Lessons In Frugality

Frugal Is The New Sexy!

2009-12-30T06:35:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to streamline my blog and focus on bringing you as many great daily, frugal tips as possible, I'm moving... I hope you'll join me at:

www.frugalisthenewsexy.blogspot.com

See you there!!

Bargain Hunting Tuesday

2009-12-29T14:17:00.000-08:00

I stopped by Target today to see what kind of after Christmas deals they had. All of the Christmas merchandise is 50% off, but will most likely go to 75% off by the end of the week. I was able, though, to score a few great deals by combining Target's online printable coupons and a few manufacturer coupons. Here's the scoop:

I bought 4 boxes of Kellogg's cereal for $11.96 and used the following coupons:

$5/4 boxes Kellogg's cereals printed off of Target.com

2 $1/2 boxes Kellogg's cereals from my coupon arsenal

Total after coupons: $4.96 or $1.24 each

I also bought two bottles of Method hand soap for $2.99 each and used 2 printable coupons for $2/1 from MethodHome.com

Total after coupons: $1.98 or $.99 each

The kids ate lunch for just $1.21 each today, thanks to the printable Kid's Cuisine $1.50/3 coupon from Target.com and the $1/3 coupon from the arsenal. (Notice they're not pictured; they were pretty hungry by the time we got home. (=)

And, finally, I scored some Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh lunchmeat for $.79 after the $1/1 printable from Target.com and the $1/1 from the arsenal.

Not bad, huh?

Free 4x6 Photo Flip Book from Vista Print

2009-12-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

Head over to vistaprint.com to order your FREE photo flip book. Thanks to shesaved.com for this fun freebie!

A Break from Couponing and A Darn Good Breakfast Casserole

2009-12-26T16:43:00.000-08:00

When I began faithfully couponing several months back, I was disappointed to learn that coupons were rare or nonexistent on Holiday weekends. Happily, I've recovered from that trauma and learned to plan my grocery shopping and menu planning around the Holidays. I may have to drop by the store to pick up some milk and bread, but I've got plenty of "stock" to get us through at least the next week. I plan on taking some of the time that would have otherwise been spent searching grocery deals and doing the actual shopping to throw out my expired coupons, reorganize and plan my budget for the first few months of 2010.
I hope to also experiment this week with some of the new kitchen gadgets that I was given for Christmas! My mom loves that I've started cooking so much and gave me many fun things that I can't wait to use. My goal is to create some dishes without using a recipe. It won't be easy; I'm definitely a recipe kind of girl. But, I've found that I'm quite capable of throwing a few things together and coming up with some pretty successful combinations.
Take, for example, the breakfast casserole I put together early Christmas morning when we decided we were far too hungry to only eat cinnamon rolls. Here's the recipe. Give it a try and tell me what you think. We LOVED it!

Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole

1 bag frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, pepper jack or colby/jack blend cheese
8 frozen Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage patties, cooked and cut into bite size pieces
5 slices thick cut bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
8 eggs, slightly beaten
3 cups milk
Salt, pepper and seasoning salt to taste

Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly grease 9 x 13 casserole dish.
Place potatoes in an even layer in bottom of dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper or seasoning salt.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Top cheese with sausage and bacon pieces.
Combine eggs and milk. Season with additional salt and pepper or seasoning salt and pour over other ingredients.
Bake, uncovered for 45 - 55 minutes, or until eggs are set and knife inserted in middle of casserole comes out clean.
Let sit for 5 minutes before slicing.
Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired.

The Best Lasagna Ever... Only Better!

2009-12-22T17:02:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me know that I'm obsessed (not in a creepy way, of course) with The Pioneer Woman. If you enjoy cooking or want to learn, her blog is the one to visit. Her lasagna recipe is, by far, the best lasagna ever. And, she knows it... Take a look:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/the_best_lasagn/

We're getting ready to sit down and have some for dinner. I couldn't be happier! The kids are pretty excited too... I made a few very minor changes to her recipe to suit our family's tastes. You might enjoy them too...

Instead of canned whole tomatoes (too chunky for my picky eaters), I substituted Del Monte Petite Diced Tomatoes with Basil and Olive Oil... Yum.. And, instead of the Kraft can o' parm, I used refrigerated, shredded Italian blend by Sargento. I've never been the patient type, so I use no cook lasagna noodles that don't require boiling before they're layered in with the other ingredients. Subtle changes, but they made a big difference. If your family enjoys lasagna, try this recipe. You'll love it... I promise.

This Week's Grocery Game Success...

2009-12-20T15:47:00.000-08:00

This week's grocery excursion took me to Albertsons, King Soopers and Safeway. I was able to purchase $278.69 worth of groceries for $123.53 by combining coupons and store sales. Here's a run down of some of my favorite bargains from this week:

Albertsons

Krusteaz Bakery Style Cookie Mix
Original Price: $3.59
Sale Price: $1.79
Coupon: $1.00 off
Price at Checkout: $0.79
Savings: 78%

Orville Redenbacher Microwave Popcorn
Original Price: $3.79
Sale Price: Buy One Get One Free
Coupon: $0.40 off (Doubled to $0.80 off)
Price at Checkout: $1.10 each PLUS coupon at checkout for FREE Redbox movie rental with purchase of 2 boxes of popcorn. Guess what my family is doing tonight?!
Savings: 65%

Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese (8 oz.)
Original Price: $2.99 each
Sale Price: 10 for $10
Coupon: $1.00 off 3
Price at Checkout: $0.67 each
Savings: 78%

King Soopers

Oroweat 100% Whole Wheat Soft Family Bread
Original Price: $1.99
Sale Price: $1.49
Coupon: $0.55 off (Doubled up to $1.00)
Price at Checkout: $0.49
Savings: 74%

Betty Crocker Pouch Potatoes
Original Price: $1.29
Sale Price: Four for $5.00
Coupons: $0.35 (Doubled to $0.70 off) AND Cellfire coupon $0.40 off
Price at Checkout: $0.15
Savings: 88%

Kraft Singles Cheese 12 oz.
Original Price: $2.49
Sale Price: Three for $5.00
Coupon: $0.50 (Doubled to $1.00 off)
Price at Checkout: $0.67
Savings: 73%

Safeway

Nivea Kiss of Moisture Lip Balm (Purchased 4)
Original Price: $3.05 each
Sale price: Buy One Get One Free
Coupon: Buy One Get One Free
Price at Checkout: $1.14 each
PLUS
Coupon: Buy 3 lip balms, get lotion free (up to $6.64)
Savings: 94%

If that's not exciting enough to ruffle your feathers, I can't begin to imagine what might do it for you...

