe and begin to feel nauseous. Oh yeah--this is what real contractions feel like. Darn.

12 am: ask Wes to go get the nurse to come check me. Feel a little silly, but I do not want to miss my window for an epidural. Nurse announces with a great deal of surprise that I am 8 cm dilated. Does that mean I won't get an epidural? I ask with dismay. We'll see what we can do, says the nurse. That is code for Not a chance, honey. (Especially since I have not gotten lab tests done, do not have an IV, have not been taken to the birthing room, and the call still has to been made to the anesthesiologist. I'm no dummy.) Wes asks if we should call family. YES is the quick response.

12:10 am: nurses swarm into the room to get me moved into the birthing room and ready to deliver. This is really happening. No turning back now.

12:20 am: someone in green enters the room and approaches my bed. Well, I am surprised to see you here! says Dr. Miller. I feel a rush of relief, knowing that she has not left town yet. I am so glad to see you, Dr. Miller! I whisper gratefully.

12:30 am: Dr. Miller announces that I am fully dilated and this baby is about to be born. Is she just saying that to make me feel better? I wonder. Dr. Miller, Julie (our nurse), and Wes begin to praise and encourage me to fight through the pain. It doesn't take long before Dr. Miller tells Wes to take a look at his son's head. Seriously? I think. It can't be.

12:51 am: LINCOLN PARKER EHRET ENTERS OUR WORLD. He is more beautiful than I could have imagined with his newborn cry and head of brown hair. Exhilaration. Euphoria. Awe. No word even touches the emotion and gratitude of that moment.

(unfortunately, our camera died shortly after this and I haven't gotten any of the pictures my family took yet...)

1:15 am: Both of our parents and my sister and brother join us to meet our son and hear his name spoken out loud for the first time. His name is Lincoln Parker Ehret, we say with pride. Wes's mom cries as she finds out that her maiden name is her grandson's middle name. We spend the next hour and half taking pictures, passing Lincoln around the room, and trying to determine who he looks like.

3:30 am: the room clears out and Wes and I are left alone with our boy. Exhaustion sets in.

Give me this kind of exhaustion any day.

This boy is worth it.

Welcome, Lincoln Parker!

2008-08-29T14:39:00.000-04:00

He's here and he is beautiful!

Born: August 29, 2008 at 12:51 am

Weighing in at: 8 lbs.

Measuring: 21 inches

More details to follow...

Welcome to our world, Lincoln! We love you so much already.

BRING IT ON...

2008-08-26T18:05:00.000-04:00

It's official. I'm ready. I got my hair done today. That was the last thing on my list of things to do before birthing our son. Bring this baby on.

We also checked another big item off our list last night. Griffin slept in a BIG BOY bed for the very first time.

Only a few tears were shed. Most of them by me. =)

So, now we wait. I've been wondering. When do you all think the big day will be? My brother asked Griffin to point to a calendar tonight to see when he thought the baby would be born, and he pointed to tomorrow. Sounds good to me!

How about you? What do you think? Leave me some comment love with your best guess.

No, he's not here yet.

2008-08-23T07:40:00.002-04:00

Let's be real honest here. I could post all sorts of fun pics from the past few weeks highlighting the events that have taken place in my life from Griffin's Under the Sea birthday party to my family's week of day trips (which we've lovingly entitled the Hill Family Stay-cation) to the firstfruits of my little garden, etc.

But c'mon now....you don't really care about that! You just stopped by to see if I had this baby yet, didn't you? I know how you are.

And I don't blame you. So let's make a deal. For today's post, I will give you the latest on this baby boy who's about to enter our world. And over the next week, if he chooses to continue to withhold his presence from us, I will share those pics and stories of the fun we've had over the past few weeks. Sound fair? I think so. And it will be a nice diversion for me to pass the time. I may need it.

