What a WEEK!

My sincerest apologies to my wonderful readers who have been abandoned by me this week! :-)  I have spent a lot of time doing some much needed things around my home and with my son this week and have just frankly - left the blogging behind for a few days.  I have a ton of catchup to do - a ton of posts to make and blogs to read and comment on.  

But all that extra work because I took time off  from blogging this week was definitely worth it.  

My son and I have spent a few days running errands - hanging with my parents (that was AWESOME!) and cleaning junk out of the house that just needed to be gotten rid of.  And of course there have been evenings with my Beau, great meals, lots of variations on milkshakes (my Beau - he makes AMAZING milkshakes - chocolate peanut butter banana, orange cream, and just plain old vanilla - YUMMO!).  It's been a tremendous week of blessings and hurts and a few tears here and there...but overall...God has definitely shown me HIS love this week and I have much to share here - great deals - coupons - freebies - and just insights into our life. 

So - sorry for the absence - but I promise - the next week will be better! :-)

Sometimes A Gal just NEEDS some Chocolate!

You know - no matter how great life is going - sometimes - a gal - just simply NEEDS some chocolate.  We all have been there - we all know the moment. 

Yes, even in the midst of my goals of weight loss and getting healthier - I MUST give in.

And the nice thing is - I found this dandy coupon today to help make my Chocolate Craving more doable!  Can't wait to use it and get my "chocolate on'! $1.00 off Dove Promises Silk Smooth (8.5-9.5oz. bags)

YUMMO!!!  Click HERE to clip the coupon below for yourself!

Blame my OCD!

But Yes - I am a CLEAN FREAK!  That's why last week when I got a Buy One Get One Free Mr. Clean Coupon in my Proctor & Gamble Newspaper insert AND saw their all purpose disinfectant was on sale for $2 (marked down from $3.49) at the Family Dollar Store locally - I KNEW I had to have it!  HUGE savings there folks!  Think about it - 2 bottles that normally would cost $6.98 plus tax for only $2 plus tax!  WOOHOO!

So - I took my booty online and found some FREE Cleaning Items to share just with you - because I personally, like to promote cleanliness and germ free environments that smell good ANY TIME I CAN!

For your Sniffing Pleasure, Febreeze is offering this in Linen & Sky Scent:

And for folks like me that think anything Clorox is guaranteed to prevent the spreading of germs AND who want to be GREEN:

JOIN Me this Cold & Flu Season in the FIGHT AGAINST GERMS & do it "on the cheap/free"!!!!

Want to See Movies for Half the Price?

If you are anything like our family - you love the theater experience but hate the prices.  A few weekends ago, my Beau, myself, my 7 year old, my 5 year old and my 3 year old all went to see the movie Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore.  Two adult tickets and 3 kids tickets later and we had spent over $50 JUST for the movie - not to mention the snacks & drinks...and dinner afterward. 

It can be just TOO expensive for a normal one or even two income family to go out to the movies very often.  To take our whole crew out takes planning and budgeting - as I'm sure it is for your family too.  But we ALL love movies!  We love renting & buying them on DVD - but we love the thrill of the theater even more.  The sounds, the lighting, the big screen...the 3D experience you get at so many movies now.  The smell and taste of movie theater popcorn can't be recreated at home. 

So how CAN you manage a fun movie night for your family once a month?  Go to Weekly Cinema and sign up now! 

For $12.99 a month you get two tickets to a local theater of your choice (they have multiple listings available in my area) and if you sign up now - you get one extra bonus ticket free!  For our family that is 2 kids for the price of one!  A major savings for us and yes - it definitely helps us be able to take in more movies at the theater instead of waiting for the rental to be available.

Hurry and sign up now!  The bonus movie ticket is only available for a limited time! 

It's a BABY EPIDEMIC!!!! - Don't Drink the WATER!

Suddenly all around me I have friends and family expecting babies.  It seems that next Spring I will most likely be attending baby shower after baby shower!  I love newborns!  I love the smell and the squishy cheeks!  Nothing quite like a newborn baby to make you feel better.  (And occasionally want another but then they spit up on your new cashmere sweater or start screaming for mama, you are thankful once again you have just your 1, 2, 3 or half a dozen! ::snort::).

Babies are indeed blessings from God - but they can be very costly.  Every little bit helps, right?!!!  So today - I am throwing a BABY BASH!  I have browsed and searched and here before you - I have all of my favorite FREE Baby Items at your disposal to click and link up to.

A new one that I wish was around when I was preggers a few years ago is BabytoBee :

Summer months may be coming to a close - but if you are pregnant now or have a young baby - it's never too early to stock up on Summer Products - This Coppertone Water Babies Package is a great place to start:

Want a new "stuffie" for your baby or the one on the way?  Click below for a Twilight Turtle or Sleep Sheep:

Even if you plan on breastfeeding - it never hurts to have a sample or two of formula or savings coupons on hand "just in case".  Enfamil is the standard in formula:

Your baby won't always be so small.  Pampers Cruisers offer a great diaper for those creeper/crawler and finally walking/running stages:

And even for those days when you are frazzled and you just need a break...there is a Personalized Zoo Video you can pop in to entertain the wee child while you chill out with some chocolate and my personal fave - David Crowder Band:

So - if you have a young child or are expecting or even just planning a baby soon - check out all the links and get started stocking up on free stuff!  

