{ Boo Brooke is gone }

She's the only one that I picked up the phone for this season. I just thought she was the sweetest person. I'll be sure to buy her album when it comes out. Hopefully we'll hear her on KLOVE soon!

{ Um, wow }

So, let me tell you how God works in really funny ways.

First off, about a month ago I lean forward in my pew one Sunday and ask my friend, Jan, if she "does CVS". She gave me the weirdest look and replied "I just started last week, why do you ask?"

Honestly, I have no idea why I asked.

Here is where God does his normal wacky thing.

This morning Jan called me obviously excited (I have to add that Jan has never called me before, we are more scrapbooking/pew friends). She tells me that the CVS up the street from her work is trying to get rid of the Softsoap body wash and they are lifting the limit.

Hmmmm...a good deal on Soft soap, no limit, and I have coupons.....how could I resist??

After picking up Paige from school we head over to clean them out....I mean...pick up a few things.

The candy, hair clips and hair brush were $.06 each, the tooth brushes were free after ecb, diabetic monitors were free and the toe separators were $.99 each, I bought 11 and got $20 ecb back.
All in all, I spent NOTHING and brought home everything you see in the pictures. Over $290 in body wash. And I have even more ECB's than when I started.

We have enough soap for all the students, new and returning and the candy, toothbrushes and hair items will go nicely in the back to school baskets.

Once again, God has used unconventional method to provide! Isn't he funny?!

{ Look what I can do }

Being home sick gives me free time on the lap top! The original picture is down below, but I like all the funky-ness of the new ones. These are going to make some cool scrapbooking pages!

{ It's my own fault }

For teaching my kids to share. Davis came down with Strep on Thursday and now I have it. The picture above is my sweet hubby making me tea. (he had to sample it first) I lurve him!

Yes, mom, I went to the dr. this morning and they gave me a RX for Amox, and a steroid. Yes, mom, I'm resting and everyone is taking care of me.

I tried to take a picture of my nasty tonsils, but the flash was blinding. Guess that is for the best, it's not an appetising sight!

{ Look What I Won }

I never win anything, so imagine my surprise when I won this super cute clutch from a blog! I have no idea how I came across this blog, but the writer is funny, free spirited and a breath of fresh air. You can check her out at mycakies.blogspot.com. (Nat, you will love her!)

The purse was the only thing up to win but the sweet heart that she is added this super cute hair bow for Paige. She immediately put it on and wore it to school. I've also had the hardest time keeping the purse away from her! Such a girlie girl!

Thanks again, new friend for picking me and brightening my day...no, week!



Could her eyes be any prettier? Ugh, I am in big trouble.

{ Doin' my part }

Yesterday was Earth Day. A day to remember to reduce, reuse and recycle. In honor of Earth Day I have decided to recycle 29. Just to help out I will be 29, again. This is in no way a personal gain for myself, just another way I can help make the world a better place!

{ Who am I trying to kid, I don't have any nails...}

In honor of my birthday and my super cool new frozen concoction machine (it's not your mother's blender!) I created a new drink:

The Dirty 30

Tangerine, Guava, Mango, Triple Sec, Silver Tequila and a little love make this smack-yo-mama-good drink. Mmmm 30 seems better with every sip!

{ Digging in my nails } Part deux

{ Digging my nails in } pt 1

Today is a momentous day in my life. It is officially the last day of my 20's. My feelings flip-flop as the day wears on and as more people make nasty remarks about being old.

Right this moment I feel like my 20's are laid out behind me and as I glance or grimace over them I am reminded of the quote "You've come a long way, baby". There are things I would change, but mostly I'm thankful for the grace of God, 'cause man, was I stupid most of the time!

I think my 20's will be mostly remembered for the "baby makin' years". To think that at 29 I have 3 amazing children, is to me, quite an accomplishment. Add to that 11 years of marriage. Dang, I have been busy!

The blessings don't just stop with my children. I have a loving, handsome husband, who married me when I was hott, but young and naive. (Which is probably why I married him!) He and I have survived thick and thin, good and bad, and we still have a long road ahead of us.

Tomorrow is a clean slate, a blank chapter, a new season and any other positive metaphors I can think of. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me and my family. Knowing Him the way I do, I know that there will be laughter, tears, joy, and heartache. I also know that He will not leave me. He will push me when I move too slow, pull me when I get stuck and carry me when I just don't think I can make it another step.

{ Hair Cut Day }

Another wonderful thing about boys! Throw then outside with some clippers and Voila! Handsome!

I love the sweetness between Dave-O and Davis. They pick on each other and wrestle, but they still have a tenderness about them that makes my heart overflow.

{ boomer sooner }

{ M&M = Love }

CVS had two deals that overlapped tonight and I had to make a run! The big bags of M&M's are BOGO and giving $3 in ECB. So they ended up being $.57 for 2 bags! WOOT!!

I now have enough for each Rwandan college student to have a bag waiting for them when they arrive!

........now to find a hiding place from the family...... and me!

{cuuuuute!}

Crashed again!

{ Sweetest Sister }

Look at this sweet sister waiting for her bubba to call. Big bro spent the night with Granny and Papa but poodle had to stay home cause she has a fever.