Soooooo....here's the latest:

He's not here yet, for starters. And to be honest, up until this past week I've been feeling so good that I've been wondering if I really was due in a couple weeks. But this week, I've been introduced to the world of pelvic floor pain as this baby's head finally decided to drop. Not exactly comfortable, but there is some comfort in knowing he is making his way in the right direction.

So, as of my doctor's appointment yesterday, I am 2-3 cm dialated. A welcome change from last week's appointment when there was no sign of anything. My doctor is a big fan of induction, so she made an appeal that I consider getting induced this next week. I was prepared for this and already had made my resolve that I would not consider this as an option. My brick wall started to crumble a bit as she made the process sound like a breeze the second time around, especially since I have already started to dialate. I would definitely like to hold out at least until my due date, though, and then we will see.

Oh, and as of last week, this kid's estimated weight was 8 lb. 4 oz. Another reason why induction may be in my future.

Until then, I have been keeping myself very busy. Having been gone so much lately, there were some pretty essential things that still needed to be done. My list of accomplishments over the past week:
Setting up the bassinet. Check.
Cleaning the car seat which had collected much dirt in our garage. Check.
Washing all the baby clothes and realizing many of them had stains and we needed more. Check.
Buying some new baby clothes. (Children's Place on amazon.com had a great sale!) Check.
Cleaning like a mad woman. Check. (Wish this nesting thing continued after the pregnancy!)

I also need to give some props to friends and family who have loved on me lately, like my sister in law who, with true unconditional love, cut my toe nails for me while on vacation:

...my husband who's about to paint my toe nails for me (although he doesn't know it yet...I'm cashing in on an offer he made a week ago...), my friend, Anca, who watched Griffin while I did a bunch of running around yesterday and made us a couple of meals (did I mention she has a two year old and a newborn?), and our friends, the Bruces, who are about to take Griffin to the Discovery Center while Wes and I go on one last date pre-child #2. YAY! Not to mention those who have called just to check up on me. I just feel grateful.

There have been moments of anxiety as well. I had a little breakdown last night as some of the stress of this time started to settle in. But, in all honesty, my emotions have behaved themselves pretty well this time around. I have yet to have a melt down in the middle of Target because the lady in the dressing room wouldn't let me mix and match the size of the pajamas I wanted to buy. Ahem. I guess I still have time though.

Ok. That's all for now. Stay tuned for the latest on "Wes and Kaley plus Two" (hmmm...doesn't quite have the same ring to it.)

Oh--I'm pretty sure our hospital has wi-fi, so hopefully we will bring you some pics very shortly after the birth!

sentimental

2008-08-06T10:33:00.000-04:00

Milestones tend to make me a bit sappy and sentimental. Consider that your warning.

Griffin turns three tomorrow. I find myself stealing glances of him throughout the day, trying to soak in the last few moments of his life as a two year old. My emotions mix between welcoming his future and straining to hold onto his past.

I wish I could make a time capsule of all that makes Griffin uniquely himself as an almost three year old. So I will document my best effort in this post.

***

Griffin,

I was completely unprepared for the changes that you would bring to life when you entered our world almost three years ago. But then is it really possible to prepare for sleepless nights and a complete upheaval of life as we knew it? Guess not.

But, mostly I was unprepared for this great big, huge, immense, giant ball of love that began to grow in my heart for this little life that appeared in our world one afternoon in August, 2005.

And now you are almost three. A big part of me would like to put life on hold and keep you almost three forever. But then there is the even bigger part that can't wait to watch your life unfold and see what you become. Wow. I love that thought.

So, in an effort to hold onto a piece of your life as a two year old, I've attempted to think of the three best words to describe you at this point in time.

Active. Your very first question when I get you out of bed in the morning is, "Is Daddy here?" It is quickly followed up by, "Where are we going?" You love to go, go, go.

So much of who you are is wrapped up in this word. You can't wait to ask new questions, make new friends, spend time with the people you love, help with the gardening, sing at the top of your lungs or wrestle with Daddy. There are definitely days that I don't know if I can keep up with you for another minute.

