And that is family time around here.
~Trisha

How Mom Can Save on Family Finances

Moms are known for a lot of things – being great cooks, giving great hugs and picking just the right spot to kiss to make a booboo feel better. But today moms are becoming known for being smart shoppers and creative money savers when it comes to the family finances. There are a number of resources out there to help, like online deals, discount stores, and so much more. By doing a little due diligence, moms can learn easy ways to save money on the finances at home.

Across the Board

No matter what your household income may be, there are always things you can do to help curb your family expenses. Finding little areas to trim here and there can really add up each month, and over the course of a year. Alexandra Kirkman of parents.com shares ideas from virtually all areas of the home where you can save.

Strategic Shopping

•   – Study sale patterns.
•   – Check out the coupon policy.
•   – Pick up the Sunday paper.
•   – Look for deals!
•   – Visit social-media sites.

Go Green!

•   – Turn down the heater.
•   – Change incandescent lights.
•   – Prevent phantom energy waste.
•   – Buy Energy Star brands.
•   – Install water aerators.
•   – Reusable microfiber cloths.
•   – Make your own cleaning products.

Keep More of Your Money

•   – Adjust your tax withholding.
•   – Find interest generating bank accounts.
•   – Refinance your mortgage.
•   – Increase your homeowner’s deductible.

Cheaper Cells

•   – Compare cell alternatives
•   – Avoid overbuying.
•   – Invest in insurance.

Lower Car Costs

•   – Keeping a good credit score may lower insurance costs.
•   – Put your policies together.
•   – Buy cheaper gas.
•   – Be more fuel-efficient.

Using even just a few of these tips like watching your phantom power usage, or finding free online coupons will save you more money than you may realize. Every little bit of savings combined with smart investing will make your personal dollars go a great deal further.

Budget Friendly

Budgets can get a bad rap, but if you’re willing to try to maintain some healthy boundaries with your money, the savings can be huge! The geniuses at money.cnn.com admit, “Budgets are a necessary evil”. They also offer 3 basic steps to creating one.

1. Identify how you’re spending money now.

2. Evaluate your current goals and set new ones that will consider your long-term financial aims.

3. Keep track of your spending to regulate those intentions.

It is also recommended that you use software to help walk you through the budget process. And because budgeting can drive you to the brink of insanity if you’re not careful, CNNMoney also offers some warnings.

•   – Watch for “cash leakage”.
•   – Don’t spend beyond your limits!
•   – Needs vs. wants.
•   – Don’t count on windfalls
•   – Watch out for “spending creep”

And if you find yourself really wanting to buy large ticket items like new furniture or something to spruce up a room, but it’s not in your budget, then find budget-friendly alternatives, such as repainting the space or using a Pottery Barn discount code to purchase a few new accent items.

Homemade Helps

Not everyone can be mini-Martha Stewarts, but learning to become a little more D-I-Y can save you money on everything from groceries and household cleansers, to homemade room décor and children’s play things. Pinterest.com offers some ideas for homemade items that can save you some bucks. A few ideas show how to uncap sealed cleaning solutions, so instead of buying costly replacements you can refill with your own soap. Or homemade ‘oxi-clean’, deodorizers, and even self-made makeup wipes that can double as diaper wipes. You can create ribbon topiaries, D-I-Y wrinkle or spot remover, and even mix-up some glue in 4 easy steps.

Saving money and developing smart money habits doesn’t have to be an overwhelming thing. Start with just a few of these tips and integrate more as you feel comfortable.

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This month I am doing something crazy.

I am putting my house on the market.

My dad whom is broker assures me that things will be fine (and of course we can always rent our house, its an investment, etc etc) but I am just SO ready to move. We have lived in Theodore for about 5 years, our first move after a stint in the military. We moved here since it was close enough to “home” that we could visit and see our families and a far cry from the many states away life we had been living. Yet although we are closer to one another, the 2 hour time difference still prevents the last minute drop bys, the quick movie meet ups and the little league attendance.

Basically…we are just not where we want to be yet.

