This little man.....

This little man, who turns 9 months old today, cried for 40 minutes in his crib last night before he went to sleep.

 

Yes Mommy and Daddy were being meanies and were making him sleep in his crib.

This little man does not like to nap during the day; he will sleep if you hold him, but lay him down and he is awake within seconds.

Last night, he fell asleep drinking his bottle and I then put him to bed. 10 minutes later he woke up crying. Daddy went and got him and brought him back downstairs because he appeared to be wide awake and ready to play. Around 11 he kept rubbing his eyes and he was exhausted.  We decided he had to go back to bed.

So we put him to bed and he screamed and cried and cried for 40 minutes before he went to sleep for the night. Thankfully he did not wake his brother up during this crying fit as they share a room.

I hope it gets easier and he learns to sleep in his crib.

Perdue Oven Ready Roast

Over the last month and a half, the entire family has been sick at one point or another ( a couple days EVERYONE was sick!). That means that we have been making convenience meals when we want to eat, and I have been making easy meals! I don't know about you but I am sick and tired of eating processed, easy meals.

Enter Perdue Oven Ready Chicken Roast!



I was super excited to try Perdue Oven Ready Chicken Roast, because it was real chicken (not processed chicken nugget form which we ate way too many of) and it was easy to prepare, even for someone with no energy and recovering from the flu like me!

First let's talk about "real" chicken:  Perdue Chicken is fresh, all-natural chicken that's verifiably good. That's why all their PERDUE^® OVEN READY Products are USDA Process Verified and follow an all vegetarian diet, no animal by-products, and are raised cage free.

Now let's talk about my chicken: The directions were simple: open the outer package, cook and then serve! Simple-- which is what I needed!

In it's packaging

Cooking in the oven, alongside some cheesy potatoes

Chicken and green beans. Yummy, healthy, easy dinner for the kiddos.

My observations: the chicken was VERY moist and yummy! It was super duper! It was super easy to cook, and clean up was a breeze. There was so much meat on the chicken that we had dinner that night, sandwiches the next day and I still have a large container of meat in the freezer that I will use for chicken enchiladas! Yay!

I will definitely be buying these again just for the convenience. As we look to 2013 I am committing to cook more at home and cook healthier foods and Perdue Oven Ready Roasts will fit the bill!

Disclaimer: I received a coupon for a free product as part of a BzzAgent campaign in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January Low Spend and Decluttering Challenge

As the kids and adults in our house have been sick for the past month and a half, I have had a lot of time to think about what I want our 2013 to look like and what I want to accomplish. As I look back over previous years I can see that I have made goals that were too loftly, or were doomed to fail from the beginning. Part of that I think is that I look at the big picture and don't break goals down into manageable steps. I make goals for the year that I ultimately forget about in 2 months.....

Well NOT this year. I have decided that 2013 is the year that I make smaller mini goals--my ideal is to make a monthly goal that I want to work on for that month.

January is the month where I feel like I get a start over in redoing our finances and also a redo of our house, when I get rid of excess and feel the urge to declutter. So I was so excited to see that the lovely Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily was hosting a January Decluttering and No/Low Spend Challenge. I have decided to join in!

 

 

My goals for this January challenge:

 

- Financial goals:

• Spend no more than $320 on food for the month. (This averages out to $80 a week). I need to get our grocery budget down as this past 2 months we have been averaging $130 a week for our family due to illnesses and holidays.
• Spend no more than $150 on household items (diapers, wipes, toilet paper, Tide, dish detergent and trash bags)
• No Eating out
• The EXCEPTIONS:
•  Hubby and I are looking into buying new cell phones (ours are over 3 years old) and getting a cheaper plan (if we buy pre-paid we could potentially save $30 a month over our current bill)
• We have to get a title and tags for our new to us van that we were gifted
• This does not affect our utilities, rent, gas for our vehicles, etc.
• As always family emergencies, medical, dental, etc. are not counted against this as well.

-Decluttering goals:

• I have one decluttering goal for this month---the huge closet (it is the size of a half room) off the bathroom that has become a dumping ground for stuff and storage. It is horrible! Would like to donate/sell at least half of the stuff in there. Here are a few before pictures:

The view looking in from the bathroom

 

Behind the door

So there you have it....my financial goals and decluttering goals for January. I hope I can meet them and make them a stepping stone for success for 2013!

