GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

I am giving away a tester sample set of 5 of my handmade 100% wool dryer balls on my friend Kim's FB page.

Snuggly Baby Boutique

Go to this page and LIKE it and when we reach 300 likes there will be a giveaway! Don't forget to check out all the other awesome handmade things that my friend makes as well!

Black Friday!

This was the best Black Friday for me yet! I got to Wal*mart around 8pm (sale started at 10pm) since my dad was able to come by and sit with the older boys (I kept Jameson with me) and I got everything I needed and was in line to check out around 9pm (only an hour waiting in line lol). Then came home and got to sleep around midnight before getting up at 4am to take my dad to the airport. On the way home stopped in at Toys-R-Us and got what I wanted there on sale and then last stop at Big Lots for the last of my awesome deals. All that really mattered were that I got the boys their gifts from Santa and I did, Logan gets a grill, CJ gets a tool bench, Wyatt gets a kitchen, and Jameson a computer. HORRAY! I got 95% of my Christmas decorations up and hopefully Justin will get up on the roof tomorrow to finish and we'll get our tree Tuesday! I love this time of year, I just wish it wasn't 70 degrees so it would feel more like Christmas time.

What's cookin' good lookin'?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well... almost Thanksgiving. This year we are celebrating a day early so today is my shopping and prepping day! My list is all made and I'm starving just looking at the menu! A few things I love to make are being taken out of my hands but I still have a ton of food I'm making. Below is a list of a typical Thanksgiving spread in our house and I'll try to get a few of my recipes posted up tonight!

Turkey (well duh, it's Thanksgiving!)
Ham (yup, we don't make it like ever so it's a special request from the hubby)
Gravy (made from all the good drippings)
Mashed Potatoes (my auntie is bring these this year)
Stuffing (auntie is taking this over too)
Candied Yams (whipped with sugars and butter and topped with marshmallows, the only way to go)
Green Bean Casserole (made with fresh green beans, so delish!)
Cresent Rolls (yeah, I cheat and get the pilsbury - another hubby request)
Corn on the Cob (this will actually be a new addition per my oldest son's request)
Cranberries (my grandma has ALWAYS made these fresh, they are so good)
Jello (another special treat my grandma makes, my boys are looking forward to this the most! it's not your ordinary jello people!)
Apple Crumble (my take on a dutch apple pie)
Some Pumpkin Dessert (normally I would make a pumpkin pie but my auntie said she has a new recipe for a pumpkin dessert she wants to bring)

I think that sums it up. Plus some sparkling apple cider to drink :)

So what do YOU serve on Thanksgiving???

Dryer Balls

A week or so ago I was scrolling through a FB* group I am in called Cloth Swap/WAHM Shop (basically a place to swap all things cloth and to find awesome handmade items) and I came across some 100% wool dryer balls. I was really intrigued because with my cloth diapers I can't use dryer sheets to help soften them (it can counteract the absorbency and make them repentant). I had heard of other types of dryer balls but didn't know there were a type that could be made at home so I decided to look it up online and see how difficult it would be. Turns out, it's not all that difficult! Mostly because they were about $4-$6 PER BALL plus shipping and you need, I've heard, anywhere from 4-12, and I knew my husband would NOT give me the OK on that purchase I decided to give it a try.

Today I set off on a short adventure with the 3 littles and find some 100% wool yarn (my local Wal-Mart only has acrylic or blends which won't work) and came to Hancock Fabric and found a less than overwhelming selection. I had hoped to find some pretty colors but only found 4 very neutral colors. Next trip out to find yarn I'm going to hope for some luck at Hobby Lobby. So far the felting process (that makes the balls solid to  work) isn't going so well... maybe an extra wash or two till success! If I get it to work a little tutorial will follow :) IF you want to make them yourself. If not I'm going to team up with my friend and sell them on her FB page Snuggly Baby Boutique.

*Facebook

CHECK!

Plan menu.... CHECK!
Stick to shopping list... mostly CHECK!
Do art with the boys... CHECK!
Baths... CHECK!
Dishes... CHECK!
Set up sewing machine in office.. CHECK!

Ok... you get the point :) I got a bunch done today that I wanted to do. Unfortunately I couldn't get my sewing machine working still. ::POUT:: But I did get to do some art with the older 3 boys. Logan had to disguise a turkey for school so while he did that the middles drew pictures and made their own little turkeys.

P.S. I revamped the blog a bit... I ♥ed my bright and pretty page but it just didn't feel right with the weather and it being fall and all :) What do ya'll think?

P.P.S. We are going to do Thanksgiving a day early in our new house! I'm really excited since this will be the first time we host it!

Mommy VS 6 Kids

We'll call it a draw! The house isn't destroyed but boy did I end up with a headache! It wasn't too bad but having an extra 2 kids was definitely an interesting experience :) I watched a friends 3 year old and 5 month old and I think the hardest part was giving the baby his bottle and nursing Jameson. As soon as I'd go to make a bottle Jameson wanted to nurse lol. Jealous much?All in all it was a productive day. I got cleaning done in the morning, vaccumed, did some dishes, cleaned a bathroom, washed some diapers and I got my homework done for the day. Kids all ate breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks and all finally went to sleep! I'm feeling good about how things are going, I even took a long walk with the boys to get the mail (we walked around the other street instead of coming straight home). I know I keep saying I'm determined to get back on track but now I really am making steps in that direction. Hopefully tomorrow I'll start back on my menu planning and get my shopping list to a point where I don't start to stray and pick up stuff while grocery shopping! I have 1 more week of this class I'm in and I have a HUGE assignment due so I'm going to be juggling a lot, but after next Tuesday it is ON like DONKEY KONG! I am getting the house in perfect order (well kinda have to since we are going to host Thanksgiving early on Wednesday at the house) and then I'm setting up my cleaning and laundry schedule and I WILL stick with it! Hopefully I can get back on my work out regime again too.
Alas, it's time to go again and get a little house touch ups done before the hubs gets home. Maybe I'll go to bed early... but probably not...

Uhhhh....

I am going to take it as a good sign that I haven't been finding the time to blog lately. One f my issues before was that I was spending way too much time online or just sitting on the couch watching TV and I have definitely cut back on that A LOT. I guess it helps that Jameson isn't nursing as much so I don't have that excuse. I haven't even had to call a break on internet use to cut back, I've just been busy cleaning and doing homework and just keeping up with the house. It's proving to be a little more work than I really thought so I'm still trying to get into a groove to get everything cleaned. Heck, I'm still not all the way unpacked! Most of our things have places now but our bedroom/closet and the office really are disasters, the garage too. But over all I'm really happy with the house and proud of myself for things being pretty presentable. Right now I have a goal and I'm doing my best to keep with it :

My house will always be at least presentable to a point that I would not be embarassed if someone just stopped by unexpectedly!

Granted this has never happened but I'd like to keep it at a consistant state of neatness. At least as much as can be expected with 4 little tornadoes boys!

Now I am hoping to get back to a point where I'm on here blogging a little bit more. It really doesn't take long and I do enjoy it! :)