O' I love to do so many wonderful things, hosting parties for family and friends, cake decorating which works well with all these parties. Plus I started couponing in 2011, I use to clip a few here and there, but never really saved more then a couple of dollars. NEW STORY NOW! A friend and I saw a few of those couponing shows. We were hooked! We clipped, organized and then planned our trips. My it has been so much fun!! Join in and follow my adventure.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS...





 This holiday season I have really thought about how much I love and appreciate all the people in my life. I have been truly thankful for the roof over our heads, jobs that pay the bills and reliable vehicles to get us back and forth. We are blessed, God is good!

 Those of you who know me well know how much I enjoy encouraging others and giving gifts when I can, which makes Christmas the perfect time of year for me. So while on vacation I was looking for something for my son-in-law and came across a book ‘Celebrating the Christian Year’. Jash loves to read and is truly a Godly man so this could be a nice gift.  

 Later I sit down to wrapping all the treasure I found for everyone and I found myself picking up the book to wrap and then putting it down to wrap something else over and over. That book is starting to intrigue me, so I start flipping through the pages. I thought wow that’s great to remember this time of year, then put the book down. Then I do it again while wrapping other gifts. Then I thought, hey maybe the book was meant for me. Then the real thought came, NO not for me but for me to share some of these reminders with you.

Since we are in the rush of the holiday season and Christmas is fast approaching, let’s thing about why and what we are doing.

What are Holidays? Well the word “holiday: comes from the phrase “holy days” which means a “special day set apart for a holy purpose.” Holidays are a time to affirm our faith. Through them we communicate what we believe. What a wonderful reason to celebrate and I love to CELEBRATE! Celebration is related to praise, and praise is usually a reason for celebrations.
                                                  

We put up the Christmas tree. What does the tree mean to you? They have been decorated for years to honor god. Why do you decorate yours? As it stands in your home let it be a symbol of the Tree of Life and remind us that our Lord is the Light of the world. The evergreen tree is and ancient symbol of eternity. Let the lights remind you about the Light that came into a dark world. Let’s hang ornaments that tell the Christmas story; bells, angels, hearts, candy canes, doves and candles. Top the tree with a star. “Where is the baby born to be King of the Jews? We saw the star when it came up in the east and have come to worship him.” 


Christmas cards. In the middle of the 19th century, people in Britain began mailing good wishes and Christmas greeting to relatives and friend they were personally made. I love this tradition, it’s such a personal touch to the holidays. I hope we don’t let it become obsolete with the advances in technology and social media.    


Candy Canes: A classic favorite, did you know the candy cane has special mean to remind us of Christmas. The candy cane is made in the shape of a shepherd’s staff. When Christ was born, being a Shepard was a common occupation. Each of them carried a staff, when one of their little lambs became entangled in the brush or trapped in the rocks they could reach down with the staff and free the helpless animal. Just as the shepherds used the staff to save their lambs, Christ, Our Shepherd saves us from our sin. The white of the candy cane signifies the purity of Christ. The red stripes signify Christ’s blood, which he freely shed for us. 


December 24th CHRISTMAS EVE: Christmas Eve begins when someone sees the first star in the sky. Go out and look up remember the first holy night. Be reminded of the “special star” that announced the birth of the King so many years ago.  

Then before we know it it’s CHRISTMAS MORNING! The timing is important, who celebrates a birth, before the child arrives? BUT after the birth, WOW WHAT A CELEBRATION! Baby Jesus is born, Baby Jesus is born” That’s what Christmas is about… It’s about find Jesus. How you chose to unwrap God’s Gift is up to you!
                                                        

For me it is worth the wait and all the preparation. The real meaning of Giving gifts; is so we remember God’s incredible gift of his Son. 


Christmas was established to celebrate the ‘Incarnation” God becoming human in order to be at one with us. Emmanuel means “God is with us.” The WORD became a human being and lives among us. Think about it… He is with us and became ONE OF US!
He identified completely with us!
Since God powerfully communicated his love through his actions, this is a time to reexamine how God’s love is real in your life.

I am glad I peeked through the pages about Christmas. In the end Jash still get the book with several other items I know he will enjoy and I am such with his compassionate heart he will be glad I shared some of the inserts from the book I know he will enjoy.


                                                        MERRY CHRISTMAS! 




Sunday, October 27, 2013

Halloween Birthday Party Update

Party Time

Party day arrived and we had so much fun!
 


