Power of Prayer

Hey Guys!

So I have really been praying about not having to get a job recently. We are making it just fine but we have our financial struggles just like everyone else. I know that may sound stupid but I have always wanted to be a SAHM. Well guess what. I have had 2 job opportunities fall into my lap and the plus side is that they are both something I can do as a SAHM!

I signed up to be an Avon sales rep again and I am so excited about that. I loved selling Avon. I only quit because of my divorce and having to relocate. I really missed working for Avon. I use a ton of there products and they are my favs. I just love the company in general. They have great customer service and there is a great support system of other sales reps who actually care and are willing to help!

So the same day that I signed up for Avon, I got offered a position at our church! I am going to be the new nursery coordinator! I'm so excited about it because it is right up my ally. It is also a paid job that only requires me to work a few days a week. I will also always be able to take KT with me! That is a major plus side! If you want to check out my online shop just go to http://www.youravon.com/mschaffer

 Yeah so I feel so blessed because I took everyones advice and prayed about it. God heard me and delivered. God is so good!

Talk to you again soon!
Mykah Bri

Being Green = Saving Money? Cloth Diapering

Hey Guys!

Um, so why didn't anyone ever tell us that being "Green" could save our little family A LOT of money. Hmmm? Yea thats right I'm talking to all you other greenies out there. So ever since AB and I figured this out we have been slowly going green. Yup thats right we are jumping on the green wagon. Now keep in mind that yes of course we love the planet and want to help save it but lets be honest we started this with the purpose of saving money. Does it really matter why we started it or that we are doing it? Oooh. Look at that I made you guys think huh?
This will be broken up into 3 separate posts.

These are the things we do that are "green":
-Recycling
-Reusable Containers, Water Bottles, and Bags
-We also will eventually Cloth diaper

Cloth Diapering- 

So this one has already been a little difficult and we haven't even conceived number 2 yet. The people that I thought were going to be supportive have not been. I mean really guys. Its not like I am asking them to do it right? On the plus side some unexpected people have been super supportive. CDing has a ton of negative hype so I expected the worst when it came to telling people our choice. Let me explain it to you.

This is all research based because I haven't CDed before.
We approached this in the beginning strictly for how much money it will save us. Do you know how much money we spent on disposables for KT? Way, way to much! On average you spend like more then two grand per kid on sposies. Now idk about you guys but I don't have that kind of money to be spending on something that my child will poo in.

Now you can do CDing expensive but you can also do it super cheap. We have already started our stash. We have 8 gDiapers, 5 pairs of Baby Leggings, and a box of Bummkins flushable liners. All of which was either on sale or I had a killer coupon! Now while I have spent like $175 already on CD's and accessories I stand by my choice because I will be able to use this with all future children! So yea that $175 doesn't seem like that much now does it? There are also tons of different types of cloth diapers too but I won't go into all that yet.

So not only are they way cheaper but they are so much cuter!!! Plus it just makes sense to me to do it. I am a SAHM and I have no reason not to try it and again I just want to repeat the fact that it makes sense to ME! I'm not asking you to do it and I'm also not asking anyone to put them on themselves either! Sorry I got a little grouchy there for a second lol.

Anyway thats what is going on in my head about that.
Talk to you guys soon.
Mykah Bri

Being Green = Saving Money? Reusables!

Hey Guys!

Um, so why didn't anyone ever tell us that being "Green" could save our little family A LOT of money. Hmmm? Yea thats right I'm talking to all you other greenies out there. So ever since AB and I figured this out we have been slowly going green. Yup thats right we are jumping on the green wagon. Now keep in mind that yes of course we love the planet and want to help save it but lets be honest we started this with the purpose of saving money. Does it really matter why we started it or that we are doing it? Oooh. Look at that I made you guys think huh?
This will be broken up into 3 separate posts.

These are the things we do that are "green":
-Recycling
-Reusable Containers, Water Bottles, and Bags
-We also will eventually Cloth diaper

Reusables-

Another way we have been "going green" is reusable containers, water and bags. We have been buying them up like crazy! From everywhere and anywhere that we can find a really good deal.

