Christmas Planning

The ideas are already swimming in my head.  What to get who.  Who will give what (I buy for my mother-in-law and at least one of my brothers)  I just love browsing the ads and thinking about what we are going to get.  I have started my spread sheet to track what I am spending. 

I just love picking out presents for the boys and trying to figure out what I can get for a good deal that they will still like.

Johny the Elf on the Shelf: Week 1

We had a small issue this week, when E touched Johny when he was in the bathroom.  Johny didn't go see Santa that night, but the next day we reread the book, and talked again about the rule of not touching Johny, the next day Johny was on the little candle/lamp in the Living Room holding a pen.  He had left a note for B, E and N.  In the note it said that he missed us for that day, and that he was glad to have his magic back, and to see us again, but to remember not to touch because he doesn't think he will be able to get his magic back a second time.

I will say I had lots of fun this week with Johny.  He peed in the toilet (green food coloring) and wrote the boys a note.   I can't wait to see what else this little elf gets into...

jessie

Child Nutrition Act

Have you heard about it, if not try reading this article, Inside The Last Minute Fight to Pass the Child Nutrition Act.   Essentially this bill has passed the Senate but is stalled in the House.  If you are interested in healthier food choices in your school please call or e-mail you Representative to let them know.  To call or e-mail our Representatives just call 1-800-826-3688 and ask for your Congressman or woman, or go to www.house.gov and e-mail them from there.

New backround

Do you like it.  B picked it out.  I like it, I just need to find a new top picture that works better with the backround.   Plus that picture is a year old already, can you believe it I sure can't. 

talk to you later

Jessie

Elf on the Shelf

I heard about the Elf on the Shelf last year, and wanted to get one, but didn't because I didn't feel it was worth it (I am cheap you know).  But today I saw it on the shelf at Gifts from the Heart and I couldn't resist, so I bought it.  I know a impulse buy that totally goes against my nature, but I couldn't resist.

The idea of the Elf on the Shelf, family tradition.  Is that the elf works for Santa, and he fly's to Santa every night and reports to him what the kids have been up to.  Usually I think the Elf come out after Thanksgiving, or St. Nicks day, ours is out now, I couldn't resist getting it out.   Although B at first said it wasn't real, he has since been converted (he picked up some cards, and made sure to tell me he was doing it so the Elf would see. lol)  I am thinking about getting this for my newest niece and nephew,  so they can start the tradition early. 

 

you can get it from amazon if you want.  I got mine from Gifts from the Heart.

IGA trip today

It was a really good trip.  I feel like I could have done better, but still did better than I have in a while.

here is what I got/did

i spent 51
i saved 31
total value 82
total % saved 38%

i got
3 betty crocker potatos  99 each
2 carnation evaporated milk .79--1.58 total
5  flour   .79---3.95 total (just plain white flour)
1 sugar  .69
1 cheese slices  1.50
2- marshmellows .79---1.58
1-milk  3.19
1 mustard 1.19
4- brown sugar .99---3.96
2 whipped topping .99---1.98
4 white bread  .88--3.52
3 imperial margernine quarters .50---1.50
2 muss. apple sauce 2$----4$
1 pillsburry brownie mix .99
1 pillsubrry white cake .79
2 pillsburry yellow cake .79---1.58
ground beef 7.14
link pork sausage 5.28


and i forgot to get yeast.. it was .79 for a package of 3... i was going to get a bunch of them...

if i had stuff in order i probably had some coupons for the betty crocker stuff and pillsburry (pretty much everything else was IGA Brand)


now I would like to add that I am changing my coupon storage method AGAIN.  I had stopped just storing the inserts by date a while ago, and had been using envelopes, but those are already falling apart, so back to the binder for me.   Instead of just using one of the cheap binders I have here though, I bought a mead zipper binder with some pockets off of Amazon, and got some new insert sheets off of Ebay.  The sheets are not just the regular baseball card sheets either.  Hopefully starting out with a little more to my system will help me to keep up with it.

Halloween

Halloween Parade

getting ready to trick or treat

 

Enjoying the loot

 another parade one

Bumped Head

B fell and hit his head on the corner of the chest in my room.  

