"Online stores send out discount codes to SELECT groups of customers, leaving the rest of us to pay full price!" Wouldn't you like to get a hold of some of those discounts when you shop online? Well, as a mommy of 2, I know that coupons sure do help. Here is a website where you can find a lot of coupons for online stores such as; 1-800-Flowers, Art.com, and hundreds more! There is so much on this site...i recommend it! Here's the link:

http://www.naughtycodes.com/

This is a site for coupon codes or secret discount links! WOoh
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Easter: A chance of cavities or a carcinogenic hazard?

Ok, so yes, this is the day My Jesus resurrected from the dead...thank you Lord, and I'm not trying to bypass that with this topic, but since this blog is about my children and about being a mommy, I'd really like to address this issue.


Does it seem like this is another holiday, that just as much as halloween, revolves around everything sweet? I was so excited this year about being able to buy some "peeps" for my little ones b/c they are so cute and so yummy. So I went out and bought them and to my surprise it said "Sugar-Free" I bought them and didn't think anything about it, I was actually excited that they wouldn't give my boys a sugar high. I was excited when I handed them to my boys, and when they gobbled them up with a huge smile on their faces. Well, that was, until their mouths were a bright yellow. My husband just says, "After these candies, they're all yours!" Ha ha, I just said, "It's ok, look they are sugar-free!" I pointed to the box and it read MADE WITH SPLENDA....hmmmm. Then a thought flashed in my brain. What the heck is splenda made of if it isn't sugar?
So I got online and checked it out. Come to find out, it's pretty scary what is in this stuff. I mean I think I would rather have my kids eat regular sugar then brush with some anti-cavity stuff, than to risk being hurt by the chemicals that enter their bodies. I mean, sugar is natural, Splenda is NOT. Here's a quote from Dr. Janet Starr Hull of Alternative Health and Nutrition:
"Splenda (made from sucralose) is created in the lab using a complex process involving dozens of chemicals you and I can barely pronounce - let alone consume. Basically, the chemists force chlorine into an unnatural chemical bond with a sugar molecule, resulting in a sweeter product, but at a price: a huge amount of artificial chemicals must be added to keep sucralose from digesting in our bodies. These toxic substances also prevent (hopefully) the dangerous chlorine molecules from detaching from the sugar molecule inside the digestive system, which would be a carcinogenic hazard."
Hmmmm. What is the price for dental sealants for our children...something I definetly need to look into. More on sweets later, that chocolate bunny is staring at me and saying, "Eat me, Eat me!"
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The Boys
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Planning your Meals. A real money-saver!
So ever since I've been married, I have tried to keep to a somewhat strict meal planner. I know it may seem a bit cheesy, "hey family, it's taco tuesday!"...lol, but believe me when I tell you I have seen the difference in our wallet. Those weeks where we just wing it, we end up buying only what we are craving and end up w/ no real meals. So before I shop I look at our 2 week meal plan and shop accordingly. I make a grocery list w/ our budgeted amount and write down my estimated price next to each item. This way I can see how much I'll be spending ahead of time. Here is an example of our menu. We tend to change it up a bit every once in a while, this is just the basics.

Monday
Breakfast: Pancakes, eggs and juice
Lunch: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Dinner: Pot Roast (can be used for 2 days....I love my crockpot)

Tuesday

Breakfast: Oatmeal and bananas
Lunch: Beef Stir Fry and white Rice
Dinner: Tacos and Rice

Wednesday
Breakfast: Omelette w/ cheese
Lunch: Chicken Quesadilla
Dinner: Chicken and Rice

Thursday
Breakfast: French Toast
Lunch: Fish and Rice
Dinner: Pizza

Friday
Breakfast: Pancakes and Eggs
Lunch: Sandwiches and Chips
Dinner: Pot Roast and Potatoes

Saturday
Breakfast: Oatmeal and fruit
Lunch: Beef stir fry
Dinner: Tacos and rice

Sunday
Breakfast: On-the go stuff
Lunch: Spaghetti w/ italian sausage
Dinner: Sandwiches and Chips

And then of course I buy snacks w/ whatever money I have extra. I usually limit it to about $5-$10 and they are usually snacks for the boys. Well this is just my little thing that helps keep me sane and a little richer...lol. Riiiight. I challenge you if you don't already to try this and see what a difference it makes in your life.
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Kids and Family
It's such a wonderful thing to see your children being loved by your family. They get to feel loved from all of their aunts and uncles and grandparents. I mean I know I love them with all my heart but it is an awesome thing for them to be able to sit in auntie's lap while she reads them a book or throw a ball around with uncle. It's just extra lovin'. Not only that but it's beneficial for me. I don't know if all of you mom's can relate, but it can be a very stressful thing to constantly be worrying about your children and the burden be solely on you. I mean don't get me wrong, daddy helps, but even then you get these horrible images in your head of things that could possibly go wrong. You see your child with a pencil and you're mind goes straight to what would happen if they were to fall down with that pencil in their hand. Grrr it's so nervewrecking, it helps to have other people around and lend an extra eye and an extra hand.

Don't ever take family for granted, whether they are related by birth or by law, cherish them because they are a very important part of your child's life.
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Looking forward to A week with the In-laws

Ha ha, you never thought you'd hear someone say that huh? Well, yup I said it. I love my in-laws...they are so fun. I am looking forward to going and spending a whole week with them. Although I think a week is not enough. I need FAMILY. It's been about 7 months since I moved away from family and I hate it. I hate not being close to the people who love my kids SO much. I truly believe that that is something so important in my boys' life. They need that love, that constant love. Not only that, but I need them in my life too. I need adults in my life who can actually stimulate my MIND. I have found that after spending a week, sick in my apartment, STUCK in my apartment, with two children under 3...it's not very good for stimulating the mind and can leave one cranky and on-edge. Well, that is why I SO VERY MUCH look forward to spending the week with my sister-in-law. She has become a very close friend and I only wished I lived closer, but well that is another topic: "Getting out of this Cow-Town" written by Jennifer Rosado. Well, I have to go now I am missing this episode of Blue's Clues! (Not really.)
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Yummy Homemade Pancakes

Wow. I love homemade food. Eating out is great and fast food is so convenient, but there's nothing like making your own tortillas or bread. It leaves you feeling so accomplished. I like to make my kids homemade pancakes. They love them. Here's my recipe for all you mommies out there. Kids love helping too!

Preheat Griddle or pan to Med-Med High

-1 cup Flour
-2 tbs Sugar
-2 tbs Baking Powder
-1/3 tsp salt
-1 tsp oil
-2 Eggs
-1 cup Milk
-1 tsp Vanilla Extract


Mix all dry ingredients first, and in seperate bowl mix the wet ingredients. Combine them and mix well. Pour over hot griddle to make several dollar sized pancakes or regular sized. It's totally up to you. Hope you enjoy~!
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