True friends are few and far between

What does it mean to be a TRUE friend?
What do you look for in a TRUE friend?

I've had to ask my self these two questions lately. A true friend to me is someone who is there for you no matter what. Who doesn't judge you for the things you say, do or how you act. Is your shoulder to cry on when you are sad for whatever reason and Someone to laugh with when you need a good laugh.Someone you can tell all of your secrets & stories to and trust that they will keep them to their self. I can honestly say I believe people come into your life for a reason. No matter If its for a good reason or bad reason. Some people have gone out of my life as fast as they have come in. Others have stayed in my life for more then half of my life. It's hard that the 2 best friends I have live so far away from me. One in Colorado and the other in Florida.
These two girls totally understand me and are there for me even that they are so far away. I've always tired to be there for Lori & Jen as they have been there for me. I hope you girls know how much I love y'all and want to thank y'all for always being there for me!!

GUESTS POST BY: KELLEY PAINE

Do you hate Grocery Shopping

Sometimes do you feel like your in a daze at the grocery store. Well I do it overwhelms me to see all the products and I end up impulse shopping. My husband would tell me, Kelley make a list of what we need and purchase those items only. He told me this because when I would buy stuff we really didn't need and it would go bad. Produce is the worlds worst to go in the garbage if you don't use it. I have learned over the years to save money and to save food from wasting away. I wanted to do this blog because I wanted people not to throw away there money. Here are some tips that might help you in the long run because it is not fun to feel like your trash can is getting more use than your fridge.

1. Make a menu of dinners for a week if you shop every two weeks then make a two week planner
look in your freezer for all the meat you have and plan dinner around that. You don't want the meat in your freezer to go bad so use it.

2. Make a list
Look in your cabinets and fridge not glance really look and pull out food to use don't waste I promise it will save you money.

3. Coupons
It is always great to have coupons for items you need. Your local paper usually sends a paper on Wednesday for free or you can purchase one once a week for some savings I also have some websites that you can go to.
www.smartsource.com
Coolsavings.com

4. Canning
You can save money in the long run if you make your own sauces and jelly. It is so easy to do these things.

5. Produce
When picking out produce purchase what you need in your menu and hearty fruits like apples and oranges they last awhile.

6. Cheese
When buying cheese you can purchase large bags of shredded cheese you can put half in a qallon zip lock to put in your fridge and the other half you can freeze. I do this all the time and it helps.

7. milk and bread
You can purchase bread at Sams or bakery outlets or even at your local grocery store buy what is on sale and get several loafs because you can freeze both items. Also you can bake your own bread to save money if you like baking.

8. Can goods
Purchase what is necessary you can go over the top with can goods and sometimes they sit forever in your cabinets. I have had can fruit in my cabinet for over 8 years lol. Plus if you get just what you need you can have a well organized cabinet.

9. Pizza
You can buy a pre made pizza and throw it in your freezer or you can make your own pizza dough or buy dough that is $1 and you probably already have cheese and sauce and a can of sauce is 20 cents to 40 cents and it only takes one can to do the job just add what toppings you want.

10. Meat
Buy what is on sale and when you have meat in your freezer you can plan meals for the week sometime when I am shopping for our meals if I see a really good deal on meat I get it for next time then plan dinner on that.

Food is what you make of it and it is up to you how you want save your family some money.
Time and time again my husband would say how much did you spend and I would tell him $200
and then he would say on what then I would get all upset because I knew I was in the wrong. I wasted a lot of money on things that would either go bad or things that were on an impulse. I have a wonderful husband whom has taught me many things on how to save us money. and I have a cabinet that looks like a well organized plan. I can find all the ingredients I need for a fabulous meal.

You to can have all these things I have shared the best advice is to plan ahead it helps me.
So go out there and shop the smart way. Save time and money by making a list of the possible instead of the impossible.

This is what I did this week!


