TOS Travel Kits Review

 
I have once again joined the TOS Crew to review homeschool curriculum and related items for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  I was given a free copy of the ebook The Old Schoolhouse Travel Kits for the purpose of this review and found that it is a delightful book with great ideas to get you inspired to help others by putting together creative and fun Travel Kits for your friends and their children.  It is 93 pages filled with ideas and motivation for a very nominal cost of $12.45.

At first when I received this ebook,  I was a little puzzled as to the purpose of such a book.  However, after spending time reading through the ideas and looking at the beautiful photos, I began to get inspired!  If this book was just about making Travel Kits for your kids to keep them occupied during a trip, it would fall a little short in my esteem.  However, the fact that it REALLY inspires you to think of opportunities where you can bless someone else with such a myriad of ideas is really phenomenal!  Reading through this ebook made me want to think of people I could bless by making them a fun and really useful Travel Kit.  It even gives you great ideas on where to find items for very little money to include to make your Travel Kit exciting for the recipient.  They encourage you to wrap each item so that it is a continual surprise to look forward to throughout the trip, thus increasing the child's (and adult's) anticipation of the next "gift".

So what is a Travel Kit?  Well, it is a bag, or box, or basket, or whatever filled with individually wrapped "presents" for the recipient to open along their journey.  These "presents" can be anything from snacks to toys to games to books to whatever item you can think of that the recipient would enjoy.   The possibilities are practically endless!  But the inspiration to begin is the blessing of this ebook!

This made me think of all the family trips we have taken and how much quicker the time could have passed if I had made Travel Kits like these for my kids.  You can make Travel Kits that fit into any budget, any length or type of trip, any age range of recipient and any theme you would like to come up with.  I believe the strongest aspect of this ebook is that it is the spark that starts a flame of inspiration and creativity in your mind so that you can come up with all kinds of ideas and ways to bless others with this project.  You can get your kids involved in blessing others in a very fun and creative way, too.  No matter how young or old your children are, they will really get into the spirit of blessing others when you enlist their help in planning, shopping, and assembling these wonderful Travel Kits. And think of the joy of giving they will learn along the way!

I know that some of you are thinking, "I am creative.  Why would I need this book when I could come up with my own ideas?"  Yes, that is what I was thinking....until I read through this book!  I don't know if I can adequately express the blossoming inspiration that flowed through my mind as I read this book.  I thought of people I would love to bless this way and ideas of items I could include in different Travel Kits for different folks.  It made my heart brim so full of wanting to bless others with these kits!  It really inspires you to think of ways to be a blessing to others.  THAT is what makes the price of this ebook such a great bargain.  For only $12.45 (and since it is an ebook, you don't have to wait for it to arrive in the mail) you, too, can be inspired to bless your friends and family in so many different ways that they will be remembering and talking about for a very long time.

Great Sirloin Steaks for CHEAP!!!

Yesterday, I went to Basha's and bought a whole sirloin tip in a bag for $1.59/lb.  Then I went over to the butcher and asked him to cut it into thick steaks for me (yes, that is free!!).  I got 9 super HUGE steaks plus the end cuts for under $20 total!  I think I am going to marinate the steaks in something yummy and grill them next Friday when my brother and his family are visiting.  With baked potatoes and a veggie/salad, we can have an awesome steak dinner for about $25 for 8 people!!!  That sure beats eating out, even WITH a certificate from Restaurant.com (the only way I eat out:-)!

I do believe I will go and buy another one before the price goes up!!LOL

Best Grocery Deals in Phoenix Area This Week (July 14 - 20, 2010)

This week, to find the best deals on groceries, you just need to go to Fry's!!! They have a great $5 off when you buy 10 items promotion that you can couple with coupons and get some GREAT deals!! There are so few items at good prices elsewhere, that I hate to even take the time to delineate them:-)

Albertsons

Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts $1.77/lb
Strawberries $0.99/lb
Whole Pineapples $0.99 each
Fritos & Cheetos 4/$5
Kellogg's Cereal $1.99 limit 4
Blue Bunny Ice Cream Buy 4, Save $4 = $2 each

Basha's

Pork Chops $0.99/lb
Sirloin Tip (whole in bag) $1.59/lb
Blueberries $1.27 12 oz.
Large Eggs $0.99/dozen

FRIDAY & SATURDAY ONLY

Bananas 4 lbs/$1
Rotisserie Chicken $3.99
Ground Sirloin $1.77/lb

Food City

Cantaloupes 6 lbs/$0.96
Valencia Oranges 6 lbs/$0.96
Roma Tomatoes 3 lbs/$0.98
Avocados 4/$0.99
Green Onions 5/$1
Cilantro 4/$0.99
Green Bell Peppers 4/$1
Chicken Thighs or Drums $0.88/lb
Bone-In Country Style Pork Ribs $0.99/lb
Dole OJ $1.99
Jarritos, Sangria or Sidral 1.5 liter sodas $0.79

