Well, so far, I'm 100% for guessing the gender of our babies.
We're halfway done with the pregnancy
for Miss Jadyn Marie!!
*Nicole, you are the winner!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
4.5 carts later
I'm not your typical food storage type girl. I just don't like spending money on items I will not use (and will have to learn to use if, for some reason, we need to start living off of our food storage--wheat grinder, anyone?--Ok, I know there are some of you out there, but it's not me). I homemake pretty much everything, but I just can't/won't do certain foods--not until I have to, I guess.
What I did yesterday, is a way I make up for my lack of zest in wheat-grinding and pasta-making (though I do that on occasion just because it's GOOD). And because we live primarily on one person's salary--Devin's-- I feel it's my job to spend as little money as possible (I work teaching 12 piano lessons weekly to pay for my health insurance--and I LOVE it-- and do an elderly couple's finances because we have been working for them for a few years and they are just so close to passing it would be so difficult for their family to take it on, but in essence, I am home taking care of the child(ren) and home). The hang up? Couponing takes me WAY to much time. And that's time that I don't want to put in when I work what I do and want to be a mommy the rest of the time.
I started using this site and this site to make my efforts worthwhile-->minimum time that yields the maximum results. And I mean VERY little minimum time...absolutely NO MORE, and probably significantly less, that what I would do anyway to plan out meals and a grocery list for the week (I shop once per week. That is my max. I will not go more than once to the store in a week--saves money AND time, as long as I plan well).
Sorry, no pictures, but I left Smith's yesterday with 3 FULL TO THE BRIM carts (yes, they closed down an entire lane for me, and yes, they were super annoyed to have to be checking me out), and then added another from Food4Less and a half of one (which is actually a much larger cart in comparison) from Costco. I used no coupons, but bought 285 items for $369.05. That comes to roughly $1.30 per item. I am sure you have watched Extreme Couponers, and they have much better percentage savings than what you are probably calculating in your head (even though I estimated saving at least $130 from what I would have spent going to Walmart for those same items), but what I have found is that they don't count the money they spend in getting those coupons, the amount of time and work involved, and the fact that much of the stuff isn't always that usable (some of them have LIFETIMES of certain product just sitting in their garage)--at least for OUR FAMILY. Not to mention, I don't find nearly as many great coupons in the Western US as I have seen in the East.....but, like I said, I don't spend that much time on couponing.
What you don't know is that despite the fact that my husband looks almost like a stick figure, he eats as much in one sitting as my ENTIRE immediate family did at a meal during my growing-up years. He just eats and eats....and eats. He is often referred to as the human garbage disposal (and rightly so). For that reason alone, we have to have SUBSTANTIAL meals to keep up with our family. We only have 3 of us, right now, and we better watch out if we have several boys that eat as much as him. He already eats 4+ meals per day. It could be exhausting to keep up with; not to mention, it would literally eat us out of house and home. We need to be able to stockpile, not wait for coupons and build up the pile over time.
But last night, I bought enough pasta noodles, canned vegetables, sugar, canned fruit, canned beans, tuna, canned tomatoes, spices and seasonings, canned chicken, and deodorant to last us a year (until next year's case-lot sales). And enough quaker oatmeal, ramen, cheese, apples, rice, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, bananas (and I means TONS), ground beef, chicken breasts, milk, tortillas, cases of water, and butter to last us several weeks to several months (and I would have bought more of some of this stuff if I already had an additional freezer in the garage).
These are all things I use (and can therefore rotate) in meals I make or meal recipes she offers on the website, which is also a HUGE time-saver. This also means I will have to shop for a LOT less throughout the year. I do these HUGE shopping trips, for certain items we use regularly, a couple times per year, and then only need to purchase our produce, dairy (though not even all of it once I get an additional freezer in my garage and can start freezing more of the things that freeze well--catching my hint, Dev :O)), bread (if I don't end up making it myself--this is something I DO NOT like eating after it's been frozen), some meats, and other perishables that we need for certain meals that week. But I plan the meals around the things with the best sales, so we continue to save money.
I'm sure some of you are saying "well, I could do better than that," but it works for us, we end up having a food storage, I don't have a lot of anxiety over it, it's quick and simple, and for us, it just works!
What things do you do to save you time and money? I am all about efficiency!
