Please Support Parents Rights!

Please take the time to check out this website. It is really important that as many people as possible join this campaign by signing their petition. ParentalRights.org brings together everyone who agrees that the vital role of parents in the lives of children should not be undermined by government action or policy. I'm standing with them and you should too! http://www.parentalrights.org

This Weeks Deals

These are my "deal" purchases for this week:

Walgreens: WAL-ZAR 24 hour Allergy Relief: $3.99-$3.99 rebate=FREE
Jane Be Pure Mineral Blush: $4.99-$4.99 rebate=FREE
Colgate 360 clean Toothbrush: $3.99-$3.99 rebate-$0.75 manf coupon=FREE with Overage!
Aquafresh Toothpaste: $3.49-$3.49 rebate-$1.50 manf coupon=FREE with Overage!
Tums Quik Pak: $4.49-$4.49 rebate=FREE
PEPSI 12 packs (4): 4/$11-3 rewards=4/$8-4/$2 manf coupons (these were from the Superbowl promo)=FREE
DONT FORGET THIS WEDNESDAY! Walgreens will fill one ink cartridge for FREE with coupon in their ad.

Rite Aid: Neutrogena Shampoo: $6.00-$6.00 rebate=FREE
Real Solutions Shampoo: $4.50-$4.50=FREE
Colgate 360 Toothbrush: $3.99-$2.00 rebate-$1.00 manf coupon=$0.99

Kroger: There are so many good sales this week! I saved 74% on my total grocery order from sales, coupons, and double reward coupons!

It's Between You and God

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.If you find serenity and happiness they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa
Thanks goes to Chanin at http://www.more-of-him.blogspot.com/ for this post. If you haven't visited her blog, please do.

This Weeks Deals

This is my purchase list of FREE/Great Sale Items Purchased this week:

Rite Aid: Bic Soleil Razor:$6.00-$4.00 rebate-$2.00 manf coupon=FREE
Salon Selectives Shampoo: $3.49-$3.49 rebate=FREE
Hershey's Bliss Chocolate: $2.99-$2.99 rebate=FREE
Skin Appetit Nutri-Cleanser:$9.99-$9.99 rebate=FREE

Walgreens: Schick Trimmer Razor: $8.99-$8.99 manf rebate=FREE
Schick Titanium Razor: $9.99-$9.99 manf rebate=FREE

Kroger: Colgate Toothbrush: $1.00-$0.75 manf coupon=$0.25

CVS: Hershey's Pot Of Gold Premium: $4.99 plus $4.99 ECBs back=FREE

2-Listerine Smart Rinse for Kids: $2.99-$1.00 manf coupon plus $2.99 ECBs back=FREE with $1.00 overage on each bottle!

2-Mars 8pk Fun Size: $1.29 each-$1.00 manf coupon plus $1.00 ECB back=$0.29 each

Spiritual Pride

In recent conversations with friends I have found myself dwelling on others faults instead of my own. Knowing well this is wrong. The Lord reminded me this evening of my arrogance and my need to be humble and seek him. I was also reminded that I have not arrived; I am in the process.

The following was taken from http://www.moreofhim.net/.

"Proud people tend to speak of other's sins, the miserable delusion of hypocrites, the deadness of some saints with bitterness, or the opposition to holiness of many believers. Pure Christian humility, however, is silent about the sins of others, or speaks of them with grief and pity. The spiritually proud person finds fault with other saints for their lack of progress in grace, while the humble Christian sees so much evil in his own heart, and is so concerned about it, that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts. He complains most of himself and his own spiritual coldness and readily hopes that most everybody has more love and thankfulness to God than he."

"One under the influence of spiritual pride is more apt to instruct others than to ask questions. Such a person naturally puts on the airs of a master. The eminently humble Christian thinks he needs help from everybody, whereas the spiritually proud person thinks everybody needs his help. Christian humility, under a sense of others’ misery, entreats and beseeches, but spiritual pride commands and warns with authority."

-Jonathan Edwards- Spiritual Pride

This Weeks Deals

Here is a list of my "deal" purchases for this week:

Rite Aid: Schick Razor: $9.99-$9.99 manf. rebate=FREE

Walgreens: 2-Oral-B CrossAction Toothbrushes: 2@$4.49-$4.49 manf. coupon (B1G1)=FREE
Listerine Fluoride Kids Mouthrinse: $3.49-$3.49 rebate=FREE
Oust Candle Holder: $4.99-$2.00 manf. coupon-$2.00 rebate=$0.99

CVS: 2-Fructis Shampoo: Each: $2.99-$1.00 manf. coupon plus $2.00 ECB's=FREE
Venus Embrace Razor: $9.99-$4.00 manf. coupon plus $6.00 ECB's=FREE
2-Oral B Toothbrushes: Each: $4.99-$1.00 manf. coupon plus $4.99 ECB's=OVERAGE
2-Crest Pro Health Mouthwash: Each: $3.49 plus $3.49 ECB's=FREE
3-Advil PM: Each: $3.99-$2.00 manf coupon=$1.99 each, then I had a $5.00 off CVS coupon; so these ended up being almost FREE too.