Qdoba.... Yum...

2009-12-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

Kids under 12 eat free this weekend at Qdoba... AND, they've expanded their kid's menu to include some items that kids actually like.

Enjoy!

Everybody's Preggers!

2009-12-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one who had found myself suddenly surrounded by pregnant women? Thanks to one of my favorite blogs, Springs Bargains, I stumbled across a great deal for a fun and practical gift for yourself or a friend who is or will be nursing their baby. Hop over to

uddercovers.com

Plug in promotion code CHRISTMAS for a $32.00 credit on one of their beautiful nursing covers. That means it's free. Just pay $8.95 for shipping!

Take a look at SpringsBargains.com for some great local money saving tips!

Great Deals on Magazine Subscriptions at Amazon.com

2009-12-16T11:55:00.001-08:00

I love magazines. One of my very favorite things to do is read a magazine while I'm taking a nice, hot, bubble bath. Aaaahhhhh...... Take a look at some of the magazines that Amazon is offering:

Amazon.com

Family Fun and Oprah are being offered for $5.00 for a one year subscription. Can't beat that deal!

Mexican Lasagna

2009-12-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've made this dish, but it used to be one of our favorites. I came across the recipe today and wanted to share it with you all. Let me know what you think!

Mexican Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. dry taco seasoning mix
1 C water
12 (6") corn tortillas
1 C green chilie salsa (or salsa of your choice)
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 15 oz. can corn, drained
1 4 oz. can green chilies
1 C shredded colby/jack blend cheese

Preheat oven to 375.
Brown meat; add seasoning and 1 cup water. Cook until thickened.
Spray 9" x 13" pan with cooking spray. Place 6 tortillas on bottom of pan, overlapping if necessary.
Mix salsa and tomato sauce; set aside.
Top tortillas with half the meat, corn and chilies.
Pour half the salsa and sauce mixture over top and sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.
Repeat, finishing with cheese.
Bake 30 minutes.

Zhu Zhu Pets, Anyone?

2009-12-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

If your children are asking for this year's "hottest" toy for Christmas like mine are, you know by now what a Zhu Zhu Pet is. I just got notification that a few are available. Here's the link:

http://www.shopko.com/toys-and-sports/zhu-zhu-pets

I was able to score 4 of them for $11.99 each. Good luck!

No Time Like the Present... (Original Post 12/14/09)

2009-12-14T19:08:00.000-08:00

Why wait until 2010 to get started with my New Year's Resolution when I'm perfectly ready to start TODAY?!
As you may or may not already know, I'm addicted to The Grocery Game. If you are responsible for budgeting and shopping for your household and you enjoy saving money, you've got to check it out. Here's the link:

thegrocerygame.com

For a small (very small) fee, this site allows you to print a grocery/item list for any one or all four of the stores that they offer and tells you what coupons to pair with which sales for the best prices. I save, on average, 60% of my weekly grocery bill by using The Grocery Game. Is that exciting, or what?! Ok, clearly you're not as excited as I am but, keep reading... You will be. I promise... (=

Take a look at at all the good stuff I came home with after visiting Albertson's, King Soopers, Safeway and Walgreens:

You're looking at $441.09 worth of groceries right now. Can you believe that?! The picture just doesn't do it justice... The items in that picture will keep our family of 5 fed for the next 3 weeks. Yay! The most exciting part of this picture, though, is that I didn't pay anywhere close to $441.09 for all of these groceries. I paid nearly 60% less by combining coupons and store sales. My total out of pocket expense for all of these items was $204.34. Do the math, people. That's less than $70.00 per week to feed 5 people. Awesome...

Keep in mind that I've been using The Grocery Game for about 4 or 5 months and have spent countless Sundays clipping coupons out of the paper. We set aside some of the money we saved on groceries and invested in an inexpensive pantry and a used deep freezer. By purchasing those two things, we're able to stock up on non-perishable items and freezer items when they are priced especially low. I love that there is always food in the house. Even when I haven't planned my menu, I can usually whip something up for dinner with ingredients I have on hand. I love it.

So... Welcome to my world. (=

Forgive Me

2009-12-14T18:03:00.000-08:00

I lied to you.... WAY back on September 30th, I promised you some new recipes. I haven't been back since... Ugh. Forgive me.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want 2010 to be for me and for my family. I've never been much of a New Year's Resolution kind of girl, but I like the concept and know that I'm capable of committing to new things and sticking to them. For example, I haven't had a carbonated beverage since Easter of this year. For some of you, this may not seem like much of an accomplishment. To me, however, it's HUGE. I love, and I mean LOVE Dr. Pepper. I can hardly remember what it tastes like now, but that doesn't stop me from wanting one every single day. I've also given up reading two certain magazines that I realized were a waste of my time and our money: Us Weekly and People. I'm 5 weeks "clean". (=
My point, (woah - you mean I had a point?! I'd almost forgotten, seeing as I've rambled on for a long paragraph already. Geeze...) is that, instead of giving something up for the new year, I am committing to something new: Starting January 1st, and maybe even before, I'm going to write a blog post daily. Yes, you read that right, daily..
I spend anywhere from 5 minutes to a couple hours everyday searching blogs and other internet sources for great deals. I love coupons, I love The Grocery Game and I love a great bargain. AND... I really love you, my "people".
So, get ready... Like it or not, I'm going to pass on some of my best finds, favorite recipes and bargain hunting tips. And, since you're my "people", I welcome your suggestions, constructive criticism and even your brutal honesty. Scratch the "brutal" part - I'm pretty sensitive in my old age. (o;

