A Little Organization, A little Sanity

I like Coupons.  I LOVE Coupons!

I like saving money! Who doesn't?

I am not an extreme coupon-er. 

I've seen the show I don't think its real.

.....Sorry, I've tried to figure out how these great deals are possible.

 I think it's a conspiracy to get you to buy a lot of junk that's not good for you, and you don't need. If something is on sale and you don't need it, does it matter that you only paid 30 cents for it. YES! Because that's 30 cent less you will have.
That's NOT a deal!

I get a lot of my coupons from complaining.
I have opinions.
I share my opinions.
They send me coupons to shut me up. Fair trade. I'll tell you more about this another time.

But I do like to use my coupons and save money!!

I save on average at least $18.00-$20.00 dollars off every trip.
I don't buy things I don't need, and I don't buy a lot of junk.

But managing all those coupons, that's a royal pain in the butt! Seriously it's a struggle to keep up. I use a lot of online resources which tell me what's in the the pile of coupon papers I have. 

But sometimes I like to hit the stores and use coupons on marked down items. 

You know, instant gratification!

So for that to work, I like all my coupons clipped and in the book. 

Which is what I've devoted this Sunday to doing.

Along with help from POST-IT Brand!! Post-It is a favorite of mine! 

It's one of those touchy feelly things that I can't get enough of. 

First off I'm a little anal, I like thy things neat and organized. 

Secondly I'm a little OCD (obsessive compulsive (maybe) disorder). Smile. 

I like pretty pens, and cute little squares of sticky paper. I like sweet little round stickers that you tag your yard sale junk with. I LOVE tabbing, and labeling. Adding a label or a tab to anything is JOY! I like notepads and journals. I like portable note tabs with matching pens, which Post-It makes. Squeel!

I like Label Rolls of sticky paper. Honestly  there isn't anything Psot-It makes that I don't LOVE, and kind of OBSESS about. 

My kind of people get what I'm saying. 

So with the help of Post-It I turned this .......

This!!

I even added a little pocket to hold my scissors, pen and calculator.

 And just look at all my Tabbing action!!
I love the colors, they're like Skittles!
 My kind of candy!

So now my coupon book is organized aaahhhh.....at least until next sunday!!

Are you coupon crazy?

How do you organize your coupons?

Crazy Mornings and a GIVEAWAY!!

My house is crazy in the morning.

How about you? 

It just seems no matter how much planning we do, mornings are still rushed.
Once the girls are dressed I make them breakfast. I'd love to make them omlettes and lovely french toast or big fluffy pancakes but that's not happening! No time for that!
 Really we have, no time for anything.
So I make SMOOTHIES!

They are made by one of my favorite places Jamba Juice.
I my past life as a city girl, my favorite splurge was a Jamba Juice Smoothie.


I found these Jamba Juice smoothies in my grocery store freezer isle.
You just empty the bag into your blender and juice. Each bag makes 2 - 8oz smoothies.
You can see the huge chunks of mangoes, peaches and strawberries in the Caribbean Passion.
The other flavors are Strawberry Wild, Razzmatazz, and Mango-a-go-go,
It tastes just like the Jamba Juice Smoothies I used to love!



 The girls have no complaints either.

They sip it right up and then we're out the door.

Easy Breezy!

70 Calories per serving what's not to love?

What a great start to our day!

Now YOU can try it too!!

Enter for a chance to WIN!

Free Jamba Juice Smoothie!!







Here is how you can enter for a chance to WIN.

 Please leave me a comment for every entry telling me what you did.
Also please leave your email address so you can properly claim your prize!!

1. Leave a comment telling me what your morning routine is like.
2. Enter your email address and subscribe to Mommy Gratitude.
3. Tweet a message to me on Twitter, just say YO!!
4. "Like" me on Facebook
5. Tell a friend to do one or all of these things.

Good LUCK!!!

CONTEST ENDS 10/29

MAX AND RUBY LIVE!!!

