Life

We have been so busy lately.  Shopping for our trip and summer clothes and of course the whole gang needed new kicks.  Luckily Stride Rite had BOGO 50% off.  And I started planning the birthday party for Brady and Pierce.  Brady chose pirates for this year's party.  I was just happy he didn't choose WWE seeing that Pierce isn't a fan of John Cena yet.  We had an amazing Easter as a family of 5.  Steve didn't understand why I was dressing the boys alike if they weren't twins.  And guess who loved it once they were all dressed - the hubs!  Thank you Ralph Lauren for 30% off and free shipping.  I wish I wasn't such a sucker for free shipping but I am.  Here's my fave shot:

On top of all of this we started a new project! 

We have been living with ugly gold/beige stripe wallpaper and (eeeeeww) brass fixtures in our bathroom for the last 5 years.  Actually when we moved in the entire house was beige.  Steve has re-painted the whole house and this master bathroom is the last thing on the list. In between preparing baskets and decorating eggs and enjoying the awesome weekend Buffalo had, we started stripping the wallpaper and got it all done in 1 weekend.  I am amazed at how much bigger the bathroom looks already.  Steve has a little bit of patchwork to do and then the walls will be painted a light gray.  And because I am an awesome wife who appreciates her husband's input I gave him the choice of colors to pair with the gray: yellow, pink or turquoise.  He chose turquoise!!  We need to purchase a new towel bar, toilet paper holder and 2 new light fixtures.  Oh yeah and I'm forgetting the towels and new accessories.  But all of that might have to wait till we get home.  We leave Sunday and the suitcases are getting filled as we speak. 

Hanging up the milk jugs

I am officially done nursing forever.  I feel happy and sad at the exact same time.  I'm sad I didn't make it to a year like I did with the other boys.  But happy to put my boobs away, and the nursing bras, pads, pump, etc.  I still need to get used to the smell of formula.  To me it smells the same way! Whether its in the bottle or in the diaper or in the burp Reid likes to let out in my face, it's freaks me out that it always smells the same.  C'mon you know that's just plain weird!  Reid seems to like to formula.  It hasn't helped him sleep any better which stinks.  He is still up 2 times a night and now I can't pop a boob and feed him.  Oh well!  I always say I will sleep in my 40's.  The best part of stopping was when my husband thanked me for nursing all of his children.  OMG tears!  Did I mention how much I love this man?  Now that I am hanging them up I thought I would share some of my favorite pro nursing memes and humor.

Awesome!

 

And now my favorite:

Having fun with Cartwheel

We all LOVE Target.  Some of you may already know about this app from Target.  I discovered it a little while ago and have been having fun and saving money too.  This blog may highlight the fact my life is a little boring or how much I love to shop.  Even if it is for tissues, peanut butter and eggs.  But here goes!

 

 

I already made a weekly trip to Target before I got the app.  And I do cut coupons from the Sunday paper.  Actually, the coupons are the only reason I get the paper!  Sorry Buffalo Snooze.  But I was buying pretty much all my food from Wegmans and it can get pricey. I feel like I am constantly trying to buy and keep food in the house.  These boys can eat!! I try and keep it around $200 per week in groceries and household items but sometimes it isn't possible.  My kids can inhale a carton of strawberries 4 minutes after I come home from the store.  So the great thing about this app is it can be combined with coupons and store coupons.  Which equals more savings! 

 

So first you make your list for Target and then go through the app and see what products have cartwheels on them.

 



Then I usually browse the trending offers and see what is a good deal. The app creates a barcode that the cashier then scans.

BAM!  Money off.  It is fun and then you earn badges. I am a little jealous of my friend's $100 badge.  The great thing is it tracks what you save, not what you spend.  So just show your husband all the savings and he will think you are wonderful.

I will confess using cartwheel and coupons makes me feel like a rockstar.  Happy Shopping!

Spring?

I am going to leave the bog ole' question mark up there till I really see some hard evidence. It was 66 degrees and now today 38?  Well, Easter is coming either way and I am getting so excited to fill the boys baskets!  I would do it today but I have no good hiding spots anymore.  So until then, I keep stashing stuff above the hutch in the dining room.  Because Brady was allergic to milk for so long, we have gotten very good at doing non-chocolate baskets.  Actually, he would be thrilled to just have some wrestlers in his basket so that is exactly what he is going to get.  Throw in some Starburst or Skittles and a new pack of markers and he is good to go.  Pierce loves himself some chocolate and peanut butter so Reese's it is.  I have been in love with Melissa & Doug toys for a long time but have fallen head over heels for their crayons!  I know, I lead an exciting life.  Brady is a huge crayon breaker and my OCD cannot handle that shiz.  Melissa and Doug crayons are huge, triangular shaped so they don't roll of the table and these things do not break.  I actually stumbled across them at Target on clearance for cheap and they came in a plastic truck.  Did I mention my love for when things come in containers that my kids can't rip? i.e. like a Crayola box  They also come in a pink princess shape container too if you have girls. 

Pierce loves to color (scribble) whatever you want to call it.  So I got him a new set for his basket.

I don't know why but all of my kids are obsessed with Caillou. 

This little Canadian is very hard to find.  There was a whole section of him on Zulily a while back which gave my credit card a workout.  I am hoping he makes another appearance on zulily soon.  I did find a new Caillou coloring book on Amazon for Pierce's basket.  And the baby is getting some rattles and little toys for his.  

And because I am room mom I am also planning the Spring party for Brady's class.  I am making a "Pin the Bee on the Flower" game which required me to buy poster board, fluorescent of course!  And now cutting out 21 bees, finding a blindfold and getting a prize or two and that is set.  And if I can find the time, I was thinking of making the birdnest cookies that are all over Pinterest but making them using my recipe for Butterscotch Haystacks and putting egg gumballs in the middle.  You know that's is going to be super cute!  And then I must start packing.  I hate packing so I am dreading it.  I did put a tote upstairs and have been throwing things in it for the trip that I have picked up.  Sunblock, cover-up, beach wraps, travel toothpaste.  If only that would work I would be all set.