Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

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.

Monday, July 19, 2010

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!

Friday, July 16, 2010

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.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

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!

Monday, July 12, 2010

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?


Friday, July 9, 2010

"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

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Mud Puddles, again.

Think about your day.
What was your "mud puddle?"
What simple thing put a smile on your face?
What simple thing taught you a lesson?
What simple thing made you stop?
If you can't think of anything...
look tomorrow.
Don't miss your "mud puddle" moment.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Mud Puddles.

It has been a rainy Fourth of July. The rain stopped for a little while this afternoon. We decided to take Mason outside so he could push his little lion around. As we were all walking, Mason spotted the mud puddles. His little legs went as fast as they could...he stepped in the water...stopped...then STOMP, STOMP, STOMP. He loved it. I stood there watching our little baby boy...then I just realized how he was looking more like a little boy than a baby. Where has the time went? He is already a year old. Did I take enough pictures? (don't laugh for those who know me) Did I miss writing about something he has done? Did I make the most out of every moment?

 I am learning that children can teach us so much. Mason didn't realize while he was stomping in the water, mommy was learning a lesson. Mason will never know all that he has taught us. Today, I may have not felt like going outside. I may have not wanted to take a walk. Then I would have missed out on a great lesson from Mason. As he stomped around in the water, I began to think how we have to make the most out of every moment. We have to immerse ourselves in the moments. We have to stop and enjoy these moments....See if the rain stops tonight, there is a chance that mud puddle will not be there tomorrow. Mason may not get another chance to enjoy stomping in that exact mud puddle.
 I am just realizing more and more how precious every day is....how precious every moment is.

I am excited about the new adventures & milestones in Mason's life, but I just don't want to loose focus on taking in every moment today.

Monday, July 5, 2010

the WANT continues....

Do you ever find yourself happy in the moment.
Just content.
Then you look around.
She has that. He bought what. They went where.
I want. I want.
 Why can't I have that? Why can't we go there?
Not happy. Not content.
Today was one of those days.
It hadn't been a bad weekend, but it just hadn't been a perfect weekend.
It rained for the Fourth of July. I just wanted Mason to see one firework. He was so tired so I put him to bed....then the rain stopped...the fireworks started. I could go on and on about the little things that just didn't work out this weekend. Tonight, I heard my phone beep which meant I had an email. I was reading a devotion that was sent to me. I began to think about the devotion and my weekend. I just felt so....what's the word...silly, childish, ya know one of those I can't believe I was thinking/acting like that moments. See I look at pictures on Facebook or read other blogs.....I begin to "compare" my life. I begin to look at all the negative parts. I begin to think about all the stuff I need to do tomorrow. I dread doing all the laundry. I dread cleaning the shower.
BUT someone out there is WANTING to do laundry for their own child.
Someone is WANTING a shower to clean at their own house.
Someone is WANTING to spend all day with their kid.
Someone is WANTING the rain.
Someone is WANTING what I have while I am wishing for something better.



"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 1 Timothy 6:6-7

"In every thing give thanks..." 1 Thessalonians 5:18


Thursday, July 1, 2010

Yellow Watermelon

YELLOW Watermelon...
I just discovered this on Tuesday.
I was at Walmart with my husband, and he said he wanted to get a yellow watermelon. I thought he was talking about the rind so I said no it won't be any good...get a green one. Well we ended up with two watermelons. I went to the library to pick up a couple books. I came home to find out he wasn't talking about the rind....but the watermelon was actually YELLOW. Yes, Yellow. I was amazed. Heath couldn't believe that I had never seen yellow watermelon, and he was even more amazed that I had never heard of it. So I posted a picture on Facebook to see if I was the only person who hadn't heard of yellow watermelon. I was glad to know I wasn't.

Have you ever eaten yellow watermelon?
(The picture is a little blurry from my phone)