Sharing's Essential

New Shoes Necessary?

2009-08-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

My Trey starts kindergarten this week, and he's all ready to go...all except for the new shoes. I have insisted on buying him new outfits for school while his father has insisted that his old clothes are fine. He's got a bag full of the recommended school supplies....and I am just going ga-ga over this new pair of shoes (actually two pairs) that I feel like he JUST MUST HAVE. Then it hit me tonight while baking bread (from scratch, HAY!) he doesn't need new shoes for this week. I thought, well, he can get them this weekend. But after thinking about it a little more...um...he can get new shoes when this old pair is, well, OLD! It just doesnt make sense to buy new shoes when he doesnt need a pair. And I think that it sends him a message that its perfectly fine to use what you have. Grant it, his 4Ts were getting a bit small, so I can so-so justify spending $85.00 on a few new outfits, but $35 to $45 bucks on a pair of shoes when it's not necessary, I think I'll be the wiser and save my money. I'm so proud of myself! Fred's going to be delighted!

Weekly Menu

2009-08-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Monday - Dinner with the Family Jambalya with Rice
Tuesday - Chicken C. with salad
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Chicken salad/Chicken with French Fries
Friday - Philly Cheese Steaks
Saturday - L. Fish Sticks D. Sandwiches (Meatball Subs would be nice)
Sunday - Roast, potatoes, celery, carrots, onions, rice, home made bread

My goal is to use all of the veggies we bought today this week. Today fruits and veggies made up almost 10% of our food total ($17.93), so I want to make sure we eat all of it. I had a converation with a lady in the produce section...she was lamenting about the expensive cost of dill...simple dill. Her comment was that we need to start a garden. She was so on point. I could have saved $20 bucks today if I had a garden. While I know that I would not have been able to grow the bananas (probably not) I could have had an alternative...a free alternative! So as soon as the baby girl comes, I plan to start my garden!

Partying Hard!

2008-09-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

Once again the Diva Glam Squad had an amazing night! We gathered to celebrate our friend, Cythia's, birthday and Ph.D. candidacy. We had a great time dancing the night away. Our guys even hung out with us.

Friends

2008-09-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Finally, a real Mom's Morning Out.....with mimosas and my girlfriends! Whew! I needed it! We celebrated Trina and Cynthia's birthdays with a breakfast brunch at a local eatery. We had a splendid time catching up on Danya's wedding plans, Cynthia's party plans, kids' school schedules, afterschool activities, party planning, hair techniques, and on and on and on. None of us talked about work...how surprising is that? It was so nice to fellowship. I heard another friends say once that she "prayed for good friends and the Creator sent them." So, heck, I did the same thing -- thinking, if it worked for her, it'll worked for me. "Ask and ye shall receive." And I received! I'm convinced that friends help the world go 'round! I'm ever-so thankful for my Crew!

And So It Begins!

2008-09-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I couldn't hold her off any longer. On a recent trip home, my Grandmother introduced Baby Kaden to his first banana. AND HE LOVED IT! He just ate it up! As you can see he was itching to get more and more! I've found that on this second trip down "parenting lane," I'm much more laid back and chill about his timetable. Kaden was ready to eat. I have to roll with that. Since his intro (thanks Granny) he's been eating cereal more frequently and throws his hands up for more. Sweet pea!

Saying Goodbye

2008-09-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

Recently my family lost its matriarch. My Grandmother Lois passed away in mid-August and we had to say goodbye. She'd been sick these last few months....her health had actually been dwindling since the hurricanes back in 2004. I remember thinking about how depressed she seemed after her house was destroyed in Hurricane Ivan. She lost everything...well all of her worldly possessions except the shell of her house. I remember her saying that what she missed most were her pictures. Pictures of my Grandfather who had long passed. Pictures of her children and friends who had passed over. My Grandmother lost four children before she died, two as infants and two as adults. I can't begin to imagine the heartache, how her soul ached for her babies. So in her passing, I have charged myself to LOOK FOR THE LESSON. I know, because I belive in the Creator's supreme teachings, that there is lesson in everything. Lesson in the white birds that flew above me today, lesson in the strangers that walked up to me to play with Kaden's fat chubby hands, lesson in going back to the store to pay for the things left in my grocery cart, lesson in my rushing today to get everything on my FOUR sticky notes DONE, lesson after lesson after lesson. I just have to pay attention. And there is a lesson for me to take from my Grandmother's life. Lessons from my relationship with her. Lessons from words spoken and unspoken. Everything and everyone we love must perish and leave this earth. Pay attention.

Sharing with Friends

2008-08-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

We recently had a night out on the town to celebrate our friends' engagement. Congratulations to Danya and Major! They'll be jumping the broom on April 4, 2009.

A Money Saving Tip

2008-08-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

Times are tough and money is tight. As a smart money saving tip, buy local when you can. Transporting food long distances is one culprit behind rising grocery prices. There is a local food growers market every Wednesday beginning at 3:00 pm at Lake Ella in Tallahassee (behind Black Dog Cafe). Stop by and support local growers. Eat a little greener....and save a little green.

Sheer Exhaustion

2008-08-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I must have forgotten how extremely exhausting having a little one can be. Baby K tossed and turned all last night, so you know what that means...no sleep for Mommy. It was about 6am before he took a brief nap, then up again. At about 10am Daddy took the boys to his Dads and I KNOCKED OUT! It was the most peaceful sleep I've had a in a long time. I was all burried under the comforter. After about 3 hours, I jumped up with energy and started cleaning house. I was so revived. I knew these days were coming (back), but I was hoping to have one of those experiences you hear other Moms talk about..."my baby slept through the night at 3 months!" Huh! Not my kid-os. But life is good. My dear husband is a blessing. And I have to admit that something can be said for having family nearby. Granddaddy's house came through today, on the real!

Internet Age

2008-08-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight my four year old son asked me if he could go to "www.com, Alvin and the Chipmunks." I stopped dead in my tracks. First of all, HE'S FOUR!! Secondly, HE'S FOUR!! Finally, did he just say www? I imagine it was inevitable. He's familiar with the computer, very techno-savy like his father, but I am not sure I was ready for the langauge that accompanies being technically inclined. You feel me? While I took some time to let his maturity level and my ignorance (and utter denial) to his maturity level sink in, he asked me about www.com, Alvin and the Chipmunks, all night. I just don't think I'm ready for the Internet and this 4 year old child. What will it be next? My space? Facebook? Like the kids say, OMG!

Why Blog??

2008-08-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

Well, why not? I find myself talking to and with myself these days. With a growing family, a busy household, and working full time, there are numerous conversations taking place (some outloud, some in my brain) all the time. So I figure that blogging will be a way to share some of the maddness with the world. My friend Katie has a blog (www.bedlamatthebradshaws.blogspot.com) and we recently visited their family. She's such an inspiration--a great mom and an awesome homemaker. So I took a leap and created a blog of my own. This will be a place to chat, share, and just live a little bit.