Observant. Those who know you best often comment, "He doesn't miss a thing, does he?" You often surprise us with what you observe.

You demonstrated this the other day when Papa Nick (our landlord) was over at the house. You pointed out to him that you had a shirt with a pocket just like he did. You then hurried away looking for something. A couple minutes later, you returned with a pencil and a piece of paper stuffed inside your pocket. You've noticed that Papa Nick always carries a notepad and a pencil in his pocket and you wanted to be just like him. I think Papa Nick was about ready to burst as he watched you imitate him.

(I'm quite sure this quality may be something that your wife will appreciate someday.)

Outgoing. A couple of weeks ago, we were in Florida and were about to head down to the hotel swimming pool. As we headed out the door, you said with great enthusiasm, "My friends are down there, Mommy!" You had never met them before, but you were quite confident that anyone you came into contact with would quickly become your friend.

And to be honest, this is usually the case. You are drawn to people and they, in turn, are drawn to you. I think this must have something to do with how well-loved you are by so many people.

That is only the start. There are so many more words to describe you, Griffin: happy, helpful, inquisitive, funny, and strong-willed (very strong-willed) are just a few.

And now, in just a few short weeks, you will be a big brother. I can't wait to watch you fill this role. I know you will love it.

And so, Happy Third Birthday, Griffin Wesley Ehret. Your daddy and I love you more than we can say. You are the best thing we have ever done.

Love,
Mommy

crazy fun

2008-07-31T08:23:00.000-04:00

Life's been a little crazy lately. Fun, but crazy.

It all started with our camping trip. Which, I'm happy to report, I did survive. We actually had fun, although sleeping was a bear on our thin air mattresses. It went a little something like this:
Find a comfortable position on right side with pillow under belly for support.
Sleep 30 minutes.
Wake up feeling numb-tingly on right side.
Switch pillow and belly to left side.
Sleep 30 minutes.
Wake up feeling numb-tingly on left side.
Repeat.

I managed to squeeze in a couple naps in my in-laws camper and then all was well. I really am a fan of camping--it's just a lot easier when you're not 8 months pregnant. =)

We returned home on Monday to do laundry and pack in order to head back out on Tuesday. "Why?" you ask. Because we were heading here:

And here:

Yep. WALT DISNEY WORLD and SEA WORLD!!!!!!

Here we are ready to take off on Griff's FIRST plane ride. Other than being louder than the average airplane passenger, he did great.

Actually, it was a work trip for Wes, but we managed to find some super cheap tickets and Griff and I tagged along. We had a blast. Between finding free tickets for Disney and Sea World and being well taken care of by Wes's work, we were spoiled like crazy. We were put up in the Disney Hilton and treated to some fabulous meals throughout the week.

The best I can do for a belly pic. We sat in the very front of the monorail into Disney.
The pilot even gave us pilot's licenses. =)

Oh...and my pregnancy hormones behaved themselves for the most part and I made it through the whole trip with only one emotional breakdown. And that was after spending about 8 hours walking around two theme parks in 100 degree weather. Not bad.

NOW it's back to reality. We are gonna have a baby in approximately ONE MONTH. Gulp. AND a little boy turning three in ONE WEEK. Sigh.

Gotta go.

am i crazy?

2008-07-18T13:24:00.000-04:00

This prego mama is taking her big belly camping this weekend--yep, air-mattress-no air-conditioning-in-90-degree-heat-public-bathroom-tent-camping.
Is it just me--or am I crazy?

Obsessed

2008-07-10T14:29:00.002-04:00

Hi. My name is Kaley and I'm an addict.

I never thought it would come to this.

I've become a coupon/free stuff junkie.

It's bad.

It all started because of Beckie's influence and now I'm having a hard time pulling myself away from my coupon clipping, ad-scanning, web-surfing addiction to even tell you about it.

