Menu Planning and Freebie Hunt 6/27/13

This week's menu plan is cut short again because we are going on vacation... again!
I'm so happy it's summer and we can get fresh, clean food at the Farmer's Markets. And I always tell people about our local butcher Central Meats. Again, good, clean and fresh product. You can taste the difference.

Menu for June 30- July 4th

Sunday
Breakfast: waffles, fruit and eggs
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: French dip sandwiches, pasta salad, corn on the cob

Monday
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: egg salad and fruit
Dinner: crock pot chicken enchiladas

Tuesday
Breakfast: biscuits, eggs and hashbrowns
Lunch: chicken salad, fruit and cheese
Dinner: penne alfredo with pesto, salad and garlic bread

Wednesday
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: Euro lunch (cheese, fruit and crackers)
Dinner: pork stir fry with rice

Thursday (4th of July and our 4th wedding anniversary)
 Breakfast: eggs, hashbrowns, muffins and fruit
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: cheesy tuna bake

Grocery Sales @ Food Lion

Blueberries 2/ $4
Cantaloupe 2/ $3
Sunshine Crackers Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Ragu Pasta Sauce Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Velveeta Shells and Cheese 2/ $4
Navel Oranges 2/ 88 cents

Freebie Finds!

1 free roll of Scott toilet paper
Amla Legen Haircare Product Sample
Biore Deep Cleaning Pore Strip sample
Dentek Product sample
Sample bag of Chex Mix
Sample box of Lance Crackers

Giveaway entered:
Smashbox Cosmetics

Back from Vacation Meal Emergency!

The girls and I just got back from spending time in the Tennessee mountains. Wouldn't you know it, I was sick the entire time.

I am still sick.

So what is a wife and mom to when you've been gone, the fridge is almost empty, you're too sick to shop and everyone wants to eat? Well, I'll tell you what I do. I call on my culinary skills, go on a hunt for food in the kitchen and get to work!

My hunt led me to find a Hillshire Farms smoked sausage I bought buy 1 get 1 free a couple weeks ago. Also some broccoli that was not eaten while I was gone (Surprise!). And that baby food applesauce works just as well for those who chew.

Tonight the Stevens family will be enjoying sausages with steamed vegetables and applesauce!

Here's how I will prepare our sausage tonight:

Makes 4 Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 Hillshire Farms smoked sausage
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• Hot dog buns

Brown sausages about 6-8 minutes on each side.

     2. In the same pan, add onion, bell peppers and garlic and cook until slightly tender, about 5 minutes.

 

     3. Place sausage, peppers and onions mixture in buns

Rainbow Birthday Week

Last week was a terrific week for learning! For some reason we have been getting a lot of rain which is good for Rainbow Week. Unfortunately, we didn't see a rainbow but on the up side we averted tornadoes.

Here's what we did!

Books:

Rainbow Fish ABC's by Marcus Pfister
Rainbow Fish 123's by Marcus Pfister
and
It's My Birthday by Helen Oxenbury
Big Girls Go Potty by Marianne Richmond

DVD

Rainbow Fish:The Three Fishkateers
 We've also continued to add to our American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary with Baby Signing Time and Signing Time: Everyday Signs.

Craft

We made "rainbow rays" out of construction paper.

 Friday was Wear Your Wings Day at the VA Beach Aquarium so we put on our butterfly fairy wings and enjoyed 1/2 off admission.

What an amazing day!

We saw seals, tons of fish, sharks, snakes, sea turtles (my favorite there) and much, much more.

And speaking of butterflies, our 4th butterfly, Sadie emerged from her chrysalis and said hello to the world on Tuesday, June 11th...
My 40th birthday!
Isn't she beautiful?

This week we our theme is The Farm as we are packing up and taking this show on the road back to my mom's farm in Tennessee. Can't wait!

Easy Menu Planning this Week

MENU

This week is an easy menu planning week because the girls and I are going out on a girls only vacation!
I'm going to be a good wife and stock up on manly food stuffs for my husband and stepson. But They get to choose what they want to eat when. And I'm not going to give my husband a hard time for it. How awesome am I?

Sunday is Father's Day so we're doing some special things!
Breakfast: Homemade waffles, eggs, bacon, fruit
Lunch: picnic in the park (Weather permitting) fried chicken, potato salad, watermelon
Dinner: Steak, Corn on the cob, pasta salad and a special dessert

Monday
Breakfast: cereal, toast, fruit
Lunch: grilled cheese
Dinner: chicken caesar salad

Then I am on vacation!