THURSDAY ONLY:

Boneless Chicken Thigh Meat $0.99/lb

FRIDAY ONLY:

Red Delicious Apples 3 lbs/$0.99
Old Orchard Healthy Balance Cocktail $0.99

Fry's

Boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.77/lb
93% lean ground beef $1.97/lb
Red Cherries $1.37/lb
Mangos 2/$1
Top Flight 70 page Notebook $0.15
Crayola Crayons 24 ct. $0.25

WHEN YOU BUY 10, SAVE $5

Gatorade 32 oz. $0.49
Kraft Shredded or Bar Cheese 8 oz. $1.38
Philadelphia Cream Cheese $0.99
Pepsi 2 liter $0.75
Tombstone Pizza $2.49
Rice A Roni $0.49
Dole 100% Juice Blends 64 oz. $1.49
Breyers Ice Cream $1.97
Hunts Tomatoes $0.49
Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies $1.49
Welch's 100% Grape Juice $2.49
Simply Potatoes Hash Browns $0.99 (by the eggs!!)
Dixie Plates or Napkins $1.49
Boulder Chips $0.99

(Lots of these items have coupons!!)

Pro's Ranch Market

Romas 4 lbs/$0.99
Mangos 4/$0.99
Cantaloupes 5 lbs/$0.99
Bone-in Split Chicken Breasts $0.98/lb
Powerade $0.47
Red Delicious Apples 2 lbs/$).99
White Onions 3 lbs/$0.99

THURSDAY ONLY:

Chicken Wings $0.98/lb

FRIDAY ONLY:

Kool-Aid Kool Bursts 6 pack 2/$1
Bananas 4 lbs/$0.99
Corn Tortillas 60 ct. $1.49

Safeway

Dairy Glen Milk $1.88 gallon
Breyer's Ice Cream or Klondikes $1.99
Ziploc bags $1.49 w/in ad coupon

Sprouts

Watermelon, seeded or seedless $0.09/lb
Cluster Tomatoes $0.77/lb
Navel Oranges $0.88/lb
White or Yellow Peaches or Nectarines $0.88/lb

Happy Grocery Shopping!

How to Cook a Meal Without Melting!!

Well, it is 113 degrees here today and climbing still higher the next 2 days! Yikes! We are having company for dinner, so I HAD to cook a meal. So here is how I did it without melting (or running my oven for very long).

First, I put a whole chicken (that I got for $0.49/lb) in the crock pot over night to cook. This morning I simply unplugged it and turned it off. A little later when it was cool, I picked the meat off the chicken. Then I prepared my Enchilada Casserole which is simply layers of green enchilada sauce, tortillas, chicken and shredded cheese. Later, I will simply put it in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes (while I run my daughter to roller skating - I won't even be here while the oven is heating the kitchen:-). And dinner will be served with a little salad and sour cream and hot sauce to top it off.

And I made two of them so I can put one into the freezer for another day when I don't feel much like cooking.

That's how I cooked a meal without melting today!!

How about you? Do you have any tips on meals you can make without heating up your kitchen?

Blackberry Freezer Jam

I had never heard of freezer jam until lately and several blogs have posted about their freezer jam. Well, I just had to try it because my husband LOVES blackberry jam and I don't like the stuff in it. Blackberries are still REALLY cheap here, so I bought $4.00 worth (8 cups!!) and made 8 jars of blackberry freezer jam. It is SO yummy and SO easy - I can't believe I never did this before! I bought the pectin that you don't have to cook for $1.69 each (needed 2) and used a total of 2 1/2 cups of sugar for 8 cups of berries. Seems a much better ratio than some of the other pectins require.

Now the question is, how long will 8 jars last??? Probably not until next year's blackberries. Oh well, it is a great way to make the best of the harvest while it is here!

Crazy for Cantaloupe!

I don't know about where you live, but here in Phoenix cantaloupes are selling for SO cheap!! 3 cantaloupes for $0.99 or even 8 lbs. for $0.99!! I have been eating a whole one for my lunch or breakfast - they are SO yummy! But at these prices, I wanted to have some for my fruity drinks long into the fall. So I bought a bunch of cantaloupes and cut them up and froze them!! Just put them on a cookie sheet in the freezer until they are frozen, then pop them into a ziploc freezer bag and you will have yummy ripe cantaloupe for your fruit smoothies!

Baking Soda and White Vinegar Really ARE the Wonder Products!!

As you may have noticed in my previous posts, I just got a jacuzzi/spa for my backyard. Well, it was used, so came with no manual on how to care for it. So, I was reading online to find out the best chemicals and products for testing and keeping the water sparkling clean and guess what??? The best products to use for pH balance is.......drumroll, please......baking soda and vinegar!! REALLY!!! If your pH is high, you just add a little white vinegar. If it is low, you just add some baking soda. Yeah, it is that simple! You also need some chlorine, too. Dichlor is the best kind and the folks that sold us the jacuzzi gave us some with it, so we are all set for a while:-).

