Our quote of the day is brought to you by a text that I got from Jake:
"Mom, I just totally bombed my test in health! But it's ok.
It was on drugs. So that means I don't know anything about
drugs. That's a good thing!"
He's always coming up with lines like these. He's such a "car salesman."
LOVE my Jake!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Dedicated to my couponing friends
Yesterday, I started ironing the massive pile of shirts that have been stacking up in my laundry room for weeks. I told Brendan that I was tempted to take them all to the dry cleaners but that I felt the $25-$30 could be better spent elsewhere. His response made my day! "Ya, for $25 you could probably get $100 worth of groceries!"
So happy that he sees and appreciates my efforts in my new coupon mad hobby! I'm even more happy that he volunteered to iron over half of the shirts himself! Woo Hoo! Not sure if he wanted to score some hubby brownie points or if he was frustrated at how slow I iron. Either way...pile to iron is Gone-zo!
Now back to my story....
Well the last several months I have been trying to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. Many of my friends have been telling me for over a year how much they save by couponing. I figured they weren't lying, but I just wasn't seeing how a 25 cent coupon here and there could save any money. Besides, it seemed that most of the coupons were for junk food or for the expensive brands. I felt I did my duty by planning our meals, sticking to the grocery list and buying generics as much as possible.
Then I went to a couponing class with my sister in law Debbie. Wow! I finally got it. I got suckered into subscribing to 3 copies of the sunday paper that night to get the most bang for my buck and figured there was no turning back.
It has changed our life! With having a missionary to support, two active and busy teenagers at home, a house that has all 11 year old appliances that are sure to kick the bucket any day, college tuition x 3 knocking at our door, and a paycut for Brendan due to the economy, it couldn't have come at a better time.
Those reading this that already know the tricks, skip down to the blue journaling. You don't want to miss that. Those that want to learn a little on a very basic level read on. The trick is to get multiple copies of the sunday paper for the coupons. I get 3. I think you can get up to 5 at a discounted rate. Then you cut out what you would buy if free or extremely cheap and organize in a binder in baseball card holders by category. This seriously only takes me about 1/2 hour on Sunday afternoon. Then hold on to them and watch for sales. Last week I bought 15 boxes of cereal, 1 Sunny D, 3 Keebler cookies, 3 Reeses candy bars, and 2 Tresemme shampoos for $13.07 for a savings of $73.08 at Smiths!! Smith's had Quaker cereals (Life/CapnCrunch) 5 for $5. I had 3 coupons for $3 off when you buy 5... = 15 boxes/$6.00. Shampoo was on sale for $2.88. $2.00 coupon = .88 ea. etc. There is a great tutorial on savvyshopperdeals.com. That's also the site I use to find the sales and how to match up my coupons. My favorite deal was the Reeses Peanut Butter cups. They were on sale for .50. I had 3 coupons for .55 of each so I got paid .15 to take them home. I'm saving those for my missionary's Orange package. But you'll have to wait for a later post when I describe that whole thing.
Ok. well, that is MY story.
Once in a while I look at a blog called "Seriously so blessed." It's hilarious. The girl that writes it exaggerates all the "Utah Mormon Stay At Home Mom trends" and turns them into an obnoxious tale. Don't anyone get confused. The following IS NOT MY writing. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. I dedicate it to all my couponing friends:
the best.
couponing.
of.
my.
life.
"I'm so addicted! I don't know if I told you this but I get 20-30 copies of the Sunday paper JUST for the inserts bc I'm a hardcore couponer!!!
Let me clairify: its definately NOT bc we're poor {we're so not}, just for a fun way to save $ AND look thrifty AND compete w/ freinds.
So since its Glamma and Queenie's last day here, at 6 AM this morning, I went to Smith's/Albertson's/Walgreens & elbowed like forty other coupon chicks outta my way so I could rock the double coupon day and double up on my catalinas and manufacturers and $1 offs and check out everything I halled home!
60 boxes of cereal
36 diet pringles
100 crystal light mixes
lifetime supply of kotex {not shown, gross!}
more toilet paper than the whole state will ever use
Lysol wipes galore
mini rice cakes
tons of eggs for JJWTs protein shakes
bumload of juice boxes
cookies {for ruth}
mandarin oranges
...name something else....
...I'll wait while you think of it...
yes! I also got 100 of those, too!
