Think I can do it?

This program advertises pretty fast results and I'm going to give it a try.  I must admit, I'm a little skeptical, but I like that it's only 20 minutes a day.  I seriously cannot think of any good excuse to not find 20 minutes a day.  I've got to do something and it doesn't look like I'll be talking the husband into a gym membership anytime soon.  Plus, I always seem to eat better when I'm exercising.  If I don't, I feel like all of my hard work is wasted.  We'll see how it goes, I'll keep you posted!  Wish me luck!

Winn Dixie Coupon Matchup 5/16-5/22

Produce
Jumbo Vidalia Sweet onions $0.99/lb
Georgia Peaches $1.29/lb
Whole seedless or seeded watermelons $4.99 each
Dole classic iceberg, shredded lettuce or spinach $1.99
Iceberg lettuce $0.99 each
Large Creole tomatoes $1.29/lb
Louisiana cucumbers 2/$1.00

Organic Girl salad mixes 2/$5.00
Printable coupon save $2.00/1 (facebook)
Final Price, $0.50 each!!!

Southern Blueberries $4.99 B1G1 Free
Final Price, $2.50 each

Large Athena Cantaloupes $4.99 B1G1 Free
Final Price, $2.50 each

Campari tomatoes on the vine 1lb package $4.49 B1G1 Free
Final Price, $2.25 each

Meats
Center cut pork chops bone-in $1.99/lb
Sanderson Farms family pack chicken wings $1.99/lb (Limit 3)

Assorted pork chops $3.99 B1G1 Free
Final Price, $2.00/lb

Country Style pork loin ribs $4.49 B1G1 Free
Final Price, $2.25/lb

Center cut pork chops $5.29/lb B1G1 Free
Final Price, $2.65/lb

Sanderson Farms split chicken breasts $2.99/lb B1G1 Free
Final Price, $1.50/lb

Pork Loin baby back ribs $6.99/lb B1G1 Free
Final Price, $3.50/lb

Buy One Get One Free Deals (you must use your WD Customer Reward Card and buy two items to receive this discount)

Hormel Chili no beans $2.29
(4/1 SS) save $1.00/2
Final price, $0.65 each

Sea Best breaded seafood $6.99
(3/4 SS) save $0.75/1 (use 2)
Final price, $2.75 each

Celentano cheese ravioli $3.19
Final Price, $1.60 each

Luzianne family tea bags 24ct $2.49
May All You save $0.50/1 (use 2 if you have them)
Final Price, $0.75 each (w/ 2 coupons) or $1.00 each

Jolly Time or Pop Secret popcorn 3ct (get like item only) $3.29
Printable coupon save $1.00/2 Jolly Time
(4/15 SS) save $1.00/2 or $0.50/1 Jolly Time
Final Price, $1.15 each

BC Powder or Goody's Extra Strength 24ct (get like item only) $4.49
(5/6 RP) save $1.00/1 BC Powder
(5/6 RP) save $1.00/1 Goody's
Final Price, $1.25 each (w/ 2 coupons)

WD resealable bags 15-25ct $2.79
Final Price, $1.40 each

Finish Powerball tabs or gelpacs dishwater detergent (get like item only) $5.29
(4/22 SS) save $1.00/2 or $0.75/1
Final Price, as low as $1.90 each

Doritos (get like item only) $4.29
Final Price, $2.15 each

Nabisco Chips Ahoy! $3.99
Final Price, $2.00 each

Arnold or Oroweat whole wheat or whole grain classic bread (get like item only) $4.29
Final Price, $2.15 each

Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce $2.59
Final Price, $1.30 each

Other Weekly Deals
Dixie Crystals sugar 4lb bag $1.98 (Limit 2)

Tostitos chips or salsa 2/$5.00
Printable coupon save $1.00 on both dip and chips
Final Price, $2.00 each

Chef Boyardee pasta $1.00
Printable coupon save $1.00/4
  Final Price, $0.75 each wyb 4

Hunt's Snack Pack $1.00
Printable coupon save $1.00/3
Final Price, $0.67 each

What-A-Deal savings:
  Buy (2) participating Kraft Mayonnaise 2/$10.98
(5/13 SS) save $1.00/2, $0.35/1 or $0.55/1 Kraft Mayo

Get all 5 of these items FREE:
-3lb bag red potatoes
-2lb bag red onions
-dozen Winn Dixie large eggs
-French's squeeze mustard (5/13 SS save $0.30/1)
-Choose one:
             Vlasic dill or sweet relish
                (4/1 SS) save 1.00/2, $0.55/1 or $0.75/1)

What-A-Deal savings:

Buy (1) 12.5lb bag Kingsford Match Light Charcoal

Get all 4 of these FREE:
-Armour hot dogs
-Choose 1 - 2 liter of A&W, RC Cola, Diet Rite or 7-Up
-WD potato chops
-24ct Dixie heavy duty plates