 

This is the actual small gouge that caused all of that blood.

Here We Go Again

I am back.  I have been pretty busy lately, with the start of school, and such.  S is coaching baseball, he is very busy.

B is doing great this year.  It is just amazing to S and I how much better this year in K is compared to last year.  and guess what today he finally learned his phone number.  Isn't that wonderful, you may think that isn't such a big thing, but we worked on that all last year and on and off during the summer.  We hit it hard for about 3 days, and he knows it!  I'm so excited for him.

E is loving Pre-K.  He loves ridding the bus and has a great day pretty much everyday.

N, well N is just N.  He is definitely 2, but really a young 2.  Sometimes the issues of a two year old seem minor compared to the issues of a 6 year old.  know what I mean.  N is talking more, and Kim comes for therapy through Early Intervention.


so in other words we are doing pretty good here.  I hope to keep this up more, but we will see.

spent 16.57
saved 10.23
total value 26.80
total % saved 38%

 

spent 38
saved 25
total value 63
total % saved 40%

 

total

spent 55
saved 35
total value 90
total % saved 39%

Ethan at meet the teacher day.

Weekly spending

Super Valu

Total Spent 33
Total Saved 17
total value 50
Total % saved 34%


IGA trip 1

total spent 35
total saved 15
total value 50
total % saved 30%


IGA trip 2

spent 15$
saved 12$
total value 27$
total % saved 44%


total

spent 83
saved 44
total value 127
total % saved 35%

weekly spending

super valu

total spent 42$
total saved 20$
total value 62$
total % saved 32%

Iga

Spent 11
saved 6
total value 17
total % saved 35%

CVS

Spent 2$
total saved 16
total value 18
total % saved 89%

totals for the week

total spent 55
total saved 42
total value 97
total % saved 43%

Fly lady Day 3

Ok, well I messed up one day but that is ok, we just keep going.

todays task is to keep doing what you are doing.  So keep shinning your sink and getting dressed to you shoes.  I am doing ok.  I do need to clean my sink and will in a minute.  I do not wear shoes in that have laces most of the time, so that just doesn't happen, oh well.

if you are interested in doing Flylday go to www.flylady.net.

Restarting Flylady

I have been dragging when it comes to flylady.  Except for the houseblessings, not much has been getting done.  My control journal is non existent.  So today I will restart the flylady's 31 beginner steps.

So the first baby step is Shine Your Sink.

http://flylady.net/pages/begin_babysteps.asp

I ddid do this some yesterday, but I plan to really shine it today.

Super Valu trip

Today we made a trip to Super Valu.

I spent 72
I saved 28
total value 100
Total % saved 28%


I know due to my modem being down, I didn't post my spending for last week (and maybe the week before)  I did save my receipts (I think) so hopefully I will be able to catch those up.

Groupon deal

One Adult or Child Triceratops Ticket to DinoQuest at the Missouri Botanical Garden and Butterfly House
from $6 worth: discount: savings: $10 40% $4 Company Information: Missouri Botanical Garden website Locations: 4344 Shaw Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Their is some fine print, like when they expire that you may want to read. 

have you signed up for groupon.  They have coupons like this daily, for things in your area.  Go to Groupon.com and sign up.  It can be almost anything, from something like this to 1/2 off a hair cut at a St. Louis Salon, you never know what you are going to get.

Snap Fish 50 prints for .50 cents!

This is for new and old customers, New customers have the added pleasure of a free 5X7 photo book when registering.

the code is JULY4PENNY  and pay .50 plus shipping for 50 4X6 prints!!

Zoo

Today we took a trip to the zoo.  It was a beautiful day.  Our plan was to leave early, and park on the street for free, and go strait into the children's Zoo for free (it is free for the first hour)  Well we left late, but still managed to get a spot on the street, and made it there before 9, so the Children's Zoo was also free.  What a great start!!!

N was very interested in everything.  He loved it.  I was really surprised at how much he wanted to look at (I don't remember B or E being that interested, but maybe they where a little younger??)  He was just really into the animals, and constantly had to be picked up because he wanted to see.

