After hearing about the show Extreme Couponing and after watching a few clips on the internet and reading about the money that can be saved, earned or not spent at all by extreme couponing; I have become curious as to how these people do it. I have read blogs, I have watched videos and now I feel as though I am ready to join the madness. I want to join the madness only because it will help our budget. Not because I want to stockpile a room in our house with three cases of toothpaste that I got for a few dollars or nothing at all but because I want to be able to buy the necessities our family needs at a really good price.
A friend of mine and I are talking about a "girls" night to cut coupons and maybe exchange coupons etc. Maybe we will start a club- maybe not- but either way our goal is to save money. To save ourselves a little grief at the grocery store and provide our family's with the things we need at little or no cost.
Am I crazy!? This means I have to be more organized and I have to dedicate one more evening of my time to something else. No, I can't be crazy to want to do this so my husband doesn't have to take on another job, so that we can spend more time together and be able to plan better for the things we want and need to do in the future. I have to do this and I will, for my family!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Great News, New Challenges and a New Outlook.
We have great news! I'm so excited to share. :-) Derek and I have officially decided to bring my girls home from Milton Hershey School. For those of you who don't know about MHS, I'd like to take a moment to tell you about it.
Milton Hershey School was founded by Milton S. Hershey of Hershey Foods Inc. (You know those delicious Hershey Bars, Hershey Kisses etc. Milton and his wife could not concieve children so he took his entire fortune from his company to build a school for orphan boys. Their mission was to assist these boys in having a future, follow God and be successful in education and work. In the last 101 years (They celebrated their 100th anniversary last year.) the school has evolved to change with the times. They school opened it's doors to girls in the 70s (I think) and has been continuing to open it's doors to under privileged and economically challenged students. It is NOT a military school, or a behavioral academy. They provide students with what their parent/s aren't able to provide either financially or recreationally.
I made the decision 4 years ago (before I met Derek) to enroll my girls into the school. I was tired of working two to three jobs to try and provide for them and myself. I rarely saw them and they were practically raised in a daycare (that I was only able to send them to with public assistance). I didn't qualify for much assistance so all my money went for food, housing, transportation and utility bills. I wanted more for them and because I wanted them to have more opportunities and not feel like they never had opportunities. I sacrificed the hardest thing, my time with them. I sacrificed being with them everyday, tucking them in at night, sending them off to school in the morning. I missed every first day of school and missed watching their school events. It was hard, no worse, it was crushing. But not anymore!
In December, Derek agreed to let me take on a PT job in order to save on daycare because we were already in the planning process to bring the girls home after the wedding. I started my PT job the first week in January. The first two months were super stressful due to the fact that I had never done accounting, payroll, filed witholding taxes or been involved with an audit. But I hit the ground running. I got through the audits and I learned quicker than ever and by the seat of my pants.
Then I found out the girls were on the roster to stay for summer school, I didn't want them to have to stay for summer school which shortens their 6 week summer down to just 3 weeks. Summer school at MHS isn't just for failing kids, but also an opportunity to get up to MHS high level of educational standards. So Derek and I decided we would pull the girls out of MHS right before the wedding. It made sense because they would then get to meet new friends where we live and have playmates during the summer. And of course that evolved into, their Easter break was over just a week and a half before the wedding, so it really made sense to just bring them home on April 15. :-)
But with that great news comes a new set of stress, we still have final details to get done for the wedding, my dress isn't done, I have papers and two presentations yet to do before finals week and I have to juggle the adjustment of getting 3 ready in the morning instead of 1. I know I'm ready for it, I just don't know how I'm going to do it. All this gives me a new outlook though, I have watched friends struggle with life obstacles all while working and going to school and raising kids and if they can do it. So can I, especially with the love and support that Derek has given me/us. I have noticed a new sense of calm in me, one that comes from experience that things will always get better and from the knowledge that I am where I'm supposed to be.
Milton Hershey School was founded by Milton S. Hershey of Hershey Foods Inc. (You know those delicious Hershey Bars, Hershey Kisses etc. Milton and his wife could not concieve children so he took his entire fortune from his company to build a school for orphan boys. Their mission was to assist these boys in having a future, follow God and be successful in education and work. In the last 101 years (They celebrated their 100th anniversary last year.) the school has evolved to change with the times. They school opened it's doors to girls in the 70s (I think) and has been continuing to open it's doors to under privileged and economically challenged students. It is NOT a military school, or a behavioral academy. They provide students with what their parent/s aren't able to provide either financially or recreationally.
