This November I am Thankful for a good night’s rest

So every November I have seen people do the November Challenge which in tales doing a daily status of what they are thankful for. I haven’t attempted this only because I feel like I would forget and burn out after the first week haha. However, Today I will be doing a thankful blog post. Today I am thankful to finally have a mattress to sleep on. This is kind of embarrassing to admit but for the past six months we have been sleeping on an air mattress. When we first moved to New Jersey as many of you know from my previous posts we had hit rock bottom. We were struggling to keep afloat, the only way for us not to lose our home was to rent it out. Which kind of put us in a strange position seeing as we needed that house to live in. when we finally caught a break it meant relocating to the east coast. Of course the job that my husband had been offered did not pay for relocation, but this was our only life line at the time. With a very heavy heart and no pride left we reached out to my mother for financial help. I have to say she came through in a very big way. We sold as much of our belonging as we could before leaving and packed up our home.

When we finally got to New Jersey we moved into a very small depressing apartment because it was the only thing we could afford at the time. After about six months we were able to look elsewhere and found a beautiful old Victorian home that we currently live in. When we moved we had an old bedroom set that we have purchased the first year of our marriage and like most new parents didn’t realize how much kids have accidents or end up getting sick in your bed needless to say our mattress was very worn out. It was a disgusting shade of brown and yellow and had a huge hole on the side where the springs were coming out. I was so embarrassed when we had to haul it with us from TX but it was the only thing that we had. So we decided that we would not be hauling it for a second time into our new home. Even if that meant having to wait till we did have the money for something better.
 I had no idea that it would take so long for us to actually sleep in a bed though. I thought a month tops. But as parents we had to make the choice of having a mattress or our kids having their own beds. How could I make my boys sleep on an air mattress? I know they didn’t care they would of slept anywhere if we had called it camping, but I wanted them to have something that was their own. So where was the best place to get more for the few pennies that we had saved? Of course IKEA we purchased bunk beds and a wardrobe for a very reasonable price. My mom being the amazing grandmother that she is was very generous in decking out their bedroom with Ninja Turtle Gear. I was so happy! They finally had something normal after our very depressing chaotic year. I was proud of us for being able to give them something that made them so happy even if meant tossing and turning every night from back pain. Seeing them sleep in a bed that they loved, and having their own space it was worth it.

Slowly we gave payments towards a mattress. Sometimes we couldn’t give much but $25 especially during the furlough and government shutdown and then me being laid off. FINALLY TODAY WAS THE DAY!! We have a wonderful soft mattress that feels like heaven. As parents you do what you can to make sure your kids have the best. I give them what they need, to me them sleeping in a proper bed was just more important. It’s amazing the things we take for granted, but if feels really good when you work hard for the things in your life. So today I am thankful that I get to sleep on a mattress and know that my husband and I are resilient. We have survived so much in our marriage that I have faith that we can make it through anything. I feel like a million bucks today

Post Tooth Fairy Morning.....

Fall is upon us... and it is beautiful! I love my little town <3

  So last night I snuck into my boys room and quietly retrieved my baby's tooth.... then i slipped a little pouch of magic money.... (it wouldn't have mattered what i did because that boy goes into a coma once he has fallen asleep haha) this morning after our youngest
had already climbed into our bed in the wee morning hours crying that he wanted a cuddle. We were awoken by a very happy boy. In my delirious sleep deprived state
(that is pretty much my constant state who am I kidding lol) with my sexy dragon breath I whispered  "success" and my husband just smiled.

These are the mornings we live for as parents. However....Once we were actually awake my son was showing me his pouch full of glitter asking if he was going to be able to fly now that he had "fairy dust" my youngest realized what had just happened..... a fairy had snuck into their room in the middle of the night and forgotten him.... and the tears that came next were grand! I tried to explain to a 2yr old that the tooth fairy only leaves money if you have lost a tooth and one day it would be his turn. all morning he has been trying to figure out a way to lose a tooth. *sigh* but then the tears stopped i walked into the kitchen to find him counting some change. I sat down at the table with him and asked "baby what are you doing? where did you get that money?". He answered "mama i'm counting my treasure... I got it from your change can" hmmmm.... after explaining that he couldn't just take things he said " well i'm going to be a pirate its my job to take things" and he walked aways with his treasure.... and i sat down and drank my reheated coffee.... (i have no shame i take coffee in all its forms). My mornings are never dull and i'm waiting for my hair to turn green from either stress, or all the coffee i drink. Now I will tackle this disgusting house that somehow always gets away from me...while we are making memories...