We use mostly glass at home but have a lot of plastic. I use the plastic when I am taking food places or when I don't necessarily want it back. I have been saving all the glass jars that food come packaged in to store leftovers in. Now I love glass jars for all my leftovers but when we are on the go I use my plastic skip*hop containers. I love them so much and it super duper helps that I got them at consignment for $10. It also helps that they have there very own little cold bag and ice pack. No more giant lunch box for just a couple snacks. Yay!

I  have been buying a lot of reusable snack and sandwich bags. Not only are they adorable but they are saving me TONS on ziploc bags because I use ziplocs for everything and I mean EVERYTHING! Keegan also looks really cute carrying them around. I also love them because between Ebay, Amazon, and Zulily, I can always find a good sale on them.

I also have a bunch of reusable water bottles. I'm serious I have a ton. but how can I not with all the free ones businesses give out at pretty much any kind of event. Out of my whole collection my favorites are my Contigo brand bottles. We have 4 of the ones with straws. I love those because of how thick the straws are but, I recently purchased one of the Auto-seal ones with the button. I'm in love with it! It has so much more flow than I thought it would. I just all around love this brand. I'm going to buy KT one soon. I can't wait. Wow lol that almost turned into a review.
Now KT has a collapsable water bottle that he absolutely loves. I don't love that i feel like I can't put anything but water in it but I do absolutely love that he loves it so much. He drinks so much water now! I love that! He loves to drink it flat! He is getting so much more hydration then he was.

I have purchased like 10 but, hand-me-downs have supplied me with around 50 reusable grocery bags. I got so tired of them just being stuffed in a bag and never used. So I did the obvious and started using them lol. I can't believe I waited so long. I love, love, love not having to recycle 5,000 plastic bags every month... Ok so that may be a bit of an exaggeration but it felt like that lol.

Talk to you guys soon.
Mykah Bri

Being Green = Saving Money? Recycling!

Hey Guys!

Um, so why didn't anyone ever tell us that being "Green" could save our little family A LOT of money. Hmmm? Yea thats right I'm talking to all you other greenies out there. So ever since AB and I figured this out we have been slowly going green. Yup thats right we are jumping on the green wagon. Now keep in mind that yes of course we love the planet and want to help save it but lets be honest we started this with the purpose of saving money. Does it really matter why we started it or that we are doing it? Oooh. Look at that I made you guys think huh?
This will be broken up into 3 separate posts.

These are the things we do that are "green":
-Recycling
-Reusable Containers, Water Bottles, and Bags
-We also will eventually Cloth diaper

Recycling-

It all started with recycling. I just got so tired of having so much trash! We were having to take the trash out two times a day! Yea thats right and there are only three of us! It was to the point that we were about to drop $75.00 on a second outdoor trash can! Is it just me or is that a little ridiculous? It started with just recycling the minimal amount, then it totally took over my tiny kitchen! It was a mess. So I started looking at all the thrift stores and consignment sales for some kind of shelving system to put under my car port right outside the laundry room... and I looked at just about every kind trying to find what would work best for us. It may have taken 3 of 4 months but I finally found it! One of those metal utility shelves for $30.00! Yea thats right I'm awesome lol. I knew if I was patient I would find something good and I refused to pay full price. I looked at Home Depot after I found the shelves and I would paid like $90 +tax for the same shelf! So now that I have the space I have started recycling everything possible! We are now recycling plastic, cardboard, tin cans, and are about to start paper!

I was going to do glass but the recycling place closest to my home does not do glass yet. So I had been washing (even taking the time to get all the labels and glue off) and saving them for who knows what reason... I had quite the little collection when I realized that I hated my plastic containers for use at the house. They stain and hold onto smells and you can't microwave them or it makes it all worse. Now I still use them to transport food and things to family functions or parties and such but unless I don't have a glass jar big enough I do not use them at home.