Buy (1) participating Venus or Fusion razor $10.99
(5/13 P&G) save $2.00/1 Venus

Get all 4 of these items FREE:
-Gillette Foamy shave gel
-3 bar Ivory shop
-Choose one - Old Spice or Secret deodorant
-TopCare Smart Grip toothbrush

Chocolate Marshmallow Brownies

These are definitely getting made in my house very soon!  I'm sure my thighs will thank me :)

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW BROWNIES
1 cup margarine (2 sticks)

2 cups sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

4 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

1 (10 oz) package of miniature marshmallows

Soften margarine and blend in sugar and cocoa. Beat together and add 4 eggs, one at a time, mixing after each one. Add flour, salt and vanilla and mix well.

Spread on large (10x15x1 inch) greased cookie sheet. Bake 22-25 minutes at 350. Remove from oven and cover entire top with 1 package of miniature marshmallows. Return to oven for 3 minutes, until marshmallows are soft and puffy. Cool and frost with chocolate frosting.

Mom's Chocolate Frosting:

1 stick margarine (1/2 cup), softened
1/4 cup milk
1-2 tsp vanilla (depending on your taste)
3 tablespoons of cocoa
2-3 cups of powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth. Add more powdered sugar or milk until you reach desired consistency and spread on top of bars.

Happy Mother's Day

I have been a mother now for only 23 1/2 months, but it feels like these are the 2 years I've waited my whole life for.  When I look at my two sweet girls, I know for a fact that I am meant to be their mother, and I could not be more grateful for them and the joy they bring to our life.  I've been asking for some "mom jewelry" for awhile now, and this year my husband delievered!  This cute charm bracelet has two little girl charms with each of their birthstones.  Pretty, right?  I do not take my role as a mother for granted, and I hope that my daughters always grow up knowing that they are loved and cared about.

Primary Manual 2 - Lesson 17

When the kids enter, I am going to have the seven pictures of the different priesthood ordinances hanging around the room with paper covering each one and numbered.  We'll do the attention activity on power and then discuss the power of the priesthood and the story of Christ calming the sea.  Then I'll give each kid a "quiz card" and have them rotate around to the different pictures and write the number of the picture that matches each ordinance. A similar matching game could be adapted for the younger classes who can't read yet. 

Priesthood Ordinance Quiz Cards

I always like for the kids to share personal experiences, so I'll make sure and ask them about their experiences with various ordinances and then we'll end the lesson with the lesson card and helping them learn the fifth article of faith

Lesson 17 Lesson Cards

Cousins

We got to babysit this little cutie tonight! Doesn't he look great in a pink bouncer!  My sister just had her first little boy and we are so excited to finally have a cousin.  My girls love him, and the fact that they live two houses down means we get to see this guy a lot.  Since my husband works such long hours (hence, the all day mom), it's nice to have family so close.  This is Anna Kate's new "cheese" face and she currently LOVES to take pictures.  She is constantly striking poses and asking us to "cheese please?"  Why was she not going through this phase when we had family pictures taken a couple of weeks ago?!?  I think that might have been what inspired this stage actually.  Speaking of stages,  what were some of your kid's funniest stages?  Any that you are so glad was just a stage? Please Share!

Make your own Taco Seasoning

It seems like I always have the ingredients on hand for dinners like tacos, burritos, taco salad, etc. except for the taco seasoning packets!  I always end up searching my pantry while dinner is cooking only to be disappointed that I always forget the taco seasoning.  So, I figured I should learn how to whip up my own taco seasoning.  This is a great recipe that includes basic spices that I always have on hand in my pantry, and it tastes great too :)  You add all of these seasonings to 1 lb of ground beef while it's cooking.  No need to add water.
2 tsp. chili powder
1.5 tsp paprika
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
ground pepper to taste
**If you like it spicy, you can add some cayenne pepper.

May - 31 things to do with your toddler

Happy May! Pick one of the activities below to do each day for some awesome quality time spent with your child.

1. Get creative with bubble blowing....and popping!

2. Play in a sprinkler or pool.

3. Have a sack race, indoors or outdoors.

4. Family game night! Kids pick the game!

5. Make a Mother's Day craft. Click here for ideas.

6. Bake something together.

7. Put "I love you" notes in all the places you know your child will be. Bathroom mirror, pillow, refrigerator, toy bin...

8. Fill some balloons with water and food coloring and let them pop them in the bath. See this post.

9. Start the bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier and read a couple extra books.

10. Play a pretend game, such as doctor. See this post.

11. Make a bird feeder. Take an empty toilet paper tube and spread peanut butter all round the outside edge of the tube. Roll the peanut butter tube in bird seed. Cut a piece of yarn that is about 12 inches long. Attach it to each end of the tube to make a way to hang the tube onto a tree. Watch for the birds to come!

