Hurricane Irene=No Power

We lost power Friday night..before Hurricane Irene even hit NC. Let me just say, it's an understatement when I tell you we got bored. The power ended up being out for a total of 47 hours-enough for us to loose our minds and all the ice cream in the freezer to melt. Here's a little recap of our weekend.
The picture isn't very good since I had to take it through the window (no rain for my camera!), but when there's a hurricane, you no longer see the normal MP cars...they get replaced with Humvees.

Friday night the rain and wind got pretty crazy and there were tornado warnings popping up for quite a while. Even though it was all out of my control, I could not get myself to go to sleep...and apparently Lexi decided she wanted to stay up and keep me company. She was excited to watch Monsters Inc. on the Ipod. By the time she went back to sleep at almost 3, I was finally exhausted enough to catch a few hours of sleep.

With no power, we had to find other things to occupy ourselves. After painting my own nails/toes, I decided to paint Lexi's little piggies for the first time. The first food was a piece of cake-she sat perfectly still while she looked at her magazine, so my only trouble was painting her teeny tiny toenails with a normal sized brush. The second foot on the other hand, was not so easy. She felt the need to kick her leg out every time the brush got close to her foot..resulting in some much needed nail polish remover.

How I prepare for a hurricane

I dye my hair, do 3 loads of laundry, cut up veggies for homemade pizza, make enchilada sauce, do LOTS of dishes, and.......make cheesecake!! Weather permitting, we are all getting together this weekend..and it's been a while since I've made cheesecake, so this was my food volunteer.

But then I decided to make not just any old cheesecake....but raspberry swirl cheesecake! That's right, I'm sharing my very special, most favorite raspberry sauce (thanks to Ed & Nicole!).
My NC friends are never allowed to say I don't love them-because I could eat this whole darn thing. This is only my 2nd cheesecake, so we'll see how it turns out. I actually just took it out of the oven and I'm hoping it's as good as it looks!
Now I'm off to make pizza dough!

And mom, since I know you have to be wondering, yes I really am preparing-the grill and trash can are strapped down to the porch, I've been making tons of ice, filtering lots of water, and after Lexi's bath I am filling the tub with water. :) Just drizzles so far-we'll see what tomorrow brings!

Couponing again...

..sorry! Writing about my couponing gets me all excited! lol Here's last week..it was a slow week!

CVS:
-Body wash: $3.79-$3 CVSQ (was for free bodywash up to $3..they were out of the $2.79 size)
-CVS band-aids: FREE w/CVSQ from coupon machine
-not pictured: FREE Hershey bar w/CVSQ from coupon machine
*90% savings!

Rite Aid:
-Mentos 50 ct gum: sale $2/4-$1/non prescription purchase RAQ-(2) $1/1 Mentos MFQ= $.50 each + $1 RR
*87% savings! (100% if you add in the RR)


This week wasn't too bad, but I wasn't paying attention and A COUPON WAS LOST! Yes, I'm still mad.
CVS:
-Mtn Dew 12 pk: sale $2.50
-Starburst bags: sale $2/6-B1G1 w/CVSQ from coupon machine(took off $4.29!)-(2) $1/1 bag MFQ=$.29 overage!
*81% savings!
Target (I'm going to attempt to remain calm):
-Vasaline Men Lotion: $2.99-$1 TQ (should have also been a $1.50 MFQ, but it was tiny and apparently was lost by the cashier, and I-trying to deal with Miss grouchy-was not paying attention)=$1.99
-Schmucker's Jelly: $1.99-$.55 MFQ-$1 TQ= $.44
-Papermate Pens: $1-$1 TQ= FREE
-Degree deoderant: $.97-$1 MFQ= FREE
-(2) Tide Single Load: $.97-$1 MFQ= FREE
-Bathing suit top: $3.74-$3 Mobile TQ= $.74
*86% savings!

Other deals: At Walmart, I got another trial pack of Cascade for a $.03 MM, and Rimmel eye shadow for $.47; at the Commissary, I got 4 tubes of Aquafresh for $.50 each and 2 boxes of Playtex tampons for $1.02 each.

Beach!!

Today we decided to FINALLY take Lexi to the beach. Yeah, it only took us 13 months to get this kid to the beach that we live 15-20 min away from. Wanyi and Melvin came too, and Lexi very much enjoyed Uncle Melvin teaching her how to scoop sand into her little bucket. She had it made in the shade: her own umbrella, using mom's laying-out chair, sippy cup, cheerios, and friends to show how to play in the sand.And once the boys took their boards in the water, she was on her own to plop her lil booty in the sand. And eat rocks. I guess that's what I get for taking a kid who literally will put anything in her mouth to the beach with rocks and shells in the sand.For as much as she has disliked the pool so far, I wasn't so sure she would like this trip, especially once she discovered the ocean. The closer we got to the water, the tighter she held on to daddy.
And once he put her down, it was all over. She even cried when I went in the water by myself.
But the ocean didn't eat anybody; we all survived and even snuck in a trip to Red Robin at the request of our hungry boys who thought unlimited fries was the greatest idea ever. (Until they figured out how big the hamburgers were)

Friday=Grouchday

For some reason, Lexi woke up right at 7 in a not-so-happy mood; this has happened quite a bit the past few days and keeps getting worse. I'm hoping it's teeth and they pop through soon! (I'm not a fan of these constant bi-polarish mood swings) However, on a better note, Lexi found a new snack to love-cinnamon graham crackers. She even gets to use her new little teeth to bite pieces off.
But, of course, as soon as I wiped her hands and face...back to Miss Moody

My Big Girl

I don't know why, but this outfit she wore yesterday made her look so big. Which she is...no more little baby here!

