So sorry that I have not posted in awhile. I have been extremely busy with my cake business. Also with teaching cakes, and not to mention my 2 year old son. Fall is here and winter is quickly approaching. We are also still looking for a new house. I will try and post more. The one tip that i do have to share is the concept of Once a Month cooking. I got the cookbooks at Sam's club and love them. The premise is that you spend 1 day and cook your arse off, then the rest of the month, cooking is done. Just thaw out your meal and heat and eat. Very simple. They do have 2 week plans if a month of cooking is too hard for you. I chose to do a 2 week cycle and love it. Since it is just the 3 of us, meals can last a day or two. The last time I cooked was 3 weeks ago!!!!! I love it. I still have 3 or 4 meals yet to cook. We only ordered out 2 times in this time period. Check it out, you will love it too.

I recommend....

My new gadget is the Shark VX1 cordless floor vaccum with the back saver handle. I LOVE IT>>>It completes my Shark family of cleaners. It is so light and easy to use. I run it about 5 times a day in my kitchen and mud room. So now any mess left behind by Tarzan or the dogs, is quickly sucked up. It is really quite too. I recommend this product over the old broom and dust pan. Save time!!

Happy Birthday

Well today is Tarzan's 2nd birthday. I started yet another blog, and I hope to chronicle the whole 2nd year. Check it out:
http://terriblytwo.blogspot.com/

Check these sites out

http://mygrocerydeals.com great site, sigb up, its free

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page free ebook downloads

http://dealalerter.pgpartner.com/ find deals

http://www.calendarlabs.com/ print your own photo calendars

http://bighugelabs.com/ do fun stuff with your pictures

all these sites are FREE :)

what a day

I took Tarzan to go and get some pictures today. It started at the car. He screamed when I put him in the stroller. Screaming all the way into the store, he sees Pap Pap and quiets down. We get into the studio and he freaks out. Thinking he was getting a shot at the doctors. It took about 10 minutes to get a few good shots. He was given various props to pose with. His favorites were balls and a rubber duck. Well let me just say that at the end of our visit, the duck was very hard to take away. So we ended our trip screaming, although this time it was going to the car.

Old Wives Can Come In Handy

So long story short. My Hubby has been complaining of shoulder pain in both shoulders, especially in the morning. In my paper yesterday, there was an article in the Peoples Pharmacy on a remedy for arthritis pain and the like. It was raisins soaked in gin. ?? Well I knew that I had both ingredients, so I whipped up a batch. At bed time, hubby tried my homemade concoction. So did I. What the hell. He called me this morning to report that he awoke with no pain. I am a genius. So we are going to keep up this bedtime routine and see what happens.

Gin Soaked Raisins:

put raisins in bowl and cover with gin..ENJOY:)

Cheap Mom Tip O' the Day

Sorry I have not posted in awhile. I have been very busy. I did run across an awesome site today. It is Massachusetts's Institute of Technology or MIT web site that offers FREE lecture notes on just about any course that they offer. If you are wanting to learn about something, this a great way to get free, current, and correct information. Plus it is FREE. Check it out.
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

Wedding cake part 2

Ok so this is early. I think that this cake turned out beautifully. I hope the Bride and Groom love it as much as I do :)

Wedding cake part 1

I am doing the wedding cake for my cousin Abby. I wanted to share the first pic today that is the simple sheet cake that will not be shown, but cut and served as needed. This cake feeds about 130.

Her main cake is a 3 tier white cake with yellow butter cream and blue apple blossoms. I will post that picture tomorrow.

Case of the Mondays

We had yet another great weekend. The weather was awesome. Tarzan spent Saturday night at Pap Pap and Dee Dee's. Hubby and I attempted to sit outside it night, but it was very windy. He actually did build a fire, but all the smoke went into the next door neighbors house, but they were not home. We decided to put out the fire with the garden hose, and you should have seen that. Tons of steam and smoke. That too went into the neighbors house. We were safely inside watching TV when they pulled up ;)
We spent all day Sunday outside as well and had a nice little fire at night. It was a great weekend, but unfortunately the new deck was not done :( It has been rescheduled until next weekend.