P.S. I spent about 45 minutes (with a toddler, so that makes it take longer) planning the grocery list and meal plan, 2.5 hours purchasing, loading, and unloading the items (again, with a toddler), and 1.5 hours organizing it all (AGAIN, with a toddler, and that will NORMALLY be MUCH less because I will eventually have a very set system in our house for where all the food goes. I just haven't done my large shopping spree yet since we've been in the new house and needed to figure out exactly what I wanted to do). Also, I do SOME coupon shopping at times using Hip2save and just by quickly going through the ads I get in the mail (we get many coupons for free in NV) to get coupons for items I buy regularly, like Silk, that never go on really good sales, and we have to have it for Camden's milk allergy.
Also, see this interesting clip if you haven't yet: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=15514795. Either way you do it, you're saving BIG!
And see my sister-in-law's website for garage sale tips and ideas. I bought pretty much every item of furniture we have in that way and have saved THOUSANDS. I also buy clothes, shoes, toys, etc. Saving money is FUN! garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/
What I did yesterday, is a way I make up for my lack of zest in wheat-grinding and pasta-making (though I do that on occasion just because it's GOOD). And because we live primarily on one person's salary--Devin's-- I feel it's my job to spend as little money as possible (I work teaching 12 piano lessons weekly to pay for my health insurance--and I LOVE it-- and do an elderly couple's finances because we have been working for them for a few years and they are just so close to passing it would be so difficult for their family to take it on, but in essence, I am home taking care of the child(ren) and home). The hang up? Couponing takes me WAY to much time. And that's time that I don't want to put in when I work what I do and want to be a mommy the rest of the time.
I started using this site and this site to make my efforts worthwhile-->minimum time that yields the maximum results. And I mean VERY little minimum time...absolutely NO MORE, and probably significantly less, that what I would do anyway to plan out meals and a grocery list for the week (I shop once per week. That is my max. I will not go more than once to the store in a week--saves money AND time, as long as I plan well).
Sorry, no pictures, but I left Smith's yesterday with 3 FULL TO THE BRIM carts (yes, they closed down an entire lane for me, and yes, they were super annoyed to have to be checking me out), and then added another from Food4Less and a half of one (which is actually a much larger cart in comparison) from Costco. I used no coupons, but bought 285 items for $369.05. That comes to roughly $1.30 per item. I am sure you have watched Extreme Couponers, and they have much better percentage savings than what you are probably calculating in your head (even though I estimated saving at least $130 from what I would have spent going to Walmart for those same items), but what I have found is that they don't count the money they spend in getting those coupons, the amount of time and work involved, and the fact that much of the stuff isn't always that usable (some of them have LIFETIMES of certain product just sitting in their garage)--at least for OUR FAMILY. Not to mention, I don't find nearly as many great coupons in the Western US as I have seen in the East.....but, like I said, I don't spend that much time on couponing.
What you don't know is that despite the fact that my husband looks almost like a stick figure, he eats as much in one sitting as my ENTIRE immediate family did at a meal during my growing-up years. He just eats and eats....and eats. He is often referred to as the human garbage disposal (and rightly so). For that reason alone, we have to have SUBSTANTIAL meals to keep up with our family. We only have 3 of us, right now, and we better watch out if we have several boys that eat as much as him. He already eats 4+ meals per day. It could be exhausting to keep up with; not to mention, it would literally eat us out of house and home. We need to be able to stockpile, not wait for coupons and build up the pile over time.
But last night, I bought enough pasta noodles, canned vegetables, sugar, canned fruit, canned beans, tuna, canned tomatoes, spices and seasonings, canned chicken, and deodorant to last us a year (until next year's case-lot sales). And enough quaker oatmeal, ramen, cheese, apples, rice, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, bananas (and I means TONS), ground beef, chicken breasts, milk, tortillas, cases of water, and butter to last us several weeks to several months (and I would have bought more of some of this stuff if I already had an additional freezer in the garage).
These are all things I use (and can therefore rotate) in meals I make or meal recipes she offers on the website, which is also a HUGE time-saver. This also means I will have to shop for a LOT less throughout the year. I do these HUGE shopping trips, for certain items we use regularly, a couple times per year, and then only need to purchase our produce, dairy (though not even all of it once I get an additional freezer in my garage and can start freezing more of the things that freeze well--catching my hint, Dev :O)), bread (if I don't end up making it myself--this is something I DO NOT like eating after it's been frozen), some meats, and other perishables that we need for certain meals that week. But I plan the meals around the things with the best sales, so we continue to save money.
