Friday, February 27, 2009

Project 365 Day 58

Today's prompt: "Now lets see a photo that represents what you spend the LEAST TIME doing today."
I am spending NO time on meal prep today. The fam can choose from this large hoggie that we got at the scouts Blue & Gold Banquet last night (they over estimated the amount of food they needed and sent lots of families home with a big sandwich) - or they can choose lasagna casserole from the night before. Either way.... I'm not cooking.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Project 365 Day 57

Today's photo prompt was "take a photo that represents what you spend the MOST TIME doing today."
I spent much of my time today working on the Relief Society Lesson that I will be giving this Sunday and I also wrote the Relief Society article for the ward newsletter. The topic I decided to use for both of these was Prayer which is the First Presidency's message in the March Ensign. You can read this address by the Prophet here.
Here are a couple of thoughts to share that were in this article.
"Have you tried prayer?"
"Pray as though everything depended upon God. Work as though everything depended upon you."

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Grocery Deals

Ok readers.... I have known for quite a while that you can access the grocery ads online for both Smith's and Albertsons but decided to just keep listing them here on my blog. Today I spent a little time at each of their sites and found that there is quite a bit to offer at each one. You can print coupons that work with deals that they have for the week and at Smith's you can even upload the coupons to your card so you don't have to print them or pack them to the grocery store. So anyway... go and check it out. I am going to relcaim about 15 minutes a week by not posting the grocery deals on my blog anymore. Maybe with them time I save I can post other things like a recipe or fun ideas... who knows lol. I hope that if the groceries were the only reason you stopped by my blog that you will find other reasons to visit me. I will likely give a shout out when there is a sale that is just too good to miss or when I find a super fab deal but for the weekly ads go to
Smith's Link
Albertsons Link

I will likely add these links to my side bar but just not right this minute lol.

Project 365 Day 56

Today's prompt was "show us the most RELAXING spot in or around your place." Since an earlier photo this week already showed my big jetted tub the next thing I thought of was my Sleep Number bed and flannel sheets. I only wish I could get more sleep time. Here is a quote for today -
"O Bed! O Bed! Delicious bed That heaven upon earth to the weary head." Thomas Hood

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Project 365 Day 55

Today the prompt was to take a picture of your closet/wardrobe. I have a small walk in and it was hard to get a good shot but here is what I got. I found a thought that I really like -
"People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile." --Lee Mildon

Monday, February 23, 2009

Scrappy News

Monday's don't always have to have the stigma of being bad do they? Elemental Scraps has their dollar sale going on today and that can always bring a smile to my face. Mandy Mystiques has this darling new kit in her store today for just $1. You can click the image to go to her store and I have two examples below using this fun kit.

While this is not a new template set from Chrissy - it is one of my favs. You can get it for just a dollar today. Click on the image to go to her shoppe and be sure to check out all the dollar items while you are over at Elemental Scraps. Now unfortunately... I must get back to laundry and housework. Oh yeah... that would be the reason Monday gets a bad name in my house lol.

And here is a funky new kit by Ziggle Designs. When I saw it I thought instantly of the pics of Carson and Savannah that I scrapped below. Funny huh? You can click the image to head over to the Scrap Orchard to buy this kit.

Project 365 Day 53 & 54

The prompt for day 53 was "your kitchen" Well this is only a part of one wall but I didn't feel like cleaning the kitchen since it was Sunday ( a day of rest ) lol.
Today's prompt "mode of transportation" Well - I must say I would have preferred that this shot was tomorrow's prompt since I have an appointment to get the Dodge Caravan detailed then but I guess that this is more true to life since it is more often dirty than clean.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Project 365 Day 52

Today's photo prompt was to take a picture of some wall art in your home. I know I have shared this wall before but this is my favorite wall in my home. I just love the photos Shelly took for me and the Scripture says it all. I am noticing something about my photos I share on my blog..... they are sharp and well focused but after I resize them and post them on my blog they seem a bit fuzzy. I really should look into this and see what I am doing wrong.
ETA: Whahoo I asked advice from a friend and wow it made all the difference. I am so excited! My picture above has been edited and looks so much better. Thanks Bec!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Total for these groceries?