It's Friday

Yeah, it is finally Friday. This week has gone by very quickly for me. I taught 2 classes classes, actually 3 (2 in one night). So by the time I get home it is already 8:30 or 9 pm. I hope that we have some great weather this weekend. Hubby is going to expand our deck and then we can put up our new gazebo. I can not wait to be able to sit outside and enjoy our new outdoor living space. Oh, we did go out and buy new patio furniture. We did buy it on sale, so I don't feel so bad. Hopefully I will be able to invite you over to have Deck Drinks in the near future. Have a great weekend :)

Mini Cake

I just wanted to post a pic of my latest cake. It is a 4 tier mini cake. The total height of this cake is about 14". It is really quite cute and would serve about 20 people. I did this one for a 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Cheap Mom Tip O' the Day

I read about this tip in Woman's Day. Another use for plastic store bags--- you can clean your shower. Just spray your usual soap scum remover, like Tilex, then instead of using a sponge to wipe up , use a balled up plastic bag. It works like magic!! It cuts through the soap scum and makes it easy to just wash away. I am always in seek of ways to get my old porcelain tub clean and shiny and this tip really worked. Try putting 2 bags together. Make sure us turn them inside out, so the ink on the bag does not transfer. Try it next time you clean

Passing on the Savings to You!

I have a few of coupon/savings/offer links from my email. Here you go:

P& G
http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/en_US/jsp/EDS_Page.jsp?pageID=SCSCL&edstempseg=GP&utm_source=GP&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=June09Newsletter

10% Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/email/nav.asp?r=1&PID=28426

Smart Source Coupons
http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=MKRU3JAAR6CCY&check=67,886,1115,1383,1091,1086,1106,1107,1104,1085

By the side of the road....

I can not believe it is June. Summer had officially begun. We have had a great couple of days, weather wise, but today is a rain out. Oh well, my flowers will just get some extra watering and grow even bigger now!!
Our newly fenced in yard is awesome. Tarzan has been going to bed exhausted every night. He is totally played out. We are loving it. My Hubby is going to extend our back deck in the next couple of weeks. We had been looking at getting a gazebo. Lowe's had one in particular that we loved, but it was $500. It is 10x12 and had curtains. The ultimate in backyard privacy. But as luck would have it, I was coming back the other day and just happened to look at the side of the road where this guy has a tent. This guy has just about everything for sale. He had a few gazebos, but I did not stop. I called Hubby and he said "yes dear" and it ended at that. When he got home, he surprised me with a trip out to check out the gazebos. This guy had 1 Martha Stewart 12x12 gazebo left. It was perfect, curtains and all. The best part is that he only wanted $200. It was a no brainer. So now I am patiently waiting my new deck and outdoor living space. Anyone wanna help build a deck??

Great Weekend

I just wanted quickly post that I had a great weekend. My Wonderful Hubby and I worked our butts off around the old homestead. I got most of my flowers planted. We put up a fence in the yard so that the dogs and Tarzan will not escape. We sat outside around the fire last night and enjoyed the yard all day today. I even have the farmer's tan to prove it. I love this time of year. Now I can sit back and watch my flowers grow and can also watch my son play safely in his yard.

Memorial Day

Great day today. It started off with breakfast with my 2 guys and then off to a parade. Tarzan enjoyed it, but really liked the horses the best. What a fast weekend. The cake that I did for Rylie turned out great. Off to a BBQ at the folks. :)

It's hot Hot hot

I think it is safe to say that summer is almost here. It was 80 degrees yesterday and it was great. I hope that my parent's pool will be open soon. I think that Tarzan will enjoy swimming this year. We are currently enjoying Play with Me Sesame and drinking juice and coffee. I think that waffles are on the menu for breakfast. Big weekend as far as cakes. I am starting a birthday cake for my God Daughter today. It is a biggie that serves 100. I will post pics over the weekend. I better get my baking in early, before it gets any hotter outside!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Today is my lucky day. Hubby and myself are heading out for a much deserved night away. We are going to a NY casino that is about 2 hours away. Tarzan will be spending the night (maybe 2) at Dee Dee and Pop Pop's, the dogs are taken care of, so we can slip away for 24 hours of gambling bliss. Hubby is going to be playing in a Texas Hold'em tournament tomorrow and I know he will be kicking butt!! I, on the other hand, will be searching out my favorite slot machine.....W H E E L O F F O R T U N E..... I love it. I predict big winnings between the two of us, so wish us luck.

