coupon crazy

I've been learning wonderful ways to stretch our dollars in the hogue home.  I've enjoyed the brain exercise.  It is like solving a puzzle to figure out what products to buy that will last the longest and are the most economical.  I also enjoy figuring out what I can make with a can of stewed tomatoes, flour, sliced ham, and an orange (I made this list up so I don't have any recipes or anything).  It is my joy to see an empty pantry and fridge and then take a big trip to the store.  It means we used our resources well.  Delight!  I'm also actively learning how to make the most of couponing.  I requested at the library the book "The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your  Bills In Half"(am I supposed to underline a book title--I can never remember) (more economical than buying--I have reignited my love of the library) and began pouring over it and making notes.  I found blogs and websites (including Couponmom.com) to help gather all manner of coupons and am taking baby steps in how to take advantage of double/triple couponing, BOGO (buy one get one...), and other smart tips.  I started this venture and saw more and more people jumping on the couponing/bargain hunting bandwagon (or discovered people already on it).  I think it is a movement among frugal mothers.

Anyhoo, this is just background information for why I was on the website www.slickdeals.com.  I found that Home Depot was selling 4ft. by 4ft. raised garden beds for $9!  It was originally $29!  That is a huge deal!  I bought 3 (they are back ordered but so what?!).  I basically bought 3 for the price of 1.  Excellent!  And this was not a purchase that was needless.  I had been in the market for just such a product.  We wanted to start a garden but protect the garden from our dog and also make it look a little dressed up.  Perfect!  I see this as an investment (a small one at that!  yeah!) in furthering our dollar bills because gardening will bring us some organic vegetables without the high cost.  There is such a high from a good deal.  And unlike other highs, this one has proven to be quite affordable.  ;)

I never thought I would say this...

but moving away from Jackson sounds like a harmless and fun adventure.  I suppose now that I am no longer a single girl attached to a friend group or community like I once was (which was for dear life) I can entertain the idea of moving away.  I do love jackson and all our friends and the familiarity of it all.  We do have strong roots there.  However, for the past year, which I guess means since David was born, I can take or leave Jackson.  I don't need the familiarity and connections of Jackson because I have the connections of my own nuclear family.  I have both Davids.  Of course, I know that we need community AND to be utterly philosophical the community needs us (we are a part in the body of Christ, after all).  But when you are at home most of the time and your interactions with friends (going out for coffee or what-have-you) is so limited than I started seeing that I could really move anywhere and still maintain that level of connection.  I'm a lot more mobile than I used to be.  I can still keep up with friends (who are all moving away one by one, anyhow) through email/facebook/blogs, make new ones, and be content. 

Jackson is my home.  I didn't grow up here but I have learned to love it.  As time goes by, however, I get frustrated with the....what's the word?...stiffness?  stodginess?  stuffiness? of the culture.  I would never say I was a flibbertigibbet that partied or anything.  However, being from South Louisiana, we were just a lot more laid back than our Mississippi friends further north.  Not bad.  Just not me.  David Sr. agrees.  So, here we are in Florida, enjoying being in a college town with so many cool places to hang out and eat.  We like the vibe.  Laid back.  You see it in the clothing, and cars, and the attitude.  It is breathing fresh air.  Money isn't as important here as it is in Jackson.  Also, everyone rides their bike and walks in this part of town.  I love that!  I can walk to get a yogurt, a smoothie, a sandwich, a burrito, a doughnut.  It is great!  We just came back from a PCA church where we felt comfortable and welcomed.  We got to chat with the pastor and he was very open and friendly.  I can seriously see myself living here.  Funny that I never really considered Florida as a place to live but why not?  I think I would like it.  Plus, people could visit us on the way to the beach. 

We will be in Jackson, Lord willing, for another few years.  I'm still in love with our house and look forward to fixing it up bit by bit.   But I can see myself gearing up for a move.  It won't be as scary as I once thought it was.

Havin' fun with hats

swimming

He took to swimming like a ...a fish to water.  Both Davids were blinding with their translucent skin!  I thought Jr. would be scared but he was ready to hop right on out of our arms and swim on his own.  We couldn't let him, of course.  He starts making happy sounds as soon as he even sees the pool.  This was the second time he swam in a pool.  The week before we left for Gainesville we took him to our gym, The Club, and let him swim with us there.  He LOVED it!  We had a hard time getting him out.  Note to self:  don't make plans to leave a pool with a child that will be hungry or sleepy around that time.

just a thought

I would really really like to learn how to make slipcovers and reupholster furniture.  That way I could just redesign any junk yard find.  That's all.

David is one! (ok, he's been one for almost a month but blame my laptop)

I enjoyed planning this little event.  An  intimate birthday party to celebrate our surviving a year of parenthood...uh...I mean David's year of life.  Of course, we are delighted to have him in our lives and he is worth celebrating.  I decided that because the only thing he seems to love with reckless abandonment is our chocolate lab, Cora, that we would make this the theme of his birthday party. 

I made a pawprint chocolate cake with Nana's (David Sr.'s maternal grandmother)  famous icing.  Those are bones by the toes that were made from that cake.  It was going to be a simple double layer cake but one of the layers crumbled too much so I decided a pawprint was more than appropriate. 

I decorated with streamers and a few helium balloons in blue (b/c David is a boy) and brown (b/c Cora is brown).  Makes sense, doesn't it?  Here we are about to sing "happy birthday" if we can only get the video camera working.   The grandmothers are posing for a picture.

