Organics Sale at Kroger

Starting today, Kroger has their organic label, Simple Truth, on a featured sale for the week. Organic eggs, milk, cereal, peanut butter, canned beans, salad mix, pizza...you get the point- it's ALL on sale! Check the online ad with your zip code to see for yourself. While you are there, remember to load coupons to your Kroger card as there are many organic Simple Truth coupons available in digital format. A good deal on good for you food, all while bringing down your price at the pump on fuel...get on your merry way and SAVE!

High Value Printable Diaper Coupon

Target has a great diaper coupon available for print right now: $3.50 off Huggies. Stock up on your prints while you can and then combine them with a manufacture coupon for great savings. Currently, Target has Huggies Giant packs on sale for $34.99. So, if you stack the sale with $3.50 off plus a $2 manufacture coupon and use your Target card for an additional 5% off... you get diapers for about .17 each. Another option is to hold onto your coupons until Target has a diaper gift card offer, or until Publix has a Huggies coupon you can add your other two coupons with. Whew... saving before 7a.m. is work! The early bird gets the worm though right?!

90% off Chocolate Candies

While popping into Target today, I browsed over the Christmas section to find Christmas Candy at 50% off. I have been waiting for a sale to use my printable M&M's coupons with which I printed from Swagbucks & Target's coupons page. These deals are still available for you too! So, the deal works out like this: M&M's regularly $2.99 per bag on sale for $1.50 each. I bought 2, 12 ounce bags, but then used $2.50 in coupons bringing my total to .50 or .25 per bag! Yes, these are red and green M&M's, but if you need to get really thrifty, you can always separate the red ones for your Valentine's Day treat bags & the green ones for St. Patrick's Day...if they aren't eaten by then. With a little thought and effort, a quarter can go further than you may realize.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry, Mary, Marry Christmas... hoping that joy is overflowing and splashing others near as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! 

My Mind's in the Gutter!

My mind's in the gutter and I'm pleased to say I'm excited about it! No, this phrase is not being used in it's typical affiliation. I am talking about GARDENING! You may be thinking I am a bit off my rocker, -or glider in my case- thinking about my Spring garden at the height of the Christmas season...go ahead. It is never too early start planning for a bountiful and beautiful Spring crop. So, what's this talk of the gutter? I've been doing research on utilizing my small gardening space by growing more vertically. So, I am going to grow various greens and lettuces in 2 sections of 6 foot long gutters, fastened to our backyard fence. Lettuce especially has a pretty shallow root system, so enriched soil filled gutters have shown to be a successful cradle to grow them in. This will free up my ground space for other larger vegetables to grow happily in. Of course, I will be buying my Lowe's gift card for my Gutter Garden project at Kroger to earn quick fuel points in the process. It seems strange to think that in only 3 months we will be planting seeds and watching our garden grow. But, I think even Santa would appreciate the vibrant crisp leaves of organically grown Buttercrunch lettuce! What are your creative gardening tips? I'd love to hear from someone who's mind is in the gutter with me.

Kashi & Bare Naked Cheap at Publix

I just totally scored on stocking up the pantry with healthy breakfast foods by Kashi & Bare Naked. If you are familiar with these brands, you know they normally don't come cheap...unless you've been doing your research and cutting your coupons. I bought 2 boxes of Kashi cereal, 2 boxes of Kashi waffles, 3 Kashi Steam Meals & 2 bags of Bare Naked Granola for only $9.96! I saved $23.20 in coupons and $2.37 on in store savings. You can get the SAME deals by using the currently available sales and coupon flyers in your local Publix store, combined with printable coupons on target.com swagbucks.com, and recyclebank.com. 

Kroger Deals Right Now

I just got back from Kroger and found some unadvertised deals to share with you. Currently, Silk Fruit & Protein is on closeout for $1.40 a quart. If you combine this with $1 off printable coupon this is a great deal! Also, I always find the small Odwalla juice on manager special for .99 each. Combine this with the printable .75 off coupon for another awesome score. Print your coupons at http://www.swagbucks.com/p/coupons for added points leading to free gift cards! Lastly, organic Red Delicious Apples are $1.00 per pound which is a super great price and at perfect timing to bake something yummy for Christmas celebrations. 

No Fire? Decorate!

At our house, we have a fireplace that is currently out of commission. However, a fireplace not only serves to warm your toes, but to warm your decor as well. Honestly, I got tired of looking at a stark bare fireplace, so I got creative. I had a bunch of Christmas balls on hand that needed using and a yard full of twigs that needed clearing. So, I simply hung  the shiny gold ornaments on the sticks I found in the yard and this was the result. This project took about 10 minutes of my time, cost no money and really warmed up my home in an unexpected way. Just hoping Santa respects my decor!

Free, Cheap, Give and Keep!

Some great deals at Publix right now, many today being the last day for the grab:

Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt: $1, then add .40 off coupon (doubled) from swagbucks.com & in store Publix .55 off coupon to get FREE salt plus a little in your pocket

Capri Sun 10 Pack: $1.79, then add $2/2 Publix in store coupon from Nov Advantage Buy Flyer and printable $1/2 Target coupon resulting at .29 each! If you do not drink these, donate them.

Silk Fruit & Protein: $1.66, combine $1 off printable swagbucks.com coupon for a .66 beverage

Starbucks Frap 4 Pack: $5.99, combine Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal with 3X $1 off Publix in store coupon from Nov Advantage Buy Flyer to get a total of 12 bottles of frap for .75 each. Great Stocking stuffer!

Lastly, print this coupon: http://coupons.target.com/friends-and-fans-coupons?ref=tgt_email_RX212125&emseq=180107939 to get a $10 Target gift card when spending $50 or more at Target! This deal ends Saturday. I stocked up on printer ink and groceries to get this score. 

Have a very merry weekend!

FREE Covergirl & Maybelline at Publix

If you have not already, grab your FREE single color Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow at Publix through December 7th. Combine the in store Publix $2 off Maybelline coupon from the green flyer with printable $1 off coupon here : http://www.swagbucks.com/p/coupons to get the deal. Also, get a free Covergirl product valued at $3 when you combine the Stocking Spree $2 off Covergirl Publix coupon with P&G $1 off Covergirl coupon found in the recent paper. Don't need new, free makeup? I bet you have a friend that would gladly take it off your hands. 

Christmas Tree Savings

Deck the halls with boughs of holly fa la la la la la la la la! Have you purchased your Christmas tree yet? If not, let me clue you in on how to save some money at the fuel pump when doing so. I did some research and found that Lowes has 5-6 foot trees on sale for $19.98. Knowing that this is the last week to get quadruple fuel points when purchasing gift cards at Kroger, I bought a $25 Lowes gift card at Kroger to purchase our tree with, while getting .10 off per gallon of gas at the pump in return. Discounted tree AND discounted gas makes for a merry day indeed!

