• Save A Lot: Deals for the week of August 29 – September 4, 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!

    Meat and Seafood

    Eye of Round Roast – $2.79 lb

    Eye of Round Steaks – $2.99 lb

    Pork Chops – $2.89 lb

    Bar S Hotdogs (12 oz) – $0.79

    Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts or Tenders – $1.89 lb

    Boneless Whole Pork Loins – $1.89 lb

    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.

    Fridge and Freezer

    Coburn Farms Cheese Singles (12 oz) – $1.49

    Tampico Freezer Pops (23.7 oz) – $0.99

    Wylwood Crinkle Cut French Fries (32 oz) – $1.99

    Wylwood Potato Puffs (32 oz) – $1.99

    Produce

    Fresh Jumbo Sweet Onions – $0.89 lb

    Fresh Bunch Broccoli – $1.49

    Whole Seedless Watermelon – $3.99

    Dole Coleslaw Mix (14 oz) – $0.99

    Household

    Save A Lot Today Paper Towels (single roll) – $0.50

    Wrightware Foam Plates (40 count) – $1.39

    Grocery

    Lay Potato Chips (10 oz) – B1G1F

    Bubba Cola, Assorted Flavors (2 liter) – $0.85

    Bubba Cola, Assorted Flavors (12 pack) – $2.48

    Heinz Tomato Ketchup (40 oz) – $1.99
    Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 8/19 Smart Source (Expires 9/30/12)
    Use $0.25/1 coupon from insert 8/19 Smart Source (Expires 9/30/12)
    As low as $1.49 each after coupon

    Portmann’s Real Mayonnaise (30 oz) – $2.39

    Cowboy Billy’s Pork n Beans (16 oz) – $0.50

    Crystal 2.0 Drinking Water (24 pack) – $2.48

    Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce (28 oz) – $1.69

    Kurtz Yellow Mustard (14 oz) – $0.69

    Kurtz Hamburger Slices, Spears, or Whole Dill Pickles (24 – 30 oz) – $1.89

    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.

  • I Love You Sweet Girls!

    I love you Brina & Karlie

    Before I traveled to India earlier this year I left a few goodies for the girls including this sign.  They were so excited to see this sign hanging up when they came home from school that day.  They treasured it so much that the sign is still in their room!

    This is a great reminder of how doing something simple like a spray painting a poster board can mean the world to our kids.  It is important to tell our kids that we love them in various ways including writing it down for them to read and showing them by our actions.  How have you shown your kids love today?

  • Song: “Strong Enough” by Matt West

    I had a day late last week when I got slammed with a bunch of stuff and felt overwhelmed with everything going on.  It was one of those days you wanted to crawl back in bed and start over again.  Thankfully I don’t have to fix everything or depend on my own strength to solve all the problems that hit me because God is right there alongside of me helping.  He is not surprised by the extra challenges that come into my life; in fact He uses them to reveal Himself even more in my life.

    You must
    You must think I’m strong
    To give me what I’m going through

    Well, forgive me
    Forgive me if I’m wrong
    But this looks like more than I can do
    On my own,

    I know I’m not strong enough to be
    everything that I’m supposed to be
    I give up
    I’m not strong enough
    Hands of mercy won’t you cover me
    Lord right now I’m asking you to be
    Strong enough
    Strong enough
    For the both of us

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    The girls had a great first week of school.  The menu was a huge time saver in the evenings, although we had to change it up a bit because a couple last minute activities came up.  Hopefully we’ll be more into our new routine this week.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Seafood Entree): Country Style Ribs, Steamed Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Brina & Karlie’s Night to Cook Dinner – Hot Dogs
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Crockpot Cashew Chicken, Jasmine Rice
    • Thursday (Pasta or Pork Entree): Pork Chops, Fresh Garden Salad
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • First Day of School “Love Notes” for the Kids

    Brina and Karlie’s first day of school love notes

    Every year on the first day of school we write a “love note” to the girls.  They always look forward to receiving and reading their notes.  It is something simple to do on the first day of school but it helps remind them of how much we love them especially on a busy day every year.

    Love notes for the girls on their breakfast bar stools

    In our family we try to do as much prep work (make lunches, lay out clothes, set out plates / bowls for breakfast, vitamins) the night before.  The girls know exactly where to find any breakfast notes or surprises.  I have found that by having items laid out the night before the mornings go much more smoothly.  The kids get a great start to each school day and it is less stressful for me.

