Christmas Music

So, I haven't bought Christmas Music in about 10 years - seriously! Every November I bust out the classic Point of Grace Christmas album and listen to it over and over and over. Don't get me wrong, I love that CD, but it is time for some new music in our home. Especially for Adeline, she really learns songs quickly so what a great thing to have playing every day than songs that celebrate our Savior's birth?? HELP me out! Any suggestions?

I am so not cool!

I don't drink coffee. I don't like the way it tastes at all, although I love the way it smells when it is brewing. People try to get me to try new things, that they insist "don't really taste like coffee". I never like them and they ALWAYS taste like coffee. But, I love the idea of Starbucks (or some other local coffee shop). I really want to be one of those people who goes to Starbucks to read or blog or just hang out and sip a nice Venti Latte. (No, I don't know the Starbucks lingo, those were the only two words I could think of.) Better than that, I want to be one of those moms who walks around the mall enjoying her freshly brewed hot drink as her kids sit quietly in the stroller and she hangs out in the bookstore looking for a good read (to take with her the next time she goes to Starbucks). I don't think I've ever been one to really want to be cool, and I'm not sure where I get the notion that just because you can order a [insert ridiculously long drink order here and don't forget the "extra hot", because, you know, coffee isn't hot enough already] you are a cool person.

So, I try to be semi-cool. I try the iced, cream based drinks. The Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino (I'm still not sure that I spelled that right, I actually had to look it up) is my favorite, so I treat myself to one every 3 months or so. I know, it's pretty much like drinking a milk shake, but whatever. Lately, I hear people raving about how excited they are that fall is here which equates to the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Well, I know I'm not going to like the Latte, so today I decided that I was going to try the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino (cream based - I know, not cool). I think I really just wanted to be able to say that I had a Pumpkin Spice Anything. Unfortunately, I didn't like it at all!

I have tried and tried, but I think I'm going to have to find a new way to be cool. Any suggestions?

P.S. It makes me look even more uncool when people don't post comments - so please, just leave one to make me feel better!

Save a Buck

These days, everyone is worried about, or at least thinking about, the state of the economy and how it affects them. I have to admit, I often complain of not having a lot of money and I am always in want, which is so sinful... But, I rarely honestly worry about not being able to eat or buy gas for the car. Lately, however, I am starting to think more and more about what I can do to save money here and there. A few things I am starting to put into practice: stretching and freezing meals, stocking up on meat when it is on sale and using coupons (I used to play this game, but haven't in a while - it's really worth it if you stick with it). There is so much more I could be doing, I would love to hear how you are pinching pennies. I will share a few blogs/websites that I follow. Every once and a while I find something on these sites that I can really use and is a great deal. 2 examples: The other day Freebies4Mom mentioned a $10 coupon and free shipping offer from Snapfish, so I ordered a bunch of 5x7 photos and didn't pay a thing! Also, last week was my friend Angela's birthday and I was going to take the girls bowling with their family. They had a coupon but I happened upon this article at Affluent Pauper and all 6 of us bowled for free for two hours, we didn't even have to pay for shoes! Of course, you should always double check with the company and/or store to make sure they are accepting the coupons, but it is well worth it! Are there other good "bargain" sites out there that you follow?

What a glorious day!

Phoenix, AZ

Sunny

70°F
Feels Like
70°F

I literally cannot remember the last time it was in the 70's here. It is unbelievable! We are enjoying a lazy, Sunday afternoon with the windows open! I know, I just wrote about how excited I was to have the a/c fixed, but I'll take this anyday! By the way, it is supposed to be back up in the 90's this week, so I'm still in love with Romeo! Enjoy this Lord's day!

Romeo, Romeo, where hast thou been, Romeo?

This post is probably not going to mean very much to most of you, but I just had to share. We are renting a house and have been here since March of this year. We learned quickly as the temperature began to rise this summer that the a/c was not working properly. It would run all day long and never really cool the house off. There were days (and yes, I was VERY pregnant at the time) that it would be at least 85 degrees in the house. I was miserable and very frustrated. We had some repairmen come out and they pretty much told us that it was running, but not cooling very well. Umm, thanks for that! Well, we later discovered that if we turned the thermostat down to 68 or so, it would cool the house. There were two problems with this... 1. The a/c was so, so loud, we literally couldn't even hear the TV over it, and it would run all day long to try to keep the house cool (it was 115 outside)! 2. Our electric bill has been outrageous! Today, we needed a repairman come and look at an electrical issue we were having. Come to find out, the electrical problem was a very simple fix, but while he was here (his name really was Romeo) he told me that we needed a new filter for the a/c and that is why it was entirely too loud and not cooling well. WHAT??? That's all??? We had one of those filters that you can rinse off and reuse, well - they stink! He said, go get the $3 filter at Home Depot and change it every 6 weeks and you'll be fine. I know this sounds extreme, but I wanted to hug him and I even cried a little. It has been a long, hot and loud summer and I was so thankful that he was the man that came today. I told him no less than 4 times that I believed God sent him to me. I know that seems extreme, but if you have been to our house recently, you will understand why I was so thankful. Thank you, Lord, for Romeo!

Writing it down

So, we have a family blog, and it mostly consists of pictures of our two beautiful girls. The grandparents love it (although they remind me that I do not update it often enough) and we are so thankful that we can share a little bit of our life with family and friends from across the country, or across the globe. But, there are often times that I think "that would be a good blog post" and never get around to putting it in writing. Now I am... I want a place where I can record funny things the girls say and do, or things that I am struggling with as I parent, or neat things that I learn via others' blogs and books... Whatever I am thinking that day - just a place to write it all down. So, if you want to hear about potty training (I think I say the word "poop" more than anyone else on this planet on any given day), zoo trips, two-year old melt downs and maybe even a few topics that don't involve being a mommy, please read along. If you just want to see cute pictures, stick to this blog.

Blog Stalker

I know I'm not the only one. I have heard others confess that they, too, are blog stalkers. There is just something about reading about real people's lives that is, well, for lack of a better term, addicting. Since having children, I love looking at others' blogs, especially those with cute baby pictures or advice on raising young children. The other day, my friend Vanessa recommended this blog and I thought to myself, "No, I don't need to read another blog by someone I don't even know." I put it out of my mind for a few days, but then yesterday decided to check it out, just to see what it was about. Well, I am here to say that I am not even all the way through it (you must start at the beginning - there is a link on the left side of the blog page), and I cannot "put it down", figuratively speaking. I would love for you to read it, but please know that 1. you will cry and 2. you will need at least a few hours because you won't want to stop reading.