Kmart Doubles 8/30-9/5: The Last Hurrah!

I just got word that Kmart is having what may be the last double coupon event next week (8/30-9/5)
Both the Newport store and the Erlanger store are participating. I'm not sure about any other local stores.

"My Frugal Adventures" has posted an awesome list of coupon match-ups and the "Rules".

Many "Free or Cheap" items. 

 It's time to stockpile!

If you are a serious couponer, check this out
Kmart Doubles 8/30-9/5: The Last Hurrah!

HAPPY SHOPPING!!  HAPPY SAVING!!

Also Walgreens and CVS are having very good sales this week.  I will try to post the lists for them later.


LOVE GRAMMY<><

THANKS FOR ALL THE MUD PIES

This is a picture of my Mom. Isn't she beautiful?


I posted this back in August of last year because my Mom was born and died in August. 
I'm posting it today because I'm thinking a lot about  past Mother's Days....
and because I really miss her today.


She was a very strong woman!


She was married to the same man for 56 years.
She raised 5 children (4 of them boys!)
She worked outside the home for much of her life.
1942: While she was pregnant with her 3rd child, she lost her Mom, Dad, brother, a niece and nephew in a horrible house fire. Six weeks later, her sister died with TB, and of course that was the year war broke out.
1992: my Dad died . Two months later my oldest brother died. (He was buried on her birthday)
1996: my 3rd brother died. Three months later, my nephew died.
 Within 5 years she lost these ones I mentioned plus several other family members that were very close to her.
And during that time, she was diagnosed with lung cancer)


 Even though she had a lot of tragedy in her life, she was fun to be with, she laughed a lot, she was the life of every party, and she never met a stranger.
Some people tell me I’m a lot like my Mom. I consider that a compliment and an honor.

Today I will honor her memory by sharing this poem I wrote for her many years ago.

 THANKS FOR THE MUD PIES

 

When I was just a little kid,

Back in the "olden" days,

I did the things a little kid does,

Played games that a little kid plays.

I remember one thing that you let me do,

That sticks the most in my mind,

Was making "MUD PIES" (and making a mess),

With "pie pans" that you'd help me find.

You'd look 'round in that big ol' kitchen,

Take jar lids and stuf' off the shelf,

And send me out in the back yard,

To make a mess of it and myself.

And now that I'm grown, with kids of my own,

It's now that I realize,

It's not just MUD, but PATIENCE and LOVE,

That go into making MUD PIES.

There's many things I could thank you for,

I wouldn't know just where to start.

But somehow it's always those MUD PIES,

That stick in my mind and my heart.
.

You took care of all the big things,

But somehow you must have known,

It's not the big, but the little things,
That make a house a home.

And now when I'm weary of doing,

All the things that a Mom must do,

I take time to think of those MUD PIES,

And I thank God for a Mom like you.

And now that I'm grown, with kids of my own,

It's now that I realize,

And say "thanks for all the PATIENCE and LOVE,"

And "THANKS FOR ALL THE MUD PIES!”

LOVE GRAMMY<><

MY GROWN UP SON

I was just reading a post by a precious friend of mine on Facebook about trying to keep her house clean with two small boys. It made me think of an old poem that I found years ago.

The author is unknown.

Since my two sons are grown up now,
I thought I would share it with her--
and all the mothers (and fathers) with small children.


MY GROWN-UP SON:
My hands were busy through the day;
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked me to--
I didn’t have much time for you.

I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook;
but when you’d bring your picture book,
And ask me please to share your fun;
I’d say “a little later son.

”I’d tuck you in all safe at night,
and hear your prayers, turn out the light,
Then tip-toe softly to the door....
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.

For life is short, the years rush past...
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away;
there are no longer games to play,
No good-night kiss no prayer to hear---
That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do the little things you asked me to.

(Yeah, I have a tear in my eye, too.)

Some more "WORDS OF WISDOM" I shared with my friend,

and will share with you is:

A clean house can't give you a hug. A clean house is for a later time.

Now is for Big Hugs from Little People!!!

It's nice when that miracle happens and the house, and the kids, are clean

and the laundry is finished and supper is ready on the stove

all at the same time........

or even all in the same day...or same week...or same year...

or same lifetime!...

