Merry Christmas :)

Her first picture with Santa. My camera was on the wrong setting, that is why its shadowy. I can't wait to get the better picture from her teacher.

One of her favorite gifts was the used vsmile I got from a garage sale. It was a whole $10 and had three games. I got her two more and Stephen got her another one.

The carnage. The bags are valentines day ones but she liked them anyway lol

Her Christmas Eve present.

Playing in the snow after playing with her face paint set today :) Happy girl!

$1 for a year of Disney's FamilyFun Magazine

$5 for a One-Year Subscription to Disney FamilyFun Magazine ($10 Value) See Below for Two-Year Subsc

deals.mamapedia.com

Today's Mamapedia Sweet Deal in National: $5 for a One-Year Subscription to Disney FamilyFun Magazine ($10 Value) See Below for Two-Year Subscription Offer
Use coupon FATWALLET4 to bring the price down to $1. Enjoy!

Fall 2010 Pictures- Halloween & Silk

Toy Story mania for Wii $19.99

woohooo (like I've not spent enough this year? haha)

25% off Crocs

CROCS SALE

25% off today, Sunday until midnight eastern.

Code: FRIENDS10
Link: CROCS

Hi, remember me?

So if you look at my blog you'll think the only thing I do any more is shop. That's about right. I've spent a ton this Christmas and don't feel a bit bad about it. I...drumroll please... bought myself a wii. Not for Natalie, not for Stephen but for me me me. And it's red! And I bought Epic Mickey! Yippppeee! lol Anyway, stay tuned to view the carnage on Christmas morning!

We went on a cruise, it was a lot of fun. It made the cold weather when we came back unbearable though. Yuck! Send me to FL please!

Cozumel - Mr Sanchos

Isle Roatan - Mayan Princess

Stinker on the atrium staircase.

The Mayan temple we climbed in Belize. See the people way below it? I climbed almost to the top before vertigo got me.

This is the side of it almost at the top. I climbed the other side up to the cool carvings.

(why oh why does it take so long to upload pictures to blogger? it's painfully slow! I have tons of other pictures but can't stand the wait)

It took 3 hours to clean and purge the playroom tonight. I wanted to take a picture for proof that at some point in her childhood it was clean(ish). I took out 6 bags of toys to sell in the spring. Actually, I am thinking about selling all the little kid stuff. Cheap Kim wants to hang on to it so I don't have to rebuy it. Shopping Kim wants to sell it all and rebuy limited matching items when the time (if it ever) comes. Decisions decisions! Did you all keep all your baby loot?

So this shot doesn't look too bad. But...

This wall really needs help. I had a bunch of stuff hanging on there before the dresses so the mails aren't where I want them to be. I want to hang the expensive gowns up high until she's old enough to not mess them up. The everyday play clothes, I want those lower to the ground so she can get them herself. I'm also not a fan of the apple crate bookcase thing I have going on. All the assesories are in the pink bucket, that doesn't work well either. I plan to buy a hanging hook for her bike. Any suggestions?
And there is now a music corner. I'd like any ideas on how to make it cute!

Also, that pile of red plastic is about 10 fisher price little people farm sets from her 1st birthday. Any ideas on making that pile look better?

I won't even show the other wall. It has a stainless shelving unit with boxes everywhere. It's not pretty lol

That's all for now, its super late, bye!

Shopping

I don't know why I do it, but I like to wander around on Amazon looking at all the Doug and Melissa toys. These are all on sale. I got the cheap safari puzzle and I'm trying really hard not to order that awesome pink dollhouse.

This is $100 here and never on sale. They can't keep it in stock, I wonder why people don't save almost $50 with tax and get it online??

I will prob break down and get these before Christmas. Its a smidge over $1 a horse and they are lot better than anything you'd get a dollar tree.

Cheap alert! This is under $6 with shipping. Some states you might have to pay sales tax. I got this :)

I thought this one was pretty. I want to start a hard puzzle with Natalie and keep it on cardboard, maybe under the sofa.

I'm on a medieval sort of kick.

I want this bad. So bad it hurts. I'm just saying.

I need your help

A co-worker's little boy is dying. He needs a bone marrow transplant. Be the Match will mail you a free cheek swab test to add you to the database of donors.