                                                             Welcome to our Party



My favorite part of Halloween is pumpkin carving




 


 
The entrance way has treats, glow sticks, lollipops, and skull bracelets
Used a little pumpkin for the lollipops.
 
 
Used to plastic table covers to make the curtain and saw the spider on Pinterest.
 
 
Candy Buffet, every kids dream



 



 
 
Used cheese cloth to make the furniture look old.
 
 
 
Used white table cloth to cover up small cabinet. Saw this on Pinterest.  
 
 
 
                                                        What would a party be without a cake?
                                         Wanted to make something a little on the spooky side.


 
                                               A few party games for these young teens

                                                  Had to go with the traditional apple bob




Everyone got there picture take in front of this back drop
 
 




Found the balloons and napkins at Target  
 
 




Saturday, October 12, 2013

Halloween Party

Starting to get the decorating going for a Halloween Party.


We have never decorated for Halloween before. So I  got a few idea's from Pinterest.
Spent most of my decorating budget at the dollar store, then ran with what you see here.
 

 
    Plan to get some pumpkins to add to the porch

                                   Needed something a little spooky, found this at Walgreens
                                                        already on clearance for $3.49


                                                  Will add more treats the day of the party                                             






                                             
                                                               BAT INVASION!!!
 
 
MORE PICS TO COME...

Thursday, October 3, 2013

CVS Has Great Deals Again This Week!

  $61 dollars worth of products for under $10.00
plus a SMILE on my face


    CVS has a great deal this week spend $20.00 get $5.00 ECB (Extra Care Bucks) 
on a whole bunch of great brand
that you can match with Manufacture coupons. 
 
Last week I got 4 mouthwash and received $10.00 in ECB to start of this week.
 
This week I did three transactions to roll my store rewards so my out of pocket
expenses are minimal.

I scanned the magic machine when I first arrived at the store,
and got $5.00 off a $15.00 cosmetic purchase and $2.50 ECB quarter spending reward.
 
1st transaction
 Nexxus deal spend $20.00 get $10.00 ECB 
Got one Frizz Deft shampoo $10.99
& one conditioner $10.49
2 Dawn dish soap $.99 each
Total $23.49
Used my $10.00 ECB from last week
2 $3.00 off any Nexxus produce (printed from coupons.com)
used two .50 off Dawn
and a 25% CVS coupon received in the mail. -$5.37
MY TOTAL $1.12  Got $10.00 ECB
 
2nd transaction
Physicians Formula Lip Gloss $9.99 get $6.00 ECB
Almay make-up remover $5.79 get $3.00
Total $15.78
 Used the $5 off $15.00 cosmetic purchase
and used the $10.00 ECB from transaction 1
My Total $1.96 w/tax PLUS I got the $9.00 ECB
 
3rd Transaction
3 Tide each $5.94
1 Puffs tissue .99
6 snickers candy bars .50 each
Total $21.81
Used $5.00 off 3 tide products
.25 cent off Puffs &
2/ buy 2 get one free on Snickers
Plus used the $9.00 ECB from transaction #2 and the $2.50 from the magic machine.
My Total was $5.92 w/tax and got a $5.00 ECB for next week
 
MY OUT OF POCKET COST THIS WEEK $9.62
I say that rocks....
Coupons are just so fun!
 
Also this week Carmex lip balm is B1G1 free at Walgreens.
I printed two $1.00 off two at coupons.com which made them .35 cents each.
Got 4 but my daughter grabbed one before I could take the picture
 
Can't wait to see what next week's ad brings.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Cake Library

        Some of my Cake Library

Not a pro by any means, just a mom making cakes for her family.
Took some classes one summer about 13 years ago for fun and it has been a great hobby. Plus making cakes myself saves tons of money then buying them from the bakery.  
 
 
 This was for my daughters sweet 16
 
My brothers wedding 
 
 
 These were apart of the cake table for my older daughter's wedding
 
 

 
 




 




                                                 Hot chocolate cupcakes for work


                                         Movie themed birthday for my younger daughter


      Made this paste cake for a baby shower, the dots were pressed down but I didn't get another pic.


                                 Last minute cake for a friend, topper and flowers added later


 Winter cake
 
                                              Yellow dots for a friends wedding

Way to go Badgers!!  With 3-D softball
 
                               Skull cake, painted white chocolate  over cake with a paint brush


 REACH FOR THE SKY!
 
 
Love making cakes for my friend and family only wish I had more time to do it.