Tuesday Blog Hop : Where Would You Go?

It's Blog Hop Tuesday! This week's theme is Ask A Question. So my question to you is "If you could go anywhere in the world and see anything that you wanted, where would you go?".

I have been to many wonderful places. There are some that I would love to visit again such as Rome and Switzerland. If I had the money to go anywhere, I would love to go to Australia to see the Penguin Parade! At sunset, you lay in the sand to watch the Little Penguins waddle ashore. I think that penguins are so cute and this would be a once in a lifetime experience.

So where would you go?

Tuesday Blog Hop: Family Fun

It's Blog Hop Tuesday! This week's theme is family fun. My family's favorite activity is playing games. Here is a look in our game closet:


We love to play games. Games are great way to spend time with your family.

Tuesday Blog Hop: Fantabulous Foto Free For All

It's Blog Hop Tuesday! This week's theme is Fantabulous Foto Free For All. Here are some photos from my family's trip tp Switzerland in 2007.




All expenses except airfare were paid with money from selling on Ebay and coupon savings. We had frequent flier miles so the flight was free. Worth every penny !!

Check out other blogger's photos on the links below.

Tuesday Blog Hop: Anything that feels good

It's Blog Hop Tuesday! This week's theme is "Anything That Feels Good". Here is a list of 10 things that make me feel good.

1. Playing a board game with my family
2. Enjoying the Fall weather
3. Laughing with my kids while we watch old cartoons on TV
4. Tossing the ball for my dog.
5. Talking with friends
6. A special night out with my hubby
7. Getting a good surprise in the mail
8. Having all the laundry done.
9. Making a new friend
10. Getting a clean bill of health

You can check out other ideas on the Blog Hop below.

Tuesday Blog Hop: 3 Things To Teach Your Kids

It's Blog Hop Tuesday! This week's theme is 3 Things Every Parent Should TEach Their Kids.

The three things that I hop my kids have learned from me are:

1. How to manage money. Even kids need to learn how to manage their money. Do you really want to buy that? Do you want to save more money? It is important not to spend more than you earn and to save for a rainy day.

2. Respect for others. You don't have to agree with everyone but treat people with respect.

3. Be yourself and have fun. Life is too short to sit around moping. Get out and have some fun.

Special thanks to Shoplet.com-Purell Hand Sanitizers for sponsoring this blog hop.

Tuesday Blog Hop: Why Read My Blog

It's Blog Hop Tuesday! This week's theme is Why Read My Blog?

OK when I saw the theme for this week, my first thought was "Ugh!!" I hate self promoting myself! Oh well, I decided to participate so here goes nothing.

Why read my blog?
1. I try to have fun in my blog! Whether it's being funny or finding something fun.

2. My blog lists great freebies and deals. Who doesn't love something for free?

3. I am a huge garage saler, ebayer, and basic money saver. I try to pass on some of my great ideas to my readers.

4. I do giveaways and reviews of products that I like myself.

5. As a mom of two teenagers, I have a different perspective than moms with younger children. I love reading funny stories and seeing cute photos of little kids on other blogs. It makes me think of when my kids were younger. But you won't find a baby stroller or toddler dress review here.

6. I post often! Usually I do several posts a day.

7. Ok, now I should say that my blog is about my readers. It's really about me. I just love sharing stuff. When I get excited because I signed up for a new freebie, my family is like "oh yeah, another free shampoo sample". But when I share my great freebie find online so others can get it too, then I feel like I am not alone in my quest of saving money. The comments that I get on my blog mean so much to me!

So as Shirley Maclaine put it so eloquently " You like me, you really like me!" Thanks for reading my blog.

Check out some other blogs on the Blog Hop below.




Special thanks to Purell Hand Sanitizer for sponsoring this blog hop.

Tuesday Blog Hop: Remembering 9/11

Has it really been 8 years? I remember the day like it was last week. A beautiful September day in Iowa. It was just a usual busy weekday morning. I got the kids ready for school and drove them there. I didn't listen to the radio or TV in the morning. I was volunteering that morning so I walked into school with them. My good friend, Judy, saw me and said "Did you hear?" Hear what? She dragged me over to the TV in the teacher's room. As we watched, the second plane crashed into the Twin Towers. It was a surreal moment.

I went home and watched the coverage on TV. I wondered how something like this could happen and I cried for all the people who died. I was encouraged by how people helped each other. I was discouraged by the people who say that we brought this upon ourselves.

I hope that people continue to remember September 11, 2001. I will never forget.

Friday Giveaways Blog Hop 9/4

Got a minute, then enter a blog contest! Lots of great prizes.

