Free Starbucks

Ok, so normally I will put things like this on my Save a Buck blog, but it was too good to not share at this one, first since the other blog is new. Go here to print your coupon for a free tall-sized latte, cappuccino, espresso, freshly-brewed coffee, or hot tea (up to $3.20 in value). The coupon expires October 31, 2008. Good at Barnes and Noble Starbucks. Go, go! Thanks, BeCentsAble!

Distracted......and walnuts!

So I really am here....just occupied.
Set up a couple new things this week.

#1: SAVE A BUCK blog
This is my saving money blog, cuz I'm all about that. And I need a place to keep track!

#2: A Shutterfly Page
In Progress!!!

But I will post about walnuts today, anyway. We decided to gather them up this year and really USE them, cuz they are just sitting there.....free! And I like free food. So it started out with rubber gloves and this:

then Farmer Ray came up and showed us this, which cut the time on this process to a small fraction of the picture above:



I wonder if my kids will become mud if they stay in it too long....

I GOT ONE! And...6 Randoms.

A little absent, I know!

Sarah and Life in the Parsonage passed this award onto me for THIS post! And I am so excited!!!



Thank you Sarah!!! And the first post that came to mind (when i realized I probably couldn't hang on to my first blogging award ever!) was Mel's ....well go HERE and read it. So congrats Mel!

And I am posting a meme today!
Here are the rules.....
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!!

1. Heth posted this and I thought I'd put in my two cents.
The dentist....I fell asleep once....or maybe a lot more than once....the root canal a month or so ago was GREAT because they put that blanket around the tooth and around your mouth, so all you have to do is lay there and breathe through your nose.... and they aren't shoving anything else in your mouth.... or down your throat. Or that nasty orange/cherry/mint trays of goop that you have to gag on and try to suck out with that sucker-tool-thing.....Can. I. Rinse. Now. Please.

2. Thinking cheap, oh wait - not cheap - FRUGAL Christmas gifts. So, we have zipper pulls - I bought charms at Hobby Lobby for half off and some beads. And, I thought of sewing those I-Spy bags (with rice and other goofy things in it). There is a plastic window in the front, and you move the rice around to find the other items in the bag - good car toy. And we still have that fake leg out in the garage as a gag gift.....I wonder who I could give that to.

3. My daughter fell asleep tonight as we were rubbing noses. :) I laid down next to her and cuddle. And she says "I yuv you" and I say "I love you more" and she says "Yuv you most" and I say "I love you most most" and she says "Yuv you best best". And I play with her hair or sing her the fu-fine (You are my sunshine) song. She's a cuddle girl.

4. I carry a hunter's safety card in my wallet. Now, my dad and brother hunt for deer mostly. And my 2 sisters love the hunting of the deer as well. Now me? I like the process of, but not a big fan of "after the kill". They have this rule - you gut your own deer. Now. Seriously. THAT is the man's job. And what's the deal with paying an arm and a leg to process the meat? And why don't they have deer season when it is 70 degrees outside. My 3rd toe on my right foot froze off 2 years ago sitting in the woods waiting for a deer to walk by. My dad was amuzing, though - I would sit out in the woods with him again and just spend some time with him. BUT....first week of December is , ah, how you say, COLD. So my dad and all my siblings go hunting, and my mom and I take all the kids to one house and make Christmas cookies with them all. Avoidance of smelly deer insides and frozen toes? And the runny nose you get in the cold that your huge gloves can't grip so you just wipe it on your sleeves? We. Win.

5. I start too many projects at once. And don't finish them. I was doing a bible study and we were supposed to list the books we have enjoyed to read. So I thought.... And. Thought. And. Realized.... I'm not sure I've ever finished one. And in turn, realized that......I bet I know where all my bookmarks are. Have you tried looking on the bookshelf inside the books? No, didn't think of that.

6. I am a first degree black belt in TaeKwondo. I used to break boards like I now break plastic forks. I am SuperWoman! But do you think I could get all the ice cubes out of the tray and into my cup? No. Biggest loser - right here. Side note: husband was a wrestler - it's a pretty good match, but I "let" him win. every. time.

I tag anyone who needs a post idea. :)

Turn out.

H:
Subtotal: $43.58
NOTE: I DID buy colored marshmallows for .77that was not on my list - to distract the kids from running up and down the isles. Bribery. Thanks, Heth.
4 Store Coupons: $2.91
11 Vendor Coupons: $9.80
Balance Due $30.87

F:
Subtotal: $17.27
Vendor Coupons: $8.60
Balance Due: $8.67

$21.31 in coupons - I like that better.
That's a thirty percent off deal on groceries, I guess.

