HOWL THE WIND

Winter had been mild but with that, it has also been crazy confusing. The other week we had such great weather that reached 60 degrees. We were all loving it! But the past couple of days have just been breeezzyy! Breezy is an understatement. It's been howling winds as strong as 40 mph. I was so spooked the other night when I was watching TV. All of a sudden I heard this howling wind blowing outside our window. I could feel it shaking the side of our house and the window in our bedroom. Just then, my phone rings and it was sweet husband. He was calling me from work to let me know not to be surprised about the wind. That calm me down a bit but I also worried about him. With wind gusting up to 40 mph in winter its got to be bone chilling cold and he gets in and out of his police car. I worry about him and reminded him to get warm. At least the windy weather will not be here to stay for long. Next week is supposed in the upper 50's and that is just awesome! I hope you guys had a great weekend!

GOING TO MY GRANDPARENTS FOR SPRING BREAK

Thanks to Roman May

My grandparents have been using their wireless internet service West Palm Beach connection to stay in touch with us since they moved. They recently decided that it was finally time for them to move. They have been talking about moving to their beach house as their primary location for years. They probably should have done it a long time ago because they spent a lot of time there, but they liked being able to see us grow and make it to our baseball games and tennis matches. They also liked seeing us every weekend. Now, that we are in college, they made the decision. They sold their house in town and headed to the beach. They even traded up and got a bigger place with a few more bedrooms to try and get us to come visit more often. It has worked. I have been e-mailing with them lately because they have invited my sister and I to come to the beach for spring break and even letting us bring our friends from school. I am just not quite sure that they know what they are getting themselves into.

ROSES AND STEAKS

I don't think I ever wrote about my Valentines. Well, its safe to say that I got flowers a dozen and a half roses in fact,lol. Valentines was not just a day of hearts in our household. I was a celebration of my 5 year wedding anniversary to my wonderful husband. The years that we have been married have not been perfect nor have they been hard. We had our moments of arguments, silent wars and moment of making up. As for the silent war, I almost never get that! Husband is the kind of person who just lets things go. I for one am the kind of person that harbors ill feeling and can't let go right away, lol.

Valentines day was celebrated a day early at our house. Why? The girls had Gymnastics on Valentines day itself and it would be to late if we go out to eat. Besides, I wanted to celebrate at our house. I wanted my husband to cook me my favorite food which is steak. Ralph cooks my steak the way i want it and I for one just love the way he flavors my steak. We had shrimp, corn in the cob, steak, rice and mac and cheese I think. I ate sat at our table not talking for about 5 min. I was just shoving steak and rice in my mouth as fast as I could. That is how much I love the way my husband cooks my steak. It was a great dinner. Next year, we are going to try to celebrate by going out just the two of us. What about your Valentines?

ARE YOU SURE ITS WINTER?

Can you believe the weather we've been having lately? I must say, this has been the mildest winter I have seen and experience in my 5 years in the US. As soon as Summer ended last year I was in dread. Winter and I don't mix. It's to be expected when I am from a tropical country where we are warm all year round,except for a few months of monsoon. The weather has allowed me and my coupon buddy Allison to walk to our nearest Walgreens almost everyday, well its safe to say everyday,lol.

Even thought the groundhog has declared we will get a few more weeks of winter, I am certain though that we are close to welcoming spring. And I for one cannot wait until it gets really really warm. The kids haven't really gotten very sick this winter season. Sure they have he sniffles and cough but no fever so far. I hope i don't jinx myself when I say that. Having a sick child is not easy and it pains every parents heart to see their child not feeling good. Hopefully the weather stay like this so we can walk to Walgreens everyday,lol

QUICK RELIEF

Tax season if finally on its way. A lot of Americans are looking forward to this season. We are looking forward to getting our tax return and paying off most of our debts. Like most people we did not come out unscathed from our worsening economy. We really had to tighten our belts and prioritize the needs and the want. People are struggling all over. I know quite a few that have resorted to selling jewelries just to stay afloat until the next paycheck. Thankfully we have been very blessed. But if it did come to that we would probably be going to a place like title loans tampa but somewhere within our state. I am just fortunate to have such a hard working husband with a stable albeit, dangerous job. Hopefully with the Tax season here most of us will get a break but for those needing fast cash the link provided is one way to get help and relief.

