Target Addiction

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It’s my not-so-new love.  Target has tremendous deals year round.  Wally World just can’t compare.

This time of year is especially busy with all the deals.  Christmas, Toy, Baby items, and Baby-Big Ticket Clearances.  I didn’t do much with the toy clearance this time around…well, because we were just too busy and also because I’m reading this book:

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Not going to Target for the toys saved me time, money and future clutter. 

(On the side, I’d like to confess here and now that I did swing by there on my shopping day and selected one toy for each of our children’s birthdays.  Whew!  Glad it’s out in the open.)

Seriously, though, we are trying to reduce our clutter around here-not add to it.  Besides the hubs and I would like to save our money and find good deals for “birthday bikes” for the kiddos whether it be on Craigslist or a “steal of a deal” in a store.

Again… I missed the Baby item sale (yep…missin’ the boat every time) but I managed to snag a few deals even so.  However, your Target may be different from mine and still have items left or possibly are just getting ready for their entire baby markdown this Monday.

Just trying to spread the word.

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FYI to all you mothers/grandmothers out there:  Whether you are a first-time mom, a mother of many or a proud grandma, you might be interested in the bigger baby items.  My local store will be conducting their final markdown on those items this Monday (Jan. 30).  There were still carseats, infant carriers, highchairs, pack n plays, double strollers, travel systems, baby gates and more.

I’ve got my fingers crossed for a new carseat for our chunky-monkey of a boy.

So check it out.

Word for 2012

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Word for 2012?…..what?  When I read over at Layla’s about choosing a word to dwell on for 2012, I was all for it.  What a great idea.

As I began to think about what my word for 2012 would be, I simply could not get away from this verse.

Gift.

Yes.  My word for 2012 is gift.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized afresh and anew how many gifts are all around me.  It is humbling to think about how blessed I am each. and. every. day.

Gift of Home

There are days when I find myself complaining and griping about certain issues of my home.  “It’s too small,  I need more storage room/closets, or I wish I had a basement or at least a garage.”  Especially on blogland as I’m admiring the beautiful homes and spaces of others, it seems like the green-eyed monster raises his ugly head.  I only have to remind myself that beneath all of the toys, dust and dirty dishes is a beautiful home if I simply take the time to notice.  (Cleaning up the toys, dusting and doing the dishes helps too.)

And if I continue to slowly beautify and simplify my home, I’ll only love it more …which is why I’m determined to finish my home goals this year.

It’s a place to come in from the cold, a place to pillow my head and a place to raise my family.  It is a good gift and I am content.

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OBX get-away: 2010

Gift of Love

I still pinch myself sometimes over my hunk of a hubby.  We met in Bible school, and for me it was love at first sight.

I remember noticing a tall, dark-headed guy when I walked into church that first Sunday of college.  Later I realized that I was rooming with this guy’s future sis-in-law.  Then, to top it off, I found out that this dark-headed dude’s brother sat directly behind my assigned seat in chapel.  Talk about working out the details!  God was definitely in control.  A few months later, my heart was smitten when this guy brought the roof down in chapel with his first solo.  (My heart still goes pitter-patter when I hear him sing.)

You see, since I was fourteen I had been praying for my future husband and after eight years of prayers, I married that tall, dark-headed guy.  He completely stole my heart.

Fast-forward eight and a half years, I’m still crazy about my hubs.  He is the most wonderful and kind man.  The guy cleans the tubs, toilets and does most of the laundry. (yeah, he’s a keeper.)

He is my best friend, my biggest cheerleader and my true love.  Marriage is a beautiful gift.  It is a good gift and I am cherished.

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Gift of Motherhood

Yes.  I’ve certainly been blessed in this area of life.  I have always loved children…and wanted a whole houseful of them.  There’s just something about a fresh newborn babe that just melts my heart.

I’m treasuring these years with my children.  They are slipping by waaaay too fast.  I find it difficult to believe that Bunny will be eight years old this summer.  Eight?!!  Whoa, people.  So hard to believe.