Home Again

2009-09-30T13:09:00.001-07:00

Just a few days ago, I was in Las Vegas, enjoying the 104 degree, sunny weather by the pool at Mandalay Bay. Today, I'm sitting in my room, listening to the 50+ mph winds that are bringing cooler than "normal" temperatures to our fair city. Truth be told, I'm happy to be home. Don't misunderstand, I had a great time in Vegas with my girlfriends. But, there's nothing quite like coming home to my precious husband and daughters. And, to be perfectly honest, I missed my routine...and, my crockpot. (= I'm heading out to volleyball practice now, but stay tuned for some new recipes later today...

Crock Pots on Sale at Target!

2009-09-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Target has a very basic, 5 quart slow cooker on sale through September 18th for $15.00. Brad and I dropped by to pick one up this afternoon, but they were all gone. Grab a rain check, though, and you can get your hands on one for the sale price as soon as they're back in stock. If one crock pot is great, imagine life with TWO!!

Last Week's Menu... Success!!

2009-09-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

I am LOVING all the cooking I've been able to do lately. My crock pot is still my favorite appliance EVER, and it's the only way I've been able to feed my family every night, even with our crazy, hectic schedules. And, sloppy joes have become a weekly staple in our house. They're quick and easy and I LOVE the recipe; it's SO much better than anything out of a can or envelope. Here's the sloppy joe recipe and some more of our most recent favorites. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as we have!

Chicken Ole

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16 oz.) jar salsa (I pureed mine with a hand blender, because my kids don't like "chunky" salsa.)
2 teaspoons cumin
1 bunch fresh green onions with tops, chopped

1. Pound chicken breasts to flatten. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth and add salsa, cumin and onions.

2. Place heaping spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture on each chicken breast and roll up. (There will be leftover cream cheese mixture.)

3. Place chicken breast seam side down in slow cooker sprayed with vegetable cooking spray. Spoon remaining cream cheese mixture over each chicken.

4. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours.

Apricot Chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 (12 oz.) jar apricot preserves
1 (8 oz.) bottle Catalina dressing
1 (1 oz.) package dry onion soup mix

1. Place chicken in slow cooker sprayed with vegetable cooking spray.

2. Combine apricot preserves, drewssing, soup mix and 1/4 C. water and stir well. Cover chicken breasts with sauce.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours.

4. Serve over hot, steamed rice.

Sloppy Joes

2.25 lbs. lean ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1 cup ketchup
6 TBS grape jelly
2 TBS yellow mustard
2 TBS apple cider vinegar
2 TBS light brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Brown ground beef and drain. Add remaining ingredients and stir over low heat until jelly is melted. Serve on buns or bread of your choice. We like our joes with cheese! Enjoy...

Ranch Pork Chops

6 (3/4 inch) bone in pork chops
1 (1.3 oz.) packet ranch dressing mix
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 (15 oz.) cans new potatoes, drained, quartered
1 (10 oz.) can French onion soup

1. Spray slow cooker with vegetable cooking spray. Place pork chops on bottom of slow cooker.

2. Sprinkle pork chops with ranch dressing mix and pepper.

3. Place potatoes around pork chops and pour French onion soup around potatoes and chops.

4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (29 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 Cup water
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 (8 oz.) package no cook lasagna noodles
4 Cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 Cups small curd cottage cheese
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a skillet, brown beef with garlic; drain. Add tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, salt and oregano; mix well. Spread 1/4 of the meat sauce in ungreased slow cooker. Arrange 1/3 of the noodles over sauce. (Break noodles, if necessary.)

2. Combine cheeses; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce. Cover; cook on low for 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.

Menu Planning and Crock Pot Recipes

2009-09-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

I've discovered, not necessarily by choice but by necessity, that the first and best way to save money is to EAT AT HOME. Brad and I used to love going out to eat. Due to the recent turn of events, we've learned to really enjoy eating at home. I've really loved having a meal to present to my family at the end of each day. We're able to sit around the dinner table, pray together, enjoy some good food and talk about everyone's day. Needless to say, my Crock Pot is my new best friend. Try a few of these recipes from our menu last week and I think your's may become your new bff too... (=

BBQ Chicken and Potatoes

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
5 small or medium potatoes, quartered
1 cup honey bbq sauce
16 oz. can jellied cranberry sauce

1. Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place 1/2 of chicken breasts in slow cooker.
2.Top with 1/2 of the cut up potatoes.
3.Mix bbq sauce and cranberry sauce together in a bowl. Spoon half the sauce over the chicken and potatoes in the cooker.
4. Place remaining breasts in cooker, followed by the remaining potatoes. Pour the rest of the sauce over all.
5. Cover and cook on Low 8-9 hours, or until chicken and potatoes are tender but not dry.

Stuffed Green Peppers
(If your kids, like mine, don't like green peppers, remove the rice and beef mixture from inside the peppers and serve. Extra peppers for dad!)

6 green peppers
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/4 cups rice, cooked
1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/4 cup beef broth

1. Cut stem ends from peppers. Carefully remove seeds and membrane without breaking pepper apart. Parboil in water for 5 minutes. Drain. Set aside.
2. Brown ground beef and onions in skillet. Drain. Place meat and onions in mixing bowl.
3. Add seasonings, rice, and Worcestershire sauce to meat and combine well. Stuff green peppers with mixture. Stand stuffed peppers upright in large slow cooker.
4. Mix together tomato sauce and beef broth. Pour over peppers.
5. Cover. Cook on low 3-4 hours.

