Tales of a Misguided Mommy

11.07.2008

Meet Dylan!

So! There is nothing like having your friend Katie bring her teeeeeny tinnnny little baby over to realize your kids are now so old they are practically off to college.

Codi was OBSESSED with Dylan (he always is). Only this time he could not stop kissing him. I thought it was just the sweetest thing ever watching him lean over and kiss the little guy. However, Codi hasn't quite learned the pucker so he actually open mouth kisses, which means a few times it totally looked like he was trying to suck on Dylans nose!

Brandon also wanted to kiss the wittle baby. He did a lot of showing off for the little guy and a lot of cuddling too!

I am pretty sure this is the cutest thing ever. I on the other hand promise that while Katie went to shower (we were dying her hair), that I did not wrap the baby up in the Moby and squish and kiss him and make faces at my husband that made him say WE ARE NOT HAVING ANOTHER ONE. I was totally calm and disconnected and I didn't hog the baby at all or anything.

Codi enjoyed poking Dylan in the face to make sure he was still there and NOT sleeping. Since his poking didn't work he finally gave up and just SAT right on top of Dylan! Sigh.

He then wondered if he could get in there with the baby...

WAKE UP BABY PLAY WITH ME!!!!!

11.06.2008

Penny pinching

I've never been good with cutting back on expenses. I can save it fine. But following a budget practically kills me. There are two things that are my most major downfalls. My kids and the grocery store. I'm the queen of going to a store with 10 items on my list and coming home with 43 items OR MORE. I also have trouble grabbing something for my boys and justifying it because it's for the kids. A few months back I made a big effort and started making weekly menus. It helped a ton. Seriously it cut my groceries back so much but mostly it cut back on waste. I used to be bad at letting veggies go bad or having too much meat or buying 400000 bottles of creamer and then letting it go bad.

I began making menus. They featured 7 days worth of dinner. However they didn't account for other meals, breakfast, my lunches, Brandon's meals etc. So the list I would go there with would be exactly what I needed for husbands dinners and lunches. I would end up getting there and think, oh well I need bread, and I need crackers for me. Brandon needs......and before you knew it POOF $200.00 vanished to the grocery fairy.

Lately things have gotten kind of tight financially. I am still not ready to talk about it all but I will tell you that last week while browsing around online I came across the envelope system. It was the strangest moment in my life. It was as if clarity had come right down and hit me on the head. This system was totally doable and it involved my favorite things MAKING LISTS AND SORTING THINGS! I immediately set to work reading about it and learning about it. My awesome computer guy also got me this book which I've been slowly reading when I don't have kids trying to eat the pages. I thought and thought and thought about and decided that I can do this.

This week is my first week on the envelope system. I started a whole entire new checking account on my Quicken. I created a budget and suddenly everything is falling into place. I saw where we were going wrong, I saw how quickly a couple weekend meals out could add up to $100.00 and I realized that haphazardly throwing things in the shopping cart was killing me.

I created a new menu this week that includes everyone's lunches dinners and even breakfasts. I based the menu on things I had at home. I have beef, pork sausage, onions, garlic, rice, cheddar cheese and so on. From that I know I can make stuffed bell peppers, breakfast burritos, and meat loaf. Then I looked at my condiments and sides and realized I can create a full week of meals with only minimal purchases. I'm going to try and start using everything I have and create based on that.

I'm also terrified. I've never walked into a store with nothing but cash and a store savings card. I've always known that if I wanted to throw extra specials in the cart it was fine because my debit card would fix it.

Anyway because of this I will be starting a new weekly feature on the Tasty Temptations blog that is dedicated to meals on a budget. Shopping lists, meals under 10.00 and how to find the best prices and create meals around them.

I can't wait to see what this envelope system does for my husband and I AND our checking account. I can't wait to watch my savings grow! Email me if oyu have any great low budget meals, or any awesome money saving tips for the grocery store. I will link you and feature your tips!

Made By Crissy Mathers

My good friend over at Mathers Party of 4 started this cute little website where she makes ridiculously tasty home goods. Daily she teases me with pictures and previews of the things she is making. You can click her button up there to view her new made by blog or an even better idea would be to visit her Etsy shop and order some of this shit.

Seriously it's delish! The cinnamon apple stuff will blow your mind and her rubs and spices...WHOAH!

(Etsy store can be viewed by clicking button above or, here)

WARNING: Author of this blog is in no way responsible for any hunger pains you may experience by viewing these blogs. Also not responsible for treat cravings, weight gain or jealous rages caused by seeing the amazing things this girl makes. Author of blog will take responsibility for any misplaced treat orders....

So go, now, shop, eat, and let your mouth be happy!

11.04.2008

I wasn't going to post this but....

11.03.2008

I'm too young for this

I often feel like I'm too young to be a parent.

There. I said it. I feel, as if I'm playing house and any minute now my mom is going to come out and tell me it is time for dinner.

You know the feeling (those of you near my age) when you try and do something and older people give you one of two looks;

The, aww isn't that sweet she's trying to act like an adult look,

and

The, little girl your too young to be trying this shit look.

I hate that. My job is financially based. I know some shit about billing, and taxes and filing and what not. I hate when you try and have a decent conversation with someone and they look at you like you're just too young to know. I was talking to my attorney the other day. He asked how long I had been at my job. When I replied 11 years he looked at me like that wasn't possible. Then he did the math in his head and said, "you're trying to tell me you've been working since you were 15 (I was still 26 at the time). I was mad. Because yes in fact I have been. Since day one at night after school it was me in the little office in the back of our house posting the very first purchases and invoices. How rude of him to assume that someone my age could have that kind of job history. That I might know something. I realize kids now a days would rather play video games then work, but that was just poor judgment on his part.

Another great example of being made to feel SO YOUNG is when I talk about the upcoming election. Every time I express my points of view, my reasons for voting for ____ I'm looked at like a silly little girl. They look at me like, aww aren't those ideas so cute. Or, how sweet she thinks she knows politics. It happens the most when they realize I'm not voting for their guy. They suddenly look at me like, oh it's okay your only voting wrong because you're too young to know.

I get the same looks when I talk about parenting. At baby showers, grocery stores, and family gatherings anyone over 40 basically looks at me like I'm a fucking rookie at parenting. Like I'm doing it wrong, like I must NEED 70 years of advice because, "honey someone your age can't possibly take care of those kids." It blows my mind. When I spout of random pieces of knowledge, like how to unplug a constipated kid, or why you shouldn't give young kids Motrin (it upsets their tummy if they haven't had a full meal), or my sure fire way to relieve gas, no matter what I get looked at like I'm an idiot. Like, awww how cute look at her pretending to know how to parent.

Some of you might be sitting there right now thinking that if I'm assuming this maybe it's because I subconsciously think I'm a bad parent. WRONG. Being 100% honest I'm pretty sure I am a kick ass parent. In fact, parenting might be the thing I'm best at. Since day one. Since pregnancy when I worried about how I would parent and my doctor informed me that very worry was a sign I would be a good mom because I was already thinking of my kids and preparing, from that day I knew I was going to rock at this. And I do! Do I have bad days? Sure. But honestly I feel like 98% of my days are spent being the mom you wish you had!

The reason I feel like people think this is because they either openly say it or their face is so blatantly obvious there is no way I can't know. It is kind of like right after someone dies. And every one walks up to you with that look on their face that says, "I just know your totally falling apart, oh and you look like shit." They don't have to say a word YOU JUST KNOW.

It is hard not to prove them wrong in these instances too. Hard to swallow my pride and let them talk my ear off about how newborns sleep better on their stomach and you should give them bottles of corn syrup instead of formula or breastmilk because that "builds good babies."

