Stephanie Click - Dance Mom, Blogger, Memory Keeper

Happy 6th Anniversary, Texas!

Today is our 6th anniversary of living in Texas. I can very honestly say that moving here is the best thing that ever could have happened to us. I say it all the time, but I ABSOLUTELY, without a...

Menu Plan for May 7 week

Our meal plan this week is pretty straight-forward ... Monday - our Chili recipe is an easy one: 1 lb. ground beef, 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 1 can of tomato sauce, 1 can of tomato paste, and 1...

I have a lot of apps on my iPhone ... a lot. Many. Pages worth. Really. I have so many apps that I actually forget what I have and find myself sometimes saying "I wish there was an app for 'that'."...

Project Life – Week 17

This is my third year doing Project Life. I absolutely can not imagine ending this project. We all enjoy looking back through the binders - it's a legacy-building endeavor if ever their was one. Be...

It Always Comes Full Circle

My husband works a lot. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about his day job. I'm writing about the work that my husband does after 5 o'clock ... probably some of his most important work - teaching kids...

Low Rise Reality

Let's begin this post with the statement that "I Do Not Splurge on Myself." I just don't. Designer clothes for the kids - always Vacations - yes Nice restaurants - definitely But, pricey finds for...

Sleep

I am one of those people who require a lot of sleep. It's always been that way and I'm pretty sure that I've been that way from the womb. As a child, my mom always worked, so I had various...

Project Life – Week 8

This is my third year doing Project Life. I absolutely can not imagine ending this project. We all enjoy looking back through the binders - it's a legacy-building endeavor if ever their was one. Be...

Project Life – Week 5

This is my third year doing Project Life. I absolutely can not imagine ending this project. We all enjoy looking back through the binders - it's a legacy-building endeavor if ever their was one. Be...

Biting the Cleaning Bullet

Well, I bit the bullet. I admitted that a. I stink at cleaning house b. I'm not fabulous at it when I do c. I honestly just don't have the time to stay on top of it. We are so busy I find that I...

Dream Duffel – Unpacking It

Some people have Christmas in July, but in my house - we had Christmas in mid-January. We are quickly approaching "dance season" and it is time to get our stuff together. Figuring out how to get...

Project Life – Week 2

This is my third year doing Project Life. I absolutely can not imagine ending this project. We all enjoy looking back through the binders - it's a legacy-building endeavor if ever their was one. Be...

Dear Car Intruder

Dear Car Intruder, I want you to know that we prayed for you this morning. We prayed that someone like you - that goes about in the night checking to see if car doors are locked - will find...

Project Life 2012 – Week 1

Well, obviously, it is Wednesday ... but I had some lofty goals of making a video showing some of the new things for 2012, but we got hit by a flood on Monday and it's set me behind. Nonetheless, I...

Makin’ a List!

The time has come. We are having our "All Company Review" tomorrow and the girls have to be decked out with hair and make-up. (No costumes as of yet since most are out being stoned.) I have begun to...

Mommy Instincts

One of the things that has surprised me most about being a mother is the amount of instinct that comes with the job! I'd always heard about "mother's intuition" and thought it was a huge hoax, but...

Merry Christmas to You!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

I’m an Elf Mom

Last year, I began seeing tons of buzz on The Elf on the Shelf and vowed to remember it. Thanks to numerous posts on Pinterest, I didn't forget!!! So, here's our story: On Thanksgiving Day,...

Zulily deal via Plum District

I buy a lot of Piper's clothes and accessories on Zulily. The site features a lot of cool brands and couture finds that I don't have time to go into the city to search for. They've had...

Project Life: November 28 – December 4

I began participating in Project Life in 2010. It’s been one of the most incredible things that I have ever undertaken. So many of my family memories are now preserved forever €¦ the...

Menu Planning Sunday

To be quite honest, several life events (9 day hospitalization, new tires on my car, Christmas gift buying, etc.) are putting a cinch on my wallet. I should really be better at menu...

Modern Family On Sale Now

Modern Family is one of my MOST favorite shows on television. Act quickly to get Season 1 or Season 2 at just $12.99 each. (Normally $49.98) Modern Family: The Complete First Season - Buy Now!...

40 Pounds Lighter – Oh my!

I passed the 40 pound mark ... hallelujah! I have to admit, though, it's not been hard. If you haven't read the first part of my weight loss journey, check it out here. Then, follow to the now...

Project Life: November 7-13

I began participating in Project Life in 2010. It’s been one of the most incredible things that I have ever undertaken. So many of my family memories are now preserved forever €¦ the...

Amazon Mom

It was close to this time last year when I first heard about the Amazon Mom program. It was a free, trial alternative to the Amazon Prime program. Then, I didn’t really feel comfortable...

