MY WEEKEND

Ever notice that Graduation and Cake go hand-in-hand?  We received invitations to 5 graduation parties and 2 were this weekend.  I have been in cake-heaven!  Yesterday's cake was a yummy-licious white cake with thick, creamy frosting (yummy!) and today's cake was chocolate with a whipped-creamy type of frosting.  Can you say delish??  I am on a sugar-high and I have 3 more parties to go to.  


Anyone have the 1-800 number for Cake Lovers Anonymous??  LOL  ;)


A.Marie
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EMERGENCY READINESS KIT

If a disaster struck your area and damaged your home, would you be prepared to respond?  A lot of people, including me, fall into the "Not-Prepared Category."  I became very aware of that fact last night.  Our area was under a tornado warning and the sky was getting really eerie-looking and dark.  Then the winds picked up and the rain started coming down.  I was frantically searching for the battery-powered radio and flashlights "just in case" something happened.  Then I realized that I didn't even know where we should all huddle, in the basement, if the sirens went off.

I mean, How Dumb is That??!!  

This is NOT the time to be "pulling an ostrich!"  

So, with that in mind, there is no better time than the present to start getting prepared.  I have searched online and found some excellent tips.


Be Prepared

Following are tips from experts on how to be prepared for emergencies:

Build a kit

Have a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water for each family member, medicines, sanitation and hygiene supplies, a first-aid kit, baby supplies if needed, matches, flashlight and extra batteries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen utensils, money, photocopies of identification and credit cards, pet supplies if needed and a whistle in case you are trapped in the basement.

Make a plan

Meet with family members and discuss how to respond in an emergency, including how to evacuate from your home, where you would meet if separated and an out-of-area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded. Have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into your cell phone.

Be informed

During an emergency, monitor local news media or NOAA Weather Radio. (This is where a good, sturdy, battery-powered or hand-cranked generator radio comes in handy!)

Get more info

Among helpful websites are www.redcross.org and www.ready.gov.

What is in your emergency-readiness kit?  How have you prepared??

A.Marie

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING FOOD

This is what is happening to your food....they have been zapped by the

Okay, for a long time I just thought it was my imagination.  I'd zoom through the aisles of the local grocery store, pick up an item and think, "geesh, it seems smaller" but then I'd just go on my way and not think too much about it.  That is, until the other day.....when I really started paying attention.  And, I realized that it is NOT my imagination.  Food  packages are really shrinking! So, in my quest to find out the reason why, I stumbled upon this article from The New York Times.   According to the article, rather than raise prices, because of the economy, manufacturers are just making the packaging smaller.  They think that we aren't going to notice.  


Well, I have definitely noticed.  Bags of Doritos, Fritos, and Tostitos, as well as Nabisco saltines and Honey Maid graham crackers are all smaller.  Bags of sugar are now 4 lbs instead of 5, and a can of Chicken of the Sea albacore tuna is now packed at 5 ounces, instead of the 6-ounce.  What's up with that?  Also, there are less cheese slices in a package of Kraft cheese. Seriously.   I mean, who decided to do that?


Companies are also using tactics like adding more air to create a lighter product, like whipped yogurt, so that there is less real product in the package.  I found that out when I bought a carton of Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting.  What a total waste of money that turned out to be.  There was hardly enough frosting to frost my cake!  

Then, I was making a recipe that uses spaghetti noodles.  I didn't even notice that the normally 16 oz. package of spaghetti noodles now suddenly contained only 12.5 oz.  I couldn't figure out why my dish wasn't turning out right until I looked at the package!  Talk about MAD!  So, I started doing some figuring.  Okay, so 3.5 oz less doesn't seem like a big deal, but that translates into an almost 25% hidden price increase!! Yet, the box is identical!  Talk about a rip-off!  And, that is just for one item!


What products have you noticed shrinking?  Tell Me....Inquiring Minds want to Know!  ;)




A.Marie

POST NON-RAPTURE

Okay, so yesterday came and went....and no Rapture.  Drats.  And I was lookin' so forward to it!  I mean, think about it.  All of my cares and concerns would have just disappeared.....WHOOSH....in the blink of an eye.  But,  did it happen?  No.  Am I still here?  Yeppers.  Did Harold Camping Lie?  Oh YEAH!  Big Time!  


So, thanks for nothing, Mr. Camping.  If I had believed you (which I didn't; not even for a second), I'd be really mad by now.  But, since I didn't, I only feel sadness for the people that you hurt.  I'm hopeful that you will now go away, and stay away.  I had to hear about you in 1994 and now, again, just recently.  Seriously.....enough already!