Stawberry Not So Short Cake Season Has Begun

I already made it a few weeks ago, but I deem today the first day of Strawberry Not So Short Cake season!! My Hubby( and I) love Strawberry Shortcake. But the way that I make it is not the traditional way. I do follow the Bisquick recipe for shortcakes, but I double the recipe and make it in a 9x13 pan at 350 for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Hence the Not So Short Cake. I also add more sugar than the recipe calls for both in the batter and I also add it to the top before baking. Whilst my cake is baking, I prepare my strawberries. Cleaned and quartered and then sprinkled with sugar and off to the refrigerator.
Sam's club has good prices on Bisquick and Strawberries right now.
We are getting ready to watch our DVR'd shows for tonight and will be enjoying a nice helping of strawberries and not so short cake! I will bet that this will also be enjoyed for breakfast too ;)

Turtle Update

Tarzan and I did go and get the last red eared slider turtle. He is named Timmy the Turtle. He has been in the pond since Saturday and I have not seen him! My pond is quite deep and has lots of hiding places. Plus the weather has been kinda cool, so he really has not had a chance to "sun" himself properly. I do hope to report a sighting sometime soon. I know that my fish are a bit more active. I think that they are afraid of being Timmy's next meal!

Chicken Salad

Ok, my new favorite food obsession is rotisserie chicken. I love to dive in and eat the juicy white meat right off the bird. I am loving making chicken salad out of it and eating it on fresh sandwich croissants. Sam's Club is the best place to buy the chicken and the croissants. So what are you having for lunch?

Slacking Again

Sorry I have not posted in awhile, but I have been busy. I am now teaching Wilton Course 2 and 3 every week at Michael's. I love it. My students are great, the store is great. I am having a lot of fun and making money doing it!

So Tarzan is in bed and Dear Hubby is out and I have the house all to myself. I Christen this Mother's Day Weekend. Yes, I deserve more than 1 day to be worshiped! Tomorrow I am treating myself to a pedicure and lunch with my Mother. I am not making any cakes or doing any housework. I did do my grocery shopping today, so any shopping this weekend will be for me. We were at the pet shop today and were looking at turtles. I might get one for my pond this weekend. My fish are now 3 years old and are breeding, so I don't think a turtle will cause to much havoc. Stay tuned.

I did have success this weekend at the SA Boutique. I picked up this retro kitchen table for $30. I love it!! I can actually sit and enjoy a meal with Tarzan while he eats. I have not done a cake on it yet, but I know the increased workspace will be awesome. Although, I will not test it out until next week.

Facebook Me

So as you might know, I have joined Facebook and really like it. It is actually pretty cool. Today I got 2 Friend requests that seem to have come out of left field. The one was my first RA in college and the second was one of my first friends and eventual roommate in college. I have not heard from the friend since before we graduated from college. It is nice to know that she still wants to know what is going on in my life. That is the whole point of Facebook. You can touch base and get reacquainted with old friends, but you don't necessarily have to be BFF's. After all, relationships change as we get older and we all have different life experiences. I still can not believe that a few of my close friends have not joined up yet. I am patiently waiting to see that they have accepted my friend request. I am challenging them, and any of you, to sign up for Facebook today, after all if you are reading my blog, then you obviously want to know what I am up to. So either sign up for Facebook or start your own blog so that I can see what you are up to ;)

Random thoughts

Today is another beautiful day. I love the warm weather. I especially love it when it comes to dressing Tarzan: Shorts, T-shirt and Sandals. It is so EASY!! He played really hard yesterday and is just now getting up.
We are spending a lot of time outside enjoying the nice weather. I can not wait until the pool is open, I think that he will be a water dog.

Oh Dear Hubby is now a TV star. Check out this link to see him: http://wearecentralpa.com/content/fulltext/?cid=84662

Today is the last day for my Course II class. I am very excited to see my students final cakes. They have been working hard making flowers over the last 4 weeks. All 5 of my students will be moving onto Course III. I will also be teaching Course III in addition to Course II next month.
My Student Blog has proven to be very useful to my students. There is a direct link to AC Moore and Michael's Coupons, plus information on Classes.

Zoe is feeling better. She is getting up and going outside on her own. She is still taking it easy and have been sleeping downstairs. I have not heard back yet from the Vet regarding her blood work.

Have a great day.

I'm tired and I wanna go home...

Sunday is almost over. I worked a lot this weekend on cakes. I did the 3D Thomas the Train for Ben's 2nd Birthday. I hope that with this new nice weather, that it does not melt and turn into a goopy mess.

Tarzan has played himself out today, so he is down for his second nap. I think that I am onto something, we are back to 2 naps a day!! Yeah Me!!

Good Morning Sunshine

It is supposed to be 80 degrees here today. I am so excited. We got Tarzan a water table and finally put it together yesterday. He loved it. When we let the doggies outside this morning, he cried because he could not go out and play with it. It should get plenty of use today.