I made the decision 4 years ago (before I met Derek) to enroll my girls into the school. I was tired of working two to three jobs to try and provide for them and myself. I rarely saw them and they were practically raised in a daycare (that I was only able to send them to with public assistance). I didn't qualify for much assistance so all my money went for food, housing, transportation and utility bills. I wanted more for them and because I wanted them to have more opportunities and not feel like they never had opportunities. I sacrificed the hardest thing, my time with them. I sacrificed being with them everyday, tucking them in at night, sending them off to school in the morning. I missed every first day of school and missed watching their school events. It was hard, no worse, it was crushing. But not anymore!
In December, Derek agreed to let me take on a PT job in order to save on daycare because we were already in the planning process to bring the girls home after the wedding. I started my PT job the first week in January. The first two months were super stressful due to the fact that I had never done accounting, payroll, filed witholding taxes or been involved with an audit. But I hit the ground running. I got through the audits and I learned quicker than ever and by the seat of my pants.
Then I found out the girls were on the roster to stay for summer school, I didn't want them to have to stay for summer school which shortens their 6 week summer down to just 3 weeks. Summer school at MHS isn't just for failing kids, but also an opportunity to get up to MHS high level of educational standards. So Derek and I decided we would pull the girls out of MHS right before the wedding. It made sense because they would then get to meet new friends where we live and have playmates during the summer. And of course that evolved into, their Easter break was over just a week and a half before the wedding, so it really made sense to just bring them home on April 15. :-)
But with that great news comes a new set of stress, we still have final details to get done for the wedding, my dress isn't done, I have papers and two presentations yet to do before finals week and I have to juggle the adjustment of getting 3 ready in the morning instead of 1. I know I'm ready for it, I just don't know how I'm going to do it. All this gives me a new outlook though, I have watched friends struggle with life obstacles all while working and going to school and raising kids and if they can do it. So can I, especially with the love and support that Derek has given me/us. I have noticed a new sense of calm in me, one that comes from experience that things will always get better and from the knowledge that I am where I'm supposed to be.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Luck of the Irish or Murphy's Law?
This morning I was abruptly awakened to Derek's attempt to get our furnace up and running. Our furnace has been acting up for two winters now. Last year wasn't so bad, it was just annoying. Derek thought it was a glitch in the thermostat until this year. We have had someone out to work on our furnace almost monthly this winter. This morning was slightly different than the other times and more frightening too.
Usually our furnace just won't turn on, so we have to reset it. This year our furnace pumps too much oil into the fire box and then when the furnace ignites it sends the horrible smelling fuel fumes throughout our house. Last night however, the pump kept pumping fuel and the fire box never ignited. So when Derek went to start the furnace this morning it made this awful chugging noise. (It was shaking the walls- I know that's not saying much because we live in a trailer-but it was still nerve racking)
After turning off the furnace, a fire was still ignited in the firebox because of all the oil residue in the box. There was oil on the outside of our furnace this time too, that's what made me nervous. When Derek called our oil company at 6:00 am this morning they said the fire would stay contained in the box, my question was, if the fire stays contained, how does the oil get on the outside? So the fire stayed lit in the firebox for over 30 minutes. Black smoke rolling out of our chimney.
The good news, the fire finally snuffed out, our repair man came and replaced the pump and sprayed some awesome odor eliminating spray into our blower fan so that it filled our house with a pleasant smell rather than heating oil fumes. The bad news, our furnace control module is on it's way out.
More good news, spring is coming! The relief-- we will be buying a new furnace, switching from oil (because we are now required to by the mobile home park) to propane and getting central air! I'm excited but hesitant as I know it won't be free. But I know it will calm my worries about my family's safety and comfort.
Some more good, I found my camera that has been missing for a week, where I left it, in my dress coat pocket (that shows you how much I wear that thing!), our projects for the wedding are coming along smoothly, we meet with our DJ tonight and Cake Baker on Sunday.
The not so good, I accidently deleted all the pictures off of Derek's camera last night by accident. It wouldn't have been so bad because all the pictures were already downloaded on the computer EXCEPT the ones I took last weekend of my youngest holding my great nephew with her sister and my sisters dog all curled up together! (I guess it calls for a picture re-do!) Such as life. I have the memory.
