HELPING OTHERS

I start thinking about giving this time of year. I do try and help those that are in need during the year if I know about it, but during Thanksgiving and Christmas I tend to seek out people that need some assistance. This year I am more excited about giving because I can give more. Why am I able to give more to others? I have learned to get more with my money using coupons matched with sales. I also have those great Extra Care Bucks from CVS! Yesterday, I was able to get a glucose monitor for free and I will find an organization to donate it to. There are a couple of things I am going to list for this week and where you can get them. It's things that I plan on getting and then donating to an organization. Please consider doing this too. You may not think that it will help alot, but it will. I am going to start this week and see how much I can get in about 6 weeks to donate to an organization near Christmas time. Wish me luck!

REBATES
Wal-Greens and Rite Aid always have rebates. Sometimes you can get all of your money back, especially if you have a coupon to go along with it. At other times, you even make money using coupons once you get the rebate back. I really like the way Rite Aid does their rebates. You just log in to the site, type in your information from the receipt and request your rebate at the end of the month or when you are done getting what rebates they offer for that month. It only takes about 3 weeks to get your money back.

WHERE TO DONATE
homeless shelters
children's homes
churches
women shelters
food banks

Any other ideas?

THE LIST
Rite Aid-kotex maxi pads-free with rebate and use this coupon here to even make $1.00, oral-b toothbrush free after rebate and use the coupon from 9/28 make $.75, Axe shower gel free after rebate, Adidas deoderant free after rebate if you use the coupon from 9/7

CVS- soyjoy bars 4/$4.00 and get back $4.00 ECBs, Bic Comfort Advance Shavers(4pack) use coupons from 9/14 or 10/12 and $4.00 ECBs and you make $1.00, glucose monitor $9.99 and get back $9.99 ECBs.

Michael played football again this year (it's his passion...Lord, help us) and every year they have a Lions Bowl. It's like a real game and they call out the players name etc. During half time they get to walk out on the field with their sponsor. This year Kelsy was his sponsor. They have been best buddies from the very beginning. These 2 kids really love each other. I don't really think in a boyfriend/girlfriend way. It's just a very special relationship. Kelsy doesn't really like to even come to the house unless Michael is here to play with. They have taught each other different things. Michael has taught Kelsy how to play army and I can remember Kelsy teaching Michael how to climb out of the pack n play. They gave granny a run for her money back in the day! It really is bittersweet to watch these two grow up. I hope they will always have a special relationship, everyone needs a buddy....and who knows what might come of it....

Getting back to the Lions Bowl. Some Clemson cheerleaders were there too and all the kiddies really did enjoy that! I don't think it mattered if the kids weren't Clemson fans or not. REAL LIVE CHEERLEADERS......WOW WOW WOW....they almost stole the show!!

1....2......3,4,5 here is Erin and she says, "hi". Erin is Kelsy's sister, and this is a picture of her at the Lions Bowl with her sponsor. They are so cute, makes me just want to squeeze and squeeze them and maybe even pinch their little cheeks. Unfortunately, I don't even remember the little boy's name....oops! Erin cheered this year for the first time and she was AWESOME! I think she was THE BEST cheerleader on the field. She was all smiles and did her best with each cheer that she had to chant. I was really proud of her. All of those little girls are precious, but I must say Erin is my favorite. It wouldn't have anything to do with her being my best bud of all times daughter, would it??? Seriously, on the field you can tell that she really puts her all in to cheering. SHE LOVES IT! GO ERIN...GO ERIN...GO ERIN, ERIN, ERIN!!!