And today, she wondered off into her room...to none other than the bookshelf! I love that she's a little bookworm like her mommy :)

Mmm Ice Cream!

Daddy and Lexi were cuddling while he decided he needed an ice cream snack...and of course there's no holding back from sharing in this house.What? You think I ate ice cream?!!

More of my couponing addiction...

...but hey, at least I only buy things we already do or will use and I follow the rules on couponing! Which makes it all the more exciting!

I was really excited about this week's couponing (well, last week) and although I ended up having to take the munchkin, it all went well.Commissary:
-(4) Crest Mouthwash on sale for $2.99-$2 MFQ= $.99 (you better believe I was all over that deal since Zack is very particular about having plenty of floss and mouthwash)

WalMart:
-(2) Suave deoderant reg price $.97-$.75 MFQ= $.22
-(4) Cascade trial packs reg price $.97-$1 MFQ= $.03 moneymaker each!

Target:
-Strawberry Shortcake band-aids reg price $1.87-$1 MFQ-$.75 TQ= $.12
-Garnier Hair Color reg price $6.49-$3 MFQ-$2 TQ= $1.49
-Papermate pens sale $.75-$.75= FREE
-Rimmel Eye Shadow reg price $2.49-$2= $.49
-Up & up pantyliners reg price $.89-$.75 TQ= $.14
-20 4x6 prints on sale for $.10 each-$2/20 TQ= FREE



And here's my baby deals...since I forgot about those until after I put everything else away.
CVS:
-Transaction 1: Pampers Swadders on sale $8.99-$3 CVSQ for my bday-$2 MFQ= $3.99 + $3 ECB
-Transaction 2: Pampers Swadders on sale $8.99-$3 ECB-$2 MFQ= $3.99
(The Naval Hospital provides these when you give birth-and since we were there 7 days, I got hooked on these diapers, so I am doing all the couponing I can to stock up for the next one!)
-AND I still have a coupon for free bodywash at CVS that were out of stock

BRU:
-Pampers swim diapers on sale $5-GC= FREE (technically not a couponing deal, but a good sale!)


My couponing isn't always as good as this week, but weeks like this make it all worth it!

Last week's freebies

I love free stuff to add to my "stash shelf". Here's my breakdown:
* all 3 hair products were from free full-size product coupons I got just by paying attention to the companies' facebooks
*Target hydrogen peroxide was only $.59; there was a printable Target coupon for $.75 off a first aid item (coupon adjusts down to price, no overage)
*Cottonelle's website will send you and a friend a free coupon for moist wipes (I actually have another pack in the closet that I sent to my "friend", aka my mom's address!)
*Ortega's website allows you to print a $1/2 Ortega products coupon...taco seasoning is only $.50 at the Commissary
*Coupons.com had a $1 Reach product...I printed 2, took them to Walmart where floss is only $.88 each and got $.12 overage each!

I may be a stay at home mom (for now), but I do my part! And I love doing it!! :)

My latest food love..

Paninis!! This is my quick, inhaling-lunch-since-Lexi-is-sleeping-and-I-have-things-to-do, post. I have been craving a good panini for a long time, so I decided to try it out since I had to go to the commissary this morning. First stop: individual multi-grain "rolls"; then on to the deli for smoked turkey and provolone. Once I got home I realized I had nothing to use as a sauce, so I just mixed a little spicy brown mustard and mayo. While I broiled the bread alone, and then with cheese, I sauted some red onion to add some more flavor. And since I have no panini maker, I just used a skillet and smashed the sandwich down with a heavy canister.

YUM! (I ate half before I was able to put it down to take a picture.) :)

"Sweet" baby

Lately, Lexi has been having a lot of "sweet" moments: laying her head on me or a pillow, hugging her baby or a toy. I say "awww" when she does it (which is probably why she does it all the time) and she gives me a sweet little smile. I tried sneaking a picture of it, but for some reason she is feeling super silly tonight and just wanted to lay on her baby.
Piggies and piggy-tails peeking out from the toy pile.
Of course, that sweet little baby never stays long...as we speak, she is going between head-butting the computer, biting my toe, and hitting-all of which she knows she is not supposed to do. (She is not too happy that mommy made her sit on the floor after she wouldn't stop hitting)

And you can now add slobbering on my knee and gagging herself to the list. We're going to attempt a bath-wish me luck.