Family

  • EA Games Store: Spring Sale 40% Off Games + Free Shipping (TODAY)

    EA Games is having a Spring Sale TODAY (Friday, April 29, 2011)!   There are over 180 EA Games on their 40% Off Spring Sale today plus free shipping, all platforms:

    • Wii
    • XBox 360
    • PlayStation 3
    • PlayStation 2
    • PlayStation Portable
    • Nintendo DS
    • PC

    They have a list of games for 40% off PLUS you receive FREE SHIPPING!

    Here are just a few listed:

    • The Sims
    • Littlest Pet Shop
    • NHL
    • Need for Speed – Racing
    • Mass Effect 2
    • NBA Jam
    • Medal of Honor
    • EA Sports
    • And MANY MORE!!!!

  • Family Recipe: Deannie’s BBQ Brisket

    It’s grilling time!  I love grilling out with family and friends!  There is just something about the BBQ and grilled taste in the warmer seasons.  Although, hamburgers and hotdogs are great I enjoy experimenting and trying out new grilling recipes.  My Aunt Mary Ann shared Deannie Kelleher’s BBQ Brisket Recipe with me several years ago.  If you have a smoker oven/grill this recipe is perfect for you, otherwise you can get tender and tasty brisket by cooking it in your oven. You will need to start this recipe the night before you want to eat it.  It is a wonderful recipe for hosting guests because you can start early and have a delicious meal ready when they arrive!

    Deannie’s BBQ Brisket:

    • 1/2 to 1/3 Liquid Smoke Bottle
    • Onion Salt
    • Garlic Salt
    • Celery Salt
    • BBQ Sauce (your choice of flavor)

    The night before cooking your brisket.  Pour liquid smoke over the brisket.  Shake a generous amount of onion salt, garlic salt, and celery salt on the brisket.  Cover with foil and set overnight in the fridge.  Keep covered with foil and sprinkle with black pepper and BBQ sauce.  Bake at 250 degrees for about 5 hours.  After 5 hours at 250 degrees remove, let cool, slice an add BBQ sauce then return to oven for 30 more minutes.

    Picture by McCun934

  • Gift Giving: “The Graduates Survival Guide” by Rachel Cruze (Dave Ramsey)

    Do you have a family member or friend who is graduating from High School this year?  Are you looking for a unique gift for a reasonable price to give them that can help for many years?  You can order “The Graduates Survival Guide” for $19.95 on Dave Ramsey’s website.

    “The Graduates Survival Guide” includes:

    • Quick Reference Book (132 pages) – Question & Answer Format that includes information and resources about:
    1. Balancing a Checkbook
    2. Credit Cards
    3. Debt
    4. Part-Time Jobs
    5. Collision and Liability Insurance
    6. Student Loans
    7. Giving
    8. Compound Interest
    9. Saving
    10. And Many More Valuable Resources
    • 4 Track DVD – information and discussion on college topics:
    1. College Life
    2. Marketing & Debt
    3. Practical Saving
    4. Navigating Academic – schedules, classes, internships, and goals.
    5. And More!
    • Commemorative Gift Case – that holds all the goodies for your graduate

    Description:

    “The Graduates Survival Guide” is designed to prepare graduating seniors for college.  Rachel Cruze’s “The Graduates Survival Guide” is for graduating High School Students as they step into the next phase of their life as a freshman in college.  The guide is humorous and informative.  The DVD about college life has helpful tips and stories (regarding schedules, finances, eating out, college life, roommates, and more) from Rachel Cruze, Christy Brown and Jon Acuff.  

    More about Rachel Cruze:

    Rachel Cruze was taught the basic principles of money at an early age.  She is part of Dave Ramsey’s team and has traveled across the country to speak to young adults at high schools, colleges and youth conferences about finances.   Some of the topics she discusses with teenagers is how to budget, save for cars & college, and giving.

  • Family Celebrations: Catching Up with Family Over Spring Break

    Cousins Riding Together on the John Deere Gator! Fun Times!

    The girls and I had the opportunity to go visit family over their Spring Break this year.  We had a lot of fun spending time with Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and more!  It had been a few months since we had been in the Midwest yet I was amazed how much the girls remembered.  They LOVED seeing family and spending time on the farm.  Each night they would crash from their busy schedule but they would be up early the next morning ready to (as Karlie put it so nicely) “Go explore more of Kansas!”

    I am thankful the girls have an opportunity to spend time with my parents and all four Grandpa and Grandma’s on my side of the family.  Each one has a special place in my heart and I am thrilled the girls get to have such wonderful memories of them as well.  It has been a nice adventure full of old and new memories.  It was such a blessing to see so many family members throughout our stay in Kansas!

