http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:31:00 -0500 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:31:00 -0500 Our house, 1 p.m. today: Daughter was going to vaccuum but I think I have too much hair clogged on the roller because the belt was making "that smell". We decided we'd rather have dirty floors than a stinky house. Son mopped with the swiffer sweeper. I was thinking about letting "mopping" be his daily chore for this next school year but after today, maybe not. Mopping requires a tad bit of effort and pressure to do any good and frankly, son had the excitement about mopping that squidward usually has about work. I dropped the kids off at 2 (thanks, grandma) and went to the clinic. (sponsored by a local church, I get my blood pressure medicine there for free...but the wait is a headache) They had built a new waiting room. You have to wait IN LINE (in order of arrival, in other words) for quite some time before the main waiting area is opened to us. I got there 3 hours before time for the doctor to be there and yet the waiting room was CRAMMED and there were NO chairs and I was squished in a corner with a nice black man and a severely obese woman who wasn't wearing nearly enough clothes. The woman kept complaining about how sick she was. I was thinking "Lucky me, I get to be squished up next to someone who may be contagious with who knows what". But then........ ......................then..............Oh dear, it was bad................then........................she started passing gas! She was just standing there and we had been having a conversation about her job at McDonalds and about how sick she had been and then she just starts letting her rip! Really, how do you make conversation with someone like that? What do you say? I said nothing. I pretended I was deaf and didn't hear (or smell) a thing. I worried that the other 50 people in the room would think it was me! (me=the  obese woman who IS wearing enough clothes! too many clothes, actually, for the hot waiting room) Anyway, the lady ended up going home before she even got to see the doctor. ***(changing subject)*** I ran out of hairspray. Today my hair looked like it did in 5th grade when I got that bad perm. *sigh* I didn't have my hairspray to tame it! It's my own fault, though. I was waiting for a good sale to come along. Since I've started couponing, I almost refuse to pay full price for things. Instead, I run out of things and go around looking like a goon. LOL (I did break down and buy some later in the day...at a cost of $1.79.  I could have cried.  You wait and see, it will go on sale next week.) Speaking of being cheap>>>>>>I showed up at the clinic at 2 and realized that I was going to be there for HOURS and that I didn't even bring a drink. I don't dare leave, though, else I lose my place in line. So, at 7 p.m. when it was all over, I was SO THIRSTY and hungry. The only money I have right now is the money for the house payment, so I knew I *had* to be thrifty (as if the sheer thrill of saving money wasn't enough motivation). I went to walgreens because I had a $5 walgreens register reward which spends like cash there. I looked at the soda. $1.79 for a 20 ounce! and I was so thirsty I could down 3 of them. BUT THEN....I saw that the 2 liters were on sale for 99 cents! (nevermind the fact that they were hot and I had no cup with me to pour into). Yep. I did. I got a 2 liter and drank straight from the bottle in the parking lot (after looking around to see if I was being watched) and I also drank again at a red light (I was SO thirsty!). So..........if you saw a large lady in a mini van today....and she had frizzy wild hair and she was drinking from a 2 liter.....then you probably saw me! Wave next time! ;)   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/710867/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/710867/ Aaahhhh......the lack of structure has turned him into a zombie! LOL "Being messy makes me happy" says Abby. LOL ********* We have no water! whoo hoo! Well, apparently the city is working on the water lines because we have no water right now. That means I have a good excuse to not do dishes or laundry! whoo hoo! ;) I am ignoring my "to-do" list today and just doing what I WANT to do.....such as organizing my kitchen cabinets.  I haven't even brushed my hair. oh well. I don't care. Today is "do what you want to do" day. I will have to wake to reality around 3 p.m. and iron our church clothes and if our water is still off we will go to grandma's for showers.   UPDATE at 4:20 p.m........    The water is on, so we can shower at home.   I have enjoyed my day.  I organized my kitchen and bathroom cabinets. I did ZERO housework (except I did make the bed...without thinking LOL) I sat in my chair and read a book.  I looked through my coupons. The kids are painting on posterboard (that I got at walgreens for 9 cents this week!). I am about to do 5 minute cycles of dishes/ ironing/laundry and start the baths and getting ready for church process. aahhh....its been a great day!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/710417/ Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/710417/ Many times, I complain.  But tonight I am feeling content. Truly, I am blessed.  I take it for granted.  I shouldn't. I am blessed to be in a good church that is "in the middle"....not too strict and not too loose.  