Coupons

So, I've been trying to be frugal. Grocery prices are gut-wrenching. And I thought I would share with you my grocery list today - aren't you special? I love looking at the ads for awesomely low prices, and then adding coupons to it. Nothing is free this week but we have 25 cent veggies. :) Now, we have 2 local grocery stores that I am shopping at this week. One is F and the other is H.

At F:
Hamburger Helper .99
save .80/three here

Grapes .99/lb.

Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes $1
Save .40 on one here
=.60 each

Progresso soup 3/$4
Save $1.10/three here
= .83 each (that was head math...lol, may be wrong)

Pillsbury Crescent and sweet rolls $1.50
Save $1/1, but I can't find it back to link you. :)
=.50 each

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers 4/$5
Save $1/1 here
= .25 each!!!

And At H:
Banquet Meals for Hubby .90
save .50/6 coupon from package
=4.90/6....., right? I so need a calcuboomer

HJ Pancake Mix 1.58

Store Coupons
.99 for 6 ct. applesauce (fits great in diaper bag)
.77 for 16 oz. Sour Cream
.88 for powdered or brown sugar

Cheerios $2
save $1/1 here, may be by e-mail
and perhaps general mills save 1.50/3 cereal from insert
=.50 per box

Oreos for Harry $2.50

Coffee-Mate Creamer 32 oz. 2.99, gotta have it
Save $1/1 here

Green Giant Vegetables (box) $1.25
Save $1/2 here
=.75 each

Pizza Rolls (for easy lunches for girls) $2.90
Save $1/1 here

Chex Mix (for craft night) $1.00
Save .60/1 here
=.40 per bag

There you have it. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I am becoming a coupon-holic. Go here or here or here or here to get a start. You may have to SIGN UP or something, but it is completely worth it - try setting up a new e-mail account if you are worried about junk mail problems and use it for coupons/promotions only. :) And don't freak out if you have to download some kind of coupon converter deal - it takes about 30 seconds and doesn't even bug down your computer. Anyone bitin'?

Tunes from my home to yours!

Linda is hosting a camera party! :) But, you get music instead, and not just any music.....but KIDS music!

So I started with this Barney song.......and then REALIZED.....

That you really NEEDED this, at your request of course:

Messy Heart

As I step over the toys and walk by the piles of laundry, I often wonder how and why this mess keeps on showing its face. “Didn’t I clean that up already A MINUTE AGO? And almost every day, I think about boxing it all up to the attic! Taking care of it once and for all!

The same is true for the mess in my heart. A section or two of my heart is called “under the bed, covered by bedskirt” and “stuffed in the closet and close the door”. In these places, my heart is still be a mess, but no one can see my hidden disaster with the plastic smile I have learned to wear so well. These hiding places perfectly fit unforgiveness, judgments, addictions, gossip, hurts, fears, etc.

Would you like to know a great thing about God? (You say, me! me! Pick me!) He created us as INDIVIDUALS. We aren’t supposed to be a bunch of cherries mixed up in a cherry pie - tasting all the same. We are more like a chicken pot pie. You may be the carrot, I am so the chicken. So often I look at other women and think “I wish I had that quality” or “they do that so much better than I ever could” or “she always looks so beautiful and put together”. And I find myself on a lower level as them. That I am not as important because, seriously, what does someone like me have to offer? And look at them - they are so…….so……..Christian!

Christian? We are not supposed to be the same! We aren’t all supposed to have a gift for baking, or keeping our house spotless, and we don’t have to long for the patience THAT woman has. Because we are who we are - and God DELIGHTS in that! It is difficult to let Him at times, that’s for sure. Our doubts and fears about ourselves take over, but He whispers “Come to me. Simply come. Just as you are.”

Zoo Temps

Look at these adorable things that Harry got at the store - clearanced out to make great future baby gifts! As I read the label (which does not change my mind about giving them as gifts, by the way).....
NOTE: Drinking hot or cold fluids, exercising, smoking or performing other activities may raise or lower your temperature. Therefore, it is important to RELAX FOR 5 MINUTES WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED PRIOR TO TAKING A READING.

lol, crack me up. They don't really mean that, do they? Maybe they didn't have my kids in mind....

We've gained a hundred pounds.

Literally.

Paired up with 2 bushels of pears: 103.5 pounds....plus her 30 pounds.

