Waxing!

So when there was life before Melia, I used to work in a salon as an esthetician for 3 years. I really miss it so I have been saving up and am now equipped with my own wax heater and suppiles. I know it is a difficult thing to go into a salon and trust someone who might wack off all your eyebrows - or other places. Anyways I am available to do body waxing if anyone is interested. Even if you do not, I know you know someone who is. I specialize in eyebrows - I am a bit obsessed with them. My prices are cheaper than what most salons charge. I also am pretty talented when it comes to makeup too. I studied makeup at Gower Studios in Hollywood. What is really fun are girls night wax/makeup parties. Everyone really gets a kick out of those. So please contact me if you want to know more and about pricing and all of that. Thanks you guys!

Why I love coupons Part II

So for those of you who are wondering about coupons...
First off you need to be getting a Sunday paper. This is your main source of coupons. You need to create a reserve for about a month, then you'll have a good amount to work with.

It's kind of time consuming to clip and categorize (by content, ex. sauces, seasonings, condiments, dressings; pastas, rices and helpers; cereal ; baking; etc) and file but its worth it. And hey, Ive got time.

So you cut them out and put them in some kind of coupon holder (99cents store). I use a notebook with the plastic see through paper dividers. I write in permanent marker on the sheets whatever category of coupons are in that sheet. I do it this way because its nice to see all of your coupons in front of you Rather than going through them one by one (which is especially hard if your kid won't last very long in the shopping cart.)

The key is you don't buy anything unless it is on sale and you have a coupon for it. I usually won't buy it unless I am getting 50% off that item, unless I really need it. Ralph's doubles your coupons which is fabulous. So if you have $1 off an item - it's really $2 off. Von's used to but changed to only doubling up to a dollar no matter what which is stupid because you don't save as much, you can use coupons anywhere else, they just don't double them. So your best bet is Ralph's.
Some of this stuff probably sounds confusing but once you get the hang of it it's really easy. So the first time you go only buy a couple items (just so you can see how it works), hand them your club card (free, just sign up at the register)give them your coupons and watch your savings. Review your receipt and you can even ask the clerk to explain their coupon policy. When you feel comfortable with couponing then go for it! It is pretty addicting and you feel SO good walking out of the store knowing how much you saved. If you need more help or tips just let me know. The more you do it you'll figure out your own system and what works better for you. Good luck!

Parting can be so sad...

Well as of two days ago we are 100% pacifier free!
I walked Melia to the trash can and tried to explain that she is a big girl now and big girls throw their pacies away because they don't need them. That's right! We are going cold turkey! She was hesitant at first and finally agreed. Then we watched as the trash man took the trash away. But I don't think that she realized that this was a long term agreement. She often looks for it especially at nap time and bed time, but I think she is adjusting really well. Well, yesterday was a different story. She cried for hours asking for paci and would not go to sleep but finally zonked out at 3:30. She didn't want me, I guess im the mean mommy who took her security away. Good thing Bryce was home to console her. But today is a new day and she seems like a happier little girl. Let's just hope it lasts.

WHY I neeD A FriDge LoCK! Before I go bonkers

Does your one year old take a new bag of cheese out of the fridge that cost like ten dollars and spread it all over the carpet and then eat it and share it with the dog?
Do you find random pieces of lunch meat, condiments and random blobs of yogurt around your house?
Does she grab eggs and with a single fist crushes them to smithereens all the way down the hall?
Do you ever walk into the kitchen to see your fridge door open and the food is warm because its been open for a half hour?
Well guess what - mine does! And I love her!

Our Rainforest Adventure

Melia and me posing with our elephant friend

Melia's favorite animal on our excursion

Melia and Bryce and possibly the golden idol of the rain forest

Melia's face as we walked into the restaurant. Priceless!

Melia has met her match! And don't mind the mean cackling mom in the background!