The Girls and I love going on adventures. I like to call them "missions." We get up early and get ready to head out the door. Before we leave I make an announcement:

"Okay girls we're going on a mission today, we have things to accomplish and we will have a great reward at the end of it all. So I tell them all of the errands we have to run, I assure them we will eat, and will have snacks during our day but we have to accomplish our mission in order to have our special surprise.
Then I drop the bomb!
"Our special surprise is....... we are going to see MAX and RUBY LIVE!!"
They SCREAM!!
We have been fans of Max and Ruby forever!
The girls love their adventures, but where are their parents?

When we go on a mission I have 2 Rules.
I learned this from my Dad. He is a navy guy, a submariner.
He took us on missions all the time!

Okay, so 2 rules.......

#1.
NO COMPLAINING.
That's a big one at our house.
It always seems someone is unhappy or disappointed. So that's a rule, NO complaining.
Complaints have no purpose and only distract us from the mission!  Plus, why waste my energy giving complaints any attention.  Especially since complaining is usually accompanied by a whinny voice.
Hate whining! You get no attention for whining! You will hear me say this many times more. Whining is the sound weakness makes as it leaves the body. Pay it no mind!

#2.
STAY FOCUSED!
Questions are fine, but kids have a hard time staying focused. Totally understandable given their development. But as a Mom it's my job to teach my children how to find focus, and challenge them to practice staying focused. YES attention can be taught, and practiced and improved upon.

These types of outings are a great way to help children practice staying on task, and paying attention. Treating the outing like an official "mission," makes my children feel included in all that I'm trying to do for our family. So they understand grocery shopping is so we all have food to eat, etc.
Any complaint, or argument is quickly resolved by asking, "will that help our mission?"
The answer is always no. Then I sweetly remind them of our mission, and compliment them on helping the mission.
*Keep in mind, hungry kids will struggle with missions, so I bring snacks and make sure they've eaten.


Well Mission Accomplished!!! So we're headed to our Special Surprise!

So here is a spoiler with a few inside peeks of the 

MAX and RUBY LIVE SHOW!!!

BUNNY PARTY!

Max and Ruby played dress up.

Had a surprise party!

A few uninvited friends showed up, "Can't Sit Up Slug," "Jellyball Spitter Spider" 

and "Ear Splitter Space Cadet."

You try and guess who the Surprise Party was for!!

Check out the show Here.

The girls had a blast! You should have heard the chatter all the way home.

Mission Accomplished!!!!!!!

Do you have a strategy for running errands with your kids?

Exciting News!! Xia-Xia Pets

Xia-Xia Pets !!

 (sha-sha)

The girls and I have fast fallen in love with these little crab cuties!
We were lucky enough to be chosen by Cepia Toys and MomSelect to host a Xia-Xia Party!!!!

Yesterday the Xia-Xia Pets arrived and my house is a buzz!!
Yeah! My girls are so excited and so am I!

These cute little crabs are BRAND NEW and available at Walmart and ToysRus.
We are already having so much fun playing with them.
They scurry around crawl make my girls just crack up chasing them!

We can't wait to share the fun with our friends!!!

Wait till you see all the fun were going to have at our party!
Pictures coming soon!!!

Check out the Xia-Xia pets @ http://www.xia-xiapets.com/

Can't wait!

Thank you Cepia Toys and MomSelect!!! 

You SPOKE, I'm LISTENING

So many of YOU fabulous readers have taken a moment and thanked me for my post

"FINE TUNE YOU." 

Well I want to turn right around and thank you right back.

I'm just here pouring my guts out because my writing lets me get things off my chest and see them for the first time with clarity. 

Your comments are an added bonus, because of you I know I must not be crazy! Because of your comments we now have a platform to delve deeper into the thought at hand.

 Sarah said...

see, I have the same problem. For the first time in 7 years, i don't have an infant to care for. Sure my youngest is only 2 and I homeschool, so I have a lot to do, but I want something just for ME. my hard part is the organized home. I cannot get a handle on it. I am trying to find a way. I have tried several online cleaning lists, but they don't seem to fit my needs. But I am working on it. Thanks for being so inspiring.

