Disgusting Halloween treats

I'm sure most everyone gets the daily weekly Oriental Trading catalog. Lucky YOU might get more than one per week since they have a catalog for every season, department, and holiday. Can you sense the sarcasm?

When the OT catalog arrives in the mailbox, Andrew snatches it up and begins to circle the items he likes. He rarely crosses out the items he doesn't like because he WANTS ALL OF IT! The OT Halloween candy catalog came just a few weeks ago and Andrew got busy with his Sharpie marker.


Thank goodness there were a few items he ended up crossing out (not that I would have bought them for him). I thought they were creepy and disgusting and so did Andrew. We had fun laughing hard, out loud together, as we spotted these nasty treats. So, here I am sharing the nasty love with you...'cause I'm weird like that.

Fabric garland

I've had some leftover fabric strips in one of my craft drawers FOREVER! I've been tempted to throw them away (we all know that I don't sew) but have held onto them since I knew that one day the right craft would come along. It finally did! I saw this fabric banner/garland on Design Mom and couldn't wait to make a similar one of my own. I changed it up a bit and just tied one knot around a long piece of twine. I had so much scrap fabric that I was able to make two garlands. One for myself to hang on the kitchen door and another for my sister who just celebrated her 40th birthday and is about to buy a new house.

Just tie, scrunch, and hang!

Wordless Wednesday

Send expired coupons overseas

I've posted about this before (with a different web-link) but it seems it always crosses my mind to share the information each time I purge and reorganize my coupon folder. Don't throw those expired coupons away! If you'd like to help American military families stationed overseas, click here to view addresses (regular postage rates apply since they are APO addresses) where you can send your envelope full of expired coupons. They can be used up to six months past their expiration date on some of these bases!

Proverbs 31 Woman

The gals over at GirlTalk are discussing THE IDEAL WIFE (Proverbs 31) this week. If you're interested, click here to view today's post on the subject. I am always encouraged by their blog subject matter.

Coupon Giveaway: FREE Boulder chips

It's time for another fun giveaway! Two coupons for free Boulder Chips are on the docket this go 'round. Both are good for any flavor of a 5 oz. bag. They have many fun flavors to offer! The coupons expire February of 2009 so you have plenty of time to decide which flavor you'd like to choose. The website promotes that the chips are totally natural. I would really like to try them but I have scoured every grocery store in town and can't find anyone who carries them. I think they may be a favorite of those out in the western part of this great country.

If you'd like to win one of these coupons (I'm giving them away separately), in the comment section, please leave your first name, email address (if your link is included, that's all I need), and your current favorite brand and flavor of chips.

My favorite is Nacho Cheese Doritos. I like to lick my orange fingertips after I've scooped out all the crumbs at the bottom of the bag. I think my youngest son would agree that Doritos are his favorite, too! Now, if only I could find a coupon for them, huh? No problem finding those stocked in every grocery store!


Two winners will be chosen at random Sunday night, 10/12, and I'll then email the lucky winners! If the winners don't respond within 48 hours, new winners will be chosen.

For more giveaways, visit Money Saving Mom. It's a Giveaway Galore! Just be sure to pay attention to the deadlines.

My three Halloween bats

I saw this craft on Ramblings of a Crazy Woman's blog and knew it was simple enough for all three of my children to do. However, I changed it up a bit by adding a photo of their face onto the bat's head. Grey acrylic paint was applied to their pressed hands and I used no glue in this project.


I also chose to cut around the bat and hang it from the light fixture above our kitchen table. Aren't they cute? They want to suck your blood!


Reformation Day crafts will be posted soon.

Recycle your athletic shoes

What do you do with all those old tennis shoes? In the past, I've simply tossed mine in the trash. Now there's another option. I would love to start something like this at our school but the nearest drop location is in Atlanta, a good two hours away. If I wanted to mail them (they only accept 10 pairs of shoes at a time), how do I handle the shipping costs? Do I pay, the PTO pay, or the school pay? Great idea but it leaves so many questions to be answered.

HT: Blissfully Domestic

Van reality

Who in the world has their camera with them while loading up the kiddos????....I DO!

