Fun Friday: I Heart Chick Fil A in Shelby

They are so family friendly and usually have balloons for the kids to have. Have you ever seen a girl Cow with a bow? How awesome!

Movie Monday: "Shy" Abigail Saying her Colors

Abigail is not shy at home and talks all day long. BUT get her in front of a camera or a small amount of people looking at her, she becomes very shy. I was excited to get her to say this much in front of the camera!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Harris Teeter: Doubling Coupons till 2/22

The Thrifty Mama posted a smaller list of the many deals you can get at Harris Teeter this week: "Here are some of the freebies you can get this week with thanks to Coupon Teacher for the list!

Reach Floss $1.65
-$1/1 Reach Floss, Flosser or Toothbrush, exp. 4-30-11 (RP 10/10/10)
= FREE after doubled coupon

Wishbone Dressings $2
-$1/1 Wish-Bone or Wish-Bone Western Dressing, exp. 2-27 (RP 01/30/11)
= FREE after doubled coupon

Cracker Barrel Cheese $3.79
-$1/2 or $1/1 Select Cracker Barrel Cheeses, exp. 2-27-11 (SS 01/23/11) AND
-e-Vic Coupon
= as low as FREE after doubled coupons

Nasoya Tofu $2
-$1/1 Nasoya Tofu Printable
= FREE after doubled coupon

Kotex Pantiliners, 18-22 ct, $1.45
-$1.50/2 Kotex Liners, exp. 2-28-11 (SS 01/16/11)
= 2 FREE after doubled coupon

Sucrets $2.89
-$1.50/1 Sucrets Product, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 01/23/11)
= FREE after doubled coupon

Seventh Generation tissues $1.50
-$1/1 Seventh Generation Product, exp. 4-23-11 (RP 01/23/11)
= FREE after doubled coupon

Uncle Ben’s Rice Long Grain Original 16 oz $1.99
-$1/1 Uncle Ben’s Rice Product, exp. 3-6 (RP 01/09/11)
= FREE after doubled coupon

Johnson’s Baby Powder or Oil 4 oz $1.75
-$1/1 Select Johnson’s Products, exp. 3-20-11 (SS 01/09/11 #2)
= FREE after doubled coupon

Edward’s Key Lime Pie Singles (6.5 oz.) $2
-$1/1 Edwards Singles, exp. 3-6-11 (SS 02/06/11) (Possibly DND)
= FREE after doubled coupon

See more Harris Teeter deals here."

Southern Savers has a long list of the deal here

I am also going to consign some of my toys and clothes at a consignments sale entitled The Clothesline in Shelby, NC.

I am dropping my stuff off Wednesday and they might have one more slot left for you to sale your stuff.

What is your money saving tip for this week?

Update on Our House

Praises:

1. I talked to a friend last week, and got professional pictures taken of the house for only $40. They are now online at all the Realtor websites! Don't they look great?
2. I have heard of multiple stories in the last week of once a person gets pictures up online, their house sells. I really believe that this is God talking through them to me!
3. We had open house last Sunday and some neighbors came by, and one girl is interested in buying it but her work is across town (30 minutes).
4. Anyone I talk to, I ask them to pray for our house to sell, and now it is on the Community Bible Study leadership prayer list. So lots of people are praying our house will sell.
   
5. We are having an open house again this Sunday and a sign about the open house has been in the yard all week. Additionally, now 15 pictures are up and running online so we are VERY hopeful.

Pray:

1. That someone will buy our house soon in Jesus' powerful name!
   
2. That I will have patience, and glorify God through this.
   
3. That the other house in the neighborhood for sale will not hinder our house selling.

Thank you so much for praying!
Click here to see it online: http://www.trulia.com/property/3003132066-209-Gardenwalk-Drive-West-Columbia-SC-29170

Breakthrough with Training Jackson

*Above picture is taken at a fun "Cat in the Hat" birthday party we went to on Saturday.

Recently, I feel like I have had a breakthrough with Jackson, all thanks to Mrs. Duggar.

Have you ever watched 19 Kids and Counting? Your answer is probably "yes." BUT, have you ever seen Michelle Duggar sin? (She obviously does) Your answer might be surprisingly, "no." We are all sinners, but I tell you what, Michelle Duggar is unbelievable and she could only be how she is because of the power of Jesus in her life.

On a recent episode, she was having to deal with a fight that happened with the little ones. She made three of her preschoolers tell to her what they should have done (not take the ice cream, etc), and then she made them repeat ten times to her while looking her in the eye whatever they should have said in the situation. This all happened while they were sitting on chairs. With the youngest one, I think it was as simple as telling the child telling her "yes ma'am" ten times. Duggar would then praise the children for doing whatever it was they were asked to do. She says she concentrates on training them in all situations.