I decided I needed to hit that Albertsons deal for $10 off your next transaction when you buy 10 participating items. The total amount paid with tax for all of these 90 items was $47.57! I actually got these 24 cans of Progresso Soup for free by printing the coupons here. You can print 2 of each coupon but I was able to print two sets from my laptop and another two sets from the old desktop downstairs. I tried to print coupons at the Betty Crocker site for some of the other items but for some reason I kept getting an error code and so wasn't able to use any of those but I had a few in my own stash from newspapers. Yes... there is plenty of sugar on the table there but for after school school snacks or a cookie in their school lunch that I pack 4 days out of 5. Or there is always FHE treats, etc. Soups and cake mixes store well for our food storage. So I was very pleased with my purchase. Then when I got looking at my receipts I was excited about the fact that my gas rewards have accumulated and I now can get $1.05 off each gallon of gas (up to 20 gallons!) YIPEE! I am almost down on my gas gauge to where I can take advantage of all 20 gallons. I'll be smiling all the while I pump that gas. SWEET! So fyi... the sale at Albertsons is while supplies last or Tuesday.

Project 365 Day 49, 50 & 51



I think everything is behind schedule this week. Always happens to me when there is a holiday. So here are my pics for three days.
49 was something blue. I got this Sunny Day Bluebird from a friend but Cheyenne has either thrown away the card that came with it which tells about the bird or she has misplaced it. Any chance that one of you readers has one of these birds and kept the card?
50 was show us your tv and what you are watching. 9:00 pm was the first time I turned the TV on for the day. Often I watch the O'Reilly Factor, since that is when my kids are finally in bed. I wish that Glenn Beck held the time slot for that hour!
51 was show us your bathroom. After I took the pic I noticed my pictures on the wall were crooked, but I didn't feel like retaking the picture and more often than not they are crooked so it is like real life lol.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Grocery Deals week of Feb 18

Did you see the cover story in the paper today? It is about the "coupon queen." The paper will be running a column each Wed. from her. I am looking forward to learning for that column how to save more money on my groceries. Today the column stated how grocery sales are rotated on a 12 week schedule. I had noticed that there was a cycle to the sales of grocery items but didn't know the time frame. I will be studying the prices and making my own listing to track the items that I frequently buy so that I can stock up when they are at their lowest. I already do this to some extent but I know that if I am even more diligent in my study that I will save more and in these times - it is important to me. Here are two web links for the coupon queen.
www.jillcataldo.com
www.supercouponing.com

Smith's

$1.89/lb Extra lean ground beef
99cents/lb chicken drumsticks, thighs or split breasts
$1.29/lb pork shoulder butt roast or country style spareribs (bone in)

$1.99/gal milk
$1.29/doz eggs
3/$1 Kroger yogurt
$1/16 oz cottage cheese, sour cream or dips
$2.99 Dreyers ice cream
$1.49/lb kroger butter
$1.69 Kraft cheese 8 oz packs
99cents kraft phil. cream cheese

$1.99 healthy choice or marie callender's entrees
$1.00 Dole garden salad
$2.29/12 pack Big K soda
2/$1 hershey's candy bars

Albertsons

These are in ad coupon deals:
88 cents albertsons american singles cheese (limit 4)
97 cents albertsons potato chips (limit 2)
97 cents VO5 shampoo or conditioner (limit 2)
$1.69 Kraft salad dressing (limit 2)
$1.99 fresh blue or black berries
$2.77 Breyers ice cream (limit 2)
$4.99 Moran's ground beef patties - 3 lb frozen

$1.99/lb beef chuck 7 bone roast or steak, beef sirloin tip or chuck cross rib roast

3/$5 albertsons butter

On the back page there are some stock up sale items - but I am pretty sure that most of these prices are just as cheap at Winco.