I am SO glad I went ahead and bought 3 of the HUGE bags of baking soda last week at Sam's. I just knew it would come in handy (besides all the OTHER cleaning uses I already have for baking soda:-). And SO much cheaper than all those pH Minus and Boost products!! Yeah for baking soda and vinegar!! AGAIN!!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Sale

1776 was a spectacular year, and it's a smashing, save-more-money price! Grab your subscription to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine during their four-day Fourth of July sale, and check out the craziest price on July 1 only! Receive a 2-year subscription, free Homeschooling with Heart tote bag, and five FREE E-Books for just $17.76! While supplies last. U.S. and Canadian residents. July 2 through July 4 the unprecedented savings continue. The sparks are flying at TOS Magazine . . . join in the celebration and savings! Get the details here.

My Jacuzzi!!

I LOVE to lounge in a large garden tub and read a book.  However, we don't have a garden tub, so the next best thing is a jacuzzi/spa tub.  This week, my dream came true!  Here I am lounging in my jacuzzi, reading a book in MY OWN BACKYARD!!

It is so refreshing and relaxing!  Now, mind you, I DON'T have the heater on at all because it is 110+ degrees here right now and I don't know if I am going to be able to keep the temp down in my jacuzzi, but I am trying:-)  Then, when it cools down, I can crank up the heat and enjoy it, too!

Just thought I would share my wonderful blessing of relaxation!

Best Grocery Deals in Phoenix Area This Week (June 23 -29, 2010)

Sorry about missing the last two weeks, however the deals weren't so great anyway after Memorial Day sales.  So this week there are some good deals,  you won't want to miss out!

Albertsons

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts  $1.67/lb
Strawberries 4 lb $3.88
Breyer's Ice Cream $1.88 w/in ad coupon
Crystal Geyser Water 24 pk 16.9 oz $1.99 w/in ad coupon
Yoplait Yogurt 4-6 oz. $0.38 w/in ad coupon
Gatorade 32 oz. $0.59 w/in ad coupon
Skippy Peanut Butter 15-16.3 oz. $0.99 w/in ad coupon
Post Cereal $1.47 w/in ad coupon
Freschetta Pizza $3.77 w/in ad coupon
Popsicle Ice Pops 12 ct. $0.88 w/in ad coupon
Cheez-It or Keebler Chips Deluxe Cookies $1.67 w/in ad coupon
Ground Round 5 lbs or more $1.77/lb
Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tune $0.44 w/in ad coupon
Heinz Ketchip 40 oz. $1.27 w/in ad coupon
Fritos or Cheetos 3/$5
Gold Peak Iced Tea $0.99 (green tea is my favorite:-)

Bashas

Split Chicken Breasts $0.77/lb
2 FREE 1/2 gallons of milk when you  buy 4 General Mills Cereals at $1.77 each
Powerade 2/$0.99
Maruchan Ramen 8/$0.99
Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns or Bar S Meat Franks $0.99
Angel Soft Bath Tissue (4 roll) or Brawny Paper Towel (single roll) $0.99

Food City

Peaches 3 lbs/$0.99
Valencia Oranges 4 lbs/$1
Jalapenos 2 lbs/$1
Chicken Leg Quarters $0.39/lb (10 lb bag)

Fry's

Fresh whole frying chicken  $0.49/lb (4)
93% lean ground beef $1.97
Blueberries 6 oz. $0.88
California Sweet Corn 5/$1
Buy 10, Save $3:
Coke 2 liter $0.69
Gatorade 32 oz. $0.49
Totino's Pizza Rolls $0.69
Capri Sun 10 ct. $1.47
Brown N Serve Sausage $0.69
Oscar Mayer Meat Franks $0.88
Breyers Ice Cream $1.77
Bounty 6-8 rolls or Scott 12 roll $5.99
Kraft BBQ Sauce $0.69
General Mills Cereal $1.99
Grands Biscuits $1.19
Country Time Lemonade $0.99

and MUCH more!!

Pro's Ranch Market

Bone-In Sirloin End Pork Chops $0.98/lb

THURSDAY:

Chicken legs or thighs $0.68/lb

FRIDAY:

Bar S Jumbo Franks $0.67

SUNDAY:

Lechera (sweetened condensed milk) $0.99

Safeway

80% lean ground beef $1.79/lb
Cantaloupes $0.88/each
Sweet Yellow Nectarines $0.99/lb
Fresh Express Spinach or Green & Crisp Salad $0.99
Barilla Pasata $0.99
Lucerne Cream Cheese $0.99
Lucerne Butter $1.99/lb w/in ad coupon

SATURDAY/SUNDAY ONLY:

Goldfish Crackers $0.88
Freschetta Pizza $3.99

Sprouts

Red or Green Seedless Grapes $0.69/lb
Asparagus $0.97/lb
Gala Apples $0.88/lb
Yellow Peaches or Nectarines $0.88/lb
Raw Almonds $3.99/lb
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.97/lb

Here are a couple great books that may help you with your endeavor to reduce your grocery spending:

"Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey" is by the Krazy Coupon Lady whose blog I follow daily.

