Events & Holidays

  • Starbucks – Buy 1 Holiday Drink, Get 1 Free (11/18 to 11/21)

    Buy 1 Starbucks Holiday Drink, Get 1 Free

    Thursday, November 18th to Sunday, November 21st between 2 PM & 5 PM.

    Share the taste of the season with a friend or someone special.  It’s the perfect reason to spend some time catching up.

    Starbucks Holiday Drinks Include:
    • Caramel Brulee Latte
    • Peppermint Mocha
    • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
    • Peppermint Hot Chocolate
    • Gingerbread Latte
    • Eggnog Latte
    • Caramel Brulee Frappuccino blended beverage
    • Peppermint Mocha Frappaccino blended beverage

    The FREE Holiday beverage must be of equal or lesser value.

  • A Note of Thanks – Happy Veteran’s Day!

    We want to say a big THANK YOU to those who have and are currently serving our country! Our country is very blessed to have people protecting our freedoms.  We have a lot to be thankful for today.

    Let us take the opportunity today to “thank” the Veterans in our lives.  Also, make it a point to thank any veteran you meet today.  Today provides a great venue for teaching our children who veterans are and why we have a special day set aside to honor them.   We are grateful for those who serve.

    Thank You!  Happy Veterans Day!

  • Twin Sisters Productions

    Our girls have enjoyed many of the Twin Sisters Productions CDs and products from the ABCs, relaxing, fun, learning languages (German & Italian) and more.  Since we have fraternal twin daughters of our own we are thrilled to support a wonderful business started by fraternal twin sisters. To get an idea of what their songs are like you can listen to them prior to purchasing.  Sing & Learn (Multipacks) by Twin Sisters Productions is a good mix that of songs that the girls have been listening to for several years even though they know their Alphabet, Numbers, and so forth.  These make great gifts for little ones that like music and they have a variety of neat products for a reasonable price.

  • Date Night on a Budget – Dinner

    Going on a Date Night with your spouse can be just what the whole family needs.   It is important to take time to relax and be a couple, whether you have little ones or not.   Your kids may enjoy a night away too.   One way to open the door of communication is by having a quiet meal together.

    Here are a few ways to save on the cost of eating out so you can relax when you go on your date:

    1.  Free Dinner Options

    • Gift Certificates – if you have a gift certificate to a restaurant use it when you go on your date.  Occasionally we get gift certificates for our anniversary so we save them for Date Nights.  It may be something you want to ask for your birthday or anniversary as well.   You can earn gift certificates by doing surveys or through accumulating points too.
    • Coupons – use a coupon to a restaurant that you and your spouse are wanting to go to.  If you plan ahead you can often find discounts or coupons online prior to going to a restaurant.  We have even shared a free dinner at a nice restaurant by using a coupon.  Sometimes you have to pay but if you look you can often get a meal for free.
    • Join the Club – many of the large chain restaurants offer special discounts if you sign up for their emails or newsletters.  You may get free food when they introduce a new menu item.  Even your local family owned restaurants give you special offers when you join their club.  Many restaurants offer free meal if you visit them around your birthday. If you have a favorite restaurant check and see they have a club you can join for extra savings.

    2. Discount Dinner Options

    • Restaurant.com – you can get discount restaurant certificates.  We have tried many new restaurants using Restaurant.com that have since become our favorite.  You can often get the certificates at a discount.  The best is when you can get them at 80% to 90% off.  We stock up when they are at a deep discount and it allows us to have plenty of options to chose from for Date Night.  The certificates last for one year so you have plenty of time to use them.  Try it out and see how you like it!
    • Barter – there are many barter programs available such as Tradebank or you can work something out with the owner of a restaurant or chain.  If you have services or products that they can use.  We have friends that provide a service for a restaurant and they get coupons for free meals. It is worth checking out.
    • Groupon – has daily deals that you can get between 40% to 90% off.  Many times Groupon will offer great discounts on restaurants.  When you purchase a certificate you have up to a year to use it.  Select the area closest to you to find out the  deals in your area.
    • Pack a picnic for a nice dinner at a park together.  You can pack a really wonderful romantic picnic for a great price.  Pick out a favorite food you know your spouse will like for an extra special treat.  It shows your love.  Some of our best Date Nights have been relaxing over a picnic at a park.

    You can have a wonderful dinner with your spouse without breaking your budget.  It is important to take time to talk, relax, and enjoy each other.  Take turns planning where you are going.  One month you plan the meal the next month your husband plans, it allows for some great surprises and extra romance!

    Jake and I try to have at least one date night a month because it is important to us to maintain and grow our marriage.  Communication around the typical family meal is more about the kids and the events of the day then on us as a couple.  Although we may be in a season when the finances are tight we can still have a terrific date night together.  The laughter, deep conversations, and a time of relaxation is worth finding ways to make it work logistically and financially.

  • Operation Christmas Child Packing Party

    The girls were excited to finally put together their Operation Christmas Child boxes.  They each took some money from their piggy banks and we went to the store to pick out goodies to put into their boxes.  Brina wanted to picked items out to put into a little girls box and Karlie picked items to put into a little boys box.

    It was sweet hearing them pray for the kids before packing the boxes.   The girls laid all the items out on the table so they could pick out the perfect ones for their little girl and boy. I was amazed at how much fit into those boxes! It was neat to see them work hard to share with others. Such a great teaching moment, we are very blessed in our society.

    The “Heifer International” magazine came in the mail while we were packing the boxes.  It allowed us an opportunity to discuss with the girls why people buy animals as gifts to help others. Only God can time something so perfectly!!! =)  If you are trying to decide how to share with others during the Holiday Season “Heifer International” would be another great organization to consider.