There is also an offer to buy 10 participating items in one transaction and get a coupon for $10 off your next shopping visit. You will have to check this one out to see if the items are things you regularly use and if you think this is a deal for you. Happy shopping!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Project 365 Day 46, 47 & 48

With the holiday weekend I got a little behind in my photo posting. The prompt for day 46 was something old. I don't have very many things that I have kept all the years since my own childhood. This necklace charm is one of the few things I kept. I loved Holly Hobbie. I remember having some decorative wall hangings in my room with her image as well as a little toy sewing machine that "really worked" - it was blue and had Holly on it. The other Holly thing I remember having was a little dairy that locked. I really wish I had kept that diary but when I went off to college I remember cleaning out my room and thinking it was really stupid and threw it away. I would love to be able to share it with my own kids.

Day 47 was something new. With it being President's Day and the kids were out from school and Clayne had the day off, we decided to try out a "new" family outing. We drove to Jackson Hole and really enjoyed the fabulous indoor pool there. They have two slides- this is the smaller one. The big one ended in a 3 foot pool and so Savannah could even go down the big one by herself. There is a mushroom water fall as well as another waterfall in the kid pool, there is a hot tub of course and a lap pool. They have a rock climbing wall in one end of the lap pool and it was fun to watch Cheyenne and Clayne give it a go. I am certain we will be visiting this pool again. For the whole family to get in we paid just $25.

Today's photo prompt was something borrowed. Since I am done having babies, many of you know that I watch my niece, Megan, once a week to get my baby fix. She is a delight and we all have so much fun with her. I am so glad that my sister lives near so I can "borrow" her.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Scrappy News

Are you looking for a sweet treat this Valentine weekend? Maybe something with no calories that will let you create fun scrapbook projects? Look no further. Click the image below to go to Mandy's fabulous appreciation sale. Or perhaps you are longing for spring? Scroll down to see the newest collab kit by Ziggle Designs as well as a page I made using the kit. I can not believe how little my boys were. It seems like they never were that little now that they are so grown up.



Project 365 Day 45

Today's photo prompt "romantic" and this was my Valentine from Clayne. Here is a thought:
"The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love." -- William Wordsworth

Friday, February 13, 2009

Project 365 Day 43 and 44

The photo prompt for day 43 "endless" and a thought:
"Choose well. Your choice is brief, and yet endless." - Goethe

The photo prompt for day 44 "binding" and here is a thought for today:
"Love...binds everything together in perfect harmony." -unknown

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you are all having a fun Valentine weekend. I found this picture that Savannah drew on the back of one of her school papers and I just had to share it. Of course I had to ask her what was by Cupid's bottom even though I was worried about what the answer might be. She told me it was just a sparkle. I guess Cupid just has a shiny hiney. (credits: frame by MCato)
Here are the Valentine cards I made for my kids to pass out to their friends today. Cheyenne's is made using Smooches which you can find here. Morgan's is made using King of Hearts which you can find here. Carson's is made using Love Struck which you can find here and Savannah's is made using Kiss My __ which you can find here.




I made a few hybrid items with free downloads I found on the net. The candy bags are for the ladies I visit teach and the water bottles are for the kid's school teachers. The bag toppers link can be found here and the water bottle wraps can be found here.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Valentine Projects

So here I am the head room mom again this year. I felt like since they were all in school all day I should be committed to helping out more at school. The Valentine party is this Friday and here are two of the projects and a game that we will be doing. There will be a couple other games too that other Mom's are in charge of.