Its hard when you are in a steady lifestyle and decide you want to make a change, which is exactly what Chris and I are ready to do. Going from a stable life to the unknown of selling your house and moving is not something we take lightly. But its time. Chris’ grandmother and father are not in the greatest health, my grandmother is going through Chemo (started today) and the thing is, we are NOT promised tomorrow.

I want my kids to grow up around other family. We have cousins and both sets of grandparents not far from here and I want the Barbeques and visits to the beach and backyard parties without it being an all day adventure in and out of town.

Plus Mobile kinda sucks.

Right now we are going through the motions.

We have:

1. made a decision we don’t want to live here forever. We need to be near family to care for them and for our own kids.
2. decided we want to retire in Florida. Well, Tahiti, but Ill start in Florida till I win power ball.
3. set up a time for a contractor to come in this week and paint all the rooms and do all our house repairs in prep for the house going on the market.
4. gotten quotes on carpet and stair cleaning.

Now I just need to get it all done and packed and then let the universe takeover. At least that is what I tell myself.

Of course as all these questions come up about building a home, new loans, rent our current home or sell it, buy a pre-owned home or a new one, put money down or keep it for emergency savings, it just causes my head to spin! Now in our case because we are VA, we don’t need mortgage insurance, but in many cases people do and doing the homework on it is smart!

If the down payment on your home is less than 20% of the price of your home, your lender may suggest a few financing alternatives. Conventional loans with private mortgage insurance and FHA loans both allow for low down payments. If you have a very limited down payment (less than 3%) or a low credit score, an FHA loan may be the right choice. However, a loan with mortgage insurance provides significant benefits for borrowers.

Check out this guide on comparing mortgage insurance from Genworth.

We also spend a ton of time scrolling through houses and saving our favorites.

Right now I may be in lust with a few homes that are a bit out of my price range like this one…

And this one:

And this one…

(kidding on that previous one…)

I am trying to tell myself that this is our LAST home. Get the one I really want to retire in and buckle in and pay a little more for what you want. But going up $150K from our current house is so, so hard!!

No matter what we do, ‘Ill be ready for the change. Even if we had to get a smaller house to move, I would do it. And this will be my 3rd home buying experience!

How many houses have you bought/sold? Have you been on the market recently for any advice?

Trisha

Supported by Genworth  in association with Brandfluential. Stories and personal information are all my own.

Because every now and then I get a chance to spend a few days with some amazing women that are business leaders, fantastic mothers, inspirational humans, and above all, friends for life.  I never had really good friends as a kid or even as a teen. It was one or two here and there…I was kinda a loner and that carried well into being an adult. I am so grateful that I finally find people that are OK with that and STILL want to talk to me.

So to all you bloggers….even though I am a bit quiet, a bit serious, and a bit focused, I want you all to know that you are all very much my very best friends and I love you all.

~trisha

When you have kids it’s pretty hard to get out. Whether that is for a simple date night with a spouse or even a day out with the kids, actually leaving the house can be a real chore!

Nap time? Check.

Diapers? Check.

Extra clothing? Check.

Toys, blankets, pacifiers, stroller…check.

I have found that although it got easier as Charlotte got older, when I had Phoenyx the long days started all over again. Now we are lucky if we get time enough to go for a walk around the block much less have planned family activities.  Even with all we have to do though, one thing we can all agree on is to watch a movie at home! Its easy for everyone to pick out something they like, stop and start as we please, and not have to worry about nap or bedtime schedules. Simply pick a flick, grab some popcorn, and curl up on pillows.

Moms Movie Night?

YES!

Now while this isn’t a kid movie, you may want to gear up for movie night with Silver Linings Playbook.

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat Solatano has lost everything – his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstance of their separation.

 All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet – and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both their lives.

And aside from the plot, you may enjoy this person:

Or this one:

WIN WIN WIN

To get you started on a true Movie Night experience in your home,  we have partnered with Lunchbox PR and Walmart MovieCenter for an exclusive Movie Night giveaway! Not only can you save money by choosing to stay at home, but you can have a true experience any night of the week without packing everyone up and then overpaying for stale popcorn and flat soda.

