Birthday Blog.....30...REALLY?

Today, I leave my 20's behind and turn the big 3-0.

I figure I could look at it one of two ways. I could be all like...

and be grumpy the rest of the day OR I could try to make the best of it.

I admit, I AM a little bit bummed, because when I turned 29, I vowed to make changes in my life, both mind, body, and soul, to make me a better person in my 30's than I was in my 20's.

I didn't do that.

This has been a very trying year for me and I failed on that aspect. Instead of losing weight, I actually gained. Well, I guess that's the only way I failed. I'm doing more to pay it forward this year. I feel like I'm doing a better job of taking care of my family and home.

This year, I'm making a vow and I'm sticking to it. 2013 is going to be my year and, on my 31's birthday, I'll be a new, better Sarah. I think I'm truly in a place in my life where I can lose the weight I need to be healthy. I'm going to spend 2013 and my first year in my 30's improving.

I feel like I'm in the right state of mind, for the first time in a long, long time. I'm going to be taking steps into things that I'm not sure if I'll succeed at, but if I do could probably be pretty huge for me. It might also give me direction on what I want to go to school for...score! lol

Instead of looking at it like this:

I'm looking at turning 30 like THIS:

So here's to turning 30.
BRING IT ON!

On another note, I am reminded of this episode of Friends.

Birthday Gifts For Less Than $20? Yes Please!

My youngest, Cailin, is going to be 3 on Saturday. 

Like any way of the world, when there's a birthday looming, something comes up and leaves you a little on the short for cash side.

Fun times, right? Especially when you have already planned out what you want to get. You instantly get a little bummed because you can't get what you want. I know I was....

Or so I thought.

I'd planned on getting Cailin a table and chair set, a tea set, and a few other things. When I noticed we were low on funds, I wasn't sure WHAT I'd do. 

So I went on a buy, sale, trade group on Facebook for my area and found someone that was selling a Disney Princess table and chairs set, for $10! Brand new, they are $32! It was in EXCELLENT condition. I snapped that up quicker than you can say "buy it!". Then my Dad wanted to know what he could get Cailin for her birthday, so I said "Ya know what? A tea party set." DONE! 

To add to her gifts from us, we took to DollarTree and bought her a coloring book and a big box of crayons, then went to Walmart and got her two BIG coloring books and a counting book.

All together, we spent about $15 on her for her birthday AND managed to get her things that she'll absolutely love.

I'm excited to see her little face when she gets them and we set them up in her room. She's going to absolutely LOVE them!

How do you save for your children's birthdays?

~Sarah

School Supply Shopping, Birthday Parties and Turning 7

Sunday, my big babies will be 7. Holy Crap! Where did time go?! It seems like yesterday, they were babies, now they are turning 7 and starting 2nd grade next month!
We finished up our birthday shopping for them yesterday. Sebastian is getting a Transformers watch, a big Optimus Prime (to go with his big Bumblebee and Megatron), and the 2nd Transformers movie (this is all from us) plus the first Transformers movie from my mom (she lives in FL and couldn't be here. It's the first birthday she's missed). Anastasia is getting a Hannah Montana watch, a Justin Bieber CD and the Justin Bieber movie "Never Say Never" (I told her that Walmart sold them all and wouldn't get anymore, so she will be really surprised!) from us and a Monster High doll from my mom. Should he remember, my husband is getting the money order so we can reserve the community room for their party on Saturday. I'll go and finish up the decoration shopping and stuff like that probably Friday. I can't WAIT to see how their cupcake cake turned out. We got them their own, in the shape of a 7. Sebastian's colors are red, blue and yellow (OP and BumbleBee colors, of course) and Anastasia's are pink, purple and yellow (her fave colors and yellow for Bumblebee). I'll post pics and stuff after we have the party.
As I mentioned at the beginning, school starts 8/10. I'm SOOO excited! We went school supply shopping last night. We got everything except tissues and looseleaf paper. They were sold out of those. We are going shopping for clothes and shoes this weekend (note to self, find Rack Room Shoes coupon). We are really doing good this year. We usually wait until the very last minute and miss out on everything. I'm excited to go to the open house and meet their teachers. I'm friends with Anastasia's 1st grade teacher and we attend the same church, so she's a big help too.
Time is flying by and I can hardly believe it......in a blink of an eye, they go from babies to big kids.....