Layered Chicken Cordon Bleu

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 lb. sliced, cooked ham
1/2 lb. sliced Swiss cheese
10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 box dry stuffing mix, prepared according to box directions

1. Layer all ingredients in the order they are listed into your slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours, or until chicken is tender but not dry.

Maui Chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
14 1/2 oz. can chicken broth
20 oz. can pineapple chunks
1/4 cup vinegar
2 TBS brown sugar
2 tsp soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 medium green pepper, chopped
3 TBS cornstarch
1/4 cup water

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.
3. Cover. Cook on High 5-6 hours or until chicken is fork tender.
4. Serve over rice or angel hair noodles.

Italian Beef

4-5 lb. beef roast, cut into 1-1 1/2 inch cubes
2 or 3 beef bouillon cubes
1 tsp garlic salt
2 TBS Italian salad dressing

1. Place roast, bouillon cubes, garlic salt, and dressing in slow cooker. Stir.
2. Add 1-1 1/2 inch water around beef, being careful not to disturb the seasoning on the top of the meat.
3. Cover and cook on Low 8 hours, or until tender but not overcooked.
4. Remove beef from cooker and shred with 2 forks. Return shredded meat to cooker and stir into broth.
5. Serve over rice, or on rolls or garlic bread for an open face sandwich.

Easy Stroganoff

10 3/4 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
14 1/2 oz. can beef broth
1 1b. beef stewing meat or round steak, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup sour cream
2 cups noodles, cooked

1. Combine soup and broth in slow cooker. Add meat.
2. Cover. Cook on High 3-4 hours. Reduce heat to Low and cook 3-4 hours.
3. Stir in sour cream.
4. Stir in noodles.
5. Cook on High 20 minutes.

Chicken Azteca

15 oz. can black beans, drained
2 cups frozen corn kernels
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1 cup chunky salsa, divided
5 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed
egg noodles, cooked
shredded cheddar cheese

1. Combine beans, corn, garlic, cumin and half of salsa in slow cooker.
2. Arrange chicken breasts over top. Pour remaining salsa (and more, if you prefer) on top of chicken.
3. Cover. Cook on High 2-3 hours, or on Low 4-6 hours.
4. Remove chicken and cut into bite sized pieces. Return to cooker.
5. Stir in cream cheese. Cook on High until cream cheese melts.
6. Spoon chicken and sauce over cooked noodles. Top with shredded cheese

You Asked For It!

2009-09-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

If you remember my last post, you know that I was "laid-off" back in July. At the time, Brad and I made the decision to do everything in our power to make sure that I was able to stay home full time with the kids. In an effort to live off of one income, I've started shopping at second hand stores, planning our menu and grocery list every week and making as many things from scratch as possible. Those of you've who've known me for longer than a year or so are most likely attempting to pick your jaws up from the floor... I'll give you a moment to gather yourselves; there's MORE. (=

OK... Ready for it? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our new life. Who knew financial loss was the ticket to a happier Shellie? Hmmm... Can anyone say, "Blessing in disguise"? After nearly 11 years of marriage, I realized that I really enjoy cooking and baking. AND... I'm not half bad. I can't say that everything I've made has been great, but most of it has at least been edible. I don't know about you, but I consider that a HUGE success.

Since my amazing transformation over the past couple months, I've had several people ask me to share some of my new methods for being frugal. What better place than my blog to get the word out? So, I thought I'd start with a post about menu planning... Stay tuned!

Did You Miss Me? No? Hmmm...

2009-08-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Wow - Do I know how to neglect a blog, or what? There's no way I'll be able to recall everything that has happened in the last 3 months, but I suppose I can give you a good idea of what we've been up to.
On May 22nd, school let out for summer break. It's official: I am now the proud mother to a 4th grader, a 3rd grader and a Kindergartener. I seem to be handling the transitions my oldest two are making, but this whole Kindergarten thing is nearly enough to send me right over the edge. How is it that my baby is going to be 6 years old next month?! It just doesn't seem possible... Ugh.
Our summer has been filled with Vacation Bible School, various camps and lots of fun days at the pool. Thanks to some of our very generous friends who live in neighborhoods that have community pools, most of our pool days have been free! Free is good any time, but especially now. Sadly, I was "laid off" a couple weeks ago and things are pretty tight around here.
Our biggest concern, of course, is the kids' school situation for the upcoming school year. We've been honored to be part of the Pikes Peak Christian School family for 6 years now, and hope to continue to be part of it for many years to come. Private school is not cheap, though, and with the loss of about 1/3 of our annual income, we just aren't sure yet what will happen. We have a huge support system through friends, family and school staff and we know that God will continue to provide for us, even if that means a new school for the girls.
So.... Life is not ridiculously exciting, but I can't complain. We're all healthy and happy and so, so very blessed.
Brad and I are leaving for some time alone in Turkey Rock this weekend. I'll share some pictures of our trip and maybe even a few from the past few months. Love you all....

2009-05-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

Ginna's Award Ceremony...

Pretend That You're Reading This Post On May 4th... (o;

2009-05-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

The Story of Ginna Rose
(Included here for those of you who don't have Facebook...yet.)
Not long after Brad and I were married in November of 1998, we began discussing the possibility of having a baby. More accurately, I began begging non-stop until he gave in. (o: Nine months after our wedding, and after what felt like a lifetime of disappointing months, I was expecting. Brad decided early on that he did not want to know the sex of our baby. I, of course, did... So, on the day of our ultrasound, we tried to find out if we would be bringing home a boy or a girl. To this day, I believe that the ultrasound technician chose not to tell us because she knew that Brad wanted to be surprised. If I could track her down, I would thank her for that. (o: By late April, the nursery was decorated in a neutral theme and I was more than ready to not be pregnant anymore. The nearly 70 pounds I had gained during my pregnancy was making it difficult to do most anything and I was miserable. At my final Dr.'s appointment, my OB agreed to schedule my induction for May 4th. My OB came in that morning a little after 8:00 a.m. and broke my water. By 8:45, I was in very heavy labor, and I was begging (ok, screaming) for an epidural. The anesthesiologist came in to administer my epidural, but it was too late. The baby was crowning as I sat on the edge of my hospital bed. After a few chaotic and terrifying minutes, my OB came in and delivered our baby at 10:11 a.m. And, then, I heard my very favorite phrase... "It's A Girl." Because we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl, I hadn't told anyone that I desperately wanted a daughter. I had tried to tell myself that I would be just as happy with a son, but the truth is that I couldn't imagine myself as a mother to a boy. My God does not make mistakes. My precious, oldest daughter is the sweetest gift to our family and I can't imagine my life without her. Happy Birthday, my sweet girl. I love you...

