Day 286- Couponing

No, I haven't been couponing... I NEED COUPONING HELP!

I watched that show "Extreme Couponing" a couple of times and now I feel guilty every time I go shopping! How do those ladies do it? It must be addicting to get paid for taking $800 worth of groceries out of a store!
I have been more brand/ingredient conscious since having a child, so our bill has gone up, not to mention that KC groceries are more expensive than Denver's. (Who would have thought!?) I follow a couple of couponing blogs, but thus far they have only served to make me feel guilty as well. I think the main problem is that couponing is the FULL TIME JOB of these ladies (or at least part time job). I have to remind myself that I make more money in my part time job than saving a couple hundred in groceries each month (maybe?! some of those ladies are crazy good!) I wish there was a way to do couponing 1/2 way. I feel like you either have to go all in or just pay full price. (Now I am definitely a budget shopper- Aldi, store brands, etc, just don't have enough time to shop all the store sales and find coupons to match). I guess in the mean time I'll keep brainstorming ways to reduce my grocery budget. I'd be curious what all you fellow bloggers do to reduce your monthly grocery bill. Especially if you're too busy to create an excel spreadsheet from every store in town that corresponds to coupons in your larger than life coupon binder!

Thankfuls...
331. having a clean house
332. having a charged camera
333. having time to blog
334. having a sweet aka "awesome" husband
335. having a child that is healthy enough to learn how to climb on top of things :)

Day 281- Jackson Paul Shelton!

Welcome to the world, Jackson Paul Shelton! I hope the Sheltons don't mind me posting a couple of pics, but I'm so excited for this little guy to be here! He's gonna have some great parents and a great little friend named Caleb! I'm so happy that both mom and baby are healthy!


It just brings back so many memories of about a year ago when Caleb entered the world! He was so little (though still over a pound bigger than Jackson!)

Oh those lovely Billi-lights

He was so precious and gets cuter by the day! By the way, he can do the motions to Wheels on the Bus! We've got to get it on video!

Thankfuls...
321. That all 3 Sheltons are healthy!
322. To have a dear friend enter the world of motherhood with me!
323. To be feeling much better
324. For the weekend
325. To get to hold baby Jackson this morning
326. For the sentiment that I do, in fact, want to have another baby (eventually)
327. That I only have a couple of notes to write this weekend
328. For brunch at First Watch after our hospital visit
329. Family time at the park
330. Bear Creek soup mix

Day 277- In and Out

Caleb's new favorite thing to do is anything "in and out." He puts items in a bucket, then dumps them out. He slides objects through a slit in the couch footrest over and over. Recently, he discovered HE can go in and out.

In and out of the toy trunkIn and out of the kitchen cabinet

Thankfuls...
311. Chick-fil-a
312. Skinny Vanilla Lattes
313. Mums
314. Fall decorations
315. HGTV
316. that Sarah is coming back from Sierra Leone soon!
317. Baby Shelton is coming soon!
318. a warm fall
319. yellow and red leaves
320. getting to go to our 5 year JBU reunion!

Day 275- ABC's of me

ABC's of ME!
My friend, Sarah, tagged me a long time ago to do this meme!  I think I did one earlier this year, but I guess I'll do one again!

So here we go:
{a} age: 27
{b} bed size: king, love it!
{c} chore you hate: well... Most, but I really hate mopping and putting away clothes
{d} dogs: we used to have Nigel, but he lives with his "grandparents" now, since we didn't want to move with him (he is one spoiled pup now living on the farm!)
{e} essential start to your day: 9 hours of sleep (ha) and a hot shower
{f} favorite color: green
{g} gold or silver: Silver
{h} height: 5'7"
{i} instruments you play: used to play the flute and guitar, not so much anymore
{j} job title: Pediatric Physical Therapist
{k} kids: Caleb David, born 9/26/2010
{l} live: Prairie Village, KS
{m} main article of clothing: athletic clothes for work, jeans at home
{n} nicknames: Susie, Suse, Susie boosie, Bookie
{o} overnight hospital stays: dehydration as a baby, Caleb's birth @ 26
{p} pet peeve: hmmm... people who are intentionally mean
{q} quote: "The way we live our days is the way we live our lives."
{r} righty or lefty: righty
{s} siblings: Stephanie (25), Stacy (20)
{t} time you wake up: around 7 most days
{u} university attended: John Brown University for undergrad and Regis University for grad
{v} vegetables you dislike: like most, not super fond of raw onions or brussel sprouts
{w} what makes you run late: sleeping too long
{x} x-rays: dental
{y} yummy food: anything chocolate
{z} zoo animal: love the monkeys and polar bears

I tag Stephanie, Crystal, and Krista

Day 275- Sick :(

So, I'm sick. It was bound to happen at some point. I mean, I have a son going to daycare and I work with children and I just moved to a new state with new germs. I just so happen to be a horrible sick person. I wallow and despair. I rely on Al too much (aka ask him to do everything). And to make things worse, I'm not hugely sympathetic when others are sick. (I've got some things to work on!) I'm going to have to grow up one of these days when I have multiple children running around the house and Al is gone to work. But for now...

Thankful...
301. to have a caring husband who will take care of me when I'm not feeling well
302. that I have a good friend who offered to bring soup and dinner
303. kleenex.
304. netipot.
305. sinus medicine.
306. Caleb slept in some this morning (although he woke up again in the middle of the night. we've got to figure that boy out!)
307. yummy oranges
308. a warm robe (since our house is only 66 right now)
309. hot tea
310. chicken and dumpling soup (so much better than chicken noodle!)