Craft: The craft is made by painting the pinky side of the hand in a c shape and stamped down on a piece of poster board repeated by the opposite hand to form a heart. Tongue depressors are used for the frame and then it is jazzed up a bit by some stickers and foam hearts I picked up at WalMart. Then use a permanent marker to write their name on the frame. I went to the school today and got all the paint stamping done so that the craft won't take long on Friday.
Treat: They always seem to get plenty of goodies and aren't hungry enough to eat the cupcake or cookie so I am having them make these so that they can take them home if they want. It is made on a bambo skewer for BBQ. Easy Peasy!
Game: Candy Conversation Story: Fill a bowl with Valentine candy conversation hearts. Have party guests sit in a circle. Choose one person to start the game by taking a candy heart from the bowl. That person starts a story of his own creation and must include the words from the candy heart in the story. He then passes the bowl t the next person who chooses a candy heart and continues the story. This continues around the circle with each person adding to the story and using the words from the candy hearts. This game often creates a lot of laughter from the crazy story lines!

Project 365 Day 42

Can you guess what the movie photo prompt was for today? Jaws. When I went looking for a thought I found one that compared icicles to a sharks teeth and that made me wish I had used that as my photo for the day but I am out of time and this is what I got. One of the kids puzzles. I remember when I used to set up a card table over the holidays and put a puzzle out to work on in my "free" time. This is something my Mom always did and somehow I have lost the tradition the past decade or so. I think that having all the little fingers around made it too hard but maybe this next holiday season I'll get back to it. Ok enough rambling. Here is a thought for the day:
Sharks: [reciting] I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food. - Finding Nemo

Grocery Deals week of Feb 11

Albertsons

Buy one, get one free on all Albertsons packaged cheese
Buy one, get one free on Fresh express salad blends

$2.99/lb Boneless pork top loin roasts or max pak chops or beef petite sirloin steaks

20/$10 Albertsons canned vegetables

$19.99/doz roses

In ad coupons for the following:
$1.99 Albertsons ice cream (limit 2)
$2.49 Albertsons homelife tp (limit 2)

50% off Kellogs cereals and products

Smith's

$6.96 Kroger frozen bags of chicken

There is an instant rebate of $3 on select items when you buy a combo of 10 items making the following prices:
$1.99 GM Cereals
$3.49 Dasani water 24 pack
58 cents Chef boyardee
$2.50 Breyer's ice cream
$1.69 Betty Crocker brownie or muffin mix
$1.69 Fritos chips
$1.39 Ragu pasta sauce

2/$1 Kroger canned vegetables
5/$1 Kroger tomato sauce
99 cents Kroger instant oatmeal

$10.68/case of 12 Pillsbury cake mix

$19.99/doz roses

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Project 365 Day 41

Today's photo prompt was the movie, Toy Story. This book was given to Morgan when he was a baby by someone very important and I should have photographed it long ago. The book is very worn and Clayne tried to throw it away a long time ago but I rescued it and had forgotten it until now so I dug it out and found the car in the toy box and now I can journal and have the photo in our scrapbooks to keep. So it works two ways for today's prompt... a toy that came as a set with a story book and a story that goes along with it in memory.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Project 365 Day 40

Today's movie photo prompt was "Lord of the Rings." Aren't I clever lol? These ring pops will go on the kiddo's class Valentines when I get them printed. Here is a little Valentine thought:
"Lovely pictures, romantic grace, Candy hearts and paper lace. Words like “Love” and “Be Mine” Are what make these valentines." -unknown

Scrappy News

It's dollar days over at Elemental Scraps today and there are some way cute things over there. I just got done downloading my 5 items that I got for a buck each. I can't wait to play but that may have to wait since I am babysitting this little doll - Megan today. I made this page with Mandy's new kit that is on sale for 25% off today and with Chrissy's new template set that is just a dollar today. Images below are clickable to take you to the shoppe. Guess I better get back to babysitting and laundry.


