Lazy days of Summer

I've been a little lazy about posting lately, just been busy being Mommy, so I though I'd update. Yesterday was my birthday and I got an extra surprise - I got a job!! Not too sure how excited I really am about returning to the workforce, but I'm sure it'll be a good thing. Although, I now know why some people would prefer to stay home and raise the kids, instead of work. Almost half of my paycheck will go to childcare and gas. It almost feels like working for minimum wage. Not that I'm complaining, I'm grateful to have gotten the job, but for some people, it makes returning to work and having someone else raise your kids an easy choice to make or not make. My daughter is thrilled about returning to daycare, which makes the process less guilt inducing. She is always happy when she has the opportunity to play with other kids. Now, if I can just manage to be disciplined enough to put every paycheck toward a bill.

Local 504

artShort post today. Check out my brothers website: http://www.thelocal504.com/
He's making a movie in New Orleans for a local film festival. Donate money or buy a shirt. Support the arts!!

I wanna be trendy and cool too!!

So much has been on TV and in the media about being "green" and "eco-friendly" as if it's some sort of new trend like boy bands or hunter green carpet. While I'm glad to see that people are becoming conscious of their impact on the world, I can see where peoples good intentions are causing more harm than good. I see people on TV removing insulation, just to replace with spray in foam or recycled denim, pulling perfectly good carpet, just to replace with non-formaldehyde or recycled carpet. I thought the point is to not create more waste. I've been living a frugal lifestyle in an attempt to simplify my life and to contribute in my own way to our one income family and have found that the frugal lifestyle lends itself well to sustainable, green living. Using a ceiling fan to help cool the house, buying from local farmers, going to Goodwill or a thrift store instead of the mall, and composting are all part of the frugal lifestyle and are also "eco-friendly" ways to be. The best part of all - saving money in the process. It saddens me to see this movement being commercialized and turned into some trend. So, instead of going out and trading in your 2 year old car for a Prius or going to the mall to buy clothes made of organic cotton from Macy's, try to be honest about being green and looking at ways that you can contribute without adding to waste and the capitalization of being "green"

Coupon clipping

In an attempt to actual use the coupons I go through the trouble of clipping, I decided to make a coupon organizer to keep them in. I did a lot of searching and reading and found that everyone was recommending making a book using photo pages and baseball card pages. This would be a full size book, maybe in a Trapperkeeper or something like that, that would have places for the coupons and pockets for keeping actual store fliers, etc. Well, I got it together maybe 2 or 3weeks ago and so far it hasn't moved from my livingroom. I take that back, I did take it to a friends house for her to look at. I think that I've decided that people who would go through the trouble of putting one of these together are just people who are coupon crazy anyway or organizing freaks (something I wish I was).

5 Things to be thankful for

I feel like I've been a little negative lately, so I figured I'd make a list of things to be greatful/thankful for:
1. 2 happy, healthy children and a wonderful husband that I love and adore.
2. A mother that I enjoy spending time with.
3. A home we can afford and are in no danger of losing.
4. Friends that I can honestly call true friends.
5. Access to free therapy, i.e. the internet.

Is there anything else more important??

Good Goodies

I had a wonderful lady today give me a pile of fabric. So, of course, I had to get creative.

Lil' Diva in the dress I made her




Check out the baby Camo Booties that I made

Garden, end of July

I had planted a new garden for Mother's day which seems to have taken forever to take off. You can see pics in a previous post.
Well, here are some new pics, enjoy.



Excuse the mess in the garden.