I have been married 10 years- Plus some frugal wedding tips

It's my 10 year anniversary this week so I decided to reflect on some of my 10 year old frugal wedding tips! Yes, even back then I was somewhat frugal in my early 20's!

1. I borrowed my wedding dress from my cousins best friend. Hey, why not? She offered the beautiful gown to me when I went to look at her photographers work on her wedding. I got the dress professionally dry cleaned and pressed for her after I wore it. I saved hundreds of dollars!! I also borrowed her tiara but purchased my own veil. See photo! I wore cheap white wide width shoes from payless--no one saw them and comfort was a must for me!Here's a picture of me with my hubby at our open house back east.

2. I bought the bridesmaids modest and simple dress patterns, thread, and fabric. I mailed them to each out of state sister or friend and they were in charge of having someone make it to fit their figures. It was the same pattern but fit their bodies individually. It worked out great.

3. Our reception food was catered and we served a dessert and fruit bar. The food was tasty and displayed artistically. I had someone pack me a to-go food basket for our honeymoon room. We wanted some of our yummy food too.

4. We had a catered RSVP luncheon at the reception location after the 11 am wedding at our church for close family, friends, and relatives. It was a yummy sit down occasion. It was about $12-15 a plate I think. I wanted an intimate celebration for close loved ones.

5. We had a close friend be our DJ with songs we chose in the order we wanted them played! I love to dance!

6. I gave the bridesmaids the table centerpieces & jewelry that they wore for gifts for being in my wedding line. My dear friend who helped me set up the centerpieces got a large flower arrangement for her help on the reception.

Now don't get me wrong in good Staci fashion we spent money$ where we cared about the most. For example: We spent a medium amount on flowers, a bit more on photography (I had a husband and wife photography team-one was shooting us in photo journalism style and one for portraiture style), didn't hire a cinematographer which I regret, got married in our church, & the reception location was on a campus where my mom was an alumni so we got a significant discount!

Ah that was fun going down wedding day planning memory lane!

Go here for more wedding ideas I have blogged about in the past.

Graduation treats and keepsake ideas for kids

You can make graduation hats. Most public schools have the medal die cut in the school library. So,

Click here for more info on the pictures shown in this post

Thanks, No fuss fabulous for this cute graduation hat cupcake idea. Make the frosting in the color of your school.

This homemade keepsake certificate idea is great for any early elementary grade or preschool class.
Thanks, make and takes

My craft show finds this past weekend.

In my life thus far, I have not been into big wood crafty things. Maybe as I am aging I am getting "soft" or liking select crafty things more. Uh oh! I bought this for my girls room. I thought this princess frog was soooo cute and perfect for their ages! There is no way I have time, energy, or resources to make something like this so I bought it.The gal who made it did a nice job with all the details.

I also bought a little something for myself for mother's day! A fabric broach or it can also be a mommy hair clip. I will putting this on a cute pink cardigan I have in my closet.

Happy belated Mother's Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful day with your families yesterday.
Isn't Motherhood a ride of emotions? It's rewarding, trying, fun, hard, draining, joyful, a blessing, and a privilege. I am so glad God has blessed me to be a mother 3 times over (soon to be 4). Happy Mother's day belated!

Dolly Parton Imagination Library: Free book each month for children 5 and under

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a literacy program available in many areas in the U.S. She is a very generous woman who believes every child should have a book to call their own. This wonderful program offers a free book each month to children 5 and under. Yes, they are 100% free and no strings attached! The books are age appropriate, hard bound, and include some board books.

The kids and I enjoy getting the books. The books are good quality and it's definitely worth your time to sign up today for this program. It does take some time to receive your first book so sign up today.

Check to see if this program is currently available in your area here.

Happy Reading!

Summer Reading program at Barnes and Noble

Barnes & Noble has a great summer reading program that allows children to earn a free book after reading 8 books. You need to go here for all the info. The reading program starts on May 25 and runs through Sept. 7. Happy Reading this summer!

Staci's breakfast casserole

Staci's breakfast casserole

Ingredients:

1 pkg frozen shredded hashbrowns (Ore-ida brand has no additives)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I just eye-ball this amount)

1 16 oz pkg turkey bacon (cooked ahead of time) or 1 pound of fully cooked lean ham

7 large eggs, 1 cup of skim milk, ½ teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon ground mustard

1. Grease 9 x 13 glass baking dish & a preheated 350 degree oven

2. Place frozen hashbrowns in a single layer in on the bottom of the baking dish

3. Bake hashbrowns in preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes then remove from the oven

4. Sprinkle with cheese and fully cooked meat (turkey bacon or ham)

5. In a bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt, pepper, onion, and ground mustard then pour over the meat

6. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour (check after 45 minutes), uncover and bake another 15 minutes longer until edges are golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

I serve this dish warm on Easter weekend or Mother's day with fresh fruit, waffles/pancakes, or spinach fruit smoothies.

