Last Minute St. Patricks Day Treat!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

Hope you  have "the Luck of the Irish" on your side today.

I wanted to take just a few minutes

 to show you a fun, last minute treat

 you can enjoy with you family tonight.

They are LIME Sherbert Floats & they Only need two Ingredients!!

Yes, TWO INGREDIENTS

Lime Sherbet and Lemon Lime Soda!

 Scoop in the Sherbet & Add the Soda!

  And there you have it!

Amazingly delicious treats!

 

 For the whole Family to Enjoy!

We can thank

 http://homecookingmemories.com/lime-sherbet-floats-green-recipes-st-patrick-day/

for this awesome recipe!

I think we "struck gold" with this fun, easy recipe!

~Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone~

Hi ho, hi ho...off to the store I go!

 Enjoy your day,

Shelby

"Tackling" the Easter Basket on a Budget!

"Hoppy" SNOW DAY everyone!

I'm thought since everyone is snuggled up at a home..

I would do a fun "Easter basket" post.

For many of us..

it can be challenging finding "fun, affordable ways" to fill Easter Baskets

 without going overboard.

   

We don't want to take away from the true meaning of Easter

It is a celebration..the Resurrection of Jesus!!

What a glorious day!

I wanted to share with you some fun Easter basket Ideas for Kids of ALL ages!

This first one can be enjoyed by all...

The tackle box basket!

~Filled with Swedish fish, gummy worms, Gold Fish, Tackle, & Bait!

Credit: Found on Pinterest (no direct link)

Most of those above items can be found at the Dollar Store & Will Not "break the bank"!

This next one is basic but totally great:

Fill a hat with some great treats Like Pringles, beef jerky, and Peeps

You are all set to go!!

Pinterest

For that little one in your life:

Fill up a basic sand pail with some bubbles, stickers, and Barbie from the $1.00 store

and you will be hopping out of there happy! 

(This can be done in Superhero or Ninja Turtles..or anything your heart dreams off!"

http://madamedeals.com/kids-easter-basket-ideas/

For my Final One...

The "movie night" basket...

A five dollar movie, some popcorn, and a few snacks!

Your kids will be excited to enjoy a family movie night together!

Pinterest

Hope these Ideas will help your Easter be more enjoyable.

Remember the True Meaning of Easter and Don't overwhelm yourself Financially.

 Rejoice in the Day!

Have a "hoppy" Snow day!

When kids come home they just "dump" and run!

HaPpY wet Wednedsay Everyone!

Hope you guys are enjoying the warmer temps!

The warmer temps are sure nice, 

but 

the mud and water that gets tracked in can sure drive someone crazy.

What tips have you guys been using to keep your house "puddle proof"?

This is our back entry and the dumping grounds for everything!

I mean everything...

From American girl to Karate uniforms.

When kids come home they just dump and run.

 I'm working on a few things to prevent the dirt and water from entering the whole house!

#1. Purchasing a nice floor mat by the door!

that way dirt and mud don't land right on your floors

#2. Baskets for shoes. 

Buy a few affordable baskets~I usually try inexpensive ones from TJ MAX

BUT

~I have been known to find a few at Goodwill~

Then kids can just pull out the basket and drop shoes in.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

#3. One or two daily swipes :) 

I have been trying to sweep once or twice a day to prevent that icky sand from entering the home.

#4. Undress in the garage before entering

This is for those extreme cases when they have puddle jumped all day and are wet head to toe

I just get a kick out of my little girl~puddle boots backwards! Why not?

On a side note!

Have you jumped in puddles lately?

If not, you must take one hour and just go slam around in puddles!

The relief you get from dancing in the rain & slamming your feet in puddles is priceless!

 

On one more side note...

Water can cause a muddy mucky mess around you home.

If you are having water problems at your home consider:

 

Installing new gutters~ 

Altobelli Peterson Construction specializes in steel Gutters

New roof~ 

are you having roof issues? Get a quote on a metal roof~Lifetime gauranteed

Windows~ 

are you windows leaking? Look at installing new Anderson windows.

   Give us a call at 1-218-744-3350 for a free estimate today!

 

Enjoy your wet Wednesday!

Shelby 

Yesterday, I was one of "those ladies" in the grocery line~DOUBLE COUPONS OH MY!

Happy Tuesday Everyone~

So happy to be here blogging with you today!

I have some Super Duper Exciting News to share with you guys today!

It has to do with SAVING MONEY...yes, SAVING MONEY

..Are you ready?

