30 Day Giving Challenge (11-1 & 11-2)

I was weary when reading Alyssa's idea of giving something everyday in the month of November. I was thinking what can I give everyday? It just so happened that yesterday (the first day of the challenge I gave something), then it dawned on me, I'm going to try this. I have prayed and will pray every morning along with my morning devotions that God will lead me in what to give for that day.

November 1-I was blessed with 3 gallons of milk and gave one to my neighbors.

November 2-Although my daughter hasn't seen her new occupational therapist but just a couple times, today I learned that his father passed away suddenly yesterday. I felt a tugging to send him a sympathy card. Yesterdays devotion was entitled "Comforting those who grieve." God is already leading where and when to give.

Menu Plan Monday (Week of November 2)

Tomorrow I will be participating with moneysavingmom in a cooking day. My plan is to at least cook up breakfast foods. DH has asked for a bit more variety in breakfast meals so I went shopping today and bought 4 lbs of bacon for $6 Reg $16, 2 lbs sausage $3, 2 packages of country breakfast ham $6, biscuits, and (great deal) 6 packs of Kraft crumble cheese for $0.99 Reg $4.28. I used one already and put the rest in the freezer as they will expire on Nov. 6. So with all the different types of meat and a little creativity I hope I can "mix it up" come breakfast time. I also got sausage links and wrapped in pancakes to make "pigs in a blanket."

Here is the rundown of the next 2 weeks worth of dinners:

Monday-Enchilada Bake

Tuesday-Chicken Tetrazzini (www.moneysavingmom.com)

Wednesday-7 Layer Taco (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Thursday-Pepperjack Pizza (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Friday-Hotdogs and fries

Saturday-Shepherds Pie (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Sunday-Meatloaf, mashed potato's, corn

Monday-Rice Lasagna (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Tuesday-Pepperoni Rolls (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Wednesday-Shepherds Pie (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Thursday-Taco Pizza (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Friday-Mac & Cheese (Rachel Ray Style)

Saturday-Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (www.tammysrecipes.com)

Sunday-Spicy turkey Sausage Gravy (www.tammysrecipes.com) over egg noodles & veggies

My goal is to have enough leftovers from these meals for lunch the next day. Should be able to since lunch is a smaller meal. I hope *fingers crossed* that I can have another cooking day on Wednesday to try to make a weeks worth of meals. I have never did this before so we will see how it turns out.

Another thing I am doing (such a slacker) is keep up with my grocery budget. I would like to not spend over $120 for 2 weeks. I have some couponing to catch up on. Hopefully I can do much less then this but we will see.

I also hope to be back on a more frequent blogging schedule. Thanks for reading!

I'm Back!

So we just got back from the happiest place on Earth! Yes we love us some Disney! It was nice too, and we had a good trip. What's better is we ate at the villa half the time to save money on food. I love having a kitchen when we go on vacation.

I hope to have share some pics and get back into the money saving groove=) Most of my pics will be on Facebook or Cafemom so if you would like to view more then feel free to add me as a friend.

I would like to give a BIG THANKS to Jen over at Living on More for Less. After my mail was resumed today I had a nice big package full of school supplies, a bonus Box Top certificate, and free product coupons=) I am super excited about my goodies and plan to use some of the school supplies in the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes at Christmas.

Box Tops for Education

Do you love Box Tops? I know I do. I actually just dropped off a baggy full at school last week. You can go here for a chance to win more box tops and some awesome coupons.

Menu Plan Monday (Week of September 7)

This will make my third week at attempting to have a $50 grocery budget. I've went over the past few weeks. I hope to make it this week. The past few weeks have been good stock pile weeks and I haven't budgeted accordingly. We'll see how it goes=)

Monday-Hamburgers, Duggar Style Tater Tot Casserole, and baked beans

Tuesday-Leftovers from Sunday and Monday

Wednesday-Breakfast: Sausage, biscuits, eggs, fried potatoes, and gravy

Thursday-Chicago Dog Salad (Rachel Ray Recipe)

Friday-BBQ Chicken Pizza, fries, and cooked carrots

Saturday-Cube Steak w/ potatoes, and green beans

Sunday-Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn

Check out more Menu Plan Monday Idea's at Orgjunkie.com.

All You Magazine September Coupons

Advertiser, Coupon Value, Expiration Date

American Beauty Quick Cook Pasta
$0.75
12/31/09

Arrowhead, Poland Spring, Deer Park, Zepherhills, Ozarka, Ice Mountain
$1.00
12/31/09

Banquet Chicken Breast Nuggets
$1.00 of 2 28.8 oz. bags
12/06/09

That's over $84 in savings! Enjoy!

