$1 makeup

Nordstrom is changing the logo on their makeup, so they're selling everything for one dollar online. The make-up line E.L.F. (eyes-lips-face) has been bought out by Nordstrom and will be re-packaged with the Nordstrom name on it. They are getting rid of the entire make up in the ELF packaging. They are selling everything for $1. You do have to pay shipping. They have everything powder, mascara, lipstick, a mineral line, brushes etc. The website is http://www.eyeslipsface.com/shop.asp When you check out there is a space for a coupon code. Use * CAROLINA * and save an additional $7.50 if your order is over $15.00.

more videos...

I see you!

**** You can see all of Maddie's cute teeth... she's got 6 in all so far, 4 on top and 2 on the bottom.

Potty Train-ing (ed)

I have been selfishly putting off potty training Taylor. I honestly believe she was ready MONTHS ago, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to make the commitment I knew it would take. I mean, dragging a kid to the bathroom every 30 minutes, cleaning up accidents all the time, wondering what to do when we go out (panties or diapers?)... It just seemed like way too much to handle.

I have tried to let her wear her panties a few times. She would have accidents though. I think she thought if she had something on at all, it would catch whatever she did, so she'd just go. However, i found out that if she was "butt" naked, she'd go to the bathroom. She'd even go completely by herself (she wouldn't tell me she had to go, just would go in the bathroom, do her business, and then tell me afterwards.) She's been doing that for a few months. So yes, she's been ready to be potty trained for a while. But I've been lazy.

So I've decided to make the commitment. Taylor needs to be out of diapers. She's too old for them. She's too smart for them. I'm DONE with buying them for two kids! So we've been working on it this week. She did well all morning yesterday. She wore her panties and didn't have one accident. She will use a big toilet, or her little potty. She'll wipe herself, she'll flush, she'll wash her hands. She has it down. This huge daunting task I've been afraid of is turning out to be easy peasy! At naptime yesterday, we put a diaper on her. SHe wore a diaper for the rest of the day. Today, She'll be in a panties or naked all day, besides nap time. She's already gone pee 3 times and "made brown" twice (that's from her cousin Isaac!)

She's pretty much potty trained, as far as being home goes. I think we may wait it out here another day or two, then venture out into the real world to try the nasty public restrooms with a change of clothes just in case. This is exciting... So, any advice? I know most of y'all have done this before. How do I handle trips out of the house? And what about nap times? Thanks!

Tell your friends

Hi y'all. Okay, So, not to be pushy or anything, but I'm redoing my etsy store. The new one is

http://www.theyarnyanker.etsy.com/

I thought it fit my stuff a bit better, since I'm mainly doing crochet now.

My blog is

http://www.theyarnyanker.blogspot.com/ I'm giving away both of these items right now on the blog. The contest will end Aug, 15.

If y'all wouldn't mind telling your friends and family about it, I'd appreciate it. Maybe even include it in one of your own blog posts.

All of my hats and such will be moved from Baby Luv Gifts over to the Yarn Yanker by this weekend. I'm hoping this will be good for me, and I know it can be, with your help.

So thanks in advance for any and all mentions of my new store. Also, I do have business cards. If you'd like some, let me know. I'll get them to you. Thanks!!!

I can't be

the only woman out there that wants to lay in bed all day and ignore everything and everyone around me... Right?

It's official

Chris is going to be...

A Pharmacist!

What does this mean?

Probably two years of undergrad school to get all his prerequisites done. (He can already get his prepharmacy degree, but most schools require prerequisites.)

Then 4 years at a Pharmacy School to get his PharmD. That's right... it's a Doctorate. He'll be Dr. Neely... kinda.

There are lots of great schools all over the country that we are considering.

But who knows which ones he'll get into, and which he won't. Most schools are EXTREMELY competitive to get in.

That means that in the next two years we will be moving... Where? No idea. All we know for now is that Chris will be going to school this fall. Classes will probably be hard. But it'll all be worth it in the end.