Becky's sale

My friend, Becky, is selling some gently used children's clothing on her blog. I'm sure she'd love for you to visit and browse around. If you need a recommendation, email me and I'll be sure to "talk her up". She's a gem.

Act of Congress

Act of Congress is my favorite band. They have been for a long time and will be for a lot longer. It probably has a lot to do with our Birmingham, AL, ties. Love, love, love Birmingham. Miss it so much.

Adam, the lead vocalist, is multi-talented...simply amazing...and so down to earth. One of the friendliest and most humble people I've ever met in this world. Adam plays the guitar, piano, mandolin, and most any other stringed instrument. I wonder if he knows reeds, too....hmmmm. Brass? Maybe. I wouldn't put it past him. Yes, Act of Congress is in the folk/bluegrass genre and it's out of this world! Do you like Nickel Creek? Well, then you'll love Act of Congress.

I'm looking forward to hearing AC in concert this coming April (gosh, that's a long way away!) but, in the meantime, I'm gonna head over to itunes and listen to some of their songs. Once you listen, you'll also be addicted. I promise.

Reformation Day

I'm already preparing. We're gonna stay busy this month discussing the Reformers. Join me if you'd like.

A nephew makes an uncle proud

A small conversation I had with Luke a few days ago:

Luke: "God is perfect. He never sleeps, right?"

Me: "That's right! He is always watching over you."

Luke: "Yeah."

Me: "Luke, who is in charge of everything?"

Luke: (Thinking long and hard) "God.....and Uncle Stuart."

Your nephew has been thinking and praying for you, Uncle Stu!

Huh?

I think I might send this in to Jay Leno.

Cutting the Cheese (tee hee!)

Yeah, I hear you laughing at my blog post!

No, really....we were cutting the cheese all up in this house yesterday afternoon for about 30 minutes. The boys requested a slice of cheese as their afternoon snack. Instead of giving them just a boring piece of pre-sliced cheese, I added a handful of Pampered Chef cookie cutters to the mix. They had a blast eating the shapes!

Free Swedish Fish t-shirt

Click here to get your free Swedish Fish t-shirt....crazy, huh?

Gators & play

When on vacation, one must (and will) eat out. While in Destin, we looked at the gators at Fuddpuckers. They were all on the small side (thank goodness) but then we found the mother of them all. That's when we piled on the kids and said, "Smile!". Also, if you happen to decide to eat a meal here, bring your Sharpie marker. The staff encourage everyone who walks through their doors to sign the wall.
Waiting in line to be seated is no fun. Our favorite of all Destin's restaurants is The Back Porch. Thank goodness it has a playground on the gulf front so the kids can be entertained while you wait.




Can't wait to go back!

Dominoes

A sweet friend gave my children a set of dominoes (hmmmmmm, I wonder why?). What a hit! Of course, the boys came up with some pretty unique ideas in how to play with them. Like my friend said, the intended purpose to dominoes is much more boring than what these kiddos thought up. This kept them busy for an hour!


First, they cooked up some domino fish to fry. They were yummy!


Then they made a drive-in barnyard, complete with farm and wild animals, farmer, and vehicles.

Thanks so much, CC!

Halloween countdown

I know that I'm a bigger fan of Reformation Day rather than Halloween, but they both bring out the creativity in me. I saw this pumpkin craft on another blog (sorry, can't remember which one) and decided it was so easy that the boys just had to make one.


Andrew cut the pumpkin, leg/arm strips, and some of the facial features. I helped him staple the arms and legs and then we stretched high to hang it on the kitchen wall. There are 30 links all together. Each night before going to bed, the boys cut a link off the pumpkin's leg (or hand). They really enjoy this!

Luke wanted a green dancing pumpkin 'cause he's always got his groove on. There's no other reason for the green pumpkin other than that. Sweet, huh?

Now, tomorrow I will Google ideas for crafts or activities involving "Diet of Worms" and the 95 Theses.

Three down, zero to go?

Well, not quite. Abigail is still a bit too young (in my book) to be fully potty-trained; however, she makes a great effort!