Now I know this idea is not really saving us that much money in the long run but I'm counting it because we saved $75 on not having to get a new trash can and we saved around $60 on the shelving unit. Although I didn't intend to look like I'm trying to save the planet but it does feel good.  I know this is not exciting to everyone but I am a SAHM and I get excited about random household things lol.

Talk to you guys soon,
Mykah Bri

Talking Tantrums 2!

Hey Guys!

So we had a good couple of nights with minimal fights from KT. It was wonderful. He finished his chores and got to play the Wii. All this wonderfulness lasted for all of three days. Then came last night. KT was about to start his chores and was beginning to whine that he was thirsty and wanted milk. He hadn't had any yet that day so I was going to make it while he did his chores. Well I got out the milk and nesquik and poured a little milk to have AB try. I always have him try a little because I don't like milk and it always smells gross to me and sometimes I can't smell the difference. Well the milk was bad and I had to break it to KT. It did not go over well. It took over an hour to get him to sleep after that. He was so upset. Had I known that the milk was bad I never would have told him he could have some... Pray for our strength please.

Mommy/KT Date Day 1 (MKTDD) !!Zoo!!

Hey Guys!!!

I decided that since we are TTC child number 2 and he will start school this fall, I need to spend more quality time, outside the home, with KT. Now I am in no way saying that quality time inside the home is any less special or less meaningful. I just know KT and myself and we get bored with the same old same old everyday. So until then KT and I will be taking Mommy/KT Date Days. They won't always be awesome but they are for us not for you lol.

So a couple weeks ago, to break in our new zoo membership, KT and I went to the Zoo for the first time all by ourselves! It was wonderful. It was 65 degrees and there was hardly anyone there. 

The animals were so active. Look at this guy.

I could have touched this Tortoise.

We also got some front row seats to a few animal feedings. 

KT stood and watched this bear for 20 to 30 mins and he is never still that long!

KT actually wanted to take pictures. He posed with a ton of statues and things. That is unusual. It took us all day to get his four year old pictures. Do you guys want to see some? Of course you do. Why would you not? My KT is pretty adorable lol. 

He was worried that the lions were going to be hot. They usually are because they are in the sun all day.

We always ride the carousel, it wouldn't be the zoo without a carousel ride right?

This was the first time we took a picture with this statue. He was just amazed with the bears like never before because of being so close to that grizzly for that long.

He loved this. He said look I'm an explorer.

He was a little freaked out by this alligator. It looked really real.

TeePee!

Plant tunnel. He loves this. We haven't ever seen it all green and growing. We will have to take a picture then.

Life size Tortoise!!

Tiger!

Gorillas!

Playhouse.

Look at this. Mommy and Baby! KT can't quit talking about how cute the gorilla baby, Liam, is.

All I can say is amazing!

KT was even super all day. He listened, he minded. It was just a super day.

So for all of you that don't know KT, my son is a fit thrower. Has been since he turned one. I think we yanked the bottle away to soon and to quickly. It got a lot worse at two when his birth father and I finally split up. I couldn't really blame him because his whole world got turned upside-down.

It was such a great day that I almost always want to go just us two forever!!! 

But, We are going again next week with my friend and her 3 beautiful high energy kids. We are going to be the only 2 adults with her 5 year old boy, my 4 year old boy, her 3 year old girl, and her precious 4 month old boy. I'm really hoping that it all goes well again... Pray for us please!

Talk to you guys soon.
Mykah Bri

Talking Tantrums!

Man oh man. 

The past few days and nights have been just awful! We have been dealing with a lot. I'm talking kicking screaming on the floor fits about going to bed. I mean really he is four. Could it really be a surprise that we have to go to sleep. Bed time happens at the same time every night. Don't you think that by the age of four he would be used to it by now. He also has started screaming when things don't go his way. I know this is a normal kid thing but his fits seem a bit extreme recently.

