Tweens and Nails - She is BACK! Mini-Me's Blog

Girls are Obsessed with their Nails!

Make sure you wait for it, wait for it, at the end!

This chick cracks me up!

Ritz Carlton = Frugal

Ritz Carlton = Frugal

How is it you ask?

I often blog about ways to save money and how to be frugal. So I am sure you all think I am a big fat liar when I say that I stayed at the Ritz Carlton and it was frugal.

WELL... let me give you a little peak how.

OK it would have been so easy to just put it all on the Discover Card! But that sure wouldn't be frugal.

However, I do have a Discover Card and just like this Pink one- isn't it so cool and girlie?

Well we put almost everything we can on the Discover Card every month and I pay it online through my online bill pay every couple of days. That way we pay no interest but we get lots of points!

I used my last 2 months of Discover Card points to pay for a little mini-vaca with Haley at the Ritz Carlton. Just a cool way to be frugal but get some really awesome treats while building memories!

The last 2 years the boys have gone on what seems their annual hunting trip to Texas ( I will spare you the dead hog pictures).

So this year I decided Haley and I would take a little vaca. I got a one night stay family package for $199/night (remember I used my Discover points to pay for it). Haley got to eat free and a friend AND I had a $50 resort credit to use towards my food.

Somehow we ended up with a Casita and we weren't even in the main hotel lodge - guess it was our lucky day?

This had the deepest bathtub I have ever seen!

One door shower and one door toilet  - it was crazy!

The shower was crazy awesome!

Notice that really cool TV that you can watch while taking a bath?

Love this mirror!

Oh yeah baby- the whole reason I picked this resort - the WATERSLIDE! And yes I went down it too!

Doesn't take much to impress this simple country girl!

View from lunch

Again doesn't take much to impress us!

Oh yeah baby! Oh wait that's right I had 2 kids with me- Coke it was! But pretty impressive huh?

Infinity pool at sunset

I loved the fire bowls! They were everywhere and it was just gorgeous!

Oh I forgot to mention we had a visitor on our porch! It was SO GROSS!

The Infinity pool was lit up gorgeous at night.

So remember when trying to think of some great vacation ideas - think outside the box, have a stay-cation - check out the local deals that include meals, use your credit card points! Make the most and be frugal and Make some Memories!



Proud Mama!

Hey all you proud Mamas out there!

You know how it is when you are so proud of your kiddos! I just love them so much!


** Disclaimer - There are LOTS of pics** I hope you enjoy!

They started out like this!

Sweet Baby Cody when he was about 5 months old

Sweet Baby Haley when she was just a few days old!

Oh my sweet babies

We have just now finished up another school year! And what a school year it was I though it was never going to get here and this has been the slice my wrists craziest year yet!

I often struggle with guilt being a working mom. I wish more than anything I had a work schedule that allowed me to be here when the kids are leaving and be here waiting on them when they walk in the door. But unfortunately I don't. I am lucky that my work is pretty flexible and I get more time at home than many working moms so I try to count my blessings!

Hubby and I try really hard to make a point to get to do something with the kids at their school. This year we both were super lucky to get to be part of a thing or too.  Here is this years recap!

Haley's Field Trip! Can you believe hubby got to go? He did - what a SWEET Daddy! They went to a local pumpkin patch.
(I Wish I had a picture!)

Then I go to go on Cody's field trip the next week! We went to a science and math conference.

Yes - that is a real human brain he is holding in his hands.

Powering the lights by riding the bike

I was lucky enough to stop by Cody's field day on my way to work one day! I haven't got to go to his field day in years! I was the ONLY crazy parent there.  It was great! He said he didn't want me to leave.

OK my child is somewhere in there. Didn't look fun to me!

I gave Cody the stumpy jeans! He is the short one in the black shirt

I was a sweet momma and shared my water!

Cody and his friend (which ended up with a split open chin and was taken out in a wheel chair!)

Goofy boys!

Love him (:

Balloon toss - oh yeah!

This year is a BIG year for us! Haley is promoting to middle school! So once again and for the last time we headed out to 5th grade promotion.


I always get teary and of course my hubby and Cody always look at me like I have a horn growing out of my head but I can't help it! Where has time gone? They are growing up so quickly! I am so proud of them both but I remember when I could snuggle them in my arms!






I have to say that both of my kids have had some of the best teachers ever this year!  Both of my kids had the same 5th grade teacher and she said what is she going to do now that the Lawson Era is over? maybe take a deep sigh of relief? 

Hey Gorgeous Haley! Getting ready to no longer be a 5th grader!

Cody's last day of school!

Haley's teacher, Miss Cronk

Haley getting her 5th grade diploma from her Principal

Haley with al the boys

Oh! What can I say! My Loves!!

Miss Cronk! You are an amazing 5th grade teacher! You have the unique ability to see the strengths in all your kids and use those to build each kid up and make them feel so important!
I am so honored and feel blessed that you have taught both of my kids! We will miss having you as a teacher! But remember... If I ever win the lottery.....

Awesome teacher!

Come on doesn't she look like fun?

Miss Cronk at field day! We will miss you!

Mrs. Aken! You are an amazing teacher, mom, and woman! You do it all! I know this year has been a doozy! You have continued to see the positives in my child when many times some times it was hard to see. You make science so much fun and cool! Your animals are awesome and it was our pleasure to dragon sit over spring break for the bearded dragon! You are such a hard working Christian woman! You continue to better yourself through going to school after you  have taught school all day! You are amazing and no wonder your kids have turned out awesome! Thank you for everything and for all of your support! I am super happy that my other kiddo will be having you next year for science! Look out!

She looks like fun huh? She is a hoot!

Many of Cody's teachers on his 7th/8th grade team this year! Amazing women!

Don't you wish your teachers had fun like this?

An Amazing woman! Mrs. Aken you Rock! (this is her snake - which by the way escaped out of it's cage like Houdini - I hope you find it!)

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." -- Forest Witcraft

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
Cody and Haley - I love you both and I am so proud of you!

Only in My House?

Does this only happen in my house?

It drives me CRAZY!

My bathroom! Really? HHMMM I know I am not the one doing this!

Yep, my kid's bathroom!

Seriously how long does it take to put it back on the roll?