Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day:) 

We didn't do anything special around here.  Since Michael was home today, he was a great help keeping the little one occupied while I attacked part of the living room and kitchen.  I am so excited with the progress I made today:)  Pictures coming soon.

While I was making dinner, I quickly mixed up a lemon cake and popped it in the oven.  I made one square cake and one round cake.  I wish I would have taken pictures of the cakes before.  Once the cakes were cooked and fully cooled, I removed them from their pans.  I placed the square cake on a piece of wax paper and turned it in the shape of a diamond.  I then cut the round cake in half and carefully placed them on each side of the diamond- making a heart shape- awww.  I then frosted the cake and it looked something like this:

I then let the boys dig in and I must say it was quite tasty:)

Did you do anything special for Valentine's Day?

January 2013 Goals Update

Wow- is it really the middle of February already?  Yikes- where is this month going?

I realized I never updated our 2013 goals for the month of January.  So, here you go:

Here are our 2013 Goals: (in no particular order)

1) To not eat out or at least to not pay out of pocket, with the exception of tips. If we want to treat the family to a meal out, we will make sure we have a gift card to cover all of us.~ Did awesome with this:)

2) Pay off 2 credit cards~ Making incredible progress with this goal and should have 2 credit cards paid off by March- yay!!

3) Not to use any of our credit cards for 2013. To pay cash for everything.~ Still doing great with this goal

4) To lower our grocery budget. Our current grocery budget is $300 month for our family of 6. Our goal is to lower that amount and to save the remainder. ~ We did great with this goal and spent $256 in January.

5) To create a monthly meal plan for our family, to use leftovers more efficiently and to make use of everything in our pantry and freezer.~ Doing great with this goal

6) Unclutter the house and become more organized:)~ So proud- we are making great progress in our living room and kitchen

7) Lose weight- I need to get motivated to lose this baby weight- my goal is to lose 20 lbs this year.~ Still going to the gym and walking on the treadmill.  I haven't lost any pounds yet but have lost 2 inches from my waist- I will take it:)

8) Morning devotions, prayer time and more bible reading~ Doing great with this goal

9) Monthly date night with hubby- whether we go out or stay at home, pop popcorn and rent a movie~ Didn't do any type of date night with hubby in January

10) To spend quality family time together. With everyones schedule and us running all over creation, I would love to spend more quality time together- no tv- us playing games, talking, enjoying each others company. I think we are going to claim Saturday's as family fun day:)~ We had a great family outing- you can read all about it here.

11) Not to use our dryer to save on electricity and lower our electricity bill~ Doing great with this- electric bill lowered by $5 from cycle.

12) To make a better effort to blog more regularly and to make a blogging schedule~Need to get better organized and actually make a blogging schedule and keep up with it.

13) To make much needed house repairs~ Counter installation coming soon:)

14) To get rid of the car just sitting in our driveway (hopefully we can sell it and make a little something) and being used as storage.~ Still working of this

15) To do 1 project a month and blog about it~ We made homemade taco seasoning and dry onion soup mix

How did you do with your goals for January?

My Decluttering Goal for the week of 02/11/2013

I feel so much better this morning after an OK night's rest.  A certain 3 yr old came and woke me up to tell me he had to go potty at 4am.  Then he climbed in my bed and went right back to sleep.  He is a toss and turn as well as kicking and stretching out kind of sleeper.  So, between daddy and little Michael, mommy gets pushed out of the bed sometimes.