Children are definitely a gift from God.  It breaks my heart to see others struggle with infertility issues.  Whether its primary or secondary infertility, the heartbreak is the same.

Yet, I have also seen God work in miraculous ways whether through the unexpected gift of a biological child or through the amazing paths of adoption.  And my heart rejoices in their unspeakable joy of parenthood.

While I’ve not walked their path of pain and tears,  I understand completely the overwhelming feeling of love as your child is placed in your arms.  You are on the threshold of an incredible journey.

Embrace it.

The gift of motherhood is precious calling in life.  It is a good gift and I am honored.

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Gift of Laughter

Some of life’s sweetest moments are just having fun together as family.  Letting your hair down and being downright silly.  Laughter feels good.

My kids enjoy it when I play with them and ,yes, we have a blast together.  Their little faces just glow with happiness when Hubs or I (or both of us) join in their fun.  And I always make a mental note, as I resume my duties, to make time for them more often.

On Tuesday evening, I enjoyed watching Courageous with Hubby.  I cried.  The scene where the daddy danced alone moved me to tears.  It was a solemn reminder to both my husband and I to cherish every minute.  Who cares whose watching?  Laugh. Dance. Giggle.

Life is full of sorrows, however, sometimes a small thing like a good chuckle can make the world seem right again.  It is a good gift and I am joyful.

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Gift of Life

At our very first breath, we were given a wondrous gift.  The gift of life itself.

There are many more gifts that we could all list ….on and on.  Faith, health, strength, food, clothing, finances, friends and let’s not forget chocolate.

Yet they all hinge on this one gift.  Life.  If it wasn’t for this priceless gift, we would never have the opportunity or the joy of all the others.  It is a good and perfect gift and I am blessed.

So as I face the sunrise each morning, I want to remind myself this year of the gifts that surround me.  I am content with home, cherished with love, honored with motherhood, joyful with laughter and blessed with life.

Therefore, I am rich. They are indeed good and perfect gifts in my life.

How about you?  Do you have a “word” that will be the focus of your heart and mind in 2012?

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Linking up to Layla’s 2012 Word of the Year party.

The Lettered Cottage

Home Goals 2012

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Well, I definitely want to jump on board the Home Goals 2012 band wagon …even if it’s a day late.  The Nester is hosting this linky party and it is just chock full of inspiring ideas for homes.

If you are like me, you have so many plans and dreams for your spaces that its very easy to become overwhelmed.  And where does that get ya?  Exactly nowhere.

The drawback for me (and probably most people) is time and money.  Raising four kids takes a good bit of my time and while it’s something that I LOVE and do not apologize for, it leaves very little for other endeavors.  Sure I could pour all of my efforts and energies into our house but then the days and years of developing loving relationships with my children would be gone and so would they. Not a sacrifice that I’m willing to make.

Money is also an issue as it is with many of us.  I just can’t always do everything that I’d like to do. Sound familiar?

Therefore I am content to take it slowly.  One project at a time.

So here’s my list for 2012.

Bonus Room

We need this space ….like yesterday.  It will be a family/school/play room.  I am envisioning lots of built-in bookcases and storage areas to keep it organized as well as maximize every square inch of space.  Work will hopefully begin next month.  (fingers crossed)

Swooning over the inspirations out there.  :)

We are MAJOR bookworms here.  Something like this is an absolute must:

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Love, love, love these built-in storage drawers-n-things:

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And daydreaming of a school zone like this for the kids:

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Playset

Last summer hubby and I invested in a beautiful wooden playset for the munchkins.  This spring/summer we would like to continue working on this area by clearing a bit of the woods beside it and putting benches or perhaps a picnic table for us to sit and watch them fight…er,I mean, play.  It will also need its annual coat of varnish to continue to protect the wood from the elements.  If time and money permits, we may close in the area and mulch it.  Anything to help having to cut and weed around the unit.

