Money Saving Monday

A Link To The Car Rebate Here is a money saving tip for the day. For any of you in the market for a new car, this may be exciting news for you- the government will pay $4,500 for a trade in of a gas guzzler.

One more money saving tip, for us not in the market for a new car, you can stop junk mail and telemarketers once and for all! Call 1 888 5 OPT OUT to stop the junk mail and go to ftc.gov/donotcall

VBS Week

Thank You for being You, Aunt Terri!

My Aunt Terri wrote a blog about painting my bedroom when I was growing up. You can read it here. Here is my response to her creativity.

I will never forget how you came up with the idea to paint my room in daisies. That is definatly one of my most favorite childhood memories:) I loved it when you let me help pick the color and design the sponge stamps. I have always been inspired by your creativity- and you always made it easy. From giving me my first journal, to inspiring me to write my first young authors story (which I won first place the year after)to telling me and my little sisters (when we were itty-bitty), or atually dramatically reinacting, famous children's stories, like Goldilocks! Thank you for all your inspiration, Aunt Terri!

Music Monday

On Friday, one of my favorite radio programs, midday connection, had Lanae Hale on as a guest. Lanae is a singer/songwriter. She is so gifted, and you can listen to the podcast online at middayconnection.org. Anyway, come to find out, she is the daughter-in-law of one of my dear friends from my ladies Bible study! So please, listen to her powerful testimony on midday and go buy her album! You can even listen to her on itunes and youtube :)

A Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

http://cuddlybums.blogspot.com/

Katie is a friend here on Blogger- she hand sews some great all-in-one design cloth diapers. She is having a giveaway right now on her blog- you should check it out!

Save money and resources by cloth diapering.

Henry loves the Water!

Nurture Baby

Just had to share- I ran across this super helpful homemade babyfood website that was made by a mama who used to work for Martha Stewart. The site has free and useful recipes, tips, instruction and techniques, plus amazing and high-quality photos that are pleasing to look at. If you are wanting some new babyfood recipes, or might know someone who does, please check it out!

http://www.nurture-baby.com/

Turtle Bread

My good friend Carey Dupree, who is amazing and super creative, passed on this yummy and fun kids recipe to me. The photos are of our first try at the recipe, 2 weeks ago, and I loved it. We have made it again, but in the shape of a crocodile. Which I forgot to grab the camera before we all started digging in. This bread makes any meal special. The older kids love helping to form the turtle parts and waiting for the turtle to bake in the oven (I wonder what he will look like when he is done?).

Animal Bread From Carey Dupree

1 7/8 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
6 cups flour
1 Tblsp yeast

egg for wash and kosher salt for sprinkling just before baking.

Carey's Instructions (for Bread Machine):

Load in this oreder in bread machine. Run dough cycle. Punch down and form bread into desired animal shape. Allow to rest at least 10 minutes. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake @ 375 degrees approx. 25 minutes or until golden. She notes that kneading and rising times can be varied and it will still turn out fine.

Modifications for kitchen aid mixer with dough hook:

I let the yeast dissolve in the warmed water and sugar, in the kitchen aid bowl. Then I add all dough ingredients and knead with the kitchen aid mixer for a couple of minutes. I grease the bowl and let the dough rise covered, in a warm place, for an hour. Punch down and form bread into desired animal shape. Allow to rest at least 10 minutes. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake @ 375 degrees approx. 25 minutes or until golden. Again, Carey originally noted that kneading and rising times can be varied and it will still turn out fine.

Win A Bum Genius Cloth diaper

Another generous mommy is giving away a limited edition BumGenius!http://littleloganchristopher.blogspot.com/

(1) bumGenius 3.0 One-Size Reusable Diaper in limited edition color Grasshopper/Ribbit
{ includes regular and newborn size microfiber inserts }

For David

To help celebrate my 11th Anniversary , I thought I should dedicate a post to my hubby, Dave, who I usually call David, ‘cause that is how he introduced himself to me in 1997. Or at least, I think. Things start getting fuzzy in my brain after 12 years.

I learned early on in our marriage that David hates Hamburger Helper (in my frugal attempts, I found a homemade Hamburger Helper mix that I thought would revolutionize my cooking) in all forms, including, but not limited to, chicken, cheeseburger, tuna, and lasagna varieties.

But after a few years, I learned that Dave loves tacos, pizza and sloppy Joes, which are all just as easy as hamburger helper. So I make these regularly and both of us are happy.

I have also learned that Dave loves me no matter what childbirth and age does to my body. I gained quite a bit of weight during one of my pregnancies, and he said that he didn’t even notice. Thankfully, I lost that baby weight, but I still have lots of stretch marks and irreversible body changes. But David still looks me in the eyes and tells me I am beautiful.

We both continue to change through the years but 2 constants remain in our marriage. Our commitment and love for each other, through all the ups and downs of life, and God's merciful love and grace in our marriage.

Thanks for our first 11 years together, David.

Sleepy Wrap Giveaway!

Hey, mamas! Here is a chance to win a new baby carrier for your new little one. It's a wrap style carrier called The Sleepy Wrap. The Sleepy Wrap has been nominated for one of Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards. Here is a link to Katie's contest-http://blessedwithfullhands.blogspot.com/2009/05/sleepy-wrap-review-and-giveaway.html you can see this baby carrier at www.sleepywrap.com

Aren't freebies and contests fun? I sure think so.

A Mama Blog Contest

Here is the chance to enter a contest on another mama's blog.

Just click on this link and follow her instructions- you have to follow a link to a publishers page and post a book name in the "money saving mama's" comments to enter.

http://mamasmoneysavers.com/2009/06/in-praise-of-stay-at-home-moms-book

Stay At Home Moms Giveaway

I hope someone I know wins something! Have fun :)