Who DOESN'T like Ranch?

I haven't met one person yet who didn't like Ranch Dressing!  And so - today - in honor of ALL our Ranch loving friends - I present YOU - my FAVE Blogging Buddies with an exceptional coupon offer at coupons.com:

$2.00 off any Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals Bottled Dressing!




Click HERE or the picture below to "clip" yours!!!

Coupons from Colgate!!!

Who doesn't use toothpaste?  HOPEFULLY NOBODY!!!!  That would be just GROSS with a Capital GAG! 

::snort::

Here is a great deal from Colgate:::

Sign up for Colgate® SmileTalk® and gain access to over $8 in coupons, special offers, product previews and feedback opportunities. Join today! Membership is Free.

Click NOW and get started receiving great Coupons for Colgate Products!!!

FREE FOOD in the Mailbox Today!

See what I got in the mail today::

FREE FOOD IS ALWAYS WELCOME HERE!

A couple of weeks ago, I clicked on a link, filled in my name, email address & mailing address and today - I got a FREE bag of Cheetos Mighty Zingers in my mailbox.  WOOHOO!!!  (Can I mention too often how much I LOVE FREE food??)  They sent a snack size bag (retails for .99 cents) in the Ragin'Cajun & Tangy Ranch blend.  Can't wait to give these a try tomorrow at lunch!

So...in lieu of THIS free sample today - I am giving you some more links to try out to get yourself some other free items!  (I've already clicked & filled out to get mine!)

Free Dr. Pepper from Murphy USA Gas Station (located at Wal-mart/Sam's)

Free Sample of GasX Prevention

Free Shout Color Catcher Sample

Free Sample of Kashi

Click the links above and start getting FREE stuff in YOUR mailbox TOO!

My Latest AWARD!

Missy over at Life Ain't Always Beautiful awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award last week.  Thanks Missy!

I know there are rules about blogging awards.  I am suppose to tell some things about myself and then give the award to others.  I'm not sure how much I can say about myself or how many I can find to give it to - but I will make an effort!  :-)  

Share 7 Things About Yourself:

(1) I am a PK - Preacher's Kid.  I grew up in the home of a Southern Baptist Minister.  And I count myself truly blessed to have done so.  I as most people do, made plenty of mistakes and perhaps in some ways became the "typical" preacher's daughter who rebelled and probably embarrassed my parents a lot.  :-/  But I will always be thankful that my Mom & Dad loved me enough to raise me to love the Lord and follow HIS ways.  

(2)  I have worked in so many areas of the medical field that I can diagnose you, crack your back & tell you the best medication to fix your problems with the fewest side effects. 

(3) I feel terribly "adult" when my Mom calls me for advice for ^^ the above mentioned medical ailments.  

(4) I am blessed that although divorced from their dad now, I still have the privilege of being a part of each of my 5 former step children lives.  That is a blessing that I am forever grateful for.  God truly blessed me with 6 Amazing sons and 1 Beautiful  daughter - whether I gave birth to them or not.

(5)  I am currently addicted to my Beau's cousins home made Pear Honey.  YUMMO!  I have eaten more toast in the last month than I did probably the entire year prior!  

(6) I have never mowed a lawn.  I was rather spoiled as a kid and never had to - and since I have been a homeowner myself - I've always been privileged enough to have someone else able and willing to do it for me.  

(7)  I have 1 completed manuscript for a novel and one hidden blog that is actually a manuscript in the making. 

Pass this award on to 15 bloggers who you love, think are fantastic or have recently discovered.

(1) Frugal Free Gal 

(2) $30 a Week Grocery Challenge 

(3) Divorced Before 30 - this is a Blog that is "complete" but definitely worth the time to go back - start at the beginning and read through all of her posts.  She is an AWESOME writer! 

(4) Blue Cotton Memory 

(5) My Simple Everyday 

So...I didn't do 15 - I'm sorry - just don't have time to go through all my favorites - but you can definitely go look at my profile and look at the blogs I follow and find a TON more awesome blogs!  These are just some I have visited or discovered recently that I really enjoy.  

Thanks again Missy!!!  

How I got $98.27 in groceries & household goods for $50.59 Last Week!

I have ALWAYS been a fan of coupons - but recently have had the time to really dive in and start trying to do what you see on tv or hear about through your friends - Get hundreds of dollars in food and household items for pennies on the dollar.  One friend recently posted about getting over $200 in groceries for just $24!  I Wanted that TOO!!

Especially since I am now a temporary STAY AT HOME MOM who needs to pinch pennies in every way possible!

