Monday Memories: So, I was having a bad day...

Hey Everyone! I thought I'd start reposting some of my older posts on Mondays. Hope you enjoy! (From August 19, 2011)

A couple weeks ago I was having a really bad day. I have six boys (and just two girls) and sometimes the testosterone level just gets a little too high for my taste. Anyway, the two youngest boys seemed to be in super-duper hyperactive mode. They were bouncing around the house, loud, and not exactly following my list of things to do. I was getting quite stressed out when a couple of the older boys decided to "get into it." This is actually a rarity around here these days (thank goodness!) so when it happens, especially when I am already stressed, it really wears on me. It was just "one of those days."

On top of all of that, my oldest son's engine has recently died. Never fun. So, that evening he asked if he could use his dad's car or my van to go to church.  I told him he could, and he took the car. (The van is having its own issues since two cars collided in front of me, and then one of them crashed into me, at a four-way stop.)  Anyway, my son got to the church, drove into the parking lot, pulled into his space, and THUD! The bearing or something broke and the car was suddenly on the ground. I don't mean the tires, I mean, you know, the actual frame.  Okay, so now we were down to just my van and my other son's car. (We do have a fifth vehicle, but it's not exactly in road-worthy condition either.)

So, let's just say when I got the call from my son that evening, I was not exactly thrilled with the news. The day was nearly over and I was glad for it. And now this lovely news meant we had to survive with one less vehicle, and it had already been a bit of a challenge with my son's car broken down. Why this?

A little later a light bulb went off in my head. (And, mind you, it was not one of those new screwy mercury-laden ones that can contaminate your home. It was a good old thank-you-Thomas-Edison iridescent bulb.)  I realized that if my son's car had been running he'd have taken his own car and my husband would have taken his car to work the next day.  He drives nearly half an hour to work and at speeds up to 50 MPH.  It might very well have broken down while he was driving and caused an accident.  He and/or others could have been seriously hurt or worse.  Yet the timing was perfect when it broke down at the church.

So, here is what I learned: Sure, not all days are going to be perfect. Actually, none of them are.  Some days are going to bad, and some are going to be downright horrible. But how do you know that your bad day didn't keep you from having a horrible one that day, or the next, or at some other time in the future?  Once my little light bulb went off, I realized that maybe those broken down vehicles may have saved my husband's life.  Of course, maybe everything would have been okay had he taken his car in the morning, but either way, I know that God is Control.  And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Hi Tech Kids!

Psst... Please take my poll in the sidebar!  Thanks!!!  :)

The other day my youngest son, Baber, who is eight, was on the laptop when he still had school and chores to do, so I took it away from him.  The next thing I knew I found him sitting on the stairs with his portable DVD player!  I confiscated that, and told him to get going on his list.  He reluctantly gave it to me, and I took it and hid it.

I started going about my business when I saw him walking around, calculator in hand.  Really?  Is the kid that desperate to manipulate images on a screen?  So then I had to take away the calculator!  I finally realized that if I wasn't working along side him every step of the way he wasn't going to do anything he was supposed to be doing.  It was either that or hide all the digital watches!

People Pleasers and Potatoes

Psst... Before you read, would you just take a second to take the poll in my sidebar?  Please?

My name is Crazy Mom and I have a confession to make.  I am a people pleaser.  Yep, that's me.   A people please, a peacemaker, a pacifist.  In other words, my goal in life is to get others to like me and to avoid conflict at all cost.  Okay, it's not my only goal, but it pretty much describes who I am.

I am not alone in my people pleasing ways.  My sisters are both people pleasers too, as is my mother.  Lord help us if we offend.  We'll be traumatized for days.  Be nice to us. 

Now, I always knew our mom was a people pleaser, but I never realized how bad it was.  You see, we were at my brother's house for Christmas, and we were all helping out in the kitchen.  My older sister was washing dishes, and my mom and I were drying.  As I wiped out a bowl I noticed some left over mashed potatoes so I cleaned them off and for whatever reason mentioned it to my mom.  She proceeded to tell me that when she was new to the family, some fifty plus years ago, she was also in the kitchen helping dry dishes when she noticed some left over food.  Suddenly she found herself in a horrible dilemma.  Does she tell?  I mean, she's a perfectionist, but dare she insult her hostess?  Oh, my, what would she do?  She kept silent, and did the best she could to eliminate the evidence.  Fifty plus years late the memory still haunts her...

Now even I got a laugh out of that.  I couldn't believe she  was so perplexed.  I told her I certainly didn't think anyone would have thought twice about it if she'd handed the dish back and let them know they'd missed something.  Ah, but that is the life of a people pleaser.  I mean, I certainly understand. 

