Wordless Wednesday.........B Loves to Be Shirtless!!

My 90 Day Budget Boot Camp Goals!!

Over the next 12 weeks (I will have a different challenge each week) while doing this boot camp my goals are as follows:

1.   Spend no more than $80 at the grocery store when I go on Saturdays & NOT go for anything during the week.  That is total spending for Lance, myself, B & the pups.

2.   Stop giving into my impulse buying tendencies; especially things that I always pick up for Brayden that he doesn't even need or will never wear :( 

I am not making any promises about his birthday though; I have been planning that for months now & think that I have done a pretty good job so far on not going crazy expense wise.

3.   Make, take & eat the lunches & dinners that I plan out for our family!  This means no eating out; except for Sundays with Lance's mom & dad but they always pay so that really doesn't effect our budget....right?

4.   Cut back on all of our current household bills wherever we can.

5.   Clip & learn how to best use coupons like a mad woman; I know that people save a ton of money doing this but I just having figured out quite how they are doing it.

6.  Lastly I want to really work on growing our savings account!!

If you are interested you can follow our progress on facebook , visit Mummy Deals & IN Good Cents or you could even join in the fun & challenge yourself!!

Weekend Review...........Long & Packed Full of Photos!

We had quite a long, busy & fun weekend with Brayden even though he still isn't quite 100%.  Wednesday I stayed home with him & then Thursday Lance stayed home with him since we were both off on Friday!

Thursday was a long day for Lance since he really hasn't ever kept Brayden because he was sick; I think that they still had a great day together I just think that there was a lot of happy to sad quick changes from Brayden.  Like this.........

& this........

Poor Brayden just wasn't himself that day & so by the time I got home from work Thursday evening Lance was worn out & Brayden was ready for bed.  He hadn't had a fever all day which was great & was our biggest concern since it was 103 the past day & a half.  Brayden woke up Friday morning & was 90% & I couldn't have been happier!  We spent the morning with him playing & laughing & then when he went down for his morning nap Lance & I both got ready to run our errands.  We kept waiting for B to wake up but he slept for 2 hours; he never takes that long of a morning nap but we were happy he got some god rest!!

We took him into school & I have to say he seemed really happy to be there after playing hookie for 2 days!  I had a hair appointment & Lance went with me to get a haircut too, then we ran around taking care of a few more things & then we were back to pick B up & we were home bound to get ready for company later that night!  We had a few our our newly engaged friends over for a little poker; it brought back so many memories to here them talk about wedding plans not to mention baby plans!  They are not only getting married but they are expecting too; they are going to be he 1st set of our close friends to have a baby & Lance & I are so excited for them as well as us.  It is so hard when none of our friends have kids & don't seem to understand we just can't always go out!

Lance won the poker game that night..............WOO HOO!!

Saturday we just hung around the house & Lance got so much done around the house while B & I played; he even managed to get the baby gates up on the stairs.  We had been trying to get them up for some time now but none of the ones that we bought were working so he had to figure out a "creative" way to make our stairs safe & he did a great job!  Then we decided that after B's nap we would do his pool in the back yard for the 1st time.........he was so cute in his little swim outfit, huh???

 

 & he liked the pool but not right away!

Bella & Georgia had a fun time in their pool as well!!

Oh yeah, Saturday morning B tried eggs for the 1st time & I think that he is allergic; he had a rash on his back & chest a few hours after but it didn't really bother him & went away completely later that afternoon.

 Saturday night we just ordered Chinese & relaxed at home since we had family birthday lunch on Sunday for Glenn, Jason, Travis & Caleb.  I got up with Brayden Sunday morning we we ate breakfast while we let Lance sleep in a bit!  Brayden & I played & crawled & walked around the house until he passed out; I love when he gets sleepy & starts laying his head down on my lap!!

We got ready B woke up & we were off to JuJu & PaPa's house to visit before we were off to the restaurant to eat. Here's B in his big boy car seat.......he loves it!

We played around & then went to eat & then we were back & the house for cake & ice cream.........

Brayden LOVED the cake!!

Then it was home to rest & bed............Lance had to get a good nights sleep since he was starting a new job Monday (yesterday) & I had work (BOO)!

Holy Coach.........What A Giveaway!!! $300 Worth Brand New COACH Satchel Bag Contest

You have to go here; but if you don't I will be alright with that too because

I really want to win the COACH satchel myself!!

Check out what MomConversations.com is really having a giveaway for........

Main Sponsors:

College Grants for Women : Fun Family Vacations : Pontoon Boat Cover : Baby Shower Theme Idea

Level 1 Sponsors:

Beauty Tips and Tricks : Get Smart Blog : Practical Beauty Tips : Spices of Life : Review My Opinions : New Haircuts and Hairstyles : Fabulously Frugal : Weight Loss the Healthy Way

I  mean does a giveaway get any better for a Coach loving girl like myself??  I love this purse & don't you think that I would look wonderful carrying it??  The real truth is I just started a 90 Day Budget Boot Camp & this particular item would be something NOT in my the current budget I am working on so winning this pretty piece would be wonderful............

Come on ladies head over to MomConversation.com & join in to win...........
or don't & my odds are better :)

90-Day Budget Boot Camp

Beth & Clair have put together a challenge that I could not pass up!  Lance & I have been talking, fighting & discussing our budget for a while now & this seemed like the perfect thing to give our budgeting skills a much needed jump start!  We have a lot going on right now & all of these the things are affecting our bottom line budget on a day to day basis; I promise that I will blog about everything very soon but just can't right at this moment!