TARGET MADNESS

Hey there peeps! Guess what I got at Target today?? Its been a while since I went to the mall so I asked hubby to take me today. Armed with my binder full of coupons I hit up Target. I try not to spend more than $20 at Target and today I did not disappoint myself.

Scouring for deals always makes my heart start pumping fast. The exhilaration I get for finding what I want is something else. Its like a drug, I get my high from couponing. And so I got exactly what I wanted. If you ask me about the KY Jelly the answer is, NO, we do not use them. I just got it solely for the purpose of getting a $10 Target GC and I will be giving the KY to my husband married niece and nephew. My total for today's haul is $12.81. Yes, you read it right. The only thing I got that I didn't have coupon for is the paper plate. But since we were out of it, I decided to get it and paid full price,lol. All together my trip to the Mall was a big success!

MOLEY

Holy camoley! Has it been that long since I updated my blogs? My excuse is still the same. I am a total prisoner of coupons,hahahah.. Seriously couponing has taken most of my time and I barely have any time to write. I do get plenty of time sitting down in front of the computer but, it's to scour deals and check for new printable coupons. Some of my household chores have even suffered,lol.

I even remembered that I had another blog for my cheap find. The last time I updated it was like 8 months ago. That was a total waste of hosting and what not. Reviving that blog was to be my new mission but if I can barely update 3 blogs how much more if I add 1 more? I don't know if I can do it but I can at least try and if it fails then, at least I tried.

A SIGN?

Standing in line at Walgreens just minding my own business when suddenly this very old woman came up behind me and handed me a small pamphlet. I didn't want to be rude so I smile and took it from her. She left right away and I looked at the guy behind me to see if she gave the people behind me the same thing. I laughed seeing that I was the only one given that. I told the guy " I guess I'm the only one that needs some help being saved".

I am not laughing at religion. I am proud to say I am Catholic but I haven't been as active as I should be. Going to church used to be a necessity for me when I was still in the Philippines. It is embarrassing to admit that I haven't been to church for the longest time. Making excuses as to why I haven't attended church will not make a difference. I will have to make a conscious effort to do that regularly. I want my children to grow up with God and to understand and respect all the church holidays. Once I learn to drive things will be different. One thing for sure, I know that I believe in God the Almighty..

HAVING KIDS

Guest post of the week by Bradley Guthrie

Having kids has made me really aware of how far behind I am when it comes to technology. I really wish I had learned all these things before it was do or die time but I guess now’s as good a time as any and it’s important that I’m learning now and not that I’m not already knowledgeable. My kids are really great about teaching me what I need to know to get by – they’ve helped me set up the TVByDirect and get a good wireless provider and all that and they even showed me how to work my new iPhone when I finally broke down and bought one. I can’t believe that me, I’m a smartphone owner, but hey, that’s what you’ve got to do to keep up with the times. I can’t believe how many things there are to know not to feel like you’re totally out of the loop but I’m getting there, slowly but surely and that’s what really counts. Right? Am I right?

ONE OF MY BEST TRIP TO W

A quick shot of one of my best trip to my favorite store Walgreens. I have gotten stuff competely free but I love this one. This was last January 11, 2012. My friend Allison and I got dropped of my hubby to one of the nearest Walgreens in our area. This particular store is one of the cleanest Walgreens store I have ever been to. They also have very nice and helpful store associates that really make you feel at ease and taken cared of. Before I start going on and on let me start by breaking down what I got.

4 Chex Mix
2 EOS Shaving Cream
1 Tom's Maine kids toothpaste
1 Kids Omega Smart DHA
1 Tylenol Precise
2 Colgate Total
1 Snytha bar
1 Reach Floss (not in picture)
2 Candy canes and
3 Holiday Pencils

Retail Value for the whole thing is $37.5o. And guess how much I paid for all that? Drum roll please..............

My total out of pocket was $.10 cents. Below is a picture of my actual receipts. I love couponing and I am going to keep on clipping and saving until they say that its illigal to coupon.

NEWEST HOBBY

Wow I have really been neglecting my blogs. The last time I updated was last year before the new year started. I guess It should be in one of my New Years resolution not to neglect my blogs and to keep updating even just once a week.