But I do have some great news:)  The guy coming out to replace our counter, has an opening- yea!!!!  This Saturday.  OK, kind of short notice but we will take it.  I cannot wait to see my kitchen with my fabulous shiny new counters:)

The last 2 weeks, we have been working on the Living Room and the Kitchen.  Due to the counter installation, instead of jumping into a new room, we are going to stay right here and do a few things that need to get done before we can install the new counter.  If you don't have any major projects to accomplish and want to dive right on into decluttering a new room this week- go ahead and start swimming:)

Here are our decluttering goals for this week:

1)  Clean my computer desk- not sure why I keep ignoring this space- oops:)

2)  Rip out floor in cabinet under sink

3)  Paint wall in cabinet

4)  Clean kitchen counters

5)  Go through medicine cabinet

6)  Go through lower cabinets

7)  Pull out stove and clean behind stove

8)  Sweep and mop kitchen floor

If you are in need of a declutter challenge in your home- feel free to hop on in and join me in my journey to get our house uncluttered, cleaned and company ready. If you have a room in your house you want to get under control~make a plan to get it done this week. Make a list of what you need to accomplish for that 1 room. Use what available times and days you have to get the list of your projects done. I will update later this week and show you the progress we have made in our kitchen and hopefully our brand new counters:)

My Shopping Day~ 02/11/2013

After a fun filled morning full of completing s homework assignment, missing the bus, getting our taxes done and a not so fun headache, we finally made it to the store to do our grocery shopping.  Luckily, this week was a light shopping week.

Here are the details from our shopping trip:

Rite Aid
$2.99- Starburst Valentine Classroom candy kit
$3.50- Purex laundry detergent
$3.50- Purex laundry detergent
$9.99
-3.50- Free Purex laundry detergent cpn
-2.00 UP Reward
$4.92- After tax and got back $4 UP Rewards

Dollar Tree
$2.00- (2) pkgs Toilet paper
$1.00- Brown paper to wrap Nathan's Valentine box for school
$3.15- Total after tax

Walmart
$10.40- (4) gallons skim milk
$1.96- Frozen peas
$2.32- Lunchmeat
$1.88- Spaghetti sauce
$0.94- WW Spaghetti
$0.50- Onion
$0.50- Chili powder
$3.70- Tuna fish
$1.76- Hamburger buns
$1.21- Bananas
$25.80- Total after tax

Sam's Club
$23.94- Dog Food
$4.49- Sugar
$6.04- Apples
$11.98- Decaf coffee
$48.21- Total after tax

This shopping trip has been added to our February Monthly Spending post, where I keep track of what we spend for the month of February.

Menu Plan for the week of 02/11/2013

Whew~ today was a very busy day.  This is how my day went:

Had to get up early and get going~ we were getting our taxes done.  The lady who does our taxes is 1 & 1/2 hours away.  I got up and got ready, got Nathan up, dressed, fed, lunch packed and ready for school only to realize that his moon tracker experiment was due today and wasn't finished all the way.  We only missed 3 days.  So, I had to look them up real quickly.  Thanks to the clouds, we have not been able to see the moon at all this past week and have had to use the weather channel to see what moon phase we are in.  In doing all this, Nathan misses his bus.  We take him to school making us leaving later than we had hoped.  We arrive at Linda's to have our taxes done.  Done:)  We normally don't get our taxes done this early but we have some plans for our refund and it involves a possible house:)  Will explain later.  We then leave and go grocery shopping.  We get home, put our groceries away and eat a light lunch.  Little one doesn't want to take a nap and finally passes out right about the time Nathan and Chris get home from school.  So, no hope for me to lay down.  Wow- look at the time- time to make dinner.  Now, I cannot figure out where in the world this headache has come from.  Time to blog our menu plan, try to get little one to bed and hopefully get a nice peaceful full night's rest:)

Here is our menu plan for this week:

Breakfast
Baked Oatmeal with apples X2
Oatmeal with raisins X2
Homemade Cinnamon Buns for Valentine's Day
Cereal- thanks to Lynn
Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Lunch
Sandwich, popcorn and banana

Dinner
Beef Stew
Shredded BBQ Chicken with potato wedges and fruit
Taco bean rice with green beans
Chocolate Chip pancakes with fruit
Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Tuna Casserole with peas
Spaghetti with homemade rolls and peas

Snacks and desserts
Homemade hot chocolate
Homemade PB Fudge
Apple slices with PB
Carrots

What kind of yummy treats do you have planned this week for you and your family?  Off to bed- see you tomorrow.  Have a blessed night:)

Rite Aid deals for the week of 02/10/2013

**Please remember that Rite Aid allows you to use 1 manufacturer cpn and 1 Rite Aid cpn and 1 Rite Aid Valuable cpn together on 1 item:) ** 

Click here to view Rite Aid's coupon policy.

