My third job :)

Every time someone asks me how I do so well with coupons, my answer is the same, don't buy what you need when you need it, buy what is a good price before you need it. Case in point my trip to Wal-mart yesterday

Buying more saved me money on what I originally was going to buy, I got 20 items for $.66 compared to 1 item for $1.98. You do the math.

Also I want to point out that it was a really really good week for free samples for me! Take a look at this weeks mail haul! 3 coupon books, 3 free item coupons and lots of others! Now to find a good way to organize them all!

This is just an introduction to what I refer to as my third and may I add favorite job, there will be more to come!

Momma Bear

Trying something new March edition

I can hardly believe it myself but we are only 5 days in to March and I have already tried 2 new things!

First thing I tried was making my own meatloaf. I used this one, http://www.twirlandtaste.com/2012/11/miranda-lamberts-favorite-her-moms.html I'm not going to lie the main reason is because I love Miranda. It was my very first time making meatloaf, as this isn't something my family does. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and Abigail loved helping with it. Plus it was one of those throw in the oven and work on other things meals. I will definitely be making more meatloaves in the future! Next time I'm going to try wrapping it in bacon, yum.

The next thing I tried was making my own Easter candy, again yum! I made a small batch of peanut butter balls to make sure I would like them and now I wanna not only make more but I want to find other recipes as well!

I can't see these being the only 2 new things I do this month since the husband fixed up the sewing machine the neighbor gave us! Bring on the sewing ;)

Amanda

Nexxus Hydra-light

So I got a great opportunity to try a new product from Nexxus, it's called Hydra-light and it's claims refreshing hydration and natural fullness for your hair. Well I got the shampoo, conditioner, leave in conditioner and a root lift mist.

So right off the bat I am sceptical because I am very low maintenance when it comes to my hair, I hate all the muss and fuss and putting all these products in my hair. So I started gradually the first day just using the shampoo and conditioner, let me say that my hair felt super clean. It was bouncy and I felt fuller, I just couldn't keep my hands out of it all day! So the next day I decide to jump in with both feet and use all 4 products the way the bottles direct you to. Now I am even more sceptical because I always thought you didn't have to use both conditioner and leave in conditioner. . . wrong. Apparently conditioner releases current tangles and the leave in conditioner tames "future" tangles. I have a huge problem that half way through the day I end up with a huge rats nest at the back of my neck from my hair rubbing on my shirt, since I have started using both conditioners, I haven't had that knotting!

All in all the products leave my hair feeling a little more full of life then before, the scent is light but great, and my hair feels very clean. The leave in conditioner keeps the tangles at bay while leaving my hair shiny and slick. I could do with out the root lift mist I didn't feel it did very much other then leave my hair stuck together and gave it a straw like appearance if I didn't break it up. The problems that I did have with this product were the price (ranging from $9.99-$14.99 per bottle) and the fact that it's definitely a daily use item. My hair was left looking greasier then normal on the second day.

Bottom Line: If I were going to splurge it would just be for the leave in conditioner.

Trying something new. . . every month

Okay so my "thing" for this year is going to be trying something new or learning something new every month. I am not talking about the whole, "You learn something new everyday." I am talking actually going out of my way to learn or do something. Since I got a late start with this I didn't really get to anything in February so I am going to use making my own stromboli. I have assisted in the process before but I've never actually taken it on my own to make one, so I just did it. Granted I did not make my own dough, but it's still a stromboli. I also did not get to take pictures, which is probably good since it did not look as good as it tasted. I have some minor things that I want to tweak but all in all it was one of our favorite dinners.

Also I threw together some "leftover" items I had after making broccoli, chicken and cheese bites in to the mixer and made a pretty delicious dip! I threw in some thawed frozen broccoli, some pre cooked chicken, a bar of cream cheese and some shredded mexican cheese. Mixed it all up in my beautiful kitchen aid, spread it in a square glass pan, threw it in the oven for a couple minutes and voila! It was great, next I am going to try using it to make little appetizer bites, I will let you know how that turns out.

As for March I have many things that I would like to try/learn but I don't want to get your hopes up or jinx myself so I will leave you in suspense ;)

Amanda