How to Save at Target

I love to shop at Target! They have everything I need from organic groceries, trendy clothing, household necessities, free kids cookies, family restrooms, and AWESOME savings opportunities. I thought I would share how I save here just in case you need some new tricks up your sleeve. As for coupons, Target has an extensive database for printable coupons that you can access through their website. Target will accept a manufacture coupon paired with a Target coupon for extra savings as well. A few coupons I print on a weekly basis to use at Target are: $1 off Bare Naked Organic Chicken (commonkindness.com) .75 off Earthbound Farms Produce (through Earthbound Farms email club) and $1 off Applegate Farms Meats (applegate.com) Here's the exciting part. Some form of Bare Naked Chicken is always on sale weekly whether it is thighs, breast, whole or legs. So, I wait for the sale price and then on top of that, look for a special red sticker on the package that is a Target special for $2 off a package to combine my printed coupon with. Example: 1 Pound of Bare Naked Chicken Thighs on sale for $3.79, less the special red sticker $2 off on package, less my $1 off coupon means a pound of fresh organic chicken for .79! On to produce... This week a bag of organic carrots were on sale for $1.09 by Earthbound Farms. I then used my .75 off coupon bringing the price down to .34. Lastly, my kids love Applegate Farms hot dogs, which happen to be on sale this week for $3.99 a pack, less my $1 off coupon. These are all staples in our home that it is so nice to be able to save on further past the price tag. In addition, we are Target Debit Red Card Holders which gets us 5% off everything we purchase, including groceries and even Starbucks inside Target. The card is no charge, no fees and the money comes right out of the bank as if I was already using my bank card. The last great savings loophole I have is a little more work, but worth it in the wallet. Every week Target posts items that when a certain quantity are purchased, a gift card is received in return. You can view all of these offers in the online weekly ad. Example: This week Huggies & Pampers Giant Packs are $34.99 with a $5 gift card given to you at purchase. So, if you were to have a Target coupon for $2 off plus a Manufacture coupon for $2 off, less your $5 back, you would be getting $9 off your diapers, plus 5% more off when paying with your Red card. This makes for a good deal! Hope I have not confused you, but rather amused you and inspired further savings for your family! 

Amazon Mom Special

If you are not a member of Amazon Mom you should be whether you have children, are a woman, or not. Not only is it a free membership, but you also get free 2 day shipping and further discounts on your purchases than other customers do. Right now, you can also get an additional $10 off diapers if you are a first time member joining. Click on the highlighted links above to start your savings in the comfort of your own flannel pj's! 

Crazy Good Savings at Publix

Today is the start of Publix's new week of deals and there are some FANTASTIC ones to match up with coupons! I am just going to give you my list of organic/natural & household ones, but there are tons of others to stock up on besides these. (example: Cheezit's, my hubby's weakness, for .39 after Kellog's Family Rewards coupon) Here we go:

Silk Fruit Protein Quart .67 after $1 off coupon from Facebook
Immaculate Baking Company Cookie Dough .65 after $1 off 2 printable coupon from Redplum & doubled .50 off printable coupon from Commonkindness
Garden Lites Frozen Vegetable Soufle $1.25 after Swagbucks printable coupon
Gardein Meatless Frozen Entrees $1.65 after blinkie coupon
Kashi $2 off plus free pizza when you buy 3 cereal bars after printable coupon from Swagbucks & Publix in store coupon
Crunchmaster Crackers $2 off 2 after $1 off printable Mambo Sprouts coupon & Publix in store coupon
Udi's Gluten Free $2 off after Publix in store coupon plus printable $1 off Mambosprouts coupon
GE Lightbulbs 25% off plus $2 off Target printable coupon
Snuggle Fabric Softener .99 after Publix in store coupon and doubled printable .50 coupon from Redplum
Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow $3 off after Publix in store coupon & printable $1 off Target coupon = FREE single color shadow!
Purell Hand Sanitizer 8 ounce $1.55 off after Publix in store coupon & printable $1 off Target coupon
Robitussin $3.50 off after Publix in store coupon & $1 off printable Swagbucks coupon

Pretty great savings on some pretty useful stuff don't you think?! If you have a question let me know. Have a very merry day!

$3 for 300 Photos

There are many great photograph deals going on right now for the Christmas Season. My new favorite deal is at Snapfish.com now through November 26th, 300 4x6 photo prints for $3 with their penny print sale! Simply enter code MPENNY300 for the deal, and pay shipping and tax as well. 300 photos can go a very long way for crafty Christmas gifts! 

Free Photo Christmas Cards

Hurry over to Shutterfly.com to get 10 free photo Christmas cards now through November 25th with code BLACKFRIDAY. I just ordered my freebies and shipping was $5.99 plus tax. Choose from flat stationary or folded cards and personalize to your liking. 

Beautifully Budgeted Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving is a special one for me as it is the first time our family is celebrating in our very own home. As excited as I have been about preparing the perfect pairing of food and feel to celebrate our gratitude, I've also been swatting away vicious, joy stealing, standard lowering dollar signs. Thankfully, and creatively, I conquered those green monsters! I thought I'd share a synopsis of my savings in case you are still in need of ideas. 

Food: As for groceries, I started with a blank menu on the hunt for good deals. I was pleasantly surprised to find Whole Foods with the least expensive organic produce and other Thanksgiving food staples in comparison to Kroger and Publix. Don't forget your reuseable bags (like I did) for more discounts when you go. After scooping up the best fresh deals, I then searched online by main ingredient for the best recipes to make with that item. While going about this and making my menu, I discovered many recipes calling for eggs, which I usually do not have. However, did you know ground flax seed is a perfect egg substitute when baking? I recently purchased a  giant 40 ounce bag of Organic Golden Ground Flax at Costco for only $8.89. In price comparison to eggs, you can never beat this! For every egg called for, take 1 TBS flax with 3 TBS water and stir together for your recipe. This substitution is perfect for my sweet potato casserole as the flax has a hint of nutty flavor being a perfect compliment. My summer garden is another resource that saved me some on this meal. Collard greens are one of the easiest and bountiful vegetables to grow. Not being able to eat them as fast as they grew, I froze several bags, which will now accompany us at our Fall Feast. If you have never tried growing greens in the past, give this no fail leafy vegetable a shot. You will boost your health, save some money and may discover a green thumb you never had. So, besides the bird, some delicious inexpensive delights I recommend  cooking up: balsamic glazed carrots, sweet potato casserole, garlic mashed potatoes, southern style greens, homemade mac n cheese, cranberry compote, savory stuffing and sweet apple crumble for dessert

Feel: Now, onto decor. Not wanting to spend any money on this, I got out my craft bag and went treasure hunting in our yard to find supplies. A simple 'Gratitude' banner will hang over our dining room window. Use ribbon or yarn to tie from one side of the window (or mantle) to the other then cut out triangle 'flags' from cardboard cereal boxes. On each flag decorate and write a single letter to spell the word of your choice. Fasten to your ribbon to finish. For the table, instead of filling vases with flowers, I am filling them with wine corks, pine cones and twigs for a natural arrangement. For lighting, float candles in glass vases filled with fall colored water. Simply fill your vase with water and add desired amount of food coloring with candles floating on top. Lastly, what does the feel of it all matter if you do not have JOY in it?! First and foremost, be joyful in your day of thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!

