Aren't These So Cute!

My friend Sarah is hosting a party to make these! I totally plan on going! Click HERE to check out her post about her Fall Craft Night. She lives in Riverside I think and I believe if you order from her she can also mail it to you. Love these crafts! The craft night is Nov 4th so hurry!

Yummy Cookies --- No Butter Required...

I needed to make cookies for some families that my husband will be visiting and I forgot to buy Butter!!! My friend Jen and I were brainstorming (she's so sweet---she offered to pick up butter for me :) but I decided to make Crinkle Cookies. Mmmmm. You only need 4 ingredients and NO butter! (I uploaded my picture to recipezaar.com and its awaiting approval - how exciting :D)

The author of the recipe wrote:

Fudge Crinkles

(A Great 4 Ingredient Cake Mix Cookie)
Recipe #32614 15 min 5 min prep

These are chewy, fudgy, SUPER EASY cookies that you can probably make right now! I have watched these disappear time and again and everyone is always asking for the recipe. It is almost embarrassing to give it out, it is that easy Enjoy! (12/14/06: I wanted to add that Betty Crocker has updated this recipe by adding 1 tsp. vanilla extract, but I don't want to change the original recipe.) *12/22/07: Please see my tips at the end of the recipe!
30 -48 cookies

Ingredients
1 (18 1/4 ounce) box devil's food cake mix (Betty Crocker Super Moist suggested)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs

confectioners' sugar

Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350°.
2 Stir (by hand) dry cake mix, oil and eggs in a large bowl until dough forms.
3 Dust hands with confectioners' sugar and shape dough into 1" balls.
4 Roll balls in confectioners' sugar and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
5 Bake for 8-10 minutes or until center is JUST SET.
6 Remove from pans after a minute or so and cool on wire racks.

To keep them nice and thick and to get the most "crinkled" or "crackled" look is to make them bigger. When I roll them at about 1.5 inches they look prettier.
Note from the writer of the recipe: The confectioners' sugar was consistently being absorbed by the dough. The last time I baked them, I rolled them into balls without rolling in the sugar and let them "dry" for a few minutes. Then I rolled them in sugar and baked. These came out with a nice coating of sugar that didn't disappear.

***

To make mine a little more festive I'll probably put them in a Halloween sac and add Halloween M&M's to the bag. (M&M's & sac free from Walgreens, cake mix .50 from Staters, oil & egg?---cheap but thoughtful gift right?)

Thankful Thursday

This is my ongoing post dedicated to Blogging My Blessings! My goal for this post is to help me focus on the GREAT things in my life. The things I love and the love I have to give. Not all my posts will be mushy...

4. Yummy smelling home. I love my Lysol Freshmatic! I love it and I have it right next to my front door. I think its the goal of every housewife to have her home smelling fantastic. I know that the smell of a home isn't always the first thing that you notice when you come to a home----but a yucky smell is definitely high on the list. I've made it a goal of mine to have a clean smelling home but its always so hard with 2 kids in diapers and a really small home to have it smelling great all the time...my Lysol totally helps! Love you Lysol!

5. Church Family. Last night we had our annual Trunk-or-Treat. There was a chili dinner, costume march, booths with games, and the trunk-or-treating. There were tons of people there! It was great to have such a fun gathering with people that I see and worship with on Sunday and other friends visiting too! I'm so thankful to have a religion that I love and people to share that love with. My beliefs bring me purpose in life and help me to focus on my eternal goals. Having a goal and working daily to achieve it helps me so much to prevent the mundane day-to-day troubles from bring me down.

6. Bean Bags. I just love bean bags. I think they have tons of uses and every use I can think of is FUN! I love to make them and it requires sewing----so I feel sorta domestic. : D Here's an idea I was thinking about doing to help Jacob learn to count. Make 20 beanbags each with a number on them (see picture below). He can practice throwing them in a bucket while we say each number. In the future we can practice addition and subtraction this way too. I have a feeling (cause my boy is sooooo crazy active) that he'll need lots of hands on learning. This bean bag set below is for sale on THIS website. Its 22.97 - yikes. I think with Joann's coupons I could probably make if for less than $10. I'll keep you updated. Oooo-----this would be a good Super Saturday craft. hmmmm.

Click HERE to view previous Thankful Thursday posts.

Daddy "Helping"

Sorry the picture is fuzzy - currently all i have is my cell phone camera. ugh.

So Lexi was crawling around on Sunday after church and I was thinking to myself...I really should change her out of her church clothes so its easier for her to crawl around.