Donation is easy. You take a couple of shots the week before donation. One needle in each arm. That's it....a tada! You've saved someone's life.

here is the link:

http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/index.html?src=tabjoin

If you have a blog, or facebook page, will you post something about registering there? I have 40ish unique hits on myblog every day. If everyone posts to their blog plus facebook...well that is at least 80 posts there. Then if just a few of their friends do the same thing...we could bring in hundreds of new registrants!

(if you remember, I matched and they didn't get the donation set up in time and he died.....this little boy is too young to die)

Fall 2010

Halloween Pictures

She was bell=ish all the way, Tinkerbell and winter Belle.

Here she is with one of her BFFs, Tia!

Mexico - 1950 something

My travel bug comes honestly. Here is my Dad on a zebra (or poor painted horse) in Mexico when he was around 10. I am scanning old family photos. So far I have pictures from NYC, Washington DC, Detroit, California, Chicago, Miami, Canada & Mexico from his childhood. And I found postcards from the Bahamas from my Grandparents who used to cruise! I had no idea.

This picture makes me smile :) I put it on a yellow background to help hide the cracks and chips.

Meal Plan November 2010 Updated 11-4

Does anyone want to join me in meal planning for a month? I am trying to clear out the freezer and pantry. This is my plan for the month:

1- L-PBJ, D-ham & carrots
2 - L -Chicken and dumplings w/peas and carrots D- Baja chicken pasta
3 - L- Baja chicken pasta leftovers D- bbq chicken sandwiches w/pickles & oranges
4 - L - School & Work D -breakfast (turkey sausage, eggs, baked apples & french toast) Nevermind, we out with the boy! Froze the chicken and stock yesterday too.
5 - cod & frozen veggies D -breakfast (turkey sausage, eggs, baked apples & french toast)
6 - dumplings & egg drop soup
7 - chicken stir fry
8 - hamburger pasta
9 - stir fry (I might try to make something from my thai cookbook)
10 - ham fried rice
11 - breakfast (turkey sausage, eggs, baked apples & french toast)
12-20 vacation
21 - meatloaf hamburgers w peas/carrots
22 - spaghetti
23 - fried chicken legs & whatever veggie
24 - breakfast (turkey sausage, eggs, baked apples & french toast)
25 - thanksgiving (I am going to make muddy buddies and chex mix for snacking- I already have the chex and cheerios)
26 - Mexican rice
27 - hot dogs, chili, mac & cheese
28 - Japanese chicken, carrots & rice
29 - tuna pasta salad
30 - breakfast (turkey sausage, eggs, baked apples & french toast)
31 - chili baked potatoes

We are eating a lot of breakfast because we like it and it is sooo easy on me!

Shopping list for breakfast
bananas

Shopping list for lunch
barley
clove of garlic
can of black olives
bread

Shopping list for dinners:
wonton wrappers (unless I can learn to make them, I have a cookbook for them)
2 pds ground beef
1 pd rice
hot dogs
block cheese
sour cream
butter
mayo
2 large potatoes or a sack depending on the price
a few bags of frozen veggies as we need them
powdered sugar
Worcestershire
seasoned salt
garlic powder
onion powder
pretzels
cashews

The rest I have in the freezer or pantry. For all my chicken dishes, I have two large whole chickens that I'll dice up and make stock. I think I'm out of boneless chicken (but who knows what I'll find when everything is out of there lol)

Pack and Go Specials for Wed Nov 3rd

These are pay in full no refund bookings (that is why they are cheap!). If you have time to burn up before year end, hanging on a cruise ship isn't a bad way to use it up! My pick is the Inspiration out of Tampa in red. You can also book the Dream (new big fancy ship) out of Port Canaveral for under $500 pp for 7 days including taxes if you have sailed before. The insides are mostly on deck 9 fort hat price. This is for Saturday Nov 13th. Email me if interested!

