Boobie Babble

Jason and I blew it this week.  Blew it right out of the water!  I gained 4.3 lbs (more than I have lost--but my special circumstances from being a female also came into play here) and Jason gained 1.8 on top of the 3 lb gain last week.  The issue? WE ATE OUT 4 out of 5 weeknights. Monday: Jonny Carinos (girls night for me) Tuesday: Red Lobster (out with pastor and wife) Wednesday: ate chicken salad wraps at home Thursday: Brazos River Steak House (just didnt want to cook) Friday: take out Pizza (had company coming and didnt want to clean up) Sat: Texas Roadhouse (with Robert and Carol) Yeah, so we completely had a lapse in Judgement this week.  But we are not discouraged.  Back to counting points next week.  This Weight Watchers thing works--just got to stay motivated!!!!

I purge my coupons twice a month before both my monthly trips.  I always feel sad throwing away the unused expired coupons. It kinda feels like tossing money.  A friend of mine, and fellow couponer, Jennifer Prissock came across this information about sending your expired coupons for military families overseas.  WHAT A GREAT IDEA!  Now I can let my coupons work for someone even after they have expired.  I love this and I will definitely be mailing mine! Here is the info: Did you know that overseas military members and their families can use expired coupons up to six months past their expiration? Families living in a far away country are often living on one income and money may be scarce. Let’s support our military by showing them some coupon love! KCL’s, we want to come together and pool our expired coupons to send to US military families in Japan! Eligible Coupons: ■COUPONS MUST BE CLIPPED AND SORTED, AS EXPLAINED BELOW. ■Do NOT send coupons that are ove...

Week three was definitely challenging and a learning experience.  Jason was GONE this week to Dallas for training and I was here with the kiddos---CRAZY week!  I was wanted to emotional eat Sunday night because Jason was gone.  I made the decision to use my 49 weekly points in one day.  Not wise.  It definitely made the rest of the week more difficult and rigid, but doable.  I ate out Friday night when Jason returned home and had TWO margaritas--I earned them this week.  I also enjoyed pizza 3 times this week (in moderation of course) and I still managed to lose 1 lb.  This is a 3.4 lb total loss thus far.  I am pleased with that and I look forward to getting back into walking with Jason in the evening and having a more set meal plan with him back home. Jason had a hard week too... Week 3 was HORRIBLE. I was out of town all week on training so I ate out for every meal.  I tried to be as good as possible but I wasn't overly successful...

I actually got to go with  hubs to HEB this week.  Since he was out of town last week we didn't manage to go on our normal day, Friday.  So we chose to go after church on  Sunday.  This 2 weeks take was a pretty good one.  I got 2 Tylenol precise heating pad packs that retails for $6 each (for my arthritis), bird seed,  24 hr allergy meds for my girls, yoplait gogurt, pringles stacks, 5 smart ones meals (we are on weight watcher and while expensive these prepared meals are low points and yummy), 5 smart ones desserts, granola bars, chips, salsa, soda, toothpaste, tons of fresh fruit, lunchables, fruit rolls ups (3 boxes), yoplait yogurts, weight watcher brand yogurts, popcorn, 5 boxes of cereal, 2 gallons of milk, hair accessories for girls (bogo with instore coupon), and tons of other great items. I have been asked recently if I save so much by spending allot.  The answer to that is yes and no.  We have a set monthly grocery budge...

"Why Do Our Loved Ones Die, Aunt Lou" is a beautiful encouragement to parents and children who are struggling with the loss of a loved one. It uses scriptures to teach God's truth about the brevity of earthly life. Although I don't look forward to the occasion of having to read this book to my sweet daughter, I am thankful that I now have this tool to make that occasion easier to explain to her. -Tiffany Bishop

Week two was really good.  Managed to walk a few evenings as a family and I even rode my stationary bike a few times.  My goal this next week is to increased that activity level even more.  We ate out at chili's one night--I enjoyed chicken fajitas and Jason had a MONSTROUS chicken salad.  I did not feel deprived at all.  Total loss thus far is 2.4 lbs in 2 weeks.  I am happy with that.  I am going to try to make even better choices this next week and be more active. So far so good! A aforementioned...men lose more than women and with much more ease. I also just discovered that Jason is not using his 49 weekly flex points and I am!  I am using them ALL!   ;0) With that in mind, here is Jason: I found week 2 to be a lot harder than week one.I think week one was easier because it was new and exciting.  And during week two all I could hear was my tummy growl.  I did exercise more but kinda trailed off toward the end o...

