Deals and Steals!

On a walk with girlfriends today around Greenlake we found ourselves chatting about where to buy the cheapest diapers, groceries etc. and my gf Anna told me I should be doing a blog about this very thing! So here it is girl! :)

For some reason there is a very negative stigma surrounding one of my favorite places....GROCERY OUTLET! For those of you not on the west coast let me fill you in on this little gem! Its a grocery store with AMAZING prices on everyday things you would normally buy at Safeway, Hannaford etc. The way they are able to do this is here:

"We source product opportunistically. Simply put, we buy brand name products directly from their manufacturers for pennies on the dollar. When a manufacturer has surplus inventory like excess packaging or manufacturing overruns they call Grocery Outlet first.About 75% of our product is sourced this way. Some of our greatest buys are in Health and Beauty Care, Wine, Frozen Foods, Organics and Produce. To ensure that the basics are always available at Grocery Outlet, some product is sourced conventionally, like other grocery stores. Because we cannot source these products opportunistically, the savings may not be as phenomenal; however, we think it’s important to provide them for your convenience—to save you that extra trip." -groceryoutlet.com. 

Yes! You did read that right! There is ALOT of organic items at the Grocery Outlet! I shop there every week! The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you wont find the same things every time you go. So if there's something you really like you should stock up! And there's always a few things I end up needing to get at another store because they just don't have it (sour cream, or random things for a specific recipe). But for you Mamas out there, they DO carry diapers, some locations have jarred organic baby food, and a great juice selection. Also they have great things for packing in older kids lunches! You can literally leave that store with an entire cart of groceries for 50-60$! Thats without coupons! Which they also have! :))) Its the only place that I buy my cleaning supplies too! And you'll never guess what I got on my last excursion to Grocery Outlet..... Max's Halloween costume! For only $9.99!!!! WHOOHOO!

So for those of you against the good old "gross out" explain to me why? I go there every week. It is always clean, organized, and the staff is super friendly and helpful! I get amazing deals on the same food that everyone else is buying and eating. So I don't really know why there is that "stigma". Except that maybe you have a chip on your shoulder and don't want to be seen with those BRIGHT YELLOW bags that they send you home with! HAHA!

So check it out folks! I'm sure you will fall in love with it as much as I have! :))

LOVE, The Bargain Mumma XO

Unemployed Mama

Well....as of this past Saturday the Spa where I was working closed down and laid off all of its employees. I know...harsh. BUT...there is a GOOD THING in all of this! I have a lead on a new job that would start in December, which means I can stay home with my precious booboo for 3 whole months!

For anyone that knows me, knows that being a stay-at-home mama is a DREAM for me! Of course then reality hits and I have bills to pay, clothes to buy, and am not a big fan of being on a strict budget. Sooo...I work! And I love it. I love helping people care for their skins needs, waxing away all of those unsightly hairs, and massaging away the pain and tension of their day. But I think this whole "unemployment situation" is a much needed break from making everyone else feel and look amazing, and focus on ME AND MAX feeling amazing!

So now that I have SO much time on my hands I'm trying to come up with fun things we can fill our days with for the next 3 cold dreary months!(bleck!) Of course there's my Fall list (see previous blog post) but I need more! This week we have had lots of lunch and breakfast dates with some of our favorite people. And towards the end of the week we will walk around Greenlake with friends, check out the Greenlake indoor play area, and maybe even hit up Story Time at the Greenwood Library! So send me your ideas, or great things going on in the next few months, or fun things you do at home with your kiddos for me and Max to try!

Should have plenty of time to blog now! :)
LOVE, The Well Rested Mama! XO

FALL=FUN!!!

I think everyone else is on board with me when I say that Fall is THE BEST season ever! (maybe not the best weather here in Seattle, but absolutely amazing back east in NH) Even though it might just be rainy and grey here on the West Coast, there are plenty of fun things to do and great outfits to wear this time of year!

I have a list of things Im looking forward to doing with Max this Fall. Apple picking, visiting the pumpkin patch, picking out a Halloween costume,decorating the house in our fall decor!!!! And the list goes on! Last year I dressed Max in his Halloween costume and did a little photoshoot at the pumpkin patch! Which I think will have to be a yearly occasion! The pictures came out amazing, and he was so tiny! I cant wait to compare when we do it again this year! Here are a few from last year that i absolutely love!

so tiny!

this one is my favorite! it is framed in our living room!

not a happy camper....but it makes this pik even cuter!