I look up a few minutes later and Heath had tucked Lexi's dress over her collar so she could crawl better. What a man thing to do! She was just looking at me like, Mom can you fix this please?!

We're Moving!

Its official

We're moving to Arizona!

Heath will be starting a new pest control company along with the the owner of Moxie, Dave in Phoenix AZ next summer. (Dave with be the $ and Heath will the the operations) Yea! We're due to report to the new location around the beginning of February. These next few months Heath will be wrapping up things here in SoCal & preparing for the new office. Since, our lease here in Corona is up end of November...instead of going month to month ($1650.00 yikes) we'll be moving to Heath's parents in Morongo Valley (20 minutes north of Palm Springs) for about 2 months. Heath will probably spend most of his days in San Diego preparing with the operators for the other 2 branches opening up next summer too. We're so excited for this new adventure! I'm a little concerned about the weather - - - but I visit my mom there several times a year - - - and i really think that the climate isn't that bad. In the fall and spring the weather is absolutely beautiful. And the housing, affordable! Crazy.

There's a lot of work to be done these next 3 weeks preparing for the move (kill me). Our POD for storage will be arriving probably the 14th of Nov and we have 5 days to load it before Heath will be too busy with work stuff to do anymore moving. We plan on being out of our apt. before Thanksgiving (at my moms:). That's only 4.5 weeks. wow.

I'm trying not to think about how sad I am about leaving all my ties in SoCal...our callings, my friends, Jacob's little buddies, family, beautiful weather---DISNEYLAND! But this move is really for the best. On the upside - I really do have lots of family and Heath's parents here in SoCal so I'm hoping to visit often.

Wish me luck these next few weeks packing with my 2 little rascals! I've already packed 32 boxes. Yup---I've counted every one. Why? Cause I'm crazy. I keep telling myself that this will be the most organized move I've ever had. But----how on earth do you pack up everything you have BUT put aside the stuff you'll need for 2 months (maybe more) living at someone else's house? Goodness. At least I don't need cleaning stuff or kitchen supplies. That's a plus right? Do I bring lots of toys or just a couple cause Christmas is coming? Do I bring my scrapbook stuff cause I WILL be bored all day? Should I bring a couple Christmas decorations so I'm not too sad about not having Christmas at my own place? I feel so unorganized. I need boxes. Anyone have boxes?

Tripped at Walgreens! Using $5/20 coupon

I broke my stinkin Camera today while I was taking my Walgreen's picture! I'm so angry. Its 3 years old---time to retire anyway----but if it works!!!!??? I dropped my camera then tripped on my Walgreen's stuff and stepped on my camera. Can you freakin believe that?!! The viewing screen is broken. I thought maybe it would still take pictures...but no - the flash goes off - it clicks - but the memory card shows NO picture. Ugh. Halloween is NEXT week! I want to take a million pictures....what am I supposed to do? Buy a throw away? There's NO way I'm buying a new camera with Black Friday sales just around the corner! Arg!

But I did great at Walgreen's! Sorry - no fun without the picture! I had a couple Need Items which totally isn't my favorite thing. Here's the list of items I "purchased" and my total was a MONEY MAKER!

1 - Loreal Wrinkle Concentrate
1 – Loreal Anti-Age ProCalcium
2 - Loreal Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
2 - Neutra Air Freshmatic Kits
2 - Almay Mascara
1 - Gillette Fusion Power Razor
3 - St. Ives Cleansers
2 - Large Bags M&M’s
2 - 4ct. AAA battery packs
Fillers/Splurges: 2 toy cars, 2 kids plates,

Halloween book, h.coloring book, eyebrow pencil

Total : 8.70 Profit! (+ a couple bucks -10%- for doing rebates)

It would have been more but I accidentally purchased 2 rebate items (limit 1) in the same transaction. Ooop. Oh well. The item was already an amazing deal of .99 ea.

Sweet. I now have $30 Register Rewards and more than I care to admit (or calculate) in Walgreen's Gift Cards $. Lovin this Walgreen's stuff.

Looks like I'm purchasing a little camera with my Walgreen's money. deeeeeep sigh.

Thankful Thursday

This is my first of many posts to say all the things I'm thankful for and that I love! I think I'm also tagging some of my buddies~not my original intention for this post~ but why not. (Cari, Jen---that means you do it too!)