Singing "happy birthday".  He wasn't sure what to think, but he didn't seem to dislike it. 

Posing with the little guy who has changed our lives for the better.  We love him so much!  He is eating an apple muffin (because there was NO WAY I would give him chocolate).  I found a good recipe for one year olds and it was made with no sugar just applesauce.  It didn't have any eggs either.  I got a lot of grief for it but I stand by that decision especially when I saw him enjoy it!  There will be plenty of time, Lord willing, for him to get addicted to sugar like the rest of us.  :)

Sweetly feeding momma.  He gets a big kick about putting anything in our mouths or Cora's mouth.  Cora doesn't mind it either if it's food.

This is a boy with a full and happy belly.

David and Grandmere enjoying catching up since David's trip to Italy and Greece.

We got David several bouncy balls and dinosaurs and a truck.  He loves them.  He also got some great books and a superduper stuffed animal that we can hook up to the computer to personalize.  Thank you everyone!  We had a great time and were thankful for all of you to share our joy.  This little party was more for David and I to celebrate a year of good fortune and blessings from the Lord.  We only wish we had champagne there, too.   I think we will try that next year. 

One year down and Lord willing many more to go....

my first king cake (yes, i know it's april)

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!  I'm a little late putting these online but back in February I attempted a king cake.  I didn't buy anything special for it such as purple, gold, and green sprinkles but who cares, right?!  I found the recipe online and hoped for the soft bread with sprinkles from my childhood.  I think I messed up with the butter and the texture of this cake ended up a lot like a scone.  Tasty but not king cake.  I still thought it looked pretty.  I decided since all I had were red and colored sprinkles that it was a Valentine's/King Cake.  No rules in the kitchen, right?!

computer issues

Our laptop is having some issues that I believe are "fatal".  So, I have been unable to connect on facebook or on the blogosphere.  All is well on our side of the world/street/city.  We are just marooned on the "without service" island.  The computer does work occasionally.  Never when we want it to.  So, my checks on the internet are sporadic and infrequent.  Just letting you know. 

mamma mia, here i go again....

Last year France took my husband for a week.  Fortunately he was back in time to see his firstborn son arrive 6 weeks early.  This year, Italy is the culprit and this beautiful country (so I read) is taking him for 10 days.  I'm not pregnant this time but I do have a crawling young 'un to care for.  I kept going back and forth as to what to do with myself while my better half was gone.  I debated staying at home and eating cereal every night while watching very girlie movies while my son napped.  I have a tendency to hole up every now and then.  I figured that I would hibernate and consequently feel lonely.  It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to get me out to see friends or the grocery store.  I debated going to visit friends in different parts of the South.  However, the idea of driving longer than typical with an 11 mos. old without the help of my husband seemed too daunting.  Plus, I would have to find and pay a dog/house sitter. So, naturally, I am heading to my parent's house.  I'm bringing a few projects with me to have fun with and plan to make a trip or two to Blockbusters.  I'll sew, I'll plan David Jr.'s 1st birthday party, I'll watch too much t.v. (good thing), and I'll visit sweet friends and probably family.  I do have a challenge in getting there.  I am somehow to take my dog and child in one car to LA.  This wouldn't be a big deal if I could make it to my destination without any stops but not a chance.  We've had to stop at least once anytime we've made a trip to my parent's house.   Usually David Sr. would walk the dog while I nursed the baby.  Uhhhh....how in the world is this going to happen now?  I'll figure it out.  It may be messy.  I may get flustered.  But I will make it.  I figure I will put Jr. in a sling while walking Cora.  I hope to find a nice large grassy area in order to let her run free.  Pray for David's trip (safety, peace while traveling--he is a nervous flyer, kids' safety, etc) and for me (stamina and energy, Jr. being happy and healthy, safe smooth trip there and back). 

PS.  Our home computer is not working right now because it will not charge.  *shrug*  So, if you are trying to reach me via facebook or hotmail just know that I'm not ignoring you.  I have to wait until I am at work (where I am right now) or at my parent's house to use the internet.

brain down the drain

I can no longer trust what used to be so dependable--my mind.  It has betrayed me time and again.  I was rehabbing it for awhile by "transforming it by the renewing of my mind" kind-of-way.  I made great strides in that regard but several steps backward in another.  But then I got pregnant and had a baby.  Since then I have seen a serious memory deficit.  Here is the recent mishap.  Last week, one of my classes was scheduled to take an exam.  When my babysitter arrived, I was ready to print out said exam.  My computer decided it had enough of my dictatorship over its keys and such and died.  It must have conspired with our charger cord because it decided that it wasn't going to work in any outlet.  I was seriously late by the time I realized that these two "enemies" were sticking to their guns.  I left for the class with the decision to take my computer and work on it at the school.  Twenty minutes into the drive, I realize that I left what DID get printed on the printer.  By that time, I was ready to raise my white flag.  It worked out fine that day.  Like most students, they were glad to have an extra week to study.  We started the next unit instead. 

Today, I was prepared to be prepared.  I had the test already printed out and set it where I was not going to miss it as I headed out the door.  I got to school and realized that in all the energy it took my brain to remember the test, I forgot the textbook.  I usually keep both textbooks I use in the car.   Sigh.  Not a big deal for my students but it was not part of the plan.  I see that I cannot rely on my brain as I once had.  Its capabilities are limited until my child (and whatever future children) are grown...or at least sleeping through the night.  I know you other moms can relate.  I can only laugh at myself and move on.