Ha! I just remembered that when we took my hubby on a train ride for Father's Day last year, they were shooting a video. (At the time I wasn't thrilled and was trying not to be in it!) I just checked the site and it's there. I'm in the first people shot, pointing something out to Brayden. Then, later, Paige talks while I pointedly look the other way. lol Brayden is practically asleep lying on me. :-)

Kind of silly, but fun. Since I live in the West, I guess it worked for me. What about you?

I had to run in to town to check out a family surprise. (I'll get to that later) but made a quick stop at Rite-Aid for the following Free-After-Rebate items.  Amazingly, they were all in stock. If you stop in and they're not, ask for a Rain Check and pick them up next week. The Monthly Rebate will still be good. Simply buy your items then go to www.riteaid.com and click on the box that says Single Check Rebates. Sign up and you can simply enter the store number and register number from your receipt and they'll automatically credit you for the items you purchased. At the end of the month, simply request your check. I've even forgotten to request my check and they sent an email letting me know that they requested it for me! Today I got the below items which will be totally free for me!

Organix shampoo $5.49

Herbal Essence Long Term Shampoo $2.99 (in yummy raspberry, for my daughter)

And a disposable camera with flash $10.99 that I will give to my eight year old as part of his birthday goodies.

Nearly $20 in goodies for nothing but tax.  YAY!!

And now for the reason I went to town.....

The adorable little sweetie in the front is ours and will be ready to come live with us around July 4th. We have one Shih Tzu and I've been wanting another for awhile. However, the kids had no idea I was looking and are totally shocked and extrememly excited.

In this case, it's brotherly love that's blind.

The kids had some friends over the other afternoon and I overheard this conversation between Skylar and his friend.

"You should have been here two days ago because my older brother and sister-in-law were here. Well, she's not OFFICIALLY my sister-in-law because they're not OFFICIALLY married, but she's going to be my sister-in-law."

(What, are they "unofficially" married??!!)

Then:

"My older brother and I look EXACTLY alike. I look just like him. Well, except that his face is WAAAY longer than mine."

This cracks me up because these two look NOTHING alike. They're likely the most opposite-looking in the family. One is dark and round faced, the other light and long faced. Brown hair & brown eyes vs. blonde hair and blue eyes. Not a similar feature between them. The thing is, Skylar looks up to his big brother so much and identifies so closely with him  that he thinks he looks just like him. I thought that was just the sweetest thing.

For Cub Scouts, that is....

Somehow, my offer to "help" with Scouts this year transformed into me being den leader for the Tigers/Wolves/Bears den. Even that would have been OK, but unfortunate leadership issues turned that into a most unpleasant experience. As it was, I was literally counting down the meetings until it was over.

I hate feeling that way about a committment, especially something that I think can be such a positive experience for the boys involved.

I'm struggling with what to do next year, as well. My boys really like Scouts. Skylar will be moving on to Webelos and won't be an issue, but Brayden won't. I really don't want to lead in similar circumstances next year and I don't know that there's anyone willing to take over.  Anyhoo....this year is down and I am relieved! lol

Here are the boys in our yard. Yes, I could have made sure Skylar's shirt was properly buttoned but, hey, that's real life!

And here are the boys waiting for the Veteran's Day Ceremony. Skylar is the second from the right and Brayden is third from the left.

Things have been so crazy lately I just haven't had time to make it over here to blog, though I keep nothing things I need to share. But now there's news big enough I HAD to make time.

We're getting another daughter!! In a family of four boys and one girl, this is a big deal! Not to mention she's already potty trained! (Sorry, Joelle)

Actually, I'll be getting a daughter-in-law next spring. The engagement is now official. Parental permission was granted, the ring was bought, the event was planned, all without Joelle knowing. And we're all blessed that she said "yes". Of course, with a great guy like Brad..... lol

Joelle is wonderful! Real, honest, fun, easy-going. I told Brad I couldn't have picked someone better myself. We're thrilled for them. And Paige and I will love having another girl in the family!

