Sunday, November 30, 2008

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!


Though it may be light and fluffy, it's defninitely snowing! It's been snowing here all night and all day. To the children's dissappointment, there is not much accumulation. I tried to warn them that we just don't get good snow around here until February and March...sometimes even into April! They dream of a white Christmas. The closest thing I can remember in the last 10 years we've had to a white Christmas was a good ice storm that kept us all home. Not much fun to play in, though!
The picture below was taken this morning when it was more like snow/ice pellets. Hope you are toasty and warm! I'm enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a nice fire in front of the Christmas tree.

:0) Have a great week!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Summer Sun, Check!


Well, the name of the shade of yellow is Summer Sun. It is Valspar paint from Lowe's. Now...next up on the agenda is deciding what color to paint the wall with the fireplace insert, and also whether or not to paint just that wall a different color, or that wall and the wall next to it. I know it's hard to judge when you aren't seeing the whole room....maybe I will get those shots up next. My house is such a wreck between trying to paint and rearrange and decorating for Christmas.
Dear Hubby thinks the wall needs to be a darker color because of the fireplace....smoke and yellowing, etc. ??? We are also thinking of using some old aged wood to trim out the fireplace, so it won't have the white trim around it, like the rest of the walls. Hope that makes sense.

This is the complete wall that I just finished painting. We haven't hung things back up on it or even moved all the furniture back against it yet...but wanted to get a pic.

So, what do you think?

Friday, November 28, 2008

Christmas Playlist

It's that time of year again!!! Time for celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour, time for hot cocoa and warm fires, good books, decorating, baking, snow boots, and watching the classic seasonal shows and movies! (Charlie Brown, It's a Wonderful Life, etc.)

So, in honor of the first day of the Christmas season, I've created a musical wonderland that will take you back in time....well, it does me anyway!
Enjoy songs from Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Amy Grant, Josh Groban, Bobby Helms, Kenny G, Alvin and the Chipmunks (the originals from when we were kids!), Jose Feliciano, and George Strait. Hopefully I'll find some time to add more soon!

Also, "A Soldier's Silent Night" is included, author unknown.

Merry Christmas!!!


Remember Our Soldiers

While creating a Christmas playlist to attach to my blog, I stumbled upon this "song" of sorts. Please listen and remember all of our many soldiers who won't make it home for the holidays this year. Please keep them in your prayers.


Thursday, November 20, 2008

Doritos and Superbowl 08

Okay...so what do those things have in common and what on earth do they have to do with my blog?

Simple. My BF from Junior High and High School days is in a Doritos commercial that is up for grabs to be aired during the superbowl. :0) Ahhh.....I hear the sighs of recognition and understanding, LOL! Anyway.... her director emailed and said they needed to get their numbers up on viewings and comments....hence the post! I'm going to post a link, and attempt to post the player....never done that before and am not sure if it will count as viewings. ??? Voting for which video airs begins Jan. 5, 2009. Make sure to vote!!!

http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/video/2049/

okay...I have no clue how to get the video to upload, so PLEASE go to the link....it's only a few seconds! :0)

Thanks!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Grand Prix, Gray Days, and Is this Yellow???


AWANA Grand Prix
This was Rooi's first opportunity to participate in the AWANA Grand Prix. For those of you who don't know what it is (not that I'm all that informed myself), the T&T kids put their own wooden cars together, paint and decorate them, put weights under the front of them, etc., then race against each other.


And they're off!
Ethan Barnes competed against Roo the first go round....he had quite the lead!
And the final score........

Roo placed 2nd in each race throughout the night! Yay ROO!!!! You go girl!

*****

Okay....2nd part of this post. Do you ever get headaches on "gray" days? I can't stand them. Tylenol, ibuprofrin, nothing helps. Sometimes it is almost migraine level. Winter is FULL of gray days. Ick. I don't like cold days, either, unless they are spent in front of a warm fire with books or crafts, or maybe the occasional good movie, and a cup of coffee, hot tea or cocoa. Basically, if I don't have to leave the house, I'm good on cold days. :0)
About 6 months ago I was given a gift certificate to Lowe's, so I used to buy some paint. I talked about it for so long that dh finally gave in to a shade of yellow, just so long as I would finally do it, LOL! Needless to say, I just put up the first coat on the first small wall today. I chose the yellow in hopes that it would brighten those dark/gray days and keep spirits high (and headaches low). The only thing is....I'm not sure it LOOKS yellow on the walls!? Ugh.
What do you think?

