Marriage...is NOT a Fairytale

When I was younger, I used to think of marriage as a fairytale, like Cinderella.  That one day I would find my prince. I did find my prince, but he didn't ride a white horse. He rode a bucking bull. 

My husband and I found each other in 2010 and was married by 2012. It was truly love at first sight. I went to his house for a party and I was hooked as soon as I seen him. Not to mention I was dating someone else. Now I know what you may think. I did not act on anything until I was single. 

The week we started talking I was staying at his house every night and thinking about him all day. Everyone says that the first year of marriage is the hardest. However, I thought it was the easiest. We were in the honeymoon stage and  we were also expecting our daughter. 

The second year of marriage is what I like to refer to as the terrible twos. Think of it as a toddler. I was trying to figure out how to be a wife and a mom and balance everything in between and I couldn't do it. I struggle with anxiety and depression so it's a little harder for me to balance. 

I wasn't hearing the I love you's constantly or the damn you're sexy and honestly I missed it. By the beginning of our third year of marriage I was talking about divorce. I wasn't happy. It wasn't exactly all his fault but mostly mine. I wanted him to do something about it when he was doing the best he could. I would cry myself to sleep praying that something would change. 

We weren't quite ready to give up so we did what every couple needs to do and that is COMMUNICATE!!! I can not stress the importance of communication in any relationship. Sometimes you fall and you have to work your way back up.  Now we still have our disagreements and arguments but I feel like when we got to the point of talking about divorce, it opened our eyes. 

Today I can say that I am happy. I am happy with my husband. I am happy with myself.  

Women believe that love is like a story or the movies and it's not. All that is make believe and fiction. You have to make your own happiness and it's not going to come to you that easy. 

I can sew that

I'm a mom that can sew! I know a lot of you are going so what, who cares?

You may not care but I do! Sewing is stressful but relaxing at the same time. I know how in the world is that possible, but it is. It makes me feel amazing that I can create something out of some fabric! Plus when B comes in yelling my pretty pants, that isn't too bad either. 

Now you don't have to sew perfectly to make your children clothes. I have been making B clothes for about a couples months now. I first started off with play clothes and worked my way up. 

It didn't occur to me to start selling these to other people until a co-worker mentioned it to me. I know plenty of moms who pay good money for name brand clothes but I am definitely not one of those moms. I just can't afford it. Sooooo... My husband let me buy an embroidery machine a couple weeks ago. 

You know all those fancy shirts and monogram stuff on clothes that everyone likes? Yeah well now I can make that stuff! I know how awesome is that! 

I was brave enough and opened an Etsy shop and created Sweet and Sassy Boutique. You want boutique clothing without the pricey price tag? Sweet and Sassy is for you. I don't charge a lot for my clothes because I know how hard it is for other moms

Below are some pants that B wanted me to make and what she wants she gets....most of the time.

I'm changing my name

How many times a day do you hear, " MOMMY?" I tell you some days I want to change my name to Felicia so I can go away! 

Now, I don't really want to go away but this woman needs a break. I have watched Rio and Rio 2 50 million freaking times that I know every word! I want to watch something else. 

However, when my sweet, asshole of a child cuddles up on the couch next to me and says I love you. I forget why I wanted to leave in the first place. Being a mom is hard. I only have one child and I have a husband who helps me. I have no idea how single moms do it. Y'all are the real MVP's! Cheers to y'all bitches!

I hear Mommy coming from the bathroom. Oh goodness what has she done now. I pee peed mommy and pooped! Lookie Lookie! Yea baby you did! But next time use the toilet instead of the floor would ya! Now I get clean piss and shit off the floor! But Braylee didn't go in her diaper or pants so i think it is a start. 

UH OH Mommy!  Cereal is on the floor! A mother's work is never done! 

There is SHIT everywhere!!

Dirty socks, shoes, and toys spread as far as the eye can see. There is a sink full of dishes and piles of laundry that needs to get done. 

You just worked an 8-hour day and it was not a pretty one. Kids are yelling at each other and your husband just asked, " What's for dinner?" I'm not sure if I want to turn around and walk out or scream. 

Being a mom, wife, and working a full time job is difficult. Hell, it's hard. I'm here to hopefully make it a little easier for you. 

I'll be doing meal plans, planning your week out, cleaning schedules, and even coupons and sewing. 

I think it would be fun to feature stories about some of the crazy things your kids do that you know isn't "proper" but it keeps them from screaming and it keeps you a little sane. Comment if you would like my email and we will do a feature one day with all the stories of the mommy life!

Be Grateful...You were able to wake up this morning.

Did my title catch your attention? It did mine and I'm the one writing the post. 

My problem is that I'm not grateful enough.  I know that everyone has struggles in life but this is my biggest one. 

• Dishes to wash= food to eat
• Laundry to do= clothes on my back
• House to clean= roof over my head
• Car to fix= transportation that others may not have
• Noses to wipe= children who love you
• waking up tired= I got to wake up

Everyday things are something to be grateful. I have a job to go to during the day and a family who loves me to be with at night. I complain all the time that my house isn't clean and that there is always something to pick up. But memories were being made as well as the messes. Crayons are spread on the floor, but Braylee had a good time coloring. Shoes are in the living room, but Brandon is cuddling on the couch after a hard day at work. 

Take time to be grateful. You are not guaranteed your next day.  

Coupons...Is it Worth it?

How many people have seen the show Extreme Couponing?

How in the world do they walk out of the store with that much free stuff? I may not be an extreme couponer, but I have gotten stuff pretty cheap. I'll be doing a demonstration on how to get the lowest price for your household items.

Now you may have a lot of questions about coupons. Everyone sees the pages of coupons in the newspaper, but what do you do with them? 90% of  you throw them away. Well you just threw away money! It may not seem like it but that coupon will help you save money in the store. 

I have a lot of people ask where do you get your coupons? Most of the coupons come from the newspaper, but you can also print them out online at www.coupons.com The thing is you can only print the same coupon twice. 

  

Above is a coupon example from coupons. com. You may print out this coupon twice per ip address. 

The trick to getting the lowest price is when the stores have sales going on. I like to shop at Kroger and Target. 

Kroger will have the Buy 4 Save $4 sale and if you combine that with coupons you can get the lowest price!

Target is also a good place to shop where I see most of my savings for household items. 

When target has a sale, I try to make sure I will get a gift card that I can roll over to my next transaction. ( I'll post a cheat sheet of coupon lingo at the end of post). Combining MQ with TQ from www.target.com /coupons and the cartwheel app that they have available is amazing savings. 

I am by no means an expert at this! I suggest you join coupon groups on Facebook and Instagram. Also talk to your friends about getting into it with you. In today's society it doesn't hurt to save as much as you can.  A good thing to know is your store's coupon policy. You can go to the store's website and look it up. I always print it off and bring it to the store with me.