Ice House

AVAILABLE

2010-12-27T17:26:00.004-05:00

It's that time again, isn't it?

A time when we look back at the past year and evaluate with did and didn't work.

A time when we look forward to the new year.

A clean slate ... a new beginning ....

maybe a time to "get it right".

This year I'm starting HERE
with Courtney at "Women Living Well"

She has posed a challenge for us to take time to get alone with God and meditate on Matthew 27 and 28 and "evaluate 2010 and commit 2011 to living your life completely for God"

She has listed out different areas of our lives to evaluate...
~our walk with God ~ our marriage ~ our children ~ our health ~ our ministry~
along with questions to help us with our evaluations.

She has also suggested that we pick a "Theme Word" for the new year.

Last night the word "Available" kept playing over and over in my mind..

Be Available!

To my husband

~ be available to play and have fun

~ be available to help him with his job

~ be available to talk and to listen

~ be available when he needs me ... anytime day or night

To my children
~ be available ... when they need me .... RIGHT THEN ... not "in a minute"

~ be available to teach them instead of just doing it myself because it's "easier"

To GOD!
~ be AVAILABLE to spend time in His word

~ be AVAILABLE to listen to His "still small voice"

~ be AVAILABLE to do the work He calls me to do ... even if it takes me out of my "comfort zone"

So, here I am standing at the edge of another new year and my resolution?

To be AVAILABLE!

Silhouette Craft Cutter

2010-11-22T17:58:00.006-05:00

Be still my heart!

Thrifty Decor Chick
&
Just A Girl
are
GIVING AWAY
a Silhouette Craft Cutter!!!!!

Have you ever checked out this awesome machine?

NO?? Hurry .... click HERE

I TOLD you it was AWESOME!!!

For your chance to win one visit

Thrifty Decor Chick
&
Just A Girl

Introducing Knitty~Gritty Dishcloths

2010-09-28T09:36:00.004-04:00

Welcome!

I'm so glad you stoped by to see me today.

I want to show you what has been keeping me so busy lately.....

DISH CLOTHS!

Blue Waffle Knit Dish Cloth and Square Scrubber

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Yellow Waffle Knit Dishcloth and Square Scrubber

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Brown Waffle Knit Dishcloth and Square Scrubber
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Ecru Wedding Pattern Dishcloth and Round Scrubber
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Blue Multi Color Ripple Pattern Dishcloth and Round Scrubber
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Rose Multi Color Scallop Pattern and Round Scrubber
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Lavender Scallop Pattern Dish Cloth and Round Scrubber
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Blue Multi Color Scallop Pattern and Round Scrubber
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White Scallop Pattern Dishcloth and Square Scrubber

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I made up several of these sets to sell at a women's conference I went to last week.

I sold almost all that I took and have had several people inquire about special orders!

I'm seriously thinking about opening an Etsy store but I haven't made up my mind yet.

There are already SO MANY knitters selling dishcloths I just don't know if it would be worth the time and effort. We'll see : )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am currently selling these by the set...2 dishcloths and 1 scrubber for $8.50

Before and After

2010-09-09T21:31:00.004-04:00

August 30 my 4 yr old fell on our deck, busted his mouth and damaged his two front teeth.

We saw the dentist the next day and was told he needed to have those teeth pulled. He had damaged the root on one and pulled a tendon on the other. Really no way around it, they needed to come out.

Today was the day! At 9 am we arrived at the dentist office expecting to be there several hours.
We needed to sedate Daniel to make the process easier on him. Usually they drink the "juice" and wait for nearly an hour for it to work. Then the rest of the day they are groggy and sleepy.
However, they are now using a new medicine that works in 10 minutes and wears off quickly. If they are doing something quick like pulling teeth, it is a much better option.

Daniel drank it with no problem and pretty quickly got very relaxed and sleepy. They put a topical on the teeth to get the area numb before they gave him a "bubble" (that is what they call a shot).

He will need a permanent partial because it will be so long before his adult teeth come in. They are estimating him to be 8 - 9 yrs old before those adult teeth make their way in. Anyway, they were able to fit the bands and make an impression all while he was already there and relaxed.

It didn't take long at all and while he did cry and didn't like what was going on, he didn't put up too much of a fuss and he was very brave. He was never in pain and he wasn't scared. One of the best parts of the medicine they gave him is that he really doesn't remember what happened so he won't be afraid to go back to the dentist. By the time we got home he was his happy little self and ready to eat!

Now for the best part....

the Before and After Pictures!

Poor kid!

2010-09-02T07:51:00.003-04:00

My 4 yr old is an accident waiting to happen.

He is wide open all the time and NEVER watches where he runs!

Monday evening he was playing in the yard with my mom and my other children.

They were having a wonderful time playing their own version of "Minute to Win It".

All was well until time to go in. This time, Daniel was simiply walking up the steps and the next thing my mom knew his face was on the deck!

Somehow he tripped and when he fell his mouth is what caught him.

Wanna see the damage?

Bless his heart!

Thankfully he didn't require stitches but his top front tooth was pushed back.

He has an appointment to have both top front teeth pulled next week, but I'm getting a second opinion before we go that route. See my kids keep their baby teeth FOREVER! My oldest two didn't loose their first tooth until the end of 1st grade. Infact, my 7 yr old still hasn't even gotten a loose tooth. If he follows the same trend he could have a gap for 3 years. I'm concerned that his teeth will shift and will cause problems down the road. I'm talking with my kids orthodontist to see what she recommends :-)

I am so very thankful that God was watching over this precious little boy!

Hello...Is anyone out there?

2010-08-31T19:26:00.002-04:00

Wow it has been a L-O-N-G time since I posted last.

I last posted in March, right?

Well, March 2, 2010 my Uncle David lost his battle with cancer.

I let a lot of things slide after that.

Anyway, the kids are back in school and I'm getting back on track.

We had a good but quiet summer and the kids are enjoying being back in school.

I learned a new craft and I'll be sharing more of that with you soon.

Anyway, I just wanted to say "Hello" and let you all know that I'm still around and I hope to be posting on a regular basis again :)

I can't wait to catch you all up on what's been going on around here!

2010-03-25T19:37:00.000-04:00

If you have ever wondered

WHY...

Where it all began ....

His sacrifice...

Your future...

WHYEASTER.ORG

2010-03-23T11:39:00.002-04:00

If you've ever wondered

Why....

Do you know what it is?

2010-01-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of the inside of my dryer.

See all that blue looking stuff all over it?

Do you know what it is?

It's gum!

Gum that a child left in their pants

Gum that went through the wash

Gum that was in a blue wrapper

Gum that ended up

ALL OVER MY DRYER!!!

Cough Syrup Update

2010-01-21T20:27:00.002-05:00

I've been giving my oldest son the homemade cough syrup since Wednesday morning.

It helps about as much as the over the counter stuff.

I have used Delsym and it works okay.

Nothing great as far as my kiddos go.

Bummer :(

For super bad coughs I'd probably see my doctor to get a strong cough syrup. My son had a cough so bad he couldn't get ANY sleep for days. For that one we called the DR. It was a MUST for us at that time.

Sometimes they REALLY don't like to prescribe cough meds, but if it's bad enough it's really the way to go (for us anyway)

Back to the homemade stuff...

So far it hasn't made the cough stop, BUT it does seem to lessen the cough.

I like the fact that I can give it to him as needed and not worry about over doing it.

I like that even my little boy (my 3 yr old) can use it safely.

I also like that I have the ingredients on hand and that it is easy to make.

I will continue to give it to him and will most likely use it again in the future :)

Whole lot of coughing going on!

2010-01-20T11:09:00.000-05:00

My son has a cough.

A yucky, deep cough.

Have you found a cough syrup that actually works?

I haven't but I'm going to give this a try

Homemade Cough and Cold Syrup.

Basically it's cooked honey and onions and you can add various herbs to boost the benefits of the syrup.

I made some this morning and just gave dear son a dose :)

Now, let's see if it helps.

It can't hurt :^)

Menu Plan...Friday?

2010-01-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

I make weekly menus, do you?

Lots of folks do and many participate in Menu Plan Monday.

I love to participate in Menu Plan Monday,

but I don't plan my menus to start on Mondays.

Usually, I'm shopping on Thursdays so my menus need to run Thurs to Wed.

Anyway, I'm posting my menu here because it helps me keep up with what I have planned, plus this week I'm going to be doing some cooking to share with my mom and dad, so mom can pop over here and see the dinner choices :^)

I'm not planning a set dinner for a specific day. I know I need dinners for 6 days then I'll just fix them on the nights that suit best.

1. Spaghetti, bread, salad

2. Tacos, rice, beans

3. Ham, macaroni & cheese, butter peas

4. Pork Tenderloin, broccoli, (still need a side dish here)

5. Hamburgers, fries, baked beans

6. (haven't decided yet)

Go Upward!

2010-01-14T10:58:00.001-05:00

My dear daughter Jessica has been wanting to do cheerleading for quite sometime now. I was not ready to do the whole cheerleading / youth association thing so I've been putting her off. So this year when our church had sign ups for Upward Cheerleading she jumped at the chance!

Isn't she a cutie?

A girl after my own heart....a cheerleader!

I was a cheerleader in highschool
many moons ago.

It sure is coming in handy now since I ended up coaching her cheerleading squad!

(How did THAT happen???)

I do admit that I'm having a really good time teaching these sweet young girls

and it is really special getting to share it with Jessica.

Homemade Cleaning Wipes

2010-01-11T14:27:00.003-05:00

I'm trying really hard to get back to everyday cleaning around my house.

One thing that makes my life MUCH easier is to have cleaning wipes in the bathrooms so I can easily "swish and swipe" my counters. The only problem is that the cleaning wipes you purchase are small and can be expensive (unless you get a good deal and a coupon!). So, I make up a large container of homemade cleaning wipes and stash them under the counter in each bathroom. They are SO super easy to do:

I use concentrated Lysol (purchaed for next to nothing using sales and coupons), good paper towels and a plastic container that has a top.

I pull off all the paper towels and stuff them into my container.

Then I used 3 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 cup Lysol cleaner

and poured it all over the paper towels.

Talk about super simple!

So, how do they work?

Here is my yucky bathroom counter after 4 kiddos brush their teeth.

Gosh, what messy little critters they are LOL!

I grabbed a wipe and swiped over the counter and sink and

Ahhh.....MUCH better!

What Remains?

2009-12-29T01:38:00.002-05:00

Beloved ornaments have been packed away...

Snowflakes have melted away...

Halls have be de-decked...

Santa has put away his boots for another year...

Christmas 2009 has come...

... and gone

And what remains ...

is the true meaning of it all!

Let Heaven and Nature Sing!!!

Make your own colored sugar

2009-12-23T11:10:00.001-05:00

(This is a re-post from 2008.)

Have you ever been making cookies and ran out of colored sugar?

What about wanting a special color of and you can't find it?

Have you ever tried making your own colored sugar?

It is SO super simple and so frugal! Here, let me show you how.

Here's what you need.