Pop-Tarts: BIG sale on Amazon

This is my "most bought" Amazon deal 🙂 Amazon has Pop-Tarts Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toaster Pastries, 36-Count on sale for only $5.62! The regular store boxes have 6 Pop-Tarts, so this...

Zulily – Awesome Magazine Sale!

There is an awesome sale on magazines going on right now at Zulily. This is one of my favorite flash deal sites. I've given magazines quite a few times as gifts. For a lot of us, it's something that...

Making A List? Checking It Twice?

It is time to do some Christmas shopping. I talked about it in this segment of the Texas Money Mom on KSBJ a few weeks ago. Several of you asked if I would make the list that I use available as a...

Be Back Soon!

Last Monday evening, my husband was admitted to the hospital. As of this morning, 9 days later, he is still a patient. I've fallen very behind in my posting, but I'll be back soon! Right now, I need...

Happy Birthday, Piper

1 Samuel 1:27 €“ €œI prayed for this child, and the Lord has given me what I asked of Him. € Dear Piper, My baby is 7. I know that I'm dreaming because there is NO WAY that you are...

Favorite Features: 2012 Chevy Traverse

Things are going great with the test drive of the 2012 Chevy Traverse. I wanted to share with you my three favorite features of this fantastic vehicle!...

Project Life: Now & for 2012

I began participating in Project Life in 2010. It’s been one of the most incredible things that I have ever undertaken. So many of my family memories are now preserved forever...

Menu Monday – Review

So many bloggers write about what they are making for the week. It's a huge help to moms like me and I'll admit that I did that muse for a couple of months myself. However, I wanted to put a little...

Adorable & Easy Halloween Craft

Are you on Pinterest? No, really ... please tell me that you are on Pinterest. It is the most valuable social media tool that is out there if you are into DIY, sharing information/ideas, and trying...

2012 Chevy Traverse

On Wednesday, I picked up a 2012 Chevy Traverse as part of a blogger program sponsored by the Houston Area Chevy dealers. The fabulous folks at DeMontrond Auto Group supplied my vehicle....

Debt-Free Christmas Plan

It's Christmas shopping time. I love love love sharing the gift of Christmas with the family and friends. However, I'm very "budget-aware" and blind shopping and spending money gives me hives. If...

Memory Keeping

I've always been a memory keeper. Well, honestly, I used to think it was hoarding, but now that I actually do something with the stuff that I've kept - I can refer to it as memory keeping. 🙂 When I...

The Scoop on Flash Deals

The latest sales trend is the evolution of flash deals. I wake up every morning with an inbox full of deals. It has made getting great price even easier. These sites are amazing and most are...

Time Commitment: Dance Mom

Many of the questions that I get regarding dance at the competition (our studio calls it "company") level are in regards to the time commitment and money. This week, I'm going to tackle time. I'll...

Shutterfly – My Fav Print Spot

I have LONG loved Shutterfly - I got my first digital camera when they were the size of a truck (2001) and began uploading to Shutterfly shortly thereafter. When you visit the Shutterfly site,...

Time for a Fall House Checkup

Sometimes the best way to save money is to prevent a breakdown or a maintenance issue. Will you spend some money upfront? In most cases, the answer is "yes" ... but the money that you...

20th Class Reunion – Yikes!

This weekend is my 20th high school class reunion. I didn't attend my 10th and regretted it so much. I moved away from my hometown the day after I graduated from high school. High school...

Deal: Ceramics by Tess

One of our favorite places in Katy is Ceramics by Tess. We've had 2 birthday parties there recently and have gone at least half a dozen other times because we love it so much. Today's deal at Juice...

Dance Mom 101

For a long time, I've considered writing about being a Dance Mom. I've danced my entire life, so it would be a natural subject for me to pursue. However, now that we have entered the world of...

Happy Birthday to me!

Today, I am 38 years old. I had to think about it for a minute yesterday, because I honestly couldn't remember if I was going to be 38 or 39. <Relief> I have so much to be thankful for at this...

Project Life: August 28 – September 3

I began participating in Project Life in 2010. It’s been one of the most incredible things that I have ever undertaken. So many of my family memories are now preserved forever...

Childhood Innocence on September 11

I spent the greater part of the weekend, like most of you, watching coverage on the dedication of the memorial sites for September 11. It is definitely the most significant moment in history for my...

Texas Wildfires Are Too Close to Home

The Texas wildfires are blazing. Truthfully, they've been happening all summer ... but it's been out of sight - out of mind. Texas is a huge state and what was burning in other parts of the state...

Project Life: August 21-27

I began participating in Project Life in 2010. It’s been one of the most incredible things that I have ever undertaken. So many of my family memories are now preserved forever...

Deal: Dewberry Farms – $12 for 2 tickets

We love love love Dewberry Farms! We were introduced to it with a field trip and fell in love. It is a definite fall tradition for our family and many more in our area. There are so many things for...