2009-05-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

Ginna and Avery wrote and performed a Mother's Day song for my mom and me. It was, by far, the best gift I've ever been given. I'm so proud... (o;

Poor Me..

2009-03-07T17:49:00.001-08:00

Today, I'm having a pity party and you're invited... Since Sydney was born 5 1/2 years ago, my monthly visits from mother nature have become increasingly brutal. So much so, that in Novemeber, I spent two days in the hospital with what the Dr's originally diagnosed as appendicitis. Turns out, it was only a really bad cycle. Since then, they've not been bad enough to be admitted to the hospital, but still enough to ruin at least a week out of every month. I'm tired and discouraged and wondering what to do next. My OB/GYN prescribed birth control pills, but they literally made me crazy while I was on them. I just couldn't function normally. (Ask Brad; it was terrible.) Now, I'm wondering if I should just elect to have a hysterectomy and be done with this junk forever, but the thought of doing something so permanent freaks me out a little.
Anyway... I know there are many, many people out there that have much bigger health issues to deal with and I really shouldn't be complaining. However, this issue is really beginning to effect my quality of life and something is going to have to be decided very soon. Keep me in your prayers if you think of it. I really appreciate it. (o:

Oops...

2009-02-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog, I had every intention of keeping it current. I have failed... Life has been quite a whirlwind since just before Christmas, when we made the decision to do whatever it took to sell our house in Falcon. The good news is that we moved on February 1st to a great house 5 minutes from the girls' school. Our life has changed drastically for the better and we're so happy in our new home. The girls have adjusted nicely and are getting used to not having to share their rooms with anyone. Much fun...
I'm on my way out to a friend's purse party, but I will do my best to get caught up this weekend. Much love to you all...

25 Random Things About Me

2009-01-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

I was recently challenged by several of my Facebook friends to write 25 random facts about me that they may not have already known. Since I've neglected my blog over the last several weeks, I thought I'd include it here as well...

1. I LOVE grape Gatorade.
2. I have the most rare blood type on earth.
3. I fell in love for the first and only time when I was 17 years old.
4. I work best under pressure, which justifies my tendency to procrastinate.
5. I am a good friend.
6. I consider myself a liberal conservative, which annoys many of my Christian friends...
7. I often use humor as a defense mechanism.
8. I will write a book someday, but haven't yet decided if it will be fiction or self-help. (o:
9. I've known my two closest friends for 24 years.
10. I am learning to forgive...
11. I struggle daily to wrap my head around the role that God's grace and capacity for forgiveness has played in my life and the life of my family.
12. I love to laugh.
13. (Just for you, Carmen and Amy) I spell words in my head as I say them... Before you ask, yes - I know that it isn't "normal."
14. I am a work in progress, but proud of who I am today and who I am becoming.
15. My husband and daughters are my biggest source of joy.
16. I wanted badly to become an Opthalmologist, but... God had other plans. (o:
17. I bought my first house when I was 18.
18. I enjoy painting... Not art, just walls and such.
19. So far, my 30's are waaaay better than my 20's were.
20. I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but Colorado Springs is (and probably always will be) home.
21. I started going grey in my early 20's.
22. I was raised as an only child, but have a wonderful half-brother... I wish he and his family lived closer. )o:
23. I am not very domestic, but I try...
24. I helped make 3 really amazing people... (Brad helped a little too)
25. I would really like it if all my friends would post this note about themselves!

And...

2008-12-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

In other happenings over the last couple weeks, we had our first "big snow." It really wasn't all that dramatic, but it was enough to delay school on Monday and almost pick my kids up from school early on Tuesday. From what I hear, we have another round of yuk coming up this week. Pray for a snow day; I could really use one... (o:

On a happier note, we got a new washer and dryer!! Sadly, I am ridiculously excited about my new appliances and have managed to get more laundry done since I got them, than I normally do. Surely, this is a sign that I am getting old. Seriously, though, aren't they gorgeous? Thanks to my parents, as they bought them for us for Christmas...

Last Friday, we and the Moraleses miraculously found ourselves simultaneously bored on a Friday night. So, they came out to the country for a visit... We had way too much fun, as usual, and determined that the timer on my little camera works quite well. (As evidenced in this self portrait.)

And, finally... the highlight of my decade. My amazing husband surprised me with a belated 10th anniversary present. I'd mentioned an "upgrade" to my current wedding ring several (ok, maybe more like a million) times, but we had decided that it wasn't financially wise to upgrade this year. I'm not easily surprised, but Brad managed it somehow. It's beautiful and I love it...

So, it seems to me that I've had a pretty great couple of weeks. Here's hoping that our good times continue... (o:

Update!

2008-12-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

Life has been busy since Thanksgiving, so I haven't had much time to blog. For some reason, I'm unable to upload any more pictures in this post, so it will probably take two to get caught up... (o:
Ginna and Avery recently decided that they wanted to cut their hair like mine. They are so different from one another, but often have similar opinions when it comes to things like hair styles and fashion choices. They are such good friends. They make me wish I had a sister...