Freebies

It's also not a good week for freebies.  I only order things or clip coupons for things that we would normally use. I don't go crazy over these things.

Recipe

Strawberry Brownie Sundae
I admit I cheated on this wonderfully delicious dessert but sometimes it has to be done. Especially when it's a last minute decision!
1 Betty Crocker Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
12 Large strawberries
Vanilla Ice Cream
1 cupcake pan

Prepare brownies as directed on box.
Cut strawberries into quarters.
Fill cupcake pan rounds 1/2way, add cut strawberries and fill the rest of the way.
Bake as directed on brownie box.
When done add one scoop of ice cream on top and finish with whole strawberry.
Enjoy!
Fill

 

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Here we are at another day of rest. We aren't going to church this morning since the girls have been sick all week. We have to go tonight to finish up our seminar to become members and I just don't think they would be able to make it through both.

So I suppose we are living our day of rest backwards today.

This morning my awesome husband made me a special birthday breakfast. I just love, love, love funfetti cake.and he made me funfetti crepes stuffed with strawberry jelly and cream cheese, mmmm!

                                                      A great way to start the day!

Our afternoon will consist of watching the kids play in the yard, gardening, napping and, of course, lunch.
I will be fighting the urge to do laundry because has really piled up since the girls got sick. Remember, thou shalt not do laundry on the day of rest! That's my rule.

I will, however, be getting our lessons and schedule ready for the coming week. Then we will all head to church, have dinner with the pastor and become official members of New Life Providence Church.

We hope everyone has a peaceful Sunday!

Freebie Hunt

Let me start out by saying a bit about freebies.

THEY ARE WONDERFUL!

I am a bit picky about what I order but you can get a lot of good things. A lot of the beauty products I get I use when travelling, make gift baskets with or donate. Food samples are awesome, especially coffee!

Sources I Use

Money Saving Mom  www.moneysavingmom.com
Womanfreebies.com  www.womanfreebies.com
Free Mania     www.freemania.net
Freeflys    www.freeflys.com

Make a List

A lot of times there will be lots of repeats so it's good to keep track what you have already requested. This saves precious time.

Make an E-mail Address

I also keep a separate e-mail account for this. No one wants all that SPAM and tons of e-mails from companies trying to get you to try their products mixed in with important personal and business e-mails.
I try to check my e-mail every 2- 3 days just in case there may be something I want that has a time limit to it.

Like the Page

 Another good trick for the limited time type of situation is to "Like" the Facebook page. This way you will see it, hopefully, as soon as it's available.

Rewards

Several restaurants and stores have rewards programs that will give you freebie and coupons. Some that I belong to are Big Lots, IHOP, Chili's, TGIFriday's and Outback Steakhouse.

Check out the freebies I signed up for today:

-Redbox free movie rental
- Centrum Flavor Bursts
- Always/ Tampax Sample Pack
- Redkin Diamond Oil

And things I get because it's my birthday this month! (So far)
-Outback Steakhouse- free dessert
-Red Robin- free burger
-McDonald's Nursery- $5 off $10 purchase
-Chili's- free brownie sundae
-Cinnabon- free mocha latta chill
- Coldstone Creamery- Buy 1 Get 1 creation
- Michael's Arts and Crafts- 20% off regular priced item
-Sephora- free mascara and highlighter pack
-Moe's Southwest Grill- free entree with purchase of a drink
- IHOP- free rooty tooty fresh and fruity breakfast
How awesome is that?

So now you see what you can do go try for yourself. What are you waiting for? GO!
And Like my Facebook to tell me how you love it!
www.facebook.com/homeisanart

This Week's Menu Plan

This weeks menu (beginning June 9th):

Sunday:
Breakfast - Eggs, bacon, grits and hashbrowns
Lunch- Spaghetti(made from leftovers from previous week)
Dinner- Pork chops, spiced apples and broccoli

Monday:
Breakfast- Cereal and toast
Lunch-Euro lunch (fruit, cheese, bread)
Dinner- Chef Salad and baked potato bar

Tuesday: MY BIRTHDAY!!!
Breakfast- Free IHOP breakfast
Lunch- whatever I want
Dinner- Free Red Robin burger and Coldstone!

