Raising Dudes and a Doll: January 2012

How to cut boy's hair like a pro

With the cost of hair cuts, and having 2 boys, plus my husband and myself, hair cut cost adds up. Just for my little guys I walk out spending almost $30 after tip. It, in my opinion is just too much for kids cuts. So I am on a mission on learning how to cut hair myself. Self taught, and husband tested....pray for him! Tonight I will put everything to use that I have read here. This is the best detailed how to that I could find, and that I was comfortable with. Heavenly Homemakers is such a wonderful blog that I have found many things from, luckily, I found this hair cut how to!The YouTube videos just weren't helping. I'm nervous but I went and bought some $10 Barber shears from Target and I'm ready to go. If I screw it up, we will be buzzing hubby's hair short. Praying for a success though, I would love to cut hair cut cost. I will let you know tomorrow what happened........wish me luck!

How much is a homemaker worth?

As a stay at home mom, the question has popped in my mind here and there. If I were to get paid for everything I do, what would I get? It's a legit question right? We cook, clean, we take care of kids, etc etc. Well, a friends husband sent her this article, and I am glad she shared it on her blog (which I can't share because its a family one, sorry!) Here is a link to the full article, which you definitely want to read.

Here is the final tally: $96,261 per year!

The daily work of a homemaker can sometimes be taken for granted by his or her family members. However, these services could earn a homemaker a considerable wage if he or she took those skills to the marketplace. Homemakers in general contribute a lot more to the home in addition to these tasks, and no amount of money can fill those needs.

I guess it's safe to say, hubby's dream of just being a stay home home dad/blogger could be reached if I could get paid for everything I already do. It's safe to call us amazing, because not many can do everything we do and still look cute every day. I never wanted to be a mom, let alone be a SAHM, but now that I am, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love spending the days with my boys. I see all the firsts and don't miss out on a single thing, except sleep, but that's over rated at this point right?

Family Birthday Chart

Who is horrible at remembering birthdays? *raises hand in shame* I am horrible at remembering birthdays. We already forgot 2 birthdays this year, and would have forgotten a huge one but luckily we got a reminder. It's pathetic, my husband and I can never seem to remember birthdays. I don't have a calendar, and even when I did, I never used it.

So this morning while going through blogs, I noticed my friend Christine posted this Family Birthday Chart that she made. Genius! I don't know how I will make one, because I'm not nearly as crafty as she is, but I will find a way. If you go to her site, she has all the how to's and everything you need on this project. Of all the people I know, she is the crafty queen, and I'm not lying! She is amazing at it all! Beautiful work Christine!

How stinkin' cute is that??? (image source)

Food Storage Plan

In a world filled with chaos and natural disasters, you never know when food storage is going to come in handy. In my church, food storage is talked about a lot. Consider if food insurance, it's there when you need it! We need to be prepared for any and every situation. It can be as simple as a blizzard that makes it impossible to get to the grocery store, a hurricane, or anything and everything else. We often think that it can be pricey to come up with enough food, not to mention were do you start? I started last year with couponing, I buy more of things that I really don't need right now that will last, and I rotate everything. I plan on getting this list started as soon as we have our own home. We don't have the room for all of this right now, and I'm content with what we have right now, but you can never have too much! This list is for 55 weeks of buying one thing. Easy right?

This list is perfect for anyone on a budget. It's for 2 people, and you double or triple depending on the number of people in your home. Each week you spend $10 (or $20, $30 etc) and most of these things you can get with coupons. You don't have to go in this order but you want to make sure you get everything on the list. This list will give 2 people enough food for a year!!!!

Week 1: 6lbs of salt
Week 2: 5 cans of Cream of Chicken
Week 3: 20lbs of Sugar
Week 4: 50lbs Wheat
Week 5: 8 cans of Tomato Soup
Week 6: 6lbs Macaroni
Week 7: 20lbs of Sugar
Week 8: 8 cans of Tuna
Week 9: 6lbs of Yeast
Week 10: 50lbs of Wheat
Week 11: 8 cans of Tomato Soup
Week 12: 20lbs of Sugar
Week 13: 10lbs powdered milk
Week 14: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese
Week 15: 50lbs wheat
Week 16: 5 cans of Cream of Chicken
Week 17: 1 bottle of multivitamin (500 count)
Week 18: 10lbs powdered milk
Week 19: 5 cans of Cream of Mushroom
Week 20: 50lbs wheat
Week 21: 8 cans of tomato soup
Week 22: 20lbs sugar
Week 23: 8 cans of tuna
Week 24: 6lbs of shortening
Week 25: 50lbs wheat
Week 26: 5lbs honey
Week 27: 10lbs powdered milk
Week 28: 20lbs sugar
Week 29: 5lbs peanut butter
Week 30: 50lbs of wheat
Week 31: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese
Week 32: 10lbs of powdered milk
Week 33: 1 bottle of aspirin (500 count)
Week 34: 5 cans of cream of chicken soup
Week 35: 50lbs of wheat
Week 36: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese
Week 37: 6lbs of salt
Week 38: 20lbs of sugar
Week 39: 8 cans of tomato soup
Week 40: 50lbs of wheat
Week 41: 5 cans cream of Mushroom
Week 42: 20lbs sugar
Week 43: 1 bottle of multivitamin (500 count)
Week 44: 8 cans of tuna
Week 45: 50lbs wheat
Week 46: 6lbs macaroni
Week 47: 20lbs sugar
Week 48: 5 cans cream of mushroom
Week 49: 5lbs of honey
Week 50: 20lbs of sugar
Week 51: 5 cans cream of mushroom
Week 52: 5lbs of honey
Week 53: 20lbs of sugar
Week 54: 8 cans of tomato soup
Week 55: 50lbs of wheat