Ricola, Chap Stick, Luden's, Sucrets, Carmex. LypSyl or Ocean Nasal Spray- $3/2 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 4
$1/2 Ricola cpn- 01/06 SS
$1/2 Chap Stick cpn- 01/27 RP
$1/2 Ludens cpn- 01/13 SS
$1 Sucrets cpn- 11/18 SS
$0.75 Carmex moisturizer plus cpn- 12/02 SS
$0.55 Carmex lip cpn- 12/02 SS
$0.50 LypSyl cpn- 01/27 SS

Colgate Max toothpaste- $3.50 and get $3 UP Reward- Limit 4
$0.35 Colgate toothpaste cpn- 02/10 SS
$0.50 Colgate toothpaste cpn- 02/03 SS

General Mills ceral or Nature's Valley bars 6pk- $2.88 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2
$1/3 General Mills cereal cpn- 02/03 SS
$1/2 General Mills Chex, Fiber One, Total, Wheaties, Oatmeal Crisp, Honey Nut Clusters, Raisin Nut Bran or Basic 4 cpn- 01/27 SS
$0.50 General Mills Cheerios cpn- 01/27 SS
$1/3 General Mills Big G cereal cpn- 01/06 SS
$0.50/2 Nature Valley granola bars, granola thins, Fiber One bars or brownies cpn- 01/27 SS
$0.50/2 Nature Valley Granola bars or thins cpn- 01/06 SS

Clorox Bleach, Xtra Laundry or Nice 'n Fluffy fabric softener- $1.97

Buy $10 of Cover Girl cosmetics and get $3 UP Reward- Limit 2
$3/2 Cover Girl cpn- 01/27 P&G
$1 Cover Girl cpn- 01/27 P&G
$1 Cover Girl lip perfection jumbo gloss cpn- 01/27 P&G

Tresemme or Dove hair care- $7/2 and get $2 UP Reward- Limit 2
Buy 1 Tresemme shampoo or conditioner and get 1 Free cpn- 01/27 RP

Got 2B hair care- $3.99
$2 Got 2B cpn- 02/10 RP

Buy $15 of Olia, Nutrisse or Fructis and get $5 UP Reward- Limit 3
$2 Garnier Nutrisse color cpn- 2/03 RP
$2 Garnier Nutrisse color foam cpn- 01/13 RP
$1 Garnier Fructis hair cpn- 02/03 RP
$1 Garnier Fructis hair cpn- 01/13 RP

Triaminic cough- $5.99 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2
$3/2 Triaminic cpn- 02/10 SS
$1 Triaminic cpn- 02/10 SS
$3/2 Triaminic cpn- 12/09 SS
$1 Triaminic cpn- 12/09 SS

Zyrtec 5ct- $5.99 and get $5 UP Reward- Limit 1

Slim Fast shakes or Multi pack 200 Calorie meal bars- $10/2 and get $3 UP Reward- Limit 2
$1 Slim Fast shakes cpn- 01/27 RP
$1 Slim Fast bar cpn- 01/27 RP

Buy Playtex fresh & sexy wipes and get $4 Up Reward- Limit 2
$1 Playtex fresh & sexy wipes cpn- 02/10 SS

Right Guard or Dry Idea- $2.99 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2

Speed Stick- $2.49 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 4
$1 Speed Stick Power cpn- 02/03 SS
$0.50 Speed Stick cpn- 02/03 SS

Select Gum flossers and Interdental products, Star Wars or Crayola Manual toothbrushes- $5/2 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2

Zantac- $16.99 and get $3 UP Reward- Limit 2
$5 Zantac 50ct+ cpn- 02/10 SS
$2 Zantac 24ct+ cpn- 02/10 SS

