Fireworks in Toccoa

Yesterday was a big day in the life of the small town I call home!  Toccoa celebrated the debut novel of author Jeffrey Stepakoff, Fireworks Over Toccoa.  He is a professor of creative writing at Kennesaw State University and has written for more than a dozen different television series.  This is debut novel with the setting being the town I love so dearly.

Stephakoff came to Toccoa by way of marriage.  His wife's family is from here and don't ask, I know the family!  You don't live in a small town all your life without knowing everybody and everybody knowing you!  As he stated all day yesterday, he came and fell in love with our town.  He was fasinated by main street, the people and the overall feel of the town. 

This is fictional novel using real places.  It's a story of love.  Here is a quote from the front jacket of the book:

Every so often a story comes along that reminds us of what it's like to experience love for the first time--against the odds, when you least expect it, and with such passion that it completely changes you forever.

Now I can't say how great (or bad) the book is.  But as I waited, along with the rest of Toccoa/Stephens County, buy my copy of Fireworks Over Toccoa and to get my book signed by the author, I heard nothing but great things about this book.  I can't wait to get started reading it!  Try it for yourself!  I'll post my review as soon as I finish reading!

The Dirt on Dirt...

I had a professor tell me once that gardening was 50% techincal, 50% artistic. I am hoping that these next few gardening post will help you with the techincal part of gardening. I have can't help much about the creativity, but I'll try! Please, if you have any question, send them to me! I'll do my best to answer each one!! Let me put all this Horticulture knowledge back to work...it's getting lonely in my head!

When my family and I were in the commerical greenhouse business, the most important thing that my mother was really picky about was the soil (growing mix) we used.  Changing the type of growing mix we used was a 6 month decision!  When I was in college, in my greenhouse management class, we spent two months learning about the differences in commerical growing mix.  I say this to say that when you look at starting a garden, don't take forget about the one thing we all take for granted--the soil.

Remember--a little science here--soil is made up of organic (living) and inorgnaic (non-living) substances.  The inorganic substances are usually broken down by the organic substances.  The inorgnaic substances are the most important for your plants in that these are the substances that your plants are going to use to take in nutrients that they need to produce more and bigger flowers and fruit.  Without good inorganic and organic material, your garden will flounder and not produce like it should.

So how do you know if you have the organic and inorganic material in your garden soil?  Get a soil sample!  I cannot stress how important this is!  Our Cooperative Extension Service will take a soil sample, for a small fee, and do an analysis that will tell you exactly what you have and what you need to do to get the optimum preformance from your plants.  This will help you to get your garden off to a great start.

Remember that the most fertile part of your soil (in most of the US) is in the top 1 to 4 inches and it takes 100 years to produce 1 inch of top soil.  Composting is the best way to build up a great soil.   Using organic fertilizers, e.i. livestock manure (cow, chicken, and horse poop for you city girls), is better for your soil that commerical fertilizers.  But being the realest I am, I do realize that you may need to a combination of both.  Your soil sample will give you recommendations on fertilizer applications for your garden size.  

But if you are using manure (aka, poop), it doesn't come with fertilizer analysis, so how do you know what you are putting on your garden will not "burn" or kill your plants?  You can't!  Sorry!  So you have to be careful.  Try to not use "fresh" manure.  Use manure that has been sitting for a while.  The ammonia needs to be broken down into ammonia nitrate that the plant can use.  Also if the ammonia is broken down, you don't have as much smell.  If you can plow (mix in) in the manure as much as possible, you can reduce the "burn" effect on your plants.  Be careful not to have too much manure in one spot--get it spread out as much as possible.  This too will help in reducing burn.

The added benefit of using manure is that it acts like composting.  Manure that you get from horse or cow barns is never just poop!  It will be mixed with straw, hay, and feed.  All these are biodegradable and work to help build up your soil like composting does.  A draw back of manure is that it has feed in it.  Livestock is usually feed grain products.  Just like you and me, they don't digest everything they eat.  The seeds of the grains will sometimes make it into your garden and will become weeds in your garden.  That's where mulching comes in handy. (I'll talk about mulching later--stay tuned!)

