Budgeting for Baby

I know, I know…I’ve been so lame at posting.  But this blog is a just-for-fun thing right now, and sometimes exhaustion and other responsibilities (like motherhood and such) take priority, ha!  I did want to do a few posts on “budgeting for baby”, seeing as this is my second go-around, and I have a little bit of advice that I feel like might be useful to other mommas and mommas-to-be out there.  I'm in nesting mode at the moment, since this baby girl can really arrive at any point now!

First off, I just want to say, that everything I am going to post in regards to this are my personal opinions, preferences, and experiences.  Having a baby is personal, and what works for me will surely not work for everyone.  And who knows, after having baby girl, some of my opinions might shift or change on what works, because having two kids will be a heck-of-a-lot different than having one babe.  My world is about to be rocked, folks! 

We all know this, babies are p-r-i-c-e-y!  Or they can be for many families.  Obviously, I am basing my comments on a healthy pregnancy and birth.  Those who have medical complications and things are definitely going to face different financial burdens that often are hard to anticipate or prepare for.  There is nothing wrong with that and I genuinely  hope the best to the families in those situations.  It is never something that is desired, but thankfully we live in a time when many resources are available to us and I’m very grateful for that! 

With that being said, I know many of us might not feel like we ever “have enough” money to have a baby.  However, it is my personal opinion, that parents should be responsible to plan and anticipate most costs of having a baby, and be able to provide for their needs.  Depending on your situation, it might mean having maternity insurance, researching cash pay plans, or other resources available to you.  That also might mean, looking at where you can trim your grocery store costs and shave off money to put towards diapers and wipes.  It might mean making some sacrifices.  That is part of being a parent.  Please don’t feel sorry for yourself if you can’t go out to eat every week or your baby doesn’t have the most current Baby Gap line of clothing in their closet.  It is not what being a parent is about and you make things work with what you have!  That’s what this series is all about!  Parenthood is much too precious of an experience to get sucked up into peer pressures of keeping up with the “baby Jones’”.  Between blogs, Facebook, and Pinterest, it is pretty easy to feel like a lousy parent if you compare yourself to everyone.  I hope this blog series will help alleviate some of those negative feelings and instead make you feel empowered with what you have and give you ideas on how to be creative to provide a fulfilling and happy experience for your family when a baby is born--not a stressful and negative one that you dread or resent.  Being a parent is the most rewarding and life-changing experience a person can have.  

So hopefully this baby series is helpful to some expectant parents! Please leave comments with your opinions and suggestions--the way I came up with many of my ideas is from hearing what worked for other people and tweaking it to work for me!

Other posts in this series:
Budgeting for Baby: Medical Expenses & Accepting Help

Family Fun: Firepit

Last year, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law gifted us a firepit for our Christmas gift exchange.  Now that the weather is cooling down, we have been loving putting it to use!

If you don't already have one, it would be a fun Christmas gift for your family to enjoy, whether you buy one or build one (it might seem early to already be thinking of Christmas gifts...but trust me, it'll sneak up on you!).

Here is a simple tutorial on how to build one for a family on a budget that wants a permanent place for their firepit.

One Friday night, we decided to do an old-school hot dog roast for dinner, topped off with s'mores.  We had our friends, the Whitings, over and enjoyed good conversation, nostalgic food, and great weather.  Not to mention, this is a really inexpensive family get-together or date night.  I love slow-paced and laid-back evenings like this, I really need to try to plan for more of them.  They are so good for the soul!

I keep a package of hot dogs and buns in my freezer, so we can do this last minute without a trip to the grocery store!  Unfortunately, when I keep a "stash" of chocolate bars to make s'mores, it disappears rather quickly...!  It would also be fun to cook some tin foil dinners for a different type of meal, if you wanted to change things up.

The babes got to take a bubble bath after crawling around and getting smoky, while exploring the "great outdoors".

What do you and your family love doing together?  Do share, I love new ideas!