12. Go on a picnic at the park.

13. Have a backyard toy car wash!

14. Stay in your pajamas all day, watch movies, pop some popcorn, and cuddle.

15. Fill some balloons with helium and put them in your child's room while he's sleeping. He'll wake to a nice surprise!

16. Turn up the music and dance!

17. Have an ice cream taste test. Yum!

18. Make mudpies.

19. Camp out in the back yard, under the stars, at least for a little while.

20. Play traditional birthday party games...without the birthday party, like pin the tail on the donkey.

21. Play dress up. Take pictures!

22. Work on a scrapbook together.

23. Check out this awesome slip -n- slide! Make this, or your own version, and have some slippery fun!

24. Too rainy out? Here are tons of rainy day activities for toddlers. Pick one!

25. Want to paint without the mess? Check out this no-mess marble painting!

26. Build a fort and have lunch in it.

27. Visit a pond or lake. Catch frogs. Go fishing. Ride the paddle boats. Have fun!

28. Go on a nature hike or walk.

29. Don't step on the lava! Make a path of pillows and cushions and have the kids jump from one to the other, being careful not to step on the floor (lava).

30. Make big cars out of a cardboard boxes. Have the kids sit inside the boxes, cut holes for their legs and let them use their feet as wheels to move around.

31. Play red-light, green-light. Play this with #30. It is so fun!

Thanks Positive Parenting!

Winn Dixie Coupon Match-up 5/9-5/15

Since I HATE grocery shopping at Wal-mart, but LOVE Wal-mart's prices, I have been couponing to save money at other grocery stores.  Instead of clipping coupons every Sunday, I just file the inserts by date, and when I need a coupon, I pull out that specific insert and only clip the coupons I need.  This also elimates those crazy huge coupon binders.  I also love couponing at CVS, but that's another post. 

Mother's Day Special - One dozen signature roses $16.99 (7 day bloom guarantee)

Produce

2lb package strawberries 2/$5.00
Blueberries $2.99 each
Athena cantaloupes $2.99 each
Georgia peaches $1.69/lb
5lb bag red potatoes $2.99 each
Jumbo Vidalia sweet onions $0.99/lb
Green cabbage $0.49/lb
On the vine red cluster tomatoes $1.79/lb
Asparagus $2.49/lb

Dole salads, blends or kits $4.69 B1G1 Free
Final price, $2.85 each

Meats

Bone-in Ribeye steaks $6.99/lb

Sanderson Farms skinless, boneless chicken breasts $4.69/lb B1G1 Free
Final price, $2.35/lb

Baby Back Ribs $6.99/lb B1G1 Free
Final price, $3.50/lb

Boneless top round steaks $5.79 B1G1 Free
Final price, $2.90/lb

Sanderson Farms boneless, skinless chicken tenders $5.69/lb B1G1 Free
Final Price, $2.85/lb

Sanderson Farms family pack chicken leg quarters $1.99/lb B1G1 Free
Final Price, $1.00/lb

Buy One Get One Free Deals (you must use your WD Customer Reward Card and buy two items to receive this discount)

Nature's Own or Natural Grain whole wheat bread or Wonder Classic round top bread (get like item only) $3.39
Final Price, $1.70 each

WD foam plates, cups or bowls $2.99
Final price, $1.50 each

2 liter 7-up, RC, A&W, Sun Drop or Diet Rite $1.99
Final price, $1.00 each

V8 Splash juice drink $3.69
(4/15 SS) save $1.00/2, $0.50/2 or $1.00/3
Final price, as low as $1.35 each

Entenmann's Little Bites (get like item only) $4.49
Final price, $2.25 each (with coupon)

Blue Diamond almonds 8oz $3.59
Final Price, $1.80 each

Mission dinner or wrap kits 12ct $2.99
(4/22 SS) save $1.00/2 Mission Taco Shells or Kits
Final price, $1.00 each

Vlasic pickles or relish $3.29
(4/1 SS) save $0.55/1, $1.00/2 or $0.75/1
Final Price, as low as $0.90 each

Kraft Milk Bites $3.49
Printable coupon save $0.75/1 (Use 2)
Final price, $1.00 each

Sea Best breaded seafood $6.99
(3/4 SS) save $0.75/1 (use 2)
Final price, $2.75 each

Freschetta Pizza $6.99
Printable coupon save $1.00/1 (Use 2)
Final price, $2.50 each

Nature's Bounty or Disney vitamins save up to $31.99
$1.10/1 Nature's Bounty® Vitamins or Supplements (get an additional $0.50 off when you watch the video)
Printable coupon save $1.00/1 Nature's Bounty
Printable coupon save $1.00/1 Disney
Final price, varies

