Tomorrow

I will update you on the Secret Santa Mission tomorrow. I had a rough day today. Got in the van to pick my little man up from school; I was running five minutes late and the darn thing wouldn't start!!!! Yep, dead battery. So had to think in a panic of someone to go get him. Thankfully my in-laws were home and went and picked him up, and so therefore I was unable to get my Zumba on (I don't usually like missing my Zumba, but actually it didn't bother me today. I was happy not going. I'm sure it does not help that I am feeling a bit under the weather.) Sooooo....I stayed home and made cookies with my Blakey. So...... $100 later I have a van that will start now and hopefully will be on the road to take the kiddos to school and whatever else the day brings me.

Nighty night all! Sleep well......

Cheryl

Where have you been?

Awww, I'm just kidding! ☺ I know it's been me. Seriously guys, I have just been having a hard time focusing in life lately. Don't know what the deal is, but just having a hard time. I DO know that I have missed you all. I have missed blogging so much! I'm glad I took a break as it was becoming apparent that I was thinking of blogging in a not-so-positive outlook. I felt like it was taking up too much of my family life and my work life. I sure hope you can forgive me for taking a unannounced break. I have hardly done ANY shopping! :o

Seriously, for those of you that have not done this kind of blogging it really is hard. You get caught up in blogger "drama," you get people that don't say very nice things to you, you think you make blogger friends only to find out they were never your "friend" to begin with, sometimes you feel like you just on an emotional roller coaster. Seriously, I had no clue when I entered the blogging world that is was as competitive as it is. I am of the mindset that I want to help others save and share ANY awesome deals that I may come across, whether those are deals that I found on my own or deals that other bloggers have found (of course share where I got that deal from), but apparently not everyone feels that way. I kinda feel we should all work together, but there are not many others (bloggers) that feel that way, which by all means is their prerogative. I just have a different outlook. I'm not in it for the money AT all. I have not made money AT all. I am in it just to help others. I DON'T wanna compete or play that game. That is not what I am about. I JUST want to help others; that's all. :)

Now, I realize my opinion, which is exactly what this is "my opinion," may offend others and I don't mean to do so, I just wanted "my" readers to know where "I" am coming from.

I'm gonna try to do this again, but will have to do it as a "working mom," meaning that there are times that I will not be able to get in here and post like I was, but still will post just maybe not as often. I don't know. Let's just see where the road takes us.

I know we have a quite a few local bloggers, but I just want to share with a couple of my faves.....

Raking in the Savings (Kari is "newer," but is so VERY AWESOME)
Happy Money Saver (another Karie. She has been around a while and is so VERY VERY sweet and AWESOME too).
Oh, I almost forgot my friend Alana at 107down. (check her out. She shares her weight loss journey and some deals to from time-to-time. She is super sweet!)

You have any favorite local bloggers that I may not know about? Let me know and I will put them on a list of "local" bloggers.

Remembering 9/11

I just wanted to take a minute and just remember 9/11. What were you doing when you heard of what was going on? I remember I was on my way to work, in my little blue Sundance. I had been listening to a CD and was almost to work when I was turning it down and ended up on the radio station of 92.9 (The Breakfast Boys). They were talking about something going on. I thought they were just kiddin' around or something had happened in another country. I got to work, grabbed all my bags and headed inside only to find the horrific looks on every ones faces and everyone having their headphones on. At the time I worked in manufacturing and we could listen to our "Walkmans" while we worked. This is what everyone was doing. I remember asking what was going on......

Wow!!! I still get the awful feeling in the pit of my stomach just typing about it now.

Here's a great video that I just saw this morning put out by Budweiser, that I received on my personal Facebook page from an old friend of mine. It is just a minute long, but very touching! Thanks Budweiser for making such a touching video and thanks Cheryl for sharing it!

In Remembrance.......

Cheryl

I'm tryin.....

Well, as most of you know school is now back in session. It just started yesterday for my kiddos and boy I am havin' a hard time. My little Blakey, you know my assistant, is now in school! :)/:( Yes, I am happy but sad. I found myself today getting ready to call his name only to realize that he was not with me, but off at school on a new journey in this thing called "life." Yesterday it was nice because my husband took the day off to help with the first day of school and to help me cope with Blakey being in school. I do have to admit that I did cry a bit, but it was as I was walking away and leaving him to his very very wonderful teacher. I know he's in good hands, but still. Then, today I was left on my own to handle things. Thankfully I was really busy with work and had a lot on my desk that I didn't have time to think about it too much. I barely got to the school in time to pick him up. I was running a little late.