As I said earlier, I am a realest.  Manure is great to build up the nutrient content of your garden soil, but by the end of the growing season you may need to give your garden a boost.  This is where a commerical fertilizer can help.  I totally suggest a liquid fertilizer that you can mix with your normal watering.  It will get in faster and most will make it directly into the plant by means of the roots and leaves.  You can use a gradulated fertilizer (e.i. Osmocote) but you have to remember that this type of fertilizer releases not only when it gets wet, but in high heat.  So in hot weather, this fertilizer will not last the three months they say it will.  (Stay tuned--I have a post coming on what formulation of fertilizer is best for what crops.)

If your weather has been anything like ours here in the South, it has rained enough to have Noah float the boat!  It's still too wet to plow in any type of manure or compost.  I wanted to get my garden started and ready to plant by Good Friday, but I can't even walk into the garden without marring up to my ankles in mud!  Maybe I will be able to get a garden started my May 1st---Let the Sunshine Shine on In!!  So don't get too anxious to get that garden ready.  If you plow too wet, when it dries out, the ground will be hard lumps of dirt that will inhibit air flow in the soil.

Share you ideas or those things that have worked for you here by posting a comment.  If you have questions about what I've posted, leave a comment and I'll get back to you too!!

Let's get Playing in the Dirt!!

P.S. The next day after I posted this, we got an awesome delivery--a truck load of chicken poop!  I cannot wait to get it plowed in the garden and start planting!  I'll keep you updated on the poops effectiveness...

No April Fooling Here!

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day but Rite Aid is not fooling here!  They will be resetting their Video Values for April.  Today is the last day that you can get March coupons just for watching video's!  Tomorrow they all get reset!

After you watch enough video's to get 20 points, you get an awesome coupon to take $5.00 off a $20.00 purchase!  How easy can that be?!?!

Coupons for Healthy Choice

I found some good Healthy Choice coupons this morning that I thought I would share with you!  One is for 2 frozen entrees and ice cream! 

Don't forget to start to save up your coupons for Kmart Doubles coming in April!

The Tots Favorite Casserole

Our family has a new favorite casserole--Tater Tot Casserole!  My son will literally eat almost half of casserole at sitting!  He loves it!  My husband, Mr. Picky, even likes it and will request it.

So I thought I would share it will you.  I have had the darn recipe on my desk for almost two weeks to type in so now I am FINALLY going to share it with you!  Remember you can change it up some and it still is great!  I have the subsitutes I do in italics.  Let me know how your family likes it.

Tater Tot Casserole

1 1/2 lbs of raw hamburger or ground turkey
1 qt of drained green beans or 1 can of any type of vegetable
1 can of Chedder cheese soup or 1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup
1 medium onion (chopped) or 1 tbsp of dry onions
1 lb of tater tots
Salt and pepper
1 cup of grated cheese

Crumble raw hamburger in bottom of casserole.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and onions.  Cover with beans.  Spread soup on top of beans.  Top with tater tots to make cover.  Bake at 350 degree for 1 hour.  Add grated cheese the last 15 minutes.

New Coupons

Check out your local Walgreens for the new monthly in store coupon booklet.  These coupons can be used WITH manufacture coupons!  It is worth the effort to get by and pick up your April booklet!

Also check out the new rebate booklet at Rite Aid.  These rebates can be done online (no mailing in reciepts and coupons) and can be done in conjuction WITH manufacture coupons!

Hammering Savings...

It's Spring Cleaning time!  Arm & Hammer is helping you get ready!

There are some new coupons available on the Arm & Hammer website.  You'll find $11.50 of coupons on Arm & Hammer products! 

Even More Huggies Deals

The Diaper Deals are everywhere here lately!  This deal is for TWO Days only at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us!  April 2 and 3 Only!!

Get a FREE $15.00 "R"Us Gift Card when you purchase two value boxes of Huggies.  I still have $3.00 printable coupons that are good until April 5.  If you have not printed your $3.00 off coupons, click on this link and click on this link and follow the directions on joining Huggies on Facebook to get 2 more $3.00 coupons!  You need to print these coupons before March 31, 2010.

It's a Birthday Wrap!