This policy is valid from 19 February 2008

Seriously, I think I've finally solved an ongoing problem between the hubs and I. You see, he has a habit of writing checks and not telling me the amount, number, etc. Often I'll hear, "Well, I put the receipt on the table. I thought you'd see it. " Yeah, right. I'm supposed to know that one receipt in a pile of newspapers, trash and other paper debris is supposed to have some significance for me. I think not. The other annoying option would be for hubs to announce, "Oh, the pizza was $13.42." This was declared as I'm dialing the phone to call someone or we're driving somewhere, or whatever. I'm then left trying to hold this number in my head until I can get it recorded. (And, to be honest, this makes me grumpy)

Wanna know the solution? A solution that is truly WORKING!!??

While reading all the productivity blogs the other day, I kept coming across Jott.com  It appears you can use your cell phone to "jott" someone, which will then leave them an email or text message. I didn't really "get" how it would be all that useful. However, once I set up Toodledo I found that you can sync Jott to it so that it will send an email right to Toodledo. (I label it "to do" in Jott because Jott has a hard time identifying Toodledo with it's voice recognition software. They say you can also enter it as "two-duhl-doo" so that it's phonetic) Anyhoo....I can now use my phone to have a reminder immediately emailed to my system whenever I think of something. I tell my phone to call "Jott" and when it asks who I want to Jott I say "to do". I leave the message and come home to find it in my Toodledo system ready to be categorized. Cool!

OK, so here's the really neat thing! I set up dh's phone with Jott and entered me as his contacts (with my email). Now, whenever he buys something he simply tells his phone to "call Jott" and to Jott "Deena" (again, had to make it phonetic in Jott, not Dena). Then he says, "Wrote check # 7418 for $12.53 at Home Depot. Soon, I receive an email with that message. Right where I need it and can easily record it.

THAT works for me! For more great tips visit Rocks in My Dryer

Oh my! This is really good!

With a completely crazy schedule, I've been considering how I can sneak in some bulk cooking, like I used to do. I was certain I didn't have an entire day to devote to it, like I used to.

Last week extra lean ground beef was on sale so I picked up 20 lbs. I then found a few simple recipes and made sure I had ingredients.

Night One: I made a Beefy Tortilla Bake for dinner and two more for the freezer. While these were cooking I also assembled three Tater Tot Casseroles for the dinner. Altogether, it probably only took a bit over an hour and we had dinner and five meals for the freezer.

We had several nights with various activities, being gone for dinner, etc. One night I ended up getting into the hamburger stash and making....hamburgers. Go figure!

Night Four: I HAVE to deal with the rest of this hamburger. Tonight night I made Salisbury Steaks in gravy for dinner (with stuffing & peas) and make two more bags (browned and ready to heat w/gravy) for the freezer. (I brown the 20 freezer meal patties while we eat our dinner. I just have to get up and flip them a couple times. ) Two more meals stocked away and it only took a few extra minutes.

OK, I'll admit it. I wrapped up the rest of the ground beef and put it in the freezer. There are probably four pounds left. I'll pull it out for sloppy joes or meatloaf soon. I just couldn't keep it in the fridge any longer.

Still, I'm pleased. I managed to have seven dinners in the freezer and only spent maybe 30-40 minutes more than I normally would have. Works for Me!

For more helpful tips visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer!

This week on WWFM we are supposed to ASK for advice rather than give it. (Somewhat of a bummer since I had my post all ready and waiting in my drafts! But it can wait another week)

Brad (eldest son) Stop reading now and go do your schoolwork!!

My question is about Christmas gifts. I've found that as kids get older they get increasingly difficult to buy for. So, what are some great ideas for 18 - 21 year old boys?

Thanks in advance! And if you have more advice to offer hop on over to Shannon's.

As an Organization Junkie, I have to admit that sites like this full of amazing garage storage  ideas make me drool. How about you?

Unfortunately, our garage is an absolute disaster! My husband tends to be a packrat and "hides" everything in the garage. When I do have need to say, find a tool, it's downright scary. I'm wondering if we actually purchased something like the above if it would be impressive enough that he would want to keep the garage clean? Somehow, I don't think so.

Our elderly neighbor puts my organizing skills to shame. He's ex-military and UNBELIEVABLY organized. Sometimes, I like to just go over to his house and look around in awe. You'd have to look pretty hard to find anything without a label on it. His workshop even has little vacuums hooked to each of his saws so the dust is immediately sucked up!! Amazing.