Greek Pita Pocket Burgers

I have a new creation to share with you that is quite scrumptious: Greek Pita Pocket Burgers. On some recent B1G1 sales at Publix, I stocked my freezer with whole grain pita bread and meatless burger patties. While at Kroger, I stumbled upon organic broccoli slaw for .50 (simply a bag of raw shredded broccoli & carrots). So, I just sauteed half of a red onion, added salt & pepper and then added the slaw mixture to it, cooking on medium about 5 minutes. Next I put my sauteed vegetables in a bowl with some Greek dressing I needed to finish off, mixed and put it in the fridge to chill. Later on, I cooked the burger patties according to directions, thawed and slightly toasted my pita bread. Finally, fill the pita pocket with burger patty chunks, top with dressed vegetables, feta cheese, and enjoy. All in all, this meal cost me about $4 and will serve 4 people, breaking down to $1 per serving. Healthy, inexpensive and mmmmmmm tasty!

Free Ant Bait

While at Kroger today I noticed Hot Shot Ant Bait on sale for .99 each. Remembering that I had several printed Hot Shot coupons in my handy dandy binder for $1 off a product, I got 3 Ant Bait packages for FREE. These coupons are still available for print if you have not already through coupons.com or swagbucks.com. While I do not have an ant problem, I can save 1 in case I ever do, and donate the others along with other household items I find FREE or nearly to a local charity. 

4X Fuel Points

Today begins the awesome event of quadruple fuel points for every dollar spent at Kroger on gift cards. This is really perfect with Black Friday deals on the horizon! For instance, I know that I will be purchasing a Black Friday deal at Lowes: 14 Gallon Shop Vac for $39.99. This is something I am eerie to purchase used and am excited to do so new at a rock bottom price. So, when I go to Kroger today to scope out the week's new deals, I will pick up a $50 Lowe's gift card to pay for my shop vac and anything else I cannot resist, and that alone will give me a savings of .20 per gallon of gas at the pump as every 100 points equals .10 off per gallon of fuel. $50 gift card = .20 off per gallon. Got it? Ok, GO & SAVE!

FREE Sambazon Juice

While hunting for deals at Kroger today I noticed the 10.5 oz bottles of Sambazon juice were Buy One Get One Free, priced at $2.99. After using two coupons currently available for print, $1.50 off 1 10.5 oz Sambazon, I went my merry way with yummy free organic juice! If you have not printed these coupons already, go to coupons.com or swagbucks.com (for added benefits) and use your 2 print maximum on this deal found in the beverage category. 

Amazon Diaper Deal

I came across a really great diaper deal on Amazon's Warehouse page to share with you: Huggies Diapers for $16.55 a box, equivalent to .18 each! Remember to purchase with either your Amazon Prime or Amazon Mom (which is  totally free with awesome benefits) membership to get free shipping! While you are there, look around for other great deals available to you at the click of a button.

Perfectly Pre-Owned

As Christmas Day nears on the 1st of November, many people have already started their shopping hoping to unearth deals like precious stones and internally shriek 'EUREKA!' while skirting around long lines. So, where are you shopping for decor and gifts? May I suggest you consider gently used items from stores that will actually benefit from your dollar rather than supporting other countries with questionable morals and laws for labor? Now, I happen to work at Our Thrift Store of Franklin, TN so I admit that I am partial to this idea-but with very good reason. Every item purchased from the store goes to employing adults with special needs in the community. This is one reason to purchase kindly donated, pre-owned items: good cause with tangible impact. Another reason (as if that's not a trump) is that you will save more money than you ever would with a coupon on top of a sale at a leading retailer. This is especially perfect for children as many battery operated toys that make an oh so joyful noise, appear to have never been played with! What may cost you 39.99 new at the mall may be 2.99 pre-owned. I know my toddlers do not care if their gift is in the original box or not! But, not only can you buy gently used items at a thrift store, I frequently find 'new with tags' items that are slashed for a fraction of the price. Lastly, if you are the creative type, thrift stores are perfect for buying items to re-purpose. Check the racks for dollar satin formals turned love adorned stockings. Or what about the unattractive, discounted canvas painting that you could repaint solid, beginning a new piece of art for a friend? Do you fill glass vases with colorfully gleaming ornaments? Why not purchase them pre-owned? Throw arrogance out the window, save some money and help a smiling face in your community all in one swoop: buy pre-owned this Christmas season! 

Blue Crab Mac N Cheese

This scrumptious meal came from the inspiration of a hodgepodge of ingredients and my grumbling belly in need of something different than the norm. Here's how to throw it together: Dice 1 8 ounce pack of surimi (imitation crab meat). I purchased for $1.49 at Publix on a recent sale. Next boil whatever pasta you have on hand & drain, leaving in strainer for a moment. In the same pot the pasta boiled in, I then combined 1/2 a pack of cream cheese, a small wedge of blue cheese and 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. I purchased all of these items on manager's special totaling $3.00, not having a plan, but knowing I would use them somehow at such a great price! So, keep burner on low and stir mixture with fork until melted and creamy. Finally, add your pasta and surimi to the pot along with salt and pepper as desired and give it a good stir. This is sooo worth trying and only cost me about $5 to make. It has been hard to find good organic food at a really good price lately. When you see a great buy, throw it in your cart even if you have no idea what you will do with it. With a little inspiration and Google at your fingertips, your mystery ingredient will serve success! 

Fuel Savings Loophole

Who would ever be crazy enough to not want to save money at the pump?! I have a good loophole to help you save quickly on fueling up your transport. Many grocery stores have a point system rewards card that transfer to gas savings. The store in my area that has this is Kroger. At Kroger, if you purchase a gift card (for any number of stores) you get 4X the points. Points equal savings on gas. So, say you need to go to Lowes to purchase some home improvement supplies and know you will spend about $100.00. First purchase a $100.00 Lowes gift card at Kroger, which costs nothing additional, and in return you will get 400 points which is .40 off per gallon your next fuel up! When there is a will there is a way, now start saving!