Now I'd bought two clear glass bowls of corn to the dinner, and I went to grab them before we left, but someone had already put them in the cupboard.  The problem was, I'd forgotten exactly what they looked like.  My sister-in-law pulled a few out of the cupboard.  One I knew was mine, but I wasn't sure about the other.  I took one, looked at it, and noticed something yellow in the bottom of the bowl.  I wiped it out with my finger, and sure enough, it was butter.  I felt like Monk at a crime scene!  It was my bowl alright, I'd loaded that corn up with butter.  So maybe missing a wee bit of food could be a good thing!  I couldn't help but consider the irony of the situation.  The bowl wasn't clean, but no one had noticed.  Or maybe they did, and just didn't say anything.  I wonder if my mom dried that one.  :)

Take My Poll!!!

I just added a little poll to my sidebar.  I'm trying to decide just exactly what my readers are looking for.  I know that I've been doing mostly reviews and haven't posted a whole lot of personal stuff. I thought I'd see if that's something you're looking for or if it's the reviews you want.  Vote today!!!

The Homeschool Hoarder/Keeper Challenge!!!

I have decided to take a suggestion from another homeschool mom, Jennifer, to make a goal for myself to get rid of one Wal*Mart (or other store) bag full of stuff every day.  I have set my own goal for this week.  I did fill a bag yesterday, and I have started a new bag today.  I am going to go for six day straight, so I'll end on Saturday.  Maybe I'll even do it again next week!

Will you join me?

I'm not saying you have to get rid of a bag of stuff everyday.  You can, if you'd like.  Or create your own goal!  If you blog about it, post the link in my comments, and I'll create a special post with the link (or links if more than one does this.) 

So clean, de-clutter, post, and link.  That's it!  :)

Happy homemaking!

Yikes! I Just Watched Hoarders! (Part 3)

Okay, it's been a while, but I am finally back to write some more about hoarding.  Well, not so much hoarding, but just, uh, let's call it "keeping."  I like that because that makes me a keeper, as in "Crazy Mom's a keeper."  LOL

Before I get to the today's topic at hand, which is how being frugal leads to hoarding, uh, keeping, I thought I'd explain the above photo.  This is one of my little hoarder pockets.  You see, my son had cleaned out the van.  Now, when my kids or Sane man "clean out" a vehicle, what they really do is contain the mess in garbage bags which they bring in the house for ME to sort through and put away.  So, in reality, I am cleaning out the van, though they don't see it that way.

So, anyway, my son Dode Man cleaned out the van and left everything in a laundry basket.  Then he did it again and put it all in a bag.  There were a couple of other bags from other such endeavors and they were in my dining room.  Appetizing, huh?  Well, they had been there for a while, so I thought I'd condense them all into an overflowing basket, take a picture, and show you one of my little projects.  My initial intent was to also take a pic of the empty basket, but I never did.  I'm sure if you try very hard you can imagine what it looked like.  LOL

Now onto the frugal thing.  :)

So, I came out from the womb frugal.  It's in my blood, and it's just the way I am.  It's the one good thing I actually picked up from my mom.  You see, my mom is thin, energetic, organized, and in ten times better health than me, and she is 82 years old.  I figure I was born backwards so I got the reverse of everything she is.  That's my theory, anyway.  However, the frugal thing must have already been transmitted to me through the umbilical cord, so frugal I am.

Now, being frugal is normally a good thing.  Because I'm frugal I don't go out and buy tons of stuff.   I think my sister got that one.  If she finds a shirt she likes, she'll buy it in every color.  She gives me bags of hand-me-down stuff and there will be like eight black sweaters in the bag only slightly different.  And this is the stuff she is getting rid of!  BUT, she is also neat and organized and has a huge walk-in closet, so it's not really a problem for her.  I do like a good sale though.  I do sometimes stock up on things, like today I bought 12 deodorants because they were 99 cents, but that isn't really my problem either. 

So if I'm frugal, and don't buy loads and loads of stuff, how have I become a "keeper?"  Well, I have a really hard time getting rid of stuff!  I mean, you know, I might use it some day.  For example, I have a really hard time getting rid of clothes.  If it has a stain or tear, it can still be "work" clothes.  If' it's a tad small, I'll lose the weight.  (Yeah, right!)  Now, like I said, I don't buy tons of clothes, but over the years I have gotten bags and bags and bags and bags of them.  Even when my kids had more than enough of them, I'd still take them.  After all, I have eight kids, right?