This weekend was busy and fun. On Friday night, Carmen and Noelle and I joined a couple of Carmen's friends for Japanese food and a movie. We had some wine with dinner and managed to not make it to the movie. It was a fun time... On Saturday night, we went to my parents' house and spent some time with some out of town guests. My mom's best friend since jr. high and her husband were in town from Albuquerque. I somehow neglected to get a picture of them... They and their family are very special to us and it's always good to see them.

My cousin Jacky was in town from Amarillo to visit her dad, my Uncle Gary. It's been a few years since I've seen her, so it was nice to see her looking and doing well.

Jacky and my mom...

My Uncle Gary and Jacky...

Gin and Avy... BFF's

My parents...

Brad taught the girls how to play pool on my dad's pool table... It was a VERY long game...

Overall, the weekend was good. This morning, we drove out to Fox Run to meet our best friends and amazingly talented photographers (http://www.photosbyjcm.com/) for some Christmas pictures. The weather was beautiful and I can't wait to see the pics. I'm sure they'll be awesome, as always. (o:

A White Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was pretty low-key for the Costain family this year. We went to my parent's house this morning and had the most fattening and delicious lunch ever. My mom made a traditional feast and my dad and uncle made prime rib and chicken/shrimp fettuccine alfredo. I lost about 9 lbs. while I was in the hospital earlier this week, but I'm pretty sure I gained it all back today!
This evening, we went to my father-in-law's house for dinner. I didn't eat much, since I was still full from lunch, but the food was good and we had a lot of fun playing with our sweet niece, Sammi and conversing with the rest of the fam.
Sydney climbed in my lap at one point and said, "I make you happy, don't I mama?" It's reassuring when my children say something so positive without my forcing it upon them. I really love that kid...
All that being said, I have a lot of things to be thankful for this year: The miraculous preservation of my marriage, my beautiful, smart and healthy children, my God-fearing family, my faithful friends and confidantes and the knowledge that my salvation is secure in Christ.
Happy Thanksgiving...

Appendicitis?!

2008-11-26T09:59:00.000-08:00

I somehow managed to end my great weekend in a pretty crummy way. Sunday night, I started having some rather severe abdominal pain that just wouldn't subside. By 10:00, Brad and I decided that it would be a good idea to take a trip to the ER to make sure everything was ok. Long story short, I didn't get out of the hospital until Tuesday morning. My symptoms all pointed to appendicitis, but the two CT scans I had proved otherwise.

I'm glad to be home, but it seems I brought a cold home with me. I can't win... )o:

Twilight and Cocktails with Friends, New and Old...

2008-11-23T19:24:00.000-08:00

I'd been looking forward to my Twilight plans for several weeks and I'm happy to say that it was not a disappointment. The movie was not great, as my imagination is far superior to whomever wrote the screen play. They seemed to cram in a whole lot of book into one 2 hour movie, and it just didn't do the novel justice.
After the movie, we headed downtown for some Italian food and a couple cocktails at 15C. While the movie was a let down, the company was superb. I invited myself and my friend, Angie to tag along with my friend, Tarah and several of her girlfriends. I'm making a conscious effort lately to branch out and meet new people - so far, it has paid off in a really positive way. I'm all about personal growth!
I had fun reacquainting myself with a couple High School friends and getting to know Tarah's friends and sisters-in-law, and before long, we seemed to be playing 6 degrees of separation. Colorado Springs will always be a small town for those of us who grew up here. It's fun to learn who knows whom and how...
I try not to re-visit High School often but, in this scenario, it was a lot of fun. I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time.
So, cheers to new friends and old. And, to those of you who were unable to join us, here's to next time!

Fat Turkeys Are We...

2008-11-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's Sydney's version of "Fat Turkeys Are We". (o:

Crazy Neighbors...

2008-11-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

Apparently, we have a neighbor who's a little...ummm...unstable. Check out this sign he posted in his front yard:

I've come up with a crazy scenario as to what it all means but, in truth, I have no idea why someone would put something like this in their front yard. Kind of sad, isn't it?

Poor Ginna Rose...

2008-11-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

I promised I'd put up a picture of Gin with her new braces. It's not a great pic - she was waaaay too miserable for a photo shoot on Monday. My poor baby is such a trouper... She can't talk, can't eat, and is so sore that she isn't sleeping well. But, she is hanging in there nicely and has barely complained. She had better have perfect teeth when this process ends, or the Orthodontist will see my not-so-pleasant side!

She's currently under construction... My poor, sweet girl. )o:

Garden of the Gods and UFC 91

2008-11-16T18:19:00.000-08:00

Last week, Ginna had a field trip to Garden of the Gods. I've lived here in the Springs nearly all my life and had only ever driven through the park, so I was really looking forward to the hike and guided tour. The weather was nice and warm, but the wind blew at 50 mph the entire time we were there. Aside from that, we had a nice time.

Gin's BFF, Valerie got to ride with us, which she and Gin both were very excited about. Valerie is a sweet little girl and I'm thankful that Ginna has such a good friend this year.

This is really the only decent picture I got while we were there. It was just too windy!

Saturday night was UFC 91. Those of you who know us well know that we're HUGE UFC fans. We get made fun of A LOT for it, but it's something we enjoy doing together.

Gearing up for the fight... Some of our friends were supposed

watch the fights with us, but they got a better offer. We're not bitter, though.

Sadly, the main event was a bit of a disappointment... )o:

Acting like a fool always makes me feel better! (o:

Anniversary Trip

2008-11-09T16:34:00.000-08:00

A long weekend in the Costain family mountain vacation home was a great way to celebrate our anniversary. I can't remember the last time that Brad and I were able to spend four days alone. (Wait...How old is Ginna? (o:) By Saturday morning, I was really missing the kids and by Sunday, I was definitely ready to come home.
Brad was able to take some pictures, and I took a picture of him taking a picture! This is the view of Turkey Rock from the deck. This picture does not do the view justice, though. It really is breathtaking...

Brad's bike was not cooperating and refused to start on our first attempt at a good ride.

It was just a spark plug. Brad got his bike running and we were off! We didn't ride any trails, since I'm still learning to operate my bike, but we still had a nice ride.