Isn't this just the cutest thing you have ever seen? This is my idea of the home I would have (except it needs a big porch or a deck on the back). I would also want a couple of acres of land to go with it for my CHICKENS that lay eggs (don't laugh, I AM going to get my chickens one day). This is a rental home in Lancaster co. PA. We enjoyed our vacation in PA soooooo much that we are wanting to go back and when we do, I want this house to be where we stay. Some of you know that Charleston, SC is our favorite place to go, well I think maybe Lancaster is moving to the top of the list. It is so peaceful there. There's plenty of stores,etc., but all you have to do is drive just a few hundred feet down any road and you are in the country. I mean real country with rolling hills with cows, and good ole dairy farms....mmmmmmm I miss that wonderful homemade ice cream from Lapps farm. My favorite ice cream now is maple walnut...it is wonderful. You know Marble Slab and Cold Stone has nothing on those guys. I am missing me some Amish ways....maybe we SHOULD have been Amish???? Maybe somewhere down the line we have a little Amish blood in us??? I'm just teasing, but I love that slower pace of life. On second thought, I don't know if it's slower pace they sure do seem to work hard. This is a picture of the field behind the farm and of us eating the wonderful homemade ice cream from Lapp's farm. I included a sign just for the fun of it because I will probably never get around to scrap booking these pictures. I am just in a reminiscing and wishful mood today...

FREE Truffles

Go on....you know you want some free chocolate! Click HERE

PSSSST

General Mills has a program that you can sign up for and they will send you free products along with coupons to share. I signed up and received a box of the packaged meal from Macaroni Grill (just add chickent). I also got several coupons for $1.25 off each box purchased. A friend of mine received a coupon for free pizza crust and several coupons for $1.10 off. Maybe it would be something you would like to try. You guys know I love cheap, but when it's free it's that much better! Click HERE to sign up.

F R E E C O F F E E

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE some coffee. Well, just my luck! I ran across a free cup of coffee from Barnes and Noble and I will be in town to get me my free cup tonight! Y A Y !
It's not just for coffee, you can use it for other drinks as well. Coupon expires on Oct. 31.

Click HERE

Also get a free 13 oz bag of Maxwell House coffee HERE

If you are afraid that you will start getting a lot of junk mail, I never have. As far as getting a lot of junk email, just create you an email account just for offers like this.

A Doll Giveaway

Centsible Sawyer is giving away a precious baby doll. Go here to enter!!!

EBATES, FREESHIPPING, RETAILMENOT

With Christmas coming up, I am already dreading the shopping. I love to get most of my things on-line, so I have some tips on how you can save this year by ordering from the internet.

Have you ever heard of Ebates? It's a site where the savings just keep piling up. You can sign in and shop at 900 stores and after you check out they will credit you with a rebate. The site also lets you donate to charity. I thought this would be really good since it's getting close the Christmas. It may help out the ol' pocket book. Click here to register and I will get a $5.00 referral. You will also get a $10.00 credit for signing up as long as you do it before October 31. So, what you ya waiting for? JUST DO IT! Please use my hotmail address on the referral so I will get credit. Thanks a bunch!

Another tip-Freeshipping.org helps you get things without paying shipping cost. What you do is go to their site and click on product category, scroll down the list to see minimum purchases for free shiping.

Retailmenot.com-Lots of sites have coupon codes, but alot of times I don't know what they are! Go to retailmenot.com and you can find these coupon codes.

PEACE

I believe the greatest feeling in the world can be that of peace. Have you ever been frustrated, worried, upset, confused, etc. ? I know everyone has been. Think about when you felt good after that feeling. The feeling of...."AHHH". That feeling of KNOWING that everything is alright or KNOWING that it will be alright. Why is it that sometimes we have a hard time of giving our burdens to the Lord? Sometimes I use my faith and then at other times I have to depend on someone using their faith for my trials. I was fine when Phillip lost his job, but when he started his new one I didn't him coming home late. The Lord has really helped me with the feeling of being left alone to do most everything. I KNOW that I am not alone and I am not having to do everything myself (just feels that way sometimes). I have been blessed to have a great husband who has wanted to spend time with his family. He still does, but he doesn't have as much time anymore. We have adjusted for the most part and I know someone must have prayed for me. I wasn't able to pray myself, but the Lord blessed me with PEACE. I want to thank my friends who have prayed for me and listened to me complain! Thanks friends!

