Miss Piggy and Rooney

This picture was taken on October 1st. This is Miss Piggy (5 yo) and her daughter Rooney (2 1/2 mo). I hope you enjoy!

First's

Today is a day of first things and some will call it ironic and cool but I will say it is a God thing.

Our FIRST fire of the season

Our FIRST homemade soup of the season

Keith's FIRST deer of the season

A FIRST lunch with a dear friend that will hopefully help rekindle the friendship that I messed up

My FIRST time using coupons (more to come on this)

Eat's of the Week ~ Novemeber 28, 2010

Sunday

Tomato, Sausage Soup (it is so yummy and simple)

Buttered Bread

Monday

Hamburger Helper

(I know so grose but I am trying to get all the bad stuff out of the house without just throwing it away)

Tuesday

Leftover Thanksgiving from my Grandma's

Wednesday

Contemplating Romans (we are bringing snacks)

Hummus and Homemade Wheat Thins

Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Cream cheese with Strawberry Jalapeno Jam over it and Homemade Wheat Thins

Any other ideas???

Thursday

Give me some ideas please

Friday

Christmas Movie Night w/ The Girls

I am taking Cream cheese with a Orange Pineapple Jam over it and glutten free crackers

Saturday

We will be watching the Auburn game at a friends house so we will be eating whatever they have for us to munch on

Give Thanks

The kids came over Monday and spent the afternoon with me. We went on a nature walk looking for items to Give Thanks for.

Jamie said "Let's lay down by it and act like we are asleep", so that is what they are doing.

Putting everything together. Jamie did the word Thanks! and Mason did Give.

While the corn cob cookie dough was hardening in the refrigerator they asked if they could make "yarn mummies". Have you ever heard of such? Well, here they are. I had to pick them up like a sack of potatoes to move them in front of the baskets to take the picture.

This Thanksgiving I am very thankful for:

-Jesus who died for our sins

-A husband that lives for God and by God

-A niece and nephew

-Friends

-Family

-My bible study friends (oh the role they have played in my life recently)

Eat's of the Week ~ November 21, 2010

Sunday

We had a big lunch so we will nibble on snacks

Monday

Baked Chicken Legs

Seasoned Brown Rice

Tuesday

Pizza

Wednesday

Leftover Chicken Legs

Thursday

Thanksgiving in Huntsville, AL

Friday

Lasagna, Salad and Bread stick Feast at the Alford's

Saturday

Leftover Lasagna

Day 26 Update

This past Tuesday marked the 26th day of my no-poo and oil cleaning method journey and I am knocking on wood as I type it but I think it is all down hill and everything is back to normal from here on. These pictures were taken Tuesday at Wal-Mart and a parking lot. Boy, it is amazing the places that inspire me to take a picture.

I look normal wouldn't you say?

You Still Have Time To...

Pack a Shoebox for

Operation Christmas Child

(Keith 2008 at the Atlanta processing plant, he is proud of the big firetruck he found in this box)

I have gone to the processing plant in Atlanta and sorted the items in the boxes to take the things out that would stop the boxes in customs so now I know what to put in them and what not to. When I do our boxes they consist of Dollar Tree items mainly. The basic that I have seen in the majority of the boxes when I have worked at the processing plant was:
~Soap (wrapped in a Ziploc bag so everything doesn't smell like soap
~Wash Cloth
~Plastic Toys (no guns, snakes, Pokemon or army men)
~Hair Brush and Plastic Mirror
~PJ Outfit (based on the age group selected)
~Socks
~Crayons and Coloring Book
~Note Pad and Pencils w/ Pencil Sharpener or Pens
~A Makeup bag or small bag (for them to keep important things in)
~Small Sewing Kit (for the parents)
~Hard Candy (best to put it in a Ziploc bag to keep it from falling all over the place)
~Toothbrush and Toothpaste
~A Letter to the Child and your address and a photo
~Stuffed Animal
~Handkerchief or Scarf (something to help them carry stuff easier)
Things Not To Pack:
~Liquid of Any Kind (toothpaste is okay)
~Soft Candy
~Chocolate
~War Themed Items

One thing that I have seen in material that I have received from OCC is photos of the kids mud house and their box right beside the bed or the wrapping paper or picture on the wall. This is for most of the children the only gift they have ever received. We are very lucky to be born in the USA but even more lucky to be able to help the children all over the world.

(us in 2008, boy my hair was short)

In a box done in 2008 we included a letter and photo and they somehow took our photo and added themselves and a different background and sent it to me with a letter. Check it out below. I am now about to cry thinking about this. Neat huh?
What are you waiting for?
Get a shoebox, go to the Dollar Tree, get packing and drop it off at a drop off point by Monday, November 22nd.

Eat's of the Week ~ November 14, 2010

Sunday

Farmer Fellowship (eat their)

Monday

Fend for Yourself

Tuesday

Dinner at a Friend's House

Wednesday

Black Beans over Rice

Italian Rolls

Thursday

Financial Peace (eat their)

Friday

Foot Long Chili Dog's

Cole Slaw & Chips

(Keith's Dad's Retirement Party)

Saturday

Roasted Chicken Legs

(I hope they thaw out in time)

Squash, Zucchini, Potatoes and Onions

Awesome Deal

I just started following this website called Southern Savers which is all about saving money and using coupons. So this morning before church I got on the computer to check out her site to see what it was about a little more and I found this steal of a deal. I copied this straight from the website...