VP debate "Wordled"

Someone has wordled the VP debate that took place last night. Remember that the size of the words indicate how often they were said.

HT: Justin Taylor

Boardwalk

At the beach last week, there was one morning when it was too windy for us to get in the water. We decided to take the kids to the boardwalk where we saw a large number of fishermen/women casting their lines into the ocean water. The boys were eager to see fish come flying over the pier railing and were excited when one lady showed off her flapping bloody catch.

The wind was powerful on top of the pier, so we scurried off and played on a nearby playground.

Free Night of Theater

That's right, folks. Want a date night with your spouse that will cost you little money? To see this show, the tickets are free but you still have to pay that $4 per gallon for gas you'll use getting there. Theatre Communications Group is giving away a limited amount of free tickets to various city/locations in hopes of encouraging people to fall in love with the live stage.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the not-for-profit American theatre, developed this exciting and innovative national audience development initiative to attract new audiences and raise public awareness about live theatre. As TCG continues to roll out the Free Night program across an expanding national stage, the program provides a unique opportunity for theatres nationwide to collaborate on a project that provides access for new audiences to experience the joy of theatre for the first time.

Imagine how excited I was when I found out there is a free show in my city! My fingers are sitting on GO when the tickets are up for grabs on Saturday morning. Hope to see some of the locals there (Father of the Bride).

To find out if a free show is scheduled for your area, click here.

Lowe's "Build & Grow Workshop" for kids

If you are a parent to a child in the first through fifth grade, you might be interested in signing them up for a free Halloween craft clinic at Lowe's where they can make a wooden pumpkin or funny skeleton. Click here for more information.

Walgreens coupon

You betcha! It's time for another Walgreens $5 off $20 coupon. This one is good only Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, October 4. Click here to print yours.

It's a Meme (that sounds weird)

Becky has tagged me. I don't do these things often so it's kind of neat to answer the questions. I try to be fun like that...right, Bec?

1. Five names you go by:
Jawan
Jawanamo
J-One
Aunt Wannie
James-Wanda (get it?)

2. Three things you are wearing right now:
sandals
capris
black shirt

3. Three things you want very badly at the moment:
to be out of debt
to own our own house
to weigh less

4. Three things you did last night:
Blogged
made a fabric garland
read four chapters in a really good book

5. Three things you ate today.
scrambled eggs
chicken taco
slice of cheese

6. Three people you talk on the phone with?
My mom, Wanda
My sister, Angela
My college roommate, Libby

7. Three things you are going to do tomorrow?
mop the kitchen floor
play outside with my kids
go to the gym

8. Two longest car rides:
Georgia to Missouri
Georgia to Mississippi

9. Three of your favorite beverages
Diet Coke
Smirnoff Ice
Lynchburg Lemonade

10. What did you watch on TV tonight?
VP debate
some of the Phillies and Brewers baseball game
Fox News

Sand lover

Abigail loved playing in the sand at the beach. Can't you tell?

Anyone?

Ooooooo, this bag is pretty! Did I mention before that I can't sew nor do I own a machine? I think I have a friend who just got a machine (I'm not stating any names....Rosie). No, I don't want to make it. I'd foul it up royally. So.....uummmmmm.....anyone want to try the pattern out and let me pay a small price for the result?

Oh gosh, I can't believe I just stooped that low.

Thanks to House on Hill Road for showing off her beautiful work.

Freebies on your birthday

Click here to read all about what you can receive FREE (some almost free) on your birthday.

Free Razor for Men

Click here to get a free Schick Quattro Titanium Razor. It's for real! My husband got his in the mail a few weeks ago!

Thanks to Free 2 Be Frugal for sharing this offer.

Leaves, Leaves, Leaves

I love fall. I love how the leaves change their colors and then drop to the earth. I love making crafts with leaves....so....I think I'm gonna attempt to tackle these two leaf crafts with the boys this month.

1. Fall Leaves, by Maja*Made

2. Watercolor Leaves, by Mother Rising.

Free Movie

Click here to see how you can request a free family film delivered to your home.

Wordless Wednesday