Moderate. I am blessed to have my husband, who loves me in all of my imperfection, who is faithful to work to support his family, who loves his kids and plays with them, who is committed to church and God and is patient and longsuffering. I am blessed to have my son, who makes me laugh, who thinks up the silliest things, who is still quick to hug even though he is as tall as his dad, who says "Mom, you just don't know how much I appreciate you" several times a week. I am blessed to have my daughter, who mirrors me in action, who is happy to have less so that someone else can have more, whom is a peacemaker. I am blessed to have friends in Alabama who haven't forgotten me even though I am far away, friends at TOPS who somehow saw a leadership trait in me and are nurturing it, friends at church who call me "Sister Curtis" instead of "Sister Amy" even though I am 45 years younger than some of them, and friends who are family, who I am blessed to live near again. I am blessed to be able to homeschool and to live in the state that has the greatest homeschool laws in the nation. I am blessed to live in a nice house and have my own vehicle. (even if the payments ARE killing me!) I am blessed to be able to sit at the computer at midnight and listen to the locusts chirp and eat soft batch cookies that my mom gave me and feel content. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/710205/ Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:32:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/710205/ (see previous post for the before pics) I cleaned out the bottom cabinet of the china cabinet and stored our homeschool stuff that is not used often there.  I would still like to get the clear plastic tub off of the floor (we use its contents daily) and maybe rearrange the furniture.  :)  Even if that doesn't get accomplished, it looks better! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/706969/ Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/706969/ This is today's project.  We do school at the kitchen table and as you can see from these "before" pictures, that corner of the kitchen really needs some organization!  I will post the "after" pics when it is complete. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/706873/ Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/706873/ I'm tired.  Can I just tell you about tomorrow's "to do" list? Get up, cook breakfast and drag and prod the munchkins until they get presentable enough to leave the house. Make a grocery list and meal plan for the next 2 weeks. Drive 10 miles to "town". Drop something off at my sister's house. Go to the bank. (payday! yay!) Go by gamestop and dollar tree so the kids can spend their allowances and yard sale earnings. Run in Fashion Bug to pay my credit card payment. (warning: if you are ONE day late on your payment, the late payment fee is like $25!) Go to walmart (that always takes forever....I anticipate that this is the point in which the kids will start whining) Go to walgtreens (they are having a great sale and I have coupons) Go to homeland (again, the double coupon thing makes it worth it) (by the way, for those of you who are wondering, there is a newspaper carrier in our church and she gives me about 6 bundles of coupons every week! yay! I try to keep her buttered up with some free stuff LOL) Hubby wants me to find out about getting him some inserts for his work boots. Probably will grab lunch out somewhere because by now it is probably way past lunch time. Go home and put all of the stuff away. Everyone needs a bath. I need to iron church clothes for everyone (are they even clean? probably not) Pack hubby's stuff (he is leaving on Thursday to visit his dad in Texas for 2 or 3 days) snack so we won't be hungry during church (we always have supper AFTER church on Wednesdays) Everyone get ready for church and out of the door by 7:00. church Back home...eat supper Are hubby's work clothes for tomorrow clean? I try to think of this early in the day but it usually doesn't cross my mind until I'm about to get into bed. yada yada yada............you get the drift.........busy busy busy It's a good thing it is summer! I'd hate to throw school into that schedule! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~On a completely unrelated note, my aunt is in need of a new housekeeper and she has asked if I would like the position.  I said I would answer in 2 days.  I would begin by working 3 hours, once every 2 weeks. She said it could eventually work up to 2 days per week.  She pays $10 per hour cash.  My kids would have to stay with my grandparents while I am there.  What do you think? Should I take it?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/704048/ Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/704048/ I found myself with an hour and a half of "kid free" time today and I really wanted to coupon shop when I had the ability to think (because of the quietness of lack of munchkins). However, I only had $10 to shop with and I still had to buy my supper too. (the kids were eating at moms and hubby was just going to fend for himself) Here's what I bought: Holly Hobby battery operated toothbrush (put up for dd's birthday) Regular $7. On clearance for $2.50. After coupon= .50 Dry idea deodorant. On clearance plus coupon = .50 Pb crackers.  On sale plus coupon that doubled= .67 Tea bags. One sale plus coupon that doubled= .37 Can of dog food. Free. (and I don't even have a dog! but I will give it to my mother-in-law...for her dog, not for her LOL) Brut deodorant. Clearance plus coupon= .40 Chinette cups. After double coupon= .43 2 Nesquick (one choclate and one strawberry) After double coupons= .19 each Reach dental floss= free after coupon Kraft ranch dressing= free after coupon Listerine breath strips= .17 after coupon pickles (reg price $3 something) .50 after sale and coupon infusium shampoo. clearance and coupon = .90 I love this kind of shopping! I even had enough of my $10 left to get something from sonic for supper!