"Update: Tanga prices go up over time (just like Amazon) this is now $5.99 for year.
Get a great deal on a year subscription to Rachael Ray Magazine! Tanga has it for $23.99, then use code EVERYDAY to get it for $3.50!!
That comes to around 35¢ an issue.
There aren’t a lot of coupons in these magazines, but it would probably make a great Christmas present for someone."

I got my sister a two year subscription to Rachel Ray for $12 bucks for Christmas. Yes, I said TWELVE. The price for one year is now $5.99 and at that low of a price I could not help myself to buy two years.

So check it out!!!!

Ohhh, I want these...

I have realized that I am not going to get what I would like this year for Christmas so I am going to blog about the items. That way I can look at this post and know that there will be other times that I might have the chance to get these items.

I am a lover of warm feet and I can never get my feet warm enough. These Chalet Shearling shoes from Land's End look like they will keep my feet nice and warm and are kinda stylish at the same time.

I am wanting to expand my bake ware to include quality items that will last me a true lifetime and a stoneware cookie sheet is a good place to start. This is a Medium Bar Pan from Pampered Chef.

As you know I have a few chickens of my own and they have helped me cut back at the grocery store so I can't even imagine how they would help a family across the world that eats one meal a day. You can get 2 chickens from World Vision to provide good nutritious, a meal and a income for overseas needy families.

If you are interested in giving a gift in honor of someone, in memory of someone or instead of giving a gift to your family you give it to a family that is truly unable to provide for themselves go to either World Vision's or Operation Christmas Child's 2010 Gift Catalog

Remember up above I said I like my feet WARM, well I still like them warm. These Hearthside Moccasin's from LL Bean have been on my feet for that last two winters and spring and fall because I can't stand to walk in the house without them (no, my floors are not that dirty). I have washed them about four times and they still keep my little toes warm. The inside fur is looking a bit dirty from me going outside with them on but I still wear them. I would take a new pair since the soles are coming off, but since that isn't going to happen I am sticking with my oldies. Sorry for the small picture, just click the link if you want to see them better.

I have so many bread pans, five to be exact because I can never figure out the right size pan that I like. Some of the pans are metal only costing $1.99 from Ikea and some are glass. I just want to get two of the same pans and stop cluttering up my cabinets. Here is a Loaf Pan from Pampered Chef that I know would cover all of my loaf/bread making needs.

The reasons I said that I am not going to get what I want this year is because Keith and I could (if we save enough money) go to Germany next November for five days. So I am asking only for money this Christmas to help save up for the plane ticket, meals and spending money. So I will be getting something it will just come next November.

So what are your item that you wish for this Christmas season?

I am not loosing it!

I am starting this post off with the disclaimer that "I am not loosing it". All the bolts and nuts are in my head and my husband hasn't said anything about my new adventures.

For the past 18 days (started October 22) I have been using the No-Poo method to wash my hair and the Oil-Cleansing method to wash my face. Both are natural, chemical free and frugal.

(Me on the first day)

This has been challenging since I have had to speak at church in front of about 400 people, go out of town and meet with many ladies.

My Oil Cleansing Method Thoughts
My face washing method is going great. I actually am really excited about the time I have spent doing it so far and if I have had a transition time it seems to be very mild or either I haven't hit the hard times yet.

Here are some links that I have found very useful in trying this out... How to Clean your Face Naturally and Who knew going cheap and minimalist could be so good?. Plus all the great comments left on both of those post.

My No-Poo Method Thoughts
So the new hair cleansing method has been fun but what has made the transition workable for me is that I am at home now and the times that I have to go out and about are few. My hair has been heavy feeling and sticky at times but it seems to be getting better. This past weekend we went out of town to Florida and I would just wash it and put it up in a bun and by the end of the day it looked matted down and like I haven't washed it in a few days. But this too shall pass, right? While I have been washing my hair with a mixture of 1 tablespoon baking soda to 1 cup of warm water and I use about half of that mixture each day, I have thought about washing my hair with a egg wash every now and then but haven't done that yet. What has made it neat is I found a blog diary that journals a ladies adventures of no-poo and she started the same day as me.

Here are the links that have inspired me to get started on this...How to Clean Your Hair Without Shampoo, Natural Hair Care: Shampoo Recipe and Natural Homemade Shampoo for $1.30. Plus the great comments that the readers left.



So what crazy, frugal and natural ways are implementing in your life?

Eat's of the Week ~ November 7, 2010

Sunday

Pizza Hut

Monday

Baked Chicken Breast

Sauteed Squash, Zucchini and Onions

Yummy Flavored Rice

Tuesday

Leftover (I like to over cook and eat on it later)

Wednesday

Contemplating Romans (eat their)

Thursday

Financial Peace (eat their)

Friday

We might eat a simple dinner maybe

soup and sandwiches or microwaved nachos

Saturday

Chicken 'n' Rice

Eat's of the Week ~ October 31, 2010

Sunday

Snacks (Big Lunch)

Monday

Chicken Pot Pie

Green Beans

Sprinkle Brownies

Tuesday

Taco's

Mexican Beans

Wednesday

Nachos from leftover

Thursday

Financial Peace (eat their)

Friday

Dinner Out and About

Saturday

Eating Out Again