Camellia and Chick-Fil-A

Two of the worlds wonders...

If you have never before seen a Camellia flower you don't know what you are missing. This is a hearty, gorgeous shrub that produces the most amazing, thick flowers.

Chick-Fil-A is the Camellia of american fast food joints.

I just took a final exam, I have stress beyond belief. I need to spend a moment with my kids and study at the same time. So, I decided to pack them up, leave the nanny at home to vacuum and head somewhere that has internet, food, and free refills. When I walked through the door, a 2 year old holding my pants pocket, a car seat and baby in one arm, laptop in the other, I was in for a real treat!! HAHAHA The truth is, I set myself up for trouble.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find a highchair on wheels which I could pull my son around in. I made my order and the lady said, "Don't worry hon, I will drop your food off, I know how it can be with so much to do and so few hands.

So here I am, eating my salad, typing my blog, baby is sleeping, toddler is eating and I don't even have to clear my spot when I am done.

Oh, That Old Thing? YES!! CHICK-FIL-A!!

They make outing a breeze!!

Generically Speeking...

I have heard it said many of times, "Beware of False prophets!" and I understand, "By their fruits ye shall know them..."

Well what does this have to do with generically speaking?

Publix says they have the best deals in town and the best products... Well go for one shopping excursion there and you will see, the fruits don't pay out!!

Kroger is less expensive but they still are more expensive than Wal-mart.

Wal-mart is the least expensive but the quality isn't always that amazing.

I went to Aldi the other day and found an amazing deal on milk (1.69/gl) and eggs (0.79/dz). I brought them home and was pleasantly surprised that the taste and the packaging were splendid. Usually I buy milk and eggs from Kroger or Wal-mart. Sometimes when I open the milk it has a sort of residue or milky crust around the lid. I wipe it off and consume the milk anyway. WELL... Aldi milk never has that!! So, not only did I find an amazing deal, I got a fresher, cleaner product.

As if that is not enough reason to shop at Aldi for the bulk of my groceries, I did a little test. I packed my shopping cart to the hilt. I expected that it would cost me nearly $300 because that is what it would cost me at Kroger or Wal-mart. The lady at the counter zipped through my items and gave me my grand total; $91. I asked her $191??? She said, "No, Ninety-One Dollars."

I about fell out... I pulled out my debit card and swiped with excitement. Seriously, that's a 66% savings in my book!!

So, what do you need to know in order to be a smart saver and Aldi shopper?

1. Aldi makes you put your own cart away using a quarter locking system. SO always have a quarter ready to stick in the locking mechanism to get your cart.

2. Aldi makes you use your own bags or purchase theirs. SO don't forget to bring your own bags.

3. Aldi has price differences weekly. It's usually a cycle; one week the eggs are 1.79 then for three weeks they are .69 -.79. Same with other products too. So buy them while they are cheap and hold off the week they aren't.

4. If you like amazing desserts, try the Deutsche Kuche products. My family loves them. Raspberry creme cake and flaky apple strudel.

5. The cheese is excellent.

6. Check out the clearance isle. You can find items more than 50% discounted and they have plenty of shelf life left.

7. Aldi doesn't accept Credit Cards only Debit or Cash so be prepared. Don't worry though, you won't break the bank. My Aldi also accepts WIC (though you won't need WIC because you won't spend an arm and leg on groceries anymore.)

8. Aldi has a flyer that shows the next weeks deals. Pick one up. They have seasonal items that are dirt cheap and worth the money spent. My husband and I picked up a full size, stainless steal propane grill with all the bells and whistles, brand new, in the box. It cost $130. The same grill at Home Depot was $250. The only difference was the name on the box. EVERYTHING else was exactly the same. It even has a side burner for beans or whatever.

Enjoy your shopping!!

Facelift in Five

I went to ULTA the other day and knew I wanted to try bare minerals, the makeup that is supposed to amazing for every reason! Well when I was sitting there in the chair I decided the powdery mess would never fit into my lifestyle so I chose another packed powder version called Pur Minerals. Let me just say, “WOW!”

