weekend in collage

weekend in collage by kristinrudy featuring ankle strap sandals

photo friday

Best Friends
Happy National Dog Day!

Extreme Couponing

Okay, to say extreme might be a bit extreme.

I've always been one to save money, not pay full price, shop discount stores, etc. But when it comes to groceries I would look for what the store is offering for sale and not even dabble into coupons.

Until now.

My sister introduced me to a new blog, Homemaking Mom , and she is awesome. She basically lays it all out there for you when it comes to couponing. She shops at Harris Teeter which is by far my all time favorite grocery store. But it is more expensive to shop there. The Homemaking Mom literally makes a list of what's on sale, what coupons to use, where to get the coupons, and how much money you will save on the product. Genius!

Well, I started my couponing today. I'm new to this process so I didn't buy nearly as much as I probably could have. I used some of the coupons the Homemaking Mom suggested and I also had a few of my own that I've kept tucked away.

Here is what I bought:

My total should have been $30.12. I saved $3.64 with my VIC card and $17.52 in coupons. That brought my total to $8.96!!

Like woah.

The lowdown -

I got the Worcestershire sauce and Cliff bar for free. I only paid $.50 for the honey dipping sauce. The most I spent for one item was for the Cheerios ... a whopping $2.19. My best deal was on the deodorant. Not only was it on sale, but I also had a BOGO coupon and a $2.00 off coupon. So I spent about $2.00 on those ... so around a buck a piece.

wednesdays are for walker

We had a fun little Sunday. Walker was especially fun. As we were getting a few things together for his birthday party this weekend, I decided I wanted to rearrange the guest bedroom. That meant me directing and Andrew rearranging.

We put Walker in his crib with some toys so he would be safe and secure while we moved the furniture around. About 15 minutes later it got really quiet. We walked to his room to find him passed out in his crib with all of his toys around him. It was so sweet and I would have loved to have captured a picture but that would have woken him up. And I cherish nap time more than anything else in this world so we turned off the light, closed the door and let him be.


But ... I did get some pretty funny pictures of him outside. He is hilarious!


Cheese!

Catching a breeze

my to do list

I have so much to do before the weekend ... it's the big '1' birthday celebration for Dubbs! What better way to remember everything than a list. I'm probably going to get really scared after typing everything out and may go into hiding until Saturday.

dust
vaccum
steam mop
nap
clean bathroom
last bit of laundry
grocery shop
nap
pull weeds
nap
hang up new curtain
finish goody bags
blow up 5 small dinosaurs
nap
blow up 4 ft dinosaur
big nap
bake cupcakes
bake smash cake
And I'll be making sure Walker eats, sleeps, plays, gets his diapers changed, gets a bath or two, goes for a walk, swings under the tree, walk barefoot in the grass, pushes his wagon, etc etc etc

Whew ... I'm already tired.


No worries ... Wednesdays are for Walker will still appear tomorrow ... so excited to share my new favorite picture of my sweetums.

Weekend in Collage

Weekend in Collage by kristinrudy featuring floral rings

photo friday

wednesdays are for walker

A few months ago, Walker was having a really difficult time sleeping during the night. We aren't officially 100% sleeping through the night yet but there was one particular night that I was up with him all.night.long. I was getting so upset that I threatened Andrew that I was going to start running away when evening time came around but would be back before he left for work the next morning. What a brilliant idea I had. It never panned out. Yet.

On this one particular night, Walker woke up about 7am after finally crashing for about 3 hours. I could barely function and was doing all that I could to get out of bed to get him. He babbled a bit, I heard him pull on his lullaby toy and then it got very quiet. Could it be? He went back to sleep?? Yes ... I knew I had at least another 30 minutes of sleep ahead of me. That 30 minutes actually ended up being an hour and then I heard him talking again. I got up, got myself together and slowing made it to his bedroom.

I opened his door to discover poop everywhere. And I don't mean down the leg of his jammies. I put him in a two piece jammy set the night before and poop ended up all over the place. It was all over him, his jammies, the sheets, the bumper, a blanket, his teddy bear and the crib railings. I wanted to close the door and walk away. Why did I have to be by myself for this one? Could he not have waited to do this until the weekend? Thank goodness he didn't play with it. Or taste it. I know that's gross. But admit it, you were wondering.

I stood there for a few minutes planning out Operation Poop Cleanup. I decided it be best to leave Walker in his crib while I took his clothes off, stripped the bed, and wiped him down before putting him in the bath. I sat down to untie the bumper. I tied them into knots because Walker was now mobile and loved to stand on the bumper. I have a fear in the back of my mind that somehow he would choke/strangle on the bumper ties ... hence the knots.

I start to sweat and shake because I couldn't get them untied. These knots weren't budging. I panicked a minute and then grabbed a pair of tweezers and got to work. I begged Walker not to sit down or touch anything ... you know, cause he knows exactly what I'm saying. He thinks I'm playing a game and giggles the whole time.

I'm in tears.

I finally get the bumper off. I now have a naked baby somewhat wiped down hanging out in a crib with just a bare mattress. I pray he doesn't pee or poo again. It would make this story more humorous if he did ... but he didn't. Thank you, Walker for being temporarily potty trained.
I leave him in the crib, rinse all of his poopy sheets and things, spray them with some Zout (awesome for poop!) and throw them in the wash. I run back upstairs, take Walker out of his crib and give him a good scrubbing.

Needless to say, Walker didn't wear two piece jammies for weeks.