Happy 9th Anniversary

Nine years ago today, I walked the aisle to a new life. In the most beautiful outdoor ceremony surrounded by our best friends and our family, I married a man that I admire, love, and respect. Never...

Project Life

I began participating in Project Life in 2010. It’s been one of the most incredible things that I have ever undertaken. So many of my family memories are now preserved...

Time for a Purge!

This time of year - when we are transitioning from summer to fall - although you wouldn't know it by the temperatures outside ... is a great time to consider a good once over of the refrigerator and...

Deal: Ice Skating for 4

Today's deal with Juice in the City is a fantastic one - especially if you are a "think ahead" kind of person! It is $20 for Ice Skating for 4 at the Sugar Land Ice Center. I've been by the...

Deal: Ragin’ Cajun

Today's Juice in the City deal for Katy/Sugar Land is at Ragin' Cajun. The restaurant is close to my workplace, so my co-worker and I frequently stop in there for lunch. They have incredible red...

School Clothes LOVES

Hello again to What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy! If you are looking for fashion inspiration, look no further. Several hundred bloggers link up each week. It's so much fun to follow...

Project Life: July 18-24

I began participating in Project Life in 2010. It's been one of the most incredible things that I have ever undertaken. So many of my family memories are now preserved forever ... the little things,...

Deal: Princess Spa Party

Today, Juice in the City (Houston) has a deal that is awesome if you have a sassy little girl! A two-hour princess spa party at Princess Spa Diaries located inside of Salon Langeveldt - at Fry and...

Project Life – How To & This Week

I began doing Project Life in 2010. I had heard a lot of buzz on the internet about this great new and easy way to document family life. I was very intrigued. I want desperately to savor all of our...

It’s Time For School Supplies

The time has come! It's back to school time!!! Parents are cheering and kids are sobbing 🙂 We're starting to see some great prices on school supplies, so watch your favorite deal bloggers for stock...

New Furniture and Mirror DIY

It's summer which means that I am in full DIY mode. It's easier for me to get motivated in the summer, because I know that once school starts I will not have 2 seconds to even consider doing a...

Britney Spears: Femme Fatale Tour

Many of you probably don't know that I'm the biggest Britney Spears fan ever. Yes ... it's true. And not only am I the biggest fan ever, but I've been loyal to her from the start. From bobbie socks...

Deal: Mimosa Rose (Katy)

I love gift boutiques - they way they smell; the trendy items that they carry; and the cool things that you can't find anywhere else. I can't get enough of them, but I'm lucky - there is a GREAT one...

Deal: Half-Day Spanish Summer Camp

Living in Texas, I've often noticed that my kids are at a huge disadvantage. They are uni-lingual. Is that a word? I just made it up. Uni-lingual means "they only speak English." Most of their...

What I Wore Wednesday

Welcome to What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy! If you are looking for fashion inspiration, look no further. Several hundred bloggers link up each week. It's so much fun to follow the...

Happy Birthday, Avery

1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." Dear Avery, Happy, happy birthday. Today you turn 8. I absolutely can not believe it. (I say that every...

Deal: Lil Tykes Trading Post (Sugar Land)

Trying to keep a child in clothes is an ever-changing battle. We have had mornings where shoes we wore the day before LITERALLY will not fit on my child's feet the very next day. And, although I'm a...

Budgeting for School

Today is the last day of school for my children, however - it's time to set our budget for the fall when it starts back again. One of the keys to making a budget successful is planning for it to...

What I Wore Wednesday

Hello again to What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy! If you are looking for fashion inspiration, look no further. Several hundred bloggers link up each week. It's so much fun to follow...

Deal: Lomontes Italian Restaurant

I love Italian food - pizza, garlic anything, pasta. Give me a deserted island and something with carbs and marinara sauce; I'll be good until some rescuer stumbles upon me! That's one reason that I...

A Locket for Zit

"I think every week should have one day when boys give presents to girls." Lucy from Peanuts Avery had a hard year in first grade. It started out rough and never really got any better. I prayed and...

What I Wore Wednesday

Time for another What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy! If you want to see a lot of cool fashion, follow this link over and check out all the link ups! Some super cool things are...

Roadtrip Snack Attack

How many times have you left a rest area, convenient store or other side-of-the-road establishment and found that you have emptied your wallet buying snacks? For us, it happens all the time. You see...

The Singing Bee

It's amazing to me how much kids can pick up on the lyrics of a song when they only hear it every once in a while. We spend - on average - less than 10 minutes in the car every day as a family. I...

What I Wore Wednesday

Time for another What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy! I've taken off the last couple of weeks because we've had school functions on Wednesday that have dictated our clothing. (aka...

