It's That Time Again! Strawberry Time!

This is a little sneak peak of what we were picking early this morning in Due West. Don't they look delicious?Oh, Yeah! Notice the open sign below the main sign? I love to see this sign! Doin' a happy dance!

Madison picked these strawberries all by herself and it only took a few minutes to fill the basket up! I can remember when we would pick and their attention span was shorter than what I wanted it to be. It's not like that now, they are ready and willing to find red strawberries, ripe for the picking!

Melanie grabbed her a few to fill up her basket. She did a great job and knew not to pick green, pink, or really small ones. It was a little sad for me though because she doesn't eat them like crazy anymore while she is picking them. No strawberry juice on her face, hands, arms, or clothes this year (only in her mouth). I didn't know last year was one of her "lasts" at gobbling those sweet little pieces of fruit up before we got to the van with juice everywhere! Due West allows children to eat as many as they want (my rule: within reason).

Michael did a great job at picking (even though I had to remind him about not plucking the stems also). He likes to be first at everything and of course the best, so he was in a little bit of a hurry and grabbed stems and all a few times. He was in charge of the "stake", so he did make sure of where to put the stake where we stopped on the row. He also made sure Melanie was picking just right. :-)

We left out early from Pelzer for our treck to Due West. It was well worth the trip! Yes, Callaham Orchards has strawberries, but honestly they do NOT taste as good as Due West. I am being serious! They are not as sweet and they have a spongy texture to them. I will also say that I think Due West strawberries are a little cheaper too. We also got the added benefit of buying some homeade 100% whole wheat bread. We couldn't have asked for a better day. I love these kinds of field trips!

If you are going to Wal-Mart

Click here to take this coupon with you. You can print it two times. Velveeta shells and cheese ends up being $.25. Many other deals at Wal-Mart with coupons and if you are interested several sites I have listed will give you the scoop. I tend not to make a habit of going to Wally world. I really don't know why, just not alot of time for it I guess.

Summer Reading Programs and other deals

Barnes and Noble is offering a summer reading program for children in grades 1-6. You get a free book after the program ends. Click here to check out what you need to do.

The local libraries also have the same kind of program and your child gets a medal at the end of summer. Abbeville county gave prizes more often than that a couple of years ago. The kids were able to get one of those rubber band bracelets and a coupon for a free ice cream. Kids love free too ya know! Are there any other book stores that do this kind of thing?

CVS

Buy 1 Garnier product for $2.99 get $2.00 ECBs
Buy 1 Crest Cavity, Tartar, or Baking Soda and Peroxide or Oral B indicator toothbrush at $1.99 and get $1.00 ECB (Limit 2) Use $.75 coupon from P&G insert on 4/5
Buy $15.00 worth of Colgate or SC Johnson cleaning products and get $5.00 ECBs
Deal Idea: 5 Fantastic products use coupons from 3/29 and buy 3 palmolive dish soaps for $.88 and use coupons from 4/26 Spend $9.39 plus tax Get back $5.00 ECBs

Spend $15.00 on certain Nivea products and get $5.00 ECBs Use coupons from 2/8 inserts

Buy 2 Mennen deodorants at $3.00 each and get back $3.00 Use coupons from 4/26 Smart Source and deodorant ends up being $.75 each

Schick Intuition Plus razor $8.99 Get $4.00 ECBs use $4.00 coupon from 3/22 or 4/19 and pay $.99 after coupons and ECBs

Band Aids $1.00 use coupon from 3/15 Smart Source and they will be free

Wal-Greens
Milk on sale for $2.79
Rimmel make up use coupon from April All You magazine and should get it for free
Scotch packaging paper $.99 after in ad coupon use $.50 coupon also from 4/19 and pay $49
Visine $3.99 use coupon from 3/15 RedPlum insert $.99
Starbucks ice cream 2/$6.00 use coupon here and pay 2/$4.00
several items are giving back register rewards which make the products free:
Nivea Body Wash, Rembrandt Toothpaste or Mouthwash, Bayer Quick Release Crystals, other Suave hair products will be close to free if you use coupons from 3/1 RedPlum


I didn't list all the deals, but the best ones that I see. If you want to know the whole scoop, go to www.moneysavingmom.com

Fun in the Sun

A Reminder

Phil and I were able to head to Charleston this past weekend by ourselves. We really needed some time for just us due to all the changes in our lives. I know I needed some time to revive myself and get ready for our last month of school.


While we were in Charleston, I saw a neat little saying. The saying went something like this, "Sometimes the most important things in life get left out, take time for yourself." Well, isn't that the truth? We rush, rush, rush and make sure we take care of everyone and then we don't take care of ourselves like we should. We don't make time to do something fun for ourselves. When we don't take time for something we want to do or need to do, it seems we allow ourselves to get run down. I know when I go, go, go and don't stop to take a breath for myself I end up being very unhappy. I just go through the motions of life and I don't really enjoy what I am doing for others. However, if I make sure I give myself some time each day, I seem to enjoy being around others more. I also want to teach my kids new things and I want to go have fun with them.



A long time ago I remember listening to Dr. Dobson on the radio and he made it a point to say a mother needed an outing AT LEAST once per week and that outing did not include the grocery store. The outing is meant to be a date with her husband, reading a book, seeing a movie, going for a walk, etc. It's for the MOTHER. I know it may not seem possible to get to do something each week, but surely we can find a few minutes a day to use for ourselves. Oh, I know all this already, but sometimes I need a good reminder. I am going to try my best to talk to God first every day. My goal is to walk first thing in the morning and spend some time with my heavenly Father. I know this is the best thing for me and my family. When I take time for the Lord and myself first thing, it seems that I can get through the day a lot easier because he is guiding my footsteps and helping me along the way.