Also, The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half is another great book to assist you in reducing your spending.

And don't forget to check out Bargain Believer's blog to get more detail grocery lists of weekly deals.

And just a note, if you buy any of these books through these links, it helps me out a little, too, since I am now an affiliate for Amazon.com.  Thanks!

Happy Grocery Shopping!

Great OLD Spanish Curriculum Find

I was recently trying to find a good Spanish curriculum to use for  a co-op class that would really help the kids learn to communicate in Spanish in a short period of time.  Both of my kids are fluent in Spanish, but since they have to take 2 years of foreign language, we thought we would take this opportunity to use our fluency to help others.

Well, I was digging around at Amazon.com to see if there was anything that would help me with just that and came across an old book from the 50s entitled Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish.  I read through the description and reviews, deciding I needed to see this book for myself.  After not having any success with finding it at any libraries, I decided to purchase it.  It is very reasonably priced, especially as far as Spanish curriculum goes.

The book arrived yesterday and I have spent a great deal of time looking it over.  I have to say how impressed I am with the method and sequence of how Ms. Madrigal approaches learning to speak, read and write Spanish!  She begins by telling the student that they already know thousands of Spanish words, referring to all the words that are literally the same in both languages, plus those that are recognizable enough to figure out the meaning.  She also starts right out with a Pronunciation Key right at the beginning so that students can begin pronouncing Spanish correctly from day one.

I am very excited to use this curriculum for our co-op classes, and since it such an unknown and quite old book, I thought I would share about it with you just in case you, too, might be looking for something a little different to teach your student Spanish.

Happy Father's Day!

Even though the holiday is just an excuse for card companies to make extra money, I will not pass up the opportunity to honor and cherish the man who has enriched my life, loved me through thick and thin, and been the best dad to our children - Joe! He is the love of my life, my very best friend and has walked with me through over 30 years of my life!

Thanks, Joe, for all that you do for us! Thank you for working at a very boring and thankless job just to provide for us! Thank you for all the little things you do around our house that help to make it a wonderful home for us and our kids! Thank you for being the man of God He is calling you to be and transforming you into through this adventure of living for Him! Thank you for always being there for me, whether to just listen as I vent or to discuss the deep things of God (and everything in between)! Thanks for always supporting me in whatever new thing I come up with to do:-)! Thanks for being the kind of dad who wants to support his kids in whatever they do, and for being willing to take time out of your schedule to always make time for the kids.

I love you immensely and could NOT imagine life without you in it! Thanks for walking this road with me! Happy Father's Day!

Best Grocery Deals in Phoenix Area This Week (June 2-8, 2010)

Well, the deals look a little slim this week, but there are a few things you might want to pick up.

Albertsons
10/$10 Sale Mix & Match:
1/2 gallon milk
18 ct. eggs
8 oz. chunk cheese
Farmer John Breakfast links
Suddenly Salad
Hefty EveryDay Plates 50 ct.
Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce or Albertson's Pasta
Albertson's Cream Cheese
Simply Potatoes Hash Browns 20 oz.
Calidad Corn Tortillas 30 ct.
Calidad Flour Tortillas 10 ct.
Butterball Thin & Crispy Turkey Bacon 6 oz.
Yoplait Greek Yogurt
Old Orchard Frozen Juice
Ro-Tel
and MUCH, MUCH more!
Write Your Own Coupon:
$2 off any 2 lbs bagged shrimp
$2 off any Johnsonville Sausage
$1 off Classic Cake
$1 off any frozen item
$1 off any cereal item
$1 off a pound of any slicing lunchmeat or cheese
$0.50 off a pound of any fresh deli salad
$0.50 off any shampoo, conditioner or hair care product

Bashas
Sanderson Farms Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts or Tenders $1.67/lb
Strawberries 16 oz. $0.99
1/2 gallon milk $0.88
Dozen eggs $0.88
Classico Pasta Sauce $1.49
Buy 4 boxes Kellogg's Cereal for $10 and get 1/2 gal. milk, sandwich bread and eggs FREE!

Food City
Beef Back Ribs $0.99
Bananas 3 lbs/$0.99
Tomatoes 3 lbs/$0.99

Fry's
Pork Sale 50% off
Kroger Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts 3 lbs bag $4.99
Cantaloupes $1 each
Hot House Grown Tomatoes on the Vine $1/lb
Milk Gallon $1.68

Fresh & Easy
F&E OJ $1.99 64 oz.