Faith and Trent are really liking their new journey's too. It is just great to see how they grow. It's sad (just 'cause they don't need me as much like they used to), but it is AWESOME at the same time to see their growth. They both REALLY like their teachers, which is GREAT! Blakey really likes his teacher too! So, we scored with all of that. Now, let's see how they fair with homework?

Check this out.....I have to tell you I am sooooo proud to call this lady my friend! This here is my friend and "old" teacher of my son, Trent. Looky.....she is Teacher of The Month (nominated by one of her student's from last year)!



Photo Credit

Well, congrats Mrs. Murray! You truly are so AWESOME and I am sooooo very proud to call you my friend! Truly, we, as parents, are soooo lucky to have you in our school system and in our childrens' corners. Thank you for everything you do!

Well, here's to another GREAT school year!

Cheryl

Taking another day off.....

Yep, I'm taking another day off today. Today is my birthday and what better day to celebrate than just hang with my kiddos, go see some friends, and just take it easy today. What a great day it has turned out to be so far. I GOT TO SLEEP IN!!! Hooray, I slept in until 7:45 and took my sweet ol' time getting out of bed. Niice. Then, Trent made breakfast and I got to sit down and have breakfast with my kiddos.

I do have to share that Blakey did get upset with me because he couldn't have a Fruit Roll-Up and for a while there was NOT in love with me. How do I know this, you may ask? Well, he sat down on the couch next to Sadie (our pooch) and stated......"I'm gonna sit next to the one that I love most in this house right now." Really, am I supposed to keep a straight face here? Well, I was strong and kept a straight face all the while laughing inside. It was just too darn funny. I cannot say it enough, I just love kids and their little ways, especially mine! :)

I hope you all have a GREAT weekend and make lots of memories with those kiddos of yours and your families!

Oh, don't forget to enter my giveaway over here. It is going to be ending pretty soon.

Cheryl

Hey guys......



This is one of those memories I was talking about making. This picture here is one of my kiddos with my grandfather (age 93/94) and his pup, Muchacha, taken when we went on vacation. ☺

I just wanted to pass along that I apologize for the lack of posts these days. There have not been too many good deals to post about. :( I'm sure that will change once fall sets in. I sure do hope so. Anyway, so I have taken this "extra" time, and I have spending some quality time with my kiddos. Summer break is just about over and I have worked a lot this summer, so I sure do need this time with my kiddos. I just think about all those memories that we need to create together, you know? They are only young for such a short amount of time. I can't believe how "old" my oldest is. Well, he is only 12, but he is growing up too fast. He just doesn't need me as much now as he did when he was younger.  In spite of all the time that I have spent working, we have had such a GREAT summer. Probably one of our best summers EVER!

Don't get me wrong, I am still dealing with a lot of work too. So, between lots of work and wanting to spend time with my kiddos. It has been hard getting in here on the computer.

Thanks so much guys! I hope you all are having just as much fun as I am, if not more.... ☺

Cheryl

Good morning!

As you can tell, I was still very much so in the vacation mentality last week.I had the hardest time working and blogging. I also came back to a boat load of work and had a hard time keeping up. Well, I'm back today and hopefully will be able to juggle things a little better this week.

Anyway, Faith is officially now 7 years old. Wow! I can't believe how time flies. She had her 7th birthday this weekend and got to celebrate with all of her friends and family. So fun!

Anyway, happy Tuesday!

Cheryl

Good morning!

Hey there!

What an AWESOME vacation! It was sooooo nice to be able to spend a week with my family. Sooooooo many stories to tell. I have been checking my e-mail for the past hour and a half. Lots of e-mails. I already have a TON of work to do! Ugh. I am thankful I have it, but REALLY? It is soooo hard to get back to work after a nice vacation. My fingers won't move, I am a bit tired (I couldn't sleep last night), and I'm a bit sluggish to wake-up this morning. ☺It looks like I took OVER 300 pictures! WOW!!!