I use my little mini chopper,

but a regular food processor or blender would work.

1/2 cup of sugar

liquid food color of your choice

Put the sugar in the processor and add in a few drops of food color

Give it a good whir around and presto...you have colored sugar!

I store mine in mason jars. I also re-use the shaker bottles from colored sugar I've purchased in the past.

Cute and Quick Gift Idea

2009-12-16T21:14:00.003-05:00

I came across this ADORABLE idea at Beneath My Heart

Holiday Tile Coasters!

Super Cute!

Super Easy!

Super Frugal!

I'll just ask you to visit Beneath My Heart for the instructions,

but I'll give you the break down on my cost.

~Cost ~

$1.11 for a set of 4.

Oh, yes...you read that right.

Tiles ~ $0.16 each x's 4 = $0.64

Napkins* ~ $0.03 each x's 4 = $0.12

Felt** ~ $0.35

*(I got a set of 25 napkins at Walmart and was able to use two snowmen off each napkin)

**( I bought felt to use for the back instead of cork. Each piece was $0.35 and I was able to get 4 squares off each)

A pretty ribbon to tie them all together and you have one great little gift .

My kids are giving sets of these to school teachers and Sunday School teachers.

I'll bet there are TONS of people that would enjoy receiving this sweet little gift!

What I've been working on....

2009-12-13T08:04:00.001-05:00

Well hello there!

Gosh, it's been a while hasn't it?

Sorry I've been MIA, but we all know how busy December can be.

I thought I'd pop in to show you two cutie things I've been working on.

First, would you look and this GREAT bow for Christmas packages?

Totally FREE because I made them out of....

leftover WRAPPING PAPER!

I couldn't believe how super easy they are to make.

I'm thinking that after Christmas I'm going to make TONS with my left over paper and fill up boxes of them to give away next year. I mean, who wouldn't love to receive custom made bows?

Want to make some of your own?

Click HERE for the instructions.

And check out this sweet little dress?

I would have LOVED to show it to you on a cute little child,but my 3 yr old boy wanted no part of putting on a girls dress! LOL!

Isn't that the sweetest thing?

I made 3 of them to give to my little nieces for Christmas this year.

I know it looks a bit like a summer dress, but I think you could pull it on over a long sleeve white shirt to use in the winter. Add a pair of leggings and you're all set.

All you need...2 bandannas and 1 spool of ribbon

($1 each for the bandannas and $1.97 for the ribbon all purchased at Walmart)

Think you can't sew? HA!

The only sewing is 4 straight lines.

I KNOW you want to make one of these, right?

For the how to's visit Trey and Lucy

Happy Thanksgiving, Ya'll!

2009-11-26T14:12:00.001-05:00

Homemade Keepsake Ornaments

2009-11-20T10:30:00.006-05:00

I'm linking to Today's Creative Blog

and A Soft Place to Land

Today I thought I would share the Christmas ornaments

I made for my mom last year.

First, I had each child sit very straight on a chair,

making sure the girls hair was out of their face,

and took a picture of their profile.

I printed it onto card stock and cut them out.

Next I put the cut-out profile picture onto green scrapbook paper

and traced each picture then cut them out.

I purchased round cardboard ornaments from Michael's and painted them red, then I used Mod Podge to secure the profile to the ornament.

I used the same green paper as the profile to print the children's names and the year. I cut it out and again used Mod Podge to secure it to the ornament.

I tide a simple little ribbon to the top of the ornament.

Now, I need to make some for MY tree!

Easy Christmas Ornament

2009-11-18T08:56:00.009-05:00

I'm linking to Today's Creative Blog

and A Soft Place to Land

Here is a very sweet and inexpensive Christmas ornament
I made to give as gifts this year...

bird's nests for the tree!

Here's how I did it:
I found this decorative excelsior moss in one of my cabinets
and decided it would make a great base for the nest.

I pulled out a small amount and just used my hands to press and shape until...

it took on the shape of a birds nest.

I thought it looked a little too "green" so I spritzed it with a bit of brown spray paint I had on hand.

I picked up a bag of spanish moss at the Dollar Tree

and added it to the nest to give it more dimension.

I made little bird eggs out of air dry clay I had left over from a school project and hot glued them in the nest along with a bit of Merry Christmas ribbon.

I made these as gifts, but I think I need to make one for my tree, too!

Welcome to my new kitchen!!!

2009-11-11T16:31:00.003-05:00

Oh dear, what a yucky day to be out and about… so wet, windy and cold!

Come in, come in and dry off. We won’t stop in the laundry room today (it’s not totally finished) but it’s still warm and welcoming.

Let’s step through this door into the kitchen.

Come along and I'll show you all the little details.

This is the bar area near my sink.

I love that space but I don’t “use” it that often so I thought I’d dress it up a bit. (please don’t mind the cords, I’ll be hiding them in the near future) Click HERE to see a close up of the center piece.

While we’re standing here let’s look up.

On the top of the cabinets to the right I have a basket of apples…

and on the cabinets to the left I have a little print (from Walmart) and one of my rooster canisters (from TJ Maxx).

In the space on the wall above the window I have this little sign I found at Ross…

Further down we have more cabinets and counter space.

Here’s a different view.

I framed cookie molds for the art work and I set my re-purposed tins here. Click HERE and HERE to see how I did it. In the corner I have bunches and bunches of apples.

See my apple plates? Click HERE to see how I made them.

Have you noticed my cabinet knobs? Click HERE to see how I updated them.

Okay, forgive me, this is the un-finished part of the kitchen…the big, green monster!

(I’m going to paint it white like the rest of the cabinets in the kitchen. I just haven’t had the time.)

It is Kenton’s office space. I added a brownish-blackish clock (found at TJ Maxx) above the desk and a print (from Walmart) on the wall beside the glass door. See the lamp? It used to be brass. I painted it black and sponged on bronze paint. It’s going to be fantastic when the desk is white!

Now here is the view of the kitchen from the glass door.

I changed the curtains from white to checked black and brown that I found at Lowe’s.

My dad came across the great rug I have under the table. It helps warm up that big, white floor.

These cabinets are on the wall between the door to my laundry room and the door to my living room.

I love to listen to my radio when I am working in the kitchen and this is a great spot for it to be.

I loved this print when I saw it at Hobby Lobby and I knew it would be perfect in my kitchen.

Here’s a close up (excuse the reflections)

We are back to the fridge and here are the pretties I have on top. The rooster canister came from TJ Maxx, the cups from Goodwill and the vase belongs to my grandmother.

I even found matching salt and pepper shakers!

I hope you have enjoyed the tour of my kitchen.

Thank you for coming by for a visit!

Please come back anytime :-)

For more transformations,

visit Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

The Kitchen ~ Before and During

2009-11-10T09:14:00.006-05:00

Well, I'm not "totally" done, but I'm going to go ahead and show you my kitchen re-do.

I still have a big green monster in my kitchen that needs to be painted, but with all the fun Christmas stuff coming up to post about I wanted to first take you on a tour of my kitchen.

Today I'll show you the before and during and tomorrow
I'll be back with an in detail look of the after.

Here is my before.

I loved my kitchen with the wall paper,
but it was dated and worn out.
I really needed a change.
So, off came the paper and on went the paint.

After Paint

I decided to use a pretty, soft tan color called Beechnut.

Of course, after you paint you realize that your accessories
no longer work in that room LOL! The beauty is in the detail.

So, slowly, I've been adding the details that warm up this room.

It's really different now, but I truly love it.
(a new floor would be great, but it ain't gonna happen right now)

I can't wait to give you a tour of my kitchen tomorrow!

Silent Monks Sing

2009-11-03T07:59:00.001-05:00

A friend shared this on face book this morning and I just had to share it, too!
It's GREAT!
Seriously, you NEED to watch this...

~Trunk or Treat~ ~Oct 28,2009~

2009-10-30T10:44:00.009-04:00

I wasn't going to post Halloween pictures until AFTER Halloween but...

these were just so cute I had to share:

Here is Andrew in his homemade Mad Scientist costume

A lab coat from an uncle,

gloves and goggles from Papa,

spiky hair sprayed white and green =

Cool costume for one cool kid!

Jessica wanted to be a beauty queen for Halloween.

(another homemade costume)

Personally I think she is a beauty EVERY day :)

A princess crown sprayed black with added glitter

A borrowed dress from mom

An orange Miss Halloween Sash

The prettiest Halloween beauty queen EVER!

Here is my special Super Girl, Kimberly!

She picked this out herself and I think it fits her perfectly!

(this one is a store bought costume)

Most lovely super girl in the world.

All aboard the Daniel Express!

This boy LOVES choo-choo trains.

(also store bought)

A most perfect costume for a most perfect little boy :-)

`
Even mom got in on the fun.

This was my quick, cheap, last minute, homemade costume idea...

a basket of laundry.

I bought a cheap laundry basket ($3) and cut out the bottom.

I added (clean) laundry to fill in the basket and pined the items in so I wouldn't loose anything.

`
I printed off a Tide label and taped it onto a small box.

I added some straps to the basket to help it stay on .

It was a HIT! All the moms loved it and everyone got a great big laugh out of it.

Here is the best picture of all ...

Oh yeah! The BEST part of Halloween is the

CANDY!!!!

Trunk or Treat Tonight!!!

2009-10-28T08:03:00.002-04:00

When: October 28, 2009

Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Where: Forestville Baptist Church
2 Old McElhaney Road
Greenville, SC 29617

Small Fall Project

2009-10-26T09:35:00.011-04:00

As I was "blog-hoping" I saw this cutie idea for fall, but now I can't remember where I saw it!
I'd love to give credit to who came up with this idea, so if you know, please tell me so I can link up to them.

Now, on to the project.

First, I bought some small juice glasses from
Good Will for $0.30 each.

I already had bought some fall leaves from
Walmart for $1.00 a pack.

I used low temp hot glue to attach the leaves around the glass.

I surrounded the glass with fall leaves
then tied raffia around the glass.

I put an LED tea light in the glass and added them to my fall decor in the laundry room.

($1 for a 2-pack at the Dollar Store)

Sweet little "fillers" that add a nice glow for a tiny price
($1.05 for each)

Gotta love it!
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Today I'm linking up to:

Between Naps on the Front Porch

A Soft Place to Land

Today's Creative Blog

My Laundry Room Loves Me Again

2009-10-21T08:21:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I spent the day freshening up my laundry room.

My neglected and forgotten space.

Making my home more welcoming.

It was past time to make her feel special ;)

BEFORE:
(I know, shameful)

AFTER:

BEFORE:
(she is SO embarrassed!)

AFTER:

I even added a small light to warm up the space.

Warm, cozy, welcoming, pretty...

Yes, I think my laundry room loves me again!

What a Weekend!

2009-10-20T11:06:00.004-04:00

Wow! What a long weekend we had!

Is it Tuesday already?

I totally forgot yesterday was Monday and I missed

"Dancing with the Stars".

Bummer :(

Oh well.....

We spent the weekend shopping for a new (to us) van.

