Blog Award

Really? Me! I am flattered! Yet again, I get to post a blog award! Gifts are great, even virtual ones! This gift does not collect dust, cost money to up keep or cause me to gain weight! I LOVE IT! Thank you Deep In The Heart of Texas! You are amazing!

The Blog With Substance Award has just 2 simple rules: sum up your blogging philosophy in 5 words and pass the award onto 5 other bloggers!

My Blogging Philosophy: Fellowship, Inspire, Laughter, Honesty and Gratitude.

And now I would like to pass this award on to (drum roll please!)

A Reservation For Six

Foursons

Jerome's Women

Oswald Cuties

The Joneses- Try To Keep Up

Congrats you guys!!! Each one of you are fantastic!!!

Letters Of Intent

It's Friday and that always means great posts! Check out Julie's blog for more great letters! You are sure to have a laugh or two!

***********************************************************************************

Dear Kate Gosslein,

No one cares. It's over! Time to move on already. Weren't you the one who said that you wanted your show to be "real"???? I'm just saying! You bug me. "Kate Plus 8" makes me want to gag. I enjoyed your show back when you looked and acted like a normal stay-at-home mom. You know, big tee shirts, sweat pants, no make up and messy hair. Now you are just a fake reality TV star. You and your fake tan, fake boobs, tummy tuck, liposuction, salon styled hair, ridiculously white teeth and designer clothes. You are beyond annoying and I can't believe people still watch you for entertainment. Nailing my tongue to a table would be more entertaining than watching you (and your terrible kids for that matter). Grow up, get a clue, act your age and get a real job!


Sincerely,

The Woman Who Wants Your Show To Be Canceled So That TLC Can Play More Of The Duggar's 19 Kids And Counting

************************************************************************************

Dear Facebook,

Stop trying to suggest friends for me. You obviously don't have any idea of who I would like to be friends with so just stop. I don't even know most of these people! Just because we have a mutual friend does not mean I too need to be their friend. You are getting out of hand Facebook. Chill out!

Sincerely,

The Woman Who Is Certain You Are Trying To Take Over The World

************************************************************************************

Dear Daughter,

Your bowl of yogurt is not now, nor will it ever be, a birthday hat. Sorry sweetie. Please stop putting it on your head and singing happy birthday to yourself. You turned 2 in May. It is not July my dear. Give it a rest.

Love,

The Lady Who Would Be 60 Years Old By Now If Birthdays Were Up To You

The Adventure Begins!

I made the decision a few weeks ago to start using cloth diapers during the day with Jayce. After lots of research and reading I made the plunge! I ordered some diaper covers, got my 5 gallon bucket ready and mentally prepared myself for the challenge. Once the diaper covers arrived I was so excited to get started. So far we have been using the cloth diapers during just Jayce's awake time and it has been great. He has been very nice to me though. Every time he poops it is right after a nap (right before I change him into a cloth diaper) in his regular disposable diaper. I am sure that the first time he poops in the cloth diaper I am probably going to be asking myself "Why did I think this would be a good idea????" but we will burn that bridge when we get to it. We have not had any messes or disasters yet so I am still excited and motivated. We typically change any where from 10 to 12 disposable diapers a day. With the cloth diapers in full swing we are down to only using 4 or 5 disposables a day. Not only is it saving us money, it is making less waste! Your welcome Earth! It really is a win-win situation! All the little things we do, to save the environment and money, really add up to BIG things!

Just a few FYI things about cloth diapers for anyone thinking about trying them out....

• They are very bulky and don't fit well under outfits
• They are a big cost upfront (more then just disposables)
• You have to change them more frequently because they don't hold what a disposable will
• You have to touch lots of bodily fluids
• You have to wash diapers every day
  

Give them a try! When I think about all the little things we do around our house to save money and the environment I feel good about making decision like this one. If we all do the little things we can really make a difference! Check out the little man!

This is the diaper cover. It is really neat! No more rubber pants or pins! You put the cloth diaper inside of this and then put it on baby just like a disposable! It makes it soooooo easy!

Jayce hanging out in his cloth diaper!

Monday Mugs

It's Monday again and that can only mean one thing..... Monday Mugs!
Visit Oswald Cuties to see more Monday Mugs!