Yesterday, I double coupon-ed and for the first time..
I saved $60.00 on my grocery bill!
Can you guys believe it?

 I was one of those ladies that held up the line with all those coupons.

The register just kept clicking and clicking and clicking..

Subtracting & Subtracting & Subtracting.

I immediately texted a few of my friends to tell them what just happened!

I have always used coupons here and there..

BUT~

I have never taken the time to sit down and coupon match with coupons on-line.

It took some time & organization but overall it was well worth the hour I spent.

Let me share with you my Couponing Strategy:

1. Get the Super One ad in Sunday's paper and Plan Dinners!

(Planned my meals based solely on what was for sale this week)

~Buns, cheese, and fries were on sale, so that means Cheeseburger Night

~Kielbasa was Buy one Get One free so we had that yesterday w/ home made cheesy potatoes

~Garlic Bread was on sale so one night it's Italian

#2. Cut out the Super One Coupons you need!

This is simple stuff, just cut out the coupons you are using!

Don't buy an item just because it has a coupon.

Buy what you think you need!

#3. Download the App: COUPONS

~This app gives you coupons from Manufacturer's and THEY WORK!

~Kellogg's Cereal

~Pizza Rolls

~Go Gurts

..The List goes on and on.

You just hit the "clip button" and then email it yourself!
I CANNOT BELIEVE I NEVER KNEW THIS EXISTED
&
I NEED TO SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.
Now...

Match those coupons with your Super One Coupons (or whatever grocery store you use)

~Cartwheel from Target or Wallmart 

AND YOU HAVE DOUBLE COUPONS!!!

 ...Can I get a whoop, whoop followed by a fist pump!

MY EXAMPLE:

My kids love Corn Beef Hash 

Super One has it on sale this week for: $1.99

Coupons app has an additional Hormel coupon: $1.00 off

Corn Beef Hash is Now just .99!!!

That is big saving!!  
I will NEVER pay full price for cereal again!
I got boxes of cereal for .99 also!

I'm sure that there are tons more ways to get even more and more savings..
This is just the beginning for me!
I want to be more cautious and save more at the grocery store.
When I arrive there unprepared and hungry...
it makes for an expensive grocery store trip!!

If you have any advice or suggestions please comment so we can all help each other out!
Share the Joy of Saving.

I'm trying to be a good steward of God's money.
2016 is a year of change for~
If you haven't already checkout my "Exercising resolution" position!
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8283245838551790135#editor/target=post;postID=5346377180284021476;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=10;src=postname 

Change is on the way for me.

Also, don't forget to give us a call for all your siding, roofing, decking, window, door, or roofing needs this Spring!
1-218-744-3350

Happy Tuesday Everyone,
Shelby
  

...Come around the world and back again :)

Happy Map Monday...

Map Monday you ask?

Yes...maps...Follow me this direction..and I'll show you the way!

There is this new "trend" I have been seeing

and

I am really feeling inspired!

http://honestlywtf.com/home/classroom-maps/

In my home, we have a blank wall in the living room 

and I am contemplating adding a map!

They add a vintage, unique look.

This next picture is from:
http://www.thriftydecorchick.com/2013/06/where-in-world-have-we-been-map.html

They purchased the map from Ikea
They take bulletin board pins and pin places they visited..
You could always pin...
places you dream of going
or
Places you are praying for (a child you sponsor, or a country in crisis)

You can also use a map to "hide" different elements in your home.
In the picture below, they used a antique map to cover a flat screen tv.

You can even purchase map wallpaper from any paint/wallpaper store!
You can wallpaper the wall & frame it in.

Love this picture below from:
 http://theinspiredroom.net/2013/05/07/map-wallpaper-for-walls/
She created map wallpaper for a small hallway!

http://theinspiredroom.net/2013/05/07/map-wallpaper-for-walls/

Thanks for coming "around the world" decor tour with me!
I will keep you posted on our map project and show you guys pictures along the way!

Hope you feel inspired today!!

Shelby

We are all just Tin Men trying to Find Our way back home~My exercising story!

Hey Everyone.

Hope your 2016 is off to a great start!

I guess you could say mine was off to a "creaky" start...

Let me explain.

A few weeks ago, my back had been giving me problems!

I had brought the kiddos skiing and the chair lift was broken, so I had been carrying them up the hill.
(Snowpants, boots, skiis and all!)
That led to a few back issues for me.

To make a long story short,
I decided I needed to stretch my muscles and see if that would help
As I was stretching, my body made this sound....
it was like a creaking sound.

A sound that would be made if you opened something old.

