Yucky Bananas = Happy Lexi

Drunk with happiness----love the look in her eyes.

The pictures are in order---backwards. Lol. Whatever---you get the picture.

I love to make my aunts Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. Mmmmm. The bananas on the right actually weren't used---a little too brown for my taste....but the others were just perfect. Yummy---half the plate is gone! Email me if you want the recipe---its in the Hidden Springs "green" cookbook. Love it.

Safeway Promo!

I love promotions when I can find great coupon match ups! Wohoo!

I purchased:
3 - 12 packs of soda
2 - bags of chips
Promo $10 for all 5----and I have to say that I LOVE not having to pay CRV. I love AZ
Purchased them to sell cold sodas for .50 ea at garage sale next weekend---.33 profit each.
4 Mac & Cheese
5 Bertolli---which will last us a year cause we only eat spaghetti like once every 2 months.
4 Skippy (2 week supply---jk---but we have lots of pb &j here.
12ct eggs
4 Healthy Choice Frozen Meals
2 Breyers Icecream----yummy.
2 cheapy bread---for---One A Month Cooking: French Toast (my favorite!)
2.5 lbs bananas
3 lbs strawberries----freezer jam....I'm so excited!
2 4pk Yo+ yogurt---love those things

Did I get it all?

My total was
$50.81
-$10 promo discount coupon
-$2 promo discount coupon

So the cost is $38.81
Pretty good-----
BUT I'm so mad that I forgot to use my coupon for $5 off a $50 purchase AND $2.20 in coupons----ugh! So it should have only cost me like $29. Awww....mistakes mistakes. Whateva. Sad face. I saved 65% not bad----considering I purchased soda, chips, and strawberries---expensive not necessary items.

Note: Normally I wouldn't drive my butt all the way to Safeway---but I'll be in town more this weekend because of my sister's prom shopping! Yay! I get to be her mother this weekend and help her get all set for the prom while my mother is in Washington for my other sisters wedding reception#2. Thanks for hangin with me chels.

Lovin the deals

princessjulie

LDS General Conference Videos Available Online

This is the LINK for Conference this past Sunday.

I feel so blessed to know that I have an opportunity to listen to modern day prophets that have inspiration and guidance for ME. I love to listen for that still small voice inside of me - some call a conscience - I call the Holy Ghost - telling me ways I can improve in my life as I listen to the talks. I love to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon-through and through!) because it helps me to be more Christlike, a better Woman, Mother, and Friend. I'm grateful for the guidance it gives me in my life.

My goal the next 6 months until the next General Conference for the LDS Church is to listen to all the talks from this past conference at least twice before the next conference. And the ones I like the best---bookmark them and try to listen to them once a month to help me when I'm feeling the need for guidance.

I'm done giving you a peek of my churchy side----thanks for listening :D

PrincessJulie

On my lunch hour...$6

While the kids were napping today---my lunch hour...

I made a changing table pad cover and a fitted sheet for Lexi's crib! I wanted black and pink nursery decor but it just isn't easy to find and I was feeling a little Martha....so WHAM BAM! (haha---added for effect). SUPER easy By the Way.

You totally can't see ANY detail at all---that's why I decided a zoom pic on the changing table pad was pointless. Oh well. Still looks good right?

I googled some sites to help me make the items, bought cheap fabric for $2 a yard (w/coupon) and I already had the thread, elastic and sewing machine (MINT condition since I never use it). The way I wager it ----this project cost me less than $6. Wohooo! But If I wanted to make more colors to swap it out with (like a pink and black striped fabric that I saw and looooved) then it would cost me like $8-$10 depending on the fabric. Assuming 2 coupons---for the elastic and the fabric. Haha. I only really think in coupons.

It took me about 2 hours---Lexi joined me while making the changing table pad cover. Not a very good helper might I add and made my quick project into bonding time.

The room isn't finished---hence the lack of full room photos. Saving that for later :) Mostly the room is black and pink...I had some photos of the room in a previous post of the house but those are already "out of date". I guess that's what happens when your settling in.

Sites I used:

Make Your Own Baby Suff

Make Baby Suff.com

Easter in a Vase---according to Cari!

Click Here to see Cari's super cute post about this LOVELY Vase (yes----I said lovely). Super Cute! I want that Table Cloth!

Looks Like You Bought It!

Picture from The Polka-dot Apron!

