• FREE ADMISSION to Botanical Gardens on May 6

    Celebrate National Public Gardens Day by visiting a participating Botanical Garden for FREE on Friday, May 6th!  Free Admission compliments of Better Homes & Gardens.  How do you get your free pass:

    • Check the list of Participating Locations
    • Fill Out a Brief Form
    • Print Coupons for your Free Admission Pass
    • One Coupon covers two people (for example if you have 2 people going you only need 1 coupon if you have 3 to 4 people you’ll need 2 coupons)

    It would be a great time to take the kids / family on a field trip to a local Botanical Gardens.  The closest one to us in South Carolina is in Charleston, but the one in North Carolina or Georgia may be worth a drive since they may be a little closer!  A great educational experience for the whole family and it’s free!

  • Giveaway: Target Gift Card

    I am doing another giveaway!!!  The winner of this giveaway will receive a $10 Target Gift Card!  As a busy Mom I am always looking for ways to save, use coupons, and stay within budget for our family.  I know many of my readers are doing the same for their families as well and free gift cards are a great way to stretch the savings even more!  Target is a great place to pick up household items, groceries, clothing, gifts, and more for your family.

    There are two ways to enter this giveaway:

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing one of your favorite items you shop for at Target!

    All comments must be made by May 31st at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.  On May 31st I will randomly draw a winner from those who have entered the giveaway.

  • Swagbucks: NEW Gift Cards!!!

    GOOD NEWS for those who are currently participating in Swagbucks or who are just getting started!  Swagbucks has added a lot of New Gift Cards that you can choose from when you redeem swagbucks!   Before these additional gift cards I would usually work towards getting Amazon Cards, Starbucks, Paypal Cash, or other gift cards that I our family enjoys. Now that they have extra Gift Cards available it may be fun to get some additional ones and see if we can make our budget stretch even further!

    You can now choose from a larger variety of Gift Cards (here are a few of the extra ones added):

    • $10 CVS Gift Card – 1,249 Swagbucks (use this in addition to your Extra Rewards Bucks to make your budget stretch even further)
    • $10 Home Depot Gift Card – 1,249 Swagbucks
    • $10 O’Charley’s Gift Card – 1,145 Swagbucks
    • $10 Macaroni Grill, On The Border, & Maggiano’s Restaurants Gift Card – 1,195 Swagbucks
    • $10 Fandango Gift Card – 1,175 Swagbucks
    • $25 Land’s End Gift Card – 2,865 Swagbucks
    • $25 Cabela’s Gift Card – 2,975 Swagbucks
    • $25 Tiger Direct Gift Card – 2,995 Swagbucks
    • And MORE!!!!

    All the previous reward options are still available (here a few of our Favorite Rewards):

    • $5 Amazon Gift Card – 450 Swagbucks
    • $5 Paypal Cash – 700 Swagbucks
    • $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card – $1,250 Swagbucks
    • $10 Starbucks Gift Card – 1,300 Swagbucks
    • $20 Target Gift Card – 2,350 Swagbucks

    Get started earning these free Gift Cards and other great rewards today through Swagbucks!

    You can really do a lot with the extra Gift Card options.

    • Restaurant Gift Card & Fandango Gift Card –  Go on a Date Night with your man!
    • CVS Gift Card – Use it with your Extra Care Bucks to purchase Health, Beauty, & Household Items, not to mention diapers, wipes, and other great items!
    • Home Depot Gift Card – Get something for your Home or Yard!
    • And Many More Great Ideas!!!!

    If you haven’t already started using Swagbucks now’s an excellent time to start earning or beef up your current earnings! It is FREE to signup and you can quickly rack up the Swagbucks to earn free Gift Cards as well as thousands of other rewards for your family!  It is possible to earn 1 to several Gift Cards or Rewards a month!  To learn more information on how to get started earning Swagbucks please see my post on Swagbucks: Earning A Little Extra!

    It is a great way to bring in a little extra for yourself, your family, or to share with others every month!  Every little bit helps!

     

     

  • Book: “Secure Daughters, Confident Sons” by Glenn Stanton

    I recently read the book “Secure Daughters, Confident Sons: How Parents Guide Their Children into Authentic Masculinity and Femininity” by Glenn T. Stanton.  As a Mom of twin daughters I am constantly striving to improve my parenting skills so I can be a better person and raise my girls to be healthy, happy and caring women.  “Secure Daughters, Confident Sons” is a book that discusses why gender matters when raising our children.  Our culture shows our kids a variety of stereotypes and as parents we want to encourage our children to grow up to be great men and women.

