there is a reason...

Every year, Ian gets creative with his Christmas tree; one year it's all Hot Wheels hanging along the tree, the next it's all kinds of candy. This year was no exception. His Christmas tree is a small pre-lit silver one, with a homemade tree skirt. He is VERY proud of his tree, and Santa even leaves a small present under it every year. It's something that he, and one day his brother, is in charge of. This year's theme: catching Santa. You see, he has these huge red and green bells (kinda like the ones you see people making holiday necklaces out of). They ring really loud and really easy. His creative idea this year was to put them all along the bottom row of limbs. Well, I didn't know this, and when I saw it, I assumed his little brother had been messing with it, and we all know what that means... a mad Ian when he found out. So what do I do? I "fixed" it. When Ian saw it, he told me that Tucker wasn't allowed to decorate his tree anymore because he had moved all his bells! He fixed his bells back, and told me WHY he had them all at the bottom: he was trying to catch Santa! He said when Santa went to put a present under the tree, his hand would hit a bell, make it ring, wake him up, and bingo! Santa...caught! Ha-ha! He's so clever!

Well, the plan didn't work this year. Santa put the present beside the tree. But Ian's not giving up! That's my boy! He already has a plan in mind for next Christmas. He said he's gonna cover the entire surface of his dresser with bells so Santa has no other choice but to touch a bell.

Painting Tip...

In every store I've visited that sells paint, there's an "OOPS" section (or that's what I call it). It's where they put the paint that's already been mixed to specific colors that were either ordered and not picked up, the customer changed their mind on color, or maybe the employee mixed the wrong color. Either way, it means savings, and sometimes new ideas, for you! I'm embarking on a new design for my 2nd bathroom (a.k.a. the boys' bathroom), and have decided on a medium shade of gray. Since gray can be easily mixed, I decided to checkout the "OOPS" section for luck on anything that might work. I found it! Several of them, to be exact. I was able to find a full gallon of white, black, and gray... and all for 50% off!! They were the finish I was looking for, too. How great is that? So now I have enough paint for my entire bathroom walls & trim... wainescotting, too! I'm so excited. Anyway, I bought 3 gallon of paint for the same amount I was planning on spending on just one. Now that's a deal in my book. I'll try to post pics of my remodel's before & after as I have them.

That's how much?

I walk down the aisles, one by one, choosing which category in my head to put groceries: needs, wants, and absolutely not's. I imagine most of you out there do this very thing. This was supposed to be an "in-between" kinda trip, you know, the kind where you have to go back and get those knit-picky items you forgot when you were getting groceries a few days before. Strictly the needs category. My boys were being so good, and hadn't asked for a single thing, so when we were heading to check out and they asked for a soda in their nicest voices and most polite manners, how could I refuse? I decided to pay separately for them (not sure why), and OH MY GOSH!!! Have you ever payed for 3 - 20 oz. drinks by themselves? I'll have you know that 3, YES 3 drinks cost over $5!!! I'm so bad at grabbing a drink at checkout, because they're so convenient, and let's face it, right in your face when your leaving the store. I started thinking of how many 2 liter bottles I could buy for that same amount and how many times I could pour 20 oz. of soda. So I tell you all of this for a reason; not to gripe about money (although I admit, I am pretty frugal), but to say that I am now going to pay closer attention to every item that enters my buggy at the grocery store, and look for ways to cut costs. I have nothing against coupons, and if I was more organized or less forgetful, I'd definitely use them, but I've tried it, and can't seem to get the hang of it. If I find great deals or lots of bang-for-the-buck, I'll pass them along to you.