Welcome Spring!!!

Friday Thoughts

Thank goodness Friday is finally here. But it really is not like a weekend for me. Busy with cakes. I have a Thomas the Train 3D sculpted cake, a sheet cake, and cupcakes to make. Now my house is starting to smell like cake and I am getting ready. I will be at Michael's this weekend as well doing a Cupcake Demo. I hope to survive this weekend without getting too stressed. Have a good weekend everyone!

Zoe is home

So the Vet's office called and said that she was ready to come home. I could hear her barking in the back round so I knew that she was feeling better. So today, the Vet thinks that there was some sort of tare in her muscle. She is on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. No steps for 30 days and No Playing with Tonka Trucks!!
I will update again after we hear back on the the blood work results.

Coupons

I thought that I would post some coupon links that I get in my emails. check em out:

$1.00 Starbucks Ice Cream
https://ssl.unilever.com/starbucksicecream.com/Coupon-Reg.aspx

Ziplock Coupons
http://rightathome.com/offers/0904ziploc/confirmation.aspx?s=1&sid=coupon&cid=pfe200904ziploc&rid=111814623&om_rid=Bx$nca&om_mid=_BJ7izOB7giZihQ

Free Reynolds Wrap 100% Recycled
http://www.reynoldsrecycled.com/coupon.aspx

JoAnn Fabric Coupons
http://www.joann-mail.com/J0973DYL/coupons_only.html?r=4561_2904895&i=J0973DYL030&bc1=520911346881059580501&bc2=520911547117471720509

Pull Ups Coupon
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=qdiodmo60166110&bt=wi&o=55907&c=PU&p=0IvmJPxi

Barnes and Noble
http://cart2.barnesandnoble.com/shop/promodetails.asp?r=1&promoid=6043

Zoe Update

Well Zoe was not doing much better today. Yesterday she did get to see the Vet and was given a shot and some pills, plus orders to prohibit the use of stairs for 30 days. This morning she was still having pain. The Vet wanted to do an X-Ray. I dropped her off after 4pm and the Vet just called at about 10pm. There were no broken bones or masses in the hip. But he did a tap of the joint and it was full of blood. She also has a temp of 104, yesterday it was 103.2. Normal temp for a dog is 101. So we are now awaiting blood tests to see if there is an infection. If not, it most likely is that she dislocated the hip and popped it back in. We will see what happens tomorrow. I hope that Tarzan is not to blame, he does like to run full speed at Zoe with his Tonka Truck!

Another Cake Picture

I almost forgot to post this picture. It was for my Niece's Baby Shower this weekend.

Busy Day

Well it started at 5am this morning. Zoe, our Lab, is not feeling well. She started limping last night and this a.m. she could not get up and walk. Something with her back leg. Either hip or knee, not sure, but we have an emergency vet appointment this afternoon. Plus we have a viewing to attend and I am teaching class tonight.
I will post later the results of Zoe's appointment.

Surprise Attack

Today appeared to be like any other day, or so my Son thought. After having our morning route,a nap, then lunch. We got ready to go out to the store. On our way to the store, I had to make one quick stop.

That stop was to the Doctor. So for the last two years, Tarzan has gotten monthly shots during RSV season, which runs from October until April. He gets a Synagis shot in each leg, each month. Plus he was also getting his check ups and vaccines as scheduled. Since we started the shots in October, each trip to the Doc has been getting progressively worse. Last visit as soon as I pulled up in front of the building, the water works started. The crying and tears do not stop until we are halfway home.

Today, I thought I would try and keep him off guard. I entered the parking lot to the Doctor's office at a a different entrance. I parked along the side of the building and we entered through the side door. I did pretty good at distracting him, the water works did not stop until we reached the door. So we got in really fast since it was a shot. First things first, he had to get weighed. He does not tolerate the baby scale, so it was the grown up scale. 31.2 pounds today at 2o months. So it seemed like forever until the nurse came back in with the shots. I was also thinking in advance and stuck a lollipop in my pocket. After the shots, I quickly got him dressed and offered the lollipop. It worked pretty well. A lot less crying and he was happy to have a treat.

We finally made it though this RSV season, and the good news is that we do not have to return to the Doctors until August!!

Update to Law and Order

So I went to bed last night at 11pm and the police lights were still on down the street. I get up this morning and here the dirt bag barracked himself in his house for awhile. So our neighborhood coke and meth dealer is now in jail after a brief standoff. I can't wait to see it on the news. I think that I will go and get showered so I look good for my interview!!