A big part to blame for my neglect is my newest addiction. Yes, I to have gotten addicted or got bitten by the bug. The coupon bug/addiction that is. I officially started couponing last October 2011 and have not stopped ever since. In fact, I have gone full speed ahead, lol. I am still a greenhorn compared to all those people that have been couponing for years. I am proud to say that I learned on my own with the help of a few websites.

As a stay at home mom, my days can be very boring. I miss the interaction with adult people and other people in general. Couponing has given me back my confidence to try out new things and be heard. Couponing has also given me back my body, lol. Since I have been couponing I have walked to our neares Walgreens almost everyday and its like a mile going to and back. Loosing weight the fun way and a way that I didn't even notice. Yes, couponing is fun for me, its my newest hobby and addiction. And no, I am not like those couponer on the show that has a big big stockpile. My stockpile is still growing everyday, little by little.

How about you? Have you thought about couponing?

POOL IT UP

Winter is officially here and its making its presence known. The past few days were just perfect and wonderful. But yesterday and today is kinds of brutal. A day like today reminds you that its time to put on heavy coats, hats and mittens. I don't mind if its cold as long as its wasn't so windy out. When its windy outside, that is when I hate it! Not only does it bring bone chilling coldness but it also makes me worry about our pool cover. For the past years we have not been so lucky when it comes to our pool covers and got extra lucky when we didn't have to replace our pool filter. Its going to be interesting come opening season for next years summer. I just hope that our pool pump don't give up on us. If things don't go as planned at least I know a place like pentair pool pumps. The should have all sorts of pool pumps. I just pray that all will go as planned and that nothing breaks. Maintaining a pool is no easy feat. It takes time, money and effort.

ACTIVITIES TO PLAN

I have been so busy!!! If only Thanksgiving wasn't so close to the Holidays I would have been fine. I feel like I haven't recovered from Thanksgiving and then its already Christmas and New Year is just a few days away. I did get a reprieve when we had Christmas day dinner at my BIL house. The only thing about holidays is that I hate cleaning up and the cooking. It just drains me. Sure, its very fulfilling to see your family enjoying your fruit of labor but not so when its time to clean up, lol.

My cousins and her family are here as well. She has two girls and they are just so adorable. I am glad though that they did come. We have been talking about anything and everything. She is homeschooling her kids and her kids are striving. We also talked about the things they plan to do in the spring time and summer. Since they enjoy camping that will be included in future activities. I could not believe that she camps with her kids. She then proceeded to tell me that camping is fun specially if you have the right mountain hardwear. The trick is to be organized and to have fun. I don't think I will ever go camping. Ralph has been talking about camping with the kids in our backyard in the Summer. Well, they can camp all they want! I am sleeping inside where no worms can get close to me, lol. I just want to stick to the kids playing in the backyard or either swimming. I will not say never but camping is so at the bottom of my list.

TREE UP

A photo of our Christmas Tree this year. For the past years we have been using my MIL tree but since it was to big for the playroom I decided to put Ralph's tree instead. Before putting it up I did consult with my MIL so as not to offend her. She was okey with everything since and even helped me put up the Christmas Tree. I took half the time to put up the new tree than her old tree. It looked fuller and it fit perfectly. The kids also helped me put the ornaments on and put tinsels on the tree. It turned out beautiful! Next year I am planning on doing a color theme for the whole house. Maybe purple or white. Who knows, all I want is for my kids to enjoy and remember Christmas.

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS

MOUNTAIN MEMORIES

The last two days has been very cold. Frost covering the ground early in the morning. Autumn/Winter is not my favorite season as you can tell. For some winter is all they look forward to specially those that hunt in the winter time. Its this time of the season where they head on off to places where they can hunt. A high school friend of mine is married to a man who loves to hunt. She has been to a lot of hunt as well. I have even seen pictures of her wearing hunting gear. I forgot to ask her if they stay in a log cabin with beautiful hand crafted log beds and big toasty fireplace. My grandparents use to have a cabin in the mountain. We didn't have a log cabin, nor the log beds but we had a great time. It was one of the most memorable experiences I will cherish forever.