Pro's Ranch Market
Potatoes 10 lbs $0.79
Manila Mangos 5/$0.99
Jarritos Sodas 1.5 liter $0.79
Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce $1.99
THURSDAY ONLY:
Marinated Chicken Fajitas $0.98/lb
FRIDAY ONLY:
Romas 4 lbs/$0.99
Cherries $0.79/lb

Safeway
BUY 8, SAVE $4 PROMO:
Hunt's Pasta Sauce or Anthony's Pasta $0.88
2 liter Pepsi products $0.83
Tostitos Tortilla Chips $1.77
and MUCH, MUCH MORE!!
Rancher's Reserve Boneless Beef Round Steak $1.57/lb
Chicken Leg Quarters $0.69/lb
Dole Juice Blends 100% Juice $1.88 w/in ad coupon
Snyder's Flavored Pretzels $1.50

Sprouts
6 oz raspberries or 4.4 oz. blueberries $0.99
Navel Oranges $0.49/lb
Mangos $0.49
Romas $0.69/lb
Bulk Granola $2.49/lb
Peanuts $1.79/lb
Oats 2 lbs/$1
Honey 3 lbs $7.99
Vitamins 25% OFF

Happy Grocery Shopping!

Best Grocery Deals in Phoenix Area This Week (May 26-,June 1 2010)

This week the deals are all about Memorial Day picnics: BBQ Sauce, paper plates, cups, napkins, hot dogs, buns, etc.

Albertsons
Pork Baby Back Ribs or Petite Sirloin Steaks Buy 1, Get 2 FREE ($6.99 lb)
Sweet Corn 6/$1
Dreyer's Ice Cream $1.99
Lay's Potato Chips or Nabisco Snack Crackers $1.77
Hefty Plates, Cups, Bowls 4/$5
Ground Round 5 lbs or more $1.77/lb
Kraft BBQ Sauce 2/$1
Hebrew National Beef Franks Buy 1, Get 2 FREE w/in ad coupon ($5.99)
8 piece Fried Chicken $3.99
Bulls Eye BBQ Sauce $0.75 w/in store coupon

Bashas
Kraft BBQ Sauce $0.99
Lay's Potato Chips or Nabisco Snack Crackers $1.77
4-DAY SALE:
White Corn 8/$1
80% lean Ground Beef $1.67/lb
8 piece Fried Chicken $3.99

Fresh & Easy
Mixed Grill Pack, or Quarter Pounder 80/20 Beef Patties or Chili, Citrus & Cilantro Chicken $5.99
Milk $1.68/Gallon
Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns $0.88
Hansen's Soda 6 pack 2/$4

Food City
Chicken Leg Quarters $0.39/lb 10 lb bag
Hefty Plates 50 ct. $0.99
Avocados and Green Bell Peppers 4/$1
Mangos 5/$1
WEDNESDAY ONLY:
Red Potatoes 5 lbs/$1
FRIDAY ONLY:
Watermelon $0.10/lb
Rosarita Refried Beans $0.99
Big G Cereals 2/$3

Fry's
Bar S Franks $0.58 (first 4)
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce $0.88
Popsicles $0.88
Split Chicken Breasts or Whole Chickens $0.77/lb
Nabisco Snack Crackers $1.88
Lay's Potato Chips $1.77
Dixie or Solo Tableware 2/$4

Pro's Ranch Market
Watermelon 7 lbs/$0.99
Cherries $0.99/lb
Romas 3 lbs/$0.99
Green Onions 4/$0.99
Apricots $0.89/lb
Muenster Cheese $1.98/lb
Powerade $0.38 when you buy 15
Kraft BBQ Sauce $0.79
WEDNESDAY ONLY:
Avocados 4/$0.99
Cucumbers 6/$0.99
Oranges 5 lbs/$0.99
THURSDAY ONLY:
Boneless Chicken Tenders $0.98/lb

Safeway
93% lean Ground Beef $1.99/lb
Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts $1.88/lb
4-DAY SALE:
Johnsonville Bratwurst or Italian Sausage $2.99
Lay's Potato Chips $1.77
8 piece Fried Chicken $3.99

So stock up on your BBQ Sauce, hot dogs, potato chips and other items that are good deals this week! And have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Happy Grocery Shopping!

My Mexican Sink

Last week we were in Mexico doing some work at Hope House, our mission in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. Hope House is a home for teen girls and single moms where they can find refuge in time of crisis, or to stay for an extended period to learn skills by which to support themselves and their children. A group came from Bedford, PA, to do some work that needed done at Hope House. They poured a concrete pad/porch for the washing machine, taped, spackled and painted the ceiling, and helped tile one of the bathrooms. It was a great week and we got even more accomplished than we had hoped.

While we were down there, we took the group to Algodones, which is a town on the border that has vendors of every sort for tourists to buy "souvenirs" from. One of the things I was interested in looking at was a Talavera sink for my Master Bathroom. Next year we are planning to remodel it and I was curious to see if they had any sinks that I would like for my bathroom. I have seen some with sunflowers or calla lillies, but the backgrounds were always blue. Blue is not my favorite color:-) So I was curious to see if I could find something with green that I would like. I had looked at these online and they were very expensive. So I thought perhaps if I found something I liked and the prices were better, then I could get it on another trip to Mexico in the future (closer to when we are planning to remodel).