Did I miss any good deals? I feel like I'm a bit out of the loop. ☺ Okay, so where I went is a very small place in Wyoming. The town has 5,000 or so people in it. So, it's pretty small. They have two "grocery" stores. No big chain stores. These grocery stores are local and man do they know they have no competition! I was a bit floored when I picked up a box of cereal (JUST to see the price) and saw that it cost $5.14!!! What?! Are you kidding me?! $5.14??!!! A box of 2-Go Crystal Light.....$4.49!!!! Luckily, we had brought most of our groceries with us. I had taken a couple boxes of dry cereal....so no cereal needed by us, but WOW!!! I couldn't believe it. They did, however, have a Family Dollar. So, I went in an checked it out. I was really excited because we don't have one here. Well, I quickly learned that I wasn't missing too much, but let me tell you.....if I lived there nowadays, I sure would be a Family Dollar shopper. Seriously, most of the people drive to a little bigger town about 20 miles or so away to buy their groceries at Walmart. I don't blame them one bit!

Anyway, we were very happy to get some spend time with my grandpa and two of my uncles. It was very fun, but sad too. My grandpa has always been a very strong, hard-working, and independent man and now to see him where he has to depend on others to help him get around and get his meals fixed and whatnot, was a shocker to me. I know he is older now and this comes with his age and whatnot, it was just a shocker to actually see. Many many kudos to my uncles for taking care of him though!!!!

You know, it has been YEARRRS since I have seen a mosquito or have been blood-sucked by one. Well, I found out that I am "sweet" by going back to my birth place. I came home with 11 miserable, red, itchy mosquito bites. I felt like a dog. You know, when they just can't quite get that itch. Oh, that was me. I was just scratchin' and a scratchin' away. I had totally forgot about this, but back in the day, when I was a kid, "they" used to come through town in a truck with a sprayer on the back and spray for mosquitoes. Well, they still do that there. Those little pesky buggers are awful there. You don't dare sit outside and talk or you run the risk of smacking yourself all over. I learned that very quick. It's kinda funny, but irritating at the same time. ☺ Oooooh,they are awful. Now, the kiddos didn't get bit, but us "adults" sure did.

Anyway, we had a nice road trip. It seriously was a GREAT bonding time with my husband, my kiddos, and my parents. It really was so nice to get away and be with my family. It was so nice to have all that way JUST to talk with my husband in the car. It was fun with the kiddos too, but they were busy watching DVDs, listening to music, singing, or whatever fancied their little hearts, while my husband and I sat in the front seat JUST talking. What a GREAT time! We seriously enjoyed listening to the two little ones in the backseat have conversation. At one point, I think it was going through Yellowstone, we hear from the backseat (from Faith)......."Daddy....Blakey just made me drink water he spit in." Okay, I'm sorry, but that was REALLY funny.☺ We could hear him say....."you wanna drink of my water?" She drinks.....he says...."I just spit in it." "TJ you wanna drink of my water? Daddy you want a drink of my water?" She's in the backseat telling everyone not to take a drink 'cause he just spit in it. Oh, those two. I tell ya' they just crack me up.☺ No, he didn't really spit in the water, he was just "tricking" us.

Okay, well I best get to work.........

I will chat with you a little later and share some pictures too. ☺

Cheryl

Hey all.....

Hey everyone. So, I have been dropping little hints here and there this past month that I have been working super duper extra hard so my family and I can go on vacation. Well, the time is here. I am sooo excited, although I am SUPER tired. I have been getting up at 2 (if I sleep in then 3) in the morning to work and I have not had a day off in 21 days! Yah, I'm a bit pooped. I'm thinking I REALLY earned this vacation! ☺ Anyway, when I finish up this post I am finally going to jump in the shower today and get myself cleaned up to to the store and spend some Up Rewards that are going to be expiring tomorrow on a few things for the road. We have a long ride ahead of us as we are going to my home state of Wyoming. Anyway, then I'm off for the week. I'm am fully taking this week off. I really need this time with my family as they have been so neglected by me this past month, as I have been working so much. Thank goodness for my husband, my older son, and my in-laws (and my two littlest people). They have all been a GREAT help. We knew that this was going to happen so we were prepared, but I'm not sure my body was.

Anyway, I am soooo stoked about this trip as we are taking it with my momma, my dad, and my husband and kids. It's gonna be a caravan-type thing. We've got walkie talkies and all kinds of fun stuff. Anyway, we are headed out to go see my grandpa. He is getting up there in age and I want my kids to spend some good quality time with him. You  know? Make some memories? My grandpa is 94 and a BIG BIG love of my life! Anyway, we are going to see him for a few days and then we will come back home through Yellowstone! It's going to be so fun, hot (90º), and stinky (sulfur smell in Yellowstone).

