I Wanna Be That Mom!

Help

2009-01-11T14:09:00.004-06:00

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to save on the power bill.
My house is total electric, and with 3 teenagers living in the house I am constantly
following them around turning off lights and unplugging stuff.
But with all I try to do my power bill is running $300.00 a month, sometimes more.
I am at my wits ends, I cant keep it up.
SO if anyone has found helpful tips to keep the bills down, Please pass them on!

Thanks

How to Reorganize You Life After the Holidays

2009-01-11T12:13:00.001-06:00

I find having a list of things to do, helps actually get things done!
Click here!

For Those on a Tight Food Budget..

2009-01-11T12:10:00.001-06:00

and for those who aren't!

This site, $5 Dinners has some of the best recipes! And for under $5 each.

Check it out!

New site

2009-01-11T12:06:00.002-06:00

Check out this new site I found, called Spring Pad. It has every kind of list you'll need, all in one place.

You can create your Favorite Recipes list, and it will coincide with the Weekly Menu planner!

I'm using the Receipt Manager as a coupon savings manager.

Check it out for yourself!

Sickness Strikes

2008-08-25T22:36:00.002-05:00

We are almost 3 weeks into the new school year and I've already heard of many children being sick!

Last week, the school sent home a Health note saying the chicken pox was already going around!

Click here for Tips for kids to stay healthy at school.

If your child is already sick, click here for way to keep the whole family from getting sick!

FYI

2008-08-19T18:35:00.001-05:00

I am hosting a few giveaways over at This Wife's Savings.

Head on over for your chance to win some great coupons!

Shopping Sites

2008-08-18T23:14:00.001-05:00

Here's a couple sites I always check when I'm looking to buy online. Great for Christmas time!

Lakeside
Collections Etc.

Saving Money

2008-08-18T23:11:00.004-05:00

Wanna see my New way of saving money? Come visit This Wife's Savings. It's where I share my saving stories, while hopefully encouraging others to start their own savings journeys!

Click HERE to visit This Wife's Savings!

Back to School Clothes

2008-08-08T07:44:00.003-05:00

If your child has just went back to school or is about to go back, chances are you're looking for some good deals on new clothes. Check out the sales at my favorite places:

Old Navy Back to School Sale -Up to 40% off select items!
Gap - Sale on Jeans - Buy1 Get1 50% off!!!
Children's Place - Jeans 2pair for $28 and other Fall Savings!
Kohls - Having different sales

Summer's Over

2008-08-03T14:07:00.002-05:00

Summer's Over & LittleMan goes back to school in only 4 days. I will try to get back to posting again this week. It's been a fast but busy summer!

Daphne

Birthday Parties

2008-05-05T14:43:00.003-05:00

Throwing the perfect birthday party for your child can be critical at my son's age. He's 6, afterall. He has gotten the bum end of the stick for the past two years. He hasn't had a birthday party at all.

What? You didn't throw your son a party?

Well, let me point out that his birthday is on January 2nd.
Which means it's right after Christmas. It means everyone has run out of money. It means kids are not back in school after winter break yet. It means it's right after New Year's. It means it's cold.
It means having a bunch of kids
Inside. My. House. With. Nothing. Fun. To. Do.

I'm changing that next year. I'm determined to. He will not miss out anymore!

(btw, we did take him to Chuckie Cheese and a rodeo, so there was definite celebration)

Let's gather the basics, shall we?
1. He thinks he's about too old for a cartoon birthday party. Examples from the past, Scooby Doo, Winnie the Pooh.

2. We will need fun things that can go on inside, without making a humongous mess.

3. It needs to be toddler friendly. {My daughter will be 3 years old the next time LittleMan's birthday rolls around.}

4. Cost-friendly for Mom would be great too!

So, here is some ideas I came up with:

1. Pirate Birthday Party
2. Airplane Birthday Party
3. Cowboy Birthday Party

Now, for some girl birthday party ideas.

My daughter is currently 2 years old. Her third birthday falls at the beginning of August. Again, not the best time to have a birthday party. Yes, it's warm and can be outside. But it falls around the time school opens back up.

Her first birthday party was a butterfly theme, but she wore a princess crown. Her second party was a Disney Princess party.

The Basics
1. Princess doesn't have many friends yet.
2. Most of our little family that lives near is boys.
3. She loves all things girly.
4. But she also loves horses.

Ideas for a party:
1. The Princess Party {I would call Royal Party since there's boys there} We may have already done the Disney Princess party, but this is different.
2. Barnyard/Animal party - More for this theme, and more
3. Luau - and more ideas for this theme

For Additional Ideas, click HERE and HERE

New Writer

2008-05-05T14:34:00.006-05:00

I'm happy to announce that my aunt Vicki who runs another blog called Forgotten Mom, has agreed to join me here at I Wanna Be That Mom!

Don't be surprised if you notice things changing around, maybe even the name, but we will leave the web address the same, at least for a while.

We are trying to get in the swing of things to have a really good blog going here.

Thanks for your patience!!!

Freebie & Coupon Links

2008-04-05T13:16:00.003-05:00

Recall Links

2008-04-05T13:12:00.001-05:00

CPSC

Mattel

Mom Crafts

2008-04-05T13:08:00.001-05:00

50 Holiday Things DIY

Fringed Fleece Scarf/Throw

Games for Kids

2008-04-05T13:05:00.003-05:00

Crafts for Kids

2008-04-05T13:01:00.003-05:00

Easy Recipes for Kids

KidsPalace

Make-Stuff

The Coloring Spot

Color Your Own - added 4/30/08

Education for Kids Links

2008-04-05T12:59:00.001-05:00

Harcourt

Letter of the Week

Starfall

.... more coming soon ....

