Birthday Week

My birthday is on Friday and I'm so excited! I love me some birthday. The year I was turning 16 I counted down the days for the entire year! As I get older it's not Quite as exciting but I still get worked up. This year I could go Black Friday Shopping for my birthday. That would basically mean picking out my birthday presents all day. JoAnn's is having a sale on the Cricut for $75. I'm really tempted to ask for it for Christmas but I'm not sure how often I would actually use it. So far I've needed one like five times. The initial price seems great but then I'd have to buy cartridges and those sticky mats and I'd have to have all sorts of paper and I just don't know if I can justify a purchase like that.

Anyway, I got off track here. I went online and signed up for all the eclubs and birthday clubs I could so I could get coupons for my birthday! Saturday I went to Red Robin with my father-in-law and got free burger. Holla! I've also received:
Buffalo Wild Wings coupon for a free dozen wings, (even though it will expire by the time I get to AZ, sad,)
a free ice cream at Cold Stone and Maggie Moo's,
free blizzard at Dairy Queen (when you buy one, I can handle that,);
a free shake from Arby's if I a buy a sicko Roast Burger, not impressed;
Burger King sent me a coupon for a chicken sandwich if I buy a value meal.
Plus today I signed up at Mimi's and got a free breakfast coupon;
Noodles and Co offers a free dish when you purchase one;
and Tucanos. It's a coupon for a free meal there! (In fine print it says when you purchase a meal.) That's over $15 in savings! The coupon is good for the whole month of your birthday so sign up early.
I also just walked into Hollywood videos on my birthday, showed my ID, and got a free rental.

Admittedly on some I changed my birthday a bit because I can't get to all these places in one week! I hope they don't ask for my driver's license but they might. I'll live. Does anyone want to go out to eat somewhere with me?

I don't know how to get my husband on board for a "birthday week." You know, he does the dishes and changes diapers and vacuums and cleans the bathroom, all in preparation for my birthday. I've been in Arizona the past three years for my birthday so we haven't been able to celebrate on my birthday. But like I said, the shopping should make things fun.

Are you going out on Black Friday? Where are you headed?

Holiday Wish List: Sleigh of Gifts!

I was recently alerted about the amazing giveaway on todaysmama.com. The gifts are all amazing and I just can't pass up a chance! Here's my entry:


Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? 8X8 glass baking dish with a lid, recipe holder, "measure all" measuring cups, 2 GB thumb drive, gift cards to my favorite places to treat myself like Jamba Juice, sub-zero, and Burger Supreme...Yum!
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? My mom finished the quilt I started in high school. It was a total surprise.
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? Knitting gloves/mittens
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? a bicycle, how cliche
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? Baby doll, car track, play kitchen
6. What is your favorite holiday food? Nut Balls!! Made by my aunt Amy (I learned to make them this year, so much work.)
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? Cards, picture frames
8. What is your favorite holiday movie? "The Holiday"
9. Favorite holiday song? Silent Night
10. Favorite holiday pastime?Sitting in the dark with just the Christmas tree lights on!

The Zoo

I wanted to take Edin to the zoo for this birthday. I had to hurry and go before he turned three and I had to pay for him. So we went the day before. I invited James' sisters. Becky came with Kate and Annie's daughter Taylor. We had a really fun day. The weather was perfect. Edin loved having Taylor there. They had a blast together. I'm having a hard time getting the captions to line up with the pictures so I'm going to stop trying. Here's a few tid-bits. There were some GIANT turtles. My kids were scared of the giant elephant we took our picture by. Edin and Taylor both got elephant cups you can by filled with soda. By the end of the day Lizzie was so burned out.

The zoo had so many baby animals; an elephant, giraffe, tiger cubs, zebra, some kind of monkey, and more! Enjoy the pictures. There's a lot.


This is what Edin was like when we got to the zoo. He didn't want to get out of the stroller. He just sat there.










The baby elephant was so dang cute. He started playing with this ball. It was rad. This is not her taking a poopy on the ball.