1. Jacob's interest in Trains. I love that he has something he loves. I love to watch him make designs with his train tracks (geo trax) and watch the tracks morph (is that a real word?) into something different throughout the day as they slink from his bedroom, to the living room, then under the table, and in front of the T.V. His interest started when his Great Grandma Avery gave him a Thomas the Train blanket for his 1st birthday. He sleeps with that stinkin blanket every night.

2. I love blogging. I love to have an online journal for my thoughts. I like to think that someone is interested in something I have to say. Lets just face it - Nobody reads every word that I type (except for MAYBE my mom) but I love to have an outlet. This has kept me sane and kept me in touch with friends. ALSO, this Blog World gives me great ideas for how to save money!

3. My Heath. Last week we celebrated 4 years of married bliss. lol---That's so cheesy and I love it! Love you Heath! (dang, I wish I had a pet name for Heath...it sounds so impersonal when I type 'my heath') His card for our anniv. of course ended with, "You love me. -your pj" (princess julie;)

Ranting.

I don't have the strength today (that didn't stop me from taking Jacob to play on the toys and me going to play at Walgreens)....goodness. I feel so worn out. I think I'm getting sick and I NEVER get sick. I usually start feeling a little cruddy then it goes away. love Airborne and it totally works for me----its that time again. I don't have the time to be sick right now. I'm currently working on an order for Ribbons (my job aside from mommyhood), I'm trying to pack ----we start moving in 4 weeks----ugh, and the laundry I HATE IT.

Noteworthy: I just read an email from a woman named Leslie that was shopping at my neighborhood Vons and she was robbed in the parking lot! I go to that store all the time at night. My mom hates that I do it...but it feels like the only time I can shop. I guess I'll be trying to change that. My friend Cari and I try to go together if we need to go at night but the deals at the grocery store have been so crappy that I never really want to go and ~make a trip of it~.

Be Careful at the grocery store!!!

Put your purse and your kids in the car first! I usually have my kids right next to me and my diaper bag in my hands or attached to my stroller or cart. I'm just not careful enough---someday that could be me. And this woman Leslie was totally robbed by a 20 something year old GIRL!!! I just would never suspect. Be so so so careful out there ladies. Its 2008 - you never know!

Dessert Anyone?

Warm Caramel Apple Cake

HERE is the recipe. Doesn't it look yummy!?

I get emails from Betty Crocker and here's the latest yummy they sent me.

Jacob & Lexi

Thanks Cari!

My buddy Cari took pictures of my kiddos today. So cute.

All becuase I needed diapers...

Here's the goods from my shopping adventures today! I went to CVS and Walgreen's. I usually shop with both my kids and my double stroller - today was a big trip and I'm sure I looked totally ridiculous---but look at my great deals!

List of items:

3 Huggies Supreme

1 Pull-ups

2 Baby Wipes

3 Johnson's Baby Wash

10 Almay Face Wash Bars

3 Theraflu

2 Gillette Fusion Razor

2 AlkaSelzer

14 Excedrin

8 Halloween Lunch Bags

1 Pumpkin Placemat

4 Candy Corn Bags

4 Glow Lights (one not in picture)

2 Powerade

1 Small Bag Doritos (not in picture)

4 Pumpkins

Total Cost: $24.33

That looks like a lot of money. But think about it...

3 packs of diapers on sale for 9.99ea + pull-ups 9.99 = $39.96

The retail value (using the sale prices NOT regular price) is about $140 maybe a little more. If this stuff wasn't on sale----then it would be way more.

At Walgreen's I met a really nice cashier that I now totally love! Her name is Tabitha. Its always refreshing to have a nice and patient cashier that is OK when you save a TON of money and give a TON of coupons. She works in the beauty department so that's a perk too. I hope she's working every time I go :) I gave her my blog address so she can start saving too....I hope she starts coupon sopping, Its been such a blessing in my life and I'd love to share that with others.

Garage Sale update

I made $142.00

Sweet. The g.sale was at my sister-in-law Tenille's parent's house which was about 25 min. from my house. I piled what I could in my Camry on Friday night and on Sat morning me and my kiddos left at 5:30am. They were such troopers. Tenille and my brother Stephan were so helpful and I love Tenille's family! This was totally a learning experience for me and I'm so grateful for their help and lending me some space at their g.sale.