We're very exited about this next step in our lives. :) And I'm very proud of my Handsome. I know he would be good at anything he did. I'm very lucky he's mine and will gladly follow him around the world and back if that's what it takes for him to be who he wants to be. :)

Madison is 10 months old

Atleast, she turned 10 months last week on the 16th. I'm a bit behind in posting about this 10 month old little angel. And it's partially her fault, she's been sick. She has an upper respitory infection, and two ear infections. She's on an antibiotic and steroids so she should be back to her cheerful self soon... Til then she's sleeping in my room in the swing so she can be propped upright.

So here's what's new with Madison Emmarie

• She's talking... She can now say "mama", "dada", "nana"(no), "mo"(more), "hi" or "ha" or "hey", and she'll try to say "let's go isaac"
• She's crawling everywhere and very fast
• She's crawling up stairs (still working on coming down them)
• She's slowly starting to stand by herself (usually pulling up and then letting go)
• She'll walk if she can hold aleast one of your hands
• She's just now fitting into 9 month clothes, and most of them are still big on her.
• She weighs 16 lbs still... not growing real fast at all, but that's fine. She's little like me.
• She LOVES her boy cousins! Isaac and Zachary are her favorites! Baby Coal is too, but she doesn't get too close to him, cause I"m afraid of her attacking him!
• She's starting to get on Taylor's nerves. She can crawl now and play real well, so they play together in their room. But it bothers taylor sometimes when she wants to play with something and Maddie wants to also.
• She usually gets her way - She doesn't fuss much, but when she does, I give in. I hold her, or feed her, or give her toys. She's definately the baby.
• She's becoming a daddy's girl more and more. Now that she's getting over the nursing thing (I'm still doing it, but she gets juice and formula more and more.) she's enjoying playing with her daddy. And he's enjoying her more now too.

There is probably more, but I can't think right now. Only 2 months til she's 1! Time has flown by!

Couponing

I ordered this little book online to learn more about using coupons, and I've actually learned a ton, and found some great new websites to share. So here ya go, what I've learned about couponing...

• Create a Price book of items you regularly buy and the price of that item at the stores you usually shop at (the regular price, and the lowest you've seen it for there). You may be suprised at who has the best price. (For me, Target is usually more expensive on stuff, but diapers there are cheaper than kroger or publix, and just a few cents more than walmart.) This doesn't have to be hard. Just do it as you shop at your regular stores. It will only take a few extra minutes of your shopping trip, but it will help you save tons of money.
• Loss Leader - it's an item the store will take a loss on. They are usually on the first or last page of the circulars. They are the too good to be true item. If you can, stock up on this item.
• Store tricks - false sales (advertise price higher than usual - a price book keeps you from being tricked by this) Walmart does this alot. -Everyday low price not the best price (another walmart trick and again your price book will keep you from being tricked) - large pretty signs or "sale" items at the end of the isles. These are tricks... ignore them.
• Once every 12 weeks, you will find the lowest price on an item (there are around 10,000 items in a grocery store or something like that... every week, 500 of them change prices.)
• don't throw coupons away, whether you think you'll use it or not, you may be able to use it for a free item later by combining it with a sale
• Grocery stores know what coupons are coming out when. Most people use the coupon within the first two weeks after it comes out. Then the stores put the item on sale after that because then the people who used the coupon the first time will buy the item again. So, If you hold the coupon for a little while, you'll more than likely be able to use the coupon on a sale item, and possibly get the items for free or very cheap.
• Get on the mailing list for ALL the stores in your area - even the ones you don't shop at. When you get the flyers, look for the best price on items you use regularly. Take the flyers with you to a store that will price match, and get your item for the best price.
• Find out what stores double coupons, and which ones use competitors coupons (publix will double coupons up to .50 and also use competitor coupons. I used a target coupon there the other day, plus a publix coupon, and a manufactorer coupon on diapers! I saved something like $13.00!!!)
• Ask about ways to save more (like a kroger plus card, or recieving store coupons in the mail. Publix has a baby club that is AMAZING!)
• Another wonderful thing about publix BOGO!!! That means buy one get one free. But what they actually do is mark the item down 50%. So you are paying only 1/2 price for the two items. Because you're purchasing two items, you can use two coupons! Plus... If the coupon is for .50 or under, it's doubled. This is a GREAT way to get free items. Here's an example (it's not real, just a senario) Cereal is BOGO. Regular price is $2.00. So then the sale price is $1.00 a box. You buy two boxes at $2 and take two coupons for $.50 a piece. Your two coupons are doubled (.50 + .50 and .50+.50) Thus saving you 2.00. So you get two boxes of cereal for free! Make sense?