Wednesday:
Breakfast- Eggs, toast, fruit
Lunch- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with banana smoothies
Dinner- Tortellini Alfredo

Thursday:
Breakfast- Cereal and fruit
Lunch- Egg salad and fruit salad
Dinner- Chicken quesadillas, beans and rice

Friday:
Breakfast- Muffins and fruit
Lunch- chicken salad and strawberry smoothies
Dinner- leftovers

Saturday:
Breakfast- Eggs, pancakes, fruit
Lunch: Leftover spaghetti
Dinner: Chicken Stir Fry

Items on Sale at Food Lion

-Kraft BBQ sauce Buy 1 get 1 free
- cherries $3.99 lb
- Avocado .99
-My Essentials Rice .77
- Corn on the cob 4/ $1
- Cucumbers 99 cents each
- Strawberries 3/ $5
- Betty Crocker Brownies Buy 1 Get 1
- Yogurt 5/ $3
- Beechnut baby food 10/ $5

Making Memories

Due to the holiday last week I again did not make any formal lesson plans for "school". Instead I decided to make it a week dedicated to making memories. My husband had 5 days off in a row so it was a fantastic way to take advantage of that quality time and just enjoy each other.

Sunday
Everyone, and I mean  everyone (Juliet, Haddie, Mark, Maddison, my husband Peter and myself) got up and had breakfast together. This hardly ever happens anymore but it was a very special morning. We were releasing our very first butterfly.
To see the

Monday
Memorial Day we had a cook out. My mom, my nephew Ryan, my Grandpa's sister Jewel and Maddison's fiance, Michael came. It was good times!

Tuesday
We went out to eat for breakfast. We used to go to Waffle House every Wednesday morning before dance class but in an effort to pinch our pennies for a while we cut back to once a month so we (the girls and I) could enjoy it with Peter.
We are regulars now and we love the friendly helpful staff!

Wednesday
It's time for Music Together! We have been doing music class for about 2 years now. Haddie loved it when she was a baby and now she and Juliet enjoy it together. We've made friends who have come out to playgroup playdates and we just have a lot of fun! Especially when Daddy comes.
Here's a link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Music-Together-of-Hampton-Roads/105716507237.
They have a 6 week summer session starting in July or you could just drop in for a demo!


Thursday
We were brave and we went to the beach. Little Island Park to be exact. We met our friends there for a couple hours and had a good time hanging out.
It was Juliet's first time at the beach and Haddie apparently did not remember ever going because she was scared of the waves this time.

Friday
 The fantastic 4 (Juliet, Haddie, Peter and I) enjoyed a wonderful dinner together at our favorite Mexican Restaurant, El Loro.
For a look at their delicious menu selection go to their website! http://www.elloro.net

Saturday
This was a very good day. Why? We had went through part 1 of becoming members of our church, New Life Providence. In doing so we put the girls through a big test... being without either one of us for several hours.
They bonded in a way I can't explain. The rest of the day they were stuck to each other like glue.
http://newlifeprovidencechurch.com/

They Rested

As I sit here this morning, drinking my coffee watching the girls play I have this strong feeling to write. So here's my impromptu writings about today, my day of rest.

So the people rested on the seventh day. Exodus 16:30

I'm sure when you think of rest you think of laying around watching a movie or actually sleeping. These things are good. But they are very scarce in my life in this season.

The rest I am writing about is a rest for the spirit.

My God has commanded that there be a day of rest. A day that you aren't going, going, going. Sit in His presence, let the dust settle, count your blessings, restore and rejuvenate. I know of people who are stretched so thin they hardly ever have time for the finer things... like friends. Sad.

So, how does one accomplish rest with a full schedule and so much left undone?

Well, I don't stop taking care of my babies and I still brush my teeth! But I don't do my normal "heavy lifting". Thou shalt not do laundry! Of course, if we need more cloth diapers those have to be done, but I try to plan for that.

Here is my simple plan for resting:

- Enjoy a hearty breakfast with my family. This starts our day (and week) on a positive note.

- Go to church to worship my savior, give thanks and build relationships with people of like minded faith. We are becoming members of our church next week!

-Take a nap!

- Spend quiet time to reflect and prepare for the week ahead.  I usually get my lesson plans ready & update my schedule.

- Spend quality time with family, especially my husband.

- Again, eat dinner together. Eating keeps us happy!

Today after church we'll be heading over to my Grandma's house to visit family. My husband will probably fall asleep on the couch at some point, and that's okay. It's his day of rest too!