Day 30 of being THANKful

I can't believe that tomorrow is December 1st. Where in the world did this month go? Well for the most part I think I spent it in bed on meds. I am so glad to be feeling better. As a whole I am thankful for my life. I am so thankful for the people in my life and for those that have helped me out. I am thankful for where my family is right now and realize that every road that we have traveled down has lead us to right where we are today and we are very blessed and thankful!
As this month ends I am glad that I did these posts. I am glad to know that I have taken a moment everyday to stop and be thankful. Just because the calendar turns the page it doesn't mean that we should stop being thankful. I hope that we all will take a moment everyday and be thankful.

Book Review Karen Kingsbury "A Time to Dance"

I have always loved to read and when I get my hands on a "good read" I want to do nothing else but read. I started reading Karen Kingsbury's A Time to Dance last night and finished it last night. This is the second book I have read from this very talented author and I will tell you that it captivated me.
This is a story about love, marriage, betrayal, God and commitment. John and Abby, this couple has been married for 21 years and have reached the decision to divorce. They have 3 kids who they need to tell however due to happy occassions that involve the kids they postpone the announcement until summer.  The decision to divorce seems to haunt them as they question the reasons behind it. The characters question themselves and their God. This story involves many touching moments, many real moments.  I will tell you that this is the only author that has ever made me cry while reading a book.
I would recommend this story to anyone!

I received a copy of this book free from BookSneeze for my review, I received no other compensation. The opinions are my own.

Day 29 of being THANKful

I am so thankful today for downtime...I had a wonderful day off with my husband. We took the kids to school and then went out for breakfast. I am so thankful for these moments. We rarely get the opportunity to have just a meal alone. We love our kids and love having them and always put them and their needs first but having the opportunity to just have a moment is great. I am thankful for the company I had today and for being able to go to breakfast and afford it and for having the day off of work.

Frito-Lay

Frito-Lay's is my favorite brand of chips! I have always been partial to them. I recently received an awesome box from Frito-Lay for enrolling in their fan program. In it they included some interesting facts about the company.
Did you know that they not only are they devoted to making their chips tasty and more nutritiuous but they also were the first company to remove the partially hydrogenated oils from their cooking back in 2003?
That a 1 oz. serving of Lay's Classic potato chips has about the same amount of sodium as a slice of white bread.
They also offer a Lightly Salted line of chips available in Lay's and Ruffle's potato chips and Frito's corn chip, which contain 50% less sodium than their regular line.

I was so impressed with their welcome box for the Fan Program. I received  a reusable shopping bag, a chip clip, a water bottle, 3 FULL SIZE bags of chips...Tostito's, Sunchips and Lightly Salted Potato Chips. They also included an information sheet that had a coupon for a free bag of chips. (*due to some technically difficulties I do not have a photo of what was included)


As stated above I received a gift box from Frito-Lay which included a shopping bag, a chip clip, a water bottle,and 3 bags of chips. I received no other compensation for this post and all opinions are my own.

Upcoming posts

I have some reviews and giveaways coming up this week. I am anxious to get back to blogging and sharing deals, trips and coupons with you. I have some reviews and giveaways coming up within the next few days. Having been sick for most of the month of November I am ready to launch into December (hopefully much healthier) with terrific giveaways. Especially as a thank you to all of you wonderful readers. I have a goal of exceeding 500 GFC followers before Christmas and to get more Facebook and Twitter followers.
As most of you are I am READY to see what December brings for all those special Christmas deals.

Day 28 of being THANKful

I am so thankful for my lil Princess Olivia. She is named after my Dad and is definately a gift from Heaven. She is spunky and tough but she loves her babies and getting her nails done. I love that she loves her big brothers so much, she is always wanting to play with them. She loves going to school and coming home playing teacher. I am so grateful for this little girl she is definately a blessing to our family.

Day 27 of being THANKful

I am thankful for the friends in my life. I moved away from most of my childhood friends but still keep in touch with most of them. I am thankful that I have them in my life still and that we have that bond and we have such sweet memories. I am also thankful for the friends in my life from my new home town. I am so grateful for all the wonderful times we have had together from watching our kids play sports together to having that night out. I love being able to turn to them when I need advice or just need to vent. Through it all I am so grateful to have such a wonderful group of friends in my life. I am so thankful!