On Thursday night, our actual anniversary, we watched our wedding video. We both agree that our ceremony was a little long, but the wedding was beautiful. It was fun to remember that time in our lives...

Brad bought me some beautiful roses. Happy Anniversary!!

10 Years

2008-11-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

Today is no different than any other day I've had lately, except that today marks the day 10 years ago that Brad and I were married. There was a time not so long ago that this day seemed as if it would never happen. I am so thankful that God's plan is bigger than my own.
Thank you to all of you who have prayed for and supported us over the years. Your friendship is everything.
And, to those of you who haven't, stop reading my blog and mind your own business!! (o:
We're heading to the mountains for a few days of r&r. Love to you all and we'll see ya when we return!

P.S. I love you, Brad. Happy Anniversary!

99 Balloons - Please Take the Time to Watch

2008-11-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

I watch Oprah much less often than I used to, but I was lucky enough to catch it the other day when this segment aired. Please, please take the time to watch it. It has had a profound impact on me personally, as well as on many others. It is a vivid representation of the battle that we Pro-Life "zealots" are embarking upon with the impending election. Every life counts. So, please, hug your babies and take the time to hit your knees tonight and thank God that they are alive and well. Keep in mind that under Obama's plan for our country, the baby in this video would've been allowed to die after 7 months of gestation if his parents had chosen not to deliver a "less than perfect" baby. His short life had a greater impact than that of so many people that live an average life span.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

And So It Begins...

2008-11-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

So, today was the beginning of the process of Ginna getting her braces. Avery had to have a couple teeth slenderized, so we decided to get it all over with in one day. The Dr. was running a little late, so we killed some time by taking some self portraits in the waiting room...

Silly girls...

Avery before her procedure... Always smiling! (o:

Ginna, before her procedure... So brave.

And, Ginna after... She had to have one filling, two teeth pulled and four spacers put in. She did great!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

The weather this Halloween was amazing! Trick-or-treating was more fun this year for that reason alone... Thanks to the Moraleses for letting us tag along around their neighborhood, as it's nearly impossible to trick-or-treat in our "neighborhood" of 5 acre plots of land in between houses. Good times...

Sydney (Grumpy Fairy), Avery (Southern Belle), Jenny (Carmen's sister as a Pink Lady), Hailey (Goth / Dancer / Cutie Pie)???, and Ginna (Sharpay)

Too Cute...

A New Toy!

2008-10-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

Brad bought me a 4-wheeler for our anniversary!! We had been talking about buying a brand new one, but decided not to after we found out that Gin needs braces. He came across this 2001 model at a customer's house a couple days ago and the guy offered it to him for a ridiculously low price. We couldn't pass it up!

Ginna was excited...

Avery was excited...

And, Sydney was excited. Until...

Avery accidentally scraped some skin off of Syd's little ankle. Somehow, I captured the moment. Poor Avery felt bad - can't you tell by the look on her face?!

Daddy made it all better...

And I got this sad but sweet picture of her. All is well...

Metal Mouth

2008-10-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

I took Ginna and Avery to the orthodontist this morning and left with a $2,500 cloud hanging over my head. Ginna will be in braces by the end of November. Poor kid - her teeth are a mess. Avery's going to have to have some work done too, though not nearly as extensive as Gin. Pray for us if we cross your minds. There will be a lot of extractions, spacers, x-rays and molds leading up to getting the braces on. Ginna is my sensitive one, so I'm especially concerned that she'll be traumatized by the process. Good times, ya?

Sarah Palin

2008-10-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

My day started at 4:30 this morning, when I woke up to get ready to head to the Sky Sox stadium to see Sarah Palin. I'm not much of a morning person, but I didn't have too hard a time dragging myself out of bed for the occasion, as our country is in dire need of change and I happen to believe that John McCain and Sarah Palin are the people to bring that about. Today only reaffirmed that belief. It is so clear that Gov. Palin loves her God, her family and her country. She supports families of children with special needs, the rights of unborn children, small business and free enterprise, among many other things that are so important to me. I believe that she is actively seeking out God's will for our country and that she will continue to do so after she is elected.
It was an honor to be there to support her this morning. Surely she's much more exhausted than I am right now!

Parent/Teacher Conferences

2008-10-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Today's happenings have really provided me with a long overdue ego boost. According to the girls' teachers, they are all beautiful, intelligent, respectful students. I'm just so overwhelmed by my incredible family. Considering some of the things that happened in our lives a few years ago, we are very blessed that we have such happy, healthy, well-adjusted children. I mentioned in my last post that Ginna made the honor roll. I found out at my conference with Avery's teacher that she also made the honor roll. How great is that?! The following is a letter that Av's teacher wrote for us to keep:

Avery works eagerly and diligently on all Language/Reading assignments. She is becoming creative in her development of stories. She has a confident approach to Reading that comes from the number of high-frequency words she now recognizes. In addition, she has started to rely on sound strategies for approaching unfamiliar works, using context and her own experience to predict text.

Avery has sound math skills firmly in place. She does well and is a good observer. This grading period has been a more challenging math program. She has to work harder to grasp new concepts. She has the persistence and willingness to accomplish a lot. Avery's achievement is commendable.

Avery has many friends and does not lack for partners at lunch and on the playground. Avery is cooperative and well mannered. I've been blessed to teach both of your daughters.

AAhhhh.... I needed that.

