Let's just start off with the list
1. Two Toddlers
2. Lots of bugs
3. 2 parents
4. 2 grandparents (reinforcements)
5. 2 tents
6. a campfire
7. port a potties
8. a long drive...
I actually don't think I need to say more than that...but...
OK...in an attempt to be a mom that lets her boys be boys...we decided to go camping and hiking last weekend in Southern Illinois. This definitely wasn't my first time camping...I have really camped a lot...just not since we've had kids. The ticks and bugs were horrible...my mother in law found three ticks on her when we got home...not to mention the ones she found while we were there...that didn't find a place to nestle in. A plus to this whole trip was that my sister lives down there and set up our tent for us and all we had to do when we got there was set up two pack and plays and put the boys in...you know to keep them off of the ground, and away from the bugs! Right off the bat, Aaron thought I was hilarious! So, in the heat and mugginess, we decided to go on a hike...can you say SNAKE! I would have expected to see small little snakes or bugs, but this one, I couldn't even put my finger/thumb around and connect them! It was big! SO...right there, my hike was over. So, we went back to the camp site to start a fire and cook dinner...I doubt I have ever been so paranoid...I strapped the boys in the stroller and put them in their high chair things to keep them off the ground. I am not great with fire anyway, but come on...2 toddlers and a fire seem like an accident waiting to happen. My sister came by with her husband and I needed a few minutes, so after the boys went to bed, we went into town to get bread and cherry pie filling for the pie irons. We ended up going by her house just so I could shower! It was nice. After an evening of pie and a campfire, we went to bed...or floor...whatever you would like to call it. It was not a good sleeping ground and was sticky/muggy all night long. I the morning it was boys back in the high chairs and then I made my plea...lets go rummaging! ( I had seen some signs on the way in...and was just ready to get out of the woods) Despite my attempts, Aaron was not about to let us go rummaging but he did concede, what a wonderful husband! We packed up camp and headed to a really neat park we saw on the way in...it was a neat castle. Then after lunch with my sister and her husband...we headed home!
My conclusion from this trip...camping is not for me, toddlers, me when there are lots of bugs, toddlers...you get my drift. It was nice to be together as a family and I do look forward to lots of great trips with the boys...just in a hotel and a pool!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Some good deals and coupons this week!
Sun Season...this is a good coupon!
$3/1 Coppertone coupon
If you go here: http://www.coppertone.com/coppertone/index.jsp
and click on the coupon link on the bottom, it should print correctly for you.
I like 3M products...here are some good coupons at this link:
http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/command/commandcoupon/coupon/commandcoupon.pdf
Kashi Waffles:
I haven't checked the price at Kroger, but at WalMart these are $1.04 per box when you use the coupon $2.54 without...there are two coupon links and you can print from both of them twice so...4 boxes of waffles for less than the full price of 2!
http://www.kashiconnect.com/
http://site.vocalpoint.com/waffles/coupon.html
Don't forget to use those Kraft coupons on some good deals at multiple stores and to join vocalpoint while you are there printing the Kashi coupon!
This link will take you to FREE chocolate...read the details online...Every Friday til September:
https://secure.realchocolate.com/
I haven't done this yet, but intend to try it out!
Photo Books {Etc.}: Free Photo Book ($4.95 shipping)
Photo Books {Etc.} is currently offering a free 20-page photo book. Shipping is only $4.95. Go here:
http://photobooksetc.blogspot.com/2009/05/get-free-photo-book.html
for more details.
Check out the nine free-after-rebate items available at Menards this week here: http://dailyessentialsanddeals.blogspot.com/2009/05/menards-9-freebies.html
SEARS
Go here: http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/c/tag/hBKE-DPAOzTrPB7t6GxA0TATT1j/doc.html?email
to print a coupon for a free 8x10 portrait collage ($29.99 value) with no session fee from Sears Portraits. Offer expires 6/2/09.
Kraft Cheese...GREAT coupons!
Two links equals 4 good coupons which equals cheap cheese!
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=qerlcou92105121&bt=vg&o=56602&c=KR&p=BuUJGY8p
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/purekraft/naturalcheese/
Don't forget to look at coupons.com this week for good coupons and moneysavingmom.com for more great deals!
Have a blessed week!
Amanda
$3/1 Coppertone coupon
If you go here: http://www.coppertone.com/coppertone/index.jsp
and click on the coupon link on the bottom, it should print correctly for you.
I like 3M products...here are some good coupons at this link:
http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/command/commandcoupon/coupon/commandcoupon.pdf
Kashi Waffles:
I haven't checked the price at Kroger, but at WalMart these are $1.04 per box when you use the coupon $2.54 without...there are two coupon links and you can print from both of them twice so...4 boxes of waffles for less than the full price of 2!
http://www.kashiconnect.com/
http://site.vocalpoint.com/waffles/coupon.html
Don't forget to use those Kraft coupons on some good deals at multiple stores and to join vocalpoint while you are there printing the Kashi coupon!
