No Spend Challenge

I was reading a featured article on MSN titled, "Birthday Freebies". It gave all sorts of juicy info, but seemed common sense (to me), that lots of places, including Disneyland, give you freebies for your birthday. This article gave reference to a blog, Freebies 4 Mom...check it out...its FULL of awesome suggestions and tidbits of advice.

That led to another blog...MomAdvice, in where I was intrigued beyond anything I've read lately. This gal decided to cut back for the month of February and partake in with her family the No Spend Challenge. It made me feel human again, and that I'm not the only person on a budget, cutting back on lots of spending compared to what we spent in months past. Here's the jist of it:

"When we say no spending, we mean no spending outside of our normal daily living expenses. Some things will still need to be purchased in order to keep the lights lit, food on our table, and diapers on our baby. This is what we have set aside for the month:

Clark Family February Spending Plan:

$250 for the month for groceries (including diapers)
Normal utility payments
Gas for cars"

When I read that they were only allowing $250 for the month for groceries, I felt much better, my budget is more than that (thank goodness!). And it got me thinking, that if push came to shove, I know we could survive on $250/month. We already like to use coupons for groceries (again...love couponmom.com and coupons.com).

I like her ideas as well for coming up with alternatives (of which you and I probably already do, but makes for good use of time):

~Get your finances back on track by trying out a free program like Mint.com and get in better touch with your past spending.

~Dust off those old board games and spend an evening playing them together. (*my favorite as a child was playing monopoly not just with my sisters, but mom and dad too!*)

~Watch free movies on Hulu.com or take out the DVD collection and watch your favorite movies again. If you are really craving a new release, sign up on Redbox.com to get a free movie code every Monday and use that to get your movie fix for the month.

~Break out that really old game system and relive those games again with your kids.

~Dig through your old cookbooks and try out recipes using some of the ingredients in your pantry. (*not my favorite...pantry cooking, but it works*)

~Play a game of Iron Chef with your spouse and let your children be the judge of the best dish by having your very own cooking contest. You might be surprised that even dad’s toasted Pop-Tart might be the judge’s favorite in this contest. (*sounds really fun*)

~Actually use the craft supplies that you have bought and start tackling some of your crafty ideas for the holidays.

~Find the floor in your laundry room.

~Look for free community activities that you could do as a family.

~Volunteer or find things in your home that you could donate to those less fortunate. (*we always have a D.I. pile*)

~Visit the library and actually read the books. (*or borrow from friends*)

~Clip coupons and plan your grocery shopping in advance for next month. (*doing it*)

~Take a wonderful and delicious nap. (*amen*)

~Learn a new skill set or check out books on self-improvement to help make your life better or easier.

~Get free museum passes from the library or check the local museum’s websites for information on their free admittance days. Don’t forget to pack a lunch!

~Have a potluck-style swap night with your friends and exchange three of your things for three of theirs. (*this one I would like to do*)

~Read that pile of magazines or newspapers that never gets read.

~Exercise.

~Listen to free music on Last.fm and make a fun mix of songs you listened to when you were dating your spouse.

~Take a bubble bath. (*sigh*)

~Play on the floor with your children. (*quality time at its best*)

~Organize your closet and take inventory of your wardrobe. (*dreading*)

~Put batteries in the children’s toys to make them “new” again.

~Tackle a home improvement project that you bought supplies for, but still haven’t finished.


I almost wish I happened onto her challenge at the start of the month so I could try it, but glad not to have just because I already feel the pinch. It always feels great to save money...stuff it away and watch it grow. Eventually I hope I get as excited as watching our money grow as I do about watching our children grow. Although sometimes (ok....a lot of the times) its so much easier to spend or think of what I need (or want, ie: still drooling over a bread mixer!)

Check out more of her website: Momadvice, Insight to Empower, for great ideas on this subject, it helps anyone feel like they can make more of what they have and be grateful for the means by which we are so blessed to support our families.

I remember President Hinckley talking about the sacred money that supported him while serving a mission. I loved that he knew the value, hard work and discipline it took for his mother to save her pennies, for one day it would add up to a huge amount. I feel I haven't always been so mindful of even my own hardwork. I'll have to look up the story and blog about it next. I'm off to bed for now!

20 year old Harvard Student speaks at religious symposium

Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

I found this very interesting, in that, she was asked questions in a room filled with others who are of several different faiths, and she answered so clearly and gave wonderful explanations. I especially felt the spirit so strong when she was speaking about Joseph Smith and how instrumental he was to God in restoring the church. What an amazing young girl she is and also what a great advocate of the church she was. Truly impressive.

funny lingo

My tennis team won 3 out of 4 matches today. It was great fun playing and watching everyone do their best. Tennis is a great outlet, among other things for me. There is friendship, which brings the social aspect into the sport. I love to socialize. There is exercise, which brings the health aspect into it. There is competition, which brings out the excitement in the sport.