October 6, 2011 9:41 AM

Thank you Sarah for writing this. Seriously who has or will ever have home organization together. If someone says "I do" I totally don't believe them. I have a few tips, and I do mean "a few." I'll share them here soon. Let me know what you come up with! Honestly if you're a Mom who works everyday you've probably already accepted that you're home won't be perfect sometimes if at all. If you're a stay at home Mom like me you've imagined there is some higher expectation on you. The laundry has to be washed, folded and put away. The kids have to be fed, bathed, read to, played with, shuttled, nursed, and then you still have to make time to be the MILF of a wife every husband must dream about. Well why the hell do we hold ourselves to such high standards? Standards that we actually meet on a good day, then cry about on a bad day. I for one am trying to let myself off the hook more often. I hope you will too. :)

 Kty said... 

"I think so many of us feel a lot of what you're saying. I think it is so true that it is easier to care and worry about the others in our life and then say what about me? No mother, wife, friend, wants to come off being selfish. And, if we were to, oh boy. Either our husbands look stunned at this new profound confidence, our kids stomping their feet in desperation for more of your attention, or your friends showing annoyance and disbelief that you might come off mean; but in reality they are secretly disappointed with themselves for not being more selfish.

I, myself, am trying to remind myself, it is a process. It may be slow at times and definitely overwhelming. Where it's easy to be pulled back to others and use them as the excuse not to focus on "you" and face your own needs and fears. 

But, reading your blog entry, reminds us that it is essential to our core to satisfy those needs and face those fears, stick to your dreams, and just make the mistakes that will make us better women, mothers, wives, and friends. I'd rather hear another's mistakes because it tells a lot about a person. 

My problem is that I never had a clear vision of my dreams, until lately. I'm not saying it's clear and all in tact but it feels good as I work towards a goal. I'm scared, lack the confidence that I once had, but I know something good will come out of it. Failure (I hope not) or success. Either way, i'm doing it, learning, and reading your blog as I go. 

Thanks for sharing. I know I'm not alone."

October 6, 2011 10:56 AM

Thank you for this Katy! I had to highlight this part you wrote because really, I so did not say exactly that. Thank you for adding an even more powerful layer of clarity to what I did say. Your statement was really powerful and even more inspiring to me to stay the course. It is our essence as human beings regardless of gender to evolve. It is because we are women, that we are so in tuned with our essential selves. Possessing that which makes us unique also makes us Goddesses, being of the quality to be "god like." We rarely speak of men as gods unless we are talking about physical power. But God is not a physical manifestation. God is very much an energetic manifestation one which we are completely tied into. Goddesses we exist aplenty. We just need to visualize our dreams, precisely what you said!!!! Our vibrations mold and shape our world. 

Kty also said...

"Was that too long? I think I was thinking too much about myself. Sorry. Woops did it again. Saying sorry for my actions. Gotta stop doing that. :)"

October 6, 2011 10:57 AM

I'm gonna do what you did. LOL, what I said above, was I too blunt? Did I come on too strong? NO! Like my Dad always says, "be the blade or be the block."  "If you know, then know that you know."  NO apologies needed. You F***Ken Rock Katy! There I said it! Did I have to say that? ;)

Jenny said...

"OMG!!! I love your post...I show love the same way - always putting the people I love and care about first. There is TOTALLY nothing wrong with that, but your glass needs to be refilled as well. I read that in a book (i might still have it -If I find it, I will share with you). But, if you're not filled with love and happiness, then how are you to give it? Good for you!!!! Take care of number one and all else will fall into place."

October 6, 2011 12:21 PM 

Hey Jenny I'd love to read something that you enjoyed. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. This blog has become a place for me to finalize my thoughts and just observe and stay present for what flows from my fingers and my heart. I share my posts with anyone who is interested because as women our potential is so great to truly evolve closer to our essential selves. In which state we are the Goddesses we were intended to be. This isn't at all a religious rant this is an observation of a organic, energetic normality. Women simply are the best! ;)

Thank you again to all of the people who left me a comment or just mentioned in conversation that they liked this post. I'm really hoping to spark a fire in all of our hearts. That we may begin to "visualize our dreams," and cultivate our essential selves. Because what else could be more important. 

Nothing is more important!

Ready? Here it is! 

You wanna know what's wrong with the world?

Women!

We are not living up to our potential. I don't mean financially, I'm talking about essentially. We are not listening to our inner voices, which means we are not connecting to our essence. 