My mind is overflowing with CVS extra bucks deals and Rite Aid single check rebates and Price Chopper's triple coupons and the sale prices of dozens of items.

Beckie tells me that in a month or so, I should be back to my normal self. I will no longer have nightmares about missing out on a free after rebate deal. I will stop making my husband wait for 45 minutes in the car while I just "run in" to CVS....for the third time that week. And I will be able to dedicate a little bit more time to the non-essentials in life like cooking and cleaning.

Meanwhile, you'll just have to wait on any further updates on my life. I've been meaning to post pictures of my cute little garden for the longest time. My latest belly pic is way overdue. I wanted to share with you about Griffin's very first VBS this week and the adorable way he grabbed his teacher's hand on the first day and took off without even looking back...sigh. Oh and update you on his potty-training SUCCESS (almost). And by the way, I'm going to have a baby in 7 weeks...

Now, if you'll excuse me, I just found some great deals on Pampers to cover that little bottom that will soon be here.

Where I've Been

2008-06-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

I've been here--A LOT. (Tips and techniques welcomed!)

I've also been here--one of my favorite places in the world--my grandparent's cottage. It was the first time we spent the weekend with Griffin there and we had the most refreshing time. Looooooove this place!

Griffin teaching Daddy how to build a fire--or so he thought.

Nothing cuter than a little boy in a life jacket hugging his Daddy.

While we were there, we celebrated our sixth anniversary.

Here we are, six years ago, laying in a hammock on a beach in the Bahamas (sigh).

And here we are now.

Happy Anniversary, Baby! Six down. Sixty to go!

And I've been here--hanging with my girls. This is (part of) my dive group from Elevate (our youth group). They also spent a night at the cottage with me as our last hurrah. Seven out of eight of them are graduating this year. Love you, girls!

'The Talk'

2008-06-12T09:27:00.000-04:00

Who knew it would come up so early? I certainly wasn't prepared for it. But there was no dodging it. The Boy had to be answered.

Out of the blue, the other night, Griffin asked The Question.

"How did Baby Bob (his nickname for the baby) get in Mommy's tummy?"

Wes and I turned to each other, each waiting for the other's response. I gave him the "this-one's-your-territory" knowing glance.

So, Wes just dove right in.

"Well, Griffin...you see...God did it."

Good answer, Wes. Next time won't be so easy.

I think we may have a few years before we have to get down the nitty gritty though. We asked Griffin the other day who his girlfriend was. He answered, "Karis (his cousin)." Oh boy.

But then he continued. "Ethan (his other cousin). And Todd (his uncle)." Looks like the whole dating thing isn't much of an issue yet.

We took Griffin to meet Baby Bob (did I mention that's not his real name? just thought I'd clarify) yesterday. I had an ultrasound and we thought it might help him grasp the concept that there really is a baby in there. He was quite intrigued. But gotta be honest...he was more intrigued with the rubber gloves that the ultrasound technician gave him as he was leaving. He proudly announced that he was going to go home and work outside with them (gardening) and he did.

Here we are, attempting to capture the moment with our
awesome ultrasound technician, Kathy.
Griffin was a little distracted.

Baby Bob is doing great! He now weighs around 3.5 pounds. He
kicked and stretched the whole time. I think things are getting a little
cozier in there for him.

Piggie pics are my fave.

And one more for the road just because it's so darn cute.
Griffin's friend Daniel is spending the day with us.
They wanted to wear these aprons because they needed
to make a pie.

Love these boys.

On this date in the year 2000...

2008-06-07T08:41:00.000-04:00

...I was here, on the island of Hawaii, visiting Pearl Harbor,
climbing volcanoes,

snorkeling, enjoying the scenery,

and going to a luau with my friend, Amilee.

Just thought you oughtta know.