I looked in my cabinet and fridge and freezer. I found we had 2 packages of ground turkey, a roast, thin stir-fry steak and a box of chicken pot pie for the days I know we are busy I do buy a quick meal on the go because I would rather spend $3 dollars instead of $30 for a family of four at a fast food place. I then planned my week because we would only be home Monday though Thursday.
Monday- spaghetti, garlic bread and a salad. I had french bread in my freezer.
Tuesday- beef stir-fry with wonton crisps. I had wontons in my lunch meat drawer
Wednesday-crock pot roast and salad left over from Monday.
Thursday- Easy chicken pot pie

This is one great week of meals I bought lunch meat for sandwiches for the week and my kids like ramen noddles I also have peanut butter and jelly for them to make them sandwiches. We have can tuna and tortilla wraps to change it up a bit. Breakfast is easy around my house cereal or oatmeal and sometimes Eggo waffles.
With this plan I gave you I only spent $25.00 on a weeks worth of food. I used a coupon for a box of cereal. I even made my Hubby happy lol so go check out what is in your freezer because I did and enjoyed doing it and saving money.




THIS POST WAS WRITTING BY MY FRIEND KELLEY PAINE AND HERE IS HER BLOG ADDRESS PLEASE GO TAKE A LOOK AT HERE OTHER POSTS!!!!!!

http://kpaine-whywethinkwearefat.blogspot.com

Back to School !!!!! JJ's first few days of pre k

Well its that time again for all the children to go back to school,  for  some kids they went for the very first time....My son Jackson had his first day of school yesterday. Bryan took off of work so that we could both take him to school. Jackson did really well didnt cry at all. I was alittle worried on how he would be after we left and the teacher  told me he was fine. It was very quite just having Parker at home yesterday morning. Parker kept asking where Bubba was. I would tell him Bubba is at school. So Parker would walk around the house saying Bubba Cool (school). Then when it was time for us to leave to go pick Jackson up from school. I told Parker lets go get Jackson from school Parker was so excited to go bye bye and get his bubba. We had many phone calls from Jackson's Cha Cha and Nana to see how his first day of school was. He was glad to be home. I asked him what he did at school and he said "oh i just ate lunch thats all" and i said well did you read, color and do any work and he said "nope mom just ate lunch". Well he was getting alittle crabby later in the afternoon so he took a nap and then that was a HUGE mistake he didnt want to go to bed until 9pm. when he's bed time is 8pm.

Today he wanted to ride the bus so i let him ride the bus to school with all the other kids from our road. He was a little nervous to get on the bus, once he got on the bus he was fine...He got dropped off at 12:30 from school and he was very happy... and i asked him if you wanted to ride the bus tomorrow and he said "momma im gonna ride the bus every day" I asked him if he was sure then he said OH YES MOMMA...

A Dream, Sometimes seems so far away

Have you ever felt that maybe being a stay at home mom isn't enough?
I've been thinking lately that it might not be enough for me, I love my kids and wouldn't change them for the world. But I'm sure every mom gets frustrated a time or 2. Haha. I've always wanted to be a stay at home mom, but recently I've wanted to go back to college and take some classes.(maybe)? Or even find something to do from home as far as a job.(im a scentsy consulant).. I've just been thinking alot about life and wondering if something happened to me tomorrow. I don't want people to remember me as not doing anything with my life I know being a wife and mother is doing something with my life persay, but i want something MORE.There are alot of things I want to do.. Or try and do. Thought about writing a book, traveling the world and have my blog get off it's feet! i feel my blogging is helping me express my feeling somewhat better then i can in person...
Sorry if I'm just talking / typing out of nowhere but I needed to get this off my chest... If anyone has ever felt the same way pls leave me a comment!!!!

crappy week or just bad luck

Crappy week or Just bad luck

It all started last Monday...We woke up on Bryan's day off to a very hot house. The ac was not working so we called landlord to have someone to come in fix it. Which didn't get fixed till Wednesday! We were grateful that is was fixed and that we were able to be home.

Wednesday I got a text message from a friend that her dad passed away, :( Was unexpected and wasn't suppose to happen. Praying for you n your family Vanessa.

Friday Night July 22nd 2011 I went to Vanessa's Dad's visitation. Thinking this would be an end to a very sad/ upsetting week boy was i wrong.

Saturday july 23rd 2011 we went out with another friend and trying to have a good time and all i could think about How in the world could it be a yr since my dad passed away doesn't seem like it , feels like it happened yesterday. I know he's better now and not suffering anymore about anything. But I miss him more and more everyday.