{this is only half of it}
Ok so it took me 43 transactions and three different checkers. Firstly I went to some grumpy old lady who kepp reading fine print {whatever!} so I finally switched lanes to this zitty teen who was way busy checking out my hot self so just scanned whatever I gave him, lol. THEN I finished up at the self check out.
Price before coupons...$530.56.
Price AFTER coupons? $4.47!
i saved $526.09, or something. And when my $10 rebate comes in the mail I will of MADE $5! Yay! "
So happy that he sees and appreciates my efforts in my new coupon mad hobby! I'm even more happy that he volunteered to iron over half of the shirts himself! Woo Hoo! Not sure if he wanted to score some hubby brownie points or if he was frustrated at how slow I iron. Either way...pile to iron is Gone-zo!
Now back to my story....
Well the last several months I have been trying to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. Many of my friends have been telling me for over a year how much they save by couponing. I figured they weren't lying, but I just wasn't seeing how a 25 cent coupon here and there could save any money. Besides, it seemed that most of the coupons were for junk food or for the expensive brands. I felt I did my duty by planning our meals, sticking to the grocery list and buying generics as much as possible.
Then I went to a couponing class with my sister in law Debbie. Wow! I finally got it. I got suckered into subscribing to 3 copies of the sunday paper that night to get the most bang for my buck and figured there was no turning back.
It has changed our life! With having a missionary to support, two active and busy teenagers at home, a house that has all 11 year old appliances that are sure to kick the bucket any day, college tuition x 3 knocking at our door, and a paycut for Brendan due to the economy, it couldn't have come at a better time.
Those reading this that already know the tricks, skip down to the blue journaling. You don't want to miss that. Those that want to learn a little on a very basic level read on. The trick is to get multiple copies of the sunday paper for the coupons. I get 3. I think you can get up to 5 at a discounted rate. Then you cut out what you would buy if free or extremely cheap and organize in a binder in baseball card holders by category. This seriously only takes me about 1/2 hour on Sunday afternoon. Then hold on to them and watch for sales. Last week I bought 15 boxes of cereal, 1 Sunny D, 3 Keebler cookies, 3 Reeses candy bars, and 2 Tresemme shampoos for $13.07 for a savings of $73.08 at Smiths!! Smith's had Quaker cereals (Life/CapnCrunch) 5 for $5. I had 3 coupons for $3 off when you buy 5... = 15 boxes/$6.00. Shampoo was on sale for $2.88. $2.00 coupon = .88 ea. etc. There is a great tutorial on savvyshopperdeals.com. That's also the site I use to find the sales and how to match up my coupons. My favorite deal was the Reeses Peanut Butter cups. They were on sale for .50. I had 3 coupons for .55 of each so I got paid .15 to take them home. I'm saving those for my missionary's Orange package. But you'll have to wait for a later post when I describe that whole thing.
Ok. well, that is MY story.
Once in a while I look at a blog called "Seriously so blessed." It's hilarious. The girl that writes it exaggerates all the "Utah Mormon Stay At Home Mom trends" and turns them into an obnoxious tale. Don't anyone get confused. The following IS NOT MY writing. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. I dedicate it to all my couponing friends:
the best.
couponing.
of.
my.
life.
"I'm so addicted! I don't know if I told you this but I get 20-30 copies of the Sunday paper JUST for the inserts bc I'm a hardcore couponer!!!
Let me clairify: its definately NOT bc we're poor {we're so not}, just for a fun way to save $ AND look thrifty AND compete w/ freinds.
So since its Glamma and Queenie's last day here, at 6 AM this morning, I went to Smith's/Albertson's/Walgreens & elbowed like forty other coupon chicks outta my way so I could rock the double coupon day and double up on my catalinas and manufacturers and $1 offs and check out everything I halled home!
60 boxes of cereal
36 diet pringles
100 crystal light mixes
lifetime supply of kotex {not shown, gross!}
more toilet paper than the whole state will ever use
Lysol wipes galore
mini rice cakes
tons of eggs for JJWTs protein shakes
bumload of juice boxes
cookies {for ruth}
mandarin oranges
...name something else....
...I'll wait while you think of it...
yes! I also got 100 of those, too!
{this is only half of it}
Ok so it took me 43 transactions and three different checkers. Firstly I went to some grumpy old lady who kepp reading fine print {whatever!} so I finally switched lanes to this zitty teen who was way busy checking out my hot self so just scanned whatever I gave him, lol. THEN I finished up at the self check out.
Price before coupons...$530.56.