Organizing Papers From School

I love organization and I love when it helps me do things quickly. One of my favorite and most used organizational tools is a hanging two-level sweater shelf. (Mine is from Target.) These come in...

Deal: Waterpark & Charity Donation!

I love flash deals and my favorite site for Houston deals is Juice in the City. Today, JITC is teaming up with the Snowdrop Foundation, an organization dedicated to assisting patients and families...

Year-End Crazy

It's funny to me that every year regardless of how well planned out my April and May are - they turn into complete and utter chaos. From Easter until the last day of school, I might as well throw...

Necklace Organization

Almost daily, I have someone ask me about something that I do for time management, organization, parenting ... all the things that encompass my life. So, I thought that I would begin sharing some...

Freschetta By the Slice

Are you a pizza snob? I haven't always been that way, but since moving to "the city" and having more options than Papa John's and Pizza Hut, I've come to love a little something more than cheese and...

Kroger Trip – May 3

Here are the results of my shopping trip tonight. This was my first time to hit Kroger for a full trip since they ended our double/triple coupons. Without a mega-event (additional savings), I...

DEAL: A Dozen Gourmet Cupcakes for $18

I love cupcakes. Say the word "buttercream" and I melt. I show no bias - all flavors get equal love in my book. Today's Juice in the City deal is in perfect timing for Mother's Day, because (1) what...

The Royal Wedding

My alarm never goes off early. I avoid the hours of early morning like the plague. However, when I found out that the royal wedding was going to be aired beginning at 4AM, I never batted an eye at...

What I Wore Wednesday & Fashion Haul

I love this What I Wore Wednesday mime ... it's such a great one to follow along with. Thanks again to Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for allowing us to join in with her! Today, I coupling the What I...

Budgeting for the Summer

There's one ironclad truth about budgeting. It is constantly changing based on situations, salary increases (or decreases), and time of year. Time of the year is the one that I think people most...

Memories Journal

Tonight, I posted on Facebook a funny thing that I saw my daughter doing. I looked up from preparing dinner to see her standing in front of a full-length mirror in our family room. She was giving an...

Flash Deals – What You Should Know

Flash deal sites are popping up everywhere! I'm getting bombarded every day and unless you are camping out under a rock, you are seeing them too! So, let's say you are under a rock ... Flash deals...

What I Wore Wednesday

Well, we're back in town and healthy, so I'm ready to get back into the swing of "What I Wore Wednesday" hosted by Lindsey of The Pleated Poppy. I'd strongly suggest - if you are in a wardrobe...

Deal: $45 Microdermabrasion Facial

At what point do you hit middle-age? If 40 is the new 20, I'm guessing that there are a lot of "20" year olds that are looking a little rough around the edges. Lately, I've begun seeing the signs of...

DEAL: Natural Science Museum (Houston)

Let me begin by saying, I am NOT a museum person. They normally bore me to tears and I can think of a million other, more interesting things, that I would like to do with my time. ... that is until...

Because We’re Famous

It's funny what kids pick up on. Sometimes, what I think that they will remember and log in their memory bank, is not at all what they deem as important. Last year, during this week, my husband was...

No More Leisurely Drives for Me

These gas prices are out of control. I nearly fainted on Saturday when I filled up my car. I was chatting with a girlfriend, not paying attention to the numbers on the pump ... until it reached...

Sick, I’m Talkin’ Sick Sick

Long time no blog ... a massive, destructive, not-even-funny-to-joke-about stomach virus took over our home last Thursday. Today is really the first day that I can say that we are all well and...

What I Wore Wednesday – NCAA edition

Welcome to another What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy. We are in full celebration of the NCAA tournament and are wearing our Kentucky Wildcats gear as often as possible. Poor Piper...

Project Life – March 21 to 27

It's Project Life day at The Mom Creative. Each Tuesday, Jessica hosts an online link up to different Project Life albums across blogland. If you've followed for long, you know that I successfully...

Weight Loss – What’s Working for Me

I was one of those children that was naturally skinny. I was a tween that had a horrible ackward stage, but it never involved weight gain. I was the teen that took dance classes and did marching...

What I Wore Wednesday

Welcome to another What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy. Weather is warm and summer clothes are in full swing! It's the time of year that Texans live for - temps in the mid-70s every...

Gymboree & Crazy 8 Fashion Haul

I'm a lover of all things Gymboree and Crazy 8. Over the past few months, as I've planned my attack on these stores, it has become remarkably clear that I am a clothes snob for my kids. There I said...

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

As I was sarcastically reminding Don how perfect I am during dinner after the rodeo (and he was laughing hysterically), Avery gave me a snuggle and said "You're perfect for me, Mom." I swear he's...

What Should My Child Know For Kindergarten?

When it comes to starting school, I think every parent fears that their child won't be ready emotionally, socially or academically. Any of these three can make you lose sleep and none are any better...

