Fear & Doubt

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Over the last few months I have completely changed what I do online.  Spending little to no time blogging here as  “mom blogger” and spending more time on my business / ministry and all things business related.  It has been empowering and exciting.  I have seen my business change tremendously. I’ve gotten focus and grounded in a way I have never been.  But, suddenly, right as I feel like I’m reaching some sort of plateau and about to reach my tipping point, I feel doubt.  No, the tipping point hasn’t occurred yet and for some reason though I have felt that it would occur quickly I now doubt it.  I am now almost paralyzed by the fear that it won’t.

Maybe it has something to do with my first live event, it is tonight in  my hometown. The Pro-Tech the Kids Workshop. It is something I feel called to host.

What do you do when you get this feeling?

Photo credit: greekgod

Looking Forward To

I tend to live life, “looking forward to”.  This may be a bad trait to have in that when I don’t have something to “look forward to” I feel a bit let down.  However, lately I haven’t had that problem because I’ve had a lot to “look forward to”. This weekend that was my baby boy’s first birthday party, which was celebrated in more ways than one.  Not only did we have our closest family members over to sing him “Happy Birthday” and eat cupcakes, but my husband and I have also spend the last 48 hrs. prepping our house for the event.

If I’m honest, we actually started before that, because I started my “home improvement” projects LAST weekend, when I painted our kitchen, laundry room, the kid’s bathroom and hallway.  This weekend, starting Thursday night and Friday we tiled the back splash in our kitchen.  I wanted it all to be done by the party.  So, I looked forward to it.

It took two very late (staying up past midnight) nights for us, but we finished and today we celebrated, our success in our projects and our little  man’s birthday.  I am proud of both!  And of the festivities themselves as I tried to emulate my online friend Amy of Mom Advice’s birthday bash for her little boy a couple of week’s ago.  Her post on her blog had me inspired to be able to frugally throw a great party.

I am so proud of each detail, from the cupcakes, to the lemonade, from the hot potato salad to the little sandwiches.  Everything was yummy and my man tore into his cupcake and enjoyed every bite. Happy 1st Birthday Brady Cade, we love you, and we have much more “to look forward to” in life because of you!

How I Have Time for Couponing

I have heard it 1000 times.  “I don’t have time for couponing.”  That is what many people say and honestly I could say the same thing.  With a 9 month old, a 2 year old, a 5 year old and working from home I don’t really have “time” either.  But I believe that anything that saves me time or money is worth doing.  Couponing saves me money and since I’ve gotten serious about it, for approximately two months now, I have seen even bigger savings than ever.  To date since March 1, 2009 I have saved $226.  That’s a big savings amount to me.

So, just how do I have time for couponing?  Well, over the past two months I’ve developed some strategies.  I enjoy routine and I like to have a plan.  I believe that with a plan you can accomplish just about anything.  So, first I started reading more couponing or frugal blogs.  I already had a few favorites but quickly found more.  I read:

Deal Seeking Mom

The Centisble Sawyer

$5 Dollar Dinners

Bargain Briana

Then in addition to reading some great frugal blogs I also hang out and find great coupons and deals over at A Full Cup.com ‘the forum site for couponers.  I even became a supporting member because of how much the place had truly helped me.

Finally, at the advice of many of the bloggers and the folks on the forums I created for myself a coupon binder.  This is a huge lifesaver.  Yes, it took me some time to develop mine and some time to put it together as well as time each week to add the coupons, but the organization it provides is priceless.

I do clip coupons and I clip weekly.  I have been getting the paper for several weeks now and will clip the coupons from there.  I usually clip them on Saturday.  I also print coupons as I see some that I need when I’m reading the blogs that I read many times they will point out the high value printables and I”ll print them and stack them with my inserts to clip at my “clipping time”.  I have developed the routine of clipping at one set time.  Last weekend I clipped on Saturday morning.  This week we had a trip out of town to the doctor for my son and I took the coupons with me and clipped on the ride down there as my husband was driving.  My husband was super impressed with how many coupons I had after clipping through just one ALL YOU magazine that I had picked up at Walmart on Thursday.  I am getting a subscription to all you from a Southern Living rep, Lori, because it is a significant discount.  $17.99 for 2 years. I normally pay about $2.49 in Walmart each month for the magazine.

Stay tuned for another post on “How I Plan to Use my Coupons Each Week”.  I’d love to hear how you fit couponing into your busy schedule.

photo credit: lvngwell

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