Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Cute, Easy and Less Messy...

Than coloring Easter eggs, at least I think. We haven't made them yet, but are going to give it a try this Friday. These cute little Eggimals are made from the larger plastic eggs, a little felt and glue.

Aren't they adorable?





I am totally lovin' the pig!!!




Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Me a Minimalist??

Minimilist: one who seeks to minimize or reduce to a minimum



If you are reading this and know me, you are probably thinking, yeah, right!

If you have seen my closets, my cupboards, my drawers, you are probably saying "whatever, no way will you ever be a minimalist."

You are probably right. Considering that just six months ago I attempted to declutter our home and while I did manage to get rid of A. LOT. I somehow didn't get rid of enough. I am running out of room....again. I am feeling disorganization creeping back into my closets, my cabinets, my life. I think that maybe a minimalist way of thinking is the way to go, who needs five casserole dishes, who needs three full sets of dishes, who needs three winter coats, five purses, ten (and then some) pairs of shoes, I think you get the picture. So as I begin spring cleaning, I will be challenging myself to think like a minimalist.

Does that mean I can't stockpile?


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

She's Stuck In My Heart...



Is what my barely six year old son told me last night through tears.

Sadly for me, I wasn't the "she".

No, it wasn't some little girl in his kindergarten class either.

It was his grandma, my mom.


My only son has formed a bond with my mom that is so sweet and so special. At least one night each weekend he stays the night with her, unless she is out of town. If she is out of town, like she was this past weekend, he can hardly wait till she comes home. Asking me continually if she would be home yet, when will she be home, why isn't she home, etc. you get the picture!

She had a birthday over this past weekend, but we had to celebrate it last night. In addition to the gift that my husband and I had bought her, my younger three kids selected items from their own personal possesions that they felt she would enjoy and they made many a card for her. My son was the most eager to give her his card, I didn't see it before he gave it to her, so I wasn't sure why the excitement other that the obvious - it is her birthday (duh - says the six year old!)

Then she opened it.

All his money that he had left over from his birthday...all $4.

She was touched, as was I.

Of course, Grandma hated taking his money, so they came to an agreement, she would buy a dinosaur egg for him them.

As it seems to become more and more frequent, when it is time to leave Grandma's house, the tears begin to flow.

And flow.

No tantrum, just a muffled cry with alligator tears streaming down his face.

He tells me that when he leaves he can't help the tears because when he is away from her he misses her..."Mom, she is stuck in my heart".

Once we get home, he is alright. He calls her every night and sees her on the weekend.

We give my mom grief that he is the favored one, but we all know that is not true. She loves her children and grandchildren equally. However, there is no denying that she is his favorite. Sniff, sniff.


Is someone "stuck" in your heart or better yet, are you "stuck" in someone's heart?




Monday, March 15, 2010

Betty Crocker Giveaway Winner...

Is comment 12:

Jay said:


Thanks- the kids call these gummy treats!! Our oldest has learned to help by having younger siblings.



Thank you to all who left comments!

Happy Monday!


Friday, March 12, 2010

P & G and Kraft $20 Savings Book


Enter your zip code to see if a store near you is participating in this giveaway. If so you will be directed to a page with four pictures, simply click on any one of them to be taken to the next page and click on the "Click here to save" in the upper right corner. The booklet will be mailed out to you in 2-3 weeks.

If you are in the St.Louis metropolitan area it appears that Shop N Save is participating.

Thanks to Cha Ching on a Shoestring.

Love and Discipline

We had a missing assignment.

It wasn't technically missing, it just wasn't done.

The second time this school year.

As promised with the first missing assignment, one week grounding from the TV and the computer.

Thought for sure it would be an ugly week.

Turns out my eleven year old not only understands but accepts the consequence of her actions or in this case her inaction.

This was her first real grounding and while I wish that I could say this would be her only, I know that it probably isn't. However, I am confident that she understands that it is because of our love for her that we discipline her.

We are reminded in Hebrews 12:6-11 that God too chastises those He loves, those He calls His own. When we are in sin, He will chastise us, not to destroy us not even to judge us, but to edify us and to restore us.

That is a finer thing.

Check out more finer things at Amy's Finer Things.



Happy Friday All!!!








Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Right @ Home Spring Cleaning Pack - First 10,1000



Sign up today to receive a Spring Cleaning Pack from Right at Home.

Spring is right around the corner, wouldn't t be nice to have some freebies to go along with our spring cleaning?!


Spring Cleaning Gift Pack
First 10,000* to respond will receive a gift pack with favorite Ziploc® Brand, Scrubbing Bubbles® and Pledge® products inside.Hurry—respond now!



Monday, March 8, 2010

Betty Crocker Win and Give....Giveaway...

Recently I was informed of Betty Crockers fruit flavored snack Win and Give promotion.




With specially marked boxes of kid favorites – including Fruit Roll-Ups, Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and Stickerz & Shapes – your child could win one laptop to keep and Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks will donate another to a child in Africa.

Each day from now through May 30, 2010, one laptop prize will be awarded to a U.S. winner. For every laptop won, one laptop will be donated to an African child through One Laptop per Child, an organization that creates educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. For your chance to win, simply enter the unique online code printed on participating Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snack packages on Win One Give One.


A big thank you to Betty Crocker and My Blog Spark for not only giving me I mean my kiddos the opportunity to try a couple of boxes of Betty Crocker fruit snacks, but for also making a donation of $25 on my behalf to One Laptop Per Child..

You too can have the opportunity to win two boxes of Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks AND have $25 donated on your behalf to One Laptop Per Child by simply leaving a comment - would love to hear how you encourage your kiddos to give, but a simple hello will do it too. The giveaway will end March 15 and the winner will be picked by Random.org.

**Disclosure:All products for myself and the giveaway, as well as the product information were provided by Betty Crocker through My Blog Spark.


Me Oh My...

I didn't update, I didn't post...hmm what else have I not done.

Between a trip to the ER, a sick husband, a daughter who was really needing some mama attention..the blog lost its priority last week.

So here it is in a nutshell..


I did it!!! I cooked and baked my food for the week on Monday. I was in the kitchen ALL. DAY. LONG. but considering the week we ended up with, I am so glad I did it!

In diet news, I amazingly lost another pound, however, I am more than sure that I gained it over the weekend..we'll see.

I hope you all have a very happy Monday!!!



Monday, March 1, 2010

Freezer Cooking Day...




Remember when I told you I was a sucker for convenience?

Even though my three "personal chefs" take care of three meals for me every week, I still have eighteen meals to stress out about to prepare for, which leads me to be among those joining Money Saving Mom and Life As Mom for their freezer cooking day today.

Here is a list of what I am hoping to accomplish...

- pancakes, banana and chocolate chip
- waffles
- taco meat
- chili meat
- lasagna x 2
- jumbo shells
- Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps
- muffins (not sure what kind, probably banana muffins
- Cinnamon Rolls

This will I am sure take me today and tomorrow, I have to run to the store to pick up a couple of items still today. I am anxious to see how it goes. I will report back.