• Family Recipe: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

    Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

    We recently had some extra bananas that needed to be used up.  For a change of pace I decided to do a Chocolate Chip Banana Bread which was a big hit with the family.  The base recipe is our family recipe – Nancy’s Banana Bread with just a few chocolate chips for an added touch.   This recipe is easy to put together and tasty too.

    Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:

    • 2 cups Flour
    • 1 tablespoon Water
    • 1/2 cup shortening
    • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 1 cup Sugar
    • 1 cup Chocolate Chips
    • 3 Bananas, mashed

    Mix all the ingredients together.  Place in greased and floured bread pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

    You can use either miniature or regular chocolate chips, feel free to use either more or less depending on your family’s preference.

  • I’ve got a “crush” on you!

    Sweet treat for my man

    I discovered these cute “pop” love notes from Darling Doodles and have been enjoying adding these love notes to my stash of ones to give to Jake!  He enjoys drinking Orange Crush so when it goes on sale I try to get a little for him.  This particular love note was a great one to give to my man – I’ve got a “crush” on you!

    This was a surprise I had waiting for him one day after he had been away on a work trip.  Always love having a little surprise waiting for him when he gets home after being away.  I make sure the surprises are different and are placed in random places too which gives an extra variety.  These love notes have been a great addition and been a lot of fun to use!

    I’ve got a “crush” on you!

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    Love notes for the kids at school

    One of the best parts about sending the kids to school with a lunch is you can include some special goodies or notes for them as a surprise.  After using the sandwich containers a few times I discovered something really neat…..they are perfect for “love” notes.  If you have smooth sandwich containers that you send to school with your kids or to work with your husband grab a dry erase marker and write a quick note for them.  I will often write a little note for them and erase it before putting it in the dishwasher at the end of the day.  I keep the marker on the refrigerator so I can get it easily while I am packing lunches for the family.  This takes only a couple minutes and means a lot to your family.  A short and sweet note can be the extra boost of love and encouragement they need throughout the day.

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of April 4 – 10, 2012

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Ground Beef – $2.18 lb

    Boneless Pork Loin – $1.98 lb

    Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – $1.98 lb

    Boston Butt Roast – $1.69 lb

    Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs – $0.99 lb

    Matlaw’s Shrimp Ring with Sauce (10 oz) – $4.99

    Hickory Springs Sliced Bacon – $2.50

    Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage (16 oz) – $2.50

    Chicken Leg Quarters (10 pound bag) – $6.89

    Bone-In Shank Portion Ham – $1.29 lb

    Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage (12 oz) – $1.99
    Use $0.55/1 coupon from insert 3/25 Red Plum (Expires 5/15/12)
    $1.44 each after coupon

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.  Here are a few of the specials they have going on with the Pick 5 for $19.99 this week (each item approximately $3.99):

    Fridge and Freezer

    Mrs. Smith’s Pies (32 oz) – $2.99
    Use $1.00/1 coupon from insert 3/25 Red Plum (Expires 5/5/12)
    Use $0.75/1 coupon from insert 3/25 Smart Source (Expires 5/5/12)
    As low as $1.99 each after coupon

    Pillsbury Grand Biscuits (16 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.30/1 coupon from insert 2/5 General Mills (Expires 4/28/12)
    Use $0.30/2 coupon from insert 2/5 General Mills (Expires 4/28/12)
    Use $0.40/3 coupon from insert 3/11 Smart Source (Expires 6/2/12)
    Use $0.40/3 coupon from insert 4/1 Smart Source (Expires 6/23/12)
    As low as $0.70 each after coupon

    Totino Pizza Rolls (15 count) – $1.00

    Blue Bonnet Spread (45 oz) – $2.49

    Buyers Best Hash Brown Patties (18 count) – $1.00

    Borders American Cheese Singles (12 oz) – $1.88

    Banquet Brown ‘n Serve Sausage, Big Bag (39 count) – $3.49

    Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt – $1.00

    Home Churned Butter Quarters (16 oz) – $1.99

    Coburn Farms Cream Cheese (8 oz) – $1.00

    Imperial Spread Quarters – $0.99

    Morning Delight Crescent Rolls (8 oz) – $1.69

    Creamy Whip Whipped Topping (8 oz) – $0.99

    Coburn Farms Sour Cream (16 oz) – $1.69

    Armour Fun Kit Lunchmakers – $1.99

    Produce

    Baking Potatoes (10 pounds) – $3.99

    Onions (3 pounds) – $2.99

    Navel Oranges (4 pounds) – $1.98

    Libby’s Mini Corn on the Cob (4 count) – $1.00

    Red Delicious Apples (5 pounds) – $2.99

    Fresh Celery – $1.00

    Mini Carrots (16 oz) – $1.00

    Sweet Potatoes – $0.49 lb

    Grocery

    Domino Granulated Sugar (4 pounds) – $1.98
    Use $0.40/1 coupon from insert 3/18 Red Plum (Expires 4/30/12)
    Use $0.75/2 coupon from insert 3/18 Red Plum (Expires 4/30/12)
    As low as $1.58 each after coupon

