August at the Arboretum pics

Shopaholic

I have to admit that I am becoming slightly obsessed with coupon shopping. I used to go to the store maybe two times a week. I went to three different ones today (CVS, Walgreens and Target). Target is my favorite so far with all of the great deals I have been finding there and by stacking my manufacturer's coupons with the Target store coupons. I am not a fan of Walmart. Even with the coupons the prices just aren't as competitive as grocery stores that put things on sale.

These are some of the deals I have gotten in the past week, many of them came from Target.
Dryer's peach pie ice cream 1.04
Dove ultimate deodorant 0.50
(2) Mini artisan bread loaves free
12 pack of Duracell AA batteries for 1.10
12 pack of energizer AA batteries for 2.98
1.5 lbs of bananas for 0.25
(2) 6 pack Boost kids essential drinks for 2.75
Aquafresh extreme clean trial size free
Reece's cups free
6 Pure Protein bars 0.60 total
2 boxes of Act II popcorn for 1.70
Giant box of honey nut Cheerios 1.95
2 packages of Smithfield bacon Free
Skittles crazy cores Free
Twix candy Free
Snickers Free


The only problem is we have some things around the house that I would consider junk (ie. 6 boxes of pop tarts, candy, handi snacks, chips)

Also, I somehow haven't gotten the nack for only buying the deals. I get very tempted at Target and bought some shirts as well. I thought I was supposed to be saving us money but not sure yet if I am. It is fun anyways. I also have signed up for lots of freebies this week through websites. I am looking forward to getting items and coupons in the mail in 4-6 weeks. My coupon notebook is growing quickly. I think I need to invest in another package of baseball card holder pages!

Sometimes I actually cook

E and I had a really great dinner at home last night. We both love the Santa Fe Chicken Salad at The Cheesecake Factory. I got an e-mail of a mock recipe for the salad and decided to try it.

Here is the recipe if you want to try it too. I halved the recipe but made the full portion of dressing. I don't really go by recipes exactly only use them as a guide. The bean and corn looked like it would be too much even at half so I used half of a can of each instead. I put the dressing in our magic bullet processor to puree. I also pounded the chicken to flatten it a little before broiling.

The Cheesecake Factory's Santa Fe Chicken Salad (mock)

Description
Lime dressing adds a cool zest to this Tex-Mex inspired marinated chicken dish. This copycat recipe serves twelve; prepare it for your next outdoor dinner party!

Serves: 12
Ingredients
6 chicken breast halves
1/2 cup teriyaki marinade
16 cup romaine and leaf lettuce
1 cup cilantro
2 15 ounce cans of black beans, rinsed
2 cans of whole kernel corn, drained
3 cup jack cheese, grated
3 cup toasted corn tortilla strips
3 cup diced seeded tomatoes
Instructions
Marinate chicken 1 hour in teriyaki marinade.
Broil and baste chicken approximately 15 minutes; cool, then cut into bite size pieces or shred.
Tear greens; add cilantro and 1 cup each of beans and corn. Dress with Lime Dressing (see notes).

Notes
Lime Dressing1/2 teaspoon lime zest 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon snipped cilantro 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 clove garlic, crushed 1/2 cup olive oil
Process until thick.

Mine turned out pretty good! It probably would have been better with a margarita.

Another great time at the beach

Our week and a half of time spent with family was so wonderful and much needed. Logan and Lucas got lots of individual attention. Logan had a great time by himself with the in-laws going out to eat, visiting people, playing the Wii with his aunt and going to an animal safari. Lucas went to play with his cousins, shopping with Memaw and I and lots of time with Grandpa. I was able to have dinner with my Grandma and had lots of fun shopping for the beach with my Mom.

Logan rode with his aunt Michelle back to my parents' house and then Logan and I drove in stop and go traffic most of the way and including through the tunnel to the airport. I am glad I left really early because we arrived just as E was going to baggage claim. The three of us drove in heavy traffic to the Outer Banks together. Logan had a nap and we enjoyed some time talking alone together.

When we arrived at the cottage and quickly unloaded our car and unpacked. We were invited to a party and we headed over to start our vacation. There were 3 two year olds and 3 four year olds; all of the kids seemed to have fun together. After we got back to our cottage and put the kids to bed, E and I decided to beat the crowds and go grocery shopping from 10:30-12:30. I had planned the meals for the week and had a grocery list to match with the sale ad and coupons that coincided. We saved about $90. We spent around $220 for 8 people for a week. I think that is pretty good.

Our menu for the week was

Saturday night- heavy hor'dourves at the party, wine and a pony keg of beer

Sunday night- Scallops (mom brought frozen from home), shrimp, tuna steaks, rice and steamed broccoli

Monday night- Mexican night, Carnitas, chicken tacos, homemade pico de gallo, guacamole, chips and queso with black beans

Tuesday night- leftovers

Wednesday night- spaghetti with turkey breast meat sauce and salad

Thursday night-Steamed snow crab legs, more shrimp, NY strip steaks, corn on the cob, salad

Friday night- whatever you could find around the house

There was lots of alcohol to go around. We had a cosmo bucket, margarita bucket, 15 bottles of wine, mixers, liqueur and glasses to match. There was no shortage of the adult beverage. We had fresh baked brownies, cookie bar brownies, ice cream, s'mores and jello for desserts most nights. We are all seafood lovers and thoroughly enjoyed eating lots of it. Now I am realizing how I gained 4 lbs while on vacation!