Our poor Windstar was on it's last leg.

I won't even try to tell you all that was wrong with it, but it really needs to be shot and put out of it's misery ;-)

So, after looking and talking and searching, dear hubby and I made the decision and bought this:

A 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT

Love it!

As I was "resting" last night, I spent a little time in blog-land and I found these two great posts:

A Soft Place to Land: Make your home more welcoming ~ Challenge #1

The Nesting Place: 31 Days to a A Better Dressed Nest : Day 19 ~ Freshen a Forgotten Space

My laundry room is the most used entry to my home.

She has been neglected.

She gets dumped on,

trashed,

un-appreciated.

Today is the day I am going to make her feel loved!

She is going to be "freshened" and then she will be ready to make my family (and guests) feel "welcome" as they enter .

If I get brave, maybe I'll post Before and After pictures tomorrow :)

Another Kitchen Post

2009-10-14T21:31:00.007-04:00

I'm still tinkering in my kitchen.

I'm REALLY trying for that "warm, cozy" feeling.

I have a rather large kitchen with LOTS of white cabinets
and tons of counter space.

Sounds nice until you realize that most of
the counter space is wasted.

(Okay, so maybe "wasted" is the wrong term. How about, the way my kitchen is designed, the counter space is not able to be used to it's potential?)

Here, take a look:

From "A" to "B" it's 41 inches

Then you have the sink.

From "C" to "D" it's 15 inches

Next comes the stove.

From "E" to "F" it's 28 inches.

That is my actual "work" space in the kitchen.
Chopped up, tiny bits of counter space.

Now look here:

The counter from "A" to "B" is 76 inches long and
it is lower than the rest of the counter space.

From "C" to "D" the counter moves back up
to regular counter height and it is 84 inches long.

With this space being behind my table and being so far away from the sink, stove and fridge it just turns into a space to catch junk.

My goal is to make it warm and inviting without being cluttered.

Do you know how difficult it is to make
all that WHITE "warm and inviting"?

I'd LOVE to paint those cabinets but it just ain't gonna happen lol!

Anyway, it's coming together s~l~o~w~l~y.

Here is my latest addition:

I just purchased that tray at Goodwill earlier this week for $2.
I was going to paint it, but I rather like the brown color it is.

The tea cup and saucer is my every day china
I got when I got married.

The cross-stitch picture was made for me
by a dear friend several years ago.

I found the pitcher and the "Laugh" vase at TJ Max on Wednesday.

That little black lamp with the cranberry shade
adds some really nice, soft light.

Isn't it pretty with the dolled-up tray on the counter?

A Little Halloween Fun

2009-10-13T21:38:00.002-04:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Halloween Tiara

2009-10-12T10:41:00.011-04:00

We've been busy getting ready for Halloween
and Trick or Treating.
This year we'll be participating in Truck or Treat at our church.

Do ya'll know what Trunk or Treat is?

It's when you line up cars in a church parking lot, open up the trunks and decorate your car and trunk for fall.

Then all the children from the neighborhood walk around in their cutie costumes and "Trick or Treat" or "Trunk or Treat" :-)

(the above is not a picture of my "trunk")

We've been going to these events for a while, but this will be our first year setting up a "trunk" to give out treats. Of course the kids (and maybe even me) will dress up to get into the spirit of things. Jessica decided she wanted to be "Miss America" so we started looking through my old formal dresses to see if we could find something that would work for her.

The dress that works best just happens to be black.
Very pretty, but not so much "Miss America".

Instead, she'll be going as "Miss Halloween".

Black dress, orange sash with "Miss Halloween" written in black and a few black spiders in her pretty red hair.

And what "Miss Halloween" would be complete without a tiara?

I bought her a pretty little silver plastic tiara similar to this one:
(I totally forgot to take a pic of the actual one we bought)

To make it more fitting for Halloween, I pulled out my trusty can of black spray paint and gave it a quick spritz. I let it dry then used a little white glue and glitter to add some orange sparkle to the tiara.

I really like how it turned out and she is thrilled with it!

Today I'm linking this post to:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Front Porch
DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land
Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog

The Nester Said to Paint Something....

2009-10-05T19:30:00.014-04:00

Day 5 of 31 Days to a Better Dressed Nest is to paint something.

Um...yeah...I've been doing quite a bit of that lately haven't I? ;-)

Kitchen Cabinet Knobs HERE

Old Christmas tins HERE

I've even painted my kitchen after years of wall paper HERE

Today I'm going to show you another little paint project I've done for the kitchen.

I'll admit it....
I'm a thief!
Yep....a true criminal!

I TOTALLY stole this idea from The Happ y Homebody
and from Thrifty Decor Chick

Here is the plate I started with:

A little black spray paint and half of a faux apple and we've got this...

After the hung these on my wall, I felt like it needed something.
The apples just got lost....it just looked like a red blob on a plate on the wall.

I took some metallic bronze paint and brushed over the stem so it would stand out a bit.
Then I added a leaf to each apple to make it more "apple" like and less like a blob LOL!

I love it so much more now!
Funny how those little details make all the difference :~)

I've made 2 of these to add as wall art in my kitchen!

Totally Frugal Awesomeness!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week I'm linking my post to:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land

Room a Month at The Shades of Pink

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

Go check it out...it's so much fun and you will get totally inspired!

Surprise Decor

2009-10-04T16:37:00.005-04:00

The Nester is doing a series called
31 Days to a Better Dressed Nest.
She is currently on Day 4: Surprise

She says, "Call it whimsy, fun, quirky, unexpected, okay even dorky. But people are more relaxed around those who don't take themselves quite so seriously."

Here is my unexpected surprise:

What are my reasons for this quirky piece of decor?

1. We own an ice company
2. We are currently moving our company from it's current location to our home.
3. I've been in the process of re-decorating my kitchen.
4. My blog is called "The Ice House"

See, I have this really odd space in my kitchen and I never have found the right thing to go there. Turns out, it's the BEST EVER place for my husbands desk! (In the next few weeks I'll be painting it white so it matches the kitchen cabinets.)

Now that the desk is in place, the wall above it just called out for "ART". Enter dear husband with this Ice House neon sign we had in our store. PERFECT!!! Now, I've just got to get that sucker hung on the wall...it weighs a TON!

Unusual? Yep!
Quirky? Yep!
Unexpected? Yep!
And perfect for our little "ice house"!

Thrift Store find

2009-10-02T09:29:00.002-04:00

How cute is this?

Does it make it cuter when you find out it was $1.50?

Hello October!

2009-10-01T08:56:00.006-04:00

Since today is October 1, I thought I'd share how I've decorated a little for Halloween.

(click on the pictures to see them larger)
(blurry pictures courtesy of 3 yr old boy)

Here is my fire place all decked out.

(I'm going to add some more lights to the inside of the fireplace to light up my jack o lantern garland I have tucked in there)

I added a few Halloween touches and some white Christmas lights to my fall rag garland.

Here is my new "Boo" sign with a cute little witch and a great candy dish. I didn't make the "trick or treat" flower-pot candy dish, but it would be SO super simple to do, don't you think?

This year I printed out some pics of the children all decked out for Halloween and added them to my decor. I just printed them on regular copy paper and slipped them into some frames I all ready had. I'm thinking of getting some inexpensive frames and painting them black and adding some spooky touches so they will more Halloweenish.

A little display of Calico Kittens and Cherished Teddies I've had for AGES!

To make this center piece I spray painted a Christmas wreath black and tucked in some jack o lantern garland I already had. Added Mr. Pumpkin and voila!

I don't go "all out" for Halloween, but a few touches here and there makes it feel festive around the house. I've seen some GREAT ideas all around the web showing easy, inexpensive ideas for decorating for fall and Halloween and I may just get the bug to add more. We'll see.

Happy October, Ya'll!

Sneak Peak at Kitchen Re-do

2009-09-29T16:54:00.002-04:00

Okay, I am down to the final details in my kitchen and soon I'll be taking you all on a tour, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak and show you what a difference window treatments can make.

Here is a picture of my old window treatments in my kitchen after I painted.

WAY too much white!

Next, I found these great valances at Lowe's.

Better, right?
I thought so, too, except for one thing.
I raised my rods so they would be in line with my cabinets and so more light would come through the windows. The only problem with that is you could see the tops of the molding around my windows and the ugly part of the mini-blinds.

Here's a closer look:

Boy was that driving me CRAZY!!!

I had to fix it!

HAD TO, I tell ya!

Ah, isn't that better?

I purchased some fabric at Walmart and basted it to the back of the valances.
It takes care of seeing the white molding peaking through and the valances hang much better!

So, what do you think?

Another little kitchen craft

2009-09-28T10:20:00.007-04:00

I was shopping at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and found some adorable tins to use in the kitchen. They were just simple white tins with black or red trim work and they said things like "Tea" , "Sugar", "Coffee", etc. The asking price was $7.99 each, but (of course) they were marked 50% off making them $3.99 each. Um, not in my frugal budget ;-)

Later I was at Goodwill and found some Christmas tins that were similar in shape to the ones I had seen at Hobby Lobby. They were $0.50, $0.50 and $0.80. Okay, THAT was in my budget.

Add some black spray paint, labels made on the computer and some check ribbon ($1.97 at Walmart) and here's what I ended up with:

(sorry about the pic. I just couldn't get a great shot)

I had a empty spot on the top of my microwave that just cried out for "something" and my set of tins are just perfect there.

Here are closer views of the tins:

Nope, they aren't "perfect" but I'm okay with that.
Like the Nester says,
"It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful"

With the flash you can see the brush marks where I used Mod Podge to secure the label but in "real life" you never notice it.

3 tins at $3.99 from Hobby Lobby: $11.97
OR
3 homemade tins: $3.77

Which would you chose?

Frugal Find

2009-09-25T10:14:00.006-04:00

So, ya'll know I'm re-doing my kitchen, right?
Well, I've changed the entire look so none of my "old" decorations work quite right.

I had a beautiful blue pitcher on my fridge along with some Winnie the Pooh soup mugs. The blue just didn't work with the new black, brown and reddish-cranberry color scheme.

I found some GREAT rooster canisters at TJ Max and I put them on the fridge.
It still needed something to go along with it.
Yesterday I was at Old Pottery and found some reddish-cranberry colored soup mugs similar to these:They were $3.99 each. I REALLY thought abut buying them,

but decided against it. Boy am I glad I did!!!
Look what I found instead:

See those pretty mugs?
I found them at Goodwill for $0.60 each!
Aren't they just a perfect match to the reddish-cranberry color on the canisters?

Total spent: $1.20

Total Saved: $6.78

Cabinet Knobs Re-Do

2009-09-23T22:00:00.007-04:00

Here is the step by step process I used for painting my kitchen cabinet knobs.

1. This is the BEFORE...simple, nice enough but in need of an update.

2. The first thing I did was spray paint the knobs black. I used a satin black. To make sure I covered all around the knobs I clipped twigs the same size as the opening in the back of the knob and stuck the knobs on top. It helped me to be able to move the knob around easily without smudging the paint. I then stuck the twigs into some florist foam so they could dry over night.