Poor little thing has been sick all week. It just breaks my heart when they don't feel good.

{ Free Bottle }

Found this and thought I would share! It's a new bottle from Gerber.
http://www.gerber.com/content/usa/email/promos/nuk/rebate-form.pdf

{ Idol gives back }

Certain things are harder now. Watching the faces of the orphans, and knowing the smell....

Just seeing the pictures on T.V. strikes a different chord. I don't want to give money to Idol. I want to go back and spend time holding babies that don't get held, feed children that haven't eaten, provide education for mama's so that they don't have to leave their children, naked, on the road. I don't want to give money, I want to give myself.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I do hold an orphan everyday. To me he is my son, not an orphan on TV, but he could have been. Just by the grace of God is he here, being loved, fed and held.

My heart hurts for the ones left behind, the ones that I left. I turned around and walked out of the room leaving 34 laying in dirty beds.

Who would have thought that watching American Idol could effect me so deeply.

{A freebie for you}

Check out this link for a free potty cleaner!
http://www3.3m.com/qfrm/ShowSurvey?surveyid=JODPHRP0&WT.mc_id=www.scotch

{I Heart UPS}

Maybe I should say "I heart Aveeno". Look what the UPS man dropped off today! I signed up for an Aveeno house party thinking that they might send me one tube of lotion, but holy guacamole, they sent a huge box of goodies.

The full size stuff is mine for hosting and there are 15 goodie bags to hand out. Each goodie bag has sunscreen, lip balm, lotion and a book of coupons. They also sent 2 Allure magazines, 2 Allure eye masks and a few other things I haven't even taken out yet.

I plan on using all of this as door prizes for the next crop at my house. (Hopefully this month)

The next house party I want to sign up for is the Margaritaville party. If they send me a box full of booze.....whooo doggie....now that's a party!

Anyone need some lotion???

{Today's Haul}

Here is my free stuff!

My total was $10.79 that I paid for with a gift card, then I got $17 back in ECB! I saved $39.77 today. How stinkin' cool is that? My year to date savings on this card is $942.20.

My favorite checker was there and that makes everything better. She is super nice to me and my kids and doesn't mind messing with my coupons.

I plan on going back Friday to do the Huggies deal again, then I should be done until Sunday. Heehee!

{Picture of Free Stuff}

This is my very messy linen closet of freebies. It's not all of them, but it's what won't fit in the bathrooms. It is a huge savings for us and really helps the budget.

The stuff you see in the picture will be donated once the new Rwandan students get here this summer. I already took a care package with a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash and a razor to one of the current students. They get a little bit of money each month to live on, but if this saved her enough money where she could buy something she wanted instead of needed, then GREAT! They are the most hard working students you will ever find. So, my goal is to have 10 of everything. I'm there with the tooth paste and body wash.

If you have read The Seven Love Languages, you know what I'm talking about when I say my love language is giving gifts. This is very hard to do on one income with 3 kids. CVS helps me "love". How cheesy is that??!!

Hey, Carri, there are no CVS's in Arkansas. Sorry. It's a big bummer too, cause they are always having deals on diabetic stuff. I'll make a special stockpile just for you!

{Getting started with CVS}

I am no expert on this subject at all, but several of you have asked so I want to direct you to this web site: www.moneysavingmom.com. She has a CVS 101 on the right hand side. Also www.hotcouponworld.com is awesome.

Just to reiterate how much I love CVS, yesterday I took in 3 RX's for the kids antibiotic and using coupons they sent via email they gave me a $25 gift card for each RX. HOW COOL IS THAT! So for a $4 RX, I got $25 x 3! I'm telling you, if I could kiss CVS, I would!

Today I'm going to do the shampoo deal and maybe some more Excedrin.

I'll post a picture of my linen closet when I get back from taking the kids to school.

{Do you CVS?}

If you don't then you should! This is all my FREE loot from today. Yes, I said it, FREE. And that is just a small portion of what I have in my linen closet.

Most of what I have I am going to donate to the 10 new Rwandan college students that will be here in the fall. It's my goal to have 10 of every personal hygiene thing that you could need to stock their doorm rooms.

The rest of it we use or I donate to the Cross and Crown mission in downtown OKC.

Seriously, if CVS is going to hand it out, then dang it, I'll take it!

If it's free, then it's for me!!!

{A little lovin'}

Once upon a time there was a little prince whose feet never touched the ground. He had a little girl servant who carried him too and fro. At the slightest peep the little girl would run over and pick up the little prince to meet his never ending needs.

{Naughty, Naughty}

Look at this naughty boy who can open doors now! He found some Christmas ribbon that I had shoved in a not so secret hiding spot. Good thing he's cute!

{More pictures}

Bath Time!

This is his Cheeser face!
Sometimes Bizi gets tired of kisses.

{Paige's Talent}

Paige is turning into the female version of Jim Carey. She is funny and can make some great faces. Her newest face involves her smooshing her nostrils together.

Even with all of this the boys are still enamored with her. UGH.

I won't even tell you about her talents with bodily functions!