Law and Order Altoona Style

So we our were playing with Son when these 2 guys knock on our door. Hubby knows the one guy and he is a police officer, so was the other one. Long story short they were staking out one of the local dirt bags who deals drugs and they wanted to use our house. It was awesome, we were so excited. I felt like all my calls to the Drug Hotline were not wasted.
So they did get the guy and I can not wait to read about it in the paper tomorrow. Times are hard, but not that hard. This guy has been doing this for years and it is about time it stops. I think that there is at least 2 maybe 3 little kids living in that house. Plus he is dealing these drugs within 500 feet of a playground, so he is looking at some serious time.
I hope that we get credited in the paper for our help in napping this unlucky bastard!

I did it again..

I just wanted to share with y'all that I have started a second blog. It is mainly for my students and cake lovers.
Check it out if you love all things cake......http://wiltonmethod.blogspot.com/

Tueday Morning

Good morning. Well Tarzan is still doing fine this AM. The rash is only on the the one foot, no fever, ate a good breakfast, and cold symptoms not too bad. He is currently playing with his cars.

Today is another Tuesday and I am getting anxious to teach my Wilton Course II tonight. We will be making Royal Icing flower and it will be a lot of fun.

I went to Surplus City yesterday and got Zoe a new dog bed. They have the fabric shells, unstuffed for $2.99. I also bought a box of poly fill for $7. So she will have a new bed to replace her old one for less than $10 ;)
Surplus City had a lot of nice things. Tons of Country signs, braided rugs, etc. I did get a metal flag holder as well for $6.99. I have not been in there for awhile and it was nice to stop in and see what they have for sale. They did have a cute sign that I thought applies to many households :"Sometimes I wake up grouchy, sometimes I let him sleep."

Guess that rash...

Well Tarzan is still fighting his cold. But tonight before bed I was holding his feet and noticed that the one had some raised, red areas on his heal. It got me to thinking that he probably has Fifth Disease. I guess we will see if the rash is any place else tomorrow. What fun. If that is what it is, the worst part is already over. ;)

Cake

I just had to post this pic. It is a Camo Birthday Cake with a deer head silhouette. It is ca chocolate cake and the icing is all Peanut Butter. Yum! This is for a guys 63rd Birthday. It just proves that you are never to old to have a cake on your birthday.

Run Run as Fast as You Can..

Okay, is it just me or what. I have a busy next couple of days. Lots of cakes, homemade Haluska, coloring Easter Eggs, Easter Egg Hunt, making a basket... You get the idea. Why does it seem like the Holidays are getting busier and busier. I love the holidays, but I hate the rush associated with them. Christmas has become a nightmare for me. I am all for either spreading the holiday our to 2 or 3 days or just staying home. We love to spend time with our families, but the time goes too fast. It seems to me that the holidays are the only time some people in our family's can get together. Maybe the answer to this rush is to impose a made up holiday or family dinner each month. It is just too hard to fit in quality time in a few hours during the holidays. I don't remember the holidays being so busy as a child. Maybe they were and I just did not notice. But I really want my children to enjoy the holidays, especially as a child.
So I will blog about this on Monday and we will see how the holiday weekend went.
Again, maybe it is just me and I need a good "nerve pill", like my Bubba used to say, to get me through.

Thursday Thoughts

Well Tarzan woke up with a full blown cold. After dinner last night, he started sneezing. I quickly accessed the potential situation and armed myself with the tissues, thermometer, Motrin, Vick's and the humidifier. After simulating an African Rain forest in his bedroom, he got his PJs on and was off to bed. Luckily he still slept 12 hours. So today the cold is not too bad, just a lot of snot, sneezing and coughing
I am loving my Clinique free samples. I got them when I purchased the 3 step skin care set. I used to use the entire line, but cut it out because I am cheap. But, I must say, the 3 step skin care system is worth the money. The set includes a bar soap, astringent, and moisturizer. I love it. my skin is glowing again and no more flakiness. Try it for yourself, but only buy it when there is a free gift.
Harper's Island is premiering tonight on CBS. They have been promoting the heck out of it. I will DVR it and we will see if it is worth the hype. Speaking of hype. LOST was awesome last night. It is getting so intense. It seems like we are on the verge of finding out something huge on each episode, but it rarely happens. It doesn't matter to me if they keep dragging it out, I love the anticipation. I think that perhaps Aliens are now involved or better yet a Higher Power is involved. Hummmm ;)

Head of the class

I had the best time last night teaching my first class in Wilton cake decorating. I have 5 students and they are all wonderful. I was a tad nervous in the beginning, but all of a sudden, I was a ease and we just started talking about cakes. I am really anxious to see how far these students will be in 3 more weeks. So now I can add teaching experience to my Jill of All Trades resume ;) Stay tuned for more "Tales from the Classroom".