    Ritz Crackers (14 oz) – $1.98

    Maxwell House Coffee (23 oz) – $4.98
    Use $1.00/1 coupon from insert 4/1 Smart Source (Expires 5/1/12)
    Use $0.60/1 coupon from insert 4/1 Smart Source (Expires 5/1/12)
    As low as $3.98 each after coupon

    Crisco Oil (48 oz) – $2.99

    Betty Crocker Au Gratin or Scalloped Potatoes (8.5 oz) – $1.99

    Pasta Roni or Rice-A-Roni (4 to 7 oz) – $1.00

    Prego Italian Pasta Sauce (28 oz) – $1.50

    Tipton Grove Applesauce – $1.99

    Kraft Pudding Cups (4 count) – $1.00

    Toast-em Toaster Pastries (8 count) – $1.00

    Pringles Super Stacks – $1.39
    Use $1.00/4 coupon from insert 3/18 Red Plum (Expires 4/30/12)
    $1.14 each after coupon

    TGI Fridays Potato Skins Snack Chips – $1.00

    King’s Hawaiian Dinner Rolls (12 count) – $2.49
    Use $2.00/1 printable coupon from King’s Hawaiian
    $0.49 each after coupon

    Welch’s Chillers Juice Drinks (64 oz) – $1.99

    Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.49

    Potatoes on the Side, Instant Mash Potatoes – $1.49

    So Cheezy Shells & Cheddar or Deluxe Mac & Cheese – $1.59

    Stuffing on the Side Stuffing Mix – $0.89

    Betty Crocker Suddenly Pasta Salad – $1.00
    Use $0.50/2 printable coupon from Betty Crocker
    $0.75 each after coupon

    Libby’s Pineapple (28 oz) – $0.99

    Kaskey’s Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.69

    Wylwood Crispy Onions – $2.19

    O’Day’s Mac & Cheese – $0.50

    Portside Chunk Light Tuna – $0.69

    Portmann’s Mayonnaise – $2.49

    Ginger Evans Cake Mixes – $1.39

    Ginger Evans Powdered Sugar or Light Brown Sugar – $1.79

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.  For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Travel & Vacation: “We Love You” Folder

    Jake’s Folder of “Love” Notes

    Awhile ago the girls and I made a “We Love You” folder for Jake to take with him when he travels.  Even though we love the opportunities when we can go with him it is not always possible to go with him on every trip.  When he goes on a trip and we cannot tag along we send our “We Love You” folder with him along with notes or drawings from each of us.  Jake enjoys seeing the pictures and reading the notes while he is away.  We have a blast putting something special in the folder for him.

    Here are a few examples of items we have put into his “We Love You!” Folder:

    Love note to Jake

    Karlie’s love note to Daddy

    Brina’s love note to Daddy

    Drawing from Karlie

    Sweet note from the girls

    Note to Daddy from Karlie

    Note to Daddy from Brina

    I Love You note to my Handsome Man!

  • Fresh & Healthy: School Lunchbox Meals

    School lunch goodies

    The girls enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables and other goodies in their school lunches.  Along with the mix of character bags and containers their lunches usually have something different in it everyday.  I have found that the tube yogurts are very nice for the girls lunches because they are easy to use (no spoon is needed, especially since somehow they manage to lose those on the way to school).

    • Roast Beef and Cheese Sandwich
    • Fresh Green Grapes
    • Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
    • Fresh Apple Peel Confetti Crisps
    • Homemade Banana Bread
    • Yogurt Tube
    • Cars Marshmallows
    • Cherry & Lemon Jello
    • Pink Lemonade

    Fresh fruits and vegetables for lunch

  • Free Audio Book: “Road to the Resurrection” by Greg Laurie

    For the month of April Christian Audio is offering a free download of an audio book .  This month the audio book is Road to the Resurrection by Greg Laurie.

    A guidebook to the facts and circumstances surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The listener will examine the people, places and timeline of that first Easter. But more than that, delve into the prophecies of those events, given hundreds of year prior, as well what happened after Christ rose from the dead.  (information from Christian Audio)

    If you have been wanting to a book to listen to throughout the day or while driving then this is a great opportunity to get a book for free when you download it from Christian Audio in April.   Make sure to submit your order by April 30, 2012  to get your free audio book.  Thanks Christian Audio!

  • Song: “Lead Me to the Cross” by Hillsong

    This song reminds me of the things that I treasure in life and points me back to where my focus should really be, at the cross.  I tend to hold tightly onto things in my life (my husband, children, security when money is in the bank, my time, schedule, etc….) While all those things are good things to spend my time and energy on when they become my focus I am not allowing God to work through my life.  If my heart reflects the love of God then all the other “stuff” will fall into place.  When I focus on serving Him then I am a better wife, Mom, and steward of my money and time.  Sometimes I need a gentle reminder of the top priorities in my life.  Thank you Jesus for sacrificing your life on the cross so I can live and reach out to others.