Banquet Dinner Gatefold
$1.00 off any 6

BOOST Kid Essentials Multipack
$3.00
12/18/09

Brut Deodorant or Anti-Perspirant
$3.55
10/31/09

Brut Fragrance
$1.00
10/31/09

Campbell's V8 Soup
$1.00
11/15/09

Claritin Eye
$2.00
11/30/09

Colgate Wisp
$0.50
11/22/09

Creamette Quick Cook Pasta
$0.75
12/31/09

Crunch n' Munch
$1.00 off any 2 7.5 ounce or larger
12/06/09

FASHION BUG
$10.00
09/24/09

French's French Fried Onions
$0.75
01/31/10

Glade¨ Fabric & Air Odor Eliminator
Buy any Glade¨ Fabric & Air Odor Eliminator, get one FREE (up to $4.00)
11/30/09

Healthy Choice All Natural Entrees
$1.00 off any 2

Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers
$1.00 off any 2

Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers
$1.00 off any 2

Healthy Choice Microwavable Soup Bowls
Buy 2 get 1 free ($2.00 value)

Hunt's Ketchup
$1.00 off any 2
12/06/09

La Choy Creations
$1.00
11/30/09

Lay's Brand Light Original Potato Chips
$0.50 off any 6.5 oz bag
10/31/09

LEAN CUISINE Entrees
$2.00 off any 3
12/31/09

Log Cabin 24 oz. and 64 oz. Syrups
$0.50 off 1

Manwich
Buy 2 15.5 oz. cans and get 1 free ($1.00 value)
12/06/09

Marie Calendar's Dinners
$1.00 off any 2

Marie Calendar's Homestyle Creations
$1.50 off any 1
1/31/10

Marie Calendar's Pasta al Dente
$1.00 off any 2

Marie Calendar's Signature Sautes
$2.00 off any 1

Nestle Pure Life
$0.50
12/31/09

New York Brand Texas Garlic Toast
$0.50
12/31/09

N.Y.C. New York Color
$1.00
09/30/09

Playtex Gentle Glide
$1.00
12/31/09

Quilted Northern or Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Bath Tissue
$2.00 off any 2
10/31/09

Rimmel Mascara
$2.00
09/30/09

Ronzoni Quick Cook Pasta
$0.75
12/31/09

RO*TEL
Buy 2 get any 1 10 oz. can free ($1.00 value)

Sally Hansen La Cross
$2.00 (off $4 purchase or higher)
10/31/09

Sandwich Thins
$1.00
11/30/09

San Giorgio Quick Cook Pasta
$0.75
12/31/09

Skinner Quick Cook Pasta
$0.75
12/31/09

Snickers Marathon
$0.50
10/31/09

Softsoap Nutri Serums
$1.00
10/23/09

SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, with Fiber
$1.00
11/30/09

Spot Shot
Free Movie TIcket (up to $12 value) with purchase of Spot Shot
12/31/09

Suave Body Wash
Save $0.75 on any 2 Body Wash Products
11/30/09

SUNCHIPS Multigrain Snacks
$1.00
10/31/09

Taco Bell Home Originals Dinner Kits
$1.00
10/31/09

The Fragrance Collection by Glade
$2.00 off any product from The Fragrance Collection by Glade
11/01/09

Truvia natural Sweetener
$1.00
12/31/09

Tyson Any'tizers snacks
Save $1.00 on 1 bag
11/30/09

Tyson Any'tizers snacks
Save $0.75 on 1 bag
11/30/09

Tyson General Tso's and Sweet & Sour Chicken from the deli
$1.00
10/31/09

Underwood Deviled Ham
$1.00
12/31/09

White Cloud GreenEarth Paper Towels or Bathroom Tissue
$1.00
11/28/09

X3 Disposable Razor
$1.00
10/16/09

Sunday Blessings

I am so very thankful that I passed my Philosophy exam with a grade of a B!!!! Thank You Lord!

Wordless Wednesday (or "Wordy" Wednesday)

*Picture from missingchildren411.com

I admit it, I am easily caught up in media stories, especially this past week with Jaycee Dugard. My faith was renewed when I learned that a girl who had been kidnapped 18 years ago was found alive, then almost simultaneously my faith was shaken after I learned the conditions she had lived in.

The other day I was at Wal-mart, as most of us are at least once a week. I was in the foyer and two associates were putting new faces on the board of lost children. That's when it dawned on me: How often do we REALLY look at these children on this board?



I can honestly say that the only time I really look at it is if I am waiting on my husband to come out of the store. Sure I may skim it as I am walking by, out the door. But if there was a child standing under that board and he was a missing child and his picture was on the board, I sadly most likely would miss it.



So I am asking those who read this to participate with me. The next time you see one of these pictures look at it. Especially the board at Wal-mart. Look at the pictures and the names if nothing else. 2 Minutes, that is all it would take. If everyone was more alert to these phantom children we so easily overlook, maybe...perhaps...more would be found.



(Another great place to find these photos are in coupon inserts)

Menu Plan Monday (Week of August 31)

Can you believe it is the last day of August? Whew, this year is flying by! Here is the line-up for dinner this week:

Monday-left over meatloaf from Sunday, potato's, corn on the cob
Tuesday-Cranberry/BBQ Chicken Breast, sweet potato fries, cooked carrots
Wednesday-Tater tot casserole
Thursday-Burrito casserole
Friday-Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese with rice
Saturday-BBQ's, fries, baked beans
Sunday-Hollywood Chicken, mashed potato's, green beans

Sunday Blessings

These are the TWO BIGGEST BLESSINGS in my life...

Jordyn "Princess"

Makayla "My Peanut Pie"

*pictures taken and edited by my step sister-in-law Sabrina.*