Ready or not

It is official. Today is my first day teaching the Wilton Method of cake decorating at the Michael's Crafts in Altoona. I am both excited and anxious. I am teaching Course II and it deals with Borders and Flowers. Today we will be making the rose bud and the mum. It is going to be a lot of fun getting to meet new people while honing my own skills. Stay tuned and I will report back on how my classes are going.

I love my DVR!

Yes, I said it. I love my DVR. All my favorite shows and none of the commercials. The coracles are still there, but with my wonderful Hubby's skills, we fast forward through all of them. I record everything. The best thing is not have anymore of those awful VHS tapes laying around. BTW, we still have 3 boxes full of them from when we did record stuff the old fashioned way. I am working on Freecycling them.
So I caught 3 minutes of Oprah today, in between episodes of Shaun the Sheep. It was about Mothers,etc. I brief bit that I did catch was about this woman who blogged through her Postpartum Depression. Her blog was a hit and long story short, her site generates $40k per month in advertising. Her husband quit his job, she says at home with the kids. They are making more money now than they ever did while working. So guess what? I think I might be allowing ads on my blog. I could use an extra $40k a month too.
Check out my blogs and it's ads. They don't make DVRs for the Internet yet, right??

Hidden Treasures

So get this. Last night I just needed some me time and went out and did some shopping. I started with my trip to the SA Boutique. I was about 20 minutes until they closes, so I did not have much time to shop. I did my usual rounds: housewares, clothes, kids toys, and back of the store. I did find a couple of shirts and a book for Tarzan. I did pick up this neat framed picture in the back, it looked like a kid painted it. I then went to the mall and got my new Mudd sandals for the summer and went to Macy's it it is Clinique free gift time.

After a nice evening out, I returned home. My hubby asked me why the hell I bought that painting. I said that it was neat, he disagreed. As a much heated argument, we looked over the painting and discovered that it had been signed J Pollock. A light went off. I was a Jackson Pollock painting!!!! I quickly listed it on eBay and am pleased to say the bidding is now over $55,000! I guess it is a well liked piece. I can not believe my good fortune. There is still 6 days left on the auction and I think that we could get close to a Million dollars by the end of it all. So I will keep you updated......BTW, April Fools :)

Freecycle Away

I am in the process of conquering my clutter and started yesterday with the dining room. It seems to be a dumping ground for thing that are in transition, a hold place for things that are needed, and just a major cluster #@!$. Since I will be starting teaching my classes next week, I need to have this space organized, since that is where I keep most of my cake decorating supplies. So I took advantage of Freecycle. I listed: a bag of sewing notions, vintage singer sewing machine that i bought to sell the pieces on Ebay, an indoor/outdoor blind, a microwave,and a halogen torch lamp that I have had since college. The sewing stuff and sewing machine went yesterday. The rest is due to be picked up today. Since I am having such good success, I might take a look around some other rooms to see what can go.

Rain Rain Go Away.......

Mot much new today. It is raining and cold outside. Tarzan just got up from his nap, so we are playing the " I don't like that food" game. I just a box UPS from Wilton. I will be starting teaching on April 7. I will be starting with Course II, and will work my way up/back to Course I. Well, April shower bring May flowers, right!!

Cheap Tip Mom of the Day #2

2 tips today, I feel inspired. Thanks Nellie!!
I have been asked several times about Freecycle. Here is goes: it is a movement to recycle unwanted items for FREE . Anything from books, clothes, household items, to strange things like freezer burnt food. I love it and have been participating in the Blair County Freecyle for about 4 years. I find it very useful when I feel like getting rid of my clutter. People will take anything. You can also post requests for items that you might be looking for. I have seen people ask for DVD players, TVs, etc. You never know who has something to give away that you might want. It is a great way to re-purpose unwanted items and to keep them out of the landfill and it saves you money.
Just Google "Freecyle" to find a group in your area.

