Finding harmony in family, finance & military life

I am really getting excited about Brent's home coming. Getting into "routine" has never been a problem for us after a deployment or long separation. I have noticed so much emotional and relational growth during this deployment for both of us and that is what I am excited about the most. I want to see how all of this positive change and maturity sets a path toward the next step in our life. I can see a curve in the road ahead and instead of fearing it I am running toward it with my eyes wide open. I almost feel like yelling grab your helmet baby because we are in for a wild ride! Almost, to actually do something like that would be completely out of character for me. The return home always holds so much emotion. I can only speak from my personal experience and I am sure it is different for everyone but in the past it has always been a mix of elation, excitement and fear. So many questions would fill my mind before Brent even stepped off the plane. What will he look like? ...

I completed five days of kick boxing! It was so much fun I am going to do it all over again. If you need a short, sweet and intense work out to do that will fit into the busy mom schedule check out 10 Minute Solutions DVD series. I get most of them through Netflix.com streaming and watch it right through my Wii on our family room T.V. Doing it that way there is plenty of room for me to move, kick and collapse when it is over. I also love, love, love Mari Winsor Pilates which has several 10 and 20 minute work outs to choose from. No matter what you choose to do the key is to just get moving. Sweat is ok and 10 minutes a day will not kill you so just do it! There is no excuse not to. Eating right helps too just keep in mind it is not so much what you eat but how much you eat. Even if you live off of salad you can gain weight if you are eating more then your body needs. If you are looking for a good resource on how to loose weight and eat right check out the book The Eden Diet written b...

I did a quick run to the commissary this afternoon because I wanted to drop off a bunch of coupons I was not planning to use that expire before May 15th. I had three coupons that I planned on trying to use next week and just decided to use them today since I was there so this is what I got. 2 Dark Chocolate Dove Easter Eggs the 8 oz bags were marked down to $1.26 and I found another $1 off two coupon Breakstone Sour Cream I had a .50 cents off coupon and it was priced at $1.29 Reach Dental Floss I had a $1 off coupon and it was only .80 cents so I got .20 cents overage woo hoo 1 lb carrots on sale for.69 cents 2 Reynolds baking cup liners that were on the dent and ding shelf marked down to .45 cents each which was a .07 cents saving on each one. My total out of pocket was $4.01, my kids were well behaved and there was no line! It would have been a perfect trip until I checked my receipt and realized they charged me the full price for one of the baking cups along with the discoun...

This was my freebie today!! Today was my mega commissary shopping trip with all 5 kids. I admit it was a little crazy, the focus was not there. Apparently my older three children do not share my love for shopping with coupons. I did pretty good though so I am happy. I bought 86 items including a Smithfield spiral sliced ham and used 54 coupons. I had a coupon for everything that I purchased on this trip and I only bought what was on my list. My out of pocket was $123.26, I saved $49.94 which was 30% savings off my entire bill. I also tipped my bagger $3. Good deals and freebies that I got include that great big Nestle Coffee Mate marked $3.89 I used the free coupon I got last month in the mail to get it for absolutely nothing. I also got free Duncan Hines cake mix, Hot Dogs for .25 cents a pack and a 40 ounce bottle of Heinz Ketchup for .59 cents. I did have to consult the manager at the end of my trip because of a rebate form that was being offered by our Commissary or so I t...

My children are on Spring Break this week and when asked what they wanted to do they chose a long list of restaurants to eat at instead of activities. So being the crazy mom I am I put my menu for the week on hold and joined in the fun. It is Tuesday and my hands have been swollen since Monday from the rich salty food. How much longer is Spring Break? Yesterday was IHOP a very enjoyable meal too and today was focused on Pizza. Do not worry I had fruit and veggies available and they were eaten. We still have Cook Out, Zaxby's and Chick-Fil-A on our list of places they want to eat. I am not sure I will survive this week! Don't worry though I have one of my ingenious plans KICK BOXING! So I tried it Sunday night just the simple TEN Minute Solution series and I loved it. I felt great after those ten minutes other then a painful twinge in my left leg which is to be expected when you have a metal rod so I was pumped. Last night was a little harder ok a lot harder. I could not kee...

My son just celebrated his 9th birthday and for his party I had a Pizza Cake custom made. Oh my gosh this cake was awesome! If you live in the North/South Carolina area you must check out Margo Smith's Cake Creations at www.mscakecreations.com It was as good as it looked!

My trip to Walgreens after Military discount, sale prices and coupons I paid $4.59. I bought the 22 count Purex 3in1 sale price $3.99, 2 16 oz bottles of Gillette Body Wash for $4.99 each and one 4oz Gillette Deodorant priced $4.99. I used the $1 off coupon for Purex, the $1 off Gillette Deodorant coupon, the buy one deodorant get one body wash free coupon and the buy one body wash get one free coupon plus Walgreens has Gillette Body Wash and Deodorant on sale buy one get one 50% off and I got a 15% military discount.