An Apple A Day

Apples are at an awesome stock up price at Publix through Tuesday October 30th. Organic Gala and Red Delicious apples are only 1.89 per pound! What to do with a plethora of this fibrous cancer fighting super fruit? Let me give you some simple ideas...

Applesauce: peel, chop, sprinkle with cinnamon & bake. Then  mash with fork or puree. Great for babies, freezer pops, or alongside grilled pork tenderloin

Apple Chips: Preheat oven to 350. Slice unpeeled apples super thin and place on greased baking sheet. Put in oven and turn down to 250. Bake about an hour, turning every 20 minutes until dried. 

Apple Stamps: Grab your kiddos, some paint and paper for this fun artsy craft. Lay the apple on it's side cutting off the top half of the apple, revealing a beautiful star seeded shape in the middle. Start stamping!

Apple Turkey: Doubling as a craft and a snack, you will need your children, some toothpicks, pretzel sticks, raisins and marshmallows. Lay the apple on it's side and begin poking pretzels and raisin or marshmallow adorned toothpicks along the side of the apple to resemble a yummy plume of turkey feathers. 

Last but not least, sink your teeth into the juicy red goodness and enjoy!

DIY Vanilla Extract

When the air starts cooling down, the kitchen starts heating up because tis the season to BAKE! Get your pantry stocked now and start by making your own vanilla extract. At the store, this tiny bottle of delight is more often than not too expensive, and not even the real deal, having hydrogenated corn syrup added to it. So, start by purchasing a 750ml bottle of alcohol for about $12. Vodka is the simplest but if you want to add more complexity to your extract you can use rum or bourbon. Then purchase Madagascar Vanilla Beans from Amazon for 12.99 or at a place like Whole Foods. Next add ten vanilla beans that you have split lengthwise to the bottle. Put the cap back on and place in your pantry. Finally, once a day for the next eight weeks, turn the bottle upside down and give it a little shake then place back in it's spot. In eight weeks you have delicious, pure vanilla extract that you can use straight from the vodka bottle. No need to remove the beans as they will continue to add flavor. If you don't need such a large quantity, pour into smaller bottles with some pretty ribbon tied in a bow and give to your friends as a sweet gift. The price breakdown is $25 total for an equivalent of 12, 2 ounce bottles you would purchase at the grocery store which are about $8 each if you purchase with no additives. Frugal, fun and festive. What's not to be merry about?!

Mrs. Milestone

Today is a big day and I am therefore deeming myself Mrs. Milestone. To some of you, this may seem rather silly, but others may be shocked that we are so alike. All my life I have despised doing dishes. Chores are part of life and as you go through the journey of marriage and children, the daunting list grows legs and quickly runs away with a teasing smirk, seeming 'uncatchable'. Even so, it all eventually gets done, but there has been one thing I have never been willing to do- until today. You know when you have washed the dishes and the water drains away, only to leave a soggy mushed pile of food scraps in the sink? Nothing has grossed me out more than the idea of gathering  the wet pile of leftovers with my bare fingers and tossing them into the trash. In fact, I will go to tedious length to scrape them together and jam them down the tiny sink holes with a fork so I do not have to touch it.  And then it happened. Today I reached down, gathered the soggy, mushy mess and tossed it way without thinking. Then I stopped in my tracked linoleum steps when realizing what just happened and thought, 'What does this mean?'  Does this mean I have become a slaving housemaid that has been overcome by soggy mess and madness? NO!! It means that I am growing and maturing in my role as Mommy and Wife. This means that there is one less thing in my day that I will uselessly think twice about, shutter at or allow to waste my time.  It also means that there is one more thing I have overcome and one more milestone I have achieved. Sometimes accepting the roles we are given and the job description they come with can be a bit intimidating (at least for me, maybe no one reading this) Thankfully, every day is a new day with new mercies and second, third or maybe twenty second chances. I took my one thousand eight hundred and ninety fifth chance at the mushy mess in my sink and made it a surmounting milestone. What will you overcome today? 

Cheap Organic Vegetables

Publix starts their new ad today though Oct 23rd and you can score some really cheap frozen organic vegetables from it. Cascadian Farms frozen vegetables are $2.49 per bag-without coupons. Go to coupons.com or swagbucks.com (as I do for added benefits) and print two of the .75 off Cascadian Farms products. Then, when you go into Publix, grab the latest coupon flyer at the front door and take out the $2 off 2 Cascadian Farms products coupon. This brings your organic frozen vegetables down to .75 per bag! Cream of broccoli soup is now on the menu!

Roasted Fig & Vegetable Quinoa Pilaf

Since I do my grocery shopping based on what is on major price reduction, the ingredients in my fridge and pantry often do not seem to make any sense together at first glance. But like most treasure, good meals must be sought for! Here is the simply delicious while nutritious result: I roasted a pan mixed with carrots, yams, onions and dried figs , along with dabbles of butter and savory dried herbs. Then I boiled quinoa in water with some butter, hazelnuts and more of the same dried herbs. Once vegetables were soft and water was evaporated from quinoa, I tossed all ingredients in a large bowl for a hearty quinoa pilaf. It would be even more amazing if you have some kale to wilt and mix in as well. If you twinge at the thought of a vegetarian meal, toss in some pork or chicken to your heart's content.  A simply merry meal! 

Flying Alligators and Security Camels

I love that we do not have to be taught how to be creative because it runs in our blood inherently. 'In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.' Gen 1:1. Then as you probably know God went on creating everything else in this world of ours, including, 'man in His own image,' Gen 1:27. So, you and I were created in the image of our Daddy, Almighty God. Pretty radical right? I mention this because my daughter is only just now 2 1/2 years old and I can see His creativity in her that I know comes from a deep well within her. Today as we were driving she spotted a giant alligator flying in the sky and was genuinely ecstatic to him. While I saw an elongated fluffy white cloud, she saw a chomping green reptile. She often sees camels as well while peeping out the bottom of her passenger window. This one took me a while to grasp as she would see them so often. Finally I saw the camels, or rather the rounded humps on the tops of privacy fences securely enclosing people's yards. Brilliant right?! Her overflow of creativity inspires me to get back to that pure and joyfilled mindset that God has given us. What creative moments have you recently been blessed by?

Enter That Code!