Aleve or Bayer- $8.99 and get $2 UP Reward- Limit 4
$2 Aleve D cpn- 01/06 SS
$1 Aleve cpn-01/06 SS
$3/2 Bayer 120ct+ cpn- 01/27 SS
$1 Bayer 20ct+ cpn- 01/27 SS
$1 Bayer 81mg or 325mg 20ct+ cpn- 01/06 SS
$1 Bayer 325mg or 500mjg cpn- 01/06 SS

Playtex gentle glide ot sport tampons- $3.99 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2
$1 Playtex gentle glide or sport tampons cpn- 01/06 SS

Hershey's, Reese's, Nestle Valentine bags or M&M's Valentine's bags- $2.99 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 4

Skittles, Starburst, Airheads, Nestle Crunch or Wonka Classroom kits- $2.99 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 4
.
Hershey's Pot of Gold- $4.99 and get $2 UP Reward- Limit 4

Whitmans Sampler- $5.99 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 4

Spongebob, Hello Kitty, Phineas & Ferb, Princess, Scooby Doo or Spiderman classroom kits- $5/2 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 4

Purex detergent or fabric softener- $7/2 and get $3 UP Reward- Limit 2

Nestle Pure Life bottle water- $3.99 and get $1 UP Reward-Limit 2

Nabisco cookies, Pepperidge farm cookies or Welch's grape juice- $6/2 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 3
$1/3 Nabisco cookies cpn- 01/27 RP
$0.75/2 Nabisco cookies cpn- 01/06 RP
$0.75/2 Pepperidge Farms cpn- 02/10 SS
$0.75 Welch's 100% juice cpn- 01/27 RP

Kotex- $6/2 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2
$1.50/2 Kotex Natural Balance cpn- 01/13 SS

Colgate 360 Manual toothbrush- $2.99 and get $2 UP Reward- Limit 4

Scope or Fixodent- $4.19 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2
$1 Scope cpn- 02/10 RP

GE CFL light bulbs- $3.99
$3 in ad cpn

Monster energy drink- $4.98/3 and get $1 UP Reward- Limit 2

Crunch 'N Munch, Orville Redenbacher popcorn 3pk, Poppycock or Riceworks- $5/2 and get $1 UP Reward-Limit 3
$0.75 Orville Redenbacher popcorn 3pk+ cpn- 01/20 SS

Old Spice fresh, Red Zone or body spray, Gillette deodorant or body wash, Old Spice body wash, Secret deodorant or body spray- $8/2 and get $2 UP Reward- Limit 2
$1/2 Old Spice cpn- 01/27 P&G
$1/2 Gillette deodorant or body wash cpn- 01/27 P&G
$1 Secret Outlast, Scent Expressions or body spray cpn- 01/27 P&G

**This is not the entire Rite Aid UP Rewards or sale items- these are some of the great deals I spotted in the upcoming Rite Aid ad.**

Walgreens deals for the week of 02/10/2013

Things to keep in mind when shopping at Walgreens:
1) You must have as many items as manufactur's coupons
2) Register Rewards (RR) are considered manufactur's coupons
3) You are allowed 1 Manufactur's coupon and 1 store coupon per item
4) Cannot use RR printed from item to pay for same item and get RR's again~
For example- If you were to purchase Colgate for $3 and get $3 RR, if you purchase the Colgate again and use the RR's earned from the 1st Colgate purchase you will not earn the RR's again

Walgreens has rolled out a new program called Balance Rewards. You earn points you can later redeem. Click here to read more about this new program.

