Bead Jewelry Giveaway!

While networking in the Mommy Blog websites, I met a wonderful Stay at Home Mom, Tina, who has her own Bead Jewelry business. She has 4 children and a adoring husband, all of whom she is in charge of making sure the household runs smoothly.

Last year after a successful beading class, she began making jewelry for herself and daughter, but the requests began pouring in from family and friends. Her jewelry is beautiful and she has be gracious enough to give away one of her pieces.

Please visit her website www.tolivelaughbead.blogspot.com to check out her pieces!!!

The piece she will be giving away to one lucky person is a beaded cross, black in color, Faith bead in the center, comes on ribbon, cord, or metal choker. Choice of the winner!

Enter with Raffle copter and a winner will be chosen on February 8^th! GOOD LUCK!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stationery Card

Tickled Pink Peppermint Valentine's Card

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View the entire collection of cards.

Valentines Giveaway

I've teamed up with The Frugal Fairy and other great blogs bring you The Frugal Fairy's Valentine's Day Giveaway!

The Giveaway runs from 1/31 - 2/6. Single and Daily Entries.

US Only. Great Prizes, 1 winner!

Sponsored by:

Folky Art Studio -

Les Creations de Florence -

Sarah Allen's Lia Sophia -

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter Form below.

If the widget isn’t showing, please refresh your browser or click “Read More” to enter.

Couponing

So I have been couponing for about 4 months now. I am not really good at it, sometimes we get a super deal, most of the time we don't. I have the binder, a place at the desk for everything, but not a lot of time to really get into it. I see these people get these awesome deals weekly, some that as soon as they get their paper and sales ads are on the road to get whatever product for a couple pennies. I sit here thinking, 'how in the world are they doing it?' How do they find the time to match everything up and go?



After working 40 hours, having the girls in the evenings, and trying to spend some quality time with my husband, who has time to be online all evening checking for coupons and match ups. Well one thing is for sure, I would like to find the time. I would like to save more. As a family of 4 now, we are going to be going through certains items faster the older the girls get.



I'm hoping it will come in due time. Hailey is only 3 months, still getting up at night, I am still exhausted most of the day then getting up with her. Ava is going to bed later and waking up early still. There really is no "ME" time to work on this. But I am still working at it. I still clip. I still organize in my binder. I don't even DO the grocery shopping. Kenny does. So I clip, organize, and hand off to him. Sometimes he uses them, sometimes he doesn't.

Any websites or tips for couponing are always appreciated as I am still learning. I am on a few websites and I see what others are doing. Maybe one day I will be really good at it. But I think with 2 little ones, life will always be just a little busy where when it comes right down to it, I will choose sleep over couponing!

Almost in the Top 200

So since really starting this whole new way of blogging and trying to get more followers, even opening a twitter account. My husband is still making fun of me for it. I have been connecting with moms on TopMommyBlogs.com. It has been fun to read others stories, get receipes, see how others deal with the same thing my family is going through, making friends, and seeing funny pictures of little ones. As everyone has been voting, I am in the mid 200's. Never thought that I would even crack the top 300 when I first started. I wasnt doing it for the votes, I wanted to connect with other moms, start the giveaways, and just have fun doing what I love, writing. So here we sit, maybe one day well be down in the top 200. That would be fun.

Counting

Ava has started counting. She will be talking to you and start counting. It's so darn cute. Kenny and I just look at each other. She is doing great in the learning department. She is figuring out colors, ABCs, and counting of course. She can now count to 12/13 by herself and I try to chime in as fast as I can to coach her along to at least 20. Sometimes she will repeat, sometimes I get a devilish smile and "Noooo Mommy."

So Ava will call my name "Mooooommmy" or "Daaaaadddy" then say 3,4,5,6 right afterwards. She will be talking on her phone to whomever and start "7,8,9,10". To just listen to her is amazing to me. This little girl who at one day and time couldnt even hold her head up on her own is growing so fast, putting complete sentences together, expressing her opinions, and mouthy as ever.

Now she is counting. I just love watching her develop.

Hold On..

I hear myself saying this phrase more than once during the day. Over and over I am telling Ava to 'hold on' or 'hang on a minute' or 'give me a minute'. Clingy doesnt even describe the phase we are dealing with right now. For almost 2 weeks now, I can not even go to the bathroom without her either by my side or banging on the door. She has always went through these moments, mommy must do everything, no one can do anything for her but me. Yes its flattering, she only wants ME to change her clothes, give her a bath, and help her with whatever she needs, but on the other hand there are 2 parents in this house. She hasnt let her daddy help with much. In fact, even when she begs to go with him to the store and they come back, he is NOT allowed to get her out of her carseat. I must go out in the cold, wind, or rain and get her out or we have to deal with a major meltdown.

You might be thinking, SPOILED right?! Well yes a little but we are also picking our battles. Ava is a very strong willed and stubborn 2 year old. She has a strong blood line of it. She tells you what she thinks. So for the moment, Mommy is doing everything, Daddy tries to help as much as possible.

This time I believe the clingy is a little stronger, maybe its because Hailey is around, maybe its because of my work schedule, or maybe its just her being her. Whatever it is, for 2 weeks now I have been carrying her around, holding her, doing her baths, and everything else. It isn't bad when Kenny is home, he can help with Hailey or at least help with Ava crying while I am trying to do something. She hasnt been too awful when he isnt home, but I am consistantly asking her to 'hold on a minute' or 'hang on' so that I can feed, change, or hold Hailey for 2 seconds while she needs something.

Most nights she has been sitting on my lap with Hailey, or right beside me. I havent discouraged it any since I know one day she will not be like this at all. She will only cling on me when she wants something or is sick. Now I am taking it all in, as exhausting as it all is and reminding myself everyday that she will only be 2 once and then she wont. One day she will leave me to be on her own and I might get a phone call. So I am just going to keep repeating to her to 'hold on' so that I can have a minute then come back and put her on my lap as I have been.

Please vote!!