Disney Give A Day - Get A Day

Over the last six weeks, the girls have been collecting food for a local food pantry at our homeschool co-op. Well, today was the day that we got to deliver the food and take a tour of the food pantry. This is a VERY well run pantry and we were quite impressed. The girls were earning a ticket to Disney World through the Disney Give-A-Day, Get-A-Day program. They did a great job and it was very rewarding for all of us. And the tour today qualifies as a field trip day!

K-Doodle and C-Sunshine loaded the car with donations.

This is the director of the food pantry along with a volunteer who is actually working on what we brought in! It was neat to watch it come in and flow through the system.

Blessings till next time!

My First Coupon Shopping Day

Okay, after hearing everyone rave over how much money they are saving for their families, I decided to do a day of Coupon power shopping at Publix today. I was always hesitant because we eat mostly whole organic foods. But because I am trying to save some cash these days, I decided to venture in and see what I could get.

I went to SouthernSavers and IHeartPublix to get the lo down on what to buy. I also went to the publix website and made my shopping list. I had purchased the papers for coupons last Sunday, but honestly, most of the coupons I printed online. I am impressed with what I got. My total ended up being $47.26 and I had a savings of $64.97. Not bad my first time out of the box! This even included a few items that were not on sale and I had no coupons for. But needed. I am going to try and do this power shopping each week along with my organic produce co-op ONLY. We will see how I do.

Today's take included 3 boxes of organic granola bars, 2 1/2 gallons of organic milk and two boxes of organic cereal. And tons of other stuff. Yes, I did buy the toaster Strudel. It was free, so I couldn't pass it up. My girls are really excited about that. They were my helpers today. If you haven't try the coupon and deal grocery shopping. I suggest you get on board for a week and see what you can get for your money. Now we can spend the extra on fun stuff for learning! :)

Meal Planning Week of April 26th

In an attempt to institute meal planning into my life again, I am going to be posting my weekly meal plans here. In the past, when I was doing them on paper, they would be good for a week or two, but then they would be lost in the shuffle of our everyday lives. Here I will have to face them. Atleast weekly. :)

Monday:
Breakfast - Whole Wheat pancakes with maple syrup
Lunch - Hard boiled eggs (or egg salad) with toast, fruit
Dinner - Whole Roasted Chicken, Lima Beans, Potatoes

Tuesday:
Breakfast - Homemade raspberry or chocolate chip muffins (baked and frozen), fruit
Lunch - Pizza Party at our homeschool co-op
Dinner - Sandwiches before soccer

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Cereal or muffins, fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches with Raw Carrots & Fruit
Dinner - Beef Tacos, refried beans, chips with salsa (homemade)

Thursday:
Breakfast - Oatmeal Bake, Pears
Lunch - Elbow Macaroni with sprinkled cheese on top
Dinner - Ham, scalloped potatoes and green peas

Friday:
Breakfast - Eggs and Toast
Lunch - Tomato Soup and cheese toasties
Dinner - Blackened grilled chicken on a bed of greens, fresh baked bread

Saturday:
Breakfast - Waffles with maple syrup, sausage
Lunch - Sandwiches, fruit
Dinner - Fettuccine Alfredo, salad and fresh baked bread

Sunday:
Breakfast - Dad's Speciality Breakfast (He loves doing this!)
Lunch - Leftovers or Sandwiches, fruit
Dinner - Turkey burgers on the grill, potatoes, baked beans

Happy Earth Day

For Earth Day this year, we decided to plant some beauty in our front yard. We have that good ole Georgia clay, so we haven't been able to get annual's to thrive. So, we decided to start planting pots to put around in the flower beds. Both C-Sunshine and K-Doodle planted their own pot and will take care of them. They love to garden. We can't wait for Dad to get our vegetable bed ready.

Have a great week.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 14, 2010

Outside my window...

 It is going to be a beautiful day.  The sun is shining and the birds are singing.  I love Spring!
thinking...
of our routines and schedules. 

I am thankful for...

my mother.  Today is her birthday.  Happy Birthday Mom!

From the learning room...
We are back at it after a spring break during Holy Week and the week after.  C-Sunshine is finishing up various workbooks on this and that.  We have started a morning basket after I read about it over at Jen's.  It is working out nicely and gives us time together before we branch off first thing in the morning.  We regroup after lunch for our studies together of history, geography and nature.  I am forever moving towards a full Charlotte Mason learning style.  :) 
From the kitchen...
I am going to be making some spring/summer menu's.  I also want to try and plan a lot of crock-pot meals so that I don't have to heat up the house with the oven in the summer.
I am wearing...my blue floral PJ's. 
I am creating...still working on a scrapbook to present to my eldest daughter at her graduation from college.  Can't say much about it because she reads my blog.

I am going...
to see some of the many great friends that I left behind when we travel to Illinois in May.  Yes, excited here
.I am reading...
Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow, re-reading Real Learning by Elizabeth Foss.
 I am hoping...
to finalize plans for the upcoming homeschool conference (wish list)
I am hearing...
the sweet songs from the birdies outside
 Around the house...
Still continuing to declutter and do some spring cleaning.
 One of my favorite things...
our DVR.  The only way to watch any kind of programming as a family.  We don't watch much, but it is so nice to be able to skip all the commercials!  We would not be able to ever watch any thing if we didn't have it. (not that that would be such a bad thing)
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Religion classes, art class, soccer game, Arbor Day celebration, birthday celebration with Nanny

Simple Woman's Daybook.

Rain Art

Today, my budding Artist made Rain Art.  To do this, you just paint a picture with Water Colors or draw a picture with washable markers.  K-Doodle did a spring picture.  After she finished, we took it and dribbled droplets of water all over it.  Now it looks like it "Rained" on her picture.  Since her picture was of a spring shower, it makes it look even "gloomier".  In a good way.  :)

Fun over Easter

We got to spend Easter with my parents at the Lake. It was a relaxing, peaceful (except for our dog) weekend. Thank you Mom and Dad. The girls rode on a Jet ski for the first time with a friend of the family. That was exciting for them and VERY nerve wreaking for me.

On Good Friday, we made a crown of thorns out of pretzel sticks and chocolate.

It was a very messy project, but looked great when we were done.

Even Nanny got in on the messy fun.On Easter Day, it became a nest with eggs and made a nice treat.
C-Sunshine and K-Doodle on Easter Day. Happy Easter!