Paying for Chores

I'm hoping that you've read the post previous to this one about "Chore Charts". As I mentioned there, it has worked like a charm for us. Having the kids learn to complete the chore is one objective,...

The Why’s & How’s of Chore Charts

There has been a string of events over the past six weeks that have totally connected in that weird, stars are all aligned, kind-of way. Things have just happened and fallen into line beautifully...

What I Wore Wednesday

Welcome to another What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy. Today is picture day at school, so in true obsessive mother fashion, I had to make sure that the kids matched. When both sets of...

Kindergarten Readiness

I've been asked over and over to write about prepping a child for kindergarten. I decided that since so many school systems will be registering over the next few weeks, now is the perfect time! In...

Fashion Haul – Gymboree & Crazy 8

Spring is here and I got some spring shopping fever last week when two of my favorite stores offered some quick sales on their latest lines! I'm sharing a video with you to show you what I got ......

What I Wore Wednesday

Time for another installment of What I Wore Wednesday at The Pleated Poppy. Stop by Lindsey’s post and check out all the WIWW links at the bottom. There are usually well over 100...

Kroger Haul

I love Kroger. We are so lucky that Houston Kroger stores double and triple coupons. It's an easy way to rack up some super quick and very valuable savings. I had to do 2 transactions this week....

Cloud Cakes GIVEAWAY

Confession #1 - I'm a "snacker". Rarely do I make it from meal-to-meal without needing a little something to tide me over. Confession #2 - I have an insatiable sweet tooth. I will always pick...

It Was THAT Day … Really.

Ever have a day when you're just trying to get everything done in a methodical and practical manner? That was me yesterday. I left work about 10 minutes early, so that I could let the dog out to...

What I Wore Wednesday – February 23

Time for another installment of What I Wore Wednesday at The Pleated Poppy. Although we seem to always be super rushed on Wednesday mornings, I'm loving linking to this mime. I've taken a lot of...

A Typical Grocery Trip

Over time, I've had a lot of people ask me what a typical weekly shopping trip looks like. I budget $400 a month for our groceries. That's much higher than some couponer's that you'll find. But, we...

Toddlers and Tiaras

One of our favorite television shows to watch each week is Toddlers and Tiaras. It's very similar to watching a train wreck over and over, but we keep tuning in. I guess we are hoping that, at some...

What I Wore Wednesday

I love the What I Wore Wednesday mime. If you want to see more and get lots of cool ideas on fashion, visit The Pleated Poppy's list today! The link through of participants at the bottom is unreal...

Project Life – February 6-12

I'm back for another week-in-review with Project Life. We are in a very busy season of life, so I love that this project is helping me track moments that would otherwise get lost in the shuffle. (To...

Stock Up Now On Valentine’s Supplies

Today is a great day to stock up on Valentine's supplies. If you have kids, you understand the mad rush to get cards, candy and trinkets for classmates. My kids tend to always choose traditional...

Happy Valentine’s Day

On this day, I hope that you have time to reflect on the happiness that the ones that you love bring into your life. This is my joy: Happy Valentine's Day.

Review: Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never’

A mere 10 days ago, I did the unthinkable. I bought tickets to the opening night of Justin Bieber's film Never Say Never. My kids aren't super into Justin, although they know his music and sing...

School Bus Callin’ My Name

I never had the luxury of being driven to school. My mom has worked full-time for as long as I can remember. Even my grandparents both worked full-time jobs. For me, if I intended to get to school,...

Old Man Winter, Take a Hike!

One of the first selling points of moving to Houston was the weather. I'm a tropical, warm-weather, umbrella on the beach kind-of person. When my husband was fairly sure that he was going to take...

Coupon Cycles

When I first started couponing, one of the mistakes I made in building my stockpile was buying more than what we could use within a three month time span. With paper goods, it isn't such a huge deal...

It’s A Dog’s Life

On October 8, we welcomed a new edition to our family. Congratulations kids - it's a DOG! We endured months years of begging, pleading, and bargaining. Coupled with tears and prayers, they were...

Taking a Closer Look at Your Budget

Many of us make resolutions at the beginning of the year to live by a budget. Paying off debt is nearly a national past-time and so many families are living the nightmare of making ends meet "month...

Happy Meal Gone Bad

It certainly wasn't my finest parenting hour. The adventure began innocently enough. I gathered my kids and grabbed a spare from my precious friend, and together, we headed to McDonalds. Or "Old...

Remington Wet2Straight

A very traumatic part of my life has been my hair. I'm talking a life-long sore spot. I've always said "I hate my hair." That's not entirely true ... my hair will do anything - wear it up, wear it...

Shop Your Kitchen

I'm heading off to Blissdom next week (still squeeing about that). The thing that I'm most anxious about is what to wear. Since I've never been before, I'm walking the line of what is too casual vs....