Yes, I turned 40!  There I said it...Now what?!?! 

Well, I must say the day started off just plain bad.  I am usually wake up around 6:00 am and turn on the local radio station to catch the local news and don't get out of the bed until 6:20 when the obituaries come on--Don't say it! I know, I'm turning into my grandmother!  But on my birthday I didn't wake up until 6:45 am!  So I had to rush around, get myself and the boys ready and out the door. 

I got the oldest on the bus and headed to moma's with the baby.  When I started up her sidewalk with baby and diaper bag, I stepped just off the sidewalk and down I went!  Baby and all!  I screamed, the baby laughed! I look down. My leg and knee are bleeding and the baby is still laughing!  When I finally make it in moma's house, she looks at me and without blinking an eye she says,"This is the first time in 30 years I've got to fix your boo-boo!"  Just made me feeled so loved!

School went pretty uneventful--no accidents!  I did get sung to by the Crossroads Crew! 

Once I got home, we got ready and went out.  This was the first time we had been out for dinner in two months.  I wanted to go the chicken sale before we went out to eat. Oh, yes, I said chicken sale!  I love my chickens, especially my hens!  There's nothing better than fresh eggs!  My husband built me a chicken coop for my birthday last year.  And I have 2 roosters and 5 hens.  I haven't bought eggs in 6 months!  I'm looking for what they call the Easter Egg Chicken--they lay colored eggs, mostly blue, green, and light purple.  I also had been hearing everybody talk about going to the chicken sale, so I wanted to go to check it out!

We had a ball!  There were tons of chickens, rabbits, turkeys, quail, and pigeons.  Some were pretty strange!  But none like I wanted.  So after we watched the auction and checked out all the we wanted to see, we decided it was time to go out to eat.

We went to the newly reopened Cornerstone downtown.  An old high school friend is one of the owners.  It was delicious!  My oldest let it out that it was my birthday and I got treated to a delectable, sinful chocolate dessert!  I was gald to see only one candle.  I don't know if I would have been able to blow out 40 at one time!

My birthday turned out pretty good!  I don't feel any older--yet!  But when I start thinking back, it starts to hit me that I've seen 40 years on this earth!  I just hope that I can see 40 more!

Surprise is Walking!

My 13 month old decided that he could walk yesterday!  The great walking milestone has come!  Life is changing again...just as it did when we found out he was on the way.

To give you some background, you have to understand that we didn't know that our second son was coming until I was 30 weeks pregnant! Oh, yes, you read that right--30 weeks pregnant!  I was one of THOSE women that had their pregnancy symptoms be mistaken for something else.  I know you want to hear the story--so here we go!

I was having an awful time holding my bladder.  I was leaking everytime I went for a walk, worked in the yard or cleaned the house.  Not to mention what happened everytime I coughed or laughed! (Don't laugh, you've been there too!) I was also having these weird cramps that were coming and going throughout the day.

So I made an appointment to see an OB who was a church friend of ours. (My OB that had delivered my first son had moved his practice a few months before.)  After giving me a vaginal exam, Dr. R said that he thought my uterus was a little large and with the cramps I was having, he thought I might have a cyst on the uterus or ovaries.  (Little did he or I know!)  He scheduled me for an ultrasound.

So the following Monday I went in for an ultrasound.  When the sweet, young girl put the ultrasound on me, there appeared this little "creature" on the TV screen.  I said, "What's THAT?!?".  She asked, "How many weeks are you?".  I looked at her and said, "I'm not suppose to be pregnant!!".  In the sweetest, and more professionally, calm way, she said, "Let me get Dr. R."

The ultrasound tech walked out of the room to get the doctor.  Next thing I know, Dr. R comes running in with his nurse and the tech close behind saying, "OH MY GOD!".  I looked at him and said, "That's a big damn cyst!".  He just said, "OH MY GOD!  I got that one wrong..."  I said, "YOU got it wrong!  What about ME!!"

That started our 7 week pregnancy adventure! 

