Legal Shoplifting

Pardon my play-on-words. :-) But it’s true that sometimes using coupons and scoring good deals makes one feel rather like a shoplifter... but in a good way.

Can I say that?

Anyhow, you all know I love a sweet deal as much as the next person, but when the items you purchase are paid to take end up being family favorites – expensive favorites – it just makes the feeling that much greater.

Hence my happy night last night. And with any luck and some coupons, perhaps you could get the same!

Giant Food Stores are currently (through Friday) running a promotion: buy $15 of select Kashi products and receive $5 off your next shopping order.

They also are offering their dollar doubler days.

Being the Kashi junky I am, I had printed multiple Kashi coupons here and here, in addition to having several that had been mailed to me and some found in previously purchased items.

Note: If you only print coupons online, and you have access to two home computers, you can print each coupon above twice and do a pretty sweet deal.

I rolled my deal, meaning I split all I bought into two transactions and used the money from the first to help pay for the second.

First Transaction
2 boxes of Kashi cereal ($3.29 each)
1 Barenaked Granola ($3.99)
1 box of TLC bars ($2.99)
2 Kashi to-go cups ($1 each)
6 Pillsbury Grands Jrs ($1 each) [*These currently have a catalina deal running... buy 6 get $4 back]

- Used 4 ($1) coupons that doubled = (-$8)
- Used 2 ($0.75) coupons on the biscuits = (-$1.50)
- Used a $10 Giant coupon from a deal I did last week (I also threw in a dozen eggs to the deal)

Paid $5.46 ... and got $9 back ($5 for the Kashi, $4 for the Grands)

Second Transaction
3 boxes of Kashi cereal ($3.29 each)
1 Barenaked Granola ($3.99)
1 box of TLC bars ($2.99)

- Used 4 ($1) coupons that doubled = (-$8)
- Used 1 ($1) coupon that didn’t double = (-$1)
- Used $5 dollars from the previous perchase

Paid $4.17 ... and got back $5

So for the Kashi deal and the Grands deal I technically paid $6.74 and got $9 back. So cool.

And that, my friends, made for a really great night. :-)

Ravioli Party

I love when old friends introduce you to new friends. And your new friends are friends with others who are your friends. A network of friends makes the world just a wee bit friendlier smaller.

Such is the case with my dear friend, Hannah.  We were introduced through a mutual friend. And it turns out we have many other mutual friends. Who knew?!

And who knew I could use the word “friend” so many times in one post?

Anyhow, Hannah is just about the most talented Italian cook I know. When I discovered her spaghetti sauce tasted better than mine (an amazing feat, in my prideful humble opinion), I knew it was time to get down to business. The business of learning all her Italian kitchen secrets. :-)

Hence the ravioli party was planned. Our occasion: Matt’s completion of the bar. And what a celebration it was!

Here’s a recipe for a party of your own:

1 batch of homemade genuine Italian raviolis

1 batch of red sauce (my own little concoction)

1 batch of lemon sauce (Hannah’s own little concoction. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G)

4 glasses of wine

4 friends

1 game of Bang!

For the ravioli, mix 2.5 cups of flour with 1 cup of boiling water. Let dough rest while you make the filling of your choice. Hannah can provide you some awesome suggestions. :-)

Roll out your dough. Add your fillings.

Be sure to crimp your edges!

Drop into a pot of salted boiling water ‘til raviolis rise and then for an additional 2 minutes. 

Remove and enjoy! Yum!

 

I love new friends.

Gettin’ Bigger All the Time

March 2010
Jadyn, 3.5 months

Of Poppins and Priorities

Since the beginning of the year, Morenna’s video of choice has been Mary Poppins.  Such an honor bestowed upon a movie means that it is watched dozens hundreds of times.

It was fun at first, bringing to mind memories of my own childhood pleasures surrounding the popular songs and lighthearted magic.

But I grew bored with the fact I could recite the script by memory. I had dishes to do, a floor to clean... and no one around was going to snap their fingers to complete it for me.

Somewhere around the 27th viewing *yawn*, I woke up and began to catch on to some iconic dimensions of the movie I had missed the 26 times before.

I’m slow, I know.

I sat there, suddenly aware of how greatly I was behaving like those in the movie.

Mrs. Banks was a valiant knight in the world of women’s rights; namely, their right to vote. To have a say. Fighting to have an impact in the world around her.