What I Wore Wednesday

I've loved seeing the "What I Wore Wednesday" posts going up lately. I'm trying to have a renewed sense of fashion this year. I often dress the kids to the nines (not evident in Avery's outfit...

Top Ten Tuesday: All About Me

Next week, I'm heading off into bloggy heaven at the Blissdom conference. I don't know a soul ... not one person that's going. I'm rooming with three lovely ladies that I've never met before (God...

CaringBridge Helps Me Connect with Families

January has been a whirlwind for us so far. The kids have started back to school; the business my husband works for was sold to an out-of-state company; we've had an emergency dental extraction; and...

2011 Project Life – Week 1

I have professed my love for Project Life on Facebook so much that I'm sure people are unfriending me. I successfully completed the 2010 year which for me says a lot! I'm notorious for beginning a...

Happy New Year 2011

So, this is the post where I make new year's resolutions that I will keep throughout January and then abandon with guilt on February 1. But, there is some strength to setting these mythical goals...

10 in 2010

Here are 10 things I realized in 2010: 1. When I exercise, I lose weight. 2. Buying clothes for my kids is a lot more fun than buying them for myself. 3. The more money we make, the more expensive...

Christmas Menu

So the time has come ... it's Christmas menu planning time. We stay home for the holidays and no other family comes to us, so that creates the eternal problem: I make WAY TOO MUCH FOOD! It happens...

What To Do With Coupons You Won’t Use

Let's face it, in the coupon world, it's impossible to use everything that comes in the Sunday paper. The offerings are so vast it would surprise me if most people use even half of an average...

Answers to Your Disney Questions

Last week, I posed the question on Facebook "What do you want to know about planning a trip to Disney World?" You asked ... and we answered. I got my husband, Don, involved because - truthfully - he...

Shutterfly Holiday Cards Are Amazing

"Hello. My name is Stephanie and I'm an early adopter." I had a bag phone when they were huge. I got a cell phone when they looked like over-sized walkie talkies. I had a computer with an internet...

Make it or buy it?

I love cooking during the holidays. I enjoy all the baking, the making, the taking ... it makes my heart happy. I also love seeing all the yummy items that come out in the delis and bakeries of the...

Over Programmed – Party of 4

When your kids start school, a whole new level of busy hits. When it was just one child, it seemed fairly easy to just drag the other one along. But, since the second child started school ... woooo...

Get Out And Vote

My entire life, I've been surrounded by politics. One of my very first memories is visiting my grandfather's office where he served as Mayor of the town where I grew up. As a family, we handed out...

Happy Birthday, Piper

My curly girly, Where has the time gone? How can it be that you are 6 years old today? Words can never do justice to the gift that you are to me. You make the world go round with your sweet smile...

Disney Countdown Calendar – 2010

It's no secret that my family LOVES Disney. We make a trip annually - it's the highlight of our year and is a chance that we take to relax and enjoy the magic! The kids always know that the time for...

Bake Yourself Silly

Are you a foodie? Oh my ... I definitely love a good meal and a fabulous dessert. I've shared before how much I love to bake and thankfully, we are going into my favorite time of year ... HOLIDAY...

Off-Site Airport Parking

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh3wd3VOjHA[/embedyt] PS - I had my phone on a stand on my dash ... and although it looks like I was driving on the street, I was actually going 5 mph in...

Bartering … It Still Exists!

It's fall and to me that equals "busy". Busy with school, busy with new routines, and most of all - busy with activities. If you have entered into the world of extracurricular activities with...

Easy Salmon Patties

Salmon patties are one of the things that I used to make all the time ... then, for some reason, I just stopped. It's a very cheap option for the menu, but even better than that ... it was QUICK!...

Fall Fun On A Budget

Tis the season for pumpkin patches and fall fun. As much as I love summer, I do love the smells of fall ... and to be completely honest, it means that I'm one step closer to Christmas - my absolute...

Printing Coupons

In my mind, there are two tips for printing coupons. These are things that I follow, although not always necessarily "the law". Take from it what you will. 1. When printing coupons, use the paper...

What’s On Your Plate – September 20

This is not the most amazing meal plan. It's been a rough two weeks and I'm going for easy ... like easy easy. After Sunday, life should return to normal and I'll throw some new recipes your way....

I Made It!!!

Well, I made it through the week. Thanks for hanging in there with me. It's been a long one 🙂 Next week will start my regular posting schedule again. Meal plans, Disney tips, Texas Money Mom ......

7 Thoughts on Being 37

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDQC35xRDU[/youtube]

Some Weeks

Some weeks get the best of me ... and this quite possibly could be one of them! Tonight: Ladies Auxiliary Meeting Tuesday Night: Curriculum Night at the kids school. Starts at 5:00 PM. I leave work...

