Piano Recital

The girls had their Christmas Piano Recital a couple weekends ago.  As my sweet girls played their beautiful Christmas songs, I was encouraged and amazed at how much they have learned.  My oldest daughter started piano lessons in the First Grade and has been through three teachers in five years.  Her first teacher went off to college and her second teacher taught her one semester and then closed her piano studio. Their current teacher is amazing.  She loves the Lord, is so very patient, and such a sweet young lady. 

My youngest daughter began in First Grade (last year) and loves it!  She is learning so much so fast.  When the girls get discouraged I tell them to keep practicing because right now they are learning fundamentals and soon they will get to play fun songs that they know and enjoy.  My oldest daughter is almost there, she loves to sit and play through her piano book.  My youngest is still tinkering through, although she loved her Christmas Piano Book, because she could play and sing along. Such a sweet sound that brings tears to my eyes!

So very thankful for our amazing piano teacher and her love and patience with my children.

My Girls!

Every year we try and go to my mother-in-law's house to decorate her house for Christmas! We put up the tree, set up the Nativity, and dress up the mantel.  We turn on Christmas music and enjoy our time together singing and sharing wonderful memories of the past and making new ones with our girls! 

The girls are growing up too fast!  I remember the days of potty training and temper tantrums. I thought that those days would never end. But they did and we all survived. Now, here we are my oldest will be in 6th Grade next year and my youngest will be in 3rd Grade! It is really hard for me to believe!

Now we have new hurdles to jump over as they get older and I will trust in the fact that God will see us through them as he did when they were little. They are truly blessings from Him and it is my prayer that we will guide them and instruct them according to His will!

Chick-fil-a Nuggets

I got another recipe of f of Pinterest that I made again!  We LOVE Chik-fil-a, so I had to make these nuggets!  They were pretty good, but they were not Chik-fil-a's nuggets! My family enjoyed them!  That is what matters the most!  The recipe came from this blog and I followed it exactly!

Don't forget to soak your chicken pieces for 2 hours in the refrigerator before you toss them in the breading!

 

I was a little skeptical about using a zip loc baggie to coat my chicken pieces, but it worked great!

I used Peanut Oil to fry them and it worked great!

Here they are on my plate, ready for me to enjoy!!!!

Here is the recipe and cooking instructions from that blog:

Sweet Chicky Nuggets 
2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts 
1 cup milk 
1 egg 
1 1/4 cups flour 
2 TBSP powdered sugar 
2 tsp salt 
1 tsp pepper 
peanut oil (is best) or canola oil 

In a medium bowl whisk the egg and stir in the milk. Trim any fat away from chicken. Cube chicken into bite size pieces. Place chicken in milk mixture,and cover. Let it 'marinate' for 2-4 hours in the fridge. This will make the chicken very nice and tender. In a gallon size resealable baggie combine flour, powdered sugar, salt and pepper. Seal and shake to combine. Place about 2 inches of oil in a medium deep pot. Over medium high heat (more towards the high side) heat oil until hot. If using a thermometer let the temperature reach 375°. If you don't have a fancy gadget like most people, I always test my oil by dropping a few drops of water into it. You want it to sizzle and not pop too much. Adjust your heat if necessary. Using a fork or tongs remove cut chicken from milk mixture and place in the flour mixture. Seal and shake until nuggets are completely coated. Place about a 6-8 nuggets into hot oil and let them cook until golden brown, turning half way through once the edge of your chicken starts to turn white. About 1 minute each side. Always double check to see if any chicken you make is cooked through. I always just make a tiny cut to see if it's pink. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Repeat until all nuggets are cooked.

Crock Pot Egg Brunch Casserole!

I found a yummy breakfast recipe on Pinterest the other day and made it for my family. It is called Crock Pot Egg Brunch Casserole!  It was was a little involved, but it was really good. I made mine a little different from the recipe that I found, but you can find the original recipe at this blog.  