Well, I found ONE sink that I really liked. I was NOT prepared to buy that day, but if you know anything about these vendors, if you like something, they will NOT let you get away if they can help it. The starting price was $180!!! There was NO way I was going to pay that much, even if I did really like the sink. He kept coming down on the price because I kept telling him I couldn't buy it today anyway. When he got down to $80, I told him I had to get my husband to talk to him. He followed me all the way to where my husband was waiting for us. By the time we got back to the sink, he had gotten his boss involved. My husband made an offer of $60 and they took it!!! So, we bought a sink. It is a very large sink and that is a really good price! I really like it and now I am hoping to remodel part of the bathroom a little sooner:-) I will just have to keep my eyes open for a good deal on a vanity or antique chest.

Best Grocery Deals in Phoenix Area This Week (May 12-18, 2010)

This week I am also going to link to Bargain Believer's links for each store - she has a great new blog with coupon details that will help you in your shopping! So just click on the PURPLE name of each store to see more details on the deals from Bargain Believer.

Albertsons
93% lean Ground Beef $1.77/lb (5 lbs or more)
Hormel Pepperoni or Canadian Bacon $1.88

Basha's
80% lean Ground Beef $1.39/lb
Chuck Roast $1.39
Tomatoes on the Vine $0.97/lb
Green or Red Leaf or Romain Lettuce $0.97
Basha's Milk $1.68 gallon
Ocean Spray Drinks $1.99 64 oz.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY ONLY!
Kraft Singles $1.99
Land O Frost Deli Shaved Meats 10 oz. $1.99

Food City
Cucumbers 5/$1
Valencia Oranges 5 lbs/$1
Kiwi 10/$1
Beef Back Ribs $0.88/lb

Fry's
93% lean Ground Beef $1.97/lb
Yoplait Yogurt $0.40 when you buy 10
General Mills Cereal 2/$4
Milk gallon $1.79

Pros Ranch Market
Oranges 5 lbs/$0.99
Romas 3 lbs/$0.99
White Onions 2 lbs $0.89
Cucumbers 6/$0.99
Kiwi 6/$0.99
Carrots 3-1 lb bags $0.99
Green Onions 4/$0.99
Chicken Leg Meat $0.88/lb
WEDNESDAY ONLY:
Manila Mangos 5/$0.99
Pinto Beans $0.39/lb
California Cherries $1.29/lb
10 lbs Potatoes $0.89
THURSDAY ONLY:
70% Lean Ground Beef $0.98/lb
FRIDAY ONLY:
Bananas 4 lbs/$0.99
Avocados 4/$0.99

Safeway
Cereals (General Mills, Kellogg's, Kashi, Quaker select varieties) buy 4, Save $4
Dial Liquid hand Soap $0.99
Bar S Franks $0.99
In Ad Coupons w/$10 Purchase:
Kraft Singles $1.99
Arm & Hammer Scoop Litter $5.99
Palmolive Dish Detergent 10 oz. $1.99
Yellow or White Corn 5/$1
Extra Jumbo Raw Gulf Shrimp $6.49/lb
Lucerne Shredded or Chunk Cheese $0.99/8 oz.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY ONLY:
Cheetos or Fritos $1.29
Breyer's Ice Cream $2.29
Frozen Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts $1.79/lb

Sprouts
Blackberries 6 oz. clamshell $0.88
Romas $0.88/lb
Apricots 2 lbs/$3
Mild Cheddar $1.99/lb
Organic Beef 40% off

According to Bargain Believer, you can get FREE Corn Flakes and Fruit Loops at Safeway this week using coupons and a catalina deal. But the catalina ends Friday, so don't wait too long to check it out!

Happy Grocery Shopping!

My Mom

In honor and loving memory of my mom, I thought I would share a poem that I wrote about her way back in 1989.

The Things My Momma Taught Me

When I was young my momma taught me all the things a momma should.
But as I grew and watched her life, the lessons really began.
I watched my parents dedicate their lives to God in everything
And stand for Him and teach of Him to others every day.
I learned that every decision, whether critical or small,
Was placed in God's hands, for ours are far too small.

When I first fell in love and thought my heart was gonna break,
My momma taught me how to love in spite of circumstance.
And when that love had blossomed and was nurtured by a man,
My momma taught me how to be a woman in love.
She taught me how to "fight a good fight" and come thru more in love,
And momma taught me how to love when emotion isn't there.

When my daddy died, my momma taught me how
To be strong in God, to reach out to others when your world seems to fall apart;
To love so deeply and cherish the memories that no one can replace.
On the brink of losing everything, my momma still gave anything she could.
She provided refuge for another family in need,
While all around her things were crumbling down.

And when she lost the house that she and daddy built,
My momma taught me how to trust in God for everything -
To lean on Him, not earthly things, for my security.
And still my momma always kept on giving of herself.