Another thing I would like to try this fall is making my own wreath for my front door! I know I can find all my  supplies at Hobby Lobby, but I need some inspiration for what I want it to look like! Here are a few that I absolutely LOVE!

would put a "B" for our last name...love it!

could make a small one like this as a centerpiece, and a bigger version for the door.

definitely different then ones you see everywhere!

And of course I have to add in a few of my favorite Fall styles when it comes to my everyday outfits for work and for home/play! Now I just need some extra moolah to revamp my closet a bit! ;)

via Pinterest- this would be perfect for work! must find flat adorable boots this year!

via Pinterest- how cute over booties, or under tall boots with a bit peeking out?!

via Pinterest- this sweater looks AMAZING...again with the boots-DELISH!

Well there ya have it! My fall list of things to do and buy! I will post about making my wreath and our pumpkin patch photo shoot as soon as I can!

Oh and P.S- would this make me a horrible mother???!!! Because I think it is TOOOO FREAKIN CUTE!

Max would probably kill me 15 years from now, but it might just be worth it! GAH!!!!

If it's not messy, then it's not fun!

my finger paints!

 For Max's first birthday party I made homemade finger paints for all of the kids to take home in their goodie bags! It was so easy and FUN to make I wanted to share the recipe so all of you can make it at home! Its great to use on a canvas or paper, but even better in the BATHTUB! (no clean-up for mama!) And its technically "edible" although I'm not suggesting to eat ALOT of it because it would be pretty gross! But no need to worry when your little booboo shoves a fistful in his mouth! :) Another perk: you probably have everything you'd need already in your kitchen cupboards!

Recipe:
3 tbsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 C Cornstarch
2 C Water

Combine ingredients in a saucepan. Warm until mixture thickens. Cool and pour into containers ( I used plastic baby food containers for mine). And add whatever food coloring you want! (I also added a little dishsoap to mine which makes it even easier cleanup).

quite the artist! :)

Perfect craft for a rainy Seattle day...which lets face it Mommies, they are about the begin! ugh! So get crafty and start PAINTING! :)

xo

NH/ME Family Vacation

So off to NH we went as a family vacation that was going to include one of my best friends weddings, family visits, lots of lobster, and even more LOVE!

Max got to visit a few airports along the way, which let me tell you, was not the greatest idea on my part. Our first flight from Seattle to Boston had a layover in Chicago....on the red-eye. Which meant Max had 2 hours of sleep at home, followed by 2 hours of sleep on the plane, followed by COMPLETE METLDOWNS the rest of the many hours until we arrived in Portsmouth NH. I think I have sworn off traveling when babies are this young. I'm sure he was thinking "WTF are we doing awake at this hour? What are all these other freaks doing around me? This big tin can is NOISY and not condusive to my sleep Mumma! And last but not least GET ME THE F*** OUT OF HERE".

We finally arrived at my Moms house in NH, "DeeDee" as Max refers to her. He was thrilled to be somewhere he could crawl around, play with new toys, and get lots of snuggles. DeeDee was thrilled too!

DeeDee and Maxi

 The following day we headed up to Bar Harbor, ME where my gf's wedding and rehearsal was. Another travel day for Max....7 hours of travel that is! A few meltdowns along the way but overall he did fine. Especially with the insane amount of entertaining DeeDee was doing! :)

DeeDee and Max at the wedding

all the bridesmaids with the beautiful bride (me on the right)

loving the background

Our next adventure after leaving Maine, was to head to Grantham NH to visit Maxs "Bumpa"! We had a blast spending the day and even got a visit in from Maxs Great Grammy Eva! We spent the afternoon at a great little private beach. Although Max slept the entire time! As shown below! Poor baby was just too tired from all of our adventures!

tuckered out!

Our trip was absolutely wonderful being able to visit with my family and friends that I miss so much! Having Max has made it even harder being far away from them! We definitely miss all the love and snuggles being 3,000 miles away! But at the same time, it makes seeing everyone that much more special!

max,me and uncle MJ

Our trip came to the end way too fast! And we all definitely felt like we needed a vacation...from our vacation! It took Max about 3 days at home to get readjusted, but then he decided to start sleeping through the night out of no where! 2 out of 3 nights he slept for 11-12 hours straight! Maybe we need to take vacations more often?! :)

A HUGE thank you to all of my friends and family that welcomed us and took care of us while we were there! An even BIGGER thank you to my Mumma "DeeDee" for taking such good care of Max while Dustin and I attended the rehearsal and wedding of Kristen and James. We couldnt have made this trip happen without the help and support of our east coast family! We miss you so much already everyone! Looking forward to our next NH vacation already! xxoo