E loved the Elephants, I think they where his favorite.  Although I think the stingrays where probably a pretty close second.  He was so enthralled with those elephants.  E also seemed to enjoy looking at the insectiquarium.  All of those bugs.  I'm sure he had a great time.  I need to find some Elephant things for him to do though, maybe a elephant book for Christmas.

B I think liked it all.  he really enjoyed looking at the map and helping us find our way or just figuring out where we where at.  He, as I said, liked it all,  I don't know that he had a favorite.. but he also did really like the stingrays.  He seemed to enjoy the Butterfly house too among other things. 

I can't believe how much fun we had today.  It was probably the longest time we had spent at the Zoo.  I'm sure partly because we got there earlier than usual.  We also took a different route around the zoo than we normally do, and so saw more of the red rock animals, and birds.. but we missed the sea lions.  (oh well).  I really enjoyed the stingrays, they where so cool, the boys did really seem to enjoy touching them. 

I will try to post pictures soon.  I am having technical issues with my camera.

Entertainment Magazine

Free year of Entertainment Magazine.  Just go Here and fill in the blanks. 


Thanks to surviving the stores..I love Free magazines.

I'm back

 My modem broke, so I have been unable to get on the internet.  Well it came in today, and it is all set up, so I am back on line.



Their has been a lot of stuff going on and at the same time nothing going on.

Peanut Butter and Jelly festival

Today we headed  to highland for the Peanut Butter and Jelly festival in the square.  It was enjoyable and inexpensive activity.  available for lunch was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which where free, also the popcorn was free, both provided by the chamber of commerce (I believe).  Their where other vendors selling drinks and other lunch offerings (like pizza).  The boys enjoyed the pb&j and the popcorn.

They had a frog jumping contest that the boys missed out on, because we didn't realize the cut off time for registration.  We will hopefully do that next time.  We did watch for a few moments.  Those frogs where SO big.  I think the boys really would have enjoyed those frogs, so I really need to make sure they participate next time.

They did get their face painted, B got a spider, and E got a snake.  They both decorated a small mask.  Their was a clown shaping balloons, which appeared to be very popular ( we didn't get one, the line was just to long.)    E did get a plain helium balloon..  The boys also enjoyed the Popsicles that where available.    On the stage was a juggler.  Someone did mention though that usually they have music.

This is definitely a activity I would recommend to others.  I plan on taking the boys again.  I am thinking maybe once a month.

IGA

Coupon match ups

Betty Crocker cake mix 1.00
Betty Crocker Frosting  1.67
$0.75/1 Betty Crocker Cake Mix AND Frosting, exp. 6-26 (SS 5/2/10)
$0.50 off Betty Crocker Cake Mix AND Frosting printable
$0.50 off Betty Crocker Cake Mix AND Frosting printable

bisquick 1.50
$0.50/1 Bisquick Original or Heart Smart Baking Mix printable
http://dealseekingmom.com/coupons-com/

IGA cereal 1$

General Mills 4/10.00
4$/4 coupon in the flyer.

hunts tomato sauce .66

Creamette pasta .75

napkins 1$

Love These Pancakes

Well I ran out of Pancake mix, a while ago, and have been waiting for it to go on sale.  But today I wanted pancakes for breakfast, so I looked up a recipe on Recipezaar.com.  I found this one.  It is very good, and pretty easy.  Who knew how easy it is to  make pancakes, why do I need to buy a mix??   So in my quest to be more frugal, making my own pancakes is the newest step..

here is the recipe if you are interested.

Pancakes

Change to: small pancakes US Metric

• 1
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• 5

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Write a Review! (optional)

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. 
   
   Beat egg until fluffy.
2. 
   
   Add milk and melted margarine.
3. 
   
   Add dry ingredients and mix well.
4. 
   
   Heat a heavy griddle or fry pan which is greased with a little butter on a paper towel.
5. 
   
   The pan is hot enough when a drop of water breaks into several smaller balls which 'dance' around the pan.
6. 
   
   Pour a small amount of batter (approx 1/4 cup) into pan and tip to spread out or spread with spoon.
7. 
   
   When bubbles appear on surface and begin to break, turn over and cook the other side.