When I ventured out in life, became a married woman,
My momma taught me how to really find myself.
She taught me how to be who I really am deep inside,
To show the world the "real" me, no matter what the price.
She taught me and encouraged me to follow God's leading no matter what others said,
And trust my heart when decisions became too hard to make.

And through adversity or calm, smooth sailing, my momma taught me how to laugh.
No matter the circumstances around us, she always had joy in her heart.
So many silly times we spent giggling and laughing together -
Enjoying life, God and others with all our hearts - together.
Together - that's what really counts in this life.
The time that's spent together is the most precious time of all.
No matter whether good times or bad, we were always there for each other.
Together - that's what mattered.

Much too soon the lessons started coming to a crescendo
As disease attacked and weakened momma so.
But still she stood stronger than anyone I know,
And faithfully served and shared her God to any who would listen.
As people came to visit as her body lay in bed
She touched their lives and ministered to them, not they to her.

Not many people understood her strength and hope in God,
Some people even criticized her faith - how small their God!
I know my momma's God and He is greater than we can imagine.
He planned her life, her every hour, He even planned her death,
As she followed His footsteps one by one by one.

Her eyes never strayed from His face as her strength began to ebb away.
I couldn't always be by her side in person those last days,
But it was OK for my momma and me, our love kept our hearts entwined.
My thoughts are never far away from the things my momma taught me,
I use theme very day I live - a living dedication,
To a lady who lived totally for God and loved completely.

In the final chapter of her life on earth (only the beginning of eternity, though)
My momma taught me the greatest lesson, the hardest lesson of all -
My momma in her quite, strong and loving way -
My momma taught me how to die to live with God for eternity,
To leave behind a legacy in family, friends, and love ones,
A banner to a single life lived wholly, totally for God!

I love you, Momma! And I miss you so very much!!
Your loving daughter,
Erica

Blackberries!!!

God is so awesome - He even cares about our little desires! I LOVE blackberries and we even talked about getting some blackberry bushes and planting them at our new home. But it takes a couple years before they start producing, so it would surely be a delayed pleasure. And I have a friend in Yuma whose dad has a blackberry farm and would let the homeschool families come and pick several times in May and get to keep 10% of what they picked for helping. I have done that for several years and LOVED it, but this year it doesn't seem as though I will be able to do that.

So....God planted a little surprise (well, a really big surprise really) in our backyard long before we moved into this wonderful new home!! There is a huge blackberry bush in our backyard that is full of unripe berries!! There are going to be a bunch of berries in a few weeks! My husband discovered it while he was trimming back the overgrown vines around our outdoor fireplace to get it ready for the teen game night we are hosting tomorrow evening. He called me out there to see and I was SO excited!!! God is so amazing and cares about even the littlest things! This is a great Mother's Day present for me - directly from God!! I love Him SO very much! And I know He loves me more than I can imagine! (You, too, BTW).

Best Grocery Deals in Phoenix Area This Week (May 5-11, 2010)

There are some good deals this week, especially if you use some of the recent coupons. I will try to note some of them for you, but I recommend that you visit Grocery Smarts to help you find exactly the right coupons to match with the deals. There is a great deal on juices at Safeway, especially with coupons. Also, a great Kellogg's deal at Albertsons with coupons and catalina. So here are the best deals as I see them:

Albertsons
Effective through 5/11/10, Albertsons will double manufacturer coupons with values up to and including .50, triple manufacturer coupons up to and including values of .33, and quadruple manufacturer coupons up to and including values of .25!
California Sweet Corn 5/$1 (limit 10)
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.77/lb
London Broil $1.77/lb
Albertsons Gallon Milk 3/$5
Simply Juice 59 oz. $1.99 (limit 2)
Breyer's Ice Cream 1.5 qt. $1.99 (limit 2)
Lay's Potato Chips $1.99

Basha's
Bashas' doubles up to 3 like coupons every day. This means that any coupon is doubled, with maximum value equaling $1.
Boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts $1.69/lb
T-Bone Steak $3.99/lb
California White Corn 4/$1
Doritos, Ruffles and Herr's Chips $1.99
Yoplait Yogurt $0.40 each when you buy 10 w/in ad coupon
Old Orchard Healthy Balance Juice $2.00
Boulder Canyon Chips $1.79
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY ONLY:
Milk Gallon $1.68
Tomatoes on the Vine $0.97/lb
Hamburger Buns 8 ct. $0.99
80% lean ground beef $1.69/lb
Basha's Buck Coupons:
Breyer's Ice Cream 2/$5 and $1 off 2 coupon
Klondike Bars 2/$6 and $1 off 2 coupon
Ragu Pasta Sauce 2/$4 and $1 off 2 coupon
Skippy Peanut Butter 2/$4 and $1 off 2 coupon
Lipton Tea (includes 40 ct. green) 2/$5 and $1 off 2 coupon
and more....

