I am so glad you can hang out with me for a few minutes today! I feel like it has been so long since we had a chat! How have you been? Are you enjoying Spring or still stuck indoors? Have you started your garden plans for this year? I just spent the children’s college tuition money on plants to brighten up the yard. Well worth the investment 🙂
In California the weather has been gorgeous for the past few weeks. We are getting these incredible sunsets every night where the sky is just lit up in rainbow colors. This is a quick shot from walking my dog last night:
Such a pretty rainbow with purple and pink! Our dog did not appreciate it but I certainly did. What have you been up to the past few weeks? Did February sort of blur past for you too?
If we were really hanging out together- and honestly the weather has been so pretty- how about my favorite Mexican place for margaritas on the patio? Does Happy Hour work for you? They make amazing Cucumber margaritas and we can get an extra large chips and salsa. Tomatoes, onions, cucumbers- we are basically just getting together to eat a large salad so why not skip the gym today and meet me instead?
How are the kids doing these days? Busy as always? My little Maya likes to go into the real Church service with us instead of child care. My heart just about burst when she started raiding her piggy bank before services so she has money to put into the offerings like the grown ups do. We have never discussed this with her as the kids already do chores to earn money to give to the missionaries at school. But now she decided she better start tithing too and I just looked down on Sunday to find her little fists unclenching and $3.00 spilling out. She is 6 and teaches me so much about generosity of spirit and bravery and kindness each day. I can not get enough of that kid!
We had a minor drama moment last month involving some people that we thought were friends. Fortunately we can see now that their values don’t align with ours but right when I was in an especially sad place dwelling on this silly situation, my amazing friend Annette posted this on Facebook:
I kind of love it and printed it out to look at every day. It makes me stop feeling sad that someone was mean to my kid and instead pick my chin up and move on already.
Anything fun you have been loving lately? I love sharing the little things I have found that make me happy. Here are a few I wanted to mention this month. Nothing sponsored here of course because we are just buddies having a chat.
The first is this delicious Pureology Conditioning Mask. I found out about it from the beautiful Kate at The Small Things blog. She is gorgeous and fun and I wish she was my neighbor so we could hang out everyday. (I don’t actually know her but I watch her on periscope and that is basically like we are friends right? Right.) I was reluctant to pick it up because Pureology is pricey. (I actually asked the lady at Ulta if Pureology ever goes on sale and she laughed at me. Um. K.) So if you have normal to thick hair that is color treated, this stuff smells like a slice of heaven and works wonders. My hair feels so shiny and soft and delicious. This stuff is really worth the splurge.
Next up are these amazing little packets of pickles. Now you might say to yourself- “Charlene. I have pickles in a jar at home. Why buy a packet?” Well my friend these have just a tiny bit of juice from the yummy pickles but they aren’t packed in brine. So less mess as an on the go snack. They are still crispy and dilly and my 6 year old’s favorite snack. I bring these to soccer games and she basically buries her head in the bag and inhales them 😉 I found them at Target in the deli case for $.99. Perfect on the go snack for Spring and Summer!
The Dollar Spot. It lures me in each and every visit I make to Target. I just picked up this little flower garland for I think $3.00 at the Dollar Spot and it looks so cute in my big girl’s room.
Last but not least. Hobby Lobby. I don’t go often but when I do they just get me. They really do. I had to grab these flamingo pillows recently and they were kind enough to have them marked at 50% off so just $14 each. Can’t wait for summer to spend some quality time with these guys on our patio.
And that is about it for February for me! I am so glad we could catch up for a few minutes- I know you have to get back to your busy life and I better get myself that last bag of dilly bites before the kids get home and raid the fridge.
Have a wonderful rest of the week and I look forward to another chat in March!
Sophie says
I have to tell you that I have been following you blog for 8 years and I love it. I check it everyday(twice- morning and evening) I’m on the east coast. I most love your personal postings like this one. I started following you because I was new to coupons and you where a great teacher. Please keep your blog going because it is great. Wish I could say spring is here but we are getting 1-3 inches of snow. Enjoy your lovely weather.
Charlene says
Hi Sophie, thanks so much! Just curious- do you still use coupons or do you visit the blog for shopping deals?
-Charlene
Jen says
Nice post – my hairdresser just recommended the pureology conditioner and shampoo, they are so nice. I’m just down the road from you – enjoy the sun while we can, it’s raining next week.
Rachel says
Oh, I wish I lived close enough and I would totally go out with you for chips and margaritas! Love Mexican. It’s really hard to lose people who you thought were friends. I’ve had it happen more than once and it’s painful every time. Just remember it’s a reflection of them and not you.
Charlene says
Thanks Rachel!
XOXO- Charlene
Charlene says
Jen, did you buy them yet? I haven’t made the plunge to the shampoo yet but as soon as I get through what I have, I will make another Ulta stop 🙂
It really is the best smelling products ever too don’t you think?
Kimberly says
While I was reading this post, I thought, I just have to comment how much I enjoy reading your blog, especially these posts, and when I clicked on the comments, the very first comment expressed my sentiments exactly. I also have followed your blog since 2008 and was new to couponing. You were such an excellent teacher. I was living in Rancho Cordova pretty close to you and I loved that I knew the places you would mention and shop. I have since moved to Utah, but I still love to read your blog. Now I am a couponing pro 😉 and I feel like we are friends, even though you don’t know me at all. That’s the funny thing about blogs, isn’t it? I too, would totally love to sit down and have a chat and talk about our kids, and the things we love. I LOVE to read about your new favorite things. I often look into them. Thanks for being so personable and all around awesome!