Giveaway - Moneysavingmom

Moneysavingmom.com is having a great giveaway today! She is giving away 5 $100 giftcards to the store of your choice. You can enter up to 5 times. Check out her website for more details.

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/12/24hour-giveaway-5-100-gift-cards-to-the-store-of-your-choice.html

Funny things Zeke says

My Zeke is so funny. I just thought I would share a few of his "funnies" with others.

The other night, he didn't want to sleep in his bed. I told him to go back to bed and he said "mommy, my bed not work". So he proceeded to climb in my bed.

He tells me quite often "mommy, you are my best friend" and "mommy, let's talk".

When he wants to play catch with the ball he will say "mommy, catch ball??"

More to come.......

Happy Thanksgiving!

I feel very blessed today! I have an amazing husband who loves me very much! We enjoy eachother's company and help make eachother's lives easier. Is there a better way to get throught his life? I have three beautiful children. 2 boys and 1 girl. The oldest has moved out and works in a coffee shop. I am very proud of him. He moved out 1 year ago, and he has managed to keep an apartment, a truck and pay his bills for the past year. He is a good kid, works hard and knows how to have fun! My middle child, is growing up. I love that I can carry on a simple conversation with him. He is almost 3. We talk about his favorite things each day and for the past few months it has been "juice". My youngest is growing up as well. She plays very well with her brother. (minus the minor fighting that is normal for bro and sis) I am grateful to be in the phase where they play so well together. Today we have played Memory and Playdoh. Now they are contently playing with toys while I write this post. I think we will finish our Thanksgiving craft before lunch! I am also blessed with a great family and many wonderful friends. I talk to my moms and nana at least once per week. I meet with one friend once per week at IHOP. It is such a treat for me to get out one night per week just for me and enjoy coffee with her. I am blessed that I am saved by grace and not by anything I can do or not do! I love the Lord with all my heart! He is my friend and comfort in time of need! I am learning to lean more and more on him. To trust Him with the decisions in my life. Even the simple decisions, like where to go on Thanksgiving! I am blessed that we live such a simple life. I don't need fancy things and I hope to teach my children not to need them as well. I am blessed that I get to stay home with my kids. We enjoy playtime, mealtime and naptime throughout the hours of the day. They have been very healthy and I attribute that to me being able to stay home with them. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! My the Lord bless you and keep you in perfect peace!

My Baby Boy's Curls are GONE!

Today, my husband took Zeke to get a much needed haircut. The barber apparently misunderstood what a "Trim" means and literally cut all my baby's curls off! I am posting before and after photos. We are grieving the loss of Zeke's beloved curls this evening! To all you out there who have been asking "when are you going to get him a "little boy" haircut?" Well here you go!!

Marriage Books

I just have to share about 2 of my all time favorite books that are encouraging to marriage.

Created to be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl

Wife after God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George

I read and have reread several times Created to Be His HelpMeet right after Mike and I got married. This book is very direct in regards to godly submission and how a wife is to treat her husband. It is very practical and easy to follow. It has lots of stories and practical application. There are sections/chapters relating to serving your husband, time management, children, being frugal and so much more. One chapter that I just love has a menu plan for an entire week. You use the leftovers to make your meals go further. I just love it! She also includes a great Spaghetti sauce recipe that I use often and freeze so that I have lots of spaghetti sauce in the freezer. I then use this for pasta and pizza.

I read Wife after God's own heart about a year ago and have been reading on it a little recently. This book also has tons of practical application. She has listed 12 different categories that really matter in marriage. She goes into detail on each one with scripture and practical ways to put this into practice. At the end of each chapter she lists specific things you can do to make a difference in your marriage relating to that topic.

I enjoy reading books that encourage me to be a better wife, mom and woman! If you have any books you just love, leave a comment!

Christmas Cards

I have noticed a couple of ways to get a great deal (maybe even free) on your Christmas Cards this year!! I hope to take advantage of this as soon as we get ours taken!

Below are links to www.moneysavingmom.com where she has information about these great deals. Enjoy!

Vistaprint - Holiday Address labels and Postcards
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/11/140-custom-holiday-address-labels-for-3-shipped.html

50 Free Photo Cards (I hope to take advantage of this)
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/11/50-free-photo-cards-with-free-shipping.html

Kodak Gallery - $15 Free to the first 100,000
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/11/kodak-gallery-free-15-gift-to-the-first-100000-available-again.html

Online Purchases

I follow www.moneysavingmom.com on a regular basis. She always has wonderful things to say and great deals to get!

Recently I was reading on her blog about purchasing online. She has lots of links to sights where you can get coupon codes as well as where you can purchase and get $ back.

I researched this when I bought my laptop a few weeks ago. You do want to do your research before you purchase. I found out by going into Office Max that I actually saved about $160 by buying in the store vs. online. But just yesterday I researched for my mom on purchasing the Sketchers Shape Ups and she will actually save about $18 by ordering online. And shipping is free so they get delivered right to her door!

Below is the link to MoneySavingMoms blog about purchasing online.
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/10/make-your-money-go-farther-online-with-coupons-and-cashback.html