CVS Free-Bee of the day!

So I am very new to the whole couponing idea but there is nothing like free stuff to get my blood hot and ready to go....SOOOO.....today is the day I got my first FREE items today using a coupon!
I am super stoked!!!!  Heck-to-the-yea!!!

CVS:
Dove Men+Care deodorant regular price $4.99 with CVS card $.99 -$1.00 coupon = FREE!!

You can only print 2 from your computer which is a bummer but I saved $10 which makes me a happy camper :)

Whos the Boss?? Baby Braden!!

Since I have moved to Chicago I have made one friend, Megan.  Megan was preggers when I met her and has since had her baby.  I am so excited to see her with baby Braden.  Yesterday I went to her house expecting that we would go to the store together......baby Braden had other plans. 

I got there around 4pm and we packed a diaper bag and she fed Braden.  She is breastfeeding and must have the most yummy milk because that baby would not stop eating.  Braden ate from 4pm to midnight!!  My poor friend.  No shopping for us.  We are hoping that church tomorrow goes better. 

New Budget/Extreme Couponing

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Tough week.

This week my hubbs and I got a big blow to our weekly/monthly budget.

So big that it looks like eating and driving may be out of the question. :/

At first I didn't know what we were going to do....until TLC: Extreme Couponing happened.

I don't know if this can save our budget but by God we have to try.  

I am praying that God will supply all our needs according to HIS riches (cause we sure don't have any) and glory.

So since we are broke (not a joke).....I used freecycle.org to pick up a FREE printer (in amazing condition with ink!!)

The only thing the printer was missing was a printer cable.  I checked it out on Best Buys website and it was $30 bucks!!!  Way to much....so I checked out ebay.com.  I found one for $2.39 SHIPPED!!!  AMAZING!!!!  

Now I can print coupons I feel like I also need a subscription to the Chicago Tribune to help collect coupons.  So I checked out the prices and looks like I can get Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sun paper delivered for $1 a week!!!  HELLO!!!  Great deal!!

I am now truly on my way to start my journey as a bonified couponer.  I will keep you posted on my deals and I hope to save our budget!  So far looks like God is on our side!!!

PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!!

EXTREME COUPONING......HERE I COME!!!

Crafty Crafty

I have been experimenting in cafting since I am not doing anything but growing my baby.  Let me show you all the adorable headbands and baby shoes  I have  made. 

Who knew that felt could be so pretty :)

Meetup.com

I have always been a fan of using the internet to meet people. I met a past boyfriends/ex-fiancee on (don't judge) hotornot.com, I met my now friend through a babysitting ad I posted on craigslist.org, and my newest Chicago friend I met on meetup.com. I first heard about meetup.com from another Chicago mommy blogger, brixtonmakesthree.blogspot.com. She told me that she had recently moved here also and met several nice people at one of the meet-ups. So, since I am always one to try almost anything once I signed up and looked for the right meet up to attend.

I chose two meet-ups to RSVP to. The first was a group of 30 mommies meeting up at a local McDonald's where they would let their children play while indulging in precious adult time. I was looking forward to the adult time but since I don't really have any children to let loose on the Micky-Dees play yard I decided to skip. The second was a potluck at a fellow pregos house. When I checked the RSVP list the 3 other girls were also first time pregos. I was all in!! Even though my hubs was off work I just couldn't pass up the opportunity of meeting a potential friend. The host was wonderful...the food was wonderful....and the guests were wonderful! The host, who is on the verge of popping her baby out, is a self proclaimed "crafter" and had handmade her baby bedding, stuffed animals, reusable diapers, baby booties and all other sorts of beautiful baby items what she is willing to teach me how to also create. I am so excited to have a friend in Chicago!!!

All you lonely pregos or board out of your mind stay-at-home mommies need to check out your local meetup.com site to meet woman that are in your same stage of life. I'm so glad I did.

A day on the town

I love Chicago and can't wait for spring to be here in full force.  There are so many free options to fill the days with.  Not that this 7 months prego ever gets out of her PJ's.....BUT since the sun is shining and the temp is finally over the 60 mark the only way to celebrate is get out and smell the lake breeze.  Last week we went to The Nature Museum on my hubby's day off, this week we went to The Lincoln Park Zoo which is free everyday

Let me tell you what....Lincoln Park was the place to be!!  The park was packed with nannies and mommies with their kiddos at the play ground, joggers pushing babies and people just lounging.  It was already starting out to be the PERFECT DAY!!  :)

The first thing I wanted to do was see the big cats to snap a picture of a lion.  I was looking forward to using the new camera my dad got me for my birthday.  When we got to the leopard cage I tried to take a pic with my "new" camera I couldn't get the thing to take a picture quick enough to capture anything more than the tail as she was pacing her cage.  Frustrated, I left the big cat house without any pictures at all...but the monkey house was a riot!  The chimp was picking and eating his boogers and the gorilla was eating a cardboard box.