Sunday, February 8, 2009

Project 365 Day 39

Today's photo prompt was the movie Fantastic Four. Lucky me that I just so happen to have my very own Fantastic Four. And here is a quote I found that I LOVE. Have a great day!
"Children are what live on catsup, Never hang their coats or hats up, Climb and walk upon all things, Leap and touch all signs and tall things, Travel in strange lopes and crouches, Bubble-gum the rugs and couches, Test the ice and feed the spiders, Pitch their tents against all outsiders, Peel the paint and probe the lichen, Never, never bring a bike in, Leave cocoons and toads in hallways. . . Melt out hearts at bedtime. . .always!" - Nonee Nolan

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Project 365 Day 38

Today's movie prompt was "Pitch Black" and I have never heard of it. I decided to represent "pitch" music and the black keys.
Today's thought: "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." -Victor Hugo

Friday, February 6, 2009

Project 365 Day 37

Today's movie prompt was Jurassic Park. I decided to just go with some of Carson's dinosaur toys and a series of books that I have enjoyed with my children over the years. I have fond memories of reading "Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!" with Cheyenne. There is a section that says, "Dinosaurs BIG and dinosaurs tiny. Dinosaurs smooth and dinosaurs spiny." Cheyenne would read the book to me when she was about 4 and she would always say that last part "dinosaurs spicy." I never did correct her cuz it was just so cute! I knew she would out grow it all too soon. So those are my thoughts for this photo today. If you only pick up one of the "How do Dinosaurs..." series, my favorite is the say goodnight one.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Project 365 Day 36

Ok so now this week the prompts are going to be movie based. Today was Twilight. I doubt I will see the movie cuz I read the first book and admit that although I am in the minority - I didn't like it. Here is my pic. I embellished it a bit - was inspired by an image I googled but couldn't figure out who to credit for inspiration.

Scrappy News

Just taking a minute to give you some scrappy news regarding great deals by the artists that I am on creative team for. I love these darling FREE valentine cards offered by Carina Gardner. Go to her blog here and get the link to pick up your set.And there are just a few more days to pick up the Scrap Orchard Mystery Mega for just $3. It is so cute so I don't want you to miss the steal price cuz after Saturday it will be $10. Click on the image to go to the market and pick it up. You can click here to go to the gallery at the Orchard and see cute layouts made with the kit which will give you an idea of what is in this kit.

And this is just the bomb diggity! I am having so much fun with the stuff in this kit. I just wish I had more time to play with it all. Chrissy's template is in the center forth row and Mandy's kit is center 2nd row. I love the versatility of this- boy stuff, girl stuff, valentine stuff and everyday stuff! The price goes up on Sunday so click the image to go to the shoppe and pick it up while it is on sale.
Ya ya ya there is more I want to say besides this so I'll be back. Happy shopping!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Project 365 Day 35

Today's prompt was actually rainbow but I have had my heart set on orange all week since we started doing colors. Savannah wears these slippers around the house all the time and they just crack me up. She got them last spring as a prop for a song she sang in her Tavaci group. I figure that if they do orange at some point maybe I'll do rainbow then? We'll see.
And here is a thought for today: Orange is the happiest color. --Frank Sinatra

Grocery Deals week of Feb 4

Smith's

$1.89/lb Pork Loin or rib chops
$1.99/lb chuck roast or steak
59 cents/lb fresh whole chicken

99 cents/lb red seedless grapes
3/$5 General Mills cereal (select varieties)
10/$10 Dial liquid hand soap pumps

There are several mix and match items that if you buy 10 you get an instant rebate of $3

Albertsons


They have 4 coupons in ad that allow you to use a manufacturer's coupon double
They also have in ad coupons for these items:
97 cents Suave shampoo or conditioner
99 cents Albertsons potato rounds or french fries
$4.99 Tyson boneless skinless chicken breast or tenders (2.5 lb bag)

There are several buy one get one free deals on meats

2/$2 Pepperidge farm goldfish crackers
20/$10 dannon light and fit yogurt

Free milk when you buy 3 malt-o-meal cereals 3/$7

Lots of 10/$10 items (too many for me to type in)

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Project 365 Day 33 & 34

Had a couple busy days so I am just gonna post these pics quick. Today the prompt was blue. This is ice on my porch and I captured the moon too. Yesterday the prompt was yellow and so I snapped a pic of Cheyenne's bedroom. Love that sunny and warm yellow.