P.S.
Our favorite way to do s'mores, is using a Reese's peanut butter cup instead of a regular chocolate bar--it is amazing!  Thomas said he probably won't ever make a s'more another way again.

Stuffed Pumpkin: Bacon Jalapeno Dip

On Monday night for family home evening, we had our good friends, the Mertz's over.  James and Jenessa  recently moved here from Tucson.  Brett and James have been very good friends for years, they grew up in Willcox together.  We like that they live close now!

Jenessa offered to bring tomato soup and bread bowls (you can buy the bread bowls here, they are so worth it!).  I gave my first attempt at baking something in a pumpkin, and whipped up some apple crisp.  It was a fun and relaxing evening.  The stuffed pumpkin was a hit!  I'll probably make it again...this week!    

And can I tell you how much I love eating on the back patio!  We eat out there nearly every single night, and I can't get enough of it!  I'll be disappointed when the evenings are too biting to enjoy the patio, but then we can make s'mores around the firepit and Christmas will be here--so I won't be that disappointed :)

Landon was in a goofy and happy mood, so we had fun interacting and engaging with him a lot.  He was so smiley and corny the whole night long.

So, in case you want to test the waters, and try baking "something" in a pumpkin--give this easy appetizer a try!

Bacon Jalapeno Dip baked in a Pumpkin

original recipe found here

2-3 pound pumpkin, cleaned out

16 oz. cream cheese

2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

2 T. finely chopped jalapeno

2 T. finely chopped onion

1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon

3/4 cup salsa verde

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place cream cheese in large, microwave-safe bowl and soften

Stir in the remaining ingredients

Place the dip in cleaned pumpkin and place it in a baking dish with 1 inch of water.  Lightly cover the pumpkin with foil.  Place the pumpkin and baking dish in oven and bake for about one hour, or until the dip is hot and bubbling around the edges.  Put the top of the pumpkin in the last 20 minutes, so it looks "baked". 

We served it with the "insides" of our bread bowls and tortilla chips--both were delicious!

Enjoy!

Dining out on a Dime: Joe's BBQ and a Quick Update

So sorry that I have been MIA for the last while.  If you didn't catch it, here is why.  It is probably why I was craving this, and wearing these all summer long.  It's all starting to make sense now!

Today I am actually feeling quite great (meaning I didn't spend the whole morning wrapped up in a ball on the couch while Landon caused mischief, and I threw in a load of laundry!).  Our house is in a current state of sadness, as all of the decor and most other things are packed up in boxes, ready for our move.  We close on our house this Thursday, and then the madness will begin!  We need to take down wallpaper, paint, and refinish the kitchen cabinets--just to name a few things on our "to-do" list.  But don't worry, I will try to take before and after pictures, because they are the greatest.  And I will definitely post on what we learned about refinishing cabinets, it's a big experiment for us. 

If you are needing a yummy place to eat out this weekend (I'm sure we won't have a very functional kitchen for a bit), then Joe's Real BBQ is a good place to try!  Now, it isn't the cheapest place, but Brett and I got out of there for less than $25, which included lots of good meat, sides, and the biggest rootbeer float I ever did see (with homemade rootbeer, no less).  It is a fun, family-friendly place that has a great atmosphere and seriously good food.  It is a "seat yourself" cafeteria-style set-up that is laid back and fun.

Brett and I each ordered a sandwich this time.  Mine was a bit smaller and had one meat on it.  Brett's was a larger one with two choices of meat on it.  Both of them came with 2 sides.  We love the macaroni and cheese, and the baked beans!  I also really like their main course baked potatoes, cause they come with a heaping bit of meat on it, and it is oh-so-good.  When Brett wants to splurge, he goes with the sampler plate, which has a lot of meat on it!  Writing this post has my mouth watering...I might need to plan this for a date night soon.  

Another great thing about Joe's BBQ, is it is the best place to go for your birthday.  They give you $10 towards a free meal, just show your ID.  You can easily get a full meal on less than $10, or splurge and pay a couple dollars difference.  Now that is frugal!