So, what about it? Any tips for keeping the garage neat and tidy? (I'd post a picture but I'm too embarassed)

I majored in Accounting. (I know, thrilling, huh?) One of the things I found most interesting, upon graduation and entering life in the "real" workforce is that you don't use most of what you learned. They don't really do it that way!! I guess it was good to know the theory, but that was about the extent of my useful, practical knowledge. Most of what I actually USE I figured out or learned post-college.

Today I offer one of the most helpful tips I learned early on. This is a great time-saver for anyone adding long columns of numbers. (OK, I realize that may not be many of you, but I was desperate for a tip!)

Drop the decimals. Yup! Forget about 'em!

The first bookeeper I ever worked with passed on that little gem. You can add MUCH faster when you're not trying to stick that decimal in there. And, as she said, when I offered a blank stare in response to her suggestion, "You know where they go, don't you?"

Well, by golly, I sure do! So, just add your numbers and stick a decimal before the last two once you have your total. (If a number doesn't have anything in the decimal spot add "00") How easy is that?

And, I must admit I'm FAST on an adding machine. Can you believe they NEVER suggested this idea in my Adding Machines class. (Yes, I really took an Adding Machines class. That one was actually useful)

I know the whole Halloween issue is a Christian "hot button" so I'd prefer not to go there. However, for those who do celebrate and still haven't carved pumkins (or if you just want to have a neat looking pumkin!) check out THESE great Christian themed carving patterns. Some, like The Last Supper, will appeal to expert carvers, while Flying Dove is simple, yet striking.

And don't forget to chat about this cute pumkin carving story with your kids as you carve.

A woman was asked by a co-worker,

"What is it like to be a Christian?"

The co-worker replied,

"It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

As a busy working/homeschooling mom multitasking is a necessary way of life! So...yeah, I'll admit that, while I'm  a den leader for Scouts and teach Sunday School, I take advantage of both to add some extra "schooling" for my kids.

Tonight at Scouts we made milk from butter and created greenhouses from Ziploc bags. "Educational" discussion revolved around both and they went well with our Down on the Farm theme. However, OCCASIONALLY, you have to do something just for fun. For example, a couple of weeks ago I had the boys make "cowpies". Why? Just because they are boys and what could be more fun than making fake poo? I mean, really??!! Here's a pic of a completed "pie".

How's that for fun? Now we did end up playing a game with them, so they weren't totally useless. (I had one boy blindfolded as another directed him around the cowpies placed all over the yard) But basically, the project was just for fun.

Remember that, Mom. Every once in awhile be sure to do something "Just Cuz "! That works for me!

To see more Works for Me Wednesdays visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

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A small to mid-sized collapsible cooler is practically a necessity for the car. They fold up, using minimal space, but are such a life-saver.

For instance, I live 20 miles from town. This means, in the summer, I'm unable to make any stop after the grocery store (or hit a second store with sale items) if I've got refrigerated items in the car. However, with my "pop-up" cooler, problems are solved. I throw my goodies inside and am good for another stop.

Aside from groceries, the cooler can be used for the "normal" purpose of keeping water bottles cool for inexpensive snacks while out and about as well as the not-so-normal purpose of containing wet clothing or even, dare I say, vomited on items. How handy is that? Smell and mess all contained. Well...at least until you get home!

Oh yeah, you also have to remember to put the cooler BACK in the car once you've brought it in the house. I'm still workging on that one.

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips she Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer!

My Works For Me Wednesdays is dressers. That's right, dressers. I use them everywhere, for everything. They make great storage and look like cute decor.

If you read my Hallway Remodel post below you'll notice the dresser at the top of the stairs. The top drawers hold pens/pencils/phone books, etc. Things you need when someone calls on the phone and you're upstairs, away from the office. Lower drawers hold everything from flashlights/extension cords/blank cassettetapes to wrapping supplies/tissue paper/gift bags.

In my entry I have a cute shabby chic dresser (picked up at a yard sale and lightly sanded) that holds gloves, hats & scarves.

The small child's dresser in my dining room houses VCR tapes, keys, the dog leash, camcorder, etc.

A larger dresser in the dining room houses TONS of craft supplies. (We homeschool, remember?) I've found this location, close to the kitchen table, to be ideal and the drawer seem to keep supplies neater than cabinets.

A cute, small or large dresser can be painted  or stained to match most any decor and makes for cute and functional hidden storage. They tend to be neater than cabinets and close so you don't see the mess like you do with shelving.

