Update! Has it really been 4 months??

I cannot…repeat… CANNOT believe it has been 4 months since I have updated this blog.   I miss it. I really do. I miss writing.  My website Sioux Falls Frugal Mom has taken off and it’s becoming very popular among Sioux Falls residents.  I spend quite a bit of my extra time working on that blog and after all of that is done, the thought of writing something truly substantial for this blog is just too much to even think about.

Lately I’ve been reducing the amount of posts I do on SFFM and trying to fit more information into each individual post.  This way I have less work to do and more information, I believe, will reach more people if there are fewer posts to read.  I know of a lot of coupon blogs where they post 10 or more blog posts EACH day.  It’s just too much if you ask me. Not only is it a lot of work for the blogger but it’s just too much for the READER to handle.  I don’t want to sit and read 10 posts when I could read 1 post with all the same info combined into it.  Rather than posting 1 new coupon at a time I will create a post with 10 new coupons.  Granted if there is only one new coupon and I think it may not be available in a few days I will give it its own post but if not…it gets put on the “Coupons to Post” list until I have enough to make a good list of new available coupons. It just makes the most sense and it it benefits the reader by reducing the time they spend on the site.

Along with the reduction of posts has come a lot more free time for me.  My house is actually clean and organized.  I have time to read books and my favorite magazines again. I actually…*gasp*..have time to post on here!

So what’s new in our neck of the woods?

1. Zoe is beginning potty training.  She does best when she decides to go entirely on her own… if I ask her to go, she won’t do it.  In a sense that’s a good thing, but there are other times when I know she has to go but she won’t. She just holds it, then if I have to put a diaper on her (for a nap, an outing, or at night) she’ll go.  She also has no idea what panties are for and would rather have them off.  That’s another problem though that I’ll deal with later on haha.

2. I’m a regular contributing writer for The Hood Magazine now!   The first issue was handed out at Family Fest last weekend. We handed out over 1,000 copies to people.  The official ribbon cutting for the launch of the magazine takes place on the 18th.  My first article was on printable coupons.  I felt that would be a good start because it can help a family save SO much each month and so many people are still afraid to try printable coupons.  Hopefully those that read it will give printable coupons a try

3.  Gage finished college – graduated from Southeast Tech – and got a job!! He works as a programmer for Rock Hard Systems here in town. They make software for trucking companies.

This blog may or may not stay at this address. I have a feeling I may move it back over to blogger…we’ll see. For now, it is here.

Wow, midnight already. Time for bed! Hopefully I’ll write again soon.

Shaina

1 Peter 1: 3-6

This is exactly what I needed to hear today…

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Just an Update.

We have officially begun potty training. No particular method…just letting her try it for a few hours a day.  We’ve had a little bit of success, a few accidents.  I’m actually glad when she has an accident because she’s learning from it.  I’m debating over buying pull ups for when we’re out and about.  I know so many people who say, “No pull ups!” But.. what do I do if we’re out?

I’ve been having quite a bit of fun finding deals to post on Sioux Falls Frugal Mom.  A  little too much fun I think!  It’s just so fun finding a great deal and sharing it with other people  Oh yes..before I forget – I did another TV interview! This time it was with KSFY.  You can see it HERE.

Gage is excited about finishing school next month (sort of… I think he’d go there forever if he could!).  He’s going to begin looking for a job very soon.  Please pray that he finds a great job right away!

After living without food in the house (haha, well.. fruits, vegetables, bread..anything healthy) for over a week now, we finally got paid today AND received a wonderful tax return! It feels so nice to have money to pay Dr. and Dentist bills off and go grocery shopping and perhaps buy a few things we’ve been needing for a while…like some new towels and a blender!  Since I have $50 in my Amazon account from Swagbucks I think I may splurge and buy a Wii Fit (it’s only about $100 so it’ll cost us $50).  I have friends that have that and they love it.   Oh yes, I need to buy glasses!  It’ll be nice to see the words during worship at church and actually see Pastor Randy when he’s preaching!

Kingswood Rummage Sales are coming up soon! Hopefully it doesn’t rain this year.  I should make a list of things to look for at the sales.

Zoe’s 2nd Birthday!

