Loving Life

  • New Upromise eCoupons for July 2011

    Upromise has posted their new eCoupons for the month of July 2011.  Remember to activate your eCoupons to get additional savings.  If you have not yet signed up for Upromise you can get more information regarding on our experience or directly at the Upromise website.

    This month they have 28 coupons you can activate for bonus savings.  Once you activate your eCoupons all you have to do is scan your rewards card or purchase the items at the store and the cash will be added to your account.  You don’t even have to carry any coupons to get the rewards!

    You can go to their website for more information on the Upromise program, it’s free to join.

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (June Update)

    June is my fifth month tracking my Creative Cash.  What is Creative Cash?  Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal.  I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified.   I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year.  Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much.  We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors.  As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split.  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others.  At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.

    June was a good month even though it was extremely active in many other areas of my life.  Thankfully I was able to save some extra cash however, I did not reach my my goal of $100.  I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $15.59 – Items sold on Ebay (after fees):   The all the items sold were coupons.  I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
    • $20.00 – Cash from house and dog sitting
    • $10.00 – Rebate for Scotts Osmocote Plant Fertilizer
    • $ 5.49 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned  (rebates, returns, cash back,  extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.

    It was a harder month to set the extra aside because it was very busy and I was not able to participate in as many extra creative cash activities.  June’s “Creative Cash” total was $51.08 which means $25.54 extra that goes towards our current goal (paying down debt) and $25.54 goes towards charity.  I didn’t hit my $100 goal this month.  It has been really busy with school being out and traveling with the family.  I am happy that I was able to get at least halfway to the goal and every little bit helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in July so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others.  Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in June.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us.  I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  Do you know of another way to earn creative cash?   I would love to hear your idea!

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

    Photo by StopNLook

  • Book: “Living in Love” by James & Betty Robison

    I recently read the book “Living in Love” by James and Betty Robison who are Co-Hosts on TV’s “Life Today”.  Having a healthy marriage is important to me so I thought this book would give new insights or provide great reminders on ways to strengthen our marriage relationship. I enjoy having a chance to read a chapter or two of a book each day and was excited to check this one out.

    James and Betty Robison grew up in very different family environments, James was the son of a single Mom and Betty grew up in a church going family.  In the book they discussed their backgrounds and how they met.  The book has a unique layout and more conversational.  It shows Betty’s insights and James’ viewpoints by putting a headline at the top of each section.

    Although I have never watched their show I appreciated that they encouraged couples to work on their own hearts first and stop trying to “fix” their spouses.  Both James and Betty recommended praying for your spouse, marriage and family.  Each family member brings a variety of dynamics to the relationship.  They discuss topics that we don’t hear a lot about in our culture when it comes to marriage – selfishness, commitment, trust, communication, and confrontation.  When married couples have solid God centered foundations in place we have more opportunities to grow and work together as a cohesive team.  James and Betty do not claim to know everything but are thankful for God’s hand working in their lives as individuals and as a couple.

    A couple of my favorite quotes from the book:

    “An unhealthy self-focus can show up in marriage in many ways, but the one I observed most frequently is people trying to shape their spouses according to their own expectations.  This is always a mistake.  Instead of trying to change your mate it is best to allow God to shape you.”

    “Trust is built on the foundation of commitment – first and ultimately, to God and then to each other.”

    At the end of each chapter they added a few questions for each couple to answer separately or together.  Overall the book is a great resource to read for those going into marriage or for couples wanting a gentle reminder of ways to build a healthy foundation in their marriage.  If you cannot purchase the book I would recommend checking it out at your local church or community library.  It is a pretty quick read and it never hurts to be reminded of ways to keep the communication open between you and your spouse.

    Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher through the Waterhouse Multnomah.  The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

  • Thoughtfulness Goes Both Ways in Relationships!

    I am proud of my husband and thankful for all he does for our family.  A few days ago I had a little extra time carved out in my day so I decided as a special surprise to make Jake some Cinnamon Rolls.

    Making Cinnamon Rolls!

    I used a box mix that was in the pantry.  The mix was a starter kit that included the flour and yeast so you could make bread, rolls, crescents or a variety of other breads, I chose to make Cinnamon Rolls that day.  After mixing, letting it rise then kneading the dough it was now ready with melted butter, cinnamon and sugar (pictured above).  Next I sprinkled some dried cherries and raisins over it, rolled it up, cut into cinnamon rolls and placed it into the pyrex to rise for another 30 minutes.  Just as Jake was leaving work I put the cinnamon rolls in the oven to bake.

