Vocation of Motherhood

Is This Possible?

Homemade Samoas?? (A.K.A. Caramel de-lights in Girl Scout Land). It IS Lent, and even though I'm exempt from certain food restrictions (you can probably figure out why), I'm thinking this recipe might be happening really soon in the kitchen. At least on Sunday :).

Happy Cooking!
Mary

P.S. Is there a patron saint of computer problems?? Anyone know? Because if there is, then I need some serious prayer in that area... have FINALLY got the dreaded svchost.exe error under control. However now my printer is GONE. Vanished. Poof! So until that gets reinstalled, the samoas will have to wait. Grrr. It didn't even occur to me to use a paper and pencil and copy the recipe from the website. How sad!

Cutting Down Expenses Even When You Don't Have To...

The other day I (gasp!!) canceled my cell phone contract. It was up for renewal, and each month it's been a sore spot in our budget. So I canceled it and am so happy I did. I guess for the last few thousand years the human race has somehow managed to get along without cell phones, so I'll be in good company.

This was not a "have to" kind of elimination of our budget, it was a "it's the right thing to do" for us sort of thing to do for our budget. We've taken the Financial Peace class from Dave Ramsey and it is good stuff! Now to really get it all into practice :).

Using coupons has helped immensely! However deep down, even without using coupons, I still believe (and Dave contends) that using a cash budget is the real key to financial peace. He's right. Using cash has been something I have struggled with for years. I'll do great for awhile... then fall right off the wagon.  Coupons have helped us to not run to the store for dishsoap (because I have about six in the pantry right now that I got for about .39 each) and to grab something quick for an impromptu dinner when we feel like "treating ourselves" (there's ton of canned soup available now (usually for .10-.40 per can; I rarely purchased it before because we primarily make everything homemade).

The goal is to build up a savings account and in the process, eliminate two debts that we have. Thank goodness we don't have any car payments and we don't have a credit card anymore (I still can't quite believe that!!). But we do have a HEL leftover from remodeling our house and my student loan. So we'll keep trudging on, and keep trying using a cash budget in the meantime. We'll probably never have the perfect financial life, and that's okay with us. Our children go to a small private Catholic school and it's worth it in other areas of our lives to cut down to make their schooling a priority. So wish me luck as I do the grocery shopping tomorrow on a cash-only basis, I'll need all the help I can get!

P.S. I sold my phone to Gazelle for 14.00! Nothing like making money when you save money!

Happy Saving!
Mary

Best Way to Spend a Friday Night in Pine City, MN!

Coming Soon.... and get tickets soon as they have been selling great!

A Miracle In Lanciano

Theater, Wine Tasting, and Auction Event

 

 

An evening of entertainment, enjoyment, and spiritual renewal.  Come with your friends to enjoy a wonderful play, wine tasting, live jazz music, and a silent auction!

“The play exposes in a beautiful and thought-provoking way the universal journey of the human heart toward fulfillment, unveiling how this journey is affected by one of the most unbelievable, ancient, and scientifically verified on-going miracles in Church history - the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy." 

In addition to this extremely moving one-act drama, local wine distributors will host wine tasting and teach the art of enjoying wine.  Light appetizers of cheese and fruit will be provided.  Enjoy all of this with live jazz music and bid on wonderful items at the silent auction. 

Free babysitting for ages 4+ is also included in the ticket price, with crafts, snacks, and entertainment, making this an event for the whole family! (Pre-registration required on ticket stub)

  

Tickets are $20

Limited seating, get your tickets early

 

6:00 PM                        —             Doors Open

6:30 PM                        —             Play Begins

7:45– 10:00 PM          —             Wine Tasting, Auction, and Live Music

 

For Ticket Orders Call Immaculate Conception Church at

320-629-2935 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EPIPHANY STUDIOS

Oscillo Coupon!

If you're a fan of Oscillococcinum, and alot of people are, then you'll enjoy this coupon! Good for both adult and children's versions!

Mary in MN

Coborn's Deals (Jan. 25-31, 2009)

Here are the weekly deals for Coborn's!


Canned Goods:

Hunt's Manwich B1G1
1.89/2
.50/2 1/18 S
.69 ea.

Campbell's Chunky Soup
B1G1 2.75 ea.
Print this and get 3 cans for .91 ea.
Plus you can use *I think* the .75/2 coupon, from the 1/18 SS, making them .48 ea.!

Hormel Chili
.99
.55/2 1/18SS
.74 ea.

Hunt's Manwich B1G1
1.89 ea.
.50/2 1/18 SS
.69 ea.

ROTEL TOMATOES

1.00 ea.
.30/1 1/18SS
.70 ea.

Cereals:

Kellogg's Rice Krispies
2/5.00
1.50/2 1/18 RP
1.75 ea.

Post Cereals (Honey Bunches of Oats,Post Select, 25 oz. Raisin Bran)
2/5.00
1.00/2 1/18SS
2.00 ea.


Condiments:

Frank's Redhot Sauce 2.19
.50/1 1/14SS
1.64 ea.


Kraft Salad Dressing B1G1
3.55 ea.
1.00/2 1/18SS
1.27 ea.

Kraft Mayo
2.99
.75/1 1/18SS
2.24 ea.

Cookies/Crackers/Snacks:

Keebler Crackers
2/5.00
1.00/2 12/14 SS
2.00 ea.

Snyder's Pretzels
2/5.00
1.00/1 MULTIGRAIN SNACK ONLY
1.50 if MULTIGRAIN SNACK is purchased


Dairy:
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT BUTTER 1.99
.40/1 1/18 RP
1.59 ea.

Jell-O Gelatin or Pudding
2/5.00
Use this printable for .60 off one, or .50/1 from 1/4SS
1.90 ea.

Velveeta
4.99
1.00/1 printable (down on the right hand side of this page)

Other:

Energizer Batteries
2/10.00
1.00/1 1/4 and 1/25 SS

Frozen:

LEAN CUISINE
5/11.00
1.00/2
1.80 ea. (when you use 2 q's)

NEW YORK GARLIC TOAST
2/5.50
.40/1 11/09/08 RP
2.35 ea.

Grocery:

Uncle Ben's COUNTRY INN RICE MIX
3/4.00
1.00/2 Printable when you sign up
1.00 ea.

Meat:

HILLSHIRE FARM LIT'L SMOKIES
2/5.00
*I think there is a 1.00/2 coupon out there*
2.00 ea.

Tyson Anytizers
7.99
.75/1 or 1.00/2/1 1/18 SS
7.24 ea.

KLEENEX COTTONELLE BATH TISSUE

6.99
.50 1/11 SS
6.49

KLEENEX VIVA PAPER TOWELS
6.99
.75/1 1/11 SS
or printable from website
6.24

Fresh Produce:

Marzetti Vegetable Dips
2.99
.50/1
2.49 ea.


That's it for this week! Enjoy and please pass this link along to someone else who might find it helpful. Happy Shopping!

Mary in MN