This link will take you to FREE chocolate...read the details online...Every Friday til September:
https://secure.realchocolate.com/
I haven't done this yet, but intend to try it out!
Photo Books {Etc.}: Free Photo Book ($4.95 shipping)
Photo Books {Etc.} is currently offering a free 20-page photo book. Shipping is only $4.95. Go here:
http://photobooksetc.blogspot.com/2009/05/get-free-photo-book.html
for more details.
Check out the nine free-after-rebate items available at Menards this week here: http://dailyessentialsanddeals.blogspot.com/2009/05/menards-9-freebies.html
SEARS
Go here: http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/c/tag/hBKE-DPAOzTrPB7t6GxA0TATT1j/doc.html?email
to print a coupon for a free 8x10 portrait collage ($29.99 value) with no session fee from Sears Portraits. Offer expires 6/2/09.
Kraft Cheese...GREAT coupons!
Two links equals 4 good coupons which equals cheap cheese!
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=qerlcou92105121&bt=vg&o=56602&c=KR&p=BuUJGY8p
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/purekraft/naturalcheese/
Don't forget to look at coupons.com this week for good coupons and moneysavingmom.com for more great deals!
Have a blessed week!
Amanda
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Free Hot Dogs!
Free Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs!
Oscar Mayer knows economic times are tough, so they're offering a coupon for Free Oscar Mayer Beef Franks! Hurry though ~ I'm sure these will go fast! Click here to sign up for your coupon. (Thanks Money Saving Mom!)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monical's Pizza
just one more thing...
if you like Monical's Pizza, go to monicals.com and sign up for their dippin club and use promotion code DM0509 and receive a voucher for a free bottle of Monical's sweet and tart dressing!
if you like Monical's Pizza, go to monicals.com and sign up for their dippin club and use promotion code DM0509 and receive a voucher for a free bottle of Monical's sweet and tart dressing!
Coupon deals!
Hopefully you got to go to coupons.com last week and print off 2 of each of those Kraft
coupons. If you go to Kraft.com also, you can print off 2 more of each...giving you four. If you didn't do it last week...it is not too late! The info from last week is at the bottom of this email for link info. Also, You can use many of these coupons this week at Target! Target has online coupons weekly and then lets these two websites "host" their coupons so, you can print them off as many times as you would like. Then you can use double coupons at Target this week. Many of those same Kraft items have Target coupons this week, so check out these websites for Target coupons and you can use one manufacturer coupon and one Target coupon together for the same item.
http://www.organicgrocerydeals.com/forums/view.php?pg=coupon_generator
http://www.afullcup.com/
You can get the ritz items, mayo, dressing, wheat thins, cheese, crystal light and kool aid, etc...GREAT DEALS!
Last week' s Email:
Coupons.com :this website has lots of coupons on there this week...go through them and print off 2 of each..i use this concept when printing off coupons...if I would use it, if it were cheap...then I print it off. Hit the back button on your browser to print off the second time and then save them...they are high dollar coupons, so you need to do it very soon! If you wait they may not be there anymore. Combined with a sale, these items would be very cheap and very affordable.
Then...go here:
http://www2.kelloggs.com/Product/KelloggCoupon.aspx?id=1992
and print off 2 of each cereal coupon you would use if free or cheap...
This weeks deal so far...
Walgreens: Kellogs Cereal---not all types, just Special K, Kashi, and Smart start...If you printed off two of the Special K coupons and the Kashi coupon from coupons.com, you will be able to get a good deal on these. Thepromotion is this...3 boxes for $10, which isn't a good deal, but if you have the $1.00 coupons and use one per box then, that is $3.00 off. Then, when you check out Walgreens will give you back $3.00 in register rewards, which is a coupon off the purchase of anything in the store...diapers,milk,etc... You can turn around and use it then on another purchase or wait til next week or so (depending on the expiration date) to see what else comes up... That is like $6.00 off and about 1.33 per box of name brand cereal...I don't spend more than $1.50 so that is a good deal!
If you have time this week, also go to
http://www.kraftfirsttaste.com
and
http://site.vocalpoint.com/guest/index.html
They will email or snail mail you offers for free products/coupons that are really great...I got a coupon from voacalpoint for free frosted mini wheats last week and the new kashi frozen waffles, too and I got a coupon for a free Digorno flat bread melt on the kraft site. One last thing...