What are the rest of you going to do today, Post-Non-Rapture?  Me, well, I am going to go to church and hear a real preacher say real words from the real Bible.  Then, I'm going to go outside and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air in my yard and garden. 

A.Marie

THANKS FOR THE LAUGH, DISCOVER CARD

Okay, so I haven't much felt like laughing lately, but when I opened  the mail and read the following from Discover, I had a good chuckle.


The letter stated that I could get back a $500 CASHBACK BONUS (it was all caps in the letter, also) if I spend $3,000 or more each calendar month, on my Discover card, from June 2011 to October 2011.  Then, in order to make it oh-so-easy for my little brain to figure out, they also included a handy dandy chart on how I could accomplish this monthly. 


Read this:
Monthly Purchases    

1. Groceries/Drug Store  $600.00
2. Gas  $300.00 (okay, I didn't laugh at this one!)
3. Restaurant/Entertainment  $500.00 (I really laughed at this one!)
4. Cable/Cell/Phone/Internet $300.00
5. Department/Retail Stores  $600.00
6. Miscellaneous  $700.00

I'm supposing that the "miscellaneous" category is for that not-so-fun "stuff" like the mortgage, car payment, insurance....you know, the ones that should be in the category called "boring but essential!"  


Goodness Sakes...No wonder people are going broke nowadays if they really buy into this load of baloney from the credit card companies.  I don't spend $600.00 per year on Department/Retail Stores, let alone one month!


I  know, I know....credit cards can be helpful if they are used the right way.  I totally get that....in fact, I  use credit cards, but very sparingly....and I pay off the balance every month.  There is a right way and a wrong way to use credit...this would be one of those wrong ways.  Because, in order to get that coveted $500 CASHBACK BONUS (I can't resist capitalizing it!), you have to spend a boat-load of cash to get it.  And, that boatload of cash is going towards a lot of non-essentials, in my book. 


But, that's just my opinion.  And, like I said before, Thanks for the laugh, Discover Card!  I needed that!!  ;)


Any thoughts on this?  Come on, don't be shy!!   


A.Marie

Faith as a Grain of Mustard Seed

I was over at Laura's Thoughts On Scripture and she was talking about Faith.  I remembered this song from Youtube, about faith as a grain of mustard seed, and so I decided to post it for all of you to listen to.  I've also included the lyrics:

Mountain Moving (The Mustard Seed Song)~by Jack Marti
Lord, I've never moved a mountain,

And perhaps I never will.
All the faith that I could muster

Wouldn't move a small ant hill.

Yet, I cannot help but wonder,

As I walk through life with Thee,

At all the mountain moving 

I have seen You do for me.

Refrain:

Jesus said if I only had faith

As small as a mustard seed

I could say unto this mountain,

"Be removed," and it would leave!

And nothing would be impossible to me,

If only I would have faith in Him,

As small as a mustard seed.

When I've needed grace to lift me 

From the depths of deep despair,

And when burdens, pain, and sorrows

Have been more than I could bear,

You have always been my Captain.

You have calmed life's troubled seas.

You have moved the little mountains

That have seemed so big to me. (refrain)

Many times we all have problems.

There are bills we have to pay.

All the worries and the heartaches

Keep increasing day by day.

Lord, I don't know how you do it.

Every time it's a surprise,

As I watch You change the mountains 

Into blessings in disguise. (refrain)

No, I've never moved a mountain.

My faith is far too small.

But, I thank the Lord in heaven 

Who has always heard my call.

And as long as there are mountains

In my life I'll have no fear.

For the mountain moving Jesus

Always walks beside me here. (refrain)

May all of you have a truly Blessed Sunday!!  

A.Marie

MONDAY A.M. LESSON FROM A DANDELION

I hope that you all had a terrific Mother's Day!  I know that I did!  It didn't rain at all this weekend and I was able to get outside and pull weeds.  It is amazing to me how fast those weeds grow!  As I was tugging on a very stubborn and persistent dandelion, I had to grudgingly admire the tenacity and ability that dandelions possess.  Not only do they manage to grow and thrive in the very poorest of soils, they also manage to produce a very lovely flower.  

So, I had to mull that over in my little brain and it occurred to me that we all could learn a lesson from what most of view as a very lowly, no good, pain-in-the neck weed.  

So, here is my Monday Morning "Lesson from A Dandelion:"


The dandelion is very hardy, resilient plant that can survive and thrive, successfully, in the worst of environments.  If it tries to grow in your lawn or flowerbed, you can pluck it out and it doesn't care nor does it get offended.  It just continues to grow in the neighbor's yard or by the side of the road.  Besides the arrival of the robins, nothing else signals the arrival of spring more than the sudden appearance of the big, beautiful dandelion flower. 