Planning a vacation? Come to Salt Lake City, UT (or for a staycation for us locals)

Go HERE to purchase a nifty Salt Lake City Connect pass!

Here's how it works, "Available as a 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, or 365-day pass, the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass is activated the first time you use it and remains active for the number of consecutive days purchased. The 365-day pass remains active for an entire year; however, if you do not use/activate any Connect Pass within the calendar year it was purchased, it will expire. You may visit as many attractions as you like while your Connect Pass is active but you are limited to only one (1) visitation at each participating attraction. Choose how many days you want your pass for and then go and explore as many attractions as you want during that time frame.

FOR ONE DAY PASSES: They start at $24 per adult and $20 per child for one day.

Your pass includes all the attractions listed below as well as lunch from the Lion House!

What a fun way to spend the day. Or three days.

Clark Planetarium

Discovery Gateway

The Lion House Pantry Restaurant

The Living Planet Aquarium

Red Butte Garden

Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort

Thanksgiving Point

This is the Place Heritage Park

Tracy Aviary

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Utah Museum of Natural History

Utah Olympic Oval

Utah's Hogle Zoo

Thanks,bargain divas

2 for $1 Mother's day (and more) cards at Dollar Tree Stores

The Dollar Tree stores have nice cards 2 for $1. I got these two for Mother's day (they have them for Grandma's too). Of course they have other occasions 2 for $1 such as: graduation, wedding, baby shower, sympathy, b-day, Father's day, and more for $.50 a piece. Keep it in mind when you need cards.

Happy Mother's day everyone.

Fabric covered small baby wipe containers-Tutorial using only a glue gun!

Here's another greatTUTORIAL for the fabric covered wipe containers. Thanks, Sistersstuff

Cinco de mayo meal-Or a summer family dinner meal

My cinco de mayo meal 2009 (I am not able to make a meal this year I am at a funeral for my dear Grandma)

found on http://www.allrecipes.com/

Orange Cilantro Rice recipe found HERE
Quoted from the site: "Bright flavors melt to produce a one-of-a-kind rice dish. To really bring out the orange flavor, try using juice with lots of pulp."

Chicken Enchiladas II recipe found here-Chicken-Enchiladas-II
This is a tasty way to use up cooked chicken and my kids gobbled it up! It's ready in 45 minutes start to finish (if you have the cooked chicken already)! I have a few oven chicken enchiladas recipes but I like this one the best.

The Mango Salsa.

Quoted from the site: "This salsa is very simple, with few ingredients, but has so much flavor! Sweet but spicy, it goes well with chicken, pork or just corn chips. It has a lot of color and looks great with a mix of red, yellow, and blue tortilla chips."

Tropical Mango and Pineapple Paradise Salsa
SUBMITTED BY: BRITTANYDEAR

PREP TIME 25 Min
READY IN 25 Min

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1/2 fresh pineapple - peeled, cored, and chopped (I used canned)
1 mango, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup cilantro leaves
1/4 cup key lime juice (I used lime juice)
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped

DIRECTIONS
Place the pineapple, mango, cilantro, lime juice, and red onion in a food processor. Pulse until ingredients are combined and chopped to desired texture, about 4 or 5 times.

Hope you try these recipes sometime-Ole!

A baby boy diaper cake made for me by my Mommy friend!

My dear friend Laura made me this cute baby boy diaper cake. She did a great job!

As you can see the diapers rolled up and hidden inside the towels and receiving blankets!



She did a great job and wow it fit a lot of diapers in it.

Thanks Laura for the thoughtful, darling, and useful gift for our baby!

National DEAL- Cinemark Movies for kids w/ punch pass only $.50 a movie per kid

This information is copied from the Cinemark site: Go Cinemark's site here for more details

10 Weeks of Fun Films for Kids (get the punch pass and movies are $.50 ea)

A Different Movie Every Week Either PG or G rating
Weekday Mornings this Summer
Same Price for Parents and Children

All 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5.00,
or can be purchased separately at the box office for $1.00 per show.

$5 Series punch cards are limited and are now available only at the theatre box office while supplies last. Admission with a series punch card is limited to one person per card per movie, and valid only at the theatre where purchased.

Utah locations (check the link above for your state)
American Fork, Cinemark American Fork
Layton, Tinseltown USA
Ogden, Tinseltown 14
Sandy, Cinemark Movies 9
West Jordan, Cinemark 24 Jordan Landing