During the day KT is wonderful until I tell him something he doesn't want to hear. Then all of the sudden it's like I broke his favorite toy. This reaction can come from almost anything. Telling him he made a bad choice and he can't play the Wii, to telling him to he will have to wait 5 mins while I finish cooking dinner before I will cut up an apple. Most of the time he gets over things quickly but recently I have had to send him to time out. Which I don't like to do. I would rather use time out as a prevention tool. Like when I see him doing something he will get in trouble for I have him sit and think about weather it's a good idea or not. Usually it's not and we can avoid a fit. But the past week this method hasn't seemed to work at all.

KT has also regressed to a one year old at night. He won't calm down without someone (mainly me) laying with him until he falls asleep. We have been trying to reapply the CIO method. I did this with him when he was around a year old and it worked wonderfully. He was always a really good sleeper until about two when his bio-father and I separated. At that point both of our worlds fell apart and we both started staying up way, way to late and not getting up till noon. Yea I know not good habits but we broke them. However the CIO method is not going so well this time. And let's face it by the end of the day I don't have the energy to fight with him any longer. So I cave and cuddle him or give him late night snacks and drinks. I know, I know that is part of the problem. Believe me I know it's just hard to listen to him cry and scream.

This has caused AB and I to start fighting in the evening when we know we are going to have to start the bed time routine. It has become a major stress. We are luckily really good at handling aruments. 

This fit was actually cute. He was upset because we went to enroll him in pre-K and he thought he was going t get to start school that day. The current pre-K class happened to walk by and he wanted to go with them. He said "but the other kids are at school". It was so cute.

Does anyone out there have any positive advice or imput? 

Talk to you guys again soon.

Mykah Bri

Consignment Haul!!!

Hey Guys!!!

Last night I went to the Monkey Business Consignment sale with the lovely Marla Dawn. It was great. I got some really awesome deals and I only spent $65! I thought I would share my super bargains with you.

Here are the clothes-

SHIRTS-

-Batman- $3

-Robot- $2

-Dino- $2

-Spiderman- $2

SHORTS-

-Jumping Bean Jean- $2.50

-Plaid Sonoma- $3.50

-Nautica Jean$2.50

-Grey Children's Place Cargo- $2.50

I didn't find to much we couldn't live without but i found these and KT approved of my selections on clothing.

Here are the shoes-

-Fake Crocs- $2

-Green TKS's- $2

-Old Navy Brown Flip-flops- $3

-OshKosh Blue and Yellow- $6

Oh and also these...

-Tony Lama Boots- $6

I also got a few random things-

-Boon Bath Toy Holder- $8

-Skip*Hop Bento Boxes and Carrier- $10

KT's favorite purchase

-Chase the Transformer Toy- $4

I also got these to put away for my cloth diaper stash... I'll tell you more about that later.

-Bumkins Flushable Diaper Liners- $3

So thats all my loot. It may not seem like much but I'm really proud of myself. I have been working really hard on pinching pennies and I am finally getting the hang of it. 

I have a busy weekend ahead of me.

-enrolling KT in Pre-K

-Baking

-My nieces birthday party

-My brothers Welcome Home Party. 

 and I have to fit grocery shopping in there somewhere. 

Talk to you guys again soon!

Life Update

WOW! I have got to get better at keeping up with this lol.  So a lot has happened since my last post.

 I got married on November 8, 2013 to the most wonderful man ever Alex Beaudean. He is so good to Keegan and myself. My family loves him, which after my first marriage is a huge plus! I am so lucky to have found him! 

Keegan Ty is 4 1/2 now! How did that happen? We have pre-k enrollment on Friday.  God really knew what he was doing when he gave me Keegan. He has been such a blessing to my life. My life is so much better with him in it. No not just my life, I am a better person because of my lil KT. 

We are also now TTC baby number 2. Well, number 2 for me but baby number 1 for AB. I'm so excited for this next path in my life. KT is finally ready to be a big brother. He talks about "his baby" all the tome even though there is no baby yet. Pray for our TTC journey please.

Please keep in mind that this is just a short update on my life. I plan on going more in-depth on these things soon. I'm also a blogging newbie. I have no idea what I am doing! So please if you have any tips share!

I'll write again soon!

Lots of Love,

Mykah Bri