Ship Route Inside Window Balcony

Carnival Imagination	3	MIA	11/19/10	Nassau	$169	$189	N/A
Carnival Imagination	3	MIA	12/03/10	Nassau	N/A	$189	N/A
Carnival Imagination	3	MIA	12/10/10	Nassau	$169	$189	N/A
Carnival Paradise	3	LAX	11/26/10	Ensenada	$239	N/A	N/A
Carnival Ecstasy	4	GAL	12/30/10	Western Caribbean	$699	$789	N/A
Carnival Fascination	4	JAX	01/27/11	Freeport & Nassau	$259	$289	$429
Carnival Imagination	4	MIA	11/15/10	Key West & Cozumel	$159	N/A	N/A
Carnival Imagination	4	MIA	11/29/10	Key West & Cozumel	N/A	$179	N/A
Carnival Imagination	4	MIA	01/24/11	Key West & Cozumel	$179	$219	N/A
Carnival Sensation	4	MCO	01/16/11	Freeport & Nassau	$189	$229	N/A
Carnival Inspiration	5	TPA	11/29/10	G Cayman & Cozumel	$199	$229	N/A
Carnival Inspiration	5	TPA	12/18/10	G Cayman & Cozumel	$399	$449	N/A
Carnival Inspiration	5	TPA	12/27/10	G Cayman & Cozumel	$619	$749	N/A
Carnival Triumph	5	MSY	12/06/10	Western Caribbean	$209	$259	$359
Carnival Freedom	6	FLL	01/09/11	Western Caribbean	$359	$429	N/A
Carnival Spirit	6	SDG	01/03/11	Baja Mexico	N/A	N/A	$499
Carnival Conquest	7	GAL	12/05/10	Eastern Caribbean	$519	$549	$719
Carnival Glory	7	MIA	11/28/10	Exotic W Caribbean	$399	N/A	$579
Carnival Liberty	7	MIA	11/20/10	Western Caribbean	$399	N/A	N/A
Carnival Liberty	7	MIA	11/27/10	Exotic E Caribbean	$399	N/A	$649
Carnival Liberty	7	MIA	12/04/10	Western Caribbean	$379	N/A	$529
Carnival Pride	7	BWI	02/13/11	Pt Can & Bahamas	$449	N/A	$629
Carnival Splendor	7	LAX	11/28/10	Mexican Riviera	N/A	N/A	$579
Carnival Valor	7	MIA	11/21/10	Exotic W Caribbean	$429	$479	$679
Carnival Valor	7	MIA	12/12/10	Exotic W Caribbean	$349	$429	$549
Carnival Valor	7	MIA	12/26/10	Exotic W Caribbean	$749	$1049	$1199
Carnival Victory	7	SJU	11/21/10	Southern Caribbean	N/A	$449	$549
Carnival Victory	7	SJU	12/05/10	Southern Caribbean	N/A	N/A	$549
Carnival Victory	7	SJU	03/06/11	Southern Caribbean	N/A	$499	$699
Carnival Miracle	8	FLL	12/13/10	Exotic S Caribbean	N/A	N/A	$579
Carnival Spirit	8	SDG	11/12/10	Mexican Riviera	$379	N/A	N/A
Carnival Spirit	8	SDG	11/28/10	Mexican Riviera	N/A	N/A	$599

Legal mumbo jumbo...

Terms and conditions: Cruise rates are in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to change at any time without prior notice. Government taxes and fees are from $17.83 to $279.52 additional for each guest based on itinerary. Full payment is required at the time of booking for all guests to secure confirmed accommodations. The full payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. Offer is valid for new individual bookings only made between 11/03/10-11/05/10. Offer is not combinable with any other discounted or promotional offer. Rates are capacity controlled and subject to change without prior notice. No name changes allowed. Offer is applicable in guarantee categories IS/OV/BL only. Carnival will assign the stateroom at a later time. Some restrictions (including stateroom/category availability) apply.

Early Saver Specials

New Early Saver specials. These are non-refundable big time reduced fares. If you want extra info, just email!

