Talk About Me Tuesday- Dear Mommy Brain

What's your name?

Jen.  Jenny.  Jennifer.  Penn.  Penner.  Pendenda.  Plus another nickname that my mother gave me when I was 3.  That I will never tell you.  I’ve also advised my mom to never to tell you.  Even if under penalty of death.  Even if you offer her chocolate cake.

Tell me a bit about yourself and your family.

I am a 30-something, working mother of one crazy toddler in search of her sanity.  Without my good-intentioned husband helping with the cooking, cleaning, and diaper-changing, I would be a full-on mess.  Completing the menagerie is a co-dependent, neurotic, spaz of a dog and an evil, whiny, drive-by pooping cat.  Welcome to my circus.

What's the name and link to your blog?

You can stalk me at Dear Mommy Brain.  You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter!  Not that I know how to use social networks…  But all the cool kids are doing it.  And I hate to be left out.

What is your blog about/What do you like to write about in your blog?

I have a hard time with labels.  Let me clarify.  I have a hard time identifying labels.  I love the structure of labels.  It makes my OCD happy.

But I am a cloth-diapering, real food eatin’, obsessively cheap, slightly crunchy, aspiring organization junkie.  So that’s what I write about.

What inspired you to start a blog?

I had been casually blogging to keep in touch with friends for a couple years when I stumbled upon The Pioneer Woman’s site.  I quickly fell in love and began to stalk her.  Soon, stalking wasn’t enough.  I wanted to BE her.  Well, without the impressions.  I know my limitations.

Do you have any blogging pet peeves?

I am plagued with awful eyesight and a short attention span, so blogs jam-packed with busy backgrounds, flashing buttons, and dancing babies aren’t my thing.  I also get really cranky when people obsess about “following.”  I really love when people enjoy my blog and want to read my posts, but I’m sorry, I may not follow back.  Don’t take it personally.  It’s not you, it’s me.

Do you have any big goals for your blog?

Would I love to be Heather Armstrong or Ree Drummond?  Sure!  But not really.  That’s a lot of pressure.  But if I can run a successful blog that continues to provide valuable information in an entertaining way?  That would be marv-e-lous. 

As for right now, I’m happy focusing on improving the quality of my writing and visual content.  Not to overhype, but I’ve got some exciting stuff on the horizon.  Assuming I can get what’s in my head on paper (screen?).

What are some of your favorite blogs to read?

My blogroll is all over the place.  Everyday I read The Frugal Girl, Money Saving Mom, and Life as Mom as well as some smaller blogs, like Are we there yet?, Sara’s Organized Chaos, and Little Big.  And I nearly pee myself with excitement when Hyperbole and a Half does a new post.  I just love her.  But I could read blogs all day.  I really enjoy hearing what other people have to say and seeing all the different view points.  And laughing.  I love me some funny.

Thank you Jen for sharing! If  YOU would like to be featured on Talk About Me Tuesday, please email me answering the same questions Jen did! :) 

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!

Are you a Mommy blogger? Do you blog about your kids? Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

 Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

his blog hop is hosted by Sippy Cups and Cloth Bums, The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom , and Luxury Living Frugal Style!

Rules?

All we ask is that you follow Sippy Cups and Cloth Bums, The Not- So- Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, and Luxury Living Frugal Style.We are the first three on the linky!Then follow spot #4 which is the featured blog! Be sure to leave us a comment so we can follow you back!

We would LOVE it if you'd grab our button and put it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post! This would help us spread the word. However, you aren't required to.

Each week we choose a random blog via random.org to be the featured blog! This week's featured blog is.....

I'm That Mommy

 I'm a SAHM to an 8 month old baby girl. I've been married to my husband for three years in April. Before we had our daughter, we lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. We had a blast! Shortly after getting pregnant we moved to the suburbs. I quit my job as a litigation paralegal to stay home with my daughter which I think is the best decision I've ever made. I'm pretty fanatic about cloth diapers and encouraging breastfeeding. I love cooking and trying new recipes.

 

How I Organize My Coupons

Last week I wrote about where I get my coupons. You can view that post HERE. This week I want to talk about another question I get asked a lot when it comes to coupons. "How do you keep all those coupons organized?!"

When I first started using coupons and didn't have that many I used one of those accordion photo folders. I just had a few different sections labeled and stuck them all in there. But then I got tired of having to look through each and every coupon to find the one I was looking for. Even when it was in a section of its own, it became a lot of coupons to look through. So I started using a 3-ring binder. Here's all you need to make your own coupon binder.

• A 3-ring binder- the bigger the rings, the better. Also, if you can find the kind that zips closed that is very helpful to make sure everything stays in and you don't lose anything. I got mine at Big Lots. 
• Baseball Card Holders. They come in a really big pack for about $5. I got mine at Walmart. 
• Dividers. This way you can section off your coupons how you want. I also got these at Walmart.

