Ebates = $$$$

When I find something I love, I want to share it. Ebates is my new love! I've actually been an ebates customer for about a year now. I can't remember how I can across it but I'm so glad I did. It's becoming more popular and recently I've been seeing ebates commercials on TV. 

So to sum it up here's now it works.....

You go to www.ebates.com and sign up. It literally takes 2 seconds to sign up.

When you're ready to buy something online, say from Walmart, Target, Kohls, Macy's....anywhere pretty much....you link from ebates to the store you're buying from and once you make a purchase they will give up a percentage back. 

Then they will send out your 'Big Fat Check' quarterly.

That's it!

It sounds too easy and it is. You're not going to get rich off of this, but it helps and it's fun! I just got my last check in the mail yesterday and it was $32.96. Not too bad! With all the holiday shopping coming up, I had planned to do most of my shopping online anyways so my next one will probably be even more. Since signing up I've received a total of $131.20 back from ebates!

Check it out...you won't be disappointed!!

Oh and they give you $5 just for signing up and they'll give me $5 too if you tell them I sent you! My email is jess0108@yahoo.com - don't forget to hook a sister up!

Wordless Wednesday

This is heaven, trust me!

Oh and notice the Yo Gabba spoon....don't hate.

Thrift Store Thursday

I am beyond excited to introduce my new category of posts - Thrift Store Thursday! If you know me you know I loooove to thrift. I have a knack for seeing beauty in other people's old crap. It's a gift, really! Haha. I'll start the week off by sharing 2 items I found earlier this month.

The first is a simple glass jar with a lid.

It was marked $2 but I got it 1/2 off for only $1! I will be able to use it for many things but since Fall is here I decided to go with a candy jar.

Check it......

I had the ribbon and raffia. I bought the candy at the Dollar Tree for $1. Total spent = $2!

Next is my favorite. I've been seeing all these cute ways on Pinterest to display your child's artwork. I had all these big ideas of making something from scratch, but when I saw this, my heart sang!

It's just a painted black frame around tin. It was already lined on the back and had a nail hanger. I got it for only $1.50!!!! I couldn't get it to the register fast enough. I knew exactly where it was going to go in my kitchen.

I turned this......messy frig......

Into this......

I love it!

P.S. If you were wondering...yes that is a 'Today Show' magnet! I heart Matt Lauer.

My Very First Give You a Surprise Blog - GIVEAWAY!

AND THE WINNER IS: Jenni from J's Reviews and Giveaways! CONGRATS!

I've been trying to think of a way to share with you guys my love for music...my family's love for music. In our home music pretty much makes the world go round. Hubs is a musician, he lives and breathes it. He's a fantastic musician as well. Oh and a hot musician.........

See what I mean...........

Anyway enough of that......on to the GIVEAWAY! In keeping with the music theme, in November  Hubs and I will be seeing the amazing band Gungor. They're earthy, folksy and just plain lovely and I want to share that with you.






I'm giving away their CD, Beautiful Things!

It's wonderful and I know you'll enjoy their music as much as I do.

They actually have a new album that will be dropping September 20 and I can't wait to get it. Maybe I'll give that one away too!

Follow the instructions below and GOOD LUCK!

HOW TO ENTER

(Leave one comment per entry.)

MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow this blog and leave one comment below letting me know who your favorite band is...easy and fun!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1) Tweet the following: I just entered the CD #giveaway @PlumWonderful  http://bit.ly/aNca9r

2) Vote for Plum Wonderful at Picket Fence - using the link in the right column on this page.

I'm not affiliated with Gungor in any way. I just love Gungor, I love you and I'm awesome!

THIS GIVEAWAY WILL END Wednesday, SEPT 14, 2011 AT 11:59 CST.

Wordless Wednesday

Major Announcement!!!!!

Brace yourself for this one............

We are officially potty-trained! I'm in disbelief. I can't fathom not having to buy diapers at every grocery shopping trip. I actually feel terrible because we didn't seriously try sooner. Baby boy is 2 1/2 now. We half heartily tried a couple of times in the past but didn't really stick with it. I didn't feel like he was ready. We decided to start Friday since, with Labor Day, we would have a long weekend. I'm ecstatic to share that in 4 days he only had one accident!!!!!! Unheard of, I know. My offspring is a genius! Sadly, however he's a big boy genius and no longer a baby. This is the final thing that officially puts him into little boy status. Sniff, sniff.

Big boy or not, it's still a victory and I couldn't be more proud of my angel.

Good bye......

Hello.........