I'm sure some of you are saying "well, I could do better than that," but it works for us, we end up having a food storage, I don't have a lot of anxiety over it, it's quick and simple, and for us, it just works!
What things do you do to save you time and money? I am all about efficiency!
P.S. I spent about 45 minutes (with a toddler, so that makes it take longer) planning the grocery list and meal plan, 2.5 hours purchasing, loading, and unloading the items (again, with a toddler), and 1.5 hours organizing it all (AGAIN, with a toddler, and that will NORMALLY be MUCH less because I will eventually have a very set system in our house for where all the food goes. I just haven't done my large shopping spree yet since we've been in the new house and needed to figure out exactly what I wanted to do). Also, I do SOME coupon shopping at times using Hip2save and just by quickly going through the ads I get in the mail (we get many coupons for free in NV) to get coupons for items I buy regularly, like Silk, that never go on really good sales, and we have to have it for Camden's milk allergy.
Also, see this interesting clip if you haven't yet: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=15514795. Either way you do it, you're saving BIG!
And see my sister-in-law's website for garage sale tips and ideas. I bought pretty much every item of furniture we have in that way and have saved THOUSANDS. I also buy clothes, shoes, toys, etc. Saving money is FUN! garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/
Friday, November 18, 2011
Happy 5 years!!
So, basically, the last 5 years have been filled with their ups and downs, great days and bad, difficult and easy, but most of all, LOTS of change!
In 5 years, we've......
5. Graduated both of us from BYU
16. Lived with, and took care of, an elderly couple who influenced many goals for our own future
In 5 years, we've......
1. Upgraded from a 550 sq ft apartment, which we rented, to a 2460 sq ft house, which we own
2. Moved 7 times
3. Held approximately 15 callings between the two of us
4. Had one child, and one on the way
6. Had 10 different jobs (again, between the two of us)
7. Learned to like football (Meg) and learned to play songs on the piano (Dev)
8. Spent over 1200 hours doing dishes
9. Played A LOT of sports (and won one intramural soccer championship at BYU)
10. Changed close to 3000 diapers (give or take 500)
11. Gone on a cruise and to Monterrey, Mexico
12. Gone from swearing we would never live in Vegas (Devin) to embracing it; almost moving to NEW Mexico
13. Gotten only 2-3 speeding tickets (this is GOOD for Devin) :O) and one accident (just today actually--not his fault, luckily!)
14. Received two brothers and one sister home from a mission
15. Stayed in the hospital 3 times
17. Gone on at least 6 hikes together, and I can't even count how many apart!
19. Won our apartment door Christmas decorating contest with dollar store decorations (well worth the money because we got a good prize!)
AND
20. most of all, grown closer together and deeper in love!
(Among many, many other things)
(Among many, many other things)
I love you Devin! Happy Eternity!!!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Girl or Boy
I've basically had the next baby name picked out forever. (You know how you make those "Future Baby Name" lists in high school??) I tried to throw some new ones in the mix when we actually found out about this pregnancy, you know, for Devin to choose from, but it seems he loves these names as well.
Note: We decided at Camden's birth that we would continue the Kevin and Karen Romney tradition of the 'in', 'en', 'yn', 'an' ending sound in the names of our future posterity. You know, since my name fit (Meghan) and Devin's was obviously already a part of that tradition.
So without further adieu, here are the names we have narrowed it down to (yes, I do this very early on in pregnancy. I like to feel like the baby is already a part of the family--I don't like to call it 'the baby' for very long.
Girl--- Jadyn Marie Romney (probably call her Jade for short; and it's Mom and my middle name)...always, ALWAYS loved that name since the Jaded song by Aerosmith
Boy-- Landon Miles Romney (Yes, because I LOVE 'A Walk to Remember'; now you're probably thinking I'm crazy because these names are based off of pop culture, but I have my own DEEPER reasoning) OR Larson Dean Romney (After my mother's maiden name/grandparents; Devin's dad's middle name. I'm still trying to convince Devin of this one--he seems to be scarred from a certain friend of his being shortened to LARS and he just can't bear the thought of his child being called that)
I'm betting it's a girl, Devin has no opinion on the matter yet, and my mom thinks I'm crazy for trying to guess at all. Well, there's a 50/50 shot! What are your guesses (yes, yes. It's a full 10 weeks away, but I'm giving you plenty of time to think about it)?