And thats all you need!

I section my binder into 9 sections. Food, Household, Toiletries, Pets, Baby, Publix, Target, Other Stores, and Medicine. You can divide your's up however you would like. I would eventually like to divide mine up into subsections such as dairy and frozen, etc. But that will have to happen later when I am finished with school and have more time on my hands.

All I do each week is clip my coupons and divide them up and put them in the baseball card holders by section. Most of the coupons will fit perfectly in each slot but some you may have to fold. Remember to put the coupon with the closest expiration date on top, if you have multiples of the same coupon.

I'm not going to lie or sugar coat it. It can be time consuming. Like right now I am way behind on organizing mine because I have been so busy with school. But one thing I am going to start is to also get a folder to stick the whole inserts in them by date. So probably another accordian folder... and as I have time clip and organize them in the binder. That way if I need a coupon from an insert I haven't clipped yet, I can still find it easily.

So there ya go! That's how I organize my coupons! If you use coupons, I'd love to hear how you organize yours! Also, please feel free to comment or email me with any questions!

ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror- Product Review

I was so excited to be given the opportunity to review the ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror! I am always looking for products to save time and make life easier!

About the ToiletTree Fogless Mirror

• It is ALWAYS fogless!
• It's ideal for close shaves
• Makes it easy to remove makeup, exfoliate, and clean up close!

My Review


When I first checked out this product, I honestly didn't realize it went into the shower! When I received it and asked hubby to put it up, I was shocked that not only was it fogless but it went right into the shower! It took a little bit to set up but nothing major. Well guess what, it is REALLY fogless!! Doesn't fog up at all! I was so excited! Its nice and close so I can get all my makeup off without coming out of the shower with black streaks down my face! Hubby really likes it because he can shave IN the shower.

Overall I really like this product! It saves time and makes life a lot easier! Which is perfect for a busy mama like me!!

Buy IT!
http://www.toilettreeproducts.com/products/fogless-mirror/
OR
http://www.amazon.com/Squeegee-ToiletTree-Products-Guaranteed-Designed/dp/B003BQ6QXK

I was not paid for this review! The views expressed on this post are my own! 

Winner!

The winner of the Pear Tree Greetings $20 gift code is comment #26!

Emillie Rose said...26

I would probably buy birth announcements.
hisprincess886(at)yahoo(dot)com

Congrats Emillie! 

Also if you have a minute, please visit this link : http://www.purex.com/products/softeners/purex-complete-crystals to get a $1 off coupon for Purex Complete Crystals Softener and by clicking this link you can help me win a contest!! Thanks so much! 

Fun With Food Friday! Week 1!

Welcome to Fun with Food Friday! I am excited to bring you new recipes each week that YOU, my followers, have sent me, and I review!

This week I am going to give a favorite recipe in OUR house! Both Brian and Noah LOVE it! It's fairly easy to make and makes for a great meal for the family or even for guests!!

Italian Breaded Pork Chops


Ingredients:
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 cups Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
-4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped (I just use some garlic powder)
- 4 pork chops
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. In a small bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. In a separate bowl mix the breadcrumbs and cheese. (I also mix the garlic powder in to that mixture).
3. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven proof skillet over medium heat. If you are using real garlic, stir in the garlic and cook until lightly browned. Remove garlic, reserving for other uses.
4. Dip each pork chop  into the egg mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture, coating evenly. Place coated pork chops into the skillet and brown about 5 minutes on each side.
5. Place the skillet and pork chops in oven and cook about 25 minutes.

Great with any side you choose!! We love this dish! Its not just your plain Jane breadcrumb coating. Noah will literally eat a whole pork chop when I make this! And not want to eat anything else on his plate! We have this at least once a week!

Check out Mama Chocolate for ANOTHER great recipe this week!!

If you have a great recipe, I'd LOVE to try it out and share it with my other followers! Plus if you send me a recipe, get 5 (FIVE) extra entries on any one of my current giveaways!! Please email me the recipe at mommyferg02@gmail.com! Thanks so much!! 

My First Kroger Trip Using Coupons!

So as you know, I normally shop at Publix. But this week there were some pretty amazing deals at Kroger and I decided to go there. Spent all afternoon matching up coupons with the sales and decided to head out today with my sister and Noah. I've shopped at Kroger before but not since I started using coupons, so I was a bit nervous,  but I think I did pretty good.

I spent $67.96 and saved $49.28. At first I was pretty dissapointed that I didn't save more than I spent, but when I started getting out my groceries, I realized I did get quite a bit for only $67. So for my first time, I'm pretty happy!

Here's what I got:

Noah is proud of his mommy's shopping trip!

Not bad right?! I got all those bodywash's for $1 each!! And the deodorant for $.99 each! Those were my big steals from the trip! So overall, I'm very pleased with my first Kroger trip using coupons!