Discount stores- infant / toddler shoes

I love stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I think that you can save a ton of money. I found my daughter 2 pairs of Carters lounge pants that were $17 for the pair for a mere $6. That is better than any coupon that you can use!

Then I just discovered the infant and toddler shoe section. You mamas know that infants outgrow shoes within months. The cheap shoes you can buy are at least $10! The preferable ones such as pedipeds are so expensive!!

So you know I was excited to find so many infant shoes that looked just like pedi peds! Soft soled and some of them in leather for ... are you ready girls? $4.99... woohoo!!!! I showed my girlfriend and she swore they were pedi peds!! Here are three pair that I got my daughter... after all a girls gotta have a variety of shoes to choose from :)

Menu Plan Monday

Nothing big this week girls. My hubby caught some walleye so we'll be having that this week.. yum! The recipe at the bottom is new so I can't say if its a keeper or not but it sounds good! Happy eating!

Monday: Fresh Walleye, pierogies, green beans

Tuesday: Ham, mashed potatoes, Salad

Wednesday: Steak stir-fry, rice and egg rolls

Thursday: Chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Asian pork chops, fried rice, grilled asparagus

Sunday: The big show chicken sandwiches ( recipe below) baked fries

The big show chicken sandwiches

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

6 thick slices hickory smoke bacon

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 Tbs chili powder

1/4 Tsp ground cumin

1/4 Tsp granulated garlic`

1/2 tsp ground pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp salt

6 whole grain buns, cheese, sliced tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Grease a roasting rack and place in the pan. Wrap each chicken breast with bacon. Combine sugar and seasonings in a bowl. Sprinkle mixture over chicken. Place on prepared rack. Bake until chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Transfer chicken to a cutting board. Let rest 5 minutes. Cut chicken into slices and arrange on bun.

Eating out just got cheaper!

My Hubby just got a link in his e-mail that tells you where kids can eat free in your area by zip code. I checked it out and it looks like a really good resource.

We go out to dinner about once a week. I can't tell you how many times we look with despair at our child's plate. It usually has one bite out of the grilled cheese, five fries and two green beans gone. Now all I have to feel guilty about is eating what he doesn't! ( Somehow I feel compelled to clean his plate too but that's another post )

Check it out!

http://www.kidsmealdeals.com/content/view/38/78/

A hairy situation

When I was a working girl ( not the old fashioned kind of course! ) I went to a really expensive salon. I worked, had some extra spending money and wanted the latest style so I didn't mind spending alot on my hair. Oh have times have changed. I really cannot afford a $200 cut and weave every 8 - 10 weeks.

So I started talking to my girlfriends. I needed to find a stylist that knew what she was doing ( I have had orange hair before, I know the drama it causes ) had experience but was cheap. My girlfriend that used to work at the foo foo salon told me of a girl that worked there for years but recently left to be closer to home.

What I found was that I could get the same cut, weave and style but I saved $120. That is quite a bit of savings!! Add it up over the course of a year and its a whole lot!! I can't believe that I ever paid the amount of money that I used to pay!! I guess it pays to listen to your girlfriends!!!

To add to my joy of saving money, I just got a call from a research company asking if I would do a focus group. They are going to pay me $75 for 2 hours of taste testing!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!!! This month has been tight for us and I wondering how I could manage to stretch out my hair appointment a few more weeks ( Hats and big sunglasses can get you so far but dark roots are dark roots.. ya know what I mean ? )

I think often times as mama's we put our self last in mostly everything. It kind of makes you feel special to go and spend a couple hours getting your hair done, reading and maybe sipping a mocha. Now I don't have to go broke doing it... woohoo!!