So, the last week or so Jackson had the flu for the first time since we took his paci away last year (yes, we had the flu shot). Needless to say he whined a lot and threw things when he was sick and mad with no paci to calm this time around. So, when he did that, I took him in the kitchen and said "you need to say 10 times 'I will not throw things.'" It really got to the heart of the issue and then I would instruct him with what he should have done---he should have told mommy in a calm, self-controlled voice what was wrong. I do believe in using the rod, but when my baby boy had the flu, and even now, I am really concentrating on training him on what to do in certain situations (as well as giving him time outs on his bed for four minutes when he is whining).

Also, at the end of the day, Duggar tries to praise her children in front of everyone about what they did well that day. I have been really trying to do that and so today when Charlie came home I told him that Abigail did a great job eating her Toy Story vitamin, and that Jackson did a great job when he drew a perfect H on his chalkboard during our "school" time today (we got the chalkboard from Handwriting without Tears). Jackson's "love language" is definitely words of affirmation. He gets that from his father ;-)

Just thought I would share this because I knew it would be helpful in training your Preschooler. Also the book of the month for Preschoolers for February is Over the Meadow, and March's book is The Little Engine That Could. Great books to check out at the library I am sure. I hope to get them soon.

Movie Monday:Singing in the Bed with the Flu

Jackson got diagnosed with the flu on Feb. 4th (yes we all had our flu shots), and then Abigail and Charlie got some sort of virus that was not the flu, so needless to say we all spent lots of time in the bed the last couple of weeks. Charlie started letting them watch Yo Gabba Gabba music videos online and they would all sing and dance...it was too cute!

Enjoy!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jackson's First Time Giving out Valentines

Jackson was so excited to exchange Valentines at his Preschool last Thursday. Since this was his first time doing so, mommy went a little overboard. Charlie was able to go to this Ollies Bookstore in Gastonia and get Toy Story Valentine's cards for .50 with a pencil (for 12 of them!). So I also got little wallet pictures of Jackson ordered from Kodak galleries and put on the back of the picture that "Jackson Wallace is thankful for you." Lastly, in the envelope I put a lolly pop (that we already had), and a piece of heart shaped chocolate. All and all, it did not cost a lot and I know it meant a lot to his friends and to Jackson.

I was overwhelmed last week with thankfulness to God for putting us here in Kings Mountain now. Whenever you move, you definitely are concerned more with your children, than yourself. I was concerned that Jackson would not have close friends for a while when we moved and prayed about it a lot. God answered my prayers greater than I could ever hope for. He has so many boys that are his close friends, and his best friend goes to church with him and Preschool. We are all really loving living here in Kings Mountain, and are so thankful for the close friends God has put in our lives here.

Prayer Request for Our House

This Sunday we are having an Open House for our house from 2-5pm. It would be great if you could pray right now and on Sunday, that this month will be the month that our house sells. Also, if you could ask anyone else who you know who prays to pray as well that the perfect person will come on Sunday and want to buy our house.

We have lowered the price a good deal, and we have a professional photographer coming to take pictures of the house tomorrow to put online. He was recommended by a friend, and is charging us a VERY minimal price to take these pictures. We are thankful, and we are hopeful that our house will sell very soon.

Also, if you know anyone interested in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath one story house, pass this link onto them: http://www.trulia.com/property/3003132066-209-Gardenwalk-Drive-West-Columbia-SC-29170

And the Winner Is...

Lauren!

I went to a randomizer, random.org, and it selected Lauren! It is so great to be able to give a free book away. Looking forward to hearing on how she is enjoying this book.

Don't forgot you can get your copy by going to barnesandnoble.com for now 5% off, but it looks like if you spend $25 with them you get free shipping.

Wednesday's Weight Watchers: I Have Lost 13.6 Pounds Now

It has been slow going (I joined WeightWatchers in October of last year), but having a friend go with me every week has made all the difference in the world. I have lost five percent of my body weight and three pounds away from 10 percent of my body weight. I have never done Weight Watchers during November and December (Thanksgiving and Christmas), but I am so glad I did this year because I did not gain weight during those holidays.

It would be losing weight quicker if I was going to work out classes that I love, but I have not been doing that. A friend recently told me about Shapes by Jodi in Kings Mountain that I will hopefully check out soon. In Columbia, I had one of the best workout teachers ever Lisa and I loved taking Body Step and Body Combat with her.

The key for me with Weight Watchers is planning out what I will eat the day before I eat it. Additionally writing everything down is key and I got a new cute cover for my 3 month journal.

I do need to increase my veggie intake, but I am really enjoying eating all the fresh fruit I like for 0 points.

Yesterday I ate:

Fiber One Bar 4 points

Banana 0 points

Weight Watchers Smart One Meal 7 points
Weight Watchers Brownie will lite cool whip 4 points

Grapes 0 points
Fiber One Yogurt 1 point

Dry Cereal 4 points

Weight Watchers Cheeseburger 5 points
Cookies 4 points

(usually I try to eat veggies at night for supper).

Total points-29 points not going over my points and most people's point value for a day which is 29 points and you get 49 extra points for a week to use (you also can earn points by working out).

Praying I can figure out a good goal weight for me so I can FINALLY become a lifetime member of Weight Watchers.

What type of exercising to you do and enjoy?