Are you taking advantage of the free rewards that many companies offer for using their products? If you are clueless as to what I mean, let me tell you the rewards programs I use frequently that in return get me free groceries and gift cards. Each of the following companies have little codes on their product's packaging that if you use, should be saving. I have a drawer that I toss all my cardboard and plastic coded tidbits into and then once a month enter them online while relaxing with some vino. For each company, you will need to create a basic account user name and password when logging onto their website. Then, watch your codes turn into points and prizes for you to redeem. Also, if you are not into tallying them for yourself, many people swap them on sites such as swapmamas.com for other things of value you may need. So, here are the rewards programs I currently use and recommend: Stonyfield Farms, Pampers, Huggies & Kellog's. Others that are popular that I have not personally used are Coca Cola, Seventh Generation & Beech Nut. Know of others? Due tell!

Not Your Granny's Wreath

If you have some time and a dollar to spare, making a wreath is a super fun outlet to flow your  creative juices to. I used to think that wreaths were only affiliated with the words gaudy and Granny. But a wreath can be as cute and trendy as your tastes and supplies are! So, Target has foam wreaths in their dollar section right now which is where I got this one. Then I went digging through my craft supplies bag to see what random things I could use. I came across ribbon scraps, a piece of round yellow fabric and some buttons. After my hot glue gun was ready I simple wrapped the wreath with ribbon, stacked buttons on top of each other and glued, and then bundled the fabric in a flower like shape which I glued and hung from the center. The result from a dollar stretched and an hour well spent is simple joy which brings a smile at the door. 

Freebies & Cheapies

Printing & trimming coupons paid off today at Kroger for me with free & nearly free groceries! Check out the Manager Special Clearance area of your local store for similar steals. If you have questions on printing & matching coupons I am happy to assist in your savings efforts!

Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce .69 + .50 off coupon, which Kroger doubles being under .51, means they paid me .31 cents to take this product home. I had a few of these coupons printed so used them all.

Starbucks Via $3.79 + $3 off 2 Starbucks products coupon means I paid $2.29 each for an 8 count of Starbucks Via coffee, equaling .28 per cup of caffeinated goodness!

Larabars .25 each + my printable coupon of .70 off 3 equaled about .01 each!

I also was fortunate enough to stock up on yummy gourmet brie and blue cheeses that had been clearanced out at 1.99 per package as well as organic yams, carrots and raspberries which are all on sale this week.

On another note, there is a really fun website called Paper Coterie that is offering fun free downloads for crafty Halloween treat bags, themed Bingo, party invitations and gift tags. I really enjoy the creative ideas this site offers and every month there is a new free offer for you to play with. Check it out here: http://www.papercoterie.com/blog/bingo-and-treat-bags/ 

Seasons Change, God Does Not

There is a change happening in our midst. Can you feel it? What do you see? Summer is is being wrapped by the golden hued branches of  Autumn's cool embrace. My taste buds crave that of decadent, rich flavors, being manipulated by the perpetual sight of pumpkins waiting to be baked with nutmeg and cinnamon upon a warm flaky crust. And, rectangular signs litter lawns and fences, hoping to persuade The People politically, in remembering someone's accentuated name. Yes, the seasons are changing, but on Earth as it is in Heaven? I believe that what we experience in the physical is a hint as to what is also happening in the spiritual. As our seasons change on the calendar what other season is approaching that can only be seen with spiritual eyes? The United States of America once lived and believed it was 'One Nation Under God'. This is now a season in our country when not only the leaves are falling, but moral and political standards as well. Thankfully, God in His preeminence saw this season coming and reassured us in Daniel 2:21 that, ' He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.' While the person governing this country is slinging hate in hopes to earn a vote, our hope as Christians is in the Promise of our Savior Jesus Christ. Hebrews 8:1 reassures us that, 'We have such a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens,' who doesn't sling, put pierces our hearts with Love in sparkling intention. In your understanding, let this be a season of radiant Love of which you are changed by His word as such in 2 Corinthians 3:18, 'being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.' Now, please excuse me while I begin my transformation while sipping my pumpkin spiced latte. Mmmmm, God is so good! 

Meat-ish Loaf

I tried a new spin on making meatloaf today and ended up in brilliant success. With organic ground beef prices on the rise, I blended soy based crumbles into the mix to keep the costs down, as well as using no eggs. This is a super simple, yummy, make ahead meal I dare you to try! So, take 1 Lb ground beef and 1 package soy based crumbles and put into a large bowl. Next add 1/2 Cup rolled oats and 1/2 Cup Italian dressing. You could stop here but I like to sneak vegetables in where I can so I then added 1 shredded carrot & half of an onion diced, along with salt & pepper. Next, get your hands dirty and mix ingredients thoroughly. Place mixture into a greased bread loaf tin and top with barbecue sauce. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until firm. Dinner is served!

** Save yourself some time in the future by doubling this recipe, baking 2 pans of meatloaf and freezing one for a night when you need an effortless dinner. 

Vegetarian Chicken Enchiladas, Oxymoron?

I have been on quite the cooking kick lately! Once again, I am keeping the cost low in the kitchen at about $1 per person, while the flavors and nutrition soar high. This dish is simple to make as well as perfect to prepare and store a day ahead if you like. This recipe yielded 8 enchiladas, which you could multiply easily by bulking up the enchilada filling with a vegetable like corn or spinach. I was using what was in the fridge, so 8 enchiladas are great for me! Here we go: dice your onion and caramelize in a pan with 2 TBS butter on medium heat until golden. Then throw your 'chicken style' strips, that have been diced, in with the onion for a couple minutes. Add salt, pepper or cumin if you so desire. Turn off heat. Next, smear about 2 Tbs cream cheese down the center of your tortillas, following with salsa and then your 'chicken' mixture. Roll your enchiladas and place in a greased baking dish side by side to hold the cigar shape well. Finally, pour a generous amount of salsa over your enchiladas as well as randomly placed dollops of cream cheese. Then bake for a few minutes at 350 until cream cheese is melted and dish is heated through. Dinner is served! 

Price Breakdown:

Corn Tortillas .25, purchased a pack of 24 for .79 after coupon

Lightlife Chicken Style Strips $1.99 Manager Special

Horizon Cream Cheese$1.69 Manager Special

Wholly Salsa .50 after coupon with sale

Organic Onion- .42, purchased 3Lb bag for $2.99

Horizon Butter- .40 for 2 TBS, purchased 1 Lb for $2.89 Manager Special

TOTALING $6.50 or $1.30 per person 

** Lightlife is a product brand that makes soy based meat substitutes. Like any other soy based product, it's the spices, marinades and sauces that make it taste great. Find it refrigerated where you would find tofu. It is normally about $5 a pack so when I find it on clearance I buy several for the freezer. 

