Why I am happy.

I am actually fighting a really depressed state this morning.  Yesterday my daughter and I took my husband (daddy) to the airport to fly to Hawaii for a week for work.  There were a million reasons why we couldn't accompany him.  Number one being that we just plain couldn't afford it.  

I am having such a hard time today knowing that maybe someway, somehow we could have gone with him.  Well, we couldn't and we didn't so I need to get over it and focus on what I do have in my life that does make me happy.

1.  a wonderful healthy, happy and perfect daughter

2.  a sweet and dear husband who respects me and loves me more than anything

3.  that caring husband who is a gentile and loving father that loves and cherishes his daughter more than anything

4.  an emotionally close, loving and supportive family who all live just minutes from me

5.  a wonderful safe and comfortable home on private land

6.  the ability to do my favorite hobbies, soaping and sewing

7.  the knowledge and love of making wholesome and healthy meals

8.  a healthy body with never a concern

okay, the list could go on and on, but I feel much better now already.  Thank you.   :-)

What do you have to be happy about?

Albertsons ad is here!

here it is...

Albertsons Ad Preview

Green Grapes .99 lb

Kraft is running a promotion; get $10 back when $25 is spent.  This would make...

Triscut 1.50

Kraft Salad Dressing 1.50

Orowheat Bread 1.50

Digornio For One 1.50

California Pizza for one 1.50

All before coupons.

Check out the Grocery Gathering for you local grocer!

free organic lettuce!!

Earthbound Farms is giving away free organic lettuce seeds! Go quick as they say they usually run out fast....

Dont have a garden? No problem, they give simple instructions on how to grow them indoors in a used salad container!!

just soaping away...

Oh, here they are.

As I go to put on my pjs and robe tonight, while my husband puts our daughter down to bed, I discover my missing droppers in my robe from this morning. You know your busy when...

I was making soap bits this morning and could not find the 3 droppers I had gotten out previously... I looked everywhere! Good thing I had more in my supplies because I clearly never would have looked in my own pocket for them!!

I have been busier with my Etsy site than I had imagined. I am not selling a ton of items, but I am surprised that I am actually selling some things! I have even had a return customer already and I just began selling with Etsy last month! I am really excited and am planning on putting more of my focus there.

I will be getting more organized, stocking up a bit more and showing you guys more of my stuff. And, I do plan on doing a few more give-aways. Just not quite yet!

Here is the Summer Lemon soap I unveiled just this morning... It smells soooo good! The lemon essential oil I purchased from Brambleberry is the best I have ever smelled, I really am in love with it!

I wont be posting it for a month or so as it has to cure, but I am thinking of doing a whole lemon line, or maybe citrus set.... lemon soap, orange lotion, grapefruit body scrub, lime lip balm, lemon candle, grapefruit bath bombs...... what else can I make???

Albertsons

and finally here it is;

Albertsons Ad Preview

I dont know...  It doesnt look too great this week.  Maybe thats why we waited so long...

Kellogs cereals will be 1.67 again

3lb bags of Granny Smith or Red Delicious apples will be $1.50 (or .50 lb)

some BOGOs....

For those of you who were wondering, I dont actually get the ad early myself, I get it from someone else who is kind enough to share it when he gets it early every week!  So, no, I never really know when its coming either...  ;-(

Want to see your favorite grocers deals?  Check out BeCentsAble!

Discover your local Goodwill (or I will!)

I have been on a quest for used books for my daughter.  I have found them at local thrift shops (few and far between), my favorite childrens consignment shop (a little pricy for me unless on 'sale') and even at used book stores, or 'boutiques' at the outrageous prices they ask!

I know the library is available to us, we do go there every week, but I just prefer not to borrow books as my daughter is still young and usually chews/colors/looses/fills with raisins/rips them.  You know.

Somehow, just today, I remembered that the Goodwill sells books.  The nearest Goodwill is about 30 minutes from my house, and I haven't been there in years.  When I went with my daughter today I was so pleasantly surprised, I mean thrilled!  What a huge selection of things; childrens clothes and books were my top interests today.  If my daughter only had slept in the Ergo a little longer I could have discovered so many other areas Im sure.....

The prices were pretty great. All childrens books were .79, unless otherwise marked, and I think I only saw 2 or 3 of those out of the hundreds lining the shelves.  The kids clothing was organized very well; by age(ish), by sex, by item (long sleeved, or pjs), and by color.   The toys were kind of everywhere, but still somewhat grouped together.

