Homemaking Organized Blog

Archive for February, 2012

Achoo! Well I wanted to post nice new pics of my Homekeeping box today along with how well it’s going but I have a head cold that is making things a little difficult to get done.

I’ll tell you about it and then maybe next week this time I’ll have supporting pics.

It’s a green and blue theme as you’ve seen with the previous posts.

I’ve kept the same colors going for the cards.

I made the cards editable so I can make changes when needed.

I’m using my rounded tab punch thingy from Stampin up to make the tabs. It’s my first big punch. Where have I been?!!

I was going to laminate the cards because I was going to cross off things that I’ve done but I’ve tabled that for now.

I’m working on the monthly additions now but I’m using the daily and weekly stuff along with my regular planner.

Smooth as silk although there is no tab for head cold.

Achoo!

Penny Pinching Mama Free Giveaway

To celebrate the 15 year anniversary of Tawra’s “brilliant” idea to write a cookbook with cheap recipes, she is hosting some big giveaways!!

Today and tomorrow you can enter for a chance to win your choice of a Penny Pinching Mama print book or e-book*.

Enter the Giveaway Here.

Also Now through Monday, you can get 50% off of Penny Pinching Mama Print Books or e-books and 50% off of the Groceries On A Dime e-books.

Find the 50% Off Penny Pinching Mama sale here!

Find the 50% off Groceries On A Dime e-books here!

Here are some Catalina Network coupons for some items to help you stock your fridge and pantry.

$1.85 off NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE® creamers

75¢ off when you buy any ONE Dean’s® Heat ‘n Eat Dip

65¢ off YoCrunch® Yogurt Cups Granola, Candy/Cookie Crunch Printable Coupon

$1.00 off POST Honey Bunches of Oats NEW Fruit Blends

40¢ off when you buy THREE Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls

$1.50 off NESCAFÉ® TASTER’S CHOICE® or CLASICO™

$1.00 off StarKist Selects® cans

65¢ off Knorr® Homestyle Stock when you buy ONE Knorr® Homestyle Stock

$1.25 off when you buy any ONE Disney or Marvel Vitamins

$1.75 off when you buy any TWO NatureSmart Ester-C® items

50¢ off when you buy ONE BOX Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal

75¢ off any ONE Nature’s Bounty® Vitamin or Supplement

40¢ off Pillsbury® Sweet Rolls OR Grands!® Sweet Rolls

30¢ off when you buy any Yoplait® Lactose-Free Yogurt cups

$1.50 off when you buy any ONE AVENT Pacifier Pack

$3.00 off AVENT Multi-pack BPA-Free Baby Bottles

80¢ off Hamburger Helper® Home Cooked Skillet Meals Printable Coupon

$1.40 off when you buy EIGHT HOT POCKETS® Brand Items

40¢ off Fiber One® 90 Calorie Chewy Bars or Brownies

$1.50 off AVENT BPA-Free Toddler Cup

$1.00 off Totino’s® Crisp Crust Party Pizza® Products

75¢ off GERBER® SmartNourish™ 2nd Foods Baby Food

50¢ off when you buy EIGHT CUPS any variety Yoplait® Yogurt

75¢ off Gerber® Graduates® Fruit Splashers®

$1.00 off THREE gallons of GERBER® PURE™ Water

$5.00 off Philips Norelco Shaving Replacement Head Printable Coupon

$1.85 off when you buy any ONE Birds Eye® Voila® Product

$1.25 off Glucerna® Multi-Pack Bars or Multi-Pack Shakes

$1.00 off when you buy 6 cans of Mighty Dog® brand dog food

Video Reward Ads:

Video Reward: Knorr Homestyle Stock Printable Coupon

It’s time for the $5 books from Reader’s Digest Store! And this is my pick…

How to Make Everything You Own Last Years Longer Than It’s Supposed To. This unique book, will give you the hints, secrets, and tricks to making more than 400 everyday items last longer.

Long Life for your Stuff now only $5 when you use the code DEALFIVE at checkout

Get orgnized this tax season with 6 free products from VistaPrint. FREE personalized products such as Business Cards, Postcards, Address Labels, Checks, T-Shirts and Sticky Notes! Choose 1 or 2 or, pick up all 6!

The book:

Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles . . . but real freedom is sweeter.

In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance—and use it to mask her flight.

Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

My Review:

Man! This book was excellent! I don’t use that word often with fiction but this book warranted that word. And not only did I use the word ‘excellent’  but when I loaned it to my mother that was the fist word out of her mouth also. Rosslyn just continues to impress. This is the second of Rosslyn’s titles that I have been blessed to read and it was just as good if not better than the first….hmmm. I think better.  When I first started the Sweeter Than Birdsong I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. Set several years later than the first of her novels I found myself really wanting to know more of what happened to the original characters rather than focusing on some newly introduced upstarts. You know how we get attached when reading. But that desire was quickly snuffed out as I became caught up in the turn of events and the new entirely different personalities.  Not knowing what to expect (thankfully for once) I was surprised to the end. Even though you think you pretty much know the outcome the path to get there is not one most oft taken.

Also normally I steer clear of fiction books dealing with slavery for various reasons. Unrealistic portrayal of the slaves and a story a touch too close to home being my main reason.  But with Rosslyn’s historic portrayal of  the situation the stories are told with such grace and fine writing that I can’t get enough. Rosslyn’s fictional book of historical times was just an all over breath of fresh air. From the main characters to the supporting the characters the story was just excellent.

Who wrote this fantastic book?

For more reviews of this book follow the Blog tour schedule

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Well what’s a girl to do? My computer started having problems yesterday. This in the wake of my mother’s computer dying, my aunt’s computer dying and friend’s wifi going out. I thought for sure I was next. My hubby packed up my other baby and headed off to the machine doctor. He wanted to go for a drive and I wanted to stay home. Again, what’s a girl to do? No computer? And I was not entirely sure it was coming back.

This was puzzling.

Well I dusted and vacuumed top to bottom. I cleaned up Sweet Peanut’s room and did some laundry. I started in on the home office when my mother called to ask if I wanted to go for a walk. On our jaunt home there was hubby and Sweet Peanut (his partner in all things exciting ) returning with….MY COMPUTER! Turns out, like most people, I tend to do a bit too much multi-tasking than my baby can take. We’re talking about upgrading the speed processor..or whatever it’s called.

Since I was already in the mode of not being on the computer I spent the rest of the day getting things done. Sweet Peanut and I spent a funny hour in the kitchen making pasta that was very delicious along with this recipe. We made a few alterations but it was very good. Then she and dad finished up the homeschool day (very long break there) while I finished up dinner.
But what, you say, does this have to do with goals?

Well it got me thinking about how I use my time. I still don’t have anything gelled yet but maybe too much of it is spent on the computer. I would like to rectify that and get more done in the real world. So we’ll call this tidbit Home. Less time on the computer.  Multi-tasking less will also mean I will be a bit more focused on each thing I do. For example right now I only have two browsers open as opposed to three browsers, a desktop publishing program and a pdf reader.

Finances: I’ve started our taxes (no applause please). I really detest taxes but they are a fact of life like….

Business: I’ve closed the Cafepress shop. I’ll be rerouting links to my Zazzle store so if you’re looking for something that was formerly in the Cafepress store it should soon show up at Zazzle.

Personal: My workout buddy called me today to say that with all she is doing (working out, eating right) she thinks she is getting bigger. I laughed very hard and said I understand. I have those days too. She also says I look smaller but I can’t tell. Oh well. I’m still plugging away at working out and eating….well food.

All in all the goals are moving along swimmingly. No great gains but no loses either.

I know I’m being very quiet on the home front and across the blogs. It’s tax time in our household and I’m trying to stay focused.

Here some other things going.

We’re feasting on homemade pasta and fresh juices.

The Housekeeping box is finished up until the weekly chores (pics and an update coming)

I’ve got a new book review. Check back Thursday.

That’s all for now.

Thank you kindly.

Catalina’s Coupon Network Coupons

Baby

75¢ off when you buy any TWO 32oz. Gerber® Graduates® Fruit Splashers®

$1.00 off when you buy any THREE gallons of GERBER® PURE? Water

Coupons.com

Foods

$0.50 off one Newman’s Own Pasta sauce

Starbucks Petites for $1.00 with purchase

$0.75 off any (1) one Danimals Crunchers 4-pack

$1.25 off Jimmy Dean Delights? with OJ

If you use Method home products already you might really like this deal from Drugstore.com

Spend $15 on method products and get a free 50-load method Fresh Air Laundry Detergent ($15 value) at drugstore.com!

Offer ends 02.29.2012 or while supplies last.

I’m thinking I might get this.