Even you can make an Easter treat that looks like you bought it! Oh my goodness I love this! Like little eggs. awwww. Click HERE for the HOW TO. Thanks to Melissa for posting this on Polka-dot Apron

I just did the math---with the help of a few sources---and my fingers.

My family of 4 would need to have 30 containers of Salt (26 0z size) for a 6 month supply. Hmmm....I don't know if I use that much salt....I guess if I was making my own bread, baking beans, and making more stuff from my food storage----I dunno. OH---I got it....Playdoh takes up 1/2 cup of salt....there you go. I now have a 6 month supply to make Playdoh 4 times a week. Now that's what I call emergency preparedness.

Playdoh & Popsicle Party!

It was so cold----who knew in AZ?

My sister Chelsey and cousin Lauren were in charge of making sure everyone had a name tag---totally a Party Must Have---even when you think you'll know everyone---which I DON'T! Perfect for a get to know you party.

Helpful...Long Driveway. Helpful...Balloons from my mom's helium tank. Thanks for helping decorate Chels, Kacie, Courtney, Brenden, and Lauren.

We had 3 tables set up like this one with a cheap plastic table cloth from Walmart (1.75?) and playdoh brand toys from last summer clearance at CVS (less than $5 for 4 packs of toys). I also threw in a few kids spoons and empty apple sauce containers for more fun ways to play with the playdoh. I made my own playdoh just to try it out---I tried 3 different recipes and each color was a different recipe. Why? So I can ask my family and some of the adults which color seemed to be the best recipe. The winner...Red. Now if I could only remember which recipe that was. Just kidding.

We also had fruit and water for the mom's that wanted a healthy snack and Popsicles for those feeling adventurous in the windy chilly weather.

My sisters and brothers (welcome to the fam--almost--Brenden:)
From the left: Brenden & Courtney (awwwww), Stephan & his son Tate, & Kacie.

The party was totally a success----my goal was to have my kiddos have fun making a huge mess----and have friends over to get to know us better :D Yay! So fun, I totally want to do more parties soon. Some thoughts....Bike & Trike Party, Sidewalk Chalk & Chat (that ones a little funny sounding:), then for when it gets hot and we need to move indoors...

Little Ones Luncheon. (kids come and make their own food...pb&j, quesidillas, pizzadillas, cheese sandwich...?), OK my brain is running out of steam this early in the AM. That's all my ideas for now.

Do you have any ideas? What have you done for fun that you want to share?

April Fools Joke----and Craft...

So YOU'LL have to TILT your head for the rest of these photos---sorry.

My buddy Cari and I bought the same shower curtain---I love that we match!

I even love the air freshener---is one of those alternating scents---and it lights up 2 shades of green as is alternates----perfect.

This is my April Fools---totally silly----craft for my Kids' Bathroom/Guest Bathroom.

I used frames & a button I already had, felt & yarn from Michaels, and 2 canvases I not currently in use...long story. Shoot the lighting is bad---you can't really see the detail. Oh well, come visit and maybe they'll still be up...?

Ok----so my crazy husband was on the phone with his work buddies calling other employees (the owner of the company---and the president----gees they're crazy) playing jokes on them. I was listening cause it was on speaker and I have to tell you that I haven't Belly Laughed like that in a LONG TIME! It was so funny to hear the reactions of these key players in the company. Oh goodness----I don't know if Heath could ever top this one.

We're really silly around here.

Jacob and I were playing Hungry Hungry Hippo tonight (a game from my fabulous friend Jennifer K) and Jacob LOVED it. Lexi had her own hippo too and she did great---what child wouldn't preform amazingly if asked to hit something? Fun times over here at the Avery House. Great way to start April...never mind that I didn't go outdoors even once today. Ugh. I washed AND FOLDED, and HUNG 7 loads of laundry...including cleaning the sheets on the master bed and guest bed. Sweet. Super mom today/maid. Deeep sigh. This place is a lot of work. Also, we have a playdate over here tomorrow am. yay. I love playdates. Which reminds me...I need to post pics of the Playdoh and Popsicle Party. Tomorrow.

pj

All Taylor All the Time!

My sister Chelsey and I are going to the Taylor Swift Concert May 21st! Yay! I'm not typically a country girl----but secretly we all are! She's such a cutie and her music is fun! Thanks to Chelsey I now have the CD in my car to help me learn the music so I'm ready to rock out at the concert. Thanks for the invite Chelsey :D