Yet she overlooked the greatest impact of all: motherhood. And it was slipping away from her.

Mr. Banks was a noteworthy, important man. His job defined him; he was a great investor.

Yet he didn’t invest in the right things. His “life ambitions go, with one fowl blow” and he realizes those ambitions were build on the sands of disillusionment.

What a perfect movie for a discontented, stressed out momma to watch.

It’s not about the daily chores; it’s about the time invested in the lives of my children. Motherhood is what I prayed for during those years through high school and college. The blessing was given to me... now what am I choosing to do with it?

One of the only blogs I take time to read is (In)Courage. Earlier this month a writer posted an article entitled, “In the Season of Rain, Pray for Rain.” It touched a disillusioned part of my heart and has drastically altered how I proceed in my day.

In the words of Zechariah, “Ask for rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain . . . .” (Zechariah 10:1)

Here’s the message, mommas. We’re the caretakers of little souls right now. It’s our season. And like all seasons, we know it only lasts for a short time before passing on. Remind yourself of this the next time a small being attaches themselves to your leg while dinner is burning, the dryer is buzzing and you can’t find a matching pair of shoes because someone smaller than you was reeking havoc in your closet this morning.

You’re in this season, so pray for this season. Pray for grace and peace and joy. And most of all, pray for wisdom to make a worthwhile, solid, investment. Won’t you join me?

And it can’t hurt to pray that someone like Mary Poppins arrives to snap her fingers and clean your house. :-)

What’s for Dinner

It’s good to be getting back to normal in our house. And to prove it’s true... here’s this week’s menu at a glance... already complete on a Monday morning. :-)

15. Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken, Bread, Veggie

16. Sloppy Joes, Fruit

17. Crepes, Fruit

18. Asian Chicken & Orzo Salad, Bread

19. Pizza & Salad

20. Spaghetti, Salad, Bread

21. Fajitas, Fruit—Morenna’s 2nd birthday party foods!

Warming Hearts

Jadyn at 12 weeks.

Innocent Love

I’m jealous of the sweet, innocent, bond between sisters.
At least I can capture the beauty on camera.

This was taken during one of our major February 2010 snowstorms.

It’s All About the Cheeks

I can’t get over Jadyn’s little chipmunk cheeks!

And as usual, her beloved “bink” isn’t far away.

Timesaving Spuds

For the last few months Matt has been studying for the bar. This studying meant I had more responsibility with the girls... which in turn meant little time for anything else. Like dinner.

I grew up in a German “meat ‘n potatoes” family. So naturally when I got married it was to a salad-loving, tofu-accepting Californian. And I was lost. What?! No potatoes at every meal?!

However, every now and then the urge strikes me to place a potato dish in the center of my table. But I dislike loath the effort it takes to create a serving of buttery white goodness and so I always resort to other quicker fixes like roasted or fried potatoes.

No longer.

One day the proverbial light bulb received the last little bit of brain current I had running through my sleep-deprived head (how's that for a dramatic sentence?) and a timesaving mashed spud process was born. Check it out!

1. Wrap washed potatoes (with the peel still on? YES! No peeling!) in waxed paper. Cook in a microwave until the consistency of a baked potato.

2. Meanwhile, place a bowl of butter in a sink filled with shallow hot tap water. Watch the butter melt. Check your email.

3. Set your handy-dandy food processor over said bowl with the medium grater.

4. Place hot potatoes into the mill and give them a quick mash with a spoon, such that the skins split.

5. Twirl your little mill handle - watch out for fogged glasses - color with your child... and viola! I love how the potatoes peel themselves. Oh yes!

6. Add a splash of buttermilk and some salt and pepper. Fluff with a fork. Serve!

7. Oh look... it’s been less than 10 minutes! Are you awesome or what?! Oh yes, you are.

Back in the Saddle Again

Friday my baby arrived back safe and sound after a week-long getaway to the wonderful world of HP. Seeing the FedEx box felt like Christmas all over again! So in honor of that delicious feeling, I bring you "a thousand words" with a bit of a Christmas flair. Can’t quite decide which of these photos is my favorite...

Whoo hoo, it's great to be back in the saddle again!

She's Comin' Home!

Word has it my baby is coming home later this week! I'm so anxious to resume my postings this weekend. :-) Stop by for a visit then...