Is it yellow? Hmmmmm.....not as much as I'd hoped, but probably better for my not-so-yellow-loving-husband. I guess we'll see. I plan on working in some of the green that we painted the hall/office with, and maybe a pale color on one of the other walls. So, seriously, does that look yellow?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Cooking and Costumes

Junior loves to help me cook, and sometimes I talk myself into slowing down long enough to let her. I always try to catch her off guard so I can get a good pic, but she is such a poser! LOL

Making brownies for 4-H Achievement Dinner...





HALLOWEEN!!!
Well...not very scary, but VERY cute! A scarecrow, a mime, and a princess....charming, don't ya think? Maybe I'm a little biased....just a little. ;0)


Latest Deals

Okay, okay....I know I've been slacking and I'm sorry! I take the pics, but then I get behind on posting and hate to post it once the deals are over because then it's just bragging instead of sharing tips on what you can go do for yourself. :0)

I've been trying to keep our grocery budget under $40/week. So far, so good! (well, for 3 weeks anyway!) I know it sounds crazy, but I decided if Crystal over at moneysavingmom.com can do it, so can I! (Despite the face that she is feeding a toddler and a baby and I am feeding a ravenous teen, another ravenous pre-teen, and a 5 year old.) Well, what can it hurt to try? It's pretty much become necessity. So without further adieu, here are this weeks deals:

From Wal-Mart:
1 gal. FF Milk 3.32
1 gal. Whole Milk 3.82
2 bags Chex Mix price matched for $.99 each with Walgreen's ad, then had 2 $.50/1 coupons, so $.49 each
3lb Blue Bonnet Butter 2.32
4 Hiland Lowfat Lemon Yogurts (8oz) price matched Price-Cutters/Harps ad 2/$1, bought 4, total $2
6 Glade Scented Oil Candle Holders $2 each, had 6 $2/1 coupons, free!
2 boxes Honey Nut Cheerios price matched for 1.99 each from Walgreens ad, then had 2 $1/1 coupons, so $.99 each, total 1.98
2 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch price matched for 1.99 each from Walgreens ad, then had $1/2 coupon, so 1.49 each, total 2.98
2 Lindor Truffles $2.50 each, so $5 total
1/2 gal. Eggnog 3.42
As a Christmas gift from my dh's wonderful employer (yes, WM), we are receiving 10% off ALL GROCERIES from 11/17-January (not sure of the date), so we had an additional discount of 2.99
Walmart Total: 22.83


From Walgreens:
4 jars Skippy peanut butter on sale 2/3, had 4 $.40/1 coupons, total 4.40
2 Liter A&W Diet Root Beer $0.79
2 Liter A&W Root Beer $0.79
2 Liter Sunkist $0.79
2 Deerfield Farms grated cheese (I think I bought Mexican Blend) 8oz 2/$3
Blistex Medicated Lip Treatment $0.99
2 Degree deoderants on sale for 2.99, had $1/2, so 2.49 each, total 4.98 (not bad considering they are normally well over $3/each!)
Received $1 RR at checkout

Walgreens total: 14.74

This week's total: 37.57

Woohoo! Now that's exciting!

I need to add that some purchases were special treats, as well, because I knew I was going to come in under budget. We have been finding great bargains for the last couple weeks, so I'm fairly stocked up, and I cook mostly from scratch anyway. The truffles and eggnog were special treats for our family...some treasured favorites! :0) The soda was special, too, because we haven't been buying soda lately.

If you would like to see step-by-step directions on how you can get these same great bargains, head on over to www.moneysavingmom.com !

The next post is of a great deal I received a week ago...sorry it's late in posting!

This was from Sav-Mart and the Little Debbie Store:


Sav-Mart:
15lb. Potatoes $5
2 bags Boneless/skinless chicken breasts $5.50/3lb bag, total $11
Fresh Ground Beef 1.69 lb, total 4.82
4lb Golden Smoked Boneless Ham (Which I took to their meat dept. and had half of it shaved for lunch meat...yum!) 5.95
2 Owens Sausage 2.50, had $.35/1 coupon, but they double coupons, so it was $.70 off, total 4.30
They had a special deal, buy 1 1lb Owens Sausage, get 1 doz. eggs, 1 can biscuits, and 1 64oz Orange Juice Free....obviously I did the deal twice, LOL!
Total: 31.02

Little Debbie Store:
Day old bread $.89

Total for week: 31.91

(*I think I bought milk at Aldi's, but didn't get that in the pic because it was earlier that week. Also didn't add it into total....)

