I've Been Robbed!

Someone stole a couple of my posts from my other blog. They just went to my blog, copied, pasted and published them as their own. On one post this person said thanks to me but gave me no link, but one post is published without any credit given back to me in any form.

I put a lot of time and effort into frugalisfab, with very little financial reward. So to have someone just rip off my work makes me a little hot under the collar.

This person does not have an email address to contact them and so I am left here in a quandary wondering what to do. I am sure (by this I mean I hope) that this person doesn't know that what they are doing is wrong and so I don't just want to blast them with a nasty comment on their blog. But on the other hand, I really don't want someone taking my work and publishing it as their own.

Anyone have any helpful advice?

Flashback Friday Back to School Edition

In honor of Hallie and Avery starting school this week I thought that we would do a little flashback of Nick and I at their age. First here are some pictures from the first day of school:

Avery kept turning around to see if we were still there. She was a little unsure to say the least.



Here are Nick and my Kindergarten pictures. Which one of us do you think Avery looks the most like?

If you answered either one of us, sorry this was actually a trick question, because the answer is none of the above. I think Avery looks the most like my mom. I have to get my mom to get a picture of herself scanned, because really that is who she resembles the most.



Here are Nick and I in our 2nd grade pictures. Who do you think Hallie looks the most like?

No question here. Hallie is definitely all her dad. Those two are like two peas in a pod. It is unreal how much they are alike.

The Second Funniest Family Home Evening

If you didn't already know this, I think Hallie is the funniest most creative girl. She never ceases to amaze me with her productions and ideas. She especially amazes me because I have no creative gene. She doesn't have any great example to follow here, she just comes up with this stuff on her own.

She was in charge of FHE tonight, and she choreographed a reenactment of Jesus' birth. There was a set, costumes, and she narrated everything while directing and staring in the show.

Avery was playing Mary and Hallie was playing Joseph. I told Hallie to smile for the picture and she looked at me like "you just do not get it mom," and she said "Um, I'm Joseph." I guess she figures Joseph didn't do much smiling. You can really see her creativity here. She took the tricycle and attached my exercise bands for the donkey. She is using the hooded towels for costumes, notice that Avery's is pink and hers is blue. She thought of EVERYTHING. The pillows in the background represent the sheep. There is one purple sheep because Hayden FLIPPED out when they tried to take her pillowcase off.

Hallie had to play multiple parts, here she is holding the star. I don't know how she even remembered that we own a yardstick, but she dug it out so that the star could be shining in the sky.


Jaxton really was not happy with Hallie holding the star, he thought it looked like the best, most exciting toy he had ever seen, and was obsessed with it for the rest of the night.




Here they are playing multiple parts again. In this picture they are the shepherds. Hayden is the angel. (Thank you McDonald family for the costume, who knew that a fairy costume would be perfect for a Nativity reenactment!)


Hallie kept trying to give Hayden directions. She would say, "okay angel, now you go over here and say . . ." Hayden would just scream back "CALL ME ANDI." I have no idea why. But, throughout the entire production she insisted on being called Andi.


The joyous occasion. Jaxton's toy basket made a perfect manger, (she even set it on top of a bar stool, so it did kind of look like a manger), and one of Nick's work towels worked out nicely for the swaddling clothes.

In case you missed it, this was the funniest FHE.

My Baby Boy Is One

As much as I protested and as much as Jaxton seems willing to comply, it seems like my baby boy is growing up! I can't believe how fast this year has gone, how much our lives have been blessed by his presence in our home and how much I love the little guy. Here are a million pictures of his first year.

No, We Didn't Fall Off The Face Of the Earth

Sorry I have been a crummy blogger lately. I haven't posted in quite a long time and the last few posts have been about coupons and creepy magazine ads. BORING. So here is a general update.

My new hobby, frugalisfab.blogspot.com is consuming my life, so that is great. Actually I think it will be a little less maintenance now that I am all set up. It is doing pretty well and I am really excited about it.

I am at my parents house and their computer moves at a snails pace. So, there will be no pictures on this post, I will save them all for when we get home. This is what we have been doing so far: my mom and I have been bargain shopping for hours on end, lots of swimming, because it was 111 degrees here yesterday (the pool felt like bath water it was so hot), and Hayden and I are sharing a bed and she threw up all over me and was up half of the night last night. So all in all a very good time so far.

Jaxton's birthday is on Saturday and I have not planned any birthday celebration yet. I think I am in denial. Do you think that if I just don't throw him a birthday party he can stay little forever?

So, look forward to a new post when I get home. It will include Jaxton's birthday celebrations, whatever they may be, and getting to see my grandpa and meet my new grandma (he is recently remarried). So, should be really exciting!

I Was Just Browsing A Magazine

And I came across this ad. . .

. . .which is going to give me nightmares for sure.

Being Frugal Is Fabulous

After a LOT of prodding from my mom (just kidding mom, thanks for all of the support and for pushing me), I have finally started another blog. At Being Frugal Is Fabulous, I will be talking about what I have learned about getting the best deals, clipping coupons and getting things for free, without getting too overwhelmed. Check it out here or click on the little button over to the right.

Kicking It Up A Notch

This post is mostly for my mom. She has been asking me to post about my latest hobby for quite some time.

I have always been what I would call frugal and what my sisters call cheap. When I was eight years old I saved up all of my money and bought myself a whole bedding set, that I bought on sale. Over the next few years I furnished my room all with my own money. I bought two wicker headboards and a matching wicker chair. Seriously, what 8 year old does this?

I used to drive my sisters crazy because I was such a freeloader . As soon as we would get our allowance, they would splurge on treats for themselves. Not me, I would save every penny of it. Then when they were eating their treats I would beg for them to share with me. When we went to the mall they would buy themselves something to drink, not me, I knew where every drinking fountain was.

Well, I think my sister Katie (it is safe to say that she is the one who is most irked by my cheapness) will be especially excited to hear that I have taken it to the next level. That's right, I've become a coupon clipper. Not just one of those casual coupon clippers either. For instance, this is my new coupon holder.



Yep, that is a photo organizer that is made to hold 180 photos, and it it completely full. I now carry this with me wherever I go. Now before you start mocking me and my coupon binder. Check out all of the stuff I got for FREE last week using various coupons and rebates.

(4 boxes of tampons, 2-8 packs of bottled water, 5 bottles of John Frieda shampoo, 1 bottle of Organix shampoo, 1 Herbal Essenses conditioner, 1 powered razor, 4 packages of Thermacare heat wraps, 1 package of floss and 2 powered toothbrushes)

If I had paid full price for all of these things, it would have cost me about $85. I think this is the best hobby ever! Nick says he has never seen me this excited. I have also taught my mom the tricks of the trade and we call each other to share our latest deal scenarios and to compare prices. If you are interested in learning more, this blog is the place that helped me on my journey to being the cheapest person on the planet.