Working Mama

~by Laura

I am sure some of you have noticed that I have not been blogging as much. This is because I am now a working Mom. After almost 3 years having the privilege of staying home with my son I am back in the work force. The first week was really tough, not just for my son but for me too. We both cried a lot. My heart was so broken the first day seeing my son screaming with tears rolling down his face yelling "No Mama No!" I tear up just thinking about it. I had to fight back tears as I went to work trying not to let my emotions get the best of me. I remind myself I was lucky to be home with him the first 3 years and to cherish every little moment there is when I am home.

I am not sure if I took it for granted being with him all day everyday but being away from him for 8 hours a day I count every minute until I can be back playing toys, making stuffed animals dance, painting pictures and reading him books. I swear he might have gotten taller in the few weeks I have been working. I have moments of panic where I think I am going to miss something or he will grow up in the blink of an eye and I will miss it. But I know in my heart the decision to work will enable me to make a better future for him.

In the last few weeks it has gone from tearful departures to us both being ok with a temporary separation. Yesterday when my son waved, smiled and told me "Bye Bye Mama". I blew him a kiss and knew that the day was going to be a much better one.

Recap of Graco Event at Babies R Us!

Here's the table set up!

The hostesses: Jess from My Child Centered Life and Kerri from The Maven of Social Media with Ashley and I!!

The products we learned about, the Graco SnugRide.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend the Graco Safety Event at the Alderwood Babies R Us in the Seattle area. I met some fellow bloggers, chatted, ate snacks and learned about the importance of car seat safety and the Graco SnugRide! It was a nice event with some really great women. Thanks Ladies!

Frugal Friday: Various Coupons

                                                    

Breakfast

• SAVE 50¢ when you buy ONE BOX Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal
• SAVE $1.00 ON TWO when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor General Mills cereals listed: Chex® • Fiber One® • Total® • Wheaties® • Oatmeal Crisp®
• SAVE 50¢ when you buy any ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs® OR Cocoa Puffs Brownie Crunch® cereal
• SAVE 75¢ when you buy any flavor/variety Cascadian Farm® product (SCA DFSI)
• SAVE 75¢ ON THREE when you buy THREE any flavor/variety Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® OR Toaster Scrambles® Pastries OR Pillsbury® Pancakes
• $3.00 OFF any two (2) packages of Starbucks® coffee
• SAVE 75¢ when you buy ONE any flavor Yoplait® Frozen Smoothie
• SAVE 40¢ ON SIX when you buy SIX CUPS any variety Yoplait® Yogurt (Void in LA, NJ, ND, NV & TN)
• SAVE 50¢ ON TWO when you buy TWO CUPS any flavor Yoplait® Greek yogurt (Void in LA, NJ, ND, NV & TN)
• SAVE $1.00 on ANY McCann's Irish Oatmeal product

In the Home

• SAVE $0.25 on ONE (1) Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Steel Wool Soap Pad
• 25% off Paints and Stains 15% off Painting Supplies
• SAVE $1.00 on any Glade® PlugIns® Scented Oil twin refill or TWO single refills
• SAVE $1.00 on any Glade® Scented Oil Candle holder or TWO refills
• SAVE $1.00 on any TWO Glade® Sense & Spray® refills
• SAVE $1.00 on any Glade® Décor Scents® holder or TWO refills
• SAVE $1.00 on any TWO Glade® Automatic Spray refills
• $5.00 Off Alien Anthology on Blu-ray™
• $3.00 Off The Denzel Washington Film Collection (Redeem at Walmart)
• $2.00 Off Predators on Blu-ray™

Meals at Home

• SAVE 50¢ ON TWO when you buy TWO any flavor Betty Crocker® boxed Potatoes (Except Potato Buds® and Betty Crocker® Pouch)
• SAVE 50¢ when you buy any flavor/variety Muir Glen® product
• SAVE $1.00 on the purchase of any one (1) HORMEL® Refrigerated Entree. Any variety.
• SAVE $1.00 off any ONE (1) Newman's Own® Thin & Crispy Pizza
• SAVE 50¢ on any THREE (3) cans of Campbell’s® Chunky™ soup or chili
• SAVE 50¢ on any FIVE (5) Campbell’s® Spaghetti0’s® pastas
• SAVE 40¢ on any THREE (3) Campbell's® Condensed Soups (excluding "Great for Cooking" soups)
• SAVE 40¢ on any THREE (3) Campbell’s® Condensed “Great for Cooking” Soups
• SAVE 40¢ ON THREE when you buy THREE CANS any size/variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Grands!® OR Grands! Jr.® Biscuits
• SAVE 40¢ ON TWO when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls

