NicoStuff.com

Trying Not To Complain, But…

nicostuff — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:28:44 +0000

I’m trying really hard to bite my tongue, and not complain, but the price of gas is getting OUT OF CONTROL!!! On Sunday Unleaded was at $3.59, yesterday when we ran errands it was $3.69, and today $3.79! That is just too high. Diesel was $4.44 yesterday, I have no idea what it is today, but I know there is going to be another price increase at the grocery stores… GRRRR I’m one Grumpy Nico about all of these prices.

So please VENT away and let me know how the gas prices are in your area :) I’m hear to listen and complain a bit too…

Make It or Buy It?

nicostuff — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:59:43 +0000

This week I’ve started making my own Baby Food for Dylan. It is fun to make, but there is always a big mess to clean up. I decided to make Butternut Squash. One small Squash made 3 small jars of Baby Food. I decided to do the math, and making my own Butternut Squash vs. buying 3 jars saved me only $.20, and left me a sink full of dishes. The Squash was really tasty though, but the extra dishes got me thinking…

Is is more cost effective to make an item or to buy an item? Where do you save the most in time or money?

The Artist at Work

nicostuff — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:37:39 +0000

Thade (the lucky boy) had received spending money from his Grandma, and he new exactly what he wanted to buy. He wanted Art Supplies and Cocoa Krispies Cereal Straws ;) I was thrilled when he ran up and down the aisles grabbing paints and markers, and he couldn’t wait to get home and get to work.

Thade waited until Dylan was taking a nap, so Mommy could help out a little too. He had the best time creating beautiful works of art, and I’m proudly displaying them on the fridge.

On the left- A Watercolor, and on the right- Iron Man

When it was Thade’s bedtime he asked if we could paint again tomorrow… I said absolutely!

The Calling Continues

nicostuff — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:44:45 +0000

I’ll catch you up on all of the details… Over two weeks ago we took in our Push Mower to have a new handle placed on the pull-start, an engine tune-up, and to have the blade sharpened. We left the mower and we were told to call back in a few days and the mower would be ready, at $30.00 no less. Two weeks + later…

We have waited and called waited and called for OVER TWO WEEKS!!! Still no answer at the business, still no mower. We ended up calling our Lawn Guy to come by and mow the Front and Back Yard and guess what it was $30.00, and it needs to be done again, so there will go another $30.00 ; ) GRRRRR! I’m going to call the Repair Shop (again) today and hope for the best, but I’m tempted to just forget it and buy a new mower and be done with it all!

Why does the lawn have to be so much trouble?

UPDATE: I finally spoke with the elusive Lawn Mower Repair Guy and he says to call back in a few days and maybe the mower will be ready then. I GIVE UP!!!

Mother’s Day Recap

nicostuff — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:04:17 +0000

This Mother’s Day was so much fun! I got to spend lots of time with my sweet family, and get tons of hugs too. I had planned a “Thanks for Moms” party to say thank you to the Grandma’s for all that they have done for us, and Nana and Grandma were thrilled to get some extra time with the kiddos

We all sat together for a big meal at the dining room table. The boy’s picked out gifts for Nana and Grandma and I made the tags.

I even received a few cool gifts too. My awesome Sister (in law) gave me a gift card to a Day Spa. I can’t wait to go and be pampered, I’m thinking manicure. My Mother-in-law gave me a beautiful card, and some Starbucks funds. My Mom gave me beautiful Gerber Daisies, and stocked me up on all of the paper goods that I needed to shop for this week ;) She must have known that Thade is using about 5 boxes of Kleenexes a week ;)

It was such a fun day, I really appreciate everybody driving up to visit and celebrate with us. It was a beautiful Mother’s Day, and I can’t wait for the next get together : )

Happy Mother’s Day!

nicostuff — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:29:45 +0000

I just wanted to wish all of the Mommies and Grandmother’s a very Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you all get to spend the day relaxing in your pajamas and eating chocolates :) Have a great day, and give your kiddos extra hugs!

I also want to wish my Mom a very Happy Mother’s Day :) Thank you for everything that you do, and thanks for being an amazing Mom to the Rob and me :) Big Hugs!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Oh Hail NO!

nicostuff — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:58:55 +0000

Wow this has been one day of wacky weather. This afternoon the sun was shining bright, and all of the sudden there was a very loud sound on the roof, it was hailing! Thade ran to the door, and we watched the hail hit against the cars. When the storm had passed I ran out to collect a few of the marble sized hail, and let Thade check them out.

This evening it has been severe storm warnings, and tornado watches. Around 4 tornadoes touched down about an hour and a half south of us and the storms did major damage. We still have some awfully high winds this evening. I hope that the bad weather stays away, and so do those tornadoes!

Its Cleaning Time

nicostuff — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:02:03 +0000

Today I’m getting the house ready for company tomorrow. I’ll be serving a “Thanks For Moms” Mother’s Day dinner. We are having Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Stuffing, Chocolate Pie, and Homemade Apricot Pie, kinda like Thanksgiving in May :) I’m going to get a jump start on the pies today, and spend the rest of the day cleaning up around the house. Here is the plan for today:

Clean Both Bathrooms
Bring Trash Cans to the Yard, and empty all Trash Cans around the house
Put away 5 loads of laundry
Wash all of the dishes hanging out in the kitchen
Make Both Pies
Clean the Dining Room
Wrap the Mother’s Day Gifts

The weather looks like it is going to be extra rainy today, so I hope to get all of the chores accomplished. We’ll see how it goes, I’m having way too much fun playing on my new laptop ;)

All I can say is WOW :)

nicostuff — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:42:11 +0000

My hubby took Thade out this afternoon to pick up my Mother’s Day gift. Thade has been looking forward to the outing with Dad, and had already told me about 50 times what I was getting . So much for the secret shopping trip ;) I stayed home with Dylan while the boys made a run to Walgreens. When Thade came home, he ran to the door, with the biggest smile, and proudly got out all of the presents. He got me Kinoki, and Starbucks Caffe Mocha Truffles. I was so happy with the sweet gifts from my boys :)

James mentioned that Thade wanted to go to Sonic for a drink, I thought cool, we’ll wait until 2:00 p.m., and get the half-off happy hour drinks. James watched Dylan and Thade and I headed off to Sonic. When I came home James and Dylan were waiting at the door. Dylan was waving, and James had a huge smile on his face. We went inside and James said to put the drinks down, he had a surprise for me, and it was in the dining room.

I had no idea what was going to happen next… He said that he had my actual Mother’s Day gift waiting for me, and I was a bit puzzled. I walked into the dining room and looked on the table, and there I saw a brand new laptop. I burst into tears, it is just too amazing. I still can’t believe that he got me a new laptop, I’ve been babying mine along for over a year ;) It is just the most incredible gift.

I am so thankful for my amazing hubby, and my precious boys. They make everyday so special, and they really surprised me this Mother’s Day.

A Little Reminder

nicostuff — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:36:56 +0000

We visited the Post Office today. I needed to mail a package and buy some stamps. At checkout I was reminded that the price of stamps is going up on Monday. I went on ahead and purchased the $.42 cent stamps, and called it good.

This weekend is also the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. We went through the pantry and found a few items to donate, Thade had fun helping out too.

Don’t forget to pick up those One Cent Stamps this weekend ;)