Premiere Week! (the unofficial official one!)

Here it is! This is the week we have been waiting for. Sorry, I missed Monday premieres (there were tons!), sickness has knocked on our door, so a little disinfecting was in order today!
Here's the line-up for Tues. night:

• 8:00 p.m.
• Opportunity Knocks (ABC) Funny story here. We actually applied for this show. We spoke to them and they said they already had someone from our area, but they were keeping applications for next season! Hopefully! Anyways..they set up a real game studio on your street (our neighbors would freak out!) and you win things according to questions..looks sooo fun!
• NCIS (CBS) I guess this is your regular crime investigating show. I have never seen it, but I bet it is one of those really good intense shows I might be able to watch when my kids are older!
• 9:00 p.m.
• The Mentalist (CBS) A celebrated psychic uses his powerful gift of observation to assist the California Bureau of Investigation. Looks really good. I think it might be worth the time to watch!
• 10:00 p.m.
• Without a Trace (CBS) FBI missing persons unit in Manhattan solves cases about murder, kidnapping or simply people that wanted to "disappear". This is the season premiere, not series premiere
• Law and Order SVU (NBC) Another crime series, a 7 year old boy accuses his foster parents of abusive medical testing.

Looks like a great line-up...I think The Mentalist might be a really good show...
To see the schedule for premiere week click here.

Distinctively Dole

So, I bought Distinctively Dole salads from Meijer..they were BOGO and I had coupons, so I got them for next to nothing! Anyways.. the one I had was the "Hearty Italian" and wow, it was delicious! I will pay almost full price for these. I think they are about $3 when they are not on sale. I still have some coupons for them and some came in the bag of salad too...so I am so happy. Do you get that feeling salad always tastes the same when you make it at home? Same dressing, same everything? I do, but I tried this and it tasted like something from a restaurant! Great side dish!
If you go here, you can enter to win free Dole salad (you can enter everyday for ore chances!).

Kroger Deals

If you shop at Kroger you might want to click here for the latest deals 9/22-9/28.
Coupon links are included, so shop and save!
Thanks Stretching a Buck!

Teacher Appreciation

If you are one of those wonderful teachers who teach and help mold our children, Starbuck's would like to thank you! They are giving free coffee to teachers every Monday in the month of Sept.!
Just stop in with proof of your credential's and receive your complimentary 12 oz Pike Place Roast!

Thanks Coupon Cravings!

Homemade Glass Cleaner

I started reviewing all of my "homemade cleaning products", but I did not get to finish...Duty called (duty being a 2 yr. old that should have been in bed!). So here is my review on my glass cleaner

• Recipe
• Equal parts vinegar and water (that's it! How easy is that!)

Verdict: Love it! My Windex was beginning to leave my windows streaked, feel like I could never get them clean! My vinegar and water solution is great! It cleans windows so easily! I love it! 5 stars!

Kids Clothes

If you are like me, shopping clearance for children's clothes is next to impossible with the children with you. Even shopping for current things on sale is impossible. Well, I have found a solution that works so great for me! I shop online. My two favorite's are Khol's and Old Navy. I sit here, in my own home and take my time looking through everything (keeping the kids busy coloring, etc.). I can get such great deals! You can also enter coupon codes, which can be found online too! I shop through clearance, you enter a size and it sorts it out for you. No more searching through piles of clothes that have been rummaged through, screaming kids in tow! Shipping is also a good deal. I go for it when there is a special. Kohl's has 3.95 shipping right now (I think it is a special), Old Navy has $7 flat rate shipping. This is worth it when you factor time, gas money, hassle getting there and them not having anything in the size you need, etc.
I shopped Old Navy Maternity like crazy when I was pregnant! I loved it! If something didn't work out, I would return it in-store and receive full credit!
Definitely worth looking into!!!

All Natural Cleaning Products

So, I have been posting about my endeavors of making some homemade cleaning and laundry products. I have been using them for a few weeks now and I think I am ready to report.

Homemade laundry detergent.