Zoe turned 2 a couple weeks ago!  She is definitely a toddler now.  Running is one of her absolute favorite things.  Pretty much all her words are real words now.  She’s even begun saying “My shoes” instead of “Zoe’s shoes”, and “I would like some crackers” instead of “Zoe would like some crackers”  :)   She’s been playing pretty well with her friends, but as all toddlers do, she does suffer a bit from the “that’s mine” syndrome! haha.   This month was a major birthday month!   The first week, our friend’s baby was born, that same week was Gage’s brother’s 12th birthday,  the next week was Zoe’s birthday, 4 days later was my mother-in-law Jenny’s birthday, and the next week was Zoe’s best friend Kjersten’s birthday!  There were 3 birthday parties this month, and many more birthdays I didn’t list.   Zoe certainly got her fill of birthday cake!

The skirt she is wearing in the picture was made by Jenny! Isn’t it adorable? It was the perfect thing for her to wear on her birthday.  Jenny also made her a Winnie the Pooh dress to wear at her birthday party!

Zoe’s party was fun.  She “played” the Wii, opened presents, stared at her birthday candle, ate cake, and looked cute.   Unfortunately the only one of her little friends that could make it to the party was Evan! We’re so thankful that Evan was there   Everyone else at the party was an adult.  We still had a great time though!

Zoe was blessed with so many amazing gifts this year.  A magna doodle, her first skates, adorable clothing, a little keyboard, an overnight bag that looks like a stuffed animal (so cute!), fridge phonics (she LOVES this!), her first barbie, a new Veggie Tales DVD and many many more.  I used some of her birthday money to buy her some new books, as well as a bunch of adorable spring/summer clothes so she’s almost set for the warmer months!

Thank you to all who came to the party and/or provided her with a gift!  She now has everything she could ever need, and then some.

Tags: Zoe

“I need glasses!”

We moved here in 2006 and we have driven past the “Ground Round” restaurant hundreds of times and were always curious as to what in the world the “Ground Round” was… it doesn’t exactly sound very appetizing… but today we decided to give it a try.  The food was actually pretty good.  The menu is all over the place though, a little confusing, food doesn’t look too good on the menu, and they serve you warm (border-lining cold) popcorn as soon as you sit down.   Not peanuts, chips, or bread….  popcorn.   As soon as the waitress left our table, Amanda and I simultaneously said, “that’s interesting.”     The food was good though.    I got the broccoli cheese soup and salad.

The highlight for me however was not the food, but a little comment my little girl said.  Zoe was looking around the restaurant and out of nowhere she says, “I need glasses…”   Glasses? She must have heard me say that recently.  Even so, it was hilarious to hear my 2 year old say that!  I doubt she needs glasses, but I definitely do need glasses. I always notice it when I’m at church and I’m trying to read the words on the screen during worship and I can’t.   Zoe broke my glasses about 6 months ago and I still haven’t ordered new ones.. I need someone to measure the distance between my pupils.  As soon as I get that measurement, Zenni Optical here I come!

After lunch we went to Barnes & Noble, then to Falls Park.   All I can say is.. WOW.  I have never seen the park so flooded before, and the waterfalls were flowing faster than I’ve ever seen! It was amazing.  If only the water wasn’t completely brown and the sky gray… it didn’t exactly make for good pictures!

One of my best friends from CA came to visit us this past weekend! Amanda arrived on Thursday morning and she left at about 5pm today.  It was so nice to have her visit, even if it was just for 4 days!  She came to visit for Zoe’s birthday.  I’ll write more about Zoe’s birthday and birthday party in another post.  For now, it is almost 2 am.  I need to sleep!

She’s almost 2…

So much going on!  Hopefully things will settle down in a couple weeks and I can begin to write more about what’s going on around here  In short, I’m preparing for a 2 hr class on Digital Photography that I’m teaching Sunday afternoon and I’m planning Zoe’s 2nd birthday party for the following weekend!  My best friend Amanda is coming to visit so I’m preparing for her visit by cleaning and getting her room ready. I’ve also been working on Sioux Falls Frugal Mom quite a bit lately.  That interview with Keloland brought quite a few readers! It was a heck of a lot of work at first but now I feel I’ve got the hang of it and it should get a lot easier to maintain.

Today was a nice day.  I spent a lot of time listening to Zoe say, “Mommy! Watch dis!!” and “Mommy! What’s dat??” “What’s dis?” haha.  She’s so eager to learn.  I love this age! She learned the letters “B” and “H” today.  I’m going to try and teach her a couple letters a day.   This little girl loves to learn words and she loves to talk!   She says many short sentences already. Some longer words she’s learned this week: “Dinosaur” , “Downstairs”, “Motorcycle” and “Delicious!”  I also discovered – like mother, like daughter – she’s a fan of the ocean!  - “Mommy! Ocean! Pretty.”

