Steals and Deals!

You all already know I am a clearance rack shopper who likes to find good deals.  For my friends out there who get excited about these things (and I know some of you who do!), here are a few steals and deals I have found over the past few weeks...

Super Why activity book = 49 cents

We don't have cable (and actually never have since we were married over nine years ago, something that has saved us so much time and money through the years) so any t.v. shows my kids watch are on public television.  One show they enjoy that is very educational and promotes reading is called Super Why.  When I saw these activity books for 49 cents apiece at Michael's, I treated them each to one!

Embroidered t-shirt = $2.99

I am not usually a Charlotte Russe shopper, but I wandered in there last week and found these cute and comfy t-shirts for $2.99.  Got one in blue and one in gray!  Perfect price and style for a busy mom.

Buzz Lightyear table with two chairs = $12.00

This was my favorite deal because it has already been used so much to the delight of my son!  My husband and I were picking up a few things at Walmart when we saw this round table with two chairs on the clearance aisle.  It is the perfect size for a three year old boy, and has a glossy finish so that markers, crayons, and other things can be easily wiped off.  It also folds up and stores easily. We got this for him on his big sister's first day of school, and he has so enjoyed having his own little place to sit and color, do projects, or play.

What steals and deals have you found lately?!  

Happy bargain hunting!

And In Other News, I Found Some Pretty Zucchini

Last week, I found some really pretty zucchini at Aldi.  I mean, some really pretty ones, and of course they were a good deal.

The other night we were having chicken parmesan for dinner so I sauteed several cloves of fresh garlic in olive oil, sliced up two of those zucchini, threw them in the pan and sauteed them, added a can of diced tomatoes, some more olive oil, sea salt, and another clove or two of fresh garlic, and covered it and let them cook a few minutes.  I added some grated mozzarella before serving.

Oh my goodness...this was so good.  So, so good. It reminded me of the side dish you can get sometimes at Carrabba's.  And it was super simple!

So if you find some pretty zucchini somewhere, you may want to give this a try!  Just make sure to be generous with the garlic for that savor...mmm.

By The Way....

By the way,  I have been using this in my coffee on many recent mornings.  Found it at Publix.  Wondered if it would be too strong, but it wasn't. Very smooth, very mild, very tasty!

Just thought I'd pass the word on to my fellow flavored creamer lovers out there!  Currently $1.50 at Publix.

P.S.

P.S.  My suitcase from our little getaway is still sitting in our room, almost but still not fully unpacked, 12 days later...just in case that makes any of you feel better about some loose ends in your life!

(We're all trying, right?!)

Sending love amidst both the contentment and the chaos,

Jennifer

The Seas Have Lifted Up Their Voice...

Two weeks ago today, our little family headed to the beach for two nights to enjoy some end of summer fun before we sent our daughter to kindergarten.  The day before we left I was getting ready for church and was just really feeling like I needed a special word from God - some of you know what I mean.  That feeling where you long to read something from God's Word that is going to be just right for the day.

I logged on to Our Daily Bread online, and was taken to Psalm 93.  The passage spoke of God's greatness and might.  Verses 3 and 4 of that chapter read as follows...

The seas have lifted up, O LORD, 

the seas have lifted up their voice; 

the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, 

mightier than the breakers of the sea— 

the LORD on high is mighty.

Those verses were on my heart as I spent a few days at my favorite place with my favorite people.  There is no escape I enjoy better than retreating to the beach with my family.  But as I enjoyed our little getaway, when I would glance out into the vast, gorgeous waters I was reminded that their very Creator is infinitely more beautiful and mighty than they, and that even the seas have lifted up their voice to Him in reverence and worship.  

First Day of School...

What is a first day of school?

It is picking out 49 cent and dollar items to set a special breakfast table to give her a memorable sendoff, baking those homemade sweet potato muffins she loves and her favorite baked oatmeal to start her day off right, laying out uniforms and packing backpacks and lunches and filling out forms and wondering if you've gotten it all, thinking that your heart is breaking yet feeling happy and excited at the same time, trying to sleep but not really being able to, getting up when it is still dark to get yourself and everything ready before you wake her up to get her ready, waiting a few minutes before getting her ready to just sit in your green chair and hold her while telling her some of the things you love about her and how great she is going to do, hiding your tears and getting her ready and serving her that special breakfast, admiring how darling she looks in those hot pink shoes and braids and recalling how her face looked as a baby, feeling your stomach do flip-flops as time to say goodbye draws closer,  smiling as she skips down the driveway with her backpack on to give good luck hugs and kisses to her grandparents, rejoicing as her dimple shines and her braids bounce with excitement as you take pictures on the driveway and other neighbors carting children off to school smile and wave as they drive by, giving her that last hug and kiss and covering her once again in prayer as her daddy bravely drives her to school because you knew you just couldn't do it, swallowing the lump in your throat and fighting back the tears as they pull off because you truly are excited to see her so excited.

It is settling into the day and realizing just how quiet it is without her around the house, counting the hours and minutes until you get to hear about her day and praying that everything is going well for her, baking homemade chocolate chip cookies because a few months ago she asked if you would ever make cookies for her after school for a snack and you said you would and want to keep that promise, getting butterflies in your stomach when it is time to pick her up, getting those hugs and kisses you missed all day and hearing about how great everything was in kindergarten, suddenly feeling completely and totally exhausted but knowing you will be doing this for another 12 to 14 years or so, eating dinner at Grammie and Paw Paw's and reviewing the day's exciting events, coming home to do her nightly reading and try to put her to bed early when she suddenly stops, turns to you, and says nine words that make your heart stand still...

"Momma, thank you for making this day so special."

Knowing you will never, ever, ever regret any time, effort, prayers, details, and love invested in her life no matter how exhausted you may feel.  Praising God for her tender heart and sweet spirit.  Holding her close and telling her she makes your days special.  Fighting back those tears once again.  Prayers before bedtime.  Knowing tomorrow is another day that will start in the dark and praying that it will also be a good one.  Praying for strength and wisdom for those next 12 to 14 years.  Gratefully acknowledging that this day, this first day of school, and all others are held carefully and protectively in the hand of a God you have loved since you were her age.  Trusting Him for this day, and the next, and the next...and forever.

That's what a first day of school is. 

The Wheels On the Bus...

Being our last Saturday before Madi starts kindergarten, I wanted to do something special with her as we anticipate this big day!  I did a few simple things to celebrate this milestone in her life and have some mommy-daughter fun...

First, I decorated the tree in our kitchen as a "Back to School" tree.

Second, in keeping with my love for aprons, I made the world's easiest aprons using iron on appliques and aprons purchased from Michael's (using my 40% off coupons of course!).  These are the "I can't sew" versions of homemade aprons!

Then I baked two loaves of pumpkin spice bread and set to work helping my daughter use them to make a School Bus Cake.  We had watched a little video about making one of these via an email I received from Disney Family, and she had been wanting to make it for weeks!  Interestingly, she remembered all the details about the directions and instructions.  I was impressed! 

I love to celebrate, and our first year of school is a big reason to do so!  As we worked on this little cake I remembered how "The Wheels On the Bus" was one of the first songs we taught her as a little toddler, and can still picture her doing the motions and singing in that baby voice.  Those baby days have come and gone, and I am thankful for every moment I have been blessed to share with this little girl, and for the time I have chosen to invest into her life up to this point.  Any moms of babies and toddlers reading this, hang in there - even in the frustration and exhaustion, invest as much time as you can.  Because they were right, it goes so fast. I am sure sending her off Monday will be both exciting and emotional, and I will keep you updated on how things go...please keep us in your prayers!

Love to all.