My Ingredients:
6 to 8 strips of bacon  (I bake mine in the oven at 350 degrees)

One onion peeled and chopped (I used half of an onion)

One Garlic Clove, peeled and minced (I used minced garlic that I bought at the store)

2lb. bag of Frozen Hash Browns

1 1/2 cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese

12 Eggs

1 Cup of Milk

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Pepper

• Spay Crock Pot with Non-Stick Cooking Spray.
• Cut cooked bacon in 1/2 inch pieces.
• Saute the Onion and Garlic.
• Place 1/3 of the Hash Browns in the bottom of the Crock Pot.
• Then layer with Bacon. 
• Then layer with Onions & Garlic.
• Then layer with Cheese.
• Repeat layers 2 more times ending with cheese.
• In a large bowl mix Eggs, Milk, and Salt & Pepper.
• Pour over the top of the ingredients in the crock pot.
• Cover and turn on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge

This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge - www.iheartfaces.com

Focus on the Family

I started getting the Thriving Family magazine from Focus on the Family in August of this year! I have no idea who may have started this subscription for me, but I love it! Thank you to whomever got this for me! I got the December magazine in the mail yesterday and opened it up today and the first thing I open up to is this little advent calendar book! I am so excited about it because we have been searching for something we can do each day with the girls that would put more focus on Christ's birth and less focus on presents and ourselves this Christmas season. Each day we read two scriptures and then we have a little activity to do with the girls! I can't wait to start this with them.

$35 P&G Coupon Book

Sign up for a free P&G coupon booklet with over $35 in coupons.

You can sign up for this again if it’s been over 30 days since you requested the last free coupon booklet.

Thanks Money Saving Mom

Daily/Weekly/Monthly Chores

Ok, so I have decided that I am not the organizing guru that I have claimed to be.  That or I am just a poor manager of my time. If only I could get by on a couple of hours of sleep, I might be able to cross off some things on my list.


My To Do List:

• Repaint the Playroom
• Reorganize the Playroom
• Clean out Spring & Summer clothes in the grils' closets
• Scan/File the girls' school work or projects 
• Update filing system (remember that I mentioned I had a new system, I haven't started)
• Paint Chalkboard on back of door leading to the garage
• Clean out basket filing system (a project that my bff and I did)
• Organize Scrapbook Supplies
• Create Photography Website
• Create Business Cards
• Organize Stock Pile
• Organize Storage room
• Finish Christmas Shopping
• Keep up with daily/weekly/monthly chores
• Edit Pictures
• MOPS stuff (if varies each week)

So I have created and will share my schedule to help me tackle this overwhelming list. I just hope that I can stick to it and that it helps me!

Halloween 2011

Each year we host a Halloween party at our house for family and friends.  It all started with our previous Associate Minister and his wife. They invited people from our church that did not live in a neighborhood over to their house for chili and trick-or-treating, they invited their neighbors as well. They ended up moving to Florida in 2009, so we decided to keep the tradition going. This was our 3rd year to host the party! We all got together to eat some yummy chili and mummy dogs (well I don't like the mummy dogs but everyone else does).  The kids get all dressed up and we go around the neighborhood trick-or-treating!

It was a beautiful night and we all had a lot of fun!  We did feel bad going from house to house with this mob of kids cleaning out our neighbors' candy, but the kids had a blast!

Wow, these days have been so busy that I have neglected my blog and my coupons.  I went two weeks before cutting my coupons and going grocery shopping.  Which that always results in spending more money with many little trips to the store and eating VERY unhealthy. I have neglected my house cleaning and organizing. It has made me feel a bit overwhelmed. I am currently working on a good schedule that will help me manage my time a lot better. I will share my schedule with you once I am done. Also, I plan on sharing pictures of my stock pile that I have created from all the past great deals and my new filing system that I am switching to, very soon!  I hope you are all enjoying the great weather.

Closet Organized

I had a Friday evening to myself and decided to spend it organizing my youngest daughter's closet. My husband and I call her our free spirit because when it comes to keeping things organized and clean she is nothing like us at all.  She has her own little way that drives me bonkers.  It would definitely irritate me if she wasn't so darn sweet and cute.  

My youngest's idea of clean and organized!

So, I went to Target (one of the best places on earth) and bought a closet organizer.  I went through her clothes and shoes and got rid of any that she no longer can wear or wants to wear.  I put the organizer together, which was super easy! And then I began to organize, which is VERY therapeutic for me!