And books.  I love books!  But I have only two large bookcases and a storage cabinet.  I also have about five bookshelves worth of books.  The bookcases are where I keep most of my curriculum, but I have baskets and Rubbermaids (c) of books everywhere.  Of course, if I actually want to read one, I haven't a clue where it is.    So, what do I do?  I sign up to do book reviews!  LOL  So now more and more books show up my mailbox on a regular basis.   

I guess when I really think about it, most of my "keeper" issues are with clothes and books. 

Soooo.....  here's how I am dealing with it.  :)

As far as clothes go, I have made a new rule for myself.  I no longer accept bags of clothes.  Recently I made the mistake of letting someone give me some clothes for my girls.  Now, I had pretty much only been given boys clothes, because I have six boys.  So I said I'd take them.  Well, what I got was like a dozen bags of clothes!  It took quite some time to get through them all.  I mean, I was blessed, for sure, but wow, I just was way overwhelmed.  So, when someone offers me clothes I ask if them have what I specifically need, or if possible, I go through the bag, get what I want, and give the rest back.  I just don't have the space or time to sort through a lot of clothes.  Also, I have been trying to bag up as much as possible that we don't use.  I need to be the one giving the clothes away!

As for books, I simply have decided the make full use of the library.  My son loves a series on Christian heroes which I just assumed the library wouldn't carry, so I've been buying them up.  However, on a whim, I decided to see if I could, in fact, borrow them.  Well, surprise, surprise!  They have the books.  Now to get rid of the books we no longer need.  This will be a seriously long and arduous task.  It must be done, however, and I'm going to do it.  One day.  :)

Oh, I did think of one more thing I have trouble with.  It's with throwing away things that seem valuable, but that I don't need.  For example, those ever so versatile margarine tubs, or a nice pickle jar.  I didn't have to make any rules about this one, however, because my city recently started an awesome recycling plan.  I mean, I'm no greenie, but I LOVE recycling.  I can throw stuff away without really "wasting" it.  We actually fill up a 96 gallon bin of recyclables each and ever week.  Yeah, it really, really, helps.  I mean, I did throw the stuff away before, but it always felt somehow "wrong."  Now, it feels so "right."  Yes, I do realize I'm a bit odd.  ;)  (Okay, really, really, odd.)

So, that's it.  I am frugal, and it makes me a keeper.  Are you frugal?  How does it work for or against you when you are trying to clean and organize your home?  Any tips to share with the rest of us?  Please do tell!

Searching for Buried Treasure!!!

You know the commerical that asks, "What's in your wallet?" Well, I'd like to ask you, "What's under your couch cushions?"

I used to try to keep things clean under my couch cushions. Several years ago I had a weekly meeting in my home. Each Wednesday I would make sure to dutifully clean and even vacuum under each cushion. There was one time I didn't get to it, and wouldn't you know, some friends brought their sick kid to the meetin who proceeded to throw up right in the corner of my couch. It was clean up the puke myself and avoid letting them see what was lurking under there, or let them do it and expose myself. Well, in that case, I chose the latter, but any other time I would be just horrified if anyone saw what was actually under there. That is, until now. I see the junk under the couch cushions in a whole new light!

It's amazing how helpful it has been to keep that treasure trove just as it is! The other day I needed a pencil. I reached my hand in the cushion and "Voila!" there was a pencil! Then my husband yelled that his comb was missing as he rushed to get ready for work. I reach in my trusty treasure stash, and "Tada!" there was a comb! The other day my daughter had a great time. She decided to reach in to see what she could find. Wouldn't you know, she came up with two miniature Mr. Goodbars and a Starkist candy! What fun! So you see, you have to look at things in a different light. Now, whenever I need something, a pencil, comb, nail clippers, ponytail holder or midnight snack, I just reach on into my trusty couch and I am never disappointed. Just don't bring over any sick kids.

Take that cleanies!!!

~The Crazy Mom

Happy New Year from the Crazy House!!!

Hey Happy New Year!!!  Thought I'd say hello and give you a brief rundown of our 2010 and my hopes for 2011. 

In 2010 I began my third voyage with the TOS Homeschool Crew and have loved every minute of it, though I reviewed far fewer items than in the past.  This all looks to change in 2011 as I already have seven items to review for January!!!  I also for began blogging for MyBlogSpark and Timberdoodle this past year, and just recently signed on with My MoMents.  I also teach Spanish at our co-op and just finished teaching a semester of U.S. government.   Of course, I'm still schooling seven kids at home, thought the oldest two are more or less on their own. 