Bathroom Redo

When we bought our house 6 years ago one of the first things I knew would have to go was the bathroom. It was beyond ugly. Not to mention the 'door' if you want to call it that had a louver shutter in place of a real door. It was slats that you totally could see through, which scared all of our friends away from using our bathroom. Not exactly inviting for dinner parties. We remodeled it about a year or so after we moved it.

Here are some before photos...rose scalloped borders....really? It all had to go!

There was only a shower. We tore it out along with the wall there to make room for a bathtub.

I went with slate floors because I looove slate. I wanted an earthy, cozy, comfortable look. The walls are showing up a little brighter here than in person. It's an olive green color.

We were able to reuse the existing sink and mirror. I love all white rugs, towels, etc.I like clean and simple in the bathroom. This is now...

 A few weeks ago I did a $50 freshen up. I bought a new rug, new towels, new basket and candle. It was a cheap way to give it a little face lift.



My August Favorite Things

This is my first favorite things and I'm so excited to share! Head on over to Cleared for Takeoff to find an awesome linky of other hot momma's favorite things!

1. Urban Decay's Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss, MAX Shade

This stuff is heavenly! I only wear nude colored sticky, sticky lip gloss and this is just that!

2. Crate and Barrel Oil Spritzer

This takes the place of that aerosol non stick spray. I use olive oil in mine, it's healthier for you and it's all natural, no extras added in!

3. Ipad

This should have been #1 because I can't live without it!!!!! I'm obsessed.

4. Pottery Barn Bella Paisley Shams

We're redoing the bedroom and I've just added these shams. My secret is, however, I ordered them from eBay - brand new still in the package for 1/2 the price!

5. Pinterest

Yea I'm the last one to join, but I finally did it and all you crazies were right...IT'S SO ADDICTING!

Date Night Do Over - Japanese

A little while back I showed you how to make my favorite chicken pesto pizza that I get at a little pizza place downtown. I showed you how I make it at home to save $$ (and the hassle of going out).

Now I'm going to share another dirty little secret of mine with you.......

We have Japanese date night at home too! I looooove hibachi chicken, fried rice and sushi! At my local Japanese place we can easily spend $75 on one meal. For years now I've been 'ripping' them off so to speak. I'll be honest I cannot make fried rice like they can. I've tried and it sucks. I also can't make sushi. I've wanted to try, but I'm afraid I'll get nasty fish and poison Hubs. So I take a little help from them and add a little of my own stuff and it turns out GREAT.

First I place a call in order for 3 orders of fried rice, yea, yea I said 3...we like a lot of rice. They're only $3 ea!

I also order sushi - $5

and seafood sauce - $3 (it's ohhhh so good and we eat it on all the meat not just the seafood).

So my total with tax is $18.53 from the restaurant.

Then from the store you'll need:
1 lb chicken - $3
teriyaki sauce - $2 (I used Lawry's.)
shredded cabbage -$2
any other veggies you want to stir fry

My store total with tax is $7.63.

This time I only did cabbage along with some carrots and green onion I already had.

You cut up the veggies you want to stir fry.

Add them to a pan with a little olive oil, teriyaki sauce, salt/pepper and cook until tender.

You cook your chicken the same way. Cut it up and stir fry with a little olive oil and teriyaki sauce until done.

Then you plate with your rice.

Total for everything $26.16!
Total savings $48.84.

To make it a complete meal break out a bottle of Trader's Joes' 'Two Buck Chuck' and you're set and you'll still save over $45.00!

Wordless Wednesday

Momma's Back!

Hello blog world! It's been a long, long wait, but.....I'm back! I haven't written a post since December. I have so much to share! I've been working on my goal and I'm proud to say there have been some drastic changes in our lives. Changes for the good. Since the last time I shared with you, my precious baby boy has turned 2! He's actually 2 1/2 now. He's thriving and beautiful. The biggest change is I've gone part time! Alert the media! I'm not just a SAHM wannabe now. I'm a PTSAHM (new word!). So I'm kinda still a wannabe since it's only part time but I also can kinda own the stay at home mom thing too. Word.