3. Next, I got a deep rich metallic paint to add some dimension. I used a color called "rich espresso"

4. I took a small paint brush and painted over my black knobs with the metallic paint. Make sure to the the underside of the knobs, too.

5. Then I dabbed off the excess paint with a paper napkin. It let some of the black show through and it gave it a hammered look.

6. Again I let them stand up over night on the florist foam so the paint would dry well and give it a chance to cure.

And here is the finished product!

Cost for 38 new kitchen knobs = minimum of $38.00

My cost for kitchen knobs re-do ::::: $5.14:::::

1 can spray paint: $2.97
1 metallic paint: $2.17
***************************************************
*NOTE~~when I originally posted this I said to use a clear coat to seal the paint. I do not suggest doing this. When I did it, the paint crackled and it took away from the look of the finish. These were so very easy to do, if the paint starts to wear I recommend just doing a touch up on them.

Lots of Fall Projects Going On Around Here!

2009-09-22T17:43:00.008-04:00

Wow it's been a LONG time since I've posted, hasn't it? I guess getting back into the school routine and doing things around the house has put blogging on the back burner.

I'm currently re-doing my kitchen and I'm SO in love with it. When I get all done (which may take a little while still) I'll give a full update. For now, here's 2 things I'm working on for the kitchen:

Aren't these funny looking?

I have a ton of cabinets and drawers in my kitchen and that means lots of knobs! 38 to be exact! Well, my old knobs were brass and white in the middle. VERY dated and worn looking. I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to replace the hardware. HA HA! The CHEAP ones are $1 each! Minimum cost would be $38.00!

So, I've decided to PAINT the ones I already have! First, I've spray painted them black ($2.97 for 1 can of paint). Next I'm painting over that with a metallic rich espresso and dabbing some of it off ($2.17 ) Finally, I'll spray them again with a clear coat to protect the finish ($2.97 for 1 can).
When I get them complete I'll show you the pics. They turn out SO nice!

Total cost for 38 = $8.11

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who doesn't love Winnie the Pooh?

I've had a set of Pooh cookie molds since I got married and I just LOVE hanging them in the kitchen. The only problem is the molds are the same color as my walls now and you couldn't see them. Bummer! So, I got creative! I purchased 3 black wooden frames from the Dollar Store for $1 each. I removed the glass and put in a piece of scrapbook paper ($0.59 each). I secured the frames to the wall with one of those stick on, easy removed tabs. Then I screwed a cup hook right through the paper so there would be a secure place to hang my cookie molds. I lined them up under some of my cabinets and I just ADORE IT! (I still need to put a new ribbon at the tops of my molds. The ones I currently have are very worn out!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome Fall!

I SO stole this idea from Doodles By Lauren!

She made a Halloween garland and I almost did one for my home, but I decided to do one in a fall theme instead. That way I get to use it all of Sept, Oct and Nov! So easy and SO pretty! I used four different types of coordinating fabric and cut them into 8 inch long strips about 1-1/2 inches wide. Then all you do it tie the strips onto a length of twine however long you want it to be. You tie and tie and tie until you are sick of doing it but the results are worth it!

The joys of thrift stores!

I was at the thrift store a few days ago and found this little hidden gem! The glass dome was dirty and had a little sticky stuff on it and the bottom was a pitiful brown color and dirty, too. BUT, the potential was there LOL! I paid the $1.50 they were asking and brought her home. A good washing and a little black spray paint and she was pretty as she could be :-) I picked up a ceramic pumpkin at the Dollar store and added a few leaves, berries, acorns and a raffia bow and my new treasure is all dressed up for fall.

Happy Halloween!

I really enjoy decorating for Halloween but I don't like paying a lot of money for decorations that I only use 1 month out of the year. I made this cutie for $1.46! I got the frame at the Dollar Store. It was one that had the mat in it for 3 pictures. Next I got some scrapbook paper. I traced the mat onto the polka dot paper and cut. Next I glued the spider web paper behind the polka dot paper. I printed the letters from the computer and covered them with orange glitter. I let it all dry over night then put it in the frame. Voila!

I've been working on lots of other things and when I get them complete I'll be sure to share!

HAPPY FALL YA'LL

AWANA Sign Up Tonight!

2009-08-26T09:57:00.003-04:00

The Awana name is derived from an idea in the Bible found in II Timothy 2:15 which reads, "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed."
*
Why Awana? In the purpose of Awana is stated best in the pledge to the Awana flag, "I pledge allegiance to the Awana flag, which stands for the Awana Clubs, whose goal is to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ, and train them to serve Him.
*
What do Awana Clubs teach? The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyone is a sinner (Romans 3:23) and in God's eyes deserves eternal punishment in hell (Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15). But Jesus Christ, God's Son, paid the penalty for our sin when He was crucified on the cross and arose from the dead (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we receive God's gift of eternal life in heaven. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Salvation is a free gift; we cannot buy it or earn it by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead we must simply accept it. Each child and leader must understand this important message, for it is what our Awana Clubs teach and the reason for their existence.

(above information from Dana and Cindy Bratton's site)

My church, Forestville Baptist, is having sign-ups for AWANA's tonight for ages 2 yrs old -5th grade. AWANA meets every Wednesday night from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

Last year was my childrens first experience with AWANA. They LOVED it! And, I did,too! The joy of seeing your child memorize Bible verse after Bible verse...to see them grow in their relationship with God, to find friends that are growing in God, too...PRICELESS!

I encourage you to sign up your child for AWANA. We'd love to have you attend at Forestville, but there are AWANA clubs at churches all over the area (and beyond!). FInd an AWANA Club today and enroll your child. You won't regret it!

Home Made Laundry Detergent

2009-08-25T13:08:00.002-04:00

You will need Zote Soap, Borax and Washing Soda.

I buy my Zote at Save a Lot on White Horse Road. The Sav Mor on Wade Hampton carries it also.

The only place in Greenville that I have found that carries Washing Soda is Publix.

You can pick up Borax at any grocery store or Walmart.

When I make laundry detergent, I make a double batch so I end up with 5 gallons of detergent. Here I used 2/3 bar of Zote Soap and grated it on a cheese grater. The soap is soft and it is easy to grate.

Next you want to put the grated soap into a sauce pan and add your water. Since I doubled my soap, the amount of water I used was 12 cups.

Once your soap is melted you will add your washing soda and borax. Again, I doubled my amount so I used 1 cup of each.

Once your washing soda and borax have totally dissolved, pour hot water into your bucket. I used 8 cups.

Now take your soap mixture and pour it into the bucket that contains your hot water.

Too that you will add more water. Again, since I am doubling my recipe I added 2 gallons PLUS 12 cups of water.

Here is my bucket of newly finished laundry detergent. I make a lot at one time for 2 reasons. 1) I have a large family and we do a lot of laundry and 2) I don’t have to make it as often.

After your detergent sits for 24 hrs it will thicken up. I like to stir it well to break it up a bit. Your detergent will look gloppy … sort of like Egg Drop Soup. You use 1/2 cup detergent per load.

For the recipe I use go to : The Family Homestead

Please Pray

2009-08-23T21:19:00.005-04:00

Do you remember my uncle that has cancer? I posted about it HERE and HERE and HERE.

Monday afternoon be will be having his 3rd surgery in 2 years.

He noticed a lump forming and the doctors removed the fluid that was causing the lump. They tested it and it was positive for cancer.

He's had this before but the doctors didn't find out as fast that it was cancer that time.

We are praying that this surgery isn't near as difficult as the last one.

If you would, please say a prayer for my dear uncle. He is so precious to us and we are so very sad that he is going through this again.

We know God has a plan and that this is all in His hands. He does not place anything on us that we cannot bear. I know God is with David and will see him through this surgery and recovery.

Thank you for your prayers and I will update as I find out how he is doing.

Happy 15th Anniversary, My Love!

2009-08-20T10:55:00.002-04:00

Back to School

2009-08-19T08:56:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

What I did this Summer

2009-08-18T16:39:00.003-04:00

WOW! What a fast and fun summer we had! We packed in TONS and TONS of fun! We went to the movies, had lunches with dad, went swimming, to water parks, on hikes, roller skating, bowling, ice skating…..

It was the BEST SUMMER EVER!

Great Wolf Lodge!

(June 8, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Swimming at Mrs. Kay’s House

(June 25, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kimberly’s 6th birthday

(June 26, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Picnic in Columbia

(June 29, 2009)

Riverbanks Zoo

(June 29, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Picnic at Falls Park

(July 1, 2009)

Finding the Mice on Main

(July 1, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4th of July at Papa and Gram’s House

(July 4, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cow Appreciation Day at Chick Fil A

(July 10, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Frankie’s Fun Park

(July 14, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Upcountry Museum

(July 15, 2009)

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The WNC Nature Center

(July 21, 2009)

Chimney Rock

(July 21, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ice Skating

(August 6, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riding the “mule” to see the sunflowers

(August 7, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roller Skating

(August 11, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ice Cream party at Nana’s house

(August 15, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Discovery Island Water Park

(August 16, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Krispy Kreme Donuts

(August 18, 2009)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Andrew, Jessica, Kimberly and Daniel,

I want to thank you for being the greatest kids in the world! I’ve loved every part of being with you all this summer and I am going to miss you SO MUCH while you are in school! We’ve made lots of great memories this summer and I hope it meant as much to you as it did to me. I love you guys….more than you will ever know!

Your Opinion if You Please...

2009-08-15T20:46:00.009-04:00

Our bedroom is in need of some new paint.

Here is a picture standing in the door that leads in from
our living room.
This is the right side of the room.

(click on the pictures to see them larger)

Another shot from the doors leading in from the living room.
This is the left side of the room.

Here we have a view from the opposite side of the room.
As you can see, the doors open up directly into our living room.
Currently the living room is painted green but I will be painting that room the same color I just painted the kitchen (click HERE to see the wall color)

We have 3 windows in our room and I currently have topped them with white lace valances.

Here is a close up of our current wall color.
It's a deep pink. An outdated pink.
A "not as pretty as it looks in this picture" pink.
A pink that no man should have to have in his bedroom.

An here we have a close up of the quilt on our bed. I do not want to change the bedding, so I need a paint color that will work with this quilt.

Any body have any suggestions? Ideas? Opinions?

PLEASE let me know what

YOU

would do in this room!

So Much Fun, So Little Time!

2009-08-14T17:19:00.000-04:00

We have been so busy having fun and I've just not taken the time to blog about it!

Free ice skating thanks to the Summer Reading at the library...

Roller Skating one evening....

Swimming at a friends house today

An ice cream party tomorrow.

Hopefully the water park Sunday or Monday.

Free donuts at Krispy Kreme Tuesday.

Back to school Wednesday.

Where did the summer go????

New Look

2009-08-11T22:48:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling a little "fall-ish" even if it is 96+ degrees outside.

What do you think?

Wow Wow Wubbzy Give Away

2009-08-10T21:44:00.003-04:00

My little 3 year old just LOVES Wubbzy!