Cheap Mom Tip O' the Day

So I just got a new Tracfone. Tarzan broke something in the earpiece of my old one and I could not take it anymore. So Target has the Motorola flip on sale for $29.99. It has color display, web access, and a camera. The best part is that any minutes that I add to the phone, they get doubled for the life of the phone. So I should now be spending less than $100 per year on my cell phone.!! ;)

So sorry that I have not posted in awhile. Life has been a bit crazy. I shall give a brief synoplsis. Tarzan : got a hair cut, got a tooth pulled, got bit by a dog.
My Dad: in the hospital for 8 days, no has a pacemaker.
Cakes: making lots and finally got to start my paperwork to be an instructor at Michael's.
Me: went to York for a Girls Weekend, addicted to Facebook.
So as you can tell, not much going on here! I promise to try and keep up with my posts.
I do have one Cheap and Crafty Mom story to relay. My SIL Stephanie alerted me to $3 off Huggies coupons. I printed out one and then made 20 photo copies, they are valid thru April. My local Weis just ran a deal get $5 off next order when you spend $20 on Huggies. They were having a sale on Huggies from $10.99 to $9.99, I used the $3 coupon. I did this three times. Long story short, I paid less than $4 for a pack of 26 diapers,and I still have coupons and a $5 Weis coupon, plus %5 Weis rewards discount to still use.....

TGIF

I wanted to make a quick post. I have been busy making cakes the last few nights and I wanted to share them with you. 2 Birthday cakes.

Also, my new favorite gadget is the Shark Steam Mop. It is awesome. My kitchen floor gets so yucky because of what Tarzan throws on it. This steam mop is the best thing ever. It uses only water and has washable pads. I love it. I want to try it upstairs in my hall this weekend. If you get a chance check it out for yourself.

Me time

Today I have enjoyed a little bit of me time. First off this morning, I was able to sleep in. Tarzan spent the night at his Grandparents. I took full advantage of this fact after getting up. I was able to have my coffee and enjoy the Saturday Early Show in peace and quiet, DH was still snoozing. I then followed that up with catching up on my DVR'd shows. My favorite has to be Whatever Martha. It is a great show hosted by Martha Stewart's daughter Alexis and her friend Jennifer. I love it. Alexis is referred to as "Dark Martha", she can do anything, but is more realistic about projects and has a very sarcastic side.....If you have a chance check it out on Fine Living Network.
Then I took a shower for more than 5 minutes. I even got to shave my legs!! That is a lot for me. I styled my hair and put on some makeup. I got online and printed out some coupons for my store trip later today. I planned menu for the next week and wrote out my store list.
Tarzan came home after terrorizing the people and things at Lowe's. He is now napping. I am not sure what my parent's do to him when he stays over, but I can count on him taking a 3 to 4 hour nap.
So I am still on me time. I just got done looking at what my hubby calls "Cake Porn", pictures of decorated cakes on Cake Central. I am watching the travel channel and they are showing a show about BBQ. I am starving now;) And just as I am ending this post, I think I hear Tarzan calling. It was fun while it lasted!

Here We Go....

I am finally done for the day. I just got two Birthday cake orders for next Friday. Yikes!!!

Check out my cupcakes and football cake. Go Steelers.

Let them eat cake

Exhausted and covered in frosting. I am glad the night is over. I have completed 3 cakes in the last 2 days and have 2 dozen cupcakes to finish tomorrow. I am very pleased with by Strawberry birthday cake. It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work. I spent about 6 hours on this baby. My Steeler cakes are great too. I added some more decorations after this picture was taken. I am off to the shower and then finally to bed. I can not wait to start it all over again tomorrow.......

Pushing Buttons

I love my son, really I do. But today was one of those days when he knew every button to push to get in trouble. I had to take him when I got my hair cut tonight and he almost made it through the appointment without getting antsy. On the car ride home, he started playing the "throat poking game". This is a trick he uses to get my attention when he is board or is done with his current activity. He was buckled in his car seat and proceeded to stick his fingers down his throat the whole way home!!!! Yum.
But we both made it through the day. He is now sound asleep and I am getting ready for the Lost season premiere. Oh to see what Jack and Kait are up to now...........

A New Begining

My post today is a hope for the future. Barack Obama is about to take the oath of office for the President of the the United States in the next few minutes. I am very proud and excited for the changes that are about to come for this hurting country. I am proud to say that my son will never know a time where a person of color was not President. Any and all things are now possible. His generation now has the ability to look beyond color and see a person for who they truly are. As the crowd chants "Obama" I feel the change coming, hard and fast. Together, we are going to change this country and heal our hearts. Today I am extremely proud to be an American....................YES WE CAN.