Now you have to realize, we had a 10 year old whom we were perfectly willing to raise as an only child.  I am an only child and so is my mother.  Having an only child was no big deal to me or my husband.  Our oldest was born prematurely and we were told that if we had another that it too would be born prematurely.  Our feelings were that if it happened, it happened, we just weren't going to actively try.  With this mind set, we had gotten rid of all our baby stuff!  We had NOTHING!  We had 7 weeks to get everything you need for an infant! 

We live in a small town.  One that my husband and I have grown up in and both of our families have lived in for over 5 generations.  So when the word got out about us being 30 weeks pregnant and not knowing--well, to say we were the talk of the town, IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!  We were THE conservation, and to some exstint, still are.  We don't mind too much!  It gives other poor souls a break.  And my husband is just so proud to prove his manhood--just like a man, ain't it! 

But the great thing about being the talk of the town is that everyone knew we were looking for baby stuff!  We were inundated with just about everything we needed and enough diapers to make it through the first month!  This is why could never leave this wonderful little town!

Well, our little one is starting to take his first steps.  He is hitting a big milestone in his life.  But how he got here is the greatest surprise that his daddy and I will ever have!  This is why his name will always be "My Little Surprise."

Diaper Deals are Getting Better!!

Don't let these diaper deals get by you this week!!  Thanks to Baby Good Buys!

Print these coupons so that you can take advantage of the diaper deals this week.  Print two coupons here and two coupons here!

Walgreens:  Pampers Dry Max Cruiser twin pack are $15.99 after $3.00 Register Reward. Use 2/7 and 3/14 Sunday newspaper inserts of $1.50 and $2.00 off Pampers coupons.

Rite Aid: 

Deal #1:

Print this $3.00 off $15.00 coupon (3/31/10 expiration) on big box of Huggies that are $19.99.  Add the printable Huggies coupon to get these Huggies for $13.99!

Deal #2:

Use 2/7 and 3/14 Sunday newspaper inserts of $1.50 and $2.00 off Pampers coupons to get big box of Pampers that are $19.99.  When you add the printable $3.00 off $15.00, you get the Pampers for $14.99 or $15.49.

CVS: Huggies Jumbo packs are $8.99. You get $5.00 ExtraCare Bucks when you buy two!  Add two of the Huggies printable from above and you get the Jumbo packs of diapers for $3.49 each!!

Build up your stock of diapers this week!!

Sunday Spotlight: Soleus Air Dehumidifer

Two years ago, my family and I moved into my grandmother's house.  The house was built in 1958 and is for the most part, a very sound house.  The worse thing about it is the fact it has a very, very small crawl space under the house.  So small that in two corners the house is less than a foot off the ground! 

In normal years, or should I say, years of normal rainfall, this is would not be much of a problem.  But this year has not be normal!  With this year's rainfall being over 10" our normal amount, we started having problems with mold.  We soon realized that it had to do with the fact that the crawl space could not dry out, causing high humidity to build up in our house.  If we could stop the humidity, we would stop the mold.

So we purchased a Soleus Air Dehumidifier.  The first night we had it on we could notice the difference!  The mold smell was gone.  The temperature of the house was warmer.  And in less than 24 hours, the dehumidifier was needing to be emptied!! 

We can't say enough good things about the dehumidifer.  Our crackers don't get soggy any more when they get left out by the kids.  Our apples, oranges and bananas  are lasting longer.  Our hand towels dry twice as fast now.  The musky smell is gone!

We never realized just how much humidity was in the house until we started using the humidifier.  The humidifier has been able to pull out the humidity for the whole house.  We have about 1200 square feet that has been no problem for the Soleus Air Dehumidifier.


The Soleus Air Dehumidifier has different size holding tanks from 25 pints to 70 pints.  Soleus Air has also made it possible for you to attach a hose for continuous drainage.  We love our Soleus Air Dehumidifier for the fact that we can move the unit easily because of the rolling wheels on our unit.  It also as a gauge on the front that lets you know when it is time to empty the storage tank.  You can also set the humidity level you want with the digital control panel of the top of the unit.  The instructions are easy to read and understand which makes it easy for you to set up and start using.

I highly recommend the Soleus Air Dehumidifier for anyone who lives in a high humidity area.  A dehumidifier is also a must if you find mold of any kind in your home.  Soleus Air has lots of different units with different features that will fit your family's needs! 