Sunday: July 24th 2011
One yr since my dad passed away!!!!

I got a call from my mother in law, (the boys had spent the night w her) for me to meet her in town to put up the boys. So on our way back home Jackson wanted to listen to Pa Dude's song...( my dad use to sing karaoke ). So i turned the cd on his friend made me of him singing after he passed away. As i was driving home Jackson started crying and I asked him what was wrong? He said mommy I really miss my Pa Dude, I said baby I miss him to but he's always with you and he lives in your heart. Jackson said well mommy I'll always miss him & Pa Dude was a really good man.. ( The things my son comes up with)!
So we get home to find a broken ac again... Finally get it fixed and it doesn't broke again!!!!!!!!

Tuesday. July 26th 2011
Went to town n meet my mom at the mall to find Jackson a bedspread, he wants a pirate room. So we were on a mission & completed our mission found a bed in a bag.. Jackson picked out a blue, gray n black striped bed spread.
We were headed to my moms house and guess what happened we were in a wreck, that's right a wreck! We were traveling south on sam houston
And were hit on drivers side of the car and were pushed up onto the curb by a jeep. Boys were with me in their car seats( thank god for car seats). My shoulder was hurting so Bryan took me to the er to get it checked out had xrays done and nothing broken. So glad we were all ok. Now my car is another story not sure what's wrong with it or how long it will be to fix it.

Wednesday: Woke up feeling like I got beat up but with out all the bruises. So I went to the doctor to make sure i didn't have any other injuries. Since the er only checked my shoulder. My doc said I'm ok and will be sore for the next few days for sure! Praying that I feel better soon.... I'm very stiff :(

"Who in the World? Wednesday" Blog Hop

Happy Wednesday!!!

Welcome to "Who in the World? Wednesday" Blog hop. Your hosts are Chronicles of a crazy mom, The Coupon Cutie and Mommy Does. Don't forget to grab our button and share us, too, the more the merrier! Please follow at least 5 NEW blogs from this hop :) 

Please be kind and return "follows". And make sure you leave a comment on the blogs you visit so they know who to return the love to :)

Featured Host 7/27/11

Selena from Stoneyville

Meet Selena: I am Selena, a SAHM of a absolutely adorable 15 month old, Addison (not biased at all!). I have a passion for photography and most of my blog posts center around photos I have taken and my process of learning to improve my photography and getting my new photography business off the ground! I also enjoy crafting (when I get the time). 
www.stoneyville.net 

Visit Molly by clicking the #15 link!

<a href="http://chroniclesofacrazymom.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Chronicles of a crazy mom" src="http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj87/comamae/DSCN2369.jpg"/></a>

"Who in the World? Wednesday" Blog Hop

Happy Wednesday!!!

Welcome to "Who in the World? Wednesday" Blog hop. Your hosts are Chronicles of a crazy mom, The Coupon Cutie and Mommy Does. Don't forget to grab our button and share us, too, the more the merrier! Please follow at least 5 NEW blogs from this hop :) 

Please be kind and return "follows". And make sure you leave a comment on the blogs you visit so they know who to return the love to :)

Featured Host 7/20/11

Molly from Just a Little Creativity

Meet Molly: I'm Christian mom of five. As leaders in our church, my husband, and sometimes the rest of us, travel around the world working on various missions and humanitarian projects. I also run a successful Etsy shop, MyArtsyBaby, where I sell art for childrens rooms. I started my blog as another form of creative outlet, and the thought that I could share a little of my "creative moments" with other people. I know first hand how, as a SAH mom, your days can get mundane if you let them, so I want to inspire people to take ordinary moments in their lives and view them as extraordinary. Whether that's by playing sidewalk chalk with the kids, or taking a moment to enjoy some "me time" with a good book, or rolling up your sleeves and jumping into a DIY project. It sometimes takes Just a Little Creativity, but life is too short to not enjoy the little things.

Visit Molly by clicking the #14 link!

<a href="http://chroniclesofacrazymom.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Chronicles of a crazy mom" src="http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj87/comamae/DSCN2369.jpg"/></a>