She’s almost 2. I can’t believe it.   She’s no longer a baby   I’m looking forward to her getting older but man, it just makes me sad to think about the fact that she’ll never be a baby again…

*SIGH*

How are you all doing? All 5 of you! hehe.

Daddy’s Little Valentine

Finally, an update :)

God is challenging me this month.  I know that whatever happens it will all be for his glory, so I’m actually pretty calm about all the new things that are going on!   So what’s new, you may ask?

Bridget is MARRIED! –  My step-sister Bridget has been engaged for 4 years now and she finally married Adam on February 6, 2010….which also happened to be their 10th Anniversary of dating.  I’m so happy for them, Adam has already been a part of the family for a long time but now I can officially call him my brother-in-law

California: We were blessed with near perfect weather on our trip to the San Diego area (where we grew up).  We were there from the 3rd to the 10th.   We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends, eating our favorite foods, and attending Bridget & Adam’s Wedding!  The day before we left I started to get super sad about leaving and the next couple days were pretty rough when we got home, but I’m over it now…for the most part.  While it breaks my heart that my friends and family will not be able to see my daughter (and future kids) grow up, all that really matters is that we are where God wants us to be.  Right now, that is in Sioux Falls.  If God wants us in CA we’ll end up in CA somehow, if not, that’s okay too.

Learning to Forgive: God has shown me in the past several months that I struggle with forgiveness.   Part of being a follower of Christ is to learn to exemplify Christ in all that I do.  Christ forgave and Christ loved.  He did not get angry for unrighteous reasons.  This means that when I am provoked, angered, annoyed, saddened, or persecuted, I must not react unrighteously.  Righteous living requires learning to forgive and show others grace, just as He, in his grace, has forgiven us who believe in Him.  So instead of holding a grudge or letting little things build up, I am choosing to forgive and to love.

Keloland News Interview: Pigs do fly.  Not only did my step-sister get married this month, but I did a TV interview! Say what?!  TV? Interview? Shaina? Ummm yeah.   I’ll explain!  You know that site I’ve been working on the past several weeks? Sioux Falls Frugal Mom?  It just so happens that Keloland News is doing a special segment on Moms who help other Moms save money (or something along those lines, haha).  They came to our house and interviewed me and my wonderful little family.  This interview is set to air on Sunday night at 10pm on KELO-TV – it is part of the  ”Eye on Keloland” segment.

Teaching a Digital Photography Class: Never in my life did I ever think I would agree to teach anything if it involved standing up in front of more than one person and talking… yet, I have agreed to teach a one-time digital photography class and I am actually very excited about it! I need to get to work on the plans though.  I think once I have a set plan I’ll feel even better about the idea of teaching a class.  It’s really the talking that I’m nervous about.  I just need to pray.  God will help

Sioux Falls Frugal Mom

My new site is up and running! Woohoo!  I am now the official owner of a domain.   I’ve been doing websites & blogs for about 13 years now and I’ve never officially had a domain.  Pretty sweet! Check it out..

http://siouxfallsfrugalmom.com

I probably won’t be updating much this week because we leave for CA (yes… CA again!) tomorrow.  This time we’re going out for my sister Bridget’s Wedding! She and her fiance Adam will be getting married on February 6th…which will also be their 10th dating anniversary!  So…it’s about time these two got hitched!

This will be our last trip with Zoe as lap child on the plane.  I told Bridget that she had good timing with her Wedding date because one month later and it would have cost an extra $200 to take Zoe!  I almost wish we had bought her a ticket..just so she’d have a seat, but we really couldn’t afford it.  She’d probably be staying home with Grandma & Grandpa if she was over 2 already.

Okay! Time to finish packing..  :)

Swagbucks and a NEW blog in the making!

Have you heard about SWAGBUCKS yet?  I joined in November of last year.   It’s free and totally awesome  I’ve made $45.00 already just by searching the web and referring a few people.   Definitely check it out if you haven’t already! You can sign up here.  They’ll give you 3 swagbucks to start out with!

I’m working on a new blog… this blog is intended really for family updates and homemaking, so I’m creating a separate blog for money-saving updates.  It’s titled Sioux Falls Frugal Mom.  I’ve wanted to do this for over a year now, but didn’t feel like I had quite enough information to share, now I definitely do.  I’ll post here when it is up and running!

Tags: Swagbucks