494 Days Later...

Emma learned how to do this: 

And our water bill will never be the same.

Hand-Me-Downs and Stir Fry...

What's better than finding a great deal at a consignment store or garage sale for kids clothes? Anything free of course! We are blessed to get lots of clothes as gifts for Emma but we also got some GREAT hand-me-downs from our dear friend Stacy.  Emma has finally grown into most of them and has already enjoyed the dress below so much.  (Incidentally, even better than Stacy's hand-me-downs is all of her FANTASTIC advice and fun fellowship). 

Thank you, thank you, thank you Stacy!

In other news, we tried a new chicken stir-fry for dinner tonight.  (You can find the recipe on my new favorite blog here.) All the ingredients were NOT on sale this week.  In fact, I paid full price (gag) for the frozen veggies, but I did get them at Walmart (i.e. less $$).  BUT the stir fry sauce had a coupon on it for $1 off, so the entire meal (which will feed all of us at least one more time besides dinner tonight) was $7.57!

(Note: Toddlers, or at least Emma, do not enjoy edamame. More for me!)

Happy Easter

What a blessed and merciful holiday.  

And...it was Emma's second Easter...

Holy Week #2

A dear (and wisdom filled) friend forwarded these words by singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson earlier this week.  They are so incredible, I decided to post them on this "long quiet Saturday." Today, may we all find time to be quiet and prepare ourselves for the most amazing celebration of life we share on Easter and to pray for faithfulness as we await His return.

He came back.

After that brutal Friday, and that long, quiet Saturday, he came back.

And that one intake of breath in the tomb changes everything. It changes the very reason I drew breath today and the way I move about in this world because I believe he’s coming back again. The world has gone on for more than two millennia since Jesus’ feet tread the earth he made. What would they have said back then if someone had told them that some two thousand years later we’d still be waiting? They would’ve thought back to that long Saturday and said, “Two thousand years will seem like a breath to you when you finally lay your crown at his feet. We don’t even remember what we were doing on that Saturday, but let me tell you about Sunday morning. Now that was something.”

These many years of waiting will only be a sentence in the story. This long day will come to an end, and I believe it will end in glory, when we will shine like suns and stride the green hills with those we love and the One who loves. We will look with our new eyes and speak with our new tongues and turn to each other and say, “Do you remember the waiting? The long years, the bitter pain, the gnawing doubt, the relentless ache?” And like Mary at the tomb, we will say: “I remember only the light, and the voice calling my name, and the overwhelming joy that the waiting was finally over.”

The stone will be rolled away for each of us.

May we wait with faithful hearts.

–AP

Good Friday

J. Crew

I guess every momma feels like their daughter should have an Easter dress.  As it relates to "Easter attire" my focus last year and so far this year has been entirely centered on what Emma will wear.  Well, like every good Mom, my Mom asked what she was going to get for me to wear for Easter!  I thought I had outgrown the whole "Easter dress" thing, but I have to admit, that it is pretty stinking nice for her to remember me, when so much of the focus these days is on Emma (and rightfully so, of course).  

Anyways, I started combing the internet for things to wear at this late date and of course for any  deals since neither of us can afford full price these days.  I was THRILLED to learn that there are blogs for clothing stores sales and deals similar to blogs for grocery and household items.  Forgive me if I'm late in finding this out--but I just wanted to share. 

So far my favorite blog is www.jcrewaficionado.blogspot.com.  Check it out when you have time!

This Week at Publix, et. al,

After a few weeks of not posting about our deals, I thought I'd give an update from my most recent shopping trip.  We've had to alter our shopping and meals just a bit since my Mom is staying with us and she has some special dietary needs.  Regardless, below is what I got this week:

Total OOP: $55.22

Total Savings: $48.21

So, about an 80% savings (based on publix prices, of course).  I'm also planning to go to CVS this week and get cokes and razors.  I'm estimating that out of pocket I spend $4.99 (plus tax) for 3 12 packs of coke and 2 Schick Intuition razors.  Plus, I should get back 3ECBs (Extra Care Bucks).  We'll see how it goes!

Over the past few weeks I've heard a few comments like, "You seem to save a lot, but what do you actually eat for meals?" Well, not to copy too much all the other savings blogs that I read, but I've listed our dinner menu for the week below (I'm still not good enough to have all our lunches pre-planned--it's usually just sandwiches or leftovers...)  All of these ingredients I either have or bought this week, so hopefully, I don't have to go back to the store again! :)

Monday: Beef Stroganoff, Green Beans and Strawberries

Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas with Mexican Broccoli Brown Rice

Wednesday: Bottom Round Roast with potatoes, carrots and green beans. Pear slices and Dinner Roll

Thursday: Chicken Spaghetti Florentine (with carrots added to the sauce and whole wheat spaghetti noodles) and Cantaloupe slices

Friday: Roast Beef Salad with Tomatoes, olives, cheese, caramelized onions 

and Sister Shubert Rolls

Saturday: Dinner with our neighbors (I'm taking lemon bars)

I am starting to run low on recipes--I think I'm near a mutiny from the family if we keep repeating them much more.  So I'd love to hear if you have great, inexpensive ones that you have found you love and are willing to share!

Holy Week

My Future Is So Bright...