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/704037/ Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:21:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/704037/ I am throwing 3 completely unrelated posts into one for convience sake. Sorry for the weirdness of it. First of all, how much do you think I paid for the items in the above picture? Fifteen CENTS! whoo hoo! Charmin shelf price was $2.15. I had a $1.00 charmin coupon, and homeland doubles coupons, making it $.15.I also had a 50 cent mustard coupon and it doubled to a dollar, which is how much the mustard is on sale for, making it free!On to walmart where I found these pantiliners for $1.00 per package and I had three $1.00 coupons for them, so they were free too!I love this kind of shopping! ****(on to post #2 now)**** I have heard more than one person say "It's too bad that Michael Jackson died on the same day as Farrah Fawcett (sorry, probably spelled it wrong) because now she won't get the attention she deserves".Hello?! DESERVES? Why does anyone think that one of them DESERVES any more attention than the other? Michael *may have been* a child molester (who knows) and maybe he wasn't. Farrah WAS a playboy pinup and I don't see that as a profession that deserves respect. So, I am not getting this theory that she "deserves" more respect than Michael Jackson did. Am I missing something? Maybe there's more to the story than I'm getting because right now I'm just not getting it. I think a soul is a soul and whether the its the president or a bum, they all have the same worth as a soul. *****(on to post #3 now)***** I woke up feeling sick. I already had my weekend planned in my mind (stinking thinking) "I am going to spend the weekend sleeping in bed, someone else will have to teach my sunday school class, I am sick and I choose to sleep through it."However, it was movie morning at the library and we couldn't miss that! It is so great! You drop your kids off at the library and the children's library shows a rated G movie on a big screen and serves popcorn and drinks and she watches your kids and the moms can go run errands or whatever and come back 2 hours later! yay! free babysitter! alone time! and my kids like it. Too bad movie morning only comes around a couple of times each summer :(I used the free time to go coupon shopping (and I drove through McD's for a cone...shhhh...don't tell the kids *wink, wink*)We are all home now and between having the free time and getting a good deal, I am feeling better. I think my "sickness" was just a combo of "tired because I don't sleep well" and "burnt out on teaching sunday school and trying to find a way for a break".Have a great afternoon! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/702760/ Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/702760/ Wow, I know some of you thought I died or something- I haven't blogged in so long! Well, I'm still alive! Life just got busy (er).  I will try to catch up with my blogging and let you know what all has been going on in our neck of the woods.  But for now, let me show you my latest "hobby". These are the items I bought this week.  Retail price is $83.82 and I only paid $21.05!  That is a savings of $62.77! (I'm sorry I'm sounding like a commercial. I'm not going to sell you anything, I promise! I'm just excited because I love a bargain!) However, normally, I don't buy John Freida shampoo (retails for $7 per bottle!).  I normally buy shampoo for $1 or $1.50.  Most of these items I bought are NOT the kind I usually buy.  I usually buy generic. (squeak squeak, can you tell I'm tight?).  So, I looked at what I bought and figured up what I would have spent on these items if they were my normal brand.  In my brand, they would have cost $37.71 (yes, I put way more thought into this than the normal person would LOL).  So that is still a savings of $16.66! (yikes, there's three 6's in a row...good thing I'm not writing on my forehead at the moment *wink wink*) I found a couple of good websites that tell about couponing and that is what got me hooked.  It really helps that a sister in our church is a newspaper delivery lady and she is giving me the Sunday papers that don't sell from her rack for the coupons! AND our local library has a coupon swap box-- take what you want and drop off coupons you won't use.  It is a win win situation! Below are links to my 2 favorite coupon websites.  http://www.centsiblesavings.com/2006/07/current-deals.html   http://athriftymom.com/ Thanks for reading and I will try to post again soon!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/699822/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/699822/ We met our pastor's family at the church at noon today and my family and theirs were going to drive to Oklahoma City to a special church service.  We all load up in the van and get not even a fourth of a block down the road when smoke starts POURING from the vents into the van.  It was on FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We all *jump* out of the van and the men raise the hood.  FLAMES!!!! I'm thinking "it's gonna blow!" so I call 911.  Well, by the time the 3 police cars, ambulance, 2 fire trucks and seemingly million other emergency people get there, pastor had already found the fire extinguisher from the church and put the fire out.   So we then had the emergency people out blocking the very busy road in front of our church and there was no fire and I felt like a goober.  Oh well.  If she would have blowed, I would have been glad that I called 911.  P.S.  We don't know what exactly started the fire except that we saw a squirrel running away from the van and we are blaming it on him. (please don't be offended at this picture...I found it online and thought it fit my post well....plus, it's hillarious)   Lots of plastic stuff on the van melted and it smells terrible (and we didn't smell so great ourselves). So, what happened in your neck of the woods today? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/666465/ Sat, 7 Mar 2009 22:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HotCocoaAndMunchkins/666465/