1/2 Price Sweet Cece's

Groupon has a deal right now for those of us in the greater Nashville area for 1/2 price at Sweet Cece's! Spend $5 and receive a $10 credit for 18 various TN locations. When you are there, ask for a free membership card, register it online, link to Facebook and then get a FREE cup for your next visit! My kids and I go here all the time so going for half price makes it even sweeter. Click the following link to get the deal: https://www.groupon.com/deals/sweet-ce-ce-s-nashville?utm_campaign=UserReferral_pp&utm_medium=email&utm_source=uu37435688

$1 Black Bean Burger

Dollar menu burgers are ordered by waaay to many people every day because the value menu price fits the pocket. But what about nutritional value? I've got a burger recipe for your dollar menu at home that is not only delicious, but healthy and family friendly. So here we go... Buy 2 cans of black beans (.89 per organic can at Kroger) drain and gently mash with a fork. Next shred & dice 1 carrot as well as 1/4 of an onion. Add 1 TBS diced garlic & 1 TSP cumin to your mixture as well as salt & pepper to taste. Finally, add 1 1/2 C rolled oats to your mixture and pat into burger patties. If your mixture is not holding together well, add more oats to your desired texture. Yields about 6 burgers depending on your patty size. If you make more than you need, freeze them for a quick gourmet grab in the future! To cook, either grill or pan fry over medium heat for about 5+ minutes on each side. This is a great meal for versatility as you can put it on any bread (Toufayan Pita Bread .70 per pack at Publix right now) top of a salad, or wrap it in a tortilla. I love to eat these with Marie's Chipotle Ranch Dressing ($1.35 at Publix right now with coupon) but you can of course add toppings according to what is on sale or already in your fridge. I like avocado, garden grown cilantro, cheddar cheese and heirloom garden tomatoes on mine. For $1 per serving, you are getting gourmet food without the gourmet price!

Dollar Daunting Unraveled

Don't be dismayed if you open your wallet to find a single dollar bill tucked away all by its lonesome (as I do many days!) A dollar can actually go very far if you know where to go and what to do with it. A single dollar should not be daunting! Here are a few shocking delights our first and former President George Washington still has access to:

• Get creative with a handmade t-shirt scarf. Follow the instructions I recently shared in my Re-Purposed Clothing snippet
• Choose from hundreds of eBooks for a new cheap read through Amazon.com 
• Quench your thirst with Santa Cruz Organic Raspberry Lemonade 32oz Bottle right now at Kroger
• Go treasure hunting at a local Thrift Shop. I recently found a beautiful, new with tags, name brand top priced $69 and paid $1.00
• Hone your soup making skills for Fall's arrival by making the Crockpot Vegetable Soup recipe I recently shared
• Redecorate for Fall with paper crafting. Buy warm hues of tissue paper at your local dollar store, then make & hang tissue pom poms, flowers, pinwheels or a wreath
• Grow your dollar by planting Fall lettuce & leafy greens seeds bought at the dollar store. You'll be pleasantly & effortlessly surprised at how great a small plot of dirt produces

If you have any other dollar stretching ideas, help us rid the daunting of a dollar by sharing your wealth of knowledge and creativity with us!

Introducing Kroger's Organic Label

Starting today through 9/29, there are some awesome organic savings at Kroger. They are kicking off their own organic label, Simple Truth, offering some great discounts on staples to stock up on. Remember to look for those bright orange Manager Special stickers for incredible hidden savings as well! Here's what is advertised:

Simple Truth Salad Mix $2.99                      Simple Truth Chicken 25% Off

Simple Truth Half Gallon Milk $2.99           Simple Truth Eggs $2.50

Simple Truth Half Gal Soy Milk $2.50         Simple Truth Butter 1Lb $3.99

Simple Truth Peanut Butter $3.99               Simple Truth 32Oz Yogurt $3.00

Simple Truth Protein Bar .79                        Simple Truth Broth 32 Oz $1.50

Simple Truth Canned Beans .89 (perfect for Vegan Beanie Weanie Recipe)

Also...

Morningstar Farms $2.99 ( the crumbles are perfect for Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie Recipe)

Boca Burgers $2.99

Organic Gala Apples $1.99 Lb (Honey Cinnamon Fruit Crisp Recipe mixed with raspberries)

Organic Raspberries $2.50

Organic Broccoli $1.99

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Scrambling to have dinner served in 15 minutes? Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie is quick, yummy, simple and costs about $1 a serving to make, feeding 4-6 people. There is no downside to this recipe! You can totally adapt it with ground beef if soy substitute freaks you out (it shouldn't) but it will make your cost rise as well as your cooking time.

Ingrediants:

1 Onion Diced

1 TBS minced Garlic

2 C Mixed Frozen Vegetables

1 Package Ground Soy 'Meat Substitute' (looks like ground beef)

2 Medium Potatoes

1/4 C Butter

Cheese Optional

Preheat oven to 350. Start a small pot of boiling water for your 2 potatoes. Chop potatoes in large chunks for quicker cooking in water. Place potatoes in water once boiling. Saute your onion & garlic until lightly browned. Add frozen vegetables and ground soy and saute until thawed (about 7 minutes) If you would like to add salt, pepper or dried herbs, do so at the end of sauteing. Spray baking dish (I used 12 x 9) with non stick spray. Spread vegetable mixture in dish. Drain water from cooked potatoes, add butter to potatoes and smash with a fork in pot. Add seasoning as desired. Spread smashed potatoes over vegetable mixture. Finally, place your choice of cheese, shredded or sliced, over top of dish. Bake at 350 til browned on top and warm through (about 5 minutes). Mmmm tasty! 

**$$ SAVING TIPS- I always have packs of ground soy crumbles in my freezer. The more you season it the better it will be and it is GOOD! When I find it on clearance I stock up. If you find them on clearance in the refrigerated section and the date of expiration is that day, buy them for your freezer. Morningstar Farms routinely goes on sale and when combined with my coupons, I got them for $1.75 per package versus the regular price of $4.29 per package. Also, I stock up on a GIANT bag of organic frozen mixed vegetables for $5.79 at Costco which lasts me a few months and is extremely versatile.

**VEGAN FRIENDLY- use dairy substitute butter and soy based cheese on top. I have actually been pleasantly surprised by some of the shredded soy cheeses and have tricked skeptics into thinking they were eating the real deal! I regularly find soy based cheese on Manager Special at Kroger for about $1 a package.