    Hot Cinnamon Rolls with Raisins & Cherries rolled inside!

    I made frosting by mixing 1 cup powder sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of milk together.  The cinnamon rolls came out of the oven within a couple minutes of Jake arriving at home.  I poured the frosting over the cinnamon rolls and we enjoyed them as a dessert at the end of the meal.  We typically do not have dessert for an evening meal, however, this was a special treat.  Jake was able to enjoy the remaining cinnamon rolls for his breakfasts and/or snacks over the next few days.

    I was not aware that at the same time I was making secret cinnamon roll treats for Jake he was picking up a bench for me.  The girls and I spend a lot of time outside during the summer months when they are out of school.  He picked up a bench that was on sale for us to use outside.  It will be a terrific having a place to put items for the swimming pool and outside equipment.  I am thankful for his thoughtfulness and help with the upcoming busy months of summer activities!

    My New Bench was Quickly Adopted by the Girls for their Crafts!

    Within in a few minutes of getting my bench the girls had their chairs pulled up to it and were working on crafts.  They were excited about the new “desk” for them to work on.  The bench will be a tremendous help for outside storage this summer!

    One of the amazing parts about being a family is the joy it comes from being generous to those within your family.  It was one of those days when Jake and I happened to be thinking of each other at the same time.  I am thankful for a husband who loves me and is thoughtful.  Making those cinnamon rolls were an easy way for me to show how him my love and care for him.  It is human nature to be selfish, only when you make the choice give to others starting with your spouse and family you will see even greater blessings and love.

    Thoughtfulness goes both ways in a marriage relationship. It was neat to have the special surprises timed on the same day even though neither one of us knew what the other spouse was doing.  Not every day goes so smoothly in our home, but I am thankful that we love each other despite the tough moments and we continue to have many wonderful memories together.  What are some thoughtful activities that you do to make your spouse and family feel loved?

     

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (May Update)

    May is my fourth month tracking my Creative Cash.  What is Creative Cash?  Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal.  I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified.   I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year.  Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much.  We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors.  As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split.  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others.  At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.

    May was a good month even though it was extremely active in many other areas of my life.  Thankfully I was able to save some extra cash however, I did not reach my my goal of $100.  I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $23.11 – Items sold on Ebay (after fees):   The all the items sold were coupons.  I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
    • $9.51 – A portion of the proceeds from the Upstate Women’s & Home Consignment Sale
    • $29.50– A portion of the proceeds from the Taylors & Friends Consignment Store.
    • $14.90 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned  (rebates, returns, cash back,  extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.

    It was a harder month to set the extra aside because it was very busy and I was not able to participate in as many extra creative cash activities.  May’s “Creative Cash” total was $77.02 which means $38.51 extra that goes towards our current goal (paying down debt) and $38.51 goes towards charity.  May was the first month I didn’t hit my $100 goal but I am happy that I was able to get close to the goal and every little bit helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in June so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others.  Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in May.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us.  I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  Do you know of another way to earn creative cash?   I would love to hear your idea!

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

    Photo by StopNLook

  • Heart Reflections: Full of Weeds

    The best part about having a garden is the produce!  Whether you have a bountiful vegetable garden or a garden full of beautiful flowers we all know that weeds are eventually going to start poking through the surface!  While the fresh veggies, fruit, and flowers provide many benefits they will only continue to thrive if they taken care of which includes pulling a few weeds.

    As I was weeding our vegetable garden earlier this week I started thinking about all the delicious food we get to enjoy because we have taken the time to pull weeds.  If we were to allow the weeds to take over the garden the precious vegetable plants would eventually stop producing.  Weeding the garden is not in my top 10 list of fun things to do with my time, however, for the delicious food it is worth the extra time it takes to weed and maintain it.  I am grateful for a garden that we can enjoy and for the abundance that we can share with others!

    Later that day while I was working on other tasks my mind drifted back to the time spent weeding in the garden.