My focus for this blog was to share my journey from a full time working Mommy to a full time stay at home Mommy. Honestly, I quit blogging because, along with being busy with life, I got discouraged. It seemed like too long of a 'journey' to blog about. I got bored because I felt like I was repeating myself - like I wasn't actually doing anything to make it happen. I stopped and had a heart to heart with myself, my husband and my Lord. I prayed so hard for it to happen if it was meant to happen. I didn't sit back anymore. I got focused and it happened. The big changes I needed to make, didn't seem so big anymore. I sold my newer SUV and got a less expensive one. We buckled down and paid off our other car. We actually stopped eating out. Before we had stopped, but caved so quickly soon after. This time it was real. We also have decided to be more healthy so it's a win, win. Less expensive car = less expensive insurance and tag, cable is still cut back, Walmart trips are really nonexistent now (a victory in itself - I really loathe Walmart), date nights are more creative, meaning less money. I don't miss any of my cuts. Truly, it excites me to do them. Yea I'm only part time right now - I'm only half way there...but I'm HALF way there!!! It's a blessing and I couldn't be more thankful!

Since cutting back I've had time to do so much more. The things I've been wanting to do for so long. I've been doing crafts, re-dos, homemade foods and cleaners....tons of stuff I'm going to be sharing over the next few weeks.

I'm ready to learn, share and possibly inspire.

Gift Giving...

Christmas time is upon us folks! It's an exciting time of year. This year we have decided to take it easy on gifts. We've been blessed throughout the year beyond measure. Our family doesn't go lacking for anything. All of our needs are met and for that we are so thankful.

We have decided to go 'light' on the gift-giving this year. We want to make a point not to shower our child with gifts for Christmas. Christmas isn't about spending money and being self absorbed. It's about helping others, showing love, enjoying family and being thankful for the many blessing that we have. We're going to give Baby Boy one, kinda big thing from Santa and some small things from Mommy and Daddy. We want him to know from an early age the reason we celebrate Christmas.

As for our families we're also scaling back on the gift giving and we're giving part of the money we would normally spend to other families in need. We have adopted the most humble family for Christmas. I've already felt so blessed just to have met them. In the end, we'll be the ones to carry away the blessings.

So I've been racking my brain trying to think of some great homemade gifts for loved ones, like my grandparents. Something that will be from the heart that they can keep. I think Shutterfly is going to be the answer to my prayers. It's not exactly homemade, like a popsicle stick candle holder, haha, but that's probably better, I mean who really uses a popsicle stick candle holder?!

Shutterfly has all kinds of things you can make with your uploaded pictures. I think a calender will be the perfect thing for my grandparents. They'll be able to use it and save it as a keepsake for the photos. It's a win, win. Shutterfly also offers Christmas cards that I'm going to give out to everyone. It's a step beyond the normal card because you actually put time into it and people can keep it because of the pictures.

They're so cute!

I think the whole thing is just doing something more personal -again it's about giving things from the heart. Things that mean something and make your think of the people who you love. You don't have to break the bank to give a gift that really means something.

Finally...

I HAVE MISSED YOU!


I finally have time to catch you all up now and brace yourself because I'm about to unleash it all! Like I said before this Momma has been one busy girl and I've been having loads of fun along the way. So I'm going to share it all with my fellow bloggy Momma's!


Fall has nearly sucked the life outta me. We've had something planned every single weekend and most days during the week. But I'm blessed...it's been a rich & full family filled time.


First we went trick or treating. Oh and yea I know everyone else put up their costume pics 3 weeks ago - oh well.


Since Baby Boy is really too young to choose what he wants to be, I have the liberty of choosing exactly what I know he'll look adorable in! I'm trying to get all the ones I love in before it's all Spiderman, Star Wars stuff, and well you know all the things little boys want to be.


Anywho, I chose a policeman! He rocked the heck outta the po-po costume!

It definitely was a hit! He was arresting people left and right! Well maybe not, but he worked that whistle like a pro. He actually learned how to say trick or treat, which sounded more like 'ticka-teeeet', but it worked and he got tons of candy. In fact, we still  have tons of candy.

That same weekend we hit up a local fall festival. Inflatables, cotton candy, cake walk - it was all there. Baby insisted on getting into the inflatables with the big kids. He screamed for it, so we caved and let him in.....once in the older ones took over (just as Mommy knew would happen) and he cried to get out!

He didn't ask anymore after that. Mother knows best. Ah ha ha ha!

So then the local fair came into town. We have a rather large fair in our area and you have to go every year. It's not an option, it's just understood that you're going. Last year we took Baby Boy, but he was too little to really know what was going on, however this year he was all about it! He did it all. We ate like crazy, played games and rode the rides.

This little gem here costed us $5! I mean seriously, 5 bucks to take one swing?! Total rip-off! He inherited his daddy's 'guns' so of course he hit the bell at the top! He also won a $0.50 hammer....gee thanks!

PS I'm not quite sure what's up with the carnie, skinny jeans & flip flops. Next..........

To sum it up my child had a blast, I got sick riding with him on the Merry-Go-Round and we blew tons of money because everything is highly overpriced! However, he loved it so much he cried when we had to leave - it was totally worth it.