    The girls always like to read their notes on the first day of school

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

     This past week the girls started school again and yes Mommy shed a few tears.  I had a blast with the girls this summer, it went by too fast (my babies are growing up).  They both were excited about starting school and had a great first week.  I was able to go on a “big” girls weekend away trip to hear Beth Moore speak in Charleston.  Thankful for the opportunity to get away with friends and be refreshed spiritually.  Thank you Jake for watching the girls while I was away this weekend, your the best.

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids – we squeezed in a couple more before school began
    3. Girls Packed and Ready to Start School on Tuesday
    4. Get into the School Routine – its started but not sure if we are completely adjusted yet, ha

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Attend a Beth Moore Conference with friends – great weekend trip!

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – got it planned out but had a make a couple alterations during the week
    3. Prep for my Fall Organizational Schedule – it was a crazy busy week didn’t get it done
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Prep for upcoming Alms & Legs Meeting

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4 – went over budget as I stocked up on school lunch food
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – on hold
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled – we found a car! WooHoo!!!!
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – on hold temporarily

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Greenville Drive Baseball Game with Family
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    5. Doctor Appointments
    6. After School Activities
    7. ENT Surgery & Recovery

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Finish reading Our Boys by Joe Drape – I started this one a couple years ago and never finished so starting over.  It’s about the Smith Center, Kansas football team (it has been interesting reading the book so far because I know some of the people in it since my parents live near Smith Center)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Prep for my Fall Organizational Schedule
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Get caught up on blog items

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out  Alms & Legs Team Meeting Notes

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

  • Book: “Very Charleston” by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

    Our family loves traveling together and whenever Jake goes to Charleston for work we try to tag along (works better when schools out).  We have a lot of great memories in Charleston, South Carolina.  Over a year ago we got the book Very Charleston: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Lowcountry Charm by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler.   This book has been a huge hit especially with the kids.  It is packed full of great information about Charleston.  The illustrations are detailed in beautiful watercolors.

    • Historical facts – Civil War, Citadel, Slavery, Crafts and more
    • Places of Interest – Forts, Beaches, Churches, Museums, Plantations, Shopping and more
    • Popular Local Festivals
    • Interesting People from Charleston
    • Famous Places to Eat & Traditional Charleston Recipes
    • PACKED full of great tidbits of information about the Charleston area

    This is an excellent book if you are planning on traveling (or moving) to Charleston.  It’s enjoyable to read and you’ll learn pieces of history too.  Every time we go to Charleston we bring this book along to read together.   Our kids LOVE it!

  • Recipe: Strawberry Banana Bread

    Strawberry Banana Bread

    There is something about the smell of banana bread baking in the oven!  Sometimes it is good changing things up a little bit too…..like taking our family banana bread recipe and adding strawberries to it.  I recently had some extra bananas and strawberries that needed to be used up.  For a change of pace I decided to do a Strawberry Banana Bread which was a huge hit with the family.  The base recipe is our family recipe – Nancy’s Banana Bread with just a 1/2 cup of pureed strawberries for an added touch.   This recipe is easy to put together and delicious too.

    Strawberry 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
    • 1/2 cup pureed Strawberries
    • 2 Bananas, mashed

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

    You might also like our Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe too.

    Loaf of the Strawberry Banana Bread

  • Fresh & Healthy: First Day of School Lunch Box Meals

    Karlie and Brina’s lunch for the first day of school

    Another school year has started…..we had a blast this summer.  Their school lunch boxes are metal with a chalkboard on the inside so I can write them a message.  For the first day I wrote “Happy First Day of School Brina & Karlie. We love you!”  The girls pack a lunch Monday through Thursday on Friday they eat their lunch at school as a special treat.  Most days the girls pack their own lunches but with the first week being so busy I got them started until they adjust to the new schedule.  Each day they get a protein, fruit, vegetable, dairy, drink, and snack (sometimes I will through in an extra snack or treat if I know we have activities after school).

    Karlie’s lunch box has a shiny red race car with her name on the car and tracks

    Brina’s lunch box is covered in hearts and her favorite colors (orange and pink)!

    Each lunch box has their design and names on both the font and back as well as the sides (see picture at bottom for the side view).  The lunch boxes were a “surprise” for the girls.  They were thrilled to get these to use for school.  I was pleased with how they turned out too.

    Ready to be packed

    Lunch Goodies:

    • Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza
    • Berry Blast Fruit Mashups
    • Peach Yogurt
    • Fresh Carrots
    • Cherry Fruit Twist
    • Peanut Butter Crackers
    • Cinnamon Teddy Grahams
    • CapriSun Sunrise Juice
    • Million Dollar Mint

    Lunches all packed, in the fridge, and ready to go for tomorrow’s big day!