For those who haven't ever eaten at the Rain forest Cafe, it is a real treat especially if you have kids. You enter into a tropical lush forest with huge salt water fish tanks that connect at the ceiling. There are "real" animals everywhere you look. Elephants, gorillas, birds, jaguars, huge bugs, etc. Every 30 minutes there is a thunder storm which makes all of the animals come to life. I would recommend this place to anyone. The food is not bad either, but you do pay alot for the scenery. We have so much fun when we go and luckily today I had my camera with me. Melia was totally entertained the whole time - except when the gorillas came to life - she freaked! We had a fun day.

An Ode to Wrinkly Feet

I just hope I can make it through this entry...Call me weird but I cannot stand wrinkly feet - or fingers. Just ask my husband. Maybe I have a stronger gag reflex lately but it seems like everytime I see them I want to puke. Why? What do you mean why?! Look at them! Besides being creepy and totally looking like something from another planet, the very feel of them on my skin gives me the heebie jeebies. Bryce teases me about it constantly - wherever we are, the pool or the shower or even after he's done the dishes - and his wrinkly albino digits are the worst! What's up with the bubbly squishy peely... CHOKING! Ok you get the point and I am SO done being disgusted. Excuse me, I have to erase this picture from my computer now.

A day in the life of Melia

Butterfly kisses...priceless!

We start 'em young out here in the country!

Gene Simmons in training!

My kid is cuter than your kid, Totally not biased!

Melia is such a ham - Love you girl!

All the Graves girls day out on Hollywood and Highland!

Why I love Coupons!

Ok... not to brag or anything...ahemtotallybragging!...Sorry, I had to clear my throat, I just wanted to share with you one of my other hobbies when I have nothing to do. The wonderful and exciting world of couponing has taken hold of me! Ok so I should have zoomed in into the reciept but computer dummy me cant figure it out. What it says is that I had bought $86.06 of groceries and I only paid $23.93 for the whole lot! Wahoo! The best part is after they scan everything you are like, Holy Crap I spent that much! Then you swipe your club card and you think - oh thats better. And then you hand them your coupons and watch the numbers get even lower. Lastly when the transaction is complete you do a happy jig in line because you just saved 73% off of your bill. Ok how freakin cool is that? Just think of what I can do with that $62.13! Momma needs some new shoes or I can get my hair did- or buy 60 snickers bars! With all of that money I saved--- wait --- I think I am missing the key word here, SAVED. Hmmm, maybe I'll just stick in my SAVEings account. Ummm... yeah I can't hear you over the cash registers cha-ching and my hairdressershairdryer!Thank heaven for coupons or I would live in a shack.

Ok seriously what is it about toothpaste and deoderant that makes them so appetizing to toddlers?

Reflection

Ok Bryce fyi, 2 week old babies do not, I repeat DO NOT lift there heads on there own.
Ok so I know this video is almost two years old - and maybe that is why I find myself scouring through Melia's baby pictures trying to figure out where the heck these sneaky 20 months have gone. This video is particularly one of my faves - just dont laugh - its a very serious video. Thank goodness she has turned out ok.
So is all of this madness code for prego time? Nine months of total fatness and puke should not be the answer to bringing these sweet babys into this world. I think im just going to wait for the stork this time.

Asian - or not?

Ok this one definetly has to go down in the history books. For all my life i have been teased for my "asian eyes". "Allison open your eyes!" they would say to me as I smiled for a picture. Ugh! They were open as a matter of fact. Ok seriously what the heck! My husband is a smart man and to make me feel better he calls them beautiful almond eyes... right... Just when I had accepted that I am beautiful the way I am (haha!) and had left all of the childish tormenting behind, I was recently browsing a friends blog and I came across this Celeb look a like thingie and low and behold I am shown as I am really supposed to be! This Song Hye-Kyo is probably a second cousin of sort - I am convinced!
It just proves that the story my dad always told me about finding me as a baby in the dumpster is not such a lie after all. Hmmm... I should so be in Biejing for the Olympics right now...with my real family!

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Family history - Blank family tree

Ok so after years of everyone else doing this I am finally buckling down and getting a blog page.
Not an easy feat for someone who only types like 5 wpm... ok maybe not that bad. But hey maybe if anything it will help me improve in that department. Sooo... exactly what do i blog? Yeah I dont know either. I guess with time Ill figure this all out.