Day 26 of being THANKful

I am so thankful for the ability to go shopping. I have a job that allows me to spend money, a car that I can drive there, coupons that I get to help sweeten the deal and blogs to follow that help me find the best deal. I am so thankful that I have this opportunity.

Day 25 of being THANKful

I don't have a picture of my entire family but today I am thankful for each and everyone of them. My parents, grandparents, inlaws, husband, children, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great nephew and cousins. Though the distance my separate us our love and our bond never keep us far apart. I love you all!!!

Day 24 of being THANKful

I am thankful for all volunteers in our community. Those that help out in the schools, hospitals and charity organizations. It is nice to have people who want to help make a difference in others lives.

Happy Thanksgiving

From me and my family we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful to have many kind and loving people in our lives. May God Bless you and be with you always.

Rayovac Mom's that Rock!!!

Rayovac is celebrating moms and all they do to make the holiday season bright with the Mom Rocks the Holiday Sweepstakes.  Consumers have a chance to win one of three $1,000 cash prizes or 20 Rayovac Rocks kits including Rayovac batteries and a full set of Paper Jamz, one of the hottest toys this season.  Imagine how you, or someone you know, could rock the holiday gift list with $1,000!

From now through Sunday, December 5th, simply “Like” Rayovac at facebook.com/Rayovac
Then, go to the Mom Rocks tab and click on the official entry form which is also available on rayovac.com/Promotions/Mom%20Rocks.aspx.  Entrants use the official entry form to share in 120 words or less how they – or their mom – rock the holidays

 

 

Day 23 of Being THANKful

Today I am thankful for YOU!!  I just wanted to take a moment and let you know that I appreciate you all and am very blessed that even though my posts have been limited this month you have still stuck by me. I apologize for the lack of deal posts I have been sick and two of my kids have been also. I have been fighting bronchitis and sinus infections while the kids fight ear infections and colds. I do thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Day 22 of being THANKful

This is my Austin. I am so grateful for him. He has always been my responsible one, caring and soft hearted. He has not been dealt an easy hand but has made the most of it. I am so excited to see the path that he will travel down in adulthood. He loves music, hanging out with friends, going to concerts and drumming. I have no doubt in my mind that music is in his future! I am very proud of him and thankful for him.

Day 21 of being THANKful

I am thankful for my husband's family. They have helped make him into the person he is today and for that I am grateful. I am blessed to have been welcomed into this family. His family is huge! There are so many of them that it is crazy but they are all so loving and caring. I am most thankful for Grandma Betty. She passed away in May 2009 and missed terribly but she played such a major role in John's life. She was the most loving and forgiving person and an avid Cubs fan. We miss her and love her and are truly thankful for her.

Day 20 of being THANKful

I am thankful for what some of us that for granted. I am thankful for heat, food and water. Every morning when I drive to work and travel down the dark streets I see homeless people and I realize that I am so extremely lucky to have a roof over my head and my childrens, I am thankful to be able to feed and cloth my children and I am thankful that we have water to drink and cook with and to take shower with. I am thankful!

Day 19 of being THANKful

I am thankful today for being able to coupon and find the deals. In today's world I find it hard to think about shopping without coupons and deals. I am thankful for all the other bloggers out there that list the store deals and post wonderful deals. I am working up to adding some of those features to my site however I want to take it slowly so I don't become overwhelmed. I am thankful for all of you that are reading my blog also.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Days 17 & 18 of being THANKful

I have to tell you the last few days are kind of a blur. I went to the doctor Monday after work and was diagnosed with bronchitis. I slept most of yesterday and am home from work again today. So that leads me up to what I am thankful for...these past few days have left me thankful for doctors, modern medicine and my cozy warm bed. Yes that is 3 things but seriously I have needed them all and am thankful that I have them so I bunched them together for one. I complain about the price of medicine and doctors visits but when you need it is nice that it is an option.
I am also thankful that I co-workers that care. In my job typically if you miss work the next day you are welcomed to a nice pile of work waiting for you. My boss text messaged me last night and told me if I needed to rest some more that I should stay home another day....seriously! I am so thankful that I have today to get my energy built back up. (I say this as my body is screaming for a nap!) I am thankful!!!

Day 16 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for my house! It may not be much but I am grateful that I have a roof over my head and I am safe and warm.