Great Reynolds Wrap Coupons

Are you ready for the summer cookout seaon?  Have you started getting those Easter cookies ready? Have I found a deal to help you!

Check out these great Reynolds Wrap coupons for aluminum foil, parchment paper, and recycled aluminum foil.  These should help you to stock up!

Thanks to Refund Cents Daily!

Frugal Friday: Special Homemade Birthday Breakfast

For my birthday yesterday, my wonderful mother gave me a great gift--a waffle iron!  I had one at one time, but I have no idea what happened to the dog-gone thing!  I think I sold it in a yard sale or maybe did I let somebody borrow it--Lord only knows, because I can't.  I just know that before yesterday, I didn't have one and NOW I do!!


I wanted to share with you two recipes that I plan on using with my new waffle iron.  Both are quite frugal and one is very nutrious!  The first is a great recipe for waffles that my mother has been using.  You'll notice it has no flour, no eggs and mainly just water and rolled oats.  Now don't start to think this can't work and defintely is not good--you wouldn't be farther from the truth!!  These boogers are GOOD!!  My kids LOVE them!  I can't wait to see if I can fool my husband!  Give this recipe a try and tell me what you think, PLEASE!!

Oatmeal Waffles

2 cups of rolled oats

2 cups of water

1 banana

1/4 tsp of salt

1 tbsp of maple syrup

1 tsp of vanilla extract

vegetable oil spray

syrup and/or fresh fruit

1. Preheat waffle iron to medium-high

2. Combine oats, water, banana, salt, syrup and vanilla in a blender.  Blend on high speed until completely smooth. The batter should be pourable.  If it bevomes too thick as it stands, just add a bit more water to achieve desired consistency.

3. Spray waffle iron with vegetable oil.  Pour in enough batter to reach edges and cook until golden brown--5 to 10 minutes without lifting the lid.

4. Serve with fresh fruit and homemade syrup

I plan on making my own syrup to go over my Oatmeal Waffles.  I found this recipe in the book The Tightwad Gazette.  Check out my review of this book and you can purchase it from Amazon link in my post.  (I get a little from Amazon if you buy it!)

According to Amy Dacyczyn, this recipe tastes much better than the generic syrup her family had been using (I use the same generic stuff!).  This recipe calls for maple extract and Dacyczyn says it doesn't taste the same with maple flavoring.  She also states that if you don't have the butter flavoring, just leave it out. 

This recipe should not take long to fix and is cheaper to make than buying pancake/waffle syrup in the stores.  This recipe makes around 30 oz or 3 3/4 cups for less than $0.90 while store bought syrup will be more than $2.00 without a coupon. 

Give the Homemade Pancake syrup a try and let me know what you think, PLEASE!!

Homemade Pancake Syrup

3 cups of granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups of water

3 tbsp molasses

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp of butter flavoring

1 tsp maple extract

1.  Bring all to a boil.  Stirring until the sugar dissolves (a good rolling boil).

2.  Turn off burner, but leave pot on burner until bubbling stops.

3.  Pour over pancakes/waffles while still warm.

Good luck and don't forget to leave your comments on how you like these frugal recipes!!

Lever 2000 $1.00 Coupon

There is a brick coupon for $1.00 on a 4 pack of Lever 2000.  Click here to get your coupon.

Lever 2000 is a must to keep in your house if you or any one in your family has ever had a case of MRSA or is going to have any surgery.  This is a great soap to help stop the spread of MRSA along with other cleaning methods.

I know from experience after my husband ended up with MRSA after a chainsaw accident.  Lever 2000 is not a cure all, but it works in conjuction with other methods.

Don't let this offer pass you by!  Keep some on hand for life's little surprises!

Thanks Refund Cents Daily!

Get Ready for the Sunday Inserts!

Southern Savers has the preview of Sunday's Coupon Inserts.  This Sunday there are going to be three inserts...

       (2) Smart Source inserts
       (1) Red Plum insert

Check out Southern Savers for a complete listing of all these coupons that are coming Sunday, March 28th!

Free Kids Bowling All Summer

I found this post on Refund Cents Daily and really wanted to pass this on to you!