 
 
 

 

 
 

 



Sunday Night Chit Chat

I think that I can say that I am back again to blogging....after having everyone in my house sick for the month of December, I think (fingers crossed) that we are all on the mend I hope. (We did have to take Benjamin to the ER one night last week due to a very high fever....turns out he has an ear infection in the other ear than the one he had 2 weeks ago and a virus. Thankfully he is doing better!) We do still all have coughs but from what I am hearing from friends and family, these coughs could last for a few weeks after we feel better. But I am planning on being back full time to blogging again (barring any more illness). I am starting tonight.....

 

 Time once again for Sunday Night Chit-Chat...hosted by our friend Carla! (I can't believe it has been over a month since I got to play along! )

 

To play along simply start your post with a photo or quote... Copy and paste the starters and link up to Carla so she and others can visit you and see what you've been up to!

SO HERE GOES:



Kiddos and I on Christmas Eve, wearing our new PJs from Santa!

What are you.....

Reading?

Nothing right now. I have read 4 books over the last couple weeks for reviews. That is what happens when you have an eight month old who wants to be held when he is sick and will only sleep when you are holding him.

Watching?

Hubby and I watched "Dear John" last night. Cute movie, but I liked the book better. Right now, kids are watching "Wow, Wow Wubbzy."

 

Listening to?

The TV is on, Benjamin is playing with his new toy remote from Santa, and Jacob is running around.

  

Cooking/Baking

Nothing. I have gotten really bad about cooking, and we have been eating way too many easy meals due to us being sick. I am hoping to get back into cooking this week and to help get our grocery bills back down.

Happy you accomplished this week?



Got the kids' rooms cleaned out and decluttered before we put away new toys and books. Took out 4 bags of toys to donate. Also got the game/ dvd closet cleaned out and have a tote full of VHS tapes to donate to school. Also got all the Christmas stuff taken down and put away so that we could get our house back in order.

 

Looking forward to next week?

The New Year! Diving into a couple challenges.

 

Thankful for today?

For my husband, who puts up with my many mood changes and who loves me for me.

Bonus question: Are you looking forward to 2013 or sorry to see 2012 leave? 

I am looking forward to 2013. 2012 has been HARD, especially the last month or so. Let's go 2013!

 

So there you have it. A little glimpse into my world on this Sunday night! Hope everyone has a wonderful week and remember to link up to our wonderful chat host Carla! :)

Merry Christmas

To all my blog readers, I wish you a very merry Christmas from my family to yours!

I know I have been lax lately about blogging but the craziness of being sick basically for this whole month has really thrown a wrench in my plans. I am going to be spending the next few day with family and enjoying my hubby and kids (sicknesses and all!) and then I hope to be back with lots of posts, including a great giveaway and I am joining in on a January challenge! Until then, I say Merry Christmas and I hope your holiday is merry and bright!

Sickness....

Take your pick when you come to my house....we are now featuring....the flu, strep throat, and an ear infection. Hubby is recovering from having the flu all week. I was at urgent care 2 times yesterday...once with Rebecca who has strep throat and a fever of 102. And then with Jacob who has a fever of 102, possible strep (the rapid test came back negative) and an ear infection. Tonight I am feeling cruddy.....

Very quick update....

The last 2 weeks have been h*** and have been stressful and just tough. A few quick highlights:

• My Mom's bladder cancer is back, another tumor was found last wednesday
• My mom had a bad stress test for her heart last Monday
• My mom was sent to the ER on Friday morning and spent Friday-yesterday in ICU with heart problems
• Hubby woke up Monday night/Tuesday morning throwing up and high fever. He now has the full blown flu
• Missed work on Friday due to Mom's hospitalization
• Have 5 cakes and 5 cookies plates due to school by Friday morning for St. Nick dinner.
• Hubby's parents are calling about setting up a time for transfer of van
• Coworkers are dropping like flies with the flu so HAVE to work.

That is why I have been MIA. That is also why I am so behind on book reviews, and a product review and giveaway. Pray things get better.

Farm Rich giveaway winner

The Farm Rich coupon giveaway has ended!

Thank you to all that entered!

The winner (Sue H....) has been emailed!

Wordless Wednesday: Rebecca Then and Now

6 years ago today....

Today.....

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY REBECCA!

Today's post brought to you by the letter B

Today's post is brought to you by the letter....B....as in BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!!!!!

That describes my life over the last week or so. Work has been crazy busy. Thanksgiving was BUSY (especially because I had to cook the bird!) (more on that later). We had Rebecca's birthday luncheon on Saturday (more on that later). Bill was sick Friday-Sunday. Back to work yesterday. Baking cupcakes this morning before work, so I can decorate them after work for Rebecca to take to school tomorrow for her actual birthday. Trying to get some Christmas shopping done without going bankrupt. Posting baby items to sell on eBay.....the list goes on and on....I have many posts in my head---real life, some book reviews, and a cool product review and giveaway! Now just have to find the time to do it and to live my crazy busy life!