Follow Me Back Tuesday

Day 15 of Being THANKful

Today I am thankful for my old classmates. I was saddened this weekend to see on Facebook that one of my childhood friends had lost her daughter this weekend. I would not have known this if other classmates who live in the area still had not posted their condolences on her wall. I was proud to know that even though more than 15 years have past since many of us have been together we still surrounded her with love. I had been debating if I really needed to be Facebook friends with most of my graduating class since most of the time we rarely speak to each other but after this weekend I am glad that I still have these guys "in" my life.

Days 13 and 14 of being THANKful

I am extremely thankful for my husband. He drives me crazy, annoys the crap out of me and sometimes just plain ticks me off but he completes me! I love him and I am thankful for all of the sacrifies he makes for our family. His dream is to be a stand-up comedian however because we decided that we didn't want our kids raised in daycare he works second shift while I work first...this means he can not do his comedy. I know that he dreams of being able to get back on stage to perform and wish that I could make his dreams come true.  Thanks JCP for all you do for me and our family. We love you and are thankful for you!

Day 12 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for quiet time. I have about 15 minutes in my day when J leaves for work, O is napping and A and D are not home from school yet. This is my 15 minutes of quiet time. It seems like a luxury really because on the days that the kids don't have school and I don't get my 15 minutes of quiet time I really miss it.

10 Holiday Survival Tips

How do you keep your sanity during the holidays? I love the holidays and all the hustle and bustle that goes along with it. I will admit however that I am often finishing things up as we are expecting our guests to arrive or heading out the door. I hope to be more prepared this year and will share with you my 10 tips to survive this holiday season.

1. Organization is the key to survival. Start making your lists. Who are you buying presents for? Who are you sending Christmas cards to? Do you know where you are supposed to be on what day? Start with a binder and put in some regular lined paper and dividers. That way you will just need to grab your binder when you get ready to shop or prepare your cards. I would also put in there a few page protectors to hold valuable coupons and a calendar.

2. Do you host a dinner party or are you a guest? Start making your list as to what you need for your dinner(s).  It's early enough that you can start looking for the good deals. Keeping a checklist will help to make sure that you won't have to make any last minute trips to the store.

3.Will your children have a gift exchange at school? Do you need teacher gifts? Bus driver, mailman, babysitter, hairdresser?  These gifts can really add up if you are not prepared and end up running out to pick something up really quick.  Think of something that you can either make or buy in bulk that you will be able to separate out to make a cute individual gift. One year I bought a box of stylish Christmas ornaments and gave them out individually. Now each year when they put the ornament on their tree they think of my kids.

4. Baking can be stressful if you let it be. Pick a few cookies or desserts that you would like to make. Stick to it, have fun making them and include your kids make it a new tradition. You can simplify your baking by using the refridgerated cookie dough or buy sugar cookies in the bakery and decorate them yourself.

5. Order your Christmas cards early, get the envelopes ready with the stamp and all and then hold on to them until you are ready to mail them out. That means if you do not have that "perfect" family picture yet, you need to plan on getting that soon. You might consider using Tiny Prints Christmas Cards. Tiny Prints provides stylish, modern and unique stationery from photo cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards and business cards. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side the Holidays will be a cinch! They offer adorable Thanksgiving Cards, Christmas Cards, Hanukkah Cards, and even New Years Cards. All fully customizable and personalizable.

6.Shop with your binder and have a list in there of what you are buying, who you are buying for and what you have already bought. I know that I always hate going out for a couple more gifts for one of the kids because I feel like they don't have as much as the other kids.

7. Remember that this time of year is about family, friends and loved ones. It's not about spending all of your money and being stressed out. Take time out to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones. Don't take on more than you want to. It is ok to say no.

8. Do you travel? Make sure that everyone knows what the plan is. When are you leaving and returning. Do you have a travel bag ready with books,movies and games? This is something you can have ready in advance.

9.Traditions are important to the holiday season. Sometimes we get so busy doing for everyone else that when we look back on it we realize that we didn't take the time to create a memory for our kids of just us. That was a hard one for me after we moved. I felt like I needed to please everyone and we didn't have any time with just us at home with our traditions. Over the last couple years we have gradually added events and meals that we want to have just us 5. It makes me happy to think that my kids will have great memories of traditions that we created together.

10.Volunteer, donate or give in some way. Help out someone that may not be as fortunate as you are. What a great way teach our kids how fortunate they are.