Sane Man is still trying to keep my from going too crazy, and has finally just about finished remodeling the kitchen, a project which has been going on for 15 years.  I think my husband thinks home improvement projects are like children and need at least 18 years to fully mature.  I suspect it will be at least three years before the kitchen is completely done.  LOL  He rocks at his job and his boss has promised "to take care of him."  I'm hoping to see that in his paychecks soon!  :)

First Born went to Africa for two months and loved it.  He had a great time and would go back in a heartbeat.  He came home and picked up a second job to pay off his debt.  He took the fall semester off so he could work, but will be going back in about a week.  He'll turn 20 in 2011 and when he does it will mark our first child to live through his teens and tell about it!  :)

Renaissance Man is doing everything like always.  He plays guitar in the youth band, continues to make fliers for youth events, and works as a web developer.  He was also part of a student leader training course and his team did lots of ministry over the course of the last several months.  God willing, he will graduate this year.  Whew!  Two down, six to go!

Mr. Personality is still on the Library Teen Advisory Board, and is now on part of our student government at our co-op.  He also joined the youth drama team and had a fairly large part in our church's Christmas production where he actually sang a duet.  He has also started to pick up the guitar and still enjoys playing his keyboard.  He's a junior this year. 

Woggit still is Woggit.  He's our least sociable child, but he has two good friends and he is totally okay with that.  He's not interested in music or sports, but he does like the computer.  His favorite game is Roblox, and he talks about it all the time.  He also still loves Garfield and has taken a liking to chess.  We got him a handheld electronic chess game for Christmas and he loves it. 

Princess is also part of our co-op's student government.  She is more like the three oldest boys in that she likes to be involved.  She is currently also serving as Vice President of the Library Teen Advisory Board.  She loves to read, write and sew.  She takes sewing lessons with a lovely lady with some other friends.  Unfortunately, she has not used her flute much this past year, so we are considering lessons in 2011.  This is her first year in what would be junior high.  Or is that middle school?  No matter, she is still doing school at the table, on the couch, or in her bed.  LOL

Dode Man is our drummer.  He got drum lessons for his 11th birthday and has been taking them ever since.  He loves it and it gives him a reason to tap on something.  He is also serving on our co-op's student council and wants to become a Library Teen Advisory Board member.  He has also thoroughly enjoyed his writing class as he has discovered that he has a real gift for writing, especially humor writing.  Some of his essays have literally had me laughing until I cried.  This year he has also discovered biographies.  He had been reading book after book about famous Christians and historical figures.  As a matter of fact, he just got four more books for Christmas.

At nine, Bear is just as adorable as ever.  I am cherishing having a little girl while I can!  She also takes sewing class with her big sister and is quite a little lady.  She loves to be a big girl and don an apron, set the table, and have a pleasant little party.  She is a stuffed animal lover and just got a HUGE bear from her big brothers.  She could not have been happier.  She still likes to play house and play with her dolls and I love it.  I am in no hurry at all for her to grow up.

Baber is seven and is still as feisty as ever.  As an eighth child, I'm not sure he had no choice!  He is quite a character, but he is also a great big love bug.  He is the last of my boys, and I am also cherishing every minute of his childhood that I can.  He is still working at reading, but we are getting there, and I suspect he'll be reading alone by the end of the year.  Baber is all boy and I love it. 

This year, like every other year, has been crazy.  We've had our challenges to be sure.  Next year will bring new ones, but we'll get through them all with God's help.  I pray that everyone who reads this will have a very blessed new year and that you will trust in the Lord to make it through!

Blessings!

Crazy Mom

Have a Taco Night, and win a Taco Night Prize Pack!!!

The winner has been chosen!!!  Congrats to Michelle Smith!!!

Hey there everyone!!!  I know it's been a while since I've had a contest, so here you go!!!  This time I am giving away an Old El Paso prize pack!  Check it out below.  EXCITING NOTE!!!  THE PRIZE PACK ALSO INCLUDES A $10 VISA GIFTCARD TO HELP PAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR YUMMY TACO DINNER!!!

As part of this promotion, I was sent one of these prize packs.  I actually didn't use the taco seasoning for tacos; I used it for burritos.  Please do not tell.  :)  Still, it was yummy nonetheless.  I have not used the cute chip and dip tray or serving dishes.  I teach beginning Spanish at out homeschool co-op and I thought I'd put them aside for our next fiesta!  (Funny thing, my class is smaller than my family, so this will work out perfectly!  LOL)

You can actually use the Old El Paso seasoning for all kinds of things.  Here's something different.  How about fish tacos?  Check out the recipe here.  Wanna add a little fun to your taco night?  Check out El Tacodar on the El Paso website. 