Looking forward to a smoother downhill ride to the day. AND I'm hoping when I lose the Murphy name the Law goes with it! :)
Usually our furnace just won't turn on, so we have to reset it. This year our furnace pumps too much oil into the fire box and then when the furnace ignites it sends the horrible smelling fuel fumes throughout our house. Last night however, the pump kept pumping fuel and the fire box never ignited. So when Derek went to start the furnace this morning it made this awful chugging noise. (It was shaking the walls- I know that's not saying much because we live in a trailer-but it was still nerve racking)
After turning off the furnace, a fire was still ignited in the firebox because of all the oil residue in the box. There was oil on the outside of our furnace this time too, that's what made me nervous. When Derek called our oil company at 6:00 am this morning they said the fire would stay contained in the box, my question was, if the fire stays contained, how does the oil get on the outside? So the fire stayed lit in the firebox for over 30 minutes. Black smoke rolling out of our chimney.
The good news, the fire finally snuffed out, our repair man came and replaced the pump and sprayed some awesome odor eliminating spray into our blower fan so that it filled our house with a pleasant smell rather than heating oil fumes. The bad news, our furnace control module is on it's way out.
More good news, spring is coming! The relief-- we will be buying a new furnace, switching from oil (because we are now required to by the mobile home park) to propane and getting central air! I'm excited but hesitant as I know it won't be free. But I know it will calm my worries about my family's safety and comfort.
Some more good, I found my camera that has been missing for a week, where I left it, in my dress coat pocket (that shows you how much I wear that thing!), our projects for the wedding are coming along smoothly, we meet with our DJ tonight and Cake Baker on Sunday.
The not so good, I accidently deleted all the pictures off of Derek's camera last night by accident. It wouldn't have been so bad because all the pictures were already downloaded on the computer EXCEPT the ones I took last weekend of my youngest holding my great nephew with her sister and my sisters dog all curled up together! (I guess it calls for a picture re-do!) Such as life. I have the memory.
Looking forward to a smoother downhill ride to the day. AND I'm hoping when I lose the Murphy name the Law goes with it! :)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Heavy Thoughts
I have always had image issues. Some of them ingrained into me as a child by my mother's constant chants of "suck in your stomach, dress nice, it's important to make a good first impression and you're going to make people think badly of you". I am thankful for her advice and wisdom (most of it). I just feel as though some of it has made me insecure.
I know for a fact that my mother is insecure, she would never leave her house without looking top of the nine and with a fresh coat of make-up on and her hair all done up nice. She's still that way. It's her pride, it's all she has. She wasn't raised in a loving household like most imagine, she had a really rough childhood, growing up in the 40's with an abusive father and ignorant mother. She was one of 6, the "middle" child. Somewhat raised by her eldest sister. But that's another story... She's come far, she's raised 3 of her 4 children, the best way she knew how. She tried her hardest to instill good manners, respect and dignity into us. Some of it worked, and some didn't but that's the trials of motherhood, I guess. My mom hasn't had success in marriage or most of her relationships and this isn't some "mother-bashing" session, it's just merely stating the unapparent. She holds her head up high, but inside, I know she's just like me.
She fears that people ridicule her; that she doesn't have "real" friends,; that she is always there for people, not expecting anything in return but in the chance that she does need them, they are nowhere to be found. There are other people who are in her life, relations that should be there and aren't, people who say they care, but can't even stop in to pay her a visit. I feel the same way, I feel as though there are certain people in my life that feel like I should just drop everything and run to them.
I'm tired, no actually I'm exhausted.
My insecurities are high at this moment. I had goals of losing weight for the wedding, but instead I'm sure I gained more. I haven't touched my scale in months out of fear of what it would say. It doesn't help my morale when someone who has never had to wear anything above a size 6 try to empathize with me. Ok, I understand, you may have gained 15 pounds in 7 months, but get over it hunny! I'm 70 lbs overweight. It affects me severely, but can I or do I do anything about it. No.
My mom suggests that I should get my thyroid checked, I may have an issue, I don't. Trust me, I have had my thyroid checked three times, my grandmother says, "it runs in the family". Why is that just ok? My mom is a stick, my dad is "thick" and I'm fat. It depresses me. My doctor says to increase my activity, my mom says I overload myself, my shins scream in pain, the house shakes when I work out and I just want to be able to eat something without the worry of gaining another pound!
I can outrun my fiance who is pretty thin, and I know that being thin doesn't mean that you are healthy, but seriously, I have asthma and I'm FAT and I run circles around him.
I need help, but at the moment there is none, I'm not heavy enough to have any kind of "intervention", I don't have enough money for a gym membership or the will-power to do it myself anymore. I'm inpatient and I want to see results and to be honest, I don't want to have to workout the rest of my life just to maintain some stupid image of myself. But how can you not, when you should have a flat stomach, boobs, long slender legs and a beautiful complexion according to "standards". When "plus-size" websites, commercials and advertising is showing off women who are a size 12-14. That's not plus, that's the old me, the "thin" me. That however does explain my insecurities when I was that size though.