Food City
10 lb potatoes $0.88
Key Limes 3 lbs/$0.99
Avocados 5/$1
Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce $1.89
FRIDAY ONLY:
Malto O Meal Cereal $0.99 (limit 2)
Hunt's Tomato Sauce 8 oz. 4/$1 (limit 8)
Valencia Oranges 5 lbs/$1 (limit 10 lbs)
SATURDAY ONLY:
Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns $0.89
Guerrero Flour Tortillas 10 ct. $0.99

Fry's
All Manufacturers' Coupons worth $1: .10 coupons and above = $1.00.
Fresh Chicken Sale Buy 1, Get 1 Free
Cook's Spiral or Half Ham $0.99/lb
Blackberries $1
Farmer John Bacon $1.77
Gallon Milk $1.68 (limit 2)
Pepsi 2 liter $0.84
Kroger Peanut Butter 18 oz. $0.99
Fry's Macaroni & Cheese $0.39
Kellogg's Cereal $1.97
Mini Peeled Carrots $0.88/lb

Pro's Ranch Market
Watermelon 8 lb/$0.99
Manila Mangos 4/$0.99
Avocados 4/$0.99
Cilantro 5/$0.99
Baby Carrots $0.89/lb
Cabbage 4 lbs/$0.99
Shamrock Cottage Cheese 16 oz. $0.99
WEDNESDAY ONLY:
Corn on the Cob 5/$0.99
Cantaloupe 4 lbs/$0.99
Roma Tomatoes 3 lbs/$0.99
Potatoes 10 lbs/$0.89
Oranges 6 lbs/$0.99
THURSDAY ONLY:
Sliced Cooked Ham $0.98/lb
FRIDAY ONLY:
Bananas 3 lbs/$0.99
Strawberries $0.89/lb

Safeway
Strawberries $0.88/lb
Fresh Express Spinach, Shreds or Green & Crisp Salads $0.99
Dairy Glen Milk Gallon $1.68
BUY any 5, Save $5 Juices:
Tree Top, Mott's, Capri Sun $1.49
V-Fusion, V-8, Welch's $1.99
Lucerne Large Eggs 18 ct. $1.49 w/in ad coupon
Safeway Frozen Potatoes $1.99 w/in ad coupon
Jimmy Dean Bacon or Breakfast Sausage Rolls Buy 1, get 1 Free
Safeway Peanut Butter $0.99 w/in ad coupon
Lay's Kettle Cooked Chips $1.88 w/in ad coupon
Ziploc $1.49 w/in ad coupon

Sprouts
White Corn $0.19/each
Blackberries $0.99
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs $1.99/lb
Chicken Sausage $2.99/lb
Colby Jack Cheese $1.99/lb
Chicken Tenders $1.88/lb

Happy Grocery Shopping!

When Life Gets Busy

The month of May is a rather busy month for us. Spring football practice begins for my son (and continues through the fall with only a few weeks off here and there). The band that my kids are in has their first concert the end of this month, so there are extra practices and the stresses that go along with that. We are taking a 4-5 day trip down to Mexico to work with a group that is coming from Pennsylvania to help out at Hope House (our mission work in San Luis Rio Colorado).

I had a very hard time trying to fit in a few teen homeschooling group activities like roller skating and game night, but we did get a few squeezed in. We are still running full speed with school and will be going until sometime in June or July (we take our breaks in the winter when it is nice outside, rather than during the brutal heat of summer:-).

But, still, I don't like to be "busy". I don't mind having a lot of activities and for my kids to be involved in lots of fun stuff, but I believe "busy" is more an attitude of the mind than a state of your life. I have found that so many homeschool moms are "busy, busy, busy"! Too busy to take time for relationships and relaxing with a friend over a cup of tea. Too busy to plan an evening out with a friend. Too busy to handle the pressures that come with living life.

If my 6 years in Mexico taught me only one thing (and it taught me many), it is that I NEVER want to be "busy". I always want to be flexible enough to take time for a friend. I always want to have time for a cup of tea and a good book. I always want to spend time each week with girlfriends. I always want to be able to have a casual conversation with each of my children when THEY feel like talking. It is true that I don't fill up our schedule needlessly with lots of stuff to do, but even when our calendar and schedule look "busy", I never want to feel "busy". I never want to be too busy to accept an offer of going to yard sales with a friend. I never want to say "I don't have time right now" to a friend in need when she calls. I never want to be too busy to cook from scratch and make healthy foods for my family. Sometimes that means planning ahead and even cooking ahead and freezing some casseroles or dishes, but that is ok. I never want to be too busy to sit down at least once a day with my family at the dinner table to share a meal together. Many times this has to be breakfast since my husband works most evenings, but that is ok.

I want to challenge you, especially those homeschool moms out there, to take time spend with a friend. Make sure you are not "too busy" to be there for someone, especially your family. Even when your schedule and calendar are full, make sure that your attitude is not "too busy" for the things that really matter!