Most of all remember the reason for the season!!! 
What tips do you have for surviving the holidays? What tips do you have?


I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a $75 Tiny Prints gift certificate! For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Day 11 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for all of the men and women that serve in the armed services. I am thankful that you have unselfishly given yourself to protect me and my family. I appreciate you and am thankful to you and your family for your commitment and service. I pray that God is with you always. I pray for your family that they may have peace of mind to get through the days when you are away. I pray that you know that you are loved and prayed for.  God Speed!

Day 10 of being THANKful

D is my middle child. I am so blessed to have him! When I was pregnant with him he was way over due! I remember walking and walking trying to go into labor. He was stubborn even after they induced my labor. I had to be at the hospital at 6am and didn't have him until 5:36am the next day. He was rushed to NICU and spent 6 days there. That was the most difficult thing I have ever endured, leaving my child at the hospital and leaving the hospital with out my child. He has been my child that is always sick or needing to go to the Dr. between asthma and allergies and ear infections I am certain I have paid for at least one Dr. to retire. D is full of energy, he loves to laugh and joke around and is very intelligent. He is like his Daddy ALOT! I am so thankful to have my D! He is a loving, kind lil man. He is a good big brother and looks up to his big brother like he is a hero. D is awesome in sports, he excels in basketball and baseball. D I love you and can not imagine my life without you. I love you for who you are and know that whatever it is that you become when you grow up you will be wonderful! God Bless you my dear son!

Thanksgiving Traditions

I am curious what are your traditions for Thanksgiving? My family and I travel to spend Thanksgiving in Northern Illinois with my side of the family. We typically gather at my Mom's and enjoy a dinner with all the "fixin's"! We stuff ourselves and then get the table cleaned up and then all the ladies get the ad's out and make our lists. The kids will look through the ad's and let us know what they want.
The tradition seems to be changing a little bit as most of the "grandkids" are getting to their teens and beyond and the ad's just simply don't have what they are asking for. D and O are the youngest grandchildren so I still have the opportunity to have fun shopping for them. As I said here I love to shop on Black Friday!
So tell me what are your family traditions? What do you look forward to the most and how do you transition to the kids growing up?

My Lil Bean!

My lil bean cracked me up last night and made it very obvious what she wants for Christmas.
I had taken the garbage out and she wanted to put the new trash bag in the can. She then grabbed the broom and stuck the broom inside the garbage can and started using it as a microphone! She was singing and dancing. Oh I guess I better be looking for a microphone and stand for her for Christmas!

Days 8 & 9 of being THANKful

Sorry I have been M.I.A. I have been busy with work.
Catching up with my being THANKful posts...

There is only one person I can think of that is worthy of two days worth of being THANKful...I am everything I am because of my Mom! Thank you for all of your hard work and all the sacrifices that you made for us kids. I know that I was not the easiest kid to raise but thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for helping me to be the best person that I can be and for showing me that hard work really does pay off.  I love you!

Day 7 of being THANKful

I am thankful for my extra hour! How many times have we wished for an extra hour in the day well today being day lights saving time we got that extra hour. I don't think that it actually worked very well in my house because my daughter got up an hour earlier and has been crabby all day. However, I did get to have extra time to get my housework done and the best part was spending time making projects with D and O. They love making crafts and we spent about an hour doing that this evening so I will say that my extra hour was very well spent....with my loves! I am very thankful for my extra hour today.

****Winner****Hershey's Moderation Nation Giveaway

#11 is the winner!!! Cheryl F. has been notified via email and has until 7:48am Tuesday to claim her prize!!!!

Day 6 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for the health of my family. We are for the most part healthy. Sure we get a cold and sometimes the flu but we are healthy. I am thankful that we are not on prescriptions that we have to take daily in order to maintain our lives. I am thankful that we are not going to doctor appointments every week. I am thankful that we don't have to worry about waiting lists and procedures. I am thankful!

Walgreens Thanksgiving 3 day Sale 11/25-11/27

I heart wags has posted the sneak peek of the Walgreens!!! I am so excited! They are calling the register rewards jingle cash.
I am super excited about the number of free after jingle cash there are 15 of them! There is also 11 that are .99-2.99 after jingle cash but I think that there will be some coupons out for those products. I will be looking to get some of the $9.99 toys that are 50% off on Thanksgiving Day. The ad shows a Cabbage Patch Doll and some Disney toys. I am also excited about the PaperJams on sale for $14.99!!!
I absolutely LOVE Black Friday Sales!!! But I already mentioned that here.

