She's graduating college

My baby girl is graduating college Sunday. That sentence is a sobering powerful declaration for me. It is packed with all kinds of emotion that is so overwhelming that as a parent it is almost too much to bare. I've tried so hard to not reflect and just live in the moment, but alas she will always be my baby girl who is grown into a strong beautiful woman. I couldn't be prouder of her for chasing her dreams!!

Every hurdle, every fear, every hardship, every doubt...disappears for commencement. Of course it's replaced with a whole new set, but it will be okay just as college was okay. There's an excitement to starting a new chapter that is electric and I'm so happy for her!!

I hope to get all my little tears out long before the big day, but just in case I can't I hope my camera captures everything my tear stained eyes may miss.

Looking Back at My Christmas Blessings

It's January and everyone has packed away their Christmas decorations for the most part, kids have returned to school (unless you're us and are getting snow days), and people are returning to their jobs and routines. For me it's a time of reflection and a time to look over my calendar for the rest of the year. 

This holiday season was harder than I imagined it would be. My body was still going through quite a bit of an adjustment to the medication so I had to let go of some of my control and have the family help, and I had to try not to micro manage that. That in itself was hard. The family really pitched in to help make the decorations better than my wildest imagination, even if there were candy wrappers on the floor. Yes there were squabbles, eye rolls I'm sure, and other moments that were not our finest, but there were also more laughter, more shenanigans, more memorable moments (at least for me) than I've ever had at Christmas. 

• I was able to see my dad & Hildie right before Christmas and take in a basketball game with them. One of my favorite parts was having coffee with dad early in the morning before the hustle & bustle of the day got started.
• Being able to participate in my niece, Sienna's feast right before the break. I felt real honored that she allowed me to be a part of that with her.
•  Of course being with my grand babies on Christmas Eve and all three of the kids was a priceless memory for me. My oldest grandson Gabriel is wise beyond on years and I love seeing how life is through his eyes, which never stops amazing me. The twins are full of energy and life. Now you mix my children that are grown or just about grown all together and it is this beautiful messy part of life that I help create. I think that's pretty great.
• We went down to my sister's on Christmas day. My mom was preparing Christmas dinner and my sister was suppose to be working. It was a great surprise that she had finished early and was able to make dinner!! I was delighted! I was able to SEE some of the coolest coffee cups in the world she had gotten for Christmas. It was a very relaxed time, a much needed time.

There were many other blessing I had this holiday season. I am thankful for my family walking the unfamiliar path with me.

My Pink Tree

As most of my close family and friends know I'm having a lot of vision issues because of my little condition. I'm still steady on losing weight, exercising, staying on my medication, keeping a positive attitude, and never giving up on hope. That being said, I am also brave enough with my vision in a weakened state to be bold enough to enjoy every little pleasure that sight has to behold without reservation. 

It may sound a little backwards or whatever, but I am totally focusing on the decorations this year. Yes, it will cut into my gift giving budget but I'm loving each and every decoration I SEE!! I caved in and am going back to letting the family have their real tree up this year and making the huge family outting of the tree farm and all the shenanigans that our family does with the live tree. For the trade off they have (of course they didn't know there would be a trade off, lol) my own individual artificial tree.

My tree is a little 3 ft. white tree, decorated with pink or a weird off set purple/pink ornaments (that bless the staff at Menards help me know the difference between pink and red, since I can't see that difference right now). And I even found a wonderful set of PINK lights to go on the tree. It is my very own pink tree, and I kid you not I cry everytime I look at it. I truly love this little tree.

Anyone who knows me may ask why pink? I'm not a girly girl. My daughters were not girly girls. I am surrounded by testosterone, I even have 3 grandsons that I wouldn't want any other way. So why go with pink?

Pink = Strength, at least in my mind.

This tree represents to me: all the women who have fought breast cancer or any cancer and won or went on to rest because they had the strength, all the women who have carried a child and lost that child because they had the strength, all the women who raised children whether they gave birth to them or not because they had the strength, all the women who had to fight twice as hard in a man's world because she had the strength, all the women who stayed in abusive relationships and the ones who got out because they had the strength, all the women who like them or not are strong role models for women- Cher (I listen to her daily right now, she's like a cup of coffee for me), Madonna, Rosie, Oprah, Ellen, Goldie Hawn, these women have stood some battles through the media throughout time have the strength. It takes a special strength in being a strong woman and pink feels fitting to all the strong woman. 

So to all the strong women out there...I thank you. I know I'm strong...because I am a woman. And with the holidays of thankful and hope upon us I proudly display my little pink tree. 
 

Grocery Shopping in Sandusky (Sept. 5 & 6)

I'm going to be honest this is where I will be doing the majority of my families grocery shopping this weekend. There's a lot that has to be done for my family at the different stages of our lives and I can get quite a bit done in Sandusky. Yes, it's a bit of a drive but it's more than worth it for us. 

