Getting ready to go out for steak with our Missouri friends.
Gorgeous Baby Blues

Hanging out in her "Pliglet" outfit.

Such a pretty girl!

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Couldn't resist! This was on our way up to Montana. Little Bit was enjoying a little bit of peanut butter bread. She really enjoys it if you couldn't tell.

The Case of the Bread Thief

It's been brought to my attention that not everyone that looks at this blog is on Facebook. I did put new pictures on there and neglected to put any on here! For that, I am so very sorry. I will do my best to keep both updated. :)

This first photo was submitted to evidence the other day. We knew there was someone stealing bits of bread we just didn't know who.

Then this was taken shortly after the first photo. A bit more conclusive evidence. And then.....

BUSTED! Caught with the bread in her chompers! Looking at Auntie almost as if to say, "Why'd you have to say anything?!"

Pantry Challenge

In my quest to save money I have realized many things we can do differently to save tons of money. One of the very things that can help many save money would be taking the Eating from the Pantry Challenge. The whole idea is to use as much as you can from your pantry without going to the grocery store.

Our example: My mom and I cleaned out her pantry and organized it. There are several things in there that could be used and so much money that can be saved. Mom normally goes into town on Thursdays and gets groceries. We are going to avoid that for at least a week. Saving (at least) $100 or more simply by making our menu out of what we already have. I must admit, I didn't come up with this on my own; I got it from this blog. We might have to get pretty creative toward the end of this challenge, but that exactly why it's called a challenge!

Are you looking into saving money? This is a great place to start. The first step is to leave a comment letting me know if you'll be embarking on this challenge with us. Best of luck to you!

Not Me! Monday

So often we get caught up in trying to make things look better than they are, make it look like we don't make mistakes. Admitting that we fall short of those unattainable goals has a therapeutic effect. MckMama created a place to "get together" and to see how others don't have it all together like we think they do!

This week there is no way you saw me drive to get fried chicken strips after church at 8pm. Nope, not me! I always go straight from church to my house to put my child to bed. Remember the Mother of the Year award?!

I did not clean out my husband's old truck in front of the house today in hopes that it would make it more appealing to a thief. That would be terrible! I hate that truck with passion love that truck just as much as my husband loves it. I did not find so many random things in the bed of that old truck. (a wide array of items from an axe to a life jacket) We don't live like rednecks. We don't even own a rusted truck older than myself. Nope, not us!

I went to R.ite Aid today to get a couple of deals. One being: buy 10 S.oy Joy bars for $5 with a $5 rebate, making them free + 2 buy one get one free coupons=$1 profit! I went back and told her that she had only charged me for 9 bars. I totally did that because I'm a God-fearing woman and DO NOT believe in stealing. It definitely was not because I knew I would then not qualify for the $5 rebate if they see that I only purchased 9 bars! Nope, not me!

I had to make an appointment with the "bug guy" for today. We have a serious lady bug problem. Who knew that they were protected? Then, I asked him if you only have 1 of a nasty roach certain small bug if that could be it, or if there could be more. I was not able to show him that certain small bug on my stairs that I had killed a couple of days before. No way! It was really hard to describe what it looked like because I had thrown it in the trash immediately upon kill. YUCK! Man, no wonder my child has a high protein intake! It will be me vacuuming tomorrow, I'll tell ya that much.

What perfect accomplishments do you have for this week? Do share!

That recipe makes how many cookies??

I am making cookies for my hubby. His birthday is in a few days, so I thought I could make him a treat. Only problem, I'm trying to practice self-control especially in my eating habits. My child stopped n.ursing 3+ months ago and I'm still eating like she hasn't! As I was mixing up the cookies I told myself that I can't even have a taste. (Ya give a mouse a cookie....) I was proud of not even licking the beaters/spoon/bowl. I didn't even lick my fingers with humongous teeny amounts of dough that happen to get on them while mixing/spooning out the cookies. I will be putting a few in the freezer to enjoy on Sunday(my "free" day.) What shocks me: this recipe that I have made many, many times makes a whopping 54 cookies! Who knew?!

Not Me! Monday

I bought a whole chicken last week. This will be the first time I've ever cooked a whole chicken. It was not me that almost gagged when pulling all of the "innards" out. That must have been my daughter, I don't have a weak stomach when it comes to.... anything!

I got the chicken all ready and realized I only had a tiny amount of margarita mix in which I was going to cook the chicken. I thought I would run into the g.rocery store quickly after meeting some friends for coffee. I did not decide to take my child into the grocery store with wet clothes...that never happens to us. And if it did I would never take her anywhere in that state! I change her diaper very frequently and we never get to the point that pee would be on my jacket and pants just from carrying her. Never, not me!