Well these are just a few of the things that have been going on in the last few weeks. I should be back blogging like normal now. What has everyone else been up to? I haven't been keeping up with anyone lately....got lots of reading to do.

Fell off the Planet?!

Yea so, this girl has been super busy! I'm quite possibly the worst blogger right now. It's going on.....3 WEEKS since my last blog.

My excuse?

Life.

This time of the year is apparently quite busy when you have a near 2 year old. The pumpkin patch (which I did squeeze in time to write about), the county fair, trick or treating, festivals galore & photo shoots for Christmas card pictures are just a few of the things we've been up to the past couple of weeks. It's been busy, but I'm not complaining. We've been having a blast and Baby Boy has been enjoying being out and about. He adores being outside!

I have lots of ideas and adventures to share with you guys - so stay tuned!

As for now I'm off to do laundry from the past 3 weeks....yea I said 3 weeks, don't judge!

Pumpkin Patch Love!

This past weekend we went and spent some time at the pumpkin patch. Baby Boy was perfect! He did so good and had a blast! The place we went to has a real pumpkin patch & sunflower fields for picking, along with wagon & train rides, animals and a fresh veggie market.

It's so much fun to pick your own pumpkin. We picked a big one for Daddy, a medium one for Momma and a tiny one for Baby.

My child loved the animals so much, he would have been happy bringing his blankey and parking it there for the night! {Notice the hot hubby reference...hey I can't lie!}

The sunflowers were breathtaking, as always. They let you pick them for free - it's great! We all know how much I adore FREE!

No pumpkin patch is complete without a wagon ride to & from the fields. Of course the youngin' loved this too!

It was a great family day. Nothing beats times like these....memories we'll have forever!

Wordless Wednesday



My coming out party!

This is my coming out party- what ever do you mean, one may ask?

Well, when I started this blog I wanted to connect with other stay at home moms and share my long transition from working mommy to stay at home mommy. Well it's just that - a looooong, annoying, sucking the life outta me transition. Realistically I'm looking at 1 year before I can stay home. Is that good? - yes & no. No because it's ONE YEAR! Yes because I realized this is what I want to do now and I can actually make the changes necessary that will enable me to stay at home. Otherwise we would still be going and spending out the wazoo like we always have.

So, it's good and bad. Now on the the coming out party part. What exactly am I going to share with my readers over this 1 year period. I've cut back the bills and shared that. I cut out frivolous spending and shared that. I came up with great ideas of cheap things to do with the fam and shared that. Cheap crafts, coupons, meals -- there's only so much a girl can share.

I wrote a post last week on the real me. It was cute & fun - but it was just the tip of the iceberg. I've decided to come out and give you guys all {most} of me. I'm going to start opening up a little bit more. Each and every post won't be directly about just now much closer I am to staying home, because there's only so many ways you can say it.

So where is all of this coming from you ask? Blame it on Blair. She's my cup o' coffee in the morning. She's the blog I go to each and every day to see what she, Nate & Harry have been up to. She's my, dare I say...Dooce. {I don't even read Dooce's blog because I have The Heir to Blair, yo!}.

Anywho, so I've been having troubles trying to keep up with telling you guys just how I'm switching to stay at home mommy from 100 different angles. I thought, okay what would Blair do?! It came to me - be me!

I have a muffin top too {that I'm working on eliminating} - I'll tell 'em about that. I have a glass of wine with my chicken pot pie too - they'll want to hear about that!

It all ties back into who I am and my life - which is right now focused on being a stay at home mommy, but currently I am a full time working mommy, who starts a new diet every Monday, has a 20 month old {who I've refer to as Baby Boy} who is currently in the full swing of the terrible two's {it's gonna be a loooooong time til 3!!} that I drag to work with me everyday, and a musician husband who is busy all the freakin' time, a little white dog {named Nala, after the Lion King}, a tiny home that we've been remodeling for 4 years {almost to a stopping point} that stays messy no matter how much I try and keep it clean.

I want to come out and share the real me, so that I may connect with others and maybe even inspire them at the same time.



The Real Me

The point of my blog was to share my transition from working mommy to stay at home mommy. So yea, it still is, but I want my stalkers followers to get to know me a little bit. I almost feel like I've short changed you. I'm more than just a coupon for diapers or a $5 meal - I'm pretty freakin' complex {if you ask my husband}.

You can kinda think of it this as that whole random things about me game, you know the one.

I like loooove lists so we'll go with a list format {kinda}.....