If I did my math correctly. $65 of it was from the cosmetics I got for FREE or super cheap from Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. I'm so super duper excited. A lot of the item also were money makers for me in the first place. (you know, overage - wow this coupon lingo must be irritating to read----i should put one of those 'definition of terms' boxes on my sidebar. I should have taken a picture of the sale items. Shoot. Why is hindsight always 20/20? Next time I'll take a pic and I'll keep a better log of what the hot items were and what doesn't really sell. I was surprised about the toothpaste. I sold 8 tubes of toothpaste and 8 toothbrushes for $1 each - PURE PROFIT! I wonder if cleaning supplies sell too? Hmmm. I have such a huge stockpile of cleaning supplies (well probably not huge for a coupon shopper, but definitely huge for a normal person. lol. yep, laughing at my own joke.

Cute FREE Clipart Downloads at DJInkers.com

I love this site. Every once in a while I check to see if they have any new downloads available. There's 2 Halloween downloads (i think one is from last year...but if you don't already have it...)

Here's just a peek - I'm sure copyright laws would prevent me from putting the images directly on my blog.

Download it straight from the website HERE

I love this website and I've purchased clipart that you can download straight to your computer. Remember the old days when you had to buy a CD?! Crazy.

TRIPPED at Walgreens & Walmart

Not in picture: 1 plastic pumpkin

Here's the scoop from my adventures with my family tonight. We had a little family date which included Pizza and shopping. Not much fun - I know. But I got some great deals!

$14.91 oop

$9.99 rebates

Total Cost: $4.92

I used to think that my diaper and wipes stockpile would never be gone and this week I'm down to my last pack. My kids are both wearing size 5 this week---oops. lol. (Jacob still isn't potty trained - hate it) Next week CVS is having a good sale. I might hit them up then. But I did good tonight, huh?!

Heath's Art

Cornel West

Here's Heath's latest pic for the TShirt Company he's working for. This drawing took FOREVER! You can't really see all the detail in the drawing but its amazing...the hair has little swirls in it and the teeth are buildings. While he was sketching the facial hair it looks like he was using a toothpick. He has so much patience. I have no idea who this guy is or what means...but it looks cool. I'm so proud of my heath.

Click HERE for Cornel West's official website to see a pic of him.

Pictures of My Princess

Glowing Girl!

After bathtime fun : D

Sparkling Clean

Lexi's MySpace shot

Silly Hair

Sitting by the Toys...

Trying to stand up...

Standing by the Toys!!!

Tripped at Walgreens!

Last night was girls night out! Jennifer, Cari, & I went on a late night trip to our favorite Walgreen's. We really needed some girl time and Retail Therapy totally did the trick for me!

Here's the scoop for my 3 transactions:

2 toothpastes

1 toothbrush

3 energy things (for Cari)

1 Rimmel Foundation

1 Loreal Revitalift Cleanser

2 Reese's (i couldn't resist-I love those things :)

Total Coupons: $16.75 (including my stores $3/10 coupon)

Total oop: $17.49 (on Walgreen's gift card)

Total Rebates: $26.45 + $2.64 (10% for using a rebate card)

Profit of $8.96

I feel like I just got a part time job at Walgreen's. I shopped for 30 minutes *with my buddies* and got paid for it!

Anniversary Dinner

Heath and I made dinner together tonight. I made the potatoes and zucchini. He made the amazing ribeye steak and mushrooms. Much much better than the Mexican restaurant we had last night for our "Anniversary Dinner". Ahhhh----Heath my live in Chef. Thanks for dinner.

4 Years!

Today is our anniversary : D 4 years!

We met at a church even in Moreno Valley, CA and I was hooked ever since. I was 18 and Heath was 24. We were sitting in a class and I turned to my friend and said, "Who's that guy?" She didn't know and I said, "He's going to be mine!" She laughed and said he looks old. Lol. At the time in my 18 yr old mind I meant he'll be my boyfriend, I didn't mean forever! From that day on I was stalking him to no end! Just kidding. And the rest is history...
While dating we loved to hang out with our friends going to parties (good ones:), bowling on Tuesdays, hanging out with a million people at Heath's place, or going to the beach. We married a year after we met at the Redlands, CA LDS temple. As newlyweds we lived in Hemet, CA while Heath worked as a pest control mgr. based in Palm Springs and I worked as a store mgr for Hot Dog on a Stick in Temecula. When Jacob was born Heath was already working at a new company in Corona, CA and I was a stay at home mom and loving it! We got a little sick of the drive from Hemet to Corona so we moved to Corona :) While in Corona I was offered a position at Moxie Pest Control that I couldn't refuse and started working there as office mgr. for about 18 months with Heath & the owner Dave as my bosses! Yikes! When my princess Lexi was born I started the stay at home mommyhood again. I love it! Currently we're preparing to move from Corona when our lease is up Nov.30

More details on that coming up soon----hopefully next week!

