My First Give-Away!

I have never hosted a give-away before so I was very excited when My Blog Spark and Pillsbury contacted me with an offer for myself and  one lucky reader.   I was given a "Sweet Sunday Mornings Moments" gift pack which included a VIP coupon for  free Pillsbury Sweet Rolls and a photo album to hold cherished memories of my family.    Now,  I get to offer the same to one reader! 

So readers, here is the question?  What makes your Sunday Mornings special?   Do they start out with  delicious, warm Pillsbury  Sweet Rolls, drizzled with yummy icing?   Awwww, can't you just smell them right now?

Leave a comment to this post and tell me what makes your Sunday mornings special.  Please make sure to leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win.   I will number all entries and pull one number for the winner.  

I can only pick from comments to this post, so make sure and leave a quick comment if you want to win!   I will close out this contest on Friday March 5th and pick my winner  at that time.   The winner will be notified by email. 

Sunday Shopping / New Store

CVS purchases on left, Walgreens' purchases on right.  I felt it best to put a bit of space between the two.   I don't think the stores are too happy about being right across the street from one another, and I do not want to anger them.

The local CVS decided I was their best customer, so they built a brand-spankin' new store, just for me!    It is beautiful, and I am thrilled about it.  Okay, so maybe it is not just for me, but it should be, right?  Anyway, I am hoping they will be well stocked for all of my bargain hunting.  

I did alright in my quick Sunday shopping trip.   My total for both stores due to some great coupons is $ 7.23.   Not bad for 10 cans of tuna ( and I don't even like tuna, but the boys do), 4 Honey Nut Cherrios' cups, 1 Softsoap,  1 Air Wick freshener,  2 boxes of cereal, and 2 cans of tomato sauce. 

A Slice of Life

Husband and I just returned from a 2 day get-a-way.  

Oh how I love a little change of pace every now and then! 

 Yesterday was our oldest son's birthday, so we traveled to meet him and youngest for supper.  A friend of theirs came along and we had a really nice meal.  Afterwards we stopped at a Cold Stone Creamery (need I say more?)   After ice cream, husband and I headed to Springfield to spend the night.  We all met up again this morning and toured the Abraham Lincoln Museum.  That is a very worthwhile trip, but I did not expect it to make me cry.  Twice.  I teared up the first time when we reached the room of their dying son, then again when I watched the interactive map that had a running count of the causalities from the Civil War.  I guess it was a "mom" thing, but I couldn't help tearing up.  

Afterwards, our youngest led us to a great down-town pizza place and we had an amazing lunch.  He also suggested that we tour the Dana-Thomas House. (Frank Lloyd Wright designed).  That too was a treat.   

All in all it was just a great escape with our family and a good chance to celebrate our son's birthday. 

Tomorrow's worship will top the weekend off and then it will be back to the routine.  

Quick Trip to CVS and an Easy Supper

I am shopping less as of late, because we need so little.  I did run into CVS tonight to pick up just a few things.  I spent a total of $7.08 out of pocket and earned back $4.00 for my next trip.   I love these Glade candles, and these are the nice big 3 wick style.  This is our favorite toothpaste, so I was glad to get it as a money maker.  The other items were great deals as well, and I needed the milk.  I pretty much copied some of the deals from this site, so go here if you want the details.  Thanks to Jamie for the deals, and thanks to my friend Kara for one of the necessary coupons.  Can you believe it, I left home without a needed coupon? 

After CVS and a trip to the bank, I needed an easy supper.  This is one of my "go to" recipes for a tasty pizza supper.  My friend Kelley gave me the pizza dough recipe years ago and I have used it countless times.  Oldest son took this recipe with him to Amsterdam and made pizza for the crew at the hostel on several occasions during his 6 month employment there.  So, you could say this recipe has been around!   Tonight I doubled the recipe to have a thicker crust. The recipe below is the original recipe (not doubled)

***Take notice of what the pizza is on.  I bake my pizzas on what is known as a pizza screen.  You can get them at most restaurant supply stores.  They allow a more uniform baking on the bottom crust.  They are also amazing for oven fries.   In this picture the pizza screen is on top of a pizza pan, that is how I cut it (less crumbs on my stove)***

Pizza Dough

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 pkg dry yeast

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup hot water

1 TBS vegetable (or olive) oil

3/4 tsp sugar

Mix flour, yeast, salt, and sugar together in medium bowl.  Stir in water and oil.  Mix well and place in bowl with 1 TBS oil, turn dough to coat well with the oil.  cover and let rise 45 minutes or until double. Roll or spread into greased pan, top with favorite toppings , and bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes. 