I've started with baby steps to get back into shape. I'm starting with Eating for Life at this moment since I'm not sure about my gym situation with having a baby and all (childcare can be a headache). I've chosen Sunday to be my "free" day. Meaning I can eat whatever and however much I would like of it! I was not the one to go over board drinking almost a gallon of D.r P.epper and eating fast food twice and possibly an entire box of girl scout cookies. I don't know what glutton would do such a thing; I'm sure they'd be dying today...NOT ME!

I had a meeting the other night. When I walked in the door, I picked up a water bottle. I ended up taking only a couple of sips and put it into my purse as I was leaving. I did not get out to the car a mere 3 minutes after having put the bottle of water into my purse and wish that I had filled my child's bottle with water while I was in the meeting. It wasn't me that proceeded to drive to the gas station, throw my child on my hip, go in and purchase a bottle of water. It was not until I got out to the car that I realized I had reached into the same purse that housed the bottle of water to grab my wallet and pay for a new bottle of water! That would be absolutely ridiculous and was definitely not me!

I had to pick up some random items at the grocery store the other day. Hot dogs were on that list of random items. I handed them to my child thinking, "There's no way she can hurt these." I did not see her eating through the package breaking the seal on them and spilling hot dog "juice" all over her cart seat cover. Yuck! I always remember to feed my child on time, therefore, deterring said behavior.

I took the time the other day to have my child and myself color a page for her daddy

It is not still sitting in my car waiting to me mailed. I'm very good at getting things done with plenty of time to spare. (OK, so that's a bit of a stretch) With that being said, I know that I'm not the only perfect mother out there. There must be at least a few others. Post and tell me about them, or head over to MckMama's blog carnival and laugh at others' misfortunes! :)

Jam Session

My hubby has tried several times to get her to sing into this silly microphone. The dancing is just a bonus! By the way, we were at church today (I was watching the kiddos) and all of the sudden the CD player comes on and she's right in front of it jammin' out. I wish I'd had the camera then. I have no idea how she figured out how to get it on AND start the CD. She's just brilliant! hahaha

The dirty look is for you, babe! She's been practicing. Obviously, she doesn't like to be given orders. She's still terrified of being on her own two feet without assistance. She can stand on her own, but when she realizes it, she squats and falls. If you notice she braces herself on her elbows to clap! The box is from her car seat, she took her teapot and a couple of toys in there, so it stayed around for a couple of days.

I try, I really do!

I had coffee with a couple of ladies today; their husbands work with mine. I had not met either one of them before. On the way to coffee, I prayed. I asked for the Lord to help me to make a good impression, to think before I spoke, and be a good representation of my husband. I left the coffee house thinking that I had done a pretty good job and made a good first impression. Then I look in my rear-view mirror to back out of my parking spot, and I saw it. A booger hangin'! It's always something.

Not Me! Monday

It's BAAACK!! I love doing "Not Me! Monday" posts, but through the holidays things were so crazy that I got behind in just about every aspect of my life. Well, in getting to our "new" normal I have some things I must admit in sarcastic fashion, of course. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy! And when you are done feeling pity for me because you've done the same things laughing at me, head over to MckMama's blog carnival and laugh at plenty of others willing to admit their faults and shortcomings as well.

Let me start by saying that the "Mother of the Year" award is on its way to my house! So stop checking your mailbox, ya ain't gettin' it! I will be receiving it for my remembering to feed my child three times a day. Last Thursday I SO did not forget to feed my child dinner. I realized well before someone sent me a text message, about grabbing me something for dinner, that my child needed to eat and fed her in a timely fashion. Had I forgotten to feed her, I'm sure that she would have screamed the whole way home and that would just be terrible!

I have been doing a lot of "couponing" (can I turn that into a verb?) and find lots of deals at K.roger. I went there last week to cash in on a deal: buy 10 participating items and get $3 back at the register. I planned out most of the 10 items I was going to get and was sure I'd be able to find something on sale that would help me to reach 10 items. I did not end up going to get Golden O.reos from the cookie isle through which I did not browse 15 times glancing at said O.reos. That would have defeated the whole purpose since the O.reos were around $3 anyway! I just took my nine items up to the register without receiving the $3 off of my transaction. O.reos are bad for you anyway.

I took this in the grocery store; my kitchen table is not the back-drop for this photo.

And just FYI my above mentioned "MOY" award, it's not just for being a spectacular mother to my child...I'm also the best mother to my four-legged companions. I made their dinner on the stove Thursday night. I did it because I love them so and want them to have the most nutritious meals. I did not do it because I had forgotten to buy them dog food and fed them the last LITTLE bit of food the night before. That would be neglectful and then P.ETA would be knocking on my door it that was the case!

I chose to start on my taxes the other night, doing them myself online. I did not stop mid-way frightened that the I.RS would come an arrest me if I answered a question wrong. That would be silly, I'm sure they are very understanding and would never do such a thing, right?

Those are the only silly things that I've done this week, I'm sure of it. Check back next week, I'm sure there will be more perfection to report! Feel free to head over to MckMama's Not Me! Monday post to read about her blemish-free week and the week for others as well.