We only went out to eat one time while on vacation and it was to High Cotton North Carolina BBQ to test out the food that my brother and his fiance are going to get catered for their upcoming wedding reception. It was delicious and will be perfect for their casual beach wedding.

The weather was varied at the beach. The first few days was really hot with a chilly, murky ocean. There was a couple of days that were perfect with warmer and clear ocean waters and then the last couple of days was rainy every afternoon/evening with lots of mosquitoes. Logan loved to go out into the water with his daddy and jump (or be lifted) over waves. Lucas preferred to play in the sand, as in roll around until covered from head to toe. We saw lots of sea life. I would find sand fleas and mollusks in the sand and we would watch them dig back under the sand. We saw lots of dolphins close to the shore. I found a hermit crab in a beautiful shell and we watched a sting ray flapping around in the waves. I always wanted to be a marine biologist so this was right up my alley.

E and I took the boys out to the beach one night after it got dark. We sprayed everyone down with Family Care Off, put glowing bracelets on everyone and gave them flashlights. We were looking for ghost crabs on the beach. Lucas loved it and Logan was freaked out by the crabs running everywhere. I was trying to catch them in a sand bucket but was unsuccessful. We were being eaten by mosquitoes so we headed home. Poor Lucas got bitten on the face in a few places.

Several years ago at the beach we were introduced to a game called Corn hole. I bought my Dad a set this year and we used it several times at the beach. We set it up under the cottage when it was raining and made the most out of the weather. E took the boys to play miniature golf and E and I went to an art festival in downtown Manteo. In the evenings we would all sit around together and play Guitar Hero or American Idol on the Wii. We had a great time rockin' out together in the duets.

We had a great week. Unfortunately, I left our little camera in my Mom's beach bag. Thanks to Mom for taking most of the pictures this week and that she shares with me through shutterfly!

We made it to Virginia

I used to feel like a full on anxiety attack before flying with my kids by myself. I always expected the worst but hoped for the best. This time I was calm and did not think we would have any problems. Traveling with them was great. They both followed directions through security, waited their turn to walk through the metal detectors by themselves, played nicely while waiting to board, and were very patient on the flight.

Logan had a moment when we took off and got a little worried about going up in the air. The most challenge I had for the flight was taking all of us to the bathroom at the same time. We squeezed the three of us in the bathroom together twice and it was an experience I don't want to try again any time soon. All the way there Logan kept saying "I can't wait to see Memaw" over and over again. I actually had time to read two magazines. In the past four years I have not ever attempted to bring anything for me to do. I usually had a baby attached to my boob. It was great to have more self sufficient kids and I actually enjoyed the flight.

Logan's recent questions

Logan :"Mommy, Do you have a baby in your belly?"
Me: "No, honey. I do not have a baby in my belly."
Logan: "I think you will soon!"

E and I just looked at each other like...does he know something we don't know. No, honey we are not going to have any more babies.

I recently was going through more baby stuff to get rid of and found a bottle. I decided to give it to the kids to play with. Logan ran to the playroom and started feeding his baby glow worm the bottle. He told me "Mommy, I am feeding my baby a bottle of milk but sometimes she drinks milk from me."

Wow, a lactating male. I guess I need to explain that one at some point.

Logan sleeps with a blankie and lambie every night. He has been so excited to travel to Virginia that a few days he started packing his rolling Land's End backpack that he always travels with. He is so cute pulling it around the airport all by himself. I was going to pack it tonight and I found his blankie and lambie in it. He told E that he didn't want to forget it and has been sleeping without if for days. Obviously he doesn't have to sleep with it. He also packed several plastic tools that go with his tool bench...never know when you might need those on an airplane. There were several books including Once upon a potty and a medal that he got at a gymnastics center. I think I will be repacking for him.

Upcoming beach trip

The boys and I are leaving on Tuesday to go to Virginia to see family and then to the beach for a week. I have been throwing clothes in a suitcase for the boys for a week now and that is as far as I have gotten in my packing. I just printed off my packing list for 2007 since it was the most recent one I could find. I am so glad we are past packing the breast pump with parts, several diaper bags and double strollers. It has been too long since I have seen my family and I am so excited to visit. Logan is going to go with my inlaws to visit them and stay with my sister-in-law for two nights. I don't anticipate any problems. What a big boy he is getting to be!

Going to the beach is my favorite vacation. Usually I shop for new clothes that I wear for the first time at the beach and work out like crazy beforehand to loose my 5 vanity pounds. This year I have worked out but have gained weight and I have no new clothes. I have this obsession with bathing suits. I think I own 25. Do you think taking 10 bathing suits for a week vacation is too much? I try to justify it by saying that they don't take up a lot of space in the suitcase.