Click here to see if there is a bowling center near you where you can sign up your kids to bowl two free games everyday this summer.  You will sign up directly with your bowling center. 

The program starts May 1 and is called 2010 Kids Bowl Free.  You only have to pay for the shoe rentals which are around $2.50 per child.  You can't beat that deal!!

Oh God, It's Here!!

Tomorrow is the day it arrives!  The day of reckoning!  The day that says I'm reaching the middle of the line. 

I found that I don't feel any different.  I am a little afraid of what my husband is going to do.  I know I'm going to be teased all day, even sang to!  Oh, I hate being sang to.  I like to do the singing!

It's my 40th birthday....

I use to think 40 was soooo old.  Now its just another number, just another day.  I look back and think is this really where I am.  I don't feel 40.  But then what is 40 suppose to feel like?  I can still remember turning 18, 19, 21!  That was 1/2 my life ago!  Oh well, it's here and I can't change that!

I'm heavier than I was at 30.  My boobs sag more...any more and they'll be on the floor!  I have more freckles.  My hair is darker and I have found those blessed white things--where did those come from? My husband must be coloring my hair at night to make these white things show up!  I am getting that darker red hair that my mother has.  I'm loosing my strawberry blondness!?! 

My skin is not the same skin--some alien came down and kidnapped me and changed out my skin!  I have to lotion down all the time now.  This never happened before!  Dear Lord, whose hands are these?!?  Those smooth, girl-less hands are gone and there are these wrinkle-ly, dry knuckled hands connected to my arms.  These can't be mine!?!?

Don't make me laugh--I loose water everytime!  My mother and grandmother warned me, but do I listen---NO!  Now everytime I laugh, sneeze, or cough I sprinkle.  Lord, the Kegel exercies are NOT working...does this mean I'm going to have to wear a diaper!!??

Oh well, it here!  There's nothing else I can do but embrace these 40 years and just except the fact that....my husband is still older than me!!

Maxine’s Hot Flash Central

Maxine’s Hot Flash Central

Free Lance Crackers!

 

 

 

Thanks to Couponing in Critical Times for posting this great heads up deal!  Family Dollar has Lance crackers on sale for a dollar this week.  Pick up the following coupons (2 at each site) and get 4 packs of Lance cracker for FREE!

• Lance Snack Bites
• Smart Source

 

 

Digging the Diaper Deals!

We got Diaper Deals everywhere this week!!  This one is at CVS.  They are giving $3.00 in Extra Care Bucks for the purchase of 1 jumbo pack of Pampers or Easy-up Training pants.  Add with that any of the following coupons:

• $1.50 off Pampers Diapers or Pants, P&G coupon insert from 2/07
• $1.50 off Pampers Easy Ups Trainers, P&G insert 2/07
• $1.50 off Pampers Extra Protection Diapers, P&G insert 2/07
• $2 off Pampers Swaddlers, Cruisers or Extra Protection Diapers, P&G insert 2/21 or Red Plum insert 3/14
• Or coupons of variable amounts from home mailers

This puts your diapers at between $3.97-$4.47!

Thanks Baby Goodbuys!

My Big Butt

Yesterday, I read a blog called Damn You, Bathing Suit Season and it just made me laugh.  I have always been overweight.  Blessed and quite curved as some would say.  I hate bathing suits!  I haven't wore a binkin since I was 8 or 9!  Come to think of, I haven't even shopped for regular size clothes (those that aren't plus or women sizes) since high school!  Bathing suit are the one thing I loath to shop for!  But the sad thing is I love to go swimming!  Oh, the irony....

So when I friend sent me an emailed called Why Women Gain Weight, I just had to share...

With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and

wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out

to the rest of our bodies.  So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured,

educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, 

Good grief, look how smart I am!

This must be where the term "Smart Ass" came from!

I think you will agree, that just about says it all about how we women feel about our big butts! It shows why my husband can't find anything in the house or the refrigerator!

Don't hesitate, share your thoughts....post a comment!

One Hot Deal...Huggies Diapers for $0.50!!