  • Date Night on a Budget – Babysitting Fees

    Do you enjoy having the opportunity to share some quiet time with your spouse?  Would you do it more if it cost less?  By the time you pay the baby sitter, go out for a meal, and an activity your budget is blown.  We have found some ways that have helped us cut down on the expense of going out while allowing us to still have fun.  One of the first and sometimes the most expensive costs of going on a date is the babysitter.  We LOVE our babysitters but the hours and expense add up quickly over the course of one evening especially on a tight budget.

    Here are a few ways to save on the babysitting costs so you can relax when you go on your date:

    1.  Free Babysitting  Options

    • Grandparents may be able to watch your sweet little one(s) once a month.    Most grandparents enjoy the opportunity to spend time with the children and are thrilled that you are focusing on strengthening your marriage at the same time.
    • Aunt or Cousin or another family member who is nearby will often watch the kids once a month so you can have some time to relax with your spouse.  Have you asked?  You may be surprised at how excited they are to spend time with the kids.
    • Swap Babysitting with Friends – do you belong to a church, Moms group or have friends in the neighborhood?  See if they will watch your kids once a month so you and your spouse can have a Date Night then watch their kids once a month so they can have time together too.  You can enjoy it because you have a night with your spouse without paying for babysitting and your kids love it because they have time to play with their friends.  Works really well if you have kids that are similar ages and that play well together.

    2. Discount Babysitting Options

    • Responsible Teenager will often work for a more negotiable rate and many times they have a lot of energy which makes it fun adventure for the kids.
    • Mature Tween who is wanting to get into babysitting but isn’t quite old enough to do it on her own yet.  You are giving her the learning experience and can usually do it for a discounted rate or sometimes even free.  They will watch your kids at their own house under the supervision of their parents.
    • College Student – they will usually work for a reasonable rate or we have had some that have chosen to spend the night and eat a couple meals at our house in lieu of payment.  This works well for the late night dates with your spouse.  It is wonderful coming home to a house of peaceful sleeping kids!  Plus this gives you the opportunity to get to know the babysitter better as well.

    We have used a variety of babysitting tactics with our twins.  When the finances got tight we searched for other options because we felt like time together was important.  We have used all 6 of the options listed above.  Our favorites of course are the free options and since the grandparents don’t live near us we are limited on those dates.  We are thankful to have friends who swap babysitting with us because we can have fun relaxing together and the kids have a blast spending time playing with their friends.  We look forward to the times we get to watch their kids because we get to play, have fun and spoil the kids!

    Jake and I try to have at least one date night a month because it is important to us to maintain and grow our marriage.  Communication around the typical family meal is more about the kids and the events of the day then on us as a couple.  Although we may be in a season when the finances are tight we can still have a terrific date night together.  The laughter, deep conversations, and a time of relaxation is worth finding ways to make it work logistically and financially.

  • Too Much Candy!

    Hope everyone had an amazing Holiday weekend.  Halloween is a great time to create memories with your family.  The Fall Festivals, pumpkin carving, hayrides, dressing up and candy…..sometimes too much candy.  Every wonder if you’ll be able to eat, share and giveaway all the candy before the next Halloween hits.

    Dentists all over the country are participating in a Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. They buy the kids Halloween candy then donate it to the groups that send it to those in Military Service.

    • Example:  Holly Tree Pediatric Dentistry in our area is Buying Back Halloween Candy and giving the kids $1 per pound ($5 max per child) and a Treat bag.  The Buy back dates are Monday 11/1 to Thursday 11/3 between 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.  All the candy will be donated to Troops overseas.  Also, Dr. Ann will match every dollar given and donate it to a local charity “Let There Be Mom.”

    If it is something you interested in participating in you can read more about on the FAQ page and search for locations near you!

  • Free Music Download: VeggieTales’s The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree Album

    November has arrived and many people are ready to start decorating and preparing for the Christmas Holidays!  Amazon is now offering FREE MP3 Downloads of Incredible Singing Christmas Tree (16 Track Album).  The price to download is currently $0.00 (although the price may change at any time, please confirm amount prior to downloading). Have fun getting into the Holiday spirit with your family!

    (Thanks Smart Couponing!)

  • Ruby Tuesday: Buy 1 Entree, Get 1 Free Coupon

    Ruby Tuesday currently has a great coupon if you are looking to eat out!  

    • We received the same coupon in our November Better Homes & Garden magazine as a postcard tear out and used it last night on our Date Night.  Check your magazines too!

    If you have not eaten at a Ruby Tuesdays it is a great time to check out their  menu and find a location near you.  Enjoy a night out!!!

  • Movie – “Life As We Know It”

    My husband and I enjoyed a Date Night last night.  YAY!!!  We love getting the opportunity to spend some quiet time together.  Our kids are precious, however, we are thrilled to have the occasional opportunity to laugh, talk and relax together as a couple.  We had free movie tickets and decided to see what was available.  Since it was the Thursday before Halloween weekend the options were a little limited.  “Saw” and some of the other Halloween / horror movies did not appeal to us.

    We chose the comedy “Life As We Know It”.  Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is single with a growing catering business and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) is single and working as sports director.  When their friends set up them up on a blind date they didn’t even get out of the driveway before going their separate ways.  Their best friends named them as godparents for their daughter Sophie.  When the parents were in an accident Holly and Messer were jointly responsible for taking care of Sophie.  Holly and Messer found ways to work around their differences because they both loved Sophie and wanted what was best for her. It was a funny to watch.  The new responsibilities of taking care of a baby had an effect on their lives which at times was pretty hilarious.  The romance was predictable but cute to see evolve.  Their neighbors were nosy and were a little overboard but if you are looking for a relaxing night out you may want to consider “Life As You Know It”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMK9GKZHtkw