Monday, November 17, 2008

Swagbucks.com

This is a GREAT find!!! You simply search as you normally would (or surf, if you will) and you earn gift cards to places you already shop! It's win/win. I've seen stuff like this before, and am normally quite the skeptic, but I've read enough articles from blogs that I trust to try it out. Here's a link to Crystal's blog post about it (moneysavingmom.com):

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2008/11/swagbucks-earn-gift-cards-for-searching-online.html

and I encourage you to read this one, which details her earning and spending (how she purchased all of her children's Christmas gifts with her gift cards):

http://www.economicendeavors.com/2008/11/swag-bucks-update.html



Please use this link to sign up, if you so wish! :0)


http://swagbucks.prodege.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=245023

Have fun earning!!! :0)

Monday, November 10, 2008

Living Frugally

Most of you know how fond I am of Crystal over at moneysavingmom.com. She has led me to fall in love with frugality. She makes it possible to capture the best of deals. There's a couple of other blogs I check on once in a while, but one has caught my eye frequently as of late. A lot of the offers are the same as moneysavingmom, but I've noticed there being additional ones recently, things that make great Christmas gifts for free or nearly free.



Introducing....


The Thrifty Mama

I'll be posting a link to her blog on my sidebar. Enjoy the great deals!!!



Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The Morning After

This was a forward from a friend, but states very well what many of us are feeling/facing.


The Morning After
By Ariel Allison


"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving, be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4


Red states. Blue states. Exit polls. Electoral votes. My mind spins as election results scroll across my television screen. And fear rises in my heart.

What if my preferred candidate doesn't win? What if my values are not shared by the next president? What if...

One thing I know for sure: half of this country will wake tomorrow overwhelmed with disappointment, possibly even anger. Uncertainty will reign. Fear will be rampant. This nation will be divided, and Christians will find themselves right in the middle. How then do we live in the tension that surrounds us? Where do we find common ground when our worldviews are so divergent? And how can we be at peace with the results - especially when we passionately disagree?

As I pondered this election I was encouraged by these reminders from an online friend named Rona:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE!

I take comfort in the knowledge that "all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God" (Romans 13:1). And I find reassurance in the mandate to pray for those that He has placed in authority over us (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Too often we consider prayer a last resort when it should be our first course of action. Will you join me in committing to pray for our new President and the others who will lead us over the next four years?

Ariel Allison writes, reads, and lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter's Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Her days are filled with toothless grins, muddy hands, and a never ending stream of words that try to find their way to her laptop. She ponders life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com. She and her husband are expecting their fourth son in December.


Tuesday, November 4, 2008

God Help Us

"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and soundness of mind."
Now, more than ever, we must cling to this and the many other promises that God has given us. He is truly the only One who knows what the future holds. Pray. Pray. Pray.
"Father, our lives are in Your hands....Your mighty and capable hands."

Anniversary Continued

We set off to go hiking, and I had to grab my camera. Jason headed on down the path, and then I couldn't find him. Wouldn't ya know? Up a tree! I told him we are getting much too old for that, LOL!


A beautiful sunset from our back deck.
Apparently strange things start to happen after the sun goes down, LOL! Now you know why we need to get away sometimes....to laugh!!! :)
This is the back side (I think) of a real, working steam engine, which REALLY impressed my husband. The name Detter you will recognize as they are the owners of Domestic Tranquility. I believe the last time we were there they told us it was Mr. Detter's father's.
Of course, dh had to check it all out and show me all the signs that it works and has been used recently. :0)

What's this? It's a wagon they actually hook up sometimes and take on trail rides.
They have many farm animals, some normal, some not so normal. Like these ducks....what's up with the bouffant of hair??? LOL!

Precious ponies roam like dogs...never far and willing to let anyone pet him. So friendly. He likes to stay close to their fire pit.
This is a lookout tower we were going to climb and take some awesome pics from....but this time of year, the bees are drawn to the warmth, so we thought best to let them have their peace! :0)
There was another tower on the other side of Eureka, but alas, the bees had invaded it as well.
A beautiful view.

There are many more pics, but had to choose just a few, heh, heh. :0) Hope you enjoyed the tour and I cannot encourage everyone strongly enough to visit this piece of paradise for themselves! :0)

Personality Test

Okay...I know I said I would post the rest of the anniversary pics, and I will, but have been super busy and super stressed. This is something I did a couple of months ago and have been meaning to post the results to. It's pretty funny and somehow a LITTLE accurate. It was hard as I was going through some very personally difficult times when I did this. That makes me wonder how the answers would be different with some of those struggles being behind me. Hmmmm..... Check it out, let me know what you think, if you have time. Take it for yourself, you just might learn something! OH, and if you do take it, please send me a link or you can leave a link here in the comments! :0) Have fun!

My personalDNA Report

That's the link to mine.

Here's a link to take it yourself, I think:

http://www.personaldna.com/


Jerri