Total you will have:
500lbs of wheat
180lbs of sugar
40lbs of powdered milk (we get white and chocolate milk)
12lbs of salt
10lbs of honey
5lbs of peanut butter
45 cans of tomato soup
15 cans of cream of chicken
15 cans of cream of mushroom
24 cans of tuna
21 boxes of macaroni and cheese
500 aspirin
1000 multivitamins
6lbs of yeast
6lbs of shortening
12lbs of macaroni

Giant Eagle Deals 1/12-1/18

Lady Savings is our coupon expert for Giant Eagle, it is my favorite store to use for coupons. Here are this weeks deals. For those of you who might be new to couponing, Giant Eagles biggest perk is that they double coupons up to .99 (99¢/1 Coupon = $1.98/1) You don't see many .99cent coupons but plenty of .75cent ones which double to $1.50!!!
Make sure you look at and print a copy of the coupon policy HERE

1 FREE Instantly wyb 4 SuperPretzels 4 for $9 (+1 FREE) = 5 for $9
35¢/1 Printable
50¢/1 printable
Final Price: as low as $1.12 with 2 of each printable

$1 Off Instantly wyb 4 Yoplait Light with Granola 4 for $8 (-$1) = 4 for $7
75¢/1 Yoplait Light with Granola from 1/8 GM, Printable
Final Price: as low as 25¢ each!

Totino's Pizza Rolls or Totino's Party Pizza $1.25
35¢/1 Rolls from 1/8 GM
50¢/2 Printable
40¢/2 Rolls from 12/11 SS, Printable Cellfire
60¢/3 Rolls Printable
$1/2 Rolls printable
$1/4 Pizzas Printable, Cellfire
$1/5 Pizzas from 1/8 GM, Printable
75¢/3 Pizza from 1/8 GM
Final Price: as low as 55¢ each

Post Honey Bunches of Oats $2
$1/1 printable, Printable(no longer available?)
Final Price: $1

Dole Fruit Smoothie Shaker $1.67
75¢/1 from 11/6 SS
$1/2 from 11/6 SS
Final Price: as low as 17¢

Emerald Dry Roasted Peanuts $2.5o
75¢/1 from 1/8 RP
Final Price: $1

Ken's Dressing or Marinade $1.67
B2G1 from 1/8 SS
$1/2 from 1/8 SS $1/1 from 1/8 SS
Final Price: as low as 67¢

Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes $1.50
75¢/1 Printable (no longer)
85¢/1 Printable (no longer available)
Final Price: FREE

Aunt Jemima Waffles B1G1 ($1.25 each)
$1/2 Facebook Printable
Final Price: 75¢ each

Purina ONE or ONE beyond dry dog or cat food $6
$5/1 from 1/15 SS Final Price: As low as $1!!

To view the full list go here.

Homemade Finger Paint

I'm really into homemade right now. I want to make everything on my own to save money and the experience to just say I have tried. I let my oldest finger paint once, and it was hilarious, he covered his body in it too. Now that he is older I'm thinking it's time to give him a chance and let him paint calmly (wearing a garbage bag and loads of newspaper around the table). In the back of my mind I'm yelling at myself for this idea, but at the same time, he will love it and have a blast. Isn't that what being a mom of boys is about? Letting your boys do things you know freak you out but seeing the fun they have is worth every mess and gray hair you get to take care of....

Here is a perfect recipe I found on Pinterest (my addiction). Quick and easy, and you can use baby food jars to store the paint. I know we all have those around the house.