Here is to another BUSY day!

Farm Rich Products (and a GIVEAWAY!)--UPDATED!!!!

My kids are ALWAYS hungry! Rebecca and Jacob both are going through growth spurts and they always want something to eat. I don't mind them eating as long as what they are eating is mostly healthy-- because these are the types of foods that allow them to stay fuller longer, while providing them energy they need to play and do the things that a 6 year old and a 3 year old do. At the same time, our family schedule is crazy busy and so I don't have a lot of time to prepare from scratch foods and snacks for the kids or the family.

Enter Farm Rich snacks and appetizers!

Farm Rich offers a wide variety of pure yummy snacks, including mozzarella cheese sticks, mozzarella bites, queso cheese bites, mini pizza slices and jalapeno peppers just to name a few, that all allow for families to have wholesome, yummy snacks that don't take forever and a day to prepare.

I was excited to have the chance to try the mozzarella cheese sticks! My children love cheese and since the weather has gotten colder, I was excited to give them a warm treat that included their beloved cheese.



The bag

Made 8 cheese sticks for snack time; ready for the oven



Pure yumminess and can be served with a variety of dips. We chose to have ranch dressing with ours.

Up close of gooey, cheesy yumminess!

The verdict was that these were a HUGE HIT! Rebecca loved them, especially dipped in ranch dressing. I LOVED the gooiness of the cheese and that they were super easy to prepare.

There is a LOT of cheese sticks in the bag. I fixed 8 for us that day for a snack, and then had enough for 2 light lunches later in the week. It was a great value for the money. I will definitely be buying more for the freezer for our family!

TO BUY:
If you want to buy some for your family, Farm Rich has a product locator on their website to allow you to find your favorite snack at your local store.

WIN IT:
Farm Rich has offered a Living Better One Day at a Time blog reader the opportunity to receive 2 FREE Farm Rich product coupons (just like I received) so that you can also try out a new favorite.
All you have to do to enter is fill out the rafflecopter form! (Contest is open to US residents only. I am not responsible for prize distribution fulfillment--sponsor of prize is. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or new winner will be picked!) Good Luck!

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM TO LOAD OR TO WORK, PLEASE JUST LEAVE A BLOG COMMENT ON WHAT YOUR FAVORITE FARM RICH SNACK IS, FOLLOW ME ON GFC, AND/OR LIKE FARM RICH ON FACEBOOK. PLEASE LEAVE A SEPERATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. THANK YOU!

CONTEST ENDS 11/29/12 AT 11:59 pm est.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I was provided with free product coupons in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinion expressed are my own.

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Sunday Night Chit Chat

Time once again for Sunday Night Chit-Chat...hosted by our friend Carla!
To play along simply start your post with a photo or quote... Copy and paste the starters and link up to Carla so she and others can visit you and see what you've been up to!

SO HERE GOES:



Rebecca lost 2 teeth this week. I told her she could tell Santa that all she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth! :)



What are you.....

Reading?

 

Watching?

 

 Listening to?

The dishwasher is running.
Benjamin is cooing and gooing.
Rebecca and Jacob are laughing at the TV.
  

Cooking/Baking
I made pulled pork for dinner. It was really good.  

I hope to make pumpkin muffins this week AND I was talked into cooking a 24 lb. turkey for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.

Happy you accomplished this week?

I ordered a couple of things for Christmas for Bill this week.
I got a review order put in (Look for a giveaway soon!)
Figured some things out at work.
Paid all of our bills for the month and we are not broke. LOL

 

Looking forward to next week?
Thanksgiving Day! Spending time with family. Eating good food!
 

Thankful for today?

 A low key weekend for me. Bill has been SUPER busy with deadlines at work so this weekend I spent most of it at home and just chilled. Took a couple quick cat naps.

Bonus question:

You're handed a round trip plane ticket to anywhere in the world for a weekend and $1000 cash. The catch? You have to go alone, right then & there with only whatever you have on hand. Do you go? Where would you go?

 I would go. I would go visit Australia and meet up with 2 friends of mine that I have met online and known now for over 4 years that help keep me grounded, but I have never met them in real life. Would LOVE to do this!
 

So there you have it. A little glimpse into my world on this Sunday night! Hope everyone has a wonderful week and remember to link up to our wonderful chat host Carla! :)