• here are some great websites... most have coupons on them, some have the grocery store sales. Some match the coupons with the sales. Check them out
• www.savvyshopperdeals.com
• www.couponmom.com
• www.mygrocerydeals.com
• www.groceryguide.com
• www.coupons.com
• www.smartsource.com
• www.couponstofreegroceries.com/couponsavings.html
• http://couponing.about.com/od/groceryzone/a/doublecouons.htm

Well, there you go. I hope that's not too confusing for you. If you have a question, let me know. Just thought I'd share my new info!

Everything Changes

Ya know when you think you have your life figured out and planned? And then something happens to completely change it all? I'm there. Without giving away too many details yet (me and chris are figuring some things out) Chris has decided what he wants to be. I have decided to go back to work atleast part time, maybe full. We're reevaluating everything about our income and budget, changing the way we earn and spend money. We have decided to put off buying a house (there's a good reason... I swear... I wouldn't be willing to do it if there wasn't.) We may be moving away from Nashville, and I'm not talking about just to H'ville or Murfreesboro. We may really be done having kids. If we aren't, it will be ATLEAST another 5 years before we have another one (if all goes according to plan, which it never does, but still.) Everything is changing.

There's lots of changes outside, but there are some more personal ones too. I'm working on myself... trying to be a better mom and wife. It's VERY hard to try and be "self -aware" or whatever and really look at who you are, what you do, what you think, and what you say. I'm trying to change it all for the better. I'm trying to make us a better family, stronger, closer, more active, more loving, more kind.

All of this should be overwhelming. But for the first time since we started having babies... I feel like we know what's coming next. I feel like we have a little map. We know where we want to go, and how to get there. It feels right. We're praying about it all, to make sure we're doing what we should, but I'm positive the answer will be yes. It feels good. Even though with all these changes comes lots of stress and hard work, I feel like a load has been lifted off both me and Chris. The next 5 years will be tough, but they will make the rest of our lives much easier. And we'll get through it just fine together. :) Phew... I feel much better.

Harry Potter

Pre-movie included

A nap for chris

Dropping off the girls at Michael's and Leeann's to spend the night!

Making a Harry Potter shirt for me!

Debating over an eyeliner lightning bolt over my eye

Decided to go with no bolt

(Yes I'm a nerd. I don't care!)

Hitting up K-rog for drinks and Candy

(2 Mountain Dew voltage and junior mints for me; a mountain dew, red bull, code red and milk duds for chris; a coke and mountain dew and dots for Katie)

Malco Drafoy (the theater was a Malco theater... Chris was confused all night.)

Chris deciding he's a Hufflepuffer.

Chris deciding Draco and Malfoy sound like diaper brands... He wears Malfoys!

Chris downed the red bull before we got to the theater

I drank one of my voltages in like 30 seconds in the car (CHUG!)

Line wrapped almost COMPLETELY around the theater

Stupid teenaged boys dressed up like a monkey?, one in a bath robe?, and one like a deatheater.

Figuring that if the theater sold every seat for the movie they had available(they came pretty freakin close, using all 14 theaters!), they'd earn 18,000 in 3 hours... not counting over priced concessions.

Finally the movie - good... not great... funny though... slug club... love potions... Horcruxes... What happened to the major fight at the end?

A horrid time trying to get out of the parking lot

We got home

went to bed

and slept!

It was definately a fun night to remember.

And I'm getting a bit old for this.

Guess where I'll be at 12:01 AM tomorrow morning

He is SO CUTE!

It's tonight... tomorrow... whatever. But in 3 hours and 15 minutes... make that 14 minutes, I'll be watching Harry Potter with Chris and Katie. WOOHOO!!! I'm lovin it!

By the way... Thank you to Michael and Leeann for a baby-free night... ALL NIGHT LONG! Double WOOHOO!

Let's Go Isaac!!!