SHIP	PPortORT	DUR	SAILDATE	ITINERARY	Inside	Window	Balcony
Carnival Sensation	MCO	3	04/21/11	Nassau	$299	$329	$449
Carnival Imagination	MIA	4	04/25/11	Key West & Cozumel	$259	$299	N/A
Carnival Sensation	MCO	4	02/27/11	Freeport & Nassau	$259	$299	$469
Carnival Destiny	MIA	5	04/09/11	G Cayman/Ocho Rios	$399	$479	$609
Carnival Elation	MOB	5	04/23/11	Western Caribbean	$379	$429	N/A
Carnival Fantasy	CHS	5	03/18/11	Freeport & Nassau	$349	$399	N/A
Carnival Inspiration	TPA	5	04/23/11	G Cayman/Cozumel	$379	$439	N/A
Carnival Glory	ORF	6	05/29/11	Bahamas	$529	$699	$829
Carnival Spirit	YVR	6	05/04/11	Inside Passage	$499	$599	$749
Carnival Dream	MCO	7	04/23/11	Eastern Caribbean	$539	$719	$859
Carnival Elation	MOB	7	05/14/11	Western Caribbean	$529	$629	N/A
Carnival Fascination	JAX	7	04/30/11	Eastern Caribbean	$499	$569	$799
Carnival Glory	MIA	7	04/24/11	Exotic E Caribbean	$499	$609	$799
Carnival Splendor	LAX	7	04/24/11	Mexican Riviera	$459	$579	$799
Carnival Valor	MIA	7	04/24/11	Exotic W Caribbean	$439	$569	$699
Carnival Victory	SJU	7	04/24/11	Southern Caribbean	$439	$569	$749
Carnival Freedom	FLL	8	07/02/11	Exotic W Caribbean	$829	$949	$1179

Picture Day

I'm so excited! Today was Natalie picture day for the year. Last year I missed it because of Dad and I wasn't in the mood for pretty pictures. This year we did her traditional Chinese outfit, the only silk one I bought...it finally fit! Then the photographer set a second appointment so I could come back with Halloween stuff.

And buddy did I! I already had it in my mind that I was going to buy the CD. So why not cram as much stuff on it as I could?

We did winter Belle (above), the fancy Tinkerbell (what she wore in Disney awhile back) and her Barbie bride dress from a yardsale (never has a $1 dress been loved so much). It was fun and she was super agreeable the whole time.

So in a couple of weeks I am going to have some super duper deluxe pictures. That makes me happy!

Wed Cruise Specials

Every Tuesday I get a list of discounted fares, called Pack-and-Gos that I can book on Wednesdays. These are last minute, let's fill up the ship, prices. Email me if you want more info. The ones in red are my pick for price and fun-ness. Especially the Destiny one, it goes to Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk.

SHIP	DUR	PORT	SAILDATE	ITINERARY	INSIDE	OCEANVIEW	BALCONY
Carnival Ecstasy	4	GAL	12/16/10	Western Caribbean	$419	$459	N/A
Carnival Imagination	4	MIA	11/01/10	Key West & Cozumel	$179	$199	N/A
Carnival Imagination	4	MIA	11/29/10	Key West & Cozumel	$179	$199	N/A
Carnival Inspiration	4	TPA	12/09/10	Western Caribbean	N/A	$249	N/A
Carnival Triumph	4	MSY	12/16/10	Western Caribbean	$309	$349	$379
Carnival Destiny	5	MIA	01/10/11	Eastern Caribbean	$329	N/A	$479
Carnival Ecstasy	5	GAL	12/11/10	Western Caribbean	$339	$379	N/A
Carnival Freedom	6	FLL	10/31/10	Western Caribbean	$329	$379	N/A
Carnival Freedom	6	FLL	11/14/10	Western Caribbean	$329	$379	N/A
Carnival Dream	7	MCO	11/20/10	Eastern Caribbean	$499	N/A	N/A
Carnival Fantasy	7	CHS	11/20/10	Key West & Bahamas	$429	$509	N/A
Carnival Glory	7	MIA	12/12/10	Exotic W Caribbean	$379	$469	$599
Carnival Pride	7	BWI	12/19/10	Pt Can & Bahamas	N/A	N/A	$649
Carnival Pride	7	BWI	02/13/11	Pt Can & Bahamas	N/A	N/A	$629
Carnival Pride	7	BWI	02/27/11	Pt Can & Bahamas	$449	N/A	$629
Carnival Spirit	7	SDG	12/19/10	Mexican Riviera	N/A	N/A	$649
Carnival Triumph	7	MSY	12/27/10	Exotic W Caribbean	$879	$1039	$1339
Carnival Victory	7	SJU	12/19/10	Southern Caribbean	N/A	$499	$649
Carnival Victory	7	SJU	12/26/10	Southern Caribbean	$599	$779	$999
Carnival Victory	7	SJU	02/20/11	Southern Caribbean	$499	$629	$779
Carnival Freedom	8	FLL	12/04/10	Eastern Caribbean	N/A	N/A	$779
Carnival Spirt	8	SDG	11/28/10	Mexican Riviera	N/A	N/A	$699
Carnival Dream	9	MCO	12/23/10	Exotic W Caribbean	N/A	N/A	$1299