Lance & I do take our lunches most of the time during the week but when he has a night off we get lazy & order in or go out to dinner & it always disgusts me when the check comes!  We tend to really over spend on things that we don't really need on the weekends & I have to admit he & I both love to shop; whether it be for me, him, B, the house, the dogs..........we can find a way to always spend way to much money on the weekend days & I would really love to get a better handle on that.  I do our grocery shopping on Saturdays but need to get better at writing out our list because I seem to have to go to the store at least 2-3 times during the week.  I don't use coupons & I know that they help, I do a little comparison shopping but not like I should, over all I think that this is going to be a great way for Lance & I to both learn how to really save & budget!!

I am excited to get started on our budgeting & will keep you guys updated with how it is all going!

Brayden's Favorite Toys............

Wooden Spoon

Stereo Remote, Small Red Tupperware Top, Socks & the TV Remote
 (alone or in any group)

The picture qualitity really sucks on tis one BUT look at how happy he is!!!

Empty Pampers Box

Paper

& if we are lucky a toy we actually paid for as a toy not a household item or trash..........

gotta love it!!!

Wordless Wednesday.........

I don't feel well momma..........1st ear infection!!

Weekend Review & Lance's 1st Father's Day

We had such a great weekend & Father's Day yesterday!!  

Friday night was an early to bed night for me; for some reason I was exhausted! 

Saturday Brayden & I spend the whole day together (just he & I) & it was perfect.  We ran errands Saturday morning to get ready for our dinner guests that night as well as getting the last few odds & ends that we needed for Lance's 1st Father's Day plus I was trying to keep Brayden up & active so I can see how he does with only 1 long afternoon nap instead of a small morning & then a kind of long afternoon.  I think he did really well & am going to have to talk with his school about trying to slowly get rid of his AM nap all together.  While he napped I managed to get some stuff done around the house, bake a lasagna for a guy a work & prep the chicken for dinner that night; I made Chicken Kiev & I will have to admit it was pretty GREAT!!

Then came Sunday; Lance's 1st Father's Day with B..........the day was wonderful!!  Brayden sat in his highchair & played perfectly helped while I made Lance's favorite breakfast for him; scrambled eggs with cheese, biscuits, sausage gravy, & bacon; we don't have it that often since we are both trying to watch what we eat!  Lance really loved his breakfast in bed & after breakfast he opened his presents; Brayden made him a Shutterfly photo book (you can go here to check it out) & he also got him the "reasons I love dad stones". Lance loved both gifts but I think his favorite gift might have been this.........

They made it at school & not only is it the sweetest thing ever.......we were both in shock that they got such great foot prints since he curls his toes ALL THE TIME; anyway & the morning was perfect & I couldn't have ever asked for a better father for our son!!  After all the excitement Brayden wen down for a power nap & Lance I got ready since his parents were coming over to visit.  Brayden's JuJu & PaPa came over about 10 & we got to hang out & B got to show them how he likes to walk..............that's right, he is walking!!  He looks like a drunk sailor but he is getting better & better each day HOWEVER it is a very hard thing to catch with the camera & I haven't had time to download off of the camcorder yet!!  I have said it before & will say it yet again; he is changing & growing so fast & it is making his momma happy but sad too.

We just hung out for a while & then after B had lunch & went down for his afternoon nap Lance, his mom & I ran out for a few things while PaPa watched the monitor.  Later in the afternoon Lance's brother & his 2 kids come over so we could all head out to dinner.  Have you ever looked around after making a big deal out of something you child has done & everyone is staring??  That happened at the restaurant (Shogun)& honestly I couldn't have cared less; we were all clapping & cheer with Brayden through out the whole meal! 

Before we left the house we noticed Brayden really had a thing for his cousin Morgan & was pulling at his shirt to take it off & when we took it off he would grunt & tense his arms..........it was almost like he was flexing & it was too cute!!

We had such a good day with family I just wish I could have had my dad & family with us here with us too!!

My Pops & B's Puddy.........Happy Father's Day!!!

This is my dad; he has cake on his face because he thought it was funny that on my wedding day Lance smeared cake on my face so I smeared cake on his :)  I have the best dad in the world & love him very much; we grew up as navy "brats" so my dad was gone a good bit out to sea & looking back I understand why he was gone but when I was a kid I just didn't get it..........I wish I would have known then what I know now!

(I still don't know what he said to Lance that wonderful day)

My dad is an amazing dad but he is a GREAT Puddy to Brayden.............

the last time they were here to visit Brayden preferred him over all others (sorry Mom)!!

(Brayden was about 18 hours old here)

We all love & miss you very much Puddy & hope that you had a very Happy Father's Day!!!

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

On this day at around 5:30pm Brayden took his 1st step all by himself; it was only 1 step & I don't even know if he knows he did it but it was such perfect timing because Lance & I were both sitting on the floor with him when he did it (& Lance works alot so for him to see it was really special).  We are guessing that walking is right around the corner but I feel like he just started to pull up on EVERYTHING,

& then crawling (faster & faster everyday),

 & then standing up with out the use of anything,

not to mention climbing the stairs every chance he gets,

but now he is going to walk...........little man you've got to slow down, just a little because if you don't tomorrow I am going to blink & you are going to be graduating from high school!!

Swagbucks

All you have to do is use this to search the web & you earn points to get FREE stuff;

who doesn't like FREE stuff???

If you want to try it just click this link (it will help me out too): http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MitziG

Wordless Wednesday..........

Hubbs & the Boys Went Fishing..........Nuff Said!!