Working Mommy's

As mothers, we know that the job has to get done!

I work full time and am a full time mother! Steve is working also but right now the season is kind of slow so he has been home with the kids lately while I work. *If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be able to work the hours I do and keep the job that I have.* We are just so grateful right now that we are able to have an income and especially have the roof over our head and the food we're able to eat. Sometimes I sit at work and just mope :( and miss my kids so so much!!!

My hubby makes it easy. He keeps me updated with what they do daily and sends me texts and pictures! I (&heart) love HIM! Today I got word on a promotion that was offered and I got it! It's just been a great and blessed day! So who do I call first? Yes, hubby =).

As usual he's excited for me and just an all around great support system. Then I tell my Panda Bear (Carmen). She says, "No mommy, Don't leave me!" I just laughed and said 'Panda I would NEVER leave you'. Kids don't understand the big picture sometimes but they do pay attention to detail and most definitely love when they are loved....and my children know that every second of every minute of EVERY DAY! -So does Steve :)

So here are my beautiful (morning crazy:)) children. Daddy always makes me feel like I'm not missing out on anything! Panda is on the phone with -Me- and Aaliyah is wanting more french toast apparently. I love my family and when I'm not working I cherish every second I share with them.

This is to all* the "working mothers". I know how it feels when you HAVE to work and you tend to think about all the things you could be doing at home and with your kids. Don't get down on yourself! Your children love you regardless. That's the amazing thing about them, they see the good in people. They are lucky to have a mother who takes on all the extra 'job descriptions' aside from being Mommy. Keep working hard. You will *all* be rewarded for it!

 ~The bond between a mother and her child is the strongest relationship any human being could ever have.

"Quick" Couponing

So as everyone may know...My mother was (still is)...the QUEEN of couponing at least in Utah. She was the one who introduced it to me when I had my kids and helped others get into SAVING also!

In addition to my becoming healthy, my goal for the New Year is to $ave even more than I did last year. :) and believe me last years $avings have set the bar pretty high. I have been couponing -almost- every day since the new year has started and looking back to day one I've $aved over $500 in just 23 days. YAY!!!! I have come to love couponing so much I encourage others to do the same. Doesn't have to be couponing exactly, but just to $ave in general. Couponing has been a huge lifesaver and money saver! At work people always ask the famous question, "Are you an Extreme Couponer?" The answer...NO...but I'm definitely extreme when it comes to $aving. After I kind of give the break down about how to coupon and how it actually contributes to my life, then comes; "what would you really do with '50' tubes of toothpaste?" I honestly just laugh.

After evaluating really what I'd do with '50' tubes of toothpaste, I come back with my answer. And it's simple...

Saving shouldn't just benefit mine and my family's life, (especially if the money someone would normally spend on the things I buy-I pocket) but I should be able to share and allow OTHERS TO $AVE as well. We live in hard times and those who don't coupon and have a family of 8 or 10 or even 3 could use '50' tubes of toothpaste or '100' bottles of water or '20' bottles of lotion, whatever it may be, someone who you know direct/indirect needs it. So the answer "what would I do with '50' tubes of toothpaste", I *share* it.

With that said, tonight was a "quick" coupon run. My daughter Aaliyah was low on formula and I literally only had 20 BUCKS in my wallet to last us the week til I get paid. Now to many single mothers/fathers this is not a lot of money and should be spent wisely. Let me tell you...with my coupons...it definitely was.

I made a trip to WalMart and planned on only using my coupon for a can of SIMILAC (which most of you parents know is roughly 15 bucks before tax). So I thought, since I'm here and know the deals I might as well take advantage of them. Off I went shopping through the store like I was holding a hundred bucks or something. :) Well as I stated before, I didn't and I definitely wasn't planning on spending anything near it either!

Here's how I did...
- 2 cans of formula ('bout 30 bucks for both)
- 4 Febreze Noticeables decor (sale 3.97)
- 2 Glade plugins (sale .98)
- 8 Colgate Toothpaste (sale .94)
- 6 Johnson n Johnson baby products (1.00 ea.)
- 4 Dulcolax products (1.98 ea.)
- 2 Dial Soap bars 2pck (.98 ea)
-8 Post-it Stationary Products (ea. 'bout 2.30)
-6 Softsoap body wash (sale .94)



2 price matches and 46 coupons later....



My grand subtotal= $90.30
OOP (out-of-pocket) = $13.41

In the end I got more than what I planned for and definitely spent less than what I had! Pocketed $7.09 for gas =) and brought home more stock up items and MORE cans of formula than I had money for!

*Don't get discouraged, be excited and ready to save so much money that you and your family can enjoy.*

-Great thanks to the coupon bloggers who maintain the daily $avings and help MOTHERS like me save!

Ordinary Day

-My Princesses all ready to go

Yesterday was what we call an "ordinary day". So I had scheduled a doctor's appointment for Aaliyah 3 months ago. I left work early and everything to be there -On Time-. Well the appointment was set for four o' clock and when we were on our way, I called to check and make sure they were "expecting" us. The kids were all ready and we got out of the house in time to get there. (Mind you we live in Africa-ie. Herriman :)) They had said that the appointment was at 11 that morning and that Dr. Vierra was booked out through APRIL. I was furious; 1. They scheduled me earlier and didn't make a phone call for the change 2. My daughter hadn't seen her Pediatrician since she was born and 3. They weren't trying to help what so ever! So I said I needed to speak to the nurse or the Dr. herself. Basically, I didn't get in to her yesterday but I did get an appointment sooner than APRIL. So I was 1/2 satisfied more, irritated. Any way it got me thinking, if the nurse could squeeze us into the schedule why couldn't the receptionist do so! I work at State Farm Insurance Company as a processor. I know exactly how it feels as a "consumer" to try and be helped and get tossed around like I don't bring business and money to your company. It's frustrating.