In fact, just this week he learned to say "Wow Wow Wubbzy" instead of "Ow Ow Uzzy" LOL!
He has a small speech delay and it was so cool to hear him slowly say all of the words correctly!

Right now, The "Cent"sible Sawyer is giving away a Wubbzy prize pack:

"One of my Lucky Readers is going to win an awesome Wow Wow Wubbzy prize pack valued at about $50!

The prize pack includes:
A Tale of Tails DVD - $16.98
Pirate Treasure DVD - $16.98
Welcome to Wuzzleburg - $6.99 (sticker book)
Everybody Loves Wubbzy - $2.99 (coloring book)
Joy Cone 18 count color cups - $2.99
Some Wubbzy sticker sheets"

Be sure to head over to her website and register to win!

Bi Lo Savings

2009-08-05T18:39:00.006-04:00

This week Bi Lo is having a really good sale. LOTS of BOGO's (buy one,get one free) and it was a great time to stock up on some items.

One very important thing about saving money and using coupons is stockpiling. Know your best prices for the items you buy and when a great deal comes along, stock up so the next time you need that item you can reach into your stockpile instead of running out and paying full price for said item. You will notice I bought 10 Eggo waffles. My every day best price is $1.68. I was able to get them for $0.82 per box. My kids love to eat these for breakfast. With 4 kids, 1 box can be gone in 1 day. This is worth stocking up on for us!

(NOTE: Q = coupon
$1/2 = $1.00 off when you buy 2 items
$0.50/3 = $0.50 off when you buy 3 items
x's 2 = Bi Lo will double any coupon that is $0.55 or less)

Here is what I stocked up on today:

4 boxes of pop tarts (reg $2.23) sale $1.12 - $1/2 Q = $0.62 each
*
8 boxes Coco Pebbles (reg $3.29) sale $1.65 - $1/2 Q = $1.15 each
*
4 boxes Zip Lock Sandwich Bags (reg $3.19) sale $1.60 - $0.40 Q x's 2 = $0.80 each
*
6 boxes Kleenex (reg $2.09) sale $1.05 - $0.50/3 Q x's 2 = $0.72 each
*
4 2000 Flushes (reg $3.78) sale $1.89 - $0.55 Q x's 2 = $0.79 each
*
4 Shout (reg $2.93) sale $1.47 - $0.50 Q x's 2 = $0.47 each
*
2 Chips Ahoy cookies (reg $3.89) sale $1.95 (no Q's used)
*
2 Lance Crackers (reg $2.89) sale $1.45 (no Q's used)
*
4 Country Crock Butter with Calcium (reg $2.00) sale $1.00 - $50 Q x's 2 = FREE each
*
4 Country Crock Butter (reg $2.00) sale $1.00 - $0.25 Q x's = $0.50 each
*
10 Eggo waffles (reg $2.64) sale $1.32 - $1.00/2 Q = $0.82 each
*
Chicken Breast $0.99 per lb (reg $12.48) sale $4.77
*
Ground Chuck $1.99 per lb (reg $19.85) sale $11.02
*
2 small watermelons (reg $7.98) sale $ 3.98
*
3lb Granny Smith apples (reg $3.99) sale $1.99

I was also able to use a $3.00 store coupon that I received last week for buying Peter Pan Peanut Butter.

Total OOP (out of pocket) $60.48
Total Saved $128.36

It gets better :-) Because I bought 10 Kellogg's items in one transaction, I can submit the receipt and UPC symbols for the Fuel for School Rebate and I'll get a $10 check back in the mail

Oh, but it gets even better. A coupon printed at the end of my order for a Back to School Cash Rewards Card. It says, "Get a $10.00 back to school rewards card for use on your next purchase when you buy any 8 Kellogg's, Eggo, and/or Sunshine products." I don't have to send in a receipt or UPC's to receive this card!!!

Now that was a very successful shopping trip!

Be sure to visit Money Saving Mom for more Super Saving Saturday

Nothing!

2009-08-05T08:44:00.002-04:00

I got nothing for ya right now.

Not much really exciting going on
so I'm lost at what to post.

I'm going to Bi Lo this afternoon and it should be a good trip.
If it is as good as I plan, I'll post about it.

School starts very soon ... maybe there will be a post about that.

It's been a busy, fun filled summer...hopefully I'll have a summer in review post.

Still, not anything earth shattering but hey, it's something, right?

2009-08-03T07:49:00.000-04:00

What Crayola Crayon are you?

Your result is... Fiesty Red

When somebody makes you mad, they better watch out! You always stnad up for what you believe in, and fight for what is right.

Beautiful!

2009-08-01T22:45:00.000-04:00

A Wrong Turn Leads to Adventure

2009-07-22T08:33:00.010-04:00

Our day began as planned, a day trip to the WNC Nature Center.

(Petting Zoo at WNC Nature Center)

It is a really neat place and we had lots of fun walking around and looking at the interesting animals.

(WNC Nature Center)

We got to see black bears, white-tail deer (we have these in our yard quite often) Grey wolfs, foxes, bobcats, otters and lots more.

(Up close to a red wolf)

There were LOTS of turns to get to the nature center and I am not known for having the best sense of direction. So when it was time to leave, I sort of got confused *go figure*!

However, it all turned out for good. We ended up following the signs to Chimney Rock and had ourselves a little un-planned adventure!

There was no way I was going to hike up all the stairs to get to the top of Chimney Rock with a grumpy 3 year old so we took the easy way and rode the elevator!

(Waiting for the elevator to take us up to Chimney Rock.
26 stories in 30 seconds...amazing!)

When you get off the elevator you walk out of the gift shop you are way up in the mountains. The next step is to walk up 44 stairs to the top of Chimney Rock. My mom isn't fond of heights so she waited at the bottom of the stairs for us. Daniel went with us to the top, but he wasn't real happy when he got there, so down the steps we went.

(At the top of Chimney Rock)

Next we followed yet more steps up to the Opera Box and enjoyed the view from there.

(The view of Chimney Rock from the opera box)

More stairs? Are you serious? Yep, so up we went to see Devil's Head. I think God's imagination is quite amazing, don't you?

(Devil's Head at Chimney Rock)

Now, we go back down those stairs! This is when things got a little scary. After we walked down the wooden stairs, we still needed to go down the stone stairs. Of course, I'm the slow one, so the kids were ahead of me. I could see them but Andrew went around a bend and I didn't see him for a moment. Jessica turned around to me and said "Andrew fell off the mountian!"

What???? I really didn't believe he fell "off the mountain" and I figured he must have slipped. I then heard him groaning and I picked up the pace to get to him. Sure enough, he took a tumble. I thought he slipped and scraped up his side a bit. What I didn't find out until later is that he actually ROLLED (like a forward head roll) down the stairs and ended up sliding on his back a bit before he stopped!!!!

Thankfully he is fine. He's back is scraped up pretty good and he feels a little banged up, but he's okay. Let me tell you, I've said lots of thank yous to our Heavenly Father for the protection He poured out all over my son!

(All those stairs!)

After we took a break and shopped the gift shop we decided to hike the Hickory Nut Falls Trail. It is a 1.5 mile hike and at the end you come face to face with a 404 foot waterfall! Daniel was just too cranky and tired to make the hike so he and mom waited for us.

(Hickory Nut Falls Trail)

I never thought I'd enjoy hiking (even mild hiking like we did Tuesday) but I DID! It was so nice just walking and talking with the children. They enjoyed it, too. They said that the only thing that would make it better would be having Dad there with us! I agree!

(God's beautiful creations!)

(The reward at the end of the trail!)

We're already making plans to go back and the next time we're taking Dad along!

So, a wrong turn lead to a great day of adventure for us and maybe a whole new world of family fun for the Monroe's!

Our Adventure for the Week!

2009-07-20T17:13:00.005-04:00

We're heading out in the morning to go to the
WNC Nature Center in Asheville, NC

"The WNC Nature Center is a living museum of plants and animals native to the Appalachian region. Our purpose is to increase public awareness and understanding of all aspects of the natural environment of Western North Carolina through hands-on and sensory experience."

I know ya'll are thinking...what is with this crazy lady and zoos????

I'm just determined to get my money's worth out of my newly acquired
Greenville Zoo Membership.

We paid $49.00 for a household membership and the day I bought the membership 3 of the children and I went to visit the zoo (I mean, we were already there, right?).

Cost of one day visit for 4 (one child was free): $12.00

Then we went to Riverbanks Zoo. Because of our zoo membership we were able to enter at no additional charge.

Cost of one day visit for 5 (one child was free): $31.50

Tomorrow's trip to the WNC Nature Center will be free thanks to our zoo membership.

Cost of one day visit for 5: $24.00

So the cost of the membership was $49.00
The cost of the 3 (so far) trips would have been $67.50.
Savings (so far) $18.50.

Our membership is good for 1 full year and we just purchased it this summer.
Yep, we're going to be some zoo goin' people for a while :-)

Good Advice from a Wise Doctor

2009-07-17T16:16:00.008-04:00

The following is one of those "forwards" you get in your email box.
I think it makes a very good point and wanted to share.

GOOD ADVICE FROM A WISE DOCTOR!

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together. So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?' She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.' She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is.

There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.' The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child! 'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

The crime is the same!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Frankie's Fun Park

2009-07-15T13:40:00.002-04:00

Goings On

2009-07-13T20:40:00.011-04:00

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had great 4th of July.

We had a really fun time at my Dad and Mom's. We had BBQ, Baked Beans, Slaw and Corn on the Cob. For dessert we had apple pie and ice cream. How very American!

After dinner the kids and Gram had a big time playing with the garden hose.

They started out keeping the ball in the air with water but it quickly turned into a free for all!

Even that little 3 year old got in on the act!

After the water fun was done, the kids got a warm bath followed by ice cream!

The children have all officially met their reading goal for the Summer Reading Program.

They each read 45 books or long chapters so they all won all of the prizes. They received:

*Chick-fil-A Icedream coupon

*Pavilion ice skating pass

*Chick-fil-A Kids Meal coupon

*Be Creative paint sheet

*Certificate of Completion

*Toy mini video camera

*Voucher to a Greenville Drive baseball game

Way to go, kiddos!

I can't wait to take the kids ice skating. I took the older 2 a long time ago but they really don't remember going. My 6 yr old has never been. It should be interesting to say the least.

We're really looking forward to the Greenville Drive game, too. Two really nice outings for practically free (mom and dad still have to pay, of course).

One day this week we're going to the FREE movies to see Horton Hears a Who and hopefully Thursday I'm going to take the kids to the Upcountry Museum.

We've never been and they are having an exhibit called "Eyes to the Hills: Travelers Rest to the Dark Corner" . The exhibit interprets life in Northern Greenville County from early settlement through the Great Depression. We may just follow that outing with a free lunch at Chick Fil A and a Free Ice Cream Cone thanks to the coupons they earned with the summer reading program :o)

All in all, it should be a pretty fun week for the Monroe's :-)

Cow Appreciation Day ~ 2009

2009-07-10T21:10:00.004-04:00

As EVERYONE knows, today was Cow Appreciation Day at
Chick Fil A!