Day 5 of being THANKful

There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me.  ~Mary Montagu

Today I am thankful for my sisters. I am the youngest of 6 kids, 4 girls and 2 boys. My parents kind of spread us out, there is 16 years difference between the first child and last. Needless to say that alone should have made for the relationships to be a bit distant. Not the case. My sisters are a piece of my soul! They are different but the same. Each one contributing to my life in a different way but adding a piece of themselves to who I have become.  I can not imagine my life without them, they are so important in my life.
They have been there for me when I was growing up and now when my children are growing up. They have been there in my sad times and in my most happiest times. I have loved them and at times yes I have been angry with them. I hated those that have hurt them and I am sure that at some point I have hurt them...for that I am sorry.
V,D and R....my sisters I love you and am thankful that when God was putting families together that we were blessed enough to get to be sisters!

 A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.  ~Isadora James

Day 4 of being THANKful

One this day I am thankful for my community.
 Last night we spent the evening at the middle school watching this years basketball teams scrimmage against each other. One of the kids said to me "why did you guys decide to come? You don't have any kids playing?" Then said "I am glad you came."  The reason we went is simple I have grown to love my community and wanted to support this event. I live in a small community and I think its important to support the youth of the community so in this particular instance it was a no brainer. I am thankful that we are able to support each other and support an event to better our community.

Remaining THANKful

I am thankful for my job. Although it can be stressful at times I really do enjoy my job. I enjoy helping others and I really do feel like at the end of the day my job matters.  I dream of being able to stay at home and being able to raise my family but financially that is not an option right now.  There are so many people unemployed at this time in our nation that I believe most of us with jobs should be thankful.
Recently we were hiring at our office, an entry level job starting at minimum wage. I was astonished to see the amount of people that showed up, the level of experience and schooling that these people had. I left work that day knowing that my family and I are blessed to have both my husband and myself employed.
What are you thankful for on this 3rd day of November?

Tuesday Bloghop

I am Thankful

This is my Dad and I love him so! I am thankful that he is my Dad. I lost him on February 5, 2006. He has been on my mind alot these last few days as my daughter Olivia has been carrying around pictures of him and "talking" to him. I am thankful that I had a Dad that loved me as much as he did. My Dad wasn't perfect but his love was strong and he taught me that family always comes first. Losing my Dad has been hard I miss him so much and I am saddened that he never got to see Olivia here on earth with us.
In November of 2005, my sister called my Dad to remind him of a Dr. appointment only to find out that my Dad had taken a nasty fall earlier that day a result of blacking out. That was scary and what turned out to be a blessing. My Dad soon had lots of appointments with Dr.'s which turned into heart surgery. We found out that most people in his condition would not have regained consciousness after the black out, my Dad did and spent the next couple months alive. The story is heartbreaking but I know in my heart that my Dad is in Heaven and that one day we will be together again.  I am thankful that I got to be there with my Dad, that he wasn't alone and that without a doubt in my soul I know that he knew how much he was loved.
Hold on to those you love, tell them often that you love them and never hold grudges you seriously never know what the next minute will bring.

Menu Plan Monday

This week is going to be extremely easy for me!  My family tends to not like to eat the leftovers so I have been just putting them in the freezer so this week we are eating out of the freezer.

Monday-Chicken noodles
Tuesday-Nachos
Wednesday-Italian Beefs
Thursday-Frozen pizzas
Friday-Treating the kids to night out
Saturday-undecided as this is the day of my House Party
Sunday-philly steak sandwiches

November the month of THANKSgiving!

November 1st is here...and with that we all usually begin thinking of the holidays and all of the running around that goes with it. I thought maybe for the 30 days in November we could all take a moment and be thankful. I would be happy to have anyone list in the comments what they are thankful for. Maybe we can help each other see different blessings in our lives, what I may see as an obstacle you might see as a blessing.

Today I am thankful for my Heavenly Father. I definately know that with Him all things are possible and without him I am nothing. I love him and I love that my husband and I are teaching our children about him. My daughter gets down on her knees beside me everynight while I pray, it makes my heart swell with pride.
As a couple we had problems and when we came together as a couple and prayed together it formed a bond that was strengthened 1000 times.