Ground cover like this (this is not our set but very similar):

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Garden

I regret to say that my dad apparently did not pass his green thumb down to me.  I will try again.  I would like to have a potted herb garden on our deck as well as a small raised garden bed this year.  Fingers crossed for some nice tomatoes, peppers, green beans and maybe one or two other things.  We’ll see.  The summer 2012 calendar is already getting packed with our hectic life…but that’s just us.

Something like this for my herbs:

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Or this idea:

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And finally some beds somewhat like these:

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And there you have.  Home Goals 2012.  More that I’d like to do?  Sure.  However, this list contains the most pressing and attainable goals for our family…we can always add to it later.  For now though, this is enough.

The Nester

Excited about 2012.  It’s gonna be a good year.

Harris Teeter Deals 1/11/12-1/17/12

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After a very lean week at HT Super Doubles,  I kinda excited about a few things at HT for this new week.

The BTFE  (Box Tops For Education) items promotion appears to be promising.  You can check out the details here.  Looks good, huh?

Here’s some ideas for the deals starting from the top and working our way down.

Good Deals

 

GM cereals- $1.98 ea. ( wyb five)

     2 Fiber One – $0.85/1 here and $0.75/1 ZVR = FREE + $0.19 MM due to ZVR!

     2 Cheerios- $1.10/2 here and$1.00/2 ZVR (see fineprint for Cheerios included) = $0.93 ea.

     1 Fiber One – $0.75/1 SS insert = $0.48 – $0.19 mm (above) = $0.29

BC fruit snacks- $1.48 ea. (wyb four)

     4 BC fruit snacks – $0.60/2 here (x2)= $0.88 ea.

NV granola bars- $2.50 ea

     NV bars- $0.75/2 GM insert = $3.50/2 or $1.75 ea.

***Catalina deal: (6) NV bars -$15.00- $0.75/2 (3x)= $10.50, get $2.00 cat back!

So…about $1.42 ea. with catalina deal.

Pills. grands – $1.00 ea.

     Pills grands – $0.40/2 here and $0.30/2 ZVR = $0.90/2 or $0.45 ea.

*** Catalina deal: (6) grands= $6.00- $0.40/2 (x2) – $0.30/2 (GM insert) and – $0.30/2 ZVR= $3.50, get $2.00 cat back!

So…. $1.50/6 or $0.25 ea. with catalina deal.

I also want to get some yogurt for this squirt:

Yoplait yogurt- $2.00 ea.

     2 Yoplaits – $0.85/2 here = $2.30/2 or $1.15 ea.  Not the best price but definitely better than others.

Besides….I think he needs it.

I’ll add other deals as I find/hear about them.  Enjoy.

PB Love

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It never fails that when a holiday rolls around, my kids receive at least one thing from PBK.  And it’s all because of the PBK book club.  You can read about the details of their program here.  I love the flexibility of their program- come when you can.

We have not been in about a month now and we’ve all missed it.  The girls get so excited to see the other children, play, sing and listen to stories.  It also allows the mothers time to chat with the other mommies- a real treat when you spend your days with small tots.  Even Pop enjoys the sights and sounds of the event.

So don’t forget.  11:00am today.  ;)

Frugal Finds

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I was so sad yesterday.  I was reading on a blog about the blogger’s local Target marking their Christmas to 90%.  There was no way I could get there…remember our car situation?  Well, I simply told myself to buck up.  There is always next year.  (Not what I wanted to hear from myself….that means waiting through this whole new year AND until after Christmas.  That seemed like light years away.)  Well after taking my daughter to school this morning, I thought well, really, what could it hurt to just drop in?  Just real quick.

They were just dropping everything to 90% this morning. What’s a gal like me to do?!  I was sooo excited.

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We are hoping to finish our bonus room into a family room/playroom during this next year.  So I was happy to find some things for a future tree up there that the kids will decorate. (Won’t that be a sight to behold?!)  Tree topper- $1.50 ($15.00) and lights- $0.69 ($6.99). Woo-hoo!

