Jun 8

Heat+Sun+Local Festival=Migraine

Every year the first weekend in June it rolls around, and I start thinking of reasons why I should just stay at home. My hubby loves to go, and so do the kids. So I go along, and I always get really really really sick, I think I learned my lesson this year…

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I’m talking about the Good ‘Ol Days. It’s our local Summer festival where the whole town shuts down for a good 3 days and there is a big festival downtown. It is all good and fun, but unbelievably hot, how I wish they would break tradition and move the festivities to a cooler time of year.

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The boys enjoyed some super tasty homemade lemonade, I had one too. It was really delicious.

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We walked around a bit and enjoyed the sites, but a good half an hour in to the festival my head was throbbing, and I was ready to call it a day.

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Even Miss Agnes was HOT!

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We all decided to grab some tasty treats and head back home to the a.c. It was a fun day for the kiddos, and my hubby too, but I was miserable.

So what didn’t make it into this post, a picture of me… Sunburned (even though I put on the 50 spf sunblock), covered in itchy hives (from the sunlight), migraine for 24 hours, and 3 days of nausea. Yeah, the Good ‘Ol Days just aren’t for me.

I am finally starting to feel better, and the nausea has passed. I’ve learned my lesson, I’m just not made for the Summertime.

Jun 7

The Good ‘Ol Days Parade 2011

It’s that time of the year again… The Good ‘Ol Days were last weekend, and no matter just how hot it is outside, the kiddos aren’t going to miss the parade. It’s become a family tradition of ours, I just wish the parade was in the fall.

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It was 6:00 p.m., but still over 90 F.

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Even Agnes agrees, it was too stinking hot!

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Even though the temp was high, there was a great turn-out for the parade.

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Dylan loves the trolley.

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Agnes loved the FSCC Greyhound.

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There are always lots of Tractors.

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Cute little ponies too.

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Once again it was a fantastic parade. So much fun, but way too warm for me…

Jun 6

My Tropics

When we visited Hawaii, I fell in love with Hibiscus, Lillies, and tropical views. Those pretty sights became the motivation to bring a little Tropical beauty to our neck of the woods.

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We have one little Caladium, Dylan loves it’s large green leaves.

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Love the Yellow Lillies, we also have 2 Red Lillies planted too.

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I talked James into the Hibiscus bush. I just love those pretty tropical blooms.

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I can’t plant enough Hosta,

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they grow well in the backyard,

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and this one is ready to bloom.

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Now I just need a Mai-tai, and my backyard oasis will be complete.

Jun 5

Couponing…

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So I’ve got my binder on the way to being organized, and a pretty good spreadsheet system going, but I’m just not seeing the savings up as high as I would like. I’m learning a lot as I go, and a lot about local couponing etiquette. I’ve even run into two local extreme couponers while we’ve been out shopping.

My savings are hovering around 26%-43%, but I want to do better. This week I bumped up my paper purchases from 2 to 3, and I think 4 might be my magic number. It is really fun to coupon though, and saving a little on the grocery budget just might make me a fan of shopping again.