Landon sporting his Joe's hat

This is the size of the rootbeer float!  Plus, you get unlimited free refills on rootbeer--if you can manage it!

Trust me, this kid eats like a king when he goes out to dinner with us.  He grunts for the pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce, the mac-n-cheese, and the baked beans!

He just happened to be wearing his John Deere onesie, so we couldn't pass up the photo-op with their fun decor!

This place is in the heart of downtown Gilbert, so if you go when there is nice weather, then walk around and enjoy the fun area too!  BBQ is one of my favorite kinds of foods to order out at a restaurant!

Summer Movie Fun

I just got back in town from Utah (I hitched along with my family while Brett was at scout camp for the week)!  And despite the fact that they were hitting record-breaking highs there, it was still a nice break from the Arizona summer heat!  Now that is saying something.

So pardon my more sparse posting since I was vacationing.  And please continue to pardon my sparse posting as I try to recover from post-vacation blues (loads of laundry, sweltering heat, etc.) while I catch up on my regular daily-duties and posts!

But, in case you need an idea for something to escape the heat here in AZ, here is one!

I know this isn't a secret, but it was something I decided to do this year.  All of my cousins my age that live around here, do this together, and since I have Landon now I decided to join in on the fun!

It is called, Summer Movie Fun and is put on by Harkin's Theaters.  At the beginning of the summer, I bought a season pass for $7, which meant I could go to 10 movies over the summer for that price, total!  All my tickets came with the $7 purchase, so that is less than $1/movie, for 10 movies!  Now, the movies they show are not in theaters, they are already released movies.  But it is a fun outing and since I coordinate with my cousins, we get to see each other once a week in the summer. 

Since it is mid-summer and you might not be able to get your money's worth for a whole season pass, or if you travel a lot and would miss a lot of days--you can just show up to the theater during one of the movies designated times, and if space allows, purchase a ticket for $2 just for that one day and movie.  It still is a really inexpensive option to escape the heat and get out of the house!

I also "splurged" on a $5 loyalty cup, so I can get cheap refills every week or any other time I go to the movies this whole year.  Those who know me well, know I love a good fountain soda!

Brett and I also love to frequent the Picture Show Theater at Superstition Springs (it is $2 for admission, except for $1 on Tuesdays).  It is a discount theater that shows movies that have already hit regular theaters but not been released on DVD yet.  It is a great alternative for date night, than going to a traditional theater, since tickets can be $10 or more in the regular theaters!  We can afford dinner and a movie on the nights we choose to go there!

What do you do during the summer to escape the heat?  I could always use more ideas!

Family Fun + Decor: Ikea

Ikea is great for so many things.

If you are looking for reasonably priced decor, depending on your taste and style...Ikea!

If you are looking for a fun place to walk around and escape the heat...Ikea!

If you are in the mood for some Swedish meatballs...Ikea!

If you need some inspiration on decorating a room...Ikea!

As you can see, Ikea can be a great place to check out.  But be careful you don't spend too much money when you go, unless there is something you need to purchase and that is your plan!

We went the other weekend as a family fun night, to grab a couple things we needed, and to pick up something to gift my parents for Mother's and Father's Day.  Unfortunately we got to the restaurant a little too late, and it was closed for the evening, but we still had a blast!

We love our Moby wrap, especially in Ikea!  Be sure to go when you have plenty of time to browse.  If it is your first time, there is a lot to take in, and you are most likely to get lost at least once.  But the employees are nice and wear bright yellow shirts, so ask questions if you have them!

Family Fun: A Donut Outing

Whew!  Sorry I wasn't super active in the blogging world last week.  I got a bad case of the stomach flu that really wiped me out.  But now I am doing much better, so the blogging can continue!  This week I will add a couple more ideas for some budget-friendly family fun. 

Have you ever been to Bosa Donuts?  We have one nearby, and they have some seriously delicious donuts! A couple Saturdays ago, we decided to take a morning bike ride over there and get a donut, and some donut holes (for Landon...ahem) for breakfast.