I know I need to change things in order to change me. But I don't binge eat, I drink more water than anything and I'm active (not as much as I should be...I know). If being thin and "comfortable" means that I have to live 'uncomfortably' --AKA-never eating chocolate, sweets, ice cream, pasta or ketchup ever again. Well I guess I would rather be fat.
I'm sure this is stress from planning a wedding, learning and new profession and going to school all at the same time. But every word is true. I'm feeling insecure about what I look like, the friendships I have and my role as a parent/responsible adult. But who doesn't!? We're all human....aren't we?
I know for a fact that my mother is insecure, she would never leave her house without looking top of the nine and with a fresh coat of make-up on and her hair all done up nice. She's still that way. It's her pride, it's all she has. She wasn't raised in a loving household like most imagine, she had a really rough childhood, growing up in the 40's with an abusive father and ignorant mother. She was one of 6, the "middle" child. Somewhat raised by her eldest sister. But that's another story... She's come far, she's raised 3 of her 4 children, the best way she knew how. She tried her hardest to instill good manners, respect and dignity into us. Some of it worked, and some didn't but that's the trials of motherhood, I guess. My mom hasn't had success in marriage or most of her relationships and this isn't some "mother-bashing" session, it's just merely stating the unapparent. She holds her head up high, but inside, I know she's just like me.
She fears that people ridicule her; that she doesn't have "real" friends,; that she is always there for people, not expecting anything in return but in the chance that she does need them, they are nowhere to be found. There are other people who are in her life, relations that should be there and aren't, people who say they care, but can't even stop in to pay her a visit. I feel the same way, I feel as though there are certain people in my life that feel like I should just drop everything and run to them.
I'm tired, no actually I'm exhausted.
My insecurities are high at this moment. I had goals of losing weight for the wedding, but instead I'm sure I gained more. I haven't touched my scale in months out of fear of what it would say. It doesn't help my morale when someone who has never had to wear anything above a size 6 try to empathize with me. Ok, I understand, you may have gained 15 pounds in 7 months, but get over it hunny! I'm 70 lbs overweight. It affects me severely, but can I or do I do anything about it. No.
My mom suggests that I should get my thyroid checked, I may have an issue, I don't. Trust me, I have had my thyroid checked three times, my grandmother says, "it runs in the family". Why is that just ok? My mom is a stick, my dad is "thick" and I'm fat. It depresses me. My doctor says to increase my activity, my mom says I overload myself, my shins scream in pain, the house shakes when I work out and I just want to be able to eat something without the worry of gaining another pound!
I can outrun my fiance who is pretty thin, and I know that being thin doesn't mean that you are healthy, but seriously, I have asthma and I'm FAT and I run circles around him.
I need help, but at the moment there is none, I'm not heavy enough to have any kind of "intervention", I don't have enough money for a gym membership or the will-power to do it myself anymore. I'm inpatient and I want to see results and to be honest, I don't want to have to workout the rest of my life just to maintain some stupid image of myself. But how can you not, when you should have a flat stomach, boobs, long slender legs and a beautiful complexion according to "standards". When "plus-size" websites, commercials and advertising is showing off women who are a size 12-14. That's not plus, that's the old me, the "thin" me. That however does explain my insecurities when I was that size though.
I know I need to change things in order to change me. But I don't binge eat, I drink more water than anything and I'm active (not as much as I should be...I know). If being thin and "comfortable" means that I have to live 'uncomfortably' --AKA-never eating chocolate, sweets, ice cream, pasta or ketchup ever again. Well I guess I would rather be fat.
I'm sure this is stress from planning a wedding, learning and new profession and going to school all at the same time. But every word is true. I'm feeling insecure about what I look like, the friendships I have and my role as a parent/responsible adult. But who doesn't!? We're all human....aren't we?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A union of two plus two...
The wedding plans are coming along, but I realized today that in all the hustle and bustle of planning "our" big day that I was overlooking a very crucial part of our wedding....
When Derek and I discussed the possibility of marriage we discussed many things "we" wanted. I wanted to have a destination wedding with close friends and family, he wanted a traditional wedding close to home that didn't require everybody to travel somewhere (plus the added cost of the traveling). We decided to have an outdoor wedding in a local park, it was a good compromise for me (and him since he didn't care where we got married, as long as it was local). We discussed who we'd invite, where we would honeymoon and then eventually where we'd possibly buy a house for our family.
