Product Review: All You magazine

I've been reading couponing/meal planning/frugal blogs for awhile now. I haven't always been interested in couponing or anything like that- but when money's tight, you do what you have to. I decided that I really wanted to jump on the bandwagon full throttle, so I started getting the Sunday paper and the All You magazine because most seasoned coupon-ers will tell you to.

I can't even stop raving about this magazine. I love it. Every time it comes in the mail I pour over it's pages and hang on every last idea within. It's SAD. But, it has TONS of great ideas, coupons, craft ideas, work out ideas, weight loss tips, fashion advice- you name it. 

You can get this on nearly every magazine rack- so the next time you are browsing, take a look. Then, if you are serious about wanting a subscription- look online. There are tons of offers so you aren't stuck paying the $4 for every issue. Get it. And I promise you, you too will squeal every time it comes.

Site Review: Zenni Optical

Being blind stinks. I mean, it's kind of a crucial sense. 

So I wear glasses. Or contacts. But this post is about getting CHEAP glasses. 

Backtracking. 

I have had terrible luck with glasses. You name it, I have done it to my glasses. No joke. I once went in to a Dr. appt. to get my glasses fixed, when my Dr. looked up at me and said, "Man, it looks like you ran into a tree!" When I dumbfoundly said, "Wait, did my mom tell you?" Yes. I had run into a tree. So yeah, I have needed my fair share of glasses. 

A few years ago, my sister told me about Zenni Optical. I'm not sure where she had heard about it, but after looking at the site- I thought it couldn't hurt to order one more pair of glasses. Guess how much they cost me? 12.99+shipping. It was under $20. For prescription glasses. AND, it came with a case and a wipe. 

HOLY COW! I love them! I have gotten 2 pairs of the same glasses- and they have lasted forever! In all fairness, I'm not at a neighbor's playing baseball every day, but I do have a 1 year old. And they have withstood. 

IF you are one of us blind guys walking around- DON'T pay hundreds of dollars for glasses- I know. I've been there. Well, mostly I need to apologize to my poor mother who had to continually shell out the cash for yet another pair of glasses for me.

Go to zennioptical.com. It WILL change your life.

Sa-tur-day is a spe-cial day...

In our house- 

Saturday is a special day. 

A very, very special day. 

When Parker was first born, I was going to school and working from home. I felt very overwhelmed at times but I loved everything I was doing and wasn't willing to give it up. My choice. 

It was also my choice to implement "Saturday is a Special Day."

Basically, Jed is in charge on Saturday. Of basically everything. All things Parker. Meals, decisions, whatever. He runs the show. 

Normally, we do a lot of things together. We enjoy planning things, laughing together, helping Parker etc. 

NOT Saturday's. 

After 21 years- I have learned that I just need a day to be told what to do and to not to anything. 

It is magnificent. And it has saved our marriage in a lot of ways. 

When it comes to Parker, there are specific ways I like things done. I used to nag on Jed that he wasn't holding him right, wasn't changing the diaper fast enough or used too many wipes (really!! in worst cases you only need 2!!) and it made Jed feel like he couldn't do anything right. 

Thus-- Saturday is a Special day. 

Now that Jed has taken care of Parker nearly every Saturday since he was born, he has learned how to do everything, I have gotten the much needed rest that every Mom needs, and Parker gets to spend Q-T with his daddy. 

Win. Win... win.

[Office anyone?]

The Yeast Free Diet

After getting a recommendation to a Dr. in Provo (my previous Dr. was in American Fork) I went in for an appointment to get a different type of birth control. I have been on several different kinds- basically everything you can think of- I've tried. Anyways, the BC I was most recently put on made me sick... yet again. The only type of BC I have been on that didn't made me sick is the mini-pill- commonly prescribed to breastfeeding mom's for several reasons. Then after I stopped breastfeeding and running out of the mini-pill I went back to the same BC I used before getting pregnant- one that at the time worked fine- and it made me sick. Yay. OKAY- this post is not about BC. I was just trying to point out that I went to the Dr. for a new prescription. 

Whew. 