-I'm uptight & kind of a control freak. Yea I said it, I'm super uptight! I can't help it, I like for things to be right and I like to know every facet of everything. I'm not nosey, nor am I annoying {or at least I like to think not} I'm just a girl who knows what she wants and I like to be in control of it. {I have a feeling Hubs is gonna print this off for proof that I actually admitted to it.}

-Some say I'm crafty. Yea my brother-in-law jokes that if you give me a sharpie and a paper clip I can make anything. It's kinda my thing.

-I got married when I was 19 {ahhhhhhh!}............but waited 7 years to have my husband's mini me. Again, I knew what I wanted and I went for it. It's been the best ride ever, wouldn't change a thing.

-I love to paint. Walls, paper, canvases......anything. Before we bought our home, I used to paint every wall in every apartment we ever lived in. {I actually got away with never having to repaint it white and we still always got our deposits back...don't ask me how!}.

-I always wanted to be a career woman, always. Once I graduated from college, I thought I had it all figured out. Even after I had my baby boy it was still in the back of my mind. It wasn't until probably 5 or 6 months ago I finally stopped kidding myself.

-I lived in the big NYC. It was a dream my husband and I always shared. We're were both born and bred in the south, but always, always wanted to make the big move. A couple of years ago we finally did it. After a few months there, we knew it wasn't meant to be, so we packed it up and hauled tail back home, 3 months later I was pregnant - truly the best decision we ever made, but you know I'm so glad we conquered that, otherwise we would have always wondered - what if.

-I don't read books. Haha, yea sorry, I don't. I can't read fiction. I've tried without success. Every time I do it, I'm sitting there thinking of all the things I could be up doing. I can however plant it with a Parenting mag or pregnancy book. I think it's the whole fiction thing that gets me. Sorry to disappoint but, no Twilight lover here. {I could only get through like the 2nd chapter, then it collected dust on my nightstand for months before I finally returned it to my friend.}

-I could {and often times do} eat cereal for every meal of the day. I like it all - the sugar-y kind, the fiber-y kind, the puffy kind. It's all cereal goodness.

-I work in a family business....with my family, that is. Yep it's me, the 'rents, little sissy, and our youngins together all day, everyday. It's alot, but most days it's pretty good. Most days.

-I'm a musician's wife. Yea, yea we have instruments & sheet music galore at our house, but it's so much fun. It's his passion and that makes me smile.

-My car stays messy. At any moment you can probably find enough stuff in my car to survive on for a good week or so - hey you never know when you might get in a tight.

-I want to be a hippie. I haven't quite figured out why, but I do. The hubs don't think I could pull it off. I've always had this thing about hippies. I want the van/camper, the El Camino and the whole enchilada. I have this hippie dance I do....ok we might be getting a little too personal now. Anywho, I heart hippies!

Well that's a little about me - I'm a uptight, messy hippie wannabe who doesn't read books but loves to paint. Haha! If the shoe fits, wear it.

Seasonal Consignments? Yes, please!

If you haven't heard about kids seasonal clothing consignments yet, you are missing out! It's a great way to make tons of money honey and get all of they clothes your babydolls will need for the season. In my town we have two that both hold sales twice a year.

Here's the deal:

-You get your clothes ready for the sale - ironed, priced and hung.

-You take them to the sale and you'll probably be the one to put them on the racks.

-You normally will make around 70% of the selling price for your items.

-Once the sale is over you'll go pick up your items that didn't sale, which will probably be grouped and ready to go.

Now let me paint this picture a little clearer for you. This is not like a garage sale. These are like new clothes and toys, priced about 1/3 of the original price. So if you sale $400 worth of clothes then you'll bring home nearly $300! Believe me, even with the 30% going to the organizer - you'll still make a lot more than if you had a yard sale. I can't remember clearing much more than $200 at any yard sale I've ever had! These consignment sales are a great place to pick up boutique clothes. I always get Baby Boy's smocked outfits from there. (I just CANNOT bring myself to pay $80 for 1 outfit! - There I normally pay between $10-$20.)

Kids Consignment Sales is a great website where you can look up sales by state. I've used this website to see what's going on in my state although I've not yet made it to any sales other than the ones in my town.

Hope everyone checks it out. It's something I always, always  do and it's too good not to pass on!

Oh and don't get me wrong I'm super sentimental and I normally keep everything, but do I really need 25 swaddling blankets, of which we only used 5 sitting in my attic until we have the next one? Probably not, so I sold those suckers! I kept the ones that meant something and sold the ones that I didn't like or we never used - it's a win, win for everyone!



Wordless Wednesday