Medicine Anyone?

I noticed there are alot of rebates for medicine at Rite Aid this week. So, if you need some medicine for the upcoming winter months it would be a great time to buy them. There rebate program is really simple. Once you buy the items, create an account on-line and type in the required information from the receipt. Once you request the money it only takes 2-3 weeks to get it back!

CVS
Dove products-spend $10.00 receive $3.00 EBS. There were coupons in Sundays paper.
Swiffer products-spend $10.00 get $5.00 ECBs. Coupons are out for these also.
Single bars of CVS soap are generating $1.00 ECBs and they can cost as little as $.99 limit 5

What I Am Going To Do

I thought I would post my challenge to myself here. I have been thinking, but not really trying to eat healthier. I lost a few pounds last year and have managed to gain a few back. I DON"T WANT TO DO THAT! So, starting today I am going to try not to eat any sweet things (candy, cookies, cake, etc) and walk 30 minutes at least 3 times this week. The walking will probably be the hardest thing to do. Maybe I can get the kids to walk with me or take them to the park while I walk around the track. Wish me luck and I will post how I am doing!

Monday-did great! No sweets
Tues-good day again!
Wed-no sweets, but I did snack...:-(
Thurs-M&Ms
Fri-did ok
Sat-snacked on chips and salsa

Well, I didn't do as good as I wanted, but I think I did lose about 1 pound. That's better than nothing (probably water weight..haha)

Savings

CVS monthly deals
free vitamins with ECBS or buy the vitamins and get ECSs
free arthritis pat with ECBS or buy the patch and get ECBs
free max toothpaste with coupons from last weeks paper if you already have ECBs. If not, buy the toothpaste and get ECBs back!

weekly deals
always infinity pads free with ECBs
go here and print out 2 coupons and you can get 2 free bic soleil razors for free with ECBs

Bilo
use the .55 cents coupon that is out for Eggos and get waffles for $.17!
Sunday only Kraft cheese B1G1 free

MEL TURNS 5

Melanie wanted a cat party, so that is what she got! She turned 5 on Sept.12, but we didn't have her party until this past weekend. She kept saying she wanted to make a cat mask for her party and so it ended up being a cat party. You know, we never did finish the cat mask. She invited 3 friends over to spend the night and she allowed Madison to have a buddy also :-) Michael decided he wanted to spend the night with grandparents (thank you grandparents). The girls played and lights out were right after 10:00 and believe it or not they went to sleep! The next morning we went to Balance Point Gymnastics center for a party with more of her friends. I believe everyone had a wonderful time. I believe the person that had the BEST time was Phillip. He was sore for a few days after the party because he decided he was going to turn flips in to the foam pit. I made sure I reminded him he was close to 40 and not 5 anymore...hahaha...what fun...you know we never ever truly grow up, do we? I think men enjoy life more than woman anyway. They seem to live in the moment more than women do. Well, don't go jumping on me about my opinion...maybe it's just that way in our household???

A MUCH NEEDED FIELD TRIP

I had a very stressful and busy week last week and the beginning of this one didn't seem to be any better. What I ended up doing was taking a step back from schooling the kids. Oh, we have been doing some school this week, but I decided not to push myself or them like I have been since school started. I decided they could do English and Math with a little more here and there. Then a really GREAT idea hit me. We decided to load up Tuesday and head to Sky Top Apple Orchard. It was the best trip we have ever had. The weather was great and the apples were plentiful. It was worth the gas money that was spent. We had such a great time, we are thinking about making another trip. We bought 1 bushel of apples and it seems that it's not going to be near enough for what I want to do. Here are a few pictures of the kids having a great time. They don't look too thrilled in this first one, do they? Believe me we all had a wonderful time!