I am giving away a free copy of "Why Do Our Loved Ones Die, Aunt Lou?".  Visit THIS webpage for directions on how to enter.  The drawing will be held August 10!

Here are links to a series of informative articles/interviews I have written about homeschooling.  Go check them out! Parent's perspective: http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/homeschooling-a-parent-s-view-with-becky-weatherly http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/homeschooling-a-parent-s-view-with-stephanie-howell http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/homeschooling-a-parent-s-experience-with-annie-eskeldson Student's perspective: http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/homeschooling-a-student-s-perspective-with-amy-schultz http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/homeschooling-interview-1-a-personal-approach

So this whole weight watchers thing ROCKS!  I wont divulge my points per week because you could extrapolate my monstrous weight from it, but I will say that it is completely generous and I wasn't hungry even once this week.  Now I realize that my values will change as my weight decreases--but so will my appetite.  This is the beauty of the program.  I used all my weekly points of most of my daily points each day.  I ate Mexican food at La fiesta (smarter decisions of course), had a margarita, ate dessert nearly every day, enjoyed 3 meals a day, as much coffee as I wanted and still managed to lose at least .4 lb and probably more.  I did make the mistake to guess my weight rather than actually weigh at the beginning of the week--if I base my new weight on what I weighed at the Doctors office this week then I lost 3.4 lbs.  Either way a loss is a loss and I can live with that.  The program proved itself to me.  I am excited to say that I am 100...

As a couponer it is very important to remember that many things can throw a wrench into your trip.  I planned for hours this week for a coupon trip that I thought would be my new record--over $107.  Well that wasn't the case.  I saved quite a bit--a respectable $77.08 but did not reach the level that I expected.  There were several reasons.  Some items were not available in-store....Jason got a clerk who didn't understand the HEB coupon policy and refused to let him use some of the coupons (Jason was so exhausted he didn't fight the battle) and we failed to communicate the size of some items required for the coupon use.  My rule is always by the smallest item that the coupon will allow for the maximum savings--and I made the assumption that Jason could read my mind and know that as well. So the moral of this story is clear communication, and understanding of coupon policy and the willingness to speak up if a clerk does not clearly understand (ie.  the...

Working on day 2 of weight watchers.  WW definately has faaaaar more freedom in food options than HCG.  While I still believe there is a place for the HCG diet, it was not a long-term sustainable diet for me.  If you are looking for a big quick loss that lasts for a short time (reunion, wedding etc) then this diet is doable...but long term loss FORGET ABOUT IT.  At least for me.  I like my breads, fruits and veggies too much! Fruits and many veggies are FREE foods with WW.  Right up my alley.  Another good thing about this change in diet for me--the hubs is doing it with me.  It is always easier to stick to something with a little help of loved-ones. We both would like to lose 100 lbs for our 10 year vow renewal in May of next year. I am excited about the weekly flex point and the fact that if I want an icecream sandwich that I dont have to feel like a failure--I just have to count the points!  YAY for that! Any diet that lets me eat a...

Most couponers know the importance of keeping plenty of coupons.  Alot of couponers even realize the value in having your coupons stored in an organized manner...some newby couponers, however, are not aware of the work and time it take to achieve and maintain this goal. Just as it is important to clip and store coupons it is also important to purge.  Depending on how you shop:  be it once a week, twice a month or once a month, your purging scheduel will vary.  I shop twice a month--once every two weeks.  The day of, or the day before I make my list, I sit down with my coupon binder and the sole task of getting rid of expired coupons.  I look only at expiration dates and get rid of those that have passed or will pass before my next trip.  It is important to get these expired coupons out of your stash before you make your newest shopping plan.  They can very easily become distractions and even mess up a shopping trip.  If they are in...