No way were we going to miss all the fun.

Here is my "herd" getting ready to "chow down" on some
FREE chicken!

Hey, even Mom made it in this picture ;-)
Looks like we added 2 more cows to the herd.

The very nice Chick Fil A people not only gave us FREE food
but FREE balloons and FREE stuffed cows!

Here we are with those extra cows again.
One of the employees noticed the kids with their masks.
She rounded up the Chick Fil A Cows and asked if they could take a picture with the kids and their masks.

We had a great time. It was really fun to see all the different ways folks dressed up like cows.

Thank you Chick Fil A!

Happy Birthday, America!

2009-07-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

4th of July Menu

2009-07-03T19:04:00.003-04:00

We'll be spending the evening at my mom and dad's house for the 4th of July.

On the menu:

BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Baked Beans

Marinated Slaw

Chips

Apple Pie

Ice Cream

*The BBQ could not be easier. I buy a pork butt and salt it well. Then I put it in my trusty crock pot and add a little water. I cook it on low all day...until it is "fork tender". I pull it into shreads and put it in a BIG bowl. We eat it on hamburger buns and top it with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce! YUM-O!

*Baked beans come out of a can! LOL! I "dress them up" by adding brown sugar (to taste), a few squirts of ketchup and mustard. Then I lay bacon across the top and bake in the oven until the bacon is done. These are so DELISH! Thanks to my mother-in-law for teaching me how to make these.

*Marinated Slaw is a different type of slaw. It is not in a creamy sauce. I love how crisp and fresh tasting it is. Here is the recipe:

8 cups shredded cabbage
2 TBS. chopped pimento
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
3/4 cup onion
1 cup sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 TBS mustard seed

In a large bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients. Toss lightly and set aside. Combine sugar, vinegar, water and mustard seed in a medium sauce pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 20-25 minutes or until slightly thickened. Pour over cabbage mixture. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or over night. Slaw with keep in the refrigerator for several days.
Yield: 10 servings

*Chips, apple pie and ice cream is all store bought.

An easy and yummy way to celebrate the 4th of July!

Fun Day in Downtown Greenville

2009-07-01T20:30:00.009-04:00

We started our afternoon with a picnic at Falls Park.
After we ate, we took a stroll around the park.

It is such a beautiful place.

We walked by the falls and the fountain
then we walked across the Liberty Bridge.

(click on picture to see a larger view)

Next, we made our way to Main Street
to find the Mice on Main.
Yep, we found all 9 of those silly mice ;-)

(click on picture for larger view)

When we were done finding the mice,
we stopped in the Mast General Store
for drinks and stuffed mice!

Greenville has so much to offer.

So many times we will go on vacation and find neat stuff to do in other cities and we never stop to visit the great sites in our OWN area.

Well, this summer we are treating Greenville (and surrounding areas) as our chosen vacation spot. We're going to do all the fun and interesting things that visitors do when they vacation in our hometown!

We're Going on a Mouse Hunt

2009-07-01T10:37:00.006-04:00

A unique way to explore downtown greenville Goodnight Moon is the children’s book that the mice idea came from. As a senior project at Christ Church Episcopal School, Jimmy Ryan proposed the idea of placing the mice downtown for children to hunt. He raised the funding and commissioned Zan Wells, local sculptor, to make the individual mice. A bronzed sculpture of the book and one mouse are mounted on the fountain in front of the Hyatt Regency hotel and the other eight mice are installed along a nine-block stretch of Main Street between the Hyatt & the Westin Poinsett hotels. So, this is what we have planned for today. Then I think we'll find our way down to the Falls Park. Maybe a picnic lunch? If I can pull it all together. We'll see. Have a great day everyone!

Riverbanks Zoo Pictures

2009-06-30T17:48:00.005-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We had a really wonderful time at Riverbanks Zoo on Monday.

I wish we had gotten there earlier as we didn't get to do everything we wanted to.

We missed several of the presentations, the 3-D movie and we didn't make it to the Botanical Garden.

We DID get to do the main things the kids wanted to do:

1) See lots of neat animals

2) My 2 youngest went on the pony ride. It is expensive ($5 per child) but it was their money and, even though it was a short ride, they did enjoy it.

3) The 2 older kids wanted to do the rock climb. At $3 per child it wasn't so bad. They thought it was very cool!

4) 3 of the kids rode the carousel. $1 per child and really, who doesn't love a carousel?

5) Feed the lorikeets. We only bought 2 cups of nectar ($1 per cup) and I wish I had bought 1 per child. That was really neat.

6) 3 of the kids rode the train. It was $2 per child but my youngest is crazy about choo-choo trains so that was a must.

We are really looking forward to going back sometime soon :-)

Zoo Bound

2009-06-29T06:00:00.002-04:00

Saturday we went to the Greenville Zoo and purchased our Zoo membership. It is $49 for a household membership. It is good for one year and you get all kinds of "perks" with it. One "perk" is being able to visit lots of other zoos for no additional charge.

For me and the kids to go for one day to Riverbanks Zoo it would cost $38.75

Saturday's visit to Greenville Zoo would have been have been $15.00

Total for those two outings would have been $53.75. Since our membership was $49 we've already saved $4.75 :-)

Plus, we can visit our zoo as much as we want for the next year at no additional charge AND visit tons of other zoos or aquariums for free or at a reduced rate.

**Important note here: On the Greenville Zoo and Riverbanks Zoo websites it shows that with the membership you get a 50% discount and not free admittance. I called Riverbanks and they said that the price change will begin in January.**

They do not allow drinks or coolers into the Riverbanks Zoo but there is a picnic area along the Saluda River just outside the entrance to the zoo. We plan to arrive around 1:00 PM so I am packing a picnic lunch to enjoy before we go in.

The kids have been planning out the different things they want to do while were there:

Feed the Lorikeets
10:00am-4:30pm M-F
10:00am-5:30pm Sa-Su
1 Safari Buck*/cup of nectar

Ride the Endangered Species Carousel**
9:00am-4:45pm daily
1 Safari Buck*/ride

Ride a Pony**
10:00am-3:00pm daily
5 Safari Bucks*/ride

Spots & Stripes Railroad
(children's train ride)
10:00am-4:00pm daily
2 Safari Bucks* / ride

Wild Adventures at Riverbanks : 26-ft rock wall and coconut trees (weight restrictions – min. 40 lbs, max. 250 lbs)
10:00am-4:30pm
1 climb - 3 Safari Bucks*
2 climbs - 5 Safari Bucks*

3-D Adventure Theater**

A Turtle's Adventure - Now Showing

Experience beautiful coral reefs and ocean canyons in the mysterious and unpredictable deep-sea world. Join baby turtles on an adventure that includes giant sharks, huge octopuses and frightening sea eels!

The kids all have birthday money and money they earn when they work with their dad. They will use their money for the "extra" attractions listed above and for any "souvenirs" they may want (with moms guidance, of course).

I'll foot the bill for a mid-afternoon drink and snack at the Zoo and then we'll have dinner out before we head back home.

This is a big trip for me. When we go out of town Dad is usually with us, but with this being the week of the 4th our ice business is super busy and he can't go :-( It's just gonna be me and the 4 kids. Still, I think it's going to be great fun.

I'll be taking TONS of pictures and I'll share them later in the week.

Still Sunday

2009-06-27T23:29:00.001-04:00

Are you Overwhelmed?

2009-06-26T13:17:00.010-04:00

Thursday's Oprah was about how an "overwhelmed" mother forgot her 2 year old was in her car. The mother left her there for hours on a August day. Of course, sadly the child died and basically the mother's excuse was that she was so busy, out of her routine, overwhelmed that she forgot her child was with her.

Oprah also featured a lot of phone calls from mothers and the key word they all used was "overwhelmed".

I'm not here to judge that mother or any other moms out there.

My big question is,

"Why are moms so overwhelmed?"

Here is the definition of overwhelmed:

overwhelmed
A	adjective

		rendered powerless especially by an excessive amount or profusion of something;

Have you ever felt this way?

Do you know WHY you felt this way?

A few years ago I was "overwhelmed".

Why?

We were trying to do too much!

I had children in school and a new baby at home.

1 child played baseball and 2 danced.

Ball practice was twice per week, usually during dinner time, and games every Saturday.

Dance practice was twice per week, one of those nights was the same night as baseball practice, and of course, it was around dinner time.

That doesn't sound like much does it?

Add church into the mix. Now you are gone 2 more days of the week.

What about homework?
(You've got to get that done sometime.)

The grocery store?

Cleaning the house?

Laundry?

What if someone needs shoes?

When do you fit it all in?

So here was our week:

Sunday is church.

Monday night you're home.

Tuesday is baseball practice and dance practice.

Wednesday night is church and dance practice if you can fit in both.

Thursday night is baseball practice again.

Friday you're home...maybe.

Saturday is baseball games.

Where did the week go?

When did your kids have some REAL down time?

What about a family dinner?

Home cooked meals?

How can you do that if you are gone every night?

Feeling overwhelmed yet?

I am just thinking about how things were for us that year. It was too much. Too much for me and too much for the kids. I was doing all this running around "for them" but they were miserable!

Take a look at Ephesians 5: 15 - 16:

"Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men but as wise,

making the most of your time,

because the days are evil."

(The literal meaning is "redeem the time.")

Now, I'm not trying to tell you that after school activities are "evil".

I'm suggesting that MAYBE we aren't making the most of our time.

Is it in our family's best interest to be running
here, there and yonder?

Are we making the most of our time?

The answer for my family was...

NO!

We just couldn't keep it up. I was tired and worn out
and so were the kids.

So, we quit!

We quit all the "extras".

If it wasn't beneficial to our family or bringing us closer to God we
just didn't do it.

We redeemed our time.

Now our week looks like this:

Sunday- church AM and PM

Monday - school / home

Tuesday - school / home

Wednesday -school / church

Thursday -school / home

Friday - school / home

Saturday - home

Sound boring? No way! It's freeing!

We are free to:

rest ~ enjoy one another as a family~ play~ do fun activities together~ just be ~have time to spend with our Savior

Oh, there are LOTS of reasons to feel overwhelmed. It's not just after school activities. Many things in our lives can overwhelm us, but the question is ...

What can you do about it?

What can you change?

How are YOU
"making the most of your time"?

Grab your Calendars!

2009-06-24T20:30:00.010-04:00

Chick Fil A Cow Appreciation Day!!!

July 10, 2009

Participating Chick Fil A Restaurants will award a
free combo meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner)
to any customer who comes to a Chick Fil A Restaurant
fully dressed as a cow.

Each kid fully dressed like a cow can request a free kids meal.
For more information click HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

21st Annual Hot Dog Day

at the Greenville Zoo!

Saturday, July 11

10 am to 4 pm

Join us for this annual summer event at the Zoo!
Enjoy hot dogs and other treats at special prices.