I loved it so much it might become a tradition every so often on Saturday mornings...not such a great idea for the waistline though!

And if you want to see how adorable Landon looks in his little bike helmet, you can check the picture in this post!

Dining Out on a Dime: Casa Ramos

I had a fun and productive weekend canning!  Hope you had a good one.  I'll show you what we did this weekend, in a future post--coming up soon! 

We love to eat out, but if you aren't careful it can add up fast!  Typically we eat out places that maybe are quicker or don't have waiters/waitresses (i.e., less expensive).  But sometimes it is nice to sit back and have someone continually top off your water and serve you your food!  So when we are in the mood for that, and some good Mexican food, we head on over to...

...Casa Ramos.  It is on Main Street in Mesa.  It is reasonably priced, the staff are over-the-top nice, and it is delicious!  Bonus: It is also open late!

When you are seated, they bring you a bowl of tortilla chips and some roasted tomato salsa.  If you aren't careful, you get full from that!  Because we get the chips and salsa, we opt to share a combo meal (I think we normally get #19).  Our combo meal comes with a burrito, taco, and enchilada (your choice of meat in each--we love their shredded beef!), and a side of rice and beans.  So good!  

Last time we went, we made it out of there for $15, including tip!  Not too bad for delicious Mexican food, and great service where you are seated and waited on.  

Have you ever been to Casa Ramos?  Where is your favorite place to eat out that is budget friendly?  

Let's Celebrate: Cinco de Mayo

Here in the good Southwest, we take things like Cinco de Mayo quite seriously.  You see, it is a really good reason to eat delicious and authentic Mexican food, be surrounded by bright colors, and spend time with family.

Why not check out the history of Cinco de Mayo and plan a little celebration?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Use tissue paper for decor!  It is inexpensive, and really authentic for this sort of celebration...

1. tissue paper garland

2. mini pinatas

3. fringe invitation

4. tissue flower tutorial

These are all easy DIYs, and really add color to your fiesta as well.  

Another fun way to decorate is with the small succulents...

1. succulents in recycled cans

2. succulents in terra cotta pots

Of course, food is a very important aspect of a Cinco de Mayo celebration...

1. salsa bar

2. mexican corn

3. sombrero cookies

4. mock fried ice cream

The food doesn't have to be a full-meal.  I love the idea of a salsa bar or just dessert.  We will probably get some carne asada meat from a local carniceria, and make black bean dip and cilantro lime rice.  Maybe even some mexican corn.  Mock fried ice cream is easy to make in advance--perfect for hosting!  Warm honey and cinnamon together and drizzle it on top for the perfect touch.  If you are hosting, to keep cost low, have everyone bring something!  Takes the stress off of you and your budget.

And of course, get-togethers are more fun with photos, and who doesn't like a few fun props?!

1. inspiration for pinata costume

2. free mustache printable

If you are looking for the perfect way to top off the day, try serving some horchata--a traditional Mexican rice drink.  Think rice pudding in liquid form, it is delicious!

horchata recipe

I hope this gave you a few ideas on how to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year, whether it be a big or small celebration.  Let me know how it goes!

Movie in the Park

So many communities now offer Movies in the Park for free!  Check your local areas to see it it is an option for you, or if you are in AZ, you can check out this link of movies in the park at the Biltmore mall.  We have gone several times, and it is great!

We went a few weeks ago, and we were able to go early and just hang out in the enjoyable weather.  We packed a picnic dinner and picked up some drinks on the way, which was a very frugal approach.  But you could always pick up some dinner on the way, keeping your price point reasonable--and it would still be a very affordable get-together, date, or family outing.

We saw Casablanca, it was my first time seeing it.  We met up with some friends for the movie.  Everyone brought their own dinner and we all shared treats.  It was a blast!

What do you do outdoors when the weather is nice?  We are trying to soak up the outside time before Arizona starts reaching the triple digits on a daily basis!

We got there really early to relax and save spots.  Best decision, we would recommend it!