Kroger-(they have a shopper's card that you can load digital coupons on from home. )

• Currently this week there is a Buy 5 and save $5 off instantly so when I give you the price on these it's going to be after the 5 is bought. The 5 items can be mixed and matched, and there is more in the store than even what the ad shows.
• Red Raspberries 6 oz. $.99
• Lucky Charms, Honey Nut Cheerios $1.49 after you buy 5 plus there is paper cpns out there
• Gain 50 oz. laundry detergent $4.99 after you buy 5 plus cpn
• Capri Sun including roaring watering $1.49 after you buy 5
• Miracle Whip $2.49 after you buy 5 plus newspaper cpn
• Tide Pods $3.99 after you buy 5 plus newspaper cpn
• Dawn Dish Soap $1.99 after you buy 5 plus newspaper cpn
• Pantene Shampoo $2.49 after you buy 5 plus cpn
• Broccoli crowns $.99
• Powerade 8pk $3.49 after you buy 5
• 4 pk kraft mac n cheese bowls $2.49 after you buy 5
• Nutella 16 oz. $2.49 after you buy 5
• Sargento cheese $2.29 after you buy 5 plus cpn
• Mr. Clean Muscle/Febreeze air effects $1.99 after you buy 5 plus cpn

Then of course I go fill up at Kroger fuel with my fuel perks.

Meijer's  (mobile coupons)

I'm only just starting to shop at Meijer's so I'm learning, but there is some pretty good deals I added to my phone this week. Since I'm in Sandusky I will pop in and check it out.

Menard's (another new one for me, but they do take manufacture coupons and they are located right on 250 down from the mall)

• They are offering a $10 rebate if you spent $40 on select P&G items.
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser $2.29 + cpn
• Tide Oxi Multi-Purpose $7.99 + (there was a $4 cpn in this past Sunday paper)
• Bounce Dryer Sheets 80 ct $3.69 +cpn
• Downy Unstoppables$5.99 + cpn
• Era 96 loads $7.77 + cpn
• Tide Simply Clean 89 loads $7.77 +cpn

Target  (cartwheel, mobile coupons, print target coupons, manufacture coupons, target card gets an extra 5% off, and 5 cents off per bag when you bring your own)
No special deals per say for me out of the ad, but there is some good scenarios I've come up with on some of their everyday things that I'm out of that I will be picking up this week.

I know this isn't local shopping like I've always done, but my local has had to get bigger. I wish all of you happy shopping and fun this weekend.   

Grocery Deals in Norwalk this weekend (Sept. 5 & 6)

I don't know about the rest of you but with the start of the new school year; college supplies, high school stuff, a flat tire here, a car break down there, and extra medical bill there I need to tighten that grocery budget a little tighter still yet. So I've worked extra hard this week finding some of the best deals out there minus one major store, and I'm sure before long I'm going to need to make a run through there to see how their prices are stacking up compared with everywhere else. These are just some of the highlights of things our family stocks up on so fill free to check these stores websites out to see their deals for your family.

Some things I've added recently to help me save money is the receipt rebate sites such as Ibotta and Checkout51 from my smartphone. I also do as many mobile coupons as I can to help save time and ink, but have no fear I still print them, get coupons from magazines, and the weekly newspapers. 

Okay here is some of the best grocery deals that I've found in the Norwalk area. 

Walgreens- (mobile coupons, register rewards are like a coupon you can use on your next transaction, and you need a walgreens card to get the deals)

•  MILK the lowest I've found in 3 counties $2.69
• Epsom Salt $4.00- $4.00 register rewards
• Cottonelle toliet paper 12 pk. $3.99-cpn in newspaper

 Dollar General- (mobile coupons, you can use one dg cpn and one manf. cpn per item)

• Coke 12 pks. $3.00
• Lay's Chips $2.00
• Little Debbie snack cakes $1.50
• Gain 50 oz. laundry detergent $4.95 +cpn (get $5 off your next purchase when you spend $15 of select gain products)

Aldi-(no coupons, cards, just your own bags)

• Green Seedless Grapes $.89/lb
• Navel Oranges $1.99 for a 3 lb. bag
• Roma Tomatoes $.69 per 16 oz. pkg

Gardner's-(print cpns straight from their website & they double up to 99 cents)

• Totino's Pizza & Pizza Rolls 11/$10 sale=$.91 each
• Jumbo Green Peppers $.69 each
• Zesta Saltines $2.00

Drug Mart-(they do have a courtesy card but you don't have to have it to get the deals)