Maria’s Awesome Green Idea

My friend, Maria, posted an awesome recycling idea a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure if she does this, but I thought it was also a fantasic way to gain extra coupons that others are throwing away....

Loosey Toothy

When your child starts kindergarten, you begin to notice the differences and similarities in kids. With Avery, I noticed that he was shorter than some others €¦ I noticed that he was shy, yet...

What’s On Your Plate – September 6

Sorry about the late posting ... it was Labor Day, you know? And, like a good American ... I chose not to "labor". If you see some meals here that you've seen previously, it means that we skipped...

Disney Shopping – Free Shipping

It's a Labor Day extravaganza at DisneyShopping! Free shipping all weekend with code "FREESHIP". I'd recommend starting here ... and remember, if you are planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom anytime...

Happy Anniversary #8

8 years ago, I married my best friend. Today, I'd do it all over again ... good times, bad times, no kids, two kids. He makes my world an adventure and my life is more complete than I ever could...

Meal Plan

I'm loving the idea of meal planning. It really made the nights last week much much easier. Here's what we have on deck for this week: Monday: Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas (recipe from Kraft foods)...

Kinder vs 1st Grade

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is making a decision that you know will affect your child. We're dealing with that right now. The kicker is that the decision is somewhat out of our...

Pantry Tour

One of the things that I love about my house is the pantry. I think that with every home that you own, there's always that one area that you love and know you'll probably never have again. In our...

New Year’s Resolutions – for school

I love New Year's Resolutions ... Being that I'm a massive list maker, it is one of the things that is right up my alley. And, since I like a challenge and a goal, I handle the outrageous demands I...

Planning for Christmas Spending – Already.

It may seem early, but it's only 128 days until Christmas. I know ... I know ... it's 128 days. But ... if your life runs like mine, I'm going to blink and it will be Thanksgiving - or worse,...

Kroger Grocery List – August 17

Here's what I'm buying this week: 2 - Capri Sun - $2.80 1 - (Kroger) Apple Juice - $.49 4 - Grands Biscuits - $3.66 6 - GoGurt - $4.74 2 - Smart Balance Sour Cream - $.98 1 - (Kroger) Mini Carrots -...

Disney Monday – Free Dining thru 2011

Walt Disney World has extended free dining to cover dates through September 29, 2011. Dates that are valid (you must check-in during one of these times): October 1 €“ 7, 2010...

Meal Plan for Week of August 23

Last week, I wrote about meal planning and how I'm really making an effort to get on this train! As I've thought more about this, I've come to the conclusion that I need to plan at least 2-3 weeks...

Vote in the Kirkland’s Designer Search

Remember this post from last year? Well ... it's back again and my sister-in-law is once again a finalist! If you will, take a second to hop over to MyKirklands.com and cast your vote. You can pick...

Little Swimmers

You may remember back earlier in the summer when I posted about Piper's first sleepover. She was so excited and I was scared to death because she couldn't swim & her friend has a pool. I worked...

Time for Meal Planning

We talked a few weeks ago about the best snacks to send with kids for school. (What awesome ideas you all gave!!!) Now, it's time for meal planning. This is something that I've always wanted to dig...

Ever Thought About Sharing With Friends?

I've had a Sam's Club card for as long as I can remember. I've used it for different things through each stage of my life and it's not always been for buying their bulk/wholesale items. Prior to...

Do You RSS?

I love to read other people's blogs and I have people all over the US that I read every day. Some write about their life; some write about parenting; some write about couponing ... some write about...

Disney Monday – Pirate Cruise

One of the most unique things that my kids have ever done at Disney is the Pirate Cruise. Kids, ages 4-12, are eligible to experience this awesome adventure! Here's what the Disney website has to...

Shoes for Under $3

This has been a huge savings week for me.Yesterday, I put a JC Penney code to work and wanted to share it with you. It's a $10 off of $10 coupon code. They have done this a couple of times before,...

Major Grocery Haul

It's no secret that I love coupons and that I stockpile food/items when they go on sale. I've been doing this for over three years and it affords my family many luxuries that we wouldn't have...

School Snack Survival

When my son started Kindergarden I thought I was very prepared. I'd read books, asked questions, studied the school ... I felt very enabled with knowledge. However, there was one area that was a...

Best Time for School Supplies

You only have to open up a Sunday newspaper to know that school supply sales are in full swing. I've gotten a lot of questions lately regarding the best time to buy the supplies. Starting back to...

Fashion Haul Gymboree (II)

I have a new found love for Gymboree. The quality of their children's clothes is fantastic. I worried as my kids grew out of Carter's and the other brands that I've loved that I would "want" for...

Disney Monday – Pop Century Resort

Sorry for the lapse on Disney posts. Summer is supposed to be a down time for me and this year, it's been anything but that! Many of us go to Disney on a budget. For young families (like us), we...