Wacky Wedenesday

I love watching my boys spend time together. They are really growing up fast and I love that you can tell that they are becoming best friends. Although, they hit, throw things and scream at each other, there is something so sweet about the moments they spend together. Yesterday, Broden was laying on the floor being silly and Neacel ran over, laid next to him and started making silly faces. They both thought this was hilarious. Thank goodness for camera phones and being able to catch these little cute moments they have. I love my 2 boys more than anything. I'll be honest though, I hope this next one is a girl, I'm seriously outnumbered and I don't like it. Not to mention, this momma wants some pink around the house!!

Oh how I love and adore these boys, even though they do drive me nuts at times. It wouldn't be the same if they acted differently, their personalities are hilarious!

My Diaper Rash Cream Favorites

We all have been there, first baby gets a diaper rash and you kind of panic. You know the little one is in pain by the crying and you scramble for whatever diaper rash cream you received from your baby shower. It cures it after a few treatments and baby and you are happy again.
I wish this was the case in my home, luckily Neacel had one diaper rash, I used a blow dryer to dry it out and it was gone in hours. Yes, the blow dryer works if baby will let you use it. He had a horrible rash between 10-16 months, but we found out he was allergic to something in Luv's diapers. My little guy Broden hasn't been so lucky. He gets a rash no matter what, I've used everything in our budget and tried every wives tale out there. He gets them so bad and so often, but nothing seems to help him. I tried the blow dryer, and he freaked out. Luckily, I have come across 2 diaper rash creams that I make sure I always have in the house now. These are life savers. I do love the one more then the other, but the other is just as great...

My favorite diaper rash cream is Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment! It cured a horrible bleeding rash in less then 24 hours. Seriously moms, this is the best cream out there, in my opinion. It doesn't cost too much, more then I personally was able to spend, but I'll spend more on making my little guy feel better. Even after Broden will poop the ointment stayed on and kept his skin away from it, allowing it to actually get better. Most creams I've used disappear as soon as the little one tinkles! Not to mention its all natural, which I have never 100% supported but holy cow, this won me over!!!

My second favorite is Pinxav. A little tube was given to me in the hospital after having him and I loved it, but never bought it because being a family of 4 on a student budget is tough. Luckily, Walmart has a good size tube for $6.00 so I may have bought more then one tube. It stays on for the most part but not as well as Burt's Bees. It works well if the rash isn't that bad, but the bad horrible ones that my little guy gets, it doesn't help like I need it to as soon as I want it to, but I still love it.

Of course this is simply my opinion. I have tried other creams and nothing worked for me. Not saying it wouldn't for you. I will always have these 2 diaper creams in my home. I will reach for Burt's Bees first and then Pinxav.

25 Rules for Mothers with Sons

I saw this list floating around on Facebook and had to share it with all of you. Being a mom of 2 boys, I love this list. Every single thing on it is true and something all us moms need to remember when raising boys. I did a shortened version of the list but please please please, go to Team Studer and read each and every description. She did an amazing job!!!!

1. Teach him the words for how he feels.

2. Be a cheerleader for his life

3. Teach him how to do laundry

4. Read to him and read with him.

5. Encourage him to dance.

6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.

7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity

8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.

9. Teach him to have manners

10. Give him something to believe in

11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle

12. Let him ruin his clothes

13. Learn how to throw a football

14. Go outside with him

15. Let him lose

16. Give him opportunities to help others

17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.

18. Answer him when he asks, "Why?"

19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.

20. Let his dad teach him how to do things

21. Give him something to release his energy

22. Build him forts

23. Take him to new places

24. Kiss him

25. Be home base

I thought I'd add one more to the list:

26. Tell him you love him

What Happens When You Give Kids 1000's of Stickers?

See more pictures at Buzzfeed.

The Toddler Brain

I thought this picture of the inside of a toddler's brain was pretty funny.

Giant Eagle Deals 1/5-1/11

10¢ Fuelperks! wyb 3 of the following ($3 wyb 30 gallons)
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner $1.50
$1/2 from 1/8 RP
Final Price: $1 each or 17¢ each wyb 3 after fuelperks!

Suave Kids Hair Care $1.50
$1/2 from 1/8 RP
Final Price: $1 each or 17¢ each wyb 3 after fuelperks!

Suave Professional Styling $2.50
$1/2 from 1/8 RP
Final Price: $2 each or $1.17 each wyb 3 after fuelperks!

Suave Body Wash or Deodorant $1.50
75¢/1 deodorant from 1/8 RP
B2G1 Men's Body Wash 1/8 RP
Final Price: as low as FREE plus $3 Money Maker wyb 3 after fuelperks!

Ricola Cough Drops $1.50
$1/2 from 1/1 SS
75¢/1 Dual Action from 1/1 SS
Final Price: as low as FREE if Dual Action included

To view the full list of savings go HERE!