Another Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to < target="_blank" href="http://www.mycharmingkids.net">her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


Summer/Bike Edition


Lets See


I would never let the neighborhood girls teach my kids to ride their bikes. 

Why in the world would I let the other Neighborhood  kids teach MY boys how to ride their bikes without training wheels.  I would gladly run up and down the street for hours until they could do it independently, even running while crouching to be able to run next to E's small bike all for those boys!   Luckily I only had to do it a few times, before the neighborhood girls stepped in.  And believe me running while crouching is not easy, and I was sore the next day, if you where wondering.


and

I would never allow the boys to ride their bikes without shoes,  they could hurt themselves.  I always make the boys come in and put on shoes before they ride their bikes.


I also would never just let my boys go outside and run around without shoes on period.  Just imagine what they are stepping in.  oh the horrors.

wisdom teeth

S had one pulled today.  Originally he was going to have two taken out, but they decided to just take one out.  The poor guy.  I don't think he is feeling that though.  He has been eating soft foods, and being careful not to drink out of a straw.  He seems to have enjoyed the milk shakes that we had for super. 


Today I did some work on my sisters S baby shower.  I am just so excited about the whole thing.  New babies are so much fun and so is planing a shower.  I would spill the beans, but I don't want my sister to know everything..  :)

oh thanks to Sue for her help finishing my project today.

This weeks shopping trip

This week I made it to IGA, Walmart, CVS, and Super Valu. 

Walmart

I spent 4
I saved 4
total valu 8
total % saved 50%

IGA
I didn't do so well here, but i really wanted some yogurt and at .33 each I couldn't pass it up.

I spent 15.
I saved 6
total value 21$
I saved 29%

Super Valu
I went to Carlyle, and did pretty good.

I spent 49
I saved 28
total value 77
total % saved 36%


CVS

I spent 3.00
I saved 16
total value 19
total % saved 84%


Total for the WEEK

total spent 71$
Total Saved 54$
total value  125
total % saved 43%

the garden (have i posted pictures of this?)

the garden along with a frog house, and a frog that the boys found!




the frog/toad, he burrowed right down in there. I even went back a few hours later and he stayed, but the next day he was gone.

nolan really thought the frog was cool!!

e was really into the garden and the frog.

HOW SMART IS THIS...

S and I

My cousin got married last sat.  giving me a chance to dress up.  I found a really cute sleeveless dress, and even got some new shoes.  S got a new shirt.  It has been a long time since we have gotten pictures of just us, so I made sure to get some of use this time.  They turned out pretty good, but I only got two before my camera went dead (don't ask?!?)

cheeze it coupon

1$ coupon on Cheeze it's facebook!!  Love this coupon.  I hope I find some cheep Cheeze it's a few weeks ago they where .99 at IGA

IGA trip

Only one store this week.  I spent my 50$.  I did get a bunch of stuff too.  I did have a picture, but it seems that the USB port on my video camera is bronken.


total spent 50
total saved 19
total value 69
total % saved 28%

I got mainly groceries.  No extra's this week. 

Walmart

Dealseekingmom, has Walmart coupon match ups posted.  Go check it out!!

FREE mp3 download... Sara Mclachlan

Get a FREE download of Sarah McLachlan's Forgiveness & Forgiveness,

Busy Weekend

was your weekend busy, ours sure was!  It was also lots of fun.  Yesterday, we went to our friend Carols for a bbq, and a swim in the pool.  It was a lot of fun.  For this bbq I found a great recipe for a dessert

strawberry frozen cheescake

1 8oz bar of cream cheese
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup yogurt
1 t vanilla (although i left this out becuase i didn't have any)
1 cup strawberries
1 graham cracker crust

beat cream cheese, and sugar.  Mix in yogurt and vanilla.  fold in strawberries, and then poor into crust and freeze for 2 hours.
it was delicious.