Anyway I hope you all have a great week and I can't wait to come back and share some AWESOME stories with you all!

Cheryl

Lots of work

Ugh, I still have a TON of work to do. I am trying to get caught up as I am a bit behind and trying to make my monthly budget by the end of this week. Ugh..........is all I have to say. I have worked 14 days straight with no day off. It's crazy. I put in full days this past weekend. I have been up since 2:30 this morning (yah, I have had to little cat naps so far). I am a bit tired, but I keep thinking about being able to go on vacation starting this weekend. It will be soooooo nice and we are very much looking forward to it! ☺This week is going to be a LONNNNNNG week for me. I need to get out and do some doubler shopping this evening (can't have those go to waste), I have got to try to get up to Greenbluff and get some Cherries (FYI...they are $1.50 a pound this week at Fred Meyer, which is an AWESOME price), get packed, and then buy little things that we may need for the road. I am going into this with the right mind that I am going to eat "right." I have to remember that when I don't well then I'm a bit tired and uh, depending on what I eat, well.......need to be next to a toilet (can't have that when you're on the road). I bought some stuff yesterday at WW for the road "just in case," but plan on taking plenty of fruits and raw veggies. On top of all of that, I have to finish up my work.☺ Needless to say, I will be getting up at 2:30 tomorrow morning too, if not 2:00.

Anyway, I am having a hard getting on here and finding some good deals.

I just wanted to give you a heads up.

Have a GREAT day!

Enjoy that sunshine wherever you may be.

Cheryl

I love lots of work again guys....

Seriously, I worked seven days last week and see myself working seven days AGAIN this week. I have soooooooo much work!!! Just wanted to give you a heads up JUST in case I am not able to post today.

I hope you all have a GREAT day and get some GREAT shopping on!!!

Oh, I heard WE are getting doublers this weekend, BUT remember that the only way you can get them now is through the newspaper. :(

Thanks!

Cheryl

FYI....

Today, is one of those days where I have  TON of work (yay), so I need to put my focus on my work. I have not shared with you that I am taking a vacation at the end of the month and since I don't get vacation pay (as I work for myself), I have to make up that income that I will be losing at the end of the month. 

Anyway, I apologize, but I need to do this. I will try to get here just as soon as I can.

I hope you all had a GREAT weekend and have a GREAT Monday. Don't forget to get your FREE slurpie today! ☺

Thanks!

Cheryl

Something a "little" exciting for The Frugal Life of a Mom....

So, I did not share with you all that Stephanie Clifford, a reporter, from the NY Times called and interviewed me last week as a result of my post about the Walmart gas rollback. She covers the retail industry for the New York Times. Anyway, very very nice lady and good interview. I seriously didn't even know if I gave her anything that she could use as we cannot take part in the promo here, but she said I did. Well, I didn't know if she "really" meant that or whether she simply was just trying to be nice. Well, guess what??!!! I can now add "featured in the NY Times" to my credentials! ☺

Here is her article. It is a long article, but you will see MY name and MY blog name towards the middle of the article.

Anyone know how I can get a printed version of July 4th NY Times?

Wow! Thanks Stephanie!

Cheryl

Well.....

we have the dreaded checkups at the dentist this morning for the kiddos. :( Yes, I'm the one complaining. If there was EVER one responsibility of being a parent that I NEVER had to do, well.....it would be taking the kids to the dentist. I dislike it with every bone in my body! It's really not my cup of tea. :( Now, the kids, they seem to do okay, but not me. It seems that it never fails that we always get some type of bad news. Then, I feel like it is all my fault that these things happened to their poor little chompers. I feel like the worst mother in the world. I'm tellin' you EVERY time I go in I am on the verge of crying a river. Now, I try not to show my kids my fear and I think I'm pretty good at it as they fear their family physician more than the dentist. Now, I think that is backwards. ☺ They would rather go to the dentist than the doctor, huh?

Anyway, I will be out most of the morning with my kiddos at their appointment. Pray for us that we make it back with GOOD news this time. ☺

Okay, I'll talk to you later....

Cheryl

Mornin'......