Would you like a coupon to help defray the cost of your taco night?  Download it here. 

Now, if you are 18 or older, and not in my immediate family, how about entering the contest?  It's easy!  All you have to do is leave a comment telling me how you would use the Old El Paso seasoning if you won it.  This is mandatory.  If you want additional entries, follow me with Google Friend Connect or "like" me on Facebook.  Leave a comment telling me how you follow me and you will get that extra entry.  If you do both, be sure to leave TWO additional comments so you get credit for doing both!  :)

Also, since I love sending my posts right to your e-mail inbox, I will give you THREE additional entries if you become a Feedburner subscriber.   Just leave THREE comments telling me you subscribed.  (So, each reader can get up to six entries!)

The contest will end Friday, October 29, 2010 at 11:59 pm Eastern time.  I'll choose a winner at http://www.random.org/ and annouce it within a few days. 

NOTE:  The coupon, information, and prize package for giveaway were all provided by Old El Paso through MyBlogSpark.

Happy Anniversary to Me. Oh,yeah, and to Sane Man Too.

The other day I celebrated 22 years of marital bliss to my dear husband, Sane Man.  Well, bliss might not be the word, but he does put up with me, and aside from being sane, the man's a saint.  I mean, if you had to be married to me, you WOULD understand.

So we're old now.  We really had no big plans for our special day.  We did go out to dinner and that was really it.  We couldn't think of anything else to do.  All we did was stop at the drug store to get my son some medicine and get gas.  How romantic.

There was one thing I did want to do for my anniversary,  get my engagement ring fixed.  You see, I'd lost the diamond out of it (it's okay, I found it), and I wanted to take it to the jewelers.  I did take it with me, but the place we bought it is no longer there, and we weren't sure where to take it.  It got to be late so we never got to it.  (You know all that getting gas and drugs takes time.)

Anyway, I got home and decided that I should probably get my wedding band enlarged a little as it is quite tight.  While I was thinking of it, I decided to take it off and put it with my engagement ring.  Well, boy was it stuck on there.  My poor finger was actually suffocating.  I got out the Vaseline.  I ran my hand under cold water.  I twisted and pulled.   But I could barely budge it.  This is when my dear husband decided to get involved.

Sane Man:  You'd better let me help you get that off.

Me:  NO!  I can do it.  It already hurts enough.

Sane Man:  Your finger is turning purple.  You're cutting off your circulation.

Me:  I can do it.

Sane Man:  You're not doing it.

Me:  But it will hurt.

Sane Man:  You need to get it off.  It won't hurt that bad.

Me:  Okay.  I guess.  But, please don't hurt me too much.

Sane Man:  Come here.  (Starts pulling.)

Me: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Sane Man:  It's off.  That wasn't that bad, was it?

Me:  It was like giving birth.

Then I had to think about it for a minute.  Just how many women spend their anniversary having their husbands rip their wedding rings off?  Not many I hope!  :)

The Claw Lady!!!

You know those machines that have the big claws that you use to try to win a toy?  You know, the ones that eat quarters like a stressed out mom eats chocolate?  Well, I, for one, hate those things.  Every time I go somewhere where they have one of those, my kids are drawn to them like flies to, uh, left out food.  I have told them over and over that they are just a scam and a big waste of money.  I think they actually started to believe me.

Then a few weeks ago my son Baber was at the bowling alley the day after his birthday.  He had the quarter with him that his grandma had taped to his present.  In went the quarter to the claw machine.  Out came a very cute, but cheap toy frog.

Okay, so now I'm a liar.  I had told him that you can never win those toys.  I had to restate that, yes, you CAN win SOMETIMES, but it is about as rare as one of my kids picking up their mess after being told only six or seven times.  I mean, it really just about never, ever happens.

So, fast forward to today.  I took the kids to the store and was at the register paying the bill.  The kind people at the store had the foresight to put one of those claw machines right across from the register.  My two youngest, Baber, who now thinks he has some serious clawing skills, and Bear who is also a believer.  Well, I'm watching then out of the corner of my eye when I see this nice older lady workin' the claw.  She drops in the quarter.  Grabs a toy.  Then gives the toy to my son.  Okay.  Now I'm REALLY a liar.  But wait, there's more!  She could hardly give a toy to one kid and not the other, right?  So in goes another quarter, and wouldn't ya know it?  Another toy!  So she gives it to my daughter!  And if that weren't enough she gave them a dollar so that they could each try twice.  Okay, well thankfully they didn't win.

