Disney, January 2012

The boys and I took a quick weekend trip to Disney a few weeks ago.  (Cecil stayed home to go hunting). 

I know you find it hard to believe that I barely even took any pictures! I just wanted to enjoy my time with the boys and enjoy Disney.  And ENJOY we did!

To celebrate Nolan’s birthday, I took the boys to dinner at The Crystal Palace inside the Magic Kingdom.  Because they knew we were celebrating N’s birthday, they sprinkled our table with confetti and even brought him a cupcake and candle at the end of the meal!

Of course, this was a character dinner, so Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore all came by to chat!

I have to say—overall, the boys were SO GOOD and we had a great time!

~CB~

Organizing: Coupons & Coupon Binder

I am often asked how I organize my coupons and coupon binder.  Since some of your goals for the new year might have been to save money, etc. I thought I would show you my coupon binder and give a few tips.

This is my coupon binder.  It goes everywhere with me.  Mostly I keep my binder in my vehicle in case I decide to run to the grocery store on a whim (rarely) or for whatever reason.  I bring the binder in the house at the beginning of the week so I can clip my coupons and insert them into their proper place.

I have about 24 sections in my binder.  An example of my sections are frozen foods, breakfast foods, paper/plastics, baby, refrigerated, and first aid.  I printed my listing and all corresponding pages from The Krazy Coupon Lady website.

{The Krazy Coupon Lady website is also where I find most of my deals and where to buy things at the best price.  Why would I do all the work when it’s done for me?}

My coupons are organized within their section by coupon.  For example, if I have 4 of the same coupon, they are all in the same spot, and don’t take up 4 spots on the page.  I use baseball card holders as my coupon holders. 

I love to save money and couponing is one way to do so!  If you have any questions, just let me know!  I’m happy to share any information and answer any questions you have!

p.s.  Krazy Coupon Lady has no idea I even exist.  I’m not getting paid to advertise their website.  Trust me.

~CB~

Tis the Season....

Guess what season we are gearing up for (literally) ???

We are getting signed up to play baseball (both boys!) and if that's not enough, the Varsity season has started and the hubby is helping with that too.

I will admit I thought I was looking forward to the season, but now I'm not so sure since I don't have help anymore in the evenings with dinner, laundry, BOYS, homework, homework, and more homework.  UGH.

Both my boys need new equipment this year ($$$) !  Nolan needs catchers gear and new cleats, as well as a new bat (maybe).  Carter needs new cleats, and a new glove.  Yikes.  I'm dreading the sporting goods store visit!  HA!

Are you gearing up for spring sports?

~CB~

Wrapping Paper

This is such a random post, but I wanted to share this little tidbit of information with you to help you save money!

I always look for “generic” wrapping paper after the holidays—wrapping paper that doesn’t have reindeer or snowflakes on it.  That way, I can use the paper to wrap birthday gifts.  Another tip is to look for paper in your school’s colors (to wrap graduation gifts with). 

This year, I lucked out and found some ADORABLE red and white polka dot paper and some red and white scrolly (is scrolly a word?) paper.  I LOVE it!

This paper is perfect for guys and girls! 

At about $1.40 per roll (and it’s the good, thick kind) you can’t beat that!

~CB~

Old Fashioned Dove Hunt

A few weeks ago, the hubby had a few friends and family over for a old fashioned dove hunt.

The boys were so excited to be able to go in the field after school!

Nolan was even more excited that he would get to use the gun he got for Christmas!

Little brother hung back to watch the action….Momma was a little nervous to let him on the front lines.

A few of the guys…

Probably one of my favorite pictures from the entire dove hunt is this one:

And guess what?  Nolan shot and killed his first dove!  Y’all.  He was SO PROUD.  And I do mean proud!  He told anyone that would listen that he killed a dove!  HA!

Little brother finally got in on the action!

It so happened that my Uncles and cousins from nearby came to the dove hunt and I got to spend some time with them as well in the field.

Carter and cousin Brooke….he just adores her!

Cousin Wes gettin’ ready to jump the fence!

Uncle Jimmy at the dove hunt--

And a cute family picture of me and my cousins and Uncle at the end of the dove hunt!  I love them so much.

And a sweet “cousins” picture--

What a wonderful day to spend time with friends and family!

~CB~

Peace

I’ve seen on a few people’s blogs where they are choosing a word for the year.  I thought that was a wonderful idea so I decided to choose one for myself!

This year, my word is going to be

 PEACE

If you read my goals for 2012, then you know I’m on a mission to de-stress my life.  I just want peace.

I want to be a peaceful person.

I want to have a peaceful attitude.

I want to keep the peace in my home so my children (and husband) find a place of rest and comfort.

I want to feel and seek God’s peace in my life.

Did you pick a word for 2012?

~CB~

The Promise of a New Year

I love the promise of a new year—it’s a time of reflection, remembrance, and encouragement to make new goals.

Last year, I had some pretty lofty goals.  While it is discouraging to admit that I didn’t meet one of the goals, I did meet the others I set!  WHOO HOO!

The one I didn’t meet was running a 5K.  I got started training late and then had a few health problems sneak up on me.  Hopefully this year, I can train again and run a 5K, even if it’s not an “official” one.  I don’t care if it’s around my block or down the road, I’d like to be able to run 5K (and not die). HA!

This year, my goals are:

• DE-STRESS.  I have to learn to let go of some things.  I’m under strict Dr’s orders to de stress.  The consequences are fatal.  I don’t have a choice.  I’ve made a decision that my house doesn’t have to be perfect and I don’t have to say “yes” to every invitation that comes along.  I’m going to enjoy my family and my friends. 
• Blog more.  That being said, if it comes to a point where sitting down and carving out the time to do a post interrupts my family time, then the blogging will have to wait.
• Lose weight.  This was one of my goals last year too.  I did lose weight, but certainly not enough.  It’s a lifelong battle I suppose.
• Pay down more debt.  The hubs and I did SO GOOD last year with paying down serious debt!  We paid off 2 pieces of farm equipment and several other debts!  It was one of the best feelings on earth!
• Organize the pictures on my computer.  I have thousands of pictures!  THOUSANDS.  I have GOT to get better about organizing them into folders and sub-folders.  I do back them up every so often (in case my hard drive crashes) but they definitely need to be thinned out and organized.
• Coupon more.  YES!  I’m a couponer!  No, I don’t have 50 bottles of mustard in my pantry, but let me tell you, on the occasion that I have run out of something mid-dinner, it has been SO NICE to know that I have a back up in the pantry!  I just need to be better about cutting my coupons once a week rather than letting them pile up and such.

I think that should do it for my 2012 goals.  Here’s to a NEW YEAR full of promise.

~CB~