Call us crazy...

We were lured by the idea of saving money and managed to get up and get ready and get out the door for what is the first of three days of tax free school supply/clothing shopping.  It actually wasn't bad.  There was no one really out today, I guess because it was Friday.  Everyone says that Saturday and Sunday will be a zoo...and we are so not participating in that. 

So we managed to complete our shopping and, aside from a pair of shoes and some small accessories, we are done!!

  

I really can't believe that we went to as many stores as we did....that should prove how not bad is really was out there.  Here's a sample of stores we visited and, lord help us, bought stuff at:

• Abercrombie & Fitch
• American Eagle
• Target
• Limited Too
• Hollister
• Gap
• Ross
• Old Navy
• TJMaxx
• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Famous Footwear
• Nordstrom's
• Aeropostale
• Apple store 

...no worries though, I've trained the family well...we ALWAYS hit the clearance racks first!! We did really well I think.  The one store we went to and we didn't buy in was the Apple store....as many of you know I am an Apple Computer convert...LOVE both the Apples/Macs we have and don't even bother sitting at the either of the PC's...and I really want the new iPhone but I'm being oh so patient and making sure they get all the kinks out and then I'll get one...alas, the price needs to come down a bit more...a little spendy at $199.  And an observation from today...COACH is the official handbag/purse of Texas...EVERYONE has a Coach handbag here. Someone must have forgotten to give me one when we crossed the border into Texas! 

For those who were sitting on pins and needles waiting to find out what dessert we made - well here's Brooke, my partner in dessert crime...

She's cutting up the bananas for some of the best banana pudding I've ever consoled myself with....

Here she is wildly whipping all the ingredients together....I ask you - what is better than pudding, whole milk, condensed whole milk and cool whip??????  Not "better for you" but what tastes better? Not much!

And here we are with the finished product...I mean to tell you it was Brooke's idea to put the box of Nilla wafers next to the trifle bowl...seriously she thinks we have our own show on Food Network...we are such superstars!!!  And I can't tell you how yummy it was...so good!!!!!

Ooohhh also ..if you are using one of these..(a crockpot).....

 
You should also be using these....

They are FANTASTIC!!!!  They are the best thing since, well, the crockpot....how much easier does it get than dumping a roast and onions, potatoes and carrots in a crockpot at 9 am and walking away only to have dinner ready at 6 pm with no other effort the rest of the day?  I'll tell you how much easier..these liners allow the clean up to be just as quick and easy.  Just throw them away with all the cooking residue and wipe out your crockpot...no mess...PERFECT!!! Ok I know I must be lazy, and not super eco friendly, if I don't want to clean a pan from a meal I barely made, but if it makes life easier than so be it!!!  Now go buy some of these liners!

I'm off to eat pizza...homemade pizza with homemade crust..yes, I made my own crust after a long day of shopping...I know I'm amazing...SUPER MOM, if you will.  OK fine..I made the dough from a recipe I got from my friend Sheryl in Valdez and it's really easy to make...but I did make it and it is yummy. Click here to see the recipe and give it a try. 

 

OK kids...be on the look out for the fashion show of our great deals from today.