Sunny Smile paper products- $5/10 with in ad cpn- Limit 10

Progresso- $5/4 with in ad cpn- Limit 4 and get 1000 points
$0.50/2 Progresso cpn- 01/20 SS
$0.25 Progresso light cpn- 01/20 SS
$0.50/2 Progresso cpn- 01/06 SS
$0.25 Progresso light cpn- 01/06 SS

Russell Stover Valetine heart- $0.39 with in ad cpn- Limit 3

Nice Sugar or Flour- $2.19 with in ad cpn- Limit 3

Nice Syrup or Quaker Oats minute oats- $3/2- Buy 2 and get 500 points

Glade candle or scented refill- $2.99- Buy 3 and get 2000 points
$1 Glade scented oil candle or 2 refills cpn- 02/10 SS
$1.50/2 Glade jar candle cpn- 02/10 SS

Finish dishwasher products- $7/2- Buy 2 and get 1000 points
$1.25 Finish Quantum Powerball cpn- 02/10 SS
$1 Finish dishwasher cleaner cpn- 01/06 SS
$0.75 Finish Jet Dry or Turbo dry cpn- 01/06 SS

Got 2B Stylers- $3.99
$2 Got 2B cpn- 02/10 RP

Right Guard or Dry Idea- Buy 1 get 1 Free

Revlon ColorSilk or Luminista- $6/2 with in ad cpn- Limit 4
$1 Revlon hair color cpn- 01/27 SS
$1/2 Revlon hair color cpn- 01/20 SS

Mitchum- $6/2

Schick Hyrdo Silk Womens disposable razors- $9.99 and get 4000 points
$4 Schick Hydro 5 or Silk disposable razor cpn- 02/10 SS

Softsoap bodywash- $2.99 and get 500 points

Tresemme- $10/3- Buy 2 and get 1000 points
Buy 1 Tresemme shampoo or conditioner and get 1 Free cpn- 01/27 RP

Almay Intense i-Color eye cosmetics- $6.99 and get $4 RR
$1 Almay cosmetic cpn- 02/03 SS
$2 Almay cosmetic cpn- 01/20 SS

Right Guard or Tone bodywash or Jergens bar- $2.99

Scope mouthwash- $2.99
$1 Scope cpn- 02/10 RP

Colgate 2in1, Total or Sensitive- $2.99
$0.35 Colgate toothpaste cpn- 02/10 SS
$0.50 Colgate toothpaste cpn- 02/03 SS

Spend $5 on Colgate Total, 360, Clean, Max, Fresh or White toothbrush and get 3000 points

Zantac- $17.99
$3 Walgreens store cpn
$5 Zantac 50ct+ cpn- 02/10 SS
$2 Zantac 24ct+ cpn- 02/10 SS

Robitussin or Dimetapp Cold, Cough, Allergy or Congestion- $5- Spend $10 and get 2000 points
$1 Dimetapp, Robitussin, Advil Congestion or Allergy cpn- 01/27 RP
$1 Dimetapp childrens cpn- 01/06 RP
$1 Dimetapp childrens cpn- 12/09 RP
$1 Robitussin cpn- 02/10 RP
$1 Robitussin cpn- 01/06 RP

Triaminic cold & cough- $10/2- Buy 2 and get 1000 points
$3/2 Triaminic cpn- 02/10 SS
$1 Triaminic cpn- 02/10 SS
$3/2 Triaminic cpn- 12/09 SS
$1 Triaminic cpn- 12/09 SS

Chloraseptic warming spray- $3.99 and get $3 RR
$1 Chloraseptic cpn- 01/06 SS

Advil congestion or Allergy & Congestion- $5
$3 Advil cpn- 02/10 RP
$1 Dimetapp, Robitussin, Advil Congestion or Allergy cpn- 01/27 RP
$1 Advil congestion, allergy, cold & sinus cpn- 12/09 RP

Halls- $0.99
$1/2 Halls cpn- 02/03 SS

Dawn- $0.99 with in ad cpn- Limit 3
$0.50 Dawn Hand Renewal, Power Clean, Bleach Alternative, or Oxi cpn- 01/27 P&G

Wrigleys, Extra or Trident- $2/3 with in ad cpn- Limit 6- Buy 2 and get 250 points

**This is not the entire Walgreens Register Rewards (RR) or Balance Reward Points sale items- these are some of the great deals I spotted in the upcoming Walgreens ad.**