The winner will receive a 3D Blu-Ray Player, a Home Popcorn Maker, a Flavored Popcorn Kit and a $20 Walmart Gift Card so you can purchase the Blu-Ray of your own choosing.

Please wait for rafflecopter to load and thank you for supporting this blog by entering!

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When I look back in old pictures of myself I can always tell what age I was simply by looking at my smile.

If I was under 28 year old, I have a lip smile.

If I was over 28, I have a teeth smile.

Why the difference? Braces.

 I have always been a confident person. I can’t remember a time that I was afraid to stand up in front of a classroom or be who I am, but I have done all of it carefully hiding my teeth throughout my life. Having straight teeth, no matter what age you are, shows the world what you already feel inside and reflects it on the outside.

 In fact I never actually realized I was hiding a part of my soul but not smiling out loud. When everyone was laughing and I would turn away so no one would notice my teeth were not straight, I knew it was time for a change.  I was about 26 years old when I made the decision that I didn’t want to feel that way anymore. I got Damon System braces just before I found out I was pregnant and had treatment throughout my pregnancy and for about a year after.

 It was actually a bit awkward having  braces and being pregnant at the same time. Going to the dentist and orthodontist was a lot more difficult since laying on my back was almost impossible during that time, but with the Damon Braces my appointments were quicker. Since the design features a slide mechanism the wires are easy to change and quickly pop out when needed—meaning there was no long appointments lying backwards. And while the cost was def scary to take on while expecting a new baby, it was also something I could not afford to wait on any longer.

 As a mother-to-be I was asking myself “How can I raise a child and show who I am while still hiding my smile?”

 So I didn’t.

 This is me at 27 years old with braces….1 of only 2 pictures that exist of this time in my life and the first time I am showing this publicly.

And now?

At almost 35 I cannot remember even having braces, but I can tell you that my results are still giving me a beautiful CONFIDENT smile from the point I got them off and into the rest of my life.

This year I have been an advocate for the Damon System, the exact braces you see above on my crooked smile going straight!

You can see my past posts here:

• More Than Straight Teeth
• New Year, New You!

About the Damon Clear Braces

Virtually invisible, Damon Clear has clear advantages over traditional braces and aligners. Damon Clear is part of the innovative Damon System, which combines tieless braces with high technology archwires that are clinically proven to move teeth fast and comfortably with truly spectacular smile and facial results.

 Available from skilled orthodontists, Damon Clear combines the best of traditional clear braces and invisible aligners to deliver a discrete treatment experience with results that go beyond straight teeth.

 If I could give anyone any advice when it comes to their teeth I would say do not wait. I wish I had felt this way early on in my life. I wish I had done the treatment as a teen or a young adult. I waited for a smile that I should have had a long time ago. Even more so, I developed dental problems along the way due to my teeth not being straight that I could have saved myself from by acting sooner.

 And I am SO grateful it’s all in the past and it’s a decision I do not regret. Do not forget that near the end of the year MomDot will be giving away a SMILE MAKEOVER for one lucky winner that wants to change their life!!

 If you are interested in learning more and taking the step to change your life, make sure you visit and learn more about the Damon System.

~trisha

With Memorial day coming up (and 4th of July not far behind), no doubt you are planning a fun celebration. And what is a party without some firecrackers??!

So here is a super fun way to pass out cookies that will make the kids “ooh and ahh” when they pop in their mouth!

To make it easy, I am showing you the recipe in photos.

See? Super simple!

Memorial day Firecracker Cookies

Ingredients

• your favorite sugar cookie recipe
• butter cream or white frosting
•  2 packs of pop rocks
• white sugar + blue gel paste

Instructions

1) Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe

2) Frost with butter cream

3) Create blue sugar by adding sugar and blue gel paste into a blender and turn on for 30 seconds

4) Sprinkle sugar on frosting

5) Sprinkle pop rocks on cookies…you will hear them crackle as they hit the frosting

6) The kids will bite in and they will “explode” in their mouths like a firecracker!

Very fun!

Enjoy !

~Trisha