It's Snowing!!!!!

For the first time in a long time, we are getting a lot of snow! They are predicting anywhere from 4 -12 inches! This is huge for Kentucky. Our boys are so excited! The snow storm did come at an inconvenient time. Its production time for both of the boys plays; one is tonight and the other tomorrow afternoon! So, we packed our bags, made a hotel reservation, and left our house which is about 30 miles west of the location for the play at 6:00am this morning before the snow started.

My husband and younger two boys stayed home this morning (Friday) to keep the fire going! They stocked the wood pile on the covered back porch, filled up our kerosene tank, stocked up on food, and rented movies. So they are prepared for whatever comes. The sleds, winter outer-coverings, and hot chocolate mix are out waiting for the right time. So, for now we are just praying for safety while traveling on these roads and enjoying all of this white stuff.

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend.

Homeschooling Being Challenged in California

The courts in CA are challenging parents’ rights to homeschool. You can quickly sign HSLDA’s petition at http://hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=4831

Please respond to this quickly, your state could be next. Please support homeschooling.

Financial Goals for 2008

This post is in response to the Financial Goals for 2008 call by http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

Our 2008 Financial Goals:

1. 1000.00 Emergency Fund (Finished)

2. To create a realistic budget. (Finished)

3. To track spending for an entire month. (We are writing each item down that we spend money on and will evaluate at the end of March)

4. Invest 8% of Tim's Income into his employers 401-K. His employer matches this with an additional 4%. (Finished/Ongoing/ we started this, we feel like with the difference in taxes and because we are already thirty we couldn't wait any longer)

5. To stay on our budget through the end of 2008 and re-evaluate changes at that time.

NEXT YEAR GOALS: will include prepaying our vehicle, student loans and then the house. (I know this isn't what Dave Ramsey suggests, however we feel like this is our best option with the difference in taxes and because our house and student loan debt is below 5.5% interest.)

Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year again, that I seem to dread. I actually love organizing and cleaning the house thoroughly each Spring and Fall, however it's finding the time that is required to complete the enormous task that haunts me.

I try to keep an updated cleaning journal of what needs to be done in each room weekly, monthly, and Fall/Spring cleanings. This helps me not to feel completely overwhelmed! I know what needs to be done, yet it still seems so hard to complete everything each year.

One room at a time is my method, which is probably not the most efficient way to go. I like feeling like the task is complete with a check in the box. I've looked at various cleaning schedules looking for that "perfect" one. Most seem to concentrate on one task at a time, such as cleaning all of the house windows & screens at one specific time.

By the way, don't be fooled into thinking my house is perfect. It is in NO way perfect. I seem to go from hectic to very clean, however I would love to just be in the middle. I do try and finish my Spring Cleaning list, because I have a family of four boys and live on a farm. During the winter months we use the fireplace/stove and this creates such a mess! The dust seems to collect so much faster and thicker. It seems like we track more in too. We have hardwood floors which helps, but they show everything!

So ladies, do you dread Spring cleaning or do you look forward to this task? How do you get everything done that needs to be done?

This Weeks Deals

Here is a list of what I purchased for this week:

Walgreens:
Venus Embrace Razor $9.99-$6 RR-$4 manf coupon= FREE
Garnier Nutr. Skin Renewal: $12.99-$12.99 rebate= FREE
Colgate Advanced White Toothpaste: $2.99-$2.99 rebate=FREE
2/$4 Olay 2-pk Bars of Soap: $4 -$4 RR=FREE
2/$4 IVORY 4-pk Bars of Soap: $4-$4= FREE

Rite Aid:
Venus Embrace Razor: $10-$6 rebate-$4 manf coupon=FREE
Excedrin 24 ct: $2-$2 manf. coupon=FREE

Kroger:
Pert Plus Shampoo/Conditioner: 2/$5-$1 manf coupon-$2.50 rebate=$0.75 per bottle
Johnson's Buddy Soaps: $0.99-$0.99 manf coupon=FREE (I purchased two of these)

CVS:
Colgate Advanced White Toothpaste: $2.99-$2.99 ECB's=FREE (I purchased 5-the limit)
Keri Lotion: $4-$4 ECB's=FREE

2008 Drama Camp

This week, March 3rd-8th, begins our 2008 Homeschool Drama Camp. As we gather last minute preparations for the upcoming camp; we are praying that the Lord will be with this ministry and with each child who is participating in the camp. There is so much that goes into this and we are very thankful to all of the volunteers and drama staff with the Academy of Arts that make this happen each year for our students.