The toys I was able to find for her Easter Basket were great as well. I scored a bunch of Melissa and Doug wooden tool toys, a toy box and peg set for 2.99 all together! I was just amazed at the wonderful playthings they had on the racks.

I was able to scroll through a few clothing racks while hanging on to my now awake and active toddler, sorting out a few quality items at decent prices.  I didn't pay more than $3 for any single item and came home with some really awesome things.  Quality brands do mean a lot to me as I know the better an item is made the longer it will last.  I have seen this with cheap 100% Target shirts that pill after 3 washes vs a consignment Gymboree that holds up to anything.  This in mind I only purchased the Gap, Greendog, Janie and Jack, and Nordstrom today for her.  (the rest are in the wash right now!)

Keep in mind that I had to sort through a fair amount of things I would not consider quality or worth my money.  I imagine Goodwills in wealthier areas have higher quality things.  (I just read they have one in Bellevue!!  mom?  ya ready?)

While we have been donating to the Goodwill for years, this is the first time I have really appreciated how wonderful they really are.  The Goodwill Industries is huge support for the community giving good jobs and active life training and work experience to so many people with disadvantages in life.

Find your local Goodwill here and help support your local economy!

Prefer to shop online?  Check out ShopGoodwill.com.  Too funny!  But, hey, the prices are better than ebay.

...and are these deals still not good enough for you?  (I want more!) Every thursday starts a new half off sale.  Next thursday is 50% off All Pink tags!! (they actually have calenders at the checkout with sales listed, you know I grabbed one,  yippee!)

and as always, Happy Shopping!

convenience (for me!) food

While my husband is away for a few days I have decided in order to make survival of raising a toddler w/ molars coming in and sleep issues without any help, I need to make things easier on myself. I wont be cooking while he is away. I feel this will allow more time playing with our baby and keeping her happy while maintaining my sanity! (aka; not having a huge mess in the kitchen to clean up 3x per day)

While this may seem like no big deal to many of you, keep in mind that we are vegetarian and I keep my daughter on a vegan diet as well. And, we are on a budget and I generally eat really healthy. Fast food is out, 'prepared' frozen meals are out and Im not about to spend big money on gormet veggie take out.

Instead I have prepared a few things for us to enjoy while we are having some quality girl time together.

First, I made a big batch of peanut butter oatmeal muffins that we can have for breakfasts and snacks. They were a little dry so I wont share the recipe!


Second, I made a HUGE salad. I chopped up any vegetable we had, some peas and even a green apple and threw it together. I plan many things for this salad, and have enjoyed a few already!

1: Taco Salad; throw on a can of pinto beans, chips, thousand island

2: Boca Wrap; microwave boca throw in tortilla w/ salad mix and tofu ranch!

3: Soup and Salad; heat up a can of soup, pour balsamic on salad

4: Burrito; heat up a frozen burrito, throw it on salad and pour on salsa

This will keep up happy and healthy while not tempting me to eat chips for dinner or to create a big mess in the kitchen!

(of course I am posting this after he returns home as to not advertise being alone!)

I love winning natural products!

Last week I found out I won this wonderful Zarbees natural cough syrup from Jane at All Together Beautiful.  

So many conventional products used these days are so horribly harmful to our bodies.  That is why I am converting our family slowly to living on 100% natural products.  

My daughter is first, of course!  She has never had any drugs in her little precious body.  I never even took a tylenol during pregnancy!  This cough syrup is something that we will use and continue to buy more of!

As Zarbees is completely natural and loaded with honey, your kids will love it, no horrible drug or alcohol taste!   It is packed with Vitamin C and Zinc, well known for kicking colds and boosting the immune system. 

Harmons stores in Utah seem to carry it, and Im sure others will soon!  The rest of us will have to buy it on-line from the Zarbees site, but shipping is free!

Thank you so much Jane, and thank you Zarbees!

a few freebies...

Get a free BPA free water bottle when you let 5 people (5 different emails) know about Salada tea here. 

Sign up with Quiznos for a free small sub!  Printable coupon expires 5 days from printing. 

Get four free issues of Esquire magazine from Start Sampling.

Walmart is offering Crest Strips Whitening Advanced Seal...  big long fancy name.. blah, blah, blah...

well, thats all I see worth anything right now!