Arm & Hammer liquid laundry detergent $5.49
(4/22 SS) save $1.00/2
Final price, $1.75 each

Dove shampoo or conditioner 12oz $4.49
Final price, $2.25 each

Other Weekly Deals

Brawny paper towels 6-8 rolls $6.49
Printable coupon save $1.00/2
(4/29 RP) save $1.00/1
(3/4 RP) save $1.00/2
Final Price, as low as $5.49

Keebler Chips Deluxe 2/$5.00
Printable coupon save $1.00/3
Final Price, $2.17 each

Kraft Indulgence Chocolate 2/$4.00
Printable coupon save $0.55/1 (use 2)
Final Price, $1.45 each

Dunkin Donuts coffee $6.99
(4/1 RP) save $1.00/1
Final Price, $5.99

What-A-Deal savings

Buy (1) participating 15.5lb bag Beneful dry dog food $16.99
(4/29 SS) save $2.00/1 Beneful dog food

Get all 5 of these items FREE:

-Choose 2 - Beneful prepared meals
-Beneful Baked Delights dog treats
-Choose 1 - Busy Bone dog treats
-T-Bonz dog treats

What-A-Deal savings

Buy (2) participating 6 Bar Dove Soaps 2/$15.98

Get all 4 of these FREE:

-St. Ives body wash
-Choose 1 - Suave shampoo or conditioner
-30ct Ponds Towelettes
-Choose 1- Degree Invisible solid deodorant

Make-A-Meal savings

Buy (3) participating General Mills cereals
Printable coupon save $1.00/2 Select General Mills cereals
(4/22 SS) save $1.00/3 Select General Mills cereals

Get all 4 of these items FREE:

-Gallon milk
-John Morrell Ready Crisp bacon
-Thomas bagels
-WD cream cheese

Thanks My Baton Rouge Mommy!

Chicken Quesadillas

We love quesadillas, and since I own a quesadilla maker, we have them a lot! I usually just use a fajita seasoning packet with my chicken and add black beans, but this time I wanted something a little different, so a friend reccommended this recipe and it did not disappoint! I loved the flavor of these and they were just as easy as my usual. I added black beans to this recipe too. What do you like in your quesadillas?




3 cups finely chopped chicken (You can use store bought rotisserie chicken)
2 cups shredded cheese
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1 tsp hot pepper sauce 1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp peppper
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
Flour tortillas
In a bowl, combine all ingredients (except tortillas). Put spoonful of chicken mixture in tortilla, fold over and cook in lightly greased frying pan (or quesadilla maker!) Makes about 6 quesadillas.

5 Tips for taking Toddlers and Babies to the Beach

We took a short, 2 day trip to the beach last week, and it was heavenly!  I was pretty nervous about the girls being off of their schedule and sleeping in a hotel - They have pretty much never slept anywhere but their cribs, and we've never taken them to a restaurant by ourselves.  It could not have gone any better! We stayed at a hotel on the beach, so we didn't have to worry about loading the car and driving back and forth and we never stayed anywhere very long.  We kept going back and forth from the pool to the beach to the room depending on when the girls needed to eat, nap, be changed, etc.  Heidi slept in the hotel crib, which looked like something from an orphanage, and Anna Kate slept on the sofa sleeper all by herself.  They both loved being in the sand and feeling the breeze.  It was Heid's first time in the pool, and she loved it - she would kick her legs and just shriek with joy! I loved seeing them happy and enjoying themselves.  There are a few things that I believe attributed to our success and I'd like to share a few tips with you that we learned from other seasoned, beach-goers:
1) Babypowder! This just may be the best kept secret.  I was skeptical when someone told me that this would magically take all the sand off of your body, but it worked!  Just sprinkle it on, and the baby powder absorbs all the moisture and the sand just falls off.  We found this especially helpful in the diaper area and in those cute, chubby neck/leg/arm rolls. 
2) Sunblock. Duh. Everyone knows to use sunblock, but I was really worried about my babies burning since I always burn and they have fair skin like me.  We used an SPF 50 sunblock and the key is to put it on BEFORE you go outside (about 30 mins) and to reapply often.  We also used the spray sunscreen which made reapplying much easier.  Thankfully, we all came home sunburn-free.
3) Flip top water bottles.  Because we were back and forth between the hotel, beach, and pool so much, we didn't want to lug a ton of stuff around.  We brought flip-top water bottles so that we wouldn't have to worry about the cap blowing away or getting sand in the lid, and the toddler could drink out of it like a sippy cup - win, win!

5) Back-pack stroller/infant carrier. This was a lifesaver to help carry the baby and keep our hands free.  Plus, it was a place for her to sit so she wasn't tempted to eat the sand while we feed her, etc.

We will definitely be making more beach trips this summer!  Do you have any other good suggestions or tips?  I would love to hear them!