When I got done at the register I walked over and talked to the lady and "thanked her" for the toys.  (I put that in quotes as I can't honestly say I am thankful for two more stuffed animals around here.)  She then proceeded to tell me that she was totally into the claw game and would win them throughout the year to give out to kids on Halloween.  She loves the claw so much that she even had a mini-claw game at home!

So now what is a mother to do?  I have been outed as a liar as now my kids are just SURE that all it takes is a quarter or two to get a toy.  I am going to have to avoid those claw machines like the plague.  But like those little guys in Toy Story, I think the claw has come to get me.  I have been chosen.

Just hope I don't become...The Claw Lady!!!

Hello from Crazy Mom!!!

It has dawned on my that I haven't posted any "personal" posts in quite so time, so I just thought I'd take a moment to say hello!

I know I have a lot of new readers, so I thought I'd tell you a little about myself.  Well, first of all I am a Christian.  :)  I am also a homeschooling mom of eight.  Well, technically a homeschooling mom of only seven as I graduated my oldest son, First Born, last year.  He is currently in Africa on a two month mission trip. 

I have five other boys,  Renaissance Man, who is one of those kids who is good at everything.  Music. Sports.  Computer Programming.  You name it, he can do it.  Well, not keep his room clean or get himself up in the morning, but pretty much anything else!  LOL

Mr. Personality is my social one.  He love to talk about just about anything, but he likes to go for those "forbidden" topics you are not supposed to bring up in polite conversation.  Yes, religion and politics!  LOL

Woggit is my not-so-social one.  He hates attending large events and would rather curl up with a good book or play on the computer if only he wouldn't keep getting grounded off of it for going on it before doing his chores.

Dode Man is all energy.  The kid never stops moving.  He's ten and quite a handful, but a real lovable little guy.

Baber is my youngest child.  He is adorable.  He has no intention of blending into the background, and is very adept at making his opinions known.

Then there are the two sweet girls, Princess and Bear.  They are both girlie and I love it.  They are both far better homemakers than I am and are even learning to sew.  :)

I am just a very ADD, disorganized gal who tried so hard to keep it all together but hasn't quite figured it all out.  I am married to Sane Man and he puts up with me, thank goodness!

We all live together in a small house with one bathroom.  Yes, it's crazy, but I wouldn't want it any other way!

Become a Loser and win a Prize!!! LOL

This contest is now closed.  Congrats to Debra!!!

 

OK, friends, I have pledged to lose ten pounds, and I am helping to feed the hungry in the process!  No, I'm not going to give away my leftovers; I'm participating in the Pound for Pound challenge!!!  I hope you'll join me!!!  Here's some info from the folks who are sponsoring this effort:

The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, General Mills, NBC's hit TV Show "The Biggest Loser" and other key sponsors are partnering to donate up to $1,080,000 to Feeding America this year.


Here´s how you can help:

Visit http://www.pfpchallenge.com/Kroger to make your pledge to lose weight and to get more information and to find tools to change your life for the better. It is free, easy and only takes a minute to make a change that can help you and help the hungry in your local community.

Through June 30, 2010, for every pound you pledge to lose, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14¢ to Feeding America® - enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank.

As the official supplier of the Biggest Loser Ranch and partner of the Pound for Pound Challenge, the Kroger Family of Stores wants to help you achieve your goals. If you´re a fan of the Biggest Loser, you may have seen several great General Mills products featured on the show. These products, including Yoplait Greek yogurt, Total, and Multigrain Cheerios, are available at your local Kroger Family of Stores and can help you stick to your weight management plan.

So are you into it?  I hope so!  I know some of you are already the perfect weight, but it' a rare person that doesn't need to lost a pound or two. 

Now for the contest!  Would you like a $30 Kroger* card so you can buy some of the products that are featured on Biggest Loser?  Just leave me a comment telling me whether or not you have joined the challenge.  You don't have to tell me how many pounds you pledge to lose if you don't want to. :)   I'll accept comments until Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 11:59 PM.  Anyone can enter who is at least 18 years old and is not in my immediate family.  Of course, you'll want to be in an area where there is a store where you can use the card!  LOL  You must leave me an e-mail address or some other way for me to contact you if you win!!!

I'll also let you get an extra entry for following me on Twitter, Facebook, or as a Google Connect friend.  If you subscribe via Feedburner, I'll give you THREE extra entries.  You must leave a seperate comment for EACH of these additional entries. 

~ The Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

*The Kroger Family of Stores includes Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralph´s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillon's, Smith´s, Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy.
 
Good luck!!!  :)

WIN A FREE MAKEOVER OR PROGRESSO PRIZE PACK!!!