 

 

After the zoo, Blake and I went to Andersonville for some Turkish Cuisine.  A few weeks ago Anthony Bourdain from the Travel Channels No Reservations went to Turkey and had our mouths watering for some Eastern European goodness.  We had a dish called lahmacun.  Lahmacun is a flat turkish pizza topped with ground lamb.  YUMMMY!!!  It is a must try and to top it off, ITS CHEAP.  At Turkish Cuisine on N. Clark it is $3.50!

 Blake and I walked up and down N. Clark in Andersonville and decided if we move again it will be to Andersonville.  It is beautiful.  The people are nice and the shops are out of this world!!!!

 The last and best choice of the night was a stop at a corner cafe, Taste of Heaven, where I had the best hot coco of my life only made better with the peanut butter cheesecake.  I dipped each bite, one by delicious bite, in the hot coco where the chocolate pie crust filled with coco and the filling warmed melting into my mouth and fulfilling every craving this pregnancy has ever gave me.

Museums in Chicago

On Thursday Blake had a day off and instead of the usual lazy day in bed we decided to get out and explore the city.  First stop was The Lincoln Park Conservatory. It is free everyday and this week they have a Spring flower display that is out of this world.  When you come in the front door you are hit with an aroma of fruit trees and flowers and 80 degrees which is a welcome change from the 34 degrees outside.  

After the conservatory we went to The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to see the butterfly display.  It was a "free day" so we ended up just giving a $3 donation.  The museum was a sea of strollers and little white babies with Filipino nannies and the occasional prego like me :) 

I have not had that much fun with my honey in Chicago.  If you have an iPhone and live in the Chicago area check out the application "Free Events in Chicago".  It gives a listing of upcoming free events...very cool!

I Love the 90's: Memory Triggering Music

Have you ever heard a song from 10 years ago and like a time machine you were transported to a different time and place??  Well my sister started posting songs from the early-late 90's and that has been happening all day.  Let me take you back on a trip through the 90's.

1990 - MC Hammer - Can't Touch this
I was in 1st grade.  This might be the only song I remember from this year...and it was only because of my older cousins.  I was a very sheltered child.  LOL.

1991 - Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
I didn't here this song till I was about 14 years old and went into rebellion but it is defiantly a classic!

1992 - Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back
Sir Mix-a-Lot sitting on a big yellow butt crack...I LOVE IT!  I think I might have used this song in a wet tee shirt contest in when I was young and dumb.  (one of my dirty secrets and yea....I won :)

1993 - Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle - A Whole New World

I love this one.  One of my all time favorites.  Nick & Jessica sang this song too.

1994 - Tag Team - Whoop! There It Is

This one I could never forget as long as I live.  I think I was in 4th grade and all the boys wore LONG denim shorts with red, yellow and green stripes.  Love it!

1995 - Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
The early 90's was all about gangsta rap!!

1996 - No Doubt - Just a Girl
This is the soundtrack for Romey & Michelle's High school reunion.  I love love that movie!!

1997 - The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
This is the soundtrack for Cruel Intentions (another favorite)!!

1998 - Aerosmith - I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing

Another soundtrack.  I cried the first time I saw this music video.

 1999 - Destiny's Child - Say My Name
Introducing to the world.....drum roll please....BEYONCE!!!

I loved the 90's!!  What about you??

Pink

I like the color pink.  My whole life I didn't think that I liked pink.  I have ALWAYS chosen blue.  Blue clothes, blue home decor, seriously, I was BLUE DA-BA-DEE DA-BA-DI, oh, sorry.  I think I shunned the color pink because I wanted to avoid the stereotype of a girly-girl.  I guess looking at my blog you can see that I pretty much am a girly-girl so why not just embrace it and PINK IT UP!!!

27 Weeks

I am officially 27 weeks pregnant.  Time is flying by so fast and my baby bump is quickly becoming a baby bulge.  I love it!!

The best thing about this time of the pregnancy is how much she moves!  I just can't help but smile when I feel her jump inside me.  Poor Blake every time he puts his hand anywhere near my belly Kathryn stops moving instantly.  We are hoping he has that calming effect on her when she is born. :)  

One thing I am not loving is the burping.  I swear I burp more than a frat boy after a keg stand!  As soon as I stand up after dinner out it comes like i ate a balloon and Kathryn just popped it inside me!

Just 92 days to go!   

Stay at home wife/mom-to-be.

I am new at this whole stay at home business.  When I was at my last job I was given supplies to do my job...you know...pens, paper, computer.  Now that I have this new job I feel it is only right that I am given the proper supplies.  Here is a list of things that I am missing.

One.   A sexy house wife Apron.  I don't have a dish washer so when I hand wash my dishes I a don't like ruining my clothes with greasy, dirty dishwater.

www.flirtyaprons.com

Two.  A pair of rubber gloves.  Again, not having a dishwasher makes rubber gloves a neccesity and why not wash up in style!  I actually found some very cute rubber gloves at Marshall's.

Three.  A sewing machine!  I have "sew" many things to create!  I need curtains for my baby room and living room and I don't think it would be to hard to make my own aprons.  :)

I apparently have many guilty pleasures.....

This past week-end has been spent at the Hospital ER.  NOT FUN!  For the past month and a half I have had severe pain in my lower right rib and back.  Come to find out my gallbladder is over working when I eat any fatty foods.  So I am having to alter my diet completely.  When I say fatty foods I don't just mean this.....