My idea of clean and organized (although, the little black shirt falling off the hanger is driving me nuts in this picture)

I had all of the little bins/totes that I had bought at the Dollar Spot at Target a while back, so I used them to store her belts, scarves, and electronics and her little collectibles (I would like to throw away, but she love them).  She is doing pretty good keeping it in order.  I am very proud of her.

Grandparents Day 9/11

  

I hope everyone remembered Grandparents Day on September 11th.  To celebrate and thank our parents (the girls' grandparents) we made them each something different and unfortunately I totally spaced taking a picture of my kids with my mother-in-law and a picture of her gift.  UGH!!!  We gave my mother-in-law a mouse pad with a collage of pictures of the girls that I created on Snapfish. And then for my parents I got THIS really great idea off of Pinterest.

Supplies needed:

• Scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• Clothes Pins
• Sticky Dots
• Cricut/vinyl letters/sticker letters (I used my cricut and wish I had used a different font)
• Glue Gun
• Wire
• Bling (I just used 2 buttons)
• A board
• Modpodge
• Foam Brush

Steps

1. Cut the board to your desired size.
2. Cut your scrapbook paper the same size as the board.
3. Paint on modpodge onto the board.
4. Stick your scrapbook paper on top of the board.
5. Create your letters.
6. Stick them on with modpodge.
7. Once your letters are stuck on the board, then paint modpodge over the top of the letters and the scrapbook paper. (I let it dry and then did 3 more coats, be sure to let it dry between each coat)
8. Cut scrapbook paper to cover your clothes pins.
9. Modpodge the paper to your clothes pins.
10. Glue your clothes pins to your board with a hot glue gun.
11. Then stick on your bling. (I used modpodge to make my buttons stick)
12. Then drill two holes at the top for your wire to go through.
13. Feed wire through to create the "hanger".

My parents loved their gift. It was super easy and fun!

10th Birthday Party

I threw a Spa Slumber Party for my tween with 9 of her friends! We painted nails and toe nails, thanks to the help from some fabulous college gals that these tween girls absolutely LOVE!!!!  We had a chocolate fountain, thanks to a great friend, and tons of snacks to enjoy!  There was karaoke and tons of fun to be had!!!!

 

Anyways I wanted to share with you the party favors, decorations, and cake that I made and where I got the information on how to make them!  It was lots of fun and little stressful, but my big girl was worth it!

Here are the party favor tubs that I made.  I just bought these fun colored tubs from Dollar General (on sale of course).  Then I used my cricut to make their initial from vinyl paper from Hobby Lobby.  I used colorful zebra print scarfs (Hobby Lobby) to line the tubs.  And then I stuffed them full of fun Spa-like items! I got the idea from How Does She website!  

I made these adorable felt flower hair accessories, which I learned from A Dear Friend (I love you girl!) They were so easy to make, I bought felt squares from Hobby Lobby and alligator clips from Wal-Mart.  Another one of my great friends helped me cut the felt (Thanks girlie, love you)! There are detailed instructions on a link on my friends website! I made one for each tub in blue, green, purple, or pink!

Then I covered the water bottles' labels with zebra print duct tape....SUPER EASY!!!  If I want to get real specific, my husband actually did that for me. LOVE HIM!!!! I got that idea from Creative Party Buzz. So I put that in the tub as well!

Then I made kool-aid lip gloss for each girl using the recipe from this BLOG, that I found through Pinterest.  I bought these little containers from Wal-Mart in their travel section, they were $0.99 for 2!  I printed labels on and stuck them on each container!  Very easy and fun!

Then I made these super easy Tissue Pom Poms from The Busy Budgeting Mama website that I came across on Pinterest!  By the way, if you aren't on Pinterest, I highly recommend that you join (WARNING: It is VERY addictive).  I LOVE IT!!!!

 Finally, here is the cake that my husband and I made together for the party we had with our family!  It was actually really easy. I got a great recipe for Marshmallow Fondant from some great friends that they found at The Cake Whiz website.  

 It was a really fun party and Emily and her friends had a great time! Thanks to all my friends and Pinterest for their help in making it a memorable weekend for her!