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Some ornaments ranging from $0.10-$1.00.  I actually bought more of the white felt trees and also some felt hearts.  A pack of three for $0.10 can’t be beat.  :-)

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Thanks to a tip from a friend, I ran through the office supply aisle and just grabbed a bunch of different brands/types of tape to pricecheck myself.  It took a few minutes of scanning but was well worth it to find the ones considered “Christmas” for 90% off. Total score.  They were $0.20 each except for the double-sided tape which was $0.30.  We are soooo stocked on tape now.  :-)

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Paper products were $0.20 each and candy was $0.10.  Girls gotta have chocolate.  (I like to crush chocolate holiday candy and freeze it.  Great for chocolate chunk cookies.)

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Just because they were cool.  :-)   Stirrers and picks in one-$0.30.

They still had a bunch of stuff when I left this morning and reportedly other local Targets had even more to offer for 90%.  Mine had lots of ornaments, giftbags, bows, tissue paper,paper products. I also snagged parchment paper, hand soap and lotion for under $0.30 each.  So many deals.  Whew!

So hurry.  90% only lasts for one day.  Any items not sold are boxed up for salvage.

Best Soup Ever

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There’s something about cold wintery days that makes me crave me some comfort foods.  And a bowl of good ol’ homemade soup definitely fits the bill.  This recipe is hands down the best chicken noodle recipe ever!  Seriously. Delicious.

 

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

2 qt. water

8 chicken bouillon cubes

3 to 4 c. uncooked egg noodles

2 (10 3/4 -oz.) cans condensed cream of chicken or cream of celery soup

1 to 2 c. cooked chicken -cubed or torn

1/2 c. sour cream

1 T. minced parsley

In a large saucepan, bring water and bouillon cubes to a boil. Add noodles and parsley; cook uncovered until noodles are tender, about 10 minutes.  Do not drain.  Add soup and chicken.  Heat through.  Remove from heat; stir in sour cream.  Yield 10 to 12 servings.

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Crockpot version:

Cook chicken in crockpot.  Cube or tear in pot.  Add water, bouillon cubes and parsley.  Allow to cook until about 1 hour or so is left on your setting.  Add soup.  Boil the noodles as directed on package on STOVE.  (It just works better this way…trust me I know.  Boiling water is better for the noodles.)  Drain water from noodles and then pour noodles in crockpot.  Stir.  TURN OFF crockpot.  Add sour cream.  Stir well.

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There you have it.  Best soup ever.  Enjoy it. Wipe that bowl clean with garlic bread…that’s what I do.  :)

HT Super Doubles

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Super Doubles begins tomorrow at 7 am.  This sale will run from 1/4/12 – 1/10/12.  Don’t forget about the twenty coupons per household limit.  Sadly I will not make it first thing in the morning and maybe not at all tomorrow.  We only have one car for a few days while our other one is at the garage.  So be nice and save some of the things for me, ok?  ;)

A New Beginning

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2012. The dawning of a new year.  It brings new beginnings….a new beginning to blog.  I really missed it.  After my son was born, I felt like I kept missing the boat.  I was finding it to difficult to blog everyday which in turn made me feel like a failure.  I was discouraged.  Then my sweet hubby gave me some much needed advice.

Be yourself.

Ok.  That makes it easy.  I am a wife.  I am a mother to four little munchkins.  I am a homeschooling mom.  I am a piano teacher (11 students- 3 more new ones!).  I am a bargain lover.  I am a housewife.  I am a blogger.  I am me.

Sigh.  That’s it.  I cannot be anyone else.  The term SuperMom belongs to someone else.  I am not a big blogger and may never be.  That’s ok.  I can encourage my little world of readers and feel fulfilled.  Whew.  Now that the pressure is off, I feel excited about blogging again.  It no longer feels like work.  It’s fun again….and I like that.

And with that being said….welcome back to Thrifty Stories.