When we discussed the "ring", Derek asked me what type of ring I would want. I explained to him that I wanted something different, unique a three stone ring with colored stones, possibly orange since it's my favorite color. He then suggested his idea, "I thought I would get your girls' birthstones put in the ring, because I didn't fall in love with just one girl, but three". I almost cried, but since I "never" cry, I smiled and thought to myself, "where has this guy been my whole life!?"
So a unique, three stone ring with colored stones is what he proposed with. He also saved the diamonds that were originally on the ring to be set into something we would give to the girls, eventually.
So from that point on our wedding plans have been all about joining not just him and I, but all four of us, into one family. When we met with our pastor and told her our plans to include the girls in our wedding ceremony she thought it was great but confided with us that she has never done a family union before so she wanted to do some research. Our honeymoon will be a "family"moon, a trip to Disney for ALL of us to share together.
A website that I have found very helpful is http://www.idotaketwo.com/child_wedding.html there are sample vows for parents and children, unique gifts and advice. I have found several other sites as well just by google searching "family union wedding", "vows for children in wedding", "combined marriages" etc. I have been pleased to find so much on non-traditional weddings but there was something I have been overlooking. That special gift, preferrably a necklace for Derek to present to the girls during the ceremony.
We really had our hearts set on finding them a necklace that had their birthstone in it and the option of adding one of the original diamonds that came out of my ring. That way they would have an original piece of my ring as well and something signifying the importance of them in the wedding and our lives.
So what to get, a heart, a family medallion, a key or something specific to the girls? There are so many possibilities and Derek and I are really struggling to find something we both think is appropriate for them.
So a web searching I will go and maybe even try to find a custom jeweler...but that I fear will be too expensive. I just need to remember to not procastinate on finding something special to share with them on our wedding day because, on May 7, 2011, the spotlight shouldn't just be on Derek and I.
Our love goes deeper than each other, we have pieces of our hearts' in my two daughters. The bond in our family is greater than a man and a woman, it is a union of two plus two.
When Derek and I discussed the possibility of marriage we discussed many things "we" wanted. I wanted to have a destination wedding with close friends and family, he wanted a traditional wedding close to home that didn't require everybody to travel somewhere (plus the added cost of the traveling). We decided to have an outdoor wedding in a local park, it was a good compromise for me (and him since he didn't care where we got married, as long as it was local). We discussed who we'd invite, where we would honeymoon and then eventually where we'd possibly buy a house for our family.
When we discussed the "ring", Derek asked me what type of ring I would want. I explained to him that I wanted something different, unique a three stone ring with colored stones, possibly orange since it's my favorite color. He then suggested his idea, "I thought I would get your girls' birthstones put in the ring, because I didn't fall in love with just one girl, but three". I almost cried, but since I "never" cry, I smiled and thought to myself, "where has this guy been my whole life!?"
So a unique, three stone ring with colored stones is what he proposed with. He also saved the diamonds that were originally on the ring to be set into something we would give to the girls, eventually.
So from that point on our wedding plans have been all about joining not just him and I, but all four of us, into one family. When we met with our pastor and told her our plans to include the girls in our wedding ceremony she thought it was great but confided with us that she has never done a family union before so she wanted to do some research. Our honeymoon will be a "family"moon, a trip to Disney for ALL of us to share together.
A website that I have found very helpful is http://www.idotaketwo.com/child_wedding.html there are sample vows for parents and children, unique gifts and advice. I have found several other sites as well just by google searching "family union wedding", "vows for children in wedding", "combined marriages" etc. I have been pleased to find so much on non-traditional weddings but there was something I have been overlooking. That special gift, preferrably a necklace for Derek to present to the girls during the ceremony.
We really had our hearts set on finding them a necklace that had their birthstone in it and the option of adding one of the original diamonds that came out of my ring. That way they would have an original piece of my ring as well and something signifying the importance of them in the wedding and our lives.
So what to get, a heart, a family medallion, a key or something specific to the girls? There are so many possibilities and Derek and I are really struggling to find something we both think is appropriate for them.
So a web searching I will go and maybe even try to find a custom jeweler...but that I fear will be too expensive. I just need to remember to not procastinate on finding something special to share with them on our wedding day because, on May 7, 2011, the spotlight shouldn't just be on Derek and I.
Our love goes deeper than each other, we have pieces of our hearts' in my two daughters. The bond in our family is greater than a man and a woman, it is a union of two plus two.
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