The first day I didn’t recognize myself, the second day I felt amazing, wonderful and gorgeous. The third day EVERYBODY noticed me and as one woman asked how I got my makeup to look so fabulous I said, "Oh, that old thing? It was just a quick application on my way to school!"

Now, since we are talking about facelifts I found a way to facelift the house without spending a fortune and without a lot of hard work. It all starts in your bathroom. Take a look at your hardware, the toilet paper holder, towel bar, hand towel ring, and hooks. How do they look? Mine were horrible. They obviously came from the 80’s and were original with the house. I went to Wal-mart and picked up a set of satin chrome hardware for $18.88 I spent about 15 minutes in the bathroom and voila, it looks so good.

There is one thing that will help you that I wish I knew before I started… make sure you have a small screwdriver on hand. I am talking about the little mini kind that’s about 3mm wide. You are going to need it for the tiny little tension screws found on the wall edge of each hardware piece. TRUST ME, it is worth every penny to buy it. BUT if you are really strapped for money you might be able to get away with a kitchen knife. Best of Luck!

Just another Manic Monday...

I am so glad yesterday is over! Though last night was a special treat because I got to tuck my little 2 year old in bed. He made the whole day feel better when he gave me a thousand kisses and told me he loves me.

After the mayhem of yesterdays TO-DO's I got home just before the sun was setting. The problem was that one of the major things on my list was to trim the neighbors hedges which were overgrowing into my yard. See, the truth is, my husbands family is going to rent next door and we made a deal with the landlord that, for a good rental price, we would fix up the place.

Well the hedges were weighing heavily on my mind... SO I put on my landscape architect hat, grabbed the chainsaw and went to town.

The truth is, I knew what I wanted the hedges to look like but I didn't know how to make it happen. I ALSO knew that what I really needed was one of those fancy hedge trimmers which of course I DO NOT OWN!!

I opted for a top heavy look where the bottom has been cleared away. I figured this would add dimension to the yard without making it look completely naked. I got in my groove and made an amazing new look in the front yard.

I learned that the trick to making thick Holly bushes look amazing is to take one branch away at a time. There are three or four main branches that come down to one root system. Keep those and get rid of all the extras but don't be hasty.

Just as I was finishing up the first hedge, the neighbor came home and peered around his majorly overgrown shrubberies. He remarked how wonderful it looked and wanted to know if I would landscape for him. I joked that it would cost him a fortune then thought to myself, "Oh, that old thing?"

Hip Deep...

I notice there are days that I have time for just about anything and yet there is nothing that I have to do. Then all of the sudden the clouds of life decide it’s time for a torrential downpour. You know the kind where you throw on your hip waders and the water still comes in over the top? Yeah, I am having one of those days.

Thank goodness for my nanny. I feel horrible that I have neglected my motherly responsibilities in order to take care of the mile long list that has fallen in my lap. I promised myself I would be this wonder-mom the kind that could do anything in any amount of time and today I feel like I am failing. Sadly, my nannies boyfriend had to put my son to bed for his nap today… I missed that moment when he tells me he loves me and says, “Bye bye mommy!” that’s a precious time I can’t get back. Luckily I have tomorrow to look forward to and yesterday to remember but I want that moment right now.

I caution Mom’s out there who are using my, “That old thing” way of life, always take time for your kids. If you have to do the taxes, let them eat cheerios next to you. If they make a mess, let them clean it up with you. It’s these simple moments that can mean the most to both you and your little one and teach them responsibility. Kids are very observant and just by watching, they will learn things you never taught them.

One of the first things I learned (with a mature cognition) from my Mom just from observing her, was how to make French toast. I remember how she cracked the eggs, whisked them up and added cinnamon. I remember how she dipped the bread, cooked it, flipped it, piled it on a plate and the slices of butter she would place in between the pieces. She would drizzle maple syrup across the top then stack them high and cut them in pieces. She even cut them the same way every time. The thing is, she never told me how to do it but she let me be there to watch her.

That’s one thing about my mom I want to have. She never told us to go away if she was too busy. It didn’t matter if we were obnoxious or needy, rude or contentious. She loved us around NO MATTER WHAT!

So, what will I do with the rain that’s falling and the water I am wading through? What any wonder-mom would do, take off the waders and swim. At least then I can enjoy the storm!!