    Here are just some of the exciting activities we participating in during our stay in Kansas (I hope to have some more pictures to show in a few days):

    • Riding Horses – Brina and Karlie LOVED Sassy
    • Playing with Dogs, Cats and Farm Animals
    • Watching them Work the Calves
    • Easter Egg Hunts
    • Kids 4 Truth Activities
    • Spending Time with Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins
    • Playing with family and friends
    • Riding the Gator
    • “Hunting” (Brina’s paraphrase) for Corn Cobs for the Horse
    • Coloring Easter Eggs
    • Crafts
    • Seeing Grandpa’s Big “Sprinkler” (Center Pivot)
    • Lots of Pheasants
    • Seeing a Coyote chase the Pheasants
    • Gathering Eggs in Grandpa Verlyn’s Hen House
    • Feeding the Turkeys
    • Homemade Food (including special Waffles)
    • Hot Chocolate
    • Helping Grandpa Russell on the Farm
    • Shooting Uncle Lee & Uncle Josh with Nerf Guns
    • Puzzles
    • The Big Hole
    • The Pet Cemetery
    • Grocery Shopping with Grandma Penny
    • Reading Books with Grandpa Russell & Grandma Penny
    • Planting Flowers
    • Learning More About our Family’s History
    • AND SOOOO MUCH MORE!!!!!!!

    The girls and I had a grand time seeing so many family members and spending time in Kansas.  A big thanks to everyone for a super fun trip!  It is a Spring Break that the girls will be talking about for years.  And yes, they found out that Easter does come to Kansas too!   Although we made a lot of wonderful new memories during our trip the girls are ready to see Daddy again.  Hopefully he is ready for us!

  • Baskin Robbins: $0.31 Scoop Night (Wednesday, 4/27)

    Baskin Robbins has their  $0.31 Scoop Night on Wednesday night, 4/27/11, from 5 PM to 10 PM.

    The 31 Cent scoop night is in honor America’s firefighters and you help by participating and/or donating during the event.

    Baskin-Robbins is donating $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation™ (NFFF).

    Check you local store to make sure they are participating in the event.  In the past the stores are pretty full during this event so you may want to go early or make sure you go when you have enough time.  Also, to keep the line moving they typically take cash only during this special event.  Enjoy treating your family to a good treat while helping a great cause!

  • Baskin-Robbins Coupon: Buy 1 Cone, Get 1 Free

     

    Baskin-Robbins Coupon for Buy 1 Cone, Get 1 FREE Cone!

    How?

    • Go to Baskin-Robbins Facebook
    • Scroll to their wall post on April 17th
    • Click the Play Button to instantly win a B1G1F Coupon to print out!

    The coupon Expires on May 15, 2011!

  • Book: “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney

    I was thinking about some of my favorite books I enjoy reading to the girls.  The book Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney is one I have read to our girls many times.  It is a great book for parents to read to little ones.  The book is about a small rabbit who is asking how much he is loved and comparing the love to things / objects around him.  It helps put “love” in a perspective that our children can understand.  The book is a good reminder to the kids and parent both.  It is important that we show our love and appreciation for our children not only by reading the book to them but in many other ways throughout the week – a hug, listening, spending time with them, and just appreciating them for who they are as individuals.

  • Old Navy Sale: One Day Wonder Friday 4-8pm & ALL Day Saturday

    Old Navy is having a ONE DAY WONDER Sale today Friday, April 22, 2011 between 4pm and 6pm and ALL day on Saturday April 23rd on solid polos.

    How It Works: There are 3 ways you can participate in the sale, chose one way and start saving.

    1. Old Navy Facebook page from your Smartphone
    2. Print a screenshot of Old Navy’s Facebook page
    3. Show them your Old Navy card

    It’s easy to save a little extra!  Happy Shopping!

  • Family Recipe: Grandma’s Stuffed Pork Chops

    Jake’s Grandma Marge is a wonderful cook and she has an amazing recipe for pork chops & stuffing.  I am not a huge pork chops fan but these are really delicious.  She is a great cook and the pork chops are awesome.

    Grandma’s Pork Chops & Stuffing:

    • 4 Pork Chops (about 1 lb)
    • 3 cups Bread Crumbs
    • 2 Tablespoon chopped Onion
    • 1/4 cup melted Butter or Margarine
    • 1/4 cup Water
    • 1/4 teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
    • 1 can (10 1/2 oz) condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
    • 1/3 cup Water

    Brown chops on both side, place in a shallow baking dish.  Lightly mix together bread cubes, onion, butter, 1/4 cup water, and poultry seasoning.  Place a mound of stuffing on each pork chop.  Blend soup and 1/3 cup water; pour over.  Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until tender.

    Photo by Dan Perry