Update / This never happens to me...

Husband is very fortunate tonight.  I am never this lucky.  I just wonder how long it will be before World War 3 breaks out on top of him?

"One step away from Heaven"

I asked husband to help me fold laundry.  He told me no.  This is quite unusual for him.  When I asked why, he told me, "Not now, I'm one step away from Heaven."   When I looked, this is what I found.  I guess I can't argue with this. 

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

You know the drill...click in the middle of this picture if you want to see these up close and personal! 

Do you remember the old Rice Krispie Treat commercial where the mom pretended she worked all day making them?  Well, this is one of those recipes.  It is so easy that you feel guilty.  Just throw your ingredients into the bread machine, walk away for a while.  Then you roll the dough out, slather it with goodness, and pop those babies in the oven.   A second rise is not required, although I might let them at least rise about 1/2 hour before baking.  They did spread out a lot, but did not rise much in height.  Other than that I would not change a thing.  But believe me, not having them rise a second time will not prevent us from gobbling them up!    The icing is very yummy as well.  

I found the recipe on Money Saving Mom's site and have included the link here.  I made mine a bit smaller than hers, because then I think I can eat twice as many...

I just decided this was "Be kind to husband week"  and have done my baking based on his favorites.  Tomorrow is Valentine's Day you know. 

Husband just had one and declared this recipe "A Keeper" 

Oatmeal Sugar Cookies

(To truly appreciate this picture, you need to click in the middle of it so you can see the "sugary-cinnamony"  goodness.)

I told husband that since I was out of school today that I would make him something special.  These are some of husband's very favorite cookies, but for some reason I forget about them.  They do require the extra steps of rolling into balls and then rolling in cinnamon-sugar, so maybe that is why I neglect making them.

They are very tasty though.  They are not your old fashioned soft and chewy oatmeal cookie. When baked just right they have a slightly crisp sugary outer "shell" and then they give way to a slightly bendable soft inside. The cinnamon-sugar coating sets these apart from most oatmeal cookies.  I think you would enjoy them.  

 There, I took a bite for you.

Husband should hurry home before they are all gone. 

Oatmeal Sugar Cookies

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup shortening

Cream together, then add:

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

Then add 3 cups quick cooking oats

Mix well, roll into small balls, then roll balls into a sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.  I usually rotate my cookie sheets half way through. Remove immediately to cooling racks.   Enjoy! 

SNOW DAY- 2nd in a Row!

I needed these days.  Yesterday I organized all of my coupons flyers, stripped the bed, made a yummy supper and relaxed (a lot).   Today I am emptying out my chest of drawers and completely sorting the contents.  This has needed done for a while.  I might move on to husband's clothing after that...He has accumulated quite a stash of tee shirts.  

My Life as of Late

I have not done much personal posting lately.  I guess that comes in seasons for me.  Sometimes I feel deeply about something and have to get it out, sometimes I keep stuff in.   Lately, I have held a lot in.  I have had many things I have turned over in my head, but not willing to put them out there, publicly, on a blog. 

As far as our family goes, the 4 of us are okay.  Oldest is seeking a better job, (and if anyone knows of something, please please let us know.)  Youngest is busy with school and is perfecting his artistic talents.  My boys are really quite creative.   I feel so blessed to have grown sons that love God, love us, and consider each other to be their best friend. 

My health is fine and sometimes I forget about my previous health concerns.  Odd that I would "forget", but sometimes I really do.  Cancer seems so far away and long ago.  I am so fortunate compared to others.

Life around us has changed, and we are trying to adjust.  Parents age,  family members face serious health issues,  friends disappoint,  finances fluctuate, and life goes on.  I am so thankful that we are Christians and can lean on and rely on God to get us through life's trials.  

At some point I may go deeper into all of the above, but for now I choose not to. 

I just wanted you to all know that I am still around.

Walgreens' Bargains

Without coupons this would have cost $79.50 , with coupons it cost just $19.97 plus I left with a $5.00 RR for my next trip.  Bottom line spending :  $14.97.  

I did not start out with any Register Rewards, but I did have some sweet coupons.  I did do 6 transactions to make everything work to my advantage.  No one was in line, and the clerk is super nice to me.  I go in there often, and I use a ton of coupons.  This store realizes how much income my coupons generate for them.   

I just mentioned to someone about 2 weeks ago that I was out of men's body wash.  Since last Sunday I have added 5 to the stockpile, and have made money on all of them!