CHEAP Organic Baby Food & Groceries

I just swooped into Publix and left with some pretty awesome grabs! The best thing, in my opinion, to stock up on at Publix this week is organic baby food pouches. These are perfect for traveling and a great snack for my toddler as well. Here is what I scored along with other groceries that you can find through 9/18:

Happy Baby (squeezable) .60 when you buy 5, combine sale price & print $2 Target coupon
Gerber Organic Pouch .56 each when you combine sale price with .75 swagbucks.com coupon 
Earth's Best (squeezable) .88 each sale price combined with .50 off printable Target coupon
Lightlife Veggie Burgers $2 pack sale price combines $1 off promo coupon on freezer door
Silk Fruit & Protein Drink $1 Quart sale is combined with $1 off swagbucks.com coupon
Kashi Indigo Morning Cereal $1.95 per box*
Kashi Frozen Pizza $4.66*
Kashi Frozen Meal $2.66*
* To get these Kashi prices, print Kashi Indigo Morning Coupon .70 off from swagbucks.com as well as $1 off 3 Kashi products Target coupon combined with sale prices 

Re-purposed Clothing

Would you believe that this scarf was once a men's turtleneck? It is crazy but yes, true! As fall begins tempting us with cooler evenings and earlier rusted sunsets, my mind immediately darts to my wardrobe. Who couldn't use a new scarf? As much as I would love to run out and purchase one, sometimes the truth is, I can't. However, one of the benefits of not having much extra cash flow is the heavy flow of a creative mind! So, I purchased this shirt from a thrift store for $1.00. A men's large or extra large is ideal for a good long scarf. I also felt a million shirts between my fingers to find one that was both stretchy and soft. If you have one in your closet, you don't have to buy a thing. So, lay the shirt out in front of you right side up. Cut the top of the shirt off horizontally from armpit to armpit, leaving you with a big rectangle. Next, start from the bottom of the shirt and cut or tear strips vertically until about 2 inches from the top. Do this all the way around until you have a big oblong piece of fabric with a bunch of strips hanging from it. I placed it around my neck and in front of a mirror just started braiding and knotting pieces together randomly until I had a look going that I liked. I also pulled the fabric even more, giving it a good stretch to work with. Voila! Within 20 minutes I had a new funky fall accessory that is not only one of a kind, but nearly FREE! Time well spent, money well saved! Try it and let me know how works out for you. 

FREE Photo Book

This deal has been extended! If you order by midnight this Thursday, you can score a FREE 8x8 hard cover Shutterfly Photo book by entering the code SUMMERBOOK at checkout. Normally, these are $29.99. Since you are still charged shipping and tax, it ends up being about $7 total which is a really great buy for your summer snapshots in a custom made book. This could make a really great gift too! Visit www.shutterfly.com and get your creativity flowing.

Cheap Seventh Generation Products

You can stock up and score green this week on Seventh Generation products at a really cheap price on Amazon. Amazon Coupons offers several Seventh Generation coupons at the moment. My two favorites are $5 off toilet tissue& $5 off paper towelsboth by Seventh Generation. These coupons are off of a case price. While I do not need 24 rolls of paper towels or 48 rolls of toilet tissue, I'll find a friend to split the deal making it twice as nice. So, here's the deal: Concerning both items, clip your coupon first to apply on your check out page. Next, purchase under Amazon's 'Subscribe & Save' option for a further discount than the noted sale price. Because the order is over $25 you will get free shipping. All in all, your 100% recycled toilet tissue is .49 per roll while paper towels work out to be $1.25 per roll. This price is better than Charmin on sale while stacking coupons, is green and you don't have to go anywhere or worry about buying paper products for months!

Week's Organic Kroger Deals

The weekly ad for Kroger starts today, lasting through September 15th and offers some great organic grocery deals. Here is what I found worth sharing:

Organic Raspberries $2.5o per 6 oz

Organic Red or Green Seedless Grapes $1.99 lb

Organic Bartlett Pears $1.59 lb (perfect for the fruit crisp recipe I shared)

Organic Simple Truth Milk $2.99 half gallon
Silk Almond Milk $2.99 half gallon ($1 off coupon through swagbucks.com)
Simple Truth Organic Canned Vegetables & Beans .89 each

Annie's Macaroni & Cheese $1.00 per box

Morningstar Farms Products $2.99 each (.55 off coupon at Commonkindness.com)

A few things to remember when shopping at Kroger: 

Use reusable shopping bags for a further discount-I remind them
Check your receipt for any mis-rings & receive full refund for incorrect charges
Look for 'catalina' coupons to print with your receipt when buying organic produce
(I frequently receive $1 organic produce coupons to use on my next shopping trip)
Keep your eyes peeled for bright orange 'Manager Special' stickers on products for additional awesome deals

**** So, I am writing now after my trip from scooping up these deals... I ended up being incorrectly charged by .10 a pound for my pears as well as some kiwis I found on clearance at .10 each. So, I ended up getting $10 in my pocket as well as with FREE PRODUCE. Look at your receipts people! A merry day indeed in the savings department!

Cinnamon Honey Fruit Crisp

Tasty, simple, versatile & affordable are the words I love in a recipe. This dessert has them all! I used fresh peaches & frozen mixed berries in mine, but you can use anything you would put in a pie such as apples, plums or apricots. It is also up to you on how much sugar and spice you put in the recipe depending on the flavor you are going for. This recipe is totally tweekable. In fact, I found that for me, there was not have enough of the yummy crumbly part on top, so next time I will probably double the 'crisp' part of it making any leftovers perfect for breakfast with coffee. So, I tossed 2 fresh, diced peaches & about 2 cups of frozen berries together in 2 TBS Honey and 2 TSP Cinnamon. I let that defrost and flavors settle for a couple hours. Next mix together 1 C Oats, 1/2 C Flour & 1/2 Brown Sugar. 

Then take half of a stick of butter cut into small cubes, mix with flour/oat sugar mixture with hands until coarse & crumbly. Spread the crumbly goodness evenly over the fruit. I then sprinkled hazelnuts on top, which you can totally omit if you prefer. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream for an even fuller indulgence. Mmmmm tasty!                                   

Too Much Watermelon?

In my family of four, we can never eat an entire watermelon before we either get sick of it or it starts to go mushy. As it pains me to not eat perfectly good food, I have found a solution. I have been making watermelon pops and my kids LOVE them! You can either use the juice of the fruit that drains in the bottom of your storage container, or throw it in a blender after picking out the seeds. Then fill your ice pop holders for a tasty, healthy, affordable treat. If you prefer, you could also freeze them in ice cube trays and use the frozen cubes as a flavor booster for your morning smoothie. Making the most of what we've got can actually be delicious and rewarding!

