Free BBQ Sauce.

Usually BBQ Sauce doesn't make me happy. However, this one makes me smile! Why? Because it was my very first free item from the grocery store. How was it free? Hyvee had KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce for 0.99, and I had a $1.00 off coupon for KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce. I had to take a picture of my first free item. I hope there is many more. This was just an encouragement to keep searching for the best deals...it really does pay off!

the happy wife?

I couldn't sleep tonight. I was just laying in bed thinking about everything. Do you ever have those nights? I started to think about my role as a wife. There is a lot of definitions for a wife in our culture today. If you don't believe me...turn on the TV...watch a couple different shows with a husband and wife...then think about the differences. I love to read books about marriage. I love to discuss marital topics. I believe we have lost the focus on the purpose of marriage. We have stepped away from what God designed. We have made our own rules and expectations. We believe that our marriage is suppose to be exactly like the movies. -The happy, beautiful wife is making a gourmet dinner in the picture perfect house. The husband is driving home from work with flowers and a hand written note- Yep, then reality sets in....the baby is crying, the dog won't even eat the dinner you just made, husband walks in with mud on his shoes, and then you wonder if you even brushed your teeth today? I am going to start a series called "the happy wife?"....We need to recapture the joy as a wife. We need to stop focusing on all the negativity. We need to choose to be the happy wife.

Money Mondays.

Learning to Manage Money....it takes time. At first I didn't think I had time to spend clipping coupons, looking online for coupons, going to different stores, working on a budget, meal planning, making my own cleaning products, etc. I have really been trying to learn more about grocery shopping (I hope to share all that I am learning on another post)...and I can already see that it is paying off. One of the things I am learning is I can't afford....not to take the time for all this. I look at it like this, if I save $20 at the grocery store, and it takes me let's say two hours to meal plan, look for coupons, and find the good deals....then I made $10 an hour at home while spending time with Mason. (I know it isn't great money, but better than $0!!) I just want to encourage you to take the time...you might be surprised how much time you find...If you have a doctor's appointment, work on your budget while waiting. At every traffic light, think of a meal you would like to make.

Take time to learn how to manage your money, so the money doesn't begin to manage you!

oats.

I found this idea at a local playgroup. I had bought oats instead of instant oatmeal for a recipe, and I didn't know what I was I going to use the oats for. When I saw this, I thought this would work out great since I have a whole container of oats in the pantry. I didn't use a lot of oats that today because it was suppose to rain. Not only is it fun for the little ones, the oats give them a different texture to feel.

just for smiles.

Sometimes I am the funniest person I know. I love to laugh. I think laughter is a need. Do you ever have one of those "Can't help but laugh at yourself moments?" I had one the other day as my husband and I drove to Illinois. Our little boy was crying, he didn't want to be in the car seat any longer. I decided to turn on the DVD player for him. I kept hitting the play button...and "hold on" kept flashing on the screen. So I would wait...then hit it again...."hold on" still appeared....somehow the DVD started playing. We stopped at a gas station so I turned the DVD player off. When we started down the road again, I was trying to get the DVD to start playing again....patience begins to dwindle, while baby is crying, and husband is wondering why you can't get the DVD playing...Then I had the "aha" moment...."hold on" did not mean wait, but the the hold button on the side was on! AHHH!

Money Mondays...."but it was on sale"

I've been there looking at the sales rack thinking 'it is only two dollars...that is a really good deal.' However, this can also be a problem. I have to keep reminding myself just because it is on sale doesn't mean I should buy it. I was looking through the newspaper ads on Sunday. It is easy to fall in the trap of buying stuff just because it is on sale. Yes, you are saving money....but at the same time you maybe wasting money. I was looking at coupons for a certain cleaning product that I never buy....I don't really like the product. There was a coupon for $2 off...I started to reconsider the product. Chances are I would buy the product, use the coupon, try the product, then leave it sitting in my cleaning closet until I eventually threw it away. So yes, I saved $2...but wasted money at the same time. I am finding this out in other areas of shopping....especially kid's stuff. Mason has plenty of summer clothes....honestly, way more than he needs. However, it is hard to pass up an entire new outfit for a couple bucks....or a really cool toy I find on Craigslist. It's like having 10 dollars and walking down the dollar aisle...sure you can buy more stuff, but the question is do you need that stuff?

"In the Blink of An Eye"

There are songs that just grab your attention. This could be my theme song right now. When I started this 'journey' I was more concerned about better ways to handle our money....getting rid of a lot of stuff we didn't need...and to change our mindset about how we view a lot of items. I have accomplished a lot, but still have a lot to learn and change....It has been amazing for me, the realization of what we allow to mold us....how we spend soooo much time worrying about stuff that doesn't matter and the things that do matter we don't give second thought to. I hope you enjoy the words to this song by MercyMe as much as I do.

Sometimes I feel disappointed

By the way I spend my time

How can I further Your kingdom

When I'm so wrapped up in mine

In a Blink of an eye that is when

I'll be closer to You than I've ever been

Time will fly, but until then

I'll embrace every moment I'm given

There's a reason I'm alive for a blink of an eye

And though I'm living a good life

Can my life be something great?

I have to answer the question

Before it's too late

Cause in a Blink of an eye that is when

I'll be closer to You than I've ever been

Time will fly, but until then

I'll embrace every moment I'm given

There's a reason I'm alive for a blink of an eye

If I give the very best of me

That becomes my legacy

So tell me what am I waiting for?

What am I waiting for?

                                          To listen to this song click here ~>  In the Blink of an Eye