Sorry!  My contest is now closed, but you can still enter to win the NYC Makeover!!!

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! Won't you be my friend? Just check out my sidebar for lots of way to stay connected to my blog!!!

Can you even imagine winning a free makeover in New York City? Like, yeah, that would be totally cool! I need all the help I can get! Well, I was excited to find out that I can enter the contest, and so can you! The instructions for entering are below, but please humor me and let me tell you about another contest that I am having with a little help from MyBlogSpark right here on my blog!

A while back, I was contacted by MyBlogSpark to see if I might want to try out their Progresso soups as well as get a free jump roap and mug. Well, duh! LOL Soup is great to have around during the cold winter months. They make for an easy to prepare and tasty lunch. What I really like, though, is that they sent me 15 cans of soup including both Progresso Light and 100 Calorie Soups. If you read my blog much, you'll know that I am TRYING to get in better shape. I figure eating a light lunch is just one small step I can take to achieve that goal! (*Note: Mr. Personality, I just realized, is eating a can of my soup as I type!)

Would you like to win two cans of soup, a jump rope and a mug? It's easy to enter. Just leave a comment telling me what your favorite soup is. I will choose the winner on March 1, 2010 You must enter by 11:59 P.M. on February 28, 2010.  You must be 18 to enter and unrelated to me!  :)  Note: This does NOT enter you in the contest for the makeover.

Also, you must leave me an e-mail or blog/ address unless I know you personally and can figure out who you are from your comment. I will NOT include your comment in the drawing if I don't know who you are and have no way of contacting you.

Now, on to the BIG contest!!!

Progresso “Souper You Debut” Contest

From January 4 through March 15th, you can visit http://www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to enter the Progresso “Souper You Debut” contest for the chance to win a full makeover in New York City.

Three grand prize winners will be awarded a trip for two to New York City from May 21st-23rd. The prize includes round-trip airfare, a two-night stay in a NYC hotel, a full makeover, a $1,000 wardrobe shopping spree, and personal consultation at a New York department store.

To enter, you’ll need to do the following:

Go to www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to learn more and enter the contest.

Submit your essay (200 characters or less) telling Progresso why you love Progresso Light or 100 Calorie Soups and why you would like a makeover.

In addition, please submit a photo of yourself that visually reinforces the theme of your essay.

Once you enter, you’ll have the chance for your photo and/or an excerpt from your essay to appear on http://www.Progresso.com/SouperYou, so be sure to check back frequently! Once the 10 finalists are announced, you can visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou from March 29 through April 12 to vote for your favorite.

In addition, throughout the duration of the contest you can visit http://www.Progresso.com/SouperYou  to download a coupon for $1 off any three varieties of Progresso Soup!

So there you have it. Two contest for you to enter this time around! I'm looking forward to announcing the winner, and maybe even winning a makeover myself!!!

NOTE: The Progresso soup, gift pack, information, and giveaway were all provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

NOT ME MONDAY!!! FEB. 22, 2010

Don't miss a moment of my insanity!!!  Go to my sidebar and sign up to get my posts deliverered right to your inbox!!!  Just put your e-mail address in the little box where it says FEEDBURNER, verify, and start reading my posts without having to come over to my blog!!! 

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Last week was NOT surreal. I was not an emotional wreck for no apparent reason. I did not feel like crying every minute of every day. And as a matter of fact, I did not break down and cry just because my son told me my jokes weren't funny. No, I did NOT throw myself on the bed like a jilted teenager and just bawl my eyes out. That would just be too weird. (And it would freak out my dear son! LOL)

I did NOT have to spend an entire day looking for my son's expensive calculator.

I did NOT pass up my turn on the way to church.

I did NOT get in my ten minutes of exercising doing the Oompa Loompa dance in the basement with my four youngest children.

I was NOT a day late for two of my TOS reviews, and a shocking TWO DAYS LATE on one of them! (Or they might not let me back on next year!!! Yikes!!!)

I was totally emotionally balanced, efficient, organized, and mature in every way.

Of course I was!!! :)

Fail. Fail. Fail EPIC fail!!!

Imagine me hanging my head in shame.  Well, I'm not.  It's too hard to eat that way.  No, I did not exercise this week.  Not once.  Not one jumping jack, not one crunch, and ZERO push ups, unlike some other people.  I am truly a bad, bad girl.

I've tried to think of a good excuse.  I didn't feel well earlier in the week.  I was out a bit more than usual.  I was wearing my boots and not my running shoes.  I am already wasting away to nothing.  No.  Not one of those excuses will work.  I was just a very, very bad girl.