We're too damn quiet, and apologize too damn much! 

We're too nice, too cute, to safe. 

We are too scared, to be who we are supposed to be!

I just want to start the conversation. Agree, disagree, Be outraged, feel disturbed, be angry I said it. 

But let those feeling out and let's talk more about it. 

I could be wrong, I doubt it, but anything is possible.

If you have a daughter I beg you, lead by example. 

FINE TUNE YOU!

As always.........

Won't you please leave me one? Say Anything!

Let Inspiration Find You

Inspired by this blog, Joy The Baker, I'm writing to you today. 

The photos are people who inspire my every breath.

My Grandma Gray

To see the inspiration I find around me when I take a moment, I have a "thing" I do.

Taking a moment sounds easier than it is. 

So once you understand what I'm really talking about, I hope you'll feel inspired to take a moment of your own. 

My Mommy

I'm talking about being as simple as possible. 

Reducing yourself to 

one 

breath 

at a time.

 Deeply, breathing in, taking air into your lungs and slowly releasing it. This is what I do.   

This is how I find moments of gratitude. 

This is the way I keep those crazy moments under control:

 I remember myself, and the one thing I must do to survive the day. 

BREATHE.

In the moment you spend taking a breath of air you can inhale a whole new perspective. You can be the person you struggle to be. With one deep breath you can find 

Inspiration. 

Magic really. With one vital thing. Oxygenating your brain. 

My Dad

Clarity is possible. Now use your senses.

What do you hear?

Take. Another. Breath.

What do you smell?

Take another breath.

What do you taste?

Takeanotherbreath.

What do you see?

I've been talking about gratitude for a while now. I've also been talking about reaching my highest potential, Fine Tuning myself.  Breathing is very simple but because of our busy lifestyles we often neglect this simple thing.  

I've found my self holding my breath all day long, stuck on a particular worry or thought. How's that for irony, breathing is part of our circulatory system and I'm literally shallow breathing with concern over something I can't seem to resolve. 

My Breathing Partner

Well hello! In retrospect breathing is exactly what I need. Breathe through a problem. Many mothers have experienced breathing through birth. Why don't be hold onto that tool and do some Lamaze breathing through a grocery store tantrum, or while balancing the household budget. 

There should be in a hand book somewhere. Goddess 101, don't forget to breathe!!! 

I thought this was especially Inspiring! The definition of the word Inspiration from the free dictionary.com read #6 first.

Inspiration:- noun 

 1. act or quality that influences or arouses the mind, creative imagination, or emotions 

 2. something so inspired, as an idea 

 3. thing or person that inspires 

 4. result of such influence 

 5. divine influence or the quality of writings or words that seem divinely inspired 

 6. drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation

My Little jewels

Inspiration.

My Sissy

My Best Buddy

Fellow Goddesses

I hope you enjoyed all my pictures. 

I hope my friends and family don't mind I posted beautiful pictures of them. 

Inspiration is around us like the air we breathe. 

If you would like more guidance through a breathing exercise try any of the Cerra Moments. Each one will take you through a helpful way of using your breath to clear your heart, and mind and find inspiration.

What do you think about that?

Would you please leave me one?

YOU are Enough!

When you're unorganized or just have too much stuff its hard to see,

that what you have is enough.

It's hard to be grateful when your possessions overwhelm your life.

When you can't find the things that you need, you will buy something you don't need. 
When you buy things you don't need you drain your financial and emotional resources.

It's hard to find anything when you have too much stuff.

FINE TUNE YOU

Sometimes I feel like I'm an after thought.

I blame myself, it really is my fault.

I put everyone else first.

I give them my time and attention. 

That's how I show my love.

I put my career on hold to stay at home with my children, and relocate for my husband's job.

I put everyone else and their needs before my own because that's how I show my love and devotion.

Lately, I've been thinking about this, and the truth is,
 caring for others is just plain easier then thinking about myself.

Really it is,wanna know why?

You don't know this about me, but I'm COMPLICATED.

I'm a BIG, COMPLICATED, EMOTIONAL, ENERGY.

