Great Coupons Everyday

Add this listing to your favorites and always check it before you go shopping!!!

It is a really neat list of printable coupons available for so many items. Check it out...

Coupons, Inc.

I Am Challenged To Get To A More Organized and Expert Couponer Level Are You?!?

I love following different blogs, they can lead you to so many really neat blogs that can teach us so much. Check out Moms By Heart...She has posted a great blog instructional on how to start a coupon 'wishlist' and 'havelist' at Hot Coupon World, so that you can get to a more extreme level of couponing!!!

I am intrigued and challenged. There are so many great coupons out and about right now, I wish I lived in a urban setting, closer to stores, I would be all over this in a heartbeat. I think this will make a great New Year's Eve goal.

Your perspective changes when the nearest WalMart is over 25 minutes one way from you...and you shop with a toddler who hates to travel in the car, by the time I drive to the store he is beside himself...I guess I should be asking, how can I turn my toddler son into a 'couponing freak' before he is even potty trained?!?

And The Love Keeps On Rolling Around...

It's amazing how competitive websites are for advertising. If you haven't already signed up at Betty Crocker for their coupons and specials, then now is a great time. They are also offering a really neat and FREE Coupon book with over $10 of coupons and great new recipes for new subscribers to their site. So click away for a really good deal!!!

Betty Crocker

I Have To Share The Love...Don't I...

Sometimes, I receive or read and sign up for a really good deal and I forget all about posting it for others to see and participate in...

Forgive me:)

Sign up at Pillsbury and receive a FREE coupon book with over $10 worth of coupons, plus some really neat recipes.

In addition, Pillsbury is really good about sending out email notices on special coupons, recipes, etc. Very much worth the sign up to their site. Click away and receive your own copy of a really neat coupon book from Pillsbury.

From Dates to Diapers

Check out this really neat site for some helpful hints and Christmas shopping guides.

Just A Little Break In My Schedule...

I have not been that regular about posting this week. I cooked the Wednesday evening meal last week for our church meal and fed about 80 people Macaroni AlForno, salad, Italian garlic bread and fresh sugar cookies. Yum, yum...

I have also been watching another girl all week for the parents plus the other young girl that I routinely watch on Fridays and Mondays, so I have been a little busy. I also cooked the Lions Club meal today, baked pork chops, mashed potatoes, pork gravy, peas and carrots, salad and a double layer german chocolate sheet cake, yum, yum...

In addition, I am working to get the enchilada dinner organized for our band booster fundraiser. It is happening on the 23rd and we routinely feed 350, we have a goal of feeding 400 this year, so a little hectic lately for me. But that will probably be my routine for the next couple of months, hectic...

Fall Afternoon Of Fun

While dad was remodeling in the kitchen, littlest and I spent alot of time outside enjoying the beautiful Fall weather. He mastered tossing of the mulch, stuffing of the knothole, sliding down the slide face first and eating of bark. He favorite word this afternoon, was 'whee' as he threw around leaves, dirt, etc. He had a ball and we were outside for 1 1/2 hours!!! It truly was perfect, wish you could have been there, check out some more really cute photos from our adventure.

Fall Afternoon of Fun 2008

Kitchen Remodeling

It's amazing what one can accomplish under extreme pressure!!!

My DH is thoroughly remodeling our home. We purchased a ranch style tract home circa 1960's which needed alot of work done to it. As we said, it has good bones and the original owner really put quality products in the home, so we have a pretty good foundation to work with. Unfortunately, there was an owner in the late 1990's who probably watched one too many home remodeling shows and had no skills, so there is alot of painting projects that were done in a very poor manner. The saddest part is that they spent quite abit of money on a kitchen remodel project that was done at a very poor quality level and was incomplete. Whoever did the project for them didn't finish with the wallpapering, finishing out the wood trim around the baseboards, etc. The greatest frustration is that they put in new tile counters that didn't hold up to any intense use, the mortar was a very cheap and poor quality and would just powder up, so there are loose, broken, dislodged tiles all over the place. So a little frustrating for us.

What can I say, we got the house at a really good price. The house couldn't sell in a town where houses were being snatched up right and left at the time. So that says a little about the condition of the property. My DH is a remodeling expert, or is becoming one over all of the years of my and his mother's honey do's. We were planning to complete the kitchen remodel as the last room on our list, since it would be the most expensive, but he started tackling the project last week. This is going to be a pretty major remodel when it is all said and done, at least for us. He is tearing out my oversize pantry that was too awkward. The cabinets were over 2 1/2 feet deep, I called it the great abyss, things would get lost for years in there. He is building me a larger but not as deep pantry off to the side wall, I am thrilled, it will be so much more functional. That will allow us to then tear out the current pantry, a cabinet and shelves around the sink area thereby opening up the kitchen to look out over our greatroom, therefore making it a more traditional great room. We then will have a long counter by our sink and he will have about a six foot bar area looking out to the greatroom, which will be excellent for so many things!!!

Can you tell that I am thrilled?

The timecrunch is that the holidays are upon us and we hope to be hosting several family members during the Xmas season. So a little bit of pressure to my husband's remodeling!!!

It is exciting and I am thrilled that my DH has the skills, he really does do excellent work when it is all said and done. We will have new texturing, new repaint of the cabinets, new trim on top of the cabinets, new light fixture, new laminate counters, new lineoleum floors, etc.

A newly refurbished kitchen is my Xmas present, Birthday present, Anniversary present, etc!!! I couldn't have asked for anything better!!!

Check out some more pictures. Kitchen Remodeling 2008

Angel Food Ministries

Our church is a new host site for the Angel Food Ministries. My entire family is thrilled!!! My mother got us hooked onto the ministry over a year ago and our family has purchased several times and feel it is a tremendous benefit to families. Also, if you are looking to minimize your food budget in order to contribute more to benefit others, this will help your family accomplish that goal.

Check out the ministry...

About Angel Food Ministries - Angel Food Ministries

What Is It All About?

It's getting near to that time of year, when we all need to be reminded about what Christmas is all about.

Family Holiday Priorities
Sharing Our Faith
Fellowship with Family and Friends
Good Food, and
Making Memories

Our family reviewed and discussed what our priorities are and we work to affirm them during the holiday season. It just helps to keep all of the demands you face on your time, talents and resources in the right priority and perspective.

I hope you enjoy this reminder about....

True Meaning of Christmas

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .

"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!

Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."

Thanks for a reminder about the 'True Meaning Of Christmas'.