Price AFTER coupons? $4.47!
i saved $526.09, or something. And when my $10 rebate comes in the mail I will of MADE $5! Yay! "
Thoughts on Earth day
Brendan sent me the following email today. I loved it and had to say Amen to it and wanted to remember it so it's on our blog. The guys is a bit harsh with some of his words, but I appreciate the message. Before anyone gets upset – read down far enough to see what he says about conserving resources. It may offend some I'm sure. We don't all have to agree on everything, but I appreciated these thoughts:
THE EARTH IS NOT MY GOD
by: Bob Lonsberry
"Earth Day is a crock.
It is the high holy day of the environmentalism cult and I choose not to engage in that particular brand of idol worship.
I choose not to worship the earth as if it were a god and I were a savage. I am its steward, not its slave.
I wasn’t created for it, it was created for me.
Man exists not as an accidental product of earth’s evolution, the earth exists as a home for man. It did not produce us, it was produced for us.
God made the heavens and the earth, and he made them for a purpose – and humankind is that purpose.
The problem with Earth Day is that it gets everything backwards. It views the planet as the priority, when in actuality humankind is the priority and purpose. The earth was created by God, but man was created in God’s image.
The environmentalists’ perversion of the relationship between man and nature seeks to turn things completely upside down, fostering confusion and degeneracy. Applied through government mandate, the principles of environmentalism choke off human progress and prosperity.
They also deny the fact that the earth is a gift to man from God.
And it has been stocked with the things that are necessary to support human needs for as long as God intends for humans to populate this planet.
Coal, for example, is not some evil substance interlarding the earth as a temptation to energy excess. It is, rather, a gift from God to give us light and heat, to fuel our industry and better our lives. The oil and gas fields around the world are not environmental cancers, they are miraculous aids to transportation, manufacturing and physical comfort.
They are all blessings.
They are causes for rejoicing.
But those who would leave them in the ground, who would turn their back on their bounty, are showing indifference and ingratitude. They are spitting in the face of the God who provided these resources for us.
Granted, we are not to be despoilers of the earth, we are to be its stewards. It is not moral to waste or to be filthy, to destroy just to destroy, to leave things – large or small – in an ugly and dangerous state. And we should take care of what we are responsible for. Good farming, construction, logging, drilling and mining practices conserve our resources so that they last longer and are used more efficiently.
We should turn off the lights when we leave a room, conserve water, protect our soil and let nothing whatsoever go to waste. We should reuse our trash when possible and produce less trash in the first place.
We should let some trees stand and some vistas go untouched by the hand of man. The beauty of nature is of practical worth, it is in and of itself a resource that – in balance – should be preserved. We should only kill things that we’re going to eat, or which are going to eat us. We can also kill things that are messing with our stuff – like bugs on our crops and mice in our houses.
But it’s got to stay in balance, and the needs of man must always trump. The world doesn’t stop for a snail darter or a spotted owl or some obscure species of desert wildflower.
We are shepherds of the earth. That means we must protect it and watch over it and keep it safe.
But we have to remember the context and purpose of that protection. The shepherd, after all, watches over the sheep so that he can shear their wool and eventually eat them. His stewardship is self-serving and fully directed toward his own self-interest.
And so is ours.
Earth Day is a great day to remind ourselves of the bounty of the earth, especially when managed under the ingenious hand of industry. It is a day to thank God for the richness of this earth, which supports us all so well. It is a day to worship the God who made the earth – but not the earth itself.
And it is a day to redouble our efforts to resist the paganism of our day, the cult of environmentalism. It is scientifically and morally wrong, it is nothing but the worship of a very large idol.
I don’t go along with it. And, I wager, neither do you."
- by Bob Lonsberry
THE EARTH IS NOT MY GOD
by: Bob Lonsberry
"Earth Day is a crock.
It is the high holy day of the environmentalism cult and I choose not to engage in that particular brand of idol worship.
I choose not to worship the earth as if it were a god and I were a savage. I am its steward, not its slave.
I wasn’t created for it, it was created for me.
Man exists not as an accidental product of earth’s evolution, the earth exists as a home for man. It did not produce us, it was produced for us.
God made the heavens and the earth, and he made them for a purpose – and humankind is that purpose.
The problem with Earth Day is that it gets everything backwards. It views the planet as the priority, when in actuality humankind is the priority and purpose. The earth was created by God, but man was created in God’s image.