I've got more talent than I know what to do with.
When I let the flood gates loose I think a mile a minute and drop thousands of ideas.
 I think my self to sleep at night.
I have dozens of journals full of business ideas, recipes, restaurant concepts, business solutions, cures for disease, female world domination, the end of world hunger, and the end to all wars.
I brainstorm human enlightenment.
I'm.
A.
 DEEP.
Thinker!

Put simply and less bipolarish, I have LOTS of dreams!

My dreams are complicated.
I have 3 kids, I don't have time for complicated.

But there are so many things I'd like to do, places I'd like to see.

Ideas I would love to make a reality.

All my dreams and big ideas are a little over whelming for me.

So worrying about other people and their problems is a lot easier.
A lot easier.

Except that now, I'm getting tired of other people's problems.

 Now I think that I was stunting my own growth.
Making me unhappy, affecting my confidence, and steeling my joy.
Imagine that, because I wasn't pursuing my passions I was letting the people I love, unknowingly steel my joy.
My fault or theirs? MINE!!!

I love my family.
Watching them grow and become more independent, awakened me.
I see now that, I need to find something else to do.

If you're lucky enough to plant a seed and watch it grow, at what point do you see your self standing in front of that beautiful flower and realize it doesn't need you anymore.
Well I don't wanna be that person.
I want my girls to see me inspired and motivated, not standing around watching them.
I want to encourage them to live full lives. I will lead by example. 

Besides, If I can manage other people's lives, my dreams and ideas are just as manageable.

And I don't have to give up one for the other. 

I'm going to begin to bring myself back into focus.

I'm going to focus on things that will strengthen who I am.

I'm going to nurture my inner Goddess.

A stronger ME makes my family stronger.

A focused, goal driven mother encourages and inspire little girls to achieve.

These are my first steps:

Get Organized

Smart women have control of their households, and run their families like well oiled machines.

Without organization personal pursuits will feel like selfish distractions.

Record your DREAMS

This is an exercise in self indulgence. 
What do you dream about? Who are you?

What will you do with your life, when your children get a life?

Write your dreams down in a journal, or make a vision board.

Record our dreams so you can SEE them, not just THINK about them.


Make A Plan
This is the part when you realize, "oh shit, I bit off more than I can chew!" Personal dreams can be overwhelming, because passion brought them to you without reason or common sense. 
So, Make a detailed plan of action. Even if your plan is to get more information.
Once you know what your going to do take the time to plan how it will get done.


Ask for Help
No great thing can be accomplished alone. 
Make a list of people you can ask for guidance and advice, look for local resources, or instructional classes, DIY help, or the time of a friend or family member.


Celebrate Small Accomplishments
Your on your way to becoming your true self. Your allowing a passion deep inside to flow and guide you through this life. Your managing your family and your personal passions. That's a lot!
Any accomplishment you make deserves acknowledgement and  a moment of celebration. 
Even if its just you quietly saying "yeah baby!"
Celebrate and be grateful for every detail.


For me, taking this journey feels like a more balanced approach.
The more parts of me I explore, support, and fine tune,
 the more joy I will have in my life.

What's your dream?

Are you ready to pursue them?

Let's catch a fire together!

Let me know if your with me!

Children Are The Best Teachers

Kids are the absolute best at this age.

They are the essence of gratitude.

Simply because they live in the moment.

They enjoy simple pleasures, and find joy in everything.

This was Livi after dinner.

She loved the Asian Noodle Bowl I made for her.

This is my variation on a recipe I picked up from my buddy Jen.

It has baby bock choy, carrots, snow peas, chicken, and mushrooms.

The chicken is slow cooked in the crock pot with star anise, soy sauce and water for most of the day. Really I just put it in and forget about it.

You can't mess it up in the Crock Pot.

The chicken has a very fragrant sweet, smokey, fruity licorice flavor. The meat falls from the bone and is succulent and tender.

About an hour before I'm ready to serve dinner I throw in the Asian wheat noodles, they soften very quickly but hold their bite.

Then I add my veggies which are ready almost immediately. They only need moments to steam and gently green.

Then I just set the table and call in the family.

I strip Livi down to eat this dish because I know how messy those little noodles can get.

She eats with a fork for a while then dives in with her fingers.