Mama loook!!!!

Hey what you got there??? Wait a tick....

NOOOOOO!!!!! 

"mama the tooth fairy doesn't love me"..... ( knife in the gut....) 

I decided to be a pirate and steal treasure......

Tooth Fairy Currency

Well it seems that my little baby is all grown up! His tooth has fallen and so have a few of my tears, :( But now that its happened I want him to have an awesome memory! So had the idea of getting unusual money to make tooth fairy currency to make it more magical. Its not rare collectible type stuff but just something that he doesn't see on an everyday basis. Now the tutorial that I'm making isn't his original first tooth. Its what I had to do after I learned from the first one that I decided to make this tutorial. The first time that he lost a tooth I made him this beautiful drawstring pouch with a felt tooth sown on the front of the pouch it was soooo cute!! It was such a hit that he wanted to carry it everywhere we went because he was so indecisive of his purchase. It was such a hit that HE LOST IT! HAHAHA. So I decided to do something more kid friendly this time around.

 Once this second tooth became loose he was constantly on high alert about when it was going to fall off! Every morning I was briefed on the loose tooth situation. Time went by and nothing happened, so we kind of just forgot about it when we decided to visit family in Boston for a 4-day weekend. That night we got an update on the tooth! It was time he said... and I went into panic mode! of course I could of just tossed some change under his pillow and he wouldn't of cared either way... its all about the loot!

However... I am "THAT MOM" you know the one people are always rolling their eyes at when my kid has this super awesome unique backpack, or that mom who makes cute bento box lunches with special notes and beautiful shape food, or "THAT MOM" who some how made a giant pinata for his class pinata contest at school. (its supposed to be a grenade)

 I am the mom that has to take a picture of everything because I swear I'm going to put it in a scrapbook one day! YES ladies and gentlemen I am that annoying mom, and I wear it proudly. so with that being said, him losing a tooth and not waking up to a beautiful little pouch full of "magic" money was just not something that was going to happen... not on my annoying mom watch haha!

Here is the Dollar Tree supply list:

• Elmer's Glue 
• Fine glitter (not big chunky glitter)
• a small paint brush
• organza pouch

most of the list can be avoided if you find SPRAY ON GLITTER either glitter glue or the one for your hair. I however was not able to find it at our dollar store so i decided that i was going to use what i had on hand (from my last dollar store shopping spree hehe) and not waste gas or money. However you will need to get the pouches. They are usually in the wedding or baby shower section of Dollar Tree

Bank list
unique currency ( i used dollar gold coins, and two dollar bills this time) best place to get unique money is.... you guessed it at a bank! I would get at least $20 worth to make pre made tooth fairy pouches that you will have on hand for a while... no searching under couch cushions for tooth fairy money :). My mom being the wonderful grandmother that she is wanted to contribute to this Magic Currency idea so she actually funded my plan LOL I know many grandmothers also love to be included in these type of moments! So don't be shy tell your mom or mother in law about your plan and most will love it and jump at the chance... if you don't have that type of relationship with them just go to the bank lol

Ideas for unique currency 

• 50 cent pieces
• Silver dollars, 
• $5 gift card to their favorite ice cream place
•  chuck e cheese tokens.

I would use anything that my child considers "valuable" and make it a coupon. such as Screen time coupons 

( my kids can earn computer or video game time with chores or good deeds), movie night coupons, or even book store coupons. I know some moms don't really want "money" type treats so you can pretty much make any kind of coupon and add glitter to it haha.

1. You do not need a ton of glue just a nickle size blob will do the trick

2. Spread it out for a nice thin layer 

3. Sprinkle the fine glitter a little will go a long way because you want the money to be visible. ( I only do the front of the bill not the back just in case it is questioned at the store they can use the counterfeit pen to make sure its real)

4. The glue will dry clear and you will have this pretty glitter bill ( i am aware that money is government property please spare me the lectures)

6. I purchased a pack of six organza bags and distributed the gold coins some have more than others but i will be putting my coupons or two dollar bills inside also. its up to you how much you want to give i think one for every year is good. My son is five so he will get five dollars in total the first tooth he got six but that was just because i was excited lol

7. Save for future tooth fairy moments! I will have a few in my purse to send with my mom just in case my son spends the night and loses a tooth, or if we take a trip and there is a loose tooth situation again I also add a little receipt or note from the tooth fairy my first one was hand written but since have looked on pinterest and found very pretty FREE PRINTABLE so go ahead follow me on pinterest!!