Note: We decided at Camden's birth that we would continue the Kevin and Karen Romney tradition of the 'in', 'en', 'yn', 'an' ending sound in the names of our future posterity. You know, since my name fit (Meghan) and Devin's was obviously already a part of that tradition.
So without further adieu, here are the names we have narrowed it down to (yes, I do this very early on in pregnancy. I like to feel like the baby is already a part of the family--I don't like to call it 'the baby' for very long.
Girl--- Jadyn Marie Romney (probably call her Jade for short; and it's Mom and my middle name)...always, ALWAYS loved that name since the Jaded song by Aerosmith
Boy-- Landon Miles Romney (Yes, because I LOVE 'A Walk to Remember'; now you're probably thinking I'm crazy because these names are based off of pop culture, but I have my own DEEPER reasoning) OR Larson Dean Romney (After my mother's maiden name/grandparents; Devin's dad's middle name. I'm still trying to convince Devin of this one--he seems to be scarred from a certain friend of his being shortened to LARS and he just can't bear the thought of his child being called that)
I'm betting it's a girl, Devin has no opinion on the matter yet, and my mom thinks I'm crazy for trying to guess at all. Well, there's a 50/50 shot! What are your guesses (yes, yes. It's a full 10 weeks away, but I'm giving you plenty of time to think about it)?
Friday, November 11, 2011
Ghost Candy
This is a sucker that Camden found in his trick-or-treat candy.
He calls him 'The Holy Ghost.'
I have no idea where he got that.
(I'm even his nursery leader, so I know he didn't learn it there, and
I PROMISE I didn't even call it a ghost when he took it out of his bag in the first place)
Made me laugh!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Halloween pictures
Getting ready for the trunk or treat
He kept saying scary, but just wanted to sit and stare at it!
Our little dinosaur. Devin is goofy and I am an elephant
LOVED seeing his grandma and trick or treating at her house!
But he has especially been obsessed with Grandma's pumpkins this year
Camden would not wear his hat unless I wore this one....I guess it's a good trade--I pick his costume, he picks mine.
Halloween Day outfit. We went to my first baby Dr. appointment together on Halloween!
Getting home--checking out the spoils!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
All I can do
This broke my heart today. I mean, it hit me HARD. And I'm not even entirely sure why. Part of it may be that these pregnancy hormones are affecting me a little crazier this time than the last (so I've definitely been more emotional/grumpy, but that's for another post), however some of it is for sure warranted. I mean, I know as well as anyone that media can put a huge spin on things. I know they can make you believe something that is a little (or a lot) off the truth and that we have to use our rational brains to pick apart and dissect what is real verses made up, however, the idea of this actually happening, if it is true, frankly sickens me. And that is my fear---that it IS true.
I mean, I look at that man, and he's about the age of my own father. I can't possibly imagine my dad being hungry. Not having anywhere to go. And then resorting to something he knew was wrong, feeling the pang of guilt, trying to do right by it, and then suffer the consequences to an outrageous degree.
I continue trying to console myself by thinking about the possibilities going to jail MAY have (but probably not) offered this homeless man. Regular food, shelter, a chance for detox?, companionship?? But I also know how insane, scary, and downright dangerous prison can be. And my heart ACHES. I literally bawl my eyes out EVERY time I see this. I can't believe that a man who is starving, trying to change (perhaps??) his life, and then realizing a mistake and trying to recompense that mistake ends up in jail approximately 5 times longer than a man who probably affected the consequences for millions more in a painstaking and irrevocable way (I mean, c'mon. THREE BILLION dollars!!), but it is a white collar crime....and it is not in Louisiana. I may be inferring and therefore implying too many things about that, but still, I can't help but feel our country is not where it needs to be--in many things--but especially in equality among all men. We still have a long way yet to go.