The environmentalists’ perversion of the relationship between man and nature seeks to turn things completely upside down, fostering confusion and degeneracy. Applied through government mandate, the principles of environmentalism choke off human progress and prosperity.
They also deny the fact that the earth is a gift to man from God.
And it has been stocked with the things that are necessary to support human needs for as long as God intends for humans to populate this planet.
Coal, for example, is not some evil substance interlarding the earth as a temptation to energy excess. It is, rather, a gift from God to give us light and heat, to fuel our industry and better our lives. The oil and gas fields around the world are not environmental cancers, they are miraculous aids to transportation, manufacturing and physical comfort.
They are all blessings.
They are causes for rejoicing.
But those who would leave them in the ground, who would turn their back on their bounty, are showing indifference and ingratitude. They are spitting in the face of the God who provided these resources for us.
Granted, we are not to be despoilers of the earth, we are to be its stewards. It is not moral to waste or to be filthy, to destroy just to destroy, to leave things – large or small – in an ugly and dangerous state. And we should take care of what we are responsible for. Good farming, construction, logging, drilling and mining practices conserve our resources so that they last longer and are used more efficiently.
We should turn off the lights when we leave a room, conserve water, protect our soil and let nothing whatsoever go to waste. We should reuse our trash when possible and produce less trash in the first place.
We should let some trees stand and some vistas go untouched by the hand of man. The beauty of nature is of practical worth, it is in and of itself a resource that – in balance – should be preserved. We should only kill things that we’re going to eat, or which are going to eat us. We can also kill things that are messing with our stuff – like bugs on our crops and mice in our houses.
But it’s got to stay in balance, and the needs of man must always trump. The world doesn’t stop for a snail darter or a spotted owl or some obscure species of desert wildflower.
We are shepherds of the earth. That means we must protect it and watch over it and keep it safe.
But we have to remember the context and purpose of that protection. The shepherd, after all, watches over the sheep so that he can shear their wool and eventually eat them. His stewardship is self-serving and fully directed toward his own self-interest.
And so is ours.
Earth Day is a great day to remind ourselves of the bounty of the earth, especially when managed under the ingenious hand of industry. It is a day to thank God for the richness of this earth, which supports us all so well. It is a day to worship the God who made the earth – but not the earth itself.
And it is a day to redouble our efforts to resist the paganism of our day, the cult of environmentalism. It is scientifically and morally wrong, it is nothing but the worship of a very large idol.
I don’t go along with it. And, I wager, neither do you."
- by Bob Lonsberry
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Warm and Sunny Arizona
This year for Spring Break we decided to get out of the freezing snow and wind from Utah and head down to Arizona! Jessica (Brendan's sister) has been begging us to come down forever and we figured this was a perfect time for a visit. We couldn't wait to meet our new nephew/cousin Skyler that was born on December 28th. It was double the party down there when Debbie (Brendan's other sister) and her kids and Brendan's mom decided to go down there the same week. It was a mad house of kids, puppies, a baby with too many mommies, easter candy, early mornings, and TONS of fun! We didn't do anything extravagant, but it was just so nice to hang out together and do some good old family activities.
We arrived Saturday just in time for the boys to change and head out to the Priesthood session of conference with Joel, Anthony, Cameron, and Spencer and then out to a boy's only dinner.
Sunday the little kids had a blast searching for eggs and getting their Easter Basket goodies from the Easter Bunny. Our kids "endured" that part of the day well. (Such a bummer having older kids sometimes). Then we all got comfy and watched General Conference as a family. Well, some of us watched it while some of us got a little too comfy and cozy...we weren't used to waking up to our alarm at 6:30 named "Cannon."
We spent the rest of the week shopping, swimming and eating at Brendan's aunt Stephanie's house, . .
I always think I take too many photos during an event, but when I get home I realize that I didn't do a very good job. I wish I had some of all of us and I didn't see one of Cassie. But we have many memories of this trip and are so glad we went! Thanks Jess and Joel for putting us all up and being amazing hosts. We hope to come down more often and can't wait to see you guys up here this summer.
We arrived Saturday just in time for the boys to change and head out to the Priesthood session of conference with Joel, Anthony, Cameron, and Spencer and then out to a boy's only dinner.
Sunday the little kids had a blast searching for eggs and getting their Easter Basket goodies from the Easter Bunny. Our kids "endured" that part of the day well. (Such a bummer having older kids sometimes). Then we all got comfy and watched General Conference as a family. Well, some of us watched it while some of us got a little too comfy and cozy...we weren't used to waking up to our alarm at 6:30 named "Cannon."