Ginna Rose

2008-10-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

My oldest daughter, Ginna, made the Honor Roll! She has struggled with some of her school work this year and has really worked hard to keep her grades up. We're so proud of her!!
As some of you know, Ginna had some pretty obvious sensory issues when she was younger and wasn't able to join her classmates on stage for any kind of chapel performances or school plays. I can't even recall how many times I had to make my way up to "rescue" her from herself and the paralyzing fear that she felt on stage. The transformation that has taken place in her over the past 18 months or so has been nothing short of miraculous. She and Avery attended a music/drama performance camp over the summer and loved every minute of it. The night they perfomed is one of my happiest memories. I'm sure the other parents thought I was a little unstable, seeing me cry like an idiot throughout the entire thing, but it was awesome. Yesterday, her class presented the chapel message and Ginna gave a very strong performance as "Shepherd #1." Her pre-school, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade teachers all made a point to find me afterwards to express their amazement at her progress. We've come a long way, haven't we? (o:

Good Friends and Birthday Fun

2008-10-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Brad and I got together with some of our favorite people last night to celebrate my birthday. It was a fairly low-key evening and we had a nice time.

Me, Brad, Rosie, Josh, Carmen, Judah and Noelle

Josh, me and Rosie

Carmen, me, Brad and Noelle

Nazareth, me and Robert

Me and Naz

Me and my best friends

31

2008-10-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today, I am 31. I got so caught up last year in the struggle between the desire to hold on to my precious twenties and the even stronger desire to finally become an adult that it hardly crossed my mind that there would be life after 30. Here I am, a year later, wondering how time could've passed so quickly. That being said, I think I can safely admit that this past year has been one of the best of my life. I am more in love than I thought possible with a man that I don't deserve and I have three amazing daughters that keep me in awe non-stop. My husband wrote me a beautiful letter and left it for me to find this morning and my daughters let me sleep in until 7:00 a.m. before they came in with 3 really lovely homemade birthday cards for me. Life is good...
Tonight, we'll meet some friends and family for dinner and drinks. I'm sure I'll have pictures to post later...

Pictures

2008-10-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

The girls are out of school today and tomorrow for Fall Break, so we went with Carmen to Monument Valley Park to take some pictures of the girls. They're posted on Carmen's blog:
http://mycrazylife-carmen.blogspot.com/2008/10/such-beautiful-girls.html
Check 'em out and let me know what you think!
Thanks, Carm! I love you!

Another Field Trip... (o:

2008-10-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

Today was Avery's field trip to the Butterfly Pavilion. Once we got through the nightmare traffic, we had a fun day!

I offered Avery $20 to hold the tarantula; she countered with $25 and I agreed, but was still beyond shocked when she actually did it!

Avery's Field Trip

2008-10-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

I got uninvited to participate in the "help Ginna with her science project" party, so I'm blogging and feeling like I have to include each of my daughters equally on the blog. So, here are a couple pics of Avery's field trip a couple weeks ago to Mueller State Park.

It wasn't exactly my idea of a fun field trip - bees and animal skins aren't so much my "thing." The kids had fun, though, and I'm glad I got to go with her!

Ginna's Science Project

2008-10-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

Gin's first science project/paper is due tomorrow. So, we of course got started on it yesterday. Ha ha. Flashbacks to your own childhood assignments anyone? She did a great job with a little help from dad and she's very proud of her work. Her teacher this year is tough and has very high expectations, so I'm curious to hear what she has to say about it. I guess we'll find out soon!

Sydney Rayne

2008-10-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

I had to share these pictures of Sydney... My naughty, naughty baby... (o:

One Tough Cookie...

2008-10-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

My little Sydney had to have her school physical today. Little did I know that she was due for 4 vaccinations... I felt so bad and tried to explain to her that she was going to have to get some medicine in her legs and that it wouldn't feel very good. Her response? "Ok, mama." Unbelievable. I figured she would change her tune once the first injection was given, but she didn't make a sound. She made it all the way through all 4 shots without even a peep. She continues to amaze me every day. (o:

Farewell, Crummy Week...

2008-10-04T19:21:00.001-07:00

I had a terrible week and I'm so, so glad that it's over... I'm taking this weekend to settle down and relax with my family and gear up to face the week ahead. Monday marks the first day of my new "job." I'm officially a stay-at-home mom again!

1st Day of School 2008

2008-10-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

These are my sweet daughters on the first day of school this year. Avery is in 2nd grade, Sydney is in Pre-K and Ginna is in 3rd grade.

Me? A Domestic Engineer?

2008-09-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that my abilities in all things domestic are, to say the very least, limited. When my girls were babies, I dreamt of a time when they would start school and I would join the ranks of the working mother. That "dream" came true much earlier than expected and, for the first time in about 4 years, it looks as though I may be returning to domestic bliss as a housewife and stay-at-home-mom. I am certainly apprehensive, but very much looking forward to the challenge. Let the adventures begin!

Happy Birthday, Sydney Rayne!

2008-09-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Today is Sydney's 5th birthday. After my experience as a mother who did not always enjoy the "baby stage" of parenting, I'm finding that I'm unusually emotional about leaving toddlerhood behind forever. There's something so final about saying goodbye to all things "baby." Several months ago, Brad and I had a little scare, as mother nature forgot to send my monthly gift in a timely matter. I went so far as to take a test, and found that I was uncertain as to how I felt about the negative result. Shortly thereafter, I began mentioning the idea of a 4th baby to Brad, just too see if maybe we were on the same page. I quickly realized that, not only were we not on the same page, we weren't even reading the same book! Since that time, I've realized that our family is complete, and I wouldn't have it any other way. So, as Brad and I say farewell to one stage of our life, we look forward to the next. Our family is happy and healthy and we have found a joy in one another that didn't exist on such a level until this past year. I am humbled by our experiences and grateful for the 2nd (and 3rd and 4th, etc.) chances that God's grace alone has allowed.

Blogging....Really?

2008-09-16T12:22:00.001-07:00

I'm not ready to wholeheartedly jump on the blogging bandwagon, but I'm thinking about maybe giving it a try... I think there might be something therapeutic involved and I'm all about free therapy. Here's the thing, though... I'm a bit of a procrastinator and I have the best of intentions that do not always translate into action. To top it all off, I'm also ridiculously impulsive at times, although that seems to be diminishing with age. Who knows where my blogging plans will go from here? I guess I won't know until it happens. Or, until it doesn't... (o: