Moving...

After renting from my in-laws for twelve years we have decided to move... just needed a change of pace.  Last week I told the kids.  I have to admit, I was nervous.  I knew that Haley would be sad, as she is emotionally attached to items, including the house. 

At first, they both cried... Haley because she will miss the house, and Davis because he doesn't like other people to be upset. ;)

I explained all of the up sides to moving... all of the details.  They started to warm up to the idea.  I showed them the pictures online... Haley saw a bedroom with a dormer nook (it is cape cod style duplex) and she called that room as hers.  Which meant Davis would be getting a room almost twice the size his is right now. I think I had him hooked right then. ;)

After we talked for a bit, I decided that we should drive over and let them explore the back yard, even though we couldn't get inside. Boy am I smart. ;)  This was just what they needed to see.

Just the front, nothing too exciting, lol.

Here we have Haley trying to fake smile when really she wants to scream that she doesn't want to be here. :(

Then we went into the back yard and they saw the above play structure. Things were looking up, lol.  First they thought they could only use half, just like the house. :)  When I explained that the people next door are all adults, they got pretty excited because it meant the backyard was pretty much theirs. (The neighborhood has lots of kids, just not the other side of the duplex).

Then we went over to the side of the house...

And this was when I knew I had Davis on my side, lol.  And that Haley would come to love it here, even if the thought of change makes her cringe.  Its a hill they can slide down... right next to the house.  Close enough that I can watch them from the living room.  It's at the end of a cul-de-sac, so it's super safe.

It's been almost a week since I told them. Davis is excited... Haley is excited yet guarded.  I can't blame her.  I think they will both love it when we move though. :)

A New Project

I recently went to Above All Fabric's Shop online and saw the SWEETEST pattern!  I fell in love. What? It's a PDF???  Even better! Instant gratificiation! 

It kind of just looks like a normal little wallet doesn't it?  Oh but wait... it is so much better than that!

It's a COUPON ORGANIZER!  Woot!  I love it. I want to make 60 of them.  Yes, I have a problem, lol.  Unfortunately for all of you blog readers out there that aren't local... I can't share. :(  The pattern (understandably!) is for limited commercial use.  Meaning... I can sell them locally at craft shows but not online.  But... the beautiful thing?  The pattern creator has an etsy shop!  You can purchase one for yourself from her!

I am uber-excited because I plan to use mine for budgeting.  One slot will have my budget for gas, then next for groceries, the next for toiletries, etc.  And no one will know I'm using the "envelope system" because frankly, it looks like a cute wallet. :)  I might just need a second one for organizing my change at shows. And a third for coupons. I may also need to come up with a reason to make a fourth. ;)

Saving Money in a Bad Economy

Thanks everyone for the nice comments on the new logo!  I have been having fun with my editing software. :)

I was sitting here (at work! with nothing to do because weekend are so quiet!) trying to think of something I could talk to all of you about... without my camera around!!  I looked at the newspaper and instantly thought of the economy and what I've been doing to try to save money.  So I'm going to share. :)

1.  Obviously, we cut back on certain things when my husband lost his job.  At first I thought we might have to forgo television altogether... but that seemed like a might big adjustment. :)  So we did the smallest package available with Dish Network.  Let me tell you... they have the best customer service of any company I've worked with. Seriously. If you are struggling.. call them.  They will help!  They gave me a discount for 6 months so that my locals would be free.

2.  Aldi.  Do you have an Aldi supermarket near you?  It's kind of intimidating at first.  My mother in law doesn't like to go there becuase you have to put a quarter in the shopping carts.. and frankly, it's just different. But I LOVE IT.  I can get 2 week's worth of groceries for us there for around $100 without any coupons!  I also love their brand, which is important to me.  I HATE generic peanut butter. but Aldi's brand is the same as JIF. :)

3.  Not into going to an alternative grocery center?  Think about using Savings Angel.  This program is fantastic! I use it for groceries that I can't find at Aldi.. and save a TON on toiletries. When I first started it, I got razors, shampoo and some toothbrushes for... wait for it... FREE.  You save your coupons... don't clip them.  Then on Sunday they will tell you where to use your coupons from that day AND the last few weeks on items already on sale, for extra savings.  It costs $20 a month... but I save that AT LEAST in the first grocery trip.  I do know of another company that does this... but they charge by the STORE... which makes it more expensive.  Because most of the time, I don't get EVERYTHING I need at just one store! 

Do you have any fun tips?  I'd love for you to share them!!!