I'm really big on Remarkable Customer Service and have been in the field for a long time to know the difference. As long as I've worked in the business, I always abide by one rule: Always treat the customer the way you would want to be treated. That's it! That's really all people want is to be understood and heard.

So now that we have a RE-scheduled doctor's appointment for my *Chunky Monkey*, I'll have photos then I promise! So look for them Thursday, February 2nd! So on our way home we stopped grabbed a bite to EAT and went home! All that anger made me so hungry. When we got home, our house was a MESS. Carmen goes, 'mom I help you?' Help me what Panda? 'I help you clean mommy'. =) That's all it took. I wasn't angry or frustrated anymore. My mind stopped worrying about all the stress that was now put on my shoulders...<s>having to leave work again, making sure Aaliyah is healthy til her appt, the hours I missed out on, how messy my house was</s>...I felt loved. As a mother we're so used to giving the love, sometimes we don't think about how much our children love us. (AND THEY DO!!!) So I began to clean my house. Although Carmen made more mess than she did clean, ;) the fact that she always knows, and can turn my frown uʍop ǝpısdn makes me feel loved as a mother!

All in all, it was an "ordinary" day for the Tauvae's.
<Nothing really goes as expected.

<It's always something

<Never the same day twice.
<Someone always has an angry moment.
<In the end were always together and Happy....(eating ;))

Till next time. Xoxo.

Healthy You's

Isn't it crazy how time just flies?

Well being that we are in a new year...I have Committed to be a new me! Steve and I have set resolutions to become new-healthier me's. With that, we have decided to do it together cause we figure that if there is someone just as motivated, we'll be able to work just as hard. We have been in the gym every day since the New Year has started (approx 18 days). We've been playing basketball and volleyball, hitting the weight room and running.

As we have been determined in this process, it brings back so many memories, and so many old feelings. As most may know I have been an athlete my entire life, and because of the decisions I made as an adolescent I chose to be a mother sooner than most. My senior year brought tragedy to a reality check and a slap in the face that I was not going to play basketball how and when I wanted. College ball was not in the picture anymore. Although the scholarships were there, I had a choice to make (like we all do) and I chose my daughter. I miss basketball so much and before my children, it was the light of my life and everything I'd ever wanted. So starting these work outs and playing ball again just brings back the love of the game. I realized that it never really dies, sometimes you just have to find it and I found it again.

With that, I'm excited on this "healthy" journey we are taking. Everyone should be healthy and find something that makes them happy inside and out. Being physically fit and rewarding ourselves with fitness and health makes us happy. Not only does it put us in good spirits and energy, we know that by doing so we will be able to be with our children longer and be examples to them that staying healthy contributes to your life and allows you to be here on this Earth longer. So wish us luck and I encourage you all to get healthy whether it be Zumba, hitting the gym, or just plain walking with friends or family. *Happy Resolutions.

Tis the Season to be *New*

Hello fellow Bloggers.

Its been a while since I last blogged. We all know that this is the time of year we share our love and appreciation with one another. As Christmas came and went and brought the New Year so quickly, it was so hard to sit and actually think about all the things that I am grateful for (and believe me, there are A LOT). I know my post is way late, but I was able to really think about what I am grateful for. Although I already know, i.e. family, jobs, health, my children, etc., there was such an overwhelming feeling I had this past year and I could really feel my blessings sitting in. First off, Christmas was a struggle as is every year BUT it is never any less amount of love that we have for each other. As the day came closer and closer, I grew so stressed. 1. Because I thought of everything I wanted to give my family, and what I could actually *afford to give them and 2. who doesn't want the best for their families? My family is very well grounded and when it comes to materialistic things, they can do without. (Which is why I LOVE them so much). Well the day came, and how blessed I felt. I am so grateful for the love that is shared amongst each other and for the support my mother and her loving husband have always shown. With that being said, my children had the best Christmas. As Carmen gets older I try my best as her mother to remind her of the things that are most important especially in the holidays. Carmen and Aaliyah were showered in gifts and although that is not what Christmas is about, it was a blessed feeling to see them together opening their gifts and Carmen who has the BIGGEST heart for a 2 year old. I was truly humbled.

 

Well now we are in the New Year and we are looking forward to bigger and better things for our growing family. On the 8th of January 2012, my youngest daughter Aaliyah Luana Tauvae was blessed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My heart was full as my entire family from both sides came to support our her as well as her Father's side. We were so grateful as parents to see the amazing turn out and how overwhelming the feeling of love was. As she was blessed with her name and health and strength tears of joy fell to my eyes. What a truly humbling feeling it is to know that our father in Heaven provides these small steps towards a bigger plan for our families to be together forever. Her sister Carmen, was especially supportive and as always showed her the love and happiness any sibling should give.

We were especially grateful for Josh Polamalu, Steve's nephew who was able to be home from his Mission in Honduras to bless our beautiful baby girl. We started off our year right! With family, the blessing of our child, and first and foremost the Lord. It's been a journey to 2012 and now that we are here, we are most happy. Our resolutions have yet to be accomplished and as we strive towards them, I pray that I grow each and every day more grateful for yesterday and ambitious for tomorrow. Thank you for sharing the journey with us and may your *2012* be as full of joy as mine will be. With all our love, THE TAUVAES*

_*Flash Backs of 2011*_