MY WALL OF FAME

2008-06-03T08:36:00.000-04:00

Wes and I often talk about how spoiled we are to have a bevy of family and friends nearby who are quite frankly at our beck and call when we need a babysitter.

I recently finished a semester of Making it Count presentations and would like to take this opportunity to express some long overdue words of gratitude and praise. I would never have been able to take this job on were it not for a group of fabulous people who willingly and faithfully looked after our little cherub. At times the mornings were early, some days were long, but I know Griffin was well-loved and cared for. Would you join me in celebrating some of my personal heroes?

'Mama' and 'Papa Ehret

'Mama' and 'Papa' Doug (aka 'Gug')

Aunt Tami

'Shisha' and Uncle Ryan

'Mar' and 'Papa Nick' (our landlords/surrogate grandparents)

My friend Tonya (Mommy of Daniel/aka Doon Doon)

The envelope please...

2008-05-21T15:21:00.000-04:00

**Watched the Academy of Country Music Awards the other night (yeah...I'm a closet country music lover.) It got me thinking about this post I started a while back that I never finished. Here goes...

I made a comment to one of my youth group girls the other day that has had me pondering. She is about to finish up her first year of college, and I was congratulating her on this achievement. Then I went on to lament, "I miss those days when there was an end to things, and a sense of accomplishment when it was finished--like completing a new level in your education."

Since then, I've been asking myself, "What did I really mean by that?" What I'm realizing is that for most of my life, I have been trained to look for the end to things--the next level of achievement. I was in the educational system up until the age of 25, either as a student or a teacher. And, in this system, you become trained to always to focus on the end goal and the next level of achievement.

I kind of loved this system. I like having tangible proof that I have worked hard or that I have talent. In fact, it's been a consistent motivator in my life. Thus, my reign as the 1990 Regional Spelling Bee Champion...

...and various other such titles of victory in this-or-that.

So, that led me to this next thought: What if there were levels of achievement in life? What if we were all working from the same system which awarded us for each rank completed? What would it look like if there was a standard of progression that we all were working to attain?

I picture all of us attending the Annual Academy Awards for Achievement in ___________ (you fill in the blank: parenthood, marriage, friendship, relationship with God, kindness to little old ladies, eating more whole grains, remembering to floss, etc.) All would be recognized who achieved the next level in the progression. We would all hold our breath as we waited to hear our names.

"And now, in recognition of the elevation of her status from fair to good in the area of housecleaning, we honor Kaley Ehret!" Then would come the tears and the thanking of the academy...

Oh dear. This is going nowhere good. (Especially since I am definitely putting off housework right now so I can finish this blog...there goes my award.) I'm going to stop now.

But hey--I'm thinking about holding the First Annual Academy Awards for Achievement in Coupon Cutting sometime soon. I recently upgraded from horrible to could be worse. Anyone want to join me on the red carpet?

Photo Shoots, Belly Pics, and Mother's Day

2008-05-13T08:38:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy few days, so I thought I'd just throw up some pics for your viewing pleasure.

These pics are from a trip to the park with Griffin. (Someday I'll write a post dedicated solely to this park...it's one of the hidden treasures of Whitney Point, NY, and one of my favorite places in the world.) We had our own little photo shoot. You should have heard me directing him.

Work it, Griff!
Hug that tree.

Let's see a little 'cute action'.

Perfect.

Next, we have the promised belly pic. I made Wes take this at 11:00 one night just for you, my friends. Thus, my tired smile. Hope you enjoy.

And finally, Mother's Day. I could definitely dedicate an entire post to the details of my pampering by Wes and family. My husband deserves kudos for all of his hard work, not only spoiling me but also planning gifts for both Grandmas as well as our landlord, Mary Beth (who Griffin affectionately calls Grandma Mar.) I told him I'm already stressed over how I'm going to match his efforts for Father's Day.

Instead, I'll simply leave you with this picture of three generations of Moms. That's my mom next to me, then my Dad's Mom, and my sister, Tami.