BUT...a clean house and all that other stuff----

should be wayyyy down the priority list!

At the top should be the important things,

like:

LOTS OF..

hugs, kisses, tickling--followed by giggling,

water guns, in the summer and snow balls, in the winter

(both outside of course),

tea parties, swimming, ball games,

swinging, sliding, climbing,

books, crayons, finger paints,

piggy-back rides,

singing, stories, naps,

and general fun---

ALL enjoyed by parents and kids TOGETHER!!!!

LOVE GRAMMY<><

A VERY SPECIAL DAY

Today is my husband's birthday! He is 63 years old.

We will celebrate on Sunday,

with his favorite dinner and pies for dessert....

It will be at his favorite place.

Right in the middle of our kids and grandkids!

Just like in this picture....

Some of our family lives away :( ,

but everyone that's close by will be here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUU...(cha,cha,cha)..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUU...(cha,cha,cha)..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR "DEETDAHHHH"..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUU...

(and many more, til' you're a hundred and fifty four)

That's "Happy Birthday"as it would be sung by our grandkids.

("Deetdah" is what they call him...Our oldest grandson, who is almost 16 years old, couldn't say Grandpa and "Deetdah" is what came out, and it just stuck!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BILL!

ABYOU FOREVER! (another story for another day)

LOVE GRAMMY<><

I'M BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

"...Yes, I'm back in the saddle again"......

I LOVE saving money with coupons, but this has been a very busy summer and I've kind of been slacking. I still search for the deals and use coupons, but just not to the extent that I use to.

Then, one day last week, a friend of mine posted on Facebook how she had saved 52% at Kroger (that's where I do most of my grocery shopping). That really inspired me...and, of course,

THE CHALLENGE WAS ON!

Sooooo, I clipped, sorted, organized, ALL my coupons...Looked at my favorite blogs to get my deal list and I was off!

First, at Kroger, I got $220.00 worth of groceries for $120.00. That's a savings of $103.00! or 46% !! I know it isn't the 52% that my friend saved, but it sure felt good--and saving $103.00 is like making $103.00--not bad for @5 hours work. ( It took a little longer because I was behind on my clipping etc.)


OK, now on to K-Mart! I got $52.00 worth of stuff there for $7.50. That's a savings of $44.50! or 86% !!

NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' 'BOUT!!

(Oh, and BTW, $2.48 of the $7.50 was tax! )

I had to work a little harder for this savings because I was with my friend and her 3 little ones--but on the other hand, where can you go for a day out with some favorite friends and have all the fun and fellowship a person can handle for $10.29 (We met at Mc Donalds Playland beforehand and let the kids play while we got our coupons and list ready...Lunch-$2.79)

There's more, but I'm saving it for later blog about "BARTERING".

Sooo, I'm looking..... for the...uhh......yes......here it is.....

I found it.....my ol' crown.......

OK.....let me....just......put it on......There.....That's better!!

THE COUPON QUEEN IS BACK!

It's just like riding a bike (or a horse)....
(or maybe a shopping cart)

...."Yes, I'm back in the saddle again"....

LOVE GRAMMY<><

LESSONS FROM THE GARDEN

My family(consisting of my husband and me,our kids and our grand kids) has a garden this year. It's not a very big garden. Well, it depends on what you compare it to. Our lot is 100' X 150' and our garden is 30' X 40'.

It's been a while since we have had a garden of any size (unless you count the tomatoes in pots on the deck last year), so it has been a learning experience for all of us......to say the least :)

We have shared the work--plowing, planting, weeding, watering, picking, canning, freezing, cooking, and eating. Some of us have helped with some things more than others.....(Some, who shall remain nameless, seem to only show up on the "eating" part :)

As I said, it's been a learning experience. Remembering some things from childhood and learning some new things about gardening, but, for some reason, I have been learning a lot of "life lessons" from our garden.

The parable of the sower comes to mind right away...and them there's "give and it will be given.." and many more.

I hope to be sharing what "practical" and "life" lessons I've learned in the next week or two, along with some pictures, but for now I will just say that our garden has been a blessing to our family and is helping us to "grow"(no pun intended).

LOVE GRAMMY<><