Kalahari Resort in Sandusky Ohio Review

Kalahari recently gave us the wonderful opportunity to stay there for a night. They have two locations, one in Sandusky Ohio were we stayed and another in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. At first glance you might look at prices and think that it might be a little much. Let me tell you, we loved it and thought the prices are perfectly fair and totally worth it. Our room was called the Nomad Room, it was a wonderful size and the beds were perfectly spaced to let my oldest jump from bed to bed! There was a microwave, fridge, TV, table and chairs for meals, a couch (that pulled out into a bed), fireplace, nice bathroom area and a balcony. We had more then enough room to put our youngest in the pack-n-play and we didn't have to try and climb over it to get around the room. We got there around 3 p.m. and unloaded our stuff into our room and went to the water park.

The water park, where do I begin? It was amazing! The kids are required to wear a life vest; I loved this! Even better, Kalahari provides the vests for free. The water park was huge; tons of different playing areas, a wave pool, kiddie areas, lazy river etc. My oldest had a blast, being 3 he was able to go down a few slides without daddy, and loved them. The kiddie area was perfect for both boys. Broden loved going down the slides and wading through the water. Although, he would try to crawl in the water with his head under, and would yell at me anytime I tried to help him! He was having too much fun to worry about some water in his face. Neacel loved the wave pool, he also liked the kiddie area but he is a true little adventurous spirit, and it wasn't enough thrill for him. He thought the wave pool was great though. You can also rent out cabanas which were a wonderful idea. We didn't, but I saw many families who did and had a bed made for kids so that when they got tired they could go lay down and watch TV for a little while, without having to return to the room!

My biggest fear about the water park was the chlorine smell, it gives me horrible horrible headaches that make me sick. Usually with indoor places the smell is the worse, but there was only one area that I smelled chlorine. When you are walking down the hallway to rooms and pass the water park, that was the only place I smelled it. (and this pregnant nose can smell everything!) Even in the park itself, no smell, they kept it so vented. I was so happy to not have to smell chlorine the whole time we were there.

There also is an indoor arcade which Neacel loved! What kid doesn't love arcades? There was the Tree Top, indoor play area; you can let the kids climb forever! There are balls in the area too and plenty of different ball shooting things for the kids. My personal favorite was the volcano in the middle. You fill it with balls to your hearts content, then hit the button and they all come flying out in a big explosion. The boys would run and giggle every time we set it off. There are a lot of slides, tunnels, ladders and obstacles for the kids to climb all over.

There are plenty of other things that we didn't have time to enjoy, Spa Kalahari, Safari Adventures Animal Park (closed during winter), mini golf and the outdoor water park (seasonal); either way, it was an amazing trip and I'm so thankful for the opportunity we had to go.

So here is my short sweet and to the point opinion: This place is amazing, prices were amazing and it's perfect for all ages. It was perfect during the winter because it was empty, no lines or overcrowding for anything. The rooms were clean, the kids were happy and the ice cream was great! They really take the whole theme and run with it. Save your money, book a trip and visit Kalahari as soon as possible!!!

Enjoy some of our pictures from the trip! I think it's only fair to say we had an amazing time! You can also see how empty it was while we were there!

Broden enjoying a water spout

Ice cream addiction, Neacel's tasted like Fruit Loops

Enjoying the indoor play area

Daddy and Broden relaxing

Water park area, Neacel loved it!

Wave Pool in action

Next Time I will get one of these Cabanas

Relaxed wave pool

Kiddie Pool area

Note: Kalahari gave us a complimentary one night stay in exchange for a review. Please note that we were not paid, and this review is honest and sincere.

2012 Resolutions

It's a new year, and that means a perfect time for a new beginning. A time to make those resolutions! So, do you make them? Keep them? Resolutions are something we all seem to do, but by the end of January we have completely forgot about them. This year I'm keeping it simple, and it's the first year that weight loss isn't in the list!!! I'm very excited for that. Last year I kept my weight loss resolution and lost 50lbs but all the other goals went out the window. This year, I want to focus on my family and things around the home. Here are my resolutions for this year:

-Get 8 hours of sleep
-Exercise daily (running around with kids counts)
-Organized each and every room in my home, and keep it organized
-Get back with couponing (I've been lazy)
-Spend time reading my scriptures daily
-Have a healthy pregnancy
-Spend more time with family and make sure its quality time
-Read 1 book each month (any recommendations?)
-Be more patient with my boys
-Have family home evening at least twice a month
-Spend more time with my hubby
-Keep the house clean
-No more excuses, just do!

I love this little saying that I found on Nat's Knapsack, I had to take it. I want to be this woman, I want to do everything I know I can to be a better child of God and scare the Devil. This is my year, no time is better then the present to make changes!