However I would be lying if I said, there weren't times I just felt young. I'm only 27. In my mind that is young. Often when I'm putting Brandon in time out, or wiping a babies ass, or staring at a mess that only a hurricane could have made that I step outside of myself and I feel like, I'm just a kid, a baby sitter, at any second these kids real parents are going to show up and I'm going to have to stop playing house. I guess because I know so many of my friends are out partying, and participating in general debauchery that I sometimes think that's what youngins like me should be doing.

There are other times I feel young. Today I had to call and RSVP to a party for a kid in Brandon's class. The dad answered and suddenly I felt about 13 years old. I froze up and felt all dorky and didn't know what to say. Surely someone older then me would have handled that better. I feel young when I take Brandon to school and all the parents are wearing suites or cute little spinning outfits sprinting off to the gym all the while I'm rolling in my jeans and Converse. I can feel them all looking at me thinking, how cute his big sister brought him to school.

However. None of this means there aren't times I feel really old too. Like last night, when I cheered because "YAY I STAYED UP PAST 730PM I RULE!" Yeah, then....I felt really fucking old.

Does this post sound rambly? Well it should. I wrote it while attempting to get my kid in his crib 3 seperate times. He refuses, and all I want is 20 minutes alone to eat some goddamn low calorie ice cream alone. I'm pretty sure he will be sleeping on me until he is 20. Bet I will feel old then!

Feeling like some fried food?

Fried chicken tacos

S'mores in winter

First you build them. Then, put them in the oven and watch.

Pull them out right about now

Smoosh on the tops

Stare at it for a second

Devour

LICK!

And also side note to Brandon:
Please stop leaving your juice in your brothers reach kthx!

11.02.2008

So how was the rest of your birthday?

WARNING: These pictures are all kinds of out of order. I don't care. I don't feel good. Stuff it!

SO. Wednesday you may remember when I left off my friends were coming by with sweets overload, and of course we talked about how good it was that I had my rain boots. Later in the day Katie and her baby came over and I spent time with him. He is so cute how he kind of just gurgles and coos. Katie went home and Rob texted to let me know he wanted to take me out to dinner. About 14 seconds before he walked in the door I started to feel sick. I thought maybe it was food poisoning. I puked before dinner and by the time we made it to dinner it was apparent I was not going to eat anything. We made it home and I proceeded to puke up every single thing I had eaten that day. At the exact same time my body started to HURT. Every bone was hurting and I was thinking, man this is some bad food poisoning. I spent the rest of the night ...ahem, cough (poooooping) and I woke up feeling worse for the wear. Thursday was basically spent doing nothing but complaining and feeling sorry for myself. Friday we took the boys trick or treating and Saturday was spent getting pampered and then it was time for Fantasies in Chocolate.

Now onto the totally out of order photos.

Lisa, Ginger and I with the girls from the Chocolate Walrus.

Oh the horror!

Chocolate dipped goose berries

Chocolate chocolate CHOCOLATE

Ginger Lisa and I when the night started

Ginger and I

Mmmm this was raspberry cream chocolate something or other

Lisa and I

This is the "YESSS THERE IS FONDUE But OMG blue cheese" pose.

I did one shot the whole night and drank 1.25 martinis and 4 sips of champagne.

After our very first go round. Holy shit that was ONE BOOTH!

(Ahem out of order)
Sunday my husband woke up and took the kids out of the house so I could sleep in blissfully until 10AM with out a single peep from the boys. Then he spent his time doing all of the laundry for me even folding it, and hanging the last of the pictures in our living room. Check out his awesome wall! I of course spent the day still feeling like shit and still feeling sorry for myself.

Brandon spent the day with his cape on.

Saturday after Fantasies in chocolate us girls met up at my house with the boys and spent the night playing Monopoly. Guess who won.

This was around the time Lisa's husband Bernard said this game was degrading...he had never lost this bad EVER.

Earlier in the game Bernard anticipated himself and Rob winning. This led to them trading properties and making deals that were in effect until it was just "the two of them" in the game.