back to work

Heading back to work after a long weekend is sometimes difficult.  However, heading back to work after 3.5 months off is at best challenging.  Today was my first day back and although a lot has changed in the past few months, I am hopeful that soon it will become normal.

Tip #1:  Take things easy.  Keep your expectations in line with reality.  The first couple of days catch up on the items that you know you can handle - emails, etc.

Tip #2:  Plan ahead.  Getting to the office may have seemed difficult a few months ago, but it is a new feat to get out the door with an infant.  Plan ahead for feeding in the morning, pack the bag in the evening, and get up extra early the first few mornings.

Tip #3:  Set a routine.  Even if you do not keep to that routine, setting a routine will help things seem normal quicker.  Plus, it's a bonus if you can keep to the routine.  For instance, my after-work routine will be to start dinner, clean up a few things, work out, etc.

As I continue my journey back to the office everyday, I am hopeful that it will be a part of my routine again soon.

instilling money saving tools

Coupons are an interesting concept.  Manufacturers try to lure consumers into trying their products through coupons in the hope that the consumer will continue to buy that same product in the future.  However, many consumers that use coupons are couponers (savvy, money saving coupon clippers), so the theory doesn't necessarily hold true.

Every week, I make a grocery list using my coupons and online resources to determine how to get the items my family needs without spending over our budget.  We generally don't fall into the trap of manufacturers because for the most part we are not brand loyal - we usually aim for the best deal (there are a few exceptions, but we wait for these items to go on sale plus use coupons).

This week, our son was looking through his new High Five magazine (Highlights magazine for ages 2-5) and he noticed the magazine subscription inserts.  His first reaction was "Mommy, look I found some coupons".  He was so proud that he had found some coupons.  I had to laugh at this one, but as I got thinking, his response created a proud mommy feeling.  In many households, most three-year-olds would have no idea what a coupon was, but at our house it is a regular topic of discussion when I am creating the shopping list for the week.  Each week when my husband and I talk about the shopping list and coupons, our son is learning valuable lessons on saving money and using available resources.  Hopefully, as our children grow up, they will learn many techniques and tools to spending wisely, living within their means, and saving money.

Cutting the crust off in 2011.

splish, splash, i was taking...

... a bath.  Tonight, I was helping my son with his usually nightly routine - dinner, bath, play, and bed.  Tonight he was in the tub playing with his bath toys.  We were picking out letters and saying the letters with corresponding words.  We spelled out a few words - Up, Down, Nate.  It was a lot of fun... but it reminded me that everything we do daily to cut the crust off is just that - cutting the cut off to get to the good stuff.

After we spelled a few words, he began splashing, laughing and having a blast... all the while I was getting soaked.  Some days this would incredibly frustrate me, but tonight I just enjoyed the moment I had with my three year old.

Remember to enjoy the small moments.