Like the lowly dandelions, each and everyone of us have worth and value: we DO matter!  Sometimes our worth is not recognized by others around us, but that doesn't mean that we aren't special in our own unique way.  We need to take inspiration from the dandelion and recognize that the power lies within us to thrive, despite obstacles put in our paths.

So, today, "make like a dandelion" and thrive!  No matter what your obstacle, make it a productive day!  :)

A.Marie



Check out the Cascade Action Pacs & Walmart Gift Card giveaway going on at my other blog!  Click the link to enter!  Giveaway ends tomorrow (at 11:59PM CT).    

WATCH.LAUGH.REPEAT.

I posted this over at my other blog, My Money Mission Online, but I thought it was soooo funny that I just had to post it on this blog!!  Watch it and tell me what you think....I've already watched it about 5-6 times....hubby thinks that I'm going nuts, but I tell him that I've already gone there....after all, I am a M.O.M!  ;)




A.Marie

HOLD ME WHILE I CATCH MY BREATH

This is what I looked like after hubby showed me the gas receipt yesterday afternoon.  I thought I was going to pass out.  For 14.640 gallons of gas at $4.099/gal, the cost was $60.01.  SIXTY DOLLARS (and a penny) for FOURTEEN GALLONS OF GAS!  

That is utterly and absolutely ridiculous!  Somewhere, someone is getting very, very rich off of ordinary Americans like you and me.  I mean, it's not like we can just hop on the ol' horse and "giddy up and go."  There are places that we have to drive to, like out-of-town doctor appointments, etc.  That is why I try to "shop local" whenever I can.  That way, I can walk or ride my bike.  Not only do I save gas money, I also get some much-needed exercise!

What are the gas prices in your area?  Is it over $4.00 a gallon?  My sister in FL reported that gas is still a tad bit under that amount.....lucky gal.....but they also get hit hard with tolls, so not alot of savings there!

So, in the spirit of saving $$ where I can, I have scoured the Internet Highway to find some useful tips for ways to save money on the Actual Highway!  ;)

 (1)  Check your tire pressure. If the wheels are losing air, the car is lower to the ground. That makes it less aerodynamic, which drives up gas use.

 (2)  For the same reason, washing your car can also save fuel.  It actually makes your car more aerodynamic.  *I never knew this!

 (3)  Once the light turns green, go easy on the gas. That jackrabbit start wastes alot of gas. 

 (4)  Using a portable or built-in GPS Navigator in your automobile can help you save gas by navigating you to or from your destination by a shorter and/or less traffic route.  *My favorite tip so far!

 (5)  Empty the trunk of your car for daily use. A lighter car uses less gasoline.  *I need to do this one!  I have tons of stuff in my trunk!!

 (6)  Remove any unused luggage or bicycle racks on your car. They increase drag. Pack items inside of your car, rather than on an outside rack, whenever possible to reduce drag.

 (7)  Keep windows up while driving on the highway.  This reduces air drag by which in turn increases mileage.

 (8)  When you are in stop-and-go traffic, turn off the A/C and roll down the windows.

 (9)  In older cars, replace the air filter when dirty. A dirty filter will cause the engine to work harder and utilize more gasoline.

(10) Totally ditch the gas-guzzler and invest in a pack-mule.  Imagine riding that beast into the parking lot at your job or through the drive through at McDonalds!  Sorry...I couldn't resist throwing in a funny one!  ;)

What are your favorite tips for saving gas??  Come on, I know that all of you have some!






A.Marie

Yep...Today, I am THAT Mom....

Have you ever had one of THOSE mornings?  Well, today, this is what I feel like doing....pulling my hair out....and running down the block, screaming, "Help Me!  My Daughter is driving me C.R.A.Z.Y!"

Seriously, though, I dedicate this picture to all of you who have parented, or are still parenting, special needs kids.  My daughter is now 20, but she attends the Special Ed program through the local high school, and sometimes just making sure that she gets out the door, on time, is enough to make me feel as if I am on a treadmill but getting nowhere.....I feel slightly out of breath and exhausted, but I still have to keep on running! 

 

*SIGH*

I sure wish that she had come with some kind of instruction manual, or at least an off button for her hyperness!  ;)

As much as I love her, she does test me and try me....and as I sat and thought of that phrase this morning, this came to mind:

"When He has tested me I shall come forth as gold" – Job 23:10

May all of you be blessed with much patience, strength, and wisdom as you go forth today.  I know that I will also be including two tylenol and a warm compress for my aching head!! 

A.Marie

HAPPY MAY DAY

This basket is from me to you......Hope you all have a wonderful day!   :)

A.Marie