As a homeschooling mother, drama camp is a week of hustling around to accomplish all that must be done while traveling to and fro to practice. I am certainly thankful that this only occurs once a year!

Our eldest son, Dylan is in the "older" play for middle-high school ages. This year Dylan is casted as Man 2 in the play, "April Morning" by Jim Potter. This is his first year in the older play, so he is quite excited with his part. Shane, the second oldest, is in the "younger" play for elementary aged children. This year's play is titled, "Family Camp," by Wendy Rivera. Shane will play one of the children without a speaking part. He loves being in the plays, however he doesn't like the parts with lines! He does love singing and participating with all of the other children.

Please join us in praying for God's blessings and direction throughout this week,for staff members, volunteers, safe travel, and good weather.

Walgreens March Easysaver Deals

These are the Best (FREE OR CLOSE) that I see!

FREE after rebate:
#2 Garnier Fructis Hair Stylers 2 to 8.5 oz
#3 Colgate Total Advanced 4 or 4.2 oz
#4 Thera Dent Oral Rinse 8 oz
#5 Listerine Smart Rinse 250 ml
#6 Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew
#7 Nature Made Softgels 60 to 100
#8 Yes to Carrots Body Butter rebate upto $9.99 (I purchased this for $9.99-$9.99 rebate=FREE this week)

Let me know if you see any I missed!

RITE AID March Monthly Rebates

Here are the best (FREE or close) ones for MARCH!

Valid all month!

#66 - Purchase Bic Soleil Razor or 4ct refill - $4.00 scr
#73 - Purchase Mach3 Disposable Razor - $3.00 scr
Free after man coupon first week of the month!
#76 - Purchase Venus Embrace Razor - $6.00 scr
Most likely free after man coupon for the first week!

Valid 3/16 - 3/22
#11 - Purchase Skin Appetit Skin Care - $9.99 scr
Most likely FREE this week!
#53 - Purchase Rite Aid Scented or Unscented Pantiliners 18-22 ct - $.99 scr
Most likely FREE this week!
#56 - Purchase Diabetic Tussin Mucus Relief 50ct - $6.99 scr
Most likely FREE this week!
#128 - Purchase Hershey's Bliss Dark or Milk Chocolate 9.6oz - $2.99 scr
Most likely FREE this week!

Valid 3/16 - 3/18
#65 - Purchase Salon Selectives Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler - $3.49 scr
Most likely FREE for the 3 days!

Valid 3/23 - 3/29
#12 - Purchase Zicam Allergy Relief .5oz, Extreme Congestion Relief or Intense Sinus Relief .5oz - $7.00 scr
Most likely FREE this week!
#13 - Purchase Sambucol Syrup 4oz or Lozenges 30ct - $7.00 scr
Most likely FREE this week!

CVS ECB Deals for March 2nd- March 8th

CVS ECB Deals for March 2nd-March 8th

$2 ECB'S Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Foundation or Blush - prices starting @ (11.79) - (limit 2)
Tylenol or Motrin IB <80> - (8.99) - (limit 1)
Bounce or Downy Lint roller or refil, Fabric Softner liquid 34 oz or Sheets 45-80 ct. - (2/$7.00) - (limit 1)
$2.99 ECB'S (FREE after ECB) Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste -Advanced Clean Whitening Paste or Advanced Fresh 4 oz. - (2.99) - (limit 5)
$4 ECB'S Keri Moisture Therapy Lotion 15oz or serum 4oz $4 - (limit 1)
$5 ECB'S Gillette Mach 3 Razors (7.99) - (limit 5)
$6 ECB'S Gillette Venus Embrace Razor - (9.99) - (limit 1)
$6Gillette Fusion Phenom - 9.99 - (limit 1)

Buy $$ Get $$

GET $2:
WYB $10 of New CoverGirl products CoverGirl TruBlend Makeup - (limit 1)
GET $5:
WYB $10 of All Garnier Nutritioniste - (prices start @ 5.99) - (limit 2)
WYB $20 of Neutrogena Skin Care - (limit 1)
WYB $10 of Any Tresemme product - (limit 5)
WYB $15 of John Frieda - (limit 1)
WYB $10 of these Febreze products (6.99) - (limit 1)
WYB $15 of any Duracell Batteries - (limit 1)
WYB $10 of Hershey's - (limit 1)
WYB $10 of these Swiffer products - (5.99) (limit 1)

GET $10:
WYB $20 of Novartis Pain Relief - (limit 1)
WYB $20 of Maalox, Gas-X, Ex-Lax, Benefiber or Perdiem - (limit 1)

FREE Schick Quattro Razor Sample

Fill out the form for one FREE Schick Quattro Razor Sample.