I don't know the backgrounds of these men, and honestly, it doesn't matter to me from an issue point of view (it matters like crazy to me from a personal point of view). The punishment does not fit the crime, and men, women, REAL HUMAN BEINGS, cannot be left to be treated this way. Left starving and for want--I don't care what the reason, let God be his judge. I know there must be consequences to our actions, but I just can't believe this is the right outcome, and I fear for our world. True, I may not be as faithful as I should be, but this kind of story rests on my soul for quite a long time because I just don't know how it can be fixed. And I am, to a certain extent, an idealist. I want the world to be a better place. I want people to feel loved and to love. I want for people to have their bellies full and their hearts warm; a place to call home. I want all to have their loneliness satiated and their righteous desires fulfilled. And I know how that can be done.
Charity.
Christ.
the Atonement.
and our Hands.
So I continue to say, please Lord, "grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage [and will] to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference."
And for now, that's all I can do.
(except, perhaps, continue to bawl my eyes out)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Shopping and Airplanes
This is how we went shopping yesterday.
Everyone was just in awe of the cute little boy doing some grocery shopping. Some people even stopped to take pictures! My mother-in-law found this little grocery cart at a garage sale, and he has been in love with it ever since. Though our shopping trip took a little bit longer, it was a great learning experience, a lot of fun, and a HUGE entertainment (it kept him SO involved with the shopping process!), so it was well worth the extra work involved. Everyone in the store was so nice to us; even when we got in their way, so I was grateful it turned out well.
We were looking through some pictures on Facebook and Camden stopped me at this one because he saw his uncles. "Dallins....and Byrins. Temple! And clouds....but where da airplane go?" Anyway, if you know this place, it's Disneyland....NOT the temple, but I thought it was funny that he thought it was, and I was so glad that he recognizes his uncles still. Not to mention, he obviously thinks there is always an airplane in the sky (we live right by the airplane flight route in Vegas, so there kinda is), so it's funny that he would even recognize this sky does NOT have one. Anyway, he's just a cutie and we're glad to have him!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The house
So, after finally finishing putting everything away from the move, and then tackling 7 loads of laundry I was behind on because of the move, I was/am exhausted. It took me a little while, because I started having pain in my lower abdomen and didn't feel like I could lift one.more.box up the stairs; even if it was a tiny or lightweight one. Devin was so busy with work, that it became a long and mundane process as I told him what I needed moved and to where (he hates when I tell him what to do and I had/have a LONG honey-do list) right when he got home from work, but it was just getting to a point where I knew if I kept lifting heavy things, we would be disappointed with the results. I have also been doing quite a bit of painting, so I think I've been pushing my body to the max. I probably went up and down the ladder approximately 80 times this weekend, along with all of my up and downs and all arounds with the paint roller, and the moving of furniture....it took quite a toll on this pregnant girl's body. But I am finished with the big stuff, and can now just worry about the painting and decorating. Still a lot of work, but at least our house is livable.
Here are the before pictures of our house though...and later, I'll post each individual room as I finish it. Which will probably take forever. But I'm working on it. And actually, most of the pictures are fuzzy. PRobably because I downloaded them off the internet (they are what it looked like with the previous owners stuff). I just didn't want to send you to the sight, because that would completely give away our address. And it may anyway for people smart enough to figure it out with the pictures, but I'm not computer savvy enough to fix that problem. Anyway, have a happy day!
On second note, every time I try (for days I've tried this, mind you) to load the pictures from my mac, a thumbnail pops up saying the server is down. Is there something I don't know? How do I upload my pictures on this computer??
Here are the before pictures of our house though...and later, I'll post each individual room as I finish it. Which will probably take forever. But I'm working on it. And actually, most of the pictures are fuzzy. PRobably because I downloaded them off the internet (they are what it looked like with the previous owners stuff). I just didn't want to send you to the sight, because that would completely give away our address. And it may anyway for people smart enough to figure it out with the pictures, but I'm not computer savvy enough to fix that problem. Anyway, have a happy day!
On second note, every time I try (for days I've tried this, mind you) to load the pictures from my mac, a thumbnail pops up saying the server is down. Is there something I don't know? How do I upload my pictures on this computer??
Thursday, October 6, 2011
We're BA--ack!
This ugly picture taken courtesy of my iMac in my brand new house; WITH the internet! We're back in business people! LOTS more to come--when I feel a little more settled. Hope you're awesome!
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