Kroger Booty

This is not a thrilling coupon week for groceries, so I have been out scouring the shelves amongst a rough sea of shoppers for deals not listed in the weekly ads. It does require some time and patience going up and down the isles, quickly scanning for hidden deals, but it is worth it in savings. At Kroger I found the following: Nature's Path Organic Cereal $1.50, Gerber Organic Baby Food .29 for a 2 pack, Private Selection Organic Dried Herbs are all clearanced at various prices, Organic Peaches & Nectarines 1.79 lb, Organic Bananas .38 lb, Simple Truth Organic Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels $1.99, POM juice $1.19 after Commonkindness coupon with manager special, Silk Pure Almond Milk $1.99 after sale plus Swagbucks coupon and last but not least Power Bars for .39 each with Swagbucks coupon on top of manager special. Ask your grocer where their clearance section is if you have not seen it. Usually, it is in a hidden spot you have to search out and then dig for the buried booty. But isn't that true for all treasure? Let's share our wealth! What worthy nuggets have you found? Maybe next time I will bring my eye patch and wooden leg. I'm not the Pirate Who Doesn't Do Anything, I'm the Pirate Who Does It ALL! Hmmm, I think I need to convince my daughter to watch something besides Veggie Tales tomorrow.

New Way to Save

I found a loop hole that will save you even more on Amazon Organic Groceries. This glorious loophole goes by the name of Ebates. Basically, it is a website that pays you to shop online. I recently joined for free and they sent me a $10 Target gift card in return. This offer may still be available for you making it even more sweet. The gist of it is, they pay cash back for your online shopping. So, when you purchase Amazon Organic Groceries by going to Ebates first and then to Amazon through their site, they send you 3% cash back of your purchase. They have thousands of stores that they give cash back on to cover all your retail needs. Check it out and join if you'd like by clicking on the link or image included:

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hFbYZyZ46HdoTK0Spy1SmQ%3D%3D

Starbucks Gift Card Half Price!

I just purchased my Starbucks gift card at half price and thought this is totally worth sharing. Living Social has a deal today, buy a $10 Starbucks gift card for only $5! Click on the following link for the same awesome savings https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/448600?ref=conf-jp&rpi=79238016 

Different Benefit

How different are you from your spouse? My husband and I are as different as black is to white when it comes to most things. This can stir the water in my boiling pot pretty quickly if I let it. He likes chocolate, I like vanilla. He stays up late, I go to bed early. He pees standing up-well you get it right? So, we have been married 5 years now. A wise man told us before getting married that as different as God made each of us, He wants us to be a little more like the other. We believe that we were each created in God's image. If we could be a little more like each other, we would be doubly closer to the goodness of God. For instance, my husband will be a child at heart all of his days. This is a beautiful quality that God planted in his DNA. I, on the other hand, wear the serious pants-a little too tightly most days. This is one area of difference I can definitely benefit from by letting him rub off on me. The hard part is having the will to change; allowing yourself to see things differently. Easier said than done, I know-from experience. Live wild today by taking a step back and reevaluate. There's probably more to gain than realized. Who couldn't use a better marriage? I am going to go and change my pants now.

Amazon Grocery Deals

There are some really great grocery deals to stock up on through Amazon.com right now. If you make a purchase of $25 or more these items all qualify for free shipping as well!

Annie's Organic Fruit Snacks .81 a package with Subscribe & Save








Gloria Jean's Mudslide K-Cups .45 each








Fruit & Nut Vegan Snack Bars GMO & Gluten FREE .60 each









Peace Cereal Raspberry Ginger Clusters & Flakes $2.92 per box













Nature's Path Organic Blueberry Toaster Pastries .34 per package

Publix Deals

A dollar can stretch a loooong way at Publix this week! I saved half of my grocery bill (both spending and saving $45) in coupons stacked with sales at Publix! Go to http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/smb081807 coupons section under the 'Earn' tab to print the following coupons for items already on 'Buy 1 Get 1' sale. By printing from Swagbucks website, you will earn points for using your coupons, which you can then redeem for gift cards like Amazon or Starbucks. I get at least 1 gift card a month which is simply free money in my pocket. When shopping at Publix keep in mind if you purchase only 1 item from the B1G1 sale you will still get the item half price. Use the following brands coupons through Tues evening to stack for awesome savings: Nabsico Crackers, Breyers Ice cream, Chex Mix, Kellog's Raisin Bran, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Morningstar Farms Veggie Products, Athenos Feta Cheese, Post Honey Bunches of Oats, Silk Fruit & Protein Drink. Hope this helps and have a merry day!

Best Mommy Job Ever

I have a very strong willed two and a half year old daughter whom I love to bits. I cannot place blame on her inherent personality trait without turning a nerve rattled finger towards myself. Don't get me wrong, she is the most nurturing and loving child I know. It's just when she is asked to do something she does not want to do that a problem tends to arise. My husband and I believe in discipline and giving our children healthy and respectful boundaries to operate in. Spanking, timeouts or taking privileges away are all forms of discipline that are designed for the well being of our children. Today I started thinking about Mary, mother of Jesus, after disciplining my daughter. Jesus is perfect, blameless, Holy, without sin. This I know. I have not however, ever thought about this in terms of Jesus as a toddler. Did Mary get the BEST Mommy job on planet?! Think about it. No sin means never disrespecting or testing the waters to see where the limit lies before the spanking comes. Mary would have never had to even think about spanking versus timeout or teach how to apologize to another child for hitting them or yanking a toy from their hand in selfishness. In all realness of the word, Mary did have the PERFECT child. Has anyone else ever thought about this? I would love to hear your thoughts!

FREE eBook Grimm's Fairy Tales

If you are looking for a classic addition to put in your eBook library, you cannot go wrong with Grimm's Fairy Tales especially since it is FREE  on Amazon. This is a compilation of 64 classic tales done by the Grimm's brothers. I'm not sure how log it is available at no cost for the download, so get it quickly before it's gone.

Living Hope

Today I woke up and needed some Hope. I think this is a great thing, especially since it- He, is available. Thank God that we do not live a hopeless life. Whatever the circumstance may be, we have genuine Hope in our living God who is not only in us, working through us, but walking with us while holding our hand. You know, Mary lived about 9 months of her life with Hope literally living and breathing inside of her as baby Jesus. It is pretty incredible if you think about it. But, even more so, you and I live as, 'temples of the Holy Spirit,' (1 Corinthians 6:19)  today, over 2,000 years past Mary's experience. He, Hope, lives in us today too! If you really try to wrap your mind and heart around this, it can be life changing and circumstance shaking. God confirms this treasure for us is Colossians 1:27, saying, 'God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.' Live a Hope filled day!