In November Jacob will be 3 years & Lexi 9 months. Wow. It seems like yesterday.

Do you Monopoly at McDonald's?

My kiddos aren't very photogenic. But some pics are better than none, right?

Jacob and Janeen Dusty Shumway

Jacob doing what he does best. Drinking Juice!

Lexi & Cari

I've never done the monopoly thing before. I just collect the Instant Win stuff an usually use it right then. I dunno. And because of the up and down weather I find myself and Donald's -as jacob calls it- more lately Playin the Game! Today's trip was fun cause my visiting teacher met me there along with my other friends and their kids. Here's a couple pictures. My camera died on me - not a surprise.

Tripped at Walgreens!

This trip was totally last minute last night - I needed to run an errand to pick up a flier for my FHE packet exchange this Thursday (So EXCITED!!!!---I'll post more about that later) and Walgreens totally pulled me in!! But I forgot my Walgreens gift card so this was all in cash. sad face.

Tr#1

Loreal Cleanser $6.99 - $2 manuf./walgreens coupon

Aquafresh $3.99 - FREE coupon from the mail

-$3/10

Total oop: 2.61

Total in Rebates: 6.99

Profit: $4.38

Tr#2

Rimmel Foundation 7.49 - $1 manuf. coupon (I forgot to use the stinkin coupon!)

Crest Toothpaste $1.99 - $1 manuf. coupon & $1 store coupon

Oral B Toothbrush $1.99 - $.75 manuf. coupon & $1 store coupon

- $3/10

Total oop: 5.38

Total Rebates comin my way: 7.49

Profit: 2.11

Sweet.

I'm gunna try to sell the toothpaste and other stuff at the garage sale I'm going to this weekend. More about that later. How much should I sell it for? $1? hmmmm. I need to check out other blogs to see if anyone else has done garage sales from free stuff. I know Coupon Crazy has a post about her g.sale.

Jacob now loves...

Tortilla Chips dipped in Ketchup.
Oh my goodness.
I just don't know what else to say.

My kiddos

So peaceful...


Last night Jacob fell asleep watching Thomas the Train. Lexi fell asleep on the floor next to him but woke up as soon as I got the camera out. She closed her eyes cause it was just too bright for her every time I took a pic. :) lol. cutie.

Computer Ink and ALL this...

All this and a bouncer!
I had an eventful trip today at Walmart. My kids were perfect in the store...but then I had to go back and get the bag I left AFTER I went all the way home...(its totally the cashier's fault. I even asked her if I had all the bags and she said yes - ugh - that's another long story). When I went back Jacob was really mad that we were going to Walmart again. He kept asking me, "Mom!! Donald's or ChickFilA mom? Donald's or ChickFilA?" He kept saying it like he was giving ME the choice. We weren't going anywhere but home. lol. He's happy at the moment. He's eating "butter and jelly sandwich" (pb&j) while he watches his new Thomas the Train Halloween DVD from his Grandpa Avery. (Thanks :) My boy loves trains! He's only had it for like 18 hours and he's already seen it a zillion times.

7 FrizzEase Mousse (t.size)
8 Dove Shampoo&Conditioner (t.size)
7 Jergen's Lotion (t.size)
8 Dove Hairspray (t.size)
1 Gillette Shave Gel (t.size)
1 Gillette Body Wash (8.4oz)
7 Kotex (donation)

The best part:

Apple juice (1.97) - I really need an apple juice sale...this price is killing me!
Bread (.88)
Febreeze Noticables (5.97)
COLOR PRINTER INK (21.97)

Bouncer (1.50) One of the poles is bent, totally fixable! Great deal!

And my total including tax was only $15.38
Crazy huh?! Its like I got everything for Free and the ink for only $15.38!!!

I used $57.50 worth of coupons (41). Yikes. I warned the cashier and she was totally cool about it. I purposely take my kids cause I think they have more sympathy for me. Oh - this poor lady must have to use coupons cause of the economy. AS I PAY FROM MY $324 purse - just kidding! Wish I had a cute purse. I'm still in the diaper bag only phase of my mommyhood.

What am I going to do with all this Travel Size stuff? First of all - if my fam ever needs anything my sisters can shop for FREE at my place :) Also, I think I'm gunna try to sell them for like .25ea or like 5/$1 at a garage sale or something. I dunno. Think they'll sell? It would be pure profit. Love it.