I need to remember that I am not only serving man, I am serving the Lord. Am I looking at each new day as a glorious opportunity to serve God and do His will? Am I excited about the possibilities for service that God has placed before me at home, church, school, community, etc? Here's the kicker....I am the recipient of Christ's sacrificial love and I should accept it and share it fervently.

Healthier Batac's

We are trying to eat healthier and I am trying to cook healthier. Right now I am on a kick about whole wheat. I buy whole wheat bread and pasta, but now I want to try to make my own whole wheat items. I tried to make whole wheat tortillas yesterday and they tasted great, however I have got to perfect making them in to a circle! I will post the recipe another day if anyone would like to try their hand at these. I just can not get myself to pay the store's price for whole wheat tortillas and that is why I am trying to make them homemade.

This morning I made whole wheat pancakes and the kids really enjoyed them. We also used light syrup, a little cool whip, and strawberries. I know syrup and cool whip isn't too healthy, but it's a start in the right direction and they really didn't put a lot on their plates. Here's the recipe and the picture is what Michael created, he did a wonderful job making it look appetizing.

OH, and speaking of STRAWBERRIES....Callaham's Orchard will be open April 18, 2009, which is tomorrow, and they will have STRAWBERRIES!!!

Whole Wheat Pancakes
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup low fast buttermilk (I didn't have any, so I made some by adding a little vinegar)
1/2 cup non fat milk
1 Tablespoon honey ( I didn't use this)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

I mixed all the dry ingredients together and then added the wet. I doubled the recipe, however I forgot to double the eggs. The pancakes were great without doubling the eggs. The kids also had a friend over and she ate them too, which says alot because she can be a little pickier than my kids.



Keep in mind, how frugal this is and a lot healthier than packaged from the store. You can always make a bunch up and freeze them also, which is what I was able to do this morning. I have a recipe for homeade syrup, but I haven't tried it yet. I just used a bottle of Aldi brand. Of course, I do have the real maple syrup from Maine too, but THAT is NOT frugal!!!!

For All You Gardeners Out There

Phillip has began our compost pile already. I was feeling so bad just throwing away food that could be turned in to good compost, so he quickly fixed one up. Click here to see what we really would like to have! We are planning a little garden this year. I really hope we can do better than last year. We are planning on tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and peppers for sure. I would like to try squash and cucumbers also. We are trying to decide what kind of fruit we want to plant. I know we are going to get some blueberry bushes and a nectarine tree (self pollinates). I wanted to share a website that gives you $20.00 worth of free veggies, flowers, etc. and all you do is pay for the shipping. Click here to get in on the deal. Maybe the shipping won't be too costly. Happy Gardening to you.

I JUST GOTTA TELL IT!!!

I have been wanting laying hens for a long time. My thoughts on an ideal situation is being out in the country with lots of land and lots of animals. Well, I guess God knows what I need....and of course more to the point as to what I will take care of!! God didn't place us in the country outside of a subdivision, he placed us in the country IN a subdivision. Our location is pretty much country as I see it. There are cows, horses, and even peacocks in our area. But imagine my surprise when I saw 2 chickens strutting around in someones backyard in our SUBDIVISION! One is actually a rooster. We have heard a rooster before and now we are thinking it might be coming from our neighbor's backyard!

All I gotta say is this......I WILL HAVE CHICKENS and the sooner the better! I am so excited!

Happenings

It's been awhile since I have posted about what's been going on. Well, we have been trying to get in a routine with school so we can finish. I have been busy enjoying reading a couple of books in my spare time, so blogging has been on the back burner.

Last weekend we went camping in the mountains with the cubscouts and let me tell you this....I DID NOT HAVE A GOOD TIME (for the most part anyway)! It was very COLD at night, our mattress sprang a leak, and the traffic NEVER stopped zooming past. We did enjoy the 4 hour train ride and we even learned a little history about the Indians. I have no idea where the pictures are from the trip though, so no pics to share of our trip.

My mind is blank as for as knowing what we did weekend before last, however this weekend was really nice. We spent a few days talking about the Passover and Easter. I have everything we need for a Passover meal, however we never had time to do it. I do intend to have the meal along with the readings,etc. some time this week. I will let you know if we do it. We also dyed eggs, hunted eggs, made cupcakes, and made a couple of crafts (decorated blown eggs).

It was a busy weekend and it was nice to end the day with our first "bon" fire at our new house. Melanie was surprised to find out that we didn't have hotdogs or marshmallows to cook over the fire, so she asked if we could have popcorn. Well, why not? So, popcorn, tea, and a fire at the end of a nice weekend celebrating our Risen Savior.


Happy Easter!

This week deals

Well, I have been a little slack this week in posting deals. We have been busy with schooling and teaching about Easter (which hopefully will be another post). Here are a few things you might want to think about at BiLo this week or WalMart, and if you have time today or tomorrow you can still snag a deal or two at CVS.

BILO
Buy 1 Get 1 Free deals are great when you can add a coupon that will double. Here are a list of things that you can get for little of nothing if you have the coupons from recent inserts.

Pillsbury brownies
Keebler pie crust
Bryers Icecream
Lawry's seasoning

WALMART
I am reading that you can get free Olay 2 bar soap if you use the coupon that come in this week's PG coupon booklet. You should also be able to get the following free or almost free if you have the coupons.

Vitamin water (insert from this week)
No Nonsense pantyhose (3/29 insert)
Halls cough drops (insert 3/8)
reach floss (insert 2/8)

CVS
Buy 1 skintimate shave gel and get $3.49 ECBs
Buy 1 Colgate Max toothpast and get $2.00 ECBs (with coupon it will be free or almost free)

There are other deals, but these seem to stand out to me. Check out hotcouponworld for the rest of the scoop.