We spent the rest of the week shopping, swimming and eating at Brendan's aunt Stephanie's house, . .
. . . swimming at Stephanie's neighborhood clubhouse pool which was surrounded by sand and palm trees (just like the ocean without all the waves and salt), eating at Filibertos for Taco Tuesday, the girls went to an awesome RS/YW activity on body image, the boys went golfing 3 times, and the grown ups and our two kids snuck out to see a late night movie while grandma stayed with the sleeping little ones one night. The adults also got to attend a session in the beautiful Mesa Temple. One of my missionary mom friends, RaShel, lives in Mesa so she and I hooked up at the temple and spent several hours later chatting over lunch and touring her beautiful home! I drove the 30 minutes back to Jessica's ALL by myself! I only mention this because I know those that really know me will be shocked at this revalation. But Brendan's mom let us borrow her GPS for the trip and it has changed my life and liberated the scaredy cat driver that has haunted me my whole life. I felt so grown up! Ha ha!
I always think I take too many photos during an event, but when I get home I realize that I didn't do a very good job. I wish I had some of all of us and I didn't see one of Cassie. But we have many memories of this trip and are so glad we went! Thanks Jess and Joel for putting us all up and being amazing hosts. We hope to come down more often and can't wait to see you guys up here this summer.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Once in a lifetime
Allison was given the opportunity by our Bishop to be one of 10 girls from our ward to participate with other Young Women from Lehi in the choir for the General Young Women's broadcast on March 27, 2010. She had practices every Sunday evening for 3 hours for 6 weeks. She said the practices were amazing and that she was able to feel the spirit so much. Allison absolutely loved Sister Webb, a church general choir director for special events like this. She really connected with the girls, told them funny stories, was able to uplift them and encourage them to do their best unlike anyone else I've ever seen. Allison's favorite thing she learned from Sister Webb was a song that she sang to the girls each time in Hawaiian. The bolded line is the real meaning behind the hawaiian lei. Allison loved that. The english translation is as follows:
Come forward and appear you precious flowers arising in the calmness of this special day.
Each of you are taking up the challenge of not simply climpbing a high mountain, but you have chosen to climb the highest and most majestic mountain of all.
Dance forward you children of your Heavenly Father, for is it no so that you, our children, are so very precious.
In fact, you are the most precious adornement worn around the neck of your ancestors.
Come forward, come forward, for there are many roads for you to choose.
Be sure to follow the voice of the good shepherd, for He will always keep you protect you, and show you the way.
Practicing the week before at the conference Center:
I had one ticket so I was just going to go by myself. Then Nicole called and said that she, Mariah, and her mom had tickets too. It was fun to be able to go up and sit with them.
This YW conference was probably my favorite of all the ones I’ve ever heard. Pres. Uchtdorf spoke about how all stories all over the world begin with “Once upon time” as do our lives. But before you get to “….and they lived happily ever after” there are a lot of trials, obstacles, challenges, and adversities that have to be overcome before the end. Some may be wicked stepsisters, some may be a Beast in a castle, some may be sin, some may be loss of family, jobs, dreams, etc. but we can all reach our potential and live happily ever after and be the queens we were born to be. Isnt’ that such a great message? I think that applies to every aspect of our lives. It was just so good and the choir was spectacular. Allison wasn’t filmed for very much, but she did make it on camera for several short shots. We recorded it, but the TV doesn’t do it justice. I guess because when I was there live I not only heard it up close but could feel of the spirit that was in the meeting. I have seen Thomas S. Monson in person at other conferences a few times, but this time was different. As he was leaving and stopped to turn to the choir and then to the audience and waved goodbye, I just was flooded with such a deep love for him and was overcome with emotion. I guess it’s probably because this is the first time I’ve seen President Monson in person as the prophet and I received a personal witness of who he really is. It was a night that Allison nor I will ever forget!
Those that were not in attendance probably didn't realize that the choir sang the song during the video presentation that was shown. It was Allison's favorite song and her favorite part of the whole conference. If you do nothing else, please click here to watch the short clip of it. The choir begins singing at 3 min 45 seconds into it. If you missed it and would like to view the entire conference, please click here.
Click on the arrow above to see a short clip of Allison on TV. She is in a hot pink shirt in the middle right side of the screen.
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