Remember to enter my iTunes $10 gift card giveaway that ends 9/5.
And my new giveaway for Hallmark Card package that ends on 9/12 .

Blog Hop Tuesday: Baby Photos

It's Blog Hop Tuesday! This week's theme is Baby Photos. I am sure that there will be some really cute photos to check out.

Here is a photo of my daughter pretending she is on vacation. She is all decked out in Disney stuff and has her inflatable elephant swim toy.

When my son was younger, he loved helping his dad around the house. Here is my little handyman.

It is amazing how the years fly by!! Have fun on the Blog Hop.

Friday Giveaways Blog Hop 8/28

Got a minute, then enter a blog contest! Lots of great prizes.

Remember to enter my Homestudio Scrabble Tile Necklace giveaway that ends tonight 8/28.
Also enter my new giveaway for a iTunes $10 gift card.

Tuesday Blog Hop: Time To Laugh

Time for the Tuesday Blog Hop! This week the theme is Time To Laugh. Yes, we can all use a good laugh. So take a few minutes, try the Blog Hop and have a few laughs along the way.

I let my daughter choose a funny picture for the Blog Hop. Here is what she found:

Here is a funny cartoon that I liked . I feel like this some days!

Hope you liked them! Check out my Friday Photo Fun for another laugh. Got a minute then enter my giveaways here. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Friday Giveaways Blog Hop 8/21

Got a minute then enter a blog contest. Who knows what you might win!

Tuesday Blog Hop: Favorite Recipe 8/17

It's Tuesday! Time again for another Blog Hop. This week's theme is Favorite Recipe.

I have shared this recipe before but it is a one of my family's favorites! It is easy to make and sneaks in some good veggies!

My family had Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps at a restaurant. Everyone loved it. I looked up some recipes online and changed them to fit our taste. It is a fairly cheap recipe once you buy the initial ingredients. Then the next time, you will only need to buy the chicken, lettuce, and slaw. It is very filling!

Ingredients:
1 head of iceberg lettuce
3 boneless chicken breasts - chopped up
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 gloves of garlic or 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp oyster sauce
4 Tbsp lime juice
4 Tbsp soy sauce
1 cup Broccoli Slaw
1 bell pepper sliced thin

Take the head of lettuce and remove the stem part. Pull the lettuce apart into leaves. Rinse with water and pat dry.

Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the vegetable oil and then the chicken. Cook for about 3 minutes stirring constantly. Then add in all the other ingredients and cook for about 2 minutes while stirring. Pour into a bowl.

To assemble the wraps, take a lettuce leaf and place 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling in the center and wrap it up.

Tuesday Blog Hop: Encouragement

It's Tuesday! Time again for another Blog Hop. This week's theme is Encouragement.

As soon as I heard the theme, I thought of a book that I had received a long time ago. When I graduated from high school, my best friend gave me a book called Leaves of Gold. The book is full of quotations and I have treasured now for 28 years.

The first line in the Foreward of the book says it all :
"Poor indeed is the man whose mind is not enriched by some phrase of lasting truth and beauty which serves to restore his soul in the exigencies of life"

Here is one of my favorite quotes:
"Doust thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff that life is made of"
Franklin

I always try to remember that the best time are the times spent with friends and family! For those are the times that brighten my life and make me look forward to the future.

Brighten your day and spend some time on the Blog Hop!

Tuesday Blog Hop: Favorite Kids Photo

It's Tuesday! Time again for another Blog Hop. This week's theme is your favorite kid's photo.

Here are a couple of my favorite photos:

The kids were having a great time running through the sprinkler! It was simple but so much fun!

Have fun on the Blog Hop!

Blog Hop Tuesday: 3 Things You Didn't Know About Me

I am always amazed at the fascinating things to be found on the Internet. I came across the MckLinky Blog Hop and it sounded like so much fun! A great way to visit new blogs and share items with other people.

The theme for this week is obviously as my title says 3 Things You Didn't Know About Me!


1. I am huge Disney fan. I love going to Disney World and Disneyland. My husband and I went on a Disney Cruise for our honeymoon.

2. I have been to China. My husband was doing some work in China and I was lucky enough to tag along. The highlights of the trip were seeing the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors. I hope to go back someday.

3. I love to travel. OK, this may not be surprising news after reading the first two items above. When I was younger, my parents took the whole family on a cross country road trip every summer. I think they were crazy! They inspired my love of travel. Some people like to have big houses or fancy cars. I would rather plunk my money down on a National Park road trip or a European vacation. It is what I love to do!