My evening out.

I wasn't feeing well most of the day and really wanted a nap. About 3 I finally got one. I woke about 4:45 and remembered that I signed the kids up for parents night out at the Y. Because Wes is gone it is free. I had some errends to do, so I desided to go. Don't really have the money right now to do a lot. since I wasn't feeling good I was really craving chicken noodel soup. So that is what I am doing. Eating and sitting in front of a fountian at the Y.

Pregnant???

Weston and I both thought we would try for baby #3 while he was home on R&R. The timing was just perfect. But a few months ago Weston and I had a talk about him just wanting to stick with the two we already have. I was heart broken, I had been set on trying for a third for a while and we even planed his R&R around the time I we were wanting to try. We concluded that he was just missing home and the kids and I, and He did want to try for another. Well those thoughts have been on my mind since then and it has been hard for me to be gun oh about wanting another. I also know those feeling come from being a single mom for almost a year and not wanting to do that again with 3. But I have always wanted more then 2 so that is what I have been think of. So this week I have been going pee a ton and the last few days I have been dead tired, way more then usual. So I am wondering.... could I be? But it has only been a week and a couple days. it just seems to soon to know, and I am to scared and nervous to take a test. I would be excited and surprised if I was, but maybe sad and a little relieved if I wasn't.

Also selfishly I think I would be a little torn, as much as I loved being pregnant, I am currently in the best shape I have ever been. I like being fit and tone, and that doesn't come easy. I have been working hard this year Weston has been gone to look this good. So I guess we will see in the next week what God has planned for our life. It is in His hands.

BBQ!

The one thing I get to do a lot of while Weston is gone is BBQ. I love to eat BBQ food and so I had to learn quickly that if I wanted it while Weston was gone I had to make it. When Weston was gone for 6 months in 2008, I was pregnant with Erica and I loved BBQ. We had this tiny little BBQ on our front porch, I looked at it one day and thought to myself "What is so hard about this, I am a good cook, I can BBQ" so that was when I started to have BBQ when ever I wanted! I am proud to say that I can BBQ with the best of them, and I mean it. I can truly say I have had some awful BBQ, and only know 3 men that can BBQ good food. My dad, my husband and Billy Carling. I am sure there are others that can as well, so take no offense if I haven't mentioned you.

But in any case, I love that I can BBQ and cook in the kitchen too. BBQ at my house any time.

Did you know?

I like to photograph. I have officaly started my own buisness, about three months ago. It is called Captured Beauty Photography. This is my blog if you want to see what I like to do.

http://capturedbeautyphotos.blogspot.com

I have pictures from an old 35mm from when I was in grade school. I love that you can capture feelings in a picture, the way you feel at that moment you see something. When you see a picture it can spark strong feelings inside you. Anything from love and happiness to sadness and sorrow. Pictures aren't just a way to capture beauty, but to also show future generations what life was like, to change and make others understand how you view your world. I want to show the world the beauty I see that God has given all around me.

This is my Son and I on Easter.

To me, Photography is my way of giving back beauty and love. So I started my own amateur photo business.

I have been taking pictures for as long as I can remember, but have not improved my skills, so I am hopping that over this year taking pictures of people and friends as well as a few night classes when Weston returns, I can become the photographer I strive to be. I believe that a true pro Photographer should be able to take a picture and capture the beauty you see with your own eye without having to use a ton of editing tools. Even though those can be fun and add uniqueness to a picture that is who I want to become. If you would like to use my services please give me a jingle or write me an email. My prices are on the side of my Blog page.

Did I tell you?

Yesterday my daughter did something every child does at least once. She found her new scissors and cut bits of her and her brothers hair. It could have been much worse and I am sure I overreacted. But she cut all her bangs off and a couple chunks off the back, she also did a chunk off the front of Glenn's head. I was so happy that what she did was to drastic, she managed to still have hair up front so we didn't have to fix that, but because her bangs her so short and her back was long, I couldn't help but look at her and think she looked like she was growing a mullet. So we went and got it fixed. She now has a cute pixie hair do and I think it is pretty cute. I just shaved the hair off Glenn's head. All good.

Pictures of the laundry soap. Recipe posted Below.

The soap will have a jelly like feel. it will need to be made smooth.

I used this pasta spoon, but it didn't work as well as I had hoped, A wire wisk works better.

Then I filled my bucket half full with the soap, filled it up the rest of the way with water, put the cap on tightly and shook it up. Bow it is in my laundry room ready to use. I still have 9 gallons left, this will last me a long time.

Some more pictures from Weston being home on R&R.

Happy family Photo.

Drinking some amazing drinks, called Screwdrivers.

My view at the beach.

Feeling great at the beach.

Homemade Laundry Soap.

One thing I started doing to save money was make my own liquid laundry soap. I love this idea not only because I save some green, but because I am being green! :) I really save quite a bit by doing this. It makes 10 gallons and does 180 loads for a top loader. Thought I would share the recipe I have with you. I will post a picture of what I made today later.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water


1 Fels-Naptha soap bar


1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*


½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Personal tips. I have found that if you boil the water before you put in the soap it melts faster and you have less sticking to the pot.

Coupons

I have been couponing for about four months. It has been a fun experiance so far. I save any where from 25$ to 90$ on a grocery trip. I haven't been taught this, I started from scratch. I am not like those people you see on TV buying things I dont use. I have recently bought a ton of body wash that will last me well into next year, but those are things that we will use and I paid 25 cents to nothing (free) for those. I am really glad that now I dont have to go out to get food every week, I have enough in my kitchen (if I wanted). I encourage you to get your Sunday paper and cut the coupons, look through the grocery ads and find what you can for cheaper or free. There are billion websites out there for helping you to learn to coupon and find great deals. here are a few.

http://www.southernsavers.com/

http://moneysavingmom.com/

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

Here are some site that give good coupons, check them out too.

http://www.kraftfirsttaste.com/default.aspx

http://www.coupons.com

http://freebies4mom.com/

http://www.armandhammer.com/solutions/solution-7/Deodorize-Diaper-Pails.aspx

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/coupons

http://www.earthsbest.com/special-offers/earths-best-coupons

http://www.dole.com/Default.aspx#/home

Almost any brand, you can go to there website and sign up to get coupons.

Been almost a month!

As much as I like bloging. I always find something else that needs to be done. House work, kids stuff, me stuff, lazy stuff. In any case I am not much of a writer either, but isn't that the fun of a blog, not having to be perfect.

Weston left last Friday and is back in the sand box. We had an amazing time together as a family and just the two of us. Time didn't go to fast, but I still didn't want him to leave. I thought of the many things I still wanted to do but didn't get do to the day before he was leaving. I didn't take as many picture as I would have liked. I would have liked to cook more and be able to just do more. But that would need more time as well which we did not have. I miss him so much already and it is only been four days. Seems so much longer! Love you tons Weston, and We are all excited to see you soon.