• Recipe:
• 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap (found anywhere...about 1.29/bar)
• 1/2 cup washing soda (found at Kroger, Meijer...about 3.99)
• 1/2 cup Borax (found anywhere, about 2.99)
• 2 quart bucket
• Grate soap into a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water, stir until it dissolves. Add borax and washing soda. Stir until it dissolves. Pour 4 cups hot water into bucket. Add soap mixture. Now add 1 gallon, plus 6 cups water into bucket. Stir and let set over night. It will gel, not completely though.
  
• Use about 1/2 cup per load ( I used about one).

Verdict: Clothes smell fresh ( I still use dryer sheets) but overall, I am happy with it. It is a lot less expensive (Just buying the starter boxes gives you enough for a long time! And I am talking months and months and months!) Am I convinced my clothes are truly getting clean? I do not know yet. They seem clean, but for stains, etc. I do not think it is effective.
The Fels Naptha bar however, is very effective on stains. I just rub it on stains straight from the bar and have a lot of luck there!!

Need something to do this Weekend?

• Coney Island is having their annual fall festival! Definitely worth it. It is $9 for adults, $6 for kids, but...you can save $3 if you purchase your adult tickets at Kroger with your plus card..Family of four would be $24! Good deal! This also includes all rides, farm yard animal petting zoo, tons of entertainment and a trick or treat trail with goodies from local vendors! It is from noon-6, so be sure to get there early. I am sure you could probably spend the day here and have plenty to do!Oh, and kids can dress up, so if you have purchased that costume early, what a fun way to let the kids get a little more use out of it than a one time wear! They will have a blast too!
  

Here is the link with all the info...Coney Island Fall Festival.

• Fall Festival at The Shops at Harpers's Point. They will be having pony rides, petting zoo, sidewalk sale, and a "scarecrow juggler". This is on Sat. Sept. 20 from 10-2 pm. Go on their website here . The flyer will come up and coupons also. I am guessing you could print these out and use them? Maybe, if you called? Looks like something fun and easy, and pony rides? What kid wouldn't want a pony ride?
  

Friendly Friday! (a day early!)

So, I have been thinking and reflecting so much, due to this past weekends events! (In Ohio, we suffered a lot of wind damage and there of tons of people with out power still!) Just so many emotions....being prepared, not being prepared, scared, mad, sorry, happy, lucky, unfortunate....it really has been a roller-coaster. I cannot imagine how it would feel to have actually been in the hurricane...felt like we had one here, but I know it had to have been just a fraction of the real thing! My heart and prayers are with everyone who is going through things right now due to this!

Here's my "Friendly Friday" tip..(on Thursday)...
Duke energy workers (or the electric company in your area) have been working soooo hard to restore power...16 hour days, non stop! So, we think we should do something nice for them....Our vision? Baking a batch of cookies, buying a bag of candy, small bags of lunch size chips..anything.. Getting whatever "treat" we choose and handing it out to the first group of workers we come across...(Shouldn't be too hard to find some!) Imagine the smile on their faces when you hand them a treat...So they know their hard work is not unnoticed! They are fathers, brothers, sons, mothers, sisters, etc. and they deserve a pat on the back...So, we think this is a great opportunity to "pay it forward"
Please leave a note if you do..we would love to hear your story!!

More Family Fun

I have found more family fun over at Cincinnati Cents! She posts "Taking Time Thursday", and has some more great ideas for things to do in the area with the family. Check it out here!
Thanks again Cincinnati Cents!

Giant Eagle Deals for the week

Here are the Giant Eagle Deals for this week. Marcy at "Stretching a Buck" posted them here. The power has been out across Ohio, so everything is a little behind! Better late than never...right? Thanks Marcy for getting this together in such a hectic week!!!

Poll

Well, our poll has now come to a close! Thanks for all that voted!!! So, the results? Men are actually doing a lot better than I thought! Good for them! I am thrilled to see they help with the housework....They came out more than 50% do help, so that is good to hear! As for us women saving money while shopping with them? nope...ladies leave the hubbies at home if you are truly trying to save some money! =)

Men

So, my husband baked cookies on Monday. Yeah! What a pleasant surprise! Here is what I found in the 'fridge on Wed. Seriously, he could not fit that on the cookie sheet?
I'm just sayin! Men...........lol!