Then there is the lingo. Tennis has one word that is really funny to me. Lob. You hit a lob to surprise your opponent or when you have no alternative defensively. A lob can be an offensive shot as well as a defensive one. If you can't hit a lob correctly, it could totally break your game. Watch the video for further explanation:


Tennis:How To Master The Lob Shot

At my level of play (which is a little more than recreation, but certainly not anything as serious as the professionals) the lob is a catch 22. My favorite shot in tennis is an overhead. But you only get an overhead if your opponent tries the lob shot.

Today, it was windy, and for some reason, I seem to play well in the wind. I think it makes me focus on the ball as it can spin in all different directions. You've all seen a tennis ball, and if you've ever held one, its considerably light. For those of you who can use and picture numbers in your head, here's he exactness: "A tennis ball is hollow and composed of inflated rubber covered with a fabric. It is between 2½"and 2 5/8"(6.35 and 6.67 cm) in diameter and weighs between 2 and 2 1/16 ounces (57.7 and 58.5 grams)." (united states olympic committee)

The wind can carry the ball long, or keep it in the court. It's actually quite marvelous to see your lob stay in, when you felt the ball hit your racket and you knew you put too much mustard on it. Taking advantage of the wind and knowing what side the wind is blowing from is crucial.

(By the way, this is my favorite racket: Wilson nCode)

My partner, (who is also my sister, Jen), was exceptional with her "lob shot" on the court today! Our game usually consists of a few lobs, but we like net play with a good volley ralley going. Of course, sometimes you have to strategize and mix things up a bit to conquer your opponents, which is another fun part of the game for me. Figuring out how to frustrate your opponent and take them out of their game didn't really come until I had played for a couple of years at league level. Before then, all I could really do was work on consistency and improving my all around game. And that only happens by getting out and playing.

But today, the "lob shot" became a turning point in one of our games. If it weren't for the wind holding the lobs in, it could have definitely gone the other way, and we could have lost our momentum. That's where tennis can be such a mind game, your shots are only as good as you think they are.

I love the lob...but its quite a funny term for such a crucial shot.

today

I'm in one of those 'moods' where I don't feel like cleaning up after the kids and all their messes they make. Mark was a saint, and he cleaned the downstairs til it was sparkling like the top of the Chrysler Building!! Sometime's he knows right when to step in without any prompting from me. (or maybe it was a little prompting that I didn't clean up yesterday's mess?)

Despite his beautimous cleaning, it doesn't last forever, so I'm reverting to this quote, to help me stay sane:

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will-to your surprise-miss them profoundly."
-President Thomas S. Monson

I know they will be gone one day and their child hood will have slipped through my home in the blink of an eye. It kind of makes me sad, but happy at the same time. (I secretly, ok...OPENLY...LOVE a clean house, and still remember how easy it was to keep my house spotless with just one child). But on the other hand, I know this is a happy time in my kids' lives...their worries are minimal, they are truly content and happy people, and their innocence is purity. They aren't psychologically marred by the world and their self images are doing pretty good. They are healthy and strong. I couldn't ask for more, and I feel so blessed. But when kids grow...so do their life challenges. I shouldn't wish away these blessed days, but today I crave solitude.

Is it bad that I feel like going to the mall, shopping like there is no budget, eating out and ordering a filet mignon, and getting dessert too? Of course, I'm a sensible wife and would NEVER do that. Mark works too hard for me to devalue our precious budget. Thanks babe for all you do, and when we are old and retired, we'll enjoy a day at the mall together!

Homeos

Homeos

~1 Devil Food Cake Mix (I prefer the Pillsbury brand - it makes the cookies a little puffier)
~2 eggs
~1/2 C Oil
~1 container of cream cheese frosting

Combine cake mix, eggs, and oil. Mix well. Roll dough into walnut size balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten with palm of hand. Bake in 350 degree oven for 13 minutes. Cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting & put 2 cookies together to make a "sandwich". Store in air tight container. From the kitchen of Janeen Donat. Thanks Janeen...these are divine and simple!!


Apparently they are delicious!

Achievment days

I had the acheivement day girls over for an activity last night. We did a fun little "instant skit" where they pulled objects out of a bag, used them as props, and then performed a skit for us. I am always blown away with their creativity and talent. They are such good, smart, obedient girls. I learn so much from them and we always have a good time together. The other thing I love about this group of girls is they include Bryanna in their fun...she's not even close to their age (about a 4 year gap), but when they are having fun, she's right there with them and they don't mind. The unity between these girls is extremely apparent and I have to give all the credit to the wonderful parents who are raising them.

friends in town

I had a friend from my mission, Tim Hahn, and his wife Jen, come into to town! It was so fun to catch up again, hang out and spend some time seeing the strip. We went down to the Bellagio to see the conservatory and the dancing waters. Then we walked a ways to see the M&M store.
watching the fountain show
Tim & Jen...we had so much fun!


The conservatory was decked out for the Chinese New Year


the dancing waters


more of the conservatory, I must say they always do a great job with whatever the theme happens to be.