Snacks & Desserts

• SAVE $1.00 ON TWO when you buy TWO PACKAGES any variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cookie Dough
• SAVE 40¢ ON TWO when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Sweet Rolls OR Grands!® Sweet Rolls
• SAVE 50¢ ON TWO when you buy TWO packages of Pillsbury® Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts
• SAVE 50¢ when you buy ONE PACKAGE any flavor 7 OZ. OR LARGER Pillsbury® Baguette Chips
• SAVE 50¢ when you buy ONE any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Shake-N-Pour™ Desserts
• SAVE 75¢ ON THREE when you buy THREE BOXES any flavor Nature Valley® Granola Bars (5 count or larger), Nature Valley® Granola Thins
• SAVE 55¢ on ONE (1) jar of CLAUSSEN Pickles
• SAVE $1.00 when you purchase one (1) 9 oz. stand up bag of NESTLÉ® BUNCHA CRUNCH™ candy
• $1.00 OFF any one (1) ZonePerfect® multipack (Redeemable at Walmart)
• SAVE 50¢ when you buy any flavor 32 OZ. Mountain High® Yoghurt

Personal Care

• $1.00 off any Maybelline NY Eyeliner or Brow Liner (Redeemable at Walmart)
• Save $1.00 WHEN YOU BUY ANY ONE (1) GARNIER SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER OR TREATMENT
• SAVE $1.00 on any L'eggs Sheer Energy or Silken Mist product
• SAVE $2.00 on any two (2) REACH® Toothbrushes (1 ct) (Not applicable on REACH® CRYSTAL CLEAN® Toothbrushes)
• SAVE $6.00 off any two (2) Schick® Disposable Razors (excludes 2 count and 10+2 count)
• SAVE $1.00 on any (1) LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® 500ml or (1) REACH® Kids Tooothbrush (Available at Walmart)
• Save $1.50 on your purchase of any two (2) Edge® Shave Gels (excludes 2.75 oz. size)
• SAVE $0.75 on any ONE (1) Degree® Women motionSENSE product (Excluding Trial and Travel Sizes)
• $1.00 off any Maybelline NY Expert Wear Eye Shadows (Redeemable at Walmart)
• SAVE $1.00 on any ONE (1) AXE® Deodorant Stick (excludes trial or travel size)

Whos been Stashed?

 When we were at the store we saw one of those little coin operated machines that usually has candy in them. The machine we saw had mustaches. I sooooo had to get one for my son. He is so funny I knew he would love to wear it. We had a fun filled hour of mustaching him and his toys. So funny! Now he asks me if we can Stashed stuff lol

Things that are making me smile and things that are not

~ By Sam ~

Things that are making me smile:

*This from Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte Mix Trader Joe's. So good you should try it!


*Every time JJ asks me if I could text someone. JJ: Mom can you text Uncle D to ask him about the Seahawks? JJ: Mom can you text Auntie Meg to see when she is coming over? JJ: Mom can you text Dad to tell him I was good today? JJ: Mom can you text my new friend for a play date? The list goes on and on and for some reason I get a kick out of it EVERY SINGLE TIME. I am not that old (33 years young thank you) but in my day there was no texting and cell phones, we used landlines and payphones. It is so bizarre to hear my 5 year old ask me to text someone!!





Things that are making me not:


*My 2 year old Liam has had a nasty cold for going on a week now. It is not down and out sick, but enough to drive me mad and keep him home from preschool for 2 days and he only goes 2 days a week! Took him to the doctors on Momday just to make sure he didn't have an underlying ear infection only to have her say it was just a cold. A lingering cold but just a cold. So glad I took him to make sure but could have saved the trip to the doctor if he would just feel better. Poor guy. And poor me cause he is kind of whiny and having a hard time sleeping, therefor I am having a hard time sleeping.

The fact that I feel like I have so many unfinished projects I could just scream! Too much on my plate to do things 100% drives me crazy. This week I will prioritize better. Stop hoping to find time to finish it someday and Just Do It. 

The fact that my DVR either did not record, lost the recording or someone stopped the recording of last weeks Greys Anatomy! I NEED to know, did they air a new episode last week?!?!