I hope you all had a wonder 4th of July! My family and I sure did. We got a lot of stuff done around the house that needed done. Kind of a low-key weekend, but VERY nice.

I did feel sorry for our poor little doggie though. This is the first year we have had her for the 4th of July. Although fireworks are illegal in our city, there happen to be a few people that still light up the sky with them. Well, she was so super scared. I felt so sorry for her. She would hear them out side and run and hide behind my husband. Poor thing. We would try to comfort her and try to make her more comfortable, but she was just not having any of that. So, needless to say she didn't have a very good 4th.

Now, it's back to work for the rest of us.......

Talk to you later....

Cheryl

I have been a little MIA today.....

Oh my goodness!!! I don't know what happened, but I had a super duper allergy attack that lasted for the longest time. It started yesterday with constant sneezing which then led to runny nose. From there I developed a sore throat, plugged nose, sinus pressure, headache, more sneezing, and then did not sleep well. I was up most of the night in pain. My sinuses hurt sooooooo bad. I had a really hard time working this morning, 'cause I was soooo tired. I have been very very emotional today. My asthma feels like it is starting to flare, FINALLY got my prescription filled for Singulair. So, I took that and hopefully will be on the road to recovery soon. I don't know about you, but allergies are sooooooo bad this year in my family. Usually it is just Blakey and I who suffer. Faith usually suffers a little bit, but not too bad. Well, so far this year it has been my husband, Faith, Blake, Trent, AND myself. I know they said it was going to be bad this year, but really? I was so excited when I got my "allergy" shot a few weeks ago, but man right now I'm feeling like I didn't get a shot. :(

So, needless today has been a very emotional day for me. For example, I cried becuase my husband took the last piece of chicken to work. Really?!! Crying over chicken?! Well, I guess that shows you/me that no one, not even my husband really should come between this girl and her food. LOL! There's a little story behind it, but still really?! Chicken?! I just feel really down and out today. :( It doesn't help that I read two of the saddest blog posts this morning either. I think that helped to set me in a mood. I dunno. Anyway, that is my excuse.

I hope you all are feeling okay and not having to deal with this kind of icky stuff.

Cheryl

Today....

has been crazy over here. It was the last day of school for my big guy. Friday was supposed to be the last day, but his teacher was gone all week and said that she would be back today with goodies. Well, they say that "a way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I think that my son already has that one down. So, he took his happy butt to school today. Then, I had to go pick him up. In the meantime, I had a STAT to get done for work and it was a LOOOONG one, so I had to work on that that this morning. AND then, the weather was FINALLY cooperating that I could finally get out there and do some planting!!! YAY!!! I take to take mother nature up on her offer, while she was happy. So, the kids and I spent all afternoon out there planting most of the garden. I have one row left, so now I need to go find some zucchini, onions, jalapenos, and something else, I can't remember.

I'll have the kids take a picture later and show you what it looks like. This year, we have decided to let the kiddos share a row so they are REALLY happy about that.

Anyway, let's see what I missed today.....

Thanks!

Cheryl

I am out again most of the day

I messed up my work this morning and did not prioritize right, so now I am playing catch-up, and I have two Zumba classes today. It looks like I am going to be out, again, most of the day.

I have been eating soooooooo bad this week!!! :( It is so weird, because it is only in the evenings. I have had the BIGGEST sweet tooth EVER!!! So, I'm trying really hard to stay on track ALL DAY!!! This stress REALLY doesn't help too much. :( So, I have to work EXTRA hard today at both Zumbas, we'll see. My knee has been bothering me these past couple of days and I think I strained my muscles up the backs of my legs the other day. :(

Anyway, hopefully you will join me today at afternoon Zumba?

Have a GREAT day and I'll talk to you later, k?

Cheryl

I have to be out for a little while today.....

I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I have end-of-the-year stuff to do with kiddos and school, coupon classes to teach, etc. Lots of stuff....

I hope you all have a GREAT day and hopefully I will see you later.....

Thanks!

Cheryl

Heads up

I just wanted to give you all a heads up that I have a TON of work today and what feels like a million things to do. I'm not sure how much I will get done with work, blogging, Zumba (this afternoon AND tonight), and kid stuff. Very very busy day.

Don't forget we are supposed to be getting doublers on Sunday!! YAY!!! HOORAY!!! ☺

I will talk to you later.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! ☺

Cheryl