After taking a life-long medical history- NO JOKE!- and taking a few tests and doing a physical, the Dr. prescribed a yeast free diet- also referred to as the Candida diet. My diet (many yeast free diets differ) is no sugar or sugar containing foods, no white flour or refined grain products, no cheese, no alcohol, no fruit or fruit juices, no coffee/tee/caffeine containing herbal teas, mushrooms, peanuts and peanut products, all processed meats and lunch meats, artificial sweetener, and vinegar.

Nearly every product on the market has sugar in it!

The list is overbearing at times- like when I'm trying to eat- but I've done some reading and it sounds like it has potential. There are several books, articles, forums, and websites where people can discuss this diet and can help each other with it. It's not easy- that's for sure. I'm on day 2. Of at least 4 weeks. Gosh I didn't realize how unhealthy my diet was until I started reading labels. Wake up call. 

I have always been the "sick kid." My immune system has always been weak and I seem to catch EVERYTHING. I've had strep throat 4 times since being married- not to mention impetigo, a staph infection, bronchitis, pink eye and a billion other things just in the past few years. 

 

If I have to ultimately eliminate some foods from my diet- I'm okay with that. Especially if that means being more healthy. Being a mom is that much harder when I feel like I'm on my deathbed with another bout of strep. ugh. For now I have researching recipes and meal substitutions that don't break my budget. It's not easy- but I know it's gonna be worth it. 

Isn't everything that way?

Parker's Party!

For Parker's party this year- I really wanted to do something duckie related. He loves water and loves to play with his duckie! I thought that doing candy as the main refreshment would save on money and prep time- so that's what we went with. Well... the colors of the candy were so vibrant and pretty when placed in glass candy dishes- that doing blue, yellow,and white duckie themed party just didn't fit. And we already had the candy. So... we did both. It really wasn't the most cohesive and I'm not even sure the guests saw the ducks (or the duck shaped ice cubes that took 4 days to re-freeze) but it was sooo fun! A TON of people showed up, and even a few surprises showed up! All in all, it was a great party. OH, and yes. He had his very own cake. :)

here's where I got my ideas from: the ballon wreath , the yarn balls, and the sponge water bombs (pictured in the pool)

Parker Post- 1 year!

HOLY COW!

I literally can not explain how weird it is that Parker is 1! I mean, am I really old enough to have a 1 year old? Did I really survive one whole year with a child? And he's normal---WHAT!?!

It's CRAZY! Even still. I always just think he's 9 months old. I dunno why. I guess the same reason I still think I'm 18. Who knows?

Anyways-- here are Parker's stats: 

Height: 29.5 inches

Weight: 20.5 lbs
Head Circumference:    (who cares?) 

 {this is him at the DR's and the onesie I made for him}

About Parker: 

He LOVES to: 

-take a bath

-swim

-push things around

-crawl

-chase after anyone who 

leaves from the front door

-play with electronics- a NO NO

-sleep with 1 of 2 light blue crocheted blankets 

(one made by each of his great-grandmas)

-eat... basically everything

-especially meatballs and animal crackers

-playing with other kids

He DOESN'T like: 

-getting his diaper changed

-getting dressed

-being held

-staying quiet during church

-juice

-getting his ears/nose/hands/face cleaned

-being dirty 

(those last two really don't work together... hence the daily battle)

-anything cold

-cuddling

Other: 

-he signs more, all done and is working on please and thank you

-he loves to crawl and is VERY close to walking

-loves to laugh, and he smiles a lot

-he flips the pages while we read

-he claps by holding one hand still and moving just one hand

-he drinks VIT D milk 

-drinks water from a sippy cup

-he takes two 2 hour naps a day

-can climb up and over the couch/pew 

-can stand/squat by himself

{the family at Coney's getting some froyo}

My mom, Morgan (left) and Gabrielle (right) and Alyssa (not pictured) were all here for Parker's birthday! The day before we got to go to a tour of a candy factory! It was a blast! So glad they all could come- even if it was for just a quick visit. 

Parker had a great birthday! Love you, Parker! :)

Erica's Baby Shower

I was able to host a baby shower for my SIL Erica. 

We're excited to meet Eric Reed Alvey Jr.
And his due date is my birth date- so woot woot!! 

I just wanted to share some pictures of the party- it was a blast! 

Thanks to everyone that came and supported Erica and baby Reed!

Ideas came from: cupcake to go