This morning I went shopping with my sister, stacie.  I found a dress for my cousins wedding on Sat,  It is a pretty cute dress and I think I look pretty good in it.  I will be sure to take some Pictures and post them.    I think it makes me look pretty thin (or at least not fat)

this afternoon we went to Rays house for a bbq, I saw a few people I already knew, and met a bunch of new people.  I really enjoyed myself.  I hope to see some people again...

later

jessie

oh on the downside, i forgot to get a paper AGAIN this week.. ug, hopefully my aunt has some coupons for me, will have to go see tomorrow!

iga

http://www.carlyleiga.com/

hunts snack packs  1.00

green giant baby carrots 1.00

IGA american singles 1.00

IGA pasta 1.00

Hunts spaghetti sauce 1.00

IGA mustard 1.00

hunts ketchup 1.00
$0.20/1 Hunt's Ketchup, exp. 6-30-10 (SS 05/16/10)


IGA toaster pastries 1.00

pasta roni/ rice a roni  1.00

hunts tomato's 1.00
$1/3 Hunt's Tomatoes printable

rotel 1.00

manwich 1.00

chef boyardee 1.00

new york texas toast 1.00
$0.50/1 New York Brand Texas Toast, exp. 6-14-10 (SS 03/14/10)

crunch n munch 1.00

general mills 2.00
$1/2 Select General Mills Cereals, exp. 6-13 (Shrek-Tacular Booklet)
$1/2 Select General Mills Cereals, exp. 6-12-10 (SS 05/02/10)
$1/2 Cheerios Cereal, exp. 6-13-10 (Shrek-Tacular Savings Booklet0
$0.55/1 Cheerios - Honey Nut Variety printable
$0.55/1 Cheerios - Honey Nut via Shortcuts.com 
$1/2 Select General Mills Cereals, exp. 6-13 (Shrek-Tacular Booklet)
(look for booklet at instore displays, i dont' have the slightest idea if these are in any local stores, but thought i would mention them anyway)

iga frozen vegetables 1.00

yoplait greek yogurt 1.00

IGA cheese 1.50

IGA garlic bread 1.50

del monte fruit naturals 1.00
1$/3 printable

5 DAY MEAT SALE

Learning to Ride Thier Bikes

From The Jackson Boys and ME

From The Jackson Boys and ME

From The Jackson Boys and ME

bry likes E's bike better, because he can firmly put his feet on the ground.  So that is the bike he has been using, he was getting use to his bike, but  then took a fall and now won't ride it.

i have a video but it didn't upload.. but these are pretty good

This weeks shopping trip

So so far I have only gone to Super Valu.  I may go to CVS, it just depends, I have 5$ left after my trip to Super.

I spent 46
I saved 18
total value 64
total % saved 28%

iga

prairie farms ice cream 3.99

betty crocker suddenly salad .99

bi color sweet corn .25

kraft dressing 2$

nabisco ritz or wheat thins 2.50
$1/2 Nabisco Crackers, exp. 7-25-10 (SS 05/16/10)

kraft marshmellows 0.99

iga mac n cheese 3/.99

iga honey graham cereal 1.69

sweet baby rays .99
$1 off Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce, exp. 6-30-10 (SS 05/23/10)

van camps pork n beans .60

birds eye veggies 4/5$

super chill 2.50

yoplait 10/5$
$0.40/6 Yoplait Yogurt Cups, exp. 7-10-10 (SS 05/16/10)
$0.50/8 Yoplait Yogurt Cups, exp. 7-10-10 (SS 05/16/10)
$0.40/6 Yoplait Cups or Light Smoothies, exp. 6-19-10 (SS 04/25/10)

super valu

sweet baby rays  .95
$1 off Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce, exp. 6-30-10 (SS 05/23/10) 

Kraft Dressing 1.97
$0.55/1 Kraft Dressing, exp. 6-19-10 (SS 05/02/10)

Bar S franks .78

Peter Pan Peanut Butter 1.89

Ritz crackers 2.50

jays potato chips 1.66

chex mix, ghordetos, buggles 1.66

kraft cheese 1.95

blue bunny margerine .66

kraft cool whip .99

totino;s party pizza 1.50

5lb potatos 1.79

We Painted!!

B and E helping to prime the basement

 

basement room painted!

 

looking in from  the staircase

looking down the staircase

looking across the kitchen living room to the staircase


s painting