Save Save Save

I'm on a HUGE $$ kick right now. I'm all about budgeting and saving. Who knows how long it will really last, but I've found some awesome websites and blogs in the process. I thought I might pass along all my great knowledge.

www.SwapaDVD.com - This is so cool. Here's what it is... You have dvds you don't watch anymore. You post these dvds on this website to offer to other members (there is no fee to join!) When you post 10 dvd's, you get 1 credit from the website. This is used to "buy" your DVDs (most dvds are 1 credit, but some are more.) You earn more credits by sending out your unwanted DVDs. If you want a DVD that isn't available, you put it on your wish list and you get an email when it's available. When a DVD is requested from you, you get an email with the address to ship to. Yes, you pay for the shipping, BUT, when a DVD is mailed to you, you don't. So you're not spending any more than you would otherwise. These dvds are yours to keep! When/If you don't want them anymore, put them back on your "dvd tower" and make them available for someone else.
I personally haven't used this yet, but I can promise you that this week, I'll be going through my dvds and getting them ready to put on there. There's so many I want to see! I'm excited.

www.paperbackswap.com - This is a sister website of SwapADVD. It works the exact same way, but with BOOKS. :) You post your books, get a credit, you want a book, use your credit. You send a book, get more credits. It's a great way to live "green" and also a great way to save $$ on purchasing new books. Again the membership is free, and yes you pay to ship your books out, but, you don't to have them shipped to you! I love this idea. I can't wait to go through my books too.

Because these two sites are sister sites - you can transfer credits from one to the other to use. So if you have TONS of dvd's and not so many books (like me) you can use your dvd credits to get more books! Way cool. No more renting movies for me... No more buying books. And they have all sorts of movies and books - kids, drama, sci-fi, romantic, comedy... any and all things you could want.

MUSEUMS ON US - by Bank of America (http://museums.bankofamerica.com/) This is a great thing Bank of America is doing. Here in Nashville, Bank of America cardholders recieve free admission to cheekwood and the frist the first full weekend of every month until DEC 2010. I love the frist, but we've never taken the girls. And cheekwood is an amazing place to walk and take some awesome pictures, so I'm very excited about this. There is a place on the website to find museums near you. I can't wait til the next free weekend.

www.Thesimpledollar.com I have this great blog emailed to me everyday. And it is very informative. I don't quite know who writes it and such, but it's got great advice, great deals, and just all around good info for living within your means, and spending wisely. The first two websites I listed I found on this one. It's great.

www.pinchingyourpennies.com This website has an email they send out every day or so with great online deals. Especially for the photo prints websites. But it's not limited to that. You should check it out.

Well, That's all I've got for now. There's more, but I need to organize my info first. :) Hopefully this helps someone else out there too. Anyone else have great websites or deals they know of? Please share them!

Home Sweet Home

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to live in this home.

http://www.ldsliving.com/blue/

Sing it Girl!

Workin at the car wash

We had a great weekend this 4th of July. We had tons of fun with family and friends, including a great party at John and Krystin's Friday night, my parents house, great food, and fireworks Saturday night, and then a great Sacrament meeting, some time with Michael for his b-day, and a superb dinner here at home today. All in all, it was just wonderful. Chris even had 1/2 of thursday off and all of friday... So here's what he did friday...(On a side note, yes it does suck that chris washed MY car on his day off... but, as thanks, I washed his Truck... so we're even!) This is his Sexy pose! Pretty Hot huh? And why he is wearing a HOODIE while he's washing a car in 90 degree weather is beyond me. I don't know. He's crazy.

We also set up two little pools in the backyard for the kids. Taylor and Isaac had a blast playing in them. And lastly, here's maddie in her patriotic bathing suit. Okay... so it's only red and white... but check out those BLUE BLUE BLUE eyes!!! I've never seen eyes so pretty on ANYONE in my life. I hope they stay that color.

So, it was a great weekend. Until now. I've got a HUGE headache and I'm super tired. So I'm off. I hope you all had great, safe, fireworks filled weekends. Happy (belated) Independence Day.

P.S. WE MISS YOU CAYCE! Can't wait til you're home and we can see all your awesome pics of Turkey!