    In Stanton’s book he clarifies that we are all made in the divine image of God, both male and female.  As parents we are to “train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it” Proverbs 22:6.  Each child is distinct individual and their path may not look the same as their siblings.  There are certain qualities we should teach consistently, however, every child will journey on their individual paths.  We are all unique individuals.  One other statement that popped out to me was Stanton’s quote from Dr. Louann Brizendine, “More than 99 percent of male and female genetic coding is exactly the same…..less than one percent variation…..But that percentage difference influences every single cell in our bodies…..”

    Glenn Stanton’s book has two sections :

    1.  “A Clear Vision for Authentic Manhood and Womanhood – and How to Help Your Kids Get There” In this section Stanton shows parents ways they can encourage their children to grow up to be healthy adults.  Guiding your children begins at an early age.  The book has chapters that focus specifically on boys / men and chapters on girls / women.   These chapters are beneficial for setting the foundations for your children.  Even if you have all boys or all girls in your family you will benefit by reading the chapters on the opposite gender.  (I have two girls in my family, however, reading the chapters on boys helps me better understand my husband, brothers, nephews, etc….) As a parent you want your children to happy,  successful, and have a healthy balance of strength and compassion for God and others.  Stanton gives parents practical tips to help guide your children.

    2.  “Why Boys and Girls Need Mothers and Fathers” Being a parent adds extra responsibility in your life since you and your spouse are the primary examples for your children. Each parent plays a unique role in the lives of their children and both contribute to the development of the kids.  We want to create a home of positive influence, security, and variety of interactions for our children (being examples in a many ways from how we raise the kids, discipline, working through disagreements, play, communication, manners, marriage, and more) .  What they learn and experience at home can provide a strong foundation as they mature into adults.

    Another great addition to this book is the Q&A section at the end of each chapter.  The questions address the information that was discussed in the chapter and provides more specific tips.  Every family is different and has unique situations therefore it is nice to see some extra advice given to families with the Q&A segment.

    Glenn Stanton did a pretty good job discussing a rather sensitive cultural topic in this book.  He had a mix of both spiritual and secular studies from professionals at leading Universities.  It is a good book for people who have children of their own, plan to have them, or are around children.

    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.”

  • LOWES Lawn & Garden Sale: Mulch, Roundup, & Soil

    Are you wanting to work in the yard soon?  Lowe’s is having up to 49% Off Lawn and Garden items! ALL the sale items are priced at $2.50.  You will need to enter your zip code to view the deals in your area but it is a nationwide sale.

    • Mulch – Russet Red, Cocoa Brown, Midnight Black,  & Treated Brown
    • Roundup (24 oz) – Weed & Grass Killer (Ready to Use)
    • MiracleGro – Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables

    Order online and choose the free in-store pickup.

    PLEASE NOTE: If you do not choose in-store pickup you’ll be charged a $50 plus fee for shipping!

  • 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!!!!

  • 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

  • Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    Thankful for all of my readers checking in with me and those who asked why I didn’t give my Groceries $40 for 4 update last week. Since I was out of town visiting family during the girls Spring and Easter Break my husband was given the $40 cash for our groceries.  He was good about not spending more than the $40 that I gave him, however, the receipts and pictures didn’t happen.  He is the better cook in our family but it just isn’t as exciting cooking for one.   I came back this week late on Tuesday evening (otherwise known as very early Wednesday morning) and hit the ground running with appointments, work, and getting the kids back in school.  I did not have an opportunity to go through the fridge, pantry or shop the sales so I just bought the obvious items that were missing this week.  Hopefully by this weekend I will have a grasp of what we need and have a few moment to look at the ads for next week.  I will get back into the routine schedule soon!   Below are my grocery shopping adventures for the week:

    Groceries from Bi-Lo:

    • $8.97 at Bi-Lo for 3 gallons of Milk ($2.99 each)

    I am excited to see how next week goes with our Groceries $40 for 4 budget since I have been gone for two weeks.  This week I only had time to do was restock the milk so I was able to save extra grocery cash.  Thankful for a husband who honors $40 grocery budget!  It makes me smile knowing he carried around that cash the entire time I was gone and had to make decisions on how to spend it as well.

    It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks!  As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too.  The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.

    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.

  • 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