Like a door in a scary movie....it went....
CREEEAAAKKK!!

I was like oh my gosh, that was my bones making noise!!

The best way I could describe it:

My body felt like the Tin Man out of Wizard of Oz. 

Help, I need some OIL to ungrease these bones.

I knew something had to change and that was me.

This 2016, I need to regain some strength in my body.

I only have one body, I need to take care of it.

And then, not a few hours later.

The intervention.

~my friend Julie gives me a text~

(Hey I'm heading to the Y to workout)

Without hesitation, I beg her to take me along.

I tell her about my creaking body and she immediately invites me.

I warn her I am a newbie.

She assures me she is new to all this too.

I am worried and hesitant.

What do I bring?

What do I wear?

I better go shave.

 Within a hour, she is in my driveway picking me up.

Hi ho, hi ho...Off to Y we go!

We arrive and she flashes her membership card...

It so happens to be bring a friend week!

Now, that's coincidence.

I head into the locker room to change.

Within minutes I am all set.

Old tenner shoes, yoga pants, and a t-shirt.

I don't even really own workout clothes, so I had to do my best to throw something together.

Julie introduces me to the machines.

I have to admit, I have never operated or ran on a treadmill.

It's intimidating and stressful.

She punches my numbers into a machine and I start running.

After that, she introduces me to the weight machines and one by one I try them.

I can tell my body is confused.

What the heck is going on?

Is she actually working out?

I keep going and going.

Within an hour, we are done.

I SURVIVED.

Not only did I survive, but I actually enjoyed  didn't mind it.

In the car, I beg Julie to take me again.

She said we can head back tomorrow.

Fast forward a week and I'm still surviving.

My favorite classes have been:

Pilates

Body Strength

Zumba

and 

Yoga

..the only problem is that I can't do half the moves in Pilates or Yoga!

I practically popped out my hernia.

Did you just say Plank?

Laughing my butt off :)

http://www.refinery29.com/how-to-do-a-plank?crlt.pid=camp.eVRn5Y60ni3u#.r9umnu:RBK9

..I guess that above picture is what I should have looked like :)

All I know is I'm just going to keep trucking.

Keep Trying.

I look silly and awkward, but I don't care

I love the fact that the others in the classes just cheer and support each other!

I am encouraged and inspired by all the people working out and trying to improve their health!

We are all just little Tin Man's Trying to Find our Way back Home :)

Enjoy your Saturday,

Shelby

Hey! Wait for me...I'm coming!

It was Christmas Eve day 

and

 the excitement of present opening and Santa was filling our home!

I was prepping for dinner at my in-laws (making manicottis)

 and 

making sure the presents were wrapped and the finishing touches for Christmas were complete.

The wrath of everyday laundry, dishes, and clean up was staring me straight in the eye.

It was set to be a busy day.

Around 1:00 my husband had a great idea, He announces:

"hey kids...let's go sledding, I'll pull you behind the wheeler!"

(Yes, I know very dangerous~but very fun! #don'tjudgeourlaziness)

The kids got their snowpants on, even our 16 year old boy joined in the fun.

(After begging and convincing of course).

 They got their stuff on and headed out the door.

Just as they were headed out I yelled, 

"Hey, wait for me...I'm coming!"

The boys looked at me as I started putting on my snowpants.

"Your coming mom?"

"Yes!" I replied..."Is that okay?"

"Yes mom, yes, yes....this is going to be sweet!"

In that moment, I was a little taken back by their shock.

I started to think back to how many times, I may have stayed in.

It has just been assumed moms staying home...

 to make sure the "chores" of everyday life were completed.

I had ,in the past, missed out on probably some super fun experiences trying to

 "make sure all the inside chores were done"

I think this is pretty common.

I hope I'm not the only one.

I believe that our days get filled up fast with tasks to complete.

However.

                           I have been... carefully opening my eyes,  to not miss out on experiences like this.

I have been trying to be present.

I found that by being present that Christmas Eve day, I received the best Present.

I was part of the laughs.

I was part of the fun.

I was part of the bumps and bruises in the snow.

This year, 2016....I am not setting high expectations for myself.

All I'm hoping...is that I am present and participating.

Present in the stands.

Present in the home.

Present in their relationships.

Present in everyday Life.
..Not only present, but participating!

Yes, the laundry and chores need to get done.

Yes, their will be times I get sucked in to the house & technology (facebook)

I will get distracted, I will forget, I will make mistakes.

BUT,

I am aware and I'm watching.

I will be Present in 2016!

 Happy New Year to you all,

Shelby