(plus tax which varies depending on the cruise)

Free Landscaping

I think I mentioned I am about 5K short for next year with all the things I want to do. In the budget for next year I have a landscaping column. My poor little house isn't very decorative on the outside because I've had to do so much on the inside. So I allotted $500 to get about 90 linear feet around the house landscaped. nothing too fancy, just some nice evergreen shrubs, bulbs and pine bark.

So yesterday, we went to the boy's hunting cabin. It is a little 500 Sf house in the middle of nowhere on a mountain in VA. He has about 5 acres with 4 of that being wooded. As we were driving in to mow (it is really overgrown and it so hard to mow - that is a different post tho) he points out the shrub I was going to buy at home depot was growing all over his property! So I was able to dig one up to bring home and saved $18.

Then I started on the ferns, there were thousands of them. Then he had the great suggestion of collecting the rock moss that they sell here at landscaping stores for a ton. You just pick at an edge of it and it comes up in sheets.

This isn't the best picture, but this is one of the three fern groupings I dug out, along with some of the moss. I have about 50 feet that is shaded enough to have ferns and moss so next week we are going back armed with trashbags and shovels.

I can't use ferns and moss on the front of the house because I have a lot of direct sunlight. But this has knocked $300 off my landscaping column for next year. Only $4700 to go!

Bargain Clothes

I've not done one of these posts in a long long time! Except for the pink sweater, all of these are for next year and the year after. Sometimes I get grief for buying Natalie's clothes this way but at least she always looks cute (unlike her mama who looks like crap most of the time).



This has super cute buttons, they are clear and have fabric in them. Sort of a country floral pattern.



I so love this sweater. It is for this winter and spring, Janie and Jack (or is it the other way around) with the tags, $44 originally.

Two basic skirts with shorts inside of them. Can't have enough of these. I think they are target brand.


These pants are fun and convertible. They are way too big though, unfortunately she'll be wearing them before I know it.

Cute little Land End and some cheapo brand skirts. She loves skirts.


Gymbo capris like her blue denim ones from this year. They are skinny cut, they will look great on her.


A cute little blue dress, can't think of the brand. The on on the right is actually a shirt from Gap, I liked it so much I'll just pack it away for a couple of years....


The one of the left is zumba or something like that and are slim cut (yay!) The ones on the right are Levis.

Gymbo top in a larger size that she'll wear in a couple of years.


Pretty church dress for next summer.


Two basic sweaters.


I thought these were cute with the rhinestones. And the are NWT gymbo - score!


Whew - these are loud. They are NWT and Natalie liked them so I bought them. Yikes...

She love love loves this shirt :)


NWT for next summer.


NWT for next summer.


NWT for 2 summers (maybe three haha). I love it.

NWT for next summer. Came with flip flops that she has been wearing constantly (I'm a mean mama, I don't like flip flops on little kids, they fall. So it's like Christmas in Oct around here.)


NWT for next summer.


NWT for next summer. This is a huge 2T.


NWT for next summer.


NWT for maybe 2 summers.

NWT for next summer.

NWT for next summer.

NWT for this winter and probably next. Her new winter shoes match the flowers so I am a happy camper.



And the finale - a dress she picked out on her own and has worn it for 2 days. I had to pry it off her. Drop waist, poofy bottom in a semi sheer crepe. Really for next summer but she loves it and we've been at home for two days so what does it hurt? lol

Cost of my little spree? $29. yup, I'm that cool :)