Some sites to check out: Spring Cleaning

2008-04-05T08:58:00.003-05:00

This site has Monthly Checklists, so you can clean and organize on a daily basis, without feeling overwhelmed.

This site has tons of tips, lists and articles about organizing everything in your home.

This site has tips to keep you organized on your way out of the house.

This site tells you how to clean clutter with a yard sale.

Mrs. Clean has some good tips on organizing your house.

This site has checklists for the 5 Core Life Zones.

Clean Home Journal has printable checklists for every room of the house.

Home Makeover Madness

This site has a clickable house to get cleaning tips for any room of your house.

Happy Clicking!

My first stab at French Toast

2008-04-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

Growing up, French Toast was one of my favorites. I remember watching my Granny make the egg dip, dip the bread, and then ... French Toast! I've been wanting to make some for a while, but all the recipes I've found that sounded good, were over-night French Toast. I've never remembered to do it all up the night before, so I've never made it. While browsing over at Organized Mom, I stumbled upon this recipe for French Toast and tried it this morning. It was scrumptious! [Next time, though, I will leave the cinnamon out, as I don't like cinnamon all that much, it dries my mouth out.]

French Toast
4 slices of Bread
2 Eggs
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla
2 pinches of Sugar
A Few Shakes of Ground Cinnamon
2 Tbsp. Milk
Mix ingredients
Coat bread in mixture, and placed on buttered pan until slightly brown.

A Room A Day

2008-04-02T14:09:00.007-05:00

So, I've decided that maybe cleaning and organizing one room a day, makes a little sense. Well, it will be a little more than one room a day. I still have to do dishes & laundry everyday. And the other everyday stuff like picking up things off the floor, etc.

Yesterday, I cleaned and organized my Master Bedroom & closet.

Today, since I did the grocery shopping, it doesn't leave me much time, so I will pick it up again tomorrow.

Tomorrow I plan on cleaning and organizing our familyroom/playroom/exercize-room/office, whatever you want to call it!

{I have been babysitting a 5 month old baby since January and it has made cleaning and organizing more difficult, but this is my last week to keep him. He is going into daycare, so next week, I will have PLENTY of time on my hands =D }

Master Bedroom and Closet

2008-04-02T14:01:00.007-05:00

It's funny how one tip on cleaning or organizing can set you off to clean the entire day in one room.

My Master Bedroom is Always the messiest room in the house.
For many reasons;
1. I hate folding and putting up laundry.
2. I have so much stuff in there.
3. It's not a room that company sees, so it gets dropped to the end of the cleaning list most of the time.

So while browsing the Internet for some good organizing tips, I stumbled upon THIS PAGE. Why #17 had never occurred to me, is amazing, but it hadn't. So when I read it, I had to immediately go and start cleaning in my closet, which spread out into my bedroom.

So I went to bed with a very clean room last night, and I slept better! And my hubby was really happy this morning when he didn't have to dig through clothes baskets to get dressed! =D

One thing I REALLY want for this room, is a new comforter set. I just haven't found the one I LOVE yet.

Spring Cleaning

2008-03-30T00:01:00.002-05:00

I have no readers on this blog yet, but still I must ask, in case some stranger accidentally stumbles upon this post.

What are your best Spring Cleaning / Spring Decluttering / Spring Organizing Tips OR Websites??

And Thanks in Advance!!

A site worth checking out

2008-03-15T23:29:00.004-05:00

My aunt Vicki actually found this and sent me the link. It's call Hillbilly Housewife.

Check it out for some recipes and some ideas for meal plans. Including one for a whole week called $45 Emergency Menu.

10 Tips For Better Bedroom Organization: Little Girls Rooms

2008-03-12T13:23:00.014-05:00

Here are a few tips that I've used in my toddler girl's bedroom.

1. To always know where her shoes are, I throw them all in a big plastic tote. I keep the tote in the closet. There's the clothes and there's the shoes.

Now if you think it would take too much time to get a matching pair out, you can always use my second choice for shoes. This inexpensive, over the door organizer. I got this in a cute pink color at my local Wal Mart and it cost less than $10. Right now, we have too many shoes to use this option. [But. You could also use the door organizer to hold other stuff ... like, small toys, crafts, hair bows, whatever!]

2. She had a very large collection of purses. I keep all of them in a large tote also. It keeps them together and takes less space to store than if they were hanging on something like over-the-door hooks.

3. I have this multiple hook over the door holder that I hang her belts, diaper bag and jackets on. It keeps them all off the floor and out of her reach. This is her bedroom door.

4. Then I have these hooks that I put her bulkier coats on. This is the closet door.

5. This shelf is high above where she cannot reach, so it's the best place to put this earring holder. I use this earring holder so that I do not have to keep up with countless boxes or card stock the earrings come on. And we can see every choice of earring we have.

6. This shelf is below the earring one, but still out of reach. The round basket holds all her hats. The square hold hair bows that do not clip/cannot hang.

7. I made this hair bow holder when our collection of hair bows got too big to be digging through a Ziploc bag for.

8. This stuffed animal net is perfect for those toys that she doesn't actually play with, but have too much sentimental value to get rid of.

9. All her toys go into certain cubes. Horses in one, dolls in another, etc. It may seem easier to just pick toys up and put them in whatever cube, but with a toddler, if she can't find a toy she's looking for, what does she do? She pulls everything out until she finds it.

10 . Needless to say, as soon as we're done using a coat, hair bow, hat, etc. we always put it right back into the "home" of the item.

I hope you find some of these tips useful. And feel free to share any of your own tips too!

Daphne