The first night Mark and I met, we went down to the Bellagio to see the dancing water show at the Bellagio. It has a special place in my heart. There is something so romantic about the water show syncronized to music...or maybe its the romantic music they always play? Either way, we love coming to see the dancing waters and seem to never tire of this favorite spot of ours.

Here is one of the lions at the MGM. I hardly ever come down to the strip with the kids, so when we do, Bryanna just loves it.


Tim and I served together at the very beginning of our missions. I was five weeks a head of him in the MTC, and then we were in the same area when he arrived. We went through some of our mission pictures and I will have to post those some time...definitely a blast from the past!

i love valentine's day

I love...

~getting a few dozen roses from my sweet heart, my favorite!
~opening those funny and romantic cards that ask, "be mine"
~getting pampered by my valentine, he really goes out of his way to make me feel all the love in his heart
~the romance connected with this holiday...some people would say that money makes the world go round...but I'd have to say that love is what makes the earth spin around its axis.

On a funny side note:

Bryanna: "Daddy, can I please have some marshmallows?"

Mark: "Hold on a second, Bryanna, I have to finish this..." (mark working on the computer, not making eye contact)

B: "Daddy, you better get me some marshmallows, or I'm going to get into them!!"

M: "Sure, be right there..." (mark instantly getting off his chair and moving towards the kitche to help her)

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

We made these for Bryanna's Valentine's Day party at Prschool. These are a fun, new twist on the average cupcake!

Its so simple! All you do is place an ice cream cone on each cupcake before you bake it. Then bake for 15-20 minutes on 350 for a regular pan or 325 for a dark, nonstick pan. SO EASY, but Bryanna loves it and the kids go crazy over them!

"The Book of Norman" (mormon)

you should definitely push pause on my playlist so you can hear Bryanna tell us about the Book of Norman (Mormon)!!

pure. joy.

Bryanna got into my makeup, right as we were leaving for dance class. I always know when she is doing something naughty, for she is hiding and won't come out. I just left her cute lips just the way I found her and we were off. She was pretty responsible with my lip gloss, she handed it back over with the lid screwed on tight and I was very relieved to find the wand only touched her lips, and not my carpet or the walls or her clothes. She's not really known to make those sort of messes, but you never know the mischief behind her sweet, innocent little eyes! The kids were sitting side by side on the coffee table, watching one of their favorite cartoons. It was so sweet, how they were quite casual about sitting on my furniture that isn't for resting your gluteous maximus on! And Bryanna in one of her many dress-up costumes. Just another day in the Perry home with Bryanna waltzing around in puffy sleeves and a twirly skirt!
I clearly remember stomping through the puddles on a rainy day as a child. I love the rain, how it cleanses the earth and brings such fresh scents to the somewhat polluted air in Las Vegas. I was watching Bryanna out the window today and had to capture what a treasure it is to see her enjoy the rain so much. All I could think of while witnessing her explore the wet earth was 'she is pure. she is joy.'

Insights

I love reading inspring, religious notes. Especially when it is how we can worship better. Here are some great notes by author, Rick Warren, who wrote, "Purpose Driven Life":

"Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is 'my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.



Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.

Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

Every moment, THANK GOD."


When I came across this, I loved it and had to share it. This reminded me so much of what I learned as a missionary. Family wasn't there to confide in, only in letter form, which took a couple of weeks. But immediate counsel usually came from prayer. I have grown to love prayer. All forms of it, as said above, "happy, difficult, quiet, painful and all moments, turn to God." I remember never praying so much than in the mission field. We are always saying some form of prayer, and I felt wierd not saying them all the time after I got home.

Another thought that comes to mind, since I'm on the subject, that I still think about periodically is "What was my motivation to serve a mission?" my mission president would ask at zone conferences.

I liked how he answered: "Maybe you decided to come on a mission because you didn't want to dissapoint your parents, or maybe it was because your girlfriend said she wouldn't marry you unless you served a mission (to the elders)." The funny thing was, those answers applied to many, but ultimatley our reason should have been for the purpose of serving the Lord. I remember Larkins Dendobucho at the pulpit, feeling the spirit so strong, and hoping that my motivation could be just that, solely serving the Lord.

I think I went partly to serve the Lord, but also partly because I wanted to learn, on so many different levels. There was the language to learn, the gospel to learn well enough to teach, and I knew I would be eternally blessed for serving. Sometimes I think I'm so selfish for that reason...always wanting more blessings! Out of fear of doing wrong, I tried to do what was right, and I knew the blessings would come from the Lord...in all different ways. But that was my motivation.

The missionaries are coming over for dinner tonight. I love their presence in my home, for my children to see and feel. And I just can't help but reflect on my time in the mission field as I prepare dinner and straighten the house just so. Bryanna loves the missionaries and she talks their ear off every time they eat with us. It's quite hysterical about how she goes about conversing with them. I will have to write down the funny things she will say tonight.

gotta love denny's

Even if I searched all over the internet for a smoking deal, nothing beats feeding 6 people for 6 cents. Thank you, Denny's, for not only a practically free meal, but a delicious one, too!