the B...word.

Confession: This may come as a shock, really (not really); but I am not the most budget minded individual. It is almost like a dirty word....the b. word. It's just not a natural inclination. All those numbers just swirl around in my head like crossword puzzle tiles waiting to be put into some rational order. It probably has more to do with time management and laziness rather than mental ability, but I am just going to blame it on mental confusion for now.

Part of the problem with our budget is the GROCERY budget. (please tell me this is so for you too?) Trying to feed healthy meals to my family with many different dietary needs is a challenging task. Especially when you could easily go broke doing so. I am learning though. It is all about planning! For this non-planner, that is a struggle. I would rather "feel" what I want to eat and go from there, rather than plan out a menu a week in advance. (Blech.) I should live somewhere that I can stop at the market everyday and buy fresh food for dinner and that's that..(in a perfect world.)

So, my point is this:

I have found a few noteworthy blogs that help me figure this out. Finding quality food products at a discount AND buying things you feel good about feeding your family (even with coupons occasionally.) There are a slew of blogs out there on this topic btw. Too many.

On a side note; the whole coupon thing really perplexes me. Doubles, triples, daily doubles, foibles, wha...? I just don't get it. Not to mention most of the coupons out I see are for crap food; food I wouldn't buy anyway. But with a little hard work, patience and dare I say, planning, I can actually find coupons for food I will buy. Imagine that. If you know of any other ways to help me on this quest, please share. I am all ears.

Here are a few blog links that I have found to be of interest.

Organic Deals

Budget Mommy

This is just something I keep thinking about to help me keep the b. word alive and well in our home. (And my marriage happy too.)

(I also might just have to rename my blog... "Random Things I Think About But Really Won't be All That Helpful to You, Dear Reader.")

coolest of the cool

Dear Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Birthday Genie and (any other unnamed magical holiday super-being that I may have forgotten),

I would really like to redo some parts of my house and here are a few things I might like to see in it. Do you think you might be able to magically transform my old things...I'd be forever grateful. I'd put in a good word for you. (Pretty) please?

Thank you for taking the time to indulge my fantasies. I could give up something...maybe swearing? Or chocolate?

*sigh*

xo, heather

my band days

One day, when I grow up (or when I can travel through time and go back to more youthful ones)... I want to be in this band.

Please watch, enjoy and try to imagine me in a white robe. Maybe I can play my triangle. Or my tambourine. I had both of those in college. I used to dream of fronting my own band, with a few friends. "My Bloody Shoe" (so creative I know) was born as I kicked a broken bottle stumbling my way out of the 4oWatt in Athens, GA circa 1995. We had a great gig going there for awhile. (okay, so it was only in our minds) At the time, we were hoping for a Luscious Jackson meets Mazzy Star sort of vibe.

So, here's to you..my (once) dreams of being in a cool band.

Terrific Twos

So, I am a bit behind in blog world....updating life events and all.

Little a. turned 2 and had a fun 'dog party' in the spirit of Go, Dog. Go!.... He loves reading this book and getting to the end and yelling "A DOG PAWW-DEEEE...." so, we figured it was a great theme to celebrate him turning TWO!

I have decided that 2 is a great age. Everything is still such a great adventure. New words and sentences are still exciting and new each day and everything is just so darn cute. It was this way with l.j. as well. Things didn't become "difficult" in the "terrible two" way until he turned 3. ("trying 3's?") So, it seems with little a. as well. It's the "terrific twos" if you ask me....

I tried my hand at sculpting a cake...

I made this cake dairy-free, soy-free, and peanut-free for little a. It turned out pretty good, I have to say. But since this family just doesn't eat cake, most of it went to the birds. sad. so sad.

I also made an allergy friendly brownie cake....

We had some colorful goodie bag handbells and handmade lollipops...

Chicken salad "dog bone" sandwiches, with cut-out paw prints....

Also on the menu, hot DOGS, spud-PUPPIES, and a variety of homemade dips and chips (of course...) All in all, a "howling" good time!! (sorry, I just can't help it....)

Check out the smile on little a's face in this happy birthday video.....

Happy Birthday to the sweetest little happy dude I know! Love you to the ends of the earth...(of which there are none, don't ya know...)

When it's raining....

It was rainy, dreary, and sloppy outside...and one kid in particular could use some good old fashioned down-time. So, we took a "mental health day" today; me and the kids. This is what we came up with....

picnics in our fort with popcorn and movies....

hey, it's kinda tight in here....

watching....

and....

3 hours in a fort when you are 35...whoah! Rough on the bones...

A little bit of love to share

Just a little cuteness to start your day.

This is the coolest dog toy I have ever seen. If Tyler were still here, he'd be all over it; giving us laughs to boot. If you have a dog......I think he might just need this.

jack johnson

Just a funny note:

I was listening to this song (playing on the ipod to the right) with little a. on my lap running Thomas up and down my arms and across my hands while catching up on emails, blogs, and general morning stuff when he pipes in (with perfect timing)...

"I WANT TO..." (you may need to listen to that point to fully appreciate. Or not. Maybe you had to be there.)

I guess Jack Johnson speaks....

(and as I write, my little comedian says: "Yay! Woohoo! If you want to..."