• Healthy Choice Soup $1.00
• White Potatoes 10 lb. bag $2.99
• Seedless Cucumbers 5/$5
• Yellow Cooking Onions 2 lb. bag $.99
• Purell hand sanitizer jelly wraps  $1 + cpn on 2

Schild's IGA -(no card needed)

• Nickles Bread 20 oz. loaf $1.00
• IGA microwave popcorn $1.00
• I didn't mention meat prices throughout this entire post because the prices are rough, but if you really need a steak t-bones are $7.98/lb here

Family Dollar-(grab an ad when you walk in the door for in store coupons also they have a mobile site)

• Glad Trash Bags 16-50 count $5.50 
• Lysol Wipes 35 ct $2.00
• Colgate Toothpaste $1.00+ newspaper cpn
• Clorox Smart Bleach $2.00 + online cpn= $1.00

Also on Saturday mornings there is the Farmer's Market right uptown Norwalk with all kinds of local vendors selling fresh produce and other goodies. Don't forget to stop along local fruit and veggie stands throughout your day also. You may have noticed a few items on my lists that are not "grocery", but since they come out of my "grocery" budget they get included in the grocery list. Also Dollar Tree now takes manufacture coupons there is a print limit on items, but I don't think there is a newspaper clipped coupon limit.     

Raising Older Teenagers

I've raised three of them (teenagers) that is, and truth be told it is like one giant roller coaster ride for me. I've read all kind of articles on how great it is, and how nightmarish it can be but in reality it's a crap shoot. There are tons of factors that will play into these years of course, but since I'm posting my opinion here we will go with my experience. 

I've raised my kids to be independent thinkers, meaning this: think for yourself don't just go with the flow. Now this translated during their teen years into pushing boundaries, challenging discussions on EVERYTHING, picking roads less traveled for career choices, and as much as it has pained me putting distance between me and them every now and then during the college years to make sure their views were their views and not mine. This was needed for them to grow and me.

Here is a factor that is debated at our house my last child is my son, and the other two are my daughters. My son is so different from both of them is it because he is the last child or because he is a boy? If you've ever meet him you would know it's just him, his personality, his thinking, etc. He doesn't just think outside the box sometimes I think he doesn't even see the box when solving a problem. When I asked him once if your friends were jumping off a bridge would you, his response was where's the bridge at? how deep is the water? are there bungee cords or a straight jump? (this question was just asked a few weeks ago).

My girls well they are opposites too. I am very fortunate because their opposing views on things they don't try to change the other one, but try to see things through different perceptions. The mountains that these two have climbed on their own journeys leave me in awe and amazement. 

There is no perfect book to tell you how to raise them to be great adults. Prayer daily is a must have. Communication, and yes even a little space. Let them make mistakes, teach them how to have fun doing things, unplug every now and then, especially at this age keep reminding them of basic principles, and at the end of the day sometimes it's still just a crap shoot.  



 

College Life- views from a parent

I'm delighted to present my views and perceptions on college life by a parent (myself, a non-college educated way too young to have children in college herself kind of person). I recently picked up my middle child for a 2 week break between her summer classes and preparing for the fall ones, and made some new observations. This isn't going to be one of those sappy posts. I love all my children and I'm extremely proud of them ALL, they have crossed mountains that I'm left in awe of. That being said let's get down to the rough side of reality:

• The surprise visit- don't do it!! For everyone involved parents just don't. Surprise them with money, surprise them with care packages, not a surprise visit. 
• Survival-as the first year progresses they get new survival instincts some are great, some not so much. Remember they have their own goal in mind they are doing what you taught them...going after it. Sometimes that means distant from us.
• Adults in charge- ha!! The adults that are mentoring our super young adults worry me. That being said pray for them, and in true me fashion I still draw bushy eyebrows on them in the program.  
• REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM!!- for good or bad don't forget it. I will preach this night and day always. 
• Dorms-oh for crying out loud. Your kid has wanted their own room their whole life just to get excited about sharing a dorm room at college. This topic could get an entire post by itself. Share, be courteous, have fun but not too much, pick up after yourself, use the cleaning supplies I bought you...you're wasting your breath here none of these things will happen. You should just get out the black sharpie now and put their name on all their stuff just like when they were in kindergarten. 
• Unnecessary items- there is sooooo much that they really do not need to take with them that the 'college' say to. Again an entire post just for this topic. Keep in mind you will eventually have to pick them up and it's all nice and neat now, there stuff will grow and things will not be nice and neat. All that being said there is quite a bit that the 'college' doesn't tell you that they will need. I think it all depends on your new adult.
• Condoms-don't go all bugged eyed on me. No matter what your views here is and how you raised your kid. Buy them and pack them. 
• Laundry- stay on them constantly about this.To me this is the dominant smell of the dorms and it's not fabric softener sheets.

Good luck parents!!