Target Deals 9/11 -9/17

GROCERY DEALS

Market Pantry Deli Cheese (8 oz) – $2.39/ea
Use $1/2 Market Pantry Cheese TARGET coupon
Final Price = $1.89/ea wyb 2

M&M’s Candy (9-12 oz bags) – $2.67/ea
Use $1/1 M&M’s Brand Pretzel Candies 9/11/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/23/2011)
Use $1/2 Mars M&M’s or Dove Chocolate Bags 8/28/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/31/2011)
Use $1.50/2 M&M’s Candies Products 8/9/2011 All You, Sept 2011 (exp 10/31/2011)
Final Price = $1.67-2.17/ea

Cheez It Crackers = $2.25/ea
Use $1/2 Sunshine Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers 
Final Price = $1.75/ea wyb 2

Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies – $2.25/ea
Use $1/2 Keebler Cookies 8/7/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/2/2011)
Final Price = $1.75/ea wyb 2

Kashi Granola Bars, Cookies, Cereal, Crackers and Frozen Entrees – $2.99/ea
Buy 5, Get 1 FREE
Use $1/1 Kashi Frozen Entree or Kashi Frozen Pizza 
Use $0.75/1 Kashi Frozen Entrée or Pizza Product 
Use $1/1 Kashi TLC Pita Crisps (IE) Printable (FF)
PLUS
Use $1/3 Kashi Cold Cereals TARGET coupon 
Use $1/3 Kashi TLC Granola Bars Multipacks TARGET Coupon
Use $1/2 Kashi Snack Items TARGET coupon
Use $1/1 Kashi Frozen Items TARGET coupon
Final Price = varies; as little as $1.33/ea wyb 6

Archer Farms Pizza (9 or 12 inch) – $4.50/ea
Use $1.50/2 Archer Farms Frozen Pizzas TARGET coupon
Final Price = $3.75/ea wyb 2

Archer Farms Yogurt Cups (6 oz) – $0.55/ea
Use $0.50/10 Archer Farms Yogurt Cups TARGET coupon 9/5/2011 Target.com (exp 10/8/2011) 
Final Price = $0.50/ea wyb 10

PERSONAL CARE

Aveeno Lotion (12 oz) – $6.49/ea
Use $1/1 Aveeno Products 9/11/2011 SS Insert (exp 10/31/11)
PLUS
Use $1/1 Aveeno Skin Care Lotion or Cream, TARGET Coupon
Final Price = $4.49/ea

John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo – $5.99/ea
Get a $5 Target Gift Card wyb any 3 John Frieda products
Use $1/1 John Frieda Products 8/28/2011 SS Insert (exp 10/8/2011)
PLUS
Use $3/2 John Frieda Hair Care Item TARGET coupon
Final Price = varies; as little as $2.32/ea wyb 3 after coupons and with gift cards

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste (4 oz) – $2.99/ea
Use $1/1 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 8/28/2011 SS Insert (exp 9/30/2011)
Use $1.50/1 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 9/11/2011 SS Insert (exp 10/1/2011)
PLUS
Use $1/1 Colgate Optic Tootbrush or Toothpaste TARGET Coupon
Final Price = $0.49-0.99/ea

Schick Intuition or Hydro 5 Razor – $6.49/ea
Get a $5 Target Gift Card wyb 2 (select cartridges also included in promo)
Use $2/1 Schick Hydro Razor 8/7/2011 SS Insert (exp 9/18/2011)
Final Price = varies – $4.49/ea; as little as $1.99/ea wyb 2 with gift card

L’Oreal Excellence Creme Hair Color – $6.99/ea
Use $2/1 L’Oreal Excellence or Excellence to go shade 7/31/2011 RP Insert (exp 9/25/2011)
Use $5/2 L’Oreal Haircolor Products 8/14/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/9/2011)
Use $2/1 L’Oreal Haircolor Product 8/14/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/9/2011)
Final Price = $4.49-4.99/ea

ONGOING DEALS

NOTE: According to Target’s Coupon Policy they are supposed to adjust the price of the coupon down if the item you are buying is less than the coupon you are using. Please be aware that not all stores look favorably on using coupons for travel size items, even if the coupon does not state a size. You are not in the wrong for doing this, I just want you to be aware that some stores may not like or allow it.