Now I'm just waiting for it it be Andrew's turn.

ode to the steam mop

my sweet, little steam mop

how i love you so

you help me get the puppy fur

off my hardwood flo

without you

i must have been in denial

you are so magical

as you clean my kitchen tile

you vac

and then you steam

you keep my floors

fresh and clean

forget the swiffers

and the mops

if someone kidnaps you

i'll call the cops

how i lived without you

i honestly do not know

please don't ever leave me

because i'll miss you so

Weekend in Collage

Weekend in Collage by kristinrudy featuring a bangle bracelet

photo friday

I'm thinking about turning my Friday blogging into Photo Friday. Or maybe is should be Foto Friday? hhhmmmm,decisions. I know Wordless Wednesday is out there but I have my Wednesdays are for Walker and I'm pretty much digging that day as is.

Well, here ya go ... it's the first and last time I will write anything on a Friday ... just a photo foto. oooohhhh .... Photo Foto Friday?

Vintage Walker

fish sticks, cabbage and rice

Don't laugh. Don't be judgey, judgey. Don't turn your nose up to it.

Embrace it. Try it. Love it.

One of my sister and my favorite childhood meals was fish sticks, cabbage, and white rice.

What the hell, you ask? All I have to say is don't knock it til you try it.

My husband loves it. And hopefully Walker will one day.

It's simple. It's comforting. It's cheap. It's good.

We probably have it once (sometimes twice) a month. I think Andrew could have it every week. Maybe I could too.

Probably so.

Want the recipe, huh?

frozen fish sticks
cabbage with a little corn oil, salt and pepper
white rice with a little butter
ketchup for dipping (according to Leah, my sister, it better be Hunts)

That's it. Simple and delicious.

Now go make it and then tell me how much you love it.

Wednesdays are for Walker

My little man has been sick this week! I hate when he feels bad. All he wanted to do was snuggle up close and sleep on me. And let's be honest, I loved it. I hated the reasoning behind it but he is turning into such a little boy and snuggles are very rare these days.

This was yesterday. Pitiful, huh?

And this was from this morning. My little guy is on the mend!

these are a few of my favorite things

Home Decor Edition ...

My Mom has always gotten numerous shopping catalogs in the mail on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis. I've never really bothered to flip through the pages until I bought a house. Now I can't get enough of them. I have found some great home decor pieces and wanted to share a few of my favorites companies ...

Signals

This company offers so many cool pieces for the home! I already have a few and have yet to be disappointed. You will have to look past some of the really random, off the wall items available ... but I think you will be pleasantly surprised with many of their treasures.

What I own from Signals:

I have the HOME letters above my laundry door ... they blend well with my granny smith green walls.

These beauties are above my headboard in the master bedroom. It adds a great textured element and the perfect pop of color .

Art & Artifact

This is a new company my Mom introduced me to today ... and I am in love! It is very similar to Signals. I have found many a things that I would like to purchase but for now I will just leave them on my wish list. My birthday is 12/23. Just sayin'.

I love this bedding!! But the question is, will my husband? Better yet, will it go with my iron leaf trio art (see above) that's already in my room?

I think this bench would look perfect at the foot of my bed ... if my bedroom were bigger. Or maybe it would look good on my screened in porch with some throw pillows. Yea, I like that idea better.

This is such a cool alternative to the typical towel rack you find in bathrooms. I love it. And I want it. Bad. Love. Love. Love.

Uncommon Goods

This is a cool company that sells some really unique items. I bought my sister a gift from here and have continued to receive their catalogs. I love how they re purpose items for another use too.

Aren't these fantastic? I want one of each.

This basket would be great on the porch for Louie's toys or for wood for the fireplace ... even though it's gas. It would still look really cool though, huh?

I want these guys in black for my dining room table. Put some green candlesticks in them ... and tada ... fabulousness!

I hope I've introduced some new shops to you ... and hope you find some special goodies! You're welcome. :)

weekend in collage

weekend in collage by kristinrudy featuring old navy tank tops

music ... it's good for the soul

I've discovered a few musical artists that I have really started to enjoy this summer and I find it only appropriate to share them. I've never really branched out with my musical preferences (think today's top hits). I'm not good at learning lyrics and telling you which artist/band sings what song. Just ask my husband. He's been quizzing me for years about the songs he loves and who sings them. I'm about 50/50 on giving the right answer and that's just luck. But I do get major high fives when I get one right.

I kind of feel like I am developing new taste buds for my ears.

The first band I am really getting into is Mumford and Sons. Think old-time folk blended in with today's rock. Pretty freakin' awesome.



A few weeks ago I heard a song in a movie I was watching that I liked. I googled the lyrics and discovered this gem of an artist. Griffin House is good for the ears and the soul (and maybe the eyes too).




Hope you enjoy these two new finds of mine for the summer. I know they have both been recording for a few years. What can I say? I live under a rock when it comes to music. But I do love it.

wednesdays are for walker

I cannot believe that my little guy is already 11 months old. I'm not going to lie, I will probably have a minor (okay, probably major) meltdown when he turns one.

I.am.not.ready.for.this.

I really do miss him being a mush pot. Yes, he wanted to nurse ALL.THE.TIME. and I was lacking some major sleeping hours. But looking back all of those sleepless hours have been replaced with memories of bringing him home from the hospital, watching him sleep in his swing, giving him his first bath in the kitchen sink, and his first smile. So what if the smile was probably induced from gas?

His 11th month here in this big world of ours has been one of my favorites. He has learned to walk, he loves to read his books, he is full of love (he kisses a lot ... think lots and lots of drool ... all over your face), and his little personality has been shining through more than ever. Here's just a small glimpse of how this little boy has blessed my life.

This free scrapbook design generated with Smilebox

looky, looky!

A special delivery was made for a little boy's birthday party today ...

His invitations! Just a little teaser ...

Weekend Collage 7/30-7/31

Weekend Collage 7/30-7/31 by kristinrudy featuring cork handbags