Grocery Shopping-How Do You Do It

It's funny to think about how long I have known many of you and the topics of conversations that have spanned the years between us.  It's gone from talking about the boy at school who asked us out, to were Ross & Rachel really on a break, to what college to apply to, to the man we think could be THE ONE, to screaming over the phone, "I'm engaged!!!", to wedding plans and marriage ups & downs, to pregnancy hormones and birth stories, to now grocery shopping and coupon clipping.  Oh how I cherish the friendships that span the decades.  I am a blessed woman with a handful of Decade Chicks! 

So who would have thought we would one day be talking about grocery shopping?

I have come to realize in recent years that frugal women fascinate me.  I love a woman who is happy to take care of her home, enjoys mothering and loves to cook for her family.  These are the women I want to sit and pick their brain regarding their home caring/family caring routines. They are the ones that I want to spend a day with just to see how they fit it all into one day. In my married life,  I have been blessed with godly women who have shown  me the value in home and family caring.  Their ability to care for their family without breaking the bank is also an inspiration to me.

Recently I stumbled onto a blog that has also inspired me in the saving money department.  It's one of those blogs that I bookmarked so I can read the archives in my down time.  I just can't seem to get enough or her money saving tips.  Fascinating stuff!!!  Click the picture to see for yourself.

A few of my favorite articles are listed below.

• CVS Shopping 101
• 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget
• We Payed Cash Series

One area her blog has inspired me is to get my grocery budget back on track.  Menu Planning and Budget shopping was a hobby for me before Andrew came along. I enjoyed the planning and shopping of it all.  Now I am just happy to get something on the table that is edible and not molding.  {I ate a sandwich the other night that didn't taste right.  Turns out the bread was on the way to being covered in green goodness.  I was two bites away from finishing it before I looked at the rest of the loaf to see the cause of why the bread wasn't tasting right---gross!!!} I used to laugh at my friends who would divide up topics of conversation into the before baby and after baby category.  Now that I am a mom I so get what they were saying and I apologize for laughing at you behind your back. {I am teasing--I never did that} I guess you can say Menu Planning was great... before baby.  Now I want menu planning to be great after baby.  I know myself well enough to know that I thrive with a well planned menu for the week and a grocery list in hand.  Without these two, my husband is usually making a dinner run or picking up something at the store that I forgot to get while I was shopping a few hours ago.  It's not pretty folks.

so friends let me ask you this...what are some things that have helped you grocery shopping after baby?
Are you a coupon clipper?  Do you shop at one store or do you buy from a variety of stores with the best deal?  Do you shop with the tot or do you leave him at home with Daddy?  {I choose to keep Andrew home with Daddy so I can shop at my own pace or read People magazine without a baby crying a high volumes}  Do you freeze meals to have on hand for those days you are in a pinch?

tell me your tricks.  give me your grocery shopping treats.

I really am curious to know how you, dear friends grocery shop.

If you comment, I promise my next post will be nothing but pictures of the sweet boy--so please, comment away.  The grandparents will thank you!

Andrew: Two Months

Andrew turned two months on October 16th and I am still trying to figure out how I can slow the process down.  It seems like only yesterday I was writing his one month post.  I don't even want to think about how it will feel to write his 12 month post one day.  I know this year is going to fly by and so I choose to embrace every up & down this past month has brought to the table.  Thankfully more ups than downs but I would be lying if I told you it was all great, all the time.

Andrew loves to sleep with his hands close to his face.

Over the past month, I started back to work.  Thankfully I work at home otherwise I would have begged to stay home.  God was good providing this jobs many years ago. Adding work into our daily routine has thrown both Andrew and I for a loop the past few weeks.  Even though I am still home all day, it's almost like he knows I am not fully paying attention to him.  For example, the other day I needed to take care of a few emails in the office.  I carried him in to sit on my lap while I worked and the minute I sat down in the chair, he threw a fit.  This was the first time he had ever done this and I was perplexed for a few minutes until I realized that Andrew is not happy when I am working.  I have since brought in his play mat to sit next to the desk so that I can answer emails scream free.  Good news is that we are finally both starting to find our way again and the work days are getting to be much easier.



My Little Co-Worker



This past month Andrew attended his first birthday party.  My favorite set of twins turned double digits and there was no way we were going to miss their ice skating party.  I had high hopes of ice skating with the kids but my husband asked me nicely to rethink that plan.  I was bummed but knew he was right, taking care of Andrew would not have been as easy with my arm in a sling.  :) 


Happy 10th Birthday E & C!

Andrew hung with Dad--the warmest spot at the rink

 
 

Maybe next year Andrew will stay awake for the party!

 Another first this month is I left the boy with a babysitter.  Okay it was his grandmother but still it was the first time I had to call in advance and arrange a sitter.  The night I needed a sitter happened to fall on my S.I.L Missy's birthday so I dropped him off at their house.  I guess you can say he went to his first birthday party without his parents this month too!

Happy Birthday Aunt Missy!

 

Andrew loves hanging with Lynnie!



One thing I absolutely love about this month is that he is starting to smile and coo at us.  Jeff & I could sit for hours watching his different facial expressions.  I know I am his mother but he is one cute kid.  

playing in his pack & play

We have come to realize this month that Andrew loves hanging in his pack & play, being outside and going for walks around the neighborhood.  All of these things are great tools during his fussy times.  It really is a joy to watch the world through his eyes.

Andrew's 2 month doctor visit

Andrew's stats as of 10-19-10

Pounds: 13.12
Height: 24 inches

Longest stretch of sleep: 5 1/2 hours

His latest nicknames: Chunky Monkey, Tooter Rooter & Mr Jim's (his Dad's nickname-not sure where it came from but it's pretty cute to hear Jeff say "Mr. Jim's what's wrong with you?)

Happy Two Month Birthday, Baby Boy!

Project: Painting Master Bedroom

{This blog post falls under the decorating side of things. I hope you enjoy the little projects I will highlight from time to time. I realize that decorating can be very subjective and may not be the update my family has been hoping for.  Yet, I have really enjoyed unwinding at night by planning out the next room project & thought it would be fun to highlight here}

I've been inspired to decorate our master bedroom.  I just haven't been happy with the unfinished feel of our room.  It has been my goal since moving into our home to create a master bedroom that could serve as a place of calming retreat for Jeff and me.  We were both inspired by our stay at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego last fall.  This trip was special to both Jeff and I and we wanted the same feel for our bedroom.

Do you remember when I bought this bedding for the new house?  I still love it and have enjoyed the splash of color it adds to our room.  Yet there has been one little problem.  What color do I choose when there are so many to pick from?  I finally settled on Favorite Tan by Sherwin Williams for our bedroom and Comfort Gray for the bathroom.  The plan is to start painting this week so I will post before & after pictures soon.

I hoping the paint color will help inspire me to pick a rug for our room.  Hopefully I will find the rug before winter sets in, hardwood floors are cold in the morning :) I'm leaning towards this rug or possibly this one

So for the record my master bedroom decorating to do list is as follows:

1) Paint Room
2) Pick out Rug & Curtains
3) Find a chair for corner {something to lounge in & a cozy place to read}
4) Accessorize & frame pictures/mementos meaningful to us {more on this later}

I'll keep you posted with the process & thanks for allowing me the time to get my thoughts down "to paper."

Oh and for the family looking for the latest Andrew picture--here you go!

Isn't he sweet?