This weeks theme is: blue

This is Jayce! He had his first official photo shoot last week and this is my favorite one! I love the blue bow and his grin on his face! It makes him look like a present and I love it! He is one sweet little gift from God! Thanks Casey for the beautiful photos!

Letters Of Intent

Dear Microwave,
We appreciate the work that you have done for us over the past 5 years. We regret to inform you that we are going to have to let you go. We will give you two weeks so that we can save up for a new.... I mean.... so that you are able to make proper arrangements for other employment. You are a vital member of our team, but over the past few weeks we do not feel that you are pulling your weight. A team works together and you seem to be working against us. Why do you hate us? We have been nothing but good to you! We hate to have to replace you but we really do feel it is necessary. We would love to keep you around but you really are too large and cumbersome to be a paper weight, and that is about all you are good for at this stage in your career. We have enjoyed having you and will treasure the meals, snacks and beverages we shared. Please don't take this personal, it really isn't your fault. Okay, yes it is your fault. Sorry there is no nice was to say it other than, you are a slacker. We just can't have a slacker working in such a vital department in our house. Sorry to have to break the news this way, but I think it is for the best.

Regretfully,
The Woman Who Enjoys HOT Food Quickly... Not Lukewarm Food Slowly.


******************************************************************************

Dear Hydrangea,
I'm sorry I killed you. I really don't know what happened! I watered you, weeded around you, gave you fertilizer.... and yet you would never know by looking at you. My mother has a wonderful green thumb, as well as all of her sisters. Perhaps I should have let one of them adopt you? I can grow spider plants! They are huge and healthy! The only problem is they aren't pretty! You could have been pretty, had you not withered away and died. I am tempted to just dig you up and plant something else. It probably wouldn't be worth my time since I would just end up killing it too. No need to start a plant genocide I guess. Again, sorry I killed you. I promise it was not intentional! I will try harder next year!

Rest in peace my friend

Sincerely,
Your Horrible Owner Who Could Probably Kill Kudzu

******************************************************************************


Dear Wal-Mart,
I am not happy that you took your brand of diapers off of Rollback. I was pretty excited that they were even cheaper than before and you had to go and mess that up. You sell enough name brand stuff to make up the difference so I am gonna need you to go ahead and mark those bad boys back down. Way down. That would really make my next shopping trip a lot more enjoyable. Who knows, if you start Rolling back things I actually need and buy I may shop more often! Doubtful, but you never know unless you try!


Sincerely,
The Cheapest Woman Around


------>For more Letters Of Intent visit Foursons

200 Challenge: June

Half of 2010 is gone my friends! Can you believe it? Where did it go? Time just seems to speed up every single day around here! Well, it is time again to update on our grocery budget. The 200 Challenge has been a huge help this year! I am saving so much money on groceries! This month was a little different because my husband had a 2 week drill that kept him late for several nights. I can tell you there was not a great deal of "cooking" going on in this house! Less cooking means I did not need quite as many groceries as usual. Knowing that, I went ahead and stocked up on things that I consider luxury items (name brand pickles, tea bags, salad dressing, Dukes mayonnaise... all the things I am spoiled to!) For the first two weeks I only spent $72.26. Not to bad if I do say so myself! Then on my last two week trip I spent $109.16. A little more than I would have liked, but like I said I did buy those lovely luxury items (and Dukes mayonnaise is ALWAYS worth it!) . So my grand total for the month of June was $181.42. So this month we are +$18.58 in our grocery category! It is always nice to come in under budget! If only I could come in under budget in all my other categories!!! Perhaps I need to create a challenge for saving money on miscellaneous items? Hmmmmm?

Next month I am going to do things a little different. I am going to shop every 7 days instead of every 14 days. We need to eat healthier, so I need to buy way more fresh foods. I tend to waste fresh food when I shop every 2 weeks (I know, it's terrible! Go ahead and shake your head and say "waste not, want not"!) So I think if I shop weekly I will be much more focused and will be able to use up any fresh foods we get. Plus I am hoping it will help me even more in the budget category!

Need accountability for your budget? Want to save money on your groceries? Make a plan for next month and join The 200 Challenge at Clay In His Hands! Link up with us!