Family Portraits - Some of my Favorites

CVS trip

Well I had 10 ECB's that were going to expire today if I didn't use them.  I couldn't let that happen, that's like 10 free dollars.  

I bought

 Zantrex-3 energy shot 4.99 = get 4.99 ECB back = free

Mega Pack Huggies baby wipes = 7.99 = get 2 ECB back 

Total 12.98 plus tax

Minus 10 ECBs 

equals 2.98 plus tax out of pocket

Recieved 4.99+2 ECBs back = 6.99 to spend later

A loss of 3.01 but I purchased baby wipes which we always need.....

This weekend

I am going to be very busy this weekend..... and the only person to blame is myself...... haha

Friday night thru Saturday afternoon - Ladies Retreat with Oak Grove Baptist Church - my mom is going with me too.

Saturday night - My Birthday dinner with Family

Sunday Morning - Church

Sunday afternoon - Naps 

Sunday late afternoon - Pictures at Sears with the Stinson 5,  It has been over a year since we had a family portrait taken.

So I might not be on too much.  But hopefully will be refreshed!  

Christmas tips

Christmas is just around the corner.  I thought I would share some tips from this year and some I tried last year to save us some cash.  

This year I had been working on saving up our Disney Movie Rewards so that come Christmas I could get something big with reward points.  I bought some points on ebay because they are cheaper than buying the movie.  You can only use one code per movie per account.  But now that they have Blu-Ray out you can use those codes too for the same movie.  Copenhagen man and I decided we would get the boys a Cars Dvd/Tv with our points.  It was 3500 points.  I did it a little at a time thru the year so when it came time, I redeemed the points.  They shipped it straight to our house, no shipping cost, and it was here with in a week or so.  They are about 140 at walmart.  

Tip 1. Use Rewards Programs

Movies-   Last year I bought DVD's on ebay that were brand new in package.  It worked out well and I didn't have to pay full price even with shipping.  I'd sell some of our stuff on ebay and then use that money to buy new stuff for Christmas.   I'd better get started back on selling stuff on ebay.  

Tip 2 - Sell stuff on ebay and check out prices for things you want

Purchases - As your budget allows, buy toys or items when you see them on sell or first thing when they come out.  We bought Fireball some iron man toys when they came out in October with were around 10 dollars a piece - but now we can't find them.  WALLE is the new toy and we will probably grab some of those.  We also saw the new ELMO in October and decided not to buy it then---- wish we had.  We saw it for 49.99 at Wal Mart that day - and yesterday it was 99.99 -------Oh My!  So unless we find it around 49.99 Goodtime won't be getting the NEWEST elmo for Christmas.  But hey he's only 16 months, he won't know.  ; )  The cute thing about the new Elmo is he blows kisses just like Goodtime does.  

Tip 3 - Accumulate Purchases during the year 

Personalize -  I have an account with Artscow.com  

It is an online Digital Photo Prints, Photo Books and Custom Gifts store.  When you sign up they give you free stuff - alot of free stuff - and you can earn more free stuff by referring your friends and purchasing items.  Right now I have 25 items in my cart (which have been there for about two weeks, I'm glad they don't empty your cart).   My subtotal before my discount for my free stuff it $156.28 with my discount it will be ZERO.  Plus shipping - 73.75.  The other day I had like 15 items and it was 40 something for shipping.  Still 73.75 for 25 personalized items sounds like a great deal to me!

If you would like to sign up, it's free, please use this link ......   Artscow.com

Tip 4 - Look for discounts on websites 

I hope you enjoyed my post ---- if you did --- leave me some comments!  Thanks!

Menu Planning Monday

This is my second time doing Menu Planning Monday - Hosted by orgjunkie.com ----I find it's so much easier to already know what is going on for dinner!

Okay so last week - instead of Tex Mex Chicken - I made hamburgers and home made fries that night.  So we are having Tex Mex Chicken tonight -and it's so wonderful to already have it in the crock pot and the counters clean.  : )

Monday - Tex Mex Chicken

Tuesday - Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Wednesday -Creamy Pasta Primavera

Thursday - Glazed Pineapple Chops along with Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon and Cheese

Friday - Chicken and Biscuits

Saturday - MY BIRTHDAY - Go out to The Railhead Steak House --- : ) 

Sunday - Chicken Lo Mein 

Big Daddy's not sure about the menu this week - he said where is the chicken fried steak and Meatloaf -----  this week it's chicken - it was on sale at Kroger  and Pork - I'm sure he'll survive, or find extra work to keep him busy during dinner then fix a sandwich or nachos later.... haha!  

Thanks again to Kraftfoods.com -

Menu Planning Monday

Monday - Double Cheese Chili with Cornbread 

Tuesday - Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken with Broccoli 

Wednesday - Easy Italian Meat Loaf  with Mashpotatoes

Thursday -  Slow Cooker Tex Mex Chicken with Rice 

Friday - Steak and Potatoes

Thanks to KraftFoods.com for having such a wide array of recipes!

What's your menu for the week?

A few favorites

A few of my favorite pictures.........  I'll write more later.............