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

Okay, okay, the title may be a wee bit deceiving. In reality, consistency is key. That fact can't be disputed. Once your children know that you'll follow through with what you say and that every misbehavior will be met with a reliable consequence, you'll find yourself with very well behaved children.

Too bad that's more difficult to do than it sounds! I mean, when I FINALLY sit down on the couch to read for 15 minutes with an ice cold glass of Diet Coke do I REALLY want to deal with the fact that I just heard my six year old call his sister "stupid" while playing in the basement? Wouldn't it be so much easier to just pretend I didn't hear it? Or....maybe I could just yell, 'I HEARD THAT!! YOU KNOCK IT OFF!!" really loudly. But do I REALLY have to get up, go downstairs, quietly remove the child while explaining the reason for his upcoming punishment? Yeah. I do.

But you all know that, right? Nothing new there. However, the fun little secret I've found is INCONSISTENCY. It must be used sparingly or it doesn't work. But when used with care, it's great for building relationships by injecting humor and letting mom be "one of the crew" for a bit.

Here's how it works. Out of the blue, mom does something totally inconsistent and out of character. For example, if I can tell one of my children is struggling with a workbook problem (we homeschool) and is starting to get upset, I might watch as she/he gets the right answer and then, with much ado, fall out of my chair in shock and awe. This generally sends everyone into a fit of giggles and lightens the mood. There may be a few more "fall-outs" that morning so everyone has a turn. Soon the kids are happily doing their work, waiting to see if they can shock mom out of her chair.

I'm generally not one for potty-talk. However, my oldest boys (now graduated) still remember when we were studying Indians. We were to choose Indian names for ourselves. My oldest had a cold and needed to wipe his nose (which grossed me out). I quite seriously dubbed him, Running Snot Nose. This so surprised the boys that they cracked up and we immediately bestowed less than flattering names on everyone in the family. I think mine had something to do with Big Feet.

I also, on occasion, will burp VERY loudly (yes, this is totally out of character for me). I generally look around and act shocked as I blame it on a nearby child. (They tell me I need to stop saying, "excuse me" before I do that.) lol

In the middle of a school day (when your children are being good) try saying, "You know what? I wanna go to the movies! Let's go!" Now, you may know you were going to do that - but they don't. They LOVE the spontaneity. And, as simple as it may be, it's something they'll remember for years, just because it was so unexpected.

Like I said, inconsistency, used sparingly, is a powerfu tool!

For more Works For Me Wednesday tips visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

As someone who's generally seen as organized  and accomlishes a fair amount, this may seem like an odd "crutch". But the fact is, with my work for TOS, freelance writing, partnership in Trigger Memory Systems, homeschooling and just running a household and being Mom to five kids (whew!) I've learned that I only have so much mental capacity.  Sometimes it's easier not to be the one making all the decisions!

With Motivated Moms I get to be told what to do to keep my house in order! lol I use the half-page calendar that fits in my Franklin Covey planner and I view the system somewhat as a game.  I can tell myself , "You only have to do these things and you're done". That somehow makes it much more doable than the huge "to do" list in my head that can be so overwhelming I just decide to ignore the housework all together.

And that's the other thing I like about this system. It takes things in little chunks and fits in all those oddities I tend to put off or ignore. Instead of cleaning the whole fridge, you "clean the top shelf", or "wash the front of the dishwasher".  The longer you stick with the system, the cleaner your house gets. And since they even have "clip kid's fingernails" on there, I'm no longer embarassed when someone watches one of my kids write or draw and I realize how long/dirty their fingernails are!

Since the year is half over the planners are only $4 to download a file. Give it a shot - you might like it. And remember, you don't have to do everything yourself. Feel free to delegate jobs to the kiddos. Consider it a family duty to make sure all the jobs are checked off. Note: There are items I ignore if they don't fit in my schedule (like running errands or clipping coupons), but I try and be sure to fit in all the "oddball" cleaning items.

By the way...I HAVE tried Flylady and it just didn't work for me. Maybe I like the "surprise" of not knowing what will be on my list for the day, or the bit size pieces, or a piece of paper I can carry around with me. I'm not sure what the difference is, but this works for me.

Motivated Moms works for me!  To see more Works for Me Wednesday tips visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Related Tags: homemaking, house keeping, chores, motivated moms, chore chart, works for me wednesday