The form must be complete in order to participate. Limit one razor per person, household, address. While supplies last. Must be 16 years of age or older to receive a free sample.

MARCH MONTHLY DEALS for CVS

$2 ECB WYB 1 WellPatch Pain Relief Pad (2/4 Ct) (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB 1 Vagistat-1 or -3 (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB 2 T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Astringent (16 oz) (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Quit Nits (4.2 oz Prevent. Spray or Complete Lice Kit) (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Sudafed/Sudacare (Nasal decon 10-24, or shower 3ct) (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Tylenol PM 40-50 ct or simply sleep 48 ct (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Maximum Strength Scalpicin 1.5 oz (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 2 Snickers Marathon Protein Bar 2.82 Oz (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB 1 Playskool Cottony Cloths 240 Ct (Un/Scented) (limit 5)
$4.99 ECB WYB 1 Oral B Cross Action Pro Toothbrush (limit 2)
$3 ECB WYB 1 Snoreclipse Snoring Solution (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Pepcid AC Complete or MAX 50-90 ct (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Orajel Tooth Desensitizer (limit 5)
$5 ECB WYB 1 Old Spice Signature Eau de Toilette 1.7 oz (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB 1 6x8 Photo Book (limit 5)$1 ECB WYB 1 Mirolax Laxative 8.3 Oz (limit 5)
$2.99 ECB WYB 1 LypSyl Lypmoisturizer .3 or Lypradiance Honey berry .08 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Oust or Glade Scented Oil Candles (limit 5)
$4 ECB WYB 1 Nexcare Adv Callus Crm 4oz or skin crm/bdy lotn 8-12 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Novitra Cold Sore Relief 0.25 oz. (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB $5 Nivea 4 Men Aftrshv/oilcntrllotn/shavgl/facwsh 2.5-7 oz (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 MG217 Medicated Ointment for Psoriasis 3.9 oz (limit 5
)$5 ECB WYB 1 Nicorette 30 ct gum/Commit Lozenges 48 ct (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Juicy Drop Pop .92 oz (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Infants Mylicon Drops 1 oz (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Life Fitness External Patches 1-6 ct (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Lumene Body Aktiva (limit 5)
$10 ECB WYB 1 Conair Ion Shin Hetd Rollrs 20/Infinity Tourmlin Ionic dry (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 CVS Gel Insoles for Men or Women (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Clearblue Easy Digital Pregnancy Test 3 ct (limit 5)
$1.50 ECB WYB 1 DentaBurst Freshening Teeth Cleaners 12 Ct (limit 5)
$ ECB WYB 1 Anbesol Max gel .25-.33, max liquid .41 or Jr. .33 (limit 5)
$20 ECB WYB 1 Accu-Chek Multicliz Lancet Device Kit (limit 1)
$1.50 ECB WYB 1 Biotene Mouthwash 33.8, toothpaste 4.5 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Ayr Nasil Saline Gel, spray, mist 0.5-1.69 or rins 100 ct (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Aveeno Anti-itch cream, lotion 1-4 oz or eczema 6 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Any regular size Be Fine Skin Care (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Benadryl Allergy Liqd 4 oz, chewbl, kapseals, liqui 24 ct, strips, perfect measure spoon 10 ct (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Answer Pregnancy Test 1 ct (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Dove Bar 3.53-3.67 (limit 5)
$2.99 ECB WYB 1 CVS Brand Vitamin C 500 mg 110 ct (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 CVS Brand 2 pack power flash camera (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 OB/Glid Fls 27-109.4 yd, ob spr strnd 50 Pk 20 Thrdr 30 (limit 2)
$1 ECB WYB 1 CVS Brand 20 oz styling gel (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 CVS Brand 24 hr allergy relief 10 mg 60 or 90 ct (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 CVS Brand medicated pain pads 5 ct (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Dryer balls/stick n click or microfiber magic sponge (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB 1 Complete Multi-purpose 12 oz (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 2 Blistex lip protectant (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB 1 CloSys Antiseptic Oral Rinse 32 Oz (limit 1)
$2.99 ECB WYB 1 Colgate Total Advanced Whitening 4 oz (limit 5)
$10 ECB WYB 1 Freestyle Lite Blood Glucose Monitoring System (limit 2)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Gentl Natrls Bby Eczma crm/cradl cp or tething drps 1-4 (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Fleet Ready-To-Use Enema Twin pack 4.5 oz (limit 5)
$5 ECB WYB $15 Futuro Compression Hosiery (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 2 Glade Spray 9 oz (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB 1 Hylands Slep ad/lg crmp/rstfl leg/migran/stres relf (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB 1 Glade Wisp Flameless Candle .26 oz (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 1 Glad Candle 4 oz (limit 5)

Thanks Dr.Anonymity.