My son

One year ago today, I gave birth to a 7lb, 3oz baby boy.



Today, I have a beautiful, active, rambunctious toddler who is always busy-- exploring, touching, learning.

What a year it has been!

Happy birthday, my Brandon!

We are fanatics

Doing a happy dance!!!

For all of you who are as addicted to CVS as I am, YOU MUST GET THE NEW CVS COUPON!!!!
Go to Crystal's Money Saving Mom to check out how to get your own $3/$15 coupon. It takes a little work, but IT IS SOOOOO WORTH IT!!!!

(Can you tell I'm happy???) :-)

Note: Read through the comments for more help in accessing the coupon. Also, we think you can only print out the coupon during the 7-day trial period, so PRINT LOTS!!!!

Offer ends today!

Remember, this offer of 60% off ends today! Hurry to take advantage of it!

Vision Forum's Affiliate Program

For those of you who had questions about Vision Forum's affiliate program, here's the basics of what you need to know.

Each time someone uses my links to purchase anything from VF, I get paid a commission. If you use my link to become an affiliate, I also get paid for referring you to the company!

I hope that answers your questions, but if not, you can get more information by clicking the link below.

Click here to earn money from Vision Forum!!

Revamping (Is that a word?)

To those of you who come by here regularly(all three of you!!!) you can see that I've been revamping my site. I'd like some input here.

Tell me what you think of the ads I have kept.
Do you miss something that was here?
Were you using a link that I've taken down?
Would you like to see me include something that isn't here?
I'd like some general impressions too.

So, here goes!! Let me know what you think, but be polite please!!!!

:-)

Vision Forum!!!

I've been waiting and waiting to see if I had been approved for Vision Forum's affiliate program. Well, I got the confirmation today!! I'm so excited!!

I hope that everyone who comes by here will check out their site. They provide some awesome resources for the family!

HELP!!!!!!!!

I do not drink caffeine. Period. Brandon can't handle it, so it's been bye-bye to coffee, sodas or tea with that ingredient.

Well, this morning, I got up later than my mother-in-law who is here with us for the week. She had made coffee, but unknown to me, she used the CAFFEINATED coffee that I keep to use for visitors, but never drink myself. :-) She also didn't know that I don't drink the leaded variety. Well, I drank TWO CUPS of coffee. Needless to say, I'm about to take flight I'm so hyped up on caffiene!!!

Does anyone know a proven way to counteract the effects????? I'm doubting there's a way, but still, I had to ask. I am literally shaking from it.

HELP!!!!!

:-)

60% OFF!!!

Here's another good deal!!

Now thru April 24th, 60% off Dinner of the Month Club purchase at Restaurant.com. Use code FLAVOR!

Discounted Homeschool Resources--Good for the next week!

Several of my friends with school age children are already beginning to look for curriculum for next year. If you too are on the hunt for discounts on tools to aid in your childrens' education, then you should check out this sale that's going on. It's only good for the next seven days, so take advantage of it NOW!!

Get 20% Off Alpha Omega's Home Education Products For Grades K-12! Offer Expires April 30, 2008

Great Sale--99 cents!

I don't know if you're like us, but we do still have a VCR player in our home. So, if you do too, you HAVE to check out this sale! It's a good way to get a few Christian tapes for your family to enjoy. Just click on the link below!

99-cent VHS Sale! Over 400 Christian movie titles to choose from at Gospel Direct. Hurry - offer good while supplies last!

Congratulations, Erin and Jeremy!!

April 19, 2008

We love you!

I'LL BE YOUR LOVE

I'd walk a thousand miles just to be by your side
I'd lay down in love for the rest of my life
I love to see the stars shining in your eyes
I will run with you to the end of all time

I'll be your one, I'll be your only, I'll be your Love

I'll be your smile, I'll be your truth, I'll be your love

So come take my hand and walk with me to forever

I'd walk a thousand miles just to be by your side

I want you to know you're my breath, you're my life

I love to see the stars shining in your eyes
I will run with you to the end of all time.

I'd walk a thousand miles just to be by your side.

Written by David Walker for his sister, Erin on her wedding day

Great deal at VS

Check out Nichole's post for nearly free slippers from Victoria's Secret!!!

Hurry, offer ends soon!

Revolution Money Exchange

Well, I did it. After hearing about RevolutionMoneyExchange, I finally signed up. I trust those who have signed up before me, so I decided to give it a try.

If you're one to shop online or use EBay, you should definitely try it out. You can send and receive money WITHOUT FEES through the program. Best of all, you are given an immediate $25 bonus for signing up.

Also, you can help me out. RME has a great referral program in place, so that I earn money when you sign up using my link. Will you help me out?? Just click here or use the button on my sidebar. Either way, you'll be helping our budget and our frugal efforts! :-)

Note: The sign-up bonus of $25 is only available until May 15, 2008, so don't delay in opening your account!!!

Brandon's Debut

Everyone has been asking about Brandon walking, so here's a home video of him walking through the house. You'll get to see my floor a lot--thankfully I just vacuumed! :) Enjoy!

PS- Dad and Mom, I hope you come by to see your grandbaby!

PPS- Yes, this is what my house normally looks like--filled with little boys having fun with their toys. It eventually gets picked up each day, but I'm very used to navigating the chaos of fun! :-)

What changes time brings!

SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007

Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counsellors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

A Kitchen Tip

I took some time today to bake banana bread. I have a lot of over-ripe bananas that find a home in my freezer. I've learned that if I'll peel them and put them directly into a baggie, it's SO much easier when it comes around to baking time. Once it defrosts, I can mash it in the bag and avoid the mess of using a fork. (I've had too many times that the bananas "migrated" to the counter while I was trying to mash them up!!!) Anyway, it's a simple tip that you are probably already using, but it works for me!!!

Something Accomplished!!

I finally have my shelves set up in the newly-added laundry room! YAY!!! I'm so excited to get my stockpile out of my ONE hall shelf unit and into the pantry shelves. I was able to clear a drawer in my kitchen as well. I plan to use that space to store my coupon folder, ads, calculator, etc--basically, everything to do with my frugal shopping adventures!! They have previously been stored on my tabletop...obviously NOT my favorite choice for storage seeing as we really need the table for meal time. :) I'm just so glad that at least one thing is starting to come together into organized, neat sense!

As you can see, the Lord has so blessed us with a good supply of toiletries, some groceries and LOTS of juice (thank you , Kroger!!) It is all going to be coming in handy since my husband is being required to take days off from work this month. This will be the first time since we got married that he hasn't had full time work. But through it all, God is blessing us and giving much grace to trust Him for every need. Learning to CVS and use coupons, learning to search the ads for good deals--The Lord has timed it all perfectly that I would be prepared to meet my family's needs during these coming difficult months. God is so good to us!!!!

Coupon Inserts

If you'd like the Red Plum(Valassis) insert delivered directly to your door, go here and fill out a simple form! Thank you to Nichole for sharing this with me.