What a great feeling it must be skinny soft noodles between her fingers.

She gets so involved, examining each noodle then tasting it and eyeing it some more.

What must she think about those little noodles?

She eyes a handful of noodles and laughs as they fall into her mouth and onto her lap.

Mostly on her lap.

I just watch her. She finishes her bowl.
Can you see the love?

She's so present for the experience, and I just observe my little teacher.

I need to be more like her, her ways have wisdom, simplicity.

She doesn't know about germs, or food borne illnesses, or nutritional value, or portion size.

No. All she knows is how the noodles look, feel, smell and taste. She knows how they fall on her lap and stick to her belly and legs. She has just the right amount of information for the present moment.

Us adults are too smart for our own good. We know things that don't help us a bit, in fact they hold us hostage in the past or scare us about the future.

We need to be more like our children.

Throw our educations to the wind once in a while,

and just be grateful,

in the moment

with a bowl full of Asian Noodles.

(Click for the recipe)

Good Day!

Today is/was national Coffee Day. 

Thank goodness for coffee because today I really needed some! 

My new bed time has become 2:00am. 

I get so much accomplished around that time. 

It's my most productive time of the day. 

Trust me, I know this routine can't last. 

Honestly, I have no idea how I'm making it through the day with so little sleep. 

Especially around 1:00 or 2:00 o'clock my body just starts to shut down. 

I run for the coffee machine in desperation. 

So here's my moment of gratitude for you coffee.

Thank you for helping me keep my eye open. 

Yes, I promise, I'll get some sleep soon!

Have you had your coffee today?

I take mine with soy milk and 2 Splenda. 

I like it light and sweet just like me. 

How do you take your coffee?

Will you please leave me one?

Imagine Carseat Flying

Livi showed me a new trick today. 

With the windows rolled down, and the wind in your hair, stretch your arms and feet in the air. 

You can fly.  

That's the beauty of your imagination. 

Imagination is Hope. 

Imagine big things for yourself.

Thank You Livi,
Mommy Loves You!

What do you imagine for yourself?

One of those Days

Today was one of those days!

When you feel like you just can't catch up.

I made a list of things TO DO.

Even after I did all my To Do's there were still things I'd forgotten.

I'm feeling a little "in the weeds," as us culinary folks would say.

Last week was a busy week.

I devoted myself to helping friends and family.

I let go of my routine, and lost my flow.

Which I wasn't bothered by; I was glad to do it.

Except now I gotta get it back together again.

So this week is a catchup week.

I hate ketchup weeks. :-)

I have yet another list of things I really wanna get done. Ideas I need to iron out.

Like this Halloween Party we're having.

Well, if and when I can get the invitations out, uugghhh!

Or,

My blog.

I have so much to say to all of you, well whoever's out there reading this (Hi Dad!).  I'd would like to say something about gratitude everyday. I just need to get organized.

Bare with me, it will happen.

And then there is the rest of my life. I've decided to dive back into my passion:

Lehigh Valley Cupcakes is back up and running. But, that too needs some organization.

Can you see a pattern here?

It's definitely going to be one of those weeks!

So now as I type this its a quarter to eleven. The day has passed me by. I've managed to get one child to and from school, -well not from. Thank you Katy for getting Ane off the bus!

I managed to make dinner, and cut the grass, (cutting the grass wasn't even on my TO DO list.)

I washed 4 loads of cloths.

Washed, not fold them and put them away.

Just washed.

Oh! And I did get a shower, personal score for me, but brush my teeth I have not.

Toothbrush come find me!

So if I sound a little off center, frazzled, tired, melancholy, well maybe that's okay.

You can't be on top all the time.

Sometimes you need to fall apart or get behind schedule to appreciate order and function.

I would have told you that today was a long day and I'm grateful its over.

Except I'm realizing "talking" with you, that even a long day like today has purpose.

I'm grateful for the silver lining.

And even on a day like today, I still got to squeeze this little munchkin.

Now that's two things to be grateful for.

It's getting better by the minute.

Tell me what's going on with you?

Do schedules help you organize your life?

Are you lost without a schedule?

How do you get things done?

Do "TO DO" lists really work?


Thank You!