Rite Aid has 3 different single rebate checks that you can use in conjunction with Huggies coupons to be able to purchase Huggies Diapers this week for $0.50!

Use the following scenario:

Watch the Video Values on the Rite Aid website here until you have 20 points which will earn you a $5/$20 Rite Aid coupon.  Then watch the video for a $2.00 Huggies coupon.

Then print two $3 Huggies coupons here.

Pull two $0.50 Huggies wipes coupons from the Smart Source 3/21 Sunday coupon insert.

Now...
Buy 1 Huggies Diapers $8.99
Buy 2 Huggies Wipes 64-72 ct 2/$5.00
Buy 1 Huggies Little Swimmers $6.99
Total:  $20.98

Present these coupons...
$5/$20 Rite Aid coupon
2 $3.00 Huggies Diaper coupons
2 $0.50 Huggies Wipes coupons
2 Video Values Huggies coupons
Total after coupons:  $4.98

Enter your receipt on line here for three $1 Single Check Rebates #52, #53, and #54.

Total after rebates:  $1.98 + Tax on all four products.

You can't beat that deal!!  Even if you don't have the Smart Source coupons, this is stilll a great deal!  Don't let it slip you by.....

Thanks Refund Cents Daily!!

Rebates for Dummies

Do you need to learn more about how Blogger or Wordpress?  Here's your chance! 

Books-a-Million has many of ther ...For Dummies books are on sale and they also have a $5.00 rebates.  Most are around $15.00. So with the rebate that puts the price at around $10.00, some more, some less!

It's a great time price for learning something new!

Thanks Southern Savers!

Hurry! Dinsey Coupons

Walt Disney Studios has a page of coupons for DVDs and BluRay.  Hurry though--they expire at the end of March!  Click here to go to the coupon page.

Coupons for:

• The Princess and the Frog
• Toy Story
• Toy Story 2
• Baby Einstien

Sunday Spotlight: Ergorapido

Today I want to review a product that every member of my family, except the baby of course, has used and loved.  It is a very handy piece of hardware to have in the house, especially a house full of messy males!

This is a lightweight vaccum that can be maneuvered easily around and under things.  It works great on hardwood and carpet.  But the best feature is that it is cordless!  Yes, cordlesss!  The Ergorapido has a charging base that doesn't take up much room and helps to store the vaccum easily and discreetly.

Ergorapido has a great little hand vaccum that easily detacts from the stand-up vaccum.  I have found that the hand vaccum is perfect for cleaning up after meals.  It is perfect for cleaning the food crumbs out of baby's high chair.  The Ergorapid is even perfect for cleaning the crumbs from the sofa!  I also use the hand vaccum to clean up flour spilage when I am baking.  It amazes me all the uses I keep finding for this verstile hand vaccum.

The upright vaccum is amazing too!  Since I keep it stored on its charger, its always ready to go.  I use it to do touch up cleanings in the kitchen and dinning room daily.  It's always ready to pick up the dirt that collects around the front door and where we keep our shoes. 

I have found both my son AND my husband using the Ergorapido!  Before I purchased this vaccum, I would have to beg and pled to get my husband to help with the vaccuming.  When we start cleaning up the house for company coming, my husband and son sometimes fight each other to get to use the Ergorapido.  I have found my husband using the vaccum to clean up a mess he made without being asked!

I'm not saying that just because you have the Ergorapid in your home your husband and children will help with the vaccuming but you know never know!  I have even found myself vaccuming more!

Easter Story Cookies

I was sent an email this week that I wanted to share with my readers.  It's a recipe that you do with your children or you can do as a devotional the night before Easter.  I was touched by the way this recipe relates the Easter story in a real hands-on example.  Have fun with this and use it to remember the sacerfice that Jesus made for our sins!  Happy Easter!


The Easter Story Cookies


To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
A Bible


Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This is important! Don't wait until you're
half done with the recipe!

Step 1:

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3.

Step 2:

Let each child smell the vinegar.

Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.

Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Step 3:

Add egg whites to vinegar.

Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Step 4:

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

Step 5:

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.

Step 6:

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Step 7:

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Step 8:

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66.

Step 9:
NOW GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22.

Step 10:

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!

On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9