So, I got online, started looking, digging, reading blogs and how-to sites - and low and behold - HERE I AM!

I AM ONE OF THOSE SUPER SAVER MAMA'S!!!!!

Over to the side <<<<<<< You will find a section of "My Favorite Savers".  These links take you to fellow bloggers and websites where you can find other tips on coupons, sales and how to just what I have done this week.  Get a TON of stuff for FREE or practically FREE! I am adding new sites all the time.  Keep checking back & you will find another SUPER SAVER to add to YOUR list too. 

I have for sometime now been posting links to free samples, ways to make money easily while surfing the web (Swagbucks & Inbox Dollars are my two favorites!!!) and tons of links to FREE samples & coupons.  I know...it can get annoying...and some of my friends are like, "Really?  It's turned into one of THOSE blogs???"

Well, the thing is - with a few hours a week (not even that once you get started) - you TOO can save a TON of money and start paying back debt owed...saving for vacations...putting away money for Christmas...or like me...simply trying to survive on one income in a household that really needs 2.

Over the next several weeks and months even, I will share all my "tips" and how I personally have managed to save money - including a post with what I got for $50.59 and how...but today - start simple - Click HERE or click on the logo below and start at coupons.com.

Download the coupon toolbar...click and print coupons for items you use regularly or would like to try but are more expensive than normal...and start saving today.  Tomorrow - I will show you how to double, triple and even on occasion - quadruple those savings and take something...and get it for NOTHING!

Stay Tuned for a detailed list of what all I got for just $50.59 last week and how I plan to feed my family for 2 weeks on that alone!

Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World - 1st BookSneeze Review!

I recently received my first book from the Book Sneeze Program to review!!  I was so excited when I opened the mailbox and found it there.  Like Christmas in August!  :-)  Living with Confidence in A Chaotic World by David Jeremiah was my first choice.  And I was very pleased with my selection.

The book starts off out with a background of recent economical events and Signs of the End Times.  He listed 10 prophetic (scriptural) clues that show us the time is drawing near.  Then he gave 10 ways we can "Live with Confidence" in the midst of the fulfillment of prophecy of end times. Each Chapter Outlines a different aspect of how we can remain Confident and have Hope in Christ in the midst of these times.

We should Be Centered, Committed, Compassionate, Connected, Consistent, Calm, Certain and Confident in Christ in these turbulent times.

As a fan of Dr. Jeremiah's preaching and teaching, I was excited to get started on this book.  Although it is not what I would consider a devotional guide or "leisure" reading, I used it for both.  I made many notes of the scripture suggestions for each point and hope to put them into practice in my daily life.  His writing, as always, was smooth and easy to read.  I was able to finish the book over the course of a few evenings and thoroughly enjoyed seeing his take on our current economic, cultural and environmental stresses.

I would definitely recommend this book to others who are struggling with having hope for their future in the current state of our government, nations and economy.  As well as for those who want to do some independent study on how to capture and have more Confidence and Hope in Christ provision and protection for his believers

I was additionally very excited to be able to keep this book and share it with my Dad who is a BIG fan of Dr. David Jeremiahs!  It's headed to house now!

**I received this book as part of the Book Sneeze program in exchange for reading and writing a review.  All opinions here are my own. 

Wordless Wednesday & Thankful Thursday All In ONE!

Excuse the poor quality of photos taken with my horrible camera phone.  Lol.  But here are my Wordless Wednesday (almost) post & Thankful Thursday all in one! 

My "Boys"

::SWOON::

THANKFUL to have extra time right now to spend with my cute little Red Head! 

Do you Shop at the Gap? How about an extra 10% CASH BACK?!

For my friends who do a lot of shopping online - check out EBates below!  Not only do you earn cash back on all purchases through Ebates - but right now they are offering 10% CASH BACK ON GAP ORDERS Online!


 

Click Here

Save with coupons plus 10% Cash Back on Gap orders.


Great deal to tuck away a few more items for Christmas or even to finish up Back to School Fall/Winter shopping!  Check it out!

Today's Best FREE SAMPLE Finds!

These are the best FREE SAMPLES of the day! Check out the links below and get your "SAMPLE ON"!!!

Click HERE for free sample of Shampoo

Click HERE for free sample of Nasal Strips.

And for my fellow contact lens wearers - click HERE for a free sample of Multi Purpose Solution!

Keep looking!  There is free stuff EVERYWHERE!

Ever Heard of Groupon?

I use Groupon to get local deals/coupons for restaurants and spas and boutiques in my area.  I get an email a few times a week in my inbox with new deals.  LOVE IT!  Well - I found ANOTHER program very much like Groupon called KGB DEALS!

Click Here

 Get 50-90% Off Spas, Restaurants, Events & More In Your City!

Soon you too will be getting great deals in your local area from KGB!

And just in case you don't use Groupon yet - Click HERE now and get signed up for their promotions and emails to give you awesome discounts at local restaurants, spas and boutiques available ONLY through them!