Admission:
Adults $6
Children (ages 3-15) only a $1.
(Limit: 4 children per adult)

Hot Dogs $0.25
Pepsi $0.25
Chips $0.25
Ice Cream Sandwiches $0.25
Nutty Buddys $0.25
Cracker Jacks $0.25

Sorry, but no credit cards for admission on this day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What a fun weekend this is going to be!!! We had a BLAST dressing up like cows for free Chick Fil A last year. The kids have been talking about it since school let out for the summer.

Follow that with Hot Dog Day at the Zoo....
lots of frugal fun to be had by all!

Will you be dressing up like a cow?

How about going to the zoo?

If you do, take lots of pics and blog about it
then come back here and leave me a link in the comments section.
I'd love to see your pictures and read all about the fun you had!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T05:00:00.001-04:00

Psalm 127: 3-5

3) Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

4) Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

5) Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.

Kenton and Andrew

February 25,1998

******************************************

Kenton and Jessica

March 30, 2000

************************************

Kenton and Kimberly

June 26, 2003

*****************************************

Kenton and Daniel

May 22, 2006

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him Father!

- Lydia M. Child

Something old, Something new

2009-06-18T11:06:00.011-04:00

Something old...
(don't I wish my boys room looked like this!)

I'm de-cluttering the boys room again.
It amazes me how one small room can get so very cluttered.
It's not like we buy stuff for them very often.
I clean out old toys, trash, old clothes and yet
in a few short weeks it looks like I was never in there!

*Sigh* I guess it's the life of a mother ....
and one I wouldn't change for anything
(well, a maid WOULD be nice)

Something new ...

Yesterday the children had their 6 month
cleaning and check up at the dentist.
It was a great visit. They've done a great job cleaning those beautiful teeth and not a cavity in sight!

However, the time has come for my oldest to get braces.
I'll be calling our orthodontist in just a bit
to get the process started.

There is the consultation visit, then baby teeth will
need to be pulled, then onto the braces.

I'm glad it's summer time. It will give us an opportunity to get this all taken care of and give him a chance to get used to the braces before he starts school in August.

So now I'm off to get the boys room nice and clean :-)

Have a wonderful and productive day!

You Said Popcorn is HOW MUCH?

2009-06-16T20:36:00.008-04:00

The children and I went to see the FREE summer movie today. It's the first time we have been this summer. We really have a good time when we go. It's the only time we all go to the theater to see a movie because, let's face it, $35.50 to see a movie is NUTS!!! ( (1) $9.50 per adult ticket and (4) $6.50 per child ticket -- $32.50 if we go in the afternoon)

So, back to the FREE movies! They were awesome last year! We were able to buy $1 boxes of popcorn and $1 sodas, too. $8.00 to have a nice snack and see a movie...THAT I can do :-)

HOWEVER....they have now changed the deal. The movie is still FREE. Super! Thanks REGAL!
BUT.... they no longer have the $1 popcorn and $1 drinks. :-(

Have you seen what they charge for popcorn at the movies?

One SMALL popcorn is $5.75! Are you kidding me? I can get a sandwich, fries and a drink for that at Chick Fil A!

A small soda? $4.50! Right! I mean, soda is SOOOO very expensive. It's not like I could go to the grocery store and buy a 2 lt. "name brand" soda for $1.39...oh, wait... I CAN!!!

To be fair, they did offer a "deal". I could get 1 large pop corn and 2 drinks for .... are you ready for this???? $17.00!!!!!

Let's whip out that calculator and do the math (really...these numbers are TOO big for me to crunch in my head).

4 small pop corns = $23.00
4 small sodas = $18.00
(at these prices, mom doesn't get one)

Total = $41.00

Do you know how many groceries I can get for $41.00?

Now, I understand that these people are in business to make money. HOWEVER, this is ROBBERY!!!

I have no problem plunking down my $8 for pop corn and drinks. They are still making money. You can't convince me that they lost money on that deal. No way!

But now? They are going to loose my money...about $72 over 9 weeks. Oh, we'll still enjoy the FREE movie, but we won't be buying snacks there. We'll have a hearty breakfast before we go and I'll be glad to feed the kids their fill of pop corn and soda at home!

I realize that I'm not entitled to a FREE movie every week for 9 weeks. I realize they offer this deal and still expect to make money. I totally get it. I'm willing to buy REASONABLY priced snacks...I just don't appreciate being taken advantage of! So, let's forget the FREE movie part and just look at the cost of a regular movie night out.

My kids want to see the movie "Up". That is a full price film. (Better grab that calculator everyone:)

1 adult matinee ticket = $6.50
4 kids tickets = $26.00
4 small pop corns = $23.00
4 small sodas = $18.00

Total = $73.50

WOW! How do folks do it? I mean, the theaters are very busy on weekend nights. How to people spend that kind of cash on pop corn and a movie????

OR, even just a movie? $32.50 just to watch a film?

Uh...Netfilx is HOW much per month?
$8.99 for 1 movie per month.

Umm....

I'll let YOU do the math on that one!

Still Sunday

2009-06-14T07:25:00.002-04:00

Absolute Truth

2009-06-13T08:50:00.004-04:00

Have you ever heard of One Time Blind? They do these amazing skits that REALLY make you think! Here is their description of themselves:

ART AT ITS BEST MAKES PEOPLE THINK.

It makes you question, provokes your thought, and moves you to a deeper place. It’s hard to describe what we do, but we consider it an art form.

We communicate the reality of Christ in a modern-day language, using onstage conversation and dramatic elements to convey our message.

onetimeblind will make you think.

FOUR PEOPLE. ONE TRUTH.

Watch this video below. It's about Absolute Truth. You know, how the Bible, God's Word, is Absolute Truth and how so many people, even Christians, think the Bible is "open to interpretation". It will really open your eyes and make you think.

No More Trampoline

2009-06-12T11:26:00.004-04:00

Yesterday afternoon we had a really bad storm blow through our area. When it was over, my Uncle drove over to make sure the kids and I were okay. I walked outside with him and as we were talking he mentioned that the big toys in the back yard had been tossed about. I took a look and that's when I realized...

Our trampoline was GONE!

I mean, not in our yard anymore.

I got in the car and drove down the road and didn't see it anywhere.

Where on earth did it go?

The winds were so strong, they picked up the trampoline and dumped it into the pasture behind our house.

Thankfully, no one was hurt and no property was damaged other than the trampoline.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your protection.

Good Bye Wall Paper ~ Hello Paint

2009-06-12T07:00:00.003-04:00

As promised, here are some BEFORE and AFTERS of my kitchen. I really liked my wall papered kitchen. Loved it in fact, but the seams were starting to pull apart, there were tears here and there and it was getting dingy. As much as I loved it, it was time for a change.

BEFORE

AFTER

(The above view is from the door that goes into our living room area.)

AFTER

(This view is from the door that comes in from our laundry room)

There is still much that needs to be done in here as well:

*I still need to paint all the trim work in here.

*New window treatments for sure.

*I need some art work in here as well.

*Right behind the table is a big, empty wall that is just
crying out for something.

*I also think I am going to paint my door knobs to a brushed pewter.
(The brass and white knobs are very dated and should be changed.
I have 52 knobs in my kitchen and laundry room.
The budget does not allow me to go out and buy new ones
so I'll be making a trip to Lowe's pretty soon for some spray paint ;-)

Yes, I loved my wall papered kitchen and it served me well for over 10 years, however, I'm really enjoying my new painted kitchen and I'm looking forward to spending lots of time in it cooking for my family :-)

Good Bye wall papered kitchen. Thanks for the memories.

Hello painted kitchen. Welcome home!

Laundry Room Re-Do

2009-06-11T13:08:00.012-04:00

The way out house it set up, my laundry room is basically the main entrance to our house. I try really hard to make it inviting , but really, how inviting can a laundry room be? I decided a few weeks ago that painting that room would certainly help.

Here is the BEFORE view as you walk
in from the back door.

The washer and dryer are to the left as you enter.
When you get to the end of the room,
this is the view to the left. (that door leads to the kids rooms and to the right is my kitchen)

That light green paint left much to be desired.
So dirty and outdated.
Time for a change.

Here is the AFTER shot as you enter through the door.

Here is the washer and dryer to the left.(the unfinished area to the right is our furnace area. We had some work done there around the time I painted. The door that belongs there has also been painted the color of the room and has been replaced)

And this is the end of the room.

Much better, don't you think? I still have lots to do. I need to paint the door and all the trim. I may work on that next week. A new rug is in order, for sure! I may even hang some kind so welcoming art work. Wouldn't some words stenciled on the wall above the counter be an interesting touch? I want to keep the counter areas clear, so I won't be adding any do-dads.

So tell me what you think?

I also took down the wall paper in my kitchen and painted it the same color as the laundry room. I'll show those before and afters tomorrow. I'm considering painting the entire house this same color. We'll see. ;-)

PS: I've not forgotten my giveaway. It's coming soon. Promise!

We're Goin' to the Lodge...

2009-06-07T21:43:00.003-04:00

...the Great Wolf Lodge!!!

Tomorrow afternoon we're on our way for an overnight mini-vacation.

Fort Mackenzie is a four-story interactive treehouse water fort offering 12 levels of super-soaking fun for the family. Younger kids can climb with their parents to reach the slides at the top. The older ones will love making their way over suspension bridges and cargo nets to spray stations and soaker buckets. (Watch out below!) The grand daddy of soaker buckets is the 1,000-gallon tipper that sits atop Fort Mackenzie. Every few minutes, the warning bell clangs, and the bucket begins to tip its contents over the roof and onto the giggling group below.

And that is just the beginning! There is SO much to do at the Great Wolf Lodge and we'll only be there one night and one day. I hope we can fit it all in!

I'll be sure to take lots and lots of pictures while we're there!

Mom, I'm Bored!

2009-06-02T21:25:00.006-04:00

We Are THAT Family is hosting a special edition of

It's the "Mom, I'm Bored" edition!!!
Here is my list my "boredom busting" ideas that we plan on doing this summer.
Maybe it will give you some ideas.

Every Tuesday we plan to take advantage of the Free Summer Movies. Our local theater plays a FREE kids movie at 10 am. Lots of movie theaters across the country participate. Click HERE to see if there in one in your area.

**NOTE** This year (2009) they DO NOT offer the $1 pop corn or the $1 sodas. They encourage you to sign up for a Regal Crown Card. On Tuesdays you can buy $1 pop corn BUT ONLY WITH A TICKET PURCHASE. It is not valid on the FREE movies. When you go to the snack counter with your card to get $1 popcorn, they will ask you for your ticket stub. You could say "I don't have it" and they may or may not allow you to get the $1 pop corn BUT, in my opinion, that is lying and going against the rules of the card.

We also participate in the Summer Reading Program at The Greenville Library. As you read books or long chapters you can earn prizes. So each week we will make a trip to the library to check out more books and get our reading list stamped. Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers can participate, too. They also have great activities you can attend if you are a Summer Reader. Just click to see JUNE or JULY activities.

