♥ Marissa's Sweet Joys ♥

Sunday, March 13, 2011

First Iceskating Lesson! {video and photos!}

Peyton had her first iceskating lesson last week at the very same rink that I started off and she did AMAZING! For her 4th birthday she asked for, "a violin, to go iceskating, and to wipe her own butt." oooooookey dooookey. I half expected her to meltdown when she got the skates on or fell for the first time, but not a single tear was shed. She spent about 10 minutes being gently pushed around and then decided to start marching around on her own. The Coach kept turning back to give me thumbs up and mouth, "WOW! She's doing great!" She fell about ten times but got right back up. We struck out three years ago with Braylon's extracurricular activities (I coached his soccer team and he took Taekwondo)...it was just too much for him at the time. So this was extremely exciting to see my child actually enjoy lesson! I kept thinking to myself, Is this how easy it's supposed to be? She is signed up for 3 more lessons and of course I love the fact that skating is not a seasonal sport...we can do as much or as little we/ she likes. At the very end of her lesson, the Coach picked her up, came over the intercom and announced, "We have a very special announcement! Today is Peyton's 4th birthday!!! Happy birthday, Peyton!" She was beaming! And for those of you who know Peyton, you know just what a big deal it is to get a smile out of her :)

Got her skates on! Paxtyn peeking in the background ;)

Being pulled out

I panicked at first when saw so many other kids with helmets on!

I didn't have gloves for her either {get it together, Marissa!} Fortunately,they had an extra PINK pair for her to borrow!

There was no way that kid was getting hurt. Whenever he fell it reminded me of Ralphy's little brother from "Christmas Story." Rolling around unable to get up.haha

Such a big girl! She was however the smallest on the ice.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

February Grocery Budget!

Well, just crunched our February Numbers and am EXTREMELY pleased with the numbers! This was my goal I posted last month...

"My monthly goal for February is to spend no more than $400. I have budgeted to spend $50 per week (yes, week) at Publix on milk, produce, and a few other sales. The remaining $200 I plan to spend at Sam's Club on 15lbs of ground beef, other meats, paper products and 25 loaves of bread. I have worked hard the past 8 months to build up pantry stock pile and am now planning to rotate BOGO Sales/couponing with bulk buying. So, this month is my meat/paper goods/bread bulk purchases which will {hopefully} last us 8 weeks, and March I will be replinishing my stock pile {including canned goods, frozen foods, ect}."

And here are my numbers!!!

Total spent on groceries = $439.98 Publix $220.83 (78.94, 73.57, 36.66, 31.66) + Sams Bulk Meats/Breads/Paper Products (219.15)
Total saved by couponing = $142.28 (76.67, 36.21, 17.70, 11.70)
Total percentage saved (using ONLY Publix amounts)= 64.4%
Total percentage saved (using BOTH Publix & Sams Club)= 32.4%

**this does not include diapers**

My numbers for Sams Club were a tad bit over the $200 since A) last minute I decided to buy 20lbs Turkey Meat rather than ground beef and B) I've bee on a health kickand splurged onfresh Salmon filets. Also, my weekly amounts for Publix were over twice by $18.00 and $13.00 but then under by $12 and $18...so I juuuust about evened out. I think this plan of rotating bulk meat/bread buying with Publix stockpile buying is going to work! *squeeeal* I also saved money by:

1. Selecting the sale veggie of the week as our side item for dinner (ex: brocolli was for sale so we had broc. as a side dish for a week)
2. I am drinking Almond Milk (which there are TONS of coupons for!)
3. Making sure I ask for rainchecks on BOGO items that were sold out
4. Asking for advice from the cashiers!
5. Shopping ALONE.

How was your grocery spending this past month? Any advice!?

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Black Bean Soup With Avocado {Major YUM Factor!}

My dear childhood friend from the 4th grade, Laurel, has an wooonderful website called Laurel on Health Food. It is jam packed with delicious, healthy recipes and health topics...not to mention lots of giveaways! A few weeks ago I made her Avocado and Black Bean Soup and holy macaroni, it was a-MA-zing! I served it over rice and my oldest son, husband and I absolutely loved it! It has a bit of a kick to it (which I can adjust next time), so the little kids said it made their "tongues hot!" I highly recommend this easy to make, healthy and freezable soup! Ennnnjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cans black beans
2 ripe avocados

1 onion

4 cloves garlic

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 cups vegetable broth *I only had Chicken Broth...turned out great!

2 tbsp. hot sauce (such as Sriracha)

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

Salt & pepper
I served over steamed rice.

All I had to buy extra were the Avocado's! The rest is very basic kitchen stockpile.

Chop onions and remove the skin and pit from the avocados and cut up into bite-sized pieces.

Chop up the onion and sauté in a soup pot with the olive oil over medium-low heat until the onion begins to turn translucent. Add the garlic, stir, and sauté for another minute.

Stir in the cumin, chili powder, 1 tbsp. of the hot sauce, and a little salt and pepper.

Add 1 can of black beans and the vegetable stock, and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat.

Pour the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Add half of the diced avocado to the ingredients in the blender and reserve the rest for garnish.

Blend until smooth.

Turn on rice cooker.

Pour the blended ingredients back into your soup pot and add the other can of black beans. Stir, bring back to a simmer,

serve hot in bowls with the remaining avocado and hot sauce sprinkled on top for garnish.

Top 10 Photo Recap 2/21-2/28!

Top Ten Photo Recap from 2/21-2/28. Linked up to ohamanda! Top Ten {Tuesday}

Spent the morning at the beach! Braylon found lots of beautiful shells and played football with dad.

Paxtyn and daddy taking in the views.

It was finally time to say goodbye to Braylon's 8 year old highchair. Very bittersweet...it lasted us through 4 children! Here is Pax in his chair attachment:)

Enjoying the beautiful weather during dinner at Mimi and Pa's!

Monkey playdate with friends!

Sandbox in the middle of the street ;) Check out their new balance bikes!

Organized my Freezer Stock :)

First time buying Turkey Meat. I purchased 20lbs from Sam's :)

School Project is COMPLETE!

Best Friends at gymnastics!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Beautiful Weather!

This past week in Florida we had the weather that makes the rest of the nation a little jealous. Low-mid 70's, cool breeze, and not a cloud in the sky. ahhhhh

This is why we live in Florida.

Therefore, the meal plans went out the window. I think the only meal I actually cooked was chicken tacos on Wednesday. Chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and pizza wre the impromptu meal choices for the week! I refused to spend a single minute more indoors than I needed!

Monday I attended my local MOPS meeting and the kids spent the afternoon playing outside with the neighbors.
Tuesday, after dropping Bray off at school, I high tailed it South to meet up with my longtime friend and her two daughters. We went to the local aquarium and had and AWESOME time looking at the dolphins,the manatees, sharks, turtles and fish. We had picnic lunch in the beeeUUUtiful weather!
Wednesday daddy took Pey to gymnastics since Kyan was having a rough morning.
Thursday was a BEAUTIFUL day packed with roller coasters, animals and lots of laughter as we hit Busch Gardens!
Friday I watched my girlfriends daughter for the day (the sweeeeetest little girl!) and we attended a MOMS Club play date.

Kyan showing off his "Pirate Booty!"