Makes this, minus what the pair ate. :)

Seriously. What's the point?

To Hubby:

I've loved you from that first moment we locked eyes. Even more when you carried that huge box of candy to my car for me on our first date. And when you teared up as I walked down the isle. And the wedding night, and the honeymoon. We've had some great discussions. Important Fights. Great loss. Great gain. Good days. Bad days. Surgeries. Financial Trouble. Financial Resolution. Relocation. New Life. Death. Hope. Not bad in four years. Not bad.

Want to know something? You're still my favorite.

Happy Anniversary, Baby.

p.s. thanks for putting up with the laundry all over the house :)

Parents

Free Magazine Subscription! Go ahead and sign someone up that you know. Thanks, Frugal in Virginia!

Free Padlock

Headed to Sears anytime soon? Go grab a free padlock - on me. :)

Changing Seasons

~Changing Seasons~

Yesterday we were walking in from the garden and the girls were on the lawn mower with Harry, and I suddenly remembered I don't have a car seat attached to my arm....then I pause and realize.... it's in the attic. Andy isn't here anymore and Stacy is running around like a big girl.

I had this summer all planned out. the girls would run around and help pull weeds, pick grapes, pick veggies, and Andy would be taking naps in the car seat under the shade tree. Or crawling around eating dirt and worms. I hadn't realized it was still in my heart as the plan. :)

~Changing Seasons~

We left the eggplant, jalepenos, squash, and some tomato plants - the rest is mowed down. Done. I am wearing a sweatshirt and summer is nearing the end. I normally just. don't. like. winter. It's cold. And my feet have about no circulation. So I crawl into bed and automatically attach my toes to my husband's leg to warm them up. Out come the fuzzy socks. I have mixed feelings this year about winter. Surprisingly, I am looking forward to it. Maybe not the bulky winter coats and muddy slush on the floor.....but the calm. The snowed-in days. Snowmen. Candles. Warm chocolate chip cookies.

But before winter, the pumpkin carving. Nice, eh?

Now who will help me EAT the food?

Country Livin'

My hubby found this site:

http://www.kountrylife.com/contents.htm

Seriously. How to weigh a pig without a scale... lol

Wordless Wednesday.

Kitchen Updated

Although the carpet in the kitchen was comfortable......

This was proof that it HAD to go! We rent this house, by the way, and this is what we found under the carpet. A very thin padding - and can you imagine how long this has been here?? GROSS!My new floor with my coffee mat. :) When I get the walls painted and border up, I'll post it for ya.

2008 SIDS Walk

I want to thank everyone for showing us so much support!! We had a great time at the SIDS walk! It was very bittersweet.



My friend, Christi. She drove all the way up to Mason City to support me. She dropped everything with little info of what was going on the morning Andy died and came to watch the girls while we were at the hospital with him. She is the most amazing friend. She drove over to bring me cheddar bay biscuits when I was having one of those pregnant cravings. She's always here to talk to. I love her.

But, let's play a game - how many chins does Amie have? and Christi - how do you get your teeth so white??

and here is the balloon release - we had a welcome and memorial time for our babies and then released the balloons. as I watched them fly up into the cloudless blue sky, I was overwhelmed. Harry and I held each other and sobbed. I understood where Andy was. I watched the many balloons floating together and I was amazed - that's too many babies.

They had popcorn, snow cones, face/hand painting, air-jumping for the kids, and...

Raffles. My girls won this girly basket with lots of summer activities - they chased bubbles for a good 20 minutes after opening it.

As I watched the line of many many people in front of us during the walk, and babies names on posters along the path, I just walked with tears. Where have these people been? What is their story? Which baby brought them there that day? How old was their baby?
How can this many babies just die in their sleep? And I realized that someone had to find each of these babies lifeless in what was supposed to be a refreshing rest. And so it began - for each one of these families - this sudden whirlwind of disbelief and doubt. That paralizing reality. I knew with my brain that I was not the only one - but being there made my heart agree. This and the balloon release were my favorite parts.

I have such a blessing for a family - for making sure my girls were taken care of on a very emotional day. For dropping everything else and coming to show their support - for the donations they received, as well as their own for SIDS, for standing together for us every step of the way, I could go on and on.......I just love them.

Brenda and Stacy - Crack me up.

I got to meet so many friendly, great people. The whole day was an enormous blessing!

I Laughed So Hard I Cried.

Click on the picture for a zoom-in. It is so me. :)