    • How often does my own life and heart get full of “weeds” (distractions, stuff, schedules, shopping,  work, etc…)?   It is important that I have some quiet time every day to evaluate my life and refocus on what’s truly important.  The time spent “weeding” my heart is valuable and essential.  When I don’t take the time to weed through the issues in my heart life tends to weigh me down and fruit becomes less visible, much like in our vegetable garden.
    • Does my day go any better when I have a heart that is overgrown with weeds? No, usually I am more stressed because I am trying to do it on my own strength when in reality I have no control over anything.  Just having my mind and heart focused on what really matters makes the days more enjoyable.   A vegetable garden cannot go days without water during a drought or the plants will stop producing fruit.  My heart is the same, if I don’t take time refresh my heart when the drought comes I won’t be able to withstand the heat and will wither under the pressures life throws my way.
    • Is my attitude better with a weedy heart? When my heart is overwhelmed with clutter it is much harder to live a life full of joy.  A heart that is weeded will receive a fresh wave of energy and will rejoice in every precious day we are given.   A garden flourishes when it is weeded, watered, has good soil, and plenty of sun.  When your heart is weeded the positive fruits are allowed to grow giving you more opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

    The weeds (busy agendas, work, distractions) are waging a constant battle against your heart much like they are doing in the garden.  Take time daily to be still and focus on what’s really important.  What is in our hearts will eventually become known.  Our actions on the weedy days are not as kind or considerate to the people around us.  Do you have weeds that pop up in your garden and heart?

  • Book It! Reading Program for Elementary Kids & FREE Pizza!

    Pizza Hut Book It

    Book It! was a program I participated in when I was in elementary school!  Book It! is a National Reading Incentive Program that was developed to help elementary age children improve their reading skills.

    Students earn a Free Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut when they meet their reading goals each month.

    The Book It! program is open to ALL students who are in Kindergarten through 6th Grade at public schools, homeschools, private school, or parochial schools.

    Register your child by September 1, 2011 and Book It! will send you the program materials and coupons.

    Check out their website for printable charts, reading lists and certificates to keep the kids motivated and help you track your children’s reading progress.

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (April Update)

    April is my third month tracking my Creative Cash.  What is Creative Cash?  Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal.  I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified.   I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year.  Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much.  We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors.  As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split.  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others.  At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.

    April was a great month even though I was out of town for half the month.  Thankfully we started the month strong and I was able to  go over my goal of $100.  I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $23.11 – Items sold on Ebay (after fees):   The all the items sold were coupons.  I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
    • $64.70 – A portion of the proceeds from our family garage sale the first weekend in April.
    • $26.20 – A portion of the proceeds from the Upstate Kids Consignment Sale
    • $28.85 – A portion of the proceeds from the Mothers of Multiples Club Consignment Sale.
    • $3.87 – Bag of Aluminum cans taken to the Recycling Place.
    • $18.99 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned  (3 rebates, returns, cash back,  extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.

    April’s “Creative Cash” total was $165.72 which means $82.86 extra that goes towards our current goal (paying down debt) and $82.86 goes towards charity.  It was exciting to go above the $100 goal again and to know it helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in May so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others.  Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in April.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us.  I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  Do you know of another way to earn creative cash?   I would love to hear your idea!

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

    Photo by StopNLook

  • Song: “What Faith Can Do” by Kutless

    We were able to see Kutless in concert during our Valentine’s Date at Winter Jam in Greenville, SC.  It was neat to hear their songs that night.  Since then several of their songs have been ringing through my head, this is one of those songs.  We all fall and make mistakes, however, it’s how we pick ourselves up that matters.  Having faith in something so much greater than ourselves gives us the additional strength and hope we need to get through any situation.  We have the privilege of seeing miracles happen when we have faith that God can and will provide exactly what we need.

  • The Best Stuff in Life is FREE!

    I have come to learn that most treasured things in life really are “free”!  You cannot purchase these items and they come spontaneously and sincerely from the giver.  They are little wonderful gifts to those on the receiving end.  It is easy to get wrapped up in the day to day life and not realize that some of the best stuff that we can get in our lifetime is free.  These simple acts of kindness can be a huge blessing to us on a tough day.  As a Mom I am thankful for girls who freely and generously shower me with these blessings quite frequently.

    Here are some of the BEST things in my life that are free:

    • A hug from a child
    • Word of encouragement from a friend
    • Smile from a stranger
    • A handful of freshly picked dandelions, weeds, or flowers picked from the yard
    • Simple act of kindness
    • A handwritten note in the mail
    • And Many More Special Blessings

    I can think of so many more amazing blessings in my life that a free yet have a positive impact on my life as well as on the lives of others.  Another thought to consider is……how often do I give these gifts to others?  Often times it is when you demonstrate to your children, family and friends these blessing that you’ll see the ripple effect and eventually the other side of it.

    What are some ways you are a blessing to others?  Does it take much time or cost you too much to make a positive impact on the lives of the people around you?