Don't let things, or people, get in the way

Yesterday I posted about my plans to make some changes in myself in the New Year. One of the big things I want to continue to improve on is being a good mother and my treatment of others. It was a good day yesterday, I was feeling positive and optimistic and then someone has to come along and disrupt that. Well one person in particular, my mother. We live 5 minutes away from each other and she has helped us by watching our daughter, but we don't have a great relationship. And it seems no matter how hard I try to be calm and talk about things with her without getting upset, it doesn't keep her from upsetting me. But I think the only way you can improve yourself, is by accepting the things that you can't change or have no control over. As long as I can be proud of the way I acted then that is enough. What obstacles do you have in completing your New You resolutions?

New You Resolution...that's not a typo

I started this blog earlier this year with all these grand ideas, that never quite panned out. You know with the husband, and the two year old and the full time job it was hard to stay on track. But as the impending New Year is quickly approaching I've been thinking a lot about what it is I want to change about myself and my life. So I've decided to make a few "New You" resolutions as I've never really been one for New Year resolutions, and really who is?! So here are a couple of things I would like to improve upon in the New Year:

1. Eliminate our credit card debt - I have already started trying to manage our finances better and create a better budget
2. Plan meals in advance - No matter how hard I try I always end up with no time left on the weekends to plan the week's meals. But I am going to make this a top priority
3. Read more - I used to read all of the time especially when I rode the bus to work, but I don't as much anymore. My parents bought me a Literati E Reader for Christmas and I'm hoping that will help me get in some more reading.

These are just a few things I would like to work on, so please join me as I start the New Year fresh. Do you have any "New You" resolutions? Any tips or ideas how I can be successful?

Grilled Hawaiian Pizza for $6.00

Doesn't this recipe sound delicious? And how easy to cook it on the grill, perfect for summer. Thanks to Erin at $5 Dollar Dinners, where she serves up dinner for her family of 4 for $5 or less.

Free Mascara, Sandwiches, Lip Gloss & More

Check out Red Plum's Freebies for this week. This week's freebies are an odd grouping: a tube of luxe mascara, a full-sized bottle of shampoo, free sandwiches for the kiddos, a fab new lip gloss and a free 8 X 10 canvas made from one of your own photos...Get the Free Stuff »

The Skinny Cow™ brand! Buy Two Get One Free

Click here for a buy two get one free coupon on products from the The Skinny Cow™ brand! Thanks Hungry Girl!

Get the Skinny on new Pampers Cruisers

Try the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max technology. Choose your size for your sample and get coupons for yourself and friends. Request your free sample!

West Seattle Community Garage Sale 2010

If you live in or around West Seattle be sure to check out this site for garage sales close to you that might be participating in the annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale. They have well over 200 different participants. I'm sure they are some goodies and treasures to find out there. Click here for a map of locations and more details

Kraft Store Cinco De Mayo Sweepstakes

Enter to win over $500 worth of great Kraft Store Cinco de Mayo products. Click here

Glade Relaxing Moments Giveaway Baskets

First 6,000* to respond will receive a gift basket filled with Glade^® Relaxing Moments™ products in refreshing fragrances,  click here.

Starbucks: Half-Priced Frappuccinos during Happy Hour (May 7-16, 2010)

Starbucks is offering Half-Priced Frappuccino Blended Beverages from May 7-16, 2010 during their afternoon Happy Hours (3-5 p.m.). More details here.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

The Broadway Grill

314 Broadway East
Seattle, WA 98102

On Monday my daughter had her 2 year check up and I had intentionally planned the appointment to end around lunch time so my husband would be forced to take me to lunch before I had to go back to work. I was planning on going to Dick’s and get a greasy but oh so fabulous burger, French fries, and chocolate shake, but he suggested The Broadway Grill. The first time we ate her I was several months pregnant and ordered their Dungeness Crab Sandwich. What I remember it to be was basically a grilled cheese (probably my all time favorite sandwich) with Dungeness crab (my favorite seafood). I would ask my husband to take me back there and we either weren’t over that way or didn’t have time. So the day my daughter was born both of our parents were at the hospital and wanted to go get something to eat. Me and my husband both suggested the Broadway Grill, and they could bring us back something too. So here we are over two years later returning for the first time after she was born with her in tow. I have to say I was not nearly as impressed as I was two years ago. Kids do eat FREE Sunday through Thursday after 4:00pm which is always great for parents. All of their children menu items were 4.95 from your basic Grilled Cheese and fries which my daughter had to Boneless Beef ribs with mashed potatoes and Sliders. They do provide a FREE ice cream Sunday with beverage purchase, but they do not have children’s cups. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t ever leave the house without a sippy cup, but my daughter is at the stage where she wants to do everything like we are. So if we get a glass from the waitress, she wants one. She inevitably did try to drink from the glass, no straw, and get it all down the front of her. The next disappointment was that there was no changing station in the bathroom. Granted these stations can guest upwards of $500, the addition to a restaurant can bring in new customers who may not have come in otherwise. It is not easy to change a newborn on the sink or a toddler standing up! All in all it was great to spend the afternoon with my husband and daughter and we received a coupon for a free appetizer on our next visit with the purchase of an entrée.

Rating:

Free Groceries for a Year!

Cool contest I found to win free groceries for a year

Hey, I just entered this contest on Cozi.com to win free groceries for a year. All you have to do is put in your email address.

Even if you don’t enter, please click the link to help me win. (I get an extra entry for telling you.) Thanks!

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Changed to Toddler Bed, now waking up throughout the night & earlier

A couple of weeks ago my two year old daughter fell out of her crib. It was the first time ever and immediately that night we converted her crib to the toddler bed. It has two small bed rails on either end. That night however she fell out a couple of times. We decided to put the ottoman to our glider chair in front of the opening rather than getting another bed rail to hopefully help her learn there is a space there without falling out. Well ever since then she has been waking up throughout the night and waking up an hour to an hour and a half earlier than what she usually was. My theory is that without the bumper her binky (pacifier) is falling out where she can't find it thus causing her to call out for mama. But then when I go in to give it to her, she wants to come with me or me to stay. Which brings us to the root of the problem of getting rid of the binky. Have any of you had this experience with your child changing from their crib to a toddler or bigger bed? What have you tried and failed or succeeded with in trying to wean out the pacifier?

The start of my Fam Life

3 years ago I became pregnant, the first of most of our friends seeing as I was only 20. Most of the people I talk to wonder why I had a child at such a young age, but me and my husband were ready. We had just bought our first home after his release from the military and were back with our families. I felt like we didn't need advice or help from anyone. We didn't even take any birthing or parenting classes. I read the usual "What to Expect When You're Expecting", etc. but just though we'll figure it out. At one of my showers I received the "Baby Whisperer" book, but didn't actually read it until my daughter was 6 weeks old. I was away on a work trip, my first time leaving my daughter alone overnight with my husband. I was getting ready to return to work full time and she was still sleeping with us in our bed. So my plan was to get her to sleep through the night in her own bed, for my sanity's sake. And in reading this book I received the best piece of advice I've ever received...don't change your life around your new baby, fit your new baby into your old life. There's no reason your life has to end or change because you have a child. As we have tried to do this I've found that the rest of the world isn't exactly on my side. So I've started this blog to post about places, people, and things that are out there to make living the fam life easier.