I can't even drink....

So you know that cheese is out of he question :(

I am having to alter my entire diet which is very hard for a person who has never dieted or read the labels on anything that I have ever eaten.  The biggest difference is that I am not choosing to change my diet...I HAVE TO CHANGE MY DIET for my health.  If I eat anything off track I am hit with immediate pain.  Any suggestions on some dietary replacements??

My Guilty Pleasure Slapped Me in the FACE!

As you saw in my Friday Confessional I drink coke.  Yes I know that coke is not good for me...I know caffeine is not good for my baby.  So knowing this and my addiction did not see eye to eye.  At first it was just a glass of coke with dinner, no big deal right?  Then with lunch and dinner and last week it took me over.  I was drinking coke and nothing else. 

This past Friday Blake and I were eating dinner and was DROPPED to my knees with a migraine. Having never had a migraine before I had no idea what was going on....I could not speak, I had sensitivity to light and sound and was laying down in tears holding my head.  When I called my doctor he said it was a migraine and could be due to dehydration.  My hubby has since taken all my coke away and restricted me to water and lemonade. 

Friday Confessional

one.  My guilty pleasure is coke.  It is my only craving.

two.  Unless I have plans for the day I will lay in bed until 3ish.  :/

three.  I watch Toddlers & Tiaras with an air of disgust while subconsciously I am thinking my Kathryn would win every crown and she isn't even born yet!

four.  I HATE paying bills!

five.  I have not bought ANYTHING for Kathryn yet and I only have 3 months left!!!  AHHHHHH!!

What is your Friday Confessional??

 

 

Finding a Bra

Ok...I have had it!  My tatas are out growing even my biggest bra in my lingerie drawer and I don't know what to do!  I know they are on a growing spree and I feel like if I get something now I will out grow it by next month.  One thing I have noticed is it isn't just my cup size that is growing.  My rib cage has expanded and my 34DD bra has been tossed out for my 36C bra I had from way back.  I am feeling like the 36 is too small now.  I am actually thinking about wearing a bikini top until I find a solution to this problem.  Any suggestions??  Grrrr!

Thrifting Finds

I LOVE UNIQUE THRIFT STORE!!  This is my second visit to Unique Thrift Store and also was a different location.  I have never been to a thrift store with so many great deals on clean name brand clothes!  Very impressed!

I found this amazing jacket for my sister since a size small won't fit this prego body but will look great on my sissies size 4 frame.

Sugar Lips Basic Jacket (the camera does not do this justice)

$7.99 - 25% =  $5.99

Then I found this H&M blush pink cardigan and I fell in love.

$4.99

I also found another pair of maternity jeans from Motherhood Maternity for $3.99!!

Grand total: $16.47!!!  AMAZING!!!

First Dr. Visit in Chicago

There is a lot that makes a good Doctors office.  What hospital they are associated with, the nurses, and of course the Doctor themselves.  When I moved to Chicago one of my biggest concerns was finding a Doctor and hospital.  There are so many hosplitals in Chicago, there is actually a hospital one block from my house but after much research I decided to make an appointment with a Doctor out of Rush Medical University, Dr. Davies.

The girl that answers the phone was pretty nice and on my first visit when I got lost she gave me directions till I got there.  Now as for the nurses, I first one was great!  She drew blood like a champ!  That is the sign of a good nurse. BUT! When she asked me how I was doing I told her I was having pain under my right ribs she wrote that off quickly to muscle craps, which pissed me off.  Nurses should stick to drawing blood and getting measurements.  On my second visit the nurse that drew my blood was all over the place....you could tell she was new.  She stumbled around getting the needle ready and even though she got the vain on the first try she stuck it so far in, boy did it sting!  When the Doctor came in he was very attentive.  He listened to my concerns and gave me sleeping meds (which I am afraid to take) and sent me down to get a sonogram of my gall bladder about the pain under my ribs.  Defiantly good to know that my symptoms will be taken seriously.  So far so good....I wonder if I should see about taking some of the classes the hospital gives.  What do you think?  Are classes worth the time??  Let me know.

Maternity Fashion

I have been complaining that there is no cute prego clothes for a while.  This morning while stumbling across a few fashion blogs (www.leblogdebetty.com via www.alovelyescape.blogspot.com)   I found this website.... www.us.asos.com.  They have maternity ranging from $10-$200.  I love having one website that offers that range of price points!  SO EXCITED!  LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN!

ASOS MATERNITY Star Flower Print Maxi Dress

Star flower print maxi dress by ASOS MATERNITY. Featuring chiffon main, scoop neck, long sleeves, empire line, full skirt and frill detail to the hemline.

 

$98.62

ASOS MATERNITY Jersey Pencil Skirt

Jersey pencil skirt by ASOS MATERNITY. Featuring a high waist and a stretch fit.

 

FROM $10.76

ASOS MATERNITY Contrast Piped Ruffle Blouse 

Contrast piped ruffle blouse. Featuring, cap sleeves, and pussy bow at neck.

WAS $50.20 NOW $25.10