We Have A Winner!

Let me start by saying "Thank you" once again to Kirkland's. What a fun company to work with and what an amazing jewelry organizer. Like I said earlier in the week, this product isn't available on...

Don’t Commit a Fuel Foul

I think we all know that fuel prices tend to go up in the summer. I'm not sure why, but that's the way it's always been ... and I guess it always will be. But, can you win at the fuelpump? I think...

Kirklands Giveaway

I love to shop, but I'm also extremely thrifty. It's not a match made in heaven! The bottom line for my quirky combination means that when I do shop, I want quality and price. As much as most women...

Chili’s – Best Burger in Town

When we first moved to our suburb, there was a clear lack of restaurants - especially compared to what we were used too. One of the first sit-down places that opened was Chili's. If we could have,...

Part of the Process

It's always been really important to me that I'm involved with everything. Being as social as I am, I like to be in the center of the action. I'm a planner ... I'm a list maker ... and although I...

Free Dining is Back at Disney!!!

You can get FREE dining when you book a full price Walt Disney World vacation package for check-ins most nights August 15 - October 7, October 22-October 28, November 12-18, November 27 - December...

Awesome Deals for July 5

Act quickly ... some of these expire today! Walgreens - Photos are 10-cents each! Use code "Celebrate10". Snapfish - 50 prints for 50-cents. Use code "july4penny". DisneyShopping - Remember me...

Music Is the Song of My Life

For as long as I can remember, I've absolutely loved music. I've loved singing it, playing it, hearing it, studying it .... it's a huge part of who I am. I love finding new music and finding new...

Have Your Coffee, But Count the Cost

I think we all have our guilty pleasures. For me, I like to buy music ... for my husband, it's lunch at Subway every day. When making our budget each month, I like to allow for those things. One of...

Top 10 Tuesday: Television

I love television ... I actually should be picked up by a network as a television anaylist. The DVR and "Instant Viewing" are the best things to ever come about in my book. So, with that said, I...

Analyze Your Budgeting

Although I don't formally practice all of the principles of Dave Ramsey, I do believe in his concepts. One of those is spending every penny before the month starts. Of course, you can't do that if...

… And The Rain Came Down

Do you ever have those times when your life starts to sprinkle ... ... and then it picks up a little more ... ... ... and then the bottom completely drops out ....? That's where I am right now. I...

Disney Monday – DisneyShopping.com

You can't step one foot on Disney property without being bombarded with merchandise ... and most of it will be wearables. My kids typically don't ask for a lot of wearables, but some of that may be...

Daycare Tips for Parents

My kids have always gone to daycare ... I mean, they practically went from the hospital nursery to the daycare nursery. For them, it's been a constant in their life. I can only remember one time...

Buying Coupons Online

Many people don't have access to a large Sunday newSpaper because of where they live geographically. Then, there are those who do buy a well-stocked Sunday edition, but hate to buy multiples just...

Happy Birthday, Avery!

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27 Dear Avery, I can not ever remember a time when I didn't want to be a mom. Like so many little girls, I was...

Disney Monday – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

One of our favorite things to do at Disney World is Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. This is a highlight for not only the kids, but also for us as parents. Located in Downtown Disney and in Cinderella...

Last Day of School

The last day of school, as a mom, is always so bittersweet. It's like a child's birthday - the end of another milestone. This year was the first time that both of my kids were in school. Avery was...

Freezing Fruits & Veggies

It's my favorite time of year ... time for nature's sweet food! I love berries and the summer fruits. They are healthy for me and taste heavenly. Strawberries and blueberries are favorites at our...

Another Graduation Complete

As the school year comes to a close, it's time to see my baby girl wrap up a year of Kindergarten. It's been interesting to watch this year play out, because she has been in a private school whereas...

Choo Choo, It’s a Coupon Train

All aboard! It's coupon train time! What? You've never heard of a "coupon train"? It is one of the easiest ways to get rid of coupons that you don't want/need and gain coupons that you can use. The...

Disney Monday – 180 Days Out

So, you're going to Disney World? Congratulations and guess what .... So am I! At my house, we are certifiable Disney freaks. We live, breath, and sacrifice for anything and everything Disney. In...

A Mother’s Day Book

This is a book that Avery wrote to me as a class project regarding Mother's Day. You can learn a lot about how your kids see you from these projects! I've copied this one exactly how it is written:...

Fashion Haul Gymboree

My friend, Sarah, has done a couple of fashion haul videos and they are so fun. I love seeing what the clothes look like outside of the catalog or the website. It gives a much better vision for what...

Monday Mingle on Tuesday 🙂

I recorded this yesterday, but soon after, found out my daughter has strep. Thus the delay in hitting "publish". I've been wanting to do a lot more vlog'ing and yesterday, my friend Sarah, gave me...