One of the prizes for the Summer Reading is a free pass to The Pavilion for ice skating. That should be a fun and cool outing.

Vacation Bible School. Our church has a FANTASTIC Bible school for all ages every year and this is an activity we never miss!

This year I've decided not to put up our above ground pool. Instead, I think we'll be visiting our local pool and let them do all the work and pay the water bill... LOL! They have an indoor pool and the cost is $4 for adults and $3 per child. They also have 10 visit passes at a reduced rate.

A "new-to-us" activity this year is the Greenville Zoo. Now, going to the zoo isn't new, but buying a season pass is. Why is that a frugal choice? Click HERE to see how we'll be saving $49.50 +!!

We have one of those free splash fountains in our downtown area near the Reedy River Falls. This is a great outing! We get to walk around in a beautiful park, cross over a gorgeous bridge and cool off in the fountain! If we want to splurge, there is a Spill the Beans right across the street where we can have ice cream!

We also plan on having Park Days at Poinsett Park.

Need a park closer to your area? Visit The Greenville County Recreation Website for a list of parks and directions.

Here's an idea for a frugal, fun outing: Table Rock State Park. Diana Watson from Fox 21 just wrote a post about an outing her family had there. For $4 she, her husband and two children were able to go on a 2 mile hike. They took a picnic lunch to enjoy and for just a few dollars more were able to take a swim in the lake. Sounds like a plan to me :-)

Roller skating is on the "to do" list this summer. We have a rink just a few miles down the road that my grandmother used to take me and my brother to. I'm gonna give them a call and find out the rates and best times to skate with younger kids.

One of the bowling places in our area has a special $1.00 per game on Sundays. The shoe rentals are $1.00, too. Two games is plenty, so for three kids that would be an outing for under $10 (3 year old won't be bowling with us because...well, he's 3 and that's a lot of work for mom LOL!)

Oh, and don't forget Chick Fil A Cow Appreciation Day!!! For one day only - the second Friday of July - participating Chick Fil A Restaurants will award a free combo meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) to any customer who comes to a Chick Fil A Restaurant fully dressed as a cow. Each kid fully dressed like a cow can request a free kids meal. For more information click HERE.

We are going to give Letterboxing a try this summer. In fact, on our next trip to the Travelers Rest library, we are going to try and find the letterbox that is hidden there.

Another "treasure hunt" we'll be going on is finding the "Mice on Main". There are 7 bronze mice hidden down main street. You find the clues HERE and follow them to find all the mice.

One more fun outing is getting FREE Krispy Kreme donuts! How? Well, when you get your child's report card, check it carefully for any "A's". For every "A" your child has earned, they will receive a free donut up to 6 donuts per child! Last year 2 of my children were in grade school and were straight A students. 4 times per year we enjoyed 1 dozen free donuts. I'm already looking forward to those last report cards to come in the mail :-)

A great resource for things to do in the Upstate is Upstate SC Moms Like Me

I can't wait to see all the great boredom busting ideas out there!
This is going to be a GREAT summer!!!

True Love

2009-06-02T17:11:00.005-04:00

Today, 19 years ago, I met the man I was going to marry.
On a blind date!
Can you believe it?
I think I fell for him right away.
I knew he was the one.

This picture was taken October 31, 1990.
That was 4 months after we met.
We were so young back then.
How does a 17 year old really know what love is???

This was made in November 1991. I was a senior in high school!
All of 18 years old and Kenton was 20.
But I KNEW this was FOREVER!!!

Here we are in February 1994, just before we married in August.
I was 21 and he was 23. So very young to begin a life together.

I am so grateful to have found my love so early in our lives.
It hasn't always been perfect, but it has been oh so sweet!

This is us today. Together 19 years, married almost 15.

It is still sweet. It is still wonderful. It is still amazing.
And I still know He is the one....

Forever!

God Answers Prayer

2009-06-01T22:22:00.005-04:00

(photo courtesy of dreamstime.com)

Are you just in awe of the fact that God listens to us?

Can you believe He actually cares about our wants and needs?

Really, the Creator of the Universe, wants me to
bring my cares to Him.

Do you want to know something even more amazing?

He really DOES answer our prayers!!!

Saturday our ice truck broke. My dear husband is not one to let our locations sell out of ice, so yesterday was spent bagging ice and delivering it out of the back of the van with 4 kids in tow.
Let me tell ya, that is no easy task.

Today was even more difficult. He was trying to bag and deliver ice by himself using his car. I wasn't available to help him until after 2 PM. It FINALLY occurred to me that I had not stopped and given this problem over to God. Right then, I came to my knees and prayed and I prayed specifically for what our needs were. Then, I stopped worrying. I went about my day, got the girls from school early and went to help my beloved. We had discussed our options for tomorrow and I called him late in the afternoon to see what plans needed to be made.

This is when it gets GOOD!

When I prayed earlier today I asked God to allow our truck to be fixed today. The mechanic came by when we weren't there, then called to tell us he needed to order a part. We figured it would be 1 - 2 days before the truck would be ready. However, God had other plans. When I spoke to my hubby this evening, the mechanic was there fixing the truck and it would be ready TODAY!!!

Wait, it gets BETTER...

I also asked God to allow the bill to be $100 or less. Let's face it, auto repair can cost an arm and a leg and we just don't have money to throw around. My husband informed me that the mechanic decided to waive his usual service fee and just charged us...... $95!!!

Seriously??? Seriously???

How can ANYONE not believe that

God Answers Prayer

"Bzzing" about Soleil Bella Razors

2009-06-01T08:21:00.005-04:00

(photo courtesy of www.dreamstime.com)

It's summer time which means shorts and bathing suits. I know that is when lots of women really think about razors and smooth legs, right? I guess I'm a little different. I shave my legs every day all year long. I like my legs to feel soft and smooth all the time (and so does my dear hubby). That means I'm always on the look out for a great razor. You know, one that give a super close shave but doesn't pull on your skin or leave those yucky razor bumps?

(photo courtesy of www.dreamstime.com)

Well, thanks to BIC and www.bzzagent.com I have found
THE razor to have.

I'm not kidding when I say this is THE BEST razor I've ever used! Now, if ya'll have read my blog for anytime you will know what a bargain shopper I am. Free or nearly free is the way to go, right? Well, let me tell you, this is a razor I will willingly pay FULL PRICE for! Yes, it's that good!

BzzAgent and Bic were kind enough to send me a pack for razors to try and, oh my goodness, they are WONDERFUL!!!

Here is their description of these razors:
*****************************************************************

What makes BIC^® Soleil Bella^™ such a premium disposable razor? Take a look:

Four blades are better
Want a smoother, closer shave with less effort? With BIC Soleil Bella, more blades catch more hairs with each pass, leaving your legs stunningly smooth, sleek and ready for that sundress.

e-z rinse^™ technology
This unique technology allows water to pass through the blades from either side, so rinsing your razor is a cinch. Spending less time shaving? Sounds good to us.

Flex and pivot
No, it's not the latest yoga stance. It's just two more reasons BIC Soleil Bella is your new best friend in the shower. With flexible blades and a pivoting head, this razor gets pretty personal, gliding over your curves and contours, providing a silky smooth shave.

Soothing strip
The Soothing Moisture Strip^® enriched with coconut milk found on every BIC Soleil Bella razor provides superior comfort and glide while shaving.

Curvy, comfy grip
Shaving is even easier with the ergonomic, easy-to-hold handle of BIC Soleil Bella. With a comfy rubber grip for extra control, slips and slides are as out of style as acid-washed jeans.

*****************************************************************

Here is what I think:

Four blades - this razor gave the closest shave I can remember in a LONG time. The blades are incredibly thin and didn't tug on my legs as I pulled the razor.

e-z rinse - a really great feature. The razor didn't clog up as I used it and I was able to use one razor longer since it stayed so clean.

Flex and pivot - I LOVED this! Lots of razors say they have this feature, but I could actually feel it with the Bella razors. The blades would almost form to my leg as I used it. Fantastic!!

Soothing Strip - always a great feature. It helped the razor to glide across my legs with out pulling or tugging and left my legs extra smooth.

Curvy, comfy grip - another nice feature. I've never had trouble with razors sliding or being uncomfortable to use so this feature wasn't a "stand out" for me but the Bella razors are pretty and curvy just like a woman.

Seriously, if you love a great razor give this one a try! And,,,,if you check back with me later in the week, I may (*wink wink*) have a way for you to try Bic Soleil Razors for FREE!

Ice House

AVAILABLE

Silhouette Craft Cutter

Introducing Knitty~Gritty Dishcloths

Before and After

Poor kid!

Hello...Is anyone out there?

Do you know what it is?

Cough Syrup Update

Whole lot of coughing going on!

Menu Plan...Friday?

Go Upward!

Homemade Cleaning Wipes

What Remains?

Make your own colored sugar

Cute and Quick Gift Idea

What I've been working on....

Happy Thanksgiving, Ya'll!

Homemade Keepsake Ornaments

Easy Christmas Ornament

Welcome to my new kitchen!!!

The Kitchen ~ Before and During

Silent Monks Sing

~~~Trunk or Treat~~~ ~~~Oct 28,2009~~~

Trunk or Treat Tonight!!!

Small Fall Project

My Laundry Room Loves Me Again

What a Weekend!

Another Kitchen Post

A Little Halloween Fun

Halloween Tiara

The Nester Said to Paint Something....

Surprise Decor

Thrift Store find

Hello October!

Sneak Peak at Kitchen Re-do

Another little kitchen craft

Frugal Find

Cabinet Knobs Re-Do

Lots of Fall Projects Going On Around Here!

AWANA Sign Up Tonight!

Home Made Laundry Detergent

Please Pray

Happy 15th Anniversary, My Love!

Back to School

What I did this Summer

Your Opinion if You Please...

So Much Fun, So Little Time!

New Look

Wow Wow Wubbzy Give Away

Bi Lo Savings

Nothing!

What Crayola Crayon are you?

Your result is... Fiesty Red

When somebody makes you mad, they better watch out! You always stnad up for what you believe in, and fight for what is right.

Beautiful!

A Wrong Turn Leads to Adventure

Our Adventure for the Week!

"The WNC Nature Center is a living museum of plants and animals native to the Appalachian region. Our purpose is to increase public awareness and understanding of all aspects of the natural environment of Western North Carolina through hands-on and sensory experience."

Good Advice from a Wise Doctor

Wordless Wednesday ~ Frankie's Fun Park

Goings On

Cow Appreciation Day ~ 2009

Happy Birthday, America!

4th of July Menu

Fun Day in Downtown Greenville

We're Going on a Mouse Hunt

Riverbanks Zoo Pictures

Zoo Bound

Still Sunday

Are you Overwhelmed?

Take a look at Ephesians 5: 15 - 16:

Grab your Calendars!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

21st Annual Hot Dog Day

Saturday, July 11

10 am to 4 pm

Happy Father's Day!

Something old, Something new

You Said Popcorn is HOW MUCH?

~Trunk or Treat~ ~Oct 28,2009~