Buddies Soaps

Check out this great post here by Money Saving Mom. You can get free "buddies soaps"! She explains how...and it is good at almost all stores, so no special trip...put it on your regular grocery list. Even those of you who aren't "coupon crazy" can do this...One coupon, free soap...so simple!!!!

Tax Relief

I know many people were affected by hurricane Ike, we were fortunate enough to have a fraction of the worst of it happen here! We have power and are very grateful....no damage to us, the house, we are very lucky! So, I came across this article on Fox 19 news about being eligible for tax relief! Hopefully, this will help at least some of you! The article is here, so click and see if it applies to you! Good Luck!

Prayer Chain

We know many people in the country and many people who probably read this blog have been affected by hurricane Ike. We were fortunate enough to experience the smallest fraction of what others have! Our prayers and thoughts are with you. We were thinking (we'll see how it goes), but if you wanted to put a little post in the comments if you have someone specific you are praying for, we could start a prayer chain for those in need.. The least we can do is to help and pray for those in need!

Bleach Alternative

So, I made a batch of natural "bleach alternative". I am kind of excited, my whites have been a little off lately, so I have been experimenting. Nothing is really working, this is my next experiment...
I went to the dollar store and purchased a lot of lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide. (It really is inexpensive here!) SO heres the recipe: (I used a rinsed out gallon milk container)

1. Pour 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide in the container
2. Pour 1 1/4 cups lemon juice with it
   
3. Add 12 cups water

That's it! Shake it up and you are ready to go...You are supposed to use 2 cups in a load. I will be using it today, so I will report and let you know how it goes! Keep our fingers crossed, I love white whites!!!

Works for Me Wednesday

We are writing this and posting over at "Works for Me Wednesday", sponsored by "Rocks in my Dryer".
Here's my tip...(this is a great one too)! Ok, have you ever baked homemade cookies and they become hard and crunchy in, what seems like, 5 minutes later? Well, just put them in a container with a piece of bread (any bread will do), and voila! You will have soft chewy cookies! This is a great trick because it is frustrating to spend all that time baking and the result; mediocre cookies! This will solve your "crunchy cookie problems"! You can also put piece of bread in your bag of brown sugar and it will keep it from getting hard also! Happy baking!

Something for the Soul

Finally getting to the Sunday post...it's been quite hectic around here with all of the power outages, etc.

Sunday's sermon entailed looking at what we value the most and spend the most time working on when it comes to ourselves. We are talking external vs. internal.

The pastor discussed the importance of putting our time and energy into working on our souls. Investing what we have on becoming a better Christian..on becoming closer to God...on becoming who He wants us to be. It can be so difficult for us because we are a culture that is very focused on the external. The pastor reminded us that God is not at all focused on that, and will have much more substantial things to discuss with us when we meet Him. Things like, did you touch someones life, did you encourage, did you love, did you forgive, did you help those in need, did you cherish every moment of life as a blessing, were you kind, were you honest????

That is not to say that we are without sin, because if we are being honest we can all remember the last time we sinned.
But rather that we should strive for those things, and focus on those things...and try (as hard as it may be) to not be distracted by things of the world.

Please take a moment to read the scripture below.

Titus 2:1
1 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.


Titus 2:11-13
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

Fashion for Less, much less!!!!

So, the season is changing and so is the apparel that you will be wearing, as the weather gets colder. If you are like me, you probably have the basics..I always stick to the basics, but would like to purchase a few pieces to add a bit of flare to my look. Well, I have found the perfect way to do that! I am sure we have all heard of Sarah Jessica Parker.....Hello? Sex and the City!!!! Anyways, she also has a clothing line, which you may have heard of...The label is Bitten. Wow...this is really great. Nothing, and I mean nothing is over 19.99! Seriously...cute white trench coats, 8.98! Nothing was more than 8.98! Check out the website here....It has a store locator, so you can see if they carry it near you!

Drop a line if you have shopped or purchased some of these clothes!!!