Aquafresh Extreme Clean Toothpaste (travel size) – $0.97/eaUse $1/1 Aquafresh Extreme Clean 
Final Price = FREE

Carefree Liners (small pk) – $0.99/ea
Use $0.50/1 Carefree Product 8/21/2011 SS Insert (exp 10/31/2011)
Final Price = $0.49/ea

Johnson & Johnson Travel Size First Aid Kits – $0.97/eaUse $1/2 Johnson & Johnson Red Cross Brand Products 7/31/2011 RP Insert (exp 11/30/2011)
Final Price = $0.47/ea

KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce – $1/ea
Use $0.50/1 KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce or Marinade 8/21/2011 SS Insert (exp 11/30/2011)
Final Price = $0.50/ea

French’s Worcestershire Sauce – $1.54/ea
Use $0.75/1 French’s Worcestershire Sauce 8/21/2011 SS Insert (exp 11/30/2011)
Final Price = $0.79/ea

Ortega Taco Seasoning Packets – $0.69-0.89/eaUse $1/2 Ortega Products 
Final Price = $0.44-0.64/ea wyb 2

Balance Bars – $0.97/eaUse $1/3 Balance Bars 
Final Price = $0.64/ea wyb 3

Band-Aids (travel size adult & kid) – $0.97/ea
Use $0.50/1 Band-Aid Bandages 7/31/2011 SS Insert (exp 12/31/2011)
Final Price = $0.47/ea

Ivory Bar Soap (3 ct) – $0.99/ea
Use $0.35/1 Ivory or Safeguard Soap 8/28/2011 P&G Insert (exp 9/30/2011)
Final Price = $0.49-0.64/ea

Find more inexpensive and FREE items at Target here and here.

I found all these great deals at Stretching A Buck, THANKS!!!!

Blockbuster Express Free Rental Codes

Blockbuster Express has come out with some new codes that will result in FREE movie rentals.  Each code is worth $1 and there are many movies for rent that are just $1 per night.  Make sure to turn it in on time and you get a FREE movie rental. These codes expire on September 16th, 2011.

• 33TDR8
• 23PGAR7
• 52KRVF7
• 48RMAQ5
• 79AGSF6
• 48TPLD5
• 26MMKC3
• 99JMMF9

Thanks, Stretching A Buck!

 

WALGREEN Deals 9/11 - 9/17

Buy 1 Gain Powder Detergent (30 load) at $5
Buy 2 Gain Dish Liquids at $1.79 each
Use 1 $2/1 Gain Powder detergent NP 
Use 2 $0.50/1 Gain Dish washing Liquid NP
Spend $5.58 plus tax, Get 2 $3 Register Rewards

Orbit or Stride Gum – $0.79 with in-ad coupon
Buy 3 and use $1/3 NP
$0.46 each after coupons

Chex Mix or Bugles -  $0.99

Use $0.50/1 printable 
$0.49 after coupon

Dawn Dish Washing Soap – $0.99
Use $0.50/1 NP
$0.49 after coupon

Snack Bars or Thins – $2

Nature Valley/Fiber One
Use $0.75/1 NP
Or use $0.60/1 printable
$1.25 each after coupon

Old El Paso Tortilla Stuffers – $2.50

Use $1/1 NP
$1.50 after coupon

Welch’s 100% Grape Juice – $3
Buy 2 and use 2 $1/1 NP
Plus use $1/2 Walgreens printable
$1.50 each after coupons

Ragu Pasta Sauce – $2 with in-ad coupon
Buy 2 and use $0.75/2 NP
$1.63 each after coupons

Buy 1 Crest Toothpaste or Oral-B Indicator Toothbrush at $1.99, Get $1 Register Rewards
Use $1/1 NP
Free after coupon and Register Rewards

Buy 1 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste (4oz) at $3.99, Get $2 Register Rewards

Use $1.50/1 NP
$0.49 after coupon and Register Rewards

Buy 1 Colgate Sensitive Pro – Relief Toothpaste at $4.99, Get $3 Register Rewards
Use $1/1 printable
$0.99 after coupon and Register Rewards

Buy 1 Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons at $3.99, Get $1 Register Rewards
Use $2/1 NP
$0.99 after coupon and Register Rewards

Buy 1 New Scrubbing Bubbles one Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Kit (18oz) at $8.99, Get $2 Register Rewards
Use $4/1 NP
$2.99 after coupon and Register Rewards

There are other great deals listed at Money Saving Mom!!!!!