Cheap mom Tip O' the Day

Well Shoppers. I almost forgot, but I quickly remembered experiencing this same excitement last year. It is Target's annual clearance sale. Most toys are on clearance. Most of the store is on clearance. I went in for two things( Toy Story 1 And 2 DVDs) and ended up getting a lot more!! Tarzan got more Cars stuff, I got a Busy Mom's 18 month calendar and organizer, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice was $1.99, etc...... I should go back and stock up for upcoming birthdays, showers, stuff for me.
Also Weis has 20% off all meats!!!!!
I also went to Circuit City and did not find any really great deals. They are having sales on their regular prices, so not much savings.

Cheap Mom Tip O' The Day

Check out the new gadget on the left side of the page " Freebie of the Day". This site is pretty cool. I clicked on the Suave link and will be getting some good coupons. Check it daily for some money saving ideas!

My Turn

It is now my turn to get sick. I woke up yesterday with Pink Eye. Still have it today, but it is not that bad. I also have the cough and cold. And it is freezing outside. I feel like hibernating all day. I will try and rest up today and will check back in tomorrow.

Here we go Steelers

Another one bites the dust! The Steelers are on their way to a sixth Super Bowl Victory. We enjoyed a nice day at home watching the game on our huge TV. We did have company today. My Sister and Brother In Law and my Nephew. The two boys played great and had a lot of fun. My Nephew even asked if he could stay over with us. Now that would be fun. Do you think his Mom would let him???? Stay tuned, for her response. I hope she says yes to a date yet to be determined.
Me and 3 little boys! What am I thinking ;)

Snow Day

Finally we got some snow. We did not have a white Christmas, so this will have to do. We bundled up our little guy and ventured over to the park for his first real snow day. He did great. He did not even trip in his new snow boots. When is Spring coming??

Ring a Ding Ding

Well, let me say that I am totally excited. Yesterday I finally was able to get my wedding rings back from the jeweler. I had to have them re sized. I have not worn them for 2 years. I almost forgot how beautiful my wedding ring truly are. I feel like a new woman, no longer the ring less mother. I never really thought about it when I was not waring the rings. I kinda thought of it as my special secret, secure in the knowledge of knowing who I am. But now....I can not believe I live without them for this long. I actually got them re sized up enough to accommodate for my frequent swelling of hands both non and pregnancy related. I hope to never go without them again.
Oh BTW, I used a coupon for the resizing!!!!

Cheap Mom Tip(s) O' the Day

I have to apologize. I have not been true to my word. I promised to give you an inside look into how I save money and time. I realized tonight while I was cleaning the shower while taking a shower(tip), that I need to leave more posts regarding this area of my life.
OK, so here are just a few tips:
Clean the shower while taking a shower. You can use some body wash and a wash cloth and wipe down the walls, shampoo bottles, shelves, etc. The tub floor can be sprayed down with your favorite cleaner before you shower, rinse off it off before you get in, and use a the wash cloth or a sponge to wipe it down.
Still on the tub/shower topic: use dish detergent to get your tub(works on kitchen sink as well) sparkling. Dish detergent had enzymes and bleach in it so if you want to fill the tub up with water and put about 1/2 cup to a 1 cup in the water, let it sit overnight and then just drain. Or you can make a paste with water and coat the entire tub and walls and leave overnight. Clean and disinfected with no effort at all.
The shower curtain. They complete waste of time to clean. I buy shower curtain liners at the Dollar Tree for $1. I replace them when they get dirty.
Oh I almost forgot. I love Magic Erasers. They will get your tub clean and make your chrome sparkle.
Here is my gem of a tip: use 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. It saves time and money. I also save more time and money by only washing my hair every other day. Another result of this method is that you save on your styling products. Just use your hair dryer to put some new life into day old hair. I honestly think that I use a can of hairspray in about 3 months. I make bedhead look fabulous!!
Just a few more.
To wash your child's tub toys. Throw them in the washing machine on cold with a towel or the dirty wash cloth from cleaning the tub. Use detergent. Let air dry.
I also never use any rags or paper towels when I clean in the bathroom, except the mirror( use vinegar and water instead of Windex). Good old toilet paper works great and the best part is you can just flush it.
That is all for now. I love using all of these tips to save me time and money.
I hope to keep the tips coming more regularly.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. I think that 2009 is going to be a great year. I hope for lots of luck and happiness for my family and friends. I am not going to make any resolutions. I am just going to keep trying new things and doing my best. I would hope to save more money, make more money, have a healthy family, make lots of cakes (refer to make more money), have new adventures, have another baby, and just be happy.