Sweet Michelle has been so good to me and has even reminded me to exercise, but I haven't.  I meant to.  I really did.  But I did not.

So this week, I am going to have to make myself accountable to someone else.  Or should I say Someone else?  Yes, that's right.  I am going to make myself accountable to God this week.  If I tell him I'll exercise, I'll exercise.  At least ten minutes three times this week.  I have to.  I can break a promise to Denise, Mrs. White, Michelle, etc.  But when I make a promise to God, I will keep it!!!

Now, Michelle, that does not leave you off the hook.  I'll still let him use you to remind me!  :)

And BTW, Mrs. White, don't worry about that M&M Mars stock!!!

To join us, just go to Chai Mommy's site and check it out!!!

Fit Mommy Friday ~ Week 5

 

I know you're all dying for an update from me.  Well, I actually do have a little bit of good news to report!  Thanks to Michelle's nagging encouragement, I did exercise twice this week for ten minutes!  (Yes, I mean ten minute EACH time!  LOL)

On both Monday and Wednesday I actually set my little microwave timer and exercised.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you that ten minutes has me feeling like I need to call 911.  I am that out of shape.  To make things easier on myself, on Wednesday, I had my daughter put on Weird Al so I could dancercise away those pounds.  I haven't weighed myself lately, but I doubt too many of those pounds have actually dancercised too far home, but it's something, isn't it? 

Can't say my eating has been great, but I do try to hold back just a little.  Looking forward to Lent when I give up all sweets completely.  Of course, then I am just compelled to eat a lot of salty stuff, so I'm not sure how much good it does me spiritually, but I suppose it can't hurt.

Anyway, that's it.  Not much to tell, but I am making baby steps. 

Michelle, I'm counting on you to keep on me again this week!  :)

To see how the rest of the gals are doing, click here. 

A little funny. :)

Won't you please scroll down and take the poll in my side bar?  And while you're at it, how about becoming a Facebook fan, a Twitter follower, or follower.  You can even subscribe to my blog and get my posts in your inbox! 

I was doing a reading lesson with Baber, 6,yesterday and we got to to a word he read wrong because it isn't pronounced phonetically.  I gave him the right pronunciation and he said knowingly, "Oh!  It's a jaw breaker!"

I was like, "Don't you mean rule breaker?"

And he was like, "Oh. Yeah." :)

Not Me! Monday! February 1, 2010

Dearest Readers, I implore you to please be my bosom friend and check out my sidebar.  Take my poll, become a Twitter follower or Facebook fan, or even subscribe to my blog by e-mail.  It would make me oh so happy.  Be a dear, and take just a quick moment out of your busy day to make mine oh so much more glorious.    

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I suppose it hasn't been a very bad week.  After all, I did NOT get the sixth virus I've had since the school year began.  My fingers I did NOT smash two weeks ago, still do NOT hurt.  I do NOT have a mountain of laundry ready to be folded, organized, and put away on my couch, and I do NOT have a bunch of books in Rubbermaids, all ready to be sorted and put away, even though I only have two bookshelves which isn't nearly enough space.

My kids on the other hand have been such dismal failures.  The younger kids did NOT clean the basement and laundry room.  My daughter Princess did NOT make a pan of brownies, some pudding, and a pie.  Bear, my eight-year-old, did NOT make dinner three days in a row, since I was NOT sick.  Mr. Personality did NOT make $40 shoveling show.  My two oldest, First Born and Ren, did NOT make the dean's list at college.  Ren did NOT get asked to join an honor society.  And finally, Ren and Mr. P. did not pass the final exams for the discipleship class at church. 

On a lighter note, my son Dode Man did NOT just whack me in the face with a legal pad as I typed this all out.  At least one of my kids knows how to act!  LOL

To find out what others have NOT been doing, click here. 

Five Question Friday ~ January 29, 2010

STOP!!!  I'd really like it if you'd take the poll in my sidebar, if you haven't already.  (Scroll down.)  Also, from my sidebar, you can follow me on Twitter and become a Facebook Fan. 

NEW!!!  You can now subscribe to my blog via e-mail!!!  Yes, that's right, just type in your e-mail address in the sidebar and get my posts delivered right to your inbox!  I know it's what you always dreamed of, right???  LOL 

Now, back to my regularly scheduled blog...

Here's another edition of Five Question Friday.  To participate or read more Five Question Friday entries, check out

http://www.fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/.

Things went strange on me as I posted my 5QF on my other blog, so I didn't dare try to transfer it over here.  Instead, I'll just give you the link and ask you to forgive some formatting weirdness. 

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/752870/

Thanks!!!