Try these websites for coupons that go right onto your Kroger card...you have to load them and sign up your card, but they send you reminders when they have new coupons up and just go load them then. My Kroger doubles coupons upto $.50 and you can use these coupons in addition to those manufacturers coupons...they just come off, you don't have to do anything. Read about the programs before you sign up...I use them and they work...
cellfire.com
http://shortcuts.com/
U Promise is a bit different but still worthwhile to
me...check it out too! upromise.com.
coupons. If you go to Kraft.com also, you can print off 2 more of each...giving you four. If you didn't do it last week...it is not too late! The info from last week is at the bottom of this email for link info. Also, You can use many of these coupons this week at Target! Target has online coupons weekly and then lets these two websites "host" their coupons so, you can print them off as many times as you would like. Then you can use double coupons at Target this week. Many of those same Kraft items have Target coupons this week, so check out these websites for Target coupons and you can use one manufacturer coupon and one Target coupon together for the same item.
http://www.organicgrocerydeals.com/forums/view.php?pg=coupon_generator
http://www.afullcup.com/
You can get the ritz items, mayo, dressing, wheat thins, cheese, crystal light and kool aid, etc...GREAT DEALS!
Last week' s Email:
Coupons.com :this website has lots of coupons on there this week...go through them and print off 2 of each..i use this concept when printing off coupons...if I would use it, if it were cheap...then I print it off. Hit the back button on your browser to print off the second time and then save them...they are high dollar coupons, so you need to do it very soon! If you wait they may not be there anymore. Combined with a sale, these items would be very cheap and very affordable.
Then...go here:
http://www2.kelloggs.com/Product/KelloggCoupon.aspx?id=1992
and print off 2 of each cereal coupon you would use if free or cheap...
This weeks deal so far...
Walgreens: Kellogs Cereal---not all types, just Special K, Kashi, and Smart start...If you printed off two of the Special K coupons and the Kashi coupon from coupons.com, you will be able to get a good deal on these. Thepromotion is this...3 boxes for $10, which isn't a good deal, but if you have the $1.00 coupons and use one per box then, that is $3.00 off. Then, when you check out Walgreens will give you back $3.00 in register rewards, which is a coupon off the purchase of anything in the store...diapers,milk,etc... You can turn around and use it then on another purchase or wait til next week or so (depending on the expiration date) to see what else comes up... That is like $6.00 off and about 1.33 per box of name brand cereal...I don't spend more than $1.50 so that is a good deal!
If you have time this week, also go to
http://www.kraftfirsttaste.com
and
http://site.vocalpoint.com/guest/index.html
They will email or snail mail you offers for free products/coupons that are really great...I got a coupon from voacalpoint for free frosted mini wheats last week and the new kashi frozen waffles, too and I got a coupon for a free Digorno flat bread melt on the kraft site. One last thing...
Try these websites for coupons that go right onto your Kroger card...you have to load them and sign up your card, but they send you reminders when they have new coupons up and just go load them then. My Kroger doubles coupons upto $.50 and you can use these coupons in addition to those manufacturers coupons...they just come off, you don't have to do anything. Read about the programs before you sign up...I use them and they work...
cellfire.com
http://shortcuts.com/
U Promise is a bit different but still worthwhile to
me...check it out too! upromise.com.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Meals
The last few days I have been very motivated...i light of that, I have made--besides the muffins--triple berry cobbler, Chicken Cacciatore, and Lasagna. I divided the chicken caccitori up into two servings and froze one for later and put the lasagna together and placed it in the fridge for quick cooking within the next couple days. Also, our Sam's Club had pork loin on sale for $1.77 per pound so I bought a loin, had it sliced into half inch chops and froze them in servings. The chicken caccitori was easy and tasted good...I sole a few bites. I got the recipe from: http://asimplewalk.blogspot.com/2009/02/chicken-cacciatore.html
I really have enjoyed reading that blog recently.
I've been planning the boys birthday party...nothing too big, just a small little celebration of their lives. Today the weather is so beautiful here...the sun is shining, the snow is finally melted and it is in the 50's.
Let's see what other kind of cooking trouble I can get into in the next few days...I got a hold of a winter minestrone recipe...maybe I'll try that!
I really have enjoyed reading that blog recently.
I've been planning the boys birthday party...nothing too big, just a small little celebration of their lives. Today the weather is so beautiful here...the sun is shining, the snow is finally melted and it is in the 50's.
Let's see what other kind of cooking trouble I can get into in the next few days...I got a hold of a winter minestrone recipe...maybe I'll try that!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A day!
Recently, or life has been just one thing after another....sometimes, it is easy to get defeated...and I have those days. Today, has not been one of those days...today I am overwhelmed by God's grace and provision for my life. Thankful, for the friends and family that he provides for me and assured that he has everything under control. Thank you Lord!
I even made some really good muffins! Check out this recipe! http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/06/banana-crumb-muffins.html
Blessings to you and yours today, and everyday!
I even made some really good muffins! Check out this recipe! http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/06/banana-crumb-muffins.html
Blessings to you and yours today, and everyday!
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